1
00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,360
Speaker 1: As we know, the big question this morning will Mark

2
00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,560
Speaker 1: Turner remain the Member for Blaine or will he stand down?

3
00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,799
Speaker 1: Following those revelations over the last week or so. Now,

4
00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,680
Speaker 1: the ALP yesterday issued a statement saying that well, they've

5
00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,880
Speaker 1: received a letter from the Chief Minister requesting that consideration

6
00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,560
Speaker 1: be given to removing the Member for Blaine from the party.

7
00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,760
Speaker 1: The statement sees considering action to expel any party member

8
00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,120
Speaker 1: is complex and must be done within the party's democratic

9
00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,920
Speaker 1: processes and followed the rules of our branch. Now joining

10
00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,519
Speaker 1: me on the line about this and plenty more is

11
00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,080
Speaker 1: the Minister for Health and also for Tourism, Natasha Files.

12
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,960
Speaker 2: Good morning, Good morning, Katie, Good morning listeners.

13
00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,120
Speaker 1: Minister, does the Member for Blaine need to be expelled

14
00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:44,080
Speaker 1: from the Labor Party?

15
00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,360
Speaker 2: So, Katie, the Member for Blaine was not honest with

16
00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,960
Speaker 2: us his colleagues about the nature of his relationship and

17
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,600
Speaker 2: the communications with a private citizen, and he's lost the

18
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,480
Speaker 2: trust of our team, and we've said that he's no

19
00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,800
Speaker 2: longer welcoming our caucus through our party room for the

20
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,360
Speaker 2: average punter who he doesn't understand parliamentary terms. Of course,

21
00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,680
Speaker 2: the issue has you know, caused him personal and his

22
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,000
Speaker 2: family pain and embarrassment and been a distraction. So as

23
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,400
Speaker 2: I've outlined there, he's lost the trust of our colleagues

24
00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,240
Speaker 2: and so we've asked him not to attend the party room.

25
00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,960
Speaker 1: I mean, if he's not good enough for for the caucus,

26
00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,040
Speaker 1: is he good enough for the for the electorateive.

27
00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,959
Speaker 2: Blind that would be a question for the people explain.

28
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:24,959
Speaker 2: I think that he does need to go out to

29
00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,399
Speaker 2: his community and try and repair the relationship. And it's

30
00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,679
Speaker 2: an absolute privilege to be a local member. It is

31
00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,880
Speaker 2: a very trusted position within your community. People come to you,

32
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,760
Speaker 2: Katie for a myriad of reasons, you know, and so

33
00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,839
Speaker 2: you know he needs to work that through. But as

34
00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,080
Speaker 2: the Chief Minister said yesterday, he on Sunday was able

35
00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,280
Speaker 2: to review and view the text messages and he's provided

36
00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,760
Speaker 2: those for openness and transparency to the Ikak and also

37
00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:55,240
Speaker 2: advise the party that the caucus, the parliamentary team feel

38
00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,640
Speaker 2: he's no longer welcome in the party room and that

39
00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,680
Speaker 2: it would be a matter for the party to assess

40
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:01,120
Speaker 2: his life party membership. Now.

41
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,240
Speaker 1: Obviously, the Chief Minister revealed on this show yesterday that

42
00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,560
Speaker 1: he had helped the member for blaying craft his speech

43
00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:11,480
Speaker 1: before Parliament last Wednesday, but changes were made by the

44
00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:16,080
Speaker 1: member before it was delivered. Minister has the Member for

45
00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:17,400
Speaker 1: Blaine misled the Parliament?

46
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,200
Speaker 2: So Katie, I don't be careful with my comments. There's

47
00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,919
Speaker 2: no evidence of criminal activity for the member for blameing.

48
00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,240
Speaker 2: This is an issue of trust and so up until

49
00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:32,080
Speaker 2: Wednesday evening he very much led us to believe a

50
00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,480
Speaker 2: point of view, and he made material changes to that

51
00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,320
Speaker 2: statement at the last minute which lost the trust of

52
00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,320
Speaker 2: the parliamentary members of the Labor Party. And so you

53
00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,000
Speaker 2: know that is for people to understand sort of how

54
00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,600
Speaker 2: this came about. In those moments leading up to him

55
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,480
Speaker 2: reading that statement in the House, his view changed. It

56
00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,880
Speaker 2: was material alterations to that statement that lost the trust

57
00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:54,520
Speaker 2: of his colleague.

