Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining us seeing the studio right now.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
As the president of the Northern Territory Police Association, Nathan Finn,
good morning to.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
You, Good morning Katy, Good morning to listeners now Finny.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Obviously these social media posts are shared by the Northern
Territory Police Minister, Brent Potter. I think to say they're
raising eyebrows would be probably an understatement. Plenty of people
this morning questioning whether he can remain on in his
role as the police minister.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
What is your take on this situation, So.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Obviously there's a sentiment and within the police force as well,
especially I was only made aware of the obviously the
NT Independent article yesterday morning. In the additional article obviously
this morning as well. I've spoken to mister Potty yesterday
afternoon expressed the sentiment of our media release we've sent
out this morning in relation to this. Members contacted us
just with a discustment and year right disappointment and sure
(00:49):
especially around obviously when he's come out and said late
last week when there was information presented at as the
Coronial that he didn't accept racism any organization, especially one
that serves the front line to the community, and having
a crack at our guys for comments that were said,
well and truly back in a day and twenty five
years ago was one of the comments was made. Then
they're investigating. But our members are being subject to this
(01:11):
investigation and putting through basically asking why they still should
be a police officer for some of the comments that
they've said, not on a public forum, in a private.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Space, and so they're wondering then why they're facing this
kind of scrutiny.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
When he's not. I suppose you know.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
The other side of it though, is you know, no
matter who it is, racism shouldn't be tolerated, and comments
that are derogatory should not be tolerated in any way,
no matter where you're from.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
No, especially not. And if a police officer made these
comments prior to them joining the police force, and there
was an integrity test down in the background, they wouldn't
even be accepted for them.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So do you reckon, I mean, to the police to
become a police officer, are you under more scrutiny than
what you are to become a politician by the look
of things.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Well, the look of things, yes, our members, and that's
the biggest frustration of members have got and one of
the biggest frustration members is just own it, apologize for it. Okay,
we all make mistakes, okay, But the fact is, unless
you own it, unless you accept that this behavior is
not who you are or what you are. This has
gone on a long time ago. We understand that. But again,
there's some comments in there and there's supporting. It's not
(02:13):
just one, it's not two, it's not three, it's not four.
There's multiple platforms here that's been used. And his sentiment's
obviously clear that he is this way.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Finny, you've spoken to minister Potter. Have you spoken to
him yesterday? Are they spoke to yesterday?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
I made a number of calls to his office yesterday.
He didn't bring me back late yesterday afternoon, and discussed
obviously the center of our members, the sentiment that they're
being held to a different standard. They're being actually investigated
for comments that they made in a private forum compared
to stuff that's obviously overt and obviously out there in
the public public line as well.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Those offices should be investigated, though right that situation should
be investigated.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Guaranteed, guaranteed. We've all got roles here.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
But he should be as well.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Guaranteed. Yeah, guaranteed, Katie. And that's all we're saying. There's
an inconsistent here and the way they've been dealing with
it and how they're coming forward in dealing with this matter.
I believe this's obviously sent out a statement own it.
There's no time and members are frustrated.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
What are officers saying to you within the force upon
sort of learning some of this information and learning about
some of these posts.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
They're very frustrated. We've got we've got a crisis here
in a crime crisis in the Northern Territory in relation
to policing. We know police haven't got enough resources, and
members are frustrated the point of no possibility. They are
frustrated day and day out to do their role and
to have this argument keep going on and then keep
speculation about what the government's doing. Get on and do
your freaking roll. That's all we ask you to do.
(03:39):
Actually resourced their police force, Let them do it. Actually
we need to do instead, we're told in the scandal,
if it's not this week, it's a share one the
week before, or another share one the week before that.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
That's how I feel like, That's how a lot of
people are feeling at this point in time right, we're
just like we are limping along at the moment. I
feel like we're bouncing from one scan to the next scandal.
And people just want our politicians to get their bloody
jobs done. Like I just want them to step up
and do what they are being paid an enormous amount
(04:10):
of money to do. Stop mucking around. You know, these
kind of posts should not have ever gone up. But
make a decision. Is he staying in? Is he going
from this role? What's going on? I mean, Finny, do
you think he can stay on?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I don't believe so, Katie and members are quite frustrated
with it because it's the double stand that we're seeing,
and he obviously come out publicly last week and said,
I think we're always in trouble when you hear racism
or comments and derogatory because they have no place in
this organization or our department. Where he's telling us that
hang on, I'll just tell you what to do. And
we had a bit of a laugh around yesterday in
the office about it. That's the pot it's the potter
(04:43):
call and the kettle black. It's unfortunately, it's it's an
absolute disgrace for this to be brought into it, and
our members are quite rightly frustrated. And I don't accept
racism in any organization, especially one that serves our front
line of community. Hang on, you serve our frontline community.
