1
00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:02,760
Speaker 1: The issues of crime and public drunkenness have been a

2
00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,360
Speaker 1: big concern in recent months, so many of you in

3
00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,039
Speaker 1: contact with us on the show to raise those issues

4
00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,600
Speaker 1: that are impacting your lives. Now this morning some movement

5
00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,000
Speaker 1: in this space. The Police Minister to Cole Madison announcing

6
00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,480
Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Government's going to be investing an extra

7
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,920
Speaker 1: ten point one million dollars into remote and regional policing

8
00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,239
Speaker 1: in next week's budget. The funding for the Northern Territory

9
00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,920
Speaker 1: Police Force is going to be increased by six point

10
00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,320
Speaker 1: four million dollars in the twenty twenty two twenty twenty

11
00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,640
Speaker 1: three financial year to five hundred and ten million dollars.

12
00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:37,440
Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line is the Minister for Police,

13
00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,000
Speaker 1: Fire and Emergency Services, Nicole Madison.

14
00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:40,879
Speaker 2: Good morning to you.

15
00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:42,800
Speaker 3: Good morning Katie.

16
00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:44,840
Speaker 2: Now, Minister, what are.

17
00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,360
Speaker 1: We going to see as a result of this additional funding?

18
00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,960
Speaker 3: Yes, Katie, What I'm really pleased to say is that

19
00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,720
Speaker 3: since twenty sixteen when we came to government, we've increased

20
00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,200
Speaker 3: the budget the police from four hundred million dollars to

21
00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,360
Speaker 3: five hundred ten million dollars. And that's meant that we've

22
00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,240
Speaker 3: continued to increase the numbers of police on the ground

23
00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,360
Speaker 3: across the Northern Territory. And one thing that we've also

24
00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,120
Speaker 3: been looking at doing is making sure we've got the

25
00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:12,720
Speaker 3: right remote footprints, because we know that if we get

26
00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,280
Speaker 3: it right in the remote communities, it also has a

27
00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,319
Speaker 3: positive flow and effects through to our urban community. So

28
00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,839
Speaker 3: we're making sure that we're going to be having moving

29
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,440
Speaker 3: stations from two to three person stations and making sure

30
00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,199
Speaker 3: that stays in place. We are going to have more

31
00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,600
Speaker 3: Aboriginal liaison officers who are really important, particularly in our

32
00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,199
Speaker 3: remote communities, because they've got great language skills, know the families,

33
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,560
Speaker 3: understand culture, and they help our police officers on the

34
00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,240
Speaker 3: ground a heap and do an amazing job. But we're

35
00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,160
Speaker 3: also going to be continuing and making sure that we're

36
00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:49,320
Speaker 3: investing in CCTV, CCTV monitors, our school based policing program.

37
00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,600
Speaker 3: But overall, a five hundred and ten million dollar police

38
00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,880
Speaker 3: budget is a record budget and we've increased it by

39
00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,040
Speaker 3: one hundred and ten million dollars since coming to government.

40
00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,440
Speaker 1: Now. I know that this is something that we spoke

41
00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,320
Speaker 1: about earlier in the week with the Police Association President

42
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,000
Speaker 1: Paul McHugh when discussing some of the issues within the

43
00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,200
Speaker 1: force right now. Take a listen to what it had

44
00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,639
Speaker 1: to say. Are we in crisis point here?

45
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,240
Speaker 4: It's pretty difficult to tell, but certainly know the feedback

46
00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,440
Speaker 4: we're getting is they're unwell. The police force is unwell.

47
00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,919
Speaker 4: It's struggling to keep up with day to day requirements.

48
00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,400
Speaker 4: The expectations put on them over the last couple of

49
00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,440
Speaker 4: years has been more than I've ever seen over thirty years.

50
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,040
Speaker 4: And I know we still hear the government say we've

51
00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,880
Speaker 4: got more budget than ever before and more resources than

52
00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,600
Speaker 4: ever before. That is simply not reflecting on the front line.

