Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's get into it because as we know, as I
mentioned just a short time ago, the COLP claims that
Labour's promise that there would be coverage on bottle shops
while the police auxiliary liquor inspectors transition to constables, they
say has been exposed as a lie. The opposition leader
Lea Fanocchiaro joins me on the line.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good morning Leah, Good morning Katie and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Leah, how has this been exposed as a lie?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well, we know that Brent Potter, the disgraced police minister,
said about two weeks ago when announcing this that he
said we will have coverage on all our bottle shops
and he promised it that while the palis were up
and down getting training, there would be licensing inspectors and
other people filling those roles. But of course we've heard
very clearly from supermarket operators and bottle shop operators in
(00:50):
our springs and across Catherine as well, that there has
not been coverage, that there aren't licensing inspectors back filling
the role of the palis. Stand out the bottle shops
for those in Darwin who might not be familiar with
what they do again letting this community down. And I
have a serious concern. If Brent Portter only announced this
(01:11):
two weeks ago, but Palis have already left for Darwin,
it means he'd been planning this for some time because
people can't just pack up their families and go in
a two week time frame, which means he hasn't done
the work that's required to put those transitional plans in
place for licensing inspectors and even Labour Zone member Filingiari
(01:33):
came out swinging against Territory Labor yesterday saying that they
police need to be put back on bottle shops immediately
and they shouldn't have done this plan if they didn't
have an alternative plan in place.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
So Lea, are you saying that right now?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
In Alice Springs and Catherine, we don't have Palis and
we don't have liquor inspectors on those bottle shops.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah, there's not full coverage.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
So there's still around?
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Sorry, is there still a few around?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah? So in in Alice Springs we're hearing that there's
a couple around or whether it's Palis who don't want
to transition to Constable or whether it's Constables back filling Palis.
I'm not one hundred percent sure, but certainly this idea
that there would be mass licensing inspectors out and about
filling those gaps is not the case. And I'm led
to believe that there's only two or three licensing inspectors
(02:21):
in Alice Springs anyway, I'm not sure how many. And Catherine,
so this is making the community very concerned. Of course,
in twenty sixteen, labor promise they wouldn't scrap police on
bottle shops, and then they did in twenty seventeen, and
so now again we've got this fake promise from the
disgraced police minister saying no, no, don't worry, we're not
getting rid of Pali's. But of course, you know, once
(02:43):
bitten twice, shy people are very concerned.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I mean, are we in a situation here though where
we have like, have we seen much change in terms
of people trying to access those bottle shops to try
and get in there without knowing or well knowing that
there's no Palis here. Or are you concerned that it
could potentially really start to heat up.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
No, it's already it's already heating up. Katie. We had
There was a gentleman who owns one of the bottle
shops in supermarkets yesterday and he was saying that it
was basically exactly that it felt the same as when
stronger futures ended sixty people out the front of his shop,
forty people in his shop. Wow, total chaos. Had to
(03:24):
shut early. So things are really bad. And for a
town that's already suffering a tremendous pain and suffering over
just out of control crime and violence, to add this
on top, it's disgraceful. I mean, this government can't deliver,
it says well being, it doesn't deliver on its actions
and it look.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
We'll see what we can find out about this. We'll
see if we can.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
We can also chat to somebody that's on the ground
to find out a bit more. But Leah, will you
commit to having those palis on bottle shops if you're
elected in August, Katie.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Palis are a very important resource and we want to
strengthen our police force and our palies, not take it
away like labor has done. So we need so if they.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Do want to transition, what happens if they are keen
to transition to constables?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
I mean, are you going to hold them back.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
No, absolutely not. Of course, it's important that if people
want to progress their careers that they're empowered to do so.
