The Week That Was - 9th May 2025

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is time for the week that was, and joining
me in the studio this morning. We've got the Attorney
General of the Northern Territory, Mary Claire Boothby, Good morning
to you.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning Katy, and listeners.

Speaker 3 (00:09):
We've got the.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Head of news for the Northern Territory News, Gary Shipway,
Good morning to you, Gary. Good morning, and on the
line live in Catherine, we have got the Opposition leader,
Selena Ubo. Good morning to you, Selena.

Speaker 4 (00:23):
Good morning Katy. In a very good morning tea listeners.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Now, before we get started this morning, I do just
want to make everybody aware we know the Stuart Highway
is still closed. Detectives from the Major Crash Unit are
currently investigating a fatal pedestrian strike in Virginia. It happened
about four o'clock this morning, police receiving a report that
a forty three year old woman had been struck by
a car on the Stuart Highway about five hundred meters

(00:47):
north of Virginia Road. The vehicle stopped at the scene
and the woman was declared deceased upon emergency services arrival. Now,
both of those inbound laned lanes of the Stuart Highway
have been closed diversions are currently in place, with traffic
re entering the highway at Morgan Road. It is expected
that those diversions are going to remain in place until midday.

(01:11):
So please if you are out and about on the road,
take care. If you're able to hold off heading into
work or take that alternate route, make sure you are
doing so.

Speaker 3 (01:20):
Now.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
It has been a busy week when it comes to news.
You know it's going to be a busy week when
there's a federal election held. And I tell you what,
well the federal election itself, that election result Labor absolutely
smashing the coalition to win in a landslide victory. They
took seats from the Liberals and the Greens to win
with a majority. Marion Scrimjaw winning on a large majority

(01:44):
for the seat of Lingiari as well for Labor now
Luke Gosling he had a really close race with the
CLP's Lisa Bayless. It's it is looking as though he's
going to retain that seat. But some updated numbers from
overnight there was apparently a bit of a discrepancy or
a bit of a change to the count so as
it currently sits now on the two candidate preferred count

(02:07):
for Solomon. Lisa Bayless is currently on twenty seven, one
hundred and fourteen votes, Luke Gosling on twenty eight thousand,
one hundred and ninety nine. Now, my understanding is that
there is now still quite a large number of postal votes,
absentee votes, and I believe they're called declaration votes that

(02:27):
are still to come in. So it is still looking
I mean, obviously Luke Gosling is in the lead and
is looking like he's going to retain that seat, but
this has now changed a little bit in the last
twenty four hours and further counting needs to happen.

Speaker 5 (02:42):
It's a very marginal seat now. I think the difference
is one percent, so it is very tight, very close,
and I still think Luke will retain that seat. But
at the end of the day, it's now either way.
It's just a marginal seat. And Lisa Baylis did very
well in that election. Yeah, we'll see how it plays
out in the next few days.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, it's going to be an interesting one.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
I think Lisa Baylor's did do very well, and in fact,
all of the COLP candidates did, and they were out
in the ground working really hard and listening to Territorians
about what's important to them. And so you know, whilst
Labor nationally did win that election, in the territory, we've
bucked that trend. You know, we've we've seen a seat

(03:24):
that's been held by Labor for three terms, you know,
nearly be one. I mean, and there's no second prizes
of course in politics, but I mean it just goes
to show that, you know, the Territorians do want good
representation and they were prepared to put their support behind Lisa,
and you know, I know that she is very disappointed about,
you know, how it turned out in the end. But

(03:45):
you know, as you said, Katie, the counting is still
continuing and I know everybody watches that quite closely to
see how will end up at the end of the day.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah. Well, certainly for Solomon, I mean it was a
very different story though for Marian scrimjaw in Lingiari she
increased her margin. Selena, what do you make of it all?

Speaker 4 (04:03):
Yeah, Katie, I think probably not much more exciting than
a federal election, other than an anti election of course
for us locally, but it was really heartening to see
some of those strong numbers come through for Labor across
the country, but particularly for Lingiari. We know that Marian's
been out and about for those last couple of years.
Obviously she's been a member of the Anti Parliament previously,

(04:25):
so cementing her win in this federal election I think
is really important because some of the reform that the
Federal Labor government has been leading, particularly around regional and
remote and ensuring that there is that strong voice when
people are wanting change and improvement and to see economic
development out on country. I think that was really captured

(04:45):
by the numbers that Marion saw, so really really excited
to have Marian represent us here in Lingiari again. And
of course, as you've mentioned, Solomon a little bit tighter.
But we did see some really interesting data around some
of the swings against the COLP in some of the
seats in Darwin, and we obviously still and Palmerston my

(05:07):
day at Katie, So I was.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
Really fascinated when you guys put that statement out earlier
in the week.

Speaker 3 (05:13):
I've got to be honest, I had a bit of
a laugh.

Speaker 1 (05:15):
Because I thought, well, people will find, you know, what
they want to find out of any data the CP.
The COLP included everybody is the same. But I was
quite fascinated when I saw that and thought, hang on
a second. It's been a swing against Labor in Solomon,
but Labor locally is seeing it as a plus.

Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, it's around the primary votes that we've looked at initially.
Obviously we'll get some more information, Katie as the count continues,
as you very much have made listeners aware. But you know,
we take Murray Claire's.

Speaker 1 (05:47):
We seem to have lost Selena there for a moment.
Hopefully we're able to get her back. Are you there
with us opposition? Let yep, I've got you again.

