Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Unfortunately, another terrible weekend on our roads. It was just
last week that the police were calling on the public
to take care on our roads.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
After what was a terrible week last week.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Then late on Friday, we learned that three people were
killed in a crash along the Stuart Highway in Hayes Creek.
The police say that they received reports of a two
vehicle collision about sixty kilometers north of Pine Creek. As
I understand it, maybe I've got that wrong. Three occupants
were pronounced dead at the scene. Now, then at about
(00:32):
five o'clock, police received reports of a collision involving two
vehicles and a sorry, two vehicles I believe, and a
road train transporting cattle along the Stuart Highway about forty
kilometers south of eliotsh So, however, you look at it,
a horrendous weekend on our roads when it comes to
(00:52):
the loss of life. Now joining me in the studio
is the police. Minister Brent Potter, Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Good morning Caddy.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Now, Minister, I.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Don't really know what the answer is to this carnage.
I mean, we're seeing a terrible amount of loss of life.
I believe the road tolls sitting at thirty nine, I
could have that wrong. That's about that compared to seven
at the same time last year. I mean, what more
do you think can be done to try to prevent
this loss of life?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Oh, listen, it's tragic. Into the families, my heart felt
sympathies go out. I think in one of those instances,
most of them were the two parties involved were into
state travelers. We've got the fatal five we talk about
A police have been really good at trying to get
the education awareness program out there. Well, they're now transitioning
to enforcement in de Terrence because people just are not
paying attention.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So more police on the roads, more people try I mean,
more police that are trying to catch people if they're
drink driving, if they're doing the wrong thing.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Police have started road operation at the moment across the
Northern Territory. And you know, potentially once upon a time,
you may have, as I have before, you know, had
the warning from the highway police officer. You're now not
going to get that warning is going to de terrence
and enforcement because the message isn't getting out there. And
like I said, the last incident wasn't Territorians for that
one in Hayes Creek, but the other one was. So
(02:07):
we just need to get to a point where people
are heeding the advice and following and addressing the fatal five.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
It doesn't seem to be sinking, isn't I right?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Like we seem to be in a situation we're not
only seeing like terrible incidents on the highway obviously, like
we've seen over the course of the weekend, but we
have got a terrible situation at the moment too, where
pedestrians are being struck by cars.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, absolutely, and our cohol is a primary cause in
those instances. People not using the lights that we put
in so people can cross the road safely. And then
you know, unfortunately drivers going about their business at collecting
people on the way through, and it's tragic, but these
are individuals that make conscious decisions, and we need to
change people's decision making. And then when people don't follow
(02:48):
the law, we need to hold them accountable to the
Road Act.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
All right, brand I want to move along because there
is so much happening around the place.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Just moving to Catherine.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Obviously, the show was there on the weekend and police
resources were set to be amped up to avoiding any
kind of situation like what we'd experienced in Alice after
the show there, how did it go? Were there any issues?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
It's not going to message from the Commissioner yesterday saying
there was no significant issues to reporting Catherine. We had
the seventeen extra officers that have come from Alice on
the back end of the curfew and Operation Grimmell went
to Tenant Creek show, were in Catherine show and they'll
be coming to Darwin. There is a whole of government
effort after the show to return people back home on
return the country. So we de congest the CBD in
(03:26):
the city, and we had additional licensing and all of
our point of sale intervention or pally positions were filled
to deny people getting access to alcohol. But overall it
seems from the message from the Commissioner that it was
a non eventful show period. Obviously things still happen, but
we didn't see a spike, and that's what we want
to see.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And so now I guess the efforts will turn to
Darwin because we've got the show this weekend. I've already
sort of noticed that there does seem to be more
people sleeping around. Rapha was striving through your electorate actually
on the weekend, and there did seem to be quite
a few people around that Parap area.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, and I mean we've done a lot of measures
in Perp to deal with that private security. We've got
the Larra care services that we fund. And unfortunately this happens.
People come into town for the show with no plan
on where they're intending to stay, and we need to
change that behavior. But it's also it doesn't happen overnight
changing people's behaviors. It's just constant pressure. And I think
it'll be pretty clear on that. But we do provide
many funded, government funded services for people that are staying
(04:21):
rough or coming into town in temporary accommodation. But yes,
those officers will come from Catherine. They will do it.
I believe they do another twenty four hours or so
over they're helping out, and then I could be wrong.
It might only be a few more hours, but then
they come back to day on.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
All right, So back here the resources will be amped up.
I mean, are we expecting an influx of people? Oh?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
We do with every show, you know. I don't think
anyone could say that businesses don't benefit when the show
season comes into town. It is people coming in from
remote that have money to spend and they go through
and spend money out local businesses. But it's making sure
that when people come into town, you know you're buyed
by the rules. Everyone plays by the same set of
rules and police will be here to enforce those for
people that aren't.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I want to talk home invasions. Unfortunately, there's been some
absolute shockers. Last week there was a terrible incident in
Catherine where we saw up to ten youths inside a
home where two women were. They threatened the women with
edged weapons and indecently assaulted them allegedly.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Do you know if those youths are still at large?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Is this the one in Catherine? Sorry, I'm catching up
with the commissioner today. I haven't had update on that brief.
I know that they prioritize that because the severity of
the offending and what's occurred there is absolutely concerning and
when police do get a hold of them, because they will,
they'll be put before the court. And that kind of
offending a serious in nature and brings presumptions against bail
and the like.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
It was a similar situation than in Tenant Creek last week.
