1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: We're stretched beyond breaking point. We need the government to listen. 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: They were the words of the Northern Territory Police Association 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: President Nathan Finn on Friday as he addressed the association's 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: annual conference in front of the Police. 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 2: Minister and Executive. 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: Mister Finn told the Minister for Police and Senior Executive, 7 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: I'm sick of talking to the government on what our 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: members deserve. I'm sick of getting lip service from these 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: people telling us they're doing everything they can. That's not 10 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: the case, he said. I don't want these I don't 11 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: want to see these words. I want to see action 12 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: and we need action now. The most telling thing was 13 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: we're two hundred members short. 14 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 2: Now. 15 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: Nathan Finn, the president of the Northern Territory Police Association, 16 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: joins me in the studio. Good morning to you, Nathan. 17 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 3: Good morning Katy, and good morning to your listeners. 18 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: Now, Nathan, I read your speech on Friday and you 19 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: seem like you've had enough of the lack of action 20 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: from the government. 21 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: Why are you so fired up right now? 22 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 3: Because our members deserve to be treated better. Okay, that's 23 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 3: simple as that. I'm fighting for them because they are 24 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 3: struggling every day. To cope with the demands of policing 25 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 3: in the Northern Territory. They are sick and tired of 26 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 3: hearing We're looking at it, we're looking into this, We're 27 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 3: trying to do this time to shut up or put up. Basically, 28 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 3: our members are leaving in large numbers. We cannot keep 29 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 3: up with the autrition. We cannot be there keep day in, 30 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 3: day out with these pressures that have been placed on 31 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:31,639 Speaker 3: these front line members. 32 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: Now, Nathan, you said at the conference on Friday that 33 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:39,199 Speaker 1: we need an additional two hundred police in the Northern 34 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 1: Territory Police Force. 35 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 2: How did you arrive at that number? 36 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 3: That number was arrived at from a previous question an 37 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 3: answer session we had with the Acting Commissioner Murphy and 38 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 3: also the Deputy Commissioner small Page and Acting Deputy Commissioner 39 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 3: Michael White. When I asked the direct question, I understand, 40 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 3: and we're short on resources, what would the number be 41 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 3: to obviously feel demand currently? And the number they come 42 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 3: to is two hundred. Early to that conversation was we 43 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 3: need seven members per per police vehicle to run a 44 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 3: police vehicle per day. 45 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 2: So this isn't just a number that you've thought up. 46 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: This is a number that is absolutely essentially in terms 47 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: of the operational demands of our Northern Territory. 48 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 3: Police, and that's yesterday, Katie, that's two hundred. We're short 49 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 3: yesterday to meet the current demand. So no wonder when 50 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 3: members of the public are calling the police, you're not 51 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 3: seeing the police because we haven't got these thirty extra 52 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 3: vans across the territory responding to your calls. 53 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: Well, and Finny, this is something that we hear quite often, 54 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: you know, we do hear from listeners saying, Katie, I 55 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: understand the police are under resource, that they've got a 56 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: lot of demands on them, but we called them about X, 57 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: Y and Z, and we're unable to get somebody out. 58 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: You know, we are hearing, and I know that that 59 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: coronial is still underway, so I'm not going to go 60 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,239 Speaker 1: into detail about that, but we've heard throughout the coronial 61 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: that is underway as well. You know, the fact that 62 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: you've got domestic violence incidents that we're not able to get. 63 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: Police out to. 64 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: It must be tough going for those rank and file 65 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: members when they know that the public needs them and 66 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: wants them and that they can't get out to those jobs. 67 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 3: That's correct. Our members struggler every day, every day in 68 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 3: response to the crime rate that's gone up in the 69 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 3: Northern Territory, the lack of resources they've got within the 70 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 3: Northern Territory, and they're quite frankly, they're sick of it. 71 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 3: They're sick of hearing we're trying to help, we're trying 72 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 3: to do this. What are they doing about losing our 73 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 3: experienced members? What have they got in place there? We're 74 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 3: losing them in droves. 