The Week That Was - 22nd August 2025

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for the week that was and joining us
live in the studio today, we've got the Attorney General,
Mary Claire Boothby, good morning to you, and from the
Northern Territory News, the head of News, Gary Shipway, Good
morning to.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
You, Good morning, Katy, morning to everyone.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Now, no one from Labor today. The opposition leader is
at the police conference and at the Police Association conference
and now I think the other members are at cal
Karini or away. And we did request Justine Davis and
Cat McNamara as well, unfortunately they weren't available. But do
you know what, there's no shortage of things to talk
about this week, you two, Let's get started. Yeah, now,

(00:39):
don't worry, I've got a list.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Now.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
The council election is obviously the official date is tomorrow. Now.
I think it's safe to say that it's been one
of the dirtiest elections I've ever seen. Some of the
muck being slung on social media has been nothing short
of disgraceful. I mean we've seen posters vandalized. And then
this week, well things took a bit of a different turn,

(01:03):
with candidates running in the local government elections now being
able to canvas and interact with voters again at City
of Darwin voting centers during the final days of early voting.
So it kicked off yesterday. It happened after the ant
Supreme Court heard an application filed by Leah Potter against
the Council or matters relating to early voting centers. So

(01:26):
no orders were made, but the Council agreed to the
undertaking which is going to see it provide that table
of course still for candidate material and they're not fine
candidates for reasonably interacting with voters. Now. I actually went
and voted a little bit earlier this week and didn't
have to run the gauntlet because I went early and

(01:46):
there was nobody there handing out those how to votes.
It is one of like for me, I find it
quite difficult going to vote because you know a lot
of the people that are running and so as you
go in, you know you're sort of thinking, oh, do
I want to stop and talk? Am I going to
stop and talk? Or people going to think I'm voting
for that person. So it was very easy for me
in and out. Crystal, my producer, went yesterday and said

(02:08):
it was not the case for her. You know, there's
people back out there. She had a couple of people
trying to sort of, you know, to stop and talk
to her. I mean, what do you think should we
actually allow people to be handing out those how to
vote cards? What do you make of the whole way
that this is rolling out? Really?

Speaker 2 (02:25):
Look, I think in the council election, I think the
decision probably was a victory for common sense and it
was good to see the council decided not to send
the inspectors in to find people, given that this is
quite separate to a territory in state election, a territory
election in a federal election in terms of the number
of supporters you get out there on the polling booze

(02:45):
is quite different. You can get some significant amount of
people out there trying to write that their party course,
whereas these are this is individual people, the candidates themselves,
So it's quite separate. So it's less. I think you've
see less people who are approaching you as you're walking
into the booth, so it's not as intense in that regard,
So I don't I think that was probably a victory

(03:06):
for common sense because they're they're not harassing, You don't
feel harassed. You intimidate. You haven't got the big signage
up that you get at a territory election, and you
get it's just daunting walking towards them.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
Well, sometimes you feel like you're running the gaunt right,
Like you go to walk in and there's like ten
people trying to hand out how to votes. But it's
probably not been as intense.

Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, but as you said though, the online ferocity, it's disgusting. Yeah,
we've talked about that over the last couple of weeks
and it's just got bigger and bigger. It's like a
snowborne you know, this avalanche of accusations as we get
closer to Saturday and thank god it's over and done with.

Speaker 3 (03:43):
Well, this is the thing, you know, we're nearly there,
we are, And Nikatie, I think from my perspective, I've
been through a number of elections now in various like
territory or you know, the federal election will be help
out as well. And I guess as a party, we
don't really get involved with the council elections. It is
quite independent, as Gary says, But it is interesting because
for the federal election, you can have all of those
candidates and their supporters, right there at the door of

(04:05):
the voting booth, and so there is often a lot
of people there, although in my experience it's all very
calm and people actually ask a lot of questions. It's
a good opportunity for voters to ask them. A lot
of people don't make up their mind until they get
there because they've heard lots of different commentary, and sometimes
they want to meet the candidates. So that's a really
good opportunity for voters, and I think that's a good
thing for the territory elections. We're in at a ladder

(04:27):
stand at the doors and in some shopping centers they
ban you all together, so you know, you really can't
do anything, and I guess that then creates the It's
still democratic because everyone's in the same position, but it
just means that you've got to work harder beforehand and
during the election out in the community and door knocking
and help, you know. I know there's several candidates that
are at during that and have been for a long time,

(04:49):
which is also really good to see so that people
get to chat to them.

