Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now. Yesterday on the show, we spoke extensively about the
stabbing at the Royal Darwin Show, with the alleged defender
now in custody. The situation saw the Chief Minister take
aim at apologists, who she says have come out against
her governments focused on reducing crime. She said this is
not normal, it is not acceptable, and she says under
(00:22):
her government it will not be tolerated. Now this week
in Parliament, the Government is going to be changing the
Youth Justice Act to end what they say was the
former government's failed catch and release scheme. Now joining me
on the show is the Opposition leader, Selena Ubo. Good
morning to you, Selena.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Good morning Katie now Opposition Leader.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
The situation at the show was appalling. What was your
reaction to that stabbing incident on the weekend, Oh, Katie.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
The incident at the show and the stabbing of the
fifteen year old is absolutely shocking and I think almost
every Terrritorian was completely shocked by that. Because we love
our show, we know that the show circuit goes right
across the Northern Territory. It's a really great way to
be out and about and enjoy the community. For families,
for individuals, for organizations, for businesses, etc. And to have
(01:18):
such a shocking and horrific event occur at the show
here in Darwin, I think many Territorians are absolutely gobsmacked.
And of course my thoughts are with that fifteen year
old who I understand is still in hospital. I haven't
heard an update on his condition, but of course, you know,
heart goes out and my thoughts go out to his
family as well while they wait hopefully some better news
(01:40):
about his condition.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Look, it was terrifying. I know a number of teenagers
who were there on the weekend. I've had a number
of parents contact us here at the station utterly appalled
by what had happened, but really very frightened by what
happened as well. Now, as a result, the Chief Minister
yesterday came out and said that that is why they're
(02:03):
introducing legislation aimed at youth offending this week to the
Parliament on Urgency Now. Those changes include courts now able
to consider a youth's ful criminal history when sentencing for
adult offenses, removing detention as a last resort, so courts
no longer need to exhaust all alternatives before remanding a youth,
(02:24):
stronger powers for Youth Justice officers to use anti spit
guards and reasonable force to maintain safety and prevent escapes,
as well as expanded powers for the Commissioner to manage
emergencies aligning with the Correctional Services Act. Opposition leader, do
you support the changes?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Katie? We got a urgent briefing from the government yesterday
to understand what the amendments, partly what the amendments of
the changes to the Youth Justice Act will look like.
We're still to see a bill we were not provided.
Actually we were refused to see a copy of that
bill to be able to do our homework and ready
(03:05):
for today we're going into Parliament. A sorry, ten Am,
we still haven't received a copy of that bill, so
assume we will have that circulated once the minister start talking.
So what did they.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Actually give you yesterday? Just a briefing with some.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Briefing, Yeah, briefing with some of the information, but ultimately
we weren't able to scrutinize the bill. We know it's
an important job to do when we've got less than
twenty four hours to see what those changes are. We
were talked through those changes. We'll provided with a fact
sheet from the Corrections Commissioner, which was helpful, but ultimately
we still don't know the detail of the bill which
(03:41):
is being brought in today. We understand yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
So, I mean based on what I've read out though,
in terms of courts considering your youth's full criminal history
when sentencing for our old defenses, removing detention as the
last resort, stronger powers for Youth Justice Act officers, as
well as the expanded powers for the Commissioner. I mean,
on the face of those changes, do you support those
or are the elements that you're concerned with?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Yeah, Katie, some of the changes will be things that
the community have asked for and we'll definitely agree with
and we completely understand that again, when we see all
of the detail that was when we can make that
fully informed decision when it comes to justice. We know
we want to see those consequences here in the community.
We don't ever want to see horrific incidences write what
(04:28):
was experienced at the Darwin Show on the weekend. But
we also want to see what are the other mechanisms
for prevention and early intervention for young people. And I
think that's really the part that's missing. I think people
want to see the consequences, but they want to see
what's going to change that young person's behavior, what's going
to support them to never do or to never enter
(04:49):
the justice system, or if they're in there, how do
we make sure that that young person changes their behavior
before they're let out again? And think that's ultimately the
big risk here is not having the those preventions attached
to these changes that we're going to be looking at
later today.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I think they're really fair.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Like that's a really fair point to make in terms
of when you know, when you've got youths in the
justice system, making sure that they don't come out better offenders,
we are out of the danger.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Unfortunately, we don't want to see that.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
We are going to be catching up with the Corrections
Commissioner in just a little while, So we'll put those
questions to here in terms of those courts now being
able to consider a youthful criminal history when sentencing for
adult offenses, is that something that you support.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Well, again, what we've seen or what we've heard through
that very small briefing yesterday, I think this is something
that's come from the community. We understand that making sure
that whatever changes are made through the amendments to the
Act for the Youth Justice Act do reflect the course
people talk about community expectations, but making sure that they
(05:54):
are implemented through those processes of the justice system. So
we want to make sure we can understand the whole
picture of their cade and we're hoping to do that
once we get a copy of the bill.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
All right, So is because I thought that it had
been reported by the ABC that you didn't support the changes.
