Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We also know that from yesterday well, two people have
died in shootings in Darwin's northern suburbs. Investigations are underway
into the incidents in both Milner and Karama yesterday afternoon.
It's understood that a third person was injured in the
Milner incident and was taken to hospital. Police believe the
incidents are not related and say that there is no
(00:22):
risk to the public. Now joining me on the line
is the Minister for Police, Kate Warden.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning to you. Minister.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Good morning Katie, and it's very sad with the incidents overnight,
incredibly sad. Now I know obviously with the family.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Yeah, I know that there's not a lot that you
can say to us at this point. We know that
we are indeed in a situation where the police, I
believe providing a bit of an update around now. We're
due to catch up with the commander after ten o'clock
this morning. But it does sound like a terrible will
two separate terrible situations have unfolded.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, very for our community, particularly here in Darwen. But
you know police have kept me informed overnight, Katie, and
as you say, they did the first opportunity last night
they did step out and provide some information to the
media and into unrelated incidents. Very sad in Carma and Milner.
I've had the same information as well that there was
(01:21):
no danger to the wider community at any time, and
that a couple of people have tragically lost their lives
and another is in hospital. But we do need to
also step aside and let the police continue their investigation,
which they are doing today, and they are absolutely committed
to making sure that the public are fully you know,
made aware of facts. I guess as they become a parent.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, well, look, as I said, we are going to
be catching up with Sorry, the Acting Assistant Commissioner Matthew
Hollanby is going to be joining us on the show
just after ten o'clock. But Minister, there is a lot
to cover off on this morning, and the Northern Territory
Police Association of just joined on the show and a
calling on the Northern Territory government to stop gambling with
public safety and stop creating more work for police by
(02:08):
expanding what they've described as cheap policing. It's in reference
to transit safety officers now having OC spray. I mean,
should we be expanding things like OC spray to transit
safety officers or should that actually be the role of police.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Look, we're not the only jurisdiction, Katie, that has rolled
out OC spray in transit. I believe in perhaps New
South Wales and Victoria. I think maybe two other jurisdictions
that have done that. But in terms of overall, in
terms of what Nathan and I did listen to his interview.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You know they're being a bit.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Anti everything at the moment, sadly, but that's second what
they're calling second tier policing. Public housing safety officers and
transit officers have been in place for a very very
long term time. I remember particularly public housing safety office
as were created under Chris Burns and you know he
obviously hasn't been in government for a very long time,
(03:06):
so those programs have been going for a considerable amount
of time.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Use, I mean the use of things like OHC spray
though are new like that is something that you know
that we rolled out yesterday.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Will make no apologies for it. We need to make
sure that people are take our public transport networks. If
we talk to you know, people into state and around Australia.
We need to make sure that people going to work,
you know that call has been made, are safe at work?
And that both equally for public transport safety officers. We
need to make sure that they are safe at work
(03:39):
and are able to de escalate situations. Obviously, police then
get called in, you know, if somebody is arrested, they
do have the power of arrest. But they've had the
power of arrest for a very long time, so what
Nathan is talking about is not new. But in terms
of the just to clarify all.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Those other states, Minister, in those other states, are the tsos,
are the transit safety officers sworn officers?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Like do?
Speaker 1 (04:05):
They have to do more extensive training than what we're
expecting us here in the territory to do.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
So they are doing nationally accredited training. We've made sure
of that. That's why the legislation was passed and then
that training was undertaken. So they're well trained, and we
have taken the guidance of police at every step that
we've taken. They have not been, you know, hands off
on this process. We have been working directly with police
(04:31):
to make sure that transit officers have the best training.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Can you tell me done and dusted.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Minister, Can you tell me is the OC spray for
transit safety officers? Is it different to the one that
the police use.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
So we've directly chosen a gel which doesn't have any overspray,
which makes it safer and it obviously doesn't affect people
around the intended target.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Now, what role will police then play when it comes
to investigating excessive use of force for that spray? And
is it going to add an extra burden too? What
is an already stretched force?
