Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Our northern territory.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Police are reportedly considering a curfew once again in Central Australia.
The consideration comes after a violent assault on four off
duty police officers. Yesterday morning. At about two point fifteen
in the morning, four off duty officers, three female and
one male, were walking along the Todd River Walkway near
stott Terrace Bridge on their way to a hotel on
(00:24):
Barrett Drive. Now. The four were approached from behind by
a group of about twenty male youths who proceeded to
assault them. One female was reportedly pulled to the ground
and had her bag stolen. Another female was punched in
the face and kicked multiple times and had her mobile
phone taken, while the male was also punched and kicked
(00:46):
a number of times.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
The group of twenty males then.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Left the area, with the four victims returning to their
accommodation where they call police. Two female victims later taken
to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment of wounds. Now joining
me in the studio is the Minister for Police, Brent Potter.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Good morning Catie.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
This is absolutely appalling. I don't think there's any other
way to put it. Have you spoken to those officers.
Are they okay, No.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Not as yet.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
The police Police commissions in Alice Springs, he has spoken
to those members. But you know, it was disgusting, cowardly
and put simply, he was just criminal what those youth did.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
It's a thugs act, it's gang behavior, and it is
just cowardly waiting in the dark at sort of two
am to pray on people as they walk home.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I just can't put it any more.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Clue than that they're just cowards and their criminals, and
they're going to go to the courts.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Minister, do you know if they were targeted because they
were police officers?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
No, we don't believe.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
So that's the advice I've got from the commissioner was
that they were just for any instance in this they
were Alice Springs residents walking home after a night in town.
It just so happens they've targeted without realizing.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
For Judy police officers look to.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Me, it really goes to the heart of what a
lot of territory ends are feeling at the moment right
like none of us feel like we're safe to walk
home at night, and then to have four police officers
seat upon by a group of twenty people like I
actually can't wrap my head around it.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
But then I think to myself, well, what hope do
the rest of us have? What hope does.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Somebody have trying to walk home late at night? What
hope does a kid have trying to walk home?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Yeah, listen, it's concerning. It's especially concerning. It was four
officers that still, even though they didn't know they were
four off judy offices, that it's occurred to them. I mean,
we had a really good show, show circuit down allis
like it'd have been a really good period of time
everyone to behave themselves. There was, you know, everyone's enjoying it,
and then the show was ended. In the last sort
of seventy two to ninety six hours, we've seen people
that had come into Alice Springs for the show have
(02:41):
stayed too long now and they're going about criminal behavior.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So are they visitors?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
What we're being told initially is looking like they're visitors. Yes,
not just that instant, but the other three or so
instance of period.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Look, I'll get to those in just a sick But
were any of those officers our new recruits?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
One of them was?
Speaker 4 (02:57):
I believed originally I've got titles too, but that's been changed.
Officer had just been posted down there from the twenty
ninth graduation on the twenty ninth of June. I mean,
it's a horrible way to start, not even your first shift,
to go out with a bunch of other coppers that
you're going to work with, analysis make that camarade, that bond,
and then to walk home and be assaulted by a
bunch of cowards.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
It is absolutely appalling, like to put it really mildly.
Do you know in terms of those officers now, particularly
that new recruit, are they going to be staying in Alice.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
They will remain in Alice. There'll probably be a couple
of days or a period of time off. I suspect
i'n't had a chance to speak to them, and it's
obviously happened yesterday the day and then the commission's down
there talking to them, and we'll get to that. Obviously,
if they don't want me to reach out, I won't,
but normally I'll put the offer out there to go
and give them a call. So we'll see how that plays.
But I suspect that they'll have a little bit of
time off.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, Look, it's Unfortunately not the only incident. A police
officer was also run over at a bottle shop as well,
as I understand it towards the end of last week.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah, what happened there.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
That officers identified an intoxicated mail entering or in the car.
He's going to take the keys out from the vehicle,
move the individual from the vehicle, and that person's driven
off and run over the police officer. Very very very
lucky that there wasn't a worse outcome and we had
a further injury or even worse injuries to that officer.
I believe he's just come out of surgery. He'll have
a period of time off. The Commissioner has spoken to him.
