Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, it's been a massive week in politics, there is
no doubt about that. And we've not yet had the
chance to catch up with the opposition leader to talk
about the reshuffle security being utilized in Darwin and that
report on four Corners or the Coronial inquest which continues.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
On at the moment.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
So joining me in the studio is the Opposition leader
Leah fanochi ara O.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Goodboarding to you, Leah.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Good morning Cadian to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Now, Leah, it has been described as what's required right
now as a radical shift in operations. That's the only
option for the Northern Territory Police going forward. That is
what a senior police officers revealed in light of the
revelations at this inquest into domestic violence in the Northern Territory.
The Acting Deputy Commissioner, Michael White has supported the introduction
(00:44):
of a co response model which would have police working
alongside domestic violence specialists and boosting cooperation between services. So
this is I mean, we know that the inquest continues.
We are seeing and hearing some terror a terrible things
in this inquest, but one thing is for certain, we
(01:04):
need to make some real change in this space. Leah,
what do you make of the comments that the Acting
Deputy Commissioner Michael White has made.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Look, I've got no doubt that there are ways in
which police, in their responding to DV could look at
how they can better provide support. That's no criticism of
our police. There's always room to do things better. So
I think the inquest is clearly shedding some light on that,
and we've got those comments from the Acting Commissioner. But
(01:33):
ultimately these are all issues at the at the end
stage once domestic violence has been perpetrated, and I think
the big piece missing is actually why is domestic violence increasing?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Now?
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Since labor have been in power, domestic violence has gone
up eighty percent.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
That's in the last seven years. Katie.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's to you, what's your massive issue. What do you
think that that's as a result of.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I think it's a result of alcohol fuel violence and
growth in alcohol fueled harm and failure in alcohol policy.
See amongst a range of factors, Like, you know, it
could be inadequate housing. You know, the social economics of
a person's life situation. And that's why things like having
a strong economy and a safe community are so important
(02:15):
because we need to be dealing with the root causes
of some of these.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Very serious issues.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
And so whilst we can have better laws, we can
have better responses, we can have you know, new ways
of doing business. Once domestic violence has happened, we really
need to be making sure that we've got young people
engaged in school, understanding respectful relationships and not becoming perpetrators
of domestic violence.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Leah. We know that the Northern Territory government did last
week introduce some legislation in this space. There is a
real call here though for additional funding as well when
it comes to domestic violence. They keep talking about needs
based funding from the federal government. But what would the
opposition do differently, What do you think needs to happen.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Well, I think there's a lot of mystery around domestic
violence funding from territory labor, so it be certainly something
we have to unpeak once, you know, if we're elected
in August, Katie.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
But needs based funding is important.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
The federal government do have a huge role to play
and no government of any stripes is going to knock
back federal funding. But ultimately, like I said, there are
other ways in which the territory government can influence a stronger,
safer community, and that includes making sure that we've got
kids in schools, that there's adequate housing, that people have
jobs and opportunities into the future, and that respectful relationships
(03:30):
are something that is a really critical part of our
community and the fabric.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Marcia Langton also called in that in quest yesterday or
certainly said in that in quest yesterday or the day
before that we need some stronger changes when it comes
to alcohol and the way in which we're dealing with
alcohol across the territory.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
What do you think we need to do in this space.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Do you think that we actually need to look at
having you know, licenses right across the Northern Territory or
permits per se if you want to actually drink.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
I don't think the answer is more alcohol restrictions, and
certainly we don't subscribe to the view that you've got
to punish everyone for the bad behavior of a few,
and so that's not something we're looking to implement because
it doesn't deal with the issue. Again, it's stuff at
the pointy end. The CLP has been very clear in
its policy around compulsory alcohol treatment, and we believe people
(04:20):
who are severely affected by alcohol chronically addicted need to
be supported to deal with that addiction, because that will
in and of itself drive down hospital presentations, drive down
police call outs.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
An alcohol treatment facility, have we actually got what we
need if we're going to have mandatory or you know,
compulsory alcohol treatment, are we going to need to build
a facility where they can actually go or is there
adequate resourcing currently?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
I don't necessarily think there needs to be a separate facility,
And I was just in Alice Springs earlier this week
and I went and visited DASA out there. There's no
question though that there is strain on existing service providers.
