Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The United Workers Union's NT secretary, Erina Early, has called
for the OC spray trial to be scrapped after a
teenager sprayed security guards with pepper spray upon being refused
entry to a Darwin nightclub. Now, sixteen year old sprayed
two guards at Maybury's on the weekend, getting one in
the forehead and the other in the back. The guards
(00:21):
didn't feel the effects of the spray or require any
medical treatment. Now police then sees that spray. They're investigating
how this boy obtained it, as it's not among the
varieties available for purchase here in the Northern Territory. Now,
the sixteen year old's pleaded guilty to two counts of
aggravated assault and one of using a prohibited weapon on Mondays,
(00:42):
expected to be sentenced on Friday. That's according to News Corp.
Now joining us on the line is erinor Early. Good
morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
You, Erina, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Now what's your reaction to this incident on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Well, Katie, I think it's Lucy's a wake up call here.
We've got a government who's implemented the approval of basically
what we're calling a weapon, and we could have really
been in a situation where these frontline workers could have
been injured.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
I mean we've got a situation though as well, where
it's spray that's been obtained. Apparently they're trying to work
out how it's been obtained because it's not one that's
actually being sold here in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yes, I understand them, but the thing is, we are
going to have situations where people are going to be
using these sprays in their everyday circumstances. It's critical that
we have this work of protection measures are urgently reviewed
and strengthened because it is going to be up it
is for public purchase.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Do you reckon? It sort of demonstrates though as well.
I mean, you know they're going to people can get
their hands on OC spray, they can get their hands
on knives, and if they're that way inclined, they're going
to use it regardless.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Oh absolutely, Katie. We've got enough out there that people
are going to use. But I think that the incident
on the weekend showed that if this person used this gas,
which was one of the gases which was approved, we
could have had a frontline worker seriously injured.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So what are frontline workers saying to you at this
point and what are your concerns for them?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So our real concern is if the government is going
to have this legislation that allows people to use OC spray,
we need to ensure that we've got clear protocols for
responding to ocy gas incidents. They've got areas for decontamination
for the staff the shop, they've got risk assessment, they
(02:43):
know how to de escalate, and they get their afforded
the proper training. So we're hearing they're from workers that
they're approaching their employers, and their employers a say no,
you cannot access these These are frontline employees. Do we
know get assaulted on a your basis? These are our paramedics,
these are our security officers, these are our hospitality workers.
(03:06):
They're being forced into positions where they're at risk, where
they actually could be these OC gases could be used
against them.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
So at this point in time, what are they like,
what exactly are they asking for? I mean, are they
asking for it to be taken off the shelves or
are they asking for training in terms of that de escalation?
What would they like to see?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So the overall thing is people would like it to
be removed, but they know if it's going to remain,
they need to ensure that they've got the appropriate training
within their workplace, and that's not occurring in terms.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Of transit safety officers and also some security guards. I
thought some of them were actually all ready to like
they were able to carry and use coc spray under
those measures that had been announced by the previous government
following the murder of Decklan Lavity. Do you know where
things are at with that.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yes, So that's correct, Katie. So some of these workers
actually do have access to spray and that some of
them security officers, etc. They do have it, but they're trained.
But our biggest concern for the workers is because this
is now available to eligible people in the public. It's
a powerful chemical irritant that's intended for self defense, but
(04:21):
in the hands of entering individuals, it will become a
tool for misuse, and our frontliner and all our workers
who work face to face with the public are at
high risk.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So at this point in time, Erina, the United Workers
Union really calling for this trial to be scrapped.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
We would like it scrap Katie, but if it doesn't happen,
please sit down with the unions, please sit down with
the employee industry groups. Let's work together to ensure our
frontline and people facing workers are safe. They're provided with education,
they're provided with training. Let's do the together if this
is something the government is going to bring in, because
(05:03):
it is really irresponsible for the government to bring in
legislation that allows this kind of chemical to be It
can be misused and it could be actually used on
a weapon on our workers and for the other public
as well.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Hey, I want to ask. I know that there's been
some issues raised around heat and overcrowding in Alice Springs
on the ABC this morning, a prison guard raising these
concerns anonymously. Have these been raised with you and to
the union and what exactly are they worried about.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Well, the big thing, Katie, I think we've taught this
quite regularly on your show. We're coming up to the
peak time for riots in Alice Springs, so there's still
no there be no heat mitigations have been put into
place all them. Our major works for the G block
have not been completed yet or they're not going to
(05:59):
go ahead, for example, the air conditioning in G Block.