(04:14):
But also for the driver, could have ended horribly and
all because that individual is intoxicated, not thinking it's not
an excuse.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
He will go to court and he'll be put before
the judiciary.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
What injuries has that police officers sustained.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
What I'm told is some injuries to the hand and feet,
but the specifics of that are for the member and
I'm not going to make them public. But he's had
to undergo surgery, so quite significant. But we need to
support the member.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I mean that happened at three point fifteen on Friday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Shows you we have a problem.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
There is a particular group of people in the community
of a problem with alcohol and substance abuse and driving
around drunk, going to licensed venues to try and access
more alcohol, and then when being stopped by a uniform
police officer thinking it's okay to continue about your merry way,
Well we're going to He'll be going before the court,
and I hope the court puts an absolutely sends the
most strong message they can to the maximum that they can.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And look again, I'll get to that in a second,
but before I get there, I understand that there was
a stabbing as well.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Yeah, so yesterday and these are all the events as
to why the Commission is considering that curfew and looking
at his options there, and it's legislation that the Law
of Government gave him in the last sittings of the term,
so you know, at his discretion. But one of the
events that occurred yesterday was two i'm told, two female
women fighting in vicinity of the Natock event and one
of them stabbed the other one. Now, thankfully that individual's
gone to hospital. I believe stable condition, and the other
(05:29):
lady was arrested and she's currently spending some time in
the Ars Springs watch House before she goes to the courts.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
So where is the consideration at right now for another curfew.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Well, that's with the Commissioner.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
I mean he's made indications to me that he's seriously
considering it, looking at his options, you know, getting everything aligned.
So if he does decide to make it, he has
the capacity to do so with the laws that we
passed for him. It is, as I said previously, the
direction and discussion that he'll have in me, but ultimate
at the end of the day, he will have to
make that decision. So he keeps everyone abreast of what
he's thinking, but that solely rests with him through the legislation.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
What do you think, like if it was up to you,
would you be calling a curfew?
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Oh listen, I don't want to influence him in the
way that we do this. I am absolutely concerned. I
did call him when I heard about the four officers
and I said, this is sort of this is this
is gang behavior and we have to send a very
clear message. So how he handles that is completely up
to him. I mean, we have additional resources now and hours.
You saw those thirty three that have posted into there,
and obviously one of those was the one assaulted. So
if he does do that, he has more than enough
(06:24):
resources in Alice Springs to an actor curfew.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
And I'll know more way of this after decided this.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Morning, Minister, can you understand how people across the Northern
Territory right now are feeling pretty disheartened? To put it mildly,
I mean, four officers being bashed by a group of
kids is absolutely horrifying. A stabbing incident near the Natoork
week events is unbelievable. And then a police officer being
(06:50):
you know, run over in broad daylight.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I'm trying to wrap my head around it.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
And then in addition to that, we also know over
the weekend these police officers being spat on towards the
end of last week as well at a number of
different locations across the top end. I mean, this behavior
is appalling and can you see how people have lost
a bit of hope.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I can understand why people have had a gutful soul eye.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I mean people seem to think that we don't know
or understand what's going on. It's like, well, no, we
live here as well. I live here, I speak to
the police officer. I've had the every sentiment.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Right there hit around is how maybe the laws aren't
changing to be harsher, you know, like even when you
look at assaults on our police officers. Is the law
of government right now considering increasing the minimum mandatory sentencing
for those who assault police officers.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
No, we increase the maximum penalty for that. During COVID
we actually increase the penalty.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
So the maximum.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
But I guess what I'm asking is the minimum is
that something that's been considered.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
Well, let's put in context. For a person who's first
offense and spits on someone, there is still a chance
they'll go to prison. But if you make it a
minimum mandatory for what could be, you know, exceptional circumstances
around the periphery of that assault, even though no assault
should have happen, it means everyone's going to prison. We
have a capacity issue at the prisons at the moment.
I want the offenders that should be in prison, the
(08:05):
serious offenders in prison, those that spit on officers, I
want them before the court. There was a whole magnitude
of options available to the judiciary, but those are the
serial offenders. I can tell you they are going into
prison time. I'll speaking to one officer recently who'd been
assaulted in Catherine and that person was known, was flagged
as a potential person that woul assault police, had served
prison time for assault police and then went and did
(08:26):
it again to that same officer. And this is what
the point I tried to get across the territories, like
we can have the strongest we could have the strongest
laws in the world, but people don't think they're going
to get caught.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
They don't care.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
But what we need to do is once they do
do that act, they're put before the judiciary and their
liberties are taken from them.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
That point that you made there that they don't care, Like,
how are we in a situation where people don't care?
