Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, we know the Chief Minister, Leo Fanocchio is joining
us live this morning from Alice Springs.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
We've got her on the line. Good morning to your
Chief Minister.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Good morning Katie, and to all your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Now, Chief Minister, you are this morning signing a memorandum
of understanding with the Alice Springstown Council to deliver some
key infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
What is the aim of this MoU.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
We're really really excited, Katie. Obviously this town has just
been ignored and battered by crime, and so now that
our new reducing crime package of laws is being implemented,
we certainly hope people here and across the territory will
see an impact from that. But the next stage now
is to make sure that we invest in our towns,
(00:43):
and Alice Springs needs to be invested in so that
there's increased livability and it goes to that important lifestyle
piece and also infrastructure that generates economic activity. So this
twenty seven million dollar package we've put together with the
Alice Springs Town Council that we're announcing today is really
exciting projects for the town that will not only see
(01:06):
that construction and infrastructure investment, but lead to Alice Springs
being a better place to live, an easier place to
visit as a tourist, and the flow on economic activity
should support all the small businesses in the center of
the town.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Chief Finess.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
So we know it's things like one point eight million
dollars for a new regional skate and play precinct, four
hundred and fifty for free pool access at the Alice
Springs Aquatics Center, the reinstatement of anzac Oval to enhance
recreational opportunities, the development of new sporting facilities in Gillen,
including upgrades at Jim mcconvill Oval. I mean you've sort
(01:43):
of touched on it there in terms of what you
hope this infrastructure will do. It is obvious to me
that you are hoping as well that it gets young
people engaged in good activities, unlike some of the behavior
we saw in Alice over the weekends.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Absolutely, So we sat down and worked with counsel and
this is all being reprioritized from existing funding, Katie, which
is a beautiful thing. We've been able to get a
better outcome from the town for existing money that's already
in the budget. So the skate and play precinct is
going to be fantastic for all aged kids and a
(02:20):
game getting kids outside, being healthy, engaged in recreation rather
than crime. The pool access is a really important part
of our summer plan, and so will We haven't announced
the full summer plan yet. This four hundred and fifty
thousand into free pool access is going to mean that
everyone can go down and call off in what is
(02:41):
a very brutally hot summer and again get some physical activity,
be with their family. And then all of the investment
into sports, including the lights that John mcconball Oval should
be happening soon. Of course, we've saved anzac Oval and
I can't wait to see that as a multidisciplinary sport precinct.
Then also our additional investment at Centralian Middle School. So
(03:04):
plenty going on, But one of the most exciting bits
is for tourism. Now. Years ago the previous Labor government
announced money for Tourism Central Australia to move up the
Stuart Highway, and my real worry at that time it
would encourage caravans to sort of bypass the town yep.
(03:25):
And so now what we're doing is relocating that to
here where I am right now. At the Alice Springstown
Council where there is already caravan parking on the river.
We can get tourists coming to this council precinct and
then walking up them all and eventually getting to our
beautiful new Alice Springs average new art gallery at the end.
So it's all coming together, Katie. We're very excited.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So where exactly is the Aboriginal Art Gallery going to be?
I mean this has been like it's been a point
of contention, hasn't it for quite some time?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
And when's the work on that going to start?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah? I actually just made a note for myself to
ask Minister Bill Yen when that's going to be released
because people are very anxiously waiting to see that new site.
So hopefully that can be done in the next couple
of weeks. But it will still be at that end
of the mall, and we'd really like to bookend the mall,
so the gallery at one end and then we have
the Tourism Central Australia at the other as well as
(04:19):
the new Council Library and of course the Multicultural Center.
So there's something for everyone in this deal and I
really hope it activates the town and really just starts
to lift people's spirits and optimism and create that economic development.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
And so Leah, you are telling us this morning that
there is no new money here. This is just repurposed money.
