1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,599 Speaker 1: Twenty minutes after nine o'clock. 2 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 2: Now. A little bit earlier this week, we caught up 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 2: with the Independent Member for Ara Lewin, Robin Lamley, and 4 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 2: spoke pretty extensively about some of the issues that they're 5 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 2: experiencing in Central Australia, indeed in Alice Springs when it 6 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 2: comes to commercial crime and also house break ins. But 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 2: we also know that data from the Northern Territory Police 8 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 2: Foreign Emergency Services, so they released their crime statistics on 9 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 2: Friday last week and astonishingly it showed that in Central 10 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 2: Australia those break ins increased by more than eighty percent. 11 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 2: I think that you all probably heard me reading that 12 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 2: out on the show on Monday, and the surprise even 13 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 2: from me as I was reading it that those crime 14 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 2: stats had seen such a massive increase when it comes 15 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 2: to those commercial premises and the impact that that is 16 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 2: obviously having on businesses not only in Central Australia but 17 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 2: also here in Darwin. Just yesterday we read out for 18 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 2: you that story which had emerged about premises in Palmerston 19 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 2: will Two. Actually, I think that we're broken into it 20 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: is an ongoing issue and we see that calls are 21 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: now being made for the government to further support some 22 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,199 Speaker 2: of those regional businesses as those stats show commercial break 23 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:12,839 Speaker 2: ins are going up. Now joining me on the line 24 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 2: right now is the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, 25 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 2: Greg Island. 26 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Greg. 27 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie. 28 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:19,839 Speaker 1: Greg. 29 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 2: Crime around the territory, it does seem to be something 30 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 2: that we talk about a lot on this show right 31 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 2: around the place, but in Central Australia at the moment, 32 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: in Alice Springs, it's having a real impact, isn't it. 33 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Katie. It's top of mind for pretty much every 34 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 3: business and I think every citizen of Central Australia. 35 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 2: Now I understand that the Chamber has released a statement 36 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: that has really disagreed with recent comments made by the 37 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 2: Chief Minister that finding jobs in Alice Springs is the 38 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 2: biggest issue for the community. Greg, what would you say 39 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 2: is the biggest issue right now? 40 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: Katy has regional committees throughout the territory and they are 41 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 3: populated by our general membership and they help guide us 42 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 3: in our decision making. It's fair to say that pretty 43 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 3: much every conversation that we have with them at the 44 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 3: moment is around crime and the impacts of crime. Businesses 45 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 3: are seeing their excesses increase to ten thousand dollars being 46 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 3: broken into multiple times in a given period. They're losing sleep, 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 3: they're frustrated. It just doesn't really get any worse than this, 48 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 3: and it is consuming a considerable amount of our time 49 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 3: which we would rather spend working on killing those job 50 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: vacancies that are also there as well. 51 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and you know this is the thing. 52 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: I think there's a few issues you know that obviously 53 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 2: are being dealt with around the territory. But as you've 54 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:49,119 Speaker 2: touched on, then if you're a small business, let's say, 55 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 2: and you wind up with a ten thousand dollars excess 56 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: after your window gets broken again, it has a real impact. 57 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 3: Absolutely. The physical cost is one aspet that it's the 58 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 3: loss of sleep. The fear of what you're going to 59 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 3: find every day when you get up and go to 60 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 3: work is playing on people's minds and it's doing a 61 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: lot of damage emotionally, mentally and obviously to their bank balances. 62 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: Greg what are those businesses firstly in Alice Springs and 63 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: Central Australia saying right now. 64 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 3: They are just very much at their limits of what 65 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 3: they can cope with at this point in time. We're 66 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 3: doing everything we can. We've formed working groups, We're working 67 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 3: closely with Minister Manison and her team, closely with the 68 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 3: senior police down there. It's just one of those issues 69 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 3: that just doesn't seem to be making any headway. So 70 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 3: frustration is probably top of the list, and. 71 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: Then when you sort of move up to the top end, 72 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: is crime. Is crime still something that's being raised with 73 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: the Chamber as well from businesses up here. 74 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 3: Absolutely this week I've spoken with at least two members 75 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 3: that have been recently impacted, very much the same feelings, 76 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 3: but probably not quite the same volume up here at 77 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 3: this point in time, but comparatively, it's still very much 78 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 3: a problem, and I. 79 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: Think we all understand, you know that it is a 80 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 2: complex issue. There's no sort of easy solution to these things. 