1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: Well, as I've discussed, the issues plaguing Alice Springs continue 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: to dominate national headlines. Several days after the Prime Minister's visit, 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: and as the town enters into its first extra day 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: of well takeaway alcohol restrictions are alcohol free for takeaway. 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: The Northern Territory government are digging their heels in over 6 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: their decision around the Stronger Futures legislation. As I mentioned 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: on the show on Wednesday Morning, Well, the Chief Minister 8 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: joined us on Wednesday and said that they're now considering 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: engaging the Electoral Commission to conduct a ballot in the 10 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: camps to determine if residents want alcohol returned. All the while, 11 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: further vision has been shared on social media, this time 12 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: by a nurse of kids running a mark on the weekend. 13 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: Now the Chief Minister, Natasha Viles, joins me in the 14 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:45,599 Speaker 1: studio right now. 15 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: Good morning to your Chief Minister. 16 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie, Good morning listener. 17 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: Now, firstly, have you watched any of that vision from 18 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: the weekend of kids on Friday Night? Their kids spitting 19 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: on patrons at the hotel, a confrontation between a teenager 20 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: and a man, the bloke being punched and kicked, then 21 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: by three people at once. It's about ten teenagers running 22 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: a mark. 23 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 2: Have you watched that vision? 24 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 4: Yes, Katie, I've seen that vision and it's appalling. It's unacceptable, 25 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 4: and it certainly is frustrating for me as Chief Minister, 26 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 4: when we're putting in place so many responses and we 27 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 4: have been over so long to see that type of 28 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 4: behavior that is clearly anti social behavior and unacceptable for 29 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 4: our community. 30 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: We see antisocial to spit on someone and punch it. 31 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 4: Absolutely if the commentary was around the spitting, but it's 32 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 4: this behavior that is anti social. It's the gathering, the threatening, 33 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 4: and yes, Katie, sometimes it crosses the line to become 34 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 4: criminal behavior. But even when it's anti social, it is 35 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 4: unacceptable in our community. 36 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: Look, it's totally unacceptable, and it really makes you understandable. 37 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: It makes me understand why everyone in Alice feels that 38 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: things are totally out of control. 39 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: Do you get that sense when you watch that vision? 40 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Katie. 41 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 4: And that's why you've seen us not just in the 42 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 4: last fortnight, but over many months and years putting in 43 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 4: place a range of responses. It's multifactorial what drives it, 44 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 4: and therefore the solutions are as well. 45 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 2: I get what you're saying. 46 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: And I know that you do keep coming on the 47 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: show and saying that you've got a number of different initiatives, 48 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: but you'd have to concede that right now the initiatives 49 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 1: that you've got are not working. 50 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 4: So Katie, these issues are deep rooted. These issues are 51 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 4: across a number of families, and so they're not simple 52 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 4: to solve, and it's not one single measure that will 53 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 4: make them suddenly go away, as much as I would 54 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 4: wish for that, And that's why it's important. I can't 55 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 4: in one question respond and tell everything where I'm doing, 56 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 4: but I can say to the community, we're taking it 57 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 4: very seriously. 58 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: Look, I will go back to that in just a moment, 59 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: but firstly, I do want to talk a little bit 60 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: more about the Stronger Futures legislation ending today. We know 61 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: that the town enters its first day of extra takeaway 62 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: alcohol free days, Chief Minister, why are you now considering 63 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: holding a ballot to determine if alcohol should be allowed 64 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: in town camps? 65 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 4: So, Katie, and responding to that question, we need to 66 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 4: step back in time. The intervention came. 67 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: In, everyone's heard that, though everybody's sort of already gone 68 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: through that. I know that you said it earlier last 69 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: week as well when you stood up with the Prime Minister, 70 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: but I think people are sick of the blame game. 71 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: We all get the history. 72 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: But what I'm asking right now is why are you 73 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: considering holding a ballot to determine if alcohol should be 74 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: allowed in town camps? 75 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 4: Because right now Katie, there is the ability for a 76 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 4: town camp and a community to be a dry area. 77 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 4: And you see many across the Northern Territory alcohol is 78 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 4: a legal product. We acknowledge the harm that it causes. 