Speaker 3 (05:07):
No, well, there's I did hear Nathan indicates that that's
police that will take up that if there's a complaint
of excessive force or you know, an assault, that's the
normal train that they.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Would go to.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
That would be a police referral. But also there are
reviews undertaken through every single time that there is a
use of the OC spray by a transit officer, it
will be reviewed and not reviewed by police, reviewed within
DIPPLE and then externally if we require That process has
already been in place, so that process doesn't include police known.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Now, Minister he also made a fairly explosive comment about
the fact that that that private security that is being
utilized in places like Karama, that it is now moved
responsibilities moved from the Chief Minister's Office to the Northern
Territory Police I mean, is that is that the right move?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
It is, Kay. So what we saw is we saw
the growth of private security funding coming out of the
Chief Minister's area and I have to say it wasn't
necessarily targeted and it needs to be targeted and reviewed.
We are reviewing it at the moment it's come across
to police. It came across on the first of July.
I won't make any excuses about that. That's a bucket
(06:24):
of funding that goes to private security. We've now got
the Territory Coordination Center sitting at at Ferramah looking at
hotspots etc. For antisocial behavior and they can now review
those contracts with a view to data which informs us
to make sure that any private security in the future
(06:47):
goes is targeted into areas that actually need it.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Are you concerned that it does or could potentially open
the Northern Territory Police Force up though two complaints if
somebody does act in an unlawful way.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Both security contracts have been in place for quite some time, Katie,
and if there's complaints about them, they already would come
to police if they allege, you know, unlawful behavior. What
it's done, is it Those contracts coming across gives us
an opportunity to pause and have a look and align
any security money into the future where actual data shows
(07:25):
us that antisocial behavior is occurring. So for example, if
I can give you an example of that, Let's say
we put security into a particular area. Say we put
it into Culumbay, and I'm using an anecdotal example here.
Let's say that that crime continue, you know, was driven down,
it was only at one stage, but then you have
(07:46):
a security company working in that area for another six months.
That would be considered in my view, a waste, especially
if we can target them better in other places. So
we need to make sure that those of security contracts
are driven by evidence based on where antisocial behavior is
actually occurring and we make the best use of territory money.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
So where is that funding coming from. Is that funding
coming from like from the police budget or where's the
funding coming from.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
So it's additional funding that's come across on the first
of July into our bucket from the Chief Minister's area. Okay,
the office of the Chief Minister, not the Chief Minister's Office.
There's two different areas.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Minister.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I know a lot of people are going to be
listening though and thinking to themselves, this is a band
aid solution when we actually need to tackle the issue
of crime rather than having to employ private security guards,
rather than having to use oc sprat.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Can I be really clear. We have been doing private
security and funding private security and places like the city
for a number of years now, and that does give
people some comfort walking through the city when they see
those private security members coming through. And I know that
it's the same in Alice Springs, so they played an
important part in community safety. What I'm saying is we're
(08:59):
reviewing the us of that funding to see if there's
a better use for it, and west driving that review
is police. It's really important that we look at it
and poor and make sure that it's targeted funding to
get a good outcome in terms of community safety. It's
not a band aid solution. It's part of a much
border system. And when you talk about how you stop
(09:19):
crime happening in the first place, that's a considerable piece
of work working in the DV area because that constitutes
a majority of our of our crime. We need to
make sure that we are working to stop people offending
in the first place, and that means looking at all
those other areas like poverty, family dysfunction, making sure people
(09:41):
are returning, you know, in time back to communities that
were addressing over crowding and housing. That's a huge body
of work that we never ever hear the opposition or
you know, the Police Association talk about. But that's the
body of work that we are continuing to grind that
every day. At the same time looking at making I'm
sure our police are adequately resourced, and you know, the
(10:03):
fact is that we are looking at resourcing and staffing
in the police through the review. So for the Police
Association to say that we're ignoring the resourcing and staffing
within the police is completely wrong. That review will we
have committed to making sure that we will you know,
stump up when that review findings come down in those recommendations.
