Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know that the Northern Territory Police have now
charged a seventeen year old male with the murder of
a twenty one year old in Tenant Creek last week.
Police were called to that incident following reports of a
stabbing and found the man with a neck injury. He
died a short time later at the scene. Now that
seventeen year old is expected to appear in court today
(00:21):
and the police out of Tenant Creek telling us that
they're continuing to address well. They're continuing efforts to address
community unrest in the Barkley region and they are indeed
calling on residents and partner agencies to help reduce escalating tensions.
The incident comes o amid some ongoing concerns about violent
crimes across the territory. We know in Alice Springs unfortunately
(00:44):
wild scenes by the sounds of it at the footy yesterday.
Now joining us on the line is the Chief Minister Leafanocchiiro.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Good morning to you, Chief.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning Katie and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Now, Chief Minister, we know that the police have arrested
a seventeen year old in relation to well the twenty
one year old.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well the murder of.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
A twenty one year old in Tenant Creek. There have
also been a number of other incidents around the territory
over the last week, But just in Tenant Creek, are
you concerned about the issues that they're experiencing at the moment?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Look, I'm always concerned about crime, Katie, It's why we
throw so much at it. And you know, the tragic
loss of the twenty one year old is being felt
by everyone. But we have surge police resources into Tenant Creek.
We've sent four of our Aboriginal liaison officers at senior
sergeant for police from Alice, Major Crime from Darwin and
(01:40):
an operation has been ongoing since Friday. And again, this
is bigger than just an issue police can resolve. We
need the whole community and community leadership to call for karma.
What is the time of you know, fled tensions obviously
with the death of the twenty one year old, But
we are rezes down there and the operation has been
(02:04):
very effective.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Chief Innista.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I mean, it sounds like a pretty wild weekend, not
only in Tenant Creek, in Alice Springs. At the footy yesterday,
police said that a football match had to be abandoned
after a large violence violent disturbance erupted. A twenty two
year old pregnant woman was allegedly assaulted by a group
while holding her two year old child, who was also
(02:26):
assaulted during that incident, a twenty seven year old woman
reportedly suffering injuries to her head caused by an edged weapon,
and another woman allegedly assaulted and transported to hospital for treatment.
I mean, I don't know what is going on at
the moment, but even last week, you know, we were
talking on the show as well about about you know,
(02:48):
a group of kids at Molden Oval, you know, seeing
a teenager come on to the field after he'd been
stabbed in the hand.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Like, what is happening at the moment?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, it's really awful. This type of violent behavior is
completely unacceptable, and our police are clamping down on it.
I think the reality is Katie, and it's just the
shittiness of the situation. But we've had eight years where
these would be violent offenders have been basically absolved from
(03:22):
the consequences of the law, and so what we've known
over a long period of time is that the brazenness
of the offending has been getting worse. Because it usually
starts at a lower level crime and then escalates into
this type of horrific violence that we're seeing. So it's
a huge challenge for government. We work with all of
the NGOs and providers and other government organizations to try
(03:45):
and make sure people are behaving themselves. But there's some
bad people making really bad decisions and that is impacting
the entire Northern Territory community, which is unacceptable.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Look, I don't disagree.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I do think that we've seen really bad behavior over
number on number of years. I mean, it's something we've
reported on this show every single day, but there seems
to be a flair up again at the moment. I
think a lot of people are asking the question why.
