1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: Joining its live on the line, the member Foranamajira in 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Central Australia, the colp's Bill Yan. 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 2: Good morning, Bill, Good morning Katie, and good morning to 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 2: your listeners. 5 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: Now Bill, we will talk health in just a moment, 6 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: but we have just spoken to Ruth Palmer from the 7 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: Property Council, also Robin Lamley in Central Australia as well 8 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: about some of the issues. 9 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 3: That we're experiencing when it comes to crime. 10 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: Yesterday we unfortunately learned that a man had been charged 11 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: after alleged sexual assault in Darwin, CBD on Tuesday afternoon. 12 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: Now this happened in broad daylight about four pm in 13 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: the afternoon. Police received a report that a woman was 14 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: allegedly sexually assaulted in the vicinity of Austin Lane in 15 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: Darwin City. Police deployed to the area and the crime 16 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: scene was established. They obviously arrested a fifty six year 17 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: old man a short time later, but that man was 18 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: not known to the woman. I mean, this is it's 19 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: a horrifying situation. 20 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 2: Look, okay, this goes to the core safety of the 21 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 2: people in the Northern Territory and this comes off the 22 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: back of that that assault just recently in the same 23 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 2: area of Geller and the lady who was working there 24 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 2: at the shoe shop. This is this isn't CBD darky 25 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,119 Speaker 2: in broad daylight. These two assaults have happened in that area. 26 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 2: It goes back to the crime issues that we're facing 27 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 2: the territory and when you think about those incidents in Darwin, 28 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: not two hundred metres from the police station there in 29 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: the city. So it comes back again to that core 30 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: safety of the people and it's it's happening there in 31 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: the c B in Darwen. There was another rap I'm 32 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: awareof sexual assault at the bus stop here. 33 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 3: There was last week. 34 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 2: Again, it's just this stuff is it keeps going on 35 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 2: and on and on, and we keep hearing rectord from 36 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 2: the government that they're doing everything they came. Well, obviously 37 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: they're not, Katie, because this stuff is still happening and 38 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 2: it's on Goome and people are getting hurt and people 39 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: are getting hard. 40 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 3: Well, this is the same action. 41 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: You know, even earlier in the week we've also we 42 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: know that you know that there was a loss of 43 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: life in what is believed to be a domestic violence situation. 44 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: Are shooting, So look, it is just it's too much 45 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: and so many people are questioning what is it going 46 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: to take for some really serious and urgent action to 47 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: get underway. 48 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 2: Well, sadly, people are losing their lives and being seriously 49 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: assaulted right across the territory because of the inability of 50 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 2: government to get on top of this crime issue. It's 51 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: been and it's been in the making for a long 52 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: time now. It's just something that's happened overnight. They were allowed. 53 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: I suppose a scenario where where crime seems to be okay, 54 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 2: where people think it's okay to do these things and 55 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: they're getting away with it, and that's not right, Kate, 56 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 2: It's not right for the people of the territory. There 57 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 2: needs to be some urgent action to provide safety. Safety 58 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: at home, safety at work, and safety about going about 59 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 2: your day to day business. Is particularly here in Central Australia. 60 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: People don't feel safe going about their daily day to 61 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: day business and their daily day to day lives. 62 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've all had a bloody gutfull, you know, that's 63 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: what it comes down to. 64 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 3: We're all over it. You know. There needs to be 65 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 3: some serious, serious action. Bill. 66 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: I want to move along because earlier in the week 67 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: we spoke to a Darwin based expectant mother Maddie, who 68 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 1: said that she was told she couldn't get her twelve 69 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: week pregnancy scan until sixteen to eighteen weeks, so she 70 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: ended up driving three hours to. 71 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 3: Catherine to have it done. 72 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: Now, since then, we've been contacted by a number of 73 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: other people with similar experiences, and not just people needing 74 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: those pregnancy scans. Bill, are you aware of delays with 75 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: pregnancy scans and people needing to travel elsewhere to have 76 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: them done. 77 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 2: Well, I've heard of this before Cada and I listened 78 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: to that interview with the lady that's traveled to Catherine, 79 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 2: and that's not acceptable in what were would call a 80 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: modern medical I suppose facility in Darmen. We've got the 81 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: Darwin and Pumps Hospital, a capital city of the Northern Territory, 82 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: and women are able to get those critical scans during 83 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 2: pregnancy that they need. The fact that people are having 84 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 2: to travel to Catherine, three hundred kilometers from Darwin to 85 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 2: go and get those skins just puts them again at 86 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 2: undue risk and a risk of undue harm having to 87 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: travel up and down the road to go and get 88 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 2: those scans. I know women here in central Australia who 89 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 2: need scans, particularly around the breast care, they can't get 90 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 2: the scans here in Central Australia. The machinery is here, 91 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: but the people who run the machinery is not, and 92 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 2: they're going to get on planes and either fly to 93 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 2: Darwin or they're being referred to the Southern States. And 94 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: I believe it's happening for women in the top end 95 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 2: as well, where they're being referred to South Australia or 96 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 2: elsewhere to get scans and stuff done that could be 97 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: done in Darwin. But because we don't have the healthcare 98 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: professionals to be able to utilize the machinery that we have, 99 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 2: they can't do it. So that's a bit of a 100 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 2: double whammy for us. We can't affect the healthcare workers 101 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 2: to the territory, and now territory taxpayers are picking up 102 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 2: the money for the Patient Assistant Travel Service to send 103 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: people in the state to get services that should be 104 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 2: provided here in a territory. It just doesn't make any sense, Katie, 105 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 2: It's absolutely ludicrous. 