Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know Parliament resumes in the Northern Territory today
and there will no doubt be plenty on the agenda,
with the rollout of OC Spray getting underway yesterday and
the announcement of a major gas project will two.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
While we've just heard.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
About the major gas facility in Darwin that's been leaking
Meet Dane for nearly two decades now. The Chief Minister, Leafanocchiaro,
joins us on the line. Good morning to your Chief Minister.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Good morning Katie and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Now, first off, we saw the rollout of OC spray
yesterday for self defense and protection from licensed firearm dealers.
It's going to be tried for twelve months now. Any
update on how that first day went, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
It was a really good day, Katie. And actually I
managed to pop into Willie on the way home to
grab some stuff and a lady grabbed me and said,
thank you so much for doing this, We really appreciate it.
So the police are giving a little update this morning,
but basically we've sold territory wide. There's been about two
hundred and fifty five people take up the opportunity. The
(01:03):
average age of those people is forty seven years old,
so you can see it's you know, people in a
responsible age group, if I could put it that way.
And we've had the police have very quickly identified four
people who were ineligible to buy the spray and they've
all been dealt with and confiscated and the police have
actually also issued one notice to appear so that the
(01:25):
safeguards are working. People are really taking up the opportunity.
We've had good feedback from the firearms dealers, etc. So yeah,
all is on track.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Any idea whether it's more sort of female or males
that are in there purchasing the OC spray.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Ah, I don't actually have any feedback on that, but
I'm sure as time passes, maybe by the end of
the week I might be able to get some feedback
on that. But yeah, it's going really well. And as
you said, Western Australia have had this for a very
very long time. We've got much stronger safeguards what they
have in WA and they haven't had any dramas and
(02:03):
our police are doing a wonderful job monitoring the rollout
and at the end of the day, territories need to
do the right thing and this is about protecting them.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I know, we've had a group of organizations that have
signed an open letter condemning the Northern Territory government's law
and order policies, including the OC spray trial. Indigenous justice
advocate Thomas Mayo joined us on the show yesterday and
raised concerns, I mean, do you have any reservations as
the spray sort of starts going out there into the public.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
This is about self defense, So our self defense laws
already exist, and this is why I can't really understand
some of the concern is that people are already allowed
to defend themselves with whatever is reasonable at that time,
and so this is just providing another legal option that
actually creates more separation and distance between the person who's
(02:56):
formed the view to hurt you and you that does
is by time for you to hopefully get away. And
again we're not reinventing the wheels here. WA has very
successfully rolled this out. We've put in place strongest protections
and safeguards. We have our community reference group as well.
We have your Say survey page so that people can
(03:18):
participate in it and have their view about how it's working.
So we've been very very open with territories about it
and at the end of the day, Katie, we have
to try different things and some people will disagree and
others think it's fantastic. And what we have to do
is well to the rollout and and see how it goes.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I mean, even within some organizations, it seems like there's disagreements.
We obviously revealed on the show yesterday that there was
a letter that had that letter had obviously gone out,
but it was initially signed by victims of crime. Now
they have since come out their chair and said the
comments of the CEO were not endorsed by the board.
(03:58):
I mean, do you think it's appropriate for victims of
crime to be signing that open letter in the first place.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Yeah, well, obviously the board put out their statement and
dealt with this issue. And actually victims of crime are
on our community reference group. Because Katie, no other government
has done more to put the rights of victims first.
We are a completely victim centered government because we've had
a decade of being ignored and told that crime is
not as bad as we all think, and you know,
(04:25):
being gas lit by labor. We have completely turned that around.
So with stronger laws for our police so that they
can do what they need to do. With having oc
prey and all of the other reform we've done is
really showing territories that we care about their safety first
and foremost, and we will continue to do that because
it is what territorians elected us to do.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well. Yeah, I mean, the thing is we've spoken over
the years. I've spoken to literally hundreds of victims of
crime on this show, and everybody has different views of
how they think that maybe crime needs to be dealt with.
