Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, as you may have heard reported sadly another death
in custody over the weekend. The Northern Territory Police investigating
on behalf of the coroner after a man died in
Royal Darhwen Hospital over the weekend. Now it is being
reported and certainly the police have confirmed that on the
thirtieth of May, the Australian Federal Police received reports of
(00:20):
an intoxicated sixty eight year old man unable to board
a flight out of Darwin. That man was taken into
protective custody by the AFP, initially conveyed to Palmerston Watchhouse.
Now before being admitted and whilst still in AFP custody,
the custody sergeant and nurse assess the mail where it
was deemed necessary to convey the man to Royal Dahwen
(00:42):
Hospital for further treatment. Upon arriving at the hospital, AFP
members noticed the man had lost consciousness. Medical staff were
alerted who immediately commenced CPR. Resuscitation efforts were successful and
he was transferred to the Intensive care unit in a
stable condition and for ongoing treatment for what was a
(01:02):
suspected medical event. Now on Saturday, the man passed away
in ICU. The cause of the morn Man's death remains undetermined,
pending a post mortem. Now joining us on the show
is the Deputy Chief Minister, or Minister for Corrections, Jared Mayley.
Good morning to Deputy Chief Minister.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Now, unfortunately another death in custody on the weekend. Does
there need to be an independent investigation into the two
deaths that we've seen in the last fortnight.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Look, I've got every confidence that the NT Police are
capable of doing these investigations. They are professional, they have
been in the territory a long time, and this later
death is going to be investigated by the NT Police
because it occurred in their jurisdiction. So I've got every
confidence at the police I can do a job and
investigate these TVs to death Now.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
According to the AB, one of Australia's largest Aboriginal legal
services NAJA, is calling for an emergency intervention to de
escalate tensions in the Northern Territory's justice system following the
two deaths of Aboriginal meaning in police custody. Now, naja's
acting Chief Executive Anthony Bevan, telling the ABC that the
(02:20):
Northern Territory government could not afford to wait for an investigation.
He said, let's not wait for another inquiry for another
twelve months. We know that a person losing their life
over a shoplifting incident is not acceptable. He said that
NAJA was urging the government to hold a forum with
First Nations leaders and both Commonwealth and Northern Territory authorities
(02:43):
to address the territory's soaring incarceration rate. Minister, is this
something that the government is prepared to look into?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
The ant police are the appropriate body john to take
these investigations and we certainly aren't going to intervene and
step in their way. We don't them do their job.
We know that the previous of the roles that when
the government intervened there there was all sorts of problems.
What we are doing is we've got full confidence in
the police the leading do their investigation and then want
(03:15):
the result of investigation. Then we can take some action
after that investigation has been completely There's not much more
we can do or say about this because we need
to wait for the investigation to occur.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Do you think there needs to be a forum with
First Nations leaders and both the Commonwealth and the Northern
Territory authorities, you know, to look more closely into the situation.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Look, what needs to happen is this investigation needs to
be completed. We need to see what happens as a
result of the investigation and then we can start thinking
about what we can do in the Northern Territory to
continue to keep the territory a safe place, all.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Right, minister. In terms of you know, the situation with
our jails, Mister Bevan from NAJA has told the ABC
that the government's bail reforms have watered down the presumption
of innocence, making First Nation people fearful of police officers
and the justice system. He reckons they're seeing their family,
(04:13):
their sons, their daughters, their husbands and wives being locked
up and held on remand for long periods of time.
He said, we don't want to get into a situation
where Aboriginal people feel backed into a corner that if
they have an interaction with police, there's a good chance
that they're going to spend time in jail. Is that
a concern for the government and particularly you as the
(04:35):
Corrections Minister.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Look, what my main concern in my paramaccon is keeping
the community This is talking about the whole of the
community in the Northern Territory and we need to make
sure that it's a safe place to go shopping, it's
a safe place to walk down the streets. I remember
there's stories of people who don't want to go shopping
at Casherine and coming all the way out into calling
(04:57):
Es Central because I didn't feel safe all the election.
