Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we know, energy company Tamboran Resources and the Northern
Territory Government. They've signed a fifteen year binding gas sales
agreement to supply forty terror dules of gas a day
from the Beaterloo sub basin to generate electricity in the
Northern Territory. Now the government signed an option to extend
the gas sales agreement for a further six and a
(00:20):
half years through.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
To twenty forty two if required.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Now now joining me on the line to talk a
little bit more about this is evil all of the
Chief Minister. Good morning to your Chief minister. Morning Katie,
Thanks so much for your time this morning, Chief Minister.
What does this mean for the Northern Territory from the
government's perspective, But I guess for everyday territorians.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
So what the agreement with Tamburine has provided is a
portfolio of gas. So we have relied on E and
I and old Territorians that will remember Iani and black Tip,
and they've provided gas to run the Darwin Catherine electricity
grid for example, so at Channel Island, at Channel Island
out there, but that the gas from me and I
(01:05):
has been diminishing. He and I have been working to
put in additional wells. So we need to make sure
that we aren't just reliant on one source of gas,
and we've had to do that work in the last
probably eighteen months or so, where we've also been getting
gas from Santos. So by having this agreement with Tamberin,
we've got the first territory gas that's coming out of
(01:26):
the Beaterloo. But it is a commitment that we have
now it's an agreement that's conditional though it's a conditional
on them getting all the approvals and the pipeline and
getting to FID, but it provides like a backup well,
a whole supply of gas that's available. We will continue
to get gas from ME and I, but we can
(01:47):
get gas also from Tamberin, but we'll also we're also
working with Empire Central Petroleum, so we'll have a portfolio
of gas so that we will have that energy security.
It'll de risk it for for the territory.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
JEEF Minister, how much is it going to cost? I
know that that's a question a lot of people are asking.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Those agreements are commercial in confidence obviously, so that's an
agreement between Power and Water and Tamboran. We're continuing our
negotiations with Empire, for example, So you don't want the
figures to be out there in public. So those figures
are commercial in confidence.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I know there'll be some naysays sort of saying though,
you know, it's the government expecting us to just sort
of trust them on how much it's costing and trust
them that they've done a good deal, when you know,
for a lot of territories, by very nature, they may
not trust politicians.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah, well we know that that people don't necessarily trust politicians.
But I can tell you I wasn't involved in the
negotiations with the agreements. Some of the top lawyers in
the territory and if not the country, we're involved in
the discussions around this agreement between Tamborin and the Northern Territory.
So you know you have high level people who are
(02:57):
absolutely making sure this is done right. But those agreements,
it's like any of those commercial agreements that they do
need to be held close because as I said, we're
in negotiations now with another supplier and another and another,
and we need to make sure that we get the
best for territory and such a sure Chief Miness.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
So you mention the fact that the deal is conditional
on a number of factors, including the Beaterloo joint venture
entering into that gas transportation agreement.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
A number of different things.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
I know environmentalists have been out over the last twenty
four hours or so and said that if the actual
you know, if the appropriate sort of environmental procedures or
you know, approvals are gone through, that this could be
years and years away.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
What do you say to that, No.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
I say, that's not correct. So the Tamburine continuing to
work through all the right approvals, working with traditional owners,
working with APA. They announced that APA is the company
they're working are on around the pipeline. They're also traveling
to get to FIDS. They're obviously seeking funding from overseas
to get FID, so there's a process for them to
(04:05):
work through and tamber and have been very clear that
in that first quarter, that first half of twenty twenty six,
that's their goal to have that gas available for the
Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Chiefiness to some traditional owners have condemned the government for
inking this deal with the company with Tambora and resources
are The NT News reporting that it comes amid calls
from environmental and community groups for the project to be
assessed under the federal Water Trigger after the laws were
expanded in December to include fracking projects.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I know that.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
One the chair of the Aboriginal Corporation representing Native titleholders
from the Beaterloo Basin region has told the paper, we
want to protect our country from fracking. Are you ignoring
the concerns of traditional owners?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
No, not at all. So there is a process in
tamber and will continue to work through that process around
the water trigger. As I think we've all reported previously,
the Northern Territory has some of the most well has
the most rigorous standards around water, and what we have
in place will put you know, it surpasses anyway the
(05:15):
work of the Water Trigger. But that's the work that
Tamburin has to do, and the agreement is conditional on
them getting all of those approvals and that's the work.
