1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Now on the national budget as well, we know that 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: the federal government indeed announced that they would be investing 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: two hundred and fifty million dollars into Central Australia. Now 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: going through that money and adding it all up, it's 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 1: about one hundred and fifty five million that's been earmarked 6 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: at this point in time for various programs in Central Australia. 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: A further ninety four million dollars is well. That ninety 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: four million dollars is apparently going into a contingency fund. 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: Now Evil Aula, the Treasurer, saying that there's going to 10 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: be some further looking into how that money is going 11 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: to be invested. But some people scratching their heads wondering 12 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 1: why is there a ninety four million dollar contingency Why 13 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: hasn't that money been earmarked to go towards the ever 14 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: concerning issues that they've got in Central Australia. Now joining 15 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,279 Speaker 1: me on the line to talk a little bit more 16 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: about this is the Member for Our Lun, the Independent 17 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: Member for Our Lun, Robin Lamley. 18 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Robin, Good morning Katie. 19 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: Robin. Firstly, what was your take on the Northern Territory 20 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: budget yesterday? 21 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 2: Well, from a Central Australian perspective, Katie, it was a 22 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 2: bit of a dud. Most of the funding commitments were revoted, 23 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: and that means that they were announced years ago, some 24 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 2: of them going back as far as seven years, eg. 25 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:23,839 Speaker 2: The National Aboriginal Art Gallery and Cultural Center. So there 26 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 2: really wasn't much new money in this budget for the 27 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 2: people of Central Australia. But from a more general perspective, 28 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: I mean, apparently we have to look forward to ten 29 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: billion dollars worth of debt in two years time. Don't 30 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: forget when Labor came to government, the debt was under 31 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,759 Speaker 2: two billion dollars. So they've managed to times at by 32 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 2: five in six and a half years, and we're meant 33 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: to get excited about a surplus that may or may 34 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 2: not eventuate in four years time. Economically, I think that 35 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory is not doing particularly well at all, 36 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: despite what the Treasurer might tell you. Growth state product 37 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 2: is down and will be down by five point one 38 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 2: percent in this financial Exports this year down by sixteen percent, 39 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: and population growth is below one percent. So I think 40 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 2: you can put as much lipstick on a pig as 41 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 2: what you want, but it will still be a pig 42 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: and this is a very ordinary budget. 43 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: So what do you make of that infrastructure spend? By 44 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: the sounds of things, I mean, they are obviously sprewking 45 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: that it is a massive infrastructure spent, a lot of 46 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: money going towards roads and that kind of thing. But 47 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: from what I can gather based on what you're saying, 48 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: some of that money that's going towards various infrastructure sounds 49 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: like it's money that's being re announced. 50 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 2: Pretty much all of it from what I can work 51 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: out from a central Australian perspective. The only thing new 52 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 2: which I asked Minister Chancey Paig about today in Parliament, 53 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: the biggest news spend that I can see for Alice Springs. 54 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: There's an extension of the jail. And of course, when 55 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 2: you've got crime rocketing through the roof like we've never 56 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 2: seen before, and you've got incarceration rates doing the same, 57 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: you need more beds. And they've allocated sixty million dollars 58 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: to expand the Alice Springs Springs President and of course 59 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: Minister Pig didn't want to talk about that. He wanted 60 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 2: to talk about all the other initiatives that he's more 61 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: excited about. Involved with the Aboriginal Justice Agreement. But the 62 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: reality is the crime is crippling our economy. And when 63 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: you've got the biggest new spend in Central Australia being 64 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 2: an extension to the jail, I think that really sums 65 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: it up quite neatly. 66 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: It's sort of confirms, doesn't it the concerns that we've 67 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: all had. And you know, you hear a lot from 68 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: the Attorney General that jailing is failing. But the fact is, 69 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: I think that people are probably going to be positive 70 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: towards the fact that there is going to be more 71 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: doomidation at the prison because, as you've pointed out, it's 72 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: actually needed. 73 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 2: Well, you know, if that's what he's saying, jarling is failing. 74 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: This government has failed incredibly monuments badly. I mean there's 75 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 2: no other Northern Territory government in history that fail in 76 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 2: terms of jailing and crime and the fact that we're 77 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 2: having to this government and this budget really is about 78 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: fixing up the problems that they have created over the 79 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 2: last six and a half years. All this Justice three 80 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: investment and spending on jails and domestic violence. It's about 81 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: fixing up their mess that they created since they've been 82 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 2: in government, and there's no there can be no finger 83 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: pointing here. I mean, they've been in government so long 84 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 2: they can't blame anyone else but themselves. So this is 85 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: really an incredibly ordinary budget, I think, and I don't 86 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 2: know from that top end perspective from where we're sitting 87 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 2: down in Alice Springs, there ain't nothing to get excited about. 88 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: Here, Robin. Let's talk about the federal budget because two 89 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty million dollars had been earmarked by the 90 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 1: Prime Minister Anthony Albanesi earlier in the year when Alice 91 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: Springs was going through what can only be described and 92 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: it is a continuing crime crisis, Robin. Going through those initiatives, 93 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if you've had much of an opportunity 94 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: to look at it, but fifty million dollars for community 95 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: and regional infrastructure, forty million for on country learning to 96 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: improve school engagement, twenty three point five for improving First 97 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: Nations health outcomes, ten million to enhance digital connectivity, ten 98 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: million for justice reinvestment meant nine point two million for 99 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: strengthening community safety, three point nine for a Youth Services 100 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: Action Plan, one point two million for five new junior 101 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: ranger sites in Central Australia and seven point five million 102 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: for effective governance to ensure success delivery. Now, I know 103 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: you've been the Treasurer before, but I'm not going to 104 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: ask you to add all those numbers up. It comes 105 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: to around one hundred and fifty five million dollars over 106 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 1: five years. So ninety four million apparently going into a 107 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: contingency What do you make of that? 108 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 2: Well, what the hell does that mean? I mean, people 109 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: are so cynical and so skeptical in Alice Springs. We 110 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,799 Speaker 2: are bracing ourselves to be dudded ripped off in this deal. 111 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 2: And that says to me, if ninety four million has 112 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 2: gone into a contingency fund, that's the first sign of concern. 