Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And we know that Darwin's Catholic bishop has written to
(00:02):
the Northern Territory government expressing concern over a chronic lack
of access to NT prisons, saying that chaplains are effectively
being locked out. In a letter to the Chief Minister
Lea Finocchiaro and the Corrections Minister Jered Mayley, on behalf
of the Northern Territory Catholic Clergy, Bishop Charles Gouchi said
Catholic chaplains were facing significant obstacles reaching prisoners. That is
(00:26):
according to a report by the ABC Online. Bishop Gauchi saying,
while we understand the pressure within the justice system, we
believe the current lack of accessibility for chaplaincy services is
both a practical and moral concern. Now joining me in
the studio is the acting Chief Minister. He's also the
Minister for Corrections, Jared Maylee.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Good morning, Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Now, Minister Bishop Gauchi said the pastoral care provided by
chaplains was a vital element in the path toward rehabilitation
and healing for prisoners. Why are prisoners not able to
have access to chaplaincy services at the moments?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah? Ok, Katie, this is a concern for me. In fact,
there was a prayer on Saturday at eleven thirty that
I went into and I went with the Commission of
Valley and we both went there and listened to what
the church had to say and listened to the passion
that was in that church. One of the passes gave
a speech about he was going there and what he feels.
That makes a difference. So look, wh I've spoken to
(01:27):
Commission of Bali about that and we're going to look
into that because I understand he hasn't been in it
since November, and we know that there's been staff shortages.
I know that the prison system was in Christis when
we come in the government in August just before that.
But since then, Katie, we've put actually on Friday, I
went to passing out pro for another thirty one creestion officers.
There's another thirty three in training right now as we
(01:48):
speak as well. Because it all comes down to staffing
and things like that, Katie, so we're really working hard
to make sure that we boost the staffing. We know
we've got g fours in the court system as well,
to be able to put these train officers behind the
whiitre to make sure that these lockdowns, because that's what
that's what causes, is a lockdown because there's not enough
staff and these prisoners can't get out, so and so like.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
As it currently stands, how long have prisoners not had
access to those chaplaincy services or being able to you know,
to speak.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
That correspondent said since November last, Since November. Yeah, So
I've looked into it, and we are going to make
that a priority, Katie. We are going to make sure
because you know, we've had to lockdown and some of
the programs and some of the training services haven't been
running as we like because of the staffing numbers and
the year overcrowding.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
It's a tough juggle. Like, I totally understand that, and
I've spoken to you and I've spoken to the Corrections
Commissioner on so many occasions about the juggle that you've
currently got. I mean, we've got these ever growing prisoner numbers.
How many prisoners do we have in our correctional facilities
at the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Okay, I haven't got the exact numbers today, but over
the weekend it was twenty twenty eight hundred to just
over so that's a lot of prisoners. Okay, I think
what steps down and there's been years and years of
no consequence for your crime, and the cop got elected
in August, and what we've done is said, there's going
to be a consequence. We need to reduce the crime.
And it's a big ship, Katie, and I think it
(03:14):
is personally turning around and it is slightly, but it
is personally because it's going to be a consequence and
that is putting someone in jail if that's what the
court see fit. We've changed the law, We've done all
sorts of things to make sure the community is safe, Katie,
because that is our number one prior.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Look, I think it should be a number one priority
making sure that every territory and is safe and that
people that are breaking the law are facing a consequence
to breaking that law. But the other part of it
is of course making sure that when people are in
correctional facilities that they are able to access you know,
rehab programs and even being able to you know, to
do things like go and access chaplains and pastoral teams
(03:53):
to be able to hold those church services. Many would
see that as a step that does need to happen
for those prisoners. How quickly are those like are those
services going to be able to be returned for prisoners?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
We're going to make that happen relatively quickly. I can't
give you an exact timeframe, but I've spoken to the commissioner.