Is it taking away from other things so that locals
were expecting in Alice?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
It definitely is repurposing money, Katie. So what we've reallocated
money from was there was money going into a splash
park in the mall and that was a bit of
a pet project of the previous government that really wasn't
well supported by the community, business or council. So instead
of putting a splash park in the mall, we've invested
that money into the skate and play precinct, which is
(05:10):
much better bang for market, increases the liveability and lifestyle
of everyone here in the town. And then Kill Gareth
was where when the previous government was shutting down antac Oval,
they were spending twenty plus million dollars on a new
precinct pat at kill Garret and again not well supported
by the town to be better spent this side of
(05:32):
the gap in the actual town itself. So we've reprioritized
that money to cut across both the development of more
ovals at the Centralia Middle School, but also in the
fourteen million we're putting into the Alice Springs Council redevelopment here,
so that's a better spend there. And the final piece
of reprioritized money is coming from Brewer a State which
(05:54):
was sort of a future industrial precinct, and so putting
that on hold for now and spending it on what's
urgently needed for the town.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Well, let's hope that we start to see some real
change in Alice Springs. I know that you touched on
there as well, making sure that there is a summer plan,
because that's always the worry that things are going to
blow up over the summer months. And we saw even
over the weekend three cars tole them.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
From what I can.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
See, they were then doing all sorts of things in
the Alice Springs City Center, throwing rocks out out windows,
just generally running a mark, but more than just you know,
running a mark, putting people's lives in danger.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Very dangerous, very scary, horrific behavior. We've scene three cars
and then to be you know, out acting in such
a dangerous manner, I mean, anyone could have been killed,
and it's just totally unacceptable, Katie, and you know we
won't stop until we get on top of this issue.
I know we've passed our reducing crime package, but that's
(06:52):
just the start. It's not going to be the silver
bullet we wish it could be, but it's an important
start and I'm looking forward to seeing over the coming
weeks watching those to see what impact it's having, and
then of course what work continuing needs to be done.
But there's a lot of problems, but we're just working
through a systematic prioritize way how to deal with them.
(07:14):
And you're hearing Alice Springs. Getting some actual activities and
physical lifestyle pieces on the ground is going to help.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Support that lea quite a bit to get through this morning,
I want to ask you, we know we had an
absolute shoka last week when it comes to crime. We
saw a crime spree committed by teenagers on bail. Then
on Friday we learned of an incredibly dangerous situation which
had occurred on Thursday when an alleged stolen vehicle with
six people youth and adults, drove that car at police
(07:43):
then took them on a dangerous pursuit. As I understand
it from what air towards Darwin. What's your reaction to
the number of interactions that some of the people involved
in these crimes have had with police.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Oh outrageous, I think you know, this is all the
type of data that was being hidden from Territorians under
the previous Labor government. It just reinforces why the COLP
is having to do what we have to do with
these laws. I mean, this is not people on a
first warning, a second warning, a tense warning, of fiftieth warning.
These offenders who have had one hundreds, hundreds, Katie, of
(08:23):
interactions with police and a completely immune from the repercussions
of that. I mean, they just have no fear. And
that's why we've got to strengthen the laws. That's why
we've got to back in our police. That's why we
have to be firmer on parents and their responsibility to
raise their children, get kids to school, deal with those
(08:43):
root causes, because it is totally unacceptable and even in
just the short ten weeks we've been in government, Katie,
the number of police and police vehicles that have been
rammed or assaulted is disgusting, absolutely disgustees. It is shining
so glad it is it's just beyond belief and so
(09:04):
I'm so glad we've strengthened that mandatory sentence thing for
results on workers and on emergency workers like our police.
