Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know the Chief Minister is today set to deliver
her year ahead speech, but as I said, some questioning
how the Northern Territory can prosper when the most vulnerable
in our community continue to be at risk and crime
and personal safety remain our number one issue. Now joining
me in the studio right now is the Chief Minister
of the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Evil Ala. Good morning to you morning Katie. Chief Minister.
I appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I do want to ask, firstly, what was your reaction
when you learned a four year old child had been
sexually assaulted in Tenant Craik last week.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Yeah, I mean obviously apparrent, absolutely apparrent, but also heartbreak
for the family involved. It's a small community, that's a
young child. I do worry about being able to identify
the child and the family involved as well. But shocking,
absolutely a shocking behavior, just something that we truly can't fathom.
(00:53):
So good to hear that the police have arrested the
perpetrator and has been charged.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Look, I know, and you know I don't want to
cross a mark here, but you and I were talking
even before we got on air that I've got young
children you've got young grandchildren this kind of situation, it's
like it's utterly heartbreaking.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yes, shocking, shocking.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
And I actually was in Tenant Creek on Wednesday, so
the day had happened, but obviously we don't think people
were aware of that at that stage, or I wasn't
aware of it. I was meeting with Jolalacari there. Obviously
in some financial difficulties there, so I met with Jelalacari.
I met with the council. I met with the anti
government staff as well that are on the ground, the
(01:34):
regional director there, who's doing an exceptional job. I also
met with the Dipple infrastructure person who's worked really hard
with the road flooding. So and one of the things
that I did while I was there was head out
to along Peico Road there to have a look at
the where the youth Justice facility is going to go in.
And that's an important part of the Barkley deal and
it was good to be on the ground. There are
(01:56):
people who are really working hard in Tenant Creek. I
know it's always been a tough town. It's always had
social issues Tenant Creek, but the Barknley Regional Coordination committee
has got in place a community safety action plan, so
they are very much focused on working together.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
They had school.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Holiday activities, the pool was opened which was very well used.
There's a new youth youth center that we've built.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So there are lots of good.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Things happening in Tenant Creek and we know that the
social issues there are really difficult social issues. But the
police also are doing an amazing job in Tenant Look.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
The local member, Steve Edgington, was last week furious about
another child falling victim to a horrific attack Islam. Both
levels of government to enact change which was promised more
than five years ago when a two year old child
was sexually assaulted in Tenant Creek. Where is the system
breaking down here, Chief Minister, Because as we heard last week,
(02:53):
five years ago, Malcolm Turnbull was there making promises. You know,
there was talk of a review, there was talk of
money being in to try and make some change in
this space. Yet now you know, an attack like this,
something like this, if it happened anywhere else in Australia,
people would be screaming for change.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
It probably does happen in Australia and elsewhere in Australia.
It happens in families all the time. It's this was
this one. This person was arrested and you know the
mother was there to well, I think it was the
mother to hear that. But there are children being sexually abused,
probably absolutely right now. It's a shocking thing. It's a
blind doesn't justify it though. I'm just saying that this
(03:34):
does happen unfortunately in our society.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
But the work in the.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Work in the bucket, it's even here in the Northern Territory.
You know what has happened. As I said, it's horrific.
How is I don't even know how are in a
situation where it's not on the front page of the
paper where you know we're it's we are not screaming
from the rooftops that this is not okay.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I think we are screaming from the rooftops that it
isn't okay. Absolutely isn't okay to have any any child
anybody said actually abused, or domestic violence or family violence.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
We know those issues.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
But in the Barkley we have got that the Barkley
Regional Deal and there are people on the ground really
working hard around solutions.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
So as I said.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
The Youth Center has been open, which is great to see.
