1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,840
Speaker 1: And we know that Darwin's Catholic bishop has written to

2
00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:05,920
Speaker 1: the Northern Territory government expressing concern over a chronic lack

3
00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,880
Speaker 1: of access to NT prisons, saying that chaplains are effectively

4
00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,959
Speaker 1: being locked out. In a letter to the Chief Minister

5
00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,800
Speaker 1: Lea Finocchiaro and the Corrections Minister Jered Mayley, on behalf

6
00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,759
Speaker 1: of the Northern Territory Catholic Clergy, Bishop Charles Gouchi said

7
00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:26,119
Speaker 1: Catholic chaplains were facing significant obstacles reaching prisoners. That is

8
00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,920
Speaker 1: according to a report by the ABC Online. Bishop Gauchi saying,

9
00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,960
Speaker 1: while we understand the pressure within the justice system, we

10
00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:38,360
Speaker 1: believe the current lack of accessibility for chaplaincy services is

11
00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,280
Speaker 1: both a practical and moral concern. Now joining me in

12
00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,680
Speaker 1: the studio is the acting Chief Minister. He's also the

13
00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:47,560
Speaker 1: Minister for Corrections, Jared Maylee.

14
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,040
Speaker 2: Good morning, Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners.

15
00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,160
Speaker 1: Now, Minister Bishop Gauchi said the pastoral care provided by

16
00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,680
Speaker 1: chaplains was a vital element in the path toward rehabilitation

17
00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,840
Speaker 1: and healing for prisoners. Why are prisoners not able to

18
00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,360
Speaker 1: have access to chaplaincy services at the moments?

19
00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,560
Speaker 2: Yeah? Ok, Katie, this is a concern for me. In fact,

20
00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,240
Speaker 2: there was a prayer on Saturday at eleven thirty that

21
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,440
Speaker 2: I went into and I went with the Commission of

22
00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,760
Speaker 2: Valley and we both went there and listened to what

23
00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,040
Speaker 2: the church had to say and listened to the passion

24
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,320
Speaker 2: that was in that church. One of the passes gave

25
00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,080
Speaker 2: a speech about he was going there and what he feels.

26
00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,120
Speaker 2: That makes a difference. So look, wh I've spoken to

27
00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,479
Speaker 2: Commission of Bali about that and we're going to look

28
00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:31,640
Speaker 2: into that because I understand he hasn't been in it

29
00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,679
Speaker 2: since November, and we know that there's been staff shortages.

30
00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,600
Speaker 2: I know that the prison system was in Christis when

31
00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:38,560
Speaker 2: we come in the government in August just before that.

32
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,880
Speaker 2: But since then, Katie, we've put actually on Friday, I

33
00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,080
Speaker 2: went to passing out pro for another thirty one creestion officers.

34
00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,720
Speaker 2: There's another thirty three in training right now as we

35
00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,800
Speaker 2: speak as well. Because it all comes down to staffing

36
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,400
Speaker 2: and things like that, Katie, so we're really working hard

37
00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,560
Speaker 2: to make sure that we boost the staffing. We know

38
00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,840
Speaker 2: we've got g fours in the court system as well,

39
00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,800
Speaker 2: to be able to put these train officers behind the

40
00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,200
Speaker 2: whiitre to make sure that these lockdowns, because that's what

41
00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,320
Speaker 2: that's what causes, is a lockdown because there's not enough

42
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,200
Speaker 2: staff and these prisoners can't get out, so and so like.

43
00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,359
Speaker 1: As it currently stands, how long have prisoners not had

44
00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,880
Speaker 1: access to those chaplaincy services or being able to you know,

45
00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,200
Speaker 1: to speak.

46
00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,800
Speaker 2: That correspondent said since November last, Since November. Yeah, So

47
00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:25,760
Speaker 2: I've looked into it, and we are going to make

48
00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,359
Speaker 2: that a priority, Katie. We are going to make sure

49
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,880
Speaker 2: because you know, we've had to lockdown and some of

50
00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,880
Speaker 2: the programs and some of the training services haven't been

51
00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,520
Speaker 2: running as we like because of the staffing numbers and

52
00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:37,600
Speaker 2: the year overcrowding.

