1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Katie Wolf covering the issues that affect you every day 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: and only on Mixed one oh four point nine. You 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,039 Speaker 1: are listening to Mix one oh four nine's three sixty. 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: It is twenty three minutes away from ten o'clock. Coming 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: your way. Just before ten o'clock this morning, we are 6 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: going to be speaking to the Lord Mayor of Darwin. 7 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: Combat Scarlets will join us in the studio. But joining 8 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: me in the studio right now is the president of 9 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Police Association, Nathan Finn. 10 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 2: Good morning to you. 11 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners. 12 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: Finny, thanks so much for your time this morning. I 13 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: first want to ask you the Northern Territories Independent Commissioner 14 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: against Corruption, it is being reported by the Australian newspaper, 15 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: has seized computers from the top ends most deleite police 16 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: unit as it probes racism allegations from former Alice Springs 17 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: police officer Zachary Rolf. He made those allegations as we 18 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: know throughout the Coronial inquest. The Northern Territory Governments confirmed 19 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: its Tactical Response Group is being investigated by the IKAK 20 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: over shocking claims that its officers had an in house 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: award known as the Sea of the Year. 22 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: Now there has also been. 23 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: That suppression order was lifted in three documents, well purportedly 24 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: these in house awards were shown. 25 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 2: And released to the media. 26 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: Finny, what has been your reaction to seeing those documents? 27 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 3: Why? 28 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 4: Actually, obviously my reaction to that is obviously been shocked 29 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 4: and obviously upsetting for a number of our people in 30 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 4: our workforce as well. As much as I'd love to 31 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 4: comment further on it, obviously there is an investigation being 32 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 4: done by IKAK and also obviously police professional standards come 33 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 4: out with internally, so I'd not like to comment too 34 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,559 Speaker 4: much on that, but obviously we're here to support our members. 35 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 4: Obviously this is upsetting for a number of members of 36 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 4: their organization that this sort of behavior is out there. 37 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 4: It's definitely not accepted, It's not going. 38 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 3: To be tolerated. 39 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: I mean, what did you think like when you saw 40 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: those certificates. 41 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 4: I was shocked. Give given the statements that were given 42 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 4: to the Coronial etc. That this wasn't obviously taking place, 43 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 4: were quite shocked and a lot of members of the 44 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 4: organization are quite shocked. 45 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 3: At a point where our members are struggling as it is. 46 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 4: We don't need this sort of behavior, and we don't 47 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 4: need to sort to have this in the media and 48 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 4: played out. We need to support our members. We know 49 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 4: our members are struggling on the front line with our 50 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 4: resourcing and everything else. We need to make sure that 51 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 4: we're supporting our members as well. 52 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: Well. All the while, we know in places like Alice 53 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: Springs we're suffering serious crime issues over the weekend, as 54 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: I understand that there had to be additional police officers 55 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: surge to Alice Springs. 56 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: How many are we talking? 57 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,239 Speaker 4: So there was no additional police officers searched Olla Springs 58 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 4: on the weekend. They still are currently in train of 59 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 4: going down there. 60 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 2: Okay, so they're not actually there. 61 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 4: They're actually there. They were doing the logistics for it yesterday. 62 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 4: Most of them are coming from the top end and 63 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 4: obviously Darwin area in relation to a search capacity down there. 64 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 4: This is ongoing and this is something we raised obviously 65 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 4: with the palies being removed to the transition course, there's 66 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 4: only two operational palies and Olie Springs to obviously maintain 67 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 4: this pally duties, and we're actually taking frontline police officers 68 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 4: off the front line to respond to your crimes that 69 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 4: you've been in Alice Springs to do these bottle. 70 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 3: Shop to tenants. 71 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: We're so hang on a six. So we're going to 72 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: have twenty officers taken out of Darwin or they're being 73 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: taken out of Darwin. 74 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 2: And sent to Alice Springs. 75 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 3: That is correct. 76 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: Twenty operational police officers that are currently working on crime 77 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: in Darwin, that is correct. 78 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 2: What impact is that going to have? 79 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 4: That's going to have a huge flow on effects, So 80 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 4: they won't have opportunities to do their own investigations, do 81 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 4: their own work obviously what they're employed for to do 82 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 4: up here, to make sure the community is. 83 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 3: Safe up here. 84 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 2: I mean, are their general duties officers or what areas? 85 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 2: Do you know? 86 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 3: They're a mixture of crime officers. 