1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Now we learned yesterday the Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: would be traveling to Alice Springs to meet with the 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Chief Minister Lea Fanocchiaro, as well as the Shadow Indigenous 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: Affairs Minister, just Center Namba, Jimpa Price, local leaders and 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: residents to hear about concerns in the Red Center town, 6 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: which has been plagued with issues of crime. The visit 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: was fitting as we head into an election year, many 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: Territorians are wondering what a potential labor or coalition government 9 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: is going to do to try and curb the horrendous 10 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: issues that we've experienced here in the Northern Territory when 11 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: it comes to crime. Now joining me on the line 12 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: is the Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Good morning to you. 13 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 1: Good morning Katie, Thanks so much for your time this morning. 14 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: Now what is on your agenda while you're in Alice Springs. 15 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: Well, so great to be back on the show. And firstly, 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: can I say to you and your listeners thank you 17 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: very much for the real commitment you've had to addressing 18 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 2: the issue of law and order in crime and making 19 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 2: sure that and live and raise their children in the 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,559 Speaker 2: safe community. And I have the same objective in mind, 21 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 2: and I know Leathan Occaio does as well. There's a 22 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: seven point plan that she has put together on top 23 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: of the changes that they've already implemented, and we have 24 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 2: announced yesterday that we agree to those seven points that 25 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 2: she's outlined, and we saw last night one of those 26 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: in action with the drone activity and making sure that 27 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: CASS of the Federal Authority gives the tick of approval 28 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: makes it easier for those flights to take place, because 29 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 2: we know it's a real tool in the kit bag 30 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 2: for our police. And there are a number of other 31 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 2: issues that the Chief Minister has raised after her consultation, 32 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 2: and all of us are dedicated to doing whatever we 33 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: can to try and provide a restoration of the safety 34 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: and security that people rightly expect and demand in their 35 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: local households, the local communities, the local businesses. 36 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: Well. Absolutely, I mean, just yesterday on the show, we're 37 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: actually speaking to Marlon Sequenza, the dad of the little 38 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: baby whose skull was fractured before Christmas after a home 39 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: invasion in Alice Springs. I mean, I think it's safe 40 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: to say that we've you know, we've made headlines across 41 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: the nation for all the wrong reasons in the Northern 42 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: Territory and quite frankly, we're all sick of it. 43 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: Well, I understand why people are, and I think people 44 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: are just living frankly for years now with the constant 45 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 2: it's a constant cloud over your head. You're looking over 46 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: your shoulder, you're not going to go out to that 47 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: shop or to that part of town, or you're worried 48 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 2: about a noise in the night, you're worried about business 49 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: being broken into and getting that call from the police, 50 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: or so many aspects of it. And it's been a 51 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 2: long time since I was a policeman, but remember very 52 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: vividly just the mental impact that it has on people 53 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: when they're constantly under attack, and it then parts forms 54 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: part of every conversation you have with your neighbor, at work, 55 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: in your social group, on your social media, and it's 56 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 2: debilitating and people deserve better than that. Because I've been 57 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: coming to Ela Springs for a long long time and 58 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 2: it is a beautiful part of the world. It should 59 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: be a tourist mecca. It should be an opportunity for 60 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 2: young people to make a great start in life and 61 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 2: for people to do well in business and at the moment, 62 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: people have lost sight of some of that and we 63 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: need to get it back. 64 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: Opposition Leader. We know, as you touched on just a 65 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: moment ago, Anthony Albanesi and the Labor government they agreed 66 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: to those changes when it comes to Cassa. But some 67 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: of those other changes like aligning center Link payments with 68 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: takeaway alcohol free days, as well as royalty distributions to 69 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: be made in communities not in Alice Springs, implementing one 70 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: hundred percent income management for parents of youth offenders. Some 71 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: of those different different plans or initiative is that the 72 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: local government here in the Northern Territory had hoped to 73 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: see sort of come to fruition and they seem to 74 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: be dragging their heels on. You've said that you will 75 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: commit to certainly trying to implement those How do you 76 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: think they'll make a difference. 