53
00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,720
Speaker 1: It's a tough juggle. Like, I totally understand that, and

54
00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:42,680
Speaker 1: I've spoken to you and I've spoken to the Corrections

55
00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,000
Speaker 1: Commissioner on so many occasions about the juggle that you've

56
00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,639
Speaker 1: currently got. I mean, we've got these ever growing prisoner numbers.

57
00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,640
Speaker 1: How many prisoners do we have in our correctional facilities

58
00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:53,200
Speaker 1: at the moment.

59
00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,560
Speaker 2: Okay, I haven't got the exact numbers today, but over

60
00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,080
Speaker 2: the weekend it was twenty twenty eight hundred to just

61
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,639
Speaker 2: over so that's a lot of prisoners. Okay, I think

62
00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,040
Speaker 2: what steps down and there's been years and years of

63
00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,440
Speaker 2: no consequence for your crime, and the cop got elected

64
00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,200
Speaker 2: in August, and what we've done is said, there's going

65
00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,560
Speaker 2: to be a consequence. We need to reduce the crime.

66
00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,280
Speaker 2: And it's a big ship, Katie, and I think it

67
00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,200
Speaker 2: is personally turning around and it is slightly, but it

68
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,760
Speaker 2: is personally because it's going to be a consequence and

69
00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:21,960
Speaker 2: that is putting someone in jail if that's what the

70
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,520
Speaker 2: court see fit. We've changed the law, We've done all

71
00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,880
Speaker 2: sorts of things to make sure the community is safe, Katie,

72
00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:28,679
Speaker 2: because that is our number one prior.

73
00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,200
Speaker 1: Look, I think it should be a number one priority

74
00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,440
Speaker 1: making sure that every territory and is safe and that

75
00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,080
Speaker 1: people that are breaking the law are facing a consequence

76
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,400
Speaker 1: to breaking that law. But the other part of it

77
00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,440
Speaker 1: is of course making sure that when people are in

78
00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,960
Speaker 1: correctional facilities that they are able to access you know,

79
00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,440
Speaker 1: rehab programs and even being able to you know, to

80
00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,960
Speaker 1: do things like go and access chaplains and pastoral teams

81
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,040
Speaker 1: to be able to hold those church services. Many would

82
00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,440
Speaker 1: see that as a step that does need to happen

83
00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:03,880
Speaker 1: for those prisoners. How quickly are those like are those

84
00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,480
Speaker 1: services going to be able to be returned for prisoners?

85
00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,480
Speaker 2: We're going to make that happen relatively quickly. I can't

86
00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,480
Speaker 2: give you an exact timeframe, but I've spoken to the commissioner.

87
00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:16,840
Speaker 2: He's aware of the situation now and he's going to

88
00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:21,240
Speaker 2: prioritize those visits because it is important as well as

89
00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:22,640
Speaker 2: what we want to try and work on is make

90
00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,840
Speaker 2: sure industry and up and running. I was in the

91
00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,599
Speaker 2: Aloe Springs prison last week. Katie and I went to

92
00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,520
Speaker 2: the Education department and they were doing a quick Smart program.

93
00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,919
Speaker 2: We're teaching basic Mass in English to some of the

94
00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,240
Speaker 2: prisoners who they come into the prism of the very

95
00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,839
Speaker 2: low level of mass in English, and the quick Smart

96
00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,320
Speaker 2: program is there to help them learn English, learn mass,

97
00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,920
Speaker 2: just the really basic stuff. I'm talking like counting to ten,

98
00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,560
Speaker 2: ten plus ten, that sort of stuff. So we're talking

99
00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,480
Speaker 2: a low level, but that's really important. We want to

100
00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:51,320
Speaker 2: break the cycle.

101
00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,440
Speaker 1: And so are those programs now back up and running?

102
00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,000
Speaker 2: Those ones? Well, they're running on Monday, but they're not

103
00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:00,040
Speaker 2: running it full capacity. In racing into the industry, it

104
00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:00,919
Speaker 2: would work.