I went and saw the boarding facility. That's the design
works underway. That'll be a great addition. It'll be built
on the high school grounds there, so you'll have a
boarding facility for kids who are in that broader Barkley
area can attend Tenant Creek High School. So that's a
great addition. The Youth Justice Facility, which will be those
(04:34):
kids on bail that will provide options for them.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
There's a visitor park that's being built with respect.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
People are going to be listening to that this morning,
going how would that have prevented this from happening.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
So again, it is around the wrap around services. And
there are lots of services in Tennant Creek to support families,
but all of them are All of those things are
part of the puzzle. It is about changing the life
lives of little children, young children, so that they are
going to school, that they are safe, that their parents
also understand what they need, what are their responsibilities Because
(05:10):
how did and these are the questions that are unanswered
and will come out through the court process, I'm sure,
but you know, why was that young child who was
actually responsible for that young child.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Why was that young child?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
I think was early in the morning by themselves or
with this person. So there's a lot of unanswered questions,
and it's before the courts, but this is part of
the work that the Berkley people are doing to change
the Barkley and change Tenant Creek.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Do you have any idea of the condition of that
small child at this point?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
No, I don't. I want to ask.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
I know that Steve Edgington says that that promised review
and order in line with the Barkley Regional Deal hasn't
happened yet.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Are you frustrated by that?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
So I said, that's probably matter for the federal government
around that.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
But from your perspective, the issue is.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Really about the things happening on the ground. I mean, yes,
you can do an audit a bit of the program.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Determine what was working and what was not working.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
And Tenant Creek is seriously struggling, not only from you
know before, like not only from this incident, but before
this incident. So what is going to happen and what
are you going to do as a matter of urgency
to make sure that Tenant Creek sorted out?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah? So that was the part of the reason that
I went to Tenant Creek.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
So the council we know is in administration, which is
not a good position to have a council in because
you haven't got that leadership on the ground. That report
is due by the end of the month or end
of March. That will make that's really important work because
then you've got the leadership in Tenant Creek that's needed
on the ground to drive some of these some of
(06:43):
these programs, some of the changes as we've got really
good staff, Dipple staff as well as anti government staff
who are really driving the work that needs to be
done around the boarding facility, the youth Justice facility, the
visitor Park, brad Agg So there are a number of
pros that just need to get moving in Tenant Creek.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Mordan had indicated on the show on Friday, and we
didn't play it as part of that grab, but she'd
indicated on the show on Friday that it was land
councils in some situations that are holding this kind of
work up.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
So sometimes there are iluas so traditional owners so indigenous
land use agreements that need to be moved through and
agreed to around specific land. If it's land that's held
by traditional owners. That's a fact in the territory.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
So what hope can you give the people of Tenant
Creek this morning, Chief Minister that there is going to
be some change. I mean, you are set to deliver
that year ahead speech and we'll get to that in
a moment, but you know, what hope can you give
people this morning?
Speaker 3 (07:42):
So one of the things that I'll be talking about
today is more more youth camps, so more youth facilities
across the Northern Territory, and there will be one set
up at Juno. So Juno has been an education facility.
It will then become immediately so we'll get work straight
away around that, providing those opportunities for young kids who
(08:03):
have gone off the rails on bail to be able
to go there and transform their lives. So they will
be able to get educational support, they'll be able to
get those wrap around services that will change and change
their trajectory from kids that are just continuing to be
in trouble into our pathway to jobs, into a pathway
for work. So they'll be at Juno. So there is
(08:26):
already an educational facility just out from Tenant Creek called Juno,
and that facility will be converted to a facility for
it will be a youth camp for young kids who
are on bail, and so that will be something immediately
in place. But as I said, there are also the
good news stories around that boarding facility that will make
a difference to the kids in Tenant Creek because they'll
(08:48):
have that consistency around being able to be in a
safe place, have food, have their homework supervised, and be
able to get a secondary education. Again, Tenant Creek's got
a theme center. It's about getting those kids on the
pathway into working.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
James.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
In this situation though, the alleged defender was an adult,
a fifty two year old, so there will be people
listening this morning thinking how those camps going to help
in a situation like this one.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
So a fifty two year old has been arrested and
that person has broken the law, so that person will
go through the process of the court system and presumably
they will go to jail.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
With that criticism of the federal and Northern Territory governments
around the Barkley Regional Deal, have you spoken to the
Prime Minister since this incident last week?
