Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, as I mentioned the latest Northern Territory Police Association
survey results, well they have been released and the results
probably aren't a huge surprise. In total, there were seven
hundred and thirteen member responses to that survey, so that
equates to forty two point nine percent of eligible Northern
Territory Police Association membership. That is down quite substantially on
(00:23):
what it has been in previous years. Now there could
be a number of reasons for that. We'll talk a
little bit more about that with Nathan Finn at around
nine point thirty, but the highest response rates apparently came
from senior constables and those key results show that ninety
eight point zero four percent of respondents do not believe
that there are enough police to do what's being asked
of them. Ninety point one point eight say that they've
(00:46):
been required to work over time in the last three months,
sixty one point twenty nine percent performed duties outside of
their usual work unit. Ninety one point four four percent
do not feel supported by the Northern Territory, by the
Northern Territory government. So joining me on the line to
talk a little bit more about this and plenty more
(01:08):
is the opposition leader Leah Fanocchiaro.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Good morning to you, Leah.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Good morning Katie, and so your listeners and all the
parents who've drug kids at school.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
And there's a lot going on this morning.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
There is so much going on this morning.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
And well, firstly, I will just ask you how did
your kids go and go heading off to school this morning?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Because it is very wet out there.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
It was very wet, but we got a good park
and it was seamless. We toddled off And.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
It is all about the parking, isn't it. Definitely?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, Oh gosh, yes, I drove past a different school
and I could see the backup down the street and
I said, oh gosh, thank goodness, that's not us.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, Well, no, hats off to all the
parents who've managed to get the kids off to school
safely this morning.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I know it's been a.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Bit of a juggle in that wet weather. But let's
move along to these issues of the day. And I
have just run through some of the results or some
of what has been report ordered as a result of
the response to the latest Northern Territory Police Association survey.
So we have seen that ninety eight point zero four
percent of respondents do not believe they are enough police
(02:12):
to do what's being asked of them. Ninety one point
four to four percent say they don't feel supported by
the Northern Territory government. More than sixty percent say they've
performed duties outside of their usual work. Leah, what do
you make of these results?
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Well, it just reinforces what everyone except the labor government no,
and that's that we have a police force in crisis
and they have been crying out for help for years. Katie.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
I mean, we know police attrition.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Is through the roof and police are leaving. This report
confirms that over sixteen percent of police are still considering
leaving the force. It reinforces for the third survey in
a row that more than ninety percent of our police
don't feel supported by this government. And the answers are
not that complicated, Katie. What we've got is a government
that's waded down laws, put the rights of offenders above
(03:02):
the rights of people to be safe. That has driven
up crime, driven up our demand on our police. They
haven't done adequate recruiting, they haven't supported our police with
the tools they need, and here we have this catastrophic
situation which this government quite frankly is incapable of fixing Leah.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
The last survey saw in total one than two hundred
and two member responses, which it was seventy four percent
of membership. The numbers are right down this time round.
Why do you think that might be.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I think they're probably absolutely exasperated and exhausted. Katie.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
This isn't it didn't be though that they're happy with
the change of leadership within the Northern Territory Police.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Oh look, I mean perhaps Nathan the President could shed
some more light, but I would imagine that for the
third survey in a row, and you're crying out for
help and you've got a government that's not listening, you're
probably pretty fed up with the with filling out the
boxes probably, so I'm sure Nathan can shed more light
in it. But I think for the third time around,
I mean, what is it going to take for this
(04:06):
government to listen. We had to drag them kicking and
screaming to do a review into our police force, which
we're expecting to be handed down in March. I've written
to Brent Potter, the Minister, and said I expect a
copy of any report at the same time, then he
gets it because if it's an independent report, that's exactly
what would happen. And ultimately we have to take this seriously.
(04:29):
People are sick and tired of meaningless words and spin
and garbage. We need action. We have a territory and
crisis and I'm not interested in labor promising the world.
What I'm interested is tangible policy and action and funding
that is going to support a safe community and a
strong police.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So, Leah, when that report is handed down, when it's
completed by Vince Kelly, who, as you said, is doing
that independent report, is the CLP going to commit to
making the changes that are you know that are going
to no doubt be found in that report.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Yes, and I have been on record for that, Katie.