75 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: I understand that the Northern Territory is acting Police Commissioner 76 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: Michael Murphy has written to a number of officers who've 77 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: left the Northern Territory and maybe gone into stage or 78 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: maybe you're on leave to try and bring them back. 79 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: Is that a helpful step? 80 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 3: Again, that's a helpful step. But a number of these 81 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: people have rest have left for reasons. They've either burnt out, 82 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 3: they've got mental health issues in relation to what they've 83 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 3: had to deal with in policing. I put to our executive, 84 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 3: did we contact these members to see if they actually 85 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 3: wanted contact or if they're actually interested in returning. Most 86 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 3: of them taking out police force jobs across the other jurisdictions, 87 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 3: across Australia and New Zealand. 88 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: Now you said on Friday that the additional two hundred police, 89 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: that number is the equivalent of thirty vans. 90 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 2: How do you arrive at that number? 91 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: Is it based on the number that are in a 92 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: van in any one time in a certain area. 93 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 3: So we got to that. Acting deput Commissioner White referred 94 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 3: to that we need seven members to run a van 95 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 3: each shift, so that equates to nearly twenty nine or 96 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 3: thirty thirty vans across the Northern. 97 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: Territory at this point in time, Like on a weekend, 98 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 1: for example, do we have the number of vans that like, 99 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: do we have enough vans operating in one weekend to 100 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: service the whole community. 101 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 3: Katie, we have not across the Northern Territory. We'd be 102 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 3: struggling to have those at the minimum thirty vans, not 103 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 3: the additional thirty vans. We would struggle to have the 104 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 3: thirty vans at all to respond across the whole of 105 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 3: the territory. 106 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: What does that mean in terms of community safety? 107 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 3: It means that the public's let down because we cannot 108 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 3: respond to their calls. From the public. It's embarrassing, Katie. 109 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 3: It is getting to a point where people won't call 110 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 3: the police. We'll have no police left if they keep 111 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 3: dealing with us the way they are dealing. 112 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: With us now. 113 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: You touched on just a moment ago in some ways 114 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: that support and well being, you know, I think that 115 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: that's a big part of this as well, is making 116 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: sure that the police force is healthy so that they 117 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: don't actually want to move into state and that they 118 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: don't actually want to leave the force. What does the 119 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: association want to see in this space. 120 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 3: We want to see change the dispute process. We want 121 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 3: to see more manager or guidance. Given a very discipline 122 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 3: based system that we have, and that affects our members, 123 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 3: the process that they go through, innolation of the desparte 124 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 3: process affects the members more than the actual what they've 125 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 3: potentially done. This has got to stop. We've got to 126 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 3: start treating our members with respect. We've got to look 127 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 3: after them. Most of the majority of them don't want 128 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 3: to leave the territory. They love the territory lifestyle. They 129 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 3: give everything to their community and what they serve. But 130 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 3: the fact is we need to look after him. We 131 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 3: need to do the right thing by them. Again, it's 132 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 3: very hard our members are screaming for assistance every day 133 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 3: and they're not getting it. 134 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: I know. 135 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 1: Once again, the Acting Commissioner, Michael Murphy has touched on 136 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: some of what he's prepared to change or what he 137 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: would look at when it comes to some of those 138 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: disciplinary matters and disciplinary actions. 139 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 2: Do you think that there's steps in the right direction. 140 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 3: They are definitely steps in the right direction, Katie, And 141 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 3: he's giving me a reassurance that he's going to look 142 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 3: at this process. Again. They are words. At the moment, 143 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,559 Speaker 3: we haven't seen the a's actions taken place. But again 144 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 3: he commits to me and I commit to him that 145 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 3: we want to work with through this process. We want 146 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 3: to make it better for our police officers. 147 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: Finny, it seems to me at the moment that we 148 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: have got a police force that are pretty unhappy that 149 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: they're under resource. 150 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: They want to be able. 151 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: To do their jobs to the best of their ability, 152 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: and they want to be able to meet their demands 153 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: and the concerns of the Northern Territory community, but they 154 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 1: feel like they can't right now. 155 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: Would that be an accurate sort of description? 