1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: The Northern Territory Opposition is calling for the Attorney General 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: Marie Claire Boothby to stand down after failing to publicly 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: declare a conflict of interest regarding a driver sentenced over 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: a fatal hit and run in Darwin. Twenty four year 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: old Jake Danby, a relative of Miss Boothby, was last 6 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: week's sentence for striking two Aboriginal pedestrians and fleeing the 7 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: scene in June last year, with one victim dying in hospital. Now, 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: the court heard Danby sent text messages to friends after 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: the crash, calling the victims dogs and oxygen thieves. I 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: gotta tell you it's hard for me to even read 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: that out. I'm so disgusted by those messages now. At 12 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: a press conference last Thursday, Miss Boothby was asked whether 13 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: danbye sentence of a twelvemonth community corrections order was adequate, 14 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: but she didn't declare he was her sister's step son. Now. 15 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: On Friday, Miss Boothby issued a statement confirming her relationship today, 16 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: saying she's not been involved in the matter, which she 17 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: declared to Leofanocchio at the time of the crash. The 18 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: opposition reckon the colp's integrity is in tatters and they're 19 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: calling on the Attorney General to resign. The Opposition spokesperson, well, 20 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: the opposition Attorney General joins me on the line, Chancey 21 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: pay good morning to you, Chancey. 22 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 2: Good a, Katie, Now, what. 23 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: Questions do you want answered by the Northern Territories Attorney 24 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,839 Speaker 1: General and indeed by the government at this point. 25 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: Oh look, Katie, I think it's really important. We're talking 26 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 2: about the Attorney General. That's the territory's first law officer. 27 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 2: There is an absolute mandate that that position must meet 28 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: the highest standards of integrity and transparency. So to have 29 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,919 Speaker 2: the Attorney General step out at a press conference last 30 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: Thursday front Media talk about it matter that she has 31 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 2: a direct relationship to and fail to disclose that is 32 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 2: disgraceful and we absolutely are calling on the COLP to 33 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:12,399 Speaker 2: take appropriate action. They promised Katie to be open, transparent 34 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 2: and accountable and they have failed time and time again 35 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: to disclose and declare that important relationship that the Attorney 36 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: General has with the accused. 37 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: She's come out now and she said that her sister's 38 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: stepsum was involved in the June twenty twenty four incident. 39 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: The subject of which has now gone through the courts. 40 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: She says, at no time have I or my office 41 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: been involved in the matter, either in opposition or upon 42 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: change of government, and at the time of the crash, 43 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: she immediately declared the incident to the opposition leader for 44 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 1: the CLP in order to follow due process. She says, 45 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: I've never attempted to hide the fact that the driver 46 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: was an extended family member. At all times, I've acted 47 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: with integrity in carrying out my functions as the Attorney General. 48 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: I mean, I think the really simple thing to have 49 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: done here would have been to either issue a statement 50 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: after that sentencing, or even pre that sentencing, or even 51 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: when she was in opposition, but at the very least 52 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: actually declare it at the press conference which was held. 53 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,839 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, Katie, you're absolutely right on the money there. 54 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: Let's be clear. She hasn't done what she has said 55 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 2: she's done. She failed to disclose that relationship. She attended 56 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: a press conference, spoke about the matter, didn't declare it, 57 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: and then you've got the you know, the Deputy Chief Minister, 58 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: who you know, was very wobbly in media yesterday trying 59 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: to defend the Attorney General Katie when We're talking about 60 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Minister, and both 61 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 2: of those positions knowing about it and again keeping it secret. 62 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 2: They're not everyday territorians, you know. Yeah, they might have 63 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: known about it for well, the Deputy Chief Minister for 64 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: three weeks. The Chief Minister knew about it since they 65 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 2: were in opposition. They're not everyday people. Everyday territorians absolutely 66 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 2: have a right to know this important information. And we 67 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,039 Speaker 2: have an Attorney General who has ducked and weaved and 68 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 2: failed to disclose, and has only done so when she's 69 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 2: been caught out by the media in the territory. 70 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: The Attorney General did say it would be appropriate for 71 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: the DPP to review Danby's sentence in light of this. 72 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: I mean, do you still think she should resign? She 73 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: obviously believes that it does need to be reviewed. I 74 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: mean too, I'm assuming that maybe she also doesn't believe 75 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: that this sentence was adequate. I mean, does that change 76 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: your thinking in any way. 77 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: Let's be clear that she's only coming out now because 78 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: she's been caught out by the Territories media around this issue, 79 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 2: and she's tried to hide it for some time. Look, 80 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:02,239 Speaker 2: the DPP have the ability to review and appeal any matter. 81 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 2: That's something that they need to do independently, and I'm 82 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 2: sure they have worked through that process. When it comes 83 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: to the attorney general, what we need in an attorney 84 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 2: General is someone who is open, transparent and accountable, and 85 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 2: the current Northern Territory Attorney General is far from that. 86 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 2: We have seen her attend press conferences, fail to declare 87 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: her relationship with this matter, and then a day later 88 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 2: come out and have to respond because she's been caught out. 89 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 2: That's not what we expect from the territory's first law officer. 90 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: Chancey. Look, it's not lost on me that it also 91 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: came to light, you know, when you were in government 92 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: that held met cash shares at a time when alcohol 93 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: restrictions were due to lapse in Central Australia and you 94 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: didn't resign. So why should the Attorney General, who has 95 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: said or she reckons she's declared this incident at the time, 96 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: you know, resign. I mean, I know the very different situations, 97 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: but there was a lot of criticism on you at 98 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: that point in time too. 99 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 2: Look understand it, Katie, there's a big difference here, Katie. 