I mean, in Palmerston, we've got Operation Ventura obviously under way,
which is great, but we've been talking for weeks about
the issues there along Emery Avenue, about the issues with
(04:19):
you know, visitors to public housing that are behaving really
poorly and then you know violence out there. But then
even in town there's a real increase at the moment
in public drinking and anti social behavior. And I guess
what our listeners want to hear is what is the
government doing to try to mitigate this because we know
that the laws.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Have been changed.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
We know that certainly, you know you've come in saying
that this isn't going to be accepted, and you don't
accept it. You know when we talk to you, you
certainly don't seem accepting of the bad behavior. But how
do you know, how do we get to a point
where we all know there's going to be no situation
where there's never any crime, but where we're not having
to deal with some of this real violence on a
(05:00):
day to day basis.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yeah, I hear you, Katie, I absolutely do, and I
share the frustration with you and your lists, and I
think your listeners know that Ventura is in response to
Palmerston has those crime stats in Parmesan just have not
budged like we've seen the positive trend around the rest
of the territory. And so police made that very deliberate
decision to go in and saturate Palmerston for two months
(05:25):
to really get the data and get on top of it,
and that is having some good effect. We've issued one
hundred and forty three bend drinker orders, made eighty five arrests,
sixty protective custodies, seven hundred and forty two wan dings,
nineteen weaponses. So that is working well and I'm hoping
that then sees Palmeston follow the trend of the rest
of the territory. But we have had a couple of
(05:47):
very high profile, very serious, very terrible, terrible instances of crime,
and we just have to keep at it. I mean,
that's why our supporting the police is so important. We
have one hundred and one more cops today than we
did under Labor and that has got to grow. Our
first tranch of police public safety offices will graduate in
a couple of weeks and we've got two more squads
(06:10):
this year. But it's a big job and it is
never done, Katie, it is never done. And often trends
then morph and change and we have to be responsive
to it, and we just have to We just have
to keep fighting the fine.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
I mean, Chief Finister, what do you say to those
people listening this morning though, you know who maybe their
kids were on mold and Oval last week and witnessed,
you know, this person come on to the oval who'd
been stabbed in the hand, and they're feeling like, you know,
like the promises that you made aren't working yet, what
would you say to those people?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Look, number one, it must have been absolutely horrific to
be part of that young kids. I mean, and I
know the club provided first day, which is amazing, so
acknowledge the traumatic event that was now you know. Unfortunately,
these incidences are still happening and it's not something we're
(07:08):
shying away from. Our response is very, very strong, and
we just have to keep working through at every level.
I mean, this is not just a point in where
cops are catching more people. We're putting more people in prison.
That data, you know, no one can dispute that. It's
the root causes work that's critical as well, the stuff
we're doing to rehabilitate people, get kids to school, try
(07:29):
and get young people on a better past, whole parents accountable.
I mean, our entire changes to the Care and Protection Act,
Katie are geared for these. We're seeing kids be exposed
to DV young age, which is making them grow up
traumatized and violent, and we don't want that to happen anymore.
So we've got to be putting a child's right to
(07:50):
a calm and normal life ahead of anything else, which
is what we're doing. And you know, at the end
of the day, it is just a continuous piece of work.
We also know that more people are reporting crime because
police are acting on it, which is good and we
want that to happen. So it's just a never ending,
(08:11):
multifaceted issue we have to deal with and the stronger
our economy is, the better it will be to deal
with this issue.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And what do you say to those people who are
you know, who are claiming that you're tough on crime
stance isn't working and the violence we're still saying is
evidence of that, Well, I just.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Think it's ridiculous. I mean, we have brought online an
entire new prison, more work camps, boot camps, Our police
are arresting more people. I mean, it's very very clear
to people I talk to that they see the change
between our backing of police and supporting our justice system
and before Now. That's not to say there aren't still
(08:50):
terrible things happening, but the rate is much lower, and
the crime data speaks for itself in terms of house
breakings down twenty percent plus, commercial breaking down twenty percent plus.
So we're skill seeing patchness and it kind of depends
on the town. What the different rates are but generally
speaking except for parmers, and we have seen downward pressure
(09:12):
on all crime types. So I don't think there's many
people walking around the territory saying, oh, I wish we
had labor dealing with these law and order issues. I
certainly don't hear that Katie for having said that, like,
we're leaving nothing in the tank on this. We have
just got to keep going and do everything we can
to try and get ahead of it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Chief finished.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Someone's just messaged through, when is alcohol rehabilitation starting? Your
government promise this would happen.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yes, So through our correction system is where we have
started that. We promised there would be compulsory alcohol, drug
and behavioral change programs in prison and so that's a
fantastic start. And then Minister Edgington as a Minister for
Alcohol Policy is working through the rollout of what the
next phase is because we want to be really targeted
(10:01):
to people who have a chronic problem. It's also why
we increase the band drink or orders from one week
to twenty eight days. And I was speaking with police
over the weekend who were saying that is making a
huge impact and they actually and this is a good
part of the good news story is police have actually
had people who know they have a chronic problem with
(10:22):
grog asking police if they can get a twenty eight
day video put on them to stop them buying alcohol.
