Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, as many of you would have seen, the Northern
Territory Chief Minister Natasha Files was allegedly physically assaulted at
the Nightcliff Market yesterday. The Northern Territory Police so that
they've now charged a fifty six year old woman with
aggravated assault following that incident, which happened just before midday.
Now the woman has been bailed to appear in the
(00:20):
Darwin Local Court on the tenth of October. And the
Chief Minister joins me in the studio right now. Good
morning to your Chief Minister.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Morning Katie, Morning listeners.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Are you okay?
Speaker 4 (00:30):
She gave me a good wat Katie, that's for sure,
in a bit of pain, but it's okay.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I'll get on with it. But it's just not acceptable.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Violence is never acceptable, and especially just out in the
community at a community event. I don't care if you
try and dress it up by throwing a crate. You know,
she gave me a fair shove and it's not acceptable.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Well, you can actually see your eye does look as though.
Correct me if I'm wrong that it is blackening slightly?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
It is, Katie, But that's okay.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I'll catch up with the GPS later on and just
make sure my eye is okay. But it just I
don't understand in our community how it can get to
this point. I'm happy to have the tough conversations, Katie.
I talked to people. Ironically, I'd had a couple of
chats earlier that day, you know, with people on the
far right and the far left. You know, I'm happy
to have those conversations. I won't always necessarily agree with you,
(01:23):
but we need to be able to do it through words.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Violence is never acceptable.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Can you talk me through what happened exactly as I
understand it. You'd been in the bank for their celebration,
their fifteen year anniversary celebration.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
You walked out the door. What happened?
Speaker 4 (01:39):
So like my Sunday's Katie down at the markets, catching
up with people. Bendigo Bank a great community bank, putting
back into the community, and I feel terrible for them
that the tail end of their event was ruined. They
were handing out checks to community organizations donating back into
the community, and I was leaving that event to head
back over to my office, walked out the door, and
(02:01):
you know, the attack happened. So I've provided a statement
to police and I'll let them continue their investigations. I'd
just like to thank everyone. A number of people did come.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
To support me.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Obviously, I was quite shocked after it happened, but you know,
it certainly was a fair whack. But up and at
it today and I'll just make sure that that eye's okay.
And as I said, violence is never okay in our community.
I'm always up for the conversation, and you know, I
make myself available, you know, right across the territory to people.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
You know, it doesn't matter who you are or what
you issue is.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
I'll help you provide that pathway, whether it's talking to departments,
talking to my staff or talking to me.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Do you have any idea what her concerns were.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I have no idea.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
I've never I don't ever recall interacting with her before.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
It's been reported by the Australian the woman Well, they're
reporting that the detectives are canvassing whether that incident occurred
due to the woman's husband's experience with COVID nineteen vaccination
side effects and a medical operation. I mean, do you
have any idea if that's the case.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Katie, I don't have any commentary on that, As I said,
I don't recall meeting.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Her before.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
This. Does this incident indicate for you a need.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
For further security, Katie, I'm not asking for anyone's sympathy,
but no one expects to go to work and expect
to be assaulted. Here in the territory particularly, I think
we make ourselves very much available as members of Parliament
and I've had a number of my colleagues from across
the Chamber and former members of Parliament reach out to
me because that's what's unique about us here in the territories.
You can go to the Sunday markets and talk to
(03:37):
the Chief Minister. People into state say a premier would
never do that, and you know that's how you make
sure you keep in touch with your community, that you're
up to date on what's concerning every day mums and
dads and territorians.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Well, I think that.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
That's the really disappointing part of this is, you know,
I advocate every day for Territorians to have a voice,
so I certainly i've and you know what, I'm all
for people having a crack at your policies, having a
crack about crime, having a crack about their concerns, but
you do not crack someone in the face.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
It's never acceptable.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
And you know, I feel quite strongly about that that
whether whether it's you, whether it's Leofanocchiaro, whether it's me,
no matter who it is, just enterprise chancey Paike, I
don't care.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
You do not go and smack someone in the face,
whether it's with a crape or whether it's with your fist.