That's the good work that's done by lawyers to make
sure that those processes will work through. But you know, Katie,
we have had the naysayers around the on to oil
and gas industry ever since the hi Fi report was released,
(05:38):
ever since our the decision of our government will continue
to work through that because I believe and the labor
my team believe that noncho oil and gas industry is
vitally important to the Northern Territory. Besides the jobs that
will provide those long term jobs for Territorians, it is
an opportunity for substantial royalties for the territory. But it
(06:01):
isn't an industry that can be done. It can be
done environmentally carefully. In the Northern Territory. As I said,
we have some of the most rigorous standards, so we'll
continue to support nonchoil and gap industry in the territory.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Chief Finister, quite a bit to get through this morning.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
I do want to ask you about an article that's
in the Northern Territory News this morning, one by Alex Tracy,
and it says the Northern Territory's Chief Justice has strongly
criticized a decision by a local court judge to give
a slap on the wrist for an assault that resulted
in spinal fractures, but found that his power is to
reverse it due to legislative changes. So last year, Mark
(06:38):
Murray fifty nine, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after he
pushed his victim three times in the chest causing the
man to fall onto a pile of beer cakes. The
man sustained four fractures to his lumber spine and bruising.
Judge David Woodroff fined Murray and did not record a
conviction on the basis that Murray had no prior conviction
(07:00):
for violent offending and that physical harm, as required under
Section one point eight eighty two of the Criminal Code
Act of nineteen eighty three had not been established. Now.
The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed that decision on the
basis that Judge Woodroff imposed a sentence contrary to law,
in that S. Seventy eight d C of the Sentencing
(07:21):
Act of nineteen ninety five stipulated a mandatory minimum sentence
of actual imprisonment with a conviction to necessarily follow now.
Last week, the Supreme Court Justice Michael Grant ruled that
although the decision of his lower court colleague was nonsensical, remarkable,
and plainly wrong, he couldn't overturn it. As S. Seventy
(07:43):
eight DC that section was no longer in force. It's
being superseded by the Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Act
of twenty twenty two. On March twenty five this year,
Chief Minister. I mean, what do you make of this situation?
It seems unbelievable to me that we've got, you know,
a mandatory minimum sentence that stipulated first off, where then
(08:05):
that's not followed, but then you've got a situation where
your Supreme Court justice isn't actually able to overturn that decision.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, So, Katie, I read in the Antinues as well
this morning, so that's the first obviously that I had
seen the story or heard about the story. But yeah,
I think there is an appeals process and Michael Grant
has obviously spoken out, the Chief Justice has spoken out
around that. So yeah, I'm more than happy to have
obviously follow it up and find out. But from my
(08:36):
reading of the article, David Woodruffe obviously has made a
decision in the DPP, and obviously the DPP is the
you know, the government side and the police side has
appealed that, and Michael Grant has listened and responded. I
think there would be an internal process as well through
the court system for that to be followed up and
(08:59):
addressed in some way.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
But I mean, is it an example though, of the
court system of everyday territorians being let down.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Look, obviously, Katie, it's a judiciary. It's not up to
me to be able to cast versions and expersions or
whatever on the judiciary. There has been a process that's
been gone through Chief Justice. Michael Grant has made comment
on that and it's published in the Continues, so it's
probably one that the Attorney General can look at in
(09:29):
more detail. But like to all territories, when I read it,
I was sort of surprised by it. I guess would
be a word so we.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
All need to be a change. I mean, does there
need to be a change.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
So if I said there is, Michael Grant has Chief Justice,
I'm sure there can be conversations through the Attorney General
and Justice Department around that issue.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
All right, let's move along.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I want to talk about the government's decision to no
longer knock down don Dale, that facility currently housing use inmates.
