1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,599 Speaker 1: You're listening to Mix one O four point nine. Now 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: the indoor mask mandate in place across the Big Rivers Region. 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: It's going to be lifting at twelve oh one tomorrow morning. 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: And good news for those obviously living in the area. 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: Joining me on the line though, is the local member 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: for Catherine, Joe Hersey. Good morning to you, Joe, Good. 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 2: Morning Katie, and good morning listeners. 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: Now, Joe, I think this probably came as a bit 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: of a surprise. There was no fanfare with this announcement 10 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: that the masks are coming off for the Big Rivers 11 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: Region tomorrow. 12 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: No, that's right, Katie. So just you know, scrolling through 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: Facebook and check nt health and that was how I 14 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: learned that the mask mandate was going to be removed. 15 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 2: I have been chatting about it a lot with people 16 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: since the Chief Minister said the rest of the territory 17 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 2: was going to have the mask mandate removed, and I've 18 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: been asking questions on why Big Rivers Region, which is 19 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: the only region that was continuing with the marks mandate, 20 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: and I have heard from a government at all. Normally, 21 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 2: you know, I would get an EMA or a phone call, nothing, 22 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: and so to read it on Facebook while I'm extremely pleased. 23 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: I think it's very disappointing of the lack of communications 24 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 2: over this issue when we're the only ones left with 25 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 2: the marked mandate. Do you reckon be removed on Friday? 26 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: I can't be removed today. 27 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: Do you reckon the people of Catherine and the Big 28 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: Rivers region even realize that this is the case for Friday? 29 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 2: No, And I've had people message me about that. Most 30 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 2: people did not even realize. Most people didn't realize that 31 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 2: we were staying in a masked mandate. There's confusion all 32 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 2: over town over it. I mean, I'm right next to 33 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: a bank and next door We've seen people go in 34 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 2: without a mask. We've seen people go in with a mask. 35 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 2: You know. I was in the shopping center the other 36 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: day there was people without marks. So the message has 37 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 2: not got out. It has been confusing, as it has 38 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: been right from the get go. 39 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Jo, is there much clarity at this point 40 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: in time around those vaccination stats? Because I know it 41 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: probably wouldn't matter so much, but it does seem as 42 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: though the government in many ways is basing decisions on 43 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: the vaccination status. So has there been much clarity in 44 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: that space? 45 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: There hasn't been any clarity on this space, Katie. And 46 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: this is the thing. You know, we've asked, well, what's 47 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: the health evidence and what's the science behind the fact 48 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: that Big Rivers is still in the mask mandate? But 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 2: the stats still on the vaccination are rubbery at best. 50 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 2: You'll go under Commonwealth data or NT data and there's 51 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 2: still conflicting percentages of what the vaccination rate is. 52 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: And like I say, it wouldn't be such a big deal, 53 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: but then when you know when these decisions are being 54 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: based on stuff like those vaccination numbers, it does then 55 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: make you wonder what numbers they're using. We know that 56 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: they've said the Northern Territory government ones rather than the 57 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: federal health ones. But yeah, I think people will just 58 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: be pleased to get those masks off on Friday. And hopefully, 59 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: based on this conversation you and I are having, Joe, 60 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: they may be more aware of it once we get 61 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: off the line together. But all in all, I know's 62 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: it's probably something that businesses and locals will embrace, even 63 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:25,799 Speaker 1: if they're only finding out this morning. 64 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 2: Correct, And you know, if we are, as the government says, 65 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: learning to live with COVID, I welcome let's remove the 66 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: masks move on and get on with getting you know, 67 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 2: getting business done. 68 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: Hey, Joe, before I let you go this morning, I 69 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: know that petrol prices right around the nation well and 70 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: truly on the rise. Around Darwin today we're looking at 71 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: sort of two dollars five unlettered diesel, up to two 72 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: dollars nine in some locations. How is it looking around 73 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: the Catherine region. I understand you've also been to Tenant 74 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: Creek recently A well. 75 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: Yes, Katie, I had meetings down in Tennant Creek on Monday. 76 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: So I have traveled up and down the track from 77 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 2: Darwin to Tenant in the last couple of days. And 78 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 2: the fuel prices are definitely escalating. I know when I 79 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 2: put premium in my car the other day, it was 80 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 2: a dollar ninety or something like that just in Katherine, 81 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 2: but it was over two dollars between here and between 82 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,559 Speaker 2: Catherine and Tenant Creek. And I did see that the 83 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 2: fuel prices are escalating all over. So you know this 84 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: now that where everything's opening up and people can move around, 85 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: this is going to have an impact on freight, on flights. 86 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 2: Just when we can start getting that up and moving around, 87 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 2: that's going to impact people greatly. 88 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: I think, yeah, it most certainly is, and we are 89 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: going to talk a little bit more about it this morning. 90 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: We'll catch up with Luise Blato and talk about it 91 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: from that real transport and freight perspective. But gee, it 92 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: does hit you at the hip hop but there's no 93 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: doubt about it. 94 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: No worries. Thanks, thank you, thanks listening. 95 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: Thank you. You're listening to Mix one oh four nine 96 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: and I'd love to hear from you this morning. If 97 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: you've got something on your mind, feel free to send 98 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: us a text, or you can send us an email 99 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,799 Speaker 1: three sixty at Mix one O four nine dot com 100 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: dot au.