53
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,560
Speaker 1: Minister, what is your response to that, given the announcement

54
00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:39,040
Speaker 1: this morning.

55
00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,760
Speaker 3: Well, I still think it's important that we keep investing

56
00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,040
Speaker 3: in the police and I make no apology for that,

57
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,680
Speaker 3: so making sure that they have got those record budgets.

58
00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,359
Speaker 3: But I think we have to be very frank here.

59
00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,080
Speaker 3: We've had two years of a COVID environment, two years

60
00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:59,320
Speaker 3: where our police force has been one of the busiest

61
00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,000
Speaker 3: government aid agencies. In that response. We've had people out

62
00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,560
Speaker 3: doing other duties, We've had people working extra shifts, we've

63
00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,040
Speaker 3: had people working in some of the most remote places

64
00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,720
Speaker 3: of the country, and some of the most difficult weather conditions,

65
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,240
Speaker 3: and then they've also had to do their day to

66
00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,919
Speaker 3: day policing duty. I thank the police because they've worked

67
00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:18,360
Speaker 3: their guts out for the last two years.

68
00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,440
Speaker 2: Is the force in crisis point?

69
00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:24,760
Speaker 3: When I go and talk to officers on the ground,

70
00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:29,920
Speaker 3: I don't get that feedback. I'm always feeling really inspired

71
00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,440
Speaker 3: when I go out and speak to officers, and not

72
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,280
Speaker 3: just out of water. The other day and just saw

73
00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,560
Speaker 3: another amazing example of that, where you've got these officers

74
00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,040
Speaker 3: who have been working incredibly hard, and yet you see

75
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,680
Speaker 3: how they go about their job, engaging with the community,

76
00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,880
Speaker 3: and their professionalism and their passion for their job. Without

77
00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:48,920
Speaker 3: a doubt, It's been a difficult time for some of

78
00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:50,920
Speaker 3: our officers. There have been a lot of different things

79
00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,880
Speaker 3: happening in the police, but overall, when I speak to members,

80
00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,640
Speaker 3: I'm always left heartened by the fact that we have

81
00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,440
Speaker 3: so many people that are really dedicated to that seven

82
00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,040
Speaker 3: Protect a motto of police. That is what they go

83
00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,760
Speaker 3: to work for, and they still have a lot of

84
00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,440
Speaker 3: passion and love for their job and what they do

85
00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:08,920
Speaker 3: every day.

86
00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,320
Speaker 1: So what do you make of the Police Association's comments

87
00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,280
Speaker 1: there that the force is unwell right now, and that

88
00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,000
Speaker 1: while there may be record funding it a record number

89
00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:22,360
Speaker 1: of police, they still don't have, you know, what they

90
00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,280
Speaker 1: need to be able to do their jobs well.

91
00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,480
Speaker 3: As we've spoken about before, we've seen different movements of

92
00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,720
Speaker 3: people in the Northern Territory which have been brought on

93
00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,360
Speaker 3: about by COVID. We haven't seen the usual rhythms of

94
00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,200
Speaker 3: the Northern Territory for a few years. I think we

95
00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,160
Speaker 3: have to be frank We've also had the ROLF Trial

96
00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,240
Speaker 3: which has had an impact on some members and tragically

97
00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:47,040
Speaker 3: recently we have had three members that have taken their

98
00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,919
Speaker 3: lives and it's an absolute tragedy and we're doing a

99
00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,240
Speaker 3: lot of work in that space to make sure that

100
00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,880
Speaker 3: if members are struggling, that we're giving them more support

101
00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,320
Speaker 3: and there will be reforms in this space as well. Katie.

