1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Now quite interesting there to hear from the CEO of 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: the City of Darwin, Simone Saunders, that the reality is 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: that we could potentially, you know, have some verge cleanups 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: and also have some skip bins etc. Around the place. 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: But following on from Cyclone Marcus, that was something that 6 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Government had I believe received funding from 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: the federal government on Now joining us on the line 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: is well the local member for Karama, Brian O'Gallagher. Good 9 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: morning to you. 10 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning to you listen Brian. 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: Good to have you on the show now. Brian, as 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: I understand it, will yourself and also Jins and Charles 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: really calling for some of that verge collection to happen 14 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: through the City of Darwin. But I've just spoken to 15 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: Simone Saunders. She said that, you know, they'll obviously be 16 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: doing the verge cleanups, but when it came to those 17 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: one hundred and ten skip bins after Marcus, that is 18 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: something that was actually coordinated through the Northern Territory government. 19 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: Look, Katie, first of all, Cyclone fen it was really 20 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 2: a high demonstration of the resilience of territories, right and 21 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 2: I think we put a great effort into it and 22 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,119 Speaker 2: congratulations to all involved. I think the NTY government stepped 23 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: right up to it, got on the front foot, said right, 24 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 2: we're going to try and get into emergency services out there. 25 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 2: They did a fantastic job power and order. Everyone's been 26 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: working fantastically. And in regards the council, can I also 27 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: pay a big tribute to their frontline staff. I think 28 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 2: they do a fantastic job. I'm a former councilor myself 29 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: and I give credit to them and they're really important 30 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: in the recovery phase. But I can tell you, Katie, 31 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: I walked around on the Sunday there were trees down 32 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: on the road. We had neighbors and all those cutting 33 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: those trees up, and they were putting on the verge, 34 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: and yet they were getting a communication from council saying no, 35 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: you can't go and put on the verge and even 36 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: potentially some fines. I mean, this was just bad communication 37 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: by a council and it's really It did get me 38 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 2: up and I said, yeah, come on a bit of 39 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: common sense here, get the common message out there. Let 40 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,079 Speaker 2: people cut up. They're stepping up the community. Stepping up 41 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 2: be a way of doing it is get the stuff 42 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: off the road, save other emergency services coming to do it. 43 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: Let's just put on the verge and yes, we'll come 44 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 2: and clean up later. Yeah. 45 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: I felt the same as you, you know. And then 46 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: when i'd sort of heard that people could potentially getting 47 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: be getting fines, I thought, oh my goodness, me the council's. 48 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 2: Confirm communication all round. 49 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, and the councils confirmed, like that's not going 50 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: to be the case. You know, people aren't going to 51 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: be getting fines. But Brian, what do you reckon needs 52 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: to happen here? I mean, in terms of the verge cleanup, 53 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: in terms of the potential of skip bins, that kind 54 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: of thing. What do you think we need to be doing. 55 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: Well, let me go back and I'll give credit to 56 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: Combat Scales, the previous mayor with markets right when that happened, 57 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 2: they opened up. They made it easy for communities to 58 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: go in get rid of their waste a couple of 59 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 2: days beforehand, because you want to do your preparation and 60 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 2: then after the event you go and get your waste 61 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 2: out as quickly as possible. Because people do want to 62 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: clean up. The community wants cleaner, and I just think 63 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: the new councils. A lot of those new councils and 64 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: existing ones, and I could name more, but you know, 65 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: people like Ed Smelt, Julie Fraser has just been elected, 66 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: Patrick Ralfman elected. They said they're going to be in 67 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: touch with the community, they're going to serve the community. Well, 68 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: they need to get counsel to listen to the community 69 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: because as far as I'm concerned, waste disposal is a 70 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: core business of council and we need to step up. 71 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: And there are biting is it is, But Brian even 72 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: I'm since sort of learning that when it comes to 73 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: waste disposal post cyclone, and certainly you know when it 74 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: comes to making sure that there's that additional facilities stepped 75 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: up that is under the remit of the Northern Tier 76 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: Territory government and obviously Hidden Valley is out there. It's 77 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: operating now and by all accounts, doing a phenomenal job. 78 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: But you know, I just feel like there's I can't 79 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: quite work it out. It feels like there's a bit 80 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: of a fight going on between the Northern Territory Government 81 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: and the Darwin City Council. And I get it, but 82 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: should we all just be working together here to try 83 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: and make sure that the place gets cleaned up. 84 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and let's put residents in the community first. And 85 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 2: I can say from the Northern Territory Government's perspective, and 86 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: we do a whole range of speeches in Parlman year. 87 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 2: Everyone's been getting together. I mean the Chief Minister got 88 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 2: on the front foot. She kept schools open so that 89 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 2: emergency workers could be out there working. That's fantastic in issue. 