Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, questions surrounding the transparency of Chief Minister Natasha Philes
have indeed escalated following these fresh allegations that she may
have undisclosed shareholdings, this time with South thirty two, the
company that runs the gem Co manganese mine on Groot Island.
Last month, the Chief Minister said that she'd declared everything,
(00:21):
particularly emphasizing her divestment of Woodside shares and stating I've
always declared shareholdings while a member of Parliament in accordance
with the legislation. Now the Opposition Leader Leafanocchio has said
the Chief Minister must come out immediately and front questions.
We are still waiting for the Chief Minister to provide
(00:43):
that response, but joining me in the studio right now
is the Opposition leader Lea Fanocchio. Good morning to you, Leah, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Morning Katie and to your listeners, Leah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Should the Chief Minister stand down if.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
This is true, if she has more shares that have
not been disclosed and is in breach to the minister
code of and this is the last straw.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
She cannot survive this.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
It's too big an integrity question, especially off the back
of the scandal a month ago, and a range of
other areas in which is misled territorians around Boo reform,
Howard Springs, damage, you name it. So this is a
pivotal moment for the territory and she's got to come
forward today with some serious explanations.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
I mean, we're talking about around two than four hundred
and fifty dollars worth of shares. It seems like a
small amount to fall on your sword. If it doesn't.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It it's not the amount, this is the issue. It's
the integrity piece, Katie. We've seen over a long period
of time her willingness to mislead and bend the truth
and even on occasion just flat out lie to people.
And so we've had a huge scar Share scandal a
month ago, of which serious questions remain because the Cabinet,
of course have not come forward and said what they
(01:53):
were going to do to address the breach of ministry
a code of conduct. And now to have the media
once again spring the news, it just shows very clearly
that she is willing to do and say anything to
keep her job, and it's clearly an integrity issue she
can't come back from.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Do you think that her ownership of the shares has
clouded her judgment when it comes to investigating the health
impacts of high levels of manganese dust on indigenous territorians
on Grude Island earlier this year.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Well, the issue is we'll never know, Katie, and that's
the problem. If this is true, then it clouds decisions
that she's made. And that's why there is all of
these mechanisms in place to make sure that disclosures are made,
to make sure that conflicts.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Are dealt with in advance.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
The territorians can have confidence and clarity, and of course
when you don't have confidence in clarity, you have question marks.
When there's question marks, there's uncertainty. And that's not a
space that territorians can move forward in. That's not a
space that we can grow in. And so something seriously
needs to be done and people are looking for answers
and it has to be today.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Leah.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
What is going to happen if she digs her heels
in and says well, no, I haven't done anything wrong.
There's some kind of misunderstanding and not budging.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Well that it comes back to the cabinet.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
So under the Ministerial Code of Conduct, if she has shares,
that should should have been divested. Then the cabinet are
the ones who have to enforce it an outcome on that,
and again, just like with Woodside, we haven't seen the
cabinet show leadership, which then puts all of their integrity
once again into question. It will show to Territorians they're
more interested in managing the optics and worrying about their
(03:25):
own jobs instead of doing the job of governing. For Territorians,
we cannot move forward as a jurisdiction. People can't plan, invest, grow,
be safe while we have a government imploding and focusing
on itself.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Just put herself in our whole world of trouble.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
I mean, the fact is she should have come out
yesterday and explained to Territorians exactly what the go is.
But I do understand, and I do want to point
out to our listeners that she was at a funeral yesterday.
We all understand that at a family member's funeral. So
the timing is really is not good. But there has
to be some explanation here, and then there has to
(04:02):
be some movement forward, and it has to be.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
A consequence if it's true, and if it's not true,
it needs to be a very good explanation of the world.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
That's true, that's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
But I think the really interesting part now is what
is going to happen next. We're expecting her to come
out later today, after lunch today and to address this
whole situation. But what happens next if she does sort
of you know, if she does then stand down, who's
going to step into that role?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Well, this is the question.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I think one of your listeners said, there's a total
void of leadership in that team. We've got a tired
team who have no plans for the territory going forward.