(10:25):
We'll listen to what the review has to say. So
we're working bloody hard every day to make a difference.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
And Minister, I mean, we keep hearing that from the government.
The public keeps saying to me, Katie, we keep hearing
from the government that they're working really hard on this
or that and various other things. Of no doubt that
you are, but for a lot of people they just
feel as though things are not getting better. I mean,
when you look at the fact that on Thursday afternoon
last week we had an alleged sexual assault at two
(10:54):
thirty in the afternoon in the Darwin City. We also
know that over the weekend there were mine workers that
had to barricade themselves in to their mind because there
was people trying to get in and assaulted. There are
incidents happening right around the Northern Territory at the moment
that have got people very worried that you've got no control, Katie.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
There are incidents of crime accruing across Australia and in
fact the world at any given time. We are all
a very connected community and we hear about these things,
whether it's on a social media PC's that.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
We're ever connected.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Though it's not because we're connected, Minister, it's because it's
not in a.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Good way right now, connected, Katie.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So you don't reckon there's been an increase in crime,
You reckon it's just because we're connected.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Absolutely, there's been an increase in crime. There's been an
increase in crime in the Northern Territory. My head is
not in the fan. I'm absolutely aware of it, as
are our police. That's why we need to make sure
that they are well resourced to respond to that crime.
And Katie, our jails are full. The police do an
amazing job here in the Northern Territory of arresting people
(12:02):
and getting on top of those instances as they occur.
The majority of crime here in Northern Territory is people
being assaulted through domestic and family violence, and a lot
of that is driven by alcohol. We continue to do
a lot of work in that space. You can't ignore
that and then just pop on.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
About No one's saying that you should ignore that. No
one's saying that you should ignore that. But what people
are saying is that the government's been in power for
seven years and it doesn't seem to be getting better.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
That's what people are saying right now, Katie.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
We have got programs in place across every single level
that we are constantly reviewing. We are picking up with
families on an increasing number of families that are dysfunctional
every day. A lot of this is driven by poverty
and all of those things so we're working at that
level against those sorts of things, the drivers of crime
(12:58):
in the first place. And at the same time we've
got police working incredibly hard on the front line, and
we are looking to make sure that we're resourcing them.
That's the way you do it. You have to get
in front of the curve. Maybe we haven't got there yet.
It's a lot of hard, hard work over a lot
of time, because you can't fix social dysfunction overnight, you
just can't, Katie. And we can't say that it'll be
(13:20):
done in a seven year time frame either. We know
in place all of that work to work with families.
We've got all the child interventions occurring right the way
across the Northern Territory, right the way out to remote
and all those challenges we've got. It's very very hard
work and it's done by a lot of different government agencies,
US with polleagues.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
We will move along because because you know, I know
that we've got differing views on this, so we will
move along.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But I do want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
I want to ask you about the wanding, but I
also firstly want to ask we've had a few listeners
get in contact with us saying Hi, Katie. I don't
know if it's been discussed this is one of the messages,
but the ABC Full Corners I was doing an episode
on an overreach of private security in the Northern Territory
and on the buses in particular, there was an incident
(14:08):
recently where a security guard used unnecessary force. I won't
read the rest of that out because I don't know
exactly what has gone on, But Minister, are you aware
of this and is that something that's going to be happening, Katie?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
I am. I am aware of those allegations. I have
heard them, and let me say this, if they're true,
it's appalling behavior by those journalists. I know our local
journalists have a lot more integrity than that. I my
understanding that they are alleged to be creating hostile and
aggressive situations, and they're creating those that's appalling behavior, whether
(14:50):
it's security guards or our police. They have got an
incredibly tough job as it is, without you know, them
coming those journalists coming along and making it even harder
for them stirring up trouble in our community.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
So what I reckon they've done? Do you reckon that?