79 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 4: But those communities, those town camps specifically, because the question 80 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 4: was to town camps, their leadership is said to us, 81 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 4: we don't. 82 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 3: Want to be dry. 83 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 4: We want to be able to drink a legal product 84 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 4: in our homes like other people. We have a number 85 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 4: of communities that have opted in Katie to the legislation 86 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 4: and remain dry. No one questions or who did we 87 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 4: speak to and how did we get to that conclusion. 88 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 4: But what's happening with the town camps is we have 89 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 4: spoken to town camp leadership and they've said, nope, we 90 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 4: want alcohol to be available. Yet we get criticized for 91 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 4: speaking to the wrong people. So that's where the idea 92 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 4: of the ballot come. 93 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: Well, look, I think that the situation right now is, 94 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: you know, we've got the likes of Marian Scrimjaw, Labour's 95 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: member for Lingiari. She's quoted in the Age of saying 96 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: that women and children in town camps have been speaking 97 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: to her about what they want. They're overwhelmed by the 98 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: amount of alcohol in town camps. She says, they want 99 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: the tap turned off. Do you agree with that assessment? 100 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 4: So what we are doing is we have turned the 101 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 4: tap off with takeaway with the additional days, and that's 102 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 4: based with police and they feel that that will be 103 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 4: effective for the community. But in terms of this conflicting issue, 104 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 4: because it's a legal product and you've got some people. 105 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 1: Women and children, did you speak to them? Did you 106 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: speak to the women and children of town camps in 107 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: Alice Springs when you were there last. 108 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 4: Week, not when I was there last week. But in 109 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 4: terms of why the opt in legislation? 110 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: Why not though, Because if you've got a situation like 111 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: Marian's now saying that women and children in town camps 112 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: have been speaking to her about what they want. They're overwhelmed, 113 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: they want the tap turned off. Why don't you go 114 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: and speak to them? 115 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 4: But I have, Katie, over time. I'm just saying, you 116 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 4: asked me specifically, last week was in a town camp. No, 117 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 4: I wasn't last week, But I have visited town camps 118 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 4: on previous occasions, and I've also met with women who 119 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 4: have said, no, we'd rather manage alcohol within our families 120 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 4: and our houses. 121 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: So you're saying, in Alice, Springstown camps right now, women 122 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: are saying to you that they want alcohol in those 123 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: sound camps. 124 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 4: What I am saying is, with the preparation for the 125 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 4: opt in legislation, there is leadership and women were a 126 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 4: part of that leadership that said we want to be 127 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 4: able to have what is illegal products. But I, Katie, 128 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 4: have absolutely the opt in comes to a conclusion on 129 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 4: the thirty first of January, and so we have seen 130 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 4: a number of communities opt in. We have seen a 131 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 4: number of communities adamantly say they won't opt in. But 132 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 4: what we're saying is perhaps ABOUTOT will set it this 133 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 4: matter for once and for all. 134 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 1: All right, So if this VALLOT, if this ballot happens, 135 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: if there is a vote, how soon is it going 136 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: to happen? 137 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 4: So we made contact with the Electoral Commission last week 138 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 4: to let them know that there was this idea. They 139 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 4: run ballots across a range of matters within the community, Katie. 140 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 3: People think of them mainly. 141 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 4: To run elections, but they run ballots quite regularly for 142 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 4: different things and so anyone over the age of eighteen 143 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 4: could be a part of that decision making process. So 144 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 4: when will it happen, So, Katie, I think it's something 145 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 4: that needs to happen quickly. So I'm talking, you know, 146 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 4: the next few weeks a month. I'm not sure how 147 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 4: quickly they can turn that around. 148 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: Which communities will then undertake the ballot, just Ellis Springs 149 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: or all around the Northern territories. 150 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 4: So Katie, you think that comes back to the liquor legislation. 151 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 4: We have seen a number of communities reverted back to 152 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,280 Speaker 4: being dry, and I think when we talk about alcohol management, 153 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 4: particularly in the issues facing Ala Springs, it's not just 154 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 4: for Alice Springs but that broader Central Australia. But I 155 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 4: think the town camps is our absolute focus at the moment. 156 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: So it will only be Alla Springstown Camps at this point. 157 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 3: Katie. 158 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 4: I think that we need to with the alcohol management 159 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 4: plans that are being developed, they need to be encompassing 160 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 4: to central Australia, but the town camps are the priority. 161 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 2: All right. 