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June 18, 2024 13 mins

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's move along though, because there is so much happening
this morning, and after months of speculation, we know that
the Labor Party, not the government, but the Labor parties
announced that if re elected, they're going to ban the
use of commercial gill nets for Barramundy fishing and buy
back commercial Barramundy fishing licenses, which they say will deliver
a huge boost to the territories world class wreck fishing industry.

(00:21):
Joining me on the line right now the opposition leader
Leah fanocchii O. Goodbrding to you, Leah.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Good morning Katie and to your listeners.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Now, Labor have announced that if they are re elected,
they're going to phase out gil netting. First off, what
exactly is the CLP's policy.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Our position is to phase our gillnets over four years
if we're elected in August, but work really closely with
the industry to find a fair and equitable solution. It's
really really important that we have all of the parties
around the table, the regfishes, the commercial fishes, and the
toos to make sure that this is done properly. Because

(00:58):
of course what's happened is evil or has been forced
into a very humiliating position where this is now the
only way forward because they've been unable to negotiate a
future for this industry.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Lea, do you have any idea how much it's going
to cost?

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Look, Katie, I don't. I didn't see labor putting out
a figure either, But that's something that needs to be
sat down and work through and it would take a
period of time, which is why there is that commitment
over four years. But we've been very clear to work
closely with industry and the stakeholders and find a fair
and equitable way forward.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
I mean, if they've not been able to reach an
agreement after this many years, what makes you think the
CLP is going to be able to Well.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
They haven't been able to reach an agreement to open
up more areas for commercial fishing, and that's part of
the problem. We've seen a shrinking of areas for commercial
fishes to be able to fish from and that's causing
conflict with wreck fishes. So we know recreational fishing is
critically important to our lifestyle, to our tourism industry. It's
a really important part of the territory and so it

(02:03):
has to be protected and that's why going forward we
need to transition away from that use of gillnet.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
Look, I've got to say I was a little bit
perplexed by this announcement yesterday in the sense that the
government's got the power and the ability to do this
now and they aren't. But it came out as a
Labor Party statement. I mean many would say that they've
dragged their heels in this space. Now they're saying that
they're going to ban these skill NEETs if they are reelected.

(02:29):
Should they get the ball rolling now?

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Well, exactly, Katie. They are in government, they have been
in government for eight years. Why should anyone trust or
believe that it's going to happen. This is a promise
by a group of people who actually have the power
to affect change. It's a little bit ridiculous. I mean,
it just doesn't go far enough, and territories would judge
them for it. We've been really clear that rec fishing

(02:54):
is critical to the territory and so is commercial fishing.
But there's got to be the right balance. But that's
also why, Katie, the CLP has been really clear about
no boat red Joe's, no boat licensing, no fishing licensing,
all of these other things that we can protect and
preserve our beautiful territory lifestyle.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
All right, Lea, let's move along. We know that estimates
are underway right now. Police Minister Brent Potter in the
hot seat yesterday. Was there any further insight into police numbers?

Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh, yesterday was atrocious, Katie, very very disappointing for our police.
The performance by the Police Minister. We were able to
unravel a lot of information, Katie. So earlier this year
the Police Minister promised that police would get their watchhouses
back for your listeners. Currently, Corrections have or over a
long period of time, Corrections have been using police watchhouses

(03:46):
as prisons because Chancy Paig and Evilaula have failed to
do the bare minimum.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
We were told by Brent Potter that basically they were
going to be handed back. I thought around about now
June July.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
Exactly right, That's exactly right, Katie, he said the middle
of the So yesterday, when I quiz them, I can
confirm that there are fifty four prisoners in the Darwin Watchhouse,
fourteen prisoners in the Pitt Macaulay Center and around thirty
prisoners in Alice Springs Watchhouse. And he would not give
me a time frame on when they would be gone.