I mean that's a fundamental belief of the CLP for
people to you know, have that self empowerment. So we
of course support the PALI transition. But you know, Labor
haven't come out and explained whether or not they're continuing
to run PALID courses and recruit for palies. And that's
(04:38):
in stark contrast to the CLP, who will make sure
that there are PALI courses running, that people understand the
importance and the pride that comes with that important job,
and then that there are pathways forward. But we must
have police on bottle shops in our regions. It's something
we believe strongly in and it's something that we absolutely
(04:58):
commit to going into this election.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Lia some people listening this morning, though, we'll be thinking,
isn't it something or isn't it a situation where where
those outlets should actually be paying for security themselves rather
than the taxpayer paying to have police on those bottle shops.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And I do understand that argument, and in some cases
people actually do have security as well. But Ultimately, we
have not had a measure in dealing with alcohol as
effective as police on bottle shops and that can be
really difficult for people in the top end to understand
because we don't we haven't had that same policy. But
you only need to speak to someone in our regions
(05:37):
who will tell you that it makes a profound difference
and so we support you know, there's sometimes got to
be different measures depending on where you are in the
territory and the colp he is loud and clear that
people in the regents want their police on.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Bottle shop lea let's move along, Braitling MLA. Joshua Burgoyne
appeared in the Darwin Local Court yesterday to plead guilty
to one count of careless driving after smashing his land
Cruiser into a sixty six year old woman's dut on
the Stuart Highway on August twenty six. No conviction has
been recorded and he has been ordered, as I understand it,
(06:13):
to pay a fine of sixteen hundred and fifty dollars
having pled guilty to that careless driving charge. Is this
the end of this situation as far as you're concerned.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Yeah, it is, Katie, And of course Josh walked out
of court yesterday and spoke to the media, took questions
and paid his fine before he left the court. Might
I add so and sad I think him and his
family will be glad obviously that this is now resolved.
He's very regretful, of course, that this has happened, and
no one wants to ever be in air traffic accident.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
There comments made, though there were comments made yesterday Bye Josh.
You know, he was quite curious as to how the
police Minister, Brent Potter had made commentary around.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
This whole situation.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
He said, if I'm correct, and please feel free to
correct me if I'm wrong. But he had said that
you know that this was leaked to the media before
it even had the opportunity to speak to his wife
following a discussion with the police.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Well, well that's right, and so at the time Brent
Potter came out, the police minister came out and spoke
about this matter before Josh had even been charged. He
didn't even know the charge or the facts that were
being alleged against him at the time. When the police
minister is out brazenly doing media, tell me.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
You're not suggesting that the police leaked that information to
the police minister.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I don't know what's gone on, Katie, but certainly the
police minister has got questions to answer because he was
very happy to front media on that Friday and you know,
engage in sledging against Josh Bergo and seemingly knowing more
than when anyone else did. And again it's not the
first or the last time he's done this. We saw
him ahead of some crimes last a week or the
(08:03):
week before where he was then telling the judges how
they should be delivering their judgments. And so you know,
this is a person who's been widely.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
No no, Well when he spoke when he spoke about
those judges comments on the show with us or when
he spoke about that, he was talking about the fact
that he believed that the judges have the different options
there to be able to sentence people, and that he
feels as though they should be sentencing them appropriately. I think,
to paraphrase, is more what he was talking about, not
(08:34):
actual crimes.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Well, I think if we went back and looked at
the transcripts, it might be a little more pointed than that, Katie.
But irrespective, I mean, I think Josh was right to
raise questions about the Police Minister and the fact that she's.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Guess what I'm asking though, I guess what I'm asking
of you is are you suggesting that the Police Minister
is using confidential information for his own political benefit?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Well, he may very well have, Katie, And these are
answer These are questions that the it's.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
A it's a big claim to make. I guess that's
what I'm asking. It's a big claim to make.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Well, Katie, he was out doing media before Josh even
knew what he was being charged with. So your listeners
can make up their own mind about that, Katie. I
think it just it speaks for itself.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
All right.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
I do want to ask there had been a suggestion
that Josh was trying to avoid parliament today as he's
not going to attend. But he's actually not attending because
he's got to go to a funeral.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (09:32):
That's right, and he let government know about that a
few days ago. His best friend's sister has been battling
a long term illness and unfortunately lost her battle. So
he won't be in parliament just for today. He'll absolutely
be in parliament tomorrow and all of the rest of
the We've got a two week sitting. So I think
most people can understand that some time to time, those
(09:53):
very personal events happen in our lives and that takes
you out of Parliament. It's a big call to make.
