June 26, 2025 • 43 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for the week that was and as always,
busy morning lined up for you now in the studio
today from the Northern Territory News, I've got Cam Smith,
Good morning, Cam, Morning, Katy, good to have you on
the show. We've also got Jared Mayley, the Deputy the
Deputy Chief Minister, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
To you, Good morning Katy, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
And on the line this morning we've got Duran young Well,
the Opposition Deputy Leader.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Good morning to you, Duran Ah, Good morning Katie, and
good morning to your listeners. And I'll say for Jared
and Cam in the studio, good to have you all.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
On the show.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Look, starting things off slightly differently this week. We don't
usually cover off on things happening overseas, but this situation
with the Israel and Iran conflict, it continues to dominate
headlines right around the world. We know that they have
indeed got a shaky ceasefire which is holding at this point.
Now there's been much discussion as we know, and it's
(00:55):
really difficult to know what's going to happen next. But
the heart of the consum was indeed Iran's nuclear capabilities
and then we did indeed have a situation where where
America stepped in. We now saw a little earlier in
the week, the US expected that it's Asian allies, it's
(01:15):
now being reported, could also rise raise their defense spending
if European allies can do it. That's what the White
House is saying, because obviously at that NATO meeting a
little bit earlier in the week, we saw the change
when it comes to defense spending, the target of five
percent of GDP by twenty thirty five. So I guess
the discussion, while it has indeed been about this conflict
(01:39):
for several days now for several weeks, the discussion sort
of moving along to that defense spend right around the
world and wondering if we hear in Australia are going
to need to do more, particularly when you talk about
the Northern territory. We hear all too often about our
strategic importance and you know how close we are in
(02:00):
terms of our proximity to Asia. I mean, where do
we go from here? Do you think that as a
country we can continue to rely on the US as
we have previously and if we are going to do
we need to step up with this spend look.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I think I'll start by saying, look, any armed conflict
is tragic no matter where it is, right across the world,
because you know, what generally, in my view happens is
that the people in those countries and around those countries
are the ones that suffer. The regimes and the government
do what they need to do, but you think about
the actual conflict for those people and the refugees, and
I just think we have to really ensure that we
(02:36):
think about those people. We know that the Northern Territory,
for example, has got a very vast multicultural community and
now people from all across the world here in the
Northern Territory. So I put my hand out to those
people to say, look, we're here to support you. As
a government, we need to make sure we get together
as the community in rally because like I said, armed
conflict is anywhere, especially when there's a chance of nucleics
(02:59):
problems down the line, we're going to make sure that
these terrorist organizations don't end up with nuclear weapons because
who knows what might happen.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Well, do you think we are reaching the point though?
As well as a country where you know where the
Albanezi government does realistically, I know he struggled to get
a meeting with Donald Trump at this point in time,
but we're the reality of it is we are going
to have to amp up that defense spending if we
expect Australia to be I guess looked after in the
way that we have previously been by the US.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Well, I think this squarely lies at the feet of
the Australian government. There's no question about that. The Australian
government's responsible for defense and defense spending across Australia. And
we know the Northern Territory's got defense up here and
it's a big part of the community, and we support
the defense into the Northern Territory. But this really lands
squeally at the feet of Albanisi and he needs you
something about it. He needs to come out and be
open and transparent. Just tell Australians what's happening.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Cam. It's been an interesting sort of time, hasn't it.
I guess over the years, I know, particularly for you,
you've been the media for quite a long time, as
have I. You know, we've attended plenty of different media
events talking about how important the Northern Territory is, how
important Darwin is. When it comes to defense. I mean,
we spoke a little earlier this week as well about
(04:09):
Exercise Talisman Saber. We know that that's about to get underway.
Where do you think, you know, where do you think
it's sort of going? I suppose do you reckon? We
are going to wind up in a situation where Australia
does really have to stump up a bit more.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
I think you're right, Katie. I think we will obviously
have to spend more money going forward. The government doesn't
seem at all committed to that five percent target there
they're currying around looking I think targeting two and a half,
talking about going up a bit. They'll have to spend
more with what they spend it on. And when the
coalition we're talking a big budget during the last election,
when they did actually come to announcing that the nuts
(04:45):
and bolts and what their extra money would be spent on.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
They didn't.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
They didn't announce it. So, yeah, you know, there needs
to be a plan. It's all right just setting an
arbitrary target to a point, but then you've got.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
To have a plan for it, right, Yeah, that's exactly right,
and you've got to make sure that it's going to work.
To our advantage in the way in which it's it tended.
I mean, Duran, what do you make of it all.
It's a difficult situation, I guess for Anthony Albanezi at
the moment, not actually being able to secure a meeting
right now with Donald Trump. Hopefully it's able to happen
sooner rather than later.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Yeah, and I believe it will happen in the new future. Katie.
You know, it was unfortunate that he didn't get to
meet with the President recently, but I think we can
all understand the insecurities at the time that was happening
in the Middle East and the region. But you know,
like Jared said, I think any act of war is devastating.
You see many innocent lives lost through war, and the
(05:40):
best approach is through those diplomatic talks and trying to
come to an agreement, especially around a ceasefire. We've seen
recently that that cease fire unfortunately was broken and it's
back on the cable now. But that's the best way
through to ensure safety for the world and Australians as well.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
On a bit of a lighter note on this same topic,
what did we think about Donald Trump dropping the f
bomb earlier in the week and then getting called daddy.
It was all a bit weird, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I think that is a little bit weird. But you know,
Donald Trump certainly says what he thinks sometimes and obviously
said that out there in the press.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
So reckon.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
He like I reckon, He actually articulated, maybe not the
best words, but he articulated what people were thinking. Right,
Like they've been fighting for so long, you know, those
countries understand what they're still fighting about. But it's reached
the point where we're like, come on, let's move on.
We need to to some degree for some world peace.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Well, I think world peace is definitely the key. We
need to make sure us in the Northern Churchy in
Australia and the world worked together to make sure we
do have peace across the world. Because if there's a
nuclear bomb go off somewhere anywhere, it's going to affect Australia.
There's no question, trade links and all sorts of stuff
like that. So and it goes back to the people
who live in those cities. So I said earlier, they're
(06:55):
the people who are going to suffer.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, well, look we might move along to some of
our local issues, because there's plenty to cover off there
always are on their show. And I do want to
talk about the fact that there has indeed been a
reward offered. Five hundred thousand dollars has been announced for
information that leads to the discovery of Peter Falconio's body.
Bradley John Murdoch, as we know, was convicted of mister
(07:18):
Falconio's murder in twenty twenty five and sentenced to life imprisonment.
It comes after reports that Murdoch is near his death
bed and has been transferred to Alice Springs Hospital for
palliative care. It really was and continues to be a
situation that's captivated the world. Everyone, none more so than
(07:40):
the Falconio family obviously wanting to know where his body is.
I mean, it's certainly something that we're all hoping that
they're able to get that closure, that the Falconio family
is able to get that closure. Whether it happens or not,
I just don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
WELLOK, I hope he does come out and tell what
he knows about this case, because it is over twenty
years old and that family does need some closure. And
I understand the police of going seeing wose in hospital.
So look, I do put my peel out if you
are listening and out there if you do know anything.
There is five hundred thousand dollars on the table now,
so come up because it will provide some closure for
the people, those family members, because I'm sure that's very
(08:19):
important to them.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Do you wonder whether he's told anybody, like any information
inside the prison or you know, or anywhere else.
Speaker 5 (08:26):
I don't I family members.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
There was a suggestion that family members might have been
the target of that five hundred thousand dollar reward, if
in fact he told any of his family members. So yeah, right,
I haven't obvious you haven't said anything yet it's been
made public.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Anyway, Yeah, I mean, Dran, you certainly hope that that
at some point the Falconio family is able to get
some closure here, don't you.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, definitely, And this is a welcoming announcement made by
the police to increase that reward that may lead to
the discovery of his body. But I do want to
you know, my heart does go out to the Icannio's
family and their friends. Obviously it's a pretty tough time
at the moment, knowing that you know there hasn't been
(09:11):
any closure to this, and we can only hope that
through this increase of the reward that that will lead
to some closure for the family because you know, it
must just be so stressful and distressing over the last
twenty years. Yeah, you think about that every day and
not having any closure to this.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Look, we are going to be catching up with Colleen
gwyn as well this morning after ten o'clock, so we'll
continue that discussion, but let's take a really quick break.
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.
It is the week that was if you have just
joined us, it is indeed the week that was. And
on the phone line this morning with the Deputy Opposition
Leader Duran Young. We've also got the Deputy Chief Minister
(09:53):
Jared Mayley and from the Northern Territory News Cam Smith. Now,
as I said, there's been a lot to cover off
on this week and yesterday or the day before, we
learned that the government will you announce this back in March,
but the Colp government announcing that, in their words, going
to responsibly increase regulated electricity prices by three percent effective
(10:18):
from Territory Day the first of July. They say, benefiting
around eighty five thousand households and small to medium businesses. Now,
what it's going to mean is that those power prices
are obviously going up by three percent in the first instance.
But then these reforms are going to roll out in
three stages. So Phase one is going to see a
(10:39):
new tariff apply for large commercial customers using between five
hundred and seven hundred and fifty megawatts year. The Northern
Territory government agencies are going to move to full cost pricing.