58
00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,080
Speaker 1: Are you satisfied with the way in which the team

59
00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,079
Speaker 1: in which you're part of has managed this whole situation.

60
00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,480
Speaker 2: Katie, there's no denying it's been a very difficult time.

61
00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:06,960
Speaker 2: And I think just by pointing to that that on

62
00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,840
Speaker 2: Wednesday evening, there was a material alteration made to that

63
00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,680
Speaker 2: statement that very much changed what he had been saying

64
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:13,079
Speaker 2: to us.

65
00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,400
Speaker 1: What exactly what exactly was changed in that statement that

66
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,119
Speaker 1: made everybody sort of lose, you know, no longer supporting.

67
00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,720
Speaker 2: So Katie, he was not honest around the nature of

68
00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,360
Speaker 2: the relationship and the communications with that private citizen, and

69
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:29,919
Speaker 2: it was at that point before he went into the

70
00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,359
Speaker 2: Parliament he made changes to his statement. So it has

71
00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,240
Speaker 2: been a difficult time because we weren't dealing with all

72
00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:39,080
Speaker 2: the facts. And so for us now, we certainly know

73
00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,720
Speaker 2: that the community has been frustrated by this distraction. There's

74
00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:43,920
Speaker 2: many other issues that they would rather us be talking about,

75
00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:45,480
Speaker 2: and that's what we'll get on and do this week

76
00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:46,000
Speaker 2: in Parliament.

77
00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,840
Speaker 1: Can I just ask, though, is a member for Blame

78
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,880
Speaker 1: being provided support by the Labor Party?

79
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,920
Speaker 2: So there are people within the Labor Party I understand

80
00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:57,960
Speaker 2: have reached out to him, of course, to make sure

81
00:03:57,960 --> 00:03:59,200
Speaker 2: that he's had that personal support.

82
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,400
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm going to ask you the same question I

83
00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,160
Speaker 1: asked the Chief Finister yesterday. Should there be random drug

84
00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:05,600
Speaker 1: testing in Parliament House?

85
00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,600
Speaker 2: So, Katie, we're not aware of drug taking in our

86
00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,680
Speaker 2: ministerial teams or within any staff. Parliament House is made

87
00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,800
Speaker 2: up of government staff members, Opposition staff members and Legislative

88
00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,640
Speaker 2: Assembly staff members. If you take drugs, that's illegal, and

89
00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,839
Speaker 2: if anyone's aware of that, that should be referred to

90
00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,359
Speaker 2: the police. So in terms of drug taking, there is

91
00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,120
Speaker 2: no tolerance for it. It is an legal activity. If

92
00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,080
Speaker 2: anyone suspects that, they should provide information to police.

93
00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,480
Speaker 1: The perception right now, I guess so amongst the public

94
00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,640
Speaker 1: is that you know, there is this scandal and there

95
00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,680
Speaker 1: is the alleged you know, this discussion about the alleged

96
00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,640
Speaker 1: use of cocaine. Our guess to put that to bed

97
00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,360
Speaker 1: wouldn't the smart thing to do, just to be to

98
00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,039
Speaker 1: be able to say, all right, we are going to

99
00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:52,840
Speaker 1: conduct some random testing.

100
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,400
Speaker 2: So, Katie, I understand the commentary and the discussion about it,

101
00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,479
Speaker 2: but there is no evidence that I've seen, or that

102
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,400
Speaker 2: my colleagues has seen, of criminal activity around drug taking.

103
00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,800
Speaker 2: And as I've just pointed out, I have zero tolerance

104
00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,359
Speaker 2: for it. So to my colleague, if someone suspects that,

105
00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,120
Speaker 2: if they've got any evidence of that, it should be

106
00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:09,040
Speaker 2: taken to the police.