So there's work happening and certainly by the end of
the year will be in a better position to announce
more about a mandatory alcohol rehab.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Okay, we know that you're in Alice Springs at the moment.
I understand that the Alice Springs Police Communications Center, the
pilot program is going to be extended. How is that
first six months of operation gone.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
It's been amazing, Katie. I am in Alice for this announcement.
So we promised to have a Triple zero call center
in Alice Springs to service the Barklay and Central Australia.
And so in that first six months we had three thousand,
two hundred calls to Triple zero and another three thousand
calls to the one through one Triple four number answered
(11:12):
here in Alice Springs, and unbelievable, amazingly, ninety nine percent
of all Triple zero calls were answered within that benchmark
ten second time frame. So the team here are doing
an excellent job. And they have been able to answer
seventy percent of all calls relating to this region here
in Alice Springs and with local language speakers as well,
(11:37):
So the results are good. One of the most tangible
example I can give your listeners is recently we Coumanji
Little Baby that night that police arrested Jefferson Lewis. That
call came here and the police were able to respond
with us three minutes. So you can see the impact
that that local content, local call taking can have. So
(11:59):
what we're doing now is we've done a trial under
a certain parameters. We're expanding those parameters with a view
to make this permanent at the end of another six
month period where we can really understand the best use
of the resource and best times to run the center
and volumes of people to run it and all those things.
But an incredible result to have ninety to nine percent
(12:21):
of triple zero calls answer it in ten seconds. That's
the national benchmark is eighty percent. So they absolutely doing
a wonderful job.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
It sounds like it makes sense.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
So I guess people and Alice will be saying, well,
why not just make it permanent rather than just extending
it again?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, so we will make it permanent. The thing is,
when we did the first six month trial, we mainly
did it during business hours during the week. What we
really really need to trial now is night times and
weekends and then we can map where the demand is
and then how we best roll out a permanent presence
going forward and what that will look like. So we
(12:59):
collect in the data and doing the work to make
sure this is sustainable. I don't want it to be
a flash in the pan type of policy, but we
can see very clearly just from the limited trial we
had already that it's doing a great job and we
want to see that Bolsted going forward and done, but
in that bespoke way that suits his region going forward.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
All right, Chief Minister, A couple of quick ones.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I know you're pressed for time, as are we. We
know that last week there was real issues when it
comes to our health system. There continues to be real
issues when it comes to our health system. Obviously some
good news with the new thirty two bear board at
Royal Darwin Hospital. Unfortunately though we have got those sustained
co jellos. I think we all understand, you know that
(13:43):
our health system is underfunded. I get it that we've
got additional funding that's coming in from the federal government.
We heard that loudly and clearly from the Assistant Minister
last week. But Chief Minister, you did meet with the
Prime Minister recently? Did health come up?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
I met with the Prime Minister in Canberra about the
Northern Marine Complex and the importance of the Northern Territory
to the security of this nation going forward, and we
know that a strong North is a secure Australia. So
it was really around those key economic drivers when it
comes to health. Of course, the Prime Minister and I
did the one billion dollar deal over five years for
(14:22):
that increased health funding back in January this year, so
that is that is the status of that increased funding,
which is the largest ever increase that the territory has seen.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
I guess what I'm getting to ins Did he give
you any information about the maternity funding the ten million
dollars that it feels like we're begging for or are
you guys going to have to fall out and pay
for it yourselves?
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Well, Luke Goslin keeps saying the checks in the mail
and interestingly he won't even answer. The Minister Edgington, the
Health Minister's phone calls anymore. So we're trying very hard
to get to the bottom of this rubbery ten million
dollars which is on the table, off the table in
the mail maybe coming in.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
It sound like we're getting it.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
When I spoke to the Assistant Minister last week, she
kept referring to this other sixty seven million dollars in
additional funding that we've received. You know, I asked again,
I referred to my interview with Luke Gorsling where it
said it was within the MAIFO and and you know,
we just sort of can't seem to nut it out.
