1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,760 Speaker 1: We know that the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Northern Territory, as well as the Northern Australia Aboriginal Justice 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: Agency NAJA and the Aboriginal Housing NT are calling on 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory government to immediately shelf this legislation that 5 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: could allow takeaway alcohol into more than four hundred and 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: thirty community living areas, town camps and other small communities 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: from mid July. Now, these communities, as you may or 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: may not be aware, they became alcohol protected areas under 9 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: the two thousand and seven Federal Intervention and this obviously 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: continued under Federal Labour's Stronger Futures legislation. The alcohol related 11 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: Stronger Futures Provision is set to expire now on the 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: sixteenth of July. So Territory communities that were already dry 13 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: general restricted areas for many years through their own choice, 14 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: they'll keep that status. But the APA communities will have 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: to apply to stay alcohol free or the conditional laps, 16 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: and they'll have no restrictions at all. So I think 17 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: from the outset, you know, some people may be thinking 18 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: to themselves, Okay, well this isn't a bad thing, but 19 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 1: others will be seriously concerned. Now, as you've just heard 20 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: from the Northern Territory Police Association, they have said that 21 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: they've got concerns with the fact that there's been no 22 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: consultation on this legislation. Now joining me on the line 23 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: right now is the CEO of A John Patterson. Good 24 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 1: morning to you, John, and. 25 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 2: A very good morning to you, Katie. 26 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time John this legislation. 27 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: I know that, like I was just saying, the Police 28 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: Association have said that they don't feel as though they've 29 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 1: been consulted. We know that there are concerns that for 30 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: some of these communities it may mean that they're going 31 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: to you know, they've been alcohol free and then it's 32 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: going to lapse and they'll have no restrictions whatsoever. John, 33 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 1: why do you think these communities, you know, why do 34 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: you think that we should not allow alcohol into some 35 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: of these communities. 36 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, I just remind everybody to reflect back on 37 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 2: the and I forget the extull name of the report, 38 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 2: but the Little Children of Sacred Report that was done 39 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: by Pat Anderson and Rex Wild I think were the 40 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: turses of that huge report that we had consulted on 41 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: a number of issues, you know, that were impacting on communities. 42 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: And I think there was a reference in there that 43 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: they used was this rivers or gron that was impacting 44 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 2: enormously and having detrimental impact, particularly on women, on children, 45 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 2: on you know, broughder families in community. Kids weren't you know, 46 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 2: being cared for. They were having restless nights, couldn't get 47 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 2: up to go to school next morning because all the humbug, 48 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 2: that's the drama that goes on all the nighttime, violence, 49 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: violence against women and possibly men. Who know, we won't 50 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 2: to single out violence just on women, but you know, 51 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: right across the community, we will see other concerns. The 52 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 2: increase in the emergency department, I understand that they're you know, 53 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 2: also concerns within the health sector. And Katie, this is 54 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: just going to bring unnecessary stress and pressure onto an 55 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: already stretched system or service providers, including police, including the 56 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 2: health sector, and territory families, you know, when it comes 57 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 2: to kids that might be at risks, all of those 58 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: critical service providers that will be impacted by this legislation. 59 00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: Nobody just needs to be genuine discussions and consultations, negotiations 60 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: with relevant stakeholders. 61 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, I think people will probably be surprised that 62 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: there hasn't been consultation, given the fact that this legislation 63 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: is due in Parliament next. 64 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 2: Month exactly, Katie. Look, we found out viral meeting that 65 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 2: we had with the Comilton Tertory governments that this was 66 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 2: coming to an end, and you know, Tertory government was 67 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 2: starting to form their position on an opt in I 68 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: think it was I think that's the current study YEA 69 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 2: to deal with this. 70 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: And so John, are you saying that there's been no 71 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 1: consultation really with the likes of amstand that you know 72 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: that is that is managing the health of a lot 73 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: of indigenous territories and helping you know, with the health 74 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: facilitation in so many of these locations. 75 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 2: Nothing, nothing, of a serious nature, Katie. We're not talking 76 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: about serious. I mean official meetings with our hierarchy, with 77 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 2: our leadership group, with the leadership of government, with politicians. 78 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 2: We want to sit around the table with politicians, not 79 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 2: saying about this is how serious it is, Katie. We 80 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: want politicians to sit around the table and justify and 81 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 2: inform us as to why they believe that they should 82 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: open up alcohol back in the communities, those communities that 83 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 2: may wish to have alcohol was you know, accessibility within 84 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 2: their communities. This where flabbergasted. You just got no idea 85 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 2: what the urgency is around this. They had ten years 86 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 2: and somebody said to you, you know, workout a during 87 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,119 Speaker 2: the intervention perod right up until now when it's about 88 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 2: to expire the second week of July whenever these this 89 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 2: year time to get out there and have genuine consultation 90 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: and negotiations with community, not these mediums. You know that's 91 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 2: tacked onto other other forms and other agendas. I mean, 92 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 2: I don't that's not meaningful, and that's not addressing the issues. 