1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: We spoke a little bit earlier this morning to the 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: Allied Health Union about their concerns around pay. But look, 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: we know the Northern Territory government signaled that it may 4 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: review its wages policy after public sector workers voted down 5 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: a proposed enterprise agreement offering a three percent to annual 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,119 Speaker 1: pay increase. The Minister for Public Service, Joe Hersey, or 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: the Minister for Public Employment, I should say, Joe Hersey, 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: has expressed disappointment at the result, calling the offer generous. Now, 9 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: she said the proposed three percent rise was well above 10 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 1: Darwin's consumer price index, which sits at one point six 11 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 1: percent for the year to June twenty twenty five, and 12 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: the governments now considering an application, as I understand it, 13 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: to the Fair Work Commission. Now joining us on the 14 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: line is the Minister for Public Employment, Joe Hersey. 15 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners. 16 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: Minister you, I would imagine that you're disappointed that workers 17 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:03,319 Speaker 1: voted down what you've described as a generous payoffer. Are 18 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: you surprised by this outcome? 19 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 2: Well, I think given that you know the cost of 20 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,199 Speaker 2: given that we are in a cost of living sort 21 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 2: of you know, every everyone struggling with the cost of living, 22 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 2: I should say, and we have been negotiating in good faith. 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: I do think it was a generous offer. Katie. You know, 24 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: this is a twelve point five percent over five over 25 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 2: four years, and as you've just said, it is well 26 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 2: above the one point six percent of CPI, so it 27 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: is actually real wages growth. And we have to remember 28 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 2: that under the previous government there was a pay freeze. 29 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: So you know, I don't know why the unions didn't 30 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: go into bat for the public servants in that time period, 31 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 2: and you know, so they didn't have a pay freeze, 32 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: and now they're obviously wanting to play catch up. But 33 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 2: you know, we were left an eye watering debt from 34 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: the previous government and we have to be fiscally responsible. 35 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: You've said that you're now considering adjusting the government's wages 36 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: policy in you know, in light of what's going on, 37 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,519 Speaker 1: in light of our CPI. What's that going to actually 38 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 1: mean for public sector workers? I mean, could we wind 39 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: up in a situation here where they don't actually get 40 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: offered that three percent it goes backwards. 41 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 2: Well, I have an appointment with the Commissioner this afternoon 42 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 2: and we'll be discussing the next steps, you know, but 43 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: potentially we will could send that to Fair Work and 44 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 2: maybe things won't necessarily be as good as an outcome. 45 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 2: And I think, you know, as I said, twelve point 46 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: five percent over four years is a considerable wage increase. 47 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: And you know, if I go back to my own 48 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 2: experience in the private sector, Kadie, in the private sector, 49 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 2: people don't get a pay increase every year. You know, 50 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 2: if staff wanted an increase when I was had staff 51 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: in my previous business, they would come to you and 52 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 2: they would be, you know, putting their case on the 53 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 2: table of why they needed it. Not unlike these people, 54 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 2: you know, the public servants are. But it doesn't mean 55 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 2: to say that a pay increase happened every year. So 56 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 2: again it's a very I think it's a generous offer. 57 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: So from your perspective, it's not going to go up. 58 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: In fact, the very opposite could happen here if they 59 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,119 Speaker 1: don't come to the table, and if they don't sort 60 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: of accept this offer, you are going to go to 61 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: the Fair Work Commission and it could actually go down. 62 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 2: They are the discussions that we will be having in 63 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,839 Speaker 2: our meeting this afternoon, and that could be the case now. 64 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: I know it's not the only area obviously where you know, 65 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: where there's sort of negotiations underway. We did catch up 66 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: with their Health Services Union's NT branch secretary Billy Elrick 67 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: this morning about our allied health professionals. They've held rallies 68 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: over the last couple of days. I guess the situation 69 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: while we're still talking about public servants, it's a little 70 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: bit different in the sense that, you know, we need 71 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: to attract and retain these allied health professionals here to 72 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory and we need to have them competitive 73 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: with what they are in other states. Where are things 74 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: that with their negotiations. 