1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: Three sixty with Katie Wolf. Join the conversation with Katie Wolf. 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: You are our eyes and ears in the Territory Mixed 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: one oh four point nine. 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 2: Joining us live in the studio right now is Labour's 5 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 2: member for Solomon, our representative in Canberra, Luke Goslin. 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Luke. 7 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 3: Morning Katy mate. 8 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: You've sprinted in here. You've been out of Blatant Point, 9 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:20,319 Speaker 1: haven't you. 10 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. 11 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 3: I had a good look around Blaton Point this morning. 12 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 3: It's a massive facility. Some of your listeners will remember. 13 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 3: It's played various roles in its life. But what I'm 14 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 3: really hoping is that it can play a continuing role 15 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 3: as part of the National Quarantine Plan in a similar 16 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 3: way to the way Howard Springs is, but with a 17 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 3: lot more federal support to make sure that whether it 18 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 3: be stranded Australians or UNI students or workers coming in 19 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 3: on the seasonal worker program, that we can quarantine people 20 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 3: safely in dedicated facilities like at Bladon Point, as opposed 21 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 3: to what we've seen with hotel quarantine. 22 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 2: Well, this has been a real issue I've noticed in 23 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 2: the federal media or in the national media. You'd have 24 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 2: to say over recent weeks where we are seeing a 25 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 2: lot of our states leaders, or one in particular, Mark McGowan, 26 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 2: has been pushing out of wa for there to be 27 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 2: more regional centers that do actually house either expats coming home, 28 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 2: so those repatriated Aussies coming back, but also for us 29 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: in the territory. 30 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: We've been talking about that worker shortage and. 31 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: Whether we could actually bring some people over to Australia 32 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: and that could be the facility where it could happen. 33 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 2: I guess my only concern is, look, do we have 34 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 2: the staff to be able to man something like this? 35 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a really good point Caddy, and obviously you 36 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 3: know you can't do it if you haven't got the 37 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 3: staff to run it. Now with the US Marines, they've 38 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 3: got their own health people and they're very obviously disciplined. 39 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 3: No one's going to be jumping the fence or carrying on. 40 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 3: So we are already successfully doing two things. How it's 41 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 3: rings is being run world class facility, but we've also 42 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 3: got these other facilities out of Bladon Point. The good 43 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 3: thing about Bladon Point is it can be really broken 44 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 3: up into different sections, so staff that can come from 45 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 3: locals that are currently unemployed looking for work, but also 46 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 3: people coming up from down south and enjoy the beautiful 47 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 3: dry season. They could actually be accommodated out at the 48 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 3: facility in a separate part of the facility and work 49 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 3: in the other parts of the facilities, and we can 50 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 3: have up to fifteen hundred people there safely being welcome 51 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 3: back to Australia, whether it be for work, study or 52 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 3: just coming home. 53 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 2: Looke. 54 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: Where are we at with these discussions. 55 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: I know that I did speak to the Prime Minister 56 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 2: last week and he had flagged that, you know, we 57 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: may see more people or they're certainly looking at filling 58 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 2: some of those positions or working out how we can 59 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 2: fill some of those workforce shortages. It seems like it 60 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 2: could still be a bit of a way away at 61 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 2: this point. 62 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 3: I did listen to his interview with you, Caddie, and 63 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 3: I wish you had a bit more time with him, 64 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 3: but there were so many things to cover and yeah, 65 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 3: and he's pretty good at throwing together a bit of 66 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 3: a word salad type of answer to try and basically say, 67 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 3: oh no, look, we'd rather not spend any money on 68 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 3: national quarantine and reserve our right to blame the States 69 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 3: when there's. 70 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: Our break spending half a billion I think here in 71 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:22,239 Speaker 2: the territory. 72 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 3: That's what they said, and we look forward to an 73 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 3: opportunity to test that through the Senate estimates process. But 74 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 3: I think why he was making that point is because 75 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 3: he knows there is a no brainer solution right here 76 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 3: in Darwin in addition to Howard Springs and down south, 77 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 3: they're talking about asking the federal government for like eight 78 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 3: hundred eight hundred million, sorry, to build a dedicated facility 79 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 3: that won't look too much different to blatant point. 80 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: So you reckon it's there, like we may as well 81 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: actually be utilizing it. 82 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, it's booked out in the next little while. 83 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 3: You've got this big impacts maintenance process going on at 84 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 3: the moment, so there's workers flying in and staying there. 85 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 3: But you've also got the US Marines and what they 86 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 3: think is at August onwards, so we've got a couple 87 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 3: of months to get this ready. From August onwards, you're 88 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 3: going to have a facility there that could safely quarantine 89 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 3: a lot of people, and that will provide lots of 90 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: work for local businesses as well as work for unemployed territorians. 91 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 3: And you know, we welcome people to come up from 92 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 3: down South, stay safely here and enjoy the territory. 