Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So first up this morning we're going to be speaking
to the opposition leader Leofanocchiaro. At nine point thirty, we're
going to be hearing from the CEO of Hospitality here
in the Northern Territory, Alex Bruce, to talk more about
this and also about the confirmation their palis are going
to be taken off model shops in Alice Springs. Now
we are yet to hear as well whether the curfew
(00:20):
is going to be extended. The government expected to make
that announcement today. They last month, of course, announced a
two week youth curfew for the Alice Springs CBD, which
is due to expire tomorrow. That curfew, as we know it,
bans young people under the age of eighteen from entering
the town center from six pm to six am without
a valid reason. But well, yesterday a letter went out
(00:46):
from the Northern Territory Police to these takeaway licensed premises
saying that on Wednesday, the twenty seventh of March, the
Minister for Police declared the emergency situation in Alice Springs
a high risk area. As part of the Northern Terror
True Police Force response to the situation, thirty three recruit
constables commenced temporary duties in Alice Springs on Friday, the
(01:07):
twenty ninth of March. Now, these recruit constables are being
utilized in support roles and conducting point of sale intervention
duties at all takeaway licensed premises within Alice Springs, but
due to training commitments, the recruitment constables are going to
seize their duties in Alice Springs tomorrow and post this
(01:28):
stage there will be a well a hybrid pusey operation
which was in place prior to the twenty ninth of March,
and this operation is going to continue, they say, to
provide ongoing assessments at the takeaway alcohol licensed premises in
Alice Springs to determine the required operational footprint, realigning remaining
(01:50):
police auxiliary liquor inspectors to ensure efficient and effective local
staffing arrangements, a collaboration with Licensing mt to ensure compliance
with the LEE correct, an enhanced alcohol policing unit staffed
by constables supporting the hybrid operation dedicated to compliance with
the Liquor Act of twenty nineteen as well as targeting
(02:12):
secondary supply, and there will also be a focus on
dedicated social order operations and coordinated events management. So that
is what the Northern Territory Police are saying is going
to happen. They've also said I would ask you to
consider the needs of your licensed premises post tenth of
April and reiterate the responsibilities of licensed premises to maintain
(02:35):
the public and amenity in and around your respective premises,
so that one there going out from the Northern Territory
Police to those takeaway liquor those takeaway licensed premises. It
has been sent to us, so we'll talk more about
that with the Opposition leader and also with the CEO
(02:56):
of Hospitality. Now, while there continues to be issues within
the health system, and it is this morning being reported
by the Anti Independent that the neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Royal Darwent Hospital is no longer treating children born before
thirty two weeks gestation because of a lack of staff. Now,
(03:17):
according to the report in The Independent, a medical professional
peak body has said that the decision to cut the
service is a safer option than carrying on, but called
on the government to fix the underlying issues that have
led to the current healthcare crisis in the Northern Territory. So,
according to the article, the Department of Chief Executive Office. Sorry,
the department chief Executive Officer, Doctor Marco Brassino, had said
(03:41):
that because of the volume and level of patient care
required in the NICU at Royal Darwent Hospital, the Department
has temporarily adjusted the acceptance criteria, downgrading it from critical
service Level six to level four. And he's apparently said
this decision was made with clinical advice to optimize RDH's
(04:04):
existing resources, making sure that they align with current demands
and workforce constraints and deliver high quality, safe services in
a sustainable manner. RDH is committed to making sure the
safe provision of care to vulnerable patients is its highest priority.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Now we have put in a request.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
I've put in a request to the Department of Health
to provide a some kind of response to this situation.
Let us know how long it's going to be happening for,
but also give us an idea of how many babies
had to be cared for in this unit that will
not be able to be over the next year or so,
where they are going to go, or just how long
this is going to last. I mean, there's some of
(04:42):
the questions that I've put to the Department We're yet
to receive a response at this point in time, so
we'll stay on to it. We are expecting that the
Nursing and midw Free Union is going to be joining
us this morning before eleven o'clock, so we'll talk more
about it. Then. We're also going to find out more
about a couple of your favor It's Sports reopening for
a swim. Before ten o'clock, we'll be catching up with
(05:04):
convat Scaralars. There's also an update on Murray Valley in
kephil Itis, and I'll also let you know how the
swimmers are going at the Nationals on the Gold Coast
this week. There is a lot happening. As always, let's
take a really quick break. When we come back, you're
going to be hearing from the opposition leader, Leofanokiao.