Involving up to five youths with an elderly man the victim.
We also have seen over the weekend in Alice Springs. Unfortunately,
I believe it's three home invasions over the weekend. So
several homes in Alice invaded. The Southern Watch Commander Mark
Watson saying that three homes in less than three hours
(05:58):
were targeted across.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Dean and Braitlank.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Now three armed offenders bearing edged weapons broke into a
Saturdayen home. First off at eleven thirty one. They threatened
the seventy five year old woman living in the house
before fleeing. Then in Braitlang, our home was targeted at
twelve twenty one am, three armed defenders breaking into that
home before stealing a vehicle. Then a third incident, also
(06:22):
in Braitlang, an unknown number of offenders tried to force
their way into the occupant's locked bedroom door, forcing that
resident to flee through their bedroom window.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
What do you think when you hear these incidents?
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I mean, we're talking Catherine Tennant Creek and also Alice
Springs where people are not safe in their own homes.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
That's disgusting, you know. I can only imagine what it
would be like to be the homeowners there and have
your family around and the fear that would be going
through and it planned in symbol. It's disgusting, its criminal.
I want to thank the cops for their fast response.
I know that there was an offender from an incident,
Alice Springs recently caught with the help of a police dog,
So you know, thank you for their work. But I
think at the end of the day, once they get
(07:06):
before the court, that level of severity of the offending
and the impact that it has in the community, the
judiciary need to absolutely take that into account and prioritize
that so these people aren't back on the street.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Look, I agree, it's disgusting and it's like it's absolutely
horrifying for those homeowners. But in a couple of these
incidents as well, I mean, we're talking about a seventy
five year old woman, you know, like my mum's that age,
and I know how I would feel if somebody got
into the home, But at least I'm sort of young
enough that i'd potentially be able to defend myself.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Then when you're talking about people that are in their seventies,
it's like it's not only disgusting, but it's so utterly
frightening for those people where you are incredibly vulnerable. And
I just like, for me reading through this and seeing
some of these pressure releases come through in recent days,
(07:57):
it feels like there's more people getting into homes with
each weapons.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That could be wrong.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I could be wrong on that, but when you look
at that, when you look at these edged weapon home invasions,
what is being done to stop that?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Because I get what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
You know, they go through the courts and you want
the severity to be there, but how do we stop
it from reaching that point?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yeah, I think we're more attuned to these instance as
in we're more aware, we're following Facebook and the like,
where it's more exceencing.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It's that I think it's there's literally people being you know,
like there's these people whose homes are being broken into.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Sort of asked me the point where you said, is
it happening more or not? You know, I'm just saying
it is more accessible the information cameras, CCTV, we're more
aware of it. Crime stats are going down in that space,
But don't.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Think that there's more people armed with knives.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Well, I think we've released a knife strategy. I think
there are more people carrying weapons because they believe they're
protecting themselves, and the irony behind that is the other
person then carries a weapon and we get in this
position where people are carrying weapons in public and it
does happen majority with our youth and we need to
change it. And we've seen that in many countries and
that's all we've informated the strategy in the wanding powers.
I think in terms of invasion though, whether you're a
seventy five year old woman, or it's your young daughter
(09:04):
that's just turned eighteen who's home on her own that night,
or if it is you and the family, all of
it's discussing. I don't want anyone to have to think
about how they defend themselves in their own home, and
that's why we put more money into police. But to
be really clear on how we get an outcome here,
policing is one part of it. We have to change
the poverty that we see in our remote communities. And
I know there was a press release recently done by
the Central Land Council. They're unhappy that the organizations that
(09:26):
are representing them are not delivering on the generational change
that they need in community, and all of that brings
us to a point where there's disadvantage in poverty and
then we see crime.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
So all right, So just on the point of hein tier,
pardon the put because I'm not trying to make life
of that situation, but just on the pointing in tier,
I mean, do you think that that knife crime strategy
is working?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I think it will work over time. Nothing happens overnight,
because you've got to remember, we've got to get There
are generation right now that have been carrying nives and
think it's appropriate. We've got to change their behaviors. That's
probably the hardest piece. There is a generation that are
coming up throughout our schools right now where this will
have the most impact because we'll we'll get ahead of
it and get on top of it before they start
carrying it. But for those that are carrying it right now,
the best at terrence is putting him before the court
(10:08):
the judiciary making a really strong statement and putting him
in in Dondale or putting him in how it springs
is required.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
So how are you.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Going to gauge the success of the knife crime strategy?
How are you going to measure whether it's working or.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
One of the very front line operational ones, or when
we do wanding operations, how many people we actually catch
carrying knives and scissors. I mean, that is one of
the measures because that operation you'll see we do a
significant amount of wanding for a very small return on
the amount of people carrying. Now, when you do a
wanting operation of a numerous days, the message gets out
and people stop carrying them. But I think it won't.
It'll be something you'll have to measure over ten years
(10:39):
on how much knife crime and violence we see.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
I mean, like when you see the vision though in
the CBD from Last Sunday Night, where there's a bloke
with that massive machete, a nineteen year old. I know
the police obviously got him, but that's kind of thumbing,
you know, like it's kind of just having a laugh
about the knife crime strategy.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
If someone's carrying a knife round like that.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
I don't think it's having a laugh, Katie, because like
I said to you, there's a group of people that
are like a strategy that there is still criminal outcomes
for people that carry weapons. So we've changed all of that.
