Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And joining me in the studio right now is the
opposition leader Leothan Okiaro.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Good morning to your Leah.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
Good morning Katie or your wonderful listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Oh how good were the Matilda's last night?
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Very exciting?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hearing is so good?
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Dear quarter finals?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well what do you reckon?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Do you think that we should have a public holiday
if they make it to the Grand finals?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Why not?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
What's what's not to lose? Right?
Speaker 4 (00:20):
I'm sure that business says that'd be saying no.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
So exciting.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
It's a lot of good cheer though, and it invokes
that pride in all of us, even if you're not
a soccer fan or a particular sporting fan. It makes
you feel bloody proud to be Australian, it really does.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Yeah, like I was saying, my whole family was absolutely
into it last night, screaming at the television.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
But then that's how we watched us.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
You roll sorry for the neighbors and Katie's neighbors, just
like those houses have sold their vacant.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
And Jacqueline while we're yelling moving along because there is
so much to cover off and it has been a
massive weekend with the Darwin Cup and also Garma over
the weekend now out at Gama, the Prime Minister and
plenty of other Aussie leaders attended and spoke about the voice,
but support for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice has now
fallen below fifty percent in every state and is ahead
(01:11):
of the novosh in only two, with the referendum now
split heavily between age, education and state. That's according to
a news poll demographic analysis which was published by the
Australian newspaper. It shows the Yes case so far failing
to secure an absolute majority in any state. There's no
detail in that poll about the Northern Territory, but at
(01:33):
this stage the referendum based on current attitudes would fail
to meet both requirements.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Of a referendum.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So Leah, what do you make of this latest polling?
I mean, are you surprised by it?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
I'm not surprised at all.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
And this has been such a confusing debate around this referendum.
Labor have taken this to the people. They're the ones
who want to get it up, and yet they haven't
provided any detail. And right from day one I've been
saying people need more details. We want people to have
the information so they can make the best decision, and
of course if people don't know what it is, they
(02:05):
are very likely to vote no.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
That's just the reality of the situation.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
You know, we had a briefing with Senator MALANDERI McCarthy
months and months ago, and again she said at that
time that the detail will all be done after the referendum,
which people doesn't fly with people, And the Prime Minister
has now said the same thing, extending some sort of
you know, weak olive branch to the coalition saying, oh,
you guys can help design this. Well, it's all said
(02:31):
and done by then, and people want to note before
so that they can vote for exactly what it is
they're going to get, not for something that's going to
be left at the hands of politicians to decide.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
As you just mentioned.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
We know that those political leaders, including the Prime Minister
obviously at Garma on the weekend, like you just pointed out,
they've said that they're sort of you know, I guess,
giving an olive branch to the coalition and basically saying
that a guest result would be an endorsement for a
new political cooperation to design the body and dress indigenous disadvantage,
confirming that he would invite the Opposition leader Peter Dutton's input.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Do you think that that goes far enough? Would it
be enough?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
It's not because this is after the fact. So what
Labor is saying is no, no, trust does vote first,
then we'll work it out later. People don't operate in
that space of she'll be right, you.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Know, if people don't trust politicians, don't and you know, like, sorry,
you know, I know that you are one.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
But people don't trust politicians.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So they want to know what they're going to get.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
They want to know what they are going to get,
and then people can decide they're not going to accept
that Labor are going to come up with what it
looks like after the fact and having you know, pretending
to get input from other people. Really, you know, everyone
knows that they've got the numbers in Parliament. They'll design
it and do whatever they want to do, and people
aren't going to accept that kit. And I think though
(03:51):
that detail reflects that. It certainly reflects the conversations I've
had right around the territory.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
So is the CLP parliamentary wing any closer to deciding
if you will support the voice?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Well, we're just having a conscience vote on the issue obviously,
because we don't have to vote for it in parliament,
so it's not a party issue for us, it's.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
An individual issue.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
We'll have to go and vote on the election day
whenever Albo calls it.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
And because I guess in a lot.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Of other states, you know, they have determined whether it's
a whether it's a coalition, whether it's a labor party,
whether it's the actual party, whether it's the Parliamentary Wing.
