1
00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,280
Speaker 1: Joining us on the line right now. To kick off

2
00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,440
Speaker 1: this morning is the Health Minister Natasha Files. Good morning

3
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:06,040
Speaker 1: to your minister.

4
00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:08,200
Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, good morning.

5
00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:09,280
Speaker 3: Listen now, minister.

6
00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,320
Speaker 1: Firstly, are we on track to lift these restrictions in

7
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,600
Speaker 1: Darwin and Catherine on Thursday at midday?

8
00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,680
Speaker 2: Territorians have done a great job following the rules. We

9
00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,079
Speaker 2: saw the huge numbers of people putting themselves out to

10
00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,280
Speaker 2: get tested. We saw people last week stopping and this

11
00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,920
Speaker 2: week we've seen people continue to wear masks physical distance

12
00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,520
Speaker 2: and so we certainly will seek the advice of our

13
00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,640
Speaker 2: health officials. But things are certainly looking good.

14
00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,199
Speaker 3: All right, Well, that is good to hear.

15
00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:36,559
Speaker 1: I know that a lot of people are going to

16
00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,960
Speaker 1: be pleased, you know, to have those restrictions lifted hopefully

17
00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,080
Speaker 1: Thursday midday, get the kids back to their sport, get

18
00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:47,040
Speaker 1: those gyms open again. On that note of the gyms,

19
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,800
Speaker 1: is that something that you are going to take a

20
00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,560
Speaker 1: closer look at after these restrictions lift on Thursday, about

21
00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,200
Speaker 1: how we might be able to do things differently if

22
00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,920
Speaker 1: indeed we have to go back into that situation again

23
00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,840
Speaker 1: down the track there's a lockdown and then when you're

24
00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,360
Speaker 1: lifting those restrictions if gyms can actually be included as

25
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,640
Speaker 1: businesses that can operate again, So Katie.

26
00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,440
Speaker 2: We follow the advice of our health officials and our

27
00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,800
Speaker 2: chief Health officer, but I do understand our people. There's

28
00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,759
Speaker 2: been a lot of questions around physical activity and how

29
00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,280
Speaker 2: important it is for people's mental health, and so we

30
00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,800
Speaker 2: are certainly willing to work with gyms and our chief

31
00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,080
Speaker 2: Health officer to look at if there is any ways

32
00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,760
Speaker 2: in which going forward we can try and keep some

33
00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,560
Speaker 2: of these services open but keep people safe. Our safety

34
00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,720
Speaker 2: has to come first. But certainly it's something that we've

35
00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,680
Speaker 2: heard from not only Jim Miners, but many in the community.

36
00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:38,880
Speaker 3: Well, that is good to hear.

37
00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,880
Speaker 1: I do think that you know that we need to

38
00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:42,800
Speaker 1: relook at it. I know that there was like I

39
00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,080
Speaker 1: understand that it is all based on the health advice,

40
00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,520
Speaker 1: but when you know you've got Jim owners calling into

41
00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,160
Speaker 1: the show yesterday saying, we just don't understand how you

42
00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,320
Speaker 1: can still go into a Parbora club but you're not

43
00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,040
Speaker 1: able to go into the gym socially distanced and disinfect

44
00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:56,920
Speaker 1: and clean equipment.

45
00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:02,559
Speaker 2: Afterwards, Katie, with more about this virus. We've learned about

46
00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,560
Speaker 2: how it transmits, So we're certainly always agile, and as

47
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,560
Speaker 2: I said, we certainly look willing to with our health officials,

48
00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,040
Speaker 2: and I certainly can't give any commitments or promises, but

49
00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,040
Speaker 2: we're willing to work with industries across the board, including gyms,

50
00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,560
Speaker 2: about how we can going forward incorporate some of this

51
00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,840
Speaker 2: new knowledge and try and support not only businesses to

52
00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,440
Speaker 2: stay open but also territories. We do know how important

53
00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:26,800
Speaker 2: that is for people's mental health.

54
00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,359
Speaker 1: Now, Minister, how is the man who kicked off Darwin's lockdown?

55
00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,600
Speaker 1: Is he still in quarantine and how is that virus

56
00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:34,440
Speaker 1: tracking in him?

