Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I know that everybody has seen and heard these explosive
claims made by former Northern Territory Police Constable Zachary Rolf
at the coronial inquest into the death of Kumen Jay
Walker earlier this week, claiming the Northern Territory Police Force
has an ingrained culture of racism. Now, he told the
court that racist language was commonplace throughout the force. He said,
(00:22):
I haven't seen a lot of racist behavior, but racist
language was normalized in the Northern Territory Police Force. Now
joining me in the studio to talk a little bit
more about this is the Northern Territory President of the
Police Association, Nathan Finn. Good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Finny, thanks so much for your time this morning. Mate.
What was your reaction to the claims made by the
former Northern Territory Police Constable.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
So the directions to us, obviously right across the Northern
Territory Police Force were quite shocked, and obviously these revelations
come through. I've obviously spoken to the people that were
obviously named in this stuff we've gone through. But my
biggest thing and my biggest fear, I obviously can't talk
too much into it because there's obviously internal investigation going on.
I've spoken the Commission about this yesterday. There's an internal
investigation going on by our own Professional Stands Command and
(01:07):
also with the Ikak as well in relation to these
allegations we're made at court. I find it hard because
it actually paints a bad brush on our Northern Territory
Police Force and the good work that they do, and
especially our Aboriginal employees and how they must be feeling
at this time. They're feeling undervalued as it is, and
a lot of our staff are and to get this
on top of already trying circumstances which they're trying to work.
(01:30):
I'm not naive that this doesn't happen in any workplace.
We are understanding, but the fact is we don't see this.
We don't see this type of behavior. I've spoken to
the members involved that I obviously had these claims made
against them. We're supporting them as much as we can
as well, but my support goes out to our Abriginal employees.
So obviously hearing this racist language that's coming out and
(01:50):
the effect that's having on them, it's very trying for them.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Time it's wonderful, Like some of that language is absolutely wonderful.
You know, I said it on air earlier in the week.
My nieces and nephews are Indigenous, like some of those words.
I just they're not even in my vocabulary.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
You know, definitely not. And to have that placed on us,
that it's a systemic racism problem in the Northern Churchy
Police Force, it's very disheartening. It's very our members are
upset by it. It doesn't occur. This is a behavior.
We don't accept it police as well. We're a very
professional organization. We have some trying times, no doubt, we
have trying times every time we go to work, but
(02:26):
we don't portray this type of language in the workplace
at all, Katie.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
I mean some of the accusations he made about the
TRG and an award that he reckons that they that
they hold. I mean, are you aware of that or
what do you make of that?
Speaker 2 (02:39):
I'm aware of that, Katie. And there were some statements
submitted to the court last night in relation to those
awards and clarifying some of the points that mister Ralford
made in the courtroom. That information evidence will be provided
to the court today so I've actually seen that information
last night and basically discount what's been said in the
court previously this week.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
So not true.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yes, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, right, So that's the statements that are going to
be presented to the Coroner's court.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That'll be presented of the current I can't obviously coind
it too much of it. It's going to before the
court and going to be for the coroner today, but
I'm aware of the information that's going towards the coroner today.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Canny, have you spoken to you know, to any of
your like the Indigenous workforce over the last couple of
days and heard how they are feeling.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I have, Yeah, and especially I've obviously got to average
a lady on my executive board of the NTPA as well,
and she's struggling with this as they all are. I've
spoken to a few and Alice Springs yesterday. I know
some of our correct workers have actually been given a
couple of days off because they're really struggling with this
and really struggling with the language that was used in court.
They find it very offensive and understandably so, like Katie,
(03:41):
this is not something that we can done at the
Northern churchy police and our members don't condone this as well.
We don't go around saying this sort of stuff, so
it takes it, takes it to heart and actually makes
him feel undervalued in the workplace.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Have I mean, have you witnessed racist behavior all language
yourself within the force.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I'm not no eve, Katie, and I've seen I've heard it,
We've dealt with it. But again, it's not systemic. It's
isolated incidents by sometimes frustrated officers where they're venting in
a not right way. Okay, but they're conversations we have
at the time with them, but we're not saying this
is an example of this, as I used yesterday to
(04:18):
another colleague, was if I took seventy five percent of
people's phone out in the community and we downloaded all
their information about what they'd been doing in the last
six months, I can guarantee this stuff on there that
they'd be embarrassed about. And that's that's the case in
this scenario. They're closed conversations that have occurred between a
small group of people not knowing that their behavior. Doesn't
(04:39):
condone their behavior, but again it's there.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, Finny, I like to anybody listening this morning, you know,
particularly members of the indigenous community that are listening this
morning that are thinking, goodness, may is a Northern Territory
police force like is there? You know, is there systemic racism?
