Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, as we know, Parliament is going to sit for
the first time next week with the new members of Parliament,
and for the first time we've got a member of
the Greens here in the Northern Territory Parliament. Cat macnamara
is the Greens member for Nightcliff and she joins me
in the studio. Good morning to you, Cat, Good morning,
lovely to have you in the studio. Nice to meet
you in persone. Thank you, thanks so much for your time. Now.
(00:22):
How are you feeling after being elected? Oh?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Great, buzzing. I mean, it's a real like an absolute whirlwind.
I'm just sort of getting my head around what's happening.
And you know, but we sort of hit the ground running,
you know, because our count went.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
On for a while and yeah, but you know.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We've got the office open running, We're having constituents coming
in and chatting to us, so it's all happening.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
So is the office still in the same spot as
where Natasha Files' office was, Yeah, same one. And that's
a good thing, I guess for that continuality for people
they know where to find you.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
It's a really good spot because it really is open
up to communitlate the markets, so you know, every Sunday
people can come in, wonder in and say Hi.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
It's like it's I mean, I'm lucky. It's a great spot.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah. And so what's the feedback being from the electorate
since elected?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
So I'm actually kind of been blown away, like, you know,
so much positive feedback, people that have just sort of
popped their head in to say, oh, you don't know me,
but I've voted for you, and a lot of people
saying I've voted Greens for the first time, or even
if they said I put you number two, you know,
like I'm so excited to see change, Like, yeah, it's
been really lovely.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
And so what are your main priorities? I guess since
stepping into the role, and I guess finding your feet
in a lot of ways because it is such a
brand new position, you find yourself it.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, totally, Like so to start off with, my real
priority is my electorate.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
And you know, I talked to a lot dur in
the campaign about bringing the voices of my community into parliament.
You know a lot of people feeling like they hadn't
been listened to it, they hadn't been heard, or they
never had a say in things. Yeah, so I really
want to focus on them and what they want and
things that they were.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Telling me during the campaign. So there are some like really.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Tangible things that I can sort of get working on,
For example, around integrity, a lot of people saying they
felt they could trust their politicians, you know, they're acting
the best interests of people, So things like a lobbyist
register or something that I can look at, something else
CLP actually agreed to.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Before the election. Yeah right, yeah, yeah, so some.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Tangible things like that, and obviously community safety and how
people feeling in the electorate is really important.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah, And look, it is so important, you know, to
make sure that we can trust our policies as well
and make sure that we have got those different things
in place. And we've seen that under the former government
as well, even with the travel and that kind of thing.
So it's it is a good thing to get stuck into.
Now we know that Parliament's sitting next week. We heard
from Justine Davis and Robin Carl last week that you've
all been to Parliament School. Have you wrapped your head
(02:34):
around it all?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
But yeah, I mean, thank goodness for Parliament School. It
was a good little introduction. We definitely, I mean I
needed that.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, having not you know, been into those rooms before,
and it was great, just sort of you know, give
that little introduction about just there's so many like the processes,
the parliamentary processes, all the stuff we've got to get
our head around, which I'm sure will happen as we're
more in the role. But someone like me who this
is all very new, so no Parley schools.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Well, I reckon for any.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
You know, if you've not worked as a staffer or
if you've not worked up there before, it's pretty hard
to kind of wrap your head around everything and just
all the sort of procedures and protocols I guess that
are in place.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, totally, totally.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
You know, it can be kind of intimidating, but it's
also like really exciting.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah bodies and so Parliament sitting next week of course
for the first time now. The CLP have certainly outlined
a number of legislative changes that they plan to introduce
to combat crime, Declan's Law and lowering the criminal age
as well as ram raid legislation. There are three of
those changes. First off, Kat, do you think the re
lowering of the criminal age is going to make a difference.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
No, I mean, I think it's really rings alarm bells
for me when I see something in the territory that's
going in the pole opposite direction from everywhere else in
Australia and also internationally. There is so much evidence to
show that the younger a child is involved with police
or the judicial system, that that increases that cycle of
crime for them, and you know, and all the course
(04:00):
the health and medical evidence around their cognitive abilities to
understand you know, consequence and action and things.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
So I think it's really really concerning.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