162 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, You've been quoted on numerous occasions as saying that 163 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: the stronger future this legislation was raised base. If that 164 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: is the case, why are there still more than one 165 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: hundred communities banned from having alcohol under the Northern Territory liquoraict. 166 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 3: Excellent question, Katie. 167 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 4: If you go back and look at when those areas 168 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 4: became general restricted areas gras we refer to them, it 169 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 4: was mainly through the seventies and eighties and nineties, and 170 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 4: this is when I was trying to answer the question 171 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 4: before about the intervention. It was a spell of dry, 172 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 4: no alcohol so that alcohol management plans could be developed. 173 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 4: So some communities have takeaway and you get a permit. 174 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 4: Some communities have a club, a social club. Others have 175 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 4: no alcohol. So those communities that are dry, they reverted 176 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 4: back to existing territory legislation. 177 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: So will those communities still be banned from drinking or 178 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: will they have an opportunity to vote as well? 179 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 4: So, Katie, if they were to develop a new alcohol 180 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 4: management plan, so that would be how they would get 181 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 4: a change and perhaps a ballot would be reasonable for them, 182 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 4: or they may have consensus without the division. 183 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: Okay, now, can you guarantee that women aren't going to 184 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: be pressured to vote in a certain way with this 185 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: ballot in Central Australia. 186 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 4: Of course, we would look at getting the Electrical Commission 187 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 4: to run a ballot process that would be open and 188 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 4: fair and democratic. 189 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: So how would you make sure that they're not actually 190 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: pressured to vote in a certain way? 191 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 4: So, Katie, voting is confidential. People turn up to vote 192 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 4: and it's between you and the ballot box. So we 193 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 4: see that with territory elections. That's how I see this 194 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:18,239 Speaker 4: would be running. 195 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: So in the meantime, while Alice Springs is going through 196 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: the situation that they're in right now, what's going to 197 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: happen in the meantime? Will alcohol be banned in those 198 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: town caps? 199 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 4: So Katie, we put in place the restrictions that were 200 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 4: announced last week that your listeners are well familiar with, 201 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 4: and that's to provide immediate short term respite, but that 202 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 4: I don't think is a long term solution for the community. 203 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 4: But it's designed and police that it will be effective 204 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 4: and reducing the amount of alcohol in the community. 205 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: Let's say that you do engage the electoral commission. By 206 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: the sounds of it, it sounds like that's the path 207 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: that you're going down, despite a large number of the 208 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: community saying this is not right. You know, we want 209 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: restrictions back in place. There is a lot of harm 210 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: being caused on the street. There's a lot of domestic violence. 211 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: We all know the issues. But let's say you go 212 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,599 Speaker 1: down this path, the vote happens and people say. 213 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 2: Yes, we still want to drink. 214 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: What's going to happen then, because there is absolute chaos 215 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs right now. 216 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 4: And that's where alcohol is such a difficult issue, not 217 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 4: just in Ala Springs but across the Northern Territory. It's 218 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 4: the biggest factor that drives crime and anti social behavior. 219 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 3: But it's a legal product. 220 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 4: And you see, Katie, you know the restrictions we have 221 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 4: in the territory as well as anyone, and so. 222 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: What we just continue down the path that we're on. 223 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: So Alice Springs just has to live with it. 224 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 4: So, Katie, this is why we have to continue with 225 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 4: alcohol policy, to be agile, to put in place different measures. 226 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 4: And you see this, Katie, across different communities. Nolan Boy 227 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 4: has a permit system in place, and as I was 228 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 4: talking about before, other communities have no alcohol, some have 229 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 4: a social club. The Band Drinker Register is an effective tool. 230 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 4: Police in Central Australia have referred eight hundred people in 231 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 4: the past couple of months across to the BDR. 232 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: And so all of that work, all of that work 233 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: that had gone into place once the Stronger Futures legislation 234 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 1: and well it's all just for our spring back. 235 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 4: At Stronger Futures and romanticizing Katie. There was no work done. 236 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 4: That was the whole point. The alcohol management plans were 237 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 4: developed by community and they sat on Federal Minister's desk. 238 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 4: They did not implement them. 239 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: Now over the weekend, the doctor revealed the horror confronting 240 