1
00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,880
Speaker 1: Plenty of you are pretty concerned, certainly worrying or wondering

2
00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,280
Speaker 1: about how many COVID cases we've got the Northern Territory

3
00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:09,360
Speaker 1: at the moment, what the latest advice is from the

4
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,400
Speaker 1: Chief Health Officer and joining us on the line to

5
00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,760
Speaker 1: tell us more is the Northern Territories Health Minister Natasha Files,

6
00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,759
Speaker 1: Good morning morning, we'll be morning listening, Minister. Can I

7
00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,760
Speaker 1: ask how many active COVID cases are there now in

8
00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,960
Speaker 1: the Northern Territory? On last count it was fifty three?

9
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,040
Speaker 1: Has that number gone up since yesterday?

10
00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,559
Speaker 2: So Katie, it's still sitting at fifty three. But I

11
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,080
Speaker 2: do expect to be briefed later on this morning by

12
00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,240
Speaker 2: the Center of the Disease Control who do that testing,

13
00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,440
Speaker 2: and as soon as we have the full confirmation of

14
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,239
Speaker 2: more cases, we will provide that in a statement to

15
00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,720
Speaker 2: the community. We have a number of people at the

16
00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,600
Speaker 2: Howard Springs Facility close contacts, family members for example, who

17
00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:54,120
Speaker 2: are in isolation, and you know some of their loved

18
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,960
Speaker 2: ones may have tested positive, so that number could rise.

19
00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,240
Speaker 2: But as soon as we have the information we'll share

20
00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:00,000
Speaker 2: it with the community.

21
00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,120
Speaker 1: Minister. We've got a message here from one of our

22
00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,640
Speaker 1: listeners that says good morning, Katie. My daughter works at

23
00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:09,320
Speaker 1: the Howard Springs quarantine facility. She said they received fifty

24
00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,759
Speaker 1: COVID positive cases coming from one flight on the weekend.

25
00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,600
Speaker 1: Are you able to ask the health minister about this?

26
00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,600
Speaker 2: So, Katie, the confirmed numbers in the Northern Church of

27
00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,240
Speaker 2: fifty three active cases. Forty eight of those are from

28
00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,119
Speaker 2: international orpatriation and one is an Austrange Defense Force member

29
00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,520
Speaker 2: and for a US marine. In terms of people arriving

30
00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,880
Speaker 2: and on flights they've tested at different periods, we do

31
00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:38,080
Speaker 2: see people initially test positive, but it turns out that

32
00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,160
Speaker 2: it's a residual case that they were infected some time ago,

33
00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,440
Speaker 2: but they still have a reading. And so these test

34
00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,480
Speaker 2: numbers are based off the CDC advice. They go through

35
00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,040
Speaker 2: a rigorous process and they are current infectious cases.

36
00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,120
Speaker 1: So was there fifty on one of those flights on

37
00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:54,640
Speaker 1: the weekend?

38
00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,120
Speaker 2: Not that that's not the advice I've got, Katie. We

39
00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,880
Speaker 2: certainly did see a number of cases off the New

40
00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,360
Speaker 2: Delhian Shannai flights they arrived last week, not on the weekend,

41
00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,520
Speaker 2: but not fifty off one plane.

42
00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,800
Speaker 1: Okay, but it does sound as though you are expecting

43
00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,160
Speaker 1: those numbers to go up today.

44
00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,320
Speaker 2: So Katie, we saw a significant increase on Saturday and

45
00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,760
Speaker 2: I spoke it to the media about that. We saw

46
00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,760
Speaker 2: smaller numbers Sunday and yesterday. But as soon as we

47
00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,120
Speaker 2: have those confirmed from the CDC, we will put out

48
00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,359
Speaker 2: that statement that the community knows. But these cases are

49
00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,040
Speaker 2: all in isolation. They're all in the red zone at

50
00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:34,760
Speaker 2: Howard Springs.

51
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,560
Speaker 1: Minister, I mean, the possibility of halting these flights from

52
00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,200
Speaker 1: India is now on the national agenda. Do you think

53
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,560
Speaker 1: that we need to halt those flights from India until

54
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:46,520
Speaker 1: things calm down.

