1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Well, we know that parliamentary well, budget estimates is a 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: word I'm looking for, is continuing in the Northern Territory today. 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: Yesterday the Chief Minister was first uph and she has 4 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: indeed got a number of portfolios, including police. We also 5 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: know that there were a number of questions asked of 6 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: the Territory Coordinator. Joining me on the line to tell 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: us a little bit more about what has been her 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: focus and to talk a little bit more about the process. 9 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: Is the Member for Nightcliff, The Greens Member for Nightcliff, 10 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: Cat macnamara. 11 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Cat, morning Katie. 12 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: Good to have you on the show. Cat, Can I 13 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: ask before we get into budget estimates, what do you 14 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: think of the announcement today by the Northern Territory government 15 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: in terms of the rollout of oc spray a trial 16 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: from September. 17 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, yeah, I only just saw that in the 18 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 2: media this morning, so I'm still kind of wrapping my 19 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: head around it. But I mean my initial thoughts are 20 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: this just sends a message to me, right that the 21 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 2: government has kind of just given us whenever one's safety. 22 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 2: It's like, let's just everyone you know, that they've given 23 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: up trying to actually do anything to improve the situation. 24 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 2: Like what this is essentially doing is just putting weapons 25 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 2: more weapons in the community. I mean, we're going to 26 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 2: all this great length to take out other weapons, but 27 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 2: knives and things. So yeah, really concerning and quite strange. 28 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's been a lot like this. We honestly, the 29 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 1: tech sign this morning's gone off. Some people are really 30 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: supportive of it. Some people are a little bit worried 31 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: about it. The Police Association, for example, saying that they 32 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: need a bit more detail, and I think that's fair enough. 33 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 1: I think there's lots of people there are after further details, 34 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: so we'll do our best to make sure that we 35 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: can get some further detail for our listeners. Kat a 36 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: busy day yesterday in budget estimates. I couldn't watch the 37 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: whole thing, but I watched for a couple of hours 38 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: in the afternoon and lots on the agenda. I know 39 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: that you were certainly asking quite a few questions of 40 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: the Chief Minister around the lobbyist register. Talk me through 41 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: what you asked and what you're keen to see happen 42 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: in this space, yees. 43 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 2: So I asked around because we had the Chief Minister 44 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: herself when she was in opposition sort of questioning Labour's 45 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: integrity and specifically talking about the need for a lobbyist 46 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 2: register where everyday people in the community can find out 47 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 2: who which lobbyists are meeting with which ministers and how 48 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 2: often they meet and so in their lobbyist register that 49 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 2: they presented to us at the start of the year, 50 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: that's not part of it. We have no transparency for 51 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: the public around seeing who was meeting with lobbyists. And 52 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 2: so that was my question to her, And I mean, 53 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: I don't think I really got satisfactory answers because I 54 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 2: put forward my own motion for a lobbyist register that 55 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: included all the best practice things that we really want 56 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: to see for accountability integrity, and the selpobos against it. 57 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 2: So yeah, I asked her questions around that, and they 58 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 2: just said, well, that was the model they wanted to 59 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 2: go with. But I don't think that really stacks up. 60 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: So what do you reckon we need to say around 61 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: that lobbyist register and how would you like to see 62 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: it sort of go a step further. 63 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: Yes, the company, it just means that third party lobbyists, right, 64 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 2: so anyone who worked for a contracting firm, they register 65 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,399 Speaker 2: themselves and they get their name registered on our list 66 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: on our website, and that's that is there's a code 67 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 2: of conduct and if they break it, they just get 68 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: removed from this list. The problem is you've also got 69 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: all the lobbyists that work for so you know a 70 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 2: lobbyist that's employed by Santos or employed by a fambran, 71 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: and we don't know who they're meeting with. The whole 72 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 2: purpose of a lobbyist regisurant or most of the purpose 73 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 2: is for transparency and accountability to the public. So we 74 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 2: need it's like up they call it publishing of minister's diaries, right, 75 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: and it can be as simple as how often they're meeting, 76 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 2: who they're meeting with, what is the general items of 77 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: things discussed, And then people can really know because then 78 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 2: you can see who is walking into your MP's office 79 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: or MLA's office the most, right, who are they meeting 80 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 2: with the most And then you can and look. All 81 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: other states and territories have different versions of this, and 82 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 2: other states and territories are really improving and strengthening their 83 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: as time goes on. So you know, to have the 84 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 2: CLP go on to when labors and government about the 85 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 2: lack of transparency and now to see them just doing 86 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: the same, it's really frustrating. 