1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: The government are saying that they're undertaking a range of 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: activities to reduce alcohol related harm within the community, and 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: as part of this work, they've completed this three year 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: review into the Liquor Act of twenty nineteen. Robin Lamley, 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: the Independent member Ferara lun joins me on the line. 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 2: Hi, Robin, good morning, Katie. 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: Robin. Have you been through this report and what do 8 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: you make of it? 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 2: Yes, I have been through this report. One interesting aspect 10 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 2: to this report is that it was actually written by 11 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 2: the Office or the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet, 12 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 2: so it's not an independent report. But nonetheless it does 13 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 2: contain some good things and some not so good things 14 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 2: which have already touched on earlier this morning. The extended 15 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 2: use of the band Drinkers Register is a no brainer. 16 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: I was quite surprised at some of the things that 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:01:00,279 Speaker 2: they've stated to include in the band Drinkers Register are 18 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 2: not already happening. For example, all the people that ten 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,839 Speaker 2: and a half thousand people that went into protective custody 20 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 2: in twenty nineteen twenty, all of those aren't or weren't 21 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 2: put on the band Drinkers Register. I think that needs 22 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 2: to happen. I think most people that go and go 23 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: into protective custody is because of alcohol, and that should 24 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: automatically happen. I know it might be an onerous job 25 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: for the police, but I think that needs to be 26 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 2: simplified and happen automatically. 27 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and surprising probably for a lot of listeners to 28 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: hear that and here that it's not happening, like you 29 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: just said. 30 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 2: I remember in the early days of this of the 31 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: band drinkers register being rolled out in twenty eleven, that 32 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 2: was talked about, and again when they brought it back 33 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 2: in the Labor Party in twenty sixteen. Yes, it's always 34 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: been underutilized. It's always been underwhelming from most people's perspective. 35 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: I think most people think it doesn't make a huge difference. 36 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: And this is probably why people that become defendants in 37 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: domestic violence order cases they should automatically go on the 38 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: band drinkers registered too. And this is a part of 39 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 2: one of the recommendations in this report. 40 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: Also, Robin, what do you make of the part of 41 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: the report that says that discussion paper what is being 42 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 1: obviously looked at is that the Liquor Act be amended 43 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: to empower other appointed officers like transit officers, public housing 44 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: safety officers, park rangers, council ranges, et cetera, to be 45 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: appointed as inspectors with the authority to search individuals and 46 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: sees any unopened container that's believed to contain liquor. 47 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 2: Well, if they were to bring this in, it will 48 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: be a major inconsistency with how things are done in 49 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: Alice Springs by our police alcohol liquor inspectors. Our poalies 50 00:02:57,960 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: and the police are not happy with this, and that's 51 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: mentioned on page eleven of the report. They raise concerns 52 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 2: about people who are not suitably trained to appropriately engage 53 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 2: with public drinkers in the exercise of such powers. I 54 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 2: agree with them, Powis. I remember when they were created 55 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 2: police outside of bottle shops, there was a lot of 56 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 2: controversy around those officers holding guns. They do hold guns 57 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: because it was deemed as so potentially dangerous what they 58 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 2: were doing that they needed to be armed. So if 59 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 2: the government brings this in, there needs to be a 60 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 2: lot of sorting out around that, because you can't have 61 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: rangers and untrained security officers carrying weapons. You wouldn't think 62 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: all being armed with guns, so they need to sort 63 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: that out. That's a big call and I can't see 64 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: the government doing that to be honest. 65 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: Now, I know in LSU guys have got some very 66 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: strict restrictions already in place. But up here in Darwin 67 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: we did see during COVID nineteen and I know it 68 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: was the same for you in Central Australia under those 69 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: health well when the Health emergency was in place, the 70 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: Director introduced special requirements for the sale of takeaway alcohol, 71 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: including the requirement for a person to prove that they 72 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: have a legitimate residence to consume takeaway alcohol. The same 73 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: measure is already happening in places like Perap and Fanny 74 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: Bay via the liquor Record, but at this stage it's 75 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: not recommended that this measure be legislated as a condition 76 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: for takeaway authorities. Robin, do you think that this actually 77 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 1: does need to happen in the top end. 78 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 2: Well, it's been happening in Alice for years, over ten years. 