1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Last week on the show, we did speak about the 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: situation in Central Australia with the football. Now they made 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: some changes to the draw the AFL did in an 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:12,479 Speaker 1: effort to try and keep games in Alice Springs despite 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: some really serious concerns being raised by the council around 6 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: the issues that they've had to deal with with crime 7 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: and social issues. Now, in the latest move, the ABC 8 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: is reporting that the AFL has said it's going to 9 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: consider pulling the annual Melbourne Demons match from Alice Springs 10 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: unless the town council reverses its decision to bar community 11 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: football from Trega Park now. According to the report, in 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: an email to the council, which the ABC say that. 13 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,639 Speaker 2: They've seen, the league said that it would review the. 14 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: Viability of holding Round sixteen match between the Melbourne Demons 15 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: and the GWS Giants in Alice Springs in June. Now, 16 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: Alice Springs Mayor Matt Patterson says the council won't be 17 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: held hostage to the AFL and their bullying attitude and 18 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: he joins me on the line right now, Good morning 19 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: to you. 20 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 3: Match, come morning Katy, thanks having me. 21 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for joining us. 22 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: Matt. 23 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: We spoke to the AFL on Friday. 24 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 1: At that point, we were not aware of this situation 25 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 1: with the Demons and Giants game. 26 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 2: Can you tell me. 27 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: What the letter from the AFL says to the council 28 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: around the game? 29 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 3: Look, ultimately, just basically what you've read out. Ultimately, they 30 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,279 Speaker 3: are trying to hold the ollow Springstown Council hostage for 31 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 3: effectively something that's got nothing to do with us. The 32 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 3: AFL game that's here to be played is between the 33 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 3: AFL and the Northern Territory Government and that contract. The 34 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 3: issue that we're having at the moment is completely. 35 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: Separate and so much obviously you have you've taken it 36 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: as a threat. 37 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, I mean this was never on the table 38 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 3: until we've obviously made the decision around community football, and 39 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 3: we've got, you know, AFL headquarters trying to come in 40 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 3: over the top of what is a local decision. Now, 41 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 3: I've always said when we talk about these issues that 42 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 3: people should come to Alice Springs before they make those decisions. 43 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 3: This is completely separate, and it's a bullying tactic by 44 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 3: AFL and the AFL and t over the Alice Springs community. 45 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 3: They've come in over the top and it's irresponsible and 46 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 3: completely inappropriate. 47 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: What impact do you reckon that it would have if 48 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: you know, if that AFL game then doesn't go ahead, 49 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: you know between the demons and the giants, Oh, look. 50 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 3: At it will have an impact on the community. But 51 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,079 Speaker 3: if I go back in time, k we were talking 52 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 3: about the community football, people were very critical, including the 53 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 3: AFL or an AFL and T very critical of the 54 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,839 Speaker 3: ol Springstown Council taking football away from the community and 55 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 3: you know, young people and women, Well, what are the 56 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 3: AFL doing right now? That's exactly what they're doing, the 57 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 3: exact same thing that they threatened us with. So it's 58 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 3: very ironic. An AFL and TEA need to have a 59 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 3: good look at themselves. They've they they run the competition 60 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 3: out of Darwin and the arrogance that they have for 61 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 3: our springs is very hard to fathom. They've now scheduled 62 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: women's football on a Saturday night and they've said that 63 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: women need to choose between netball and AFL football. So 64 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 3: that goes to show to sheer arrogance when the decisions 65 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 3: not made locally. 66 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: Can I ask you, obviously, when we spoke to the 67 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: AFL on Friday, the NTAFL. They said that they've made 68 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: some changes to the drawer in an effort to minimize 69 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: any potential issues associated with those games. Have any of 70 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: those changes sort of changed council's perspective in any way? 71 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 3: Councils still have the same view that there's been no 72 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 3: other resolution and I speak the resolutions stated there has 73 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 3: been no other change to the resolutions in regards to 74 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 3: the changing of. 75 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: The draw Obviously they're saying there's a lot of benefits 76 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: to the community when it comes to footy. Can you 77 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: explain to our listeners and I know that you and 78 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: I have spoken before about this, but maybe not everybody 79 00:03:58,600 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: listening has heard it. 80 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: Can you explaining to our listeners. 