But we're going to make sure that the We're going
to concern on community safety and all we want to
do is make sure that if you do come into
the correction system, that there's an opportunity for program to
get some structure in your life and come out a
better person, because it's about community safety. And remember, if
you don't do the wrong thing, something to worry about that.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I think the point you've made there about programs is
an important one and I know again this morning Dr
Russell Mark's, a criminal defense lawyer and author have Locked
Up and Locked Out, was on the ABC saying the
community is demonstrably less safe after a person spent time
in jail. He reckons those who spend time in jail
(05:41):
are more likely to offend again. How are you, as
a minister making sure that people are not going to
jail and becoming better offenders. I mean, talk us through
some of those programs and are they operating you know,
with the intended effect i e. People coming out better PEOPLEOK.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Putting someone in prison and putting them into a program
and bringing him out is one aspect off the bigger
picture here, Katie. It's about making sure that the wrap
around services look at what problems they've got, if they're
got any health issues. As we all know that when
you go into corrections, you get a full health check up.
You go make sure that your medication is the right medication,
(06:20):
that you're taking your medication, that you get three meals
a day, and you get off the alcohol, you get
off the drugs, and then you go to these programs
to be able to come out a better person. Because
it's not only about program but remember we also got
education in schooling O Katie. I've been to the youth
prison and I've been to the adult prison. I've seen
(06:41):
these inmates in school. I'm talking about young offenders here,
something that some of them have never done. In fact,
I was there and there was a young offender about
seventeen who didn't know what the outfit was couldn't write
their name down. So we are making sure we look
at the big picture here and telling someone out of
the other The prison system is about education, it's about purpose.
(07:01):
It's about getting them away from the alcohol, the drugs,
giving them a program, giving them an opportunity to get
up in the morning, go back to bed, to have
some routine in your life. So you look at the
big picture here, Katie. It's about making sure that we
protect these prisoners, protect the prison offices as well. And
it's not just one part of it. You know, programs
(07:22):
are a very important part of it, but it's one
part of many things. And remember after that, we've also
got charity families and those community services can wrap around
and support the young offenders. And some of the young
offenders could be nineteen twenty who come from a broken
community or a broken family, have had a really tough upbringing,
so we can give them some opportunity to speak to
(07:42):
the people, some counselors, just to try and get their
lives back on track.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Well, I think that, you know, the other thing that
must always be remembered in these discussions is victims of crime.
You know, we have got so many victims of crime,
so many of them who listen to this show. I mean, look,
we are getting a lot of messages to that effect
this morning, so I'll get to those after. But Minister,
as of last week, I understand that there was a
(08:07):
record twenty eight hundred and three prisoners being held across
the Northern Territory's prison network. That marks a number. Well,
that marks a jump of five hundred and fifty inmates
since the COLP came into power in August. I mean
to those out there criticizing that and saying, you know,
this is not a good thing. It's not a good
(08:30):
thing to have more people in prison, what do you
say to those people this morning?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Like I said at the beginning of a conversation, OK,
this is about community safety in general. The Seal pre
elected in August last year to make sure that the
territory is a safer place, and that's what we're doing,
and that there's going to be a consequence. If you
commit a crime in Northern Territory. The police are going
to investigate, and if the court determined that you spend
some time and detention, we will put you into penance.
(08:58):
Two detention will be able to give you some education,
some programs and training to try and break that cycle
of reoffending. But it goes back to if there's an offense, Kyd,
there's a victim, and we want to ma sure that
Territorians in their entirety are better and safer, which is
again people going shopping at cooling because it's too dangerous,
of shopping at Casherina just unacceptable.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Katie, now, Minister, no doubt, the record high numbers continue
to put pressure on the system. The government, will you
guys say you're set to deliver a record two hundred
and two new correctional officers this financial year, marking the
largest single workforce expansion in the territory's correctional history.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
What work is.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Underway to ensure that the prison system can deal with
these ever growing numbers, you know, not only in terms
of bolstering those prison those correctional numbers, but also in
terms of infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Well, kay, there's three main things we're doing. When we've
come into office. We've created a master plan in writing
and infrastructure. We came in and the prisons were overcrowded,
the officers and corrections of correction officers and prisons are
in watchhouses and the staffing was under wasn't where it
should be. So we have created or got two hundred
(10:13):
and two new direction offices this financial year. And just
on Friday I went and saw the passing out for
thirty two new officers to be able to go back
in and help those officers who do a great job.
