1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Well, the Northern Territory government has been embarrassed on a 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: national scale. We did put in a request to speak 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: to the Prime Minister this morning, but he's not available 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: to speak to you. And quite honestly, I can't believe 5 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: that he didn't spend the night in Alice Springs, flying 6 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: in for five hours. Hardly a true understanding of the 7 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 1: issues when you swoop in like that. Now, I will 8 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: say that the Chief Minister, Natasha Files is on a 9 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: plane from Alice Springs back to Darwin right now. But 10 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: I interviewed her a short time ago before she boarded 11 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: that flight. Here's what she had to say, Chief Minister, 12 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: thanks for taking the time to speak with us this morning. 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie. Good morning listening. 14 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: Now, the crime crisis in Alice Springs is not something new, 15 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: but locals say that they've never seen crime as bad 16 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: as it is right now. Do you finally concede that 17 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: we are at crisis point? 18 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 2: So the community is asked for the government to step 19 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: in with a range of solutions and try things differently, 20 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 2: and that is exactly what we're doing now. 21 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: Yesterday, you obviously and outce these new restrictions. When it 22 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,839 Speaker 1: comes to take away alcohol along with the Prime Minister 23 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Albanezi. Essentially, we're going to be in a situation 24 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: where Monday and Tuesdays will be takeaway alcohol free days. 25 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,119 Speaker 1: In Alice Springs, there's going to be alcohol reduced hours 26 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: on the remaining days from three pm until seven pm 27 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: only for takeaway alcohol. The government's going to also introduce 28 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: one transaction per person each day, doing so immediately through 29 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: the Band Drinker Register. These restrictions on the purchase of 30 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: alcohol are going to be in place for three months. 31 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: How do you think this is going to help? 32 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 2: So, Katie, talking to police here on the ground in 33 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 2: Central Australia, we already have a number of supply restrictions 34 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: around alcohol, but they believe that these immediate restrictions will 35 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: reduce the amount of alcohol in the community, allowing them 36 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: to focus on the antisocial behavior, crime and other issues 37 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: in the community. So it's about restricting the amount of 38 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: takeaway alcohol into the community. 39 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: There are a lot of people right now that have 40 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: big concerns that these changes you announced yesterday though, are 41 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: actually going to cause further issues for locals. For example, 42 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 1: people are saying that they're expecting to see homes being 43 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: broken into as people get desperate to get their hands 44 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: on alcohol. 45 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 2: So, Katie, we do have rehabilitation and support measures, but police, 46 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 2: these measures and these timeframes were worked through with police 47 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: at the table and they believe they will be effective 48 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: in reducing the alcohol related harm in our community and 49 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 2: so that is what we're focused on. 50 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: So are they going to need to surge on those days? 51 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: I mean, are you expecting that there's going to be 52 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: a pickup in crime on Mondays and Tuesdays when people 53 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: can't go and just purchase alcohol. 54 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 2: So what we did see last weekend, Katie, was that 55 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: the police shut down the two outlets that do trade 56 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 2: on Sunday and so they had an opportunity to see 57 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: without the alcohol in the community what the impact was 58 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 2: and that gives our push down harm in the community. 59 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: So they believe these measures will help them. It's a 60 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: short term measure we needed to do something I think immediate, 61 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: but we will work through a detailed alcohol management plan 62 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,239 Speaker 2: for the community. But alcohol is one part of this problem, Katie, 63 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 2: but this certainly on the advisor police will provide them 64 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: with the ability to focus on those other issues. 65 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 1: Well, you're dead right. There is a huge number of 66 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: different factors that we've got to take into play here. 67 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: But I just want to stick with the alcohol for 68 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: a moment. Why have you gone down this path instead 69 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: of reinstating the Stronger Futures legislation. 70 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: So, Katie, listeners need to understand the Stronger Futures legislation 71 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 2: was Commonwealth legislation. Peter Dutton was a part of a 72 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 2: cabinet that did nothing. 73 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, but you were at the table yesterday. You're 74 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: at the table yesterday with the Prime Minister. Surely you 75 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: guys could sit down and go okay. We've got the 76 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: likes of the CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, 77 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: Donna Archi, telling media that the grog bands need to 78 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: be reintroduced. She told sky News yesterday that there's absolutely 79 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: a crisis and that something needed to be done immediately. 