Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As I said, we know that the government's forging ahead
with these legislative changes and reform aimed at reducing crime
in the Northern Territory. But many have been questioning where
those who break the law will go. They are some
of the questions that have been asked over the last
couple of years, or over the last certainly a few years.
As people have been getting in trouble. You know, why
(00:21):
aren't we sending them to jail has been some of
the questions raised. Others saying, you know, our jails are
bursting at the seam. Surely there's got to be other options.
But what we know is that the plan that the
COLP has unveiled this going to see an increase to
the territory's corrections capacity by three thousand beds by twenty
twenty eight. Additional capacity is in the first step, one
(00:46):
thousand extra beds. That's over the next four years. It
will also see the immediate conversion of don Dale Youth
Detention Center for temporary use by up to fifty low
security adult male prisoners in December. Now, the Opposition leader
Selena Ubo joins me on the line. Good morning to you, Selena.
Let me just try that again once more. Good morning
(01:09):
to you, Selena.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Thanks so much for your time. Now, obviously a big
announcement yesterday by the COLP government. What did Labor? What
did Labor make of that announcement that was made by
the COLP in terms of increasing the correctional facilities and
the number of beads O Katie.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
A lot of what the COLP unveiled yesterday was actually
Labour's plans before the elections, So of course we're not
disputing majority of that plan. I'd say probably about ninety
percent of the CLP's plan yesterday is just based on
what we put before the election around some of those plans,
particularly around the pressures of the correction system and supporting
(01:47):
our corrections officers and the staff. So we welcomed that
the clpiece continued on some of that plan that we
already had in corrections. There was one key element that
we don't support me I've been asking questions, and that
was the move of youth from Alice Springs, Katie, to
the to Darwin to the Darwin Detention Center and then
(02:08):
the new distention center that's purpose built, and that was
refurbished in Alice Springs is going to be now used
for female prisoners, So we're just really keen to know
what cost that will be. Will staff correction staff have
to move to Darwin to then facilitate the extra young
people from Central Australian from the Barkley in Darwin. So
they're the things that the CLP hasn't answered, So we'll
(02:30):
just be asking those questions for them, Katie.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, I think they're fair enough questions to ask. I mean,
exactly how much it's going to cost is a very
fair question. Selena, you did and I will go to
the issue with the youths in Alice in a moment,
but you did mention that you know that the large
majority of use of what the CLP announced yesterday is
actually part of was actually part of Labour's plans. But
then you have also got a situation where you know
(02:54):
where the likes of Chancey Paik has said that jaling
is failing. So which is it?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, Katie, Well, we did our work to cost those
changes when we were going to the territory election, because
obviously it actually got to be your job if you're
going to be in government, you have to show territories,
what you're going to pay for and how you're going
to pay it. So we costed our changes and our
plan around corrections two hundred and thirty six million. We
know THEE and changes to our original plane thatt THEP
(03:24):
has added to. So we're wanting to ask those questions,
of course, but what the THEOP hasn't done, Katie. And
this is an area of work that we were many
many years in the making in our former labor government,
which is around alternatives to custody. We've got too up
and running in the territory around adult alternatives to custody,
and that's really focused on change of behavior of offending,
(03:47):
really going to those root causes of why someone ends
up in the justice system, addressing those behaviors and then
stepping them out of the justice system because it really
cost taxpayers over three hundred and twenty dollars a day
for one prisoner, whether that's someone who's been sentenced or
on remand in our jail. So if we're talking about
stepping people out, making sure that we have people who
(04:09):
face consequences, but ultimately Katie, who don't reoffend because it
costs all of us money. They don't reoffend that we've
got those programs in place, and we've got those alternatives
to custody so we can see people contribute positively back
into our communities wherever that may be. So they're the
sort of things we would love to see the COLP
talk about. They've spoken a lot about consequences and punitive measures,
(04:34):
which we understand around community safety. We don't dispute that,
but what we'd like to see is what are those
plans around alternatives to custody, expanding those programs to really
address those root causes of crime and the behavior of offending.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I guess you're in a bit of a rock and
a hard place at the moment though, as the opposition,
because a lot of people, you know, we saw the
