Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Earlier in the week we learned the curfew in Alice
Springs is going to be extended until next Tuesday. The
Chief Minister in Alice today, as I understand, and told
us on the show yesterday that its plans would tomorrow
be announced for the longer term future of the town.
Now she's asked the police and departments what can be
done to keep the effect of the curfew without needing
(00:22):
the curfew, also acknowledging the massive impact that the increased
level of police has had in Alice Springs. Now joining
me on the line is the Independent Member for Ara
lun Robin Lambley. Good morning to you, Robin.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Robin. Will you please that that curfew was extended earlier
in the week.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I was enormously relieved, as were most residents of Alice Springs.
That has made a significant difference, and people I think
are just comforted by the fact that we've got a
measly extra six days. I mean, that's where we've come to, Katie. Yeah,
day that it's extends is a blessing. And given that
(01:03):
Alice Springs has pretty much been ignored by this government
for years, you know, that's the position we've come to
where we just have to get down on our hands
and knees and beg and be thankful.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Robin, what paint a picture for us in Alice Springs
right now? What is it like at the moment compared
to what it has been like, you know, for the
last number of years, but particularly the last year or so.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, we did a run around of the bottle shops
yesterday afternoon just to check that the police were standing
outside and monitoring people coming in. And what we noticed
yesterday afternoon is that it's much quieter. There's there's fewer
people in town demanding grog compared to what was even
the case a few weeks ago. There's a definite reduction
(01:53):
in the number of kids on the streets after six
pm in the CBD. But ready we're hearing of incidences
outside the curfew zone. So look like all these things, Katie,
they have to be constantly monitored and tweaked, because whatever
you put in place, it's not long before people get
(02:14):
around it. Yeah, and I think that, you know, if
we have unlimited resources, we should have put the curfew
across the whole of the town. It's not unreasonable that
all kids are off the street at night and maybe
put it back to about eight or nine pm instead
of six pm. That's a bit too early, I think,
But look, it's been a great start and we, as
(02:36):
I said, we're thankful that it's extended.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Robin the Chief Minister, said to me on the show
yesterday that she's asked the police and the departments what
can be done to keep the effect of the curfew
without actually needing the curfew. Do you think that's possible?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
No, No, I think she's made a rod for own back,
which is interesting. I mean, against the personal ideological positions
most of her colleagues in labor who rejected a curfew forever.
She's made a courageous decision. But now we have experienced
what a curfew is like, the peace and safety that
(03:14):
comes with a curfew, I think it will be almost
impossible for the police to provide us that level of
security that we've seen over the last couple of weeks.
It's going to be a real challenge. And on top
of that, you've got the fact that we don't have
enough police. You've got ten South Australian coppers arriving yesterday
to do something or other. I'm not sure exactly what
(03:35):
they're going to be doing. Another those ten leaving and
another ten coming in a week's time, and then ma
finnesses two in two weeks time. So look, it's policy
on the run, it's crisis intervention. I get it. But
I really get the impression that Eva Laula is trying.
(03:56):
Unlike her predecessors, she is absolutely giving a go, but
it's almost like it is too late with all these
other factors coming into play, the lack of staffing across
all areas, all agencies in the public service. I mean,
you can't even get a gardener in Alice Springs, let
alone a team of coppers to keep us safely. It's
(04:21):
really bad, Katie. I'm not sure if it's the same
up in Darwin, but we were really feeling it. You
just can't get workers to do anything.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Robin, tell me in terms of those South Australian Police arriving,
have you seen them out on the beat do you know?
I mean you sort of alluded to them that you're
not really sure what they are doing. Have you seen
them out and about?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
No? No, And I've asked her. I just asked around
this morning, and no one that I spoke to has
ithers but then arrived. It would have been yesterday around
midday and they have to be sworn in I think
as Northern Territory Police, So there's some sort of official
process that has to occur before they can act under
our legislation. So maybe by this afternoon they might be
(05:05):
up and running. Yeah something, Well let us know again,
we don't know, Katie. Yeah, every day is a new story.
You know. We've got enough coppers. No, we haven't got
enough coppers. We're getting two hundred more, We're getting more
from South Australia. We're getting a curfew. We can't tell
you if it's going to be extended. Oh, yes, it
will be extended to six days. What happens after six days?