And I know that there are so many people out
there who are raising their voice, people in the justice space, doctors,
medical professionals, teachers, people are saying this is a massive
step backwards.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
And I'm really concerned about that.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
What do you say to those victims who, you know,
we've spoken to people on the show before, elderly people
who've been held up at knife point by you know,
children that are very young.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
What do you say to them, Oh, it's awful. Everyone
deserves to be safe in their home. I've certainly felt
unsafe in my house. Like I absolutely want our community
to just get together and to fix some of these issues, right,
But I just the evidence is out there that this
is not the.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Right way to go about it.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You know, they if we want to be involving these
really vulnerable children ten and eleven, you know, age into
the right programs and the right help, we shouldn't have
to criminalize them first to do that.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
How do you think we do it differently then? Or
what can you do? I suppose next week when Parliament
does it, because you you may cast a lonely figure
in some ways in the sense that there's seventeen members
now of the COLP. You've then got other independents, But
you know, how how are you planning to get that
message across?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Well? Yeah, I mean I want to I want to
talk about like the evidence and be able to scrutinize
legislation to make sure just.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Because we can do something, it doesn't always mean that
we should.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
And I want to make sure that the laws that
we're doing are the best laws the community deserves.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
We deserve the.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Best laws that are going to give the outcome that
we want, right, And so my role will do to
try and scrutinize legislation and have a look what sort
of is there any unintended consequences of this? And I
think that's a really important role of the opposition, but
especially the cross bench, to be able to take that
on board, have a look and say, all right, you know,
have we got any questions here?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
How could we? Is there any ways that we could
you know? Is it the right way to go forward?
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Have you has the opposition given you I mean, sorry,
has the government I should say, and I'm wrapping my
head around on calling people. Has the government given you
the opportunity to look through the legislation yet? Around Decklan's law?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
No?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
No, So have you had much of a Have you
heard much about it so far and how you're feeling
about those legislative challenges.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Yes, I mean I've just heard what's in the media
and what everyone else has read. I do think it's
really important that we get to look at that legislation first.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
It is concerning the.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Idea that maybe the government wants to ram things through
without any proper scrutiny. And I think with a lot
of the amendments and things that they're proposing, once again,
I want to look to the evidence. You know, I
worry that we all know our prisons are bursting right
our staff you know, prison staff judicial system is completely overwhelmed,
(06:43):
and if we've got a proposal that's just going to
add to that burden, I'm going, well, is this the
right way forward? When I was door knocking speaking to
people from all different types of walks of life right
that are concerned about crime and safety.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
One thing that almost everyone said.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Was, well, yeah, prison's not working, Like it's what we
doings not working.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
So I don't know, adding to the burden of that and.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Just throwing more people in prison with any rehabilitation or
anything like that, is that going to make us safer?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Is leaving people out on the streets who've committed violent offenses?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
The answer, look, I you know, I think the judicial system,
they've got the role in that. There's a separation of
powers for a reason, and they've got to be making
those decisions. And like, of course, I don't want people
that are a danger to the public, you know, out
on the street. You know, we have got I think
it's forty one percent of our prison population is in
their on romance, so they haven't you know, they're the
(07:32):
ones who have been denied bail. So I just want
to make sure that what we're doing is actually going
to make us safer.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Have you had a look at the ram Raid legislation
or have you heard much about it that's being introduced
as well next week. There is a raft of legislation.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
By the look of things, look known that that particular one.
I haven't.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
I mean, I've been hearing a lot the bayl amendments
and lowering the age have really been talked about.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I haven't so much looked at the ram Raid legislation.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
What I would say also is that we saw the
legislation's scrutiny commit So they were something that the previous
government YEA disbanded right and at the time I think
Leah and Nokia actually said that was a backward step
and was really unhappy with it. So this is something
that is like, if we want a robust democracy to
make the best laws possible.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So you would like to see those scrutiny committees reintroduced, definitely.