Then your solar feed in tariff will double to eighteen
point sixty six cents per kilowatt hour for energy exported
to the grid between three and nine pm. Now, then
(11:02):
phase two, the first fifty five killer watts per day
are going to be charged at the normal household rate,
but usage above that is going to be charged at
a higher rate equal to the rate applied to small businesses. Now,
a new new time of use plans will be available
for households and small businesses to give more choice and
(11:23):
control over energy costs. Now, look, Duran, what do you
make of this? I guess we're all sort of reading
through these details and saying to ourselves, how big a
difference is this going to make. Are our power prices
going up? I mean three percent? Pretty sure? CPI only
sits at two point one percent at the moment, or
two point two percent, so it's going up a bit
above CPI. But then also looking at that fifty five
(11:47):
killer watts per day, I would hope that my power
bill is not going to be higher than that, but
who would know in the middle of the wet season
when I've got the air con pumpin.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Yeah, well, that's exactly right, Katie. You know, this is
a mission by the government. They weren't able to keep
power crisis down. We're going to see an increase of
three percent. So Bill Yarn has completely missed the mark here.
You know, we'll see power especially people that live in
the rural area Akati. You know, we know down in
other springs, people in the rural area and other Springs
(12:18):
itself will need their heaters on during the obviously the
winter months down there, but also in the rural area
people using their pumps and balls. You know, costs a
little bit more to use electricity in the rural era.
So I just don't understand how Bill.
Speaker 6 (12:36):
Yan has missed this.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I know, you know, just before the budget. He's been
out fishing and maybe it was an oversight from there,
but I'm sure fake surprises. Who also, you know, a
rural remember, I would have thought he would have had
his eye over this too, knowing that that's going to
impact people within his community. And definitely this announcement by
Sealp government will have a huge impact to people in
(12:58):
the rural area in my election of daily from people
the Dundee Woggai Beach down to Berry Springs. You know,
people do live on small blocks and use a little
bit more electricity because again we know people have maybe
running horses on their property. They may have Yeah, there's all.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Sorts of reasons why you're like, you know, why your
power may be a bit higher or why it might be.
I gotta know. We had a lot of people message
through yesterday really you know, helpfully telling us what their
power usage is sort of each day, and a lot
of them, you know, around twenty megawatts twenty five thirty.
Some were saying, you know, lower than that because they
don't use their air cons some higher than that because
(13:36):
they do and they've got a pool and various other things.
So it remains to be seen. The second phase what
kind of impact that's going to have on territories. But
we know right from the get go that three percent
is going to have an impact on people. I mean, Jared,
the last time we saw a government put those power
prices up was when Terry Mills was in power. I
know it was a lot more. I think it was
thirty percent. Cam do you remember it was a lot
(13:58):
of money, but it did not have a great ending
for him.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
No, Look, Katie, I understand what you're saying, but that
this is about being responsible. We know that we've come
into office some nine months ago and we found that
the books were completely cooked in relation to the debt.
You know, we're in eleven billion dollars worth of debt.
And there's also the Community Service Obligation, which is a
government subsidy that you part that the tax payer pays
(14:24):
for to balance off and make sure those power pips
are reasonable. So what the previous government were doing, they
were just slowly putting money into that and keeping the
price cap at CPI. But what we're doing now, you're
using the power, you get to pay for it, So
why should people who aren't using it which're trying to
balance it out and be reasonable here and we work
out that the fifty five killer what the average house
(14:47):
is not going to get anywhere near that. So when
Durham's talking about people got horses, well, I've got horses.
They don't use power to start with, so I don't
know what he's going on about there. So it's about
just trying to be reasonable and trying to make sure
that the all territorians get the benefit as much as
we can of spreading that load across the Northern territory.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
It's gonna hit people though, Like I know, I know
when you say three percent, I thought it was meant
to be in line with CPI. I don't think CPI
is that high at the moment. I think it's more
like two point one or two point two. I get
that there needs to be investment into power and water
many many years ago. I worked for power and water
in fact, when those power prices went up, and I
(15:27):
used to work for the Minister for Essential Services. So
I certainly understand there needs to be investment into that
infrastructure and into and you know, into making sure that
the lights stay on for us all. But I just
wonder what kind of hit it's going to have on
everyday Territorians, and.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
That's how we're trying to balance and get this as
best we can. We know that the power of water,
you're right, Katie, is in a world to hurt and
we need to invest into that, and we need to
make sure that do we get a power supply that's
unreliable and that you can turn the lights on when
you get home, and we need to that right, and
it costs money. Unfortunately things are going up, so we're
just trying to get that balance right.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Power increase your edicati was obviously enormously unpopular and this
is nowhere near that extent. The argument extended at the
time was that the power Water was was bally up
that it needed that cash board. When when that was removed,
the thirty percent didn't go ahead. Power Water still managed
to function. But just from the media release the government
(16:27):
put out the other day, it is you know, there's
a couple of interesting aspects to it. For a start,
the community service obligation has gone up fifty four million,
I think to one hundred and ninety two million dollars.
That's an enormous contribution by tax payers to keeping our
own yeah own energy prices.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
So we're kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Is
that how It's like, what do you make of that?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Can look, there is a little bit of that, but
it is a subsidy. It's an actually bounty for households
because power prices would.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Be yeah, astronomical, I think fifty percent high and we
didn't have that.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Yeah, And the other aspects of that release is just
a it doesn't just end from July one, twenty twenty five.
So that reference in there to the three piece three
percent effective from July one, twenty twenty five, that doesn't
factor in.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Those other tariff charges that they outline.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
There from January one next year and July one next year,
such as daily charges for high voltage customers moving to
full cost pricing. You know, there's other aspects that will
that will really mean people are paying more, whether it
be corporations or individuals, but just very noticeable the enormous,
the enormity of that community service opplication.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
One of the other things people always raise with us
is that solar feed in tariff and the hours, So
the three to nine PM why is it those hours,
do you know, Jared.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Because that's the peak hours that people are using electricity.
So what we're offering is a discount if you go
home and you manage your electricity and you've got your
solar panels, you can feed that back in because outside
those hours will just be the standard I think is
about eight cents per killer. What So what we're offering
people is a bit of a bonus to go home,
manage your power, export power integrid during that time when
(18:03):
other people are using the power. Just gives the people
some incentive to be able to go and manage their power.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
You someone's just messaged in and said, morning, Katie, these
new charges for domestic use. Why from three till nine pm,
which the sun isn't when the sun isn't as hot.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Look, that was always our commitment to raise that tariff
during that time, during that peak time, and that's the
peak time between three and nine pm. Again, we need
to ensure that we get the balance right. We've got
a lot of roofs off solar out there, which makes
a grid unstable. So we're just trying to gain work
and getting that balance right. Giving people an opportunity to
(18:38):
manage their own power feed back into the grid, and
if they've got that solid.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
All right, we might take a very quick break. You
are listening to Mix one oh four nine's three sixty.
It is the week that was still plenty to cover
this morning. But you are listening to Mix one oh
four nine. It is, of course the week that was
on the line with us this morning. Duran Young. We've
also got Gared Mayley and of course Smith in the studio. Now,
just before we move on from that power discussion, I
(19:05):
understand that there was a trip to the Beatloo yesterday,
Jered Maylee. You took a few of the journalists out
to the Beaterloo. Was that just to check on how
things are tracking out there? Where's it all that?
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, okay, this is a really good news story. I
went out yesterday with a whole lot of Docal Darwin
people and some journalists to look at the Beaterloo, which
is the former Empire Energy site, which is about two
hours drive from Boro Lula, where they announced yesterday that
they'd reached a grim with the traditional owners to be
able to sell their appraisal gas.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
So we were out.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
There yesterday and they were out there with the Hallie
Burton Frack group and they were actually stimulating their will,
which means they were getting it ready for gas production.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
So how far off are we from seeing, you know,
gas flowing from the Beadloo Well.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Very excitingly, I think we're going to see it by
the end of the year. The end of the year
into that line. There's already a pipeline that runs from
MacArthur River across to the Amadaya popline. Right there, there's
a t section they're waiting to go. The traditional owners
gave approval yesterday. The world's been stimulated. Beaterloo Energy have
got a small compression plant which needs to be able
(20:10):
to compress the gas as it comes out of the
ground and clean out some of the impurities and pop
it straight into the line. So I think by the
end of the year, which is going to be a
great news story for us because it gives us some
certainty for gas which are going to supply our power station,
allows us to turn the lights on.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
So what would happen if it wasn't coming online by
the end of the year, Because I mean, I guess
you know, for most of us, we're thinking, we seem
to have these massive gas reserves, why do we need
a contingency?
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Well, we've got these massive gas reserves.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
That's correct, but.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
There's no gas coming out of the ground into the pipelines.
So it's great to have, you know, two hundred years
of gas sitting in the Baterloo, but we need to
get it out of the ground into a pipeline into
a market. We know the market's here and dah, we
know the markets here in the East Coast. And these
companies have been working over ten years to be able
to get their gas out of the ground. And good
news is that the two major players are there, which
is Tamboraan and Beaterloo Energy, now have got their wills done,
(21:01):
they had their worlds fracked, they're getting pipelines, they're getting
compression plants. So it's happening. Momentum is building, and it's
going to be a great news story because it allows
us to keep the lights on.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Look, I'm always a bit cautious when I have a
minister telling me something's a great news story. Several times
I'm you know, I'm ever the skeptic d Rahm. What
do you make of it, mate?
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Yeah, Look, I'm not across those details at the extent
that the ministers are. Yeah, so he's obviously put that
announcement forward, so we'll see what comes of it in
the next few weeks came you.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Were out there yesterday. I mean, was it as rosy
as the minister sees?
