1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: But as I mentioned a little bit earlier, a twenty 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: one year old Danish tourist is recovering after allegedly being 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 1: knocked unconscious by a man who then stomped on her 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: head in Alice Springs. Now joining me in the studio 5 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: is the acting Chief Minister, Jered Maylee. Good morning to you. 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners. 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: Now, Minister, what was your reaction when you learned what 8 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: had happened to this twenty one year old Danish tourist 9 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs. I mean it's horrendous. 10 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 2: Oh look, I when I heard about that, it was 11 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 2: just gut renching that someone's coming over here to have 12 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 2: it holiday be the tourist and get that you get assaulted, 13 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 2: getting knocked unconscious and go to hospital. It's just unacceptable. 14 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: It is unacceptable, and that's what the community is really 15 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 1: screaming out about. I know that Labour's you know, taken 16 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: a bit of a jab at you guys and said, well, 17 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: you promised to be tough on crime, you promised to 18 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: make a difference in this space and it's not working. 19 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 2: Well, we are promised to being tougher crime and we 20 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 2: are I think it is working it is definitely. I 21 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 2: was in Alice Springs for a Monday and Tuesday this week. 22 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 2: But the upside is I spoke to Commissioner Doll about 23 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 2: this matter very recently and he was explaining to me 24 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: that the offender was arrested in twelve minutes. So the 25 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 2: offense took just after four o'clock. The police were called, 26 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: they turned up, and also the community members around it 27 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 2: actually said that's the offender over there. So the police 28 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: did a great job. So I wanted to do a 29 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: great She had twelve minutes, so this terrible offense happened. 30 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: Twelve minutes later, he's arrested. The community members who intervene 31 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 2: to stop it. When the police turn up, they're helpful. 32 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 2: There he was, they arrested him. So this fella has 33 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 2: been remanded in custody. 34 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: That it is really good that the police were able 35 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: to get there quickly, right, But the problem is that 36 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: this is happening and it's you know, in this instance, 37 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,559 Speaker 1: it's happened to a young tourist who's in Ella Springs, 38 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: and it doesn't matter whether it's a tourist, it doesn't 39 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: matter whether it's a local. It's totally unacceptable behavior. But 40 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: what do we do to ensure that other tourists don't 41 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: have an experience like this when they're visiting the Northern Territory, 42 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: Like it's woeful. 43 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: Oh, it's wondeful, and like there's been they says about 44 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 2: our laws. The bailors are too strong and too tough, 45 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: and we're not you know, we're intervening all these human rights. 46 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: But we make no apologies. We've made the laws stronger. 47 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 2: We are going to continue to make sure the teritory 48 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 2: is protected, and we need to do more legislation changes 49 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: we will because is unaccepted. 50 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: I mean, is there a disconnect here? And I've been 51 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 1: asking our listeners this morning whether a couple of situations 52 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: meet community expectation. Now I'll take you through one of 53 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: those that ran on the ABC News last night. A 54 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 1: Northern Territory Supreme Court judge suspended the four year sentence 55 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,119 Speaker 1: of a woman who pleaded guilty to causing serious harm 56 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: to a sixteen year old girl, citing inhumane conditions at 57 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: the Allice Springs Watchhouse. Now. According to the report, the 58 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: offender was one of eleven people on March twenty twenty 59 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: four who chased the teenager down and assaulted her pulled 60 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: the girl down by her hair, stomped on and kicked 61 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: her face and body. Co offenders then stripped the girl 62 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: of her clothes before the offender, who was eighteen at 63 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: the time, dragged her naked down a street as others 64 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: continued to kick her. Now. In her sentencing remarks last month, 65 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: Justice Judith Kelly labeled the offender's behavior as a very 66 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: serious offense and said even without a victim impact statement, 67 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: it was clear the pain and the fear that the girl, 68 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: who was only sixteen years old must have experienced now. 69 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: Justice Kelly also noted that the victim presented to hospital 70 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: after that incident with a collapsed lung and later needed 71 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: her chest draint. Despite the seriousness of this offense, Justice 72 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: Kelly said that she would take into account the offender's 73 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: early guilty play and the very very appalling conditions that 74 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: she suffered while she was reminded at the Alice Springs 75 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: watch House for twenty two days. I mean. Justice Kelly 76 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: placed the offender on a four year suspended sentence dating 77 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: back to early January. Do you think that's in line 78 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: with the community's expectations. 