PRIME MINISTER: I’ve just been in contact with Chief Minister Gunner and Commissioner in Northern Territory

PRIME MINISTER: I’ve just been in contact with Chief Minister Gunner and the Commissioner in the Northern Territory. This is a terrible act of violence which has already, I’m advised, taken the lives of four people. There are a number of other casualties but the details of that are still not yet confirmed. This is a matter that will be obviously directly managed and dealt with by the Northern Territory Government and I want to thank the Commissioner and Chief Minister Gunner for the way that they are working with the Commonwealth authorities. Particularly I just want to extend my deep condolences and sympathies to all the people of the Territory and particularly in Darwin. This is a very tight knit community and I know they will be rocked by these events. Our advice is this is not a terrorist act. There is nothing to suggest that is the case whatsoever. The true motivations of this criminal and violent act will become better known. There is a person, I understand, that is in custody and they will work through those normal processes but in the meantime I think it’s important everyone in Darwin, everyone in the Territory understands that the thoughts of Australians wherever they are, whether they are as far away as I am today or closer to home, they will be thinking about their fellow Australians in the Territory.