The Week That Was - 8th August 2025

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is time for the week that was, and in
the studio with us this morning, we have got the
Minister for Youth, People, Sport and Culture, Jinsen Charles.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning to.

Speaker 3 (00:09):
You, Good morning, getan good morning to our listeners.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Lovely to have you on the show.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
We've got the head of news for the Northern Territory News,
Gary Shipway.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good morning Gary, and of.

Speaker 1 (00:18):
Course yeah it's a beautiful day, hey, and there's so
much happening over the weekend. We'll talk about that a
bit later, but it's certainly a good time to be
in the Northern Territory. And of course joining us from
the Labor Party, we have got the Deputy Opposition leader
Duran Young.

Speaker 4 (00:33):
Good morning, Duran, Good morning Caty, and good morning to
all your listeners and everyone in the studio.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Oh good to have you on the show.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Now. I tell you what, there's a lot to cover
off on this week, as there always is, but I
do just want to touch on a topic that we're
probably not going to be able to talk too much about,
but I know our listeners certainly want an update on
and that is the Matt Wright court case. Now crocodile
farmer Mick Burns and former police officer Neil Mellon. I've
given evidence in the Supreme Court trial of Matt Wright,

(01:02):
with Mick Burbage expected to take the witness stand today now.
Mister Wright's facing three counts of perverting the course of
justice in relation to that chopper crash that killed Chris
Willow Wilson in twenty twenty two, and has pleaded not
guilty to all charges. The crown case is that mister
Wright didn't properly record flight hours on the crash chopper,

(01:25):
lied to police about the amount of fuel in the tank,
and put the hard word on injured pilot Sebastian Robinson
to doctor flight hours now. In his evidence, Neil Mellon
said that he was told to take control at the
crash scene with police unable to send a chopper, adding
that he removed a gun and a phone from mister

(01:46):
Wilson's body. He said it was then that he heard
a fleeting comment by pilot Mick Burbage that mister Wilson's
wife Danny didn't need to know what was on the phone,
and months later was told that it was gone in
the ocean. Now, the jury was told that they would
hear covert recordings from mister Wright's home in the trial,

(02:06):
which the prosecution claim provide evidence that mister Wright tried
to have documents relating to the crash Chopper destroyed. In
his opening argument, defense barrister David Edwardson said that mister
Wright emphatically denies the allegations, adding that much of the
prosecution case was based on its interpretation of poor quality recordings.

(02:29):
Now again, I'll say, we're obviously being very careful what
is said here, but it is, I mean, it is
a case that's really captivating the nation, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
Gary.

Speaker 5 (02:39):
It has a lot of national international tension. Obviously, a
case that sort of sits alongsides of Lil Indie Chamberlain
and the Peter Falconia cases in terms of the level
of interest. I mean, yesterday was quite an emotional day
for one of Willow's closest Friendsmic Barons, who gave evidence
yesterday and very very sad story of being there there

(03:05):
alongside Willow, then having to go and tell Willow's mum
and mother and father that he had passed, and so
much tragedy in all of this.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, that's exactly right.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
And I think that sometimes you know, we get caught
up in the sideshow that is you know, that is
the court case. But fundamentally, you know, a family's lost
their son. You know, a woman's lost her husband, and
two little boys have lost their dad.

Speaker 5 (03:33):
Yeah, the the impact on the on the children obviously
not having their father there, and you know it's one
of those cases it's so hard to fathom, you know
what everyone's going through.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
That's exactly right. Well, look, we will move along.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
As I said, there is plenty to discuss this week.
And another situation that certainly I guess raised eyebrows and
got people talking was the team major cruit accused of
stabbing another boy in the neck at the Royal Darwin
Show has been granted bail. The fifteen year old victim
was rushed to hospital after allegedly being attacked with a

(04:10):
kitchen knife by a boy the same age. Now he
was charged with recklessly endangering life and possessing a control
weapon after handing himself into police.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
Prosecutors told a bail.

Speaker 1 (04:22):
Hearing earlier this week that there'd been ongoing tensions between
the boys for some time before a verbal dispute at
the show had escalated. Now, lawyers for the accused told
the court the fifteen year old has had mental health
issues after five years of sustained bullying. The team was
bailed to a youth bail facility with strict conditions. What

(04:45):
do you make of the situation.

Speaker 3 (04:49):
Katie, when it comes to the situation, So the DPP
Aposta build condition and even though we changed the legislation
recently and then we put that the judge has to
be satisfied with their high degree on content parents that
no further risk to the community safety is there and
judge's opinion like this particular individual is meeting that criteria.
So it's a matter in front of the court, and

(05:10):
I can't criticize that process. But at the same time,
what I can say as a member for Sanderson who
are representing people of Sanderson, so many reach out to
me about the disappointment about this decision and their raise
concerns around Like I think, how this process letting individuals
who are doing this kind of like he is crying
and or allerged crying and then going back to the

(05:33):
same cycle. And that's what we want as a government
to make sure like we are putting stronger conditions and
like thus legislation. We are just we change the legislation,
and the legislation that we changed earlier already making significant impact.
And there was some data and sets came out around
like the most forty four percent of people were denying Pale.