On top of that, Katie, we've also got G four
s we're up and running, which do the services outside
the wire. There is no plan to put them in
behind the wire and privatize prisons. What they do is
(10:34):
look after the prisoners who come to the court or
the transporting between facilities. We're just trying to make sure
that we've got enough officers to deal with this demand
because it's about community safety and keeping territory and safe.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Can I ask, do you know how many prisoners we
currently have on remand.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I don't have that figure right in front of the
KD of what it was. I know. I don't want
to give you the wrong for.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Making all right, I guess I suppose my question is
you know with those ones that are on remand is
I think that the big question from a lot of
people is if they're on remand are they still able
to undertake those various different programs and again try to
make sure that they're then when and differently that they
(11:21):
are becoming, you know, like better people rather than rather
than obviously going down the wrong path.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
When you're on remand you're innocent until proven guilty, so
there are valuable programs if you wanted to attend. They're
not mandatory, and that's what we're only looking at doing
to make sure that there is available. So it's trying
to get that balance right and saying, look, you're in prison,
we haven't been convicted of anything yet, so we can't
force you, but there are certainly industries and skills trainings
(11:50):
available if you're on ramand to be able to deal
with ease you want to How would.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
You describe the way that things are going within our
directional facilities at the moment. Do you feel as though
you know that you guys are on top of things,
that you've got enough prison guards or correctional officers. Do
you feel as though there is enough infrastructure or are
we still seeing a situation where things are quite crowded.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Look, when we came in office, I'm nine months ago,
to be quite frank, kay I was shocked at the
state of the system, there was overcrowding, there was lack
of infrastructure. Clearly of the previous government had just not
planned to deal with safety and deal with the correction system.
So what we've come into office. We've got two hundred
and two new staff. We've injected another one hundred and
twenty six million dollars of additional funding into the system.
(12:38):
We've brought gfours online because it's a challenge working in
the correctional system and we have been faced with a
with a big problem. But I think it is turning
and I think we've gone down over the hump and
things are getting better. We've got more staff, we've got
more infrastructure, and we're out there trying to keep the community.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
So, Minister, just another topic, and I'm very mindful of time.
I don't want to keep you for two long. I
know it's a busy day, but I want to ask
you about this situation being reported in the Australian newspaper today.
A Northern Territory Supreme Court judge kept secret the details
of how she bailed a man who allegedly sexually assaulted
(13:15):
a child to a small town two days after the
Northern Territory government had passed the nation's toughest bail laws,
despite a previous judge finding it would be inevitable the
accused would run into the complainant and her family. Now,
the thirty four year old has been charged to two
serious sexual offenses against a child in the town of Catherine,
(13:38):
but it is being reported by The Australian last month
was granted bail to live in the same town. That
is what multiple sources have told the paper. You know,
I understand that the government's now urgently seeking that the
Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecution request an appeal to
revoke the man's bail after this issue had been raised.
(13:59):
Is that the case? What do you understand of this situation?
I mean, is it another situation where it does not
pass the pub test?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Look, Katie, on the face of it doesn't pass the
pub test. But what when we've found out about it.
When I say the government, I know the Attorney General
Marquez booth Meet wrote to the Office of the Public
Prosecutions and after they urgently review it considered this matter.
It just seems to be like we don't want to
we don't know all the details, Katie, and we don't
know exactly what happened, but certainly on the face of it,
(14:27):
this needs to be reviewed and reviewed urgently. We did change.
We've changed the law twice since we've been offers to
make sure that the bail laws are tough and there's
a test now the high degree of confidence. And I
can't explain why the court have done what they've done,
but I can say is to give the community a
bit of satisfaction that we're reviewing as urgent we can
and we need to make sure that this doesn't happen
(14:49):
because it's all about community safety.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Minister, are you concerned that some within the judiciary are
thumbing their nose that the government's legislative changes.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Look, Look, the court are also in the challenging situation.
They're doing their job and they need to make sure
that we need we're going to manage the expectation of
the community. Look, we are going to continue as and
say that we as a government to strength in the
Northern Territory court system and we're going to put the
rights of the victim then the community first. So it
(15:22):
is a challenging situation, but we're making sure that we
look into it in this particular case to get it
reviewed and then look into the whole court system as
well to so what can we do to make it
to go quickly. We spoke about remand prisoners. If we've
got a court system that's working well, those Romand times
and remand prisoners will go down as well.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yeah, Well, Corrections Minister and also Deputy Chief Minister of
the Northern Territory Jered Maylee. I always appreciate your time.