Speaker 1 (04:51):
It's been a real mixed bag for us in terms
of feedback from listeners as well as some people are like,
do you know what? I know who I'm going to
vote for. I don't need a how to vote, whereas
others are going, well, it's actually pretty difficult to know
what you're going to do exactly when you're not able
to meet people as you're going in and you're not
able to sort of have a discussion with them about
preferences and that kind of stuff. So I definitely, you know,

(05:12):
take on board all of those points. I mean, given
some of the you know what we've seen over the
last couple of weeks, not only in terms of the
how to votes and and then of course the online
vitriol and even when you look at some of the
people that have put their hand up. And I'm certainly
not saying that you know, you have to have a
qualification this way or the other to be able to

(05:34):
put your hand up, but do we need a look
at some of the legislation ahead of the next council
election to make sure it's all a little bit clearer?
And I mean, does there potentially need to be a
small fee paid? I think we spoke about this the
other week as well as small fee paid if you're
wanting to put your hand up for the council election.
I don't know, like I'm thinking out loud, but I

(05:54):
just feel like it's been I was actually quite surprised by,
how to discussingly dirty, you know, the race to try
and become the mayor or the race to try and
get on council has become particularly for the Darwin area.

Speaker 3 (06:10):
I don't know about council. I can't confirm that, but
for the territory election, there certainly is a fee and
it's quite substantial to be a candidate, so it's not
it's not for counts. Okay. That is interesting because you know,
maybe you're right, maybe it does, although I don't know, it's.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
Hard in the regions and that I get that.

Speaker 3 (06:28):
But also I think if people who put their hand
up to run for anything any kind of offers, they're
usually pretty serious about it, even if it's like one
issue that they're running on or for whatever reasons they have.
And I guess you do want a very democratic process,
but with anything, you also want to know all of
the rules of the game before you enter, so that
there isn't that changing goalpost throughout the whole campaign, which

(06:50):
then you know some would say that that is someone
unfair so it is challenging that we've seen this role out.
I think, you know, if there's a fair assessment of
how it's going to work from here on in, there
still gives people that this last day tomorrow to put
their best foot forward and asked for that vote, and
we will see what happens on Saturday night.

Speaker 2 (07:09):
Yeah, I think it means to be quite calm and
all the all the everywhere else but here, yeah, everywhere
else it's been quite placid and everyone's gone about their business.
But yeah, as I say, I think the biggest weapons
been the online narrative. Everything else is that wasn't there. Yeah,
you know, it would be probably quite a boring.

Speaker 1 (07:29):
Yeah, and it sort of raises issues I reckon too.
It raises the question, you know, around some of the
different things that are being shared, some of the different
stuff that's being said about different people. And I know
that you know, it can like you've still got rights,
I guess in terms of defamation, but some of the
commentary that has come out from different people about others

(07:52):
is just woeful. And I don't know then what kind
of pathways some of those candidates have got in terms
of you know, having any of that information taken down.
You know, when there's no truth to it and somebody's
outright to faming you, unless you've got a heck of
a lot of money, what do you do to try
and clear it up?

Speaker 2 (08:11):
An interesting thing about it, in a if it was
a territory or a federal election, the Electric Commission can
act pretty quickly to stop false information being podcast in
terms of advertising and so forth. So maybe there needs
to be strengthening of the laws and you know that
in that area just to deal with it, to be
able to deal with it quickly, yep, and get that

(08:32):
take some quick action to shut it down.

Speaker 1 (08:34):
I mean, what do you think, Mari Claire as the
Attorney General. And also when you look at those deformation laws,
I know that you'd made some changes recently in that space.

Speaker 3 (08:41):
I guess that's some You know, the laws are there
to inact if those people want to. And I haven't
seen like a lot of the things that are online
or certainly haven't been able to follow exactly what's happening
and where it's all coming from. But I think if
anybody thinks they have a claim for a case, and
you know, they should get them legally by and see
I guess the other side of it is that people

(09:04):
sometimes do switch off as well, and a lot of
what gets said isn't actually absorbed by the average territory
out there who's just trying to live their lives. And
so you know, you don't want to accept that kind
of behavior. But you also, as a candidate, as an example,
you you just literally put your head down and your
bum up and you keep working because that's where the
true colors shine that you know, you want to represent

(09:25):
people no matter what gets thrown at you, and being
a representative no matter what level of government is tough.
Even when you are elected, you still have much.

Speaker 1 (09:32):
When the ryal work starts.

Speaker 3 (09:33):
So yeah, it's a real test of character for everybody,
I believe, but those options are there for them to
pursue that avenue.

Speaker 1 (09:39):
Katie. Yeah, look we're going to take a really quick break.
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixteen. Now,
don't forget. You have devote in the council election. You've
got today and tomorrow, so head on out, make sure
you go and vote and educate yourself before you go
and vote. A simple Google search of some candidates, or
you can jump on the Mixed page if you missed

(09:59):
an of the interviews that we've done with them will
give you a bit further information about who they are
and what they stand for. You are listening to Mix
one O four nine's three sixty. It is the week
that was in the studio with us this morning. Gary
Shipway from the NT News and the Attorney General Murray
clear mooveby now. Somebody has just messaged through and said Katie,
if if the Greens and the Independence are too lazy

(10:21):
to attend the week that was, invite Jerry Wood or
Kezy E Puric backing is their suggestion. No, I think
they both. I feel like there was something that they
were at I could be wrong, but I'm sure Crystal
will let me know. But look, this week we also
had some further discussion and some further information provided about
the role out of OC spray On the first of September.