The Labor Government had previously said it's not fit for
purpose and it would be demolished. So I guess there's
a bit of confusion probably for everyday territories here because
there's sort of two facilities that have both been referred
to as don Dale in the past. So one of
(10:13):
them is once the new facility is up and running,
it's now going to be used for adult prisoners. I mean,
is this a big backflip from your government, Chief Minister.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Katie As I said, I'm more than happy to backflip
when it's a common sense, sensible decision that needs to
be made. So the original don Dale, the one that
was referred to in the Royal Commission, that is being
demolished and the tender went out for that on Monday,
So that facility is being demolished where currently therese young
people that are housed, which again is using the same
(10:46):
name don Dale. And by the way, I won't be
using don Dale once we get the new detention facility
up and running. That facility we did commit to knocking
that down at some stage and I think that was
around twenty eighteen. What we have seen we have seen
a spike in crime as we know in COVID, and
we've also seen the prison numbers increase and so our
(11:09):
prisons are absolutely chock a block full. We've got watch
houses at a full so of course if some and
we've got a presentation by the Commissioner Matt Varney, the
Commission of Corrections and he's looked at the number of
options on what we can do to provide more places
for prisoners and so we've put in transportables. We see
(11:29):
that in our springs. We've got that happening in Darwin.
He's also extended the camp facilities, the work camp facilities
as well out at Nulan boy out in the Barclay
as well. So Varney through his plan has been able
to do those things to provide more numbers, more spaces
available for prisoners. But once we have the young people leave,
(11:52):
we can do some upgrades there and it will provide
an option for males young sorry, male prisoners to be
able to do some training. Were also in that announcement
last Friday provided options around women prisoners. So Stringy Bark
and paper Bark, which had been facilities that had been
used around alcohol rehab through health they will also come
(12:15):
online for women prisoners. So what we're looking at is
different options to be able to have more people. So,
as I said, I'm putting more money into police. We've
got more police on the beat than we've ever had
and we're continuing. We'll put in another two hundred. So
if we're going to try and reduce crime and focus
on reducing crime. We need places for these people to
be so you need to address that urgently and we're
(12:37):
put in place upgrades to that facility, the current don Dale.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
She's going to say, your Minister for Territory Families isn't
allowing the media to go in and tour the current
don Dale? Why not?
Speaker 3 (12:51):
So obviously she got advice from the department and she
has recently been out there and the view was that
it isn't appropriate for to have media out there with
young people. So I gave an undertaking yesterday. As soon
as those young people move out, which will be in
the next few months, I'm more than happy for media
to be able to go in there and take footage
(13:13):
and then we'll start the work to upgrade anything that
we need to do around making that a men's prison,
but having a focus on training in there.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I mean, why isn't it appropriate though, for the media
to go out there.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
I know in the past I've been able to go
out there when there's different programs getting underway. I guess
I can't really understand why it's not when in the
past it has been okay.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
So I think that some of the conversations that have
been had is that the young people actually are seeking notoriety.
This group of young people. We've seen that in Ala
Springs where they're leaning out the car windows, they're videoing themselves,
they're uplifting it onto TikTok and social media. So the
(13:55):
view is that these kids are actually seeking notoriety. They
want to be seen as famous and important or whatever
else it is. So the view is that we don't
want to encourage any of those opportunities to have cameras
in don Dale there.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
It's not because it was damaged. It's not because it
was damaged in that most recent riot.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Well no, and they're already cleaning up and upgrading those
use the prison from that work from that riot. This
is about. This was the Department having those conversations with
the minister and saying that they didn't think it was
appropriate to have cameras in there at this At this point.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I guess for a lot of us in the media,
we're probably like, we're sort of thinking to ourselves, we
just sort of can't understand it. And I know for
everyday territories they might not care about this as much
as the media does. But you know, but we're thinking, well,
why can't we actually go in there when you're not
able to show the identity of those kids anyway. So
I get what you're saying in terms of that notoriety.