But there's much more to be done, and honestly, I
just can't believe how bad things they've been left after
just years of neglecting this issue. But we are getting
on top of it as hard and fast as we can.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Lea the oppositions d ran Young last week during the
week that was questioned why you had mentioned the number
of interactions in a pressure release that some young people
have had with the Northern Territory Police. He said that
the interactions didn't mean arrests or chargers. What do you
think that number of interactions demonstrates.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
I think it demonstrates a very high level of engagement
with police for all the wrong reasons. Now, they might
not strictly be arrest or a tangible action taken by police,
but let's not for KEMP. For years, our police have
been disempowered to deal with youth defender, so their hands
have been effectively tied. But I think any parent out
(10:09):
there who thinks about their child having hundreds of interactions
with police, I mean if my kids had one interaction
with police, Katie, I'd be absolutely mortified, let alone hundreds
of them. So clearly we've got a situation that is
not working well for the child or the community. And
that's where you know, children and families comes into this
as well, and we're currently reviewing that legislation and Robin Carl,
(10:32):
the Minister, is working over time on this issue. Because
kids aren't born criminals. A lot of these kids have
come from very, very bad homes and they deserve to
be supported. But our community also deserve to be safe.
And so here in life the balance where what we're
doing right now is supporting an urgent response of community safety,
(10:53):
and then that important work of addressing root causes of
crime really comes in with programs and camps and all
those other pieces that need to be done.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Leah, we know with one of the alleged crime series
that we saw last week, the one around the Northern Suburbs,
all of those alleged defenders were on bail in that
crime series.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
What does that say from.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Your perspective, where is the system letting us down?
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Well, it's exactly why we need Declan's Law. It's exactly
why we need the Bow reform we've just got through
the Parliament a couple of weeks ago, Katie. So unfortunately
those Bower laws, whilst they've been assented to by the Administrator,
which is wonderful, the system is just not ready for
the change yet. So it's about it upgrades and the
(11:44):
justice system being ready. So we're pushing very hard for
a date earlier than January. We're being told January is
the absolute earliest, but if we can make it earlier, Katie,
don't worry, I will, because you know yesterday was too
long ago. So you know we're really focused on that.
But it reinforces that people on bail and not taking
(12:06):
that chance to change their lives and use it as
a warning. They are just completely continuing on business as usual,
which means they don't deserve to be out circulating in
the community committing more crime.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Chief Minister, I want to ask you how are we
going to deal with the extra cases that are going
to come through the court and also the prison numbers,
because we know the community does expect violent offenders to
spend time behind bars.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
That's exactly right. So from this week the new youth
Detention facility will be open. That will alleviate pressure out
of Alice Springs and Dalin, which means we can start
to roll out our infrastructure plans. So get the female
prisoners out of Olice Springs male Prism, put them in
the new Youth in the Youth Prism, expand the number
(12:54):
of male prisoners in the Alice and then all of
the dominoes kind of fall from here. So from this
week things should get better. And I went and visited
the corrections team at Darwin Police Station last week, Katie,
and thanks them, and I said to them, you know,
from next week things should be better. But this is
a year's long issue of the government, previous government failing
(13:15):
to invest in infrastructure, and we're working over time to
find more space, build more facilities and make sure there
is room for these people who should not be circulating
in our community because they present a risk of property
unto life.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
And look, we are hopefully going to have a catch up,
or we're certainly hoping to with the Corrections Commissioner tomorrow morning.
But do you know if those young people have now
moved into the new Youth Detention Center.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
I don't have an update on that, Katie, but you
know we're in good hands with the Corrections Commissioner. He's
just working over time on this and the correction staff
have been amazing. All the feedback we're getting is that
they're really happy to see stronger laws as well, and
if that means more prisoners, so be it. They're professionals,
they're doing their job and really difficult circumstances, but they
(14:02):
can see the horizon. You know, there is a plan
in place. We're backing them in with these new facilities
and we'll get the job done. It's just going to
take a bit of time.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Chief Ministate, you and I have spoken on numerous occasions
about the number of prisoners on remand my understanding is
that there is more than forty percent of prisoners on
remand how do you think we can get things moving
more quickly to work through those cases.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
It's very important and so this is where Murray Claire
Boothby as attorney generally is doing work now with the
court system and we are looking at every opportunity to
make that system more efficient. So during COVID there was
a lot greater use of telecourt processes. Can we increase that?
