1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: It is Friday morning. It's time for the last week 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: that was for the year. And joining me in the 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: studio is the opposition leader Leofanocchiaro. Good morning to you 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: morning and merry Christmas. We made it, We made it. 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 2: Woo. 6 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: We've got Keysier Puric, the Independent member for Goida, in 7 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: what is a very fancy Christmas hat. Good morning to you, 8 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: stylish bush hats. 9 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, Good morning rural people. 10 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: We will take a photo later to make sure that 11 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: it goes up on the social so everybody can see 12 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: the magnificent hat. We've also got Paul Kirby, the Minister 13 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: for plenty of these small business I'm trying to remember 14 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 1: the other portfolios of the public. 15 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 3: Lots of faation, innovation, yes, digital, corporate development, affairs, wreck fishing. 16 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: There you go, you got it all covered. 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 2: Morning. 18 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: Thank you for being here this morning. And we've got 19 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: Matt Cunningham from Sky News. Good morning to you mate, 20 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: and well it's certainly been a busy week. These two 21 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 1: are just checking on the weather. It looks like that 22 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: storm's going underneath us. 23 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 4: So doesn't it kind of shame? Yes, it's a what 24 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 4: up we're not to get but. 25 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: We're not going to get it at this stage by 26 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: the look of us. Now, it's been an incredibly busy 27 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: week and the Territory government will has back down on 28 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: their plans to restrict those arrivals to the territory. Well, 29 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: originally it was just going to be to Darwin, Catherine 30 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: and Allas Springs. Now the Deputy Chief Minister, Nicole Madison 31 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: called the modest changes. I called it a pretty massive backflip, 32 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: and they were changes that we'll see travelers banned from 33 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: sixty six remote communities that have vaccination rates that are 34 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: below eighty percent. And it does mean though that our 35 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: tourism sector, I think has been able to sort of 36 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: sigh a bit of relief because they were staring down 37 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: the barrel of what was going to be a really 38 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: terrible time. 39 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 5: Unfortunately, many thousands of people have already canceled their travel plans, 40 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 5: both Territorians and people coming from interstate and I think 41 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 5: all of us listening have spoken to people on both 42 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 5: sides who've changed those plans, and that is going to 43 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 5: be really difficult. The wet season is a very slow 44 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 5: time in the territory as it is, and then to 45 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 5: have lost any opportunity for tourism. Really, that backflip came 46 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 5: too little, too late. It should never have happened in 47 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 5: the first place. I mean, when you're putting in place 48 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 5: rules to keep people safe and allow people opportunity to travel, 49 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 5: they have to be workable. And these were some of 50 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 5: the most impractical, illogical, illogical rules we've seen yet come 51 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 5: out of the Gunner government. I think Michael Gunner was 52 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 5: obviously needing a holiday. He wanted to do his last 53 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 5: hurrah in front of the flags and drop this bombshell 54 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,399 Speaker 5: nicked off to cans and while are the girls came 55 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 5: in and mop up the mess. 56 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: Again. 57 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 2: This is I think three years in a row. 58 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 6: And I think I said last week or whenever it 59 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 6: was on here last time, that this comes down to 60 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 6: a matter of trust. And the fact is that and 61 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 6: I was just only speaking to someone just just before 62 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 6: I came in, and he said, look, Guta said, you know, 63 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 6: get the vaccination right at the sleeves. 64 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 2: So people did that. You know it will work through this. 65 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 6: You know, the twentieth of December will have new changes. 66 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 6: You'll be able to travel more, You'll be able to 67 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 6: go here, go there as a terror because you've been vaccinated. 68 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 6: You know, trust me, believe in me. So people did that, 69 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 6: the businesses believe, the individuals believed and come, you know, 70 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 6: a couple of days before the twentieth Bang changes the 71 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 6: rules with no consultation. Even the isolated Children's Parents Association 72 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 6: came out. Now they're a very conservative group, they came 73 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 6: out and blasted the government for their lack of capability, 74 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 6: their lack of care, and their lack of compassion. And 75 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 6: also what it shows to me is not only was 76 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,679 Speaker 6: there no consultation, no one, not one person perhaps within 77 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 6: cabinet or the SEMSE or within the caucus, made a 78 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 6: question that says, what if we make this decision, how 79 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 6: is that going to impact on everyday ten things? 80 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 2: And no one did it. 81 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 7: I think that's because no one in the caucus was consulted. 82 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 8: I'm happy to clear up. 83 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 3: Right the way through these last eighteen months, Simpsey have 84 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 3: made these decisions, and right the way through there's been 85 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 3: bodies of people or different individuals that haven't been happy 86 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 3: with portions of the decision. So it absolutely is Sempsey 87 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 3: that make those decisions. What we have seen with COVID 88 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 3: is that things change right the way through. So yep, 89 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 3: we say that people get we get to eighty percent 90 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 3: across the territory and it's going to get us to 91 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 3: a level to be able to. 92 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 8: Move around freely. 93 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 3: Now as we found out some of our remote communities 94 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 3: were just ridiculously below that. What we do know, what 95 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 3: we have seen down south at the moment is some 96 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 3: massive increases in COVID, So we know it's going to 97 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 3: be here next year. So the decision that was made 98 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 3: had to have some changes made to it. That's what 99 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 3: we've seen people step through last week. Wasn't just some 100 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 3: of us boys got in. 101 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 4: I mean talk about an echo chamber. 102 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 5: How can SEMSE be so detached from reality that they 103 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:44,239 Speaker 5: wouldn't have even thought through the practicalities of how people 104 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 5: would do this. And to top it off, the government's 105 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 5: actually closing down testing clinics over the Christmas period, which 106 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 5: I can understand because mostly the staff want to close 107 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 5: on a. 108 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: Holiday, but the testing clinics in just a moment. But 109 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: I do want to really, you know, not through this 110 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: situation with the changes, and I will say, you know, look, 111 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: the government could have really dug their heels scene over 112 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: this and could have said, no, we've made this decision 113 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: and We've based it on you know, health advice that 114 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: we've been provided and we're not changing it. So I 115 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: will give credit where it's due that it did change. 116 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: But it was a lot of kicking and screaming. I mean, 117 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: right from Friday last week we were talking about this one. 118 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 6: I hear what you say, and I think samc is 119 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 6: obviously Chief Minister Health Commissioner. Whoever else is in there, well, 120 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 6: they need to take a hard look at the Northern 121 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 6: territory and look at the actual landscape and who lives where, 122 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 6: the demographics. So to make the decision that the one 123 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 6: that we know about most highlighted was of course all 124 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 6: the kids returning from boarding school and perhaps you know, 125 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 6: university and things of that age and FI FI workers. 126 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 2: You know that they would have to kill it. 127 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 1: We couldn't even have essential workers going back to work. 128 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 4: What about in Catherine. 