Speaker 4 (21:40):
It was all action, Katie. There was twenty two or
twenty twenty two thousand horsepower pumps doing the actual the
hydraulic fracturing, the horizontal fracturing there.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
They're never all coming from Rome and they're only here
for a few weeks.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
The ambition is eventually perhaps to have some of those
pumps on site permanently so they can drill new wells
as required. But what will come out of this now
there will be appraisals of the of the carpentery of
five well. They believe it's of a very high standard.
And again, as the Minister said it, it'll be eventually
be piped here into Darwin. But you know, it's been
(22:16):
an eight year process for Empire Energy. They you know,
they're not complaining about it, and you know, I've been
a reporter who has complained about it quite a bit.
These long delays that seemed unnecessary when we know we're
getting the last dregs of gas out of the Bay
Wounden basin, or or relying on diesel but that eight
year process, what it does appear to have done. I
think he's given a little bit of a social license.
(22:37):
I don't hear too many protests around tracking from you know,
regular territories anymore. There's still they're still at Cohort obviously.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
Who opposed to the process definitely, But I.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Think the economic development benefits are far far out weigh
any of the environmental side effects that come from this,
which which have been downplayed by a number of organizations,
including cry SO.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Potentially as early as the end of this year, Minister.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Well, that's what they were talking about yesterday, and I
really do hope so be that it's going to be
able to provide that first gas market. Will be a
big shot in the arm for all those gas producers
in the Bloo, because it's going to give some certainty
to the investors who are looking at They're watching to
see is it working, how's it going, and when these
companies can be able to say, yes, we've got gas
out of the ground, it's in the pipeline, and we've
(23:22):
got a market and we're selling it. Because once it
gets into that North South pipeline, it can come to
darn and it can also go to the East Coast,
and we know that the East Coast has got a
gas I'm sure, yeah, they do. So it's going to
be able to give an added bonus to those companies.
And not only the gas companies code, it's the downstream
in the indirect people who benefit from the people in
the local shops, that the truck drivers, the people who
(23:42):
are supplying the cleaning products and mechanics, all those sorts
of people. And I'm really looking forward to this kicking off.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
And the support by the traditional owners is significant because
a number of those were opponents of the project.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Right and now they've turned around, turned around.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Yeah, they've seen seen the economic benefits and the same.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
That's really interesting. Yeah, that is really interesting. Well, look,
we are going to move ahead, and I guess we've
spoken so much about the economy in recent years. There's
no doubt about that. And one of the reasons that
we've heard time and time again, of course from the
Northern Territory government and of course, well the current Northern
Territory government, I should say, when they're in opposition, is
(24:21):
you know how you're going to get the economy moving
when you're still dealing with some of the social issues
that we've got in the NT and just yesterday, well
we've we reported on the show the day prior about
an event that was going to be happening called take
Back the Track in Alice Springs. Now it was happening
because a number of women had been targeted by a
(24:43):
teenager or well, the Northern Territory Police releasing information that
a teenager had indecently assaulted a number of women along
the Todd River while out exercising. So as a result,
running groups got together to hold an event to take
back the Track. Now, while they were holding that event
(25:04):
on Wednesday, essentially six women were then indecently assaulted. I mean,
it's quite unbelievable to think that while women men Territorians
are out trying to take back the Track and saying
that they're standing up to people doing the wrong thing,
end up with this group of teenagers allegedly indecently assaulting
(25:28):
these women. It's disgusting.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Yeah, okay, look this is deeply disturbing. So these women
are out holding an event and yet they were become
a victim of crime whilst on an event, and it's
just unacceptable and enough's enough. In relation to that, we
know that there's been a lot of talk about crime
and where we're working hard to fixate and we know
that this is a big job and we are not
going to stop with the work we've done with Chris Bayer.
We've supported the police, we've supported the courts, we've supported corrections.
(25:53):
But our work is not done yet. Katie Wigan, but if.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
You guys haven't just spoken about it, you've really said that,
you know, House in Northern terror when you're in opposition,
House in Northern Territory meant to move forward when we're
being constrained by these social and crime issues and unfortunately
they're continuing to burden us. I think is the only
way to put it.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
And Katie, I can tell you listeners that we are
going to continue to work hard and we have to
change the law. We have to change policy. We're going
to do that. We've started, we've continued to work and
we're going to keep working at it. This is a
big ship to turn around. We know that we're in
a hell of a mess of nine months ago, with
crime right across the Northern Territory and bad news stories
getting right across the world. We are trying hard and
(26:33):
we're working hard, and people are telling me, Katie that
things are turning around and there is some good news stories,
but I certainly can see we've got a long way
to go and we're up to the task and we're
going to keep working hard.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
I mean, Doran, it was disgusting to learn that this
had happened over the last sort of forty eight hours,
these women there to take back the Track, and it
was anything but.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Yeah, well that's right, Katie, is completely inappropriate and disturbing
what's happening down in our springs, and that those incidents
that happened to the women who were taking part in
take Back the Track walk, and I think you know
it's yeah, it's obviously just disturbing and disgusting what has happened,
but it's also I think a reflection on how the
(27:18):
public are feeling at the moment. I'm getting many territories
coming up to me speaking about how they don't feel
safe in public or at work or even like we mentioned,
going exercising, like people down in other springs, we're having
that peaceful protest around.
Speaker 7 (27:36):
So it's pretty disturbing and I think.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
You know that the latest data stat's back that up.
How people are.
Speaker 7 (27:43):
Feeling that they are feeling safe. We've seen and increase
in assaults up by eleven percent, sexual offenses up by
eighteen percent, and offenses against the person's by six percent.
So you know, we do question what the government are
actually doing. We've seen them in government now.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
For over nine months, implemented a number of the number
of pieces of legislation saying that you will be safer,
but unfortunately people aren't feeling safe with the new government.
That was their election commitment coming in saying that they
would reduce crime, and they haven't reduced crime within the stats.
Don't lie when we speak about that cam.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
It's something you and I have reported on so much, honestly,
over the last sort of ten years that I've been
doing this show. You know, it's a very rare day
when I get on air and I'm not talking about
some kind of serious issue with crime. I guess I
always find it really disturbing, you know, when you think
of somebody, you know, when you think of a woman
(28:46):
out trying to do normal daily activities and being targeted.
But you know, over the years, we've seen seniors targeted,
We've seen elderly women targeted, We've seen elderly men targeted.
I mean, the list goes on.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Look, Katie, I tend to take the territory government is
really limited in what it can do beyond the actually.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Carceration, imprisonment justice phase.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
You know, the issues stem from underfunding in the territory
by the Commonwealth over a long long period.
Speaker 5 (29:17):
That's in the communities. Largely.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Communities to me are the source of a lot of
the social issues that we have here in the people
who come in from the communities. I don't know what
the situation was in Allie Springs, whether that was organized,
whether that was even something more broadly misogynous than you know,
just random attacks, but you know there's issues. The issues
in the communities need to be addressed by the Commonwealth.
They've they've left the communities to be the Northern territories problem,
(29:44):
and they shouldn't be because the Northern Territory is not
capable financially of funding the communities and sorting out those
enormous social issues that exist in the communities. That's where
the Commonwealth needs to step in and step up.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
They don't. They haven't for.
Speaker 4 (29:57):
Fifty years since the referendum of sixty years since a
referendum that gave Aboriginal policy to the Commonwealth. There's nothing
to suggest that they'll do it now. But that's the
only way that these social issues are really going to
be going to be stopped by the Commonwealth making a
dead set commitment financial and resource commitment to the Northern territory.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
I mean, durand do you tend to agree with that?
Does they need to be a greater resource commitment here?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Oh? Look, I think all levels of government need to
be working together, from local government to the territory of
government to the Commonwealth government. They each layer of government
play a part in this. But again, what we have
seen from the territory CLP government is coming in on
(30:46):
a platform saying they would fix crime. They haven't been
able to do that. The stats have gone up since
we have seen no investment into Aboriginal communities from this
CLP government. They're talking about tough on crime and locking
as many people up as possible, but the actually don't
(31:07):
have a plan to address the root causes. And I
know many people that I speak to talking about that, well,
what is the plan to address some of those root causes?
And I know we talk about generational change, but there
are some things that are working and will take time,
like local decision making agreements that have been into that
(31:28):
have been governments have worked with communities to get those
up and running at the aspirations of what the community
want in their community. But that takes time and then
to walk away from that. A lot of people that
I speak to with those agreements in place are highly,
highly disappointed because they can see the effect and the
impact that that's having over time.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
A few messages coming through this morning. I mean, I've
got one here that says, Katie, what is happening with
these bush camps and the judiciary needs to be answerable.
Somebody else's message through and said that the land councils
need to step up as well. You know, I guess
again I will say, because I think we've got a
situation at the moment with both sides of politics. I mean, Jared,
(32:10):
I know that you will say that obviously. You know
you're trying to try and to help the community after
eight years of failure by the Labor government. I know
that the Labor government is now saying, well of the
Labor opposition, I should say, is now saying the COLP
government's been in for nearly, well it's not quite a year.