They've decided whether they are or aren't supporting it. But
some guys are not going to.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
No, some have and some haven't.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
And again this is a federal issue. We all get
one vote, and we've just been making sure we're calling
on the federal government to provide the information, which clearly
they haven't. And you know, ultimately, I think the fact
that Albernezi hasn't put a date on this tells me
that he knows he's in hot water.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
But so, just to sort of pin you guys down
at this morning time, it doesn't sound like the COLP,
like the Parliamentary.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Wing, is going to determine yes or no, whether you.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Guys as a group, yes, are going to vot a
certain way.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
No, that's right.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
We're just individuals in this because it doesn't come to
our parliament. We will all be seven people putting seven
votes down on a piece of paper, and we certainly
won't be campaigning one way or the other. What we're
calling for is greater information for our communities because we
want people to be able to really clearly know what
they're voting for and that it just reflects Kater that
(05:21):
people don't know what they're voting for and that is
turning people away.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Is it at odds with the party, and particularly when
you've got such a strong voice like j just Enter Price,
who is the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs, who are
voting not no.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Because we're not in a yes camp or any camp.
This is not our campaign to run. We fully support
Senator Price and our party's position. This is just a
you know, it would be like voting in a federal
election or something like that, Katie.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
We would rock up at polling day.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
And just put our spot and number in the spot
and off we go.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
So certainly, at a territory level, we're really focused on
our economic issues. Obviously law and order plaguing the territory,
so that's our focus Equally a lot of people are
talking about the voice and we want people to have
more information.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Well, look, from what I can see here in the
Northern Territory, there are plenty of people who are yet
to decide how they're going to vote and if a
yes vote's actually going to make a difference on some
of those issues that we see here on the ground now.
One of those is housing. Steve Edgington, the Member for Barkley,
raised some concerns about housing in Tenant Creek over the weekend.
The ABC News yesterday reporting that a mum and her
(06:27):
three children had been forced to live in an abandoned
house on the outskirts of the town because there's nowhere
to live. Are you worried about the housing situation? Well,
firstly in Tenant Crekt, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Oh absolutely, Katie.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
I've been out there with Steve Edgington, the local member
out there and it is appalling. I mean, just literally
about a kilometer from Tenant Creek there are people living
in corrugated iron. You can't even call it a shed.
Your backyard shed would be better than these houses. They
don't have floors, it's just dirt. The roof doesn't even
touch the edge. Of the corrugated iron wall. Shocking situation,
(07:01):
and you know that goes for right across the Berkley
region and into Central Australia. I mean, for example, this
government in back in twenty twenty promised three million dollars
to build twelve one bed facilities for additional nurses. They've
promised five million dollars for additional alcohol rehabilitation for you know,
it's a six to eight year wait list if you
(07:23):
are waiting for public housing and Tenant Creek, so you know,
it's really just an area that's been totally forgotten by
labor and to think they had a labor local member
out there for thirty plus years is really shocking.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I mean. The thing is, though, it's not only a
concern in Tenant Creek. There's a lack of public, affordable
and just general housing in the Northern Territory right now.
We saw on Friday last week one project halted of
course at leadpoint due to environmental concerns and concerns raised
by Larakia elders.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
What did you make of that situation?
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Yeah, it certainly creates uncertainty and a lack of confidence
in people's ability to invest in and move forward. Here
in the terror and that's what you know, we're really
concerned that labor just don't understand how important it is
for there to be that business certainty, for there to
be affordable housing for people land release to make sure
that we can get especially you know, young people and
(08:13):
new entrants into the housing market. So again, it's just
just like what Labour have done with our gas industry
or our mining industry. You know, our housing is a
critical part that they've forgotten.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
And of course housing prices are through the route.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I mean, I know it was a federal decision.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
It's federal Labour's decision to halt that project, But if
you're in charge, would you have allowed that to happen.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Well, we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.