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Well, I think it's We could talk for hours about
all of the policy positions that have got us to
this point within the Northern Territory around some of the
most disadvantaged people that we have, and that's why we're
putting money into health, education, employment, because we know when
we get people working that there's a sense of purpose
and they have self respect for themselves and they're out
there going to work. The problem we have at the
moment is that we have so much social disadvantage across
(09:08):
the Northern Territory. But regardless, at the end of the day,
when someone commits the offense, there is absolutely laws in
place to put them before the judiciary and hold them
on remand alternatives to custody, a whole bunch of options.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
And look, to me, I'm not a police officer, so
I don't know either way whether you know that mandatory
minimum sentencing should be changing or not. But what I
do know is I have been contacted by police officers
since yesterday who've said to me, Wolfe, I actually think
that that minimum mandatory sentencing does need to change. So
I guess my question this morning is what do you
say to those officers this morning who are listening, who
(09:41):
are thinking I can be spat on, I can be hit,
I can be run over doing my job, and the
government's not even going to consider strengthening those laws.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
What I would say is the issue of the also
being run over is different to say, the officer being
spat on, So there are differences in that space, and listen,
being a police officer is inherently dangerous it has to be.
It is the most dangerous profession. I think we're having
the Northern Territory right now for any public servant, and
I thank them for it, but we need to have
a tiered approach to dealing with crime. They know that
there are different penalties for different offenses. What I can
(10:10):
tell every police officers listening, if it goes before the
court and the judiciary don't meet their end of the bargain,
there is absolutely appeals process and I've been very clear
with the Commissioner on a bunch of issues, not just
as sold police, but around youth and solar motive vehicles
that the expectation is absolutely taken to the Supreme Court
because if the Youth Court and the local court are
not going to uphold their end of the bargain, which
(10:32):
is protecting our frontline officers and the community and they're
going to weigh it for the offender first, then we'll
contest it with the Supreme Court.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Again, though I'll ask, can you see how people listening
will be thinking, Okay, you're prepared to sort of you're
prepared to do that and put it back on the judiciary,
but you're not prepared to look at strengthening other laws.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And look, I'm not an expert when it comes to
those laws.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Now, but I think if you compare them against other jurisdictions,
we are right where we need to be. We don't
have we're not Our laws are in line with other jurisdictions.
So to say that the laws need to be strengthened,
it is not true.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Like we've done.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Strengthening around spitting on frontline workers, which we did during COVID,
and we increase the penalties on that. We've got up
to sixteen years for the assault workers that are out
there right now, those youth that and potentially the gentleman
that's driven the car over the police officer. There is
significant penalties. At the end of the day, the judiciary
is separate to government. We can't tell the judge what
to do. We give them a scope and they operate
(11:25):
within the scope. When they don't do that, then it's
incumbent on the DPPs, the Director of Public Prosecutions and
police to take it to the Supreme Court.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
All right, Minister, I know your press for time as
am I, but I do want to ask, so what
are the next steps now for our of springs this morning?
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Yeah, so the Police Commission has the powers. He'll go
through and do his due diligence to deliberations, and if
he decides to enact a curfew, then it will be
very well known publicly. All of the processes will be
put in place. As it was last time. He can
only declare it for up to three days, so a
short sharp circuit break. And I think, to be honest,
it worked the first time. Alice Springs needed that. We
had a really good show. We've seen ninety six hours
(12:01):
of some unrest from certain groups of people. Well maybe
that's why we need this, the short sharp circuit breaker.
But that's up for the Commissioner to make those determinations,
and then from there there'll be a bunch of public
messaging if he does go down that path, but if not,
at the very least you'll see a bunch of operations.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Being an active I want.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
To just quickly ask you because last time you and
I spoke, not on Friday, during the week that was,
but our last interview, we've spoken about Catherine and the
situation in Catherine. Now I also know over the weekend,
well yesterday we learned there was another horrible situation in
Catherine the Northern Territory Police calling for witnesses to an
assault on a worker at the Catherine Service Station in
the early hours of yesterday morning. So the United Service
(12:36):
Station on Catherine Terrace had been robbed and as staff
member assaulted. It's alleged that that man attempted to leave
the store without paying for goods, at which time the
staff locked the doors in an attempt to try to
stop that thief from leaving. That staff member, though, was
then assaulted by the alleged thief and two other men
who were with him at the time. The group of
males were able to pry open the doors and leave
(12:57):
the area. As I understand it, though the Northern Territory
Police have since caught them. But look, last time you
and I spoke, we spoke about those concerns raised by
the local member there, Joe Hersey. She was calling for
a curfew in Catherine. Have you spoken to Joe?
