Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yesterday we heard from the Chief Minister about the changes
giving police more powers to deal with public drinking in
a bid to tackle i should say, antisocial behavior and
reduce alcohol related harm.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Now, those changes are going to allow.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Police to issue a seven day band drinker order for
public drinking or disorderly behavior in high risk areas, and
those committing more serious alcohol related defenses, including domestic violence,
will automatically be hit with a mandatory three month BDO.
Police are also going to be able to check people's IDs,
allowing them to refer people to various treatments, including sobering
(00:35):
up shelters. Some of these changes have been called for
by the opposition in the past. The Opposition leader Leah
Finocchio joins me on the line from Catherine this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Good morning to you, Leah, Good morning Katie and to
your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Now, Leah, first off, did you support all of those
changes last week?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
We did.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
So.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
What's happened is this government, after four long years of
dismp powering our police, have finally conceded that our police
do need to be able to ask public drinkers and
problem drunks for their identification specifics, and so we supported
that it's legislation we tried to pass a month ago.
It's come from their own alcohol review saying it was
dangerous for police to be in this situation. And it's
(01:19):
just really sad that for four long years Labor have
taken this power away from our police, only to reinstate
it now that things have gotten so unbelievably bad.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
I mean, Leah, does it go far enough?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Though, No, it doesn't, Katie and another missed opportunity from Labor.
So what this does is effectively create a consequence for
people not telling police their ID. So for police officer
says to someone, Okay, what's your name, where do you live?
And they comply, then all police can really do is
either tip out the grog or issue them with a
(01:51):
seven day band drink or order, which is a lengthy
process for our police, so it's more paperwork for police. Effectively,
if the person doesn't complying, gives the police officer the
wrong name, or is just being very difficult about it,
then the police are able to find the person. But
what we say is that it's the actual drinking in
public that is the problem, that is the behavior that
(02:13):
is not acceptable to our community, and that is why
the colp's position is that people who are drinking in
public that should be a criminal offense, not whereas labor
gone the other way and made it an offense not
to give police well, yeah, your name.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
I mean it sort of became a bit more evident,
not the sitting's just gone, but the ones prior where
the government then finally said that, yes, they have decriminalized
that public drinking. I mean, in some ways.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
You know.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Their argument here is that it was as a result
of a Royal commission into Aboriginal debts in custody. We've
spoken to the Chief Minister about this yesterday. But you're
dead right. We're in a situation where the community right
now has had enough of people being drunk or drinking
in public spaces.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
I mean.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
The changes, though, have not been without criticism. The Northern
Territory Police Associations say that they support the change to
give police the powers to require name address, you know,
by those drinking in public places, but they say that
the changes don't provide any health response or support to
address the real issues that our community faces every day. So,
(03:16):
I mean, do you think we need to go back to,
you know, sending people for mandatory rehabilitation.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
There's no question, Katie, And the contrast to territories is clear.
Under Labor public drinking doesn't have a consequence. Under the COLP,
we are going to make sure that drinking in public
easy legal, there is a criminal offense to that. We
are going to make sure that there is compulsory alcohol
treatment for chronically affected alcoholics. Because people expect better in
(03:48):
our community. They want safest streets and we cannot have
a situation where the rights of people doing the wrong
thing are above the rights of everyone else to live
in peace and client to operate their businesses and for
tourists to be able to come. You know, this is
such a huge issue. We know alcohol causes so much
misery and destruction, and yet this government can't bring himself
(04:11):
to make people who have a problem with alcohol base
those demons.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Leah, how are you going to afford to do it? Though?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Because this is something we spoke about on Friday throughout
the week that was I mean that mandatory rehabilitation. According
to Brent Potter, the Police Minister, he said like he
did say that it costs a lot of money. So
how is the COLP going to be able to afford it?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Well, I think the first point is how would he
know he's been around for less than a UK, So
I'll make that point. The second point is there are
many different ways in which to run manatory alcohol treatment.
It could be that we provide we use existing services
for example, it could be that we build new facilities.
