1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: We know that yesterday the Northern Territory Police were calling 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,559 Speaker 1: for information following a large disturbance that occurred in Catherine. 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: As we reported on the show just before one o'clock 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: on Wednesday morning, police CCTV operators reported this large disturbance, 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: which involved people, well multiple people, inside the rear of 6 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: the service station on Railway Terrace. A high lux was insided, 7 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: driving erradically, ramming into unoccupied vehicles on numerous times, and 8 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: driving at people in the area. An eighteen year old 9 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: male was reportedly struck by a vehicle during that incident. 10 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 1: Now it adds to a number of issues that we've 11 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: seen in the top end town in recent weeks. We've 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: just received a message as well on the show from 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: Tommy Catherine saying that there was more going on last night. 14 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: But I might put that to our local member Joe 15 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: Hersey in just a moment, because joining us on the 16 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: line is a member for Catherine. She's also the Minister 17 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: for Education. Hercy. Good morning to you. 18 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners. 19 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show this morning. Joe. 20 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: It does sound like a really disturbing situation in the 21 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: early hours of yesterday with that large disturbance. Do you 22 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: have any idea what caused that? 23 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it definitely was a very disturbing you know, in 24 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: the early hours of the morning of what happened there, Katie. 25 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: It is my understanding that this is a bit of 26 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 2: a payback from previous weeks prior to that, where a 27 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: stabbing happened with someone in Kolano. So there were people 28 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,559 Speaker 2: from Nooka and Kolano that had congregated out the back 29 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: of the service station there and what actually happened was terrible, 30 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: you know, just just as you've just explained then, you know, 31 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: it is shocking and that is totally not acceptable. In 32 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 2: answer to the text that you just sent in, I 33 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: haven't heard of anything more that went on overnight, and 34 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 2: the police were going to let me know this morning. 35 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: If there was one of those vehicles I do know 36 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 2: that was involved in that yesterday, was caught on fire 37 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 2: last night, or was fed on fire, I could say 38 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 2: that's the only thing that I'm aware of that, well, 39 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: that might be it overnight. 40 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: I'll read that message out for you from Tom and 41 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: I guess it's you know, it mentions that, but it's 42 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: an overview of other things. 43 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: It says Hi. 44 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: Katie, another night of carnage and Catherine, this time people 45 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: setting fire to cars. I was born in this town, 46 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: which is now what locals are calling like a community. 47 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: I think it's time that the government looked at adjusting 48 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: pubs opening times to two pm. At the moment, at lunchtime, 49 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 1: we've got drunks swearing, yelling, spitting and fighting throughout the 50 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: shopping center next door. It's disgusting behavior. I now refuse 51 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: to take the kids shopping as I don't want them 52 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: to see this behavior. We need to give the town 53 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: a few hours a day to breathe with that out 54 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 1: pubs fueling the fire. Could you please ask the member 55 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: for Catherine and maybe some of the indigenous leaders what 56 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: is going on, Joe. Is that something that maybe needs 57 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: to be considered. Do we need to look at the 58 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: opening hours of you know, of those licensed premises to 59 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: see whether that would have an impact as has happened 60 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs. 61 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, that that's what Tom has said there. I 62 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 2: would one hundred percent acknowledge all of what he has 63 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: just said as someone who's been here thirty five years myself, 64 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: it has been terrible the goings on over the last month. 65 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: And I've spoken to the police about this because we 66 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 2: did have a very good you know, everything seemed to 67 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 2: be just going along quite nicely up until potentially the 68 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 2: last month when things have certainly escalated with breakins again, 69 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 2: car's stolen. You know, we've even had people in our 70 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: yard twice within a week a couple of weeks ago. 71 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 2: There's certainly a lot going on in town. But I 72 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: have to applaud the police on their Swiss work, you know, 73 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 2: through the CCTV to actually see that the violence that 74 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 2: happened not last night the night before, but also they 75 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 2: have and I think maybe it's been a couple of 76 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 2: months now that it's been happening. At seven o'clock between 77 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 2: Wednesday and Saturday, they congregate or they gather in the 78 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:34,679 Speaker 2: town square, police Housing Safety officers, KLANO and the circuit 79 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 2: breaker team and they have a bit of a meeting 80 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: and then they disperse from there and they've all got 81 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 2: contact with each other and they go out and you know, 82 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 2: the Housing Safety officers are going and doing their checks 83 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: and the circuit breaker team are going and doing theirs. 84 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: And then so if any youth are found in the night, 85 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: they can either go back to a place that the 86 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: Circuit Breaker team have on Gravillia Road and they can 87 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 2: either have a sleep or whatever happens there and then 88 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 2: they are followed up with education and health and you 89 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 2: know families the next day. 90 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: It sounds like that actually sounds like a really good 91 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: thing that's happening. 92 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 2: The proactive thing, yeah, you know, and I mean it's 93 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: unfortunate prevention. 94 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's unfortunate though that it does sound as though 95 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: things are still fleering up. I mean, are there other 96 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: measures that the Northern Territory government of which you are 97 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: part of, could look at to maybe assist the police? 