The CLP are the ones who have called for this review.
We have been calling for that in Parliament since I
think two thousand and one. So we're very happy that
it has happened. Or we want it to be a
transparent process where we're provided the report at the same
time as government, and we believe that if this report
(05:24):
is independent, then that is what will happen, and we
fully commit to fixing the crime crisis and the police crisis.
In the territory because we cannot have a strong economy,
we cannot have lower cost of living, we cannot enjoy
our beautiful, unique lifestyle until law and order is sorted out.
So that is my first priority is to have a
strong police force and a safe community.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Well Lea, it is no doubt that it's been a
massive issue for all of the territory, not only last year,
but you know, this has been an ongoing deterioration over
a number of years. In my humble opinion, I think
that if we'd have nipped it in the bud right
from the start, we may have had a better chance
getting on top of things. But crime continues to be
an issue, and over Christmas and New Year we saw
(06:06):
issues out at what air they've raged on. We've got
further detail yesterday that up to one hundred people fighting
out there, someone hit with a compound crossbow. Alice Springs
has suffered serious crime issues even overnight, more vehicles stolen
from what is being reported by the ABC analyis here
in the top end. I mean, we continue to grapple
with a lot of crime. A lot of people, though,
(06:27):
are now seriously asking the question, what makes you think
that the COLP can turn things around.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
We absolutely believe we can, Katie, and we love this
place and I will not let it continue to deteriorate
if we're given the opportunity to govern from August. So
our plan has been very clear all along. The laws
need to change so that the rights of people to
be safe are put above offenders. So that means serious
violent offenders should start with a position of nomat bail.
(06:58):
It means young offenders should be held account for their
crimes by lowering the age of criminal responsibility. We need
to have minimum mandatory sentencing for people who assault workers.
We've got to give police more power to deal with
public drinking, which was taken away from them by labor.
We need to stop the revolving door of bail. There
need to be serious programs and boot camps in place
(07:20):
for youth offenders, and alternative sentencing.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Options for our courts.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
And we need to be backing our police with the
resources and the powers that they need to do their job.
One example is labor has taken spit hoods away from them,
meaning that labor would rather our police be spat on
in the face than have an offender wear a mesh
net to stop them from causing harm to our police.
And that's the difference between labor and the COLP.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
So you're going to reintroduce them.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Vender, Absolutely absolutely, we will, Katie.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Across the board for you svenders. So for you you ugly.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You want police to be able to use split hoods
again in our watch houses, for you zud adults.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Absolutely, Katie.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I've made that commitment to our police a number of times.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
So there's a range of.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Measures and the list goes on and on. I won't
drag it on, but there's a number of things. And
on top of that there's cultural change. Leadership comes from
the top KD. And if I'm Chief Minister, I will
hold the police portfolio. They will know my government has
their back. The community will know that community safety is
the number one issue for my government and the tangible
(08:25):
outcome of that will be felt by the community.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Immediately.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Lea, let's talk about you.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
You touched on then mandatory sentencing for some offenses. What
offenses are you going to reintroduce mandatory sentencing for?
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Well, we'll relook at that, because of course government has
abolished mandatory sentencing for a wide range of offenses other than
perhaps murder and a couple of them the most serious,
and we don't think that sends an adequate message. It
doesn't meet the community's expectation. Bail, of course, is an
absolute mess under this government, and we need to fix
(09:00):
all of that by ensuring that people who are risk
to our community are not being let out on battle,
which includes youth offenders. So there's a range of things
that need to be done, but they're not impossible, they're
they're doable. The Parliament is there to make the laws
and this government is not using its powers to do
good for our community.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Lea, I've no doubt that there's going to be there
is going to be lawyers and also advocates for you know,
for prisoners probably screaming at the radio right now, going
hang on a second. She sounds like she's going to
reintroduce mandatory sentencing across the board.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Is that the case?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
So, so I think some people will think we're talking
about mandatory sentencing from you know, the nineties that was different. Well,
I'm talking about is minimum and mandatory sentencing, which is
which is very normal. So for example, DUIs so do
you wise carry a mandatory consequence? So depending on what
(09:55):
level do you why you've done or how many times
you've done it, then there is a priscribe consequence for
that offense. And so that's what we're talking about, making
sure that there are prescribed consequences for people breaking the
law so that we don't have this situation where people
are not being held accountable. And when it comes to youth, Katie,
and this is really important because labor out there peddling
(10:18):
lives about the clp and scare mongering. The reason we
want young people to be held accountable for their crimes
is so that we can change their life. Now, if
you have a young person committing a crime and under
labor that is technically not they haven't broken the law,
they can't be held account in any forced or mandated way.