There's a number of different ways to do it. But
(04:56):
the bigger question is what is the cost of not
doing it? Now? As a government, they pour tens and
hundreds of millions of dollars into our hospital system to
deal with people coming in constantly, chronically injured or affected
by alcohol. We pour hundreds of millions of dollars into
our police, who under this government have to act as
(05:16):
a taxi service for problem drunks. I mean there is
a lot of money being poured into this in different ways.
What we're saying is what's the cost to our community
if we don't do it? And I think under a
COLP government, if people elect us in August, they will
see an immediate change to the way our community operates.
And I think the price of that peace of mind
(05:38):
is quite literally Christless Lea.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
What about the BDR Is it going to stay in place?
If you are elected next August.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
We've been very clear over the last seven years Katie
of being in opposition, that we would review the BDR.
We just don't believe the statistics that government puts out.
We don't think it's as effective as it could be.
For example, doesn't even it's not even able to tell
that poor person working behind the counter whether or not
that person's over eighteen. So we think there's additional capability
(06:08):
it could have, but we just don't trust labor on
the effectiveness of the BDR. So we've committed to a
full review which will make that information public.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And what about the restricting of operating hours for bottle shops?
That was something that was pretty contentious last week after
hospitality were.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Not informed that it was going to happen.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
It was a request though of the Northern Territory Police Commissioner.
If the Northern Territory Police Commissioner does request something of
this of a possible colp government, are you going to
approve it?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Well, the Police Commissioner has a job to do and
it's a critical job, and governments have a different role
to play. They're not the same thing. And ultimately what
the Police Commissioner said is effectively, he has a resource issue,
and so this government because they've not been able to
make sure police are properly resourced and now creating and
aid solutions that what we know is shutting bottle shops
(07:03):
for two hours a week is only going to hurt
the poor staff who work there, who are trying to
earn some money before Christmas and they're going to be
losing ten hours a week in salary for what. I
haven't spoken to a single person in our community who
believes that this is actually going to reduce alcohol fuels.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
How do you think what how do you think it
should be gauged?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
What evidence do you think the Northern Territory government should
be looking at while they've got this trial in place
until the end of January, with the restricted bottle shop hours,
how do you think that they should gauge its success
or failure.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Well, they should be measuring the volume of alcohol sold.
So for example, in Alice Springs, we know that with
their restrictions there's just as much growth being somewhat it's
just in a shorter window of time. So again, the
only person losing out of the staff that work in
these places. So the government needs to during this trial.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
But if you've got like if you've got the emergency
water at the hospital, and if you've got the presentations
in at the hospital going down, would that demonstrate that
it has actually been a success.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
That was the next thing I was going to say.
So it needs to be looking at volume of sales,
so total total alcohol being sold, whether or not there's
been a reduction in presentations, whether or not there's been
a reduction from police having to put people into protective custody.
There's a number of ways in which government can measure
these things. Unfortunately, we have a government that isn't interested
(08:23):
in measuring the success or failure of its program because
it's more interested in the politics than it is on
caring about good outcomes for territorians. Well, it'll be interesting
to see, but we certainly do not support it, Katie.
We've been very clear about that. This is about dealing
with the people doing the wrong thing, not about punishing
everyone else in our community. I think territories are sick
(08:45):
and tired of bearing the brunt of this government's policy failures,
and they're not going to copy it any longer. Well.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Look, one of the things that you know that is
obviously a concern. I mean, there's plenty that our concerns,
but one of the things that's been a concern for
quite some time. We've spoken to Shelley out at the
IgA Zicoli. We spoke to the owners of the matter
Aranka Supermarket a number of weeks ago. I know that
then the ABC had followed that up yesterday and spoke
to them again. But this cap on their alcohol sales,
(09:14):
it is having a massive impact on those businesses.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Lea, do you think it's.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Making any difference when it comes to the anti social
behavior that we're seeing around the Northern Territory?
