Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And as we discussed at length yesterday, it was a
bad weekend of crime. Several cars stolen in both Darwin
and in Alice Springs, damaged to businesses, and sadly, a
woman was injured after being assaulted with a machete. Now
we're still a woman allegedly murdered at the hands of
a man who police say breached a domestic violence order.
(00:21):
The opposition leader Lea Fanocchiaro joins me on the line
right now. Good morning to you, Leah.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Good morning Katie, and I'm live from Alice Springs this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, we'll find out a bit more about that in
the moment, Lea. You concerned that someone who's allegedly on
a domestic violence order has committed such a horrendous crime.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Oh, it's heartbreaking, Katie. And you know, with eighty one
percent increase in domestic and family violence over the last
eight years, people are asking when is enough enough and
when are the laws going to be strengthened to protect victims.
I'm actually out the front of a domestic and family
violence service provider here in our Springs that I'm about
(01:03):
to meet with them after after speaking with you, Katie,
this is a critical issue and just my most heartfelt
condolences to the friends and the family of this young
woman who's lost her life Lea.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
In November twenty twenty two, we know the Northern Territory
Parliament passed the Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Bill. It
removed compulsory jail time minimums for assault, drug offenses and
breaches of domestic violence orders. The sentencing reforms had promised
to deliver on in community rehabilitation programs, so Chancey Pake's
(01:37):
office assuring at the time that the drug and alcohol,
domestic violence and other enforced behavior change programs were ready
to roll and they're already accessible, that they were already
accessible in the community. From your understanding, and stepping away
from what's happened on the weekend because I don't have
the details in that space, and even if I, we
(02:00):
wouldn't be at liberty really to discuss them. But do
you think that those programs are operating as they should be?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, I think there's multiple failures here, Katie. The first
is that this government removed that minimum mandatory sentencing for
violent assaults, including for domestic violence perpetrators. This is something
the CLP does not support. It is something the community
do not support. But Chancey paid and Eva Lawla and
their entire labour team decided to go against what makes
(02:29):
sense to everyone else, and that is to keep those
laws there which keep people safe. They've gone against that
and they've removed it. Now. I heard on your show
yesterday Eva Laula trying to make some sort of ridiculous
justification for why you wouldn't have minimum sentencing. She tried
to pretend like it meant that judges would somehow be
(02:50):
able to give even tougher sentences. It's just excuse after excuse, Katie.
What we need is laws that meet community expectations. They
can be passed in Parliament very easily and quickly. Police
need better powers. And so what we've got is not
only a failure by this government to have laws that
protect people and the political will to make sure community
(03:13):
safety is number one, but you've then also got a
failure to roll out and deliver program Now this government again,
Chancey Pate would prefer to have people free out on
the street attending programs where they don't have to, they're
not forced to go. There's nothing the service providers can
do if the person doesn't attend and yet you have
(03:33):
this opportunity then for more harm to be caused on
our community and that can start. Contrast to the COOP
who believe that these types of behavior change programs should
be delivered in prison and a person should then be
made to complete those programs and leave prison better people.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
So you believe that realistically, if somebody has found guilty
of domestic violence, a serious serious domestic violence, that they
should be serving a minimum mandatory jail term.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
That there should be minimum mandatory sentence thing for all
types of violent crime. Katie and these This has been
removed by this government again.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
So the sale the SEALP is going to go back
to mandatory sentencing by the sounds of it.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, I don't like to use that term because people
get confused about the mandatory sentencing from the nineties. What
I want to make really clear is that minimum mandatory
sentencing means that if you commit certain offenses, you will
see a prison sentence of a minimum of that amount
of time. Now, what that also means is that the
judge can obviously make it longer if that is required.
(04:36):
But to have no minimum means that what we're seeing
is people not serving any time at all, and that
presents the continued risk to our community of repeat offending.
And we know repeat offending is causing around You know,
seventy five percent of people in prison in our prison
system have been in prison before.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I could potentially could it potentially though, see people who
maybe shouldn't you know who.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I mean.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Look, I don't want to minimize any kind of violent
offending because I don't think any of it's okay, But
could we potentially wind up in a situation where people
who maybe shouldn't be spending a jail term are in jail?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Look, Katie, I think at the end of the day,
community safety is our number one priority. People have to
go through the court system. If the court finds someone
guilty of an offense that requires a mandatory minimum, that's
the law that's there to protect the community.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Now, don't be a lot of people saying this morning
that there's just not room for these changes as well
in the jail thoughly well.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
And they would be correct. And again, look at the
system failure under eight years of labor. Not only do
we have weaker laws and more people out on the
streets than ever before who continue to destroy people's lives,
but we have a prison system bursting at the seams
because this government has deliberately failed to invest in new
correction or infrastruyre because they don't believe that people should
(06:02):
face consequences like prison. They don't believe in investing in
the prison system. But it's just core business of government, Katie.