Then what you have is a young person continuing to
(10:41):
be unsupported and left to continue to commit crimes. If
we make it these young people held accountable, it means
we can put them into alternative sentencing, We can ensure
that they're being supported to change their lives and get
them on the right track rather than a life of crime.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
All right, well, look it does sound as over it
needs to be quite a bit more detail nutted out
when it comes to, you know, to the prescribed sentencing
I guess for some of those different offenses. So I'll
be very interested to go into further detail about that
throughout the coming weeks. But I do want to move
along because there is so much happening around the place.
Just before we do move along though, in terms of
(11:20):
your commitment last year that the COLP is going to
build a bigger jail if needed, how will you fund it?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
So weill, Like I've said, if there are infrastructure problems
that Labor have neglected, and I have no doubt there's
many more than just a a prison that's too small,
we'll have to address that. Now we can address that
from funding from within by reprioritizing other projects. So for example,
instead of building a bigger prison, Labor have built a
shadeless shade structure over Kavanagh Street. Now there's ways to
(11:50):
prioritize government spending without blowing the bank, and the days
of Labour's pet projects are over. We have to be
focused on ensuring the territory has what it needs now
and for the future, and you can't have frivolous spending
our time when they've blown the bank.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
The reality is, though, if we're going to build a
bigger jail, we need it pretty quickly. And when you
look at the new use, you know, the new youth
facility that we are still waiting to have opened, you know,
it's a pretty big promise to make, and you know
no doubt there would be it would take quite some time.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Well, Katie, I think there are other alternatives, but ultimately
we've got Labor who promised the youth prison seven years
ago and it still hasn't happened. We've got some exciting
policies in that space, which we'll announce over the coming months,
but ultimately, buildings of buildings, infrastructure can be built when required.
If other assets need to be deployed, then of course
(12:44):
we'll look at that. But what we can't do is
have criminals out on the street because Labor has been
unable to deal with an overflowing prison. We have to
keep people safe and that means we might have to
get creative, but also means we have to just deal
with the impending if structure issue, which means build more buildings.
It's not a complicated thing.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Let's move along.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
We spoke yesterday, of course about you know about Paul
Kirby and Nicole Madison both announcing that they're not going
to recontest.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
At the election. How is the pre selection going for
the COLP?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Well, very good. So I think our applications are open
until Friday. So if anyone is keen to run for
their area, join our team, fight for a state and
strong territory, get in touch with the CLP.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Have you had many people come forward though?
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Has there been like a rush of people wanting to
come forward and run for the CLP?
Speaker 4 (13:37):
I believe so.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I'm not privy to that information because it's confidential, but
my understanding from the conversations I've had with keen people
is as a wonderful group of people, very eager to
support our community and drive the territory forward. They are
passionate Territorians who can't stand seeing what Labour's done to
drag the territory backwards.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
And so we need good people.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Working hard, connecting with their communities and showing people that
there is a better way forward and that the CLP
is the only choice for Territorians to have a safe
and strong territory.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
As we approach August, Leah, we.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Know that alcohol changes once again. Well some of those
changes were reverted back yesterday. The time changed back with
alcohol able to be purchased from ten am.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Again.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
There's also going to be those changes enabling bottle shop
workers to refuse alcohol sales if a person doesn't have
an address to drink at, or maybe lives in a
public housing complex which isn't allowed alcohol.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Is this a good move?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Well, I think it shows just how chaotic things are
within labor. We had this swift change under Natash of Files.