But also if we're now being told that the facility
(15:01):
is going to be appropriate to house adult prisoners after
previously being told it's a knockdown job, why not open
it up for everyday people to see and you know,
to see whether it is actually functioning okay as it is.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
So it will, as I said, it will, there will
be an opportunity for media. Once the young people are
out of the out of don Dale, we will have
some money to upgrade that facility to make it appropriate
for men to be in there, to have a focus
on training as well and getting a focus on rehabilitation.
So there will be that opportunity for media to be
(15:38):
able to go into the don Dale facility.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Chief Finister, what date is that new facility going to open?
Speaker 3 (15:47):
So I believe it's at the end of June. End
of June, it's pretty much it's pretty much at completion stage.
But then they have a commissioning phase, so it'll be
that once the building is completed and we'll probably look
to have an opportunity for media to go in. So
I did that recently in Alas Springs. I took a
wholely for media as well as different stakeholders. We all
(16:10):
went through the facility in our springs that was before
the young people got in. Got plenty of footage with
that facility in our Springs. So soon as it's handed
over its government, and as I said, it's getting very close,
we'll have that opportunity for media to go through the
new facility at Holts there and get plenty of footage.
But then it will be that commissioning phase, which is
(16:31):
I guess checking and making sure there's all the staff
know where they are, what they need to do, all
of those sorts.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Of So you anticipate it'll be operational by end of June.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Well that's the goal, Katie. The sooner the better, obviously,
we want to get that facility up and running. So
sometimes it's reliant on the build and it might also
be reliant on the commissioning phase. But you know, this
has one that is well and truly over due.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
We know that I've been.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Pushing for that, We've all been pushing for that, even
as Infrastructure Minister. This was one that I kept a
close eye.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
On, Chief Minister, a quick one before I let you go.
I know were both pressed for time. But yesterday on
the show convat Scarlet's the Lord Mayor, he said he
thinks security in the CBD is ineffective. He wants police
patrolling the city, not money being spent on security. Take
a listen to what he had to say to us
yesterday on the show.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
If I've got security that does nothing. They look good,
they walk around and make you feel good, but they
can't move the people if they're in the mall drinking,
which actually is a politicious possibility to kilometer Low and
everywhere out the state in Australia is the policies from
the stricts not security patch.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
So he says that that security, well, he's questioning whether
it should be extended, basically saying that it's ineffective. Do
you think that security should be extended in our CBD
given the fact that we know, based on the recent
report into the Northern Territory police resources, that we do
not have enough police to be able to do the
job that CON's really asking that they do.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Of course they need to continue they need to continue
in the CBD security. We have security in shopping centers.
We all know how important it is to have those
security there you can have and we are. We're putting
in an two hundred more police five hundred and seventy
million dollars over five years. But even with additional police,
(18:21):
and we can have police patrolling. We all already have
police patrolling CBDs. We have police going through shopping centers
as well, but they're they having security. They're are deterrent,
whether that's in shopping centers or in the CBD around
petty crime where people are young people or people are stealing,
but it is also around that safety. It's people feel
(18:44):
safer when they have security and the security around every
city in Australia. We see that through the CBDs of
every city in Australia. Now there's security and probably the world.
So I'll continue to make sure that we have security
across the Northern Territory as well. Why we didn't accept
that commendment, so it is.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Something that the government's going to that it is something
that's going to be budgeted for by the government.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Yes, so we have continued to fund security and we'll
see that additional funding in our budget. But you know
it is part of the Council's responsibility as well to
look after their sit the CBD and make sure that
people who are in the CBD are safe and so
if the Council should continue as well to fund security
(19:26):
guards in the CBD, every shopping center, every shopping center
across the Northern Territory of funding security, so I think
the Council need to be responsible and fund some security
in the CBD as well well.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Chief Minister evil Ala, we are going to have to
leave it there. Thank you as always for your time.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Thanks Katie, thank you
As we know, energy company Tamboran Resources and the Northern
Territory Government. They've signed a fifteen year binding gas sales
agreement to supply forty terror dules of gas a day
from the Beaterloo sub basin to generate electricity in the
Northern Territory. Now the government signed an option to extend
the gas sales agreement for a further six and a
(00:20):
half years through.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
To twenty forty two if required.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Now now joining me on the line to talk a
little bit more about this is evil all of the
Chief Minister. Good morning to your Chief minister. Morning Katie,
Thanks so much for your time this morning, Chief Minister.
