NTPA - October 2017

Police news The Independent Voice of Police in the Northern Territory

OCTOBER 2017

2017 Consent Agreement – not endorsed! this month:

BDR is back, what's next?

Annual Conference

Remembering mates

Would you like to Win a Heli-Tour?

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Paul McCue Phone (08) 8995 9520 www.ntpa.com.au ADVERTISER ALERT Boo Media is appointed by the Northern Territory Police Association as the authorised publisher of Northern Territory Police News. For enquiries regarding advertising in this magazine, please contact the publishers:

Contents OCTober 2017 07

President’s Message

PUBLISHER: Boo Media PTY Limited PO Box 19, Narrabeen, NSW 2101 Phone: (02) 8004 8612 Fax: (02) 8004 8611 info@boodigital.com.au ACN: 153 128 860

09

Dr Kevin Gilmartin – helping members cope

10

Field Officer’s Report

12

Industrial/Legal Report

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS must be supplied on computer disk with hard copy (or by email to reception@ntpa.com.au) addressed to The Editor, Northern Territory Police News, GPO Box 2350, Darwin Northern Territory 0801.

13

CA Update

16

Banned Drinker Register

20

Association Annual Conference

25

Life Member – Owen Blackwell

26

Delegate Award – James Green

28

Assaults on Police

30

Book Reviews – giveaways

34

Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance

36

The Long Road to Canberra

37

Auxiliary Graduation

38

Police Federation of Australia

42

Walking Kokoda

44

Glen Huitson – never forgotten

46

Resignations and retirements

46

Problems hearing?

Northern Territory Police News is published by the Northern Territory Police Association Inc., Level 2, Suite 209 ‘Spirit on The Avenue’ 12 Salonika Street Parap NT 0820. Contents are subject to copyright.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Organisations which represent sworn police officers’ industrial interests, however, may reproduce any part of the content of Northern Territory Police News without written permission of the publisher.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor.

16

Banned Drinker Register (BDR) A step in the right direction

The publisher accepts no responsibility for statements made by advertisers.

DISCLAIMER Boo Media (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are at the sole discretion of the Northern Territory Police Association, and the publication is offered for information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate. However, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Northern Territory Police Association make no representation, nor give any warranty or guarantee concerning the information provided. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the Publisher, its directors and employees.

20

Association Annual Conference Focus needed for the Force

42

Walking Kokoda Ruby Huitson walked 'the Track'

COPYRIGHT All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright.

ADVERTISING Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.

The NT Police Association is proudly supported by:

Cover photo: Member information session in Alice Springs in September for the draft 2017 Consent Agreement, not endorsed by NTPA Executive.

OCTOBER 2017 05

president's Message

REGIONAL DELEGATES ACPO REGION

DARWIN

Chairperson Trudy Grenfell Vice Chairperson Derek Williams Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Debra Carter Ordinary Mem. 2 Vanessa Martin

Chairperson Ian Nankivell Vice Chairperson Mark Henderson Secretary Steven Bott Ord. Member 1 Michael Valladares Ord. Member 2 Derek Hartshorn

ALICE SPRINGS AND CENTRAL DESERT REGION

GOVE

Chairperson Brodie Anderson Vice Chairperson Damien Barbe Secretary Gregory Burns Ordinary Member 1 Michael Swain Ordinary Member 2 Adam Swift

Chairperson Troy Harris Vice Chairperson Craig Ramsay Secretary Vacant Ord. Member 1 Vacant Ordinary Member 2 Vacant

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

president's Message PAUL McCUE PRESIDENT

COL GOODSELL

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

CHRIS WILSON

NTPA Office

TISD

Alice Springs Station

VICE PRESIDENT

This is the opening address delivered by President Paul McCue at last month’s annual conference.

GROOTE EYLANDT REGION AUXILIARY REGION Chairperson Vacant Vice Chairp. Cameron Charrington Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 James Green Ord. Member 2 Ferdinand Cheam

BARKLY REGION Chairperson Darryl Beckmann Vice Chairperson Elizabeth Garwood Secretary Natalie Watts Ordinary Member 1 Vacant Ordinary Member 2 Deanna Mason

BERRIMAH Chairperson Jakson Evans Vice Chairperson Patrick Carson Secretary Sinead Stubbs Ordinary Member 1 Stuart Short Ordinary Member 2 Kyle Ferricks

CASUARINA

Chairperson Vacant Vice Chairperson Vacant Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Steven Langdon Ordinary Member 2 Vacant

JABIRU REGION Chairperson Kim Chambers Vice Chairperson Vacant Secretary Adam Goldsmith Ordinary Member 1 Vacant Ordinary Member 2 Timothy Lyness

IAN NANKIVELL

BRETT COTTIER

TREASURER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Drug & Organised Crime Squad

Darwin Station

Crime Division

PALMERSTON REGION Chairperson Joshua Cunningham Vice Chairperson Steven Downie Secretary Dean Elliot Ord. Member 1 Teagan McClure Ordinary Member 2 Ben Coleman

SPECIAL OPERATIONS & SUPPORT REGION

Chairperson Carl Marcic Vice Chairperson Steve Rankine Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Vacant Ordinary Member 2 Bryan Duffy

Chairperson Neil Mellon Vice Chairperson Stuart Butcher Secretary Bryan Atkinson Ord. Member 1 Tim Hatton Ordinary Member 2 Mark Clemmens

CENTRAL REGION

SUPERINTENDENT’S REGION

Chairperson Matt Ridolfi Vice Chairperson Nick Byrne Secretary Jason Dingle Ordinary Member 1 Blake Goodworth Ordinary Member 2 John Tickner

CRISPIN GARGAN

MARK TURNER

DAVE CUBIS

EXECUTIVE MEMBER Water Police

KYLIE PROCTOR

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Palmerston Police Station

PFES College

Chairperson Kris Evans Vice Chairperson Sean Parnell Secretary Vacant Ordinary Member 1 Jody Nobbs Ordinary Member 2 Lauren Hill

LEE MORGAN

CONTRACT OFFICERS REGION

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Chairperson David Proctor Vice Chairperson Kate Vanderlaan Secretary Brent Warren Ordinary Member 1 Vacant Ord. Member 2 Vacant

Crime Division

SIMONE PETERKEN EXECUTIVE MEMBER Ramingining Police Station

JAKSON EVANS

EXECUTIVE MEMBER Katherine Station

As per Region restructure, voting will open for all new regions in late October.

EXECUTIVE SUB COMMITTEE & PANELS 2017/2018 FINANCE COMMITTEE

MEDAL ELIGIBILITY COMMITTEE

Treasurer Crispin Gargan (Chair), Paul McCue, Col Goodsell, Chris Wilson, Brett Cottier, Lee Morgan

Crispin Gargan, Kylie Proctor

Louise Jorgensen, Michael Hebb, Tony Henrys

Col Goodsell (Chair), Ian Nankivell Kylie Proctor, Lee Morgan, Mark Turner, Matt Marshall

SELECTIONS/TRANSFER PANEL OBSERVERS COMMITTEE

Louise Jorgensen, Michael Hebb, Tony Henrys

INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE

TRAINING AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE Brett Cottier, Crispin Gargan, Paul McCue

UNIFORM & EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE

LEGAL ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE

WELFARE COMMITTEE

as at 9 June 2017

06 NT POLICE NEWS

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

PFES College

Alice Springs Field Intelligence Section

NTPA STAFF MEMBERS

Rotation all Darwin based Executive Members

Paul McCue (Chair), Chris Wilson Col Goodsell, Jakson Evans, Mark Soligo, Rob Perry, Simone Peterken

Chris Wilson (Chair), Brett Cottier, Jakson Evans, Mark Turner, Simone Peterken, Terry Simpson

TERRY SIMPSON

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

PROMOTIONS APPEALS BOARD

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

INABILITY/DISCIPLINARY APPEALS BOARD

MATT MARSHALL

TESSA PRINGLE

GEORGINA MURPHY

Office Manager

Communications Officer

MARK SOLIGO

ZOEY KELLAWAY

Field Officer

Administration Officer

Crispin Gargan, Matt Marshall

Paul McCue (Chair), Dave Cubis, Ian Nankivell, Kylie Proctor, Terry Simpson

For the first time in many years, our conference takes on a slightly different style, and is geared specifically to you, our delegates. It is a back to basics conference, looking at the real key issues affecting our boots on the ground, and an opportunity to say ‘Thank you’ because it is a tough job.

Importantly here today, we want to listen intently to each other, for you are the ears and eyes on the ground, at the coal face, living every minute of decision making which is out of your hands. You carry the burden to the public each and every shift for the decisions which are made, both positive and negative. You are the front line in more ways than one. We all need to listen to what is said today.

The Northern Territory Police Association continues to represent nearly 100 percent of sworn members in all parts of the Territory. It is a proud long-standing organisation which continues to punch above its weight on the national stage through process and innovation, and we continue to enjoy the challenges thrown at us in our every changing policing and political environment.

I also continue to work on a day to day basis with some outstanding individuals in our office who all of us should be thankful we have to assist in the difficult job we do. Our people are our greatest asset, and the NTPA office is no exception.

On that note, it is timely then to look at the very people we represent, and what are the challenges you continue to face?

So, let’s get into it.

Let’s get straight to an important point.

There is no sugar coating what we are going to talk about, and it is with some disappointment that despite a change in government last year, lack of police numbers and poor use of resources continues to plague our members. The very simple fact is no matter what organisational culture, structure, procedures, or community expectations are at play, successful outcomes will only ever come to realization if sufficient staffing is in place to support it. Remember, your people are your most important asset.

It is disappointing that despite my calls at last year’s conference to ensure whomever took the role as Police Minister following the election they must do so on the premise the Commissioner of Police being free to manage his resources

Paul McCue, President

The Northern Territory Police Association continues to represent nearly 100 percent of sworn members in all parts of the Territory. It is a proud long-standing organisation which continues to punch above its weight on the national stage through process and innovation, and we continue to enjoy the challenges thrown at us in our every changing policing and political environment.

according to police requirements and available personnel.

It is disappointing that political pressure continues to dictate some aspects of resource allocation.

This resource drain, sadly, is evident across many areas of policing, it filters through all sections. Take our bushies for example. Vacancy after vacancy, overtime commitments through the roof, and little chance of relief are common complaints received by our office. This is not fanciful, this is not made up, this is the real cold hard truth. We must listen, listen to your people, listen to those who are suffering in the wake of a lack of boots on the ground.

This is the immediate and very real environment our police are dealing with each and every day.

There are less officers being released from the major centres to backfill vacancies in the bush, because they simply do not have the numbers. Plain and simple.

It is just too hard for some of our members to see beyond the next shift when roster after roster is filled with vacancies and overtime.