Of course you want to be there representing your community,
but equally, you know when tragedy strikes, it can't be helped.
And so we fully support Josh to not be in
Parliament just for today and he'll be back on deck tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Leah, this crime series over the weekend, there was a
lot that went on. It was a horrendous situation over
the course of the weekend. Now we spoke extensively to
the Chief Minister about this yesterday. She says that if
the colp thinks that there is a quick fix or
quick fixes, well, to paraphrase that you're being disingenuous, are you?
(10:34):
I mean, is there a quick fix to what we're
experiencing right now? We're all hoping there is, but is.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
There Well, under Labor, I can assure your listeners that
there are no quick or long term fixes, Katie, because
they've been in government for nineteen of the last twenty
three years.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We're at a situation now Liiah, where a lot of
people are feeling really very disengaged by what the government's
got to say, but they're wanting to know from you
what you are going to do. It's an alternative, Chief
Minister come August. So what would you do that would
be a quick fix to what feels like a never
ending crisis?
Speaker 2 (11:10):
It is and it's just escalating, Katie, and it's not
good enough, and there are things that can be done.
So Eva Laula's got her new slogan, it's on all
her shiny new ads saying that anyone who tells you
there's a quick fix, it's not true. And this is
just a way for them to cover up the fact
that they don't have short or long term plans. And
she admitted herself, we're walking into Parliament for two weeks
(11:31):
and they don't have any legislation to make our community safer.
So the COLP does have plans that we can implement
immediately if elected in August that will make people safe.
So for example, we've got laws ready to go on
strengthening bail. That means, you know, a lot of these
crimes that you and your listeners are talking about, Katie,
are people who are out on bail at the time
(11:53):
that they're reoffending. And so we've got laws ready to
go that we could implement this year. Literally at the
end of this year, Katie, if we win within it
less than a day, we can get this done in Parliament.
Around strengthening bowls so that people aren't continuously getting endless
second chances and back out on the street, we can
lower the age of criminal responsibility so that young people
(12:16):
are able to be dealt with by our police, because
currently our police's hands are tied and we heard Martin Dole,
the Assistant Commissioner, talk about that on your show just
a couple of weeks ago. So that is a fact
that our police are constrained by the law, and it
is a fact that the colp can walk into Parliament
if elected in August and fix that. So we've got
many plans around bail, around lowering the age, around a
(12:41):
parental accountability and ensuring that we are putting the rights
of people to be safe above the rights of criminals
to be destroying people's line.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Lea, is there a way right now, like with these
the laws that you're talking on in terms of strengthening bail.
I know that you're not in government now. I totally
get that, but is there a way right now that
something could be introduced to the Parliament this week on
you know, from you, from the colp, from the opposition,
(13:12):
to try and see some change with this.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
We have done that so many times, Katie and Labor
have voted us down every single time. So we've brought
about four pieces of legislation to Parliament every year this
term and every single one has been voted down. And
that's why our laws are ready to go because we've
actually done the work, We've listened to the community, we've
(13:35):
done the work. We've brought the laws to Parliament, we've
brought them forwards for debate and Labor have voted against them.
And this is so important for territories to understand that
Labor does not want to make the territory safer. Labor
has shown through its actions in voting down laws that
will empower police and make our community safe, that they're
(13:56):
not willing to deal with these issues. They don't believe
in boot camps, they don't believe in tougher consequences, otherwise
they would have done it. These lies, they're telling people
that there's nothing quick and that they're doing everything is
just an excuse for their failure to deliver and their
failure to act Leah.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
The Member for Blaine, Mark Turner, joined us on the
show yesterday. He wants to introduce a private member's bill
relating to child neglect and essentially meaning that if children
are out roaming the streets at night, that police are
able to charge their parents with neglect. Is that something
the celpiece going to support or allowed to be introduced
into Parliament?
Speaker 2 (14:35):
So we're having a briefing with the members for Blaine.
I think it's tomorrow morning to get some greater detail.
I've taken a bit of a look at that legislation
and ultimately, again it's got no chance of getting up
because Labor will not support it. They will vote it down,
and I just want to make sure that it is
fit for it will deliver what it is intended to deliver.