It's however many months and the changes that you're implementing
(32:31):
aren't making a difference. But all the while, you know,
what the Northern Territory people want is to try and
get this issue under control so that we can live
our lives. We can go for a run, we don't
have to worry about our businesses being broken into. I
mean last weekend there was a situation where two people
had to lock themselves in their room in Palmerston while
(32:53):
a group of teenagers got in and forced their way
into that bedroom with a machete, backing through the door
with a machete allegedly. You know, so, I guess we're
at the point where we can we can blame each other,
we can blame everybody, but it needs to get sorted.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
But look, welcome, this is our responsibility. And it's a
bit rich for Durand to say, you know, we don't
have a plan. Clearly we've got a plan and I
could talk to you for hours about the plant. For example,
the Community Government, Steve Edgitton, the Minister for Community Government,
has got a plan to break down these super super
shy is that the Labor Government brought in which haven't
been welcomed by the communities, and to give these communities
(33:32):
empowered back, to be able to make decisions, to give
work into their own communities, to make those people in
the communities have a purpose. So that's that's a load
of working happening because well, exactly nine months and I'm
not I'm not the previous labor government who just ran
by media release and made these un funded and unthought
about programs. We are thinking about it. We're going to
(33:54):
get it right, but we are going to make sure
that we empower these communities. We're going to put one
point four billion dollars into the court system, the police
system and the correction system, because we know we need
to break the cycle of offending. We've got the courts
both stretched there full. So this all relates back to
previous governments not funding it correctly, having a world of
(34:17):
heard out there for people not feeling safe. So we're
working on a plan. It's a big ship to turn around.
And you can cherry pick some of these crime stats,
but you look at those crime stats, Cuddy, property fences
are going down, and Katie, just imagine if we didn't
do what we've done over the last nine months, we
just bail corrections and police. Where would be now in
relation to the crime stats, I would say the crime
stats be going through the roof and people feeling more
(34:38):
unsafe one.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Area where we do seem to be struggling a bit
at the moment. And you touched on this and we
caught up with Beth Wilde a little earlier in the
week from the Criminal Lawyers Association. We know that there
has been a massive spike in custody numbers in the
Northern Territory, delaying matters in court, lawyers apparently queuing up
to see clients, the Criminal Lawyers Association saying it is
(34:59):
to mostly due to the colp's tough on crime reforms.
So I think that you'll probably find a lot of
people in the community go, well, do you know what.
Hopefully these reforms are making a difference. However, you know
we are in a situation where some people are getting
lost in the system, waiting days in watchhouses before going
before a judge. Now, Bethwilde says, there's some easy solutions.
(35:22):
Some of those are simply longer sitting days and two
courts being stood up in the afternoon. So I mean Jared,
is that something that we should be looking at doing
quite quickly so that you know we're able to get
through some of these cases sooner.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Look, I know that the Churney General Marketby has been
talking to Michael Grant, the Chief Judge, about reforming the
court system. So she is taking those steps and she's
working with the court to be able to make the
courts work longer. But it's about funding and we know
the previous over government didn't fund the court properly.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
It would have cost a lot of money to have
the court sitting for that extra period of time each day.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
It will because going to have to have new judges
and more judges, and we know that they are very
highly educated people and they get paid appropriately for that.
And as well as that, the staff that work we
need to have support staff, Legal aid need to work longer,
nage will need to work longer. So there are options
we're looking at and we're certainly talking to the courts
about that.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
But responsibility, Yeah, well what you reckon they could speed
things along?
Speaker 2 (36:22):
Well, Look, we know that they've stopped there after our
bail reviews on the phone. Why we have to ask
the court that.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
With us they don't you know, we never can. This
is the problem right with the court system is is
you never can. So some of those different things that
you know that you've just touched on, we as journalists
are not really in a situation where we can put
those questions to that.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Well, I know that the Chin General has been speaking
to Michael Grand about that, and we're working hard to
try and get fixed. But this is not an easy
ship to turn around quickly. And what we're focused on
is keeping the community, say, rebuilding economy, restoring our life.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Well, look for me, i'd go back to you know
what I was saying before when you talk about crime,
is that my my major concern is that you know,
you want Territorians to be able to flourish living here
wherever you come from, no matter what you do, you
know what your background is. But you also want a
situation where if you are a victim of crime, you're
not waiting, you know, a year years to hear the
(37:18):
outcome of a of you know, of an offense that's
that's been committed against you well or whether somebody is
actually going to you know, to serve any time in
jail or whatever that outcome might be. You know, so
ultimately speeding up the court process. Yes, it is about
giving people a fair go as well in a fair trial,
(37:38):
but you want to make sure that that court process
is sped up so that victims can get some justice.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
I agree completely, and that's one of the reasons why
the cop have put on twenty permanent DPP staff. We
funded Legal Aid. We know that when we come in
the government there was the Legal Aid Commission weren't appearing
and defending some of these people because they are saying
they had lack of funding. And I remember some cases
where it matters we'rejourn and people put on bail because
there was no representation available because Legal A was saying
(38:04):
we didn't have the funding. So we've come into office
and Mary Cleave Boothmy has done a great job. Funded
Legal Aid, we funded DPP, we're working with the courts.
But again this is a mammoth failure by the previous government.
We're fixing it bit by bit and nine months is
going to take some time to turn around, and we're
working hard and things are getting better into communicating in my.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
View, darn.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
That the Deputy Chief Minister continues to go back and
blame the previous labor government. I mean, the warning signs
were given by many experts in the field around within
the justice systems with all the reforms that the CLP
government have legislated in terms of the pressures that that
would put on our justice system, the delays that that
(38:51):
would cause in terms of ensuring that the victims of
those crimes get justice as well. And find out that
we know that we're seeing a delay for people to
get through the courts because our prisons are overflowing. And
I understand that people you know, they you know, all
(39:12):
that's great, we're locking more people up, but it's not
actually making our community any safer. And the data and
the stats proved to that, which I spoke about earlier
in the show. So there just shows there's actually been
no plan from the CILP government about well, okay, we're
going to we're going to legislate certain policies around that
(39:33):
they're tough on crime stance, but they haven't actually thought
about the implications that have on our court systems and
what that means for the territory in terms of keeping
people safe. Because it hasn't kept people all.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Right, John, Look, what's an alternative to cracking down and crime.
We've put six hundred people in prison. That means six
hundred people out there not communic offenses. So what's an alternative?
Are you saying that these people out in the give us,
give us an alternative? Give don't you talk about it? Alternative?
Speaker 3 (40:00):
Said you personally just said before that you feel safer. Personally,
I'm talking to Territorians every day who don't feel any safer,
who feel that crime hasn't gone down. What we have
seen in the data itself that offenses have gone up,
like sexual offenses have gone up by more than eighteen percent,
assaults are up by eleven percent.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
What can we do? What would you do?
Speaker 3 (40:20):
What you came into government being saying that you would
make this community safer.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Let cam have a go.
Speaker 5 (40:29):
No alternatives. Why don't you two guys get to do that.
God of the common Wealth.
Speaker 1 (40:35):
Some more money.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
We stop trying to divert because you're in government, you're
the deputy Chief Minister, and you need to start taking
some responsibility and stop blaming everyone else because there's people
in the community that are feeling are the hurt that
you are causing because you have not no plan to
make the community any safer.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Clearly you've got no alternatives.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
We are going to have to take a very quick break.
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.
It is the week that was. We've just about run
out of time. There's been a lot to discuss this morning.
But look before I let you all go. Territory Day
of course early next week. We're worried for a bit
there whether the fireworks are going to be able to
get through after Queensland and New South Wales tried to
stop us. But they're here, aren't they, Jared?
Speaker 2 (41:19):
Yeah, no, you have to thank Leaf for this. She
put she put the ball on and ran the ball
up hard because she made He's a phone call to
try and make you it because Charitory Day for me
is about family, it's about friend It's about blowing.
Speaker 5 (41:32):
Stuff it up.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
You can say it here, Oh.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
Cam, what about you? You're going to be letting off
some fireworks.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
I only blew up a few kids over the Katie,
so I won't, won't. Someone was across the board. I'll
be watching it for not long about it? I love you?
Is that there's a peter about three or four hours
when barely a second goes by and there's not a babe.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
Yeah goes pretty full on, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
It's pretty going to make sure I got horses and dogs,
so way look after the animals. I put my dog
in the house and put my horse in the stable.
I'll put a radio so the radio background noise and
so it's really important that we keep the animals.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
Put it on a Katie Wolf podcast for the animal
saddles down, replay the week that was for to run.
What are you up to for Territory Day?
Speaker 4 (42:22):
Mate?
Speaker 3 (42:23):
I'm too sure you haven't got any plans, but obviously
you know I'm still a bit traumatized, probably similar to
cam and letting us fireworks and one fell over and
the family. So I don't touch them anymore.
Speaker 1 (42:36):
You always do on Territory Day. You're all you're a
bit reckless.
Speaker 2 (42:40):
Don't come to my house.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
I don't mind walking around and watching them.
Speaker 1 (42:47):
Yeah, fair enough, fair enough. Well look, I'm a big
safety sam at our house. I'm certainly I'm not the
adventurous one. I'll leave that for others in my family.
Thank you all so much for your time this morning.
Camsmith from the Northern Territory, good to have you on
the show.
Speaker 7 (43:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (43:02):
Jared Mayleie, the Deputy Chief Minister, thank you for your
sh for your time on the show.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
Thank you Katie, and thank you to your listeners. And
be safe for fire crackers day. Look up the animal absolutely.
