Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we spoke about on the show on Friday, laws
have been passed in the Northern Territory Parliament to give
police more powers to deal with public drinking in a
bid to tackle anti social behavior and reduce alcohol related harm.
The changes are going to allow police to issue seven
day ban drinker orders for public drinking or disorderly behavior
(00:21):
in high risk areas.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Those committing more.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Serious alcohol related defenses, including domestic violence, are going to
automatically be hit with a mandatory three month BDO, and
police are also going to be able to check people's IDs,
allowing them to also refer people to various treatments, including
sobering up shelters, which was a recommendation in the liquorac
to review. Now joining us on the line from Canberra
(00:46):
to talk more about the changes is the Chief Minister,
Natasha Files. Good morning to.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
You, Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Now, Chief Minister, these changes really make a mockery of
the fact that you and other ministers had been telling
territories for quite some time that the two kilometer law
was still in place when it comes to people consuming alcohol.
Why did you wait so long to actually give police
the powers that they need to deal with the public
drunkenness that we're seeing the impacts off So.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Katie, in the seventies it was the decriminalization of alcohol
offenses and the two kilometers. It is and has been
all the way through illegal to drink within two kilometers
of a takeaway outlet. In terms of what we have
changed last week is giving police more powers to try
and tackle those that drink and cause harm in our community,
(01:37):
whilst respecting the vast majority do the right things.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, look, you.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Know, we've heard at time and time again that it's
still illegal to drink within two kilometers of a takeaway outlet.
But I think that to anybody listening to the show,
they would be laughing at that claim given what we
see on the streets each and every day, Katie.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
This is a difficult space because in terms of there's
been numerous reports, the Ooriginal Justice Agreement, the deaths in custody,
Royal Commission around how to manage alcohol. So trying to
make sure that people comply, but at the same time
that we don't for what needs a therapeutic response, make
sure that we don't criminalize that, but we do see
(02:18):
the behaviors when someone's intoxicated that are criminal and they
are dealt within this So it's not a straightforward process.
But the changes we made last week are about giving
police more powers and as I just said, to try
and stop those that have problem drinking not impact the
broader community.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
The opposition has taken aim at the government for not
making that change a month ago when the review was released.
Have you been negligent in allowing this issue to get
to the point that.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
It has so, Katie, the review of the legislation three
years of the liquorat that report is sitting there. We
may changes to the band drinker register. We do anticipate
early next year that there'll be further changes with the
correct and we'll keep working with community and industry around those.
So there's a multiple measures that can be adjusted and
(03:07):
to try and respond to the alcohol added harm we
see in our community.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well look on that.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
You know trading hours are set to be reduced at
Darwin liquor outlets. They're going to open from midday on
week days from December eleven. Hospitality Into CEO Alex Bruce
was furious about your lack of consultation over those changes.
After you said that you would engage with the sector
at a recent industry event. I mean, you've just said
(03:33):
now that you're going to engage with the different different sectors.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
But did you lie to the industry.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
No, Katie, I didn't.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I mean, did you tell them one thing one day though,
and then backflip the next.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
No, Katie, that's not correct.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
So you did tell them that you were going to
reduce those hours. Did you tell them that before doing it,
you know, not just a couple of hours beforehand.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
So, Katie, I acknowledged last week that we could have
communicated better within history around this, But I did not
lie to them.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
But did you tell them one thing one day and
then do the opposite a couple of days later, No, Katie,
So you didn't tell them that you would consult with
them before reducing hours, or you didn't say that you
would actually you know that you would be consulting with
them before making any major changes.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
So, Katie, I acknowledged last week we could have communicated better,
but we work with industry, we work with community around
these changes, and as I said, we could have communicated
these changes better, but we try and make adjustments that
recognize the vast majority do the right thing. But we
see and we've seen increases in our correlated assaults, domestic
and family violence, and that's what these changes are about,
(04:43):
trying to tackle those issues without impacting or causing the
least impact. More broadly, well, look the changes.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You know, some are really very accepting of the changes
and think and hope that this is going to make
a difference. Others have not been without criticism. The Northern
Territory Police Association say that they do support the changes
to give police powers to require a name and address
to be required by people drinking in public places, but
they say that the changes don't provide any health response
(05:13):
or support to address the real issues that our community
faces every day in every major urban center across the
Northern Territory. What do you say to that?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
So, this is where it's important making sure that people
do the right thing and that we stop the supply,
but also having those pathways for people to rehabilitate, so
they're so bring up beds, the rehabilitation beds. We have
increased those capacities right across the Northern Territory and trying
to make the pathways for people who have a problem
with drinking as easy as possible.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Now you did say as well last week that the
changes came into place at the request of the Northern
Territory Police Commissioner. This is those reduced drinking hours and
that this is a trial from my understanding, until the
end of January. How are you going to gauge the
success of the changed hours.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
So we communicate regularly with the Police commissioner. He requested
a change around the trading hours, so we're doing that
under an emergency declaration just to the end of January.
