1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: I am pleased to say that I believe joining me 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: on the line right now is the Federal Opposition leader 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: Peter Dutton. Good morning to. 4 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: You, Good morning, how are you? 5 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, very well, Thanks so much for your time this morning. 6 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: I know you're having some well phone reception issues, so 7 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: hopefully we're able to get through the interview without you 8 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: cutting out. Now, you had the discussion or the roundtable yesterday. 9 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: Tell us a little bit about who you met with 10 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: and what was discussed. 11 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, we had a really good meeting. It was 12 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 2: I think a good reflection of the community sentiment, not 13 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: just in Darwen, but across many parts of the NC 14 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 2: where people from businesses and people with a service delivery 15 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 2: perspective just told us about what they're seeing in the 16 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 2: community in relation to crime. And it's pretty alarming. And 17 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: you know, I'm not telling people of Darwin, or you know, 18 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 2: the broaders of a community any news that they don't 19 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 2: already know. We know that just according to the stats 20 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: I'm in the house, break into cross the territory a 21 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:05,199 Speaker 2: up twenty two percent, vehicle thefties up by thirty percent 22 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 2: of Darwin, and so it goes on the question is 23 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: what can be done about it, and it seems to 24 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 2: me that the government at the moment run out of 25 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 2: ideas or they've made decisions which has really made it 26 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: less safe and much more difficult for the police to 27 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 2: enforce the law, and unfortunately people are falling victim to 28 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: these crimes on a more regular basis. 29 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: What do you think can be done or what do 30 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: you think should be done? I mean there's a real 31 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: discussion I guess in the lead into to any election, 32 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: you know, whether it's at a state scale or even 33 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: even federally, when you talk about crime that you know 34 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: that tough on crime approach, some people come out and 35 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: say it just doesn't work. I mean, what are your thoughts? 36 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: Well, interestingly, yesterday Katie talking to some of the people, 37 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 2: I mean, I asked the question, well, you know, why 38 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: is it so bad now, and why is it much 39 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: worse than it has been in the past, and are 40 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: there are a few people there who who obviously the 41 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: long term residents of Darwin in the NT and they 42 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: were talking about changes to bail laws, the government's approach 43 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: to not arresting people and allowing there to be a 44 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 2: culture where there's no consequence for your actions. People go 45 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: before the courts and get a slap on the wrist. 46 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 2: And when you look at the appointments that the Labor 47 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 2: Government's made of magistrates and judges over a period of time, 48 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 2: are they people that reflect the community values and views 49 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 2: in terms of sentencing and does it provide that deterrence. 50 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 2: I think people are living with the outcomes now of 51 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 2: the social experiment which has gone terribly wrong. So I 52 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 2: think there are a number of things you can do. 53 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 2: And as you know, I think people have talked about 54 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,399 Speaker 2: not just in the Northern Territory but in Melbourne and 55 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 2: in Sydney. When you water down the bail laws, people 56 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 2: are back out there before the police can finish the 57 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 2: paperwork and they're back out committing more crimes. There are 58 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 2: things that you can do about bail. I think there 59 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 2: are things that you can do in relation to providing 60 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 2: support to the police, clearly. 61 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: But. 62 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 2: There's a lot going on in the community at the 63 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 2: moment that I think people are starting to see as 64 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 2: normal and it's not normal behavior to have the impact 65 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 2: that we're seeing on local residents with their homes being 66 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 2: broken into, the windows on their cars being smashed at 67 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: local shopping centers, and what we're seeing for businesses. One 68 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: of the business groups yesterday told us that one of 69 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: the shopping centers now has a security bill of over 70 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 2: a million dollars a year. Now all of that's passed 71 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 2: on to shoppers through higher rents for the tenants in 72 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 2: that shopping center, and it has an inflation re impact 73 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: and at a time when people can't afford extra prices, 74 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: they're finding the prices of the goods that they're paying 75 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: being jacked up. Yeah. 76 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: Well, it's something we were literally just talking about out 77 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: with the Australian Hotels Association. I mean, when it comes 78 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: to those issues of crime right across Australia, though we 79 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: know that we are definitely under the pump here in 80 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: the territory, there's no other way to put it. Other 81 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: parts of Australia are, you know, are experiencing high rates 82 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: of crime as well. Is there more that can happen 83 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: from a federal scale to really try to help the 84 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: states to deal with this. 85 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: The short entry is yes. But I just make this point. 