And I know I say that a lot, Katie, but
it's true. I mean, this has just been years and
years of saga. You know, processes needing to be followed,
people not being consulted, and the drama just goes on
and on. In the meantime, the end result is that
we were going to have less houses for defense personnel
that we absolutely need in the territory. And it sends
(08:55):
a really strong message to investors not to come here.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
How would you not be in the same situation, like,
how would you not be in a situation where consultation
has happened over a very long period of time. But
now you've got groups that have come out and said
that that's.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Not enough because you need to have the proper processes
to start with and the certainty. Now this government has
halted it at different times referred it to the federal government.
The federal government have gotten involved than the territory government
have gotten involved. It's just been an unbelievable mess, and
it seems that there's been no work being done by
the territory labor government to work with the stakeholders who
(09:30):
are concerned to try and resolve these issues, and so
it just ends up in limbo, like so many things
in our economy, which is no wonder. You've got Deloitte
and Concept and everyone else saying we're going backwards.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Leah.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
You know a lot of people will be wondering, well,
what's the CLP's housing plan.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Have you got one?
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Oh, Katie, we need more houses in the territory, There's
no question about it. We've still got loads to go,
say in North Crams down in Zacoli and my electorate.
I know this government is very focused on Holts and
that will remain to be seen because they put significant
investment in there and I'm not sure the plan backs
it up, Katie. But if we don't have more housing
(10:09):
stock into the market, we can't keep prices reasonable and
we can't attract people to the territory. They just can't
afford to live here.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So it's important what is the colp's plan with housing,
because it's not just about that housing like the private
investment in terms of housing on the market for everyday territories,
which obviously is it consumed, but it is about boosting
those public housing numbers and your social and affordable housing.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
That's right, and it's about getting the mix as well.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
So we see government knocking down loads of flats at
the moment, which you know, sure is fine, but are
they moving? You know, where are people moving to? And
so it's about having that mix of social housing. It's
about putting those blocks aside gentrification of areas.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
You know there are many.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
I mean if you talk to any of my colleagues,
they would tell you in their electorates there's public housing
sitting there fixed ready to go and no one moving in,
So looking at that existing stock and saying, hang on
a second, why is government sitting on this existing stock
and not moving people into home?
Speaker 1 (11:03):
So that's obviously part of it is looking at what's
already there, that existing stock. But has the COLP established
a housing plan yet? Because it sort of doesn't sound
like it. It sounds like you're talking about what they
should do differently, and that's a lot of the criticism
that we get of you and off the clps that
it's fine to throw stones, but they want to know
what you're going to do differently.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
So you know, if you want to talk about a
specific housing policy, we'll announce that next year closer to
the election. If you want to talk about what we
would do in terms of land release, you know we've
got our Approval's Fast Tracked Task Force which will see
approval times half across government. The Territory Coordinator will have
step in rights to facilitate and fast track investment. So
(11:41):
essentially we won't have the backup, the backlog, the clog,
the red tape and burden that this government has because
we recognize things need to be done quicker, more efficient
and at a lower cost, so that we can turn
off more product for people at a lower price point
and get people into the housing game.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
And in terms of trying to get people into public housing,
you know, to minimize those weight lists.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
What's the plan there? I mean, particularly when you look
at somewhere like Tenant Creek and what they're going through.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Well, for example, in Tenant Creek, I mean the three
million dollars that government announced in twenty twenty for twelve
one bed facilities for nurses. If those nurses went into
this new accommodation for nursing staff, then that would free up,
you know, stuff in the private sector as well. So
when you build something for one purpose, it relieves pressure
(12:31):
in another area. But what we've seen from territory labor
is just continual promises to spend money and the money
never seemingly gets spent in the areas where it's needed
the most.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Look, I think that housing it's going to be one
of those things like health that are issues that continue
to just float along at the moment, but come election
time they're going to be massive issues for a lot
of territories.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
We know that crime is one.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
That continues to be a huge issue, and another busy
weekend unfortunately for police. Last week we spoke a lot
about police resourcing and also concerns raised by the Police
Association following the raising of criminal age and changes to
the way in which we're.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Dealing with knife crime.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
So the Northern Territory Minister for Police, Kate Warden, said
on the show on Friday that police had had ample
time to prepare for the raised age law change in
terms of rolling out their training. The Acting Deputy Commissioner
Michael White conceded that there were some officers who hadn't
yet completed the training, but said he was comfortable that
(13:32):
frontline officers currently working in that field were properly trained. Lea,
are you satisfied with the rollout of these changes? Do
you think the Northern Territory Police have everything that they need?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Ah?