55
00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,919
Speaker 2: To Katie, we need to do whatever it takes to

56
00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,560
Speaker 2: keep our community safe. Howard Springs has repatriated close to

57
00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,160
Speaker 2: seven thousand people since that were set up, and we

58
00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,760
Speaker 2: all the way through and have put the Northern Territory

59
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,480
Speaker 2: and top ends community safety first. So we'll work with

60
00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:07,040
Speaker 2: the Commonwealth Government. It's a really difficult situation because we've

61
00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,480
Speaker 2: got clearly it's almost a catastrophe in India with those

62
00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,360
Speaker 2: hundreds of thousands of cases each and every day. You know,

63
00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,960
Speaker 2: we just have to look at them through the media

64
00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,560
Speaker 2: and the news that what's happening over there and it's

65
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,839
Speaker 2: absolute tragic, but we need to get those vulnerable Australians home.

66
00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,240
Speaker 2: But our community safety will always come first.

67
00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,520
Speaker 1: I mean when you look at these numbers. I'm just

68
00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,840
Speaker 1: on the coronavirus website right now, one hundred and twelve

69
00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,760
Speaker 1: people have recovered in the Northern Territory from COVID. We've

70
00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,960
Speaker 1: got fifty three total active cases right now. I mean,

71
00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,120
Speaker 1: this is the highest number that we've had in the

72
00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,000
Speaker 1: territory at any one time, isn't.

73
00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,800
Speaker 2: It correct, Katie? And we have to the community safety

74
00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,720
Speaker 2: always comes first. But fifty three infected people, we know

75
00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,040
Speaker 2: that the majority of those, I think it's all but

76
00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,000
Speaker 2: two are at the Howard Springs Facility having you know,

77
00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,160
Speaker 2: mild clinical symptoms and they can be safely cared for there.

78
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,080
Speaker 2: But two people Laren Roso in hospital. And so it's

79
00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,960
Speaker 2: not only the numbers coming through and the higher rate

80
00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,160
Speaker 2: of infectivity. So we're seeing one to two percent of

81
00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,400
Speaker 2: people infested off flights other than India. So the London

82
00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,760
Speaker 2: flight Frankset for example, but these India flights are showing

83
00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,920
Speaker 2: over fifteen percent of both people are infected. So we're

84
00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,440
Speaker 2: working with the Commonwealth kDa around how we can safely

85
00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,000
Speaker 2: get these people home with the safety of our community

86
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,760
Speaker 2: coming first, but making sure that we don't put ourselves

87
00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:30,400
Speaker 2: at any risk.

88
00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,919
Speaker 1: I mean when you talk about this so on a

89
00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,479
Speaker 1: national stage. I did note that over the weekend on

90
00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,760
Speaker 1: the ABC's Insiders, for example, and I heard Tanya Plibasek,

91
00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,440
Speaker 1: one of the Shadow Ministers, speaking about Howard Springs and

92
00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,320
Speaker 1: everybody looking to Howard Springs at this point in time

93
00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,080
Speaker 1: as being the facility that we need to or you know,

94
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,680
Speaker 1: we need to recreate in other locations, all the facility

95
00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,080
Speaker 1: that we really need to be relying on, as Ossie's

96
00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,400
Speaker 1: with some of these repatriation flights. But it really does

97
00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,120
Speaker 1: put us at a greater risk, doesn't it.

98
00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:08,719
Speaker 2: Okatie Howard brings through the physical design. It wasn't purpose built,

99
00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,359
Speaker 2: but it pretty much serves that purpose is fantastic. But

100
00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,440
Speaker 2: it's also the clinical practices and the hard work of

101
00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,839
Speaker 2: all staff out there that have kept territory in safe.

102
00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,640
Speaker 2: But we're very closely monitoring this situation with these increased

103
00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,440
Speaker 2: numbers in people infected, and it's not just within that facility,

104
00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,080
Speaker 2: but the flow and a set if they were to

105
00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,760
Speaker 2: take severely ill and we have everything in hand. We're

106
00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,120
Speaker 2: managing it well and where I spoke to the Federal

107
00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,719
Speaker 2: Minister Greg Hunt yesterday and he's always put the Northern

108
00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:41,120
Speaker 2: Territory safety first. So to reassure territorians, we will manage

109
00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:45,320
Speaker 2: this in a very safe way. Putting you know, our

110
00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,040
Speaker 2: responsibilities of getting these vulnerable people home absolutely is at

111
00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,800
Speaker 2: the paramount, but at the same time we have to

112
00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:51,760
Speaker 2: care for our community.

