1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Mix one O four point nine dot com for all 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: the latest news and information. Now three sixty with Katie Wolf. 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: Everyone is listening. Mix one oh four point nine one 4 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: hundred percent NT. 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 2: Joining us on the line right now from the master 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 2: Builders here in the Northern Territory CEO Dave Malone. 7 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 3: Good morning, Dave, Good morning, Katie. How are you good? 8 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 2: Mate? 9 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: Now? 10 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 2: Talk us through how things are going in the construction 11 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: sector at the moment when it comes to new builds 12 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 2: and certificates for extensions and work underway on houses. 13 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 3: Well, things are going well, as you know, with build 14 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 3: Bonus and home Builder both supporting new home buyers to 15 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 3: get into the market. We've seen a real surge and 16 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 3: activity over the last few months, and people thought that 17 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 3: might drop off, but the latest figures for February say 18 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 3: it's kicking along just as hard as it has for 19 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 3: the last six months or so, and that's really good 20 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 3: news for all those builders and subbies out there. 21 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, so how many you know, like when you talk 22 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: about the number of new projects underway or the number 23 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: of homes underway and extensions, talk us through those numbers. 24 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 3: Right well, right up front Territory and signed fifty two 25 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 3: new contracts for homes in February. That's about twenty six 26 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 3: million dollars worth of new residential building. So that small 27 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 3: contribution from taxpayers through build Bonus and home builder turns 28 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 3: into twenty six million dollars worth of investment in one month, 29 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 3: and that literally is work for thousands of people across 30 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 3: the territory. 31 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, it certainly seems like a great stimulus measure. How 32 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: much longer do those two schemes go for days? 33 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 3: That's the tricky question, isn't it, Katie. Both governments, the 34 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 3: federal government and the territory government both said these schemes 35 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 3: run out on the thirty first of March, so people 36 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 3: literally have four weeks to go until those grants disappear. 37 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 3: So if you're thinking of building a new home, then 38 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 3: it's really time to put your skates on. Would obviously 39 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 3: be pushing for something to continue because we're not out 40 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 3: of the COVID economic crisis as yet, but we've heard 41 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 3: nothing from other government at this stage. 42 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, and so I guess now is the time for 43 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 2: any territory and thinking about building a new home, you know, 44 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: to really sort of go and find out some more 45 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: detail and get in contact. I'm assuming with your bank 46 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: as well, because that's probably the more time consuming part 47 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: of it. But in relation to I mean, does it 48 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: it only really goes for those that are building new homes, 49 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 2: doesn't it. It's not. There's sort of nothing there underway 50 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: for a big reno or an extension at this point. 51 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 3: So the Commonwealth has a scheme to support large renovations 52 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 3: and we've seen quite a few of those. You know, 53 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 3: we only sign up the big ones, Yeah, but there 54 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 3: were sixteen big ones last month as well, so you 55 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 3: know that people are taking advantage of that. And if 56 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 3: you run a home today and you can go and 57 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 3: borrow some money at less than two percent, all those 58 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 3: things we've been putting off, you know, the extra room 59 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 3: or whatever it might be, it's time to do it now. 60 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: Because in my lifetime I've been around for a very 61 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 3: long time now, I've never seen an opportunity like this 62 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: to get some work done. 63 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 2: Do you reckon you're going to have a bit of 64 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: a rush between now and the thirty first of March. 65 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 3: That's a really good question. I was talking to one 66 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 3: of the banks earlier in the week and I was saying, 67 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 3: you know, what's in your books or what's on your 68 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,239 Speaker 3: books because they're usually a little bit ahead of everything 69 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 3: else and they were already facing that rush. So the 70 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 3: short answer is, yes, people are keen. I mean, when 71 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 3: government's tanning out free cash and you don't have to 72 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 3: raise quite the same deposit, it's a great incentive. And 73 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 3: you know, I think there's another thing going on as well. 74 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 3: I think a lot of people have decided the territory 75 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 3: is now their home. They've looked around, they've seen what 76 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 3: happened through COVID, and it's not such a bad place here, 77 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 3: and with the incentives, they've decided to put down some 78 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 3: routes and raise their families. 