Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
As you heard last week, Brent Potter is the latest
to defend his shareholding in a company behind a major
prawn pride project in the Northern Territory. Now. He bought
eighty seven hundred shares in Sea Farms in June twenty
twenty one while working for the then Aquaculture Minister Nicole Madison,
claiming that he declared them after being elected as the
(00:20):
Member for Fanny Bay. The Minister for Police Brent Potter
joins me in the studio right now. Good morning to you, Brent,
Good morning Katie. Now why did you buy those shees?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Let's just clarify something because some of the information that
is not correct. I bought them in June twenty twenty
one as the Police Advisor and I declared them as
an advisor. I've declared them as an MLA, and I
declared them as a minister and then I sold them
in November of this year, also last year when I
became a minister, And like many Territorians, it was a
major project well before I started government to put money
(00:51):
into them. It was exciting and like most Territorians, you
want to back a territory business or opportunity for jobs
and the economy.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Is that why you bought them?
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Now, in your role as an were you ever privy
to any conversations about that project.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
No, And the forms that I've provided to your team
on the day last week, and as I showed ABC
very clearly in the conflict of interest form, I had
to articulate how I'd manage that conflict had to be
signed off by my chief of staff and then Gunner's
chief of staff at the time. I never got involved
in any conversations. I never got any information that wasn't public,
And then after I purchased the shares, I never was
ever in any conversations in relation to seafarms.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
So I mean you said, you've just said it that
you obviously had no knowledge of some of the inside
workings of that project whatsoever. Is basically what you're saying
to me. I mean, how can people be sure of
that when you were working for the minister that had
responsibility of that project, and I get that you had
a separate portfolio, but are you telling our listeners that
there were never any kinds of conversations that you were
(01:48):
privy to in any way, shape or.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Form, nothing that was not public. And it's no different.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I guess to how departments deal with these opportunities or
events that are going to occur in the territory and
other than show people the forms that I had to
come with than the rules that I had to comply with.
That that's what I can offer them. And to be honest,
this will happened well before I became an advisor getting
major project status. The CEO of Sea Farms was on
ABC and on this show previously talking about the project.
(02:14):
Why wouldn't you as a territory and back of territory
opportunity that sounded amazing for territory and jobs.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
So you didn't have any inside knowledge whatsoever.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I can repeat it again, I did not, and I'm
happy to go on the record in any way, shape
or form and say that. And that's why I provided
all the paperwork from the very start.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
To prove it.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Does it pass the pub test? Bread Like, this is
the thing. I guess.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
With the situation with the former Chief Minister Natasha Files,
then with the situation with Chancey Paik now with you,
you know, do these three scenarios past the pub test?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I mean, Natasha sort of said a pretty high.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Standard in terms of stepping down following her She's scandal.
Now we just sort of continue to see bits and
pieces of info.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
They're three very different issues to what occurred with mine.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Mie were completely declared.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
I was never a member of Parliament and told them
as I was required to when I became a minister.
Those two other instances you speak about are very different
to mine. What I would say though, is I know
that on the fifth floor as advisors we actually have
a conflict of interest process. At no point, as anyone
asked if you opposition have one, we have a process
deliberately how.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
The policy development.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
But if that's the case, well same goes with you
as an advisor, and.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
That's why you declare it, right, That's why you don't
sit in the room. That's why you don't get involved
in those discussions. And ultimately they were declared from the
very day I bought those shares, to the point I
sold them as a minister.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Are you worried it's going to come back to bite
you in any way?
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Well, that's ultimately the decision for the electorate.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
The people I've spoken to over the last two weeks,
one of them actually came up and said, well, it's
good to see someone else lost money on those shares
as well. So I think most people understand that all
of these decisions are related to sea farms. Happened before
I even ended up being an advisor, So to say
that I had any inside knowledge couldn't be further from
the truth. And I'll go on the record to anyone
that wants to contradict that.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Look, I'm going to move along because there's actually so
much to cover off on from your police portfolio over
the last week. Now, last week, we had an incredibly
serious situation I would say, three kids twelve and thirteen,
when on a crime spree, they stole a car and
allegedly attempt to ram it at police cars at around seven.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Thirty in the morning.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
It was near a school while other kids are obviously
trying to get to school. The police that told me
on the show that they were targeting their cars and
that this kind of behavior is increasing. Now that Trio,
as I understand it, we're on bail. How is that possible?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Can I just think those officers involved, from both TRIED
and the Territory Response Group, those officers in an amazing
body of work there to protect territorians, and you are right,
those youth are on bail. And I want to say
this to Territorians because it gets lost. The legislation is
there for a judge to deny a youth bail and
hold them on remand and it squarely rests with the
(04:55):
judiciary in this instance to start reminding these youth that
teut these bail laws and go against the judge's direction.
Don't continue to regrant them bail. Remind them in the
facility that we have funded all the three new youth
camps that we've committed to, so you don't have to
put them in don Dale. You can put them to
a camp out in the middle of nowhere where they're
going to get rehabilitated. They're going to get life skills
and go to a program on that camp and then
(05:16):
we'll find them an employment after this. But there is
no reason to be bailing these youth when they breach
their bail, and the legislation's already there. We are doing
a Youth Justice review which will include everything from early
intervention through to detention, but that's just to confirm if
the changes from the Royal Commission meet in the environment
we find ourselves in.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Now it sounds like you're putting the judiciary on notice.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well, I'm telling them that the legislation is there so
for them not to use it and to continue to
rebail people. And I don't know the specifics of these
youths background, but what I can to you they drove
at police, they drove in Nightcliff during a school's own time.