105
00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,200
Speaker 1: When do you anticipate that everything is going to be

106
00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,840
Speaker 1: running at full capacity. Because my biggest concern, and I

107
00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:09,720
Speaker 1: think it is for a lot of territories as well,

108
00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:14,120
Speaker 1: is your spot on community safety is the number one priority,

109
00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,000
Speaker 1: making sure that there are not people at large who

110
00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,479
Speaker 1: are dangerous and who have committed dangerous offenses. But the

111
00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,640
Speaker 1: second priority is that those who are spending time in

112
00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,800
Speaker 1: our correctional facilities are undertaking rehabilitation programs so that if

113
00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,080
Speaker 1: they're in there for a short stint, that they're coming

114
00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,360
Speaker 1: out better people, not coming out better crimps.

115
00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,640
Speaker 2: Look, you're right, Katie, and making a community safe their

116
00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,960
Speaker 2: number one priority. So I want to make that very clear.

117
00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,120
Speaker 2: If there's a crime coming out there, the police are

118
00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,720
Speaker 2: doing a wonderful job and we want them to do

119
00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,400
Speaker 2: whatever they need to do. We're going to give them

120
00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,600
Speaker 2: more powers. We have given them more powers. We're going

121
00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,840
Speaker 2: to make sure that there's a good response, and then

122
00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,200
Speaker 2: we're those offenders if they are into the correctional system.

123
00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:53,760
Speaker 2: We want to make sure those programs that are up

124
00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,320
Speaker 2: and running, and they aren't running at this moment right now,

125
00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,520
Speaker 2: they're coming back online slowly. And I was in the

126
00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,839
Speaker 2: industry in Alice springs and Monday and I walked around

127
00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,480
Speaker 2: the woodwork and the number plates and the laundry so

128
00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,320
Speaker 2: and they went to the kitchen, so that all that

129
00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,120
Speaker 2: stuff is happening, which is about the rebuility. There's also Rage,

130
00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,120
Speaker 2: which is a family violent program up and running as well.

131
00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,960
Speaker 1: So how soon, minister, do you think you're going to

132
00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,159
Speaker 1: be in a situation where all those programs are back

133
00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:20,840
Speaker 1: up and running.

134
00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,640
Speaker 2: Look, Katie, I really couldn't give you an absolute answer

135
00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,880
Speaker 2: to that right now. The next few months well, look hopefully,

136
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,000
Speaker 2: But it really to do with staff. We need to

137
00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,560
Speaker 2: make sure that the staff are crept because I've been

138
00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,000
Speaker 2: talking about breaking the cycle here. We also need to

139
00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,719
Speaker 2: make sure that the prison officers aren't overworked and they

140
00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,279
Speaker 2: have an opportunity to go to work go home safely

141
00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:40,720
Speaker 2: as well. So we need to get that balance.

142
00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,279
Speaker 1: Where do you reckon we're at with those staffing levels.

143
00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,479
Speaker 1: I know you had that graduation, as you've just touched

144
00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,839
Speaker 1: on before, thirty one trainee correctional officers graduating on Friday.

145
00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,920
Speaker 1: How quickly do you think you're going to have those

146
00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:53,839
Speaker 1: staffing levels where they need to be.

147
00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,840
Speaker 2: It's a very difficult question to answer because the prison

148
00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:01,240
Speaker 2: numbers are going up, so that's their big issue. Like

149
00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,240
Speaker 2: I said, there's been a lack of consequences, so the

150
00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,000
Speaker 2: prison population is going up through the roofs, so it

151
00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,880
Speaker 2: means staffing needs to go higher than we expected. We've

152
00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,680
Speaker 2: had one hundred and thirty eight additional officers put on

153
00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,920
Speaker 2: since we come into power. We've got the g fours

154
00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,560
Speaker 2: contract up and running in relation to the scenery service

155
00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,240
Speaker 2: not behind the wire, so we're really making sure that

156
00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,560
Speaker 2: we get that up up and running and balance. But

157
00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,280
Speaker 2: we're getting such an increase in prison numbers because there's

158
00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,440
Speaker 2: been a lack of consequences for the last eight years.