106 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: Bill. Do you have any idea or any insights in 107 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 1: some of those situations as to how long people have 108 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: been waiting? 109 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 2: No, I haven't yet and certainly some inquiries that I'm 110 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: going to be making because it's not acceptable to expected mothers. 111 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 2: Some of those cans are quite critical, particularly when there 112 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: are high risk pregnancies and things like that. Those scans 113 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 2: at certain points in time are critical for those expected mothers. 114 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: They can't be delayed, and the fact that they're being 115 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 2: delayed puts the mother and the child at risk, and 116 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 2: that's not acceptable to anybody in a modern society. Here 117 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: in an ordern teritory, that's for sure. 118 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 3: Bill. 119 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 1: We put a number of questions to the Department of 120 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: Health on this topic, and what they have said to 121 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: us is new coal translucency scans are provided by multiple 122 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: private organizations I Met Territory X Ray, etc. And are 123 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: not managed by INNT Health. They said all other public 124 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: obstetric scans are performed at Darwin and Palmerston, including twelve 125 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: to sixteen week anatomy scans. I mean, we've gone back 126 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 1: with a whole raft of further questions, including questions about 127 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 1: people needing MRIs and as you've said, they're breast care 128 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: scans and that kind of thing that they're having to 129 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: wait extended periods for or not able to actually get 130 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: I mean like, is it good enough that you know 131 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: that this is happening across the board and what do 132 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: you think needs to happen. 133 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 2: Well, look that response from government as a cop out 134 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 2: by into your health n to health manage those contracts. 135 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 2: They let those contracts out for those private organizations and 136 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: it's up to health to manage those contracts. So NT 137 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 2: health should be if it's those private organizations that are 138 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 2: not being able to provide those services, NT health need 139 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 2: to be on their case. They need to be telling them, 140 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 2: will you tell us why you can't provide that service? 141 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 2: And sadly we know why it's difficult to get people 142 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: in the health profession up here into Central Australia, daw 143 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: and right across the territory. And sadly it comes back 144 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 2: to that one common denominae that we're seeing is that 145 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 2: some of the social issues and the crime issues we're 146 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: seeing here in the territory, we can't get health professionals, 147 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: whether it be in anti health or into those nngas 148 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 2: and private sectors. I mean estimates we asked about suppose 149 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 2: health professionals in Adel Springs, they said there was one 150 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: hundred and thirty short Well, I'm told that numbers more 151 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 2: like one hundred and eighty wow, and a nearly fifty 152 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: percent of the nurship stuff here in Central aus agency 153 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: staff and not into health staff. So that speaks volumes 154 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 2: for what's taking place in Central Australia across the territory bill? 155 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: Are you concerned as well, like when you're talking about 156 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: people having to travel into state for different scans. Now, 157 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: I know some people will be doing that at a 158 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: personal cost to them. Others will be going through the 159 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: Northern Territory Health Travel Scheme. I can't remember the exact 160 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: name of it or the patient Travel scheme. 161 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 2: Are you concerned about PATS? 162 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: Yeah? 163 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: Are you worried about the cost or the expense of 164 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: that to taxpayers or do you reckon? I mean, obviously 165 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: it needs to happen, so I'm not disputing that in 166 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: any way, shape or form. 167 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 2: No, You've people have got to get the treatment that 168 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: they need and if it can't be provided here in 169 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: territory and then people have to go elsewhere it, then 170 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 2: we've got to pay. We've got to make that happen. 171 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 2: But when we can provide the services here, and the 172 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 2: reason we're not providing the services is we don't have 173 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 2: the people, and then we're using it patients assistant travel 174 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 2: scheme for stuff that should be happening here, and that's 175 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 2: a little bit of a worry and we've got to 176 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 2: look at what that costs Now. I'll never begrudge somebody 177 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 2: that needs when they need those scans can't provide it 178 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,319 Speaker 2: to get on a plane and go and get the skins. 179 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,719 Speaker 2: But if we're able to provide the service here in 180 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 2: territory and we're not doing that because we don't have 181 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: the staff to be able to operate the machinery or 182 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 2: the specialists be able to provide the service, then again 183 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 2: that just doesn't make any sense for it. It's a 184 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 2: false economy. At the end of the day. We need 185 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: those specialists here in the territory to provide those immediate 186 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 2: service to territories so they don't have to get on 187 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 2: a plane or don't have to draw three hundred kilometers 188 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 2: down to Catherine and put themselves at further risk through 189 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 2: travel to get those basic skins they should be able 190 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: to get at home. 191 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 3: YEP, I cannot argue with that kind of logic. 192 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: Bell I appreciate your time this morning, mate, Thanks very 193 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: much for joining us on. 194 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: The show Absolutely Pleasure. Cage Chiz, thank you.