Thank you very much for having a chat with us today.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Thank you Katie, thank you
Well, as you may have heard reported sadly another death
in custody over the weekend. The Northern Territory Police investigating
on behalf of the coroner after a man died in
Royal Darhwen Hospital over the weekend. Now it is being
reported and certainly the police have confirmed that on the
thirtieth of May, the Australian Federal Police received reports of
(00:20):
an intoxicated sixty eight year old man unable to board
a flight out of Darwin. That man was taken into
protective custody by the AFP, initially conveyed to Palmerston Watchhouse.
Now before being admitted and whilst still in AFP custody,
the custody sergeant and nurse assess the mail where it
was deemed necessary to convey the man to Royal Dahwen
(00:42):
Hospital for further treatment. Upon arriving at the hospital, AFP
members noticed the man had lost consciousness. Medical staff were
alerted who immediately commenced CPR. Resuscitation efforts were successful and
he was transferred to the Intensive care unit in a
stable condition and for ongoing treatment for what was a
(01:02):
suspected medical event. Now on Saturday, the man passed away
in ICU. The cause of the morn Man's death remains undetermined,
pending a post mortem. Now joining us on the show
is the Deputy Chief Minister, or Minister for Corrections, Jared Mayley.
Good morning to Deputy Chief Minister.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Now, unfortunately another death in custody on the weekend. Does
there need to be an independent investigation into the two
deaths that we've seen in the last fortnight.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Look, I've got every confidence that the NT Police are
capable of doing these investigations. They are professional, they have
been in the territory a long time, and this later
death is going to be investigated by the NT Police
because it occurred in their jurisdiction. So I've got every
confidence at the police I can do a job and
investigate these TVs to death Now.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
According to the AB, one of Australia's largest Aboriginal legal
services NAJA, is calling for an emergency intervention to de
escalate tensions in the Northern Territory's justice system following the
two deaths of Aboriginal meaning in police custody. Now, naja's
acting Chief Executive Anthony Bevan, telling the ABC that the
(02:20):
Northern Territory government could not afford to wait for an investigation.
He said, let's not wait for another inquiry for another
twelve months. We know that a person losing their life
over a shoplifting incident is not acceptable. He said that
NAJA was urging the government to hold a forum with
First Nations leaders and both Commonwealth and Northern Territory authorities
(02:43):
to address the territory's soaring incarceration rate. Minister, is this
something that the government is prepared to look into?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
The ant police are the appropriate body john to take
these investigations and we certainly aren't going to intervene and
step in their way. We don't them do their job.
We know that the previous of the roles that when
the government intervened there there was all sorts of problems.
What we are doing is we've got full confidence in
the police the leading do their investigation and then want
(03:15):
the result of investigation. Then we can take some action
after that investigation has been completely There's not much more
we can do or say about this because we need
to wait for the investigation to occur.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Do you think there needs to be a forum with
First Nations leaders and both the Commonwealth and the Northern
Territory authorities, you know, to look more closely into the situation.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Look, what needs to happen is this investigation needs to
be completed. We need to see what happens as a
result of the investigation and then we can start thinking
about what we can do in the Northern Territory to
continue to keep the territory a safe place, all.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Right, minister. In terms of you know, the situation with
our jails, Mister Bevan from NAJA has told the ABC
that the government's bail reforms have watered down the presumption
of innocence, making First Nation people fearful of police officers
and the justice system. He reckons they're seeing their family,
(04:13):
their sons, their daughters, their husbands and wives being locked
up and held on remand for long periods of time.
He said, we don't want to get into a situation
where Aboriginal people feel backed into a corner that if
they have an interaction with police, there's a good chance
that they're going to spend time in jail. Is that
a concern for the government and particularly you as the
(04:35):
Corrections Minister.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Look, what my main concern in my paramaccon is keeping
the community This is talking about the whole of the
community in the Northern Territory and we need to make
sure that it's a safe place to go shopping, it's
a safe place to walk down the streets. I remember
there's stories of people who don't want to go shopping
at Casherine and coming all the way out into calling
(04:57):
Es Central because I didn't feel safe all the election.