93 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: That's not enabling and for the leadership of all the 94 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 2: different sectors and groups to be put in their issues 95 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 2: and concern and couldn't bad. Yeah, there are some communities 96 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 2: that have web communities or canteens in their communities and 97 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,239 Speaker 2: they've got good, strong regulations and that's you know, something 98 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 2: that we want to talk about. 99 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: Well, and that was what I was going to ask, What. 100 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: Is the framework? Yeah, what sort of alcohol light, heavy, 101 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 2: leading whatever? 102 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: And so none of that discussion has happened. Yeah, Well, 103 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 1: and I think that's fair enough because I was going 104 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: to ask that John, you know, why shouldn't some of 105 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: these communities have the same rights as those of us 106 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: living in town centers if it's a choice that is 107 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: given the okay by the women in those communities, and 108 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: and you know, and it's community. 109 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 2: Driven, that's right, Katie. Look, we're not saying Am Sander 110 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 2: is not saying all those other people organizations are not 111 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: saying that we're going to make decisions we want to 112 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: make the decisions on behalf community. By no way, am 113 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: I saying that. All we're talking about is process that's open, transparent, 114 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 2: that's got all the key stakeholders, all the evidence, data, 115 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: statistics put to those meetings so that everybody, everybody, women 116 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: use meeting leaders can actually see what alcohol, the potential 117 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: alcohol and communities can have on families and the community itself. Well. 118 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: And I think that that is a fair enough request. 119 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: I mean, you're talking about changing legislation which has been 120 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: in place since the intervention. I know it's more it's 121 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: you know, changed forms throughout those years. But you're talking 122 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: about a massive change for some of these communities. And 123 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: and I think you're spot on. There needs to be 124 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: consultation and uh, and you've got to have everybody at 125 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: the table for that rather than you know, waiting until 126 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: after the fact. 127 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I just worry about the stress that we're 128 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 2: going to put on the all those service providies that 129 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 2: are you know, struggling right at this fairy moment, you know, 130 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 2: team the in pandemic. Uh, you know, you and I've 131 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 2: talked about, yeah, pressure, the stress that's put on the 132 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: health sector just that. I mean, you know, and COVID 133 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 2: is not going along. We're not out of the woods yet, 134 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 2: you know, so here is another added pressure you know 135 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,839 Speaker 2: that's going to be born onto our clinicians and communities 136 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 2: which we've got to deal with. You know, the shortage 137 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 2: of police. You know, yeah, there are police in every 138 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 2: every community. Who's going to you know, there's no police here? 139 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 2: Is that going to be all? You know, the police 140 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 2: are or of alcohol and there's still any violence and 141 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 2: those sorts of things that happen most to me, how 142 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 2: are we going to respond quickly to those? 143 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: Well, that's right, These are all the questions I think 144 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 1: that they need to be prepared to have discussions with 145 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: the likes of you guys about John. One of the 146 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 1: other issues that we're seeing very much around Darwin and 147 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: Palmerston at the moment, and I'm sure that you've seen 148 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: it as well, is a real alcohol issues and people 149 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: engaging in poor behavior, sometimes criminal and domestic violence on 150 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: the streets. What is your take in this space at 151 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: the moment. 152 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, well absolutely, but Katie, let me say, we 153 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 2: do not tolerate that sort of nonsense. And you know, 154 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 2: just I think who's responsible to go and you know, 155 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 2: talk to deal with these sorts of situations. I know, please, 156 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 2: I might control and are the aboriginal and non aboriginal 157 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 2: organizations that are funded to do this sort of work, 158 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 2: but we need to have a sit down and talk 159 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 2: about those sorts of issues as well. I mean, you know, 160 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 2: there's I'm pretty sure there's alcohol legislation and laws and 161 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 2: place that governments could potentially use and implement a bit 162 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 2: stronger resource, you know, where there's gaps to deal with 163 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,719 Speaker 2: these issues. But this is getting out of hand and 164 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 2: it's not tolerated and we need to jump on it 165 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: and stamp on it. 166 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I reckon this spot. 167 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 2: You just can't, you know, where's the leadership? Yeah, the 168 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 2: leadership and John, you know. 169 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: The thing I've found so bloody sad is you know, 170 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: speaking to people around the Northern Territory at the moment, 171 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: and you know, being told that there's situations of domestic 172 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: violence where you're seeing, you know, where women are being 173 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: seriously injured on the street, you know, after alcohol issues, 174 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: and I just think there is a duty of care. 175 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: There has to be some kind of duty of care 176 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 1: from the government to go this is not okay. 177 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely yeah. 178 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 1: Well, John Patterson, we always appreciate your time. Thank you 179 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: very much for speaking with me today. Katie, thank you, 180 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: thank you you too.