1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,679 Speaker 1: You're listening to Mix one oh four point nine three 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: sixty now around about now, the Annual Police Association Conference 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: is kicking off a little bit earlier this morning, I 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: caught up with the President of the Police Association, Paul McHugh. 5 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: Good morning to you. 6 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 2: Paul, Good morning Katie. 7 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: Now Paul, the annual conference obviously underway today, are about 8 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: to get underway. What's on the agenda for this year. 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, obviously, you know policing in the policing space, it's 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 2: always busy. We've got a lot to talk about today, 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: obviously this morning with addresses from the Minister, Shadow Minister 12 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 2: and the Commissioner as well, so delegates all looking forward 13 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: to that. Our theme this year is Stronger Together and 14 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 2: it's a really important theme this year because you know, 15 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:47,959 Speaker 2: we've seen some enormous challenges that our police have had 16 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 2: to face over the last eighteen months or so, and 17 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 2: no bigger than obviously trying to find the numbers to 18 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 2: help out in terms of the COVID response and of 19 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: course all the other policing requirements stay to day policing 20 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: requirements that are out there. So we're looking forward to 21 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 2: hearing from the Minister of this morning. And the Commissioner 22 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 2: of course and the Shadow Minister about key topics that 23 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 2: we've provided to them just to say, look, here's what 24 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: our delegates want to hear, and you know, certainly we're 25 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: looking forward to hearing what they've got to say. 26 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: Well, what are some of those key topics. What are 27 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: the biggest issues for our Northern Territory police right now? 28 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, obviously you know some of the key issues 29 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 2: that have come and we've just recently completed a full 30 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,279 Speaker 2: member survey and we had in excess of five hundred 31 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: respondents to that survey and we've got some key I 32 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: guess points of interest out of that that we're looking 33 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: forward to hearing from our guest speakers this morning, and 34 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: that includes remote policing in terms of infrastructure and you 35 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 2: know the fact our members are still expected to live 36 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 2: and work out of shipping containers put there fourteen years ago, 37 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: for example. Obviously, assaults on police is always a very 38 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: topical issue and we've recently been invited to a working 39 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: group by the Commissioner to have a look at ways 40 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 2: of improving or strengthening the protections for our members there, 41 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: as well as the discipline Framework and of course some 42 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 2: of the key results out of the survey that we 43 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 2: workshop yesterday with delegates. So there's some of some of 44 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 2: the issues, but of course one of the other important ones, Katie, 45 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: and it's quite important today and being are you a 46 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 2: okay day, is the mental health and wellbeing of our officers. 47 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: And you know, we've got some really key points to 48 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 2: put across there in front of our speakers today about 49 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: the importance of looking after our police and doing everything 50 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: we can at the front end to make sure they're okay. 51 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: Well, there would be no doubt that's policing anywhere in 52 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: Australia would be such a difficult job and the mental 53 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: toll that that can place on an individual will be enormous. Then, 54 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: when you look at the challenges that we've been through 55 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: over the last eighteen months when it comes to COVID 56 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 1: and I'm envisaging the number of those officers, obviously their 57 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: jobs have changed to some degree, their roles have changed. 58 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: It would have been a very tough. 59 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 2: Year for got what and certainly some of the key 60 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 2: statistics out of our survey around COVID specifically, we've had 61 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: eighty percent of those respondents have had leave canceled or deferred, 62 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 2: so that that's that important respite they need to make 63 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: sure they remain fresh and mentally well. And of course 64 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 2: with eighty percent having their leave canceled or deferred, that's 65 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 2: a very difficult point to achieve. And of course sixty 66 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: eight percent of our respondents are recognizing a significant increase 67 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 2: in their duties through COVID and that's of course ongoing 68 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 2: today because we know somewhere between sixty and one hundred 69 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 2: police are being required purely for COVID work and we 70 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: don't have a recruitment of those additional numbers, so they're 71 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 2: being found from other sections of the police force. 72 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: Paul just on that survey, what were some of the 73 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: other key findings. 