November 2, 2023 • 44 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is that time for the week that was and
joining us in the studio this morning. Where shall I start?
Nicole Madison, the Deputy Chief Minister, Good morning to you, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Morning Katie, Good morning everyone.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And we've still got Keesier Puric, the Independent member for Goida,
Good morning to you, Keezier, Morning Katie, Morning Bush people.
We've got Georgie Dickerson from nine Years Star and good
morning to you. Good morning Katie, Happy Friday, Happy Friday.
And we've got Joe Hersey from Catherine. Good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Joe, Good morning Katie, and good morning Catherine people.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Oh it looks like it's going to be a warm
onning Catherine.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Ford as well. So hot, it's been horrible.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
How's the humidity though, is it a little bit better?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's not as humid as is here, but it's just hot, yeah,
warm and moist up.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Yeah, pluck stepping into an oven anyway. Hey, there's so
much going on at the moment and unfortunately this morning,
I will just make our listeners aware. I know a
lot of people will have been caught up in this,
but a cyclist is in a critical condition after they
were hit by a car on well on the it
Highway by the look of it. The nt Police Northern
Watch Commander Tanya Woodcock has said the cyclist had been
(01:06):
taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment after the crash
after five a m. This morning. So a driver collided
with a cyclist after a single vehicle crash at the
Stuart Highway and Wolne Road intersection. She said that the
Major Crash Investigations Unit was on the scene and going
to determine the cause of that crash. But it does
(01:26):
sound it sounds like a terrible situation there.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Gosh, I jove past the scene on the way in
Katie and there's a car flipped. Looks terrible and just
again just you know, when we're all on the roads together,
just look out for each other. And you know, do
all of those affected by it just you know, hope,
hope all the best for them.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yeah, sime, I do hope that they're all okay.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, absolutely, especially when you just think you're going out
from morning exercise and something like that happens.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
It's tragic.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Yeah, that's exactly right. Well, let's get into the movements
of the week, and I tell you what, there's been
a lot going on and.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
We had bad last week.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
But I tell you what, we kept our chairs where
we always sit on a Friday's interesting.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
When you call me a left I don't know if
everybody would agree with that look.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
It was after much speculation the Chief Minister, Natasha Files
announced that new cabinet team as part of what she
described as a renewed, reshuffled and refocused Territory government, saying
the Territory's cabinet team has the experience, the energy and
ideas to keep building the territory's future. Now we know
that there's two new appointments to the cabinet. The Member
(02:39):
for Fanny Bay Brent Potter appointed the Minister for Police,
Minister for Fire and Emergency Services and the Minister for
Veterans Affairs. Now the second new appointment is the Member
for Johnson, Joel Bowden. Mister Bowden's going to serve as
the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, the Minister for
Business and Jobs and the Minister for Skills, Training and
International Education, as well as Tourism and Hospitality and recreational fishing.
(03:04):
Of course, with those new appointments comes a couple of
demotions Lauren Moss and Paul Kirby kicked from the cabinet
and I've got to say without a thank you in
the press release, I noted.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
I saw that they weren't even acknowledged. Not thanks for
all your hard work, Minister Moss, thanks Minister Kirby for
all your hard work. Nothing like they never existed. Shame job.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, well I will say thank you. You know, let's
be really clear here. We've made a decision. The Chief
has led a decision there. She's backed in by the
team for renewal within the cabinet and to have a
look at the portfolio distribution as well, to make sure
that we are out there working as hard as we
can on the issues that are important for territories each
(03:46):
and every day.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
You know, they gave.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
A lot of hard work and effort and they're great people,
Lauren and Kerbs, and we thank them for all their
work that they did do. But it was time for
some renewal. We've got Brent and Joe in the team
that hit the ground running. They're going to make a
great contribution.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Many are questioning though, the fact that we have got
two very junior people stepping into very senior roles. I mean,
there's been a lot of a lot of discussion this
week about the police portfolio, but even a portfolio like
infrastructure and tourism. You know, they are massive portfolios that
generate a lot to the Northern Territories economy. Now for
those to go to what many see as two very
(04:26):
junior people stepping into the cabinet and not sort of
getting you know, a more junior portfolio, but getting what
many see has been the most important portfolios.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
You've helped portfolios, Yeah, absolutely, And they wouldn't have the
job if they went up for it. These two members
of our cabinet team are very hard working. They are
going to do a fantastic job, and they've been given
those jobs because we know that they are absolutely.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Up for that gig.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Brent Potter I've worked with for many years. You know
he is going to make an amazing contribution to the
Northern Territory. And I think just the people living in
Fanny Bay and Prapp can already see what he's done.
He's out there, he's been meeting with the NTPA, the police.
He's going to get around to the front line. But
he is just going to be fantastic. He brings a.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
New energy to it.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
He's worked in as a Defense Force member, and I
know he's really passionate about supporting the front line. He's
going to do a great job. And Joel, everybody knows Joel.
He's owns a small business. Joel is a great guy
at promoting the Northern Territory. And they both bring a
lot of depth and experience, and I think they're going
to be fantastic.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I think, Katie, what we have to acknowledge, as you said,
is we have the most junior ministers doing the most
important portfolios.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
And you know, you can.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Put a code of paint on a new building, but
it's still you know, the same incompetent labor government.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Said you can polish a turd, but it's still a turn.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I was going to say, you can put lipstick on
a pig.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
But I'm not taking anything away from those two blocks.
In fact, I really hope that they step in and
that they do actually bring uh, you know, some new
energy and and bring some new thinking to the Northern
Territory because goodness knows we need it. But you know,
from listening to the Police Association for example, they've got
some big concerns.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
Yeah, they're pretty concerned and I think, you know, being
such junior ministers. Even with Minister Warden who also had
Territory families taken off her, I think she's done a
phenomenal job in that regard, so I'm a bit concerned
as to why that was also taken off her as
long with the police portfolio.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
But I will say Brent has met with the nt
P A I'll be I thought it was a bit
harsh for the nt PA to put out a press
release before they've even met him, you know, saying it's
too junior like Brent.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
They've got to give Brent to go.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
He is going to be fantastic because how many years
and going on where.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
This is somebody I think Territorians should have a lot
of faith and he's going to do a great job.
Brent in his time in Parliament has already shown what
he can get done. And like I said, I've worked
with this guy for many years.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
And the very obvious thing that's been pointed out at
the moment as well though matter is the fact that
he was your police, your police advisor for quite a
long period of time, and many have argued that that
was the beginning of when things started to go downhill
when things started to get really bad. You know, the
government at the time was not even acknowledging that we're
in a crime crisis. So a lot of people questioning, well,
(07:36):
you know, we're happy enough to give him a go
because we've got no other choice at this point. But
is it actually going to make a difference or are
we just talking about you know, another person that's going
to do the same as what's been happening for the
last seven years. Brent Potter is.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
One of the how can I say it. He's got
a lot of talent. He is a hard worker, he's
a smart guy, and he really cares and we've allay
seen that as his work as a local member. I've
seen it with him working with me. I think he's
just going to do a fantastic job.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Well, time will tell, but hey.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
One thing I think the government will have to do
is to make the doorway into their lobby and meeting
rooms a little bit wider because the heads will just
be a little bit too.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I think everybody's going to get a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
You know.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
You've got these fellows, you know, and I've watched them
perform big egos. Yeah, they've got big egos and that's
not necessarily a negative.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
That's what we know. It's not a negative thing.
Speaker 5 (08:26):
That's not a negative thing. But really I question whether
the reshuffle was really needed. Where eight nine whatever it
is ten months out from a general election, so you know,
it's the big portfolios to the two new members or
two new ministers, and you haven't got long before the election,
so they're going to have to be concentrating because they're
both new members, concentrating on their electorates to get re elected.
(08:49):
But also they've been loaded up with these large portfolios.
So whether it's a test by the Chief Minister to
see if they really can stump up, you know, the
bit like put your money where your mouth is. If
you think you can be a good minister, will now's
your opportunity. But I questioned whether it was really necessary
to do the reshuffle in the first place.
Speaker 6 (09:04):
And by the time yet you head around the portfolio,
that's you know, I mean, minister, surely it's you know,
four to six months to actually work out the plan
of attack of what you're going to be doing, and
then you know that's a few months out from the.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Georgie.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Let me tell you, I have to that they've got
the jobs because they're absolutely up to.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
It and look.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
One of the one of the other really big things
to actually note is the fact that there's been the
separation of the fire and Emergency services from the Northern
Territory place.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
I will compliment the government on that. I've advocated for
the separation. I don't I don't know which government brought
them together.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
We've always been.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
I think it is important and I do know that
when Kate Warden had the portfolio of police find emergency Services,
she was very insistent on meeting the fire chief, mister Spain,
separate with the Police Commissioner. I know the past police
commissioner wasn't happy with it, but that's the best way
to get the direct information. I support that move. I
think would move and perhaps now the fire service won't
(10:03):
be treated like the poor cousin and get due attention
when due attention is needed.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Only problem is going to be is at this point
in time we've really not we've really not been given
any detail on when legislation is going to be introduced.
From what Brent Potter had said to me on the
show the other day is that there is going to
need to be legislation to separate them. There is also
going to well you would presume there's going to need
to be a bit of a different operating budget, So
how is that going to work. Presumably they're not going
(10:29):
to be given any additional operating funds until the actual
until the budget gets handed down next year. So it
sort of seems like it's you know, it's a it's
a separation in words, but it's maybe going to take
a while to happen.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
The instructions being given. We're working through those details now.
But you know, the fires had made it really clear
they wanted a separate agency. The commissioner is supportive of
this move as well, and you know, the fires do
a great job and our emergency services workers as well.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Yes, so they're going to fire and will there be
a new fire commissioner? Will there be a separate commissioner?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
So that whole.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
So we've got a chief fire Officer and we're working
through the details of that position. But you know, Mark
Spain's an incredible guy and does a great job and
is an absolute legend in my eyes.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
And so you reckon he'll end up running the show.