So they can.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
But if someone's prepared to like jump out of a car,
you know, where there's security vision all through the city,
armed with a machete like that, you know, I don't
feel as though people are worried about the consequence, so
they're not really concerned about endangering other people's lives. And
it's frightening for law abiding citizens of the Northern Territory right.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Absolutely, it's frightening for lawabiding citizens across the TIERA. I
don't disagree with you on that, but I guess this
point I always come back to and say, criminals don't
think they're going to get caught. Like, no matter how
strong the law is in any country across the world,
there are criminals that just never think they're going to
get caught. Now, organized crime is a really good example
of that. They never think they're going to get caught.
They want to make the money bikes for example, they
carry weapons, knives, They go around and beat each other up.
(11:47):
What happened on Mitchell Street was a group of young
men that were engaged in you know, you could see
the footage beforehand. There was obviously an incident that's happened
before they started filming, and an idiot has gone into
his car and pulled a machete out. And I'll tell
you what. The person that sent me the footage it
was grateful because en shot the number plate. Send it
to police, you know, and all of that stuff helps.
We've caught the guy. He'll go before the courts and
I'll tell you what he should be getting some time.
He should be getting a really hard sender to send
(12:08):
the message to his mates. I mean, can't I personally
can't control the guy who goes gets in a fight
on Mitchell Street, jumps in his carentels knife out. The
only way we stop that is we go and search.
Then we catch them and we put them before the courts.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
And what then of the you know, the youths that
are allegedly breaking into the home in Catherine and indecently
assaulting you know, two women after youth with these weapons.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
That is disgusting and like that isn't There'll be people
who go, well, their youth and they should you know,
poor them. Well, there's a difference between breaking in and
taking food and drink out the fridge to set to
assaulting a woman in the house after you've broken in.
Now there's an aggravation that comes with that. They will
find themselves doing time in Dondale. There's no like if
that that will justify that, But I suspect that those
individuals will be known to police and they will get them.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I mean, it's not okay to break into someone's house
so and still from the fridge anyway.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Well, no it's not. But I guess like there'll be
people that always try and minimize that type of offending.
What I'm saying is what they've done there is disgusting,
it is severe, and they will find themselves.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
With I mean, do you get frustrated when you do
hear people trying to sort of minimize some of that offending,
particularly when I am sure that the biggest issue that
probably gets raised with you is people saying, you know,
they're really frightenedly some of the stuff that's going on crime.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Lise, Absolutely, I get frustrated as I get frustrated with
the people that think it's such a simple solution like
locking people up, because the reality is to crack me
or somebody. But like there's other people that come in
and they get very punitive, they go completely down the
other side, and it's like that doesn't get us any
further along as a community. We need to find a
middle ground, which is understanding that changing behaviors takes time.
Police resources is one part.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I also think like people have an expectation that they
can feel safe in their own home.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Absolutely every time I've come and I agree with you.
I'm just saying that there are some people that will
minimize their offending and there are some people that will
try and go the complete opposite down the other end
and in the middle is where we need to be
as a community and the jiu jitsu representing our views.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Now, what about in Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
At the moment, you've got the closure of the People's
Choice Credit Union. They've announced that they're going to be
shutting shop in Alice because the staff are not safe.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
So how does that make you feel? As the police minister?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I feel like there's Ala Springs residents that are missing
out our service that they deserve, you know. And for
all the work that has been put into Alis Springs
with both the curfews, additional police resources, the two hundred
and fifty million from the federal government, you know, we're
doing a lot of work down there. And as I
keep saying it, just doesn't happen overnight. And it's disappointing
that I didn't have an engagement with police. They didn't
get also the credit and didn't give me a call
(14:22):
to have a chat down, sit down and see what I
could help them with. The first I got of it
was the letter saying they were closing.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
But I mean, like, are you surprised that there'd be
a business that's made that choice based on the safety
issues that they're experiencing?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
There?
Speaker 3 (14:37):
No, But I think with a larger organization we can
have a discussion. Like I can't control every business opening
or closing, but I can absolutely sit down when someone
reaches out and work through options and see what we
can do. I'm not shoying away from I never have
the issues we have in our springs.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
I mean it's pretty ordary though, like that we've reached
a point in Alice Springs, where as you've touched on
right from the get go where people aren't going to
be able to actually access different services that they have
previously because when able to get a whole hold of
the safety concerns.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Oh absolutely, I mean I can't agree with you more, Katie,
but can't I can't control what they've decided to do
as an organization. I think we've seen, which is disappointing,
multiple big banks starting to close their remote and country outlets.
And this just adds to it. We saw the Tenant
Creek lose some of their services. Now we're seeing Alice
Springs due to crime. And I say this, you know
I've seen this before. The crime piece goes the crime,
(15:25):
the incident that's occurring, and the narrative goes way further
and way longer than even when it does stop.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
What assurances can you give other businesses that they will
be able to operate.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Safely in Alice, Well, I can only the only assurance
I can give them is that we're doing everything we can,
which is put more money. At a government level, it
is about putting money in and setting the policy framework,
and the Commissioner's got a keen eye in our springs
like Alice has received more police officers in the last
two years than than any other of our stations, like
they get well resourced. The problem is large, and I
think the CLC's sort of council meeting and the statements
(15:55):
that the media reportans come out of that, that's the
key to addressing this like, until we're willing to address
the poverty issues and the organizations that are fund to
fix it, policing is only ever going to be reactionally.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
What do you think then, Look, I don't know if
you heard it, but I mean, what do you think
then of even a couple of weeks ago, on the
week that was We've discussed with Minister Kate Warden about
the funding for Tongue and Jeer Counsel.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
And you know, we've got a situation.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Where, you know, we're in Alice Springs and I know
the ABC reported on this quite extensively a little earlier
in the year that they hadn't filed their annual report.
