Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining me on the line right now is Marian Scrimjaw,
Labour's member for Lingiari.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Good morning to you, Marian, Good morning Katie. Thanks so
much for your time.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Now, Marian, you've made headlines this morning in the Australian
newspaper for saying, well, I'm going to be honest, what
a lot of Territorians are thinking right now. You've said
that youth justice laws need to stop treating criminal minors
as little angels and start applying tough love to lawless children. Marian,
(00:31):
what led you to make these comments?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Well, look, I think Katie, it's not about saying that
we need to turn our backs and just lock all
these kids up. What it's saying to both the federal
government but also the Northern Territory. The Federal government's put
a lot of funding and resources into Central Australia, but
(00:55):
we need to work with the Northern Territory government to
look at how do we put in place, you know,
like we've got to. We can't keep talking about this
issue when people are feeling unsafe in their homes and
you know a lot of this stuff is getting unchecked.
It's not the fault of police. Like police, I think
(01:17):
just as under resource and under pressure to deliver. I
think that there's got to be a whole rethink and
of working together between the Northern Territory and the federal
government to look at family responsibility agreements, which I've talked
about previous locati. You know, like we've got to stop
(01:38):
talking about this self and getting some action happening. And
I suppose you know, my thoughts came on the end
of you know, it was weeks of despite a lot
of investment by the Comwealth governments, we are still seeing
these issues flare up in Alice Springs but also central Australia.
(02:02):
It's not just you know, and I often say to people,
it's not just about Alice Sprains. Use issues right across
the Northern Territory needs a real rethink because you know,
there are some emerging issues that are happening right across
Australia and I think the Northern Territory is no different.
(02:25):
We're not quarantine from that, we're a small population. Surely
we all need to come together and look at what
solutions need to be put in place, and not be
afraid to call out bad behavior, but to look at
why is that behavior happening? And let's deal with it.
(02:46):
Let's not think that it's okay for you know, this
to go unchecked or unabated, and people should feel upsafe.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Marion, I want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
We just caught up with Bill Yan a short time ago.
He actually revealed and he said it's not something that
he wanted to really talk about publicly, but he actually
ended up in a situation about three weeks ago where
he was set upon by a group of kids. They
had rocks, they had sticks, one had a steel bar
and an ankle bracelet on while he was rendering assistance,
(03:18):
I believe to people nearby.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I also know.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
That you've revealed to the Australian newspaper that your home
was broken into while you were sleeping last month.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And I mean, tell me what happened.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
To you firstly in this instance of your home being
broken into.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Yeah, look, Katie, what was really frightening was that I
had my grandson down visiting from Darwin and it was
lucky that he locked the door from the inside because
they'd broken into my hat were my husband and I
we were sleep in the other rooms. I didn't hear them.
They'd come in through the back door. They'd searched through
the house, and obviously they were looking for keys and
(03:58):
money and other things. They went out and they went
around to the main bedroom and they'd cracked the window,
so they were coming through our bedroom windows. And it
was only that I because I was fuss and I
don't know, maybe someone was watching over me, but I
heard it whispering, and so I opened my eyes and
(04:20):
I had a look on the wall where the curtain
was opened a bus and I could see, you know,
the outline of the person near the windows, and they'd
already smashed the window, and I sort of poked my
husband said, I can't someone trying to break into the house,
and he jumped up. We came outside. They'd run out,
(04:44):
but it was there, and then we stopped. And then
when we realized that they'd been in the house, you know,
I checked on my grandson, you know, in the room
that he was sleeping in, and we looked outside and
we could see where they've prized open. They've used, you know,
a thing to come in through the back door. Now,
(05:06):
you know, every night in our spread tis you know,
I've been finding it really hard to sleep, and part
of it is and I think that's how a lot
of people are feeling cases that you know, that people
that inability to sleep because people are scared that you know,
the the home invasions and people, you know, these young
(05:27):
people coming in, you know, coming into your personal space
is quite a frightening thing to experience it, you know,
Like Bil, we know these kids need we know these
kids need help, and we need to we need to
get that happening. We need to have and I've advocated before,
(05:50):
we've got to have safe and secure facilities, not boarding facilities.