It's not all right. None of us think that violence
is okay.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Now, I do note that you are very accessible. You know,
are you going to have to change the way that
you do things, O Katie.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
I want to get out there and engage with the community.
I love our community, and as I said, I was
talking to people earlier that morning that have quite different
views to me, and I try and make people with
different views comfortable to talk to me about it, because,
as I said, I can either articulate the facts and
disagree with them, or I can actually take on board
their points and then help that in the policies and
(05:01):
legislation and the things we do as a government. So
I don't necessarily expect everyone to agree with me. I
don't want them to agree with me. Part of democracy
is being able to have that robust debate and that's
what it should be, a debate, not a whack in
the face.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Now it is being as I said, it is being
reported that the Police Commissioner, Michael Murphy is potentially considering
ramping up protection for you and the cabinet.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Is that required, Katie.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Police make assessments on our security, not just me and
my cabinet members, but all members of the Northern Territory Parliament,
and as I have said previously, we do need to
take our security seriously, and there is support through legislative
Assembly and anti police and will let them make those assessments.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Chief Minister.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
There are people on social media saying, while I don't
condone what has happened, the Chief Minister now has a
better understanding of what every day people are facing when
it comes to crime.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
What do you say to those people?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Crime is not okay, violence is not okay, it's it's
never okay, and it's not a competition any incident that
takes place. I absolutely condone that, and we work incredibly hard, Katie.
We've talked endlessly around short term, long term measures, but
what I'd say is crime is not a competition here
in the territory. And I take territory as concerns very seriously,
(06:19):
but it needs to be through debate.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I mean, like I say, the situation seems to be
really polarizing people. I think the large majority of people
do not feel that violence is okay in any way,
shape or form. But there is certainly, you know, there
are certainly people saying I hope that this changes the
way that the Chief Minister thinks about the impact that
crime is having on us.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
So, Katie, for eleven years, my door has been open.
I have heard from our community and worked through the issues.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
That we face.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
But I don't think we need to have an incident
like that for me to realize that I understand crime,
antisocial behavior, what happens in our community. I don't need
an assault in my workplace to make me realize that
I already know that, and that's why every day I
fight so passionately for territorians and community safety.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I mean, the sentiment though from people again is they're
saying things like this demonstrates how de escalation training, for example,
is much easier said than done.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Oh Katie, I'm not going to get into the incident.
It's under police investigation. People can view the footage and
make a decision. But there was no you know, it
was a whack in the face in a public place
while I was doing my job.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Look, you know, I can see that you're physically shaken
by it. I can see that you you know, you
are emotional from what's gone on. And I can absolutely
understand why nobody should have to go through that when
they are in their workplace. Nobody should have to go
through that when they're walking down the street. But again,
I just you know, I've read even on the Justice
(07:58):
for Deckl and Lavity Pay, and they have seen violence
is not okay. That's what I'm advocating for on this
page too, in some of the violence it's so prevalent
in society. And I hope the Chief Minister is okay
physically and psychologically. And you know, I will say that,
you know, you're talking about a mum here and a
(08:19):
family here who've lost a loved one as a result
of violent offending and of assault of the most extreme kind.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
They are saying that.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
I do hope that the Chief Minister takes that scared
feeling that she had during it and turns it around
to understand a little bit of what people are telling
her they feel right now.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
So, Katie, I'm not asking for sympathy. What I have
been doing since the moment I was elected to Parliament
eleven years ago, since the moment I became a minister
and a chief Minister, is trying to make the territory
a better place, a safer place to tackle the issues
we have. But for people to think that politicians are
fair game is completely unacceptable. We live in a beautiful
democracy and that democracy is, especially in the territory, unique,
(09:03):
and you'll see members of Parliament who are on different sides,
and we'll go into that chamber and we'll debate, we'll
debate in here on the radio. Yeah, we'll be able
to joke around and be jovial and find things in common.