(10:44):
So the Northern Territory Government of course running this twelvemonth
trial allowing eligible members of the public to purchase, possess,
carry and use OC spray for self defense. Now, to
be eligible to purchase that OC spray from the first
of September, a person must be eighteen years of age
or over, present valid photo ID at the time of purchase,

(11:06):
and complete a buyer declaration that you have no relevant
criminal history, police or court orders and only purchase in
store from participating firearm stealers in the Northern Territory. Now,
in regard to the OC Spray rollout, Police Association President
Nathan Finn said he is concerned about the self declaration

(11:27):
to buy it and the fact that there are no
limits on the amount that people can purchase. Now. We
actually spoke with Trent to with Roden Rifle owner and
Catherine earlier this week and he was really very practical
about it. He said that they were placing a you know,
they were placing a significant order, but really weren't sure
how many canisters will be sold now. Something that I guess,

(11:50):
interestingly ironically, however you want to describe it, is the
fact that we also spoke about the fact that you've
really got to do more to purchase OC spray than
you do to just a machetti or a cross spot.

Speaker 2 (12:02):
I think that he has to say that the criminal's
choice of weapon is an edged It's an edge weapon,
a bar, a brick, a baseball bat, a piece of wood,
car a car. You know, people worrying about oh, look,
we're going to give the most sea spray. Well, the
depth of the percentage of the OC spray is far

(12:23):
lesson what the police are using. It's not a full
strength OC spray. It's just fully intended to give the
victim an opportunity to escape the situation that they may
find themselves in. And when you look, you look at
just this week we've had two seventy year old women
costed in various areas of the Northern Territory. We had
another man sixty eight in his backyard in Catherine, attacked

(12:46):
by some people there, you know. And and the other
part about this is this is not just all male perpetator.
There are females and a number of females engaging in
violence is really really concerning. We've got a whole law
and order issue out there with young people and you know, people,
you've got to feel for the older, older people who

(13:08):
are getting a costume.

Speaker 1 (13:09):
Yeah. Well, and look, I do want to point out
as well. We actually interviewed Soushira, the CEO of the
Council of the Aging, earlier in the week. She was
the victim of one of those incidents where a rock
was thrown at her. She said, they you know, they said,
you know, like the language that they were using and
what they were saying and what they had done for

(13:29):
a tough woman. It certainly rattled her. And she's a
woman that's lived in the Northern Territory for more than
fifty years. She said, she will be getting a can
of oc spray and I know that others would feel
the same. And look, I always think, you know, you
hear a lot about these discussions, and I hear people saying, oh,
you know, well, what are going to be you know,
what's going to be the ramifications if you spray somebody

(13:50):
in the face. I get it right, nobody wants it
to get in the wrong hands. However, if you are
a woman or a man, but let's be honest, a
woman and you're in a really vulnerable situation where somebody
is attacking you, if you've got something that might be
able to help you, goodness, mate, shouldn't we be able
to use it?

Speaker 3 (14:09):
Absolutely, Katie. And we've just seen the back of the
Seniors Fortnite and Adam Palmerston in the Lichfield area. We're
able to spend a lot of time with our seniors
out there, and one of the things they continue to
talk about is that, you know, they want to feel
safe and they are actually really looking forward to the
OC spray trial because that means that they can go

(14:30):
out legally purchase something that they can put in their
handbag and carry around with them. And it's not to
say they're going to use it. They're certainly not going
to proactively use. It'll just be that extra layer of
protection so that if they are in a situation that
is quite terrifying, that that's an option for them to use.
And like you've both said, it is easier to purchase

(14:51):
some other types of weapons than it is OC spray.
But also we already have people living in their homes
with the WASP spray right at their door ready for
anyone that in Truthes and I mean in Westpray. You
can buy it Bunnings or Coals, and that is a
lot deadlier than the OC spray.

Speaker 2 (15:08):
And we get a lot and we do get a
lot of feedback through the engineers on our Facebook commentary
and stories that we put up, and the Lost Sprays
is really popular out there. We get a lot of
people say, hey, it's sprayed. Yep, it's better and you
can light it.

Speaker 1 (15:24):
Which is frightening, right, Like it's a worry. That's a worry.
But this is the thing people are thinking about, all
these different things that they may or may not be
able to use if somebody gets into their home. So
I think what we're talking about here is a self
defense measure if absolutely essential. I guess the other side
of it, though, is what happens if it gets into
the wrong hands. What happens if somebody who is trying

(15:45):
to attack you or hurt you sprays in the face
with the OC spray. I mean that is a concern
as well.

Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yeah, and yeah, you're right. I mean that that is
a concern. And we can and you can throw up
any other any number of scenarios where it may be
used and people say, well it's been going to be
used against me, but you know, it's a prevention. It's
a preventative measure. West Australia's had it in there and
it's worked well in Western Australia. We haven't seen anywhere
near you know, the issues of the criminal using going

(16:15):
for the OC spray, because it's not, as I say,
that's pretty much not what's in their mind where they're
going out there. They want instant physical results to nullify
the person they're attacking. So I think the trial, it's
a trial, Give it a go, and.

Speaker 3 (16:32):
Let's put it into perspective to Katie, We've got young
people carrying around those knives to protect themselves and they
end up hurting other people viciously. If those people happen
to and we don't want this to happen, but happen
to come across the can of o sea spray and
they start carrying that instead of a knife, that may
end up being a better result, but that's obviously not

(16:53):
what we want. But the perspective here is the OC
spray gives people a chance so that if they do
become a victim, they've got something they can defend themselves
with and they don't have to go to the extremes
of the wash spray or a weapon God forbid, because
we don't want people carrying around those things because they
end up hurt getting hurt themselves.

Speaker 1 (17:12):
Well, one of the questions I do have is say,
if I, you know, say, if I'm in what I
deem to be an unsafe situation, I feel like somebody
is attacking me or you know, jumps on top of
me while I'm out for a run. I try and
spray them with the OC spray. I end up hurting
them with the OC spray. Like, what's the you know,
what's the potential rammifications for me legally?

Speaker 3 (17:31):
Yeah, well, there's a whole self defense section of the
law which applies to all the cases that happens before
the courts, and so that still remains the case, and
of course all of those factors get taken into consideration.
But what we know is that the you can by
carrying around the OC spray. The chances are you probably
are not going to even use it, but it gives
you that extra level of protection because you know, we

(17:53):
don't see people just wandering around attacking other people all
the time. If it does just happen sometimes, which is awful.
And so you know, I think that if it does
end up in court and there is that case that
gets put the victim's rights is what we want to
be above the rights of the offenders. And we've been
saying that for a long time, and the laws do
favor the victim in that case.

Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yeah, well, I think I mean, if common sense got
laws in place. It's about protecting the victim, and there
is a lot of I think there's a lot of
hysteria about how it could be used and the people
I've spoken to that. I've spoken to a number of
women who I'm going to I'm going to get it.
I'm going to get it. When I go for a

(18:33):
walk at night, it's always been a worry for me.
You know, if it's just to the point where it's
getting dark, they do get worried, and fair enough they should,
you know, you just don't know what's working at them.

Speaker 1 (18:44):
Well, And this is the thing, like you know, because
a lot of the time people sort of say to me, well,
do you feel unsafe when you go for a run? Actually,
I have been in a number of unsafe situations. I've
been in situations where I have been followed, you know,
I've spoken about that on the show before, and to me,
it is that added layer of protection. But it's not
just me saying that. I speak to a lot of
other women who run and exercise, Like you said, Gary,

(19:07):
and do you know, I am very often having these
conversations with women at the moment. I had a mum
talking to me last week who was saying, Katie. Sometimes
I ring my husband while I'm running and say to him,
can you just stay on the phone with me for
a bit, because there's a situation unfolding that I'm not
feeling overly safe. You know, these are real things that happen,
and let's not forget that. There's also been situations along

(19:29):
the Nightcliff Foreshore not too long ago, in fact, a
couple of months ago, where women were being attacked allegedly
by a teenager who was trying to sexually assault them.
I've also had a woman call me at the deck
chair stairs, you know, at lunchtime, in her lunch break,
where somebody is then indecently touching himself in front of her,

(19:50):
or she's trying to run the stairs. These aren't made
up scenarios. These are things that are actually happening, and
they're disgusting, and you know, a like as a woman
who runs, I don't plan on using oc spray at
any point in time, but I will have a canister
with me early in the morning if I need it,
and if I'm in a situation where somebody tries to
grab me, I would think that at least I got something.

Speaker 3 (20:14):
We want all of our territorians out exercising at dawn
and dusk where it is a bit cool like, and
you know, it's part of the lifestyle that we have here.
And you know, I've spoken to seniors that wouldn't leave
their front and backyards because they felt unsafe. And you know,
if they can carry around a little can of OC
spray to have that x ral A protection to walk
around the block a couple of times, then that's exactly

(20:35):
what they should be able to do without that fear.

Speaker 2 (20:38):
And it was interesting there was the murders in Sydney
where the women were targeted. I think there was five
women killed by the man wolding a knife in the
shopping center and West Australia that one of the supplies
in West Australia said after that event he was flooded
with people women wanting to purchase the OC spray for

(20:59):
their protection. I mean, you know, who knows what could
have happened if they had that available to them. Yeah. Yeah,
how many people lost their lives in that incident.

