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Speaker 1: You are indeed listening to the week that was.

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Speaker 2: It is Friday morning and joining us live in the

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Speaker 2: studio this morning, where we've got Steve Edgington here is

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Speaker 2: indeed the Minister for Health.

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Speaker 1: Good morning to you are Joe.

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Speaker 3: Oh, Good morning Katie, and good morning to all the

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Speaker 3: people up here in dartwhen it's.

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Speaker 1: Great in the studio. How cold is it in Tenant

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Speaker 1: Creek you reckon today?

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Speaker 3: Gee? Beautiful there. It's getting down to about twelve overnight,

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Speaker 3: but perfect weather about thirty during the day. We're back

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Speaker 3: to thirty. We did have a cold spell of rain

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Speaker 3: just the other week, but just perfect good a bit

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Speaker 3: like darn at the moment. Yeah.

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Speaker 1: Nice.

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Speaker 2: And Gary ship Way, head of news at the Northern

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Speaker 2: Territory News, good morning to you.

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Speaker 4: Good morning Katie. Another big weekend ahead and massive weekend

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Speaker 4: the top all across Barunga.

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Speaker 2: Yeah you can lent he got a bit of everything

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Speaker 2: on and speaking of a busy weekend, no doubt, a

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Speaker 2: very busy one. In Alice Springs where Chancey Paig, the

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Speaker 2: member of one of the members of the opposition, joins

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Speaker 2: me this small Good.

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Speaker 5: Morning to you, Chancey, Good morning Katie.

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Speaker 1: Chancey. All set for fink this weekend.

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Speaker 5: Look, it's going to be a think and fabulous weekend.

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Speaker 1: Ah is it cold there, mate?

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Speaker 5: Oh well, look it's cold for you top enders, but

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Speaker 5: it's beautiful for us our Central I.

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Speaker 1: Bet it is. Well.

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Speaker 2: Look, there is so much to cover off on this morning,

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Speaker 2: and we are going to begin with the terrible news

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Speaker 2: that we continued to cover over the last week. Territorians,

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Speaker 2: of course, gathering on the steps of Parliament House for

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Speaker 2: a vigil earlier this week following the death of a

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Speaker 2: twenty four year old man in Alice Springs. We know

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Speaker 2: that Carl Hampden, a woolpery man from Alice Springs, spoke

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Speaker 2: on behalf of Kumanjai White's family and the EU and

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Speaker 2: Damou community, saying that members of the community were in pain. Now,

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Speaker 2: the ABC had reported that he was calling for an

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Speaker 2: independent well, he was calling for an independent investigation into

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Speaker 2: midst mister White's death, despite Northern Territory Police having refused

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Speaker 2: that request.

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Speaker 1: We know that there are also calls for.

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Speaker 2: CCTV to be released. Chancey, what is the feeling on

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Speaker 2: the ground at the moment.

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Speaker 5: Look, Katie, I think talking to community members and family

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Speaker 5: members right across Central Australia. People are still very deeply

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Speaker 5: shaken by the distressing news and I think we've seen

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Speaker 5: this roll out right across the Northern Territory and the

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Speaker 5: country with the number of visuals being held this week.

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Speaker 5: I think, certainly I want to just really acknowledge the

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Speaker 5: amazing strength and resilience, particularly of the Woldbury communities who've

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Speaker 5: remained so calm and respectful during this really difficult time.

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Speaker 5: And I guess there is still a lot of work

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Speaker 5: and conversations unfolding at the moment around where to from

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Speaker 5: here and what that looks like. I think certainly there

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Speaker 5: is a huge volume of work in our community around

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Speaker 5: rebuilding trust, faith and addressing concerns that people have about

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Speaker 5: such an important institution in the Northern Territory being the

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Speaker 5: Northern Territory Police. So I can absolutely understand, Katie why

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Speaker 5: a number of community members and organizations have been calling

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Speaker 5: for an independent inquiry as a mechanism to help rebuild

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Speaker 5: public confidence for particular communities when it comes to the

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Speaker 5: Northern Territory Police.

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Speaker 4: Chancey, you're a former Attorney general. It's Gary Chancey. Sorry,

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Speaker 4: you look you're a former attorney general. Is that something

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Speaker 4: you would have advocated for in your ministerial role. I mean,

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Speaker 4: I take on board it has been wonderful, there's been

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Speaker 4: so much calm. But I just have a sense that

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Speaker 4: police wouldn't react to someone to well, to people come

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Speaker 4: and interfering in what is really a proper play. And

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Speaker 4: I can understand the call from Marion. She's trying to

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Speaker 4: diffuse the situation, which is great. I'm just curious though,

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Speaker 4: it would have been a very difficult decision for you.

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Speaker 5: Look, certainly, look, this is a decision that you know,

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Speaker 5: if I was in the role of the Attorney General,

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Speaker 5: I wouldn't I'd be excluding myself. I'm related to the

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Speaker 5: families who are in question at the moment and the

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Speaker 5: young person who has passed away, So I wouldn't be

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Speaker 5: in a position to make that decision. But you know,

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Speaker 5: I guess what we have seen over a short period

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Speaker 5: of time over the last few years, is a number

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Speaker 5: of incidences, whether it's that particular community or the larger

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Speaker 5: kind of population of Aboriginal territories in general, there is

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Speaker 5: a growing sentiment of you know, concerns growing about this,

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Speaker 5: and we've seen a number of people give testimony and

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Speaker 5: evidence in the coronial inquests for commen j Walker, which

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Speaker 5: is further I think created or raised a number of questions.

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Speaker 5: So you know, I don't think any organization is equipped

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Speaker 5: to review itself. So I think, you know, I do

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Speaker 5: really support and you know, thank Marion and Mulandiri for

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Speaker 5: offering and encouraging an independent inquiry. I think that there

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Speaker 5: is certainly work that needs to be done. And look,

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Speaker 5: one of the things I did when I was in

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Speaker 5: government was to provide funding through to the Anti Discrimination

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Speaker 5: Commission to commence those reviews in line with the Aboriginal

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Speaker 5: Justice Agreement around addressing systemic and internal racism within government departments.

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Speaker 2: Now we know that you know the calls obviously from

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Speaker 2: Marion scrim Jaw, she had said, we've got this challenge

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Speaker 2: in Central Australia after the deaths of Kumenjai Walker, with

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Speaker 2: the Northern Territory Police had to investigate one of their

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Speaker 2: own for the killing of a young woolbery man at

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Speaker 2: Ewan Demou. Most would say that the process led to

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Speaker 2: the charging of a serving officer with the most serious

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Speaker 2: of criminal offenses, demonstrated the agency's integrity and independence, but

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Speaker 2: many of those involved in the investigation experienced ostracism and

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Speaker 2: the trial and coronial journey has resulted in resentment amongst

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Speaker 2: others from within the Northern Territory Police Force. Now, I

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Speaker 2: thought that was a really interesting and different sort of

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Speaker 2: take that Marian Scrimdaw had on this situation. I mean, Steve,

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Speaker 2: what do you say to that. You were a serving

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Speaker 2: police officer a number of years ago, now, but what

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Speaker 2: do you say to that?