74 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 2: Look, we've had some other key findings of course, Cadie 75 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 2: include probably seventy seven percent of our reppondents made it 76 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 2: quite clear to us they don't feel there's enough police 77 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 2: to do what's being required. And I just touched on 78 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 2: obviously the COVID work and the numbers required there, so 79 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: that was quite an important statistic to have. We've got 80 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: sixty four percent saying morale is low or very low 81 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 2: amongst the members, and that's probably reflective of that tileist 82 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: work they have been doing. We've got eighty eight percent 83 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: of our respondents, so nearly ninety percent. Are very concerned 84 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: with the attrition rate. And we know we've spoken about 85 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 2: that before. In the last twelve months, over one hundred 86 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 2: and forty separations from the organization. Probably one of the 87 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 2: worrying stats out of the survey was sixty percent have 88 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 2: either applied or considering applying for job outside the police Now, yeah, yeah, 89 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,919 Speaker 2: so when you consider that, you know some have obviously 90 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,679 Speaker 2: considered it. Not all will obviously go down that path, 91 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: but obviously quite a large portion have. And we know 92 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 2: the numbers of people separating are still remaining quite high. 93 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: So you know there are resignations and retirements, sorry, retirements 94 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 2: and dismissals in that statistic. But it is a worrying factory. 95 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: If you're looking at that amount of people are saying 96 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 2: I want out of the police force, it is something 97 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: we need to discuss. 98 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: It's actually it is a quite an alarming figure. I mean, 99 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: sixty percent or either applying or considering applying for a 100 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 1: job into state. You know, that's a massive number of 101 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: our force. 102 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: Look it is and look I know I I acknowledge 103 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 2: the Commission certainly has you know, make sure recruiting has 104 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 2: been heavy, and we are seeing a lot of graduates 105 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 2: through the through the Police College and being sent down 106 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 2: to our larger regional centers and out to some remote station, 107 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: so that recruiting is high. But of course, you know, 108 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 2: when you've got to I guess you could say, if 109 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: you've got to split at the bottom of the potato bag, 110 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 2: you can't keep fixing it by throwing spuds into the top, 111 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: So you've got to you've got to actually have a 112 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 2: look at some of those reasons why, and we certainly 113 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: want to work with the Commission and government on that 114 00:05:58,680 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: issue for sure. 115 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: Are there any questions asked in that survey? You know, 116 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: when we look at some of the issues that are 117 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: in the community right now around youth crime, but also 118 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: some of the legislation. I guess that's been put in 119 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 1: place in an effort to try to support police or 120 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: try to assist them when they're dealing with some of 121 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 1: those issues around youth crime. I know that it's something 122 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: that comes up very regularly with our listeners. Were there 123 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:23,799 Speaker 1: any sort of questions in that space? 124 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: Look, it was primarily focused on those main key issues 125 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 2: we've spoken about, including of course our upcoming concent agreement 126 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: negotiations next year with government. So it's heavily focused there. 127 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 2: But there were several questions that allowed our respondents to 128 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 2: provide us some free text if you like, And there 129 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 2: were several comments in there, of course, around some of 130 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 2: the legislative changes that have taken place. Look, we have 131 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 2: had a few comments, but certainly it's probably early to 132 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 2: say whether it's positive or negative. But I do know 133 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: obviously police you know, it's difficult to really judge when 134 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 2: you are struggling to get numbers on the road, and 135 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 2: of course when you've got a lack of resourcing that 136 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 2: impacts your ability around dealing with youth crime, for example, 137 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: and other outco related harms. So look, it was heavily 138 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 2: focused towards consent, agrament and those other issues, and now 139 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: we're looking forward to working through that overcoming months with 140 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 2: our delegates. 141 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: Well, Paul mcewe, I will let you go because I 142 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: know you've got an incredibly busy day ahead. We'll probably 143 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: catch up tomorrow or Monday, depending on how your schedule's tracking, 144 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: to see how it's all gone at that conference. 145 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: Absolutely no problem, all Katie good on. 146 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: You, Paul, thanks so much for your time this morning. Cheers. 147 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: That's Paul mchue there, the president of the Northern Territories 148 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: Police Association eight nine four one one O four nine 149 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: If you'd like to call through