(14:48):
Do we need to have court at the actual prison
to deal with those you know, mentions and adjournments and
other sort of smaller matters. We're looking at how transport
prisoners to free out time for that. For example, I
was at Parmesan police station last week at the watchhouse.
Two police cars arrived. They got filled up with prisoners
(15:10):
and driven into town for court. Now that takes a
lot of time and energy and police off our streets
from fighting crime, varying prisoners backwards and forward. So do
we need more judges, do we need more courts? All
of it's on the table and we're just working through
what that looks like now. Lea.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
We caught up with Beth while, the head of the
Criminal Lawyers Association on Friday. This is a little bit
of what she'd had to say on this topic.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Best. You know, when you look at how full.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
The prisons are at this point in time, my understanding
is that there's around forty one percent of the prisoners
are currently on remand so I mean that indicates to me,
and correct me if I'm wrong, but that indicates to
me that they're obviously waiting to go through the court system.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
How long are some people.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Waiting It depends if they're in the local court or
and the Supreme Court. The local court. I think we're
talking up to about eight months to get a hearing
date if someone's pleading not guilty. To get up to
the Supreme Court, can take up to a year to
even get to the Supreme Court, and then potentially another
(16:14):
year to get a trial date. So those are the
sorts of numbers. There has been an increase in the
amount of time it's taking to get to finality in
these cases, which is impacting the remand rate.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
You know what would help to speed things.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Up, So I think appointing another local court judge could
help matters. Utilizing full days in court. I also think
is another good idea to make sure that matters are
getting reached every day. We know that that is something
that's really increased recently, the amount of matters that aren't
getting reached in a day.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
So it sounds Chief Minister Light there are a couple
of simple things that could potentially make a really big difference.
And you did touch on this just a moment ago,
but are they the types of things that you are
looking at.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, they're all part of the mix. So there's probably
ten things we can do, Katie. So it's just about
working out which ones are leave the most pressure the fastest,
and working through them like that. But absolutely looking at
court days, looking at court times, looking at how we
great utilize technology, cut down time for prisoner transfers, all
(17:24):
of those things help. Like I said, if we need
more judges and more court rooms, we will deliver that.
So it's about one hundred and thirty days someone's days
on remand for a local court matter, in three hundred
days for Supreme Court. So it is significant. It is
absolutely significant. But for your listeners, the flip side is this,
do you want those people out on the streets, And
(17:45):
the answer is no. So as a whole system wide reform,
we need to be making that process better, and there's
lots of work to be done. I mean that the
neglect in this entire space, from policing through to legal
aid funding through to the court, the whole, the whole
spectrum and corrections is broken, and so we're rebuilding from
(18:06):
the ground up.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Chief finished a quick listener question this morning.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
They're wondering if there's an update on the Amphibian aerospace
industries those airplanes.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Is that still going a hit?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Actually, that's a good question. I don't know the answer
to that, but very happy to find out what's going
on there. Of course, the previous government from memory supported
them with a ten million dollar grant from the Local
Jobs Fund, So I don't know if any aeroplanes have
been built yet. I'd be pretty skeptical that they had,
but happy to get an update.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
Really well, and this is.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
The thing, you know, ten million bucks.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
If that has gone towards that project and there's nothing
happening in that space, you start to really scratch your head.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Oh, Katie, there, I wish it was only that one project.
There's money that's been going everywhere. And even in yesterday's paper,
you know, we've identified about two hundred million dollars in
reprioritization just across three projects that we can not spend
that money on for now and put it into things
that really really matter. So we will continue that work
(19:10):
of looking through the books, what is labor committed Territorians to,
what do they want money spent on, and how can
we spend that money better so that we're not blowing
our debt out even further, but delivering the services and
the infrastructure that Territorians need today.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Well, Chief Minister Leah Finocchio really appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Thanks so much for joining us From Alice.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Thank you, Take care everyone.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Thank you.