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Speaker 3: Oh, look, you know exactly what chance he said. Look,

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Speaker 3: when it comes to the role for people, you know,

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Speaker 3: my heartfelt thoughts are with them at the moment and

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Speaker 3: I express that on radio the other week. But this

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Speaker 3: is an absolute tragedy what's happened there. But when it

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Speaker 3: comes to investigations, it's important that police are at arms

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Speaker 3: length from the political side of the issues. If we

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Speaker 3: go back to the Kumunjai Walker case, it never got

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Speaker 3: off to a good start. We had the Chief Minister

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Speaker 3: fly to Undamu and make some of the worst comments

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Speaker 3: that I've ever heard, being a former police officer, stating

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Speaker 3: in front of a crowd there that there would be

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Speaker 3: consequences would flow. Now that whole investigation got off to

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Speaker 3: a bad start because of the comments from a Chief Minister.

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Speaker 3: What I'd like to see with this investigation and let's

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Speaker 3: look back on this. This has been going for ten

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Speaker 3: days now. We've got the very best detectives that are

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Speaker 3: highly trained to investigate these serious offenses. They're on the job,

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Speaker 3: they're investigating, they're looking at all of the evidence, they're

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Speaker 3: looking at CCTV. They've got the pathologists doing the necessary

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Speaker 3: work to determine a cause of death. All of that

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Speaker 3: work is underway at the moment. I've got full confidence

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Speaker 3: and what we need to do is step aside, let

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Speaker 3: the police get on with the job because they're the

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Speaker 3: experts in doing this sort of work. Now, when we

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Speaker 3: talk about independence, all of this work will be overseen

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Speaker 3: by the coroner. And this is an important point that

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Speaker 3: these investigations just don't finish at the end of the place.

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Speaker 3: There's a whole coronial process that follows on from that investigation.

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Speaker 3: So that's the process in place, and I've got full

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Speaker 3: confidence in that process.

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Speaker 2: Well, we know the Northern Territory Coroner has indeed decided

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Speaker 2: to wait until July seven to hand down her findings

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Speaker 2: of course of the inquest into.

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Speaker 1: The death of Kumen Jai Walker.

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Speaker 2: Elizabeth Armitage planned to deliver her findings in you and

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Speaker 2: to move on June tenth, until the death of Kumanjai White,

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Speaker 2: So that is still to follow. Just on the situation

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Speaker 2: of the CCTV footage being released or calls by family

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Speaker 2: for it to be released, I mean, Steve, do you

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Speaker 2: think that that should happen?

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Speaker 3: No, Look, it can't happen during an investigation. It's very

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Speaker 3: important that all of the events is collected, analyzed, assessed

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Speaker 3: by the investigators. They're the people that will take on

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Speaker 3: that surveillance or CCTV footage, have a look at that.

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Speaker 3: Compare that with witness accounts. There's a whole range of

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Speaker 3: investigation that needs to be part of that. Releasing that

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Speaker 3: in the middle of an investigation could be prejudicial to

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Speaker 3: the whole investigation. Witnesses that may not have been spoken

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Speaker 3: to might start forming an opinion based on what they

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Speaker 3: see on a CCTV camera rather than what they saw

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Speaker 3: in Cohl's on that day. So, look, I don't support

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Speaker 3: releasing it at this point. That'll be something for the

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Speaker 3: police to consider later on once the investigation is finished.

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Speaker 4: Chancey, just a question. We got this week of action

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Speaker 4: going on and you're on the ground there, So are

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Speaker 4: you a little bit worried about how inflammatory it could

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Speaker 4: become because of the interstate commentary. I noticed the Amnesty

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Speaker 4: International put out in outrageous comment saying that because there's

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Speaker 4: been no police consequence, there's no consequence these police involved,

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Speaker 4: it's a license to kill, which is the outrageous for

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Speaker 4: Amnesty International. Really re just my thinking about where they're

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Speaker 4: going these days because it disappoints me. But is that

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Speaker 4: worry you because look, it has been calm, It's been

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Speaker 4: very good.

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Speaker 5: Oh look, it has been amazingly calm right across the

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Speaker 5: entire Central Australian region. And again just really acknowledging the

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Speaker 5: leadership of the Wolprix community in continuing to call for calm,

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Speaker 5: continuing to work on, you know, actions that will deliver

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Speaker 5: what they believe is real justice outcome. So look, I

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Speaker 5: always worry when any individual or organization for any matter

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Speaker 5: in that case, ties to hijacker movement for their own

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Speaker 5: political purposes. I think that the Wolprix are doing a

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Speaker 5: phenomenal job along with all of the other Central Australian

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Speaker 5: Aboriginal communities in working through, in paying the appropriate respects

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Speaker 5: and working through with the community. What I am continually

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Speaker 5: in awe of is you know, the world through community,

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Speaker 5: continuing to work with what they call yappa, with non

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Speaker 5: Indigenous people drawing on the support the kindness during this time.

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Speaker 5: And I think that's where we need to continue to

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Speaker 5: work through. And I think the next couple of weeks

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Speaker 5: will be really crucial.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you're right. I'm so chancy.

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Speaker 2: I mean, when you do have the likes of Amnesty

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Speaker 2: International saying things like that, do you think it's pretty unhelpful?

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Speaker 5: Look, I think that what needs to happen is organizations

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Speaker 5: need to follow the appropriate you know, media and reporting guidelines,

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Speaker 5: same that we ask people to follow when someone dies

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Speaker 5: from a domestic violence dispute. To work with the with

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Speaker 5: the community and the families to make sure that you're

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Speaker 5: actually making sure that you're following through on their wishes

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Speaker 5: and their requests. And I think that I would just

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Speaker 5: be encouraging anyone who wants to participate in this dialogue

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Speaker 5: or conversation should really be working through with the local

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Speaker 5: community making sure that they are not putting them in

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Speaker 5: a compromise position by saying things that the community don't

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Speaker 5: agree with or that will divide the community because you know,

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Speaker 5: in central Australia, it's not urban and remote, it's not

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Speaker 5: black and white. We are all one community and we

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Speaker 5: all need to be working together during this time.

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Speaker 1: Yeah.

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Speaker 2: On that note, we'll take a very quick break. You

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Speaker 2: are indeed listening to Mix one oh four nine.

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Speaker 1: It is the week that was.

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Speaker 2: If you have just joined us this morning on the

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Speaker 2: line from Alice Springs, we've got Chancey Paike.

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Speaker 1: We've also got Steve.

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Speaker 2: Edgington here from Tenant Creek and we've got Gary Shipway

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Speaker 2: Well here from the Northern Territory News just up the road. Now,

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Speaker 2: there is so much to discuss throughout this morning. There

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Speaker 2: always is throughout the week. But we know that a

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Speaker 2: parliamentary committee has dismissed claims made about the Darwin Waterfront Corporation.

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Speaker 2: The Opposition leader Selena Rubo referred the Darwin Waterfront to

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Speaker 2: the Public Accounts Committee to investigate claims of misusing public

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Speaker 2: funds and mismanaging conflict of interest. The Darwin Waterfront front

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Speaker 2: of the Committee earlier this week and unanimously, and the

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Speaker 2: committee then unanimously decided none of the allegations were substantiated.

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Speaker 2: The Attorney General Marie Claire Boothby called on the Opposition

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Speaker 2: leader to make a public apology to territorians and to

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Speaker 2: public servants. Now, I will declare for about the fifty

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Speaker 2: seventh time on the show that my husband is, of

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Speaker 2: course the chair of the Darwin Waterfront only has been

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Speaker 2: for the last five months. But certainly I want to

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Speaker 2: make sure that that is on the table. As I said,

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Speaker 2: I've said at numerous times, but what did you make

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Speaker 2: of the situation throughout the week, Steve.

