1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Hello, Katie Wolf and three sixty online at Mixed one 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: O four nine dot com. 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 2: You are listening to Mix one O four point nine's 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 2: three sixty and it is well that time on a 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 2: Tuesday morning, joining us live in the studio for the 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 2: big issues We've got Dave Tolner, Good morning, Dive. 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: Great to be with you, Katie Well. 8 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 2: I thought we had Matt Cunningham, but he is out 9 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 2: at Howard. 10 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: Springs, so she's obviously looking very sick. 11 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: If you do you, Maddie Headworth, emergency sub. 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 3: The emergency sub rule, the twenty third man. 13 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 4: You got a baptism off the other day. 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,959 Speaker 2: I heard, oh, and you guys wouldn't let him get off. 15 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: Get to the news, get out. 16 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 2: Of The big issues are brought to you by Kolano 17 00:00:55,960 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 2: Community Organization Association, I should say an aborage, a line 18 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: operated and community led organization from the top end to 19 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 2: Tenant Creek. Now, the thing that I want to talk 20 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 2: about first this morning is well is the repatriation flights 21 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 2: still coming to the Northern Territory, still coming to Darwin 22 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: from India. Now it is being reported on the Northern 23 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 2: Territory News at the top end will now bear the 24 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: brunt of COVID nineteen cases from India after Sydney's direct 25 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: flights from the virus stricken country were canceled on Tuesday morning. 26 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: Now Sky News so it could be our good mate 27 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 2: Matt Cunningham out there at Howard Springs reporting that all 28 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 2: commercial flights from India to Australia will be halted, but 29 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: that limited repatriation flights to Howard Springs will continue. Now 30 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 2: it is being reported that an additional flight from the 31 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: subcontinent could be scheduled for May sixth, in an apparent 32 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 2: backflip on last week's announcement to defer all those Indian 33 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: flights to June. So sky News is reporting that all 34 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: returning Australians from India will go to the Howard Springs 35 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: facility in the Northern Territory for quarantine. So, as I said, 36 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 2: just to give you a bit of context, we here 37 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 2: in the territory at the moment have now got fifty 38 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 2: three total active cases. They are all out at Howard Springs. 39 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: Natasha Fhiles did say on the show earlier this morning. 40 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 2: Will she alluded to the fact that we can expect 41 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 2: more later today. I feel comfortable that they are out 42 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: there at Howard Springs under the care of the OSMAT team, 43 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: under the care of the National Critical Care and Trauma 44 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 2: Response Crew. But just to give you some context, in 45 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 2: New South Wales they now have ninety two active cases. 46 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: In Victoria they've got twenty three active cases. So this 47 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: is the highest number of active cases that we have 48 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 2: ever had in the Northern Territory out there at Howard Springs. 49 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 2: And we are handing over the rains next week to 50 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 2: the Northern Territories Health Department. 51 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: This is just fantastic pandemic pawn. 52 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 4: This is something for all the friends out there now 53 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 4: get their jollys from this. 54 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: We've got. 55 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: Us that you do think that out there at Howard Springs, 56 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 2: that you know that the Ozmat team our best place 57 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 2: to be managing things. 58 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 4: Out They look without a doubt there they're the front 59 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 4: line of our of our critical and Trauma Response center. 60 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 4: You know that that is the front line of Australia's 61 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 4: health system in a lot of ways. And and they're 62 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 4: specially skilled at this sort of stuff and they've been 63 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 4: doing a great job. And Lenda Taras runs a very 64 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 4: slick team out there. When you look at sort of 65 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 4: what's with other state governments around the country and the 66 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 4: way they've managed quarantine it hasn't been particularly uh, you know, 67 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 4: it's not coven and glory. 68 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: It's so Dave, do you reckon that we just keep 69 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: flights coming in from India at this point or do 70 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: you think they're. 71 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 4: Well? Lenda Taras and his team are at the helm 72 00:03:54,800 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 4: and looking after the show, you know, providing their comfortable 73 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 4: doing what they're doing. I think there's no problems. 74 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: But then when it turns over next week, because that's 75 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: due to happen next week, Well that's a big. 76 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: If, isn't it. You know. 77 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 4: I got to say, having been a health minister, I 78 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 4: know the people in our health departments here and the 79 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 4: doctors and the nurses are incredibly efficient and they do a. 80 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: Wonderful, joonderful job, no doubt. 