We'll then look at those statistics, so alcohol related assaults,
the domestic and family violence, but also in terms of
police's response. So the Commissioner feels that these changes will
help him enormously and his officers out on the beat
(06:26):
in reducing the amount in the morning that people can
access to get intoxicated and cause harm later in the day.
So we'll look at those statistics, Katie, and so what.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
If they do make a huge difference. What if these
changed hours do make a huge difference. I mean, how
are you going to work through then with the hospitality industry.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I think we need to sit and have a conversation
with the industry with the police commissioner, because we see
adjustments right across the Northern territory. There's different measures in
place for different communities, but if that works in the
dal and Palmerston area, then we need to look at
We all want to say ibrate community hospitality, want that
for tourist and locals alight. So we'll have to have
those discussions now.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Nathan finn as I say, he joined us on the
show on Friday and he had this to say about
some of the concerns or some of the requests of
the Police Commissioner.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
To take a listen, did.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
They also tell you what the commission actually also requested
of the government in relation to further obviously limitations on
bottle shop hours, establishing where the person's going to be
drinking if they haven't got a valid address. He wanted
the sales of alcohol not to be sold to those people.
There was a number of suite of changes which the
government haven't taken. His advice on anyone to think, hang
on a second. The Commissioner of Police is asking for this.
(07:39):
There's a genuine reason why he's asking for this because
he sees the alcohol the harm that does in the
community every single day.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
So you were saying he wants much further changes, but
that's not the Northern Territory government have not agreed to that.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
That is correct.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Have you had that conversation.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
I had that conversation with the commission early.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
In the week, and so he actually wants that situation
that we've spoken about on air before where if you
don't have an address to be able to drink your alcohol,
that you're not sold alcohol.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
That's correct. That was a suite of the changes that
he recommended back to the government.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Chief Finister.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Is that something that the Police Commissioner requested, So, Katie.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Just before I directly answer that question, we brought in
changes around the BDR, as I said, the Liquor Act.
We put out the review, the three year review in
the last parliamentary sitting, and we're working through those changes
in what we're talking about asking the question of where
someone's drinking. That was something that was utilized during the
COVID pandemic. It's a conversation the Commissioner and I have had.
(08:38):
You've seen it in some situations through liquor acords. So
a liquor accord, a group of retailers in that area
will work together on measures and all agree to put
in place those measures, So that question has been done
through some liquor coords. More broadly, if we were to
implement that, I think that's a further conversation that needs
to be had with industry. I think they have some
(09:00):
concerns around that, and this is where you're trying to
put in place measures that make a difference and keep
the community safe and support our police, but at the
same time making sure that we support those workers in
our hospitality venue. So it's something that we haven't ruled out,
but we haven't enacted at this point.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
But if you've made changes to the opening hours for
bottle shops based on a request from the police commissioner,
will you do the same when it comes to this
area that we're discussing Oka do.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I think it's looking at those accords and where it
has been in place, if that's had an impact. So
it's around asking someone. So if you go into a
takeaway bottle shop, you're a regular there, they know you,
they proceed with the sale. But if you're someone that
they haven't come and you've got a license address that
is from out of that area, remembering we put the
licenses through the BDA, that's when you would ask the question.