It might not be the most exciting thing to talk
about as a government, but it's just their basics. It's
like running a hospital or a school. There are prison
systems that are required in any community and that's just
core business of government that they've failed to do.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
LEA look, I want to ask you as well.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
There are calls from some that those Litchfield flats be
knocked down.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Should that happen?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Well, I think there are a number of very very
old territory housing estates right across the territory that are
very much hot spots for crime and anti social behavior,
and just they need to be looked at. This is something,
you know, it's an old model and it's something that
needs to be addressed going forward. I mean people listening
(06:54):
probably can think of a number of areas in their
own suburbs or where they live. I know the oldest
suburbs have got much high identsity of that territory housing
and so it's something we're very acutely aware of. But
also around tenancy management, we get so many complaints from
the community, Katie about the fact that you know, a
(07:14):
lot of people in territory housing are abusing that right
to have a home and we have wait lists of
eighteen years of people who desperately need that safety net,
that security of a home. And yet there are people
taking up home who are taking advantage of the system
and have no regard for that home they've been given
the opportunity to have, so lea in my view, this
(07:35):
entire space needs an overhaul.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Look, I want to take you to some breaking news.
We know that the Australian newspaper had this morning been
reporting on the ICAC commissioner and the wife of the
nt ICAC commissioner offered twenty thousand dollars to settle a
domestic violence order. Now the Northern Territory Chief Minister has
just issued a statement saying that the KAC Commissioner is
(07:57):
currently on leave. The allegations raised in the meat relating
to the IKAC Commissioner have been referred to the IKAK
Inspector and this process will inform the next steps to
ensure the continuality of stability of the office of the
i CAAC. I'm immediately requesting the Administrator to appoint the deputy,
(08:17):
the current Deputy i CAC, Miss Naomi Louden, in the
role as the acting IKAC Commissioner. Miss Louden has acted
in that role previously and she was formerly a Crown
Prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions, specializing in fraud
and corruption and has also been part of the current
investigations which are underway and will be able to lead
(08:40):
the office. And the statement continues by saying that she's
currently overseas on planned leave which commenced prior to those
allegations arising. She's been briefed on the matter and will
formally commence those official duties of the IKAC Commissioner from
the tenth of June upon her return. The v The
Chief Minister continues by saying the functions of the ICAC
(09:03):
is made up of a team of people who will
continue to operate over this period and they will be
independent to government and given the important nature of the
IKAK and its function to improve transparency, and oversight. When
the ICAC Inspector provides advice or recommendations on the situation
relating to the KAC Commissioner, we will provide an update
(09:23):
to the community.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Leah, do you support this move?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah? Absolutely, that's the right move. We need to give
territorians confidence in that institution. The ICAC Inspector is the
person who watches the watch doom. They are the appropriate
person to deal with this and by moving to have
the Deputy k Commissioner take up that role is very
important to ensure continuity and of course confidence in the community.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Does the KAC Commissioner need to stand down while this
while these investigations are underway.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Well, the ICAC Inspector needs to be able to do
their job. The ikach offers needs to continue to do
their important job, and by making sure that the deputy
takes over during this interim period is very important for
that stability and continuity.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
All Right, I've got a couple of issues I want
to power through because I know that we're both pretty
pressed for time. But something that I'd asked the Chief
Minister about yesterday now, on Friday, the Anti Discrimination Commissioner
had issued a statement saying that he's been approached by
the Attorney General to undertake a racism review. However, for
the past few months he's been in negotiations with the
Attorney General's Department, the Attorney General and the Minister for
(10:34):
Police concerning the necessary resources to conduct such a review.
The Commissioner says that to date, the funding put forward
to the Anti Discrimination Commission does not stretch to enable
the setup of a designated project team with carriage.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Of such a review for its full cycle.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
The Chief Minister says that she understands that one hundred
and seventy thousand dollars has been put forward. Do you
believe that more funding should be made available.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Well, what I'm more concerned about is the revelation that
this review hasn't even commenced. I mean, our police are
out there finding the most hideous levels of crime we've
ever seen. There are allegations flying around all over the place.
