Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, there is always a lot happening across the Northern
Territory and we like to make sure we've got as
much of it covered as possible. And we know that
the government last week announced that they're going to scrap
the former Labor government's target of fifty percent renewable energy
generation by twenty thirty. They claim a lack of coordinated
infrastructure investment, rising power prices and grid instability under the
(00:23):
previous government made it clear that attempting to meet this
target would put an unacceptable financial burden on territorians and
crippling pressure on our aging electricity network. Now joining me
in the studio, Will he s the acting Chief Minister
at the moment. He's also the Minister for Mining and
Energy and the Minister for Renewables and Corrections. Jared Maylee
(00:46):
joins me in the studio.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Good morning, Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Good to have you on the show. Now. Jared, tell us,
you said, after eight years of Labor and their fifty
percent renewables target, that renewables in twenty twenty four are
counted for less than twenty percent of the territory's energy generation.
Are you going to set a new target or do
you think we just need to go steady as we go.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, Look, we're not going to set a new target, Katie.
We've been in office for about eight months. We've looked
under the hood of this now we've been here and
literally it's a disaster. And to be completely honest with
you and your listeners, we're never going to achieve that target, Labor,
We're never going to achieve that target. So what we're
about is making electricity are reliable and affordable and secure
for Territorians. And we're not going to forget about renewables.
(01:31):
You know, we've double the battery bonus scheme, so renewal
is going to be part of that mix. But it's
about making electricity affordable and secure for Territorians. They want
to get home, have turn the aircon on, have the
lights going.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You have said, obviously you want to make power affordable
for Territorians. How are you going to do that?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well, Look, ultimately, we've got three things on the boil
at the moment, Katie. We've organized a budget subcabinet committee.
We're doing it at the highest level. We've got the
utilities commissioned to give us information about what they think
needs to happen to get the grid up and running.
And've also started a task force of getting a group
of people together that work out and make the young
Cocks and non government organizations be able to work together
(02:11):
than not operating in silos and work at the best
way to be able to move forward as a group,
as as a government and for the best outcome for
Territorian Minister.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
How much work is needed here on the network, Like
has there been much investment over the last eight years
into infrastructure within power and.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Water looks I can see though they're not there has
certainly been some, but not enough to get to the
fifty percent renewable target. There needed to be a lot
more worked. And I've spoken to Allen Langworthy who wrote
the report about it, and he just said they simply
didn't do the work and it's time to be honest.
And that's what we're here today talking about. This is
an unachievable goal. We're here to make sure that the
(02:49):
Territorians can come home, put the ARCon on, turn the
lights on at an affordable cost.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
I mean, the fact is, I think most people will
understand that it's you know that it was going to
be an expensive thing to try to do. But some
people listening may still want to see a goal to
get to renewable power, at least to try to achieve
a reasonable amount of renewable power. I mean, shouldn't it
still try to have a goal.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Now, look what we're focusing on the hip pocket. You know,
the cost of living is a crisis right across the
Northern It's actually right across Australia. But we're focused here
on the Northern territory and we need to make sure
that territory has had affordable, reliable power. And don't get
me wrong, renewable energy is in the mix, there's no
question about that. But we've got to get the gas
industry happening, the renewable's happening. We've got the big batteries
(03:34):
there to get it all running together to be able
to make sure you can turn the lights on.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Now, I know you had said achieving fifty percent renewable target.
That target by twenty thirty was estimated to cost up
to five billion dollars, which equates to fifty six thousand
dollars per Jacana household. How did you come to that figure?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Okay, that figure came up from the Department. And ultimately
that's a lot of money. But even if it was
two billion dollars, Katie, we sent we don't have that.
The previous government broke the budget. We're eleven billion dollars
worth of debt. We need to make sure that we
get that power happening and affordable and secure for territorians.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
So, where are things that in terms of the gas
agreements and you know, like you've said, they're that utilizing
gas is a big part of this. Where are things
out in terms of those gas agreements and where are
things that in terms of utilizing our gas here in
the Northern Territory for customers in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Look, ultimately, we know that Black Tip had a gas shortage.
