1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: Parliament sitting this week as well, and I've got the 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Opposition leader Selena Ubo on the line. Good morning, Selena, 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: Good morning Katie. 4 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 2: Good morning to you listeners. And hope everyone's doing well 5 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 2: after the massive weekend. 6 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 1: Oh I know it was a big weekend. Were you 7 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: in Catherine or were you up here? 8 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 2: I was in Catherine, Katie. My sister's been in hospital, 9 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 2: so I took the two little ones away. My elderly 10 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 2: dad didn't have to look at the look after their 11 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 2: money's owned during the yeah, Parkland periods, so it's just 12 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 2: him at the teenage niece and a couple of cats, 13 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: so a bit more quiet for him. 14 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'll be well. Look, I hope all of your 15 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: family's okay as well. It's been a big few days 16 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: for everybody, hasn't it. It has absolutely Hey, Selena, I'll 17 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: go back to the power lines in just a moment 18 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 1: before we get there. 19 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: Though. 20 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: The Chief Minister or the government announcing this morning that 21 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: they're going to be quadrupling the length of the band 22 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: drinking orders, with the Chief Minister saying the move is 23 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: backed by the police community. So she said that she's 24 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: announcing that they're further increasing public drinking bands, the seven 25 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: day band drinker what there is going to move to 26 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: twenty eight days from next month. I know you probably 27 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: haven't seen a lot of detail at this point, but 28 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: what's your what's your reaction? Is this a good move? 29 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, I think that the announcement is pretty straightforward 30 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 2: to increase that band. So it's basically a month ban. 31 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: If you do get put on a bdo the band 32 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 2: drinker order. I think that you know, we could recognize, 33 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 2: we've said this many times as a territory labor tea 34 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: when we're in government and also while we're in opposition, 35 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 2: that alcohol fueled violence in the Northern Territory is unfortunately 36 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 2: a big contributor to the crime and the violence that 37 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: we see across all of the Northern Territory. So if 38 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: this is a way to provide a bit of relief 39 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 2: and reprieve, particularly for police, then I think it's a positive. 40 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 2: But also want to think about it not being a 41 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: band aid solution, Katie. So are there some other medium 42 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 2: and long term measures that the seal Pick government are 43 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 2: going to focus on. That's what we'd be really keen 44 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: to understand. But I think it's a pretty straightforward announcement today. 45 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: Look, we don't have a huge amount of detail at 46 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: the moment, but we'll certainly see what else we can 47 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: find out. Hey, Obviously, the discussion over the weekend moved 48 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: to power lines following on from the cyclone. I know 49 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: that you've called on the COLP to immediately reinstate the 50 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: underground power program for the northern suburbs of Darwin. As 51 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: we know, of course, more than nineteen five hundred households 52 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: lost power during FINA. Many of those households will some 53 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: still waiting for their power to be restored. Why do 54 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: you reckon this needs to happen urgently following cyclone Fena. 55 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, O, Katie, there was thirteen suburbs on the programmed list. 56 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: It was a costed case. It was when we were 57 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: in government. Labor invested sixty million dollars to this program, 58 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 2: thirteen suburbs over thirteen excusing over ten years to be 59 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 2: able to get that high voltage underground for safety essentially, 60 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: and particularly for reasons like what we've seen over the weekend. 61 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 2: Just less disruption, more connectivity, more safety when it comes 62 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 2: to the extreme weather events that only got to get 63 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 2: worse due to climate change. Katie but making sure that 64 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 2: we have a program that I guess future proofs some 65 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 2: of that safety for territorians. And obviously Darwen is our 66 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 2: capital city. We deserve to be able to see that 67 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 2: investment for territorians. And it's not just about cycling seasons, 68 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 2: about all the som seasons. We go through wet seasons 69 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 2: every year, so we's the preparedness in the long term. 70 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: So that's why I wanted to reinvigorate that really important conversation. 71 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: Look, I don't disagree, but I know that straight up 72 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: people are going to say, if it was so important, 73 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 1: why didn't Labor get it sorted over the last eight years. 74 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: You know, some will be saying you should have you know, 75 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: you didn't own like that Labor didn't only restart it. Well, 76 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: you didn't after Marcus. So there will be people that 77 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: are kind of listening this morning going hang on a second, 78 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: you know you're playing politics. 