So we're working through that.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
But yes, I think Mark does a fantastic job running
that place.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Now, let's we're still staying on this topic and this reshuffle,
but I want to also point out the fact that
it was revealed when I'd interviewed the Chief Minister earlier
in the week as well, that Frank Daily no longer
the chief executive of the Department of Chief Mens and
we've got a situation where Ken Davies has stepped in
to take on that role. I thought Ken had retired,
(11:46):
you know, I've I've worked he had retired.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Had I have had the great privilege to have worked
with Ken Davies on and off for almost twenty years now,
and I have to say is a distinguished public servant.
He has a depth of knowledge and experience and does
a fantastic job. So we welcome him, and we thank
mister Daily for his service and the work that he
(12:11):
did for the.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Joined me earlier in the week and said the same thing,
she said, He's a public servant. Fabulous, no doubt about it.
But I guess my question is what happened with Frank Daily.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Yeah, so again, you know, mister Daly has stepped aside, and.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Mister Davis stood down because I guess there's a big difference.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
So he has he has stepped aside, and mister Davies
is back running the public service, and I have to
say it is a job he is absolutely ready for.
He is probably the most experienced public servant that we
have in management in the Northern Territory and I've heard
a lot of people that are really pleased to see
him back.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Asked firmly to step aside.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
I was at a function last night with Ken Davies
and it was very interesting. There was a lot of
commentary about the fact that he had retired and come
out of retirement, and he did. He did take it
very well.
Speaker 5 (13:03):
It's been approached and he's not the type of man
that would stop working well.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
He's a look.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
I've met Ken Daves a long time ago when he
was within the Department of Education and he moved through
the senior ranks and became the boss and then loss of.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Other departments, et cetera.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
But he was a very good CEO of Department Education
at the time and it was probably added he did
and it was probably at the best. It's not quite
at the best at this point in time, but that's
another story. But he's a career public servant at senior
levels and that's his choice. And he's very well regarded.
I know that. But you just mentioned that the other
gentleman has gone back to the public service. Is that
(13:39):
he stepped.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Aside for sharing a microphone and Keysy has got it there,
so so he stood aside himself. He wasn't sort of
asked to will.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
We will never know, Ky, but I suspect he's been
asked to stand aside to let you know, new and
vigor because the Chief Minister's Department, and well the department,
not the office, is a very is the premier department
of the public service. So it's going to need good
direction going into the next tune into a general election,
and that's what they're looking for guidance within the department
from Ken Davies. Well, I saw him at an airport
(14:11):
coming back recently. Yes, he had retired. How much he
had retired his a question of debate, But.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
He's not the issue.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
The issue is why was the other gentleman asked to
step aside and what was wrong with his management role
within the Chief Minister's department.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Well, that would say to me, I think that the
Chief Minister's obviously decided we're ten months out from an election,
there needs to be some reinvigoration to the cabinet and
to the way in which things are happening. That's how
it's come across. I don't know that it has really
sold as well to the public as what the government
may have liked, but time will tell. You know, as
I said, we're ten months out from an election, and
(14:46):
we'll talk more about that in just a moment. We
are going to have to take a very quick break though.
You are listening to Mix one oh four nine's three
sixty if you've just joined us. We've got Joe Hersey,
Georgie Dickinson, Kinsey Apuric and Nicole Madison in the studio.
Now we know we I think it's ten months out
from the election, and well, the Prime Minister is in town.
I understand he's arriving today and we're not one hundred
(15:08):
percent sure what he's here for, but there is definitely
a dinner happening tonight. That that confirmed. There's going to
be a dinner tonight. The NT News reporting if you
want to go five thousand dollars ahead at a swanky
Greater Daen Region restaurant on Friday before flying to China
for an official visit. It is the Northern Territory Labor
Party branch making the most of the conferences visit.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Oh, this is this is the baby ASP conference for
the year.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
No, this is a fundraiser with the PM in town. Man,
are you going pore thousand bucks? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Are they going to make you pay?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
No, I'm not across the details of this matters with
the party and I'm not across this one. I'm in
serious so anyway, But make no mistake. Part of the
political process here in the Northern Territory, because we don't
have publicly funded elections, is that the CLP go fundraise,
the ALP go fundraiser if here as an independent would
(16:04):
go fundrais you know so the Greens fundraise like.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Apartment I'm just very far from the working class, isn't it.
You know? I have five thousand dollars ahead dinners.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
In the past when I was with the CLP, we
had I think Peter Costello come up and.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
How much did you have to go pay for that one?
Speaker 5 (16:23):
It wasn't five, it was about three, you know.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
But that's the way it is. That's the nature of
the because it happens across the board political parties. Good
luck to you. I can think of much better ways
to spend it myself.
Speaker 5 (16:36):
It's also the opportunity for business people. They might not
necessarily be labor supporters, but clearly they would be if
they give her five thousand dollars. But sometimes people want
to go and smoos you with the Prime minister and
who else come.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Seeks to tat with me. My question is, though, is
he here on official business or is he doing anything
official as well manner in terms of meeting with the government,
or is it literally just a fundraising dinner for the
Labor Party.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
I don't have the deals details, but what I will
say Katie again is that we don't have a system
of public funding for elections here. And I know that
sometimes people feel a bit funny about taxpays dollars going
into it, but effectively that means that it takes out
the need for parties to have to fundraise.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Better option, do you reckon we need to go down
the publicly.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Fund The jurisdictions are going that way, and I think
for transparency it's something that you know warrants more investigation.
But you know, I would say to people that if
it turns out the governments go that way that they
do publicly fund campaigns, it does take out some of
those fundraising activities for all political parties and candidates. See
(17:40):
the Prime Minister's off to China tomorrow, so it more
sounds obviously that's a fundraiser tonight, but it also sounds
like it's a refueling exercise like he did last time
when he came in.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
And I guess the lines do get blood to some degree.
Then if you are traveling to China and that's official business.
But then while you're on that official business, just stopping
and taking part in an LP fundraiser, that's where the
lines start to blur a little bit in terms of
you know.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
It depends how he said, what he's doing and done.
I'm sure he'll do something in Dune to do it territory.
But let's be honest. They do have to fundraise. All
governments have to fundraise and parties because they've got to
pay for their polling. You know, we know about polling,
so they have to pay for polling to see how
they're going, you know, to see whether where they need
to spend.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Their rumors or something they're polling.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
I know they've done polling, and.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I would like to know about it.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
I know, I know what I did speak to Nicole
about this in the Parliament. But parties do polling, you know,
and particularly people who have land lines, which I've got
and all my streets got old fashioned copple wide down
my road and yeah, you've been I've been polled. Yeah,
and you can't always tell who's paying for the polling,
but you get a fair inkling.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Yes, let's push.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Sometimes organizations, because it's face it, it's not just political
parties who poll. Like you'll have the Environment Center you
know that will poll. You will have you know, other
companies with interest that will poll, and often that they
will do push polling, you know, trying to get the
answers that they would like to hear, to use it
as a lobbing tool. So it's used by all sorts
of different bodies around the board.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
I'm just wondering, Katie, if the PM's coming to town
to you know, help labor after the Four Corners program
on Monday night. You know, we all know what happened
when the PM came last time into Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
That Four Corners program we will talk about that because
obviously that four Corners program did run earlier in the
week on private security and vision of some different incidents
on private you know, with private security, I've got to
say a lot of we have received a lot of
support for security across and all the territory on this
(19:46):
show the way from a lot of businesses. Yeah, and
so from a lot of you know, we've I've interviewed
on this show, as many of you will know, I've
interviewed Leah Bennett, who was who was assaulted allegedly by
three girls in the CBD. You know, I spoke to
her a few weeks later and she had said to
me that that security had walked it to a car.
(20:06):
I'm sure she won't mind me saying that. You know,
when you have been the victim of crime, you're going
to be hard pressed to find somebody who has been
the victim of crime who's not supportive of that security
around our CBD in Northern Suburbs and everywhere else.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
I spent to a few businesses the other day about it,
because you know, and I even spoke to security guards
as they were just going for a walk after it,
ad ad and they said, you know, we've painted us
all in the same brush.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
We're not all doing the wrong thing.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Obviously the vision of the wrong thing.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
Was awful, but it takes into account, you know, all
the other security guards. They said to me, there's someone
rosted on twenty one hours of day, so that CBD,
you know, is monitored. And they said, we know who
lives here, we know where people live, we know who
shouldn't be speaking to each other, and they know us.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
So the security patrols do a great job. And they're
also there to get in there early to actually stop
things from escalating, and you know, to people out there
and they are supportive of the security patrols. That's certainly
my experience as a local member and as a member
of this parliament, and I was very disappointed that the
(21:10):
full Corners program didn't seem to want to go out
and actually talk to any of those businesses that wanted
to give probably some of that feedback. And also, like frankly, Katie,
I've been around a reasonable amount of time and dealt
with a lot of media in my time. Like you,
I've been a media advisor before and some of the
stories that I had heard and some of you know,
we've had to put in complaints to the ABC. It's
(21:31):
about some of the stories we've heard about how they
were obtaining.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
So what exactly was the concern from the Northern Territory
government's perspective in terms of the complaint.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Some of the behaviors in terms of, you know, putting
transporting vulnerable people. I think you've spoken on your show
about some of the allegations around the use of pizza
and pizza vouchers extraordinary.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
So do you reckon that they had the intention of
coming to the territory and stitching us up. Yeah, of course,
I'll let Kezer answer that.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
God did They've got a reputation these four corners people,
you know, And no, we don't live in a perfect world.