But I was quite surprise when I saw that victims
of crime had signed that open letter. Then obviously saw
over the weekend that there was a backflip then by
(05:07):
the board. You know, I just sort of wonder again
whether it is appropriate if they're then involved, you know,
in the in the trial and in the rollout of
that trial. I know there's representation from the Northern Territory
Police as well on that board. For them to be
coming out signing an open letter basically condemning, you know,
(05:28):
condemning the moves that your government are taking.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
I think obviously something went wrong there, Katie, which is
why the board had to come out and they hang
on that's not an endorsed position. So look, I'll leave
that for that organization to work its own business out.
But at the end of the day, we've got a
really clear job to do. We're monitoring this trial and
we will evaluate it and then we'll make a decision
at the end. So we've got to try new things.
(05:53):
We can't be afraid or we'll never get any change.
And again, just looking at the data yesterday, the average
age of people buying oc spree is forty seven years old,
and I think that that really shows that the take
up has been, you know, quite high. So I think
it shows that there is demand for this.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
All right, Chief, let's fire through because I know that
you've got to get into parliament. Yesterday it was revealed
and we just spoke about this with the Environment Center's
Kersey Howie, that there's been this leaking methane for nearly
two decades. They'd raised concerns obviously, Kirsty Howey from the
Environment Center raising concerns about the Santos owned LNG tank
(06:30):
near Wickham and claims that it's been leaking methane since
two thousand and six.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Now Santos has not been.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Asked to solve that issue, despite NT regulators allegedly learning
of the leak in twenty twenty. When did you become
aware of the situation and what do you think needs
to happen here?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, so I found out about it yesterday as well, Katie.
But the information I have is that this was first
reported in twenty twenty and that it's actually regulated by
the Australian Government's Clean Energy Regulator support by our local
EPA here, the Environmental Protection Authority, so that work has
been going on since twenty twenty. It's non toxic to
(07:09):
humans or the environment, and it's not a straightforward solution,
it would be the way I'd put it, given this
has been going on for so long, so the right
people are across it, the right environmental regulators are all
over it, and so it's just something that needs.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
To I'm certainly not an expert when it comes to
a methane lake, but should the Northern Territory Environmental Protection
Authority make fixing that lake a condition of renewing the
license for Darwin LNG.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well, look, I don't know much about me saying myself, Katie.
And at the end of the day, when you have
the Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator and the EPA right
across it. I have full confidence that they're doing what
they need to do, and you know people don't have
confidence in both of them working together, then what are
we really talking about the top environmental regulators both in
(08:02):
the territory at nationally.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
All Right, I know that there were some significant announcements
chest today when it came to gas.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
What is happening in this space?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah, it was really exciting. So we've just finished a
couple of really significant approvals which will mean that APA
group who deliver pipelines, they'll be spending seventy million dollars
to lay thirty seven kilometers of pipe from Tamburan's out
in the Betloo from the one of their gas wells
(08:33):
out to our existing Amadeus gas pipeline, which is a
north south pipeline, meaning we can get Beatloo gas to market,
which is really really exciting. So we're looking at mid
next year having that production, which is great. And then
the second component was that Tamboran can now use their
appraisal gas which will start a one hundred and forty
(08:55):
million dollar production of a compression facility for the gas.
So some really big exciting approvals which means you Beatloo
can move to the next phase. And we also had
the Bush Summit yet today, and I use that opportunity
to really explain to that national audience that big states
like Victorian New South Wales should not be building gas
(09:18):
import terminals. We should be building pipelines and having Australian
gas here for the benefit of Australians and Territorians being
delivered out of the Betloo.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Just on that Bush Summit that was held yesterday, there
was plenty of discussion, no doubt about plenty of different things.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
But I thought an interesting point.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Was made by emmantz Kins, the co chair of Australians
for Northern Development and Economic Vision.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Now.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
He said, seventy five percent of the world's nations have
Special Economic zones and the Commonwealth should act immediately to
approve one for the Northern Territory. Now he said, we
need a different tax system, streamlined regulatree system and a
one stop shop where investors can come. Obviously this would
have to be driven by the federal government. But is
(10:03):
this something that the Northern Territory government should be pushing
the feeds for. Oh.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
I completely agree with him, and when we're talking to
the federal government, it's always about we need a tax
carve out and we need a migration carve out. Those
two are the absolute you know, they are the most
central points in how we move the dial for the
Northern Territory and in fact, not just us, for Northern Australia.