They've got no vision. They've effectively given up. We've had
reshuffles and chaos within that team for some time now,
and they literally don't know what to do. In the meantime,
crime is out of control, our economy is in free
(04:51):
full debt is through the roof, population is going backwards.
It's just a scary time for the territory while we
remain so ruddless. So if there is a spill today
or tomorrow, whenever it might be. If that happens, Katie,
it's just going to lead to more uncertainty, which isn't
a good outcome for the community.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Who do you think, though, who would you tip?
Speaker 3 (05:13):
I couldn't pick any of them, Katie. I mean, if
they're looking for a rebrand, they might go with some
of the newer team, but you've got serious lack of experience,
which is very risky.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
And won't lead to better outcomes.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
You've then got the old guard there who have been
a massive part of the failure.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
So where do they go from here?
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Nicole Madison is the name that is always touted. She
is the deputy Chief Minister. She was Michael Gunner's deputy
Chief Minister. I mean do you think she brings with
her though baggage?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Of course, she was our failed treasurer that announced a
week before Christmas that we were going to have thirty
five billion dollars dead if we didn't do something about it.
She's been dumped as the Police Minister. She's been dumped
as the Tourism minister. I mean Nicole Madison, as lovely
a person as she might be, has been a failed
deputy and failed minister with a long list of other colleagues,
(06:00):
so it's there's not a big list of people to
choose from.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
With her former experience as the police minister though, I
mean Some have argued, particularly Robin Lamley, that she's the
architect behind the situation that we are currently in. When
you talk about our levels of crime, that they were
starting to deteriorate well and truly while she was the
Police Minister and when Michael Gunner was the Chief Minister. Absolutely,
So then are we expecting if she were to step
(06:24):
into that role, are we expecting there to be any
change of approach in the way in which we're doing things. No.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
And what's even worse when you talk about architects, Katie,
is that Brent Potter, the new Police Minister, was Nicole
Madison's police advisor at the time that Nicole Madison was
a foiled police minister. So there is nowhere to move here.
The territory is in a very fragile, delicate state where
things are all going in the wrong direction, and now
(06:50):
we have a government imploding in front of the public's eyes.
There's no clear safe hands.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I don't think territorians at work today are thinking, well,
you know, it'd be all right, so and so, got it.
I think people are just really concerned. There's a lack
of certainty, a lack of a plan, a lack of
a vision and all indicators just show that the territory
is suffering at the moment and there's no way forward
under Labor.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
With your experience, as you know, being in government previously
with the COLP, and I know that you were on
the minister for a short time you had, you know,
you'd sort of been involved in a situation similar to
this where the likes of Brent Potter and Joel Bowden
have really just stepped in as ministers. We're now staring
down the barrel of a potential leadership change and portfolio
(07:36):
changes because if indeed the Chief Minister has not declared
these shares, and the accusation here is that then potentially
she has not been investigated or has decided not to
investigate something at Grood Island as a result of having
those shares. I know it's a long boat to draw,
but many would then say, well can she realistically hang
(07:56):
on to the health portfolio as well? So we're steering
down the barrel right now of a potential major shakeup
of the portfolios of the whole cabinet within the Labor Party.
I mean, in your experience, and as I said, I
know it was only for a short time. What would
be happening.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Today, Oh, I mean, the phones would be running hot,
there will be a lot of pressure being put on
from the outside. You'll have the public service basically at
a standstill because they're not sure who their minister's going
to be, what the direction's going to be, and so
it does paralyze to some extent our public service here.
You just want to get on with the job. But
(08:34):
when there's no leadership, that becomes very difficult. And so
then what we don't want to see is deals being done.
I mean, if it's about clinging to power at all cost,
which labor may very well be in that desperate situation,
then you may start to see deals done, and that
doesn't lead to good outcomes for the communities because their
interest isn't first, it's the interest of people keeping their jobs.
