Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
An incredibly busy day this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Already now joining me live in the studio is the
Chief Minister of.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The Northern Territory, Lea Finocchi.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
A O, good morning, Lea, good morning Katie. Into your listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Now, Liah's some good news this morning. To kick things off.
The governments say that they are delivering on their election
commitment to ease cost of living pressures by freezing car
registration fees as well as providing a free driver's license
for a year and enabling three year trailer registrations. So,
as I understand it, it's going to be effective immediately.
The government's freezing all registration fees for light vehicles at
(00:33):
their current rate until the first of July twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Tell us exactly what this means.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yeah, it's another great election commitment that we've been able
to tick off at the last ten weeks have been
so busy, Katie, but we just really wanted to restore
confidence in Territorians that when you work hard and you
put your mind to something, things can be achieved. And
so you know, we've had our reducing crime package, We've
got a whole raft of things out the door, and
now our cost of living pressure at the MVR are
(01:01):
also being released, so there's a few things in it
for everyone. There's of course three year trailer rego which
saves people time. Everyone universally dislikes lining up at the MVR.
No disrespect to the lovely people working there, it's just
not a great way to spend time. And then of
course the free driver's licenses for one year and the
freezing of those redio prices which just help that little
(01:23):
bit at a really tough time, particularly heading into Christmas.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
What happens if you've.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Already if you've already paid your driver's license, well, you know,
like you're somebody who's done the five years or.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Something like that.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, so the licenses is going to go from one
January twenty five so starting next year, to one to
thirty June twenty twenty six. So that should give enough people.
I believe it's over one hundred thousand territories will benefit
from it, so perhaps everyone won't, but of course everyone
will have the opportunity to benefit from the redgo freeze.
(01:54):
And then of course the trailer registration extensions.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Do we know how much this is costing the Northern
Territory government to deliver, because I guess that's a big
question that a lot of people ask when we do
have these kinds of announcements. We appreciate it, but we
also don't want to be paying for it in other ways.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, you're absolutely right, Katie, and everything has a cost.
I believe it was a couple of million dollars on
this one, Katie, But I can get the treasurer to
circle back to you on that one. But it's about
spending our money prudently. You know, people do need wide
ranging relief at the moment, but we're very conscious of
our debt levels and that's why we've found that near
two hundred million dollars in savings across a range of
(02:31):
reprioritized projects. We're really confident going forward we'll be able
to spend money wisely, not spend money on things that
don't benefit territorians, and grow our economy to increase the
size of the pie and eventually drive down debt.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
LEA very quick one one here that says Hi Katie
and co. Regarding freezing red Joe costs. I just heard
you state that this is going to come into effect
on the first of July next year. I just renewed
mine back in August. This will mean I miss out
on this cost of living saving. Could you ask the
chief manue to why it can't be for twelve months
from when it's approved so everyone gets this.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
So it's from I believe it's from today until one
July twenty twenty six. So I don't know that level
of specific detail. I'm sorry, listener, but get in touch
with us and we'll be able.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
To perfect now.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Or we might even see if we can get some
to the detail and we can let people know throughout
the morning. Now, I want to move along because there
is so much happening and shocking news flowing through. Late
on Friday, in the same week that the brand new
youth detention center opened, two hundred thousand dollars worth of
damage was caused in less than thirty minutes. Now, the
(03:40):
Minister for Corrections, Jared Maylee, confirmed that the deliberate act
of vandalism was caused by six youth detainees aged between
thirteen and seventeen. In each case, the rooms were damaged
in just under thirty minutes in intervals between officers routine checks.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
These rooms.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
As I understand it now inoperable. It is appalling. There
is no other way to put it. This youth center
cost an absolute fortune to build. It's the first few
days that it's operational and it's two hundred thousand dollars
worth of damage.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
It's disgusting, Katie, absolutely abhorrent, disgusting behavior from young people
who've already done the wrong thing and are incarcerated. And
it just shows the level of lawlessness we're dealing with.
I urge people to look to this example when we
hear a lot of rhetoric around children shouldn't be behind bars. Well,
I mean these kids are in custody and have destroyed
the place. This is excuse me. This is a one
(04:38):
hundred and forty million dollar facility. It was promised by
Labor to deliver therapeutic support and all of these other
pipe dreams by Chancey Paig and co. And yet what
we've got is a facility that's not fit for purpose.
Now this was destroyed within a matter of minutes. Now
it's going to cost the tax pay even more money
to fix. And again this is why we put Youth
(05:00):
Justice back in corrections because Labour's soft touch and this
pretend approach that we're taking to have everyone believe things
were okay. It is not okay, and this really exemplifies.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
So is there still.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Enough capacity now for all the detainees with those rooms
now inoperable?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, Corrections are doing Oh sorry.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Katie, that's all right. I might get you safer. We
can get your class of water.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Thank you, Corrections of doing an amazing job. Gosh, they're
incredible professionals, which again is exactly why Youth Justice has
gone to Corrections. So they're managing it. The youth in
Alice Springs won't be transferred until December, so.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
So held that off.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, I think that was always the plan. But certainly
we're just having to really watch those numbers now given
the lower capacity that we've got in the Darwin facility.