They've just drilled and they're doing some testing right now
and from my understanding is that testing and that flow
is a good rate, so that hopefully will bring on
some online. We know Central Petroleum out Alice Springs have
been producing gas for a long time and they're also
drilling and exploring in fact and going out to their
facility next week to have a look at what's going
(04:46):
on out there and the and also the bea looo
so there's three different types of gas. Not talking about
offshore yet because that's a separate kettle of fish and
the Bealeloo's coming online. We know that there's been you know,
the Labor government weren't really pushing that forward. I'm going
very hard and try and support that as quick as
you keep. But we need to get that gas into market,
into the Darwin and then ultimately off to the East coast.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Well, I mean Peter Dutton has certainly made gas an
issue as we lead into the federal election. Are there
going to be any announcements between the Northern Territory government
and the federal government in this space.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Look, now we're working with the federal government, but we're
focusing on what we can do to make it affordable
and get that gas out of the ground and get
it to market at a reasonable cost.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Acting Chief Minister, I do want to ask. I know
we've currently got a cap on power increases at three percent.
Can you commit to keeping the prices capped at that rate?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Look, ultimately we're going to review it every year, Katie.
But what we can commit to go up, well, we're
here every day. We're going to be honest with territorians
we are going to make sure that we give territorians
affordable power, but it's going to be at the best
cost of territorians. We don't know what's going to happen
in the future, but right now at inflation is cap
at three but that's what we're going to cap it
at and moving forward and hopefully might go down.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
So so so we're going to cap it. It's capped
for this year at least at three percent, but then
it's going to be reviewed. So really can't rule in
or out that it could go up.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
And we certainly can't rule it could go down, all right.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
But there could be movement when it comes to power process.
I mean, is it even likely that it could go down?
How could it go down?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Well, ultimately, if we get the gas online and the
commercial rates good, and we get the generator system up
and running, like I said, we've got these three different
organizations looking at things to try and make actricity more affordable,
and if they come back with some quick easy fixes,
perhaps we can. But we're really.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
It's a likelihood more though that if we do come
up with some you know, with as you've said, quick
easy fixes, that maybe we need to invest some money
into infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Well, and if that's the case, we certainly will. And
that's why we've got three different groups looking at it
to come up with some solutions. We haven't just sit
here and say, oh, it's all labor salt that we're
going to scrap it. We actually made a plan. We're
going to work towards that plan and make it fixable
and fix it.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
So what did we sort of know I suppose in
terms of a review into those power prices when we
know where we sit and how things are tracking.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Look, one thing we're not going to do, Kadie is Russia.
We're going to make sure we get this right because
it's just too important. Everyone needs the power and we
rely upon it, so we're going to get it right.
We've only been in office for eight months and we're
trying to do with crime. We're trying to rebuild the
economy and lifstole and this is a big part of it.
And now we're switching our focus to it.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
All right, let's move along two corrections because there is
quite a bit happening in that space as well, and
I know the first cohort of G four S staff
have commenced orientation site inductions and security registration before taking
the oath as special correctional Officers. Now my understanding correct
me if I'm wrong, is that from this week those
G four S staff are going to assume custodial operations
(07:41):
at the Darwin Local Court and then by the end
of April they'll begin managing medical escorts. Acting Chief Minister.