And if we ever had a federal government that was
(10:29):
serious about developing the North, what they would do, Katie,
is exactly that migration and taxation reform. So we're very keen.
I saw it got shot down pretty quick by the
Federal government, which is really disappointing and just reinforces the
fact that they don't have an economic plan or vision
for the territory going on.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
All right, Chief Minister, I know you pressed for time.
I've got a couple of quick listener questions. First off,
Tenant Craig is going through some really serious issues at.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
The moment when it comes to crime.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Are you speaking to the Northern Territory Police about some
additional police surged into Tenant.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah, Look, that hasn't been raising me in that way.
So I know Tenant Creek, you know, I know the
mayor has been agitating this issue. We're seeing some good
reductions in key areas in Tenant Creek, and I appreciate
that if they've had.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Well, they had an issue last week. We're two thirty
two year old women. I think they were had like
a whole group of people break into the house. I
know there was also then an elderly woman that was targeted.
So I think for the people of Tenant, you know,
the mayor doing his best, I would hope to stand
up for them and try and get some safety measures
in there.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yeah, and so you know, of course, totally totally unacceptable.
We've got a great team of police down there, I
have to say, Katie, so I'm happy to follow it up.
But certainly, you know, we're off the back of ten
years of some incredibly appalling behavior. But if people are
breaking the law, cops, we're putting them in jail.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah, and look, I get that, but I think now
a year on, people are reaching the point where they're
going Yep. We understand that the former mob maybe didn't
do what we wanted them to, but we need this
government to really forge ahead and make some change in
places like Tenant where they're really still grappling with those
issues of crime.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yeah. Well, as I said, Katie, that's not been reflected
to me, so you know, I'll certainly look into it.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Well and look, but surely you've read some of those
newspaper articles, I mean even the one last week where
that elderly woman was targeted. That must be a real
concern to you as the chief minister for the whole
of the Northern Territory.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Absolutely, absolutely, But your question was are there more resources
going into Tenant Creek? So I don't have an answer
on that. That's not been put to me as what's needed.
What's absolutely needed, though is holding people to account. We've
got to deal with the root causes of crime, the
alcohol abuse and all of those other issues. So without
a doubt, we will continue to make sure that we
(13:00):
are supporting our police to be out there catching the
bad guys and then all of that other work to
make sure that we stop making bad guys in the
first place, and that people make good choices rather than
going and destroying other people's lives. Well, we have zero tolerance.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Yeah, well, look, and another listener question. This time we've
been contacted by somebody who was actually brutally assaulted by
someone who was released on bail and putting a hostel
in Darwin which houses vulnerable people often women and children
for medical appointments. Now, I won't go into too much
detail about that incident, but I've seen photos from that
victim who was kicked in the head about ten times.
(13:38):
She's fed up hearing a lot of talk about rehabilitation
and programs. She wants to know what's the point of
the programs and the measures when they aren't protecting the community.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
So I'm not exactly sure what she means, but think
this way.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
I think what's happened is the person's been released on
bail to do had a program and then you know,
obviously further committed defenses you defended.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, so we okay, thank you. We've we
are looking very closely at the courts, and there is
much more court reform to come. And we have the
strongest bower laws in the country now that has had
a huge reduction in the number of people getting vaut
but obviously some people still are and then some people,
despite that, are making incredibly bad choices and destroying other
(14:30):
people's lives and obviously perpetrating crime like this poor lady
who's who's written into U Katie. And so we continue
to monitor our bail rollout. But we've had three thy
three hundred people be refused bail since Declin's law came
in in January, so it is having a big impact
and that's cold comfort for people who who have experienced
(14:51):
Despite all of that work that's being done, we're also
looking very closely at the programs because you know, there
are programs and then there are programs to win it
right exactly exactly, because otherwise we're wasting everyone's time and
money and that's not what we're interested in. So we're
currently reviewing programs and we're also making sure that we're
(15:11):
delivering more programs in prison because we've got a captive
audience and we want people using that time productively so
that they leave prison with better options, making better choices.