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only on Mix one oh four point nine.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
You are listening to Mix one O four point nine.
It is just on sixteen minutes after nine o'clock.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Now that number.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
If you'd like to call through this morning eight nine
four one one oh four nine, you can also send
us a message zero four double nine seven double one
three six zero now. The government last month announced this
two week youth curfew for alice Springs CBD. It's due
to expire two more. The curfew banns young people under
the age of eighteen, as we know, from entering the
(09:04):
town center from six pm until six am without a
valid reason. Joining us in the studio to talk more
about this and quite a few different issues around the place.
Actually is the opposition leader Leah Fanochi ara O. Good
morning to you.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Leah, Good morning Kadian to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Nowaliah, first off, should this curfew be extended? We know
that these meetings held yesterday, we're expecting an announcement to
be made today.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
What do you think should happen.
Speaker 8 (09:28):
Well, our position is very clear. We think the curfew
needs to be extended until the end of April so
that the right amount of data can be collected. Of course,
labor pulled back Pali you know, they took Pali's off
bottle shops, then they drag them back in the wake
of the riot, and so what we've got is data
with Pali's on bottle shops. As of Wednesday, Pali's A
(09:48):
game will be ripped off bottle shops and sent to Darwin.
So what we want to see is additional data when
there's not going to be coverage on those bottle shops.
So we are very hopeful in urging the government in
their announcement today to extend the curfew to the end
of April, to commit to full coverage on bottle shops
by police while the palis return to Darwin, to make
(10:09):
sure that we maintain a level of law and order
across that town, but also have a proper data collection.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Look, I think that's fair enough. I think that actually
looking at the data and then being able to make
an informed decision is a good step. So extend that
that curfew until the end of April. And then, did
you say, because they're not going to have the palis
on bottle shops? As we've spoken about just a moment ago,
we know that the police have now emailed those takeaway
licensed premises to say that they're not going to have
(10:37):
the palis on there. They say that they're moving to
like a hybrid model where they will obviously be officers
doing patrols, but not specifically outside those bottle shops for
all of their opening hours. But do you think that
they should have offices on the bottle.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Shop one under?
Speaker 8 (10:54):
So we have been calling on the government not I mean,
this goes back weeks Katie, where we said government talked
about removing Palis from our regions and sending them to
Darwin for training, and we said, you cannot do this
without a plan in place. There has to be full
coverage on bottle shops. We had wishy washy promises from
the disgrace police minister that everything would be fine. We
(11:15):
knew it wouldn't be fine, Josh Bergo, and you wouldn't
be fine. Bill Yan knew it wouldn't be fine. We
spent two weeks in Parliament begging the government not to
make this stupid decision, and they went ahead with it.
We then saw the riot that's now resulted in a lockdown.
So all sorts of chaos has happened because of their
badly thought out and even worsely executed plan around Palis.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
So we don't want to see that again.
Speaker 8 (11:38):
We've been very clear we support Palis and we'll always
have police on bottle shops if elected. But what we're
calling for in the meantime is if they're going to
send Palis back tomorrow, they must have police on bottle shops.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
So where are we going to get these police from?
Because We've already seen, you know, a contingent sent down
to Ola Springs. We know we've got twenty rotating from
South Australia as well. But all the while, you know,
we still have people up here, people, and Catherine saying
I called the police wasn't able to get through. So
how are we actually going to manage this?
Speaker 8 (12:09):
And this is a really difficult question because Labor have
failed to properly recruit and failed to stop our police
from leaving in droves, and they've been leaving in droves
because they haven't for eight years felt.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Supported by a labor government.
Speaker 8 (12:23):
Now there are three surveys from the Northern Territory Police
Association that show that over ninety percent of respondents don't
believe the Labor government support them. And so whilst Labor
has been failing to keep our police, failing to provide
an environment room and where they feel supported, respected valued,
what we have is an untenable situation. So Labor have
(12:45):
to they're going to have to move police around to
cover this. But we can't have a situation where Alice
Springs is perpetually in lockdown. This sends a terrible message
to the nation. We've got a tourist season coming up,
that's going to be well, very very bad, very badly
impacted the drive market. You can basically kiss it goodbye, Katie,
because it's just not going to facilitate an environment where
(13:08):
people want to visit.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
So got to get on.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
The government does say that the reason, you know, the
reason that they don't have the palies on the bottle
shops and that they're transitioning through the constable program is
that they're quitting you know. So while I understand what
you're saying that you need to have those palies on
bottle shops and look, it is one of those alcohol
measures I think that has worked. How do you fill
(13:32):
this role long term if you don't actually have people
wanting to do that job.
