1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Now, there's been plenty of speculation and discussion, as you've 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,519 Speaker 1: just heard, around who's going to stand in the Nightcliff 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: by election once the writ has been issued and joining 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: us now for her weekly spot the Northern Territory Speaker 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,799 Speaker 1: and the MLA Independent MLA for Ara Lewin. Robin Lamley, 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Robin. 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 2: Hello Katie, lovely. 8 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: To have you on the show now. Robin, first off, 9 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: were you surprised to hear the news that Kat McNamara 10 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: had decided she was going to resign. 11 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 2: Yes, it was a surprise. I guess I was aware 12 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 2: that what Kat was trying to achieve is the only 13 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 2: Greens in Parliament, was a lot of pressure for her. 14 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 2: Her personal circumstances are inherently stressful, I guess, having three children, 15 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,599 Speaker 2: and yeah, I was aware that she would have been 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: going through a lot to maintain the expectations and meet 17 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: the expectations of her constituent and her party. 18 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: Robin, There's been sort of some speculation from some elements 19 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: of the media and some that you know that may 20 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: be part of the decision or the reason behind this 21 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: decision was that, you know, some of the behavior towards 22 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: her inside parliament House and during you know, during sittings, 23 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: what do you make of that? You know, as a 24 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: speaker and somebody who sits and observes everything that happens, 25 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: but also as someone who has for a very long. 26 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: Time, Parliament is a hostile environment. It's inherently hostile. It's 27 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: like stepping into a war zone. I always feel like 28 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 2: I'm putting my boxing gloves on, even as speaker. It's 29 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 2: quite extreme and difficult. So if that is the case, 30 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 2: if Kat felt that she was experiencing unnecessary or undue 31 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: pressure as in her role in Parliament, then I can 32 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: understand that coming in as the sole representative of a 33 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: party is huge and I think that she was taken 34 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 2: on by a lot of members for her views. But 35 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: you know, if you can't stand the heat, you have 36 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 2: to get out of the fire. And to some extent, 37 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 2: I think her decision to resign on Monday indicates to 38 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: me that it was just too much for her on 39 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 2: many levels, and it could have could well have been 40 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 2: because of the pressure she was on in Parliament. 41 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, and look, I guess you know, for me as 42 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: an observer over many years of watching Parliament, I just 43 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: I can see that it happens to everybody as well 44 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: as in like, you know, the level of sort of scrutiny, 45 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: but also the level of you know, underhanded comments and 46 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: things like that. It's a tough job for you managing 47 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: that and people you know, over the years being offended 48 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,399 Speaker 1: by you know, different words and that kind of thing. 49 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,399 Speaker 1: But you know, even I think if you go back 50 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: sort of you know, eight years, eight to ten years 51 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: when it was just Gary Higgins and Leofanocchiaro in opposition, 52 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: you're an independent, I believe at the time, Kisi Epiric 53 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: in there as well as an independent, maybe even Jerry. 54 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,959 Speaker 1: You know, it's like, it's interesting to see the way, 55 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: you know that some of those interactions unfold, and it 56 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: does seem as though some people are sort of I 57 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,239 Speaker 1: guess able to withstand some of that nastiness or those 58 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: underhanded comments more so than others. 59 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 2: Well, that's true, Katie. I don't think there'd be too 60 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 2: many members of Parliament that don't find what goes on 61 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: in parliament offensive some of the time, if not most 62 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: of the time. I think, just by its nature, people 63 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: are fierce, they're brutal, their aggressive, and sometimes they say 64 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 2: things that are very offensive. And as speaker, I hope 65 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: to catch them and get them to withdraw those statements 66 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: and apologize. But you know, once something has been said, 67 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 2: it can't be unsaid. So I can't stop people from 68 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 2: saying what they want to, even if it isn't of 69 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 2: an offensive nature. Look, I think when people put their 70 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: hand up to become a member of Parliament, and there'll 71 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 2: be people thinking of doing that in the seed of 72 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 2: Nightcliffe as we speak, you have to be aware that 73 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: it is not a pleasant job for the most part. 74 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: I when asked, I often tell people that had I 75 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 2: have known how brutal it was, I would never have 76 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: become a member of Parliament. And here I am, over 77 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: fifteen years later, still doing it. And often I ask myself, 78 00:04:54,839 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 2: why the heck am I doing it self? Brutalization in 79 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 2: a way, But I guess what offsets that is the 80 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: work that you can do in your community, what you 81 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 2: can achieve, and the wonderful positive interactions you have with 82 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 2: the people that vote for you and the people that 83 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: you serve. I've always seen it as a balancing act. 84 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: For every offensive incident that occurs in Parliament, I can 85 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: offset it with twenty positive interactions. I have in my 86 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: community of Alice Springs, and that's how you survive. But 87 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 2: if it gets to the point where the negativity, the onslaught, 88 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: the battering becomes outweighs the positive, then it is time 89 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: to leave. You're not cut out for it, and I 90 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: don't think many people are cut out for it, Katie. 91 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: It is an exceptionally aggressive and hostile environment in the 92 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: chamber in Parliament. 93 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: It's I mean, it's interesting insight and I think that 94 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: it's something for anybody to consider if they are thinking 95 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: about putting their hands in this upcoming by election. Robin 96 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: on to that, a lot of you know, a lot 97 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: of discussion about when it's going to happen, when that 98 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: Rit's going to be issued, etc. What's the process from 99 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: your perspective now. 100 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 2: Well, it's completely out of my hands now, so it's 101 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 2: really up to the Chief Minister to trigger the election 102 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: when it suits her. The twenty four days after the 103 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: writ is issued is when the election will be Look, 104 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 2: I don't know, there's always a political strategy around that 105 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 2: when it suits the government, when it best suits parliamentary sittings, 106 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: and you know, all the variables are taken into account. 