The do you reckon that the kind of like Mack
breaking here.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Absolutely, I believe that if the allegations that I'm hearing
are true, then we need to call out that behavior.
We do not see that by our local journalists, and
you know that, but they are. My understanding is that
they are allegedly creating situation. You know, providing pizza for
comment is one of the ones I've heard. I've also
my understanding is that they've driven somebody around to where
(15:33):
they've had a previous confrontation with security guards and they've
actually orchestrated you know, that person locking up and trying
to antagonize the situation to occur. It's unethical. If those
allegations are true, it's unethical behavior, and I would believe
it would reach the code that all journalists I know
(15:55):
subscribe to, and we need to make sure that we're
calling it out. So so you see where that goes.
But that I am hearing those allegations, and if they
are true, it's a calling.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
So it sounds to me like if that is what happens,
that you're going to be making a complaint. Are you
certainly going to be pretty pretty angry about it?
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Well, we've seen it before, particularly by a number of
national programs, and they come to the territory, they do
that sort of thing, and then they leave and they
leave our community in term or we've been used by them,
and I would hate to think that's the situation here.
But if it does turn out that the allegations are correct,
then of course we all need to call them out,
including the local media, Katie, because you know, this does
(16:35):
leave a scar on the integrity of you know, our
good journalists locally.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Well, we have seen different situations before. I mean, we
saw one in Alla Springs a little while back where
there was you know, where there was a public meeting
held and it was insinuated that the people who'd attended
that public meeting were racist and all sorts of other things,
when it was a group of people who are actually
pretty concerned about issues that were having with crime. But Minister,
(17:02):
I do want to just ask you as well about
the wanding. We know that that wanding obviously rolled out
in Catherine and Alice Springs about a week ago, but
I understand it's now happening in Darwin and Alice.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Yeah, it is. So we have we've seen that happen
and we have seen you know that it's had some
success in picking up things like scissors and also an
axe that's out in Alice Springs. Yeah, so we have
begun that operation, and I think the message is extremely clear.
(17:35):
Don't go in public, in fact, don't go under all.
You know, people shouldn't be carrying weapons around on them
on themselves, and this is just another piece of the
puzzle we need to do, you know, a whole range
of these activities. I did also want to clarify that
Nathan was talking earlier about them not having the power
(17:56):
if police have a reasonable suspicion, they still have that anywhere,
they have the ability to search people. If they have
a WAND on them, they actually can will they actually
able to use it. It's far less intrusive. A wanding
activity in itself does need to be either in a
high risk area or another area that's declared by a
(18:17):
senior sergeant, or in some areas it does need to
be declared by the commissioner. But those processes can be
quickly done if we suspect that activity is occurring in
particular areas. But police still have that power to search,
and if they do have a WAND that's accessible, they
are able to use the wand it's far less intrusive.
And you know, we are already chatting. I'm chatting to
(18:39):
the Police Commissioner about whether you know it could become
more accessible for everyday frontline policing minister.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Before I let you go, the rumors arrive at the
moment that there's going to be a cabinet reshuffle, is there.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Not? To my knowledge at this point, Katie, And I'll
be very frank, you guys be the last to know.
I'd hope i'd know first.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Yeah, well so would I. But you never know sometimes.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
And we've had a few people message about that, wondering
and asking whether it is happening.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
So will there be one? Do you reckon before the election?
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Oh, Katie, I hate to speculate. That's the job of
the Chief Minister. It's not my job. I know that
I love my job. I love It's an absolute privilege
to serve territory and being a minister in a government
is more than a privilege, you know, it's a lifetime.
It's once in a lifetime and I just am just
getting on with loving doing my job and working you know,
with the police and territory families to get change in
(19:39):
our community that they so much want.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Minister, we are going to have to leave it there.
