1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Now we know that tourism certainly is doing it tough 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,399 Speaker 1: and have been for quite some time, but these lockdowns 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: no doubt having a massive impact. And joining us on 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: the line to talk more about this is Tourism Top 5 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: Ends General Manager, Glenn Hingley, Good morning to you, Glenn. 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 2: Katie, good morning, good morning listeners. 7 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: Glenn, I know that well you are advocating for urgent 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: support for the industry which was already losing up to 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: seven point six million dollars per day with our key 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: domestic markets in lockdown before the current lockdown was introduced 11 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: in Darwin and Catherine, Glenn, just how tough for our 12 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: tourism operators going at this point. 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: Doing incredibly tough. I mean from a tourism perspective, first 14 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: and foremost, the customers of tourism are actually sitting in Sydney, 15 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 2: in Melbourne before this current lockdown and they're in lockdown. 16 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: So lockdown in our southern states since prior to the 17 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: last lockdown in Bowen has been lockow and on tourism 18 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: industry and so many of our our small businesses have 19 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: been relying upon the tourists that are here who don't 20 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 2: want to be of course loving the lifestyle and what 21 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,199 Speaker 2: have you. They've been just so dependent upon the tourists 22 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 2: are in town and the top end to turn a dollar. 23 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 2: And you know, can I just say too, My heart 24 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: is with and our thoughts are with all of Darwin 25 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: and Catherine's casual workers who right now are sitting at 26 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: home with no income yet will still be faced with 27 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 2: bills for rent, their mortgages, their electricity, all their fixed costs, 28 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: but have no income support whatsoever. And equally for all 29 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: those businesses that we're doing it extremely tough, and the 30 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 2: tourism sector and for all businesses doing it tough this week, 31 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: he'll still be faced with their bills from their landlords, 32 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: from their electricity, from their insurances. A thousand dollars is 33 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: going to go nowhere, nowhere to helping these people at 34 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: these times who have had to close their businesses through 35 00:01:59,000 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: no fauld of their own. 36 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: Glenn, what can the government do, like what can happen 37 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: in this space for our tourism operators and those that 38 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: work in tourism. 39 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: Well, I think what we're calling on then territory government 40 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 2: and the Commonwealth government to get beyond just talking, but 41 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: to move quickly and to come forward together with assistance 42 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 2: packages to keep Territorians connected with their businesses. So we're 43 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 2: talking about job keeper mark too. As much as everyone 44 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 2: wants to deflect it and they don't call it that, 45 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 2: we know that that worked last year. We know that 46 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: that kept businesses afloat, and we know that it kept 47 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: it genuine businesses afloat and Territorians connected to their businesses. 48 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 2: And we also need a program to help those businesses 49 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 2: in severe financial distress right now to be able to 50 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: meet their fixed costs such as their rent, their leases, 51 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: insurances and other major expenses. It's these businesses that are 52 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: critical to our tourism industry. It's these businesses that weren't 53 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 2: picked up in tourism bouts, which we all remember fondly. 54 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: You know, around one, two and three there was still 55 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: a sector of our tourism industry. And mainly I'm talking 56 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: about our touring companies. The reasons why people come to 57 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 2: the territory to the top end. They every Territorian's got 58 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: a car, or had access to a car, or they 59 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: rented a car. Very few, in fact, very few got 60 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 2: on one of our award winning local touring companies to 61 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: go to Lichfield, to go to Kakadu to go to 62 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 2: around Darwin. Those businesses are in dire need because we 63 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,079 Speaker 2: know they're the reasons why people get on the plane, 64 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 2: stay in the hotels, eat in the restaurants, eat shop 65 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 2: at the retailers so that they can get out and 66 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: around on these award winning and I say national international 67 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: award winning tour companies that have been with us for 68 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: decades that are in severe crisis at the moment. So 69 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: we've got to look after those businesses. And I get 70 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: all businesses are hurting, but there are some businesses that 71 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: are genuinely doing it extremely tough that are sitting at home, 72 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: living in their depots. There's a question do they close 73 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: the business, do they keep They've sold off as much 74 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 2: of their small touring vehicles as they can, and that 75 