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Duran Young, the Deputy Opposition Leader, thank you for your
time this morning.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
Thank you, and I will put a little pitch out
if anyone's around and got time On Saturday. The gold
Rush Festival is on down at Pine Creek, So if
you've got time to come down Saturday morning, I would
love to see you down there.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Yeah, it sounds like it's going to be wonderful. We
interviewed Gay, one of the organizers yesterday. It sounds like
it'll be a cracking event. Thank you all so much
for your time this morning. Have a lovely weekend and
a wonderful Territory day. You are listening to Mix one
O four nine's three point sixty
It's time for the week that was and as always,
busy morning lined up for you now in the studio
today from the Northern Territory News, I've got Cam Smith,
Good morning, Cam, Morning, Katy, good to have you on
the show. We've also got Jared Mayley, the Deputy the
Deputy Chief Minister, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
To you, Good morning Katy, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
And on the line this morning we've got Duran young Well,
the Opposition Deputy Leader.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Good morning to you, Duran Ah, Good morning Katie, and
good morning to your listeners. And I'll say for Jared
and Cam in the studio, good to have you all.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
On the show.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Look, starting things off slightly differently this week. We don't
usually cover off on things happening overseas, but this situation
with the Israel and Iran conflict, it continues to dominate
headlines right around the world. We know that they have
indeed got a shaky ceasefire which is holding at this point.
Now there's been much discussion as we know, and it's
(00:55):
really difficult to know what's going to happen next. But
the heart of the consum was indeed Iran's nuclear capabilities
and then we did indeed have a situation where where
America stepped in. We now saw a little earlier in
the week, the US expected that it's Asian allies, it's
(01:15):
now being reported, could also rise raise their defense spending
if European allies can do it. That's what the White
House is saying, because obviously at that NATO meeting a
little bit earlier in the week, we saw the change
when it comes to defense spending, the target of five
percent of GDP by twenty thirty five. So I guess
the discussion, while it has indeed been about this conflict
(01:39):
for several days now for several weeks, the discussion sort
of moving along to that defense spend right around the
world and wondering if we hear in Australia are going
to need to do more, particularly when you talk about
the Northern territory. We hear all too often about our
strategic importance and you know how close we are in
(02:00):
terms of our proximity to Asia. I mean, where do
we go from here? Do you think that as a
country we can continue to rely on the US as
we have previously and if we are going to do
we need to step up with this spend look.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I think I'll start by saying, look, any armed conflict
is tragic no matter where it is, right across the world,
because you know, what generally, in my view happens is
that the people in those countries and around those countries
are the ones that suffer. The regimes and the government
do what they need to do, but you think about
the actual conflict for those people and the refugees, and
I just think we have to really ensure that we
(02:36):
think about those people. We know that the Northern Territory,
for example, has got a very vast multicultural community and
now people from all across the world here in the
Northern Territory. So I put my hand out to those
people to say, look, we're here to support you. As
a government, we need to make sure we get together
as the community in rally because like I said, armed
conflict is anywhere, especially when there's a chance of nucleics
(02:59):
problems down the line, we're going to make sure that
these terrorist organizations don't end up with nuclear weapons because
who knows what might happen.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Well, do you think we are reaching the point though?
As well as a country where you know where the
Albanezi government does realistically, I know he struggled to get
a meeting with Donald Trump at this point in time,
but we're the reality of it is we are going
to have to amp up that defense spending if we
expect Australia to be I guess looked after in the
way that we have previously been by the US.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Well, I think this squarely lies at the feet of
the Australian government. There's no question about that. The Australian
government's responsible for defense and defense spending across Australia. And
we know the Northern Territory's got defense up here and
it's a big part of the community, and we support
the defense into the Northern Territory. But this really lands
squeally at the feet of Albanisi and he needs you
something about it. He needs to come out and be
open and transparent. Just tell Australians what's happening.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Cam. It's been an interesting sort of time, hasn't it.
I guess over the years, I know, particularly for you,
you've been the media for quite a long time, as
have I. You know, we've attended plenty of different media
events talking about how important the Northern Territory is, how
important Darwin is. When it comes to defense. I mean,
we spoke a little earlier this week as well about
(04:09):
Exercise Talisman Saber. We know that that's about to get underway.
Where do you think, you know, where do you think
it's sort of going? I suppose do you reckon? We
are going to wind up in a situation where Australia
does really have to stump up a bit more.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
I think you're right, Katie. I think we will obviously
have to spend more money going forward. The government doesn't
seem at all committed to that five percent target there
they're currying around looking I think targeting two and a half,
talking about going up a bit. They'll have to spend
more with what they spend it on. And when the
coalition we're talking a big budget during the last election,
when they did actually come to announcing that the nuts
(04:45):
and bolts and what their extra money would be spent on.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
They didn't.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
They didn't announce it. So, yeah, you know, there needs
to be a plan. It's all right just setting an
arbitrary target to a point, but then you've got.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
To have a plan for it, right, Yeah, that's exactly right,
and you've got to make sure that it's going to work.
To our advantage in the way in which it's it tended.
I mean, Duran, what do you make of it all.
It's a difficult situation, I guess for Anthony Albanezi at
the moment, not actually being able to secure a meeting
right now with Donald Trump. Hopefully it's able to happen
sooner rather than later.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Yeah, and I believe it will happen in the new future. Katie.
You know, it was unfortunate that he didn't get to
meet with the President recently, but I think we can
all understand the insecurities at the time that was happening
in the Middle East and the region. But you know,
like Jared said, I think any act of war is devastating.
You see many innocent lives lost through war, and the
(05:40):
best approach is through those diplomatic talks and trying to
come to an agreement, especially around a ceasefire. We've seen
recently that that cease fire unfortunately was broken and it's
back on the cable now. But that's the best way
through to ensure safety for the world and Australians as well.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
On a bit of a lighter note on this same topic,
what did we think about Donald Trump dropping the f
bomb earlier in the week and then getting called daddy.
It was all a bit weird, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I think that is a little bit weird. But you know,
Donald Trump certainly says what he thinks sometimes and obviously
said that out there in the press.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
So reckon.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
He like I reckon, He actually articulated, maybe not the
best words, but he articulated what people were thinking. Right,
Like they've been fighting for so long, you know, those
countries understand what they're still fighting about. But it's reached
the point where we're like, come on, let's move on.
We need to to some degree for some world peace.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Well, I think world peace is definitely the key. We
need to make sure us in the Northern Churchy in
Australia and the world worked together to make sure we
do have peace across the world. Because if there's a
nuclear bomb go off somewhere anywhere, it's going to affect Australia.
There's no question, trade links and all sorts of stuff
like that. So and it goes back to the people
who live in those cities. So I said earlier, they're
(06:55):
the people who are going to suffer.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, well, look we might move along to some of
our local issues, because there's plenty to cover off there
always are on their show. And I do want to
talk about the fact that there has indeed been a
reward offered. Five hundred thousand dollars has been announced for
information that leads to the discovery of Peter Falconio's body.
Bradley John Murdoch, as we know, was convicted of mister
(07:18):
Falconio's murder in twenty twenty five and sentenced to life imprisonment.
It comes after reports that Murdoch is near his death
bed and has been transferred to Alice Springs Hospital for
palliative care. It really was and continues to be a
situation that's captivated the world. Everyone, none more so than
(07:40):
the Falconio family obviously wanting to know where his body is.
I mean, it's certainly something that we're all hoping that
they're able to get that closure, that the Falconio family
is able to get that closure. Whether it happens or not,
I just don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
WELLOK, I hope he does come out and tell what
he knows about this case, because it is over twenty
years old and that family does need some closure. And
I understand the police of going seeing wose in hospital.
So look, I do put my peel out if you
are listening and out there if you do know anything.
There is five hundred thousand dollars on the table now,
so come up because it will provide some closure for
the people, those family members, because I'm sure that's very
(08:19):
important to them.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Do you wonder whether he's told anybody, like any information
inside the prison or you know, or anywhere else.
Speaker 5 (08:26):
I don't I family members.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
There was a suggestion that family members might have been
the target of that five hundred thousand dollar reward, if
in fact he told any of his family members. So yeah, right,
I haven't obvious you haven't said anything yet it's been
made public.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Anyway, Yeah, I mean, Dran, you certainly hope that that
at some point the Falconio family is able to get
some closure here, don't you.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, definitely, And this is a welcoming announcement made by
the police to increase that reward that may lead to
the discovery of his body. But I do want to
you know, my heart does go out to the Icannio's
family and their friends. Obviously it's a pretty tough time
at the moment, knowing that you know there hasn't been
(09:11):
any closure to this, and we can only hope that
through this increase of the reward that that will lead
to some closure for the family because you know, it
must just be so stressful and distressing over the last
twenty years. Yeah, you think about that every day and
not having any closure to this.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Look, we are going to be catching up with Colleen
gwyn as well this morning after ten o'clock, so we'll
continue that discussion, but let's take a really quick break.
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.
It is the week that was if you have just
joined us, it is indeed the week that was. And
on the phone line this morning with the Deputy Opposition
Leader Duran Young. We've also got the Deputy Chief Minister
(09:53):
Jared Mayley and from the Northern Territory News Cam Smith. Now,
as I said, there's been a lot to cover off
on this week and yesterday or the day before, we
learned that the government will you announce this back in March,
but the Colp government announcing that, in their words, going
to responsibly increase regulated electricity prices by three percent effective
(10:18):
from Territory Day the first of July. They say, benefiting
around eighty five thousand households and small to medium businesses. Now,
what it's going to mean is that those power prices
are obviously going up by three percent in the first instance.
But then these reforms are going to roll out in
three stages. So Phase one is going to see a
(10:39):
new tariff apply for large commercial customers using between five
hundred and seven hundred and fifty megawatts year. The Northern
Territory government agencies are going to move to full cost pricing.