Speaker 1 (13:43):
No.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
And you know you couldn't trust this government as far
as you could throw them, Katie. I mean, the disdain
they seem to have for our police is palpable. Now
one to ninety seven percent of our police don't think
the territory labor governments support them. We've had some record
loan numbers coming out of the People Matter Survey and
now we've got the Police Association saying they were, you know,
(14:05):
blindsided effectively by the Bow Review, by the wanding legislation,
by the raising the age. And what we know is
that all of these things are just a continuation of
this government putting the rights of offenders above the rights
of people to be safe, which does not meet any
standard of community expectation and is not something we can
continue to do going forward. So we're very concerned about
(14:26):
raising the age. We are against that, we would reverse
that if elected next year. And ultimately, Katie, fifty three
cases were dropped from court. When that happened last week,
people's slates were white, clean, people were let out of jail,
let out of programs. It's just totally unbelievable that this
government has done this.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Leah.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
One of the really serious concerns as well that were
spoken about last week is those police.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Resources yet again.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Now we also learned that the terms of reference are
being worked upon and that that's got to get underway
before the end of the year. Is that soon enough
from your perspective, No, And we have been trying for
two or three years to get this police review happening.
I've tried to think seven times in Parliament now to
have a police review. Government have reluctantly come to the
(15:14):
table and promising that it'll be done by the end
of the year.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
But I was very concerned in estimates.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
When asking the Police Minister, she was making it sound
like that she was packaging up all the data and
they're going to provide it to someone to look at,
whereas I think an independent person should be able to
come in and get whatever data they need and do
a really thorough look. Because until we sort out police resourcing,
police morale, and the police crisis that we have, you know,
we can't go forward. It's a huge part of making
(15:40):
sure we've got a safest, stronger territory and driving down
crime by empowering our police is a big part of that.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
It seems like we're in this really difficult situation at
the moment where the Association is basically saying, you know,
things are really tough, and even with that later survey,
the People Matters survey, it is showing that there is still,
you know, really sort of a level of I guess
disheartedness from those Northern Territory police. But then you've got
(16:07):
the Minister saying, you know, we're doing this. We're doing
this and there's no concerns there.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
So I just don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
I just don't know how we kind of continue on
under the situation that we're currently in.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Well, when you have a minister pretending that everything's okay
and a police force in crisis, I mean, who.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Do you believe?
Speaker 4 (16:24):
I know who I believe, Katie, and it's our police.
I mean, fifty five percent completed that survey saying they
felt burnt out. Only sixteen percent felt that anything was
done based off the feedback they gave last year in
last year's survey, So there's that's a very low number.
And of course we know that this government continues to
(16:44):
blame police. We've got the Chief Minister constantly putting her
foot in her mouth blaming police around bail and all
sorts of other things. It's just they're not focused on this, Katie,
because they care more about criminals than they do about
the rest of us to live ours lives safely.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
That's the reality.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Well, Lea Finocchio, the opposition leader, we are going to
have to leave it there. Thank you as always for
your time.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Take care everyone. Thank you,
And joining me in the studio right now is the
opposition leader Leothan Okiaro.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Good morning to your Leah.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
Good morning Katie or your wonderful listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Oh how good were the Matilda's last night?