(09:51):
You could say, oh, yep, I'm staying with my mate
for the weekend, and they can make an assessment do
you have a safe place to drink that alcohol? As
you can.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
See that and so what the person behind the bottle
shop then has to make a decision whether to sell
it to them or not.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Correct And so I believe the BDR, where there's mechanisms
where the person behind the counter gets that red or
green screen, is a mechanism that is we've got across
the territory and has worked this next step. We're seeing
it through some of the cords. To some of the
retailers Katie I've spoken to, do want to ask that question,
but they also want to make sure that they're not
(10:24):
accused of breaking any laws in asking that question. So
it's not straightforward. But if it would be a measure
that would keep our community safe, we're not ruling it out,
but we are not enacting it at this point. I
think it's a conversation that would need to continue.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Okay, Now, on Friday, during the week that was there
was a lot of discussion about the BDR and if
it's actually effective. My understanding is that you told Parliament
last week that the new police IT system sir PRO,
will have the ability to connect directly with the BDR. Now,
according to the Police Association, that's not actually going to
(10:59):
be able to have happen until March next year.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Is that the case, I don't know about the March date,
that there will be a period of a manual workaround
for a few weeks. With my impression speaking, I was
brief by a DCDD which is a digital agency around
the sur pro system standing up and rolling out and
the interface with BDR. But they felt that it could
be done. It just will take a few weeks to
(11:24):
do so.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Have you misled territorians by insinuating that it is going
to happen immediately, No, Katie.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I think in the debate we talked about a manual
work around whilst the systems were interconnected.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Okay, we know that police have had to amp up
their operations in Alice Springs as crime continues to plague
the town. There does seem to be a real issue
right now with the Police Association and the Police Minister
not being on the same page with the police numbers
in Alice Springs. Nathan Finn says that there are three
less police in Alice and there was at the beginning
of the year. The policeman Brent Potter has accused the
(12:02):
Association of spreading false information. Now he told us during
the week that was that since the Prime Minister announced
the additional funding for frontline police in January, that additional
police have been created and there's actually eleven additional officers.
Are there additional officers in Alice Springs.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Or not, Katie, that's information. I don't have the figures
in front of me, but eleven was what I was
told from when the Prime Minister was in Central Australia
earlier this year to now there's eleven additional officers.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
So you guys maintained that there are an additional eleven
despite the fact that the Association saying that there's three
three down.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Creative information I've got from the Police Commissioner is there's
eleven additional Okay.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Now, sources have told us over the last couple of
days that the darw And Traffic Operations Unit is actually
being sent to Alice Springs to help deal with the
staffing levels. Have those officers been sent to Alice.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Katie, I don't have that information. They're operational matters. That
would be a question for the police commissioners. He decides
where he places his resources across the territory and I
don't I haven't been told either agreeing to that point
or disagreeing to that point.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Okay, we'll see what we can find out. But if
that is the case, it does fly against what we've
been told that their officers wouldn't be sent from Darwin,
or wouldn't be surged down, that there'd be a managing
of holiday periods and that kind of thing instead, Katie.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
That would be a question for the police commissioner around
his operations and they make decisions to try and put
pure measures in place before behaviors can turn criminal. And
then at the same time they do need to have
resources just you know, when people have done the wrong
thing to catch them. So their decisions that he would make,
and I'm sure he'd be happy to speak to you
about them.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I mean, do you think though that it could potentially
be a dangerous thing up here in the top end
if that is the case, and we will ask that
question of the police. But if that were the case,
to not have a dedicated traffic operations unit in Darwin
over the Christmas period when we know that we have
seen terrible situations our roads.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
So Katie, he's making operational decisions. We do have that
review underway with Bink Kelly looking at our police resourcing
across the board. And this is the balance with a
frontline agency. You know you need to have preventatives, but
you also need to have the resources when sadly people
do the wrong.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Thing or a mindful of time.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
But I do want to just ask you a couple
more questions those liquor buybacks. We know that three supermarkets
have agreed to the buyback of licenses. Many others are
seriously struggling with the restrictions that you've placed on them. Though,
are you reconsidering those restrictions currently on supermarkets when it
comes to alcohol sales, No.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Katie, it's an ancillary of sale. It was never designed
to be a takeaway liquor outlet. The Riley review recommended
fifteen percent. We landed at twenty five percent. And so
we've offered that buyback and we've got some that have committed,
and there's others that are continuing those conversations. But then
we're never designed to be a takeaway liquor license.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
I mean in a place like Mattterarker. And again we
spoke about this a couple of weeks ago. We then
covered it off during the week that was. But in
a place like Mattteraranka, it is having a serious impact
on their business. People can't then purchase their takeaway liquor
outlet take away alcohol from where they were, but they're
able to go down to the pub or they're traveling
into Catherine to be able to get their hands on alcohol.