You're actually representative of our organization as well to the Parliament. See,
you're reflecting badly on us as well, and our members
(05:04):
are quite frankly over it.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
What happens if he does step down at nine forty
five this morning, he's holding this press conference at nine
forty five this morning. If he does step down, Finny,
who steps into that role? Because the only thing that
I can see that's acceptable is that the chief Minister
does the chief minister.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
That'd be great. Even if she spoke to us. Since
she's been chief minister, I haven't heard from the Chief Minister.
So normally we'd say chief Minister, yep, you deserve the
police portfolio. She hasn't even reached out to us, Katie okay.
Ever since she's been taken over the role, have not
heard from her. All I hear from her is her
Minister's going, don't talk to Nathan. This is coming from
the cabinet room. You're serious This is what I get.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Don't they want why don't they want any ministers to
speak to you? You are the Police Association president who
represents the police.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Correct, because I'm constantly making sure they're held accountable for
their decisions, and that the decisions that affect our members
and members of this community each and every single day out.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
There sound pretty wild.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Wild because our members get hold of this certain standard
where everyone else can just go, yeah, let's just move on,
there's nothing to see here, okay. Our members are suffering
from this. Our members are, even the ones that aren't
even tied up to it. Just the comments that have
been made publicly about our membership. Our members have been
names have been put out there publicly in relation to
what's going on. They've got no say in this either,
(06:24):
But the rest of our membership are quite frustrated that
they're being poured into the same basket. We're not all
like that. There's no systemic racism in the Northern Churchy
Police Force. We've said that, okay, but it doesn't affect
that affects the rest of our membership that actually go
out there and do one hundred and ten percent every
single day. That's breaking them to the point where they're
absolutely spent. We need these guys to support us in
(06:48):
doing what we do well.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
We are all waiting to see exactly what happens right
in the next five to ten minutes, exactly what the
Minister for Police, Brent Potter, decides to do before I
let you go this morning, though, we spoke to the
Northern Territory Police Commissioner, Michael Murphy on the show yesterday.
We spoke to him about a raft of these different issues.
Not sure if you had the opportunity to hear that interview,
(07:11):
and you know, whether you feel as though it is
a good like whether you feel as though the Northern
Territory Police Force in terms of speaking about the thirty
percent those aims to have thirty percent of the police
force indigenous, and some of those different moves that the
Police Commissioner has announced or spoken about yesterday, whether you
think their moves in the right direction.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I'd love to be able to comment on Katy, but
actually we've been taken off the media release information being
sent out from the agency.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Again.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
I've contacted the Agency of Police Force about what they're
being sent out. We're not in receipt of this information,
so The first thing I got was a phone call
from one of my executive members last night to saying,
have you read this? You know about this? I don't
know anything about it, Katie. I do not cannot make
comment on it without obviously knowing what's in the actual
the correspondent's gone out to our members.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So you've been like iced out by the police and
the and the government.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
What's going on.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I'm waiting for the conspiracy theory against me, but no,
this often happens. We get left off broadcast, et cetera
from the agency, depending on who's controlling the mailing network, etc. Well,
I didn't receive it. We haven't been receiving it. We've
made notifications to the Commission and the Executive about being
included all the correspondents that goes out to our members,
so we're actually aware and we can actually represent our
(08:24):
members on those topics. But I haven't actually seen that one.