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: they don't know where the next dollar is going to 76 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: come from or they're getting is bills being sent to 77 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 2: them that they must pay. So we need support around 78 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 2: rent relief. We absolutely need a moratorymde government costs for 79 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 2: these small businesses and we need to help them keep 80 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 2: staff connected to their businesses because when in order for 81 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 2: the economy to bounce back, these businesses need to be 82 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 2: able to fire up straight away. And I like in 83 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 2: this pandemic situation to a cyclone. When a cyclone comes in, 84 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 2: it takes out a lot of businesses have to go 85 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 2: through that reconstruction phase, and government plays a big role 86 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 2: in getting infrastructure back up and running, and then they 87 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: go into a marketing phase to get tourists and visitors 88 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 2: coming back to the destination, be at the top End 89 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 2: or cans. But if we don't have the staff in place, 90 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 2: it's all for nothing because the businesses can't operate because 91 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 2: those staff are unemployed and potentially left and gone back 92 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 2: home to Sydney Melbourne. So there's a couple of things 93 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 2: here that are acutely felt. And I know that we're 94 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: in the middle of Darwin and Catherine lockdown at the moment, 95 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 2: But this isn't a cry for help based upon the 96 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: current situation. This has been going on for some time. 97 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 2: And the businesses that are so dependent upon having a 98 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: cracking July in August so that they can have enough 99 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: money in their cash flow to get through Christmas. Right 100 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 2: now we're faced with businesses that won't be around in Christmas. 101 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 2: They won't be able to put through it on the 102 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: table for family at Christmas Day. You know, I'm grateful 103 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 2: that the government's trying to do something, but a thousand 104 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: dollars isn't going. 105 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: To do it, no, And you know you're right, Like 106 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, you and I have 107 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: been talking about this for weeks now, for even longer, 108 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: and this just this latest lockdown really just exasperates the situation. Glenn, 109 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: how from tourism's perspective, how are you feeling about the fact. 110 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I know the Chief Minister's been out on 111 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: his social media this morning and said that there's no 112 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: new cases overnight in the Northern territory. Is it a 113 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:01,679 Speaker 1: concern to you that a whole tree can be locked 114 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 1: down with one case of COVID? 115 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 2: Katie, I think one of the things I'm enormously proud 116 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 2: of the industry that I work in is putting the 117 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 2: healthful well being of territorians first, all territorians, especially that 118 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 2: third of our territories that are considered most vulnerable, and 119 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: that we can't take a chance. We saw that New 120 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 2: South Wales started with one driver just doing his job, 121 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 2: taking an American flight crew to the airport. And look 122 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 2: where they're at now, and look how many people have 123 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: lost their lives. We saw this has happened time and 124 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,559 Speaker 2: time again in other parts around Astray and around the world. 125 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: So from a we've got to put community in the 126 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,679 Speaker 2: health of businesses first, I don't think you find anyone 127 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 2: in tourism saying that this is the wrong move and 128 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 2: that it had to be done quickly, but equally that 129 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 2: there's also got to be an understanding that there's an 130 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 2: ethical responsibility here by government to support those businesses. It 131 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 2: closes down that in that dire need that can't get 132 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 2: through these for tourism. And I'm sorry for everyone listening 133 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: that's not in the tourism industry saying our business is 134 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 2: suffering as well. I get that, but our customers in 135 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 2: the tourism industry have been in lockdown now for months. 136 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: We haven't seen any new customers. The analysis that's been 137 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: done already is that this year, instead of being able 138 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 2: to achieve what we did in twenty nineteen of two 139 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 2: point four billion dollar contribution to our economy, this year 140 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 2: we've seen a lot of one point six billion dollars 141 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: in canceled and full gone bookings. People that normally would 142 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 2: come from international markets and interstate markets aren't coming here 143 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: and the tourism sector, the visitor economy is number four 144 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 2: in the economic drivers of this territory. If we are 145 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: going to get out of this economic pay that we've 146 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 2: been in for so long time now, tourism is one 147 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 2: of the drivers. It brings new money to the territory. 