1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Obviously throughout this morning, on the week that was, and 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: also throughout the week we have been speaking about some 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: of the issues that have well and truly been experienced 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: in Central Australia and Alice Springs. When it comes to crime, now, 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: I think you'd have to say that it reached well 6 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: fever Pitch. I suppose earlier in the week when we'd 7 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 1: heard from the CEO of Tourism Central Australia, Daniel Rochford, 8 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: about those issues and about the tourist who had allegedly 9 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: been assaulted unprovoked in the Tourism Information Center. Now joining 10 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: me on the line to give us a bit of 11 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: an update on how the meetings have gone this week 12 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: with the Northern Territory Government. Is the CEO of Tourism 13 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,639 Speaker 1: Central Australia, Daniel Rochford. Good morning to you. 14 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners. 15 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: Daniel, it's been an interesting week, no doubt. I understand 16 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: you've met with the Tourism Minister, also the Deputy Chief Minister, 17 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: Nicole Madison. You've also met with the police and Minister 18 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: for Territory Families Kate Warden. How have those meetings gone. 19 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: Look, they've been constructive Katie, and suddenly they've also been 20 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 2: very frank conversations to both ministers. Very clearly Tourism Central 21 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 2: Australia have been conveying our members' wishes to both ministers 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 2: that we are in crisis here in our springs and 23 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: the crime situation is really out of control and we 24 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: need our government, to the Northern Territory government to step 25 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 2: up to the plate. And certainly it was a very 26 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 2: frank conversation on both situations. 27 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,919 Speaker 1: Daniel, are we going to see any immediate action here? 28 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 2: Well, that's obviously in the Government of Northern Territories hands 29 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: were certainly calling upon the NTG to really prioritize this 30 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: and look to put it into some context. Katie. What 31 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: we said to both ministers is they need to treat 32 00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: this like the government treated the COVID nineteen pandemic, that 33 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 2: level of intensity where we saw every day, you know, 34 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: briefings of what was happening, you know, the things that 35 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: were occurring, and to ensure that this was treated with 36 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 2: the utmost important because we are in that situation now 37 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: and it pains me that we have to do this, 38 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: but it is a situation where we can't let this 39 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 2: go on any longer, and we have had to make 40 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: the difficult decision to call it out. And we're not 41 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: doing it to sharpen a political acts or anything like that. 42 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 2: You know, me, I wear my heart on my community's 43 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: hard on my sleeve, and we're just sick of doing 44 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: this dance every few months, of complaining about it and 45 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 2: then having a short term surge and then you know, 46 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: a few months later we complain about it again. 47 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: Enough enough, Yeah, well this is the thing. And you know, 48 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: I think the thing that really resonated with a lot 49 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: of our listeners that you'd said earlier in the week, Daniel, 50 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: is that you've got people in the community who are 51 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: scared when they go to sleep at night. Nobody should 52 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 1: feel like that. We all understand that there's always going 53 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: to be a small element of crime no matter where 54 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: you live around Australia. But what you're experiencing in Alice 55 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: Springs at the moment is not a small amount of crime. 56 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: It's unbelievable. 57 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: Well, I'm sure I speak on BAF of all my 58 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 2: sort of community here that you know, people do go 59 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: to sleep fearing like I go to sleep behind two 60 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 2: padlocked gate and some pretty fierce deadlocks on wall on doors, 61 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,839 Speaker 2: and you know, I woke up at two o'clock last 62 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: night hearing some noise on my back gate and I'm thinking, oh, 63 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,839 Speaker 2: what's happening. And that's the type of thing that we're 64 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: living with, and you know, it has got to that 65 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: stage where we do have to call it out. And look, 66 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 2: we suddenly asked for two main things from Minister Warden yesterday, 67 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 2: and that was there needs to be an urgent surge 68 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 2: in the community. You know, we do fully support the 69 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: work that's been done around the social order response and 70 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: many of the things that both ministers put forward we 71 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: one hundred percent indors and I think that's going to 72 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 2: be very good. But the government even admits it's going 73 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: to take time to spill up. And that's what we 74 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 2: need from our government now is we need a surge 75 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: to get control back on the streets and we need 76 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: that now. And the second thing, and I think this 77 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 2: is a really important point, is that jenet Ocur's time 78 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: down here is coming to an end. The head of 79 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: this task force or whatever the government comes up with 80 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: the name, needs to be someone with gravitas. We need 81 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: to treat like we need to treat this like the 82 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: Chief Health Officer treated the pandemic. You've seen in other jurisdictions. 83 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: You know, an ex military person come in to look 84 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: after a flood reconstruction. That's the level of intensity we 85 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 2: need to have down here, to have someone who can 86 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: come down bang Head together deal with the cultures of 87 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 2: all the agencies to get action and get action. 88 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: Now, Daniel, do you think that we're going to see 89 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: action over the you know, like realistically it sounds like 90 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 1: there needs to be action over the coming weeks. 