1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,559 Speaker 1: Now the government say they're taking decisive action to break 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: the cycle of crime when it comes to this year's budget, 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: but it is also going to be at a cost. 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 2: The treasure of Bill Yan yesterday. 5 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: Handing down his first budget and revealing the Northern Territory's 6 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: net debt is going to reach more than twelve billion 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: dollars next financial year, with the budget forecasting a further 8 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: increase to nearly fourteen billion dollars by twenty twenty nine. Now, 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: my understanding is that that equates to about nine hundred 10 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 1: and nine hundred and eleven million dollars in interest each 11 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: year alone. The budget shows the government is going to 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: have to borrow two hundred and sixty five million dollars 13 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: to fund its day to day operations next financial year, 14 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: and another one hundred and one million in twenty six 15 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: twenty seven. There's a lot of numbers to take in there. 16 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: But joining us in the studio is the Northern Territory 17 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: Treasurer Bill Yan. 18 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 3: Good morning to you, Good morning, Kay, and good morning 19 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:00,959 Speaker 3: to everybody in the top end. 20 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: Well, Treasurer, it was a big day for you yesterday, 21 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: your first ever budget, and I know that it's revealed 22 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: what probably isn't a huge surprise to any of us, 23 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: but we are in a massive amount of debt. It's 24 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: eye watering. I certainly get that you've inherited that disk, 25 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: but what's going to be done to try and rain 26 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: it in? 27 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, and that's the thing. We're dealing with a lot 28 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 3: of legacy issues left by the previous government and you 29 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 3: can't just walk in and stop services. We still have 30 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 3: to keep things going. There was effectively a one point 31 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 3: four billion dollar black hole within Territory Labour's last budget. 32 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 3: There was all these funding cliffs of services that they 33 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 3: didn't fund ongoing. 34 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 2: So what kind of things are we talking? 35 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 3: There was stuff in health age care, There was infrastructure projects. 36 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 3: If I think if you look at the State Square, 37 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: our gallery, the funding for that there was no funding 38 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 3: after July this year. So there's all these things that 39 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 3: weren't funded on going to try and make the budget 40 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 3: position look better. Now, what we've done, We've made the 41 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 3: hard decision to look at what we have to fund 42 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 3: and what we what we must do into the future 43 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 3: and actually put those numbers into the budget so we 44 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 3: actually know what the real cost is going to be, 45 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 3: not a hidden cost. 46 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 2: So do you reckon. They were fudging the books. 47 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 3: Well, they were just not funding. Well, they're being very 48 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 3: tricky with their books. What they were doing is that 49 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 3: we know that Okay, there was a project save for 50 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 3: DV that was going to run for five years, but 51 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 3: they only funded it every year. So it comes to 52 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 3: the end of the year, there was no funding for 53 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 3: the next year. Okay. So what that does is doesn't 54 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 3: show up in the forward estimates. So that's just one 55 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 3: example of a lot of things that were happening. So 56 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 3: it worked out to be three hundred and fifty million 57 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 3: dollars per around them in shortfalls. And the only way 58 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 3: to try and save that money I think I've used 59 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 3: the analogy before. To save one point for million billion 60 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 3: dollars sorry over the forward estimates, you'd have to sack 61 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 3: four thousand public servants and we can't do that. We 62 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 3: won't do that because that will cripple a territory, it 63 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 3: would cripple our economy and actually send us backwards. So 64 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 3: we've had to make the decision to include this stuff 65 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: into the budget going forward. We've had to make the 66 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 3: decision to spend where we desperately need to, and that 67 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:15,679 Speaker 3: comes at a cost Kadie. 68 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: I mean, Bill, like you said, they're three hundred and 69 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: fifty million dollars per annum that they haven't sort of 70 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: forward estimated that they hadn't forward estimated. But the fact 71 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: is we're looking at paying nine hundred and eleven million 72 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 1: dollars in interest alone each year. 73 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, and that's on that debt. So what we see, 74 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 3: we've got a deficit in the non financial public sector 75 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 3: this year. It was projected to be one point seven billion. 