1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: And we'll joining us in the studio this morning. 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 2: We've had a couple of weeks off and I am 3 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 2: so glad to be back into it. It is the 4 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: week that was thanks to de Silver her Brown Lawyers, 5 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 2: your local lawyers and also broadcasting now on eight j 6 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 2: in Alice Springs and in the studio with us today 7 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 2: we have got the Opposition leader Leafanochiaro. 8 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 3: Good morning, to morning Kadien, to your listeners, Happy Friday. 9 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: Happy Friday. Good to have you in the studio. We've 10 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 2: got Keesier. 11 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: Puric, the Independent member for Goid. 12 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 4: Good morning, Keezier, good morning, good morning rural people, the towns. 13 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: The people. 14 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 2: And we have also gotten Natasha Files, the Health Minister 15 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 2: and also the Minister for Tourism and Racing, Gaming and Licensing. 16 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 5: Good morning Files, e morning Wilfee. And it's National School's 17 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 5: Tree Day. So I've justeen at Nightcliffe Primary planting trees 18 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 5: Tree Day. 19 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 4: Fantastic stuff, plant more trees. 20 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 2: I know Convet Scarless likes planting trees at the moment 21 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: as well looking beautiful. 22 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 4: It was I thought that myself I was taken that 23 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 4: I've done it now, Thank you Conn and your Dancity Council. 24 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 4: That should should have done this, and I must note 25 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 4: and everyone should note, they've planted the right kind of trees, 26 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,839 Speaker 4: like the rangoon creeper on the shade, which is. 27 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 3: The wrong kind of You're a fantastic post from Mad 28 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 3: Snake Cafe that had a vine and they were like government, if. 29 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: You need the advice and goodness, well yeah, that is 30 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: already kind of. 31 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 5: Plant planted natives and they're all named after the streets 32 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 5: and Nightcliff provide shame, hopefully hopefully beautify. I do love 33 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 5: it when you guys come in here and you're fined 34 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 5: up before we get into the issues that we're planning 35 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 5: on talking about. 36 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: They provide a lot of well, let's get right into a. 37 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 3: Special today. 38 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 4: You gardening. 39 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 3: Build up variety talk about that. Yes, please shade trees 40 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 3: at the turf Club that. 41 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 1: Might have been more, might have been more. That's right, 42 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: let's get it just for your Listtie's I'm losing the 43 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: plot now, Well, let's get straight into it. 44 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 2: Because if you did think that the saga with the 45 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 2: twelve million dollar dar and Turf Club was over, you'd. 46 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: Be very wrong. 47 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: We learned earlier in the week Brett Dixon, the chairman 48 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: of the Darwin Turf Club issued an eleven page statement 49 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: saying that he's launched legal actions to overturn findings of 50 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: the recent Eikak report released just weeks ago. Now, in 51 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: the statement, mister Dixon claims that the decision by the 52 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,839 Speaker 2: Chief Minister Michael Gunner and his cabinet ministers to give 53 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 2: the Darwin Turf Club twelve million dollars was made the 54 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 2: same morning that the club put forward its submission for 55 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 2: funding support. Now, in the statement, he says, I do 56 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,399 Speaker 2: not know what material Cabinet considered beyond the submission provided 57 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: by the management of the club. The workings of cabinet 58 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 2: are the subject of acclaim for public interest immunity, so 59 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: they can't be inquired into as they cannot be reported 60 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 2: on unless, of course, the government waives that immunity in 61 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 2: the interests of transparency. Now, Leah, you throughout the week 62 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 2: and over the weeks have been calling for that information 63 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: to be released, even the Treasury supporting documentation. If there 64 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 2: is supporting documentation from Treasury, it doesn't look as though 65 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: that's something that the government's going to do in a hurry. 66 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: Why do you think that that is so important? 67 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 3: It's really important that the government do something. I mean, 68 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 3: if they can't release the cabinet information, fine, but you 69 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 3: must be able to show something. Now it's completely implausible 70 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 3: what you mean, Natasha. You've been out, Nicole has been out, 71 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 3: Michael Gunner has been out saying this followed cab normal 72 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 3: cabinet processes. There's nothing to see here. It's absolute garbage. 73 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 3: The EYKAC report shows that government only received it the 74 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 3: day before cabinet. Mister Dixon's statement says you received it 75 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 3: on the day of cabinet. You yourself on radio this 76 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 3: week Natasha said that you didn't know it only had 77 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 3: come in hours before cabinet considered it. It's just all 78 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 3: implausible garbage. Everyone knows that cabinet papers are circulated to departments, 79 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 3: they're circulated to minister as well in advance. You don't 80 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 3: walk into cabinet and just have a magical proposal to 81 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 3: spend twelve million dollars sitting on the desk. You know, 82 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 3: there is a lot of work that goes into that, 83 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 3: or should go into that, but behind the scenes, and 84 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: it just hasn't been done. And for the Gunner government 85 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 3: to keep burying their head in the sand on this issue, 86 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 3: it's just no one believes them anymore, and it's threatened 87 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 3: the integrity of the entire government system. You know, it 88 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 3: casts a great cloud of doubt over every grant, every 89 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 3: financial decision that they've made. I mean, it didn't pass 90 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 3: the pub test from day one, this proposal, and now 91 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 3: it just stinks. 92 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 4: It's been a problem and it's and it's not going 93 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 4: to go away this problem. 94 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 2: No, it's not. 95 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 5: It's going to grow. 96 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 4: And there's other problems springing up. And I've looked at 97 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 4: the report that came out from the ICC, and you know, 98 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 4: everyone's been accused of being you know, unprofessional and miss 99 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 4: misconduct and corrupt and all those sorts of things. And 100 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 4: I find it a bit rich that the Chief Minister, 101 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 4: you know, as soon as there's a problem, his first 102 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 4: response is, oh, well they should resign, they should step down. Now, 103 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 4: the Turf Club is a private excuse me, it's a 104 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 4: private organization, you know, under the Association's Act plus probably 105 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 4: other areas. So I mean, I don't think that was 106 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 4: really his role. He can say what he likes, but 107 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 4: good on the Turf Club members for standing their ground 108 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 4: and the chairman at this point in time. But the 109 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 4: turf Club issuers side, I think, and the money that 110 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 4: went to the turf Club to build the grand stand, 111 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 4: which personally I don't have an issue with. Is the processes, 112 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 4: which I think at Lisa really is referencing. Is the process, 113 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 4: is how it happened, how the twelve million went there. 