What would you say to that?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I can reassure you that this is not systemic across
the Northern Churchy Police Force. This is an isolated incident
and unfortunately it's come out in a public arena and
it's been put out there that this is obviously in
being portrayed as a systemic issue across the Northern Churching
Police Force. I can honestly say that this is not
Katie Finny.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
In terms of the investigation. Then it's underway. You feel
as though that'll be adequate, like that it's going to
get to the bottom of it.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yes, it'll get to the bottom of it. Again, these
officers that have been accused of this sort of behavior
and been involved in this behavior have made a statement
to the court which will be released today and discussed
obviously today in the proceedings as it goes on. But
again we'll let the investigation go through and see what
they come back with. I'm happy to and most of
our members have been happy to go through a thorough
(05:40):
investigation to make sure it's not part of our duties.
It's not part of what we do every day. We're
there to protect, especially Aboriginal people. We deal with Aboriginal
people ninety percent of the day unfortunately, and we're there
to support them as much as we can as well.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I do want to move along because there is quite
a bit that I'm keen to cover off on this morning,
including this announcement that was made earlier in the week
about pathways for palis to be able to become constables.
Is this something that the association has been pushing for.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
This is something we've been pushing for Katie to move
away from the licensing space. And don't get me wrong,
this is something that the NTPA have been pushing the
government for that we should be making these positions to
constable positions. But the fact is, and obviously speaking to
my colleagues yesterday, we're quite concerned about the transition from
our palies to constables. You'll see that, and speaking yesterday,
(06:30):
I've located that. You know how the federal government and
the Prime Minister come out in February last year and
made the announcement of thirty extraditional officers. Yeah, yeah, I
believe the decision around this promoting this is simply a
decision based on that to fill that thirty vacancy's officers.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
So you reckon it's just to feel the jobs that
they'd promised.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
But the biggest concern, Katie is at the moment I've
spoken to the executive about this at the police force,
we're already twenty eight officers down from that time last
year in Alice Springs, So they're twenty eight officers short.
That's constables short, and now potentially they're going to lose
another nineteen for this PALI to transition course out of
Alice Springs over the next two weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Over the next two weeks, you're saying that we're going
to be washed nearly fifty officers.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Shorty seven officers in Alice Springs will be short as
of the eleventh of March. I know there's some offices
to look.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Us through exactly how what's it like. I'm just trying
to get that mats round in my head. I'm not
the best at mats, but I'm just trying to get
through my head how that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Twenty eight constables are actually short. They've transitioned out of
the Southern Region. In that twelve month period, we've had
two offices come back to the Northern Territory Police, which
there was thirty or so left Alice Springs Constable was
and they've transferred to other divisions in the Northern Territory
Police or transferred other positions. On top of that is
the nineteen palis that are actually going to be removed
and placed on this constable's course in Alice Springs as
(07:46):
starting on the eleventh of March. So from Alice Springs
on the eleventh of March, they're not going to have
a position. They're going to have two operational palis in
Alice Springs to conduct this bottle shop work in Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Who of them two to do all the bottle shop work?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
And the members reporting to me, they're fearing like the
end of stronger Futures legislation in Alice Springs, but.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
They are worried that's going to happen. They're worried that's.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Going to happen, but they're worried about what's actually going
to take place in the communit because we haven't got
the members to draw upon like we did back with
that role back they haven't got the councils to draw upon.
I know there's fourteen councils I believe going down there
in a couple of weeks that have just graduated here
in Darwin. But again they're not going to be able
to hit the ground running. They're there to learn their craft.
