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Speaker 1: Some good news yesterday the Northern Territory Minister for Health

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Speaker 1: announcing radioisotopes for the PET scans are going to be

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Speaker 1: produced locally in the territory with the construction of the

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Speaker 1: cyclotron facility now complete. Now, for those who don't know,

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Speaker 1: pet scans provide detailed medical images that can help with

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Speaker 1: the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, most commonly.

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Speaker 2: I guess we talk.

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Speaker 1: About this in the cancer setting and the final phase

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Speaker 1: of commissioning is underway, which involves setting up that cyclotron,

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Speaker 1: so it's ready to beam on now. Joining me on

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Speaker 1: the line, is the Health Minister attach to files. Good

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Speaker 1: morning to you, minister.

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Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, good morning listening now, Minister.

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Speaker 1: Has the PET scanner been operational for a while now

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Speaker 1: and why is the cyclotron needed?

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Speaker 2: So, Katie is really exciting to see this project come

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Speaker 2: to fruition. I remember speaking to you from Camber when

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Speaker 2: I was down there lobbing the then federal Health Minister,

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Speaker 2: and this is a significant project. The PET scanner has

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Speaker 2: been operational since twenty eighteen and we estimated it would

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Speaker 2: do around a hundred scans a year. Last year at

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Speaker 2: did fourteen hundred pet scans, so it's clearly a much

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Speaker 2: needed piece of medical equipment. And we've been flying in

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Speaker 2: the isotopes, so they're the component that's used for the

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Speaker 2: scan and I will let our physicists explain a detail

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Speaker 2: around that. But local production is really significant. It means

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Speaker 2: that as medical advancements happen, there's a shorter time frame

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Speaker 2: between production and use, and when you add a four

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Speaker 2: or five hour flight to that, it is a restricting factor.

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Speaker 2: It also will allow us to participate in clinical trials.

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Speaker 2: So this is a really exciting announcement for Territory and

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Speaker 2: that the construction is nearly over and it's heading into

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Speaker 2: the commissioning phase and.

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Speaker 1: So Minister, when will it be When will the cyclotron

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Speaker 1: be operational?

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Speaker 2: We're hoping by June, so construction is pretty much complete

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Speaker 2: and from the end of April it will then go

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Speaker 2: into a technical commissioning phase, so it is then authorized

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Speaker 2: to produce those isotopes and we will be able to

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Speaker 2: have them produce locally, which will certainly help. There won't

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Speaker 2: be interruption to the people getting pet scans because the

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Speaker 2: isotopes don't turn up, and particularly with COVID and the

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Speaker 2: changes to flights. We've had a really big impact.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, it is a good news story. I know that

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Speaker 1: there has been some delays to this project in different ways,

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Speaker 1: but I think for a lot of Territorians, if they

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Speaker 1: are able to have those pet scans, if you're able

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Speaker 1: to have the isotopes and everything that's required here in

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Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, it can only be a good thing,

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Speaker 1: particularly for those families that are going through the really

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Speaker 1: difficult process of detecting a disease. And we know that

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Speaker 1: this is very often used in the cancer setting, absolutely.

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Speaker 2: Katie, and you know, just reading some of the comments

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Speaker 2: on social media last night, people that had to travel

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Speaker 2: into State by themselves for that scan. So they're at

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Speaker 2: a critical point of a diagnosis or treatment and three

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Speaker 2: days alone into State is not good for you. Alternatively,

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Speaker 2: people that may not be well enough to travel or

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Speaker 2: just simply choose not to travel to get that. So

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Speaker 2: the PET scanner has been a great collaboration with the

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Speaker 2: Common Government. And yes it's taken some time to get

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Speaker 2: this cycle of China. It's an incredibly complex piece of

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Speaker 2: medical equipment, but the Territory now has that leading piece

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Speaker 2: here in the top end.

