Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour urges NT Government to bring back alcohol ban at first parliamentary sittings

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Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour urges NT Government to bring back alcohol ban at first parliamentary sittings · 360 with Katie Woolf

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  Speaker 1: El Chief Minister Natasha Philes and Attorney General Chancey Paike
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  Speaker 1: have traveled to Canberra overnight for crisis talks with the
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  Speaker 1: Prime Minister in an effort to really try to sort
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  Speaker 1: through the situation which is unfolding and has continued to
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  Speaker 1: unfold in Alice Springs. We also know that the report
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  Speaker 1: ordered by the Prime Minister is going to recommend that
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  Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Government urgently reinstate alcohol bands in Aboriginal
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  Speaker 1: town camps around Alice Springs. The report, which has indeed
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  Speaker 1: been prepared by Central Australia Regional Controller Darrell Anderson, has
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  Speaker 1: been handed to Anthony Albanezi and the Northern Territory Chief Minister. Now,
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  Speaker 1: sources have told Sky News that the report recommends the
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  Speaker 1: NT government urgently legislate amendments to its Liquor Act to
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  Speaker 1: impose alcohol restrictions in Central Australia, including in town camps.
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  Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line right now is the
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  Speaker 1: Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrimjaw.
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  Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Marion.
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  Speaker 3: Good morning Katie.
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  Speaker 2: How are not too bad? Marian? Have you seen this
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  Speaker 2: report this morning?
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  Speaker 3: Unfortunately no, Katie, and so you know having it lead
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  Speaker 3: to the media or some way making its way to
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  Speaker 3: the media. I suppose in some ways I was a
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  Speaker 3: bit cranky on hearing that because we've been advocating and certainly, look,
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  Speaker 3: I think it's out there. We just need to all
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  Speaker 3: work together to try and resolve this issue. And I think,
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  Speaker 3: you know, yes, Ellas S. Franks is in the spotlight
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  Speaker 3: at the moment, but we've got issues right across the
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  Speaker 3: Northern Territory and I think it's more than just alcohol.
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  Speaker 3: There's you know, the anti social behavior. There's a lot
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  Speaker 3: of law and order issues and the Commonwealth does need
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  Speaker 3: to work with the Northern Territory government in a serious
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  Speaker 3: way and put the resources on the funding, you know,
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  Speaker 3: the funding that is needed. There's need based funding that
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  Speaker 3: has been highlighted for some time to the federal government,
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  Speaker 3: not just to our government but previously. It's time to
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  Speaker 3: get serious about this stuff, Katie. And let's you know,
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  Speaker 3: we've just got to take the politics out of it
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  Speaker 3: and work together to try and turn the territory around.
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  Speaker 2: Your spot on.
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  Speaker 1: People are fed up, you know, and your spot on
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  Speaker 1: in the fact that you've said this is right across
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  Speaker 1: the Northern Territory. I know that Alice Springs is in
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  Speaker 1: the situation that they're in right now and it needs
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  Speaker 1: to get sorted urgently. But we've got concerns right around
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  Speaker 1: the end when it comes to domestic violence, when it
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  Speaker 1: comes to alcohol, when it comes to you know, children
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  Speaker 1: breaking the law and also not being in safe environments.
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  Speaker 1: So there is so much that needs to be worked upon, Marion,
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  Speaker 1: I will just take you to what, you know, what
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  Speaker 1: is being reported about the report, sources obviously telling Sky News.
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  Speaker 1: I know that it's on the ABC nowationally as well,
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  Speaker 1: that the report recommends that the Northern Territory Government urgently
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  Speaker 1: legislates amendments to its liquoraic to impose alcohol restrictions in
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  Speaker 1: Central Australia, including town camps. The restrictions would remain in
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  Speaker 1: place until alcohol management plans were developed by the community
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  Speaker 1: if they chose to opt out of these restrictions, Marion,
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  Speaker 1: is that the right move.