So I guess what I'm trying to just wrap my
head around is what maybe you do support or what
exactly you don't support.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Yeah, and again, like I said, Katie, we've seen some
of the elements of the bill, we haven't actually seen
the bill. We want to make sure that we can
thoroughly do our job in opposition when things are brought
in on urgency, you know, we're sort of chasing our tail. Unfortunately,
and in the past, you know, as we've spoken, Katie,
you opposition has blindly supported urgent legislation because again of
(06:37):
a horrific incident that occurred earlier this year. We don't
want to be put in a position where all members
of Parliament are constantly chasing their tail and not doing
that at our jobs properly for territorians and looking at legislation.
This is law for every single Territorian, looking at legislation
that comes through the Parliament, whether it's new or whether
it's changes, so we can do our job. We can
(07:00):
ask those questions. We can make sure that every piece
of the puzzle fits well and if it doesn't, then
we can do our job and ask the questions of
why certain things in a bill or in a law
are being changed or not changed. Ye, And we just
we can't do that if we don't see the information
and so raise concerns and we're hearing things secondhand. We
were told we were offered a briefing through the media,
(07:22):
we actually had to wait and then push for that.
So we want to make sure that everything that goes
through the Territory Parliament is properly scrutinized. And at the
moment we can't do our job because we're not getting
that opportunity as members of Parliament.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So at this point in time, until you can see
that bill, until you're actually able to go through it,
you're not prepared to say whether you support it or
whether you oppose it.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Not till I see the black and white because ultimately, Katie,
as we know, that's what the courts are going to decipher,
that's what they interpret. That's their job. You can't make
a decision based on a concept. You have to see
what I know you do under them. But it's just
quite quite pressurizing in that sense, because we do want
to come out with a fulsome and wholesome response, but
(08:08):
we can't do that when we don't see all the information.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Okay, I suppose the reason I was trying to pin
you down and find out what exactly the goal is
is because as I said on the ABC, they were
reporting that you don't support the changes, So I was
trying to give the.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Okay. And one of those areas that I was asked
about yesterday, particularly from the ABC, was the reintroduction of spithood.
So obviously we had a Royal Commission here in the
territory and there were a huge amount of recommendations from
that that work was ongoing. We haven't heard an update
from the cop government of where that's at, but they're
bringing back that element. So again, it's about having the
(08:48):
whole picture so we can make an informed decision. We
can do our job and scrutinize the legislation and make
sure that we're taking on the information from community what
they want us to add.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
That's fair enough. I think that's fair enough to go to.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
I think it's fair enough to go through everything thoroughly
and then choose your position in terms of the spi hoods.
Is that something that you're opposed to?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Well, I think in terms of you know, we haven't
even had the opportunity to ask Corrections officers or Youth
Justice officers themselves of what they want because we've got
less than twenty four hours to do our job in
such an important space. If this is something the officers
are asking for or calling for, I know some of
the practices have changed. I know some of the equipment
around spit hoods and bidguards have changed. I think more
(09:31):
information from frontline officers is really important.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
This is I've seen them.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Have you seen those spit guards because I was spitguard.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yes, it's completely changed from the spit hoods and that
was completely different and new information for me that was
shared yesterday and that briefing that I mentioned. So that's
the sort of information we want to be able to
digest and take the time to ask those questions, because
that's what the general public is going to ask us
as well as the government. So we want to make
sure we have the information to also be able to
prove to territorians on those key issues that people are
(10:02):
worried about.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Look, I actually think that's fair enough. I think it's
fair enough to go through everything and actually, you know,
make a decision based on the information you've got in
front of you. I know that there'll be people listening
this morning going, we'll hang on a sick you know,
you're talking about courts considering a youth'sful criminal history when
sentencing for adult defenses, going, come on, Wilfye Pino down.