Then your solar feed in tariff will double to eighteen
point sixty six cents per kilowatt hour for energy exported
to the grid between three and nine pm. Now, then
(11:02):
phase two, the first fifty five killer watts per day
are going to be charged at the normal household rate,
but usage above that is going to be charged at
a higher rate equal to the rate applied to small businesses. Now,
a new new time of use plans will be available
for households and small businesses to give more choice and
(11:23):
control over energy costs. Now, look, Duran, what do you
make of this? I guess we're all sort of reading
through these details and saying to ourselves, how big a
difference is this going to make. Are our power prices
going up? I mean three percent? Pretty sure? CPI only
sits at two point one percent at the moment, or
two point two percent, so it's going up a bit
above CPI. But then also looking at that fifty five
(11:47):
killer watts per day, I would hope that my power
bill is not going to be higher than that, but
who would know in the middle of the wet season
when I've got the air con pumpin.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Yeah, well, that's exactly right, Katie. You know, this is
a mission by the government. They weren't able to keep
power crisis down. We're going to see an increase of
three percent. So Bill Yarn has completely missed the mark here.
You know, we'll see power especially people that live in
the rural area Akati. You know, we know down in
other springs, people in the rural area and other Springs
(12:18):
itself will need their heaters on during the obviously the
winter months down there, but also in the rural area
people using their pumps and balls. You know, costs a
little bit more to use electricity in the rural era.
So I just don't understand how Bill.
Speaker 6 (12:36):
Yan has missed this.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I know, you know, just before the budget. He's been
out fishing and maybe it was an oversight from there,
but I'm sure fake surprises. Who also, you know, a
rural remember, I would have thought he would have had
his eye over this too, knowing that that's going to
impact people within his community. And definitely this announcement by
Sealp government will have a huge impact to people in
(12:58):
the rural area in my election of daily from people
the Dundee Woggai Beach down to Berry Springs. You know,
people do live on small blocks and use a little
bit more electricity because again we know people have maybe
running horses on their property. They may have Yeah, there's all.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Sorts of reasons why you're like, you know, why your
power may be a bit higher or why it might be.
I gotta know. We had a lot of people message
through yesterday really you know, helpfully telling us what their
power usage is sort of each day, and a lot
of them, you know, around twenty megawatts twenty five thirty.
Some were saying, you know, lower than that because they
don't use their air cons some higher than that because
(13:36):
they do and they've got a pool and various other things.
So it remains to be seen. The second phase what
kind of impact that's going to have on territories. But
we know right from the get go that three percent
is going to have an impact on people. I mean, Jared,
the last time we saw a government put those power
prices up was when Terry Mills was in power. I
know it was a lot more. I think it was
thirty percent. Cam do you remember it was a lot
(13:58):
of money, but it did not have a great ending
for him.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
No, Look, Katie, I understand what you're saying, but that
this is about being responsible. We know that we've come
into office some nine months ago and we found that
the books were completely cooked in relation to the debt.
You know, we're in eleven billion dollars worth of debt.
And there's also the Community Service Obligation, which is a
government subsidy that you part that the tax payer pays
(14:24):
for to balance off and make sure those power pips
are reasonable. So what the previous government were doing, they
were just slowly putting money into that and keeping the
price cap at CPI. But what we're doing now, you're
using the power, you get to pay for it, So
why should people who aren't using it which're trying to
balance it out and be reasonable here and we work
out that the fifty five killer what the average house
(14:47):
is not going to get anywhere near that. So when
Durham's talking about people got horses, well, I've got horses.
They don't use power to start with, so I don't
know what he's going on about there. So it's about
just trying to be reasonable and trying to make sure
that the all territorians get the benefit as much as
we can of spreading that load across the Northern territory.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
It's gonna hit people though, Like I know, I know
when you say three percent, I thought it was meant
to be in line with CPI. I don't think CPI
is that high at the moment. I think it's more
like two point one or two point two. I get
that there needs to be investment into power and water
many many years ago. I worked for power and water
in fact, when those power prices went up, and I
(15:27):
used to work for the Minister for Essential Services. So
I certainly understand there needs to be investment into that
infrastructure and into and you know, into making sure that
the lights stay on for us all. But I just
wonder what kind of hit it's going to have on
everyday Territorians, and.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
That's how we're trying to balance and get this as
best we can. We know that the power of water,
you're right, Katie, is in a world to hurt and
we need to invest into that, and we need to
make sure that do we get a power supply that's
unreliable and that you can turn the lights on when
you get home, and we need to that right, and
it costs money. Unfortunately things are going up, so we're
just trying to get that balance right.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Power increase your edicati was obviously enormously unpopular and this
is nowhere near that extent. The argument extended at the
time was that the power Water was was bally up
that it needed that cash board. When when that was removed,
the thirty percent didn't go ahead. Power Water still managed
to function. But just from the media release the government
(16:27):
put out the other day, it is you know, there's
a couple of interesting aspects to it. For a start,
the community service obligation has gone up fifty four million,
I think to one hundred and ninety two million dollars.
That's an enormous contribution by tax payers to keeping our
own yeah own energy prices.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
So we're kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Is
that how It's like, what do you make of that?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Can look, there is a little bit of that, but
it is a subsidy. It's an actually bounty for households
because power prices would.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Be yeah, astronomical, I think fifty percent high and we
didn't have that.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Yeah, And the other aspects of that release is just
a it doesn't just end from July one, twenty twenty five.
So that reference in there to the three piece three
percent effective from July one, twenty twenty five, that doesn't
factor in.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Those other tariff charges that they outline.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
There from January one next year and July one next year,
such as daily charges for high voltage customers moving to
full cost pricing. You know, there's other aspects that will
that will really mean people are paying more, whether it
be corporations or individuals, but just very noticeable the enormous,
the enormity of that community service opplication.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
One of the other things people always raise with us
is that solar feed in tariff and the hours, So
the three to nine PM why is it those hours,
do you know, Jared.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Because that's the peak hours that people are using electricity.
So what we're offering is a discount if you go
home and you manage your electricity and you've got your
solar panels, you can feed that back in because outside
those hours will just be the standard I think is
about eight cents per killer. What So what we're offering
people is a bit of a bonus to go home,
manage your power, export power integrid during that time when
(18:03):
other people are using the power. Just gives the people
some incentive to be able to go and manage their power.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
You someone's just messaged in and said, morning, Katie, these
new charges for domestic use. Why from three till nine pm,
which the sun isn't when the sun isn't as hot.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Look, that was always our commitment to raise that tariff
during that time, during that peak time, and that's the
peak time between three and nine pm. Again, we need
to ensure that we get the balance right. We've got
a lot of roofs off solar out there, which makes
a grid unstable. So we're just trying to gain work
and getting that balance right. Giving people an opportunity to
(18:38):
manage their own power feed back into the grid, and
if they've got that solid.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
All right, we might take a very quick break. You
are listening to Mix one oh four nine's three sixty.
It is the week that was still plenty to cover
this morning. But you are listening to Mix one oh
four nine. It is, of course the week that was
on the line with us this morning. Duran Young. We've
also got Gared Mayley and of course Smith in the studio. Now,
just before we move on from that power discussion, I
(19:05):
understand that there was a trip to the Beatloo yesterday,
Jered Maylee. You took a few of the journalists out
to the Beaterloo. Was that just to check on how
things are tracking out there? Where's it all that?
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, okay, this is a really good news story. I
went out yesterday with a whole lot of Docal Darwin
people and some journalists to look at the Beaterloo, which
is the former Empire Energy site, which is about two
hours drive from Boro Lula, where they announced yesterday that
they'd reached a grim with the traditional owners to be
able to sell their appraisal gas.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
So we were out.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
There yesterday and they were out there with the Hallie
Burton Frack group and they were actually stimulating their will,
which means they were getting it ready for gas production.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
So how far off are we from seeing, you know,
gas flowing from the Beadloo Well.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Very excitingly, I think we're going to see it by
the end of the year. The end of the year
into that line. There's already a pipeline that runs from
MacArthur River across to the Amadaya popline. Right there, there's
a t section they're waiting to go. The traditional owners
gave approval yesterday. The world's been stimulated. Beaterloo Energy have
got a small compression plant which needs to be able
(20:10):
to compress the gas as it comes out of the
ground and clean out some of the impurities and pop
it straight into the line. So I think by the
end of the year, which is going to be a
great news story for us because it gives us some
certainty for gas which are going to supply our power station,
allows us to turn the lights on.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
So what would happen if it wasn't coming online by
the end of the year, Because I mean, I guess
you know, for most of us, we're thinking, we seem
to have these massive gas reserves, why do we need
a contingency?
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Well, we've got these massive gas reserves.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
That's correct, but.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
There's no gas coming out of the ground into the pipelines.
So it's great to have, you know, two hundred years
of gas sitting in the Baterloo, but we need to
get it out of the ground into a pipeline into
a market. We know the market's here and dah, we
know the markets here in the East Coast. And these
companies have been working over ten years to be able
to get their gas out of the ground. And good
news is that the two major players are there, which
is Tamboraan and Beaterloo Energy, now have got their wills done,
(21:01):
they had their worlds fracked, they're getting pipelines, they're getting
compression plants. So it's happening. Momentum is building, and it's
going to be a great news story because it allows
us to keep the lights on.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Look, I'm always a bit cautious when I have a
minister telling me something's a great news story. Several times
I'm you know, I'm ever the skeptic d Rahm. What
do you make of it, mate?
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Yeah, Look, I'm not across those details at the extent
that the ministers are. Yeah, so he's obviously put that
announcement forward, so we'll see what comes of it in
the next few weeks came you.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Were out there yesterday. I mean, was it as rosy
as the minister sees?