We've had a very torrid time for our police, and
the government has spent months negotiating with the Anti Discrimination
(11:21):
Commission over how much money is needed for this review,
rather than just getting on with the job. I find
that totally unacceptable that our police, for months are being
dragged along with the threat of a review coming, and
yet nothing has been done.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
What do you make soo of the call that potentially
what do you make of the call by the Anti
Discrimination Commissioner that some of the operational funding, that increase
in operational funding, that some of that.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Should go towards that review. Do you think that should happen?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
No, our police need their budget to fight crime and
keep our community safe. That is the core role of police.
A review has been called into these alligations. It needed
to have been started months ago, not still squabbling about
it now. I mean, this is a government that just
can't act on anything that needs to be done. I'm
just horrified that this is still being dragged out. And again,
(12:14):
you know, we've got Chancey Paig, the Attorney General, unable
to do his job. We've got Eva Laula clearly not
having the oversight required to get Home ministers to actually
do their job. This is a government that is falling
apart and it's our police who are suffering as a
result of this. I just find this totally unacceptable that
(12:35):
for months and months and months a negotiation squabble overfunding
is what's stopping this from being done.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yeah. Look, I was quite surprised as well to find
that it wasn't actually underway. But we are going to
speak to the Northern Territories Anti Discrimination Commissioner on the
show tomorrow morning, so we'll try to get to the
bottom of.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Why that is the case.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Leah, I do want to ask Yesterday we spoke to
the Chief Minister about concerns which been raised by the
master builders here in the Northern Territory about new home
starts following the release of the latest ABS residential building
approvals data. Now, the CEO, Ben Carter, says only twenty
four new dwellings were approved for construction in April twenty
(13:16):
twenty four. That's down twenty nine percent on the March figures.
The figures, he says, confirms that the Territory is on
track to record one of the worst years on record
for the construction of new private sector dwellings. What do
you think that these figures say about the state of
the economy.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Well, our economy is going backwards, Katie, there's no two
ways about it.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
The Chief Minister says, it's not. The Chief Minister reckons
things are going well.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
She lives in an alternative universe. To everyone else in
the territory. In her universe, the place is safe and
the economy is doing well. And in the real world
where Territorians live, crime is out of control and our
economy is going backwards. For five and a half years,
CONSECT have ranked the territory the worst performing economy in
the nation. Last year alone, we only built one hundred
(14:07):
and forty four first homes, and of course we are
on track. The territory is on track to have the
lowest building approvals since records began decades ago. So things
are really bad. But that's why the colp's policy around
home builder is so important. We recognize that cost of
living is making it harder for people to have entry
(14:29):
into the housing market, and by giving people a home,
we secure people to stay in the territory and we
can attract people to come. So by giving first home
builders fifty thousand dollars to build their home in the territory,
we know that that is going to leverage long term opportunities.
We also want to make sure that people looking to
(14:50):
write size or downsize has that opportunity to add new
housing stock to the market. By building a home with
a thirty thousand dollars grant, which means they're old family
home can be re passed on to a new family
who really needs it. And this is the type of
stimulus and confidence that people in the private sector need
(15:10):
to get construction moving to get new houses and grow
our population.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Yeah. Look, it's certainly something that Ben Carter from Master
Builders said that they are keen to see happen. It
wasn't a commitment that the Northern Territory Chief Minister was
prepared to make. Yesterday, she said that they've got a
housing alliance that's looking into various different things that they
could be doing down the track in the Northern Territory
or certainly over the coming weeks and months. But Lea,
(15:35):
I do want to just move along a couple of
quick questions. There's one here. We spoke extensively last week
about the relocation of Saint Vinnie's to Coconut Grove.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Does the c Orp support that move?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Well, it's done. It's not about whether we support it.
The issue has been that Mark Monahan promised people in
Stuart Park last election that he would move it and
then what you've had is him failed to deliver that
election commitment. Because Eva Laula as Infrastructure Minister, could not
find an alternative location.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Where would you like? Where? Where do you reckon?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Though?
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Can move?
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Because this is I suppose the difficult thing is that
Saint Hinis had said to me on the show last week.