80 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: She's not the only one saying that the Stronger Futures 81 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: legislation and needs to be reintroduced. Why don't you sit 82 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: down with the federal government and seriously consider reintroducing this. 83 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: That was done yesterday, Katie. But additionally, we have put 84 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 2: in place immediate measures on top of the measures that 85 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: were already in place, So we know that some community 86 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 2: is opted in, but what we have been as community 87 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: say we don't want to opt in, and there has 88 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 2: been conversations around that, around who should be listened to. 89 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: So what we will do is we have put in 90 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: place immediate supply restrictions and we will do a detailed 91 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: alcohol management plan. And Katie, whether we need to almost 92 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 2: take that out to a ballot to the people of 93 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: these remote communities and make sure everyone has their voice 94 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 2: heard so that we can settle that opt out issue 95 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: once and for all. 96 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: Are we're seriously considering a ballot here? I mean, can't 97 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:50,559 Speaker 1: shouldn't our Chief Minister and our Prime Minister be able 98 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: to sit down at the table and go all right, 99 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: let's look at the evidence here. Let's look at the 100 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: fact that the police commissioner was out yesterday and said 101 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: that we have seen an in increase in alcohol fueled crime. 102 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: Shouldn't that be enough to actually reconsider, you know, making 103 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: sure that you've got the opt out system and putting 104 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: that back into place. 105 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 2: So, Katie, there is the ability right now for an 106 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: Aboriginal community to be dry to opt in. And we 107 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 2: have been over a dozen communities opt in. There are 108 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: other communities that if say no, we won't opt in. 109 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 2: So we have talked to them, they won't opt in. 110 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: What we do get is some people saying they've spoken 111 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 2: to the wrong person. So what I'm saying is let 112 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: everybody in that remote community have their voice heard around 113 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 2: how alcohol is managed in that situation. 114 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 1: Look, I'm not sure who's been spoken to, and they're 115 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: obviously discussions that you, as the Chief Minister, will be 116 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: having with different people, individuals, different groups. But what I 117 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: do know is that right around the Northern Territory at 118 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: the moment, people are saying that they are seriously concerned 119 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: with the issues that we've got with alcohol. Alice Springs 120 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: is one thing, but it would be foolish for us 121 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: to pretend that it's only happening in Alice. We've seen 122 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: it up here in the top end as well well. Surely, 123 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 1: as our leader of the Northern Territory, you have to 124 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: reconsider this. 125 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: So Katie, the top end, mainly those communities stayed dry, 126 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: so they were rye communities before the intervention and they 127 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: went back to being dry communities after the intervention. What 128 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,239 Speaker 2: I man agreed it was mainly the communities in Central 129 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: Australia and the town camp that had the ability to 130 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 2: into the legislation. But as I've said, we will look 131 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: at how we can further change the system so that 132 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: communities we have more supply restriction. 133 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: Okay, just back to Alice Springs. What exactly is the 134 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: Regional Controller going to do? It sounds as though she's 135 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: got about seven days now to work out exactly what 136 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: needs to happen in Central Australia. 137 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 2: So what the Regional Controller will do if they will 138 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 2: make sure both the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory Government 139 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 2: all agencies. Katie, We dealt with COVID in a sense 140 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: where we had everyone coming together with a sense of 141 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 2: urgency and that is heard around the issues. Their Commonwealth 142 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: government and the Northern Territory Government are funding this position, 143 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 2: so they're buying in from both and she will be 144 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: looking at what we have in place, what is working, 145 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: what needs to be driven to change so that we 146 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 2: can stop seeing particularly around the antisocial behavior, the behavior 147 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: from families, the youth, and how we can change that. 148 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: Chief Finister, Central Australians have been saying that they're at 149 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: crisis point for months. You and I have spoken about 150 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: this on so many occasions, it's reached the point now 151 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: where it's obviously become quite a national embarrassment. We have 152 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: got media outlets right around the nation now focused so 153 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: heavily on our springs. I mean, how are you feeling 154 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: about that? How are you feeling about the fact that 155 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: that the Northern Territory government seemingly dug their heels in 156 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: here and now have almost been embarrassed into making changes 157 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: to Katie. 