75 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 2: Yes, so you know, again the Minutes for Health in 76 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:30,559 Speaker 2: that area has been negotiating with the federal counterparts as well, 77 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: because what we need to make sure, Katie, is that 78 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 2: we have a place where people want to come to 79 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: the territory and stay. And with our reducing crime agenda 80 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: that we have been going forward with, you know, they're 81 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: all the things that we are trying to address to 82 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: make sure that we get people that want to come 83 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: to the territory and put down routes and stay here. 84 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 2: So you know, negotiations across this aure going in good faith, 85 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 2: and I just go back to this offer that we're 86 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 2: talking about here today, which is twelve point five percent 87 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: over four years, and I think it's you know, with 88 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: the terms and conditions that they have towards that as well, 89 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: I do think it was a generous office. So yes, 90 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 2: I am disappointed, and I understand that, you know, people 91 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 2: will put their case forward. 92 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: Minister. Look, we've got a lot of public servants that 93 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: listen to this show. I know a lot of the 94 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: health professionals listen to the show as well. What is 95 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: your message for them this morning? You know, it doesn't 96 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: sound like a further increase is on the table. You know, 97 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: what's your message for them this morning? Because they may 98 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: be feeling undervalued by the Northern Territory government at this point. 99 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: And I was just about to say, Katie, we value 100 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: all of our public service out there who put themselves 101 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: on the frontline or work for the government each and 102 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: every day, and we do value their work. But what 103 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: also needs to be under stood is that we are 104 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 2: in a you know, we have to be fiscally responsible. 105 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 2: We have almost twelve billion dollar debt and we do 106 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 2: not have the money. We'd love to give everyone a 107 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 2: pay rise, but we do not have the money to 108 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: do that. So we have negotiated a very good offer 109 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 2: of three percent each year, as I said, compounding to 110 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 2: twelve point five percent over four years. And we have 111 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: been negotiating good faith. So this afternoon I will speak 112 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: with the Commissioner and will work out what those next 113 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: steps are. 114 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: I'll be interested to know what happens next. Now, Minister 115 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: keen to also hear a little bit more as I 116 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: understand that the government has got some new incentives for 117 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: teaching staff. What's the goal with this? 118 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: We do, Katie, and this afternoon, well, we've announced today 119 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: that the Teach Local Scholarship, and that is a four 120 00:06:55,080 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: year program that supports fifteen Territorians a year to become teachers. 121 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: Because we know that we want these students not to 122 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 2: go to an interstate university and potentially not come back 123 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: as sometimes happens. We want to grow our own and 124 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: have them here. So there's a scholarships, four year program 125 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 2: for fifteen Territorians per year to become teachers. And along 126 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: with that also there's the Teach Up North Incentive, and 127 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 2: that offerer offers up to twenty five student teachers a 128 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 2: five thousand dollars incentive to complete their final placement, so 129 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 2: they potentially will be down south to complete their final 130 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: placement here in the territory and commit also when they're done, 131 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: to at least two years of working in an anti 132 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: government school. And we know that, you know, we've heard 133 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 2: plenty of stories over the years of people that have 134 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: just come for a couple of years and they've stayed 135 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 2: for a lifetime. And you know, I am not a 136 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: born and bred Territorian, but have been here for thirty 137 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: five years, and you know i'd many of those stories 138 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 2: over that time. And so to grow our economy and 139 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 2: bring people to the territory, we've come up with these 140 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 2: incentives and I think it's you know, we know that 141 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 2: teaching is a very good profession to go into. We 142 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 2: know that we need students to go into meaningful pathways 143 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: of employment. And everyone would have a story about that 144 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 2: teacher that you know, really resonated with them while they 145 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 2: are being educated. And I think you know it's exciting times. 146 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: Well, Minister for Public Employment here in the Northern Territory, 147 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: Joe Hersey, we will have to leave it there. Thank 148 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: you very much for your time this morning. Thanks Katie, 149 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: thank you, thanks so much.