(10:24):
You know, does she support it or doesn't she? And
I get that, I get the people want to know
whether you do or don't support it. But I do
think it's fair enough that you go through that information
thoroughly and then choose your stance. I mean to those
listening this morning, though, who are thinking that you may
be being a little bit weak and sort of swinging
one way and then the other, what do you say
(10:45):
to them?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Well, I mean, one of the questions we asked in
the briefing, Katie people have spoken about youth justice boot
camps and that was one of the election commitments that
the Seale Pit provided. There has been no new boot
camps for young people, which is something that was a
key part out of youth justice and the platform that
the COLP ran on. We're you know, just on a
year on the anniversary of the CLP coming to government,
(11:08):
so you know, why are they're no new booth camps?
So like, why are we not tackling youth crime and
youth justice in a way that the COLP promised they would.
So again, like they're the sort of bits of information
that we're being asked to then ask the government because
they're not getting the information and that's something that people
really want to see in the community and we're not
seeing it. That's something that we haven't heard from the
(11:29):
CLP announcements about any new youth boot camp. So they're
the sort of things that we'll push this week in
the Parliament.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Katie, all right, well.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
We'll be keen to find out what exactly does happen
in the Parliament this week. I mean, regardless, the COLP
has got the numbers, so they're going to be able
to push things through. But I do think it's important
to get that detail and to be able to know
you know where elements may be missing or you know
some areas where there needs to be.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Some additional work. I do want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
We don't have a huge amount of time left, but
I do want to ask you. Last week the ny
General of the Northern Territory flagged extending court hours to
include Saturdays to try to get through cases more quickly
given the pressure on our watchhouses. Is this something that
you think needs to happen on urgency.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Well, that's an interesting one, and of course the judiciary
acts independently of government and if that's something they're open
to to be able to try and alleviate the pressures
of that justice pipeline we're seeing quite locked up at
the moment, Katie, then I think that could be a
way to try and get through some of that heavy load,
but again making sure that there is the adequate time
(12:37):
and resources put to be able to support the processes
of justice in the NT. I think that's something that
everyone can agree on.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
They want to see, sorry opposition later.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Another one that we spoke to the Chief Minister about
yesterday was the Northern Territories for Aboriginal Land Councils joining
forces last week accusing the government of overt racism. The
Land councils held that press conference on Thursday Day, unified
in their anger against the government's policies, specifically the new
(13:05):
public safety and prison laws, with which they said ignored
and undermined the rights of Aboriginal people. What do you
make of these concerns?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, Katie, I thought it was really strong that the
four Land councils banded together to make their point. And
ultimately it's about frustration about decision making. Anyone across the
Northern Territory with your black, white, brindle, whatever color, anyone
who has a decision made about them, their family, their neighborhood,
their community. If a decision is being made about you,
(13:37):
or your key interests or a topic area of your expertise,
and you don't have that decision making either included with
you and your community, or your family or your expertise,
then the frustration builds. I can understand the four Land
Councils making that really strong stance last week to say
involve us. When we talk about particularly justice abergeal lie leadership,
(14:00):
people always question and ask we're Averaginal leadership. There it is.
