1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: Obviously the report on the front page of the paper 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: this morning. It's pretty frightening stuff. There are fears by 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: some of our detention center staff, those youth detention center staff, 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: that someone could be killed amid what they're saying is 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: an escalation in violence. Kay, talk us through how the 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: staff out there are feeling at the moment. 7 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 2: Well, well, Katie, from the members that I've spoken to, 8 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: you know, it is a war zone and there are concerns. 9 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 2: We met urgently with management and our health and safety 10 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: reps there this on Monday. Management couldn't clearly articulate what 11 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 2: they're doing differently, and they denied that safety procedures, a 12 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: minimum staffing procedures or staffing levels were a problem. So 13 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 2: we suspect that they are not meeting safe staffing levels 14 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: and safe practices and this is contributing to staff being hurt. 15 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: So we need urgent action from the regular later and 16 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: from management to invest investigating this. There's been a number 17 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 2: of serious act incidents also this week. We talked to 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: them on Monday about the incident on Saturday where someone 19 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 2: was actually knocked out one of the workers and there 20 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 2: are eleven staff on that day, so. 21 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, knocked out. 22 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, what happened, well, was attacked by by a young person. 23 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 3: My goodness, this. 24 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: Is happening far too often and they need to do 25 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 2: something about it. 26 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: Okay, So on Monday you said, or was it last weekend, 27 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: that somebody was actually knocked out out there by a 28 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: young person while at work at don Dale. 29 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 2: That's true, yep, And I understand that may have somebody 30 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: who's told me that that happened just a day or 31 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: so ago as well. So you know, obviously we're talking 32 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: with our health and safety reps. We've talked to management. 33 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: I don't we don't see what they're putting into place 34 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: to fix this mess. There's already quite a number of 35 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 2: staff who are off injured, and my understanding is it's 36 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 2: around thirty or more. So, uh, we just can't just 37 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,119 Speaker 2: can't keep happening. People need a safe workplace in there. 38 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 2: They obviously need to care for the young people as well. 39 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 2: But yeah, I'm hearing that. Yeah, they're being threatened that 40 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: they're going to kill them almost on a daily basis. 41 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: Okay, Can I just ask you, is that person that 42 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 1: got knocked out? And then you've said that you believe 43 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: that there was also an incident a couple of days 44 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: ago as well. 45 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 3: Are those people okay? 46 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, So if they're members, then I find out about it. Obviously, 47 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 2: I speak to them so and make sure that they're 48 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: claimed workers, comp that they're okay, et cetera. So I 49 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 2: have spoken to that person on Saturday, but I haven't 50 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 2: spoken to the other people that I've heard have been 51 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: injured as well. So the union's always here to hear 52 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 2: about that. I always ask people what can be put 53 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: in place to make sure this doesn't happen again. What 54 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: they need at the moment is experienced workers and more workers. 55 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: So I understand there's another recruitment process happening where people 56 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: are being trained at the moment, but I don't think 57 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 2: it's enough. 58 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 3: So yeah, okay, you did say as well this. 59 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: Did you say there's thirty or more staff at the 60 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: moment who are not at work due to injury? 61 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 2: That's my understanding. 62 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 3: Yes, are we talking about injuries as a result of 63 00:03:58,720 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 3: being assaulted. 64 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: Yes, we are. 65 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: Thirty or more staff that cannot go to work because 66 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: they've been injured in the workplace out at dawn Dale. 67 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 2: That's my understanding. 68 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: Yet, kay, I know that this data that's been obtained 69 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: by the NT News does show that there were twenty 70 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: nine assaults against offices between August twenty two and October 71 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: twenty three, including eleven that resulted in injury. I mean 72 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: that obviously those figures then will pale in comparison to 73 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: what you've said about thirty staff being on leave. 74 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: Yes, exactly, and some of them I think a longer term. 75 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,919 Speaker 2: But yeah, the whole thing is that they need to 76 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: make sure that there's consequences for the action of these 77 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 2: young people. So what I'm hearing is, you know, they're 78 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: quite brave and egg each other on, and yeah, there 79 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: is a Use Justice Act obviously that they have to 80 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 2: abide by, but there doesn't seem to be consequences for 81 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: them to do anything. Our members are actually getting them 82 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 2: charged with assaults, but that just adds on to a 83 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: sentence authority there. So yeah, there what they need is 84 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 2: the numbers of staff there for the risk of the detainees, 85 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 2: and some safe practices about locking and unlocking, and some 86 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,679 Speaker 2: consequences for the young people if they do these things. 