Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Northern Territory Opposition is calling for the Attorney General
Marie Claire Boothby to stand down after failing to publicly
declare a conflict of interest regarding a driver sentenced over
a fatal hit and run in Darwin. Twenty four year
old Jake Danby, a relative of Miss Boothby, was last
week's sentence for striking two Aboriginal pedestrians and fleeing the
(00:23):
scene in June last year, with one victim dying in hospital. Now,
the court heard Danby sent text messages to friends after
the crash, calling the victims dogs and oxygen thieves. I
gotta tell you it's hard for me to even read
that out. I'm so disgusted by those messages now. At
(00:43):
a press conference last Thursday, Miss Boothby was asked whether
danbye sentence of a twelvemonth community corrections order was adequate,
but she didn't declare he was her sister's step son. Now.
On Friday, Miss Boothby issued a statement confirming her relationship today,
saying she's not been involved in the matter, which she
(01:03):
declared to Leofanocchio at the time of the crash. The
opposition reckon the colp's integrity is in tatters and they're
calling on the Attorney General to resign. The Opposition spokesperson, well,
the opposition Attorney General joins me on the line, Chancey
pay good morning to you, Chancey.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Good a, Katie, Now, what.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Questions do you want answered by the Northern Territories Attorney
General and indeed by the government at this point.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Oh look, Katie, I think it's really important. We're talking
about the Attorney General. That's the territory's first law officer.
There is an absolute mandate that that position must meet
the highest standards of integrity and transparency. So to have
the Attorney General step out at a press conference last
Thursday front Media talk about it matter that she has
(01:57):
a direct relationship to and fail to disclose that is
disgraceful and we absolutely are calling on the COLP to
take appropriate action. They promised Katie to be open, transparent
and accountable and they have failed time and time again
to disclose and declare that important relationship that the Attorney
(02:20):
General has with the accused.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
She's come out now and she said that her sister's
stepsum was involved in the June twenty twenty four incident.
The subject of which has now gone through the courts.
She says, at no time have I or my office
been involved in the matter, either in opposition or upon
change of government, and at the time of the crash,
she immediately declared the incident to the opposition leader for
(02:46):
the CLP in order to follow due process. She says,
I've never attempted to hide the fact that the driver
was an extended family member. At all times, I've acted
with integrity in carrying out my functions as the Attorney General.
I mean, I think the really simple thing to have
done here would have been to either issue a statement
(03:08):
after that sentencing, or even pre that sentencing, or even
when she was in opposition, but at the very least
actually declare it at the press conference which was held.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah. Look, Katie, you're absolutely right on the money there.
Let's be clear. She hasn't done what she has said
she's done. She failed to disclose that relationship. She attended
a press conference, spoke about the matter, didn't declare it,
and then you've got the you know, the Deputy Chief Minister,
who you know, was very wobbly in media yesterday trying
(03:41):
to defend the Attorney General Katie when We're talking about
the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Minister, and both
of those positions knowing about it and again keeping it secret.
They're not everyday territorians, you know. Yeah, they might have
known about it for well, the Deputy Chief Minister for
three weeks. The Chief Minister knew about it since they
(04:03):
were in opposition. They're not everyday people. Everyday territorians absolutely
have a right to know this important information. And we
have an Attorney General who has ducked and weaved and
failed to disclose, and has only done so when she's
been caught out by the media in the territory.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
The Attorney General did say it would be appropriate for
the DPP to review Danby's sentence in light of this.
I mean, do you still think she should resign? She
obviously believes that it does need to be reviewed. I
mean too, I'm assuming that maybe she also doesn't believe
that this sentence was adequate. I mean, does that change
(04:43):
your thinking in any way.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Let's be clear that she's only coming out now because
she's been caught out by the Territories media around this issue,
and she's tried to hide it for some time. Look,
the DPP have the ability to review and appeal any matter.
That's something that they need to do independently, and I'm
sure they have worked through that process. When it comes
(05:09):
to the attorney general, what we need in an attorney
General is someone who is open, transparent and accountable, and
the current Northern Territory Attorney General is far from that.
We have seen her attend press conferences, fail to declare
her relationship with this matter, and then a day later
come out and have to respond because she's been caught out.