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Yeah, I told after that interview we spoke, and there's
additional resources in Catherine Roma.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
There's a general purpose police dog down there.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
You've got additional crime also tried and assets that went
down to support them, which were the guys that go
after stolen motor vehicles and the on and property offending.
And you've also had members of the Territory Safety Division
listen that instance, the police arrest that identified and those
people are on remand I believe still at the moment.
We recently did a working group with the Retail Associations
of Australia, the Shoppies Union and Woolies and Coals around
(13:40):
how can we deal with not only stock theF but
also drive offs. Police have a really good system in
relation to dealing with drive offs of fuel and what
I don't want any retail worker putting themselves in harm's
way to deal with one hundred two hundred dollars worth
of fuel. When we get the number plate, we get
the people on CCTV and police can chase them up
and get it back later.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
It's a pretty ordinary situation though, right, I mean, honestly,
I feel like we're at this point at the moment
where we're going, all right, well, we've just got to
you know, you let someone drive off and let the
behavior continue on.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Can you see how people are really frustrated?
Speaker 4 (14:12):
What I'm saying is that is a national approach to
dealing with fuel drive offs, and it is proven to
work and it removes the risk to the worker. You
asked me what we're doing about protecting people. One of
the things I don't believe if retail workers should be
engaging with people who are not intending to pay. That
is what police are there for.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
It's criminal. So let's let the police go and deal
with it.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
And you're right, it is despicable, but fuel drive offs
happens all across the country and it is a symptom
of a bunch of issues.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
And so no issue like no looking at Catherine at
this point in time as to whether they need a curfew.
You feel as though what's gone on with the additional
resources isn't.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Us And I know the local member down there was
pushing and you know, wants to see a curfew there. Well,
that's for the commission to make that determination. I had
to chat to him after the radio interview we did
a couple of weeks ago, and he made it pretty
clear he doesn't believe. He looked at all the trend data,
he doesn't believe it was appropriate for Catherine.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
But also those people were arrested.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
So in those times that occurred down in Catherine, they
arrested the people as they did it, whereas this one,
there's twenty outstanding individuals and that's what's a concerned to
public safety.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
So where are things at now with the arrests of
these twenty individuals or with locating them.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Yeah, so police will through that at the moment it
happened at two in the morning, you know, in the dark,
so that they're working through that. But I would put
an appeal at that is something someone's family, they are
someone's friends, they are someone's accomplishes. If you know who
they are, call police, let's get them off the streets.
So we do to We don't have to have these
people running around potentially a threat to public and it
makes it easy for police going forward.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Look, I was planning on speaking to you about this
this morning, but you know, really we've not had a
lot of time to cover off on it. The tourism
numbers and the tourism sentiment across the Northern Territory. We
spoke about it briefly on Friday during the week that
was you know, this situation now in Alice Springs is
really not something that's you know, that's going to be
helpful in terms of driving that tourism sentiment in somewhere
(15:53):
like Central Australia.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
No, you're absolutely right.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
And I've been one of those advocates that I hate
talking the negative about our springs because yes, you've got
a right to talk about an incident that is a
concerning to people, but it lasts longer than just the
week that it's on radio.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
It last four months.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
In the tourism sector, arguably, we're still seeing carry over
from the curfew earlier. This year we've done, We're putting
money into the sector. We're putting a significant around in
the discount of travel schemes. We saw the caravan, million
dollar caravan. I think it was off the top of
my head that was being implemented by Joel.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
The numbers.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
We want to see the numbers grow, but also we
want to make people feel safe. And I make no
apologies for doing what we have to do to keep
people safe. I'm not going to let twenty people roll
around the streets of Alice Springs and threaten Laura Binding
citizens going about their business after having a good night out.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
That behavior is discussing as criminal. So we'll do what
we have to do.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
What I would say the tourism operators, Joel obviously if
the curfew is called, Joel and that team will be
engaging with you.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
I mean twenty youths.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Is there a likelihood here that they're just going to
be taken home to responsible adults.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Absolutely not, no way it is.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Yes, some youth will always be taken home and responsible.
They may be in the car and not involved in
the criminal activity. But in this instance they've insaulted police.
Actually they've insulted a territoriy because they didn't know they
were police officers. They will be put before the court.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Brent Potter, Minister for Police, really appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Perfect Thanks
Our northern territory.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Police are reportedly considering a curfew once again in Central Australia.