This is not isolated to the bush, I am safe to say there would struggle to be a section which is not buckling at the knees due to a lack of numbers. I implore the Police Minister to start engaging more with the Police Association, and come and speak to our members on the ground. The Commissioner and Police Minister need to

do what our Association are doing, going back to basics, back to our core business.

Whilst the current plan to recruit additional police as outlined by the government is welcomed, the problem we face Minister is we are behind today, so we will continue to be behind next year, and the year after that, and the year after that.

We call on the NT Government to take the positive lead of other states, such as Victoria, who have recognised and committed significant funding to boost policing numbers across the board.

Increased terrorism levels, increased drug trade, and increased violence will not go away by lessening our numbers. We cannot be left behind.

Compounding this problem, is the reliance by government to continually see police as the answer to the community’s dysfunction, placing undue burden on finite resources. Departments such as Licencing and Territory Families must share the burden of responsibility which falls within their remit. Scope exists for this to occur, it just takes courageous and decisive action to make it happen.

We welcome back the BDR in just a few days’ time. We have called for the return of the BDR since it was removed under the previous government. Whilst it was never given the life previously to prove its worth, it is hopeful with advances in technology it will be allowed to form part of a multitude of options to reduce alcohol harm in our OCTOBER 2017 07

president's message continued community. It must also not be seen as the silver bullet to alcohol reform, and must be supported with a range of fully funded and resourced initiatives to keep tackling this illness in our community.

The Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review currently underway must consider the impact of excess alcohol in our community in terms of implementing generational change. This change must be delivered free of influence and with the bests interests of the community in mind.

Our submission into this review outlined several viable alternatives to the ridiculous waste of resourcing that sees our police still standing alone at a bottle shop.

Buy back of current takeaway liquor licences should be considered by government as an absolute priority, and reduce the amount of alcohol available to our most vulnerable.

At last year’s conference, I spoke about the risk our members are facing on the street. We all know policing is inherently dangerous. It is the job which sets us apart from all others. We work in an uncontrolled environment with situations which can escalate in an instant. Just ask the near 241 police which reported being assaulted just last year and the 19 assaulted in July of this year alone. That doesn’t include the near misses. We are no ordinary public servant, we are the line between chaos and calm every single day.

In a values led environment, safety first must be the answer. The safety of your people must be paramount to giving in to unfounded political rhetoric which does nothing other than create fear in the community. I hate to tell you; the world will not collapse if we don’t have a police officer checking a licence at a bottle shop one night.

So, it is disappointing we continue to leave our officers exposed to unnecessary risks resulting at times in avoidable injuries.

We continue to call on the Commissioner and government to provide our officers with the minimum protection of two officers on duty at all times, this must be accepted as the basic minimum requirement for you as the employer, to mitigate against cowardly attacks on our members who are directed to stand alone like a sitting duck, waiting for the next vial attack with a plastic bag full of glass bottles to be smashed over their heads.

Where is the values led approach in that?

The NTPA calls on you, Commissioner, to immediately implement a policy of a minimum of two officers per patrol, static or mobile, at all times. If not enough members are available to operate with two, then it doesn’t happen. Anything less is letting your people down.

Furthermore, Minister we call on your support to immediately review and draft legislative change to increase sentencing 8

NT POLICE NEWS

for those convicted of assaulting a police officer. The current unfair mandatory sentencing provisions do not hold our frontline workers as high as the person on the street, the very people we protect. This is an appalling situation which needs to be urgently addressed.

The ongoing impact of assaults can be devastating and result on long term physical and or mental health outcomes.

Proactive measures must continue to be explored to reduce the negative effects of policing, and harsher penalties must be introduced to act as further deterrent.

Furthermore, we have been calling for changes to the archaic disciplinary provisions which exist under the Police Administration Act. The current conditions are anything but values led. Commissioner, amendments to how discipline is managed must be prioritised.

We all know the long-term impact policing can have, on the physical and mental welfare of our members. There can be, therefore, never enough support for police and their families.

mobile App known as ‘equipt’. Equipt is a free wellbeing app developed by The Police Association of Victoria and the Victoria Police, with input from members and leadings health professionals. It is designed for current and former sworn officers, police employees and their families.

Equipt will help strengthen your physical, emotional and social wellbeing and will also put you in touch with help and support if you need it. Through the work of the Police Federation of Australia and the support of The Police Association of Victoria, Equipt will be available to our members and their families here in the NT. This is a significant step toward our ongoing goal for better services and support which has been introduced in the last two to three years.

The Commissioner has once again been supportive of the implementation of Equipt and we thank him for his support. This, along with other support networks for members and families such as Employee Support Services and not for profit organisation Alongside, value add to what is needed proactively in support of our police. As we work through the final stages of the inevitable red tape, we hope to roll out Equipt in the next month or two.

to grow and provide members with highly skilled services in areas including discipline, wills, worker’s compensation, family law and estate planning.

Now permanently located in Darwin, TGB through partner Victoria Bell, have worked closely with our team to ensure support for our members is there when it is needed and we certainly look forward to continuing to grow that partnership in years to come.

I would like to thank the following people and organisations who continue to support our membership: • The Executive of the NTPA and the Regional Delegates for their continued hard work as representatives of our membership. Your work is incredibly valuable.

• Specifically, the Office Bearers to whom I refer to often for advice and assistance.

• I don’t like to single out people too often, but our Treasurer Crispin Gargan to continues to do significant work in his own time ensuring our books are in line. I thank him despite him being a Hawks supporter.

• Our long term major partners, Police Credit Union, Police Health and Fleet Network. Thank you to you all, your ongoing support of our members does not go unnoticed in the field and we look forward to our continued strong relationship.

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the obvious. There still hangs over our heads some unfinished business.

I don’t wish to dwell, but it must be said.

Policing is not a job for the faint hearted.

It is job that pushes you to your extremes, physically and mentally.

It is a job for which just 1400 people in the NT put their hand up to do. We see the worst of everything, we share - the worst of everything. We deliver the news no one wants to hear, and we go toward danger while others run away. We need look no further than the brave souls who sit here representing the 1400 today. We put ourselves in harm’s way to keep you safe. We are no ordinary public servant – and never will be.

We are not unreasonable people, we just want a fair go. Political agenda must be set

aside and allow us to just get on with the job. We deserve a pay rise, and we have not been unreasonable in our requests during negotiations this time around. This year is the first time in a long time our pay rise has not been delivered on time, and under a Labor government at that! Yet we still turn up to work and keep you from harm.

We clean up the community and keep you and your children safe.

The time for political agenda is not now, not with us. We are the community’s gatekeepers and we deserve a fair go, because what we do is a bloody tough job.

There are decisions that can be made today to support those who protect the community and now is the time to make that commitment. Now is the time to let us just get on with it.

Thank you – and I now invite the Attorney General to formally open our conference.

INTERNAL

WELFARE

That said, our Association continues to work with the Commissioner to implement immediate and sustainable and long term assistance for the welfare of our members and their families.

In the last two years, through the advocacy and lobbying of our Association, and the support of the Commissioner, police now have in place three serving police officers who work as Wellbeing and Health Officers (WHO’s), specifically designed to assist members and their families with a variety of workplace and personal needs. The WHO’s work closely with our Field Officer, Solly, and provide an important link to ensuring the wellbeing needs of our members are met.

Additionally, a Peer Support program is in place and Mental Health First Aid is being rolled out to our members.

The NTPA is pleased also to welcome back next month to Darwin a further presentation by Dr Kevin Gilmartin, a well renowned behavioural scientist specialising in law enforcement. This presentation is again being supported by the Commissioner and one of our major partners, Police Health, and we thank them sincerely for their support with that visit.

In addition, today I am pleased to announce we are in the final stages of preparations to roll out to our members a

As a member based organisation, we continually look to ways of improving our services to members. It was timely; therefore, 2017 has seen our Association undertake a significant review into how we may better service our members, and how we could better meet their needs.

With the most significant change to our internal structure in many years underway, it is hoped further focus will be placed on spending time with our members in their workplace, supported by staffing and technology to meet their needs.

I wish to thank our full-time staff at the Association for their continued hard work and dedication to achieving our objectives and purpose. Tessa, Zoey, Solly and Georgina all play a significant role in supporting our members on a day to day basis and we all should be proud of the work they do. Our former Industrial & Legal Officer, Rob Perry, also played a significant role for nearly 10 years in ensuring better workplace conditions for our members and we thank him sincerely for that. It is honestly a pleasure working with my team in the office and certainly holds true that your people are your greatest asset.

For me, building successful partnerships begin from a common purpose, a common understanding and trust. As it takes its next step, our ongoing partnership with highly respected South Australian legal firm Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB) continues

DR KEVIN GILMARTIN

Helping members cope We welcomed back renowned behavioural scientist Dr Kevin Gilmartin to Darwin in September where he presented to a full house at the PMC College Theatrette in a session supported by the Commissioner of Police and our long-term partner, Police Health.

Dr Kevin Gilmartin and Paul McCue at the PMC College Theatrette, Darwin

It was great to see many members who were new to his presentation, as well as many partners / spouses to the presentation, which captured the attention of attendees for three hours.

Some people call Dr Gilmartin the ‘cop doc’ - prior to his consulting career as a behavioural scientist, Kevin was a Police Officer in Arizona, so he knows what our members, and their families are experiencing having lived in the shoes of a Police Officer.

Everyone who attended Dr Gilmartin’s session in Darwin received a Dr Gilmartin To Go pack, which Police Health assisted is providing. The packs included Dr Gilmartin’s bestselling book Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement – A guide for officers and their families.

OCTOBER 2017

9

Field officer's report

CA Negotiations – Chapter Two Mark Soligo, Field Officer

‘Now I can only hope that by the time you are all reading this article, that Territory Labor Government has found a way to recognise, reward and thank all of you for the tough job you do as Police Officers serving the community of the NT and has come to the party and offered you a fair and equitable salary increase. If not, well I guess were still hammering away. I hope not’.

Those who read my article in the last NT Police News (and didn’t just look at the pictures), will recall that I provided a bit of a summary of the progress (or lack thereof) of the 2017 Consent Agreement negotiations. In the article I made the above, somewhat now optimistic prediction.

It seems that at least the latter part of the above was correct, because here we are in October ‘still hammering away’, as we are preparing to go back the negotiating table for round two, after a resounding NO vote from our members that the final offer put to them by government didn’t come close to making the grade.