79 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: Look, ultimately, we've got to be careful with say, because 80 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: we do have the separation of powers and being exploit 81 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: I understand how that works, but ultimately I think it doesn't, 82 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 2: you know, And I can tell you right now, Alice Springs, 83 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 2: there's no corrections off correction prisoners in the watchhouse. So 84 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: this is not an ideal situation. 85 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: And what's to go with these women? Have they all 86 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: been moved out? Now? 87 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? Yeaht the moment that Alice Springs is there's only 88 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: the police prisoners, and you know, ultimately the police catch 89 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 2: someone and then they remind them, and then they get 90 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 2: ready to go to court. And then once they go 91 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: to court, they go back to the watchhouse or they 92 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 2: go to a prison, depending on where they are and 93 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: how full the prisons are, and all sorts of operational matters. 94 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 2: But look, this doesn't meet community expectations. We need to 95 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: make sure that if you're going to do such an 96 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 2: horrendous offense, is that there's a consequence for your punishment. 97 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 2: We're inherited this problem about these watchhouses from the previous 98 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 2: labor government. We've gone through, we've fixed the problem. We've 99 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,799 Speaker 2: got basically bear them up and running. There's three hundred 100 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: and fifty odd and forty eight new beds there open yesterday. 101 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 2: We've got another forty eight opening after easter. This is 102 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 2: a This is not going to be a problem we 103 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: can fix straight away because you can't get infrastructure immediately, 104 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: but we are working on it. 105 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: I mean, are you concerned though, that judges could bail 106 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: more offenders due to those conditions in the watchhouses. I 107 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 1: know you've said that they've been moved out of the watchhouses, 108 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: but I mean are you concerned that even when they're 109 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: remanded in their waiting for their court date, that it 110 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: could be a situation then where the judge goes, oh, 111 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: you know what, you've been in appalling conditions. So we're 112 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: not going to we're going to suspend your sentence. 113 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: It's a matter for the judge what they do. But ultimately, 114 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 2: I think we need to make sure that if there's 115 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 2: a crime committed, there's going to be a consequence, and 116 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 2: we make no apologies for having our tougher laws in 117 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 2: relation to bail. 118 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: I mean, in this instance, so like twenty two days 119 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: in a watchhouse for flogging someone allegedly down the street, 120 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: ripping her clothes off, I mean, does that pass the 121 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 1: pub test to you? 122 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 2: Well, there needs to be a consequence to your actions, 123 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 2: and that seems to be a terrible action. And holding 124 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 2: someone in a watchhouse is not an ideal or they're 125 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 2: designed for short stays, and I've been to all the 126 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 2: watch houses to see what's going on. We need to 127 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 2: get them into the prison because we're talking about rehabilitation. 128 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: We need to make sure that these offenders know what 129 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: they did was wrong so we can break the cycle. 130 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 2: And having them sitting in a watchhouse doesn't allow that 131 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 2: to happen. But we need to get them into the 132 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 2: prison system. 133 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 1: I just want to get it really clear at the moment. 