1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:02,679 Speaker 1: There is no doubt that we speak a lot about 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: the issues of crime right around the Northern territory, and 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: I think it's pretty safe to say that things have 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: reached the point where territorians are feeling fed up and 5 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: you're feeling pretty helpless about the whole situation. Now, we 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: know that the opposition leader, the Federal Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, 7 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: is in Alice Springs right now and he joins me 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: on the line. Good morning to you, Peter, Good morning, Katie, 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. Now, Peter, 10 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: we know that you've been to Alice Springs a couple 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: of times already this year to look at what is 12 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: going on in Alice Springs when it comes to crime 13 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: to lawlessness. Yesterday you had said that you feel as 14 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: though it's time that the federal government does step in 15 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: and offer some support. 16 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, we've been meeting with obviously a number of locals, 17 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: of business owners, of just people on the street, just 18 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: to get a proper understanding, get outside of the Canberra 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: bubble and hear the real experiences on the ground. And 20 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 2: it's heartbreaking when you speak to people who love Alice 21 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 2: and love the territory and they're making a decision to 22 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 2: move out of town because they don't feel safe anymore. 23 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: Their businesses have been broken into multiple occasions, their houses ransacked. 24 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 2: It's tough to hear, but you need to be able 25 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 2: to do something about it. And it's clear to me 26 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,839 Speaker 2: that I think this is no slide on the Northern 27 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 2: Territory government. I just think it's beyond their capability and 28 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 2: beyond their resources to deal with what is happening on 29 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: the ground now. I think, as you point out, it's 30 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 2: just descended to such a point that it requires additional resources, 31 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 2: and I think the Australian Federal Police should be brought 32 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 2: in to supplement the work of the Northern Territory Police. 33 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: They work very closely together, and you need to restore 34 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: law and order before the programs can be effective to 35 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 2: divert kids away from their activities of a nighttime to 36 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: try and reduce that crime. But if the rule of 37 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: law is not adhered to and people know, kids know, 38 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,399 Speaker 2: adults know that there's no consequence for their actions, then 39 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: this problem is not going to come to an end. 40 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: And the Chief Minister seems to be this view that 41 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: you know it's in our springs, not dull and so 42 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: what does it matter, or you know, it's out of sight, 43 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 2: out of mind, or pretend that there's nothing going on. 44 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 2: And I just don't think that's good enough. So I 45 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: think it's time for the Prime Minister Franklin to pick 46 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: the phone up and say we need to stop treating 47 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 2: people of our springs like second class citizens and roll 48 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 2: their sleeves up and get this problem sorted out. 49 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: Do you know, I actually reckon it's time that he 50 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: came not only to Alice Springs but up to the 51 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: top end as well, Peter, because while we have incredibly 52 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: serious issues in Alice Springs, we've not been immune to 53 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: it here in Darwin. I'm sure that you've seen the 54 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: reports over recent weeks, the life of young Deckland Lavity 55 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: lost while at work at a bottle shop, reports of 56 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: break ins, people being assaulted. Some of what is happening 57 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: would just not be acceptable. I don't think in any 58 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: other capital city of Australia or any other city of Australia. 59 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 2: I think it's spot on cutting and people. I always 60 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 2: feel it's a great privilege when I come to the 61 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 2: Northern Territory's one of the most beautiful parts of our 62 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 2: country and people have you know, I mean constantly hear 63 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: the stories of you know, I just came up for 64 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,679 Speaker 2: you know, for a short posting, or came here for 65 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks holiday and just fell in love 66 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: with the place and I've stayed, you know, I've been 67 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: here for forty years. I mean, they're common stories, and 68 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: those people are heartbroken because you know, the town, whether 69 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: it's Malice, whether it's dar and wherever it might be, 70 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: you know, they want the best for their community and 71 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 2: they want a safe environment for their kids. And I 72 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: think it's spot on in my hometown of Brisbane, or 73 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: in Sydney or Melbourne or Hobart or Perth, wherever it 74 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 2: might be. I just don't think I just don't think 75 00:03:56,480 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 2: the public would tolerate what's going on here. And one 76 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: business we spoke to this morning, who's saying in his 77 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 2: building been eighteen It's been broken into eighteen times in 78 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: January alone this year. And you know, these are common 79 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: place stories and I think there will be further tragedy. 