Speaker 2 (09:33):
No, I haven't should you.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I think that this was a matter. This one was
a matter for the police. The police reacted immediately as
I was on the ground in Tenant Creek. I've had
discussions with my colleague, so discussions with Naria Kid Brent
Potter around the issues in Tenant Creek. But Tenant Creek
is a Tenant Creek is a place that is very
(09:56):
much focused on the Barkley deal and rebuilding and we're
moving forward again. It is around that the leadership on
the ground, and we've got great people in government on
the ground. We need the council also.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
So despite that criticism that things are not happening quickly enough,
and you'd said that, you know, it really is a
matter for the federal government. There hasn't been a discussion
with the Prime Minister.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
No, as I said, the focus has been very much
first and foremost through Minister a Kit but also Minister
Potter around the resting the person, but also support for
the family, and that's the first and foremost. It is
also then around the work that has to be continued
to be done on the ground in Tenant Creek or
I continue to do that.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
We know Tenant Creek is you know is obviously part
of the whole of the Northern Territory where there is
so much happening right around the place. But today you
are set to deliver your year Ahead speech. As I
said earlier, those issues of crime and safety continue to
dominate headlines. We spoke last week to the Corrections Commissioner
as well, who'd explained that the jails are overflowing. He
(10:56):
said that forty five percent of prisoners are on Remand
what do you think this is about the system?
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I think it says what we I think all Territorians
know that there is a really important piece to this puzzle,
and Kate Warden was talking about it last week and
it's going to be very much the focus of my speech.
We need to have territorians working. We can no longer
have generations of Territorians who are not working. So whether
that's an Aboriginal Territorian or a person that's continuing to
(11:27):
be on the doll we need to have territorians working.
I believe that if you're working, you're getting up in
the morning, you're going to work, you're getting your kids up,
you're tied. By the end of the day. You then
have your family meal, go to bed and you get up.
So I think we cannot continue to have people on
welfare in the Northern territory. We need to work with
(11:48):
the federal government around reforming CDP. There needs to be
that mutual obligation around that, because then people will stay
in their remote communities, they will stay in their regional centers,
but they stay because.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
They have a job.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
So that is the part that is long term work
for our government, because as I said, we cannot continue
to have generations of children finishing school and not going
into work. We cannot have people that then are highly
mobile because they don't have anything that anchors them to
the regional town or to that community to work. So
one of the clear messages I'm going to be talking
(12:21):
about is work. It's not about jobs, because there are
plenty of jobs in the territory. We need people to
be in those jobs working and that really.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Make people work who don't want to.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So part of a long term plan, but it will
be around the school So making sure in our schools
that the young people are getting really very much that
focus on training that leads to employment opportunities. So in
the communities, whether that is going to be working for
police or whether you're going to be a police officer
working in the school, in education, at the health clinic.
(12:53):
The ideal situation will be, and this is into the future,
when we have an Aboriginal person in a community, we need,
for example, papaya every place, whether it's the police station,
the health center, the pilot that flies in, you know,
the doctor in the clinic. Every one of those people
are Aboriginal people. That's what we need to see in
(13:13):
the territory. We cannot have more and more generations of territories.
We need to have. We need that for the growth
of the economy. We need that also for the hope
for Aboriginal people. And that was what Kate Warden was saying.
We need land councils to be part of the equation.