134 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 1: What you're saying is that there is no correctional prisoners 135 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: in the Alice Springs watchouse. What about up here in 136 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: the top end? No. 137 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: In Adam Springs there's Neil. But in Darwin Palmerston there's 138 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: sixty prisoners who are in police custody and then need 139 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 2: to go to a prison. At some stage. They haven't 140 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 2: been to a prison yet, so they might be arrested 141 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 2: by the police and this is a normal operation. The 142 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 2: police arrest them, they hold them in a watch house, 143 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: they go to court and then after court they go 144 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 2: to one of the prisons. At the moment. Some of 145 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 2: them are going back to the watchhouse because the prisons 146 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 2: are full, so they still haven't actually been been delivered 147 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 2: to a prisoner yet, so they're in police custody. So 148 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 2: there's a bit of a technical argument, but ultimately they've 149 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 2: been reminded. 150 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: Look for me, and I think for a lot of 151 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: our listeners, and they may correct me if they feel differently, 152 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 1: but I think for me, what I'm worried about is 153 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 1: that somebody can commit a really serious affect. They could 154 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 1: be you know, they could be reminded in the watchhouse 155 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: for that serious offense. Then they front up to court 156 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: and there sentences potentially being suspended because a judge feels 157 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: as though the time that they've served in a watchhouse 158 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: is adequately and is adequate enough. 159 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 2: Well, that doesn't meet community expectation. If you committed in 160 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: a serious defense, you need to be punished for that. 161 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: There needs to be a consequence, and you also need 162 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 2: to go through rehabilitation programs as well, which is to 163 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: try and break that cycles. 164 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: So how far off are we do you reckon from 165 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: fixing this? So this because I think ultimately what people 166 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: are going to want to hear this morning is Okay, 167 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: this has happened once. How do we stop it from 168 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: happening again? 169 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: Well, the unfortunately, we can't tell the judges what to do. 170 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: But if there was like if there were spaces in 171 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: the jail rather than them being in what the judge 172 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: is described as inhumane you know, conditions, would it be 173 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: a different you know, like, could it be a different story. 174 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: And I guess that's what I'm getting at because I 175 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: know that that's not in your you know, within your 176 00:07:57,880 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: realm of what you can fix. The judge obviously has 177 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: to act independently, but as the Corrections Minister, is there 178 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: a way that we can make sure that the conditions 179 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: are at a standard that then you can't like that 180 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: a judge can't be making this decision. 181 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 2: Well, we're working hard to do that. And we inherited 182 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 2: a major problem in relation to the infrastructure in the 183 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 2: prisons was neglected for years, for eight years the labor 184 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: government didn't do anything about it, and overflowed into the watchhouse. 185 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: There's been short staff. We're recruiting as we speak. Tomorrow, 186 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 2: I'm going to I think the thirty I'm passing our 187 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 2: parade for a new prison officers. We've got the gfours 188 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: into the dah And Watchhouse. We're trying to expand that 189 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 2: into the prison health visits as well, to be able 190 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 2: to make sure the prison officers who do a great 191 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 2: job of behind the whire to look after the prisoners 192 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 2: and make sure that there's going to be a spot 193 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 2: for those people if you need to be there, because 194 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 2: we do something about it. But unfortunately it's not a 195 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 2: quick fix and it does take time. 196 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: I know we've got a situation where the Independence Justine 197 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 1: Davis Senior Gayula, they attended the correctional facilities with the 198 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: Greens men Cat macnamara now Justin Davis took to social 199 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: media to say that what she saw was concerning she reckons. 200 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: There's severe overcrowding, people sleeping on wall to wall mattresses, 201 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: Rehab programs not being delivered. Do you think that's appropriate? 202 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: Look, there are programs being delivered. I was in Alice 203 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: Springs on Monday and I spoke to the education to 204 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 2: the teachers essentially, and it's about education. There's a Rage 205 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,599 Speaker 2: program that's up and running. There's Quick Smart which is 206 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 2: up and running. I went to the Industries and Alice 207 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 2: Springs they're up and running. Where the engineering where they're 208 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 2: doing the number plates, all the number of plates in 209 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory done there. I went through the process 210 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 2: with them. So it's not ideal. Don't get me wrong, 211 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 2: I'm not saying but we need to break the cycle. 