1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Well, we are due to catch up with one of 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: the councilors. 3 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 2: Unfortunately the phone lines just dropped out, so we're just 4 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 2: trying to sort that back out. But my understanding is 5 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 2: earlier in the week, obviously, the council meeting was held, 6 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 2: we spoke to Mick Palmer, one of the councilors, yesterday 7 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 2: about this situation with the proposed structure at Bundilla Beach. 8 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 2: Now we know that the Darwin City Council yesterday issuing 9 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 2: quite an extensive statement on this, and there's been quite 10 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 2: a bit of media coverage about the color of that 11 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 2: of that monument changing. Now, we'd actually spoken about that 12 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks ago, and the council had confirmed 13 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,959 Speaker 2: with us that it wouldn't be the color, that orange 14 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 2: color that they were looking at. 15 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: Another color. 16 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 2: Well, you know what, though, whatever color it is, I 17 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 2: don't know that that's going to quell people's concerns at 18 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: this point. But what I do know is that the 19 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 2: City of Darwin councilor Briano Gallagher did raise the whole 20 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 2: issue a little earlier in the week at that council meeting. 21 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 2: He joins me on the line right now, good morning 22 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 2: to you, Brian. 23 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 3: Hello Katie, and hello to your listeners. Thanks so much 24 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 3: for Yeah, yep, just the good governance. Let me emphasize 25 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 3: that I'm speaking personally as a counselor and not on 26 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 3: behalf of council. Yes, and I also have to declare 27 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 3: that I am also to see. 28 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 2: I did mention that to our listeners a little while 29 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 2: ago as well, Brian, So I appreciate you though making 30 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: sure that you do that. 31 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. 32 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 2: No, absolutely, Now talk me through because I know earlier 33 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: in the week, well, we've been speaking about this proposed 34 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 2: monument now for weeks and weeks, and you know, when 35 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 2: it first sort of came up, I thought to myself, Oh, 36 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 2: you know what, a monument down there at Bundela Beach 37 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 2: seems like a pretty good idea. Then I started to 38 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: get phone calls and messages and emails from from Cyclone 39 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,839 Speaker 2: Tracy survivors who were pointing out to me their concerns 40 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 2: around this, and it started to change my perspective of 41 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: things and I thought, oh, this does not sound like 42 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: what Cyclone Tracy survivors want. 43 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 3: Brian. 44 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 2: We spoke to Mick Palmer, one of the other counselors yesterday. 45 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 2: He said that all of the Council. All of the 46 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 2: council members approved this moving forward at Bundela. 47 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 3: Look, I think Mick was referring to the meeting, and 48 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 3: maybe all of the counselors who are at that meeting 49 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 3: proved it. And I'm sure they did it all in 50 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 3: good faith, trust me on that. But I'm aware. I 51 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 3: think that three councilors were not at that meeting for 52 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 3: various reasons, and I was one of those, so I 53 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 3: wasn't privy to the debate. I didn't understand that and 54 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 3: I didn't participate in the vote. 55 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 2: So earlier this week you did ask a question though, 56 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: all the Lord Mayor convat scarlars at that meeting, what 57 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: did you ask? 58 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, so this was at the open session of Council 59 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 3: on Tuesday, so they're broadcast, they are open to the public. 60 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 3: There's nothing sort of hidden about this. It was all 61 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 3: open and transferring I had, I said to I gave 62 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 3: the Lord Mary a bit of context. I said last week, 63 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 3: I was listening to your interview with Katie walk your 64 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 3: show regarding the post structure by Yellow Beach, and I 65 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 3: heard the Lord Mayor three times. I think you asked 66 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 3: him that the structure was to be public art, not 67 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 3: a monument. Public art not a monum, and that was 68 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 3: sort of consistent with the messaging I'd received from the 69 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 3: Lord Mayor and others during various briefings, so that seemed 70 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 3: all good. However, I actually then went back and read 71 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,119 Speaker 3: the official Council press release of the seventh of June, 72 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 3: and as I said at the meeting, it was a 73 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 3: very detailed and professional release and I could only assume 74 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 3: that it was fully endorsed by the Lord Mayor and 75 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,119 Speaker 3: the Ceach prior to the release. The title of that 76 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 3: press release was cyclone Tracy Commemoration Monument Design Unveiled the 77 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 3: Commemoration Monument no reference in the heading to public art. 78 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 3: And also in the press release, the Lord Mayor himself 79 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 3: said or was quoted the saying the monument was a 80 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 3: fitting tribute to recognizing one of the most significant events 81 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 3: in Darlin's history, and he's right, it is one of 82 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 