You know that they have got somebody sitting on that
board who has been convicted of domestic violence previous historic
But then, what do you think of the situation where
she'd confirmed with us then on the show that they'd
(16:38):
had their funding double for one of their men's behavioral programs.
So despite those issues in terms of not filing their
annual reports and they're being you know, the the agreement
with the town council as well being torn up, that
despite all of that, then they'd had their funding increased
it sort of goes against what we're just discussing.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, I mean, I'm not familiar with the specific programs
a tongue other than I know their Men's Change Behavior
program does work. I know they lost some funding, I
believe for the youth services piece. So you do have
to fund the pieces that work, and you have to
defund the pieces that aren't. Move the money somewhere else
to get the outcome. I think the annual report piece
is absolutely something the FEDS need to look at. And
I don't think I'm saying this outside of what Mariana said.
She wants to see that accountability. We want to see
(17:21):
that accountability. It is federal money. It is only the
FEDS that can can reckon.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
That would have been the perfect opportunity then to go hey,
until we see that accountability. Until we see that, we
won't actually increase the funding, of.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Course, But I mean the other side it is when
you hold that money back, then there isn't a service
being delivered at all, which then creates an issue in
a gap, and we see spikes in those areas. So
we'll continue to try new things and when it doesn't work,
we'll move to the next one and continue to try that,
because I think doubling down on something it doesn't work,
you know, only sets us up for failing.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Brent, A call has just gotten in contact, wondering if
you're aware of the mum and kids who were apparently
held at knife point in Alice, pleading for her kids safety.
A fourteen year old protecting his three year old sibling.
Apparently it's on the Action Frales page. I've not seen
it myself.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I've actually received the brief and police and I believe
it's linked to the series the same offenders. They believe
that we're in Alice Springs at the time that you've
reported or reported on, And like I said, it's a
number one priority of police in the moment in Alice
Springs is to identify and apprehend those individuals.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
So what exactly happened so the moment kids were at
home to that point, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
So I'm basically what it said, there an unlawful aggravated
entry with a weapon where the family has been at home.
And this is the point when you said about the
seventy five year old, because I knew there was other
youth that have been involved and other families that have
had that incident over the weekend. So I don't want
anyone Oh and this is what I mean. I don't
want anyone to have to think about how they protect
themselves or their family in their house because I don't
want anyone to have to get to.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
That position, or an older sibling having to look after
a little one like that makes you. That makes me
feel really upset thinking that that little famili's had to
go through that.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
That's absolutely woeful.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Yeah, they didn't have to see it. It's a simple
I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
But can you see where people kind of gone like
scratching their heads thinking, how can we kind of keep
on this path?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Well, yes, I can understand that, but the laws are
already there, like we've got to catch them and when
we've got to put them before the judiciary, and then
the judiciary has got to hold them accountable in line
with community expectation and the law that's there. But you know,
I wish I could give people the click of the
finger and fix it tomorrow. We can't until we really
address what is driving people to come into town and
engage in criminal behavior, which is I don't know, people
(19:27):
don't like hearing it is the poverty, like people don't
have it. They see what they want and they're going
out and engaging in crime. Until that is addressed, the
best thing that we can have is continue to fund police,
continue to fund the change programs, and continue to put
people before the judiciary that commit these offenses. At the
end of the day, the individual needs to be accountable
for the action that they take.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
That's exactly right. That's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
I mean, do you feel as though the judicial system
is holding up to their piece of the.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Puzzle here, And I've been pretty vocal in this before
Coatie seeing the prison numbers at the moment, Yes, I
do like there are people like and I can tell
listeners when I when I get a particular brief to
come through, It's not uncommon for me to write back
the department and say, I want to know the outcome
on this individual's bail hearing. I want to know when
they get sentenced. And they do that and they tell
me that, and they are getting sentence appropriate with the
crimes that they're committing, and they're serving prison time. And
it's the reason why we've got so many people in
(20:14):
our prisons, we've got people in our police watchhouses because
the prisons are full. You know, we're sending a very
clear message. Now it needs to come down to how
do we rehabilitate them? So in two, three, four years time,
we're not talking about the same offenders coming back before
the system.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Hey, really couple of questions because well we don't unfortunately
kicking now what I mean just in terms of I
understand that there's an announcement being made today, you're off
to make an announcement.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
What's that one?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
On police? If we talk about traffic and road totalities?
So the traffic police will be getting you wrx's. So
I feel like we've gone back to the days of
the police Highway Patrol WX. But they're getting a bunch
of those and we'll be really talking about them today.
Hopefully get tests right.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
All right, So how's that going to help? Do you reckon?
In terms of that issue that we're seeing on our roads.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
It'll give police a modern piece of capability. These are
fitted well, basically fitted out by them, meets the needs
that they have for our highway police officers. You'll see
them as Alice, you'll see them in Darwin, you'll see
them in Catherine Tennant Creek, and they'll get rolled out
today and yeah, listen, I think we need to do
whatever we can to reiterate to people that the fatal
five is there and you need to comply with the
road rules.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Brent Potter, Minister for Police, good to speak with you
this morning, appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Thank you,
Unfortunately, another terrible weekend on our roads. It was just
last week that the police were calling on the public
to take care on our roads.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
After what was a terrible week last week.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Then late on Friday, we learned that three people were
killed in a crash along the Stuart Highway in Hayes Creek.
