1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Three sixty with Katie Wolf thanks to Joyce Main, Darwin 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,439 Speaker 1: home z Own, Stuart Highway, Beerrmart. 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 2: Joining us live on the line right now is the 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 2: Minister for Parks and Rangers, Selena Rubo. 5 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 3: Good morning, Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners. 6 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 2: Now, Minister, we did just have a fairly in depth 7 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 2: discussion then with Kay Densley from the CPSU. I believe 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: that the Youth Detention Center does not fall under your portfolio. 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: It actually falls under Kate Warden's, doesn't it. 10 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 3: Yes, that's great, Kay, Yeah, all right. 11 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 2: Well look I won't I won't go into that discussion 12 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: at this point in time because we have got you 13 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 2: on the show obviously to talk about our parks and 14 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 2: talk about these fee increases, and we will follow up 15 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: that don Dale situation separately. I want to ask you 16 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 2: obviously these changes to the management of territory parks and reserves. 17 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: They're being introduced the government says to protect and modernize 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: as well as improved parks while bringing the Northern Territory 19 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 2: in line with other jurisdictions. The changes obviously include the 20 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 2: introduction of the online booking system, increase camping fees, as 21 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 2: well as multi day walking fees for some trails. Minister, 22 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: I know some out there listening will be quite concerned 23 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 2: about this fee increase. 24 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: Doesn't mean, though, that all of the money that. 25 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 2: Is raised through these fee increases is going to go 26 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: back into our parks. 27 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,759 Speaker 3: So Katie, yes, we will always spend more on our 28 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 3: parks than what we receive on revenue. It's just the 29 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 3: nature of being able to maintain and provide that as 30 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 3: enjoyment for not just territories but all visitors to our parks. 31 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 3: So that's an important thing to remember. We haven't seen 32 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 3: increases in our park fees for over twenty years, so 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 3: two decades worth. We know more people are using our parks, 34 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 3: enjoying our parks, and we want to obviously encourage that 35 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 3: making sure we have maintained safe and accessible parks and 36 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 3: again for territories we love that lifestyle, that outdoor lifestyle, 37 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 3: particularly to those visitors, and of course to improve tourism 38 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 3: as we see things change through the global pandemic, which 39 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 3: we know the last twelve months have been very difficult 40 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 3: for many people. But the park's revenue will be going 41 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 3: back into the park's budget to make sure that those 42 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 3: areas that we love and enjoy and maintain that we're 43 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 3: able to support the ongoing work of our park staff, 44 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 3: both operational and our ranges who are out in the field, 45 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 3: to be able to make sure that there is maintenance 46 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 3: safety and that we are able to look at those 47 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 3: opportunities to improve amenities and improve the opportunities for users 48 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 3: of the parks for your. 49 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 2: Territory, Minister, with that new or with the website where 50 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: people are going to have to make those bookings, have 51 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: you had to I'm assuming that there's going to have 52 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: to be a new website or there's going to have 53 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: to be work done on an existing one. Is there 54 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 2: an outlay in terms of cost for that. 55 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 3: Yes, So Katie, at the moment we have a future 56 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 3: tender opportunity that is out and that's about the online 57 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 3: booking system and having an introduced system. That is one 58 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 3: system we've looked at other jurisdictions across the Astralia, particularly 59 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 3: Western Australia. They have a lot of similar geography in 60 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 3: the top end of WA to what we do here 61 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 3: in the territory, So looking at making sure that we 62 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 3: have the latest and greatest system, but also in the 63 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 3: long run the savings that will be for our ranges 64 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 3: not having to go out and actually do you know, 65 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 3: face to face hand collection and the administrative burden that 66 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 3: goes with that. So it is an area that we're 67 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 3: looking to improve. And there is a future tender opportunity 68 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 3: that's actually out at the moment and we're really hoping 69 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 3: that we'll be able to get that tender out for 70 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 3: this year to be able to improve that service. 71 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: How much is that tender worse? 72 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 3: It is a bracket tender CADI between two and four me. 73 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 3: And again it's looking at what the inter excuse me, 74 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 3: what the parts of the online booking system will need 75 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 3: to incorporate, So looking at obviously the actual system itself 76 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 3: and making sure that we've got the the software to 77 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 3: be able to support it. We'll also be looking to 78 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 3: get some data from that system, and then again securing 79 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 3: our campsites and websites through the website to make sure 80 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 3: that people are guaranteed a spot when they do travel 81 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 3: often many kilometers to go to a place, and then 82 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 3: also having some balance with our tourism operators that we 83 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 3: know are able to use the beautiful parks as part 84 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 3: of the business operations and being able to support. 85 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 2: That process have we got any idea how many visitors 86 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: we would need to have to our wonderful national parks 87 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: to cover the costs of that website. 88 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 3: So my understanding Katie, is to be an initial costings 89 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 3: that would be I guess the larger upset upfront fee, 90 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 3: and then that would be off that late in later 91 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 3: years once the system is working, once people are using 92 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 3: that system, and then there would be I guess a 93 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 3: tail end down in terms of it would be the 94 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 3: maintenance of that system rather than just getting the system 95 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 3: and running. 96 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: And that's okay. 97 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 2: I guess what I'm getting at though, is in reality 98 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 2: it's going to take quite some time by the sounds 99 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 2: of it, you know, for the increases in these park fees, 100 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 2: before any money actually goes back into the parks. It 101 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: sounds as though it's going to in the first instance, 102 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: need to go into you know, the initial investment to 103 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: get things up and running. 