87 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 4: So again obviously serious crimes are going to be obviously 88 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 4: not investigated for a little bit for these members that 89 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 4: are going down there, their traffic operations, police officers, their 90 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 4: Territory Support division staff. But again, so totaling, I think 91 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 4: there was nineteen yesterday that they were talking about. They 92 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 4: still haven't arrived as far as I'm aware in Dallas Springs, 93 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 4: but they will be having next couple of days. 94 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: Anny, how tough are things in Alice Springs at this 95 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: point in time for those officers from up here in 96 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: the top end where we feel as though we're experiencing 97 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: a lot of crime. 98 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: I'm right now not just experiencing it. 99 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 4: We are, kad, yeah, we are, we are, and our 100 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 4: members know that our members are struggling to keep up 101 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 4: with demand here and darn but again in our springs 102 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 4: when you've got we had fourteen extra police officers arrive 103 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 4: in Ola Springs, but that doesn't equate for the twenty 104 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 4: two was still down from when the Prime Minister made 105 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 4: the announcement in Alice Springs in January last year that 106 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 4: we needed thirty extra police officer from there. 107 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 3: We're still twenty two down. 108 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 2: Bloody hell. 109 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: Now, then you look at those palis being taken off 110 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: the bottle shops and they're going into those constable courses. Now, 111 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Government, the Police Minister, I'm sure you 112 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: heard him on the show yesterday saying you know that's 113 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: going to mean that we've got additional police. But what 114 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: it also means is that we've got a lack of 115 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: police and or a lack of those palis on the 116 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: bottle shops. You've got the likes of the Central Australian 117 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: Aboriginal Congress coming out yesterday saying this is having a 118 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: big impact. Marion Scrimdaw, the Federal member for Lingiari, saying, 119 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: you know, please explain. 120 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 4: Basically, we have asked exactly the same questions weeks and 121 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 4: weeks ago about what they're actually going to put into 122 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 4: place where the Palei operations Ola Springs. We're now Alcohol 123 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 4: is the biggestumber one issue in Alice Springs and it 124 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 4: leads to obviously the dysfunction of the community, the violence 125 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 4: that occurs in the community, and to remove these people 126 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 4: from the positions of palis and not have all these 127 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 4: licensed premises maintained in Alice Springs, it's just going to 128 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 4: cause a flow on effect to our policing. We've seen 129 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 4: triple zero calls not being answered on the weekend. We've 130 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 4: seen issues at Unimu over the weekend. 131 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 3: Again. 132 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 4: When are we going to actually put the power back 133 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 4: into police and give police the powers to actually deal 134 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 4: with these people instead of arresting them, getting before bail 135 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 4: and repeating the cycle over and over again. 136 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 3: There's no programs in place. 137 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 4: The government's come to make a knee jerk reaction now 138 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 4: about community corrections and putting them back to the community 139 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 4: that they're not wanted in the community. That's why they're 140 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 4: in these towns for a start. The elders in these 141 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 4: communities do not want these people in their communities. 142 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 3: But we're going to send them. 143 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 4: Back to these communities, which obviously it needs to happen, 144 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 4: something needs to happen, something needs to change. 145 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 3: But is this the right answer and why now? 146 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, a lot of people are quite worried that 147 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 1: come March twenty five when these changes do come into 148 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: play with the community corrections orders, so you know what 149 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: it's going to essentially mean, as we've just spoken about 150 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: with your position later. 151 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 4: What is the government rushing this through now when they've 152 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 4: changed the minimage of criminal responsibility. There's no programs in place. 153 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 4: All we're doing is repeating the cycle and the mirrygo 154 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 4: goes around the surface continues with this government, with the 155 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 4: inadequate policies that they're putting in place for the to 156 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 4: deal with these use. 157 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 2: That's how people feel. So that's what the use. But 158 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: then now even with the adults. 159 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: And with these community corrections orders or these changes that 160 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 1: come in on on March twenty five, So it's basically 161 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: changes to mandatory sentencing reforms for result domestic violence, breaches, 162 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,239 Speaker 1: and drug offenses are expected to take effect. 163 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 2: So essentially, they've promised that it's going. 164 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: To deliver in community rehabilitation programs, but a lot of 165 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: people questioning if those programs are up and ready to go. 166 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 4: They're not ready to go. We haven't been briefed on it. 167 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 4: We haven't got any information about any of these programs. 