It's something we've spoken to Jerry would the former Independent
member for Nelson about I know is something that he
was always very passionate about having those scrutiny committees be
able to look over legislation as it is introduced. Do
you reckon they're going to go for us?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I just don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I would hope so seeing as you know that they
did make a point when they were disbanded to say
that it was undemocratic and really a backward step, and
that you know, if Leah Kara and the CLP want
to make the best laws possible, this is how we
do it. This is where everyone keeps, you know, saying,
this is where the real work happens in parliament.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Right because it's a cross party thing.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
You have government, opposition and cross benches sitting together on
a committee going through the fine details with the fine
tooth comb.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Look, Kat, we're getting a lot of messages coming through
on the text line. There are We've got a lot
of victims of cross that listen to the show, so
there's a lot of people that sort of aren't agreeing
with what you're saying. I mean, I think it's important
to hear hear from everybody, and you know, whether people
agree with your perspective or not, you are a member
of Parliament. I think it's important for them to hear
(09:15):
your points of view. And I also think that it
is important that legislation is indeed scrutinized. There is no
doubt about that. Kat, one of the messages that we
have received. We actually got this yesterday from a couple
of people asking if your husband works for Impects. Now,
I wouldn't usually, like I wouldn't usually ask someone with
their partner works, and I don't really care where you know,
(09:35):
where they work. But I think they're more asking it
on the sense that you ran on a very anti
gas platform. So is that the case.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Yeah, like he's he works for a contractor. Yep, he's
a rigger and welder and inspector. So he works for
a contractor that worked at the site at Impose.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
And I mean I would just say, like, actually.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
There are so many people that work in the gas
industry that wish there was a renewable alternative for them.
For people with those type of skills and trades, that's
the only option for work up here. And like you know,
as the Greens, we're like pro worker. We all need
to put food on the table. And you know, this
is also part of like the conversation around transitioning to renewables, right,
(10:15):
I know.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Personally deeply what it means to need to have food
on the table.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
For your family and be able to know that there
is a future for them in work, Like, how are
we going to upskill, change.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Skills to new roles because we're heading to renewables, that's
just the future. And how do we bring all those
gas workers along?
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Well, that's going to be like that is a big
thing right as we do transition. Look, I always feel
a bit funny asking people about their partner's work, and
I know at different times, so I've had to be like,
I've had to disclose where my husband works over the
years because when we're in these jobs, unfortunately, you know,
you get questioned about this kind of stuff. You know,
I suppose again I'll go back to some people questioning though,
(10:52):
if it is hypocritical to be running on that platform
of sort of anti gas, anti new gas development, if
you know, if your family is benefiting from a job in.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Gas, I mean, I just think we've got to separate also,
like the workers from the people that are making the decisions.
And you've got these companies that are massive foreign owned
companies that are taking our resources, paying very little tax
and royalty, and the people here are not seeing a benefit.
I'm never going to hold it against someone what they
do for work to put food on the table for
their family.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
And I think we should all be like on board
with that.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And it's tough, I reckon as well, Like even when
you look at some of the renewable the different things
that lots of us would like to do, like having
solar or you know, maybe not having you know, gas
used in different ways, but it does come down to
those like what's called beneficial for a lot of families. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Well, and this is the thing too that is exciting
about a renewables future is that renewables are cheaper, like
if we want to do stuff for our back pocket
for power prices, right, And I mean this is like
a whole other conversation we can go down. And I'm
really excited about it because the potential here, especially in
Darwin with the endless sunshine, we have to create a
renewables industry is really exciting.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
And to train up our workforce that we don't have to,
Like gas is a dying industry.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
It's gonna end eventually, and I want us here to
have thrive and have jobs long term.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
But it doesn't sound like you're you know, like anti
impis or.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Well, I mean, I mean I'm certainly anti new gas developments.