57
00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,960
Speaker 2: But Katie, obviously I need to be careful in terms

58
00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:43,320
Speaker 2: of people's private patient information, but I understand that the

59
00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,280
Speaker 2: individual is the one case that we have in the

60
00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,160
Speaker 2: territory and he remains in the care of the team

61
00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,360
Speaker 2: at the center of the natural residience at Howard Springs.

62
00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,000
Speaker 1: And do we know where he actually contracted this strain

63
00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:54,919
Speaker 1: of delta from.

64
00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,080
Speaker 2: Yet, so that genomics showing us that it is delta

65
00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:03,519
Speaker 2: has come back when they're working through possible scenarios of

66
00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:05,720
Speaker 2: where he's picked the virus up. But I haven't got

67
00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,640
Speaker 2: the latest on that, Katie, as soon as we do

68
00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,120
Speaker 2: have more information concerns, we'll share it with people.

69
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,520
Speaker 1: Now, how is that wastewater? Is there any indication of

70
00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,360
Speaker 1: covidy now Darwin or Catherine catchments following on you know,

71
00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,480
Speaker 1: I know last week obviously we've been told the update

72
00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,640
Speaker 1: in that space, but is there any update this week

73
00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:24,480
Speaker 1: with the wastewater?

74
00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,720
Speaker 2: The Katy wastewater testing is a really important surveillance tool

75
00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,520
Speaker 2: now that we know that we've had coronavirus in our community,

76
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,640
Speaker 2: and we did share with the community that we had

77
00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,440
Speaker 2: some detection of wastewater in both Darwen and Catherine. The

78
00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:39,800
Speaker 2: results that have been provided to me since then have

79
00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,560
Speaker 2: all been negative around that wastewater. But we'll certainly again

80
00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,560
Speaker 2: share with the territory, the community if we were to

81
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,080
Speaker 2: have any positive wastewater and what that would mean for people.

82
00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,440
Speaker 2: We saw just a few weeks ago when we had

83
00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,480
Speaker 2: that indication in the laod Miller and it was residual

84
00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,280
Speaker 2: from people that had completed quarantines. Wish it. Certainly we'll

85
00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:00,600
Speaker 2: share that information people.

86
00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,040
Speaker 1: Okay, I guess there's now a lot of discussion nationally

87
00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,560
Speaker 1: about the vaccine roll out. I understand that we are

88
00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,840
Speaker 1: now at sixty percent for those first vaccines. When do

89
00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:11,840
Speaker 1: you anticipate that we are going to get to that

90
00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,080
Speaker 1: eighty percent fully vaccinated mark.

91
00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,680
Speaker 2: Territorians have done a great job. They have rolled up

92
00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,920
Speaker 2: their sleeves, they have attended vaccination appointments and Kadi, it's

93
00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,000
Speaker 2: a really clear message. There are appointments available right around

94
00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,480
Speaker 2: the Northern Territory. So if you've been thinking that there's

95
00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,359
Speaker 2: not enough vaccine or you're not sure if you're in

96
00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,200
Speaker 2: that priority group, now is the time to get vaccinated.

97
00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,719
Speaker 2: And as you just said, sixty percent of Territorians they've

98
00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,599
Speaker 2: seen more than one hundred and eighty nine thousand doses

99
00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,840
Speaker 2: of vaccine delivered. We are rolling out a program that

100
00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,320
Speaker 2: provides for right across the territory, whether it's in the

101
00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:46,920
Speaker 2: top end, Central Australia or our remote communities, to be vaccinated.

102
00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:48,960
Speaker 2: So when we hit that eighty percent mark, we'll be

103
00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,120
Speaker 2: dependent on Territorians coming forward to be vaccinated. We've got

104
00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,159
Speaker 2: plenty of supply coming through from the Commonwealth, We've got

105
00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:55,160
Speaker 2: appointments available.

106
00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,239
Speaker 1: There is a question from a listener wondering will fully

107
00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:02,440
Speaker 1: vaccinated Territorians receipt any incentives like being able to visit

108
00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,000
Speaker 1: the Southern States for Christmas.

