The Week That Was – 12th July 2024

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This time for the week that was, and in the
studio with us today. We've got Jared Mayley from the COLP.
Good morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners. It was a bit
cold in the Royal. They have my jacket on this
morning and my horses.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
It does seem like it's called down a little bit
this morning. We've got Kate Warden from the Northern Suburbs
for the Labor Party. Good morning to you, Good morning Kaddy.

Speaker 3 (00:18):
And I was out at Palmerston at six o'clock this
morning and it was only eighteen degrees and I had
my jumper on.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
Glorious Matt Cunningham from the Republic of Nightcliff, Good morning.
I'm good to have you.

Speaker 4 (00:33):
In the studio.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Things going this morning, back coming in. Welcome back mate
after a week off.

Speaker 5 (00:49):
We want to see it again. We want to see
it again.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
Geezyer Bury, remember morning. Good morning to you.

Speaker 6 (00:57):
No yellow triangles out my ways, especially morning bush people
well lit, not on my property.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well look, I do want to actually start with some
news from overnight now. Northern Territory Police just issuing a
statement saying that at about five point fifty last night
police received reports of a man threatening residents with a
firearm in the vicinity of Somerville Gardens in perap Police
deployed to the area and a man returned to his
residence along Somerville Gardens refusing to leave. Police negotiators deployed

(01:28):
with the assistance of the Territory Response Group and accordum
was established around the units. Now, the man allegedly exited
his unit with a firearm when attending officers discharged one
shot in his direction before the man re entered his
unit with that firearm. After prolonged negotiations, the man was
safely apprehended by police at about five a m. After

(01:53):
exiting his residence. He is currently receiving a health assessment
and no injuries have been reported and there is no
risk to the public. The police say that initial information
indicates that the discharge of the police firearm was done
in accordance with policy and training, and the firearm discharge
is being investigated as a serious custody incident and will

(02:14):
be investigated by the Professional Standards Command. Deputy Commissioner Martin
Dole has said the incident highlights the risks faced every
day by our officers and I support the actions of
the members in keeping the public safe in difficult and
dangerous circumstances. And it certainly does sound like a pretty
dangerous situation unfolding.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
I just want to say that the police officer are
doing a great job. We all know that my dad
was a police officer. He tells me sorry that he
was shot at one to and he was on the
jobs part of the ear and he knows it's pretty bad.
So look, you know, I don't want to speak about incident.
Maybe it's some mental health issues, but I just want
to say the police are doing a great job and
thanks for keeping us safe.

Speaker 5 (02:53):
Back in Oh that's a first on this show, isn't it, Jared?
But it's true.

Speaker 3 (02:59):
Our front frontline police officers, they do an amazing job
every day. And I think, you know, you can read
between the lines in that one that there is highly
likely some mental health issues there and they deal with
that on an ongoing basis. And that's why we, you know,
we're backing in our police and investing in them further.
That's you know, we need to make sure that they
are safe every day on the beat.

Speaker 5 (03:21):
And this is just an example of why we need.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
A very highly trained tig to be honest Katie's and
that's why we've got them. And that's my understanding is
this morning they responded appropriately and did a fantastic job.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
Well, look, the police have absolutely been needed throughout this week,
there is no doubt about that. We know that. The
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy announced yesterday that he
would not be requesting an extension of the public Disordered
declaration for Alice Springs. That declaration concluded at twelve fifty
five yesterday. Commissioner Michael Murphy said that during the operational

(03:53):
hours of that that curfew, over three nights, police engaged
with one hundred and fifty nine people and nine three
were directed to leave the area, twenty conveyed into the
care of other agencies, and eighteen removed from the area
by police. No arrests were made in relation to the
public public disorder declaration. Now that followed on, of course,

(04:17):
from the curfew that was announced earlier in the week
for seventy two hours. I guess the difference on that
occasion was the hours in which that curfew was operating
and the fact that it applied to adults and indeed children,
not just children or not just young people like we'd
seen with the previous curfew. However, you look at it,
some really serious issues that desperately need to be dealt

(04:39):
with in Alice Springs.

Speaker 2 (04:40):
Look, ultimately, I think we know that crimes out of control.
It's out of control in Alice Springs and Tenant Creek,
Catherine Duto wherever, right across the northern Churchy and unfortunately
the Labor government have been in power and they've just
failed to deliver to keep territorian safe. It's a basic
right to be in the territory and be safe. People
can't even go down the street. People are getting sold
in a nighttime people and this curfew has to do

(05:02):
a good job, and it did what it had to do.
But why do we get that far? Why do we
get to have before to curfew and we know that
the police is spending two hundred million dollars? Why are
we spending that sort of money on the police because
the Labor government failed to deliver over the eight years
to get us in this situation where we are now,
and it's just a tip of the iceberg. You know
that police have been taking the power away from them.
I think I heard description are in handcuffs themselves. The

(05:24):
labor government have chipped away little changes to legislation, taking
away the police power, taking away the consequences for the crime,
and it's really enough's enough, And look.

Speaker 1 (05:34):
Those words that you use there, Jared. We did speak
to the husband and dad of police officers who were
indeed assaulted as well on Sunday, and I'll talk more
about that after. I mean, Kate, there is a lot
of discussion at this point in time where I know
that you know that labor is certainly intent on demonstrating
that that work is being done and that there is

(05:56):
action happening in this space. But for a lot of
people in the community, they're sort of going, well, you've
had eight years to try and get this under control,
and if anything, it feels like it's gotten worse.

Speaker 3 (06:06):
So, Katie, I think there's a whole range of things
across the country people are experiencing what we're experiencing.

Speaker 5 (06:12):
But in Alice Springs, what we've also got to talk.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
About is the fact that people are quite mobile and
people came in for the show, so we didn't talk
about that. That wasn't talked about in that reference, and
there are too many people have come in with no
proper plans and those kids aren't being supervised. That's what's
happened in this instance, and we've had that surge. I
went down I was down there and over that period
of time for the Alice Spring Show. I tell it's

(06:34):
a lot of really happy people. It really felt great.
The show was probably the best I've ever been to.
There was thousands of people there, Katie. But what happens afterwards,
and I have to tell you we haven't spoken about
that either. We've got some licensees down there that clearly
were selling on a lot of grog and then putting
people out into the street, and we saw the consequences
of that.