(15:18):
So it's not stopping people from buying alcohol, Katie.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
This was their license condition. It was never designed to
be a takeaway outlet. We've got a moratorium on takeaway
licenses in the Northern Territory. And when we look at
the basis of so much of our crime and anti
social behavior is alcohol. Restricting that supply is a part
of the licensing process.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
So is there evidence to support that it is now
making a difference in a positive way.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
So, Katie, we do see with those licenses when they
comply to their license conditions. And these are conditions, Katie.
You've got restaurant license, you've got bar authorities, take away
store licenses. It's just one of many licenses. But when
people comply to their conditions, we have safety community.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
But so is there evidence to support it?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Is there hard evidence, Katie, there is evidence that those
store licenses need to comply to the license conditions in
which they were granted to their license.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
And so what evidence are we saying, like what positive
impacts are we seeing by by those licenses or by
those restrictions being in place for the supermarkets.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
So, Katie, with the licenses we've got, as I said,
a moratorium on takeaway. We know, the more takeaway outlets
in the territory, the more grog we see and the
more harm we see. So it's around restricting the amount
of alcohol getting out into our community. So we need
licensees to comply with their conditions.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Okay, I will move along because because there is a
lot to cover off and I know that you're in
Canberra at the moment. You are obviously there for the
meeting as I understand it, with the other state and
territory leaders.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
What is on the agenda?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
So, Katie, I'm meeting with a number of our federal
ministers Education, Health, Energy. It is really important that the
homewalth ministers and I thank them. You know, we've seen
multiple visits this year to the territory, but for them
to understand the cost of service delivery and the need
into the Northern Territory, and to make sure that we're
working in partnership with all of those agreements that we
receive what the Northern Territory needs to deliver those services
(17:16):
so we can support our community but also grow our economy.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
So are we expecting there to be any additional funding?
I know that education is going to be on the agenda.
Are we expecting any additional funding for the Northern Territory
when it comes to education?
Speaker 3 (17:29):
So, Katie, in terms of education funding, we're shifting towards
an enrollment based model of funding and we've seen additional
dollars come into Central Australia. We'd like to see that
across the Northern Territory. So that'll be one of the
topics that I'll discuss whilst on here.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Now I understand as well from a national level, and
certainly the ABC had been reporting that well. The Federal Treasurer,
Jim Chalmers has been urged by his state and territory
counterparts to make the GST no worse off guarantee a
permanent arrangement as he completes the finished touches on his
mid year Economic and Fiscal Outlook update.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
What are you hoping for in that space?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
So this is a complicated one, KD. In terms of
the Northern Territory, I've been in budget cabinet meetings where
we thought we had a certain amount of money. The
GST figures have come through and we've seen that to
be significantly less, like hundreds of millions less than we thought.
And that's you know, a lot of money in the
territory's context. So the no worse off was put in
place by previous governments and that is coming to an
(18:27):
expiring date and so working through to make sure that
under the methodology of funding to the states and territories
that we aren't worse off. So the Board of Treasure
is met on Friday about that and those conversations will
continue at the national cabinet level.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
And are we expecting that we're going to be no
worse off?
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Well, we would always point that we shouldn't be worse off,
But Katie, I think in terms of the Northern Territories budget,
we know we need to grow our own own source
revenue so that we can invest that into our community,
but we also need the Commonwealth to acknowledge that it
costs more to deliver services and we have a greater
need in the territory and that should be taken into account.
(19:05):
With a number of funding agreements health education. Some of
those agreements are coming up for negotiation and that's what
I'll be.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Pushing any update.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
When it comes to the domestic violence funding, I know
that the Northern Territory government has been banging on about
the needs based funding, so that'll be.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
A point that I'll discuss and a meeting with the
Minister responsible for that as well as the Prime Minister.
They committed to that leading into the election. We need
to see that funding come through so that we can
address the challenges we have.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
They haven't acted like they're going to come to the
table on the it doesn't seem promising.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
So Katie, we have a number of the agreements and
when those agreements expire is often when you negotiate leading
into that. But we also believe that commitments that have
been made should be funded whilst continuing agreements are in place.
So I'll keep pushing the territory's case and Katie, we're
not just saying give us a handout. We just want
the handout forever. We've got a strong plan to grow
our economy to our own source revenue, but in the
(20:01):
meantime we do need to see acknowledgment from the Commonwealth
of funding into the territory that we have a greater
need and it costs more to deliver services.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
All right, Chief Minister Natasha Files, we are going to
have to leave it there.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
We appreciate your time this morning. Take care, Thank you.