(05:27):
Who knows. I mean, it's just it really is like
a merry go round now.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
In terms of the police on the bottle shops, we
had heard My understanding was that Brent Potter had said
to the ABC yesterday that there was going to be
palis on the bottle shops. Then we'd also read a
letter that went out from the Northern Territory Police to
licensees of takeaway out let's saying that the palie wouldn't
continue after yesterday. We're of the understanding that there's sort
(05:55):
of a roving schedule of the police. What's the understanding
of the people in our when it comes to police
outside bottle shops.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Well, once again, no one's got any idea. I mean,
it changes every day. As you said, I saw that
letter that was sent out last week informing the smaller
bottle shops that they wouldn't have coverage, that it would
be with that roving police unit that would cover the
five smaller bottle shops, and I behole yesterday were told
(06:27):
oh no, no, they will be covered, and we went out.
As I said earlier, we went out and checked out
the bottle shops and they all had police outside of
them yesterday afternoon. So who would know, Katie. Every day, Literally,
I'm not exaggerating, every day is a news story. I
really don't think that they know themselves. What is going
(06:48):
to happen going forward twenty four hours in advance, let
alone weeks and months. It is. It is a moving feast.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
To put it mildly, I suppose, and look, I get
it to some degree. I do understand that they're having
to be really kind of agile. They're having to try
different things. I understand that they must be trying to
juggle things that I appreciate. I really do that the
Chief Minister is giving it a red hot go right now.
But as you said earlier, you know, some of this
mess has been in place for such a long period
(07:20):
of time that like it's going to be really tough
to have a long term impact. If they don't have
a clear plane, well.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
That's right, and if they don't maintain a strong police presence,
then all this will be in vain. And we've seen
that so many times before. You know, the Police Review
Vince Kelly suggesting that the police not take on that
role really is the definition of insanity. From my perspective.
I've been around so long, I've seen all iterations of
(07:50):
police outside at bottle shops. They were pretty much taken
away in their full capacity in twenty seventeen and twenty
eighteen at the former Gunner Chief Minister. He said, oh,
it's an operational issue. They can do what they want,
and so we saw attempts to have security offices take
on that role. But without the police badge and the
(08:14):
police uniform, it does not work, Katie, It just doesn't work.
You need police in all their glory, in all their
force standing at the bottle shops to have the full impact.
And we've been there, We've done it. We could write
an Encyclopedia Botanica about this. It is all done and
it's been tested. And for us to be going down
(08:36):
potentially this track again. Thank god Eva's onto it and
has closed it down. But it's just lunacy. Why do
we have to do this time and time again.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Well, and I guess, you know, I guess the other
side of it. And I was having a laugh there,
Robin about you saying we could write an Encyclopedia Britannica.
It is so true, you know, Like these are discussions
that we've had so many times over the years. And
I can understand that in an ideal world we don't
need palis outside bottle shops, and in an ideal world
we don't need private security as well, and it shouldn't
(09:08):
be the role of police, but unfortunately it's what is
required at this point in the Northern Territory because the
levels of crime and anti social behavior have reached an
all time high.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Exactly. Look, I even debate that, Katie. You know, what
is the role of the police. It's to protect us.
It's to prevent crime, it's to react to crime. And
in our springs where alcohol is arguably our number one problem,
then you know, standing outside the bottle shops, as boring
and as tedious as that might be at times, it's
(09:42):
such an important role. So I don't accept that premise.
But look, you know the Labor government back in twenty
eleven put police outside of bottle shops. They created this strategy. Interestingly,
which was which has been followed on by the Sea
Pa government and now this government that this Labor government
(10:04):
has created a youth curfew, and you know the same
thing is going to happen. We will all know because
we've now experienced the value of a youth curfew, and
that will be what people want to have in place,
because anything that gives us peace and safety is going
to be wanted more of. Yeah, you're spot on natural
(10:25):
human behavior.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Yeah you're sport on. Hey, Robin, I want to ask
I know that Labor and p Marian Scrimjaw. She's called
for a change in government legislation to designate organizations in
the Northern Territory so that they can be subject to
scrutiny over how they spend funding from the federal government.