So will you guys pay for it if they don't.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, So I've mentioned on your show before, Katie that
we've massively increased the health budget this year, so there's
work that need to be done. Then they've got to
prioritize it and get that work done. But really, that
ten million dollars, I mean, this is the money that
we have been chasing for over a year. It's money
that the federal government happily gave to Tasmania, who were
in a similar situation to us. It's money that the
(15:47):
Member for Solomon thinks is in the mail and we
are trying to contact the Member of Solomon about Disney
won't pick up the the Health Minister's phone calls, so
it's very difficult. We are keeping on Katie absolutely because
it's an issue important to families and I had a
great opportunity on the weekend to speak with three ladies
(16:07):
about this issue, one of them expecting in November, and
we had a really good chat about the challenges. So
it's certainly on our radar at a very high level.
We just need all the fans need to do. It's
seven to ten million, but again that's going to to
go some way. It's not going to address this private
maternity issue, which is a real sticking point. We just
(16:29):
need the receivers to pick either Cavalry or purpose co
and we need to get in front of them to
say you are not welcome here unless you deliver private
maternity and then get on with it. So we're being
told September for that deadline, and we are just constantly
at them about making sure that there are no blowouts
in that time frame. But it's so difficult because we're
(16:51):
not you know, we're not part of those negotiations now.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
And I know that the Health Minister Steve Edgington. I
believe he's up today in estimates, no doubt. Plenty of
questions are going to get asked in there, so I
won't keep asking you health ones this morning.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Hey, really quickly, I'm into the opposition And well I
did say that on Friday.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Throughout the week that was I said to dram mate,
I can give you a few questions if you want,
but we've.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Probably got a few for the Feds as well.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Hey, just just very quickly, and I know it's probably
not a real quick answer, but daily Nayu community, I
know that the opposition last week we're raising concerns about
the response there. We actually spoke to Wayne from Green
River Aboriginal Corporation and he did say, you know that
he appreciated the support that the Northern Territory government had
(17:38):
so far provided, but he said that the community are
really asking for a seat at the table when it
comes to you know, repairs to the rebuild. And then
also you know he's waiting to hear back from the
federal government. He's written to you know, they've written to
a whole raft of people. Can you tell me from
your perspective when it comes to the NAIU Commuit and
(18:00):
a daily Are we getting federal assistance with this rebuild.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yes, so I don't have a direct update on that
for you, Katie. But what the opposition we're trying to
say last week is that it was the homes weren't safe,
which is just completely not true. Every single home that
we have returned people to has to be compliance certified
and so it is absolutely safe and people quite frankly,
are sick of living in Bachelor. They want to go home.
(18:28):
It's been months and months and months, so that work
is continuing. The shop is open, there's health facilities, all
of the school, all those things you need to have
a community. Separate to that is federal funding. Now, it's
quite complicated the federal funding process. We of course have
our one hundred million dollar flood recovery fund which we
are hoping to build back better from, which means we
(18:51):
have to work very closely with the federal government and
we can't announce any projects that might be part of
that funding until it has been resolved with the federal government.
So we're a bit hamstrung in terms of not being
able to talk about possibilities for that funding. But it
is an ongoing process, and we've been very proud to
make sure that green rivers on behalf of the people
(19:12):
of Nayu are heavily involved in this process. And of
course we need Nayu people at the table when it
comes to that five hundred million that we put aside
to do the Naiu Future Plan and what does future
development going forward look like. So those processes are there
and happening, and our focus right now is just as
(19:34):
fast as possible getting the houses cleaned and safe and
then getting people home.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
All right, Chief Minister, I know you've got to go.
You've got Angus Taylor there today as well, are you
and Alice Springs.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
The Liberal Yeah, he comes in later today. Yeah, he's
in later today and we're both going to head out
to Central Petroleum and check out their gas field out there.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Well, Chief Minister Leah Finochiara, we held you for a
little longer than what you anticipated. Thank you very much
for joining us on the show this morning.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Thank you everyone,
Now we know that the Northern Territory Police have now
charged a seventeen year old male with the murder of
a twenty one year old in Tenant Creek last week.