They've been in negotiations about this for more than three years,
They've had more than one hundred meetings.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
But where do you move it?
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Because literally every community, every suburb is going to go, oh,
hang on a second, I'm not sure that I want
that in my suburb.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, the reality is, as Infrastructure Minister Eva Laula could
have found an alternative location. I think the community agrees
they want to have homeless services. Of course is concerning
where they go. But what we've got is a fight
between labor members around trying to deliver an election promise.
And so now you've got a war between here. You've
got Eva and Mark Monahan on one side, You've got
(16:50):
an Atasha Bars and Brent Potter on the other. They
don't want it in their electorates and it just dowshed
to try and save base and deliver a promise they
made four years ago that they've failed on. And poor
Saint Vinie's have been caught up in the middle of that, Katie.
So this is a MESSI of Labour's own making. If
we win in August, we will work closely with Saint
Vinnie's to look at alternative sights that meet community expectation
(17:14):
and allow Saint Vinnie's to deliver important homeless services, which
Territory and degree are very important guests.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
To play devil's advocate here, surely that's what the government's
been trying to do. But I know that even one
of the locations that that sort of flagged last week
are the COLP candidate Briano Gallagher had contacted us very
quickly and said, Katie, if they try to put it
there in the Kurama electorate, I will start a petition
myself to stop that from happening.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
So that's what I mean. We're literally every location people are.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Going to sort of be going hang on a sick
I don't want those services in my backyard.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
So it is a tough it's a tough thing to
try and work through.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
I think this is a government who again has just
dropped the ball, Katie. They can't deliver on their promises,
they don't have a plan and they're not able to
do the bay sticks, let alone something complicated. So this
is just again about them. It doesn't take four years
to find a block of lamb Katie. I don't think
any of your listeners would believe that it's about making
sure that you're doing the work of basic work of government.
(18:14):
And just like failing to build new prisons, this government
has foud to deliver its election commitments.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Clear A couple of quick A couple of quick listener questions.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Could one from Matt in the CBD Ktie, can you
please ask Lea how knocking down the units would have
any effect on domestic violence?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Well, when you're when you're knocking down units, I don't
know which units you're talking.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
About, the ones that we've spoken about earlier this morning.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Yeah, just speaking generally, you know the density that then
causes antisocial behavior and crime. So it's about nowadays when
they're building new housing estates, there's a different way in
which you deliver social and territory housing and Shear Streets
Flat for example, was knocked down because again it was
(18:58):
a hot spot for crime, an agy social behavior. So
the idea is that it is preventative that you don't
have crimes taking place in the first tie.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Well, another listener question with the Johnson candidate, do you
support the party's pre selection of Gary Strawn given the
fact that he didn't preference the CLP at the last election.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Gary is a fantastic candidate out in Johnston and we've
had overwhelming response to his pre selection. He is out
on the ground talking that community about what's important to
them and we're really excited all of our candidates that
we have such a strong team.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
So, I mean, like, the fact is though he didn't
actually he preferenced Labor over the CLP before the last
Northern Territory election, so rather than preferencing Toby George, he
preferenced Paul Kirby.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Is that a concern for you in any way?
Speaker 2 (19:52):
No, those types of decisions around preferences are made by
the partner.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
I know it wasn't with Territory Alliance last time around
the election. Each individual all got to make that decision themselves.
And at the time there was a report written by
a recond was Matt Cunningham that I'd read out a
couple of weeks ago that he'd actually said that he'd
changed his preferences where he wasn't supporting the COLP due
to the stance on fracking.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Look he's been Gary has been really clear that he's
always supported a well regulated on your gas industry. Again,
that was the decision of Territory Alliance. But you know,
the past is the past, Katie, and the future is
exciting and that's what the CLP's focused on. Gary joined
a strong seal P, so you're happy.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
You're happy with him as the candidate for Johnson, even
though he's been quoted in previous stories saying that he
doesn't support the gas industry or doesn't.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Support they did. Business owner who has worked for decades
with disadvantage use and trying to get young people into
traineeships and apprenticeships. He understands very keenly how important it
is to grow our economy and what we need to
do to address the root causes of crime. We joined
the strong, diverse CLP team and we're proud to have you.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Leah. Good to speak with you this morning. Appreciate your time.
