Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I absolutely think they are needed, Senator Crossin. But they are laws that mean the permit system is no longer required. People like Senator Crossin say that you absolutely need the permit system so you can pull cars over. What I am saying is that significant legislation has been put in place that does just that. It gives the police powers not only to pull over people and ask, ‘Hi, how are you going—do you have a permit?’ but also to question people and to search the vehicle. I was pulled over the other day. I went out to have a look at a tree and a rock, as you do when you are in Alice Springs of an evening. On my return to Alice Springs the police stopped my car. They searched my car for alcohol and went right through the car—