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Not at all. And again this is another idea from
Natasha Philes, who's been the Alcohol Minister for seven years,
and she's made it very clear right from the start
that she has something against corner stores. Now, these fifty
one stores across the territory are locally owned and operated
corner stores. They employ local people and my understanding is
(09:45):
they're collectively responsible for about eight percent of all alcohol
sales in the territory. Now to go and target and
punish those people, it just doesn't make any sense to us, Katie,
we don't. We've never supported the twenty five percent and
this deliberate targeting. And again it comes back to who
(10:07):
are you know what is the problem. The people who
have a chronic addiction to alcohol are the one to
need the support and the focus. And again, stop having
policies that are blanket policies impacting people doing the right thing.
If there are operators doing the wrong thing, Katie, I
have always said, throw the book at them. There are
plenty of liquor laws in place to breach people for
(10:29):
failing to implement their liquor licenses appropriately. Throw the book
at bad operators because no one wants them in our community.
But to just blanketly target all corner stores I think
is appalling.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Lea.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Some will be listening to you this morning, and they'll
be listening and they will be thinking the CLP sounds
like they're going to backflip on everything that Labor has
basically implemented when it comes to, you know, to alcohol policy,
and they'll be concerned that that may have an adverse
effect if you are elected in August next time. I mean,
what do you say to those listeners.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Well, we have a totally different view than Labor, and
we're not apologetic about that because under Labor alcohol fueled
violence crime across the territory is higher than ever before.
So people need to really just turn to the statistic
to see that under labor crime across every dimension is
(11:23):
so much worse. And so we won't apologize for wanting
to target problem drinking and problem drunks. They are the
people causing harm to themselves and our community. They should
be the focus and we will have sensible practical measures
in place to ensure that community safety is the number
one priority if we're successful to lead the government in
(11:44):
August next year.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
All right, Lia's something I want to ask about. We're
going to be catching up with Labour's Luke Gosling just
after ten o'clock this morning. But the Territory government's been forced,
according to the End News, to deflect friendly fire from
their federal Labor colleague on a war path about delays
building DAH and shiplift. So Luke Gosling said the Northern
Territory Government had two years from now to build that
(12:07):
shiplift in line with the implementation of the Commonwealth's plan
to grow and maintain Australia's navy fleet. Of the Northern
Territory government have as we know they've promised to build
the shiplift seven years ago, and in September that joint
venture partner CLAFF and BMD assigned final contracts to deliver
the construction program. Le just remind me, was this initially
(12:29):
an announcement by the COLP when you guys were still
in power?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It was, Katie, and maybe it's not so friendly fire.
It's good to see one of them actually speak up
and step up. I mean, what a joke we promised this.
I think it was twenty and fifteen, Katie, and here
we are a decade later, still talking about this wonderful project.
I mean it's a bit like the National Original Art
(12:54):
Gallery and Alice Springs. I think most of us don't
believe that these things are ever going to happen under LAH,
but they've shown that they're incompetent and incapable of delivering
projects in the territory, and that comes to a great
loss to our economy, a great loss to jobs and opportunities.
And if a member for Solomon can see that this
(13:14):
is an opportunity that will we will miss, just like territory,
as we can see that labor is continuing to fail
us when it comes to growing our economy well.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
As I said, we'll be speaking to Luke Gossling this
morning after ten. But I mean, this has to happen.
It just feels like it's been going on for such
a long time. I get that major projects have a
lot of hurdles in place and it can sometimes be
difficult to get them, you know, to get them up
and running. But it needs to happen. But Leah, you
are coming to us this morning from Catherine. What's going
on in Catherine today?