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  Speaker 3: Look with certainly a move that the health and other
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  Speaker 3: experts were calling for some time ago. Katie, we shouldn't
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  Speaker 3: have been dragged to this point. I think if a
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  Speaker 3: knocked out process was put in place, so what would
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  Speaker 3: have happened was even before the you know, the band
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  Speaker 3: had you know, the stronger futures legislation had lapsed, we
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  Speaker 3: would have seen the restrictions. The Northern Territory government could
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  Speaker 3: have legislaated like there now it's being called for. They
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  Speaker 3: could have legislated to extend the restrictions, particularly in tan
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  Speaker 3: Camp and I don't And it's not just Dallas Springs,
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  Speaker 3: you know. I think these restrictions need to go right
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  Speaker 3: across the territory so that we can start addressing some
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  Speaker 3: of those critical issues that are impacting on families, on children,
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  Speaker 3: and to make sure that we make inroads into domestic
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  Speaker 3: and family violence problems across the Northern Territory. Look, I
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  Speaker 3: know people aren't going to be happy in terms of
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  Speaker 3: any form of restrictions help Katie, but we have to
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  Speaker 3: do it. I think you can't. You can't address this
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  Speaker 3: if you know alcohol is driving, you know, is one
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  Speaker 3: of the main driving causes of the violence that's happening,
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  Speaker 3: particularly around Alice Springs. But you know, I've seen it
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  Speaker 3: in Darwin. I was in Darwen recently doing some stuff
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  Speaker 3: in the rural area and there are problems right across
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  Speaker 3: the Yea. We've just got to get on with the
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  Speaker 3: job and fix this.
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  Speaker 1: So Marian, you reckon that there does need to be
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  Speaker 1: restrictions right across the Northern Territory if we go down
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  Speaker 1: this path, and if we do, you know, as the
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  Speaker 1: report recommends, have urgent legislation amendments to the liquoric to
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  Speaker 1: impose alcohol restrictions in Central Australia and in town camps.
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  Speaker 1: It shouldn't just be in those locations. It needs to
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  Speaker 1: be right across the NTA.
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  Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, and we saw recently residents in Baggett community
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  Speaker 3: in Darwin saying we want the restrictions to start. You know,
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  Speaker 3: we're not going to We don't want to go back
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  Speaker 3: to what we had before. So look, there will be
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  Speaker 3: the process of opting out if people after consultation, and
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  Speaker 3: there has to be consultation, particularly with women and young
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  Speaker 3: people in those communities as well, and if they choose
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  Speaker 3: to opt out of the restricted zone, then there has
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  Speaker 3: to be and I called for this in Federal Parliament
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  Speaker 3: when I was sworn in. There has to be a
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  Speaker 3: very clear harm minimization process by the way of an
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  Speaker 3: alcohol management plan as to how is that community going
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  Speaker 3: to manage the fallout and address alcohol abuse in those
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  Speaker 3: down games.
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  Speaker 1: Now, Marion, I know that you've said, you know that
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  Speaker 1: the Northern Territory and federal governments need to work together
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  Speaker 1: on this. But I do know that the Chief Minister
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  Speaker 1: has just finished an interview in fact on Sky News
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  Speaker 1: and the Northern Territory government really seemed to be digging
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  Speaker 1: their heels in on this. You know, even on the
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  Speaker 1: show on Monday, the Chief Minister saying that she thinks
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  Speaker 1: that there needs to be a ballot in those town
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  Speaker 1: camps you know in Central Australia before, you know, and
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  Speaker 1: allowing that ballot to happen before determining whether restriction should
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  Speaker 1: be in place more permanently.
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  Speaker 2: Why do you think they're digging their heels in here.
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  Speaker 3: Look, I think that it's I'm willing to work with
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  Speaker 3: the Chief Minister and you know the Northern cherished government.
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  Speaker 3: The ballot can come after Katie. I think the restrictions
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  Speaker 3: need to be put back. They need to legislate immediately.
