1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,800 Speaker 1: I think it's safe to say that all of us 2 00:00:01,880 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: really are wondering exactly how things are going to go 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: over the next couple of weeks as additional police have 4 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: been surged into Alice Springs, and rightly so that support 5 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,319 Speaker 1: is required, but what will it potentially mean to us 6 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: in other parts of the Northern Territory like Darwin, Catherine, 7 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Remote Communities, Tenant Creek. Joining us in the studio right 8 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: now is the president of the Northern Territory Police Association, 9 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: Nathan Finn. 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 2: Good morning to you. 11 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners. 12 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: First off, can I ask how are the officers in 13 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 1: Alice Springs tracking. 14 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 3: Our officers in Alice Springs obviously had some immediate pressure 15 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 3: over the last few days and dealing with this righteous 16 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 3: situation and obviously civil disobedience down there. They are glad 17 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 3: and welcoming obviously extra resource into this area. They've been 18 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 3: struggling for a long time. It's been noted by us 19 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 3: on a number of occasions too, they're actually under resourced. 20 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 3: To have these resources placed back in Ellis Springs is 21 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 3: a huge benefit to them and obviously a huge pressure 22 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 3: placed off them to obviously have that assistance down. 23 00:00:58,880 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 2: There, Finny. 24 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: One of the things it really struck me the other 25 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: day watching or yesterday watching some of that vision out 26 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: of Alice Springs was how outnumbered it looked like the 27 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: police were, and I like I felt for them. I thought, 28 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: I can't imagine, you know, the fight or flight sort 29 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: of feeling that you get in your garts when you've 30 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: got that many people around you, who are some of 31 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: them armed. You know, they've got bricks, they're throwing rocks. 32 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: It's pretty scary stuff. 33 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 3: It definitely is, Katie, and especially when you're one of 34 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 3: four police officers are actually rosted on that shift. To 35 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 3: actually deal with this situation, we had to call back 36 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 3: the day shift crew that actually come and attend it 37 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 3: to this as well, so they had additional crews there 38 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 3: to luckily to respond to this incident as well, and 39 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 3: still heavily out numbered as you could see when that you. 40 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: Were saying there was only four police officers rosted on 41 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 1: at that time of the day. 42 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 3: But we had obviously day shift was still on at 43 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 3: that point in time, who obviously responded and they actually 44 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 3: didn't finish till after midnight that night as well, trying 45 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 3: to mop up and try and assist well aure resource 46 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 3: in Alice Springs. 47 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: So we know that you had the Territory Safety Division 48 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: fly down last week or head down there last week. 49 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 2: That was twenty three officers, I think, yeah, Katie. 50 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 3: Actually I was down in Alice Springs on Monday, dealing 51 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 3: with some interviews that et cetera for our members involved 52 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 3: in the alleged death in custody that occurred over the weekend, 53 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 3: and supporting them down there on the Monday, I actually 54 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 3: flew back. I think there was about twenty police officers 55 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 3: on the plane come Tuesday morning from the TSD. Some 56 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 3: detectives as well, traveling back from Alice Springs as part 57 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 3: of Operation grim Or who are returning back to day 58 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 3: On at that time. 59 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: So hang on, So were they in Alice Springs when 60 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: the events unfolded this week? 61 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 3: They were coming back on Tuesday morning, Katie with me. 62 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 3: I'm not quite sure about whether others the other others 63 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 3: had actually gone down by kay, but I was aware 64 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 3: that they hadn't been hadn't yet deemed deployed. Yeah. 65 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: Right, So are you saying that the police were quite understaffed. 66 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 3: They're always understaff Katie, more so than usual. Again, Yes, 67 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 3: I think they believe there was six on the ground 68 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 3: for Operation Grimmle at that time. They've obviously requested further 69 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 3: assistance in sending more members down there to assist with 70 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 3: that operation as well, and obviously the announcement of the 71 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 3: thirty three palais that are actually transitioning through the college 72 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 3: at the moment being sent back to their I believe 73 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 3: they arrived at today. They actually couldn't get flights down there, 74 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,519 Speaker 3: so they're actually on a coach down there through the 75 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: night last night, I. 76 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 2: Believe, on a bus to get there. 77 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 3: Yes, that's correct. The Commissioner's hired a coach to transport 78 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 3: these people down there and get them on the ground 79 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 3: so they can obviously start assisting and start with the 80 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 3: PALI operation and having full lockdown of those licensed premises, 81 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 3: which is the biggest issue. 82 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: Well, all right, there's a lot to take in here. 83 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: I just want to ask you how did the situation 84 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: last night go with that curfew coming into effect from 85 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: the Police Association's perspective. 