129 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 5: There were literally streets in Catherine, just random streets in Catherine. 130 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 4: Yact where you've lived on Once you're in and if 131 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 4: you and you're out, I know, no. 132 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: One disputes, no one, just it's Paul. 133 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 6: You know that we've got to take clear medical advice 134 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 6: that's all around the country from the Chief health officers 135 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 6: to the number one health officer for Australia. 136 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 2: No one disputes that. 137 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 6: So that person gives clear advice, clinical advice, medical advice, 138 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 6: pandemic advice. That's fine. Then it goes to the next 139 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 6: level down and those people then have to implement the advice. 140 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 6: That level is the one that should have been saying, Okay, 141 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 6: how is this going to impact on ex people traveling 142 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 6: through haws? It going to impact on the hundreds of 143 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 6: kids who live on cattle stations, how's it going to 144 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 6: impact on the tourist industry? And the person who lives 145 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 6: in Pine Creek or Timber Creek for that matter, or 146 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 6: Nulan boy, they're not going to get home. I mean, 147 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 6: I had a case of two grandchildren in Marrakai. I 148 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 6: wanted to get down to see their dad. And it's 149 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 6: all sorted now because it's changed, but one is legally blind. 150 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: He's sixteen and eleven year old. 151 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 6: Now they were going to go and see dad, come 152 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 6: back and have to stay in Darwin. The grandma has 153 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 6: no capability or capacity to fund that. She lives in 154 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 6: Maracai in the middle of wood war. And you've got 155 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 6: these two young boys, like I did, write to the minister. 156 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 2: But then things change. It wrong the way. But that's 157 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 2: just an example. It wasn't thought through. 158 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 6: Now, for goodness sake, as I think LEAs said this, 159 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 6: we've been at this for two years now, and the 160 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 6: government should be well versed and well practiced before you 161 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 6: actually do anything. 162 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 2: Or have it. You know, a brain, you know, we've 163 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: got to do this. We've got to stop getting into 164 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 2: our low. 165 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 6: Communities, for goodness sake, get out and talk to the 166 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 6: bloody affected groups like land counselors like what's John Patterson's like, 167 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 6: the industry, groups like isolated children's parents like anyone. 168 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: Heartbreaking. Just when I spoke to the parents of the 169 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: Isolated Children's Association earlier in the week and she had 170 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: said that there was going to be like there was 171 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: literally going to be kids who weren't spending Christmas with 172 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: their families and with their parents, And I thought, shit, 173 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: how have we gotten it so wrong? 174 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 2: Where were they going to spend Christmas? 175 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: Well, that's wrong. 176 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: I'm a boarding school kid. Now, when boarding school end 177 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 2: of the year, ta. 178 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: Classes the school closer, when you. 179 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: Have relatives, what were they going to do with these kids? 180 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 6: Yeah, obviously a parent was going to have to fly 181 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 6: down to wherever they've come from. 182 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 2: What you expense to families. 183 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 7: What strikes me is strange is so mind standing is 184 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 7: simply exists when it needs to make quick decisions about 185 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 7: things like, oh, we've got cases, we need to lock down, 186 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 7: or we need to do a lockout. This was a 187 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 7: decision that had been months and months in the planning. 188 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 7: You remember it was first and now it's probably back 189 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 7: in September or October fifty days to freedom. Remember we 190 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 7: got vaccination, and so we've been on that track the 191 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 7: whole way, and then we've been given this date of 192 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 7: December the twentieth, and everyone was moving towards that day, 193 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 7: and then it was like one day they woke up 194 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 7: and changed their mind. And when they did that, they 195 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 7: actually didn't consult with anyone. Now, Nicle Andison at the 196 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 7: Press Comperence the other day said, oh, we consulted with 197 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 7: you know, but then our specifics. She couldn't give an 198 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 7: example of a single person or a single group the 199 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 7: government had consulted with. 200 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: Then we've spoken for after. 201 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 7: This wasn't an emergency we need to lock down decision. 202 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 7: This was a decision that had been months and months 203 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 7: in the planning that suddenly changed overnight. 204 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 5: I mean, you know, the Chief Minister stood up at 205 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 5: Carol's by candlelight, and I was there with my family 206 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 5: and sort of sprout twenty December is this wonderful opportunity 207 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 5: and we're backing in territories and you will be with 208 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 5: your loved ones, and you know, really hammed it up 209 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,319 Speaker 5: and then literally a couple of days later just bang 210 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 5: and crashed it around people, and you know it was 211 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 5: actually funny. And the lead up to that announcement, when 212 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 5: I'm always out talking to people, so many people said 213 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 5: to me, I'd be like, oh, you know you're booking 214 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 5: travel now twenty December you'll be able to see family, 215 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 5: and people saying no, I actually don't believe he's going 216 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 5: to stick to it. And then this happened, and I 217 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 5: think people now are just they really don't know where 218 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 5: to go because the uncertainty and that erosion of confidence 219 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 5: is the most damaging part of all of this. 220 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: Curbs what were I mean, you are the Minister for 221 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: Small Business, What were some of those small businesses saying 222 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: to you over that period of time where it was 223 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: looking as though that Christmas period was going to be 224 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: pretty blak. 225 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 3: Certainly, we had a lot of conversations post that announcement 226 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: with small businesses, with tourism businesses. We've been working pretty 227 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 3: hard with Tourism Central Australia and I know they will 228 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 3: come out and and speak about some of those changes. 229 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 3: We'd certainly done a mountain of work with the federal 230 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 3: government to make sure there's other financial incentives for Tourism 231 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 3: Central Australia businesses that we know are going to struggle 232 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 3: to get through the next few months. I know that 233 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 3: my family isn't going to travel this year. That's well 234 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 3: partly because Leila can't get vaccinated until next year, but 235 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 3: also because we knew what was going to happen into state. 236 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 3: I know it's easy to sit and say that a 237 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 3: lot of people's travel arrangements were decided around the twentieth 238 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 3: of December announcement, but there's a lot of people that 239 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: are just being very pragmatic and going, I'm actually not 240 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,199 Speaker 3: going to go anywhere. I know that this virus virus 241 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 3: is going to start to transport around the nation really quickly, 242 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 3: and we want to bunk it down in the territory 243 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 3: and just stay here for Christmas. 