So this is our biggest concerns for our officers than
Alice Springs is they're walking straight into trouble and it
could happen any day. Now, How are the.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Numbers and stuff looking in Alice Springs at the moment? Again,
I know you and I have spoken on numerous occasions
when it comes to those staffing levels in Alice Springs
and the prison numbers as well. I mean, has there
sort of been any respite whatsoever in terms of the
you know, the number of prisoners and some of the
changes that have been made with corrections across the board.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
It's getting a little bit better. May so we've got
a few more officers, which is fantastic, but the numbers
are growing, So we're still with the numbers are growing,
I say, staffing levels for officers is still an issue.
So we're still roughly between twenty five to thirty five
officers down per day.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Okay, so still quite a few. Well, I mean there's
no doubt that that then raises concerns around say, what
are people saying to you? What are those prison guards
saying to you? And Alice Springs and really across the
board at the moment, well, you've still.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Got us serious concerns with the safe staffing levels without
throughout Northern Territory. With our correctional officers in Darwin, Alice
Springs in the work camps, they're still one of their
major concerns. They are still concerned will they come home
each night. Things are getting a little bit better, but
there's still a lot more work to do. They still
(07:28):
do not feel that Commission of Varley is listening to them.
Everything's just driven about numbers, numbers, numbers, but they're not
actually considering the safety of officers well.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Erina Early, I always appreciate your time. Thank you very
much for having a chat with us this morning.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Thanks Katie, have a great day you too.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Thank you
The United Workers Union's NT secretary, Erina Early, has called
for the OC spray trial to be scrapped after a
teenager sprayed security guards with pepper spray upon being refused
entry to a Darwin nightclub. Now, sixteen year old sprayed
two guards at Maybury's on the weekend, getting one in
the forehead and the other in the back. The guards
(00:21):
didn't feel the effects of the spray or require any
medical treatment. Now police then sees that spray. They're investigating
how this boy obtained it, as it's not among the
varieties available for purchase here in the Northern Territory. Now,
the sixteen year old's pleaded guilty to two counts of
aggravated assault and one of using a prohibited weapon on Mondays,
(00:42):
expected to be sentenced on Friday. That's according to News Corp.
Now joining us on the line is erinor Early. Good
morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
You, Erina, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Now what's your reaction to this incident on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Well, Katie, I think it's Lucy's a wake up call here.
We've got a government who's implemented the approval of basically
what we're calling a weapon, and we could have really
been in a situation where these frontline workers could have
been injured.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
I mean we've got a situation though as well, where
it's spray that's been obtained. Apparently they're trying to work
out how it's been obtained because it's not one that's
actually being sold here in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yes, I understand them, but the thing is, we are
going to have situations where people are going to be
using these sprays in their everyday circumstances. It's critical that
we have this work of protection measures are urgently reviewed
and strengthened because it is going to be up it
is for public purchase.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Do you reckon? It sort of demonstrates though as well.
I mean, you know they're going to people can get
their hands on OC spray, they can get their hands
on knives, and if they're that way inclined, they're going
to use it regardless.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Oh absolutely, Katie. We've got enough out there that people
are going to use. But I think that the incident
on the weekend showed that if this person used this gas,
which was one of the gases which was approved, we
could have had a frontline worker seriously injured.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So what are frontline workers saying to you at this
point and what are your concerns for them?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So our real concern is if the government is going
to have this legislation that allows people to use OC spray,
we need to ensure that we've got clear protocols for
responding to ocy gas incidents. They've got areas for decontamination
for the staff the shop, they've got risk assessment, they
(02:43):
know how to de escalate, and they get their afforded
the proper training. So we're hearing they're from workers that
they're approaching their employers, and their employers a say no,
you cannot access these These are frontline employees. Do we
know get assaulted on a your basis? These are our paramedics,
these are our security officers, these are our hospitality workers.