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: demoralized staff at the Alice Springs Hospital as they try 241 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 1: to deal with extreme alcohol fueled violence and parental neglect 242 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: in Central Australia. The doctor, who spoke on the condition 243 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: of remaining anonymous, told Matt Cunningham that the hospital's treated 244 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: patients including a baby who'd been raped and a woman 245 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: whose husband had tried to cut her head off. The 246 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: doctor seid in the time I've been working here, I've 247 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: never seen the violence as bad as it is. It's 248 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: extreme violence. We had a patient in here the other 249 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: night who tried to decapitate his wife and he cut 250 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: his own throat. We had both of them in I've 251 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: never seen anything like it. How do you feel when 252 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: you hear accounts like that? 253 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 3: Oh, Katie, it's appalling. 254 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 4: I mean the question around a baby being raped is 255 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 4: dis gusting and that's a matter for police. I have 256 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 4: made sure police are aware of that commentary because police 257 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 4: do need to have a criminal investigation. Of course, our 258 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 4: health professionals work extremely hard, but we do have social 259 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 4: supports that work in with them. So you do see 260 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,839 Speaker 4: territory families in Ala Springs work till three after three 261 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 4: o'clock in the morning to make sure that those other 262 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 4: frontline staff have the supports they need. 263 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: Can you understand how people listening this morning would be 264 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 1: feeling so incredibly frustrated? 265 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 2: You know, I've just run. 266 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: Through what a doctor has told Sky News that is 267 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 1: absolutely horrific stuff. So that is happening in Central Australia. 268 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: You know it's happened. There are women who are scared 269 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: for their lives, but we're still considering making out alcohol 270 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 1: freely available in those town camps. 271 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 4: So, Katie, alcohol is not freely available in the Northern 272 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 4: Territory is my first point. Right across the territory, if 273 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 4: you commit alcohol related offenses, there isn't you are on 274 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 4: the band drinker register. There's a restriction supply, but grog 275 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 4: is a legal product. The harm that it causes we 276 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 4: absolutely look at ways in which we stop the supply 277 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 4: before that harm happens. 278 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: Is the violence in the Alice Springs Hospital and what's 279 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: going on in Alice Springs making it difficult to recruit 280 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: and retain staff. 281 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 4: So, Katie, in terms of our staff, we have health 282 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 4: staff challenges across the territory. I acknowledge for the community 283 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 4: of Alice Springs presently, not just in health but across 284 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 4: the board. This being talked about in the national media 285 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 4: certainly makes people question whether they would like to relocate there. 286 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 4: We certainly work as hard as we can not only 287 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 4: to address these issues, but to provide a safebody. 288 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,359 Speaker 2: It is making it tough, I believe. 289 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:38,839 Speaker 3: It would be, Katie. 290 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 4: But we've put in place a number of measures for 291 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 4: the staff at Alice Springs Hospital. I've been talking to 292 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,079 Speaker 4: the Nurses Federation in Ama around how we can keep 293 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 4: working to keep our staff safe. 294 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: Is there security for nurses at their nursing accommodation. 295 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 4: So in terms of there has been increased security on 296 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 4: the campus of the hospital and a number of our 297 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 4: staff do live on the hospital. We've got the new 298 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 4: multi story car parks, so there's been security features designed 299 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 4: in that around keeping staff safe. 300 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 2: Is there security at the nursing accommodation. 301 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 4: So in terms of Alice Springs Hospital, Katie, this staff 302 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 4: can live off campus or they can live on campus, 303 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 4: and there is security on campus. 304 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: So not if they're off campus, not if they're in 305 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: nursing accommodation that's off campus. 306 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 4: So in terms of I'm not sure which accommodation you're 307 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 4: specifically pointing to, but we have nursing accommodation on campus 308 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 4: and their security on campus. Off campus, people would live 309 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 4: in a private residu. 310 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: Can you confirm that they've had to remove hand sanitizer 311 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:29,319 Speaker 1: from the hospital. 312 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 4: Katie, This was a challenge that we did face and 313 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 4: this goes right back prior you know, to July last 314 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 4: year that people when you restrict the supply of alcohol, 315 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 4: they look to alternate products, and we're well familiar with 316 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 4: that in the territory, with things such as methylated spirits 317 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 4: being placed behind the counter different types of mouthwashers. So yes, 318 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 4: we have seen sanitizer have to be removed from the 319 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 4: general areas and also having it inlockable canisters so that 320 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 4: people can't access it, which is absolutely wild, Katie. This 321 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 4: is the measures that people will go to for alcohol. 