113
00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,800
Speaker 1: On that note, then do you think that we do

114
00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,479
Speaker 1: need to hold these flights from India from coming into

115
00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,039
Speaker 1: the Northern Territory at this point?

116
00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,919
Speaker 2: So Katie, National Cabinet had in depth conversations and I

117
00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,360
Speaker 2: know the Chief Minister and Prime Minister and the relative

118
00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,240
Speaker 2: departments have continued those conversations over the weekend. You know,

119
00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,120
Speaker 2: the Federal Health Minister was very upfront with me whatever

120
00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,800
Speaker 2: the Northern Territory needs to do to keep our community safe,

121
00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,120
Speaker 2: but we do need to have a pathway to get

122
00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,160
Speaker 2: these people home. And the manner in which OSMAT has

123
00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,000
Speaker 2: cared for people, we've got people out of Wuhan'd off

124
00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,599
Speaker 2: the Diamond Princess. You know, we're shown that we can

125
00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:27,880
Speaker 2: do it. So we'll keep working through that with the

126
00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,839
Speaker 2: federal authorities. But to reassure your listeners because I know

127
00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,040
Speaker 2: that you know as much as we all feel, we've

128
00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,920
Speaker 2: got an obligation to help people caught up overseas. Our

129
00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,920
Speaker 2: community safety and our way of life must come first,

130
00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:39,480
Speaker 2: and it does.

131
00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,240
Speaker 1: Minister. At a press conference on Saturday, you revealed an

132
00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:47,440
Speaker 1: additional PPE protocol breach had taken place following reports on

133
00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,839
Speaker 1: Friday that a staff member at Royal Dalen Hospital was

134
00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:55,200
Speaker 1: not wearing the full suite of protective gear. What has

135
00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:59,240
Speaker 1: happened here and are you concerned about about these breaches?

136
00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,640
Speaker 2: So, of course any breach of PPE is very concerning.

137
00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,080
Speaker 2: So PPA is a personal protective equipment and there is

138
00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:11,400
Speaker 2: a suite of measures that people wear gloves, masks, gowns,

139
00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,480
Speaker 2: space shields, goggles. And so a staff member reached the

140
00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,400
Speaker 2: PPEA protocol. They didn't have the full PP on kate.

141
00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,600
Speaker 2: It wasn't like they just washed into a room with nothing,

142
00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,760
Speaker 2: but a senior cline mission quickly identified that they needed

143
00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,600
Speaker 2: to have further equipment that's on and they didn't, and

144
00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,680
Speaker 2: so they are now in isolation at Howard Springs for

145
00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,920
Speaker 2: their safety and the broader safety of our community. And

146
00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,280
Speaker 2: there was an additional breach with a transportation and a

147
00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,080
Speaker 2: Saint John's employee was involved in that quickly identified. And

148
00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,800
Speaker 2: again they're in isolation at Howard Springs, So we have

149
00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,240
Speaker 2: strict protocols and there is testing, and there is training,

150
00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:53,760
Speaker 2: and there is auditing, and unfortunately, sometimes human behavior things

151
00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,080
Speaker 2: do go wrong. But in both situations it would quickly identify.

152
00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,040
Speaker 1: Well, and I guess that you know the reality is

153
00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,720
Speaker 1: in other states and territories, You're right, these things do

154
00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,440
Speaker 1: go wrong and unfortunately what we've seen as a result

155
00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,120
Speaker 1: in some cases is community transmission. Now I guess what

156
00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,160
Speaker 1: I'm keen to find out is with fifty three total

157
00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,240
Speaker 1: active cases in the territory, so the highest number of

158
00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,320
Speaker 1: cases that we've ever had at any one time out

159
00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:21,320
Speaker 1: there at Howard Springs, and then with these two breaches,

160
00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,960
Speaker 1: does it demonstrate how fragile the situation is in terms

161
00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,440
Speaker 1: of if there were to be a further breach out

162
00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,000
Speaker 1: there at Howard Springs as those numbers presumably grow.