Speaker 1 (06:53):
But what I'll say about disputed.

Speaker 3 (06:55):
That dispute away, So I don't want to have a
discussion about that today.

Speaker 5 (06:59):
They can dispute all they want, but the police have
the powers.

Speaker 3 (07:02):
And I've spoken to a number of police officers and
I have to tell you I've seen it myself. So
one of those bars that's being talked about now, I've
seen them pull the shutters down and I've reported it
in order to avoid scrutiny, so you can't see who
they're feeding grog to.

Speaker 5 (07:16):
That has to change in our springs.

Speaker 1 (07:18):
That's a big call.

Speaker 5 (07:19):
I am telling you a fact what I have seen,
and I have called it in myself.

Speaker 3 (07:22):
It's a disgrace. So what we have to have is
everybody working together. We have to have responsible sale of alcohol.
We have to stop people doing these private sales. And
that's happening as well, and we're aware of that. So
the police are we giving them the tools to be
able to do something about it. But what I'll say
about curfew is what we did is put the legislation
in place so exactly what happened could happen. And it

(07:43):
takes it away from us as politicians sitting here, always
sitting there and going no, no, no, we're going to
do this.

Speaker 5 (07:49):
We're going to do that.

Speaker 3 (07:50):
We gave the police commission of the power and he
used it, and I think that that's the proof we
prepared to try it. We didn't necessarily think it would work.
We were told it wouldn't work. Point the police were
not wanting it. They that curfews wouldn't work. I'm happy
to eat my words and say it did work. And
I think what we've done is brave enough to move
that to legislation and that's now happening in our community and.

Speaker 5 (08:11):
We saw the effect of that.

Speaker 3 (08:12):
What has to happen now is who's picking up the
pieces to make sure that that doesn't continue to happen.
We need people back, going back to country and making
sure that those people from placing up the South Australians.
We saw South Australians coming up of course, so we
know a lot of people came from the ap Wide
boarders as well.

Speaker 5 (08:28):
It's it's also.

Speaker 3 (08:29):
Beyond the Northern Territory in other springs. It's a hub,
a service hub. We need to make sure that everybody's
We've got.

Speaker 1 (08:35):
To start to ask ourselves though, is do we only
want to be a service hub or do we want
to be a tourism hub as well? Because if we've
got a situation where there are violent attacks, where there
are brawls like we've seen in broad daylight throughout the
world enough, you know, really it is simply not.

Speaker 5 (08:52):
Good and absolutely not good enough.

Speaker 1 (08:53):
And and you know, to me, if we've got a
situation where four police officers who are off to who
are trained to de escalate situations, are set upon by
a group of twenty people, some of them with rocks
in hand flogging women. It is beyond not good enough.

(09:14):
It is criminal behavior. It's disgusting behavior.

Speaker 2 (09:17):
And this just shows that labor government have failed. And
while the curf is on, there was another brawl another
fifty odd people in the same area. Just think of
the damage he's doing to the tourism. We spoke about
thousands of people coming to the show. Well, next year,
people are going to think twice a bit coming with
the show. So all those businesses they're trying to make
a bit of money aren't going to have the tourism
because they're not going to come.

Speaker 1 (09:34):
Well, look, I guess I'm part of the discussion as well.
Is even you know, taking on board what you said
there about the show. We know people come into town
for the show, so was their mitigation work from the
get go to stop the situation.

Speaker 7 (09:47):
It's the issue with the I think the CURFW is
a good idea. It worked earlier in the year, but
you're going to be smart about how you use it.
The curf you should have been in on Friday, not
on the horse has bolted. Like if you knew these
people are coming into town, you know that's a weekend
where there's historically trouble.

Speaker 5 (10:03):
But then you get all the business is very unhappy.

Speaker 7 (10:05):
Well, you're going to get the businesses unhappy anyway. They're
going to be unhappy in I mean those bars that
have been shut down, they're going to be unhappy business
as well. I think it's perhaps a little bit unfair
to just put all of the blame on them. But
you've got to be smart about how you use these things.
And also I don't know why, like it was a

(10:26):
youth curfew earlier it was six pm till six am,
and this one was ten pm till six am and
it was for everyone. It's just a bit confusing about
exactly what we're trying to achieve here.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
I think I think that the perpetrators though in this
instance when in the last the first time around, that
it was to do with youth, the perpetrators and.

Speaker 4 (10:44):
They know that it was.

Speaker 7 (10:45):
I've seen that vision from the Todd Tavern and there's
a lot of people there who look like they were
over eighteen. And at the Hidden Valley town camp where
the biggest disturbance was three, well, there you go, so.

Speaker 4 (10:55):
This was an adult I'm talking about In March Hiden Valley.

Speaker 3 (11:00):
A lot of young people out and about and they
needed to stop that happening because they were gathering this
time around three out of the four incidents that spiked
were to do with.

Speaker 7 (11:08):
Adults, I think, and Evil Lawler agreed with this when
I asked her about it this week, that it should
be you know, we need to look at this as
a proactive measure rather than a reactive one. I think
implementing a curfew for three days during the week when
we've just had the weekend where we knew there were
going to be a lot of people coming to town,
it kind of seems like that will stop businesses.

Speaker 3 (11:29):
But can I just point out the irony of this,
Fowler Springs. The irony of this is a lot of
people do go to Central Australia for their aboriginal tourism
and then so we've got this on the flip side,
so we've got to get that balance right. And we've
at times it's been great and then other times we've
seen spikes in it. Like we've seen the idea you
need to smooth this out so you don't see it
a spike like this, And I totally agree, but I

(11:50):
don't think and I hate this saying, but I don't
think there's a silver bullet, because we've tried a lot
of things.

Speaker 5 (11:54):
We've got correspond to models, we've got.