(05:31):
That's not what we expect from the territory's first law officer.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Chancey. Look, it's not lost on me that it also
came to light, you know, when you were in government
that held met cash shares at a time when alcohol
restrictions were due to lapse in Central Australia and you
didn't resign. So why should the Attorney General, who has
said or she reckons she's declared this incident at the time,
you know, resign. I mean, I know the very different situations,
(05:58):
but there was a lot of criticism on you at
that point in time too.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Look understand it, Katie, there's a big difference here, Katie.
I've always disclosed and my matters were publicly available on
the Members Register's Interest available at any time for the
last few years. The Attorney General, on the other hand,
has failed to disclose anything to the public and kept
it secret. She stood up at press conferences spoke about it,
(06:23):
but chose not to tell the truth and failed to
declare her relationship. That's what we're talking about here right
now is had our hardworking media organizations not pressed her
and called her out, she would have never disclosed the truth,
and she would have continued to work in secret and
hide it from the public.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
There's no accusation here that she has had a hand
in that sentencing or in the judge's decision, though in
any way is there no Look.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Let's be clear, there are two issues here. One there
is the court process. There is the decisions. There's the
appeals that all needs to continue to work independently of
the arm of government. What the issue is here is
the Attorney General, who is supposed to be the first
law officer, supposed to honor the foundations and the principles
(07:15):
of the law, failed to disclose her relationship. What that
says to people in the public is do we have
confidence in our first law officer being open, transparent and accountable. Well,
it's really hard to have trust in someone who cannot
disclose issues. And you know what, Katie, this is where
(07:37):
we should just basic rule of thumb. If you are unsure,
declare whether it's a real, perceived or actual conflict. The
best thing to do is to just declare it, because
then you remove any questionable area of doubt.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah. Look, I don't understand why at that press conference,
you know, when it was held, she didn't just when
she got asked a question just say, Look, I would
actually like to just let you all know that I
need to declare a conflict of interest here. I've in
no way had a hand in any of the decision making.
You know, Bart, this person is my sister's stepson, and
(08:16):
I think that Territorians have a right to know that.
I actually think, you know that she should have stood
up at that press conference and been really clear with
people right from the word go. She hasn't done that. Chancey,
I do want to ask you though, in terms of
the sentence that was handed down, do you think that
was adequate?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Look, Katie, I think I'm absolutely mindful. As a former
Atturney myself, I don't want to say anything that will
prejudice the appeal process. I think that needs to be
undertaken first and then we can have conversations about it.
But you know, that is a matter that the DPP
I believe have lodged an appeal and will seek where
(08:57):
that goes from there. But certainly I don't want to
pregure anything can provide my commentary on whether it was
not enough or enough.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Yeah, look, totally understand what you're saying. I guess for
me in this studio, it's one of a number of,
you know, sentences that we've seen over recent months, over
the last couple of years, that a lot of Territorians
don't feel is adequate. I mean, even looking back just
a few days and going through a report in the
NT News where a man convicted of fracturing a baby's
(09:27):
skull is going to return to the town where he
committed the crime after being ordered to spend twelve hours
a week working on a project while in the community.
So the man now eighteen, was seventeen when he swung
a metal fridge handle as we know, and struck Nicole
Sequenza when she was holding her eight week old baby.
During that horrific home invasion. Now even looking at that,
(09:51):
I mean spending twelve hours a week working on a
project while in the community. You know, to me, that
is another situation that I I look at and I
scratch my heat, as I do with this twelve month
corrections community corrections order for a life that's been lost.
You know, I do feel as though we're missing the
balance here in some ways.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Yeah, Look, Katie, I think you've raised really important points
and I think what we do need to see here
is when these sentences are handed down, I think that
there's a piece that's missing here, and that is about
how the judiciary has reached those decisions. So, you know,
I certainly respect the rule of law. I certainly respect
(10:35):
the judiciary, but I think what we do need to
see in the public is a bit more of a
communication and education piece. You know, why have you reached
this decision and how have you reached this decision? Because
often we just hear this is the sentence. Well, okay,
talk to me about how we got to this moment
and why has this decision been made. I certainly think
(10:58):
that that's a piece of work that all members of
the Parliament can be working on. To look at how
we can get some of that changed so that we
all can understand how decisions are made and on what
basis they're made.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Well, Chancey Paike, who holds the Shadow Attorney General portfolio
for the Labor Party, really appreciate your time this morning.