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Speaker 3: Well, you know, having a look at the PAC has

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Speaker 3: come out and they've dismissed these allegations, and I think

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Speaker 3: the important part is that the decision was unanimous. And

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Speaker 3: here we have a Public Accounts Committee consisting of COLP,

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Speaker 3: but we've got an independent member, Justine Davis, but also

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Speaker 3: a Labor person, Manual Brown, on that particular committee. So

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Speaker 3: to dismiss those baseless allegations, I think the committee has

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Speaker 3: done their job. But I think there's real questions that

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Speaker 3: need to be answered. We've had the leader of the

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Speaker 3: Opposition stand up in Parliament smearing public servants. The real

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Speaker 3: question I think we need to ask is was that

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Speaker 3: a decision by all of the Labor members the four

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Speaker 3: Labor members to bring that into parliament, smear public servants

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Speaker 3: with baseless allegations, or did the leader of the opposition

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Speaker 3: bring that in on her own? I think we need

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Speaker 3: to hear a bit more of that. Clearly, Manuel Brown

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Speaker 3: has been part of the committee dismissed the allegations, but

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Speaker 3: bringing that into parliament, smearing public servants' names, naming them

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Speaker 3: in parliament is just a low act by the leader

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Speaker 3: of the Opposition. Not only has she not apologized, there's

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Speaker 3: a lot of unanswered questions that need to be explained

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Speaker 3: by Was that a collective decision to bring that to

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Speaker 3: parliament or did she do it on her own?

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Speaker 2: Chatsy Was it a collective decision or did she do

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Speaker 2: that herself?

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Speaker 5: Oh, look, Katie, I think certainly when we're talking about

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Speaker 5: the Waterfront allegations, it was something that certainly Labor Opposition

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Speaker 5: and I know that many other members of Parliament had

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Speaker 5: heard for some time, particularly during the federal election campaign,

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Speaker 5: But it was.

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Speaker 2: When you guys were in power. So if you'd heard it,

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Speaker 2: how did you not hear it while you're in power?

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Speaker 3: Why didn't you do something?

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Speaker 5: Certainly, Katie, if I can unfinish what I'm saying is

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Speaker 5: similar to the Member for Johnson bringing in the Indigenous

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Speaker 5: Employment Procurement some matter and looking to refer that to

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Speaker 5: a committee. This is something that was being raised at

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Speaker 5: a higher concern than it had previously been raised. So

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Speaker 5: the job of opposition is to bring matters forward so

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Speaker 5: that they can be addressed and that the community can

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Speaker 5: have confidence in those institutions and those organizations. So look,

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Speaker 5: I understand that a matter was brought to the Public

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Speaker 5: Accounts Committee. It's been worked through. I acknowledged that there

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Speaker 5: are members of that committee who have put out statements

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Speaker 5: saying that the government shut it down forty minutes early.

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Speaker 5: And I believe that, certainly this was the best way

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Speaker 5: to do it, having an independent member.

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Speaker 2: Watch it get shut down early, Like did you watch it?

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Speaker 5: Certainly, Katie. What I was told and what I've heard

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Speaker 5: and read in statements is that it was shut down

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Speaker 5: forty minutes early. And those statements from members of that committee.

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Speaker 2: Like you could tell that it had gone They were

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Speaker 2: asking questions that weren't even part of the you know,

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Speaker 2: the evidence that have been put forward in the end,

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Speaker 2: what like it went for quite some time.

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Speaker 1: I think that's absurd.

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Speaker 4: Chancing For the life of me, I cannot understand why

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Speaker 4: the opposition did not get that briefing from the darn

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Speaker 4: Waterfront Corporation. I can't can't understand why you didn't do

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Speaker 4: the proper what I call the proper thing, get yourself

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Speaker 4: fully brief rather than rushing in and dancing to the

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Speaker 4: tune of an online publication which you guys previously banned

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Speaker 4: and called it an online block. I just find that

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Speaker 4: I really think that it probably it wasn't thought through

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Speaker 4: properly in the haste to get this up in front

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Speaker 4: of the public. Can you just tell us why didn't

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Speaker 4: you take that briefing?

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Speaker 5: Oh look, a public briefing, a private briefing to an

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Speaker 5: opposition party or a particular member of Parliament to address

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Speaker 5: questions the public has been asking. Isn't the satisfactory response

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Speaker 5: to communities looking for this is an opportunity for the

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Speaker 5: community to see firsthand democracy in action and those questions

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Speaker 5: being asked. And also the Attorney General did have the

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Speaker 5: opportunity to provide the briefing that she was given and

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Speaker 5: she failed to do so. She then went on to

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Speaker 5: say she's made the assumption, Well, it's either fact or

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Speaker 5: it's not. You can't assume a fact.

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Speaker 4: But see, you didn't take the briefing, so you'll never

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Speaker 4: know if what you're saying is correct. I mean, you

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Speaker 4: might have actually informed yourself a little bit better before

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Speaker 4: or you went in through this process. I mean surely

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Speaker 4: having that knowledge would have helped shape your position. I

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Speaker 4: mean it. I just think it's an excuse me. You didn't.

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Speaker 4: You denied them the opportunity to actually fully brief you

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Speaker 4: and it could have helped you with your thinking. I

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Speaker 4: don't just find it astounding.

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Speaker 5: Look again, the position that I believe is important is

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Speaker 5: a briefing to the leader of the opposition or members

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Speaker 5: of the Legislative Assembly to address questions that the public

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Speaker 5: the community are asking. Is not a satisfactory response. This

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Speaker 5: is an opportunity.

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Speaker 2: Would you have referred the Waterfront Corporation to the Public

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Speaker 2: Accounts Committee based on online allegations?

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Speaker 5: Look, Katie, I'm a proud member of the Labor Party.

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Speaker 5: That is the position that the opposition took, and we

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Speaker 5: made sure that we provided the necessary steps to address

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Speaker 5: questions and concerns that the public had.

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Speaker 3: All right, Look, there was plenty of opportunity for Labor

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Speaker 3: to test some of these allegations with a briefing. They

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Speaker 3: failed to do that. We've just heard from the Member

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Speaker 3: for Guaja that this was a collective decision to bring

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Speaker 3: it into parliament smear public servants. It's high time they

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Speaker 3: gave an apology to every public servant that was named

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Speaker 3: smeared because of these false allegations put forward by the

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Speaker 3: Labor Party. And it's they should really they should be

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Speaker 3: ashamed of themselves. Parliament's not to bring untested allegations into

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Speaker 3: parliament smear public servants. It's about listening and getting on

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Speaker 3: with the job and doing some real parliamentary business.

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Speaker 1: Will there be an a policy Chancey, look.

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Speaker 5: Katie again make the point Steve Harpering on this morning

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Speaker 5: the Attorney General could have provided the briefing that she

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Speaker 5: was provided. She failed to do so. We're doing our

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Speaker 5: job as opposition and bringing matters forward and I think

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Speaker 5: that that's important moving forward, will continue to bring forward

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Speaker 5: concerns that are raised by territorians.

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Speaker 4: The chance you take those briefings, I just can't believe.