As we spoke about on the show on Friday, laws
have been passed in the Northern Territory Parliament to give
police more powers to deal with public drinking in a
bid to tackle anti social behavior and reduce alcohol related harm.
The changes are going to allow police to issue seven
day ban drinker orders for public drinking or disorderly behavior
(00:21):
in high risk areas.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Those committing more.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Serious alcohol related defenses, including domestic violence, are going to
automatically be hit with a mandatory three month BDO, and
police are also going to be able to check people's IDs,
allowing them to also refer people to various treatments, including
sobering up shelters, which was a recommendation in the liquorac
to review. Now joining us on the line from Canberra
(00:46):
to talk more about the changes is the Chief Minister,
Natasha Files. Good morning to.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
You, Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Now, Chief Minister, these changes really make a mockery of
the fact that you and other ministers had been telling
territories for quite some time that the two kilometer law
was still in place when it comes to people consuming alcohol.
Why did you wait so long to actually give police
the powers that they need to deal with the public
drunkenness that we're seeing the impacts off So.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Katie, in the seventies it was the decriminalization of alcohol
offenses and the two kilometers. It is and has been
all the way through illegal to drink within two kilometers
of a takeaway outlet. In terms of what we have
changed last week is giving police more powers to try
and tackle those that drink and cause harm in our community,
(01:37):
whilst respecting the vast majority do the right things.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, look, you.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Know, we've heard at time and time again that it's
still illegal to drink within two kilometers of a takeaway outlet.
But I think that to anybody listening to the show,
they would be laughing at that claim given what we
see on the streets each and every day, Katie.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
This is a difficult space because in terms of there's
been numerous reports, the Ooriginal Justice Agreement, the deaths in custody,
Royal Commission around how to manage alcohol. So trying to
make sure that people comply, but at the same time
that we don't for what needs a therapeutic response, make
sure that we don't criminalize that, but we do see
(02:18):
the behaviors when someone's intoxicated that are criminal and they
are dealt within this So it's not a straightforward process.
But the changes we made last week are about giving
police more powers and as I just said, to try
and stop those that have problem drinking not impact the
broader community.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
The opposition has taken aim at the government for not
making that change a month ago when the review was released.
Have you been negligent in allowing this issue to get
to the point that.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
It has so, Katie, the review of the legislation three
years of the liquorat that report is sitting there. We
may changes to the band drinker register. We do anticipate
early next year that there'll be further changes with the
correct and we'll keep working with community and industry around those.
So there's a multiple measures that can be adjusted and
(03:07):
to try and respond to the alcohol added harm we
see in our community.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well look on that.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
You know trading hours are set to be reduced at
Darwin liquor outlets. They're going to open from midday on
week days from December eleven. Hospitality Into CEO Alex Bruce
was furious about your lack of consultation over those changes.
After you said that you would engage with the sector
at a recent industry event. I mean, you've just said
(03:33):
now that you're going to engage with the different different sectors.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
But did you lie to the industry.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
No, Katie, I didn't.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I mean, did you tell them one thing one day though,
and then backflip the next.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
No, Katie, that's not correct.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
So you did tell them that you were going to
reduce those hours. Did you tell them that before doing it,
you know, not just a couple of hours beforehand.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
So, Katie, I acknowledged last week that we could have
communicated better within history around this, But I did not
lie to them.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
But did you tell them one thing one day and
then do the opposite a couple of days later, No, Katie,
So you didn't tell them that you would consult with
them before reducing hours, or you didn't say that you
would actually you know that you would be consulting with
them before making any major changes.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
So, Katie, I acknowledged last week we could have communicated better,
but we work with industry, we work with community around
these changes, and as I said, we could have communicated
these changes better, but we try and make adjustments that
recognize the vast majority do the right thing. But we
see and we've seen increases in our correlated assaults, domestic
and family violence, and that's what these changes are about,
(04:43):
trying to tackle those issues without impacting or causing the
least impact. More broadly, well, look the changes.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You know, some are really very accepting of the changes
and think and hope that this is going to make
a difference. Others have not been without criticism. The Northern
Territory Police Association say that they do support the changes
to give police powers to require a name and address
to be required by people drinking in public places, but
they say that the changes don't provide any health response
(05:13):
or support to address the real issues that our community
faces every day in every major urban center across the
Northern Territory. What do you say to that?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
So, this is where it's important making sure that people
do the right thing and that we stop the supply,
but also having those pathways for people to rehabilitate, so
they're so bring up beds, the rehabilitation beds. We have
increased those capacities right across the Northern Territory and trying
to make the pathways for people who have a problem
with drinking as easy as possible.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Now you did say as well last week that the
changes came into place at the request of the Northern
Territory Police Commissioner. This is those reduced drinking hours and
that this is a trial from my understanding, until the
end of January. How are you going to gauge the
success of the changed hours.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
So we communicate regularly with the Police commissioner. He requested
a change around the trading hours, so we're doing that
under an emergency declaration just to the end of January.
