NT budget estimates: Howard Springs damage bill, arrests revealed

Howard Springs crisis centre damages are nearing $300,000 so far, with budget estimates revealing some incidents are yet to be reported to police while no arrests are known.

Damages to the Howard Springs crisis centre have cost taxpayers about $288,000 so far, with that figure expected to rise once ongoing assessments are complete.

Budget estimates on Thursday revealed no one had been charged over the incidents before the end of March this year.

Police Minister Kate Worden said she did not have data on hand regarding arrests, if any, during the weeks following, in which flood evacuees were gradually repatriated back to their communities.

Ms Worden could not answer a question from the Opposition regarding how many police investigations into the damages were under way, taking it on notice instead.

The Howard Springs accommodation facility housed flood evacuees for about several weeks. Picture: Floss Adams

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler on Wednesday said 673 windows had been broken at the facility, while damages to sewerage cost $35,000 and $11,450 was spent on replacing set-off fire extinguishers.

“I understand the rock throwing that broke windows was young children and to me that was children who were not supervised,” Ms Lawler said.

“We put in place schooling for the kids and by all accounts the children who went to school did the right thing.”

Infrastructure Commissioner Louise McCormick also said the department was still putting together information to make some reports to police on damages, while some “obvious” incidents had already been reported.

Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley argued Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler did not reveal enough detail on the Howard Springs centre damages. Picture: Che Chorley

Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley said Territorians could expect the costs to increase.

“Unbelievably, Eva Lawler said she wouldn’t do anything differently and the government had no way of knowing damage would occur,” he said.

“So Territorians should know that Labor is not only happy with wasting your money, they would happily do it all again.”

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro later said in a press conference she was shocked there were no known arrests despite the Chief Minister revealing weeks ago police had responded to domestic violence incidents at the centre.

“Natasha Fyles and her government have continuously said that people who cause criminal damage will be held accountable and will face consequences,” she said.

‘Pathetic’: Lawler slams CLP’s school crime questions

Crime once again dominated another scathing budget estimates hearing, with Education Minister Eva Lawler slung question after question about student and teacher safety.

Questions raised by the CLP and independents led the department to reveal there had been eight violent incidents involving edged weapons in four months across Territory schools, while there was 215 school break-ins in less than a year.

However those figures were not released before Ms Lawler took aim at the CLP’s education spokeswoman Jo Hersey for her line of questioning.

“I find it really disappointing that the very first question that you as a shadow for education ask is around something negative,” Ms Lawler said.

Education Minister Eva Lawler defended her government’s grip over crime and anti-social behaviour in schools. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“It tells everybody out there that that’s a political statement, that’s all you’re interested in, instead of talking about outcomes for students, about the good things that are happening.

“I can assure you that our teachers and our schools are very safe environments, that our schools work extremely hard around the wellbeing of every single student.”

Education department staff told the hearings there had been 1381 individual students suspended from government schools in the past year.

The damage bill from the 215 school break-ins, which were recorded from July last year to the end of March, cost taxpayers about $800,000.

In the same period, 28 teachers reported a physical or verbal assault.

The CLP’s education spokeswoman and Katherine MLA Jo Hersey said the minister was trying to deflect questions on crime. Picture Glenn Campbell

Ms Hersey said it was another example of the government minimising the impact of crime, which Tourism Minister Nicole Manison was also accused of doing during her hearings on Tuesday.

“It says everything you need to know that when I asked about the safety of our staff, teachers and students Eva Lawler thought to shout down the room, calling it pathetic,” Ms Hersey said.

“What’s pathetic is that this Labor government continues to ignore the impact crime is having to our community.

“This year alone we have had eight knife crimes at our schools on her watch.

“Territorians should look at the minister’s behaviour and ask themselves is this how the person looking after our entire economy and our schools should behave?”

Originally published as NT budget estimates: Howard Springs damage bill, arrests revealed