During Budget Estimates, Labor Ministers did everything they could to get out of answering questions, taking almost 200 questions on notice. With Natasha Fyles unsurprisingly taking more questions on notice than any of her Ministers – taking over 40 questions on notice.
Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro said, “Today we can reveal more damning information our CLP Team have uncovered from Budget Estimates regarding the Howard Springs Facility with the return of those written questions.”
“From the get-go, Natasha Fyles and her government deliberately tried to downplay and deflect from the truth about the facility – in continuing to label extensive damage simply, “Wear & Tear”.
“Labor’s mismanagement of the Howard Springs Saga not only showed Territorians that this government can’t be trusted, but it let down the evacuees in the facility. With Police having to attend 145 incidents in under 60 days, including 67 reports of domestic violence.”
“The Chief Minister had a duty of care to keep these people safe and a responsibility to spend taxpayer’s money responsibly – she failed at both.”
“The timeline Labor’s Treasurer provided also simply doesn’t stack up. On the 5th of May, she told 9 News that her visit to the facility allowed her to tell her colleagues about the damage, leading to Nicole Manison breaking ranks and admitting “senseless destruction” at the facility.”
“However according to the Labor Treasurer Lawler’s own timeline, now confirmed in these written responses she visited the facility on the 21st of April. Meaning Nicole Manison admitted damage before Lawler’s visit to the facility. Labor knew what was going on, and chose to keep it secret.”
What we’ve uncovered:
- There were 67 reports of domestic violence incidents recorded at the CNR.
- 70 women and 20 children took refuge at the Safe Haven set up at the facility.
- 38 people were arrested at the facility.
- 12 people were apprehended by police and held in protective custody at the facility.
- Police attended and investigated a total of 145 reported incidents.
- Costs of taking evacuees to hospital is almost $149,000.
ENDS