Speaker 3 (11:57):
Territory families out on the street every night, We've got
other organizations doing the same, and the combined patrollers.

Speaker 5 (12:03):
You know, it is a very big, wicked.

Speaker 2 (12:05):
Challenge the governments that years to do it. And have
they been getting better? Is it better? Not? Ask yourself?

Speaker 1 (12:12):
Is it worse? One of the aspects there are that
are now obviously being used. And look, shortly we are
going to talk about, you know, about the actual attack
on those police officers and some of the mitigation work
that needs to happen there. But before we get there,
I want to talk about now the fact that the
governments announced that they're going to be returning to country,

(12:32):
so they're basically doing this return to country program. I
guess you would say, in the sense that the operation
is going to run until Sunday, it's going to comprise
of the Northern Territory Police, Territory Families housing, the Central
Land Council or a tipper Aboriginal Corporation, and Tongueanjeer. The
multi agency response is going to focus on engaging with

(12:53):
visitors and providing support for people to get home in
preparation for school and work. So how many people are
we expecting need to be returned home to thousands?

Speaker 3 (13:03):
My understanding is that they saw a surge of about
five thousand people.

Speaker 1 (13:06):
Come out, five thousand people in a week now, So
what's the situations the government going to be returning those
people home?

Speaker 3 (13:13):
A lot of those people have already gone under their
own steam already, and that's what we see as a pattern.
People come in and then they go and lots of
them go for the under their own steam. So it's
really a matter of and they're getting the other people home.

Speaker 5 (13:24):
They're probably the law abiding ones.

Speaker 6 (13:25):
It's like, yep, we took the kids and everyone, grandma
and grandpa of the show, had a lovely time, caught
up with some relations, and then they've gone.

Speaker 5 (13:32):
Home from the Return to Home program.

Speaker 3 (13:33):
They do pay that back like that, So I think
there's an assumption that people don't pay that back. But
if you get yourself on the Return to Home program,
you actually do pay that back through your Center Link payments,
So it's not a free return.

Speaker 1 (13:44):
I suppose the big question for me from me or
the you know, The big observation I suppose from me
is that every year the show happens, so in our
springs at day, you know, every like every location. So
how we in a situation where it's flared up to
the degree that it has, And why are we sort
of announcing a return to country program?

Speaker 5 (14:05):
Now?

Speaker 1 (14:06):
Why isn't that something that's sort of already been already
taken away, that's already in place. Sang on a second,
genitals already in place? And if so, why is the
big announcement yesterday?

Speaker 3 (14:18):
So it's part of what we're surging through making sure
everybody's aware of what's happening. Those programs are funded and
in place, and we've got organizations that run those so
up here and do and it's the.

Speaker 1 (14:28):
Last it's a pr exercise rather than.

Speaker 3 (14:31):
Making sure that everybody's aware what they can do in
order so you know, we take we talk about it
at this really high level, but on the ground, I've
met people in Alice Springs that have driven in from
a remote they've card got broken down on the way
and they got in, somebody had an episode and they've
actually ended up living rough just outside of a town camp.
And we've engaged with them because and they've got small

(14:52):
children with them, and they're living in.

Speaker 5 (14:53):
The car that's not even running.

Speaker 3 (14:55):
Those are the circumstances we have with some people, and
they're the circumstances we're talking about making sure we can
and engage with them and get them home drinking.

Speaker 2 (15:03):
To excess, causing any social behavior, wrecking it for tourism
up there, we've heard a story about a tourist getting
the card broken into and having to deck someone with
a chair or whatever it was. These are the stories
that could beople go back down so tell their friends
about because the labor government had eight years to fix
it and it's got worse. All right, little piece of
powers to be taken away.

Speaker 1 (15:19):
I'm going to take a really quick break and when
we come back, we are going to talk a little
bit more about a couple of those incidents that have
been experienced. Unfortunately. Throughout the week you're listening to Mix
one O four nine's three sixty it is the week
that was. Well, you are listening to the week that was.
And if you've just joined us in the studio today,
we've got Keesy Epuric, Matt Cunningham, Kate Warden and Jared Maylee. Now,

(15:41):
as you will know throughout the week, of course, a
couple of the situations, I mean, all of the situations
I think that unfolded in Alice Springs were horrifying. But
it was pretty hard to hear that a police officer
had been run over, you know, at a point of sale,
alleged to at a point of sale at a licensed

(16:02):
premises while trying to stop a drunk driver on Friday
last week. That poor officer had obviously had to then
undergo surgery after bearing the brunch of a terrible situation.
We also know that that four off duty police officers
were indeed attacked by a group of up to twenty

(16:25):
people as they walked home. Now, Matt, you spoke to
and as did I then following on spoke to the
Chris Hopper, who is the father to the newest recruit.
One of those new recruits, a lovely young young lady,
and also his wife. So both his wife and daughter

(16:45):
were two of the off duty officers.

Speaker 7 (16:47):
City officers who were attacked on early on Sunday morning.
Now that of course they'd been at epilogue in the
todd Male and that they were walking they were actually
walking down to get a lift. There was another off
duty officer who was coming to pick them up and
take them home, and in the process there was a
group of twenty men I think who according to Chris Hopper,

(17:08):
his wife sort of saw them coming from behind them
and next thing you know, she's been assaulted. She's on
the ground, her daughter's jumped in to try to help
her out.

Speaker 4 (17:16):
Then she's been assaulted.

Speaker 7 (17:17):
She's ended up with a broken nose, with a injured jaw.
Pretty horrific sort of incident, and pretty horrific way to start.
She graduated last week. His daughter, Charlie had only graduated
last week.

Speaker 4 (17:31):
I think she was one of the top of the class.
She's got ninety percent in the exams.