(05:53):
But at the same time like we just need to
trust the process that we have in place and if
things are not working and be able to review that
as the government again and then be able to make
them a step moving forward.

Speaker 5 (06:07):
You're right, Jins, And the tools are there for the
judiciary when we've said that before, they have that. You
give the judiciary of the tools, that's all you can do,
and then it's up to the judiciary to implement those
tools and hopefully they implement how the public would like
to see them implemented. But one of the things we're
chasing up, and I haven't had this confound yet, was

(06:29):
that the young gentleman, the boy has an ankle monitoring
device was part of the bail conditions. Now you know,
Wester're trying to get the bottom of this and whether
the permission was given to go out part of the
bail conditions, but to go to a property, but the
property doesn't actually have the ankle device doesn't work there,

(06:50):
they can't monitor it, so so I'm not sure we're
chasing that aspect up about the bail conditions that just
trying to get to the bottom of that.

Speaker 1 (06:58):
I mean, Duran, what do you make of this situation?
Obviously people are expecting the government to bring in and
to you know, to make it tougher for people to
get bail. I guess when you hear some further details
of the situation, and you know, the defense lawyer putting
forward a case that this fifteen year old's actually been
you know, subjected to sustained bullying, I mean, what do.

Speaker 2 (07:19):
You make of it all?

Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (07:23):
Thanks Katie. Yeah, it's obviously quite concerning what's occurred in
terms of the circumstances of this young child's mental health issues.
And also my thoughts go out to the victim in
this and to that young kid who was stabbed at
the Darwin Show. But I think, you know, we do

(07:44):
need to be clear around this. He has been sent
to the Youth Bail Accommodation Senator, as Jensen mentioned earlier,
and you know, this is his first time offense. So
what we're you know, I think anyone would be hoping
for that he gets the right support around him to
ensure that when he is released from that Bale center,

(08:06):
that the community is safe.

Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yeah, and that's that's spot on.

Speaker 1 (08:11):
I mean, fundamentally, that's what we need to make sure of,
is that the community is indeed safe in these situations
and that there is no real opportunity for somebody to
offend further. Now, we also learned, of course, earlier in
the week that the government released these figures which they
claim demonstrate the introduction of Decland's laws having an impact
and holding repeat offenders to account. Now, the Attorney General,

(08:33):
Marie Claire Boothby said the latest figures proved the government
strong reforms are working. Justice outcome. Since Decland's law began
in January, over three three hundred people refuse bail.

Speaker 2 (08:46):
That's up forty.

Speaker 1 (08:47):
Four percent compared to the same period as you touched
on just a moment ago, Jenson. That's the same period
last year. Now, despite the increase, the COLP government reckoned
that they're will also delivering faster justice for victims, with
remand numbers up forty percent, more serious offenders kept off

(09:08):
the street, so the average time on remand is down
to one hundred and thirty six point five days. That's
seven percent faster than last year, and sentenced prisoners now
outnumber remand prisoners. The system, they say is moving efficiently
and that that territory wide crime is trending down. I mean,

(09:28):
there is no doubt we're still seeing crime. We hear
from people every single day about the issues that we're
seeing across the Northern Territory. Jinson, over three three hundred
people refuse bail. That's up forty four percent compared to
the same period last year. What do you think that demonstrates.
What do you think that shows that your government's doing so?

Speaker 3 (09:49):
I think I strongly believe that I think old government
is in the right direction and we are making the changes.
But again, as you mentioned, like we're still seeing like
a lot of issues and that's the feedback that we
had a saving from the community. And one thing that
I've been informed by my constituents in Sanderson that they
are seeing that reduction in the frequency the number of
incidents occurring has reduced, but still they're seeing about like

(10:13):
there are incidents happening, and as a community, they want
to be feel safe and they want to do their
early morning work. They want to go out with the
families and this is what we want to do as
a government. We just want to support the people who
wants to have a safe living here in the territory
and we want to support that. And the legislation that
we have changed over the last eleven months since we

(10:34):
came into government, like last August, is working and the
thing the numbers are showing and at the same time
it touched on the efficiency as well, so we were
able to bring down the number days as well, which
I believe like the Tourney General and the Corrections Minister
are working really hard to make these things work and
progress along into the future.

Speaker 1 (10:53):
I mean, Doran, the Labor Party has been pretty you
guys have been pushing pretty hard saying that the changes
at the Sea are making are not working. What do
you think of the fact that more than three thousand
people have been refused bail and that's up forty four
percent compared to the same period last year.

