1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line is the Member for Solomon, 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: Luke Gosling. 3 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Luke. 4 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie. 5 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 2: How are you very well? 6 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: Luke? Before I get into it, what are you doing 7 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: for Territory Days? 8 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 3: Have got the federal Tourism Minister in town, so we're 9 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 3: gonna have a bit of a round table down to 10 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 3: the casino so he can hear from territory tourism operators 11 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 3: and watch a few of the fireworks from there. And 12 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 3: we've got a new puppy, so the family might stay 13 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 3: home because a bit anxious about on the first territory night. 14 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 2: We all worry about the animals a bit high. You 15 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 2: never know how they're going to act. 16 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, but I think I think she'll be okay. She's 17 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 3: got a we've got a little kennel thing for where 18 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 3: a little safe place she'd be right. But really looking 19 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 3: forward to Territory Day. Been long first half of the year. 20 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 3: It's been a good one. It's been great to get 21 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 3: the mask off and obviously great to be in government 22 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 3: now and it's a busy time. But yeah, I think 23 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 3: everyone's looking forward the Territory Day and letting off safely. Yeah, 24 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 3: some crackers and keeping crackers out of crackers and all 25 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: the rest of it. Was good to hear from the 26 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 3: Fieries with his stage words of advice before so I 27 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 3: know everyone will do the right thing so we can 28 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 3: keep cracker they going well into the future. 29 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: Well, this is the thing, isn't you know. We've got 30 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: to make sure we do it as safely as possible. 31 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: And we've got some good advice from Simon, one of 32 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: our listeners a bit earlier this morning about how you 33 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: can let them off a little bit easier. 34 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: But yeah, some people do go a bit crazy. 35 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: Please don't on Territory Day because we want to make 36 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: sure that it is something that we can continue to do. Luke, 37 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: you did just mention that Senator Don Farrell is going 38 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: to be in town for Territory Day, but he's going 39 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: to be here as the Minister for Tourism now in 40 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: the Federal guns. 41 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: What's he coming to the territory for. 42 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 3: He's actually coming up here for Senator Melandery McCarthy's wedding. Yeah, 43 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 3: the bigger, big occasion on SATDY. But he's also getting 44 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 3: getting a round table together, asked him. You know, tourism 45 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 3: is a big part of our economy. Is asked him 46 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 3: that from some the Glenn and the crew at Tourism 47 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 3: top end, but also some other smaller operators around town 48 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 3: that sometimes you know, don't always get their boys heard. 49 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 3: So we'll do. He'll fly in and we'll have that 50 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 3: round table and then we'll kick back with a froffee 51 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 3: and watch some fireworks with everyone else's. So there's some 52 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 3: other parliamentary colleagues that are flying in for that wedding 53 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 3: as well, and one of them is coming in about 54 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 3: eleven pm at night, and I said, well, as you 55 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 3: come into the land, you'll get you'll have a great 56 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: fundraiser as it's all going off around the coast line. 57 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. 58 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: Well, it sounds like it's going to be a big weekend. 59 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: But then of course next week we know the Developing 60 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: Northern Australia Conference is set to get underway from the 61 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: sixth till the eighth of July. Luke, I'm assuming that 62 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: we are going to see the Minister for Northern Australia here. 63 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 2: What's going to be on the agenda. 64 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,119 Speaker 3: So much on the agenda obviously at our first opportunity 65 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 3: to at the conference over in Mackay, and I'll be 66 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 3: heading over for a day of that and obviously talking 67 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 3: about the support that we want to see and getting 68 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 3: that NAFE going that we've talked about so often, Katie. 69 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 3: We're really really keen to see some of those smaller 70 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 3: proponents receives some financial support towards their projects. We know 71 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 3: it's been the big projects that they're focused on, but 72 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 3: we've really made a determined push even when we're in opposition. 73 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 3: Now obviously we're in government, so that job before us 74 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 3: to make sure that those proponents that might be needing 75 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 3: some financial support of five the ten milk can get 76 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 3: that support and get their projects up and running. It 77 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 3: can really make the difference that federal funding support because 78 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 3: of course that gives territory government and gives other private 79 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 3: investors the confidence that all the Dudell diligence has been done, 80 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 3: the project's right to go. The federal government got some 81 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 3: skin in the game and let's go. 82 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've got to try and make it easier I guess, 83 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: or not easier, but more accessible I think, to see 84 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: some more projects get underway. You know, the best thing 85 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: that we can do is have a more diversified economy. 86 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 1: Of course, for the territory blook one of the other 87 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: things we've sort of been wondering or waiting on to 88 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: some degree as well as the ship lift. Is there 89 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: going to be much of an update in that space. 90 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: Do you reckon? 