Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And joining me live on the line right now is
the Greens candidate Greg Dixon.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good morning Greg, Good morning Katie. How are you yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Really good? Great to have you on the show now
seven minutes, lots of questions. Are you ready to get into.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Us, Yes, let's do it all right.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Why did you decide to put your hand up to
run for the seat of Port Darwin.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Well, I've lived in the territory for a long time.
I've lived remote, I've lived regionally in Catherine, and now
I live in Darwin here in the electorate. I've been
here long enough. I've lived under Labor governments and the
COP governments. I've been passionate about politics and policies for
a long time. Like many in the territory, I've kind
of been dismayed at some of the unpopular decisions thement
(00:41):
governments have made. At the moment, we're looking at things
like the Middle petrochemical hub, fracking, the expansion of cotton,
the developments at Lee Point, and we know these are
unpopular decisions, and yet Labor government and also COP in
their time did similar things and went ahead with these things.
And if some of this is because as we look
at who is donating to these parties. I'm proud to
(01:03):
stand for the Greens because we don't take corporate donations.
We also think through our policies, and we have strong policies.
We know that we need things like more public housing,
more affordable housing, more community housing. We know we need
greater environmental protections and new ideas through our economy. We
know we need new ideas about community safety because our
bulging prisons are not really making us safer. So when
(01:24):
the opportunity to represent the Greens here in my own
electriate came up, I jumped to the chance to stand
for integrity and politics, to stand for the environment, and
to stand for policies and decisions that put people first.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Greg, tell us a little bit more about previous roles
that you've held, and you know some of the work
that you've done in the community that really puts you
in best stead to be the best person for the
role as the local member.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So I've lived in the NT for over twenty years.
My work is as a linguist as an interpreter. Mostly
so I've worked in court as an interpreter. I've worked
in education and schools as a linguist. My other passion
is tennis. So I've worked in community sports, I've worked
in community organizations and not for profits, and I've worked
for small businesses as well. I know about life in
remote communities, I know about life in regional centers like
(02:12):
Catherine and now I live in Darwin, so and I
know how to work smartly and efficiently across various populations
of the MPT, and how to get great outcomes. In
honor to represent the Greens here in Port Darwin and
to give our residency opportunity to vote for Greens policies.
On housing, We've got a clear plan to make life
better for renters and give them more protections and relief
from massive unregulated rent increases. On community safety, we know
(02:35):
we need a voice in the debate that calls for
real support for people so that they can stay away
from committing crime in the first place, so that we
can make sure people's basic needs a met like having
a good home and safe places to be at night.
And of course I'm protecting our stunning, pristine natural environment
and addressing climate change. The Greens are the only ones
who will be strong on that. So I'm qualified both
(02:55):
because I know this place, I love this place, and
because we've got a real strong policy platform by evidence
and not influenced by corporate donations. So when you vote
Green and vote for me, you're voting for something better.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
So what do you see is the biggest issues in
the electrotes right now?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
So, particularly in Port Darwin, one of the issues for
us is renting and housing security. We actually have seventy
two percent of people in our sea tour renters and
yet the NT has the worst protections to rented in
the country, So you can be evicted from your rental
property with no reason. Your bond doesn't go to an
independent bond board, so the landlord has full discretion about
(03:33):
what to do with your bond. We've also seen rents
go up exponentially in recent years, so the Greens nationally
we're advocating for a rental free for two years and
to have rental increases capped after that. Here in the NT,
we're advocating for an independent bond board and regulation so
that you can't be evicted with no reason. That's going
to make a difference to how business and the economy
(03:55):
operates in the city. We want people to feel secure
about the home so that they can feel secure about
starting a business here, or having a job here, or
building a life here. I think the other big issue
for the electric is community safety. I'm like everybody else,
I've experienced crime, but what I have seen is that
the current approach isn't working. We've seen labor in the
COLP just wanting to do more of the same and
(04:15):
pooring money into the policing and the punishment and incarceration
end of it. And look, if just been tough on
crime work, the NTA would be the safest place in
the country. But our prison population it's actually increased thirty
percent of the last ten years, and people feel less safe.