So that's something that requires as a look at, because
we certainly need more beds even at this stage now.
But that doesn't escape the fact that if we don't
(05:06):
deal with people's alcoholism, we're not going to deal with
their alcohol fuel violence and offending, and that intrinsic link
between domestic and family violence and alcohol violence. So I
think a huge part of that puzzle is dependence on alcohol,
dealing with addiction, getting people engaged well in work and
having a really purposeful life.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
All right, Lea, let's move along, because there's been some
massive changes this week to the Northern Terratoric cabinet. Some
concerns have been raised by the likes of the Police Association.
When you talk about elevating a junior minister to the
police portfolio, which many see as being the most important
portfolio right.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Now, what do you make of the changes?
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Well, it's certainly a government trying really desperately to rebadge
and refresh. But what we know is two junior ministers
are given such significant portfolios really shows a lack of
commitment from the leadership at the top to with the
biggest issues in the territory. So we were very disappointed
for our police. It's just another kick in the guts
for them, Katie. And ultimately, you know, mister Potter has
(06:09):
said he's not going to be making any immediate changes,
which is exactly what needs to happen in our community
and have police are crying out for more power, greater laws,
more consequences for offending, for their rights to be saved,
to be put above the rights of criminals, and yet
we've got more of the same and a total devaluing
of the police portfolio to the most junior ministry.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
So I guess the other argument here is or the
other line of thinking is that they're putting in some
fresh faces and ultimately hopefully some energy and some new
ideas in these areas.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Do you not buy that.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
I think this is a greater shift to the left,
and I think that's something that Territorians are sick and
tired of.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I don't know that there. I really have no.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Confidence in this government to get anything right up until August.
They've had seven years to listen to the community and
they've failed. And two people who've been sitting on the
back bench and are now in cabinet is not going
to have the seismic shift that labor need to get
the territory back on track. And we remain focused on
being on the ground, listening to the community, hearing their
(07:13):
calls for a safe and strong territory, cost of living ease,
and of course having the.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Jobs and opportunities of the future.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
And that's what we'll be prosecuting over the next ten
months to make sure people understand that it's only through
a change of government that will change the territory.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Where are you going to change portfolios around with your
members to sort of match up to what they've done.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
So my team remains solid.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
We just have mirrored the shadow portfolio names to match
government just for ease of administration, because of course as
an opposition we're really constrained by what government allow.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Us to do. So that's just a basic administrative issue.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
But certainly if we were to be elected in August
next year, we would not be adopting the models that
Labor have and we'll be putting a very fresh look
on what the territory of the future looks like.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
What about this separation though, of police and fireries. Do
you think that that's a good move.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
I know that there has been a lot of talk
about this for a number of years and I'm certainly
open minded to it. The problem is that there's no detail,
and so again this is a government desperate to make
it look like they're taking action when really they're not.
So it's a separation in name only at this point, Katie,
and we'll have to see the detail.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Well, this is the thing we did ask some questions
yesterday around that detail. There's obviously going to need to
be legislation introduced to Parliament. There will need to be
legislative changes, but also looking at the budget, is there
going to need to be an increased budget to the fires.
If they're going to be a standalone agency, do you
think they need an increase to their budget.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Well, there's no question that our fieries have been ignored
by labor and you only have to talk to the
fireries to know how upset they are and of course
how under resource they are as well. Now this is
a game, just like our police frontline services being left
behind under successive labor governments.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
And ultimately we're very keen to look at the detail.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
We will support any thing that makes our community safe strong.
I can guarantee people we won't be finding this if
we think it's a good idea, but we'll be.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Holding them to account if it's not.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
And ultimately, what we've seen as a reshuffle with no detail,
which means no action.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Once again, just.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
On the fire's budget and on those budgets and making
sure that frontline services are adequately resourced. I mean, if
you do take off for as a chief minister, how
are you going to do that, because you're not going
to have more money than what this mob's currently got.
