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May 20, 2024 16 mins

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And as I said, well, yesterday we heard from the
Chief Minister about the new curfew legislation being introduced in
an effort to curb crime and anti social behavior impacting
the Northern Territory. So the Northern Territory Police Force will
administer the new curfew legislation and any use of curfew
in the territory is going to depend on operational assessments
made by police. The Opposition leader Lea Fanocchiaro joins me

(00:23):
on the line ahead of Parliament sitting for well the
final week of this makeup. Good morning to you, Leah.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning Katie, and to your listeners.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Lea. The Opposition, I know had some concerns when the
curfew was first called in Alice Springs a number of
weeks ago. I know that you're our supporting this legislation,
but do you hold any concerns about it? Oh?

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Look, it's better than nothing, Katie, and I think that's
just the point the communities at This government has spent
eight years weakening laws, removing powers from our police, putting
the rights of offenders above their right to be safe,
and in a last minute ditch attempt by a desperate government,
they've brought forward some curfew legislation. It's not a bad

(01:06):
thing to have. It's not going to prevent crime. It's
certainly something that deals with a very serious situation. Once
the situations already happened. And again another two weeks of parliament,
our last set of parliament for this term of government,
and they haven't brought forward any legislation that makes our
community sayer, strengthens the laws, or gives more power to police.

(01:28):
So we will support curfew, but it's really the ambulance
at the bottom of the cliff.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
So the Children's Commissioner late last week issued a statement
saying that she's quite concerned that the legislation increases the
likelihood of declarations that are going to target and harm
vulnerable and marginalized groups such as Aboriginal children and young people.

Speaker 3 (01:48):
She said rushing through laws.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
That could lead to unequal restrictions on certain groups and
increase contact with police can have devastating consequences.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
Lea, do you believe that these laws are balce Well.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
Our biggest concern about the legislation is that it's a
curfew without any consequences, So our focus is much more
on the fact our poor police can pick up a child,
send them outside of the imaginary curfew line, and that
kid can just keep coming back, tormenting police and breaching
curfew without any consequences. So we would have certainly liked

(02:22):
to have seen curfew legislation that gives a consequence for
that repeat breaking of the curfew. And for example, if
the CLP is to be elected in August, we would
make it that there's an immediate referral to our youth
boot camps and to mandatory community service, which is policy
CLP policies that we have. So it's a curfew without
any consequences. It's a mechanism such ultimately without having stronger laws,

(02:48):
for example, dealing with breaches of bail, making sure that
series violent offenders start with a position of nobail, by
making sure that there's minimum mandatory sentencing for assaults on workers,
that breach our condition is an offense, all of these
laws that support a safer community. Without those, the curfew
really is just that interaction right at the end when

(03:10):
something catastrophic has happened.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
So it sounds more for you, Leah and for the
opposition that it's more a concern around the fact that
you know that it's going to sort of cause the
police more issues rather than the concerns that are being
raised by the likes of NAGA, the Children's Commissioner and
the Anti Discrimination Commissioner.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yeah, our concern is always about the safety of the community,
so we recognize that curfew has a role to play.
We're very happy to support this legislation because it is
better than nothing. But again, it really isn't as effective
as it could be. It doesn't deliver consequences to any
of the young people who repeatedly breach the curfew, and
it also doesn't stop crime from happening in the first place,

(03:48):
which is the CLP's focus. So that's why all of
our measures, our plan of action on crime is about
coming into Parliament week one after the election and strengthening
the laws, giving our police more power, and that way
we're going to stop you know, there's gonna be less crime,
less victims, and less need for very serious interventions like curfew.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
So Learra, I will just ask, I mean, like, when
you look at something like these curfew laws evil all
of the Chief Minister is obviously not consulted with some
of those groups like NAJA, the Children's Commissioner, the Anti
Discrimination Commissioner. For example, if you were the Chief Minister,
would you have consulted with them?

Speaker 2 (04:27):
Oh, we would have consulted more broadly. The reason there
wasn't consultation, Katie, is because they quickly made this up.
So we know last week government put out their plans
for parliament. Curfew was not part of those plans. Of course,
on Tuesday the Chief Minister delivered her budget, which was
a total flop. It didn't meet any of the expectations

(04:47):
of our community. Whennesday rolled around and we announced our
home builder scheme, which really got people talking and excited
about the future of the territory, and then all of
a sudden, out of nowhere comes some urgent curfew. So
I think this is a government very desperately trying to
look like they're doing something, trying to get some positive news.

(05:08):
I suspect that's why they haven't consulted, because they sat
around the table and went gosh, what are we going
to do?

Speaker 1 (05:14):
And try and so I reckon they've rushed it through
for a good headline.

