1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Joining me on the line right now from Alice Springs. 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: He's the creator of the Action for Alice Page and 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 1: also local business owner Darren Clark. Good morning, Darren, Hey Katie, 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,399 Speaker 1: how are you mate? I'm good. How are you going today? 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: How have things been overnight? 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: Ah, A bit of a relief overnight. Look, there were 7 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 2: still some kids on the on the street last night, 8 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 2: but no no real trouble in the CBD. But look 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: we haven't got all them extra cops yet. They're fine 10 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 2: in this morning, okay, and the parleys are here. So 11 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: the action will, the action on the ground will start today. 12 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 2: Really it will be noticeable. The police Minister contacted me 13 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 2: this morning to ask me how things were overnight. I 14 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 2: went to I've been through the sub three thirty four o'clock. 15 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 2: I didn't see any kids, but then there's a lot 16 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: of recause and I have a lot of photos of 17 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 2: kids in the But look, we've got to give this 18 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 2: a chance. Yeah, we've got to give this a chance. 19 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 2: We've got a bit of respite and that's you know, 20 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 2: you've got to congratulated the law in here. She stepped 21 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: out of her comfort zone here and made a tough call. 22 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 1: Well, she's done something that her predecessors didn't really have 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:09,279 Speaker 1: the guts to do. 24 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 2: Exactly either, called into to her credit, she called into 25 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: my boakery this morning. Now, a lot of people don't 26 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: have the guts to do that. If I've had a 27 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 2: goute with their side. She came in. I sat down 28 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 2: with her. I asked a lot of questions. She gave 29 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: me a lot of answers. Look, this woman, she's a 30 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 2: hard woman. She's a hard woman. She might be the 31 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 2: woman for the job. She might be the woman for 32 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: the job. She actually she actually has done something. Now, 33 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: now look at the other side of politics. Have a 34 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: look at the other side. They were calling for the 35 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 2: parliament to resist. What an absolute joke that is. 36 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: Well, look, I suppose they're calling for some legislative changes, 37 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,639 Speaker 1: and I do think there needs to be some legislative changes. 38 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: But the fact is, like, right now, there needs to 39 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: be that stop gap, doesn't there? 40 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: Oh, there definitely does, Katie. And look, security people were 41 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: reringing in me last night yesterday afternoon. Oh good, we're 42 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: going to get a bit of a break. No, we 43 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 2: need it. Everyone needs our health staff, our police. You know, 44 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 2: if you see these guys running around, it's crazy you know, 45 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 2: the security and the police of a night. 46 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's that's one of the things that sort of 47 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 1: struck me in that vision that you sed earlier in 48 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: the week, and I got to tell you, and you know, 49 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: we spoke about it yesterday on the shows. Some of 50 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: that vision that you sed, like it was absolutely horrifying 51 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: to watch. But one of the things that sort of 52 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: really struck me as well is you know, like seeing 53 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: the police looking so outnumbered. 54 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, later in that night, you know, we couldn't 55 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 2: get any footage, but out in Saturdeen near our Hidden 56 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 2: Valley camp, there was one hundred and fifty people against 57 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 2: twenty cops. They burned a house down, they torched the car. Now, 58 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 2: thank god, the heavens opened up and it pulled down 59 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: the rain. They were heading back into town. And I'm 60 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 2: not exaggerating, Katie, I said it. I was scoring years 61 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: last night. They may well have burnt the town down 62 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 2: Wednesday night. Yeah, look, we've got some respite. Yeah, let's 63 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: have some patience with this. They've made some tough calls. 64 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: They're under the pump, but they've made some tough calls. Yeah, 65 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: And we were calling yesterday for the Feds to step 66 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 2: in the mayor and myself. Okay, but then you've got 67 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: a local COLP member ringing colleagues in Canberra saying, don't 68 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 2: let this happen, don't let this happen. He was more 69 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 2: worried about his job. He was more worried about his 70 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 2: job than the people of Alice Springs and his constituents. 71 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 2: And it's absolutely disgraced Katy, and I will call him out. 72 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: I will call him out. We've got to be better 73 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 2: than that. We will to be better than that. If 74 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: you want to be in a position, an electric position, 75 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: you represent your constituents, tough for them, and you go 76 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: into back for them every day, and you have to. 77 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: I'm quite disappointed with some of our local members down here, yeah, 78 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 2: because my word, over the last four years, they've been 79 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: very quiet on this issue. 80 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: Darren, tell me what is the feeling today from a 81 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: lot of local residents in like in terms of what 82 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: the Chief Minister's announced, because I know for us up 83 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: here in the top end, we're actually quite worried about 84 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: what it's going to mean with the you know, the 85 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: lack of police here, and I know other parts of 86 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: the territory are feeling the same. But we can see 87 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: that there's a need for those police in our springs. 88 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: So how are you guys feeling this morning with the 89 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: extra cops set to arrive and with this stopgap measure 90 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: now in place. 