(08:56):
So it's a dark day for the territory and I
just hope we can come out of it as quickly
as possible because this, you know, this type of turmoil
is not good for the territory.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Lea. The big question from territorians today is going to
be to you, as a COLP leader, what would you
do differently to avoid yourself or any of your colleagues
winding up in a similar shares Fia.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Scott, We've already taken the right steps, Katie. So we've
been really proactive. We wanted to show territorians that we're
not mucking around, that we are ready to govern, and
so even though the Ministerial Code of Conduct does not
apply to us, we've taken the steps to divest any
shares that could have a potential or real conflict of interest.
So members who are we're in that situation have divested
(09:41):
those shares to make sure that even though it doesn't
apply to us, we're showing territorians we're being open upfront
about it. And of course, well in advance of next years,
there will not be any clouds around this issue if
we were to be elected.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Have you one hundred percent made sure that none of
those none of your colleagues have any shares there may
be unaway of how they may have changed or anything
like that. Have you made sure of that.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yes, we've been very, very vigilant, very proactive in this space.
We want territories to have confidence going forward. We believe
very strongly in the ministry or Code of Conduct and
why it's there, and we don't want to have these issues,
in these clouds and these question marks over decision making.
You know, we love the territory, Katie. We believe in
this place. We are optimistic about the future, and we
(10:25):
don't want to have silly errors or oversizes or deliberate
errors clouding our decision making in our ability to drive
the territory forward. We see this place as a great
place to live, work and invest, and that's what we're
focused on, not ourselves.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
I have got a message from Judith this morning. It says,
good morning, Katie, this news today will be Leah's best
Christmas present ever. Now I do want to ask, though,
because the thing is, you know, while it may seem,
you know, like it may some listening may be thinking,
all right, well, this is potentially a good thing. At
the end of the day, the colps still has to
(11:00):
prove their wars before the elections. Like you guys still
have to absolutely prove to people why they should vote
for you or why you are better place to lead
the Northern Territory, particularly out of the crime miss that
we have. I mean, are you, like, how hard are
you guys now working behind the scenes to really actually
(11:20):
demonstrate that to territories that you are the better alternative,
because a lot of people this morning are just going
to be feeling pretty disillusioned with the whole political situation
they are.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
It's look, it's not at Christmas present.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I can assure you this is bad for the territory
and anything that's bad for the territory is not something
that I support. We're team Territory first and always so
going forward that we've started pre selecting candidates, which shows
that we're ready to govern. We've got people out in
the field connecting with their communities. We've got a long
list of priorities and policies around community safety, empowering our police,
(11:56):
making sure that we rebuild the territory's reputation, get our
economy back on tracks. So those are our key and
clear focuses. And as we have more candidates into next
year and start releasing new policies over the course of
that lead up into the election, people will see that
point of difference very clearly. But we are a strong
united team focus on one thing and one thing only,
(12:18):
and that is making the territory a better place.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Lea, I do want to ask you, we've just received
a pressure release from the Northern Territory Police they've arrested
a male and a female after a robbery and dangerous
driving incident in Jingly yesterday. At about ten thirty in
the morning, police received reports that a male aged twenty
five and a female age twenty nine had unlawfully entered
a residence in Jingly with four children at home. The
(12:42):
pair allegedly stole a number of items, including jewelry and
three shotguns. A male resident returned home and confronted the offenders,
with one allegedly threatening him with a knife before the
offenders fled the scene in a Toyota land Cruiser. Members
of Strikeforce Trident and the Dog Operations Unit deployed two
the scene and began tracking the land Cruiser with the
(13:03):
assistance of the male resident. The vehicle was observed driving
erradically through Jingly and lud Miller before it collided with
a parked vehicle on Bremer Street in lud Miller and
drove into a nearby drain. Now both of those offenders
were arrested without incident, with all of the stolen property recovered,
but they believed to be under the influence of myth
(13:25):
and fetamine. With the twenty five year old conveyed to
Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment, while the twenty nine year
old was remanded in custody. I mean, this is they've
been charged with a string of offenses and you know, basically,
you know, they've called triple zero immediately the police have
gotten there quickly. But this is another example of some
(13:47):
of the absolute garbage behavior that we're dealing with around
the Northern Territory at the moment.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
I don't even know what to say, kay It actually
maybe want to burst into tears if I be quite honest.