86 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely, Katie. Obviously we had some concerns raised by 87 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 3: our members Nolla Springs last night. We understand that the 88 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 3: Commissioner and the government are obviously trying to put things 89 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 3: in place to protect this community. We see this behavior continuing. 90 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 3: It's actually hampering our ability to live in the Northern 91 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 3: Territory moment. This behavior is just unacceptable at all. Our 92 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 3: members are struggling with this behavior. We've seen last night 93 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 3: that a lot of the youths and that were out 94 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 3: of the CBD area and the high risk area that 95 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 3: it's been declared and just sitting on the outside basically 96 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 3: tawning police and saying it's like a cat and mouse 97 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 3: game to them about whether they going. 98 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 2: They're still hanging around. 99 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're still hanging around Katie. What our concerns are 100 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 3: and obviously the advice that I've received overnight as well 101 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 3: that regarding the Minister's decoration of emergency Situation high risk 102 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 3: area of being Allie Springs been announced last night. The 103 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 3: announcement and I believe the declaration come at six fifty 104 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 3: seven last night, given that the curfew started at six 105 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 3: o'clock last night, the decoration is a little bit late, 106 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 3: but we won't be splitting hairs there. But the legal 107 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 3: advice that we've got in our opinion that the declaration 108 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 3: is potentially unlawful, so under the management Emergency Management Act 109 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 3: obviously binds the Crown. That means the Minister is banned 110 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 3: by the Act and obviously the Crown immunity does not 111 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 3: apply to this. So under section eighteen point two, when 112 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 3: emergency obviously situation was probably fairly technical, obviously viewers out 113 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 3: there as well. But the Minister acting and device from 114 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 3: the Council made it clear that the emergency situation exists 115 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 3: in that area and that event has occurred or reasonally 116 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 3: likely to occur, and the Minister is satisfied that the 117 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 3: special powers under twenty three which is given under the 118 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 3: Emergency Management Act and necessarily of effective management and recovery 119 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: operations in response to that event. I don't know what 120 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 3: the event has occurred, but I presume that the Chief 121 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 3: Minister and media interviews that the relevant event was a 122 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 3: civil unrest in Alice Springs Precinct and potentially likely further 123 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 3: civil unrest in Alice Springs Precinct. Should this be the case, 124 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 3: that under section four point two of that Management Act 125 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 3: specifically precludes a person by either Minister or police operating 126 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 3: any under his declaration using the Act to put down 127 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 3: civil disturbance. Section So Section four of the Management Act 128 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 3: states that the limitation of this Act says is not 129 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 3: authorized to a person to make or prepare preparations to 130 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 3: do any of the following engage in armed combat, put 131 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 3: down a ride, or other civil disturbance. So they're actually 132 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 3: not entitled to actually use this act because of this. 133 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 3: If this is the event, the minister, the ministry is 134 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 3: not allowed to declare this. 135 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: What about to the commissioner who can declare it? 136 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 3: No, definitely not, depending what the event is. What's the 137 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 3: event they've called for, what's the event the device that 138 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 3: counsel is giving them. 139 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: I'm assuming it's the from the you know, from the 140 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: riotous behavior that we'd seen. 141 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 3: Well, that's the comments and that's the media that's come 142 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 3: out in relation to that behavior. And under section four 143 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 3: of that Act, they cannot actually do that. 144 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: And so you're saying that they're potentially acting unlawfully here 145 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: by declaring the emergency situation. 146 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 3: That's right, and potentially placing our members who I'm concerned about, 147 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 3: who I will not stand back from. I will always 148 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 3: stand up for no matter what happens, no matter what 149 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 3: threats are made towards me or what conversations I had 150 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 3: with me, I will always protect our members no matter 151 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: what happens. 152 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: So you're worried that your members could potentially be acting 153 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: unlawfully here. 154 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 3: That's correct, Katie. Again, the declaration is potentially unlawful because 155 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 3: the police operating under this declaration are at risk of 156 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 3: acting unlawfully. So naturally, our opinion is based on the 157 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,720 Speaker 3: information's hand and that the information does not include the 158 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 3: advice from the Council or the confirmation of the event 159 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 3: which the declaration was based. 160 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: So when you say the council, that like the. 161 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 3: Meyor no, So it's the Council, the Emergency Management Council. Okay, 162 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 3: So in relation to a cyclone or the natural weather event. 