(14:57):
There's some provisions in there that I think might go
too far or be too broad, and it's certainly a
very punitive approach. But equally, the CLP is one hundred
percent committed to stronger consequences and protecting young people, and
so we've got to make sure there is that early
intervention in people's lives, that kids are going to school,
(15:19):
that parents are held accountable, that we have healthy families,
and so that's that's a core component of a future
CLP government. So we're very open to what he's proposing,
but we want to be across the detail. But ultimately,
even if it was a magical solution, labor wouldn't support it,
So you know, instead we're debating other things that aren't
(15:41):
really going to change people.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Well, just on that, because we're very fast, running out
of time, but just on that. There is going to
be some changes as I understand it, to the legislation
around the Children's Commissioner. Talk us through that very quickly,
if you can, Leah, and whether the CLP is supporting us.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Basic this government is so out of touch that instead
of dealing with crime, it's brought legislation in that says
the Children's commission Commissioner must be an aboriginal person. Now
we reject that. We say that it should be the
best person for the job to protect young people and
it shouldn't be race based. But this is a government that,
instead of focusing on rebuilding our economy or reducing crime,
(16:21):
is focused on these types of frivolous exercises that don't
make our lives better. And again it just shows them
reinforces how out of touch they are. They can't deliver,
they won't deliver, they haven't delivered.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Leah, just very quickly, the Prime Minister today expected to
make a massive announcement four billion dollars for remote housing.
How big an impact is that going to make?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Well, I think the question is how big a hit
to the budget is that going to make for territorians
Because there's been talk this morning about it being co funded.
So is the territory now up for a two billion
dollar investment that no one knows about. So we're looking
very closely at the detail. Because of course it's fantastic.
We need more housing. I've got there's no doubt about that, Katie.
(17:08):
It's got to be done. But I think they're being
a little bit tricky about who's actually footing the bill here.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Lea Finocchio, Opposition leader. Always appreciate your time, particularly on
a sitting day.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
No doubt, we'll talk to you again very soon.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Thank you. Take care of me.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Thank you,
Let's get into it because as we know, as I
mentioned just a short time ago, the COLP claims that
Labour's promise that there would be coverage on bottle shops
while the police auxiliary liquor inspectors transition to constables, they
say has been exposed as a lie. The opposition leader
Lea Fanocchiaro joins me on the line.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good morning Leah, Good morning Katie and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Leah, how has this been exposed as a lie?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well, we know that Brent Potter, the disgraced police minister,
said about two weeks ago when announcing this that he
said we will have coverage on all our bottle shops
and he promised it that while the palis were up
and down getting training, there would be licensing inspectors and
other people filling those roles. But of course we've heard
very clearly from supermarket operators and bottle shop operators in
(00:50):
our springs and across Catherine as well, that there has
not been coverage, that there aren't licensing inspectors back filling
the role of the palis. Stand out the bottle shops
for those in Darwin who might not be familiar with
what they do again letting this community down. And I
have a serious concern. If Brent Portter only announced this
(01:11):
two weeks ago, but Palis have already left for Darwin,
it means he'd been planning this for some time because
people can't just pack up their families and go in
a two week time frame, which means he hasn't done
the work that's required to put those transitional plans in
place for licensing inspectors and even Labour Zone member Filingiari
(01:33):
came out swinging against Territory Labor yesterday saying that they
police need to be put back on bottle shops immediately
and they shouldn't have done this plan if they didn't
have an alternative plan in place.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
So Lea, are you saying that right now?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
In Alice Springs and Catherine, we don't have Palis and
we don't have liquor inspectors on those bottle shops.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah, there's not full coverage.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
So there's still around?
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Sorry, is there still a few around?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah? So in in Alice Springs we're hearing that there's
a couple around or whether it's Palis who don't want
to transition to Constable or whether it's Constables back filling Palis.