The police say that they received reports of a two
vehicle collision about sixty kilometers north of Pine Creek. As
I understand it, maybe I've got that wrong. Three occupants
were pronounced dead at the scene. Now, then at about
(00:32):
five o'clock, police received reports of a collision involving two
vehicles and a sorry, two vehicles I believe, and a
road train transporting cattle along the Stuart Highway about forty
kilometers south of eliotsh So, however, you look at it,
a horrendous weekend on our roads when it comes to
(00:52):
the loss of life. Now joining me in the studio
is the police. Minister Brent Potter, Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Good morning Caddy.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Now, Minister, I.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Don't really know what the answer is to this carnage.
I mean, we're seeing a terrible amount of loss of life.
I believe the road tolls sitting at thirty nine, I
could have that wrong. That's about that compared to seven
at the same time last year. I mean, what more
do you think can be done to try to prevent
this loss of life?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Oh, listen, it's tragic. Into the families, my heart felt
sympathies go out. I think in one of those instances,
most of them were the two parties involved were into
state travelers. We've got the fatal five we talk about
A police have been really good at trying to get
the education awareness program out there. Well, they're now transitioning
to enforcement in de Terrence because people just are not
paying attention.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So more police on the roads, more people try I mean,
more police that are trying to catch people if they're
drink driving, if they're doing the wrong thing.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Police have started road operation at the moment across the
Northern Territory. And you know, potentially once upon a time,
you may have, as I have before, you know, had
the warning from the highway police officer. You're now not
going to get that warning is going to de terrence
and enforcement because the message isn't getting out there. And
like I said, the last incident wasn't Territorians for that
one in Hayes Creek, but the other one was. So
(02:07):
we just need to get to a point where people
are heeding the advice and following and addressing the fatal five.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
It doesn't seem to be sinking, isn't I right?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Like we seem to be in a situation we're not
only seeing like terrible incidents on the highway obviously, like
we've seen over the course of the weekend, but we
have got a terrible situation at the moment too, where
pedestrians are being struck by cars.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, absolutely, and our cohol is a primary cause in
those instances. People not using the lights that we put
in so people can cross the road safely. And then
you know, unfortunately drivers going about their business at collecting
people on the way through, and it's tragic, but these
are individuals that make conscious decisions, and we need to
change people's decision making. And then when people don't follow
(02:48):
the law, we need to hold them accountable to the
Road Act.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
All right, brand I want to move along because there
is so much happening around the place.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Just moving to Catherine.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Obviously, the show was there on the weekend and police
resources were set to be amped up to avoiding any
kind of situation like what we'd experienced in Alice after
the show there, how did it go? Were there any issues?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
It's not going to message from the Commissioner yesterday saying
there was no significant issues to reporting Catherine. We had
the seventeen extra officers that have come from Alice on
the back end of the curfew and Operation Grimmell went
to Tenant Creek show, were in Catherine show and they'll
be coming to Darwin. There is a whole of government
effort after the show to return people back home on
return the country. So we de congest the CBD in
(03:26):
the city, and we had additional licensing and all of
our point of sale intervention or pally positions were filled
to deny people getting access to alcohol. But overall it
seems from the message from the Commissioner that it was
a non eventful show period. Obviously things still happen, but
we didn't see a spike, and that's what we want
to see.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And so now I guess the efforts will turn to
Darwin because we've got the show this weekend. I've already
sort of noticed that there does seem to be more
people sleeping around. Rapha was striving through your electorate actually
on the weekend, and there did seem to be quite
a few people around that Parap area.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, and I mean we've done a lot of measures
in Perp to deal with that private security. We've got
the Larra care services that we fund. And unfortunately this happens.
People come into town for the show with no plan
on where they're intending to stay, and we need to
change that behavior. But it's also it doesn't happen overnight
changing people's behaviors. It's just constant pressure. And I think
it'll be pretty clear on that. But we do provide
many funded, government funded services for people that are staying
(04:21):
rough or coming into town in temporary accommodation. But yes,
those officers will come from Catherine. They will do it.
I believe they do another twenty four hours or so
over they're helping out, and then I could be wrong.
It might only be a few more hours, but then
they come back to day on.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
All right, So back here the resources will be amped up.
I mean, are we expecting an influx of people? Oh?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
We do with every show, you know. I don't think
anyone could say that businesses don't benefit when the show
season comes into town. It is people coming in from
remote that have money to spend and they go through
and spend money out local businesses. But it's making sure
that when people come into town, you know you're buyed
by the rules. Everyone plays by the same set of
rules and police will be here to enforce those for
people that aren't.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I want to talk home invasions. Unfortunately, there's been some
absolute shockers. Last week there was a terrible incident in
Catherine where we saw up to ten youths inside a
home where two women were. They threatened the women with
edged weapons and indecently assaulted them allegedly.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Do you know if those youths are still at large?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Is this the one in Catherine? Sorry, I'm catching up
with the commissioner today. I haven't had update on that brief.
I know that they prioritize that because the severity of
the offending and what's occurred there is absolutely concerning and
when police do get a hold of them, because they will,
they'll be put before the court. And that kind of
offending a serious in nature and brings presumptions against bail
and the like.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
It was a similar situation than in Tenant Creek last week.