That is absolutely on those youth and there is no way,
shape or form anyone could say otherwise that it wasn't
on them, and therefore they should accountable.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Look, you sound as unhappy as the community sounds about it,
But why does this keep happening, Brent? Like, why are
we in a situation where we continue to hear that
young people are on bail while they're continuing to commit crimes.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
So I don't want to make excuses for these youth
because they need to be accountable for their own actions,
and they're old enough to own those actions. They come
from broken families, they come from sexual family violence themselves.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
They have no one that cares for them.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
They're not making much.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
That's what I'm saying is though the in family environment
that they are currently in is actually worse in the
environment they would find themselves in attention. So when we
talk about consequence, this is while we speak about the
three camps that we're standing up and you'll see that
the next month coming online. That will be the consequence
because sometimes going into Donda, we know with adults, going
into prison is actually better than the environment they come from,
so therefore it's not a consequence. So getting them away
(06:44):
from what they see as an ideal location to be
sentenced to and get them out bush working, because that
will be the content.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
So is that what there is going to be. There's
going to be a bush camp where kids go out
to work.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
We've spoken about that.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
So we said one in dah and one in Catherine,
one analysis, one intending Creek. So very very shortly we
can talk at the one intent it. We're just lining
up all of the pieces there. It will be on
in and around April May, so we can take you
out there and we.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Can show you it.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Why is it taking seven years?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Listen, I can only talk to the time that I've
been in the Ministerial office and it's been a number
one priority and tried and have said to me directly
that they want these kids taken off the street. Now,
that doesn't necessarily have to be Dondale, but it needs
to be something, And I am you are right.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
I'm just clearly.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Identifying for territorins at are listening that there is the
legislation right now to remand them, and that judiciary needs.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
To take that.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Look there isn't in every situation though, of course. I mean,
as we heard a couple of weeks ago, there was
those young kids that had held up a person who
after they'd left a bike in the middle of the road.
They'd held him up then with a machete and bushed
him and stole his car.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Now, my understanding is that that was their first offense.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
So luck you said, because I was about to say
it was their first offense.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
That's and I like, I get that, And I'm not saying,
you know, nobody thinks that every kid should be looked
behind in jail, Like nobody thinks that. But you know,
there was people asking that week, do you literally have
to murder somebody before you get sort of some kind
of punishment.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Well, no, I think in that instance what we need
to be looking at is the individual circumstances of the youth.
And I don't know the background of those kids, but
I do like you rightly point out, know that was
their first offense, and it's concerning that that was the
first escalation to that type of offending. And we are
and I don't know, Terah Toys don't like hearing, but
we are seeing it across North Australia as a whole.
And I think there's a failed bunch of policies for
the last two decades that have led us to this position.
(08:27):
And that's not absolving them of the responsibility for their actions,
but it gives context as to why we see this.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
So Brent, just to be clear, I mean, and I
know I'm chopping and changing from different scenarios, but in
that situation last week where you've literally got three kids
that have allegedly been ramming police cars and they were
on bail, like to you, it sounds, you know, it
sounds to me from what you were saying, that is
not good enough and you are not happy that the
judiciary has allowed them back on the streets. Why do
(08:54):
you think that is happening.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
As the police Minister, That's exactly what I'm saying, and
I know that police hold the same opinion. I can't
speak for why the judges have made that decision. I
can't speak for what is being presented to the judiciary
to make that determination, but on the face of it,
it is very disappointing. And as the Police Minister, I'll
support my front line who say they're sick of seeing it.
And I have no doubt that these youth have a
(09:15):
rap sheet that would have determined they should probably not
have been given bail. But I want territories to be
understanding that the legislation clearly stipulates that they can be
reminded for breaching their bail conditions for serious offenses. And
these are serious offenses.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
So you are saying that nothing needs to change legislation wise,
but there clearly needs to be a changing of the
thought process.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Well, there is abilities right now for police to contest
decisions from the judiciary and I'm looking forward to seeing
the outcomes of the review because if the review comes
back to me and says we need to make changes,
whether it's bailed to early intervention to detention, will make them.
What I don't necessarily believe is me, as the elected
member and all the opposition, actually have the expertise to
(09:59):
make that determination. It's very easy for the opposition to
say we'll just change bail, but that may cause more
problems than it actually results.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
What kind of problems, Well, for.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Example, we know that if you continue to put youth
into detention for a variety of different offending, you're more
likely to see that person become an adult defender and
end up in the judiciary. Now, what we're saying is,
let's do the review and if that says we need
to change the bail piece around sentencing to bush camps,
then we can do that. Or if it says we
need to do it for Donda, we'll do that. If
it says that we need to do further early intervention.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
We'll do that.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
But with those bush camps, we don't actually have one
that's up and running.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Yes, no, we do. We have seven em us that
is up and running, So.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I think it's are in they Oh, listen, that's the
best discussion for the territory families. Minister. I don't know
if the top of.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
My head, but I also you reckon it's being utilized
in the way that it should be.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
The last proof I got it was being utilized and
they do get a capacity obviously wet season like getting
people out there. But ultimately we need more of those camps.
That's the raw truth. We need more camps to sentence
these youth too, and divert them onto because we know
that if we get them out there, they get them working,
We'll get them into a job.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Are they going to get sent there though, Yeah, that's well, this.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Is the point.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
So once we get them up, that is the option
for the judiciary that if they've got a youth in
front of them, they can say, well, option, mate, you're
going to this camp or I'm reminding you in Dondale.