Speaker 4 (11:11):
Yeah. Look, I've been speaking to many community members when
I've been out and about as local member, but also
as my role with the many shadow portfolios that I hold,
and people definitely don't feel any safer through these laws
and what's interesting there there are a number of people
that are concerned by the CLP's government's legacy reform, but

(11:33):
also not investing in preventative measures and actually tackling the
root causes. I means we were in Parliament last week,
many of the ministers got up and spoke about tackling
the root causes, but actually couldn't actually outline what the
root causes were and how they were there to tackle
the root causes. So I'd be interested to know, from

(11:55):
Jenson's point of view, what are the root causes and
how they're tackling it.

Speaker 3 (11:59):
So it's that old like providing the rehabilitation's options and
then even the diversion that the previous government put in
place and it was not mandatory, like a child or
a parent or a guardian was able to say that.
I think they are not wanting to.

Speaker 4 (12:11):
Do someone gets in touch with the justice system.

Speaker 3 (12:13):
So that's why the Children's and Families and those departments
is currently working with education and we are making sure
like the children are going back to the school and
they're getting that early education and information and the ability
for them to connect with the culture and the community,
and also provide that opportunity and again like the government
is not the only solution, and I think we can

(12:33):
help in this process. And it's about, like a thing,
how we work with their families, and how we work
with the community and their less and also all others
and then support that individual And again, like a thing
eleven months, we are not going to address all the
root courses. It's about like we are ticking along and
then supporting the individuals. And for example, like the domestic
violence so I attended like along with Minister Kayle around

(12:55):
the normal campaign yesterday, so we are supporting those initiatives.
Domestic violence is a huge issue. So when we talk
about the trauma of these individuals, it's like there are
multiple factors of trauma and what they're seeing is a
violence as a child is significant impacting them as well.
So we are working on addressing the root courses, but
again we are not in any position to address that

(13:15):
within a short time frame. We are walking along and
then moving forward and then make sure that we support them.

Speaker 5 (13:20):
So Darren, having heard that, what do you think the
root causes are?

Speaker 4 (13:27):
Well, for myself, it's obviously like housing is one of
the biggest issues that gets raised and you know, I
was proud to be a part of a government that
we got that huge investment from the federal government. I've
seen some massive changes out within the West Daily region
with housing that's been implemented in places like any Point.
I mean, this was a community that didn't have any

(13:48):
upgrades to their housing since the early nineties. We were
able to get a local decision making agreement in place
to look at what we need for the community was
around housing. Those upgrades the houses have now happened. There's
four new houses going out to a new point. We've
invested through the audio agreement. In the local school, they've

(14:09):
added an extra building, a staffing facility for staff to
come and actually stay and live in the community. We've
seen great school attendance in Emu Point. We have local
workers working at the school. So that's something that I
do every day when I'm going out to communities, is
actually sitting down with people that it's affecting and listening

(14:32):
to them and then trying to do what about.

Speaker 1 (14:34):
I mean, what about sitting down with those victims though
as well that it's affecting and hearing what they've got
to say. Because I certainly take on board what you're saying,
I do think that we need to ensure that people
have adequate housing. We know that, you know, some of
the other factors at play here are things like domestic violence, alcohol, misuse.
There's a whole raft of of factors at play. But
it doesn't give anybody the right to go out and

(14:56):
hold somebody else up with a machete, or to break
into their home or sexually assault somebody else.

Speaker 2 (15:02):
In fact, the community has well and.

Speaker 1 (15:04):
Truly had enough of that, as you and I have
spoken about on numerous occasions, Duranan, And you know, I
do think that sometimes, like I said, the pendulum can
swing too far one way and then potentially swing back
the other way too far.

Speaker 2 (15:17):
But what I know is that.

Speaker 1 (15:19):
People have really had an absolute had enough of the
crime that we're experiencing. And they may not be sure
whether the COLP government's changes are going to have the
desired impact, but.

Speaker 2 (15:32):
They're prepared to give it a crack because.

Speaker 1 (15:34):
What's been happening over the last sort of ten years
has had a really detrimental impact in so many ways
across the NT. We have seen crime absolutely skyrocket. Like
I don't know whether these changes around Decklan's law are
going to have the impact that everybody hopes. But I know,

(15:56):
even for myself, I'm prepared to watch and whether it does.

Speaker 5 (16:02):
Is it as simple as building a house? Though it's
what people need obviously, and there's a lot of work
going on in the labor government did do a lot
of work in that space. But this is it as
simple as building in your home to stop the kids
stealing cars, ramming police cars, or being out on the
streets early hours in the morning, breaking to people's homes,
assaulting people walking on foot paths. Is it as simple

(16:22):
as that? I mean, surely there must be more to it.
And you say, you're sitting down talking to people, what
are the people telling you and what are you doing
about what they're telling you? That's what I think You've
got to go somewhere beyond talking. And we've heard a
lot of over the eight years.