I was only informed of it last night and sent
a copy of it last night.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
All right, So we'll catch up with you another time
when you've had the opportunity to have a read through.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yes, Kadie, there's obviously a lot a lot of things
I'm reading at the moment. But our main thing is
let's just get give this government on track to do
what's best for this Northern Territory community and do what's
best for our police. So that's all I'm asking. I'm
not asking for any favors in relation to special treatment
for our police officer. Support us else. Who's going to
support you in the long run.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well, Nathan Finn, the Northern Territory Police Association President. I
always appreciate your time. Thanks very much for joining me
this morning.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Thank you, Katie. We what depending on what happens this morning,
we might be talking like tomorrow. Best to luck to
all those members out there and will continue to fight
for what you believe in and what respect we deserve
as police officers.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Finny, thank you, thanks so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Thank you,
Joining us seeing the studio right now.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
As the president of the Northern Territory Police Association, Nathan Finn,
good morning to.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
You, Good morning Katy, Good morning to listeners now Finny.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Obviously these social media posts are shared by the Northern
Territory Police Minister, Brent Potter. I think to say they're
raising eyebrows would be probably an understatement. Plenty of people
this morning questioning whether he can remain on in his
role as the police minister.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
What is your take on this situation, So.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Obviously there's a sentiment and within the police force as well,
especially I was only made aware of the obviously the
NT Independent article yesterday morning. In the additional article obviously
this morning as well. I've spoken to mister Potty yesterday
afternoon expressed the sentiment of our media release we've sent
out this morning in relation to this. Members contacted us
just with a discustment and year right disappointment and sure
(00:49):
especially around obviously when he's come out and said late
last week when there was information presented at as the
Coronial that he didn't accept racism any organization, especially one
that serves the front line to the community, and having
a crack at our guys for comments that were said,
well and truly back in a day and twenty five
years ago was one of the comments was made. Then
they're investigating. But our members are being subject to this
(01:11):
investigation and putting through basically asking why they still should
be a police officer for some of the comments that
they've said, not on a public forum, in a private.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Space, and so they're wondering then why they're facing this
kind of scrutiny.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
When he's not. I suppose you know.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
The other side of it though, is you know, no
matter who it is, racism shouldn't be tolerated, and comments
that are derogatory should not be tolerated in any way,
no matter where you're from.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
No, especially not. And if a police officer made these
comments prior to them joining the police force, and there
was an integrity test down in the background, they wouldn't
even be accepted for them.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So do you reckon, I mean, to the police to
become a police officer, are you under more scrutiny than
what you are to become a politician by the look
of things.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Well, the look of things, yes, our members, and that's
the biggest frustration of members have got and one of
the biggest frustration members is just own it, apologize for it. Okay,
we all make mistakes, okay, But the fact is, unless
you own it, unless you accept that this behavior is
not who you are or what you are. This has
gone on a long time ago. We understand that. But again,
there's some comments in there and there's supporting. It's not
(02:13):
just one, it's not two, it's not three, it's not four.
There's multiple platforms here that's been used. And his sentiment's
obviously clear that he is this way.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Finny, you've spoken to minister Potter. Have you spoken to
him yesterday? Are they spoke to yesterday?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
I made a number of calls to his office yesterday.
He didn't bring me back late yesterday afternoon, and discussed
obviously the center of our members, the sentiment that they're
being held to a different standard. They're being actually investigated
for comments that they made in a private forum compared
to stuff that's obviously overt and obviously out there in
the public public line as well.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Those offices should be investigated, though right that situation should
be investigated.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Guaranteed, guaranteed. We've all got roles here.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
But he should be as well.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Guaranteed. Yeah, guaranteed, Katie. And that's all we're saying. There's
an inconsistent here and the way they've been dealing with
it and how they're coming forward in dealing with this matter.
I believe this's obviously sent out a statement own it.
There's no time and members are frustrated.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
What are officers saying to you within the force upon
sort of learning some of this information and learning about
some of these posts.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
They're very frustrated. We've got we've got a crisis here
in a crime crisis in the Northern Territory in relation
to policing. We know police haven't got enough resources, and
members are frustrated the point of no possibility. They are
frustrated day and day out to do their role and
to have this argument keep going on and then keep
speculation about what the government's doing. Get on and do
your freaking roll. That's all we ask you to do.
(03:39):
Actually resourced their police force, Let them do it. Actually
we need to do instead, we're told in the scandal,
if it's not this week, it's a share one the
week before, or another share one the week before that.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
That's how I feel like, That's how a lot of
people are feeling at this point in time right, we're
just like we are limping along at the moment. I
feel like we're bouncing from one scan to the next scandal.
And people just want our politicians to get their bloody
jobs done. Like I just want them to step up
and do what they are being paid an enormous amount
(04:10):
of money to do. Stop mucking around. You know, these
kind of posts should not have ever gone up. But
make a decision. Is he staying in? Is he going
from this role? What's going on? I mean, Finny, do
you think he can stay on?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I don't believe so, Katie and members are quite frustrated
with it because it's the double stand that we're seeing,
and he obviously come out publicly last week and said,
I think we're always in trouble when you hear racism
or comments and derogatory because they have no place in
this organization or our department. Where he's telling us that
hang on, I'll just tell you what to do. And
we had a bit of a laugh around yesterday in
the office about it. That's the pot it's the potter
(04:43):
call and the kettle black. It's unfortunately, it's it's an
absolute disgrace for this to be brought into it, and
our members are quite rightly frustrated. And I don't accept
racism in any organization, especially one that serves our front
line of community. Hang on, you serve our frontline community.