159
00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,640
Speaker 2: People have been getting away with it, and the community

160
00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,120
Speaker 2: safety has been going down and people aren't feeling safe.

161
00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,000
Speaker 2: So we're trying to fix all that together.

162
00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,160
Speaker 1: Minister, like we are starting to get more messages to

163
00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,280
Speaker 1: the show over the last couple of weeks. You know,

164
00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,520
Speaker 1: even on the weekend, we saw a terrible situation of

165
00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,200
Speaker 1: course in Catherine where you know where the police are

166
00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,640
Speaker 1: still calling for information after a woman's home was broken into.

167
00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:54,160
Speaker 1: She had people inside her home in Catherine. You know,

168
00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,080
Speaker 1: we spoke last week, you and I about the terrible

169
00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:01,920
Speaker 1: situation with Trevor's home allegedly being broken into him being

170
00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:07,200
Speaker 1: really seriously assaulted. We are starting to get more messages

171
00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,480
Speaker 1: to the show each and every week, people saying, Katie,

172
00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,000
Speaker 1: I just don't feel like the government is making the

173
00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,600
Speaker 1: inroads that I had hoped they would be at this

174
00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,680
Speaker 1: point when it comes to crime. What do you say

175
00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:18,360
Speaker 1: to those people?

176
00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,200
Speaker 2: What I say to those people. We are not going

177
00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,760
Speaker 2: to stop. We are going to keep working hard to

178
00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,360
Speaker 2: make the community a better and a safest spot. We're

179
00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,360
Speaker 2: going to rebuild the economy, and we're going to restore

180
00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:29,880
Speaker 2: our lifestyle. That's our focus and everything we do is

181
00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,800
Speaker 2: on those three key pillars. But right now we're focusing

182
00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,560
Speaker 2: on the community safety and I think it has turned

183
00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,640
Speaker 2: around a bit, Katie. I think me personally, I feel

184
00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,719
Speaker 2: a little bit safer. I traveled around a little bit

185
00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,920
Speaker 2: and I meet lots of people. But it is a

186
00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,160
Speaker 2: big ship, so it is going to take some time

187
00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,840
Speaker 2: to turn around. So to say to those people, thank you,

188
00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,800
Speaker 2: be patient. We are trying the hardest. We will keep

189
00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:51,920
Speaker 2: working hard and I can guarantee that as our number

190
00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:53,720
Speaker 2: one priority is keep the community safe.

191
00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,760
Speaker 1: Acting Chief Minister, I want to ask you, there's still

192
00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,640
Speaker 1: a bit of toing and throwing around prisoners in watch houses.

193
00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,080
Speaker 1: The Northern Territory Police Association had caught up with me

194
00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,200
Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago they still had concerns that

195
00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:12,040
Speaker 1: there were prisoners in the watchhouses. What exactly is the

196
00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:12,680
Speaker 1: go here?

197
00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,000
Speaker 2: I just want to say on the start is that

198
00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,640
Speaker 2: the police officers do a wonderful job and for us

199
00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,800
Speaker 2: to keep the community safe, we need them to be

200
00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,679
Speaker 2: working at their best and we're trying hard to do that.

201
00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,240
Speaker 2: But there is some to and fro in relation to that, Katie.

202
00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,319
Speaker 2: But what it can say there's no correctional officers in

203
00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,000
Speaker 2: watchhouses anymore. So it comes down to a bit of

204
00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:30,360
Speaker 2: a text.

205
00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:31,440
Speaker 1: So who's in there?

206
00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:32,080
Speaker 2: The police?

207
00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:36,600
Speaker 1: Okay, so the police prisoners for the police, and.

208
00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,520
Speaker 2: So they arrest someone, they go into custody into a

209
00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,640
Speaker 2: watchhouse other than the Darwin watchhouse. I must say that

210
00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,560
Speaker 2: that is run by corrections only, the one in Mitchell Street,

211
00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,640
Speaker 2: So there's no police in here. That's not an operational watchhouse.

212
00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,960
Speaker 2: That is a correctional facility. But we're talking about Palmerston

213
00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,120
Speaker 2: and Alice Springs of the main two watchhouses, Katie.