Speaker 4 (16:35):
Progress go and like exactly what I talked about with
some of the local decision making agreements, just not housing,
I talked about education. We're looking at part of that
and within that agreement is looking at setting up a
little donger for a health facility because currently people in
the a me point are exposed to the public when

(16:56):
they're doing their health checkups. They are an agreement specifically
outlines that they want to Donna to have privacy when
they get their health check ups. So it all interlinks.
There's employment opportunities setting up a ranger space, but those
eldier agreements, people understand that that takes time to implement
and that's why some of these agreements have been over

(17:19):
five years, over the ten years. And what's disappointing and
what I'm hearing from people out on the ground. And
You've got to remember when I'm speaking to people out
on the ground in communities, there are people there that
are victims of crime too, and they can see the
issues that are occurring in the community and what needs
to be done to be fixed. So it's now up
to this government to continue that work from what the

(17:42):
community is asking for, to ensure that we do see
safety in communities, do see opportunity for people in related
thanks to day.

Speaker 3 (17:49):
So I think I just want to add like that
some of these perpetrators who are perpetrating the crime or
logs souls are victims in the previous life as well,
or when they've got a timeless there is like a
cycle of trauma doing and we acknowledge that are issue
and that's why it is the government we want to
make sure, like anything, we want to break that cycle
and keep moving forward. And also I just need to
add like as a Minister for Youth, I'm engaging with

(18:11):
young people from throughout the territory and we go like
really incredible young people doing really amazing, many good young
and we just want them to be the role model
for this young children and get more people doing the
right thing. That's what we want to focus as a government.
We don't want to focus on one edge. We just
want to focus across the stream and support everyone.

Speaker 2 (18:28):
All Right, we'll take a really quick break.

Speaker 1 (18:30):
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three
sixty eighties The week that was It is the week
that wasn't in the studio with us this morning. We've
got Minister Jensen Charles. We've also got Gary Shipway who
is head of News at the Northern Territory News, and
on the line Duran Young for the Labor Party.

Speaker 2 (18:45):
Now. This week, Northern.

Speaker 1 (18:47):
Territory Police overwhelmingly rejected the Northern Territory government's payoffer, after
sending a strong message that they will not be taken
for granted. One hundred and twenty members took part in
a ballot and eighty one percent voted no to that
conceved agreement. The Northern Territory Police Association president joined us

(19:08):
on the show earlier this week, Nathan Finn, saying that
the three percent wage cap was insulting and the vast
majority of officers will miss out on the retention bonus
as well. Now, mister Finn is calling on the government
to deliver an offer that reflects the reality of frontline policing.

(19:29):
I mean, Jensen, we are talking about our police force here.
We are talking about the people that are in you know,
in reality carrying out a lot of the changes that
the Northern Territory government wants to see enforced. Surely they
deserve a fair payoffer.

Speaker 3 (19:48):
I totally agree, Legating, they're the most hard working public
servants that we can see that every day that they
are out there and thing supporting the community and then
making sure Legathing we all our thief. And when it
comes to the the process of negotiation, it's always goes
through the Office of the Public Commissioner and a Public
Employment Commissioner and also like Minister hersey as the Minister

(20:10):
for Public Service, so she's the one that responsible and
then negotiating through the Office of OCP Commissioner as well,
and she received the briefing the other day like the
police are not happy with the current one. So it's
again like a thing goes back about that process and
we as a government, we will work through the process
and then make sure like a thing, we can reach
to a point that both police and government are agreeable.

(20:33):
And again it always comes about like there is from
my understanding, around like eight different agreements that currently be
negotiated or in the near future. So it's about like
we are looking on aboard like anything, how was a
government we can support everyone and also yes, when it
comes to the police, like the Chief Minister made it
clear in many of her communication and as a police minister,
she wants to make sure like our police are supported

(20:53):
and we want to retain because we don't want to
go through a constant recruitment.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
Well that's the thing.

Speaker 1 (20:58):
We don't want to be losing our Northern TiO Aritary
police to other jurisdictions where they are apparently getting paid
or getting higher payoffers. I mean, Gary, you've come back
from Queensland, are they. They're under a pay dispute at
the moment as well, aren't they.

Speaker 5 (21:09):
Yeah, I was just about to say, it's not uncommon
to see this going on. Look, there's no doubt here
in the Northern Territory and in remote areas of Northern
Queensland and likewise WA police are enduring the worst possible
police and conditions you could expect to encounter. And no one,
I think the general public, no one would be grudge

(21:31):
the police getting more money because of the work they do.
So it's not uncommon, as I say, that we're competing
for to keep our police officers ahead of Queensland and
Western Australia. Not so much Sydney Melbourne, but they're there
jurisdictions that are really out there hunting for police officers.
So the conditions aren't I think the sticking point has

(21:54):
to be the you know, you've got to give something
to get something, and that that living allowance is one
of the key creus is either accommodation or being compensated.
That a little bit of extra money that makes all
the difference in the decision making. Yep So, and the
type of crime is not not that much different.

Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah, I mean, Duran, what do you make of it all?

Speaker 1 (22:15):
Obviously, I know that when label were in there was
certainly other paid disputes that were, you know, that were
being worked through. But I think for most people they
do feel as though the police work bloody hard and
deserve to be to be paid.