That is according to Sky News this morning. So a
two hundred and fifty million dollar package, as we know
(10:47):
for Ollie Springs and Central Australia was revealed in the
federal budget last year with those plans to improve a
number of different areas. It's something we've again spoken about
on numerous occasions, but has revealed yesterday that she's reached
out to the Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burnie as well
as the Attorney General Mark Dreyfus to adjust the Public Governance,
(11:09):
Performance and Accountability Act now. The Member for LINGIII said
the Act should be changed to ensure that all organizations
which receive government funding are subjected to scrutiny. She's told
Sky News, I've written to both Linda Bernie and Mark
Dreyfus to look at tweaking that Act to get greater
accountability for all organizations, not just land councils, but all
(11:33):
organizations that receive government funding that they move under that legislation,
which has oversight from the Order to General. What do
you make of that?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Robin good only Marion, I just love her work. Marian
is driven by ethics and principles, not politics. I think
what she's saying is absolutely required. Interestingly, Tongue in Jira
Council is coming under a normal less pressure. That's the
organization that oversees and manages the town camps and Alice
(12:05):
Springs where the riots occurred almost three weeks ago. They
have come out and said nothing. They have made no
public statements, provided no leadership, and they are coming under
increasing scrutiny by everyone, including the media, the public, other
Aboriginal organizations for not doing what they should delivering on
(12:31):
the services they're contracted to deliver. That's just one example. Look,
I support Marion's call. I think she's right on the money.
I've seen the opposition here in the Northern Territory call
upon the Northern Territory government to provide greater scrutiny and
accountability of the organizations they fund, and they've dug their
heels in and that can only be described as a
(12:53):
political act. Those organizations generally support labor and they are
not going to upset them. Doesn't give a toss to
the woman of principles, and I absolutely support her.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I agree with you. Like at the end of the day,
this is tax payers money, and it needs to be
spent appropriately, but it needs to be effective. We're pouring
millions and millions and millions of dollars into different different areas,
into different issues. You've got to make sure that there's
KPIs and that they're being met.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
And I'm told Kate, at the moment, the funding for
Aboriginal organizations is unlimited. They cannot give it away and
I double a. So this this has to the accountability
of these organizations has to be as powerful as it
possibly can. A lot of these organizations forget and so
(13:47):
do governments forget that it's our money. It's not their
money that they're playing with. Those organizations have public money,
which is our money, and we all deserve to know
what's going on that spot on.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Robin Lamley it he's always good to speak with you.
Thank you so very much for your time. We'll talk
to you again soon.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
My pleasure, Katie.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Thank you
Earlier in the week we learned the curfew in Alice
Springs is going to be extended until next Tuesday. The
Chief Minister in Alice today, as I understand, and told
us on the show yesterday that its plans would tomorrow
be announced for the longer term future of the town.
Now she's asked the police and departments what can be
done to keep the effect of the curfew without needing
(00:22):
the curfew, also acknowledging the massive impact that the increased
level of police has had in Alice Springs. Now joining
me on the line is the Independent Member for Ara
lun Robin Lambley. Good morning to you, Robin.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Robin. Will you please that that curfew was extended earlier
in the week.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I was enormously relieved, as were most residents of Alice Springs.
That has made a significant difference, and people I think
are just comforted by the fact that we've got a
measly extra six days. I mean, that's where we've come to, Katie. Yeah,
day that it's extends is a blessing. And given that
(01:03):
Alice Springs has pretty much been ignored by this government
for years, you know, that's the position we've come to
where we just have to get down on our hands
and knees and beg and be thankful.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Robin, what paint a picture for us in Alice Springs
right now? What is it like at the moment compared
to what it has been like, you know, for the
last number of years, but particularly the last year or so.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, we did a run around of the bottle shops
yesterday afternoon just to check that the police were standing
outside and monitoring people coming in. And what we noticed
yesterday afternoon is that it's much quieter. There's there's fewer
people in town demanding grog compared to what was even
the case a few weeks ago. There's a definite reduction
(01:53):
in the number of kids on the streets after six
pm in the CBD. But ready we're hearing of incidences
outside the curfew zone. So look like all these things, Katie,
they have to be constantly monitored and tweaked, because whatever
you put in place, it's not long before people get
(02:14):
around it. Yeah, and I think that, you know, if
we have unlimited resources, we should have put the curfew
across the whole of the town. It's not unreasonable that
all kids are off the street at night and maybe
put it back to about eight or nine pm instead
of six pm. That's a bit too early, I think,
But look, it's been a great start and we, as
(02:36):
I said, we're thankful that it's extended.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Robin the Chief Minister, said to me on the show
yesterday that she's asked the police and the departments what
can be done to keep the effect of the curfew
without actually needing the curfew. Do you think that's possible?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
No, No, I think she's made a rod for own back,
which is interesting. I mean, against the personal ideological positions
most of her colleagues in labor who rejected a curfew forever.