81 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: A lot is. 82 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 4: Left to desire by the department itself, more often than not, 83 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 4: will get in the way of doctors and nurses doing 84 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 4: their job. So that's certainly not a problem with the 85 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 4: National Critic Care and Trauma Center. They're a much leaner 86 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 4: organization and the right people are making the calls. But 87 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 4: I suppose it's sort of a bit up in the air. 88 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 4: What could happen. 89 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I just feel like it's a risky time 90 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 2: to be changing the management of Howard Springs now when 91 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 2: we've got more cases out there at Howard Springs than 92 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 2: we've ever had before. And Dave, I know, you know, look, 93 00:04:57,839 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: I know you're making fun of me at the start 94 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 2: there about it being COVID porn. But at the end 95 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 2: of the day, you know, we are talking more cases 96 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 2: than we've ever had, and then to change over the 97 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 2: management in the middle of that, I feel worried about. 98 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 4: Well, I mean, just because we've got cases doesn't necessarily 99 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 4: there's a great threat. You know, it depends on who's infected. 100 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 4: I suppose the great worry is that it gets into 101 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 4: the community and into particularly the age care sector. That's 102 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 4: a real worry. And you've sort of seen how state 103 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 4: governments have managed that around the country, and they haven't 104 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 4: done a particularly good job of it. Where it's you know, 105 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 4: in the Northern Territory, we've been very fortunate. We've got 106 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,239 Speaker 4: that National Critical Care and Trauma Center based up here, 107 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 4: and we have that Howard Springs facility that seems to 108 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 4: be well managed at the moment. 109 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 3: And I guess the fifty three the Health Minister seemed 110 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 3: comfortable with at the moment as well, pressed to give 111 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 3: a figure at what point they could no longer accept 112 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 3: those repatriation flights if another flight came in May, which yeh, 113 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 3: I did think the news that we heard last week 114 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 3: was that all May flights were going to be deferred 115 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 3: until June. I think it was. But it's only a 116 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 3: fifty three is okay, provided they're all within quarantine there. 117 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 3: But what we've saent in other states and territories is 118 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 3: it gets into the community through whether it be security guards, 119 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 3: workers not wearing the right PPE, and then there's community 120 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 3: transmission that way. So obviously, as this transition continues, and 121 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 3: it's something that the government, despite criticism, have said that 122 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 3: they're going to keep pressing on with, it does raise 123 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 3: the question, well, if they are going to do this handover, 124 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 3: and it was going to be May four, I think 125 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 3: it was the initial May third was going to be 126 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 3: the initial handover, you want to make sure that every 127 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 3: box that the National Critical Care and Trauma Response enter 128 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 3: the Osmack team you do at the moment that the 129 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 3: PPE and everything like that nothing is missed because at 130 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 3: the time where there are a lot of cases there 131 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 3: At the moment, the link between quarantine and community transmission 132 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 3: has been those workers that are working within. 133 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: Those quarantine facilities. 134 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 3: So you want to make sure it's part of that 135 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 3: handover that every box is ticked because now it's a 136 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 3: risk time. 137 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: Let's not forget four hundred staff is what we're trying 138 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 2: to recruit. We're at seventy. You know, like the Health 139 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: minister did say that we are lit. She's hoping to 140 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: give an update, but it's sort of it does make 141 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: him right, And let's. 142 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 4: Not get things out of context here. I mean, the 143 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 4: reality was you wind the clock back twelve months ago 144 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 4: when this pandemic started. The great burry was that our 145 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 4: hospitals are not going to be able to cope. Now, 146 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 4: no one's in a hospital at the moment, they're in 147 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 4: quarantine centers. We have no dramas with our hospitals coping. 148 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 4: And like I said at the start, you know there 149 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 4: is a more pandemic pawn and you can see why 150 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 4: people concerned about it. There's nut job in wa just 151 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 4: shut his borders down for three days because. 152 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: Gown and I wasn't sure who you were talking about. 