Page 1471 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 17 April 1991
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MR MOORE: I ask a supplementary question. The Minister mentioned that we are going through a time of change. I think he missed the overriding point of the question, which is to say that we recognise all these consultations, but what is the Government's overview and how do these consultations fit into that overview? I think that is the critical question. How do they fit together in your vision of the future after you say what your vision of the future is? I said quite clearly in my initial question that I do not necessarily expect a full answer to that now, but I would appreciate a rather full answer, perhaps in a ministerial statement in the next sitting week, for example. Would you be prepared to take that on?
MR HUMPHRIES: The Government's aims can be quite clearly summarised as desiring to create a more effective and efficient school system which is affordable to the Territory in the future. That is a summary of our position. It does not need a ministerial statement to say that. It is very simple and straightforward and is dictated as much by the circumstances in which the Territory now finds itself as by any particular government policy. If it is considered necessary to amplify or elaborate on any of the matters within that statement, I am happy to do so and I will consider it on that basis; but at the moment I have to say that I cannot see any reason to elaborate on that basic concept.
Domestic Violence
MR JENSEN: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to Mr Collaery in his capacity as Attorney-General. What action has the Attorney taken to look at the issue of domestic violence from the perspective of the perpetrator?
Ms Follett: Didn't we try this one yesterday?
MR COLLAERY: I thank Mr Jensen for the question. Ms Follett again makes a frivolous comment about whether we tried it yesterday. I think we would all agree that the person who did try it yesterday seemed in need of care and assistance. That is a theme that I believe we need to develop - to adequately express our concern for domestic violence victims and to try to stop perpetrators doing it and to bring them around to understanding the nature of their acts.
Mr Speaker, whilst I was in Adelaide at a ministerial meeting recently - that was on 26 March - I took the opportunity also to meet with Alan Jenkins, a domestic violence therapist, to discuss domestic violence from the perpetrator's perspective. It had been suggested to me by a non-government agency that I should speak to this person. Mr Jenkins has written a book called Invitations to responsibility: the therapeutic engagement of men who are violent and abusive. He is a psychologist who uses systemic and developmental theories
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