But again, that's cold comfort for people who continue to
be victimized, and that's why we continue the work. We've
got some additional bail ax coming up use Justice Trench
(15:32):
to traffic Court, so there is still a significant pipeline
to come and we've just got to continue to push
that stuff through the Parliament. Despite the Opposition voting against us,
and despite the Green members voting against us, we continue
to push on because we believe in the safety of
our community.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So what is on the agenda, what's rushing like, what's
sort of coming through this week on the agenda in
Parliament that our listeners might be interested in to help
in this space as well.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yep. So we've got some fantastic animal protection legislation actually,
because crime is not just perpetrated on people, and so
our animal protection stuff will be coming through, which has
been something that's really been worked on with the community
for a very long time. We've also got the Traffic Act.
I think that's being introduced probably today, Katie, and so oh,
(16:21):
actually I think that's been debated today, so I'll be
speaking to that because that is stuff that's come straight
from frontline police, particularly in Alice Springs, about better powers
and tools that they need. So we've got quite a
few things on top of that. There's the homeowner grant
scheme has been extended, so those fifty and thirty thousand
dollars grants will go on for another year and we've
(16:41):
already had nine hundred and fifty six people take up
that new home ownership, which is great. And we're making
some really significant reform to our energy and electricity market
to make sure that we're getting best value for territory
when it comes to purchasing and how we run our
electricity networks.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
All right, Chief, I know you've got to run really
quick one from a listener what of the barge service
to what what's happening there?
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Yeah, So there's now been an EOI released to try
and find a new operator, and we've been in contact
with the store and everyone else, and so the road
will be fine for the next twelve weeks, so people
don't have to worry about supply or any of those things.
And we should have a new barge operator before then.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
All right, Chief Minister Leah Fanocciaro, we better leave it there.
We'll let you go get into Parliament. Thanks for your
time this morning.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Thank you. Take care of me.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Thank you,
Now we know Parliament resumes in the Northern Territory today
and there will no doubt be plenty on the agenda,
with the rollout of OC Spray getting underway yesterday and
the announcement of a major gas project will two.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
While we've just heard.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
About the major gas facility in Darwin that's been leaking
Meet Dane for nearly two decades now. The Chief Minister, Leafanocchiaro,
joins us on the line. Good morning to your Chief Minister.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Good morning Katie and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Now, first off, we saw the rollout of OC spray
yesterday for self defense and protection from licensed firearm dealers.
It's going to be tried for twelve months now. Any
update on how that first day went, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
It was a really good day, Katie. And actually I
managed to pop into Willie on the way home to
grab some stuff and a lady grabbed me and said,
thank you so much for doing this, We really appreciate it.
So the police are giving a little update this morning,
but basically we've sold territory wide. There's been about two
hundred and fifty five people take up the opportunity. The
(01:03):
average age of those people is forty seven years old,
so you can see it's you know, people in a
responsible age group, if I could put it that way.
And we've had the police have very quickly identified four
people who were ineligible to buy the spray and they've
all been dealt with and confiscated and the police have
actually also issued one notice to appear so that the
(01:25):
safeguards are working. People are really taking up the opportunity.
We've had good feedback from the firearms dealers, etc. So yeah,
all is on track.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Any idea whether it's more sort of female or males
that are in there purchasing the OC spray.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Ah, I don't actually have any feedback on that, but
I'm sure as time passes, maybe by the end of
the week I might be able to get some feedback
on that. But yeah, it's going really well. And as
you said, Western Australia have had this for a very
very long time. We've got much stronger safeguards what they
have in WA and they haven't had any dramas and
(02:03):
our police are doing a wonderful job monitoring the rollout
and at the end of the day, territories need to
do the right thing and this is about protecting them.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I know, we've had a group of organizations that have
signed an open letter condemning the Northern Territory government's law
and order policies, including the OC spray trial. Indigenous justice
advocate Thomas Mayo joined us on the show yesterday and
raised concerns, I mean, do you have any reservations as
the spray sort of starts going out there into the public.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
This is about self defense, So our self defense laws
already exist, and this is why I can't really understand
some of the concern is that people are already allowed
to defend themselves with whatever is reasonable at that time,
and so this is just providing another legal option that
actually creates more separation and distance between the person who's
(02:56):
formed the view to hurt you and you that does
is by time for you to hopefully get away. And
again we're not reinventing the wheels here. WA has very
successfully rolled this out. We've put in place strongest protections
and safeguards. We have our community reference group as well.