153 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, but you've got to sit there and think, 154 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 4: you know, all right, the hospitals can't cope because he's 155 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 4: found one case or two cases of community transitions. So 156 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 4: you've got to shut an entire state down. You know, 157 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 4: That's that's what we've got to now in this country. 158 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 4: No longer it's about the hell system closing. It's about 159 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 4: trying to completely eradicate the virus from the community. And 160 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 4: you know, like I say, I think it's all just gone. 161 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: I overboard. The Frettings just got out of hand. 162 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 2: Well, there are a lot of territories who are pretty 163 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 2: concerned about. 164 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: The people getting very concerned every time you. 165 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 2: Pick well, it's more management. I think of that Howard 166 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 2: Springs facility. People are a bit concerned about that changeover happening. 167 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 1: Right. 168 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 4: Well, look, you know that's the case, and I mean 169 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 4: Lenda Taris and his team are very efficient. They do 170 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 4: a remarkably good job. And you know, any change is there. 171 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 2: But tell you what, it's going to be a busy 172 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 2: week next week. You know, the change over obviously at 173 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 2: Howard Springs, and also the budget being handed test budget 174 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: week next week, week next week. 175 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:51,199 Speaker 1: I'm not ready for that. 176 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 4: I don't know that anybody's ready for that. More horror 177 00:08:56,559 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 4: stories to more horror stories. Look, the question I suppose 178 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 4: with that National Critical Care and Trauma Center is who 179 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 4: picks up the tab, you know, because currently that tab 180 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 4: is being picked up by the Commons with all the 181 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 4: territory health system pick up the tab after this and 182 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 4: or will the COMA wolfs I. 183 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 2: Think you're continue to meet their bills. Do you think 184 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 2: that that's why the government wants it? Like I kind 185 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 2: of just can't understand why they're wanting to transition ash, 186 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 2: you know, And I suppose that's what I keep asking that. 187 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 3: Being to free up those staff for other tout the 188 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 3: OSMAT team for other areas as part of the National 189 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 3: Critical Care and Trauma Response Center, should they get deployed 190 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 3: to another task tomorrow that they're there and they're available 191 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 3: and they're ready, that's the line from the government. 192 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 2: Let's head across to another story which is certainly being 193 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: reported all around Australia at the moment, and I'm just 194 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 2: reading from the Australian that reads one of the nation's 195 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 2: most powerful national security leaders has declared the drums of 196 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 2: war are beating and Australia must be prepared to send 197 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: off yet again our warriors to fight. Home Affairs Secretary 198 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 2: Michael Pizzullo, who is tipped to take the job at Defense, 199 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 2: said he's said in his ANZAC Day message to staff 200 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,679 Speaker 2: that Australia must strive for peace, but not at the 201 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 2: cost of our precious liberty. It is a mere growing 202 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:29,439 Speaker 2: tensions between the West and China, with Taiwan a potential 203 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: flash point. Mister Pizzola said free nations continued to face 204 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 2: the sorrowful challenge of being armed, strong and ready for war. 205 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:46,839 Speaker 1: Jeez, that's speech apparently to stay not reassuring it. 206 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 2: Dawn Service, noting this year's ANZAC Day fell on obviously 207 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 2: the seventeenth year of the A and Z US alliance 208 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 2: and alliance, I think I've said that back to front. 209 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 2: He cited the two of the US most revered military figures, 210 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: General Douglas MacArthur and President Dwight Erkinshower, for whom for 211 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 2: whom was a last resort Eisenhower, what do you reason 212 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 2: about this time besides my pronunciation. 213 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 4: Look, I think it's it's a little bit over blow. 214 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 4: You know that the reality is China is still our 215 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 4: single largest trading partner and a lot of the wealth 216 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 4: that we have in the prosperity of this country is 217 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 4: complements of that relationship. 218 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 2: And seem like there's tension growing, though. 219 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 4: Without a doubt there's a tension, But you know, I 220 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 4: think times like this is when we really need to 221 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 4: crank up a diplomatic efforts, particularly coming off the back 222 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 4: of Inzact. Though you know, the thought of going into 223 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 4: another war again is horrifying for a lot of people. 