1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: But joining us on the line right now is the 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: Member for Namajira, the COLP spokesperson for Treasury as well. Billy, 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: And good morning to you, Bill, Good. 4 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 2: Morning Katie, and good morning every one in the top end. 5 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 2: And congratulations to you on the result national Well. 6 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 3: Thanks mate, thank you. 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: Yes, she had a fantastic time and back to reality 8 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: this week. Hey, straight back into it. It's all happening now. 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: I want to ask you. First off, we have just 10 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: spoken to Brent Potter about a raft of different raft 11 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: of different things. But I want to ask you how 12 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: things going in Allie Springs with that curfew ending. 13 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, look everyone's still worried at home. Of course, 14 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 2: we had that I suppose a little bit of respite 15 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: with a curfew in the CBD. We still had lots 16 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: of things happening out in the suburbs sadly, but I 17 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 2: just noticed over the weekend we're seeing more and more 18 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: people starting to migrate back into CBD. So look, it'll 19 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 2: be a time. We'll tell Katie. We had that surge 20 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: of Ady police which made a huge difference in town. 21 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 2: Of course, most of them have had to go back 22 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 2: to where they've come from. We've got an additional twenty five. 23 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: Now are they going to be able to cover And 24 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 2: I certainly hope that they can. But they're working so 25 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: hard to keep us safe at home, but we're seeing 26 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: some really horrendous incidents out in a suburb, some home 27 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: and some really serious and vicious home invasions which are 28 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 2: taking a toll on the community as well. People are 29 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 2: still really really scared about being at home. And you've 30 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 2: only got to look at what happened also in Darwin 31 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: last week with those four kids holding up that lady 32 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 2: in off Point trying to steal a car. We did 33 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: a little of lawlessness we haven't seen previously, and it 34 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: looks like it continues to escalate. 35 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: And we did just talk about that as well. You know, 36 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: I asked some minister whether the age of criminal responsibility 37 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: needed to be raised again. He didn't feel that would 38 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: make a difference. He does feel as though the knife 39 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: crime strategy is working. He said that he as policemen 40 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: is all that he can do is get more police 41 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: out on the beat. They've got sixty eight police that 42 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: are going to be graduating, I believe in June. But 43 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: all of that sort of cold comfort at this point 44 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: in time when you have incidents like we saw last 45 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: week both in Alice Springs and up here in Darwin. 46 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: You know, it's cold comfort at this point, thinking to yourself, well, 47 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: that's great, we're going to have more police in June. 48 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 3: But what do we do in the meantime. 49 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 2: Well, not more police is certainly a help, but got 50 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: to step it back in some ways, Cadie. You've got 51 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: to think how do we get here. Look, we've had 52 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 2: a level of lawlessness creeping into our communities now for 53 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 2: a number of years due to the soft on crime 54 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 2: approach from evil law or in a labor government. They've 55 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 2: been allowing this to creep in now for years and 56 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 2: years without consequences for actions for all these criminals, whether 57 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: they be adults of kids. And of course like it 58 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: empowers the criminals because they know they can get away 59 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: with this stuff. They do it and nothing really happens, 60 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,239 Speaker 2: so we'll do it again, and then that behavior escalates, 61 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 2: and that's what we've seen creeping across the board. And 62 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: now it's like it's too little, too late. We need 63 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 2: more police to try and keep us safe. But it's 64 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: been allowed to get to this situation, and particularly in 65 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: our springs when you think about it. We had that 66 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 2: right weeks ago, and that was horrific to see some 67 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: of the worst stuff I've seen in our town. But again, 68 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 2: how do we get to this point where all of 69 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 2: sudden we've had to call a curfew, We've had to 70 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: surge eighty police into the community just to keep the 71 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: community safe. They're pretty drastic measures for a community of 72 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: twenty five thousand people in the modern world to have 73 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: to do that. 74 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, and I think you'd be hard pressed to 75 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: find anybody that sort of disagrees at this point. We've 76 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: all had enough for the crime that we're experiencing and 77 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: that feeling of not being safe. But Bill, I want 78 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: to move along. I want to actually ask you about 79 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: this latest com sext State of the State's report. Now, 80 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory economy has again placed a overall in 81 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: the latest quarterly concept State of the State Report. The report, 82 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: which the Northern Territory government dismisses as not being a 83 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: true reflection of the Northern Territory's economic performance, has rated 84 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory economy last over all of the twenty twenties. 85 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: It's a pretty grim look at the economy. Bill, what 86 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: do you make of the latest report. 