He's aware of the situation now and he's going to
prioritize those visits because it is important as well as
what we want to try and work on is make
sure industry and up and running. I was in the
Aloe Springs prison last week. Katie and I went to
the Education department and they were doing a quick Smart program.
(04:30):
We're teaching basic Mass in English to some of the
prisoners who they come into the prism of the very
low level of mass in English, and the quick Smart
program is there to help them learn English, learn mass,
just the really basic stuff. I'm talking like counting to ten,
ten plus ten, that sort of stuff. So we're talking
a low level, but that's really important. We want to
break the cycle.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And so are those programs now back up and running?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Those ones? Well, they're running on Monday, but they're not
running it full capacity. In racing into the industry, it
would work.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
When do you anticipate that everything is going to be
running at full capacity. Because my biggest concern, and I
think it is for a lot of territories as well,
is your spot on community safety is the number one priority,
making sure that there are not people at large who
are dangerous and who have committed dangerous offenses. But the
second priority is that those who are spending time in
(05:23):
our correctional facilities are undertaking rehabilitation programs so that if
they're in there for a short stint, that they're coming
out better people, not coming out better crimps.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Look, you're right, Katie, and making a community safe their
number one priority. So I want to make that very clear.
If there's a crime coming out there, the police are
doing a wonderful job and we want them to do
whatever they need to do. We're going to give them
more powers. We have given them more powers. We're going
to make sure that there's a good response, and then
we're those offenders if they are into the correctional system.
We want to make sure those programs that are up
(05:53):
and running, and they aren't running at this moment right now,
they're coming back online slowly. And I was in the
industry in Alice springs and Monday and I walked around
the woodwork and the number plates and the laundry so
and they went to the kitchen, so that all that
stuff is happening, which is about the rebuility. There's also Rage,
which is a family violent program up and running as well.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
So how soon, minister, do you think you're going to
be in a situation where all those programs are back
up and running.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Look, Katie, I really couldn't give you an absolute answer
to that right now. The next few months well, look hopefully,
But it really to do with staff. We need to
make sure that the staff are crept because I've been
talking about breaking the cycle here. We also need to
make sure that the prison officers aren't overworked and they
have an opportunity to go to work go home safely
as well. So we need to get that balance.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Where do you reckon we're at with those staffing levels.
I know you had that graduation, as you've just touched
on before, thirty one trainee correctional officers graduating on Friday.
How quickly do you think you're going to have those
staffing levels where they need to be.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's a very difficult question to answer because the prison
numbers are going up, so that's their big issue. Like
I said, there's been a lack of consequences, so the
prison population is going up through the roofs, so it
means staffing needs to go higher than we expected. We've
had one hundred and thirty eight additional officers put on
since we come into power. We've got the g fours
(07:15):
contract up and running in relation to the scenery service
not behind the wire, so we're really making sure that
we get that up up and running and balance. But
we're getting such an increase in prison numbers because there's
been a lack of consequences for the last eight years.
People have been getting away with it, and the community
safety has been going down and people aren't feeling safe.
So we're trying to fix all that together.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Minister, like we are starting to get more messages to
the show over the last couple of weeks. You know,
even on the weekend, we saw a terrible situation of
course in Catherine where you know where the police are
still calling for information after a woman's home was broken into.
She had people inside her home in Catherine. You know,
we spoke last week, you and I about the terrible
(07:57):
situation with Trevor's home allegedly being broken into him being
really seriously assaulted. We are starting to get more messages
to the show each and every week, people saying, Katie,
I just don't feel like the government is making the
inroads that I had hoped they would be at this
point when it comes to crime. What do you say
(08:17):
to those people?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
What I say to those people. We are not going
to stop. We are going to keep working hard to
make the community a better and a safest spot. We're
going to rebuild the economy, and we're going to restore
our lifestyle. That's our focus and everything we do is
on those three key pillars. But right now we're focusing
on the community safety and I think it has turned
around a bit, Katie. I think me personally, I feel
a little bit safer. I traveled around a little bit
(08:39):
and I meet lots of people. But it is a
big ship, so it is going to take some time
to turn around. So to say to those people, thank you,
be patient. We are trying the hardest. We will keep
working hard and I can guarantee that as our number
one priority is keep the community safe.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Acting Chief Minister, I want to ask you, there's still
a bit of toing and throwing around prisoners in watch houses.