It came as no surprise to me that was going to be the outcome, as I spent most of September travelling to stations delivering presentations and talking to our members on what was in the final CA offer and explaining why the NTPA Executive had made the tough decision to not endorse what had been put to us. The message from the members was pretty clear and it was great to see so many members take such an active interest. I thank all who attended the various sessions across the Territory and in particular I thank our hard working NTPA Regional Delegates for their assistance in organising and promoting the sessions within their regions, in many cases volunteering their time to do so. Hopefully by the time I write the next magazine there will be some significant progress.

members needing advice and assistance on a wide range of pay, HR, housing and disciplinary matters. Since 1 July, I have assisted well over 120 members directly (plus fielded just as many phone calls and emails from members with CA related questions), to say it’s been busy would be an understatement.

I have also been very busy over the past few months with GEH Housing Inspections. As Police ramp up recruiting

We get to meeting number three and finally start to make a little progress around some of the smaller less complicated issues; three weeks on from where we should be but hey, at least it’s a start, we have something to work with.

numbers, so does the need for Police housing increase to accommodate all these long awaited new recruits. All new properties are inspected and signed off on by the NTPA, prior to the department taking them on, ensuring that we are maintaining the high housing standard that we fought long and hard to achieve for our members.

Ask any member who was in the job prior to 2004 what housing was like then to appreciate the significant achievement the Housing Agreement was for our members.

Clause 31(f) (iv) describes availability as ‘Reasonably available does not mean on-call. It means members will agree to return to duty provided they are contactable and are in a position to do so.’

What this means is that you are not ‘on-call’ and shouldn’t be expected to be available 24/7 - 365 days a year.

You are entitled to take some time off, spend it with your family or pursue your hobbies or interests, which may mean that, at times you are not contactable, therefore not available to return to duty, as per the definition of Clause 31(f) (iv).

Obviously common-sense should apply and if you know that you are not going to be contactable for a period of time, then other arrangements need to be in place (coverage of your area by other stations, hold over of jobs etc.). We encourage all members at bush stations to get clear directions from their Divisional Officers on how they want them to manage this, but remember you are not ‘on-call’. I have spoken at length with the Divisional Superintendents who have responsibility for bush stations, all have recognised that members do need down time and have indicated a willingness to work with their bush members to achieve this. The NTPA will standby and support any member/s who are feeling pressure to be on-call 24/7 – 365 days a year.

THANKS RP

And to finish up, in August our former Industrial/Legal Officer Mr Rob Perry left the NTPA after almost a decade of service helping members. I have spent the last two years working closely with Rob here at NTPA HQ, and during that time, I

2017 CA presentation to members in Nhulunbuy

called upon his advice and knowledge on many occasions. I want to personally thank Rob for not only for the help he gave me in my time working with him, but for the help he gave many hundreds of NTPA members who found need to call on his services over those many years. All the best Rob.

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.

Mother Teresa

REASONABLY AVAILABLE

In the December 2016 edition of this magazine I wrote about ‘reasonably available’ and what it really means. The Consent Agreement 2014 allows for a component of the Consolidated Remote Incentive Allowance (CRIA) to paid to members in recognition of availability.

THE WORLD KEEPS TICKING

Whilst the Consent Agreement has taken up a lot of my time for most of the year, business as usual continues in the Field Officer Department with

10 NT POLICE NEWS

2017 CA presentation in Tennant Creek to night shift members

Presenting to Recruits in training

OCTOBER 2017 11

Industrial/legal

Body Worn Video Luke Officer and Victoria Bell Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB)

Body-worn video (BWV) use by police across the nation is rising, and NT Police is leading the way. Unlike interstate, where individual police can choose whether or not they wish to use the cameras, in the Territory BWV has been rolled out for all operational members.

NT Police has created a BWV police practice and procedure document that all members should review. A specific training course has also been created, as well as a separate course on taking statements using BWV in domestic violence matters.

CHANGES TO LEGISLATION

As Territory Police Officers are now using Body Worn Video (BWV), Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB) lawyers Victoria Bell and Luke Officer outline some considerations for our members.

protected information and (pursuant to section 53) can only be used, communicated or published in certain situations, including the investigation of an offence or the making of a decision on whether or not to bring a relevant proceeding for an offence.

Importantly, this section states that local protected information obtained from BWV by an officer may also be used, communicated or published: • in connection with the exercise of a law enforcement function by an officer; or • in connection with education and training of officers; or • for a purpose prescribed by regulation.

Surveillance Devices Act:

In April 2017 there were changes made to the Surveillance Devices Act (NT) to permit use of BWV by police in certain circumstances.

Section 14A of the Act permits use if: (a) the officer is acting in the execution of the officer's duty; and (b) the use of BWV is overt; and (c) the officer is in uniform or has provided evidence that they are a police officer to each party to the private activity or private conversation to be recorded.

In addition, Section 14 says, without limiting the ways in which the use of BWV may be overt, it can include when an officer informs the person to be recorded of the use of BWV. It is not a breach of the Act, nor is it an offence, if the use by the officer is inadvertent or unexpected. This gives some protection to our members.

Under section 51 any information obtained from BWV by an officer is local

12 NT POLICE NEWS

This raises some issues as to the ability of the Professional Standards Command and/or supervisors to use BWV in disciplinary matters or performance management.

Evidence Act:

The Evidence Act has also been amended for police BWV use.

Section 21(a) provides that a complainant in a domestic violence (DV) offence proceeding is to be considered a vulnerable witness. This amendment is intended to remove the need for a court to determine that a complainant is a vulnerable witness and to automatically permit new mechanisms for the use of BWV evidence as outlined in the new Part 3A of the Act. Part 3A, and added sections 21G to 21R, provide that a compliant recorded statement may be played at the hearing of a DV charge. Essentially, it seems the recorded statement can be utilized as evidence-in-chief. The court can refuse

to admit any or all parts of the evidence.

The intent is to make it easier for complainants in DV offence proceedings to give evidence whilst reducing the need for them to relive their trauma.

Section 21 J outlines what is required in order for the statement to be compliant: • It must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable after the events; • It must be made with the complainant’s informed consent.

The officer must inform the complainant the recorded statement may be used in evidence in a DV proceeding, they may be required to give further evidence and the complainant may refuse consent.

The complainant must have their consent and age recorded.

• It must be made as a statutory declaration. The complainant must state the evidence is true and that they know it is an offence to make a false statutory declaration.

Section 21K states if a defendant is legally represented, and a recorded statement has been made for a DV offence proceeding, the prosecution must serve a copy on the legal representative as soon as possible after proceedings commence. The defendant is not to be given or take a copy of the statement.

Section 21L states if the defendant is unrepresented the prosecution must serve an audio copy of the statement as soon as reasonably practicable after proceedings have commenced, and allow the defendant to view the video footage on a day before the hearing of the charge or committal date.

Section 21N states the prosecution is not generally required to provide a transcript of the recorded statement to the defendant or their lawyer.

Section 21P prohibits editing or altering of the footage unless both parties agree. For example, the parties may agree the evidence is inadmissible or unfairly prejudicial.

Section 21Q makes it an offence to publish a recorded statement without authority.

POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND PITFALLS

No amendments appear to have been made to the Evidence Act regarding BWV use outside domestic violence matters. In particular, there is nothing specific in the Act regarding taking statements using BWV. We raise this because the practice and procedure document refers to the use of BWV to take statements from victims generally, rather than purely in DV matters. We do note the practice and procedure document confirms that in these instances the recorded statement does not replace the need for a written statement.

It will be interesting to see how such statements (outside DV proceedings) will be relied upon and/or criticized in the criminal justice system.

Legal Services The Northern Territory Police Association has moved to a new service for assistance with legal matters.

Partner Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB) is now permanently located in Darwin, and assist with advice on internal and discipline legal matters. TGB has a wealth of experience in assisting in police matters, being the provider for Police Association of South Australia for over 20 years, and the Western Australian Police Union for six years.

There is concern that our members lack protection because, whilst the practice and procedure is quite detailed, there does not appear to be a General Order regarding BWV use. Its use in disciplinary proceedings and performance management will undoubtedly be a relevant factor throughout the rollout and into the future.

Our interstate colleagues have, generally, embraced BWV, citing the protection it offers members from vexatious complaints, as well as assisting with the prosecution of offenders. Like all technology, however, its true impact will not be known until some time has passed with our members using it themselves on the frontline.

As such, it is timely to recognise and thank our long term Industrial & Legal Officer, Mr Rob Perry, who worked passionately for the NTPA for nearly a decade before finishing in early August of this year. Rob was dedicated to improving conditions for Police overall through industrial negotiations, and assisting members who required criminal or internal discipline advice and guidance. We thank Rob for his long service to the NTPA and on behalf of the Executive, Delegates and members wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.

From President Paul McCue

Consent Agreement update At the time of going to print, the ballot was open for the proposed new Consent Agreement.

Visits were undertaken by the President, Field Officer and Communications Officer to the following locations: • • • • • • • •

Alice Springs (3 presentations) Tennant Creek (2 presentations) Katherine (2 presentations) Nhulunbuy Palmerston Casuarina Darwin PMC

The Field Officer also spent time at some smaller locations going through the final offer from government. In addition, facts sheets and an online presentation (video and audio) were made available for members who could not be at the presentations.

Consent Agreement presentation at PMC College Theatrette

This year, members were asked to vote for the first time electronically, and indications are this has been well received process as opposed to the challenges of a postal ballot in the Northern Territory.

Whilst results are not known at this time, members will continue to be kept

up to date on the progress of the matter and we again encourage you to email 2017CA@ntpa.com.au if you have any Consent Agreement related questions, or email memberservices@ntpa.com.au for general enquires.

We thank those members who took the time to vote on this very important matter and please remember, back pay will be applicable to 30 June 2017.

OCTOBER 2017 13

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Remember, in the end, you’re going to be recognised and honoured for the person you are. And while being an officer is a badge you wear proudly, you have other accomplishments to sew onto that shirt.

Take the time to understand and define who you are, not just what you do. Have fun with it the next time someone asks what you do.

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Opinion

Banned Drinker register

The BDR is back, so what’s next?

by Paul McCue, published in the Centralian Advocate

The return of the Banned Drinker Register (BDR) is a significant step in the right direction in what is an ongoing, devastating and very real problem across the Territory, none more so than in Alice Springs and surrounding remote areas.

Across our community, we see the negative impacts of alcohol harm related issues every single day. We see alcohol related crime; assaults, accidents and domestic and family violence, to name but a handful of the consequences of excess consumption.

But we need more.

Not more grog, anything but.

We need more preventative measures, tightened control of sale and supply, consequence for those who choose to do the wrong thing and help for those that are struggling with their addiction.

It’s time for the Territory government, and its departments and relevant NGOs to unveil the next phase of their plans towards what many term ‘the war on grog.’

The BDR should not be viewed as a ‘silver bullet,’ but rather one tool in the kit towards a cleaner, safer and healthier Central Australia.