113 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 2: Look that list that you just read. To a lot 114 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 2: of people I've spoken to, it sounds like business as usual. 115 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 2: It sounds like these things should be already allocated money 116 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 2: to that it's an extension of the business of education, 117 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: it's extension of the business of justice. But look, what 118 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: is interesting for me is that the federal government are 119 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 2: keeping a very tight hold on this money. And even 120 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 2: though I just heard the treasurers say that she's been 121 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 2: included in discussions around the allocation of money in education. 122 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: It's the minister, the Federal Minister for Education that's holding 123 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 2: this money and Marion Scrimjaw, the Member for Lingiari down South, 124 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 2: she's the one holding strings locally. They don't want the 125 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 2: Northern Territory government clearly to get their hands on this money. 126 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 2: They don't have confidence in the Northern Territory government. Remember 127 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: in January the Prime Minister flew into Aliphair and basically 128 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: told the Chief Minister, Natasha Pile, to pull a finger out, 129 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: wake up to herself and put all those alcohol restrictions 130 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: back in place that were causing absolute havoc. I'm sensing 131 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: a complete standoff, in a sense of distrust by the 132 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: Federal government of the Northern Territory government, and I can 133 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,239 Speaker 2: completely understand why. 134 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: So, Robin, it sounds like you're saying that you don't 135 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: think the federal government believes the Northern Territory government's capable 136 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: of managing this. Oh. 137 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 2: I think it's very very clear. And if you're listening 138 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 2: to the interviews and the stories coming out of Central 139 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 2: Australia and the media and just on the streets, I 140 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 2: think it's very clear that the federal government is not 141 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 2: going to allow this completely incompetent Northern Territory Labor government 142 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: to have anything much to do with how this money 143 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 2: is allocated. You've got the Central Australia Controller, Darrell Anderson. 144 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:54,559 Speaker 2: She's working very closely with the National niAA, the Indigenous 145 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: Federal Indigenous Organization on the ground and it's very much 146 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 2: in the house. Marion Scrimjaw has communicated very clearly her 147 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 2: lack of confidence and in the Northern Territory government. She's 148 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 2: been very critical of how they've managed a lot of things, 149 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 2: and I think she's telling her federal government colleagues, including 150 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 2: Linda Bernie, to not let these idiots in anything. I mean, 151 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: there's been lots of meetings in Central Australia held by 152 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: Marion and Linda Bernie and Jason Clem more recently, in 153 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,319 Speaker 2: which the Northern Territory Government ministers I think were invited 154 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 2: that they were not big players or instrumental in any way, 155 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 2: shape or form. 156 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: Very interesting stuff. Well, Robin Lanley, before I let you go, 157 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 1: Parliament sits again today. I understand that you've got some 158 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: parliamentary business. Are you able to tell us what's on 159 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: the agenda for you? 160 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 2: In Parliament of course that after question time we go 161 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 2: into general business and I've got a motion up to 162 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 2: talk about the crime crisis, not just in Alice Springs 163 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 2: but right across the Northern Territory, calling on the government 164 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,479 Speaker 2: to act good, do something. 165 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: Robin, I think a lot of people will be pleased 166 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: to hear that. Do you anticipate that it's sort of 167 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: going to make them sit up and listen because people 168 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: are feeling really disillusioned at this point. 169 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,199 Speaker 2: Well, I really don't know what's going on between the 170 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 2: years of the Chief Minister and the Police Minister and 171 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: others that are responsible for keeping us safe in the community. 172 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: I don't think they're capable of listening to anyone. I 173 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 2: think they've got a very narrow ideological perspective on what 174 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 2: they're doing and how they're doing it. And I think 175 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 2: we can all see that they're failing miserably, that nothing's working. 176 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 2: But you know, we come to Parliament in good faith 177 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 2: to represent the people of the Northern Territory right across 178 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:56,119 Speaker 2: the length and breadth of this big jurisdiction, and regardless 179 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,079 Speaker 2: of whether the government listens, I have to keep yelling 180 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 2: as as loud as I can. 181 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: I feel the same, Robin. I feel like it's the 182 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: only thing that I talk about each day. But do 183 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: you know what the community club? Yep, and do you 184 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: know what the community everybody listening right across the board. 185 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: You know, no matter where you live, people are fed 186 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: up about it. They've had enough of the issues that 187 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:20,839 Speaker 1: we're experiencing with crime. But they're also you know, they're sad, 188 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: they're really sad at the state of some of those 189 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: issues that we're dealing with, and we've got to continue 190 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 1: to make sure that it stays on the agenda because 191 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: there needs to be some serious change in this space. 192 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's deeply, deeply personal for all of us and 193 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 2: that's the bit I don't think that the government truly 194 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 2: gets well. 195 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: Robin Lamley, the Independent Member for Aura lun I always 196 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: appreciate your time. Thank you very much for having a 197 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: chat with me this morning. 198 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 2: Many thanks, Katie, thank you