But it's just such a joke, Katie. You think of
any one of your listeners right now could think of
one hundred ways to spend one hundred and forty million
dollars better, And now we've got a facility that seventy
million over budget, two years over time frame, and it's
(06:04):
not even capable of We're standing a day.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So do you know, na what the latests in terms
of when those rooms are going to be back up
and running.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
No, we're trying to get that done urgently. The department
again have been exceptional. On Friday when this was brought
to us attention, we just said get it fixed. We
need this done. Put this information out into the public.
You know, we're not going to do a Natasha files,
just wear and tear a situation. The community deserved to
know and understand how their money is being spent, the
(06:32):
level of waste, and it will really underpin if people
understand this type of frivolous spending and the lack of
appropriate infrastructure. It will also give them better context for
when my CLP government makes decisions. Some people might think
it's harsh or over the top, but what we're dealing
with is really serious and I need people to understand
that when a young person ends up in prison, it's
(06:54):
not for stealing a loaf of bread because they're hungry.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Well, we actually.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Spoke to other police life last week and they'd sort
of talked us through some of the situations where you know,
like that some of our youths are actually involved in
and some of the behavior is utterly appalling. Now to
then see what's going on inside that youth detention center
and the damage that's been done. I mean, are they
going to be charged with further offenses following on from
(07:19):
all that damage?
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I certainly hope so, Katie. I know police are investigating it,
and that would certainly be anyone's expectation. If you've done
the wrong thing, you should be charged for it. And
we're actually exploring legislative reform in that space as well
to make sure that our laws. You know, if you
are in a correctional facility and then you go on
to reoffend whilst in prison, that should have a more
(07:40):
significant consequence.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
We also know, though, that a youth detainee allegedly assaulted
two Youth Justice officers last Tuesday, striking one with a
broom before punching both in the face of the Ella
Springs Detention Center. The detainee is further alleged to have
spat in the face of both those officers. On the
same day to youth detainees alleged to attacked a senior
Youth Justice officer at the Alla Springs Detention Center.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Now one of the detainees.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Allegedly hit that officer twice in the lower torso and
twice directly Spatane's face. What has happened then following these assaults,
like to me, I think people are listening, going.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
To be saying this is utterly appalling behavior.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yeah, it's worse than that. It's just abhorrent and unacceptable.
We've got corrections staff who go to work to keep
our community safe. Remember, if it wasn't for corrections, criminals
would be out on the street. That's when our corrections
officers do. They are protecting us from people who would
cause harm. And then they have gone and spat in
the faces of corrections officers. We release the photo of
(08:43):
some of the injuries to the torso of one of
the officers. I mean, this is unacceptable and he reinforces
why we changed and strengthened the laws a few weeks
ago in Parliament Katie. Now spitting has a minimum mandatory
sentence of three months. We've also strength and across that
entire suite of laws for assaulting someone at work. So
(09:05):
there's so much work to do, Katie. This is just
going to be such a long haul to turn the
ship around, but we're onto it. This is not acceptable
and you know there's new rules in place. Community expectation
will be upheld and people will face the consequences of
their actions.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Just before we move along.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Is there a problem here that there is actually not
enough staff to staff that new facility.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
No, we're staffing our facilities properly. Of course, there are
absolute demand pressures. I'm not going to sugarcoat that, and
our correction staff are just being so amazing. We really,
we really could not do it without them. So we
are actively recruiting. We're working out ways in which we
can real leave pressure on the system, and that's what
this new justice facility was supposed to do. Of course,
(09:48):
it was the first domino to fall in terms of
the movement of prisoners around the territory. And look at
the result of it. I mean, it's just a disgrace.
Labour should hang their head in shame for the lies
and the ridiculous situation they've put territorians in because it's
all of us, everyday people who are suffering as a
result of their total gross in competence.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Now, while we seem to be unable to get a
hold of the bad behavior of some of our teenagers
around the community, children and teenagers under the age of
sixteen could soon be banned now from using social media.
After Labor announced that it's going to back the higher
cutoff limit, a virtual national cabinet meeting was held on Friday,
as I understand it, to discuss these changes, where states and.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Territory leaders supported the policy.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Leah, how is this actually going to be policed, because
to me it sounds like it's going to be a joke.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, So this is actually the federal government prerogative. It's
their legislation. To the Prime Minister's credit, he held a
national Cabinet meeting to get our feedback, but they can
proceed either way. It didn't require the supporter or otherwise
of states and territories. Here in the territory, we haven't
had any consultation on this, and I made that very
clear to the Prime Minister and my First Minister colleagues.