But we're going to make sure that the We're going
to concern on community safety and all we want to
do is make sure that if you do come into
the correction system, that there's an opportunity for program to
get some structure in your life and come out a
better person, because it's about community safety. And remember, if
you don't do the wrong thing, something to worry about that.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I think the point you've made there about programs is
an important one and I know again this morning Dr
Russell Mark's, a criminal defense lawyer and author have Locked
Up and Locked Out, was on the ABC saying the
community is demonstrably less safe after a person spent time
in jail. He reckons those who spend time in jail
(05:41):
are more likely to offend again. How are you, as
a minister making sure that people are not going to
jail and becoming better offenders. I mean, talk us through
some of those programs and are they operating you know,
with the intended effect i e. People coming out better PEOPLEOK.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Putting someone in prison and putting them into a program
and bringing him out is one aspect off the bigger
picture here, Katie. It's about making sure that the wrap
around services look at what problems they've got, if they're
got any health issues. As we all know that when
you go into corrections, you get a full health check up.
You go make sure that your medication is the right medication,
(06:20):
that you're taking your medication, that you get three meals
a day, and you get off the alcohol, you get
off the drugs, and then you go to these programs
to be able to come out a better person. Because
it's not only about program but remember we also got
education in schooling O Katie. I've been to the youth
prison and I've been to the adult prison. I've seen
(06:41):
these inmates in school. I'm talking about young offenders here,
something that some of them have never done. In fact,
I was there and there was a young offender about
seventeen who didn't know what the outfit was couldn't write
their name down. So we are making sure we look
at the big picture here and telling someone out of
the other The prison system is about education, it's about purpose.
(07:01):
It's about getting them away from the alcohol, the drugs,
giving them a program, giving them an opportunity to get
up in the morning, go back to bed, to have
some routine in your life. So you look at the
big picture here, Katie. It's about making sure that we
protect these prisoners, protect the prison offices as well. And
it's not just one part of it. You know, programs
(07:22):
are a very important part of it, but it's one
part of many things. And remember after that, we've also
got charity families and those community services can wrap around
and support the young offenders. And some of the young
offenders could be nineteen twenty who come from a broken
community or a broken family, have had a really tough upbringing,
so we can give them some opportunity to speak to
(07:42):
the people, some counselors, just to try and get their
lives back on track.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Well, I think that, you know, the other thing that
must always be remembered in these discussions is victims of crime.
You know, we have got so many victims of crime,
so many of them who listen to this show. I mean, look,
we are getting a lot of messages to that effect
this morning, so I'll get to those after. But Minister,
as of last week, I understand that there was a
(08:07):
record twenty eight hundred and three prisoners being held across
the Northern Territory's prison network. That marks a number. Well,
that marks a jump of five hundred and fifty inmates
since the COLP came into power in August. I mean
to those out there criticizing that and saying, you know,
this is not a good thing. It's not a good
(08:30):
thing to have more people in prison, what do you
say to those people this morning?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Like I said at the beginning of a conversation, OK,
this is about community safety in general. The Seal pre
elected in August last year to make sure that the
territory is a safer place, and that's what we're doing,
and that there's going to be a consequence. If you
commit a crime in Northern Territory. The police are going
to investigate, and if the court determined that you spend
some time and detention, we will put you into penance.
(08:58):
Two detention will be able to give you some education,
some programs and training to try and break that cycle
of reoffending. But it goes back to if there's an offense, Kyd,
there's a victim, and we want to ma sure that
Territorians in their entirety are better and safer, which is
again people going shopping at cooling because it's too dangerous,
of shopping at Casherina just unacceptable.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Katie, now, Minister, no doubt, the record high numbers continue
to put pressure on the system. The government, will you
guys say you're set to deliver a record two hundred
and two new correctional officers this financial year, marking the
largest single workforce expansion in the territory's correctional history.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
What work is.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Underway to ensure that the prison system can deal with
these ever growing numbers, you know, not only in terms
of bolstering those prison those correctional numbers, but also in
terms of infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Well, kay, there's three main things we're doing. When we've
come into office. We've created a master plan in writing
and infrastructure. We came in and the prisons were overcrowded,
the officers and corrections of correction officers and prisons are
in watchhouses and the staffing was under wasn't where it
should be. So we have created or got two hundred
(10:13):
and two new direction offices this financial year. And just
on Friday I went and saw the passing out for
thirty two new officers to be able to go back
in and help those officers who do a great job.