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Speaker 4: You know, help you shape your thinking, help shape your

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Speaker 4: argument and you can then come for still put the

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Speaker 4: pac if you want, but at least help inform your

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Speaker 4: thinking on it.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, well, look let's move along because there is so

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Speaker 2: much to cover off this morning. And we know that

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Speaker 2: the maternity services at the Darwin Private Hospital or the

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Speaker 2: last baby's now been born at the Darwin Private Hospital

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Speaker 2: with maternity services ceasing today as I understand, we've heard

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Speaker 2: that the Royal Darwin Hospital has already had a number

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Speaker 2: of babies born as I understand it too. And a

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Speaker 2: bit of pressure there is what we're being told due

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Speaker 2: to the closure, needing to delay inductions. One source has

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Speaker 2: told us Steve, how are things going from your perspective?

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Speaker 2: Just well, I believe today's the last day at Darwin

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Speaker 2: Private but I actually my understanding is that the last

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Speaker 2: baby was born actually a few days ago on the weekend.

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Speaker 3: I thought, Katie, that's correct. And look, you know, if

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Speaker 3: we trace back this decision by Hellscope, it's been felt

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Speaker 3: by many right across the Northern Terret's been felt by us.

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Speaker 3: We're disappointed, we're upset for every family that's affected by this.

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Speaker 3: But what I want to say is that yes, the

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Speaker 3: last baby has been born at the Yadahen Private Hospital,

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Speaker 3: but our staff at the Royal Dalen Hospital are well

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Speaker 3: prepared they're there to provide safe and supportive delivery of

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Speaker 3: babies at the Royal Dalen Hospital. So I think what

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Speaker 3: we need to acknowledge is the incredible amount of work

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Speaker 3: that's been going on at the Royal Dalen Hospital by

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Speaker 3: all of the staff involved to prepare for this day.

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Speaker 3: And today is the closure day. But we've heard that

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Speaker 3: the last baby is being born. But what I want

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Speaker 3: to do is reassure all families that we have the

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Speaker 3: staff in place, we have the capacity and will continue

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Speaker 3: to deliver safe birthing for everybody and include options for

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Speaker 3: those private, privately insured mothers who may want to take

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Speaker 3: up the hotel option or the return to home early option.

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Speaker 2: Steve, we have had somebody get in contact with us,

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Speaker 2: a midwife at the dah And Private Hospital. I'm saying

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Speaker 2: just letting you know there is still a small number

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Speaker 2: of midwives, about five that Health Scope are refusing redundancy.

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Speaker 2: They're sending threatening emails. They're stating that they'll take us

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Speaker 2: to fair work if we don't accept their job offer

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Speaker 2: and terminate them and reduce their redundancy to zero. The

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Speaker 2: zero that they're saying they'll pay us. That's what they're saying.

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Speaker 2: They'll pay. Some have received redundancy for separate reasons, but

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Speaker 2: a small handful have not. I mean that must make

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Speaker 2: you feel pretty pieced off, to put it bluntly, given

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Speaker 2: the fact, you know, we're talking that some of these people,

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Speaker 2: some of these incredible people have you know, have got

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Speaker 2: decades of.

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Speaker 3: Experience exactly, and you know, staff that have put their

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Speaker 3: heart and soul into performing their duties at the private

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Speaker 3: hospital here and down. Look, what I would say is

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Speaker 3: that if there are and what I'm hearing is that

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Speaker 3: the disputes around payments, look, I would encourage Healthscirpe to

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Speaker 3: get to the table. Healthcope have made the decision to

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Speaker 3: close the maternity ward at the private hospital. Healthcope should

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Speaker 3: be at the table working with all staff members. They're

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Speaker 3: the ones that decided to close. It's really upsetting for

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Speaker 3: me to hear that after all of this work that

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Speaker 3: the staff have put in, now there's disputes over payments. Yes,

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Speaker 3: we know that the Fair Work Act is in place,

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Speaker 3: but what I'd like to see is Healthscope come to

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Speaker 3: the table, work with all the affected staff and make

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Speaker 3: sure that they're leaving under good team.

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Speaker 1: Do you reckon they will?

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Speaker 2: Given the fact they're under so much stress on a

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Speaker 2: national stage at this point in time. You know they're

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Speaker 2: in like they're in the situation that they are in.

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Speaker 2: Do you think that we've got any chance of that

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Speaker 2: happening for these midwives?

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Speaker 3: Well, you know, when you look at it overall, there's

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Speaker 3: a combination of receivership and administration. I suppose the real

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Speaker 3: question is can that be managed at the local level

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Speaker 3: through the senior staff at the private hospital or is

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Speaker 3: it being managed at a high level or distant through

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Speaker 3: the administrators and receivers There's a couple of unanswered questions

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Speaker 3: and a lack of information around that. But what I

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Speaker 3: would say is that Health Scope through their administrators, need

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Speaker 3: to come to the table and work out a proper

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Speaker 3: exit strategy for the staff. They've really shown a very

439
00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,560
Speaker 3: strong commitment over many years.

440
00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,800
Speaker 4: On a bigger scale though a Healthscope. There was talking

441
00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:27,520
Speaker 4: for other providers coming in to fill the gap nationally. Healthscope,

442
00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:30,200
Speaker 4: Are you being kept informed about what's happening there?

443
00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:34,640
Speaker 3: Yeah, so I've kept in We had an emergency minister's

444
00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:38,000
Speaker 3: meeting just over a week ago. So the federal government

445
00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,320
Speaker 3: is the lead agency when it comes to working very

446
00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,879
Speaker 3: closely with the receivers and the administrators. What I have

447
00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,439
Speaker 3: heard is that there are other health providers that are

448
00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,840
Speaker 3: stepping up. They want to have a look at what

449
00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,119
Speaker 3: the situation is, do their due diligence around. But my

450
00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,720
Speaker 3: understanding is that there are health providers out there that

451
00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:57,240
Speaker 3: are keen to look at not only Dawn, but the

452
00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,639
Speaker 3: thirty seven hospitals affected right around the country. When it

453
00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,600
Speaker 3: comes to staff, jeez, wouldn't it be great to see

454
00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:08,000
Speaker 3: a new provider come in quickly, continue to employ those

455
00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:11,359
Speaker 3: staff and get through these really difficult times for everybody.

456
00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,200
Speaker 4: So in terms of the mums that may want to

457
00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:18,560
Speaker 4: take advantage of the accommodation at the macure just ma cure.

458
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:19,360
Speaker 1: Isn't he A yeah?

459
00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:21,240
Speaker 4: I think so, yeah, yeah, I want to take advantage

460
00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:22,919
Speaker 4: of that. What's the process? Do they have to register

461
00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,000
Speaker 4: for that before they have the birth? They do it

462
00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:28,960
Speaker 4: after they've had to make a decision, after they've had

463
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:29,280
Speaker 4: the birth.

464
00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:34,159
Speaker 3: Yeah, So as a private patient, when the mother and

465
00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,560
Speaker 3: the family comes to the hospital, they will register as

466
00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:41,840
Speaker 3: a private patient and after the birth, the normal clinical

467
00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,600
Speaker 3: assessments will be made. No mothers will be I want

468
00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:47,359
Speaker 3: to make it clear, no mothers will be leaving the

469
00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,200
Speaker 3: hospital unless it's clinically safe for them to do so.

470
00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,240
Speaker 3: Once they've registered as that private patient, they have the

471
00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,119
Speaker 3: opportunity to have their obstetrician in the hospital to deliver

472
00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,399
Speaker 3: the baby, and they have that option of whether they

473
00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:02,920
Speaker 3: want to go to the airport macure or go home,

474
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,119
Speaker 3: so that we've got a care package in place to

475
00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:08,119
Speaker 3: support them. There'll be a twenty four to seven hotline

476
00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:12,600
Speaker 3: that all mothers and families can contact should there be

477
00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:16,280
Speaker 3: any issues after they leave the hospital, but we'll also

478
00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:20,080
Speaker 3: have the domicillory maternity midwives in place to visit them

479
00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:20,440
Speaker 3: as well.