Speaker 4 (21:40):
It was all action, Katie. There was twenty two or
twenty twenty two thousand horsepower pumps doing the actual the
hydraulic fracturing, the horizontal fracturing there.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
They're never all coming from Rome and they're only here
for a few weeks.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
The ambition is eventually perhaps to have some of those
pumps on site permanently so they can drill new wells
as required. But what will come out of this now
there will be appraisals of the of the carpentery of
five well. They believe it's of a very high standard.
And again, as the Minister said it, it'll be eventually
be piped here into Darwin. But you know, it's been
(22:16):
an eight year process for Empire Energy. They you know,
they're not complaining about it, and you know, I've been
a reporter who has complained about it quite a bit.
These long delays that seemed unnecessary when we know we're
getting the last dregs of gas out of the Bay
Wounden basin, or or relying on diesel but that eight
year process, what it does appear to have done. I
think he's given a little bit of a social license.
(22:37):
I don't hear too many protests around tracking from you know,
regular territories anymore. There's still they're still at Cohort obviously.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
Who opposed to the process definitely, But I.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Think the economic development benefits are far far out weigh
any of the environmental side effects that come from this,
which which have been downplayed by a number of organizations,
including cry SO.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Potentially as early as the end of this year, Minister.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Well, that's what they were talking about yesterday, and I
really do hope so be that it's going to be
able to provide that first gas market. Will be a
big shot in the arm for all those gas producers
in the Bloo, because it's going to give some certainty
to the investors who are looking at They're watching to
see is it working, how's it going, and when these
companies can be able to say, yes, we've got gas
out of the ground, it's in the pipeline, and we've
(23:22):
got a market and we're selling it. Because once it
gets into that North South pipeline, it can come to
darn and it can also go to the East Coast,
and we know that the East Coast has got a
gas I'm sure, yeah, they do. So it's going to
be able to give an added bonus to those companies.
And not only the gas companies code, it's the downstream
in the indirect people who benefit from the people in
the local shops, that the truck drivers, the people who
(23:42):
are supplying the cleaning products and mechanics, all those sorts
of people. And I'm really looking forward to this kicking off.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
And the support by the traditional owners is significant because
a number of those were opponents of the project.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Right and now they've turned around, turned around.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Yeah, they've seen seen the economic benefits and the same.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
That's really interesting. Yeah, that is really interesting. Well, look,
we are going to move ahead, and I guess we've
spoken so much about the economy in recent years. There's
no doubt about that. And one of the reasons that
we've heard time and time again, of course from the
Northern Territory government and of course, well the current Northern
Territory government, I should say, when they're in opposition, is
(24:21):
you know how you're going to get the economy moving
when you're still dealing with some of the social issues
that we've got in the NT and just yesterday, well
we've we reported on the show the day prior about
an event that was going to be happening called take
Back the Track in Alice Springs. Now it was happening
because a number of women had been targeted by a
(24:43):
teenager or well, the Northern Territory Police releasing information that
a teenager had indecently assaulted a number of women along
the Todd River while out exercising. So as a result,
running groups got together to hold an event to take
back the Track. Now, while they were holding that event
(25:04):
on Wednesday, essentially six women were then indecently assaulted. I mean,
it's quite unbelievable to think that while women men Territorians
are out trying to take back the Track and saying
that they're standing up to people doing the wrong thing,
end up with this group of teenagers allegedly indecently assaulting
(25:28):
these women. It's disgusting.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Yeah, okay, look this is deeply disturbing. So these women
are out holding an event and yet they were become
a victim of crime whilst on an event, and it's
just unacceptable and enough's enough. In relation to that, we
know that there's been a lot of talk about crime
and where we're working hard to fixate and we know
that this is a big job and we are not
going to stop with the work we've done with Chris Bayer.
We've supported the police, we've supported the courts, we've supported corrections.
(25:53):
But our work is not done yet. Katie Wigan, but if.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
You guys haven't just spoken about it, you've really said that,
you know, House in Northern terror when you're in opposition,
House in Northern Territory meant to move forward when we're
being constrained by these social and crime issues and unfortunately
they're continuing to burden us. I think is the only
way to put it.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
And Katie, I can tell you listeners that we are
going to continue to work hard and we have to
change the law. We have to change policy. We're going
to do that. We've started, we've continued to work and
we're going to keep working at it. This is a
big ship to turn around. We know that we're in
a hell of a mess of nine months ago, with
crime right across the Northern Territory and bad news stories
getting right across the world. We are trying hard and
(26:33):
we're working hard, and people are telling me, Katie that
things are turning around and there is some good news stories,
but I certainly can see we've got a long way
to go and we're up to the task and we're
going to keep working hard.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
I mean, Doran, it was disgusting to learn that this
had happened over the last sort of forty eight hours,
these women there to take back the Track, and it
was anything but.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Yeah, well that's right, Katie, is completely inappropriate and disturbing
what's happening down in our springs, and that those incidents
that happened to the women who were taking part in
take Back the Track walk, and I think you know
it's yeah, it's obviously just disturbing and disgusting what has happened,
but it's also I think a reflection on how the
(27:18):
public are feeling at the moment. I'm getting many territories
coming up to me speaking about how they don't feel
safe in public or at work or even like we mentioned,
going exercising, like people down in other springs, we're having
that peaceful protest around.
Speaker 7 (27:36):
So it's pretty disturbing and I think.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
You know that the latest data stat's back that up.
How people are.
Speaker 7 (27:43):
Feeling that they are feeling safe. We've seen and increase
in assaults up by eleven percent, sexual offenses up by
eighteen percent, and offenses against the person's by six percent.
So you know, we do question what the government are
actually doing. We've seen them in government now.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
For over nine months, implemented a number of the number
of pieces of legislation saying that you will be safer,
but unfortunately people aren't feeling safe with the new government.
That was their election commitment coming in saying that they
would reduce crime, and they haven't reduced crime within the stats.
Don't lie when we speak about that cam.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
It's something you and I have reported on so much, honestly,
over the last sort of ten years that I've been
doing this show. You know, it's a very rare day
when I get on air and I'm not talking about
some kind of serious issue with crime. I guess I
always find it really disturbing, you know, when you think
of somebody, you know, when you think of a woman
(28:46):
out trying to do normal daily activities and being targeted.
But you know, over the years, we've seen seniors targeted,
We've seen elderly women targeted, We've seen elderly men targeted.
I mean, the list goes on.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Look, Katie, I tend to take the territory government is
really limited in what it can do beyond the actually.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Carceration, imprisonment justice phase.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
You know, the issues stem from underfunding in the territory
by the Commonwealth over a long long period.
Speaker 5 (29:17):
That's in the communities. Largely.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Communities to me are the source of a lot of
the social issues that we have here in the people
who come in from the communities. I don't know what
the situation was in Allie Springs, whether that was organized,
whether that was even something more broadly misogynous than you know,
just random attacks, but you know there's issues. The issues
in the communities need to be addressed by the Commonwealth.
They've they've left the communities to be the Northern territories problem,
(29:44):
and they shouldn't be because the Northern Territory is not
capable financially of funding the communities and sorting out those
enormous social issues that exist in the communities. That's where
the Commonwealth needs to step in and step up.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
They don't. They haven't for.
Speaker 4 (29:57):
Fifty years since the referendum of sixty years since a
referendum that gave Aboriginal policy to the Commonwealth. There's nothing
to suggest that they'll do it now. But that's the
only way that these social issues are really going to
be going to be stopped by the Commonwealth making a
dead set commitment financial and resource commitment to the Northern territory.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
I mean, durand do you tend to agree with that?
Does they need to be a greater resource commitment here?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Oh? Look, I think all levels of government need to
be working together, from local government to the territory of
government to the Commonwealth government. They each layer of government
play a part in this. But again, what we have
seen from the territory CLP government is coming in on
(30:46):
a platform saying they would fix crime. They haven't been
able to do that. The stats have gone up since
we have seen no investment into Aboriginal communities from this
CLP government. They're talking about tough on crime and locking
as many people up as possible, but the actually don't
(31:07):
have a plan to address the root causes. And I
know many people that I speak to talking about that, well,
what is the plan to address some of those root causes?
And I know we talk about generational change, but there
are some things that are working and will take time,
like local decision making agreements that have been into that
(31:28):
have been governments have worked with communities to get those
up and running at the aspirations of what the community
want in their community. But that takes time and then
to walk away from that. A lot of people that
I speak to with those agreements in place are highly,
highly disappointed because they can see the effect and the
impact that that's having over time.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
A few messages coming through this morning. I mean, I've
got one here that says, Katie, what is happening with
these bush camps and the judiciary needs to be answerable.
Somebody else's message through and said that the land councils
need to step up as well. You know, I guess
again I will say, because I think we've got a
situation at the moment with both sides of politics. I mean, Jared,
(32:10):
I know that you will say that obviously. You know
you're trying to try and to help the community after
eight years of failure by the Labor government. I know
that the Labor government is now saying, well of the
Labor opposition, I should say, is now saying the COLP
government's been in for nearly, well it's not quite a year.