In fact, you've said that you need to rain in
the spending and you need to actually to do that,
presumably it's through minimizing some of those operating budgets. So
(09:35):
how are you going to make sure that people like
the police and the fieries are more adequately resourced if
you don't have more money.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Good question, and it's about priorities.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
And I have made my priorities as a future Chief
Minister in August that our priorities around community safety and
it absolutely has to be. Our priority is not four
million dollar playgrounds or above ground underground car parks or
shadeless shade structures pies. Art priority is about supporting frontline workers,
making the territory safe, growing our economy, ensuring people can
(10:08):
afford to live here, and having a community where we're
proud to be territory in again, because we have so
much to offer, Katie. And at the moment, people's hearts
are broken, they're in despair and they're questioning their ability
to live here into the future. And that's not a
territory I see. I see as strong territory where people
are safe and we live in freedom.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Again.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
What about things like the museum in Central Australia. I
know that there's been people asking questions about, well, firstly,
whether we need a museum or right not a museum
and art gallery I should say my wrong words, an
art gallery up here in the top end, but also
the art gallery in Central Australia. I mean their enormous
amounts of money. Would you stop things like that from happening.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
The art gallery in Alice Springs has been a project
of significance for far too long. It should be built
and operational already, and certainly in my view it takes
a much bigger priority than having an art gallery here
in the CBD. But again it comes down to the
priorities of this government who are ignoring our regions. And
ultimately what we want to see in Alas Springs is
(11:07):
new infrastructure that brings people into the Red Center for longer.
That means they spend more money in our local communities,
create activation in our streets and that's what we want
for a vibrance Central Australia.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
So we're committed to that project.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
And again these things are expensive, but it's about prioritizing
what's most important first. And of course people in our
regions right across the territory feel totally abandoned by labor LEA.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Let's look a little closer at that four quarters report
that happened earlier in the week.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Did you watch it?
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Yes, yes, and there's been very interesting commentary coming out
of it.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Katie.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
I think ultimately, when you stand back and look at it,
this is symptomatic of failure under Labor.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
We know that crime is out of control.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
They've been unable to support and resource our police, and
so the advent of this security force that we haven't
seen before has come into play because Labor have failed
to deal with the big issues. Now would I keep
them on the straights? They have an important role to play.
We could not just remove them. But that's symptomatic of
the problems, and so our focus is on restoring community
(12:10):
safety through stronger laws. We want to see the age
of criminal responsibility lowered, police empowered to deal with public
drinking and problem drunks. There's a whole range of measures
where we can give police greater power, resource them properly,
drive down crime and therefore drive down the need for
security being rolled out in the way it is.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Leah, the Chief Minister, reckons it's only costing two million
dollars out of a community safety budget of a billion dollars.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Do you think that that figure is accurate.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
I don't think that figure could possibly be accurate, Katie.
We know, just stretching my memory, I thought it was
about a million dollars just for the security services being.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Delivered out in Karama and Malac, but.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I'd have to check that. But that's just stretching my memory.
And yet we've got security in Alice Springs, We've got
security and Palmerston right across the CBD and Northern suburbs.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
So it's an important frontline service.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
We know our police are needing extra eyes and ears
because there aren't enough police. But this is again a
symptom of a problem from a labor government that's failed
to support our police, failed to resource them properly, and
failed to drive down crime.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Just to confirm you are committing that you would not
remove those security from the straits if I mean, if
you're elected, because a lot of businesses actually see this
as a really positive thing.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Absolutely no.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
And like I said that, the advent of this service,
if if you'd like to call it, that has come
out of the fact that we've got too much crime
and not enough police. And so our focus is not
on continuing to resource the problem.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
We want to solve it.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
So by driving down crime and supporting our police, these
things will naturally adjust and that's what we want. We
want less crime, which means less need for these types
of add on services.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
We are the ABC reporting the Northern Territory government sees
that it's persevering with plans to arm private security guards
with capsicums, despite criticism I should say from the Police
Association that it's fraught with danger. So as we know
four Corners, as we've just discussed, you know that footage
of security guards in Darwin, and they well they're contracted
(14:14):
of course by the Northern Territory government, but by the
look of it, the Chief Minister said this week that
while that vision was confronting her Deputy Nicole Madison has
said that they're still planning to move ahead with their
commitment to legislate to allow private security guards to carry
capsica and spray.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Should they Yeah, I don't know about this one, Katie.