Speaker 7 (17:34):
You know, she was really looking forward to getting into
the job and then next thing you know, that's happened
before she'd even worked her first shift. So it was
just a pretty devastating incident. He had some really interesting
things to say. He'd worked for eleven years as a
police officer in Queensland in remote communities up in Cape York,
and he obviously raised concerns. You know, his opinion is

(17:57):
that police in the Northern Territory have had the powers
taken away from them to be able to adequately deal
with juvenile offenders. And he's saying that these juvenile offenders
are now becoming adult offenders and quite serious adult offenders
like we've seen in that incident. So, you know, a
terrible thing that's happened. And I think there is real

(18:17):
concern among police about the number of incidents and assaults
that they're facing. Police Association put out a release yesterday
saying the number of assaults on officers was up forty
five percent from twenty two to twenty twenty three.

Speaker 1 (18:29):
I do just want to read this out because I
as hard as it is to hear, I think that
everybody needs to hear it. He said, my daughter was
set upon by at least six adult offenders that pale
and kicked her to the ground. They stomped on her,
They kicked her and they punched her while she was
on the ground, and they stomped on her head. Now,

(18:50):
when he told me that on air, I felt really emotional.
I thought, I cannot begin to imagine how you'd feel
as a dad. And the day that he told me
that story, I have my daughter sitting out here trying
to produce the show for me, and I thought to myself,
how would you feel as a parent, and all, you know,
we all have our families that we love. Everybody listening,

(19:11):
whether you're a parent or not, you never stopped being
a marror, Yes you would, just you know, like the
thought of that happening to your child, after going from
feeling so incredibly proud of them just days earlier, after graduating,
and thinking my child's decided to follow me down the
same path and become a police officer.

Speaker 6 (19:35):
This should be a national outcry. What is happening, I
think is it's one thing to attack people who.

Speaker 2 (19:44):
Are not uniformed.

Speaker 6 (19:45):
You, me, anyone else on the stoot, yourself, whatever, you know,
my family members, your family members, Jared. But what's happening
is there is a blatant disregard for authority and now
the attacks We've seen it on paramedics and ambulance people
over years, but now there's blatant disregard of uniform officers.
And I'm quite sure these people didn't know that they

(20:05):
were police, and that's just shouldn't make that shouldn't make
any difference. That's irrelevant. They just attacked them. The one
who was run over, he probably knew he was a
police officer and then so there should have been a
national outcry about this for people. And when the police
find these people, which I'm sure they will, they should
be charged with attempted murder, if not man's laughter. They

(20:28):
set out to do very very serious harm to those people,
and they should be charged with the highest level aggravated assault,
attempted murder.

Speaker 2 (20:36):
Whatever given the lot.

Speaker 1 (20:40):
Just check the whole legal.

Speaker 3 (20:41):
Book at the frontline services and it's just wrong.

Speaker 6 (20:44):
And whether in uniform or not uniform, they have chosen
a path in life. And you know, I'm sure that
you know, they'll be strong people and they'll get over
with good support from family and loved ones. But it's
just not good enough. The whole bloody place is going
to rack and ruin. And no, it's if it was
a gang of white people or Hispanics or something else,
you know, some other nationality, you know, the whole community

(21:05):
would be up arms, you know, white people bashing you know,
you know coppers.

Speaker 1 (21:08):
But this is nothing really said about this apart from
the horrific Well, I will say, I know Matt's been
covering it all on Sky News, so I know we've
certainly been We have certainly been trying our best to
make sure that this I mean that this issue is
is not. I think that the discussion then has sort
of gone a little bit further as well. Like you said, Matt,
the Police Association issuing those you know, the reality, the

(21:32):
grim reality of the numbers of police officers that are
being assaulted or that have been assaulted, and it does
sort of re raise that discussion. And that's something that
Nathan Finn had spoken to us about earlier in the
week about whether there does need to be an increase
to the minimum mandatory sentencing when it comes to assaulting
a front line worker. And I know in this instance,

(21:54):
as we've discussed extensively, that it doesn't seem as though
those offenders knew that those that these four police officers.

Speaker 5 (22:00):
Doesn't Madi, Katie does it.

Speaker 3 (22:02):
It's really done accessible And the only thing you're going
to get from me today is I hope that the
police have got enough evidence they can get them and
those people are completely held to account and go to jail.
And is the right place for people that do that
sort of a borring behavior. I'm not going to sit
here and say, oh, you know, those poor people right now.

Speaker 5 (22:18):
I'm absolutely not.

Speaker 3 (22:19):
I couldn't care whether they're white, or they're Aboriginal or
anything else.

Speaker 5 (22:23):
We need to take that out of the conversation.

Speaker 3 (22:26):
What happened in other springs and assault on four people,
whether they were police officers or not, it's worse that
they're police officers. Absolutely unacceptable and there is a place
for them, and the courts need to do their job
and hold those people to account.

Speaker 2 (22:39):
Can I just say one thing you said, the court
need to do their job. Remember the courts, they only
interpret the law. The government make the COLP. In March
last year, we introduced legislation to actually make it tough
for police officers to get as sold in managem million centers,
so if you are sold a work out, there's going
to be a management million centers. The Labor government, Kywarden
sitting beside me, you voted against that, so she voted against.

Speaker 5 (23:02):
It, actually have the flexibility so.

Speaker 2 (23:04):
When there's an opportunity, when there's an opportunity to support
the police, and we know that police feel unsupported because
the last three surveys said over ninety percent officers feel
that the Labor government aren't supporting them. The CLP from
opposition brought in legislation to support the police officers, could
we listen to what they had to say, and the
Labor government, including Kate Wardenson, he had voted it down
and legislation finish. These little things are chipping away the

(23:27):
police powers and making the.

Speaker 5 (23:30):
Feeling something they didn't. They didn't they.

Speaker 2 (23:33):
Took away the consequences and now these people to get
away with.

Speaker 5 (23:37):
Did not take away the consequences something.

Speaker 2 (23:39):
Like this watered down the laws for probably drinking.

Speaker 3 (23:42):
But that's your really good rhetoric and that's what you
want the truth and to be true place for people.

Speaker 2 (23:47):
Like the truth. Voted against it.

Speaker 1 (23:48):
It is it. Look, it's something now that the Police
Association is definitely re raising. They are re raising the
question about whether minimum mandatory sentencing, like whether there should
be a change to the minimum mandatory sentencing when it
comes to assaulting a police officers.