Speaker 3 (21:08):
Yeah, and you want to mitigate that risk as much
as possible because you can't control what someone else does, no,
but if you can feel that protection, that goes a
long way to be able to live the life that
you want to live, and that's the most important part.

Speaker 1 (21:19):
Yeah, look, we're going to take a quick break when
we come back. Well, I'm keen to talk about the
fact that some union members are pretty upset with the union,
which is meant to represent them, after receiving an email
in the last twenty four hours encouraging them to do
something that they're not real impressed about. You are listening
to three sixty now over nice union members. Well, I'm

(21:41):
told they're pulling the pin and have quit the United Workers'
Union following the union's decision to march for Palestine. Now,
it's understood at least a dozen members here in the
Northern Territory are planning to quit, if they haven't already
pulled their memberships, furious with the union's decision, feeling that
it's politically motiv now. The local members made the decision

(22:02):
after receiving notification from the union that the union was
pushing them to take part in the day of Action.

Speaker 2 (22:10):
Now.

Speaker 1 (22:10):
In a message which has been sent to me, which
the union issued to members, it reads, the United Workers
Union supports the community events, rallies and marches around Australia
as part of the National Day of Action on the
twenty fourth of August. Now in a statement online, they
then call on the federal government to take a number

(22:31):
of steps in their response to the war in Gaza. Now.
The union members who've contacted me say they do not
believe the union should be pushing the Labor Party agenda
and need to focus on the rights of their members
here in the Northern Territory. I mean, it's an interesting one.

Speaker 2 (22:49):
Fully agree with those workers. I mean, unions are there
to represent the interests of their members and they do
a fairly solid job doing that, and they're protecting their
interests and that's where they should keep their focus. I
don't think I can understand members not wanting to be
dragged into a political issue, you know. And I think

(23:09):
I'm still angry about what happened to the Nightcliff Jetty
and what happened to the war moral down there. You know,
the they were the painting of the flag on the
jetty was uncalled forfeiti on the war memorials uncalled for,
and so you know, now we got the union if
that's if that's correct, I'm gonna say I can't understand

(23:30):
the members being upset about it.

Speaker 3 (23:31):
And it's not the like everyone. It's a very well
known fact that labor and the unions often do campaign
together for lots of different causes. But what worries me
about the unions? And I don't think this is new,
but this is a new incidence. The first time I'm
hearing about it from you today came. But you know,
to feel like you're forced into doing something that you

(23:51):
don't believe in because someone says you have to, I
mean that's pretty untill.

Speaker 1 (23:55):
And look, you know, the thing is, I think to myself,
if you're a member of the union, you know, it's
your choice whether you choose to march for something or not.
You know, I obviously the union can't force you to
do it. But I think what's happened with some of
these members locally is they're going, well, hang on a second,
why am I you know, why am I marching? And
why are you trying to tell me that I should

(24:16):
be marching for this agenda? And I know for some
of the members of this particular union, you know, they're
more concerned about frontline workers being assaulted. They're more concerned
about some of the issues that they're dealing with in
their workplaces where they are. Yeah, that's exactly right, where
they're concerned about those local issues. But yeah, you know,

(24:38):
this person said to me, they were trying to make
us march for Palestine and they weren't happy about it.

Speaker 3 (24:43):
What happens if they don't turn out?

Speaker 1 (24:45):
Well, look, I don't think I'm assuming not a lot
would happen if you didn't turn out to march, But
you know, I think it's pretty strong reaction then from
some of those members to go, do you know what?
We disagree with this so much we want to pull
our pin and no longer be members.

Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah. I think the only positive here is that the
march is about five o'clock in the afternoon from what
I saw on Sunday, and I don't know if they've
changed that, but that was certainly part of what I
received through the national media releases about where the marches
were going to take a place, and that was going
to be at Nightcliff. But that's why I'm concerned about

(25:24):
what happened at Nightcliff last time. That's where it's going
to start from, and of course, what disruption is that
going to cause to we know what Nightcliff's like on
a dry season evening, and the thousands that get down there,
what disruption that may or may not cause. If it's peaceful,
well and good, but certainly what happened in the leadup
to the last one was disgraceful.

Speaker 1 (25:45):
Well, look, I know we've got plenty of union members
that listen to this show, so I'd be very keen
to hear from them whether they agree with the you know,
whether they agree with that email and message being sent
out to the members calling on them to march for Palestine,
and whether they feel like it's a you know, a
step in the wrong direction if they would prefer their
union to be standing up for them on their workers' rights.