Thanks so much for joining.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Us, No no worries, Katie, and I hope you and
your listeners have a good day you too.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Thank you
The Northern Territory Opposition is calling for the Attorney General
Marie Claire Boothby to stand down after failing to publicly
declare a conflict of interest regarding a driver sentenced over
a fatal hit and run in Darwin. Twenty four year
old Jake Danby, a relative of Miss Boothby, was last
week's sentence for striking two Aboriginal pedestrians and fleeing the
(00:23):
scene in June last year, with one victim dying in hospital. Now,
the court heard Danby sent text messages to friends after
the crash, calling the victims dogs and oxygen thieves. I
gotta tell you it's hard for me to even read
that out. I'm so disgusted by those messages now. At
(00:43):
a press conference last Thursday, Miss Boothby was asked whether
danbye sentence of a twelvemonth community corrections order was adequate,
but she didn't declare he was her sister's step son. Now.
On Friday, Miss Boothby issued a statement confirming her relationship today,
saying she's not been involved in the matter, which she
(01:03):
declared to Leofanocchio at the time of the crash. The
opposition reckon the colp's integrity is in tatters and they're
calling on the Attorney General to resign. The Opposition spokesperson, well,
the opposition Attorney General joins me on the line, Chancey
pay good morning to you, Chancey.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Good a, Katie, Now, what.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Questions do you want answered by the Northern Territories Attorney
General and indeed by the government at this point.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Oh look, Katie, I think it's really important. We're talking
about the Attorney General. That's the territory's first law officer.
There is an absolute mandate that that position must meet
the highest standards of integrity and transparency. So to have
the Attorney General step out at a press conference last
Thursday front Media talk about it matter that she has
(01:57):
a direct relationship to and fail to disclose that is
disgraceful and we absolutely are calling on the COLP to
take appropriate action. They promised Katie to be open, transparent
and accountable and they have failed time and time again
to disclose and declare that important relationship that the Attorney
(02:20):
General has with the accused.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
She's come out now and she said that her sister's
stepsum was involved in the June twenty twenty four incident.
The subject of which has now gone through the courts.
She says, at no time have I or my office
been involved in the matter, either in opposition or upon
change of government, and at the time of the crash,
she immediately declared the incident to the opposition leader for
(02:46):
the CLP in order to follow due process. She says,
I've never attempted to hide the fact that the driver
was an extended family member. At all times, I've acted
with integrity in carrying out my functions as the Attorney General.
I mean, I think the really simple thing to have
done here would have been to either issue a statement
(03:08):
after that sentencing, or even pre that sentencing, or even
when she was in opposition, but at the very least
actually declare it at the press conference which was held.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah. Look, Katie, you're absolutely right on the money there.
Let's be clear. She hasn't done what she has said
she's done. She failed to disclose that relationship. She attended
a press conference, spoke about the matter, didn't declare it,
and then you've got the you know, the Deputy Chief Minister,
who you know, was very wobbly in media yesterday trying
(03:41):
to defend the Attorney General Katie when We're talking about
the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Minister, and both
of those positions knowing about it and again keeping it secret.
They're not everyday territorians, you know. Yeah, they might have
known about it for well, the Deputy Chief Minister for
three weeks. The Chief Minister knew about it since they
(04:03):
were in opposition. They're not everyday people. Everyday territorians absolutely
have a right to know this important information. And we
have an Attorney General who has ducked and weaved and
failed to disclose, and has only done so when she's
been caught out by the media in the territory.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
The Attorney General did say it would be appropriate for
the DPP to review Danby's sentence in light of this.
I mean, do you still think she should resign? She
obviously believes that it does need to be reviewed. I
mean too, I'm assuming that maybe she also doesn't believe
that this sentence was adequate. I mean, does that change
(04:43):
your thinking in any way.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Let's be clear that she's only coming out now because
she's been caught out by the Territories media around this issue,
and she's tried to hide it for some time. Look,
the DPP have the ability to review and appeal any matter.
That's something that they need to do independently, and I'm
sure they have worked through that process. When it comes
(05:09):
to the attorney general, what we need in an attorney
General is someone who is open, transparent and accountable, and
the current Northern Territory Attorney General is far from that.
We have seen her attend press conferences, fail to declare
her relationship with this matter, and then a day later
come out and have to respond because she's been caught out.