104 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 3: It will be to get things up and running, Katie. 105 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 3: But what it will allow is our park ranges to 106 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 3: be able to do the work that they do on 107 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 3: country and on site, rather than the administrative burden of 108 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 3: having to do the camping fees and getting face to 109 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 3: face collections and cash in hand, so it all reduced 110 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 3: that administrative burden so that our ranges can continue to 111 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 3: preserve and maintain those beautiful parks that we all get 112 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 3: to enjoy. 113 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 2: Minister the Opposition leader Leofanocchiaro was on the show earlier 114 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: today and she said, this is a knee jerk reaction 115 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 2: to the government's debt. Is debt, what's driving this fee increase. 116 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 3: Well, some of the areas for improvement, Katie did come 117 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 3: out of the twenty nineteen Langlant Reports, so work that 118 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 3: has been undertaken. As I mentioned, we always spend more 119 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 3: on parks than what we make in parks in terms 120 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 3: of revenue, So how we can better use our dollars 121 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 3: for our parks to improve the visitor experience for everyone 122 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 3: who do so us be for everyone who does use 123 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 3: our beautiful parks, but also how can we be smarter 124 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 3: with the administration and of course you know, what are 125 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,119 Speaker 3: the revenue opportunities to be able to put that money 126 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 3: and invest back into our parks. We're one of the 127 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 3: duris very few jurisdictions in the country that do have fees, 128 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 3: so that's an area that we've looked at as an opportunity, 129 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 3: but also for that investment and that ongoing investment into 130 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 3: our parks to make sure they are safe, but again 131 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 3: to improve that visitor experience for everybody. 132 00:06:55,760 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 2: Minister, from your understanding, are our tourism set and tourism 133 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 2: operators at this point in time, okay, with what's been announced, My. 134 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 3: Understanding is yes, Katie, they have been. The Department of Environment, 135 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 3: Parks and Water Security have been working closely with our 136 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 3: tourism sector and our Tourism agency and led by Minister 137 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 3: Natasha Files as the Tourism Minister. We've received some pretty 138 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 3: positive feedback in regards to how we can be constructive 139 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 3: with the implementation of the fee. So our tourism operators, 140 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 3: obviously we know, have been through a very tough time 141 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: in the last twelve months and some of the feedback 142 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 3: in order to be able to support that regrowth in 143 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 3: the tourism industry in the Northern Territory has been to 144 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 3: look at implementing a delaying the implementation of the fees 145 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 3: because some of the packages that have already been sold 146 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 3: and confirmed with consumers may be affected. So it's looked 147 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 3: at implementation of the seas being disferred for eighteen months 148 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 3: and that's been direct feedback from our tourism sect there, 149 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 3: so we working collaborative in that space. 150 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 2: Katie, Okay, we will try and catch up with some 151 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: from the tourism sector after ten o'clock. Minister, I do 152 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 2: just want to ask you quickly. I know we're both 153 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 2: pressed for time, but I've got a message here. 154 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: It says Katie, it would be great. 155 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: If you could ask Minister Rubo what the government plans 156 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 2: to do to offer Finish River traditional owners a better 157 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: deal for fishing access than the nlc's free access for 158 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 2: two years was reportedly rejected by traditional owners last week. Also, 159 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 2: this person says, despite all the rhetoric, all Aboriginal waters 160 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 2: of the Finish River are closed and the free registration 161 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 2: does not apply to these waters or any waters within 162 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 2: the two hundred kilometers of Darwin. And this person says 163 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 2: it is it's simply of little use to the majority 164 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: of fishes in its current form. This person goes on 165 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: to say that for background, last night, the Grude Island 166 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 2: Fishing Club apparently had to cancel their one hundred person 167 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 2: barrew comp because the access to Blue Mud Bay is 168 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 2: closed and the comp would be unsafe. So Minister, I 169 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 2: guess the essence of that question is what are the 170 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 2: government planning to do to offer to you to offer 171 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 2: Finish River traditional owners a better deal for phishing access. 172 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 3: Although Ka those conversations are quite complex and they are 173 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: with the traditional owners and the Northern Land Council, which 174 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 3: has a statutory obligation under the Federal Act and the 175 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 3: Abstual Land Rights Act to do the work that they 176 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 3: do in regards to consultation. That's directly with Minister ken White, 177 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 3: who is our Federal Minister for Indigenous Australian So that 178 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,839 Speaker 3: is complex work. If it's not something that the anti 179 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 3: government comes in and sits in the middle of. That's 180 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 3: actually a statutory body that does that work. Of course 181 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:58,479 Speaker 3: will support where possible, but there is a statutory obligation 182 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 3: from the Northern Land Council to work with and represent 183 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 3: and have those consultations with traditional owners, and particularly in 184 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 3: that area we know, which has a high community interest 185 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 3: from people who are outside the traditional owner group. So 186 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 3: it's not something that is as simple why don't we 187 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 3: do this or why don't you try that. There's actually 188 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,599 Speaker 3: lots of layers of complexity there. 189 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 2: All right, Minister, we are going to have to leave 190 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 2: it there. We've got a tough off to the news. 191 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 2: I really appreciate you making the time to speak to 192 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 2: us this morning. 193 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Katie, thank you. 194 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 2: That's the Minister for Parks and Ranges. There's Selena Rubo. 195 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 2: I know I have more questions as well, but we've 196 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 2: got to head off to the news.