Like absolutely, this is a climate crisis. Right, It's the
science is absolutely crystal clear. We cannot be opening new
fossil fuel developments. I'm absolutely not anti worker and people,
you know, being able to work for their families. I
think that's a really sort of just not not good
path to go down. I definitely want to hold the
(12:35):
people to account that I'm making decisions around these kind
of things, and the influence that the gas lobby has.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
On politics, that is something that I'm really good.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
One of the other questions that we've been getting over
the last twenty four hours with sin Vincent de Paul
moving into Coconut Grove, Now, I believe it sort of
falls under the Funny Bay Electric, doesn't it. But nonetheless,
there are a lot of questions coming from Nightcliff and
Coconut Grove about some Vinnie's moving into coconut growth.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
How are you.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Feeling about it? I mean, I know I've spoken to
you about that and the lead into the election, and
you were quite luck you were you were open to it.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah, I mean, I think this is what we've got
to look at the reality of the situation that we
have here with you know, vulnerable people and these kind
of services have to exist.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
We need them and when they run, well, they run
really well.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I mean, so, yes, it's just it's out of my electorate,
but of course people it's on the border.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
So people have come and I've had some people come
and speak to me about it. I think people they
really want assurances.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
One of the biggest problems they said was that they
were not consulted, and that is really problematic. You know,
we really need to engage people in what is happening
in their neighborhood.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
So and I think they kind of want assurances. There's
just been questions around like how it's going to run
that kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
So yeah, one of my jobs is going to be
to you know, meet up with them, have a look
at what the program is and that way then I
can sort of pass that information onto my constituents and
sort of and monitor it.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Kat. Last big question for the morning, what's on your
agenda next week with parliament sitting.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
A right, look next week it's a little bit I mean,
as a cross bench kind of got to sit back
and just see what the government's going to sort of do.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
First, we're going to be reacting to that.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
I will be sworn in, there'll be a lot of
ceremonial stuff too.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I'll be sworn in we have first speeches.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I am concerned about the CLP trying to ram through
legislation without proper scrutiny. There is supposed to be a
thirty day period, you know, after it being table.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Where you can read it. If they try to ram
it through without that, I think that's really concerning.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
I want to make sure we're getting the best laws
as possible yep. And the other things that you know,
And as I said before about integrity and a lobbyist register,
and there are some issues.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
I'll also like to mention voluntary assists of dying.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Not something that I can look at next week, but
something that's on my agenda that a lot of my
constituents have been raising with me.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
There are still people messaging about the fact that your
husband works for IMPEACS. Now, like you know, I know
it's a tough one and I, like I say, as
a woman, I always find it a bit uncomfortable having
to answer questions about what your husband does for work.
But to those out there listening this morning that think
that it is hypocritical, what do you say to them?
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I mean, first of all, Okay, he doesn't work for impects.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
He works for a subcontractor, right, And these are contracting
companies that are going to work wherever the work is.
Some of these some contractors work on renewable projects. It's like,
whatever the skills are is where they're going to send them.
We have a gas industry here that so they've sent them.
I mean, heck, I should get him to come on.
You know, he has openly said he would much rather
work in renewables or a different space.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
But this is where his skills lie. It's not something
that we've done.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Like you know, prior to moving here, we worked in
different We were both Telco riggers, building and telecommunications to me,
so we've worked in all different kinds of spaces. I'm
never going to apologize for being pro worker, pro people,
pro tradees.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Like you know, I'm just I think it's fair enough.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Kat Lovely to speak to you this morning. I really
appreciate you coming in. Now we're gonna have to try
and get you in for the week that was as
well when you're keen, so we'll get we'll talk to
Crystal off air and we'll organize that. But thanks so
much for joining us this morning, your first interview on Mix,
and we'll talk to you against.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Thank you, thank you,
Now, as we know, Parliament is going to sit for
the first time next week with the new members of Parliament,
and for the first time we've got a member of
the Greens here in the Northern Territory Parliament. Cat macnamara
is the Greens member for Nightcliff and she joins me
in the studio. Good morning to you, Cat, Good morning,
lovely to have you in the studio. Nice to meet
you in persone. Thank you, thanks so much for your time. Now.