Speaker 4 (22:31):
Yeah, that's right, Katie. I couldn't agree more that our
police did work very hard and a lot of time
under a high level of stress. They're generally pretty tired
because of the overtime that they have to work, especially
in our remote communities where you have many shortages of
police out in our communities. But I just want to

(22:52):
pick up on Jensen's point and just clarify it is
the Joe Hersey, Minister for Public Employment that's sponsor for this,
Is that correct?

Speaker 3 (23:02):
The conditioner.

Speaker 4 (23:04):
The reason I asked that is because last week in
Parliament we actually asked a question about this pay dispute
and the payoffer that was going on to the Minister
for Public Employment. She clearly knew nothing about it and
just bobbed it off to the Chief Minister to try
and answer the question. I mean, that's quite concerning.

Speaker 3 (23:25):
That, but I don't think it was just about that
was something to the police when it comes to that,
and she.

Speaker 4 (23:33):
Is responsible that she handled that question to the Chief Minister,
which is even more concerning that you would think that
she would meet Jojos, you would go and meet with
the NTPA along with the Chief Minister around what.

Speaker 1 (23:47):
We were trying to get to the bottom of what what
what was the question or what were you trying to
sort of? What were you trying to ask of Minister Hersey.

Speaker 4 (23:57):
The question was around the payoffer that that's been negotiated
and whether she's been across it and she didn't know
anything about it, which clearly I'm not sure if she's
met with the NTPA along with the Chief Minister to
look at where those negotiations are at, but she quickly
handled it to the Chief Minister.

Speaker 1 (24:16):
Well, look, I know that that Nathan Finn along with
the union certainly seem like they, you know, they want
to get this issue sorted. When we spoke to Finny
earlier in the week, I mean saying that one one
hundred and twenty members had taken part in that ballot,
eighty one percent of them voting no to the consent agreement. However,
you look at it there's no doubt that everybody needs

(24:37):
to get back to the table. They need to get
this sorted because you know, I think we all agree
that the biggest issue that we've had for quite some
time in the Northern Territory is crime. You know, the
people on the front line dealing with that issue every
single day are our hard working men and women in
the Northern Territory Police Force. So we've got to try
and get the issue sorted, and sooner rather than later.

(24:59):
The last thing we want is for them to be
moving to other states.

Speaker 5 (25:02):
Yeah, I think you're absolutely correct. They're cuddy because I mean,
every single one of those police officers is important to
the safety of territories and we do need to get
a resolution and we need to be a point of
difference to stop the leakage to Queensland and w A
and particularly because these states are so desperate to get

(25:25):
officers there. They're out there, they run campaigns all around.
In New Zealand, we do too, of course, but you
know we're competing there for it, that's right, police officers
from there. So it's a very competitive market because of
the nature of the work. It's brutal.

Speaker 2 (25:40):
Yeah, we want to bring them to the Northern Territory.

Speaker 3 (25:43):
No, I totally agree, and again like I just need
to clarify, I haven't got that information yet, but that
question wasn't related to the negotiation, not any of those processes.
So whenever it come ins to operational matters, it always
goes to the Police Minister, which is Chief Minister, and
when it comes to this negotiation always sits with the
public service world.

Speaker 1 (26:01):
We're going to take a really quick break when we
come back. Very keen to talk about some changes to
maternity services at Royal Darwin Hospital and what it means
more broadly across the Northern Territory. Also keen to discuss
the local council elections.

Speaker 2 (26:16):
There's plenty going on.

Speaker 1 (26:17):
Stay tuned, you're listening to Mix one O four nine's
three sixty. Well, if you've just joined us in the
studio this morning, we've got we have got Jins and Charles,
Minister Jins and Charles. We've also got Gary Shipway from
the NT News and we've got Duran Young from Labor
on the line. Now. Lots happening this week, but one
of the issues that really did raise concerns, certainly amongst

(26:40):
Northern Territory Women and Families. Is the fact that we've
seen a letter advising that Midwiffrey Group practice on call
services have been stopped while the reviews carried out to
ensure the departments say that the model is sustainable. Now,
the letter states and anti natal and post natal appointments
are going to be conduct by maternity Group services teams

(27:03):
during business hours and that labor and birth care is
then going to be provided by midwives and doctors in
the delivery suite, which will also handle after ours calls
to midwives. The letter goes on to say that planned
home births will be supported, but at times support could
be unavailable due to staffing limitations. Now we've spoken to

(27:24):
a number of mums. We spoke to two fairly concerned
mothers earlier this week, one of whom raised this issue
for us and let us know exactly.

Speaker 2 (27:33):
What was going on.

Speaker 1 (27:34):
Another of those mums actually lives out in a community
near Daily River and had called in to say Katie,
I'm really worried about the way in which these changes
are going to impact me as she is set to
have her second child. And this follows concerns raised just
two weeks ago where we had a mum call us

(27:54):
from the maternity ward after she had gone up to
up to the hospital in labor, they had sent her home.
She then gave birth at home, her mum catching the
baby and obviously then had to go back to the
hospital after delivering that. Bob, I mean, are we in

(28:15):
a situation here where our maternity services where we just
do not have the resources to be able to, you know,
to do what families expect.