I mean, with a week before Ristmas, people are spending
time winding up their work, getting ready for Christmas with
their family, and we have instances of crime that are
so horrific and so unbelievable you actually can't even imagine it.
And to think that your four children are at home
(14:15):
when that happens, I mean, it's just it's just mind
blowing what is happening in our community at the moment.
No one deserves this, and it can be done differently.
There is a better way. There are laws and things
that can be done, and this government just won't do it.
I can't understand why, but my absolute commitment is that
I will because I live here too, my family are here.
(14:35):
We're a generational Territory family, and I will fight for
this place to the n Katie and things like that
should never ever happen.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I can see the emotion in your eyes and I've
felt it myself, you know, throughout doing this show, throughout
the year. I've got to tell you, I don't think
I've ever cried so much just what I have this
year on the show. There's been some really really hard moments,
and we are going to be replying some of those
interviews throughout this morning. One of them is really a
(15:03):
moment that stopped us all in its tracks, and that
was following on from the death of young Decklan Lavity.
It's going to be hard, I think for a lot
of us to listen to, but we have sought approval
from his dad to replay that interview again today, and
you know, I think it's important that that young man
is remembered, yes, and that what his family has gone
(15:25):
through is remembered as well. The fact is there are
a lot of victims of crime in the Northern Territory
right now, and we are all very much over it. Leah.
We are going to have to wrap it up. I
really appreciate your time this morning. I appreciate your time
throughout the year. I hope that you and your family
have a lovely Christmas, and no doubt we'll be talking
regularly again in the new year.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
We will take care everyone, have a merry and save
Christmas and blessings to everyone.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Thank you,
Now, questions surrounding the transparency of Chief Minister Natasha Philes
have indeed escalated following these fresh allegations that she may
have undisclosed shareholdings, this time with South thirty two, the
company that runs the gem Co manganese mine on Groot Island.
Last month, the Chief Minister said that she'd declared everything,
(00:21):
particularly emphasizing her divestment of Woodside shares and stating I've
always declared shareholdings while a member of Parliament in accordance
with the legislation. Now the Opposition Leader Leafanocchio has said
the Chief Minister must come out immediately and front questions.
We are still waiting for the Chief Minister to provide
(00:43):
that response, but joining me in the studio right now
is the Opposition leader Lea Fanocchio. Good morning to you, Leah, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Morning Katie and to your listeners, Leah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Should the Chief Minister stand down if.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
This is true, if she has more shares that have
not been disclosed and is in breach to the minister
code of and this is the last straw.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
She cannot survive this.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
It's too big an integrity question, especially off the back
of the scandal a month ago, and a range of
other areas in which is misled territorians around Boo reform,
Howard Springs, damage, you name it. So this is a
pivotal moment for the territory and she's got to come
forward today with some serious explanations.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
I mean, we're talking about around two than four hundred
and fifty dollars worth of shares. It seems like a
small amount to fall on your sword. If it doesn't.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It it's not the amount, this is the issue. It's
the integrity piece, Katie. We've seen over a long period
of time her willingness to mislead and bend the truth
and even on occasion just flat out lie to people.
And so we've had a huge scar Share scandal a
month ago, of which serious questions remain because the Cabinet,
of course have not come forward and said what they
(01:53):
were going to do to address the breach of ministry
a code of conduct. And now to have the media
once again spring the news, it just shows very clearly
that she is willing to do and say anything to
keep her job, and it's clearly an integrity issue she
can't come back from.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Do you think that her ownership of the shares has
clouded her judgment when it comes to investigating the health
impacts of high levels of manganese dust on indigenous territorians
on Grude Island earlier this year.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Well, the issue is we'll never know, Katie, and that's
the problem. If this is true, then it clouds decisions
that she's made. And that's why there is all of
these mechanisms in place to make sure that disclosures are made,
to make sure that conflicts.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Are dealt with in advance.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
The territorians can have confidence and clarity, and of course
when you don't have confidence in clarity, you have question marks.