81 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: Again why you are concerned about those games? Those you know, 82 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: the Central Australian Football League games happening in Alice Springs 83 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: at this point. 84 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 3: So what we have I mean, it's obviously multi layered. 85 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: Everyone understands the social challenges that we're facing. Communities come 86 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 3: to come to our springs to play football. All the 87 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 3: surrounding communities come and play here. There's no infrastructure in 88 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:31,239 Speaker 3: remote communities. That's one issue. Spectators come and kildren come. 89 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 3: You know, the men come and we're not finding that 90 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 3: they're going back to their community, and it's causing us 91 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 3: with this bottleneck of issues. I would love to see 92 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 3: community football on community, that's how it was designed, but 93 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 3: because of the lack ofduction for a long time, unfortunately 94 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 3: we continue to have the games played in our springs. 95 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 3: Why can't they be played out in the remote communities? 96 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 3: So for example, Katie, we've got Undamo which is three 97 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 3: hundred and thirty kilometers away. It drives past Ulla move 98 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 3: and they play against each other in Alice Springs and 99 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 3: then if they do go back, they all go back 100 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 3: the same way. I mean, surely there is, you know, 101 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 3: got to be some explanation as to why they can't 102 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: play out on community save their funds. They don't have 103 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 3: to drive into town, and yet all the funding that 104 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 3: they get can go back into the economy of building 105 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 3: an economy in the remote community. 106 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: I guess you know. 107 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: The AFL's argument, AFL in T's argument is going to 108 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: be that, you know, the infrastructure is not there for 109 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: those games to take place properly. 110 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: I know that. 111 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: Again, you and I have spoken about that before. 112 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 3: Well, why haven't the AFL done some plans about getting 113 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 3: infrastructure on remote communities. Kadie. They've got a two hundred 114 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 3: and fifty page document that says why they need a 115 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: three hundred million dollar stadium in Daowen and for the 116 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 3: infrastructures in all of the remote communities in central Australia. 117 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: They've got one a four page that's half written on 118 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 3: the other one is half pictures. I mean, why are 119 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: we kicking the can down the road here and why 120 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 3: aren't the AFL and T taking any piece of responsibility 121 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 3: in this? 122 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: Well, look, you know, I can't speak for them. 123 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: I don't know exactly what they'd say to that, but 124 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: I guess what I guess what a lot of people 125 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: will be wondering at this point is you know, how 126 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: to how you're going to get past this stalemate and 127 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: how are you going to kind of get to the 128 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: point where you know, the footy, the AFL match between 129 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: the Demons and the Giants is still able to go ahead, 130 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 1: if you know, if you can't get past the stale mate, 131 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: I suppose. 132 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 3: So the AFL game, I want to be really clear, 133 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 3: The AFL game has nothing to do with the Ola 134 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 3: Springstown Council. That is a deal that's broken between the 135 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 3: Northern Territory government and the AFL. The AFL are just 136 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 3: throwing the baby out with the bath order, trying to 137 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 3: come over the top of the Alic Springstown Council. It's 138 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: completely separate. 139 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: Issue, all right, So what what is your you know 140 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: what where. 141 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: To from here? I suppose Matt. 142 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 3: Well, we've been speaking in this with the AFL, AFL 143 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 3: and T for eighteen months and nothing's changed. Now we've 144 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 3: made this decision and finally we've seen some traction from 145 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 3: the AFL get to start moving. So we'll continue to 146 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 3: talk to the AFL and T remembicated that the withdrawing 147 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 3: support for the community football was only for the year 148 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 3: twenty twenty three as we just catch our breath with 149 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 3: all of the things going on. So clearly we'll keep 150 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 3: working with the AFL in T for future years. But 151 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 3: I do want to say again if they it'd be 152 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 3: very ironic for the AFL and T to withdraw the 153 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 3: AFL game from Alice Springs, and I think they need 154 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 3: to probably sit down and have a look at the 155 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 3: ramifications going forward to some well, I think. 