Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now on the week that was on Friday, we discussed
(00:02):
with Minister Robin carl Her called to scrap a forum
that provided policy advice on the prevention of domestic, family
and sexual violence, reconstituting that panel along government and non
government lines. It was created back in twenty nineteen as
part of the then Labor government's ten year domestic violence strategy,
and the forum met quarterly and allowed frontline organizations to
(00:25):
share information with government departments. But the government announced the
dissolution of that forum effective immediately. Now joining me on
the show is the opposition leader Selena Ubo. Good morning
to you. Oh, let's try that again. Hopefully we're able
to get Selena on the line. Just bear with me
(00:46):
a moment. Good morning, Selena. All right, just having some
issues there with that phone line. I will see what
I am able to work out. Just just bearing with me.
Let's try this. Good morning, Selena. No, we're having some issues.
I'm not too sure what's gone on there, but we
will get Crystal to rectify that as quickly as we can.
In the meantime, I'm just going to play you a
(01:08):
little bit of the audio that we did here, of course,
from Robin Carl the Minister on Friday, take a listen.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
We've seen the result of that work over the past decade,
and I think most people would agree that something needs
to change. I was very keen to elevate the Indigenous
Advisory Forum. They are critical in dealing with the high
numbers of domestic violence victims who are Aboriginal. We need
(01:35):
Aboriginal solutions in that space, we need community leaders in
that space. We're told regularly you need to be listening
to Aboriginal people on this issue. So I'm listening.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So hopefully we're able to head across to the opposition
leader Selena Rubo on the line right now. Just bearing
with me for a moment, moment, Selena, Have I got
you there? Yes, wonderful to speak to you this morning.
I can now thank you so much. I think it
was more an issue on our side. Thank you Selena
for joining us. Now tell me what is your take
(02:06):
on the scrapping of this forum, Katie.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
It actually devisal common sense that Robin kale, as the
minister focused on preventing family and domestic violence in the territory,
would scrap this expert advisory forum and doesn't make any sense,
and it comes as a huge shop, to be.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Honest, so we had her on the show on Friday.
I'm not sure whether you heard that audio. I might
just play it for you again so that you're able
to get her take take a listen.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
We've seen the result of that work over the past decade,
and I think most people would agree that something needs
to change. I was very keen to elevate the Indigenous
Advisory Forum. They are critical in dealing with the high
numbers of domestic violence victims who are Aboriginal. We need
(02:54):
Aboriginal solutions in that space, we need community leaders in
that space. We're told regularly you need to be listening
to Aboriginal people on this issue, so I'm listening.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
What's your take on those comments, Katie.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I'm really disappointed with the comments that Robin Kale has
made in that Yes, we need to make sure that
there's Aboriginal voices and solutions when it comes to addressing
and tackling domestic, family and sexual violence in the Northern Territory.
But it's not just an Aboriginal issue, Katie. Unfortunately, domestic
and family violence affects all people, all colors, all races,
(03:29):
all age groups. In the Northern Territory, and I think
that we're going to fall into a trap if we
have the minister saying this is only an Aboriginal issue,
that we can only listen to Aboriginal people in this space,
because it's going to isolate every other person who experiences
domestic and family violence in the Northern Territory who is
an Aboriginal. I think, look what she was saying.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
I know that's not how I heard it at all,
but what she was saying is that we do indeed
have a really serious issue in the Northern Territory, absolutely
protictipating violence. And what we've been doing for the last
ten years even longer hasn't been working.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
The Advisory Forum, as you said, Katie, was established in
twenty nineteen and a really key part of the work
that they have been focused on is that Domestic Violence
Reduction Framework, which is a ten year framework. We know
this is not going to be an issue that can
be solved overnight. If it was, it would have happened already.
But what we do need to see is expert advice
(04:32):
from across the field, not just average and expert advice.