214
00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,840
Speaker 1: So in terms of the Darwin. You know the Darwin

215
00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,400
Speaker 1: what was the watchhouse. It's used as a correctional facility.

216
00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,200
Speaker 1: How many prisoners have you gotten there last time?

217
00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,600
Speaker 2: I it's about forty. And it's again it goes back

218
00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,760
Speaker 2: to prison numbers. It's it is a watchhouse that sort

219
00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,560
Speaker 2: it's designed for. So it's not like when you go

220
00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,079
Speaker 2: to Holts or Veramar where his room to walk around.

221
00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,920
Speaker 2: There is outdoor area they go outside and when they

222
00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:19,680
Speaker 2: get a bit of fresh air. So I've been to

223
00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:21,000
Speaker 2: that facility, but it's not like.

224
00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,480
Speaker 1: You're at the Darwin Watchhouse on Mitchell Straight. Yes they're

225
00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:27,840
Speaker 1: going outside outside, it's fresh air. I was going to say,

226
00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:29,400
Speaker 1: goodness me, I think people are going to be a

227
00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:30,040
Speaker 1: bit worried to you.

228
00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,560
Speaker 2: It's understanding like for example, in Palms and Watchhouse, you're

229
00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:35,760
Speaker 2: in the cell and you're locked in the cell in

230
00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,600
Speaker 2: the in the when in Mitchell Street there's a hallway

231
00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,040
Speaker 2: where they walk up and down so and which is

232
00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,280
Speaker 2: secure and so it's not going outside walking up.

233
00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,160
Speaker 1: Anticipate like that, you're gonna need well tell you what

234
00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:51,480
Speaker 1: people would be Oh no, no, that's all right. So how

235
00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:55,319
Speaker 1: long do you anticipate their corrections are going to need

236
00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:59,920
Speaker 1: to keep using that Darwin Watchhouse like you know, it's

237
00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,000
Speaker 1: like to me, it blows my mind. It's right in

238
00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:04,760
Speaker 1: the middle of our wonderful city that we're having to

239
00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:06,640
Speaker 1: use it as a correctional facility.

240
00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,600
Speaker 2: Yeah, it is. And ultimately we've got a master plan

241
00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,959
Speaker 2: Katie that when we come into office eight months ago

242
00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,240
Speaker 2: that we started working on, which includes doing some work

243
00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:20,400
Speaker 2: and some workers camps in sorry Catherine, And we're doing

244
00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,600
Speaker 2: a plan in Alice Springs in relation to using moving

245
00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,760
Speaker 2: the juveniles up into the Holts and making the old

246
00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:27,720
Speaker 2: juvenile into the women to get the women out of

247
00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,360
Speaker 2: that prison, because it was chaos when we come into office.

248
00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,400
Speaker 2: So we're working hard and that plan is progressing very well.

249
00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:35,880
Speaker 2: We're doing some changes out to the Holts out in

250
00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:37,640
Speaker 2: Sect eleven, which is a bit out the front. We're

251
00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:39,640
Speaker 2: going to make that into a secure where we can

252
00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,360
Speaker 2: put some women out there, and we have some more

253
00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,600
Speaker 2: men in behind the wire at Holts. So it is

254
00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,439
Speaker 2: a work in progress. There's no time frame to get

255
00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,000
Speaker 2: them out of here just yet. The police aren't asking

256
00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,880
Speaker 2: to use that either yet, okay, so there is there's

257
00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,120
Speaker 2: no pressure in relation to getting them out, so that

258
00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:56,920
Speaker 2: can be used as a watch So, just to make.

259
00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,440
Speaker 1: It really clear in my mind, So the Darwin, you

260
00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:03,120
Speaker 1: know our so the Darwin City watch House is a

261
00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,520
Speaker 1: correctional facility at the moment, that's about forty prisoners in there.

262
00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:12,240
Speaker 1: But Palmerston is all of the correctional prisoners have been

263
00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:14,400
Speaker 1: moved out of there. Yes, and same.