76 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 3: We've got that down to one point three And what 77 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 3: we're seeing we're seeing a reduction in that in the 78 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 3: outer years. So that's reducing which then reduces our debt. 79 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 3: The debt is still there. The debt won't go away. 80 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 3: I can't magically get rid of the debt overnight. It's 81 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 3: going to take a lot of years to start dealing 82 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 3: with that debt issue. But we're starting to reduce those numbers, 83 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 3: and that two hundred and sixty five million dollar deficit 84 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 3: in the general public sector that is actually moving to 85 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 3: surplus within two years. So we see reduction next year 86 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 3: and then we're going to start to see some surpluses 87 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 3: in the outer years. 88 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: Okay, I still want to stay on the some of 89 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: those projects that you listed yesterday when you handed that 90 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: budget down, you went through a number of projects which 91 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: were promise by the former government which. 92 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: Have blown out. 93 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: Some of those you know, like you look at the 94 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: Tiger Brennan project for example, I think it was one 95 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: hundred million dollars. It's a huge amount of money. You 96 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: look at the Nightcliffe Police Station that a lot of 97 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: people are really very critical of this off at this 98 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: point in time because it's not operating in the way 99 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: that they. 100 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 2: Might expect it to. 101 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: But I guess the question is, first off, how much 102 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: have those projects? Will those project blowouts cost the Northern 103 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: Territory taxpayer? 104 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 3: Well, I don't have the actual number of all those 105 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 3: blowouts in my head added up, but look, tyger Brenham 106 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 3: was nearly one hundred million dollars. I believe the mandor 107 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 3: a Jetty is nearly sixty million dollars over the States 108 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 3: Square Our Gallery is projected to be sixty to seventy 109 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 3: million dollars over. You look at the artcout in Our Springs, 110 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 3: there was one hundred and fifty million dollars budgeted, but 111 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 3: it was going to cost an exit, It was going 112 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 3: to cost in excess of three hundred million dollars to 113 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 3: deliver that. So these are some of the projects because 114 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 3: they just they weren't managing those projects probably. But the 115 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 3: other issue that we face is, of course they were 116 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 3: I suppose governing by press release in some respects. They 117 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 3: may make an announcement about this project. Great, happy days, 118 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: We're going to do this wonderful project, but then it 119 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 3: sits on the books for years and years and years. 120 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 3: So the numbers that we used to put this project 121 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 3: together eight years ago are not really different, not relevant today. 122 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 3: And they didn't go back and rescape these projects, which 123 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 3: is why we find ourselves in some of the situations 124 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 3: we see and look to a. 125 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: Lot of people listening this morning, they're going to be going, okay, 126 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: so we didn't do it correctly previously. What is the 127 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: COLP government going to do though, to ensure that this 128 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 1: doesn't continue to happen. 129 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 3: Well, and that's the key, Katie, and we won't be 130 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 3: allowing that to happen. If we're looking at those infrastructure projects, 131 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,679 Speaker 3: we'll make sure that their scope properly. And I think 132 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 3: I've spoken to Logistics and Infrastructure about this and I 133 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 3: agree is that and it's an old anecdote like, it's 134 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 3: great to be doing one hundred things, but you're only 135 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 3: doing ten things. Well, what we want to do now 136 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 3: is we want to do those ten things, and we 137 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 3: want to do them well. So they had a huge 138 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 3: program and they're being pulled in millions of different directions 139 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 3: because it was pressure release after pressure release of new project, 140 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 3: new project, new projects without without the people and systems 141 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 3: behind to be able to do that work. 142 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: So do you think, though, that there needs to be 143 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: a clause in the tendering process to stop projects from 144 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 1: blowing out to the extent that they do, Because we 145 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: all get it right, like with a major project, something 146 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 1: like the ship lift, for example, that your original scoping 147 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: work might be one hundred million dollars, and then you know, 148 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 1: as things get underway, as you wait for approvals and 149 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: all that sort of process, that some of the cost 150 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: of delivering that project your materials might change, so it 151 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: might go up a little bit. But should there not 152 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: be some kind of clause in a tendering process which says, 153 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: if you know, if the cost blows out more than 154 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: x amount or x percent, then you either lose the 155 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: tender or the project. I don't know, do you stop 156 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: pulling us. 157 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 3: Well, it comes down to effective project management, Cadie, and 158 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 3: that's what we need to do. 159 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 2: And so has the department not been doing that? Who's 160 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: not been doing it? 161 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 3: Well? The Department's been stretched so thin. I'm trying to 162 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: manage a million different projects rather than looking after a 163 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 3: few and doing them really well. And that's the change 164 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 3: we need to see. And the issue, of course is 165 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 3: again these projects are scoped ten years ago and then 166 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 3: they sit on they just sit there and nothing happens, 167 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 3: and nothing happens, and nothing happens off yep. And that's 168 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 3: if you look at it. They had a five point 169 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 3: two billion dollar infrastructure program last year. There was one 170 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 3: point two billion I think spent on the infrastructure carereum, 171 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 3: but labor only actually budgeted in this year's budget. When 172 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 3: you look at their papers, three hundred million dollars to 173 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 3: deliver one point two million dollars worth of program So 174 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 3: and these a lot of these programs are already under way, Katie. 175 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 3: We can't stop them. Like their roads are being built. 176 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 3: Do we the state scare are art gallery. Do we 177 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 3: just stop that today and leave a concrete car half 178 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 3: hanging out of the ground so we've had to come 179 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 3: in and fund these legacy issues, which then shows up 180 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 3: in some of the debt that we see. But going forward, 181 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 3: program management within infrastructure is going to be key and 182 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 3: I'm really hard on the department about this, and I 183 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 3: think all the ministers are back into their age. It 184 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 3: is about the scoping and what programs that we do 185 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 3: to make sure that it's done properly, on time and 186 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 3: within budget. 187 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: That's what we've got to do, so treasurer across the board. 188 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: I mean what we have seen as well with some 189 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: of the different departments is there's a huge overspend every year. 190 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: So what have you said to the other ministers and 191 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: they've said to their departments try and bring that spending in. Yeah. 192 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 3: Look, we've been quote critical on the departments. There's a 193 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 3: effectively on every agency now they have to come up 194 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 3: with twenty million dollars in savings and that's through consultancies, 195 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:12,559 Speaker 3: travel and other. 196 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: Every agency agency's got twenty million. 197 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 3: I've got to save twenty million bucks per year per 198 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 3: year in starting from this budget. So that is that 199 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 3: has been given to the agencies. They are unnotice that 200 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 3: they have to do that, so they have to find 201 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 3: those twenty million dollars in savings every year. 202 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,319 Speaker 1: Is that going to mean that we'll see a diminishing 203 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: of services? I mean twenty million dollars for example within 204 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: the Health Department, let's say delivering those frontline services. Is 205 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: that going to mean that we're going to see less 206 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: people working less services? 207 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 3: Now, this is this isn't about frontline services. Okay, We've 208 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 3: invested in frontline services, and that is a key for 209 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 3: us is to make sure that we invest in those 210 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 3: frontline services. But this is other things, be back of. 211 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: House travel allowance, that kind of stuff. 212 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 3: Okay, So it would be nice to send someone on 213 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 3: an overseas trip together with this, Well, sorry, that's not 214 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 3: going to happen. We can't afford it. Consultancyes okay, reduced consultancies. 