91 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 2: So people were really worried about because it's in the 92 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: area that will be just pushed out for suburbs, which 93 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 2: is often Yeah, but if we were assured that we're 94 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: going to have patrols throughout, because we're going to have 95 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 2: all these extra cops, they're going to patrol the suburbs, 96 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: people are worrying about it. What will be a really 97 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 2: big test on this one, Kadie, is when these young 98 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: guys and girls start stealing to us and they bring 99 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 2: them into the CBD, because it will happen for these 100 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: kids will play the strategic game. They're very, very clever 101 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: and they should never be underestimated. They may just sit 102 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: these fourteen days out. They make us sit it out. 103 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 2: So look, this is the start, But now we need 104 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 2: all these agencies that are getting millions and millions and 105 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 2: millions of dollars down here to actually do their job, 106 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: to go around make sure the kids are safe, get 107 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 2: them off the street, and make sure then our town 108 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 2: is safe because we can't go through this. Our businesses 109 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: in the CBD there aren't. They're just about ruined. They're 110 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 2: just about ruining Katie, and it's very sad. I feel sorry. 111 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,239 Speaker 2: Obviously I watched Darwin closely. I'll watch Katherine and Tenant. Correct, 112 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: we've taken the resources, and I apologize to the people 113 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: of the Northern Territory if we've taken some of your resources. 114 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: But Christ's sake, we needed we needed. 115 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: This, Like honestly, as I said earlier, that vision, it 116 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: was pretty heartbreaking stuff. You know, I've sat in the 117 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: tod Tavern myself, not for a long while, but had 118 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: you know, a Sunday roast in there. And then when 119 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: you like, when you look at what's going on, it's 120 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 1: like it's hard for us here in down I think 121 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: to actually comprehend how bad it's become for you guys 122 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways. 123 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 2: Oh, look when it goes off like that's we had 124 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 2: a rite during the day here, a clan fight during 125 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: the day here a number of months ago. Yeah, you know, 126 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: this one has got a lot of footage and it's 127 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 2: got out there so people have actually seen it and 128 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: we've blown it right up. But these kinds of things 129 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: happen on a regular basis, you know. And that vision 130 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 2: you may have said about sixteen year old getting bastie 131 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 2: ever said that more from the police station virtually underneath 132 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: a city safe camera. You know that girl, That girl 133 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: was getting no help from police, from news services, from 134 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: people monitoring cameras. It's sad and it should never happen 135 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty four in Australia, CA. 136 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I totally agree with you. 137 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 2: We'll fight on. Yeah, everyone's skeptical, but look, even or 138 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 2: must be congratulated on this because she's actually come out 139 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 2: and made a call and probably a call against the 140 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: narrative of a labor government. 141 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: I reckon there's probably members of her own cabinet that 142 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: aren't toefully happy with what she's done, but she's actually 143 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: she has stepped up and she said she's going to 144 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: do things a bit different. Darren. I hope it makes 145 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: a change. I can hear, like, I can hear that 146 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: positivity in your voice that at least something has been announced, 147 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: and I think that's how a lot of people probably 148 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: feel this morning. 149 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, look mate, it's been a tough road and 150 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:11,119 Speaker 2: at times this really it really breaks it really does, 151 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: especially with the stuff I see. There's a lot of 152 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 2: stuff that I can't shave the people. I can't put 153 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 2: it on Facebook. I can't do it, and so I 154 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: get to see a lot of stuff that other people 155 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 2: will never see in their lives. It knocks you around, mate, 156 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 2: It really knocks you around. But you see both sides 157 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 2: of the story. These kids need some help, beautiful younger 158 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: kids that they're trusting people with their futures. They're trusting 159 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 2: people with their futures. As Australians, we need to stand 160 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 2: up and we need to help these kids. We need 161 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 2: to give them a future and we will stop this 162 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 2: cycle of crime and corrective services. We've got to stop it. 163 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 2: We've got to save these kids. Even laws put a 164 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 2: stake in the ground. Now they need to follow through. 165 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: They need to go after these and they need to 166 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 2: make sure that this work is done properly because it's 167 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: important for everyone, because this is personal. Down need to 168 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 2: the people of Alice Springs. Now, property prices have dropped, 169 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 2: people's businesses are failing. It's very very personal. People are 170 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: getting attacked, they're injured, they're anxious. The mental health down 171 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 2: here is horrible. So look, it's only a small start, 172 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 2: but someone had to put the stake in the ground 173 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 2: and fire the flag. She's done that. I think the 174 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 2: public should actually acknowledge that and get behind this. But 175 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: we need to push. And you know your Katie. You 176 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 2: know I'll keep these bustards. I'll keep them accountable and 177 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 2: I'll make sure them I told you that when I 178 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: met with her this morning. You are teks two weeks 179 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 2: away from running out of your honeymoon period either, and 180 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 2: I was going to absolutely attack you online, but I 181 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 2: would you like you for what you've done. Yeah, let's 182 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 2: have a crack and let's go. 183 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: I really hope that is that. It is that bit 184 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:13,680 Speaker 1: of a change that's needed, Darren, Mate, thank you for 185 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: your time this morning. Have a good rest of your day. 186 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: Let us know how things are tracking over the next 187 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. 188 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 2: Mate. 189 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: Here you too, you too, have a lovely east. I 190 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: hope you get a little bit of a bit of time. 191 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 2: Off watch the cake rules mate, or watch your mighty 192 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 2: rooms tomorrow. 193 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: Oh, good on you, good stuff, Good on you, Darren. 194 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for having a chat this morning.