(11:01):
But in other jurisdictions like South Australia and New South
Wales and Victoria, they have done extensive consultation with teachers, students,
families and the overwhelming move around the nation is to
put in place better safeguards for our kids. So when
it comes to policing, yes, it may be difficult. Certainly,
the onus is on the social media providers not on
(11:22):
punishing young people and their parents, but it's about making
sure we protect our kids from It's not just cyber bullying,
it's all sorts of different types of pressures around body image,
for example. And so I think this is a step
in the right direction, and the federal government will now
proceed through that normal bill stage.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I get it, like I totally understand what the government's
trying to do, but how are you going to stop kids?
Like a lot of these kids as will, they communicate
with each other on gaming platforms, So if there's bullying
going on, or if there's any kind of creeps trying
to contact them, they can still try to contact them
on those platforms as well. You've then got things like
you To that are actually used in a lot of
(12:01):
ways for education too.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
So I just feel as though this is a bit of.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
A situation where where the government's sort of intervening in
an area where I think it could actually be a
bit more educational.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Well, there are going to be exemptions, so gaming isn't
part of it, and I believe neither of the messaging platforms,
and the government will now look to what types of
social media could be exempt if those providers, for example,
were able to create safe platforms. I think there's a
lot of water to go under this bridge, for sure.
(12:33):
But what we're seeing is the real You know, that
algorithm is determined to sell products to our children, tell children,
reinforce what they want to hear, and so it's a
very dangerous thing. Here in the territory. We've got five
times the national average for mental health presentations in hospital.
I don't know how much of that is contributed by
social media, but it's a profound issue that we need
(12:55):
to do something about. And we've already taken steps in
the territory to ban phones also, that's already in place,
and we've just legislated posting and boasting laws as well.
So I think you'll see right across the country in
a number of ways getting on top of this prevalence
and the harms associated with social media are on the
front of minds of all governments.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Look, let's move along, because as I said, there is
so much to discuss.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
This morning, We've.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Actually just had a caller call through to say this
morning at about seven point thirty that they understand that
a group of eight people were drinking outside of LORI
Zeo's office. It would be in perrap and their understanding
is that it's escalated to a stabbing. Do you have
any detail on that or have you been told anything
about that?
Speaker 3 (13:37):
I do, Katie, I do. So students were walking past
the bakery this morning and it's been alleged that someone
threatened them with a knife. So the kids ran inside
the bakery, which is fantastic good and so the kids
did the right thing. Police arrived immediately and the person
has been arrested by police. So great swift work by police,
(13:58):
excellent smart thinking those kids. And police have also attended
the school, spoken to kids, spoken to teachers, so there's
been a really quick comprehensive response there. But terrifying incident. Again,
kids just walking to school, my business.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Utterly terrifying.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Not only walking to school, but that's where they actually
congregate to catch the bus as well, for a lot
of different schools.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Are those students.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Okay, yeah, look, I hope. So no one's been physically hurt,
Obviously there'll be a level of trauma there, and so
police are working with the school as we speak. But again,
this is why getting on top of law and order
is so important. No child deserves to feel unsafe, let
alone be put in an extremely volatile, dangerous situation on
(14:40):
their way to the way to school.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Like, I'm actually furious hearing this.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
It's disgusting.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
And you know, I have been in a situation at
that very location where I've actually had to have my
daughter contact us to say that there's a man trying
to get them to lure them to another location where
the police had rocked up.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
You know, this is it's not good.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Enough, you behavior that we're seeing in the community. And
I get it that the COLP is trying to now
make some changes in this space, but we are literally like,
we are at a point where a kid can't even
go to school safely without witnessing actually appalling behavior.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
It's a tragedy what has happened to the territory. There's
no other way to say it. We can't sugarcoat it.
We all know it. That's why people are leaving, That's
why businesses are shutting down. That's why people are thinking
is it safe to raise a family here? And it's
why I'm here, Katie, because I know that to be
true as well. My family's being raised here. I was
born here, raised my whole life here. So everyone who
(15:38):
knows it has seen the decline and everyone wants that
to stop now. Stopping it, unfortunately after eight years of
just profound incompetence is really really tricky, but we are
just throwing everything at it. There's no way around this.