Where are things at with those G four S stuff
this week?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
So ultimately CADI, they did their induction last week and
they're in the courts as off today, So there's ten
the G force officers they're managing the court and the
corrections officers, who must say do a wonderful job are
back in the prisons doing what they do to keep
the prison safe because as we spoke about earlier, it's
about those prison programs and they will know they've had
to be put on hold because of the short numbers
(08:15):
we've had. So we're trying to break that cycle and
use that G fours as a surge workforce to be
able to do these as scenery type exercises like the
courts and also like the hospital sits, to be able
to get the prison officers back behind the wire offering
this surf because it's about rehabilitation, about breaking the cycle
of offending.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Well it has to be. I mean, we've got to
make sure that when prisoners go into corrections they actually
come out better people rather than better criminals. Hey, can
I ask in terms of those G four s stuff
at the courts, did you say ten of them?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Ten of them there? Yes?
Speaker 1 (08:47):
And do they still have other stuff like other correction
stuff with them at this point in time or they're at.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
There out a week induction last week and I'm actually
going to go there today to see sale over them
and see how they going. Back from my understanding is
that they're today doing their job into courts and allowing
the prison officers to get back into behind the wire.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Have we got a cost for them yet? How much
it's costing us to have those G four as staff?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yes, we do so this first cohort of ten as
costing is one point three million, So.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
One point three million for the cohort of ten over
what period of.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Time over the first six months, and ultimately that could
go up as we call in more services. So as
we get more people because the contract's drawn as we
required we need more. We can get more people and
they come in at at a certain rate. So we're
not paying a full hilt right now. As we get
their services, we pay for those services.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
All right, So one point three million for that six
month period for ten staff, but not ruling out potentially
getting more. And you know obviously that cost would go
up if we get more staff. I'm assuming that's correct
all right now. In terms of the programs that are
going to get back underway, then in our correctional facilities,
where are things that you and I have spoken on
(09:58):
numerous occasions about. You know, the one that really got
people talking on this show was the seniors no longer
being able to have the low level security or the
low level prisoners i should say, out there mowing their
lawns and helping them with their gardens. Is that back underway, yes.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Katie, there's some good news about that. There's been over
one hundred and twenty pension has had their loans cut
over the last couple of weeks. We know that's a
big issue, and we got onto it, and I spoke
to the commissioner and I said, look, what do we
need to do is get that happening because lots of
people out there rely upon it, and we've got one
hundred and twenty done, so we're really working hard to
be able to get those loans mode and all the
other services that we can do, because it's about the rehabilitation.
(10:36):
It's about the industries where people go into prison to
become out better people, and that includes learning to do
first day learning to do retail sports and recreation, food safety,
their white card, the forklift licenses, their drivers' licenses. There's
a whole lot of programs that are sitting in there
that we offer these the prisoners to be able to
make them a better people.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
And so they all back underway.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Now, Look, the first one was getting a lawn up
and running. These other courses are up and running, but
they're certainly cut back and as we get more at
the G four s and as we get remember we're
actually three quarters away through recruiting thirty one prison offices
as we speak, and there's another thirty one starting very soon.
So we're recruiting our own and we're also using the
(11:18):
G fours as a surge workforce.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Now in terms of the other programs like programs to
rehabilitate people, domestic violence programs, that kind of thing, are
they underway within our correctional facilities at the moment.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Look, we've got a whole range of wrap around services
and there's a whole group of people who do services
like Teve Islands and Aboriginal corporations. But we're focusing on
getting the industries up and running. We're focused on getting
the lawn up and running and those other services are there. Also.