Involving up to five youths with an elderly man the victim.
We also have seen over the weekend in Alice Springs. Unfortunately,
I believe it's three home invasions over the weekend. So
several homes in Alice invaded. The Southern Watch Commander Mark
Watson saying that three homes in less than three hours
(05:58):
were targeted across.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Dean and Braitlank.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Now three armed offenders bearing edged weapons broke into a
Saturdayen home. First off at eleven thirty one. They threatened
the seventy five year old woman living in the house
before fleeing. Then in Braitlang, our home was targeted at
twelve twenty one am, three armed defenders breaking into that
home before stealing a vehicle. Then a third incident, also
(06:22):
in Braitlang, an unknown number of offenders tried to force
their way into the occupant's locked bedroom door, forcing that
resident to flee through their bedroom window.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
What do you think when you hear these incidents?
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I mean, we're talking Catherine Tennant Creek and also Alice
Springs where people are not safe in their own homes.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
That's disgusting, you know. I can only imagine what it
would be like to be the homeowners there and have
your family around and the fear that would be going
through and it planned in symbol. It's disgusting, its criminal.
I want to thank the cops for their fast response.
I know that there was an offender from an incident,
Alice Springs recently caught with the help of a police dog,
So you know, thank you for their work. But I
think at the end of the day, once they get
(07:06):
before the court, that level of severity of the offending
and the impact that it has in the community, the
judiciary need to absolutely take that into account and prioritize
that so these people aren't back on the street.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Look, I agree, it's disgusting and it's like it's absolutely
horrifying for those homeowners. But in a couple of these
incidents as well, I mean, we're talking about a seventy
five year old woman, you know, like my mum's that age,
and I know how I would feel if somebody got
into the home, But at least I'm sort of young
enough that i'd potentially be able to defend myself.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Then when you're talking about people that are in their seventies,
it's like it's not only disgusting, but it's so utterly
frightening for those people where you are incredibly vulnerable. And
I just like, for me reading through this and seeing
some of these pressure releases come through in recent days,
(07:57):
it feels like there's more people getting into homes with
each weapons.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That could be wrong.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I could be wrong on that, but when you look
at that, when you look at these edged weapon home invasions,
what is being done to stop that?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Because I get what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
You know, they go through the courts and you want
the severity to be there, but how do we stop
it from reaching that point?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yeah, I think we're more attuned to these instance as
in we're more aware, we're following Facebook and the like,
where it's more exceencing.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It's that I think it's there's literally people being you know,
like there's these people whose homes are being broken into.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Sort of asked me the point where you said, is
it happening more or not? You know, I'm just saying
it is more accessible the information cameras, CCTV, we're more
aware of it. Crime stats are going down in that space,
But don't.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Think that there's more people armed with knives.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Well, I think we've released a knife strategy. I think
there are more people carrying weapons because they believe they're
protecting themselves, and the irony behind that is the other
person then carries a weapon and we get in this
position where people are carrying weapons in public and it
does happen majority with our youth and we need to
change it. And we've seen that in many countries and
that's all we've informated the strategy in the wanding powers.
I think in terms of invasion though, whether you're a
seventy five year old woman, or it's your young daughter
(09:04):
that's just turned eighteen who's home on her own that night,
or if it is you and the family, all of
it's discussing. I don't want anyone to have to think
about how they defend themselves in their own home, and
that's why we put more money into police. But to
be really clear on how we get an outcome here,
policing is one part of it. We have to change
the poverty that we see in our remote communities. And
I know there was a press release recently done by
the Central Land Council. They're unhappy that the organizations that
(09:26):
are representing them are not delivering on the generational change
that they need in community, and all of that brings
us to a point where there's disadvantage in poverty and
then we see crime.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
So all right, So just on the point of hein tier,
pardon the put because I'm not trying to make life
of that situation, but just on the pointing in tier,
I mean, do you think that that knife crime strategy
is working?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I think it will work over time. Nothing happens overnight,
because you've got to remember, we've got to get There
are generation right now that have been carrying nives and
think it's appropriate. We've got to change their behaviors. That's
probably the hardest piece. There is a generation that are
coming up throughout our schools right now where this will
have the most impact because we'll we'll get ahead of
it and get on top of it before they start
carrying it. But for those that are carrying it right now,
the best at terrence is putting him before the court
(10:08):
the judiciary making a really strong statement and putting him
in in Dondale or putting him in how it springs
is required.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
So how are you.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Going to gauge the success of the knife crime strategy?
How are you going to measure whether it's working or.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
One of the very front line operational ones, or when
we do wanding operations, how many people we actually catch
carrying knives and scissors. I mean, that is one of
the measures because that operation you'll see we do a
significant amount of wanding for a very small return on
the amount of people carrying. Now, when you do a
wanting operation of a numerous days, the message gets out
and people stop carrying them. But I think it won't.
It'll be something you'll have to measure over ten years
(10:39):
on how much knife crime and violence we see.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
I mean, like when you see the vision though in
the CBD from Last Sunday Night, where there's a bloke
with that massive machete, a nineteen year old. I know
the police obviously got him, but that's kind of thumbing,
you know, like it's kind of just having a laugh
about the knife crime strategy.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
If someone's carrying a knife round like that.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
I don't think it's having a laugh, Katie, because like
I said to you, there's a group of people that
are like a strategy that there is still criminal outcomes
for people that carry weapons. So we've changed all of that.
