1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: Joining us on the line right now. He is the 2 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:04,559 Speaker 1: Minister for Health. Natasha Files, good morning. 3 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 2: Good morning. I could just sit and listen to you 4 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 2: and Maddie do my job. 5 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: Listen to a bit of commentary now, Minister, we know 6 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: this that yesterday the tough decision was made to declare 7 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: South Australia a hot spot. It's certainly thrown the plans 8 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: of many travelers into chaos. I guess you'd say quite 9 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: a few people on planes yesterday that either had to 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: turn back and go back to South Australia or go 11 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: straight into quarantine. 12 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 2: Oh, Katie, we apologize. And you know coronavirus has been 13 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 2: unpredictable fifty four million cases around the world and South Australia, 14 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 2: you know, we went from just a handful of cases 15 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: to seventeen and the decision was made to protect territorians 16 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: by the Chief Health Officer that we needed to close 17 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 2: that border. He is participating in the national meetings trying 18 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 2: to ascertain exactly what's going on in South Australia. We've 19 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 2: seen residents of South Australia and that Adelaide region reach 20 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 2: out and get tested in their hundreds and so far 21 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: today just one has come through, but certainly need to 22 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 2: understand what's happened there out of hotel quarantining and how 23 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: far its impacted into the community. But the decision was 24 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: made to protect territorians. We of course apologize. You know, 25 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: you've been talking about the stories Katie, people you know, 26 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,839 Speaker 2: on planes and being told and having to head to quarantine. 27 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: We certainly apologized for that inconvenience, but we need to 28 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: protect territorians. 29 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,559 Speaker 1: Do we know how many people ended up in quarantine 30 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: yesterday who were either on flights or you know, arriving 31 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: via different forms yesterday, Katie. 32 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: The figure I've got that there was around one hundred 33 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 2: and twenty travelers arrived into Darwin on flights from Adelaide 34 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 2: and they have been quarantined at Howard Springs, and there 35 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: was around sixty passengers within the Alice Springs facility. We 36 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: also had the Gan train which was arriving into Alice 37 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 2: Springs but made the decision to turn around. So those 38 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: are the numbers that I have before me. Of course, 39 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: there's more flights arriving and people would have chosen either 40 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: not to come or that they still might have come. 41 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 2: So we'll get those latest figures later today. 42 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, no doubt there would have been some who sort 43 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: of chose to just go straight back, you know, turn 44 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: around on the plane and go straight back. 45 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: There were some that some of the travelers were transitting, 46 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: so they'd only been at Adelaide Airport from elsewhere, so 47 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: they don't need to enter the mandatory quarantine. So but 48 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: the other figures that I was provided, we. 49 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: Also know that's overnight. I believe there was one additional 50 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: confirmed case in South Australia. So it is certainly going 51 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 1: to be a real way and watch situation here, isn't. 52 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 2: It, Katie. We saw when we declared Brisbane that hot 53 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 2: spot earlier in the year, it was in place for 54 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: around a week from memory, so you know, fingers crossed 55 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 2: that this close family groupings and that the work the 56 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: South Australian authorities are doing, we'll get on top of it. 57 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: But we can't be sitting in a week's time going. 58 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: We wish we'd chut our borders because we've let the 59 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: virus in. So that is why that decision was made, 60 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,119 Speaker 2: and a very efficient decision in that once we got 61 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 2: the information, the Chief Health Officer of the Northern Territory 62 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: spoke to the Chief Health Officer of South Australia. But 63 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 2: we'll continue to monitor this closely because we know it 64 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: has caused a huge convenience to many people. 65 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: Now, what about people who do travel to South Australia 66 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: i Adelaide for medical treatment? Will they still be able 67 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: to do that? 68 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 2: That's a really important question, Katie. And we've seen throughout 69 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: this year people needing care from interstate hospitals and impact 70 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 2: to that, some appointments have been scheduled to telehealth and 71 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,679 Speaker 2: we've provided additional services here in Darwin to manage them 72 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: in facilitation with their clinicians into state some situations and 73 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: we've managed through COVID where we had Melbourne as a 74 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 2: hot spot. We weren't sending patients there. We were sending 75 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 2: them or trying to send them to other hospitals. Of course, 76 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 2: if the best clinical decision is for them to go 77 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,839 Speaker 2: into that hospital and that hospital can care for them, 78 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 2: that happens. So we're certainly working with the South and 79 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 2: Australian authorities because we are seeing them step up and 80 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: preprare in case they see an influx of people into 81 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 2: their hospitals. So they're being made on a case by 82 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: case clinical decision Minister. 83 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: I am just reading a story on the ABC online 84 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: on a different in one of your other portfolios, which 85 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: says the Northern Territory Racing Minister yourself has relinquished your 86 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: honorary membership of the Darwin Turf Club. But you've said 87 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: that your decision is administrative and not linked to the 88 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: previous revelations about the government's controversial support of the turf Club. 89 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: Why have you relinquished that honorary membership? 90 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: So, Katie, we as members of Parliament have a Register 91 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 2: of interest, so we outline what associations where members of 92 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: what properties we own. It's quite a detailed piece of 93 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 2: information so that people can see if we potentially have 94 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 2: any conflicts. For me, heading into the new Assembly, I 95 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: made a decision that I would relinquish that membership and 96 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 2: I'd go on a case by case basis to the 97 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: Turf Club. I've been there in a personal capacity just 98 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: in the last few weeks, paid for the ticket myself. 99 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 2: If I'm going as an official to present awards or 100 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: in official capacity, ticketing can be arranged on an event 101 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: by event basis. So that was a decision I made 102 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: as we headed after the election, and I've advised the 103 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: Turf Club that they have acknowledged that that's my decision 104 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: and they've supported me. 105 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: I understand the Chief Minister still has his Why I've 106 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: only one of you sort of relinquished your your membership 107 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: and the other hasn't. 108 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 2: So for me, anyone that knows me, Katie, I'm very organized. 109 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 2: Relinquishing my membership was for me so that I could 110 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: make it quite clear in what capacity I was attending 111 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 2: the turf Club. I've been going to the Turf Club 112 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: in a personal capacity for many decades, and so I 113 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: just wanted that clear point of view. The Chief Minister, 114 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 2: he's also the local member there, so he's made a decision, 115 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 2: but he has declared that on his register of terron. 116 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: I mean, were you worried about how it maybe would 117 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: come across if he kept that membership. 118 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 2: No, for me, it was am I here in a 119 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: personal capacity or am I there in a professional capacity? 120 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: And I wanted that clear point of difference. Was I 121 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 2: paying for the ticket myself or was I going along 122 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 2: and being hosted and presenting awards? So for me, that's 123 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 2: what it was about. 124 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: So you wanted it to be very clear that you're 125 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: there for personal reasons. Not in a professional capacity. 126 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 2: I wanted that very clear cut. How was I attending 127 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: in what capacity was I attending? 128 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 1: Yes, Katie, all right, we are going to have to 129 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,919 Speaker 1: leave it there because we're crossing over to the Howard 130 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: Springs facility in just a moment to catch up with 131 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: one of the passengers that was on board a playing yesterday. 132 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: Minister for Health and also Racing, always appreciate your time, 133 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you Natasha Files there who, as I said, 134 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: is the Minister for Health and also the Minister for Racing.