We must make the territory safe. That's my life's goal
is to achieve that, Katie, I can tell you, and
we've started that work, but there's a lot more that
(15:59):
needs to be done and will back our police all
the way to make sure their streets are safe.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Chief Minestro, I just want to get your reaction to
what is a pretty shocking story in the Australian newspaper
this morning. A senior officer at the nation's NAJA So
Aboriginal Legal Service has been arrested after she was allegedly
found in bed with one of her parole cases who'd
recently been released from jail and gone missing.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Now.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
The woman who manages the paroles of serious offenders for
the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency was allegedly found in
an Alice Springs hotel room with manslaughter offender Jefferson Woody
early on Sunday morning during a police raid. Police had
been hunting Woody, who is twenty years old and sixteen
years younger than this person, after he'd allegedly removed his
(16:49):
electronic ankle bracelet and gone on the run just months
after getting out of jail.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
The Australian understands that it will.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Be alleged that the NAJA officer laid a bizarre trial
to the Macure resort in Alice Springs and she tried
to help them out escape a long second sentenced for
breaking his parole conditions.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I mean, some of this stuff is just so unbelievable,
isn't it, Katie is so you know, obviously they're allegations.
If they're true, they're incredibly serious. I'm sure all of
the appropriate investigations are taking place. And this really comes
at a time when naja's trying to get back up
on its feet, and no doubt undermines the confidence in
that institution. So not good news, Katie and I gain
(17:33):
the territory in the headlines nationally for all the wrong.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
R Absolutely, it's utterly embarrassing, amazing. Do you think that
Najeri is capable of getting back on its face?
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Look?
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I think it can, but there's a long way to
go there, and it's something we're really focused on because,
as we know, for us to have an efficient court
system where victims get access to justice, we need people
who do the wrong thing to be represented, and so
we're working really hard to deliver on that. We've given
an extra million dollars to legal aid obviously, but you know,
NIJA has not been in good shape for a long
(18:05):
time and we've really got to get them sorted out.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
All right.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
A couple of quick ones, the Amphibious Aircraft AAI. Is
there an update on this project because we've had listeners
claiming that the company is no longer using the hangar
that they purchased at the airport.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yeah, I do have an update on that, Katie, and
I know it's something your listeners are really really concerned about.
So I can confirm that they were given a two
point five million dollar loan, but by the Northern Territory
government the Labor government, but that has been repaid. But
the territory does have a three million dollar equity stake
in that company. They aren't out at the airport and
(18:42):
so we're seeking further clarification about what's going on with
this project.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So the Northern Territory government's got a three million dollar
equity stake.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
In this company.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
They're no longer operating out of the airport like they
were meant to be doing.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
That's right, while we gave them alone.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Is that's right, That's exactly right. I think the good
news is that the loan has been repaid and so
that has been squared away. The issue is now what
does the territory do with that three million dollar equity stake.
So we're keeping on top of this issue, and it's
not the end of the story, Katie.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Is there a clause for us to get it back?
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Well, that's what we're working through now to work out
what's the next steps look like for the territory.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
I mean, this is a bit bloody embarrassing, right, Yeah,
we've invested in a company that's no longer here.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, well that sounds of it.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
That's right, And I think that that's all part of
the narrative we've had rammed down our throats for the
last eight years around the economy's rosy, and every project
is a major project, and every project's going to deliver
hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars and we just
haven't seen the rubber hit the road on any of it, Katie.
People are absolutely sick and tired of listening to this
rubbish quite frankly, So yeah again another laborer special there.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
So from your perspective, now with AIO, what are you like?
Speaker 1 (20:00):
What will you be doing?
Speaker 2 (20:01):
So you've asked them now to basically justify why they're
not here.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
So Robin Carl the Minister for Business, is taking the
leadership on this one, so she'll have more detail over
the coming days and weeks, but certainly on behalf of
the territory. Our job is to make sure that that
three million dollars in equity at the minimum remains valuable
to three million dollars, and that we work out how
we move forward to in the best interest of the territory.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Do we even know if this company is still operating?
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I believe they are in the United States, that's my understanding.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
So they're now operating in the United States and the
Northern Territory government's got three million dollars worth of equess
a company now that isn't even here.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
What a joke, Yeah it is, it's.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
It's a joke, Katie. I don't know what else to
tell you. These are the beautiful little nuggets that come
on my desk every day since coming to power, and
undoubtedly there's many more of them to come, but we'll
just work through each one and get best value for
territory and then move forward.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Alright, very quick one.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
We ask you this a pretty well every week. Any
update on the soul of tariff.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yes, so we're just putting the finishing touches on that.
It'll certainly be this side of Christmas, I'm hoping in
the next few weeks. But we're right on top of
it and we know it's something people are really excited
about and looking forward to the big reveal there.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Leah, thanks so much for your Tom really appreciate you.
Following up as well on the AI situation.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I've got a little update about the driver's licenses to
your listener, So if your license isn't due to expire,
you can still apply to have that extra twelve month
added to your account for free, and all the details
of this plan are on the MVR website, so you
can go to MVR dot NT, dot gov dot AU
and check out how you're eligible and all the details
are on there.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Really appreciate your time. Thanks so much for joining us
this morning, Chief Minister.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Take care everyone.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Thank you. You're listening to Mix one O four nine's
three sixty
An incredibly busy day this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Already now joining me live in the studio is the
Chief Minister of.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The Northern Territory, Lea Finocchi.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
A O, good morning, Lea, good morning Katie. Into your listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Now, Liah's some good news this morning. To kick things off.