We've got four land councils and all of the traditional
owners that are represented across the Northern Territory through those
land councils saying talk to us, include us. We want
to be part of the solution when it comes to
driving the territory to a better place. And I don't
think that should be ignored or disrespected at all.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Katie, Opposition Leader.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Do you think that the government's making changes, legislative changes which.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Are racist, Well, Katie, we've seen three key peaks pieces
of legislation just this year, laws in the Northern Territory
Parliament that have not included land councils, but we're around
impact on Aboriginal land. So I don't think that's a
good way to do government in any book, government one
on one, talking to your key stakeholders, getting their ideas, concerns,
(14:48):
questions and working together on good territory law. And I
didn't see that happen when it came to those three
bits of legislation that dismissed the involvement of the land
councils in being a king. They got around territory law.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Changes oppositionally to Selina Youbo. We're gonna have to leave
it there. You've got to get into Parliament. We've got
the Corrections Commissioner, and we might talk again later in
the week to find out once you've got all the information,
whether you support those changes when it comes to the
Youth Justice Act. So no doubt we'll talk to you
again soon.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Thank you so much, Katie, thank you
Now. Yesterday on the show, we spoke extensively about the
stabbing at the Royal Darwin Show, with the alleged defender
now in custody. The situation saw the Chief Minister take
aim at apologists, who she says have come out against
her governments focused on reducing crime. She said this is
not normal, it is not acceptable, and she says under
(00:22):
her government it will not be tolerated. Now this week
in Parliament, the Government is going to be changing the
Youth Justice Act to end what they say was the
former government's failed catch and release scheme. Now joining me
on the show is the Opposition leader, Selena Ubo. Good
morning to you, Selena.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Good morning Katie now Opposition Leader.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
The situation at the show was appalling. What was your
reaction to that stabbing incident on the weekend, Oh, Katie.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
The incident at the show and the stabbing of the
fifteen year old is absolutely shocking and I think almost
every Terrritorian was completely shocked by that. Because we love
our show, we know that the show circuit goes right
across the Northern Territory. It's a really great way to
be out and about and enjoy the community. For families,
for individuals, for organizations, for businesses, etc. And to have
(01:18):
such a shocking and horrific event occur at the show
here in Darwin, I think many Territorians are absolutely gobsmacked.
And of course my thoughts are with that fifteen year
old who I understand is still in hospital. I haven't
heard an update on his condition, but of course, you know,
heart goes out and my thoughts go out to his
family as well while they wait hopefully some better news
(01:40):
about his condition.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Look, it was terrifying. I know a number of teenagers
who were there on the weekend. I've had a number
of parents contact us here at the station utterly appalled
by what had happened, but really very frightened by what
happened as well. Now, as a result, the Chief Minister
yesterday came out and said that that is why they're
(02:03):
introducing legislation aimed at youth offending this week to the
Parliament on Urgency Now. Those changes include courts now able
to consider a youth's ful criminal history when sentencing for
adult offenses, removing detention as a last resort, so courts
no longer need to exhaust all alternatives before remanding a youth,
(02:24):
stronger powers for Youth Justice officers to use anti spit
guards and reasonable force to maintain safety and prevent escapes,
as well as expanded powers for the Commissioner to manage
emergencies aligning with the Correctional Services Act. Opposition leader, do
you support the changes?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Katie? We got a urgent briefing from the government yesterday
to understand what the amendments, partly what the amendments of
the changes to the Youth Justice Act will look like.
We're still to see a bill we were not provided.
Actually we were refused to see a copy of that
bill to be able to do our homework and ready
(03:05):
for today we're going into Parliament. A sorry, ten Am,
we still haven't received a copy of that bill, so
assume we will have that circulated once the minister start talking.
So what did they.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Actually give you yesterday? Just a briefing with some.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Briefing, Yeah, briefing with some of the information, but ultimately
we weren't able to scrutinize the bill. We know it's
an important job to do when we've got less than
twenty four hours to see what those changes are. We
were talked through those changes. We'll provided with a fact
sheet from the Corrections Commissioner, which was helpful, but ultimately
we still don't know the detail of the bill which
(03:41):
is being brought in today. We understand yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
So, I mean based on what I've read out though,
in terms of courts considering your youth's full criminal history
when sentencing for our old defenses, removing detention as the
last resort, stronger powers for Youth Justice Act officers, as
well as the expanded powers for the Commissioner. I mean,
on the face of those changes, do you support those
or are the elements that you're concerned with?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Yeah, Katie, some of the changes will be things that
the community have asked for and we'll definitely agree with
and we completely understand that again, when we see all
of the detail that was when we can make that
fully informed decision when it comes to justice. We know
we want to see those consequences here in the community.
We don't ever want to see horrific incidences write what
(04:28):
was experienced at the Darwin Show on the weekend. But
we also want to see what are the other mechanisms
for prevention and early intervention for young people. And I
think that's really the part that's missing. I think people
want to see the consequences, but they want to see
what's going to change that young person's behavior, what's going
to support them to never do or to never enter
(04:49):
the justice system, or if they're in there, how do
we make sure that that young person changes their behavior
before they're let out again? And think that's ultimately the
big risk here is not having the those preventions attached
to these changes that we're going to be looking at
later today.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I think they're really fair.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Like that's a really fair point to make in terms
of when you know, when you've got youths in the
justice system, making sure that they don't come out better offenders,
we are out of the danger.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Unfortunately, we don't want to see that.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
We are going to be catching up with the Corrections
Commissioner in just a little while, So we'll put those
questions to here in terms of those courts now being
able to consider a youthful criminal history when sentencing for
adult offenses, is that something that you support.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Well, again, what we've seen or what we've heard through
that very small briefing yesterday, I think this is something
that's come from the community. We understand that making sure
that whatever changes are made through the amendments to the
Act for the Youth Justice Act do reflect the course
people talk about community expectations, but making sure that they
(05:54):
are implemented through those processes of the justice system. So
we want to make sure we can understand the whole
picture of their cade and we're hoping to do that
once we get a copy of the bill.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
All right, So is because I thought that it had
been reported by the ABC that you didn't support the changes.