Speaker 3 (28:26):
So when it comes to this, and the letter that
was gone out on late last week over the weekend,
so it was around like a review that thend Health
is currently doing for a period of four weeks and
that's a temporary measure in place, which is directly related
to the current staffing crisis they are going through as well.
So again like this is a temporary measure and what
I want do in forces aboard, like it's not going

(28:48):
to make any changes to that INTI natal and personal
appointments because we are hearing about like changes in the
maternity services a lot over the last few months, including
the closure of the private hospital. So that means like
it's kind of like triggering and sat into people, especially
when you're in a situation and expecting mom and for
the family. So we just wanted to make it clear
that it's only like a one component of that service

(29:11):
has been affected, and that is still going to work
during the business overs and when it going to the
after hours, they still will receive the support, but unfortunately
that's directly from the hospital.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
Look, I get it.

Speaker 1 (29:21):
I get that it's only for a temporary period of time,
So four weeks is what we're being told. But you know,
the fact is here moms are seriously concerned, you know,
they're worried. And the way that I look at it
is I sort of go, well, you know, I have
my first child here in the Northern Territory fourteen years ago,
and it seems like things are going backwards, not getting better.

Speaker 5 (29:43):
Yeah, I think, and that's fair point. As I've said
here before, both my children were born here, one in
the private one in the public hospital, and we had
outstanding service. We were lucky, you know, it was everything
was functioning properly in terms of what the delivery, the
numbers of the staff. So this, yeah, this is a
clear issue out there. And MPa actually why they're recognized

(30:05):
for their work. Last year they were up for an
award in a national awards and quite a quite a
quite a prestigious So yeah, I mean it's a problem
that the government's really got to fix and fix quickly.

Speaker 1 (30:18):
Well, and this is the thing, you know, we talk
about growing the population, we talk about Darwin being you know,
a really livable place, the top end more generally, the
northern territory more generally, But if women feel as though
they are not going to be able to get you know,
to get the service that they expect, or to have
choice as well, because that's the other part of it.

(30:39):
You know, we've got the maternity ward there at the
Darwin Private Hospital is no longer operating. We know that
the two well two of the obstetricians. Now my understanding
is that one at least is not going to be
continuing those maternity services post December, so post the end
of the year. When you look at those choices that
women have, they're diminished. I mean, Duran I touched on

(31:01):
the fact that we actually spoke to Leana or a
mum who's out in a community near daily.

Speaker 2 (31:07):
I think it's Woody.

Speaker 1 (31:08):
I can't remember the full name of that community, but
you know then yeah, I think so, And you know,
seriously concerned in for herself in terms of having that
second bub and not knowing you know, what it's all
going to kind of.

Speaker 2 (31:23):
Look like for her.

Speaker 4 (31:25):
Yeah, well that's right. I think anyone that's a patient
and needing to come to Darwin to give birth should
be concerned. I mean this came through from a review
from the mid Library Group Practice. But what was concerning
was a lot of the nurses only found out through
their patients that this service would no longer be happening

(31:47):
because the government have decided to put a review. And
it looks like to me it looks like there's been
a bit of a cut, maybe a savings cost, I'm
not too sure. But I also pick up on you
know that the mother that went in because she went
into labor and was refused service. And what's concerning is,
and I've brought it up a number of times in

(32:08):
estimates in the Parliament, is around what calling code yellows
and importance of that. And you know, we've heard from many,
many people that it keeps being blocked by the government
to call code yellows. Now, I know they've come out
recently and called a few code yellows, but I mean
that needs to be looked at because when a hospital

(32:29):
is under strain and stress, they're able to look at
the priority of the patients and the resources and be
able to get that high level of care where it's
needed for emergencies or for mothers that may be arriving
at hospital to give birth. And that's I think that's
quite concerning as well. From the government.

Speaker 3 (32:51):
It's OK. I just need to add that when it
comes to the review and then they're trying to sell
a government is trying to implement some reveal, I just
need to say, like, this is an intellnal review done
by then d Health and specifically in the Midway Free Union,
so there is nowhere that the government is going to
interfere to any of those operationional matters. And what we
wanted to do is about, like we want to support
and Minister Jington is working close with the NDAIL.

Speaker 1 (33:13):
I get that, but even now I've just had somebody
contact us saying Katie, you know knowing that you're talking
about these maternity services. These issues aren't about criticizing staff,
it's about resources. Women are meant to be put straight
into into a birth suite, but many are laboring in
waiting rooms or tea rooms for hours while waiting for

(33:33):
a suite to be available, either because they're full or
still being clean. So those birthing suites which can take
two and a half or they're saying can take up
to two hours. There that even these women laboring in
shared bathrooms. And look, you know, I take on board
what you're saying that obviously it's an internal review. My

(33:53):
understanding of it as well is that there are staffing issues.
So I think we're about four staff down, and we
did speak to Cath Hatche yesterday from the Nursing and
Midwifree union as well. But what I know is that
something has to be done Differently. Women are not going
to put up with They're not going to you know,
they're not going to sort of you know, be happy

(34:15):
about the situation that is currently unfolding. And like I've
just read out, it's not a criticism of the staff.
The staff do an incredible job. In fact, I really
feel for the staff at this point, particularly when they're
just finding out about some of these changes through a
letter that then their patients are raising with them.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
But we've got to make.