107
00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,600
Speaker 1: All right, let's move along, because there is certainly a

108
00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,560
Speaker 1: lot to cover off on this morning, and we saw

109
00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:17,000
Speaker 1: yesterday the commencement of the rollout of COVID nineteen vaccines

110
00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:21,480
Speaker 1: across Australia, including here in the Territory frontline healthcare and

111
00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:26,080
Speaker 1: quarantine workers were first to receive their jabs yesterday. How

112
00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,839
Speaker 1: did that initial stage go yesterday and how many people

113
00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:29,600
Speaker 1: were vaccinated?

114
00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,160
Speaker 2: So, Katie, it's a really exciting phase. I know that

115
00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,479
Speaker 2: people are wishing life would go back to pre COVID

116
00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,240
Speaker 2: nineteen and pre pandemic, and this is a really important

117
00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,880
Speaker 2: step in that. So the vaccine rollout at Rozalend Hospital,

118
00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,720
Speaker 2: we saw eighty eight territory and vaccinated vaccinations, Katie are

119
00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,880
Speaker 2: going to start at Alice Springs around lunchtime today. So

120
00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:54,480
Speaker 2: it's really important for your listeners, Katie. People. This vaccine

121
00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,520
Speaker 2: has been developed so efficiently that sometimes people are a

122
00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,480
Speaker 2: little cautious around it. They don't understand it. They need

123
00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,680
Speaker 2: to make sure that they get their information from a

124
00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,359
Speaker 2: factual source. But this vaccine has been rigorously tested and

125
00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,599
Speaker 2: approved by experts as safe and effective, and it has

126
00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,640
Speaker 2: been approved by the TGA here in Australia.

127
00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,720
Speaker 1: Yeah, there are still a lot of people who seem

128
00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,520
Speaker 1: really worried about this, and you know, I guess a

129
00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,720
Speaker 1: lot of people dubbing the anti vaxxas, but I think

130
00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,200
Speaker 1: there's also like this, you know, there's quite a few

131
00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,760
Speaker 1: normal everyday Territorians who are sort of thinking to themselves, Oh,

132
00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,479
Speaker 1: I just want to wait and see how it rolls

133
00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,080
Speaker 1: out in the first instance, before I rush to get

134
00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,240
Speaker 1: the JAB. I mean, what would you say to those people?

135
00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,920
Speaker 2: Oh, I can understand that, Katie. I can sympathize. It

136
00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,839
Speaker 2: was only a year ago that we started to really

137
00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,680
Speaker 2: understand the impact of COVID nineteen and that the global

138
00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,159
Speaker 2: pandemic was called. And to now have the opportunity of

139
00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:48,080
Speaker 2: being vaccinated, you know, normal vaccinations. There's a schedule by

140
00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,000
Speaker 2: age and it's quite you know, people understand that they're

141
00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,400
Speaker 2: familiar with it. So I can absolutely understand any hesitation

142
00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,440
Speaker 2: and concerns that people have. But for Territorians to understand,

143
00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,200
Speaker 2: even though it's been developed so efficiently, there's been no shortcuts.

144
00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,720
Speaker 2: All the essential steps have happened. There was no bypassing,

145
00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,000
Speaker 2: so the vaccine is voluntary. But my message as Health

146
00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,680
Speaker 2: Minister is if Territorians wants last to get back to

147
00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,080
Speaker 2: normal as it was before the pandemic, or as close

148
00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,040
Speaker 2: as possible, receiving the vaccine is the way forward for

149
00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:17,760
Speaker 2: this to happen.

150
00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:19,680
Speaker 1: Did you get the job or when are you going

151
00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:20,360
Speaker 1: to be getting it.

152
00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,600
Speaker 2: I've gotta wait my turn, Katie. So Phase one A

153
00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,840
Speaker 2: is underway and that that's really exciting, and so that's

154
00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,679
Speaker 2: our frontline versus who are deemed most at rich Katie,

155
00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,080
Speaker 2: as well as people living in aged care and disability

156
00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,880
Speaker 2: group home situations. The next phase will be one B,

157
00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,920
Speaker 2: which will see start to spread into it two members

158
00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:43,160
Speaker 2: of the general population, our vulnerable Territorians, Indigenous Territorians age

159
00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,840
Speaker 2: over fifty five. So when it's my turn to step up,

160
00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,960
Speaker 2: absolutely I'll be getting vaccinated, so will my family. But

161
00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,680
Speaker 2: I advise Territorians to find some information. There is some

162
00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,920
Speaker 2: really good factual articles out there and they can understand

163
00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:57,280
Speaker 2: what this means for them.