The Northern Territory Police Association had caught up with me
a couple of weeks ago they still had concerns that
there were prisoners in the watchhouses. What exactly is the
go here?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
I just want to say on the start is that
the police officers do a wonderful job and for us
to keep the community safe, we need them to be
working at their best and we're trying hard to do that.
But there is some to and fro in relation to that, Katie.
But what it can say there's no correctional officers in
watchhouses anymore. So it comes down to a bit of
a text.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So who's in there?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
The police?
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Okay, so the police prisoners for the police, and.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
So they arrest someone, they go into custody into a
watchhouse other than the Darwin watchhouse. I must say that
that is run by corrections only, the one in Mitchell Street,
So there's no police in here. That's not an operational watchhouse.
That is a correctional facility. But we're talking about Palmerston
and Alice Springs of the main two watchhouses, Katie.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
So in terms of the Darwin. You know the Darwin
what was the watchhouse. It's used as a correctional facility.
How many prisoners have you gotten there last time?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
I it's about forty. And it's again it goes back
to prison numbers. It's it is a watchhouse that sort
it's designed for. So it's not like when you go
to Holts or Veramar where his room to walk around.
There is outdoor area they go outside and when they
get a bit of fresh air. So I've been to
that facility, but it's not like.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
You're at the Darwin Watchhouse on Mitchell Straight. Yes they're
going outside outside, it's fresh air. I was going to say,
goodness me, I think people are going to be a
bit worried to you.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
It's understanding like for example, in Palms and Watchhouse, you're
in the cell and you're locked in the cell in
the in the when in Mitchell Street there's a hallway
where they walk up and down so and which is
secure and so it's not going outside walking up.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Anticipate like that, you're gonna need well tell you what
people would be Oh no, no, that's all right. So how
long do you anticipate their corrections are going to need
to keep using that Darwin Watchhouse like you know, it's
like to me, it blows my mind. It's right in
the middle of our wonderful city that we're having to
(11:04):
use it as a correctional facility.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Yeah, it is. And ultimately we've got a master plan
Katie that when we come into office eight months ago
that we started working on, which includes doing some work
and some workers camps in sorry Catherine, And we're doing
a plan in Alice Springs in relation to using moving
the juveniles up into the Holts and making the old
juvenile into the women to get the women out of
(11:27):
that prison, because it was chaos when we come into office.
So we're working hard and that plan is progressing very well.
We're doing some changes out to the Holts out in
Sect eleven, which is a bit out the front. We're
going to make that into a secure where we can
put some women out there, and we have some more
men in behind the wire at Holts. So it is
a work in progress. There's no time frame to get
them out of here just yet. The police aren't asking
(11:50):
to use that either yet, okay, so there is there's
no pressure in relation to getting them out, so that
can be used as a watch So, just to make.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
It really clear in my mind, So the Darwin, you
know our so the Darwin City watch House is a
correctional facility at the moment, that's about forty prisoners in there.
But Palmerston is all of the correctional prisoners have been
moved out of there. Yes, and same.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
As Brama that's an operating police watchhouse. And same as
Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Okay, same as Alas Springs. What about out of Peter McCauley.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
No, there's no no corectional officers in any watchhouse other
than the Darwen one, which is a crectional facility.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
So why do you reckon there's still this you know,
this level of of you know discontent, I guess from
the Northern Territory Police Association saying that there are still
prisoners in watchhouses.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Well it gets because they are prisoners because they've been
arrested by the police. And remember if you've got a warrant, Katie,
and you get arrested by police under that warrant, well
technically you're a breach of court warrants. So you're a
correctional prisoner if you want to use that term. So,
but at the moment. Also, they're very hard to get those.