322 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 4: So that's not just restricting the supply, it's making sure 323 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 4: the rehabilitation is as easy to access as possible. And 324 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 4: so these are measures that are in place and that 325 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 4: we continue to work on. 326 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: It is like it is unbelievable that you've got to 327 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 1: remove hand sanitizer from the hospital because people are drinking it, 328 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: you know, honestly, So much of what is going on 329 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: at the moment is really hard to grapple with. 330 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 4: I mean. 331 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: On the weekend, it was announced that the KTM Australian 332 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: Junior Motocross Championship was being moved out of Alice Springs 333 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: due to safety concerns. In a statement, Motorcycling Australia said 334 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: the territory's peak Body Cycling Australia, Northern Territory and the 335 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: Alice Springs Motorcycle Club had made the difficult decision to 336 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: relinquish the event. How do you feel about the fact 337 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: that an event which has not been held in the 338 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: town since nineteen eighty seven has now been canceled because 339 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: people don't feel safe traveling to Alice Springs. 340 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 3: That's incredibly disappointing. 341 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 4: And we need to make sure that we work with 342 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 4: event organizers so they can understand what is available and 343 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 4: how we can run these events safely. Because the more 344 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 4: activation we have, we need to address these issues. But 345 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 4: we also need to activate these spaces in a positive way. 346 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: But how can you activate spaces in a positive way 347 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: when people are fearful for their own personal safety? 348 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 4: And Katie, these are the challenges that we're facing. But 349 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 4: what I can assure your listeners is that we're working 350 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 4: across council, Northern Terretory government and Australian Government. We've got 351 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 4: a large range of non government organizations that are funded 352 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 4: to provide services and one of the tasks of the 353 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 4: Central Australian Regional Controller is to look at those services 354 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 4: and make sure they're being funded and they're being run appropriately. 355 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 4: So not just going to do that over the week. 356 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 4: So I was briefed yesterday afternoon and what the work 357 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 4: that she is doing is bringing together what is happening, 358 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 4: what needs to be achieved, and how we can deliver that. 359 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 4: The Commonwealth government are at the table in terms of funding. 360 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 4: For example, we see people coming into Alice Springs to 361 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 4: access services. Why does a place like you and Demu 362 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 4: not have those basics services? So this is when I 363 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 4: talk about it being multifactorial. It's identifying the issues around 364 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 4: why people are in town, engaging them with the services. 365 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 4: And I think it is Katie in two parts. There's 366 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 4: the alcohol part, but there's also the youth and the 367 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 4: young kids, and sadly that's generational. But we can't just 368 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 4: say that as a response. We have to have an 369 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 4: immediate response, which is why police have been asked to 370 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 4: step up. And I have contacted the Police Commissioner to 371 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 4: say I expect every resource to be placed into Alice 372 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 4: Springs to support that community right now. 373 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: Do you feel as though he is acting with the 374 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: urgency that you want him to. 375 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 4: I've made it very clear about the urgency that I expect. 376 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: It didn't answer my question though, do you feel as 377 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: though the Police Commissioner is acting with the urgency that. 378 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 2: You want him to. 379 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 4: I feel that police certainly last week, Katie, when I 380 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 4: was on the ground there, I had senior police meeting 381 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 4: with me as we were discussing ways in which to 382 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 4: overcome these challenges. They were very responsive, providing me with 383 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 4: information to help guide, for example, the alcohol restrictions that 384 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 4: have been announced, so that we can give them the 385 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 4: tools to do their job. 386 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,719 Speaker 1: Why don't you push to get the additional federal police 387 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: to really provide that stop gap while you sought these issues, 388 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: because it seems as though nothing's getting better at the moment. 389 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: I know that you've got a lot of work that's 390 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: going to take a long period of time. I know 391 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: that the regional controller is in there obviously having a 392 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 1: look at all the different measures that are in place. 