77 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: They'll make a difference because we've listened to the experience 78 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 2: of people on the ground, and we've listened to the 79 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 2: police and others, and that's exactly what the Chief Minister 80 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: has done and that's reflected in the seven items. Now 81 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: to the Chief Minister's credit, she shared that with the 82 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: Prime Minister first and asked for his support of each 83 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 2: of the seven. As you point out, he came back 84 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 2: and supported one of the seven in relation to Cassel, 85 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 2: which was probably the easiest issue to deal with because 86 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: it was just a technicality around the airspace and how 87 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 2: the drains could fly. And now I think there's further 88 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 2: reform to be made in that regard so that we 89 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 2: can make the job for the police easier and make 90 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: it more responsive for the drain activity to try and 91 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 2: stop some of this crime even before it is committed. 92 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: So there's a real question mark about why the PM 93 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: wouldn't agree to the other six items. I think they're sensible. 94 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: I think they're just, as I say, a reflection of 95 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 2: what people think will practically make a difference. It's not 96 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 2: pretending to be the silver bullet, but it will build 97 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: on the work that LEAD has done already and when 98 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 2: you look at the number of arrests that have been made, 99 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 2: the task forces that have been set up, they have 100 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: had an impact and we heard that from the Deputy 101 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: Commissioner yesterday, But there's a long way to go and 102 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 2: there's a big mess to clean up that labor created 103 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: and it's not going to be fixed overnight. But why 104 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: the Prime Minister hasn't dedicated himself to this cause I 105 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 2: don't understand. Since the voice, it just seems that he's 106 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 2: dropped the ball and hasn't had a great interest in 107 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 2: Alice Springs at all. 108 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: Well, and I guess there's a lot of ifs here. 109 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: We know that we still don't know exactly what date 110 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: the federal election is going to happen, and you indeed 111 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: would need to be elected as the the Prime Minister 112 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: for these changes to come into play. But if that happens, 113 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: how quickly do you think that you'd be able to 114 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: implement some of these changes and have them come into effect. 115 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: Well, certainly with some of them within a matter of weeks. 116 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: It's an administrative decision able to be implemented by the minister, 117 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 2: So there's really no excuse at all. In some of 118 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: the other matters, there'll be legislation required which we can 119 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 2: pass immediately, but we'll need the support of Labor in 120 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: the Senate because obviously the greenswayes support it. Now, then 121 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 2: on the Labor Party if they're not going to support it. 122 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 2: But I would have thought that if there is a 123 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: clear mandate, if we can win the seat of Lingiari, 124 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: for example, with Lisa Sibert, who's given sixteen years of 125 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 2: her life as Australian Federal Police officer. I think she's 126 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: a great candidate, as Lisa Baylis is in Solomon in Darwin. 127 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: And if we can get those two members elected, then 128 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 2: I think we can change the government, we can get 129 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 2: our country back on track. But I think it gives 130 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: us a better chance of implementing these seven points and 131 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 2: many more. There's a lot of support that Alice Springs 132 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 2: and Darwin requires and across the territory, and I think 133 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: the opportunity for growth and economic and tourism growth is phenomenal. 134 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,679 Speaker 2: But the Prime Minister seems to live in this Canberra 135 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: bubble and they've employed thirty six thousand new public service 136 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: servants in Canberra over the last two and a half 137 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 2: years at a cost of six billion dollars a year, 138 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 2: and I just don't think any of that has made 139 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 2: life easier for people in the territory. And I want 140 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: to make sure that we can we can help people 141 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 2: improve the safety situation but also the economic situation as well. 142 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: Peter Dutton, do you think the implementation of something like 143 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: the one hundred percent income management for parents of youth defenders. 