These next steps are paramount.

It’s simply not enough to hail the return of the BDR. The Register is in place now and the next steps should be being actioned.

The BDR should be one of a suite of measures introduced to control supply at both takeaway outlets and for on premise consumption, such as pubs and nightclubs.

And naturally, as controls tighten for legal purchase, the market for

16 NT POLICE NEWS

secondary supply will likely increase. No one wants sales driven underground to the boot of a car, so this too should be addressed as part of the government’s plan to tackle alcohol abuse.

As the voice of the Territory’s Police Officers, the Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) hears first hand, every day, about the devastating effects alcohol has on individuals and the community as a whole.

Our members, the Territory’s Police Officers, like paramedics, nurses, and other first responders see time after time the physical, emotional and mental trauma too much grog brings into our community.

Long after the last sip has been taken, the mess is often still being cleaned up.

Existing government departments such as Licensing need to play a part, a big part. Licensing should be better resourced and further empowered to coordinated a strategic approach in monitoring licensed venues.

A reduction of takeaway outlets, which could be facilitated by a license buyback scheme, should be discussed; as should the fees charged to operate a takeaway license.

Put simply, in a town the size of Alice Springs, does the community really, honestly, need as many takeaway liquor outlets as licensed currently? Are the alcohol sales to corner store ancillary to core business in the true sense?

Part of this plan should include the Police Force’s intentions to put an end to using highly trained, professional Police Officers, paid for by the public purse, to act as pseudo security guards at bottleshops.

The Territory Police Force is currently buckling at the knees as remote communities across the central desert don’t have the Police Officers they should simply because there are too many vacancies that aren’t being filled. This coupled with tying Police Officers to bottleshop duties only further strains already finite resources.

POSIs have proven that if you tighten control at the point of sale, the flow of alcohol sold (in the first instance, not necessarily including secondary supply) is stemmed. But it’s not a job of a Police Officer. The profiteering outlets must contribute and the BDR is one step toward that. Now it’s time to take then next.

Every Police Officer working on a bottleshop is one less Police Officer that is available to answer your calls for help when you need Police assistance.

Every Police Officer working on a bottleshop is one less Police Officer driving a van with lights and sirens when disaster is at hand.

Every Police Officer working on a bottleshop is one less Police Officer that could be working a remote community in Central Australia, or proactively working towards stamping out the illegal secondary supply of alcohol.

The BDR is an important step by a government who promised to govern for all Territorians, let’s hope that the enthusiasm continues and we see the next elements of the alcohol plan soon.

OCTOBER 2017 17

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Annual conference

Altered to a two-day event, the conference welcomed

Attending Executives and Delegates

Annual conference 2017

FOCUS NEEDED FOR THE FORCE Time is up on increasingly severe assaults on Police, worsening Police numbers and stretched resources. This, and the 2017 Consent Agreement (which at the time we had just received the final offer from government for) were the main focus of this year’s NTPA conference.

20 NT POLICE NEWS

our delegates from across the Territory as your regional representatives as well as NTPA Executive members, sponsors and guest speakers.

The shortened format meant we could focus primarily to ‘on the ground’ issues affecting our members most, including the burning topics of resourcing, rosters, Point of Sale Interventions (POSIs) and bush stations.

The overarching message to decision makers is clear – our members are at the coal face of crime and chaos across all corners of the Territory. Policing is dangerous and unpredictable enough without additional exposure to work through fatigue and under resourcing.

Much of the feedback from the delegates in attendance, and on behalf of their regions, reinforced the importance of addressing the resourcing issues now. Many of the topics and problems highlighted stemmed from resourcing, it truly is the backbone of our issues. It was time to get back to basics.

Whilst it was disappointing the Chief Minister could not attend our formal opening on the following Tuesday morning due to prior commitments, delegates appreciated him availing himself on the Monday.

The Chief Minister (and Minister for Police) used the opportunity to raise points of interest to our members, including current Consent Agreement negotiations, POSIs (TBLs), the Banned Drinker Register (BDR, reintroduced in the days following our conference), the review into alcohol legislation and policies, and assaults on Police.

The Chief Minister fielded several questions from the floor including staffing levels, recruitment plan and recent assaults on police. It was strongly felt by delegates they would like to see our Police Minister be more vocal publicly in defence of our Police when one is assaulted in the line of duty.

Later that same day, the Commissioner of Police, together with Deputy Commissioner Vanderlaan and Deputy Commissioner Nicholls, partook in a panel session at the request of the President.

The Commissioner provided an update on current matters within the organisation before providing an opportunity for Deputy Commissioner Vanderlaan to update delegates on operational matters, and Deputy Commissioner Nicholls to update on projects he has been working on, including Scenedoc, Winscribe, the PROMIS replacement () and centralised workforce modelling.

The floor was then opened up for a lengthy question and answer session where members took the opportunity to ask open and frank questions of the most senior members of the police force, including the role of incoming Assistant Commissioner Peter Gallagher, POSI duties in light of the return of the BDR and ongoing issues around staffing levels across the organisation.

Similar topics continued to frame discussion amongst delegates on opening morning, attended by Attorney General and Minister for Justice, The Hon. Natasha Fyles MLA, Leader of the Opposition Gary Higgins MLA and the Commissioner of Police.

Each of our three guests joined the President in addressing the crowd, with recurring themes including recognition for the tough job our members do.

Minister Fyles spoke of the importance of working together with government and community, and thanked our members for their hard work they do across the Territory.

Her government is recruiting and investing in Police numbers, overhauling the PROMIS program, delivering more infrastructure and resources to assist our members to do their job. Minister Fyles referenced to the Territory’s alcohol

Top: Commissioner of Police, Reece P Kershaw APM Bottom: Leader of the Opposition, Gary Higgins MLA

issues, pointing to the (then) upcoming reintroduction of the BDR as part of the government’s plan “in the space of alcohol,” a topic she acknowledged there was a lot more work to do.

She addressed the Consent Agreement negotiations stalemate around the length of the proposed agreement, and drew on the plan to “provide longer term funding arrangements” for organisations around the Territory in relation to four years.

On Police numbers, a hot topic both at conference and in media commentary, Minister Fyles acknowledged the time required to recruit Police Officers, and the commitment needed to ensure our Force was appropriately resourced.

She acknowledged the impact that POSIs have on our members and plans to publish the report from the Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review, an inquiry led by Trevor Riley QC, a submission to which our Association made. The report is due out in the approaching month.

Addressing frustrations by our Association in relation to POSIs, Minister Fyles said “we know that Police are the best people to make decisions around police operations and we know that people don’t join Police Force to stand out the front of bottleshops.”

Minister Fyles said the government was looking at measures that rely less on Police and more on community and licensing to stop the supply of alcohol to those who cause so much harm.

OCTOBER 2017 21

Annual conference 2017

FOCUS NEEDED FOR THE FORCE cont’d

Chief Minister (and Minister for Police) The Hon. Michael Gunner MLA addresses delegates

Left: Delegates on opening morning; right: Attorney General Natasha Fyles MLA

She said she was “very happy” to look at the legislative reforms that were mentioned by the President in his opening address, as Minister Fyles too believes that assault on one of our members is one too many.

Similar themes were addressed by Leader of the Opposition, attending his first NTPA Conference.

On Police numbers, Mr Higgins said it isn’t about the amount of Police that protect the community, but the way in which those resources are being used and what actual resources are required. He tied this into our ongoing push for a three-year agreement – he questioned whether the government’s push for a four-year consent agreement term may be impacting on Police leaving the job.

The resources question is what the Leader of the Opposition would like to focus on, drawing on roles that Police currently do (including POSIs) that should be reviewed. He also acknowledged the lack of downtime many remote members are currently experiencing, in an effort to best service their local communities.

In his media release following the conference opening, Mr Higgins’ called for Labor to “stop the political stand-off that is blocking a new Consent Agreement with Police” and continued his calls for more recruits and resources to assist our members to serve the community and protect our offices from violent attack.

Commissioner Kershaw addressed opening morning focusing part of his speech on what he said in his address at last year’s conference, with a focus on being values led, utilising technology and freeing up resources, enabling a reduction of administrative overtime by 60 per cent during recent technology trials.

The Commissioner’s speech this year provided further insight into recently announced initiatives and projects currently in the pipeline.

Much of this is technology focused, the objective of the introduction of such technology being to “improve public 22 NT POLICE NEWS

The Commissioner’s speech this year provided further insight into recently announced initiatives and projects currently in the pipeline.

safety by releasing more Police hours from low-value administrative tasks so that we can serve and protect the community.”

Over the next four years, the $45 million replacement project of PROMIS will be undertaken, and internal interviews are taking place now with subject matter experts to ensure the new system is top notch, addressing each of the issues existing with the current framework. It’s a once in 20 year watershed moment, the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner acknowledged the ever-increasing demand for Police services, and the “broadening” of the definition of policing, pointing to innovation needing to be at the forefront.

The upcoming Territory Intelligence Centre (known as TIC) will be rolled out from October this year, and proports to be a ground-breaking and an intelligence fusion with EOC, communications hub and event coordination centre. It will allow for efficient sharing of information and multi-agency collaboration, share real time information and intelligence, designed with early intervention in mind.

Domestic and family violence, a tragedy of epic proportions across the Territory, continues to be a focus for the Police Force. After the success of this year’s inaugural conference on the topic, Yirrkala will host next years in June 2018 and the scope of the conference will be identifying successful strategies better current statistics.

These are but some of the activities and ICT projects and initiatives being introduced and developed.

The Commissioner drew our attention to internal activity as well, including the reviews and work currently being undertaken in relation to the workplace staff survey, conducted earlier this year, as well as the activity in the equity and diversity space. He also spoke about changes being made to the complaints and discipline processes.

The health and wellbeing support provided to members by the department is also due for further changes, with prevention and early intervention strategies for the betterment of health for the individual to be the focus.

President Paul McCue opening address

Commissioner Reece P Kershaw with Deputy Commissioners Kate Vanderlaan and Grant Nicholls with President, Paul McCue

OCTOBER 2017 23

Annual conference 2017 cont’d

AN OVERVIEW OF MOTIONS The 2017 NTPA Annual Conference agenda commenced with our Finance Report delivered by the Treasurer Crispin Gargan, followed by the Communications Officer report by Georgina Murphy and the Returning Officer’s Report on elections held over the previous year.

Conference was pleased to also welcome back Angela Stringer as Returning Officer for the coming year and we thank her for her ongoing work in this role.

A summary of the remainder of the agenda items are as follows:

LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME

The NTPA Legal Assistance Scheme was amended in clause 2 specific to matters relating to Respect, Equity and Diversity.