168 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 4: Our police officer are lift in the dark. The only 169 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 4: thing I can. They've got overwhelming prison population which they're 170 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 4: trying to manage, which they're not successfully managing. We've seen 171 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 4: last night that was fifty one prisoners we had in 172 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 4: Alice Springs watch House alone with three of our staff 173 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 4: trying to manage that situation as well. After the previous 174 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 4: week when they tried to escape out of custody, they 175 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 4: forced past the corrections office. In there, correction stuff can't 176 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 4: be there twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. 177 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 4: We're locking these people up in small cells with no 178 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 4: room for exercise, no room for nothing. Don't get me wrong, 179 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 4: they deserve to be that. They've obviously committed crimes there've 180 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 4: been sentenced for those crimes or on remand for those crimes. 181 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 4: But again, what sort of conditions were creating a dangerous 182 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 4: situation for our staff to look after these prisoners because 183 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 4: the government's failure to obviously adequately give corrections the beds 184 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 4: that they need to Obviously, how's the prisons that we're 185 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 4: locking out, Finny, I will. 186 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: Talk more about those watch houses in just to seek 187 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: but on those community corrections changes or you know, the 188 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: mandatory sentencing and with those in community programs that are 189 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: meant to be delivered, are you concerned that it's going 190 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: to potential see violent offenders on the straight? 191 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 4: Definitely, and definitely that's a concern for us, and putting 192 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 4: them back into a remote community where there's no adequate supervision. 193 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 4: How are we going to get staff to manage these programs. 194 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 4: It's hard enough to get police, it's hard enough to 195 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 4: get nurses, it's hard to get doctors in these remote communities, 196 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 4: let alone getting experienced alcohol and other drug obviously education providers. 197 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 4: We struggle to get them here in Darwin and Alice 198 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 4: Springs and our major centers. How are we going to 199 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 4: get these people to these remote communities? To run these programs. 200 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: Well, look, I've put in a request to speak to 201 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: the Attorney General, Chancey Paik either tomorrow morning or on 202 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: Thursday morning, so hopefully we're able to get some of 203 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: those questions answered and find out where these programs are at, 204 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: because you know, I think what the government's got at 205 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: this point in time is a real lack of trust 206 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: from the community following on from the raising of the 207 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 1: criminal age and being told that there'd be programs in place, 208 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,319 Speaker 1: but then people not feeling like those programs are in place. 209 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 4: What have they done for the community to actually trust them, Katie, 210 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 4: And we see these constant scandals going on, We see 211 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 4: the constant criticism, We see the constant support for bad behavior. 212 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 4: If we're accepting bad behavior at this level in the 213 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 4: minister as Minister's office, we're going to accept it from 214 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 4: anyone across the community. Okay, there needs to be a 215 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 4: stand taken place, and this government needs to take a 216 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 4: real good stand and have a good legascley framework about 217 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 4: what they're going to do and how they're going to 218 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 4: manage this crime's out of control. We know that our 219 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 4: jails are full again, We'll make it community corrections in 220 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 4: order to put them out of the jail and we'll 221 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 4: put them into the community. 222 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 3: That's not an option. 223 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 4: Okay, build the prison, we will fill it, keep building 224 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 4: them as big as we possibly can, and we'll deal 225 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 4: with it. Give us the powers to deal with it, 226 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 4: and we'll make sure we manage this. 227 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: Finny, tell me with these you know, with the watch 228 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: houses at this point in time. Yesterday we'll joined on 229 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: the show again. As I'm sure you heard by the 230 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: Police Minister Brent Potter, he made it sound as though 231 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: there's going to be an announcement at some point this 232 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: week about you know about or around corrections and around 233 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: the prisons and that those watch houses would be back 234 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: available to our Northern Territory police by mid year. 235 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 2: What do you make of that. 236 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,079 Speaker 3: Mid year mediyear? What ye is it going to be 237 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 3: this year? Is it going to be next year? Is 238 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 3: it going to be the year after? Because currently we've 239 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 3: been arguing this for. 240 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 4: The whole time. We've haven't had Dawn Watchhouse for over 241 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 4: twelve months. We've currently got Alie Springs. We had fifty 242 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 4: one prisoners from corrections in there last night. We had 243 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 4: no correction staff to monitor those presents. 244 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: Fifty one prisoners last night. 