And so let's put those options in front of the
judiciary and let them make that decision.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Are you worried, like when you've got a situation like
we saw unfold last week, right, are you worried that
we are going to see an innocent life lost? God
for bed one of those children. It's behind the wheel
of that vehicle that at twelve and thirteen. And I
know that you know there's probably not a huge amount
of public sympathy for them, But I've got kids that
at that age, and I think it would be absolutely
(11:34):
horrifying if something happened to one of those kids in
that car, or to one of our police officers.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
On the road first.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And foremost innocent bystanders and those first front line officers
that are out doing the job that we would ask
them to do is my greatest concern. And obviously I
worry for the kids in the car. I don't think
they quite comprehend the severity of what may be the outcome.
And we see that time and again with joy riding
and the like on you know, you were hear about
not even criminals, just kids getting out there and doing
and it leads to tragic outcomes. But my biggest concern
(12:03):
upfront is for the front line and for the unison
bystander from these youth, because they won't comprehend what they've done.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
All Right, I'm going to move along.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
I want to talk about the pathway that was announced
last week for palais to become constables. Nathan Finn told
us on the show that the pathway is going to
mean that we don't have palis on bottle shops in
Alice Springs. Take a bit of a listen to what
he had to say on the show last week.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Twenty eight constables are actually short. They've transitioned out of
the Southern region in that twelve month period. We've had
two officers come back to the Northern Territory Police, which
there was thirty or so left Alice Springs Constable wise,
and they've transferred to other divisions in the Northern Terrechory
Police or transferre to other positions. On top of that
is the nineteen palais that are actually going to be
removed and placed on this constable's course in Alice Springs
as starting on the eleventh of March. So from Alice
(12:47):
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 Spring So.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Brent, is that the case we're only going to have
two palis on the bottle shops.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
We have other mechanisms to cot. I'd like to explain
that to you and your listeners, And just for your listeners,
I made it very clear to Nathan on the phone
the day that I did the announcement on how we.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Would cover down on bottle shops. So what will happen.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
We have over fifteen we have fifteen licensing inspectors in
our springs that were funded under the federal government funding
last year. They have the same power to sit on
the bottle shop. That is what they will be doing.
And we've had Licensing andt and Northern Territory Police coordinate
that now so we have coverage. But even before this,
when we had a pally that was sick for work
or we didn't have the coverage on a bottle shop,
(13:29):
there would be an overtime call for constables and that's
how it would be filled and then as required, sometimes
licensing inspectors would end up covering down. So we will
have coverage on all our bottle shops. But Nathan says,
on one hand he wants more officers in Central Australia,
and then on the other hand he says he doesn't
believe these officers are suitable to then become constables. That's contradictory.
He represents both members. Let me tell you how long
the course will be a pali right now to graduate
(13:52):
does sixteen weeks. These other thirty two or thirty plus
officers that are going to become constables have to do
another sixteen weeks to be a constable. It's a thirty week,
thirty one week program. So for these palies converting. They'll
do a total of thirty two weeks at the college.
I would argue that makes them suitably qualified to go
out and do bottle shops but also do general policing
(14:13):
duties in our springs and the Central Desert region.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
So just to confirm, there's going to be fifteen licensing
inspectors go and cover the bottle shops in Alice Springs.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
That's still a shortage though.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Right between licensing and the constables that are in our
springs right now, plus the remaining palies that aren't getting converted,
we have enough coverage. Not every bottle shop in our
springs every day gets a pally on it. Let me
be really clear for those in daw And if you
go to Alice Springs, there is some bottle shops that
just don't get a pali because we can't feel those
pali positions. And I made a commitment to the palies
that I spoke to across Catherine TenneT Creek and Alis
(14:46):
that said to me, I want to do more, but
I can't do more because the legislation restricts me. Well,
let's give them the powers, Let's get more police officers
on the ground, and we all agree we have a shortage.
It's incumbent of me to get as many offices as
I can on the groend the fastest means possible, and
keeping people palis, particularly that don't want to stay at
Pally forever, is my number one priority to get.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Them back out.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
So you are not concerned in any way that there's
going to be a short fall or that Alice Springs
is going to see the ramifications of any kind of
shortfall as a result of this program.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
No, and right now police manage that anyway through other
resources to cover down on our bottle shops. But let's
have a talk about what we've done to get us
to this point. We introduce the seven day band drinker. Notice,
we already have some of the most stringent alcohol controls
in Alice Springs, and we know that we need more
police officers. So I feel like we're in the environment
where we can offer to those palis that want to
become constables the pathway to get there. They'll be on
(15:37):
the beat by June. Yes, it is a sixteen week gap,
but we will cover that. Relizan Los reckon.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Most people will be thinking to themselves, it seems like
a really good pathway. It seems like a good announcement,
but they'll be concerned that there is not going to
be that coverage on the bottle shops. At the same time,
we've also got Tourism Central Australia writing to the Chief
Minister asking for a relaxation period for alcohol restriction.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Is that something that you think should be looked at.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Well, just go back to the Palace for one second, please, Catie.
The risk we have is I can't recruit enough palis.
The risk we have with Pali's is retention. So I
want to we want to keep the officers. We want
to get them back on the road, so we're converting
them to constable. So that's the first part in relation
to the alcohol controls. I have no intention of lifting
the alcohol measures right now, especially in the next sixteen weeks.
(16:22):
While I've got officers away getting trained. We don't need
to see the other two days. I acknowledge TCA's concern.
You can still purchase alcohol through some of the pubs
and clubs over the counter for takeaway, is what I've
been told, and I believe that's been relayed to them.
I understand they want it to be open all day trading,
not all day, but the other days that we're not trading.