The governments say that they are delivering on their election
commitment to ease cost of living pressures by freezing car
registration fees as well as providing a free driver's license
for a year and enabling three year trailer registrations. So,
as I understand it, it's going to be effective immediately.
The government's freezing all registration fees for light vehicles at
(00:33):
their current rate until the first of July twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Tell us exactly what this means.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yeah, it's another great election commitment that we've been able
to tick off at the last ten weeks have been
so busy, Katie, but we just really wanted to restore
confidence in Territorians that when you work hard and you
put your mind to something, things can be achieved. And
so you know, we've had our reducing crime package, We've
got a whole raft of things out the door, and
now our cost of living pressure at the MVR are
(01:01):
also being released, so there's a few things in it
for everyone. There's of course three year trailer rego which
saves people time. Everyone universally dislikes lining up at the MVR.
No disrespect to the lovely people working there, it's just
not a great way to spend time. And then of
course the free driver's licenses for one year and the
freezing of those redio prices which just help that little
(01:23):
bit at a really tough time, particularly heading into Christmas.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
What happens if you've.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Already if you've already paid your driver's license, well, you know,
like you're somebody who's done the five years or.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Something like that.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, so the licenses is going to go from one
January twenty five so starting next year, to one to
thirty June twenty twenty six. So that should give enough people.
I believe it's over one hundred thousand territories will benefit
from it, so perhaps everyone won't, but of course everyone
will have the opportunity to benefit from the redgo freeze.
(01:54):
And then of course the trailer registration extensions.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Do we know how much this is costing the Northern
Territory government to deliver, because I guess that's a big
question that a lot of people ask when we do
have these kinds of announcements. We appreciate it, but we
also don't want to be paying for it in other ways.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, you're absolutely right, Katie, and everything has a cost.
I believe it was a couple of million dollars on
this one, Katie, But I can get the treasurer to
circle back to you on that one. But it's about
spending our money prudently. You know, people do need wide
ranging relief at the moment, but we're very conscious of
our debt levels and that's why we've found that near
two hundred million dollars in savings across a range of
(02:31):
reprioritized projects. We're really confident going forward we'll be able
to spend money wisely, not spend money on things that
don't benefit territorians, and grow our economy to increase the
size of the pie and eventually drive down debt.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
LEA very quick one one here that says Hi Katie
and co. Regarding freezing red Joe costs. I just heard
you state that this is going to come into effect
on the first of July next year. I just renewed
mine back in August. This will mean I miss out
on this cost of living saving. Could you ask the
chief manue to why it can't be for twelve months
from when it's approved so everyone gets this.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
So it's from I believe it's from today until one
July twenty twenty six. So I don't know that level
of specific detail. I'm sorry, listener, but get in touch
with us and we'll be able.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
To perfect now.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Or we might even see if we can get some
to the detail and we can let people know throughout
the morning. Now, I want to move along because there
is so much happening and shocking news flowing through. Late
on Friday, in the same week that the brand new
youth detention center opened, two hundred thousand dollars worth of
damage was caused in less than thirty minutes. Now, the
(03:40):
Minister for Corrections, Jared Maylee, confirmed that the deliberate act
of vandalism was caused by six youth detainees aged between
thirteen and seventeen. In each case, the rooms were damaged
in just under thirty minutes in intervals between officers routine checks.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
These rooms.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
As I understand it now inoperable. It is appalling. There
is no other way to put it. This youth center
cost an absolute fortune to build. It's the first few
days that it's operational and it's two hundred thousand dollars
worth of damage.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
It's disgusting, Katie, absolutely abhorrent, disgusting behavior from young people
who've already done the wrong thing and are incarcerated. And
it just shows the level of lawlessness we're dealing with.
I urge people to look to this example when we
hear a lot of rhetoric around children shouldn't be behind bars. Well,
I mean these kids are in custody and have destroyed
the place. This is excuse me. This is a one
(04:38):
hundred and forty million dollar facility. It was promised by
Labor to deliver therapeutic support and all of these other
pipe dreams by Chancey Paig and co. And yet what
we've got is a facility that's not fit for purpose.
Now this was destroyed within a matter of minutes. Now
it's going to cost the tax pay even more money
to fix. And again this is why we put Youth
(05:00):
Justice back in corrections because Labour's soft touch and this
pretend approach that we're taking to have everyone believe things
were okay. It is not okay, and this really exemplifies.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
So is there still.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Enough capacity now for all the detainees with those rooms
now inoperable?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, Corrections are doing Oh sorry.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Katie, that's all right. I might get you safer. We
can get your class of water.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Thank you, Corrections of doing an amazing job. Gosh, they're
incredible professionals, which again is exactly why Youth Justice has
gone to Corrections. So they're managing it. The youth in
Alice Springs won't be transferred until December, so.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
So held that off.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, I think that was always the plan. But certainly
we're just having to really watch those numbers now given
the lower capacity that we've got in the Darwin facility.
