1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: I mentioned a little bit earlier this morning that the 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: Northern Territory Police are continuing to seek information regarding an 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: assault that occurred between midnight and the early hours of 4 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: Thursday last week in Alice Springs. Now, this horrendous assault 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: saw a situation where one of our emergency service workers, 6 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: a paramedic, as I understand it, was approached by an 7 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: unknown man. 8 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: As she exited her vehicle. 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: The offender allegedly kicked her, causing injuries to her face. Now, 10 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: despite the assault, the victim was able to break free 11 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: and seek medical treatment. 12 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 2: At the hospital. 13 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: The director of MT Ambulance Services here in the Northern Territory, 14 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 1: Andrew Thomas, joins me on the line right now. Good 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: morning to you, Andrew. 16 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 3: Good morning Catie. 17 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: Now, look, this assault last week was nothing short of horrific. 18 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: First off, how is that paramedic going, yeah. 19 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: Look, yeah, as you said, it's a horrendous event. And 20 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 3: where else? And unfortunately we're seeing too many of these 21 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 3: events and assaults on our paramedics. I went down to 22 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 3: l Springs late last week and I caught up with 23 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 3: the officer involved down there and she was in hospital 24 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 3: overnight on the night of the incident. And she's very shaken. 25 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 3: She's going to be off work for quite some time. 26 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 3: She's got some serious injuries that are going to need 27 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 3: time for healing. And that's just the physical ones, let alone, 28 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 3: uh you know, the psychological impact that had on her. 29 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 3: But she's you know, she's a very strong person and 30 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 3: she's a very valuable member of our team and you know, 31 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 3: the Elie Springs team particularly, but then the widest and 32 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 3: John family is that are very much wrapping themselves around 33 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 3: her with support and so we're you know, come following 34 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 3: up with that, both her and the wider widest half involved. 35 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:01,639 Speaker 2: Andrew. 36 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: I don't want to breach her privacy in any way, 37 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: shape or form, but are you able to provide any 38 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 1: detail in terms of the injuries that she has sustained? 39 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 3: Ah, Look, she's got she's got you fractures, and she's 40 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 3: got you know, you know, some serious sort of facial 41 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 3: injuries that she's you know, obviously dealing with. And I 42 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 3: think you know that the you know, with such a 43 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 3: horrendous assault, you know, unprovoked by a person who you know, 44 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 3: she'd taken a work vehicle home because she'd been at 45 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,399 Speaker 3: shift and was going to be available on call from 46 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,839 Speaker 3: home to you know, support the Alice Springs staff over 47 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 3: that night, you know, obviously just for that all to 48 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 3: happen as she got out, and you know, she was 49 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 3: fortunate that she had her radio on, so she her 50 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 3: jurist button on the radio and that puts her opens 51 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 3: up the mic for fifteen seconds and that you know, 52 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 3: obviously staff across the territory that night sort of heard 53 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 3: all of the incident going on and her being attacked 54 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 3: because obviously the microphone was over there. But she you know, 55 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 3: managed to fight the person off and eventually was able 56 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 3: to get in the car and get herself through the 57 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 3: hospital for safety and then obviously for the following up treatment. 58 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 1: Oh my god, So Andy, she's had the foresight to turn. 59 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 2: That radio on so that so that. 60 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: Somebody could help her and literally all of her work 61 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: colleagues have heard then that horrendous assault happening. 62 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 3: Yeah. So as part of our protection or the way 63 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 3: to support staff is all of our radios have a 64 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:45,119 Speaker 3: jurist feature, which means that they are, you know, under 65 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 3: attack or anything, they can hit the button and that 66 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 3: will actually means that they can get messages across and 67 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 3: for support. And we have a whole process that flows 68 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 3: behind that. So, you know, unfortunately, as I said, we've 69 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 3: seen over one hundred and forty serious physical and sexual 70 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 3: assaults on our staff across the territory in the last 71 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 3: four months. And it's just, you know, these are just 72 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 3: and that these are not you know what I'd probably 73 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: probably say the lower level sort of things, which is 74 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 3: threats and accusations and stuff. So it's it's just continuing. 75 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 3: You know, We're we're trying to do everything we can. 76 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 3: We've been getting the message out long and hard about 77 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 3: giving ambos both to treat and that sort of stuff, 78 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 3: and then unfortunately, we continue to see these things happening 79 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,679 Speaker 3: against ambulance and other frontline workers. 80 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: You know, I thank goodness though that she did have 81 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: that training and that she was able to do all 82 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 1: of those things and you know, able to to get 83 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: the help needed. Look, I'm I'm absolutely mind blown by 84 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: what happened to her for all the wrong reasons. I 85 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 1: cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like 86 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: to go to work, you know, are out there helping people, 87 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: then you've gone home and you're set upon in such 88 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: a violent and horrendous way. 89 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:10,239 Speaker 2: It blows my mind. 90 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: I mean, I know that the Northern Territory government, the 91 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: new incoming government, have announced a number of changes when 92 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: it comes to those who do assault frontline workers and 93 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 1: the minimum mandatory sentencing. 