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Very exciting?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hearing is so good?
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Dear quarter finals?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well what do you reckon?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Do you think that we should have a public holiday
if they make it to the Grand finals?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Why not?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
What's what's not to lose? Right?
Speaker 4 (00:20):
I'm sure that business says that'd be saying no.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
So exciting.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
It's a lot of good cheer though, and it invokes
that pride in all of us, even if you're not
a soccer fan or a particular sporting fan. It makes
you feel bloody proud to be Australian, it really does.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Yeah, like I was saying, my whole family was absolutely
into it last night, screaming at the television.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
But then that's how we watched us.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
You roll sorry for the neighbors and Katie's neighbors, just
like those houses have sold their vacant.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
And Jacqueline while we're yelling moving along because there is
so much to cover off and it has been a
massive weekend with the Darwin Cup and also Garma over
the weekend now out at Gama, the Prime Minister and
plenty of other Aussie leaders attended and spoke about the voice,
but support for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice has now
fallen below fifty percent in every state and is ahead
(01:11):
of the novosh in only two, with the referendum now
split heavily between age, education and state. That's according to
a news poll demographic analysis which was published by the
Australian newspaper. It shows the Yes case so far failing
to secure an absolute majority in any state. There's no
detail in that poll about the Northern Territory, but at
(01:33):
this stage the referendum based on current attitudes would fail
to meet both requirements.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Of a referendum.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So Leah, what do you make of this latest polling?
I mean, are you surprised by it?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
I'm not surprised at all.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
And this has been such a confusing debate around this referendum.
Labor have taken this to the people. They're the ones
who want to get it up, and yet they haven't
provided any detail. And right from day one I've been
saying people need more details. We want people to have
the information so they can make the best decision, and
of course if people don't know what it is, they
(02:05):
are very likely to vote no.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
That's just the reality of the situation.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
You know, we had a briefing with Senator MALANDERI McCarthy
months and months ago, and again she said at that
time that the detail will all be done after the referendum,
which people doesn't fly with people, And the Prime Minister
has now said the same thing, extending some sort of
you know, weak olive branch to the coalition saying, oh,
you guys can help design this. Well, it's all said
(02:31):
and done by then, and people want to note before
so that they can vote for exactly what it is
they're going to get, not for something that's going to
be left at the hands of politicians to decide.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
As you just mentioned.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
We know that those political leaders, including the Prime Minister
obviously at Garma on the weekend, like you just pointed out,
they've said that they're sort of you know, I guess,
giving an olive branch to the coalition and basically saying
that a guest result would be an endorsement for a
new political cooperation to design the body and dress indigenous disadvantage,
confirming that he would invite the Opposition leader Peter Dutton's input.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Do you think that that goes far enough? Would it
be enough?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
It's not because this is after the fact. So what
Labor is saying is no, no, trust does vote first,
then we'll work it out later. People don't operate in
that space of she'll be right, you.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Know, if people don't trust politicians, don't and you know, like, sorry,
you know, I know that you are one.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
But people don't trust politicians.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So they want to know what they're going to get.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
They want to know what they are going to get,
and then people can decide they're not going to accept
that Labor are going to come up with what it
looks like after the fact and having you know, pretending
to get input from other people. Really, you know, everyone
knows that they've got the numbers in Parliament. They'll design
it and do whatever they want to do, and people
aren't going to accept that kit. And I think though
(03:51):
that detail reflects that. It certainly reflects the conversations I've
had right around the territory.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
So is the CLP parliamentary wing any closer to deciding
if you will support the voice?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Well, we're just having a conscience vote on the issue obviously,
because we don't have to vote for it in parliament,
so it's not a party issue for us, it's.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
An individual issue.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
We'll have to go and vote on the election day
whenever Albo calls it.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
And because I guess in a lot.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Of other states, you know, they have determined whether it's
a whether it's a coalition, whether it's a labor party,
whether it's the actual party, whether it's the Parliamentary Wing.