But it's just such a joke, Katie. You think of
any one of your listeners right now could think of
one hundred ways to spend one hundred and forty million
dollars better, And now we've got a facility that seventy
million over budget, two years over time frame, and it's
(06:04):
not even capable of We're standing a day.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So do you know, na what the latests in terms
of when those rooms are going to be back up
and running.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
No, we're trying to get that done urgently. The department
again have been exceptional. On Friday when this was brought
to us attention, we just said get it fixed. We
need this done. Put this information out into the public.
You know, we're not going to do a Natasha files,
just wear and tear a situation. The community deserved to
know and understand how their money is being spent, the
(06:32):
level of waste, and it will really underpin if people
understand this type of frivolous spending and the lack of
appropriate infrastructure. It will also give them better context for
when my CLP government makes decisions. Some people might think
it's harsh or over the top, but what we're dealing
with is really serious and I need people to understand
that when a young person ends up in prison, it's
(06:54):
not for stealing a loaf of bread because they're hungry.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Well, we actually.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Spoke to other police life last week and they'd sort
of talked us through some of the situations where you know,
like that some of our youths are actually involved in
and some of the behavior is utterly appalling. Now to
then see what's going on inside that youth detention center
and the damage that's been done. I mean, are they
going to be charged with further offenses following on from
(07:19):
all that damage?
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I certainly hope so, Katie. I know police are investigating it,
and that would certainly be anyone's expectation. If you've done
the wrong thing, you should be charged for it. And
we're actually exploring legislative reform in that space as well
to make sure that our laws. You know, if you
are in a correctional facility and then you go on
to reoffend whilst in prison, that should have a more
(07:40):
significant consequence.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
We also know, though, that a youth detainee allegedly assaulted
two Youth Justice officers last Tuesday, striking one with a
broom before punching both in the face of the Ella
Springs Detention Center. The detainee is further alleged to have
spat in the face of both those officers. On the
same day to youth detainees alleged to attacked a senior
Youth Justice officer at the Alla Springs Detention Center.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Now one of the detainees.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Allegedly hit that officer twice in the lower torso and
twice directly Spatane's face. What has happened then following these assaults,
like to me, I think people are listening, going.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
To be saying this is utterly appalling behavior.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yeah, it's worse than that. It's just abhorrent and unacceptable.
We've got corrections staff who go to work to keep
our community safe. Remember, if it wasn't for corrections, criminals
would be out on the street. That's when our corrections
officers do. They are protecting us from people who would
cause harm. And then they have gone and spat in
the faces of corrections officers. We release the photo of
(08:43):
some of the injuries to the torso of one of
the officers. I mean, this is unacceptable and he reinforces
why we changed and strengthened the laws a few weeks
ago in Parliament Katie. Now spitting has a minimum mandatory
sentence of three months. We've also strength and across that
entire suite of laws for assaulting someone at work. So
(09:05):
there's so much work to do, Katie. This is just
going to be such a long haul to turn the
ship around, but we're onto it. This is not acceptable
and you know there's new rules in place. Community expectation
will be upheld and people will face the consequences of
their actions.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Just before we move along.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Is there a problem here that there is actually not
enough staff to staff that new facility.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
No, we're staffing our facilities properly. Of course, there are
absolute demand pressures. I'm not going to sugarcoat that, and
our correction staff are just being so amazing. We really,
we really could not do it without them. So we
are actively recruiting. We're working out ways in which we
can real leave pressure on the system, and that's what
this new justice facility was supposed to do. Of course,
(09:48):
it was the first domino to fall in terms of
the movement of prisoners around the territory. And look at
the result of it. I mean, it's just a disgrace.
Labour should hang their head in shame for the lies
and the ridiculous situation they've put territorians in because it's
all of us, everyday people who are suffering as a
result of their total gross in competence.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Now, while we seem to be unable to get a
hold of the bad behavior of some of our teenagers
around the community, children and teenagers under the age of
sixteen could soon be banned now from using social media.
After Labor announced that it's going to back the higher
cutoff limit, a virtual national cabinet meeting was held on Friday,
as I understand it, to discuss these changes, where states and.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Territory leaders supported the policy.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Leah, how is this actually going to be policed, because
to me it sounds like it's going to be a joke.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, So this is actually the federal government prerogative. It's
their legislation. To the Prime Minister's credit, he held a
national Cabinet meeting to get our feedback, but they can
proceed either way. It didn't require the supporter or otherwise
of states and territories. Here in the territory, we haven't
had any consultation on this, and I made that very
clear to the Prime Minister and my First Minister colleagues.
