March 3, 2026 • 8 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know that the Nightcliff by election it's just
a couple of days away. What do you think are
going to be the main issues that people are going
to vote on. Well, you can send us a message
if you'd like to, you can give us a call.
But we heard on the show from the Northern Territory
Electoral Commissioner that about nineteen hundred electors in the Nightcliff
division of cast their vote. There's still plenty who need
(00:20):
to get out and vote though, so we want to
make sure that we catch up with all four of
the candidates who've put their hand up and give them
the opportunity to speak to you, our listeners, and well
you the opportunity to learn a little bit more about
them and what they stand for. Now we're going to
kick things off this morning with the Greens candidate Suki
Doris Walker. Good morning to Yasuki.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
It's lovely to have you on the show now, Suki,
why did you decide to put your hand up to run? Katie?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I absolutely love this community. My youngest took her first
steps on the foreshore and my family's built our life
here in Darwin I think this is an incredible place
to live and I want to make it even better.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Do you live in the electorate, because that is a
question that we get asked very regularly. Oh sorry, your
microphot has just fallen off. Do you live in the electorate.
That's something that we ask everybody that resolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
So I live on Ryland Road, just across the road
near the Rapid Creek Markets.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Okay, Now, what do you see as being the major
issues in the electorate.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yah. So we've door knocked the whole electorate in less
than three weeks. We've had a phenomenal effort. I've been
door knocking every night and I've spoken to so many people.
What's come up? I mean lots of issues have come up,
but I would say a huge one is cost of living. Yeah,
particularly with renters, they're feeling a lot of rental stress.
Community safety has come up a lot, particularly around the
local shops, and the environment is something people care about
(01:45):
as well. And finally, people really want to see someone
in Parliament holding the territory government accountable.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Suki. The one that you did touch on there is safety. Now,
it's an issue that's been raised with us a lot.
It's a big one. What do you, well, what would
you do really as the local member to try and
sort the safety concerns of those in the electrics.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Yeah, I mean what we're really interested in is what works.
We've seen our prison population in the territory grow by
thirty percent over the last decade, and when I speak
to people, they say they feel more unsafe than ever.
We also know that more than half the people who
go to prison end up reoffending. So this constant attempt
to talk about building more prisons, actually we're not creating
long term safety for our community, and that's what we're
(02:26):
really interested in. As a teacher, I saw lots of
young kids coming to school trying to do the best
they can, but when they go home, they go home
to an overcrowded house, or domestic violence, or alcohol and
drug addiction, and those are the issues we really need
to address if we want our families in the territory
to thrive and we want community safety to be a
long term people to feel safe in the long term.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Do you think that the relocation of Saint Vinnie's into
the area has had a negative impact.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I think we desperately need more services for people experiencing homelessness,
and so you don't feel as though it's had an
issue when it comes to some of those safety concerns
that locals have. Gosh, I've certainly spoken to people who've
raised concerns with me, and I'm always really happy to
listen with them. I'm really happy to liaise with Vinni's
over these issues. I've been to Osenham House and I've
seen the incredible service they provide. People show up, they
(03:16):
can get their washing done, they can have a shower,
they can access center Link and other services while they
get a feed. And I have a lot of respect
for the work that Vinnie's has does, and I know
a lot of people in the community do too.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Suki. We do have a message that came through for
all of our for everybody who's put their hand up
regarding the Nightcliff by election. This person called through a
short time ago and told Kathleen, my producer, a story
of knowing a woman who was inside her home sick
and fast asleep on the sofa when four people broke
into the house searching for car keys. Understood them to
(03:51):
be armed, they broke in a second time to try
and find the keys again. This person wanting to know
do the candidates support castle laws or longer protections for
homeowners against home invasions as to being able to defend themselves,
and they're saying something needs to be done as nothing
is acting as a deterrent, especially against young people.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
First c, I think that's an incredibly terrifying experience for
that woman, and I just want to say that that's
absolutely awful to have experienced that. Again, I come back
to the fact that we need to look at what works.
This person's talking about stronger penalties. We're seeing stronger penalties
and people are not feeling safer. So we come back
to this the fact that if we do not address
(04:36):
the fact that people are we have the highest rates
of homelessness in the country, we have high rates of
domestic violence, we have alcohol and drug addiction on our streets.
That's what will make communities safer in the long term.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Some had contacted us yesterday after seeing vision of you
and Justine Davis trying to block police at the rally
on Friday. Do you think that was appropriate?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I was at a peaceful community gathering against the swearing
in of the administrator when Alarakia Elder was arrested. I
was standing with other community members peacefully calling for his
release when I was pushed.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
So you say you were pushed by the police.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Or when that footage came out. I won't sort of
cast say, you know, comment on it, but that footage
is from that moment.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Somebody else has just messaged through and said, Katie, can
you please ask u g if she's anti police? If so,
how is she going to support the electorate regarding crime
if she thinks that it's okay to interfere with police
during the course of their duties.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
This is a distraction from Leah's failed leadership on this
particular issue. The real issue is that she's continued to
stand by David Connolly's statements that are racist. They mock
domestic violence victims and they joke about rape drugs.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Do you support anti police and the work that they do?