244 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: I want to just take you to a little bit 245 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: of what Daniel Rochford had told me yesterday following on 246 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: from the initial announcement being made and that real sense 247 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: of absolute dread that was being felt by some in 248 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: the tourism sector. If if you missed that interview with 249 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: Daniel Rochford yesterday, take a listen to what he told me. 250 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 9: I was taking calls. You know, people were openly breaking down, 251 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 9: crying on phone calls to me, and you know, there 252 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 9: were a number of people that I was really deeply, 253 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 9: seriously worried about their whether they might take their own 254 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 9: lives over the current state of play. So look, one 255 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 9: of the great things about our industry is that we 256 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 9: all have each other's back. 257 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: And look, I know, like I found that really hard 258 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: to hear actually, if I'm honest earlier in the week, 259 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: and I play that because I think it's really important 260 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: that all of us, and particularly those that are in 261 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: those decision making processes, understand the mental impact that it 262 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: has on some of our tourism operators, on some of 263 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: our business owners, on some in the community who have 264 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: you know, who haven't seen their families for two years, 265 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: and I know it's been so tough for so many 266 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,079 Speaker 1: and we're not immune to it here in the Northern 267 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: Territory and we probably haven't felt it anywhere near as 268 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: badly as what some other locations around Australia and around 269 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: the world have felt it. But gee, for some of 270 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: those operators in Central Australia to hear that from Daniel Rochford, 271 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: it is it's hard to hear. 272 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 7: I think from a tourism point of view, some of 273 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 7: those operators have probably had it worse than anywhere in 274 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 7: the country. I mean they've been You look at it, say, 275 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 7: if you're a tourism operator in Central Australia, you rely 276 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 7: a great deal on international tourism, which has been completely 277 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 7: cut off now for almost two years. And you also 278 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 7: rely on domestic tourism, particularly from Sydney and Melbourne, which 279 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 7: has been cut off for the best part. Well Sydney's 280 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 7: been cut off for pretty much all of this year, 281 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 7: in Melbourne for the past two years, so you know, 282 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 7: they've probably been hit harder than anywhere in the country. 283 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 7: And then to have their last room mate. What that 284 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 7: decision did was it cut off the last remaining markets 285 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 7: they had. It meant that people who were coming from Brisbane, 286 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 7: or from Perth, or from Adelaide or from Hobart. They 287 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 7: suddenly couldn't come. So the last little sceric they had 288 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 7: to hold on to was taken away from them. And 289 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 7: now I know the decisions been reversed, but I thinkily 290 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 7: made the point before. How many bookings have been canceled 291 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 7: in the six days between when the decision was made 292 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 7: and when the decision was reversed. 293 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 5: Well, I know one business in the Greater Darwin region, 294 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 5: I'll say, who lost twenty thousand dollars worth of booking. 295 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 4: So that's just one business. 296 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 5: You imagine in Central Australia that would be profound And 297 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,479 Speaker 5: I think you know a lot of people think businesses 298 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 5: are these big rich organizations that can just take everything. 299 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 5: But in the territory, most businesses a mum and dad 300 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,559 Speaker 5: family businesses. And that means when they lose twenty thousand 301 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 5: dollars worth of work, that means they're firing staff, that 302 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 5: means they're not paying their rent, not able to pay 303 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 5: their bills, how do they pay for the food they 304 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 5: might have ordered or the fuel they've ordered, and ultimately 305 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 5: their house and their family are on the line. I mean, 306 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 5: these are real people with real skin in the game. 307 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 5: And it's okay if you're a salary owner like I am, 308 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 5: and you know you wake up every fortnight and the 309 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 5: pay goes in. But when you're a small family business, 310 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 5: there is literally your life, to some extenters on the 311 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 5: line every single day. 312 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 3: We know that tourism has been hit harder than most 313 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 3: other industries in the Northern Territory. Since becoming the Small 314 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 3: Business Minister, we spent a lot of time in Alice 315 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 3: Springs and a lot of time speaking with Daniel from 316 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:20,239 Speaker 3: Right in the Get Go September October last year. Daniel's 317 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 3: relayed exactly that same conversation to us that it is 318 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 3: extremely tough in Central Australia. We thought that twenty twenty 319 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 3: one would be better for Central Australia because even though 320 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 3: the international travel was still unsure, but the domestic travel 321 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 3: would get better. With what's happened with Sydney and Melbourne 322 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 3: this year. That didn't turn out to be the case. 323 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 3: So we have put a lot of time and effort 324 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 3: into revamping some of that funding and working with the 325 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 3: federal government to make sure that people that have had 326 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 3: to hibernate, people that have had to close businesses or 327 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 3: lost Over fifty percent have got access to money now 328 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 3: in Central Australia to try and help them get through. 329 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: Well, look, we might take a very short break and 330 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: when we come back, I do want to talk a 331 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: little bit more about what it's going to happen when 332 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: it comes to the testing requirements. If you do travel 333 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: over the Christmas period, you are listening to Mix one 334 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: oh four point nine. It is the week that was 335 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: also broadcast on eighth. It is twenty three minutes after 336 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: nine o'clock and it is the last the last week 337 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: that was for the year, the Christmas edition. Usually we 338 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: get to do the year that was, but unfortunately there 339 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: is so much happening around the place with COVID and 340 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: the changes that we didn't get the chance to do 341 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: the year that was. We're just doing a normal week 342 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: and one of the big changes that we are going 343 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: to see over the coming weeks these with these December 344 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: twenty you know, changes that are coming into place. I've 345 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: said changes about twenty times in that sentence, But it 346 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: is the testing and the testing requirements that are going 347 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: to come into play. I know that there are a 348 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: lot of people who are still quite confused by the 349 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: testing and what they need to do if they travel 350 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: into state. Just how many tests they are going to require. 351 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: I am pleased that it's not like the initial seven 352 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: I think was what we been told originally. Remember a 353 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: couple of months ago, it was looking like we're going 354 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: to need about seven tests. Fortunately that's no longer the case. 355 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: My understanding is that you've got to have a test 356 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: seventy two hours before entering the Northern Territory, seventy two 357 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: hours after you enter the Northern Territory, and then another 358 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: one six days in. Is that right, Curbs, Yeah. 359 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 3: Within that seventy two hour period of when you get 360 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 3: back to the territory, and you don't have to wait 361 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 3: for results. So there's a couple of examples, I suppose, 362 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 3: and I won't speak to exact specifics. And if people 363 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 3: are traveling or really encourage them to get on to 364 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 3: the website, have a look through and make sure that 365 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 3: they have got it clear in their head. But if 366 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 3: we've had some queries about people that do say long 367 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 3: term fishing charters that are going out for seven days yep. 368 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 8: So yep, seventy two hours before you come get tested. 369 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 8: Once you get to the territory. 370 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 3: You don't have to wait for that test, so you 371 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 3: can go through, get tested, head out on your charter. 