Speaker 4 (05:54):
Oh great, thank you. So this is a really interesting one.
So I'm glad that you didn't lose me on this.
But when we go to Marie Clair's seat of Brennan
and Palmerston, Katie, there's been a change in the primary
there of thirty six percent. So I mean that's a
huge number when we're talking. If we then apply that
to something that can make or break a territory election,
I guess the most important thing, Katie is I always

(06:16):
tell people at the booths and when we're talking in
the lead up to a territory or a federal or
even a local government election, every vote counts, So the
preference system is really important. Obviously, that's the system we
have here in Australia. Every vote does count again, so
even if your number one person doesn't get up, then
your vote will still count in that preference. So that's

(06:39):
why it's so important that people take their time, they
don't rush their vote. They take absolute candidates and then
they make that decision based on and look.

Speaker 1 (06:48):
I get what you're saying there. In different in different areas,
obviously you see a different level of voting or you
see people turn out and vote for a particular party.

Speaker 3 (06:55):
But I mean, if you.

Speaker 1 (06:56):
Go on the first preferences again like the seal, PE's
in front then and by two thousand votes. So I'm
just sort of struggling to see how Labor locally sees
that as a win.

Speaker 4 (07:08):
Yeah, well, Katie, just look at the territory election examples
as well. There's people in territory Parliament who they're not
be in their seats if they didn't have the preferences.

Speaker 3 (07:17):
Very true, very true.

Speaker 1 (07:19):
We saw that it was it was interesting at the
Northern Territory election. Look, I do want to continue on
with this discussion but I want to take us in
a bit of a different direction because just in the
last twenty four hours we've seen some really interesting developments.
We might talk first about the fact that Jacinta nam
Perjimper Price has indeed deflected to the Liberal Party. Now

(07:40):
the Australian newspaper is reporting it that a bloody civil
war threatens to engulf the federal Liberal Party beyond next
Tuesday's vote to replace Peter Dutton after Angus Taylor well
orchestrated the high profile defection of Jimper Price from the
Nationals to bolster his numbers. So the way that it's

(08:00):
looking is obviously so Angus Taylor is going to put
himself forward as the next Liberal leader. Just enter Price
now deflecting from the Nats across to the Libs to
put herself up as the deputy. I mean, is this
a good move or is this a move that's been
fueled by ambition rather than what is right for the country.

Speaker 5 (08:21):
Look, as an outsider who's not went to any political party,
I think that look, this is you'll get lots of
blood letting going on. Anyone that gets smashed that badly
in a federal election. You know, there is internal blood
letting going on, and I think for Center it's really opportunity.
Out of adversity comes opportunity. She's not going to get
much a role leadership role within the NATS with the

(08:45):
current talent they have. There's so much, so many problems.
Now with the coalition, there's an opportunity she has leadership aspiration,
So I think that's where's where she's gone that way.

Speaker 1 (08:56):
It's not a push against the CLP in any way,
Marie Claire.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
So I think this is a really important decision for
just Enter and she did put out a statement yesterday
about why she has chosen to do this, and she
really is a fighter. She's always fought for the territory,
for the locals and now she's doing that in Canberra
and has done that for a whole term. So of
course she will be looking to do what she can
to support territorians and brought Australia as well to ensure

(09:23):
that you know, there's a voice out there for us
here in the territory. And I think from a territorian's
perspective looking at it, not a lot will change in
their minds because just Into will still sit with the
country liberal party. You know that doesn't change. But when
we like the National we don't have a national footprint,
so we are aligned with the Liberals and the Nationals,
and so by her making that decision a very important

(09:46):
one which we fully support, it'll mean that they will
do their rebuild after the election, but she will still
be a Country Doable Party senator, which is also very
important for the Northern territory.

Speaker 1 (09:56):
First time is it that a Country Liberal Party senator
or a Liberal Party federal member has sat with the Liberals.

Speaker 5 (10:04):
No, it's not.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
Yeah, I believe did Natasha Greek?

Speaker 5 (10:06):
Yeah? And Bernie col Gareth did it back that day
he switched the Nationals to the Libs. It's not it
looks ideal world in a political system is that you
would have one sitting with the Nats, one sitting with
the Libs and traditionally spending with the Nats. Now just
seem to decide to jump to the.

Speaker 1 (10:23):
Lib So, Selena, what do you think of the old switchero.
Do you think that it's a good move for the
Northern territory?

Speaker 4 (10:29):
Well, Katie, I think just Enterprise should have been upfront
with territorians if that was her intention, I know Obviously
there's been changes now with the federal election results. But
this is exactly why Territorians don't like politicians when they're
up for their own personal interests. And that's really all
I can see in this move. It is a personal interest.
And I mean, Marie Claire talked about just into being

(10:51):
a real fighter, but she wasn't out in the bush.
She wasn't at a single bush polling booth in the
federal elections. So how is she fighting for the territory
if she's only being seen in certain places. I just
think this is all about personal ambition. This is not
about representing Territorians to the best ability. This is all
for her own purposes.

Speaker 1 (11:10):
And look, it's an interesting I think this in itself
is an interesting thing that we're going to see play out.
Like obviously we're going to have to see who winds
up being the federal Liberal leader. But then on the
other hand, we've had labor when on such a huge
majority that now it does look as though I don't
know whether deals are the right word, but certainly different

(11:31):
you know, different movings are happening. We know that Mark
Dreyfuss and Ed Husick obviously have you know, have lost
their roles as senior ministers. They've been dumped to the
backbench after one of the most heated factional brawls it's
being reported as.

Speaker 3 (11:49):
So it does go to show you.

Speaker 1 (11:51):
I suppose when you have an election it is time
for a reset.