(26:05):
But love to hear from you this morning. Send us
a message. Now, look, there's quite a bit of union news,
I think it's across the week, and we know that
the Northern Territory Police Association president Nathan Finn had said
a payoffer the Northern Territory Police has now been endorsed
and will be put to members for a vote after
a series of information sessions and road shows across the

(26:27):
Northern Territory. He'd told me earlier in the week. The
offer includes a five percent increase in the first year,
four percent in the second year, and increases of three
percent in the following two years. Now, he said he
would have liked more for members, but avoiding going to
the arbitration tribunal is the best outcome, adding that the
Northern Territory Police remain one of the best in the country,

(26:51):
hopefully a step in the right direction. Gary.

Speaker 2 (26:54):
Yeah, look, so I was interesting. I was reading a
Radio New Zealand article just yesterday and they were complaining
that they'd lost forty police officers to the Lord and
Territory because the pay conditions are the best in Australia
and they can't compete with what the Northern Territory is
offering them. So to lose forty New Zealand police members

(27:17):
to come to the Northern Territory and who are committed
police officers, but to see they see this is a
better place to live their life with their families, it
means a great outcome. And we say they've been doing
this for a while and we're also competing with Queensland
for these The coppers outbid technically outbid Queensland is a

(27:40):
very impressive thing. And you know, I think that's.

Speaker 1 (27:44):
Well, there's no denying the conditions in the Northern Territory,
like our police have to work bloody hard and it's
a tough job. And I mean even this week we've
spoken more about that as the coronial inquest continues into
the death of Michael Doutram and you know, an absolutely
tragic death that I know has hit the Northern Territory

(28:06):
Police Force incredibly hard and really important work in that space.
But I think it also exemplifies how tough that job
can be. And so I believe our police do deserve
to be paid adequately. They deserve to be paid fairly,
and you know, you want to make it a really

(28:26):
good job to do that people want to come to
the Northern Territory to do so you want to make
sure they support it.

Speaker 3 (28:32):
Yeah, and I think you know, they were already the
best paid in Australia, but this of course well and
truly cements that for our police. And you're right, they
do an incredible job in really tough conditions serving our community,
which is amazing. And the fact you know these kiwis
are coming over, I would much rather be in this
weather in bame old Northern Territory than in New Zealand

(28:54):
at times, that's for sure. So of course we have
our unique territory lifestyle. That's another consideration for them to
come here. They get to spend that time with their families,
raising their children, and that rewarding career path that is
being a police officer in the Northern Territory and to
make a real difference in the community. So it is
good news that when you're in the end of that deal.

(29:14):
And you know, again big shout out to all of
our men and women in Bluehoo do ow an amazing
job every single day of the year.

Speaker 1 (29:21):
Well, look, I do just want to mention we've got
quite a few messages coming through about OC spray, so
might just read a couple of them out. I've got
one here that says Katie, I don't have a problem
with OC spray as long as the authorities just can't
make can make the Northern Territory safe. But do see
potential problems when OC spray's allowed in nightclubs or bars
with many intoxicated patrons now armed with a weapon. That

(29:44):
one coming through from Bill, I mean, it's sure like
do we need to go into a situation then where
people are going into pubs or bars where they're not
able to take their OC spray in there.

Speaker 3 (29:55):
Yeah, that hasn't been raised with me, Katie, with police,
but I know that police are looking at this very closely.
They following the wa model who also has clubs and
nightclubs as well, so they'll be following their lead. There
is also that task force that's been set up with
a number of the members from the community that's going

(30:15):
to review how it's working, and all that feedback can
go directly to them so they can inform government and
police of how it goes.

Speaker 1 (30:22):
Tomin Darwin River's message through He says, Hi, Katie, I
don't know why people are anti OC spray. It's a
form of self defense. Unlike firearms and edged weapons. It
is non lethal. If someone inadvertedly is inadvertedly sprayed with it,
they're not going to die. What would The nasay is
prefer vulnerable people who are able to go out and
have a life or a society locked inside their homes

(30:45):
because they're too afraid to go outside.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
That's exactly Toms is on the head there. Yeah, we
have so many people who are so worried about not
being able to live their normal day to day lives
because of what you know, the danger that make in
itself to them.

Speaker 1 (31:01):
Hey, one of the other incidents that I do just
want to alert people to. We know that police are
calling for information after a rock throwing incident occurred in Gray.
This actually happened on Wednesday evening at about eight pm.
Police received reports that a seven year old girl was
allegedly struck with a rock whilst traveling on a bus. Now,
it's alleged that while the bus was traveling down Emory

(31:22):
Avenue between Victoria Drive and Harrison Circuit, a rock was
thrown at a vehicle, striking the seven year old passenger. Now,
my understanding is that the Transport Workers' Union have got
real concerns about bus safety. I mean they have had
for quite some time. But the fact that a seven
year old girl is then struck, I know that she's

(31:44):
only suffered minor injuries, thank god, because that is a
terrible situation. And another example after the one we spoke
about just a moment ago, Gary, where you've got young
kids teenage and then young kids throwing rocks at people.
It's just terrible and disgusting behavior.