Well, we know the Chief Minister, Leo Fanocchio is joining
us live this morning from Alice Springs.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
We've got her on the line. Good morning to your
Chief Minister.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Good morning Katie, and to all your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Now, Chief Minister, you are this morning signing a memorandum
of understanding with the Alice Springstown Council to deliver some
key infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
What is the aim of this MoU.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
We're really really excited, Katie. Obviously this town has just
been ignored and battered by crime, and so now that
our new reducing crime package of laws is being implemented,
we certainly hope people here and across the territory will
see an impact from that. But the next stage now
is to make sure that we invest in our towns,
(00:43):
and Alice Springs needs to be invested in so that
there's increased livability and it goes to that important lifestyle
piece and also infrastructure that generates economic activity. So this
twenty seven million dollar package we've put together with the
Alice Springs Town Council that we're announcing today is really
exciting projects for the town that will not only see
(01:06):
that construction and infrastructure investment, but lead to Alice Springs
being a better place to live, an easier place to
visit as a tourist, and the flow on economic activity
should support all the small businesses in the center of
the town.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Chief Finess.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
So we know it's things like one point eight million
dollars for a new regional skate and play precinct, four
hundred and fifty for free pool access at the Alice
Springs Aquatics Center, the reinstatement of anzac Oval to enhance
recreational opportunities, the development of new sporting facilities in Gillen,
including upgrades at Jim mcconvill Oval. I mean you've sort
(01:43):
of touched on it there in terms of what you
hope this infrastructure will do. It is obvious to me
that you are hoping as well that it gets young
people engaged in good activities, unlike some of the behavior
we saw in Alice over the weekends.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Absolutely, So we sat down and worked with counsel and
this is all being reprioritized from existing funding, Katie, which
is a beautiful thing. We've been able to get a
better outcome from the town for existing money that's already
in the budget. So the skate and play precinct is
going to be fantastic for all aged kids and a
(02:20):
game getting kids outside, being healthy, engaged in recreation rather
than crime. The pool access is a really important part
of our summer plan, and so will We haven't announced
the full summer plan yet. This four hundred and fifty
thousand into free pool access is going to mean that
everyone can go down and call off in what is
(02:41):
a very brutally hot summer and again get some physical activity,
be with their family. And then all of the investment
into sports, including the lights that John mcconball Oval should
be happening soon. Of course, we've saved anzac Oval and
I can't wait to see that as a multidisciplinary sport precinct.
Then also our additional investment at Centralian Middle School. So
(03:04):
plenty going on, But one of the most exciting bits
is for tourism. Now. Years ago the previous Labor government
announced money for Tourism Central Australia to move up the
Stuart Highway, and my real worry at that time it
would encourage caravans to sort of bypass the town yep.
(03:25):
And so now what we're doing is relocating that to
here where I am right now. At the Alice Springstown
Council where there is already caravan parking on the river.
We can get tourists coming to this council precinct and
then walking up them all and eventually getting to our
beautiful new Alice Springs average new art gallery at the end.
So it's all coming together, Katie. We're very excited.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So where exactly is the Aboriginal Art Gallery going to be?
I mean this has been like it's been a point
of contention, hasn't it for quite some time?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
And when's the work on that going to start?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah? I actually just made a note for myself to
ask Minister Bill Yen when that's going to be released
because people are very anxiously waiting to see that new site.
So hopefully that can be done in the next couple
of weeks. But it will still be at that end
of the mall, and we'd really like to bookend the mall,
so the gallery at one end and then we have
the Tourism Central Australia at the other as well as
(04:19):
the new Council Library and of course the Multicultural Center.
So there's something for everyone in this deal and I
really hope it activates the town and really just starts
to lift people's spirits and optimism and create that economic development.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
And so Leah, you are telling us this morning that
there is no new money here. This is just repurposed money.