Remember we've got the Youth Justice facility out there as
well with our young offenders. So we're also got a
whole group of about I think thirteen providers who offer
(11:53):
those sorts of services and the boot camp PLoP services
where they go out and they have some experiences about
with people but with the elders to learn that the
culture and that respect and they come back. So we're
really trying hard to break that cycle.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Okay, but so not all of those programs about underway.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
All of them are up and running, but they're all there,
and we're just trying to get the staff numbers up
and running and the G four s and that search
is what we're aiming.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I guess, you know, given our domestic violence issues across
the Northern Territory at the moment, people will be wondering
whether there are rehab programs underway within the prisons at
the moment in that space are there.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Ultimately, there's a whole lot of training because it's about
giving people a purpose and getting them off there, off
the grog and off the gunja. Yeah yeah, and giving
them some skills so they go back in the community
so they can go and do good, get a job.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
But I mean in terms of like you know, ones
that like people that have been convicted of a domestic
violence offense, if is there a program or is there
something that they can do while they are in jail
to try to break that cycle.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Look, there's a whole range of training. And when you
talk about domestic violence, that's normally someone's been charged with
the salt and breach of the DEVO orders in place,
so these people people and maybe to do with alcohol
and drugs as well. So it's about trying to give
some of these offenders a purpose, which is about the
like I said, these skills and agriculture and training and
forklift licenses and food and music and basic English and maths.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Or I know there will be some people listening going
but hang on a set Wilfee, that's not like you know,
are they going to Is that going to stop people from,
you know, from offending against their partner. So, by the
sounds of it, there's not a sort of a specific
domestic violence rehab program within the jails at this point
in time.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Know what, there's a whole range of programs and wrap
around services to provide some of the prisoners with medical needs,
with psychological needs, and all those all go towards making
and better people, which will result in less violence and
less crime across the community.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
You spoke about don Dale a moment ago, or it's
not called don Dale anymore, sorry, I should say the
Youth Correctional Facility just a few moments. Are the education
facilities there up and running? And I had been I
had been told that there'd been some disruptions to some
of the education programs. Is that the case.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Look, I've been there and I've seen those education programs.
Those teachers go there and they wrap around those young
offenders to be able to give them those special needs,
and it's basically it's almost like going to school in now.
I've been to the one in Alice Springs. I've been
the one up here, and the students, you know, the
prisoners or students, what if you want to call them
go in there and the teachers there, and I went
into the classrooms. It's just like a classroom, and he's
(14:32):
about trying to give some of these young offenders the
ability to read, to do maths, and just learn what
it's like to be a young person.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
So there is sort of a dedicated facility for youths
in terms of their education out there at the new
corrections facilities. How many prisoners do we have in the
corrections facilities at the moment?
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Well, the number today is two thy seven hundred and
forty four. That's court. Well, it's fluctuating about that, so
it goes up and down, but we're sort of sitting
at a steady number at the moment. So you know
that twenty seven hundred and forty one hundred and fifty
is about where we're at. We've had some record numbers,
but I think we're just starting to level off in
relation to and it goes up and down because we
get new people arrested and of course people get out,
(15:13):
so it's balancing about there.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Do we know if we've got many in the youth
facility At this point.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
I'm just looking for my figures. I don't know what
that is right at the moment. I think it was
about thirty last week, Katie, But don't quote me on that.
And I can certainly get those figures if you later on.
But yeah, it's not not a lot, but there's certainly
a lot in there that you know, we're trying to
break the cycle of offending.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Hey, before I let you go this morning, a real
change of pace. I know that the government is basically
giving more opportunities for people to snap up a recreational
fishing grant. What exactly are these grants and who's eligible?
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Oh look, Catie, this is a good news story for
territory and this is about the twenty twenty five Northern
Charity Recreational Fishing Grant Scheme. And what it's about is
for non profit organizations who want to create new opportunities
for the community ensure a recreational fishing mains a significant part.
Like for example, the Palmerston Fishing Club do the Buddy
Day and I've been out with my boat with them
(16:08):
and we take out disadvantaged people and people from walwalks
life and we take them out for fishing for the
day to give them an opportunity, what's fishing like? And
you know then they put on a barbecue after that
and we all get a fishing shirt. So it's about
those nonprofit organizations who can get a ground up to
fifteen thousand dollars. So if you're a fishing club out
there or an organization that want to promote fishing, they
(16:28):
open today, make an application well.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Jered Mailey the acting Chief Minister, also Minister for various
portfolios including Mining and Energy, Renewables and Corrections, Thank you,
and fishing I think reck fishing yes, good on your minister.