On top of that, Katie, we've also got G four
s we're up and running, which do the services outside
the wire. There is no plan to put them in
behind the wire and privatize prisons. What they do is
(10:34):
look after the prisoners who come to the court or
the transporting between facilities. We're just trying to make sure
that we've got enough officers to deal with this demand
because it's about community safety and keeping territory and safe.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Can I ask, do you know how many prisoners we
currently have on remand.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I don't have that figure right in front of the
KD of what it was. I know. I don't want
to give you the wrong for.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Making all right, I guess I suppose my question is
you know with those ones that are on remand is
I think that the big question from a lot of
people is if they're on remand are they still able
to undertake those various different programs and again try to
make sure that they're then when and differently that they
(11:21):
are becoming, you know, like better people rather than rather
than obviously going down the wrong path.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
When you're on remand you're innocent until proven guilty, so
there are valuable programs if you wanted to attend. They're
not mandatory, and that's what we're only looking at doing
to make sure that there is available. So it's trying
to get that balance right and saying, look, you're in prison,
we haven't been convicted of anything yet, so we can't
force you, but there are certainly industries and skills trainings
(11:50):
available if you're on ramand to be able to deal
with ease you want to How would.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
You describe the way that things are going within our
directional facilities at the moment. Do you feel as though
you know that you guys are on top of things,
that you've got enough prison guards or correctional officers. Do
you feel as though there is enough infrastructure or are
we still seeing a situation where things are quite crowded.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Look, when we came in office, I'm nine months ago,
to be quite frank, kay I was shocked at the
state of the system, there was overcrowding, there was lack
of infrastructure. Clearly of the previous government had just not
planned to deal with safety and deal with the correction system.
So what we've come into office. We've got two hundred
and two new staff. We've injected another one hundred and
twenty six million dollars of additional funding into the system.
(12:38):
We've brought gfours online because it's a challenge working in
the correctional system and we have been faced with a
with a big problem. But I think it is turning
and I think we've gone down over the hump and
things are getting better. We've got more staff, we've got
more infrastructure, and we're out there trying to keep the community.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
So, Minister, just another topic, and I'm very mindful of time.
I don't want to keep you for two long. I
know it's a busy day, but I want to ask
you about this situation being reported in the Australian newspaper today.
A Northern Territory Supreme Court judge kept secret the details
of how she bailed a man who allegedly sexually assaulted
(13:15):
a child to a small town two days after the
Northern Territory government had passed the nation's toughest bail laws,
despite a previous judge finding it would be inevitable the
accused would run into the complainant and her family. Now,
the thirty four year old has been charged to two
serious sexual offenses against a child in the town of Catherine,
(13:38):
but it is being reported by The Australian last month
was granted bail to live in the same town. That
is what multiple sources have told the paper. You know,
I understand that the government's now urgently seeking that the
Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecution request an appeal to
revoke the man's bail after this issue had been raised.
(13:59):
Is that the case? What do you understand of this situation?
I mean, is it another situation where it does not
pass the pub test?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Look, Katie, on the face of it doesn't pass the
pub test. But what when we've found out about it.
When I say the government, I know the Attorney General
Marquez booth Meet wrote to the Office of the Public
Prosecutions and after they urgently review it considered this matter.
It just seems to be like we don't want to
we don't know all the details, Katie, and we don't
know exactly what happened, but certainly on the face of it,
(14:27):
this needs to be reviewed and reviewed urgently. We did change.
We've changed the law twice since we've been offers to
make sure that the bail laws are tough and there's
a test now the high degree of confidence. And I
can't explain why the court have done what they've done,
but I can say is to give the community a
bit of satisfaction that we're reviewing as urgent we can
and we need to make sure that this doesn't happen
(14:49):
because it's all about community safety.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Minister, are you concerned that some within the judiciary are
thumbing their nose that the government's legislative changes.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Look, Look, the court are also in the challenging situation.
They're doing their job and they need to make sure
that we need we're going to manage the expectation of
the community. Look, we are going to continue as and
say that we as a government to strength in the
Northern Territory court system and we're going to put the
rights of the victim then the community first. So it
(15:22):
is a challenging situation, but we're making sure that we
look into it in this particular case to get it
reviewed and then look into the whole court system as
well to so what can we do to make it
to go quickly. We spoke about remand prisoners. If we've
got a court system that's working well, those Romand times
and remand prisoners will go down as well.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yeah, Well, Corrections Minister and also Deputy Chief Minister of
the Northern Territory Jered Maylee. I always appreciate your time.
Thank you very much for having a chat with us today.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Thank you Katie, thank you
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