Speaker 8 (13:37):
Well, it comes back to it's the same for palis
as it is for police. We've got our police force
as a bucket full of holes, and you've got the
disgraced police minister. They're standing there with his little children's
watering can trying to fill it up.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
It's just not going to happen.
Speaker 8 (13:52):
So we've got to provide a better environment, both for
our palies and for our sworn constables as well. And
so that's around health and well being. It's around mental
health support, it's around making sure they feel backed and supported.
And importantly, and something we've championed NonStop is that they
need greater powers to be able to deal with the
law and order issue, and we must drive down crime
(14:13):
by having stronger laws and stronger consequences.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Look, we are expecting over the coming days that police
review to come out. It is due to be made public,
so I'll be really really interested to see exactly what
that review finds the COLP. Are you committed to really
implementing all of those recommendations of that review.
Speaker 8 (14:31):
We are the ones who called for the review in
the first place, Katie. I've been calling for that review
for three years. It certainly didn't turn out how I intended.
I wanted it to be a full bipartisan parliamentary inquiry.
It's turned out to be a behind closed doors.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Typically we've somebody who's independent, like Vince Kelly. You cannot
deny that he's independent.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Well, it's not about Vince.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
It's about the fact that Labor have had this report
for two months. I mean they've been able to see
the interim recommendation.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
The final report last week that's right, So we have
not seen that.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
The Parliament has not seen that.
Speaker 8 (15:06):
Labor have clearly been making announcements trying to get permit
political mileage out of something that is, you know, their
so called independent reports.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
I wonder whether it's more a matter that that review
is actually going to show us just how tough the
situation is for our Northern Territory police right now and
just how short we are and they're trying to get
ahead of the curve. But I don't think it's going
to fly anyway.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
We'll find out. We'll find out, will he does.
Speaker 8 (15:32):
We're actually getting a briefing this afternoon, Katy, So yesterday
I had an offer extended from the Chief Minister's office
to be briefed. So we'll get that briefing today and
certainly have something to say about it tomorrow. But ultimately
what we know is we have to back in police.
Government's announcements are very unclear. No one knows how tangible
(15:52):
this increase in numbers is what it's going to look like.
But certainly for Alice Springs that curve he needs to
extend to the end of the month. There needs to
be full coverage on bottle shops and this is Labour's
mess to fix, Katie. They have done these over a
number of years and they've made their bed.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
They've got to lay in it.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Look, I do want to ask a couple of other
things this morning. I want to move along.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Yesterday we spoke to a.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Mum about a fight which had occurred out at the
Palmeston bus exchange a couple of weeks ago involving her
son after what appears to sort of be, you know,
a one on one fight to begin with, the team
is then chased by a group with at least one
person armed. That incident has seen the mom call for
additional security at bus exchanges. We know that the government
yesterday announced that additional eight million dollars over the next
(16:36):
two years. It's going to be used to maintain the
boosted twenty one transit officers on the bus network. Is
that enough for Do you think that we need to
have patrols at the time of the day when kids
are catching those buses and being picked up in the vos.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
There's no doubt, And I just it's funny. It was
not funny at all. It's horrific that this has come up.
Speaker 8 (16:57):
But I literally just wrote yet another letter to Joel
Bowden on Friday last week. I think it was from
constituents having exactly the same concerns as your listener about
situations happening violent crime at the bus interchange. And of
course all you get back from Labor is rubbish and spin.
It's just their rhetoric doesn't match the reality that people
(17:18):
are experiencing on the grid.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
What do you reckon needs to happen? Do you think
additional security or what would you do if you're elected
in August.
Speaker 8 (17:24):
We actually have a very exciting announcement in this space
that we will be announcing soon. So I won't flag it,
but what I will say is there will certainly be
a serious increase in powers for transit safety officers.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Public safety is our number one concern.
Speaker 8 (17:38):
We cannot have a growing population, a strong business community,
thriving schools, thriving children and families if we don't get
our community sorted on crime. So it's our big focus
and our announcement will hit the mark. I think territories
will look to that and say that's a very practical,
sensible measure.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
So that's coming over the coming days.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Yeah, coming weeks, Katie, so don't worry. You all know
about it.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
We'll wait here now.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Look, there does continue to be issues within the health
system at the moment, and this morning it's being reported
by the NTI Independent that the neonatal Intensive Care Unit
at Royal dah And Hospitals no longer treating children board
before thirty two weeks gestation because of a lack of staff.