212 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,359 Speaker 2: So we need to make sure that there's a consequence 213 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 2: for the offending, which is prison, and then when you're 214 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 2: in prison, you need to be able to go. Remember 215 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 2: our programs are sentenced to a skill because when you 216 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 2: get out, he's the best way to break the cycle 217 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 2: is to get a job. 218 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, spot on. Now, while I'm on this discussion mostly 219 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: about bail, I was appalled to learn while I was 220 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: away that one of the teens who assaulted Trevor Miller, 221 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: the seventy one year old man in Palmerston last week, 222 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: was also bailed a number of times and was on 223 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: bail when he allegedly invaded seventy one year old Trevor's 224 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: home and assaulted him. Now the Australian newspaper revealed that 225 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: one of those teenagers was on bail for the third 226 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: time since mid December and has more than fifty active 227 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: charges before the Northern Territory courts. The fourteen year old 228 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: is reportedly currently before the courts on charges including but 229 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: not limited to, multiple counts of trespass, aggravated burglary, assault, 230 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: aggravated assault, and contravening domestic violence orders, as well as 231 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: shoplifting and theft. Now, I keep scratching my head, Minister, 232 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: when I hear a people offending while they are on bail. 233 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: What is the process in terms of does corrections the 234 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: Corrections Department have the opportunity to oppose bail when or 235 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: if someone is in their care. 236 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 2: So, Katie, how it works is the corrections don't oppose bail. 237 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 2: It's the defense lawyers or the prosecution. They work out 238 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 2: what their position is and they put their position to 239 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 2: the judge and then the judge makes it a decision 240 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 2: based on the evidence before and whether the bail should 241 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 2: be granted or not. But in this particular case, it's 242 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: very interesting that on the sixth of March, the court 243 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 2: ordered a bail assessment of that particular offender, which was 244 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 2: assessed to go into the First Steps program, which is 245 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 2: bail supported accommodation. He was found not suitable by corrections. 246 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: That report was. 247 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 2: Given to the judge and then the judge still gave 248 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 2: that young fender bail to I think it's to his 249 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 2: mum's or his parents. 250 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: So correction said he was not suitable to go on 251 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 1: bail on the sixth of March. 252 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 2: And to their first Step program, which is a bail 253 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 2: supported accommodation in Yarrawanga. It holds there so. 254 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 1: Not suitable to go into that program. I mean, now 255 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: that's too high risks. So that's the sixth of March. 256 00:11:57,679 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: I mean, less than a month later, we're in a 257 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: situation where a seventy one year old man is in 258 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 1: a critical condition in hospital, allegedly because of this same offender. 259 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 2: There you go, so ultimately the courts ordered a bail assessment. 260 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 2: The bail assentiment was done by correction. It's very similar 261 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 2: to the one in Alice Springs where the young offender 262 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 2: was going up to the funeral again assessed by Corrections 263 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: not suitable and the court still gave him bail. And 264 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 2: then this is a consequence of. 265 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: What is going on here? 266 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 2: Well, I suppose it's really it's a matter for the court. 267 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 2: You'd have to get the chief judge in to say 268 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 2: is this really two expectations of the community. The process 269 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 2: was followed, bail was opposed by the prosecution, an assessment 270 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 2: was done, found not suitable and still ground. 271 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: Do you think that's to the community's expectations. 272 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 2: I don't think it is at all. 273 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: So what can we do, Like, what do you do 274 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: to try to minimize this from happening again? Because my 275 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: biggest concern here is the victim, right, Like I just 276 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: think to myself, there needs to be Yes, there does 277 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: need to be programs that young people can undertake to 278 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: try to get them on the right track. Nobody would 279 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: disp that. But if you've got somebody that you are 280 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: concerned that corrections oppose that person being bailed to you know, 281 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: a particular facility, and I don't want to talk about 282 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: specific so don't want to end up, you know, getting 283 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: myself in trouble. But how do you stop this from 284 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: happening again, minister? Because it is a woeful situation when 285 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: somebody is allegedly on bail and then commits a very 286 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: serious crime while on bail. 287 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 2: Well, the way around it, Katie is to change the legislation. 