I always appreciate your time. Thank you very much for
joining us on the show.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Never a Problem, Katie, thanks for having me on today.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Thank you
We also know that from yesterday well, two people have
died in shootings in Darwin's northern suburbs. Investigations are underway
into the incidents in both Milner and Karama yesterday afternoon.
It's understood that a third person was injured in the
Milner incident and was taken to hospital. Police believe the
incidents are not related and say that there is no
(00:22):
risk to the public. Now joining me on the line
is the Minister for Police, Kate Warden.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning to you. Minister.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Good morning Katie, and it's very sad with the incidents overnight,
incredibly sad. Now I know obviously with the family.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Yeah, I know that there's not a lot that you
can say to us at this point. We know that
we are indeed in a situation where the police, I
believe providing a bit of an update around now. We're
due to catch up with the commander after ten o'clock
this morning. But it does sound like a terrible will
two separate terrible situations have unfolded.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, very for our community, particularly here in Darwen. But
you know police have kept me informed overnight, Katie, and
as you say, they did the first opportunity last night
they did step out and provide some information to the
media and into unrelated incidents. Very sad in Carma and Milner.
I've had the same information as well that there was
(01:21):
no danger to the wider community at any time, and
that a couple of people have tragically lost their lives
and another is in hospital. But we do need to
also step aside and let the police continue their investigation,
which they are doing today, and they are absolutely committed
to making sure that the public are fully you know,
made aware of facts. I guess as they become a parent.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, well, look, as I said, we are going to
be catching up with Sorry, the Acting Assistant Commissioner Matthew
Hollanby is going to be joining us on the show
just after ten o'clock. But Minister, there is a lot
to cover off on this morning, and the Northern Territory
Police Association of just joined on the show and a
calling on the Northern Territory government to stop gambling with
public safety and stop creating more work for police by
(02:08):
expanding what they've described as cheap policing. It's in reference
to transit safety officers now having OC spray. I mean,
should we be expanding things like OC spray to transit
safety officers or should that actually be the role of police.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Look, we're not the only jurisdiction, Katie, that has rolled
out OC spray in transit. I believe in perhaps New
South Wales and Victoria. I think maybe two other jurisdictions
that have done that. But in terms of overall, in
terms of what Nathan and I did listen to his interview.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You know they're being a bit.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Anti everything at the moment, sadly, but that's second what
they're calling second tier policing. Public housing safety officers and
transit officers have been in place for a very very
long term time. I remember particularly public housing safety office
as were created under Chris Burns and you know he
obviously hasn't been in government for a very long time,
(03:06):
so those programs have been going for a considerable amount
of time.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Use, I mean the use of things like OHC spray
though are new like that is something that you know
that we rolled out yesterday.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Will make no apologies for it. We need to make
sure that people are take our public transport networks. If
we talk to you know, people into state and around Australia.
We need to make sure that people going to work,
you know that call has been made, are safe at work?
And that both equally for public transport safety officers. We
need to make sure that they are safe at work
(03:39):
and are able to de escalate situations. Obviously, police then
get called in, you know, if somebody is arrested, they
do have the power of arrest. But they've had the
power of arrest for a very long time, so what
Nathan is talking about is not new. But in terms
of the just to clarify all.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Those other states, Minister, in those other states, are the tsos,
are the transit safety officers sworn officers?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Like do?
Speaker 1 (04:05):
They have to do more extensive training than what we're
expecting us here in the territory to do.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
So they are doing nationally accredited training. We've made sure
of that. That's why the legislation was passed and then
that training was undertaken. So they're well trained, and we
have taken the guidance of police at every step that
we've taken. They have not been, you know, hands off
on this process. We have been working directly with police
(04:31):
to make sure that transit officers have the best training.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Can you tell me done and dusted.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Minister, Can you tell me is the OC spray for
transit safety officers? Is it different to the one that
the police use.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
So we've directly chosen a gel which doesn't have any overspray,
which makes it safer and it obviously doesn't affect people
around the intended target.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Now, what role will police then play when it comes
to investigating excessive use of force for that spray? And
is it going to add an extra burden too? What
is an already stretched force?