94 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: Do you think that's going. 95 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 3: To help, look Cartie, I don't know, you know, I mean, 96 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 3: as I said, for the five years that I've been 97 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 3: up here, we've been we've had a campaign going around 98 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 3: the safety of our staff. We've had there's been changes 99 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 3: to laws. Unfortunately, it feels like at times the messages 100 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,719 Speaker 3: and getting to the right people. And we know that, 101 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 3: you know, we do know that emotions run high, particularly 102 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 3: when people are either in pain or agitated or you know, 103 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 3: when there's a medical emergency going on. You know, we 104 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 3: know that these things sort of happen, and particularly the 105 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 3: number of the people that we go to that may 106 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 3: be affected by drugs or alcohol and it may impair 107 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 3: their you know, their decision making. But that's still no 108 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 3: excuse and unfortunately, you know, we need to we need 109 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 3: support from the public, We need support from you know, 110 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 3: people to make right choices and obviously allow our staff 111 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 3: to do their job and do it without fear for themselves. 112 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, well mate, speaking of doing their jobs, it looks 113 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: as though it's been a busy weekend as always. I know, 114 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: on Friday in Catherine, a twenty one year old male 115 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: was struck by a vehicle. 116 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, unfortunately, you know, late in the evening there, someone's 117 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 3: been unfortunately hit by a vehicle and our crews attended 118 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 3: and they've treated the person and they've trut and spilt 119 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 3: them through the Cathern Hospital, you know, with sort of 120 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 3: some serious injuries, but you know they're stable and I'm 121 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 3: sure that the person will mak a good recovery there 122 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 3: from that incident there in Catherine. 123 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: On Saturday. 124 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: Then also in Catherine, an eighteen year old male a 125 00:06:58,120 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: lot of motorbike collided with a car. 126 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and unfortunately we know that, you know obviously, you 127 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 3: know for our motorbike riders out there, and you know, 128 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 3: there is a less protection on a motorbike when they're 129 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 3: coming off either at speed or they're colliding with objects. 130 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 3: And you know, the person there was again taken through 131 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 3: the hospital stable condition, and you know they're wearing a helmet, 132 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 3: which is great and really good to see that. The 133 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 3: message around protective gear is definitely sort of getting out. 134 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 3: They're for our motorbike riders. To make sure that they 135 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 3: are having the right gear to protect them and yeah, 136 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 3: hopefully who should be you know that sort of gear 137 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 3: is protecting people from more serious injuries. 138 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, well that is good. 139 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: It is good to hear that people are doing that. 140 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 3: Hey. 141 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: On at about six thirty on Saturday, a ten year 142 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: old boy lost control of his pushbike. He was traveling 143 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: down hill by the look of it, and became stuck 144 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: in a fence. 145 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, sort of a bit of an interesting one there, 146 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 3: I think from what I've from what I've read is 147 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 3: I think that you know, either the butt breaks failed 148 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 3: or but he's come down there and he's hit a 149 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 3: fence and then being stuck in the fence. And so 150 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 3: the fire Service responded with our paramedics and they've treated 151 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 3: him while being waiting for the fire Service to extricate 152 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 3: him from the fence. So he did sustain some head 153 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 3: injuries unfortunately, didn't have a helmet on I believe, and 154 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 3: was transported through the Royal Dahen Hospital and we hope 155 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 3: he obviously makes a full recovery. 156 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, hopefully he's going to be okay. 157 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: Hey. On Sunday as well, in Karama, about four o'clock 158 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: in the morning, a twenty seven year old was treated 159 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: at the scene for minor injuries after his vehicle collided 160 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: with a light pole. 161 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, so that vehicle there obviously hit a light pole, 162 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 3: and the crews there got there and fortunately, I think, 163 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,319 Speaker 3: you know, seat belts and some of the vehicle protections 164 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 3: quitment systems obviously prevented her their injury. So just sort 165 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 3: of some minor injuries there. But you know, obviously, you know, 166 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 3: for young males across the territory, a number of incidents 167 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 3: that we went to over the weekend and keeping our 168 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 3: amazing cruise busy as always. 169 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: Well, Andrew Thomas, it's always good to speak with you. 170 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very 171 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: much for having a chat with us. And please pass 172 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,839 Speaker 1: on our will wishes to the paramedic that was assaulted 173 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs last week. I know that, you know, 174 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: you guys are having to deal with this kind of 175 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: terrible behavior way more often than you should be. But 176 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: to hear some of those details of what she's then 177 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: had to deal with, yeah, look, I really hope that 178 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: she's okay. 179 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, I'll definitely pass on those well wishes and 180 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 3: you know, I will say that the support that you 181 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 3: know our staff have received and the comments you know 182 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 3: does make and make it realize that you know, obviously 183 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 3: they are well supported from the public across the Northern Territory, 184 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 3: so definitely pass them on. 185 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, thank you, Thanks Mate. Always good to 186 00:09:58,160 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: catch up with you. I appreciate it.