1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: Yesterday changes to job Keeper came into play. What kind 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: of impact is that going to have on Northern Territory businesses? Well, 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: joining us on the line to talk more about this 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: is the Chamber of Commerce CEO Greg Island. 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 2: Good morning, Greg, Good morning Katie. 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: Now, Greg, Obviously, the job Keeper it was a real 7 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: game changer for businesses all around the nation, wasn't it. 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 2: It's certainly been a lifesaver for business all over the place, 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: So particularly here in the Northern Territory. 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: Do you have any ideas sort of how many businesses 11 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: had been taking advantage of or being able to utilize 12 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: job Keeper. 13 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: Yes, Katie, there were four thousand Territory businesses registered for 14 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 2: job Cheaper up here and individually that's supported in the 15 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 2: order of seventeen eighteen thousand individual workers. 16 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,959 Speaker 1: Wow, that is a lot of people that were obviously 17 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 1: being supported and it is it was absolutely essential at 18 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: the time that it was implemented, wasn't it great? 19 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 2: Yeah? Look, it certainly was, Katie. We would have been 20 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 2: devastated without the support from both THENT government and the 21 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 2: federal government with these survival packages and support packages. 22 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 1: Yeah. I know a lot of businesses, quite a few 23 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: people who were on job Keeper and was quite reliant 24 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: on job Keeper. There are other businesses that I suppose 25 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: have been able to get back on their feet, maybe 26 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 1: faster than what they'd thought they would. What's the layer 27 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: of the land from your perspective at the moment. 28 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, the requalifying process for business is going to 29 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 2: mean that some businesses that have picked up and do 30 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: not no longer meet the criteria aren't going to get 31 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: that continued support, which is again going to be testing 32 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 2: for some of those businesses because whilst they may have improved, 33 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: they certainly haven't fully recovered, so that's going to create 34 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: some additional pressure. But also those do still qualify having 35 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 2: those payments reduced, So if there is a gap in 36 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 2: between the payment and what they're paying workers, then there'll 37 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: be a bigger gap for them to cover. And if not, 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: if they are not able to do that, I guess 39 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: that'll force them to think about exactly how many numbers 40 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: they do retain. 41 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: What kind of impact do you think that it is 42 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 1: going to have on some territory businesses. 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: There's certainly businesses that are more impacted than others, and 44 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 2: I think that will have some concern for those business operators, 45 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: but we also know that many of them are just 46 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 2: not going to reopen until March until we start to 47 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: get some tourism activity. So I think the feedback has 48 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 2: been very, very positive around the tours of outer schemes 49 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 2: and we're looking forward to that, you know, being reinitiated 50 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: later in the year. We also had the good news 51 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: on the weekend around the continued support for the aviation 52 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: industry with regional and remote flights being supported by the 53 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 2: federal government. You know, that's a great initiative to make 54 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 2: sure that we continue to have people come and visit us. 55 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 2: So that's going to be it's so important over the 56 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 2: green season. 57 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and this is the thing, isn't it. You know, 58 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: there's some sectors who have been hit incredibly hard, and 59 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: you touched on a few of those seen hospitality, aviation, tourism, 60 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 1: But then there's a lot of others that are sectors 61 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: that you may not have you know, a lot of 62 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: us may not have realized we're so were so reliant 63 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: on people traveling into the Northern Territory and I guess 64 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: just people having a bit of spare money in their 65 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: pockets to spend locally. 66 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, I think that is one of the considerations, Katie. 67 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: We're seeing that people are just making ends meet, and 68 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 2: with this reduced support, that will still continue to be challenging. 69 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: So I think we are still reliant very much on 70 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 2: local activity. So supporting local businesses through getting out there 71 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: and doing things on the weekends are super important, and 72 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 2: we really do need to capture as much of the 73 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: opportunity around the drive market and getting people from these 74 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: other areas and come to visit during this time. You 75 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: know they can't travel overseas, so let's get them up 76 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: to the territory. 77 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree, and you know this is where and 78 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: you touched on this before. Those tourism vouchers obviously have 79 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: a big part to play with locals traveling within the territory. 80 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: But then we know that the other vouchers that kick 81 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: in as of October are really enabling people to travel 82 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: from other states and territories and get a bit of 83 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: a discount. 84 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 2: Yes, when you combine that with a million dollar fish 85 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: that were launched last night, it's a great reason to 86 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: encourage everyone you know to come up this way and 87 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 2: then support us during the time. I think they'll be 88 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 2: pretty keen to get out and get some fresh air 89 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 2: and experience some of their storms. 90 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a very good point. I think that's you know, 91 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 1: that million dollar fish. Everyone's hoping that it goes off 92 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: this year or that someone catches it. It'd be amazing, 93 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 1: wouldn't it For tourism. 94 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 2: What certainly would be Katie. I'll be out there trying myself. 95 00:04:56,279 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 1: Good on you now. Just lastly, Greg, we know that 96 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 1: that business confidence over the past year, it certainly would 97 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: have fluctuated. It's been a tough year, but there's been 98 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: some real highs and lows. It does feel as though 99 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: there's you know that there's more people out and about 100 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: at the moment in the territory. I don't know whether 101 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: that is really the case of whether it's just sort 102 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: of anecdotally. People are feeling as though there's a bit 103 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: of a buzz in the air. How is business confidence 104 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: at the moment? 105 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 2: I think you're right, Okatie. In certain sectors there really 106 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: is an error positivity moving well being more readily expressed, 107 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 2: particularly construction sector and looking forward to a lot of 108 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: the defense projects are there, and we're working very hard 109 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 2: with the master builders to make sure the local business 110 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: captures as much of that opportunity as possible, and that 111 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: will have a flow on effect through the rest of 112 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: the community. So, you know, some big numbers happening there. 113 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 2: We just need some of these other projects and I'm very, 114 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: very keen for the Reconstruction Commission to be supporting business 115 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 2: enabling infrastructure as part of the upcoming federal budget as 116 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: well as the territory budget. Yeah. 117 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: Are there certain things that you're hoping for in that 118 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: upcoming federal budget which is going to be handed down 119 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: next week. 120 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, there are, Katie. I really do think that the 121 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: territory needs some core infrastructure so that it enables us 122 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: to move forward. Increasing access to remote communities is vital 123 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: for their economic participation. Some of those things are not 124 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: going to stack up from a business case point of view, 125 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 2: but from a social and closing the gap perspective, I 126 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 2: think it's critical that we make some progress in those 127 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 2: areas well. 128 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: Greg Island, it's always good to catch up with you, mate. 129 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks for coming 130 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 1: on the show. 131 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: You're most welcome. 132 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: Thank you.