372 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 3: And then we just need to clarify exactly how that 373 00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 3: sixth day test. 374 00:16:59,200 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 8: Is going to be done. 375 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 3: People aren't going to be in an area that they 376 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:05,159 Speaker 3: can readily get that done now. 377 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 5: I think that's what's so confusing about it. So people 378 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 5: are heard on I heard yesterday someone say that if 379 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 5: a cattle station, for example, worker can't be near a 380 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 5: PCR test and they can do rapid entergen. I think 381 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,880 Speaker 5: that phishing charter example is a really good one. Sure 382 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 5: you might land in Darwin or come home, drive home 383 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 5: and be able to get a test that day, but 384 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 5: if you're out for seven days, how do you possibly 385 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 5: do that on day six? And so will the government 386 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,439 Speaker 5: be allowing on a case by case basis people to 387 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 5: do rapid antagen testing, which you can buy at the 388 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 5: chemist and do every day if you like, versus the PCR. 389 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 5: And that's one of the biggest changes you mentioned, Katie. 390 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 5: This whole week we're going to have seven days of 391 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,880 Speaker 5: testing that was going to be there was rapid engigen 392 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 5: as part of that, whereas now the government said no, no, 393 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 5: no rapid ENGERGEN or PCR, and that's added additional layser 394 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 5: complication because of course you have to go to a REGISTERPLINIC. 395 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: So these are the two biggest questions that we've been 396 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: getting all throughout the week. Is it free? Are those 397 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: two free? And where can you get them? 398 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 3: My understanding is that people will be able to get packs. 399 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 3: I'm as I said, I will ask people to clarify 400 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 3: that for themselves before they go out. I will certainly 401 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 3: be in touch with the Health Minister and make sure 402 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 3: that information continues to go out. We haven't been charging 403 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 3: people for any of the tests up to date, and 404 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 3: we certainly hope that that remains the case. But yeah, 405 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 3: I don't want to speak to exact details because it 406 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 3: has changed recently. But my understanding is that people to 407 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 3: be able to take those packs, to be able to 408 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 3: do the rapid tests is certainly one of the ways 409 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 3: that we'll be looking for. 410 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 5: Again, well, you don't know, and you're a cabinet minister, 411 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 5: how on earth a two hundred and fifty thousand territories 412 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 5: meant to know, many of whom work and live in 413 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 5: remote areas, many of whom don't have phone reception. 414 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 4: I mean, it's it's it's been handled so badly. 415 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 1: I thought it had been said that press conference that 416 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 1: the tests were going to be free. 417 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 7: That was Danna was asked and said they would be free, be. 418 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 6: Free from government clinics, from for Marara for example, also Parmesan. 419 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 6: But constituents come to me and say they've rung those clinics. 420 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 6: I don't know which one told the. 421 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 7: Check because last week we talked about Katie and we 422 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 7: looked it up on the website and at. 423 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 1: That time you couldn't actually it said. 424 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:20,879 Speaker 7: Unless you've been a close contact or a couple of hours, 425 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 7: and I know you'd be had to go private. 426 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: And I know that some of those private ones we 427 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: have been told that if you just get the text 428 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 1: message basically back saying that you are negative, then that is, 429 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:36,199 Speaker 1: I believe free. But if you need a certificate and 430 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: a consultation that obviously costs money then is so? 431 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 6: How is the government going to track all the people 432 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 6: returning to the Northern test spot and when you get 433 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 6: your PCR test into state, yes, that interstate medical provider, 434 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 6: How and where are they going to send the information 435 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 6: to in the Northern Territory to say I'm coming back 436 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 6: from where respond and I arrived. So two hours what's that? 437 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 6: Two days? 438 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,919 Speaker 1: This fishing? Yep, this is definitely something. 439 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 5: Just showing the person at the airport, he is showing 440 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 5: the person at the border. And what about availability of testing? 441 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 5: I mean, all of a sudden, we're making everyone who 442 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 5: moves around gets several tests, which if you are out 443 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 5: Bush or if you're doing a road trip for example, 444 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 5: is going to be incredibly challenging and difficult. So are 445 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 5: we going to have testing centers in Darwin, Catherine, Tenant Creek, 446 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 5: Alice Springs and in a few more regional areas so 447 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 5: that anyone who's moving is able. 448 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: To get a Tell, Leah, you were saying before that 449 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: some of those testing centers are closing. That is that correct? 450 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 5: So what we're hearing is that you can't book Catherine 451 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 5: tests beyond sort of late ish December and that that 452 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,959 Speaker 5: won't reopen until the new year. Now, if that's the case, 453 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 5: how are people in that region going to be able 454 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 5: to get tests? And how are tourist going to be 455 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 5: So if you've if you've traveled from Winter State and 456 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 5: you're going to be visiting family and Catherine for exams 457 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,479 Speaker 5: or Matteranka or our bullshit it on a station. You know, 458 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 5: we need to make sure government needs to make sure 459 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 5: that those certainly at the least the major towns, but 460 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 5: even more than that are available for testing. Is if 461 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 5: people have to do this PCR then and we want 462 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 5: them to comply, it's got to be accessive. 463 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, we want to make sure that it is really clear. 464 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: And look, I appreciate Curves that you've stepped in at 465 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 1: the last minute this morning. I know that the health 466 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,360 Speaker 1: ministers had to go into that SIMC meeting as I understand, 467 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 1: so we know that you don't have all that details 468 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 1: as the biggest business minister, but we will certainly try 469 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: to make sure that we are able to get it 470 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: because honestly, there are so many people that are out 471 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 1: there listening who have been asking questions about this, Like 472 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: I said, some of them with the real specific of 473 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: is it free, you know, are we able to get 474 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: packs or do we need to go somewhere If we 475 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 1: need to go somewhere specific, is it only Marra and 476 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: is it the COVID location out in Palmerston Where exactly 477 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 1: can they go? And I think that the reality is 478 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 1: that it is all going to be made. It's going 479 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 1: to have to be made incredibly clear on the COVID 480 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: website because people are pretty lost at the moment with 481 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: it all. Matt, how'd you go with trying to book 482 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: him there? 483 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 7: I think that they've slightly updated it, but it's hard 484 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 7: to tell because it still talks about red zones and 485 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 7: green zones and if you've been in a sort of 486 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,120 Speaker 7: red zone area. So presumably that website's going to change 487 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 7: come the twentieth of December from what we've been told, 488 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 7: and that anyone will be able to book a PCR 489 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 7: test or yeah, you know when they arrive back. 490 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: It's going to be interesting to see how it all 491 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 1: unfolds on Monday. 492 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 5: But you're saying, Paul that once people get the PCR tests, 493 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 5: they don't have to wait for the negative result, or they 494 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,400 Speaker 5: don't have to isolate until it's negative. They can continue 495 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 5: on with what they were whatever their travel plans were 496 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:38,880 Speaker 5: going to be. 497 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 3: Wearing masks if they can't maintain that meter and a 498 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 3: half distance from everybody, but going about their normal business 499 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,400 Speaker 3: waiting until they get that result back. 500 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 7: This has surely got to be a temporary situation, though, Katie. 