109
00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,159
Speaker 2: So, Katie, that is a question we need to put

110
00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,800
Speaker 2: to our health officials, and as you've heard from the

111
00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,200
Speaker 2: Chief Minister, we need to make sure that the eighty

112
00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,240
Speaker 2: percent of people vaccinated is across the board. We have

113
00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,840
Speaker 2: a very young population in the territory, so we need

114
00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:19,720
Speaker 2: to make sure that even if we have eighty percent

115
00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,240
Speaker 2: of the eligible population, is that enough to protect our

116
00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,400
Speaker 2: broader population. These are the clinical questions, but with those

117
00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,559
Speaker 2: fantastic rates of vaccination, we're certainly heading in the direction

118
00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:29,920
Speaker 2: of having those conversations.

119
00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,799
Speaker 1: We had a lot of confusion yesterday about kids. Are

120
00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,599
Speaker 1: all kids eligible for the vaccine if they're over twelve?

121
00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,320
Speaker 2: So, Katie, children are eligible the ATAGI advice if they

122
00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,760
Speaker 2: are vulnerable and so the definition of that is an

123
00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,640
Speaker 2: underlying medical illness, if they're aboriginal, terrest rate island, or

124
00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,760
Speaker 2: if they have other factors that would put them at risk.

125
00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,359
Speaker 2: And so outside of Darwin, every child twelve to fifteen

126
00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,440
Speaker 2: is eligible and they can make an appointment through the

127
00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:02,599
Speaker 2: clinics or as the remin programs. Within the Darwin urban area.

128
00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,280
Speaker 2: It is the vulnerable children that are presently eligible, but

129
00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,000
Speaker 2: we are certainly looking and working with the Commonwealth around

130
00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,200
Speaker 2: when we will provide for all children twelve to fifteen.

131
00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,400
Speaker 2: We understand this is a very important cohort. Parents want

132
00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,760
Speaker 2: to vaccinate their kids, and when I just spoke about

133
00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,599
Speaker 2: the facts, the territory has such a young population, these

134
00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,120
Speaker 2: children being vaccinated is so important for that overall eighty

135
00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,760
Speaker 2: percent figure. So right now, that is the situation, but

136
00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,440
Speaker 2: we're working very closely to them when we can bring

137
00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,520
Speaker 2: on twelve to fifteen year old in the Darwin urban area.

138
00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,680
Speaker 1: Look, we're getting a lot of questions about this. I've

139
00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,640
Speaker 1: got one here. It says my fourteen year old son

140
00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,159
Speaker 1: has a medical condition that's not on the government least,

141
00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:47,240
Speaker 1: but he's pediatrician and immunologist recommend that he gets vaccinated.

142
00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,280
Speaker 1: I'm still waiting for those clinics to.

143
00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,640
Speaker 2: Call me back, so Katie, I can't provide individual medical advice.

144
00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:55,760
Speaker 2: Of course, I'm not a condition, and you know this

145
00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,680
Speaker 2: is not the appropriate place for people to get that.

146
00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,640
Speaker 2: We are working as quickly as we can around those appointments.

147
00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:05,960
Speaker 2: If you know, from what you've just said to me,

148
00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,120
Speaker 2: it sounds like they're eligible. But we certainly are working

149
00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,680
Speaker 2: as quickly as we can to open up Darwin. But

150
00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,720
Speaker 2: if people believe they are eligible, then they should head

151
00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,600
Speaker 2: to our website. You can make an appointment. You have

152
00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,640
Speaker 2: to kick the eligibility that you have got someone that

153
00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,400
Speaker 2: is vulnerable, and then it will allow you to make

154
00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:26,360
Speaker 2: that appointment, Katie.

155
00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,480
Speaker 1: So why is it then, like if somebody is if

156
00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,600
Speaker 1: their partner or if they are frontline workers who you know,

157
00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,280
Speaker 1: in whichever profession, why are they not able to get

158
00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:39,400
Speaker 1: their kids vaccinated?

159
00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,080
Speaker 2: So, Katie, it comes down to that definition of being

160
00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,200
Speaker 2: eligible and vulnerable. And so when you head to our website,

161
00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,160
Speaker 2: it lists for you there what would make you eligible.