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Speaker 1: Now Minister there is quite a lot happening around the

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Speaker 1: Northern Territory today and in what is breaking news this morning,

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Speaker 1: it's been reported in the Australian newspaper that police notes

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Speaker 1: obtained by the paper show senior police executives, including the

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Speaker 1: Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker, met in Deputy Commissioner Michael White's

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Speaker 1: office at three point thirty four on November thirteen, twenty nineteen,

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Speaker 1: the afternoon that Constable Rolf was charged with the murder

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Speaker 1: of Indigenous man cumen Ji Walker. Now detectives investigating the

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Speaker 1: case were reportedly called into the same office at three

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Speaker 1: point forty seven pm after mister Chalker had left, where

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Speaker 1: they were directed to arrest Constable Rolf. The revelation follows

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Speaker 1: comments made by the Commissioner last week that he had

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Speaker 1: remained at arm's length from the investigation and in his words,

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Speaker 1: was as shocked as anybody when he'd learned the officer

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Speaker 1: had been charged with murder. Minister, does this information raise

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Speaker 1: concerns for you?

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Speaker 2: So, Katie, We've seen our justice system completer process and

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Speaker 2: we respect that verdict and we still acknowledge the people

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Speaker 2: that are hurting across the territory. There is the coronial

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Speaker 2: investigation that will take place, and there's also the ability

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Speaker 2: for the IKAC to investigate if they wish. So it

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Speaker 2: is important that we focus on the healing that's needed,

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Speaker 2: but people should be reassured that there is the processes

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Speaker 2: for further independent investigation of this matter.

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Speaker 1: Do you feel though that there are questions here which

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Speaker 1: remain unanswered, because I mean, a situation like this one

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Speaker 1: isn't going like what I've just raised, isn't going to

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Speaker 1: be raised or isn't going to be looked at, I

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Speaker 1: would imagine in a coronial inquest.

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Speaker 2: So, Katie, the coronial inquest is quite a broad scope,

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Speaker 2: and also the Iye Tack, as I said, has the ability.

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Speaker 2: Both of those are independent and I believe have a

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Speaker 2: very wide grope of investigation that they can look into

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Speaker 2: these matters that we're talking about.

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Speaker 1: I mean, there has been ongoing calls for an independent inquiry.

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Speaker 1: Does this information, I mean notes demonstrating the Commissioner well

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Speaker 1: demonstrating that he was in a meeting prior to the

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Speaker 1: constable being charged, then last week saying he was at

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Speaker 1: arms length and as shocked as anyone by the charges,

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Speaker 1: does it demonstrate that an inquiry needs to take place.

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Speaker 2: So Katie, I've just pointed to the fact that there

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Speaker 2: is still two independent or one independent inquiry that will

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Speaker 2: definitely happen, the coronial, and there's the ability for the

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Speaker 2: Eyekac to look into these matters. So I think it's

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Speaker 2: really important that people understand there is independent processes around this.

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Speaker 2: It's certainly an issue that has caused much divide in

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Speaker 2: our community and we must be focused on that healing

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Speaker 2: following the justice system completing its process, and there is

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Speaker 2: further investigation for these questions that people may have.

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Speaker 1: I guess that the issue is right now is perception

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Speaker 1: is everything in this situation, and the perception is whether

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Speaker 1: it's right or wrong. The perception from the public is

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Speaker 1: that there has been more go on behind the scenes

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Speaker 1: than what people realize. In an effort to really try

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Speaker 1: and clear that up, would it just be better to

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Speaker 1: have an inquiry in this space and clear everybody, So.

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Speaker 2: Katie, as I said, there's those two independent options that

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Speaker 2: acquiring options. We know that the coronial will take place

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Speaker 2: and will be significant with a significant length of time,

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Speaker 2: and there is also the ability for the ikak to

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Speaker 2: look into this matter. So there is an independent investigation

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Speaker 2: that can take place as well as that colonial.