224 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 3: That was quite fear amongering what he said there. I 225 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 3: found a lot of those those comments to be exactly that. 226 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 3: And what's tensions are increasing? Yeah, I think no one's 227 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 3: under the illusion that we're going to war tomorrow. So 228 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 3: those comments, particularly on ans A Day as well, quite 229 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 3: fear among it. 230 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 2: And there, I mean, there's been a lot of discussion 231 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 2: about our relationship with China. I note that the port 232 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 2: has come up again. It feels like it's a roundabout 233 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 2: that we continue to go on. It does seem as 234 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 2: though it's getting sort of a bit of extra scrutiny 235 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 2: at this point in time. I mean, Dave, would you reckon. 236 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: Well, there's support. 237 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 4: There's also that big water license in Central Australia that's 238 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 4: been talked about. But I've got to say, I feel 239 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 4: sorry for these investors, you know, the port. I'd be surprised, 240 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 4: you know, when they bought into the port, the economy 241 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 4: was bubbling along at ten and a half percent growth. 242 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 4: It was the strongest growth we had in the nation 243 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 4: and in the developed world. And they paid I think 244 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 4: twenty five times what the port was worth at the time, 245 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 4: thinking that there's going to be a strong relationship with 246 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 4: China and we'd be creating new trade routes and the 247 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 4: Rahway line finally be working and all of that sort 248 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 4: of stuff, and the world has changed dramatically, and you 249 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 4: sort of struggle to see how the Chinese can possibly 250 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 4: make a go of that port now that sorry land bridge, 251 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 4: not the Chinese land bridge, the company can make a 252 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 4: go of that considering the way that the world has 253 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,839 Speaker 4: changed from since they did the deal. And the other 254 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 4: one with the water licenses and that sort of stuff. Yeah, 255 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 4: well maybe they might have a license, but you know, 256 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 4: you know, and I know that nothing happens easily in 257 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 4: the territory, and I can't imagine, you know, it's a 258 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,079 Speaker 4: long way from market for anything that they grow in 259 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 4: Central Australia. There's a lot of logistic problems and if 260 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 4: anybody thinks that the Chinese are going to just walk 261 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 4: in and rape Australia in central Australia, they've got another 262 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 4: thing coming. 263 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: I think. 264 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 2: Do you still reckon that that port lease was a 265 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 2: good idea? 266 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 4: Oh, without a doubt, without a doubt, that we had 267 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 4: more than a billion dollars of bills occurring at that port. 268 00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: You know. 269 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 4: You might recall the crane had fallen off, but we 270 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 4: couldn't even afford to replace the crane on the port. 271 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 2: And was sort of situation as well where the government 272 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 2: at the time, and I know you were part of 273 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 2: the government at the time that you actually asked the 274 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 2: federal government for some support in the. 275 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,839 Speaker 4: First around everywhere. And of course the previous government had 276 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 4: made big song and dance about it, you know, asking 277 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 4: Infrastructure Australia for money, and anthan the Albanezi at the 278 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 4: time was the Infrastructure Minister, and I recall him sitting there, 279 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 4: Oh no, you can't. You know, that's just a waste 280 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 4: of money. You know, we won't be putting money into 281 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 4: the narw And port. You know. So the Australian government 282 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 4: had been put up or asked several times. The Americans 283 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 4: they've got no real trade or interest here in the 284 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 4: Northern Territories apart from a military outpost. So you know, 285 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 4: our view was, how do we get the port working, 286 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 4: where's the trade happening, and the trade is happening in 287 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 4: our very near north, and to create trade routes it 288 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 4: was something that we're very keen on. So we were 289 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 4: particularly looking to China, to Singapore, to the Emirates to 290 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 4: see where we could break into those trading routes. And 291 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 4: you know, the Belton Road initiative. Now it's become a 292 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 4: bad word, but at the time, a new trade route 293 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 4: running past the front door of Darwin looked pretty appealing 294 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 4: to us in the Northern Territory government. 295 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 2: I mean, Dave, do you find it like, do you 296 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 2: find it interesting? 297 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 3: Now? 298 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 2: Then when you do have some of our federal ministers 299 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 2: come out and go all right, well it was a 300 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: bad idea, but at that point in time there sort 301 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 2: of wasn't that. 302 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 4: I think there's a lack of understanding about North Australia. 