393 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: I know that you're our looking at alcohol. But even 394 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: with this ballot, you know that's going to take time, 395 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: and in the meantime, good, hard working people continue to 396 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: suffer and it's not good enough at this point. So 397 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: why not get the federal police in to help out 398 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: for a bit? 399 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 4: Just before I come to that second part, So additional 400 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,959 Speaker 4: police were provided into Alice Springs in Central Australia in 401 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 4: November December and the community said to me that that 402 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,360 Speaker 4: was effective. So I've asked Northern Territory Police to make 403 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 4: sure that that absolutely stays in plate. In terms of 404 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 4: the Australian Federal Police and the military as resources, we 405 00:17:57,720 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 4: need to make sure that the resources that would go 406 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 4: in would be effective and that's what they're trained to do. 407 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 4: So I think that Northern Territory Police need to manage this. 408 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 4: It's not saying that we wouldn't see secondments possibly, Katie. 409 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 4: I think part of this picture too is we see 410 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 4: policing in Aura Springs, but we need to have police 411 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 4: in the remote communities and that was something that the 412 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 4: Commonwealth have funded and that funding has been extended, but 413 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 4: we need to really make sure we're adequately resourcing that properly. 414 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,479 Speaker 1: So so at this point in time, you're sticking with 415 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 1: that line that you've just got the additional police that 416 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Police have pushed in before Christmas. So 417 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: right now you said what we may second people from 418 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: the Australian Federal Police. Look, why aren't you forging ahead 419 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 1: with that? 420 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 4: Because Katie talking to police and this is an operational 421 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:43,679 Speaker 4: question that perhaps the Police Commissioner can come on and 422 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 4: explain to you. But our AFP, the tasks that they 423 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 4: are designed to do might not necessarily correspond to what 424 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 4: the community needs. 425 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 2: But saying to the community just needs to be safe. 426 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Katie. 427 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 4: And that's why we surged forty extra police into Central 428 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 4: Australia and the community at that time said they felt 429 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 4: that they did feel safe. That that has a positive response. 430 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 4: Now over Christmas there's a bit of argibargie about those numbers. 431 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 4: Have they dwindled away a little? And so I've made 432 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 4: it really clear to the Police Commissioner with his operations 433 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 4: that when those forty extra police were there, the community 434 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 4: felt safer. 435 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 3: So could he ensure that police no. 436 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: Thirty first of Jan Obviously the opt in ends, is 437 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: it going to change to opt out? 438 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 3: So, Katie. 439 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 4: In terms of what we're doing with alcohol, it's a 440 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 4: broader alcohol management plan for Central Australia. That opportunity for 441 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 4: communities to opt in ceases. We have seen a number 442 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 4: of communities opt in. We've seen a number of communities 443 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 4: say to us, we don't want to opt in. How 444 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 4: they have alcohol is the work that we're working through 445 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 4: right now and that's where that ballot comes into play. 446 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 1: All right. I reckon people in Alice Springs are going 447 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: to be feeling so frustrated right now listening this morning, 448 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: I think they're going to be thinking to themselves, I 449 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: can't believe we're going down this path now of a ballot. 450 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: You know, we've got kids running a mark on the 451 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,919 Speaker 1: streets over the weekend. Like, none of this is made up. 452 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 1: It's all stuff that we you know, that we are seeing. 453 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: It's been thrust into the national spotlight. We've been reporting 454 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,199 Speaker 1: on the crime, the terrible domestic violence where women have 455 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: lost their lives, children on the streets, all night break ins, neglect. Honestly, 456 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:14,479 Speaker 1: it's absolute horrors that the rest of the country are 457 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:19,439 Speaker 1: now mortified by Chief Minister. I have to ask, are 458 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: you scared to take further action at this point because 459 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: you're worried that you'll be labeled racist? 460 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 4: No, Katie, I'm making decisions that are balanced, that are 461 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 4: absolutely the frustration, the anger from that community, the urgency 462 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 4: around tackling these issues. Alcohol is a part of it, 463 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,199 Speaker 4: but the youth. We have been focused on that. We 464 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 4: continue to change our response to that space, making sure 465 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 4: police have the resources to do their job supporting the 466 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 4: community through a range of programs. So it is hard 467 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 4: grinding work and will continue that. 468 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: So why then, despite the fact that you've got leading 469 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: Indigenous groups, you've got Aboriginal leaders like Marion Scrimjawge just enterprise, 470 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: Michael Little, there's so we need the stronger futures legislation 471 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: in place, the likes of AMSANC Congress. They've warned about 472 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: the dangers for months, months but have not been listened to. 473 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: What's the point do you think in a voice to 474 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: Parliament if no one's going to actually listen to Aboriginal 475 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: people on the ground who are saying that they need 476 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: things like stronger futures legislation and further action. 