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  Speaker 3: They managed to do that before Strong the futures lapsed
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  Speaker 3: in the Northern Territory, which then created this opt in process.
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  Speaker 3: They need to legislate have an opt out process. Now
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  Speaker 3: they can hold the ballot after they put the restrictions
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  Speaker 3: back in place. Under the LIQUORAC. So if a community
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  Speaker 3: wants to opt out, they can go to a ballot process,
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  Speaker 3: but it shouldn't be The Chief Minister should be trying
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  Speaker 3: to as soon as possible get the Director of Licensing
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  Speaker 3: and other people to look at how do we get
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  Speaker 3: you know, the changes to the LIQUORAC. They're about to
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  Speaker 3: go back into Parliament on the thirteenth. There should be
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  Speaker 3: on the thirteen of February, legislation waiting to be introduced
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  Speaker 3: and passed. Our urgency that those restrictions can come back
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  Speaker 3: in Marion.
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  Speaker 1: You know, I think that that much of what you're
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  Speaker 1: saying people are going to go, Yeah, that's fair enough.
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  Speaker 1: If there's going to be a ballot, it needs to
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  Speaker 1: come after, you know, the legislative changes come into play.
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  Speaker 1: If the Federal I mean, if the Northern Territory government
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  Speaker 1: don't step up here and don't do that, don't have
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  Speaker 1: that legislation drafted by the thirteenth of February ready to go.
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  Speaker 2: Is the federal government prepared to step in?
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  Speaker 3: Look, I haven't been. I haven't had any of those discussions, Katie.
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  Speaker 3: I think the Prime Minister will be making it very clear.
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  Speaker 3: I think to the Chief Minister that it was never
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  Speaker 3: the Federal government's intention to want to come in over
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  Speaker 3: the top. Yeah, but we are fearful that the numbers
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  Speaker 3: and all of the evidence that is emerged is that
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  Speaker 3: this is a critical crisis issue and we can't ignore it.
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  Speaker 3: So I'm hoping that the discussions that will happen with
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  Speaker 3: the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister this afternoon that
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  Speaker 3: there will be consensus for the Northern Territory government to
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  Speaker 3: legislate as we want them to do and as they
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  Speaker 3: should as the elected government and not not you know,
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  Speaker 3: procrastinate on this issue and you know, further delay these
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  Speaker 3: reforms now. And that's I haven't even seen the report, Katie,
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  Speaker 3: but I'm certainly looking forward to looking at that report,
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  Speaker 3: and I'll be making sure that you know, as I've said,
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  Speaker 3: the Lingiari electorate is the electorate that is impacted the
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  Speaker 3: most and will be impacted the most by these restrictions,
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  Speaker 3: and we need to have consultation with those communities as
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  Speaker 3: well and to let them know what's in the report
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  Speaker 3: and how that report will will roll out for those
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  Speaker 3: Cawn Camp residents.
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  Speaker 1: So, Mariam, from your understanding, that meeting is going to
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  Speaker 1: happen this afternoon with the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister
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  Speaker 1: and the Attorney General.
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  Speaker 3: Yes, and that's my understanding.
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  Speaker 1: CONTI, and will you have the opportunity, you know, to
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  Speaker 1: have a word to the Prime Minister before then and
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  Speaker 1: ensure that you know, the points that you've just made
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  Speaker 1: to me are heard really loudly and clearly.
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  Speaker 3: Yep. Look, I will be talking to the pmo's office
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  Speaker 3: but also the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs to make
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  Speaker 3: sure that people hear that message loud and clear to
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  Speaker 3: what that process should be going forward. If that report
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  Speaker 3: recommends that, then you know everyone should be working here
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  Speaker 3: to make sure that we implement that. If it means
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  Speaker 3: wide restrictions run across the charityarticularly in town camp because
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  Speaker 3: bear in mind most of the Aboriginal communities, Katie and
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  Speaker 3: the remote communities in the Northern Territory are restricted. Yeah,
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  Speaker 3: so that hasn't changed. This is town camp in urban
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  Speaker 3: centers that we need to get those restrictions.