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Yes, I've been in Catherine yesterday and today. It's been
fantastic getting out and speaking to people. No surprises to
report to people in the top end that chrime is
the prevailing issue. I've been and spoken to businesses who
are boarded up. Youth crime i'm here is profound. There
are significant risky behaviors, door vehicles, breaking, enters, assaults, and
(14:08):
people have had enough. The businesses are reporting to me
they are losing staff, they can't attract people to come
to Catherine to live here, and it's having a massive
impact on their ability to deliver services. So it's some
very big challenges here in Catherine, much like the rest
of the territory. But It's really sad because Catherine's always
(14:29):
you know, it's a tight knit community. There are very
optimistic people and they just get on with it. You
know the rest of the territory could be burning down
around them, and Catherine people would just get on with
the job. Well, they're feeling really demoralized, and.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
We are actually going to catch up with one of
those businesses. We'll be speaking to Beck from Willow Blue
in a few minutes time, but I want.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
To ask as well.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
I understand that there's been some concerns raised with you
about the primary healthcare providers leaving Catherine.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
What exactly has gone on here?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Yeah, so when you speak to the jeeps, clinics and
everyone will remember a couple of years ago, there was
no GP services in Catherine, so locals stepped up to
fill that gap. But they're struggling enormously to get GPS
into the Katherine area and they need some serious assistance
with that. There needs to be programs and incentives in
(15:21):
place to be able to make sure we have GP
services in our towns. I mean, Catherine is a very
remote area in terms of you know, when they classify
GP services, and we don't want to have that pressure
just dumped back on our hospital system. You know, if
GPS closed, it means people aren't going to have that
early support into healthcare that they need. Want to put
(15:44):
additional pressure.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
What are they saying to you in terms of why
they can't get GPS to the town.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
What is like, what's the impact?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Is it the fact that there is a shortage nationwide
or what's the go.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
The shortage doesn't help, but effectively it's because the the
salaries and entitlements just can't match other areas. So GPS
are moving to where they can secure better pay, better
conditions and in Caster and it's very very difficult to
be able to deliver that in this remote setting.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
So what do you reckon? The answer is here, what
do you think needs to happen?
Speaker 3 (16:19):
There needs to be a recognition that regional Australia is.
It just has higher cost of living, greater challenges. It's
far away and people need additional incentives to be able
to be there. But the payoff to our community is enormous.
So we'll keep a watch on what's happening here in
Catheron very closely. We would hate to see the GP
(16:42):
services closed down again. We know people are putting their
shoulder to the wheel as best that they can, but
they need support from the federal government to get this
done and ultimately the price of having of not having
GP services in places like Cathern will have a profoundly
detrimental impact on our community.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Lea Finocchiaro always appreciate your time. Thanks very much for
having your chat with us this morning.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Take care everyone.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Thank you.
Yesterday we heard from the Chief Minister about the changes
giving police more powers to deal with public drinking in
a bid to tackle i should say, antisocial behavior and
reduce alcohol related harm.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Now, those changes are going to allow.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Police to issue a seven day band drinker order for
public drinking or disorderly behavior in high risk areas, and
those committing more serious alcohol related defenses, including domestic violence,
will automatically be hit with a mandatory three month BDO.
Police are also going to be able to check people's IDs,
allowing them to refer people to various treatments, including sobering
(00:35):
up shelters. Some of these changes have been called for
by the opposition in the past. The Opposition leader Leah
Finocchio joins me on the line from Catherine this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Good morning to you, Leah, Good morning Katie and to
your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Now, Leah, first off, did you support all of those
changes last week?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
We did.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
So.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
What's happened is this government, after four long years of
dismp powering our police, have finally conceded that our police
do need to be able to ask public drinkers and
problem drunks for their identification specifics, and so we supported
that it's legislation we tried to pass a month ago.
It's come from their own alcohol review saying it was
dangerous for police to be in this situation. And it's
(01:19):
just really sad that for four long years Labor have
taken this power away from our police, only to reinstate
it now that things have gotten so unbelievably bad.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
I mean, Leah, does it go far enough?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Though, No, it doesn't, Katie and another missed opportunity from Labor.
So what this does is effectively create a consequence for
people not telling police their ID. So for police officer
says to someone, Okay, what's your name, where do you live?