Police were called to that incident following reports of a
stabbing and found the man with a neck injury. He
died a short time later at the scene. Now that
seventeen year old is expected to appear in court today
(00:21):
and the police out of Tenant Creek telling us that
they're continuing to address well. They're continuing efforts to address
community unrest in the Barkley region and they are indeed
calling on residents and partner agencies to help reduce escalating tensions.
The incident comes o amid some ongoing concerns about violent
crimes across the territory. We know in Alice Springs unfortunately
(00:44):
wild scenes by the sounds of it at the footy yesterday.
Now joining us on the line is the Chief Minister Leafanocchiiro.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Good morning to you, Chief.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning Katie and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Now, Chief Minister, we know that the police have arrested
a seventeen year old in relation to well the twenty
one year old.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well the murder of.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
A twenty one year old in Tenant Creek. There have
also been a number of other incidents around the territory
over the last week, But just in Tenant Creek, are
you concerned about the issues that they're experiencing at the moment?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Look, I'm always concerned about crime, Katie, It's why we
throw so much at it. And you know, the tragic
loss of the twenty one year old is being felt
by everyone. But we have surge police resources into Tenant Creek.
We've sent four of our Aboriginal liaison officers at senior
sergeant for police from Alice, Major Crime from Darwin and
(01:40):
an operation has been ongoing since Friday. And again, this
is bigger than just an issue police can resolve. We
need the whole community and community leadership to call for karma.
What is the time of you know, fled tensions obviously
with the death of the twenty one year old, But
we are rezes down there and the operation has been
(02:04):
very effective.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Chief Innista.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I mean, it sounds like a pretty wild weekend, not
only in Tenant Creek, in Alice Springs. At the footy yesterday,
police said that a football match had to be abandoned
after a large violence violent disturbance erupted. A twenty two
year old pregnant woman was allegedly assaulted by a group
while holding her two year old child, who was also
(02:26):
assaulted during that incident, a twenty seven year old woman
reportedly suffering injuries to her head caused by an edged weapon,
and another woman allegedly assaulted and transported to hospital for treatment.
I mean, I don't know what is going on at
the moment, but even last week, you know, we were
talking on the show as well about about you know,
(02:48):
a group of kids at Molden Oval, you know, seeing
a teenager come on to the field after he'd been
stabbed in the hand.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Like, what is happening at the moment?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, it's really awful. This type of violent behavior is
completely unacceptable, and our police are clamping down on it.
I think the reality is Katie, and it's just the
shittiness of the situation. But we've had eight years where
these would be violent offenders have been basically absolved from
(03:22):
the consequences of the law, and so what we've known
over a long period of time is that the brazenness
of the offending has been getting worse. Because it usually
starts at a lower level crime and then escalates into
this type of horrific violence that we're seeing. So it's
a huge challenge for government. We work with all of
the NGOs and providers and other government organizations to try
(03:45):
and make sure people are behaving themselves. But there's some
bad people making really bad decisions and that is impacting
the entire Northern Territory community, which is unacceptable.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Look, I don't disagree.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I do think that we've seen really bad behavior over
number on number of years. I mean, it's something we've
reported on this show every single day, but there seems
to be a flair up again at the moment. I
think a lot of people are asking the question why.