(00:22):
How are you feeling after being elected? Oh?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Great, buzzing. I mean, it's a real like an absolute whirlwind.
I'm just sort of getting my head around what's happening.
And you know, but we sort of hit the ground running,
you know, because our count went.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
On for a while and yeah, but you know.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We've got the office open running, We're having constituents coming
in and chatting to us, so it's all happening.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
So is the office still in the same spot as
where Natasha Files' office was, Yeah, same one. And that's
a good thing, I guess for that continuality for people
they know where to find you.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
It's a really good spot because it really is open
up to communitlate the markets, so you know, every Sunday
people can come in, wonder in and say Hi.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
It's like it's I mean, I'm lucky. It's a great spot.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah. And so what's the feedback being from the electorate
since elected?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
So I'm actually kind of been blown away, like, you know,
so much positive feedback, people that have just sort of
popped their head in to say, oh, you don't know me,
but I've voted for you, and a lot of people
saying I've voted Greens for the first time, or even
if they said I put you number two, you know,
like I'm so excited to see change, Like, yeah, it's
been really lovely.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
And so what are your main priorities? I guess since
stepping into the role, and I guess finding your feet
in a lot of ways because it is such a
brand new position, you find yourself it.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, totally, Like so to start off with, my real
priority is my electorate.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
And you know, I talked to a lot dur in
the campaign about bringing the voices of my community into parliament.
You know a lot of people feeling like they hadn't
been listened to it, they hadn't been heard, or they
never had a say in things. Yeah, so I really
want to focus on them and what they want and
things that they were.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Telling me during the campaign. So there are some like really.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Tangible things that I can sort of get working on,
For example, around integrity, a lot of people saying they
felt they could trust their politicians, you know, they're acting
the best interests of people, So things like a lobbyist
register or something that I can look at, something else
CLP actually agreed to.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Before the election. Yeah right, yeah, yeah, so some.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Tangible things like that, and obviously community safety and how
people feeling in the electorate is really important.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah, And look, it is so important, you know, to
make sure that we can trust our policies as well
and make sure that we have got those different things
in place. And we've seen that under the former government
as well, even with the travel and that kind of thing.
So it's it is a good thing to get stuck into.
Now we know that Parliament's sitting next week. We heard
from Justine Davis and Robin Carl last week that you've
all been to Parliament School. Have you wrapped your head
(02:34):
around it all?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
But yeah, I mean, thank goodness for Parliament School. It
was a good little introduction. We definitely, I mean I
needed that.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, having not you know, been into those rooms before,
and it was great, just sort of you know, give
that little introduction about just there's so many like the processes,
the parliamentary processes, all the stuff we've got to get
our head around, which I'm sure will happen as we're
more in the role. But someone like me who this
is all very new, so no Parley schools.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Well, I reckon for any.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
You know, if you've not worked as a staffer or
if you've not worked up there before, it's pretty hard
to kind of wrap your head around everything and just
all the sort of procedures and protocols I guess that
are in place.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, totally, totally.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
You know, it can be kind of intimidating, but it's
also like really exciting.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah bodies and so Parliament sitting next week of course
for the first time now. The CLP have certainly outlined
a number of legislative changes that they plan to introduce
to combat crime, Declan's Law and lowering the criminal age
as well as ram raid legislation. There are three of
those changes. First off, Kat, do you think the re
lowering of the criminal age is going to make a difference.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
No, I mean, I think it's really rings alarm bells
for me when I see something in the territory that's
going in the pole opposite direction from everywhere else in
Australia and also internationally. There is so much evidence to
show that the younger a child is involved with police
or the judicial system, that that increases that cycle of
crime for them, and you know, and all the course
(04:00):
the health and medical evidence around their cognitive abilities to
