1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: Joining me on the line right now is the Member 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:04,359 Speaker 1: for ling Gyiari, Marian Scrimjaw. 3 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: Good morning, Marion, Good morning Katie, Happy New Year. 4 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,799 Speaker 1: Happy New Year to you as well. Now, Marian, you've 5 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: been very upfront for quite some time now about the 6 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: issues in Alice Springs, and you also have said that 7 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: you were concerned about the ending of the Stronger Futures legislation. 8 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,799 Speaker 1: It has had a massive impact. Do you think that 9 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: the restrictions announced yesterday are going to go far enough? 10 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 2: Look, I can I just say at the outset for 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 2: Katie before I answer your important question. I just want 12 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 2: to acknowledge the leadership of the Chief Minister, the Prime 13 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 2: Minister and Minister Bernie. It's not easy and I know 14 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: that there are many people. There are a lot that 15 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 2: won't be happy with this, but there are many who 16 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: are happy. I think we're just this is a start. 17 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: We're just going to have a look at how do 18 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 2: we get some respite. And the police have been heavily 19 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 2: involved in the design of this, so it's not as 20 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 2: if this was just a thought bubbles and government. This 21 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 2: has been carefully negotiated both with the industry but also 22 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: toy to try and minimize the impact that we are 23 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 2: seeing not just in our springs. We have to look 24 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 2: at throughout the territory because we're seeing this issue. I'm 25 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 2: going to Catherine next weekend. I think we're seeing it 26 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: in Catherine and I was up at tennin Creek, so 27 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: a lot of travel around and in some of the 28 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 2: remote communities we're seeing huge impacts with grog with unreached 29 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 2: and it's got to be dealt with. We can't, you know, 30 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: it can't be ignored that alcohol is probably the number 31 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 2: one cause of all of the domestic and family violence 32 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: issues that we're seeing where Pete women are falling off 33 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: the cliffs and they're in the hospital on life supports. 34 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: It's terrible, Like I don't know what else to say. 35 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: It's terrible, and it is right around the place at 36 00:01:58,240 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: the moment. You know, you don't have to go too 37 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: far at all. You can walk down the streets of 38 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: Darwin and see how alcohol is having an impact right 39 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: around the place. 40 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 2: Marion. 41 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: Do we just need to buite the bullet here though? 42 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: Does the Northern Territory government need to do a bit 43 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: of a backflip and just reintroduce the stronger futures legislation. 44 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 2: Well, I think there's what they've had in place comes 45 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 2: to an end on the thirty first, Katie, yep. Now, 46 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: I'm going to work closely with Natasha Files, with young 47 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: Darella Anderson, who I think is a fantastic young woman 48 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: down here, to have a look at what is the 49 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 2: what do we need to do? The Prime Minister said 50 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 2: very clearly, so he's not going to accept, you know, 51 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: like we will look at and continue to work with 52 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory government going forward as what is in 53 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: the interest of the community in the Northern Territory. So 54 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: all community. At the moment, the focus is on Alice Screens. 55 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: It's a great community and we do have to deal 56 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: with issues here, but we've also got to look at Darwin, 57 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,239 Speaker 2: Catherine Tennant, some of our remote communities. I've been saying 58 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: from the outset, Katie, if you neglect the bush, the 59 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: bush is going to come into town. And that's what 60 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: we've been seeing for a number of years, that urban 61 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: drift where if you're not going to put programs and 62 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: other infrastructure out in the bush so that young people 63 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: in particular can stay out there. But the biggest driver, Katie, 64 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: we've got to get right is CDP and employment. And 65 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: if we don't engage you know, families and young people, 66 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 2: well we know, as we'll all just give up our 67 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: jobs and walk away. But we can't give up on this. 68 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, we've just got to try and 69 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 2: take every measure and try it and you know, and 70 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: get it to work because you know, the Northern Territory, 71 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: it's all our homes and we've got to look after 72 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 2: the territory and we've got to get Aboriginal people to 73 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 2: see that, you know, alcohol is not part of our 74 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: cultural meats and it is destroying our family and I 75 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 2: think that the restrictions that you know, Natasha, I know 76 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 2: that the Northern Territory government has wrestled with this, but 77 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: I think this is a start and we've just got 78 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 2: to try and make it work. And I'm willing to 79 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 2: work with hers to try and get the best outcome 80 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 2: for not just Ella Springs, but we need to do 81 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: this right throughout the Northern Territory. 82 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: I agree with you, Marian. We know that the Prime Minister, 83 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: as you've touched on there, has appointed Darrell Anderson as 84 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: a Central Australia Regional Controller to deliver that alcohol review 85 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: now she's doing to report back as I understand it, 86 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: on the first of February, that's only a few days away. 87 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: Do you think that that's an unrealistic timeline? 88 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: Now, Look, there's been a lot of work that's been 89 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,799 Speaker 2: done Katie, and I think it's pulling all of that together. 90 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 2: The still discussions happening about what what happens next and 91 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 2: how do we you know, how do we unpack what's 92 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 2: been done previously, and how do we make all these 93 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 2: new measures work, and how does Durrell get the support 94 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: to make sure that she's it's just not tokenistic, but 95 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 2: that you know, she can get the support to make 96 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: the changes, and not just over the Northern Territory government agencies. 