162
00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,200
Speaker 2: But I think Katie, that people should understand we're working

163
00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,040
Speaker 2: as quickly as we can with the Commonwealth around how

164
00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,000
Speaker 2: we could open this up to all children in the

165
00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,960
Speaker 2: Darwin area. But if you head to that website, it

166
00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,120
Speaker 2: does allow you to make an appointment if you do

167
00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,560
Speaker 2: believe that you have a medical condition or your aboriginal

168
00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:06,280
Speaker 2: interroith right.

169
00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,800
Speaker 1: Islander Another questions just come through from a listener, Hi, Katie.

170
00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,880
Speaker 1: After your show yesterday, I contacted a GP to see

171
00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:14,840
Speaker 1: if I could get my fourteen year old daughter to

172
00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,560
Speaker 1: get vaccinated. I was told that they'd only do it

173
00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,240
Speaker 1: if she was Indigenous or had a medical condition. I

174
00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,920
Speaker 1: explained that I was a frontline worker that goes out

175
00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,200
Speaker 1: to Howard Springs Facility to transport patients to Royal dar

176
00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,120
Speaker 1: And Hospital and then back again. I also explained that

177
00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,880
Speaker 1: there was a lady on the show yesterday who obviously

178
00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,840
Speaker 1: wanted to get her children vaccinated, who was in the

179
00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:42,480
Speaker 1: same position. This person says she'd like to protect her family,

180
00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:46,240
Speaker 1: and her daughter wants it as well. I mean, I

181
00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,680
Speaker 1: just like I suppose there's so many in the community

182
00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,559
Speaker 1: right now who actually do want to get their kids vaccinated,

183
00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,520
Speaker 1: particularly those that are frontline workers. Why not just open

184
00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,800
Speaker 1: it up to everybody if there is that hesitancy from others.

185
00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,560
Speaker 2: So, Katie, it is fantastic that people are considering this.

186
00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,440
Speaker 2: They're doing their research and they want their family members

187
00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,160
Speaker 2: to be vaccinated. We do need to follow that advice

188
00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,760
Speaker 2: and those procedures. But what I can say is we're

189
00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:16,160
Speaker 2: working very closely to open the availability up and broaden

190
00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,959
Speaker 2: that category. The final decision hasn't been made yet, and

191
00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,600
Speaker 2: right now it is if you are eligible under those

192
00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,559
Speaker 2: categories of vulnerability with medical illness or being aboriginal trothtraate Islander,

193
00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,840
Speaker 2: you can get the vaccine. So we're certainly hearing these comments,

194
00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,880
Speaker 2: and I think that people should understand that we're working

195
00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,880
Speaker 2: as quickly as we can with our health professionals and

196
00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,080
Speaker 2: the Commonwealth to ascertain what we can do considering that

197
00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,160
Speaker 2: we have so many people eager to get that vaccination.

198
00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,760
Speaker 1: So it sounds like it's not actually your decision. It's

199
00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:47,320
Speaker 1: a decision of the federal government.

200
00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,560
Speaker 3: Is that right, Katie.

201
00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,640
Speaker 2: It's a combination. It's a decision of a targeting and

202
00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:58,320
Speaker 2: so they have made the decision that vulnerable children twelve

203
00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,080
Speaker 2: to fifteen can receive the vaccinate. The common wealths provide

204
00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,200
Speaker 2: the vaccine to us, and we've got plenty of supply

205
00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,640
Speaker 2: of that vaccine. And then it's in terms of the territory.

206
00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:09,880
Speaker 2: We have our public health officials who work with our

207
00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,400
Speaker 2: Chief Health Officer around these decisions. So people should understand

208
00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,040
Speaker 2: we are looking at this very genuinely as quickly as

209
00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,280
Speaker 2: we can, but we do need to make sure that

210
00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,280
Speaker 2: we follow the advice and the protocols. But it is

211
00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,720
Speaker 2: really pleasing to hear the amount of families talking about

212
00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,600
Speaker 2: wanting to get their children vaccinated. It's a big decision,

213
00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,440
Speaker 2: but vaccinations do save lives, and we are working as

214
00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:31,960
Speaker 2: quickly as we can to respond to that.