501 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 7: I mean, yeah, we're talking yesterday the new South Wales 502 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 7: Health Minister talking about twenty five thousand cases a day, right, 503 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 7: which you know, I'm sure at the high end of 504 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 7: what the experts are possibly predicting. But the virus is here, 505 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:08,680 Speaker 7: it's going to be here. We're going to see more 506 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 7: and more of it, and we're going to have to 507 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 7: get to a situation where we live with the virus. 508 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 7: We can't. I mean, if we have to every person 509 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 7: who comes to the Northern Territory has to have three tests, 510 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 7: that's going to add up to a hell of a 511 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 7: lot of money that either people are going to have 512 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 7: to pay all the government's saying they're going to have 513 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 7: to pay it. You know, all of these things that 514 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 7: we keep on doing. I think we need to get 515 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:35,679 Speaker 7: to a point at some point where we just go, Okay, 516 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 7: the virus is here, We're going to live with it, 517 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 7: and we're just going to make sure that our hospitals 518 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,719 Speaker 7: don't get overwhelmed. So you know that the daily measure 519 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 7: perhaps shouldn't be how many cases there were, It should 520 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 7: be how many people are in hospital, how many of 521 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 7: them are on ventilators. How many ventilators do we have. 522 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 3: You know, certainly one of the things with covid is, 523 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 3: it's constantly changing. So to be able to draw a 524 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 3: line in this end and say in six months time 525 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:00,080 Speaker 3: we're going to be in this spot, which I think 526 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 3: some of what we have seen happen with some of 527 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,399 Speaker 3: the vaccination rates in remote communities being as low as 528 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 3: they have in some of the tragedies that we've seen 529 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 3: over the last few weeks in those remote communities, it's 530 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 3: just meant that we've had to double down make sure 531 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 3: that we keep people in those areas as safe as 532 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 3: we possibly can. 533 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 8: So, yep, I've got absolutely no doubt things will change 534 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 8: into the future. 535 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,479 Speaker 3: But to be able to detail exactly how things are 536 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 3: going to look in six months time has been a 537 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 3: constant challenge over the last eighteen months. 538 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: We're going to take a very short break. You are 539 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: listening to Mix one oh four point nine's three sixty. 540 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: It is the Week that was. You are listening to 541 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: the Week that was. It is twenty five minutes away 542 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,880 Speaker 1: from ten o'clock and in the studio with me, Matt Cunningham, 543 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: Paul Kirby, Kesiopuric and Lea Fanocchiaro. Now, just a message 544 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: come through from Sarah this morning and it says, good morning. 545 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: The website can't be updated on the twentieth, as you 546 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,479 Speaker 1: need to apply for your past before then. If you're 547 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 1: flying in on the twentieth, My mom's flying in on 548 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 1: the twentieth, slash twenty first, and she's having this problem. 549 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: Now it's going to be interesting. It is going to 550 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,120 Speaker 1: be a bit of a dog's breakfast. I reckon come Monday, 551 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: when everybody is trying to fly into the territory and 552 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: working out exactly what the process is. I hope there's 553 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: over the course of the weekend that there is some 554 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 1: significant work done on that website to make sure that 555 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: people are able to find out exactly what they need 556 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: to do with the testing requirements, you know, find out 557 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 1: exactly where they need to get tested, how much it's 558 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,439 Speaker 1: going to cost, and that all of that information is 559 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: really readily available because we're going to need it. We 560 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 1: certainly don't want people arriving, whether you're coming home to 561 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: the territory or arriving as a tourist and it's a 562 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: debarcle and a nightmare to. 563 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 5: Get here, or then are shipped off to Howard Springs 564 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 5: without understanding why. 565 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 3: You know, as long as people have got their test 566 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:51,719 Speaker 3: before they will have to have their test before they 567 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 3: get on the plane. They get their next test within 568 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 3: that first seventy two hours. Once they get to the 569 00:25:57,560 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 3: territory it Hammins. 570 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 7: If they get here without having the test, they get 571 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:01,439 Speaker 7: sent to Howard Springs. 572 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 5: Do that, that's my understanding. And if you're at the border, 573 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 5: you just get your car will get turned around. That's 574 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 5: my understanding. 575 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 7: Oh Jesus, well, you know another question that got raised 576 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 7: during the week. What happens if you arrive on the 577 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 7: nineteenth do you still have to quarantine for seven days? 578 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 7: Or if you arrive in the nineteenth does it change 579 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 7: from the twentieth and then you are Then. 580 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 5: If you're on the nineteenth, get a pc R test 581 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 5: and that on the next day you can say I 582 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,199 Speaker 5: did it seventy two hours before. 583 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,120 Speaker 6: Communication has not done a government's. 584 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 5: Strength message and drama and scandal is though so well done. 585 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 5: They learned from the best chaos and this function of the. 586 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 3: Labor Party maybe to spend the next twenty minutes talking 587 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 3: about that's what we wanted to do. 588 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: Well, let's talk about this, so I do that. Let's 589 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: talk about this public sector wage vote or the pay 590 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 1: bonus that got voted on earlier in the week, and 591 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: I understand there's another voted down yes, and there's another 592 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: one at ten o'clock today. So earlier in the week 593 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: it was Power and Water Corporation and indeed Jacana Energy, 594 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 1: and they certainly voted that bonus down. I believe it's 595 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: the rest of the public service, or quite a large 596 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: majority of the public service that's voting today or probably 597 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 1: like as we speak, I think we'll know the outcome 598 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: by about ten o'clock, won't. 599 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,479 Speaker 6: We Well again, Katie, I think this demonstrates how this 600 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 6: has been handled. 601 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 1: Again. 602 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 6: It hasn't been handled with any clear thinking. It hasn't 603 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 6: been handled with any evidence based sort of reasons to 604 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,919 Speaker 6: go forward to offer a particular amount of money to 605 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 6: the public servants. And it's just symptomatic of how Gunna 606 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 6: government goes about its business. 607 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:54,920 Speaker 2: They just shoot and. 608 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 6: Then ask questions later, or they make an announcement and 609 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 6: they go, oh, is hit that didn't work? 610 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,360 Speaker 1: What do we do now? I don't mind if you say. 611 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 4: That this is this is another dog's breakfast. 612 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,200 Speaker 5: Of course you've got you know a few years ago 613 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 5: the Gunner government came out and said, if we don't 614 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 5: stop what we're doing with spending, we're going to have 615 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 5: a thirty eight billion dollar debt. So then they commissioned 616 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:21,360 Speaker 5: a review and a report into budget repair, which Territorians 617 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 5: paid a hefty price for. The report into budget repairs 618 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:26,680 Speaker 5: said that the public service, you know, there needs to 619 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 5: be restraint across the board, but not unfair levels of restraint. 620 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 5: If everyone chips in and we can all shoulder the blow. 621 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,200 Speaker 5: And so they said it suggested that the public service 622 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 5: get a genuine pay rise, so that there is wages growth, 623 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 5: but that it's capped at one thousand dollars. Of course 624 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 5: ECO is getting their pay frees and other bits and pieces. Now, 625 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 5: that is what is supposed to have happened going forward. 