We have your Say survey page so that people can
(03:18):
participate in it and have their view about how it's working.
So we've been very very open with territories about it
and at the end of the day, Katie, we have
to try different things and some people will disagree and
others think it's fantastic. And what we have to do
is well to the rollout and and see how it goes.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I mean, even within some organizations, it seems like there's disagreements.
We obviously revealed on the show yesterday that there was
a letter that had that letter had obviously gone out,
but it was initially signed by victims of crime. Now
they have since come out their chair and said the
comments of the CEO were not endorsed by the board.
(03:58):
I mean, do you think it's appropriate for victims of
crime to be signing that open letter in the first place.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Yeah, well, obviously the board put out their statement and
dealt with this issue. And actually victims of crime are
on our community reference group. Because Katie, no other government
has done more to put the rights of victims first.
We are a completely victim centered government because we've had
a decade of being ignored and told that crime is
not as bad as we all think, and you know,
(04:25):
being gas lit by labor. We have completely turned that around.
So with stronger laws for our police so that they
can do what they need to do. With having oc
prey and all of the other reform we've done is
really showing territories that we care about their safety first
and foremost, and we will continue to do that because
it is what territorians elected us to do.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well. Yeah, I mean, the thing is we've spoken over
the years. I've spoken to literally hundreds of victims of
crime on this show, and everybody has different views of
how they think that maybe crime needs to be dealt with.
But I was quite surprise when I saw that victims
of crime had signed that open letter. Then obviously saw
over the weekend that there was a backflip then by
(05:07):
the board. You know, I just sort of wonder again
whether it is appropriate if they're then involved, you know,
in the in the trial and in the rollout of
that trial. I know there's representation from the Northern Territory
Police as well on that board. For them to be
coming out signing an open letter basically condemning, you know,
(05:28):
condemning the moves that your government are taking.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
I think obviously something went wrong there, Katie, which is
why the board had to come out and they hang
on that's not an endorsed position. So look, I'll leave
that for that organization to work its own business out.
But at the end of the day, we've got a
really clear job to do. We're monitoring this trial and
we will evaluate it and then we'll make a decision
at the end. So we've got to try new things.
(05:53):
We can't be afraid or we'll never get any change.
And again, just looking at the data yesterday, the average
age of people buying oc spree is forty seven years old,
and I think that that really shows that the take
up has been, you know, quite high. So I think
it shows that there is demand for this.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
All right, Chief, let's fire through because I know that
you've got to get into parliament. Yesterday it was revealed
and we just spoke about this with the Environment Center's
Kersey Howie, that there's been this leaking methane for nearly
two decades. They'd raised concerns obviously, Kirsty Howey from the
Environment Center raising concerns about the Santos owned LNG tank
(06:30):
near Wickham and claims that it's been leaking methane since
two thousand and six.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Now Santos has not been.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Asked to solve that issue, despite NT regulators allegedly learning
of the leak in twenty twenty. When did you become
aware of the situation and what do you think needs
to happen here?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, so I found out about it yesterday as well, Katie.
But the information I have is that this was first
reported in twenty twenty and that it's actually regulated by
the Australian Government's Clean Energy Regulator support by our local
EPA here, the Environmental Protection Authority, so that work has
been going on since twenty twenty. It's non toxic to
(07:09):
humans or the environment, and it's not a straightforward solution,
it would be the way I'd put it, given this
has been going on for so long, so the right
people are across it, the right environmental regulators are all
over it, and so it's just something that needs.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
To I'm certainly not an expert when it comes to
a methane lake, but should the Northern Territory Environmental Protection
Authority make fixing that lake a condition of renewing the
license for Darwin LNG.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well, look, I don't know much about me saying myself, Katie.
