1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: Look, joining me on the line right now is St. 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: John Ambulance Director of Ambulance Services, Andrew Thomas. Good morning 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: to you, Andrew. 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 2: Very good morning to you, Katie. 5 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: Now, mate, there's quite a bit to cover off, I 6 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: tell you what. You guys have had a massive weekend 7 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: kicking off on Friday evening on Coxponinicula Road near Walgut Beach. 8 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: Talk us through what happened. 9 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Katie, this weekend has been extremely busy for 10 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 2: our crews right across the territory, you know, attending multiple 11 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 2: vehicle accidents and unfortunately we've had a number of fatalities, 12 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 2: which obviously our thoughts go out to all of those 13 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 2: families that have involved. But yeah, look Friday night at 14 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 2: Cox Peninsula Road near beach there, just before seven o'clock, 15 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 2: there was a biericle accident out there with four people involved. 16 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 2: And you know a great response there from both US 17 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 2: CareFlight and the bell u and clinic. There's multiple serious 18 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 2: patients treated by paramedics and the clinic staff on the 19 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 2: same there and obviously then with Care Flight transporting them 20 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: through to the Darwin Hospital. So you know, obviously a 21 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: good combined response, but obviously gifts upon thing obviously to 22 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 2: have a serious accident there in that location. 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, it really is. Now then we also know the 24 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: early hours of Saturday, as I understand that there was 25 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: a single vehicle motorbike accident on Fred's Pass road. 26 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, look a gentleman there. Obviously he's come off his 27 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 2: bike and he's obviously skidded down the road for quite 28 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 2: some time. Thankfully the rider was actually wearing all of 29 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 2: the appropriate gear and that's obviously protected him as best 30 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: as possible, and so our cruise there of assessed and 31 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 2: transport him through to the Darmen hospital there in a 32 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 2: stable condition, and probably a good reminder about making sure 33 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: that when you are out and riding motile day or night, 34 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 2: and particularly in the lovely weather we have, please be 35 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: making sure that there are people around the appropriate year 36 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: so that they do happen to unfortunately come off their bike, 37 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: that they are going to be protected. 38 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, very good advice. Now, also on Saturday there were 39 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: a number of accidents and unfortunately very serious crash and 40 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: Ella Springs about five k's west of Larapinta Drive at 41 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: Owen Springs. 42 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, now that was a single vehicle accident, unfortunately tragedy 43 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 2: where a mail there was deceased upon arrival of our 44 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: paramedics and obviously police will be looking into that accident, 45 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 2: and I believe the scene was quite confronting toll involved, 46 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 2: So you know, another difficult situation for Mountainols and the 47 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 2: other first responders with that accident. 48 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: Then of course in Litchfield Park near the Termite Mounts, unfortunately, 49 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: another fatality on our roads. 50 00:02:55,720 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, similarly, again unfortunately fatality there there was a Byte 51 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 2: rider and obviously the clinic staff were the first on 52 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 2: scene out there, and I know that you know they 53 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 2: work there with some bystanders that are on the scene 54 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: in responding out to there, and again unfortunately that Byte 55 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: riders tragically passed away at the scene. So you know, 56 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: our thoughts go out to every one of those families. 57 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like our road toll is just terrible at 58 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: the moment, and it's absolutely terrible for the family of 59 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: those affected, for the friends, the whole community that's impacted. 60 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: But it must be really tough going for our first 61 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: responders as well, going out to such terrible crashes. 62 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, unfortunately, you know, we are seeing too many 63 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 2: serious accidents and fatalities on our road and as you said, 64 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: you know, our paramedics and first responders, including in this 65 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: case the clinic staff in those remote clinics, and police 66 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 2: and priories and all those people involved. Obviously it does 67 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: have an impact on them. And while they go out 68 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: there and they're providing a level of care and doing 69 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: the best they can in all situations, obviously you know 70 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: it's quite stressing to them, and particularly in some of 71 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 2: these areas where you know, the responders even may know 72 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 2: the people involved, or know the families or actually have 73 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 2: some sort of close link to them. So again you 74 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 2: know obviously that we encourage all of our responders to 75 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 2: seek help and we provide them some really good support 76 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: services to support all of those people well. 77 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: And even like we've discussed so far this morning, I mean, 78 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: even looking at Saturday, you know, there's another incident in 79 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 1: Palmerston around l Rundy Avenue. Thankfully none of those patients 80 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: required transport, they were assessed at the scene. Then at 81 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 1: three o'clock in the afternoon there was a five car 82 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: pile up on vandal And Drive in Burrima. Again everyone 83 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: was assessed on the scene and thankfully no one required 84 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 1: transportation to hospital. But then you know, even on Sunday, 85 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 1: you've got two cars on Casuarina Drive in Nightcliff. Those 86 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: patients had minor in ease. Again, thankfully no one needed 87 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: to be taken to hospital. But you know, like we've 88 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: got so much happening on our roads at the moment. 89 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, look at we keep pushing that message out Katie 90 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: that you know, people need to obviously drive to the conditions, 91 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 2: and you know, you know, unfortunately, I think we're seeing people, 92 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 2: you know, really push the limits in and around speed 93 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: and you know, inattention and that type of those sort 94 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 2: of things. And while I'm not saying any of those 95 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: accents were caused by that, but you know, we just 96 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: really need to make sure that when we are getting 97 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: behind the wheel that you know, we're fully focused on 98 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 2: what we're doing. We're we're giving space between the cars 99 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 2: in front of us, that we're not trying to rush 100 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: and race to where we want to get. But you know, 101 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: we want to drive sensibly and make sure that you 102 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 2: know that that sort of old rule that you know, 103 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,799 Speaker 2: probably people were taught years ago is drive for everybody 104 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 2: else as well. So you know, we're making sure that 105 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 2: you know, you know, we can try and reduce those 106 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 2: accidents and the trauma involved. 