understand you know, consequence and action and things.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
So I think it's really really concerning.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
And I know that there are so many people out
there who are raising their voice, people in the justice space, doctors,
medical professionals, teachers, people are saying this is a massive
step backwards.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
And I'm really concerned about that.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
What do you say to those victims who, you know,
we've spoken to people on the show before, elderly people
who've been held up at knife point by you know,
children that are very young.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
What do you say to them, Oh, it's awful. Everyone
deserves to be safe in their home. I've certainly felt
unsafe in my house. Like I absolutely want our community
to just get together and to fix some of these issues, right,
But I just the evidence is out there that this
is not the.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Right way to go about it.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You know, they if we want to be involving these
really vulnerable children ten and eleven, you know, age into
the right programs and the right help, we shouldn't have
to criminalize them first to do that.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
How do you think we do it differently then? Or
what can you do? I suppose next week when Parliament
does it, because you you may cast a lonely figure
in some ways in the sense that there's seventeen members
now of the COLP. You've then got other independents, But
you know, how how are you planning to get that
message across?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Well? Yeah, I mean I want to I want to
talk about like the evidence and be able to scrutinize
legislation to make sure just.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Because we can do something, it doesn't always mean that
we should.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
And I want to make sure that the laws that
we're doing are the best laws the community deserves.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
We deserve the.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Best laws that are going to give the outcome that
we want, right, And so my role will do to
try and scrutinize legislation and have a look what sort
of is there any unintended consequences of this? And I
think that's a really important role of the opposition, but
especially the cross bench, to be able to take that
on board, have a look and say, all right, you know,
have we got any questions here?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
How could we? Is there any ways that we could
you know? Is it the right way to go forward?
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Have you has the opposition given you I mean, sorry,
has the government I should say, and I'm wrapping my
head around on calling people. Has the government given you
the opportunity to look through the legislation yet? Around Decklan's law?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
No?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
No, So have you had much of a Have you
heard much about it so far and how you're feeling
about those legislative challenges.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Yes, I mean I've just heard what's in the media
and what everyone else has read. I do think it's
really important that we get to look at that legislation first.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
It is concerning the.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Idea that maybe the government wants to ram things through
without any proper scrutiny. And I think with a lot
of the amendments and things that they're proposing, once again,
I want to look to the evidence. You know, I
worry that we all know our prisons are bursting right
our staff you know, prison staff judicial system is completely overwhelmed,
(06:43):
and if we've got a proposal that's just going to
add to that burden, I'm going, well, is this the
right way forward? When I was door knocking speaking to
people from all different types of walks of life right
that are concerned about crime and safety.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
One thing that almost everyone said.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Was, well, yeah, prison's not working, Like it's what we
doings not working.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
So I don't know, adding to the burden of that and.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Just throwing more people in prison with any rehabilitation or
anything like that, is that going to make us safer?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Is leaving people out on the streets who've committed violent offenses?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
The answer, look, I you know, I think the judicial system,
they've got the role in that. There's a separation of
powers for a reason, and they've got to be making
those decisions. And like, of course, I don't want people
that are a danger to the public, you know, out
on the street. You know, we have got I think
it's forty one percent of our prison population is in
their on romance, so they haven't you know, they're the
(07:32):
ones who have been denied bail. So I just want
to make sure that what we're doing is actually going
to make us safer.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Have you had a look at the ram Raid legislation
or have you heard much about it that's being introduced
as well next week. There is a raft of legislation.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
By the look of things, look known that that particular one.