Thanks so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Thank you, Katie,
Well, there is always a lot happening across the Northern
Territory and we like to make sure we've got as
much of it covered as possible. And we know that
the government last week announced that they're going to scrap
the former Labor government's target of fifty percent renewable energy
generation by twenty thirty. They claim a lack of coordinated
infrastructure investment, rising power prices and grid instability under the
(00:23):
previous government made it clear that attempting to meet this
target would put an unacceptable financial burden on territorians and
crippling pressure on our aging electricity network. Now joining me
in the studio, Will he s the acting Chief Minister
at the moment. He's also the Minister for Mining and
Energy and the Minister for Renewables and Corrections. Jared Maylee
(00:46):
joins me in the studio.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Good morning, Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Good to have you on the show. Now. Jared, tell us,
you said, after eight years of Labor and their fifty
percent renewables target, that renewables in twenty twenty four are
counted for less than twenty percent of the territory's energy generation.
Are you going to set a new target or do
you think we just need to go steady as we go.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, Look, we're not going to set a new target, Katie.
We've been in office for about eight months. We've looked
under the hood of this now we've been here and
literally it's a disaster. And to be completely honest with
you and your listeners, we're never going to achieve that target, Labor,
We're never going to achieve that target. So what we're
about is making electricity are reliable and affordable and secure
for Territorians. And we're not going to forget about renewables.
(01:31):
You know, we've double the battery bonus scheme, so renewal
is going to be part of that mix. But it's
about making electricity affordable and secure for Territorians. They want
to get home, have turn the aircon on, have the
lights going.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You have said, obviously you want to make power affordable
for Territorians. How are you going to do that?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well, Look, ultimately, we've got three things on the boil
at the moment, Katie. We've organized a budget subcabinet committee.
We're doing it at the highest level. We've got the
utilities commissioned to give us information about what they think
needs to happen to get the grid up and running.
And've also started a task force of getting a group
of people together that work out and make the young
Cocks and non government organizations be able to work together
(02:11):
than not operating in silos and work at the best
way to be able to move forward as a group,
as as a government and for the best outcome for
Territorian Minister.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
How much work is needed here on the network, Like
has there been much investment over the last eight years
into infrastructure within power and.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Water looks I can see though they're not there has
certainly been some, but not enough to get to the
fifty percent renewable target. There needed to be a lot
more worked. And I've spoken to Allen Langworthy who wrote
the report about it, and he just said they simply
didn't do the work and it's time to be honest.
And that's what we're here today talking about. This is
an unachievable goal. We're here to make sure that the
(02:49):
Territorians can come home, put the ARCon on, turn the
lights on at an affordable cost.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
I mean, the fact is, I think most people will
understand that it's you know that it was going to
be an expensive thing to try to do. But some
people listening may still want to see a goal to
get to renewable power, at least to try to achieve
a reasonable amount of renewable power. I mean, shouldn't it
still try to have a goal.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Now, look what we're focusing on the hip pocket. You know,
the cost of living is a crisis right across the
Northern It's actually right across Australia. But we're focused here
on the Northern territory and we need to make sure
that territory has had affordable, reliable power. And don't get
me wrong, renewable energy is in the mix, there's no
question about that. But we've got to get the gas
industry happening, the renewable's happening. We've got the big batteries
(03:34):
there to get it all running together to be able
to make sure you can turn the lights on.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Now, I know you had said achieving fifty percent renewable target.
That target by twenty thirty was estimated to cost up
to five billion dollars, which equates to fifty six thousand
dollars per Jacana household. How did you come to that figure?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Okay, that figure came up from the Department. And ultimately
that's a lot of money. But even if it was
two billion dollars, Katie, we sent we don't have that.
The previous government broke the budget. We're eleven billion dollars
worth of debt. We need to make sure that we
get that power happening and affordable and secure for territorians.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
So, where are things that in terms of the gas
agreements and you know, like you've said, they're that utilizing
gas is a big part of this. Where are things
out in terms of those gas agreements and where are
things that in terms of utilizing our gas here in
the Northern Territory for customers in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Look, ultimately, we know that Black Tip had a gas shortage.