When there's question marks, there's uncertainty. And that's not a
space that territorians can move forward in. That's not a
space that we can grow in. And so something seriously
needs to be done and people are looking for answers
and it has to be today.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Leah.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
What is going to happen if she digs her heels
in and says well, no, I haven't done anything wrong.
There's some kind of misunderstanding and not budging.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Well that it comes back to the cabinet.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
So under the Ministerial Code of Conduct, if she has shares,
that should should have been divested. Then the cabinet are
the ones who have to enforce it an outcome on that,
and again, just like with Woodside, we haven't seen the
cabinet show leadership, which then puts all of their integrity
once again into question. It will show to Territorians they're
more interested in managing the optics and worrying about their
(03:25):
own jobs instead of doing the job of governing. For Territorians,
we cannot move forward as a jurisdiction. People can't plan, invest, grow,
be safe while we have a government imploding and focusing
on itself.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Just put herself in our whole world of trouble.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
I mean, the fact is she should have come out
yesterday and explained to Territorians exactly what the go is.
But I do understand, and I do want to point
out to our listeners that she was at a funeral yesterday.
We all understand that at a family member's funeral. So
the timing is really is not good. But there has
to be some explanation here, and then there has to
(04:02):
be some movement forward, and it has to be.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
A consequence if it's true, and if it's not true,
it needs to be a very good explanation of the world.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
That's true, that's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
But I think the really interesting part now is what
is going to happen next. We're expecting her to come
out later today, after lunch today and to address this
whole situation. But what happens next if she does sort
of you know, if she does then stand down, who's
going to step into that role?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Well, this is the question.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I think one of your listeners said, there's a total
void of leadership in that team. We've got a tired
team who have no plans for the territory going forward.
They've got no vision. They've effectively given up. We've had
reshuffles and chaos within that team for some time now,
and they literally don't know what to do. In the meantime,
crime is out of control, our economy is in free
(04:51):
full debt is through the roof, population is going backwards.
It's just a scary time for the territory while we
remain so ruddless. So if there is a spill today
or tomorrow, whenever it might be. If that happens, Katie,
it's just going to lead to more uncertainty, which isn't
a good outcome for the community.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Who do you think, though, who would you tip?
Speaker 3 (05:13):
I couldn't pick any of them, Katie. I mean, if
they're looking for a rebrand, they might go with some
of the newer team, but you've got serious lack of experience,
which is very risky.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
And won't lead to better outcomes.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
You've then got the old guard there who have been
a massive part of the failure.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
So where do they go from here?
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Nicole Madison is the name that is always touted. She
is the deputy Chief Minister. She was Michael Gunner's deputy
Chief Minister. I mean do you think she brings with
her though baggage?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Of course, she was our failed treasurer that announced a
week before Christmas that we were going to have thirty
five billion dollars dead if we didn't do something about it.
She's been dumped as the Police Minister. She's been dumped
as the Tourism minister. I mean Nicole Madison, as lovely
a person as she might be, has been a failed
deputy and failed minister with a long list of other colleagues,
(06:00):
so it's there's not a big list of people to
choose from.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
With her former experience as the police minister though, I
mean Some have argued, particularly Robin Lamley, that she's the
architect behind the situation that we are currently in. When
you talk about our levels of crime, that they were
starting to deteriorate well and truly while she was the
Police Minister and when Michael Gunner was the Chief Minister. Absolutely,
So then are we expecting if she were to step
(06:24):
into that role, are we expecting there to be any
change of approach in the way in which we're doing things. No.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
And what's even worse when you talk about architects, Katie,
is that Brent Potter, the new Police Minister, was Nicole
Madison's police advisor at the time that Nicole Madison was
a foiled police minister. So there is nowhere to move here.