Speaker 3 (11:55):
I mean, I don't know, Selena, what do you.

Speaker 1 (11:57):
Make of what's happened now within the labor Do you
think that these are good moves?

Speaker 4 (12:03):
Oh, Katie, Again, their Prime minister has to think about
who the best team is to represent his cabinet. Same
with what we see at the territory level. The Chief
Minister's got to make those decisions about the opportunity to
represent the government to the best of the ability and
down south, I think, you know, there's so much more
of the factional influence compared to a smaller jurisdiction like

(12:26):
the Northern territory. And I think again that's probably why
we've seen the move from dissenter Price with the small
jurisdiction and then her pick and choose to change over.
So it'd be interesting. I'd love to hear what the
Chief Minister's thoughts her about that.

Speaker 5 (12:40):
You know, it is the perfect time to have a
refresh when you win with such a huge mandate, it's
the perfect time to refresh bring us because there's no
point doing halfway through a term. It just creates a
process going forward. But at the end of the day,
can I just say that the outcome where we've got
a government that has an absolute mandate to operate, it's

(13:00):
a fantastic result for the territory. It would have been
disastrous if the Tills and the Greens had the balance
of power. They would have stalled the territory economy. We
kissed our gas industry goodbye. We've kissed thousands of jobs goodbye.
It would have been really a detrimental to the territory.
So it's a good outcome.

Speaker 3 (13:18):
I agree with you.

Speaker 1 (13:19):
I think that whoever wins government, if it is on
a majority, at least there is that mandate to get
things done and to really make sure that whether you know,
whether it's here in the Northern Territory or wherever it
is in Australia, but your spot on you know, gas
is something that has definitely you know, we needed to
make sure that we had.

Speaker 3 (13:35):
A clear outcome.

Speaker 1 (13:36):
Wasn't it an interesting result when you look at the
Greens and the Teals. I mean, there's been the Greens
are sort of trying to say, oh no, there's still
a swing towards us in the primary vodes. But you go, well,
you've lost your seats. You're looking at potentially having won
in the House of Reps. That's a disastrous result.

Speaker 5 (13:52):
For I've never heard a more limp wristed excuse for
losing seats to say alcohol was to get rid of
Peter Dutton. That I cannot believe that that's a line
taken from an influencer. Suddenly you know, we're going to
go out there and sacrifice our seats to get rid
of Peter.

Speaker 2 (14:09):
That's just nonsense.

Speaker 5 (14:10):
That's just a nonsense, aren't Yeah, could not believe when
I heard that.

Speaker 3 (14:13):
Yeah, I thought it was pretty ridiculous.

Speaker 1 (14:14):
But even and even you know, some of the Teals
now are still like it's a very close race for
a couple of them on need to go and double
check whether they've been determined.

Speaker 3 (14:22):
But the likes of Menie Grime.

Speaker 1 (14:24):
But what I thought was really interesting even here in
the Northern Territory is yes, obviously the Teals got I
think it was about seven thousand votes. The Green's got
about five thousand, but you did see Territorians really out
in force voting for the two major parties, whether it
was the Sebelis or Luke Gousling. They had a clear
idea of what they wanted to vote for, I think,

(14:44):
and what policies and you know what they felt those
two candidates stood for.

Speaker 2 (14:50):
And I think Candy just going back to the refresh
of the new cabinet that the Prime Minister will announce,
you know, that's a very normal process that they go
through after elections. But from a territory's perspective, you know,
our government will work with whichever ministers are there. And
I know in my portfolio at the Intern General was
Mark Drapers, so I've worked with since coming to government
last year, and so that will sounds like that's going

(15:10):
to change, and so you know, once that's a person
is appointed, then I'll reach out and make sure that
we can have a working relationship and the same with
all of the ministers across the different departments, because you know,
we want to make sure that the territory is rebuilt
and into the way that we all know and love.

Speaker 1 (15:25):
Selena or anybody you want to make their way into
the ministry anybody you're hoping for.

Speaker 4 (15:30):
Ah, there's some very good people in the Federal Labour team, Katie,
So I just want to make sure that whoever ends
up in those ministry roles will be able to support
all of the work that's happening in the Northern Territory.
And I echo the calls from mariy klab you know
the government's able to hear in the nt to be
able to have those strong relationships and good partnerships with

(15:52):
the federal government, particularly when we talk about our federal
NTEAM members. I think then the territory will be all
the more better for it.

Speaker 3 (15:58):
Absolutely a bit of a break.

Speaker 1 (16:00):
There is so much happening, so much for us to
cover off on this morning. But when we come back,
keen to cover off on a topic. They've got a
lot of women in the Northern Territory talking this week,
and that is the closure of the private maternity ward
at the Darwin Private Hospital. Well, if you have just
joined us on the line live from Catherine, we've got
the Opposition leader Selena Rubo. We are joined in the

(16:23):
studio of course by the Attorney General Murray Claire Boothby,
and we've also got Gary Shipway, who is indeed the
head of news at the Northern Territory News. Now I
tell you what the text line, the phone lines, everything
went off yesterday in this studio when we were joined
by the Health Minister, Steve Edgington to talk about the
Darwin Private Hospital's maternity services obviously coming to a close

(16:48):
on June sixth. Now, it's not the first time that
we've spoken about it. I know it's not the first
time that all of the media really have reported on this.
In fact, it's been ongoing for quite some time. But
as that June sixth eight edges closer and closer, women
of the Northern Territory are understandably quite concerned. I spoke

(17:08):
to one of the mums yesterday who is due around
the time that that closure is due to kick in,
and she said she feels like a guinea pig. You know,
she's not sure exactly what that care is going to.