Speaker 3 (05:07):
No, well, there's I did hear Nathan indicates that that's
police that will take up that if there's a complaint
of excessive force or you know, an assault, that's the
normal train that they.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Would go to.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
That would be a police referral. But also there are
reviews undertaken through every single time that there is a
use of the OC spray by a transit officer, it
will be reviewed and not reviewed by police, reviewed within
DIPPLE and then externally if we require That process has
already been in place, so that process doesn't include police known.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Now, Minister he also made a fairly explosive comment about
the fact that that that private security that is being
utilized in places like Karama, that it is now moved
responsibilities moved from the Chief Minister's Office to the Northern
Territory Police I mean, is that is that the right move?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
It is, Kay. So what we saw is we saw
the growth of private security funding coming out of the
Chief Minister's area and I have to say it wasn't
necessarily targeted and it needs to be targeted and reviewed.
We are reviewing it at the moment it's come across
to police. It came across on the first of July.
I won't make any excuses about that. That's a bucket
(06:24):
of funding that goes to private security. We've now got
the Territory Coordination Center sitting at at Ferramah looking at
hotspots etc. For antisocial behavior and they can now review
those contracts with a view to data which informs us
to make sure that any private security in the future
(06:47):
goes is targeted into areas that actually need it.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Are you concerned that it does or could potentially open
the Northern Territory Police Force up though two complaints if
somebody does act in an unlawful way.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Both security contracts have been in place for quite some time, Katie,
and if there's complaints about them, they already would come
to police if they allege, you know, unlawful behavior. What
it's done, is it Those contracts coming across gives us
an opportunity to pause and have a look and align
any security money into the future where actual data shows
(07:25):
us that antisocial behavior is occurring. So for example, if
I can give you an example of that, Let's say
we put security into a particular area. Say we put
it into Culumbay, and I'm using an anecdotal example here.
Let's say that that crime continue, you know, was driven down,
it was only at one stage, but then you have
(07:46):
a security company working in that area for another six months.
That would be considered in my view, a waste, especially
if we can target them better in other places. So
we need to make sure that those of security contracts
are driven by evidence based on where antisocial behavior is
actually occurring and we make the best use of territory money.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
So where is that funding coming from. Is that funding
coming from like from the police budget or where's the
funding coming from.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
So it's additional funding that's come across on the first
of July into our bucket from the Chief Minister's area. Okay,
the office of the Chief Minister, not the Chief Minister's Office.
There's two different areas.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Minister.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I know a lot of people are going to be
listening though and thinking to themselves, this is a band
aid solution when we actually need to tackle the issue
of crime rather than having to employ private security guards,
rather than having to use oc sprat.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Can I be really clear. We have been doing private
security and funding private security and places like the city
for a number of years now, and that does give
people some comfort walking through the city when they see
those private security members coming through. And I know that
it's the same in Alice Springs, so they played an
important part in community safety. What I'm saying is we're
(08:59):
reviewing the us of that funding to see if there's
a better use for it, and west driving that review
is police. It's really important that we look at it
and poor and make sure that it's targeted funding to
get a good outcome in terms of community safety. It's
not a band aid solution. It's part of a much
border system. And when you talk about how you stop
(09:19):
crime happening in the first place, that's a considerable piece
of work working in the DV area because that constitutes
a majority of our of our crime. We need to
make sure that we are working to stop people offending
in the first place, and that means looking at all
those other areas like poverty, family dysfunction, making sure people
(09:41):
are returning, you know, in time back to communities that
were addressing over crowding and housing. That's a huge body
of work that we never ever hear the opposition or
you know, the Police Association talk about. But that's the
body of work that we are continuing to grind that
every day. At the same time looking at making I'm
sure our police are adequately resourced, and you know, the
(10:03):
fact is that we are looking at resourcing and staffing
in the police through the review. So for the Police
Association to say that we're ignoring the resourcing and staffing
within the police is completely wrong. That review will we
have committed to making sure that we will you know,
stump up when that review findings come down in those recommendations.