Is it taking away from other things so that locals
were expecting in Alice?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
It definitely is repurposing money, Katie. So what we've reallocated
money from was there was money going into a splash
park in the mall and that was a bit of
a pet project of the previous government that really wasn't
well supported by the community, business or council. So instead
of putting a splash park in the mall, we've invested
that money into the skate and play precinct, which is
(05:10):
much better bang for market, increases the liveability and lifestyle
of everyone here in the town. And then Kill Gareth
was where when the previous government was shutting down antac Oval,
they were spending twenty plus million dollars on a new
precinct pat at kill Garret and again not well supported
by the town to be better spent this side of
(05:32):
the gap in the actual town itself. So we've reprioritized
that money to cut across both the development of more
ovals at the Centralia Middle School, but also in the
fourteen million we're putting into the Alice Springs Council redevelopment here,
so that's a better spend there. And the final piece
of reprioritized money is coming from Brewer a State which
(05:54):
was sort of a future industrial precinct, and so putting
that on hold for now and spending it on what's
urgently needed for the town.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Well, let's hope that we start to see some real
change in Alice Springs. I know that you touched on
there as well, making sure that there is a summer plan,
because that's always the worry that things are going to
blow up over the summer months. And we saw even
over the weekend three cars tole them.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
From what I can.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
See, they were then doing all sorts of things in
the Alice Springs City Center, throwing rocks out out windows,
just generally running a mark, but more than just you know,
running a mark, putting people's lives in danger.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Very dangerous, very scary, horrific behavior. We've scene three cars
and then to be you know, out acting in such
a dangerous manner, I mean, anyone could have been killed,
and it's just totally unacceptable, Katie, and you know we
won't stop until we get on top of this issue.
I know we've passed our reducing crime package, but that's
(06:52):
just the start. It's not going to be the silver
bullet we wish it could be, but it's an important
start and I'm looking forward to seeing over the coming
weeks watching those to see what impact it's having, and
then of course what work continuing needs to be done.
But there's a lot of problems, but we're just working
through a systematic prioritize way how to deal with them.
(07:14):
And you're hearing Alice Springs. Getting some actual activities and
physical lifestyle pieces on the ground is going to help.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Support that lea quite a bit to get through this morning,
I want to ask you, we know we had an
absolute shoka last week when it comes to crime. We
saw a crime spree committed by teenagers on bail. Then
on Friday we learned of an incredibly dangerous situation which
had occurred on Thursday when an alleged stolen vehicle with
six people youth and adults, drove that car at police
(07:43):
then took them on a dangerous pursuit. As I understand
it from what air towards Darwin. What's your reaction to
the number of interactions that some of the people involved
in these crimes have had with police.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Oh outrageous, I think you know, this is all the
type of data that was being hidden from Territorians under
the previous Labor government. It just reinforces why the COLP
is having to do what we have to do with
these laws. I mean, this is not people on a
first warning, a second warning, a tense warning, of fiftieth warning.
These offenders who have had one hundreds, hundreds, Katie, of
(08:23):
interactions with police and a completely immune from the repercussions
of that. I mean, they just have no fear. And
that's why we've got to strengthen the laws. That's why
we've got to back in our police. That's why we
have to be firmer on parents and their responsibility to
raise their children, get kids to school, deal with those
(08:43):
root causes, because it is totally unacceptable and even in
just the short ten weeks we've been in government, Katie,
the number of police and police vehicles that have been
rammed or assaulted is disgusting, absolutely disgustees. It is shining
so glad it is it's just beyond belief and so
(09:04):
I'm so glad we've strengthened that mandatory sentence thing for
results on workers and on emergency workers like our police.