I'll let you get into that meeting. Thank you very
much for having a chat.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
With us this morning.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Thank you, take care everyone.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Thank you
And as we discussed at length yesterday, it was a
bad weekend of crime. Several cars stolen in both Darwin
and in Alice Springs, damaged to businesses, and sadly, a
woman was injured after being assaulted with a machete. Now
we're still a woman allegedly murdered at the hands of
a man who police say breached a domestic violence order.
(00:21):
The opposition leader Lea Fanocchiaro joins me on the line
right now. Good morning to you, Leah.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Good morning Katie, and I'm live from Alice Springs this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, we'll find out a bit more about that in
the moment, Lea. You concerned that someone who's allegedly on
a domestic violence order has committed such a horrendous crime.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Oh, it's heartbreaking, Katie. And you know, with eighty one
percent increase in domestic and family violence over the last
eight years, people are asking when is enough enough and
when are the laws going to be strengthened to protect victims.
I'm actually out the front of a domestic and family
violence service provider here in our Springs that I'm about
(01:03):
to meet with them after after speaking with you, Katie,
this is a critical issue and just my most heartfelt
condolences to the friends and the family of this young
woman who's lost her life Lea.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
In November twenty twenty two, we know the Northern Territory
Parliament passed the Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Bill. It
removed compulsory jail time minimums for assault, drug offenses and
breaches of domestic violence orders. The sentencing reforms had promised
to deliver on in community rehabilitation programs, so Chancey Pake's
(01:37):
office assuring at the time that the drug and alcohol,
domestic violence and other enforced behavior change programs were ready
to roll and they're already accessible, that they were already
accessible in the community. From your understanding, and stepping away
from what's happened on the weekend because I don't have
the details in that space, and even if I, we
(02:00):
wouldn't be at liberty really to discuss them. But do
you think that those programs are operating as they should be?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, I think there's multiple failures here, Katie. The first
is that this government removed that minimum mandatory sentencing for
violent assaults, including for domestic violence perpetrators. This is something
the CLP does not support. It is something the community
do not support. But Chancey paid and Eva Lawla and
their entire labour team decided to go against what makes
(02:29):
sense to everyone else, and that is to keep those
laws there which keep people safe. They've gone against that
and they've removed it. Now. I heard on your show
yesterday Eva Laula trying to make some sort of ridiculous
justification for why you wouldn't have minimum sentencing. She tried
to pretend like it meant that judges would somehow be
(02:50):
able to give even tougher sentences. It's just excuse after excuse, Katie.
What we need is laws that meet community expectations. They
can be passed in Parliament very easily and quickly. Police
need better powers. And so what we've got is not
only a failure by this government to have laws that
protect people and the political will to make sure community
(03:13):
safety is number one, but you've then also got a
failure to roll out and deliver program Now this government again,
Chancey Pate would prefer to have people free out on
the street attending programs where they don't have to, they're
not forced to go. There's nothing the service providers can
do if the person doesn't attend and yet you have
(03:33):
this opportunity then for more harm to be caused on
our community and that can start. Contrast to the COOP
who believe that these types of behavior change programs should
be delivered in prison and a person should then be
made to complete those programs and leave prison better people.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
So you believe that realistically, if somebody has found guilty
of domestic violence, a serious serious domestic violence, that they
should be serving a minimum mandatory jail term.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
That there should be minimum mandatory sentence thing for all
types of violent crime. Katie and these This has been
removed by this government again.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
So the sale the SEALP is going to go back
to mandatory sentencing by the sounds of it.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, I don't like to use that term because people
get confused about the mandatory sentencing from the nineties. What
I want to make really clear is that minimum mandatory
sentencing means that if you commit certain offenses, you will
see a prison sentence of a minimum of that amount
of time. Now, what that also means is that the
judge can obviously make it longer if that is required.
(04:36):
But to have no minimum means that what we're seeing
is people not serving any time at all, and that
presents the continued risk to our community of repeat offending.
And we know repeat offending is causing around You know,
seventy five percent of people in prison in our prison
system have been in prison before.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I could potentially could it potentially though, see people who
maybe shouldn't you know who.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I mean.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Look, I don't want to minimize any kind of violent
offending because I don't think any of it's okay, But
could we potentially wind up in a situation where people
who maybe shouldn't be spending a jail term are in jail?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Look, Katie, I think at the end of the day,
community safety is our number one priority. People have to
go through the court system. If the court finds someone
guilty of an offense that requires a mandatory minimum, that's
the law that's there to protect the community.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Now, don't be a lot of people saying this morning
that there's just not room for these changes as well
in the jail thoughly well.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
And they would be correct. And again, look at the
system failure under eight years of labor. Not only do
we have weaker laws and more people out on the
streets than ever before who continue to destroy people's lives,
but we have a prison system bursting at the seams
because this government has deliberately failed to invest in new
correction or infrastruyre because they don't believe that people should
(06:02):
face consequences like prison. They don't believe in investing in
the prison system. But it's just core business of government, Katie.