156 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 3: Is a very accurate description. Who wants to come into 157 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 3: work where they're busting their ass day in, day out, 158 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 3: trying to get to all the matters, and they're getting 159 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 3: abused when they do get there late. It's not their problem, 160 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 3: it's not their fault. They are doing the best they 161 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 3: possibly can with what they've got. 162 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: Mate, tell me there's also On Friday, there was also 163 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,239 Speaker 1: policy concerns raised now against you know, the presumption against 164 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: bail that it should be extended to include any object 165 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: used as a weapon to cause fear or harm. This 166 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: is something that we've had so many discussions about, like 167 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: what was the sense from the Northern Territory Police Force 168 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: when that review came out and those changes, well lack 169 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: of changes were announced. 170 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: It hasn't gone far enough, Caadie. That's the advice we 171 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 3: could received from our members. It needs to go further 172 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 3: in relation to the offensive weapon to be add to 173 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 3: that bailed presumption. Our members decide obviously what an offensive 174 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 3: weapon is. That could be anything. It can be a spear, 175 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 3: it can be a fork if that, but that's the 176 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 3: thing the members want to be able to interpret that 177 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 3: and have that to back them up. 178 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: I know one of the other concerns that was raised 179 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: and I thought this was actually really interesting. On Friday, 180 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: because it's something that we seem to see a lot 181 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: of and that's you know, I guess, criminal behavior being 182 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: undertaken and then being shared on social media. So the 183 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: Northern Territory Police Association wants to see new legislation which 184 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: makes actions such as posting videos of offending on social 185 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: media and aggravation. Surely that would be something that is 186 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: a no brain like common sense. If somebody's stealing a 187 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,119 Speaker 1: car and then they're posting vision. 188 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: About it, surely that. 189 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: Would be an added factor when you're being sentenced or 190 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: when you're getting charged. 191 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 3: We're talking about politicians here, Caadie. Common sense is that 192 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,439 Speaker 3: the fact, unfortunately we don't see that common sense. This 193 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 3: is an issue they're trying to advertise what they're doing 194 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 3: to show how cool they are to members of the 195 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 3: public and they're fellow friends out in the community. This 196 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 3: is what they're doing to advertise what they're doing against 197 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 3: our laws of the Northern Territory and basically shoving it 198 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 3: back in our face. 199 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 1: Now, so you reckon that it should be an aggravating 200 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: or and it should be added as an aggravation. 201 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: What would that mean. 202 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 3: That'd be higher level of what they're subject to so 203 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 3: the punishment they do receive would be obviously aggravated in 204 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 3: relation to that, so the maximum sentence would be raised. 205 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 3: We'd see more people deterred from actually posting the social 206 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 3: media events. 207 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,079 Speaker 1: It seems like we're in a bit of a situation 208 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: in the territory right now as well, where you know, 209 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: we seem to have crime levels that are higher than before. 210 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: That's based on some of those crime stats that we 211 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: see come out each and every month. 212 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 2: We have issues where we're. 213 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: Not able to get police out to all the different 214 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: incidents that are occurring. We have a lack of numbers, 215 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: you know, two hundred short by the look of things. 216 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: But then we also have prisons that are overflowing. We 217 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 1: seem to be in a really difficult situation with all 218 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: of these factors at play. 219 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 3: There's a number of factors here. Again, the infrastructure and 220 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 3: the spent on infrastructure within the old territory has stopped 221 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 3: without the federal government intervention in that space. The Northern 222 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 3: Churchy government haven't got the money to spend on this. 223 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 3: I know they're in a difficult position. But again, we 224 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 3: need to advocate at the federal level for our law 225 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 3: and order and policies in relation to that. 226 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 2: Now, I do want to ask. 227 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: Over the weekend, the National Children's Commissioner said that she 228 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: had written. She's told the ABC that she's written to 229 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Police Minister following on from vision being 230 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: shared last week by the Northern Territory Police of arrests 231 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: that were made by I believe it was Stripeforth, Strident 232 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: and the Dog Squad. They were arresting two people who'd 233 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 1: allegedly committed crimes. They'd gone and stolen two cars. From 234 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: my understanding, based on what has been shared, she's calling 235 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: for that vision to be removed. 236 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 2: I mean, what is your response to that. 237 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 3: That is reality, Katie. This is who we see committing 238 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 3: offenses every day. It doesn't matter who they are or 239 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 3: what they are. This is a reality of what police 240 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 3: are dealing with every day. I know it's frustrating for 241 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 3: members of the public to see that, but this is 242 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 3: what our members see every day as they try to 243 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 3: obviously uphold the laws of the Northern Territory. This is reality. 