So they can.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
But if someone's prepared to like jump out of a car,
you know, where there's security vision all through the city,
armed with a machete like that, you know, I don't
feel as though people are worried about the consequence, so
they're not really concerned about endangering other people's lives. And
it's frightening for law abiding citizens of the Northern Territory right.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Absolutely, it's frightening for lawabiding citizens across the TIERA. I
don't disagree with you on that, but I guess this
point I always come back to and say, criminals don't
think they're going to get caught. Like, no matter how
strong the law is in any country across the world,
there are criminals that just never think they're going to
get caught. Now, organized crime is a really good example
of that. They never think they're going to get caught.
They want to make the money bikes for example, they
carry weapons, knives, They go around and beat each other up.
(11:47):
What happened on Mitchell Street was a group of young
men that were engaged in you know, you could see
the footage beforehand. There was obviously an incident that's happened
before they started filming, and an idiot has gone into
his car and pulled a machete out. And I'll tell
you what. The person that sent me the footage it
was grateful because en shot the number plate. Send it
to police, you know, and all of that stuff helps.
We've caught the guy. He'll go before the courts and
I'll tell you what he should be getting some time.
He should be getting a really hard sender to send
(12:08):
the message to his mates. I mean, can't I personally
can't control the guy who goes gets in a fight
on Mitchell Street, jumps in his carentels knife out. The
only way we stop that is we go and search.
Then we catch them and we put them before the courts.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
And what then of the you know, the youths that
are allegedly breaking into the home in Catherine and indecently
assaulting you know, two women after youth with these weapons.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
That is disgusting and like that isn't There'll be people
who go, well, their youth and they should you know,
poor them. Well, there's a difference between breaking in and
taking food and drink out the fridge to set to
assaulting a woman in the house after you've broken in.
Now there's an aggravation that comes with that. They will
find themselves doing time in Dondale. There's no like if
that that will justify that, But I suspect that those
individuals will be known to police and they will get them.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I mean, it's not okay to break into someone's house
so and still from the fridge anyway.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Well, no it's not. But I guess like there'll be
people that always try and minimize that type of offending.
What I'm saying is what they've done there is disgusting,
it is severe, and they will find themselves.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
With I mean, do you get frustrated when you do
hear people trying to sort of minimize some of that offending,
particularly when I am sure that the biggest issue that
probably gets raised with you is people saying, you know,
they're really frightenedly some of the stuff that's going on crime.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Lise, Absolutely, I get frustrated as I get frustrated with
the people that think it's such a simple solution like
locking people up, because the reality is to crack me
or somebody. But like there's other people that come in
and they get very punitive, they go completely down the
other side, and it's like that doesn't get us any
further along as a community. We need to find a
middle ground, which is understanding that changing behaviors takes time.
Police resources is one part.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I also think like people have an expectation that they
can feel safe in their own home.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Absolutely every time I've come and I agree with you.
I'm just saying that there are some people that will
minimize their offending and there are some people that will
try and go the complete opposite down the other end
and in the middle is where we need to be
as a community and the jiu jitsu representing our views.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Now, what about in Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
At the moment, you've got the closure of the People's
Choice Credit Union. They've announced that they're going to be
shutting shop in Alice because the staff are not safe.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
So how does that make you feel? As the police minister?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I feel like there's Ala Springs residents that are missing
out our service that they deserve, you know. And for
all the work that has been put into Alis Springs
with both the curfews, additional police resources, the two hundred
and fifty million from the federal government, you know, we're
doing a lot of work down there. And as I
keep saying it, just doesn't happen overnight. And it's disappointing
that I didn't have an engagement with police. They didn't
get also the credit and didn't give me a call
(14:22):
to have a chat down, sit down and see what I
could help them with. The first I got of it
was the letter saying they were closing.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
But I mean, like, are you surprised that there'd be
a business that's made that choice based on the safety
issues that they're experiencing?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
There?
Speaker 3 (14:37):
No, But I think with a larger organization we can
have a discussion. Like I can't control every business opening
or closing, but I can absolutely sit down when someone
reaches out and work through options and see what we
can do. I'm not shoying away from I never have
the issues we have in our springs.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
I mean it's pretty ordary though, like that we've reached
a point in Alice Springs, where as you've touched on
right from the get go where people aren't going to
be able to actually access different services that they have
previously because when able to get a whole hold of
the safety concerns.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Oh absolutely, I mean I can't agree with you more, Katie,
but can't I can't control what they've decided to do
as an organization. I think we've seen, which is disappointing,
multiple big banks starting to close their remote and country outlets.
And this just adds to it. We saw the Tenant
Creek lose some of their services. Now we're seeing Alice
Springs due to crime. And I say this, you know
I've seen this before. The crime piece goes the crime,
(15:25):
the incident that's occurring, and the narrative goes way further
and way longer than even when it does stop.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
What assurances can you give other businesses that they will
be able to operate.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Safely in Alice, Well, I can only the only assurance
I can give them is that we're doing everything we can,
which is put more money. At a government level, it
is about putting money in and setting the policy framework,
and the Commissioner's got a keen eye in our springs
like Alice has received more police officers in the last
two years than than any other of our stations, like
they get well resourced. The problem is large, and I
think the CLC's sort of council meeting and the statements
(15:55):
that the media reportans come out of that, that's the
key to addressing this like, until we're willing to address
the poverty issues and the organizations that are fund to
fix it, policing is only ever going to be reactionally.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
What do you think then, Look, I don't know if
you heard it, but I mean, what do you think
then of even a couple of weeks ago, on the
week that was We've discussed with Minister Kate Warden about
the funding for Tongue and Jeer Counsel.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
And you know, we've got a situation.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Where, you know, we're in Alice Springs and I know
the ABC reported on this quite extensively a little earlier
in the year that they hadn't filed their annual report.