Speaker 2 (05:18):
Absolutely, Katie. So you know we don't oppose it, like
I said, But make no mistake, this hasn't been some
sort of carefully well thought out, planned, you know, planned
by labor. It's lene jerk reaction.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
We'll move along because there is so much happening this morning,
and I want to ask you about the situation out
in what Air. We know the Northern Territory Police have
well notified notified the public that essentially there's been a
number of large disturbances reported in the Victoria River region
over the weekend. Over the course of Friday night and
into Saturday morning, police received reports of disturbances in the

(05:56):
community of what Air. Those reports included instances of five
seeing criminal damage, arson and stolen vehicles. The what Air
police compound was breached by offenders cutting the perimeter fence
once inside. Two non police vehicles were damaged. We're going
to be catching up with the Police Association about this
in just a little while, But Lea, does more need

(06:17):
to be done to make sure that those police compounds
are more secure or is it a situation here where
you've just got people who you know are going to
get in no matter what.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
Well, the reality is we've got to have stronger laws
again and to go back to curfew, Katie. Curfew wouldn't
apply in what I for example, because this government have
carved out that Aboriginal land, there cannot be a curfew
and Aboriginal land. So somewhere like what I, where perhaps
you might need to implement a curfew and these types
of very serious events of crime and destruction, it can't

(06:50):
even be done.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
So it's a really fame that you can't you can't
actually do it in a community.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
That's right, that's right on Aboriginal land, curfew can't take place.
So that's that's another really tangibly example of labor saying
one thing and failing to deliver. Now, for people in
What I and daily they are mortified. They do not
want to live in a community that is total chaos
where they're you know, fear for their lives every single day.

(07:14):
Our police, our nurses, our teachers, all of the people
who work in communities don't want to have that constant,
pervasive fear and threat for safety not just a property,
but of their own the personal safety. And so sure,
you can put as much razoroire as you like, you
can reinforce fences, but again this is a government focused

(07:36):
on strengthening the window instead of strengthening the law. That
is not a long term solution. It just means people
barricade themselves into facilities like prisoners, when the people doing
the wrong thing should just be in prison, all right.

Speaker 1 (07:49):
Lia the Northern Territory Police Association, Nathan Finny is going
to join us in just a couple of minutes time.
They are calling on the two major political parties to
prioritize police experience and commit to a retention bonus ahead
of the August election. Nathan finn has said that this
is one way that the government and senior police management

(08:09):
can demonstrate that they value their people. So essentially, you
know what they're sort of looking at is that they're
long serving, hard working members deserve to be rewarded for
their service and dedication, and that a proposed tax free
lump some retention bonus would go some way to ensure

(08:30):
a highly skilled and motivated workforce by encouraging members to
commit to longer periods of service.

Speaker 3 (08:36):
Is it something that you're prepared to look at?

Speaker 1 (08:39):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (08:39):
Certainly, and the Police Association haven't reached out to us
with that yet, but I suspect there's probably some correspondents
coming my way. Then if that's what they're you're feelking
about today, you know, this is a serious issue, the
retention of our police. It's something, gosh, Katie, I've talked
about this that many times over the last eight years,
where our attrition rate is just unfathomable. We can't recruit

(09:00):
police as fast as they are leaving, and that's why
we fought so hard for so many years to get
the Police Review happening. But you know, some of it
is too little, too late by labor who just failing
to deliver the support police need, failing to deliver the
powers they need to do their job. Police are exasperated
by the extremely high rates of crime, the demoralization they

(09:22):
experience when they're jumping from one job to the next,
knowing that there's a long list of victims desperately waiting
for police to arrive and our police can't get there.

Speaker 3 (09:31):
Clea, how much do you think this retention bonus could be?

Speaker 2 (09:35):
Oh, I don't know. It's the first I've heard of it, Katie,
So we're very happy to take a look at it.
We've obviously announced our schemes around first home buyers and
people wanting to get secured into their home, and that
applies to our police as well, so we're very very
keen to be keeping territorians here, attracting people to live here,
and so I'd be very happy to hear from the

(09:56):
NTPA about this.

Speaker 1 (09:57):
All right, Well, we will no doubt talk about it
again very soon. I want to take you across to
a national issue. We know that Anthony Albinezi has declared
that it's time to take strong action to protect young
Australians from social media harms, throwing his support behind an
age limit with effective enforcement. So the Prime Minister reckons
the federal government wanted to respond positively to Australian parents

(10:20):
please for help tackling the issue which has had devastating
and terrible consequences for the mental health and well being
of children and teens. So we know that some of
Australia's premiers and leaders will from three of the biggest states,
have come forward to support tougher regulation around underage access
to social media.

Speaker 3 (10:41):
What do you make of it? Oh?

Speaker 2 (10:43):
I agree wholeheartedly, Katie, and so does my CLP team.
You know, our young people are our future. Their minds
and their bodies are developing. You know, it's very very
important that we protect them where they can and don't
expose them to things that they shouldn't be exposed to
those ages. So it's a national debate that we're looking
at very closely. If we win, we would be obviously

(11:06):
very happy to be a part of it. At the
end of the day, it's nice to be able to
communicate freely with people, but with communication and that type
of instantaneous, widespread communication comes great responsibility. And so it's
really about making sure that young people are given the
chance to be young people. They grow up so fast

(11:27):
as Yeah, you and I both know that, and so
do your listeners. I'm fortunate my children aren't at that
age yet, but gosh, I can imagine the terror causes
such family that.