They've decided whether they are or aren't supporting it. But
some guys are not going to.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
No, some have and some haven't.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
And again this is a federal issue. We all get
one vote, and we've just been making sure we're calling
on the federal government to provide the information, which clearly
they haven't. And you know, ultimately, I think the fact
that Albernezi hasn't put a date on this tells me
that he knows he's in hot water.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
But so, just to sort of pin you guys down
at this morning time, it doesn't sound like the COLP,
like the Parliamentary.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Wing, is going to determine yes or no, whether you.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Guys as a group, yes, are going to vot a
certain way.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
No, that's right.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
We're just individuals in this because it doesn't come to
our parliament. We will all be seven people putting seven
votes down on a piece of paper, and we certainly
won't be campaigning one way or the other. What we're
calling for is greater information for our communities because we
want people to be able to really clearly know what
they're voting for and that it just reflects Kater that
(05:21):
people don't know what they're voting for and that is
turning people away.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Is it at odds with the party, and particularly when
you've got such a strong voice like j just Enter Price,
who is the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs, who are
voting not no.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Because we're not in a yes camp or any camp.
This is not our campaign to run. We fully support
Senator Price and our party's position. This is just a
you know, it would be like voting in a federal
election or something like that, Katie.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
We would rock up at polling day.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
And just put our spot and number in the spot
and off we go.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
So certainly, at a territory level, we're really focused on
our economic issues. Obviously law and order plaguing the territory,
so that's our focus Equally a lot of people are
talking about the voice and we want people to have
more information.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Well, look, from what I can see here in the
Northern Territory, there are plenty of people who are yet
to decide how they're going to vote and if a
yes vote's actually going to make a difference on some
of those issues that we see here on the ground now.
One of those is housing. Steve Edgington, the Member for Barkley,
raised some concerns about housing in Tenant Creek over the weekend.
The ABC News yesterday reporting that a mum and her
(06:27):
three children had been forced to live in an abandoned
house on the outskirts of the town because there's nowhere
to live. Are you worried about the housing situation? Well,
firstly in Tenant Crekt, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Oh absolutely, Katie.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
I've been out there with Steve Edgington, the local member
out there and it is appalling. I mean, just literally
about a kilometer from Tenant Creek there are people living
in corrugated iron. You can't even call it a shed.
Your backyard shed would be better than these houses. They
don't have floors, it's just dirt. The roof doesn't even
touch the edge. Of the corrugated iron wall. Shocking situation,
(07:01):
and you know that goes for right across the Berkley
region and into Central Australia. I mean, for example, this
government in back in twenty twenty promised three million dollars
to build twelve one bed facilities for additional nurses. They've
promised five million dollars for additional alcohol rehabilitation for you know,
it's a six to eight year wait list if you
(07:23):
are waiting for public housing and Tenant Creek, so you know,
it's really just an area that's been totally forgotten by
labor and to think they had a labor local member
out there for thirty plus years is really shocking.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I mean. The thing is, though, it's not only a
concern in Tenant Creek. There's a lack of public, affordable
and just general housing in the Northern Territory right now.
We saw on Friday last week one project halted of
course at leadpoint due to environmental concerns and concerns raised
by Larakia elders.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
What did you make of that situation?
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Yeah, it certainly creates uncertainty and a lack of confidence
in people's ability to invest in and move forward. Here
in the terror and that's what you know, we're really
concerned that labor just don't understand how important it is
for there to be that business certainty, for there to
be affordable housing for people land release to make sure
that we can get especially you know, young people and
(08:13):
new entrants into the housing market. So again, it's just
just like what Labour have done with our gas industry
or our mining industry. You know, our housing is a
critical part that they've forgotten.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
And of course housing prices are through the route.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I mean, I know it was a federal decision.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
It's federal Labour's decision to halt that project, But if
you're in charge, would you have allowed that to happen.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Well, we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.