We've got to have somewhere where we can take these
kids too. But we've got to have some way in
which to tie parents to this because governments, whilst they
can do the first step, we've got to make sure
(06:11):
that families take responsibilities for there.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You know, yeah, does he need to be does he
need to be quarantining of welfare? Does he need to
be some kind of change here where if you are
not looking after your child adequately, if you are not
making sure that they're going to school, that I don't know,
does he need to be some kind of change to welfare?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Well, income management didn't cease in the Northern Territory. We
still have that in play. In the Northern Territory so
to June or in other places where the Indue card
or the castiscepic card was removed, in the Northern Territory
that still applies. So you know, I just think that
(06:59):
all of this needs to be wrapped around a Family
and Responsibility agreement. Now, whilst everyone points the finger at police,
I think that there's got to be a look at
and a review of the role of Territory Families because
they are the one agency that charted with the care
(07:22):
and protection of young people. And I think that with
the Commonwealth Department of Social Services, some of this can
all be wrapped together to try and get a better
outcome than what's happening at the moment, brother than everyone
standing separately. And that's why I'm saying the Commonwealth and
the Northern Territory need to work together urgently and in
(07:46):
an open, transparent way to try and deal with this.
So I've been talking about this now, you know, katie'een
months I've been a member, and you know, it keeps
people keep saying no, we don't need a commission, No
we don't need this, or you know, if people are
saying no we don't need this well, what is it that.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
We need exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Nobody is coming back and saying, well, this is what
because more of the same isn't working. And I fear
for these little ones. These kids need help. It's not
about chucking them in don Dale. I don't advocate criminalizations
and chucking these kids in jail, but something does need
(08:27):
to give here, Marion. I want to take it to
I'm going to go that way.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Yeah, sorry, I want to take it to an incident
that happened up here in the top End just a
couple of days ago.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Right, we're in a situation where we were.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Reporting that a car had been carjack Now, the info
came through them from the police, and and it's alleged
that a group of four youths that they put a
bike in the middle of the road. So a good
Samaritan's pulled up to move that bike. As that good
Samaritan's gone to move that bike, they were ambushed by
(09:01):
this group of kids with a machete who then stole
his car. Now, I spoke to the Northern Territory Police
about it yesterday, and and one of those kids was
eleven years old. Allegedly, we don't know the ages of
the others. But I asked the Northern Territory Acting Deputy
(09:21):
Police Commissioner Martin Dole, who you.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Know, was really honest about it.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
How you know what the process is then for these
kids getting bailed. Just take a listen to what Martin
Dole had to say yesterday on the show. How is
it sort of determined then, whether you know, the three
that were there are obviously of an age where they
are actually able to be charged, How is it then
determined whether they get.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Bail or not.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
So bail considerations are guided by the the there's two
parts of the legislation. There's the Youth Justice and Considerations
and then there's the Bail Act. So these stringent conditions
that we have to abide by when we're considering that bail.
And that's what would have occurred in these circumstances. So
I don't have the details whether or not they were,
at least with electronic monitoring, what the bail conditions were,
(10:07):
but there's strict guidelines that our police officers go through
before they make that determination.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Look, I know I can preempt people listening to the
show this morning going how on earth can you ambush
someone with a machete and then end up on bail.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Yes, I know, and I hear those concerns of the public, Katie,
but we work within the legislation parameters that we've got,
and our guys and girls are out there making sure
that these offenders are held accountable and are put before
the course.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
So Marion, that was Martin Dole on the show yesterday,
and I'm with you, like, I don't think we need
to chuck every kid in jail.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
That's not what I'm suggesting.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
But we've got a situation where four kids and bush
someone with a machete. The eleven year old's taken home
to a responsible parent, the other three obviously out on bailock.
What do you make of that whole situation.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Yeah, look, I think Katie, and I agree with Martin.
I think you know, they police and prosecutors and everyone
does everything for the letter of the law and the legislation.
So you know, the Chief Minister Eva, I think you know,
(11:16):
I fully support Eva and what she's trying to do here.