80 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 2: And the death in Darwin was it was just terrific. 81 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 2: And similarly, back what two years ago now in Alice Springs, 82 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: another similar story of a young man who lost his 83 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: life and will be there will be more loss of 84 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 2: life if we don't act, and if the Chief Minister 85 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 2: just says, well, you know, we've got adequate programs in 86 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 2: place and there are cultural reasons we can't make decisions further, 87 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: people are going to suffer, and the young Indigenous kids 88 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: who have been put back into harm's way again, I 89 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: find it just completely unacceptable and wouldn't be tolerated in 90 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 2: a capital city that somebody who had been abused you 91 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 2: of putting them back into the hands of that perpetrator. 92 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 2: That there would be right there would rightly be outrage, 93 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 2: and I think we're right to shine a light on 94 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: it and fix the problem as best we can as 95 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 2: quickly as we can, instead of pretending that nothing to see. 96 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: And I do want to point out we also, you know, 97 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: we also had the loss of an Aboriginal man in 98 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: Rapid Creek just a week before the loss of young 99 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: Deckland Lavity as well, So that was here in Darwin, 100 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: and no doubt there is going to be you know, 101 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: plenty more information which comes to hand as that goes 102 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 1: through the court process. But Peter, I do also want 103 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 1: to ask, look, we've already got messages coming through on 104 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: the text line saying, is there a possibility here that you, 105 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: as the federal opposition leader, can put in a phone 106 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: call to the Prime Minister on behalf of Territorians and 107 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: actually put the politics aside for a few minutes and go, 108 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: do you know what people are really hurting? They actually 109 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: desperately need some help? 110 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: One hundred percent Cardian to be honest, When I was 111 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 2: up here in October and heard, you know, essentially the 112 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: same stories as we've heard over the last couple of 113 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: days on this trip, I went to see the Prime 114 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 2: Minister personally, and I'm not going to go into private 115 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 2: conversations with him, but I did say to him, look, 116 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 2: and you know, I've got a good relationship with him. 117 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: We you know, we have our differences of opinion on 118 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: different issues. But I said, look, you know we need 119 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: you need to have urgent, an urgent response to what's 120 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 2: happening in the territory. And it wasn't about politics at all. 121 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 2: I said to him in that meeting that we would 122 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 2: support any decision that they took. We had a subsequent 123 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 2: meeting with Linda Bernie, but you know, essentially just sort 124 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,679 Speaker 2: of rattling off the programs that are been funded, and 125 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 2: this is what we're doing already. So it's frustrating, and 126 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 2: I've certainly done that already. I'll do it off the 127 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 2: back of this trip again, and I'd be very happy 128 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: to support any part of my way, any issues that 129 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 2: you know, any funding, any policy changes, any legislation that 130 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 2: was required. I just honestly believe that there is an 131 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: opportunity to turn things around. But pretending that nothing is 132 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: wrong or nothing's happening is you know, it's just not tenable. 133 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 2: So I am very happy to reach to the PM 134 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 2: again that I did that in October. The Prime Minister 135 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: then visited Pallas Springs off the back of that, just 136 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: I mean for a couple of hours, unfortunately, and then 137 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: made the announcement of tenund and fifty million dollars. But 138 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: speaking to a lot of providers here, that money hasn't 139 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: been allocated yet, and I just think the urgency is 140 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 2: here and now it needs to be dealt with. And yes, 141 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 2: you know, the short answer to your question is I'm 142 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 2: very happy to sit down with him again or support 143 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: any decisions the government will make to try and relieve 144 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 2: the pressure. 