215 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 3: We've got great people in a public sector who can 216 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 3: do that work. So why do we need to be 217 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 3: farming it out to somebody else? 218 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: So, Treasurer, we know the government's largest expenditure is public 219 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: service employee costs. I mean you've just sort of touched 220 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: on that, which are expected to grow four point nine 221 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: percent in twenty five twenty six financial year. Employee costs 222 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: account for about forty one percent of the government's total 223 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 1: expenses at around four billion dollars per year. I mean, 224 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: you've just said your expectation is that every department needs 225 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: to save twenty million dollars per annum. But what else 226 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: is going to be done to rain this in. I mean, 227 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: despite the fact that the population doesn't seem to be growing, 228 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: our public service continues to grow. 229 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think I've spoken about this on the 230 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 3: show before Cad and we've certainly spoken about it in cabinet, 231 00:10:57,600 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 3: is that there has to be a cap on public 232 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 3: service numbers. We can't continue to see a public service 233 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 3: balloon out. Our focus is on frontline services. We won't 234 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 3: we will not allow increases in the public sector numbers 235 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 3: unless they desperately have to be there. And some of 236 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 3: those areas that we will see some increases corrections, police courts, 237 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 3: to deal with those law and order issues. So yes, okay, 238 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 3: those increases are justified over there. But our key focus 239 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 3: is on if we're going to increase service, increase public servance, 240 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 3: it is in those frontline services and it has to 241 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 3: be absolutely justified. 242 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: Treasurer aware, are we then seeing some big spends and 243 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 1: what are you doing to keep the economy moving, or 244 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: to really try to get the economy moving. I know 245 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 1: that yesterday in your budget speech you had touched on 246 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: the fact that seventy percent I believe of our revenue 247 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: comes from the federal government. I mean, we're so reliant 248 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 1: on the federal government. Surely we've got to have some 249 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,719 Speaker 1: of our own source revenue or more of our own 250 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: source revenue coming in. We need some major projects moving 251 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: so that we can get the economy moving and not 252 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: be so reliant on the fence. 253 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, and that's we need to increase our own source revenue. 254 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 3: So we've made a couple of changes I suppose in 255 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 3: that racing, gaming and wagering area, so that is an 256 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 3: increase in revenue to the territory. Of course, we need 257 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 3: some of those bigger projects, those private projects which will 258 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 3: bring well to the territory of the ground. Boodloo is 259 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 3: one of those. There was an announcement just last night 260 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 3: that there's been a joint agreement reached between Tamberan and 261 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 3: Daily Water's Energy which will give Tamborin additional investment opportunities 262 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 3: so that they can start to progress. So those are 263 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 3: the projects that we need to see coming out of 264 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 3: the ground because they will bring revenue, jobs and wealth 265 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 3: to the territory. So Territory Coordinated plays a key piece 266 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 3: in this Katie, the Fast Track Approvals Task Force, which 267 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 3: will be delivering their I believe in June. Of course, 268 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 3: the Chief Ministers has told us pretty clearly that the 269 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 3: minute we get that report as ministers, we need to 270 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 3: start going out and implementing those recommendations through our departments, 271 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 3: because by reducing red tape and speeding things up provides 272 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 3: that certainty for business to invest. We know the Territori's 273 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 3: got everything in the country needs. 274 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: We have everything. 275 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 3: We've got the minerals, the agriculture, the energy, we have everything. 276 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 3: We just need to let the rest of Australia know that. 277 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 3: And we need to be the place to do business 278 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 3: and that's what we're working hard to achieving. That will 279 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 3: generate our own source revenue and make us less reliant 280 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 3: on the federal government. 281 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: Now, if you have just joined us in the studio 282 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: with me is the Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan following 283 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: on from his first budget being handed down yesterday, Treasurer, 284 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: we know that there is a real focus on law 285 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 1: and order in this budget. Increase budgets to police, increase 286 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: budget to correctional services. Do you think there needs to 287 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: be that investment. Obviously it's in reducing crime. 288 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, and one of our key pillars is reducing crime, 289 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 3: and we walked into a crime wave. We're working very 290 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 3: very hard now to deal with that. And this is 291 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 3: the biggest law in order to spend in territories in 292 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 3: the territory's history. One point five billion dollars in law 293 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 3: in order, six hundred and sixty eight million dollars for 294 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 3: police loan, which is the largest spend on police ever, 295 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 3: over five hundred dollars into corrections, and then the rest 296 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 3: is made up of courts and those court support services 297 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 3: because we've seen a lack of if you look at 298 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 3: corrections and courts, we've seen investment in the police, but 299 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 3: there was no investment in the courts and of course corrections. 