163
00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,880
Speaker 2: Katie, as the Minister responsible, I have confidence in that

164
00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,120
Speaker 2: the protocols that are in place, and this highlights why

165
00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:44,520
Speaker 2: we must continually train and test and audit those people

166
00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:48,400
Speaker 2: working in quarantine facilities, whether they're from cleaners and staff

167
00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,240
Speaker 2: that are performing functions around the facility right through chi

168
00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,319
Speaker 2: senior nurses and doctors and clinicians. Because you know habits,

169
00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,080
Speaker 2: you do it every single day, but just one time

170
00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,520
Speaker 2: not quite getting it right. The strict procedures that are

171
00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:04,000
Speaker 2: in place and the processes around them ensure that we

172
00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,000
Speaker 2: keep the community safe and we will continue to uphold that.

173
00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,199
Speaker 2: And that's why when we talk about the Howard Springs facility,

174
00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,560
Speaker 2: it's not just the physical infrastructure, it's the processes that

175
00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,640
Speaker 2: have been embedded into those processes around perpatriating a team.

176
00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,199
Speaker 1: You're right, You're right. It is certainly about those procedures.

177
00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,559
Speaker 1: And I did note that you spoke before as well

178
00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:25,960
Speaker 1: about the clinical safety, and you also spoke about the

179
00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:30,319
Speaker 1: wonderful work of the OZMAT team. Is when is that

180
00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:34,720
Speaker 1: transition going to be happening? Was that due to begin today,

181
00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:38,280
Speaker 1: the transition of the OZMAT Team or the National Critical

182
00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,199
Speaker 1: Care and Trauma Response Center no longer managing the international

183
00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,320
Speaker 1: side of things and nt Health taking over.

184
00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,160
Speaker 2: No, So the transition begins on May third. And when

185
00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,360
Speaker 2: the transition begins, it's a process in which we can

186
00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:56,560
Speaker 2: slowly these repatriation flights will eventually come under one banner

187
00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,560
Speaker 2: and it'll be a sustainable model going forward. But are

188
00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,600
Speaker 2: not simply leaving the facility on a certain day. They

189
00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,280
Speaker 2: have very much assured me that they will be there

190
00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,960
Speaker 2: until it is safe for them to be able to

191
00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,560
Speaker 2: exit the facility. But some of those people, Katie, that

192
00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:13,920
Speaker 2: have been there working under the os maat banner will

193
00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:18,080
Speaker 2: continue to work under this one model as we go forward.

194
00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,480
Speaker 1: So how many of those four hundred positions have now

195
00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,439
Speaker 1: been filled? I know that from early last week you'd

196
00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,080
Speaker 1: said seventy. Is there an update on those numbers.

197
00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,160
Speaker 2: I haven't formally issued an update around the recruitment, but

198
00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,480
Speaker 2: it is going well and I look forward to sharing

199
00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,880
Speaker 2: those numbers and senior positions with the community in the

200
00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:36,360
Speaker 2: coming day.

201
00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,160
Speaker 1: What are we waiting for in terms of sharing those numbers.

202
00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,640
Speaker 2: So there's a recruitment process and we have to respect

203
00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,440
Speaker 2: that the Public Service Employment Act and there has to

204
00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,040
Speaker 2: be some formality around it. So I was briefed yesterday

205
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,160
Speaker 2: by the Department of Health and that is going well

206
00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,040
Speaker 2: and as soon as it's appropriate for me to release

207
00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:54,120
Speaker 2: those details, I will do.

208
00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,720
Speaker 1: So, okay, Minister, can I ask what's the latest advice

209
00:10:57,960 --> 00:10:59,360
Speaker 1: for Perth at this point.

210
00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:02,960
Speaker 2: Thanks Katie. So in terms of Perth, we did see

211
00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:06,000
Speaker 2: the Western Australian Government announced last night that they would

212
00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,199
Speaker 2: lift the lockdown for Perth and Peel Region, but they

213
00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,400
Speaker 2: still have a number of measures in place to keep

214
00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,640
Speaker 2: their community safe. Our Chief Health Officer will participate in

215
00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,640
Speaker 2: NHPPC today around lunchtime and then he will brief us

216
00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,319
Speaker 2: and we'll make a decision on our hot spots policy

217
00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,400
Speaker 2: and what's happened out of Perth. We have to be

218
00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,760
Speaker 2: very cautious and it was relieving to see that there

219
00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,839
Speaker 2: was no case numbers yesterday out of Perth, but we'll

220
00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,120
Speaker 2: just keep that in place until we're absolutely sure it's

221
00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:36,920
Speaker 2: safe to remove it.