Now we have a new Chief Minister and there's a
different way forward. We think it's good that the times
have changed, but it of course raises concerns around the
bottle shop attendance and workers then having to be a
lot more you know, have a lot more interrogation of
(14:57):
people who are purchasing alcohol, which of course can lead
to a violent or confrontational situation. So we're very concerned
about that.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I hope that's not the case.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
But again, the government, after the tragic death of Declan Lavity,
promised that there would be all sorts of training for
bottle shop workers security, and of course we've barely seen
any of their commitments actually transpire for the betterment and
safety of our community. So time will tell, Katie. But obtenally,
this government is just lurching from our idea to idea,
(15:33):
desperately trying to deal with this issue when the COLP
all along have been very clear on its policy about
treating the source of these problems, which is alcohol addiction,
which is why we need compulsory alcohol rehabilitation and it's
also why it is COLP policy to give police the
power they need to deal with public drinking, which labor
(15:53):
took away from them.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Leah a very quick one. The Chief Minister yesterday announced
it a press conference or said at a press conference
that she is going to review the funding into the
Environmental Defender's Office following on from the following on from
that decision for the Santos Borosa gas pipeline. Do you
think that's a good thing? Should they continue to get funding?
Speaker 3 (16:17):
This is well overdue and I think the damage and
destruction to the growth of our economy that this matter
has caused just shows how hands off labor are when
it comes to fighting for the territory. And so there
should be a review into funding of that office, which
has seen enormous expense and delays to a critical project.
(16:38):
Of national significance that could happen here in the territory.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Peter Dutton Federally, Peter Dutton has said that he will
end federal funding to the Environmental Defender's Office if the
Coalition wins the next election.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Would you do the same in the territory.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Well, I think you can understand where he's coming from.
There will certainly take a look at it, Katie, because
we just cannot have people destroying economic opportunities simply because
they don't like it.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
And I think the court's ruling on this.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Was correct and some very scathing remarks from the judge
Lea Finocchiaro.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
We better leave it there. Good to have you back
on the show for twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
Great to be back.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Big here ahead, looking forward to it. Take care on
our wet roads everyone.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Thank you,
Now, as I mentioned the latest Northern Territory Police Association
survey results, well they have been released and the results
probably aren't a huge surprise. In total, there were seven
hundred and thirteen member responses to that survey, so that
equates to forty two point nine percent of eligible Northern
Territory Police Association membership. That is down quite substantially on
(00:23):
what it has been in previous years. Now there could
be a number of reasons for that. We'll talk a
little bit more about that with Nathan Finn at around
nine point thirty, but the highest response rates apparently came
from senior constables and those key results show that ninety
eight point zero four percent of respondents do not believe
that there are enough police to do what's being asked
of them. Ninety point one point eight say that they've
(00:46):
been required to work over time in the last three months,
sixty one point twenty nine percent performed duties outside of
their usual work unit. Ninety one point four four percent
do not feel supported by the Northern Territory, by the
Northern Territory government. So joining me on the line to
talk a little bit more about this and plenty more
(01:08):
is the opposition leader Leah Fanocchiaro.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Good morning to you, Leah.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Good morning Katie, and so your listeners and all the
parents who've drug kids at school.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
And there's a lot going on this morning.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
There is so much going on this morning.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
And well, firstly, I will just ask you how did
your kids go and go heading off to school this morning?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Because it is very wet out there.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
It was very wet, but we got a good park
and it was seamless. We toddled off And.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
It is all about the parking, isn't it. Definitely?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, Oh gosh, yes, I drove past a different school
and I could see the backup down the street and
I said, oh gosh, thank goodness, that's not us.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, Well, no, hats off to all the
parents who've managed to get the kids off to school
safely this morning.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I know it's been a.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Bit of a juggle in that wet weather. But let's
move along to these issues of the day. And I
have just run through some of the results or some
of what has been report ordered as a result of
the response to the latest Northern Territory Police Association survey.
So we have seen that ninety eight point zero four
percent of respondents do not believe they are enough police
(02:12):
to do what's being asked of them. Ninety one point
four to four percent say they don't feel supported by
the Northern Territory government. More than sixty percent say they've
performed duties outside of their usual work. Leah, what do
you make of these results?
