NT government’s Police Minister Kate Worden reviews frontline cuts in leaked photo
Police Minister Kate Worden was caught reading a document headed with ‘Frontline staff reductions to meet NTG savings targets’. Now she has responded after it went viral.
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The Territory’s Police Minister said information in a document she was photographed reading was not approved for government action.
The document appears to outline proposed funding cuts of $16m in 2023/24 and $31m to the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services, over the subsequent three fiscal years.
The photo has done the rounds on social media and has caused outrage in the community.
It was also sent to the media by independent Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley and understood to be taken in Alice Springs.
Ms Worden has confirmed the “document in question was not approved.”
“As a government we consistently review our budget position and review how we can better serve the Territory,” she said.
“When doing so, we need to look at every aspect to see how our budgets can deliver more funding for our frontline services.
“Departments provide ministers with advice and correspondence frequently, however these are not always approved or accepted.”
Ms Lambley said Territorians deserved to know how public money was spent.
“This is a government that has constantly maintained that they don’t cut anything,” she said.
“The budget has been blown out for many years and they’re looking at a dire situation going forward.
“It is prudent and responsible to take measures to reduce the debt and deficit.
“But cutting frontline staff during a crime crisis would not be not good government.
“More than anything they need to be honest and transparent - it is not their money.”
NT Police Association president Paul McCue said there was “significant” concern among members about the content of the document pictured.
“Without knowing the full content of the documents which have been photographed, it is difficult to make comment on specifics, but we acknowledge the situation has caused significant concern to many of our members,” Mr McCue said.
He said cutting funding to frontline staff such as police would have dire consequences on their ability to protect the community.
“Any consideration or discussion regarding cutting critical frontline staffing would be an absolute disaster for the NT government and the NT community, let alone the police themselves,” he said.
“There is nothing that can be cut from the Police, Fire and Emergency Services budget that won’t have a direct impact on the frontline, and the response capability of our members.”
Ms Worden said rising crime rates was something the government was committed to acting on.
“Our message to the community, but especially to victims of crime, is that we hear you and we are taking action – immediate action to stop this anti-social behaviour, and long-term action with the community to break the cycle of crime,” she said.
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