Better economy best way to tackle long-grassers: CLP (So much for "Sorry")
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2008 The Country Liberal Party Member for Katherine says unless the Territory Government drives better economic development in Aboriginal communities, anti-social behaviour on the streets of major towns will continue. The Government has this week announced $10 million worth of measures to combat drunken behaviour in Darwin and Palmerston. The CLP's Fay Miller bluntly told Parliament last night that people were sick of the problem and that Government was failing in one key area. "Number one - more police, more police, more police," she told Parliament. Ms Miller says the recent dry reforms in Katherine have failed to restrict public drinking as problem drinkers have just moved elsewhere in the town and have little reason to return to their community. She has also attacked the Federal Government's reintroduction of the permit system. "The Federal Government's now talking about restrictions, restricted entry, permit entries to Indigenous communities. That again puts to me a big stop door to tourists being able to access communities." Chief Minister Paul Henderson has rejected the accusations, saying the roll out of alcohol courts and more rehabilitation resources since the last election are working. "There's no silver bullet to this. This is a complex set of issues and equations," he said. Mr Henderson says the Government is working with the major land councils to look at economic opportunities. He also says improving education in the bush and local government reforms are key initiatives. "Putting better governance structures in place is going to give more certainty for governments to invest and also for the private sector." Dial "Triple-0-HUMBUG" The Northern Territory Opposition has proposed "Triple-0-HUMBUG" as the number for the Government's new phone line for reporting anti-social behaviour.
Call for grog cops | 