87 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: Now, kat, I know that obviously the Territory Coordinator was 88 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: in there yesterday Stuart Knowles and the Independence and Opposition 89 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: got the opportunity to ask some questions of the Territory 90 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: Coordinator and also of the Northern Territory Chief Minister in 91 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: the space what were you keen to find out more 92 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: about with the Territory Coordinator. 93 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, we wanted to get more details around the 94 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 2: appointment of the Territory Coordinator. You know, was there an 95 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 2: open process? Turned out there wasn't. He seemed to be 96 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: just hand picked. I wanted assurances that his connections to 97 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 2: the industry, to the gas industry, like how are they 98 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: going to manage that in terms of conflict of interests? 99 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: And also, you know, we saw the public submissions that 100 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: we had to the Territory Coordinator bill, you know, over 101 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 2: three hundred submissions and only two were in favor, and 102 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 2: so I was asking questions around but what is the 103 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 2: point of consoleation, Like what are you doing with that feedback? 104 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 2: If people have gone to take the time to give 105 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 2: you really detailed submissions and the government just kind of 106 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: goes and throws them out the window. So what does 107 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: that mean for consultation and what were they doing with 108 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: people's input. 109 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: Now, Police and emergency services were also in their guest today. 110 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: I know there wasn't time for emergency services and the 111 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: fieries in the ads because there's so many questions asked 112 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: of the Northern Territory Police. What was your focus, particularly 113 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: for your electorate of Nightcliff, where we know there's been 114 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: some really serious concerns when it comes to crime and 115 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: anti social behavior issues. 116 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 2: Yes, so you're right, we did run out of time 117 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 2: for emergency services, which was a shame because I had 118 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 2: a lot of questions. I'm really keen to find out 119 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: more for bush biz and te and emergency services and things. 120 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: But I feel quite passionate about yeah, in terms of 121 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 2: how we're going to mitigate the risks of climate change, 122 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 2: in terms of increased bush buyer risk, things that are 123 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: really important. So I'll be putting my questions unnoticed at 124 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: a later day. But it was police here that was 125 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: quite a big questioning time. Now as I'm I'm not 126 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 2: a member of the estimates committee, so I sort of 127 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 2: have to wait till the very end to ask my questions, 128 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: and as you saw, we run out of time. But yeah, 129 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 2: there was a lot of questions around the resourcing, around 130 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: police retention, around questions around the recent guests in custody, yes, 131 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 2: around command a White, and around questions around whether that 132 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 2: could be have an independent investigation or not. 133 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: Kat, How did you find the whole process? It's your 134 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: first budget estimates. I've had to watch plenty of them 135 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: over the last ten years. How did you find it? 136 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, I know it's all this is all 137 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 2: a big learning curve for me. And you know, of 138 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 2: course I'm just nervous like anyone who would be my physician, 139 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 2: and just wanting to get the right questions in. And look, 140 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: it's kind of like it's time limited, so you sort 141 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 2: of sometimes you miss out, and I missed out in 142 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 2: my few yesterday. But I mean, overall, I think it's 143 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 2: just a really Look, it's a part. It's a really 144 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: important process, right we should we have to be able 145 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: to scrutinize the government. And it's also it's about asking 146 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 2: getting into the details of fundings, but also broader policy 147 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: stuff like why did this decision get made? And I've 148 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 2: got so many more questions for the next two weeks 149 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 2: that I'm keen to for different ministers. 150 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: Well, it'll no doubt be a it will continue to 151 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: be an interesting process. And look, I agree with you. 152 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: I think it's such an important process. It is an 153 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: opportunity for the opposition, the independence to be able to 154 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: ask further questions and questions that really are driven by 155 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: the community and by those that live in your electorates. 156 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: So it is definitely a really important process. I appreciate 157 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: you having a chat with us this morning. Kat Let 158 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: us know if you do uncover anything that you reckon 159 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: our listeners might be interested in over the coming weeks. 160 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: All right, we'll do Keatie, thank you, thanks for your time.