And they comply, then all police can really do is
either tip out the grog or issue them with a
(01:51):
seven day band drink or order, which is a lengthy
process for our police, so it's more paperwork for police. Effectively,
if the person doesn't complying, gives the police officer the
wrong name, or is just being very difficult about it,
then the police are able to find the person. But
what we say is that it's the actual drinking in
public that is the problem, that is the behavior that
(02:13):
is not acceptable to our community, and that is why
the colp's position is that people who are drinking in
public that should be a criminal offense, not whereas labor
gone the other way and made it an offense not
to give police well, yeah, your name.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
I mean it sort of became a bit more evident,
not the sitting's just gone, but the ones prior where
the government then finally said that, yes, they have decriminalized
that public drinking. I mean, in some ways.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
You know.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Their argument here is that it was as a result
of a Royal commission into Aboriginal debts in custody. We've
spoken to the Chief Minister about this yesterday. But you're
dead right. We're in a situation where the community right
now has had enough of people being drunk or drinking
in public spaces.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
I mean.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
The changes, though, have not been without criticism. The Northern
Territory Police Associations say that they support the change to
give police the powers to require name address, you know,
by those drinking in public places, but they say that
the changes don't provide any health response or support to
address the real issues that our community faces every day. So,
(03:16):
I mean, do you think we need to go back to,
you know, sending people for mandatory rehabilitation.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
There's no question, Katie, And the contrast to territories is clear.
Under Labor public drinking doesn't have a consequence. Under the COLP,
we are going to make sure that drinking in public
easy legal, there is a criminal offense to that. We
are going to make sure that there is compulsory alcohol
treatment for chronically affected alcoholics. Because people expect better in
(03:48):
our community. They want safest streets and we cannot have
a situation where the rights of people doing the wrong
thing are above the rights of everyone else to live
in peace and client to operate their businesses and for
tourists to be able to come. You know, this is
such a huge issue. We know alcohol causes so much
misery and destruction, and yet this government can't bring himself
(04:11):
to make people who have a problem with alcohol base
those demons.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Leah, how are you going to afford to do it? Though?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Because this is something we spoke about on Friday throughout
the week that was I mean that mandatory rehabilitation. According
to Brent Potter, the Police Minister, he said like he
did say that it costs a lot of money. So
how is the COLP going to be able to afford it?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Well, I think the first point is how would he
know he's been around for less than a UK, So
I'll make that point. The second point is there are
many different ways in which to run manatory alcohol treatment.
It could be that we provide we use existing services
for example, it could be that we build new facilities.
There's a number of different ways to do it. But
(04:56):
the bigger question is what is the cost of not
doing it? Now? As a government, they pour tens and
hundreds of millions of dollars into our hospital system to
deal with people coming in constantly, chronically injured or affected
by alcohol. We pour hundreds of millions of dollars into
our police, who under this government have to act as
(05:16):
a taxi service for problem drunks. I mean there is
a lot of money being poured into this in different ways.
What we're saying is what's the cost to our community
if we don't do it? And I think under a
COLP government, if people elect us in August, they will
see an immediate change to the way our community operates.
And I think the price of that peace of mind
(05:38):
is quite literally Christless Lea.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
What about the BDR Is it going to stay in place?
If you are elected next August.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
We've been very clear over the last seven years Katie
of being in opposition, that we would review the BDR.
We just don't believe the statistics that government puts out.
We don't think it's as effective as it could be.
For example, doesn't even it's not even able to tell
that poor person working behind the counter whether or not
that person's over eighteen. So we think there's additional capability
(06:08):
it could have, but we just don't trust labor on
the effectiveness of the BDR. So we've committed to a
full review which will make that information public.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And what about the restricting of operating hours for bottle shops?
That was something that was pretty contentious last week after
hospitality were.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Not informed that it was going to happen.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
It was a request though of the Northern Territory Police Commissioner.
If the Northern Territory Police Commissioner does request something of
this of a possible colp government, are you going to
approve it?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Well, the Police Commissioner has a job to do and
it's a critical job, and governments have a different role
to play. They're not the same thing. And ultimately what
the Police Commissioner said is effectively, he has a resource issue,
and so this government because they've not been able to
make sure police are properly resourced and now creating and
aid solutions that what we know is shutting bottle shops
(07:03):
for two hours a week is only going to hurt
the poor staff who work there, who are trying to
earn some money before Christmas and they're going to be
losing ten hours a week in salary for what. I
haven't spoken to a single person in our community who
believes that this is actually going to reduce alcohol fuels.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
How do you think what how do you think it
should be gauged?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
What evidence do you think the Northern Territory government should
be looking at while they've got this trial in place
until the end of January, with the restricted bottle shop hours,
how do you think that they should gauge its success
or failure.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Well, they should be measuring the volume of alcohol sold.