I'm not one hundred percent sure, but certainly this idea
that there would be mass licensing inspectors out and about
filling those gaps is not the case. And I'm led
to believe that there's only two or three licensing inspectors
(02:21):
in Alice Springs anyway, I'm not sure how many. And Catherine,
so this is making the community very concerned. Of course,
in twenty sixteen, labor promise they wouldn't scrap police on
bottle shops, and then they did in twenty seventeen, and
so now again we've got this fake promise from the
disgraced police minister saying no, no, don't worry, we're not
getting rid of Pali's. But of course, you know, once
(02:43):
bitten twice, shy people are very concerned.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I mean, are we in a situation here though where
we have like, have we seen much change in terms
of people trying to access those bottle shops to try
and get in there without knowing or well knowing that
there's no Palis here. Or are you concerned that it
could potentially really start to heat up.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
No, it's already it's already heating up. Katie. We had
There was a gentleman who owns one of the bottle
shops in supermarkets yesterday and he was saying that it
was basically exactly that it felt the same as when
stronger futures ended sixty people out the front of his shop,
forty people in his shop. Wow, total chaos. Had to
(03:24):
shut early. So things are really bad. And for a
town that's already suffering a tremendous pain and suffering over
just out of control crime and violence, to add this
on top, it's disgraceful. I mean, this government can't deliver,
it says well being, it doesn't deliver on its actions
and it look.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
We'll see what we can find out about this. We'll
see if we can.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
We can also chat to somebody that's on the ground
to find out a bit more. But Leah, will you
commit to having those palis on bottle shops if you're
elected in August, Katie.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Palis are a very important resource and we want to
strengthen our police force and our palies, not take it
away like labor has done. So we need so if they.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Do want to transition, what happens if they are keen
to transition to constables?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
I mean, are you going to hold them back.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
No, absolutely not. Of course, it's important that if people
want to progress their careers that they're empowered to do so.
I mean that's a fundamental belief of the CLP for
people to you know, have that self empowerment. So we
of course support the PALI transition. But you know, Labor
haven't come out and explained whether or not they're continuing
to run PALID courses and recruit for palies. And that's
(04:38):
in stark contrast to the CLP, who will make sure
that there are PALI courses running, that people understand the
importance and the pride that comes with that important job,
and then that there are pathways forward. But we must
have police on bottle shops in our regions. It's something
we believe strongly in and it's something that we absolutely
(04:58):
commit to going into this election.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Lia some people listening this morning, though, we'll be thinking,
isn't it something or isn't it a situation where where
those outlets should actually be paying for security themselves rather
than the taxpayer paying to have police on those bottle shops.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And I do understand that argument, and in some cases
people actually do have security as well. But Ultimately, we
have not had a measure in dealing with alcohol as
effective as police on bottle shops and that can be
really difficult for people in the top end to understand
because we don't we haven't had that same policy. But
you only need to speak to someone in our regions
(05:37):
who will tell you that it makes a profound difference
and so we support you know, there's sometimes got to
be different measures depending on where you are in the
territory and the colp he is loud and clear that
people in the regents want their police on.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Bottle shop lea let's move along, Braitling MLA. Joshua Burgoyne
appeared in the Darwin Local Court yesterday to plead guilty
to one count of careless driving after smashing his land
Cruiser into a sixty six year old woman's dut on
the Stuart Highway on August twenty six. No conviction has
been recorded and he has been ordered, as I understand it,
(06:13):
to pay a fine of sixteen hundred and fifty dollars
having pled guilty to that careless driving charge. Is this
the end of this situation as far as you're concerned.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Yeah, it is, Katie, And of course Josh walked out
of court yesterday and spoke to the media, took questions
and paid his fine before he left the court. Might
I add so and sad I think him and his
family will be glad obviously that this is now resolved.
He's very regretful, of course, that this has happened, and
no one wants to ever be in air traffic accident.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
There comments made, though there were comments made yesterday Bye Josh.