I've said to her that I think the youth just
is that as well as the care and protection of
young people need to be tweeked and we need to
look at well, if the sentencing and the bail, you know,
(11:37):
if so for if someone is going to be bailed,
where do they get bailed to? And that's the issue
is that you know, they don't just get bailed out
on the streets. But we've got to have these we've
got to have safe and secure facilities, not don Dale,
but places where we can take young people too and
(12:00):
work can start being done with them. Now, there are
some kids that are just going to completely fall through
all of that, Katie, that they're not going to respond
to any sort of treatmental care, and they will just
stay on that trajectory of, you know, with a life
(12:20):
of crime and they'll end up in jail. But there's
a lot of these kids. You can divers them and
the police used to run a fantastic diversion program and
that was well resourced, and there's a lot of kids
in communities and around the territory that used to be
diverted away from a life of crime. Now that takes
(12:41):
money and resources and people and we've but we've got
to start somewhere and the legislation has to be able
to reflect that.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Marion, do you think the raising of the criminal age
has helped in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Look, I think that that you know, everyone it's a
you know, a simplistic thing for everyone to think that
the raising the age of criminal responsibility is the problem,
But it's not, Katie. Look, I think when that was
put in place, what should have been complimented and they've
(13:19):
got it in the Act and other places. When that happened,
they had all of the programs and facilities stepped up
before that legislation went into Parliament.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Well, and that is what Chancey Peig told us was
going to happen. Chancey peg had told us that that
was indeed what was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
But it doesn't feel like it has.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Yeah. Look, and I think that we've got to all
work together to make this happen. Now, you know, we
can't keep saying because the federal government and this is
where I'm taking this up internally in the federal government, yep, Katie,
is that whilst we've put a lot of funding on
the table, I want to know what the outcome is
(14:03):
of you know, the department that is charged with implementing
this with the Northern Teritory government. Have we done that?
So it's not just the Northern Territory government that's at
fault here. Have we done the right thing in terms
of the Commonwealth? Have we whilst the funding is there
in those agencies, have we finalized those agreements and made
(14:27):
sure that those programs are rolling out? And that's my
concern and that's something that certainly I will take up
because I don't think that this is all the Northern
Territory at faulty and I need to have a look
at kids. Have we have our Commonwealth's agencies actually you know,
(14:47):
rolled out this program appropriately.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Marion.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
You know, like you said before, you and I have spoken.
We've spoken on so many occasions about this issue. You
have been speaking about it since you were elected, speak
about it every single.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Day on the show. It is by far and beyond the.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Biggest issue on Territorian's minds, that issue of crime and safety.
What can happen like today to try and make some
change here, because you know, the Northern Territory government is saying, okay, well,
we are going to be reviewing the Youth Justice Act,
but that's going to have that's going to take.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Until the end of this year.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
People don't have until the end of this year, like
they've had a gutfull.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Yeah, and we're and we're losing a lot of people
from their territory. You know, this is a good place
to live and work and raise a family, Katie, you
know that, and that's just not been for me. I've
lived here all my life. Yep, You've you've you've you've
brought up and you you're raising your kids as well.
You know, like it's a good place and we've got
(15:51):
to we've got to deal with some of these issues.
And I think I think across Australia there is an
issue with youth across the boards. And I actually think
that you know, federally, we could probably show some leadership
and looking at how do we get how do we
(16:12):
get you know, discussions happen, you know, we need to
pull and it's not you know, this is out of
my ray way. This is the Prime Minister and other ministers.
But I actually think that there has to be you know,
some some bringing together of everybody, you know, because there's
a problem right across the board. I was talking to
(16:33):
the member who sits in Townsville and he was saying
it's anarchy and he says, but he did say to me,
it's not just Aboriginal kids marrit Yeah, it's you know,
there are non Aboriginal youth that are running a mark
as well. So you know, obviously each day in territory
are facing challenges in terms of youth and the problems
(16:53):
associated with that. I'm you know, I think the Northern
Territory we could lead the way with some of this
has been innovative, you know, programs and processes. There was
innovative legislation that was put before in terms of and
contemporary under the Care and Protection I think that both
the Youth Justice Act and the Care and Protection Act
(17:18):
there can be amendments made which would put us on
a path of trying to deal with some of these
issues now and into the future. Katie. And that's something
that legislators need to come together with the Chief Minister,
because I know that Eva has a commitment and she
(17:38):
wants to get this happening. We all want to fix
up what's happening in Catherine and Tennant, you know, and
in and around Darwin. I had a friend whose house
was ransacked the other day in Darwen. So you know,
we've just got to deal with these issues and stop
you know, making excuses. But I'll have a chat with
(18:00):
the Chief Minister. I've talked to the Attorney General Northern
Territory Attorney General this morning. I just think we've got
to you know, like there's got sittings coming up. There's
things that can be done in terms of legislation that
I think needs to come forward.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Marion, Are you gonna have a chat to the Prime
Minister about this as well?