107 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 2: Whether you want to have an election. We go back 108 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 2: into Parliament on the tenth of March for two weeks. 109 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 2: So whether you want to have an election before that 110 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 2: two week period, in the middle of that two week period, 111 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 2: or at the end of that two week period, that 112 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 2: would be a question they would be asking themselves, or 113 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 2: whether you just want to have it all done and 114 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 2: dusted well and truly before. I mean, I think if 115 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 2: they wanted to, they could call it for the weekend 116 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 2: before the start of sittings, which I guess is around 117 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: the second or third or something. I haven't got a 118 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 2: calendar in front of me of March. That might be 119 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 2: that might be too tight, that might not sit into 120 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 2: the timeframe, But. 121 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: I reckon they've got to do it soon. I don't 122 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: think they can linger on this, particularly when you look 123 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: at after Michael Gunner had stood down after he resigned, 124 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: you know, I think the rip was issued the following day. 125 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 2: Well, it's just up to the government how they see it. 126 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: And you know, having an election at the end of 127 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: sittings means that the whole sittings period is dominated basically 128 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: by campaign speeches. Very true, very true. You know, both 129 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 2: political parties, all political parties and independents will stand up 130 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: and campaign. You've got beautiful campaign speeches on everything. 131 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: So we're better off going do you reckon we're better 132 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: off going before if we don't want that to happen, Robin, Well. 133 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 2: I'll leave it up to territories to make that call. 134 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 2: But yeah, it's well, the other. 135 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: Side of it, I guess is that the people of 136 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: Nightcliff won't have representation at that sittings of Parliament if 137 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: the election doesn't happen before then, or the by election 138 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: doesn't happen before then. 139 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 2: Right, that's that's true, But you know that's well, that's 140 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 2: not desirable. But you know, when you decide to resign 141 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 2: the person who's triggered that by election, they have to 142 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 2: take some responsibility for that. The cost of the by election, 143 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 2: which I'm told is around one hundred and fifty thousand 144 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 2: dollars or it was a few years ago, and then 145 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 2: the government deciding when that best suits them. So I 146 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: don't know, none of this is ideal. It's an impult 147 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 2: on the community whichever way you look. But yeah, my 148 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 2: personal view is yes, let's get it over and done 149 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: with and move on and let the new member for 150 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 2: Nightcliff settle in and get to work. But I agree 151 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: with you that's out of our control. 152 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: Please, we don't get to decide, Robin quick one, do 153 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: you think it's going to be a test for you know, 154 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: for either of the parties, or do you think that 155 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: it's just, you know, it's simply going to be situation 156 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: where people are voting on who they think is the 157 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: best local member. 158 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 2: Well, my hunt would be it will go back to 159 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 2: labor because it was always a labor seat. But who knows, 160 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm not sure what the I'm not reading 161 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 2: the pulse of the Nightcliff community. Are they set up 162 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 2: with minor parties? Are they more inclined to go to independence? 163 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: Are they sick of the major parties? Who knows? I mean, 164 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 2: it will These things are always fascinating, aren't they, Katie. 165 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: Sure we are election at election. 166 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 2: I know you're a political tragic as am I. So 167 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: I guess we sit back and just grab a bag 168 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,599 Speaker 2: of chips and take it all in exactly. 169 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously I don't like how much a by 170 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: election costs, but I like watching a by election. But anyway, hey, Robin, 171 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: before I let you go, Alice Springs, Well, there's been 172 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: some flooding the Todd River flowing. How's it going in Alice. 173 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: Well, it's slowed down to a trickle now, but it 174 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 2: was a magnificent flood. It's lovely to see the river flow. 175 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 2: It lifts our spirits. It literally washes away concerns and 176 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 2: you know the build up of dust over many months. 177 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 2: So yeah, the town's vibrant. And yeah we've had a 178 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 2: good wash. 179 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: That's good. That is good to hear. How things going 180 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: in terms of some of the crime and antisocial behavior 181 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: at the moment. 182 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: There has been an increase of people on the street 183 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 2: at night, which is concerning. I'm told that the Operation 184 00:10:55,960 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 2: Ludlow has concluded, and there's been a perception that there's 185 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 2: a decrease in the number of police in our springs 186 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 2: at the moment. So I'm watching this very carefully. These 187 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:12,079 Speaker 2: things can very easily slide back and we are still 188 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 2: in the middle of summer. We've got many many weeks 189 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 2: to go of this heat, and you know, let's hope 190 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 2: that we don't slide backwards. 191 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with you. You know, even for us 192 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: here in town at the moment, there definitely seems to 193 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: be a few more people around publicly drinking, etc. So 194 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: I think that it's something we've got to be really 195 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: careful of in terms of, you know, trying to continue 196 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: to get those trime levels down and make sure that 197 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: everybody's living peacefully and harmoniously. 198 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 2: They can't take their eye off the ball for a second, 199 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 2: the police, the government. It has to be consistent. But 200 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 2: when you've got things happening like the riots out at 201 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 2: what obviously resources have to go in different directions, so 202 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 2: there's a cost to that. They can't be everywhere providing 203 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 2: high levels of policing across the territory when you know 204 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,959 Speaker 2: there's things falling apart in places like what. 205 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: Is Absolutely we will see Robin Lamley always good to 206 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 1: catch up with you. 207 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for your time.