158 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 2: With the greatest respect, We've put in place a range 159 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: of measures and that has been over a period of years. 160 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: We put in place more measures. Last year we put 161 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: in place Operation Duna. We've seen three hundred people arrested 162 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 2: in alice spreens. We've got thirty young people that have 163 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 2: been removed from their families. So there has been additional 164 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: resources we've put in place safe sleeping spaces. But what 165 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: this will do is this will have the Central Australian 166 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: Regional Controller will make sure with the sense of urgency 167 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: that all levels of government are working in partnership to 168 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 2: deliver what is needed to help the community. 169 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: Now, why won't you be requesting additional resources from the 170 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: Federal Police, as the mayor had called for earlier in 171 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: the week. 172 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 2: So police and I will make it very clear to 173 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 2: the Police Commissioner that the additional resources that came in 174 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 2: for Operation Drina in December, which is when the community 175 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 2: did say for a couple of weeks they felt they 176 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 2: had an impact, that those resources stay here for the 177 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 2: longer term. That will be an operational request I will 178 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: put to the Police Commissioner. 179 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 1: Are you worried that searching Northern Territory police so from 180 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: other locations into our spreends is going to cause concerns 181 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: in other communities around the Northern Territory. 182 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 2: So, Katie, we having the police budget significantly there is 183 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 2: in terms of recruits, continuous recruitment campaigns. But it is 184 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 2: my expectation to the Police Commissioner that both additional resources 185 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 2: that came in staying along with the reduction of alcohol 186 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 2: and alcohol field harm that we hope to see, will 187 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: allow police to be freed up to deal with the 188 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 2: issues that the community in Central Australia casing. 189 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: All right, I know we're pressed for time, but yesterday, 190 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: the same day as you and the Prime Minister were 191 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: arriving into Alice Springs, Police sent out a statement about 192 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: an incident which had happened at one fifteen in the morning, 193 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: up to four males unlawfully entered a residence on Memorial 194 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: Driving Gillen. One of those males allegedly used an edged 195 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: weapon to enter the premises before physically assaulting a seventy 196 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: year old woman inside. The offenders have stolen the victim's 197 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: mobile phone and fled the scene. The victim received minor injuries. 198 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 1: Now police are indeed calling for witnesses. But this is 199 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: just another example of the type of behavior that we're 200 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: seeing in Alice Springs and unfortunately not just allus this 201 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: the type of thing is no longer uncommon in the 202 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. How's the announcement that you made yesterday with 203 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: the Prime Minister going to help Territorians to sleep safely 204 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 1: in their homes. 205 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 2: So, Katie, the announcement that we made yesterday, particularly around 206 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 2: Central Australia, is that we are enhancing with that local 207 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 2: regional control, the ability to drive and be agile with 208 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 2: those government services. But there is a suite of measures 209 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 2: that have already been put in place by the Northern 210 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 2: Territory government. There is commitments from the Commonwealth government and 211 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 2: we need to make sure that they are working across 212 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 2: the board. We want to stop crime before it happens. 213 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 2: We want to support the victims of crime, but we 214 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 2: want to engage young people. We want to engage families 215 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 2: making sure children are at school. So this is a 216 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 2: multifaceted approach to the issues we're facing in Central Australia, 217 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 2: and we also have measures across the territory. 218 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: Look, I know a lot of people listening you're going 219 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: to think this is similar to what we've heard before. 