You know, he was quite curious as to how the
police Minister, Brent Potter had made commentary around.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
This whole situation.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
He said, if I'm correct, and please feel free to
correct me if I'm wrong. But he had said that
you know that this was leaked to the media before
it even had the opportunity to speak to his wife
following a discussion with the police.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Well, well that's right, and so at the time Brent
Potter came out, the police minister came out and spoke
about this matter before Josh had even been charged. He
didn't even know the charge or the facts that were
being alleged against him at the time. When the police
minister is out brazenly doing media, tell me.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
You're not suggesting that the police leaked that information to
the police minister.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I don't know what's gone on, Katie, but certainly the
police minister has got questions to answer because he was
very happy to front media on that Friday and you know,
engage in sledging against Josh Bergo and seemingly knowing more
than when anyone else did. And again it's not the
first or the last time he's done this. We saw
him ahead of some crimes last a week or the
(08:03):
week before where he was then telling the judges how
they should be delivering their judgments. And so you know,
this is a person who's been widely.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
No no, Well when he spoke when he spoke about
those judges comments on the show with us or when
he spoke about that, he was talking about the fact
that he believed that the judges have the different options
there to be able to sentence people, and that he
feels as though they should be sentencing them appropriately. I think,
to paraphrase, is more what he was talking about, not
(08:34):
actual crimes.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Well, I think if we went back and looked at
the transcripts, it might be a little more pointed than that, Katie.
But irrespective, I mean, I think Josh was right to
raise questions about the Police Minister and the fact that she's.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Guess what I'm asking though, I guess what I'm asking
of you is are you suggesting that the Police Minister
is using confidential information for his own political benefit?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Well, he may very well have, Katie, And these are
answer These are questions that the it's.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
A it's a big claim to make. I guess that's
what I'm asking. It's a big claim to make.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Well, Katie, he was out doing media before Josh even
knew what he was being charged with. So your listeners
can make up their own mind about that, Katie. I
think it just it speaks for itself.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
All right.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
I do want to ask there had been a suggestion
that Josh was trying to avoid parliament today as he's
not going to attend. But he's actually not attending because
he's got to go to a funeral.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (09:32):
That's right, and he let government know about that a
few days ago. His best friend's sister has been battling
a long term illness and unfortunately lost her battle. So
he won't be in parliament just for today. He'll absolutely
be in parliament tomorrow and all of the rest of
the We've got a two week sitting. So I think
most people can understand that some time to time, those
(09:53):
very personal events happen in our lives and that takes
you out of Parliament. It's a big call to make.
Of course you want to be there representing your community,
but equally, you know when tragedy strikes, it can't be helped.
And so we fully support Josh to not be in
Parliament just for today and he'll be back on deck tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Leah, this crime series over the weekend, there was a
lot that went on. It was a horrendous situation over
the course of the weekend. Now we spoke extensively to
the Chief Minister about this yesterday. She says that if
the colp thinks that there is a quick fix or
quick fixes, well, to paraphrase that you're being disingenuous, are you?
(10:34):
I mean, is there a quick fix to what we're
experiencing right now? We're all hoping there is, but is.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
There Well, under Labor, I can assure your listeners that
there are no quick or long term fixes, Katie, because
they've been in government for nineteen of the last twenty
three years.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We're at a situation now Liiah, where a lot of
people are feeling really very disengaged by what the government's
got to say, but they're wanting to know from you
what you are going to do. It's an alternative, Chief
Minister come August. So what would you do that would
be a quick fix to what feels like a never
ending crisis?
Speaker 2 (11:10):
It is and it's just escalating, Katie, and it's not
good enough, and there are things that can be done.
So Eva Laula's got her new slogan, it's on all
her shiny new ads saying that anyone who tells you
there's a quick fix, it's not true. And this is
just a way for them to cover up the fact
that they don't have short or long term plans. And
she admitted herself, we're walking into Parliament for two weeks
(11:31):
and they don't have any legislation to make our community safer.
So the COLP does have plans that we can implement
immediately if elected in August that will make people safe.
So for example, we've got laws ready to go on
strengthening bail. That means, you know, a lot of these
crimes that you and your listeners are talking about, Katie,
are people who are out on bail at the time
(11:53):
that they're reoffending. And so we've got laws ready to
go that we could implement this year. Literally at the
end of this year, Katie, if we win within it
less than a day, we can get this done in Parliament.