Speaker 3 (17:20):
Look like for her.

Speaker 1 (17:22):
The Health Minister Steve Edgington obviously trying his best to
quell those concerns. But I've got to tell you most
women did not feel very confident after that discussion yesterday.

Speaker 5 (17:33):
This is a serious problem for women. I think you know,
both my children were born here in the territory. One
was born in the private hospital, one that was in
the public sector because the private hospital was full the
time at that birth. Both got great service. But I
understand and if you're paying for private health cover, you
want to be able to take advantage of that. And

(17:54):
this problem has been experienced in remote and rural areas
in Queensland, yep. It was clearly being in Tasmonium. Money
was put into help out down there and it really
would be good to see the federal government step up
and give us the same funding they gave to Telania.

Speaker 1 (18:08):
And I know that Steve had said yesterday on the show.
You know that he's approached the federal government, but the
message was loud and clear from Northern Territory women. Why
didn't he approach the federal government sooner? He's known about
this since the end of last year.

Speaker 2 (18:20):
Marrickle, Yeah, Katie, the Northern Territory government absolutely pushed for
Health Scope not to close the maternity services at the
private hospital because I actually stand with those women. This
is absolutely disappointing that they are going through their journey
of having a baby, maybe for the first time in
a lot of cases, and they've got a plan and

(18:42):
they know what they want. They've paid for health insurance
and now health Scope have come out and said they're
not going to do that. So I know that the
government was trying really hard to push health Scope to
keep that open because we need to have these services
here in the territory. The private hospital is the only
private service that we've got. They've pulled out now and
they have said very clear after the fight that they

(19:04):
are going to move out of the sixth the sixth
of June, and so now the Territory government does have
to go in and say, okay, well we need to
try and work out what we can do for these women.
So my understanding from the Minister for Health is that
those conversations had been happening for a very long time
between the territory government and the health insurance companies because

(19:26):
they're the ones.

Speaker 1 (19:26):
Really doesn't seem like it's being communicated very well with
women at all. You know what is happening, and that
doesn't seem to be getting communicated at all. Now I
get that that's obviously health Scope, it's it is their responsibility,
and I understand that they're private patients, and you know
that that is this is unfortunately not as a result

(19:48):
of you know, any fault of the Northern Territory government.

Speaker 3 (19:51):
However, you guys have.

Speaker 1 (19:53):
Got to pick up the piece right, clean up the
mess and need to be communicating with those women exactly
two for them and whether it's going to how that
care is going to look. I mean, Selena, should the
government have stepped in here a little bit more quickly
to seek that federal funding?

Speaker 4 (20:10):
Yeah, Katie, it is stressful being pregnant at the best
of times, let alone not having the pathway and the
care that you have chosen for your journey in pregnancy.
And we have amazing maternity stuff right across the Northern Territory.
I've been very fortunate to receive that amazing care here
at the Catherine Hospital, and I know how stressful it

(20:33):
would be right now for those expectant mothers because if
this change, this very critical change in healthcare options in
the Northern Territory, particularly we talk about Dahlin, the capital
city of the Northern Territory, not being able to offer
this to mothers, to their families, to their support networks
is hugely stressful and what it will also cause now

(20:53):
Katie is further pressures on our public health system in
being able to try and support women through this journey.
And I think this is it's a hugely alarming issue.
I've been following it very closely, particularly since the announcements
that we heard earlier in the year and last year.
And Steve Edgington does need to pick up the phone
to Mark Butler as the federal health mister. He needs

(21:15):
to talk to Luke Gosling as the federal member for Solomon.
We need to make sure that there is that close
network that we just talked about, the partnerships and the
relationships with the federal government to make sure we put
the pressure on them to support the Northern territory, and
that is Steve Edgingson's job as the Health minis.

Speaker 1 (21:32):
Look, I think in this situation you're spot on. I mean,
he said to me yesterday on the show. Thirty five
million dollars is what they'd approached the federal government for
in terms of upgrades that to the Darwin Royal Darwin
Hospital Maternity would and then there was also a smaller
figure that had been asked for as well. I mean
it had been pointed out to me yesterday and I

(21:54):
don't know whether this is an option, but somebody had said, well, Katie,
what about the Palmerston Hospital, like you, is the capacity
there for some women to be able to go there
for their care?

Speaker 3 (22:04):
I don't know.

Speaker 1 (22:05):
I really do not know what the potential options are,
but like has been pointed out, women are seriously worried.
We are in a capital city of Australia. You're talking
about you know, all everyday families, but defense families as well.
Now literally on social media, on these different forums saying
to each other they don't want to move to the

(22:25):
Northern Territory or they want to move into state because
they're worried about birthing here.

Speaker 3 (22:30):
And again I want to point out that.

Speaker 1 (22:32):
The nurses and midwives at Royal Dalhen Hospital are phenomenal.

Speaker 3 (22:36):
I had both of my children there. They are phenomenal.

Speaker 1 (22:39):
But this is about choice and choice that women have
paid for.

Speaker 2 (22:44):
That's right, Katie. I think that you've made a few
points there, but one of them was about the people
not wanting to come and live in the territory and
this is an absolute huge issue, which is why we
are so focused on rebuilding the territory and the fact
that Healthscope have abandoned the Northern Territory is part of
that problem that we have here where we're trying to
keep services that are private here in the Northern Territory

(23:06):
and they're walking away from us, and so of course
that's a huge uphill battle and we're not going to
shy away from that. We're at absolutely going to do that.
And you know, we did try and get health Scope
to stay here because we think it's absolutely critical. And
now what we're left with is these mothers who are expectant,
not sure what to do, and so we have to
pick up those pieces now and we have to put
together something that is not going to be a private service.