But our members down they're extremely worried.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
So the police down in Alice Springs, Soconty, they're really
very worried about this.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Actually actually, look, we're going to go back to a
stronger futures end of stronger futures legislation. What's the plan
for these bottle shops? Because if we've got constables doing
this role, they're going to burn out. These councilors are
actually doing the role, Finny.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
The government had said that there were like they were
saying that liquor inspectors are going to be able to
fill that war it or that shortfall. Surely, I mean,
have we got enough of those?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Definitely not, Katie. And that's this is what we've asked for.
We shouldn't be our job anyway to do it. And
we've said this time and time again. The police auxiliary
licensing inspectors were at temporary solution to a bigger solution,
a bigger band aid that obviously needs to be placed
over this problem, the alcoholism in the Northern Territory. But
the biggest issue that I've had with this palily to
count Constable's transition. I've spoken to a pali who has
(09:19):
done one shift in other springs and he got offered
a transition course on the Constable's course. He's got no experience,
he's just done his pally training, but he's been offered
a position on this Constable course, on this streamline Constable course,
despite not having the requisite skills or.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
So you reckon. They're just pushing people through.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I know they're pushing people through, Katie, and that's their
biggest problem. And our members down there and the chain
of command down they have not recommended people to go
and transition to this course, and they are transitioning them
regardless of what the management team is saying. Especially in
these remote areas like Tenant Creek rely on the palis
for their three hours of takeaway our outlets. They haven't
got that. They haven't got that staff to use which
(09:56):
they use in the watchhouse. So therefore constables have actually
drawn off the front line to those administration type roles
to support that because we've got no palies and this
is not going to be for two weeks, three weeks,
it's actually for sixteen weeks Katie, that they're not going
to have these people in these positions. So Tenant Creek,
Catherine Alice Springs are going to cop the brunt of
this and it's going to force our constables off the
(10:16):
front line into these administrating type roles.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
So I guess what you're saying is the Northern Territory
government needs to come out and say who is going
to be filling those jobs or who's going to be
on those bottle shops making sure that the job of
the palais is still able to be conducted.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
That's right, and it's something that you can't actually do
ad hoc. So if you cover one bottle shop, especially
in Ola Springs, they're going to go to another one.
There's obviously restrictions you can place and do risk assessments
about who can sell what amount of alcohol, especially obviously
coals and woolwors and that sort of stuff can sell
endless supplies where your local shops and Ala Springs don't
(10:51):
have that ability. But my main concern is are these
people suitable to be constables or we're just trying to
fill holes and expediate our officers going to the constable
ranks because of how short we are, and I think
this is going to buy the Northern Territory Police Force.
And also I feel for the trainers that are going
to have to train these people that have been proven
that they shouldn't be on the constable course, but they're
getting offered a job as a constables.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
I mean, look, it's a big concern that you've raised.
I think there's a couple of really big concerns there,
and making sure that we've got people that are actually
adequately trained to or not train they're going to go
through that training course, but adequate and appropriate I guess,
to go through the constable's course. But I also want
to ask you in terms of those palies being taken
off the bottle shops and not having then those palies
(11:35):
on the bottle shops, like you've said that we're not
going to have them basically for quite a long period
of time there from March. Do you think that that
could potentially create dangerous situations then for those bottle shops
and for people.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Who were We've seen what happened when we roll back
the Stronger Futures legislation, Catie, we didn't have adequate cover
of the alcohol sales and didn't have restrictions in place
for this. We're worried that it's going to go to
the extent of the crime rate rising again, rates rising
again for Ourlis Springs, and I'm concerned for these major
centers that have had this restriction in place. With the
palis operating and operating effectively quite mind you, and supporting.
(12:10):
They're not only supporting the community, they're supporting our front
line as well, to make sure that that workload has
not passed onto these frontline offices that have to put
up with this and deal with this alcoholism every day.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Any some people listening might be thinking, are you just
scare mongering here.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I'm not not Ski Munger at all. These are genuine
concerns raised by our members, and I spoke to him personally.
As of yesterday last night. This is constant. They're worried
that these they're going to be left short and they're
going to be left holding what potentially is going to
be of a harmful situation for these communities, and I
want to know what mister Potter has to plan in
relation to what they're going to put in place in
(12:46):
the meantime.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Well, look we've got him on the show on Monday,
so we'll see if we can get to the bottom
of that and find out what. You know, what they
have got planned, I guess because for the people of
Alice Springs, you do want to make sure that things
stay safe. But there has also been calls I know
from Tourism centralist Astralia for a bit of a roll
back to some of those alcohol restrictions. What do you
make of that at this point in time? And look,
I don't have all the details yet from Tourism Central Australia.