What does this mean for the Northern Territory from the
government's perspective, But I guess for everyday territorians.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
So what the agreement with Tamburine has provided is a
portfolio of gas. So we have relied on E and
I and old Territorians that will remember Iani and black Tip,
and they've provided gas to run the Darwin Catherine electricity
grid for example, so at Channel Island, at Channel Island
out there, but that the gas from me and I
(01:05):
has been diminishing. He and I have been working to
put in additional wells. So we need to make sure
that we aren't just reliant on one source of gas,
and we've had to do that work in the last
probably eighteen months or so, where we've also been getting
gas from Santos. So by having this agreement with Tamberin,
we've got the first territory gas that's coming out of
(01:26):
the Beaterloo. But it is a commitment that we have
now it's an agreement that's conditional though it's a conditional
on them getting all the approvals and the pipeline and
getting to FID, but it provides like a backup well,
a whole supply of gas that's available. We will continue
to get gas from ME and I, but we can
(01:47):
get gas also from Tamberin, but we'll also we're also
working with Empire Central Petroleum, so we'll have a portfolio
of gas so that we will have that energy security.
It'll de risk it for for the territory.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
JEEF Minister, how much is it going to cost? I
know that that's a question a lot of people are asking.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Those agreements are commercial in confidence obviously, so that's an
agreement between Power and Water and Tamboran. We're continuing our
negotiations with Empire, for example, So you don't want the
figures to be out there in public. So those figures
are commercial in confidence.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I know there'll be some naysays sort of saying though,
you know, it's the government expecting us to just sort
of trust them on how much it's costing and trust
them that they've done a good deal, when you know,
for a lot of territories, by very nature, they may
not trust politicians.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah, well we know that that people don't necessarily trust politicians.
But I can tell you I wasn't involved in the
negotiations with the agreements. Some of the top lawyers in
the territory and if not the country, we're involved in
the discussions around this agreement between Tamborin and the Northern Territory.
So you know you have high level people who are
(02:57):
absolutely making sure this is done right. But those agreements,
it's like any of those commercial agreements that they do
need to be held close because as I said, we're
in negotiations now with another supplier and another and another,
and we need to make sure that we get the
best for territory and such a sure Chief Miness.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
So you mention the fact that the deal is conditional
on a number of factors, including the Beaterloo joint venture
entering into that gas transportation agreement.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
A number of different things.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
I know environmentalists have been out over the last twenty
four hours or so and said that if the actual
you know, if the appropriate sort of environmental procedures or
you know, approvals are gone through, that this could be
years and years away.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
What do you say to that, No.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
I say, that's not correct. So the Tamburine continuing to
work through all the right approvals, working with traditional owners,
working with APA. They announced that APA is the company
they're working are on around the pipeline. They're also traveling
to get to FIDS. They're obviously seeking funding from overseas
to get FID, so there's a process for them to
(04:05):
work through and tamber and have been very clear that
in that first quarter, that first half of twenty twenty six,
that's their goal to have that gas available for the
Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Chiefiness to some traditional owners have condemned the government for
inking this deal with the company with Tambora and resources
are The NT News reporting that it comes amid calls
from environmental and community groups for the project to be
assessed under the federal Water Trigger after the laws were
expanded in December to include fracking projects.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I know that.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
One the chair of the Aboriginal Corporation representing Native titleholders
from the Beaterloo Basin region has told the paper, we
want to protect our country from fracking. Are you ignoring
the concerns of traditional owners?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
No, not at all. So there is a process in
tamber and will continue to work through that process around
the water trigger. As I think we've all reported previously,
the Northern Territory has some of the most well has
the most rigorous standards around water, and what we have
in place will put you know, it surpasses anyway the
(05:15):
work of the Water Trigger. But that's the work that
Tamburin has to do, and the agreement is conditional on
them getting all of those approvals and that's the work.