And every occupation of every industry, there are mishaps, and
there are accidents, and there are incidents. But you can't
judge the whole industry, in the whole scene by some
unpleasantness that happened.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
And yes, it was not.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
From ten years ago, and from ten years ago, you know,
I mean it was a gratuitous, lazy journalism. It was
unprofessional and that woman should be ashamed of herself, whoever
she is. I don't even know her name, but she
looked a real deadhead from down south.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Oh, we'll be careful about our nasty comments. We'll try
and remain professional. Keysier, all right, miss, we've got a
missed deadhead from down south. But you know, it was
unprofessional and it was lazy. I can probably deal a
little bit with the unprofessionalism, but lazy journalism is probably
the worst in my view. Now, there would have been
some people they approached and they said, no, I'm not commenting,
and that's fair. But there's been a swag of businesses
(22:55):
and people come out since then who said we would
have spoken, would we Actually we had people on the
show lazy. We've actually had people on the show who
did get interview Kylie and Karama one of our regular
listeners who had who did actually get interviewed. But then
they they don't care seed.
Speaker 5 (23:10):
Because it doesn't fit. It doesn't fit what they want
to show. They want to show all those cafes sipping
latte people down south what that bad Northern territory is
all about. And it does us as disservice. It does
the government of disservers, I mean Nicole and all her
colleagues and Joe and all her colleagues. They work hard
for the territory and yet these people lob into town
(23:30):
and do do underhanded tactics. Of course, they bought them
pizzas to get them to talk. Of course they did.
I'll say they did. I don't know that firsthand, but
I believe it would have happened, so to say otherwise
is just nonsense. And they've just sold the story to
down South. Of course we'll get judged like that, and
that is wrong. It's morally wrong what they've done.
Speaker 6 (23:46):
And the fact that there was no crime rates put
in whatsoever. Obviously at the start it was put up
as to wear the highest crime rates in Australia, but
that wasn't touched on for the rest of the story.
So in my story the other day, you know, I
touched on how high the d rates have increased in
the assaults and everything like that, but you know that
was the other end of why they need security in
the CBD.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
That's exactly right, and that question was never asked.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
No, that's right, and I think no.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
You know, I've spoken to a lot of people since
Katie and the security people are doing a great job,
and I know in Catherine at the local shopping center.
You know, without the security guards there, most people probably
wouldn't feel safe going into the shopping center. But what
we know is that there needs to be more of
a focus on increasing police and to properly resource the police.
(24:36):
So we don't need as many security guards.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
But the fact is security.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Card the guards that are out there are doing a
good job and people are feeling a lot safer, but
we actually need more police.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
And look, that's a discussion we've had numerous times on
the show, isn't it. And we know that the review
is currently underway into police resourcing. But I do want
to just move to the fact as well. The ABC
is reporting the ABC locally reporting that the Northern Territory
government is persevering with plans to arm private security guards
with capsic and spray, despite that criticism from the Police
Association that it's fraught with danger. And following on from
(25:08):
that Four Corners report, Mattow, are we in a situation
here where we are going to be still persevering with
security having oc spray and are we setting them up
to fail in some ways or to be you know,
to face potential litigation. We are going.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Down that pathway, Katie. But again there will be training,
it will be licensed.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
If people do not use that OC.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Spray appropriately, there will be ways to deal with that
and to investigate it. So again I'd say, go and
talk to everyday territorian, you know, go out to my
electorate and go talk to people, and they feel comfortable
about OC spray, you know, going there, we've these these
are trained people. We're going through that process with police
(25:59):
about how will.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
We introduce it. But you know, people can feel confident.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
That it will be done in a way where they
know that it will be used properly, and in an
event if somebody does do the wrong thing, there are
mechanisms for complaints, investigation and dealing with it.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
There is the argument though, that we are sort of
creating this quasi police force in some ways where we've
got security, we've got transit safety officers. You know, potentially
we're going to wind up. If you read through the
alcohol review that was tabled a couple of weeks ago,
potentially we're going to wind up even with council workers
with the ability to tip out alcohol. There is this
real argument that you know that we are because we
(26:37):
can't actually fill those police jobs or because we do
not have enough police that we're creating these others. Yeah,
which I mean, is that the right thing to be doing.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
I'm not sure it is. But in regards to the
security guards getting the capskin spray, what it's fulled? Oh see,
how is that any different to equipping the transit officers
that the same thing. It's the same thing the transit
office has been. They're allowed to have the spray to
assist in their job. Security people are just getting another
tool in their toolbox to assist with their job that
(27:09):
I don't have an issue with.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
I do think I think that is fraught with danger though.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
If they're trained.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Probably the transit offices, I mean, the transit ofters have
got it. So how is it different to a security office.
It's just a different type of job.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
It's a bloody ordinary situation that we're in, though, isn't
it having some people with you know, with things like
oh see spray of some discription. Yeah, that's the ordinary part.
That we've got these these levels of crime in the
Northern Territory at the moment that we're having to go
down these paths, and I.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Think it's also acknowledging that technology changes, the the access
to the different materials that people can use in their
job changes, and that you know, this is also about
you know, these people are in situations that put them
in the space of dealing with conflict or people who
are you know, might have drunk too much on drugs,
(27:58):
you know, causing trouble. These are the people that go
there and try to They will always try to de
escalate it and all honesty, yes, and like you know,
it is not a pleasant experience for anybody to be sprayed.
But you know, again they're going to have training to
deal with this.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
And look, I know that a lot of my listeners
don't agree with what was covered on four corners, but
the point that I do want to make is what
I will take from that report is that in some situations,
people do not actually act in the way that they've
been trained. Right. So, you know, it's one thing to
see the vision that we've seen the other night, and
it was terrible to see that, But what happens then
(28:36):
when you are actually armed with what is capsic and spray,
oh see spray, and if it's not used in the
appropriate way, then what happens? You know, the are the
government going to get sued. Who's going to wind up
in trouble, But also what's the ramifications if you're the
victim on the receiving end.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
But I'm not going to sit in your hands and
do nothing, Katie, Like I think the community is broadly
accepting of getting over sea spray here and them doing
that job and knowing that if somebody took it too far,
if somebody did the wrong thing, there are mechanisms for investigation,
you know, and there's also police pathways too, So again
there will be training, there will be licensing. We're working
(29:14):
through those details. But again I think this is a
reasonable step to making sure that we can, you know,
stop people really getting hurt if somebody really is arcing up.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
I think what we need to remember here, Katie, again
is that the focus needs to be on reducing the
crime and not spending more money on security guards. And
you know, if the labor government was serious, we'd be
tackling the crime and antisocial behavior by investing and supporting
the police better.
Speaker 6 (29:45):
But I think this kindom does reduce crime in one
way by dispersing and deterrent in the CBD when they
see these people walking along, you know, people aren't going
to start bashing each other in front of two security guards.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
And again about resources, We've got Vince Kelly leading the
you into police resourcing right now. He's out there doing
a great job getting right across the Northern Territory to understand,
you know, what are those resources, What does that support
that our front line need to help them do their
very important.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
If our listeners has just been in contact Christine, she's
called through to ask or she said she'd support Grade
three security guards having OC spray, but not Grade one
security saying that they're not qualified enough. Is that something
that the Northern Territory government's considering only certain guards.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
So this is the detail being worked through right now
about who is the appropriate level of having those access
to that OC spray, the training does required and how
will work.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Which I think is fair enough. We do need to
make sure that people are adequately trained. Nobody wants to
see anybody injured as a result of that OC spray
being used. But also you want to make sure that
we're not winding up in a situation where people are
being sued, where the government's being sued, where all sorts
of stuff is going on, because people who aren't adequately trained,
are potentially using.
Speaker 5 (30:59):
A sh The other thing, when you talk about the
legalities of it, the transit officers are employed by the government,
whereas these security people are private issues. So that presumably
something that the government has to work through with the
Attorney general or solicitor general in regards to if something
does go wrong. Who is liable? Is the company libel
in the first instance, or is the company liable plus
the anti government because anti governments contracted them. So that's
(31:22):
the legal issues that the government will have to work
to and get it right, because otherwise you're going to
end up with one purse or a bit of a
legal mess.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Well, we've seen that happen, you know. We've seen a
situation even out at don Dale of course, where where
we have wound up with people being able to seek
that compensation redress. That's right.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I just wanted to give an example of anti social
behavior Katie, if I can. In the city this morning,
So I'm staying at a hotel on the Esplanade and
I'm sitting there quietly having my breakfast. A guy comes
in the managers trying to get the person. The person
was from Port Keats because I ended up having to
(32:04):
get up from my breakfast and help the manager. And
this is an example of antisocial behavior coming into hotels
in the city.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
I was at the Novtel and you know, the guy came.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
He took something off my table while I'm sitting there
having breakfast, and I just said, mate, you can't do this.
It's unacceptable. And I said to the guy, have you
got a takeaway cup? I grabbed a glass of water.
I had to coax him outside with the glass of water.
But on the way he shaped up to the manager
and was sort of like throwing punches at him. I
(32:38):
said to him call the police, which he had. By
the time I left and went out to come here,
the police hadn't attended. Now, the police do a great job,
but you know, on a scale of.
Speaker 5 (32:51):
They just had not suffer that.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
So, you know, I'm sitting there having my breakfast. Fortunately
for them, I was the only one there, and fortunately
of them I'm used to. You know, this is not
uncommon to me, and I don't mind talking to these people,
not from Bloody yeah, exactly. So you know, it was
just very confronting and the staff in the hotel were
(33:15):
left shaken, and that's not acceptable and.
Speaker 5 (33:20):
Forget the bad behavior. The fact remains that person was
probably genuinely hungry.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
That person generally was hungry.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
Him and John Wayne, who he said is outside, were
absolutely drunk has and they were also on something you
could just tell.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
I mean, I've been around long enough. They were definitely and.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
So the question then, you know, the question then gets asked,
and I think that this is where we're rash in
the Northern Territory right now. Is okay, We've got security
to try and help deal with those situations. People are
calling the Northern Territory Police. Yes, nobody has been injured
at that point in time, nobody has presented a weapon
at that point in time, but somebody has come in
and threatened a staff member at the hotel. So I
(34:04):
the police, as we all know, are absolutely stretched. We
get that, and we know that they can't be going
out to absolutely every every incident or they may not
be able to get there as quickly as they'd like
to be able to. But this is where a lot
of people are questioning, will hang on, where are the police?