114 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 4: Forget the fact that it was twelve million, and forget 115 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 4: the fact that we our hospitals were bursting at the 116 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 4: scenes at the same time. This has gone into cabinet 117 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 4: supposedly under the arm of the Chief Minister. Now if 118 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 4: he's saying that, you know, he can't tell us. If 119 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 4: Treasury scrutinized it, he can't tell us. If the Department 120 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 4: of Business scrupininderus, well what the hell is he doing 121 00:05:58,160 --> 00:05:59,919 Speaker 4: in the job that he's in. Well, really he's not 122 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 4: up to the mark. If you can't just look look you, 123 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 4: or look a member of the public straight in the 124 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 4: eye and say, look, this is how it happened. It 125 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 4: was wrong, I didn't do it the right way and 126 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 4: just fence up and get on. 127 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: You cannot, in my opinion, squarely blame your former chief 128 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 2: of staff for that. And if you do, and if 129 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: he didn't know what that's very How do you not 130 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 2: know what's going on in your office and what other 131 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 2: decisions have been made without the proper homework. 132 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: If you're not aware of what chief of staff's doing. 133 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: But this is what I mean. 134 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 3: The KIC report comes out, Gunna rolls out, tries to 135 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 3: talk tough. He knows he's got nothing to say, so 136 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 3: in replace of that, he demands that the Turf Club 137 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 3: board resign, and he threatens that hell you know, he 138 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 3: says he'll bring legislation and he'll recoup the money. Now 139 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 3: he knew he couldn't do either of those things. He 140 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 3: did not have the power to sack the body. He 141 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 3: did not have the power to recoup the money. Now 142 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 3: we've seen this spiectacular backflip on the money on a 143 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 3: promise that tisk you know, if the new board promised 144 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 3: to be really well behaved, then I won't take your 145 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 3: money back. Of course he can't get the money. Of 146 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 3: course we've got turf Clut board members completely ignoring him. 147 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 3: They're still on the board. They're going to likely run 148 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 3: again again. And then in the greatest act of hypocrisy, 149 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 3: they're Gunna government have appointed one of the very people 150 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 3: they demanded to quit, you know, to resign from the 151 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 3: turf cut board they've now appointed to a government board. 152 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 3: I mean, it just it just is a circus. It's 153 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 3: a sideshow. 154 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 2: Well, and I think there's like to me, there's two 155 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: parts of this. Obviously, there is the part that is 156 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 2: how the turf Club went through these processes and then 157 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: awarding that tender. But then the other part of this 158 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 2: is Howard ended up in that cabinet room and how 159 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 2: it ended up the decision. 160 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: That's exactly right, Howard. 161 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: Ended up that decision that that twelve million dollars was 162 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 2: going to be approved. And that's certainly some of the 163 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 2: questioning that I put to you earlier in the week. Natasha, 164 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 2: we know from what we've been told both you and 165 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 2: Minister Lawla had confirmed that he took that submission into cabinet. 166 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: He says he takes full response. 167 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 2: Ability for what goes into cabinet as the chief minister. 168 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 2: But if you take full responsibility for what goes into 169 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: cabinet as the chief minister, then is there supporting documentation 170 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 2: from Treasury backing up that this was a good project 171 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 2: and a good use of taxpayers dollars being spent. 172 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 5: So Katie, people need to remember the context we were 173 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 5: in at that time. It was all about jobs. We 174 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 5: had the infrastructure. 175 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 2: Budgets, there documentation from Treasury saying that this project would 176 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 2: create jobs. 177 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 5: So Katie, there was a cabinet process around that. We've 178 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 5: said that from the beginning and we were looking for 179 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 5: projects as we came towards the end of the financial year. 180 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 5: We had a significant infrastructure budget and there's always projects 181 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 5: that go under and over and things get delayed for 182 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 5: various reasons. Were focused on jobs. We had people leaving 183 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 5: the territory every single day. So we have market led 184 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 5: proposals where people come up with an idea, or you 185 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 5: have where government identifies something and puts out of tender. 186 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 5: This was a market led proposal. We had the submission 187 00:08:57,800 --> 00:08:59,599 Speaker 5: come into cabinet. We believe there'd been a body of 188 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 5: work found out in hindsight that that wasn't you know 189 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 5: that there had been somewhere. 190 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 1: Done by the time the homework, Katie. 191 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 5: This has had a very thorough investigation, thousands of documents 192 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 5: eighteen months from the IKAG and they have pointed out 193 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 5: certain things, but they haven't found any findings against the 194 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 5: Chief Minister or any cabinet Minister. 195 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 4: Because the. 196 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: Cabinet it didn't clear you. 197 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 3: You guys keep going around saying the Ikak report cleared you. 198 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 3: I mean it didn't. It didn't look at you at all. 199 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 4: Look at you. Someone must have put that proposal under 200 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 4: the Chief Minister's arm. It didn't magically just appear. 201 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: That's right. Did he not peruse it at all? 202 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 4: Someone has put it on his arm? 203 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 3: And when you read it that this, Natasha, only this 204 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 3: week you've been running these market led proposal lines. It's 205 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 3: the first time government have said it in the since 206 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 3: the whole saga began, and it's just it's not true. 207 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 3: When you read this submission, it very clearly says so 208 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 3: for a market led proposal to be a market led proposal, 209 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 3: there needs to be a contribution by the proponent. Ik 210 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 3: have said it wasn't a market led proposal. It was 211 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 3: supposed to be, and there were public servants working very 212 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 3: hard to make sure it was, but it wasn't. Now, Natasha, 213 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 3: you've this week come out and said it was a 214 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 3: market led proposal. When you read the submission from the 215 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 3: Turf Club, it very clearly says that they were not 216 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 3: providing financial support they would provide in kind support and 217 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 3: maintain it over the life of the asset. That's not 218 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 3: a market led proposal. And for any government to sit 219 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 3: there with that six page submission with glossy photos at 220 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 3: the end of it and make a decision to award 221 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 3: twelve million dollars, it's crazy. It just means how many 222 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 3: other decisions that have not followed good governance processes have 223 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 3: you guys made. 224 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 5: So, Katie, I come back to the point. So we 225 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 5: were looking for projects to get out the door, to 226 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 5: make things happen quickly. We were looking for projects that 227 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 5: would stimulate the economy during construction, but also projects that 228 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 5: would stimulate the economy ongoing. So we supported the building 229 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 5: of that grandstand and we believed that it was projects 230 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 5: that could quickly stimulate economies to support it. So, in 231 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 5: terms of cabinet, governments are elected to make decisions. 232 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 2: There actually supporting documentation from Treasury for this project. 