So I guess what I'm trying to just wrap my
head around is what maybe you do support or what
exactly you don't support.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Yeah, and again, like I said, Katie, we've seen some
of the elements of the bill, we haven't actually seen
the bill. We want to make sure that we can
thoroughly do our job in opposition when things are brought
in on urgency, you know, we're sort of chasing our tail. Unfortunately,
and in the past, you know, as we've spoken, Katie,
you opposition has blindly supported urgent legislation because again of
(06:37):
a horrific incident that occurred earlier this year. We don't
want to be put in a position where all members
of Parliament are constantly chasing their tail and not doing
that at our jobs properly for territorians and looking at legislation.
This is law for every single Territorian, looking at legislation
that comes through the Parliament, whether it's new or whether
it's changes, so we can do our job. We can
(07:00):
ask those questions. We can make sure that every piece
of the puzzle fits well and if it doesn't, then
we can do our job and ask the questions of
why certain things in a bill or in a law
are being changed or not changed. Ye, And we just
we can't do that if we don't see the information
and so raise concerns and we're hearing things secondhand. We
were told we were offered a briefing through the media,
(07:22):
we actually had to wait and then push for that.
So we want to make sure that everything that goes
through the Territory Parliament is properly scrutinized. And at the
moment we can't do our job because we're not getting
that opportunity as members of Parliament.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So at this point in time, until you can see
that bill, until you're actually able to go through it,
you're not prepared to say whether you support it or
whether you oppose it.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Not till I see the black and white because ultimately, Katie,
as we know, that's what the courts are going to decipher,
that's what they interpret. That's their job. You can't make
a decision based on a concept. You have to see
what I know you do under them. But it's just
quite quite pressurizing in that sense, because we do want
to come out with a fulsome and wholesome response, but
(08:08):
we can't do that when we don't see all the information.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Okay, I suppose the reason I was trying to pin
you down and find out what exactly the goal is
is because as I said on the ABC, they were
reporting that you don't support the changes, So I was
trying to give the.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Okay. And one of those areas that I was asked
about yesterday, particularly from the ABC, was the reintroduction of spithood.
So obviously we had a Royal Commission here in the
territory and there were a huge amount of recommendations from
that that work was ongoing. We haven't heard an update
from the cop government of where that's at, but they're
bringing back that element. So again, it's about having the
(08:48):
whole picture so we can make an informed decision. We
can do our job and scrutinize the legislation and make
sure that we're taking on the information from community what
they want us to add.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
That's fair enough. I think that's fair enough to go to.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
I think it's fair enough to go through everything thoroughly
and then choose your position in terms of the spi hoods.
Is that something that you're opposed to?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Well, I think in terms of you know, we haven't
even had the opportunity to ask Corrections officers or Youth
Justice officers themselves of what they want because we've got
less than twenty four hours to do our job in
such an important space. If this is something the officers
are asking for or calling for, I know some of
the practices have changed. I know some of the equipment
around spit hoods and bidguards have changed. I think more
(09:31):
information from frontline officers is really important.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
This is I've seen them.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Have you seen those spit guards because I was spitguard.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yes, it's completely changed from the spit hoods and that
was completely different and new information for me that was
shared yesterday and that briefing that I mentioned. So that's
the sort of information we want to be able to
digest and take the time to ask those questions, because
that's what the general public is going to ask us
as well as the government. So we want to make
sure we have the information to also be able to
prove to territorians on those key issues that people are
(10:02):
worried about.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Look, I actually think that's fair enough. I think it's
fair enough to go through everything and actually, you know,
make a decision based on the information you've got in
front of you. I know that there'll be people listening
this morning going, we'll hang on a sick you know,
you're talking about courts considering a youth'sful criminal history when
sentencing for adult defenses, going, come on, Wilfye Pino down.