(23:28):
Let's be really honest about that, because it's not like
we won't have access to the private hospital to do that.
So we need to find a way that's some sort
of happy medium that allows for those women to feel
very cared for and safe. And you know, of course
those professionals who work in that space are amazing and
they will do everything they can to support the women
as well. But you know, we have to find the

(23:49):
way that's going to work. And I know the Minister
has put forward the plans that are underway, and I
think the point about the women not knowing that this
was happening, I mean they they were private patients, which
the Northern Territory GAB didn't have access to those people.

Speaker 1 (24:04):
The problem now, though, is that what they're saying is
that they still don't really know what is next for them.
And even yesterday on the show, you know, Steve couldn't
say which hotel it was going to be. It sounded
like there's still quite a bit of work to get through.
If you're six weeks away from having a baby.

Speaker 2 (24:18):
It's very terrify. It really is, Yes, it is, and
it's a terrible, not ideal situation to be in. And
I know that everyone that works in the health area,
especially around the attorney services, will be working day and
night to get this solved for these women. And then
of course it's into the future as well. We want
to be able to have services here in the territory

(24:39):
that can be for everybody. And the money that has
been requested from the THREADS that's not just for the
that wasn't just for private patients, that's also for public
patients because it's needed to be upgraded for a very
long time.

Speaker 1 (24:50):
Look we are going to take a really quick break.
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.
It is the week that was in the studio with us.
Today we have got Murray Claire Boothby. We've also got
Gary Shipway from the NT News and in Catherine we've
got Selena Rubo. Now we know that a woman returning
from a funeral suffered a serious eye injury after a

(25:12):
brick was thrown at the car she was traveling in.
Emergency services received reports that the brick had been thrown
through a back window of a car traveling on Baggett
Road near the community entrance.

Speaker 3 (25:24):
This was just a little earlier.

Speaker 1 (25:26):
In the week, not last night, the night before. Four
people were in that car, with the injured woman treated
by paramedics before being taken to Royal Darwin Hospital. The
occupants were family of Linford Fike who were leaving his
funeral and wake. Detectives from Serious Crime have indeed confirmed
that they've identified and located three children in relation to

(25:47):
that rock throwing incident in lud Miller. They were aged eight,
nine and eleven. I mean, this is a terrible situation
that woman receiving a serious eye injury after what is
just absolute like senseless, a senseless, senseless crime and unbelievable

(26:11):
really that you're then traveling home from a funeral after
what's been such a huge tragedy in your life to
then have something like that happen is it's quite unbelievable.

Speaker 5 (26:24):
Yeah, look, Kattie that it is absolutely terrible what's taken place.
And the problem is that this is something that happens
all too often, not just in that patch. You move
along further down the road and now I've got a
son that lives in Nightcliffe and he's had the work
out a different way to get home because his carsman
had rocks thrown and people you know, trying to bang

(26:47):
on the windows and try to get into See that's
happening to other people who live in that patch. It
is the problem that needs to be fixed, and that's
a government issue they need to really.

Speaker 3 (26:59):
Need to sort out.

Speaker 2 (27:00):
And we're saying this way too often. I mean, I
think it's absolutely awful what happened after the funeral earlier
this week. As I know, the Chief Minister and other
members of our team were there at the time, and
you know, we know that we have huge problems in
the law and not of space two fixed, which is
exactly why we make no apologies for all the very
strong laws that we have passed already in the first

(27:22):
eight months and continue to do. I mean even just
last week sitting in Parliament passing those you know, toughest
Baale laws in the Northern in Australia, I should say,
and we'll keep doing that work because we don't want
Territorians to have to change what they do in their
life just to feel safe. That's ordinary that that's exactly
and we've been doing that for so long and now

(27:43):
I do it myself. It's it's and it shouldn't be
that way because it's not normal.

Speaker 1 (27:46):
I mean the point Gary just made that his son's
having to choose a different way to get hot, like
that's not even unusual for people.

Speaker 2 (27:53):
At the moment.

Speaker 1 (27:54):
You know, we're all changing where we shop because you
you know, you rock up to the shopping center and
you know someone's having things thrown at them or these
you know, the security guard trying to stop people from fighting.
And Selena I know, and Catherine, you know, it's been
terrible there. We had a situation. You had a situation there,
not last week. I think it was the week before

(28:14):
where a senior woman was noted to the ground allegedly
by a teenager. We've since found out she's still in
hospital with a fractured hip. I believe as a result
of that.

Speaker 3 (28:27):
Look, it's just it is beyond deplorable.

Speaker 4 (28:31):
Behavior, absolutely, Katie. There's senseless acts and there needs to
be an approach and whatever the government takes I said
in particularly last week, our labor opposition will look to
support when it comes to early intervention and prevention. That's
what territories are wanting, Katie. We know that there is
now some of those big changes around increasing consequences. We've

(28:54):
supported that. What we want to see and what we
would like to support the government in doing is the
focus on early interview prevention because that's where we're going
to see the big change, that's where we're going to
see a big difference in community safety. And look to
support those measures because we know that's what territorians want.

Speaker 2 (29:10):
And I think Katie, your listeners would know that our
government is a government of action and that's exactly what
we've been doing for the last eight months. But we
can actually do two things at once because we do
need to ensure that there are consequences that fit the
crime that's happening. But we also can and are working
on those root causes of crime, and those are things
like that are already happening since you know, we came

(29:31):
to government, like the circuit breaker program so that families
have that intervention early before they enter the justice system,
the school attendance offices, so that truancy is dealt with,
and we're already seeing an increase in school attendance because
and of course education, Like I.