87 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: Okay, if there isn't some changes made, what is your fear. 88 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: Well, I actually fear that someone's going to be critically 89 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: injured and that your staff are feeling unsafe even to 90 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: go to work. Uh, and that shouldn't happen to anyone. 91 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: So they need to put things there's no PPE for example. 92 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: We've been trying to get the agency to have training 93 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 2: for example for PPE when there's any sort of incident 94 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 2: where there's you know, we saw the riot last year. 95 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 2: Apparently there's been a couple of incidents in this year 96 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: where us of taken over at block or whichever and themselves, 97 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: but that luckily has been uh you know, calmed down. 98 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 2: So but there's they still haven't got any anything to 99 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 2: protect them when they go into when there is a 100 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: situation like that, and they haven't been trained in if 101 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 2: there's a situation like that. So training is something that's 102 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: calling miffed in there as well as you know, self defense. 103 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: So there's so it's obviously for so. 104 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, so it sounds as okay, pretty well, immediately there 105 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: needs to be some additional training, There needs to be 106 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,119 Speaker 1: additional staff, and there does need to be some self 107 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: defense to those staff out. 108 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: There, Oh certainly, yeah, and there needs to be safe 109 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 2: practices in there so that you know, there's a policy 110 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 2: for example, if there's a high risk young person there 111 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 2: that there will be three officers who'll be with them 112 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 2: if they need to escort them, so I think it's 113 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: three or four. And if they have to take them 114 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 2: to hospital or they have to take them to court 115 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 2: for example. And whilst we did have there is a 116 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 2: policy about how many staff they should have to unlock 117 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 2: or lock up or while young people are out, depending 118 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: on their risk, we don't think that that's being. 119 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 3: Followed well, Kay, densely. 120 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: It sounds like a pretty bloody, frightening situation for those 121 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: staff out there at the don Dale Youth Detention Center 122 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: at the moment. Is there anything else we should be 123 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: aware of just before we wrap up? 124 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: No, As I said, we'll be working with our work 125 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 2: Health and Safety people in trying to get something in there. 126 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 2: So management aren't going to do it off their own bats. 127 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 2: Then we're going to have to use the Work Health 128 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 2: and Safety Act to make them do it. 129 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: So yeah, yeah, well, Kay, please keep us up to 130 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: date as these steps are taken. We really appreciate you 131 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: having a chat with us, and I really feel for 132 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: those staff out there having to deal with that. That's 133 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: really terrible stuff. 134 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: Thank you. I'm also on another note, Japana Energy just 135 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: voted down their agreements seventy percent today because there's no 136 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 2: pay roads. 137 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: So Jacana Energy staff have just voted down that workplace 138 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: agreement in terms of the pay the pay negotiations. Yes, 139 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: that's good, and. 140 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 3: Tell us that number again, so seventy. 141 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 2: Percent, seventy percent said no, yeah. 142 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 3: Seventy percent said no. Well kay, no doubt. 143 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: We'll talk to you again very soon, potentially on the 144 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: on the Jacana stuff. 145 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 3: But we'll talk again very soon. Thanks for your time 146 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 3: this morning, No, thank you, thank you. 147 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: It is just twenty minutes away from eleven o'clock. Eight 148 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: nine one four nine is the number. Yeah, So that 149 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: breaking news there Jacana Energy. They've obviously voted down in 150 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: those pay negotiations that that pay free seventy percent of 151 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: the staff. But also talking about that situation with those 152 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: staff out there, the assaults at don Dale Youth Detention Center, 153 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: so thirty or more staff right now on leave due 154 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: to injury. 155 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 3: As a result of assaults in the workplace. 156 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: We know that the Northern Territory News has got that 157 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 1: data that showed that there were twenty nine assaults against 158 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: offices between August twenty two and October twenty three. As 159 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: you'd heard then from Kay Densley as well, a staff 160 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 1: member knocked out, knocked unconscious last weekend, and she believes 161 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: another a couple of days ago. She has obviously spoken 162 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: to that staff member from the weekend who is a 163 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: member of the union, but yeah, that other staff member 164 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: not as much clarity on that situation. But that's pretty 165 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: unbelievable stuff. I mean, honestly, everybody deserves to be safe 166 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: when they go to work.