Domestic Violence Network expert advice being given to government to
be able to implement, to be able to work side
by side, hand in hand with those non government organizations
and our government services at the NTY level obviously funded
buyer needs based funding which we want to see continue
(04:55):
to advocate for at the federal level if we are
to reduce and prevent the mes stick and family violence
in the Northern Territory. If we don't get the what.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Work would you say has been done by the Forum
which has made a real and meaningful impact when it
comes to domestic, family and sexual violence that listeners would
be able to.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
See, Katie.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
It's that influence of that reduction framework. As I said,
the expert advice through the Advisory format Forum is to
make sure that the domestic violence sector is represented properly
at the table when it comes to providing those solutions
and ideas. We know that the domestic family violence sector
(05:42):
is not funded properly. The CLP has promised their election
commitment Katie, as you know, was one hundred and eighty
million dollars to address the current need. This is not
even addressing the future need. Unfortunately, addressing the current need
and the ask by the sector was one hundred and
eighty million dollars. The CLP government has well, they did
in their election commitment promise that they would commit to that.
(06:05):
Now they're changing, they're chopping and changing. They're now not
listening to expert advice. They're now questioning the framework. Are
they going to scrap it? Who knows? We'll have to
Unfortunately hold our breath and wait and see, Katie, and
they're refusing to roll out one hundred and eighty million dollars. Katie.
I've spoken to countless legal services and countless DV sector
providers across the whole of the Northern Territory and they
(06:28):
are all scratching their heads and going why are we
not being supported when we know there is an increase
in domestic violence assaults by twenty seven percent across the
Northern Territory. And we're seeing the government, on the other hand,
now come out and scrap expert advice.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Would you say to listeners this morning, because they're already
messaging through saying why not try this. What we've done
for the last eight years clearly has not worked. Why
not try a different approach?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Why not try resourcing the sector? Katie?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
That's what why die to the last day years? Selena
like this is a really hard battle that you've got
at the moment. We're literally you know, every time like
every time there's a discussion about these people are going well,
hang on, you couldn't make an impact for the last day.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Years, Katie. When it comes to addressing domestic violence, As
I said, there is no quick fix. Unfortunately, if there was,
it would have been done before. But what we don't
want to see, well, you know what I don't want
to see, what the sector doesn't want to see from
all the conversations and meetings that I've had over the
last seven months, is reinventing the wheel, completely scrapping and
(07:35):
going back to ground zero. We need to look the
territory and see what is working well, making sure that
that can be boosted and further resourced and grown or extended. Unfortunately,
because domestic violence is not reducing, as we know from
the crime stats, how do we make sure that those
local and organizational solutions are supported by government to grow?
(07:56):
Unfortunate because the need is growing. And then how do
we make sure that we can continue to advocate doesn't
matter what political colors you wear, but continue to advocate
for that important needs based funding.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
All Right, We're going to move along because there is
a bit I want to cover and we're quite pressed
for time this morning. Now I want to ask you.
We know that we've seen a number of crimes in
Catherine recently. It's not the first time you and I
have discussed this. How are things going at this point
from your perspective? I mean, we saw a home invasion
over the weekend, a woman waking to a man inside
(08:30):
a room.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, Katie, this is a deeply disturbing incident that's obviously
just happened in the last couple of days here in Catherine.
We know that her CLP has made lots of noise
about locking people up after crime has been committed, but
not a real plan. We've failed to see so far,
a real plan from the CLP government about stopping crime
(08:51):
and preventing crime, which is again what they promised at
the election, Katie. And even this morning we heard the
acting Police Commissioner, Martin Dohle say this morning on ABC Radio,
you can't arrest your way out of this problem, and
all the evidence shows that it won't work. And that's
coming from the top dog, the top brass of the police, Katie.
So when it comes to those violent crimes. Unfortunately, we're
(09:13):
seeing that here in Catherine. What we've seen just recently
is becoming deeply disturbing. We want to see what is
the plan on us, what is the plan by the
Sea pick upment, because they've been quite silent when it
comes to crime in Catherine.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
All right, well, we are going to have the Police
Commissioner on the show as well in just a couple
of minutes, Selena, I want to talk to you about
a petition which has been launched by Northern Territory Women. Now,
this petition has been sent to me by some expectant mums.