(13:08):
I'm going to catch up with Yeah, I'll be catching
up with him shortly, but yeah, what do you make
of it?
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Any restrictions that reduce the harm in the communic Katy,
the police are all supportive. We see this day in
day out. We see this firsthand, Katie, and our members
are dealing with this first hand every day of the week.
It's a blight on society. It's the safety in our
community and we need to look after these people. We
need mana trey treatment. I know we talk about this,
(13:35):
it hasn't worked before, and there's experts out there that
says it doesn't work. What else are we going to do.
We can't keep trying the same thing and expecting a
different result. We need to actually strengthen our lequer legislation
in relation to our takeaway alcohol and put that in
place and make sure that's effective. I don't agree with
police standing on bottle shops. I don't agree with license
inspectors standing on bottle shops either. Were should be measures
(13:57):
in place to put this to make sure the community
is protected.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Nathan Finn, President of the Northern Territory Police Association. Always
appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Thank you, Thank you Katie, and obviously thank you to
our guys and girls in blue out there. Yeah, it's
a very tough time this week, and obviously we've got
a couple more days of this coronial to go through.
But we're thinking of everyone out there and keep doing
what you're doing. You do an amazing job and protecting
the community and don't let a little few things and
comments made to affect your ability to do that role.
We support you and always got your.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Back, and it sounds like they've had a busy morning
as well. Matt Cunningham joining us a little while ago
to say that they'd apprehended a stolen vehicle on the
roads there in the northern suburbs, striving dangerously when kids
are trying to get to school. There are a lot
of dangerous situations at the mind.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Of dangerous situations last night and Alice springs as a
fatal pastur they last night that our members obviously would
have dealt with. So yeah, yeah, it's a tough gig.
Our members are up to doing that gig, but they
need that support and resources to actually fulfill their role
and make sure they're supported in the street.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Nathan Finn, thank you as always.
I know that everybody has seen and heard these explosive
claims made by former Northern Territory Police Constable Zachary Rolf
at the coronial inquest into the death of Kumen Jay
Walker earlier this week, claiming the Northern Territory Police Force
has an ingrained culture of racism. Now, he told the
court that racist language was commonplace throughout the force. He said,
(00:22):
I haven't seen a lot of racist behavior, but racist
language was normalized in the Northern Territory Police Force. Now
joining me in the studio to talk a little bit
more about this is the Northern Territory President of the
Police Association, Nathan Finn. Good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Finny, thanks so much for your time this morning. Mate.
What was your reaction to the claims made by the
former Northern Territory Police Constable.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
So the directions to us, obviously right across the Northern
Territory Police Force were quite shocked, and obviously these revelations
come through. I've obviously spoken to the people that were
obviously named in this stuff we've gone through. But my
biggest thing and my biggest fear, I obviously can't talk
too much into it because there's obviously internal investigation going on.
I've spoken the Commission about this yesterday. There's an internal
investigation going on by our own Professional Stands Command and
(01:07):
also with the Ikak as well in relation to these
allegations we're made at court. I find it hard because
it actually paints a bad brush on our Northern Territory
Police Force and the good work that they do, and
especially our Aboriginal employees and how they must be feeling
at this time. They're feeling undervalued as it is, and
a lot of our staff are and to get this
on top of already trying circumstances which they're trying to work.
(01:30):
I'm not naive that this doesn't happen in any workplace.
We are understanding, but the fact is we don't see this.
We don't see this type of behavior. I've spoken to
the members involved that I obviously had these claims made
against them. We're supporting them as much as we can
as well, but my support goes out to our Abriginal employees.
So obviously hearing this racist language that's coming out and
(01:50):
the effect that's having on them, it's very trying for them.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Time it's wonderful, Like some of that language is absolutely wonderful.
You know, I said it on air earlier in the week.
My nieces and nephews are Indigenous, like some of those words.
I just they're not even in my vocabulary.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
You know, definitely not. And to have that placed on us,
that it's a systemic racism problem in the Northern Churchy
Police Force, it's very disheartening. It's very our members are
upset by it. It doesn't occur. This is a behavior.