Speaker 1 (34:33):
Sure that we you know, that we have services available
for everybody if and when they go in to have
a bub.

Speaker 5 (34:41):
Yeah, I think it means, I say, it's one of
these problems that government needs to get on top of them,
needs to get on top of quickly. It's not only about
also that the women here right now it's a major
concern for them. But then it's as a community, it's
about libability. And you know, we've just had a reasonably
good dry season, but a lot of tourist comes down,
a lot of people come town for the first time,

(35:01):
and I've heard people saying, she said, I'd love to
go live in Darwin, but then you talk about liverability
and what you've got here, and then makes people think
twice about whether Darwin's the right choice. And that also
goes down to defense forces as well, who we have
a major stake here in the lordn territory. So these
sorts of things really it should be.

Speaker 1 (35:19):
Prior and just I just had a message saying another
change is that women can no longer call their midwife
during business hours, only the ward after hours. But the
wards already at capacity and sometimes you're they're unable to
answer the phone and stretched caring for women already admitted
how will they have the time to give proper support

(35:39):
over the phone. You know, these are the kind of
concerns now that are being raised by mums now. I
do just want to let you know, Duran, it was
the community, not Woolliana. It was Woody Couple Deer I think, yeah,
so it was that community that they called him from.
And again same sort of concern there where she was saying,

(35:59):
you know, not able to know to call through and
actually be able to speak to somebody, and the worries
then about making sure that she's able to get in.
But look, we are going to take a quick break.
We will continue that discussion around maternity services after ten o'clock.
I'm going to be catching up with the Department of Health.

Speaker 2 (36:14):
Let's take a quick break though.

Speaker 1 (36:15):
When we come back, still keen to discuss well, the
local government election, zad aha, it's certainly in full swing. Well,
if you've just joined us, you've missed out on a
busy hour in the studio with us this morning. We've
got Minister Jensen Charles, head of News at the Northern
Territory News, as well Gary Shipway and Deputy Labor Opposition

(36:36):
leader Duran Young on the line with us too. Now,
I tell you what, we've got a bit of a
better understanding now of who's running in the local government elections.
Thirteen people putting their hand up for Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield.
We've got six, Catherine we have seven, and Alice Springs
there's also seven. And then of course we've got the

(36:56):
more regional and remote local councils also. But I tell
you what, thirteen running for the mayor of Darwin. It's intense,
isn't it, Gary of thousands.

Speaker 5 (37:07):
I've never seen so many election posters up. I mean,
it's we always used to seeing territory elections and federal elections. Wow,
it's a colorful sight out.

Speaker 2 (37:17):
There, it is.

Speaker 1 (37:19):
But you know what, it's become quite a sort of
nasty race to become, you know, a counselor as well.

Speaker 2 (37:27):
Across the Northern Territory.

Speaker 1 (37:28):
I've seen some really nasty posts online on social media.
I've seen plenty of posters being defaced. You know, It's
like I just always think I understand you know that
their politics whatever level you're looking at, you know, you
get like there's robust debate. You can become, you know,
even here on a Friday sometimes we get a bit,

(37:50):
you know, you get a bit heated, but at the
end of the day, you know, hate the game, not
the player. And I just think that, you know, trying
to tear other people down in order to to lift
yourself up is not the way to win any kind
of election.

Speaker 5 (38:04):
Yes, there has been some particularly ugly goings on in
some more than just people stealing posters and knocking them
over and all that sort of stuff. So yeah, it
has been disturbing in that regard because I mean, we're
so used to territory elections being ferocious. But you know, well,
you know what you're seeing now is it's a whole

(38:24):
It's a different scale. I'm not used to seeing this
for a local council election.

Speaker 3 (38:28):
It's good to see like more number of people are
coming out and putting their hands up, so like the
individuals who waters will have like more choice. And but
when it comes to this antisocial behaviors and when I
ran for the elections, will we had this issue. But
I don't believe it's between the party or the candidates
or anything that are like a lot of antisocial individuals
out there. They just want to trigger things as well.

(38:49):
And you have like been informable, like someone doing this
and that person had like no relationship with any party and.

Speaker 2 (38:57):
Things.

Speaker 5 (38:57):
We've got a lot to choose from a lot of people,
and it's quite interesting polling days. You know, the number,
how many people are going to be there representing all
these people.

Speaker 1 (39:04):
It's going to be you know, it's going to be
very interesting. It always is, isn't it come election time?