Speaker 1 (29:46):
Keep hearing that, but yesterday I was here at work
and I looked out the window and there's a group
of kids riding on their bikes up the street at
ten thirty in the morning. You know, I'm like, how
is that happening? If these truancy officers and I don't
doubt that there were looking hard to try and get
kids to school, but there's still kids that are absolutely
falling through the gaps.

Speaker 2 (30:05):
Now we've had we've had like nearly a decade of
kids growing up with no consequences whatsoever and thinking it's okay,
they don't have to go to school. In fact, the
parents don't even have that responsibility to send them to
school and so this whilst all that work is going on,
it's not a set and forget. We have to keep
working on it. And that's exactly what we're doing.

Speaker 1 (30:23):
I mean, Look, unfortunately, what we've seen here with these
very young children involved in this crime is not unusual.
During this week we were in a situation where detectives
have now charged a male with multiple offenses in relation
to an indecent assault on six females within the Northern Suburbs.
Now it started on the thirtieth of April, or police

(30:46):
arrested this youth. It goes back, it goes back even further,
so this youth who's under the age of fifteen, in
relation to two separate incidents that occurred at a hospital
car park in Tewee. Sorry, so that was the most
recent one to that though we've had four women I
believe it was Gary that were attacked while exercising along
the Nightcliff foreshore.

Speaker 5 (31:07):
And I think the police are a public an explanation
on this why they haven't issue any warning because this
activity has gone on over quite a period of time.
No public warning, so that people are completely unaware that
they're in a situation which probably a risk to them.
So I think it's not satisfaction for the police didn

(31:27):
an issue a warning for them.

Speaker 1 (31:28):
I think that's a fair call to make because just
looking through these notes. So, at about six point thirty
in the morning on the seventeenth of April, police received
reports that a male had indecently assaulted a woman who
was walking along the foreshore. He fled the scene on
foot before police arrival. Now they got a statement and
were provided a description of the offender. At that point
in time, you would have thought potentially a warning might

(31:50):
go out.

Speaker 3 (31:51):
Now.

Speaker 1 (31:51):
Then about eleven o'clock on Tuesday the twenty second, a
few days later, police received reports of an indecent assault
on a female who was running along the for at
eleven o'clock in the morning. That victim was able to
flee to safety following the assault. Then, at six pm
on Wednesday the twenty third, the day after, police received
reports of that a male had grappled with a female

(32:14):
after indecently assaulting her along the foreshore. Now that victim
screamed for help and a passing vehicle noticed the struggle
and immediately stopped to render assistance. Now Then, on the
twenty ninth of April, police received reports that whilst a
female was walking along the foreshore, a male grappled with

(32:35):
her after appearing from behind. She was able to break
free and observed that the male was naked at the time. Now,
I wouldn't call that grappling. I would call that an
outright attack.

Speaker 5 (32:46):
They went grappling and just choice of words. It went
down a serious issue.

Speaker 3 (32:51):
That's what it sounds like to me.

Speaker 2 (32:53):
Those sciences are absolutely horrific.

Speaker 1 (32:55):
And so why are we in a situation where there's
no warning that's gone out at any point in time.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
Well, this is exactly why we've come to parliament urgently
to change these laws, because we can't have people that's.

Speaker 3 (33:05):
About a warning.

Speaker 1 (33:06):
You know, Like I just sort of think, like you'd said, Garry,
you would think that there's a public safety element here
where you actually do warn the public that you've got
this blog who's attacking women while they're out exercising.

Speaker 5 (33:18):
Yeah. I used to think police owe the public and explanation.
They should have said been warning people and there was
no public warning. Okay, they might say, oh, we were
going to try to catch him. You're putting people's safety.
If that's their excuse, you're putting safety at risk ahead
of your intend to catch this person. That's just crazy.

Speaker 3 (33:33):
I mean, Selena, what do you make of that?

Speaker 4 (33:36):
Yeah, I think that's a very least And again we're
talking about what are the measures that can be supported
around crime prevention and early intervention. A warning to tell
people that there is a safety risk. I think that's
a very simple measure that can be implored. So it'd
be great to see if that becomes part of the
conversation from the government. Again, we will support something like that,
just making sure that that's very clear that community can

(33:58):
be aware of if there are any dangers or anticipated
risks in their community around their community and take those
measures and steps to try and mitigate that. But that
also then allows the police to do their work. And
then I heard Murray Claire say the government can do
more than one thing at once. Great, what are those
other plans? Again, we were stand ready to support whatever

(34:19):
those prevention measures are and making sure that it's what
territorians expect, and that's to reduce crime and to have
community safety improved.

Speaker 1 (34:28):
Because I do want to say, I mean, well done
to strike force strident obviously on then apprehending this person.
Now he's been charged. This male youth has been charged
with four counts of indecent touching or act without consent
and attempted sexual intercourse without consent. You know, that is
not a grappling with somebody on the foreshore.

Speaker 3 (34:49):
That is an outright alleged assault.

Speaker 1 (34:53):
Now, I got to tell you I would have thought
and you know, like for me, I will say, I
let my door to go for a run. Who's fourteen
years old, and I would expect and think that she
would be able to go for her run on her own,
you know, throughout the day and to feel safe. The
fact that we now live in a community where that

(35:14):
is not able to happen is horrifying to everybody. Now
I think of you know, I think of her, I
think of a teenage girl, or I think of a
younger woman. But then I think, even for myself, I
go out running off and on my own. I do
not want to have to worry about somebody rolling me
and trying to sexually assault you. Nor should any of

(35:34):
these poor female victims. I feel horrified on their.