And I think that once we see the benefits of
(16:44):
these palies converted a constable, we see the further BDR
rollouts that I've spoken about on your show, which will
come over the next two months, that's when we can
sit down and have a discussion about lifting those measures.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
And for those in our springs, I.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Agree, so strictly over the winter period you might see
a lifting.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
What I'm saying is I want to see the environment
those measures are in place, and then we can have
the discussion. But I want Alice Springs residents to have
the same access that we have in Darwin and the like,
because it is unfairly targeting a minority a majority for
the minority.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
That misuse it.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Look, we are going to talk further about that in
about the next fifteen minutes. We're going to speak to
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Donna Rchi and find out a
little bit more from her perspective. But moving along racism
within the police force. There was some terrible claims made
last week of systemic racism by former police constable Zachary Rolff. Minister,
(17:33):
do you think there is systemic racism within the force.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Can I just say racism and discrimination in any organization
is unacceptable. I think the organization where they are today
is very different to where they were ten to twenty
years ago. An organization has to change culturally and we're
seeing that under the Commissioner. Those comments are made in
the Colonial Court. The Colonial Court's going to reconvene in May,
but they are set in there without any recourse for
(17:57):
members to come back to. So I don't believe it's
systemic the organization and the organization that I see today,
whether it's in that the TRG or our General Duties
Frontline is a highly professional organization that wants to serve
every territory.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
And across the terrace.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
So do you think that there needs to be any
work done to ensure the gap between the force and
some members of the community is breached.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Well, this is why I think remote postings are so
important for police and being connected to community. And we
see actpos and we've seen an increase in a huge
increase in the Aboriginal liaison offices and the Northern Territory
Police Force has the highest percentage of First Nations employees
out of our government agencies. So when we talk about
leading the charge, the Northern Territory Police Force.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Leads that charge.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I'm obviously concerned with any allegations, but I think the
organization that I see both back of house in front
of house is not that organization that's been portrayed.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
The police commissioner was on the front page on the
weekend of the paper.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
He's allegedly the.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Person who made racial slurs in a Chinese restaurant. As
I understand that the IKAK has already looked into the
and closed it. I mean, are you concerned about this
claim that had been made?
Speaker 2 (19:05):
These claims were over twenty five years ago. The IKAK
has reviewed them. I've spoken to the commissioner and the
comments have been pretty publicly known that there's not recalled
if they were made. But I personally can't be holding
or dragging up something from twenty five years ago.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
But I wasn't there.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Can I ask?
Speaker 1 (19:21):
When is this police review that Vince Kelly's conducting. When's
it due back?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Meant to be this month and obviously it's independent, so
Vince will get that to us when he needs it.
Oh soo when it's completed and I've been very clear
our gunment will support him full that police review.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Brent some listener questions, but one in particular, this one,
it's from a concerned resident.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
It says, good morning, Katie.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Would you please ask the Minister for Police how are
they going to manage crime and anti social behavior and
the safety of the residents of Coconut Growth if the
proposed site goes ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
For Saint Vincent de Paul So, I just.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Want to say I'm supportive of the residents in Coconut Grove.
I do not believe it is the place to be
relocating that. I also do strongly support it being relocated
from Stuart Park. But there are other locations. Coconut Grove
and Nightcliffe already have a significant amount of services there.
We don't need to add this further burden. But for
those residents in Nightcliff and Coconut Grove, I support you
(20:16):
on this. I am supporting and I'll work with you
as your local member, as I did over the weekend
meeting with businesses. But the Nightcliff Police station will be
home to the Territory Safety Division, which is twenty officers
at the moment, will be fifty by the end of
the year.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
But so do you think this should go ahead?
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Not in Coconut Grove, No.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
And should it be moved out of Stuart Park?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Absolutely? So where too, Well, there's plenty of sites that
we can go to. There's other sites owned by that organization. Additionally,
we can change the model to an outreach model.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
So I mean, look from one side of this, I'm
thinking to myself here fair enough, you know, nobody wants
to see the anti social behavior that has been associated
with that's some vincent nepaul in Stuart Park right Like
I drive past there quite regularly. You see people all
around the place at different times of the day. Unfortunately,
in toxic there is antisocial behavior and it does even
(21:03):
flow at different times. So people don't want it in
Stuart Park, they don't want it in Coconut Growth.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
But do you need to have.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
These services sort of close to other services so that
people that are genuinely homeless can actually get the services
that they require.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Absolutely. And I think that there's two groups of people
that use the service. They're the genuine homeless and we
need that service for them and it should be expanded.
We also that service is taken up by people that
come into town for variety of reasons and then move out.
And I think that those people that come in without
a plan need to actually start planning for how they're
going to stay and where they're going to reside.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
In Darwin.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
It is there to support the homeless within Darwin and Palmerston.
I think we don't just talk Dahn. We need to
be talking darhw and the northern suburbs and Palmerston and
then find a location that suits all three because ultimately,
if you go to an outreach model, you can support
more people without the requirement for them to come to
a centralized location.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Right, So you're thinking a whole different location and they've
actually been given a few alternatives.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Well listen, I'm saying that I think at the moment
it needs to move from where it is. I don't
think Cocaine Grove is at all appropriate and there is
a middle ground here. We can all get together and
find a solution that benefits the people that need the
service but doesn't impact on the water.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Can have you spoken again to some finis.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I speak to them, but it's not my portfoliobviously it's
a local member. I talk from the local member point
of view, but in terms of the ministerial funding and
the peace that comes through another minister being selling a
U boat and their team and Naria kid.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
All right, we might have to follow up with them.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
It's certainly an interesting one and something that we've received
quite a lot of feedback from in the last couple
of days. Yeah, Brent Potter, Minister for Police, we better
leave it there. Thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Thanks Coatie.