233 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 5: So, Katie, there was a cabinet process around it. I 234 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 5: can't go into that. You know that cabinet was well, 235 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 5: you wouldn't know, le because you're a minister for a 236 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:18,239 Speaker 5: week to a normal proper cabinet. And we supported the proposal. 237 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 5: So as governments were elected to make decisions. People want 238 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 5: to get on with and get on with the job, 239 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 5: and at that time, particularly about making sure we had 240 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:28,319 Speaker 5: jobs because. 241 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 2: People were leaving the time work to be done. Though, 242 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 2: they expect that when something goes through cabinet. I know, 243 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 2: I certainly do as a tax paying territory, and I 244 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 2: expect that when a proposal goes through cabinet that there 245 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:46,080 Speaker 2: is supporting documentation, that there is support, there's pros and cons. 246 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 2: Let's say pros and cons list not from the Treasury, 247 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 2: from others that or delay and ask for more info. 248 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 2: I mean, what we're talking about here is twelve million 249 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 2: dollars of taxpayers money. It's a proposal then from what 250 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 2: we're here went forward from the turf club that morning. 251 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 2: It may have been discussed prior to that, but a 252 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: proposal that went through that that day. 253 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 5: That the information had received. 254 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: So this is the lynch pin for me. How on 255 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: earth did you not know? 256 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 5: So, Katie, it's not possible cabinet did not know that 257 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 5: the information had only been received in the hours before 258 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 5: we made a decision. We're elected to make decisions. We 259 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,079 Speaker 5: stand by that. Yes, we've changed processes since then in 260 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 5: terms of the budget. Things go through a budget review 261 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 5: subcommittee and they go in at budget cabinet. 262 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 2: The other point that was made is that you wanted 263 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 2: shovel ready projects. Brett Dixon himself has said it in 264 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 2: that statement that he was worried that it would not 265 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 2: be able to be completed. So to me, it doesn't 266 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,599 Speaker 2: sound like it was as shovel ready is what the 267 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 2: government would like territories to believe. 268 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 5: So, Katie, we had, as I said, that significant infrastructure budget, 269 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 5: and you need to remember at that point a lot 270 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 5: of people were relying on government stimulus projects to keep 271 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 5: people in this town and keep people in the territory 272 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 5: and keep people in jobs. So we had a number 273 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 5: of pro that we worked with across government, and we 274 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 5: had a number of grants that went out the door 275 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 5: to organizations. We built the Motorsports Grandstand, we built the 276 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 5: Rugby Union Grandstand. So we were looking at jobs that 277 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 5: would leave the community with infrastructure that we create jobs 278 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 5: into the future. So we believe that that was a 279 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 5: project that was digitue. 280 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 2: I mean, I know that you can't go into the 281 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 2: process of what happens in cabinet, but were their ministers 282 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 2: asking questions about this project if there wasn't documentation from 283 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 2: Treasury supporting it. 284 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 5: So, Katie, we can't talk about the conversations in cabinet. 285 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 5: The everyone that knows the Westminster system, there is robust conversations. 286 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: Every cabinet meeting is extremely robust. 287 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 5: You have to leave your personal opinions at the door, 288 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 5: you have to represent your departments, you have to represent territorians, 289 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 5: and you have a robust conversation. The Westminster system is 290 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 5: if you don't agree with something, you leave the cabinet. 291 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 5: And sometimes there's decisions that are easier and other times 292 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 5: there's decisions that are really tough. Remember back to the 293 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 5: Salp days, there was us stories that books were thrown 294 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 5: around the room. It's really difficult. It can become highly emotive. 295 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 5: But this decision, the cabinet looked at it and as 296 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 5: I explained to that context that we're in trying to 297 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 5: make sure we hit that infrastructure project budget. We had 298 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 5: a significant amount of pressure on us to get all 299 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 5: that money out the doors quickly. 300 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 2: Do you reckon you know, like really weighing that up 301 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 2: with public interests and public expectations. Do you think that 302 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 2: people thought, you know, when you talk about different projects 303 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 2: and you talk about infrastructure money being spent. Did you 304 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 2: guys really think that territory ands we're going to be 305 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 2: happy with twelve million dollars for a grandstand going back 306 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 2: to you know, to the week that had happened. 307 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: When you've then like for a health budget, let's. 308 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 2: I know, there are different buckets of money, as you 309 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 2: pointed out at the time, but then you don't have 310 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 2: enough beds at the hospital, Katie. 311 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 5: The budget is extremely in terms of it's difficult to 312 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 5: break down the parts. There's infrastructure projects that are won off, 313 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 5: there's infrastructure projects that create jobs ongoing, and of course 314 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 5: I fight for every dollar into territory health and I'm 315 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 5: proud as a minister there's been significant investment. But you 316 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 5: also need to investment in other areas and you don't 317 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 5: necessarily you know, you've got to balance that up and 318 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 5: how the budget is shaped on this. 319 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 2: Topic though, I mean, I don't think at the end 320 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 2: of the day this is going to go away in 321 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 2: a hurry. We've got a situation here now where obviously 322 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 2: the Darwin Turf Club on the ninth of August is 323 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 2: moving to to obviously elect a new board. The Chief 324 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 2: Minister has made the statement that you know, he expected 325 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 2: all of those board members to resign. 326 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: He expects that money to be repaid. 327 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 3: Resign exactly the ultimate board. I mean, how can you 328 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 3: turn around to a volunteer board and say, you guys 329 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 3: have to quit. 330 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 5: You spent the money we gave you, and you don't 331 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 5: look at yourself. Who gave away the money? 332 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 3: Chiefs, Michael Gunner, Natasha Files it was you know, whoever 333 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 3: else was in that cabinet at the time, they're the 334 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 3: ones who gave it away. They didn't give it away, 335 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 3: none of this would be having You're. 336 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 4: Right, it's the eighth of August. If that's their AGM, 337 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 4: that'll be interesting to see the outcome of that. But 338 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 4: we've also got the chairman, Britt Dixon and his legal 339 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 4: action that's right, he's undertaking in the Supreme Court, which 340 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 4: basically is a judicial review. So he's seeking to review 341 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 4: the whole contents of the IKAQ report, to challenge them, 342 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 4: presumably with evidence of his own, and to have the 343 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 4: report quashed. Now, I think that's going to be a telling, 344 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 4: a telling time for everyone, particularly how that IQQ report 345 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 4: was prepared. We've seen stories in the local press about 346 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 4: alleged according to Brett Dixon alleged leaks from the IKAK 347 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 4: to a particular media outlet. So there's a whole muzzle here. 348 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 4: Apart from the there's the process of the money. That's 349 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 4: one thing. Forget how the how the you know the 350 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 4: turf Club built it and all that. I mean, it's 351 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 4: I haven't seen the grandstand, but I'm sure it's a 352 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 4: fine building. But there's all these other things, and I 353 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 4: think they've all happened, they just haven't opened in isolation. 