I've put in a request to try and find out
some further detail about this from the Department of Health
(18:24):
to no avail at this point in time, but hopefully
we will get something. What do you make of this decision?
Speaker 8 (18:30):
It's terrifying, Katie, and it's just another example of reasons
for people to leave and people not to come. Now,
we need a health system that provides certainty to people.
And when we're talking about women having babies at less
than thirty two weeks, that is very very early in
the pregnancy. That is a very vulnerable woman and child,
(18:51):
and people need to have confidence that if that happens,
that there's going to be support available. Now, what the
department is now doing is basically going to have to
try and triage and identify women who might be at
risk of preterm birth, send them into state, totally dislocated
from their community, their family, their friends, their support network
(19:11):
at what is and will continue to be a very
difficult time for them.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
And have you been contacted about this by parents.
Speaker 8 (19:18):
I haven't been contacted by parents, but certainly I had
a very lengthy conversation with our candidate for Port Darwin,
Robin Carr, who has had thirty years experience in the
health sector and this is unprecedented. She told me, this
is unprecedented for the Northern Territory. That is a very
specialized level of care, a neonatal intensive care unit, and
the people who work in that are unbelievably specialized professionals.
(19:42):
So it means we're losing good people and it means
we're not attracting good people either, and that's a bigger
problem for the territory. It all comes back to liveability, crime,
people feeling safe, people able to get into housing, and
so again it's what we're seeing as a reduction in
services because the government hasn't.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
I think the reduction in services, particularly when it comes
to health, is a bit of a sleeper issue right now.
That's impacting a lot of people, Like even when you
talk about first time mums or second time, third time. However,
many time trying to trying to book for scans and
that kind of thing. When you look at people trying
to book for ultrasounds, you know, breast ultrasounds, stomach ultrasounds,
(20:23):
all sorts of different things, there's huge wait times. I
understand that those kind of services are very often outsourced
to you know, to other organizations to deliver, but the
point is, it doesn't feel as though we've got enough
of them at the moment. And like I said, I
think that these are sleeper issues that are continuing to
impact a lot of Territorians every day. But because we've
(20:43):
got such a massive issue of crime, we're often not
talking about the other health issues to be discussed. But
like I'd be really really interested to sort of to
hear from listeners this morning or any point really if
you are in a situation where you're trying to book
in for a different at service and you're not actually
able to get in, because I think it is something
that we need to have a bit of focus on.
Speaker 8 (21:05):
We do, and health is one of those key issues,
just like education. If you're looking to move to the
territory for an opportunity you're going to be checking out
those systems and thinking is this going to support my family? Equally,
if you're hear right now, you're thinking to yourself, if
something happens to me, you know, am I going to
be supported? And so this is just another erosion of
service delivery, which is an erosion of our lifestyle and
(21:27):
ability to live here. This is a very vulnerable babies
and mothers we're talking about here. It's incredibly scary stuff.
And if we're cutting out the neonatal intensive care unit
too because of staffing, what else are we cutting out?
That's the big question. You've hit the nail on the
head there, Katie. And again this is all symptomatic of
the fact that we don't have a save community, that
(21:50):
our economy is going backwards so that there's less people here,
less people coming, and around and round we go. This
is a downward spiral and if it doesn't get fixed soon,
who knows where we're going to end up?
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Katie.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Well, one of the other questions that a listener has
just asked, as well as how much is it then
costing for us to have patients transported by care flight? Look,
I do think that that's a question that again is
well worth asking.
Speaker 8 (22:12):
It's not just the care flight though, when you have
a pre term baby. My babies were early but not
under thirty two weeks, but they spend a lot of
time in hospital. So if you have a baby born
under thirty two weeks, you could be in hospital for
weeks or months caring for that child. So you then
have a mother with no support or perhaps one support
person in hotel accommodation, traveling backwards and forwards from hospital
(22:35):
every day. It's a very difficult situation and so cost
is one thing, but also that dislocation at a very
scary time in your life is it's horrible.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Well, Leah fan okiiro the opposition leader, always appreciate your time.