The consideration comes after a violent assault on four off
duty police officers. Yesterday morning. At about two point fifteen
in the morning, four off duty officers, three female and
one male, were walking along the Todd River Walkway near
stott Terrace Bridge on their way to a hotel on
(00:24):
Barrett Drive. Now. The four were approached from behind by
a group of about twenty male youths who proceeded to
assault them. One female was reportedly pulled to the ground
and had her bag stolen. Another female was punched in
the face and kicked multiple times and had her mobile
phone taken, while the male was also punched and kicked
(00:46):
a number of times.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
The group of twenty males then.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Left the area, with the four victims returning to their
accommodation where they call police. Two female victims later taken
to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment of wounds. Now joining
me in the studio is the Minister for Police, Brent Potter.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Good morning Catie.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
This is absolutely appalling. I don't think there's any other
way to put it. Have you spoken to those officers.
Are they okay, No.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Not as yet.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
The police Police commissions in Alice Springs, he has spoken
to those members. But you know, it was disgusting, cowardly
and put simply, he was just criminal what those youth did.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
It's a thugs act, it's gang behavior, and it is
just cowardly waiting in the dark at sort of two
am to pray on people as they walk home.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I just can't put it any more.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Clue than that they're just cowards and their criminals, and
they're going to go to the courts.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Minister, do you know if they were targeted because they
were police officers?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
No, we don't believe.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
So that's the advice I've got from the commissioner was
that they were just for any instance in this they
were Alice Springs residents walking home after a night in town.
It just so happens they've targeted without realizing.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
For Judy police officers look to.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Me, it really goes to the heart of what a
lot of territory ends are feeling at the moment right
like none of us feel like we're safe to walk
home at night, and then to have four police officers
seat upon by a group of twenty people like I
actually can't wrap my head around it.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
But then I think to myself, well, what hope do
the rest of us have? What hope does.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Somebody have trying to walk home late at night? What
hope does a kid have trying to walk home?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Yeah, listen, it's concerning. It's especially concerning. It was four
officers that still, even though they didn't know they were
four off judy offices, that it's occurred to them. I mean,
we had a really good show, show circuit down allis
like it'd have been a really good period of time
everyone to behave themselves. There was, you know, everyone's enjoying it,
and then the show was ended. In the last sort
of seventy two to ninety six hours, we've seen people
that had come into Alice Springs for the show have
(02:41):
stayed too long now and they're going about criminal behavior.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So are they visitors?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
What we're being told initially is looking like they're visitors. Yes,
not just that instant, but the other three or so
instance of period.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Look, I'll get to those in just a sick But
were any of those officers our new recruits?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
One of them was?
Speaker 4 (02:57):
I believed originally I've got titles too, but that's been changed.
Officer had just been posted down there from the twenty
ninth graduation on the twenty ninth of June. I mean,
it's a horrible way to start, not even your first shift,
to go out with a bunch of other coppers that
you're going to work with, analysis make that camarade, that bond,
and then to walk home and be assaulted by a
bunch of cowards.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
It is absolutely appalling, like to put it really mildly.
Do you know in terms of those officers now, particularly
that new recruit, are they going to be staying in Alice.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
They will remain in Alice. There'll probably be a couple
of days or a period of time off. I suspect
i'n't had a chance to speak to them, and it's
obviously happened yesterday the day and then the commission's down
there talking to them, and we'll get to that. Obviously,
if they don't want me to reach out, I won't,
but normally I'll put the offer out there to go
and give them a call. So we'll see how that plays.
But I suspect that they'll have a little bit of
time off.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, Look, it's Unfortunately not the only incident. A police
officer was also run over at a bottle shop as well,
as I understand it towards the end of last week.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah, what happened there.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
That officers identified an intoxicated mail entering or in the car.
He's going to take the keys out from the vehicle,
move the individual from the vehicle, and that person's driven
off and run over the police officer. Very very very
lucky that there wasn't a worse outcome and we had
a further injury or even worse injuries to that officer.
I believe he's just come out of surgery. He'll have
a period of time off. The Commissioner has spoken to him.