354 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 4: They've all come about because of the way it was done. 355 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 4: From the very beginning, the foundations that were set were 356 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 4: flawed and so everything associated with it. I mean, when 357 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 4: Michael Gunna comes out of chucks his chiefest stuff under 358 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 4: the not only a bus, he's chucked him under a 359 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 4: bloody road track. Absolutely, you know, and we all know 360 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 4: who Alf Leonardi is and he's a good blow. But 361 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 4: you can't tell me. And we've talked about this before. 362 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 4: The Chief Minister doesn't know what his most senior advisor. 363 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 4: I mean we're talking. 364 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 2: He can't say the book stops with you and then say, oh, 365 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:18,880 Speaker 2: accepting this. 366 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 3: Blame and blame everyone else. Clubs thrown under the bus. 367 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 3: I've been thrown under the bus. You know, Natasha, reading 368 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:27,959 Speaker 3: between the lines, what you've been doing this week is 369 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 3: throwing the CEO of DCM under the bus. I mean 370 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 3: your basic You know the IKKE reports showed you. I 371 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 3: absolutely will. So this is how it goes. One o 372 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 3: six pm thirteen June. Sean Drab receives this submission from 373 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 3: the Turf Club at one fifty six. He forwards it 374 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 3: to Jodie Ryan and says, I words to the effective, 375 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 3: I haven't read this talk Later it then disappears, cabinet 376 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 3: happens whenever it was, and bang, we have a decision. 377 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 3: Now you're saying we didn't know that it had only 378 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 3: come in hours before. So you know, the CEO of 379 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 3: DCM is the cabinet secretary. They're the last person as 380 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 3: far as the ik can see, who received that submission. 381 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,479 Speaker 3: So if it's not your fault, it's not Michael gudging 382 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 3: the story a little bit earlier. Whose is it? How 383 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 3: did that document make it into the cabinet room. 384 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 4: It couldn't of the Chief Minister's are It couldn't. 385 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 3: Do it by magically flying in there and disappearing. And 386 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 3: it wasn't in your cabinet book in the lead up 387 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 3: to cabinet. It was dropped in at the last minute 388 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 3: because it didn't exist prior to the thirteenth of June. 389 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 3: That's the reality of it. 390 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 2: I mean, so did you guys like when it came 391 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:36,959 Speaker 2: when it came into cabinet that day, is that the 392 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 2: first that you and other ministers had seen it? 393 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 5: So, Katie, we were aware of the project. It's certainly 394 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 5: been talked about. And in terms of cabinet we have 395 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 5: multiple papers and I you know, I can't talk about 396 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 5: that detail, you know that, But what I can say 397 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 5: is we have we use iPads now everything's uploaded electronically 398 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 5: and there's there's multiple papers, there's multiple memos across things. 399 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 5: You need to remember the context we're getting. Towards the 400 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 5: end of the financial year, there was a huge amount 401 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 5: of pressure on us as a government to deliver our 402 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 5: infrastructure budget and have it all out the door because 403 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,120 Speaker 5: we were seeing tough times in that post IMPEX construction 404 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 5: phase when the CP had failed to prepare the territory 405 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:11,640 Speaker 5: for that. 406 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 3: First Yes, and we go back because you are a failure, 407 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 3: Your government's a failure. You are the one who's lead 408 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 3: the worst performing economy in the Nation Quarter on court. 409 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 2: If we could do things over again, would you still 410 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 2: agree to this grandstand? 411 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 5: Katie? To me, the grandstand is a good investment. It 412 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 5: created jobs in construction and it creates jobs ongoing. So yes, 413 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 5: But what we have done and we have changed, you know, 414 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 5: processes around government. But with cabinet we have a budget 415 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 5: review subcommittee, so we have different subcommittees of cabinet. There's children's, 416 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 5: there's jobs, there's a budget review on and we also 417 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,160 Speaker 5: make sure that things come in through the budget rather 418 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 5: than and this is something that we change that both 419 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 5: CLP and Labor governments had had for many decades add 420 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 5: hoc decisions because we need to make decisions in terms 421 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 5: of the overall phis situation of the Northern territory. So 422 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 5: in terms of the throwaway comments from Leah there, we 423 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,040 Speaker 5: have taken this seriously and been very responsible with taxpayer dollars. 424 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 3: Well, it's not possible because six months before making this decision, 425 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 3: you told us we would have a thirty five point 426 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 3: seven billion dollar dead in ten years if we didn't 427 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 3: rain and spending. Then you go and give away twelve 428 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 3: million dollars without requiring any contribution, without not even as 429 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 3: in multiple payments. You did it as a lump sum, 430 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 3: which again the Eyekak showed was not a normal process. 431 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 3: It just doesn't just doesn't hold water. And all this 432 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,640 Speaker 3: tough talk from the Chief Minister is a ludicrous when 433 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 3: we've seen him threatened CEOs to be sacked if they 434 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 3: didn't blow their budget, yet not one has been reprimanded. 435 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,479 Speaker 3: We saw him advise as a Labor Party that they 436 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 3: should get rid of the member for Blaine and yet 437 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 3: they've ignored him. We've seen him threaten the Turf Club 438 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 3: board to resign and most of them have ignored him. 439 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:53,400 Speaker 3: You know what I mean this, It just further reinforces 440 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 3: his incapability to lead. He holds no credibility and no 441 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 3: control and this is just a total disaster for good government. 442 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 2: That we are going to have to take a very 443 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 2: short break. You are listening to Mix one oh four 444 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 2: point nine's three sixty. It is the week that was 445 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 2: proudly brought to you by de Silver Hebron your local lawyers. 446 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 2: You are listening to the week that was Now if 447 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 2: you do want to send us a text message, just 448 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 2: a reminder that that text line has changed zero four 449 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 2: three nine two three eight eight one eight and in 450 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 2: the studio this morning, Leofanochi, aur Ow, Natasha Fhiles and 451 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 2: Kisier Purreic. 452 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 5: Now. 453 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: The news flowed through yesterday that up. 454 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 2: To twelve hundred former detainees who were mistreated inside the 455 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 2: world infamous don Dale Detention Center are going to be 456 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 2: paid out a share of thirty five million dollars after 457 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory Government reached that record breaking settlement with 458 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 2: Morris Blackburn Lawyers. It is believed to be the biggest 459 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 2: class action settlement the Northern Territory Government's faced. It's a 460 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 2: massive amount of money. We did, we did try to 461 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 2: get the Minister for Territory Families on the show yesterday. 