That's the good work that's done by lawyers to make
sure that those processes will work through. But you know, Katie,
we have had the naysayers around the on to oil
and gas industry ever since the hi Fi report was released,
(05:38):
ever since our the decision of our government will continue
to work through that because I believe and the labor
my team believe that noncho oil and gas industry is
vitally important to the Northern Territory. Besides the jobs that
will provide those long term jobs for Territorians, it is
an opportunity for substantial royalties for the territory. But it
(06:01):
isn't an industry that can be done. It can be
done environmentally carefully. In the Northern Territory. As I said,
we have some of the most rigorous standards, so we'll
continue to support nonchoil and gap industry in the territory.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Chief Finister, quite a bit to get through this morning.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
I do want to ask you about an article that's
in the Northern Territory News this morning, one by Alex Tracy,
and it says the Northern Territory's Chief Justice has strongly
criticized a decision by a local court judge to give
a slap on the wrist for an assault that resulted
in spinal fractures, but found that his power is to
reverse it due to legislative changes. So last year, Mark
(06:38):
Murray fifty nine, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after he
pushed his victim three times in the chest causing the
man to fall onto a pile of beer cakes. The
man sustained four fractures to his lumber spine and bruising.
Judge David Woodroff fined Murray and did not record a
conviction on the basis that Murray had no prior conviction
(07:00):
for violent offending and that physical harm, as required under
Section one point eight eighty two of the Criminal Code
Act of nineteen eighty three had not been established. Now.
The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed that decision on the
basis that Judge Woodroff imposed a sentence contrary to law,
in that S. Seventy eight d C of the Sentencing
(07:21):
Act of nineteen ninety five stipulated a mandatory minimum sentence
of actual imprisonment with a conviction to necessarily follow now.
Last week, the Supreme Court Justice Michael Grant ruled that
although the decision of his lower court colleague was nonsensical, remarkable,
and plainly wrong, he couldn't overturn it. As S. Seventy
(07:43):
eight DC that section was no longer in force. It's
being superseded by the Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Act
of twenty twenty two. On March twenty five this year,
Chief Minister. I mean, what do you make of this situation?
It seems unbelievable to me that we've got, you know,
a mandatory minimum sentence that stipulated first off, where then
(08:05):
that's not followed, but then you've got a situation where
your Supreme Court justice isn't actually able to overturn that decision.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, So, Katie, I read in the Antinues as well
this morning, so that's the first obviously that I had
seen the story or heard about the story. But yeah,
I think there is an appeals process and Michael Grant
has obviously spoken out, the Chief Justice has spoken out
around that. So yeah, I'm more than happy to have
obviously follow it up and find out. But from my
(08:36):
reading of the article, David Woodruffe obviously has made a
decision in the DPP, and obviously the DPP is the
you know, the government side and the police side has
appealed that, and Michael Grant has listened and responded. I
think there would be an internal process as well through
the court system for that to be followed up and
(08:59):
addressed in some way.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
But I mean, is it an example though, of the
court system of everyday territorians being let down.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Look, obviously, Katie, it's a judiciary. It's not up to
me to be able to cast versions and expersions or
whatever on the judiciary. There has been a process that's
been gone through Chief Justice. Michael Grant has made comment
on that and it's published in the Continues, so it's
probably one that the Attorney General can look at in
(09:29):
more detail. But like to all territories, when I read it,
I was sort of surprised by it. I guess would
be a word so we.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
All need to be a change. I mean, does there
need to be a change.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
So if I said there is, Michael Grant has Chief Justice,
I'm sure there can be conversations through the Attorney General
and Justice Department around that issue.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
All right, let's move along.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I want to talk about the government's decision to no
longer knock down don Dale, that facility currently housing use inmates.