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Speaker 1: All right, I've no doubt that this is going to

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Speaker 1: be something that there'll be further discussion about today. But

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Speaker 1: I actually want to ask you about some of the

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Speaker 1: issues that are causing quite a bit of havoc around

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Speaker 1: the territory right now, and that is alcohol misuse. The

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Speaker 1: Chief finessty yesterday confirmed four hundred people have been returned

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Speaker 1: to country this month, more than the last three months

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Speaker 1: through the return to Country program with Larakia Nation. Unfortunately,

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Speaker 1: we are still seeing some real issues though with that

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Speaker 1: public drunkenness. Does this issue demonstrate that the measures we've

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Speaker 1: got to minimize alcohol issues aren't working for some reason

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Speaker 1: right now?

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Speaker 2: So, Katie, there's not one single solution, and we also

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Speaker 2: need across the territory to have different solutions for a

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Speaker 2: local impacts on the community. In terms of alcohol policy,

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Speaker 2: we've had a very thorough review into this. We've implemented

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Speaker 2: a range of measures and we continue to do so.

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Speaker 2: The Band Drinker Register has close to three thousand people

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Speaker 2: Churchy wide who have an active ban. No people come

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Speaker 2: off those bands and other people go on them, but

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Speaker 2: we also see each month those people can't purchase alcohol.

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Speaker 2: But we also see people who are on the BDR

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Speaker 2: attempt to purchase alcohol. So we know that the BDR

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Speaker 2: is one tool, but we also have a range of

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Speaker 2: other measures and also looking at those localized solutions around

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Speaker 2: this difficult policy area.

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Speaker 1: So do you feel as though the BDR is still

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Speaker 1: working at the moment even though you know we've got

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Speaker 1: issues at the moment where there is such you know,

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Speaker 1: such a large number of people drinking publicly and publicly

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Speaker 1: intoxicated and engaging in not only bad behavior, but in

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Speaker 1: some instances criminal behavior.

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Speaker 2: Okatie. I met with police, Licensing and Health last week

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Speaker 2: and I meet with them regularly around the issue of

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Speaker 2: alcohol policy and how we can continue to be agile

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Speaker 2: and put in place different measures. I think the BDR

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Speaker 2: is one important tool. Again, we have the floor price

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Speaker 2: another important tool. But we are constantly looking at the

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Speaker 2: measures we have in place and making sure that they're

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Speaker 2: there to protect the community. But we certainly acknowledge we

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Speaker 2: have seen an increased number of people, particularly in the

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Speaker 2: top end in town. The chiefs that has pointed to

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Speaker 2: the people that are being returned to countries. So there's

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Speaker 2: a number of areas that we can put in place

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Speaker 2: measures to help address these issues.

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Speaker 1: When it comes to the BDR, what numbers are you

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Speaker 1: using to measure its success?

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Speaker 2: So the BDR we do a number of reports. We

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Speaker 2: get a monthly report and those statistics are uploaded to

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Speaker 2: the Department of Health website. They're the raw data that

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Speaker 2: shows you how people are ending up on the BDR

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Speaker 2: that are self referral, is it a court referral, is

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Speaker 2: it a police pathway, et cetera. They also look at

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Speaker 2: the people that the numbers of active bands, which is

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Speaker 2: a figure I pointed to you two seven, eight hundred

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Speaker 2: and seventy one. It also has the sales that are declined.

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Speaker 2: So we certainly have information we look at each month

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Speaker 2: to ensure that we have that data set and we

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Speaker 2: can be putting in place those policy changes if needed.

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Speaker 2: But the BDO is one tool that we believe is

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Speaker 2: effective in stopping the supply of our cohos people that

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Speaker 2: cause harm. You then have to focus on other areas

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Speaker 2: across this policy.

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Speaker 1: I am mindful of time. I know that you've got

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Speaker 1: to wrap up shortly, as do I. But are people

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Speaker 1: allowed to drink within a two kilometer radius of a

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Speaker 1: takeaway venue?

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Speaker 2: Still? The Katie, my understanding is no, And there's also

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Speaker 2: additional areas in terms of some of the local areas

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Speaker 2: have local liquor cords and they have local council measures

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Speaker 2: in place around where you can drink in a public space.

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Speaker 1: So why have we got a situation where there are

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Speaker 1: people drinking in public spaces within a two kilometer radius

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Speaker 1: of takeaway venues?