I mean, in Palmerston, we've got Operation Ventura obviously under way,
which is great, but we've been talking for weeks about
the issues there along Emery Avenue, about the issues with
(04:19):
you know, visitors to public housing that are behaving really
poorly and then you know violence out there. But then
even in town there's a real increase at the moment
in public drinking and anti social behavior. And I guess
what our listeners want to hear is what is the
government doing to try to mitigate this because we know
that the laws.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Have been changed.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
We know that certainly, you know you've come in saying
that this isn't going to be accepted, and you don't
accept it. You know when we talk to you, you
certainly don't seem accepting of the bad behavior. But how
do you know, how do we get to a point
where we all know there's going to be no situation
where there's never any crime, but where we're not having
to deal with some of this real violence on a
(05:00):
day to day basis.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yeah, I hear you, Katie, I absolutely do, and I
share the frustration with you and your lists, and I
think your listeners know that Ventura is in response to
Palmerston has those crime stats in Parmesan just have not
budged like we've seen the positive trend around the rest
of the territory. And so police made that very deliberate
decision to go in and saturate Palmerston for two months
(05:25):
to really get the data and get on top of it,
and that is having some good effect. We've issued one
hundred and forty three bend drinker orders, made eighty five arrests,
sixty protective custodies, seven hundred and forty two wan dings,
nineteen weaponses. So that is working well and I'm hoping
that then sees Palmeston follow the trend of the rest
of the territory. But we have had a couple of
(05:47):
very high profile, very serious, very terrible, terrible instances of crime,
and we just have to keep at it. I mean,
that's why our supporting the police is so important. We
have one hundred and one more cops today than we
did under Labor and that has got to grow. Our
first tranch of police public safety offices will graduate in
a couple of weeks and we've got two more squads
(06:10):
this year. But it's a big job and it is
never done, Katie, it is never done. And often trends
then morph and change and we have to be responsive
to it, and we just have to We just have
to keep fighting the fine.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
I mean, Chief Finister, what do you say to those
people listening this morning though, you know who maybe their
kids were on mold and Oval last week and witnessed,
you know, this person come on to the oval who'd
been stabbed in the hand, and they're feeling like, you know,
like the promises that you made aren't working yet, what
would you say to those people?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Look, number one, it must have been absolutely horrific to
be part of that young kids. I mean, and I
know the club provided first day, which is amazing, so
acknowledge the traumatic event that was now you know. Unfortunately,
these incidences are still happening and it's not something we're
(07:08):
shying away from. Our response is very, very strong, and
we just have to keep working through at every level.
I mean, this is not just a point in where
cops are catching more people. We're putting more people in prison.
That data, you know, no one can dispute that. It's
the root causes work that's critical as well, the stuff
we're doing to rehabilitate people, get kids to school, try
(07:29):
and get young people on a better past, whole parents accountable.
I mean, our entire changes to the Care and Protection Act,
Katie are geared for these. We're seeing kids be exposed
to DV young age, which is making them grow up
traumatized and violent, and we don't want that to happen anymore.
So we've got to be putting a child's right to
(07:50):
a calm and normal life ahead of anything else, which
is what we're doing. And you know, at the end
of the day, it is just a continuous piece of work.
We also know that more people are reporting crime because
police are acting on it, which is good and we
want that to happen. So it's just a never ending,
(08:11):
multifaceted issue we have to deal with and the stronger
our economy is, the better it will be to deal
with this issue.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And what do you say to those people who are
you know, who are claiming that you're tough on crime
stance isn't working and the violence we're still saying is
evidence of that, Well, I just.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Think it's ridiculous. I mean, we have brought online an
entire new prison, more work camps, boot camps, Our police
are arresting more people. I mean, it's very very clear
to people I talk to that they see the change
between our backing of police and supporting our justice system
and before Now. That's not to say there aren't still
(08:50):
terrible things happening, but the rate is much lower, and
the crime data speaks for itself in terms of house
breakings down twenty percent plus, commercial breaking down twenty percent plus.
So we're skill seeing patchness and it kind of depends
on the town. What the different rates are but generally
speaking except for parmers, and we have seen downward pressure
(09:12):
on all crime types. So I don't think there's many
people walking around the territory saying, oh, I wish we
had labor dealing with these law and order issues. I
certainly don't hear that Katie for having said that, like,
we're leaving nothing in the tank on this. We have
just got to keep going and do everything we can
to try and get ahead of it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Chief finished.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Someone's just messaged through, when is alcohol rehabilitation starting? Your
government promise this would happen.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yes, So through our correction system is where we have
started that. We promised there would be compulsory alcohol, drug
and behavioral change programs in prison and so that's a
fantastic start. And then Minister Edgington as a Minister for
Alcohol Policy is working through the rollout of what the
next phase is because we want to be really targeted
(10:01):
to people who have a chronic problem. It's also why
we increase the band drink or orders from one week
to twenty eight days. And I was speaking with police
over the weekend who were saying that is making a
huge impact and they actually and this is a good
part of the good news story is police have actually
had people who know they have a chronic problem with
(10:22):
grog asking police if they can get a twenty eight
day video put on them to stop them buying alcohol.