480
00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:22,520
Speaker 2: Chancey, what do you make of it all? I mean,

481
00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:26,199
Speaker 2: obviously in Allie Springs and even where Steve is a

482
00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:28,760
Speaker 2: local member and Tenant Creek, you know there aren't those

483
00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,479
Speaker 2: private services readily available like we've had up here in

484
00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:34,800
Speaker 2: the top end. But it's certainly a blo, isn't it

485
00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:36,040
Speaker 2: to maternity services?

486
00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:41,840
Speaker 5: Absolutely, Katie? I mean, everyone deserves access to you safe,

487
00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:46,359
Speaker 5: affordable maternity care, and no matter of where they live,

488
00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,320
Speaker 5: in what their background, we know that that service that

489
00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,280
Speaker 5: was delivered by health Scope's been a really important service

490
00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:57,200
Speaker 5: for families in the top end. But you know, Katie.

491
00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,920
Speaker 5: I think it also does raise questions. The Chief Minister

492
00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:01,919
Speaker 5: and Steve who's on the phone with us now as

493
00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:05,320
Speaker 5: a Health minister, had known about health ghost Plan closer

494
00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:08,439
Speaker 5: since last year and they hadn't done anything. So you know,

495
00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,080
Speaker 5: that's hardly what you'd call a year of action and certainty.

496
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,000
Speaker 5: Right here, we know and hopefully we can work to

497
00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,920
Speaker 5: get another provider in because we know that this is

498
00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:22,440
Speaker 5: a particularly important service in the Darwin Greater region as

499
00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,479
Speaker 5: well for families to access this important service.

500
00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:26,960
Speaker 1: Stevie makes a fair point.

501
00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,719
Speaker 2: You guys have known for a long time, why not

502
00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:31,639
Speaker 2: have sorted something out sooner.

503
00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,679
Speaker 3: Look, as I said, right from the outset, there was

504
00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,520
Speaker 3: some discussion last year that we may we might, we

505
00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:42,080
Speaker 3: might close. There was no certainty around that, and I

506
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,959
Speaker 3: need you to make the point that, you know, what

507
00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,320
Speaker 3: did Labor know about this before they went to the election.

508
00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:49,680
Speaker 3: I think that's a question that needs to be asked

509
00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,560
Speaker 3: at some point, what did Labor know about this? But

510
00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,040
Speaker 3: let's get back to the real issues. That decision was

511
00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:56,920
Speaker 3: made by Hellscope on the twentieth of February. They made

512
00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,480
Speaker 3: the decision on the twentieth of February that they were closing.

513
00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,399
Speaker 3: What could or couldn't have been done before that was

514
00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:05,479
Speaker 3: always up in the air. There was no final decision

515
00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,119
Speaker 3: until the twentieth of February. What we have done is

516
00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,159
Speaker 3: stepped in right from the very outset to ensure that

517
00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:15,800
Speaker 3: every expectant mother that would normally give birth at the

518
00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:19,320
Speaker 3: private hospital is able to give birth at the public hospital.

519
00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,199
Speaker 3: Right from the start, we've made it very clear that

520
00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,159
Speaker 3: the number of births at the private hospital, and this

521
00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:26,919
Speaker 3: was Hellscope's information, had dropped down to around about two

522
00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,080
Speaker 3: hundred and fifty per year. That's an increase for out.

523
00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:31,919
Speaker 2: Free can that is Do you think that it's a

524
00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:36,040
Speaker 2: situation where private health has just become too expensive for people?

525
00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:38,959
Speaker 2: Do you think it's a situation where our population has

526
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,680
Speaker 2: stopped growing so severely that we don't have moms giving

527
00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:44,000
Speaker 2: birth at the private hospital?

528
00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:44,680
Speaker 1: But what is it?

529
00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:46,320
Speaker 3: I think this is a big issue that needs to

530
00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,760
Speaker 3: be discussed at the national level. What's the cost of

531
00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:53,320
Speaker 3: health insurance? What returns of people getting from paying their

532
00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,600
Speaker 3: health insurance? Are those services of ailable? And I think

533
00:28:57,080 --> 00:28:59,160
Speaker 3: what is the gap? And I think what I have

534
00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,920
Speaker 3: learnt through this process, Katie, is that I've spoken to

535
00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,160
Speaker 3: a number of people. The gap, the gap in fees

536
00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:08,960
Speaker 3: now is anywhere between six and ten thousand dollars to

537
00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:12,600
Speaker 3: have a previously have a baby at the Royal at

538
00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:15,880
Speaker 3: the Royal the private hospital, I should say, so the

539
00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,640
Speaker 3: gap itself the fees, is that a deterrent to people

540
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,160
Speaker 3: engaging with private health insurance? These are the unanswered questions,

541
00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:26,600
Speaker 3: but these are some of the challenges that has been

542
00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:27,280
Speaker 3: raised with men.

543
00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:29,960
Speaker 4: I was going to say, I have said this before

544
00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:34,200
Speaker 4: in this program, having had a child born at the

545
00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:37,720
Speaker 4: Dune private and a child born at the public hospital.

546
00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,800
Speaker 4: I mean, the public hospital is fantastic, it is very

547
00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:45,040
Speaker 4: I don't know how many mums are going to take

548
00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,160
Speaker 4: up this offer of the hotel. I don't think that

549
00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,200
Speaker 4: because I know when our births we just wanted to

550
00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:53,600
Speaker 4: got the all clear and go home and start our

551
00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,120
Speaker 4: home life again. So yeah, I'm not sure if that's

552
00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:56,600
Speaker 4: going to be a waste.

553
00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:58,360
Speaker 1: Now, I wonder whether it's going to work. Steve, what

554
00:29:58,480 --> 00:29:59,120
Speaker 1: is the guy with that?

555
00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,400
Speaker 2: Do you have to sort of have a hotel room

556
00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,400
Speaker 2: that is there and booked by the Department of Health

557
00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,160
Speaker 2: all the time, or do you have to like, how

558
00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:07,760
Speaker 2: does it work?

559
00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:10,200
Speaker 3: So let's make it clear that this is being covered

560
00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:14,560
Speaker 3: by the private health insurance. So when there are rooms

561
00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:16,360
Speaker 3: that have been set aside, and what we do know

562
00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:18,440
Speaker 3: is I think the information I have is that there's

563
00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:21,480
Speaker 3: already nine families that are very interested in this package

564
00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:23,680
Speaker 3: to go to the hotel. Yes, there we will be

565
00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,720
Speaker 3: rooms set aside. All of those costs will be covered

566
00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,120
Speaker 3: by the private insurance. This isn't taxpayers money we're talking about.

567
00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:33,600
Speaker 3: This is a plan that's been put together by our

568
00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:36,840
Speaker 3: anti health staff and the private insurers, and this has

569
00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,160
Speaker 3: been worked out over a number of months. We've got

570
00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,600
Speaker 3: to that stage. Everything's in place. Today we have the

571
00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:46,040
Speaker 3: closing of the private hospital, a sad day for everybody

572
00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,160
Speaker 3: here in the Northern Territory. But what I want to

573
00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:51,680
Speaker 3: do is reassure everybody that ant Health is well prepared

574
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,400
Speaker 3: and you can expect the very best possible service, a

575
00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,560
Speaker 3: safe delivery of your baby at the Royal dalm Hospital.