results from the election, people were really fed up with
Labour's approach when it comes to crime. Honest, A lot
of the feedback that we are receiving over the last
few days is that people are actually really quite pleased
(05:07):
that the COLP government is taking action here and is
making moves to really try to treat the issue of
crime more seriously and feel that Labor did not do
that and did.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Not listen to them and we understand, Katie, and that
was obviously the big decision at the territory election, which
we absolutely respect. We welcome any of the measures that
the colp is going to be looking at around reducing
crime and preventing crime, because that's what they promised territory
and so we want to make sure that they live
up to those promises and those commitments. We'll ask those
questions of course around how they're going to do that,
(05:42):
because you know, we would love to see and to
be able to support those good measures of how they're
going to do that if it's something that we feel
is going to make our community safer. We also want
to make sure we know how they're going to pay
for it. Territories deserve to know how they're going to pay.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Do you have any idea? I mean, based on what
you said a little bit earlier, is that you know
so that quite a bit of what they are implementing
you say was part of Labour's plan, about ninety percent
of what they're implementing. So how much did you guys
cost it at and what do you think that their
plan that they announced yesterday is going to cost the
territory to.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Expayer our costings for that prior to the election Katie
was two hundred and thirty six million. Obviously, with those
changes the CLPS put in around the Alla Springs youth
being moved to Darwin, that was not part of our plan.
So that's something I hope that they're costing or that
they'll be able to tell territories how much it will
cost for those moves, and particularly around impact of staff
(06:35):
and making sure that that is a process that happens
smoothly and if it's cost effective then they can share
that with territorians. Also, again, those expansion of those programs
and processes to support the judiciary around sentencing to either
(06:56):
programs that can help support someone out of justice. In
terms of addressing that reoffending the Abitual Justice Agreement, they've
been very silent on that. That's really around making sure
that those root causes of crime and adult justice for
actual territories to represent. I think in jail for men,
it's nine out of ten territories in jail are Aboriginal.
(07:18):
For women, it's eight out of ten women in our
justice system are Aboriginal. So really going to again that
collaborative work that bipartisans support, which Lifanociarro when she was
the opposition leader signed on TOYEP. So we're very keen
to really focus on that. We understand the measures that
are put in place, we understand territorians expectations, so we
want to be very constructive, particularly around an area that
(07:40):
is quite complex and unfortunately does cost a lot of money.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
So, I mean, do you guys anticipate or is labor
thinking that it is going to cost taxpayers around seven
hundred million dollars to fully implement. I know that that
had been published in the media. Is that right or
is that aiming? I mean, is that sort of saying
a bit higher than what it's actually going to cost.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Katie. That's when we're talking about building a new jail,
and some of the area of plans is around new
wings to be able to alleviate that pressure for you know,
corrections and that process. But if we're looking at building
a new jail, which the CLP hasn't quite come that
far to say, which I'm assuming that that may be
(08:21):
you know, in the works for them, but that would
be up to around seven hundred million to a billion dollars.
If you're looking at a new facility, if you're looking
at a new prison in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
All right, I want to ask you about the aspect
that I know that the Labor Party was actually asking
about in question time last week, and that is children
being moved from the Alla Springs Youth Correctional Facility up
here to Darwin. Is that a concern from your perspective?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Well, the CLP has talked about, especially with lowering the
age of criminal responsibility. Last week the Chief Minister and
her team have spoken about having more programs and having
more opportunity, need to be on country, having averaginal leadership
really brought to the table all things that you know
Labor supported and that we were you know, in the
works with government. Didn't quite land there obviously before the election,
(09:10):
but it's again and it's an ongoing piece of work.
So we welcome that from the COLP. But you can't
do that, Katie. If you take a child away from
family and country, you know, fifteen hundred kilometers, you don't
give that child the opportunity to be either on country
in a program that is really focused on having those
consequences faced, but stepping that young person out of the
(09:32):
justice system, having leadership from that community whether it's average
leadership or non average leadership. Either way it doesn't matter.