245 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 4: Extra the above the prisoners that we had. We've written 246 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 4: to the chief ministers, We've written to the Attorney General, 247 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 4: We've written to the Police Minister relation to this about 248 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 4: the dangerous situation that's causing for our members. Unfortunately, we 249 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 4: had an escape last year last week and Alice Springs, 250 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 4: they pushed past the corrections offices. They were the three 251 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 4: offenders from a very obviously violent home invasion on an 252 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 4: elderly cup with Alice Springs. Yep, we're lucky we recapture them, 253 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 4: but again it created more work for police and more 254 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 4: work we had to drop and deal with that and 255 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 4: trying to locate the cops. 256 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 1: Do you reckon of being used at this point in 257 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: those watchhouse facilities or in those facilities rather than them 258 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: being used out on the street doing their actual jobs. 259 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 4: The problem CAATD We've got a dangerous situation where we've 260 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 4: got our three staff managing all these prisoners. 261 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 2: Three staff free. 262 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 4: Staff where they've been trying to get over time to 263 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 4: support the watchhouse function for us. We can't get the 264 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 4: staff because our staff are totally overwhelmed and burnt out 265 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 4: and dealing with the low crime. 266 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: Three staff at the Alice Springs Watchhouse. 267 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 2: That's correct kay for more than fifty one prisoners. 268 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 3: There'd be more than fifty one. 269 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 4: That's just the prisoners for corrections Katie Wow on top 270 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 4: of their own prisoners that we've got. It creates a 271 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 4: dangerous situation which the government knows about. We've written to them, 272 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 4: they still haven't done anything about. And to say we'll 273 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 4: get to it middle of the year. What middle of 274 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 4: the witch here, it's an absolute joke and it's putting 275 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 4: our staff in a dangerous situation. Alice Springs and more. 276 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,439 Speaker 4: It's taking more police off the front line to fill 277 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 4: these vacancies because we've got shortages. 278 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 2: Nathan Finn just really quickly this morning. 279 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,079 Speaker 1: We understand that this review, obviously this police review being 280 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: conducted by Vince Kelly, it is well and truly underway. 281 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: The word on the street is that there's an interim 282 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: review that has already been released. 283 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 2: Have you seen that. 284 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 4: No, The interim report was released to the Police Executive 285 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 4: at the end of January. We've asked for copies of 286 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 4: that interim report and draft recommendation from that review. We've 287 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 4: been denied a number of times. We've actually written to 288 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 4: the Minister in the last few days and ask for 289 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 4: the prior release of the official report to be released 290 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 4: to us. He's at least forty eight hours prior to 291 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 4: being released to the public. He's refused that as well, 292 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:13,679 Speaker 4: and not give us the timeframe and when that's going 293 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 4: to be. We're the ones arguing for this report. This 294 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 4: is the report that is going to affect our members 295 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 4: in the long term. This is a report that's going 296 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 4: to establish what we need as a police for us 297 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 4: to go forward. And when we represent ninety eight percent 298 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,599 Speaker 4: of their members, it shows that their total lack of 299 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 4: consultation with us and total lack of care for our 300 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 4: members about what's going to happen in the future. We 301 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 4: need to prepare for what's coming out. We know we're 302 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 4: short staff, we know we're under resourced, but again they 303 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 4: can't have the ability to show us the draft recommendations 304 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 4: is coming out. It's only through discussions with the executive 305 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 4: the Northern Terrichy Police Force we get some sort of idea. Okay, 306 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 4: they've got their job to do, but we've got a 307 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 4: job to protect our members and make sure that our 308 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 4: members are working in titlements and entitlements are protected, and 309 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 4: also make sure that they've got enough staff to do 310 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 4: what they need to do. And we all know that 311 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 4: the answer is that we haven't got enough staff. We've 312 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 4: never had enough stuff for a number of years. When 313 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,719 Speaker 4: you've added seven en constables to our establishment over the 314 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 4: last ten years and our crime rates have gone up 315 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 4: two hundred percent since that time, how do you think 316 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 4: we're going to manage how do you think we're while 317 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 4: we're in a situation at the moment where we can't 318 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 4: police and do our job that we. 319 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 3: Want to do. 320 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 1: Nathan Finn, there is no doubt we'll talk to you 321 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 1: again in the coming days. I always appreciate your time. 322 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for joining us this morning. 323 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 4: And thank you Katie, and obviously thank you to the 324 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 4: guys and girls out there in blue. You do an 325 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 4: amazing job and we're obviously here to support you and 326 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 4: make sure that you feel supported by this government and 327 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 4: make sure that they're making the policies actually support you 328 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 4: and make sure that you're looked after in that workplace. 329 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 2: Finny, thanks so much for your time today. 330 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 3: Thanks Courtie. 331 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 2: It is just ten minutes away from ten o'clock.