244 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 2: So do you reckon it should be removed? 245 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 3: Definitely not, definitely not. It's a true indication of what 246 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 3: our police are dealing with. Every day. 247 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: Now before I let you go this morning, we also 248 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: know that you know, we've obviously got the acting Police Commissioner, 249 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: Michael Murphy in the role at this point. Was there 250 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: any indication on Friday throughout that conference when we're going 251 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: to get a bit of an update on that job. 252 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 3: No, definitely not, Caddie. We haven't received any information. I know. 253 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 3: The process is that they had their interviews some nearly 254 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 3: two weeks ago. Now it's going before the Cabinet, who 255 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 3: obviously make a recommendation to the administrator for the appointment 256 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 3: of the commissioner. 257 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 1: So we'll have to wait and see exactly what decision 258 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,719 Speaker 1: is made. Look, Nathan, I know that there were a 259 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: number of other areas that were discussed as well. One 260 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: of those was indeed remote policing, and there's also been 261 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: that discussion about auxiliaries on bottle shops. That is something 262 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: that we've spoken about before. How important is it that 263 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: some of these changes actually come to fruition. 264 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 3: It's very important, especially for our remote members, Katie. They 265 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 3: are struggling. They haven't got the resource to deal with that. 266 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 3: Some are working up to a month straight without a 267 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 3: day off, up to sixty hours a fortnight and relation 268 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 3: to these communities to try and service demand in these 269 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 3: remote communities. We haven't got the infrastructure in these remote 270 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,839 Speaker 3: communities to pace extra police out there. So they're stuck. 271 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 3: They're stuck with that burden. They can't get out of it, 272 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 3: and they are burning out like there's no tomorrow. 273 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: Finny, the message seems pretty clear to me. You know, 274 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 1: you'd set it on Friday. We're stretched beyond breaking point. 275 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: We need the government to listen. What is your message for. 276 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: The Northern Territories, Minister for Police today. 277 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 3: If they don't want to listen, our members are going 278 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 3: to leave and droves. You won't have a police force 279 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 3: to service your community. That's the point we're at. 280 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: What's the next step for you guys, Because you know, 281 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: since you've become the president, you and I have spoken 282 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: on several occasions, and you've articulated to me the really 283 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: serious concerns that members have got. You know, we hear 284 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: from the public, the concerns that they've got. We hear 285 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: the evidence in those coronials, We hear what is going 286 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: on in the Northern Territory. What is you know, like, 287 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: what next If the government doesn't listen, we. 288 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 3: Won't have a police force coaty as simple as that, 289 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 3: members of the community will have to take law into 290 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 3: their own hands. We're at that point where we haven't 291 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 3: got enough members, and our members are telling this day 292 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 3: in day out, they have been telling for a long 293 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 3: long time. We do not need a copy of this 294 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 3: review to formulate a plan in relation to what we 295 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,199 Speaker 3: need to do. We need to employ and we need 296 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 3: to obviously attract and retain our members that are currently 297 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 3: obviously the knowledge and experience here it must be. 298 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: I mean, the thing is the last thing anybody wants 299 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: is for members of the public to make to take 300 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: matters into their own hands. That'd be the last thing 301 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: the police or anybody wants at this point, wouldn't it. 302 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 3: Definitely, Katie, Definitely, we don't want to see that. But 303 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: we need the government to take action in relation to 304 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 3: what they're saying. Our members experience every day. They are 305 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 3: frustrated beyond point. They are frustrated where they don't want 306 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 3: to turn up to work, but they do despite their 307 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 3: personal health, despite their mental health related issues that relate 308 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 3: to how busy they are and the demand they're being 309 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 3: placed on them. Well. 310 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: Nathan Finn, the president of the Northern Territory Police Association. 311 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: I always appreciate your time. Thanks very much for joining us. 312 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 3: Thank you Katie, and also just like to wish out 313 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 3: to the members out of the Northern Territory Police Force. 314 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 3: Keep doing what you're doing. We've got your back. We'll 315 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 3: have you back one hundred and ten percent. 316 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 2: Thanks Nathan. We appreciate your time this morning.