86 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: It's in my judgment and you know, we've get to 87 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 2: move around the country every day. There's nothing like what 88 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 2: we're seeing in the territory. You know, the parts of 89 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 2: the country at the moment. When you look at Pallas Springs, 90 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: I mean motor vehicle steps up by fifty percent, housebreakings 91 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 2: in Tenet Creek up by one hundred and sixty six percent. 92 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: You know, Palmerston property damage up fifty percent, robbery extortion 93 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 2: events our Springs up one hundred and fifty percent. There's 94 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: there's a give a problem here in the NTA, and 95 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: I think the Chief Minister really needs to offer a 96 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 2: huge apology to local residents because she's allowed it to 97 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 2: get completely out of control. But the anty question in 98 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 2: relation to what can be done at a federal level, well, 99 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 2: there's more funding that can be provided for policing services. 100 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: There's obviously federal legislation, particularly around telecommunications, which is a 101 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: power that the commonwp has that the territory doesn't have. 102 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: And in that regard where kids are sharing videos or 103 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 2: they're posting images of themselves committing crimes, the Commula can 104 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: do more to enforce those laws, and we've put forward 105 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 2: a policy to that effect to make sure that we 106 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 2: toughen the laws up and make it an offense to 107 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 2: share an image of that crime being committed or perpetrated, 108 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: because for many kids and gangs. Now part of the 109 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: part of the reason they're committing a crime is that 110 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 2: they can post it online so that they can get likes, 111 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: and that's part of the psyche. Regrettably, that's the reality, 112 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 2: and it's unbelievable. 113 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's unbelievable. We are going to have to get 114 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 1: ready to wrap up. I know your press for time, 115 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: as are we, but I just want to ask you. 116 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: And it's a complex issue, so I know there's probably 117 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: not a short answer, but when it comes to the 118 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: serious rates of domestic violence that we've got here in 119 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, there's been a real push for needs 120 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: based funding rather than, you know, rather than the level 121 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: of funding that we're currently receiving from the federal government. 122 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: Is that something that a coalition government would be prepared 123 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: to commit to. 124 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: I'd be very happy to look at it, and some 125 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: of the groups raised it yesterday. I do think the 126 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 2: territory is underdone in terms of the funding that's coming 127 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 2: from Camber. At the moment, the PM is just employing 128 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 2: another ten thousand public servants in camera and I think 129 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 2: that money can be better spent in services that we 130 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 2: know are working on the ground. Got to be making sure. 131 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: We've got to make sure that we're not putting money 132 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 2: after bat into services that aren't working. But for the 133 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: services that are shifting the dial and it can demonstrate 134 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: that they're reducing the incidents of domestic violence, then I 135 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: think we should be looking to scale it up so 136 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 2: that we can reduce that cycle. Because young kids are 137 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: growing up watching that violence. It's been normalized, particularly in 138 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: some cases reinforced with what they're watching online as well, 139 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 2: and then they become future perpetrators as well, and so 140 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 2: you become a generational cycle. But there are other things 141 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 2: that you can do as well. I mean, the government 142 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: removed the restrictions in relation to alcohol in some communities, 143 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: the Casuallest debit card was removed, and there was just 144 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 2: an overnight spike in domestic and family and community violence otherwise, 145 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 2: And I just think the PMS had a pretty weak 146 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 2: approach to all of this, and I think we've got 147 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 2: to make tough decisions to really get back to a 148 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: position where we can allow people to lead safe, normal 149 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: lives again. And that's absolutely our priority, and I know 150 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: Leah's priority as well. And I actually gets elected in 151 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks time, because we can turn the 152 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: territory around and get it back on track, and I 153 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 2: think there's a huge opportunity for that coming up. Well. 154 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton really appreciate your time this morning. 155 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for having a quick chat with us. 156 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: Pleasure, Katie, take that. Thank you.