I haven't.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
I mean, I've been hearing a lot the bayl amendments
and lowering the age have really been talked about.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I haven't so much looked at the ram Raid legislation.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
What I would say also is that we saw the
legislation's scrutiny commit So they were something that the previous
government YEA disbanded right and at the time I think
Leah and Nokia actually said that was a backward step
and was really unhappy with it. So this is something
that is like, if we want a robust democracy to
make the best laws possible.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So you would like to see those scrutiny committees reintroduced, definitely.
It's something we've spoken to Jerry would the former Independent
member for Nelson about I know is something that he
was always very passionate about having those scrutiny committees be
able to look over legislation as it is introduced. Do
you reckon they're going to go for us?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I just don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I would hope so seeing as you know that they
did make a point when they were disbanded to say
that it was undemocratic and really a backward step, and
that you know, if Leah Kara and the CLP want
to make the best laws possible, this is how we
do it. This is where everyone keeps, you know, saying,
this is where the real work happens in parliament.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Right because it's a cross party thing.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
You have government, opposition and cross benches sitting together on
a committee going through the fine details with the fine
tooth comb.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Look, Kat, we're getting a lot of messages coming through
on the text line. There are We've got a lot
of victims of cross that listen to the show, so
there's a lot of people that sort of aren't agreeing
with what you're saying. I mean, I think it's important
to hear hear from everybody, and you know, whether people
agree with your perspective or not, you are a member
of Parliament. I think it's important for them to hear
(09:15):
your points of view. And I also think that it
is important that legislation is indeed scrutinized. There is no
doubt about that. Kat, one of the messages that we
have received. We actually got this yesterday from a couple
of people asking if your husband works for Impects. Now,
I wouldn't usually, like I wouldn't usually ask someone with
their partner works, and I don't really care where you know,
(09:35):
where they work. But I think they're more asking it
on the sense that you ran on a very anti
gas platform. So is that the case.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Yeah, like he's he works for a contractor. Yep, he's
a rigger and welder and inspector. So he works for
a contractor that worked at the site at Impose.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
And I mean I would just say, like, actually.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
There are so many people that work in the gas
industry that wish there was a renewable alternative for them.
For people with those type of skills and trades, that's
the only option for work up here. And like you know,
as the Greens, we're like pro worker. We all need
to put food on the table. And you know, this
is also part of like the conversation around transitioning to renewables, right,
(10:15):
I know.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Personally deeply what it means to need to have food
on the table.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
For your family and be able to know that there
is a future for them in work, Like, how are
we going to upskill, change.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Skills to new roles because we're heading to renewables, that's
just the future. And how do we bring all those
gas workers along?
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Well, that's going to be like that is a big
thing right as we do transition. Look, I always feel
a bit funny asking people about their partner's work, and
I know at different times, so I've had to be like,
I've had to disclose where my husband works over the
years because when we're in these jobs, unfortunately, you know,
you get questioned about this kind of stuff. You know,
I suppose again I'll go back to some people questioning though,
(10:52):
if it is hypocritical to be running on that platform
of sort of anti gas, anti new gas development, if
you know, if your family is benefiting from a job in.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Gas, I mean, I just think we've got to separate also,
like the workers from the people that are making the decisions.
And you've got these companies that are massive foreign owned
companies that are taking our resources, paying very little tax
and royalty, and the people here are not seeing a benefit.
I'm never going to hold it against someone what they
do for work to put food on the table for
their family.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
And I think we should all be like on board
with that.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And it's tough, I reckon as well, Like even when
you look at some of the renewable the different things
that lots of us would like to do, like having
solar or you know, maybe not having you know, gas
used in different ways, but it does come down to
those like what's called beneficial for a lot of families. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Well, and this is the thing too that is exciting
about a renewables future is that renewables are cheaper, like
if we want to do stuff for our back pocket
for power prices, right, And I mean this is like
a whole other conversation we can go down. And I'm
really excited about it because the potential here, especially in
Darwin with the endless sunshine, we have to create a
renewables industry is really exciting.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
And to train up our workforce that we don't have to,
Like gas is a dying industry.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
It's gonna end eventually, and I want us here to
have thrive and have jobs long term.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
But it doesn't sound like you're you know, like anti
impis or.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Well, I mean, I mean I'm certainly anti new gas developments.