87 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, it's interesting that whenever labor get bad news 88 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 2: about the economy will it's it's not our fault. It's 89 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,679 Speaker 2: the way that the reports being number consector of change, 90 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 2: the way they actually do this reporting and measure. So yes, 91 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 2: they measure the longer term average, but they also measure 92 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 2: quarter on quarter and year on year. But some of 93 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: the numbers in this report should be raising red flags 94 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 2: for territories. The fact that our economy is contracted byzero 95 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: point five of percent when our closest neighbor, South Australia 96 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: has actually grown by over eleven percent. We're now sixty 97 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 2: six months of coming last in the country on nearly 98 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: every metric that they measure. House house builds a decline 99 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 2: by sixty percent, and then we've seen construction decline by 100 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 2: forty point one percent. And the big concern for residents 101 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 2: and people the territory is the fact that house price 102 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 2: is the only place in Australi where house prices have 103 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 2: actually gone backwards by zero point five percent. So that 104 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 2: hurts everybody. Everyone is buying a house or owns a house. 105 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: The value of your property is going backwards and this 106 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: is attributable to the labor government and the way that 107 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: they're managing the economy in the territory. 108 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: Well, and as you've touched on there, you know, your 109 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: house for a lot of people, that is your absolute 110 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: biggest asset, you know, So then when it's going down 111 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: in value, it's a concern, like it's a concern for everybody. 112 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: Bill what like what would the COLP do differently though 113 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 1: to get the economy moving. 114 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 2: Well, there's a couple of things, I think, Katie, and look, 115 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: I hate to harp on about it, but one of 116 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: the first things we need to do is to do 117 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: with crime. Like the effects of crime has in our 118 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: economy can't be underestimated. They drive up our cost of living, 119 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 2: they drive up business prices, like business has got to 120 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 2: charge us extra to buy things because there's extra costs. 121 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 2: And then to deal with crime. So that is one 122 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 2: of the things that we first have to deal with. 123 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: Its probably one of our largest issues. But there's some 124 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 2: other things we can do to drive investment confidence in 125 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 2: the territory, and that's get our Territory Coordinator across the 126 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 2: board to drive and push investment in the territory and 127 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: push government and government departments to get things across the line. 128 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 2: And we've got a commitment to reduce red tape and 129 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: get approvals for business done fifty percent fast and what 130 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 2: they currently are. Because there's a lot of people want 131 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 2: to invest in their territory right here all the time. 132 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 2: There's people have got money, they want to do business 133 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 2: in the territory, but there is no confidence to do 134 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 2: it at the moment. And that sits. I suppose with 135 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,679 Speaker 2: all a number of those that crime and anti social stuff, 136 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: when you see that on and on and over and over, 137 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 2: you've got to stop and think, well, where do I 138 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: want to invest my money? 139 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 3: It does have a beginning of theory, or. 140 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 2: Do I want to go to South Australia, Western Australia 141 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: or somewhere else. We want that money coming to the 142 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: territory that we need to deal with the issues that 143 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: we see every day. And I think if we can 144 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: deal with those issues and start to turn our reputation around, 145 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: we'll start to see that investment flow back into the charity. 146 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 2: Of course, that will benefit all of us. 147 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: And just a little interesting antecdote for you, I suppose 148 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: that Peter mallanaskus, obviously the labor Premier of South Australia, 149 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: he's been outspreaking the com SEXT State of the State 150 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: report because they've done so well. So I just find 151 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:40,559 Speaker 1: it fascinating that in one state it is being used 152 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: as as an indicator of the economy. 153 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 3: But here in the Northern Territory. 154 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: I mean, we've had former Chief ministers and I will 155 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: say I have not asked the Chief Minister what she 156 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: makes of this latest report, but we've had former Chief 157 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: ministers basically say they put it in the bin. 158 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 2: Yep, exactly that. And you've got to look at South Australia. 159 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 2: They will weigh down the rankings a little war while 160 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: ago and then they've done the work and they said 161 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: they've turned things around an SI and they said they're 162 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 2: probably our closest neighbor and the place we probably feel 163 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: the most affinity to those of us in Central Australia, 164 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 2: and they're booming down there and we're going backwards in 165 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: the territory and we've been going backwards for quite some time. 166 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 2: And the Chief Minister is also the Treasurer, so it's 167 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 2: got to turn around. A lot of this sits on 168 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 2: her shoulders as the Chief Minister and the Treasurer of 169 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: the two probably the two biggest jobs in the territory 170 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 2: and they're unable to turn this around. And they said, 171 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 2: everyday territory is now paying the price for it because 172 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: your cost of living is going up and your house 173 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: price is going down. 174 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: So bill a couple of quick ones, a couple of 175 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: quick ones, because we are fast running out of time. 176 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: But what do you make of the announcements over the 177 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: last week or so by the Attorney General and Minister 178 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: for Corrections, Chancey Paig talking about, you know, the repurposing 179 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: of a couple of different facilities to be used by corrections. 