But having that person really face the consequences in their
community and understand the impact on their community, you're not
going to get that. If a child from Mala Springs
or Tenant Kriegers moved to Darla.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
The Chief Minister said on the show yesterday that there
are not as many visits to those children as what
people would expect. The Commissioner for Correction said the same
thing this morning. What's your reaction to that, Katie.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
There's some very strong measures around making sure that those
young people are supported and that can be through It
may not be through family, it could be through other processes.
But there's also a process that is legislated which is
a community visitor program and that is monthly. There's reports
provided to the Responsible Minister on the operations of a
(10:25):
youth detention center and we have the same for our
work camps and our prisons for adult corrections as well.
So there are those processes to make sure a young
person or an adult is getting what they need in
terms of you know what's written out in the UN
Declaration of Human Rights when you're in detention, So making
sure that those processes adhere to I think it's actually
(10:47):
quite a bit of a flippant comment from the Chief
Minute to say all those kids don't get visited anyone.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Minister as well.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
The correction I think that's a big and I really
do encourage the new Corrections Minister Jared Mayley, our Deputy
Chief Minister, to go on need to talk to those families,
those gardens, those services that do have that regular contact
with those young people to understand what this type of
impact of a decision will mean for those young people,
(11:16):
for those families, and for those justice advocates around stepping
a young person out of the justice system.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Look, we've just received a message that came through from Sir,
says says Morning Katie. It's not about locking up more
Indigenous people. It's about locking up anyone that does the
wrong thing. I wish people of all races would stop
making it about race. If you do the wrong thing,
there needs to be consequences. Says Sir. I mean, what's
your reaction to that, because I know that there's been
(11:44):
a lot of discussion about, you know, about whether this
is going to see more Indigenous people incarcerated. But I
guess a lot of people in the community are saying, well,
if you know whoever you are, wherever you're from, you know,
no matter what your background, that if you're breaking the law,
then then you are going to have to face the
consequence to breaking that law.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Yeah, Katie, and we agree in terms of when you've
done the wrong thing, you should be facing consequences. Absolutely,
But when you're looking at the data in the Northern Territory,
which goes to the point about the outcry from the
Member for Mulka, the Northern Territory has the highest rates
of incarceration of Aboriginal people in the country and it
has been disputed in the world. But I'll just focus
(12:27):
on Australia because obviously that's where we live when we're
talking about the impact. What we really want to see
the Coop government is to really address those root causes
when we're talking about investment in education, health and housing,
to make those social determinants which unfortunately, if you don't
have a safe place to live, if you don't have
food in your belly every day, if you can't get
(12:47):
to school, or you don't have a safe environment to
live in young people unfortunately do enter into the justice
system at that younger age, if we're not also investing
in the preventative measures of those key corner stone which
every territory in regardless of your color of skin, deserves
to have. So when we look at the justice system,
unfortunately it tends to be close to one hundred percent
(13:09):
of young people in our justice system, in our detention
centers are Aboriginal. We've already rattled off the stats for adults,
so we can't dispute that. So this will also mean
that looking at the data, looking at the stats, nothing
about the antidotes of you know, everybody is being treated
the same. Yes they are, because it doesn't matter what
color skin, you will be adhering to those consequences. We
(13:32):
don't dispute that, but this will ensure if we don't. Sorry,
we need to ensure that the preventative measures are also
invested in if we're not to see that stat grow
and seeing more abgual territories affected because we don't have
the investment in the preventative measures. That's what we really
want to make sure the CLP doesn't drop the ball
on that.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
All right, we'll move along, because there is so much happening.
We know that Parliament is indeed sitting again today and
as I understand it, Labor is going to try and
take a real focus on the issues that we're seeing
around domestic violence. Selena, as the opposition leader, can you
talk us through exactly what your plans are in this
space throughout the week when Parliament sits.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, And it sort of leads on a bit of
the conversation that we had last week on the week
that was Katie and an area that we know that
the new CLP government does want to take an interest in,
which is around those devastating and horrific levels of family,
domestic and sexual violence impact in the territory and indeed,
unfortunately death that we've seen here in the territory so
(14:33):
far and predominantly affecting women Katie, which is just horrific.