90 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 2: You know, we're about getting this sold and getting it going. 91 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 2: And the council plays an important role. Absolutely, they play 92 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: an important role. But there seem to be this sort 93 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: of duck shoving saying, oh, I know, we're going to 94 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 2: blame the NC government. Let's not forget the core responsibility 95 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: to waste disposal restless council. Now, there's a couple other 96 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: things here. I believe and I did advocate and I've 97 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,239 Speaker 2: gone the council. I believe they should give free access 98 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: to Shoal Bay two days beforehand and two days after. 99 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,679 Speaker 2: But one of the biggest issues out there is the cues. 100 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 2: You get the commercial traffic coming in and then they're 101 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: processing them, and you've got the domestic traffic going back 102 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: to vanal and rives. That doesn't happen just during cyclones. 103 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 2: Might I say, council needs to fix this problem. They 104 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 2: need to get on the front foot. And if they 105 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: have to go and you know, seek some additional funding 106 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: from the federal government or Northern Territory government doing in partnership, 107 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 2: so be it, do it. But let's fix it for 108 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: the community. The community comes first, Brian. 109 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: In terms of then you know, when we're talking about 110 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: the skip bins and the verge disposal, what do you 111 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: reckon needs to happen there? 112 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 2: Well, I think council needs to go around. You know, 113 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: we do this cyclone clean up thing. We just say, right, 114 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 2: we've got to go and in the trees up, let's 115 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: go and pick up. Not everyone has a trailer, not 116 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 2: they don't all have the capability lifting some of these 117 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: treatments on. But go out there and pick it all 118 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: up and take it away. Now, it's got to take time. 119 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 2: We understand that first thing. Get off the road so 120 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: people can be connected. But you know, that's a major task, 121 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: and council is probably the one in the recovery phase 122 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 2: that should take the lead. 123 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 1: On this in terms of those and I think the. 124 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 2: Parmesan Council has done a great job, so you know, 125 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 2: take a leaf out of Patison Countil. 126 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: In terms of though, you know, like the fact that 127 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: we've just spoken to Sorry, I can hear those bells ringing, Brian, 128 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: Hopefully you're all right to keep talking mate. I mean, 129 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: in terms of the Darwin City Council, at the moment, 130 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: they've got one hundred and seventy thousand tons of greenways 131 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: to try and get rid of and to try and collect, 132 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: so they are under the pump at the moment. I mean, 133 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: could we be getting some funding here from the federal government. 134 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: Could the Northern Territory government be seeking some federal funding 135 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: to get some con tracked us out to help out 136 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: with the vergers and to help out with some of 137 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: the cleanup. 138 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: Look, I think that's all good stuff to do and 139 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 2: go for it, but sometimes you just got to bite 140 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: the bullet, spend the money and then if you want 141 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 2: to go back to the Northern Territory Government or the 142 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: Australian Gunment say hey, look it's cost us as much 143 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: can you reimburse it? 144 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: But that's me as a bloody right player. I don't 145 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: want to have to pay extra money if we can 146 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: get it from the federal government because it's an emergency. 147 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: You're skilled in advanced Katie. But I'm saying, you know, 148 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 2: let's just solve the problem. I'm not saying don't go 149 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 2: for the money. Definitely gave it the money. 150 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: You know, even earlier in the week we had I 151 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 1: think it names Christy McBain, you know, the minister, the 152 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: federal minister here, and she's sort of announcing that emergency assistance. 153 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: Surely we can pick up the phone to her and go, hey, 154 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: any chance we can get some money for this cleanup. 155 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I think that's a good idea. So 156 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: you know, council needs to come and talk with the 157 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: Norton Territory Gouverment and go and lobby together. Go for it, 158 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: do for it. 159 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: You know. Well, Brian, I going. 160 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 2: I think sorry, I just want to say again, I 161 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 2: really support the council workers. I think they're doing a 162 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: great job. So I'm not bagging. I think there was 163 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: poor communication now. Maybe they're getting it better now, but 164 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 2: it's a little late. But we've got to make learnings 165 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: out of this. Yeah, but don't forget waste disposal is 166 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: a cool business of counsel. So let's get a break. 167 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: But is it in an emergency? Does it only fall 168 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: under the council in an emergency following on from a cyclone? 169 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 2: Look, I think emergencies you've got to have partnerships going on. 170 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 2: And you know, nordern Territory government's been doing a chair. 171 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 2: I think council's trying to do a chair, but they've 172 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 2: made a couple of stuff ups, and yes, the federal 173 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: government needs to kick in as well, so it's got 174 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 2: to be done. 175 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: We've got to get some extra funding so that we 176 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:46,839 Speaker 1: can help people out, you know, to get rid of 177 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: all that green waste. And I hope we're able to 178 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: do that. Brian. I'll let you go mate. I can 179 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: hear those bells ringing you same, thank you.