91 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 2: Yes, there needs to be action by today. Yeah, but 92 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: you know, we we've said to you know, we we 93 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: do appreciate the minister. You know, the government works in 94 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: the cabinet environment. So you know, the Minister did talk 95 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: about needing to take the plan to cabinet and we 96 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 2: understand that there needs to be processed and it has 97 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 2: to be a whole a government approach, so you know, 98 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 2: we need to cut to some stack there. But you know, 99 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 2: I think there's an expectation that's been built up and 100 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 2: that you know the government needs to respond and they 101 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: need to be responding next week. 102 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: On this and if they don't. 103 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: Well, ultimately our community is starting to get set up. 104 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 2: So I would imagine the level of intensity of the 105 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: advocacy that from our community will only grow. And I 106 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: my feeling, and you have to ask this question but 107 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 2: to the government, but you know, my feeling is everyone's 108 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: getting sick of I'm having to deal with this, and 109 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: I think the government you would like to get on 110 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,359 Speaker 2: top of it as well. And I think you know, 111 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 2: you heard from the Chief the other day. You know, 112 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 2: she sincerely wants to get on top of it. And 113 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,799 Speaker 2: she's a new Chief Minister and we need to also 114 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 2: cartism's lack, but we need her to make to really 115 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 2: stand up now and really make a difference in terms 116 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 2: of rolling out these initiatives and rolling out a short 117 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 2: term surge because we're sick of being on the merrygrove 118 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 2: around Yeah. 119 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 1: You spot on. You know, people are over it, and 120 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: I know that what you're experiencing in Central Australia is horrendous. 121 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: It's certainly not isolated to Central Australia in the sense 122 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: that we've got, you know, a heck of a lot 123 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: of anti social behavior and criminal behavior up here in 124 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: the top end as well. They've got to get a 125 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: grasp on this right around the territory. They need to 126 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: get a grasp on it immediately in Alice spreads but 127 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: right across the territory because you know, I've said it 128 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: before to the Chief Minister, and I said it on Wednesday. 129 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: Everybody that lives here loves the place. We love living here. 130 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: We want to see the place succeed. But this issue 131 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: of crime is strangling us. 132 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: And look, you know it is very unprecedented that a 133 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: tourism body comes out like we are. But we are 134 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,239 Speaker 2: doing this for the right reasons. You know, I see 135 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: the conversations on tourism websites putting our town down because 136 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 2: of crime and safety. If we do not get in 137 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: control of this, this will have long term implications to 138 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 2: our great industry and our great region. And I don't 139 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: want to see that. No one wants to see that. 140 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 2: So it is really beholden upon government to really up 141 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 2: the ante on this. Look, I would have to say 142 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 2: also that you know my comments around the government being 143 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 2: out of control here will government not being in control. Look, 144 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 2: there are elements that have in conversations over the last 145 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: few days that enforced that feeling in my mind. But 146 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 2: you know we have to take that on face value 147 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 2: that the government is going to come back hopefully next 148 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 2: week to be able to say to our community, this 149 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 2: is what we're going to do to get back in control. 150 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, Daniel Rochford, I really appreciate all the time 151 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: that you've given us throughout this week, and please keep 152 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: us up to date and let us know how these 153 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: changes sort of you know, come into play, whether we 154 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: are going to see some immediate change. I mean, have 155 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: you been sort of told if they're going to be 156 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: looking at like up here in the top end. Obviously 157 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: we've got the Public Order, you've response Unit, the security, 158 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: private security and things like that, patrolling. Has the minister 159 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: sort of committed to doing any of that. 160 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 2: There's been no committals whatsoever apart from the understanding that 161 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: the Social Order Response Plan is about to go to Cabinet, 162 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: so we need the detail now and that's over to 163 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 2: the government to make that call. But you know we 164 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 2: need that sooner rather than later. Katie, and can I 165 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 2: also just take this opportunity to thank you personally. I 166 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: know it's been a big week with a lot of interviews, 167 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 2: but you know, to be able to stand up for 168 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: our region is really appreciated. And that's very much from 169 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 2: the bottom of my heart. It is something that we 170 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 2: have needed to call out and I don't it pains 171 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 2: me to do it, but we have had to do it. 172 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: You know, well, Daniel any time, But mate, I really 173 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: respect the fact that Tourism Central Australia has actually, you know, 174 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: has said enough's enough. And like I've said throughout the week, 175 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: I know it's difficult when you are the group that 176 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: is is tasked to, you know, to obviously try to 177 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: get more people to the Northern Territory to travel here 178 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: through tourism. But when you're at a point when you're 179 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: having to really put your neck out and say this, 180 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: I know it's hard. I know it's hard for everybody 181 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs at the moment. So we're more than 182 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: happy to try our best to you know, to put 183 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: the issue to the forefront and hopefully see some change. 184 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, and that's what we want to see. No 185 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 2: one's here for political purposes. The government's here for another 186 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,959 Speaker 2: two and a half years. We categorically said we want 187 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 2: to work with the government to get this, but the 188 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 2: ball is in their court and they need to come 189 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 2: back to our community with real action. 190 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, spot on, Well, Tourism Central Australia CEO Daniel Rochford. 191 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: Let's talk again next week and hopefully we'll have a 192 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: bit of movement. 193 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.