But there's much more to be done, and honestly, I
just can't believe how bad things they've been left after
just years of neglecting this issue. But we are getting
on top of it as hard and fast as we can.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Lea the oppositions d ran Young last week during the
week that was questioned why you had mentioned the number
of interactions in a pressure release that some young people
have had with the Northern Territory Police. He said that
the interactions didn't mean arrests or chargers. What do you
think that number of interactions demonstrates.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
I think it demonstrates a very high level of engagement
with police for all the wrong reasons. Now, they might
not strictly be arrest or a tangible action taken by police,
but let's not for KEMP. For years, our police have
been disempowered to deal with youth defender, so their hands
have been effectively tied. But I think any parent out
(10:09):
there who thinks about their child having hundreds of interactions
with police, I mean if my kids had one interaction
with police, Katie, I'd be absolutely mortified, let alone hundreds
of them. So clearly we've got a situation that is
not working well for the child or the community. And
that's where you know, children and families comes into this
as well, and we're currently reviewing that legislation and Robin Carl,
(10:32):
the Minister, is working over time on this issue. Because
kids aren't born criminals. A lot of these kids have
come from very, very bad homes and they deserve to
be supported. But our community also deserve to be safe.
And so here in life the balance where what we're
doing right now is supporting an urgent response of community safety,
(10:53):
and then that important work of addressing root causes of
crime really comes in with programs and camps and all
those other pieces that need to be done.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Leah, we know with one of the alleged crime series
that we saw last week, the one around the Northern Suburbs,
all of those alleged defenders were on bail in that
crime series.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
What does that say from.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Your perspective, where is the system letting us down?
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Well, it's exactly why we need Declan's Law. It's exactly
why we need the Bow reform we've just got through
the Parliament a couple of weeks ago, Katie. So unfortunately
those Bower laws, whilst they've been assented to by the Administrator,
which is wonderful, the system is just not ready for
the change yet. So it's about it upgrades and the
(11:44):
justice system being ready. So we're pushing very hard for
a date earlier than January. We're being told January is
the absolute earliest, but if we can make it earlier, Katie,
don't worry, I will, because you know yesterday was too
long ago. So you know we're really focused on that.
But it reinforces that people on bail and not taking
(12:06):
that chance to change their lives and use it as
a warning. They are just completely continuing on business as usual,
which means they don't deserve to be out circulating in
the community committing more crime.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Chief Minister, I want to ask you how are we
going to deal with the extra cases that are going
to come through the court and also the prison numbers,
because we know the community does expect violent offenders to
spend time behind bars.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
That's exactly right. So from this week the new youth
Detention facility will be open. That will alleviate pressure out
of Alice Springs and Dalin, which means we can start
to roll out our infrastructure plans. So get the female
prisoners out of Olice Springs male Prism, put them in
the new Youth in the Youth Prism, expand the number
(12:54):
of male prisoners in the Alice and then all of
the dominoes kind of fall from here. So from this
week things should get better. And I went and visited
the corrections team at Darwin Police Station last week, Katie,
and thanks them, and I said to them, you know,
from next week things should be better. But this is
a year's long issue of the government, previous government failing
(13:15):
to invest in infrastructure, and we're working over time to
find more space, build more facilities and make sure there
is room for these people who should not be circulating
in our community because they present a risk of property
unto life.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
And look, we are hopefully going to have a catch up,
or we're certainly hoping to with the Corrections Commissioner tomorrow morning.
But do you know if those young people have now
moved into the new Youth Detention Center.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
I don't have an update on that, Katie, but you
know we're in good hands with the Corrections Commissioner. He's
just working over time on this and the correction staff
have been amazing. All the feedback we're getting is that
they're really happy to see stronger laws as well, and
if that means more prisoners, so be it. They're professionals,
they're doing their job and really difficult circumstances, but they
(14:02):
can see the horizon. You know, there is a plan
in place. We're backing them in with these new facilities
and we'll get the job done. It's just going to
take a bit of time.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Chief Ministate, you and I have spoken on numerous occasions
about the number of prisoners on remand my understanding is
that there is more than forty percent of prisoners on
remand how do you think we can get things moving
more quickly to work through those cases.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
It's very important and so this is where Murray Claire
Boothby as attorney generally is doing work now with the
court system and we are looking at every opportunity to
make that system more efficient. So during COVID there was
a lot greater use of telecourt processes. Can we increase that?
