Lia Finocchiaro barred from visiting Tennant Creek, Borroloola police stations by Kate Worden
The newly-minted Police Minister has responded after Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro blasted an “unprecedented” ban on her visiting cop shops.
Northern Territory
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NEWLY-MINTED Police Minister Kate Worden has promised to allow the Opposition to tour police stations, blaming first-week jitters on a CLP cop shop ban.
Ms Worden also implied the CLP’s planned tour of the Tennant Creek Police would’ve been disruptive, despite herself and Chief Minister Natasha Fyles touring the same facility on Tuesday.
On Wednesday it emerged the Police Minister had seemingly barred the CLP from touring both the Tennant Creek and Borroloola Police Stations, in a move that has been labelled “unprecedented”.
Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro had her request to tour the stations had been knocked back, with NT Police saying questions around the decision were a matter for the minister’s office.
The surprising knock-back was despite the previous police minister Nicole Manison generally approving requests unless they interfered with operations, according to the CLP.
Ms Finocchiaro said opposition shadow ministers touring government facilities such as police stations was “completely standard”.
“It’s not meant to be a way for the minister to wield unfettered power,” she said.
“I’m the shadow police minister … part of my absolute job in holding the government to account … is to engage with police and fireys.”
The Opposition leader labelled the decision as “unprecedented” and “an absolute disgrace”.
“There were no operational reasons why it couldn’t happen. It was simply politics,” she said.
“These are not Kate Worden’s police stations. These are assets built by Territorians for Territorians.”
Tennant Creek has in recent months seen alarming increases in motor vehicle theft and house break ins.
Ms Finocchiaro said she wanted to tour the police station to thank police for their hard work, ask about their physical and mental wellbeing and question officers on pressing matters in the community.
She said she also used tours to gauge the physical state of the police station buildings.
“It’s just basic, fundamental opposition work, there’s nothing new about it,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
In response to questions from the NT News, Ms Worden said she could “assure the Leader of the Opposition” that she would accommodate future requests to visit NT police stations.
“NT Police have busy jobs and visits from Ministers and Opposition members require planning and take police officers away from frontline duties,” she said.
“This is my first week as the Minister for Police Fire and Emergency Service and I am in the process myself of visiting the major regional centres throughout the Territory to meet with our police personnel to listen and learn.”
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