81 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: But what would the Chamber like to see from the 82 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: Northern Territory government at this point? 83 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 3: I think participating in the conversation is our first point, 84 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 3: and that has been occurring with our working group meetings, 85 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 3: getting some regular dialogue with business about making sure that 86 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 3: they really do understand what the impacts are. It is 87 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 3: a long term problem. We understand legislation changes are going 88 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 3: to take time. This will take an effort across many 89 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 3: different levels of government. That's all complex, but let's just 90 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 3: make sure we're talking about it and keeping everyone's viewpoints. 91 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 2: I mean, Greg, are they meeting with you guys? Are 92 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 2: they meeting with you to hear these concerns. 93 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 3: We have a regular working group meetings and we form 94 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 3: that working group in conjunction Minister Madison and her team 95 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 3: is involved. Police are also involved in that process. But 96 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 3: we would just like to see that stepped up a 97 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 3: little bit and almost to a daily conversation at this 98 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 3: point with all the concerns that are being raised with us. 99 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, it's obviously reached quite a boiling point for 100 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: some members if it's something that you're looking at trying 101 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 2: to do daily. 102 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, we would just like to see police engaging directly 103 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 3: with business, making sure everyone's clear on the options available 104 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 3: to them, how the victims of crime support works and 105 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 3: doesn't work, making sure that everybody understands what can be done, 106 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 3: and collectively working towards a solution. 107 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 2: Now, Greg, Obviously, the other big topic that's been discussed 108 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 2: throughout this week is masks. Are they going to be 109 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 2: lifted and no longer needed inside various indoor venues around 110 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 2: the territory. Also the check ins and how they impact 111 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: various businesses. What is the chambers thoughts in this space? 112 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: Is it time to get rid of them asks and 113 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: stop checking in? 114 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 3: Well, we've certainly heard the Hospitality NT very loudly on 115 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,679 Speaker 3: this particular subject. It clearly is impacting on their members 116 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 3: the most. We're supportive of that. It's all about the 117 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 3: value and what it provides to the solution. If it's 118 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 3: not really adding any value any longer, we're seeing that 119 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 3: being the case in Eastern States, we tend to lag 120 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 3: behind them by a few weeks. So let's hope that 121 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 3: the practical side of check in and masks, if it's 122 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 3: no longer running value, it disappears as quickly as possible. 123 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: What about the mandate for that third vaccination? 124 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 2: How is that all being sort of managed by the 125 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 2: various businesses around the territory right now? 126 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 3: Surprisingly, Katie, we're hearing very little from business about this 127 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 3: particular issue. I think most people are vaccinated and I 128 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 3: guess can continue with that level of protection for themselves. 129 00:06:56,680 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 3: What we are hearing from business is that the close 130 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 3: contact definitions and the requirement for seven days isolation is 131 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 3: having a impact on workforce. So many people are now 132 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 3: taking that week off just so happens then that their 133 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 3: children come home with the virus and ultimately they have 134 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 3: to quarantine for even longer. So we're finding that extending 135 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 3: up to fourteen days, even three weeks, people being absent 136 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 3: from the workplace, and. 137 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: What is that meaning for some businesses? 138 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 3: It's a real struggle, particularly if it's your head chef 139 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 3: or a key staff member. You really are struggling with 140 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 3: a redundancy there to provide the service that you would 141 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 3: normally offer. So it is very much earning businesses. We're 142 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 3: not suggesting that people should come to work if are 143 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 3: seek but certainly we need to consider how that close 144 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 3: contact is working and what we can do about getting 145 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 3: people back to work soon as practically possible. 146 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I reckon there's been some real confusion around that 147 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: close contact stuff and people not being one hundred percentual what. 148 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: They do and don't need to do. 149 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: Have you had much clarification from the Chose Office in 150 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 2: that space. 151 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 3: Our understanding is that definition hasn't changed recently at all. 152 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 3: We're seeing it slightly shift, particularly overseas, and we're looking 153 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 3: for National Cabinet to make some hopefully national changes around 154 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 3: that definition. We think that it's an opportunity to get 155 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 3: people back to work sooner and that's what's really going 156 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 3: to help business well. 157 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 2: Greg Ireland, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce here 158 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,119 Speaker 2: in the Northern Territory. We really appreciate your time this morning. 159 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: Talk to you again soon 160 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 3: My pleasure, Katie, thank you, thank you.