1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: I think it's safe to say the weekends events can 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: only be described as absolute chaos, if not crisis. Point yesterday, 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: learning that four police officers, four off duty police officers, 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: at two fifteen in the morning walking home through female 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: and a male walking to the through the Todd River 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 1: Walkway near scott Terrace in Alice back to a hotel 7 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: at Barrett Drive, they were approached from behind by a 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: group of up to twenty male youths who proceeded to 9 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: assault them. Now joining me in the studio right now 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: is the Northern Territory Police Association President Nathan Finn. Good 11 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: morning to you. 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 2: Good morning Katy, and good morning to your listeners. 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: Finny, how are those police officers going? 14 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 2: They're shrugging, Katie, and particularly the one that's had this 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: serious physical injuries after the vehicle incident on Friday afternoon. 16 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: They are struggling. But they're not going to struggle with 17 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: just the physical injuries. They're going to struggle with the 18 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 2: psychological issues. It's going to come from these assaults as well. 19 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: So unfortunately the members have to do all with this. 20 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: But it's nothing unnew that our police officers suffer this 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 2: stuff every single day. They go to go to work. 22 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 2: Our members are struggling. I was frustrated listening to the 23 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: conversation with mister Potter just prior to me coming in today. 24 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 2: I've got some serious concerns that he thinks that nothing 25 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: should change. So basically accepting that the continue to members 26 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 2: being flogged up, spat on rundown, etc. And not to 27 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: instead of strengthen the laws to actually protect our members 28 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: and make sure that these people actually are facing a 29 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 2: consequence for their actions, is frustrating to our members. That's 30 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: not supporting our police officers. Minister, get in there, change 31 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: the laws, make sure these people are held responsible for 32 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: the actions that they're actually taking place. They should be 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 2: treated as if they're adults, if their youth offenders, and 34 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 2: they don't want to commit serious crime, criminal offenses, they 35 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: should be held responsible. And unfortunately this government has not 36 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: held these people responsible and this is a consequence of 37 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: their actions, and our members are absolutely sick to death 38 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 2: of it. 39 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: Finny, in terms of the officer who got injured on 40 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: Friday in broad daylight trying to stop somebody who was 41 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,839 Speaker 1: behind the will of their vehicle intoxicated, can you tell 42 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: me how that police officer is going. 43 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: Police officers struggling. I spoke to him on Friday afternoon 44 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 2: again spoke to him over the weekend. He's had a 45 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: number of surgeries placed, some plates, etc. In his ankle, 46 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 2: and also some surgery on his elbow. He had lacerations 47 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: right through to the bone. Katie. He's been dragged by 48 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: a motor vehicle. He's been run over by a motor vehicle. 49 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 2: He's lucky to be alive. At this point in time, 50 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: he was looking at getting out of Alice Springs for 51 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: some leave on over the weekend, which didn't obviously occur. 52 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: Now he's still stuck in a hospital, so he hasn't 53 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 2: been auble to see his family or his kids. He's 54 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 2: planning to see over this break which is obviously causing 55 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: him some upset as well, but not just the physical 56 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: and it's just a psychologicalcy So you. 57 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: Say he was dragged by the vehicle. 58 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely, he's run straight over and dragged underneath the vehicle. 59 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 2: So he's lucky to be alive, Katie. And unfortunately, these consequences, 60 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: there's no consequences for these behavior. We've seen this and 61 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 2: these type of eventings still continues. We need some action 62 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: to be taken to protect our members. We've been asking 63 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 2: for a manatream minimum sentence for assaults on police for 64 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 2: a number of years. We need to respect our members. Unfortunately, 65 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 2: events like this, especially with the event off duty members 66 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: on early Sunday morning. One of these members haven't even 67 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 2: started Judy Allie Springs CATI. They've just graduated from the college, 68 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 2: the most excited part of their time. They're looking forward 69 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 2: to get into being a constable, a police within the 70 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 2: Northern Charity Police Force. And before she even starts, Judy 71 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: Ella Springs in the time she wants to look after 72 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: and serve in community. She's been assaulted and unfortunately that 73 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: situation didn't turn too violent. It was a violent situation, 74 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: but there was other violence going on that night as 75 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,839 Speaker 2: well after that incident. Lucky they weren't hurt too much. 76 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 2: But again, the psychological issues that are going to come 77 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 2: from that is going to be hard to replace and 78 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: they're going to question themselves what I joined the Northern 79 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: Territory Police Force. I'm not a punching bag. I shouldn't 80 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: deserve to be assaulted. Even if they weren't targeting because 81 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: they were police. They're lucky. It's a group of four 82 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 2: katy walking alone in town and being jumped on by 83 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: up to twenty youths is being reported. 84 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: What, Finny, this is the thing, you know, whether whether 85 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: it was known that they were police officers or not, 86 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: the fact is you've got four territorians who've been assaulted 87 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: by twenty youths who've said upon them. You know. I 88 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: know some people might go, oh, well, you know, while 89 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: were they walking home at to something in the morning. 