1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Well, we know the Northern Territory government this morning announcing 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,199 Speaker 1: what they have said is a raft of changes, immediate 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: measures they're saying in relation to bail laws and also 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: when it comes to improved support and safety for retail 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: workers and increase police presence, a number of different measures 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: that they have announced this morning that I think it's 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: safe to say the community has been screaming out for 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: for quite some time. But joining me on the line 9 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: now to talk a little bit more about the situation 10 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: and how these measures will help, but also a bit 11 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 1: more about how businesses are feeling in the wake of 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: the tragedy which occurred earlier this week. It is the 13 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: Chamber of Commerce CEO Greg Island. 14 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:42,599 Speaker 2: Good morning to you. 15 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 3: Greg, Good morning Katie. 16 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 2: Greg. 17 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: The situation that unfolded earlier in the week, I think 18 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 1: it is safe to say has absolutely shocked the Northern Territory. 19 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: How is the business community feeling at this point? 20 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 3: I look at everyone I speak who is absolutely devastated 21 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 3: for young declan Katie. It's hit very hard and we 22 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 3: saw that in the video this morning. Alex Bruce was 23 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 3: very emotional and I think that's carried through to a 24 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 3: lot of businesses. In the community. It really has been 25 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 3: a game changing event, I think, and marks a real 26 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 3: shift and an escalation in the activities and as well 27 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 3: as what is needed from a response perspective. 28 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, now let's talk about that response. The Northern Territory 29 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: government out this morning making a number of announcements. 30 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 2: Greg. Do you think that they're going to help. 31 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 3: I think they can't hurt, Katie. It's certainly something that's 32 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 3: you know, I think frustrates people from the perspective as 33 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 3: why has this taken so long to get to this point, 34 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 3: And we certainly understand, and that's frustration. I think the 35 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 3: government is clearly on notice from the court of public opinion. 36 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 3: At this point in time, we're still sort of twelve 37 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: months or so away from an election that people have 38 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 3: got memories and if this is going to be not 39 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 3: a successful outcome, then it's going to hurt considerably at 40 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 3: the polls, I would expect. So it's an important situation 41 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 3: for everybody and one that we don't want to politicize, 42 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 3: but certainly want to get viable outcomes. So I think 43 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 3: they're a step in the right direction. Will be interesting 44 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 3: to see how long some of them take and how 45 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 3: clear and how much clarity they do provide, but clearly 46 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 3: something needs to change. 47 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you're right. 48 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: There's definitely people that are not wanting to politicize this situation, 49 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: but the fact is that everybody's sort of tried in 50 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: a positive way or in a straightforward way to get 51 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: some change and it hasn't happened up until today. 52 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it's taken this drastic and horrible event to 53 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 3: trigger that, and it's frustrating for everybody. I'm sure it's 54 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 3: certain us for the business community. Ultimately, clarity is what 55 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 3: we need. The business community needs to understand what it 56 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 3: has to do. Safety for its workers is top of 57 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 3: the list. It absolutely has to provide a safe work environment. 58 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:18,679 Speaker 3: If police aren't sure how they can proceed under certain circumstances, 59 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 3: Clarity is certainly the key, and the community in general 60 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,679 Speaker 3: needs to know that that's having an impact and producing 61 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 3: a more livable environment, because it's getting to the point 62 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,679 Speaker 3: where it's people are leaving town and that's hurting us 63 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 3: at multiple levels. 64 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: Greg, How is that you know that lack of clarity 65 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: for businesses impacting them at the moment, Because like we've 66 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: even seen a situation where some people have said do 67 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: not approach people if they're steering. 68 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: Sorry, I'm just choking there, mate. 69 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, well answer the question why you're chokating. It's it's 70 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 3: critical that the business has a clear understanding of what 71 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 3: its employees need to do under those circumstances. And that's 72 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 3: perhaps where there's been some confusion in the past and 73 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 3: that type of thing, and we've seen people take advantage 74 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 3: of that, people walking out of supermarkets with trolleys full 75 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 3: of food and just saying stop me if you're there. 76 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 3: It's just not a good situation that we find ourselves in. 77 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 3: And certainly some of the measures that we've heard about 78 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 3: this morning are going to have an immediate impact on that. 79 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 3: But ultimately the hardening and the increased security of these 80 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 3: contact points is expensive for business, and those costs are 81 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 3: simply going to be passed on. And are they taking 82 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 3: away all of the risks? I don't think it completely 83 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 3: eliminates it. The business needs to understand exactly what it 84 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 3: has to achieve to avoid the risk of further implications, 85 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 3: both legally and on the future of their staff. I'll 86 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 3: be feeling better in our case. 87 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 2: I think I've recovered. I think I've recovered. Thank you. Now, 88 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 2: just in relation to so. 89 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: Legally, as you've just touched on there, what are some 90 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: of the worries from businesses Because the fact is here 91 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: you would have to think that things like industrial manslaughter 92 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: are concerns for businesses. 