576
00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:00,240
Speaker 2: Well look, we will get ready to take a break,

577
00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,640
Speaker 2: but I will just say to you all of those

578
00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,440
Speaker 2: staff that have worked at the Darwin Private Hospital in

579
00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:07,520
Speaker 2: the maternity ward. I know some of you have been

580
00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:10,600
Speaker 2: there for a long long time, for decades. In fact,

581
00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,200
Speaker 2: we are thinking of you today and certainly I know

582
00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:19,160
Speaker 2: so many mums and families dads out in the community

583
00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:22,400
Speaker 2: so grateful for the beautiful care that you have given

584
00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,520
Speaker 2: them over the years. So a big thank you to

585
00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:28,920
Speaker 2: everybody that has indeed worked at the Darwin Private Hospital

586
00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:31,479
Speaker 2: there in the maternity ward, if you've just joined us

587
00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:33,600
Speaker 2: in the studio this morning. We've got the Health Minister,

588
00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:36,280
Speaker 2: Steve Edgington, We've got the head of news at the

589
00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,400
Speaker 2: NT News, Gary Shipway, and in Alice Springs we've got

590
00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:43,400
Speaker 2: Chancey Paig for the opposition. Now we know that there

591
00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:45,040
Speaker 2: is a bit of an update when it comes to

592
00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:50,440
Speaker 2: voluntary assisted dying legislation. A parliamentary committee conducting an inquiry

593
00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:54,640
Speaker 2: into voluntary assisted dying in the Northern Territory has met twice,

594
00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:58,360
Speaker 2: with briefings to begin in July. The committee is to

595
00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:03,800
Speaker 2: prepare a consultation, consult with remote communities, evaluate the voluntary

596
00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:07,280
Speaker 2: assisted dying models and safeguards, as well as identify any

597
00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:13,080
Speaker 2: challenges and provide drafting instructions for model legislation. Now co

598
00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:17,640
Speaker 2: chairs of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Expert Panel or Advisory

599
00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,520
Speaker 2: Panel have also been invited to brief the committee. As

600
00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:25,280
Speaker 2: well as land councils and the Aboriginal medical bodies. Chancey,

601
00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:28,600
Speaker 2: I might head to you first in Central Australia. What

602
00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:31,640
Speaker 2: do you make of this latest update on the voluntary

603
00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:36,400
Speaker 2: assisted dying legislation and now going to the committee and

604
00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:37,960
Speaker 2: the update that they've provided.

605
00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:41,880
Speaker 5: Oh, look, business just an attempt at the government to

606
00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,320
Speaker 5: kick the can down the road, Kadi. Between August twenty

607
00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:48,400
Speaker 5: to twenty three, and may you know there was a

608
00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:52,480
Speaker 5: huge volume of work done by an independent group made

609
00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:57,320
Speaker 5: up of really really qualified individuals across the territory, met

610
00:32:57,320 --> 00:33:01,600
Speaker 5: with sixty organizations ninety eighths have missed and absolutely went

611
00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:05,280
Speaker 5: out and spoke to territorians. What we do need to do, Katie,

612
00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:08,880
Speaker 5: And what would be a much better step is for

613
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:13,000
Speaker 5: the government to work with the opposition and the crossbench

614
00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:18,760
Speaker 5: develop and have Parliamentary Council create a draft bill that

615
00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,040
Speaker 5: we could then put out as a draft exposure bill

616
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,520
Speaker 5: so that we're actually consulting on something. At the moment

617
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:29,840
Speaker 5: we're going out and talking to people about the more talk,

618
00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:33,200
Speaker 5: no action. So Katie, you know, I am all up.

619
00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:37,240
Speaker 5: This is not the government saying that they're going to

620
00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,560
Speaker 5: do voluntary assisted dying But if we don't have a

621
00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:43,760
Speaker 5: bill drafted to actually go and talk to people, people

622
00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:49,040
Speaker 5: can actually black and white how it would be implemented,

623
00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:53,880
Speaker 5: how it would be operationalized, then we're really not going

624
00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,440
Speaker 5: out and talking to people about the finer detail that

625
00:33:56,480 --> 00:34:00,720
Speaker 5: people want to see. So I am absolutely supportive of

626
00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:04,160
Speaker 5: a process that lets us develop a draft bill and

627
00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,400
Speaker 5: then go out and consult on that draft bill. What

628
00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:07,920
Speaker 5: we make with.

629
00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,840
Speaker 2: These discussions that you know that the government sort of

630
00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:14,560
Speaker 2: had saying that there wasn't enough consultation with indigenous communities.

631
00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:21,600
Speaker 5: Look, Katie, I think again that is just completely unsubstantiated

632
00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:24,920
Speaker 5: and not true. We absolutely have seen and we've heard

633
00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:28,960
Speaker 5: many original people talking about this, for it or against it.

634
00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:33,760
Speaker 5: But again, why play into the hands of allowing third

635
00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:37,440
Speaker 5: parties to fear manger and scare manger on a process

636
00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:40,160
Speaker 5: when we don't have an actual bill to talk about

637
00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:43,799
Speaker 5: what the reform is, what we're going to propose, how

638
00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:47,120
Speaker 5: it's going to work. That's where I'm really worried, Katie,

639
00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:51,040
Speaker 5: is if we go out and we have consultation, what

640
00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:53,800
Speaker 5: are we consulting on. We're going out and asking people

641
00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:58,120
Speaker 5: what particular questions. If we have a draft Bill. Then

642
00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:01,000
Speaker 5: we've actually got something in black, back and white. It's

643
00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:03,440
Speaker 5: not saying that the government are going to do it,

644
00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:07,200
Speaker 5: it's saying, this is what the Parliament is proposing, what

645
00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:10,680
Speaker 5: are your thoughts, and then it'll be a conscious vote

646
00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,600
Speaker 5: for all members of Parliament. That's where we need to be,

647
00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,399
Speaker 5: not going out and consulting again and again and wasting time.

648
00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:19,040
Speaker 2: I think it's a fair point to make. I mean,

649
00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:22,440
Speaker 2: I've said it numerous times on the show. I'm supportive

650
00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:26,040
Speaker 2: of voluntary assisted dying legislation because at the end of

651
00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:30,239
Speaker 2: the day, the keyword is voluntary. It is a person's

652
00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:33,600
Speaker 2: choice when they are terminally ill or when they are

653
00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:38,680
Speaker 2: battling a terminal illness. It is their choice when they

654
00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:41,759
Speaker 2: get to that end of life stage, or it should be.

655
00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:45,480
Speaker 2: And it's happening in every other stage and territory you know,

656
00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:48,480
Speaker 2: around Australia. I mean, Steve, why are we dragging our heels?