It might not be the most exciting thing to talk
about as a government, but it's just their basics. It's
like running a hospital or a school. There are prison
systems that are required in any community and that's just
core business of government that they've failed to do.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
LEA look, I want to ask you as well.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
There are calls from some that those Litchfield flats be
knocked down.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Should that happen?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Well, I think there are a number of very very
old territory housing estates right across the territory that are
very much hot spots for crime and anti social behavior,
and just they need to be looked at. This is something,
you know, it's an old model and it's something that
needs to be addressed going forward. I mean people listening
(06:54):
probably can think of a number of areas in their
own suburbs or where they live. I know the oldest
suburbs have got much high identsity of that territory housing
and so it's something we're very acutely aware of. But
also around tenancy management, we get so many complaints from
the community, Katie about the fact that you know, a
(07:14):
lot of people in territory housing are abusing that right
to have a home and we have wait lists of
eighteen years of people who desperately need that safety net,
that security of a home. And yet there are people
taking up home who are taking advantage of the system
and have no regard for that home they've been given
the opportunity to have, so lea in my view, this
(07:35):
entire space needs an overhaul.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Look, I want to take you to some breaking news.
We know that the Australian newspaper had this morning been
reporting on the ICAC commissioner and the wife of the
nt ICAC commissioner offered twenty thousand dollars to settle a
domestic violence order. Now the Northern Territory Chief Minister has
just issued a statement saying that the KAC Commissioner is
(07:57):
currently on leave. The allegations raised in the meat relating
to the IKAC Commissioner have been referred to the IKAK
Inspector and this process will inform the next steps to
ensure the continuality of stability of the office of the
i CAAC. I'm immediately requesting the Administrator to appoint the deputy,
(08:17):
the current Deputy i CAC, Miss Naomi Louden, in the
role as the acting IKAC Commissioner. Miss Louden has acted
in that role previously and she was formerly a Crown
Prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions, specializing in fraud
and corruption and has also been part of the current
investigations which are underway and will be able to lead
(08:40):
the office. And the statement continues by saying that she's
currently overseas on planned leave which commenced prior to those
allegations arising. She's been briefed on the matter and will
formally commence those official duties of the IKAC Commissioner from
the tenth of June upon her return. The v The
Chief Minister continues by saying the functions of the ICAC
(09:03):
is made up of a team of people who will
continue to operate over this period and they will be
independent to government and given the important nature of the
IKAK and its function to improve transparency, and oversight. When
the ICAC Inspector provides advice or recommendations on the situation
relating to the KAC Commissioner, we will provide an update
(09:23):
to the community.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Leah, do you support this move?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah? Absolutely, that's the right move. We need to give
territorians confidence in that institution. The ICAC Inspector is the
person who watches the watch doom. They are the appropriate
person to deal with this and by moving to have
the Deputy k Commissioner take up that role is very
important to ensure continuity and of course confidence in the community.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Does the KAC Commissioner need to stand down while this
while these investigations are underway.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Well, the ICAC Inspector needs to be able to do
their job. The ikach offers needs to continue to do
their important job, and by making sure that the deputy
takes over during this interim period is very important for
that stability and continuity.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
All Right, I've got a couple of issues I want
to power through because I know that we're both pretty
pressed for time. But something that I'd asked the Chief
Minister about yesterday now, on Friday, the Anti Discrimination Commissioner
had issued a statement saying that he's been approached by
the Attorney General to undertake a racism review. However, for
the past few months he's been in negotiations with the
Attorney General's Department, the Attorney General and the Minister for
(10:34):
Police concerning the necessary resources to conduct such a review.
The Commissioner says that to date, the funding put forward
to the Anti Discrimination Commission does not stretch to enable
the setup of a designated project team with carriage.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Of such a review for its full cycle.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
The Chief Minister says that she understands that one hundred
and seventy thousand dollars has been put forward. Do you
believe that more funding should be made available.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Well, what I'm more concerned about is the revelation that
this review hasn't even commenced. I mean, our police are
out there finding the most hideous levels of crime we've
ever seen. There are allegations flying around all over the place.
