1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: We know that residents in Darwin and the Northern suburbs 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: are trying to ban together really in an effort to 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: push for greater action on crime. Now, the Karama Community 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: Group held a second public forum this week sick of 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: waiting for the Northern Territory government to act. Joining me 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: on the line right now to tell us a little 7 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: bit more about the situation is Stephen Farrewell, who obviously 8 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: is with the community group in Karama that is concerned 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: about crime. Good morning to you, Stephen. 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 2: Good mind, Katie. 11 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: How are you not too bad? Stephen? I understand that 12 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: there was another public forum held this week. How many 13 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:38,919 Speaker 1: attended and was there any government representation? 14 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 2: We had about one hundred people turn up, which is 15 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 2: less than our first forum. So I'm not sure whether 16 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: that's a sign of people think it's such a hopeless 17 00:00:53,520 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 2: situation that there's nothing that can be done. I actually 18 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 2: think that is why people didn't turn up. As for 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 2: government representation, we had a really poor response. We had 20 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 2: one representative from police and two from Territory Housing as 21 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 2: well as and of course our local member now our 22 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 2: keeper there. But that was the sum total of government representation. 23 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: Now, Steve, I know that you've said, you know that 24 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: one hundred is less than your previous meeting, one hundred 25 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: is still a pretty good representation of the community of Karama. 26 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: And the fact that you know that they've all turned up, 27 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 1: all of those locals have turned up to say we've 28 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: had enough, we're looking for some solutions. So I think 29 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: just shows you know that that people are pretty fed 30 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: up with the situation that they're experiencing at the moment. 31 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,919 Speaker 2: Yes, they are. And what was really positive that people 32 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 2: came with a really positive attitude. The first forum was 33 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: a really a big venting session that didn't occur this time. 34 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: People were really focused on looking at the issues and 35 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,839 Speaker 2: possible solutions, So that was that was really encouraging work ship. 36 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: We actually got quite a lot out of this form 37 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 2: and things to start with. So Stephen, what what. 38 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: Were some of those solutions and some of those ideas 39 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: that they were coming forward with. 40 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: Us. Before I sort of get stayed to that, I'd 41 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 2: just like to say, I think it was pretty really 42 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 2: universally knowledge acknowledge that there's no magic silver bullet that's 43 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 2: going to be solve this. This situation happens in any 44 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: country where there is white culture and an indigenous culture 45 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 2: living side by side. It's across the world and exactly 46 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: the same problems have been experienced everywhere, so it's certainly 47 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: not unique to Darwin or the Northern Territory or Australia. 48 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 2: It's universal problem. But that said, there was the few 49 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 2: main things that came out were a much greater or 50 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: a stronger enforcement of the two kilometer drinking law and 51 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: expansion of the capacity to enforce that. People are asking 52 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 2: for the criminalization aspect of that to be reintroduced, but 53 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: the reality is that our prison system is that capacity. 54 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 2: So just putting into prison I personally don't think is 55 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: a solution. Rehabilitation is the other option. But also but 56 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: likewise those services are a capacity as well. That's right. 57 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: So it's a really really difficult situation. And the other 58 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 2: one was a much strong re enforcement of the responsible 59 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 2: service of alcohol requirements. That's been a bit of a 60 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 2: failure actually right across the the Darwin area. It's an 61 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,160 Speaker 2: area where a lot of improvements could be made. It's 62 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: a big call for the ban of glass bottles. These 63 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 2: are often some of the us as weapons in the 64 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 2: violences we're seeing in the shopping center, car parks in 65 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 2: the public spaces them are taking their kids to the 66 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 2: park and the kids are walking on broken glass. 67 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: And so Stephen wanting to see the ban of the 68 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 1: use of glass bottles, So eye bottle shops no longer 69 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: able to sell anything in glass. 70 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 2: Yes that I don't that won't happen, but maybe some 71 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 2: regulation on the sale of alcohol. And I don't overget 72 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 2: know how to. 73 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, how to make it happen or yeah, how to 74 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: I understand what you're saying. Yeah, it's a difficult one. No, yeah, 75 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: So obviously the stronger two kilometers are drinking law and 76 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: making it, you know, the criminalization of that to to 77 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: be introduced. I know that you have obviously pointed out 78 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: the fact that you know, rehab needs to be an option, 79 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: but unfortunately rehabilitation centers seem very full at the moment 80 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: as well. But a stronger enforcement of laws, you know, 81 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: of not drinking in public places, I guess, and also 82 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: the issue of glass from those bottles, Steve, and I 83 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 1: understand as well that you know, part of that discussion 84 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: is really calling for other communities to come forward and 85 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: you know, band together. I suppose that you know the 86 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: thing that we're talking about here, or that you're talking 87 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: about is is if everybody gets to yeather, the voice 88 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: is certainly louder and much more much clearer for the 89 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: government to hear. If you've got larger numbers. 90 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 2: That's exactly right, and that's what we want to achieve. 91 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 2: But we're only a handful of volunteers. We have absolutely 92 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 2: in their resources. But if other suburbs, like two or 93 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 2: three suburbs join together and form similar groups, and we 94 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 2: get a coalition of reps of all of those groups, 95 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 2: surely that must have some impact on government. Well, she 96 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 2: is the chief minister, but she's also the Minister for 97 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: alcohol policy. Now, not to attend or to send a 98 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 2: rep the message that comes across some that is really disappointing. 