93 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: I actually, I do think it's a good idea. I 94 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: think that we have got a situation at the moment 95 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: where if we've got facilities where we're able to keep 96 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 2: people safe, and we are able to have those repatriated 97 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 2: Australians coming back, but particularly then as well people able 98 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 2: to come over and fill those worker shortages, then it 99 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 2: would be a good idea. But my biggest concern is 100 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 2: the staffing of it. And I think that we've even 101 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: seen out at Howard Springs people are quite concerned about 102 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: the ozmat team moving out of there and into Health 103 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 2: taking over. I guess that's the only you know, that's 104 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: the only thing that I'm thinking through as we're discussing, 105 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 2: is how do we make sure that it's staffed adequately 106 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 2: so that it does stay as safe as possible. 107 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 3: There's no doubt that we can't do it without the 108 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 3: federal government support. So quarantine being a national federal responsibility, 109 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 3: there is an opportunity there for them to grip it 110 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 3: up and say, yep, we're going to double the amount 111 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 3: of capacity up in the territory. You're going to need 112 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 3: a hand to do that. But it's got hospitals out there, 113 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 3: so it need not be an impost. Even if some 114 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 3: returning Australians as we've seen do have some COVID, there's 115 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 3: ample ability there. And I walk through the hospital this morning. 116 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 3: There's ample ability there with the federal government support to 117 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 3: get a health company to provide services there and to 118 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 3: have returning. 119 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 2: Totally keep them out there. You know, like we won't 120 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: have that sort of double handling. I guess like we 121 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: maybe seeing other capital cities where people are having to 122 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: be transported to their different hotels and things like that 123 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: from the airport. 124 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 3: Exactly Cardian, that's where it gets out, and we don't 125 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 3: want it to get out. We've got isolated, purpose built 126 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 3: facilities that can do this safely, that are already doing 127 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 3: it safely, and I think it'll be an economic boom 128 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 3: for the territory and you know, really show Australia that 129 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 3: we may depend on the Commonwealth. Mind you, they can 130 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 3: still overrule our laws and we're not happy with that, 131 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 3: but we provide a very important strategic footprint in our nation. 132 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,559 Speaker 3: Part of that responsibility for US is to make sure 133 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 3: that whether it be in terms of our defense forces, 134 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 3: our border protection, our national quarantine which will go on 135 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 3: for a couple of years perhaps as we try it 136 00:06:56,680 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 3: and get everyone vaccinated and do this safely role for 137 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 3: us to play. There's no need to build a new 138 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 3: facility elsewhere when we can double the capacity here and 139 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 3: get stranded Ozzie's home. 140 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: I reckon it's a very interesting discussion to have. 141 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: I can see our teacht line is already heating up, 142 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: so no doubt plenty of people will have differing opinions 143 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 2: on this, Luke. 144 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: Before we wrap up, I do want to ask you 145 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: it has. 146 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: Been reported that there is going to be an investigation 147 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 2: obviously the Department of Defense is going to be looking 148 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: into the lease of. 149 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: The Port of Darwin. 150 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 2: How I mean at this point in time, what have 151 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 2: you been told and how deep is this investigation going 152 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: to go? Yeah? 153 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 3: I hope it's a serious and significant deep dive into 154 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 3: the issue. It's what I called for when we were 155 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 3: all surprised back in twenty fifteen and wrote about it 156 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 3: at the time and said there hadn't been enough due diligence, 157 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 3: There hadn't been a deep enough dive into the strategic 158 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 3: implications of having foreign entity controlling our port for our century. 159 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 3: It was always a very unwise decision back then and 160 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 3: it continues to be less less than what we'd like 161 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 3: to see. And it's not, as I've said with you before, Cady, 162 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 3: it's not controversial. I don't think to say that our 163 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 3: northern strategic port should be controlled by Australia. We decide 164 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 3: who comes in and out of it. It does not 165 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 3: mean that we're not supportive of foreign investment. It's just 166 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 3: when it comes to critical infrastructure in our strategic northern 167 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 3: port that we need to make sure that things are 168 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 3: as they should be and that is in Australian control. 169 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 2: Look, what impact do you think the reversing of that 170 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 2: lease could have on Australia's relationship with China. 171 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 3: Well, it may depending on Lanmbridge, the owner of Lambridge, 172 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 3: and what they want to do. It may be very straightforward, 173 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 3: may be an arrangement that is reached diplomatically respectfully, and 174 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 3: that's what I call on the Federal government to do. 175 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 2: Wis reckon It would be though, given some of the 176 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 2: rhetoric that we've seen come out of China recently. 177 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 3: Well, I think what we need is just wise, cool 178 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 3: heads on both sides. The Defense Department should be the 179 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 3: ones that look into this and give some feedback to 180 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 3: the national government. Let's not forget that the Prime Minister 181 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 3: was the Treasurer at the time that the lease occurred. Now, 182 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 3: the Foreign Investment Review Board obviously advises the Treasurer on 183 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 3: foreign investments, but the responsibility for foreign investments is the treasurers. 184 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 3: So the current PM was the Treasurer at the time. 185 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 3: So I'm glad that he is directing Defense to look 186 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 3: into this and we look forward to their findings. This 187 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 3: should have been done a long time ago. I really 188 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 3: welcome it, and we will be making sure that there's 189 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 3: not politics played with this, that it's a cool decision 190 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,719 Speaker 3: made in our national interests, and that we continue to 191 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 3: deal respectfully with our neighbors in the region. 192 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 2: Labours Member four for Solomon Luke Goslin. Good to catch 193 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 2: up with you this morning. Thanks so much for your time. 194 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 3: Good on you, Katie.