We may talk again later in the week based on
what comes out of this. Police reviewer steps out. Thank you,
Thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Care everyone.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
It is just on nine thirty. You're listening to Mix
one O four nine's three sixty
So first up this morning we're going to be speaking
to the opposition leader Leofanocchiaro. At nine point thirty, we're
going to be hearing from the CEO of Hospitality here
in the Northern Territory, Alex Bruce, to talk more about
this and also about the confirmation their palis are going
to be taken off model shops in Alice Springs. Now
we are yet to hear as well whether the curfew
(00:20):
is going to be extended. The government expected to make
that announcement today. They last month, of course, announced a
two week youth curfew for the Alice Springs CBD, which
is due to expire tomorrow. That curfew, as we know it,
bans young people under the age of eighteen from entering
the town center from six pm to six am without
a valid reason. But well, yesterday a letter went out
(00:46):
from the Northern Territory Police to these takeaway licensed premises
saying that on Wednesday, the twenty seventh of March, the
Minister for Police declared the emergency situation in Alice Springs
a high risk area. As part of the Northern Terror
True Police Force response to the situation, thirty three recruit
constables commenced temporary duties in Alice Springs on Friday, the
(01:07):
twenty ninth of March. Now, these recruit constables are being
utilized in support roles and conducting point of sale intervention
duties at all takeaway licensed premises within Alice Springs, but
due to training commitments, the recruitment constables are going to
seize their duties in Alice Springs tomorrow and post this
(01:28):
stage there will be a well a hybrid pusey operation
which was in place prior to the twenty ninth of March,
and this operation is going to continue, they say, to
provide ongoing assessments at the takeaway alcohol licensed premises in
Alice Springs to determine the required operational footprint, realigning remaining
(01:50):
police auxiliary liquor inspectors to ensure efficient and effective local
staffing arrangements, a collaboration with Licensing mt to ensure compliance
with the LEE correct, an enhanced alcohol policing unit staffed
by constables supporting the hybrid operation dedicated to compliance with
the Liquor Act of twenty nineteen as well as targeting
(02:12):
secondary supply, and there will also be a focus on
dedicated social order operations and coordinated events management. So that
is what the Northern Territory Police are saying is going
to happen. They've also said I would ask you to
consider the needs of your licensed premises post tenth of
April and reiterate the responsibilities of licensed premises to maintain
(02:35):
the public and amenity in and around your respective premises,
so that one there going out from the Northern Territory
Police to those takeaway liquor those takeaway licensed premises. It
has been sent to us, so we'll talk more about
that with the Opposition leader and also with the CEO
(02:56):
of Hospitality. Now, while there continues to be issues within
the health system, and it is this morning being reported
by the Anti Independent that the neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Royal Darwent Hospital is no longer treating children born before
thirty two weeks gestation because of a lack of staff. Now,
(03:17):
according to the report in The Independent, a medical professional
peak body has said that the decision to cut the
service is a safer option than carrying on, but called
on the government to fix the underlying issues that have
led to the current healthcare crisis in the Northern Territory. So,
according to the article, the Department of Chief Executive Office. Sorry,
the department chief Executive Officer, Doctor Marco Brassino, had said
(03:41):
that because of the volume and level of patient care
required in the NICU at Royal Darwent Hospital, the Department
has temporarily adjusted the acceptance criteria, downgrading it from critical
service Level six to level four. And he's apparently said
this decision was made with clinical advice to optimize RDH's
(04:04):
existing resources, making sure that they align with current demands
and workforce constraints and deliver high quality, safe services in
a sustainable manner. RDH is committed to making sure the
safe provision of care to vulnerable patients is its highest priority.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Now we have put in a request.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
I've put in a request to the Department of Health
to provide a some kind of response to this situation.
Let us know how long it's going to be happening for,
but also give us an idea of how many babies
had to be cared for in this unit that will
not be able to be over the next year or so,
where they are going to go, or just how long
this is going to last. I mean, there's some of
(04:42):
the questions that I've put to the Department We're yet
to receive a response at this point in time, so
we'll stay on to it. We are expecting that the
Nursing and midw Free Union is going to be joining
us this morning before eleven o'clock, so we'll talk more
about it. Then. We're also going to find out more
about a couple of your favor It's Sports reopening for
a swim. Before ten o'clock, we'll be catching up with
(05:04):
convat Scaralars. There's also an update on Murray Valley in
kephil Itis, and I'll also let you know how the
swimmers are going at the Nationals on the Gold Coast
this week. There is a lot happening. As always, let's
take a really quick break. When we come back, you're
going to be hearing from the opposition leader, Leofanokiao.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
The Christian O'Connell show.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I remember a U two warm up show and there
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He had leather cacs on everything. Said, you really do,
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Speaker 2 (05:37):
So, oh my god.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
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I told Bono this and he went to under surgery
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It's a bolt build service and you shouldn't have to
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Katiewolf covering the issues that affect you every day and
only on Mix one oh four point nine.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
You are listening to Mix one O four point nine.