After our bail applications, the courts have shut them down.
(12:58):
So ultimately the police do a job. They arrest someone
and hold them in the watchhouse. They become a correctional
prisoner once they get delivered to a correctional facility.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Okay, all right, well, and so how like they're going
that's going to be happening indefinitely by the sounds of it,
you know, like as people and has always.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Had, has always happened, and just the ebbs and frozen.
Some weeks, there's more some weeks, it's not, depending on
how visy the court get through them, and then they
can come into a correctional facility. We brought on some
beds last week. We're brought in some new beds in
after Easter, so we are trying to expand the capacity.
In eight months, we've essentially built a prison, Katie.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
All right, So in terms of how things are progressing
with our correctional facilities at the moment, are you pretty
satisfied with how they're tracking along.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Look, in an ideal world, I'd like to have more
bed space, but we were left with a mess. We
are left with chaos. We are left with prisoners in
watch houses. We are left with correctional officers in watchhouses.
In eight months, we've done a lot, We've fixed it.
I think the community is feeling safer. We've got a
new prison online because it's about that breaking that cycle.
As we spoke about earlier, Katie's just locking someone up
(14:02):
in a small cell is not going to give him
any chance of breakdown cycle. So we want to focus
on that as well.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Now, look, we are going to have to wrap up,
but before I let you go, I want to ask
you there continues to be rgi barji about the port
as the election is closed. So the federal election, we
know the Acting Chief Minister claim, well you have claimed,
as the acting Chief Minister that the Prime Minister Anthony
alban Easy and the Member for Solomon Luke Gosling have
again left Territorians and Australians in limbo on their plans
(14:31):
for the Darwin Port. I mean the PM was here
on Friday for the first time since the federal election
campaign began, and you feel as though he was really
quite non committal about the port. What do you think
should have happened on Friday?
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Well, look, Katie. We know that Alban Easy made a
quick phone call to the ABC which I understand was
a bit of a train wreck interview anyway, and that's
all we've heard of it. He was here last week
on Friday, had a perfect opportunity to clarify his plan,
unlike Dutton who came up into and said we're going
to negotiate if we're going to give six months to
try and negotiate a deal. If not, we're going to
(15:04):
change legislation. So the plan is clear. Olbo. On the
other hand, quick phone call in Darwin didn't say anything
about it all. In fact, I heard his asked questions
and dodge those questions.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
So what do you want to happen? What do you
think needs to happen here? Does the federal government need
to take control of this and do we need the
port to go back into Australian hands, Katie.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
What we do need is certainty. We are willing to
work with any government in relation to this matter. And
if that is the case where one of the federal
government by the Port, yes we're happy to work with
them and we need it to get happening because the
territory needs some certainty about our trade, about our workers.
So we really want some certainty and we're happy to
work with either government what the plan is. But at
(15:44):
this age it seems the port is going to come
back and we support that.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Jarre mainly before I let you go, you were there
was questions being asked a week or so ago about
you saying in Parliament drill, baby, drill, so quoting the
President of the United States about you know, his fracking idea,
just send a number, jimper Price in a bit of
I guess some saying hot water saying make Australia great
again on the election campaign trail on the weekend. I mean,
(16:10):
what do you think? Do you think it's a big
deal that she said it?
Speaker 2 (16:13):
First thing, and first I want to make everyone very clear.