(14:48):
Do we need to have court at the actual prison
to deal with those you know, mentions and adjournments and
other sort of smaller matters. We're looking at how transport
prisoners to free out time for that. For example, I
was at Parmesan police station last week at the watchhouse.
Two police cars arrived. They got filled up with prisoners
(15:10):
and driven into town for court. Now that takes a
lot of time and energy and police off our streets
from fighting crime, varying prisoners backwards and forward. So do
we need more judges, do we need more courts? All
of it's on the table and we're just working through
what that looks like now. Lea.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
We caught up with Beth while, the head of the
Criminal Lawyers Association on Friday. This is a little bit
of what she'd had to say on this topic.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Best. You know, when you look at how full.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
The prisons are at this point in time, my understanding
is that there's around forty one percent of the prisoners
are currently on remand so I mean that indicates to me,
and correct me if I'm wrong, but that indicates to
me that they're obviously waiting to go through the court system.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
How long are some people.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Waiting It depends if they're in the local court or
and the Supreme Court. The local court. I think we're
talking up to about eight months to get a hearing
date if someone's pleading not guilty. To get up to
the Supreme Court, can take up to a year to
even get to the Supreme Court, and then potentially another
(16:14):
year to get a trial date. So those are the
sorts of numbers. There has been an increase in the
amount of time it's taking to get to finality in
these cases, which is impacting the remand rate.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
You know what would help to speed things.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Up, So I think appointing another local court judge could
help matters. Utilizing full days in court. I also think
is another good idea to make sure that matters are
getting reached every day. We know that that is something
that's really increased recently, the amount of matters that aren't
getting reached in a day.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
So it sounds Chief Minister Light there are a couple
of simple things that could potentially make a really big difference.
And you did touch on this just a moment ago,
but are they the types of things that you are
looking at.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, they're all part of the mix. So there's probably
ten things we can do, Katie. So it's just about
working out which ones are leave the most pressure the fastest,
and working through them like that. But absolutely looking at
court days, looking at court times, looking at how we
great utilize technology, cut down time for prisoner transfers, all
(17:24):
of those things help. Like I said, if we need
more judges and more court rooms, we will deliver that.
So it's about one hundred and thirty days someone's days
on remand for a local court matter, in three hundred
days for Supreme Court. So it is significant. It is
absolutely significant. But for your listeners, the flip side is this,
do you want those people out on the streets, And
(17:45):
the answer is no. So as a whole system wide reform,
we need to be making that process better, and there's
lots of work to be done. I mean that the
neglect in this entire space, from policing through to legal
aid funding through to the court, the whole, the whole
spectrum and corrections is broken, and so we're rebuilding from
(18:06):
the ground up.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Chief finished a quick listener question this morning.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
They're wondering if there's an update on the Amphibian aerospace
industries those airplanes.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Is that still going a hit?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Actually, that's a good question. I don't know the answer
to that, but very happy to find out what's going
on there. Of course, the previous government from memory supported
them with a ten million dollar grant from the Local
Jobs Fund, So I don't know if any aeroplanes have
been built yet. I'd be pretty skeptical that they had,
but happy to get an update.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
Really well, and this is.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
The thing, you know, ten million bucks.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
If that has gone towards that project and there's nothing
happening in that space, you start to really scratch your head.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Oh, Katie, there, I wish it was only that one project.
There's money that's been going everywhere. And even in yesterday's paper,
you know, we've identified about two hundred million dollars in
reprioritization just across three projects that we can not spend
that money on for now and put it into things
that really really matter. So we will continue that work
(19:10):
of looking through the books, what is labor committed Territorians to,
what do they want money spent on, and how can
we spend that money better so that we're not blowing
our debt out even further, but delivering the services and
the infrastructure that Territorians need today.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Well, Chief Minister Leah Finocchio really appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Thanks so much for joining us From Alice.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Thank you, Take care everyone.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Thank you.
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