288 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 2: Could the court interpret the legislation? The governments make the 289 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 2: legislation and then the courts are forced or interpret it 290 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 2: and at the moment we do have the separation of 291 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 2: powers where the courts do have some discretion and if 292 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: they aren't making decisions in line with the community expectations, 293 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 2: it'll be up to us to make sure that the 294 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 2: legislation is very, very strict and very narrow so they 295 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 2: can't have that determination, which is what we'll have to do. 296 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 2: And we make no apologies. We are going to strengthen 297 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 2: the laws and to all the naysayers out there as 298 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 2: they or the too tough, well, this is example why 299 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 2: we make laws to make sure that bail is refused. 300 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: Now, before I let you go, Acting Chief Minister, I 301 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: do just want to ask you about the situation with 302 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: the Darwin Port. It He is looking as though whoever 303 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: wins government federally is going to return it to Australian hands, 304 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: the Coalition promising to acquire it compulsorily and compensate Langbridge 305 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 1: if an Australian government approved operator isn't found within a 306 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: period of time. Labor saying that they'll enter formal negotiations 307 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: with potential buyers, building on informal talks, adding the Commonwealth 308 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: would intervene if it got to that point. What do 309 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: you make of the commitments from both major parties. 310 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 2: Well, Dunton came out to darwhen I was with him 311 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 2: when he made that announcement, and he was very clear 312 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 2: that he's going to enter into negotiations and then if 313 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 2: that doesn't occur, he's going to make leigership changes, the 314 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 2: bail proposals, the labour's proposal. I'm not really sure but 315 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 2: that it was just a quick phone call on onto 316 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 2: the ABC maybe for it's got some heads up or something. 317 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 2: I'm not sure, but we don't know. 318 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: What they do. They haven't met with you about it. 319 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 2: No, So what needs to happen is there needs to 320 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 2: be some certainty. Times are changing across the world. When 321 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 2: it was least years and years ago, I wasn't involved, 322 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 2: but the world has changed in scene. We need to 323 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 2: look forward, not backwards, and we need some certainty either 324 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 2: way and we need to wait to see what happens 325 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 2: on the third of May. 326 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: Well, look, we'll all be keeping a close on that, 327 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: a really quick one. Somebody we do get this message 328 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: like weekly, when are bush camps going to start? 329 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 2: Well, we're working on making a bush camp in Catherine 330 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 2: right now and as we speak we're trying to find 331 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 2: a suitable location and we've got a plan ready to go. 332 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 2: There are some demoundables ready to go, so once we 333 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 2: actually find the suitable location, it will happen quite quickly. 334 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 2: And we're working hard to get it happen because it's 335 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: about breaking the cycle, getting these people out into job 336 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 2: ready situations so they can finish their time in prison 337 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 2: and they go out into community as a better person. 338 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: Well, Jereed Maylee, the Acting Chief Minister, we will leave 339 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: it there. Thank you so much all the time. 340 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 2: Say one thing. They had their first win last week 341 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 2: and I'm excitedly well. 342 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: Them and the Dolphins both finally mate, I've got my 343 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: red and white skirt on for the Dolphins today, go 344 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: the Dolphins and yeah, let's it'll be a fantastic weekend 345 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: of footy out there at TiO, no doubt, thousands of 346 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: Territorians flocking out there to see Paramatter Eels take on 347 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 1: the Canberra Raiders. 348 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 2: I have my special socks on, oh my paramatter socks. 349 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 2: Good on, my lucky socks. Good on your minister, Thanks 350 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 2: so much for your time this morning.