144 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: Do you think that it's something which should actually be 145 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: rolled out across the nation. I mean places like cans 146 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: and Townsville for example, are also grappling with really serious 147 00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: issues of crime. 148 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 2: Well, we had in government a policy with the Casualist 149 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 2: debit card for people on working age payments and it 150 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 2: was on a trial basis, but obviously hasn't proceeded with 151 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 2: this government. In an area like Siguna, there was a 152 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 2: significant downturn in the number of crimes that were being 153 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 2: committed when the cacialist debit card came in because, as 154 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: people know, people weren't spending money on grog, they weren't 155 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 2: spending it on drugs. They were spending it on food 156 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 2: and groceries and fruit and vegge and support for their 157 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 2: kids and their families. When Anthony Alberanezi was elected Prime Minister, 158 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 2: they knocked that out and we saw straight away a 159 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: spike in domestic violence and the alcohol fuel violence returned 160 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 2: to that community very quickly. Now the government doesn't have 161 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:52,199 Speaker 2: any understanding of why, and certainly they've provided no explanation 162 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 2: as to why they removed the card. There just seems 163 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 2: to be some desire to please Green voters in inner 164 00:08:57,800 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 2: city Sydney in Melbourne who see it as a racist 165 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 2: But people know that if they've got out of the 166 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: royalty payments, there's a flood of cash coming in. It's 167 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 2: being spent on alcohol and as the police pointed out yesterday, 168 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 2: you can track the surge and crime when those big 169 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 2: payments come into Alice Springs are into a community, and 170 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 2: there's no sense denying that. It might be inconvenient for 171 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 2: some of the Prime Minister's friends to hear that inner 172 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 2: city Sydney, but the reality is that locals know that 173 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 2: that's the case and it needs to be addressed. And 174 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 2: four marks to the Chief Minister, because I think she's 175 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 2: really rolled the sleeves up and is trying to find 176 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 2: every way possible to help resolve a very difficult situation. 177 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: Now, I do want to ask you about a couple 178 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: of issues nationally in just a moment before I get there, though. 179 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: What else is on the agenda while you're in Allie 180 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: Springs today. 181 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 2: Well, we've got to focus on meeting with some of 182 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 2: the small business leaders just to hear about how we 183 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 2: can help grow their businesses. We announced a policy you 184 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 2: might have seen in the last four night, which allows 185 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 2: businesses with a turnover of less than ten million dollars, 186 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 2: so it's about ninety eight percent of small businesses in 187 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 2: the country to be able to spend up to twenty 188 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 2: thousand dollars in any one financial year in cafes, restaurants, clubs, hotels, 189 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 2: et cetera. And the idea of that is that it 190 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 2: allows the local real estate agent or the local builder 191 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 2: to take his or her staff down to the pub, 192 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: down to local cafe, not to spend money on alcohol, 193 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 2: but spend money on food, and it can help also 194 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 2: entertain customers. And we think that is a very important policy. 195 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 2: It's tax deductible, it's not fringe benefits accessible, so it 196 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 2: takes out some of the complication and we think that 197 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 2: will really help a sector that's struggling at the moment 198 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 2: with high wage cost and high regulation, big input costs. 199 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 2: Their power bills have gone through the roof as well, 200 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 2: so it helps those cafes employ more staff, but it 201 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 2: also provides it's a tax reduction for those businesses the 202 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 2: same as they would have for other expenses. So yeah, 203 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 2: that's our focus. 204 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,439 Speaker 1: And just quickly, I guess looking at that cost of living. 205 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 1: Many are wondering if the interest rates could soon be cut. 206 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: We know that inflation dropped by zero point four percent 207 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: in the twelve months to December. I guess giving fresh 208 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: hopes to some mortgage holders. The new figures from the 209 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 1: Australian Bureau of Statistics are the key piece of data 210 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: that the RBA look well, they will look at during 211 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: their February meeting. What do you think's going to happen? 