Around strengthening bowls so that people aren't continuously getting endless
second chances and back out on the street, we can
lower the age of criminal responsibility so that young people
(12:16):
are able to be dealt with by our police, because
currently our police's hands are tied and we heard Martin Dole,
the Assistant Commissioner, talk about that on your show just
a couple of weeks ago. So that is a fact
that our police are constrained by the law, and it
is a fact that the colp can walk into Parliament
if elected in August and fix that. So we've got
many plans around bail, around lowering the age, around a
(12:41):
parental accountability and ensuring that we are putting the rights
of people to be safe above the rights of criminals
to be destroying people's line.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Lea, is there a way right now, like with these
the laws that you're talking on in terms of strengthening bail.
I know that you're not in government now. I totally
get that, but is there a way right now that
something could be introduced to the Parliament this week on
you know, from you, from the colp, from the opposition,
(13:12):
to try and see some change with this.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
We have done that so many times, Katie and Labor
have voted us down every single time. So we've brought
about four pieces of legislation to Parliament every year this
term and every single one has been voted down. And
that's why our laws are ready to go because we've
actually done the work, We've listened to the community, we've
(13:35):
done the work. We've brought the laws to Parliament, we've
brought them forwards for debate and Labor have voted against them.
And this is so important for territories to understand that
Labor does not want to make the territory safer. Labor
has shown through its actions in voting down laws that
will empower police and make our community safe, that they're
(13:56):
not willing to deal with these issues. They don't believe
in boot camps, they don't believe in tougher consequences, otherwise
they would have done it. These lies, they're telling people
that there's nothing quick and that they're doing everything is
just an excuse for their failure to deliver and their
failure to act Leah.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
The Member for Blaine, Mark Turner, joined us on the
show yesterday. He wants to introduce a private member's bill
relating to child neglect and essentially meaning that if children
are out roaming the streets at night, that police are
able to charge their parents with neglect. Is that something
the celpiece going to support or allowed to be introduced
into Parliament?
Speaker 2 (14:35):
So we're having a briefing with the members for Blaine.
I think it's tomorrow morning to get some greater detail.
I've taken a bit of a look at that legislation
and ultimately, again it's got no chance of getting up
because Labor will not support it. They will vote it down,
and I just want to make sure that it is
fit for it will deliver what it is intended to deliver.
(14:57):
There's some provisions in there that I think might go
too far or be too broad, and it's certainly a
very punitive approach. But equally, the CLP is one hundred
percent committed to stronger consequences and protecting young people, and
so we've got to make sure there is that early
intervention in people's lives, that kids are going to school,
(15:19):
that parents are held accountable, that we have healthy families,
and so that's that's a core component of a future
CLP government. So we're very open to what he's proposing,
but we want to be across the detail. But ultimately,
even if it was a magical solution, labor wouldn't support it,
So you know, instead we're debating other things that aren't
(15:41):
really going to change people.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Well, just on that, because we're very fast, running out
of time, but just on that. There is going to
be some changes as I understand it, to the legislation
around the Children's Commissioner. Talk us through that very quickly,
if you can, Leah, and whether the CLP is supporting us.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Basic this government is so out of touch that instead
of dealing with crime, it's brought legislation in that says
the Children's commission Commissioner must be an aboriginal person. Now
we reject that. We say that it should be the
best person for the job to protect young people and
it shouldn't be race based. But this is a government that,
instead of focusing on rebuilding our economy or reducing crime,
(16:21):
is focused on these types of frivolous exercises that don't
make our lives better. And again it just shows them
reinforces how out of touch they are. They can't deliver,
they won't deliver, they haven't delivered.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Leah, just very quickly, the Prime Minister today expected to
make a massive announcement four billion dollars for remote housing.
How big an impact is that going to make?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Well, I think the question is how big a hit
to the budget is that going to make for territorians
Because there's been talk this morning about it being co funded.
So is the territory now up for a two billion
dollar investment that no one knows about. So we're looking
very closely at the detail. Because of course it's fantastic.
We need more housing. I've got there's no doubt about that, Katie.
(17:08):
It's got to be done. But I think they're being
a little bit tricky about who's actually footing the bill here.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Lea Finocchio, Opposition leader. Always appreciate your time, particularly on
a sitting day.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
No doubt, we'll talk to you again very soon.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Thank you. Take care of me.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Thank you,
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