90 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: You know, it shouldn't actually matter, and and the like. 91 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: I just think to myself, what hope does a regular 92 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: territory and who's not been trained in de escalation have? 93 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: What hope does a teenager have walking home or riding 94 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: their bike home? What hope does anybody have if there's 95 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: twenty people that surround them, you would absolutely shit yourself again. 96 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 2: It's the group mentality. And unfortunately were seeing this behavior 97 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: continue on and on and on. And this is due 98 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: to the current situation due to youth weak youth boil 99 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: laws no consequences, the raising of the minimum age criminal responsibility, 100 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: the chronic alcohol and domestic violence issues. No one of 101 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: these kids don't want to be at home. It's not 102 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 2: safe for them to be at home, But what are 103 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: we doing about this? Where's the other government age? He's 104 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 2: picking up the pieces. It's not an NT police problem. 105 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: It should not be an MT Police problem. And unfortunately 106 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 2: our members are at the point of it where they're 107 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: getting assaulted. It's not acceptable, Cadie, and this government needs 108 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: to take some responsibility and take it into their own. 109 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: They create the laws, they create the punishment for these laws. Okay, 110 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: we need stronger laws to protect our people, but not 111 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: only just our people, to do our job, protect the 112 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 2: whole of the community. Okay, they see they're tough on crime, 113 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: show us with some actions. Don't just say the words. 114 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 2: Our members are sick of the words and they want 115 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 2: to see action. 116 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: And support any Are there specific laws that you think 117 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 1: need to actually be amended or change that would make 118 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: a difference. 119 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 2: There's definitely a lot of laws, Katie, that need to 120 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 2: be changed and looked at the bail laws. Unfortunately, it 121 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 2: should start with a term of no bail that the 122 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: physician should be Unfortunately, we continue to see these violent 123 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: offenders being bailed back into the community, committing further offenses 124 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,919 Speaker 2: whilst you're on bail. Unfortunately, we heard the minister before 125 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,359 Speaker 2: so that the jails are full and we've got no 126 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 2: other options but to not send them there. That's not 127 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 2: our issue. If they want to commit crime, they're going 128 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 2: to do time. And basically that's what needs to happen 129 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 2: in this Northern Territory to make it a safer place 130 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 2: for everyone and make sure our members are supported to 131 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 2: do their job that they need to do. 132 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: And have you spoken to the Northern Territory Police Commissioner today? 133 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: I mean it is certainly we heard from the Police 134 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: Minister that there is a consideration of another curfew in 135 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: Alice Springs. Have you spoken to Michael Murphy this morning? 136 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely, Katie I. I picked up the phone, had 137 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 2: a conversation with him this morning about this and his 138 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 2: considerations of what's going to occur. They hadn't made a 139 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 2: final decision in relation to what they were going to 140 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 2: do in Alice Springs, but he had discussions. He's in 141 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 2: our springs on the ground. He flew down yesterday afternoon 142 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 2: asking a cunication with him again yesterday. There's a lot 143 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 2: to consider. But if we're finding ourselves three months down 144 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 2: the track and we're looking at imposing another curfew because 145 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: of criminal action of these said groups. Unfortunately, I think 146 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 2: we've failed ourselves. I think the government has failed not 147 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 2: only our community but our members as well. If you 148 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 2: need to look at this, we need to look at 149 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 2: it permanently, Catie. If this is an option that works, 150 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 2: we need to make sure that we've got police resources 151 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 2: to police this curfew, because that's the biggest issue at 152 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,239 Speaker 2: the moment. We haven't got the issue. And the Minister 153 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: said that we've got thirty three extra officers in Alice Springs. 154 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: That's not the fact, Katie, officers still in training. He's 155 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: referring to officers being in training being sent down there. 156 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: This is a decision for the commission and unfortunately, if 157 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: that was to cur it's going to interrupt their training again, 158 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 2: and they're going to be stuck at the College of 159 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 2: again and separated from their families and loved ones for 160 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 2: further Unfortunately, the curfew is not the simple answer. We 161 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: need to actually look at it, and actually it makes 162 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 2: some deterrence for this criminal action. 163 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: Finny, Look, I'm not expecting you to put words in 164 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: the Police Commissioner's mouth or to speak for him or 165 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: anything like that, but you know, it seems like he's 166 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: made the right move heading down to Alice Springs yesterday 167 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: afternoon to make sure that those officers are okay. 168 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely, And it takes a lot to make this decision. Again, 169 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: he's got a lot of decisions to make. He's a 170 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: lot of conversations to make, and to see the community 171 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: in light of himself, looking at the community and making 172 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 2: sure he's addressing all the situations down there. There's been 173 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: a lot going on and unfortunately it's a big decision 174 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 2: to make. But he's got to make that decision based 175 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: on whether we can actually do it, and I don't 176 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: believe we can actually do it on the resources we've 177 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 2: got Allie Springs, and that's the unfortunate situation. He needs 178 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: to weigh that up, whether he pulls officers from other jurisdictions, 179 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 2: not from other jurisdictions, from other places in the Northern 180 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: Territory to make sure that we can actually police it. 181 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: Apart so from your perspective, at this point in time, 182 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: you don't think a curfew should be called in Alice. 