1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: Now joining us on the line right now is the 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:06,439 Speaker 1: member foran Nemajira, Bill Yan. He's also the opposition spokesperson 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: for Health. Good morning to you, Bill, good. 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 2: Morning, and good morning to your listeners as well, Katie. 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 2: And look, I was listening to Shelley before as well, 6 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 2: but that absolutely heartbreaking to listen to what she's had 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 2: to go through. 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I felt really quite sad listening to her. I 9 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: think everybody probably did, because you think we're already kind 10 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: of in lockdown and business is already struggling. And now 11 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: I know that obviously an IgA is able to continue operating, 12 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: but it's just unfair that this kind of thing happens 13 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: to hard working people who are trying to run a business. 14 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 2: And it's the fact that it's not just a once off. 15 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 2: This is here the second time that they've been hit. 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 2: And it's not just them, there's so many of those 17 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: small businesses right across the territory that the suffering not 18 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: only from the COVID stuff and the lockdowns and a 19 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 2: lack of business and a lack of travel, but that 20 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:05,119 Speaker 2: criminal element. It just it just really really must push 21 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 2: people right to the absolute edge. 22 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 3: Yeah. 23 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: Look, I can't begin to imagine how Shelley in the 24 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:12,559 Speaker 2: family feels. 25 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, lots of you know, our heart felt. Well, 26 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,639 Speaker 1: we're really our hearts go out to Shelley and Kenny 27 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: and their families, their whole family, I should say, and yeah, 28 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: we're all really thinking of them today and hoping that, 29 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: you know, that they're able to really sort that out 30 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: this morning and be able to get operating again. But Bill, unfortunately, 31 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: you know, this kind of thing is not an isolated incident. 32 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 1: I know that that in Central Australia. A bit earlier 33 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: in the week or yesterday we caught up with Robin 34 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: Lamley and she told us about that terrible situation in 35 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: the car park at Cole's. The police have now have 36 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: now arrested and charged somebody, but it must have been 37 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: a pretty frightening situation for those in Central Australia. 38 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 3: Oh absolutely. 39 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: If you look at the Coles car park there that 40 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: end of the day, so busy, lots of young families 41 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 2: in and around the place. It's directly across the road 42 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 2: from my electric officin next door to Robin, so it's 43 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 2: sort of in our front slash backyard and look absolutely frightening. 44 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: But I just I can't believe that no one was 45 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: more seriously certain. It's so fortunate that the people weren't 46 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 2: and then for the out of the car park and 47 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: run through a red light, cause another accident. This is 48 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 2: ten thirty in the morning. The alcohol involved, like the 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,519 Speaker 2: blood alcohol content point one eight. 50 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 3: At that hour of the day, that. 51 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 2: Is absolutely mind boggling. You've got to think about our 52 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 2: alcohol policies that are being put in place by government working. 53 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 2: Do we need to go back some managery alcohol treatment 54 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: because obviously the message is not getting through and we're 55 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 2: still seeing these horrible, horrible and frightening issues in our community, 56 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: in our springs, a lot of springs across the territory. 57 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: Well, Bell, you are obviously the opposition spokesperson for health, 58 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: and I know that all of the discussion throughout this 59 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: week has been around COVID, but following on from that 60 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: incident and also following on obviously from the discussion with 61 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: Shelley this morning where they are trying to get their 62 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 1: hands on alcohol. I mean, do you feel as though 63 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: those policies around alcohol at the moment are working. 64 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: No, No, I don't think they are, Katie, And look, 65 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 2: it takes courage to stand by decisions and the government 66 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 2: is standing by their decisions I suppose around our alcohol policy. 67 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 2: But it takes much more courage to admit that your 68 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 2: decisions are not working and that you need to change 69 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: your approach. And I think this government needs to pluck 70 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: up a little bit more courage than it currently has 71 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: and actually face the hard facts that their alcohol policies 72 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 2: are failing territories. You've only got to look at the 73 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: alcohol related harm in our communities, offenses against the person 74 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 2: which involve alcohol. It's not working and territories can't put 75 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 2: up with it any longer. So I think they need 76 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: to go back to the drawing board and have a 77 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 2: really close hard look at what is going on in 78 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: the community and what's working and what's not because I'll 79 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 2: tell you what territories are telling us that what's happening 80 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: out there as far as alcohol policy is not working. 