626 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 5: But of course Michael Gunner, in all his wisdom, he 627 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 5: probably cooked this up at the same time he cooked 628 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 5: up the twenty December changes, decided that when four hundred 629 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 5: public servants didn't get the job because of the mandatary vacs, 630 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 5: he would take their sort of salary portion which ps 631 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 5: he borrows to pay for anyway, claim it as savings, 632 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 5: and then redistribute it to all the other public servants. 633 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 5: Except he didn't have the money in. 634 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 4: The first place. 635 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 5: There is no savings because people are going through their 636 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 5: termination dismissal process and ultimately he's making the publics the 637 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 5: departments pay that ten thousand from their bottom line as 638 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 5: well as rehire a large portion of those four hundred people. 639 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: So it's a joke. 640 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 7: Can I add one I think important point to what 641 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 7: you say there, which is largely correct. But when that 642 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 7: Langolant report was handed down in April twenty nineteen, correct 643 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 7: me if I'm wrong. There were about twenty one and 644 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 7: a half full time equivalent public servants in the Aland 645 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 7: Territory at the time two thousand. At the time the 646 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 7: government said we need to freeze that number. That didn't work. 647 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 7: They said they need to cap that number. At the 648 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 7: time that Gunnan made the announcement that he was going 649 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 7: to give them four thousand dollars bonuses of that money saved, 650 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 7: the number of public servants had increased by more than 651 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 7: three thousand. We've now more than twenty four and a 652 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:12,360 Speaker 7: half thousand public servants, despite the fact that we were 653 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 7: told two and a half years ago we absolutely desperately 654 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 7: needed to freeze that number and restrict their pay rises 655 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 7: to one thousand dollars a year. Or we were headed 656 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 7: for financial rules oblivion. 657 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 5: And gonna you know, they're pretending that they're all frontline workers, 658 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:28,680 Speaker 5: nurses and just seven. 659 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 7: Two thousand, three hundred and if overnight we can sack 660 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 7: four thousand public servants and have no effect on services, 661 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 7: then why are those four thousand public servants there? 662 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 1: In the first That was a very good question that 663 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: we're all asking at the time that we heard that 664 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 1: this happened. Hundred What is going to happen if you 665 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 1: know you have the large part of the public service 666 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: now vote down this pay bonus. I mean they're saying 667 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 1: they want their to continue to go up. 668 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:05,080 Speaker 3: So what will happen is exactly what was going will 669 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 3: continue to happen. Like with power and water, will go 670 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 3: back to the table in the new year. We will 671 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 3: look at the offer that's on the table, will liaise 672 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 3: and consult with the unions about how that might be 673 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 3: sliced in dice a different or a better way to 674 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 3: make sure that we can compensate or compence people for 675 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 3: how things will progress over the next four years. The 676 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 3: Langolant report did come out pre COVID there words the 677 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 3: cap put on staffing. We know that some departments and 678 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 3: the majority of areas that departments have gone up in 679 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 3: have been frontline workers. 680 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 8: So we do know that with those four. 681 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 3: Hundred frontline, four hundred public servants that shows not to 682 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 3: get vaccinated, that three hundred of those that won't be replaced, 683 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 3: that there wages that is already budgeted for will go 684 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 3: into paying for the extra offer towards the public service. 685 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,320 Speaker 3: The Chief Minister has been clear for quite some time 686 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 3: that the only way that we can offer any better 687 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 3: financial opportunities to the public service is if they have 688 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 3: less numbers, and he's been up front of it. 689 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 7: This is the point that that was what the situation 690 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 7: was when there was twenty one and a half thousand 691 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:21,080 Speaker 7: public service servants at that point, the government's own review 692 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 7: said we need to cap wage rises at one thousand 693 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 7: dollars otherwise we're going to have to cut the number 694 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 7: of public servants. In the two and a half years 695 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 7: since great we've got more than three thousand more public servants. 696 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:38,800 Speaker 7: So surely it figures that there either needs to be 697 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 7: a wage cut or a numbers cut, otherwise we're heading 698 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 7: for a financial situation that cannot be rectified. 699 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 1: Am I. 700 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 3: As I mentioned, the majority of those numbers that have 701 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 3: gone into the public sector over the last eighteen months 702 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 3: are frontline workers to do with the COVID response that 703 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 3: will organically reduce over the coming period of time. 704 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 8: So the wages bud that is allocated for people is 705 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 8: what we're using. And that three hundred te anyone. 706 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: Know whether the population has grown or to what degree 707 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: the population has known by in that period of time 708 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 1: point five percent many public servants is their per territory. 709 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 1: And you know, like per capita, how many public servants 710 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: do we which have sort of looking after it? 711 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 2: Where's your mister mister? 712 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 7: I think I think the best way to look at it, Katie, 713 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 7: and it's and it's it's telling as far as the 714 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 7: politics of this place goes as well, is there's about 715 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 7: one hundred last time I checked, about one hundred and 716 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 7: six thousand people in the Northern Territory who are in 717 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 7: employment who work about half Okay, there's there's twenty four 718 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:44,440 Speaker 7: and a half thousand full time equivalent employees in the 719 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 7: public service, but in actual numbers because people work part 720 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:51,200 Speaker 7: time and people work in different roles, I think it's 721 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 7: closer to thirty five thousand is the total number. So 722 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 7: if you look at that, you're basically looking at one 723 00:33:57,240 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 7: and that doesn't then include you know, people who work 724 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 7: NGOs that are funded by the government, et cetera, et cetera. 725 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:04,880 Speaker 7: But let's say it's about a third of the total 726 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 7: number of people who work in the Northern territory. So 727 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:11,360 Speaker 7: you think about the political influence of that group of people, 728 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:13,799 Speaker 7: and that's why that's when you think how difficult it 729 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 7: is to try and do what the Langland Report recommends, 730 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:18,840 Speaker 7: which is to put in some. 731 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 5: Kind of ex say, I mean that's true, but except 732 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:25,240 Speaker 5: to say that they've rejected this, this ten thousand dollars 733 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 5: pay rise scheme because people, I think a lot of 734 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 5: public servants are really concerned about the direction of the 735 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 5: territory and the debt. It's actually the gun of government. 736 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:35,640 Speaker 5: Who are the ones spending recklessly twelve million on a 737 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 5: grand stand, four million on a playground. 738 00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 4: You know, all these these. 739 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 5: Wastes of my thirty five million to use justice offenders. 740 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:42,800 Speaker 4: Hey, let's give them a payout. 741 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,680 Speaker 5: They deserve it, not you know, it's this waste and 742 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 5: the public service of territorians too, they see that and 743 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 5: real wages growth is very important for certainty, for being 744 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,720 Speaker 5: able to go and get a mortgage and plan your life. 745 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:56,000 Speaker 5: And that's why one thousand dollars a year is a 746 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 5: more attractive offer to people than some tokenistic ten thousand 747 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:02,080 Speaker 5: dollars by where you've actually got a four year pay freeze. 