Speaker 4 (34:20):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
So I'll definitely follow up with that particular issue. Joe.
That's terrible shouldn't have.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
To put up with that.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Those poor people of the hotel.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
That's ridiculous this time of the morning, and people being
that out of their mind like that, that's disgraceful behavior
on their part. But I'll follow that at one.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
And unfortunately not isolated, like everybody in this room could
have an example like that. And and you know, you
wouldn't have to go far around the territory for people
to be able to tell you about things like that.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Manager, does this happen often?
Speaker 1 (34:48):
And he said, you know, generally, yes, Katie.
Speaker 5 (34:51):
The other issue that needs to be looked at and
considered is why are these people in town. I keep hearing, Oh,
they come into town for medical stuff, they come in
down to be relatives, And I'm getting a bit tired
of that, you know. And I don't take away that
there are that genuine group of people who have generally
come to town for extra treatment medically and otherwise teeth, eyes, whatever,
But there is a large and growing migration of people
(35:14):
from remote communities coming into the urban settings and they
have nowhere to stay because their houses are out in
their communities.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
And I do want to touch on long the comments
that were made then by Marcia Langton throughout the Coronial
inquest during the week as well. Where As for those
who don't know. Obviously an eminent Aboriginal academic, she's told
the coroner that extending alcohol bands across the Northern Territory
is an absolutely necessary public health measure. She said that
tightening exceedingly lacks alcohol policy was central to tackling domestic
(35:44):
violence and reducing anti social behavior more generally. And look,
we've spoken about this a lot, but she said the
restrictions need to be uniform across the jurisdiction, not severe
in Aboriginal areas and open season in towns.
Speaker 5 (35:58):
You know, I get a bit up with these experts
in brackets who come up from down south and tell
us how we should manage our businesses. All right, now,
what if she's so concerned about limiting alcohol across the board,
take it across the country. Take it back to your
hometown wherever you live, Marcia Langton, take it back to Melbourne.
Because alcohol is not just a Northern Territory thing. You know,
(36:19):
it's across our country, it's across the world.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Okay, So we seem to have a very serious issue
with the public drunkenness and the public anti social behavior
and DV.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
The alcohol is a contributing factor, I give you that,
and it's a very large contributing factor, but there are
other factors that contribute to the way that people behave
the way they do. And as I said to you,
there's growing migration from remote communities to come into the
big cities.
Speaker 4 (36:44):
I get it.
Speaker 5 (36:44):
Coming to the big cities is a good thing to do,
and it's fun, and why wouldn't you You know, that's where
the action is and the fun and the going on
holidays to the big cities exactly, But they're staying here?
Are they staying here because they don't want to go home?
Why don't they want to go home? So it's one
thing to say, I just do a blanket band of alcohol.
I've been here long enough, like Nicole, like Joe. I
saw all the takeaway licenses drop down across all the
(37:05):
roadside inns. Then I saw the port go, Then I
saw the four leader cast go, and we.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
Still have analy.
Speaker 5 (37:12):
So along the way, all us, Laura, abiding citizens and
territories are being discriminated against because of the behavior of some.
So I don't agree with that comment from Langton.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
And also just to add on to that that the
Member for Goid has brought up is that Mekesia is
that in Catherine, in Tenant, in Alice. We all have
these restrictions, but let's not forget that that then pushes
up secondary supply. And like Kesy is saying, those people
(37:44):
are coming in from the communities, they're bringing their families in.
The children aren't attending school. We know that we've got
poor attendance rates and that fifty eight percent of all
kids across the territory are not meeting literacy and numeracy,
and we know that eighty five percent of Indigenous kids
are not meeting literacy and numeracy. So there's a bigger
problem here when people come into you know, regional centers
(38:08):
and they aren't on their communities, you know, having their
kids go to school and you know, staying out there
on the communities and you know, maybe being able to
have a drink socially on their community. They shouldn't have
to come into town. But they're also when they come
into town, you know, there needs to be some you
don't just hang around here for extended periods of time,
(38:31):
which potentially this morning look was happening.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
Yeah, we are going to have to take a very
quick break and in the studio this morning, of course,
Nicole Madison, Keesy Eppuric, Georgie Dickerson and Joe Hersey. Now
just taking you across to the news story that well
all the media are reporting, but the ABC. Santos They're
five point six billion dollar Barossa gas project has been
delayed yet again, just hours before the company was due
(38:56):
to begin constructing an underwater gas export pipeline north of
now on Thursday morning. Yesterday morning, as a Santos operated
pipeline vessel headed to the team or C, the federal
court granted an emergency injunction sought by a Tewee Island's
traditional owner. It means that Santos must immediately pause installation
(39:16):
of its proposed two hundred and sixty three kilometers pipeline
until at least five pm or November thirteen. Mado, Are
you does this fall under your portfolio? Now?
Speaker 2 (39:28):
Yes, yes, I've been the Administer for Energy and Industry
and yes, on shore and offshore gas does sit with me.
You know, this is a five billion dollar investment by Santos.
They've made final investment decisions some years ago. They have
got customers in career in Japan, and I've certainly met
with those customers many times. This is a project here
(39:48):
that would extend Darwin Allen g by twenty years. It
supports hundreds and hundreds of jobs and then the businesses
that are around it as well. And the other good
thing about this project is that it's going to help
also kick off the CCS project, that's carbon capture storage
project at Bayowunden TiO that look Santos has had not.
(40:10):
Seema put a stop to some of their work because
they said they needed to go out and do further
consultation with traditional owners, and they have been very diligent
in that consultation. I know that they've done a huge
amount of work at the teewe's in town. There wouldn't
be many people who haven't seen or heard their advertising
to make sure that they got out there and communicated
with as many people as possible. However, clearly there are
(40:33):
still some people who are not wanting to see this
project proceed. I don't believe it is representative of all the.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
People, so you reckon that there are people in the
community who want it to tap it.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
There is a court process that is happening now, and
I respect that court process, but what I will say
is that I think people can have confidence that there
has been a huge, huge amount of work done by
Santos to make sure that they communicate with as many
people from the Tier Island so they had the facts
about where the pipeline goes and what this actually means.
Speaker 5 (41:06):
Katie, I just find it extremely disappointing, and I agree
with everything Nicole said, like this is this is a
multinational company that is at the top of the level
of its profession and how they go about their business,
even in little Old Dale and town here. And you know,
this project hasn't just popped up overnight. It's been ongoing
for quite a while. And there's been other projects in
and around the TV Islands going as far back as
(41:27):
when there was mineral sands and you know, and when
there was mineral sands operation or bit not very long
on the TV Islands, there was always this group of
activists who were spreading myths and myth truths about you know,
what the mineral sands were going to do. You know,
there was going to make a big hole and the
islands were going to sink. You know, all this sort
of rubbish, just like lead point, you know, and people
were starting to believe it now, you know, I think,
(41:49):
you know, there should be a meeting halfway. I mean,
government's doing as much as it can do, you know,
and the company's doing as much, if not better than
what it can do, you know. And I just think
the TV Land Council or the TV people or whoever's
managing them, you know, they should come to the party
and really start to you know, look at it seriously. Okay,
So what is it they don't want? Is it that
(42:10):
they're concerned about the pipeline near their islands? Not on
their islands? You know, Yeah, the federal government does regulate offshore.
Are they concerned about the pipeline near their islands because
the actual Borosca is way out in the bloody Ocean,
you know, nowhere near the Tivy Island. So what exactly
are they objecting to and.
Speaker 4 (42:26):
Why why is it They're almost there?
Speaker 5 (42:28):
And then suddenly one person pops up and takes the
matter to Federal court or the Federal Court High Court?
Speaker 1 (42:33):
And how much money is being spent?
Speaker 5 (42:34):
Who's managing this? Because I can guarantee it won't be
that person who's objected, the mister or missus on the
Tivy Islands, the individually. They're being pushed by someone and
that's what disappoints me. They're being manipulated. I think.
Speaker 1 (42:47):
Well, look, we are unfortunately going to have to take
a really quick break before we get ready to wrap
up for the morning. You are listening to Mix one
O four nine's three sixty. That is just about it
for us this morning. A massive thank you to everybody
for your time this week. Morning. Joe here's the member
for Catherine. Thanks so much for joining us this morning.
Thanks Katie.
Speaker 3 (43:04):
Sometimes it's a bit hard to get a word in,
but anyway, sorry to me, not people.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
We're all into talking and it's.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
All about vuying for the microphone space, isn't it so anyway,
thanks Catherine, great.
Speaker 1 (43:21):
Lefty friend here.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Anyway, it's Katherine Prize tonight when I go back forty
eight Katherine Price. So I look forward to going to
that at godmun Up Price wonderful.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
That'll be fantastic. Georgie Dickerson, thank you, thank you for
your time this morning.
Speaker 6 (43:39):
Shout I was going to give my favorite pub of shoutout.
Speaker 1 (43:41):
I don't have anything shags compete with that.
Speaker 5 (43:50):
Yeah, I want to do a shout out to Kel McLaughlin.
Young Kell's eighteen. He's a volunteer for down a Lamb's Lagoon,
son of Dave and Kim, and he got the award
last night for the Junior Volunteer of the Yords. He's
a lovely young fellow. Not only does he do that
kind of stuff, he grew his beautiful hand, it was
down to his waist or something, and then he then
(44:11):
he shaved it off for leukemia.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
So he's not a nice kid.
Speaker 5 (44:15):
He's done Scouts and all that sort of stuff. So
big shout out to your cow I know your parents
are too.
Speaker 1 (44:20):
Well done, mate, Nicole Madison, Thanks k. I hope everybody
has a lovely weekend. We certainly will.