You're actually representative of our organization as well to the Parliament. See,
you're reflecting badly on us as well, and our members
(05:04):
are quite frankly over it.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
What happens if he does step down at nine forty
five this morning, he's holding this press conference at nine
forty five this morning. If he does step down, Finny,
who steps into that role? Because the only thing that
I can see that's acceptable is that the chief Minister
does the chief minister.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
That'd be great. Even if she spoke to us. Since
she's been chief minister, I haven't heard from the Chief Minister.
So normally we'd say chief Minister, yep, you deserve the
police portfolio. She hasn't even reached out to us, Katie okay.
Ever since she's been taken over the role, have not
heard from her. All I hear from her is her
Minister's going, don't talk to Nathan. This is coming from
the cabinet room. You're serious This is what I get.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Don't they want why don't they want any ministers to
speak to you? You are the Police Association president who
represents the police.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Correct, because I'm constantly making sure they're held accountable for
their decisions, and that the decisions that affect our members
and members of this community each and every single day out.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
There sound pretty wild.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Wild because our members get hold of this certain standard
where everyone else can just go, yeah, let's just move on,
there's nothing to see here, okay. Our members are suffering
from this. Our members are, even the ones that aren't
even tied up to it. Just the comments that have
been made publicly about our membership. Our members have been
names have been put out there publicly in relation to
what's going on. They've got no say in this either,
(06:24):
But the rest of our membership are quite frustrated that
they're being poured into the same basket. We're not all
like that. There's no systemic racism in the Northern Churchy
Police Force. We've said that, okay, but it doesn't affect
that affects the rest of our membership that actually go
out there and do one hundred and ten percent every
single day. That's breaking them to the point where they're
absolutely spent. We need these guys to support us in
(06:48):
doing what we do well.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
We are all waiting to see exactly what happens right
in the next five to ten minutes, exactly what the
Minister for Police, Brent Potter, decides to do before I
let you go this morning, though, we spoke to the
Northern Territory Police Commissioner, Michael Murphy on the show yesterday.
We spoke to him about a raft of these different issues.
Not sure if you had the opportunity to hear that interview,
(07:11):
and you know, whether you feel as though it is
a good like whether you feel as though the Northern
Territory Police Force in terms of speaking about the thirty
percent those aims to have thirty percent of the police
force indigenous, and some of those different moves that the
Police Commissioner has announced or spoken about yesterday, whether you
think their moves in the right direction.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I'd love to be able to comment on Katy, but
actually we've been taken off the media release information being
sent out from the agency.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Again.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
I've contacted the Agency of Police Force about what they're
being sent out. We're not in receipt of this information,
so The first thing I got was a phone call
from one of my executive members last night to saying,
have you read this? You know about this? I don't
know anything about it, Katie. I do not cannot make
comment on it without obviously knowing what's in the actual
the correspondent's gone out to our members.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So you've been like iced out by the police and
the and the government.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
What's going on.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I'm waiting for the conspiracy theory against me, but no,
this often happens. We get left off broadcast, et cetera
from the agency, depending on who's controlling the mailing network, etc. Well,
I didn't receive it. We haven't been receiving it. We've
made notifications to the Commission and the Executive about being
included all the correspondents that goes out to our members,
so we're actually aware and we can actually represent our
(08:24):
members on those topics. But I haven't actually seen that one.
I was only informed of it last night and sent
a copy of it last night.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
All right, So we'll catch up with you another time
when you've had the opportunity to have a read through.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yes, Kadie, there's obviously a lot a lot of things
I'm reading at the moment. But our main thing is
let's just get give this government on track to do
what's best for this Northern Territory community and do what's
best for our police. So that's all I'm asking. I'm
not asking for any favors in relation to special treatment
for our police officer. Support us else. Who's going to
support you in the long run.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well, Nathan Finn, the Northern Territory Police Association President. I
always appreciate your time. Thanks very much for joining me
this morning.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Thank you, Katie. We what depending on what happens this morning,
we might be talking like tomorrow. Best to luck to
all those members out there and will continue to fight
for what you believe in and what respect we deserve
as police officers.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Finny, thank you, thanks so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Thank you,
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