164
00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,200
Speaker 1: I want to ask you quickly about and announce were

165
00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,960
Speaker 1: made by the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. He confirmed

166
00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,600
Speaker 1: on Sunday that the Federal Government's not going to pay

167
00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,280
Speaker 1: Facebook to advertise the new COVID JAB after the company

168
00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,640
Speaker 1: blocked health and emergency services information last week in response

169
00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,400
Speaker 1: to the proposed new media Bargaining Code. Well, the Northern

170
00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:18,960
Speaker 1: Territory government do the same.

171
00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,840
Speaker 2: So, Katie, I understand that the debate, for lack of

172
00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,040
Speaker 2: a better word, between the Commonwealth Government and the social

173
00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,960
Speaker 2: media platforms are particularly Facebook and withdrawn news services and

174
00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,040
Speaker 2: unfortunately we did see a large number of NGO and

175
00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,120
Speaker 2: community services that are vit or caught up in that.

176
00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:39,600
Speaker 2: But now is not the time for those debates to spill.

177
00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,240
Speaker 2: We need the public to access information, and particularly here

178
00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,520
Speaker 2: in the Northern Territory, we have a highly midol population, Katie,

179
00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:47,920
Speaker 2: and they do rely on those social media platforms. So

180
00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:52,200
Speaker 2: of course we're frustrated that, you know, Facebook have taken

181
00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,120
Speaker 2: those steps. But I'm not going to rule out that

182
00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:59,000
Speaker 2: advertising campaigns won't use those social media platforms because, particularly

183
00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,400
Speaker 2: when you look at the geograph sigal spread of the territory,

184
00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,720
Speaker 2: as I said, the transient nature of our population, sometimes

185
00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,240
Speaker 2: those social media platforms are the best way to get

186
00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:08,720
Speaker 2: information to individuals.

187
00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,400
Speaker 1: Minister, We've got a lot of messages coming through this morning.

188
00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:12,960
Speaker 1: I will read a couple of those to you in

189
00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:14,880
Speaker 1: just a moment, but I do want to ask you.

190
00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,800
Speaker 1: Last night there was this four corners report that traditional

191
00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,960
Speaker 1: owners of Kakadu National Park at loggerheads with Parks Australia

192
00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,480
Speaker 1: and threatening to close the World Heritage site. AMID claims

193
00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:29,120
Speaker 1: that the agency has mismanaged the site. As we know,

194
00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,720
Speaker 1: the land is obviously jointly managed by Kakandu's traditional owners

195
00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,880
Speaker 1: and the federal agency Parks Australia. But in this report

196
00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,720
Speaker 1: last night, the traditional owners basically said that they would

197
00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:42,360
Speaker 1: shut popular tourist sites if some of their concerns were

198
00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,920
Speaker 1: not heard. What impact would this have on tourism in

199
00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:48,040
Speaker 1: the Northern territory.

200
00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,880
Speaker 2: So Katio did see parts of four corners last night

201
00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,200
Speaker 2: and Kakadu, as we all know, is a key part

202
00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,160
Speaker 2: of the top in tourism economy. Think territories in the

203
00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,720
Speaker 2: last year have rediscovered Kakadu for themselves and can understand

204
00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,400
Speaker 2: why the rest of the world wants to come and

205
00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,960
Speaker 2: visit it. So the Commonwealth Government, we have a good

206
00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,240
Speaker 2: working relationship with them. We did see them release or

207
00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:11,320
Speaker 2: passed Australia release that Tourism master Plan. There's significant investments

208
00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:15,520
Speaker 2: related by the Commonwealth Government into Kakadoo and so for us,

209
00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,120
Speaker 2: certainly those views of the traditional owners are important and

210
00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,600
Speaker 2: they need to be heard, and so we want to

211
00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,640
Speaker 2: have a relationship going forward between the Commonwealth Government who

212
00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,920
Speaker 2: run the park and funds the large majority of the park.