Speaker 4 (39:09):
Dryan, Yeah, it sure is. And you know, it's a
great opportunity. I absolutely love local government elections. I think
it's it goes back to the people and people get
to see community members put their hand up to be
able to make some really good decisions for the community,
from from green park spaces to activities for young people,

(39:34):
from waste collection, those type of initiatives. So it's really exciting.
And one thing I do really like about it that
the politics of political parties isn't in place with local government.

Speaker 2 (39:48):
It shouldn't be.

Speaker 4 (39:50):
And what is is you know that we spoke about
it before, Katie, that there has there is this review
out that the government have put out around local government
people not being able to select their own mayor for
their council ward. So what would happen for their council.

(40:11):
And I think that's concerning because you'll see a number
of fringe political groups come out, political parties to be
invested in that. Because councilors elected, councilors will then choose
the mayor. I think it should pay out of that.
I agree the examples of I mean Steve Edgington was
a mayor down in Tenant Creek who's now a CLP minister,

(40:32):
but I remember him at the time being a mayor.
He was able to work with us when labor government.
I mean I sat in meetings with him there the
politics were put aside. We're seeing con the current mayor
when he's a former labor minister. He's been able to
work with a CIVILP government labor government. That's what it
should be.

Speaker 1 (40:51):
I agree, and I kind of think to myself, it
actually doesn't bother me if somebody is part of a
political party, or has been a former minister, or is
a member of the of a political party, so long
as they're upfront about it. The thing that I don't
like is when people are a little bit covert and
they're saying that you know that they're running as a
full blown independent, but then you later find out that

(41:13):
they're a member of the Greens or they're a member
of whatever, you know, the Coorp or whatever party it
might be. Like, I think, be open and up front
and be honest with the electorate about what you're you
know what you're standing for, because it'll eventually come out.

Speaker 2 (41:27):
But anyway we will just get ready to wrap up.
I can't.

Speaker 1 (41:30):
I cannot finish the show though without talking about how
much awesome stuff is on this weekend. We know the
Darwin Festival kicking off and of course International cricket, the
men's Tea twenty series between Australia and South Africa.

Speaker 2 (41:44):
It's officially sold out.

Speaker 5 (41:45):
It's going to be massive, big weekend and the full
credit to the government. What a fantastic event to be
having here in darw And I just want to fair.
Back in two thousand and three, I went to the
first game against the Bangladesh YEP and as I went
to the bar to get some drinks from my mates
and in the timas at the bar five wickets.

Speaker 1 (42:04):
Well, I was not happy, serve faster.

Speaker 5 (42:11):
I'm not going to get a drink.

Speaker 3 (42:13):
Nothing for the government, it's a huge thing that we
are able to bring the international cricket back to the
territory after seventeen or eighteen years, and this is going
to be the first international cricket for the Australia for
this season, so which is great. And then we already
as you mentioned, like sold out for Sunday, yeah, and
for Tuesday. There are a few more tickets available. So
if anyone wants to see the cricket team playing right

(42:34):
in front of you, I would encourage them to go
and get the tickets. And also when it comes to
the other sports, like I think we'll say basketball team,
the Sorties are playing their last three games this weekend
and they're on the top of ladder this year and
like two time champions from the last time as well.

Speaker 5 (42:49):
Yeah this weekend, Yeah, a lot of yep, awesome big weekends.

Speaker 1 (42:54):
It is.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
It is a massive weekend. Well we're can. I have
to leave it there. Jins and Charles, Minister for the
seal P.

Speaker 1 (43:01):
Great to speak with you this morning, and you are
indeed the Minister for Youth, People, Sport and Culture. Thanks
so much for your time and Antie news ahead of news,
Gary ship Way, great to have you on the show
as well, mate, pleasure.

Speaker 5 (43:12):
We missed one thing the will Sola while driving in town.
They'll be down at the Hidden Valley this weekend.

Speaker 2 (43:17):
This weekend awesome, got a couple of good weeks of
that help.

Speaker 1 (43:20):
Yeah, absolutely, And Daran Young, the deputy Opposition leader.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
Great to have you on the show as well.

Speaker 4 (43:26):
Yeah, thanks Katie. And I do just want to give
one quick shout out, yeah, just to Barna from Berry
Springs Home Hardware. She's retiring today and she's dedicated twenty
eight years of service at the hardware center. So I
just want to thank Avanna for all her hard work
and just seeing the face of the Barry Springs Home Hardware.

(43:47):
I absolutely love popping in there and seeing her. She's
always happy to help. Yeah, and she frightens up your day.
So thanks for hard work, Lanna. I look forward to
seeing you soon that you're farewell.

Speaker 2 (43:57):
What a legend I bet you.

Speaker 1 (43:58):
She's helped lots of people over the years with their
you know, when they're trying to do a bit of
stuff around the house or whatever, giving them giving them
a hand. So that is great to hear. Duran, thanks
so much for your time this morning, and.

Speaker 2 (44:10):
That is it for us today. For the week that
was