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Look, I'm heading down to Camber on Saturday, Katie.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
As always.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
You know, I have a good relationship with people in
the Prime Minister's office and you know I'll have those
discussions with him, that with Linda and with MELANDERI as well,
and with Luke Gobbling. You know, as a territory contingent,
we we have a lot of conversations. We are concerned
(18:46):
and we'll all talk, you know, we we will come
together when I when we get down there, to look
at what do we need to do in the interest
of the territory.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Yeah, something's got to happen. Something has seriously got to change.
I mean to put it really blunty, and I know
that you know this, but people are literally begging for
that change, Marion, and they're feeling like the Northern territory
government isn't going to deliver it. And so when you know,
when you make comments like you have today, they're looking
at you and thinking, please help.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Us, So we do have to. It is almost like
we've clichaped the territory Katie and make sure that people
feel safe. Yeah, that's what this is all about. It's
not about marine screen during grandstanding, and that's you know,
like everyone is entitled to feel safe, to be in
(19:41):
your car, driving wherever. You shouldn't have to pull up
and have your car hijacked or you know, your home invaders.
Everyone needs to feel safe, and that's what we've got
to get to. But we've got to get some support
to these young people, you know, I think that's what
we've got. We've got to there's a level of lawlessness
(20:03):
out there, but is it because those young people are
calling out for help? I, you know, like I, you know,
sometimes I'm the rest of you know some of this too, Katie.
I can think what's the answers here?
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, Marian, I really appreciate you having your chat.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
As always.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
I appreciate your honesty and the fact that you speak
frankly and you don't always say exactly what your party
probably wants to hear, but you know what, people respect that.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Thank you very much for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Thanks Katie, thank you
Joining me on the line right now is Marian Scrimjaw,
Labour's member for Lingiari.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Good morning to you, Marian, Good morning Katie. Thanks so
much for your time.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Now, Marian, you've made headlines this morning in the Australian
newspaper for saying, well, I'm going to be honest, what
a lot of Territorians are thinking right now. You've said
that youth justice laws need to stop treating criminal minors
as little angels and start applying tough love to lawless children. Marian,
(00:31):
what led you to make these comments?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Well, look, I think Katie, it's not about saying that
we need to turn our backs and just lock all
these kids up. What it's saying to both the federal
government but also the Northern Territory. The Federal government's put
a lot of funding and resources into Central Australia, but
(00:55):
we need to work with the Northern Territory government to
look at how do we put in place, you know,
like we've got to. We can't keep talking about this
issue when people are feeling unsafe in their homes and
you know a lot of this stuff is getting unchecked.
It's not the fault of police. Like police, I think
(01:17):
just as under resource and under pressure to deliver. I
think that there's got to be a whole rethink and
of working together between the Northern Territory and the federal
government to look at family responsibility agreements, which I've talked
about previous locati. You know, like we've got to stop
(01:38):
talking about this self and getting some action happening. And
I suppose you know, my thoughts came on the end
of you know, it was weeks of despite a lot
of investment by the Comwealth governments, we are still seeing
these issues flare up in Alice Springs but also central Australia.
(02:02):
It's not just you know, and I often say to people,
it's not just about Alice Sprains. Use issues right across
the Northern Territory needs a real rethink because you know,
there are some emerging issues that are happening right across
Australia and I think the Northern Territory is no different.
(02:25):
We're not quarantine from that, we're a small population. Surely
we all need to come together and look at what
solutions need to be put in place, and not be
afraid to call out bad behavior, but to look at
why is that behavior happening? And let's deal with it.
(02:46):
Let's not think that it's okay for you know, this
to go unchecked or unabated, and people should feel upsafe.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Marion, I want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
We just caught up with Bill Yan a short time ago.
