1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: It is just after nine point thirty that number if 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: you'd like to call through today eight nine four one 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: one four nine. Now we are getting so many messages 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: about the fact that the iHeart Radio app is down 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: and that you're not able to listen online. I am 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: so sorry that you're not able to do that. I'm 7 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: getting my personal phones going off, the text line's going off, 8 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: absolutely everything's going off. People wanting to be able to 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: listen and not being able to. We're having serious technical 10 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:34,160 Speaker 1: difficulties when it comes to the app. Our technicians are 11 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: trying to work on that as fast as they can, 12 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: but it's an issue that we're having nationally at this 13 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: point in time, so hopefully they're able to get that 14 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: sorted sooner rather than later. We will make sure that 15 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: everything goes up online today for you from the show, 16 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: so you'll be able to jump online listen to Manno 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: in just a couple of minutes. Crystal doing her best 18 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: to get all of that audio up incredibly quickly. But look, 19 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: joining me on the line right now is the mayor 20 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: of Alice Springs, map Attison. Good morning to you, Matt. 21 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie. I'm sure well. I hope that everyone 22 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: will get on. I want to listen to me as 23 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 2: well when they fix Yeah, absolutely the issues, but thank 24 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 2: you for having me on the left. 25 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: Absolutely, mate, they will and they'll be able to jump 26 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: online and we'll put the audio up just as soon 27 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: as the interview's finished. Now, before I get into the 28 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: situation with tourism, can I just ask how things going 29 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: from overnight, because I understand that there were cars stolen 30 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: overnight according to reports by the ABC. I believe i'd 31 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: heard thirteen kids arrested in Alice. 32 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: Is that right? Yeah, that's my understanding. I've only seen 33 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: what's in the media, so I'm none the wiser, Katie. 34 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: But look, it's obviously I mean, firstly, it's nice that 35 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 2: they had spiked the car and got them off the street. 36 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: That the earliest possible chance for their own safety, but 37 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: also everyone else's. So look, unfortunately I don't have much 38 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 2: to say to you about it at the moment, but 39 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: it's obviously things are continuing on, but it's good to 40 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 2: say that please got the people off the street as 41 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: early as they could. Yeah. 42 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and we know the police are working incredibly hard 43 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: to try to keep things under control there in Alice. Now, 44 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: Matt Tell me. We know that. We've just caught up 45 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: with the Minister for Tourism, Nicole Madison and spoken about 46 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: some of the comments that were made by Alan Joyce 47 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: earlier in the week. There's no doubt that crime has 48 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: had an impact when it comes to tourism. You know, 49 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: in some ways, I just can't understand why the government's 50 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: not more sort of open about going, yeah, it did. 51 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: It's had a massive impact. But you know, this is 52 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: what we're doing to try and correct. Thanks. 53 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it obviously has had an impact. We've seen that 54 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: through the numbers. We've seen the truism numbers down clearly. 55 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: Clearly that's happening. We had a pretty bad start of 56 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 2: the year reputation wise across the country and clearly that 57 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 2: was going to flow on. But just in regards to 58 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 2: the CEO's comment, Cero of conscious comment, I mean, the 59 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 2: prices have always been expensive, long before this crime stuff 60 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 2: was happening. It was prices I've been expensive as long 61 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: as I've been as long as I've been around Katie 62 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:09,679 Speaker 2: So's it's not a new piece. And you know, crime's 63 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 2: clearly having an issue for the rest of the country 64 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: because just because of the damage our reputation took at 65 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: the start of the year, so we need to work 66 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: with all stakeholders and government to address that and try 67 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 2: to address the perception that's happening nationwide. 68 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, I mean the thing is, it's as we know, well, 69 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: according to the Northern Territory Police, things are going better 70 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: in Alice right now. We've caught up with Daniel Rochford 71 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: earlier in the week he'd said the same you and 72 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: you and I have spoken about it as well. There's 73 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: a number of different factors at play and we all 74 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: hope that it stays, you know, moving on a positive 75 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: track and that we are able to really get to 76 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: rest back into the Red Center. I know that you 77 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: had a meeting with Quantus reps and also the federal MP, 78 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: Marian Scrimjaw. How did that go. 79 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, it was it was good and it was 80 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 2: obviously quite beneficial to have our member organize that. I 81 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: mean that it goes to show that the relationship to 82 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: council and governments have I think it was, you know, 83 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 2: the first step in the right direction to working with Quantus, 84 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: but also just making sure Quantas understand the frustrations that 85 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: the community have regarding you know, that liveability piece and 86 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 2: the cost of getting out of a our springs, and 87 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: I know you've got the same issues up in Darwin, 88 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 2: but it is so expensive and it is so difficult 89 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 2: to try to get out of here, and it's just 90 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 2: you know, we're just asking trying to have people understand 91 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: that there is places to be good corporate citizens in 92 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 2: the country. 