264
00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,840
Speaker 2: As Brama that's an operating police watchhouse. And same as

265
00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:17,520
Speaker 2: Alice Springs.

266
00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,360
Speaker 1: Okay, same as Alas Springs. What about out of Peter McCauley.

267
00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:24,440
Speaker 2: No, there's no no corectional officers in any watchhouse other

268
00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,840
Speaker 2: than the Darwen one, which is a crectional facility.

269
00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,640
Speaker 1: So why do you reckon there's still this you know,

270
00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:33,520
Speaker 1: this level of of you know discontent, I guess from

271
00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,600
Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Police Association saying that there are still

272
00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,319
Speaker 1: prisoners in watchhouses.

273
00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,240
Speaker 2: Well it gets because they are prisoners because they've been

274
00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,280
Speaker 2: arrested by the police. And remember if you've got a warrant, Katie,

275
00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:46,160
Speaker 2: and you get arrested by police under that warrant, well

276
00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:50,200
Speaker 2: technically you're a breach of court warrants. So you're a

277
00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,120
Speaker 2: correctional prisoner if you want to use that term. So,

278
00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,720
Speaker 2: but at the moment. Also, they're very hard to get those.

279
00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,400
Speaker 2: After our bail applications, the courts have shut them down.

280
00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,680
Speaker 2: So ultimately the police do a job. They arrest someone

281
00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,120
Speaker 2: and hold them in the watchhouse. They become a correctional

282
00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,480
Speaker 2: prisoner once they get delivered to a correctional facility.

283
00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,600
Speaker 1: Okay, all right, well, and so how like they're going

284
00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,200
Speaker 1: that's going to be happening indefinitely by the sounds of it,

285
00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,720
Speaker 1: you know, like as people and has always.

286
00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,840
Speaker 2: Had, has always happened, and just the ebbs and frozen.

287
00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,400
Speaker 2: Some weeks, there's more some weeks, it's not, depending on

288
00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,480
Speaker 2: how visy the court get through them, and then they

289
00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,880
Speaker 2: can come into a correctional facility. We brought on some

290
00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,320
Speaker 2: beds last week. We're brought in some new beds in

291
00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,359
Speaker 2: after Easter, so we are trying to expand the capacity.

292
00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:32,800
Speaker 2: In eight months, we've essentially built a prison, Katie.

293
00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,400
Speaker 1: All right, So in terms of how things are progressing

294
00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,400
Speaker 1: with our correctional facilities at the moment, are you pretty

295
00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,160
Speaker 1: satisfied with how they're tracking along.

296
00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,400
Speaker 2: Look, in an ideal world, I'd like to have more

297
00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,280
Speaker 2: bed space, but we were left with a mess. We

298
00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,440
Speaker 2: are left with chaos. We are left with prisoners in

299
00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,720
Speaker 2: watch houses. We are left with correctional officers in watchhouses.

300
00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:54,640
Speaker 2: In eight months, we've done a lot, We've fixed it.

301
00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,520
Speaker 2: I think the community is feeling safer. We've got a

302
00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,360
Speaker 2: new prison online because it's about that breaking that cycle.

303
00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:02,679
Speaker 2: As we spoke about earlier, Katie's just locking someone up

304
00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:04,560
Speaker 2: in a small cell is not going to give him

305
00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,040
Speaker 2: any chance of breakdown cycle. So we want to focus

306
00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:07,680
Speaker 2: on that as well.

307
00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,200
Speaker 1: Now, look, we are going to have to wrap up,

308
00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:10,800
Speaker 1: but before I let you go, I want to ask

309
00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,360
Speaker 1: you there continues to be rgi barji about the port

310
00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,160
Speaker 1: as the election is closed. So the federal election, we

311
00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,680
Speaker 1: know the Acting Chief Minister claim, well you have claimed,

312
00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,960
Speaker 1: as the acting Chief Minister that the Prime Minister Anthony

313
00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,880
Speaker 1: alban Easy and the Member for Solomon Luke Gosling have

314
00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:31,080
Speaker 1: again left Territorians and Australians in limbo on their plans

315
00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:32,960
Speaker 1: for the Darwin Port. I mean the PM was here

316
00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,720
Speaker 1: on Friday for the first time since the federal election

317
00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,920
Speaker 1: campaign began, and you feel as though he was really

318
00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,440
Speaker 1: quite non committal about the port. What do you think

319
00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:43,640
Speaker 1: should have happened on Friday?