So what we're going to be putting into Parliament today
is a matter of public importance around the impacts of family,
domestic and sexual violence. We think this is an area
of interest and I know your listeners have also expressed
a keen interest in how do we address this and
we really want to work in a bipartisan way across
(14:55):
the whole of the Parliament. We want to support the
new government in those con stations around needs based funding,
which we talked about when we were a labor government phase. Here,
we know that there's an interest from our Independence and
the Crossbench in this area because it is an area
that affects all of us across the territory. Black, white, brindle, brown, whatever, race, religion, sexuality.
(15:18):
We are gender that we are, but we need to
band together if we're to address this really horrific devastating
impact in our community. So we're really reaching out to
Parliament and make sure that that's front and center and
particularly under the new government, and getting their interest in
this area too.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
So Selena, in terms of that matter of public importance,
it's got to be something that the government agrees to
discussing as well, doesn't it. What's the process this morning
with that?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yeah, No, it's any member can put a matter of
public importance to the Parliament. It needs to be in
with the Speaker by particular time. We put ours in yesterday, Katie,
and it means every member of Parliament gets an opportunity
to talk on that matter that is believed to be
of public importance for the territory. So we really have
that all members, regardless of what persuasion of politics they are,
(16:03):
get the chance to talk on this and show that
we want to work together for this really important and
devastating issue that's affecting all of our communities as territory.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Look, I think this is a I think this is
a good thing to do. I do think it's so
incredibly important, as we discussed on the week that was
on Friday last week, Like you've touched on, it is
something that is having an absolutely devastating impact in the
Northern Territory and we all understand that. But I hope
that by discussing it in Parliament, I hope that by
(16:32):
raising it as a matter of public importance, that it
maybe gets that national attention that we actually need right
now for the federal government to potentially step up and
provide that needs based funding.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Thank you, Katie. That's what Labour believes and we really
look forward to working with all members of Parliament so
we can try and get some traction for the Northern
Territory and make our community safer for our territorians who
are experienced failing domestic and sexual wify.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Look, I know you've got a busy day ahead, Selena
Rubo opposition leader. Always appreciate your time. Thanks for having
a chat.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
This morning, Thank you, Katie, and a big thanks to
your listeners.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Thank you.
As I said, we know that the government's forging ahead
with these legislative changes and reform aimed at reducing crime
in the Northern Territory. But many have been questioning where
those who break the law will go. They are some
of the questions that have been asked over the last
couple of years, or over the last certainly a few years.
As people have been getting in trouble. You know, why
(00:21):
aren't we sending them to jail has been some of
the questions raised. Others saying, you know, our jails are
bursting at the seam. Surely there's got to be other options.
But what we know is that the plan that the
COLP has unveiled this going to see an increase to
the territory's corrections capacity by three thousand beds by twenty
twenty eight. Additional capacity is in the first step, one
(00:46):
thousand extra beds. That's over the next four years. It
will also see the immediate conversion of don Dale Youth
Detention Center for temporary use by up to fifty low
security adult male prisoners in December. Now, the Opposition leader
Selena Ubo joins me on the line. Good morning to you, Selena.