156 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: The government provides funding for it and everything, though, don't they. 157 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: I mean, like it's an agreement across the board with 158 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Government. I thought paid quite a large 159 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: amount of money. 160 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 2: For it to happen. 161 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 3: It's a huge it's a huge sum of money and 162 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 3: that's and that reiterates my point that it's got nothing 163 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 3: to do with us. It's a deal between the AFL 164 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 3: and the Northern Territory Government. So I think ultimately it 165 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 3: will be up to those two stakeholders to see where 166 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: that game's played. 167 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: The July well, we'll see if we can get a 168 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: response from the government on that one as well. And 169 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: we're just under the pump with the Chief Minister this morning, 170 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: so didn't get the opportunity to. 171 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 2: Ask her about it, but we certainly will follow it up. 172 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: Matt Patterson, the mayor of Alice Springs, made anything else 173 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: I should be aware of from the weekend. While I've 174 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: got you on the line, I know you know Alice 175 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: has been grappling with a lot of issues. 176 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: How did things go over the weekend? 177 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 3: Oh, not good, Katie, not good at all. We've had 178 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 3: our two bottle shops, Milna Road and Pigley. They were 179 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 3: rammated and absolutely turned upside down. So unfortunately they're owned 180 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 3: by a lovely, lovely couple and you know that's been 181 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 3: absolutely trushed again. Don't forget Milner's was only remated at 182 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 3: the start of the year and it's happened again. It's 183 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 3: absolutely chaos. 184 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: And mate, we'd also seen this incredibly sickening report that 185 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: had come through from the Northern Territory Police from Alice 186 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:04,839 Speaker 1: as well about a disabled woman allegedly being sexually assaulted 187 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs on the weekends. 188 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 3: Yep, so you know it's in broad daylight, right, So 189 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 3: it's just it's absolutely disgusting. I hope those people are 190 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 3: caught in the books, absolutely thrown at them because at 191 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,079 Speaker 3: the moment we're not seeing much change and things need 192 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 3: to change. This I've said to you a million Timestadie, 193 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: this is Australia, right, this isn't the way that we 194 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 3: should be living a disabled you know, a disabled lady 195 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:39,479 Speaker 3: who has been sexually soulded. It's disgusting behavior and unfortunately 196 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 3: these things are far too frequent in our community at 197 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 3: the moment. 198 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, mate, I'm hearing you. 199 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: You know, we feel the same and a lot of 200 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: very frustrated people as well. After interviewing the Chief Minister 201 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 1: a bit earlier this morning, because I think that all 202 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: of us are sort of feeling as though the government 203 00:09:55,880 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: doesn't have the urgency around this issue that they really 204 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 1: should have. 205 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, we've said many times and lots of people 206 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 3: have said, up, this is an emergency as was COVID. 207 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 3: Right We've seen a government on the front foot with COVID. 208 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 3: They were doing press conferences every day, they were changing legislation, 209 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 3: putting in emergency powers every single day. We just want 210 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 3: them to handle this the same way as they did 211 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 3: handle COVID. And I know many people have said that 212 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 3: to you and to other media outlets, but this is 213 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 3: the same. This is more dangerous to us than what 214 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 3: COVID was. We kept getting told we were the safest 215 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 3: place in the world with COVID, but right now, living here, 216 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 3: it's one of the unsafest places. It's definitely one of 217 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 3: the unsafest places in Australia. And that's the reality that's 218 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 3: got to set in with the decision makers is you 219 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 3: need to be on the front foot here. You need 220 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 3: to handle it the same as COVID and start putting 221 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 3: in emergency powers to make a difference instantly. 222 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: Matt Patterson, the mayor of Alice Springs. I always appreciate 223 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 1: your time mate, thanks very much for having a chat 224 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: with me again this morning. 225 00:10:58,120 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 3: Anytime, Thanks Katie, thank you.