Like absolutely, this is a climate crisis. Right, It's the
science is absolutely crystal clear. We cannot be opening new
fossil fuel developments. I'm absolutely not anti worker and people,
you know, being able to work for their families. I
think that's a really sort of just not not good
path to go down. I definitely want to hold the
(12:35):
people to account that I'm making decisions around these kind
of things, and the influence that the gas lobby has.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
On politics, that is something that I'm really good.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
One of the other questions that we've been getting over
the last twenty four hours with sin Vincent de Paul
moving into Coconut Grove, Now, I believe it sort of
falls under the Funny Bay Electric, doesn't it. But nonetheless,
there are a lot of questions coming from Nightcliff and
Coconut Grove about some Vinnie's moving into coconut growth.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
How are you.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Feeling about it? I mean, I know I've spoken to
you about that and the lead into the election, and
you were quite luck you were you were open to it.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah, I mean, I think this is what we've got
to look at the reality of the situation that we
have here with you know, vulnerable people and these kind
of services have to exist.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
We need them and when they run, well, they run
really well.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I mean, so, yes, it's just it's out of my electorate,
but of course people it's on the border.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
So people have come and I've had some people come
and speak to me about it. I think people they
really want assurances.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
One of the biggest problems they said was that they
were not consulted, and that is really problematic. You know,
we really need to engage people in what is happening
in their neighborhood.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
So and I think they kind of want assurances. There's
just been questions around like how it's going to run
that kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
So yeah, one of my jobs is going to be
to you know, meet up with them, have a look
at what the program is and that way then I
can sort of pass that information onto my constituents and
sort of and monitor it.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Kat. Last big question for the morning, what's on your
agenda next week with parliament sitting.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
A right, look next week it's a little bit I mean,
as a cross bench kind of got to sit back
and just see what the government's going to sort of do.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
First, we're going to be reacting to that.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
I will be sworn in, there'll be a lot of
ceremonial stuff too.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I'll be sworn in we have first speeches.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I am concerned about the CLP trying to ram through
legislation without proper scrutiny. There is supposed to be a
thirty day period, you know, after it being table.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Where you can read it. If they try to ram
it through without that, I think that's really concerning.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
I want to make sure we're getting the best laws
as possible yep. And the other things that you know,
And as I said before about integrity and a lobbyist register,
and there are some issues.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
I'll also like to mention voluntary assists of dying.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Not something that I can look at next week, but
something that's on my agenda that a lot of my
constituents have been raising with me.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
There are still people messaging about the fact that your
husband works for IMPEACS. Now, like you know, I know
it's a tough one and I, like I say, as
a woman, I always find it a bit uncomfortable having
to answer questions about what your husband does for work.
But to those out there listening this morning that think
that it is hypocritical, what do you say to them?
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I mean, first of all, Okay, he doesn't work for impects.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
He works for a subcontractor, right, And these are contracting
companies that are going to work wherever the work is.
Some of these some contractors work on renewable projects. It's like,
whatever the skills are is where they're going to send them.
We have a gas industry here that so they've sent them.
I mean, heck, I should get him to come on.
You know, he has openly said he would much rather
work in renewables or a different space.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
But this is where his skills lie. It's not something
that we've done.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Like you know, prior to moving here, we worked in
different We were both Telco riggers, building and telecommunications to me,
so we've worked in all different kinds of spaces. I'm
never going to apologize for being pro worker, pro people,
pro tradees.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Like you know, I'm just I think it's fair enough.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Kat Lovely to speak to you this morning. I really
appreciate you coming in. Now we're gonna have to try
and get you in for the week that was as
well when you're keen, so we'll get we'll talk to
Crystal off air and we'll organize that. But thanks so
much for joining us this morning, your first interview on Mix,
and we'll talk to you against.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Thank you, thank you,
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