I support the gas industry. I really hope that the
Beterloo comes on line. It's been a bit of a
shambles out there for a number of years.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
So quote you'd quote Trumpy again by the sad, I.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Think I am keen to make sure that the gas
industry comes on line, and I personally want to do
whatever I can to support the gas industry. We need it,
we need that firm and we need the energy, because
cheap energy is going to make sure the Australia and
Territory goes better. Soa drill, baby, drill.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Oh well, Jared Mayley said it again. Thank you, as
always for your time. We'll catch up with you again
soon
And we know that Darwin's Catholic bishop has written to
(00:02):
the Northern Territory government expressing concern over a chronic lack
of access to NT prisons, saying that chaplains are effectively
being locked out. In a letter to the Chief Minister
Lea Finocchiaro and the Corrections Minister Jered Mayley, on behalf
of the Northern Territory Catholic Clergy, Bishop Charles Gouchi said
Catholic chaplains were facing significant obstacles reaching prisoners. That is
(00:26):
according to a report by the ABC Online. Bishop Gauchi saying,
while we understand the pressure within the justice system, we
believe the current lack of accessibility for chaplaincy services is
both a practical and moral concern. Now joining me in
the studio is the acting Chief Minister. He's also the
Minister for Corrections, Jared Maylee.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Good morning, Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Now, Minister Bishop Gauchi said the pastoral care provided by
chaplains was a vital element in the path toward rehabilitation
and healing for prisoners. Why are prisoners not able to
have access to chaplaincy services at the moments?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah? Ok, Katie, this is a concern for me. In fact,
there was a prayer on Saturday at eleven thirty that
I went into and I went with the Commission of
Valley and we both went there and listened to what
the church had to say and listened to the passion
that was in that church. One of the passes gave
a speech about he was going there and what he feels.
That makes a difference. So look, wh I've spoken to
(01:27):
Commission of Bali about that and we're going to look
into that because I understand he hasn't been in it
since November, and we know that there's been staff shortages.
I know that the prison system was in Christis when
we come in the government in August just before that.
But since then, Katie, we've put actually on Friday, I
went to passing out pro for another thirty one creestion officers.
There's another thirty three in training right now as we
(01:48):
speak as well. Because it all comes down to staffing
and things like that, Katie, so we're really working hard
to make sure that we boost the staffing. We know
we've got g fours in the court system as well,
to be able to put these train officers behind the
whiitre to make sure that these lockdowns, because that's what
that's what causes, is a lockdown because there's not enough
staff and these prisoners can't get out, so and so like.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
As it currently stands, how long have prisoners not had
access to those chaplaincy services or being able to you know,
to speak.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
That correspondent said since November last, Since November. Yeah, So
I've looked into it, and we are going to make
that a priority, Katie. We are going to make sure
because you know, we've had to lockdown and some of
the programs and some of the training services haven't been
running as we like because of the staffing numbers and
the year overcrowding.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
It's a tough juggle. Like, I totally understand that, and
I've spoken to you and I've spoken to the Corrections
Commissioner on so many occasions about the juggle that you've
currently got. I mean, we've got these ever growing prisoner numbers.
How many prisoners do we have in our correctional facilities
at the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Okay, I haven't got the exact numbers today, but over
the weekend it was twenty twenty eight hundred to just
over so that's a lot of prisoners. Okay, I think
what steps down and there's been years and years of
no consequence for your crime, and the cop got elected
in August, and what we've done is said, there's going
to be a consequence. We need to reduce the crime.
And it's a big ship, Katie, and I think it
(03:14):
is personally turning around and it is slightly, but it
is personally because it's going to be a consequence and
that is putting someone in jail if that's what the
court see fit. We've changed the law, We've done all
sorts of things to make sure the community is safe, Katie,
because that is our number one prior.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Look, I think it should be a number one priority
making sure that every territory and is safe and that
people that are breaking the law are facing a consequence
to breaking that law. But the other part of it
is of course making sure that when people are in
correctional facilities that they are able to access you know,
rehab programs and even being able to you know, to
do things like go and access chaplains and pastoral teams
(03:53):
to be able to hold those church services. Many would
see that as a step that does need to happen
for those prisoners. How quickly are those like are those
services going to be able to be returned for prisoners?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
We're going to make that happen relatively quickly. I can't
give you an exact timeframe, but I've spoken to the commissioner.