Let me just try that again once more. Good morning
(01:09):
to you, Selena.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Thanks so much for your time. Now, obviously a big
announcement yesterday by the COLP government. What did Labor? What
did Labor make of that announcement that was made by
the COLP in terms of increasing the correctional facilities and
the number of beads O Katie.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
A lot of what the COLP unveiled yesterday was actually
Labour's plans before the elections, So of course we're not
disputing majority of that plan. I'd say probably about ninety
percent of the CLP's plan yesterday is just based on
what we put before the election around some of those plans,
particularly around the pressures of the correction system and supporting
(01:47):
our corrections officers and the staff. So we welcomed that
the clpiece continued on some of that plan that we
already had in corrections. There was one key element that
we don't support me I've been asking questions, and that
was the move of youth from Alice Springs, Katie, to
the to Darwin to the Darwin Detention Center and then
(02:08):
the new distention center that's purpose built, and that was
refurbished in Alice Springs is going to be now used
for female prisoners, So we're just really keen to know
what cost that will be. Will staff correction staff have
to move to Darwin to then facilitate the extra young
people from Central Australian from the Barkley in Darwin. So
they're the things that the CLP hasn't answered, So we'll
(02:30):
just be asking those questions for them, Katie.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, I think they're fair enough questions to ask. I mean,
exactly how much it's going to cost is a very
fair question. Selena, you did and I will go to
the issue with the youths in Alice in a moment,
but you did mention that you know that the large
majority of use of what the CLP announced yesterday is
actually part of was actually part of Labour's plans. But
then you have also got a situation where you know
(02:54):
where the likes of Chancey Paik has said that jaling
is failing. So which is it?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, Katie, Well, we did our work to cost those
changes when we were going to the territory election, because
obviously it actually got to be your job if you're
going to be in government, you have to show territories,
what you're going to pay for and how you're going
to pay it. So we costed our changes and our
plan around corrections two hundred and thirty six million. We
know THEE and changes to our original plane thatt THEP
(03:24):
has added to. So we're wanting to ask those questions,
of course, but what the THEOP hasn't done, Katie. And
this is an area of work that we were many
many years in the making in our former labor government,
which is around alternatives to custody. We've got too up
and running in the territory around adult alternatives to custody,
and that's really focused on change of behavior of offending,
(03:47):
really going to those root causes of why someone ends
up in the justice system, addressing those behaviors and then
stepping them out of the justice system because it really
cost taxpayers over three hundred and twenty dollars a day
for one prisoner, whether that's someone who's been sentenced or
on remand in our jail. So if we're talking about
stepping people out, making sure that we have people who
(04:09):
face consequences, but ultimately Katie, who don't reoffend because it
costs all of us money. They don't reoffend that we've
got those programs in place, and we've got those alternatives
to custody so we can see people contribute positively back
into our communities wherever that may be. So they're the
sort of things we would love to see the COLP
talk about. They've spoken a lot about consequences and punitive measures,
(04:34):
which we understand around community safety. We don't dispute that,
but what we'd like to see is what are those
plans around alternatives to custody, expanding those programs to really
address those root causes of crime and the behavior of offending.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I guess you're in a bit of a rock and
a hard place at the moment though, as the opposition,
because a lot of people, you know, we saw the
results from the election, people were really fed up with
Labour's approach when it comes to crime. Honest, A lot
of the feedback that we are receiving over the last
few days is that people are actually really quite pleased
(05:07):
that the COLP government is taking action here and is
making moves to really try to treat the issue of
crime more seriously and feel that Labor did not do
that and did.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Not listen to them and we understand, Katie, and that
was obviously the big decision at the territory election, which
we absolutely respect. We welcome any of the measures that
the colp is going to be looking at around reducing
crime and preventing crime, because that's what they promised territory
and so we want to make sure that they live
up to those promises and those commitments. We'll ask those
questions of course around how they're going to do that,
(05:42):
because you know, we would love to see and to
be able to support those good measures of how they're
going to do that if it's something that we feel
is going to make our community safer. We also want
to make sure we know how they're going to pay
for it. Territories deserve to know how they're going to pay.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Do you have any idea? I mean, based on what
you said a little bit earlier, is that you know
so that quite a bit of what they are implementing
you say was part of Labour's plan, about ninety percent
of what they're implementing. So how much did you guys
cost it at and what do you think that their
plan that they announced yesterday is going to cost the
territory to.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Expayer our costings for that prior to the election Katie
was two hundred and thirty six million. Obviously, with those
changes the CLPS put in around the Alla Springs youth
being moved to Darwin, that was not part of our plan.
So that's something I hope that they're costing or that
they'll be able to tell territories how much it will
cost for those moves, and particularly around impact of staff
(06:35):
and making sure that that is a process that happens
smoothly and if it's cost effective then they can share
that with territorians. Also, again, those expansion of those programs
and processes to support the judiciary around sentencing to either
(06:56):
programs that can help support someone out of justice. In
terms of addressing that reoffending the Abitual Justice Agreement, they've
been very silent on that. That's really around making sure
that those root causes of crime and adult justice for
actual territories to represent. I think in jail for men,
it's nine out of ten territories in jail are Aboriginal.