748 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:04,240 Speaker 4: And that's what the unions and people are. 749 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 7: Saying indicated in those negotiations curves that they would be 750 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:09,839 Speaker 7: happy with the one thousand dollars pay increase, actual pay 751 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 7: increase as opposed to a cash bonus. And is that 752 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:13,760 Speaker 7: something that you would consider. 753 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,719 Speaker 3: Look, there's a range of different things that will put 754 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:18,759 Speaker 3: back on the table and be interesting to see. We 755 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 3: will know in half an hour's time how the rest 756 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:21,879 Speaker 3: of the public. 757 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 8: Sector vote has got. 758 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:27,760 Speaker 3: Obviously, the compounding nature of giving twenty odd thousand people 759 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:31,719 Speaker 3: a pay rise it goes into their base salary, does 760 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 3: have some significant impacts on the budget on going, particularly 761 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:39,759 Speaker 3: in those outer years. So I think maybe you're right 762 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 3: about saying how many public servants work in the Northern territory. 763 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 8: You know that's been a heavy percentage. 764 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:49,760 Speaker 3: They are absolutely campaigning against these pay rises at the moment. 765 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:53,960 Speaker 3: So to say that we're feathering the nest whilst the 766 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 3: public servants are saying this is not good enough. 767 00:35:56,239 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 8: It's a tightrote. 768 00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 1: But what is going to happen? I mean, if they 769 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:03,239 Speaker 1: just keep rejecting the office that you guys put on 770 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 1: the table, are you going to wind up in a 771 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:07,560 Speaker 1: situation where you either seriously, you know, a piece, or 772 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 1: offer a block of public servants soup. Potentially it's going 773 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 1: to blow up in your faces come the next election. 774 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:16,719 Speaker 1: Or are you going to have to bow to them. 775 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:21,680 Speaker 3: If there's processes within fair work for the negotiations to continue, 776 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:24,640 Speaker 3: and as long as each party is at the table 777 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:29,440 Speaker 3: and genuinely bargaining and moving forward, then that process is ongoing, 778 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:32,719 Speaker 3: and that's certainly what will be. We've been in consultation 779 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 3: and in contact with unions and we'll continue to do 780 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 3: that moving forward. 781 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,520 Speaker 7: What's their issue? Is there issue that they want a 782 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 7: permanent pay rise or is there another issue that's played 783 00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 7: they want the pay rise to be permanent. 784 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:47,760 Speaker 3: Right, there's a range of different issues, and that's certainly 785 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 3: one of the most significant is a permanent compounding pay 786 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:54,719 Speaker 3: rise that has a significant effect on the budget. So 787 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:57,400 Speaker 3: if that's what we need to do, then it certainly 788 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 3: it will need to can consider exactly what type of 789 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 3: pay rise that could be. 790 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 8: So we can break that down a range of different ways. 791 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:09,359 Speaker 3: Perhaps if people earn over a certain amount, they might 792 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:11,920 Speaker 3: not get that type of pay rise people under like, 793 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 3: there's a number of different ways. 794 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 7: I think that's why the one thousand dollars across the 795 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:19,359 Speaker 7: board makes sense, because if you're already earning you know, 796 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:23,319 Speaker 7: one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, it's only a small percentage. 797 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,120 Speaker 7: But if you're on forty thousand dollars, yeah, that's a 798 00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 7: big payer. 799 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 1: Well, So then where I reckon it gets a bit 800 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 1: complicated and a bit difficult is the likes of our 801 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:35,040 Speaker 1: nurses and our teachers, where we're then trying to entice 802 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 1: people in a lot of different states to come to 803 00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:40,400 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory and some of those you know, in 804 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:42,640 Speaker 1: some cases then if they're simply not getting paid as 805 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:45,480 Speaker 1: much or their conditions aren't as good, it's going to 806 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,560 Speaker 1: be hard to get some of those frontline service seeds. 807 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:50,560 Speaker 5: With the private sector as well, you know, one thousand 808 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:53,920 Speaker 5: dollars pay rise. I think most people can you know, 809 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:56,399 Speaker 5: stomach that as being fair and reasonable in it and 810 00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:58,759 Speaker 5: sort of I won't say go as far as saying 811 00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:01,719 Speaker 5: in line with the private sector, but they can understand it, 812 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:03,760 Speaker 5: you know, when you're talking about a ten thousand dollar bonus. 813 00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 5: I don't know many people in the private sector who 814 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:08,399 Speaker 5: are going to be seeing anything of that, and it's 815 00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 5: really got their nos out to joint too. 816 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:11,839 Speaker 7: The other thing that I think needs to be looked 817 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:15,279 Speaker 7: at structurally is the percentage of public servants in the 818 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:19,040 Speaker 7: Northern Territory who work in administration and management. Right because 819 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 7: you know, no, like you say, you go, oh, well, 820 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:24,160 Speaker 7: does a nurse or does a teacher deserve a pay rise? 821 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:26,920 Speaker 7: Everyone says, well, yeah, absolutely, does a police officer. Absolutely. 822 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:31,799 Speaker 7: The problem structurally is according to the Langoland Report, forty 823 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:34,799 Speaker 7: percent of the Northern Territories public service is in administration 824 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:37,920 Speaker 7: and management. Right In the in the Western Australia, for instance, 825 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 7: I think the number is nine. So I think the 826 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:43,200 Speaker 7: government needs to consider, well, yeah, if we need to 827 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:46,919 Speaker 7: hire seven hundred new frontline workers because you know we've 828 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:49,040 Speaker 7: got a pandemic, or because we need more police in 829 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:52,120 Speaker 7: remote communities, or whatever the case may be, maybe it 830 00:38:52,160 --> 00:38:54,759 Speaker 7: needs to look at whether to do that we need 831 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:57,560 Speaker 7: to lose seven hundred people from other areas where they're 832 00:38:57,600 --> 00:38:58,720 Speaker 7: not working on the front line. 833 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:00,160 Speaker 1: Well, look, we are going to have to tell a 834 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:02,239 Speaker 1: very short break. You're listening to Mix one O four 835 00:39:02,239 --> 00:39:04,759 Speaker 1: point nine three sixty. It is the week that was 836 00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:08,960 Speaker 1: also broadcasting on AH in Alice Springs. Well, it is 837 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:11,880 Speaker 1: just seven minutes away from ten o'clock and in the 838 00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:15,080 Speaker 1: studio with me of course, leofan Occhio, Kezia Puric, Paul 839 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:18,640 Speaker 1: Kirby and Matt Cunningham. Now, before we wrap up this morning, 840 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:21,719 Speaker 1: we do know that throughout the week, Well Leaf and 841 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:23,959 Speaker 1: I spoke to you about this earlier in the week 842 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:29,040 Speaker 1: the Opposition Health spokesperson and indeed you said, the Territories 843 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:31,600 Speaker 1: Order the General has found that a contract which was 844 00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:35,040 Speaker 1: awarded to Ernst and Young was against procurement rules and 845 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:39,520 Speaker 1: has indeed referred it to the IKAK, which probably means 846 00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:41,560 Speaker 1: that none of us can say a huge amount about it. 847 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:51,799 Speaker 10: Now, isn't that what actually happens? 848 00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:56,360 Speaker 5: Best excuse, Look, this is a really big scandal, Katie. 849 00:39:56,360 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 5: So what we had earlier in the year was the 850 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:03,640 Speaker 5: government award a seven hundred thousand dollars consultancy to a 851 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:07,080 Speaker 5: company under the emergency Powers or under the guise of 852 00:40:07,080 --> 00:40:08,840 Speaker 5: it being emergency power. So it didn't have to go 853 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:11,200 Speaker 5: out to tender. They got to pick. Yep, you come here, 854 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:13,560 Speaker 5: here's your seven hundred grand writers to report about our 855 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:17,399 Speaker 5: COVID response. Now the Auditor General has exposed is many 856 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:20,319 Speaker 5: months later that that has now blown out to over 857 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:23,879 Speaker 5: four million dollars, that the scope of the works blew 858 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:27,000 Speaker 5: out to a basically a whole of Health Department review. 859 00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 5: And the worst part is that it wasn't properly done 860 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:34,879 Speaker 5: under the emergency powers. There was no correct mechanism for 861 00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:38,240 Speaker 5: that to have escaped going through the proper tender process. 