As you heard last week, Brent Potter is the latest
to defend his shareholding in a company behind a major
prawn pride project in the Northern Territory. Now. He bought
eighty seven hundred shares in Sea Farms in June twenty
twenty one while working for the then Aquaculture Minister Nicole Madison,
claiming that he declared them after being elected as the
(00:20):
Member for Fanny Bay. The Minister for Police Brent Potter
joins me in the studio right now. Good morning to you, Brent,
Good morning Katie. Now why did you buy those shees?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Let's just clarify something because some of the information that
is not correct. I bought them in June twenty twenty
one as the Police Advisor and I declared them as
an advisor. I've declared them as an MLA, and I
declared them as a minister and then I sold them
in November of this year, also last year when I
became a minister, And like many Territorians, it was a
major project well before I started government to put money
(00:51):
into them. It was exciting and like most Territorians, you
want to back a territory business or opportunity for jobs
and the economy.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Is that why you bought them?
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Now, in your role as an were you ever privy
to any conversations about that project.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
No, And the forms that I've provided to your team
on the day last week, and as I showed ABC
very clearly in the conflict of interest form, I had
to articulate how I'd manage that conflict had to be
signed off by my chief of staff and then Gunner's
chief of staff at the time. I never got involved
in any conversations. I never got any information that wasn't public,
And then after I purchased the shares, I never was
ever in any conversations in relation to seafarms.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
So I mean you said, you've just said it that
you obviously had no knowledge of some of the inside
workings of that project whatsoever. Is basically what you're saying
to me. I mean, how can people be sure of
that when you were working for the minister that had
responsibility of that project, and I get that you had
a separate portfolio, but are you telling our listeners that
there were never any kinds of conversations that you were
(01:48):
privy to in any way, shape or.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Form, nothing that was not public. And it's no different.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I guess to how departments deal with these opportunities or
events that are going to occur in the territory and
other than show people the forms that I had to
come with than the rules that I had to comply with.
That that's what I can offer them. And to be honest,
this will happened well before I became an advisor getting
major project status. The CEO of Sea Farms was on
ABC and on this show previously talking about the project.
(02:14):
Why wouldn't you as a territory and back of territory
opportunity that sounded amazing for territory and jobs.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
So you didn't have any inside knowledge whatsoever.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I can repeat it again, I did not, and I'm
happy to go on the record in any way, shape
or form and say that. And that's why I provided
all the paperwork from the very start.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
To prove it.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Does it pass the pub test? Bread Like, this is
the thing. I guess.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
With the situation with the former Chief Minister Natasha Files,
then with the situation with Chancey Paik now with you,
you know, do these three scenarios past the pub test?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I mean, Natasha sort of said a pretty high.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Standard in terms of stepping down following her She's scandal.
Now we just sort of continue to see bits and
pieces of info.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
They're three very different issues to what occurred with mine.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Mie were completely declared.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
I was never a member of Parliament and told them
as I was required to when I became a minister.
Those two other instances you speak about are very different
to mine. What I would say though, is I know
that on the fifth floor as advisors we actually have
a conflict of interest process. At no point, as anyone
asked if you opposition have one, we have a process
deliberately how.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
The policy development.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
But if that's the case, well same goes with you
as an advisor, and.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
That's why you declare it, right, That's why you don't
sit in the room. That's why you don't get involved
in those discussions. And ultimately they were declared from the
very day I bought those shares, to the point I
sold them as a minister.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Are you worried it's going to come back to bite
you in any way?
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Well, that's ultimately the decision for the electorate.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
The people I've spoken to over the last two weeks,
one of them actually came up and said, well, it's
good to see someone else lost money on those shares
as well. So I think most people understand that all
of these decisions are related to sea farms. Happened before
I even ended up being an advisor, So to say
that I had any inside knowledge couldn't be further from
the truth. And I'll go on the record to anyone
that wants to contradict that.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Look, I'm going to move along because there's actually so
much to cover off on from your police portfolio over
the last week. Now, last week, we had an incredibly
serious situation I would say, three kids twelve and thirteen,
when on a crime spree, they stole a car and
allegedly attempt to ram it at police cars at around seven.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Thirty in the morning.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
It was near a school while other kids are obviously
trying to get to school. The police that told me
on the show that they were targeting their cars and
that this kind of behavior is increasing. Now that Trio,
as I understand it, we're on bail. How is that possible?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Can I just think those officers involved, from both TRIED
and the Territory Response Group, those officers in an amazing
body of work there to protect territorians, and you are right,
those youth are on bail. And I want to say
this to Territorians because it gets lost. The legislation is
there for a judge to deny a youth bail and
hold them on remand and it squarely rests with the
(04:55):
judiciary in this instance to start reminding these youth that
teut these bail laws and go against the judge's direction.
Don't continue to regrant them bail. Remind them in the
facility that we have funded all the three new youth
camps that we've committed to, so you don't have to
put them in don Dale. You can put them to
a camp out in the middle of nowhere where they're
going to get rehabilitated. They're going to get life skills
and go to a program on that camp and then
(05:16):
we'll find them an employment after this. But there is
no reason to be bailing these youth when they breach
their bail, and the legislation's already there. We are doing
a Youth Justice review which will include everything from early
intervention through to detention, but that's just to confirm if
the changes from the Royal Commission meet in the environment
we find ourselves in.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Now it sounds like you're putting the judiciary on notice.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well, I'm telling them that the legislation is there so
for them not to use it and to continue to
rebail people. And I don't know the specifics of these
youths background, but what I can to you they drove
at police, they drove in Nightcliff during a school's own time.