It is just on sixteen minutes after nine o'clock.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Now that number.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
If you'd like to call through this morning eight nine
four one one oh four nine, you can also send
us a message zero four double nine seven double one
three six zero now. The government last month announced this
two week youth curfew for alice Springs CBD. It's due
to expire two more. The curfew banns young people under
the age of eighteen, as we know, from entering the
(09:04):
town center from six pm until six am without a
valid reason. Joining us in the studio to talk more
about this and quite a few different issues around the place.
Actually is the opposition leader Leah Fanochi ara O. Good
morning to you.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Leah, Good morning Kadian to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Nowaliah, first off, should this curfew be extended? We know
that these meetings held yesterday, we're expecting an announcement to
be made today.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
What do you think should happen.
Speaker 8 (09:28):
Well, our position is very clear. We think the curfew
needs to be extended until the end of April so
that the right amount of data can be collected. Of course,
labor pulled back Pali you know, they took Pali's off
bottle shops, then they drag them back in the wake
of the riot, and so what we've got is data
with Pali's on bottle shops. As of Wednesday, Pali's A
(09:48):
game will be ripped off bottle shops and sent to Darwin.
So what we want to see is additional data when
there's not going to be coverage on those bottle shops.
So we are very hopeful in urging the government in
their announcement today to extend the curfew to the end
of April, to commit to full coverage on bottle shops
by police while the palis return to Darwin, to make
(10:09):
sure that we maintain a level of law and order
across that town, but also have a proper data collection.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Look, I think that's fair enough. I think that actually
looking at the data and then being able to make
an informed decision is a good step. So extend that
that curfew until the end of April. And then, did
you say, because they're not going to have the palis
on bottle shops? As we've spoken about just a moment ago,
we know that the police have now emailed those takeaway
licensed premises to say that they're not going to have
(10:37):
the palis on there. They say that they're moving to
like a hybrid model where they will obviously be officers
doing patrols, but not specifically outside those bottle shops for
all of their opening hours. But do you think that
they should have offices on the bottle.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Shop one under?
Speaker 8 (10:54):
So we have been calling on the government not I mean,
this goes back weeks Katie, where we said government talked
about removing Palis from our regions and sending them to
Darwin for training, and we said, you cannot do this
without a plan in place. There has to be full
coverage on bottle shops. We had wishy washy promises from
the disgrace police minister that everything would be fine. We
(11:15):
knew it wouldn't be fine, Josh Bergo, and you wouldn't
be fine. Bill Yan knew it wouldn't be fine. We
spent two weeks in Parliament begging the government not to
make this stupid decision, and they went ahead with it.
We then saw the riot that's now resulted in a lockdown.
So all sorts of chaos has happened because of their
badly thought out and even worsely executed plan around Palis.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
So we don't want to see that again.
Speaker 8 (11:38):
We've been very clear we support Palis and we'll always
have police on bottle shops if elected. But what we're
calling for in the meantime is if they're going to
send Palis back tomorrow, they must have police on bottle shops.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
So where are we going to get these police from?
Because We've already seen, you know, a contingent sent down
to Ola Springs. We know we've got twenty rotating from
South Australia as well. But all the while, you know,
we still have people up here, people, and Catherine saying
I called the police wasn't able to get through. So
how are we actually going to manage this?
Speaker 8 (12:09):
And this is a really difficult question because Labor have
failed to properly recruit and failed to stop our police
from leaving in droves, and they've been leaving in droves
because they haven't for eight years felt.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Supported by a labor government.
Speaker 8 (12:23):
Now there are three surveys from the Northern Territory Police
Association that show that over ninety percent of respondents don't
believe the Labor government support them. And so whilst Labor
has been failing to keep our police, failing to provide
an environment room and where they feel supported, respected valued,
what we have is an untenable situation. So Labor have
(12:45):
to they're going to have to move police around to
cover this. But we can't have a situation where Alice
Springs is perpetually in lockdown. This sends a terrible message
to the nation. We've got a tourist season coming up,
that's going to be well, very very bad, very badly
impacted the drive market. You can basically kiss it goodbye, Katie,
because it's just not going to facilitate an environment where
(13:08):
people want to visit.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
So got to get on.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
The government does say that the reason, you know, the
reason that they don't have the palies on the bottle
shops and that they're transitioning through the constable program is
that they're quitting you know. So while I understand what
you're saying that you need to have those palies on
bottle shops and look, it is one of those alcohol
measures I think that has worked. How do you fill
(13:32):
this role long term if you don't actually have people
wanting to do that job.