We don't accept it police as well. We're a very
professional organization. We have some trying times, no doubt, we
have trying times every time we go to work, but
(02:26):
we don't portray this type of language in the workplace
at all, Katie.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
I mean some of the accusations he made about the
TRG and an award that he reckons that they that
they hold. I mean, are you aware of that or
what do you make of that?
Speaker 2 (02:39):
I'm aware of that, Katie. And there were some statements
submitted to the court last night in relation to those
awards and clarifying some of the points that mister Ralford
made in the courtroom. That information evidence will be provided
to the court today so I've actually seen that information
last night and basically discount what's been said in the
court previously this week.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
So not true.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yes, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, right, So that's the statements that are going to
be presented to the Coroner's court.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That'll be presented of the current I can't obviously coind
it too much of it. It's going to before the
court and going to be for the coroner today, but
I'm aware of the information that's going towards the coroner today.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Canny, have you spoken to you know, to any of
your like the Indigenous workforce over the last couple of
days and heard how they are feeling.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I have, Yeah, and especially I've obviously got to average
a lady on my executive board of the NTPA as well,
and she's struggling with this as they all are. I've
spoken to a few and Alice Springs yesterday. I know
some of our correct workers have actually been given a
couple of days off because they're really struggling with this
and really struggling with the language that was used in court.
They find it very offensive and understandably so, like Katie,
(03:41):
this is not something that we can done at the
Northern churchy police and our members don't condone this as well.
We don't go around saying this sort of stuff, so
it takes it, takes it to heart and actually makes
him feel undervalued in the workplace.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Have I mean, have you witnessed racist behavior all language
yourself within the force.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I'm not no eve, Katie, and I've seen I've heard it,
We've dealt with it. But again, it's not systemic. It's
isolated incidents by sometimes frustrated officers where they're venting in
a not right way. Okay, but they're conversations we have
at the time with them, but we're not saying this
is an example of this, as I used yesterday to
(04:18):
another colleague, was if I took seventy five percent of
people's phone out in the community and we downloaded all
their information about what they'd been doing in the last
six months, I can guarantee this stuff on there that
they'd be embarrassed about. And that's that's the case in
this scenario. They're closed conversations that have occurred between a
small group of people not knowing that their behavior. Doesn't
(04:39):
condone their behavior, but again it's there.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, Finny, I like to anybody listening this morning, you know,
particularly members of the indigenous community that are listening this
morning that are thinking, goodness, may is a Northern Territory
police force like is there? You know, is there systemic racism?
What would you say to that?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I can reassure you that this is not systemic across
the Northern Churchy Police Force. This is an isolated incident
and unfortunately it's come out in a public arena and
it's been put out there that this is obviously in
being portrayed as a systemic issue across the Northern Churching
Police Force. I can honestly say that this is not
Katie Finny.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
In terms of the investigation. Then it's underway. You feel
as though that'll be adequate, like that it's going to
get to the bottom of it.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yes, it'll get to the bottom of it. Again, these
officers that have been accused of this sort of behavior
and been involved in this behavior have made a statement
to the court which will be released today and discussed
obviously today in the proceedings as it goes on. But
again we'll let the investigation go through and see what
they come back with. I'm happy to and most of
our members have been happy to go through a thorough
(05:40):
investigation to make sure it's not part of our duties.
It's not part of what we do every day. We're
there to protect, especially Aboriginal people. We deal with Aboriginal
people ninety percent of the day unfortunately, and we're there
to support them as much as we can as well.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I do want to move along because there is quite
a bit that I'm keen to cover off on this morning,
including this announcement that was made earlier in the week
about pathways for palis to be able to become constables.
Is this something that the association has been pushing for.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
This is something we've been pushing for Katie to move
away from the licensing space. And don't get me wrong,
this is something that the NTPA have been pushing the
government for that we should be making these positions to
constable positions. But the fact is, and obviously speaking to
my colleagues yesterday, we're quite concerned about the transition from
our palies to constables. You'll see that, and speaking yesterday,
(06:30):
I've located that. You know how the federal government and
the Prime Minister come out in February last year and
made the announcement of thirty extraditional officers. Yeah, yeah, I
believe the decision around this promoting this is simply a
decision based on that to fill that thirty vacancy's officers.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
So you reckon it's just to feel the jobs that
they'd promised.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
But the biggest concern, Katie is at the moment I've
spoken to the executive about this at the police force,
we're already twenty eight officers down from that time last
year in Alice Springs, So they're twenty eight officers short.