163 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 3: The Emergency Manager Act actually replaced the Disaster Management Act. 164 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: I mean a lot of people listening will be thinking 165 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: to themselves, so this is like it's worse in a 166 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: lot of ways than what we've seen in terms of 167 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: a natural disaster. 168 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 3: That's correct. But under the Act they cannot actually provide 169 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 3: this declaration. And it's been highlighted to me overnight and 170 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 3: by our members that our members are actually potentially acting unlawfully. 171 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 2: And so they worried they're going to get themselves in trouble. 172 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 3: Guaranteed, Katie, what happens. The actual guidelines that they put 173 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 3: in place was where a youth is, you have to 174 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 3: direct the youth out of the high risk area. But 175 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 3: we've only got the ability to convey them within the 176 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 3: high risk area and any potentially if we convey them 177 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 3: outside of that, it's potentially wrongful imprisonment to our members. 178 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, I mean, have you spoken, have you 179 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: now spoken to the government about these or are you 180 00:07:58,680 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: planning to? 181 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 3: They haven't hasn't spoken to me at all about this 182 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 3: announcement yesterday. I've spoken to the Commissioner this morning. I 183 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 3: sent him a list of my concerns last night also 184 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 3: which he hasn't had time to respond to, given that 185 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 3: he said Alice springs last night as well. I've raised 186 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 3: some serious concerns about obviously where our members are coming from, 187 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 3: obviously over the easter period, and what sort of resource 188 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 3: limitations are going to place on Darwen as such to 189 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 3: be able to do our policing resources. I was informed 190 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 3: last night at the Joint Emergency Services Center that there 191 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 3: was one hundred and seventy jobs still outstanding on the 192 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 3: job here that we haven't attended to in Darwin alone. 193 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 2: Last night last night, one hundred and seventy jobs. 194 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,079 Speaker 3: That's correct, because we didn't have the numbers or the 195 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 3: police numbers to actually respond to this. We've got legislation 196 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 3: outside of this emergency declaration to deal with these matters. 197 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 3: We have the ability to do that, we just haven't 198 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 3: got the resources to actually deal with it. 199 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a tough one because there'll be 200 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: people listening going they absolutely think that an emergency situation 201 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: should have been declared for Ouri Springs because what's going 202 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: on is an emergency. But you know, from what you're saying, 203 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: members are obviously quite concerned that they could then be 204 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,359 Speaker 1: acting unlawfully. They want to make sure that they are covered. 205 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 2: Which I get that too. 206 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: Then, you know, parallel to that, you've got a situation 207 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: where people are really worried that we just don't have 208 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: enough police right now to deal with what's going on 209 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: across the territory. 210 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 3: Let's sit down as a government and as a police 211 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 3: to create legislation to allow us to do this lawfully 212 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 3: where there's no concerns, where our members can act lawfully 213 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 3: potentially and not risk litigation or anything towards them. And 214 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 3: obviously they're concerned, they want to do the right thing, 215 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 3: they want to help, and our members are always there 216 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,079 Speaker 3: to help. And I want to make sure that our 217 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 3: members are protected no matter what happens from this government 218 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 3: or the nt Police Force Executive. I'm making sure that 219 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 3: our members are safe and making sure that they're going 220 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 3: to go home at the end of the day, because 221 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 3: that's my priority. 222 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: Finny, I want to ask, in terms of all these 223 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: officers being deployed to Alice Springs, where are they coming from? 224 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: Are they coming from Darwin, Are they coming from different 225 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: parts in the Northern terret Where are they coming from? 226 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 3: Again, Catie, I made this request last night. I made 227 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 3: the request. Obviously the twenty five additional that they've put 228 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 3: on top of the thirty three palis that were transitioning, 229 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 3: I've asked for where they're coming from. They still no 230 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 3: answer in relation to that. I don't know if they're 231 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 3: twenty five have even gone. I don't need if the 232 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 3: twenty five are on the ground and other springs. From 233 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 3: all reports, they haven't yet arrived. But obviously our members 234 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 3: down there looking forward to a bit of respite and 235 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 3: obviously to deal with the issues because they're quite capable 236 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 3: of dealing with it, Katie, they just haven't got the 237 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:29,839 Speaker 3: resource to deal with it. And this is the time 238 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 3: and time again we have these conversations. This resource allocation 239 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 3: review hasn't come soon enough. Apparently the report's going to 240 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 3: be received today. The Chief Minutes to come out yesterday 241 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 3: in a media and said that we're concerned for our 242 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 3: members that are being placed in an unfortunate situation to 243 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 3: deal with this righteous behavior without the legislation or the 244 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:50,479 Speaker 3: powers to do so. 245 