So there's work happening and certainly by the end of
the year will be in a better position to announce
more about a mandatory alcohol rehab.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Okay, we know that you're in Alice Springs at the moment.
I understand that the Alice Springs Police Communications Center, the
pilot program is going to be extended. How is that
first six months of operation gone.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
It's been amazing, Katie. I am in Alice for this announcement.
So we promised to have a Triple zero call center
in Alice Springs to service the Barklay and Central Australia.
And so in that first six months we had three thousand,
two hundred calls to Triple zero and another three thousand
calls to the one through one Triple four number answered
(11:12):
here in Alice Springs, and unbelievable, amazingly, ninety nine percent
of all Triple zero calls were answered within that benchmark
ten second time frame. So the team here are doing
an excellent job. And they have been able to answer
seventy percent of all calls relating to this region here
in Alice Springs and with local language speakers as well,
(11:37):
So the results are good. One of the most tangible
example I can give your listeners is recently we Coumanji
Little Baby that night that police arrested Jefferson Lewis. That
call came here and the police were able to respond
with us three minutes. So you can see the impact
that that local content, local call taking can have. So
(11:59):
what we're doing now is we've done a trial under
a certain parameters. We're expanding those parameters with a view
to make this permanent at the end of another six
month period where we can really understand the best use
of the resource and best times to run the center
and volumes of people to run it and all those things.
But an incredible result to have ninety to nine percent
(12:21):
of triple zero calls answer it in ten seconds. That's
the national benchmark is eighty percent. So they absolutely doing
a wonderful job.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
It sounds like it makes sense.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
So I guess people and Alice will be saying, well,
why not just make it permanent rather than just extending
it again?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, so we will make it permanent. The thing is,
when we did the first six month trial, we mainly
did it during business hours during the week. What we
really really need to trial now is night times and
weekends and then we can map where the demand is
and then how we best roll out a permanent presence
going forward and what that will look like. So we
(12:59):
collect in the data and doing the work to make
sure this is sustainable. I don't want it to be
a flash in the pan type of policy, but we
can see very clearly just from the limited trial we
had already that it's doing a great job and we
want to see that Bolsted going forward and done, but
in that bespoke way that suits his region going forward.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
All right, Chief Minister, A couple of quick ones.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I know you're pressed for time, as are we. We
know that last week there was real issues when it
comes to our health system. There continues to be real
issues when it comes to our health system. Obviously some
good news with the new thirty two bear board at
Royal Darwin Hospital. Unfortunately though we have got those sustained
co jellos. I think we all understand, you know that
(13:43):
our health system is underfunded. I get it that we've
got additional funding that's coming in from the federal government.
We heard that loudly and clearly from the Assistant Minister
last week. But Chief Minister, you did meet with the
Prime Minister recently? Did health come up?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
I met with the Prime Minister in Canberra about the
Northern Marine Complex and the importance of the Northern Territory
to the security of this nation going forward, and we
know that a strong North is a secure Australia. So
it was really around those key economic drivers when it
comes to health. Of course, the Prime Minister and I
did the one billion dollar deal over five years for
(14:22):
that increased health funding back in January this year, so
that is that is the status of that increased funding,
which is the largest ever increase that the territory has seen.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
I guess what I'm getting to ins Did he give
you any information about the maternity funding the ten million
dollars that it feels like we're begging for or are
you guys going to have to fall out and pay
for it yourselves?
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Well, Luke Goslin keeps saying the checks in the mail
and interestingly he won't even answer. The Minister Edgington, the
Health Minister's phone calls anymore. So we're trying very hard
to get to the bottom of this rubbery ten million
dollars which is on the table, off the table in
the mail maybe coming in.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
It sound like we're getting it.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
When I spoke to the Assistant Minister last week, she
kept referring to this other sixty seven million dollars in
additional funding that we've received. You know, I asked again,
I referred to my interview with Luke Gorsling where it
said it was within the MAIFO and and you know,
we just sort of can't seem to nut it out.