Speaker 3 (32:06):
I don't think the kids that do this realize how
dangerous it actually is. I mean a number of years
ago we did have someone who died from a rock
throw incident, which was terrible. This did happen out of
Parmesan Katie. And what I remember just about a year ago,
I guess is the CDC, the bus company. They have
a really good community engagement program headed up by a

(32:27):
fella call Colin, who many people might know, and they
worked really hard to stamp out the rock throwing that
was quite horrific and prevalent a couple of years ago.
And so we did end up seeing that it got
to a case where there was no incidence for a
very long time, and of course this one now has
thrown up. You know this. We don't want to see

(32:48):
these things happening, and of course, especially knowing that someone
has been injured, it's absolutely horrific. And so that work
with CDC, the bus company, Larichia Nation, the police and
other agencies. Of course they need to go out hard
to talk to these youths about how just how bad
it actually is.

Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, rock throwing is a is a very serious issue.
And I know a generally runs a taxi business and
he reckons. Every day there's an incident or at least
once a week he's got one of his cars off
the road getting repaired because rock's been thrown at his cabs,
and that we've got the buses and look, and it's
not a new problem. This has been going on forever.

(33:27):
Usually young people think it's funny, but they don't realize that,
you know, the danger of the risk they're putting people's
lives out. It kills peoples, simply, it does. Yeah, And
it's you know, whether or not the laws need to
be tough, I don't know, but certainly it's something we
don't want to see.

Speaker 1 (33:42):
I mean, I don't know. Is it something where there
does need to be law strengthened around that, around the
rock throwing? I mean, you know, but we've got people
talking about oc spray getting in the wrong hands, and
you've got people using rocks as weapons and it can
seriously injure people. But do you need to have a
look at this?

Speaker 3 (33:58):
Yeah, and I guess that most challenging thing with rock throwing.
It is illegal and it is of course a weapon.
But what is very tricky is to actually catch the
culprits because they are on the run very quickly after
they do these, and so you know that's at the
community helping out with that, you know, sharing that CCTV
they have, reporting what they see, and police obviously being

(34:21):
really highly active in those areas where they do have
those hot spots is important. But yeah, absolutely, Katie, if
there are people, whatever your age, throwing rocks, it is illegal.
It will come with the heavy penalties.

Speaker 1 (34:34):
A few more messages coming through Andrew and Herbert saying Hi, Katie.
Unions are supposed to represent their members industrially, so many
union organizers are more interested in pursuing a political career
with labor than representing their members. GT JT and T
jint maybe has messaged through and said pretty weird to
criticize workers organizing for peace after a six hundred and

(34:57):
eighty day long atrocity crime wave. Support anyone ready to
stand against genocide, says that text. Look, we are going
to take a really quick break. There is still plenty
to cover off on this morning, and not a lot
of time you.

Speaker 2 (35:09):
Can actually say that last text you read, Look, that's
all well and good. No one wants to see what's
happening to the kids and children's and family in Palestine.
But forcing people to march is a different thing. This
is what we're talking about here. We're not talking there's
no argument about the cause. But you know, it's just
what you're being forced to march, that's the issue.

Speaker 1 (35:29):
Yeah, I think you're spot on there. Gary. Hey, let's
take a really quick break if you've just joined us.
We're in the studio this morning. We've got Gary Shipway,
the head of news at the NT News, and we've
got the Attorney General of the Northern Territory, Mary clear boothby.
Now in some news that is breaking this morning. We
know that a national trial of CCTV camera it's in
hundreds of childcare centers is expected to get the green

(35:50):
light at a meeting with federal, state and territory education
ministers in Sydney today. That is according to a report
by the ABC. So under this proposal that's being discovered,
up to three hundred services would be asked to take
part in the trial, and a number of states recently
launched reviews into safety childcare centers. We know that that

(36:10):
follows multiple allegations of child abuse by a worker in
Victoria and a number of other significant incidents in other states.
So the New South Wales report recommended the installation of
cameras in all new childcare centers, while Victoria's review recommended
a trial to evaluate the use of cameras as regulative

(36:32):
and an investigative tool. Now I was saying off, my
niece works in a childcare center on the Gold Coast,
is an early childhood educator, and I know at the
center that she works at, they've already got very open
you know, like windows everywhere. Children are not in situations
where they're in rooms with people on their own, and

(36:53):
they also have CCTV. I know that that's not everywhere,
but as a parent, I know there are you know,
you can all argue privacy issues, et cetera. But when
I'm talking about the safety of my children, I'm more
than happy for it to be as open as possible
and there to be those cameras. My kids are not
of that age anymore. But goodness may, after what we

(37:13):
saw in Victoria, I think we need to do whatever
we need to do to make sure that never happens again.