We need businesses, we need education, we need training CDU
all of us need to very much focus on changing that,
(13:35):
changing that focus in the Northern Territory to everyone working.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Katie.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Now, the remainder of the speech is also going to
focus as you've touched on there on crime and cutting
business red tape. I mean the issue of crime, and
I know that I continue to raise it because it
is something that our listeners continue to raise. Unfortunately, it's
something that's impacting people's day today lives.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Is the level of crime.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
An issue that is with you when people are looking
to invest in the.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Territory, not so much invest but when they're talking about
employees and having people come here to work, and it's
part of the whole equation. They'll often talk about education
as well and the availability or the facilities that we have,
and we have amazing schools, fantastic government schools in the
Northern Territory. I just had the Border Studies Awards where
(14:24):
we had a student with a perfect score, so you
can get a great education in the territory. So often
it'll be part of that equation around education, housing as well,
the availability of housing, and of course safety then comes
up as well.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
I mean, that's a concern, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
It is a concern, and that's why it is a
focus for our government, very much a focus for our government.
We're reviewing the police around resourcing. We've seen the co
corresponder model and the benefits around that. The Territory Safety Division,
so the changes around alcohol will continue to really tight
what we need to do to address crime in the
(15:02):
Northern Territory but you know, Katie, that is that is
a hard slog work of government. When you're consistent about it,
when the police numbers are consistent, that's when you start
to see change. And that change won't be a giant leap,
it will be small, incremental steps. And that's what our
government's doing. It's the work I'm doing. It's around hard
(15:22):
grinding work to address the social issues in the Northern
Territory and reduce crime.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Chief Finister, you know, like I said, crime and public
safety a major issue. There was another blow last week though,
when you talk about building on the economy, w WA
based territory Explorer Elmore being placed into voluntary administration less
than a year after it finalized purchase of the Peak
o Ion project near Tenant Creek. It's, you know, it
(15:51):
is unfortunately another example of you know, of something not
being able to move ahead in the territory right now.
I know they've gone into administration, but you know, when
you look at what is on the horizon for the
Northern Territory and when you look at giving people hope, yes,
definitely speaking about employment opportunities, but speaking about some of
those major projects, what are you looking to at the moment,
(16:14):
as you know, as some of those major projects that
are being driven by private investment here in the territory.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Yeah, so just to clarify, you know, the Pico Mind
closure was that was quite an innovative project where they
were going to be processing tailing, so an innovative way
around that. They've gone into administration, but hopefully they can
work out of that. So it was around the tailings
of an old an old mind there. So it was
quite and no one's lost their jobs at this stage.
(16:41):
But the major projects that are on the horizon continuing
continue to work towards FID and that's the work of
those those companies. So Arafurl Resources obviously is a really
big one in Central Australia. I recently met with the
executive of Arafur Resources. They're very much focused on getting
(17:01):
their finances that they need, so they're working through that.
We've had some good news around the Barossa and recent weeks,
so that's a great result. That's about a six point
three billion dollar result that will underpin the economy. The
onshore oil and gas industry Tamboran are working really fast
to get to production phase by the end of this year.
As well Singleton, so that's the horticulture project in near
(17:26):
Tea Tree that got a good result as well during
the week, So that's another really good project which we'll
see jobs on country jobs out in that region as well.
So there's always optimism in the territory around a wide
range of projects.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Now, before I let you go this morning, Parliament obviously
resumes again tomorrow. What is on the government's agenda.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
There's two bills and both of them were bills that
I've spent a lot of time working on. One of
them is around around the building reforms that we've done
so in the Northern Territory we've had to it's been
actually some long term work that we're doing, but it
came out of the Building Confidence Report.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
You should be.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Able to when you spend the most amount of money,
you should be able to make sure that you're getting
a quality product when you're building a home or you're
buying a home in the Northern Territory. So there's some
work that we've done around registration of commercial builders.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
So yes, if you are a.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Residential builder in the Northern Territory, you're registered, but commercial
builders haven't been registered in the Northern Territory. So that's
some of the legislation. There's also some legislation around place names,
some work to facilitate making sure that if you are
going to build, if we're going to see developers, that
we can facilitate some of that and cut some red tape.