We know that government announced it would allow transit security
officers on buses and that there would be some crowd
controllers and we know right now, I mean, let's not
forget these were commitments made in March after the tragic
death of Deckl and Lavity and so yet to this day,
crowd controllers still don't have the opportunity to use capsicum
(14:53):
spray and for Nicole Madison to come out yesterday instead
of make it sound like it's going to be any
in all security guards certainly raises an eyebrow. That sounds
like a new announcement to me, Katie, And we're certainly
tracking that back and looking into it. But again, this
government can't even implement the commitments it made originally going
back in March, let alone tacking on ever expanding commitments
(15:15):
going forward.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Now before I let you go very quick one, the
Prime Minister is coming to town tomorrow. What are you
hoping to see or hear from the PM when he's here.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Well, I think he's coming to town to once again
tell Natasha Files how to do her job.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
That seems to.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Me, Wow, what do you think he's going to do?
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (15:31):
I think clearly a crime is out of control.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
Clearly, I'm sure they'll be having an interesting conversation about
the fallout from the voice. And we know that the
Prime Minister comes to town when Natasha Files fails, just
like with the ending of stronger futures, so it'll probably
be a fleeting visit Katie where he tells labor to
pull their head in because it's making him look bad
and ultimately territories won't be any the better off for it.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Well, we'll wait and see, I suppose. I don't know
whether there will be any announcement or.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Not, but no doubt we We'll hopefully hear from the
Prime Minister while he's here. Lea Fanoccuiaro, the opposition leader,
always good to speak to you.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Thank you, Thanks Katie, Take care everyone,
Well, it's been a massive week in politics, there is
no doubt about that. And we've not yet had the
chance to catch up with the opposition leader to talk
about the reshuffle security being utilized in Darwin and that
report on four Corners or the Coronial inquest which continues.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
On at the moment.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
So joining me in the studio is the Opposition leader
Leah fanochi ara O.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Goodboarding to you, Leah.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Good morning Cadian to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Now, Leah, it has been described as what's required right
now as a radical shift in operations. That's the only
option for the Northern Territory Police going forward. That is
what a senior police officers revealed in light of the
revelations at this inquest into domestic violence in the Northern Territory.
The Acting Deputy Commissioner, Michael White has supported the introduction
(00:44):
of a co response model which would have police working
alongside domestic violence specialists and boosting cooperation between services. So
this is I mean, we know that the inquest continues.
We are seeing and hearing some terror a terrible things
in this inquest, but one thing is for certain, we
(01:04):
need to make some real change in this space. Leah,
what do you make of the comments that the Acting
Deputy Commissioner Michael White has made.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Look, I've got no doubt that there are ways in
which police, in their responding to DV could look at
how they can better provide support. That's no criticism of
our police. There's always room to do things better. So
I think the inquest is clearly shedding some light on that,
and we've got those comments from the Acting Commissioner. But
(01:33):
ultimately these are all issues at the at the end
stage once domestic violence has been perpetrated, and I think
the big piece missing is actually why is domestic violence increasing?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Now?
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Since labor have been in power, domestic violence has gone
up eighty percent.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
That's in the last seven years. Katie.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's to you, what's your massive issue. What do you
think that that's as a result of.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I think it's a result of alcohol fuel violence and
growth in alcohol fueled harm and failure in alcohol policy.