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  Speaker 1: Kind Marion, as you mentioned right at the start of
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  Speaker 1: this interview, you know, so much of the discussion has
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  Speaker 1: been about alcohol, and rightly so, but it is not
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  Speaker 1: the only issue here. You've spoken about that needs based funding.
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  Speaker 1: What do you think could be happening urgently aside from
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  Speaker 1: the alcohol restrictions in Central Australia, to try and sort
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  Speaker 1: the issue that we've got right now with kids that
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  Speaker 1: are on the streets. You know, we've all seen the
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  Speaker 1: vision from earlier in the week, kids on the street
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  Speaker 1: just running a mark.
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  Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, I think Katie, what needs to be done
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  Speaker 3: and I'm hoping that that body of work gets done
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  Speaker 3: as soon as possible. But there is a lot of
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  Speaker 3: common funding that flows to you know, organizations but also
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  Speaker 3: to the Northern Territory government for various programs. Now, for
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  Speaker 3: whatever reason, those programs aren't effective where they're not producing
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  Speaker 3: the outcomes that we should be there needs to be.
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  Speaker 3: I've heard for the last six months since I've been
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  Speaker 3: in this position that people are developing a matrix, they're
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  Speaker 3: looking at this issue. Well, you know, instead of ringing
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  Speaker 3: hands and people looking at this issue, this is a
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  Speaker 3: body of work that is really urgent and important and
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  Speaker 3: we need to have a look at where is this funding,
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  Speaker 3: you know, what's happening with it and are we is
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  Speaker 3: it going towards addressing you know, domestic and family violence
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  Speaker 3: programs use programs we're missing. You know, there's a gaping,
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  Speaker 3: great big hole, you know, right across the teritory in
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  Speaker 3: chants as young people, and we need to have a
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  Speaker 3: look at if young people are wandering the streets at night,
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  Speaker 3: and you know there are programs aimed for those young
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  Speaker 3: people to work with them, why aren't they making a difference?
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  Speaker 3: And you know, we've got to stop doing the same
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  Speaker 3: thing over and over again and repeating the same mistakes.
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  Speaker 3: We've just got to start looking at innovative policy and
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  Speaker 3: be more strategic and targeted so that we can get
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  Speaker 3: the outcomes, Katie, instead of more talk and very little action.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you'll be hard pressed to find anybody
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  Speaker 1: who's listening this morning that disagrees with that. You know,
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  Speaker 1: we can't keep doing the same thing over and over
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  Speaker 1: and thinking that there's going to be a different outcome,
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  Speaker 1: you know, and I think people are so frustrated that
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  Speaker 1: that seems to have been the case for really quite
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  Speaker 1: some time. Marian, How are you feeling today, Loti, Are
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  Speaker 1: you feeling as though this is going to be the
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  Speaker 1: point where we start to see some urgent action?
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  Speaker 3: Look, I hope so, Katie. I'm I'm feeling a bit
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  Speaker 3: actually just all the travel and you and you know,
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  Speaker 3: and I'm hearing this despair right across the Northern Territory
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  Speaker 3: and we've got to do something about it, you know,
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  Speaker 3: like and this is you know, this is Aboriginal people,
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  Speaker 3: this is non Aboriginal people, it's territorians. People are despairing,
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  Speaker 3: and people want to work to the solution, you know,
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  Speaker 3: and become part of the solution. And that's what we
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  Speaker 3: have to do. What we've got to work towards.
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  Speaker 1: Marion Scrimjaw, I always appreciate your time and I appreciate
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  Speaker 1: your honesty.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you so very much for coming on the show
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  Speaker 2: this morning.
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  Speaker 3: No worries, Katie, talk soon.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you.