303 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 4: Generally in Australia they don't actually understand how much of 304 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 4: the money they're pouring into this joint anyhow, and what 305 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 4: a drag it is on the whole national economy. The 306 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 4: reality though is, you know, the Northern Territory there's only 307 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 4: two hundred and forty thousand of us. We've got access 308 00:15:55,320 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 4: to minerals, oil and gas, a whole range of different opportunities, 309 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 4: you know, clean clean sky, clear water, markets of billions 310 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 4: of people to our knee and north. There's an enormous 311 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 4: lot of things that the territory has going for us. 312 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 4: You know, we should be the ones that are providing 313 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 4: the support to the rust bucket states down south, rather 314 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 4: than the other way around, living off the taxes of 315 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 4: other Australians. And to me, that's that's always been a 316 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 4: motivating factor when I was in government. How do we 317 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 4: turn the territory around to the point where we provide 318 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 4: the welfare for the rest of the country, not the 319 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 4: other way around. We seem to see ourselves up here 320 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 4: as victims of remoteness, of all sorts of social problems 321 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 4: and the like. I tend to think that it's a bit, 322 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 4: you know, that the opportunity is far out weighither. 323 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 2: Well. We've got a lot of messages coming through this morning, 324 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 2: quite a few of them about how it springs. I've 325 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 2: got one here though, one of our texters asking are 326 00:16:56,240 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 2: there strategic security implications of the portland? 327 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 4: Well, this is a good question. Everyone's got, oh it's 328 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 4: a strategic disaster. But do you sit there the very 329 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 4: next question you sit there and say, all right, well 330 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 4: what are they? What are these defend strategic issues that exist? 331 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 4: I mean, the reality is nothing comes over the port 332 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 4: without aquisty and and a whole range of other government 333 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 4: bureaucracies involved. Every single container that comes across the port 334 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 4: in Darwin is cracked open. That's not the case in 335 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 4: any port, any other port in Australia. You know, I 336 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 4: seriously struggle to understand where. You know, the port itself 337 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 4: is regulated by the by the Utilities Commission. It's not 338 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 4: regulated by land Bridge or some Chinese organization. So you know, 339 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:55,120 Speaker 4: where are the strategic issues? I can't see any at all. 340 00:17:55,280 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 4: The strategic issue, overwhelming strategic issue in my mind, is 341 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 4: the fact that there's no industry in the Northern Territory. 342 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 4: There's very little industry indeed, and if we want to 343 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 4: base military up here and we want ships and military 344 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 4: equipment and all of that sort of stuff, the only 345 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 4: way to get that is to grow industry. And we're 346 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 4: not going to have strong industry here unless we develop it, 347 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 4: and trade is one of those ways of developing industry. 348 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 4: If you have a look at the Economic Reconstruction Commission 349 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 4: and everything that they've put out, they want to see 350 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 4: the economy grow. They want to see more industry here. 351 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 4: Downstream processing of gas is a whole range of things 352 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 4: that would see us grow industry to the point where 353 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 4: we can maintain and service military equipment. The fact is 354 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 4: everything that comes here has to go either Singapore or 355 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 4: Keynes for servicing. If it's a ship, the tanks have 356 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 4: moved to South Australia for servicing. Very little happens here 357 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 4: because we don't have the industry. 358 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 2: You are listening to the Big Issues and Dave Toller 359 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 2: and Matti Hipworth in the studio with us this morning, 360 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 2: and the Big Issue is brought to you by Kolano 361 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 2: Community Association. 362 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 3: Three sixty with Katie wolf On Mixed one oh four 363 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 3: point nine. 364 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: Thanks to Joyce Main Darwin joining. 365 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 2: Us in the studio for the Big Issues. He is 366 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 2: Dave Tolner and Mattie Hepwork. Because Matt Cunningham is out 367 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 2: at Howard Springs. I'm not too sure what he's doing, 368 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 2: we might have to quarantine any quarantined No, I think 369 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 2: he's out there doing a story. But of course a 370 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 2: big issues brought to you by Kolano Community Association. Now, 371 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 2: do just want to take your cross actually to a 372 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 2: message that we've just received from a listener, and it says, Hi, Katie, 373 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 2: the word is that the budget will be delivered by 374 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 2: Gunner next week with no room for questioning or input 375 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 2: from an objective third party. This is the same as 376 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 2: last year, which was a disgrace. When will they be 377 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 2: held accountable? Assist Texter. It says that a few industry 378 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 2: bought boycotting the budget breakfast, so I don't know whether 379 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 2: that's the case, Dave. I do want to ask you, though, when, 380 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 2: because you have beat you with how many budgets? Did 381 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 2: you had four budgets? Gee whiz, so you had four 382 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 2: budgets as the former treasurer of the Northern Territory, did 383 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 2: you always have a budget breakfast the next morning? And 384 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 2: were people afforded the opportunity to ask questions? 