They've just drilled and they're doing some testing right now
and from my understanding is that testing and that flow
is a good rate, so that hopefully will bring on
some online. We know Central Petroleum out Alice Springs have
been producing gas for a long time and they're also
drilling and exploring in fact and going out to their
facility next week to have a look at what's going
(04:46):
on out there and the and also the bea looo
so there's three different types of gas. Not talking about
offshore yet because that's a separate kettle of fish and
the Bealeloo's coming online. We know that there's been you know,
the Labor government weren't really pushing that forward. I'm going
very hard and try and support that as quick as
you keep. But we need to get that gas into market,
into the Darwin and then ultimately off to the East coast.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Well, I mean Peter Dutton has certainly made gas an
issue as we lead into the federal election. Are there
going to be any announcements between the Northern Territory government
and the federal government in this space.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Look, now we're working with the federal government, but we're
focusing on what we can do to make it affordable
and get that gas out of the ground and get
it to market at a reasonable cost.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Acting Chief Minister, I do want to ask. I know
we've currently got a cap on power increases at three percent.
Can you commit to keeping the prices capped at that rate?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Look, ultimately we're going to review it every year, Katie.
But what we can commit to go up, well, we're
here every day. We're going to be honest with territorians
we are going to make sure that we give territorians
affordable power, but it's going to be at the best
cost of territorians. We don't know what's going to happen
in the future, but right now at inflation is cap
at three but that's what we're going to cap it
at and moving forward and hopefully might go down.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
So so so we're going to cap it. It's capped
for this year at least at three percent, but then
it's going to be reviewed. So really can't rule in
or out that it could go up.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
And we certainly can't rule it could go down, all right.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
But there could be movement when it comes to power process.
I mean, is it even likely that it could go down?
How could it go down?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Well, ultimately, if we get the gas online and the
commercial rates good, and we get the generator system up
and running, like I said, we've got these three different
organizations looking at things to try and make actricity more affordable,
and if they come back with some quick easy fixes,
perhaps we can. But we're really.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
It's a likelihood more though that if we do come
up with some you know, with as you've said, quick
easy fixes, that maybe we need to invest some money
into infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Well, and if that's the case, we certainly will. And
that's why we've got three different groups looking at it
to come up with some solutions. We haven't just sit
here and say, oh, it's all labor salt that we're
going to scrap it. We actually made a plan. We're
going to work towards that plan and make it fixable
and fix it.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
So what did we sort of know I suppose in
terms of a review into those power prices when we
know where we sit and how things are tracking.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Look, one thing we're not going to do, Kadie is Russia.
We're going to make sure we get this right because
it's just too important. Everyone needs the power and we
rely upon it, so we're going to get it right.
We've only been in office for eight months and we're
trying to do with crime. We're trying to rebuild the
economy and lifstole and this is a big part of it.
And now we're switching our focus to it.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
All right, let's move along two corrections because there is
quite a bit happening in that space as well, and
I know the first cohort of G four S staff
have commenced orientation site inductions and security registration before taking
the oath as special correctional Officers. Now my understanding correct
me if I'm wrong, is that from this week those
G four S staff are going to assume custodial operations
(07:41):
at the Darwin Local Court and then by the end
of April they'll begin managing medical escorts. Acting Chief Minister.