He's aware of the situation now and he's going to
prioritize those visits because it is important as well as
what we want to try and work on is make
sure industry and up and running. I was in the
Aloe Springs prison last week. Katie and I went to
the Education department and they were doing a quick Smart program.
(04:30):
We're teaching basic Mass in English to some of the
prisoners who they come into the prism of the very
low level of mass in English, and the quick Smart
program is there to help them learn English, learn mass,
just the really basic stuff. I'm talking like counting to ten,
ten plus ten, that sort of stuff. So we're talking
a low level, but that's really important. We want to
break the cycle.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And so are those programs now back up and running?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Those ones? Well, they're running on Monday, but they're not
running it full capacity. In racing into the industry, it
would work.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
When do you anticipate that everything is going to be
running at full capacity. Because my biggest concern, and I
think it is for a lot of territories as well,
is your spot on community safety is the number one priority,
making sure that there are not people at large who
are dangerous and who have committed dangerous offenses. But the
second priority is that those who are spending time in
(05:23):
our correctional facilities are undertaking rehabilitation programs so that if
they're in there for a short stint, that they're coming
out better people, not coming out better crimps.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Look, you're right, Katie, and making a community safe their
number one priority. So I want to make that very clear.
If there's a crime coming out there, the police are
doing a wonderful job and we want them to do
whatever they need to do. We're going to give them
more powers. We have given them more powers. We're going
to make sure that there's a good response, and then
we're those offenders if they are into the correctional system.
We want to make sure those programs that are up
(05:53):
and running, and they aren't running at this moment right now,
they're coming back online slowly. And I was in the
industry in Alice springs and Monday and I walked around
the woodwork and the number plates and the laundry so
and they went to the kitchen, so that all that
stuff is happening, which is about the rebuility. There's also Rage,
which is a family violent program up and running as well.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
So how soon, minister, do you think you're going to
be in a situation where all those programs are back
up and running.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Look, Katie, I really couldn't give you an absolute answer
to that right now. The next few months well, look hopefully,
But it really to do with staff. We need to
make sure that the staff are crept because I've been
talking about breaking the cycle here. We also need to
make sure that the prison officers aren't overworked and they
have an opportunity to go to work go home safely
as well. So we need to get that balance.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Where do you reckon we're at with those staffing levels.
I know you had that graduation, as you've just touched
on before, thirty one trainee correctional officers graduating on Friday.
How quickly do you think you're going to have those
staffing levels where they need to be.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's a very difficult question to answer because the prison
numbers are going up, so that's their big issue. Like
I said, there's been a lack of consequences, so the
prison population is going up through the roofs, so it
means staffing needs to go higher than we expected. We've
had one hundred and thirty eight additional officers put on
since we come into power. We've got the g fours
(07:15):
contract up and running in relation to the scenery service
not behind the wire, so we're really making sure that
we get that up up and running and balance. But
we're getting such an increase in prison numbers because there's
been a lack of consequences for the last eight years.
People have been getting away with it, and the community
safety has been going down and people aren't feeling safe.
So we're trying to fix all that together.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Minister, like we are starting to get more messages to
the show over the last couple of weeks. You know,
even on the weekend, we saw a terrible situation of
course in Catherine where you know where the police are
still calling for information after a woman's home was broken into.
She had people inside her home in Catherine. You know,
we spoke last week, you and I about the terrible
(07:57):
situation with Trevor's home allegedly being broken into him being
really seriously assaulted. We are starting to get more messages
to the show each and every week, people saying, Katie,
I just don't feel like the government is making the
inroads that I had hoped they would be at this
point when it comes to crime. What do you say
(08:17):
to those people?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
What I say to those people. We are not going
to stop. We are going to keep working hard to
make the community a better and a safest spot. We're
going to rebuild the economy, and we're going to restore
our lifestyle. That's our focus and everything we do is
on those three key pillars. But right now we're focusing
on the community safety and I think it has turned
around a bit, Katie. I think me personally, I feel
a little bit safer. I traveled around a little bit
(08:39):
and I meet lots of people. But it is a
big ship, so it is going to take some time
to turn around. So to say to those people, thank you,
be patient. We are trying the hardest. We will keep
working hard and I can guarantee that as our number
one priority is keep the community safe.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Acting Chief Minister, I want to ask you, there's still
a bit of toing and throwing around prisoners in watch houses.