477 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 4: So, Katie, we have been listening to people on the 478 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 4: ground and it is argued whether that's the right person 479 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 4: to listen to on this issue of alcohol. And that 480 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 4: is where the idea around, specifically when the alcohol management 481 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 4: plan is prepared for that community to vote on it. 482 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 3: But in terms of the voice, I think who exactly. 483 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: Would you say you are listening to? Who would you 484 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: say the main people in Alice Springs right now that 485 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: you're taking that advice from. 486 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,160 Speaker 4: So for your listeners to understand, and the Ala Springs 487 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 4: residence we'd be well familiar, but those in the top 488 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 4: end might be. 489 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 3: We have a number of town camps and. 490 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 4: They have leadership, they have each area alects someone and 491 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,439 Speaker 4: they come together under the tongue injier banner. So that 492 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 4: is who we've been speaking to in the lead up 493 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 4: to and around those changes of the sesation of the 494 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 4: stronger futures. Noting that the kmwas said, we're not doing anything, 495 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 4: we're vacating the space. So we provided that opt in 496 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 4: opportunity there. That comes to an end. So then what's 497 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 4: the next step in our alcohol response is where we're 498 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 4: going now? 499 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 2: Okay? And where then, you know, do we land? 500 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: If that's the situation where it is just the town 501 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: camp leadership and tongue and jig town council that you 502 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 1: are obviously taking that advice from, why are you not 503 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: taking advice from those medical groups, from the doctors that 504 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: are at the coal phase, from those that are really 505 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: facing you know, a terrible situation as a result of 506 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: the alcohol harm and the other on flow that's going on. 507 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 4: That's where we do absolutely listen to them. You've seen 508 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 4: a number of alcohol measures introduced in the Northern Territory, 509 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 4: and that's based on evidence, that's based on the advice 510 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 4: of health professionals. So the floor price, for example, the 511 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 4: band drinker register, having co located rehabilitation. 512 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 2: That's working right now in Alice Springs, Katie. 513 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 4: To deal with grog and alcohol, which is a legal product, 514 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 4: we have to have different measures and that's what's in place, 515 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 4: and they are adjusted for each community. 516 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 3: But it's a difficult issue because it's a legal product. 517 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 4: People become addicted, so they then push to secondary supply, 518 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 4: which we have put in place more measures there. So 519 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 4: it's a complex space to work in. 520 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 2: Chief mister, we're out of time. But what now, from. 521 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: Your perspective, what hope can you give the people of 522 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: Alice Springs and everybody right around the territory at the 523 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 1: moment who's concerned about their personal safety. They see what's 524 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: going on in Alice Springs and think, my goodness, is 525 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:32,919 Speaker 1: that going to come to Darwin and to those people 526 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs who are well past their wits end. 527 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 4: So, in terms of Alice Springs pulling together, what has 528 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,159 Speaker 4: been achieved some of the ideas and some of the 529 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 4: evidence based solutions that perhaps we need support from the 530 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 4: Commonwealth government. 531 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 3: That's the absolute focus for me. 532 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 4: It was over the weekend and heading into this week 533 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 4: working with the Commonwealth Government around that what they can 534 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 4: do to step up, and also listening to the ideas 535 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 4: from the ground. 536 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 3: Katie. 537 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 4: I met with Matt Patterson, the mayor, certainly keeping contact. 538 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: He's still he last week was on this show and 539 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 1: said Katie, people do not feel safe sleeping in their 540 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: own homes. 541 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 4: But Katie Alice Springstown Council got close to a million 542 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 4: dollars to fund lighting to help security through environmental design. Yeah, 543 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 4: nothing's happened, So the thinking came then for the crime. No, 544 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 4: But what I'm saying is there's funding there to help 545 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 4: light areas, there's CCTV, there's lots of different things that 546 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 4: will tackle these issues, and we need everybody to step 547 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 4: up and participate. 548 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 2: All right, Chief Minister, we will leave it there. 549 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 1: Appreciate your time as always, Thank you.