79 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's what we're all hoping. We definitely want to 80 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: see as many people here as possible and boost that population. Dave, 81 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 2: is there a concern when these different sort of schemes 82 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 2: end that we could see a bit of a fall 83 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: off when it comes to work. 84 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 3: Our real concern around that, To be honest, you wouldn't 85 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 3: see it straight away because work is now underway and 86 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 3: it takes five or six months to build a home. 87 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 3: So you know, these schemes coming to an abrupt end 88 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 3: at the end of this month may well turn into 89 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 3: a major problem through August and September. As this work 90 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 3: flashes through, we don't want to see it that way. 91 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,799 Speaker 3: We'd really like to see a transitional arrangement in place 92 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 3: for quite some time. But that's a conversation we've got 93 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 3: to have with both the territory and federal governments. 94 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,479 Speaker 2: And I guess the other thing is we're all sort 95 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 2: of hoping that, you know, we saw the Territory Economic 96 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 2: Reconstruction Commission hand down their report towards the end of 97 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: last year. We are all sort of waiting to hear 98 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 2: back from the government depart ms and about the ways 99 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 2: that they're going to implement some of those recommendations that 100 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 2: were made. But I guess the big thing as well 101 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: at the moment, in terms of that recovery from COVID, 102 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: it is about seeing some of those bigger projects get 103 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 2: on underway, and again that would engage the construction sector, 104 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: wouldn't it. 105 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 3: Absolutely Our industry is only there because the economy is growing. 106 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 3: You know that if there's not more people and there's 107 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 3: not more demand, then you don't need roads, bridges, houses, 108 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 3: you know, shopping centers and everything that goes with that. 109 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 3: So you know, we need the economy growing that's pretty 110 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 3: much what the Turk Report said as well. Like you, yeah, 111 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 3: I haven't heard a lot since the report was released 112 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 3: last year. I know people are being busy, but I 113 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 3: think we're very much getting to the point now, aren't 114 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 3: we where we need to hear what's going on and 115 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 3: where things are up to. I know people are busy, 116 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 3: but I think the wider population needs to know what's 117 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 3: going on too. 118 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. 119 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I mean we're now we've hit March, so I 120 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: think that we you know, realistically, I would be hoping 121 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 2: that we'd be here hearing fairly soon about you know, 122 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: some of the different things that they're going to get 123 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 2: underway to try and ensure that we are sort of 124 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 2: open for business. 125 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 3: Absolutely, and time seems to be marching on, doesn't it. 126 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 3: I can't believe that we're in March already, and you know, 127 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 3: in the territory what he knocks off for December, so 128 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 3: there's not a lot of time left in the year. 129 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 3: I really hope that we're going to start to see 130 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 3: the new way of doing things come through as soon 131 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 3: as possible, and you know, for investors to get that 132 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 3: real confidence that the territory is open for business. I 133 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 3: see that the opposition now has put out their own 134 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 3: little piece of legislation for a territory coordinator for example, 135 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 3: So there'll be a battle of ideas, Yeah, in twenty 136 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 3: twenty one, that's for sure. 137 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: I reckon. Well, we might even put in a call, 138 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: you know, to well, to one of the departments. I 139 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 2: think it falls under the Department of Business, So we 140 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 2: might put in a call and see if we can 141 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 2: maybe catch up with them and find out where things 142 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: are at with that to report, Dave. 143 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 3: I think it's a good idea, Katie. I'm sure that 144 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 3: people at Paul Henderson has put so much time into 145 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 3: it as well. You know, he's on the inside of 146 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 3: course and probably knows, but he put his reputation behind 147 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 3: it as well, so I'm sure he's putting the pressure on. 148 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I reckon they would be well, Dave Maline, it's 149 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: always good to catch up with you. Anything else we 150 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 2: should be aware of at the moment when it comes 151 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,559 Speaker 2: to your sector in construction, well, Coatie. 152 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 3: The other thing that's coming through probably we've spoken about 153 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 3: it so many times. People might go blah blah blah. Yeah, 154 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 3: but defense is looking really strong. 155 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 2: That's good. 156 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 3: There's tremendous opportunities out there. It just requires the firms 157 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 3: to change how they do business a little bit because 158 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 3: defense is a particular type of client. But over all 159 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 3: those years when you and I talked about this stuff 160 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 3: is coming and it just it was so close that 161 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 3: we couldn't touch it. Well we can touch it now. 162 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 3: There's things happening in Darwin, Catherine, the top end in general. 163 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 3: So yeah, it's looking much better. 164 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 2: Good to hear Dave Malone see oh of master builders 165 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 2: here in the Northern Territory. Always good to catch up. 166 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 2: Thank you for your time, have a good one, Casey too, 167 00:07:59,040 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: Thank you.