79 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 2: So that's what the powlis do. That's what the police 80 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: outside of the grog shops do in Alice. You show 81 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 2: them their your license and if you don't have a 82 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 2: local address, you are asked where you're going to drink it, 83 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 2: and if you don't satisfy the requirements of the pollies, 84 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: then you can't buy rog And this is, as I said, 85 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: entrenched in our purchasing of alcohol in Alice Springs for many, 86 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: many years. So I'm surprised the Attorney General didn't bring 87 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: that to your attention. So to bring it into Darwin 88 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 2: really is up to Darwin people. And I think I 89 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 2: need to mention here that alcohol policy is not one 90 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 2: size fits all. I think you've got to localize a 91 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 2: lot of the policies and practices that occur. What's good 92 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: for Alice Springs will probably not be palatable or necessarily 93 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 2: good for Darwin. We have very extreme restrictions in places 94 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: you've already noted. We have two takeaway alcohol free days 95 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 2: a week in Alice. God forbid if that should ever 96 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: come in to Darwin. I mean, and the fact that 97 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 2: we haven't been able to buy takeaway alcohol in Alice 98 00:05:54,839 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: Springs until after two pm during the week for many years, 99 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 2: almost twenty years. So I think Darwin needs to think 100 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 2: about what you want and put it very strongly to 101 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 2: the Minister, because it sounds like they might be bringing 102 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 2: in legislation that affects the whole of the Northern territory 103 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 2: and you might not like it. It's a big pill 104 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 2: to swallow, I can assure you, and after many years 105 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 2: of presiding over what's happened in Alice, I've surrendered to 106 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: it that it takes a long time to get used 107 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 2: to it. 108 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 1: Robin, what about this public drinking and drinking within the 109 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: two kilometers of a takeaway outlet? It's something that we 110 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: spoke to Leofanocchiaro on the show about yesterday. She's introducing 111 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: legislation on this today. Yes, the Attorney General, you know, 112 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: it doesn't sound like they're going to support that legislation, 113 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: even though it looks like it's a recommendation within this report. 114 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: Well, the government don't support anything that the cop put forward. 115 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,799 Speaker 2: That's their that's their take on everything. They believe and 116 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: diminishing and do not support anything even if it is 117 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 2: good legislation, good policy that the COLP put forward. So 118 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 2: that's just the way it is. That's given. But it 119 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 2: is quite hypocritical that the government wouldn't consider what the 120 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: COLP is trying to put forward, and that is to 121 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: strengthen the penalties and the powers that the police have 122 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 2: around drinking in public because that would make a huge difference. 123 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 2: You know, public drinking is a huge problem. When the 124 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 2: COLP were in power last from twenty twelve to twenty sixteen, 125 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: they bought in the alcohol mandatory treatment program which I 126 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 2: rolled out as a part of that, and that was 127 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 2: putting people that came were brought into protective custody more 128 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: than three times in two months, into a mandatory alcohol program. 129 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 2: That took public drunkenness out of the equation in the 130 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: Northern Territory that was apped by this government. And since 131 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 2: then we've seen an explosion of public drunkenness in Alice Springs. 132 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: No matter what time of the day or night, you 133 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: are literally walking around and over drunks on the street 134 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 2: and that is not acceptable in any way, shape or 135 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 2: form by and non Aboriginal people that needs to do 136 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 2: something about this because they've lowered the bar. I think 137 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 2: they're trying always to capture the Aboriginal vote. They don't 138 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 2: want to upset these people, they don't want to offend them, 139 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 2: and by doing so, they've lowered the bar in terms 140 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 2: of what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior right across the 141 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 2: Northern Territory and thus we have a crime crisis right 142 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 2: across Roberts the extent of the territory. 143 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,559 Speaker 1: Now, with what's being proposed by the COLP today, is 144 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: it something that you're going to support. 145 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I just think it's a no brainer, you know, 146 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 2: strengthen these things. I mean, you know, it's really usually 147 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 2: only a handful of people that are not respecting these 148 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 2: public spaces and drinking in public. And there's a reason 149 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: for that. They might be homeless, or they can't get 150 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: back to where they are, or they're happy sitting on 151 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 2: the foreshore or in the park drinking, but it's still 152 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 2: not acceptable. And we all know that alcohol is such 153 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,719 Speaker 2: a big problem in our community, domestic violence. I was 154 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: speaking to a senior police officer this week and he 155 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 2: told me that ninety percent of domestic violence violence cases 156 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: involve alcohol. So when you have that sort of figure 157 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 2: in the back of your brain, you just know how 158 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 2: serious alcohol is for all of us. If it impacts 159 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: on all of us, we don't want to hear about it. 160 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 2: We don't want to know about it that we have 161 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 2: to act on it. So yes, I will be supporting 162 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 2: this legislation coming before Parliament this afternoon by the COLP. 163 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,119 Speaker 1: I'll be really interested to see how that goes this afternoon. 164 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: Robin making national news headlines today. Senator Jacinta Number Jimpa 165 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: Price has reacted to the news that her motion calling 166 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: on the Albaneze government to hold a royal commission into 167 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: Indigenous child sexual abuse has been voted down. She had 168 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: also called for an audit of the billions of dollars 169 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: being spent on programs for Indigenous Australians and closing the 170 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 1: gap after Labour's Voice to Parliament was rejected by Australians 171 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: on Saturday's referendum. What do you make of these calls 172 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: by just Enterprice and I mean, do we need an 173 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: audit and do we need a royal commission? 