In matters such as this where it involves one member against another member, the NTPA will now be able to provide initial advice to both members involved in the conflict if they need such advice.

The advice is limited in capacity and will be provided independently of the NTPA. Further details can be obtained from the NTPA office.

A further amendment was made to the authority of the President to grant legal assistance which is more reflective of current legal costs. The previous delegation had not been amended for several years.

NTPA REGIONAL RESTRUCTURE

A motion was put to conference to review and amend the current regional structure of the NTPA. This was undertaken primarily to reflect the fact access to regions is now far easier with modern technology and more in line with how members report.

Initial discussion included merging the Casuarina and Darwin regional branches, however after some debate, these regions will remain as is.

In summary, the motion was passed for the following regions: ACPO REGION all ordinary members who are Aboriginal Community Police Officers.

AUXILIARY REGION all ordinary members who are Police Auxiliaries.

24 NT POLICE NEWS

BARKLY REGION all ordinary members who are stationed in Tennant Creek and the Barkly Division BERRIMAH REGION all ordinary members who are stationed at the Peter McAulay Centre who are not attached to any other Region as defined in this By-Law. CASUARINA REGION all ordinary members who are stationed at Casuarina and Nightcliff Stations.

CENTRAL REGION all ordinary members stationed at Katherine, Borroloola, Lajamanu, Maranboy, Mataranka, Ngukurr, Timber Creek, Kalkaringi, Pine Creek, Daly River, Wadeye, Pepperminati, Bulman, Minyerri and Yarralin.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS REGION all ordinary members who are Commissioned Officers.

DARWIN REGION all ordinary members who are stationed at Darwin station, in addition to those stationed within the Darwin CBD area.

NORTH EASTERN REGION all ordinary members who are stationed at Nhulunbuy, Groote Eylandt, Numbulwar, Gapuwiyak, Galiwinku, Jabiru, Oenpelli, Maningrida, Ramingining, Minjilang and Warruwi.

PALMERSTON REGION all ordinary members stationed at Palmerston Station, Batchelor, Adelaide River, Humpty Doo and the Tiwi Islands.

Specialist Services Region – all ordinary members attached to the Specialist Services Command.

SOUTHERN REGION all ordinary member stationed in Alice Springs and the Central Desert Division.

The motion will now result in 12 regions, and a total of 60 delegates which will enable the NTPA to heavily focus on training and development of delegates throughout the NT. The new structure is in place from the 2017-2019 election period commencing in late October 2017.

MEMBER SUBSCRIPTIONS

Conference moved to hold member subscriptions at their current rate until June 2018 with a recommendation to go to the 2018 Annual Conference for further consideration.

BRANCH MOTIONS

Alice Springs and Central Desert Branch – a motion for the removal of the mandatory retirement age (currently 65 years) was debated at length before being rejected by conference delegates.

A further motion from this branch was carried which supports the NTPA Executive in calls for the Chief Minister and Minster for Police to urgently recruit and increase sworn established numbers of the police force.

Berrimah Branch – a motion was carried requesting the NTPA Executive pursue an exemption for Police to have full entitlements of income for the duration of an injury or incapacitation they suffered as a result of their work, regardless of the stated 26 weeks in the Return to Work Act.

DEDICATION REWARDED

Owen Blackwell

By Vince Kelly

Owen Blackwell – Big O – to many of his friends and mates was honoured with Life Membership of our Association in August this year.

Owen has been a member of the NT Police Force and the NT Police Association since 12 January 1987 having agreed to join our Association when “asked” by Life Member Gowan Carter along with all of his squad on their first day of service.

Owen has worked predominately in General Duties throughout the NT serving in many remote areas including postings to Yuendumu, Kalkaringi, Daly River, Nhulunbuy, the Tiwi Islands, Tennant Creek and most recently Alyangula.

Owen has also relieved at Ti Tree, Kulgera (a relief stint that ended following a shot in the night), Pine Creek, Galiwinku, Oenpelli and Maningrida.

Owen has done some “Darwin” time including working as a supervisor at the old Casuarina Station in Casuarina, a short stint in Palmerston investigations before being promoted to Sergeant in the JESCC. Owen has never regretted accepting Gowan’s invitation and over the years witnessed first-hand how our Association assists members in times of need.

Owen took on an active role with our Association as the Secretary of the Central Region in 1996 followed by a brief stint as Chair. This was followed by service as the chairperson for Nhulunbuy in 2000 and 2001 before being elected to the Executive in 2002.

Owen served on the Executive until 2008 when he was appointed as the full time position with the NTPA Field Officer. A role he carried out with distinction until returning to operational duties s a Sergeant in Tennant Creek in 2012, (he applied for the position).

Owen returned to the Executive in 2013 a position held until standing down in 2017. As an operational Sergeant in Tennant Creek Owen sacrificed many hours of his own time during the 2014 wage negotiations while contending with the childish objections and road blocks of a former Commissioner.

During his various roles with our Association Owen was committed to protecting and improving the working conditions of NT Police Officers. While working as Field officer Owen was an integral part of the improvements to members housing across the NT. He was directly involved in the negotiations of a number of wage deals that improved members lives.

While Owen has made many significant personal and professional contributions to our Association he is without peer when it comes to providing support to the families of members who die whilst serving. Sadly, Owen has had a direct connection to a number of these members including Glen Huitson, Jason Lindsay, Shane Kappler, Peter Wiesenekker, and more recently Mick Read and maintains a close connection to their families.

Top: President Paul McCue with Owen Blackwell; bottom: Owen and his wife Deb Blackwell with fellow life member Vince Kelly, APM, Steve Martin and Richard Cheal.

However, irrespective of any personal connection the Big O is always first to support police families when tragedy strikes.

He has constantly encouraged (cajoled) members to make sure that they and their families are prepared for tragedy.

Owen was presented with his Life Membership at the NTPA Conference dinner by NTPA President Paul McCue who reflected on Owens contribution as Field Officer wryly observing that he was almost as good a field officer as his successor.

Former NTPA President and Life Member Vince Kelly who is also a close friend, squad mate and god father to Miss Bronte also spoke at the presentation.

Vince recalled his first meeting with Owen a few days before they officially started in the police. At the time Owen was wearing a sarong and loitering out the front of the newly opened PMC barracks. “We struck up a conversation and other than his choice of clothing we found we had a common interest in rugby and beer – the friendship grew exponentially from there”. Vince refrained on the night from sharing the recruit training story involving an alleged starters pistol, a shot in the dark and a grumpy now deceased Detective Senior Constable. (God rest you Stanly) OCTOBER 2017 25

Annual conference 2017

Dedication Rewarded – Owen Blackwell cont’d

Left: Owen at graduation; right: Owen and the Territory Long Riders at the National Police Memorial Owen was joined at dinner by two other close police mates Richard Cheal and Steve Martin – between the four of them the stories are numerous - sadly statutes do apply.

One thing about Owen is that once you obtained friendship status it is for life and no favour is too big or small. Luckily for many the Big O’s generous nature means there are many folks in that category who have benefited from his allencompassing friendship.

Vince has described Owen’s greatest asset (beyond his family Deb, Bronte, Amos, Courtney and grandkids) and weakness as his “heart on his sleeve” approach to our members. However, Vince believes you wouldn’t want him any other way and that their different characters was the basis for a successful partnership at the NTPA and a lifelong friendship.

James, our Branch Delegate Award Winner

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Senior Auxiliary James Green joined the Northern Territory Police Association on 12 January 2009.

In response, we’ve launched Emergency Services Health – a new not-for-profit private health fund exclusive to the emergency services community. It’s backed by Police Health, extending the quality cover previously only police officers and their families could access to our colleagues in the emergency services. If you know someone who volunteers or works in emergency services, share our news of the new health fund by:

James has worked in a variety of challenging roles within our Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre (JESCC) and has experienced the ups and downs of both call taking and dispatch during times of severe staffing shortages.

Throughout this time, James continued to work toward the betterment of all members, and has never been afraid to raise an issue with the supervisors in the event the workplace needed it. James became regional delegate near on two years ago, but even before this, advocated on behalf of the Auxiliary Region, and other members who work in his section.

Through the recent Consent Agreement negotiations, James has worked tirelessly in relation to a specific pay related issue which affects our members in JESCC. He has spent a considerable amount of his own time, together with some of his colleagues, in preparing evidence based documents for the NTPA negotiating representatives to rely upon.

It was with great pleasure, James was awarded a Branch Delegate Award at the 2017 NTPA Annual Conference dinner.

Congratulations James and thank you for all your hard work.

26 NT POLICE NEWS

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James Green Awarded Branch Service Award

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Opinion

Assaults on Police

by Paul McCue, published in the NT News on Sunday 20 August

Enough is enough! Time to stop the assaults on Police Officers A recent article from Alice Springs newspaper, Centralian Advocate on assaults on Police Officers

It beggars belief that our Police Officers, the very people that run into crime, crisis and chaos as the rest of us run away, may soon need to add ‘be assaulted at work’ to their job description.

And it’s not just Police. It’s our paramedics and fellow first responders.

At what point in our community have we let expectations slip so low that it is seemingly seen as ‘OK’ by some people to assault a cop.

Thankfully, it’s only a small portion of the population who are partaking in this cowardly, unfair and completely unnecessary violence.

Regardless, one assault is one too many and it is now time for the community and government as a whole, to start saying enough is enough.

Last financial year there was 251 assaults on Police Officers in the Northern Territory. Based on approximate frontline numbers, that puts the amount at near one in four Police being assaulted.

28 NT POLICE NEWS

That’s almost five incidents per week recorded, where someone has assaulted the very people who are employed to help. To serve and protect.

Except it seems they’re not protected themselves. The question has to be asked, who’s protecting the protectors?

Some cops were assaulted more than once. Other incidents were a near miss and not recorded. The severity and harm caused isn’t noted in that figure either. And sometimes, our Police are so bewildered by the violence on the streets, they seemingly accept that being the victim is part of their job.

Well, it’s not part of their job. A Police Officer and other first responders, are not a punching bag.

Police work in its very nature is unpredictable, dangerous and unsafe. Our Police are typically dealing with people on their bad or sad days, but it can also be a rewarding, exciting and fulfilling career.

Addressing a law and order issue, or more specific topics such as alcohol harm or the Territory’s devastating rates of domestic and family violence, calls for systemic change.

Earlier this week, I called for a whole of community approach, across the Territory, at all levels, everywhere, to say no. We need our leaders, be it political, cultural, sporting stars and role models in all corners to say no to assaulting Police Officers, and anyone else for that matter.

We need legislation to protect and deter.

We then need a judicial system bold enough to say enough is enough, and use the legislation to set the deterrent.

