Martin defends law and order plans

Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin has denied Country Liberal Party accusations that Labor's proposals to deal with anti-social behaviour are policy on the run.

The CLP's Stephen Dunham say this weekend's mailbox drops in Darwin make no reference to the proposed new anti-social behaviour laws.

Labor's proposal includes giving chronic drinkers who are regularly picked up by police the option of rehabilitation or jail.

Mr Dunham says that is not mentioned in the brochures.

"If the Chief Minister is correct in talking to one of her former ministers Jack Ah Kit about how important this was and the detail that they were going to put into it ... they would have it in policy," he said.

"The fact that it's missing vindicates our strong belief that this policy is being made up in the last couple of days."

But the Chief Minister says it takes time to print brochures.

"I've seen the brochures that are going out next week - it spells out exactly what we're doing and you don't put things in brochures before you've announced them," she said.

Ms Martin says the policy has been developed over a long period.

"We're proud of the policy, it'll be in brochures for everyone next week," she said.

"You'll find in campaigns that they're continuous, and once you get brochures printed they go out - sometimes there can be a delay in that - but the next lot are ready to go and they'll be going out next week."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jun 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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