So will you guys pay for it if they don't.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, So I've mentioned on your show before, Katie that
we've massively increased the health budget this year, so there's
work that need to be done. Then they've got to
prioritize it and get that work done. But really, that
ten million dollars, I mean, this is the money that
we have been chasing for over a year. It's money
that the federal government happily gave to Tasmania, who were
in a similar situation to us. It's money that the
(15:47):
Member for Solomon thinks is in the mail and we
are trying to contact the Member of Solomon about Disney
won't pick up the the Health Minister's phone calls, so
it's very difficult. We are keeping on Katie absolutely because
it's an issue important to families and I had a
great opportunity on the weekend to speak with three ladies
(16:07):
about this issue, one of them expecting in November, and
we had a really good chat about the challenges. So
it's certainly on our radar at a very high level.
We just need all the fans need to do. It's
seven to ten million, but again that's going to to
go some way. It's not going to address this private
maternity issue, which is a real sticking point. We just
(16:29):
need the receivers to pick either Cavalry or purpose co
and we need to get in front of them to
say you are not welcome here unless you deliver private
maternity and then get on with it. So we're being
told September for that deadline, and we are just constantly
at them about making sure that there are no blowouts
in that time frame. But it's so difficult because we're
(16:51):
not you know, we're not part of those negotiations now.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
And I know that the Health Minister Steve Edgington. I
believe he's up today in estimates, no doubt. Plenty of
questions are going to get asked in there, so I
won't keep asking you health ones this morning.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Hey, really quickly, I'm into the opposition And well I
did say that on Friday.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Throughout the week that was I said to dram mate,
I can give you a few questions if you want,
but we've.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Probably got a few for the Feds as well.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Hey, just just very quickly, and I know it's probably
not a real quick answer, but daily Nayu community, I
know that the opposition last week we're raising concerns about
the response there. We actually spoke to Wayne from Green
River Aboriginal Corporation and he did say, you know that
he appreciated the support that the Northern Territory government had
(17:38):
so far provided, but he said that the community are
really asking for a seat at the table when it
comes to you know, repairs to the rebuild. And then
also you know he's waiting to hear back from the
federal government. He's written to you know, they've written to
a whole raft of people. Can you tell me from
your perspective when it comes to the NAIU Commuit and
(18:00):
a daily Are we getting federal assistance with this rebuild.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yes, so I don't have a direct update on that
for you, Katie. But what the opposition we're trying to
say last week is that it was the homes weren't safe,
which is just completely not true. Every single home that
we have returned people to has to be compliance certified
and so it is absolutely safe and people quite frankly,
are sick of living in Bachelor. They want to go home.
(18:28):
It's been months and months and months, so that work
is continuing. The shop is open, there's health facilities, all
of the school, all those things you need to have
a community. Separate to that is federal funding. Now, it's
quite complicated the federal funding process. We of course have
our one hundred million dollar flood recovery fund which we
are hoping to build back better from, which means we
(18:51):
have to work very closely with the federal government and
we can't announce any projects that might be part of
that funding until it has been resolved with the federal government.
So we're a bit hamstrung in terms of not being
able to talk about possibilities for that funding. But it
is an ongoing process, and we've been very proud to
make sure that green rivers on behalf of the people
(19:12):
of Nayu are heavily involved in this process. And of
course we need Nayu people at the table when it
comes to that five hundred million that we put aside
to do the Naiu Future Plan and what does future
development going forward look like. So those processes are there
and happening, and our focus right now is just as
(19:34):
fast as possible getting the houses cleaned and safe and
then getting people home.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
All right, Chief Minister, I know you've got to go.
You've got Angus Taylor there today as well, are you
and Alice Springs.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
The Liberal Yeah, he comes in later today. Yeah, he's
in later today and we're both going to head out
to Central Petroleum and check out their gas field out there.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Well, Chief Minister Leah Finochiara, we held you for a
little longer than what you anticipated. Thank you very much
for joining us on the show this morning.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Thank you everyone,
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