220 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: I mean, unfortunately, this issue is not isolated to Alice, 221 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: as we've discussed. In fact, i'd argue that there's been 222 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: a crisis across the Northern territory for quite some time. Again, 223 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: you and I have spoken about it on so many occasions, 224 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: and there are indeed well issues with youth crime. We 225 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: all know very well the issues with alcohol, of course 226 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: we've been discussing, but the issues with crime have been 227 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: a big concern for quite some time. Will you look 228 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: at introducing any of the measures that Queensland introduced a 229 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: couple of weeks back when it comes to dealing with 230 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: youth crime. 231 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 2: So, Katie, I understand that that did being was announced 232 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 2: during the holiday break, but I have asked the Department 233 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 2: to look at what Queensland's announced, I think there were 234 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: three aspects that certainly did you know for me, I 235 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: think could correlate to the Northern Territory. They are looking 236 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 2: at an immobilizer scheme because we do have some older 237 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 2: vehicles that are easier for people to steal. Also around 238 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 2: the penalty for posting to social media. I think it's 239 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: a unique challenge that we're facing presently Australia wide and 240 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 2: worldwide is the use of social media and it's something 241 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 2: while we've found and mobile phones in schools going forward. 242 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: So there is aspects that we certainly are very interested in, 243 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 2: and more broadly what we've announced we're looking at. We 244 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 2: obviously have different legislation here in the territory. We've seen 245 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 2: a Royal Commission into aspects in the territory and so 246 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,839 Speaker 2: we certainly have a number of changes that have been 247 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 2: put in place. 248 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 1: I understand that there was an aspect to that announcement 249 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: as well, though, where a judge is able to look 250 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: at a youth previous criminal history and previous history upon 251 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: sentencing a young person if they commit a crime, is 252 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: that something that you're prepared to look at for the 253 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: Northern territory. 254 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 2: I did ask for that specific measure to look at 255 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 2: what's existing legislation in the territory and how can we 256 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 2: ensure that the courts have all of the information when 257 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 2: they're making these decisions. We've stepped up with our responsibility 258 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 2: around facilities, detention, alternatives to detention, and so yes, that 259 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 2: is something that's been looked at. 260 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: Chief Finister. You've literally got a situation right here now 261 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory where people are crying out for help. 262 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: Locals are saying they leave our springs due to the 263 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: crime if they haven't left already up here in Darwin. 264 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: People are fed up and they're saying the same. What 265 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,199 Speaker 1: confidence can you give the thousands of people that listen 266 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: to this show every day. People have been really patient, 267 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: people who love the Northern Territory, but they're feeling really 268 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: sad about the state of the place at the moment. 269 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: What hope can you give them that they're going that 270 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: you're going to lead the Northern Territory out of this mess. 271 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 2: It's the absolute key priority for me to make sure 272 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 2: that we continue to work in this space right across 273 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 2: the spectrum, that we stop crime before it happens that 274 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 2: we have crime prevention measures, that we support our police 275 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 2: force and we also support those others that work in 276 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 2: this space to prevent crime and antisocial behavior, and that 277 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: we don't allow things to slip and become the norm. 278 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 2: We have to make sure that's a risky behavior. Antisocial 279 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 2: behavior is not acceptable in our community. So that's my 280 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 2: absolute process. 281 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: And if the issue isn't fixed, who's going to be responsible? 282 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:04,599 Speaker 2: So Katie will continue to work in this space. It 283 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 2: was what we've been doing, it is what we will 284 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 2: continue to do. And we absolutely want to make sure 285 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 2: that we have a safe, vibrant community right across the 286 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 2: Northern Territory. We need to invest in our remote community 287 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 2: so that there are places that people want to be. 288 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 2: We need to if people do want to live in 289 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 2: our urban areas, make sure that they have access to accommodation. 290 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,359 Speaker 2: It is a multifaceted approach that you're seeing. 291 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: From us, Chief Finister. If this issue does not improve, 292 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: will you stay on in your role? 293 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 2: So Katie, these are difficult issues to tackle. There's not 294 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 2: a single solution, there's not one person that can solve them. 295 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: But it is for me the absolute key priority of 296 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 2: my leadership to tackle these issues. 297 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: Chief Finister Natasha Files, we are going to have to 298 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: leave it there. Appreciate your time. Thank you very much 299 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: for speaking with us.