The territory is in a very fragile, delicate state where
things are all going in the wrong direction, and now
(06:50):
we have a government imploding in front of the public's eyes.
There's no clear safe hands.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I don't think territorians at work today are thinking, well,
you know, it'd be all right, so and so, got it.
I think people are just really concerned. There's a lack
of certainty, a lack of a plan, a lack of
a vision and all indicators just show that the territory
is suffering at the moment and there's no way forward
under Labor.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
With your experience, as you know, being in government previously
with the COLP, and I know that you were on
the minister for a short time you had, you know,
you'd sort of been involved in a situation similar to
this where the likes of Brent Potter and Joel Bowden
have really just stepped in as ministers. We're now staring
down the barrel of a potential leadership change and portfolio
(07:36):
changes because if indeed the Chief Minister has not declared
these shares, and the accusation here is that then potentially
she has not been investigated or has decided not to
investigate something at Grood Island as a result of having
those shares. I know it's a long boat to draw,
but many would then say, well can she realistically hang
(07:56):
on to the health portfolio as well? So we're steering
down the barrel right now of a potential major shakeup
of the portfolios of the whole cabinet within the Labor Party.
I mean, in your experience, and as I said, I
know it was only for a short time. What would
be happening.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Today, Oh, I mean, the phones would be running hot,
there will be a lot of pressure being put on
from the outside. You'll have the public service basically at
a standstill because they're not sure who their minister's going
to be, what the direction's going to be, and so
it does paralyze to some extent our public service here.
You just want to get on with the job. But
(08:34):
when there's no leadership, that becomes very difficult. And so
then what we don't want to see is deals being done.
I mean, if it's about clinging to power at all cost,
which labor may very well be in that desperate situation,
then you may start to see deals done, and that
doesn't lead to good outcomes for the communities because their
interest isn't first, it's the interest of people keeping their jobs.
(08:56):
So it's a dark day for the territory and I
just hope we can come out of it as quickly
as possible because this, you know, this type of turmoil
is not good for the territory.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Lea. The big question from territorians today is going to
be to you, as a COLP leader, what would you
do differently to avoid yourself or any of your colleagues
winding up in a similar shares Fia.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Scott, We've already taken the right steps, Katie. So we've
been really proactive. We wanted to show territorians that we're
not mucking around, that we are ready to govern, and
so even though the Ministerial Code of Conduct does not
apply to us, we've taken the steps to divest any
shares that could have a potential or real conflict of interest.
So members who are we're in that situation have divested
(09:41):
those shares to make sure that even though it doesn't
apply to us, we're showing territorians we're being open upfront
about it. And of course, well in advance of next years,
there will not be any clouds around this issue if
we were to be elected.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Have you one hundred percent made sure that none of
those none of your colleagues have any shares there may
be unaway of how they may have changed or anything
like that. Have you made sure of that.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yes, we've been very, very vigilant, very proactive in this space.
We want territories to have confidence going forward. We believe
very strongly in the ministry or Code of Conduct and
why it's there, and we don't want to have these issues,
in these clouds and these question marks over decision making.