Speaker 3 (24:03):
You pointed out it's highly likely they didn't know that
they were police officers for starters, right, So would that
even fall.

Speaker 1 (24:10):
Into this situation with the officer that was absolutely we
should go.

Speaker 3 (24:15):
To throw the book, you run down, try and run
down a pulley, and of course that their duties the
same as if you try to assault an ambo. And
we did strengthen the laws around frontline services so getting assaulted.
So it's important what you voted against.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
So you could say this, we were trying to support
the police, You were trying to support the police for
giving them an opportunity.

Speaker 1 (24:36):
To you just trying to So we're going to get
anywhere with that part of the discussion. But what another
part of this, this whole discussion in Alice Springs that
continues to be raised as well, is is you know,
really taking a closer look into who is receiving federal
and Northern Territory government funding and whether they're delivering on

(25:00):
services that they are indeed funded to prefer.

Speaker 6 (25:03):
It they're not delivering on the services because we've got
such a we've got a town in distress, you know,
a serious distress situation. Now I've spoken about this before.
We're on a select committee into youth suicide. We found
there was about thirty plus organizations in Alice Springs getting
money from somewhere for youth services and it was not coordinated.
They didn't talk to each other, they didn't even know

(25:24):
that when I select committing to youth suicide ten years ago,
you know, and tent of Creek was the same. So
and I'd say it's still happening. You know, everyone puts
their bibb in to get money, but is it properly
accounted for? Are their KPIs you know?

Speaker 1 (25:39):
Well, that was something.

Speaker 7 (25:40):
There was a productivity commission to board even more recently
that found the same thing, I think, and that you
know in some communities, in some areas there was a
doubling and tripling of services and in some areas there
was none.

Speaker 4 (25:51):
So it's all over the shop when it comes to I'm.

Speaker 2 (25:53):
Sure I've heard the Alice Springs mayor talk about thirty
five fiven organization and he wanted that Dad, I'm sure
I heard him on your station.

Speaker 5 (26:00):
So we have actually had a look at it.

Speaker 2 (26:01):
There's a failure by the government to actually deal with this, so.

Speaker 5 (26:04):
We actually have looked at it and in our.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
Purview with it.

Speaker 3 (26:08):
Sorry, we did it a few years ago and we
have looked at it. And what we have done is
streamlined where our money is going. So we do fund
things like the gaps youth services. I've been to all
of them and they cater for lots and lots of kids.
You see kids coming in and kids going out. To
be honest, it's not the kids that are going to
those services. Those kit services are capturing lots of kids.
It's the kids that aren't going to that services. The trickiness.

(26:29):
We did try the stand up service in the middle
of our springs and got shut down. We weren't allowed
that there, but that really did get some of those
tougher kids in and off the streets. So there's lots
of things that you can do. But I agree the
federal government probably does need to look at a bit
of where their funding is going as well.

Speaker 5 (26:45):
But I said this the other day we're in my
area as a minister.

Speaker 3 (26:49):
The funding that I give to those organizations actually is
hitting the market. I fund things like men's behavior change
programs with Averagine organizations, and they're doing and.

Speaker 5 (26:57):
Amazing because you get the infant back through them. We
just don't give it to the Sea.

Speaker 1 (27:02):
Of c I'll just get mad of moment.

Speaker 4 (27:05):
What about an organization, sir is just trying to look
this up.

Speaker 7 (27:07):
What about an organization like Tongue in Jierer Council right,
which which the ABC reported recently has not filed an
annual report since twenty eighteen.

Speaker 5 (27:18):
I think that's been fixed.

Speaker 4 (27:20):
Yeah, but you know it's.

Speaker 7 (27:22):
Why has it continued to get funding over those six
years if it hasn't filed an annual report.

Speaker 3 (27:27):
Well, I can only say, well that that's to do
with ORIC, right, So ORIC is the national and that's
a federal that's a federally shouldn't let me finish. I
fund them for things like Men's behavior change, And I've
actually just doubled my funding to them because they do
an amazing job and they needed more.

Speaker 1 (27:40):
So despite not filing an annual report, you've doubled it.

Speaker 3 (27:43):
They have fund that. I believe that they've done that now,
and that is a federal thing.

Speaker 5 (27:46):
But where we are getting our bangs.

Speaker 1 (27:48):
Pretty big like so had they filed it before.

Speaker 3 (27:51):
Found They've also doubled my fund into Catholic Care because
I need more men going through men's behavior change and
get with.

Speaker 4 (27:57):
The points of there's that way I understand.

Speaker 7 (28:00):
I mean, I'd want to triple check that they had
all of their annual reports since twenty eighteen. If I
was going to give, if I was going to double
their funding for something, would you not well.

Speaker 3 (28:08):
I don't think you actually stand there and go the
whole of the organization. I know the arm of Tanangier
that I deal with. It deals and gives and does
things like the Women's you know, the Women's Safety Council,
all of those that are doing great work in the
god It was also I'm really interested in making sure.

Speaker 5 (28:24):
That they get the right funding.

Speaker 7 (28:25):
It was also you don't even know it was also
reported at that time case they had a DV perpetrator
on their board.

Speaker 5 (28:33):
Is that I've called very loudly for that to change.

Speaker 4 (28:37):
But has it changed.

Speaker 5 (28:38):
I don't think so.

Speaker 4 (28:39):
So you've doubled the funding even though that to the.

Speaker 5 (28:41):
Men's behavior Change program, absolutely I have.

Speaker 4 (28:43):
Well wouldn't.

Speaker 7 (28:44):
The first thing saying is if you want this funding doubled, no,
you've got to show some leadership and make sure that
this person is not in that position publicly for.

Speaker 3 (28:55):
Their leadership to not happen the same way as I've
done with and they should not have them on the board.

Speaker 1 (29:00):
But then ultimately rewarded them.

Speaker 5 (29:02):
I have not rewarded them. What I've done. I've increased
the program.