That is absolutely on those youth and there is no way,
shape or form anyone could say otherwise that it wasn't
on them, and therefore they should accountable.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Look, you sound as unhappy as the community sounds about it,
But why does this keep happening, Brent? Like, why are
we in a situation where we continue to hear that
young people are on bail while they're continuing to commit crimes.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
So I don't want to make excuses for these youth
because they need to be accountable for their own actions,
and they're old enough to own those actions. They come
from broken families, they come from sexual family violence themselves.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
They have no one that cares for them.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
They're not making much.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
That's what I'm saying is though the in family environment
that they are currently in is actually worse in the
environment they would find themselves in attention. So when we
talk about consequence, this is while we speak about the
three camps that we're standing up and you'll see that
the next month coming online. That will be the consequence
because sometimes going into Donda, we know with adults, going
into prison is actually better than the environment they come from,
so therefore it's not a consequence. So getting them away
(06:44):
from what they see as an ideal location to be
sentenced to and get them out bush working, because that
will be the content.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
So is that what there is going to be. There's
going to be a bush camp where kids go out
to work.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
We've spoken about that.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
So we said one in dah and one in Catherine,
one analysis, one intending Creek. So very very shortly we
can talk at the one intent it. We're just lining
up all of the pieces there. It will be on
in and around April May, so we can take you
out there and we.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Can show you it.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Why is it taking seven years?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Listen, I can only talk to the time that I've
been in the Ministerial office and it's been a number
one priority and tried and have said to me directly
that they want these kids taken off the street. Now,
that doesn't necessarily have to be Dondale, but it needs
to be something, And I am you are right.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
I'm just clearly.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Identifying for territorins at are listening that there is the
legislation right now to remand them, and that judiciary needs.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
To take that.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Look there isn't in every situation though, of course. I mean,
as we heard a couple of weeks ago, there was
those young kids that had held up a person who
after they'd left a bike in the middle of the road.
They'd held him up then with a machete and bushed
him and stole his car.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Now, my understanding is that that was their first offense.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
So luck you said, because I was about to say
it was their first offense.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
That's and I like, I get that, And I'm not saying,
you know, nobody thinks that every kid should be looked
behind in jail, Like nobody thinks that. But you know,
there was people asking that week, do you literally have
to murder somebody before you get sort of some kind
of punishment.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Well, no, I think in that instance what we need
to be looking at is the individual circumstances of the youth.
And I don't know the background of those kids, but
I do like you rightly point out, know that was
their first offense, and it's concerning that that was the
first escalation to that type of offending. And we are
and I don't know, Terah Toys don't like hearing, but
we are seeing it across North Australia as a whole.
And I think there's a failed bunch of policies for
the last two decades that have led us to this position.
(08:27):
And that's not absolving them of the responsibility for their actions,
but it gives context as to why we see this.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
So Brent, just to be clear, I mean, and I
know I'm chopping and changing from different scenarios, but in
that situation last week where you've literally got three kids
that have allegedly been ramming police cars and they were
on bail, like to you, it sounds, you know, it
sounds to me from what you were saying, that is
not good enough and you are not happy that the
judiciary has allowed them back on the streets. Why do
(08:54):
you think that is happening.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
As the police Minister, That's exactly what I'm saying, and
I know that police hold the same opinion. I can't
speak for why the judges have made that decision. I
can't speak for what is being presented to the judiciary
to make that determination, but on the face of it,
it is very disappointing. And as the Police Minister, I'll
support my front line who say they're sick of seeing it.
And I have no doubt that these youth have a
(09:15):
rap sheet that would have determined they should probably not
have been given bail. But I want territories to be
understanding that the legislation clearly stipulates that they can be
reminded for breaching their bail conditions for serious offenses. And
these are serious offenses.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
So you are saying that nothing needs to change legislation wise,
but there clearly needs to be a changing of the
thought process.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Well, there is abilities right now for police to contest
decisions from the judiciary and I'm looking forward to seeing
the outcomes of the review because if the review comes
back to me and says we need to make changes,
whether it's bailed to early intervention to detention, will make them.
What I don't necessarily believe is me, as the elected
member and all the opposition, actually have the expertise to
(09:59):
make that determination. It's very easy for the opposition to
say we'll just change bail, but that may cause more
problems than it actually results.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
What kind of problems, Well, for.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Example, we know that if you continue to put youth
into detention for a variety of different offending, you're more
likely to see that person become an adult defender and
end up in the judiciary. Now, what we're saying is,
let's do the review and if that says we need
to change the bail piece around sentencing to bush camps,
then we can do that. Or if it says we
need to do it for Donda, we'll do that. If
it says that we need to do further early intervention.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
We'll do that.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
But with those bush camps, we don't actually have one
that's up and running.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Yes, no, we do. We have seven em us that
is up and running, So.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I think it's are in they Oh, listen, that's the
best discussion for the territory families. Minister. I don't know
if the top of.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
My head, but I also you reckon it's being utilized
in the way that it should be.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
The last proof I got it was being utilized and
they do get a capacity obviously wet season like getting
people out there. But ultimately we need more of those camps.
That's the raw truth. We need more camps to sentence
these youth too, and divert them onto because we know
that if we get them out there, they get them working,
We'll get them into a job.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Are they going to get sent there though, Yeah, that's well, this.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Is the point.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
So once we get them up, that is the option
for the judiciary that if they've got a youth in
front of them, they can say, well, option, mate, you're
going to this camp or I'm reminding you in Dondale.