102
00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,160
Speaker 1: Yeah, we did catch up with the Acting Police Commissioner,

103
00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,279
Speaker 1: Michael Murphy a bit earlier this morning and spoke a

104
00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,520
Speaker 1: little bit more extensively about that and I think that

105
00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:08,920
Speaker 1: that is one hundred percent needed. You know, we need

106
00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,080
Speaker 1: to make sure that police officers do have that support

107
00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,159
Speaker 1: and it is tragic what we've seen over the last

108
00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,719
Speaker 1: three months. The loss of those officers and if anybody

109
00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,120
Speaker 1: out there listening at the moment is in need of help,

110
00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:27,000
Speaker 1: you can get in contact with Lifeline and seek that support. Minister,

111
00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,320
Speaker 1: we know that since twenty sixteen, so for a number

112
00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,280
Speaker 1: of years now, there has obviously been that record investment

113
00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,239
Speaker 1: into the Northern Territory Police, but we have seen crime

114
00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:37,280
Speaker 1: rates rise.

115
00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:43,080
Speaker 3: Why well, the issues in the Northern Territory of complex.

116
00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,560
Speaker 3: We have got more boots on the ground that are

117
00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,240
Speaker 3: working really hard to ensure that we get the arrests

118
00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,880
Speaker 3: and the charge is done for people out there. But

119
00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:56,320
Speaker 3: we have got significant issues with the flow and effects

120
00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,719
Speaker 3: from COVID as I spoke about, and we're still dealing

121
00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,080
Speaker 3: with issues to do with our cohol abuse in the

122
00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:05,080
Speaker 3: Northern Territory. But again, like it's important that we just

123
00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,800
Speaker 3: always put our shoulders to the will and keep up

124
00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:09,960
Speaker 3: the work of addressing those issues as they come up.

125
00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,080
Speaker 2: Now you touched on this just a moment ago.

126
00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,680
Speaker 1: We've spoken this week about the situation with the veteran

127
00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,920
Speaker 1: police officer who was suspended for publicly criticizing how his

128
00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,479
Speaker 1: commissioners had treated Constable Zachary Rolf over the fatal shooting

129
00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,120
Speaker 1: of Colemen Ji Walker that situation.

130
00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:26,520
Speaker 2: With Mark Casey.

131
00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,720
Speaker 1: He wrote this opinion piece on the weekend and was

132
00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,160
Speaker 1: suspended without pay very soon after.

133
00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,400
Speaker 2: Do you think it's appropriate that.

134
00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,920
Speaker 1: An officer has been suspended for raising concerns which some

135
00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,000
Speaker 1: in the force are clearly worried about.

136
00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,000
Speaker 3: What I don't think is appropriate, Katie, is for politicians

137
00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,039
Speaker 3: to get involved in internal police disproo matters. I think

138
00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:50,640
Speaker 3: that is completely inappropriate. So that is something that police manage,

139
00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,479
Speaker 3: and I will say very clearly that as a police minister,

140
00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,120
Speaker 3: I do not involve myself in internal disciplinary matters. That

141
00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:01,200
Speaker 3: is a matter for the professional standards man and the executive.

142
00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,120
Speaker 1: Some are questioning the hypocrisy of this suspension, though, when

143
00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,480
Speaker 1: we have seen officers charged with criminal offenses who have

144
00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,920
Speaker 1: continued to be paid while stood down. What makes this

145
00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:15,520
Speaker 1: situation more serious than someone being charged with a criminal offense?

146
00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:18,640
Speaker 3: And again, I don't think it's my place to run

147
00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,440
Speaker 3: commentary on this, Katie. I think the last people listeners

148
00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,280
Speaker 3: would want to see getting involved in internal police matters

149
00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:25,480
Speaker 3: are politicians.

150
00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,560
Speaker 1: There is a situation, though, at the moment where you

151
00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,880
Speaker 1: have got police that are raising you are raising concerns

152
00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,320
Speaker 1: within the media and we also know that there had

153
00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:39,000
Speaker 1: been a number of regions who'd apparently voted for the

154
00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,440
Speaker 1: Northern Territory Police Association to hold a territory wide vote

155
00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,840
Speaker 1: of no confidence in the Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker and

156
00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,280
Speaker 1: also in the Deputy Commissioner.

157
00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:50,120
Speaker 2: Murray small Page.