Where are things at with those G four S stuff
this week?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
So ultimately CADI, they did their induction last week and
they're in the courts as off today, So there's ten
the G force officers they're managing the court and the
corrections officers, who must say do a wonderful job are
back in the prisons doing what they do to keep
the prison safe because as we spoke about earlier, it's
about those prison programs and they will know they've had
to be put on hold because of the short numbers
(08:15):
we've had. So we're trying to break that cycle and
use that G fours as a surge workforce to be
able to do these as scenery type exercises like the
courts and also like the hospital sits, to be able
to get the prison officers back behind the wire offering
this surf because it's about rehabilitation, about breaking the cycle
of offending.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Well it has to be. I mean, we've got to
make sure that when prisoners go into corrections they actually
come out better people rather than better criminals. Hey, can
I ask in terms of those G four s stuff
at the courts, did you say ten of them?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Ten of them there? Yes?
Speaker 1 (08:47):
And do they still have other stuff like other correction
stuff with them at this point in time or they're at.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
There out a week induction last week and I'm actually
going to go there today to see sale over them
and see how they going. Back from my understanding is
that they're today doing their job into courts and allowing
the prison officers to get back into behind the wire.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Have we got a cost for them yet? How much
it's costing us to have those G four as staff?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yes, we do so this first cohort of ten as
costing is one point three million, So.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
One point three million for the cohort of ten over
what period of.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Time over the first six months, and ultimately that could
go up as we call in more services. So as
we get more people because the contract's drawn as we
required we need more. We can get more people and
they come in at at a certain rate. So we're
not paying a full hilt right now. As we get
their services, we pay for those services.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
All right, So one point three million for that six
month period for ten staff, but not ruling out potentially
getting more. And you know obviously that cost would go
up if we get more staff. I'm assuming that's correct
all right now. In terms of the programs that are
going to get back underway, then in our correctional facilities,
where are things that you and I have spoken on
(09:58):
numerous occasions about. You know, the one that really got
people talking on this show was the seniors no longer
being able to have the low level security or the
low level prisoners i should say, out there mowing their
lawns and helping them with their gardens. Is that back underway, yes.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Katie, there's some good news about that. There's been over
one hundred and twenty pension has had their loans cut
over the last couple of weeks. We know that's a
big issue, and we got onto it, and I spoke
to the commissioner and I said, look, what do we
need to do is get that happening because lots of
people out there rely upon it, and we've got one
hundred and twenty done, so we're really working hard to
be able to get those loans mode and all the
other services that we can do, because it's about the rehabilitation.
(10:36):
It's about the industries where people go into prison to
become out better people, and that includes learning to do
first day learning to do retail sports and recreation, food safety,
their white card, the forklift licenses, their drivers' licenses. There's
a whole lot of programs that are sitting in there
that we offer these the prisoners to be able to
make them a better people.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
And so they all back underway.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Now, Look, the first one was getting a lawn up
and running. These other courses are up and running, but
they're certainly cut back and as we get more at
the G four s and as we get remember we're
actually three quarters away through recruiting thirty one prison offices
as we speak, and there's another thirty one starting very soon.
So we're recruiting our own and we're also using the
(11:18):
G fours as a surge workforce.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Now in terms of the other programs like programs to
rehabilitate people, domestic violence programs, that kind of thing, are
they underway within our correctional facilities at the moment.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Look, we've got a whole range of wrap around services
and there's a whole group of people who do services
like Teve Islands and Aboriginal corporations. But we're focusing on
getting the industries up and running. We're focused on getting
the lawn up and running and those other services are there. Also.