So we need something different. We need a voice in
the debate that looks wants something different and we want
(04:37):
something that has evidence. So we're getting more of the
same from the political parties. We want to address the
issue at both ends, and we know we need safer homes,
we need more support for youth. We want youth drop
in centers. We need more public and affordable housing, which
has been neglected by recent governments where the only part
that's advocating for addressing people's immediate needs to keep them
(04:58):
from entering the justice system.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
In the first place, Greg When it comes to the
issues of public drunkenness and anti social behavior, it's been
something that's really been highlighted with us on the show
by different business owners, particularly what would you do in
this space?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
It's really challenging because we know in the territory we
love a drink. It is we drink more than anywhere
else in the country. So we do need cultural ships
around that. In the immediate term, we need more favoring
up services, not less. And what's happened at the moment
is that we've had a drug and alcohol rehab service
in Darwin, which is you to be suddenly closed yep,
(05:35):
suddenly closed and there's no certainty about when it will reopen,
maybe next year in Parmerston, and that's not really good
enough from the palm from the government. We have a
candidate in Fanny bay Siki Doris Walkhart. She's been running
a petition that has hundreds of signatures opposing the closure
of that service. So, yes, anti social behavior is a problem,
(05:56):
but are we doing the right things to address it?
And similar to what I was saying about addressing the
crime issue at both ends, we need more support services,
we need more secure housing, we need more social housing
so that people have a safe place and they're not
resorting to crime in the first place.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Greg, we've got just over a minute left. I believe
you might have said this before, but do you live
in the electorate? We are asking all of the candidates.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yes, I do. I am in an apartment in Smith Street,
so love the electorate. My local cafe is Coffee Stop.
Love living in.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
It's a good coffee at our copy stop. Now tell
us why should people vote for you?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Like I said, I've lived through CLP governments and labor governments.
I've seen poor decisions and policies from both those governments,
and I know that a lot of people have switched
off from politics or they want something different. So I
feel like we need more normal people to put their
hands up and run to office. Otherwise we just keep
getting the same thing from our politicians. But just about me.
The Greens are a great party because we don't take
(06:54):
corporate donations and we can't be bought. We are a true,
grossroots party driven by the community. We're the only party
really prepared to protect the spectacular natural environment we have
in the NT. We're the only ones thinking carefully about
how to tackle the crime issue by breaking cycles of
crime where No, we're not going to be the majority
government tomorrow sorry after the election, but we really want
(07:16):
us to get into the Parliament for the first time
so that we can put a light on the major
issues and hold major parties to account. So if that
sounds good to you, then a vote for me and
a vote for the Greens it will be your thing
to do well.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Greg, great to speak with you this morning. I really
appreciate your time. Thanks so much for having a chat
with us and letting our listeners know a bit more
about you.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Awesome. Thanks for the opportunity, Katie.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Thank you
And joining me live on the line right now is
the Greens candidate Greg Dixon.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good morning Greg, Good morning Katie. How are you yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Really good? Great to have you on the show now
seven minutes, lots of questions. Are you ready to get into.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Us, Yes, let's do it all right.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Why did you decide to put your hand up to
run for the seat of Port Darwin.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Well, I've lived in the territory for a long time.
I've lived remote, I've lived regionally in Catherine, and now
I live in Darwin here in the electorate. I've been
here long enough. I've lived under Labor governments and the
COP governments. I've been passionate about politics and policies for
a long time. Like many in the territory, I've kind
of been dismayed at some of the unpopular decisions thement
(00:41):
governments have made. At the moment, we're looking at things
like the Middle petrochemical hub, fracking, the expansion of cotton,
the developments at Lee Point, and we know these are
unpopular decisions, and yet Labor government and also COP in
their time did similar things and went ahead with these things.
And if some of this is because as we look
at who is donating to these parties. I'm proud to
(01:03):
stand for the Greens because we don't take corporate donations.
We also think through our policies, and we have strong policies.
We know that we need things like more public housing,
more affordable housing, more community housing. We know we need
greater environmental protections and new ideas through our economy. We
know we need new ideas about community safety because our
bulging prisons are not really making us safer. So when
(01:24):
the opportunity to represent the Greens here in my own
electriate came up, I jumped to the chance to stand
for integrity and politics, to stand for the environment, and
to stand for policies and decisions that put people first.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Greg, tell us a little bit more about previous roles
that you've held, and you know some of the work
that you've done in the community that really puts you
in best stead to be the best person for the
role as the local member.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So I've lived in the NT for over twenty years.
My work is as a linguist as an interpreter. Mostly
so I've worked in court as an interpreter. I've worked
in education and schools as a linguist. My other passion
is tennis. So I've worked in community sports, I've worked
in community organizations and not for profits, and I've worked
for small businesses as well. I know about life in
remote communities, I know about life in regional centers like
(02:12):
Catherine and now I live in Darwin, so and I
know how to work smartly and efficiently across various populations
of the MPT, and how to get great outcomes. In
honor to represent the Greens here in Port Darwin and
to give our residency opportunity to vote for Greens policies.
