1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: We also know that Hospitality NTA were due to have 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: an event last night, and the CEO, Alex Bruce, joins 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: us on the line right now. Good morning to you. 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 2: Alex, Good morning Katie Alex. 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: Obviously the gold Plate Awards due to happened last night, 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:21,240 Speaker 1: weren't they and thrown into well chaos, you'd have to say, yeah. 7 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: Restaurant and dining establishments. Night of night, five hundred of 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 2: us were going to be popped up over on the 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 2: Esplanade having an absolute Southeast Asian cultural extravaganza led by 10 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 2: Medusia from Double Tree, Jimmy Chu who needs no introduction, 11 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: and Danny from Roastan Noodle. Those three had got together 12 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 2: and they put a lot of time planning and hours 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 2: and hours of preparation in for what was shaping up 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 2: to be a cracking event. 15 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: Well and as we all know, it couldn't go ahead, 16 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: but you guys made sure that all that food, well 17 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: it didn't go to waste. What did you end up 18 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: doing last weeks? Was it all? 19 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 2: Yeap? Credit to the three chefs and the stuff at 20 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: Double Tree. They pivoted pretty quickly yesterday, packaged up over 21 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 2: a thousand food parcels and Hospitality and volunteered as well, 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 2: and we went along and set up a pop up 23 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: drive through the Double Tree on the Esplanade there handing 24 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: out meals. People in need could come through and get 25 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 2: a feed for nothing, and a few people walked up 26 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 2: and drove through and did that. Otherwise we were accepting 27 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: donations for two charities and it's sold its socks off. 28 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: We started running out of food within the hour. People 29 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 2: had started to join the drive through q I think 30 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: about twenty minutes before we even officially opened it, So 31 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 2: we ended up having to start selling a bit early, 32 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: just so we minimized the traffic impact we were having. 33 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: Oh good on you guys. So how much money did 34 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: you raise in the end of which charities was it for? 35 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: Look over three and a half thousand dollars split between 36 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 2: the Sunset Soup Kitchen that helps feed some of those 37 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: vulnerable people down at Doctors Gully and also importantly for 38 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 2: us we partnered with them in the past Kindness Shake. 39 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 2: Now these guys international students based in the territory lad 40 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 2: but they pick up those migrant workers, those workers on 41 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 2: visas that you know and you've explored this last year. 42 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 2: They didn't get as much support job keeper, job seeker 43 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: in their eligibility and all the rest of it. Northern 44 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 2: Territory Government did come to the party of it last 45 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,519 Speaker 2: year and provide some support. But credit to these guys. 46 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 2: They've just pulled together. They're an integral part of not 47 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 2: only our industry but the community up here. So yeah, 48 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: with a no brainer for us. A lot of them 49 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: work in retail, hospitality, tourism. They're not going to get 50 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 2: any money for the next few days while we're in lockdown, 51 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 2: so yeah, just a good opportunity for us to support 52 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 2: them and make them feel welcome and absolutely integral part 53 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: of the community which they are. 54 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: Is that the one for Benjamin and the people that 55 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: he works with. He's a great young bloke. 56 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 2: I look, there are some absolute fantastic international student ambassadors 57 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 2: up here, too many to name, and I can't get 58 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 2: all of their names. That's all right, mate. 59 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: They are such a good crew. 60 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 2: They look after each other. Like our chefs have a 61 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 2: thing going cocktail bartenders, I'll tell you what. Like there 62 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: is a vibe going on in hospitality up here. We're 63 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: going to get through this week and just hit our 64 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: strides and charge forward again. 65 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: I have actually really enjoyed seeing that about the hospitality 66 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: industry over the last eighteen months. Is you guys actually 67 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: all pull together and you've touched on it. Just see 68 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: with the bartenders as well. We've caught up with Ollie 69 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: in the past and you know, having like trivia online 70 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: trivia and things like that, just to keep an eye 71 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: out on each other and look after each other. And 72 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: it's so incredibly important. 73 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 2: That's it. Ollie's at it again tomorrow night. He's going 74 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: to Swamps with supplies and supporters of our industry offering 75 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 2: prizes again, so credit to Olie and Leah. I'll be 76 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: participating from my bunker down under my house as well. 77 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: Hey, Alex, obviously we're talking about you know, the wonderful 78 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: the wonderful support that you guys received last night and 79 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: and the really positive parts of the hospitality industry. But 80 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: how are our hospitality industry and businesses feeling this morning 81 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: as we enter that first full day of a lockdown. 82 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 2: I look at yesterday just another roller coaster of COVID emotions. Yeah, 83 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 2: you know, it's one punch and after another. We've got, 84 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 2: similar to Glenn Hingley through the top end, we've got 85 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: businesses that are affected by border closures. We've got a 86 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 2: bunch of other businesses that are more directly affected by 87 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: local lockdowns, so it was a bad week for them. 88 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: But the strong view within now our sector probably like 89 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 2: the border community, go hard, go early, let's get this done. 90 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: Let's hope that in three days that's all it is. 91 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: You do look at Sydney and other places, and you know, 92 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: we do also need to say. You know, the Chief 93 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: came down and donated quite generously to the two charities 94 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 2: and took some food home. Minister Files has reached out, 95 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 2: the Chief Health Officer, the Police Commissioner. Minister Kirby had 96 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: a good meeting with us and Glenn and the Chamber 97 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: and others last night and the engagements very strong. Shadow 98 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 2: Minister Claire Boothby, you know, we're actually being inundated with 99 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: strong support from all of our leaders and we're very appreciative. 