(10:25):
We'll listen to what the review has to say. So
we're working bloody hard every day to make a difference.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
And Minister, I mean, we keep hearing that from the government.
The public keeps saying to me, Katie, we keep hearing
from the government that they're working really hard on this
or that and various other things. Of no doubt that
you are, but for a lot of people they just
feel as though things are not getting better. I mean,
when you look at the fact that on Thursday afternoon
last week we had an alleged sexual assault at two
(10:54):
thirty in the afternoon in the Darwin City. We also
know that over the weekend there were mine workers that
had to barricade themselves in to their mind because there
was people trying to get in and assaulted. There are
incidents happening right around the Northern Territory at the moment
that have got people very worried that you've got no control, Katie.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
There are incidents of crime accruing across Australia and in
fact the world at any given time. We are all
a very connected community and we hear about these things,
whether it's on a social media PC's that.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
We're ever connected.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Though it's not because we're connected, Minister, it's because it's
not in a.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Good way right now, connected, Katie.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So you don't reckon there's been an increase in crime,
You reckon it's just because we're connected.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Absolutely, there's been an increase in crime. There's been an
increase in crime in the Northern Territory. My head is
not in the fan. I'm absolutely aware of it, as
are our police. That's why we need to make sure
that they are well resourced to respond to that crime.
And Katie, our jails are full. The police do an
amazing job here in the Northern Territory of arresting people
(12:02):
and getting on top of those instances as they occur.
The majority of crime here in Northern Territory is people
being assaulted through domestic and family violence, and a lot
of that is driven by alcohol. We continue to do
a lot of work in that space. You can't ignore
that and then just pop on.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
About No one's saying that you should ignore that. No
one's saying that you should ignore that. But what people
are saying is that the government's been in power for
seven years and it doesn't seem to be getting better.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
That's what people are saying right now, Katie.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
We have got programs in place across every single level
that we are constantly reviewing. We are picking up with
families on an increasing number of families that are dysfunctional
every day. A lot of this is driven by poverty
and all of those things so we're working at that
level against those sorts of things, the drivers of crime
(12:58):
in the first place. And at the same time we've
got police working incredibly hard on the front line, and
we are looking to make sure that we're resourcing them.
That's the way you do it. You have to get
in front of the curve. Maybe we haven't got there yet.
It's a lot of hard, hard work over a lot
of time, because you can't fix social dysfunction overnight, you
just can't, Katie. And we can't say that it'll be
(13:20):
done in a seven year time frame either. We know
in place all of that work to work with families.
We've got all the child interventions occurring right the way
across the Northern Territory, right the way out to remote
and all those challenges we've got. It's very very hard
work and it's done by a lot of different government agencies,
US with polleagues.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
We will move along because because you know, I know
that we've got differing views on this, so we will
move along.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But I do want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
I want to ask you about the wanding, but I
also firstly want to ask we've had a few listeners
get in contact with us saying Hi, Katie. I don't
know if it's been discussed this is one of the messages,
but the ABC Full Corners I was doing an episode
on an overreach of private security in the Northern Territory
and on the buses in particular, there was an incident
(14:08):
recently where a security guard used unnecessary force. I won't
read the rest of that out because I don't know
exactly what has gone on, But Minister, are you aware
of this and is that something that's going to be happening, Katie?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
I am. I am aware of those allegations. I have
heard them, and let me say this, if they're true,
it's appalling behavior by those journalists. I know our local
journalists have a lot more integrity than that. I my
understanding that they are alleged to be creating hostile and
aggressive situations, and they're creating those that's appalling behavior, whether
(14:50):
it's security guards or our police. They have got an
incredibly tough job as it is, without you know, them
coming those journalists coming along and making it even harder
for them stirring up trouble in our community.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
So what I reckon they've done? Do you reckon that?