And at the end of the day, when you have
the Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator and the EPA right
across it. I have full confidence that they're doing what
they need to do, and you know people don't have
confidence in both of them working together, then what are
we really talking about the top environmental regulators both in
(08:02):
the territory at nationally.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
All Right, I know that there were some significant announcements
chest today when it came to gas.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
What is happening in this space?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah, it was really exciting. So we've just finished a
couple of really significant approvals which will mean that APA
group who deliver pipelines, they'll be spending seventy million dollars
to lay thirty seven kilometers of pipe from Tamburan's out
in the Betloo from the one of their gas wells
(08:33):
out to our existing Amadeus gas pipeline, which is a
north south pipeline, meaning we can get Beatloo gas to market,
which is really really exciting. So we're looking at mid
next year having that production, which is great. And then
the second component was that Tamboran can now use their
appraisal gas which will start a one hundred and forty
(08:55):
million dollar production of a compression facility for the gas.
So some really big exciting approvals which means you Beatloo
can move to the next phase. And we also had
the Bush Summit yet today, and I use that opportunity
to really explain to that national audience that big states
like Victorian New South Wales should not be building gas
(09:18):
import terminals. We should be building pipelines and having Australian
gas here for the benefit of Australians and Territorians being
delivered out of the Betloo.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Just on that Bush Summit that was held yesterday, there
was plenty of discussion, no doubt about plenty of different things.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
But I thought an interesting point.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Was made by emmantz Kins, the co chair of Australians
for Northern Development and Economic Vision.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Now.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
He said, seventy five percent of the world's nations have
Special Economic zones and the Commonwealth should act immediately to
approve one for the Northern Territory. Now he said, we
need a different tax system, streamlined regulatree system and a
one stop shop where investors can come. Obviously this would
have to be driven by the federal government. But is
(10:03):
this something that the Northern Territory government should be pushing
the feeds for. Oh.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
I completely agree with him, and when we're talking to
the federal government, it's always about we need a tax
carve out and we need a migration carve out. Those
two are the absolute you know, they are the most
central points in how we move the dial for the
Northern Territory and in fact, not just us, for Northern Australia.
And if we ever had a federal government that was
(10:29):
serious about developing the North, what they would do, Katie,
is exactly that migration and taxation reform. So we're very keen.
I saw it got shot down pretty quick by the
Federal government, which is really disappointing and just reinforces the
fact that they don't have an economic plan or vision
for the territory going on.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
All right, Chief Minister, I know you pressed for time.
I've got a couple of quick listener questions. First off,
Tenant Craig is going through some really serious issues at.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
The moment when it comes to crime.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Are you speaking to the Northern Territory Police about some
additional police surged into Tenant.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah, Look, that hasn't been raising me in that way.
So I know Tenant Creek, you know, I know the
mayor has been agitating this issue. We're seeing some good
reductions in key areas in Tenant Creek, and I appreciate
that if they've had.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Well, they had an issue last week. We're two thirty
two year old women. I think they were had like
a whole group of people break into the house. I
know there was also then an elderly woman that was targeted.
So I think for the people of Tenant, you know,
the mayor doing his best, I would hope to stand
up for them and try and get some safety measures
in there.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yeah, and so you know, of course, totally totally unacceptable.
We've got a great team of police down there, I
have to say, Katie, so I'm happy to follow it up.
But certainly, you know, we're off the back of ten
years of some incredibly appalling behavior. But if people are
breaking the law, cops, we're putting them in jail.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah, and look, I get that, but I think now
a year on, people are reaching the point where they're
going Yep. We understand that the former mob maybe didn't
do what we wanted them to, but we need this
government to really forge ahead and make some change in
places like Tenant where they're really still grappling with those
issues of crime.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yeah. Well, as I said, Katie, that's not been reflected
to me, so you know, I'll certainly look into it.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Well and look, but surely you've read some of those
newspaper articles, I mean even the one last week where
that elderly woman was targeted. That must be a real
concern to you as the chief minister for the whole
of the Northern Territory.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Absolutely, absolutely, But your question was are there more resources
going into Tenant Creek? So I don't have an answer
on that. That's not been put to me as what's needed.