Currently, under the mandatory sentencing provisions of the Sentencing Act, workers (all workers, not only on the frontline), including our Police, have less minimum sentencing provisions than the ordinary person on the street.

How is this fair?

The deficiency in the Sentencing Act applies to offenders charged with assault police (189A Criminal Code) and assault worker (188A Criminal Code- this includes assaults on anyone performing their duties as a worker like St Johns ambulance officers, security guards, bouncers and taxi drivers, for example).

As it currently stands, if a member of the public is assaulted, and it is the second offence for the convicted person, a minimum of three months imprisonment applies.

Disappointingly, this is not the case for our Police (or anyone else who is assaulted while undertaking their duties as a worker). The Sentencing Act merely refers to a term of ‘actual imprisonment.’

How on earth can we have legislation in the Northern Territory that values our Police less than the very people they are trying to protect?

The fact is, while we have a portion of the community with their head in the sand, we have others making excuses for distasteful and illegal behaviour.

We blame too many alcoholic drinks or we blame a moment of ‘not thinking straight.’

Assaulting a Police Officer, or assaulting anyone for that matter, is an unacceptable consequence of bad behaviour. We don’t need excuses.

The fact that alcohol is a contributing factor in some 68 per cent of cases also puts the spotlight on the lack of

strategic action from government on effective alcohol policy.

Put simply, the majority of people who smash our Police are boozed, or frustrated that they can’t consume or purchase it. If this isn’t a startling concern to the whole community then it should be.

There’s ways to mitigate some of the circumstances around Police assaults, and not letting Police Officers work by themselves is a good start.

Earlier this year, one of Territory’s own was smashed over the head with a bag of glass wine bottles in Alice Springs.

This is just one example of things going pear shaped when you’re working ‘oneup’ (ie. alone).

Allowing an officer to work alone makes for a dangerous and vulnerable situation and something that should not be acceptable in modern policing practise.

It’s irresponsible of the Territory’s Police Force to continue to allow this to occur.

The Northern Territory Police Association, in our role as the voice of the Territory’s Police Officers have been asking the Commissioner of Police for a policy on single-officer patrols (ie. Police working alone) for near two years.

And while we wait, we’ve had stabbings, an attempted hit ‘n’ run, blood drawn and bruised officers go home to their families to try and explain why and how work turned ugly.

It’s time for senior management of the Northern Territory Police Force, and the Minister for Police to activate plans to stop these attacks on our workers.

Our Police deserve more than words, it’s time for action.

I dread to think what it is going to take for action from leaders and elected representatives.

Think about it, if these thugs are happy to assault a professionally trained, highly-qualified Police Officer in uniform, imagine what they might be happy to inflict on someone with less defensive skills.

This is not about Police Officers (and frontline workers as a whole) being superior to the wider community in relation to assaults, it’s about fairness and protection.

Because being stabbed, bitten, ran over, spat at or punched and pushed should not be part of any one’s job description.

OCTOBER 2017 29

BOOK reviews

Fatal Mistake

By Karen M. Davis

Karen Davis spent 20 years in uniform with the New South Wales Police Force, beginning her career in Newtown, then as a detective and undercover operative.

The Late Show

By Michael Connelly

Los Angeles can be a dangerous city - never more so than in the dead of night.

Renee Ballard works the night shift at the LAPD in Hollywood, beginning many investigations but finishing none as each morning she turns her cases over to day shift detectives. A once up-and-coming detective, she's been given this beat as punishment after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor.

But one night she catches two cases she doesn't want to part with: the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in a parking lot and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shooting. Ballard is determined not to give up at dawn.

Against orders and her own partner's wishes, she works both cases by day while maintaining her shift by night.

As the cases entwine, they pull her closer to her own demons and the reason she won't give up her job - no matter what the department throws at her.

Seeing the seedier side of life and witnessing repeated traumatic incidents eventually caught up with her, and in 2007 she was discharged from the Police Force, hurt on duty with chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Her mother, best-selling author Lynne Wilding, encouraged Karen to write about her experiences as a Police Officer as a form of therapy, drawing on her own time in the Force as inspiration for her novels.

In Fatal Mistake, Karen writes about Detective Lexie Rogers.

Detective Rogers is tough, smart and at the top of her game. She's seen it all, from bikies, blood and betrayal to drugs, deviants and deception ... and the violent knife attack that almost killed her as a young cop on the beat.

Lexie's sent on the job of a lifetime -- to go deep undercover, as beautiful Lara Wild, a drug distributor, to expose a huge dealing ring among Sydney's most treacherous criminals. What she discovers is that being undercover is the safest place to be, especially when you're a cop with target on your head, but one false move means she'll die.

The Late Show is Connelly’s 30th novel and we have a copy to give away.

To enter the draw, email memberservices@ntpa.com.au

Fatal Mistake is Karen’s third book and we have three copies of Fatal Mistake to giveaway, to enter the draw, email memberservices@ntpa.com.au

Good Friday

Ultimate Price

By Lynda La Plante

From the creator of award-winning TV series Prime Suspect, which made Helen Mirren a household name, Good Friday is the third book in the Tennison series by Lynda La Plante.

In Good Friday, Jane Tennison is now a fully-fledged detective. On the way to court one morning, she passes through Convent Garden Underground station and is caught up in an IRA bomb blast that leaves several people dead and many horribly injured.

Jane is a key witness to the disaster, but is adamant she can’t identify the bomber.

In a sickening twist, the highly anticipated annual CID dinner, attended by detectives and their families is due to take place on Good Friday. As she arrives for the evening, she recognises the parking attendant as the Convent Garden bomber.

Can she convince her senior colleagues in time?

Each of Lynda La Plante’s novels have all been international best sellers and we have a copy of Good Friday to give away. To enter the draw, email memberservices@ntpa.com.au

30 NT POLICE NEWS

By Brett Wright

The Ultimate Price details incidents in which Police Officers have lost their lives on duty in Australia.

From the first recorded death of Police Officer, Constable Joseph Lurker who was murdered in Sydney in 1803, cut down by a criminal wielding a cutlass, the book follows the growing state and federal police forces and the events where the officers have been killed in the execution of their duty.

The author recreates the feeling of the incidents by putting the reader there, at the location, be it the stickey heat of the tropical north, the dry winds of Central West New South Wales or the bone aching cold of Tasmania, the author paints a picture so the reader can see and almost feel what is happening.

The incidents vary from stabbings, shootings, vehicle accidents, drownings, suicides along with many more violent, terrifying and in some cases, mysterious deaths.

The public are grateful for the work their Police Force do, but how many of them are aware of the terrible dangers those officers face every time they show up for work. The Ultimate Price shows the reader the realities faced by their Police every day.

We have a copy of Ultimate Price to giveaway, to enter the draw, email memberservices@ntpa.com.au

OCTOBER 2017 31

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WALL TO WALL RIDE

The sun sets on the National Police Memorial; inset:Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance participant's registration sticker

Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance

Remembering Mates They came from every state and territory to participate in this year’s Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance.

More than 2000 riders gathered at the National Police Memorial in September for the eighth annual Wall to Wall Ride, with many riding through appalling weather to make sure they were in Canberra to remember their mates. Rain, hail and even snow didn’t deter them.

The riders met at Canberra’s EPIC to take part in the final ride through the streets of the national capital, around 34 NT POLICE NEWS

Parliament House and culminating at the National Police Memorial.

Police Federation of Australia President Mark Carroll praised the commitment of the riders to pay tribute to “our honoured fallen”.

Mark spoke of the terrible reality that names will continue to be placed on the wall.

“We must accept the brass plates will not remain blank. We all have to face the reality that names of people we know or worked with will end up here and break our hearts.”

And this year there was another name placed on the wall – Queensland’s Senior Constable Brett Forte who was murdered in May this year. Brett left behind his wife, Suzy, also a serving member of the Queensland Police Service and three young children.

“Senior Constable Brett Forte was shot dead by a wanted career criminal who

name I will not use here in the place of honour,” said Mark Carroll. “He left a wife and young children. He is lost to all of us. To think of the life he had yet to live is heart rending.”

“His is that additional name on this memorial, a reminder of the towering height of the collective sacrifice of our fallen.”

Australia’s Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance was established by NSW Assistant Commissioner Mick Corboy and Victoria’s, now retired, Brian Rix. They based the ride on the Texas Ride for the Fallen.

Former Texan police officer, Ron DeLord, told the gathered riders that police are underappreciated and disrespected by so many, but they are the ones who take the risks. “There is no other job where you get paid a salary and are expected to give your life for that job.

Police do that – you charge forward.”

Top: Commissioner Reece Kershaw; bottom: NSW Assistant Commissioner Mick Corboy reads the Police Ode; bottom right: Sergeant Ian Davie lays the memorial baton on behalf of the NT Police

My wish and hope is that in 2018 there are no new names added to this wall.

Commissioner Reece Kershaw APM

“We don’t police for what they do”, reminded Ron. “We pay them for what they are willing to do.”

Each year the names of those remembered on the memorial are carried to Canberra by the riders inside memorial batons. Those batons are laid on the memorial. Commissioner Ian Stewart from Queensland laid the first baton, bearing the name of Senior Constable Brett Forte. Queensland police stood in a silent salute to their fallen colleague.

Each jurisdiction lad their baton, some by riders and others by legatees who despite the passing of a parent are still very much a part of the police family. The Northern Territory baton was laid by Sergeant Davie, one of the long riders.

A wreath was laid at the memorial by retired Queensland Inspector John ‘Blue’ O’Gorman, who was the

original instigator of National Police Remembrance Day. Assistant Commissioner Mick Corboy read the Police Ode before the haunting sound of the bagpipes echoed across Kings Park.

Speaking on behalf of all commissioners, the Northern Territory’s Reece Kershaw praised the riders. Back in 2010, at the first Wall to Wall ride 524 riders took part. “Now this event leads seamlessly into National Police Remembrance Day.” The Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance has raised more than $680,000 for police legacies around the country.

Commissioner Kershaw said we all honour and remember the 776 fallen colleagues named on this memorial.

“My wish and hope is that in 2018 there are no new names added to this wall.”

The rides makes its way through the streets of Canberra on the way to the National Police Memorial

OCTOBER 2017 35

Graduations

Wall to wall ride cont’d

Welcome to Auxiliary Squad 52 Our Auxiliary ranks have been bolstered by 19, as we welcomed our newest recruits of Squad 52 in August.

Top: The Long Riders at the Darwin Police Memorial; inset: taking in the local sites on the way to Canberra

Squad 52 was joined by their families and friends as they celebrated their new careers as members of the Territory’s policing family.

Eileen Kirkby, who is working in the watch house and front counter in Alice Springs addressed the crowd. She said the Squad were a close knit bunch, and she credited this, tongue in cheek to the old saying, “a group pepper sprayed together, stays together!”

