1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: We know that the Northern Territory Police Association's described an 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: axe attack on officers at Daily River as reckless. 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 2: Violent and sickening. 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: Now, two officers were injured while responding to reports of 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: a disturbance in the community on Sunday evening. And joining 6 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: me on the line right now to tell us a 7 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: little bit more about what went down is the Northern 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: Territory Police Association President Paul mchu Good boarding. 9 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 3: Paul, Good morning, Katie. 10 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 2: How are you Yeah, not. 11 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: Too bad, Paul. How did this incident unfold over the weekends? Yeah. 12 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 3: Look, obviously police down there on Daily River they do 13 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 3: a great job, as all of our remote police officers do. 14 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 3: And you know, another day, another evening down there, and 15 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 3: the reports obviously of a group of offenders driving around 16 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 3: that community in stolen vehicles, and we know, sadly, a 17 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 3: lot of stolen vehicles end up in our remote areas, 18 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 3: and it was also known that they were armed with weapons. 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 3: So that's an extremely dangerous situation for police to be 20 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 3: confronted with, and as we always they go towards that 21 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 3: danger and they try and respond as best as they can, 22 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 3: and sadly, on this occasion, you know, those offenders thought 23 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 3: it would be a great idea to throw the exit 24 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 3: at the vehicle, shout at the window, and of course 25 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 3: one of those officers also received a laceration to his arm, 26 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 3: so you can imagine how frightening that would have been. 27 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: It's terrifying. It is one hundred percent terrifying that that 28 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: has happened. How are those police officers right now? 29 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, obviously they're very shake and we've been making efforts, 30 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 3: you know, over the last twenty four hours to touch 31 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 3: base with those officers. We're still waiting to speak with 32 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 3: one of them. But a very terrifying incident. And remember 33 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 3: these are the sorts of matter that police. You know 34 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 3: that that's one incident, then there are other incidents over 35 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 3: their careers, and it all adds up and it's it's 36 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 3: a very frightening situation that they're confronted with them. Thank goodness, 37 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 3: you know, whilst that situation was horrific, thank goodness they're 38 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 3: okay because it could have been much worse. 39 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: Do you have any idea that those that were responsible 40 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: have been charged. 41 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 3: Look, I believe they're still searching for many of those offenders. 42 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 3: I know, as Commander Anderson down and Catherine has pointed 43 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 3: out there, they're working hard to you know, obviously try 44 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 3: and identify those particular offenders, being nighttime and dark and 45 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 3: it's very difficult to actually, you know, find out in 46 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 3: a situation like that who who was in that vehicle, 47 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 3: But no doubt they're working very hard to find those offenders. 48 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: Now I understand that additional police have been searched to 49 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: that community. 50 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 2: Are the officers safe. 51 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I guess what we've seen. You know, this 52 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 3: is one example, and you know quite clearly they're not 53 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 3: safe at the moment. Some of those officers are coming 54 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,119 Speaker 3: home with some terrible injuries. And this is one example 55 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 3: of many we're seeing in recent times where the elevation 56 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,239 Speaker 3: of violence towards our police on the front line has 57 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 3: just increased dramatically, and we've seen examples of that, Katie. 58 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 3: We've had four media releases in the last twenty four 59 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 3: hours from police highlighting extremely dangerous situations from Daily River 60 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 3: to Tenant Creek, Alice Springs in our pinelands. We've had 61 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 3: horrific attacks on our members and it's just not getting 62 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 3: any better. 63 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: As you pointed out there, there's obviously been other attacks 64 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: on members. 65 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 2: What else has happened. 66 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 3: Well, the weekend started on Friday of last week in 67 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 3: Tennant Creek where police, you know, we're trying to arrest 68 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 3: a man who turned around, spat in the face of 69 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 3: one of the officers and then kicked another in the face. 70 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 3: So you know we've touched base with those officers, very 71 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 3: very dangerous. In fact, one of those officers has only 72 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 3: been in tenn And Creek for ten days, so that's 73 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 3: a nice welcome to Tenant Creek for that poor officer. 74 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 3: Of course, also in Alice Springs, we know, you know, 75 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 3: there were ten youths arrested after several vehicles were stolen, 76 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 3: and of course that required police to put through a 77 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 3: high deflation device. Of course that's a very very serious 78 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 3: and dangerous thing to try and do as well. But 79 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 3: we know there were a lot of youths involved in 80 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 3: that incident. And of course the Pinelands we now know 81 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 3: some police were attacked by an offender with some secreateers 82 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 3: who threw them and in fact they became embedded in 83 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 3: a large metal sign. This is the sort of terrific violence, 84 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 3: edged weapon violence that our members are having to put 85 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 3: up within our community at the moment. 