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Well, it just reinforces what everyone except the labor government no,
and that's that we have a police force in crisis
and they have been crying out for help for years. Katie.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
I mean, we know police attrition.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Is through the roof and police are leaving. This report
confirms that over sixteen percent of police are still considering
leaving the force. It reinforces for the third survey in
a row that more than ninety percent of our police
don't feel supported by this government. And the answers are
not that complicated, Katie. What we've got is a government
that's waded down laws, put the rights of offenders above
(03:02):
the rights of people to be safe. That has driven
up crime, driven up our demand on our police. They
haven't done adequate recruiting, they haven't supported our police with
the tools they need, and here we have this catastrophic
situation which this government quite frankly is incapable of fixing Leah.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
The last survey saw in total one than two hundred
and two member responses, which it was seventy four percent
of membership. The numbers are right down this time round.
Why do you think that might be.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I think they're probably absolutely exasperated and exhausted. Katie.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
This isn't it didn't be though that they're happy with
the change of leadership within the Northern Territory Police.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Oh look, I mean perhaps Nathan the President could shed
some more light, but I would imagine that for the
third survey in a row, and you're crying out for
help and you've got a government that's not listening, you're
probably pretty fed up with the with filling out the
boxes probably, so I'm sure Nathan can shed more light
in it. But I think for the third time around,
I mean, what is it going to take for this
(04:06):
government to listen. We had to drag them kicking and
screaming to do a review into our police force, which
we're expecting to be handed down in March. I've written
to Brent Potter, the Minister, and said I expect a
copy of any report at the same time, then he
gets it because if it's an independent report, that's exactly
what would happen. And ultimately we have to take this seriously.
(04:29):
People are sick and tired of meaningless words and spin
and garbage. We need action. We have a territory and
crisis and I'm not interested in labor promising the world.
What I'm interested is tangible policy and action and funding
that is going to support a safe community and a
strong police.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So, Leah, when that report is handed down, when it's
completed by Vince Kelly, who, as you said, is doing
that independent report, is the CLP going to commit to
making the changes that are you know that are going
to no doubt be found in that report.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Yes, and I have been on record for that, Katie.
The CLP are the ones who have called for this review.
We have been calling for that in Parliament since I
think two thousand and one. So we're very happy that
it has happened. Or we want it to be a
transparent process where we're provided the report at the same
time as government, and we believe that if this report
(05:24):
is independent, then that is what will happen, and we
fully commit to fixing the crime crisis and the police crisis.
In the territory because we cannot have a strong economy,
we cannot have lower cost of living, we cannot enjoy
our beautiful, unique lifestyle until law and order is sorted out.
So that is my first priority is to have a
strong police force and a safe community.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Well Lea, it is no doubt that it's been a
massive issue for all of the territory, not only last year,
but you know, this has been an ongoing deterioration over
a number of years. In my humble opinion, I think
that if we'd have nipped it in the bud right
from the start, we may have had a better chance
getting on top of things. But crime continues to be
an issue, and over Christmas and New Year we saw
(06:06):
issues out at what air they've raged on. We've got
further detail yesterday that up to one hundred people fighting
out there, someone hit with a compound crossbow. Alice Springs
has suffered serious crime issues even overnight, more vehicles stolen
from what is being reported by the ABC analyis here
in the top end. I mean, we continue to grapple
with a lot of crime. A lot of people, though,
(06:27):
are now seriously asking the question, what makes you think
that the COLP can turn things around.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
We absolutely believe we can, Katie, and we love this
place and I will not let it continue to deteriorate
if we're given the opportunity to govern from August. So
our plan has been very clear all along. The laws
need to change so that the rights of people to
be safe are put above offenders. So that means serious
violent offenders should start with a position of nomat bail.
(06:58):
It means young offenders should be held account for their
crimes by lowering the age of criminal responsibility. We need
to have minimum mandatory sentencing for people who assault workers.
We've got to give police more power to deal with
public drinking, which was taken away from them by labor.
We need to stop the revolving door of bail. There
need to be serious programs and boot camps in place
(07:20):
for youth offenders, and alternative sentencing.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Options for our courts.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
And we need to be backing our police with the
resources and the powers that they need to do their job.