It is that time for the week that was and
joining us in the studio this morning. Where shall I start?
Nicole Madison, the Deputy Chief Minister, Good morning to you, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Morning Katie, Good morning everyone.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And we've still got Keesier Puric, the Independent member for Goida,
Good morning to you, Keezier, Morning Katie, Morning Bush people.
We've got Georgie Dickerson from nine Years Star and good
morning to you. Good morning Katie, Happy Friday, Happy Friday.
And we've got Joe Hersey from Catherine. Good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Joe, Good morning Katie, and good morning Catherine people.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Oh it looks like it's going to be a warm
onning Catherine.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Ford as well. So hot, it's been horrible.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
How's the humidity though, is it a little bit better?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's not as humid as is here, but it's just hot, yeah,
warm and moist up.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Yeah, pluck stepping into an oven anyway. Hey, there's so
much going on at the moment and unfortunately this morning,
I will just make our listeners aware. I know a
lot of people will have been caught up in this,
but a cyclist is in a critical condition after they
were hit by a car on well on the it
Highway by the look of it. The nt Police Northern
Watch Commander Tanya Woodcock has said the cyclist had been
(01:06):
taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment after the crash
after five a m. This morning. So a driver collided
with a cyclist after a single vehicle crash at the
Stuart Highway and Wolne Road intersection. She said that the
Major Crash Investigations Unit was on the scene and going
to determine the cause of that crash. But it does
(01:26):
sound it sounds like a terrible situation there.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Gosh, I jove past the scene on the way in
Katie and there's a car flipped. Looks terrible and just
again just you know, when we're all on the roads together,
just look out for each other. And you know, do
all of those affected by it just you know, hope,
hope all the best for them.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yeah, sime, I do hope that they're all okay.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, absolutely, especially when you just think you're going out
from morning exercise and something like that happens.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
It's tragic.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Yeah, that's exactly right. Well, let's get into the movements
of the week, and I tell you what, there's been
a lot going on and.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
We had bad last week.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
But I tell you what, we kept our chairs where
we always sit on a Friday's interesting.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
When you call me a left I don't know if
everybody would agree with that look.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
It was after much speculation the Chief Minister, Natasha Files
announced that new cabinet team as part of what she
described as a renewed, reshuffled and refocused Territory government, saying
the Territory's cabinet team has the experience, the energy and
ideas to keep building the territory's future. Now we know
that there's two new appointments to the cabinet. The Member
(02:39):
for Fanny Bay Brent Potter appointed the Minister for Police,
Minister for Fire and Emergency Services and the Minister for
Veterans Affairs. Now the second new appointment is the Member
for Johnson, Joel Bowden. Mister Bowden's going to serve as
the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, the Minister for
Business and Jobs and the Minister for Skills, Training and
International Education, as well as Tourism and Hospitality and recreational fishing.
(03:04):
Of course, with those new appointments comes a couple of
demotions Lauren Moss and Paul Kirby kicked from the cabinet
and I've got to say without a thank you in
the press release, I noted.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
I saw that they weren't even acknowledged. Not thanks for
all your hard work, Minister Moss, thanks Minister Kirby for
all your hard work. Nothing like they never existed. Shame job.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, well I will say thank you. You know, let's
be really clear here. We've made a decision. The Chief
has led a decision there. She's backed in by the
team for renewal within the cabinet and to have a
look at the portfolio distribution as well, to make sure
that we are out there working as hard as we
can on the issues that are important for territories each
(03:46):
and every day.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
You know, they gave.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
A lot of hard work and effort and they're great people,
Lauren and Kerbs, and we thank them for all their
work that they did do. But it was time for
some renewal. We've got Brent and Joe in the team
that hit the ground running. They're going to make a
great contribution.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Many are questioning though, the fact that we have got
two very junior people stepping into very senior roles. I mean,
there's been a lot of a lot of discussion this
week about the police portfolio, but even a portfolio like
infrastructure and tourism. You know, they are massive portfolios that
generate a lot to the Northern Territories economy. Now for
those to go to what many see as two very
(04:26):
junior people stepping into the cabinet and not sort of
getting you know, a more junior portfolio, but getting what
many see has been the most important portfolios.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
You've helped portfolios, Yeah, absolutely, And they wouldn't have the
job if they went up for it. These two members
of our cabinet team are very hard working. They are
going to do a fantastic job, and they've been given
those jobs because we know that they are absolutely.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Up for that gig.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Brent Potter I've worked with for many years. You know
he is going to make an amazing contribution to the
Northern Territory. And I think just the people living in
Fanny Bay and Prapp can already see what he's done.
He's out there, he's been meeting with the NTPA, the police.
He's going to get around to the front line. But
he is just going to be fantastic. He brings a.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
New energy to it.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
He's worked in as a Defense Force member, and I
know he's really passionate about supporting the front line. He's
going to do a great job. And Joel, everybody knows Joel.
He's owns a small business. Joel is a great guy
at promoting the Northern Territory. And they both bring a
lot of depth and experience, and I think they're going
to be fantastic.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I think, Katie, what we have to acknowledge, as you said,
is we have the most junior ministers doing the most
important portfolios.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
And you know, you can.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Put a code of paint on a new building, but
it's still you know, the same incompetent labor government.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Said you can polish a turd, but it's still a turn.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I was going to say, you can put lipstick on
a pig.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
But I'm not taking anything away from those two blocks.
In fact, I really hope that they step in and
that they do actually bring uh, you know, some new
energy and and bring some new thinking to the Northern
Territory because goodness knows we need it. But you know,
from listening to the Police Association for example, they've got
some big concerns.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
Yeah, they're pretty concerned and I think, you know, being
such junior ministers. Even with Minister Warden who also had
Territory families taken off her, I think she's done a
phenomenal job in that regard, so I'm a bit concerned
as to why that was also taken off her as
long with the police portfolio.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
But I will say Brent has met with the nt
P A I'll be I thought it was a bit
harsh for the nt PA to put out a press
release before they've even met him, you know, saying it's
too junior like Brent.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
They've got to give Brent to go.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
He is going to be fantastic because how many years
and going on where.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
This is somebody I think Territorians should have a lot
of faith and he's going to do a great job.
Brent in his time in Parliament has already shown what
he can get done. And like I said, I've worked
with this guy for many years.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
And the very obvious thing that's been pointed out at
the moment as well though matter is the fact that
he was your police, your police advisor for quite a
long period of time, and many have argued that that
was the beginning of when things started to go downhill
when things started to get really bad. You know, the
government at the time was not even acknowledging that we're
in a crime crisis. So a lot of people questioning, well,
(07:36):
you know, we're happy enough to give him a go
because we've got no other choice at this point. But
is it actually going to make a difference or are
we just talking about you know, another person that's going
to do the same as what's been happening for the
last seven years. Brent Potter is.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
One of the how can I say it. He's got
a lot of talent. He is a hard worker, he's
a smart guy, and he really cares and we've allay
seen that as his work as a local member. I've
seen it with him working with me. I think he's
just going to do a fantastic job.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Well, time will tell, but hey.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
One thing I think the government will have to do
is to make the doorway into their lobby and meeting
rooms a little bit wider because the heads will just
be a little bit too.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I think everybody's going to get a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
You know.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
You've got these fellows, you know, and I've watched them
perform big egos. Yeah, they've got big egos and that's
not necessarily a negative.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
That's what we know. It's not a negative thing.
Speaker 5 (08:26):
That's not a negative thing. But really I question whether
the reshuffle was really needed. Where eight nine whatever it
is ten months out from a general election, so you know,
it's the big portfolios to the two new members or
two new ministers, and you haven't got long before the election,
so they're going to have to be concentrating because they're
both new members, concentrating on their electorates to get re elected.
(08:49):
But also they've been loaded up with these large portfolios.
So whether it's a test by the Chief Minister to
see if they really can stump up, you know, the
bit like put your money where your mouth is. If
you think you can be a good minister, will now's
your opportunity. But I questioned whether it was really necessary
to do the reshuffle in the first place.
Speaker 6 (09:04):
And by the time yet you head around the portfolio,
that's you know, I mean, minister, surely it's you know,
four to six months to actually work out the plan
of attack of what you're going to be doing, and
then you know that's a few months out from the.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Georgie.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Let me tell you, I have to that they've got
the jobs because they're absolutely up to.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
It and look.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
One of the one of the other really big things
to actually note is the fact that there's been the
separation of the fire and Emergency services from the Northern
Territory place.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
I will compliment the government on that. I've advocated for
the separation. I don't I don't know which government brought
them together.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
We've always been.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
I think it is important and I do know that
when Kate Warden had the portfolio of police find emergency Services,
she was very insistent on meeting the fire chief, mister Spain,
separate with the Police Commissioner. I know the past police
commissioner wasn't happy with it, but that's the best way
to get the direct information. I support that move. I
think would move and perhaps now the fire service won't
(10:03):
be treated like the poor cousin and get due attention
when due attention is needed.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Only problem is going to be is at this point
in time we've really not we've really not been given
any detail on when legislation is going to be introduced.
From what Brent Potter had said to me on the
show the other day is that there is going to
need to be legislation to separate them. There is also
going to well you would presume there's going to need
to be a bit of a different operating budget, So
how is that going to work. Presumably they're not going
(10:29):
to be given any additional operating funds until the actual
until the budget gets handed down next year. So it
sort of seems like it's you know, it's a it's
a separation in words, but it's maybe going to take
a while to happen.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
The instructions being given. We're working through those details now.
But you know, the fires had made it really clear
they wanted a separate agency. The commissioner is supportive of
this move as well, and you know, the fires do
a great job and our emergency services workers as well.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Yes, so they're going to fire and will there be
a new fire commissioner? Will there be a separate commissioner?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
So that whole.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
So we've got a chief fire Officer and we're working
through the details of that position. But you know, Mark
Spain's an incredible guy and does a great job and
is an absolute legend in my eyes.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
And so you reckon he'll end up running the show.