We'll then look at those statistics, so alcohol related assaults,
the domestic and family violence, but also in terms of
police's response. So the Commissioner feels that these changes will
help him enormously and his officers out on the beat
(06:26):
in reducing the amount in the morning that people can
access to get intoxicated and cause harm later in the day.
So we'll look at those statistics, Katie, and so what.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
If they do make a huge difference. What if these
changed hours do make a huge difference. I mean, how
are you going to work through then with the hospitality industry.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I think we need to sit and have a conversation
with the industry with the police commissioner, because we see
adjustments right across the Northern territory. There's different measures in
place for different communities, but if that works in the
dal and Palmerston area, then we need to look at
We all want to say ibrate community hospitality, want that
for tourist and locals alight. So we'll have to have
those discussions now.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Nathan finn as I say, he joined us on the
show on Friday and he had this to say about
some of the concerns or some of the requests of
the Police Commissioner.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
To take a listen, did.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
They also tell you what the commission actually also requested
of the government in relation to further obviously limitations on
bottle shop hours, establishing where the person's going to be
drinking if they haven't got a valid address. He wanted
the sales of alcohol not to be sold to those people.
There was a number of suite of changes which the
government haven't taken. His advice on anyone to think, hang
on a second. The Commissioner of Police is asking for this.
(07:39):
There's a genuine reason why he's asking for this because
he sees the alcohol the harm that does in the
community every single day.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
So you were saying he wants much further changes, but
that's not the Northern Territory government have not agreed to that.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
That is correct.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Have you had that conversation.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
I had that conversation with the commission early.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
In the week, and so he actually wants that situation
that we've spoken about on air before where if you
don't have an address to be able to drink your alcohol,
that you're not sold alcohol.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
That's correct. That was a suite of the changes that
he recommended back to the government.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Chief Finister.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Is that something that the Police Commissioner requested, So, Katie.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Just before I directly answer that question, we brought in
changes around the BDR, as I said, the Liquor Act.
We put out the review, the three year review in
the last parliamentary sitting, and we're working through those changes
in what we're talking about asking the question of where
someone's drinking. That was something that was utilized during the
COVID pandemic. It's a conversation the Commissioner and I have had.
(08:38):
You've seen it in some situations through liquor acords. So
a liquor accord, a group of retailers in that area
will work together on measures and all agree to put
in place those measures, So that question has been done
through some liquor coords. More broadly, if we were to
implement that, I think that's a further conversation that needs
to be had with industry. I think they have some
(09:00):
concerns around that, and this is where you're trying to
put in place measures that make a difference and keep
the community safe and support our police, but at the
same time making sure that we support those workers in
our hospitality venue. So it's something that we haven't ruled out,
but we haven't enacted at this point.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
But if you've made changes to the opening hours for
bottle shops based on a request from the police commissioner,
will you do the same when it comes to this
area that we're discussing Oka do.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I think it's looking at those accords and where it
has been in place, if that's had an impact. So
it's around asking someone. So if you go into a
takeaway bottle shop, you're a regular there, they know you,
they proceed with the sale. But if you're someone that
they haven't come and you've got a license address that
is from out of that area, remembering we put the
licenses through the BDA, that's when you would ask the question.