Speaker 3 (29:06):
So what you're doing is just saying no, it's not
a reward, it's actually getting an outcome for something that
we really badly need in our community. We need more
men going through men's behavior change program They have got
an outstanding one that gets results, and I'm going to
fund them, but I'm not.

Speaker 1 (29:21):
Going to make the argument is the argument is that
you know, then you've got a situation where you know
what is like, what's happening parallel to that you have
to do. Yeah, I get that. I get that, you
can walk into gum. At the same time, however, there
will be a lot of people in the community that
are sort of scratching their heads, going, well, hang on
a sick you know, you've got an organization, you know,

(29:42):
so I think this.

Speaker 5 (29:42):
Has been flagged with oric.

Speaker 3 (29:43):
We've taken those steps to say, you know, this is
an averagin organization that needs to have have robust governance.
Yes they do, but we also at the same time
need services delivered and in my space and I can
only talk for myself in my space with those really
good program.

Speaker 5 (30:00):
And we're using that and modeling others on that. We're
opening a new one.

Speaker 3 (30:03):
And Catherine based off that those men's behavior change programs
are so needed, So we can't stand in here and
talk about the spike and DV that's fine, and then
accuse me of doing nothing when I'm about.

Speaker 6 (30:15):
But see, that's I don't have an issue with what
you're saying, Kate.

Speaker 3 (30:17):
You have no excuse certain and you want these programs
decisions in my job.

Speaker 6 (30:21):
You have to make. You want these programs to succeed,
and I have lots of people do. However, the programs
are part of an organization that is flawed. And I'm
not saying the programs are flawed. Organization is flawed. It's
not doesn't have good governance, it's not compliant with the
relevant legislation, and nothing is being done. It's like, well,

(30:41):
I've got to fund my programs, Syce, We've got to
get these men sorted out. I agree, but you can't
ignore the fact that the organization is not adhering to
good governance. And yet this perpetrator, alleged perpetrator, is still
on the board. And I think I read somewhere that
the Allow Springs Town Council has torn up their agreement.

Speaker 1 (30:58):
With this mob.

Speaker 6 (30:59):
So clearly there are so the management authorization someone needs.
If it's the federal government, then the empty governman is
to get on the phone to the relevant minister and
say well, the funding has to cease.

Speaker 1 (31:07):
Please direct the.

Speaker 6 (31:08):
Funding to this organization that's going to take over and
sort it all.

Speaker 1 (31:11):
And I guess one point that I'd like to just
very quickly ask is would other organizations be in a
situation where they could still apply for funding if they
hadn't followed through with, you know, with those reporting mechanisms.

Speaker 3 (31:22):
I think I'm in their bigger questions, Katie, for the
whole of the system, and we have looked at them.
But I'm all I'm saying today is in my role,
I need programs. You know, I've come on here and
we've been kicked from left and right about you know,
programs that don't work. Why are you doing that? Why
aren't you doing that?

Speaker 5 (31:39):
I'm investing. Shut up, Jared, honestly like a little tiny root.

Speaker 1 (31:46):
Okay, we might take a very quick break. You are
all right, let's let's keep the language a little bit Nicerer.
We are going to take a very quick break. You
are listening to Mix ONEOW fort nine. Then we're going
to take a real change of pace. In fact, we're
going to talk about some of these announcements that have
been made throughout the week. You're listening to Mix one
O four nine's three sixty. Well, if you have just
joined us, we've all had a little quiet breath in

(32:08):
the ad break to get us back through. For the
rest of me.

Speaker 5 (32:13):
Got put in the time out corner, but not Matt.

Speaker 6 (32:15):
And I very busy the time again.

Speaker 1 (32:20):
Everyone just shake it out a bit, you know, we'll
have a deep breath and get ready to talk about
some of the election promises that are being made. And
earlier this week, well the opposition came out and announced
it they're going to expand, well amongst a few different things,
but expand hunting in the Northern Territory, saying that it's

(32:41):
the territories unique lifestyle. And you know you're going to
basically increase the existing size of Harrison Dam Hunting Reserve
as well as work with stakeholders to identify a new
site for a new hunting reserve. So that's one of
the announcements. We also know that there's been election commitments
made in Palmerston. We might talk hunting first.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
Let me start with that I'm a keen hunter straight away. Look,
this is going to be great for territories. We all
know that the lifestyle is one of the reasons why
lots of people live up here. Hunting is out there,
and it's going to make you more room. It's going
to be safer. We're going to make sure that holding
your firearms license is easier to get renewed and some
AMMO stuff for that, because that's actually made a difference.
Or these tourists have come up to do some of

(33:23):
the concept just happened. They haven't turned up because they
haven't been buy the AMMO. And there's again the labor
government failed in your can try and fix it. It
was identified a problem and just let it go.

Speaker 6 (33:33):
You've hit an interesting point there, Jared, because I've had
a couple of people approach me in regards to changing
regulations by police that haven't come out for any consultation.
And it's around AMMO and how much you buy and
roll all that sort of stuff. So if there are
going to be changes to that kind of thing, then
it needs to be broadcast, like you know, to the
Firearms Council. They're one of the people who get very concerned.

(33:54):
There's a big competition of clay target competition coming up
coming up very soon. And I apologize to Jed because
I didn't malign the CALP by saying they hadn't supported
me in the past when I spoke about increasing hunting reserves.
But I went into bat I think about five or
six years ago now because how it's being shoalbey Land
was Sagoon parison. They're the only three and they Mendora

(34:18):
and they are very, very busy, and i'd say full
And one of the reasons was one because we need
more reserves, but two a safety issue when you've got
twenty two hundred people out there all trying to get
goose or duck or whatever.

Speaker 5 (34:31):
And it is very better these days.

Speaker 6 (34:33):
In the past days there was a little bit of
recklessness going on and glitter and all that sort of stuff,
which is still an issue. We've got to keep an
eye on that.

Speaker 1 (34:39):
People are better behave.