222
00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,319
Speaker 1: All right, so it is, but there is a possibility

223
00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,880
Speaker 1: that that could be lifted at lunchtime today, so.

224
00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,720
Speaker 2: The Chief Health Officer is looking at what the situation is.

225
00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,880
Speaker 2: There was still some work around contact tracing that was

226
00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:54,240
Speaker 2: being undertaken and finalized late yesterday's minderstanding the WA government

227
00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,439
Speaker 2: is the lockdown, but they've still kept the number of

228
00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,120
Speaker 2: measures in place, such as wearing masks. So we just

229
00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,559
Speaker 2: want to keep the territory safe by being absolutely certain

230
00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:02,920
Speaker 2: before we remove that, all.

231
00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,280
Speaker 1: Right, Minister, I do want to ask you. I know

232
00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,839
Speaker 1: that it's another issue. It's about a surgeon shortage. As

233
00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:10,680
Speaker 1: we know, you and I have discussed this before at

234
00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,679
Speaker 1: Royal Darwin Hospital, but it's again been raised by the

235
00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:17,440
Speaker 1: Australian Medical Association of the Northern Territory. They've spoken to

236
00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,319
Speaker 1: the paper and say that they're concerned about the pressure

237
00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,400
Speaker 1: it's put on staff and waiting lists blowing out. Where

238
00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,000
Speaker 1: is the recruitment app with these six surgeons?

239
00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,600
Speaker 2: So, Katie, the territory is home to some clinicians who

240
00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,320
Speaker 2: observe their entire professional career here in the territory and

241
00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,720
Speaker 2: we're very grateful for that, and others come and go.

242
00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,720
Speaker 2: So we have a focus on recruiting into the territory

243
00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,680
Speaker 2: and we want to retain that highly skilled workforce. We're

244
00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,720
Speaker 2: currently working with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons to

245
00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:48,200
Speaker 2: recruit more surgeons and surgical nurses Katie to work in

246
00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,079
Speaker 2: the territory so that we can make sure we've got

247
00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:52,760
Speaker 2: that sustainable workforce going from.

248
00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,280
Speaker 1: So where are things at? Because again I say, you

249
00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,600
Speaker 1: and I spoke about this, I reckon a few weeks

250
00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,600
Speaker 1: ago and you've given a very similar answer.

251
00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,600
Speaker 2: So Katie, we're committed to expanding the capacity for surgery

252
00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:07,280
Speaker 2: across our hospital and so we've obviously got Royal Dalen Hospital,

253
00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,320
Speaker 2: but also Palmerston Hospital. We've got the ability to deliver

254
00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,120
Speaker 2: surgery out there and some surgery is taking place, but

255
00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,760
Speaker 2: we want to expand that. So we've got our clinical

256
00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,520
Speaker 2: services planned. But recruitment to those positions is important, and

257
00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,280
Speaker 2: we've been working with the college around ways in which

258
00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,320
Speaker 2: we can have an attractive pathway forward for them to

259
00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,160
Speaker 2: build their skills and stay in the territory.

260
00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,760
Speaker 1: So at this point we haven't filled any of those

261
00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:32,880
Speaker 1: six positions.

262
00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,320
Speaker 2: So Katie, I'm not sure of exactly which positions are

263
00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,280
Speaker 2: in aren't field, but we acknowledge that surgeons and surgical

264
00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,440
Speaker 2: nurses is an area of priority within the health workforce.

265
00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,280
Speaker 1: Quite a few messages coming through on the text line.

266
00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,240
Speaker 1: There's one here It says, Hi, Katie, stop these flights.

267
00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,080
Speaker 1: These people choose to live overseas. They were told to

268
00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,640
Speaker 1: come back, they chose not to. Now we're supposed to

269
00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,320
Speaker 1: bring them back. They're putting everyone at risk. Says that. Texter.

270
00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,520
Speaker 1: What's your response to that, Minister Katie, is so difficult.

271
00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,160
Speaker 2: It's so easy to say to stop the flights, but

272
00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,360
Speaker 2: this is a humanitarian response. I have people coming to

273
00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,400
Speaker 2: me in my community, their friends, their family have been

274
00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,960
Speaker 2: caught up overseas. When COVID first hit, many people thought

275
00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,480
Speaker 2: just bunker down, stay where you are if they couldn't

276
00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,200
Speaker 2: get out in time, And now as the months have

277
00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,960
Speaker 2: dragged into a year, it's a really difficult situation.