(04:18):
I put his own words back at him and said, well,
you're the one who promised territorians it'd be and police,
more importantly, it'd be the middle of the year. And
again he just had no answers for territories on any
of that.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
Who's manning those watch houses in though my understanding is
that it's correction staff rather than police, But what's your take, Yes, that's.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
Right, So police still pay all of the overheads in
terms of electricity costs, rent on buildings, et cetera. But
it is correctional staff in those facilities. But we've already
had one abscond from the show and center. You know,
these aren't prisons. They are watchhouses and watchhouses where police
take someone they've apprehended to process them and basically get

(05:00):
through to the court process or bailed. It's a very
transitional environment. It's not designed to house people long term,
like what we're seeing under labor. For a very simple
infrastructure deficit that could have been addressed. This is just
about more beds. Basically, it's a very simple issue to fix.
But we also uncovered and no surprise to your listener's

(05:21):
tremendous demand on our triple zero calls. It's forecast one
hundred and ninety nine thousand calls this year with Katie,
hold on to your hat. Five hundred and forty five
calls a day.

Speaker 1 (05:34):
Wow, that is a loss. That is a loss of calls.
That's a lot of people needing police assistance. Do all
of those calls get answered?

Speaker 2 (05:45):
So I asked a lot of questions around this and
they unfortunately, you know, the police Minister didn't have answers
for me. He had to take a huge volume of
questions on notice, which we won't get answers back for
a number of weeks. But I did ask those questions, Katie,
how many go on? Answer said, how many get diverted
to interstate to Yeah, but you can just feel for

(06:05):
our police with five hundred and forty five calls coming
through a day. Not only are those hard working operators
at the call center just completely swamped. We've got our
police doing everything they can to respond, but we know
there's not enough of them. We know they don't have
adequate powers, so a lot of the time their hands

(06:26):
are tied. You know, they're the ones in the handcuffs,
not the criminals, because of any adequate legislative framework. This
government just hasn't provided our police with the support, the
laws and the powers that they need to be able
to protect territory.

Speaker 1 (06:38):
Cleah, with that triple zero calls, one hundred and ninety
nine thousand calls. Was that over a one year period.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, so they're anticipating by the end of this financial
year and will one hundred and ninety nine thousand hu
huge numbers. That there was two hundred and ninety nine
assaults on police. Horrific numbers. You know, Katie, you know me,
and I'm passionate about the territory. I love this place
and I get up every day to fight for Territorians

(07:09):
and our lifestyle. But this is just destroying people. It is.
It is too much for our police to bear. It
is too much for our community to bear. Our business
community is losing confidence. I mean even things as Katie,
it's just so horrific that it can be left like this.
We uncovered that there's been a seven percent increase in

(07:31):
the amount of overtime having to be paid for our police,
which is largely police having to work extra hours, you know,
extend their shifts. It blew out to over fifteen million dollars.

Speaker 1 (07:42):
So when you look at that then, and then when
you talk about the increase in police funding that the
Northern Territory Chief Minister and also the Police Minister Brent
Potter an ounced earlier this year, I mean, how far
is that going to go when they've already got to
be paying over time.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well, this is the thing, and I quized this yesterday
because of course all we're hearing from Labor is this
many more police or there's much more money, and there's
lots and lots of numbers being shouted at Territorians and
a desperate attempt to look like they're doing something. But
these things don't currently exist for Labor to turn around
and say to police in our community, oh, there will

(08:18):
be two hundred more police over five years. That doesn't
do anything. Now, yesterday we were told there would be
twenty more call takers at the call center. Yep, that
doesn't start. Now. These are future things that hopefully will happen,
but maybe won't, Katie. They don't do anything to relieve
the pressure on our community the concerns they have right now.

Speaker 1 (08:39):
Solely there's a big question from listeners is going to
be because we're like sixty five days out from an
election now, So the big question from listeners is going
to be, well, if they can't make it happen, if
they can't ensure that there's an additional twenty call takers,
if they can't ensure that there's additional police numbers, what
makes you think that you can?