862 00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:41,040 Speaker 5: So we've essentially got a four million dollar handout to 863 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:45,960 Speaker 5: a select organization, and the Health Minister is burying her 864 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:48,160 Speaker 5: head in the ground and just simply not fronting up 865 00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:49,000 Speaker 5: and talking about it. 866 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,960 Speaker 7: And we're still like that that would be bad enough. 867 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:53,320 Speaker 7: But where's the report? 868 00:40:53,560 --> 00:40:57,359 Speaker 5: Can see it's secret? We're questions in May. Since May, 869 00:40:57,440 --> 00:40:58,440 Speaker 5: we've been asking. 870 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:01,799 Speaker 7: About this bloody is secret report that you might get a. 871 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:05,560 Speaker 1: Version reacted besides a few words painting. 872 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:07,800 Speaker 6: And I'm still waiting for the report from Gunner's office 873 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:09,600 Speaker 6: and to review the KIC legislation. 874 00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:13,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, seen it good questioning. 875 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:15,760 Speaker 1: Next year's Christmas. But I can't. 876 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:18,720 Speaker 2: I mean not this year's I can't. 877 00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:20,920 Speaker 6: And people who know have listened to this story out 878 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:21,560 Speaker 6: in the. 879 00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:24,600 Speaker 7: Room about the pageant report into the fire at the 880 00:41:24,680 --> 00:41:27,040 Speaker 7: Darwin Correctional Center exactly, we say. 881 00:41:26,960 --> 00:41:28,799 Speaker 1: Anyone seeing that one, I haven't seen it. 882 00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:31,840 Speaker 6: But to go from seven hundred thousand, open and transparent, 883 00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:34,040 Speaker 6: I get it, it's okay, emergency powers, I get that, 884 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:35,080 Speaker 6: but it wasn't. 885 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:35,800 Speaker 4: That's a problem. 886 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:38,839 Speaker 1: But it jumped a four and a half an ob 887 00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:40,840 Speaker 1: seen amount of money scrutiny. 888 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:43,800 Speaker 5: But to also then falsely claim it was under emergency 889 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:46,080 Speaker 5: powers when it when it wasn't. I mean, this is 890 00:41:46,520 --> 00:41:49,680 Speaker 5: dodgy written all over it now. 891 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:51,920 Speaker 1: So it's going Obviously the ikic's going to have a 892 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:52,520 Speaker 1: look at it. 893 00:41:52,360 --> 00:41:54,600 Speaker 2: But yeah, not necessarily. 894 00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:57,960 Speaker 6: Yeah, the CAT Commissioner may choose to you know, as 895 00:41:58,040 --> 00:41:59,919 Speaker 6: you know the big thing I had within which yeah, 896 00:42:00,120 --> 00:42:02,239 Speaker 6: not not secret. You know, he wants the departments to 897 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:05,560 Speaker 6: be more accountable, the CEO, so the ik make review 898 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:08,080 Speaker 6: it and keep it internally to do whatever they do. 899 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:10,799 Speaker 2: But it also might he might decide that. 900 00:42:10,760 --> 00:42:13,080 Speaker 6: Well, you know, the Apartment of Health or yeah, the 901 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:15,680 Speaker 6: procurement people are you know, you really have to answer 902 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:18,520 Speaker 6: fix it up, tell us what's about. 903 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:19,839 Speaker 2: I don't know. We just have to wait and see. 904 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:21,320 Speaker 4: But yeah, you're right, Katie. 905 00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:23,080 Speaker 5: It might never see the light of day and the 906 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:26,399 Speaker 5: government will keep not talking about it, not commenting, bunk 907 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:28,600 Speaker 5: it down and hope it goes away like everything else. 908 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:31,520 Speaker 5: And Bob's your uncle. It's another just dead and buried. 909 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:33,719 Speaker 1: No, I know what. 910 00:42:33,719 --> 00:42:36,280 Speaker 2: We can use the report because of really fat document. 911 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 4: It'll be somewhere and we can use it to put 912 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:38,920 Speaker 4: on the. 913 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:40,600 Speaker 6: Top of the cabinet street shade structure. 914 00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:42,480 Speaker 2: Show yes. 915 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:45,680 Speaker 5: With the twelve million dollar IKAK report, the Badge of report, 916 00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:50,160 Speaker 5: and the Langland report, they're. 917 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:52,040 Speaker 1: Not missing any opportunities. This morning. 918 00:42:52,239 --> 00:42:54,919 Speaker 3: We actually have got an ik now to look into 919 00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:57,920 Speaker 3: these types of matters because we have before. 920 00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:01,080 Speaker 7: What did we have before for the sixth of July. 921 00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:05,719 Speaker 3: We had plenty of opportunities with previous governments to introduce 922 00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 3: an k type of body and nobody did. 923 00:43:08,680 --> 00:43:11,440 Speaker 5: It's the peace fault that you gave away four million 924 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:13,880 Speaker 5: dollars to a consulci without following properate process. 925 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:18,520 Speaker 3: What I'm saying is the correct processes to go into 926 00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:20,880 Speaker 3: place to look at these The Health ministers speak the 927 00:43:20,920 --> 00:43:24,320 Speaker 3: other day to say it was an operational matter, and that's. 928 00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:25,680 Speaker 8: Exactly what the IK will do. 929 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:29,920 Speaker 3: We'll investigate it to see if there had been proper processes. 930 00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:31,400 Speaker 8: Followed, and if they haven't been, then they'll work through that. 931 00:43:31,440 --> 00:43:34,839 Speaker 6: At the time, someone must have made the decision internally 932 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:38,439 Speaker 6: Department of Health, I presume, or somewhere else. Don't ask 933 00:43:38,440 --> 00:43:42,520 Speaker 6: me where Chief Minister's department to move that contract from 934 00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 6: seven hundred thousand to produce a report into whatever someone 935 00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:46,600 Speaker 6: has made. 936 00:43:46,440 --> 00:43:48,359 Speaker 4: That, someone has to approve, someone. 937 00:43:48,080 --> 00:43:50,040 Speaker 6: Has to have signed off on that. Now, given the 938 00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:52,520 Speaker 6: level of that money, it's got to be pretty. 939 00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:52,719 Speaker 2: High up to. 940 00:43:54,520 --> 00:43:56,840 Speaker 1: When I certainly think so that should come out. I 941 00:43:56,840 --> 00:44:01,200 Speaker 1: would think of variation on any project to that degree, 942 00:44:01,200 --> 00:44:03,759 Speaker 1: whether you're talking about something in construction or whether you 943 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:08,200 Speaker 1: are talking about consultancy in this space, any variation like 944 00:44:08,280 --> 00:44:12,120 Speaker 1: that city. Yes, that's careful what you wish. Look, we 945 00:44:12,160 --> 00:44:14,920 Speaker 1: are we've run out of time. We are going to 946 00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:17,799 Speaker 1: have to wrap up. Lea Fanocchiaro, the opposition leader, thank 947 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:19,440 Speaker 1: you so much for your time this morning. 948 00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:22,200 Speaker 5: Thank you and take care everyone, have a wonderful merry 949 00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:24,799 Speaker 5: Christmas and we look forward to you tuning back in 950 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:25,359 Speaker 5: next year. 951 00:44:25,640 --> 00:44:27,959 Speaker 1: Keezy Appuric. Thank you very much for your time today. 952 00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:28,479 Speaker 1: Thank you, Katie. 953 00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:30,120 Speaker 6: I've got to do my usual to wish all those 954 00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:32,120 Speaker 6: Christmas babies happy birthday. 955 00:44:33,000 --> 00:44:34,480 Speaker 2: Gallagher, you're out. 956 00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:39,600 Speaker 6: There, mumsy, my mummy, Noel pajama and I know there's 957 00:44:39,719 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 6: Chris Young's wife. 958 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:42,319 Speaker 1: I'm just young. 959 00:44:42,440 --> 00:44:44,799 Speaker 6: You're a Christmas baby, Christmas baby as well any other 960 00:44:44,880 --> 00:44:45,799 Speaker 6: Christmas babies out there. 961 00:44:45,880 --> 00:44:46,000 Speaker 2: Now. 962 00:44:46,040 --> 00:44:49,439 Speaker 6: Remember Christmas babies, You're meant to get two presents, one 963 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:52,160 Speaker 6: for your birthday and one for Christmas exactly, don't you 964 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:55,200 Speaker 6: don't let any gres. 965 00:44:56,200 --> 00:44:57,840 Speaker 4: Just cut the one present in hard. 966 00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:01,360 Speaker 2: Have a met a safe Christmas to everyone. 967 00:45:01,840 --> 00:45:05,120 Speaker 1: He good on you, Keezier, thank you, Paul Kirby, thank 968 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:06,279 Speaker 1: you so much for your time. 969 00:45:06,360 --> 00:45:07,440 Speaker 8: Thanks Katie, Thanks everyone. 970 00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:10,480 Speaker 3: Merry Christmas to everybody, and if you're in Darwin, come 971 00:45:10,520 --> 00:45:12,400 Speaker 3: down to the waterfront for New Year's Eve. Sam and 972 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:15,000 Speaker 3: his crew had done an amazing effort to pull together 973 00:45:15,239 --> 00:45:18,600 Speaker 3: a great combination of entertainment for the kids and for 974 00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:19,120 Speaker 3: the adults. 975 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:21,040 Speaker 8: It will be a cracking night down there. Good have 976 00:45:21,080 --> 00:45:22,080 Speaker 8: a safe and mery Christmas. 977 00:45:22,239 --> 00:45:24,600 Speaker 1: Good stuff and Matt Cunningham from Sky News, thank you 978 00:45:24,680 --> 00:45:25,920 Speaker 1: for your time and all your efforts. 979 00:45:25,920 --> 00:45:28,960 Speaker 7: This year nowhere is Katie. Merry Christmas to you and 980 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:29,800 Speaker 7: all your listeners. 981 00:45:29,840 --> 00:45:31,560 Speaker 1: Thank you and I will still be on air for 982 00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:33,040 Speaker 1: the rest of the day and the rest of the 983 00:45:33,080 --> 00:45:35,440 Speaker 1: week next week. But whether we have this more been 984 00:45:35,520 --> 00:45:38,960 Speaker 1: for any interviews, we'll have to wait and see. Plea's back. 985 00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:43,480 Speaker 1: She's telling me that is the week that was for 986 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:46,240 Speaker 1: another year. Thank you so much, we'll be back again 987 00:45:46,440 --> 00:45:48,560 Speaker 1: after ten am. You're listening to Mix one O four 988 00:45:48,600 --> 00:45:49,120 Speaker 1: point nine.