183 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 2: It's not up to me, Katie. Based on the evidence 184 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 2: that has come across on the weekend, we need to 185 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: do something. We need to do something sooner rather than later, Katie. 186 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: To make sure that this town is provided with the 187 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 2: safety they need and make sure that the police have 188 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 2: got the responsibility and the powers to do what they 189 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 2: need to do. 190 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: Thenny where to from here? From the association's perspective. 191 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 2: I'm still going to have to pick up the phone, 192 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: Katie and speak to these members that have been assaulted 193 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 2: or responded to a critical incident. I love speaking to 194 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 2: our members, but not on these terms, Katie. It's unfortunate 195 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 2: this sort of stuff comes and brings it to attention 196 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 2: to the national use. Again, it's an unforcend situation where 197 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 2: it's embarrassing for the Northern Territory Police Force. It's embarrassing 198 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 2: for the Northern Territory community that we're counsantly in the 199 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: limelight for all the wrong reasons. We need to make 200 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: sure that our members are looked after, our members are 201 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 2: resourced appropriately. We've heard all the announcements, we've thought, nothing's 202 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 2: actually eventuated as yet, Katie. As you know a lot 203 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 2: of these times things, but we've been neglected for so 204 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 2: long and this is a consequence of a police force 205 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 2: that's been neglected. Unfortunately, we haven't got the resource to 206 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 2: do what we need to do, so, please resources, let 207 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 2: us do our proactive policing, which we all love to do. 208 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:35,719 Speaker 2: It's not just the response stuff that we have to do. 209 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: There's a lot of stuff that our members enjoy doing 210 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 2: and we're not getting that opportunity to do that because 211 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 2: we're under resourced and undervalued. 212 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 1: And by the sounds of it as well from what 213 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: you said earlier, you know you want to see some 214 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: legislative changes. 215 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely, Katie. And just to show you some figures there. 216 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 2: Last year we got figures saying that there's three hundred 217 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 2: and seventy two police officers saulted. There was nearly eleven 218 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 2: hundred in the last three years, over a seventy percent 219 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: of our workforce have been assaulted at work. If that's 220 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 2: not an indication that there's no deterrence to assaulting a 221 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 2: police officer, I'm sorry, minister, but take an action, deal 222 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 2: with it now and make sure they're secure our police 223 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,199 Speaker 2: officer police force has actually looked after and being prioritized well. 224 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: Nathan Finn, President of the Northern Territory Police Association, appreciate 225 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: your time this morning. I know you've had You've canceled 226 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: a whole raft of things today really to respond to 227 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: the situation that's unfolded with our police over the course 228 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: of the weekend. And you know rightly so, I guess 229 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 1: as the Police Commission has done as well to get 230 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,199 Speaker 1: down there to Alice Springs, because we need to make 231 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: sure the whole community is safe, not just our police officers, 232 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: but all of our community. 233 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 2: It affects everyone, Katie, and effects not just the police officer, 234 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: affects the whole town, the whole community. And unfortunately Alice 235 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: Springs is not the only issue across the Northern Territory. 236 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 2: We've seen the dramas. Obviously, I'm quite embarrassed coming in 237 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 2: this morning knowing that vehicles at the back of your 238 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: studio were broken into overnight. It's devastating for the people 239 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: that and people are the victims of these crimes, yep, 240 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 2: the long lasting effects of that it has on them. 241 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 2: And unfortunately, we need to actually reduce the crime rate 242 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 2: and actually resource police to let us do the job 243 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 2: that we need to do and make it a terrence 244 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: for these people that choose to commit crimes in the 245 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 2: Northern Territory and they're going to be punished. They need 246 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 2: to know that we need to hold them responsible and 247 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 2: unfortunately are members at at the forefront of that and 248 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 2: under resource and everything else. They are struggling to deal 249 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 2: with the demands of crime. Okay, but I take my 250 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 2: hat off to them, and that's the only reason I 251 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 2: come in and I represent them and make sure they're 252 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 2: looked after. And unfortunately they have been assaulted. They continually 253 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 2: get assaulted, and unfortunately we're here talking about it. 254 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: Kay again, Yeah again, Nathan Finn. I always appreciate your time. 255 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:48,199 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for coming in this morning. 256 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, and thanks for having me. 257 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: Thank you. And I do hope that those police officers 258 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,079 Speaker 1: are going to be okay. I mean, I think it's 259 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: appalling any assault, whether it's against a police officer, any 260 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: other frontline worker, any territory in really it's appalling behavior, 261 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: disgusting behavior.