You know that they have got somebody sitting on that
board who has been convicted of domestic violence previous historic
But then, what do you think of the situation where
she'd confirmed with us then on the show that they'd
(16:38):
had their funding double for one of their men's behavioral programs.
So despite those issues in terms of not filing their
annual reports and they're being you know, the the agreement
with the town council as well being torn up, that
despite all of that, then they'd had their funding increased
it sort of goes against what we're just discussing.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, I mean, I'm not familiar with the specific programs
a tongue other than I know their Men's Change Behavior
program does work. I know they lost some funding, I
believe for the youth services piece. So you do have
to fund the pieces that work, and you have to
defund the pieces that aren't. Move the money somewhere else
to get the outcome. I think the annual report piece
is absolutely something the FEDS need to look at. And
I don't think I'm saying this outside of what Mariana said.
She wants to see that accountability. We want to see
(17:21):
that accountability. It is federal money. It is only the
FEDS that can can reckon.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
That would have been the perfect opportunity then to go hey,
until we see that accountability. Until we see that, we
won't actually increase the funding, of.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Course, But I mean the other side it is when
you hold that money back, then there isn't a service
being delivered at all, which then creates an issue in
a gap, and we see spikes in those areas. So
we'll continue to try new things and when it doesn't work,
we'll move to the next one and continue to try that,
because I think doubling down on something it doesn't work,
you know, only sets us up for failing.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Brent, A call has just gotten in contact, wondering if
you're aware of the mum and kids who were apparently
held at knife point in Alice, pleading for her kids safety.
A fourteen year old protecting his three year old sibling.
Apparently it's on the Action Frales page. I've not seen
it myself.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I've actually received the brief and police and I believe
it's linked to the series the same offenders. They believe
that we're in Alice Springs at the time that you've
reported or reported on, And like I said, it's a
number one priority of police in the moment in Alice
Springs is to identify and apprehend those individuals.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
So what exactly happened so the moment kids were at
home to that point, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
So I'm basically what it said, there an unlawful aggravated
entry with a weapon where the family has been at home.
And this is the point when you said about the
seventy five year old, because I knew there was other
youth that have been involved and other families that have
had that incident over the weekend. So I don't want
anyone Oh and this is what I mean. I don't
want anyone to have to think about how they protect
themselves or their family in their house because I don't
want anyone to have to get to.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
That position, or an older sibling having to look after
a little one like that makes you. That makes me
feel really upset thinking that that little famili's had to
go through that.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
That's absolutely woeful.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Yeah, they didn't have to see it. It's a simple
I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
But can you see where people kind of gone like
scratching their heads thinking, how can we kind of keep
on this path?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Well, yes, I can understand that, but the laws are
already there, like we've got to catch them and when
we've got to put them before the judiciary, and then
the judiciary has got to hold them accountable in line
with community expectation and the law that's there. But you know,
I wish I could give people the click of the
finger and fix it tomorrow. We can't until we really
address what is driving people to come into town and
engage in criminal behavior, which is I don't know, people
(19:27):
don't like hearing it is the poverty, like people don't
have it. They see what they want and they're going
out and engaging in crime. Until that is addressed, the
best thing that we can have is continue to fund police,
continue to fund the change programs, and continue to put
people before the judiciary that commit these offenses. At the
end of the day, the individual needs to be accountable
for the action that they take.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
That's exactly right. That's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
I mean, do you feel as though the judicial system
is holding up to their piece of the.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Puzzle here, And I've been pretty vocal in this before
Coatie seeing the prison numbers at the moment, Yes, I
do like there are people like and I can tell
listeners when I when I get a particular brief to
come through, It's not uncommon for me to write back
the department and say, I want to know the outcome
on this individual's bail hearing. I want to know when
they get sentenced. And they do that and they tell
me that, and they are getting sentence appropriate with the
crimes that they're committing, and they're serving prison time. And
it's the reason why we've got so many people in
(20:14):
our prisons, we've got people in our police watchhouses because
the prisons are full. You know, we're sending a very
clear message. Now it needs to come down to how
do we rehabilitate them? So in two, three, four years time,
we're not talking about the same offenders coming back before
the system.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Hey, really couple of questions because well we don't unfortunately
kicking now what I mean just in terms of I
understand that there's an announcement being made today, you're off
to make an announcement.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
What's that one?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
On police? If we talk about traffic and road totalities?
So the traffic police will be getting you wrx's. So
I feel like we've gone back to the days of
the police Highway Patrol WX. But they're getting a bunch
of those and we'll be really talking about them today.
Hopefully get tests right.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
All right, So how's that going to help? Do you reckon?
In terms of that issue that we're seeing on our roads.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
It'll give police a modern piece of capability. These are
fitted well, basically fitted out by them, meets the needs
that they have for our highway police officers. You'll see
them as Alice, you'll see them in Darwin, you'll see
them in Catherine Tennant Creek, and they'll get rolled out
today and yeah, listen, I think we need to do
whatever we can to reiterate to people that the fatal
five is there and you need to comply with the
road rules.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Brent Potter, Minister for Police, good to speak with you
this morning, appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Thank you,
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