The Northern Territory Police Association had caught up with me
a couple of weeks ago they still had concerns that
there were prisoners in the watchhouses. What exactly is the
go here?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
I just want to say on the start is that
the police officers do a wonderful job and for us
to keep the community safe, we need them to be
working at their best and we're trying hard to do that.
But there is some to and fro in relation to that, Katie.
But what it can say there's no correctional officers in
watchhouses anymore. So it comes down to a bit of
a text.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So who's in there?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
The police?
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Okay, so the police prisoners for the police, and.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
So they arrest someone, they go into custody into a
watchhouse other than the Darwin watchhouse. I must say that
that is run by corrections only, the one in Mitchell Street,
So there's no police in here. That's not an operational watchhouse.
That is a correctional facility. But we're talking about Palmerston
and Alice Springs of the main two watchhouses, Katie.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
So in terms of the Darwin. You know the Darwin
what was the watchhouse. It's used as a correctional facility.
How many prisoners have you gotten there last time?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
I it's about forty. And it's again it goes back
to prison numbers. It's it is a watchhouse that sort
it's designed for. So it's not like when you go
to Holts or Veramar where his room to walk around.
There is outdoor area they go outside and when they
get a bit of fresh air. So I've been to
that facility, but it's not like.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
You're at the Darwin Watchhouse on Mitchell Straight. Yes they're
going outside outside, it's fresh air. I was going to say,
goodness me, I think people are going to be a
bit worried to you.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
It's understanding like for example, in Palms and Watchhouse, you're
in the cell and you're locked in the cell in
the in the when in Mitchell Street there's a hallway
where they walk up and down so and which is
secure and so it's not going outside walking up.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Anticipate like that, you're gonna need well tell you what
people would be Oh no, no, that's all right. So how
long do you anticipate their corrections are going to need
to keep using that Darwin Watchhouse like you know, it's
like to me, it blows my mind. It's right in
the middle of our wonderful city that we're having to
(11:04):
use it as a correctional facility.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Yeah, it is. And ultimately we've got a master plan
Katie that when we come into office eight months ago
that we started working on, which includes doing some work
and some workers camps in sorry Catherine, And we're doing
a plan in Alice Springs in relation to using moving
the juveniles up into the Holts and making the old
juvenile into the women to get the women out of
(11:27):
that prison, because it was chaos when we come into office.
So we're working hard and that plan is progressing very well.
We're doing some changes out to the Holts out in
Sect eleven, which is a bit out the front. We're
going to make that into a secure where we can
put some women out there, and we have some more
men in behind the wire at Holts. So it is
a work in progress. There's no time frame to get
them out of here just yet. The police aren't asking
(11:50):
to use that either yet, okay, so there is there's
no pressure in relation to getting them out, so that
can be used as a watch So, just to make.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
It really clear in my mind, So the Darwin, you
know our so the Darwin City watch House is a
correctional facility at the moment, that's about forty prisoners in there.
But Palmerston is all of the correctional prisoners have been
moved out of there. Yes, and same.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
As Brama that's an operating police watchhouse. And same as
Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Okay, same as Alas Springs. What about out of Peter McCauley.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
No, there's no no corectional officers in any watchhouse other
than the Darwen one, which is a crectional facility.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
So why do you reckon there's still this you know,
this level of of you know discontent, I guess from
the Northern Territory Police Association saying that there are still
prisoners in watchhouses.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Well it gets because they are prisoners because they've been
arrested by the police. And remember if you've got a warrant, Katie,
and you get arrested by police under that warrant, well
technically you're a breach of court warrants. So you're a
correctional prisoner if you want to use that term. So,
but at the moment. Also, they're very hard to get those.