And I know I say that a lot, Katie, but
it's true. I mean, this has just been years and
years of saga. You know, processes needing to be followed,
people not being consulted, and the drama just goes on
and on. In the meantime, the end result is that
we were going to have less houses for defense personnel
that we absolutely need in the territory. And it sends
(08:55):
a really strong message to investors not to come here.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
How would you not be in the same situation, like,
how would you not be in a situation where consultation
has happened over a very long period of time. But
now you've got groups that have come out and said
that that's.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Not enough because you need to have the proper processes
to start with and the certainty. Now this government has
halted it at different times referred it to the federal government.
The federal government have gotten involved than the territory government
have gotten involved. It's just been an unbelievable mess, and
it seems that there's been no work being done by
the territory labor government to work with the stakeholders who
(09:30):
are concerned to try and resolve these issues, and so
it just ends up in limbo, like so many things
in our economy, which is no wonder. You've got Deloitte
and Concept and everyone else saying we're going backwards.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Leah.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
You know a lot of people will be wondering, well,
what's the CLP's housing plan.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Have you got one?
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Oh, Katie, we need more houses in the territory, There's
no question about it. We've still got loads to go,
say in North Crams down in Zacoli and my electorate.
I know this government is very focused on Holts and
that will remain to be seen because they put significant
investment in there and I'm not sure the plan backs
it up, Katie. But if we don't have more housing
(10:09):
stock into the market, we can't keep prices reasonable and
we can't attract people to the territory. They just can't
afford to live here.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So it's important what is the colp's plan with housing,
because it's not just about that housing like the private
investment in terms of housing on the market for everyday territories,
which obviously is it consumed, but it is about boosting
those public housing numbers and your social and affordable housing.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
That's right, and it's about getting the mix as well.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
So we see government knocking down loads of flats at
the moment, which you know, sure is fine, but are
they moving? You know, where are people moving to? And
so it's about having that mix of social housing. It's
about putting those blocks aside gentrification of areas.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
You know there are many.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
I mean if you talk to any of my colleagues,
they would tell you in their electorates there's public housing
sitting there fixed ready to go and no one moving in,
So looking at that existing stock and saying, hang on
a second, why is government sitting on this existing stock
and not moving people into home?
Speaker 1 (11:03):
So that's obviously part of it is looking at what's
already there, that existing stock. But has the COLP established
a housing plan yet? Because it sort of doesn't sound
like it. It sounds like you're talking about what they
should do differently, and that's a lot of the criticism
that we get of you and off the clps that
it's fine to throw stones, but they want to know
what you're going to do differently.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
So you know, if you want to talk about a
specific housing policy, we'll announce that next year closer to
the election. If you want to talk about what we
would do in terms of land release, you know we've
got our Approval's Fast Tracked Task Force which will see
approval times half across government. The Territory Coordinator will have
step in rights to facilitate and fast track investment. So
(11:41):
essentially we won't have the backup, the backlog, the clog,
the red tape and burden that this government has because
we recognize things need to be done quicker, more efficient
and at a lower cost, so that we can turn
off more product for people at a lower price point
and get people into the housing game.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
And in terms of trying to get people into public housing,
you know, to minimize those weight lists.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
What's the plan there? I mean, particularly when you look
at somewhere like Tenant Creek and what they're going through.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Well, for example, in Tenant Creek, I mean the three
million dollars that government announced in twenty twenty for twelve
one bed facilities for nurses. If those nurses went into
this new accommodation for nursing staff, then that would free up,
you know, stuff in the private sector as well. So
when you build something for one purpose, it relieves pressure
(12:31):
in another area. But what we've seen from territory labor
is just continual promises to spend money and the money
never seemingly gets spent in the areas where it's needed
the most.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Look, I think that housing it's going to be one
of those things like health that are issues that continue
to just float along at the moment, but come election
time they're going to be massive issues for a lot
of territories.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
We know that crime is one.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
That continues to be a huge issue, and another busy
weekend unfortunately for police. Last week we spoke a lot
about police resourcing and also concerns raised by the Police
Association following the raising of criminal age and changes to
the way in which we're.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Dealing with knife crime.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
So the Northern Territory Minister for Police, Kate Warden, said
on the show on Friday that police had had ample
time to prepare for the raised age law change in
terms of rolling out their training. The Acting Deputy Commissioner
Michael White conceded that there were some officers who hadn't
yet completed the training, but said he was comfortable that
(13:32):
frontline officers currently working in that field were properly trained. Lea,
are you satisfied with the rollout of these changes? Do
you think the Northern Territory Police have everything that they need?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Ah?