145 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: I think that that is something that you know that 146 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: Territorians really want at this point in time. I'm right 147 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: from Central Australia all the way up to here in 148 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: Darwin and the likes of Catherine. We've got serious issues 149 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: when it comes to the misuse of alcohol, incredibly serious 150 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: issues with youth crime, incredibly serious issues with crime in general, 151 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: and people are really feeling that they're at the point 152 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: where they sort of want those political, you know, political 153 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: sort of discussions to be put to the side and 154 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: they just want some action. They just want to feel 155 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: safe in their own home. We spoke to the mayor 156 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: of Alice Springs a little bit earlier this morning and 157 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: I said to him, you know, Matt, if there was 158 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: one thing that you could say to the Prime Minister 159 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: right now, what would it be. And he said, Katie, 160 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: we just need help and we just want to feel 161 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: safe in our own homes. 162 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 2: Makes you want to cry, Well, it doesn't. And many 163 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 2: people are the emotion that we saw yesterday from people 164 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 2: who are just you know, frankly that which end their 165 00:08:54,360 --> 00:09:00,439 Speaker 2: businesses and their collapse. They're living with the out over 166 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 2: their head. The whole time of the hou is going 167 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: to be broaken into I just think the psychological weight 168 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: of that is a lot to bear, and you're right. 169 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 2: I mean there's just a level of frustration when you've 170 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 2: put the politics aside, you've had those discussions, it's obvious 171 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 2: what needs to happen, and there's a refusal to act. 172 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 2: What's the next step? And at the moment, I don't 173 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 2: understand why, given all that we know and all that 174 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 2: you just outlined in terms of the reality of life 175 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 2: on the ground at the moment, why the Chief Miness 176 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 2: is not acting, or why the Prime Minister's a you know, 177 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 2: not seeing it as a first order priority. It's not 178 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 2: a political statement to say that, it's just I think 179 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 2: it's a reasonable question. If there's a reason that they 180 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: don't want to act, or that there are other priorities, 181 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: will explain that. But I think it's obvious at the 182 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: moment that when you lose control of the law and 183 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 2: order situation, when police just don't have the resources to 184 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 2: turn up to and edits, when people are self imposing 185 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 2: a curfew, which a number of residents raised with is yesterday, 186 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 2: they're just not going out of a nighttime. They won't 187 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 2: allow their elderly mother to go to the shops even 188 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 2: during the daylight hours unless they accompany them. It's a 189 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 2: terrible situation and it wouldn't be tolerated in the Prime 190 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 2: Minister's home city of Sydney, that's for sure. 191 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: Peter Dutton, I do want to ask, we've got messages 192 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: coming through on the tech sign. There is some people 193 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: messaging through saying you were obviously a cabinet minister as 194 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:38,959 Speaker 1: recent as ten months ago at times holding the AFP 195 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: portfolio and then Defense, so you could have deployed resources 196 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: back sort of last year when we were first having. 197 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:51,559 Speaker 2: Issues well and in terms of what we did eighty 198 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 2: million dollars for the Australian Center to Counter Child Exploitation 199 00:10:55,559 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 2: exactly in mind the desire to stop kids being sexually 200 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 2: abused and provide that protection. I think there are over 201 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: five hundred children now close to a thousand. I think 202 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: the most recent number is of kids who were helped 203 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 2: by the Federal Police are working with their state and 204 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 2: territory colleagues and international partners as well. There's obviously, on 205 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 2: both sides of Parliament an enormous amount of money that 206 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 2: has been given to services and programs, and I think 207 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 2: that the point is valid that this hasn't happened overnight. 