462 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,719 Speaker 2: Unfortunately we weren't able to. We did catch up with 463 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 2: the Opposition spokes St Josh Bergowyn who said that it's 464 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 2: a bit of pill for those victims of crime to swallow. 465 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: And I know that we have had a large. 466 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 2: Number of victims of crime, particularly who listened to this 467 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,160 Speaker 2: show and particularly in Alice Springs listening on AHI. 468 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think victims and territorians felt like, well, where's 469 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 3: our thirty five million? And you know it's an absolute 470 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,199 Speaker 3: hideous amount of money. I mean that is half the 471 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 3: entire use justice budget. Might I add what is most 472 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 3: appalling and terrifying, quite frankly about this whole thing is 473 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 3: the fact that the Gunner government instructed its lawyers to 474 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 3: suppress the figure so that Territorians would never know that 475 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 3: they had to pay thirty five million dollars to use detainees. 476 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:45,959 Speaker 3: And I want to know, Katie, I want to know 477 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 3: which minister made that call, because the lawyers don't just 478 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,120 Speaker 3: get to go from frolic and do what they want. 479 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 3: They are instructed by their client. Their client was either 480 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 3: the Minister for Territory Families or the Cabinet who made 481 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,880 Speaker 3: that decision and directed the lawyers to suppress thirty five 482 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 3: million dollars from territorians. 483 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 4: Would have been that would have been a head of 484 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 4: the Department on instructions from the Ministertuff had to have. 485 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 3: Come from the Minister or Cabinet only. 486 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 5: So, Katie, these are claims in this case are historical, 487 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 5: so they stretch from two thousand and six to twenty seventeen, 488 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 5: and we all know we've had the Royal Commission in 489 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 5: that period and we've been doing an enormous amount of 490 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 5: work in this space, and it covers nearly twelve hundred 491 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 5: young people who were sentenced in that period, and so 492 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:29,199 Speaker 5: we certainly acknowledge the stain on this historical event in 493 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 5: the territory. It has gone through a court process and 494 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 5: we're focused, as we have been over the last four years, 495 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 5: on reforming that youth justice. 496 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 3: This is an out of court settlement. This is an 497 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 3: out of court settlement. It's not a court judgment to 498 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 3: award thirty five million dollars. This is a decision by 499 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 3: either the Minister herself or the cabinet to try and 500 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 3: suppress thirty five million dollars from public view and to 501 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 3: agree to thirty five million dollars, well. 502 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 4: That's the thing, to agree to an out of court settlement. 503 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 4: I can tell you out there, out of my area, 504 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 4: the Ruler and elsewhere a real cranky at this settlement. 505 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 4: I mean, let's be honest. Dondale is the last resort. 506 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 4: People that sewed up in don Dale have committed crimes. 507 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 4: They've tried youth diversion, they've tried whatever else. 508 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 3: They do, and they've had a lot of chances to 509 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 3: get to don. 510 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 4: Dale, Dustinal. Forget the Spithold and all that sort of stuff. 511 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 4: There must have been reasons they did it then, and 512 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 4: I know it was horrific and all that sort of stuff, 513 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 4: and all the bleeding hearts come out and say, poor kids, 514 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:17,959 Speaker 4: you know, but they're all in there for a reason. 515 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,360 Speaker 4: And now they're getting compensated because they had a tough time, 516 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 4: well tough enough. You know, you broke the law. And 517 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 4: as Leah said, what about all the people that have 518 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 4: suffered because of their action? 519 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: Does anyone know how? 520 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 2: I know? This figure came out in estimates how much 521 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 2: money was paid out to victims of crime in the 522 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 2: last finitial year. 523 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 3: So this is hideous. So we have over sixteen hundred 524 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 3: people waiting for victims of crime compensation in the territory 525 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 3: and they wait an average of three years now for 526 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 3: the period up until for the nine month period up 527 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 3: until March this year only and only one hundred thousand 528 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 3: dollars was recovered from offenders to pay compensation to victims. 529 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 3: One hundred thousand dollars. So if these offenders are going 530 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 3: to be receiving their share of thirty five million dollars, 531 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 3: the government is part of that settlement deal should have 532 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 3: been making sure that those offenders paid their restitution and 533 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:10,399 Speaker 3: paid their victims of crime levy. 534 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 4: Is is it all going though? Is that whole thirty 535 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:14,120 Speaker 4: five million going into the water. 536 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 2: Someone and he and they wouldn't confirm yesterday how much. 537 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 2: Asked whether it was ten million, and he said it 538 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 2: was far less than that he anticipated. 539 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 3: But there was plenty of zeros on the end. Don't 540 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 3: worry about that. 541 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, and that, well, that's none. That's their job, that's 542 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:30,200 Speaker 4: what they do. But you know, how are they going 543 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 4: to distribute this money? You know what grounds like, oh 544 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 4: you got. 545 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 3: Has a panel been established? Like this money has gone 546 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,919 Speaker 3: into a trust fund? Who were going to be the 547 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 3: decision makers to decide who was mistreated, what level of mistreated, 548 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 3: trust how much money each person gets for different levels 549 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 3: of mistreatment. I mean, there is no information on this. 550 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 3: We've had the Territory Families Minister come out and say 551 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 3: we just wanted to end it. The Territory government should 552 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 3: have been in there fighting as hard as they possibly 553 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 3: could against this, as hard as they possible could. And 554 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,159 Speaker 3: instead what we've got is some sort of thing like, oh, 555 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 3: we just wanted it to go away, so we just 556 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 3: here have thirty five million, half the entire youth Justice budget. 557 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 2: So which minister did, I mean, did make that call 558 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 2: that they wanted. 559 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 1: That figure to be surprised fallacy. 560 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 5: So I think Lee is putting it in a very 561 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 5: simplistic way. This is a historical case that stretched over 562 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 5: eleven years and it is something that the Northern Territory 563 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 5: government has now reached an in principal settlement. So those 564 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 5: questions would be best placed by the Territory Family's minister. 565 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 3: So that means the Cabinet didn't make the decision. It 566 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 3: was her decision, So. 567 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 5: Katie, as I have already outlined the historical cases. Of 568 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:40,679 Speaker 5: course it is difficult these decisions, but when you are 569 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 5: in the court process, things can quickly add up. And 570 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 5: this covers nearly twelve hundred young people who were sentenced 571 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 5: in a period of time. We acknowledged that historical you know, 572 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 5: in Youth Justice Week we had a Royal commission off 573 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 5: the back of the Four Corners episode that you know, 574 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 5: certainly across that eleven years there was not a good 575 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 5: time for the territory. 