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: So, would the support of the Australian Federal Police help, Like, 246 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: I know that's a big call, but it's one that 247 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: a lot of people have been making over the last 248 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: couple of. 249 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 3: Days, Katie, AFP current and Protected industrial Action. I don't 250 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 3: know if you know that they're currently going through an 251 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 3: EBA negotiation process. They're currently industrial action. I spoke to 252 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 3: their general manager, who obviously was our previous president of 253 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 3: the Northern Territory Police Association, spoke to him yesterday. He's 254 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 3: in dah and actually trying to deal with this as 255 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 3: well at the moment. And some of the comments made 256 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 3: by the Chief Minister about the AFP that they're not 257 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 3: capable actually dealing with it. I think that's quite offensive 258 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 3: to the AFP, and I think they're going to have 259 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 3: some comments to say about that. Yeah, we're liaising with 260 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 3: the president of the AFPA Australian Federal Police Association. I 261 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 3: shouldn't use acronyms that. 262 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, well I might have to try and get them on. 263 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: But so, like so from your perspective, could there be 264 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: some kind of support role. I know that they're going 265 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: through their EBA negotiations. It sounds like they're taking their 266 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: own industrial action, you know. But the AFP have supported 267 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: us in the past throughout COVID and other things. It's 268 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: not like it's not a matter of saying the AFP 269 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,199 Speaker 1: need to come in and take over or anything like that. 270 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 3: It's not a matter of mint and failure either. It's 271 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 3: just honestly, we haven't got the resource to deal with it, 272 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 3: and we constantly hamper this and we're providing an unsafe 273 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 3: workplace for our police officer that remained and still turn 274 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 3: up every day, every night and do above and beyond 275 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 3: what their capability is. 276 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 2: So it sounds like they could have ceased in some ways. 277 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 3: We could deal with any amount of assistance from any 278 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 3: organization across Australia. We could have a riot squad come in. 279 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 3: That'd be great obviously because we haven't got one of them. 280 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 3: Like it was mentioned yesterday on the media, these are 281 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 3: things that we need support in. We need support of resource, 282 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 3: We need support of member numbers and guarantee the Northern 283 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 3: Territory Police Force that's well above its average. We perform 284 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 3: a high task, high violence, high roles every day without 285 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 3: the numbers to actually do so. And any support that 286 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 3: we can get will be greatly accepted by our members, 287 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 3: whether it's come from interstate AFP or anywhere they need 288 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 3: the support, and we've been hampering going on about this 289 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 3: time and time again. We need those resources to do 290 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 3: the job that we're obviously signed up to do well. 291 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:54,559 Speaker 1: Finny, I tell you what, we're all going to be 292 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: waiting to see, you know, what progresses now throughout the 293 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: day after what you've just told us in relation to 294 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 1: that emerge and see declaration, but also waiting to see 295 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: what comes out of that review that the Northern Territory 296 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: Chief Minister had said yesterday and today that they are 297 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: expecting that tonight. I'm not one hundred percent sure when 298 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: we're all going to be able to get a look 299 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: at that, but it's going to make for a really 300 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 1: interesting read. I don't think that there's going to be 301 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: any real surprises in it for people like you or 302 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: police officers. You know, you guys sort of already know 303 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: the work that you're doing and the fact that we 304 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: are understaffed. 305 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 3: Definitely, Katie and all in there is to support our members, 306 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 3: to make sure that they're protected to do the job 307 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 3: they need to do and given the resources, appropriate resource 308 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 3: to deal with a high level of crime. I said 309 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 3: yesterday it was obviously not a crime wave anymore. We're 310 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 3: going through a crime tsunami and we need the assistant 311 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 3: to actually deal with this well. 312 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: Nathan Finn, the President of the Northern Territory Police Association, 313 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:48,959 Speaker 1: we always appreciate your time. 314 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for joining us this morning. 315 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 3: Thank you Katie, and obviously out to all the ladies 316 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 3: and Jared Blue out there, stay safe, look after yourself 317 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: with no matter what. 318 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, look after yourselves, because I tell you what, it 319 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: has been quite unbelievable thing to see over the last 320 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: few days what's come out of Valice Springs. And as 321 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: I said earlier, something that really struck me was sort 322 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: of seeing the police standing there and the work that 323 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: they're trying to do and trying to keep the community safe. 324 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: You know, I take my hat off to them. It's 325 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: hard work and it would be incredibly daunting. Definitely, Finny, 326 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: thanks so much for joining us this morning.