And so I hope we don't lose that. But what
took place yesterday is completely unacceptable. I never condone violence,
(09:23):
I never condone crime, and I will continue to work
to make the territory safer.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Are you worried that what you saw yesterday demonstrates that
we are losing that as a community.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Katie, I think we do need to think about that
specialness of our democracy and make sure that we keep
what is special, the fact that we're small communities that
we see people out and about that. You know, most
members of the Northern Territory Parliament are always up for
a chat. It doesn't matter whether you're in woollies or
down at the markets or in Parliament. And so I
(09:55):
think it is important because that's how we can understand
the issues right across the territory and work to an
proof the territory.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Well Ross is just called in to say that she's
flabbergasted about the assault on the Chief Minister. She's not
happy with that behavior at all, saying we don't we
don't saying don't we have.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
A voice at the polls? You know, it's just not
called for.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
And you know, again I will say, I know that
that people may or may not have may or may
have may or may not have differing opinions, but it's
not okay to assault somebody. I call it out in
this studio every single day. When I see everyday Territorians
that are faced with assault, I'll call it out. When
people are involved in domestic violence incidents.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
I'll call it out.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Whether it's your workplace or somebody else's workplace, it's not okay.
It's not all right to do, and we should not
as a community, except that it's the right thing to do.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Katie, I agree. I got hit in the face. I'm
back at work today. It's not okay. But every assault
has the same reaction for me, and that is that
it's not okay.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
All right.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I want to move along because there is quite a
bit still happening around the place this morning, and according
to a report in the Australian newspaper, Defense Minister Richard
Marles and the Chief of Army Simon Stewart, are scheduled
to announce the Army's new structure on Thursday, which flows
from the Defense Strategic reviews focus on Northern Australia and
the government's decision to slash the number of new infantry
(11:20):
fighting vehicles. The service is going to go from four
point fifty to one hundred and twenty nine, but the
changes are expected to include the relocation of the seventh Battalion,
Royal Australian Regiment from Adelaide's Edinburgh Barracks to the Roberts
And Barracks in Darwin, where it would combine the fifth.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Battalion of the Royal Australian regiment.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Now the changes reverse that twenty ten decision which cost
about a billion dollars at the time to shift those
units to Adelaide because the wet season was making year
round training too difficult.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Chief Minister, is this on the agenda?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Are we going to see a greater are we going
to see more know more defense personnel posted here relocated
back Madelaide to Darwin.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
So, Katie, I've been working really hard as Chief Minister
to diversify our economy to grow those projects so we
have jobs for territorians and Defense is a key part
of that. The Defense Strategic Review points to Northern Australia
and particularly to Darwin. So Katie I will be briefed
during the week, but I can just point to that
Defense Strategic Review which talks about the importance of Northern Australia.
(12:23):
Defense will make the decisions that are best strategically for Australia,
but there is no doubt that the top end is
a key part of that.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
How many soldiers will we see move back to the northern.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Territory, So Katie, I don't have specific numbers, but in
terms of the Defense Strategic Review, it points to the
importance of Northern Australia and the top end, and that
we need to have our services here. I take on
board you know why they perhaps left with the wet season,
but I think you can work around those factors and
the reality is, you know, for the world and for Australia,
(12:54):
Northern Territory is a key part of that defense strategic
into the strategy into the future.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Expecting that by Thursday when you have that meeting, that
you're going to know whither we are going to see
those personnel move back here.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
So Katie, we will continue to work with the Commonwealth
and also allies as we have been. As soon as
we have information that's confirmed, will share that with.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Territory, all right.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Finally, this morning, the ABC is reporting that the government's
appealing a court order to pay nearly a million dollars
in damages to former don Dale Youth Detention inmates who
were unlawfully tear gassed in twenty fourteen. So again, the
ABC is reporting that lawyers for the Government of Lodge
documents challenging the recent Anty Supreme Court decision, arguing the
(13:37):
penalty against them was manifestly excessive and the judge who
approved the compensation got it wrong. What's the government hoping
to achieve here? Should these detainees be paid out?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
So, Katie, it is a matter before the courts, but
I wish we weren't spending money on this.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
If people do the.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
Wrong thing, they are incarcerated, they pay the consequences for
their crime. It is a matter from twenty five fourteen
to some time ago. And as I said, it's before
the court, so we'll make sure that we're acting in
the best interests of territory taxpayer dollars.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
I mean, the fact is though they were in detention,
obviously they would tear gass. They were in detention for
a reason. If they do get a payout, should they
have to pay restitution to some of their victims of crime?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
So, Katie, as I said, I wish we weren't spending
money on this matter. It is complex in terms of
that step second step that you mentioned around You know,
people have committed a crime, if they get penalties awarded
to them, that restricution. But as I said, I wish
we weren't. It's a matter from twenty fourteen historical I
wish we weren't, you know, using taxpayer dollars to be
(14:39):
in the courts. I think our frontline agencies work incredibly hard.