(11:01):
But in other jurisdictions like South Australia and New South
Wales and Victoria, they have done extensive consultation with teachers, students,
families and the overwhelming move around the nation is to
put in place better safeguards for our kids. So when
it comes to policing, yes, it may be difficult. Certainly,
the onus is on the social media providers not on
(11:22):
punishing young people and their parents, but it's about making
sure we protect our kids from It's not just cyber bullying,
it's all sorts of different types of pressures around body image,
for example. And so I think this is a step
in the right direction, and the federal government will now
proceed through that normal bill stage.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I get it, like I totally understand what the government's
trying to do, but how are you going to stop kids?
Like a lot of these kids as will, they communicate
with each other on gaming platforms, So if there's bullying
going on, or if there's any kind of creeps trying
to contact them, they can still try to contact them
on those platforms as well. You've then got things like
you To that are actually used in a lot of
(12:01):
ways for education too.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
So I just feel as though this is a bit of.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
A situation where where the government's sort of intervening in
an area where I think it could actually be a
bit more educational.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Well, there are going to be exemptions, so gaming isn't
part of it, and I believe neither of the messaging platforms,
and the government will now look to what types of
social media could be exempt if those providers, for example,
were able to create safe platforms. I think there's a
lot of water to go under this bridge, for sure.
(12:33):
But what we're seeing is the real You know, that
algorithm is determined to sell products to our children, tell children,
reinforce what they want to hear, and so it's a
very dangerous thing. Here in the territory. We've got five
times the national average for mental health presentations in hospital.
I don't know how much of that is contributed by
social media, but it's a profound issue that we need
(12:55):
to do something about. And we've already taken steps in
the territory to ban phones also, that's already in place,
and we've just legislated posting and boasting laws as well.
So I think you'll see right across the country in
a number of ways getting on top of this prevalence
and the harms associated with social media are on the
front of minds of all governments.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Look, let's move along, because as I said, there is
so much to discuss.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
This morning, We've.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Actually just had a caller call through to say this
morning at about seven point thirty that they understand that
a group of eight people were drinking outside of LORI
Zeo's office. It would be in perrap and their understanding
is that it's escalated to a stabbing. Do you have
any detail on that or have you been told anything
about that?
Speaker 3 (13:37):
I do, Katie, I do. So students were walking past
the bakery this morning and it's been alleged that someone
threatened them with a knife. So the kids ran inside
the bakery, which is fantastic good and so the kids
did the right thing. Police arrived immediately and the person
has been arrested by police. So great swift work by police,
(13:58):
excellent smart thinking those kids. And police have also attended
the school, spoken to kids, spoken to teachers, so there's
been a really quick comprehensive response there. But terrifying incident. Again,
kids just walking to school, my business.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Utterly terrifying.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Not only walking to school, but that's where they actually
congregate to catch the bus as well, for a lot
of different schools.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Are those students.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Okay, yeah, look, I hope. So no one's been physically hurt,
Obviously there'll be a level of trauma there, and so
police are working with the school as we speak. But again,
this is why getting on top of law and order
is so important. No child deserves to feel unsafe, let
alone be put in an extremely volatile, dangerous situation on
(14:40):
their way to the way to school.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Like, I'm actually furious hearing this.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
It's disgusting.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
And you know, I have been in a situation at
that very location where I've actually had to have my
daughter contact us to say that there's a man trying
to get them to lure them to another location where
the police had rocked up.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
You know, this is it's not good.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Enough, you behavior that we're seeing in the community. And
I get it that the COLP is trying to now
make some changes in this space, but we are literally like,
we are at a point where a kid can't even
go to school safely without witnessing actually appalling behavior.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
It's a tragedy what has happened to the territory. There's
no other way to say it. We can't sugarcoat it.
We all know it. That's why people are leaving, That's
why businesses are shutting down. That's why people are thinking
is it safe to raise a family here? And it's
why I'm here, Katie, because I know that to be
true as well. My family's being raised here. I was
born here, raised my whole life here. So everyone who
(15:38):
knows it has seen the decline and everyone wants that
to stop now. Stopping it, unfortunately after eight years of
just profound incompetence is really really tricky, but we are
just throwing everything at it. There's no way around this.