100 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 2: I've always disclosed and my matters were publicly available on 101 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 2: the Members Register's Interest available at any time for the 102 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: last few years. The Attorney General, on the other hand, 103 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 2: has failed to disclose anything to the public and kept 104 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 2: it secret. She stood up at press conferences spoke about it, 105 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 2: but chose not to tell the truth and failed to 106 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 2: declare her relationship. That's what we're talking about here right 107 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 2: now is had our hardworking media organizations not pressed her 108 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: and called her out, she would have never disclosed the truth, 109 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 2: and she would have continued to work in secret and 110 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 2: hide it from the public. 111 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: There's no accusation here that she has had a hand 112 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: in that sentencing or in the judge's decision, though in 113 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: any way is there no Look. 114 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 2: Let's be clear, there are two issues here. One there 115 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: is the court process. There is the decisions. There's the 116 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: appeals that all needs to continue to work independently of 117 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: the arm of government. What the issue is here is 118 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 2: the Attorney General, who is supposed to be the first 119 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 2: law officer, supposed to honor the foundations and the principles 120 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: of the law, failed to disclose her relationship. What that 121 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 2: says to people in the public is do we have 122 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: confidence in our first law officer being open, transparent and accountable. Well, 123 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 2: it's really hard to have trust in someone who cannot 124 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 2: disclose issues. And you know what, Katie, this is where 125 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 2: we should just basic rule of thumb. If you are unsure, 126 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 2: declare whether it's a real, perceived or actual conflict. The 127 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 2: best thing to do is to just declare it, because 128 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 2: then you remove any questionable area of doubt. 129 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, I don't understand why at that press conference, 130 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: you know, when it was held, she didn't just when 131 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: she got asked a question just say, Look, I would 132 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: actually like to just let you all know that I 133 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: need to declare a conflict of interest here. I've in 134 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: no way had a hand in any of the decision making. 135 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: You know, Bart, this person is my sister's stepson, and 136 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: I think that Territorians have a right to know that. 137 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: I actually think, you know that she should have stood 138 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: up at that press conference and been really clear with 139 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: people right from the word go. She hasn't done that. Chancey, 140 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: I do want to ask you though, in terms of 141 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: the sentence that was handed down, do you think that 142 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: was adequate? 143 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,959 Speaker 2: Look, Katie, I think I'm absolutely mindful. As a former 144 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 2: Atturney myself, I don't want to say anything that will 145 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 2: prejudice the appeal process. I think that needs to be 146 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 2: undertaken first and then we can have conversations about it. 147 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 2: But you know, that is a matter that the DPP 148 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 2: I believe have lodged an appeal and will seek where 149 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 2: that goes from there. But certainly I don't want to 150 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: pregure anything can provide my commentary on whether it was 151 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: not enough or enough. 152 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, totally understand what you're saying. I guess for 153 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: me in this studio, it's one of a number of, 154 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: you know, sentences that we've seen over recent months, over 155 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: the last couple of years, that a lot of Territorians 156 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 1: don't feel is adequate. I mean, even looking back just 157 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: a few days and going through a report in the 158 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 1: NT News where a man convicted of fracturing a baby's 159 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: skull is going to return to the town where he 160 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: committed the crime after being ordered to spend twelve hours 161 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: a week working on a project while in the community. 162 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: So the man now eighteen, was seventeen when he swung 163 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: a metal fridge handle as we know, and struck Nicole 164 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: Sequenza when she was holding her eight week old baby. 165 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: During that horrific home invasion. Now even looking at that, 166 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: I mean spending twelve hours a week working on a 167 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: project while in the community. You know, to me, that 168 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: is another situation that I I look at and I 169 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: scratch my heat, as I do with this twelve month 170 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: corrections community corrections order for a life that's been lost. 171 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: You know, I do feel as though we're missing the 172 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: balance here in some ways. 173 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, Katie, I think you've raised really important points 174 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 2: and I think what we do need to see here 175 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 2: is when these sentences are handed down, I think that 176 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 2: there's a piece that's missing here, and that is about 177 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 2: how the judiciary has reached those decisions. So, you know, 178 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 2: I certainly respect the rule of law. I certainly respect 179 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 2: the judiciary, but I think what we do need to 180 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 2: see in the public is a bit more of a 181 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 2: communication and education piece. You know, why have you reached 182 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 2: this decision and how have you reached this decision? Because 183 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 2: often we just hear this is the sentence. Well, okay, 184 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 2: talk to me about how we got to this moment 185 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 2: and why has this decision been made. I certainly think 186 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 2: that that's a piece of work that all members of 187 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 2: the Parliament can be working on. To look at how 188 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 2: we can get some of that changed so that we 189 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 2: all can understand how decisions are made and on what 190 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 2: basis they're made. 191 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: Well, Chancey Paike, who holds the Shadow Attorney General portfolio 192 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 1: for the Labor Party, really appreciate your time this morning. 193 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:19,679 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for joining. 194 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 2: Us, No no worries, Katie, and I hope you and 195 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 2: your listeners have a good day you too. 196 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: Thank you