91 00:04:54,839 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 3: Jeez? I hope so, Katie. It is becoming increasingly frustrating 92 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 3: that that project is not starting. I've met with ASPAI 93 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 3: recently and got updates from the NC government recently in 94 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 3: the pipeline. Hopefully there's going to be more announcement soon, 95 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 3: but we need to crack on. If we don't back 96 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 3: on and start building this shiplift, we're going to lose 97 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 3: some of that maritime maintenance work to Western Australia because 98 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 3: they're saying, you know, we can get your boat out 99 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 3: of the water, we can do the maintenance, and of 100 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 3: course that's the prerogative to do so. But what we 101 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 3: need to do is get the ship lift happening so 102 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 3: that the Navy and other industry stakeholders that are in 103 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 3: the ship game can get that work done right here. 104 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 3: But we're perfectly placed, obviously, and the Americans can obviously 105 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 3: see that as well, to be doing much more maintenance 106 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 3: of ships here in Darwin and have a maritime maintenance 107 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:08,559 Speaker 3: hub at the East Arm and all that is ready 108 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:12,479 Speaker 3: to happen. It's a shiplift. We've got to crack on 109 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 3: and get a built. 110 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 2: Are you a bit frustrated how long it's taking? 111 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 3: Could you tell that in my voice? 112 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: And I was thinking, I think everybody is, and you 113 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: know it's actually it is something that I worry about. 114 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: I know that CANS had flagged, you know, having some 115 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: maritime precinct as well in the leading to the federal election, 116 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: and they've spoken about a shiplift at some point. 117 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 2: Also then, as you've said, w A like the problem 118 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: is here is that we actually. 119 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: Don't want to lose that work, as you've pointed out 120 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: to another state. 121 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 3: No, that's right, and there the Navy's got this new 122 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 3: program of regional maintenance centers for their fleet and there 123 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 3: will be a tender that's been hotly contested to be 124 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: the regional maintenance to provide those services. But the scale 125 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 3: of the services that are conducted here in Darwin will 126 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 3: depend on our ability to do the work. And the 127 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 3: ship lift is part of is a key part of that. 128 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 3: So I spoke at the Australian Defense Magazine Congress down 129 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 3: in Canberra last week. One of the things they wanted 130 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 3: me to talk about, and I gave a keynote address 131 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 3: where I just talked about our place in the nation, 132 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 3: our role strategically and what we are able to do 133 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 3: out of Darwen in terms of not only force projection, 134 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 3: but our capability here to maintain fleet and for other 135 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 3: countries to train here as well. And we know that happens, 136 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,239 Speaker 3: but we can do more to those big ranges down 137 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 3: at Bradshaw, Kangaroo Flats and out of Mount Bundy. So 138 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 3: we've got and Delamare Weapons Range, so we've got great 139 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 3: training facilities. So we've got a lot to offer. And 140 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 3: so it was great to be there now and speak 141 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 3: to that four hundred people in the room from defense industry. 142 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 3: But the main thing they wanted me to talk about, 143 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 3: and something that I'm really passionate about, and I put 144 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 3: all the big companies on notice on behalf of the 145 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 3: new federal labor government is that we want to have 146 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 3: local companies have a better go. So local companies up 147 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 3: here in Darwin, YEP small and medium enterprises SMEs they're 148 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 3: known as there's often these big international organizations that are 149 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 3: the prime they're called the tier one type companies. They've 150 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 3: been getting all the work and then sort of giving 151 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 3: chicken feed to local companies. That's changing now a bit. 152 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 3: I think we've done pretty good down at Tyndall with 153 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 3: the packages of work being broken up into smaller into 154 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 3: smaller packages so local businesses can have a go. But 155 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 3: really the message down there in Canberra was if you 156 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 3: want to have a go at getting these big defense 157 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 3: infrastructure work, well you've got to have low, cool territory 158 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 3: companies on your bid or you're going to or you're 159 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 3: going to struggle to get the work. So I think 160 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 3: getting that message through to the primes, to the big 161 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 3: international company sometimes we need their expertise and their sizes, 162 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 3: but the majority of the work can be done by 163 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 3: local companies. 164 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: Going to do that absolutely well, Luke Gosling, we are 165 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: going to have to leave it there. 166 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 2: Good to catch up all. 167 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 1: Make sure you wish Melanderry McCarthy all the very best 168 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: from us. 169 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 2: It sounds like it's going to. 170 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 3: Be a big week soon, husband Richard, fantastic fella, and 171 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 3: yeah it'll be a good weekend. I just currently just 172 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 3: finally out of the Great Community Hall at an event 173 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 3: in Parmerston and for those that haven't seen it, it 174 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 3: is a fantastic little community hall. Well done to the 175 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:51,719 Speaker 3: Parmesan Council and with some schedule funding, so yeah, think 176 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 3: about it for your events for people who are out 177 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 3: in farming. 178 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: Luke Gosling thanks for your time this morning. We appreciate it. 179 00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 3: Katie, thank you.