213
00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,240
Speaker 2: But absolutely respecting those traditional owners and the views that

214
00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:32,960
Speaker 2: they raised last night, and Katie, you know, it was

215
00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,200
Speaker 2: a good episode. It brought back the history around Kakadoo

216
00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,800
Speaker 2: and so people understand the frustration of those traditional owners.

217
00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:42,000
Speaker 2: But I think we can work through these issues.

218
00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,760
Speaker 1: All right, Minister. The main thing that I'm getting messages

219
00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,520
Speaker 1: about this morning is actually drug testing on the fifth floor.

220
00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:51,199
Speaker 1: There's one here that says, Minister files Parliament House is

221
00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,959
Speaker 1: a workplace like any other. Just because you've said I'm

222
00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,800
Speaker 1: not aware of drug use simply doesn't cut it. We

223
00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,840
Speaker 1: the people want there to be drug testing. What would

224
00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,479
Speaker 1: you say to that territory? And that's text through.

225
00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,840
Speaker 2: So Katie, drug testing is you know, in a broader issue.

226
00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,640
Speaker 2: There are certain workplaces that, for safety reasons do you

227
00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:17,040
Speaker 2: have random drug testing if you're operating heavy machinery for example.

228
00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,720
Speaker 2: So as I said, we have a zero tolerance for drugs.

229
00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,160
Speaker 2: If anyone is participating in that, then that is a

230
00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,240
Speaker 2: matter for the police and needs to be referred to them.

231
00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,600
Speaker 2: It shouldn't be something that we have to to say

232
00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,040
Speaker 2: you can't take drugs. It is a case of the law.

233
00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:31,360
Speaker 2: So that is my response.

234
00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,360
Speaker 1: Well, I guess, so you know you talk about heavy machinery.

235
00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,000
Speaker 1: We're talking about people sort of helping you guys, supporting

236
00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,480
Speaker 1: ministers and our decision makers in the territory to make

237
00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,280
Speaker 1: some pretty big decisions. I just I'm just trying to

238
00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,240
Speaker 1: wrap my head around while the government's sort of so

239
00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,560
Speaker 1: you know, so resistant to do this.

240
00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,720
Speaker 2: Katie, I can absolutely assure you is someone that passes legislation.

241
00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:58,719
Speaker 2: I'll be passing a piece of legislation that's important to

242
00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:04,440
Speaker 2: territories today around COVID nineteen. My team provided me with advice. Certainly,

243
00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:07,280
Speaker 2: I don't have any indication that there is illegal activity

244
00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,679
Speaker 2: is being undertaken that would impact the decisions and the

245
00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:10,840
Speaker 2: information they're providing me.

246
00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,200
Speaker 1: All right, minister, just very quickly, what else can we

247
00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,040
Speaker 1: expect to be presented in Parliament this morning in terms

248
00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,640
Speaker 1: of legislation, So, Katie, a.

249
00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,320
Speaker 2: Really important bill today, the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods

250
00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,800
Speaker 2: Amendment Bill, we introduced this last week. It will go

251
00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,640
Speaker 2: through the Parliament on urgency. And what that means to

252
00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,240
Speaker 2: your listeners, Katie, is that we haven't allowed it to

253
00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,960
Speaker 2: sit for thirty days. We have breathed the opposition over

254
00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,839
Speaker 2: this bill and it's allowed to enable the timely and

255
00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:39,120
Speaker 2: flexible and culturally appropriate role out of the COVID vaccine.

256
00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,880
Speaker 2: So traditionally, where a vaccine is given to an individual

257
00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,760
Speaker 2: has to be gazetted. This allows the Chief Health Officer

258
00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,360
Speaker 2: still following all the processes. But the COVID nineteen vaccine

259
00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,160
Speaker 2: can be rolled out of a variety of locations. So Katie,

260
00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,640
Speaker 2: we could go into a large workplace for example, we

261
00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:58,040
Speaker 2: could go into a remote community that's quite small, so

262
00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,240
Speaker 2: we can take this vaccine to the people that we

263
00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:01,479
Speaker 2: can roll it out efficiently.

264
00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,560
Speaker 1: All right, Minister for Health and also Minister for Tourism,

265
00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,839
Speaker 1: Leader of Government Business Natasha Files, we better leave it there.

266
00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,000
Speaker 1: Thanks for your time today.

267
00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:10,600
Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, Thank you,