So two solid builds that will go through this Parliament.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Well, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Evil Laula, we
better leave it there for this morning. Thank you very
much for your time and we look forward to hearing
your year ahead speech.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Thanks very much, Katie, thank you
We know the Chief Minister is today set to deliver
her year ahead speech, but as I said, some questioning
how the Northern Territory can prosper when the most vulnerable
in our community continue to be at risk and crime
and personal safety remain our number one issue. Now joining
me in the studio right now is the Chief Minister
of the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Evil Ala. Good morning to you morning Katie. Chief Minister.
I appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I do want to ask, firstly, what was your reaction
when you learned a four year old child had been
sexually assaulted in Tenant Craik last week.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Yeah, I mean obviously apparrent, absolutely apparrent, but also heartbreak
for the family involved. It's a small community, that's a
young child. I do worry about being able to identify
the child and the family involved as well. But shocking,
absolutely a shocking behavior, just something that we truly can't fathom.
(00:53):
So good to hear that the police have arrested the
perpetrator and has been charged.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Look, I know, and you know I don't want to
cross a mark here, but you and I were talking
even before we got on air that I've got young
children you've got young grandchildren this kind of situation, it's
like it's utterly heartbreaking.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yes, shocking, shocking.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
And I actually was in Tenant Creek on Wednesday, so
the day had happened, but obviously we don't think people
were aware of that at that stage, or I wasn't
aware of it. I was meeting with Jolalacari there. Obviously
in some financial difficulties there, so I met with Jelalacari.
I met with the council. I met with the anti
government staff as well that are on the ground, the
(01:34):
regional director there, who's doing an exceptional job. I also
met with the Dipple infrastructure person who's worked really hard
with the road flooding. So and one of the things
that I did while I was there was head out
to along Peico Road there to have a look at
the where the youth Justice facility is going to go in.
And that's an important part of the Barkley deal and
it was good to be on the ground. There are
(01:56):
people who are really working hard in Tenant Creek. I
know it's always been a tough town. It's always had
social issues Tenant Creek, but the Barknley Regional Coordination committee
has got in place a community safety action plan, so
they are very much focused on working together.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
They had school.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Holiday activities, the pool was opened which was very well used.
There's a new youth youth center that we've built.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So there are lots of good.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Things happening in Tenant Creek and we know that the
social issues there are really difficult social issues. But the
police also are doing an amazing job in Tenant Look.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
The local member, Steve Edgington, was last week furious about
another child falling victim to a horrific attack Islam. Both
levels of government to enact change which was promised more
than five years ago when a two year old child
was sexually assaulted in Tenant Creek. Where is the system
breaking down here, Chief Minister, Because as we heard last week,
(02:53):
five years ago, Malcolm Turnbull was there making promises. You know,
there was talk of a review, there was talk of
money being in to try and make some change in
this space. Yet now you know, an attack like this,
something like this, if it happened anywhere else in Australia,
people would be screaming for change.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
It probably does happen in Australia and elsewhere in Australia.
It happens in families all the time. It's this was
this one. This person was arrested and you know the
mother was there to well, I think it was the
mother to hear that. But there are children being sexually abused,
probably absolutely right now. It's a shocking thing. It's a
blind doesn't justify it though. I'm just saying that this
(03:34):
does happen unfortunately in our society.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
But the work in the.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Work in the bucket, it's even here in the Northern Territory.
You know what has happened. As I said, it's horrific.
How is I don't even know how are in a
situation where it's not on the front page of the
paper where you know we're it's we are not screaming
from the rooftops that this is not okay.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I think we are screaming from the rooftops that it
isn't okay. Absolutely isn't okay to have any any child
anybody said actually abused, or domestic violence or family violence.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
We know those issues.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
But in the Barkley we have got that the Barkley
Regional Deal and there are people on the ground really
working hard around solutions.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
So as I said.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
The Youth Center has been open, which is great to see.