Speaker 6 (34:40):
Yeah, yeah, they are better behaved, and the police helped
and range has helped as well. But I think it's
a good idea. I know there's a lot of support
for it. I know there were some wowsers out there
that he didn't want to talk about hunting and all
that sort of stuff. But it's a good initiative and
it will stimulate a lot of it.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
Just how many registered firearm holders do we have in
the territory. Seventeen hundred.

Speaker 5 (35:00):
Actually have more guns in the territory though than anywhere
else in Australia capital capita. But there are people that
have quite.

Speaker 3 (35:07):
A number of guns and they're sporting shooters, but on
the hunting reserve. Like I became the minister in December,
I've got a very robust relationship with Field and Gayment
Bart and in fact next week him and Nigel Scully
and I'm meeting with them because finding land tenure and
the different land tenures. Most people in Church would understand
there's some Aboriginal land, there's Crown land. There's a lot

(35:28):
of different land tenures that they need to work through
to find that additional hunting reserve.

Speaker 5 (35:33):
We've talked about whether they could.

Speaker 3 (35:35):
Expand those and I've got department people coming in next
week and we're going to put all the maps on
the table and identify that.

Speaker 5 (35:41):
Because we've previously said we would look at it.

Speaker 3 (35:45):
I don't think we'd ever said that we would give,
you know, find it because I think there are those
land tenure issues. It's a bit easier to say you'll
just do it than to just do that. But Nigel
Scullion is flying in for a meeting with me. I've
been out the clay shooting this year. In fact, I
won a competition.

Speaker 1 (36:00):
This year.

Speaker 3 (36:02):
Actually shoot and beat Jared's square.

Speaker 1 (36:07):
I was going to say, you don't hear politicians say
very nice things about each other sometimes, but Jared Maley
actually said to me yesterday that you had one a
female competition. He said something nice about you behind your back.

Speaker 3 (36:20):
So Scullion actually took some time and taught me to shoot,
you can shoot, and gave me some pointers and I
went out for I think that was my second year
of the poly chute and won.

Speaker 5 (36:31):
It, much to my surprise as anybody else.

Speaker 1 (36:34):
You've got a competitive person.

Speaker 5 (36:37):
Well, I don't think my eyesight was that good. Actually
I did wear my glasses on the day. But I
mean I've been out there.

Speaker 3 (36:42):
They do a really good job, and there is a
group of territories that love their hunting. I totally acknowledge
that that's not me, but I see it and I
acknowledge them.

Speaker 5 (36:50):
And so we are working and I'll have that.

Speaker 1 (36:51):
Man next.

Speaker 7 (36:54):
A core flute up out there at the shooting range
of everyone who supports them. Right, So there's like liberal
Democrats and the COLP and there's one of Kate Warden.

Speaker 4 (37:02):
But Kate, it's looking really sick, and.

Speaker 5 (37:04):
I got a new one.

Speaker 4 (37:08):
It was all tattered.

Speaker 5 (37:11):
Bart came in and got that core flute from me.

Speaker 3 (37:13):
But what he did is he picked it up and
he put it in his trolley and then he walked out.

Speaker 5 (37:16):
And I had a phone call.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
About an hour later, sorry Barton, airing your dirty laundry
from someone saying there's a gentleman that just left with
a picture of you in his trolley and he hasn't
paid for his glog.

Speaker 5 (37:29):
I made that call Bart and said bart could you
come back and pay for the approaches made and stuff
putting my face all over and that's really bad and
I'm going to give it to bart On the weekend alright.

Speaker 1 (37:39):
Wasn't the only election promise made throughout this week. We
know that the Chief Minister took to social media to
an outsplans for Palmerston if re elected. She said that
the government's going to invest ten million dollars to deliver
a package of community infrastructure projects, including two point five
mil for Driver Community Hall, two million for Zicoli, a
million for Swell, seven hundred and fifty for greening and

(38:01):
other things. But look, my big question is is any
of that money going to poor old Molden School over
sound like that cannot at this point in time use
that oval. It's affecting the rugby union team, it's affecting
the rugby league team, their junior sevens competition, school in
the air that tried. It's affecting the students at the
school because they're actually not able to use it because

(38:23):
the oval was let get to a point where it
was so dry that people then let off fireworks and
it lit up. You know, we talk a lot about
engaging young people. Well, the best way to engage young people,
if you ask me, is get them into sport. And
now you've got a situation where some of them aren't
actually going to be able to get to training.

Speaker 6 (38:41):
I don't know why they didn't include mold And I
mean clearly it's Port Berlin.

Speaker 5 (38:44):
Will you know?

Speaker 6 (38:45):
I think I think that I.

Speaker 1 (38:46):
Think that she's even done. How is that.

Speaker 2 (38:54):
Job they're working giving even a bit of pressure? I
reckon that's what's happening.

Speaker 1 (38:59):
Look, they I.

Speaker 6 (39:01):
Mean they give I mean even law is giving Barry
cold run for his money when it comes to Port Maryling.
People can remember back that far. I mean, parts has
done very well out of both sides of politics. Counsel, Well, yeah,
as long as they keep their eyes off Holts, because
I'll just put it out there, I'm a gun owner as.

Speaker 1 (39:18):
Well as holy are. We're all responsible in here. That
were you looking like you wanted to say something, Well, I.

Speaker 7 (39:28):
Was going to say, it's not just mold and oble
because I know that my daughter and her teammates train
a driver. Oh yeah, and it's so it's been and
it just hasn't been watered properly. And so they go
to training. They got a footy training there on a Thursday,
and they come home with bloody Gray's knees and elbows
and whatever.

Speaker 1 (39:45):
It's the school, does the school responsible for the look
in some instances from what we're told, it's like it's
actually a bit of a bureaucratic debarcle. It seems like
in the situation out at Driver where the irrigation system
is broken, I don't know what the goal is there, Katie.
It's a school, so it's education, but it's also I
believe there was an issue with the boors. So look,

(40:06):
you know they're not being fixed, yes, but look how
quickly is it being fixed, because by the sounds of it,
it's not going to be ready to go for this season,
which I just think is how like how when we're
making these big announcements, are we then in a situation
where we can't even water a bloody over.