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Speaker 2: So I know that there's some exemptions that they're allowed

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Speaker 2: in place, and there's also time restrictions on those so

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Speaker 2: that people can get outside and enjoy a beautiful environment

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Speaker 2: and have a drink. But police actively work in this

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Speaker 2: space and they work with in the top end Larkian

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Speaker 2: nation and also council around making sure that the will's

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Speaker 2: going forth.

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Speaker 1: The Chief Ministry yesterday spoke about clubs in some remote communities.

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Speaker 1: It's something that you and I have discussed before. But realistically,

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Speaker 1: where are these discussions at with the federal government and

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Speaker 1: what communities are being looked at?

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Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, this is important and a head of parliament

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Speaker 2: so we will see a change in the legislation around

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Speaker 2: alcohol for remote communities in July. The stronger features, which

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Speaker 2: is the tail end of the intervention that will end

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Speaker 2: What will come into place in the Northern Territory is

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Speaker 2: will introduce legislation this week that we hope will pass

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Speaker 2: the Parliament in May that will allow communities to opin.

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Speaker 2: So we have seventy four community living areas in the territory.

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Speaker 2: They can opt in to be a dry area or

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Speaker 2: they may choose not tourn that's up to the leadership

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Speaker 2: in those communities. We then, separately that's around people having alcohol,

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Speaker 2: whether it's a dry community and not Katie. Separately to that,

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Speaker 2: it would mean that if a community wish to have

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Speaker 2: a liquor license, they would go through the Northern Territory

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Speaker 2: liquor licensing process, which is a strong, robust process and

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Speaker 2: it has community consultation, but it does change the legislation

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Speaker 2: from the Commonwealth because of the intervention legislation and stronger

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Speaker 2: futures that does make letaliscenses go through the Commonwealth. That

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Speaker 2: will change in July.

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Speaker 1: And so what you're saying is May, this legislation is

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Speaker 1: going to be introduced and then by July, so this

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Speaker 1: week it's being introduced, So this is all moving forward. Now.

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Speaker 1: This is actually going to happen that in those seventy

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Speaker 1: four remote communities they're going to have the opportunity to

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Speaker 1: opt in.

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Speaker 2: So what it is it to change in the process, Katie.

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Speaker 2: So the legislation we anticipate will in May. Then communities

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Speaker 2: can choose to opt in and be a dry community.

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Speaker 2: At the moment there's a blanket rule and any equal

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Speaker 2: license has to go through the Commonwealth. That layer will

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Speaker 2: be removed, but they still if they wish to have

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Speaker 2: a venue that sold alcohol, such as a social club

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Speaker 2: or takeaway, they would still have to go through the

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Speaker 2: Northern Territory's licensing process.

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Speaker 1: Are you concerned that we're just going to be moving

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Speaker 1: an issue from the streets of Darwin to alcohol issues

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Speaker 1: in communities.

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Speaker 2: We need to be really careful, Katie. We know that

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Speaker 2: alcohol is a huge driver in crime antisocial behavior and

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Speaker 2: we try and address that issue whether it is in

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Speaker 2: Darwin or our remote areas. We need to make sure

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Speaker 2: this pathway is in place for rehabilitation. But this does

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Speaker 2: allow community leadership to decide what's best for those communities

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Speaker 2: and the people that reside there.

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Speaker 1: Minister, just very quickly, we know that the COLP is

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Speaker 1: putting forward to a law reform bill as I understand it,

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Speaker 1: introducing it to Parliament this week around mandatory sentencing for

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Speaker 1: those who assault frontline workers. Is this something that the

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Speaker 1: government is going to.

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Speaker 2: The Katie. We'll have a look at that legislation when

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Speaker 2: it's introduced. This is a complex area that I simply

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Speaker 2: can't answer in a quick amount of time, but we

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Speaker 2: certainly acknowledge the efforts of our frontline workers.

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Speaker 1: Okay, Minister Files, we appreciate your time this morning and

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Speaker 1: we'll see you Friday for the week.

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Speaker 2: That was sounds good. Thank you, thank you.