So for example, in Alice Springs, we know that with
their restrictions there's just as much growth being somewhat it's
just in a shorter window of time. So again, the
only person losing out of the staff that work in
these places. So the government needs to during this trial.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
But if you've got like if you've got the emergency
water at the hospital, and if you've got the presentations
in at the hospital going down, would that demonstrate that
it has actually been a success.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
That was the next thing I was going to say.
So it needs to be looking at volume of sales,
so total total alcohol being sold, whether or not there's
been a reduction in presentations, whether or not there's been
a reduction from police having to put people into protective custody.
There's a number of ways in which government can measure
these things. Unfortunately, we have a government that isn't interested
(08:23):
in measuring the success or failure of its program because
it's more interested in the politics than it is on
caring about good outcomes for territorians. Well, it'll be interesting
to see, but we certainly do not support it, Katie.
We've been very clear about that. This is about dealing
with the people doing the wrong thing, not about punishing
everyone else in our community. I think territories are sick
(08:45):
and tired of bearing the brunt of this government's policy failures,
and they're not going to copy it any longer. Well.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Look, one of the things that you know that is
obviously a concern. I mean, there's plenty that our concerns,
but one of the things that's been a concern for
quite some time. We've spoken to Shelley out at the
IgA Zicoli. We spoke to the owners of the matter
Aranka Supermarket a number of weeks ago. I know that
then the ABC had followed that up yesterday and spoke
to them again. But this cap on their alcohol sales,
(09:14):
it is having a massive impact on those businesses.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Lea, do you think it's.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Making any difference when it comes to the anti social
behavior that we're seeing around the Northern Territory?
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Not at all. And again this is another idea from
Natasha Philes, who's been the Alcohol Minister for seven years,
and she's made it very clear right from the start
that she has something against corner stores. Now, these fifty
one stores across the territory are locally owned and operated
corner stores. They employ local people and my understanding is
(09:45):
they're collectively responsible for about eight percent of all alcohol
sales in the territory. Now to go and target and
punish those people, it just doesn't make any sense to us, Katie,
we don't. We've never supported the twenty five percent and
this deliberate targeting. And again it comes back to who
(10:07):
are you know what is the problem. The people who
have a chronic addiction to alcohol are the one to
need the support and the focus. And again, stop having
policies that are blanket policies impacting people doing the right thing.
If there are operators doing the wrong thing, Katie, I
have always said, throw the book at them. There are
plenty of liquor laws in place to breach people for
(10:29):
failing to implement their liquor licenses appropriately. Throw the book
at bad operators because no one wants them in our community.
But to just blanketly target all corner stores I think
is appalling.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Lea.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Some will be listening to you this morning, and they'll
be listening and they will be thinking the CLP sounds
like they're going to backflip on everything that Labor has
basically implemented when it comes to, you know, to alcohol policy,
and they'll be concerned that that may have an adverse
effect if you are elected in August next time. I mean,
what do you say to those listeners.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Well, we have a totally different view than Labor, and
we're not apologetic about that because under Labor alcohol fueled
violence crime across the territory is higher than ever before.
So people need to really just turn to the statistic
to see that under labor crime across every dimension is
(11:23):
so much worse. And so we won't apologize for wanting
to target problem drinking and problem drunks. They are the
people causing harm to themselves and our community. They should
be the focus and we will have sensible practical measures
in place to ensure that community safety is the number
one priority if we're successful to lead the government in
(11:44):
August next year.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
All right, Lia's something I want to ask about. We're
going to be catching up with Labour's Luke Gosling just
after ten o'clock this morning. But the Territory government's been forced,
according to the End News, to deflect friendly fire from
their federal Labor colleague on a war path about delays
building DAH and shiplift. So Luke Gosling said the Northern
Territory Government had two years from now to build that
(12:07):
shiplift in line with the implementation of the Commonwealth's plan
to grow and maintain Australia's navy fleet. Of the Northern
Territory government have as we know they've promised to build
the shiplift seven years ago, and in September that joint
venture partner CLAFF and BMD assigned final contracts to deliver
the construction program. Le just remind me, was this initially
(12:29):
an announcement by the COLP when you guys were still
in power?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It was, Katie, and maybe it's not so friendly fire.