He actually revealed and he said it's not something that
he wanted to really talk about publicly, but he actually
ended up in a situation about three weeks ago where
he was set upon by a group of kids. They
had rocks, they had sticks, one had a steel bar
and an ankle bracelet on while he was rendering assistance,
(03:18):
I believe to people nearby.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I also know.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
That you've revealed to the Australian newspaper that your home
was broken into while you were sleeping last month.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And I mean, tell me what happened.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
To you firstly in this instance of your home being
broken into.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Yeah, look, Katie, what was really frightening was that I
had my grandson down visiting from Darwin and it was
lucky that he locked the door from the inside because
they'd broken into my hat were my husband and I
we were sleep in the other rooms. I didn't hear them.
They'd come in through the back door. They'd searched through
the house, and obviously they were looking for keys and
(03:58):
money and other things. They went out and they went
around to the main bedroom and they'd cracked the window,
so they were coming through our bedroom windows. And it
was only that I because I was fuss and I
don't know, maybe someone was watching over me, but I
heard it whispering, and so I opened my eyes and
(04:20):
I had a look on the wall where the curtain
was opened a bus and I could see, you know,
the outline of the person near the windows, and they'd
already smashed the window, and I sort of poked my
husband said, I can't someone trying to break into the house,
and he jumped up. We came outside. They'd run out,
(04:44):
but it was there, and then we stopped. And then
when we realized that they'd been in the house, you know,
I checked on my grandson, you know, in the room
that he was sleeping in, and we looked outside and
we could see where they've prized open. They've used, you know,
a thing to come in through the back door. Now,
(05:06):
you know, every night in our spread tis you know,
I've been finding it really hard to sleep, and part
of it is and I think that's how a lot
of people are feeling cases that you know, that people
that inability to sleep because people are scared that you know,
the the home invasions and people, you know, these young
(05:27):
people coming in, you know, coming into your personal space
is quite a frightening thing to experience it, you know,
Like Bil, we know these kids need we know these
kids need help, and we need to we need to
get that happening. We need to have and I've advocated before,
(05:50):
we've got to have safe and secure facilities, not boarding facilities.
We've got to have somewhere where we can take these
kids too. But we've got to have some way in
which to tie parents to this because governments, whilst they
can do the first step, we've got to make sure
(06:11):
that families take responsibilities for there.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You know, yeah, does he need to be does he
need to be quarantining of welfare? Does he need to
be some kind of change here where if you are
not looking after your child adequately, if you are not
making sure that they're going to school, that I don't know,
does he need to be some kind of change to welfare?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Well, income management didn't cease in the Northern Territory. We
still have that in play. In the Northern Territory so
to June or in other places where the Indue card
or the castiscepic card was removed, in the Northern Territory
that still applies. So you know, I just think that
(06:59):
all of this needs to be wrapped around a Family
and Responsibility agreement. Now, whilst everyone points the finger at police,
I think that there's got to be a look at
and a review of the role of Territory Families because
they are the one agency that charted with the care
(07:22):
and protection of young people. And I think that with
the Commonwealth Department of Social Services, some of this can
all be wrapped together to try and get a better
outcome than what's happening at the moment, brother than everyone
standing separately. And that's why I'm saying the Commonwealth and
the Northern Territory need to work together urgently and in
(07:46):
an open, transparent way to try and deal with this.
So I've been talking about this now, you know, katie'een
months I've been a member, and you know, it keeps
people keep saying no, we don't need a commission, No
we don't need this, or you know, if people are
saying no we don't need this well, what is it that.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
We need exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Nobody is coming back and saying, well, this is what
because more of the same isn't working. And I fear
for these little ones. These kids need help. It's not
about chucking them in don Dale. I don't advocate criminalizations
and chucking these kids in jail, but something does need
(08:27):
to give here, Marion. I want to take it to
I'm going to go that way.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Yeah, sorry, I want to take it to an incident
that happened up here in the top End just a
couple of days ago.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Right, we're in a situation where we were.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Reporting that a car had been carjack Now, the info
came through them from the police, and and it's alleged
that a group of four youths that they put a
bike in the middle of the road. So a good
Samaritan's pulled up to move that bike. As that good
Samaritan's gone to move that bike, they were ambushed by
(09:01):
this group of kids with a machete who then stole
his car. Now, I spoke to the Northern Territory Police
about it yesterday, and and one of those kids was
eleven years old. Allegedly, we don't know the ages of
the others. But I asked the Northern Territory Acting Deputy
(09:21):
Police Commissioner Martin Dole, who you.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Know, was really honest about it.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
How you know what the process is then for these
kids getting bailed. Just take a listen to what Martin
Dole had to say yesterday on the show. How is
it sort of determined then, whether you know, the three
that were there are obviously of an age where they
are actually able to be charged, How is it then
determined whether they get.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Bail or not.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
So bail considerations are guided by the the there's two
parts of the legislation. There's the Youth Justice and Considerations
and then there's the Bail Act. So these stringent conditions
that we have to abide by when we're considering that bail.
