1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Essential Services Minister, Evil Lula, Good morning, minister, Good morning, 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: Katie Minister. Certainly a difficult situation yesterday. I think initially 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: people were wondering whether there was a situation where we 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: didn't have enough gas or there wasn't gas to keep 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 1: things running out there at Channel Island, but it sounds 6 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: as though it was actually an issue with the gas infrastructure. 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. So just listening to Duncan as well, I heard 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 2: him this morning, and obviously we've had information coming through. 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 2: You know, no system is immune for outages. But I'd 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 2: also like to thank the staff out at TGen, the 11 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 2: people out at Channel Island, for how quickly that they 12 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 2: actually got the system back up and running. So yeah, 13 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: not good. Nobody wants it power off, particularly when we're 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 2: going through some really hot weather and also going into 15 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 2: a state of origin game. I can tell you. I 16 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: think you had people texting me asking constantly when it 17 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: was coming back on. So well done to the all 18 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: involved in getting it back on. Yet it was one 19 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: of those things that wasn't acceptable and you know, something 20 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 2: that nobody wants to see happen. 21 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, minister. 22 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: I guess I'm trying to wrap my head around and 23 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: maybe you can explain it a bit further for us. 24 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: Who is actually responsible for the gas infrastructure that you 25 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: know that then obviously goes into the power station out 26 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: there at Channel Island. 27 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 2: So it's APA, and I mean people can google APA, 28 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: but they've been in the territory for a very long time. 29 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 2: So they're the pipeline operator. And so we get gas 30 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: from the Amatis Basin down in Central Australia. We also 31 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: get gas from black Tip out near what I And 32 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 2: so the pipeline that comes up to supply power generation, 33 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 2: sorry to supply power and water with gas, is that 34 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 2: one that's run by APA. And you know, let's face it, 35 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: they've been extremely reliable and occasionally there's things that go wrong. 36 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: And the best bit though is how quickly and how 37 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 2: prepared TGen and Parent Water were about getting things back online. 38 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: And I think that's been the best bit of news. 39 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 2: You know, we saw that System Black in Alice Springs. 40 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: We got the report from that. You know, there was 41 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: unacceptable levels of preparedness with that System Black. I'm very 42 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 2: pleased to see that that wasn't the case with this. 43 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 2: So one of the recommendations in the System Black report 44 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: was around the Public Utilities group making sure that they 45 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: stand up within ninety minutes. So that's the pulling together 46 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: of all of those utilities leaders and making sure things 47 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 2: are all action and all happening. And that group was 48 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: stood up within an hour this time, so you know, 49 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 2: it's good for me as a Minister of Essential Services 50 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: to see that those recommendations have been turned around. Things 51 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 2: are actually happening, people have taken note and doing the 52 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: right thing. So I was really reassured by that. 53 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: Now, Minister, I know there'll be plenty of people listening 54 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: this morning, who if they've lived in Darwin or lived 55 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: in the territory for a while. We'll recall the days 56 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: where you know, we have had extensive power outages, well 57 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: incredibly long power outages, I guess you'd say, and back 58 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: in those days. Funnily enough, I actually worked for the 59 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: Essential Services Minister at that time and there were some 60 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: real issues with maintenance and also with some of the 61 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: infrastructure at Power and Water. And I know that from 62 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 1: what we're hearing right now, this is obviously a pipeline 63 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: which isn't Power and Water's infrastructure. But do you have 64 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: any concerns that that there is issues with the infrastructure 65 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: or do you feel as though things are up to 66 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: scratch where they need to be. 67 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, I mean I've been minister for about eight weeks. 68 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 2: I am the newly appointed minister in this area and 69 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 2: so it has been useful. I mean, I find it's fascinating. 70 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 2: It's an amazing area in the territory. So the work 71 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 2: around renewables as well. It is such an evolving, quick 72 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 2: moving area. But in the briefings I've had with Gerhart, 73 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: the new CE, with Juna from Power and Water, also 74 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 2: obviously Jakhana, I've been really reassured that you know, they 75 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: absolutely know their business and they're making sure all that 76 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: the equipment that they have that they're getting you know, 77 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,839 Speaker 2: the servicing all of those things. But you know, these 78 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: are machines and we know they've been aging machines. But 79 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: you know, as I said, we have some of the 80 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 2: best engineers, some long term workers that are working out 81 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 2: at Channel Island, so they know their business. And you know, 82 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 2: as a minister, I've been reassured that we have very 83 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 2: good people on the job that are keeping these you know, 84 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 2: these really complex machinery bits of machinery up and running. 