158
00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,840
Speaker 1: Are you concerned that the force is losing confidence in management?

159
00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,520
Speaker 3: Well, I hopefully support the executive as I fully support

160
00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,640
Speaker 3: all the tree from the ground doing an amazing job

161
00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,840
Speaker 3: every day, and it's a very tough job. I don't

162
00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,840
Speaker 3: think I've ever seen a commissioner ever have a straightforward,

163
00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,200
Speaker 3: easy run in that job because it is such a

164
00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:15,520
Speaker 3: tough one, and I've certainly seen other commissioners face similar

165
00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:20,280
Speaker 3: criticism before. But I fully support the Commissioner. I think

166
00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,680
Speaker 3: he does an amazing job. I see firsthand that this

167
00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,440
Speaker 3: is somebody who has gone through the Police College, has

168
00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,880
Speaker 3: served throughout the Northern Territory as a Northern Territory Police officer,

169
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:34,240
Speaker 3: and I see his absolute dedication, commitment and passion for

170
00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,880
Speaker 3: the Northern Territory Police Force and serving the territory. But

171
00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:38,960
Speaker 3: it is a really tough job and you're never going

172
00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:40,280
Speaker 3: to keep everybody happy in it.

173
00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,760
Speaker 1: So you still have complete confidence in the Police commissioner.

174
00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:45,400
Speaker 3: Absolutely.

175
00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,120
Speaker 1: Do you think that the force still has complete confidence

176
00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:49,199
Speaker 1: in you as the minister?

177
00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,560
Speaker 3: Well, that's up to those members. But what I'll say

178
00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,920
Speaker 3: is that I'm somebody that has continued to deliver the funding,

179
00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,679
Speaker 3: the resources, the legislative reform and I will always do

180
00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,600
Speaker 3: what I can to support the police out there on

181
00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:05,280
Speaker 3: the frontline.

182
00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,360
Speaker 2: Where do you think we're being let down at the moment?

183
00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,840
Speaker 1: I mean, we spoke about, we've spoken about at length

184
00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,120
Speaker 1: some of the issues that we're seeing around the community

185
00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,439
Speaker 1: when it comes to alcohol issues. So I know at

186
00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,240
Speaker 1: the moment we've got around three thousand people here from

187
00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,840
Speaker 1: communities that are living rough and the on flow of that.

188
00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:24,959
Speaker 1: You and I have spoke a couple of weeks ago

189
00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,280
Speaker 1: at lengths about those issues. Do you think that we've

190
00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:30,960
Speaker 1: got a situation where some of the other agencies need

191
00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:31,680
Speaker 1: to step up?

192
00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,199
Speaker 2: Where are we being let down right now?

193
00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,680
Speaker 1: Because we are certainly getting that sense from the community

194
00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,080
Speaker 1: that they're feeling as though things are broken and they're

195
00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,040
Speaker 1: not quite sure how they need to be fixed.

196
00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:48,079
Speaker 3: So all people and all agencies here have a role

197
00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,640
Speaker 3: to play when it comes to community safety and without

198
00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:52,840
Speaker 3: a doubt. Yes, it is not just a police response,

199
00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:56,680
Speaker 3: because police, unfortunately often are at the end of when

200
00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,520
Speaker 3: something has gone wrong in the community and so we

201
00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,320
Speaker 3: want to do we can to avoid it. So we're

202
00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,840
Speaker 3: going to be making some more announcements coming forward about

203
00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,760
Speaker 3: the work that we're doing to tackle all the issues

204
00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,080
Speaker 3: of anti social behavior and a lot of the people

205
00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,120
Speaker 3: that are in town that we're still dealing with because

206
00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:17,400
Speaker 3: of COVID. We do have other agencies work together. You know,

207
00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:23,120
Speaker 3: we have our House Agency, our Territory Families Agency, Health Education.