We often talk about police and medical, but those in
corrections and youth justice work incredibly hard in complex situations
and they make decisions at the time.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
But it sounds so.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
That the government does not want to have to pay
this money, which I think most territories would agree with.
Most of us are going, well, hang on a second.
You know, we don't want this money to be paid out,
and obviously the judge has gone through the process to
make that determination. But you know, I think a lot
of people would like to see that money invested in
other things.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
And Katie, it is a matter before the courts.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
I need to be concise with my commentary, but as
I said, I wish we weren't spending money in this
situation in awarding those damages.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
The Justice Jenny Blocklin had said that the NT government
had not acknowledged the incident was unlawful and that it
contravened the Weapons Control Act and there has been no apology.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Should there be an apology to those detainees.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
So, Katie, as I said, our frontline work is when
they are dealing with incredibly complex situations, make the decisions
at the time, and we of course review things and
make sure that we provide the support and training going forward.
But I'll allow the courts to settle this matter.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Chief Minister Natasha Files will leave it there. Thank you
for your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Thank you
Now, as many of you would have seen, the Northern
Territory Chief Minister Natasha Files was allegedly physically assaulted at
the Nightcliff Market yesterday. The Northern Territory Police so that
they've now charged a fifty six year old woman with
aggravated assault following that incident, which happened just before midday.
Now the woman has been bailed to appear in the
(00:20):
Darwin Local Court on the tenth of October. And the
Chief Minister joins me in the studio right now. Good
morning to your Chief Minister.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Morning Katie, Morning listeners.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Are you okay?
Speaker 4 (00:30):
She gave me a good wat Katie, that's for sure,
in a bit of pain, but it's okay.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I'll get on with it. But it's just not acceptable.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Violence is never acceptable, and especially just out in the
community at a community event. I don't care if you
try and dress it up by throwing a crate. You know,
she gave me a fair shove and it's not acceptable.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Well, you can actually see your eye does look as though.
Correct me if I'm wrong that it is blackening slightly?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
It is, Katie, But that's okay.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I'll catch up with the GPS later on and just
make sure my eye is okay. But it just I
don't understand in our community how it can get to
this point. I'm happy to have the tough conversations, Katie.
I talked to people. Ironically, I'd had a couple of
chats earlier that day, you know, with people on the
far right and the far left. You know, I'm happy
to have those conversations. I won't always necessarily agree with you,
(01:23):
but we need to be able to do it through words.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Violence is never acceptable.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Can you talk me through what happened exactly as I
understand it. You'd been in the bank for their celebration,
their fifteen year anniversary celebration.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
You walked out the door. What happened?
Speaker 4 (01:39):
So like my Sunday's Katie down at the markets, catching
up with people. Bendigo Bank a great community bank, putting
back into the community, and I feel terrible for them
that the tail end of their event was ruined. They
were handing out checks to community organizations donating back into
the community, and I was leaving that event to head
back over to my office, walked out the door, and
(02:01):
you know, the attack happened. So I've provided a statement
to police and I'll let them continue their investigations. I'd
just like to thank everyone. A number of people did come.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
To support me.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Obviously, I was quite shocked after it happened, but you know,
it certainly was a fair whack. But up and at
it today and I'll just make sure that that eye's okay.