That's constables short, and now potentially they're going to lose
another nineteen for this PALI to transition course out of
Alice Springs over the next two weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Over the next two weeks, you're saying that we're going
to be washed nearly fifty officers.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Shorty seven officers in Alice Springs will be short as
of the eleventh of March. I know there's some offices
to look.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Us through exactly how what's it like. I'm just trying
to get that mats round in my head. I'm not
the best at mats, but I'm just trying to get
through my head how that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Twenty eight constables are actually short. They've transitioned out of
the Southern Region. In that twelve month period, we've had
two offices come back to the Northern Territory Police, which
there was thirty or so left Alice Springs Constable was
and they've transferred to other divisions in the Northern Territory
Police or transferred other positions. On top of that is
the nineteen palis that are actually going to be removed
and placed on this constable's course in Alice Springs as
(07:46):
starting on the eleventh of March. So from Alice Springs
on the eleventh of March, they're not going to have
a position. They're going to have two operational palis in
Alice Springs to conduct this bottle shop work in Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Who of them two to do all the bottle shop work?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
And the members reporting to me, they're fearing like the
end of stronger Futures legislation in Alice Springs, but.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
They are worried that's going to happen. They're worried that's.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Going to happen, but they're worried about what's actually going
to take place in the communit because we haven't got
the members to draw upon like we did back with
that role back they haven't got the councils to draw upon.
I know there's fourteen councils I believe going down there
in a couple of weeks that have just graduated here
in Darwin. But again they're not going to be able
to hit the ground running. They're there to learn their craft.
But our members down they're extremely worried.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
So the police down in Alice Springs, Soconty, they're really
very worried about this.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Actually actually, look, we're going to go back to a
stronger futures end of stronger futures legislation. What's the plan
for these bottle shops? Because if we've got constables doing
this role, they're going to burn out. These councilors are
actually doing the role, Finny.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
The government had said that there were like they were
saying that liquor inspectors are going to be able to
fill that war it or that shortfall. Surely, I mean,
have we got enough of those?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Definitely not, Katie. And that's this is what we've asked for.
We shouldn't be our job anyway to do it. And
we've said this time and time again. The police auxiliary
licensing inspectors were at temporary solution to a bigger solution,
a bigger band aid that obviously needs to be placed
over this problem, the alcoholism in the Northern Territory. But
the biggest issue that I've had with this palily to
count Constable's transition. I've spoken to a pali who has
(09:19):
done one shift in other springs and he got offered
a transition course on the Constable's course. He's got no experience,
he's just done his pally training, but he's been offered
a position on this Constable course, on this streamline Constable course,
despite not having the requisite skills or.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
So you reckon. They're just pushing people through.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I know they're pushing people through, Katie, and that's their
biggest problem. And our members down there and the chain
of command down they have not recommended people to go
and transition to this course, and they are transitioning them
regardless of what the management team is saying. Especially in
these remote areas like Tenant Creek rely on the palis
for their three hours of takeaway our outlets. They haven't
got that. They haven't got that staff to use which
(09:56):
they use in the watchhouse. So therefore constables have actually
drawn off the front line to those administration type roles
to support that because we've got no palies and this
is not going to be for two weeks, three weeks,
it's actually for sixteen weeks Katie, that they're not going
to have these people in these positions. So Tenant Creek,
Catherine Alice Springs are going to cop the brunt of
this and it's going to force our constables off the
(10:16):
front line into these administrating type roles.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
So I guess what you're saying is the Northern Territory
government needs to come out and say who is going
to be filling those jobs or who's going to be
on those bottle shops making sure that the job of
the palais is still able to be conducted.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
That's right, and it's something that you can't actually do
ad hoc. So if you cover one bottle shop, especially
in Ola Springs, they're going to go to another one.