And so let's put those options in front of the
judiciary and let them make that decision.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Are you worried, like when you've got a situation like
we saw unfold last week, right, are you worried that
we are going to see an innocent life lost? God
for bed one of those children. It's behind the wheel
of that vehicle that at twelve and thirteen. And I
know that you know there's probably not a huge amount
of public sympathy for them, But I've got kids that
at that age, and I think it would be absolutely
(11:34):
horrifying if something happened to one of those kids in
that car, or to one of our police officers.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
On the road first.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And foremost innocent bystanders and those first front line officers
that are out doing the job that we would ask
them to do is my greatest concern. And obviously I
worry for the kids in the car. I don't think
they quite comprehend the severity of what may be the outcome.
And we see that time and again with joy riding
and the like on you know, you were hear about
not even criminals, just kids getting out there and doing
and it leads to tragic outcomes. But my biggest concern
(12:03):
upfront is for the front line and for the unison
bystander from these youth, because they won't comprehend what they've done.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
All Right, I'm going to move along.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
I want to talk about the pathway that was announced
last week for palais to become constables. Nathan Finn told
us on the show that the pathway is going to
mean that we don't have palis on bottle shops in
Alice Springs. Take a bit of a listen to what
he had to say on the show last week.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Twenty eight constables are actually short. They've transitioned out of
the Southern region in that twelve month period. We've had
two officers come back to the Northern Territory Police, which
there was thirty or so left Alice Springs Constable wise,
and they've transferred to other divisions in the Northern Terrechory
Police or transferre to other positions. On top of that
is the nineteen palais that are actually going to be
removed and placed on this constable's course in Alice Springs
as starting on the eleventh of March. So from Alice
(12:47):
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 Spring So.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Brent, is that the case we're only going to have
two palis on the bottle shops.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
We have other mechanisms to cot. I'd like to explain
that to you and your listeners, And just for your listeners,
I made it very clear to Nathan on the phone
the day that I did the announcement on how we.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Would cover down on bottle shops. So what will happen.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
We have over fifteen we have fifteen licensing inspectors in
our springs that were funded under the federal government funding
last year. They have the same power to sit on
the bottle shop. That is what they will be doing.
And we've had Licensing andt and Northern Territory Police coordinate
that now so we have coverage. But even before this,
when we had a pally that was sick for work
or we didn't have the coverage on a bottle shop,
(13:29):
there would be an overtime call for constables and that's
how it would be filled and then as required, sometimes
licensing inspectors would end up covering down. So we will
have coverage on all our bottle shops. But Nathan says,
on one hand he wants more officers in Central Australia,
and then on the other hand he says he doesn't
believe these officers are suitable to then become constables. That's contradictory.
He represents both members. Let me tell you how long
the course will be a pali right now to graduate
(13:52):
does sixteen weeks. These other thirty two or thirty plus
officers that are going to become constables have to do
another sixteen weeks to be a constable. It's a thirty week,
thirty one week program. So for these palies converting. They'll
do a total of thirty two weeks at the college.
I would argue that makes them suitably qualified to go
out and do bottle shops but also do general policing
(14:13):
duties in our springs and the Central Desert region.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
So just to confirm, there's going to be fifteen licensing
inspectors go and cover the bottle shops in Alice Springs.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
That's still a shortage though.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Right between licensing and the constables that are in our
springs right now, plus the remaining palies that aren't getting converted,
we have enough coverage. Not every bottle shop in our
springs every day gets a pally on it. Let me
be really clear for those in daw And if you
go to Alice Springs, there is some bottle shops that
just don't get a pali because we can't feel those
pali positions. And I made a commitment to the palies
that I spoke to across Catherine TenneT Creek and Alis
(14:46):
that said to me, I want to do more, but
I can't do more because the legislation restricts me. Well,
let's give them the powers, Let's get more police officers
on the ground, and we all agree we have a shortage.
It's incumbent of me to get as many offices as
I can on the groend the fastest means possible, and
keeping people palis, particularly that don't want to stay at
Pally forever, is my number one priority to get.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Them back out.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
So you are not concerned in any way that there's
going to be a short fall or that Alice Springs
is going to see the ramifications of any kind of
shortfall as a result of this program.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
No, and right now police manage that anyway through other
resources to cover down on our bottle shops. But let's
have a talk about what we've done to get us
to this point. We introduce the seven day band drinker. Notice,
we already have some of the most stringent alcohol controls
in Alice Springs, and we know that we need more
police officers. So I feel like we're in the environment
where we can offer to those palis that want to
become constables the pathway to get there. They'll be on
(15:37):
the beat by June. Yes, it is a sixteen week gap,
but we will cover that. Relizan Los reckon.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Most people will be thinking to themselves, it seems like
a really good pathway. It seems like a good announcement,
but they'll be concerned that there is not going to
be that coverage on the bottle shops. At the same time,
we've also got Tourism Central Australia writing to the Chief
Minister asking for a relaxation period for alcohol restriction.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Is that something that you think should be looked at.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Well, just go back to the Palace for one second, please, Catie.
The risk we have is I can't recruit enough palis.
The risk we have with Pali's is retention. So I
want to we want to keep the officers. We want
to get them back on the road, so we're converting
them to constable. So that's the first part in relation
to the alcohol controls. I have no intention of lifting
the alcohol measures right now, especially in the next sixteen weeks.
(16:22):
While I've got officers away getting trained. We don't need
to see the other two days. I acknowledge TCA's concern.
You can still purchase alcohol through some of the pubs
and clubs over the counter for takeaway, is what I've
been told, and I believe that's been relayed to them.
I understand they want it to be open all day trading,
not all day, but the other days that we're not trading.