Absolutely so, I guess because look, we're getting, like I'm
getting quite a few come through. People are obviously a
bit concerned about this. They're saying, you know that there
was barriers there. Can you please ask if you know
Suki supports the police. You know, why weren't you following directions?
You know it's obviously something that people are quite concerned
(06:08):
at me.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
How can I understand those concerns. I absolutely believe that
the police have a job to do.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Suki. Some listening this morning, you know I might look
and go. Will you've protested against gas and mining conferences
as well? Are you concerned that you have a reputation
as an agitator?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I think the reputation I have is as someone who
has the courage to stand up for my community, and
I absolutely intend to take those qualities with me to
Parliament House.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Spud's message through He's got a question for both today's candidates.
He wants to know, are you going to raise in
Parliament the war in Palestine?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I so the Greens and I stand against the genocide
that's happening in Palestine, and I will continue to do that.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Suki, why should people vote for you?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I am someone who has the energy, the passion and
the commitment to deliver for the people of Nightcliff. I'm
really committed to my community. I love my commune and
I have the drive to make sure that I deliver
for the people of Nightcliff, Rapid Creek and coconut growth.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
And to anybody listening this morning, that might be thinking,
you know, why should I vote Green again when Cat
didn't last the four years? What would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
It's a great question. I've a first see Cat resigned
for health reasons, and what I'm hearing when I do
not the electorate is people are feeling really proud of
what we achieved as a Green electorate in the time
that Kat was there, and they're really keen to keep
it green. And we are the only party out there
who are advocating to hold the major parties accountable for
(07:37):
a livable climate in Darwin, for safe and thriving communities,
and we really want to stand up for renters as
well well.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Green's candidate Suki Doris Walker, Actually, before I let you go,
who are you preferencing? What are you doing with your preferences?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
So first, our voters preferences are theirs to give. We
have a how to vote card that says one Suki,
one Tsuki, that's an important one. Two feel Scott, three
Labor and for Colp.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Well, Suki Doris Walker, really appreciate your time this morning.
Thank you for joining us on the show.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Thanks so much, Katie.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Thank you Sorry about that microphone, it's moving around, I'll
make sure I get that sortied. Thank you.
Now we know that the Nightcliff by election it's just
a couple of days away. What do you think are
going to be the main issues that people are going
to vote on. Well, you can send us a message
if you'd like to, you can give us a call.
But we heard on the show from the Northern Territory
Electoral Commissioner that about nineteen hundred electors in the Nightcliff
division of cast their vote. There's still plenty who need
(00:20):
to get out and vote though, so we want to
make sure that we catch up with all four of
the candidates who've put their hand up and give them
the opportunity to speak to you, our listeners, and well
you the opportunity to learn a little bit more about
them and what they stand for. Now we're going to
kick things off this morning with the Greens candidate Suki
Doris Walker. Good morning to Yasuki.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
It's lovely to have you on the show now, Suki,
why did you decide to put your hand up to run? Katie?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I absolutely love this community. My youngest took her first
steps on the foreshore and my family's built our life
here in Darwin I think this is an incredible place
to live and I want to make it even better.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Do you live in the electorate, because that is a
question that we get asked very regularly. Oh sorry, your
microphot has just fallen off. Do you live in the electorate.
That's something that we ask everybody that resolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
So I live on Ryland Road, just across the road
near the Rapid Creek Markets.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Okay, Now, what do you see as being the major
issues in the electorate.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yah. So we've door knocked the whole electorate in less
than three weeks. We've had a phenomenal effort. I've been
door knocking every night and I've spoken to so many people.
What's come up? I mean lots of issues have come up,
but I would say a huge one is cost of living. Yeah,
particularly with renters, they're feeling a lot of rental stress.
Community safety has come up a lot, particularly around the
local shops, and the environment is something people care about
(01:45):
as well. And finally, people really want to see someone
in Parliament holding the territory government accountable.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Suki. The one that you did touch on there is safety. Now,
it's an issue that's been raised with us a lot.
It's a big one. What do you, well, what would
you do really as the local member to try and
sort the safety concerns of those in the electrics.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Yeah, I mean what we're really interested in is what works.
We've seen our prison population in the territory grow by
thirty percent over the last decade, and when I speak
to people, they say they feel more unsafe than ever.