Speaker 1 (13:43):
No.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
And you know you couldn't trust this government as far
as you could throw them, Katie. I mean, the disdain
they seem to have for our police is palpable. Now
one to ninety seven percent of our police don't think
the territory labor governments support them. We've had some record
loan numbers coming out of the People Matter Survey and
now we've got the Police Association saying they were, you know,
(14:05):
blindsided effectively by the Bow Review, by the wanding legislation,
by the raising the age. And what we know is
that all of these things are just a continuation of
this government putting the rights of offenders above the rights
of people to be safe, which does not meet any
standard of community expectation and is not something we can
continue to do going forward. So we're very concerned about
(14:26):
raising the age. We are against that, we would reverse
that if elected next year. And ultimately, Katie, fifty three
cases were dropped from court. When that happened last week,
people's slates were white, clean, people were let out of jail,
let out of programs. It's just totally unbelievable that this
government has done this.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Leah.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
One of the really serious concerns as well that were
spoken about last week is those police.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Resources yet again.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Now we also learned that the terms of reference are
being worked upon and that that's got to get underway
before the end of the year. Is that soon enough
from your perspective, No, And we have been trying for
two or three years to get this police review happening.
I've tried to think seven times in Parliament now to
have a police review. Government have reluctantly come to the
(15:14):
table and promising that it'll be done by the end
of the year.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
But I was very concerned in estimates.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
When asking the Police Minister, she was making it sound
like that she was packaging up all the data and
they're going to provide it to someone to look at,
whereas I think an independent person should be able to
come in and get whatever data they need and do
a really thorough look. Because until we sort out police resourcing,
police morale, and the police crisis that we have, you know,
we can't go forward. It's a huge part of making
(15:40):
sure we've got a safest, stronger territory and driving down
crime by empowering our police is a big part of that.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
It seems like we're in this really difficult situation at
the moment where the Association is basically saying, you know,
things are really tough, and even with that later survey,
the People Matters survey, it is showing that there is still,
you know, really sort of a level of I guess
disheartedness from those Northern Territory police. But then you've got
(16:07):
the Minister saying, you know, we're doing this. We're doing
this and there's no concerns there.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
So I just don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
I just don't know how we kind of continue on
under the situation that we're currently in.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Well, when you have a minister pretending that everything's okay
and a police force in crisis, I mean, who.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Do you believe?
Speaker 4 (16:24):
I know who I believe, Katie, and it's our police.
I mean, fifty five percent completed that survey saying they
felt burnt out. Only sixteen percent felt that anything was
done based off the feedback they gave last year in
last year's survey, So there's that's a very low number.
And of course we know that this government continues to
(16:44):
blame police. We've got the Chief Minister constantly putting her
foot in her mouth blaming police around bail and all
sorts of other things. It's just they're not focused on this, Katie,
because they care more about criminals than they do about
the rest of us to live ours lives safely.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
That's the reality.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Well, Lea Finocchio, the opposition leader, we are going to
have to leave it there. Thank you as always for
your time.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Take care everyone. Thank you,
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