99 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: It is, and you know, Steve and I think that 100 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 1: it goes to the heart of what a lot of 101 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: people are feeling at the moment, that they're not being 102 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 1: listened to and that there is no change coming into 103 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: play when it comes to these issues that we're experiencing with, 104 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: you know, with with alcohol and with crime and anti 105 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: social behavior. So when you talk about you know, other 106 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: communities coming together as well, are you I mean, are 107 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: you wanting to see like a public meeting with all 108 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: of those different communities or what do you think needs 109 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: to happen. 110 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: It only takes one person to be a leader. So 111 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: it's just someone willing to take the ball in hand 112 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 2: and so okay, let's get together and talk about which 113 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: is what we did here in Coroma. It's really it's 114 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 2: their choice to do that. Whether we start a bit 115 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:53,679 Speaker 2: of a campaign to advocate that, we'll probably do that. Yeah, 116 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 2: but it's really I don't want to go around to 117 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: every suburban Darwin to say, Okay, we want you to 118 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: set up a community group. They need to. We can 119 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 2: help them do that, but it's up you need someone 120 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: to actually take charge and be the champion for that 121 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 2: community absolutely deal with is. I mean, people have got 122 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: a lot of criticism to make that gets nowhere. You 123 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 2: actually need to take some community action and the community 124 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 2: action is quite powerful. And the other some of the 125 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 2: other overarching issues that came through was that you know, 126 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: we're in an era of reconciliation and working together and 127 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 2: living together, but this behavior is actually fueling racism. People 128 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 2: who weren't racist before are now becoming very, very racist. 129 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: And that's reality, and it's very disappointing, you know, that 130 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: that it's it's becoming that way, because that is the 131 00:08:58,360 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: last thing that anyone wants. 132 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. The other issue is there's an opportunity 133 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 2: to work or there's work being done on lessening the 134 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 2: density of public and social housing RAMA and MALAC and 135 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: there's some new policy work being developed around that. So 136 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 2: that is one of the big factors because people who 137 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 2: visitors from communities, their extended family live in the public 138 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: housing and often these are hot spots for anti social 139 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 2: and alcohol fuel violence. 140 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 1: So lowering the density ye will make a difference. 141 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: Lessen the problem. 142 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, Stephen, that we are going to have to 143 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: wrap things up. I really appreciate you having a chat 144 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: with us this morning. We'll certainly continue this discussion. And 145 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: I think the point that you've made there about you know, 146 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: different obviously, different suburbs, different community areas needing to you know, 147 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: to have their own leader in that area, because like 148 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: you said, you sort of can't do it for other 149 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: other suburbs you know, from from Karama. But it's something 150 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: that's been raised with us on the show. Even yesterday 151 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: we spoke to the grandmother of a young fella who'd 152 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: been the alleged victim of an assault at the Casuarina 153 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: Bus exchange, and she said, you know, Katie, I feel 154 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: like we need to have a public meeting or we 155 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: need to do something, you know, to try and make 156 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: some change in this space because the government it doesn't 157 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: feel like they're listening. And so it is it's you know, 158 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 1: it's I'm hearing it very loudly and clearly. 159 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: Well I went to just quickly, I went like a yeah, 160 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: John Jones had a quick he called. It was very 161 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 2: short notice, but he called a public meeting that the 162 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: problems he was having there with exactly the same issues. Yeah. 163 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 2: I said, I'm here because ironically today I sent out 164 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 2: information about their own public forum on this exact same issue. 165 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 2: And then one of the speakers got up and you know, 166 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 2: we need to there's no voice here for us to 167 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 2: get the message across to government. And I put my 168 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 2: hand up and I said, I am more than willing 169 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 2: to come and help. You come and speak to me. 170 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 2: And I waited for about fifteen minutes after the meeting, 171 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: not one person approached me. I thought, well, okay, you're 172 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 2: not interested, so I'm leaving. So I offered to help, 173 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: but now and talk that opportunity. 174 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 1: Well, I guess you know, well, we'll have a bit 175 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: of a further looking to that. And I suppose that everybody, 176 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 1: you know, I guess people don't really know how to 177 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: make sure that their voices are heard, and you know, 178 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: to be really honest about it, be really blunt about it. 179 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: You know, even for us here on the show, we 180 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: have so many phone calls, so many people contact us 181 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: about this. We raise it as an issue over and 182 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: over and over again, and the government sees all the 183 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: right things and when they're here on the show, but 184 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: then you sort of don't see any action. 185 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 2: That's it. Yeah, all political Retrick, But the reality is 186 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: that the situation is so bad that it can't be 187 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 2: resolved in one fowl swoop. And I really think that 188 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 2: governments don't know what to do, but they're not prepared 189 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,839 Speaker 2: to come and listen to the community either and listen 190 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 2: to what they have to say. 191 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: They do. 192 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 2: They really need to step up, they. 193 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 1: Do, They're going to have to, Steve, And I really 194 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 1: appreciate you speaking with us this morning. Please keep in 195 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 1: contact with us, let us know when there is any progression. 196 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 1: We'd be really keen to stay in contact. 197 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: Thank you. We'll do it. 198 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:40,559 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thanks so much for your time this morning.