And that's what would have occurred in these circumstances. So
I don't have the details whether or not they were,
at least with electronic monitoring, what the bail conditions were,
(10:07):
but there's strict guidelines that our police officers go through
before they make that determination.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Look, I know I can preempt people listening to the
show this morning going how on earth can you ambush
someone with a machete and then end up on bail.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Yes, I know, and I hear those concerns of the public, Katie,
but we work within the legislation parameters that we've got,
and our guys and girls are out there making sure
that these offenders are held accountable and are put before
the course.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
So Marion, that was Martin Dole on the show yesterday,
and I'm with you, like, I don't think we need
to chuck every kid in jail.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
That's not what I'm suggesting.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
But we've got a situation where four kids and bush
someone with a machete. The eleven year old's taken home
to a responsible parent, the other three obviously out on bailock.
What do you make of that whole situation.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Yeah, look, I think Katie, and I agree with Martin.
I think you know, they police and prosecutors and everyone
does everything for the letter of the law and the legislation.
So you know, the Chief Minister Eva, I think you know,
(11:16):
I fully support Eva and what she's trying to do here.
I've said to her that I think the youth just
is that as well as the care and protection of
young people need to be tweeked and we need to
look at well, if the sentencing and the bail, you know,
(11:37):
if so for if someone is going to be bailed,
where do they get bailed to? And that's the issue
is that you know, they don't just get bailed out
on the streets. But we've got to have these we've
got to have safe and secure facilities, not don Dale,
but places where we can take young people too and
(12:00):
work can start being done with them. Now, there are
some kids that are just going to completely fall through
all of that, Katie, that they're not going to respond
to any sort of treatmental care, and they will just
stay on that trajectory of, you know, with a life
(12:20):
of crime and they'll end up in jail. But there's
a lot of these kids. You can divers them and
the police used to run a fantastic diversion program and
that was well resourced, and there's a lot of kids
in communities and around the territory that used to be
diverted away from a life of crime. Now that takes
(12:41):
money and resources and people and we've but we've got
to start somewhere and the legislation has to be able
to reflect that.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Marion, do you think the raising of the criminal age
has helped in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Look, I think that that you know, everyone it's a
you know, a simplistic thing for everyone to think that
the raising the age of criminal responsibility is the problem,
But it's not, Katie. Look, I think when that was
put in place, what should have been complimented and they've
(13:19):
got it in the Act and other places. When that happened,
they had all of the programs and facilities stepped up
before that legislation went into Parliament.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Well, and that is what Chancey Peig told us was
going to happen. Chancey peg had told us that that
was indeed what was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
But it doesn't feel like it has.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Yeah. Look, and I think that we've got to all
work together to make this happen. Now, you know, we
can't keep saying because the federal government and this is
where I'm taking this up internally in the federal government, yep, Katie,
is that whilst we've put a lot of funding on
the table, I want to know what the outcome is
(14:03):
of you know, the department that is charged with implementing
this with the Northern Teritory government. Have we done that?
So it's not just the Northern Territory government that's at
fault here. Have we done the right thing in terms
of the Commonwealth? Have we whilst the funding is there
in those agencies, have we finalized those agreements and made
(14:27):
sure that those programs are rolling out? And that's my
concern and that's something that certainly I will take up
because I don't think that this is all the Northern
Territory at faulty and I need to have a look
at kids. Have we have our Commonwealth's agencies actually you know,
(14:47):
rolled out this program appropriately.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Marion.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
You know, like you said before, you and I have spoken.