See amongst a range of factors, Like, you know, it
could be inadequate housing. You know, the social economics of
a person's life situation. And that's why things like having
a strong economy and a safe community are so important
(02:15):
because we need to be dealing with the root causes
of some of these.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Very serious issues.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
And so whilst we can have better laws, we can
have better responses, we can have you know, new ways
of doing business. Once domestic violence has happened, we really
need to be making sure that we've got young people
engaged in school, understanding respectful relationships and not becoming perpetrators
of domestic violence.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Leah. We know that the Northern Territory government did last
week introduce some legislation in this space. There is a
real call here though for additional funding as well when
it comes to domestic violence. They keep talking about needs
based funding from the federal government. But what would the
opposition do differently, What do you think needs to happen.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Well, I think there's a lot of mystery around domestic
violence funding from territory labor, so it be certainly something
we have to unpeak once, you know, if we're elected
in August, Katie.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
But needs based funding is important.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
The federal government do have a huge role to play
and no government of any stripes is going to knock
back federal funding. But ultimately, like I said, there are
other ways in which the territory government can influence a stronger,
safer community, and that includes making sure that we've got
kids in schools, that there's adequate housing, that people have
jobs and opportunities into the future, and that respectful relationships
(03:30):
are something that is a really critical part of our
community and the fabric.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Marcia Langton also called in that in quest yesterday or
certainly said in that in quest yesterday or the day
before that we need some stronger changes when it comes
to alcohol and the way in which we're dealing with
alcohol across the territory.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
What do you think we need to do in this space.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Do you think that we actually need to look at
having you know, licenses right across the Northern Territory or
permits per se if you want to actually drink.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
I don't think the answer is more alcohol restrictions, and
certainly we don't subscribe to the view that you've got
to punish everyone for the bad behavior of a few,
and so that's not something we're looking to implement because
it doesn't deal with the issue. Again, it's stuff at
the pointy end. The CLP has been very clear in
its policy around compulsory alcohol treatment, and we believe people
(04:20):
who are severely affected by alcohol chronically addicted need to
be supported to deal with that addiction, because that will
in and of itself drive down hospital presentations, drive down
police call outs.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
An alcohol treatment facility, have we actually got what we
need if we're going to have mandatory or you know,
compulsory alcohol treatment, are we going to need to build
a facility where they can actually go or is there
adequate resourcing currently?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
I don't necessarily think there needs to be a separate facility,
And I was just in Alice Springs earlier this week
and I went and visited DASA out there. There's no
question though that there is strain on existing service providers.
So that's something that requires as a look at, because
we certainly need more beds even at this stage now.
But that doesn't escape the fact that if we don't
(05:06):
deal with people's alcoholism, we're not going to deal with
their alcohol fuel violence and offending, and that intrinsic link
between domestic and family violence and alcohol violence. So I
think a huge part of that puzzle is dependence on alcohol,
dealing with addiction, getting people engaged well in work and
having a really purposeful life.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
All right, Lea, let's move along, because there's been some
massive changes this week to the Northern Terratoric cabinet. Some
concerns have been raised by the likes of the Police Association.
When you talk about elevating a junior minister to the
police portfolio, which many see as being the most important
portfolio right.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Now, what do you make of the changes?
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Well, it's certainly a government trying really desperately to rebadge
and refresh. But what we know is two junior ministers
are given such significant portfolios really shows a lack of
commitment from the leadership at the top to with the
biggest issues in the territory. So we were very disappointed
for our police. It's just another kick in the guts
for them, Katie. And ultimately, you know, mister Potter has
(06:09):
said he's not going to be making any immediate changes,
which is exactly what needs to happen in our community
and have police are crying out for more power, greater laws,
more consequences for offending, for their rights to be saved,
to be put above the rights of criminals, and yet
we've got more of the same and a total devaluing
of the police portfolio to the most junior ministry.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
So I guess the other argument here is or the
other line of thinking is that they're putting in some
fresh faces and ultimately hopefully some energy and some new
ideas in these areas.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Do you not buy that.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
I think this is a greater shift to the left,
and I think that's something that Territorians are sick and
tired of.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I don't know that there. I really have no.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Confidence in this government to get anything right up until August.