215
00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,800
Speaker 1: So at this point in time, if I can just

216
00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:40,200
Speaker 1: make it really clear those for the residents of Darwin,

217
00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,319
Speaker 1: because we know if you're in the Greater Darwin region

218
00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:45,480
Speaker 1: or regional parts of the Northern Territory, you can take

219
00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,920
Speaker 1: your kids to get vaccinated. But for Darwin at this

220
00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,280
Speaker 1: point in time, unless you have an underlying medical condition

221
00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,439
Speaker 1: which is on the list of prescribed medical conditions, or

222
00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,920
Speaker 1: unless you're Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander, you're not actually able

223
00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:01,160
Speaker 1: to get that vaccine yet.

224
00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,760
Speaker 2: The Katie, it's very similar to with adults we had

225
00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,319
Speaker 2: outside of Dune, and we had different criteria. We collapse

226
00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,240
Speaker 2: those phases because we knew that we had a vulnerable

227
00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:14,160
Speaker 2: population and so I expect something very similar to happen,

228
00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,480
Speaker 2: the same as with adults as with kids. But we

229
00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,000
Speaker 2: just appreciate people giving us a little bit more time.

230
00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,520
Speaker 2: We're working through a number of factors before that decision

231
00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:22,319
Speaker 2: can be finalized.

232
00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,640
Speaker 1: All right, We'll pump through these last questions because there

233
00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,360
Speaker 1: is a lot. We're just getting so much listener interaction though.

234
00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,280
Speaker 1: This morning, one caller just wants to know when over

235
00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,920
Speaker 1: sixties are going to be eligible for Pizer.

236
00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,920
Speaker 2: So Katy, that again would be a question for the Commonwealth.

237
00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,960
Speaker 2: Presently over sixties are eligible for the Astrozenica vaccine, but

238
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,520
Speaker 2: there has certainly been some commentary and discussion at a

239
00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:48,080
Speaker 2: national level around whether people can receive Viser. But what

240
00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:52,200
Speaker 2: I can say is that the virus is present in

241
00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,160
Speaker 2: the Australian community and so we've seen that threat last

242
00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,679
Speaker 2: week with a lockdown here in the territory. Please get vaccinated.

243
00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,160
Speaker 2: These are all all vaccines that have been approved, rigorously

244
00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,559
Speaker 2: tested and if you're over sixty, the astronem if the

245
00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,640
Speaker 2: vaccine is safe and effective for you to get. So

246
00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,840
Speaker 2: please don't wait hoping that you can get Visor, because

247
00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,320
Speaker 2: sadly in the meantime we may see the virus coming

248
00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,680
Speaker 2: to our community and you've missed your opportunity to protect

249
00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:15,840
Speaker 2: yourself and you'll loved one.

250
00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,360
Speaker 3: Okay, Minister, Just very quickly on the health front.

251
00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,440
Speaker 1: Last week when we spoke, you said that the demand

252
00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,880
Speaker 1: on Royal Darwin Hospital has been high. We're in code

253
00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,240
Speaker 1: yellow just weeks ago. How is the hospital going right

254
00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,440
Speaker 1: now when it comes to the number of beds and

255
00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,120
Speaker 1: having enough to Katie.

256
00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,480
Speaker 2: I'm out here at Rozoan Hospital. Presently the hospital is

257
00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:37,720
Speaker 2: still very busy, but we have had an extraordinary effort

258
00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,040
Speaker 2: from all of our stuff, from our PCAs, from those

259
00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:44,160
Speaker 2: people that support our clinical nurses, doctors and allied health professionals.

260
00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,040
Speaker 2: But it is incredibly busy hospital. We're not saying if

261
00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,400
Speaker 2: you're unwell, don't come to hospital. If you are feeling

262
00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,680
Speaker 2: that you need to receive emergency care, please come. But

263
00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,720
Speaker 2: if you can go to your GP, if you can

264
00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,959
Speaker 2: use your pharmacists to seek that medical advice, please consider.

265
00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,440
Speaker 2: But we are working through what we can do into

266
00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,080
Speaker 2: the longer term to manage the bed capacity at Royd

267
00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,480
Speaker 2: Daland Hospital. But our team out here responded and at

268
00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,840
Speaker 2: the Palmestan Regional Hospital, the hospitals work together very well.