79 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 2: Here, No, Katie, if you look back at the time frame, 80 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 2: and I understand definitely people will sort of look at 81 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 2: that surface level, but in terms of the detail, we 82 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: completed nine underground schools. That was a priority because of 83 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: schools being used as emergency evacuation sensors, shelters like what 84 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 2: we've seen just on the recent happenings of the weekend 85 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: with cyclone Feenas. So nine schools were completed. That was 86 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: eight government schools and one Catholic school to be able 87 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: to have that stability in times of need, of course, 88 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 2: and not just for Darwin, but when people do get 89 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 2: evacuated for other weather events across the Northern territory. So 90 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 2: that was a three year program. Once that was completed, Katie, 91 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: then we committed to the ten year program for the 92 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: thirteen suburbs that was announced in twenty twenty two, and 93 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 2: all the planning that goes with that. It's very technical. 94 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: I learned a lot. I had the Essential Services portfolio 95 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: for a time, so I learned a lot about the 96 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 2: technical side of power and water and how all of 97 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 2: that connects in and the linking for particularly that program, 98 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: the Underground Powers program. But what happens when a government 99 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 2: of any persuasion cuts a program, Katie, it puts us 100 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 2: all back. So you know, if you do want to 101 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 2: play politics, the COLP cut it in twenty two, Well, 102 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: we recommitted in twenty nineteen, invested in twenty twenty two. 103 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 2: It's been cut in twenty twenty five by the CLP. 104 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: Again when you have to play catch up. 105 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: The other part of the argument is how do we 106 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: fund it? You know, because I think that a lot 107 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: of people would actually love to see the underground power lines, 108 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: but how do we fund it? Now? I am going 109 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: to be speaking to the Minister for Northern Australia after you, 110 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: Madeline King. I mean, should we be lobbying the federal 111 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,239 Speaker 1: government here for some additional funding. 112 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: I think that could be part of the conversation. But 113 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: it's also what's the priorities of the government. So whether 114 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 2: it's a CLP territory government or a labor territory government, Katie, 115 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: what are the priorities? What is the CLP planning to 116 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 2: use at sixty million? Well, we heard from the Treasurer 117 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 2: and May it looks like they're wanting to build a 118 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: new prison. Would people prefer underground power would they prefer 119 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: a new hospital? They're the kind of conversations what if 120 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 2: the government doing that is going to benefit territorians in 121 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 2: general in the long term and at the moment there 122 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: are no plans about any of that money, Katie, So 123 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 2: we're really going to push the CLP government, particularly in 124 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 2: their budget for next year. What are they actually planning 125 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 2: to invest in territory and future. 126 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: I think they're all fair discussions to have, Selena before 127 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: I let you go. We know this morning will overnight. 128 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: Of course the Northern territories. The Northern Territory made those changes. 129 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: Certainly in Parliament. Those changes have been made now as 130 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: I understand when it comes to will our eye Caack 131 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: and our different integrity Commission. So Parliament last night approving 132 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: the Integrity and Ethics Commissioner Bill of twenty twenty five, 133 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: not without some opposition though, how to go from your perspective. 134 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie. Originally when this was proposed and introduced by 135 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: the Government, it was something that I welcome and I 136 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: think I spoke to you about it a couple of 137 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: weeks ago in October about that. The detail of the 138 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: bill though, has been we feel not satisfactory in a 139 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 2: really quite critical time to focus on the improvements of 140 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 2: integrity and ethics with this bill and the commission that 141 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 2: will be established. So it is putting together a couple 142 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 2: of the integrity bodies on Budsman's Office, health complaints offers, 143 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 2: the k pard me into kind of one super Commission. 144 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 2: Our concerns and the opposition is there's no extra resources. 145 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: I feel that this is sort of a cost saving measure, 146 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 2: but there's no extra resources to really make this commission 147 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: function properly, which I think we spoke about it. The 148 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 2: ACT Human Rights Commission was the model that this sort 149 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 2: of framework was being laid on a very different obviously, 150 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: pardon me. We want territory context for territory legislation, but 151 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 2: we feel that this has sort of been a bit 152 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 2: of a half baked process by the CLP and opportunity 153 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: really missed to improve and to provide people confidence that 154 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 2: our integrity bodies are able to do the work that 155 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 2: we expect, to show that our public offices and our 156 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 2: institutions are doing their job probably well. 157 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: We will no doubt talk more about that probably on 158 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: the week that was on Friday. Selena, you'vo really good 159 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: to speak to you this morning. Appreciate your time. 160 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 2: Thanks so much, Katie, have a great day. 161 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: Thank you.