They've had seven years to listen to the community and
they've failed. And two people who've been sitting on the
back bench and are now in cabinet is not going
to have the seismic shift that labor need to get
the territory back on track. And we remain focused on
being on the ground, listening to the community, hearing their
(07:13):
calls for a safe and strong territory, cost of living ease,
and of course having the.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Jobs and opportunities of the future.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
And that's what we'll be prosecuting over the next ten
months to make sure people understand that it's only through
a change of government that will change the territory.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Where are you going to change portfolios around with your
members to sort of match up to what they've done.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
So my team remains solid.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
We just have mirrored the shadow portfolio names to match
government just for ease of administration, because of course as
an opposition we're really constrained by what government allow.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Us to do. So that's just a basic administrative issue.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
But certainly if we were to be elected in August
next year, we would not be adopting the models that
Labor have and we'll be putting a very fresh look
on what the territory of the future looks like.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
What about this separation though, of police and fireries. Do
you think that that's a good move.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
I know that there has been a lot of talk
about this for a number of years and I'm certainly
open minded to it. The problem is that there's no detail,
and so again this is a government desperate to make
it look like they're taking action when really they're not.
So it's a separation in name only at this point, Katie,
and we'll have to see the detail.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Well, this is the thing we did ask some questions
yesterday around that detail. There's obviously going to need to
be legislation introduced to Parliament. There will need to be
legislative changes, but also looking at the budget, is there
going to need to be an increased budget to the fires.
If they're going to be a standalone agency, do you
think they need an increase to their budget.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Well, there's no question that our fieries have been ignored
by labor and you only have to talk to the
fireries to know how upset they are and of course
how under resource they are as well. Now this is
a game, just like our police frontline services being left
behind under successive labor governments.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
And ultimately we're very keen to look at the detail.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
We will support any thing that makes our community safe strong.
I can guarantee people we won't be finding this if
we think it's a good idea, but we'll be.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Holding them to account if it's not.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
And ultimately, what we've seen as a reshuffle with no detail,
which means no action.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Once again, just.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
On the fire's budget and on those budgets and making
sure that frontline services are adequately resourced. I mean, if
you do take off for as a chief minister, how
are you going to do that, because you're not going
to have more money than what this mob's currently got.
In fact, you've said that you need to rain in
the spending and you need to actually to do that,
presumably it's through minimizing some of those operating budgets. So
(09:35):
how are you going to make sure that people like
the police and the fieries are more adequately resourced if
you don't have more money.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Good question, and it's about priorities.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
And I have made my priorities as a future Chief
Minister in August that our priorities around community safety and
it absolutely has to be. Our priority is not four
million dollar playgrounds or above ground underground car parks or
shadeless shade structures pies. Art priority is about supporting frontline workers,
making the territory safe, growing our economy, ensuring people can
(10:08):
afford to live here, and having a community where we're
proud to be territory in again, because we have so
much to offer, Katie. And at the moment, people's hearts
are broken, they're in despair and they're questioning their ability
to live here into the future. And that's not a
territory I see. I see as strong territory where people
are safe and we live in freedom.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Again.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
What about things like the museum in Central Australia. I
know that there's been people asking questions about, well, firstly,
whether we need a museum or right not a museum
and art gallery I should say my wrong words, an
art gallery up here in the top end, but also
the art gallery in Central Australia. I mean their enormous
amounts of money. Would you stop things like that from happening.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
The art gallery in Alice Springs has been a project
of significance for far too long. It should be built
and operational already, and certainly in my view it takes
a much bigger priority than having an art gallery here
in the CBD. But again it comes down to the
priorities of this government who are ignoring our regions. And
ultimately what we want to see in Alas Springs is
(11:07):
new infrastructure that brings people into the Red Center for longer.
That means they spend more money in our local communities,
create activation in our streets and that's what we want
for a vibrance Central Australia.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
So we're committed to that project.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
And again these things are expensive, but it's about prioritizing
what's most important first. And of course people in our
regions right across the territory feel totally abandoned by labor LEA.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Let's look a little closer at that four quarters report
that happened earlier in the week.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Did you watch it?