They're really very concerned about the situation with the private
hospital maternity services ceasing and the closure of the maternity
(09:48):
ward by June sixth. The petition's now been signed. Yesterday
when we spoke about it, it was around one hundred and
twenty people. It's now up to five hundred and twenty
four signatures. Essentially, they are calling for the Northern Territory
government to provide a transparent, regularly updated online portal outlining
(10:10):
private maternity care options, as well as host a public
forum and commit to finding a long term solution. Selena,
is this something that you would be prepared to take
up for these expectant mums and maybe present to the Parliament.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Yeah, Katie, I haven't seen that petition, but absolutely I
think that the COLP has not spent any of their
seven months in government talking about any health care plans.
A lot has been reactive as we've seen just particularly
at the beginning of this year with that announcement of
the maternity private sorry, the maternity ward and the private hospital.
(10:49):
So I would absolutely, as you know, having experienced some
amazing maternity care here in the Northern Territory, be able
to and where I can add voice and support the
advocacy from the mums and dads and cares and family
members who are all very concerned about the lack of
choice and what it'll mean for particularly the capital city
(11:09):
of the Northern Territory, but for attracting and retaining Northern Territorians.
Be able to have that choice here in the NT
and to be able to have that healthcare at that
such a critical time in someone's life with that maternity care,
I'm very open and happy to see the petition and
support it where possible, Katie.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Well, we'll try and send it through to you and look,
and I think the other part of the discussion as
well is the impact that it's going to have on
you know, on maternity services within the Royal Darwin Hospital too,
I would suspect, because then you're going to end up
with mums that were ordinarily going through the private hospital
having to go through the public hospital and that's going
(11:48):
to mean I would suspect, and already very busy Ward
is going to get busier.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, Katie, I had a meeting just yesterday with some
medical experts who represent you know, over three hundred doctors
and so there is some very real concern from the
medical profession about what the impact of this decision will be. Again,
the Steelpit government is silent on this. Why are they
not coming out and talking to territories about what the
(12:15):
plans are. How is there going to be support for
expectant mums and families when it comes to the choice
of maternity care in the Northern Territory Again another issue
they're silent about. Well, we'll keep asking those questions.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Yeah, and look, we we certainly put in a request
to have the Health Minister Steve Edgington on so we
will keep at that. Selena Rubo, the opposition leader. Good
to speak with you this morning.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Thank you, thank you so much, Katie
Now on the week that was on Friday, we discussed
(00:02):
with Minister Robin carl Her called to scrap a forum
that provided policy advice on the prevention of domestic, family
and sexual violence, reconstituting that panel along government and non
government lines. It was created back in twenty nineteen as
part of the then Labor government's ten year domestic violence strategy,
and the forum met quarterly and allowed frontline organizations to
(00:25):
share information with government departments. But the government announced the
dissolution of that forum effective immediately. Now joining me on
the show is the opposition leader Selena Ubo. Good morning
to you. Oh, let's try that again. Hopefully we're able
to get Selena on the line. Just bear with me
(00:46):
a moment. Good morning, Selena. All right, just having some
issues there with that phone line. I will see what
I am able to work out. Just just bearing with me.
Let's try this. Good morning, Selena. No, we're having some issues.
I'm not too sure what's gone on there, but we
will get Crystal to rectify that as quickly as we can.
In the meantime, I'm just going to play you a
(01:08):
little bit of the audio that we did here, of course,
from Robin Carl the Minister on Friday, take a listen.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
We've seen the result of that work over the past decade,
and I think most people would agree that something needs
to change. I was very keen to elevate the Indigenous
Advisory Forum. They are critical in dealing with the high
numbers of domestic violence victims who are Aboriginal. We need
(01:35):
Aboriginal solutions in that space, we need community leaders in
that space. We're told regularly you need to be listening
to Aboriginal people on this issue. So I'm listening.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So hopefully we're able to head across to the opposition
leader Selena Rubo on the line right now. Just bearing
with me for a moment, moment, Selena, Have I got
you there? Yes, wonderful to speak to you this morning.
I can now thank you so much. I think it
was more an issue on our side. Thank you Selena
for joining us. Now tell me what is your take
(02:06):
on the scrapping of this forum, Katie.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
It actually devisal common sense that Robin kale, as the
minister focused on preventing family and domestic violence in the territory,
would scrap this expert advisory forum and doesn't make any sense,
and it comes as a huge shop, to be.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Honest, so we had her on the show on Friday.