208
00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,320
Speaker 3: It is a multi agency response that we do put

209
00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:29,000
Speaker 3: in and we do continue to do that. When we

210
00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,360
Speaker 3: came to government, we said that we didn't want to

211
00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,840
Speaker 3: see agencies working in isolation and in silos, and we

212
00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,240
Speaker 3: have worked very hard to make sure we do have

213
00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,240
Speaker 3: agencies working together. And it's not just government agencies, Katie,

214
00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,000
Speaker 3: it's also non government agencies who often do get a

215
00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,840
Speaker 3: lot of funding to go out and do work supporting

216
00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,080
Speaker 3: people that we know get involved in the criminal justice system.

217
00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,840
Speaker 1: All right, when are we expecting to see those announcements?

218
00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:53,280
Speaker 1: Are they going to be as part of the budget

219
00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:53,880
Speaker 1: next week?

220
00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,719
Speaker 3: We are just putting them together now. But you'll be

221
00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,439
Speaker 3: seeing them out soon because as we know, we want

222
00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,200
Speaker 3: to see more response out there underground soon to help

223
00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,280
Speaker 3: those people that need to get home get home and

224
00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,600
Speaker 3: also to help tackle some of that anti social behavior.

225
00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:11,000
Speaker 1: Yeah.

226
00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:12,280
Speaker 2: Well, and this is the thing.

227
00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,120
Speaker 1: I know that when you and I have spoken before,

228
00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,360
Speaker 1: it's been around two and two and a half thousand

229
00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,880
Speaker 1: people in town from communities, Michael Murphy confirming on the

230
00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,080
Speaker 1: show this morning that we're looking more at the moment

231
00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,680
Speaker 1: like around three thousand, and I know that that part

232
00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,880
Speaker 1: of that is due to the situation in what air

233
00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,240
Speaker 1: you were out there earlier in the week.

234
00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:31,760
Speaker 2: I know the.

235
00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,200
Speaker 1: Labor Senator Melanderie McCarthy had said that there is a

236
00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,080
Speaker 1: humanitarian crisis out there. Is that.

237
00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,000
Speaker 3: I went out there at the request of traditional owners

238
00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,520
Speaker 3: a few days ago so I could sit down and

239
00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,680
Speaker 3: listen to people on the ground, to listen to the

240
00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,240
Speaker 3: different family groups. I got to hear about some people's

241
00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,480
Speaker 3: concern about their personal safety and the safety of their families.

242
00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,520
Speaker 3: I got to hear about the grief that some people

243
00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,520
Speaker 3: are suffering, the immense grief because of lost in their family.

244
00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,520
Speaker 3: I've got to speak to our public servants, our police,

245
00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,680
Speaker 3: and people who are working very hard on the ground

246
00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,360
Speaker 3: out there. We do have displaced people and whatever, but

247
00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,000
Speaker 3: what I want to assure your listeners of is that

248
00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,640
Speaker 3: we do have a response and we've been working on

249
00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,880
Speaker 3: that now for a few weeks. We've got our Chief

250
00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,360
Speaker 3: Minister and Cabinet Department coordinating that with other agencies and

251
00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,640
Speaker 3: non government agencies and making sure that those who have

252
00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,680
Speaker 3: been displaced or don't feel safe to go back to

253
00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,840
Speaker 3: their homes that we've got support around them. This is

254
00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,240
Speaker 3: going to be a continual body of work for a while,

255
00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,040
Speaker 3: but we are doing that work to make sure that

256
00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,640
Speaker 3: they have got the support that they need. Things are

257
00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,880
Speaker 3: still tense there and it's important that we make sure

258
00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,480
Speaker 3: we work to continue to keep the community as safe

259
00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,319
Speaker 3: as possible. So it's a challenging time there. Without a doubt,

260
00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:52,880
Speaker 3: are you in.

261
00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,800
Speaker 1: A situation where the defense force needs to be called

262
00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,920
Speaker 1: in to support police and support those other agencies.

263
00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:05,160
Speaker 3: The community engagement that's being done by the police and

264
00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,520
Speaker 3: also our public service and non government agencies is superb

265
00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:09,960
Speaker 3: and they're continuing to do that.