3: the most significant events in Darleen's history. He also went 83 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 3: on to say it will be a symbol of resilience 84 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 3: and perseverance of miits subversity, honoring the memories of those loss, 85 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 3: validating the speriences of survivors and reflecting the spirit of 86 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 3: the Darwen community. Now that seemed to confuse me. 87 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: Well, it confused the heck out of me. 88 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 3: Totally different to you know what he's been saying on 89 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 3: your show that it's all about public art. There was 90 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 3: some reference in the press release I think to kinetic structures, 91 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 3: but it wasn't. The emphasis was not on public art, 92 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 3: it was on a monument. And I've also said to 93 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 3: the Lord Mayor, I said, in light of the recent 94 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 3: and very widespread community backlash, including marsa from the Chief 95 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 3: Minister and the leader of the Opposition, which is quite 96 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 3: funny in the lead up to an election, to the 97 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 3: bit of a unity to you. But particularly also I 98 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 3: think I heard it also on your show there were 99 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 3: many Cyclone Tracy survivors who are really sort of really 100 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 3: upsets confronted by all this, and some of them were 101 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 3: actually saying they will boycott any council event around this commemoration. 102 00:04:58,120 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 3: This is not the purpose. We're trying to bring units 103 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 3: to this whole thing. This is a time for the 104 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 3: whole community to come back together and you know, commemorate 105 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 3: and reflect on the tragedy of Cyclone tracing. 106 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: So we're I mean, where to now. 107 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're to now, Brian, because I guess you know, 108 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: that's what people listening are going to be wondering, because 109 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: then we got that a really lengthy statement from the 110 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 2: City of Darwin yesterday saying that it's going ahead. So 111 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 2: I mean, are you saying that some of the counselors 112 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: maybe didn't realize what this structure was going to be 113 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 2: at Bundilla or what? 114 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: What are you sort of say, I. 115 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 3: Go back again. I truly believe that the council when 116 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 3: they made the decision, did it in good faith. They 117 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,239 Speaker 3: probably had advice on different things. They made a decision 118 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 3: thinking it's going to be a good thing, you know, 119 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 3: and I generally do, but occasionally you have to listen 120 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 3: to the community, you know. I have a look at 121 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 3: the recent one with the fireworks going to be moved 122 00:05:55,800 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 3: from Mindleboach to the waterfront. Now that took a communit 123 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 3: any backlash, but finally common sense prevailed, and sometimes we 124 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 3: all have to admit, you know, for all our best intentions, 125 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 3: we've actually made a mistake. We've bugged up a bit. 126 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 3: But we've got to bring the community together. And my 127 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,239 Speaker 3: biggest issue, and you know, whether this is the debate 128 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 3: about public art or monument. I'm what I think is 129 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 3: we've got to take out the heat, take out the 130 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 3: fuel about this structure going up in the lead up 131 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 3: to the commemoration. So I don't know what all the 132 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 3: contractual arrangements are, but as a minimum I said this 133 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 3: to the Lord. As a minimum, we could pass the 134 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: motion that we don't install or construct the so called 135 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 3: public art until the new year, so we free up 136 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 3: the lead up to the commemoration. We don't have a 137 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 3: lightning rod of descent. And I put that forward as 138 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 3: a constructive suggestion. That's already And the question was directly 139 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 3: to the Lord. 140 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: Me and what was the response. 141 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 3: Look, I haven't got the transcript. I'm sure people can 142 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 3: go to the it's broadcasting. Yeah. Essentially, I think the 143 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 3: Lord Mayor went around a bit and re emphasized the 144 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 3: stuff about, oh, you know, we do public art and 145 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 3: people can jump up and down about it, but in 146 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 3: the end they like it. It's not about this. I'm 147 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 3: worried about keeping the community together for this important commemoration. 148 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: Which I think is a very fair point. 149 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 3: And I don't know how far down the track they're 150 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 3: locked in, but if they can at least defer it 151 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 3: to the new year. And like I said, I don't 152 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 3: want a lightning rod of descent. I want everyone to 153 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 3: come together and we all pay our respects. And that's 154 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 3: what I was asking and I reminded the Lord Mayor 155 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 3: that's what I was asking for, or not sort of 156 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 3: dumping everything. 157 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: No, well, which is fair enough. I think. 158 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 2: Well, brian O Gallia, we are going to have to 159 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 2: leave it there. Really appreciate you joining us on the 160 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 2: show this morning and thank you, thanks very much for 161 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 2: talking us through what had happened earlier in the week.