And I think that once we see the benefits of
(16:44):
these palies converted a constable, we see the further BDR
rollouts that I've spoken about on your show, which will
come over the next two months, that's when we can
sit down and have a discussion about lifting those measures.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
And for those in our springs, I.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Agree, so strictly over the winter period you might see
a lifting.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
What I'm saying is I want to see the environment
those measures are in place, and then we can have
the discussion. But I want Alice Springs residents to have
the same access that we have in Darwin and the like,
because it is unfairly targeting a minority a majority for
the minority.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
That misuse it.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Look, we are going to talk further about that in
about the next fifteen minutes. We're going to speak to
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Donna Rchi and find out a
little bit more from her perspective. But moving along racism
within the police force. There was some terrible claims made
last week of systemic racism by former police constable Zachary Rolff. Minister,
(17:33):
do you think there is systemic racism within the force.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Can I just say racism and discrimination in any organization
is unacceptable. I think the organization where they are today
is very different to where they were ten to twenty
years ago. An organization has to change culturally and we're
seeing that under the Commissioner. Those comments are made in
the Colonial Court. The Colonial Court's going to reconvene in May,
but they are set in there without any recourse for
(17:57):
members to come back to. So I don't believe it's
systemic the organization and the organization that I see today,
whether it's in that the TRG or our General Duties
Frontline is a highly professional organization that wants to serve
every territory.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
And across the terrace.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
So do you think that there needs to be any
work done to ensure the gap between the force and
some members of the community is breached.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Well, this is why I think remote postings are so
important for police and being connected to community. And we
see actpos and we've seen an increase in a huge
increase in the Aboriginal liaison offices and the Northern Territory
Police Force has the highest percentage of First Nations employees
out of our government agencies. So when we talk about
leading the charge, the Northern Territory Police Force.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Leads that charge.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I'm obviously concerned with any allegations, but I think the
organization that I see both back of house in front
of house is not that organization that's been portrayed.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
The police commissioner was on the front page on the
weekend of the paper.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
He's allegedly the.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Person who made racial slurs in a Chinese restaurant. As
I understand that the IKAK has already looked into the
and closed it. I mean, are you concerned about this
claim that had been made?
Speaker 2 (19:05):
These claims were over twenty five years ago. The IKAK
has reviewed them. I've spoken to the commissioner and the
comments have been pretty publicly known that there's not recalled
if they were made. But I personally can't be holding
or dragging up something from twenty five years ago.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
But I wasn't there.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Can I ask?
Speaker 1 (19:21):
When is this police review that Vince Kelly's conducting. When's
it due back?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Meant to be this month and obviously it's independent, so
Vince will get that to us when he needs it.
Oh soo when it's completed and I've been very clear
our gunment will support him full that police review.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Brent some listener questions, but one in particular, this one,
it's from a concerned resident.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
It says, good morning, Katie.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Would you please ask the Minister for Police how are
they going to manage crime and anti social behavior and
the safety of the residents of Coconut Growth if the
proposed site goes ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
For Saint Vincent de Paul So, I just.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Want to say I'm supportive of the residents in Coconut Grove.
I do not believe it is the place to be
relocating that. I also do strongly support it being relocated
from Stuart Park. But there are other locations. Coconut Grove
and Nightcliffe already have a significant amount of services there.
We don't need to add this further burden. But for
those residents in Nightcliff and Coconut Grove, I support you
(20:16):
on this. I am supporting and I'll work with you
as your local member, as I did over the weekend
meeting with businesses. But the Nightcliff Police station will be
home to the Territory Safety Division, which is twenty officers
at the moment, will be fifty by the end of
the year.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
But so do you think this should go ahead?
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Not in Coconut Grove, No.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
And should it be moved out of Stuart Park?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Absolutely? So where too, Well, there's plenty of sites that
we can go to. There's other sites owned by that organization. Additionally,
we can change the model to an outreach model.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
So I mean, look from one side of this, I'm
thinking to myself here fair enough, you know, nobody wants
to see the anti social behavior that has been associated
with that's some vincent nepaul in Stuart Park right Like
I drive past there quite regularly. You see people all
around the place at different times of the day. Unfortunately,
in toxic there is antisocial behavior and it does even
(21:03):
flow at different times. So people don't want it in
Stuart Park, they don't want it in Coconut Growth.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
But do you need to have.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
These services sort of close to other services so that
people that are genuinely homeless can actually get the services
that they require.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Absolutely. And I think that there's two groups of people
that use the service. They're the genuine homeless and we
need that service for them and it should be expanded.
We also that service is taken up by people that
come into town for variety of reasons and then move out.
And I think that those people that come in without
a plan need to actually start planning for how they're
going to stay and where they're going to reside.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
In Darwin.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
It is there to support the homeless within Darwin and Palmerston.
I think we don't just talk Dahn. We need to
be talking darhw and the northern suburbs and Palmerston and
then find a location that suits all three because ultimately,
if you go to an outreach model, you can support
more people without the requirement for them to come to
a centralized location.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Right, So you're thinking a whole different location and they've
actually been given a few alternatives.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Well listen, I'm saying that I think at the moment
it needs to move from where it is. I don't
think Cocaine Grove is at all appropriate and there is
a middle ground here. We can all get together and
find a solution that benefits the people that need the
service but doesn't impact on the water.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Can have you spoken again to some finis.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I speak to them, but it's not my portfoliobviously it's
a local member. I talk from the local member point
of view, but in terms of the ministerial funding and
the peace that comes through another minister being selling a
U boat and their team and Naria kid.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
All right, we might have to follow up with them.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
It's certainly an interesting one and something that we've received
quite a lot of feedback from in the last couple
of days. Yeah, Brent Potter, Minister for Police, we better
leave it there. Thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Thanks Coatie.
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