657
00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:51,719
Speaker 3: Well, we're not dragging our hills. What we've got is

658
00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:54,880
Speaker 3: the committee report. We've got a committee now, the Legal

659
00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:58,600
Speaker 3: and Constitutional Affairs Committee. They've already met twice. As we've

660
00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:01,360
Speaker 3: already said, you know, when you look at the makeup

661
00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:04,480
Speaker 3: of that committee, that committee, which includes Labor, have agreed

662
00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:08,239
Speaker 3: to work together, work in a bipartisan, bipartisan way to

663
00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:14,799
Speaker 3: come up with the consultation package, interview and reassess all

664
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:17,719
Speaker 3: of the information before them. What they will do at

665
00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:21,040
Speaker 3: the end of that consultation processes decide whether to put

666
00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:23,799
Speaker 3: drafting instructions. And I think when we start talking about

667
00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:26,759
Speaker 3: a bill, getting out and talking to people before and

668
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:30,160
Speaker 3: then putting that into drafting instructions is a normal and

669
00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:34,960
Speaker 3: proper process. When we talk about consultation. It's quite incredible

670
00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:38,200
Speaker 3: to hear from the Member for Guaja about consultation because

671
00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:41,759
Speaker 3: I know both the Chancey and I have the two

672
00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:46,319
Speaker 3: largest electorates in the Northern Territory. I know that many

673
00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:50,160
Speaker 3: many people haven't seen or heard about this legislation. We

674
00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:54,359
Speaker 3: know that I shouldn't say the legislation about the proposed

675
00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:56,280
Speaker 3: voluntary assisted dying.

676
00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:58,799
Speaker 2: And I think and it hasn't gone out as far

677
00:36:58,880 --> 00:36:59,440
Speaker 2: and wide.

678
00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:01,440
Speaker 3: As it should not to the people on the ground. Yes,

679
00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:05,800
Speaker 3: there has been a consultation with a various number of organizations.

680
00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:08,800
Speaker 3: There's been consultation in Tenet Creek. But what we're talking,

681
00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:10,680
Speaker 3: what I'm talking about is right out there in the

682
00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:13,920
Speaker 3: Bush where people often don't hear about these things, but

683
00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:16,960
Speaker 3: we know that this is a very important topic for many,

684
00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,279
Speaker 3: many many territories for a whole range of reasons. And

685
00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,080
Speaker 3: I think what we need to do is give everybody

686
00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:25,319
Speaker 3: the opportunity to give their views, and at the end

687
00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:28,240
Speaker 3: of that process, what the committee will do, by working

688
00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:31,279
Speaker 3: together is come up with a process, and that may

689
00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:34,640
Speaker 3: include the drafting instructions for some legislation. So I think

690
00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:36,680
Speaker 3: let's follow the process and get that out of the way.

691
00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:41,319
Speaker 5: That's absolutely not entirely correct. You can go out with

692
00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:44,680
Speaker 5: a draft exposure bill, as governments do. We've done it

693
00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:48,440
Speaker 5: on a number of issues previously, and then you have

694
00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:52,400
Speaker 5: something tangible to talk to people and show people in

695
00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,960
Speaker 5: writing how something can and will work.

696
00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:58,920
Speaker 3: What I'm decided on that process. Now process it's been

697
00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:00,880
Speaker 3: decided by the committee.

698
00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:02,759
Speaker 5: Is going out this protra which is going to go

699
00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:08,040
Speaker 5: out and say to people, Hey, this is essentially a

700
00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:11,920
Speaker 5: concept or an idea, rather than actually saying this is

701
00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:17,239
Speaker 5: what is being proposed and we're asking for your feedback.

702
00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:18,960
Speaker 5: This is what it will look like, this is how

703
00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:23,560
Speaker 5: it will work. And Katie like, hello, these are remote communities,

704
00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:28,200
Speaker 5: very educated people. We absolutely need to involve them in

705
00:38:28,239 --> 00:38:31,239
Speaker 5: the process. But having a committee with the chair who

706
00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:34,200
Speaker 5: is just spearheading and saying they're going to get to

707
00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:40,080
Speaker 5: every remote community in four months is not genuine consultation anyway.

708
00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:42,240
Speaker 5: So this whole process is going to be flawed.

709
00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:42,400
Speaker 2: Now.

710
00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:43,440
Speaker 5: I am going to catch up.

711
00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:46,240
Speaker 2: With TNSIL this morning after ten o'clock, so I will

712
00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:50,080
Speaker 2: I'll ask some further questions about it. Gary keen to

713
00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:50,760
Speaker 2: hear your thoughts.

714
00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:53,440
Speaker 4: I'm just wondering why all the work of martial parents

715
00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:55,440
Speaker 4: been ignored. I mean, I was part of that government

716
00:38:55,560 --> 00:39:00,440
Speaker 4: when that happened, and it was very dramatic, very very

717
00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:04,239
Speaker 4: difficult time for all members of Parliament. A lot of

718
00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:07,600
Speaker 4: work was done and you know what, and it seems

719
00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:09,080
Speaker 4: to me that a lot of what Marshall pown put

720
00:39:09,160 --> 00:39:11,480
Speaker 4: in place has been ignored. It's already there. I just

721
00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:12,919
Speaker 4: wonder what's the case.

722
00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:15,359
Speaker 3: I don't think it's been ignored, and I think what

723
00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:18,239
Speaker 3: we have learned, you know, we've seen the process where

724
00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:22,319
Speaker 3: that was basically stamped out by the federal government. But

725
00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:24,040
Speaker 3: the role of this committee is to look at all

726
00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:26,240
Speaker 3: of the information. I'm sure that they will be looking

727
00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:29,080
Speaker 3: at the previous work that has been done. Part of

728
00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:32,560
Speaker 3: that committee is to look at all of the information

729
00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:36,879
Speaker 3: that's available. I haven't got the full details of the

730
00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:39,279
Speaker 3: list of information they'll be going through, but what we

731
00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:43,480
Speaker 3: do know is that this is a bipartisan committee. It

732
00:39:43,560 --> 00:39:46,520
Speaker 3: includes labor. What they've decided to do is go out

733
00:39:46,560 --> 00:39:50,480
Speaker 3: and do this consultation and let's allow that to take

734
00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:53,360
Speaker 3: its place now. And what we will see is proper

735
00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:57,759
Speaker 3: consultation with everybody across the Northern Territory and that I

736
00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:00,800
Speaker 3: suspect will lead to the drafting instruction for legislation.

737
00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:02,960
Speaker 2: We will have to take a very quick break. You

738
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:05,520
Speaker 2: are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.

739
00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:08,320
Speaker 2: It is the week that was before we get ready

740
00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:10,640
Speaker 2: to wrap up this morning. If you have just joined us,

741
00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:13,160
Speaker 2: you have missed out because in the studio we've got

742
00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:15,799
Speaker 2: the Health Minister, Steve Edgington, We've got Gary Shipway, the

743
00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:18,480
Speaker 2: head of news at the NT News, and we have

744
00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:22,200
Speaker 2: got the Member for Gauger, Chancey Paig in Alice Springs.

745
00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:25,880
Speaker 2: Now I tell you what, Gary Shipway, this story on

746
00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:28,879
Speaker 2: the front page or certainly leading news at the NT

747
00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:33,840
Speaker 2: News today. Are we going to have octopus at the glenty.

748
00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:35,000
Speaker 1: What is going on?

749
00:40:35,239 --> 00:40:38,920
Speaker 4: Yep, quick tragedy. We will have two tons less of octopus.

750
00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:41,160
Speaker 4: I'm going to go a Saturday because the one wee

751
00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:43,719
Speaker 4: get octopus, I reckon play Sunday. It's called it's one

752
00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:46,799
Speaker 4: of the most popular foods and it'll be gone, you know,

753
00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:49,799
Speaker 4: so get there early because there will be another other

754
00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:52,040
Speaker 4: Greek organizations with it. But yeah, I know this is

755
00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:55,480
Speaker 4: very sad for the Clemians because this was only the

756
00:40:55,600 --> 00:41:01,839
Speaker 4: only fundraising opportunity. And yeah, there's happened. Well, health Health

757
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:04,439
Speaker 4: went out there. It was a health inspector went out there,

758
00:41:04,960 --> 00:41:10,840
Speaker 4: found that they weren't meeting conditions they deem to be

759
00:41:10,880 --> 00:41:15,399
Speaker 4: proper for the handling of the octopus, and subsequently they

760
00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:19,480
Speaker 4: didn't want to take the health risk that people will

761
00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:21,120
Speaker 4: could get sick.