269
00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,160
Speaker 2: They put in place those internal mechanisms to keep our

270
00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,920
Speaker 2: patients safe and cope with those pressures. And the code

271
00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,040
Speaker 2: yellow has been lifted and it was listed earlier and

272
00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,640
Speaker 2: expected because of the strong response from our health staff.

273
00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,839
Speaker 2: But it is incredibly busy hospital and takes a lot

274
00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,480
Speaker 2: of effort, but we're working on those longer term plans.

275
00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,640
Speaker 3: Now, what about that renal ward at Palmerston.

276
00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,600
Speaker 2: Is it back opened, so, Katie, the renal Ward at

277
00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,760
Speaker 2: Palmerston had a plumbing maintenance issue and it's due to

278
00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,280
Speaker 2: be opened this week. I haven't had a final update

279
00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,920
Speaker 2: if it is open, but I'm happy to seek that

280
00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:42,720
Speaker 2: advice off there.

281
00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:44,719
Speaker 3: Yeah, it'd be keen to find out exactly where we're

282
00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,480
Speaker 3: at with that. Now.

283
00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,040
Speaker 1: Another issue which isn't going away is that of the

284
00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,040
Speaker 1: twelve million dollar grandstand grant. We know the Darwin Turf

285
00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,360
Speaker 1: Club is tonight expected to have their meeting to determine

286
00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:58,160
Speaker 1: who's going to be on their new board. The Opposition

287
00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,000
Speaker 1: has also now received responses to their more than two

288
00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,120
Speaker 1: hundred questions to the government on the twelve million dollar

289
00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,760
Speaker 1: grandstand grant. Eighty of those questions went to the Chief Minister. Now,

290
00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,200
Speaker 1: according to the Opposition, the response to a lot of

291
00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,000
Speaker 1: these questions was the same and the government didn't really

292
00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,640
Speaker 1: answer the questions. Now I've seen some of them, some

293
00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,240
Speaker 1: of the questions and some of the responses. Now, a

294
00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,480
Speaker 1: lot of those questions were responded by saying the IKAK

295
00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,160
Speaker 1: had the ability to review all of the paperwork and

296
00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,960
Speaker 1: all processes, all findings in relation to the processes and

297
00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:34,360
Speaker 1: evidence gathered are in the IQAQ report. The IQAQ report

298
00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:38,600
Speaker 1: made no findings of unsatisfactory conduct against any government department

299
00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:39,280
Speaker 1: or minister.

300
00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:40,960
Speaker 3: Now, obviously I.

301
00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,720
Speaker 1: Can see where the government's going and what you're doing

302
00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:46,680
Speaker 1: that they're you know, obviously you guys are continuing to

303
00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,200
Speaker 1: claim that there's nothing to see here. But like I've said,

304
00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,000
Speaker 1: I guess right from the get do. The big questions

305
00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,520
Speaker 1: which remain unanswered at this point relate to how that

306
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,360
Speaker 1: decision was made inside cabinet and how it was taken

307
00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,560
Speaker 1: into CA under the arm of the Chief Minister without

308
00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,360
Speaker 1: going through due process which would usually happen with the

309
00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,480
Speaker 1: grant of this nature. I mean, do you think it's

310
00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,120
Speaker 1: appropriate not to actually answer these questions?

311
00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,600
Speaker 2: So, Katie, without wanting to go back over what you've

312
00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,360
Speaker 2: just said, the Artack investigated this for eighteen months, released

313
00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,280
Speaker 2: a comprehensive report that made no findings against the government

314
00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:25,160
Speaker 2: or a minister. And as we've said consistently, the cabinet

315
00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,240
Speaker 2: is elected to make decisions. If you go back to

316
00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,680
Speaker 2: that point in time, we needed to get money out

317
00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:31,840
Speaker 2: the door for our infrastructure budget. We were looking at

318
00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:35,560
Speaker 2: projects that not only had community benefit but also could

319
00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:39,080
Speaker 2: stimulate the economy, and so that decision was made. We're

320
00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,840
Speaker 2: elected to make decisions and the KAC made no findings

321
00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:42,800
Speaker 2: against any minister.