(09:51):
You could say, oh, yep, I'm staying with my mate
for the weekend, and they can make an assessment do
you have a safe place to drink that alcohol? As
you can.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
See that and so what the person behind the bottle
shop then has to make a decision whether to sell
it to them or not.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Correct And so I believe the BDR, where there's mechanisms
where the person behind the counter gets that red or
green screen, is a mechanism that is we've got across
the territory and has worked this next step. We're seeing
it through some of the cords. To some of the
retailers Katie I've spoken to, do want to ask that question,
but they also want to make sure that they're not
(10:24):
accused of breaking any laws in asking that question. So
it's not straightforward. But if it would be a measure
that would keep our community safe, we're not ruling it out,
but we are not enacting it at this point. I
think it's a conversation that would need to continue.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Okay, Now, on Friday, during the week that was there
was a lot of discussion about the BDR and if
it's actually effective. My understanding is that you told Parliament
last week that the new police IT system sir PRO,
will have the ability to connect directly with the BDR. Now,
according to the Police Association, that's not actually going to
(10:59):
be able to have happen until March next year.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Is that the case, I don't know about the March date,
that there will be a period of a manual workaround
for a few weeks. With my impression speaking, I was
brief by a DCDD which is a digital agency around
the sur pro system standing up and rolling out and
the interface with BDR. But they felt that it could
be done. It just will take a few weeks to
(11:24):
do so.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Have you misled territorians by insinuating that it is going
to happen immediately, No, Katie.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I think in the debate we talked about a manual
work around whilst the systems were interconnected.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Okay, we know that police have had to amp up
their operations in Alice Springs as crime continues to plague
the town. There does seem to be a real issue
right now with the Police Association and the Police Minister
not being on the same page with the police numbers
in Alice Springs. Nathan Finn says that there are three
less police in Alice and there was at the beginning
of the year. The policeman Brent Potter has accused the
(12:02):
Association of spreading false information. Now he told us during
the week that was that since the Prime Minister announced
the additional funding for frontline police in January, that additional
police have been created and there's actually eleven additional officers.
Are there additional officers in Alice Springs.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Or not, Katie, that's information. I don't have the figures
in front of me, but eleven was what I was
told from when the Prime Minister was in Central Australia
earlier this year to now there's eleven additional officers.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
So you guys maintained that there are an additional eleven
despite the fact that the Association saying that there's three
three down.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Creative information I've got from the Police Commissioner is there's
eleven additional Okay.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Now, sources have told us over the last couple of
days that the darw And Traffic Operations Unit is actually
being sent to Alice Springs to help deal with the
staffing levels. Have those officers been sent to Alice.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Katie, I don't have that information. They're operational matters. That
would be a question for the police commissioners. He decides
where he places his resources across the territory and I
don't I haven't been told either agreeing to that point
or disagreeing to that point.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Okay, we'll see what we can find out. But if
that is the case, it does fly against what we've
been told that their officers wouldn't be sent from Darwin,
or wouldn't be surged down, that there'd be a managing
of holiday periods and that kind of thing instead, Katie.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
That would be a question for the police commissioner around
his operations and they make decisions to try and put
pure measures in place before behaviors can turn criminal. And
then at the same time they do need to have
resources just you know, when people have done the wrong
thing to catch them. So their decisions that he would make,
and I'm sure he'd be happy to speak to you
about them.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I mean, do you think though that it could potentially
be a dangerous thing up here in the top end
if that is the case, and we will ask that
question of the police. But if that were the case,
to not have a dedicated traffic operations unit in Darwin
over the Christmas period when we know that we have
seen terrible situations our roads.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
So Katie, he's making operational decisions. We do have that
review underway with Bink Kelly looking at our police resourcing
across the board. And this is the balance with a
frontline agency. You know you need to have preventatives, but
you also need to have the resources when sadly people
do the wrong.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Thing or a mindful of time.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
But I do want to just ask you a couple
more questions those liquor buybacks. We know that three supermarkets
have agreed to the buyback of licenses. Many others are
seriously struggling with the restrictions that you've placed on them. Though,
are you reconsidering those restrictions currently on supermarkets when it
comes to alcohol sales, No.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Katie, it's an ancillary of sale. It was never designed
to be a takeaway liquor outlet. The Riley review recommended
fifteen percent. We landed at twenty five percent. And so
we've offered that buyback and we've got some that have committed,
and there's others that are continuing those conversations. But then
we're never designed to be a takeaway liquor license.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
I mean in a place like Mattterarker. And again we
spoke about this a couple of weeks ago. We then
covered it off during the week that was. But in
a place like Mattteraranka, it is having a serious impact
on their business. People can't then purchase their takeaway liquor
outlet take away alcohol from where they were, but they're
able to go down to the pub or they're traveling
into Catherine to be able to get their hands on alcohol.