300 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 3: And we know for every dollar you invest in the police, 301 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 3: you need to put a dollar fifty into your downstream 302 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 3: services where they be courts, corrections and those legal services. 303 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 3: And that didn't happen. So we're investing heavily in there. 304 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 3: We put five hundred beds in corrections in just the 305 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 3: last six months, which is absolutely amazing. The work done 306 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 3: by corrections and delay to make that happen is absolutely amazing. 307 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 3: But we've had to do that because we need to 308 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 3: deal with the law and order issues, because if we 309 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 3: can't restore our lifestyle until we deal with the crime issues. 310 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 3: It's one thing. You can't have a great lifestyle if 311 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 3: you're not confident to walk outside you or confident to 312 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 3: go to the shops. So we're investing heavily in that 313 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 3: law and order space because dealing with crime then creates 314 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 3: all those opportunities for investment, growing our economy and of 315 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 3: course improving that lifestyle. So that is a key piece, 316 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 3: which is why we've invested that one point five billion 317 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 3: into the law and order spots. 318 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 2: TREASURER a couple of quick ones. We know that. 319 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: Yesterday the leader of the Opposition, Selena Ubo joined us 320 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: on the show. She was questioning where there would be 321 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: cuts in terms of projects. She questioned the COLP government's 322 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: vision when it comes to. 323 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 2: Growing the Northern territory. 324 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously their vision was an expensive one, like 325 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: let's not beat around the bush things like the State Square. 326 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: You know, some of the other projects they have been 327 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: quite expensive, but I guess they would argue they had a. 328 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 2: Vision for the Northern Territory. What's your vision? 329 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 3: Well, our vision is a growing economy, an economy where 330 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 3: business has confidence to come and invest, where we have 331 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 3: investors wanting to come to the territory, and having the 332 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 3: territory as the best place to live, do business and 333 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 3: invest in. That's what we're working to do. But we 334 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 3: also have to do that hard work on dealing with 335 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 3: the debt two KD because we can't just keep going 336 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 3: down a road of debt increase. Now, labor was hiding 337 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 3: that away year on year on year, but at some 338 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 3: stage are we're going to have to fund it. They 339 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 3: were going to breach their own self imposed debt ceiling. 340 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 3: They were trying to hide that coming into the election, 341 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 3: but they were on that spending spree and would have 342 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 3: seen that debt just continue to escalate and god knows 343 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 3: where where we would have ended up, Katie. So we're 344 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 3: doing that hard work and rationalizing what our spending looks 345 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:07,919 Speaker 3: like to try and rain in that debt. Now we 346 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 3: can't get rid of it. We have to work with 347 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 3: the federal government and our compact around our GST revenue 348 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 3: and all the other stuff that we get, and we 349 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 3: want to work with the federal government to make sure 350 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 3: that we're not just getting handouts and lip service to 351 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 3: keep the status quo. We need the federal government to 352 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 3: work with us on some of those nation building projects 353 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 3: of course, or Middle arm we have the ship lift, 354 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 3: all those other things that are taking place, but also 355 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 3: some taxation concessions for the territory to make people want 356 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 3: to come here and do business and make territory business, 357 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 3: I suppose, more competitive with the rest of the country 358 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 3: and to make sure that we're getting our fair share 359 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 3: of the GST. But of course the big thing for 360 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 3: us is defense. We know how critical defense is. We 361 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 3: know our importance of where we sit in nationally in 362 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 3: defense to Asia and the rest of the world. So 363 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 3: we need the federal government to be working with us 364 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 3: to invest in defense too. 365 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 1: True, sure, there is a lot of messages coming through 366 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: this morning. I will just so go to something that 367 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: came through yesterday. Now, there's reports in the Australian newspaper 368 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: that Health Scopes Board this week have effectively pleaded for 369 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 1: bankers to take control of the hospitals, allowing it's Brookfield 370 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: back directors to walk away. Now some listeners are asking 371 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,880 Speaker 1: if there have been any funds allocated in the budget 372 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 1: as a reserve to bail out the Darwin private hospital 373 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: if necessary. 