The Labor Government had previously said it's not fit for
purpose and it would be demolished. So I guess there's
a bit of confusion probably for everyday territories here because
there's sort of two facilities that have both been referred
to as don Dale in the past. So one of
(10:13):
them is once the new facility is up and running,
it's now going to be used for adult prisoners. I mean,
is this a big backflip from your government, Chief Minister.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Katie As I said, I'm more than happy to backflip
when it's a common sense, sensible decision that needs to
be made. So the original don Dale, the one that
was referred to in the Royal Commission, that is being
demolished and the tender went out for that on Monday,
So that facility is being demolished where currently therese young
people that are housed, which again is using the same
(10:46):
name don Dale. And by the way, I won't be
using don Dale once we get the new detention facility
up and running. That facility we did commit to knocking
that down at some stage and I think that was
around twenty eighteen. What we have seen we have seen
a spike in crime as we know in COVID, and
we've also seen the prison numbers increase and so our
(11:09):
prisons are absolutely chock a block full. We've got watch
houses at a full so of course if some and
we've got a presentation by the Commissioner Matt Varney, the
Commission of Corrections and he's looked at the number of
options on what we can do to provide more places
for prisoners and so we've put in transportables. We see
(11:29):
that in our springs. We've got that happening in Darwin.
He's also extended the camp facilities, the work camp facilities
as well out at Nulan boy out in the Barclay
as well. So Varney through his plan has been able
to do those things to provide more numbers, more spaces
available for prisoners. But once we have the young people leave,
(11:52):
we can do some upgrades there and it will provide
an option for males young sorry, male prisoners to be
able to do some training. Were also in that announcement
last Friday provided options around women prisoners. So Stringy Bark
and paper Bark, which had been facilities that had been
used around alcohol rehab through health they will also come
(12:15):
online for women prisoners. So what we're looking at is
different options to be able to have more people. So,
as I said, I'm putting more money into police. We've
got more police on the beat than we've ever had
and we're continuing. We'll put in another two hundred. So
if we're going to try and reduce crime and focus
on reducing crime. We need places for these people to
be so you need to address that urgently and we're
(12:37):
put in place upgrades to that facility, the current don Dale.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
She's going to say, your Minister for Territory Families isn't
allowing the media to go in and tour the current
don Dale? Why not?
Speaker 3 (12:51):
So obviously she got advice from the department and she
has recently been out there and the view was that
it isn't appropriate for to have media out there with
young people. So I gave an undertaking yesterday. As soon
as those young people move out, which will be in
the next few months, I'm more than happy for media
to be able to go in there and take footage
(13:13):
and then we'll start the work to upgrade anything that
we need to do around making that a men's prison,
but having a focus on training in there.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I mean, why isn't it appropriate though, for the media
to go out there.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
I know in the past I've been able to go
out there when there's different programs getting underway. I guess
I can't really understand why it's not when in the
past it has been okay.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
So I think that some of the conversations that have
been had is that the young people actually are seeking notoriety.
This group of young people. We've seen that in Ala
Springs where they're leaning out the car windows, they're videoing themselves,
they're uplifting it onto TikTok and social media. So the
(13:55):
view is that these kids are actually seeking notoriety. They
want to be seen as famous and important or whatever
else it is. So the view is that we don't
want to encourage any of those opportunities to have cameras
in don Dale there.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
It's not because it was damaged. It's not because it
was damaged in that most recent riot.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Well no, and they're already cleaning up and upgrading those
use the prison from that work from that riot. This
is about. This was the Department having those conversations with
the minister and saying that they didn't think it was
appropriate to have cameras in there at this At this point.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I guess for a lot of us in the media,
we're probably like, we're sort of thinking to ourselves, we
just sort of can't understand it. And I know for
everyday territories they might not care about this as much
as the media does. But you know, but we're thinking, well,
why can't we actually go in there when you're not
able to show the identity of those kids anyway. So
I get what you're saying in terms of that notoriety.