She's made a courageous decision. But now we have experienced
what a curfew is like, the peace and safety that
(03:14):
comes with a curfew, I think it will be almost
impossible for the police to provide us that level of
security that we've seen over the last couple of weeks.
It's going to be a real challenge. And on top
of that, you've got the fact that we don't have
enough police. You've got ten South Australian coppers arriving yesterday
to do something or other. I'm not sure exactly what
(03:35):
they're going to be doing. Another those ten leaving and
another ten coming in a week's time, and then ma
finnesses two in two weeks time. So look, it's policy
on the run, it's crisis intervention. I get it. But
I really get the impression that Eva Laula is trying.
(03:56):
Unlike her predecessors, she is absolutely giving a go, but
it's almost like it is too late with all these
other factors coming into play, the lack of staffing across
all areas, all agencies in the public service. I mean,
you can't even get a gardener in Alice Springs, let
alone a team of coppers to keep us safely. It's
(04:21):
really bad, Katie. I'm not sure if it's the same
up in Darwin, but we were really feeling it. You
just can't get workers to do anything.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Robin, tell me in terms of those South Australian Police arriving,
have you seen them out on the beat do you know?
I mean you sort of alluded to them that you're
not really sure what they are doing. Have you seen
them out and about?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
No? No, And I've asked her. I just asked around
this morning, and no one that I spoke to has
ithers but then arrived. It would have been yesterday around
midday and they have to be sworn in I think
as Northern Territory Police, So there's some sort of official
process that has to occur before they can act under
our legislation. So maybe by this afternoon they might be
(05:05):
up and running. Yeah something, Well let us know again,
we don't know, Katie. Yeah, every day is a new story.
You know. We've got enough coppers. No, we haven't got
enough coppers. We're getting two hundred more, We're getting more
from South Australia. We're getting a curfew. We can't tell
you if it's going to be extended. Oh, yes, it
will be extended to six days. What happens after six days?
(05:27):
Who knows. I mean, it's just it really is like
a merry go round now.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
In terms of the police on the bottle shops, we
had heard My understanding was that Brent Potter had said
to the ABC yesterday that there was going to be
palis on the bottle shops. Then we'd also read a
letter that went out from the Northern Territory Police to
licensees of takeaway out let's saying that the palie wouldn't
continue after yesterday. We're of the understanding that there's sort
(05:55):
of a roving schedule of the police. What's the understanding
of the people in our when it comes to police
outside bottle shops.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Well, once again, no one's got any idea. I mean,
it changes every day. As you said, I saw that
letter that was sent out last week informing the smaller
bottle shops that they wouldn't have coverage, that it would
be with that roving police unit that would cover the
five smaller bottle shops, and I behole yesterday were told
(06:27):
oh no, no, they will be covered, and we went out.
As I said earlier, we went out and checked out
the bottle shops and they all had police outside of
them yesterday afternoon. So who would know, Katie. Every day, Literally,
I'm not exaggerating, every day is a news story. I
really don't think that they know themselves. What is going
(06:48):
to happen going forward twenty four hours in advance, let
alone weeks and months. It is. It is a moving feast.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
To put it mildly, I suppose, and look, I get
it to some degree. I do understand that they're having
to be really kind of agile. They're having to try
different things. I understand that they must be trying to
juggle things that I appreciate. I really do that the
Chief Minister is giving it a red hot go right now.
But as you said earlier, you know, some of this
mess has been in place for such a long period
(07:20):
of time that like it's going to be really tough
to have a long term impact. If they don't have
a clear plane, well.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
That's right, and if they don't maintain a strong police presence,
then all this will be in vain. And we've seen
that so many times before. You know, the Police Review
Vince Kelly suggesting that the police not take on that
role really is the definition of insanity. From my perspective.
I've been around so long, I've seen all iterations of
(07:50):
police outside at bottle shops. They were pretty much taken
away in their full capacity in twenty seventeen and twenty
eighteen at the former Gunner Chief Minister. He said, oh,
it's an operational issue. They can do what they want,
and so we saw attempts to have security offices take
on that role. But without the police badge and the
(08:14):
police uniform, it does not work, Katie, It just doesn't work.
You need police in all their glory, in all their
force standing at the bottle shops to have the full impact.
