1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,560 Speaker 1: So we know that the Northern Territory Government and Hospitality 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: NT have come up with a plan to source workers 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: for the industry from overseas. Now. It's something that we've 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: spoken about a lot on the show in recent months 5 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: and I know that it's been a really big concern 6 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: that's been bubbling along for hospitality and a lot of 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: other industries, and that is the workforce shortage. Now the 8 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: aim is to find one hundred skilled bartenders, chefs and 9 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: wight staff in the UK. Joining me on the line 10 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: to tell us more about the plan, it is Alex Bruce, 11 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: the CEO of Hospitality here in the Northern Territory. Good 12 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 1: morning to you, Alex, Good morning Katie Alex. What exactly 13 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: is the plan? How is this partnership going to work? 14 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we were approached by a collaboration of our businesses, 15 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: predominantly in Darwin in the first instance, just trying to 16 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 2: think outside the box. Minister Kirby had launched a three 17 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,959 Speaker 2: million dollar fund a while ago and encouraged all businesses, 18 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: all industry sectors to think how we could put our 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: that's best foot forward in recruiting workers. Are they local 20 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 2: into state international? And the proposal was put forward with 21 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: a bit of a story behind it, where about a 22 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 2: decade ago there were regular delegations led by Migration MT 23 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: over into the UK and Ireland. We had businesses involved 24 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 2: in those at the time, and they went over there 25 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: and literally with conversations and handshakes across the bar, signed 26 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 2: people up that came over and they're still living and 27 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 2: working here ten years later. They're great territori ins. They 28 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 2: some of them have launched their own businesses and they 29 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 2: have successfully recruited from where they've come from as well. 30 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 2: You know, this is not new or unique to the UK. 31 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 2: There's these threads into the Nepalese community, the Filipino community. 32 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: We're looking at a project in Estonia of all places, 33 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 2: because we've got some great Estonian origin territories and how 34 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: we can grow those. So the UK has always been 35 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: quite a strong backpack of market for Australia. We've always 36 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: seen and relied on them and we've had great success 37 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: in the past on converting them into long term territorians 38 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: and valuable members of our industry and the community. So 39 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 2: how do we get over there again and crank call 40 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: that back up? 41 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: And I mean it's exactly what we want right, Like, 42 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: if people do move here, you want them here long term. 43 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: And that example that you've given of people being here 44 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: sort of ten years later, I would think that that's 45 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: exactly what you're sort of aiming for with this program. 46 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 2: Absolutely. Ian Sloan at Berry Springs Tavern, Steve Dugan which 47 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 2: works with Justin Coleman, so Breeders and Landmark, the gentlemen 48 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 2: down at Winnellie Sellers. They were all recruited through these 49 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 2: initiatives a decade ago and here they are growing businesses 50 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 2: and families locally. It's fantastic, how awesome. 51 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,839 Speaker 1: Well tell me as well, what exactly are you going 52 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: to do, Like what are those that are involved going 53 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: to do when they're in the UK to try and 54 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: sort of drum up that interest. 55 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 2: We're targeting Liverpool, Newcastle, London, in Glasgow and Dublin. We 56 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 2: are hearing a lot from our networks of you know, 57 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: family and friends over there, from workers and business owners 58 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 2: in our sector. Cost of living is bad in Australia. 59 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: Everyone knows that it's really bad over there at the moment. 60 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 2: You know, all of the impacts of that Ukraine Russia 61 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: malarkey going on. It's just seen the cost of living 62 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 2: spike for workers average workers, but they in hospitality, retail 63 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: or anywhere else. So we're going over there. There's some 64 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: expos and seminars that we're looking to join and collaborate in. 65 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 2: We were talking with the Australia UK Chamber of Commerce 66 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: at some of ungodly hour last night that suited their 67 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: agenda over there, and we're looking at doing an event 68 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: in Australia House to really showcase and promote the territory. 69 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 2: The comment was made by that Australia UK Chamber of 70 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: Commerce based over there they see a lot more activity 71 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: from the other large estates. You know, it probably makes sense. 72 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 2: So it isn't common for the NT to be front 73 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: of mind when the working holiday makers are thinking about 74 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 2: where they want to go, and so we really do 75 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 2: just want to get over there, get in front of them, 76 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: take some great people with us. We've got Hayley, she 77 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: works at Charlie's of Darwin. She might tell you her 78 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 2: story tomorrow, but you know was one of those people 79 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: that came over as a backpack of six years ago 80 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 2: after living and working for five years in the territory, 81 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 2: which she was sponsored by the Sailing Club here now 82 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 2: she's a manager over there, so we want to take 83 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: her over there, and you know she can showcase and 84 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: promote that story and grow the pipeline. 85 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, we'll try and catch up with her tomorrow. Hey, 86 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: tell us as well, what are some of the timelines 87 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,119 Speaker 1: here for recruiting staff, because it does seem as though 88 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 1: we need this to happen sort of sooner rather than later. 