Prior to joining the Police, our newest Auxiliaries enjoyed a varied mix of jobs, including beauty therapy, bus driving, building, retail sales and even, life-guarding!

Eileen even created an acronym (another one) for her fellow squaddies,

A lways do your best U ltimately there are no failures, only lessons to be learnt X pect the unexpected I nitiative L isten, don’t just hear I cecream A sk the hard questions R emember to take time to do the things you enjoy Y esterday has gone, tomorrow is a new day The Most Dedicated Student Award, presented by the Chief Minister and Minister for Police, The Hon. Michael Gunner MLA recognised Kaila Nichols for her dedication throughout the six-week course. Well done Kaila!

Congratulations and welcome to Squad 52!

The long road to Canberra This year was the eighth annual Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance and the seventh that members from around the NT rode down from Darwin to Canberra.

This year two members, Owen Blackwell and Amee Meredith rode down with one of the kids as pillions. Bronte was on the back of Owen’s bike and Samuel on the back of Amee’s. All up there were 10 bikes that departed Darwin on Wednesday 6 September headed for Canberra.

Members who participated in this years ride were Owen Blackwell with daughter Bronte, Amee Meredith with son Samuel, Rod Hayman, Gary Coles, Paddy Ban, Brendan Molloy, Craig Hamilton with pillion Pauline Setter, retired members Steve Heyworth and John Bell and lastly Ian Davie who had the honor to be this year’s baton holder. Samuel Meredith raised the most money of all people registered on the ride from around Australia, a great achievement.

Supporting the riders this year was Rhys Studders who also did a fantastic job of creating and updating a face book page – Northern Territory Long Riders aimed at enabling family and friends to follow our journey. The page however attracted attention from a lot of other riders attending the

36 NT POLICE NEWS

event and many of us were approached in Canberra by other states riders whom had followed the page. It was a great job in raising the profile of the NT participants. Rhys arranged sponsorship from Katherine Town and Country Butchers and also branded his vehicle with NT stickers which really stood out in Canberra letting everyone know we were in town.

This year’s ride was a bit longer with extra days allowing for some nice riding through the Queensland hinterland and NSW central highlands. We spent a great night with Ken and Kay Lindsay, parents of fallen member Jason Lindsay and also a great couple of nights with former members Kris and Michael Sharkey in Cooma. We saw snow at Oberon – a first for a few of us on the ride, and rode through snow, hail and rain between Oberon and Bathurst – again a first for a few of us.

We all arrived safely in to Canberra and joined more than 2000 other riders for the final leg from EPIC, around Parliament House to the National Police Memorial Wall in Kings Park. We were very lucky with the weather for the ceremony, which whilst very cold remained rain free. NT Commissioner Reece Kershaw gave the commissioners address at the ceremony and has committed to riding the whole journey in 2019, which will be 20 years since the death of Glen Huitson. It will be Huey’s Ride.

Next year comes first and 15 September will be the ride in Canberra with planning underway for a ride through SA and Victoria. Bring on 2018…

Auxiliary Squad 52

OCTOBER 2017 37

PFA

PFA and the Government embark on mental health campaign

by Fiona Wade, PFA

Canberra hosts 2017 PFA Federal Council The Police Federation of Australia (PFA) is pleased to announce they have obtained $1 million dollars from the federal government. The money, made available via the Proceeds of Crime Act, will assist in the funding of a national member awareness campaign that targets the mental wellbeing of our members.

Announced at the recent PFA Federal Council held in “As the cost of psychological injuries continue to rise,

Canberra by the Minister for Justice the Hon Michael jurisdictions are using resources that could otherwise be used Keenan MP, PFA president Mark Carroll said the organisation on crime prevention and law enforcement measures.” Said Mark Carroll. appreciated the government’s timely boost to the campaign.

“But we recognise that growing this awareness and “The funding is going to help us increase public awareness of understanding– and doing away with the stigma that mental health among police officers,” he said.

Importantly, the campaign will ensure that the avenues of surrounds mental ill health – will require a significant cultural support that are available to police are well known, so no one change right across our profession, “said Mark Carroll “and this sort of cultural change will require a comprehensive, is ever on their own in their battles.

Minister Keenan said mental health issues must be sustained and integrated program of work. This funding will help the PFA meet that challenge.” discussed, and not swept under the rug.

The PFA have been working with John Schumann, best “Australia’s police selflessly take care of us, and we must ensure we take care of them,” he said. “Incidents not only known as the front man of iconic Australian folk band Redgum impacts a victim, but can take a toll on those police officers to develop the campaign. It is envisaged that the campaign involved. When you couple this with a work environment will go some way to break down the stigma of mental health, that greatly values stoicism and self-reliance, this can have a and encourage our members to ask for help.

The funding will be provided to the PFA over two years, with devastating impact on the mental health of our officers.”

With the full support of all the nation’s state and territory work on the campaign to commence over the coming months. police unions, the campaign will promote awareness, understanding, prevention and early intervention of mental health issues through print, television, social media, Apps, workshops and the production of a documentary styled video.

Over the course of a policing career, an officer may investigate serious crime that not only has a psychological impact on the victim, but can have a lasting effect on the investigating officer as well. It is this work environment, coupled with policing culture that can adversely impact upon the mental health of an officer, and contribute to high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

PTSD is the most frequently reported occupational disorder in policing. Data suggests that one in six first responders suffer from some form of diagnosed mental health issue, including PTSD. Effective treatments are available for PTSD and the optimum outcome is for the police officer to be returned to meaningful work as soon as practicable.

By educating the work force on the importance of early detection and destigmatising mental illness, there is hope that a lesser impact on the officer, their families and the Minister for Justice Michael Keenan workplace will be felt.

38 NT POLICE NEWS

by Fiona Wade, PFA

The 2017 Police Federation of Australia (PFA) Federal Council was held in Canberra on 7 - 8 September; signalling a change in the PFA’s yearly calendar in preparation for 2018 and the inaugural Police Week.

Delegates from all around the country, as well as New Zealand, travelled to the nation’s capital, with the meeting timed to coincide with a parliamentary sitting week. During the two day conference, delegates were given numerous opportunities to meet with a number of politicians from both the government and the opposition.

The first of these opportunities was the Welcome and Lawyers Network function, held at Parliament House. Hosted by the President of the Senate and former Tasmania police officer Stephen Parry, the function saw a large number of politicians from both parties gather and toast the federation. Amongst the assembled MPs and Senators were the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton MP, the Minister for Justice Michael Keenan MP, the Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten MP alongside a number of other opposition front benchers.

Federal Council 2017 was opened by Minister Keenan, who announced the governments funding of $1million for a national awareness campaign targeting the mental wellbeing of members, to be designed and implemented by the PFA. John Schumann, best known as the front man to the iconic Australian folk band Redgum, followed the Minister’s announcement with a presentation to the delegates.

Schumann has been working with the PFA to develop the national awareness campaign that will include providing material to members via print, television, social media, Apps, workshops and the production of a documentary styled video.

The PFA then took the delegates on a tour of the future of policing, with presentations from Apple and Motorola. The session concluded with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission briefing delegates on biometrics and the proposed national criminal intelligence system which links the intelligence gathered by all jurisdictions for use by frontline officers.

Academic presenters Anthony Bergin and Jacinta Carroll from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Australian National University, who spoke on terrorism and its impact on policing, were preceded by a presentation from AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin who delved into the nature of federal policing post 2017.

The last session of the day saw the opposition spokesperson for Justice Clare O’Neil MP speak on law and order issues as perceived by the Labor party, with the final address for the day coming from the Minister for Immigration Peter Dutton MP who touched on the new Home Affairs portfolio.

The conference dinner, held that evening at Old Parliament House, was a wonderful success with guest speaker David

Top: Senator Stephen Parry with PFA President Mark Carroll; bottom: WAPU President George Tilbury with Justice Minister Michael Keenan

Speers, Sky news political editor, engaging the crowd by giving his insight and answering questions about the machinations on the hill. A number of politicians including Chief Opposition Whip and member for Fowler Chris Hayes MP, the President of the Senate, Senator Steve Parry, member for Hughes and Chair of the Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Craig Kelly MP and One Nation’s Pauline Hanson attended the dinner alongside AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin and other key speakers.

Day two of Federal Council ran just as smoothly as day one, with Dr Deen Sanders from the Professional Standards Council presenting to the congregated delegates on professional registration and the process if policing is become a recognised profession. This was followed by Mark Bielecki the new Registered Organisations Commissioner and Chris Enright, its Executive Director and Mark Elliott from the Fair Work Commission who addressed the recent changes to their organisations and the impact this would have to the PFA and branches.

Each President presented their branch reports before the meeting concluded with voting for PFA office bearers: seeing Mark Carroll being returned unopposed as President, Scott Weber from NSW and Queensland’s Ian Leavers holding their positions as Vice-President and John Laird from Victoria returned as Treasurer.

Once again the PFA thank all those who attended and made the two day meeting so worthwhile and informative.

The 2018 Federal Council will also be held in Canberra on 20 and 21 September as part of the inaugural Police Week celebrations.

OCTOBER 2017 39

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Nick Mules, Senior Associate | Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers

Christmas is fast approaching. For separated families it is a potentially difficult time if former partners can’t agree over care arrangements for the children over the holiday period.

If you have children with a former partner, now is the time to sort out those care arrangements. Getting a headstart on this will help avoid any conflict and risk of spoiling the festive season for your children.

Happily for many, arrangements can be made by agreement, by way of telephone call or email to the other parent making a proposal and compromising with each other about each other’s commitments.

However, that is not the case for everybody. If parents don’t see eye to eye, agreeing to holiday arrangements is easier said than done.

It may be that this is the first Christmas for which you, your children and your former partner are not together as a family.

If that is the case, you should act soon. A quick email to your former partner putting forward your ideas is absolutely the best way to “get the ball rolling”.

Some of you may already have Court Orders in place, whether you are still in the court process (i.e. interim orders) or Final Orders. Those orders may or may not provide for exact times for each of you to spend with the children over the break. Even if your orders are reasonably prescriptive, it is worthwhile confirming those times now with your ex-partner, particularly if you are not represented by a lawyer.

If you have tried writing to the other parent and you have not had any response or have not received a positive one then you should consider what further steps you can take as soon as possible. You may need the assistance of a Family Relationships Centre or other mediation service to talk about the times that the children will live with you or spend time with you.