It's however many months and the changes that you're implementing
(32:31):
aren't making a difference. But all the while, you know,
what the Northern Territory people want is to try and
get this issue under control so that we can live
our lives. We can go for a run, we don't
have to worry about our businesses being broken into. I
mean last weekend there was a situation where two people
had to lock themselves in their room in Palmerston while
(32:53):
a group of teenagers got in and forced their way
into that bedroom with a machete, backing through the door
with a machete allegedly. You know, so, I guess we're
at the point where we can we can blame each other,
we can blame everybody, but it needs to get sorted.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
But look, welcome, this is our responsibility. And it's a
bit rich for Durand to say, you know, we don't
have a plan. Clearly we've got a plan and I
could talk to you for hours about the plant. For example,
the Community Government, Steve Edgitton, the Minister for Community Government,
has got a plan to break down these super super
shy is that the Labor Government brought in which haven't
been welcomed by the communities, and to give these communities
(33:32):
empowered back, to be able to make decisions, to give
work into their own communities, to make those people in
the communities have a purpose. So that's that's a load
of working happening because well, exactly nine months and I'm
not I'm not the previous labor government who just ran
by media release and made these un funded and unthought
about programs. We are thinking about it. We're going to
(33:54):
get it right, but we are going to make sure
that we empower these communities. We're going to put one
point four billion dollars into the court system, the police
system and the correction system, because we know we need
to break the cycle of offending. We've got the courts
both stretched there full. So this all relates back to
previous governments not funding it correctly, having a world of
(34:17):
heard out there for people not feeling safe. So we're
working on a plan. It's a big ship to turn around.
And you can cherry pick some of these crime stats,
but you look at those crime stats, Cuddy, property fences
are going down, and Katie, just imagine if we didn't
do what we've done over the last nine months, we
just bail corrections and police. Where would be now in
relation to the crime stats, I would say the crime
stats be going through the roof and people feeling more
(34:38):
unsafe one.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Area where we do seem to be struggling a bit
at the moment. And you touched on this and we
caught up with Beth Wilde a little earlier in the
week from the Criminal Lawyers Association. We know that there
has been a massive spike in custody numbers in the
Northern Territory, delaying matters in court, lawyers apparently queuing up
to see clients, the Criminal Lawyers Association saying it is
(34:59):
to mostly due to the colp's tough on crime reforms.
So I think that you'll probably find a lot of
people in the community go, well, do you know what.
Hopefully these reforms are making a difference. However, you know
we are in a situation where some people are getting
lost in the system, waiting days in watchhouses before going
before a judge. Now, Bethwilde says, there's some easy solutions.
(35:22):
Some of those are simply longer sitting days and two
courts being stood up in the afternoon. So I mean Jared,
is that something that we should be looking at doing
quite quickly so that you know we're able to get
through some of these cases sooner.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Look, I know that the Churney General Marketby has been
talking to Michael Grant, the Chief Judge, about reforming the
court system. So she is taking those steps and she's
working with the court to be able to make the
courts work longer. But it's about funding and we know
the previous over government didn't fund the court properly.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
It would have cost a lot of money to have
the court sitting for that extra period of time each day.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
It will because going to have to have new judges
and more judges, and we know that they are very
highly educated people and they get paid appropriately for that.
And as well as that, the staff that work we
need to have support staff, Legal aid need to work longer,
nage will need to work longer. So there are options
we're looking at and we're certainly talking to the courts
about that.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
But responsibility, Yeah, well what you reckon they could speed
things along?
Speaker 2 (36:22):
Well, Look, we know that they've stopped there after our
bail reviews on the phone. Why we have to ask
the court that.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
With us they don't you know, we never can. This
is the problem right with the court system is is
you never can. So some of those different things that
you know that you've just touched on, we as journalists
are not really in a situation where we can put
those questions to that.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Well, I know that the Chin General has been speaking
to Michael Grand about that, and we're working hard to
try and get fixed. But this is not an easy
ship to turn around quickly. And what we're focused on
is keeping the community, say, rebuilding economy, restoring our life.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Well, look for me, i'd go back to you know
what I was saying before when you talk about crime,
is that my my major concern is that you know,
you want Territorians to be able to flourish living here
wherever you come from, no matter what you do, you
know what your background is. But you also want a
situation where if you are a victim of crime, you're
not waiting, you know, a year years to hear the
(37:18):
outcome of a of you know, of an offense that's
that's been committed against you well or whether somebody is
actually going to you know, to serve any time in
jail or whatever that outcome might be. You know, so
ultimately speeding up the court process. Yes, it is about
giving people a fair go as well in a fair trial,
(37:38):
but you want to make sure that that court process
is sped up so that victims can get some justice.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
I agree completely, and that's one of the reasons why
the cop have put on twenty permanent DPP staff. We
funded Legal Aid. We know that when we come in
the government there was the Legal Aid Commission weren't appearing
and defending some of these people because they are saying
they had lack of funding. And I remember some cases
where it matters we'rejourn and people put on bail because
there was no representation available because Legal A was saying
(38:04):
we didn't have the funding. So we've come into office
and Mary Cleave Boothmy has done a great job. Funded
Legal Aid, we funded DPP, we're working with the courts.
But again this is a mammoth failure by the previous government.
We're fixing it bit by bit and nine months is
going to take some time to turn around, and we're
working hard and things are getting better into communicating in my.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
View, darn.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
That the Deputy Chief Minister continues to go back and
blame the previous labor government. I mean, the warning signs
were given by many experts in the field around within
the justice systems with all the reforms that the CLP
government have legislated in terms of the pressures that that
would put on our justice system, the delays that that
(38:51):
would cause in terms of ensuring that the victims of
those crimes get justice as well. And find out that
we know that we're seeing a delay for people to
get through the courts because our prisons are overflowing. And
I understand that people you know, they you know, all
(39:12):
that's great, we're locking more people up, but it's not
actually making our community any safer. And the data and
the stats proved to that, which I spoke about earlier
in the show. So there just shows there's actually been
no plan from the CILP government about well, okay, we're
going to we're going to legislate certain policies around that
(39:33):
they're tough on crime stance, but they haven't actually thought
about the implications that have on our court systems and
what that means for the territory in terms of keeping
people safe. Because it hasn't kept people all.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Right, John, Look, what's an alternative to cracking down and crime.
We've put six hundred people in prison. That means six
hundred people out there not communic offenses. So what's an alternative?
Are you saying that these people out in the give us,
give us an alternative? Give don't you talk about it? Alternative?
Speaker 3 (40:00):
Said you personally just said before that you feel safer. Personally,
I'm talking to Territorians every day who don't feel any safer,
who feel that crime hasn't gone down. What we have
seen in the data itself that offenses have gone up,
like sexual offenses have gone up by more than eighteen percent,
assaults are up by eleven percent.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
What can we do? What would you do?
Speaker 3 (40:20):
What you came into government being saying that you would
make this community safer.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Let cam have a go.
Speaker 5 (40:29):
No alternatives. Why don't you two guys get to do that.
God of the common Wealth.
Speaker 1 (40:35):
Some more money.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
We stop trying to divert because you're in government, you're
the deputy Chief Minister, and you need to start taking
some responsibility and stop blaming everyone else because there's people
in the community that are feeling are the hurt that
you are causing because you have not no plan to
make the community any safer.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Clearly you've got no alternatives.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
We are going to have to take a very quick break.
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.
It is the week that was. We've just about run
out of time. There's been a lot to discuss this morning.
But look before I let you all go. Territory Day
of course early next week. We're worried for a bit
there whether the fireworks are going to be able to
get through after Queensland and New South Wales tried to
stop us. But they're here, aren't they, Jared?
Speaker 2 (41:19):
Yeah, no, you have to thank Leaf for this. She
put she put the ball on and ran the ball
up hard because she made He's a phone call to
try and make you it because Charitory Day for me
is about family, it's about friend It's about blowing.
Speaker 5 (41:32):
Stuff it up.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
You can say it here, Oh.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
Cam, what about you? You're going to be letting off
some fireworks.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
I only blew up a few kids over the Katie,
so I won't, won't. Someone was across the board. I'll
be watching it for not long about it? I love you?
Is that there's a peter about three or four hours
when barely a second goes by and there's not a babe.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
Yeah goes pretty full on, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
It's pretty going to make sure I got horses and dogs,
so way look after the animals. I put my dog
in the house and put my horse in the stable.
I'll put a radio so the radio background noise and
so it's really important that we keep the animals.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
Put it on a Katie Wolf podcast for the animal
saddles down, replay the week that was for to run.
What are you up to for Territory Day?
Speaker 4 (42:22):
Mate?
Speaker 3 (42:23):
I'm too sure you haven't got any plans, but obviously
you know I'm still a bit traumatized, probably similar to
cam and letting us fireworks and one fell over and
the family. So I don't touch them anymore.
Speaker 1 (42:36):
You always do on Territory Day. You're all you're a
bit reckless.
Speaker 2 (42:40):
Don't come to my house.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
I don't mind walking around and watching them.
Speaker 1 (42:47):
Yeah, fair enough, fair enough. Well look, I'm a big
safety sam at our house. I'm certainly I'm not the
adventurous one. I'll leave that for others in my family.
Thank you all so much for your time this morning.
Camsmith from the Northern Territory, good to have you on
the show.
Speaker 7 (43:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (43:02):
Jared Mayleie, the Deputy Chief Minister, thank you for your
sh for your time on the show.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
Thank you Katie, and thank you to your listeners. And
be safe for fire crackers day. Look up the animal absolutely.
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Duran Young, the Deputy Opposition Leader, thank you for your
time this morning.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
Thank you, and I will put a little pitch out
if anyone's around and got time On Saturday. The gold
Rush Festival is on down at Pine Creek, So if
you've got time to come down Saturday morning, I would
love to see you down there.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Yeah, it sounds like it's going to be wonderful. We
interviewed Gay, one of the organizers yesterday. It sounds like
it'll be a cracking event. Thank you all so much
for your time this morning. Have a lovely weekend and
a wonderful Territory day. You are listening to Mix one
O four nine's three point sixty
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