We've had a very torrid time for our police, and
the government has spent months negotiating with the Anti Discrimination
(11:21):
Commission over how much money is needed for this review,
rather than just getting on with the job. I find
that totally unacceptable that our police, for months are being
dragged along with the threat of a review coming, and
yet nothing has been done.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
What do you make soo of the call that potentially
what do you make of the call by the Anti
Discrimination Commissioner that some of the operational funding, that increase
in operational funding, that some of that.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Should go towards that review. Do you think that should happen?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
No, our police need their budget to fight crime and
keep our community safe. That is the core role of police.
A review has been called into these alligations. It needed
to have been started months ago, not still squabbling about
it now. I mean, this is a government that just
can't act on anything that needs to be done. I'm
just horrified that this is still being dragged out. And again,
(12:14):
you know, we've got Chancey Paig, the Attorney General, unable
to do his job. We've got Eva Laula clearly not
having the oversight required to get Home ministers to actually
do their job. This is a government that is falling
apart and it's our police who are suffering as a
result of this. I just find this totally unacceptable that
(12:35):
for months and months and months a negotiation squabble overfunding
is what's stopping this from being done.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yeah. Look, I was quite surprised as well to find
that it wasn't actually underway. But we are going to
speak to the Northern Territories Anti Discrimination Commissioner on the
show tomorrow morning, so we'll try to get to the
bottom of.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Why that is the case.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Leah, I do want to ask Yesterday we spoke to
the Chief Minister about concerns which been raised by the
master builders here in the Northern Territory about new home
starts following the release of the latest ABS residential building
approvals data. Now, the CEO, Ben Carter, says only twenty
four new dwellings were approved for construction in April twenty
(13:16):
twenty four. That's down twenty nine percent on the March figures.
The figures, he says, confirms that the Territory is on
track to record one of the worst years on record
for the construction of new private sector dwellings. What do
you think that these figures say about the state of
the economy.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Well, our economy is going backwards, Katie, there's no two
ways about it.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
The Chief Minister says, it's not. The Chief Minister reckons
things are going well.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
She lives in an alternative universe. To everyone else in
the territory. In her universe, the place is safe and
the economy is doing well. And in the real world
where Territorians live, crime is out of control and our
economy is going backwards. For five and a half years,
CONSECT have ranked the territory the worst performing economy in
the nation. Last year alone, we only built one hundred
(14:07):
and forty four first homes, and of course we are
on track. The territory is on track to have the
lowest building approvals since records began decades ago. So things
are really bad. But that's why the colp's policy around
home builder is so important. We recognize that cost of
living is making it harder for people to have entry
(14:29):
into the housing market, and by giving people a home,
we secure people to stay in the territory and we
can attract people to come. So by giving first home
builders fifty thousand dollars to build their home in the territory,
we know that that is going to leverage long term opportunities.
We also want to make sure that people looking to
(14:50):
write size or downsize has that opportunity to add new
housing stock to the market. By building a home with
a thirty thousand dollars grant, which means they're old family
home can be re passed on to a new family
who really needs it. And this is the type of
stimulus and confidence that people in the private sector need
(15:10):
to get construction moving to get new houses and grow
our population.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Yeah. Look, it's certainly something that Ben Carter from Master
Builders said that they are keen to see happen. It
wasn't a commitment that the Northern Territory Chief Minister was
prepared to make. Yesterday, she said that they've got a
housing alliance that's looking into various different things that they
could be doing down the track in the Northern Territory
or certainly over the coming weeks and months. But Lea,
(15:35):
I do want to just move along a couple of
quick questions. There's one here. We spoke extensively last week
about the relocation of Saint Vinnie's to Coconut Grove.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Does the c Orp support that move?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Well, it's done. It's not about whether we support it.
The issue has been that Mark Monahan promised people in
Stuart Park last election that he would move it and
then what you've had is him failed to deliver that
election commitment. Because Eva Laula as Infrastructure Minister, could not
find an alternative location.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Where would you like? Where? Where do you reckon?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Though?
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Can move?
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Because this is I suppose the difficult thing is that
Saint Hinis had said to me on the show last week.