148 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 2: And I think government cannot expect small business to be 149 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 2: the credit card of this pandemic. It is just not 150 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 2: fair on these small businesses and the Territorians are employed. 151 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 2: Government has a moral and ethical duty to step in 152 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 2: and support these businesses and they're done through a range 153 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: of initiatives. And one of the things that certainly we're 154 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 2: calling on is we know since May that there's been 155 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 2: a round four of ours in the wind, but for 156 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: reasons that we don't understand, government has yet to announce 157 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 2: when round four will be. We've heard October, we've heard 158 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 2: over Christmas. Businesses need that certainty now and we're calling 159 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: on the Chief Minister and the government to say, let's 160 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: agree that vouchers so Territorians complain what they're going to 161 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 2: do for Christmas right now, what they can be doing 162 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:38,839 Speaker 2: in traveling when this lockdown lives, because we know they 163 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 2: can't go to Sydney, Melbourne, so Territorians can do it. 164 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 2: Let's get that moving. We know that that's going to 165 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 2: give business certainly in continuity straight back, and let's not 166 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 2: change the rules and make these adjustments. We've heard these 167 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 2: plays that we're making adjustments to it all. It was 168 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 2: complicated enough the first time. We've got it by the 169 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 2: second and third roll before. And the other one is 170 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: let's have a fair can look at businesses who are 171 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 2: on the cusp of survival. We need to keep them solvent. 172 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, look, I really appreciate you having a chat 173 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: with us this morning, Glenn, and I know I feel 174 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: for our tourism operators, for everybody that's working in tourism 175 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: at the moment. These are such uncertain times. But you know, 176 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: then when you take away the customer base as different 177 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: states are in lockdown, and we all get it, we 178 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: all understand that it's got to stay safe. We've got 179 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: to be safe for everybody and keep territory and safe. 180 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: But we also need to start thinking a bit more 181 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: broadly about you know, about those vaccination rates and what 182 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: we need to be at in order to stay opened. 183 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, the vaccination, you know, it depends on wherever you 184 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 2: stand on the vaccination, what's the alternative? What vaccination for 185 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 2: us is the light at the end of the tunnel, 186 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 2: And in the meantime it is practices like the QR code, 187 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 2: the check in app. You know. I've spent this morning 188 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 2: on a zoom call with thirty of our member businesses 189 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 2: around Catherine doing a general check in. How are you going? 190 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 2: What have we learned? Got any questions that haven't been 191 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 2: answered just yet? But one of the biggest concerns that 192 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 2: came out of that was that which we know that 193 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,559 Speaker 2: the lockdown continues while we try to sort out those 194 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 2: people who didn't check in. It's simple, it's easy. Hopefully 195 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,199 Speaker 2: people have seen the messaging around that we've joined forces 196 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: with Hospitality and Tea in the Day and City Waterfront 197 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 2: Retails Association to have a television campaign that we're funding, 198 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 2: they're not for profits funding to encourage people to please 199 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 2: check in because we know that's what makes the track 200 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 2: and tracing so much easier. And get these businesses and 201 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 2: to get these territorians and so much of our territorians 202 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 2: in our tourism, hospitality and retail space a casual workforce. 203 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 2: When there's a lockdown, these guys lose their income, but 204 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 2: their bills keep coming. We've got to get out of 205 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 2: this and we've got to support them when we do 206 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 2: go through these necessary lockdowns. Thank you. 207 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, we are going to have to leave it there, mate. 208 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: I always appreciate your time. Thank you so very much 209 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: for having a chat with us. And look, this is 210 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: something that I want to make sure that I do 211 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: talk about this week as well on the week that was. 212 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,200 Speaker 1: I think it's really important that we have this discussion 213 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,679 Speaker 1: about the impacts on our tourism operators. 214 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. Good on Territorium. 215 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, mate, thank you so much for your time 216 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 1: this morning. We'll talk to you again soon. 217 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 2: Thank you, Kerry, thank you, and everyone stay safe and 218 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 2: we'll get through it. 219 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely good on you. Glenn. That's Tourism top end 220 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: general manager there, Glenn Hingley. And and yeah, it is 221 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: such a difficult time for you know, for those that 222 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: work in tourism.