After our bail applications, the courts have shut them down.
(12:58):
So ultimately the police do a job. They arrest someone
and hold them in the watchhouse. They become a correctional
prisoner once they get delivered to a correctional facility.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Okay, all right, well, and so how like they're going
that's going to be happening indefinitely by the sounds of it,
you know, like as people and has always.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Had, has always happened, and just the ebbs and frozen.
Some weeks, there's more some weeks, it's not, depending on
how visy the court get through them, and then they
can come into a correctional facility. We brought on some
beds last week. We're brought in some new beds in
after Easter, so we are trying to expand the capacity.
In eight months, we've essentially built a prison, Katie.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
All right, So in terms of how things are progressing
with our correctional facilities at the moment, are you pretty
satisfied with how they're tracking along.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Look, in an ideal world, I'd like to have more
bed space, but we were left with a mess. We
are left with chaos. We are left with prisoners in
watch houses. We are left with correctional officers in watchhouses.
In eight months, we've done a lot, We've fixed it.
I think the community is feeling safer. We've got a
new prison online because it's about that breaking that cycle.
As we spoke about earlier, Katie's just locking someone up
(14:02):
in a small cell is not going to give him
any chance of breakdown cycle. So we want to focus
on that as well.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Now, look, we are going to have to wrap up,
but before I let you go, I want to ask
you there continues to be rgi barji about the port
as the election is closed. So the federal election, we
know the Acting Chief Minister claim, well you have claimed,
as the acting Chief Minister that the Prime Minister Anthony
alban Easy and the Member for Solomon Luke Gosling have
again left Territorians and Australians in limbo on their plans
(14:31):
for the Darwin Port. I mean the PM was here
on Friday for the first time since the federal election
campaign began, and you feel as though he was really
quite non committal about the port. What do you think
should have happened on Friday?
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Well, look, Katie. We know that Alban Easy made a
quick phone call to the ABC which I understand was
a bit of a train wreck interview anyway, and that's
all we've heard of it. He was here last week
on Friday, had a perfect opportunity to clarify his plan,
unlike Dutton who came up into and said we're going
to negotiate if we're going to give six months to
try and negotiate a deal. If not, we're going to
(15:04):
change legislation. So the plan is clear. Olbo. On the
other hand, quick phone call in Darwin didn't say anything
about it all. In fact, I heard his asked questions
and dodge those questions.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
So what do you want to happen? What do you
think needs to happen here? Does the federal government need
to take control of this and do we need the
port to go back into Australian hands, Katie.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
What we do need is certainty. We are willing to
work with any government in relation to this matter. And
if that is the case where one of the federal
government by the Port, yes we're happy to work with
them and we need it to get happening because the
territory needs some certainty about our trade, about our workers.
So we really want some certainty and we're happy to
work with either government what the plan is. But at
(15:44):
this age it seems the port is going to come
back and we support that.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Jarre mainly before I let you go, you were there
was questions being asked a week or so ago about
you saying in Parliament drill, baby, drill, so quoting the
President of the United States about you know, his fracking idea,
just send a number, jimper Price in a bit of
I guess some saying hot water saying make Australia great
again on the election campaign trail on the weekend. I mean,
(16:10):
what do you think? Do you think it's a big
deal that she said it?
Speaker 2 (16:13):
First thing, and first I want to make everyone very clear.
I support the gas industry. I really hope that the
Beterloo comes on line. It's been a bit of a
shambles out there for a number of years.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
So quote you'd quote Trumpy again by the sad, I.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Think I am keen to make sure that the gas
industry comes on line, and I personally want to do
whatever I can to support the gas industry. We need it,
we need that firm and we need the energy, because
cheap energy is going to make sure the Australia and
Territory goes better. Soa drill, baby, drill.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Oh well, Jared Mayley said it again. Thank you, as
always for your time. We'll catch up with you again
soon
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