1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: Mix one O four point nine dot com for all 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: the latest news and information. Now three sixty with Katie Wolf. 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: Everyone is listening Mix one oh four point nine one 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: hundred percent NT. 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 2: As you heard just a little while ago when catching 6 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 2: up with Alex Bruce, the CEO of Hospitality here in 7 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory, we know that over the weekend there 8 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 2: was quite a big announcement allowing foreign students to work 9 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 2: unlimited hours here in the territory now, and I think 10 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 2: it's across the board around Australia. We know that the 11 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 2: Immigration Minister Alex Hawk made that announcement saying that temporary 12 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 2: visa holders could now receive an exemption for tourism and hospitality. 13 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 2: Roles now joining us on the line to talk about 14 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: how this will hopefully have a positive impact for the 15 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 2: tourism industry. Tourism Top End General Manager Glenn Hingley, good 16 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: morning to you, Glenn. 17 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 3: Katie, good morning and good morning listening Glenn. 18 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 2: This is something that has been on the agenda really 19 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: for quite some time. We spoke to you a few 20 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: weeks ago yourself and also Daniel Rochford in Central Australia 21 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: about the concerns around not being able to fill some 22 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 2: of these jobs in the tourism sector. Is this change 23 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 2: going to go far enough? 24 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 4: Do you think to step. 25 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 3: In the right direction, Katie. Absolutely. We know that we've 26 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 3: got a few thousand students here in the territory who 27 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 3: would if given the opportunity, because we've done quite a 28 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: bit of meetings and discussions, because we didn't want this 29 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 3: to be a waste of time to have all this 30 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 3: process happened only for them to turn around and say no. 31 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 3: And so many of them were desperate to be able 32 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 3: to fund their days, their education because so many of 33 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 3: them are from countries that have been ravaged by the 34 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 3: pandemic and their families haven't been able to help fund them. 35 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,559 Speaker 3: You know, for those who don't know, foreign students paying 36 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 3: upwards of thirty thousand dollars a year to study here 37 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 3: in the Northern Territory, and so that they've got no income, 38 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 3: especially if mom and dad are able to keep funding them, 39 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 3: and of course, since you know, a year ago, there's 40 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 3: been no financial support other than soup kitchens by many 41 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 3: wonderful volunteers in our community. So for them to be 42 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 3: able to work and not interfere with their studies, let's 43 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 3: be clear. They're here to study, they're here to be educated, 44 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 3: and that's why they're here. But they need to live, 45 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 3: they need to be able to survive, and twenty hours 46 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 3: a week often wasn't able to give them enough that 47 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 3: it needed to pay the rent and to be able 48 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 3: to pay some food and contribute back to society. And Katie, 49 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 3: could I also make one point really clear, and our first 50 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 3: priority every time, every time here is for locals. Locals 51 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 3: and the challenge and while we've have been advocating collectively 52 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 3: with Hostitiality and to Tourism Central Australia, Tourism top End 53 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 3: together with Dowe, Major Business Group EASON, is that we 54 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 3: just aren't getting the applications locally to be able to 55 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 3: fill the jobs. And one of the great things that 56 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 3: job Keeper did initially was teather people. Even though the 57 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 3: businesses didn't have work, they didn't have to let them 58 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 3: go because that job Keeper they can keep them. However, 59 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 3: we lost job Keeper and with that we did lose 60 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 3: a lot of people from positions. Equally, there were still 61 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: a lot of businesses and tourism hospitality that weren't able 62 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 3: to keep their staff that they normally would have employed 63 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 3: in April May in any normal year, and they weren't 64 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 3: on the books in March. So there are a few 65 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 3: reasons for it. But this is where this is a 66 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 3: great step. I'd like to say. I'm also grateful to 67 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 3: our federal representatives, especially Sam Senator Sam mcmont, she really 68 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 3: picked us up. When the Prime Minister was in town, 69 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 3: we befall left and made sure that he was made 70 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 3: aware of it. We also had reached across the aisle 71 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 3: to Luke Gosling and so Senator Melanderry McCarthy, who both 72 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 3: took a bipartisan approach on this. I have to say 73 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 3: and said that this doesn't need legislation, this just needs 74 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 3: immigration Minister. 75 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think they need too. 76 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: I mean, at the end of the day, we're talking 77 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 2: about making sure that our tourism operators, our hospitality operators, 78 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 2: everybody is able to run their businesses. And you can 79 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 2: only do that if you've got workers to fill those jobs. 80 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 4: When you talk. 81 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 2: About then you know, I guess the capacity at which 82 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: a lot of our tourism operators are able to operate 83 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 2: at the moment. 84 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 4: Has that work a shortage had an impact? 85 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely, You've got businesses that are running that are 86 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 3: not opening on certain days of the week. You've got 87 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 3: businesses that are running night to the week. Accommodation wise, 88 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 3: it's seventy percent. Because they don't have the people to 89 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 3: clean the rooms, they don't have people to check in, 90 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 3: they don't have people to serve in the restaurant. They 91 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 3: don't have This isnt this on knock on effect is happening, 92 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 3: and of course this is especially for our owner operators, 93 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 3: which the majority of tourism businesses and hospitality businesses are here, 94 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 3: their mom and dad businesses, and last year they lost 95 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,239 Speaker 3: so much money and we're able to stay in the game. 96 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 3: But there was reason for it that was clear. They 97 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 3: could see why there's no customers here, and there was 98 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 3: lockdowns and then we were on top spots. Now the 99 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 3: customers are coming through and it's almost like that they 100 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 3: can see the business flowing past them in the stream, 101 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 3: but they don't have a net to catch it. And 102 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 3: this is to use that metaphor the net to be 