174 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 2: I think we definitely need an audit. I heard people 175 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 2: talking about this time and time again in the lead 176 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 2: up to the referendum, the fact that we need to 177 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 2: know where the money money is going, and what's being 178 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 2: delivered and what isn't being delivered to Aboriginal people. We 179 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: all know that that's a problem. We all know that 180 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 2: a lot of Aboriginal organizations struggle, and we all know 181 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 2: they that sometimes more often than should be the case, 182 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 2: get themselves into financial difficulty go into administration. I'm not 183 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 2: talking about most, but I'm talking looking about probably a 184 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 2: higher percentage than what is desirable or should be the case. 185 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: So yes, an audit is absolutely front and center. I 186 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: hear what Jacinta's saying about her concern around sexual abuse 187 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 2: of Aboriginal children. It is a problem. It was a 188 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 2: problem back in two thousand and seven when the Little 189 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 2: Children a Sacred Report was tabled, made public for the 190 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 2: first time, and the NT which triggered the intervention. You 191 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 2: can say what you like about the intervention, which I 192 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 2: might add was rolled out in full by the federal 193 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 2: Labor government at the time under Rudd and Gillard. It 194 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 2: was the brainchild of the Coalition, but it was Labor 195 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 2: that rolled it out, and people forget that at any 196 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 2: time they could have pulled the pin on it, but 197 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 2: they didn't because they were committed to that. But I 198 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 2: would maintain Katie that nothing has changed in this space. 199 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:59,559 Speaker 2: The child sexual abuse throughout the country of Aboriginal children, 200 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:05,359 Speaker 2: particularly in the northern part of Australia, is a major problem. 201 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 2: People don't talk about it. It's intergenerational. It is a 202 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 2: great shame and guilt, no doubt for a lot of 203 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 2: Aboriginal people that just don't know what to do about it. 204 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 2: We need to talk about it more. And I applaud 205 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 2: Just Enterprise for putting it to Parliament yesterday. WHI whilst 206 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 2: other people are sitting on their hands and not doing 207 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 2: anything this week for good reason. They're grieving, they're upset. 208 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 2: I was upset to by the result to some extent. 209 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 2: I feel for Aboriginal people. But this is not the 210 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 2: time to put down your toys and have a cry. 211 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 2: This is the time to stand up and make some 212 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 2: really positive decisions about how we move forward. 213 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: Well, Robin, no doubt we are going to be speaking 214 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: to Just Enterprise at some point, hopefully tomorrow morning about 215 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: her calls. I do want to ask you just very quickly. 216 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: I'm running out of time, But there were some amendments 217 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 1: to education funding as I understand it, in the Parliament 218 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:04,559 Speaker 1: yesterday in per student rates. It follows gathing reports by 219 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: the Australian newspaper about education here in the Northern Territory. 220 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: What's your take on what's going on? 221 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 2: Well, that's not what happened, Katie. There has been no 222 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 2: change in legislation around the funding for education at all, 223 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 2: and this is the crime here. The former CLP government 224 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 2: introduced what's called global school funding in twenty fifteen, which 225 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 2: is based on attendance, and this Labor government has winged 226 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 2: and moaned and criticized the COLP ever since we're bringing 227 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 2: in this model. Here we are in twenty twenty three. 228 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: That model is still in place and the Minister for 229 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 2: Education Eva Lawla has not committed to changing that funding 230 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 2: model until twenty twenty five. This funding model does not 231 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 2: work and the Australian has done countless stories now on 232 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: the crisis in the Northern Territory education system because effectively, 233 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 2: kids in remote and very remote parts of the Northern 234 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 2: Territory they're not being funded to go to school. And 235 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 2: there's some really scary examples. I mean, man and Greta 236 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 2: was one school. Half the kids that go to that 237 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 2: school aren't been getting aren't getting government funding for it. 238 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 2: So this is a problem that's never been recognized by 239 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory Labor government. We spoke about it. I 240 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 2: spoke about it, and several others spoke about it yesterday. 241 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 2: It is criminal. It is something they need to fix. 242 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 2: Eva Laula tried to mitigate what was said in Parliament 243 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 2: yesterday by saying that you know, she's been trying to 244 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 2: get funding from the federal government. Will boohoo either. All 245 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 2: we've heard is criticisms about the former CLP government's delivery 246 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: in this space, when in fact this government has presided 247 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 2: over a deterioration of school attendance like it has never 248 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 2: been seen before, something like a to the said drop 249 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: in attendance rate in very remote areas of the Northern Territory, 250 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 2: which is absolutely appalling. We had to get key to school, 251 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 2: very embarrassing, extensive national attention. 252 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, we have to have kids in school. There is 253 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: no other way. 254 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 2: It has to happen. 255 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 1: And I don't know exactly what the answers are here, 256 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: but you've got to make sure kids are going to school. Education, 257 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: in my view, is the key in so many different areas, 258 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: you know, to moving forward. We are going to have 259 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: to leave it there, Robin. I always appreciate your time 260 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: and we'll see you on Friday for the week that 261 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: was you will indeed thank you, thank you, thanks so much.