(04:14):
But also for the driver, could have ended horribly and
all because that individual is intoxicated, not thinking it's not
an excuse.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
He will go to court and he'll be put before
the judiciary.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
What injuries has that police officers sustained.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
What I'm told is some injuries to the hand and feet,
but the specifics of that are for the member and
I'm not going to make them public. But he's had
to undergo surgery, so quite significant. But we need to
support the member.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I mean that happened at three point fifteen on Friday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Shows you we have a problem.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
There is a particular group of people in the community
of a problem with alcohol and substance abuse and driving
around drunk, going to licensed venues to try and access
more alcohol, and then when being stopped by a uniform
police officer thinking it's okay to continue about your merry way,
Well we're going to He'll be going before the court,
and I hope the court puts an absolutely sends the
most strong message they can to the maximum that they can.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And look again, I'll get to that in a second,
but before I get there, I understand that there was
a stabbing as well.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Yeah, so yesterday and these are all the events as
to why the Commission is considering that curfew and looking
at his options there, and it's legislation that the Law
of Government gave him in the last sittings of the term,
so you know, at his discretion. But one of the
events that occurred yesterday was two i'm told, two female
women fighting in vicinity of the Natock event and one
of them stabbed the other one. Now, thankfully that individual's
gone to hospital. I believe stable condition, and the other
(05:29):
lady was arrested and she's currently spending some time in
the Ars Springs watch House before she goes to the courts.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
So where is the consideration at right now for another curfew.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Well, that's with the Commissioner.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
I mean he's made indications to me that he's seriously
considering it, looking at his options, you know, getting everything aligned.
So if he does decide to make it, he has
the capacity to do so with the laws that we
passed for him. It is, as I said previously, the
direction and discussion that he'll have in me, but ultimate
at the end of the day, he will have to
make that decision. So he keeps everyone abreast of what
he's thinking, but that solely rests with him through the legislation.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
What do you think, like if it was up to you,
would you be calling a curfew?
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Oh listen, I don't want to influence him in the
way that we do this. I am absolutely concerned. I
did call him when I heard about the four officers
and I said, this is sort of this is this
is gang behavior and we have to send a very
clear message. So how he handles that is completely up
to him. I mean, we have additional resources now and hours.
You saw those thirty three that have posted into there,
and obviously one of those was the one assaulted. So
if he does do that, he has more than enough
(06:24):
resources in Alice Springs to an actor curfew.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
And I'll know more way of this after decided this.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Morning, Minister, can you understand how people across the Northern
Territory right now are feeling pretty disheartened? To put it mildly,
I mean, four officers being bashed by a group of
kids is absolutely horrifying. A stabbing incident near the Natoork
week events is unbelievable. And then a police officer being
(06:50):
you know, run over in broad daylight.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I'm trying to wrap my head around it.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
And then in addition to that, we also know over
the weekend these police officers being spat on towards the
end of last week as well at a number of
different locations across the top end. I mean, this behavior
is appalling and can you see how people have lost
a bit of hope.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I can understand why people have had a gutful soul eye.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I mean people seem to think that we don't know
or understand what's going on. It's like, well, no, we
live here as well. I live here, I speak to
the police officer. I've had the every sentiment.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Right there hit around is how maybe the laws aren't
changing to be harsher, you know, like even when you
look at assaults on our police officers. Is the law
of government right now considering increasing the minimum mandatory sentencing
for those who assault police officers.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
No, we increase the maximum penalty for that. During COVID
we actually increase the penalty.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
So the maximum.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
But I guess what I'm asking is the minimum is
that something that's been considered.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
Well, let's put in context. For a person who's first
offense and spits on someone, there is still a chance
they'll go to prison. But if you make it a
minimum mandatory for what could be, you know, exceptional circumstances
around the periphery of that assault, even though no assault
should have happen, it means everyone's going to prison. We
have a capacity issue at the prisons at the moment.
I want the offenders that should be in prison, the
(08:05):
serious offenders in prison, those that spit on officers, I
want them before the court. There was a whole magnitude
of options available to the judiciary, but those are the
serial offenders. I can tell you they are going into
prison time. I'll speaking to one officer recently who'd been
assaulted in Catherine and that person was known, was flagged
as a potential person that woul assault police, had served
prison time for assault police and then went and did
(08:26):
it again to that same officer. And this is what
the point I tried to get across the territories, like
we can have the strongest we could have the strongest
laws in the world, but people don't think they're going
to get caught.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
They don't care.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
But what we need to do is once they do
do that act, they're put before the judiciary and their
liberties are taken from them.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
That point that you made there that they don't care, Like,
how are we in a situation where people don't care?