I went and saw the boarding facility. That's the design
works underway. That'll be a great addition. It'll be built
on the high school grounds there, so you'll have a
boarding facility for kids who are in that broader Barkley
area can attend Tenant Creek High School. So that's a
great addition. The Youth Justice Facility, which will be those
(04:34):
kids on bail that will provide options for them.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
There's a visitor park that's being built with respect.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
People are going to be listening to that this morning,
going how would that have prevented this from happening.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
So again, it is around the wrap around services. And
there are lots of services in Tennant Creek to support families,
but all of them are All of those things are
part of the puzzle. It is about changing the life
lives of little children, young children, so that they are
going to school, that they are safe, that their parents
also understand what they need, what are their responsibilities Because
(05:10):
how did and these are the questions that are unanswered
and will come out through the court process, I'm sure,
but you know, why was that young child who was
actually responsible for that young child.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Why was that young child?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
I think was early in the morning by themselves or
with this person. So there's a lot of unanswered questions,
and it's before the courts, but this is part of
the work that the Berkley people are doing to change
the Barkley and change Tenant Creek.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Do you have any idea of the condition of that
small child at this point?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
No, I don't. I want to ask.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
I know that Steve Edgington says that that promised review
and order in line with the Barkley Regional Deal hasn't
happened yet.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Are you frustrated by that?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
So I said, that's probably matter for the federal government
around that.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
But from your perspective, the issue is.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Really about the things happening on the ground. I mean, yes,
you can do an audit a bit of the program.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Determine what was working and what was not working.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
And Tenant Creek is seriously struggling, not only from you
know before, like not only from this incident, but before
this incident. So what is going to happen and what
are you going to do as a matter of urgency
to make sure that Tenant Creek sorted out?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah? So that was the part of the reason that
I went to Tenant Creek.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
So the council we know is in administration, which is
not a good position to have a council in because
you haven't got that leadership on the ground. That report
is due by the end of the month or end
of March. That will make that's really important work because
then you've got the leadership in Tenant Creek that's needed
on the ground to drive some of these some of
(06:43):
these programs, some of the changes as we've got really
good staff, Dipple staff as well as anti government staff
who are really driving the work that needs to be
done around the boarding facility, the youth Justice facility, the
visitor Park, brad Agg So there are a number of
pros that just need to get moving in Tenant Creek.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Mordan had indicated on the show on Friday, and we
didn't play it as part of that grab, but she'd
indicated on the show on Friday that it was land
councils in some situations that are holding this kind of
work up.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
So sometimes there are iluas so traditional owners so indigenous
land use agreements that need to be moved through and
agreed to around specific land. If it's land that's held
by traditional owners. That's a fact in the territory.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
So what hope can you give the people of Tenant
Creek this morning, Chief Minister that there is going to
be some change. I mean, you are set to deliver
that year ahead speech and we'll get to that in
a moment, but you know, what hope can you give
people this morning?
Speaker 3 (07:42):
So one of the things that I'll be talking about
today is more more youth camps, so more youth facilities
across the Northern Territory, and there will be one set
up at Juno. So Juno has been an education facility.
It will then become immediately so we'll get work straight
away around that, providing those opportunities for young kids who
(08:03):
have gone off the rails on bail to be able
to go there and transform their lives. So they will
be able to get educational support, they'll be able to
get those wrap around services that will change and change
their trajectory from kids that are just continuing to be
in trouble into our pathway to jobs, into a pathway
for work. So they'll be at Juno. So there is
(08:26):
already an educational facility just out from Tenant Creek called Juno,
and that facility will be converted to a facility for
it will be a youth camp for young kids who
are on bail, and so that will be something immediately
in place. But as I said, there are also the
good news stories around that boarding facility that will make
a difference to the kids in Tenant Creek because they'll
(08:48):
have that consistency around being able to be in a
safe place, have food, have their homework supervised, and be
able to get a secondary education. Again, Tenant Creek's got
a theme center. It's about getting those kids on the
pathway into working.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
James.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
In this situation though, the alleged defender was an adult,
a fifty two year old, so there will be people
listening this morning thinking how those camps going to help
in a situation like this one.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
So a fifty two year old has been arrested and
that person has broken the law, so that person will
go through the process of the court system and presumably
they will go to jail.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
With that criticism of the federal and Northern Territory governments
around the Barkley Regional Deal, have you spoken to the
Prime Minister since this incident last week?