Speaker 3 (40:21):
I think, Okatie that it's coming back to me around
that that one. As we've talked a lot about about spaces,
I think, well, from one, I think.

Speaker 5 (40:29):
We need to build new ovals.

Speaker 3 (40:31):
That's one of the things we need to do because
we've seen this massive expansion across the community.

Speaker 5 (40:35):
That's one of the things I'd like to see more of.
But in terms of that board.

Speaker 3 (40:39):
They're waiting for the parts to be provided for it,
and that that takes that you a tyranny of distance
that we've all had part shouldn't take that.

Speaker 6 (40:50):
There is so many bores in the in the rules, not.

Speaker 3 (40:56):
The education minister, but I do know that that you know,
some schools have over and others are actually owned by
the council, and then some are owned by NTG Shoe.

Speaker 1 (41:03):
Either way, it's an embarrassment that needs to be mixed
as need to be and green they absolutely do. Now,
while we're speaking of ovals, people are pierced as well
about the Sanders and Oval obviously being in a situation
where there's burnout's done on.

Speaker 5 (41:17):
That oval, so we're putting up. I've got the funding
for that.

Speaker 1 (41:19):
When are they getting put in?

Speaker 3 (41:21):
My understanding is that they're doing some measuring up at
the moment to know exactly how many the money's been
made available, and so it's just it's going ahead.

Speaker 5 (41:27):
I'm talking to.

Speaker 1 (41:30):
Well, hang on before we get there. Why why are
we in a situation as well though, where Richardson Parks
still not being used. Apparently it's not. It's still closed off.

Speaker 5 (41:38):
They're still doing some works on the oval.

Speaker 3 (41:40):
How long does it take we have to create an oval, Kadie,
You have to actually build it and do it properly.

Speaker 1 (41:44):
Richardson like that area.

Speaker 3 (41:46):
Now they've already done a whole heap of works back there.
Then they've got another at the oval to be.

Speaker 5 (41:50):
They're doing that now. I asked questions about it yesterday.
It'll be.

Speaker 3 (41:54):
It will be open a bit. I have no timeline
on that, but they're actually building the oval.

Speaker 1 (41:59):
We're gonna have to a quick break because I still
want to talk about Joe Biden having a big boys
press conference that's coming your way in just a moment.
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.
It is the week that was well, the most listened
to our in territory radio, but maybe not the most
listened to thing over the course of or over the
whole world. Right now. I think everyone's keeping an eye
on Joe Biden. So old sleepy Joe is having his

(42:21):
first big boy conference press conference for the year. Matt Cunningham,
after accidentally calling Vladimir and Zelenski.

Speaker 4 (42:30):
This morning, there's two people you don't want to get mixed.

Speaker 1 (42:32):
That's exactly right.

Speaker 4 (42:34):
He's called. He's vice president vice President Trump apparently.

Speaker 1 (42:37):
I tell you what, if you're his media advisor, tummy
would just be doing backflips wondering what he's going to
say next and what he's going to do.

Speaker 6 (42:47):
Okatie, I can't understand or accept than in that whole
big country they can't find someone ten years younger for
the Democrats, and ten years younger and sane, maybe twenty
for the Republicans. And I'm not any know, there's lots
of good people who are elderly in sixty seventies. He's
in political power or political jobs all around the world

(43:09):
and doing quite well, quite fine. But clearly this man
is not in my personal view and observations I've seen
on TV. And also mister Trump. Neither of them are
fit to hold the office for different reasons. And what
I'm concerned about is is mister Biden's family watching him.
You know, surely his wife should realize he's done a
good job. He's done, he's done a given I'm sure

(43:31):
he's a very decent man. He's he's to be a
decent man. Okay, his son has been a bit of
a rat bag, but you know that's what happens in
big families so.

Speaker 5 (43:38):
And small ones.

Speaker 6 (43:40):
But you know, so I just can't believe that his
wife is letting him do this. You know, she s
more what's the word common sense, more intelligenus to say,
the man's a great man. He'll start the statesman all
around the world, and he'll start run.

Speaker 1 (43:55):
The risk on the risk of going out.

Speaker 6 (43:58):
Yo's what do you say to years younger, You, well, look.

Speaker 5 (44:02):
We need some energy.

Speaker 1 (44:03):
We're going to have to run for the morning. Unfortunately,
we never run out of things to talk about in
this studio, that is for sure. Jered Malee from the CLP,
thank you for your time this morning.

Speaker 2 (44:14):
Get in your big shout out. There's a big pol
Cross tournament tonight, a fresh path under lights, normal versus
rest of Australia.

Speaker 1 (44:20):
Great, Are were that good that we just take on
the rest of Astralia?

Speaker 2 (44:24):
Selely good start much so I'm not from a bit worried.

Speaker 6 (44:32):
Tonight, doesn't it?

Speaker 2 (44:32):
Tonight seven o'clock is a junior game. Eight o'clock is
the senior game.

Speaker 1 (44:35):
Awesome, good lights.

Speaker 2 (44:37):
There's going to be a band, so if you're in
the rural area and you want to pop one out,
get amongst it. Amongst it.

Speaker 1 (44:41):
Cap Horton for the Labor Party. Thank you as always
for your time this morning.

Speaker 5 (44:44):
Thank you, Kaddie and happy Nay Doc week. We didn't
do that today, but.

Speaker 3 (44:47):
There's been some amazing events and it was good to
spend some time, you say, at the senior's lunch and
see all those old people and see what week is
really about, separating aboriginal and straight on culture.

Speaker 1 (44:57):
Absolutely yeah, good stuff. Thank you. Matt Cunningham from Sky News,
Thank you, and Kezier Pure independent. Thank you.

Speaker 6 (45:07):
I'm off home to tiny up and clean my guns.
With the more hunting reserves that are coming up. Other
people who look it over.

Speaker 5 (45:13):
My way from are going hunting.

Speaker 1 (45:15):
I'm going hunting, Laurah. On that note, thank you all
very much for your time. You are listening to Mix
one O four ninees three sixty