385 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 4: Of course, Yeah, of course it's a bit hard to 386 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 4: imagine that. Well, it's not a bit hard to imagine 387 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 4: it all. It's just it's just what. 388 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: They do in Labor. I'll go back a couple of 389 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: years and. 390 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 4: Nearly Laurie created the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act, which 391 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 4: you know, Labour said, oh, this was going to introduce 392 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 4: a new year of transparency and fiscal rigor and all 393 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 4: about that was all about, you know, being transparent, upfront 394 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 4: and honest. 395 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: And the like. 396 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 4: And it outlined a couple of big non as. One 397 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 4: was intergenerational. They were totally this is where you leave 398 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 4: debt to your kids and your grandkids and your great 399 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 4: great grandkids and that sort of stuff. Now, I think 400 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 4: in the very first budget I revealed that Labor had 401 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 4: breached their own Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act because they 402 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 4: just didn't care about the debt and they were creating 403 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 4: into generational debt. And that's why we're so keen to 404 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 4: reduce the debt when we were in government. But you know, 405 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 4: the interesting thing about the FITTER Act is that there's 406 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,880 Speaker 4: all of these things that it says that you shouldn't 407 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 4: do and the ways that you should act and that 408 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 4: sort of stuff, But any breach of the course, there's 409 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 4: no penalty, So you've got you've basically got a guideline 410 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 4: of how you've got to act, and you know, if 411 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 4: you break the rules doesn't matter, No one cares. I 412 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 4: just think it's par for the course. And you're seeing 413 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 4: exactly the same thing now. Michael Garner, you might recall, 414 00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 4: came in saying, oh, you know, we need transparency, open 415 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,719 Speaker 4: and accountability and all of these things. And he went 416 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 4: on a listening to her, and you know, it was 417 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:09,919 Speaker 4: all about communicating better with territories. But of course the 418 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 4: reality is all that stuff just goes out the window. 419 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 4: And I've always said, don't listen to what they say, 420 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 4: look at what they do, because what they do is 421 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:20,880 Speaker 4: completely opposite of what they say. 422 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 2: And that goes for both sides of politics. Does It 423 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 2: does go for both sides. Both sides are doing bessaged. 424 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 4: But you've got to actually observe the facts, Katie. The 425 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 4: facts are that labor never balanced and they never changed. 426 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 4: What you would say that, But I'm just being honest 427 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 4: with you and straight up, the reality. 428 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 2: Is no matter who the budget, there is no doubt that, 429 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 2: no matter who is in power, when you're handing down 430 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 2: a budget, there should be the opportunity for people to 431 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 2: be able to question it. I can't confirm that we 432 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,199 Speaker 2: will have the Chief Minister on the show the morning 433 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 2: after the budgets delivered. Dave, what do you reckon? We 434 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 2: might need to change the Big Issues back to Wednesday 435 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 2: next week so you and and Damien can come in 436 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 2: after the budgets. 437 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 4: We could come in and question the treasurer can They're 438 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 4: not up to scrutiny. That's just the reality. They never 439 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 4: have been, they never will be. It's par for the course, 440 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 4: you know, duck and weave and dodge questions, do everything 441 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 4: you can and just keep racking up debt. 442 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,360 Speaker 2: Well, goodness, may you've heard it there from from Dave. Hey, Dave, 443 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 2: what do you reckon? 444 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 3: Though? 445 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 2: Wednesday maybe next week rather than Tuesday. We'll check with 446 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: Damien for that. 447 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: It's a fuller that's always surprised. 448 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 2: Maddie ever, thank you for stepping in as well. Good 449 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:49,920 Speaker 2: on you both. Thank you you are listening to Mix 450 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 2: one O four point nine three point sixty. That was 451 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 2: the Big Issues proudly brought to you by the Kolaro 452 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,719 Speaker 2: Community Association and Aboriginal OANED operated and community lead organization. 453 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 2: From the top end to tennant Craig