(07:18):
For women, it's eight out of ten women in our
justice system are Aboriginal. So really going to again that
collaborative work that bipartisans support, which Lifanociarro when she was
the opposition leader signed on TOYEP. So we're very keen
to really focus on that. We understand the measures that
are put in place, we understand territorians expectations, so we
want to be very constructive, particularly around an area that
(07:40):
is quite complex and unfortunately does cost a lot of money.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
So, I mean, do you guys anticipate or is labor
thinking that it is going to cost taxpayers around seven
hundred million dollars to fully implement. I know that that
had been published in the media. Is that right or
is that aiming? I mean, is that sort of saying
a bit higher than what it's actually going to cost.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Katie. That's when we're talking about building a new jail,
and some of the area of plans is around new
wings to be able to alleviate that pressure for you know,
corrections and that process. But if we're looking at building
a new jail, which the CLP hasn't quite come that
far to say, which I'm assuming that that may be
(08:21):
you know, in the works for them, but that would
be up to around seven hundred million to a billion dollars.
If you're looking at a new facility, if you're looking
at a new prison in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
All right, I want to ask you about the aspect
that I know that the Labor Party was actually asking
about in question time last week, and that is children
being moved from the Alla Springs Youth Correctional Facility up
here to Darwin. Is that a concern from your perspective?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Well, the CLP has talked about, especially with lowering the
age of criminal responsibility. Last week the Chief Minister and
her team have spoken about having more programs and having
more opportunity, need to be on country, having averaginal leadership
really brought to the table all things that you know
Labor supported and that we were you know, in the
works with government. Didn't quite land there obviously before the election,
(09:10):
but it's again and it's an ongoing piece of work.
So we welcome that from the COLP. But you can't
do that, Katie. If you take a child away from
family and country, you know, fifteen hundred kilometers, you don't
give that child the opportunity to be either on country
in a program that is really focused on having those
consequences faced, but stepping that young person out of the
(09:32):
justice system, having leadership from that community whether it's average
leadership or non average leadership. Either way it doesn't matter.
But having that person really face the consequences in their
community and understand the impact on their community, you're not
going to get that. If a child from Mala Springs
or Tenant Kriegers moved to Darla.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
The Chief Minister said on the show yesterday that there
are not as many visits to those children as what
people would expect. The Commissioner for Correction said the same
thing this morning. What's your reaction to that, Katie.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
There's some very strong measures around making sure that those
young people are supported and that can be through It
may not be through family, it could be through other processes.
But there's also a process that is legislated which is
a community visitor program and that is monthly. There's reports
provided to the Responsible Minister on the operations of a
(10:25):
youth detention center and we have the same for our
work camps and our prisons for adult corrections as well.
So there are those processes to make sure a young
person or an adult is getting what they need in
terms of you know what's written out in the UN
Declaration of Human Rights when you're in detention, So making
sure that those processes adhere to I think it's actually
(10:47):
quite a bit of a flippant comment from the Chief
Minute to say all those kids don't get visited anyone.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Minister as well.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
The correction I think that's a big and I really
do encourage the new Corrections Minister Jared Mayley, our Deputy
Chief Minister, to go on need to talk to those families,
those gardens, those services that do have that regular contact
with those young people to understand what this type of
impact of a decision will mean for those young people,
(11:16):
for those families, and for those justice advocates around stepping
a young person out of the justice system.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Look, we've just received a message that came through from Sir,
says says Morning Katie. It's not about locking up more
Indigenous people. It's about locking up anyone that does the
wrong thing. I wish people of all races would stop
making it about race. If you do the wrong thing,
there needs to be consequences. Says Sir. I mean, what's
your reaction to that, because I know that there's been
(11:44):
a lot of discussion about, you know, about whether this
is going to see more Indigenous people incarcerated. But I
guess a lot of people in the community are saying, well,
if you know whoever you are, wherever you're from, you know,
no matter what your background, that if you're breaking the law,
then then you are going to have to face the
consequence to breaking that law.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Yeah, Katie, and we agree in terms of when you've
done the wrong thing, you should be facing consequences. Absolutely,
But when you're looking at the data in the Northern Territory,
which goes to the point about the outcry from the
Member for Mulka, the Northern Territory has the highest rates