762
00:41:21,239 --> 00:41:26,600
Speaker 2: We're talking fifty grand of seafood. Steve, have these health

763
00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:27,799
Speaker 2: officials gone too far?

764
00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:31,279
Speaker 3: Well, you look, the health officials have been out on

765
00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:33,960
Speaker 3: the ground. They've looked at all of the situation there.

766
00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:37,360
Speaker 3: They've looked at the handling of this octopus. Does it

767
00:41:37,640 --> 00:41:42,239
Speaker 3: meet food handling requirements, does it meet the safety requirements

768
00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:44,919
Speaker 3: for consumption? I think the health officials have had to

769
00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:47,360
Speaker 3: look right through this and they've made that decision. But

770
00:41:47,880 --> 00:41:49,480
Speaker 3: I think you know, when it comes to Glente, I

771
00:41:49,520 --> 00:41:53,120
Speaker 3: think what we need to do is continue to promote

772
00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:55,440
Speaker 3: the positives around Glenty and we know that this has

773
00:41:55,440 --> 00:41:57,759
Speaker 3: been an amazing festival for a number of years and

774
00:41:58,760 --> 00:42:02,760
Speaker 3: hopefully this won't be dampner for people. Let's encourage everyone

775
00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:05,800
Speaker 3: to get along there and support to all of the Greeks.

776
00:42:06,040 --> 00:42:09,360
Speaker 3: The Colnians are no doubt to devastated by this years,

777
00:42:09,400 --> 00:42:12,520
Speaker 3: but I think everyone should get along there, get out

778
00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:15,239
Speaker 3: there and support them. They've done some great work over

779
00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:16,480
Speaker 3: the years and we need to acknowledge it.

780
00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:18,080
Speaker 4: Look, there's no doubt there's going to be Look, there

781
00:42:18,080 --> 00:42:25,120
Speaker 4: will be plenty of everything that's for.

782
00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:23,160
Speaker 1: You, for everyone.

783
00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:25,120
Speaker 4: Yes, so you'll still have lots of fun. It's still

784
00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:26,040
Speaker 4: going to be the great occasion.

785
00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:29,960
Speaker 3: It is the food, the entertainment. Look, you really can't

786
00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:31,440
Speaker 3: miss Glenty if you're in Dahe.

787
00:42:31,360 --> 00:42:32,280
Speaker 1: No you can't.

788
00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:35,600
Speaker 2: I mean, Chancey, it's certainly a bit of a concern

789
00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:38,759
Speaker 2: for us here for the Glenty. But Alice Springs, you

790
00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:41,080
Speaker 2: guys are gearing up and we touched on this early

791
00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:43,840
Speaker 2: in the show, but a massive weekend in central Australia.

792
00:42:44,840 --> 00:42:49,000
Speaker 5: Yeah, no, look, certainly, you know, hopefully they can resolve

793
00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:50,960
Speaker 5: those issues up in the top end for glenty. We

794
00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:55,200
Speaker 5: know it's an amazing festival down here. A't think weekend

795
00:42:55,320 --> 00:42:59,360
Speaker 5: so everyone's got the phink fever. We've had lots really

796
00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:04,120
Speaker 5: happy to see. The Stewart highways have just been packed

797
00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:08,920
Speaker 5: with you know, cars, dirt bikes, trailers, campers, everything. So

798
00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:13,640
Speaker 5: it's not only good social event for everyone and really

799
00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:16,440
Speaker 5: makes the community come together and feel good, but it's

800
00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:18,920
Speaker 5: good for the economics of the town. So you know,

801
00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:22,640
Speaker 5: people spending money in our shops and in our communities

802
00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:25,960
Speaker 5: and getting out in that beautiful red soil. So I

803
00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:30,120
Speaker 5: think main main thing, Katie is just encourage everyone to

804
00:43:30,239 --> 00:43:33,440
Speaker 5: drink responsibly and don't be an idiot and get behind

805
00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:36,279
Speaker 5: the wheel, you know, make sure that you do things

806
00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:39,919
Speaker 5: safely because we know that unfortunately this is a while.

807
00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:41,960
Speaker 5: It's a great weekend for all of us. It's a

808
00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:45,960
Speaker 5: very busy weekend for our hospital and health professionals in

809
00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:49,960
Speaker 5: our springs. Kids. Sometimes people think there are ten football

810
00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:52,160
Speaker 5: and you know get carried away a bit.

811
00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:53,880
Speaker 1: Yeah they do, there is no doubt.

812
00:43:53,920 --> 00:43:55,960
Speaker 2: Well, it has been wonderful to have you all on

813
00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:58,359
Speaker 2: the show this morning. Steve Edgington, the Minister for Health,

814
00:43:58,400 --> 00:43:59,960
Speaker 2: thanks so much for your time this morning.

815
00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:03,160
Speaker 3: Thanks Katie. And just to finish off, get along to Glenty.

816
00:44:03,239 --> 00:44:05,520
Speaker 3: It's going to be a great you know, there's going

817
00:44:05,560 --> 00:44:07,960
Speaker 3: to be some fantastic food, plenty of entertainment, so get

818
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:09,760
Speaker 3: along and support to the Greek festival.

819
00:44:09,880 --> 00:44:10,560
Speaker 1: Absolutely.

820
00:44:10,640 --> 00:44:13,279
Speaker 2: Head of News at the NT News, Gary Shipway, good

821
00:44:13,320 --> 00:44:14,480
Speaker 2: to see you this morning, mate.

822
00:44:14,520 --> 00:44:16,680
Speaker 4: Thank you. Don't forget to try the Methos beer.

823
00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:18,879
Speaker 1: Oh there you go.

824
00:44:19,360 --> 00:44:23,799
Speaker 2: And Chancey Pig the member for Gaga. Good good to

825
00:44:23,880 --> 00:44:25,400
Speaker 2: have you on the show this morning.

826
00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:29,960
Speaker 5: No worries Katie, and certainly shout out to everyone up

827
00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:33,399
Speaker 5: in Darwen. Have a great long weekend, enjoy Glenty. We've

828
00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:36,800
Speaker 5: got the Barunga Festival on in the middle of the territory,

829
00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:40,480
Speaker 5: so shout out to all that amazing concerts and stuff

830
00:44:40,520 --> 00:44:44,120
Speaker 5: going on their activities. And then certainly think down here

831
00:44:44,160 --> 00:44:48,400
Speaker 5: in beautiful Central Australia. So I think this weekend safe

832
00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:54,480
Speaker 5: to say there is certainly something for everyone, so really

833
00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:56,520
Speaker 5: really great time to celebrate being territorial.

834
00:44:56,640 --> 00:44:57,160
Speaker 1: Yeah it is.

835
00:44:57,239 --> 00:44:59,399
Speaker 2: It truly is wonderful to have you all on the show,

836
00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:02,080
Speaker 2: Thanks so much for your time. You are indeed listening

837
00:45:02,320 --> 00:45:04,400
Speaker 2: to Mix one O four nine's three sixty