208 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,079 Speaker 2: But the question is what the government's doing about it now. 209 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 2: It's deteriorated to a point that you know, I don't 210 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 2: think anyone is suggesting that it was better. It's better 211 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 2: today than it was two years ago. I think it's 212 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 2: deteriorated significantly and the Chief Minister in the end has 213 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 2: the responsibility. And as I said in my earlier remarks, 214 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 2: I think it's beyond whether you had a c orp 215 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: government here at the moment or a labor government. I 216 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 2: don't think it would matter. I think that the situation 217 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 2: is so dim that the Chief Minister of the day 218 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 2: needs to ask for help. And I don't know whether 219 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 2: it's a pride thing or what the reluctance is at 220 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:12,199 Speaker 2: the moment, but that the response needs to be forthcoming 221 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 2: and we would all support that. 222 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 1: Peter. Before I let you go, I do want to 223 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: ask the question, are you using Alice Springs as a 224 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: tool to support your opposition to the Voice? No? 225 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:27,719 Speaker 2: I mean a couple of points. So one is that 226 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: we know in terms of the Voice, would like the detail. 227 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,599 Speaker 2: Like every other Australian at the moment, I think there's 228 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 2: a lot that needs to be responded to and a 229 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 2: lot of people have got very reasonable questions that the 230 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: Prime Minister's refusing to answer. The proposal at the moment 231 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:50,319 Speaker 2: is that people will vote in October and that if 232 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 2: the Voice is successful, there will be a six month 233 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 2: consultation period to design what the Voice looks like. And 234 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 2: I can't understand that process. I think you design what 235 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 2: it is you're asking people to vote for, and then 236 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 2: people can do that in an informed way. I think 237 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 2: it's you know, it's a tragedy that we don't have 238 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 2: a constitutional convention, which has been the precedent in years 239 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: past where we've had constitutional change. And I think every 240 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 2: Australian realizes that one of the reasons where such a 241 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 2: stable democracy. Why, you know, even if we've got gripes 242 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 2: about different government decisions or we should be doing this 243 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 2: or shouldn't be doing that, we live in the best 244 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 2: country in the world. And part of the reason for that, 245 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 2: A big part of the reason for that is the constitution. 246 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 2: And if you're proposing to change it, it needs to 247 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 2: be for a very good reason. And at the moment 248 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 2: we're not getting any of that detail. The Voice won't 249 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 2: be just dealing with issues that affect indigenous Australians. As 250 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 2: Mergan Davis has pointed out, the chair of the referendum 251 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 2: group appointed by the Prime Minister, the Voice is going 252 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 2: to have a say and make representations to the Reserve Bank, 253 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,040 Speaker 2: to the Defense Department and every element of government decision making, 254 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 2: and we need to think very carefully about whether that 255 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 2: is going to improve our system of government or not. 256 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 2: I don't believe it will, and that's why I believe 257 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 2: that people should know. In relation to the situation in 258 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 2: Alice Springs, well, I was ten years as a police officer. 259 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: It breaks my heart to see young kids in that situation. 260 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 2: I've taken statements from young girls who've been raped and 261 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 2: sexually assaulted. I've taken people through the courts. I believe 262 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: that every Australian should be treated equally and that every 263 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 2: child should have the innocence of their childhood. I believe 264 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 2: that people who work hard and their businesses should be 265 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 2: rewarded for their effort, and that people should live safely 266 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 2: in their community. And that's why I'm standing up for 267 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 2: people of Alice Springs and across the territory, including Darwin, 268 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: and I want to see a better situation because it's 269 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 2: a beautiful part of the world. It deserves the support 270 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 2: of the government. And that's not a political statement or 271 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: political positioning. It's about doing the right thing by people 272 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 2: who are Australian citizens. I'll never apologize. Will resolve from that. 273 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: Well, Peter Dutton, the federal Opposition leader, we really appreciate 274 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: your time this morning. And you know, as I said earlier, 275 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: and I think I speak for a lot of Territorians 276 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: right now, we do need help when it comes to 277 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 1: the issues that we're experiencing with crime. I don't know 278 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: exactly what the answers are, but I know that there 279 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: is a real sense within the community right now, locally 280 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: and also federally that that they want those you know, 281 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: those political boundaries pushed to the side for a bit 282 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 1: and they just want this issue sorted so that they 283 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: can feel safe in their homes. 284 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 2: Well, I agree with them one hundred percent. Katy, thanks 285 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 2: for having me on the show. 286 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: Thank you. We appreciate your time.