So we're working through that.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
But yes, I think Mark does a fantastic job running
that place.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Now, let's we're still staying on this topic and this reshuffle,
but I want to also point out the fact that
it was revealed when I'd interviewed the Chief Minister earlier
in the week as well, that Frank Daily no longer
the chief executive of the Department of Chief Mens and
we've got a situation where Ken Davies has stepped in
to take on that role. I thought Ken had retired,
(11:46):
you know, I've I've worked he had retired.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Had I have had the great privilege to have worked
with Ken Davies on and off for almost twenty years now,
and I have to say is a distinguished public servant.
He has a depth of knowledge and experience and does
a fantastic job. So we welcome him, and we thank
mister Daily for his service and the work that he
(12:11):
did for the.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Joined me earlier in the week and said the same thing,
she said, He's a public servant. Fabulous, no doubt about it.
But I guess my question is what happened with Frank Daily.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Yeah, so again, you know, mister Daly has stepped aside, and.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Mister Davis stood down because I guess there's a big difference.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
So he has he has stepped aside, and mister Davies
is back running the public service, and I have to
say it is a job he is absolutely ready for.
He is probably the most experienced public servant that we
have in management in the Northern Territory and I've heard
a lot of people that are really pleased to see
him back.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Asked firmly to step aside.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
I was at a function last night with Ken Davies
and it was very interesting. There was a lot of
commentary about the fact that he had retired and come
out of retirement, and he did. He did take it
very well.
Speaker 5 (13:03):
It's been approached and he's not the type of man
that would stop working well.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
He's a look.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
I've met Ken Daves a long time ago when he
was within the Department of Education and he moved through
the senior ranks and became the boss and then loss of.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Other departments, et cetera.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
But he was a very good CEO of Department Education
at the time and it was probably added he did
and it was probably at the best. It's not quite
at the best at this point in time, but that's
another story. But he's a career public servant at senior
levels and that's his choice. And he's very well regarded.
I know that. But you just mentioned that the other
gentleman has gone back to the public service. Is that
(13:39):
he stepped.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Aside for sharing a microphone and Keysy has got it there,
so so he stood aside himself. He wasn't sort of
asked to will.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
We will never know, Ky, but I suspect he's been
asked to stand aside to let you know, new and
vigor because the Chief Minister's Department, and well the department,
not the office, is a very is the premier department
of the public service. So it's going to need good
direction going into the next tune into a general election,
and that's what they're looking for guidance within the department
from Ken Davies. Well, I saw him at an airport
(14:11):
coming back recently. Yes, he had retired. How much he
had retired his a question of debate, But.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
He's not the issue.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
The issue is why was the other gentleman asked to
step aside and what was wrong with his management role
within the Chief Minister's department.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Well, that would say to me, I think that the
Chief Minister's obviously decided we're ten months out from an election,
there needs to be some reinvigoration to the cabinet and
to the way in which things are happening. That's how
it's come across. I don't know that it has really
sold as well to the public as what the government
may have liked, but time will tell. You know, as
I said, we're ten months out from an election, and
(14:46):
we'll talk more about that in just a moment. We
are going to have to take a very quick break though.
You are listening to Mix one oh four nine's three
sixty if you've just joined us. We've got Joe Hersey,
Georgie Dickinson, Kinsey Apuric and Nicole Madison in the studio.
Now we know we I think it's ten months out
from the election, and well, the Prime Minister is in town.
I understand he's arriving today and we're not one hundred
(15:08):
percent sure what he's here for, but there is definitely
a dinner happening tonight. That that confirmed. There's going to
be a dinner tonight. The NT News reporting if you
want to go five thousand dollars ahead at a swanky
Greater Daen Region restaurant on Friday before flying to China
for an official visit. It is the Northern Territory Labor
Party branch making the most of the conferences visit.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Oh, this is this is the baby ASP conference for
the year.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
No, this is a fundraiser with the PM in town. Man,
are you going pore thousand bucks? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Are they going to make you pay?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
No, I'm not across the details of this matters with
the party and I'm not across this one. I'm in
serious so anyway, But make no mistake. Part of the
political process here in the Northern Territory, because we don't
have publicly funded elections, is that the CLP go fundraise,
the ALP go fundraiser if here as an independent would
(16:04):
go fundrais you know so the Greens fundraise like.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Apartment I'm just very far from the working class, isn't it.
You know? I have five thousand dollars ahead dinners.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
In the past when I was with the CLP, we
had I think Peter Costello come up and.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
How much did you have to go pay for that one?
Speaker 5 (16:23):
It wasn't five, it was about three, you know.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
But that's the way it is. That's the nature of
the because it happens across the board political parties. Good
luck to you. I can think of much better ways
to spend it myself.
Speaker 5 (16:36):
It's also the opportunity for business people. They might not
necessarily be labor supporters, but clearly they would be if
they give her five thousand dollars. But sometimes people want
to go and smoos you with the Prime minister and
who else come.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Seeks to tat with me. My question is, though, is
he here on official business or is he doing anything
official as well manner in terms of meeting with the government,
or is it literally just a fundraising dinner for the
Labor Party.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
I don't have the deals details, but what I will
say Katie again is that we don't have a system
of public funding for elections here. And I know that
sometimes people feel a bit funny about taxpays dollars going
into it, but effectively that means that it takes out
the need for parties to have to fundraise.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Better option, do you reckon we need to go down
the publicly.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Fund The jurisdictions are going that way, and I think
for transparency it's something that you know warrants more investigation.
But you know, I would say to people that if
it turns out the governments go that way that they
do publicly fund campaigns, it does take out some of
those fundraising activities for all political parties and candidates. See
(17:40):
the Prime Minister's off to China tomorrow, so it more
sounds obviously that's a fundraiser tonight, but it also sounds
like it's a refueling exercise like he did last time
when he came in.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
And I guess the lines do get blood to some degree.
Then if you are traveling to China and that's official business.
But then while you're on that official business, just stopping
and taking part in an LP fundraiser, that's where the
lines start to blur a little bit in terms of
you know.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
It depends how he said, what he's doing and done.
I'm sure he'll do something in Dune to do it territory.
But let's be honest. They do have to fundraise. All
governments have to fundraise and parties because they've got to
pay for their polling. You know, we know about polling,
so they have to pay for polling to see how
they're going, you know, to see whether where they need
to spend.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Their rumors or something they're polling.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
I know they've done polling, and.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I would like to know about it.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
I know, I know what I did speak to Nicole
about this in the Parliament. But parties do polling, you know,
and particularly people who have land lines, which I've got
and all my streets got old fashioned copple wide down
my road and yeah, you've been I've been polled. Yeah,
and you can't always tell who's paying for the polling,
but you get a fair inkling.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Yes, let's push.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Sometimes organizations, because it's face it, it's not just political
parties who poll. Like you'll have the Environment Center you
know that will poll. You will have you know, other
companies with interest that will poll, and often that they
will do push polling, you know, trying to get the
answers that they would like to hear, to use it
as a lobbing tool. So it's used by all sorts
of different bodies around the board.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
I'm just wondering, Katie, if the PM's coming to town
to you know, help labor after the Four Corners program
on Monday night. You know, we all know what happened
when the PM came last time into Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
That Four Corners program we will talk about that because
obviously that four Corners program did run earlier in the
week on private security and vision of some different incidents
on private you know, with private security, I've got to
say a lot of we have received a lot of
support for security across and all the territory on this
(19:46):
show the way from a lot of businesses. Yeah, and
so from a lot of you know, we've I've interviewed
on this show, as many of you will know, I've
interviewed Leah Bennett, who was who was assaulted allegedly by
three girls in the CBD. You know, I spoke to
her a few weeks later and she had said to
me that that security had walked it to a car.
(20:06):
I'm sure she won't mind me saying that. You know,
when you have been the victim of crime, you're going
to be hard pressed to find somebody who has been
the victim of crime who's not supportive of that security
around our CBD in Northern Suburbs and everywhere else.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
I spent to a few businesses the other day about it,
because you know, and I even spoke to security guards
as they were just going for a walk after it,
ad ad and they said, you know, we've painted us
all in the same brush.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
We're not all doing the wrong thing.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Obviously the vision of the wrong thing.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
Was awful, but it takes into account, you know, all
the other security guards. They said to me, there's someone
rosted on twenty one hours of day, so that CBD,
you know, is monitored. And they said, we know who
lives here, we know where people live, we know who
shouldn't be speaking to each other, and they know us.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
So the security patrols do a great job. And they're
also there to get in there early to actually stop
things from escalating, and you know, to people out there
and they are supportive of the security patrols. That's certainly
my experience as a local member and as a member
of this parliament, and I was very disappointed that the
(21:10):
full Corners program didn't seem to want to go out
and actually talk to any of those businesses that wanted
to give probably some of that feedback. And also, like frankly, Katie,
I've been around a reasonable amount of time and dealt
with a lot of media in my time. Like you,
I've been a media advisor before and some of the
stories that I had heard and some of you know,
we've had to put in complaints to the ABC. It's
(21:31):
about some of the stories we've heard about how they
were obtaining.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
So what exactly was the concern from the Northern Territory
government's perspective in terms of the complaint.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Some of the behaviors in terms of, you know, putting
transporting vulnerable people. I think you've spoken on your show
about some of the allegations around the use of pizza
and pizza vouchers extraordinary.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
So do you reckon that they had the intention of
coming to the territory and stitching us up. Yeah, of course,
I'll let Kezer answer that.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
God did They've got a reputation these four corners people,
you know, And no, we don't live in a perfect world.