The do you reckon that the kind of like Mack
breaking here.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Absolutely, I believe that if the allegations that I'm hearing
are true, then we need to call out that behavior.
We do not see that by our local journalists, and
you know that, but they are. My understanding is that
they are allegedly creating situation. You know, providing pizza for
comment is one of the ones I've heard. I've also
my understanding is that they've driven somebody around to where
(15:33):
they've had a previous confrontation with security guards and they've
actually orchestrated you know, that person locking up and trying
to antagonize the situation to occur. It's unethical. If those
allegations are true, it's unethical behavior, and I would believe
it would reach the code that all journalists I know
(15:55):
subscribe to, and we need to make sure that we're
calling it out. So so you see where that goes.
But that I am hearing those allegations, and if they
are true, it's a calling.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
So it sounds to me like if that is what happens,
that you're going to be making a complaint. Are you
certainly going to be pretty pretty angry about it?
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Well, we've seen it before, particularly by a number of
national programs, and they come to the territory, they do
that sort of thing, and then they leave and they
leave our community in term or we've been used by them,
and I would hate to think that's the situation here.
But if it does turn out that the allegations are correct,
then of course we all need to call them out,
including the local media, Katie, because you know, this does
(16:35):
leave a scar on the integrity of you know, our
good journalists locally.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Well, we have seen different situations before. I mean, we
saw one in Alla Springs a little while back where
there was you know, where there was a public meeting
held and it was insinuated that the people who'd attended
that public meeting were racist and all sorts of other things,
when it was a group of people who are actually
pretty concerned about issues that were having with crime. But Minister,
(17:02):
I do want to just ask you as well about
the wanding. We know that that wanding obviously rolled out
in Catherine and Alice Springs about a week ago, but
I understand it's now happening in Darwin and Alice.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Yeah, it is. So we have we've seen that happen
and we have seen you know that it's had some
success in picking up things like scissors and also an
axe that's out in Alice Springs. Yeah, so we have
begun that operation, and I think the message is extremely clear.
(17:35):
Don't go in public, in fact, don't go under all.
You know, people shouldn't be carrying weapons around on them
on themselves, and this is just another piece of the
puzzle we need to do, you know, a whole range
of these activities. I did also want to clarify that
Nathan was talking earlier about them not having the power
(17:56):
if police have a reasonable suspicion, they still have that anywhere,
they have the ability to search people. If they have
a WAND on them, they actually can will they actually
able to use it. It's far less intrusive. A wanding
activity in itself does need to be either in a
high risk area or another area that's declared by a
(18:17):
senior sergeant, or in some areas it does need to
be declared by the commissioner. But those processes can be
quickly done if we suspect that activity is occurring in
particular areas. But police still have that power to search,
and if they do have a WAND that's accessible, they
are able to use the wand it's far less intrusive.
And you know, we are already chatting. I'm chatting to
(18:39):
the Police Commissioner about whether you know it could become
more accessible for everyday frontline policing minister.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Before I let you go, the rumors arrive at the
moment that there's going to be a cabinet reshuffle, is there.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Not? To my knowledge at this point, Katie, And I'll
be very frank, you guys be the last to know.
I'd hope i'd know first.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Yeah, well so would I. But you never know sometimes.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
And we've had a few people message about that, wondering
and asking whether it is happening.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
So will there be one? Do you reckon before the election?
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Oh, Katie, I hate to speculate. That's the job of
the Chief Minister. It's not my job. I know that
I love my job. I love It's an absolute privilege
to serve territory and being a minister in a government
is more than a privilege, you know, it's a lifetime.
It's once in a lifetime and I just am just
getting on with loving doing my job and working you know,
with the police and territory families to get change in
(19:39):
our community that they so much want.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Minister, we are going to have to leave it there.
I always appreciate your time. Thank you very much for
joining us on the show.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Never a Problem, Katie, thanks for having me on today.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Thank you
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