The Prime Minister has faced a lengthy, and seemingly frustrating, grilling while in the Northern Territory on Friday.
In a 16-minute interview, Scott Morrison was confronted with multiple lines of questioning, with the ABC’s Eliza Goetze asking multiple times for answers and cutting him off if the answer wasn’t adequate.
Mr Morrison repeatedly asked to be allowed to finish, even when asked a “simple yes or no question” by Goetze.
Mr Morrison is in the Northern Territory to announce a $282m investment in two Defence projects based in the Territory.
His visit comes as the crime situation in Alice Springs escalates, prompting mayor Matt Paterson to recently write a letter to the Northern Territory and federal government calling for help to restore order, saying residents lived in fear.
Mr Morrison acknowledged he had received the letter but ruled out meeting with Mr Paterson while in Alice Springs.
When asked three times by Goetze if he could not just “squeeze” Mr Paterson in for five minutes, Mr Morrison stood firm.
“We won’t have the opportunity today. (Indigenous Affairs Minister) Ken Wyatt met with him five days after we received that letter,” Mr Morrison told ABC Alice Springs.
“I really want to thank Matt for writing to us. Ken has already announced over $3m of funding which is supporting programs to address the very issues that the mayor has raised.
“I would love to (meet with Mr Paterson) if I could, but I will be leaving very early this morning after being at a couple of things. I’d love to talk to him.”
Mr Morrison went on to discuss how the $3m would be invested into the community and culture camps before the journalist reiterated that the letter stressed how scared Alice Springs residents were.
Goetze cited an alleged assault in broad daylight that occurred earlier this week, involving a woman on a run, and questioned whether “culture camps” were enough.
“It’s important for this town and its future and I get it,” Mr Morrison said before Goetze cut him off.
“You’ll be back to meet with Matt Paterson on crime at some stage?” Mr Morrison was asked, to which he replied: “I’d love to.”
The interview later turned to closing the gap, with Mr Morrison asked how the Defence announcement would help to “undo the damage of intervention” on Indigenous Australians.
“You mustn’t have heard my answer to my last question,” Mr Morrison said before discussing how Indigenous businesses were helping communities.
Goetze continued her line of questioning, asking why the government was investing in Defence and not doing more to address the “inadequate” housing conditions, overcrowding and poor health outcomes for Indigenous Australians in the Territory.
“Health xjmtzywfunding in the Northern Territory itself has increased to $12.9m,” Mr Morrison said before Goetze interjected.
“But where is that money being spent?” she asked – a question Mr Morrison couldn’t answer, saying it was better suited to Chief Minister Michael Gunner.
The interview later shifted to roads, with Mr Morrison under fire for not spending more money to improve the Stuart Highway.
“Just a couple of weeks ago, supermarket shelves were bare for weeks in the centre and across remote communities because that road was flooded. What are you going to do to … stop that happening in future?” he was asked.
“Every single budget we have significant funding for roads,” Mr Morrison said.
Goetze cut him off: “Is there anything specific for the Stuart?”
Mr Morrison said that was a question best suited for Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.
“We’ll certainly ask him about that,” Goetze said, to which Mr Morrison laughed.
With just a minute to go before the news, Goetze asked Mr Morrison a “yes or no question” about the regeneration deal, and when he provided a longer answer he was cut off.
“Let me finish,” Mr Morrison said, continuing to provide his answer while Goetze attempted to pose one final question.
“Hang on a sec. Let me finish your earlier question,” Mr Morrison said.
Goetze’s final question, one from a listener wanting to know how concerned Mr Morrison was for his job, went unanswered.
