Security beefed up after invasion

An armed police officer was stationed at the front desk of Parliament House yesterday in the wake of an invasion of the Legislative Assembly.

Additional security guards were also on patrol around the building after 11 protesters stormed the chamber on Tuesday.

Speaker Loraine Braham said the additional police and security presence would be maintained until at least the end of the Parliamentary sittings next Thursday.

She said it was important for the Assembly to provide the right balance between properly securing the building and maintaining public access.

Ms Braham told the Northern Territory News the protesters at the centre of the raid would be issued with trespass notices banning them from the Assembly for 12 months.

The protesters were complaining about the Government’s tough new anti-drug laws.

Ms Braham said that at the end of sittings next week Legislative Assembly building management directors would review long-term security.

She said wooden doors at the front of the Assembly entrance would remain locked for the remainder of the sittings.

“People like staff members and advisers exit and enter through those doors and we don’t want to make access too difficult for them.

“We’re looking at how we can develop electronic access.”

Ms Braham said it was important not to restrict access to members of the public visiting the library which was located across the Main Hall from the Assembly chamber.

Newshawk: Fiona Clarke
Pubdate: 16 May 2002
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: John Loizou
Copyright: 2002 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/