86 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: Paul, just to take our listeners through that incident. We 87 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: have just got that statement in front of us, so essentially, 88 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Police have charged a twenty eight year 89 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: old man after an attempted unlawful entry at a bottle 90 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: shop in Pinelands on Sunday. Members patrolling the area came 91 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: across that group on the Stuart Highway just after nine pm, 92 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,559 Speaker 1: allegedly attempting to gain access through the staff entrance door. 93 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: Police approached approached them in their vehicle and identified themselves 94 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: to the group. When the offender ran towards them with 95 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: a large pair of secreateers, the members to take evasive 96 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: action and position the vehicle behind a large metal sign. 97 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: The man then through those, piercing the sign as you've 98 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: just pointed out, before fleeing across the highway. They've later 99 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 1: arrested him. But that is an incredibly dangerous situation for 100 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: the police to be. 101 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 3: Just another example, isn't it of the horrific violence being 102 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 3: being put to our members out there on the front line. 103 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 3: We've had axe attacks now, secreateers, kicked in the face, 104 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 3: bat in the face. This is all within the last 105 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 3: two or three days. For Heaven's sake. I mean, what 106 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 3: is it going to take for the government to say 107 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 3: enough is enough? We know, you know, sadly, this level 108 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 3: of violence is not just towards our police but also 109 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 3: other front line personnel. But of course our police are 110 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 3: reporting almost daily to us now be horrific assaults and 111 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 3: of course you know this doesn't portray a great environment 112 00:05:57,920 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 3: in the community for our police to be trying to 113 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 3: keep us safe when this is the sort of attacks 114 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 3: that they're being faced with every day. 115 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 2: Paul, what does the association want to see here? 116 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 3: Well, the government did instigate a working group in relation 117 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 3: to our assaults on our police under the Cole Manison. Sadly, 118 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 3: it met once and it's gone nowhere else. Now, that 119 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 3: was an ideal opportunity to sit down, get some feedback 120 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 3: from those on the ground about what they would like 121 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 3: to see and perhaps what some of the causes of 122 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 3: this escalation of violence is. It went nowhere. It was 123 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 3: dead in the water after one meeting. So it's a 124 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 3: really sad state of affairs when the government say we'll 125 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 3: give you one meeting and that's it. We want to 126 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 3: see that be regenerated and of course have a serious 127 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 3: look at what can be done. 128 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:43,119 Speaker 2: Paul. 129 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: We're just about out of time, but I want to 130 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: ask you very quickly. Yesterday the Queensland government announced a 131 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: major backflip on contentious youth crime reform. They're going to 132 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: reintroduce breach of bail as an offense. Now they dug 133 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:57,799 Speaker 1: their heels in on this and said that they weren't 134 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: going to do it. 135 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 2: They are now going to introduce this. Should this be 136 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 2: happening in the Northern Territory? 137 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess it's refreshing, isn't it to see a 138 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 3: government perhaps say, look, we got it wrong. We didn't 139 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 3: perhaps have everything in place that was required when they 140 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 3: made these initial reforms, and it sadly took a tragedy 141 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 3: over there in Queensland for you know, for this action 142 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 3: to take place. So you know, it's good that Queensland 143 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 3: have gone down this path, and of course the Northern 144 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 3: Territory as well have previously undertaken this, and we no doubt, 145 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 3: you know, certainly the feedback from our members is there 146 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 3: just certainly wasn't enough alternatives in place when they did 147 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,239 Speaker 3: remove that offensive breach of bail, So you know, certainly 148 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 3: there's there's work to be done here, and no doubt 149 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 3: you know the government will be looking closely at this 150 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 3: decision by Queensland. 151 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: All our officers saying to you that youth are offending 152 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: while they're on bail in the Northern territory. Is this 153 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: like would it make a difference? 154 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 2: Look? 155 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I mean it's somewhat of a revolving door essentially, 156 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 3: you know, because we're out other alternatives in place, and 157 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 3: we certainly know we don't want to see you in 158 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 3: custody or in facilities such as don Dale, but in 159 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 3: the absence of any other suitable alternative, well, you know, 160 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 3: we've got to protect the community. At the end of 161 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 3: the day, it's them that are suffering because of these 162 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 3: changes to legislation, so they need to have a good 163 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 3: hard look at it. And no doubt our members are 164 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 3: going to provide some feedback now this decision has come 165 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 3: through from Queensland. 166 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: Paul, I've unfortunately run out of time, but I know 167 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: that that survey is going to be closing in a 168 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: few days, isn't ith. 169 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's not far away, Katie, So we'll have some results, 170 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 3: certainly by the end of this week. 171 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 1: I sug guess well, we'll catch up with you then 172 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: Paul Mchue, the president of the Northern Territory Police Association. 173 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,559 Speaker 2: I always appreciate your time. Thanks Katie, thank you.