93 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 3: Yes, it's something that we're exploring internally with our workplace 94 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 3: relations team. It is a risk. Business has to provide 95 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 3: a safe environment. So you know, what we're dealing with 96 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 3: here is wasn't an accident, but it's been very, very 97 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 3: difficult to predict. But that same circumstances can manifest itself 98 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 3: again into the future and that potentially that business is 99 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 3: exposed to innustrial manslaughter if it hasn't done enough. So 100 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 3: getting clarity on what is enough and where that line 101 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 3: can be drawn in a realistic level is critical for business, 102 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 3: and we have to make sure that we provide an 103 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 3: operating environment it is safe and functional, but the business 104 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 3: still has to be viable, so you know, there's a 105 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 3: balancing act there. It's very unclear at this point. 106 00:05:59,080 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 2: Greg. 107 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: Also, with this announcement that was made this morning, a 108 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: lot of these changes or a lot of these measures 109 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: seem to be for businesses that you know that sell alcohol, 110 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: But the fact is you know, all you've got to 111 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 1: do is go for a walk through a shopping center 112 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: and speak to some of the employees and you hear 113 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: that you know, they've been threatened with scissors, there's been 114 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: various violent situations that they've had to endure. So how 115 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: do we make sure that you know that businesses like 116 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: that are kept safe as well? 117 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, Katie, that's a very pertinent point. And you know, 118 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 3: whilst alcohol is a strong focus around the activity of 119 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 3: this event and others in the past, your spot on 120 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 3: it can occur literally anywhere anywhere there's an asset that 121 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 3: is themed desirable and food and late nine outlets for 122 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 3: supporting people are always in the firing line there as well, 123 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 3: So it has to be across multiple industries. It has 124 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 3: to be something that translates into that broader context. Locking 125 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 3: up the alcohol we just won't fix the problem either. 126 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 3: So we're certainly cognizant of the fact that people need 127 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 3: to be more aware of how they can participate in 128 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 3: the installation process. We fully support that training environment. Having 129 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 3: some short term stop caps to allow some time for 130 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 3: that to take place makes sense. So, you know, let's 131 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 3: get on with that. But we would like to see 132 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 3: more consequences for people involved in these activities. And I 133 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 3: don't think there's really any excuse for taking out an 134 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 3: edge weapon and using it against somebody. It's just abhorrent 135 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 3: and we certainly want police and the courts and everyone 136 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 3: involved in that to active accordingly. 137 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, all you've got to do is, you know, 138 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if you saw it last night on 139 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: nine News Darwin, but that situation where you've got two 140 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: teenagers in a corner store, you know, armed with knives 141 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: threatening a young bloke. That's the corner store that I 142 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: go to, and you know, looking at that young fella 143 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: having to deal with these two people then threatening him, 144 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: it is just unbelievable. And unfortunately it's just it is 145 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: not isolated, as we've spoken about time and time again. 146 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 3: Absolutely the case Katie, my young fellas twenty and has 147 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 3: a job and you get scared about all of the 148 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 3: potential consequences that could occur. It used to be worried 149 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 3: about car accidents, and now you're worried about this. It's 150 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 3: just growing all the time, and we certainly don't condone 151 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 3: the activities that are happening at the moment. Noting that 152 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 3: He's a trend outside the territory as well. We're seeing 153 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 3: this throughout Queenslane and other jurisdictions in the country. More 154 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 3: needs to be done around the root causes. That will 155 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 3: take time. Let's welcome. I guess the steps in the 156 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 3: process of the moment, and really I think we need 157 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 3: to be seeing at a bail and a sentencing level 158 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 3: some more activity there. I mean, I think there's opportunities 159 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 3: to free up some of the places in our prisons 160 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 3: by introducing some work camps around the place that give 161 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 3: people an opportunity to build some discipline and develop some responsibility, 162 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 3: because it just seems that's lacking at the moment some 163 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 3: of the community. 164 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: Well, Greg Island, I always appreciate your time. Thanks so 165 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: much for having a chat with us this morning and 166 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: for helping me out there as I was choking. Mate. 167 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 3: Thank you, no problem at all, Katie. 168 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 2: Thanks