I'm not sure whether you heard that audio. I might
just play it for you again so that you're able
to get her take take a listen.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
We've seen the result of that work over the past decade,
and I think most people would agree that something needs
to change. I was very keen to elevate the Indigenous
Advisory Forum. They are critical in dealing with the high
numbers of domestic violence victims who are Aboriginal. We need
(02:54):
Aboriginal solutions in that space, we need community leaders in
that space. We're told regularly you need to be listening
to Aboriginal people on this issue, so I'm listening.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
What's your take on those comments, Katie.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I'm really disappointed with the comments that Robin Kale has
made in that Yes, we need to make sure that
there's Aboriginal voices and solutions when it comes to addressing
and tackling domestic, family and sexual violence in the Northern Territory.
But it's not just an Aboriginal issue, Katie. Unfortunately, domestic
and family violence affects all people, all colors, all races,
(03:29):
all age groups. In the Northern Territory, and I think
that we're going to fall into a trap if we
have the minister saying this is only an Aboriginal issue,
that we can only listen to Aboriginal people in this space,
because it's going to isolate every other person who experiences
domestic and family violence in the Northern Territory who is
an Aboriginal. I think, look what she was saying.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
I know that's not how I heard it at all,
but what she was saying is that we do indeed
have a really serious issue in the Northern Territory, absolutely
protictipating violence. And what we've been doing for the last
ten years even longer hasn't been working.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
The Advisory Forum, as you said, Katie, was established in
twenty nineteen and a really key part of the work
that they have been focused on is that Domestic Violence
Reduction Framework, which is a ten year framework. We know
this is not going to be an issue that can
be solved overnight. If it was, it would have happened already.
But what we do need to see is expert advice
(04:32):
from across the field, not just average and expert advice.
Domestic Violence Network expert advice being given to government to
be able to implement, to be able to work side
by side, hand in hand with those non government organizations
and our government services at the NTY level obviously funded
buyer needs based funding which we want to see continue
(04:55):
to advocate for at the federal level if we are
to reduce and prevent the mes stick and family violence
in the Northern Territory. If we don't get the what.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Work would you say has been done by the Forum
which has made a real and meaningful impact when it
comes to domestic, family and sexual violence that listeners would
be able to.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
See, Katie.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
It's that influence of that reduction framework. As I said,
the expert advice through the Advisory format Forum is to
make sure that the domestic violence sector is represented properly
at the table when it comes to providing those solutions
and ideas. We know that the domestic family violence sector
(05:42):
is not funded properly. The CLP has promised their election
commitment Katie, as you know, was one hundred and eighty
million dollars to address the current need. This is not
even addressing the future need. Unfortunately, addressing the current need
and the ask by the sector was one hundred and
eighty million dollars. The CLP government has well, they did
in their election commitment promise that they would commit to that.
(06:05):
Now they're changing, they're chopping and changing. They're now not
listening to expert advice. They're now questioning the framework. Are
they going to scrap it? Who knows? We'll have to
Unfortunately hold our breath and wait and see, Katie, and
they're refusing to roll out one hundred and eighty million dollars. Katie.
I've spoken to countless legal services and countless DV sector
providers across the whole of the Northern Territory and they
(06:28):
are all scratching their heads and going why are we
not being supported when we know there is an increase
in domestic violence assaults by twenty seven percent across the
Northern Territory. And we're seeing the government, on the other hand,
now come out and scrap expert advice.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Would you say to listeners this morning, because they're already
messaging through saying why not try this. What we've done
for the last eight years clearly has not worked. Why
not try a different approach?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Why not try resourcing the sector? Katie?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
That's what why die to the last day years? Selena
like this is a really hard battle that you've got
at the moment. We're literally you know, every time like
every time there's a discussion about these people are going well,
hang on, you couldn't make an impact for the last day.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Years, Katie. When it comes to addressing domestic violence, As
I said, there is no quick fix. Unfortunately, if there was,
it would have been done before. But what we don't
want to see, well, you know what I don't want
to see, what the sector doesn't want to see from
all the conversations and meetings that I've had over the
last seven months, is reinventing the wheel, completely scrapping and
(07:35):
going back to ground zero. We need to look the
territory and see what is working well, making sure that
that can be boosted and further resourced and grown or extended. Unfortunately,
because domestic violence is not reducing, as we know from
the crime stats, how do we make sure that those
local and organizational solutions are supported by government to grow?