576 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 2: But we really worth pointing out nobody expects that a 577 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 2: child's going to go into detention and come out a 578 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 2: worse offender. Everybody expects that if you go in to jail, 579 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 2: or if you're going through a diversion program or any 580 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 2: kind of program, that you're actually becoming a better human, 581 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:15,360 Speaker 2: not coming out. 582 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 3: Sure anyone to be mistreatation, anyone to be mistreated. 583 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 5: Implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission of the two 584 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 5: hundred and eighteen recommendations, one hundred and fifty eight have 585 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 5: been completed, fifty seven are underway, and there's just a handful. 586 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:33,160 Speaker 1: But the pendulum has swung too far the other way. 587 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 4: I feeling. 588 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 2: So, you know, we've got victims of crime, like that 589 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 2: figure where we go victims of crime one hundred thousand 590 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 2: dollars paid out over the year to me, you know, 591 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 2: sorry recoup from offenders. You know that is that is 592 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 2: really tough for victims out there listening to hear I've no. 593 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: Doubt about that, particularly. 594 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 3: Then skrenching for them. You know, we've had huge escalations 595 00:27:56,600 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 3: in crime, people being victimized, people's children don't feel safe home, 596 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:05,879 Speaker 3: people have had to take extraordinary measures. People have been abused, assaulted, precious. 597 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 4: Valuable scales around. 598 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:09,479 Speaker 3: I heard about that. I didn't hear about it. 599 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 4: Younger children's you know, money. 600 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 3: And then here we go with a government that's always 601 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 3: been a fender focus just seemingly give away thirty five 602 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 3: million dollars without care. And the other thing that they're 603 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 3: not talking about, Katie, is that that thirty five million 604 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,119 Speaker 3: because they don't have it. I mean, it's half of 605 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 3: the of the youth justice budget. They don't have the 606 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,400 Speaker 3: money they're going to recoup that across all government departments. 607 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 3: So what services are going to be cut to find 608 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 3: the thirty five million? You just don't magically have thirty 609 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 3: five million dollars And if they're going to recoup it, 610 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 3: what's going to be cut to find it? 611 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 2: And look, you know thirty five million dollars that is 612 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 2: on top of the Royal Commission and you. 613 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 3: Know you'd justice facility. 614 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 2: But I do, I mean, I will point out because 615 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 2: I know there'll be people listening this morning going the 616 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 2: colp called for the Royal Commission, So I do, I 617 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 2: will definitely point that out because I know that it 618 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 2: wasn't called obviously by the Labor Party. It was called 619 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 2: by the then Chief Minister at A Giles, and he 620 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 2: didn't understand what the time anyway, And you know, I 621 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 2: think that we we wound up in a situation where 622 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 2: I think it had a very different impact in a 623 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:11,719 Speaker 2: lot of ways on the community than what a lot 624 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 2: of people anticipated. 625 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 3: But the Royal Commission didn't say pay out thirty five 626 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 3: million dollars. It didn't say what the Royal Commission did 627 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 3: doated a COLP had made across these areas over a 628 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 3: number of Can I just say six and twenty and 629 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 3: seventeen The CLP were in government for four years, Let's 630 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 3: just put some proper. 631 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 5: Perspect twenty twelve you got into government and your mini 632 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 5: budget slashed funding in this space. 633 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 3: Case magically, it's all the CLP's follow here we are. 634 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: I'm just pointing out the the. 635 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 3: Labor government's term and it's still our fault. 636 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 4: Casey. 637 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 5: The reason why in these issues on this in the territory, 638 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 5: you don't need to get personally so in termatively child 639 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 5: protection and child neglect and a lot of these issues 640 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 5: are built from that. We know the strong correlation between 641 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 5: young people in child protection and going into the youth 642 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 5: justice system. We did a lot of work and it 643 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 5: was work that Jodine Carney and Malanjeri McCarthy did bipartisan 644 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 5: in two thousand and nine, twenty ten, we had the 645 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 5: Bath Report. All of that was scrapped. Why was it 646 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 5: scrapped because it was easy to scrapped. You didn't see 647 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 5: the impact back in twenty twelve. Imagine nine years later 648 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 5: if we'd left that working place, we'd be in a 649 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 5: very different situation. But we have rebuilt the justice system, 650 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:21,479 Speaker 5: the youth justice system over the last fie. 651 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 2: We are going to have to take a very short break. 652 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 2: You're listening to mix ONEOW four point nine three sixty. 653 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 2: It is the week that was Indeed listening to MIXWEOW 654 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 2: four point nine three sixty ites the week that was Leofandocchiaro, 655 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 2: Kizi Epuric and Natasha files. 656 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: In the studio with us. 657 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 2: Now, I do want to talk about the impact of 658 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 2: these hotspot declarations and lockdowns that they're having, well that 659 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 2: we're having here in the Northern Territory at the moment. 660 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 2: We caught up with Tourism Central Australia's Daniel Rochford a 661 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 2: bit earlier in the week and he spoke about the 662 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 2: fact that they had had mass cancelations for some of 663 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 2: those different tours. One particular tour group had been due 664 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 2: to have several school camps come in, will be in 665 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 2: Central Australian and obviously all getting canceled to the tune 666 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 2: of ten million dollars earlier in the week four some of. 667 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 1: Those tourism businesses. 668 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 2: It does make you wonder whether we need some kind 669 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 2: of more targeted support for some of those businesses that 670 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 2: are being hardest hit by these lockdowns in other states, 671 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 2: because it doesn't look as though this situation is going 672 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 2: to change in a hurry, Katie. 673 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 5: It's so difficult. And we saw Victoria and South Australia 674 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 5: go into their lockdowns and we were very pleased to 675 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 5: see that they got on top of that and we 676 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 5: were able to reopen those borders. Of course, we have 677 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,120 Speaker 5: to protect territorians and when we say that, we mean 678 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 5: and we saw our own lockdown here in the top 679 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 5: end out in Central Australia. When we were in lockdown, 680 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 5: people weren't out and they weren't spending. We know that 681 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 5: we need these interstate tourists. We know that Central Australia 682 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 5: has been significantly impacted by a lack of international tourists. 