89 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: Look, we do our surveys tell us that the peak 90 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 2: recruitment in our industry, as seasonal as it is, is 91 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 2: that February March window. People would love to have the 92 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: skilled workers in their businesses right now, but so long 93 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: as we can get them by February March, you know, 94 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 2: then we can really gear up to the next peak 95 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: dry season. We've just updated our survey data and again 96 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: it's showing, you know, pleasingly seventy percent of our venues 97 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: looking to increase the number of workers they currently have 98 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: into next year, so they have that confidence to recruit locally, 99 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: into state and abroad. And we look at that and 100 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: we think it's about a thousand full time workers four 101 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: thousand casuals. So we've got our work cut out for us, 102 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 2: no doubt about it. And one of the particular focuses 103 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 2: of this trip won't just be you know, the barman 104 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 2: pouring beers. It's how do we get those supervisory managerial skills, 105 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: how do we get the right skills in our kitchens, 106 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 2: bring them over so that they can complement our businesses, 107 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: but ultimately over time mentor and upskill our existing workforce 108 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 2: as well. There's been workforce disruptions across every industry. This 109 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: wouldn't be new to your listeners. So apart from just 110 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 2: warm bodies, it's actually the skills that we have. Our 111 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 2: sector at the moment we really need to try and 112 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 2: rebuild and the UK is a proven market for that 113 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: for us. 114 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 1: And so Alex, just how many staff do you want 115 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: to recruit from the UK? 116 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 2: I look as many as we can, but we this 117 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 2: is this is not this is not a trip to Disneyland. 118 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 2: This is not a trip to go over there and 119 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 2: just have a skinful and enjoy yourself, and will be 120 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 2: quite targeted in who we do take on this journey 121 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 2: with us, and our expectation is that everyone that's come 122 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: comes back with with people they've signed up. Initially those backpackers, 123 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: they're working holiday makers, but then you know, pathways into 124 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 2: sponsorship and skilled migration. And again, you know this isn't 125 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 2: a preference to the UK over any other country, or 126 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 2: why aren't we looking at Southeast Age or somewhere close it. 127 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 2: We're looking everywhere. We had some of the most favorable 128 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 2: reciprocal rights with the UK, particularly last year. You'll remember 129 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 2: I'm sorry for Paul and the NT farmers, but they 130 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 2: no longer need to go do their eighty eight days 131 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 2: picking fruit to get their second year backpack of visa. 132 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 2: They can do it in our bars. So we need 133 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 2: to be out there promoting that to them and preferably 134 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 2: say don't head to Sydney or Melbourne, come here first, 135 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 2: work with us and we can passway you into our 136 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 2: migration ultimately if that's what you. 137 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: Want to do, Hey, before I let you go, you 138 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: know how much is the government spending on this? Because 139 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: I know that some people listening will be thinking, is 140 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:24,119 Speaker 1: this money well spent? 141 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 2: Up to two hundred thousand and it's a co contribution, 142 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: So the final numbers will depend on how many people 143 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 2: we take and what it looks like. But yeah, the 144 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: businesses have skin in the game. We have skin in 145 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: the game. The government is supporting it all which helps 146 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: you know, a lot of our larger players in our industry, 147 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: like others, they've got quite a strong recruitment pathway globally. 148 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 2: So this is to help the smaller and medium guys 149 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: in our industry, the cafes, the restaurants, the little operators 150 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 2: like Charlie. How do we get over there and get 151 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 2: the key people that we need into our businesses ahead 152 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 2: of the next peak. 153 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: Alex, do you think that that, you know, the recruiting 154 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: of staff to the Northern Territory and the recruiting of 155 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: workers to the territory is impacted in any way by 156 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: the issues that we're experiencing at the moment with crime. 157 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 2: Oh, no doubt about it. And hearing Daniel and others 158 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: on your show this morning, you know, we feel we've 159 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 2: got operators down there. They are all unfortunately saying the 160 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 2: same things. We had a horrible story a while ago 161 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 2: now within the peak. You know, one of our venues 162 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 2: down there had managed to recruit into state a key worker, 163 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 2: but a horrible, horrible antisocial behavior thing happened with young 164 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 2: people throwing Roxities branded car of the venue and all 165 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 2: the rest of it. Within three days, he packed up 166 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: and left town again, So you know, it is a 167 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 2: constant battle, and we know the government is looking at it, 168 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: and we are all keeping focus on that topic as appropriate, 169 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 2: because yeah, something's got to give. 170 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: Down there, Yeah, it really does. It's bloody sad, and 171 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: you know, I think we're all just totally over it, 172 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: to be honest, we're honestly, I'm at the point where 173 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: I'd love to not be talking about it anymore, but 174 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: you know, but we've got to make sure that there's 175 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: some change. Yeah, Yeah, Alex Bruce, always good to catch up. 176 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. Thank you, 177 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: you two