of incarceration of Aboriginal people in the country and it
has been disputed in the world. But I'll just focus
(12:27):
on Australia because obviously that's where we live when we're
talking about the impact. What we really want to see
the Coop government is to really address those root causes
when we're talking about investment in education, health and housing,
to make those social determinants which unfortunately, if you don't
have a safe place to live, if you don't have
food in your belly every day, if you can't get
(12:47):
to school, or you don't have a safe environment to
live in young people unfortunately do enter into the justice
system at that younger age, if we're not also investing
in the preventative measures of those key corner stone which
every territory in regardless of your color of skin, deserves
to have. So when we look at the justice system,
unfortunately it tends to be close to one hundred percent
(13:09):
of young people in our justice system, in our detention
centers are Aboriginal. We've already rattled off the stats for adults,
so we can't dispute that. So this will also mean
that looking at the data, looking at the stats, nothing
about the antidotes of you know, everybody is being treated
the same. Yes they are, because it doesn't matter what
color skin, you will be adhering to those consequences. We
(13:32):
don't dispute that, but this will ensure if we don't. Sorry,
we need to ensure that the preventative measures are also
invested in if we're not to see that stat grow
and seeing more abgual territories affected because we don't have
the investment in the preventative measures. That's what we really
want to make sure the CLP doesn't drop the ball
on that.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
All right, we'll move along, because there is so much happening.
We know that Parliament is indeed sitting again today and
as I understand it, Labor is going to try and
take a real focus on the issues that we're seeing
around domestic violence. Selena, as the opposition leader, can you
talk us through exactly what your plans are in this
space throughout the week when Parliament sits.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, And it sort of leads on a bit of
the conversation that we had last week on the week
that was Katie and an area that we know that
the new CLP government does want to take an interest in,
which is around those devastating and horrific levels of family,
domestic and sexual violence impact in the territory and indeed,
unfortunately death that we've seen here in the territory so
(14:33):
far and predominantly affecting women Katie, which is just horrific.
So what we're going to be putting into Parliament today
is a matter of public importance around the impacts of family,
domestic and sexual violence. We think this is an area
of interest and I know your listeners have also expressed
a keen interest in how do we address this and
we really want to work in a bipartisan way across
(14:55):
the whole of the Parliament. We want to support the
new government in those con stations around needs based funding,
which we talked about when we were a labor government phase. Here,
we know that there's an interest from our Independence and
the Crossbench in this area because it is an area
that affects all of us across the territory. Black, white, brindle, brown, whatever, race, religion, sexuality.
(15:18):
We are gender that we are, but we need to
band together if we're to address this really horrific devastating
impact in our community. So we're really reaching out to
Parliament and make sure that that's front and center and
particularly under the new government, and getting their interest in
this area too.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
So Selena, in terms of that matter of public importance,
it's got to be something that the government agrees to
discussing as well, doesn't it. What's the process this morning
with that?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yeah, No, it's any member can put a matter of
public importance to the Parliament. It needs to be in
with the Speaker by particular time. We put ours in yesterday, Katie,
and it means every member of Parliament gets an opportunity
to talk on that matter that is believed to be
of public importance for the territory. So we really have
that all members, regardless of what persuasion of politics they are,
(16:03):
get the chance to talk on this and show that
we want to work together for this really important and
devastating issue that's affecting all of our communities as territory.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Look, I think this is a I think this is
a good thing to do. I do think it's so
incredibly important, as we discussed on the week that was
on Friday last week, Like you've touched on, it is
something that is having an absolutely devastating impact in the
Northern Territory and we all understand that. But I hope
that by discussing it in Parliament, I hope that by
(16:32):
raising it as a matter of public importance, that it
maybe gets that national attention that we actually need right
now for the federal government to potentially step up and
provide that needs based funding.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Thank you, Katie. That's what Labour believes and we really
look forward to working with all members of Parliament so
we can try and get some traction for the Northern
Territory and make our community safer for our territorians who
are experienced failing domestic and sexual wify.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Look, I know you've got a busy day ahead, Selena
Rubo opposition leader. Always appreciate your time. Thanks for having
a chat.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
This morning, Thank you, Katie, and a big thanks to
your listeners.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Thank you.
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