Speaker 2 (35:37):
Behalf exactly, Katie, which is you know, we've been seeing
these horrific incidences for way too long and that's exactly
why we're doing the work we are to ensure that
when we change those laws last week to make sure
that bail was the toughest in the country, it was
all prefaced around community safety. We were enshrining in legislation

(35:58):
for our courts and our police to ensure that they
put community of safety and the risk of reoffending at
the top of the list, despite any other types of
things that could be taken in consideration when it comes
to offenses and where they're out and about afterwards or not.
And so with that enshrining legislation which started Wednesday this week,

(36:18):
that's what we expect to see that people who are
committing those crimes are not committing those crimes anymore because
they are not getting bailed well, and then they dealt
with in the say.

Speaker 3 (36:27):
And that's the expectation of the community expectation.

Speaker 1 (36:31):
But look, I will say, we know that that's going
to have an impact on our jails. And this week
a corrections officer who's worked in into prisons for decades
has lost his eye after being attacked with crutches. The
United Workers' Union Secretary Erina Early joined me on the
show yesterday and said The alleged assault happened when the
officer David, was moving a prisoner into a minimum security area. Now,

(36:55):
she says the inmate hadn't been properly assessed due to
train on the system, and she says that she's spoken
to the officer who had to have his eye removed.
I mean, it is absolutely appalling, and I think that
we all, you know, we all want to make sure
that violent people are not out on the street, but

(37:18):
you also want to make sure that violent people are
being dealt with in a way that is not going
to see a correctional officer injured in this manner.

Speaker 4 (37:28):
Yeah, Katie, this is an absolutely horrific incident to happen
to somebody who's on the job, who's working hard to
you know, behind the wire, to kick territory and safe
in the role that they do in corrections every day.
But it was just a couple of weeks ago, Katie,
that the union spoke up. And whether you like the
union or not, you know, they represent the members and

(37:49):
those hard working corrections officers. And I think there was
an anti news article, Katie, and Gary might correct me
if any of the details are in are not straightforward,
but a corrections officer, who specifically didn't want to be
named because of worry about speaking up, had said, there
will be catastrophic consequences for the pressure that is being

(38:11):
placed on the correction system, on the justice system right now.
And it is horrible to hear now that that has
come true, that that has come to a reality with
this very very terrible workplace incident. And now we have
a Territorian who is doing their job and now they
are with a permanent injury, and I think it is

(38:32):
quite horrific and I think there needs to be more
done in this space to listen to those everyday corrections
officers around what they would like to see the support.
There was over fifty corrections officers that came to Parliament
because the Corrections Minister jured mainly did not want to
meet with them face to face. Katie. They are calling
out for the support, they are doing it in the

(38:53):
best way possible and they are not receiving that support
or the listening hear from the government. The least that
the Seal Pee can do is meet with the union,
meet with the government officials, sorry the corrections officials with
their government officials and listen to the stress and the
strain and the solutions that the corrections officers want the
government to implore.

Speaker 2 (39:13):
Katie, this was a horrific incident and it's absolutely not acceptable.
Just going to your point about the classification of that
particular prisoner, I've had it confirmed that the assessment was
done and they were in fact a low restricted prisoner,
which clears up whether they were.

Speaker 1 (39:31):
Quite different from correctional officers within the prison.

Speaker 2 (39:35):
So they this has come from the Corrections Minister about
this at his office, who also has been in touch
with the correction officer who is in the hospital, and
I think it's tragic and he is speaking with the
office just to be supported in that space. And of
course police and Anti Work Safe are looking at a

(39:56):
whole range of things to do with that incident, because
we need to make sure that the those incidents aren't
risky in the future. But I also just want to
pick up on what Selena was saying in terms of
like we were the ones in government who brought forward
assaults against workers as a mandatory sentence because we need
our staff to be safe, especially in the correction space
or police or any worker for that matter. And Labour

(40:17):
actually voted that down. They didn't agree that, you know,
people should be allowed to assault workers, so we are
working with Corrections to ensure that they're safe. We are
now investing more than ever before. It's a huge amount
we've been making, finding more beds than ever before under
the master plan. We've got more staff coming in. We've
got g fours now because Corrections are the ones that
told us that they needed more staff, so we found

(40:39):
them the more staff and we'll keep doing that work
because we are going to have to make more space
for people who break the law, and we will do that.

Speaker 1 (40:46):
Look, we are going to have to take a really
quick break. Well, if you've just joined us, you've missed
out on a very busy hour. In Catherine, we've got
the opposition leader, Selena ob Ubo, and in studio of
course Gary Shipway and Marie Claire Boothby. Now before we
wrap up for the morning, we know that the budget,
the Northern Territory budget is set to be handed down
next week. But some questions being asked about the fact

(41:06):
that Bill Yan, the Treasurer, is at the Barrel Classic
despite the fact that the budget's being handed down next week.
My understanding is that he is a Marshal at the
barrel classic some questioning with a now's the appropriate time
to be doing that when the budget's being handed down?

Speaker 3 (41:23):
Selena, what do you make of this?

Speaker 4 (41:25):
Yeah, Katie, the budget for the Northern Territory is extremely
important and I know there's many, many, many, many weeks
of preparation from budget cabinets to the actual announcement of budget.
And I think it's very disrespectful to for two territories
for their Treasurer Bill Yan to be out, you know,
reeling in barre instead of really in household costs living

(41:48):
for territory and so I think, I mean, everyone would
love to be out fishing, right, but there's a time
and a place for that, and I think it's blatant
disrespect for an extremely important job that he holds, and
particularly next week on Tuesday, when the colp will deliver
their first budget as a government. So I think people
should be very worried if that's what their treasure is
out and about doing.