One example is labor has taken spit hoods away from them,
meaning that labor would rather our police be spat on
in the face than have an offender wear a mesh
net to stop them from causing harm to our police.
And that's the difference between labor and the COLP.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
So you're going to reintroduce them.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Vender, Absolutely absolutely, we will, Katie.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Across the board for you svenders. So for you you ugly.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You want police to be able to use split hoods
again in our watch houses, for you zud adults.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Absolutely, Katie.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I've made that commitment to our police a number of times.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
So there's a range of.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Measures and the list goes on and on. I won't
drag it on, but there's a number of things. And
on top of that there's cultural change. Leadership comes from
the top KD. And if I'm Chief Minister, I will
hold the police portfolio. They will know my government has
their back. The community will know that community safety is
the number one issue for my government and the tangible
(08:25):
outcome of that will be felt by the community.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Immediately.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Lea, let's talk about you.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
You touched on then mandatory sentencing for some offenses. What
offenses are you going to reintroduce mandatory sentencing for?
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Well, we'll relook at that, because of course government has
abolished mandatory sentencing for a wide range of offenses other than
perhaps murder and a couple of them the most serious,
and we don't think that sends an adequate message. It
doesn't meet the community's expectation. Bail, of course, is an
absolute mess under this government, and we need to fix
(09:00):
all of that by ensuring that people who are risk
to our community are not being let out on battle,
which includes youth offenders. So there's a range of things
that need to be done, but they're not impossible, they're
they're doable. The Parliament is there to make the laws
and this government is not using its powers to do
good for our community.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Lea, I've no doubt that there's going to be there
is going to be lawyers and also advocates for you know,
for prisoners probably screaming at the radio right now, going
hang on a second. She sounds like she's going to
reintroduce mandatory sentencing across the board.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Is that the case?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
So, so I think some people will think we're talking
about mandatory sentencing from you know, the nineties that was different. Well,
I'm talking about is minimum and mandatory sentencing, which is
which is very normal. So for example, DUIs so do
you wise carry a mandatory consequence? So depending on what
(09:55):
level do you why you've done or how many times
you've done it, then there is a priscribe consequence for
that offense. And so that's what we're talking about, making
sure that there are prescribed consequences for people breaking the
law so that we don't have this situation where people
are not being held accountable. And when it comes to youth, Katie,
and this is really important because labor out there peddling
(10:18):
lives about the clp and scare mongering. The reason we
want young people to be held accountable for their crimes
is so that we can change their life. Now, if
you have a young person committing a crime and under
labor that is technically not they haven't broken the law,
they can't be held account in any forced or mandated way.
Then what you have is a young person continuing to
(10:41):
be unsupported and left to continue to commit crimes. If
we make it these young people held accountable, it means
we can put them into alternative sentencing, We can ensure
that they're being supported to change their lives and get
them on the right track rather than a life of crime.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
All right, well, look it does sound as over it
needs to be quite a bit more detail nutted out
when it comes to, you know, to the prescribed sentencing
I guess for some of those different offenses. So I'll
be very interested to go into further detail about that
throughout the coming weeks. But I do want to move
along because there is so much happening around the place.
Just before we do move along though, in terms of
(11:20):
your commitment last year that the COLP is going to
build a bigger jail if needed, how will you fund it?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
So weill, Like I've said, if there are infrastructure problems
that Labor have neglected, and I have no doubt there's
many more than just a a prison that's too small,
we'll have to address that. Now we can address that
from funding from within by reprioritizing other projects. So for example,
instead of building a bigger prison, Labor have built a
shadeless shade structure over Kavanagh Street. Now there's ways to
(11:50):
prioritize government spending without blowing the bank, and the days
of Labour's pet projects are over. We have to be
focused on ensuring the territory has what it needs now
and for the future, and you can't have frivolous spending
our time when they've blown the bank.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
The reality is, though, if we're going to build a
bigger jail, we need it pretty quickly. And when you
look at the new use, you know, the new youth
facility that we are still waiting to have opened, you know,
it's a pretty big promise to make, and you know
no doubt there would be it would take quite some time.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Well, Katie, I think there are other alternatives, but ultimately
we've got Labor who promised the youth prison seven years
ago and it still hasn't happened. We've got some exciting
policies in that space, which we'll announce over the coming months,
but ultimately, buildings of buildings, infrastructure can be built when required.