Speaker 1 (11:38):
Are mine are at that age, and it is something
that's a really difficult juggle. And I just wonder how,
you know, like how it would be managed when we're
already in a situation where you know where kids are
able to access things that they shouldn't or maybe you
know that they're not meant to be And I think
that you know, we as parents as well, are obviously

(11:59):
trying to make sure that we're educating them in this space.
But I just wonder how on earth it's going to
be managed when we're in a situation right now where
people can literally share illegal you know, illegal things, you know,
share videos of them doing illegal stuff and that's not
even removed.

Speaker 2 (12:14):
Well, that's right, and that's why, for example, the CLP
will bring in separate ram raid legislation which will have
an aggravated offense of posting and boasting. So if you
post your ram raid or your vehicle offense, that will
have an additional penalty.

Speaker 3 (12:28):
Good.

Speaker 2 (12:29):
So there are laws you can change, there are things
you can do, but we need to be put in
the safeguards in I think it's a good national debate.
I don't have all the answers in Katie, but there
must be some out there. Some of it will be laws,
some of it will be on the social media platforms
around making sure that appropriate content is available, and some

(12:49):
of it might be a stronger campaign to support families
and parents because you know, you don't know what you
don't know, Katie, and so it's a very difficult space
for people to be in and access to information can
be great, but it can also be very damaging.

Speaker 1 (13:04):
Leah, before I let you go, and I put this
to the Chief Minister yesterday as well. Now there's quite
a substantial amount of this message that I can't read
out because we do not want to, you know, to
reveal this victim of crime who they are. But essentially
they've asked for me to ask you and of course
the Chief Minister, what where are you for victims of crime?

(13:28):
This person's wife was killed and they came home to
find her. They've had to change where they're living. They're
in a very you know, a very different financial situation
as a result of having to move out of that home,
and they have a mortgage that they're already paying off

(13:49):
and now had to rent a home.

Speaker 3 (13:52):
And really, you know, he wants to know.

Speaker 1 (13:56):
Where are both the political parties when it comes to
victim of crime, particularly when you talk about very serious,
serious issues around crime. Are there any commitments that we
can expect from the colp? Are there any measures which
you think should be implemented to make sure that victims
of crime are being supported in an adequate way.

Speaker 2 (14:18):
I have actually spoken to your text to Katie and heartbreaking,
and yes, more needs to be done to support victims.
More also needs to be done to stop people becoming victims.
But in that case there are a number of questions raised.
I took a lot of notes in that conversation, and
we certainly have a lot of questions of government as

(14:40):
estimates approaches about how all of that works or doesn't work,
and we certainly will be making announcements around victims of
crime over the next three months, Katie, But please make
no mistake if people are listening out there, our focus
is on community safety and supporting people who have been victims.
Now there's you know, having a car stolen, and then

(15:02):
there's losing your wife, a mother. You know, these are
different ends of that spectrum, and we need to be
making sure that as a community we are supporting people
along that entire length of victimization and making sure that
people can continue to live good lives here despite tragic circumstances.
And so it seems very clear to me that more

(15:23):
needs to be done, and we will be asking a
number of questions as estimates unfolds in the coming weeks.

Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah, good, well, look look forward to hearing exactly what
the CLP's plans are in that space. Another listener question,
just to finish things off this morning, Leah paul in
Malac wondering is the CLP going to continue to fund
slash sponsor based in the grass if elected in August.

Speaker 2 (15:44):
Oh, yes, of course absolutely. We know that Territorians love it.
You know, the budget's been set. We're very focused on
making the territory a great place to live, a great
place to visit, to work, to invest here, and so
all of these lifestyle pieces are critically important to us
because they keep people here, they bring people here, It

(16:06):
generates money through our economy. So absolutely no worries at all.
We could even make it bigger and better.

Speaker 3 (16:13):
Leah.

Speaker 1 (16:13):
Thank you as always for your time, good luck for
the final week of Parliament in its current form.

Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yes, the interesting week ahead. Unfortunately not as much on
the agenda as the COLP would have liked to see
from Labor. But I guess why would they change what
they're doing After eight years of failing to deliver. I
shouldn't expect them to start delivering now, chat, I tell
you what.

Speaker 3 (16:31):
I'm hearing more and more of these election pitchers as
we edge closer to the election.

Speaker 1 (16:36):
One from Eva yesterday, half a one from you today,
one from Steve Edgington on Friday. It's all go, that
is for sure, Leah. Thank you for your time this morning.
Much appreciata we'll talk to you next week.

Speaker 2 (16:46):
Take care everyone, Thank you,
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