100 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 1: Now, Alex, I know that there was actually an issue 101 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: overnight as well for Pee whereas I understand that they 102 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: were broken into, but is there also a licensing issue 103 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: there or what's going on at the moment. 104 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: Look, it is just a kick in the guts and 105 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: we've reached out and our hearts support to tee Wee's. 106 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: You know, not only do they have to shut down 107 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: and stop paying their staff for a few days and 108 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 2: all the rest of it. Then some mongols break in 109 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: to access alcohol illegally last night and look the licensing NT. 110 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 2: They put on the emergency power on the bottle shops 111 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: in Darwin and Castine region again like they did last 112 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 2: locksdown where you have to have a residence, a legitimate residence, 113 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 2: and you'll be queried by bottle shop staff, particularly if 114 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:34,679 Speaker 2: your ideas are from more remote locations as you're coming through. 115 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: We're not sure whether that's the right path. Ultimately, if 116 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: someone's got a license that scans green on the BDR, 117 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: if they should be on the BDR, how come they're not, 118 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: And if they aren't on the BDR and it's green, 119 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:53,239 Speaker 2: white put another additional stress and burden on us during 120 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 2: a challenging time. It just further restricts legal supply and 121 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 2: we think it contributes unfortunately to the smashing grabs like 122 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 2: Peewee's got. 123 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: So you feel as though it's potentially having an adverse effect. 124 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 2: I think blind Freddie can tell you, you know, more than 125 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 2: half the territories prohibited in land mass of alcohol. Do 126 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 2: we think we've got good alcohol management going on? 127 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: Alex, what exactly was like, what exactly happened last night 128 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: at Peewee's. I know that the girls in the newsroom 129 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: have caught up with the watch commander and had a 130 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: little bit of info, but from your perspective upon talking 131 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: to them. 132 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: What happened? I look, My understanding is their security company 133 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: contract contacted them. They must have had some motion cameras 134 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 2: that were triggered. They have unfortunately been smashed and grabbed 135 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: for some alcohol. Pleasingly, I think the police were able 136 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: to locate the alleged perpetrators quite quickly. But yeah, you know, 137 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 2: it's just such a kick in the guts when that's 138 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 2: going on on top of locking down your business. 139 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: That's right, well, and it is. You know, it's such 140 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: a beautiful, iconic location, but it's also a location that's 141 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: got so much glass in terms of being able to 142 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: really encompass the beautiful view and the beautiful surrounds. So 143 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: I would imagine that any kind of smash and grab 144 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: probably has a massive impact for them. 145 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 2: Yes, it does. And you know this thousand dollars support payment. 146 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: We're appreciative that the government's turn that back on as 147 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 2: quickly as they have. But the reality is, and we 148 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,559 Speaker 2: hear it from a lot of our industry, it doesn't 149 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 2: touch the sides on the losses that get incurred to 150 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 2: those businesses over lockdown time. You know, all the bills 151 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 2: are still rolling in that need to be paid and 152 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 2: there's no revenue opportunity. 153 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: Taking that into account, Alex and obviously we are going 154 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 1: to have to get ready to wrap up. But taking 155 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: that into account of the impact that we do see 156 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: on business when there is a lockdown, do you find 157 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: it frustrating? Then you know that we have wound up 158 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: in this situation where we've got a bloke and there's 159 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: no in no indication that this person's done anything, but 160 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: obviously they've traveled in internationally, they've done their hotel quarantine time, 161 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: and then somehow have ended up with COVID on day seventeen. 162 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: I mean, do we need to look at how we're 163 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: doing things with international arrivals into the territory to try 164 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: to avoid sort of one person throwing us into a 165 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: three day lockdown. 166 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 2: Look, I think they will look at all that. Again. 167 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 2: They looked at it when the mine in Central Australia 168 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 2: sent us under the dunal last time. We do appreciate 169 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 2: tho no systems full proof and you know in South 170 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 2: Wales's languages that they're learning to deal with delta and 171 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 2: getting the vast rates up. We hope that's not our 172 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 2: position up here right now, but some of these broader 173 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 2: discussions as a community as a whole, we probably still 174 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 2: need to tackle. Well. 175 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 1: Alex Bruce, good to catch up with you this morning. 176 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: All the best to you and to all of our 177 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: hospitality businesses and our hospital workers. Well well done to 178 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: you guys though on last night, still being able to 179 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: you know, to raise some money for charity and turn 180 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: around a pretty difficult situation into a positive. 181 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks Katie. And we saw a lot of familiar 182 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,199 Speaker 2: faces coming through. They were waving, they were cheering on 183 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: the events team, particularly from Double Tree and those three 184 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 2: chefs that you know they were feeling pretty down. Yeah, 185 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 2: it was actually quite a lovely thing for people to 186 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 2: come together, COVID safe and raise some money for some charities. 187 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: Absolutely good on you, Alex, Thanks so much for your 188 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: time this morning. 189 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 2: Katie. Thank you. 190 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: That is hospitality end is Alex Bruce there and yeah 191 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 1: it is nice to hear that everybody was out there 192 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: supporting those hospitality workers well and turning around what was 193 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: a really difficult situation for them yesterday and turning it 194 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 1: into a positive with that money raised for charity.