98 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: I mean, is that is it a potential thing to 99 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: look at the opening hours or the you know, the 100 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: takeaway ours for for for pubs and and for you know, 101 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: for our bottle os. 102 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: I think potentially, yes, that is something that we can 103 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 2: look at. And I know in conversations with the police, 104 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 2: there's a lot of things that they are looking at. 105 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 2: They've had the Social Order Response Team going out you 106 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 2: know over the last week and they have you know, 107 00:05:55,880 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: tipped out considerable amounts of alcohol move people. There's been 108 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 2: infringements issued, liquor infringements issued licensed premises, have been checked. 109 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: You know, bdos have been issued, so you know, even 110 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: some of the housing around Catherine that have the restricted premises, 111 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 2: they have been checked for people drinking there. So you know, 112 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: all of these things. We are eight short months into it, 113 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 2: and I one hundred percent acknowledge everyone that sends me 114 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 2: a message, and a lot of people send me a message, Katie. 115 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: The police are doing the best they can with what 116 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 2: they've got, but in conversations of them, they still need 117 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 2: more resources. And you know there's there's I think in June, 118 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 2: I think there's more police coming to Catherine as well 119 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: from the next intake, and then there's also some police 120 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 2: from New Zealand coming through as well, you know that 121 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: have already been police doing a lot actually happens, but 122 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 2: it needs to be a lot more. 123 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: And by the sounds of it to Tom, you're certainly 124 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: not ruling out some restrictions or some changes to operating 125 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: hours or looking at what's going on when it comes 126 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: to the service of alcohol. 127 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: I think those all things need to be looked at, Katie, 128 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 2: and they are certainly conversations that I continue to have 129 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 2: when I'm talking to police. But we do know that 130 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,679 Speaker 2: prohibition doesn't work, But I one hundred percent agree with Tom. 131 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: There needs to be a reprieve. And even when I 132 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 2: went to Woollies yesterday at three o'clock, it looked like 133 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 2: almost every fourth person had a carton of VB under 134 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 2: their arm, and there was just people everywhere. I acknowledge 135 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 2: that we're coming up to Easter, but there's a lot 136 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: of community people in town, and the police are working 137 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,239 Speaker 2: hard with Nooker to maybe get some of their elders 138 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: to come in and you know, take those people back 139 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: home as well. So there is a you know, there 140 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 2: will be a continued police presence in Katherine over the 141 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: Easter weekend. In conversations last night with police, there's I 142 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 2: think the dogs are coming down and more police are 143 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 2: coming down. There'll be here in Catherine, Yeah, to help 144 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: the police on the ground here, hey, Joe. And there'll 145 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: be a huge community focus, a focus on community safety 146 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: as well, on the roads and everywhere. Given that it's 147 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 2: an Easter weekend. 148 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, good and look, I hope that it's a good 149 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: weekend for the people of Catherine. I hope it's a 150 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: great weekend for everybody across the top end or across 151 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: the whole of the Northern Territory. Hey, just a quick 152 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 1: one before I let you go. This morning, I know 153 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: that i'd seen a post on Facebook from Springdale Medical 154 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,599 Speaker 1: saying that they're announcing the closure of their medical Springdale 155 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: Medical at Catherine, transferring of the practice into state to Queenslayding. 156 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: What exactly is the situation here? 157 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, that again, Katie. I think maybe I can't remember 158 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 2: how many years ago, maybe four years ago, we had 159 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 2: the same thing where we didn't have any health services 160 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 2: for about six to eight months. Then we had behind 161 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 2: your Health came in, and then we had Family Medical, 162 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 2: and then we had Springdale Medical. And now two of those, 163 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 2: both Springdale and the Family one, have closed and we 164 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 2: are back to just one. And it's not okay for 165 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: and I was speaking to federal colleagues yesterday that it 166 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 2: is not okay that we are left in the dry 167 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 2: here with no medical services and with one clinic. There's 168 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 2: a lot of people that drive up and back to 169 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: Darwen to go and see the doctor. But it's not 170 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,679 Speaker 2: acceptable in twenty twenty five that when you're in a 171 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: you know, a regional town that you can't get to 172 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: see the doctor. So today I do have just Enterprise 173 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 2: coming to town with Senator Rustin as well. There will 174 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 2: be announcement around medical things, so I will potentially shoot 175 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: you an email and let me know. I'll be very 176 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 2: ten going on with you now. 177 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: I'll be really ten to find out more and potentially 178 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,559 Speaker 1: get someone on the show for next week. Joe Hersey, 179 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: I am going to have to leave it there. The 180 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: Member for Catherine also the Minister for Education and various portfolios. 181 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time. Have a lovely 182 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: Easter weekend and I hope. 183 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 2: That everybody and have a happy Easter and big shout 184 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 2: out to Clyde Bender. This morning I went to the 185 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 2: Easter parade and so many students with one hundred percent attendance. 186 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 2: I was a very happy Minister. 187 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: I bet you were. That is really good news. Joe Hersey, 188 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: good to catch up with you. Thank you, thanks so 189 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: much for your time.