85 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 2: So as I said, yeah, we all remember the days 86 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: where we all had candles within arms reach and you know, 87 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 2: torches and things like that. So yeah, I've been really 88 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 2: pleased with the back, the will lead, the information that 89 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: I've had, the background information that's been provided me to 90 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: me from these chief executives. 91 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: So, Minister, in this situation, I mean, will we just 92 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: sound lucky well as. 93 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 2: I said, I mean, I think was Dunek and said 94 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: that the you know, there'll be the pipeline operator, will 95 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: you provide information, it will get investigated. It's you know, 96 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: we need to get to the bottom of the root 97 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 2: cause of what called you know, what went wrong, and 98 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: it's like anything, once you know what went wrong, you 99 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: then put things in place to make sure it doesn't 100 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 2: happen again. So there will be an incident report. The 101 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: Utilities Commission absolutely will get a report from that, and 102 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 2: you know they are an independent commission. They will provide 103 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 2: then also information back to me and you know, yeah, 104 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: we will need to make sure then that whatever the 105 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: issue was, you know, that's one more that we don't 106 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: want to see happen again. 107 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 3: Basically, Minister. 108 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: A couple of questions coming through on the tech line, 109 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: people wondering whether businesses will be compensated for not being 110 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 1: able to open for the night. 111 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, probably the best thing to do at 112 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: this early stage is for them to contact Power and Water, 113 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: and Power and Water will be able to see if 114 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 2: they're eligible or provide information to them. 115 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 1: From your perspective, is it I mean, is it appropriate 116 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: or is it acceptable? I guess it's probably a better 117 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: word to have more than forty nine thousand people without power. 118 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 2: No, definitely not acceptable. Nobody wants the power to go off, 119 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 2: you know. I mean, obviously, as the minister, that's the 120 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: last thing you want to have happened. You know. I 121 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: was coming back from a meeting and the traffic lights 122 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 2: were outside quickly ringing Nicole Madison, the minister for you know, police, 123 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: and by the time I pull into my office and 124 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 2: I'm getting, you know, lots of messages saying my powers out. 125 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: You know, I've got Natasha on the phone saying my 126 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: powers out at Nightcliffe. So absolutely, then it was a 127 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: matter of chasing, you know, to find out what's going 128 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 2: on and realizing that, yeah, it's an issue in my portfolio. 129 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 2: So you know, we then stayed back in our office 130 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 2: till late, you know, to make sure that. Well, we 131 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 2: had staff answering phone calls that were coming in here, 132 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 2: working with TGen, trying to get updated information out to 133 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 2: you know, media, as many people as we could to 134 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 2: continue to provide updates. So totally unacceptable. Definitely nobody wants 135 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 2: power going off at any time. But as I said, 136 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: it is you know, this is machinery. We all understand that, 137 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 2: but it is about getting to the bottom of what 138 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 2: the root cause was and then putting things in place 139 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 2: so that we don't see those things occur again. 140 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: Well, Minister for Essential Services, Eva Laula, really appreciate your 141 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: time this morning. 142 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for coming on and talking us through 143 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 3: the issue. 144 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 2: And you'd be happy with the Queensland win. 145 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 3: Katie Oh, I was very happy. 146 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: I was very happy that the power came back on 147 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: so we could watch it. I went and had takeaway first, 148 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: and then I was incredibly happy to see that Queensland 149 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: had won. 150 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 3: Well, I got home to see the end of it. 151 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: All right, all right, good on your minister, Thank you. 152 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: That is Minister Eva Laula there, and I tell you what, 153 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: it was quite chaotic yesterday. I was sort of driving 154 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: around and well, actually I was at home when the 155 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: power went off firstly, and I thought, I wonder what's 156 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: going on here? 157 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 3: Have I got too many appliances on? 158 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 2: Is it? 159 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 3: Because I got the air goorne running so hard? 160 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: But then got in the car to take the kids 161 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: to the swimming pool for training and realized that all 162 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: the lights were out as well. It was a bit 163 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: of a worry sort of driving through the prop area 164 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: with all those lights out, and then you know, I 165 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: realized that it was a bit more widespread than what 166 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: I'd thought, and so eventually I ended up back here 167 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: at the radio station, just trying my best to sort 168 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: of help Andrew and others get a little bit more 169 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: info as it was required. But you know, forty nine 170 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: thousand customers without power. From what we've heard this morning, 171 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: it is the gas infrastructure that failed for whatever reason. 172 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: So that's the investigation that's going to take place today. 173 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: There will also be a bit of an investigation to 174 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: make sure that there's been no damage cause to those 175 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: generators at Channel Island, and as you've heard from the minister, 176 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: there certainly measures put in place to try their best 177 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: to ensure that this does not happen again.