If other assets need to be deployed, then of course
(12:44):
we'll look at that. But what we can't do is
have criminals out on the street because Labor has been
unable to deal with an overflowing prison. We have to
keep people safe and that means we might have to
get creative, but also means we have to just deal
with the impending if structure issue, which means build more buildings.
It's not a complicated thing.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Let's move along.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
We spoke yesterday, of course about you know about Paul
Kirby and Nicole Madison both announcing that they're not going
to recontest.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
At the election. How is the pre selection going for
the COLP?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Well, very good. So I think our applications are open
until Friday. So if anyone is keen to run for
their area, join our team, fight for a state and
strong territory, get in touch with the CLP.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Have you had many people come forward though?
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Has there been like a rush of people wanting to
come forward and run for the CLP?
Speaker 4 (13:37):
I believe so.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I'm not privy to that information because it's confidential, but
my understanding from the conversations I've had with keen people
is as a wonderful group of people, very eager to
support our community and drive the territory forward. They are
passionate Territorians who can't stand seeing what Labour's done to
drag the territory backwards.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
And so we need good people.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Working hard, connecting with their communities and showing people that
there is a better way forward and that the CLP
is the only choice for Territorians to have a safe
and strong territory.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
As we approach August, Leah, we.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Know that alcohol changes once again. Well some of those
changes were reverted back yesterday. The time changed back with
alcohol able to be purchased from ten am.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Again.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
There's also going to be those changes enabling bottle shop
workers to refuse alcohol sales if a person doesn't have
an address to drink at, or maybe lives in a
public housing complex which isn't allowed alcohol.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Is this a good move?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Well, I think it shows just how chaotic things are
within labor. We had this swift change under Natash of Files.
Now we have a new Chief Minister and there's a
different way forward. We think it's good that the times
have changed, but it of course raises concerns around the
bottle shop attendance and workers then having to be a
lot more you know, have a lot more interrogation of
(14:57):
people who are purchasing alcohol, which of course can lead
to a violent or confrontational situation. So we're very concerned
about that.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I hope that's not the case.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
But again, the government, after the tragic death of Declan Lavity,
promised that there would be all sorts of training for
bottle shop workers security, and of course we've barely seen
any of their commitments actually transpire for the betterment and
safety of our community. So time will tell, Katie. But obtenally,
this government is just lurching from our idea to idea,
(15:33):
desperately trying to deal with this issue when the COLP
all along have been very clear on its policy about
treating the source of these problems, which is alcohol addiction,
which is why we need compulsory alcohol rehabilitation and it's
also why it is COLP policy to give police the
power they need to deal with public drinking, which labor
(15:53):
took away from them.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Leah a very quick one. The Chief Minister yesterday announced
it a press conference or said at a press conference
that she is going to review the funding into the
Environmental Defender's Office following on from the following on from
that decision for the Santos Borosa gas pipeline. Do you
think that's a good thing? Should they continue to get funding?
Speaker 3 (16:17):
This is well overdue and I think the damage and
destruction to the growth of our economy that this matter
has caused just shows how hands off labor are when
it comes to fighting for the territory. And so there
should be a review into funding of that office, which
has seen enormous expense and delays to a critical project.
(16:38):
Of national significance that could happen here in the territory.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Peter Dutton Federally, Peter Dutton has said that he will
end federal funding to the Environmental Defender's Office if the
Coalition wins the next election.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Would you do the same in the territory.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Well, I think you can understand where he's coming from.
There will certainly take a look at it, Katie, because
we just cannot have people destroying economic opportunities simply because
they don't like it.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
And I think the court's ruling on this.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Was correct and some very scathing remarks from the judge
Lea Finocchiaro.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
We better leave it there. Good to have you back
on the show for twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
Great to be back.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Big here ahead, looking forward to it. Take care on
our wet roads everyone.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Thank you,
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