We've spoken on so many occasions about this issue. You
have been speaking about it since you were elected, speak
about it every single.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Day on the show. It is by far and beyond the.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Biggest issue on Territorian's minds, that issue of crime and safety.
What can happen like today to try and make some
change here, because you know, the Northern Territory government is saying, okay, well,
we are going to be reviewing the Youth Justice Act,
but that's going to have that's going to take.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Until the end of this year.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
People don't have until the end of this year, like
they've had a gutfull.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Yeah, and we're and we're losing a lot of people
from their territory. You know, this is a good place
to live and work and raise a family, Katie, you
know that, and that's just not been for me. I've
lived here all my life. Yep, You've you've you've you've
brought up and you you're raising your kids as well.
You know, like it's a good place and we've got
(15:51):
to we've got to deal with some of these issues.
And I think I think across Australia there is an
issue with youth across the boards. And I actually think
that you know, federally, we could probably show some leadership
and looking at how do we get how do we
(16:12):
get you know, discussions happen, you know, we need to
pull and it's not you know, this is out of
my ray way. This is the Prime Minister and other ministers.
But I actually think that there has to be you know,
some some bringing together of everybody, you know, because there's
a problem right across the board. I was talking to
(16:33):
the member who sits in Townsville and he was saying
it's anarchy and he says, but he did say to me,
it's not just Aboriginal kids marrit Yeah, it's you know,
there are non Aboriginal youth that are running a mark
as well. So you know, obviously each day in territory
are facing challenges in terms of youth and the problems
(16:53):
associated with that. I'm you know, I think the Northern
Territory we could lead the way with some of this
has been innovative, you know, programs and processes. There was
innovative legislation that was put before in terms of and
contemporary under the Care and Protection I think that both
the Youth Justice Act and the Care and Protection Act
(17:18):
there can be amendments made which would put us on
a path of trying to deal with some of these
issues now and into the future. Katie. And that's something
that legislators need to come together with the Chief Minister,
because I know that Eva has a commitment and she
(17:38):
wants to get this happening. We all want to fix
up what's happening in Catherine and Tennant, you know, and
in and around Darwin. I had a friend whose house
was ransacked the other day in Darwen. So you know,
we've just got to deal with these issues and stop
you know, making excuses. But I'll have a chat with
(18:00):
the Chief Minister. I've talked to the Attorney General Northern
Territory Attorney General this morning. I just think we've got
to you know, like there's got sittings coming up. There's
things that can be done in terms of legislation that
I think needs to come forward.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Marion, Are you gonna have a chat to the Prime
Minister about this as well?
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Look, I'm heading down to Camber on Saturday, Katie.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
As always.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
You know, I have a good relationship with people in
the Prime Minister's office and you know I'll have those
discussions with him, that with Linda and with MELANDERI as well,
and with Luke Gobbling. You know, as a territory contingent,
we we have a lot of conversations. We are concerned
(18:46):
and we'll all talk, you know, we we will come
together when I when we get down there, to look
at what do we need to do in the interest
of the territory.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Yeah, something's got to happen. Something has seriously got to change.
I mean to put it really blunty, and I know
that you know this, but people are literally begging for
that change, Marion, and they're feeling like the Northern territory
government isn't going to deliver it. And so when you know,
when you make comments like you have today, they're looking
at you and thinking, please help.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Us, So we do have to. It is almost like
we've clichaped the territory Katie and make sure that people
feel safe. Yeah, that's what this is all about. It's
not about marine screen during grandstanding, and that's you know,
like everyone is entitled to feel safe, to be in
(19:41):
your car, driving wherever. You shouldn't have to pull up
and have your car hijacked or you know, your home invaders.
Everyone needs to feel safe, and that's what we've got
to get to. But we've got to get some support
to these young people, you know, I think that's what
we've got. We've got to there's a level of lawlessness
(20:03):
out there, but is it because those young people are
calling out for help? I, you know, like I, you know,
sometimes I'm the rest of you know some of this too, Katie.
I can think what's the answers here?
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, Marian, I really appreciate you having your chat.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
As always.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
I appreciate your honesty and the fact that you speak
frankly and you don't always say exactly what your party
probably wants to hear, but you know what, people respect that.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Thank you very much for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Thanks Katie, thank you
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