They've been in negotiations about this for more than three years,
They've had more than one hundred meetings.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
But where do you move it?
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Because literally every community, every suburb is going to go, oh,
hang on a second, I'm not sure that I want
that in my suburb.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, the reality is, as Infrastructure Minister Eva Laula could
have found an alternative location. I think the community agrees
they want to have homeless services. Of course is concerning
where they go. But what we've got is a fight
between labor members around trying to deliver an election promise.
And so now you've got a war between here. You've
got Eva and Mark Monahan on one side, You've got
(16:50):
an Atasha Bars and Brent Potter on the other. They
don't want it in their electorates and it just dowshed
to try and save base and deliver a promise they
made four years ago that they've failed on. And poor
Saint Vinie's have been caught up in the middle of that, Katie.
So this is a MESSI of Labour's own making. If
we win in August, we will work closely with Saint
Vinnie's to look at alternative sights that meet community expectation
(17:14):
and allow Saint Vinnie's to deliver important homeless services, which
Territory and degree are very important guests.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
To play devil's advocate here, surely that's what the government's
been trying to do. But I know that even one
of the locations that that sort of flagged last week
are the COLP candidate Briano Gallagher had contacted us very
quickly and said, Katie, if they try to put it
there in the Kurama electorate, I will start a petition
myself to stop that from happening.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
So that's what I mean. We're literally every location people are.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Going to sort of be going hang on a sick
I don't want those services in my backyard.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
So it is a tough it's a tough thing to
try and work through.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
I think this is a government who again has just
dropped the ball, Katie. They can't deliver on their promises,
they don't have a plan and they're not able to
do the bay sticks, let alone something complicated. So this
is just again about them. It doesn't take four years
to find a block of lamb Katie. I don't think
any of your listeners would believe that it's about making
sure that you're doing the work of basic work of government.
(18:14):
And just like failing to build new prisons, this government
has foud to deliver its election commitments.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Clear A couple of quick A couple of quick listener questions.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Could one from Matt in the CBD Ktie, can you
please ask Lea how knocking down the units would have
any effect on domestic violence?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Well, when you're when you're knocking down units, I don't
know which units you're talking.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
About, the ones that we've spoken about earlier this morning.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Yeah, just speaking generally, you know the density that then
causes antisocial behavior and crime. So it's about nowadays when
they're building new housing estates, there's a different way in
which you deliver social and territory housing and Shear Streets
Flat for example, was knocked down because again it was
(18:58):
a hot spot for crime, an agy social behavior. So
the idea is that it is preventative that you don't
have crimes taking place in the first tie.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Well, another listener question with the Johnson candidate, do you
support the party's pre selection of Gary Strawn given the
fact that he didn't preference the CLP at the last election.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Gary is a fantastic candidate out in Johnston and we've
had overwhelming response to his pre selection. He is out
on the ground talking that community about what's important to
them and we're really excited all of our candidates that
we have such a strong team.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
So, I mean, like, the fact is though he didn't
actually he preferenced Labor over the CLP before the last
Northern Territory election, so rather than preferencing Toby George, he
preferenced Paul Kirby.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Is that a concern for you in any way?
Speaker 2 (19:52):
No, those types of decisions around preferences are made by
the partner.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
I know it wasn't with Territory Alliance last time around
the election. Each individual all got to make that decision themselves.
And at the time there was a report written by
a recond was Matt Cunningham that I'd read out a
couple of weeks ago that he'd actually said that he'd
changed his preferences where he wasn't supporting the COLP due
to the stance on fracking.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Look he's been Gary has been really clear that he's
always supported a well regulated on your gas industry. Again,
that was the decision of Territory Alliance. But you know,
the past is the past, Katie, and the future is
exciting and that's what the CLP's focused on. Gary joined
a strong seal P, so you're happy.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
You're happy with him as the candidate for Johnson, even
though he's been quoted in previous stories saying that he
doesn't support the gas industry or doesn't.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Support they did. Business owner who has worked for decades
with disadvantage use and trying to get young people into
traineeships and apprenticeships. He understands very keenly how important it
is to grow our economy and what we need to
do to address the root causes of crime. We joined
the strong, diverse CLP team and we're proud to have you.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Leah. Good to speak with you this morning. Appreciate your time.
I'll let you get into that meeting. Thank you very
much for having a chat.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
With us this morning.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Thank you, take care everyone.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Thank you
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