Speaker 2 (37:19):
Yeah, I think anything that reassures parents of the safety
their little ones is an important and positive step. You know,
we all family families want to make sure if they've
got the child in a childcare center that they are safe,
that people are monitoring them. We have full surveillance, and
I think it's a good idea. I would assume maybe

(37:44):
something may have them here now, but look, it definitely
has to be looked at.

Speaker 3 (37:49):
I think a couple of things, Katie. Firstly, that the
fact that all states and territories nationally are talking about
this is a good move forward because we want to
make sure that, of course all Australian kids are safe,
and this has been on the agenda for a little
while now that they've only just met, so that information
is just coming out. So from a territory perspective, we

(38:12):
haven't seen those types of incidents here. Of course, we
know they happen elsewhere and we would not want to
see them here. So the Minister Hersey is responsible for
that particular portfolio with the daycare centers and the early educators,
and I'm looking forward to catching up with her to
see what's you know, what happened in those conversations, what

(38:32):
that means for the Northern Territory and how we participate
in that.

Speaker 1 (38:37):
You know, is it something I mean, is it something
that you think the Northern Territory should support well.

Speaker 3 (38:42):
It sounds like from that media that we have supported
it in the discussions at a national level with the
other education ministers, and so you know, in principle yes absolutely.
I mean, my children are no longer in daycare, but
they were for a number of years and that trust
that you have to have with those educators is pretty serious.
And you know, we had a wonderful experience with the

(39:04):
childcare and most parents do. But of course when you
hear about those awful incidents, it makes your blood boil,
it makes you sick to the stomach, and so you
want to avoid that at all cost really as a parent.
So absolutely, yeah, and want we want our children to
be thriving in those centers, to be well looked after,
and the parents to be okay being out at work,

(39:27):
concentrating on the work that they're doing without thinking about
those things. So, as I said, very much looking forward
to catching up with Minister Joe Hersey finding out what
the territory is ready to do in that space.

Speaker 2 (39:38):
And I think there's also that with CCTV, it's beyond
there's the other little bit that goes with it. It's
not okay The purpose for this is to protect the
children from predators. But there's also the other aspect. If
you got greater your eye coverage of the place where
the kids are yep, and something happens to one of
the children, you can respond far quicker. We've seen horrible

(40:01):
instance where children have lost their lives because they've gone
into blind spots in childcare centers and you know stuff
like that. I think you know CCTV coverage has quite
a broad benefit.

Speaker 1 (40:13):
Ye. Well, look that's all we've got time for this morning.
There's never any shortage of things to discuss in here
on the week that was now Gary Shipway. It's a
big weekend as well, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (40:24):
Yeah, people beware on Sunday there's going to be road
closures in the morning in the city because the world
Solar cars are hitting the road to see people down
that get down and give these pioneers of solar cars
to a cheery on because it's always exciting in the morning.
All we've got so many international teams here this year

(40:45):
and it is a robust to get down there and
see these people. They're so excited about what the journey
that just lays ahead from and hopefully to be a
safe one.

Speaker 3 (40:52):
Well.

Speaker 1 (40:53):
Team twenty from Holland. They're going to be in the
studio with Sarah Paslick a little bit later this morning.
I'm choffing off to the end Athletics Championships, but she's
going to be catching up with them. And it is
such a fantastic time, isn't it.

Speaker 3 (41:06):
And Katie, I've been encouraging the teams to get out
and see what the territory has to offer while they're here,
because of course they are from elsewhere and that's the
beauty of the territory.

Speaker 2 (41:15):
You know.

Speaker 3 (41:15):
We might have an amazing you know, World Solar Car
Challenge here, but if they can get out and see
our great, unique territory lifestyle, then that's a.

Speaker 1 (41:22):
A spend your money while you're here as well. Friends,
we like to see businesses thriving while we've got plenty
of tourists in town.

Speaker 2 (41:29):
Well.

Speaker 1 (41:29):
Gary Shipway, head of News with the NT News, thank
you so much for joining us this morning.

Speaker 2 (41:34):
Pleasure to be here, thank you.

Speaker 1 (41:35):
And Marie Claire Booby, the Attorney General of the Northern Territory,
thank you, thank you.

Speaker 3 (41:39):
Katie. I do want to remind territories that on Sunday,
it's our twelve month anniversary of a new government. Well,
the Chief Minister will be out speaking very loudly about
what we've achieved so far.

Speaker 1 (41:49):
Well, and we are going to have a special edition
of the show on Monday as well. The Chief Minister
will join us for an extended interview to talk a
little bit more about that year, that first year and
if you want it into an email and let us
know how you think the government's gone over that first year.
I love to hear from you three sixty at Mix one,
O four nine dot com dot au. Marie Claire, Gary,
thank you both so much for joining us today.

Speaker 3 (42:11):
Thank you