97 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: She's we've got to have a look at how does 98 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 2: she work with the com walths, governments and all of 99 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: the agencies that are funded by the Commonwealth to get 100 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: this coordination and outcome so we get outcome based funding 101 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 2: so that it's going to make a difference. We're not 102 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 2: just trusting money because there's a lot of organizations in 103 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 2: this town that are funded yep, and they should be 104 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: you know, making a difference to people's lives. And you know, 105 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 2: I know Minnies Bernie is quite keen to get better 106 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: outcomes and what we've seen to date, so we're all 107 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 2: trying to work together to make a good situation unfold 108 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,119 Speaker 2: right throughout the authentarity that there is for the first 109 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: time a real commitment to try and work towards some 110 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: of that change in Alice Springs, Marion. 111 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: What about welfare payments. I know that you touched on 112 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: this and on the cash list debit card. I think 113 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 1: it was a bit earlier in the week and saying 114 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: that there needed to be some change in this space. 115 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: Was there any discussion about that yesterday? 116 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 2: No, And look I'm looking I'm going to have some 117 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 2: conversations with Minister Rishworth when I go back down to 118 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 2: Canberra next week, Katie, I'll have some discussions with Minister Bernie. 119 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 2: Senator McCarthy and I have talked about it. I think 120 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 2: we've got to use every measure available to us to 121 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 2: try and reduce the harm that's being done, particularly to 122 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 2: young people and to kids. A lot of kids are 123 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 2: roaming the streets right throughout the Northern Territory. You have 124 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: to be blind pretty not to see it. In Darwin 125 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 2: or Catherrain or Tennants, or Alice. There's a lot of 126 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 2: kids you roam in this and a lot of it 127 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 2: is because they're homes aren't safe. Yeah, and we've been 128 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: hearing that from a lot of service providers. Well, let's 129 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: all work together try and turn this around. And how 130 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 2: do we if income management is part of that, Well, 131 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: that needs to be part of the consideration that goes 132 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 2: forward in this report in February. 133 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: Marian, I'm glad that you've said that, and you know, 134 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: I think that they're so often, you know, people are 135 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: wondering if this kind of thing would actually work, and 136 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: they're afraid to say it because they're afraid that they're 137 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: going to get called racist, or they're afraid that you know, 138 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: that that somebody is going to you know, to think 139 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: that they're yeah, that they that they're being racist. And 140 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: the fact of the matter is we've got women and 141 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: children who are not. 142 00:07:54,400 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 3: Safe, absolutely, Katie, And you know, special measures are applied, 143 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 3: and I don't care what anyone says that it's trade based, 144 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 3: and it's you know, it's it's about racism. 145 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: It's not about racism. It's about what is in the 146 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: interest of those children and how do we get better outcomes. 147 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 2: So that women are empowered to make good decisions for 148 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 2: their families and also men because there's a lot of 149 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 2: men that struggle in this process too, Katie. And we've 150 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: got to look at are the program men's behavior programs 151 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 2: that we're funding. Are they making a difference. Why are 152 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 2: our jail systems full of men or you know that 153 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 2: are in there because of domestic and family violence. So 154 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 2: I think we've got to start having some honest assessments 155 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 2: and be brave enough to call out, you know, all 156 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 2: of this stuff because if the situation has gotten worse 157 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: because we've allowed it to get to that point, and 158 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: we can't allow that anymore. 159 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with you now Marian. We are fast 160 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: running out of time. But before I let you go, 161 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: what impact is this situation in Ella Springs going to 162 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: have when it comes to the referendum for the Voice 163 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: to Parliament? 164 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 2: Look, Katie, one of the things that I've been wanting 165 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: and I've been at pain to clear up when I 166 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 2: said that people don't want to and you know, talk 167 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 2: about constitutional reform. It's not that I don't support the 168 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 2: voice or you know, constitutional so I support it one 169 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: hundred percent. But we've got to fix start people's daily 170 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 2: lives and we can do this together. And I think 171 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:39,599 Speaker 2: that I will continue to support the Voice and Constitutional 172 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: reform and talk about it and get communities to understand 173 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 2: what it is. At the same time advocate to get change, 174 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 2: better change happening in the community where there's crime and 175 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 2: other anti social behavior. It's not good enough that people 176 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 2: should just think that this is okay and leave me 177 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 2: alone and don't talk about, you know, this other stuff 178 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 2: because I want to continue my bad behavior. I'm saying 179 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 2: that people know and that's enough, and we can do this. 180 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 2: We can have both conversations, Katie, and I think it's 181 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:16,199 Speaker 2: important that we continue the important national conversation about the 182 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 2: Voice and Constitutional reform. 183 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: Marian Strimjaw, we are going to have to leave it there. 184 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: I've got to get across to the news. Always appreciate 185 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: your time. Thank you very much for speaking with me 186 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 1: this morning. 187 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, thank you