683 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 5: And it's that balance between keeping our community open and 684 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 5: our economy going versus letting that virus in. So I've 685 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 5: been speaking with Tourism Central Australia this week as well 686 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 5: as meeting with Tourism top End last week, and I'll 687 00:31:57,600 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 5: be catching up with them again next week. So we 688 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 5: working with them. That we provided over one point two 689 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 5: million dollars into Central Australia, specifically working with Tourism Central 690 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 5: Australia for a targeted program for them that they could help, 691 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 5: particularly off the back of the international tourists. So we'll 692 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 5: keep working with these industries. You know, we all talk 693 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 5: about it's devastating we can't travel, family can't come and 694 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 5: visit us. But there's like these, particularly the tourism businesses. Yeah, 695 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:27,239 Speaker 5: they're a whole livelihood and you know, you cannot we 696 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 5: cannot underestimate or you know, the devastation. It's hugely emotional 697 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 5: for them, and our thoughts are certainly with them, and 698 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 5: we'll continue to work with them. 699 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's by far, it's the hospitality industry and everyone 700 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 4: it hangs off the hospitality industry. But I can tell 701 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:43,520 Speaker 4: you the grain nomads or the travelers, they there are hundreds, 702 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 4: it's not thousands, So everyone has nothing else. The roadside 703 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:48,720 Speaker 4: inns as I call them, you know, the motels and 704 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 4: the smaller places. They're having a bonanza. 705 00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 5: Of the time and keasier it is. It is in 706 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 5: one sense we've got the travelers and we've got the 707 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 5: gray nomads, but we're missing certain sections of the market, 708 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,600 Speaker 5: and particularly for those two operators, Katie, you know all 709 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 5: the people that self drives and that's where you do 710 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:07,560 Speaker 5: see that that international component and these school groups and 711 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:09,080 Speaker 5: things that you were talking about. Sorry to cut you. 712 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 4: Off, No, that's all right, but I mean and then 713 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:13,800 Speaker 4: like organized bookings like I know in the past through 714 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 4: a friend that people would come up in bus loads 715 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 4: for the Darn Cup because they're racing enthusiasts from the 716 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 4: particular racing club down in Victoria, New South Wales. And 717 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 4: there's dozens of those that can come up and they 718 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 4: stay somewhere they spent. Now they've all, especially the New 719 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 4: South Wales bood have all been canceled yep, and sad 720 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 4: for us, particularly because they all stay in the hospitality. 721 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 1: They spend their money. 722 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 4: It's incredibly tough and I think, as Natasha said, you know, 723 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 4: government's got its role to play in supporting business and 724 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 4: industry in the tety, but we all do how we 725 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 4: can do it well. 726 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:46,960 Speaker 2: And is it going to make a difference when the 727 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 2: population is indeed vaccinated, because you know, you can't when 728 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 2: we are. I mean if but why now if we 729 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 2: are vaccinated, do we still have to go into into 730 00:33:57,920 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 2: you know, isolation if we come back from a hot spot. 731 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,560 Speaker 5: It's okay that Territorians are doing an amazing job in 732 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:05,040 Speaker 5: getting themselves vaccinated. We're getting close to fifty percent of 733 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 5: territories will have had a first dose. We've got I 734 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 5: think it's around it's over twenty five percent are fully vaccinated. 735 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:12,759 Speaker 5: But the vaccination, you know, when you and we haven't 736 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 5: had this discussion in the territory context, but when you 737 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 5: talk about it globally, you just need to look at 738 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,160 Speaker 5: the UK. You know, I think they've hit sixty percent. 739 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 5: I think that, you know, for us, with our very 740 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,280 Speaker 5: vulnerable population, it's more like eighty percent. But we're working 741 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:28,880 Speaker 5: incredibly hard on our vaccination rollout. We acknowledge the Commonwealth 742 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 5: Government who've been supplying that vaccine, our aboriginal medical organizations. 743 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:34,280 Speaker 5: I was out in what Are with the team earlier 744 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 5: this week. Over a thousand people in that community were 745 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,959 Speaker 5: vaccinated last week. We are getting there and it will 746 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 5: only increase from here. 747 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:43,720 Speaker 3: Well, it's really important that we do particularly focus REMO. 748 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 3: I mean, I know when I was out in the 749 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:46,919 Speaker 3: Central Desert a few months ago, and I know Katie 750 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:49,799 Speaker 3: we've talked about this, it was incredibly low numbers of 751 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 3: people vaccinated. So when you know Michael Gunner wants to 752 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 3: turn around and talk about our most vulnerable, he's got 753 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:56,239 Speaker 3: to put his money where his mouth is. I mean, 754 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,120 Speaker 3: you can't just talk about these things, You've actually got 755 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:00,400 Speaker 3: to deliver it on the ground. You know, vaccine is 756 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:03,759 Speaker 3: so important. I mean, it's a privilege to be fully 757 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 3: vaccinated myself, you know, and I know a lot of 758 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:10,120 Speaker 3: people are trying to get vaccinated. I think it's really important. 759 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 3: I want to just reiterate our calls in the past 760 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:14,400 Speaker 3: that and Natasha, you know you're the health minister. I 761 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 3: think it's great that you've got the COVID website and 762 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 3: it's good, but it needs to be a one stop shop. 763 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:21,239 Speaker 3: You know, people go on there to try and make 764 00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:23,879 Speaker 3: a booking and it only has so many clinics. It's 765 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 3: not all of the clinics, and so people feel like 766 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,640 Speaker 3: they can't make a booking. Whereas we know that doctor 767 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:31,440 Speaker 3: surgeries people can contact. Then we know the Parmass Superclinic. 768 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,920 Speaker 3: There are actually a large number of other clinics. So 769 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,719 Speaker 3: don't be dishearted if you go onto the coronavirus website 770 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:38,359 Speaker 3: and try to click a book and it comes up 771 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,000 Speaker 3: with that response that says there are no bookings available, 772 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:44,560 Speaker 3: you can't proceed, go and find someone else. And in 773 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:48,000 Speaker 3: the meantime, I urge government make that more user friendly 774 00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 3: so that it truly is a one stop shop so 775 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:52,720 Speaker 3: people can get the vaccine as soon as possible. 776 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 5: And I'll just point out a figure. There're thirty seven 777 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:57,400 Speaker 5: percent of territories that identify with the remote address have 778 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 5: also been vaccinated had a first dose. So we are 779 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 5: rolling this program out across the northern territories. And so 780 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 5: you know, I really do urge you to be careful 781 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:06,719 Speaker 5: with those comments around Central natural. 782 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:09,239 Speaker 3: I'm talking about my experience in the Central Desert at 783 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:11,359 Speaker 3: that time, a couple of months ago, the numbers were 784 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,400 Speaker 3: really really low. That was coming from local people on 785 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:15,319 Speaker 3: the grounding community that yes, you should look at the. 786 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:17,240 Speaker 5: Latest statistics, WHI show thirty seven percent. 787 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:20,000 Speaker 3: I don't know, thirty seven where we wanted to be 788 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:22,239 Speaker 3: eighteen months in I'm not sure, but getting. 789 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:23,920 Speaker 4: Question having. 