Speaker 2 (08:57):
Oh, Because Katie, we will walk into Parlam element week
one and give police better powers so that they can
do their job effectively. We will make sure that the
laws are strengthened so that there is consequence for crime
and that we deal with the root causes of crime.
Most importantly, we have policy changes on alcohol which will
drive down crime as well. We are very focused on

(09:20):
making sure your community safety is our top priority, which
is why as Chief Minister, I will be the police Minister,
so that every decision of our government is put through
a lens of community safety and confidence to live in
the territory. And so it's critically important that people consider
the future and what they're voting for this next election,

(09:41):
because it's a vote for change for the better or
it's a vote for things getting worse.

Speaker 1 (09:45):
LEA a couple of quick ones before I've got to
wrap up alcohol policy touched on it then I understand. Well,
we spoke to Robin Ladley yesterday. She said that there
had been a bit of an update when it comes
to those alcohol management plans for some communities, as I
understand it, for us set to be submitted, so they're
sort of forging ahead. Is there any update though on

(10:06):
other alcohol policy, i e. Some of the buybacks for
corner stores.

Speaker 2 (10:11):
No, so, I think the buybacks still remain at four
across the territory, and actually all four were in Darwin,
which is not providing any support or relief to the regions.
And it seems that government hasn't been able to get
to the table with most of these proponents. Now, we're
very clear that buybacks is one thing, but if you
are a chronically affected alcoholic or addict, you will go

(10:32):
to great lengths to get your fixed, which is why
we are more focused on the root causes of that
alcohol dependence, on the root causes of alcohol fueled harm
and violence, which is why we're so supportive of rehabilitation
and reforming people's lives. That's what's really needed, and it's
why we're so disappointed that labor have shut down alcohol

(10:54):
rehab in Alice Springs and in Darwin to build prisons.
It's just the wrong focus. What we need is more
prison beds, but what we don't need is less alcohol rehabilitation.
That is a strong point of difference between the CLP
and labor Leah.

Speaker 1 (11:10):
Yesterday during estimates, it was all so confirmed that the
swimming event has been canceled at the Alice Springs Masters Games.
I mean, this is disappointing. We literally just had the
national Masters for swimming here in the Northern Territory couple
or like a month or so ago. There was people
from all over Australia, some from you overseas as well.

(11:30):
Why on earth has this part of the Masters been canceled?

Speaker 2 (11:34):
And this is the problem with a government that is
failing in every front, Katie. It is destroying our lifestyle
and iconic events like the Games. So swimming is being canceled.
We unveiled yesterday that the Games might not go ahead
at all this bitut time that they've been canceled.

Speaker 1 (11:52):
Why they go ahead? Why could they potentially not go
ahead this.

Speaker 2 (11:55):
Time because of that low take up of people participating
in the sport. What the sports have not been feeling
like they're being supported to be able to get behind
and participate in the games. It's it's a huge problem.
Tourism numbers are down. People are feeling afraid to go
to Alice Springs. I mean, this is just because of

(12:15):
monumental failures over years and years and this you know,
Alice Springs Master's Games used to be in people's calendar
fore two years. It was an absolute must do and
it's been canceled over six years, and so it's you know,
it's fallen off people's radar and the government isn't doing
enough to put it back on. And this is again
it comes back to that erosion of our lifestyle. When

(12:37):
all of these wonderful things we used to do no
longer happen, people genuinely start to question whether they want
to live here anymore. And I will stop at nothing
to make sure that the territory's lifestyle is protected, that
we enjoy our unique opportunities we have here, because living
here should be very special. And that's the territory we're
fighting for, not the territory where things are disappear, where

(13:01):
we're not safe, where businesses are closing. This is just
going in the wrong direction. Lea.

Speaker 1 (13:06):
We are going to have to leave it there just
very quickly. Who is in the chair today.

Speaker 2 (13:13):
That's it's not me, that's for sure, but one of
my team will be. One of my team will be
down there. I know it was a very late night
last night. We've got two days to go, but tune
in if anyone's interested. You can tune in through handsight
on you either by listening or visual.

Speaker 1 (13:28):
Well, they'll do that after me day Leah, they'll do
that after midday. We'll stay all mixed now sorry, yes, yes,
thank you as always, thank you as always. We'll catch
up with you again next week.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
Thank you every thank you.
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