266
00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:11,000
Speaker 2: Minister.

267
00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,800
Speaker 1: One of the other issues that we have spoken about

268
00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:15,560
Speaker 1: quite a bit on the show, and we caught up

269
00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,200
Speaker 1: with the Health Minister earlier, We've spoken to John Patterson,

270
00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:20,719
Speaker 1: We've spoken to the Doctor's Union, we've spoken to the

271
00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,240
Speaker 1: Police Union about it is these changes that are going

272
00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,600
Speaker 1: to come into play when it comes to alcohol in

273
00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,720
Speaker 1: those communities. The Police Association had said to us just

274
00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:31,959
Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago that they're pretty worried about this.

275
00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,880
Speaker 1: They are concerned that there's going to be alcohol in

276
00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:39,480
Speaker 1: communities and question whether they're going to have enough resources

277
00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,480
Speaker 1: in some of those communities to deal with it.

278
00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:46,720
Speaker 2: Are you worried about that? As the Minister for Police.

279
00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,640
Speaker 3: We're working very hard with the communities that this will

280
00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,920
Speaker 3: impact and making sure that people get to say on

281
00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,880
Speaker 3: what happens there. But that's where we continue to fund

282
00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,960
Speaker 3: remote policing, Katie, because it's in recognition of the workloads

283
00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,000
Speaker 3: that they've got out there and making sure that we're

284
00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,240
Speaker 3: got more resources out bush to support community.

285
00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,120
Speaker 1: But are those workloads set to get higher? If you

286
00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,040
Speaker 1: know something that you haven't been able to have in

287
00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,320
Speaker 1: community for quite some time, I alcohol, whether you know

288
00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:12,760
Speaker 1: you're talking about a licensed venue out there or whether

289
00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,800
Speaker 1: you're talking about takeaway alcohol, there's no doubt. I mean,

290
00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,800
Speaker 1: we're seeing on the streets of Darwin right now. The

291
00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,280
Speaker 1: impact that it has, there's no doubt that it's going

292
00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,680
Speaker 1: to have an impact and certainly an impact on police

293
00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,000
Speaker 1: officers jobs.

294
00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,520
Speaker 3: And that's all we're working through at community by community level.

295
00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:30,880
Speaker 3: You also get a lot of feedback from people in

296
00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,280
Speaker 3: town Katie two that say that they can see that

297
00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:37,400
Speaker 3: not having our COO available, particularly you know, alcoholic clubs

298
00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,280
Speaker 3: and those types available in communities also has an impact

299
00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,080
Speaker 3: on what happens in town when people drink an unregulated environment.

300
00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,960
Speaker 3: So these are things that we're all working through and

301
00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:47,600
Speaker 3: looking at.

302
00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,160
Speaker 1: Police Ministernicle Madison. We are going to have to leave

303
00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,760
Speaker 1: it there. Thank you for your time this morning. Actually

304
00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:54,840
Speaker 1: before I let you go, can I just ask very

305
00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,720
Speaker 1: quickly sorry. We did just have We had Keysi Epuric

306
00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,400
Speaker 1: on the show. We also had Doug Barton, the mayor

307
00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,160
Speaker 1: of Lichfield. They're wondering why is the why has the

308
00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,760
Speaker 1: new fire station been named the Palmerston fire Station and

309
00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,520
Speaker 1: it doesn't have any reference to the rural area or

310
00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:13,080
Speaker 1: the fact that it's in Lichfield.

311
00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,480
Speaker 3: Yes, there will be a reference to the regional area

312
00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,920
Speaker 3: that Katie, it's important to recognize that it is beyond

313
00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:22,480
Speaker 3: just Parmeston, so that is happening.

314
00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:27,520
Speaker 1: So a name change, that is happening. All right, minister, thanks, It.

315
00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:29,240
Speaker 3: Is the Palmeston Regional fire Station.

316
00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,120
Speaker 2: Thank you for your time this morning. We appreciate it.