And as I said, violence is never okay in our community.
I'm always up for the conversation, and you know, I
make myself available, you know, right across the territory to people.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
You know, it doesn't matter who you are or what
you issue is.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
I'll help you provide that pathway, whether it's talking to departments,
talking to my staff or talking to me.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Do you have any idea what her concerns were.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I have no idea.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
I've never I don't ever recall interacting with her before.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
It's been reported by the Australian the woman Well, they're
reporting that the detectives are canvassing whether that incident occurred
due to the woman's husband's experience with COVID nineteen vaccination
side effects and a medical operation. I mean, do you
have any idea if that's the case.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Katie, I don't have any commentary on that, As I said,
I don't recall meeting.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Her before.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
This. Does this incident indicate for you a need.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
For further security, Katie, I'm not asking for anyone's sympathy,
but no one expects to go to work and expect
to be assaulted. Here in the territory particularly, I think
we make ourselves very much available as members of Parliament
and I've had a number of my colleagues from across
the Chamber and former members of Parliament reach out to
me because that's what's unique about us here in the territories.
You can go to the Sunday markets and talk to
(03:37):
the Chief Minister. People into state say a premier would
never do that, and you know that's how you make
sure you keep in touch with your community, that you're
up to date on what's concerning every day mums and
dads and territorians.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Well, I think that.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
That's the really disappointing part of this is, you know,
I advocate every day for Territorians to have a voice,
so I certainly i've and you know what, I'm all
for people having a crack at your policies, having a
crack about crime, having a crack about their concerns, but
you do not crack someone in the face.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
It's never acceptable.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
And you know, I feel quite strongly about that that
whether whether it's you, whether it's Leofanocchiaro, whether it's me,
no matter who it is, just enterprise chancey Paike, I
don't care.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
You do not go and smack someone in the face,
whether it's with a crape or whether it's with your fist.
It's not all right. None of us think that violence
is okay.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Now, I do note that you are very accessible. You know,
are you going to have to change the way that
you do things, O Katie.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
I want to get out there and engage with the community.
I love our community, and as I said, I was
talking to people earlier that morning that have quite different
views to me, and I try and make people with
different views comfortable to talk to me about it, because,
as I said, I can either articulate the facts and
disagree with them, or I can actually take on board
their points and then help that in the policies and
(05:01):
legislation and the things we do as a government. So
I don't necessarily expect everyone to agree with me. I
don't want them to agree with me. Part of democracy
is being able to have that robust debate and that's
what it should be, a debate, not a whack in
the face.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Now it is being as I said, it is being
reported that the Police Commissioner, Michael Murphy is potentially considering
ramping up protection for you and the cabinet.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Is that required, Katie.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Police make assessments on our security, not just me and
my cabinet members, but all members of the Northern Territory Parliament,
and as I have said previously, we do need to
take our security seriously, and there is support through legislative
Assembly and anti police and will let them make those assessments.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Chief Minister.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
There are people on social media saying, while I don't
condone what has happened, the Chief Minister now has a
better understanding of what every day people are facing when
it comes to crime.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
What do you say to those people?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Crime is not okay, violence is not okay, it's it's
never okay, and it's not a competition any incident that
takes place. I absolutely condone that, and we work incredibly hard, Katie.
We've talked endlessly around short term, long term measures, but
what I'd say is crime is not a competition here
in the territory. And I take territory as concerns very seriously,
(06:19):
but it needs to be through debate.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I mean, like I say, the situation seems to be
really polarizing people. I think the large majority of people
do not feel that violence is okay in any way,
shape or form. But there is certainly, you know, there
are certainly people saying I hope that this changes the
way that the Chief Minister thinks about the impact that
crime is having on us.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
So, Katie, for eleven years, my door has been open.