And we've been there, We've done it. We could write
an Encyclopedia Botanica about this. It is all done and
it's been tested. And for us to be going down
(08:36):
potentially this track again. Thank god Eva's onto it and
has closed it down. But it's just lunacy. Why do
we have to do this time and time again.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Well, and I guess, you know, I guess the other
side of it. And I was having a laugh there,
Robin about you saying we could write an Encyclopedia Britannica.
It is so true, you know, Like these are discussions
that we've had so many times over the years. And
I can understand that in an ideal world we don't
need palis outside bottle shops, and in an ideal world
we don't need private security as well, and it shouldn't
(09:08):
be the role of police, but unfortunately it's what is
required at this point in the Northern Territory because the
levels of crime and anti social behavior have reached an
all time high.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Exactly. Look, I even debate that, Katie. You know, what
is the role of the police. It's to protect us.
It's to prevent crime, it's to react to crime. And
in our springs where alcohol is arguably our number one problem,
then you know, standing outside the bottle shops, as boring
and as tedious as that might be at times, it's
(09:42):
such an important role. So I don't accept that premise.
But look, you know the Labor government back in twenty
eleven put police outside of bottle shops. They created this strategy. Interestingly,
which was which has been followed on by the Sea
Pa government and now this government that this Labor government
(10:04):
has created a youth curfew, and you know the same
thing is going to happen. We will all know because
we've now experienced the value of a youth curfew, and
that will be what people want to have in place,
because anything that gives us peace and safety is going
to be wanted more of. Yeah, you're spot on natural
(10:25):
human behavior.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Yeah you're sport on. Hey, Robin, I want to ask
I know that Labor and p Marian Scrimjaw. She's called
for a change in government legislation to designate organizations in
the Northern Territory so that they can be subject to
scrutiny over how they spend funding from the federal government.
That is according to Sky News this morning. So a
two hundred and fifty million dollar package, as we know
(10:47):
for Ollie Springs and Central Australia was revealed in the
federal budget last year with those plans to improve a
number of different areas. It's something we've again spoken about
on numerous occasions, but has revealed yesterday that she's reached
out to the Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burnie as well
as the Attorney General Mark Dreyfus to adjust the Public Governance,
(11:09):
Performance and Accountability Act now. The Member for LINGIII said
the Act should be changed to ensure that all organizations
which receive government funding are subjected to scrutiny. She's told
Sky News, I've written to both Linda Bernie and Mark
Dreyfus to look at tweaking that Act to get greater
accountability for all organizations, not just land councils, but all
(11:33):
organizations that receive government funding that they move under that legislation,
which has oversight from the Order to General. What do
you make of that?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Robin good only Marion, I just love her work. Marian
is driven by ethics and principles, not politics. I think
what she's saying is absolutely required. Interestingly, Tongue in Jira
Council is coming under a normal less pressure. That's the
organization that oversees and manages the town camps and Alice
(12:05):
Springs where the riots occurred almost three weeks ago. They
have come out and said nothing. They have made no
public statements, provided no leadership, and they are coming under
increasing scrutiny by everyone, including the media, the public, other
Aboriginal organizations for not doing what they should delivering on
(12:31):
the services they're contracted to deliver. That's just one example. Look,
I support Marion's call. I think she's right on the money.
I've seen the opposition here in the Northern Territory call
upon the Northern Territory government to provide greater scrutiny and
accountability of the organizations they fund, and they've dug their
heels in and that can only be described as a
(12:53):
political act. Those organizations generally support labor and they are
not going to upset them. Doesn't give a toss to
the woman of principles, and I absolutely support her.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I agree with you. Like at the end of the day,
this is tax payers money, and it needs to be
spent appropriately, but it needs to be effective. We're pouring
millions and millions and millions of dollars into different different areas,
into different issues. You've got to make sure that there's
KPIs and that they're being met.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
And I'm told Kate, at the moment, the funding for
Aboriginal organizations is unlimited. They cannot give it away and
I double a. So this this has to the accountability
of these organizations has to be as powerful as it
possibly can. A lot of these organizations forget and so
(13:47):
do governments forget that it's our money. It's not their
money that they're playing with. Those organizations have public money,
which is our money, and we all deserve to know
what's going on that spot on.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Robin Lamley it he's always good to speak with you.
Thank you so very much for your time. We'll talk
to you again soon.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
My pleasure, Katie.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Thank you
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