There's obviously restrictions you can place and do risk assessments
about who can sell what amount of alcohol, especially obviously
coals and woolwors and that sort of stuff can sell
endless supplies where your local shops and Ala Springs don't
(10:51):
have that ability. But my main concern is are these
people suitable to be constables or we're just trying to
fill holes and expediate our officers going to the constable
ranks because of how short we are, and I think
this is going to buy the Northern Territory Police Force.
And also I feel for the trainers that are going
to have to train these people that have been proven
that they shouldn't be on the constable course, but they're
getting offered a job as a constables.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
I mean, look, it's a big concern that you've raised.
I think there's a couple of really big concerns there,
and making sure that we've got people that are actually
adequately trained to or not train they're going to go
through that training course, but adequate and appropriate I guess,
to go through the constable's course. But I also want
to ask you in terms of those palies being taken
off the bottle shops and not having then those palies
(11:35):
on the bottle shops, like you've said that we're not
going to have them basically for quite a long period
of time there from March. Do you think that that
could potentially create dangerous situations then for those bottle shops
and for people.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Who were We've seen what happened when we roll back
the Stronger Futures legislation, Catie, we didn't have adequate cover
of the alcohol sales and didn't have restrictions in place
for this. We're worried that it's going to go to
the extent of the crime rate rising again, rates rising
again for Ourlis Springs, and I'm concerned for these major
centers that have had this restriction in place. With the
palis operating and operating effectively quite mind you, and supporting.
(12:10):
They're not only supporting the community, they're supporting our front
line as well, to make sure that that workload has
not passed onto these frontline offices that have to put
up with this and deal with this alcoholism every day.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Any some people listening might be thinking, are you just
scare mongering here.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I'm not not Ski Munger at all. These are genuine
concerns raised by our members, and I spoke to him personally.
As of yesterday last night. This is constant. They're worried
that these they're going to be left short and they're
going to be left holding what potentially is going to
be of a harmful situation for these communities, and I
want to know what mister Potter has to plan in
relation to what they're going to put in place in
(12:46):
the meantime.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Well, look we've got him on the show on Monday,
so we'll see if we can get to the bottom
of that and find out what. You know, what they
have got planned, I guess because for the people of
Alice Springs, you do want to make sure that things
stay safe. But there has also been calls I know
from Tourism centralist Astralia for a bit of a roll
back to some of those alcohol restrictions. What do you
make of that at this point in time? And look,
I don't have all the details yet from Tourism Central Australia.
(13:08):
I'm going to catch up with Yeah, I'll be catching
up with him shortly, but yeah, what do you make
of it?
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Any restrictions that reduce the harm in the communic Katy,
the police are all supportive. We see this day in
day out. We see this firsthand, Katie, and our members
are dealing with this first hand every day of the week.
It's a blight on society. It's the safety in our
community and we need to look after these people. We
need mana trey treatment. I know we talk about this,
(13:35):
it hasn't worked before, and there's experts out there that
says it doesn't work. What else are we going to do.
We can't keep trying the same thing and expecting a
different result. We need to actually strengthen our lequer legislation
in relation to our takeaway alcohol and put that in
place and make sure that's effective. I don't agree with
police standing on bottle shops. I don't agree with license
inspectors standing on bottle shops either. Were should be measures
(13:57):
in place to put this to make sure the community
is protected.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Nathan Finn, President of the Northern Territory Police Association. Always
appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Thank you, Thank you Katie, and obviously thank you to
our guys and girls in blue out there. Yeah, it's
a very tough time this week, and obviously we've got
a couple more days of this coronial to go through.
But we're thinking of everyone out there and keep doing
what you're doing. You do an amazing job and protecting
the community and don't let a little few things and
comments made to affect your ability to do that role.
We support you and always got your.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Back, and it sounds like they've had a busy morning
as well. Matt Cunningham joining us a little while ago
to say that they'd apprehended a stolen vehicle on the
roads there in the northern suburbs, striving dangerously when kids
are trying to get to school. There are a lot
of dangerous situations at the mind.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Of dangerous situations last night and Alice springs as a
fatal pastur they last night that our members obviously would
have dealt with. So yeah, yeah, it's a tough gig.
Our members are up to doing that gig, but they
need that support and resources to actually fulfill their role
and make sure they're supported in the street.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Nathan Finn, thank you as always.
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