We must make the territory safe. That's my life's goal
is to achieve that, Katie, I can tell you, and
we've started that work, but there's a lot more that
(15:59):
needs to be done and will back our police all
the way to make sure their streets are safe.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Chief Minestro, I just want to get your reaction to
what is a pretty shocking story in the Australian newspaper
this morning. A senior officer at the nation's NAJA So
Aboriginal Legal Service has been arrested after she was allegedly
found in bed with one of her parole cases who'd
recently been released from jail and gone missing.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Now.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
The woman who manages the paroles of serious offenders for
the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency was allegedly found in
an Alice Springs hotel room with manslaughter offender Jefferson Woody
early on Sunday morning during a police raid. Police had
been hunting Woody, who is twenty years old and sixteen
years younger than this person, after he'd allegedly removed his
(16:49):
electronic ankle bracelet and gone on the run just months
after getting out of jail.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
The Australian understands that it will.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Be alleged that the NAJA officer laid a bizarre trial
to the Macure resort in Alice Springs and she tried
to help them out escape a long second sentenced for
breaking his parole conditions.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I mean, some of this stuff is just so unbelievable,
isn't it, Katie is so you know, obviously they're allegations.
If they're true, they're incredibly serious. I'm sure all of
the appropriate investigations are taking place. And this really comes
at a time when naja's trying to get back up
on its feet, and no doubt undermines the confidence in
that institution. So not good news, Katie and I gain
(17:33):
the territory in the headlines nationally for all the wrong.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
R Absolutely, it's utterly embarrassing, amazing. Do you think that
Najeri is capable of getting back on its face?
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Look?
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I think it can, but there's a long way to
go there, and it's something we're really focused on because,
as we know, for us to have an efficient court
system where victims get access to justice, we need people
who do the wrong thing to be represented, and so
we're working really hard to deliver on that. We've given
an extra million dollars to legal aid obviously, but you know,
NIJA has not been in good shape for a long
(18:05):
time and we've really got to get them sorted out.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
All right.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
A couple of quick ones, the Amphibious Aircraft AAI. Is
there an update on this project because we've had listeners
claiming that the company is no longer using the hangar
that they purchased at the airport.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yeah, I do have an update on that, Katie, and
I know it's something your listeners are really really concerned about.
So I can confirm that they were given a two
point five million dollar loan, but by the Northern Territory
government the Labor government, but that has been repaid. But
the territory does have a three million dollar equity stake
in that company. They aren't out at the airport and
(18:42):
so we're seeking further clarification about what's going on with
this project.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So the Northern Territory government's got a three million dollar
equity stake.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
In this company.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
They're no longer operating out of the airport like they
were meant to be doing.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
That's right, while we gave them alone.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Is that's right, That's exactly right. I think the good
news is that the loan has been repaid and so
that has been squared away. The issue is now what
does the territory do with that three million dollar equity stake.
So we're keeping on top of this issue, and it's
not the end of the story, Katie.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Is there a clause for us to get it back?
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Well, that's what we're working through now to work out
what's the next steps look like for the territory.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
I mean, this is a bit bloody embarrassing, right, Yeah,
we've invested in a company that's no longer here.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, well that sounds of it.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
That's right, And I think that that's all part of
the narrative we've had rammed down our throats for the
last eight years around the economy's rosy, and every project
is a major project, and every project's going to deliver
hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars and we just
haven't seen the rubber hit the road on any of it, Katie.
People are absolutely sick and tired of listening to this
rubbish quite frankly, So yeah again another laborer special there.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
So from your perspective, now with AIO, what are you like?
Speaker 1 (20:00):
What will you be doing?
Speaker 2 (20:01):
So you've asked them now to basically justify why they're
not here.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
So Robin Carl the Minister for Business, is taking the
leadership on this one, so she'll have more detail over
the coming days and weeks, but certainly on behalf of
the territory. Our job is to make sure that that
three million dollars in equity at the minimum remains valuable
to three million dollars, and that we work out how
we move forward to in the best interest of the territory.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Do we even know if this company is still operating?
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I believe they are in the United States, that's my understanding.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
So they're now operating in the United States and the
Northern Territory government's got three million dollars worth of equess
a company now that isn't even here.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
What a joke, Yeah it is, it's.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
It's a joke, Katie. I don't know what else to
tell you. These are the beautiful little nuggets that come
on my desk every day since coming to power, and
undoubtedly there's many more of them to come, but we'll
just work through each one and get best value for
territory and then move forward.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Alright, very quick one.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
We ask you this a pretty well every week. Any
update on the soul of tariff.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yes, so we're just putting the finishing touches on that.
It'll certainly be this side of Christmas, I'm hoping in
the next few weeks. But we're right on top of
it and we know it's something people are really excited
about and looking forward to the big reveal there.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Leah, thanks so much for your Tom really appreciate you.
Following up as well on the AI situation.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I've got a little update about the driver's licenses to
your listener, So if your license isn't due to expire,
you can still apply to have that extra twelve month
added to your account for free, and all the details
of this plan are on the MVR website, so you
can go to MVR dot NT, dot gov dot AU
and check out how you're eligible and all the details
are on there.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Really appreciate your time. Thanks so much for joining us
this morning, Chief Minister.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Take care everyone.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Thank you. You're listening to Mix one O four nine's
three sixty
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