And every occupation of every industry, there are mishaps, and
there are accidents, and there are incidents. But you can't
judge the whole industry, in the whole scene by some
unpleasantness that happened.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
And yes, it was not.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
From ten years ago, and from ten years ago, you know,
I mean it was a gratuitous, lazy journalism. It was
unprofessional and that woman should be ashamed of herself, whoever
she is. I don't even know her name, but she
looked a real deadhead from down south.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Oh, we'll be careful about our nasty comments. We'll try
and remain professional. Keysier, all right, miss, we've got a
missed deadhead from down south. But you know, it was
unprofessional and it was lazy. I can probably deal a
little bit with the unprofessionalism, but lazy journalism is probably
the worst in my view. Now, there would have been
some people they approached and they said, no, I'm not commenting,
and that's fair. But there's been a swag of businesses
(22:55):
and people come out since then who said we would
have spoken, would we Actually we had people on the
show lazy. We've actually had people on the show who
did get interview Kylie and Karama one of our regular
listeners who had who did actually get interviewed. But then
they they don't care seed.
Speaker 5 (23:10):
Because it doesn't fit. It doesn't fit what they want
to show. They want to show all those cafes sipping
latte people down south what that bad Northern territory is
all about. And it does us as disservice. It does
the government of disservers, I mean Nicole and all her
colleagues and Joe and all her colleagues. They work hard
for the territory and yet these people lob into town
(23:30):
and do do underhanded tactics. Of course, they bought them
pizzas to get them to talk. Of course they did.
I'll say they did. I don't know that firsthand, but
I believe it would have happened, so to say otherwise
is just nonsense. And they've just sold the story to
down South. Of course we'll get judged like that, and
that is wrong. It's morally wrong what they've done.
Speaker 6 (23:46):
And the fact that there was no crime rates put
in whatsoever. Obviously at the start it was put up
as to wear the highest crime rates in Australia, but
that wasn't touched on for the rest of the story.
So in my story the other day, you know, I
touched on how high the d rates have increased in
the assaults and everything like that, but you know that
was the other end of why they need security in
the CBD.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
That's exactly right, and that question was never asked.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
No, that's right, and I think no.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
You know, I've spoken to a lot of people since
Katie and the security people are doing a great job,
and I know in Catherine at the local shopping center.
You know, without the security guards there, most people probably
wouldn't feel safe going into the shopping center. But what
we know is that there needs to be more of
a focus on increasing police and to properly resource the police.
(24:36):
So we don't need as many security guards.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
But the fact is security.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Card the guards that are out there are doing a
good job and people are feeling a lot safer, but
we actually need more police.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
And look, that's a discussion we've had numerous times on
the show, isn't it. And we know that the review
is currently underway into police resourcing. But I do want
to just move to the fact as well. The ABC
is reporting the ABC locally reporting that the Northern Territory
government is persevering with plans to arm private security guards
with capsic and spray, despite that criticism from the Police
Association that it's fraught with danger. And following on from
(25:08):
that Four Corners report, Mattow, are we in a situation
here where we are going to be still persevering with
security having oc spray and are we setting them up
to fail in some ways or to be you know,
to face potential litigation. We are going.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Down that pathway, Katie. But again there will be training,
it will be licensed.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
If people do not use that OC.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Spray appropriately, there will be ways to deal with that
and to investigate it. So again I'd say, go and
talk to everyday territorian, you know, go out to my
electorate and go talk to people, and they feel comfortable
about OC spray, you know, going there, we've these these
are trained people. We're going through that process with police
(25:59):
about how will.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
We introduce it. But you know, people can feel confident.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
That it will be done in a way where they
know that it will be used properly, and in an
event if somebody does do the wrong thing, there are
mechanisms for complaints, investigation and dealing with it.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
There is the argument though, that we are sort of
creating this quasi police force in some ways where we've
got security, we've got transit safety officers. You know, potentially
we're going to wind up. If you read through the
alcohol review that was tabled a couple of weeks ago,
potentially we're going to wind up even with council workers
with the ability to tip out alcohol. There is this
real argument that you know that we are because we
(26:37):
can't actually fill those police jobs or because we do
not have enough police that we're creating these others. Yeah,
which I mean, is that the right thing to be doing.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
I'm not sure it is. But in regards to the
security guards getting the capskin spray, what it's fulled? Oh see,
how is that any different to equipping the transit officers
that the same thing. It's the same thing the transit
office has been. They're allowed to have the spray to
assist in their job. Security people are just getting another
tool in their toolbox to assist with their job that
(27:09):
I don't have an issue with.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
I do think I think that is fraught with danger though.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
If they're trained.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Probably the transit offices, I mean, the transit ofters have
got it. So how is it different to a security office.
It's just a different type of job.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
It's a bloody ordinary situation that we're in, though, isn't
it having some people with you know, with things like
oh see spray of some discription. Yeah, that's the ordinary part.
That we've got these these levels of crime in the
Northern Territory at the moment that we're having to go
down these paths, and I.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Think it's also acknowledging that technology changes, the the access
to the different materials that people can use in their
job changes, and that you know, this is also about
you know, these people are in situations that put them
in the space of dealing with conflict or people who
are you know, might have drunk too much on drugs,
(27:58):
you know, causing trouble. These are the people that go
there and try to They will always try to de
escalate it and all honesty, yes, and like you know,
it is not a pleasant experience for anybody to be sprayed.
But you know, again they're going to have training to
deal with this.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
And look, I know that a lot of my listeners
don't agree with what was covered on four corners, but
the point that I do want to make is what
I will take from that report is that in some situations,
people do not actually act in the way that they've
been trained. Right. So, you know, it's one thing to
see the vision that we've seen the other night, and
it was terrible to see that, But what happens then
(28:36):
when you are actually armed with what is capsic and spray,
oh see spray, and if it's not used in the
appropriate way, then what happens? You know, the are the
government going to get sued. Who's going to wind up
in trouble, But also what's the ramifications if you're the
victim on the receiving end.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
But I'm not going to sit in your hands and
do nothing, Katie, Like I think the community is broadly
accepting of getting over sea spray here and them doing
that job and knowing that if somebody took it too far,
if somebody did the wrong thing, there are mechanisms for investigation,
you know, and there's also police pathways too, So again
there will be training, there will be licensing. We're working
(29:14):
through those details. But again I think this is a
reasonable step to making sure that we can, you know,
stop people really getting hurt if somebody really is arcing up.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
I think what we need to remember here, Katie, again
is that the focus needs to be on reducing the
crime and not spending more money on security guards. And
you know, if the labor government was serious, we'd be
tackling the crime and antisocial behavior by investing and supporting
the police better.
Speaker 6 (29:45):
But I think this kindom does reduce crime in one
way by dispersing and deterrent in the CBD when they
see these people walking along, you know, people aren't going
to start bashing each other in front of two security guards.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
And again about resources, We've got Vince Kelly leading the
you into police resourcing right now. He's out there doing
a great job getting right across the Northern Territory to understand,
you know, what are those resources, What does that support
that our front line need to help them do their
very important.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
If our listeners has just been in contact Christine, she's
called through to ask or she said she'd support Grade
three security guards having OC spray, but not Grade one
security saying that they're not qualified enough. Is that something
that the Northern Territory government's considering only certain guards.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
So this is the detail being worked through right now
about who is the appropriate level of having those access
to that OC spray, the training does required and how
will work.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Which I think is fair enough. We do need to
make sure that people are adequately trained. Nobody wants to
see anybody injured as a result of that OC spray
being used. But also you want to make sure that
we're not winding up in a situation where people are
being sued, where the government's being sued, where all sorts
of stuff is going on, because people who aren't adequately trained,
are potentially using.
Speaker 5 (30:59):
A sh The other thing, when you talk about the
legalities of it, the transit officers are employed by the government,
whereas these security people are private issues. So that presumably
something that the government has to work through with the
Attorney general or solicitor general in regards to if something
does go wrong. Who is liable? Is the company libel
in the first instance, or is the company liable plus
the anti government because anti governments contracted them. So that's
(31:22):
the legal issues that the government will have to work
to and get it right, because otherwise you're going to
end up with one purse or a bit of a
legal mess.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Well, we've seen that happen, you know. We've seen a
situation even out at don Dale of course, where where
we have wound up with people being able to seek
that compensation redress. That's right.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I just wanted to give an example of anti social
behavior Katie, if I can. In the city this morning,
So I'm staying at a hotel on the Esplanade and
I'm sitting there quietly having my breakfast. A guy comes
in the managers trying to get the person. The person
was from Port Keats because I ended up having to
(32:04):
get up from my breakfast and help the manager. And
this is an example of antisocial behavior coming into hotels
in the city.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
I was at the Novtel and you know, the guy came.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
He took something off my table while I'm sitting there
having breakfast, and I just said, mate, you can't do this.
It's unacceptable. And I said to the guy, have you
got a takeaway cup? I grabbed a glass of water.
I had to coax him outside with the glass of water.
But on the way he shaped up to the manager
and was sort of like throwing punches at him. I
(32:38):
said to him call the police, which he had. By
the time I left and went out to come here,
the police hadn't attended. Now, the police do a great job,
but you know, on a scale of.
Speaker 5 (32:51):
They just had not suffer that.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
So, you know, I'm sitting there having my breakfast. Fortunately
for them, I was the only one there, and fortunately
of them I'm used to. You know, this is not
uncommon to me, and I don't mind talking to these people,
not from Bloody yeah, exactly. So you know, it was
just very confronting and the staff in the hotel were
(33:15):
left shaken, and that's not acceptable and.
Speaker 5 (33:20):
Forget the bad behavior. The fact remains that person was
probably genuinely hungry.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
That person generally was hungry.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
Him and John Wayne, who he said is outside, were
absolutely drunk has and they were also on something you
could just tell.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
I mean, I've been around long enough. They were definitely and.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
So the question then, you know, the question then gets asked,
and I think that this is where we're rash in
the Northern Territory right now. Is okay, We've got security
to try and help deal with those situations. People are
calling the Northern Territory Police. Yes, nobody has been injured
at that point in time, nobody has presented a weapon
at that point in time, but somebody has come in
and threatened a staff member at the hotel. So I
(34:04):
the police, as we all know, are absolutely stretched. We
get that, and we know that they can't be going
out to absolutely every every incident or they may not
be able to get there as quickly as they'd like
to be able to. But this is where a lot
of people are questioning, will hang on, where are the police?