(07:56):
Unfortunate because the need is growing. And then how do
we make sure that we can continue to advocate doesn't
matter what political colors you wear, but continue to advocate
for that important needs based funding.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
All Right, We're going to move along because there is
a bit I want to cover and we're quite pressed
for time this morning. Now I want to ask you.
We know that we've seen a number of crimes in
Catherine recently. It's not the first time you and I
have discussed this. How are things going at this point
from your perspective? I mean, we saw a home invasion
over the weekend, a woman waking to a man inside
(08:30):
a room.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, Katie, this is a deeply disturbing incident that's obviously
just happened in the last couple of days here in Catherine.
We know that her CLP has made lots of noise
about locking people up after crime has been committed, but
not a real plan. We've failed to see so far,
a real plan from the CLP government about stopping crime
(08:51):
and preventing crime, which is again what they promised at
the election, Katie. And even this morning we heard the
acting Police Commissioner, Martin Dohle say this morning on ABC Radio,
you can't arrest your way out of this problem, and
all the evidence shows that it won't work. And that's
coming from the top dog, the top brass of the police, Katie.
So when it comes to those violent crimes. Unfortunately, we're
(09:13):
seeing that here in Catherine. What we've seen just recently
is becoming deeply disturbing. We want to see what is
the plan on us, what is the plan by the
Sea pick upment, because they've been quite silent when it
comes to crime in Catherine.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
All right, well, we are going to have the Police
Commissioner on the show as well in just a couple
of minutes, Selena, I want to talk to you about
a petition which has been launched by Northern Territory Women. Now,
this petition has been sent to me by some expectant mums.
They're really very concerned about the situation with the private
hospital maternity services ceasing and the closure of the maternity
(09:48):
ward by June sixth. The petition's now been signed. Yesterday
when we spoke about it, it was around one hundred and
twenty people. It's now up to five hundred and twenty
four signatures. Essentially, they are calling for the Northern Territory
government to provide a transparent, regularly updated online portal outlining
(10:10):
private maternity care options, as well as host a public
forum and commit to finding a long term solution. Selena,
is this something that you would be prepared to take
up for these expectant mums and maybe present to the Parliament.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Yeah, Katie, I haven't seen that petition, but absolutely I
think that the COLP has not spent any of their
seven months in government talking about any health care plans.
A lot has been reactive as we've seen just particularly
at the beginning of this year with that announcement of
the maternity private sorry, the maternity ward and the private hospital.
(10:49):
So I would absolutely, as you know, having experienced some
amazing maternity care here in the Northern Territory, be able
to and where I can add voice and support the
advocacy from the mums and dads and cares and family
members who are all very concerned about the lack of
choice and what it'll mean for particularly the capital city
(11:09):
of the Northern Territory, but for attracting and retaining Northern Territorians.
Be able to have that choice here in the NT
and to be able to have that healthcare at that
such a critical time in someone's life with that maternity care,
I'm very open and happy to see the petition and
support it where possible, Katie.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Well, we'll try and send it through to you and look,
and I think the other part of the discussion as
well is the impact that it's going to have on
you know, on maternity services within the Royal Darwin Hospital too,
I would suspect, because then you're going to end up
with mums that were ordinarily going through the private hospital
having to go through the public hospital and that's going
(11:48):
to mean I would suspect, and already very busy Ward
is going to get busier.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, Katie, I had a meeting just yesterday with some
medical experts who represent you know, over three hundred doctors
and so there is some very real concern from the
medical profession about what the impact of this decision will be. Again,
the Steelpit government is silent on this. Why are they
not coming out and talking to territories about what the
(12:15):
plans are. How is there going to be support for
expectant mums and families when it comes to the choice
of maternity care in the Northern Territory Again another issue
they're silent about. Well, we'll keep asking those questions.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Yeah, and look, we we certainly put in a request
to have the Health Minister Steve Edgington on so we
will keep at that. Selena Rubo, the opposition leader. Good
to speak with you this morning.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Thank you, thank you so much, Katie
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