180 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: One of those facilities don Dale once the youths move out. 181 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 2: This is Labour's political gymnastics Katie Backlip. After Backlip, we 182 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 2: asked him in last Parliament straight up, are you going 183 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 2: to consider using don Dale, which is the old bear 184 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 2: in the prison when the kids move out, to give 185 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: some respites corrections for our prisons. And I categorically said no, no, 186 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 2: we're not going to do that. We're not going to 187 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: consider that. We're going to bulldoze that we don't want 188 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 2: anybody in there. And then less than a month later, 189 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 2: here we are we have an announcement that I know, Okay, 190 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 2: that's probably not such a bad idea. We might put 191 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 2: some adults in there and look, at the end of day, 192 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 2: Corrections needs that respite CAD. They're bursting at the scenes 193 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 2: and absolutely overflowing, and they need they need that break, 194 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: they need those extra beats. And there's parts of the 195 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 2: old Bear in the prison which is currently don Dale, 196 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 2: which is suitable for adults. My understanding is going to 197 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: move males in there, but they're closing the alcohol treatment 198 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 2: facilly down in on the health one and moving the 199 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 2: female prisoners in there, and then they're going to have 200 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 2: to move of course that alcohol treatment out and they're 201 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 2: going to give it to the NGOs. That causes problems 202 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 2: longer term because some of those people who are coming 203 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 2: off alcohol addiction that need pharmacological intervention is going to 204 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 2: be difficult for the ngngos to be able to do 205 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 2: that in their facilities. So some of these people are 206 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 2: going to end up in our hospitals. Yeah, right, well, 207 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 2: which then puts further pressure onto our already under pressure 208 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: health systems. Robbing Peter to pay Paul here. And I 209 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 2: don't really see the sense in that. 210 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess you know, to look at it 211 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: from another perspective though. 212 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 3: It's a big saving. 213 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: Of money to actually use don Dale for adult prisoners 214 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: rather than build a whole new prison. 215 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely, okay. But the thing is Labor have known 216 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: about this problem since twenty and sixteen, since they got 217 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 2: in the government. I was in Corrections and we told 218 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 2: them that you have a growing problem with rising prisoners numbers. 219 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 2: And they've sat on their hands now for eight years 220 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 2: and not done a damn thing about it. And all 221 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: of a sudden there are a crisis and critical juncture, 222 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 2: and now they're running around making decisions to try and 223 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 2: deal with the problem. We gave them solutions back in 224 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 2: twenty sixteen about additional work camps out in regional and 225 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 2: remote areas that creates wealth out, economic wealth and community 226 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 2: wealth out in those areas. Labor chose not to do that. 227 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 2: They said, they didn't do anything. They just let the 228 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 2: prisons grow and grow and grow, and of course programs 229 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,959 Speaker 2: drop off because they weren't funded probably, And now they 230 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: find themselves in this position and they're scrambling trying to 231 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 2: fix the problem. 232 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 3: Bill a very very quick one. 233 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: We know that these code yellows, I mean, you've sort 234 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: of just touched on it. Then with the health the 235 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: Department of Health under pressure and our hospitals under pressure. 236 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: These code yellows were obviously declared at Royal Dalwen Hospital 237 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: and Palveston Hospital as I understand it last week partly 238 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: due to an increase in influenza cases which is now 239 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: will influenza A, which is now the third. It's a 240 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: third Code yellow in this space in a month. Do 241 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: you know if any of that pressure on the system's 242 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: eased or if it's been lifted. Is the opposition being 243 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 1: told anything at this. 244 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 2: Point now we're not getting much from government on the 245 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 2: code yellows, and our health sector, particularly in the top 246 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: in it sits on a knife edge. It doesn't take 247 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 2: much to tip it from being able to cope to 248 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 2: not being able to cove, and we've seen that with 249 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 2: that influenza A outbreaking three code yellows in three weeks 250 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 2: is absolutely unheard of, Codd. I don't think there's any 251 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: other health sector anywhere in the country that has had 252 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 2: that issue. And even during COVID, I suppose when our 253 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 2: health sector was under its most pressure, we didn't see 254 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 2: anything like that. So it speaks volumes for the pressure 255 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: and the level of work that our health sector are 256 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 2: doing at the trying to look after the people in 257 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 2: the top end, and they need some help. Yeah, they 258 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 2: need that pressure to be eased. There's measures, particularly if 259 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 2: we look at that mental health facility. The federal government 260 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 2: go the commitment years ago for the money for that 261 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 2: and labor have taken so long to deliver it. They're 262 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 2: only building it now and it won't be able to 263 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 2: quite some time. This could have been done a lot 264 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 2: more expediently and we could have seen some of that 265 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: pressure lifted for our health sector. But again is getting 266 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 2: nurses too. That's going to be the key for us 267 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 2: longer term. 268 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, Look, it is going to be a juggle. There 269 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: is no other way to put us. Bill Yan, the 270 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: opposition spokesperson for various portfolios including Treasury, really appreciate your 271 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: time this morning. Thanks so much for having your. 272 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 3: Chat with us. 273 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 2: Thanks Catie, you have a great day you too.