Speaker 8 (13:37):
Well, it comes back to it's the same for palis
as it is for police. We've got our police force
as a bucket full of holes, and you've got the
disgraced police minister. They're standing there with his little children's
watering can trying to fill it up.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
It's just not going to happen.
Speaker 8 (13:52):
So we've got to provide a better environment, both for
our palies and for our sworn constables as well. And
so that's around health and well being. It's around mental
health support, it's around making sure they feel backed and supported.
And importantly, and something we've championed NonStop is that they
need greater powers to be able to deal with the
law and order issue, and we must drive down crime
(14:13):
by having stronger laws and stronger consequences.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Look, we are expecting over the coming days that police
review to come out. It is due to be made public,
so I'll be really really interested to see exactly what
that review finds the COLP. Are you committed to really
implementing all of those recommendations of that review.
Speaker 8 (14:31):
We are the ones who called for the review in
the first place, Katie. I've been calling for that review
for three years. It certainly didn't turn out how I intended.
I wanted it to be a full bipartisan parliamentary inquiry.
It's turned out to be a behind closed doors.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Typically we've somebody who's independent, like Vince Kelly. You cannot
deny that he's independent.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Well, it's not about Vince.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
It's about the fact that Labor have had this report
for two months. I mean they've been able to see
the interim recommendation.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
The final report last week that's right, So we have
not seen that.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
The Parliament has not seen that.
Speaker 8 (15:06):
Labor have clearly been making announcements trying to get permit
political mileage out of something that is, you know, their
so called independent reports.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
I wonder whether it's more a matter that that review
is actually going to show us just how tough the
situation is for our Northern Territory police right now and
just how short we are and they're trying to get
ahead of the curve. But I don't think it's going
to fly anyway.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
We'll find out. We'll find out, will he does.
Speaker 8 (15:32):
We're actually getting a briefing this afternoon, Katy, So yesterday
I had an offer extended from the Chief Minister's office
to be briefed. So we'll get that briefing today and
certainly have something to say about it tomorrow. But ultimately
what we know is we have to back in police.
Government's announcements are very unclear. No one knows how tangible
(15:52):
this increase in numbers is what it's going to look like.
But certainly for Alice Springs that curve he needs to
extend to the end of the month. There needs to
be full coverage on bottle shops and this is Labour's
mess to fix, Katie. They have done these over a
number of years and they've made their bed.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
They've got to lay in it.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Look, I do want to ask a couple of other
things this morning. I want to move along.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Yesterday we spoke to a.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Mum about a fight which had occurred out at the
Palmeston bus exchange a couple of weeks ago involving her
son after what appears to sort of be, you know,
a one on one fight to begin with, the team
is then chased by a group with at least one
person armed. That incident has seen the mom call for
additional security at bus exchanges. We know that the government
yesterday announced that additional eight million dollars over the next
(16:36):
two years. It's going to be used to maintain the
boosted twenty one transit officers on the bus network. Is
that enough for Do you think that we need to
have patrols at the time of the day when kids
are catching those buses and being picked up in the vos.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
There's no doubt, And I just it's funny. It was
not funny at all. It's horrific that this has come up.
Speaker 8 (16:57):
But I literally just wrote yet another letter to Joel
Bowden on Friday last week. I think it was from
constituents having exactly the same concerns as your listener about
situations happening violent crime at the bus interchange. And of
course all you get back from Labor is rubbish and spin.
It's just their rhetoric doesn't match the reality that people
(17:18):
are experiencing on the grid.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
What do you reckon needs to happen? Do you think
additional security or what would you do if you're elected
in August.
Speaker 8 (17:24):
We actually have a very exciting announcement in this space
that we will be announcing soon. So I won't flag it,
but what I will say is there will certainly be
a serious increase in powers for transit safety officers.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Public safety is our number one concern.
Speaker 8 (17:38):
We cannot have a growing population, a strong business community,
thriving schools, thriving children and families if we don't get
our community sorted on crime. So it's our big focus
and our announcement will hit the mark. I think territories
will look to that and say that's a very practical,
sensible measure.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
So that's coming over the coming days.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Yeah, coming weeks, Katie, so don't worry. You all know
about it.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
We'll wait here now.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Look, there does continue to be issues within the health
system at the moment, and this morning it's being reported
by the NTI Independent that the neonatal Intensive Care Unit
at Royal dah And Hospitals no longer treating children board
before thirty two weeks gestation because of a lack of staff.