103 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 3: able to retrieve and to be able to get themselves 104 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 3: back and firstly get back on their feet from last year. 105 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 3: The customers are also looking for a wonderful top end 106 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 3: experience and this is that sliding door moment where in 107 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 3: twenty nineteen, five point eight million Australians when overseas on 108 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 3: a holiday, they can't go over the holiday. This year 109 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 3: a lot of them have chosen the territory and the 110 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 3: top end. This is our moment to shine. And if 111 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 3: we've got customers waiting thirty minutes for a beer or 112 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 3: a coffee, or not able to check in because your 113 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 3: room's not made, we're not going to be able to 114 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 3: deliver that which we desperately want well. 115 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 4: And that's the worry, isn't it. 116 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 2: Because I want to make sure that you're delivering a 117 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 2: product and that people are receiving a product that is 118 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 2: up to standard, particularly if they're traveling from other parts 119 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: of Australia and this is the first time they've come 120 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 2: to the territory. It's our real opportunity, like you said, 121 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 2: our real time to shine. 122 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 4: Glenn. 123 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 2: I know that I've heard and I'm sure that you 124 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 2: probably have as well. You know, some people saying that 125 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 2: in some cases that service sort of hasn't been up 126 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 2: to the standard that they'd hoped for. 127 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 3: And I really like the line that Alex Bruced from 128 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 3: Hospitality and T has been promoting heavily and I absolute 129 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 3: support as a territory. And firstly, we're in recovery everybody, 130 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 3: we all know it. We're still all in this together. 131 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 3: And when we do see a tourist standing there waiting 132 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 3: for that drink or or that meal, or waiting to 133 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 3: check in as a local, take the time to say 134 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 3: good at reach out. You know, has the rest of 135 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 3: your week been here? What are you planning on doing 136 00:06:55,600 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 3: next week? Give them that hospitality, spirit service. That's why 137 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 3: they came here, not just for so many of our 138 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 3: great cultural and natural assets, but also just to meet locals, 139 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 3: and that'd be a big part of it and also 140 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 3: offset those points you know we I know talking to 141 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 3: a lot of members, they've got members, businesses, customers who 142 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 3: are customers who are initially quite taken back by but 143 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 3: as soon as that's explained to them, they get it, 144 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 3: they understand. And just giving them to a chat to 145 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 3: say well, let's do this on territory time and enjoy 146 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 3: each other while we're waiting. I think it's important. And 147 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 3: again this is that opportunity for us to turn our 148 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 3: tourism industry. We know that we had over two million 149 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 3: visitors in twenty nineteen and that employed one in eight 150 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 3: territoriums against the national average of one in fourt A 151 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 3: that brought two point four billion dollars to our economy. 152 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 3: And this is money from outside the territory in this 153 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 3: is now our opportunity if we can get it right. 154 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 3: We're looking for the people to fill these spots in 155 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 3: our workforce because we know that instead of being that 156 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 3: once in a decade destination, the seven seasons of the 157 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 3: top end gives people so many reasons to come back, 158 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 3: and we have that opportunity to be a cans or 159 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 3: with Sundays in terms of a Southern thinkers, like, what 160 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 3: are you doing for your next holiday? I'm going back 161 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 3: to Darlin. I'm going back to the top end. I 162 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 3: haven't seen Kakid yet. 163 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, well that's the thing, Glenn. We are fast running 164 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 4: out of time. 165 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,239 Speaker 2: But I do want to just ask you how things 166 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 2: are going in Kakado. I know that you know that 167 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 2: last week there was some real concerns about some of 168 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 2: those different areas being closed, and well the traditional loan 169 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 2: is not being overly happy at this point. 170 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 4: How things going? Is there a bit of an update. 171 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 3: I was out there last week and I know there 172 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 3: is some there's that which is happening above Parks Australia, 173 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 3: which is it looks like it's headed towards the High Court, 174 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 3: which is to be the precedent that the federal government's 175 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 3: looking to take in relation to good run falls and 176 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 3: it's precess. It's about a president on jurisdiction. It's gone 177 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 3: well above that of Parks Australia, tourism industry and of 178 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 3: course traditional owners. So we're anxious for that outcome. I 179 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 3: think looking forward, the big focus for us here is 180 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 3: how much operational funding will come out in next week's 181 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 3: in the upcoming federal budget, because I think that's the 182 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:32,479 Speaker 3: key to it all here, whether that's invasive weeds, feral animals, 183 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 3: more facilities for locals within Kakadu, more visitor facilities, being 184 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 3: able to maintain those facilities, that's the key to it. 185 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 3: It's all well and good to announce new things that 186 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 3: are still well many years off, but the operational funding 187 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 3: to take care of it, to be able to have 188 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 3: the boots on the ground, to be able to employ 189 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 3: locals in doing which the park desperately needs to be maintained. 190 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 3: So our focus they're looking forward is we really hope. 191 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 3: Albeit we're not overly optimistic that we'll see a good, 192 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 3: solid operating budget given to Kakadu. A place that's just 193 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 3: under a third size of Tasmania operates on thirteen million 194 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 3: dollars a year. It doesn't go anywhere near enough to 195 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 3: being able to take care of one of Australia's most 196 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 3: wonderful assets, Glenn, culturally and conservationally. 197 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 4: Glenn. 198 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 2: Unfortunately we are going to have to leave it there 199 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 2: because we've got to head off to the National News. 200 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 4: Thank you so very much for your time this. 201 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 3: Morning, het do you thanks again, thank you. 202 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 2: Glenn Henley there the CEO of Well of Tourism top end, 203 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 2: the general manager. 204 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 4: I should save tourism top end.