(03:06):
They're being forced into positions where they're at risk, where
they actually could be these OC gases could be used
against them.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
So at this point in time, what are they like,
what exactly are they asking for? I mean, are they
asking for it to be taken off the shelves or
are they asking for training in terms of that de escalation?
What would they like to see?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So the overall thing is people would like it to
be removed, but they know if it's going to remain,
they need to ensure that they've got the appropriate training
within their workplace, and that's not occurring in terms.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Of transit safety officers and also some security guards. I
thought some of them were actually all ready to like
they were able to carry and use coc spray under
those measures that had been announced by the previous government
following the murder of Decklan Lavity. Do you know where
things are at with that.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yes, So that's correct, Katie. So some of these workers
actually do have access to spray and that some of
them security officers, etc. They do have it, but they're trained.
But our biggest concern for the workers is because this
is now available to eligible people in the public. It's
a powerful chemical irritant that's intended for self defense, but
(04:21):
in the hands of entering individuals, it will become a
tool for misuse, and our frontliner and all our workers
who work face to face with the public are at
high risk.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So at this point in time, Erina, the United Workers
Union really calling for this trial to be scrapped.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
We would like it scrap Katie, but if it doesn't happen,
please sit down with the unions, please sit down with
the employee industry groups. Let's work together to ensure our
frontline and people facing workers are safe. They're provided with education,
they're provided with training. Let's do the together if this
is something the government is going to bring in, because
(05:03):
it is really irresponsible for the government to bring in
legislation that allows this kind of chemical to be It
can be misused and it could be actually used on
a weapon on our workers and for the other public
as well.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Hey, I want to ask. I know that there's been
some issues raised around heat and overcrowding in Alice Springs
on the ABC this morning, a prison guard raising these
concerns anonymously. Have these been raised with you and to
the union and what exactly are they worried about.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Well, the big thing, Katie, I think we've taught this
quite regularly on your show. We're coming up to the
peak time for riots in Alice Springs, so there's still
no there be no heat mitigations have been put into
place all them. Our major works for the G block
have not been completed yet or they're not going to
(05:59):
go ahead, for example, the air conditioning in G Block.
So this is our biggest concerns for our officers than
Alice Springs is they're walking straight into trouble and it
could happen any day. Now, How are the.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Numbers and stuff looking in Alice Springs at the moment? Again,
I know you and I have spoken on numerous occasions
when it comes to those staffing levels in Alice Springs
and the prison numbers as well. I mean, has there
sort of been any respite whatsoever in terms of the
you know, the number of prisoners and some of the
changes that have been made with corrections across the board.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
It's getting a little bit better. May so we've got
a few more officers, which is fantastic, but the numbers
are growing, So we're still with the numbers are growing,
I say, staffing levels for officers is still an issue.
So we're still roughly between twenty five to thirty five
officers down per day.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Okay, so still quite a few. Well, I mean there's
no doubt that that then raises concerns around say, what
are people saying to you? What are those prison guards
saying to you? And Alice Springs and really across the
board at the moment, well, you've still.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Got us serious concerns with the safe staffing levels without
throughout Northern Territory. With our correctional officers in Darwin, Alice
Springs in the work camps, they're still one of their
major concerns. They are still concerned will they come home
each night. Things are getting a little bit better, but
there's still a lot more work to do. They still
(07:28):
do not feel that Commission of Varley is listening to them.
Everything's just driven about numbers, numbers, numbers, but they're not
actually considering the safety of officers well.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Erina Early, I always appreciate your time. Thank you very
much for having a chat with us this morning.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Thanks Katie, have a great day you too.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Thank you
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