374 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 3: I don't know if we have any specific funds in 375 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 3: the budget to bail out the private Hospitalcadia. I know 376 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 3: that we've invested over again. It's another record investment in 377 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 3: our health sector, well over two billion dollars and that's 378 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 3: one point five billion dollars for our hospitals, is I 379 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 3: think three hundred and thirty million dollars for primary health 380 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 3: and then our remote areas. So we have a huge 381 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 3: investment in our healthcare system. But I don't believe that 382 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 3: I've got any money that I've stashed away in the 383 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 3: budget to bail out of a private hospital. Should there 384 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 3: be well, we'd have to look at the services that 385 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 3: they're providing Katie in and see if the private hospital 386 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 3: here is going to cease what services that then we 387 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 3: may be able to take over and again at what 388 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 3: cost That will be the key. So I haven't put 389 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 3: my mind to it at this stage. I'm not sure 390 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 3: whether the Minister Edgington, the Health Minister, has but I 391 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 3: think that's a discussion we're going to have to have 392 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 3: fairly soon. 393 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: Bill Yan, just very quickly. 394 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: You copped a bit of flak last week for being 395 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: at the Barot Classic the week before the budget was 396 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: handed down. I mean, do you regret that decision or 397 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: do you stand by it? 398 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 2: Are you glad you went? 399 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 3: Absolutely glad I went, Katie. I've been volunteering there for 400 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 3: thirteen years now. I've been a patron and supporter and 401 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 3: sponsor of the Barrack Classic. And You've only got a 402 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 3: look at what wreck fishing does for the territory, Katie. 403 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 3: Two hundred and fifty million dollars in revenue to the territory, 404 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 3: thousands of direct and indirect jobs. And if you look 405 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 3: at the Daily River on the economic bene to that 406 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 3: region from those two big fishing comps, the Barow Classic 407 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 3: and the Baronats, there's hundreds upon hundreds of people coming 408 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 3: from all over the territory in Australia and inject huge 409 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 3: amounts of money into the Daily River region. I'm going 410 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 3: to the pub, going into the community store, going to 411 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 3: the arts center, so there's a huge benefit to what 412 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 3: happens down there. And then of course all those competitors 413 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 3: that come up from in the state and the spend 414 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:27,880 Speaker 3: they do here. I'm so proud to be a part 415 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 3: of that, and I've been doing it for a long time. 416 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 2: So Treasurer, what job were you doing there? 417 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: Because I know some people are like, well, I think 418 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: there's a big difference between whether he's they're just fishing 419 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: or whether he's volunteering. 420 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 2: So tell us what you're doing. 421 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, I'm volunteering. I have been for a volunteer 422 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 3: at the Baro Classic for thirteen years as a marshal, 423 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 3: so we're responsible for safety on the river, etiquette and 424 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 3: of course making sure people aren't cheating. Fishermen don't cheat 425 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 3: at all except when they meet, except when they measure 426 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 3: their fish. So yeah, that's my role. For the last 427 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 3: three years, I've been the chief Marshal because the old 428 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 3: chief marshals stepped aside and I've stepped up and taken 429 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 3: on the chief Marshall's responsibility. So we're up early, really early, 430 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 3: make sure all the starts happen safely. Then we're down 431 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 3: the river just I said, doing safety and etiquette type stuff, 432 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 3: and of course at the end of the day we're 433 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 3: the last boat back up the river to make sure 434 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 3: that all the competitors are off the water. Everybody's back 435 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 3: at base safely, and we carry spears, sat phones and 436 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 3: all those sorts of things. I fixed a couple of boats. 437 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 3: The other marshals towed a broken boat back up for 438 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 3: a tourist. Funnily enough. 439 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: So well, it sounds like you're busy down there and 440 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: then having to do your calculations at nighttime. I'm assuring 441 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: ssooming Bill. Yeah, Treasurer of the Northern Territory, we are 442 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: going to have to leave it there. I can see 443 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: the next guest coming up the stairs. Good to catch 444 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: up with you. 445 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 3: Thank you, Thanks Katie, thanks for having me on. 446 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 2: Thank you.