(10:24):
You know, does she support it or doesn't she? And
I get that, I get the people want to know
whether you do or don't support it. But I do
think it's fair enough that you go through that information
thoroughly and then choose your stance. I mean to those
listening this morning, though, who are thinking that you may
be being a little bit weak and sort of swinging
one way and then the other, what do you say
(10:45):
to them?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Well, I mean, one of the questions we asked in
the briefing, Katie people have spoken about youth justice boot
camps and that was one of the election commitments that
the Seale Pit provided. There has been no new boot
camps for young people, which is something that was a
key part out of youth justice and the platform that
the COLP ran on. We're you know, just on a
year on the anniversary of the CLP coming to government,
(11:08):
so you know, why are they're no new booth camps?
So like, why are we not tackling youth crime and
youth justice in a way that the COLP promised they would.
So again, like they're the sort of bits of information
that we're being asked to then ask the government because
they're not getting the information and that's something that people
really want to see in the community and we're not
seeing it. That's something that we haven't heard from the
(11:29):
CLP announcements about any new youth boot camp. So they're
the sort of things that we'll push this week in
the Parliament.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Katie, all right, well.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
We'll be keen to find out what exactly does happen
in the Parliament this week. I mean, regardless, the COLP
has got the numbers, so they're going to be able
to push things through. But I do think it's important
to get that detail and to be able to know
you know where elements may be missing or you know
some areas where there needs to be.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Some additional work. I do want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
We don't have a huge amount of time left, but
I do want to ask you. Last week the ny
General of the Northern Territory flagged extending court hours to
include Saturdays to try to get through cases more quickly
given the pressure on our watchhouses. Is this something that
you think needs to happen on urgency.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Well, that's an interesting one, and of course the judiciary
acts independently of government and if that's something they're open
to to be able to try and alleviate the pressures
of that justice pipeline we're seeing quite locked up at
the moment, Katie, then I think that could be a
way to try and get through some of that heavy load,
but again making sure that there is the adequate time
(12:37):
and resources put to be able to support the processes
of justice in the NT. I think that's something that
everyone can agree on.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
They want to see, sorry opposition later.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Another one that we spoke to the Chief Minister about
yesterday was the Northern Territories for Aboriginal Land Councils joining
forces last week accusing the government of overt racism. The
Land councils held that press conference on Thursday Day, unified
in their anger against the government's policies, specifically the new
(13:05):
public safety and prison laws, with which they said ignored
and undermined the rights of Aboriginal people. What do you
make of these concerns?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, Katie, I thought it was really strong that the
four Land councils banded together to make their point. And
ultimately it's about frustration about decision making. Anyone across the
Northern Territory with your black, white, brindle, whatever color, anyone
who has a decision made about them, their family, their neighborhood,
their community. If a decision is being made about you,
(13:37):
or your key interests or a topic area of your expertise,
and you don't have that decision making either included with
you and your community, or your family or your expertise,
then the frustration builds. I can understand the four Land
Councils making that really strong stance last week to say
involve us. When we talk about particularly justice abergeal lie leadership,
(14:00):
people always question and ask we're Averaginal leadership. There it is.
We've got four land councils and all of the traditional
owners that are represented across the Northern Territory through those
land councils saying talk to us, include us. We want
to be part of the solution when it comes to
driving the territory to a better place. And I don't
think that should be ignored or disrespected at all.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Katie, Opposition Leader.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Do you think that the government's making changes, legislative changes which.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Are racist, Well, Katie, we've seen three key peaks pieces
of legislation just this year, laws in the Northern Territory
Parliament that have not included land councils, but we're around
impact on Aboriginal land. So I don't think that's a
good way to do government in any book, government one
on one, talking to your key stakeholders, getting their ideas, concerns,
(14:48):
questions and working together on good territory law. And I
didn't see that happen when it came to those three
bits of legislation that dismissed the involvement of the land
councils in being a king. They got around territory law.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Changes oppositionally to Selina Youbo. We're gonna have to leave
it there. You've got to get into Parliament. We've got
the Corrections Commissioner, and we might talk again later in
the week to find out once you've got all the information,
whether you support those changes when it comes to the
Youth Justice Act. So no doubt we'll talk to you
again soon.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Thank you so much, Katie, thank you
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