212 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: I mean, do you think we are potentially going to 213 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: have a situation here where we do have a cut 214 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: to the interest rate? We know, cost of living, like 215 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: you touched on a moment ago, is a huge issue, 216 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 1: not only for us here in the territory, but right 217 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:45,439 Speaker 1: across Australia. 218 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 2: Well, Kat, I certainly hope interest rates can come down soon. 219 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 2: But as a reserve bank Gavenor points out, the government 220 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 2: keeps spending a lot of money in the economy, as 221 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,719 Speaker 2: labor governments obviously do regularly. They tax and spend, and 222 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 2: that spending has driven inflation, which has fueled interest rates. Now, 223 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 2: interest rates have already come down in the US, the UK, 224 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 2: Canada and New Zealand, and they should have already come 225 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 2: down here by now. So I hope that they do 226 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 2: come down. But as you know, a young couple that 227 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 2: I met last night said, you know, coming down by 228 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 2: zero point twenty five of percent is okay, but they've 229 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 2: gone up twelve occasions since mister Albanezi has been elected 230 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 2: as Prime minister. And you know they'll be grateful for 231 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 2: a reduction of zero point twenty five if that's what happens, 232 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 2: and as I say, we hope it does, but it's 233 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 2: not going to solve the dilemma of their budget. Overnight 234 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 2: the prices of groceries and electricity is up by thirty 235 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 2: four percent, gases up by over thirty percent. People are 236 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 2: really struggling to pay their bills under this government. 237 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: Well it's you know, you go to Woolley, so you 238 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: go to Cohl's, go wherever you can, go to the 239 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: corner store, you go to buy three things and it 240 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: costs you one hundred bucks. You know, that's a huge 241 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: impulse for everybody. And then here in the Northern Territory, 242 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: as I know that you'd be aware of, you know, 243 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: things like the cost of aes. If you've got family 244 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: that live into state, you're paying an arm and a 245 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: leg to be able to travel to Brisbane or to 246 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: Sydney or wherever they. 247 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 2: Might be well and car insurance as well. I mean 248 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 2: people are paying eight hundred dollars one thousand dollars more 249 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 2: for their car insurance in Sale Springs, probably higher and 250 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 2: dal when I suspect as well than in other parts 251 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: of the country. And so it all of it adds up. 252 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:26,839 Speaker 2: And it's both the point that I'd make about the 253 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 2: government's economic policies but also their energy policy of the 254 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 2: renewables only policy. That's what's driving up the cost of 255 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: your electricity bill. We pay about three times the cost 256 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 2: of electricity compared to some other comparable economies in the world, 257 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 2: and it just can't go on. And it's not just 258 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 2: your power bill at home. It's the local butcher, it's 259 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 2: the ida store, it's the cold stores you point out, 260 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 2: and it's the farmer with the cold storage bill that's 261 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 2: gone through the roof. All of that is passed on 262 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 2: and that's why you're paying more for groceries at the supermarket. 263 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 2: And this is the problem that Prime Minise has created, 264 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 2: and we've got to fix it because people just can't 265 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 2: afford these high costs in their budget, particularly when they're 266 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 2: paying a lot more for their mortgage than they were 267 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 2: a couple of years ago. 268 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: Peter Dutton, before I let you go, shocking national news overnight, 269 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: obviously it was unveiled that a potential anti Semitic terror 270 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: attack has been foiled after a caravan filled with explosives 271 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: and a note with the address of key Jewish targets 272 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: was found in Sydney's North. Now the Daily Telegraph broke 273 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: the news. So the shocking the breaking of the news 274 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: obviously was last night, but this actually happened a number 275 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: of days ago, but it's now seen more than one 276 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:43,239 Speaker 1: hundred police deployed as part of a joint counter terrorism investigation. 