I have heard from our community and worked through the issues.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
That we face.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
But I don't think we need to have an incident
like that for me to realize that I understand crime,
antisocial behavior, what happens in our community. I don't need
an assault in my workplace to make me realize that
I already know that, and that's why every day I
fight so passionately for territorians and community safety.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I mean, the sentiment though from people again is they're
saying things like this demonstrates how de escalation training, for example,
is much easier said than done.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Oh Katie, I'm not going to get into the incident.
It's under police investigation. People can view the footage and
make a decision. But there was no you know, it
was a whack in the face in a public place
while I was doing my job.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Look, you know, I can see that you're physically shaken
by it. I can see that you you know, you
are emotional from what's gone on. And I can absolutely
understand why nobody should have to go through that when
they are in their workplace. Nobody should have to go
through that when they're walking down the street. But again,
I just you know, I've read even on the Justice
(07:58):
for Deckl and Lavity Pay, and they have seen violence
is not okay. That's what I'm advocating for on this
page too, in some of the violence it's so prevalent
in society. And I hope the Chief Minister is okay
physically and psychologically. And you know, I will say that,
you know, you're talking about a mum here and a
(08:19):
family here who've lost a loved one as a result
of violent offending and of assault of the most extreme kind.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
They are saying that.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
I do hope that the Chief Minister takes that scared
feeling that she had during it and turns it around
to understand a little bit of what people are telling
her they feel right now.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
So, Katie, I'm not asking for sympathy. What I have
been doing since the moment I was elected to Parliament
eleven years ago, since the moment I became a minister
and a chief Minister, is trying to make the territory
a better place, a safer place to tackle the issues
we have. But for people to think that politicians are
fair game is completely unacceptable. We live in a beautiful
democracy and that democracy is, especially in the territory, unique,
(09:03):
and you'll see members of Parliament who are on different sides,
and we'll go into that chamber and we'll debate, we'll
debate in here on the radio. Yeah, we'll be able
to joke around and be jovial and find things in common.
And so I hope we don't lose that. But what
took place yesterday is completely unacceptable. I never condone violence,
(09:23):
I never condone crime, and I will continue to work
to make the territory safer.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Are you worried that what you saw yesterday demonstrates that
we are losing that as a community.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Katie, I think we do need to think about that
specialness of our democracy and make sure that we keep
what is special, the fact that we're small communities that
we see people out and about that. You know, most
members of the Northern Territory Parliament are always up for
a chat. It doesn't matter whether you're in woollies or
down at the markets or in Parliament. And so I
(09:55):
think it is important because that's how we can understand
the issues right across the territory and work to an
proof the territory.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Well Ross is just called in to say that she's
flabbergasted about the assault on the Chief Minister. She's not
happy with that behavior at all, saying we don't we
don't saying don't we have.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
A voice at the polls? You know, it's just not
called for.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
And you know, again I will say, I know that
that people may or may not have may or may
have may or may not have differing opinions, but it's
not okay to assault somebody. I call it out in
this studio every single day. When I see everyday Territorians
that are faced with assault, I'll call it out. When
people are involved in domestic violence incidents.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
I'll call it out.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Whether it's your workplace or somebody else's workplace, it's not okay.
It's not all right to do, and we should not
as a community, except that it's the right thing to do.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Katie, I agree. I got hit in the face. I'm
back at work today. It's not okay. But every assault
has the same reaction for me, and that is that
it's not okay.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
All right.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I want to move along because there is quite a
bit still happening around the place this morning, and according
to a report in the Australian newspaper, Defense Minister Richard
Marles and the Chief of Army Simon Stewart, are scheduled
to announce the Army's new structure on Thursday, which flows
from the Defense Strategic reviews focus on Northern Australia and
the government's decision to slash the number of new infantry
(11:20):
fighting vehicles. The service is going to go from four
point fifty to one hundred and twenty nine, but the
changes are expected to include the relocation of the seventh Battalion,
Royal Australian Regiment from Adelaide's Edinburgh Barracks to the Roberts
And Barracks in Darwin, where it would combine the fifth.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Battalion of the Royal Australian regiment.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Now the changes reverse that twenty ten decision which cost
about a billion dollars at the time to shift those
units to Adelaide because the wet season was making year
round training too difficult.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Chief Minister, is this on the agenda?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Are we going to see a greater are we going
to see more know more defense personnel posted here relocated
back Madelaide to Darwin.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
So, Katie, I've been working really hard as Chief Minister
to diversify our economy to grow those projects so we
have jobs for territorians and Defense is a key part
of that. The Defense Strategic Review points to Northern Australia
and particularly to Darwin. So Katie I will be briefed
during the week, but I can just point to that
Defense Strategic Review which talks about the importance of Northern Australia.