It's good to see one of them actually speak up
and step up. I mean, what a joke we promised this.
I think it was twenty and fifteen, Katie, and here
we are a decade later, still talking about this wonderful project.
I mean it's a bit like the National Original Art
(12:54):
Gallery and Alice Springs. I think most of us don't
believe that these things are ever going to happen under LAH,
but they've shown that they're incompetent and incapable of delivering
projects in the territory, and that comes to a great
loss to our economy, a great loss to jobs and opportunities.
And if a member for Solomon can see that this
(13:14):
is an opportunity that will we will miss, just like territory,
as we can see that labor is continuing to fail
us when it comes to growing our economy well.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
As I said, we'll be speaking to Luke Gossling this
morning after ten. But I mean, this has to happen.
It just feels like it's been going on for such
a long time. I get that major projects have a
lot of hurdles in place and it can sometimes be
difficult to get them, you know, to get them up
and running. But it needs to happen. But Leah, you
are coming to us this morning from Catherine. What's going
on in Catherine today?
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Yes, I've been in Catherine yesterday and today. It's been
fantastic getting out and speaking to people. No surprises to
report to people in the top end that chrime is
the prevailing issue. I've been and spoken to businesses who
are boarded up. Youth crime i'm here is profound. There
are significant risky behaviors, door vehicles, breaking, enters, assaults, and
(14:08):
people have had enough. The businesses are reporting to me
they are losing staff, they can't attract people to come
to Catherine to live here, and it's having a massive
impact on their ability to deliver services. So it's some
very big challenges here in Catherine, much like the rest
of the territory. But It's really sad because Catherine's always
(14:29):
you know, it's a tight knit community. There are very
optimistic people and they just get on with it. You
know the rest of the territory could be burning down
around them, and Catherine people would just get on with
the job. Well, they're feeling really demoralized, and.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
We are actually going to catch up with one of
those businesses. We'll be speaking to Beck from Willow Blue
in a few minutes time, but I want.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
To ask as well.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
I understand that there's been some concerns raised with you
about the primary healthcare providers leaving Catherine.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
What exactly has gone on here?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Yeah, so when you speak to the jeeps, clinics and
everyone will remember a couple of years ago, there was
no GP services in Catherine, so locals stepped up to
fill that gap. But they're struggling enormously to get GPS
into the Katherine area and they need some serious assistance
with that. There needs to be programs and incentives in
(15:21):
place to be able to make sure we have GP
services in our towns. I mean, Catherine is a very
remote area in terms of you know, when they classify
GP services, and we don't want to have that pressure
just dumped back on our hospital system. You know, if
GPS closed, it means people aren't going to have that
early support into healthcare that they need. Want to put
(15:44):
additional pressure.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
What are they saying to you in terms of why
they can't get GPS to the town.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
What is like, what's the impact?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Is it the fact that there is a shortage nationwide
or what's the go.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
The shortage doesn't help, but effectively it's because the the
salaries and entitlements just can't match other areas. So GPS
are moving to where they can secure better pay, better
conditions and in Caster and it's very very difficult to
be able to deliver that in this remote setting.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
So what do you reckon? The answer is here, what
do you think needs to happen?
Speaker 3 (16:19):
There needs to be a recognition that regional Australia is.
It just has higher cost of living, greater challenges. It's
far away and people need additional incentives to be able
to be there. But the payoff to our community is enormous.
So we'll keep a watch on what's happening here in
Catheron very closely. We would hate to see the GP
(16:42):
services closed down again. We know people are putting their
shoulder to the wheel as best that they can, but
they need support from the federal government to get this
done and ultimately the price of having of not having
GP services in places like Cathern will have a profoundly
detrimental impact on our community.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Lea Finocchiaro always appreciate your time. Thanks very much for
having your chat with us this morning.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Take care everyone.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Thank you.
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