278
00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,880
Speaker 1: I've got another one here. It says, please ask file

279
00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:29,800
Speaker 1: Zy if social distancing and signing in venues is still mandatory.

280
00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:34,640
Speaker 2: So, Katie, it's really important that we all the personal

281
00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,840
Speaker 2: steps we can take, so if we're stick staying at home,

282
00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:41,160
Speaker 2: getting tested, using hand sanitizer, just keeping that extra distance

283
00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,680
Speaker 2: between people. But also that QR coding is really important.

284
00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,320
Speaker 2: Particularly it's difficult because we haven't had an outbreak, we

285
00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,320
Speaker 2: haven't had to use it, but if we were to

286
00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:51,640
Speaker 2: see that it would be so vital.

287
00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,120
Speaker 1: So is it, Manda Tray.

288
00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,440
Speaker 2: So Katie, it's still part of COVID management plan. So

289
00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,200
Speaker 2: when you go to a business or you go to

290
00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,040
Speaker 2: an event, they will submitted a management plan to the

291
00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,200
Speaker 2: Department of Health, and so yes, it is part.

292
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,560
Speaker 1: Of that Okay, I just want to go across to

293
00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,400
Speaker 1: another thing that you and I spoke quite extensively about

294
00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,480
Speaker 1: with the whole panel on Friday during the week. That

295
00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:16,120
Speaker 1: was that worker shortage for hospitality and also tourism. This

296
00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,040
Speaker 1: is an issue for farmers as well, but I do

297
00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,680
Speaker 1: just want to focus for a moment on hospitality and tourism.

298
00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,600
Speaker 1: On Friday, the government announced two million dollars to entice

299
00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:28,160
Speaker 1: people to the territory to fill critical worker shortages in

300
00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:33,720
Speaker 1: these sectors, Minister, are these incentives just aimed at people

301
00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:34,720
Speaker 1: living inter state?

302
00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,760
Speaker 2: So, Katie, these incentives are aims at anyone that wants

303
00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,720
Speaker 2: to join the sectives that we're currently seeing a shortage

304
00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,760
Speaker 2: in workers. So particularly hospitality and primary industries are two areas.

305
00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,200
Speaker 2: So some of the opportunities in the package include short

306
00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,720
Speaker 2: courses that are provided by the government, so free around

307
00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,160
Speaker 2: responsible service of alcohol, housekeeping and tour guiding. So we've

308
00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,440
Speaker 2: worked with industry and identified the positions that they're really

309
00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,640
Speaker 2: struggling to feel and looking at how we can try

310
00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,360
Speaker 2: and support them to get people into those positions.

311
00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:09,000
Speaker 1: So at this point in time, are we doing anything

312
00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:13,560
Speaker 1: to bring workers from overseas or to maybe extend visas,

313
00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:16,240
Speaker 1: work with the federal government to extend visas for those

314
00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,000
Speaker 1: who are already in Australia.

315
00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,320
Speaker 2: So there's been conversations between the Chief Minister and the

316
00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:23,880
Speaker 2: Schedial treasure around the visas. And so some people are

317
00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,520
Speaker 2: here and they're restricted to working for one employer, they

318
00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:28,920
Speaker 2: can only work a certain number of hours, so that

319
00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,240
Speaker 2: there are workforce that's here. We did do a lot

320
00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,960
Speaker 2: of work around team or less and getting some of

321
00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,080
Speaker 2: those fruit pickers, and then we've seen the coronavirus situation

322
00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,880
Speaker 2: worse and dramatically over there, so it is better to

323
00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,720
Speaker 2: rely on a workforce that's here in Australia. But we're

324
00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,720
Speaker 2: certainly open to different ideas. But this two million dollar

325
00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,240
Speaker 2: package is aims particularly at supporting those industries that are

326
00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,760
Speaker 2: really struggling to get workers with practical measures like I

327
00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:52,560
Speaker 2: just outlined.

328
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,040
Speaker 1: Minister for Health Natasha Fhiles, we are going to have

329
00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:56,720
Speaker 1: to leave it there. Thanks so much for your time

330
00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:57,200
Speaker 1: this morning.

331
00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:57,880
Speaker 2: Thanks Katie,