(12:23):
Defense will make the decisions that are best strategically for Australia,
but there is no doubt that the top end is
a key part of that.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
How many soldiers will we see move back to the northern.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Territory, So Katie, I don't have specific numbers, but in
terms of the Defense Strategic Review, it points to the
importance of Northern Australia and the top end, and that
we need to have our services here. I take on
board you know why they perhaps left with the wet season,
but I think you can work around those factors and
the reality is, you know, for the world and for Australia,
(12:54):
Northern Territory is a key part of that defense strategic
into the strategy into the future.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Expecting that by Thursday when you have that meeting, that
you're going to know whither we are going to see
those personnel move back here.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
So Katie, we will continue to work with the Commonwealth
and also allies as we have been. As soon as
we have information that's confirmed, will share that with.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Territory, all right.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Finally, this morning, the ABC is reporting that the government's
appealing a court order to pay nearly a million dollars
in damages to former don Dale Youth Detention inmates who
were unlawfully tear gassed in twenty fourteen. So again, the
ABC is reporting that lawyers for the Government of Lodge
documents challenging the recent Anty Supreme Court decision, arguing the
(13:37):
penalty against them was manifestly excessive and the judge who
approved the compensation got it wrong. What's the government hoping
to achieve here? Should these detainees be paid out?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
So, Katie, it is a matter before the courts, but
I wish we weren't spending money on this.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
If people do the.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
Wrong thing, they are incarcerated, they pay the consequences for
their crime. It is a matter from twenty five fourteen
to some time ago. And as I said, it's before
the court, so we'll make sure that we're acting in
the best interests of territory taxpayer dollars.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
I mean, the fact is though they were in detention,
obviously they would tear gass. They were in detention for
a reason. If they do get a payout, should they
have to pay restitution to some of their victims of crime?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
So, Katie, as I said, I wish we weren't spending
money on this matter. It is complex in terms of
that step second step that you mentioned around You know,
people have committed a crime, if they get penalties awarded
to them, that restricution. But as I said, I wish
we weren't. It's a matter from twenty fourteen historical I
wish we weren't, you know, using taxpayer dollars to be
(14:39):
in the courts. I think our frontline agencies work incredibly hard.
We often talk about police and medical, but those in
corrections and youth justice work incredibly hard in complex situations
and they make decisions at the time.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
But it sounds so.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
That the government does not want to have to pay
this money, which I think most territories would agree with.
Most of us are going, well, hang on a second.
You know, we don't want this money to be paid out,
and obviously the judge has gone through the process to
make that determination. But you know, I think a lot
of people would like to see that money invested in
other things.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
And Katie, it is a matter before the courts.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
I need to be concise with my commentary, but as
I said, I wish we weren't spending money in this
situation in awarding those damages.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
The Justice Jenny Blocklin had said that the NT government
had not acknowledged the incident was unlawful and that it
contravened the Weapons Control Act and there has been no apology.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Should there be an apology to those detainees.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
So, Katie, as I said, our frontline work is when
they are dealing with incredibly complex situations, make the decisions
at the time, and we of course review things and
make sure that we provide the support and training going forward.
But I'll allow the courts to settle this matter.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Chief Minister Natasha Files will leave it there. Thank you
for your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Thank you
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.