93 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: Now, tell me there'd been that discussion as well about 94 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: whether some of the two hundred and fifty million dollars 95 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 1: contingency funding to rebuild you know, like some of that 96 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: money that's that's obviously to be invested in Alice Springs 97 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: around the issues with crime and various other things, whether 98 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: some of that could be used for tourism. How far 99 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: along of those discussions and so you know, what's the 100 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: situation with that. 101 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 2: So we had a council meeting on Tuesday and obviously 102 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 2: aviation and supporting small business and those sort of things 103 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: had come up once again and rightly, so it's an 104 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 2: important topic. It was a collaboration of how we can 105 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: engage with the federal government around funding and what we 106 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: can do. And look, we know that there's are two 107 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty million dollars on the table for Central Australia. 108 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 2: So if you go through the pillars, it is about 109 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 2: Some of the pillars are about safety and cohesion, job 110 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 2: creation and better services. And we think if we can 111 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: piece together as a council as the main drivers of 112 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: this to have a rebound package and take that to 113 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: the federal government. We know that they're at the table. 114 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 2: We can work with the Northern Territory government around what 115 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: that looks like. Now it might not be the two 116 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty million, it might be a separate package. 117 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 2: All we want to do is just be able to 118 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 2: sit at the table with the federal government and put 119 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: that forward around economics, around tourism, around jobs, around the 120 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: deception of our spring things changing, and getting tourism back. 121 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 2: Because I've said to you many times, Katie, we're in 122 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 2: the middle. Partonly if we're in the middle between becoming 123 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 2: a tourism destination and a service hub. I mean, there's 124 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: no reason we can't be both, but we don't want 125 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: to have to be one or the other. 126 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with you. I mean the fact of 127 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: the matter is Alice Springs in Central Australia is an 128 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: absolutely stunning place. It is almost spiritual I think when 129 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: you drive into Alice Springs and you've got the ranges 130 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: surrounding you, it is such a beautiful place and there 131 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 1: is no doubt that crimes had a massive impact. But 132 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: as things come down, there has to be plenty done 133 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: to really try to get people back there. 134 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, And you know that's the immediate term of 135 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 2: also getting people in the community back out to supporting business, 136 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 2: but then spreading that far and wide to the rest 137 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: of the country. We know we've got money on the 138 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 2: table to upgrade our CBD, which is exciting. It's quite tropical, 139 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 2: but we know will deliver that and then hopefully we've 140 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 2: got some things in the background that we're able to 141 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 2: deliver on quite quickly as well. 142 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,119 Speaker 1: So Matt, right now, you know what needs to really 143 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: happen as far as you're concerned, sooner rather than later 144 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: to turn things around. 145 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: Well, we do need that, We do need that pace 146 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 2: that you know it's getting better, but also we need 147 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 2: to have that product here so when people come here 148 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: we can put on a show for them. And I 149 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 2: think that comes down to about providing opportunities for people 150 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: to come here as well, Katie, And that comes down 151 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 2: to aviation and more accessibility into into our springs, but 152 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 2: also for our residents to be able to get away 153 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: for a weekend as well. That's not going to cost 154 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: them the arm and the leg. 155 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, spot on, And you know this is the thing 156 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: I know. The Minister had touched on this also about 157 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: those discussions with other airlines. She wouldn't reveal which airlines 158 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: at this point in time. She said that they're very 159 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: sort of you know, very delicate discussions to get through. 160 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: But jeez, it would be good, wouldn't it to have 161 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: to have some more connectivity around the place, even like 162 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: into you know, around the northern territory, for us up 163 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: here in Darwin to be able to get to Allie 164 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: Springs more freely and vice versa. 165 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I don't care what color the wings painted, 166 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 2: and as long as it's got two wings and a motor, 167 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 2: I think that Alice Springs will entertain the fact of 168 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: another airline here. And I think it is just about 169 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 2: that product as well, about it not being a short 170 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: term sugar hit about creating it. So it's a long 171 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 2: term investment into Alice Springs and then it stays around 172 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 2: for many years to come as well. Yeah, because we 173 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 2: know that, you know the government, it's about their message 174 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: as well. I mean the government want to build the 175 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 2: National Average and Ark Gallery, and there's a report that 176 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 2: says it's going to be a thousand extra visitors a 177 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 2: week to time to see it. I mean, let's get 178 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 2: ready now. So by the time that's Bill, you know, 179 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 2: things are rolling along and we've got hotel rooms and 180 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 2: we've got access in and out. 181 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: As I touched on, well, Matt Patterson. Always good to 182 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: catch up with you, mate. Thanks so much for your 183 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: time this morning anytime, Katie, thank you, thank you.