Speaker 2 (09:33):
No, I haven't should you.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I think that this was a matter. This one was
a matter for the police. The police reacted immediately as
I was on the ground in Tenant Creek. I've had
discussions with my colleague, so discussions with Naria Kid Brent
Potter around the issues in Tenant Creek. But Tenant Creek
is a Tenant Creek is a place that is very
(09:56):
much focused on the Barkley deal and rebuilding and we're
moving forward again. It is around that the leadership on
the ground, and we've got great people in government on
the ground. We need the council also.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
So despite that criticism that things are not happening quickly enough,
and you'd said that, you know, it really is a
matter for the federal government. There hasn't been a discussion
with the Prime Minister.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
No, as I said, the focus has been very much
first and foremost through Minister a Kit but also Minister
Potter around the resting the person, but also support for
the family, and that's the first and foremost. It is
also then around the work that has to be continued
to be done on the ground in Tenant Creek or
I continue to do that.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
We know Tenant Creek is you know is obviously part
of the whole of the Northern Territory where there is
so much happening right around the place. But today you
are set to deliver your year Ahead speech. As I
said earlier, those issues of crime and safety continue to
dominate headlines. We spoke last week to the Corrections Commissioner
as well, who'd explained that the jails are overflowing. He
(10:56):
said that forty five percent of prisoners are on Remand
what do you think this is about the system?
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I think it says what we I think all Territorians
know that there is a really important piece to this puzzle,
and Kate Warden was talking about it last week and
it's going to be very much the focus of my speech.
We need to have territorians working. We can no longer
have generations of Territorians who are not working. So whether
that's an Aboriginal Territorian or a person that's continuing to
(11:27):
be on the doll we need to have territorians working.
I believe that if you're working, you're getting up in
the morning, you're going to work, you're getting your kids up,
you're tied. By the end of the day. You then
have your family meal, go to bed and you get up.
So I think we cannot continue to have people on
welfare in the Northern territory. We need to work with
(11:48):
the federal government around reforming CDP. There needs to be
that mutual obligation around that, because then people will stay
in their remote communities, they will stay in their regional centers,
but they stay because.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
They have a job.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
So that is the part that is long term work
for our government, because as I said, we cannot continue
to have generations of children finishing school and not going
into work. We cannot have people that then are highly
mobile because they don't have anything that anchors them to
the regional town or to that community to work. So
one of the clear messages I'm going to be talking
(12:21):
about is work. It's not about jobs, because there are
plenty of jobs in the territory. We need people to
be in those jobs working and that really.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Make people work who don't want to.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So part of a long term plan, but it will
be around the school So making sure in our schools
that the young people are getting really very much that
focus on training that leads to employment opportunities. So in
the communities, whether that is going to be working for
police or whether you're going to be a police officer
working in the school, in education, at the health clinic.
(12:53):
The ideal situation will be, and this is into the future,
when we have an Aboriginal person in a community, we need,
for example, papaya every place, whether it's the police station,
the health center, the pilot that flies in, you know,
the doctor in the clinic. Every one of those people
are Aboriginal people. That's what we need to see in
(13:13):
the territory. We cannot have more and more generations of territories.
We need to have. We need that for the growth
of the economy. We need that also for the hope
for Aboriginal people. And that was what Kate Warden was saying.
We need land councils to be part of the equation.