What's absolutely needed, though is holding people to account. We've
got to deal with the root causes of crime, the
alcohol abuse and all of those other issues. So without
a doubt, we will continue to make sure that we
(13:00):
are supporting our police to be out there catching the
bad guys and then all of that other work to
make sure that we stop making bad guys in the
first place, and that people make good choices rather than
going and destroying other people's lives. Well, we have zero tolerance.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Yeah, well, look, and another listener question. This time we've
been contacted by somebody who was actually brutally assaulted by
someone who was released on bail and putting a hostel
in Darwin which houses vulnerable people often women and children
for medical appointments. Now, I won't go into too much
detail about that incident, but I've seen photos from that
victim who was kicked in the head about ten times.
(13:38):
She's fed up hearing a lot of talk about rehabilitation
and programs. She wants to know what's the point of
the programs and the measures when they aren't protecting the community.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
So I'm not exactly sure what she means, but think
this way.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
I think what's happened is the person's been released on
bail to do had a program and then you know,
obviously further committed defenses you defended.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, so we okay, thank you. We've we
are looking very closely at the courts, and there is
much more court reform to come. And we have the
strongest bower laws in the country now that has had
a huge reduction in the number of people getting vaut
but obviously some people still are and then some people,
despite that, are making incredibly bad choices and destroying other
(14:30):
people's lives and obviously perpetrating crime like this poor lady
who's who's written into U Katie. And so we continue
to monitor our bail rollout. But we've had three thy
three hundred people be refused bail since Declin's law came
in in January, so it is having a big impact
and that's cold comfort for people who who have experienced
(14:51):
Despite all of that work that's being done, we're also
looking very closely at the programs because you know, there
are programs and then there are programs to win it
right exactly exactly, because otherwise we're wasting everyone's time and
money and that's not what we're interested in. So we're
currently reviewing programs and we're also making sure that we're
(15:11):
delivering more programs in prison because we've got a captive
audience and we want people using that time productively so
that they leave prison with better options, making better choices.
But again, that's cold comfort for people who continue to
be victimized, and that's why we continue the work. We've
got some additional bail ax coming up use Justice Trench
(15:32):
to traffic Court, so there is still a significant pipeline
to come and we've just got to continue to push
that stuff through the Parliament. Despite the Opposition voting against us,
and despite the Green members voting against us, we continue
to push on because we believe in the safety of
our community.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So what is on the agenda, what's rushing like, what's
sort of coming through this week on the agenda in
Parliament that our listeners might be interested in to help
in this space as well.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yep. So we've got some fantastic animal protection legislation actually,
because crime is not just perpetrated on people, and so
our animal protection stuff will be coming through, which has
been something that's really been worked on with the community
for a very long time. We've also got the Traffic Act.
I think that's being introduced probably today, Katie, and so oh,
(16:21):
actually I think that's been debated today, so I'll be
speaking to that because that is stuff that's come straight
from frontline police, particularly in Alice Springs, about better powers
and tools that they need. So we've got quite a
few things on top of that. There's the homeowner grant
scheme has been extended, so those fifty and thirty thousand
dollars grants will go on for another year and we've
(16:41):
already had nine hundred and fifty six people take up
that new home ownership, which is great. And we're making
some really significant reform to our energy and electricity market
to make sure that we're getting best value for territory
when it comes to purchasing and how we run our
electricity networks.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
All right, Chief, I know you've got to run really
quick one from a listener what of the barge service
to what what's happening there?
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Yeah, So there's now been an EOI released to try
and find a new operator, and we've been in contact
with the store and everyone else, and so the road
will be fine for the next twelve weeks, so people
don't have to worry about supply or any of those things.
And we should have a new barge operator before then.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
All right, Chief Minister Leah Fanocciaro, we better leave it there.
We'll let you go get into Parliament. Thanks for your
time this morning.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Thank you. Take care of me.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Thank you,
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