But also if we're now being told that the facility
(15:01):
is going to be appropriate to house adult prisoners after
previously being told it's a knockdown job, why not open
it up for everyday people to see and you know,
to see whether it is actually functioning okay as it is.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
So it will, as I said, it will, there will
be an opportunity for media. Once the young people are
out of the out of don Dale, we will have
some money to upgrade that facility to make it appropriate
for men to be in there, to have a focus
on training as well and getting a focus on rehabilitation.
So there will be that opportunity for media to be
(15:38):
able to go into the don Dale facility.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Chief Finister, what date is that new facility going to open?
Speaker 3 (15:47):
So I believe it's at the end of June. End
of June, it's pretty much it's pretty much at completion stage.
But then they have a commissioning phase, so it'll be
that once the building is completed and we'll probably look
to have an opportunity for media to go in. So
I did that recently in Alas Springs. I took a
wholely for media as well as different stakeholders. We all
(16:10):
went through the facility in our springs that was before
the young people got in. Got plenty of footage with
that facility in our Springs. So soon as it's handed
over its government, and as I said, it's getting very close,
we'll have that opportunity for media to go through the
new facility at Holts there and get plenty of footage.
But then it will be that commissioning phase, which is
(16:31):
I guess checking and making sure there's all the staff
know where they are, what they need to do, all
of those sorts.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Of So you anticipate it'll be operational by end of June.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Well that's the goal, Katie. The sooner the better, obviously,
we want to get that facility up and running. So
sometimes it's reliant on the build and it might also
be reliant on the commissioning phase. But you know, this
has one that is well and truly over due.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
We know that I've been.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Pushing for that, We've all been pushing for that, even
as Infrastructure Minister. This was one that I kept a
close eye.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
On, Chief Minister, a quick one before I let you go.
I know were both pressed for time. But yesterday on
the show convat Scarlet's the Lord Mayor, he said he
thinks security in the CBD is ineffective. He wants police
patrolling the city, not money being spent on security. Take
a listen to what he had to say to us
yesterday on the show.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
If I've got security that does nothing. They look good,
they walk around and make you feel good, but they
can't move the people if they're in the mall drinking,
which actually is a politicious possibility to kilometer Low and
everywhere out the state in Australia is the policies from
the stricts not security patch.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
So he says that that security, well, he's questioning whether
it should be extended, basically saying that it's ineffective. Do
you think that security should be extended in our CBD
given the fact that we know, based on the recent
report into the Northern Territory police resources, that we do
not have enough police to be able to do the
job that CON's really asking that they do.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Of course they need to continue they need to continue
in the CBD security. We have security in shopping centers.
We all know how important it is to have those
security there you can have and we are. We're putting
in an two hundred more police five hundred and seventy
million dollars over five years. But even with additional police,
(18:21):
and we can have police patrolling. We all already have
police patrolling CBDs. We have police going through shopping centers
as well, but they're they having security. They're are deterrent,
whether that's in shopping centers or in the CBD around
petty crime where people are young people or people are stealing,
but it is also around that safety. It's people feel
(18:44):
safer when they have security and the security around every
city in Australia. We see that through the CBDs of
every city in Australia. Now there's security and probably the world.
So I'll continue to make sure that we have security
across the Northern Territory as well. Why we didn't accept
that commendment, so it is.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Something that the government's going to that it is something
that's going to be budgeted for by the government.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Yes, so we have continued to fund security and we'll
see that additional funding in our budget. But you know
it is part of the Council's responsibility as well to
look after their sit the CBD and make sure that
people who are in the CBD are safe and so
if the Council should continue as well to fund security
(19:26):
guards in the CBD, every shopping center, every shopping center
across the Northern Territory of funding security, so I think
the Council need to be responsible and fund some security
in the CBD as well well.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Chief Minister evil Ala, we are going to have to
leave it there. Thank you as always for your time.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Thanks Katie, thank you
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