81 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: Bill, I do want to talk a bit more about 82 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: the COVID situation currently. Obviously we are expecting or we 83 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: understand that the Chief Minister and others are in that 84 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: SMC meeting right now. We're anticipating that there's going to 85 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: be a bit of an update, well, sooner rather than later. 86 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: Hopefully if we are going to see that lockdown lift 87 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: at midday, and you know, I suppose once we get 88 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: a better lay of the land for today, we'll then 89 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 1: know where we're going in terms of those restrictions lifting 90 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: and what restrictions may stay in place, i e. Masks 91 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: and that kind of thing. Do you think the government 92 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: made the right decision in you know, locking down and 93 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: locking down hard early despite there only being that one case. 94 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: I think the decision was right, Katie, because the opportunity 95 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: was for increased spread of COVID, and as the government 96 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 2: has come out and said that it gives out contact 97 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: crisis that time to do those checks to see where 98 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 2: people have been. 99 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: I'd hate to. 100 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 2: Be in a position where we didn't do that hard 101 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: lockdown and we allowed someone to move around the community 102 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 2: and then spread COVID further afield, only to look at 103 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: what's happening to poor people down in New South Wales. 104 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 2: At the moment, I think the decision for the hard 105 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: lockdown was correct. It's tough to do, It's tough on everybody, 106 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: but it's three days. We may be able to get 107 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 2: out and move around today and I think it's probably 108 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: the wise. 109 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: Choice now Alice Springs and also Darwin. Obviously we've seen 110 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: at different times strain on the hospital. We caught up 111 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,679 Speaker 1: with the Health Minister earlier in the week and asked 112 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: how things were going following on from that Code Yellow. 113 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 1: I had been told over the weekend by somebody who 114 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: works in the health sector that Royal Darwin Hospital is 115 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: still strained at this point. Bill, I'm not sure if 116 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: you've seen some of those photos that have been shared 117 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: on social media with our paramedics, those ambulances lined up 118 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: waiting to get into into emergency. How do you think 119 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: we're going at the moment when we talk about the 120 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: capacity at Royal Darwin Hospital. 121 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: Look, I think, based on those phart days and the 122 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 2: discussions I've had with a few people that the challenges 123 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 2: are well and truly still there for Royal Darwin and 124 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 2: our bed capacity and of course those bedflows. The only 125 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 2: reason those ambulances are sitting outside A and E there 126 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 2: is that there's no beds for them to go into it. 127 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:51,280 Speaker 2: And I know for many months now, probably over twelve months. 128 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 3: Have been doubling up people in cubicles and A and E. 129 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 3: We asked the. 130 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 2: Question of the Health Minister back in estimates last year. 131 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 3: Doing to address that, and there was no answer. 132 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 2: Was I know, we're not putting any extra money towards 133 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 2: addressing that particular issue. There's plenty of money for grand 134 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 2: stands and pay us to criminals. So yeah, could the 135 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: money be better spent at a at RDH. I certainly 136 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: think so. 137 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: Now. We just caught up with Senator Sam McMahon, the 138 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: CLP Senator Sam McMahon a bit earlier this morning and 139 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: she confirmed that or she said that the Federal Health 140 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: Minister Greg Hunt had confirmed with her that there is 141 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: just twelve beds in the ICU unit. Did you ask 142 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: this question throughout estimates and were you given a similar response. 143 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 3: There are the twelve ic you've been there. 144 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 2: But there is capacity, of course to expand. I know 145 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 2: that from my work talking to the minister and my 146 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 2: tours around the hospital. So there's a private hospital next 147 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: door which they can push out into if need be. 148 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's always concerned we've only got twelve ice 149 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: of your beds. 150 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 3: Is it enough? Hopefully? I think it should be. 151 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 2: But if you've got COVID and you throw that into 152 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: the mix with a few other things, it's going to 153 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: stretch the capacity of RDH, but I know that they 154 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 2: do have contingency plans in place, but it will make 155 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 2: an already overworked and over burdened health system just that 156 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 2: much more difficult, particularly for the staff they who are 157 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 2: going absolutely above and beyond on a daily basis for 158 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 2: the health of US territories. 159 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: Well, Bill Yan, the member for Namajurra and also the 160 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: opposition spokesperson for Health, we really appreciate your time this morning. 161 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: Thanks for having a chat with us. 162 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 3: Thanks Katie, great to talk to you again. 163 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: Thank you.