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Well, I think it's We could talk for hours about
all of the policy positions that have got us to
this point within the Northern Territory around some of the
most disadvantaged people that we have, and that's why we're
putting money into health, education, employment, because we know when
we get people working that there's a sense of purpose
and they have self respect for themselves and they're out
there going to work. The problem we have at the
moment is that we have so much social disadvantage across
(09:08):
the Northern Territory. But regardless, at the end of the day,
when someone commits the offense, there is absolutely laws in
place to put them before the judiciary and hold them
on remand alternatives to custody, a whole bunch of options.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
And look, to me, I'm not a police officer, so
I don't know either way whether you know that mandatory
minimum sentencing should be changing or not. But what I
do know is I have been contacted by police officers
since yesterday who've said to me, Wolfe, I actually think
that that minimum mandatory sentencing does need to change. So
I guess my question this morning is what do you
say to those officers this morning who are listening, who
(09:41):
are thinking I can be spat on, I can be hit,
I can be run over doing my job, and the
government's not even going to consider strengthening those laws.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
What I would say is the issue of the also
being run over is different to say, the officer being
spat on, So there are differences in that space, and listen,
being a police officer is inherently dangerous it has to be.
It is the most dangerous profession. I think we're having
the Northern Territory right now for any public servant, and
I thank them for it, but we need to have
a tiered approach to dealing with crime. They know that
there are different penalties for different offenses. What I can
(10:10):
tell every police officers listening, if it goes before the
court and the judiciary don't meet their end of the bargain,
there is absolutely appeals process and I've been very clear
with the Commissioner on a bunch of issues, not just
as sold police, but around youth and solar motive vehicles
that the expectation is absolutely taken to the Supreme Court
because if the Youth Court and the local court are
not going to uphold their end of the bargain, which
(10:32):
is protecting our frontline officers and the community and they're
going to weigh it for the offender first, then we'll
contest it with the Supreme Court.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Again, though I'll ask, can you see how people listening
will be thinking, Okay, you're prepared to sort of you're
prepared to do that and put it back on the judiciary,
but you're not prepared to look at strengthening other laws.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And look, I'm not an expert when it comes to
those laws.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Now, but I think if you compare them against other jurisdictions,
we are right where we need to be. We don't
have we're not Our laws are in line with other jurisdictions.
So to say that the laws need to be strengthened,
it is not true.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Like we've done.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Strengthening around spitting on frontline workers, which we did during COVID,
and we increase the penalties on that. We've got up
to sixteen years for the assault workers that are out
there right now, those youth that and potentially the gentleman
that's driven the car over the police officer. There is
significant penalties. At the end of the day, the judiciary
is separate to government. We can't tell the judge what
to do. We give them a scope and they operate
(11:25):
within the scope. When they don't do that, then it's
incumbent on the DPPs, the Director of Public Prosecutions and
police to take it to the Supreme Court.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
All right, Minister, I know your press for time as
am I, but I do want to ask, so what
are the next steps now for our of springs this morning?
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Yeah, so the Police Commission has the powers. He'll go
through and do his due diligence to deliberations, and if
he decides to enact a curfew, then it will be
very well known publicly. All of the processes will be
put in place. As it was last time. He can
only declare it for up to three days, so a
short sharp circuit break. And I think, to be honest,
it worked the first time. Alice Springs needed that. We
had a really good show. We've seen ninety six hours
(12:01):
of some unrest from certain groups of people. Well maybe
that's why we need this, the short sharp circuit breaker.
But that's up for the Commissioner to make those determinations,
and then from there there'll be a bunch of public
messaging if he does go down that path, but if not,
at the very least you'll see a bunch of operations.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Being an active I want.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
To just quickly ask you because last time you and
I spoke, not on Friday, during the week that was,
but our last interview, we've spoken about Catherine and the
situation in Catherine. Now I also know over the weekend,
well yesterday we learned there was another horrible situation in
Catherine the Northern Territory Police calling for witnesses to an
assault on a worker at the Catherine Service Station in
the early hours of yesterday morning. So the United Service
(12:36):
Station on Catherine Terrace had been robbed and as staff
member assaulted. It's alleged that that man attempted to leave
the store without paying for goods, at which time the
staff locked the doors in an attempt to try to
stop that thief from leaving. That staff member, though, was
then assaulted by the alleged thief and two other men
who were with him at the time. The group of
males were able to pry open the doors and leave
(12:57):
the area. As I understand it, though the Northern Territory
Police have since caught them. But look, last time you
and I spoke, we spoke about those concerns raised by
the local member there, Joe Hersey. She was calling for
a curfew in Catherine. Have you spoken to Joe?