Speaker 1 (42:08):
I mean, Murray Claire, you said the government can walk
and chew gum at the same time. Can you fish
and do your calculations at the same time?

Speaker 2 (42:16):
Yeah, Well, I think Selena made a point you know,
these budgets are prepared well in advance of next week
and on all of that work has been done. In fact,
we've been making announcements about it, so even all the
booklets will be printed by now. So the Treasurer, you know,
we take lifestyle in the territory. That's one of our
key things, restoring lifestyles. So I think you know people
love their fishing. So does the government.

Speaker 3 (42:35):
Mean that's taking it a big far?

Speaker 2 (42:36):
I mean, he's the patron of that club and so
it's very important for him to stay connected with territorians.
It's a very short time that he's down there. He
will be back and he will deliver an exceptional budget speech.

Speaker 4 (42:47):
But is he on leave Murray Claire, because I think
he struggled a bit to articulate if he's actually on
leave or not while he's off doing that, or is
he officially on duty and sitting out on a boat fishing.

Speaker 2 (42:58):
I think you well know, Selenda that ministers and MLAs
don't actually get leave. So that's a kind of weird
question we seven, And.

Speaker 4 (43:06):
I let me clear it up because as a minister,
if you take leave, there is someone else who's responsible
for your portfolio, so there would be an acting treasurer.
Is he on leave.

Speaker 2 (43:15):
We've still been speaking with the Treasurer while he's been.

Speaker 4 (43:17):
Down the night.

Speaker 2 (43:18):
I was still working with him on the weekend the
treasures down there at the Class six. I don't think
it's embarrassing at all. I think that this is part
of the territory lifestyle and our treasure is a fantastic treasurer.
He will come out and deliver a great break speech,
liver for territoriums.

Speaker 3 (43:33):
He's been around reporting for a long while.

Speaker 5 (43:35):
What do you think, Yeah, look, the budget's done. All
he'd be worrying about now is his speech. I've worked
for Treasures and at this particular point of the of
the cycle, you're just putting the press packs together, you're
putting the lists of people you're going to invite. They're
already out. You know, he's done the budget. It's over
the budgets.

Speaker 4 (43:55):
But a big thanks to the Department of Treasury and
particularly the Under treasure who will not be sleeping. I
can see you this, Katie, keeps it up and tell
that that's true. Deliver. They've got no time for fishing. Unfortunately,
though hopefully they get a rent that is true.

Speaker 5 (44:08):
Look maybe he'll bring a barrow back from that.

Speaker 3 (44:09):
I don't know.

Speaker 1 (44:10):
But look, more than that, I'm really interested to hear
what listeners think on this one and whether they do
think it's appropriate or not, or whether they think it
is a bridge a little bit too far.

Speaker 3 (44:19):
Like I get the point.

Speaker 1 (44:21):
You know that you're trying to make their Murray Claire saying, well,
you know, we've got to keep our territory lifestyle. And
I know that ministers MLAs, no matter what role, you've
got opposition leaders like you're literally on twenty four to seven,
you know all the time. However, I do wonder whether
people think it's taking it a bit too far, you know,
marshaling at at the Barough classic when you have a

(44:44):
budget to hand down the following week. Let's wait and say,
I'm sure the text sign will blow up either way,
we are going to have to wrap up.

Speaker 3 (44:51):
We've run out of time.

Speaker 1 (44:52):
Selena Rubo, the opposition leader, thank you so much for
your time this morning.

Speaker 4 (44:56):
Thanks Katie, and just a big shout out today is
do it for so I know lots of people are contributing,
wearing their blue, making donations. If you haven't, please get
out and support. This is a really really important day
for the Northern Territory which is stamping out bullying. And
a big thanks to Kate and Tick Everett who started
this in memory of their daughter. But wear your blue,

(45:18):
make sure you're out supporting. If not, jump online and
please support through the donations and buying some merch on
the do It for Dolly website.

Speaker 1 (45:25):
Absolutely good advice. Thank you, Selena, and Happy Mother's Day
for Sunday. Murray Claire Boothby, thank you so much for
your time this morning. The Attorney General of the Northern Territory.

Speaker 2 (45:35):
Thank you, Katie. I just wanted to clear up a
question one of your listeners had this week about the
paternity services. The obstetricians that you have at the private
hospital will continue. There's still a one that's taking on
new clients or patients as well, and so they will
still work with you from their suites and obviously go
to the public hospital, which is a normal thing that

(45:55):
happens now. Anyway, I just wanted to make that really
clear because obviously Mother's Loves Quite and I were quite
concerned about that, and I wanted to assure them that
private arrangement is that's how it will continue.

Speaker 1 (46:05):
Yeah, thank you Mary Clear and happy Mother's stay to
you for Sunday. And Gary Shipway, head of news at
the NT News, thank you.

Speaker 5 (46:12):
Can I just give a shout out to Today we
announced the antin News Woman of the Year Award and
I want to give a shout out to all the finalists,
some wonderful finals there and all those people, all the
women that were nominated. So hope you have a great
day down at the casino lunch today.

Speaker 1 (46:27):
Oh I'm wonderful women, there is no doubt about that.
Good timing as well, of.

Speaker 3 (46:31):
Course, yes, yeah, fantastics all.

Speaker 1 (46:34):
Good stuff, no wonderful initiative. Thank you Gary. Great to
have you all in the studio.