We need businesses, we need education, we need training CDU
all of us need to very much focus on changing that,
(13:35):
changing that focus in the Northern Territory to everyone working.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Katie.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Now, the remainder of the speech is also going to
focus as you've touched on there on crime and cutting
business red tape. I mean the issue of crime, and
I know that I continue to raise it because it
is something that our listeners continue to raise. Unfortunately, it's
something that's impacting people's day today lives.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Is the level of crime.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
An issue that is with you when people are looking
to invest in the.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Territory, not so much invest but when they're talking about
employees and having people come here to work, and it's
part of the whole equation. They'll often talk about education
as well and the availability or the facilities that we have,
and we have amazing schools, fantastic government schools in the
Northern Territory. I just had the Border Studies Awards where
(14:24):
we had a student with a perfect score, so you
can get a great education in the territory. So often
it'll be part of that equation around education, housing as well,
the availability of housing, and of course safety then comes
up as well.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
I mean, that's a concern, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
It is a concern, and that's why it is a
focus for our government, very much a focus for our government.
We're reviewing the police around resourcing. We've seen the co
corresponder model and the benefits around that. The Territory Safety Division,
so the changes around alcohol will continue to really tight
what we need to do to address crime in the
(15:02):
Northern Territory but you know, Katie, that is that is
a hard slog work of government. When you're consistent about it,
when the police numbers are consistent, that's when you start
to see change. And that change won't be a giant leap,
it will be small, incremental steps. And that's what our
government's doing. It's the work I'm doing. It's around hard
(15:22):
grinding work to address the social issues in the Northern
Territory and reduce crime.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Chief Finister, you know, like I said, crime and public
safety a major issue. There was another blow last week though,
when you talk about building on the economy, w WA
based territory Explorer Elmore being placed into voluntary administration less
than a year after it finalized purchase of the Peak
o Ion project near Tenant Creek. It's, you know, it
(15:51):
is unfortunately another example of you know, of something not
being able to move ahead in the territory right now.
I know they've gone into administration, but you know, when
you look at what is on the horizon for the
Northern Territory and when you look at giving people hope, yes,
definitely speaking about employment opportunities, but speaking about some of
those major projects, what are you looking to at the moment,
(16:14):
as you know, as some of those major projects that
are being driven by private investment here in the territory.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Yeah, so just to clarify, you know, the Pico Mind
closure was that was quite an innovative project where they
were going to be processing tailing, so an innovative way
around that. They've gone into administration, but hopefully they can
work out of that. So it was around the tailings
of an old an old mind there. So it was
quite and no one's lost their jobs at this stage.
(16:41):
But the major projects that are on the horizon continuing
continue to work towards FID and that's the work of
those those companies. So Arafurl Resources obviously is a really
big one in Central Australia. I recently met with the
executive of Arafur Resources. They're very much focused on getting
(17:01):
their finances that they need, so they're working through that.
We've had some good news around the Barossa and recent weeks,
so that's a great result. That's about a six point
three billion dollar result that will underpin the economy. The
onshore oil and gas industry Tamboran are working really fast
to get to production phase by the end of this year.
As well Singleton, so that's the horticulture project in near
(17:26):
Tea Tree that got a good result as well during
the week, So that's another really good project which we'll
see jobs on country jobs out in that region as well.
So there's always optimism in the territory around a wide
range of projects.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Now, before I let you go this morning, Parliament obviously
resumes again tomorrow. What is on the government's agenda.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
There's two bills and both of them were bills that
I've spent a lot of time working on. One of
them is around around the building reforms that we've done
so in the Northern Territory we've had to it's been
actually some long term work that we're doing, but it
came out of the Building Confidence Report.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
You should be.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Able to when you spend the most amount of money,
you should be able to make sure that you're getting
a quality product when you're building a home or you're
buying a home in the Northern Territory. So there's some
work that we've done around registration of commercial builders.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
So yes, if you are a.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Residential builder in the Northern Territory, you're registered, but commercial
builders haven't been registered in the Northern Territory. So that's
some of the legislation. There's also some legislation around place names,
some work to facilitate making sure that if you are
going to build, if we're going to see developers, that
we can facilitate some of that and cut some red tape.
So two solid builds that will go through this Parliament.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Well, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Evil Laula, we
better leave it there for this morning. Thank you very
much for your time and we look forward to hearing
your year ahead speech.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Thanks very much, Katie, thank you
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