You know, we love the territory, Katie. We believe in
this place. We are optimistic about the future, and we
(10:25):
don't want to have silly errors or oversizes or deliberate
errors clouding our decision making in our ability to drive
the territory forward. We see this place as a great
place to live, work and invest, and that's what we're
focused on, not ourselves.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
I have got a message from Judith this morning. It says,
good morning, Katie, this news today will be Leah's best
Christmas present ever. Now I do want to ask, though,
because the thing is, you know, while it may seem,
you know, like it may some listening may be thinking,
all right, well, this is potentially a good thing. At
the end of the day, the colps still has to
(11:00):
prove their wars before the elections. Like you guys still
have to absolutely prove to people why they should vote
for you or why you are better place to lead
the Northern Territory, particularly out of the crime miss that
we have. I mean, are you, like, how hard are
you guys now working behind the scenes to really actually
(11:20):
demonstrate that to territories that you are the better alternative,
because a lot of people this morning are just going
to be feeling pretty disillusioned with the whole political situation
they are.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
It's look, it's not at Christmas present.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I can assure you this is bad for the territory
and anything that's bad for the territory is not something
that I support. We're team Territory first and always so
going forward that we've started pre selecting candidates, which shows
that we're ready to govern. We've got people out in
the field connecting with their communities. We've got a long
list of priorities and policies around community safety, empowering our police,
(11:56):
making sure that we rebuild the territory's reputation, get our
economy back on tracks. So those are our key and
clear focuses. And as we have more candidates into next
year and start releasing new policies over the course of
that lead up into the election, people will see that
point of difference very clearly. But we are a strong
united team focus on one thing and one thing only,
(12:18):
and that is making the territory a better place.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Lea, I do want to ask you, we've just received
a pressure release from the Northern Territory Police they've arrested
a male and a female after a robbery and dangerous
driving incident in Jingly yesterday. At about ten thirty in
the morning, police received reports that a male aged twenty
five and a female age twenty nine had unlawfully entered
a residence in Jingly with four children at home. The
(12:42):
pair allegedly stole a number of items, including jewelry and
three shotguns. A male resident returned home and confronted the offenders,
with one allegedly threatening him with a knife before the
offenders fled the scene in a Toyota land Cruiser. Members
of Strikeforce Trident and the Dog Operations Unit deployed two
the scene and began tracking the land Cruiser with the
(13:03):
assistance of the male resident. The vehicle was observed driving
erradically through Jingly and lud Miller before it collided with
a parked vehicle on Bremer Street in lud Miller and
drove into a nearby drain. Now both of those offenders
were arrested without incident, with all of the stolen property recovered,
but they believed to be under the influence of myth
(13:25):
and fetamine. With the twenty five year old conveyed to
Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment, while the twenty nine year
old was remanded in custody. I mean, this is they've
been charged with a string of offenses and you know, basically,
you know, they've called triple zero immediately the police have
gotten there quickly. But this is another example of some
(13:47):
of the absolute garbage behavior that we're dealing with around
the Northern Territory at the moment.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
I don't even know what to say, kay It actually
maybe want to burst into tears if I be quite honest.
I mean, with a week before Ristmas, people are spending
time winding up their work, getting ready for Christmas with
their family, and we have instances of crime that are
so horrific and so unbelievable you actually can't even imagine it.
And to think that your four children are at home
(14:15):
when that happens, I mean, it's just it's just mind
blowing what is happening in our community at the moment.
No one deserves this, and it can be done differently.
There is a better way. There are laws and things
that can be done, and this government just won't do it.
I can't understand why, but my absolute commitment is that
I will because I live here too, my family are here.
(14:35):
We're a generational Territory family, and I will fight for
this place to the n Katie and things like that
should never ever happen.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I can see the emotion in your eyes and I've
felt it myself, you know, throughout doing this show, throughout
the year. I've got to tell you, I don't think
I've ever cried so much just what I have this
year on the show. There's been some really really hard moments,
and we are going to be replying some of those
interviews throughout this morning. One of them is really a
(15:03):
moment that stopped us all in its tracks, and that
was following on from the death of young Decklan Lavity.
It's going to be hard, I think for a lot
of us to listen to, but we have sought approval
from his dad to replay that interview again today, and
you know, I think it's important that that young man
is remembered, yes, and that what his family has gone
(15:25):
through is remembered as well. The fact is there are
a lot of victims of crime in the Northern Territory
right now, and we are all very much over it. Leah.
We are going to have to wrap it up. I
really appreciate your time this morning. I appreciate your time
throughout the year. I hope that you and your family
have a lovely Christmas, and no doubt we'll be talking
regularly again in the new year.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
We will take care everyone, have a merry and save
Christmas and blessings to everyone.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Thank you,
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