On housing, We've got a clear plan to make life
better for renters and give them more protections and relief
from massive unregulated rent increases. On community safety, we know
(02:35):
we need a voice in the debate that calls for
real support for people so that they can stay away
from committing crime in the first place, so that we
can make sure people's basic needs a met like having
a good home and safe places to be at night.
And of course I'm protecting our stunning, pristine natural environment
and addressing climate change. The Greens are the only ones
who will be strong on that. So I'm qualified both
(02:55):
because I know this place, I love this place, and
because we've got a real strong policy platform by evidence
and not influenced by corporate donations. So when you vote
Green and vote for me, you're voting for something better.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
So what do you see is the biggest issues in
the electrotes right now?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
So, particularly in Port Darwin, one of the issues for
us is renting and housing security. We actually have seventy
two percent of people in our sea tour renters and
yet the NT has the worst protections to rented in
the country, So you can be evicted from your rental
property with no reason. Your bond doesn't go to an
independent bond board, so the landlord has full discretion about
(03:33):
what to do with your bond. We've also seen rents
go up exponentially in recent years, so the Greens nationally
we're advocating for a rental free for two years and
to have rental increases capped after that. Here in the NT,
we're advocating for an independent bond board and regulation so
that you can't be evicted with no reason. That's going
to make a difference to how business and the economy
(03:55):
operates in the city. We want people to feel secure
about the home so that they can feel secure about
starting a business here, or having a job here, or
building a life here. I think the other big issue
for the electric is community safety. I'm like everybody else,
I've experienced crime, but what I have seen is that
the current approach isn't working. We've seen labor in the
COLP just wanting to do more of the same and
(04:15):
pooring money into the policing and the punishment and incarceration
end of it. And look, if just been tough on
crime work, the NTA would be the safest place in
the country. But our prison population it's actually increased thirty
percent of the last ten years, and people feel less safe.
So we need something different. We need a voice in
the debate that looks wants something different and we want
(04:37):
something that has evidence. So we're getting more of the
same from the political parties. We want to address the
issue at both ends, and we know we need safer homes,
we need more support for youth. We want youth drop
in centers. We need more public and affordable housing, which
has been neglected by recent governments where the only part
that's advocating for addressing people's immediate needs to keep them
(04:58):
from entering the justice system.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
In the first place, Greg When it comes to the
issues of public drunkenness and anti social behavior, it's been
something that's really been highlighted with us on the show
by different business owners, particularly what would you do in
this space?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
It's really challenging because we know in the territory we
love a drink. It is we drink more than anywhere
else in the country. So we do need cultural ships
around that. In the immediate term, we need more favoring
up services, not less. And what's happened at the moment
is that we've had a drug and alcohol rehab service
in Darwin, which is you to be suddenly closed yep,
(05:35):
suddenly closed and there's no certainty about when it will reopen,
maybe next year in Parmerston, and that's not really good
enough from the palm from the government. We have a
candidate in Fanny bay Siki Doris Walkhart. She's been running
a petition that has hundreds of signatures opposing the closure
of that service. So, yes, anti social behavior is a problem,
(05:56):
but are we doing the right things to address it?
And similar to what I was saying about addressing the
crime issue at both ends, we need more support services,
we need more secure housing, we need more social housing
so that people have a safe place and they're not
resorting to crime in the first place.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Greg, we've got just over a minute left. I believe
you might have said this before, but do you live
in the electorate? We are asking all of the candidates.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yes, I do. I am in an apartment in Smith Street,
so love the electorate. My local cafe is Coffee Stop.
Love living in.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
It's a good coffee at our copy stop. Now tell
us why should people vote for you?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Like I said, I've lived through CLP governments and labor governments.
I've seen poor decisions and policies from both those governments,
and I know that a lot of people have switched
off from politics or they want something different. So I
feel like we need more normal people to put their
hands up and run to office. Otherwise we just keep
getting the same thing from our politicians. But just about me.
The Greens are a great party because we don't take
(06:54):
corporate donations and we can't be bought. We are a true,
grossroots party driven by the community. We're the only party
really prepared to protect the spectacular natural environment we have
in the NT. We're the only ones thinking carefully about
how to tackle the crime issue by breaking cycles of
crime where No, we're not going to be the majority
government tomorrow sorry after the election, but we really want
(07:16):
us to get into the Parliament for the first time
so that we can put a light on the major
issues and hold major parties to account. So if that
sounds good to you, then a vote for me and
a vote for the Greens it will be your thing
to do well.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Greg, great to speak with you this morning. I really
appreciate your time. Thanks so much for having a chat
with us and letting our listeners know a bit more
about you.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Awesome. Thanks for the opportunity, Katie.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Thank you
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