Speaker 4 (34:20):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
So I'll definitely follow up with that particular issue. Joe.
That's terrible shouldn't have.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
To put up with that.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Those poor people of the hotel.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
That's ridiculous this time of the morning, and people being
that out of their mind like that, that's disgraceful behavior
on their part. But I'll follow that at one.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
And unfortunately not isolated, like everybody in this room could
have an example like that. And and you know, you
wouldn't have to go far around the territory for people
to be able to tell you about things like that.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Manager, does this happen often?
Speaker 1 (34:48):
And he said, you know, generally, yes, Katie.
Speaker 5 (34:51):
The other issue that needs to be looked at and
considered is why are these people in town. I keep hearing, Oh,
they come into town for medical stuff, they come in
down to be relatives, And I'm getting a bit tired
of that, you know. And I don't take away that
there are that genuine group of people who have generally
come to town for extra treatment medically and otherwise teeth, eyes, whatever,
But there is a large and growing migration of people
(35:14):
from remote communities coming into the urban settings and they
have nowhere to stay because their houses are out in
their communities.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
And I do want to touch on long the comments
that were made then by Marcia Langton throughout the Coronial
inquest during the week as well. Where As for those
who don't know. Obviously an eminent Aboriginal academic, she's told
the coroner that extending alcohol bands across the Northern Territory
is an absolutely necessary public health measure. She said that
tightening exceedingly lacks alcohol policy was central to tackling domestic
(35:44):
violence and reducing anti social behavior more generally. And look,
we've spoken about this a lot, but she said the
restrictions need to be uniform across the jurisdiction, not severe
in Aboriginal areas and open season in towns.
Speaker 5 (35:58):
You know, I get a bit up with these experts
in brackets who come up from down south and tell
us how we should manage our businesses. All right, now,
what if she's so concerned about limiting alcohol across the board,
take it across the country. Take it back to your
hometown wherever you live, Marcia Langton, take it back to Melbourne.
Because alcohol is not just a Northern Territory thing. You know,
(36:19):
it's across our country, it's across the world.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Okay, So we seem to have a very serious issue
with the public drunkenness and the public anti social behavior
and DV.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
The alcohol is a contributing factor, I give you that,
and it's a very large contributing factor, but there are
other factors that contribute to the way that people behave
the way they do. And as I said to you,
there's growing migration from remote communities to come into the
big cities.
Speaker 4 (36:44):
I get it.
Speaker 5 (36:44):
Coming to the big cities is a good thing to do,
and it's fun, and why wouldn't you You know, that's where
the action is and the fun and the going on
holidays to the big cities exactly, But they're staying here?
Are they staying here because they don't want to go home?
Why don't they want to go home? So it's one
thing to say, I just do a blanket band of alcohol.
I've been here long enough, like Nicole, like Joe. I
saw all the takeaway licenses drop down across all the
(37:05):
roadside inns. Then I saw the port go, Then I
saw the four leader cast go, and we.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
Still have analy.
Speaker 5 (37:12):
So along the way, all us, Laura, abiding citizens and
territories are being discriminated against because of the behavior of some.
So I don't agree with that comment from Langton.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
And also just to add on to that that the
Member for Goid has brought up is that Mekesia is
that in Catherine, in Tenant, in Alice. We all have
these restrictions, but let's not forget that that then pushes
up secondary supply. And like Kesy is saying, those people
(37:44):
are coming in from the communities, they're bringing their families in.
The children aren't attending school. We know that we've got
poor attendance rates and that fifty eight percent of all
kids across the territory are not meeting literacy and numeracy,
and we know that eighty five percent of Indigenous kids
are not meeting literacy and numeracy. So there's a bigger
problem here when people come into you know, regional centers
(38:08):
and they aren't on their communities, you know, having their
kids go to school and you know, staying out there
on the communities and you know, maybe being able to
have a drink socially on their community. They shouldn't have
to come into town. But they're also when they come
into town, you know, there needs to be some you
don't just hang around here for extended periods of time,
(38:31):
which potentially this morning look was happening.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
Yeah, we are going to have to take a very
quick break and in the studio this morning, of course,
Nicole Madison, Keesy Eppuric, Georgie Dickerson and Joe Hersey. Now
just taking you across to the news story that well
all the media are reporting, but the ABC. Santos They're
five point six billion dollar Barossa gas project has been
delayed yet again, just hours before the company was due
(38:56):
to begin constructing an underwater gas export pipeline north of
now on Thursday morning. Yesterday morning, as a Santos operated
pipeline vessel headed to the team or C, the federal
court granted an emergency injunction sought by a Tewee Island's
traditional owner. It means that Santos must immediately pause installation
(39:16):
of its proposed two hundred and sixty three kilometers pipeline
until at least five pm or November thirteen. Mado, Are
you does this fall under your portfolio? Now?
Speaker 2 (39:28):
Yes, yes, I've been the Administer for Energy and Industry
and yes, on shore and offshore gas does sit with me.
You know, this is a five billion dollar investment by Santos.
They've made final investment decisions some years ago. They have
got customers in career in Japan, and I've certainly met
with those customers many times. This is a project here
(39:48):
that would extend Darwin Allen g by twenty years. It
supports hundreds and hundreds of jobs and then the businesses
that are around it as well. And the other good
thing about this project is that it's going to help
also kick off the CCS project, that's carbon capture storage
project at Bayowunden TiO that look Santos has had not.
(40:10):
Seema put a stop to some of their work because
they said they needed to go out and do further
consultation with traditional owners, and they have been very diligent
in that consultation. I know that they've done a huge
amount of work at the teewe's in town. There wouldn't
be many people who haven't seen or heard their advertising
to make sure that they got out there and communicated
with as many people as possible. However, clearly there are
(40:33):
still some people who are not wanting to see this
project proceed. I don't believe it is representative of all the.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
People, so you reckon that there are people in the
community who want it to tap it.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
There is a court process that is happening now, and
I respect that court process, but what I will say
is that I think people can have confidence that there
has been a huge, huge amount of work done by
Santos to make sure that they communicate with as many
people from the Tier Island so they had the facts
about where the pipeline goes and what this actually means.
Speaker 5 (41:06):
Katie, I just find it extremely disappointing, and I agree
with everything Nicole said, like this is this is a
multinational company that is at the top of the level
of its profession and how they go about their business,
even in little Old Dale and town here. And you know,
this project hasn't just popped up overnight. It's been ongoing
for quite a while. And there's been other projects in
and around the TV Islands going as far back as
(41:27):
when there was mineral sands and you know, and when
there was mineral sands operation or bit not very long
on the TV Islands, there was always this group of
activists who were spreading myths and myth truths about you know,
what the mineral sands were going to do. You know,
there was going to make a big hole and the
islands were going to sink. You know, all this sort
of rubbish, just like lead point, you know, and people
were starting to believe it now, you know, I think,
(41:49):
you know, there should be a meeting halfway. I mean,
government's doing as much as it can do, you know,
and the company's doing as much, if not better than
what it can do, you know. And I just think
the TV Land Council or the TV people or whoever's
managing them, you know, they should come to the party
and really start to you know, look at it seriously. Okay,
So what is it they don't want? Is it that
(42:10):
they're concerned about the pipeline near their islands? Not on
their islands? You know, Yeah, the federal government does regulate offshore.
Are they concerned about the pipeline near their islands because
the actual Borosca is way out in the bloody Ocean,
you know, nowhere near the Tivy Island. So what exactly
are they objecting to and.
Speaker 4 (42:26):
Why why is it They're almost there?
Speaker 5 (42:28):
And then suddenly one person pops up and takes the
matter to Federal court or the Federal Court High Court?
Speaker 1 (42:33):
And how much money is being spent?
Speaker 5 (42:34):
Who's managing this? Because I can guarantee it won't be
that person who's objected, the mister or missus on the
Tivy Islands, the individually. They're being pushed by someone and
that's what disappoints me. They're being manipulated. I think.
Speaker 1 (42:47):
Well, look, we are unfortunately going to have to take
a really quick break before we get ready to wrap
up for the morning. You are listening to Mix one
O four nine's three sixty. That is just about it
for us this morning. A massive thank you to everybody
for your time this week. Morning. Joe here's the member
for Catherine. Thanks so much for joining us this morning.
Thanks Katie.
Speaker 3 (43:04):
Sometimes it's a bit hard to get a word in,
but anyway, sorry to me, not people.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
We're all into talking and it's.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
All about vuying for the microphone space, isn't it so anyway,
thanks Catherine, great.
Speaker 1 (43:21):
Lefty friend here.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Anyway, it's Katherine Prize tonight when I go back forty
eight Katherine Price. So I look forward to going to
that at godmun Up Price wonderful.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
That'll be fantastic. Georgie Dickerson, thank you, thank you for
your time this morning.
Speaker 6 (43:39):
Shout I was going to give my favorite pub of shoutout.
Speaker 1 (43:41):
I don't have anything shags compete with that.
Speaker 5 (43:50):
Yeah, I want to do a shout out to Kel McLaughlin.
Young Kell's eighteen. He's a volunteer for down a Lamb's Lagoon,
son of Dave and Kim, and he got the award
last night for the Junior Volunteer of the Yords. He's
a lovely young fellow. Not only does he do that
kind of stuff, he grew his beautiful hand, it was
down to his waist or something, and then he then
(44:11):
he shaved it off for leukemia.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
So he's not a nice kid.
Speaker 5 (44:15):
He's done Scouts and all that sort of stuff. So
big shout out to your cow I know your parents
are too.
Speaker 1 (44:20):
Well done, mate, Nicole Madison, Thanks k. I hope everybody
has a lovely weekend. We certainly will.
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