Unfortunately, even if you contacted a mediation service today, my suspicion is that (unless you are very lucky) you would be unlikely to get a joint session and an agreement prior to Christmas. For that reason you might need to consider obtaining the services of a lawyer to write to your former partner on your behalf, to make a proposal for times over the Christmas period. In the unfortunate event that your proposal is not agreed by the other parent, you might need to consider making an application to Court. That will be the case

40 NT POLICE NEWS

whether you are currently in Court proceedings or are yet to commence them.

As you may or may not know, the Family Law Courts are terribly backlogged and there is often significant delay in getting a hearing date, if you need to make an application.

For that reason it is recommended by the Courts that any party wishing to bring an application to be heard before Christmas do so as early as possible. If you delay, you may not get a hearing before Christmas. And, even if you get a hearing before Christmas, it may be that the Judge does not make a decision on the day and needs time to go away and think about your matter and write a Judgement. That process can take a month or more.

The long and the short of it is, then, that if it looks like you will need legal assistance to arrange the care of your children over the festive period you should obtain legal advice and seek to progress negotiations as soon as possible.

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To book an appointment with a lawyer or for more information please contact the NTPA office 08 8995 9520 or email ntpa.tgb.legalservices@ntpa.com.au

Tindall Gask Bentley is proud to provide legal services to the Northern Territory Police Association and offers a 10% discount to NTPA members. To set up an appointment with one of our lawyers call the NTPA on (08) 8995 9520, TGB Lawyers on (08) 89417814, or email ntpa.tgb.legalservices@ntpa.com.au Nick Mules is a senior associate at TGB with extensive family law experience. He visits Darwin regularly to meet clients and would be happy to provide further advice on children’s matters of any kind.

SS: NEW ADDRE

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We have mov Visit us at h St 1/21 Cavenag Darwin NT 0800 41 NT POLICE NEWS

p: (08) 8941 7814 e: ntpa.tgb.legalservices@ntpa.com.au 1/21 Cavenagh St Darwin, Darwin NT 0800 w: tgb.com.au

PolicE Legacy/Kokoda

This year was the seventh year NT Police members have participated on the NSW Police Legacy Kokoda Trek and the sixth time I personally have walked the ‘Track’. Each year brings challenges… rain, mud, tiredness but those challenges are minimal compared to those of the Diggers who served there during WWII. From left to right: Ruby and NSW and AFP Police Legatees at Ioribaiwa Ridge; Ruby Huitson and local kids; Ruby on the track Big pic: Ruby and NSW and AFP Police Legatees raising the flag at Isurava

Over the last three years, NT Police Legacy have sponsored a NT Police Legatee to undertake this challenge alongside serving members and interstate legatees. This year Ruby Huitson, daughter of Sgt Glen Huitson who was killed on duty in 1999 at a roadblock south of Darwin, joined us.

She was supported by S/C Jacqui Lynden, Snr Auxiliary Matt Thompson, Constable Joanna Kokodziej, Forensic Biologist Dan Turner and myself. Ruby was unstoppable on the track and a never faltering source of good cheer.

She has an incredible amount of inner strength that really shone through during the trip, always there to offer support and encouragement whenever it was needed. She gained not only confidence in herself but also a better understanding of the greater Police family she belongs to. Her father would be very proud of her and it was a privilege to watch her lay the wreath on ANZAC Day, wearing his medals.

Ruby penned the following story after her Kokoda journey This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign and the Battle of Milne Bay. I was fortunate enough to walk the Kokoda Track in April, to honour those brave soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. Although I was aware of the sacrifices made by these soldiers, it was not until I was exposed to the countless rows of headstones that filled Bomana Cemetery, that I could fathom just how many young men were killed.

On completion of the track, I attended the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Bomana Cemetery, where I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of Northern Territory Police Legacy. It was a privilege to experience such a moving service and pay my respects to these heroes.

The 96km track, was one that was physically challenging with its steep topography, rain, humidity and thick

mud that coated our boots. However, our guide, Aidan Grimes, provided insight and knowledge into the hardships that our soldiers faced and as a result, our struggles were diminished. Along the way, if help was needed, the local legends were always there to lend a hand, following in the footsteps of their ancestors “The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.” As each gruelling day came to a close, we were rewarded with warm receptions from the local villagers, breathtaking mountaintop views and refreshing swims in the swift-flowing rivers.

I had the privilege of walking the track with both legatees and police officers from New South Wales, Australian Federal Police and the Northern Territory. I feel so fortunate to have been surrounded by such amazing people who have become

good friends. Throughout our trek, the correlation between the work these police officers do and our soldiers was recognised. The similar circumstances of the soldiers giving their lives for their country and my dad giving his life for his community made the journey emotionally challenging, however, all the more special.

I cannot express enough gratitude to all those involved in NT Police Legacy.

Those who continue to donate and raise awareness have provided me with this incredible opportunity. I hope through reading this article, those involved can see the difference they’re making to the lives of legatees and the importance that it continues into the future. When the opportunity presents itself, I encourage younger legatees to take part in this challenging, yet rewarding journey.

2017 Kokoda Trek with Police Legacy

By Pauline Setter Left: Kokoda Trek – ground shot; right: Kokoda Trek 2017 – Pic from Pauline Setter

42 NT POLICE NEWS

OCTOBER 2017 43

Glen Huitson

Today is a most significant service. Whilst informal to a

Never forgotten

Glen Huitson Each year members gather at the memorial marking the place where Glen Huitson was tragically and brutally killed in 1999. This year the Territory Long Riders and President Paul McCue took part in a moving ceremony at the memorial. This is Paul's speech to the gathering.

Paul McCue speaks at the memorial

The Long Riders visited the Glen Huitson memorial to pay their respects

44 NT POLICE NEWS

Top and middle: Recruits visit the spot where Glen Huitson was murdered back in 1999; bottom: Owen Blackwell at the NT Police Memorial before leaving for Canberra

degree, it is heart-warming to see so many people here to remember one of our own.

I acknowledge the Commissioner of Police who is here today, and I particular acknowledge you, the many women, men and children who return year on year to remember this great bloke.

It is also most significant today to see many of our new members, current recruits standing here today to experience something perhaps for the first time, something that will stay with you for many years to come. While many of our newest members will never have known Huey, they will soon understand what he, and many of us stand for. Mate ship. It will never leave you, and cheers to that.

It is almost unfathomable that is has been some 18 years since Glen’s life was taken just near this site in tragic circumstances. To review the September 1999 issue of the Police Association magazine, it has the following quote from Max Hill, “Let us never forget Sergeant Glen Huitson”.

My predecessor Vince Kelly often recalls a conversation with former Assistant Commissioner John Daulby where he says, “Vince, we must not forget what happened that day out there - we lost one of ours”. I hope today’s service reinforces those sentiments.

When Glen set off to work on 3 August 1999 his wife Lisa and the kids, Joe and Ruby, were not to know that the tragedy of Glen’s death was about to unfold - that the husband, father, son, and brother was to be taken from his family forever. No chance to say good bye, no last touch – gone.

During the 15th Anniversary commemoration, Vince Kelly recalled the condolence motion tabled in parliament in August 1999 by then Chief Minister Dennis Burke who said “our Northern Territory community came together as one to bid farewell to an unassuming man who had an extraordinary ability to touch the lives of all those people with whom he dealt. It was not just the numbers of people who came to bury Sergeant Huitson – the 2000 or so people who turned up came from all walks of life, represented all the creeds, colours, and age groups in our culturally diverse community. Even in death this Territory police officer was bringing a people together, breaking down the barriers, in fact, doing all the good things bush coppers do”.

Eighteen years later these words continue to resonate more than ever. Our Association is acutely aware of other men and women who have been killed in the execution of their duty, died whilst serving or who have arguably died before their time due to the rigours of operational police work. It is our ongoing belief that recognition of members such as Glen on significant anniversaries such as this serve to highlight the sacrifice of so many others.

Just a few weeks ago, I attended the funeral of Senior Constable Brett Forte who was recently ambushed and murdered in the Lockyer Valley just outside of Toowoomba Qennsland. The 5000 mourners that attended Senior Constable Forte’s funeral that day, and the tears and stories laid bare by family, friends and colleagues during that service, lay testament as to why police are different, why they go in when others go out, and why we must never, ever, forget.

Today we remember Sergeant Glen Huitson.

We will remember, we will remember.

Hasten the dawn.

OCTOBER 2017 45

member Update

More memories from the Wall to Wall Ride NTPA Gift Shop • NTPA and NTPF Cufflinks • Stainless steel coffee mugs • Leather compendiums • NT & Shield shaped NTPF plaques, with custom engraving • Did you know that we can arrange mounting of medal replicas to wear at official functions?

What would you like to see in our gift shop?

Email your feedback to reception@ntpa.com.au

Check our website

www.ntpa.com.au or come into our store at

Level 2, Suite 209 ‘Spirit on The Avenue’ 12 Salonika Street Parap NT 0820

Resignations and Retirements Resignations

Rank

Date

Raabe, Stephen John

Constable 1st Class

30 May

Majda, Paul Richard

Constable 1st Class

12 June

Lody-Mcntosh, Alexa Maree

Auxiliary

07 June

Percival, Amy Laura

Constable

23 June

Edwards, Melinda Jane

Senior Sergeant

27 June

Groves, Joshua Ryan

Senior Constable

09 June

Warren, Brent Aaron

Commander

21 July

Leach, Susan Elizabeth

Constable 1st Class

20 July

Marerwa, Alfred Godwin Nyaradzo

Auxiliary

6 August

Carthew, Benjamin Darren

Constable 1st Class

13 August

Egan, Kelly Joseph

Constable

14 August

MacDonald, Rosemary Louise

Senior Constable 1st Class

19 May

Retirements

Rank

Date

Smith, Gary John

Senior Sergeant

28 June

Gray, Peter Bert

Senior Constable

30 June

Ilett, Roger John

Sergeant

21 July

Cook, Richard John

Senior Auxiliary

15 Sept

Have you worked in a noisy work place?

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Did you know that prolonged exposure to noise can cause permanent hearing loss and that occupational noise accounts for about 10 per cent of adult-onset hearing loss?1

If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions you may have a hearing loss and we recommend scheduling a FREE* hearing assessment with your local AudioClinic.

1 Occupation Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Australia. Aug 2010 (online) 2 Access Economics., 2006. Listen hear: the economic impact and cost of hearing loss in Australia. * Applies only to adults over the age of 26 years

46 NT POLICE NEWS

At your assessment if it is identified that your hearing loss is a result of exposure to noise at your work place AudioClinic’s accredited Clinicians can advise whether you may be eligible for hearing devices and compensation for industrial hearing loss under the provision of NT WorkSafe. AudioClinic will then assist you through the claiming process to ensure that it is as easy for you as possible.

To find out more about how AudioClinic can help you simply call 1800 094 962.

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Email: reception@ntpa.com.au or telephone 8995 9520

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