(05:31):
That's not what we expect from the territory's first law officer.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Chancey. Look, it's not lost on me that it also
came to light, you know, when you were in government
that held met cash shares at a time when alcohol
restrictions were due to lapse in Central Australia and you
didn't resign. So why should the Attorney General, who has
said or she reckons she's declared this incident at the time,
you know, resign. I mean, I know the very different situations,
(05:58):
but there was a lot of criticism on you at
that point in time too.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Look understand it, Katie, there's a big difference here, Katie.
I've always disclosed and my matters were publicly available on
the Members Register's Interest available at any time for the
last few years. The Attorney General, on the other hand,
has failed to disclose anything to the public and kept
it secret. She stood up at press conferences spoke about it,
(06:23):
but chose not to tell the truth and failed to
declare her relationship. That's what we're talking about here right
now is had our hardworking media organizations not pressed her
and called her out, she would have never disclosed the truth,
and she would have continued to work in secret and
hide it from the public.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
There's no accusation here that she has had a hand
in that sentencing or in the judge's decision, though in
any way is there no Look.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Let's be clear, there are two issues here. One there
is the court process. There is the decisions. There's the
appeals that all needs to continue to work independently of
the arm of government. What the issue is here is
the Attorney General, who is supposed to be the first
law officer, supposed to honor the foundations and the principles
(07:15):
of the law, failed to disclose her relationship. What that
says to people in the public is do we have
confidence in our first law officer being open, transparent and accountable. Well,
it's really hard to have trust in someone who cannot
disclose issues. And you know what, Katie, this is where
(07:37):
we should just basic rule of thumb. If you are unsure,
declare whether it's a real, perceived or actual conflict. The
best thing to do is to just declare it, because
then you remove any questionable area of doubt.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah. Look, I don't understand why at that press conference,
you know, when it was held, she didn't just when
she got asked a question just say, Look, I would
actually like to just let you all know that I
need to declare a conflict of interest here. I've in
no way had a hand in any of the decision making.
You know, Bart, this person is my sister's stepson, and
(08:16):
I think that Territorians have a right to know that.
I actually think, you know that she should have stood
up at that press conference and been really clear with
people right from the word go. She hasn't done that. Chancey,
I do want to ask you though, in terms of
the sentence that was handed down, do you think that
was adequate?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Look, Katie, I think I'm absolutely mindful. As a former
Atturney myself, I don't want to say anything that will
prejudice the appeal process. I think that needs to be
undertaken first and then we can have conversations about it.
But you know, that is a matter that the DPP
I believe have lodged an appeal and will seek where
(08:57):
that goes from there. But certainly I don't want to
pregure anything can provide my commentary on whether it was
not enough or enough.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Yeah, look, totally understand what you're saying. I guess for
me in this studio, it's one of a number of,
you know, sentences that we've seen over recent months, over
the last couple of years, that a lot of Territorians
don't feel is adequate. I mean, even looking back just
a few days and going through a report in the
NT News where a man convicted of fracturing a baby's
(09:27):
skull is going to return to the town where he
committed the crime after being ordered to spend twelve hours
a week working on a project while in the community.
So the man now eighteen, was seventeen when he swung
a metal fridge handle as we know, and struck Nicole
Sequenza when she was holding her eight week old baby.
During that horrific home invasion. Now even looking at that,
(09:51):
I mean spending twelve hours a week working on a
project while in the community. You know, to me, that
is another situation that I I look at and I
scratch my heat, as I do with this twelve month
corrections community corrections order for a life that's been lost.
You know, I do feel as though we're missing the
balance here in some ways.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Yeah, Look, Katie, I think you've raised really important points
and I think what we do need to see here
is when these sentences are handed down, I think that
there's a piece that's missing here, and that is about
how the judiciary has reached those decisions. So, you know,
I certainly respect the rule of law. I certainly respect
(10:35):
the judiciary, but I think what we do need to
see in the public is a bit more of a
communication and education piece. You know, why have you reached
this decision and how have you reached this decision? Because
often we just hear this is the sentence. Well, okay,
talk to me about how we got to this moment
and why has this decision been made. I certainly think
(10:58):
that that's a piece of work that all members of
the Parliament can be working on. To look at how
we can get some of that changed so that we
all can understand how decisions are made and on what
basis they're made.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Well, Chancey Paike, who holds the Shadow Attorney General portfolio
for the Labor Party, really appreciate your time this morning.
Thanks so much for joining.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Us, No no worries, Katie, and I hope you and
your listeners have a good day you too.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Thank you
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.