(15:18):
So it's not stopping people from buying alcohol, Katie.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
This was their license condition. It was never designed to
be a takeaway outlet. We've got a moratorium on takeaway
licenses in the Northern Territory. And when we look at
the basis of so much of our crime and anti
social behavior is alcohol. Restricting that supply is a part
of the licensing process.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
So is there evidence to support that it is now
making a difference in a positive way.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
So, Katie, we do see with those licenses when they
comply to their license conditions. And these are conditions, Katie.
You've got restaurant license, you've got bar authorities, take away
store licenses. It's just one of many licenses. But when
people comply to their conditions, we have safety community.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
But so is there evidence to support it?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Is there hard evidence, Katie, there is evidence that those
store licenses need to comply to the license conditions in
which they were granted to their license.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
And so what evidence are we saying, like what positive
impacts are we seeing by by those licenses or by
those restrictions being in place for the supermarkets.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
So, Katie, with the licenses we've got, as I said,
a moratorium on takeaway. We know, the more takeaway outlets
in the territory, the more grog we see and the
more harm we see. So it's around restricting the amount
of alcohol getting out into our community. So we need
licensees to comply with their conditions.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Okay, I will move along because because there is a
lot to cover off and I know that you're in
Canberra at the moment. You are obviously there for the
meeting as I understand it, with the other state and
territory leaders.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
What is on the agenda?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
So, Katie, I'm meeting with a number of our federal
ministers Education, Health, Energy. It is really important that the
homewalth ministers and I thank them. You know, we've seen
multiple visits this year to the territory, but for them
to understand the cost of service delivery and the need
into the Northern Territory, and to make sure that we're
working in partnership with all of those agreements that we
receive what the Northern Territory needs to deliver those services
(17:16):
so we can support our community but also grow our economy.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
So are we expecting there to be any additional funding?
I know that education is going to be on the agenda.
Are we expecting any additional funding for the Northern Territory
when it comes to education?
Speaker 3 (17:29):
So, Katie, in terms of education funding, we're shifting towards
an enrollment based model of funding and we've seen additional
dollars come into Central Australia. We'd like to see that
across the Northern Territory. So that'll be one of the
topics that I'll discuss whilst on here.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Now I understand as well from a national level, and
certainly the ABC had been reporting that well. The Federal Treasurer,
Jim Chalmers has been urged by his state and territory
counterparts to make the GST no worse off guarantee a
permanent arrangement as he completes the finished touches on his
mid year Economic and Fiscal Outlook update.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
What are you hoping for in that space?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
So this is a complicated one, KD. In terms of
the Northern Territory, I've been in budget cabinet meetings where
we thought we had a certain amount of money. The
GST figures have come through and we've seen that to
be significantly less, like hundreds of millions less than we thought.
And that's you know, a lot of money in the
territory's context. So the no worse off was put in
place by previous governments and that is coming to an
(18:27):
expiring date and so working through to make sure that
under the methodology of funding to the states and territories
that we aren't worse off. So the Board of Treasure
is met on Friday about that and those conversations will
continue at the national cabinet level.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
And are we expecting that we're going to be no
worse off?
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Well, we would always point that we shouldn't be worse off,
But Katie, I think in terms of the Northern Territories budget,
we know we need to grow our own own source
revenue so that we can invest that into our community,
but we also need the Commonwealth to acknowledge that it
costs more to deliver services and we have a greater
need in the territory and that should be taken into account.
(19:05):
With a number of funding agreements health education. Some of
those agreements are coming up for negotiation and that's what
I'll be.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Pushing any update.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
When it comes to the domestic violence funding, I know
that the Northern Territory government has been banging on about
the needs based funding, so that'll be.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
A point that I'll discuss and a meeting with the
Minister responsible for that as well as the Prime Minister.
They committed to that leading into the election. We need
to see that funding come through so that we can
address the challenges we have.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
They haven't acted like they're going to come to the
table on the it doesn't seem promising.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
So Katie, we have a number of the agreements and
when those agreements expire is often when you negotiate leading
into that. But we also believe that commitments that have
been made should be funded whilst continuing agreements are in place.
So I'll keep pushing the territory's case and Katie, we're
not just saying give us a handout. We just want
the handout forever. We've got a strong plan to grow
our economy to our own source revenue, but in the
(20:01):
meantime we do need to see acknowledgment from the Commonwealth
of funding into the territory that we have a greater
need and it costs more to deliver services.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
All right, Chief Minister Natasha Files, we are going to
have to leave it there.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
We appreciate your time this morning. Take care, Thank you.
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