322
00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,800
Speaker 1: I think though, the big questions which still remain unanswered,

323
00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:49,280
Speaker 1: is realistically, how the government approved a twelve million dollar

324
00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,360
Speaker 1: grant for a grand stand without it going through the

325
00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,520
Speaker 1: usual processes that any other grant would have to go through.

326
00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:57,800
Speaker 1: You know, it was then, as we now know, walked

327
00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:01,400
Speaker 1: into cabinet by the Chief Minister under East without what

328
00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:05,600
Speaker 1: I can gather, the treasury documentation to support it, but

329
00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,040
Speaker 1: it was still approved.

330
00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,400
Speaker 2: So Katie, a cabinet followed a cabinet process in approving

331
00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,280
Speaker 2: the Darwin Turf Club grant. As I said, we were

332
00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:16,920
Speaker 2: in a situation where we had a significant infrastructure budget.

333
00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:20,000
Speaker 2: Our community was relying on the government infrastructure budget. It

334
00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,440
Speaker 2: was a very different economic times to right now. Public

335
00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,280
Speaker 2: projects is what was keeping people in the territory and

336
00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,120
Speaker 2: in jobs, and so we made a number of infrastructure

337
00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,000
Speaker 2: grant decisions to get money out the door so that

338
00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,520
Speaker 2: we could invest in projects that would keep territories in

339
00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,320
Speaker 2: jobs at the time and jobs into the future.

340
00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,720
Speaker 1: So then why not release the treasury documentation that supports

341
00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:42,720
Speaker 1: that this project was actually going to do that.

342
00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:45,840
Speaker 2: So Katy, as I said, this was one of a

343
00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,680
Speaker 2: number of infrastructure grant It's been thoroughly investigated by the

344
00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,960
Speaker 2: IKHO made no findings against any minister or the government

345
00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,040
Speaker 2: on this issue.

346
00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,480
Speaker 1: I'll tell you what I can see that this isn't

347
00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,600
Speaker 1: going to go away. I mean tonight we know that

348
00:16:58,120 --> 00:16:59,800
Speaker 1: the Dow And Turf Club is going to have that

349
00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:04,040
Speaker 1: new new board elected. How is the government going to

350
00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,720
Speaker 1: respond if any of the members of that new board

351
00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,760
Speaker 1: are actually members of the board that well previously was

352
00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,000
Speaker 1: involved in this situation with the grand stand.

353
00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,600
Speaker 2: So Katie, as a government, we've said we need to

354
00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,119
Speaker 2: have confidence in the Darn Turf Club board going forward.

355
00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:24,719
Speaker 2: There was you know, when we ask those questions around

356
00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,200
Speaker 2: the grants and the processes of awarding the tenders, we

357
00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,280
Speaker 2: were misled and so we need to have confidence with

358
00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:31,760
Speaker 2: the board going forward that they were acting the best

359
00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,880
Speaker 2: interests and so we await that meeting and look forward

360
00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:36,920
Speaker 2: to to hopefully a new board that we can work

361
00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,440
Speaker 2: together with for an important sector in the territory.

362
00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,080
Speaker 1: Will you have confidence in that board if any of

363
00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:46,080
Speaker 1: those members who are elected are former members that were

364
00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,000
Speaker 1: on the board when this Turf Club Grandstand deal went through.

365
00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,080
Speaker 2: So Katie, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals, but

366
00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:54,159
Speaker 2: what we have clearly said is that we need to

367
00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,080
Speaker 2: see a new board so we can have confidence to

368
00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:58,280
Speaker 2: work with them going forward.

369
00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:02,160
Speaker 1: And if you don't have confidence, is there funding going

370
00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:02,920
Speaker 1: to be impacted?

371
00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:06,440
Speaker 2: So Katie, the Chief Minister has indicated that there is

372
00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,879
Speaker 2: options available to the Territory government that we've got that

373
00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:13,280
Speaker 2: meeting tonight the Turf Club members, we hope will elect

374
00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,359
Speaker 2: a board that the Northern Territory Government can work with

375
00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,320
Speaker 2: and have confidence in going forward around racing in the territory.

376
00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:22,679
Speaker 1: Well, Minister for Health and also Minister for Racing, Gaming

377
00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,160
Speaker 1: and Licensing, we appreciate your time this morning.

378
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,480
Speaker 2: Thank you, Thanks Katie,