790 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 2: Really, I'm going to keep moving because I do want 791 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:33,239 Speaker 2: to We do want to have a chat in just 792 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:35,479 Speaker 2: a couple of moments about a situation that we've seen 793 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:38,560 Speaker 2: with some of those territories trying to get exemptions out 794 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 2: at Howard Springs. So we're going to take a very 795 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 2: short break and when we come back and we'll talk 796 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 2: about that in just a couple of moments on Mixed 797 00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 2: one oh four point nine. You are listening to the 798 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 2: week that was. You are listening to the week that 799 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:50,719 Speaker 2: was in the studio. Of course, we've got Leofanochi ro 800 00:36:50,719 --> 00:36:53,840 Speaker 2: O Kezy Epirican Natasha Files. Now throughout the week, we 801 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:55,839 Speaker 2: had a number of people get in contact with us 802 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 2: about exemptions when it comes to Howard Springs and the 803 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:03,560 Speaker 2: city situation out there. We heard from Allen whose wife 804 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 2: Joe is out at Howard Springs following on from back 805 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:09,759 Speaker 2: surgery Filesy, this is something that we spoke to you 806 00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:12,239 Speaker 2: about earlier in the week after we discussed it. We 807 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:14,920 Speaker 2: also had a number of other people get in contact 808 00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:18,080 Speaker 2: with us about their concerns when it comes to getting 809 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:22,440 Speaker 2: an exemption from going into quarantine. Now people weren't asking 810 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 2: for special treatment. They were just asking that if they 811 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:28,880 Speaker 2: are forced to go into Howard Springs quarantine, particularly if 812 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:31,400 Speaker 2: they've been away for surgery or for other health treatment, 813 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:34,759 Speaker 2: that they're actually provided with the support that they require. 814 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 2: Is it something that you've now looked into. 815 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 5: Yes, Katie. So we have had a number of contacts 816 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:42,719 Speaker 5: and for someone to get an exemption, that is the 817 00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:45,320 Speaker 5: decision of the Chief Health Officer, and they're very rarely. 818 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:48,080 Speaker 5: I'm not sure if they've been handed out. We do 819 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:50,560 Speaker 5: sometimes have people that if they do need medical care, 820 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:52,800 Speaker 5: we care for them in quarantine at the Lorraine Brennan 821 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:54,640 Speaker 5: Center at the hospital, and that's been since the start 822 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,560 Speaker 5: of the pandemic. But I have spoken with the Department 823 00:37:57,600 --> 00:37:59,360 Speaker 5: of Health and just ask them to make sure that 824 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:03,160 Speaker 5: we are extremely compassionate and caring for these people who 825 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:05,920 Speaker 5: are in a very difficult circumstance. It's difficult enough. We 826 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,480 Speaker 5: have an amazing hospital, We have amazing hospitals across the 827 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:10,920 Speaker 5: territory and health staff, but you know, people do need 828 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:14,240 Speaker 5: to attend for medical care interstate and then it's complex 829 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:16,360 Speaker 5: enough doing that, let alone returning and having to have 830 00:38:16,360 --> 00:38:18,759 Speaker 5: the overlay of quarantine. So I have reached out to 831 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 5: the department to make sure that, as you just said, 832 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:23,359 Speaker 5: some of those things that they need, just to make 833 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:25,919 Speaker 5: sure that they you know, it's not about making them, 834 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:29,240 Speaker 5: you know, are having a happiest day. It's actually basic essentials. 835 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:30,759 Speaker 2: They need and about making sure you know that if 836 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,160 Speaker 2: you've got somebody like Joe who's arrived out there at 837 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 2: Howard Springs, that she's not standing for two hours, you know, 838 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:40,160 Speaker 2: to get in there to get processed after going through 839 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:42,680 Speaker 2: back surgery or having to lay on the concrete, you know, 840 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:45,600 Speaker 2: to stay comfortable. Like to me, I think most people 841 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:48,520 Speaker 2: would be really surprised to actually hear that that's happened. 842 00:38:48,640 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 5: And Katie, we can provide quarantine, but we can be compassionate. 843 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:54,799 Speaker 4: Katie, I think what I'm because I know I wrote 844 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:57,440 Speaker 4: to the ministry about that particular family. I think there 845 00:38:57,440 --> 00:38:59,839 Speaker 4: has to be some kind of coordination as well. If 846 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:02,799 Speaker 4: if that person was sent down south by our health 847 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:05,960 Speaker 4: department or our pet scheme, that there's some better coordination. 848 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:09,200 Speaker 3: You know, they're coming back, they're coming back, and depending. 849 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:10,840 Speaker 4: Why they've gone south like this lady had done, I 850 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:14,200 Speaker 4: think back surgery or spine surgery, some surgeries or some 851 00:39:14,239 --> 00:39:16,120 Speaker 4: treatment is going to be they're going to need something extra, 852 00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:18,000 Speaker 4: whether it be a softer bed or something. So I 853 00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:20,640 Speaker 4: think there might need to be better coordination between the 854 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:24,160 Speaker 4: pet scheme people who send me away and then the 855 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:26,000 Speaker 4: health departments absolutely. 856 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 3: Of course, because you know, you know they're coming back 857 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:28,400 Speaker 3: because the government's paying for it. 858 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:28,640 Speaker 5: You know. 859 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:30,640 Speaker 4: Unfortunate that the New Southwest must have come from New 860 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:34,560 Speaker 4: South Wales when or has gone into lockdown or is 861 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:36,719 Speaker 4: a hot spot. But they can know that too, they 862 00:39:37,320 --> 00:39:39,399 Speaker 4: can do their risk assessment, you know, and they can 863 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:43,000 Speaker 4: either they stay down South more and support them or 864 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 4: support them well. 865 00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:47,080 Speaker 3: Especially because of course now in Alice Springs we've got 866 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:50,440 Speaker 3: home based quarantines. So why is it okay for people 867 00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:53,640 Speaker 3: in Alice Springs to quarantine at home when they're able 868 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:57,880 Speaker 3: bodied and capable of being in quarantine? Yes, yeah, sure, 869 00:39:57,880 --> 00:40:00,719 Speaker 3: But I'm just saying there's a great alarity there. It's like, 870 00:40:00,719 --> 00:40:02,839 Speaker 3: if we trust Dallas Springs people to be at home, 871 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 3: why can't we trust top end people to be at home? 872 00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:07,799 Speaker 3: You know, So there's a there's a real distinction there. 873 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:09,319 Speaker 3: It's like you can't have a rule for one and 874 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:11,799 Speaker 3: not for the others. So in those circumstances where it 875 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:15,600 Speaker 3: might be mental health issues, it might be physical requirements. 876 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:19,120 Speaker 3: You know you can't have this this almost militant enforcement 877 00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:21,160 Speaker 3: in the top end. But then say to people in 878 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:22,799 Speaker 3: Alice Spring, tell yeah, you're here right, go home. 879 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:23,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right. 880 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:25,879 Speaker 2: We are going to have to leave it there. We've 881 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:28,640 Speaker 2: run out of time. Leo the opposition later, thank you 882 00:40:28,719 --> 00:40:30,040 Speaker 2: as always for your time this morning. 883 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:32,000 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. Fizy, I'll see you at the 884 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:36,560 Speaker 3: cup on Monday. 885 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:37,640 Speaker 1: Want to have a. 886 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:44,600 Speaker 3: Little I'll see you all their labor gang the ball. 887 00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:47,719 Speaker 4: I think Jef minutes. If you're going to bring your child, 888 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:49,480 Speaker 4: make sure your child's got sunscreen and a hat on 889 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 4: this time rather than what he did at the Darwin show. 890 00:40:52,080 --> 00:40:59,239 Speaker 4: A little I want to plug in is a the 891 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:01,560 Speaker 4: Kenyons Gram and Lynn Kingyon have got be placed down 892 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:02,920 Speaker 4: on the Atum Highway to take. 893 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:03,640 Speaker 5: About twenty minutes. 894 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:06,759 Speaker 4: It's got cultural days. It's today ten to five. They've 895 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 4: got you know, everything to do with learning about indigenous culture, harvesting, 896 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:14,080 Speaker 4: spear throwing, food does in this music at six. 897 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:18,040 Speaker 3: And stuff. 898 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:22,200 Speaker 2: Health minister, thank you, Thanks Welfe and well, thank you 899 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 2: very much for your time this morning. 900 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:24,680 Speaker 1: You are listening to mix