277 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: It's really very frightening stuff. I mean, what was your 278 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: reaction when you found out about this? 279 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 2: Well as shocking newsk there's no doubt about that the 280 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 2: reports of the explosives been capable of having a forty 281 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 2: meter blast sign would make if it had been successful, 282 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 2: the most catastrophic terrorist attack in our country's history. And 283 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 2: we should really stop and pause when we hear those words, 284 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 2: because we just don't want violence of any nature in 285 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 2: our country, but certainly not terrorist attacks. Reality is that 286 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 2: this has been building for a long period of time. 287 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 2: October seven terrorist attacks in Israel fifteen months ago or so, 288 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 2: that was a shocking reminder of what is a reality 289 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 2: in our country. And the protest on the university campuses 290 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 2: went on for months and months, and the hatred, the 291 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 2: anti dosing, the racism, the anti semitism that we've seen 292 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 2: has become normalized. And it starts with the graffiti, it 293 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 2: then elevates to the thigh bombing of the synagogue, the 294 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 2: attack on the childcare center, and people have predicted that 295 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 2: the people will be killed, Jewish people will be killed 296 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 2: if this is not stopped. And I'd really applaud the 297 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: New South Wales Police for the work that they're doing. 298 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: If you become the Prime minister, how are you going 299 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: to respond to what seems to be this growing anti 300 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: semitism that we are seeing here in Australia. 301 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, when I was Home Affairs Minister, we canceled 302 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 2: the visas of six three hundred criminals. The government has 303 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 2: really stopped that program. They've dropped the ball. And these 304 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 2: were people who were potential terrorists. These are people who 305 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 2: had committed crimes of murder, of rape, of incest, of 306 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 2: drug trafficking of sexual offenses against children and we were 307 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 2: a safer community as a result of it. The government 308 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 2: has to start that program again. We have announced a 309 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 2: mandatory sentence for people who are convicted of terrorist related offenses. 310 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: The government way to adopt that, and as I've said, 311 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 2: you need to have the definite direction and the clear 312 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 2: thinking and the strength of leadership from the Prime Minister 313 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: to give direction to the agencies to say we're not 314 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 2: going to tolerate these terrorist flags being flown. We're not 315 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 2: going to allow people to come in from a terrorist 316 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 2: controlled territory. The Prime Minister allowed three thousand people from Gaza, 317 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 2: an area controlled by a listed terrorist organization, to come 318 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 2: into our country on tourist visas without the security checks 319 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 2: being undertaken. It's quite breathtaking. And now we find ourselves 320 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 2: with allegedly a terrorist attempt being thwarted. And you know, 321 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 2: the Prime Minister shouldn't be surprised by this at all. 322 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 2: It is unbelievable. It's been allowed to go on for 323 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 2: so long. And as Prime Minister, I would bring every 324 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 2: experience that I've had as a police officer and as 325 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 2: the Immigration Minister, as the Defense Minister, and as the 326 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 2: Home Affairs Minister to bear. We can't have tolerance for 327 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 2: hatred of any part of our community. And it's the 328 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 2: Jews today, of who is it tomorrow? And why do 329 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 2: we allow people to be treated in this way? And 330 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 2: the Prime Minister is chasing votes from the Greens, inner 331 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 2: city Sydney, in Melbourne, and frankly, the Jewish community is 332 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 2: completely and utterly dismayed and disgusted it the conduct of 333 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 2: the Prime Minister and we shouldn't allow this sort of 334 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 2: hatred in our country. 335 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: Well, Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, we really appreciate your 336 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: time this morning. Before I let you go, what date 337 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: do you think this federal election is going to happen? 338 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, the one thing I'm sure of is that 339 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 2: I'll be the last person. The Prime Minister selves what 340 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 2: the date will be. There's a lot of speculation around 341 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 2: the twelfth of April. I guess we'll wait to see. 342 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 2: But the Prime Minister has got a lot of issues 343 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 2: on his plate at the moment, and I think there 344 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:44,199 Speaker 2: is a big mood for change in our country and 345 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 2: if we can get our two leases up here in 346 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory, then I think we can have a 347 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 2: change of government, we can get our country back on track. 348 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 1: Well, it's going to be an interesting time, there's no 349 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: doubt about that. Peter Dutton, thanks so much for having 350 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 1: a chat with me today. 351 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:58,400 Speaker 2: My pleasure to take care. 352 00:18:58,440 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: Thank you.