107 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: Now, there was one other incident as well on Sunday. 108 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: This wasn't on the road by the sounds of it. 109 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: Well about well, a thirty eight year old man suffered 110 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: spinal and head injuries after falling about three meters off 111 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:10,119 Speaker 1: a roof. 112 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I'm not sure the circumstances about you know, 113 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: being on the roof, but gentlemen there's obviously had a 114 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 2: bit of a tumble and land on the ground there 115 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 2: and down in Catherine, and our crews responded there and 116 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 2: they've taken all of the precautions in and around, looking 117 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 2: after the gentleman's spine and you know, with some head 118 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: injuries there, and they've transported him through to the Catherine 119 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 2: Hospital in a serious condition. So you know, we hope 120 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 2: that it's you know, that he makes recovery and that 121 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 2: you know, obviously, you know, the crews have done the 122 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 2: best job they could at that time. 123 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: Hey, before I let you go, we know that Saint 124 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: John's staff had to wait an extra day for their 125 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: pay last week due to a delay in funding from 126 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory government. 127 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: What happened, Yeah, look, caddie, it's unfortunate. We have been 128 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 2: open and transparent with our staff and it was just 129 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 2: unfortunate timing in terms of receiving the funding that we 130 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 2: received from the Northern Territory government. There was a delay 131 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 2: in getting and being processed and then coming into our 132 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: bank accountant. That just meant that, you know, we advised 133 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: our staff that there would be a day's delay in 134 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: us processing all of those pays and we know that 135 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: obviously that that could course him inconvenience for our staff. 136 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 2: So we were on the front foot, very open, transparent, 137 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 2: provided that information. Unfortunately, you know, the union took the 138 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: stance of providing that to the media and seemed to 139 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 2: have made a big, big, more review issue over it. 140 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 2: And you know, I can confirm that all of our 141 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: staff and the money was transferred into staff bank accounts 142 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: on the Friday, so it was less than twenty four 143 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: hours that the issue was done and manage. But we 144 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 2: are working through with the staff and obviously the union's 145 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 2: continuing to push through that through various causes and so 146 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 2: we'll continue to work with the union to resolve it. 147 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 2: But it is it was a one off, unfortunate timing 148 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 2: issue just in terms of the money coming from the government. 149 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 2: For us to then be able to relay that into 150 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: the stuff. 151 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: Andrew, like, I've seen this come through, and I did 152 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: think to myself, and I know others have raised this 153 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: as well, have said, how did the service end up 154 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: in that situation? Surely there's some funds set aside for salaries. 155 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: As we've been talking, Tybe, we've had done this year. 156 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 2: We've had lots of demands in terms of our organization 157 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 2: and the pressures, the pressures that we've been under in 158 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 2: terms of delivering the ambulance service. And it's more so 159 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 2: to us being with the government funding. We do rely 160 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 2: on the timing of the various payments that we receive 161 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 2: for government. Obviously, we have a large payroll and we 162 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 2: just needed to make sure that that was in there 163 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 2: and we're working through that monreelse and so that we've 164 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,839 Speaker 2: fixed up the problem obviously in terms of making sure 165 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:12,959 Speaker 2: that we're ensure that kick's going. 166 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: How come the government sort of stuff this up? Why 167 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: was it late? 168 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: Look, Katie, I think I wouldn't say it was a 169 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 2: stuff up, but unfortunately it was just a timing process 170 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 2: in terms of internal processes and obviously, you know, you know, 171 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: we we submit the invoices for the grant funding on 172 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 2: regular occasions and in this time, somewhere along the lines 173 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 2: there was a point of time where obviously it's related 174 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 2: to just a delay and it's unfortunately by the time 175 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 2: and then going from you know, being lodged and then 176 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 2: going into banks and then obviously coming through to us, 177 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 2: it was just all of that sort of all lined 178 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 2: up where there was one delay. 179 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: I mean, is there a guarantee that it's not going 180 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: to happen again? 181 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 2: Look, Katie, this is you know, we've been running the 182 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 2: ambulance service for a long period of time and looking 183 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 2: through with the funding with Northern Territory Government and the 184 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 2: normal processes have been there in place all of those times. 185 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 2: And as I said, this was just a one off 186 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 2: occasion and we understand that you know the impact for 187 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 2: our staff and we know we sincerely apologize to it. 188 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 2: And as said, we hence the reason that we were 189 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: open and we told the TOUCH staff as early as 190 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 2: we could on the Thursday, and then we ensured that 191 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: the payments were made less than twenty four hours later 192 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: into every other bank accounts well so. 193 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:32,599 Speaker 1: John Ambulance, Director of Ambulance Services Andrew Thomas always appreciate 194 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: your times. Thanks very much for having a chat with 195 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: us today. 196 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 2: No problem, Katie, you have a great day you too. 197 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: Thank you