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Yes, yes, and there's been very interesting commentary coming out
of it.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Katie.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
I think ultimately, when you stand back and look at it,
this is symptomatic of failure under Labor.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
We know that crime is out of control.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
They've been unable to support and resource our police, and
so the advent of this security force that we haven't
seen before has come into play because Labor have failed
to deal with the big issues. Now would I keep
them on the straights? They have an important role to play.
We could not just remove them. But that's symptomatic of
the problems, and so our focus is on restoring community
(12:10):
safety through stronger laws. We want to see the age
of criminal responsibility lowered, police empowered to deal with public
drinking and problem drunks. There's a whole range of measures
where we can give police greater power, resource them properly,
drive down crime and therefore drive down the need for
security being rolled out in the way it is.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Leah, the Chief Minister, reckons it's only costing two million
dollars out of a community safety budget of a billion dollars.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Do you think that that figure is accurate.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
I don't think that figure could possibly be accurate, Katie.
We know, just stretching my memory, I thought it was
about a million dollars just for the security services being.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Delivered out in Karama and Malac, but.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I'd have to check that. But that's just stretching my memory.
And yet we've got security in Alice Springs, We've got
security and Palmerston right across the CBD and Northern suburbs.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
So it's an important frontline service.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
We know our police are needing extra eyes and ears
because there aren't enough police. But this is again a
symptom of a problem from a labor government that's failed
to support our police, failed to resource them properly, and
failed to drive down crime.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Just to confirm you are committing that you would not
remove those security from the straits if I mean, if
you're elected, because a lot of businesses actually see this
as a really positive thing.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Absolutely no.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
And like I said that, the advent of this service,
if if you'd like to call it, that has come
out of the fact that we've got too much crime
and not enough police. And so our focus is not
on continuing to resource the problem.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
We want to solve it.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
So by driving down crime and supporting our police, these
things will naturally adjust and that's what we want. We
want less crime, which means less need for these types
of add on services.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
We are the ABC reporting the Northern Territory government sees
that it's persevering with plans to arm private security guards
with capsicums, despite criticism I should say from the Police
Association that it's fraught with danger. So as we know
four Corners, as we've just discussed, you know that footage
of security guards in Darwin, and they well they're contracted
(14:14):
of course by the Northern Territory government, but by the
look of it, the Chief Minister said this week that
while that vision was confronting her Deputy Nicole Madison has
said that they're still planning to move ahead with their
commitment to legislate to allow private security guards to carry
capsica and spray.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Should they Yeah, I don't know about this one, Katie.
We know that government announced it would allow transit security
officers on buses and that there would be some crowd
controllers and we know right now, I mean, let's not
forget these were commitments made in March after the tragic
death of Deckl and Lavity and so yet to this day,
crowd controllers still don't have the opportunity to use capsicum
(14:53):
spray and for Nicole Madison to come out yesterday instead
of make it sound like it's going to be any
in all security guards certainly raises an eyebrow. That sounds
like a new announcement to me, Katie, And we're certainly
tracking that back and looking into it. But again, this
government can't even implement the commitments it made originally going
back in March, let alone tacking on ever expanding commitments
(15:15):
going forward.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Now before I let you go very quick one, the
Prime Minister is coming to town tomorrow. What are you
hoping to see or hear from the PM when he's here.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Well, I think he's coming to town to once again
tell Natasha Files how to do her job.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
That seems to.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Me, Wow, what do you think he's going to do?
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (15:31):
I think clearly a crime is out of control.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
Clearly, I'm sure they'll be having an interesting conversation about
the fallout from the voice. And we know that the
Prime Minister comes to town when Natasha Files fails, just
like with the ending of stronger futures, so it'll probably
be a fleeting visit Katie where he tells labor to
pull their head in because it's making him look bad
and ultimately territories won't be any the better off for it.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Well, we'll wait and see, I suppose. I don't know
whether there will be any announcement or.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Not, but no doubt we We'll hopefully hear from the
Prime Minister while he's here. Lea Fanoccuiaro, the opposition leader,
always good to speak to you.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Thank you, Thanks Katie, Take care everyone,
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