I've put in a request to try and find out
some further detail about this from the Department of Health
(18:24):
to no avail at this point in time, but hopefully
we will get something. What do you make of this decision?
Speaker 8 (18:30):
It's terrifying, Katie, and it's just another example of reasons
for people to leave and people not to come. Now,
we need a health system that provides certainty to people.
And when we're talking about women having babies at less
than thirty two weeks, that is very very early in
the pregnancy. That is a very vulnerable woman and child,
(18:51):
and people need to have confidence that if that happens,
that there's going to be support available. Now, what the
department is now doing is basically going to have to
try and triage and identify women who might be at
risk of preterm birth, send them into state, totally dislocated
from their community, their family, their friends, their support network
(19:11):
at what is and will continue to be a very
difficult time for them.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
And have you been contacted about this by parents.
Speaker 8 (19:18):
I haven't been contacted by parents, but certainly I had
a very lengthy conversation with our candidate for Port Darwin,
Robin Carr, who has had thirty years experience in the
health sector and this is unprecedented. She told me, this
is unprecedented for the Northern Territory. That is a very
specialized level of care, a neonatal intensive care unit, and
the people who work in that are unbelievably specialized professionals.
(19:42):
So it means we're losing good people and it means
we're not attracting good people either, and that's a bigger
problem for the territory. It all comes back to liveability, crime,
people feeling safe, people able to get into housing, and
so again it's what we're seeing as a reduction in
services because the government hasn't.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
I think the reduction in services, particularly when it comes
to health, is a bit of a sleeper issue right now.
That's impacting a lot of people, Like even when you
talk about first time mums or second time, third time. However,
many time trying to trying to book for scans and
that kind of thing. When you look at people trying
to book for ultrasounds, you know, breast ultrasounds, stomach ultrasounds,
(20:23):
all sorts of different things, there's huge wait times. I
understand that those kind of services are very often outsourced
to you know, to other organizations to deliver, but the
point is, it doesn't feel as though we've got enough
of them at the moment. And like I said, I
think that these are sleeper issues that are continuing to
impact a lot of Territorians every day. But because we've
(20:43):
got such a massive issue of crime, we're often not
talking about the other health issues to be discussed. But
like I'd be really really interested to sort of to
hear from listeners this morning or any point really if
you are in a situation where you're trying to book
in for a different at service and you're not actually
able to get in, because I think it is something
that we need to have a bit of focus on.
Speaker 8 (21:05):
We do, and health is one of those key issues,
just like education. If you're looking to move to the
territory for an opportunity you're going to be checking out
those systems and thinking is this going to support my family? Equally,
if you're hear right now, you're thinking to yourself, if
something happens to me, you know, am I going to
be supported? And so this is just another erosion of
service delivery, which is an erosion of our lifestyle and
(21:27):
ability to live here. This is a very vulnerable babies
and mothers we're talking about here. It's incredibly scary stuff.
And if we're cutting out the neonatal intensive care unit
too because of staffing, what else are we cutting out?
That's the big question. You've hit the nail on the
head there, Katie. And again this is all symptomatic of
the fact that we don't have a save community, that
(21:50):
our economy is going backwards so that there's less people here,
less people coming, and around and round we go. This
is a downward spiral and if it doesn't get fixed soon,
who knows where we're going to end up?
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Katie.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Well, one of the other questions that a listener has
just asked, as well as how much is it then
costing for us to have patients transported by care flight? Look,
I do think that that's a question that again is
well worth asking.
Speaker 8 (22:12):
It's not just the care flight though, when you have
a pre term baby. My babies were early but not
under thirty two weeks, but they spend a lot of
time in hospital. So if you have a baby born
under thirty two weeks, you could be in hospital for
weeks or months caring for that child. So you then
have a mother with no support or perhaps one support
person in hotel accommodation, traveling backwards and forwards from hospital
(22:35):
every day. It's a very difficult situation and so cost
is one thing, but also that dislocation at a very
scary time in your life is it's horrible.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Well, Leah fan okiiro the opposition leader, always appreciate your time.
We may talk again later in the week based on
what comes out of this. Police reviewer steps out. Thank you,
Thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Care everyone.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
It is just on nine thirty. You're listening to Mix
one O four nine's three sixty
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