Remember we've got the Youth Justice facility out there as
well with our young offenders. So we're also got a
whole group of about I think thirteen providers who offer
(11:53):
those sorts of services and the boot camp PLoP services
where they go out and they have some experiences about
with people but with the elders to learn that the
culture and that respect and they come back. So we're
really trying hard to break that cycle.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Okay, but so not all of those programs about underway.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
All of them are up and running, but they're all there,
and we're just trying to get the staff numbers up
and running and the G four s and that search
is what we're aiming.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I guess, you know, given our domestic violence issues across
the Northern Territory at the moment, people will be wondering
whether there are rehab programs underway within the prisons at
the moment in that space are there.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Ultimately, there's a whole lot of training because it's about
giving people a purpose and getting them off there, off
the grog and off the gunja. Yeah yeah, and giving
them some skills so they go back in the community
so they can go and do good, get a job.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
But I mean in terms of like you know, ones
that like people that have been convicted of a domestic
violence offense, if is there a program or is there
something that they can do while they are in jail
to try to break that cycle.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Look, there's a whole range of training. And when you
talk about domestic violence, that's normally someone's been charged with
the salt and breach of the DEVO orders in place,
so these people people and maybe to do with alcohol
and drugs as well. So it's about trying to give
some of these offenders a purpose, which is about the
like I said, these skills and agriculture and training and
forklift licenses and food and music and basic English and maths.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Or I know there will be some people listening going
but hang on a set Wilfee, that's not like you know,
are they going to Is that going to stop people from,
you know, from offending against their partner. So, by the
sounds of it, there's not a sort of a specific
domestic violence rehab program within the jails at this point
in time.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Know what, there's a whole range of programs and wrap
around services to provide some of the prisoners with medical needs,
with psychological needs, and all those all go towards making
and better people, which will result in less violence and
less crime across the community.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
You spoke about don Dale a moment ago, or it's
not called don Dale anymore, sorry, I should say the
Youth Correctional Facility just a few moments. Are the education
facilities there up and running? And I had been I
had been told that there'd been some disruptions to some
of the education programs. Is that the case.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Look, I've been there and I've seen those education programs.
Those teachers go there and they wrap around those young
offenders to be able to give them those special needs,
and it's basically it's almost like going to school in now.
I've been to the one in Alice Springs. I've been
the one up here, and the students, you know, the
prisoners or students, what if you want to call them
go in there and the teachers there, and I went
into the classrooms. It's just like a classroom, and he's
(14:32):
about trying to give some of these young offenders the
ability to read, to do maths, and just learn what
it's like to be a young person.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
So there is sort of a dedicated facility for youths
in terms of their education out there at the new
corrections facilities. How many prisoners do we have in the
corrections facilities at the moment?
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Well, the number today is two thy seven hundred and
forty four. That's court. Well, it's fluctuating about that, so
it goes up and down, but we're sort of sitting
at a steady number at the moment. So you know
that twenty seven hundred and forty one hundred and fifty
is about where we're at. We've had some record numbers,
but I think we're just starting to level off in
relation to and it goes up and down because we
get new people arrested and of course people get out,
(15:13):
so it's balancing about there.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Do we know if we've got many in the youth
facility At this point.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
I'm just looking for my figures. I don't know what
that is right at the moment. I think it was
about thirty last week, Katie, But don't quote me on that.
And I can certainly get those figures if you later on.
But yeah, it's not not a lot, but there's certainly
a lot in there that you know, we're trying to
break the cycle of offending.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Hey, before I let you go this morning, a real
change of pace. I know that the government is basically
giving more opportunities for people to snap up a recreational
fishing grant. What exactly are these grants and who's eligible?
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Oh look, Catie, this is a good news story for
territory and this is about the twenty twenty five Northern
Charity Recreational Fishing Grant Scheme. And what it's about is
for non profit organizations who want to create new opportunities
for the community ensure a recreational fishing mains a significant part.
Like for example, the Palmerston Fishing Club do the Buddy
Day and I've been out with my boat with them
(16:08):
and we take out disadvantaged people and people from walwalks
life and we take them out for fishing for the
day to give them an opportunity, what's fishing like? And
you know then they put on a barbecue after that
and we all get a fishing shirt. So it's about
those nonprofit organizations who can get a ground up to
fifteen thousand dollars. So if you're a fishing club out
there or an organization that want to promote fishing, they
(16:28):
open today, make an application well.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Jered Mailey the acting Chief Minister, also Minister for various
portfolios including Mining and Energy, Renewables and Corrections, Thank you,
and fishing I think reck fishing yes, good on your minister.
Thanks so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Thank you, Katie,
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