320
00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,720
Speaker 2: Well, look, Katie. We know that Alban Easy made a

321
00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,280
Speaker 2: quick phone call to the ABC which I understand was

322
00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,000
Speaker 2: a bit of a train wreck interview anyway, and that's

323
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,280
Speaker 2: all we've heard of it. He was here last week

324
00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,160
Speaker 2: on Friday, had a perfect opportunity to clarify his plan,

325
00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,240
Speaker 2: unlike Dutton who came up into and said we're going

326
00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,280
Speaker 2: to negotiate if we're going to give six months to

327
00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:04,800
Speaker 2: try and negotiate a deal. If not, we're going to

328
00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,600
Speaker 2: change legislation. So the plan is clear. Olbo. On the

329
00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,800
Speaker 2: other hand, quick phone call in Darwin didn't say anything

330
00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:12,800
Speaker 2: about it all. In fact, I heard his asked questions

331
00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:13,680
Speaker 2: and dodge those questions.

332
00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:15,600
Speaker 1: So what do you want to happen? What do you

333
00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,200
Speaker 1: think needs to happen here? Does the federal government need

334
00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,960
Speaker 1: to take control of this and do we need the

335
00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,080
Speaker 1: port to go back into Australian hands, Katie.

336
00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,560
Speaker 2: What we do need is certainty. We are willing to

337
00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,680
Speaker 2: work with any government in relation to this matter. And

338
00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:31,800
Speaker 2: if that is the case where one of the federal

339
00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,200
Speaker 2: government by the Port, yes we're happy to work with

340
00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,640
Speaker 2: them and we need it to get happening because the

341
00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,840
Speaker 2: territory needs some certainty about our trade, about our workers.

342
00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:41,920
Speaker 2: So we really want some certainty and we're happy to

343
00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,360
Speaker 2: work with either government what the plan is. But at

344
00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:45,880
Speaker 2: this age it seems the port is going to come

345
00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:46,680
Speaker 2: back and we support that.

346
00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,160
Speaker 1: Jarre mainly before I let you go, you were there

347
00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,280
Speaker 1: was questions being asked a week or so ago about

348
00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,880
Speaker 1: you saying in Parliament drill, baby, drill, so quoting the

349
00:15:55,600 --> 00:16:00,000
Speaker 1: President of the United States about you know, his fracking idea,

350
00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,440
Speaker 1: just send a number, jimper Price in a bit of

351
00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,760
Speaker 1: I guess some saying hot water saying make Australia great

352
00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,560
Speaker 1: again on the election campaign trail on the weekend. I mean,

353
00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:11,920
Speaker 1: what do you think? Do you think it's a big

354
00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:12,840
Speaker 1: deal that she said it?

355
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,440
Speaker 2: First thing, and first I want to make everyone very clear.

356
00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,120
Speaker 2: I support the gas industry. I really hope that the

357
00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,680
Speaker 2: Beterloo comes on line. It's been a bit of a

358
00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,320
Speaker 2: shambles out there for a number of years.

359
00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,120
Speaker 1: So quote you'd quote Trumpy again by the sad, I.

360
00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:27,960
Speaker 2: Think I am keen to make sure that the gas

361
00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,680
Speaker 2: industry comes on line, and I personally want to do

362
00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,440
Speaker 2: whatever I can to support the gas industry. We need it,

363
00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:35,720
Speaker 2: we need that firm and we need the energy, because

364
00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:38,640
Speaker 2: cheap energy is going to make sure the Australia and

365
00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,240
Speaker 2: Territory goes better. Soa drill, baby, drill.

366
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,200
Speaker 1: Oh well, Jared Mayley said it again. Thank you, as

367
00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,200
Speaker 1: always for your time. We'll catch up with you again

368
00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:46,520
Speaker 1: soon