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Yeah, I told after that interview we spoke, and there's
additional resources in Catherine Roma.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
There's a general purpose police dog down there.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
You've got additional crime also tried and assets that went
down to support them, which were the guys that go
after stolen motor vehicles and the on and property offending.
And you've also had members of the Territory Safety Division
listen that instance, the police arrest that identified and those
people are on remand I believe still at the moment.
We recently did a working group with the Retail Associations
of Australia, the Shoppies Union and Woolies and Coals around
(13:40):
how can we deal with not only stock theF but
also drive offs. Police have a really good system in
relation to dealing with drive offs of fuel and what
I don't want any retail worker putting themselves in harm's
way to deal with one hundred two hundred dollars worth
of fuel. When we get the number plate, we get
the people on CCTV and police can chase them up
and get it back later.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
It's a pretty ordinary situation though, right, I mean, honestly,
I feel like we're at this point at the moment
where we're going, all right, well, we've just got to
you know, you let someone drive off and let the
behavior continue on.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Can you see how people are really frustrated?
Speaker 4 (14:12):
What I'm saying is that is a national approach to
dealing with fuel drive offs, and it is proven to
work and it removes the risk to the worker. You
asked me what we're doing about protecting people. One of
the things I don't believe if retail workers should be
engaging with people who are not intending to pay. That
is what police are there for.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
It's criminal. So let's let the police go and deal
with it.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
And you're right, it is despicable, but fuel drive offs
happens all across the country and it is a symptom
of a bunch of issues.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
And so no issue like no looking at Catherine at
this point in time as to whether they need a curfew.
You feel as though what's gone on with the additional
resources isn't.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Us And I know the local member down there was
pushing and you know, wants to see a curfew there. Well,
that's for the commission to make that determination. I had
to chat to him after the radio interview we did
a couple of weeks ago, and he made it pretty
clear he doesn't believe. He looked at all the trend data,
he doesn't believe it was appropriate for Catherine.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
But also those people were arrested.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
So in those times that occurred down in Catherine, they
arrested the people as they did it, whereas this one,
there's twenty outstanding individuals and that's what's a concerned to
public safety.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
So where are things at now with the arrests of
these twenty individuals or with locating them.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Yeah, so police will through that at the moment it
happened at two in the morning, you know, in the dark,
so that they're working through that. But I would put
an appeal at that is something someone's family, they are
someone's friends, they are someone's accomplishes. If you know who
they are, call police, let's get them off the streets.
So we do to We don't have to have these
people running around potentially a threat to public and it
makes it easy for police going forward.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Look, I was planning on speaking to you about this
this morning, but you know, really we've not had a
lot of time to cover off on it. The tourism
numbers and the tourism sentiment across the Northern Territory. We
spoke about it briefly on Friday during the week that
was you know, this situation now in Alice Springs is
really not something that's you know, that's going to be
helpful in terms of driving that tourism sentiment in somewhere
(15:53):
like Central Australia.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
No, you're absolutely right.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
And I've been one of those advocates that I hate
talking the negative about our springs because yes, you've got
a right to talk about an incident that is a
concerning to people, but it lasts longer than just the
week that it's on radio.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
It last four months.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
In the tourism sector, arguably, we're still seeing carry over
from the curfew earlier. This year we've done, We're putting
money into the sector. We're putting a significant around in
the discount of travel schemes. We saw the caravan, million
dollar caravan. I think it was off the top of
my head that was being implemented by Joel.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
The numbers.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
We want to see the numbers grow, but also we
want to make people feel safe. And I make no
apologies for doing what we have to do to keep
people safe. I'm not going to let twenty people roll
around the streets of Alice Springs and threaten Laura Binding
citizens going about their business after having a good night out.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
That behavior is discussing as criminal. So we'll do what
we have to do.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
What I would say the tourism operators, Joel obviously if
the curfew is called, Joel and that team will be
engaging with you.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
I mean twenty youths.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Is there a likelihood here that they're just going to
be taken home to responsible adults.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Absolutely not, no way it is.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Yes, some youth will always be taken home and responsible.
They may be in the car and not involved in
the criminal activity. But in this instance they've insaulted police.
Actually they've insulted a territoriy because they didn't know they
were police officers. They will be put before the court.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Brent Potter, Minister for Police, really appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Perfect Thanks
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