We also know that more than half the people who
go to prison end up reoffending. So this constant attempt
to talk about building more prisons, actually we're not creating
long term safety for our community, and that's what we're
(02:26):
really interested in. As a teacher, I saw lots of
young kids coming to school trying to do the best
they can, but when they go home, they go home
to an overcrowded house, or domestic violence, or alcohol and
drug addiction, and those are the issues we really need
to address if we want our families in the territory
to thrive and we want community safety to be a
long term people to feel safe in the long term.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Do you think that the relocation of Saint Vinnie's into
the area has had a negative impact.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I think we desperately need more services for people experiencing homelessness,
and so you don't feel as though it's had an
issue when it comes to some of those safety concerns
that locals have. Gosh, I've certainly spoken to people who've
raised concerns with me, and I'm always really happy to
listen with them. I'm really happy to liaise with Vinni's
over these issues. I've been to Osenham House and I've
seen the incredible service they provide. People show up, they
(03:16):
can get their washing done, they can have a shower,
they can access center Link and other services while they
get a feed. And I have a lot of respect
for the work that Vinnie's has does, and I know
a lot of people in the community do too.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Suki. We do have a message that came through for
all of our for everybody who's put their hand up
regarding the Nightcliff by election. This person called through a
short time ago and told Kathleen, my producer, a story
of knowing a woman who was inside her home sick
and fast asleep on the sofa when four people broke
into the house searching for car keys. Understood them to
(03:51):
be armed, they broke in a second time to try
and find the keys again. This person wanting to know
do the candidates support castle laws or longer protections for
homeowners against home invasions as to being able to defend themselves,
and they're saying something needs to be done as nothing
is acting as a deterrent, especially against young people.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
First c, I think that's an incredibly terrifying experience for
that woman, and I just want to say that that's
absolutely awful to have experienced that. Again, I come back
to the fact that we need to look at what works.
This person's talking about stronger penalties. We're seeing stronger penalties
and people are not feeling safer. So we come back
to this the fact that if we do not address
(04:36):
the fact that people are we have the highest rates
of homelessness in the country, we have high rates of
domestic violence, we have alcohol and drug addiction on our streets.
That's what will make communities safer in the long term.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Some had contacted us yesterday after seeing vision of you
and Justine Davis trying to block police at the rally
on Friday. Do you think that was appropriate?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I was at a peaceful community gathering against the swearing
in of the administrator when Alarakia Elder was arrested. I
was standing with other community members peacefully calling for his
release when I was pushed.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
So you say you were pushed by the police.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Or when that footage came out. I won't sort of
cast say, you know, comment on it, but that footage
is from that moment.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Somebody else has just messaged through and said, Katie, can
you please ask u g if she's anti police? If so,
how is she going to support the electorate regarding crime
if she thinks that it's okay to interfere with police
during the course of their duties.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
This is a distraction from Leah's failed leadership on this
particular issue. The real issue is that she's continued to
stand by David Connolly's statements that are racist. They mock
domestic violence victims and they joke about rape drugs.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Do you support anti police and the work that they do?
Absolutely so, I guess because look, we're getting, like I'm
getting quite a few come through. People are obviously a
bit concerned about this. They're saying, you know that there
was barriers there. Can you please ask if you know
Suki supports the police. You know, why weren't you following directions?
You know it's obviously something that people are quite concerned
(06:08):
at me.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
How can I understand those concerns. I absolutely believe that
the police have a job to do.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Suki. Some listening this morning, you know I might look
and go. Will you've protested against gas and mining conferences
as well? Are you concerned that you have a reputation
as an agitator?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I think the reputation I have is as someone who
has the courage to stand up for my community, and
I absolutely intend to take those qualities with me to
Parliament House.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Spud's message through He's got a question for both today's candidates.
He wants to know, are you going to raise in
Parliament the war in Palestine?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I so the Greens and I stand against the genocide
that's happening in Palestine, and I will continue to do that.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Suki, why should people vote for you?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I am someone who has the energy, the passion and
the commitment to deliver for the people of Nightcliff. I'm
really committed to my community. I love my commune and
I have the drive to make sure that I deliver
for the people of Nightcliff, Rapid Creek and coconut growth.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
And to anybody listening this morning, that might be thinking,
you know, why should I vote Green again when Cat
didn't last the four years? What would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
It's a great question. I've a first see Cat resigned
for health reasons, and what I'm hearing when I do
not the electorate is people are feeling really proud of
what we achieved as a Green electorate in the time
that Kat was there, and they're really keen to keep
it green. And we are the only party out there
who are advocating to hold the major parties accountable for
(07:37):
a livable climate in Darwin, for safe and thriving communities,
and we really want to stand up for renters as
well well.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Green's candidate Suki Doris Walker, Actually, before I let you go,
who are you preferencing? What are you doing with your preferences?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
So first, our voters preferences are theirs to give. We
have a how to vote card that says one Suki,
one Tsuki, that's an important one. Two feel Scott, three
Labor and for Colp.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Well, Suki Doris Walker, really appreciate your time this morning.
Thank you for joining us on the show.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Thanks so much, Katie.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Thank you Sorry about that microphone, it's moving around, I'll
make sure I get that sortied. Thank you.
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