1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960
Speaker 1: The line right now is doctor Robert Parker, who is

2
00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,280
Speaker 1: the head of the Australian Medical Association here in the

3
00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:08,879
Speaker 1: Northern Territory. Good morning to you, Dr Parker.

4
00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:10,360
Speaker 2: Morning Katie.

5
00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,680
Speaker 1: Doctor Parker, what was your reaction, Well, actually, let's talk

6
00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,799
Speaker 1: firstly about the situation obviously with the hard lockdown we

7
00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,840
Speaker 1: know for the Binjari community and also for Rock Hole.

8
00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,919
Speaker 1: What's your reaction been to this outbreak within our remote

9
00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:26,240
Speaker 1: indigenous communities.

10
00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:28,880
Speaker 2: Well, I suppose it's an issue that am SAND and

11
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,440
Speaker 2: the AMA have been talking about for a while now

12
00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,040
Speaker 2: about why we need all Aboriginal people in the communities

13
00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,000
Speaker 2: to be ninety five percent vaccinated exactly for this reason,

14
00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:41,559
Speaker 2: so that there's very high levels of vaccination exactly for

15
00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,320
Speaker 2: the reasons we're aware of now at Banjarian Rockhole.

16
00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,159
Speaker 1: Yeah, and no doubt it is having a big impact.

17
00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,199
Speaker 1: I'm assuming that it's having a more broad impact as

18
00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,240
Speaker 1: well on our health sector, but at this stage, as

19
00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,520
Speaker 1: far as I know, only two patients have been admitted

20
00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,280
Speaker 1: to Royal Darwin Hospital. Still having an impact, Dr Parker.

21
00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,200
Speaker 2: Well, again, Katie, that's the main benefit of vaccination that

22
00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,679
Speaker 2: it prevents most people from getting the very serious problems

23
00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,840
Speaker 2: of the virus, you know, which is why we've been

24
00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,360
Speaker 2: arguing it doesn't solve people potentially getting the virus, but

25
00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:17,920
Speaker 2: it means I don't have to go to hospital. Lining

26
00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,080
Speaker 2: That was very evidenced with what happens Rock Hole, where

27
00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,040
Speaker 2: I gather, you know, despite a few people getting it,

28
00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,640
Speaker 2: not Rock and Roll, Robinson River, only one person needed

29
00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,479
Speaker 2: admission to hospital because people will basically protect it from

30
00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,680
Speaker 2: the serious consequences of the virus because of vaccination rates.

31
00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,039
Speaker 1: I mean, as somebody who is exposed to you to

32
00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,959
Speaker 1: a lot within the health system. You know, I'm assuming

33
00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,040
Speaker 1: over the years you've seen a lot of different things

34
00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,839
Speaker 1: within the health system that many of us normal people

35
00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,840
Speaker 1: simply have not. Does it frustrate you when you hear

36
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,440
Speaker 1: you know, regular Territorians sort of saying, oh, well, what's

37
00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,600
Speaker 1: the point in getting the vaccine because I'm still going

38
00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,760
Speaker 1: to get I'm still going to get COVID anyway.

39
00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,480
Speaker 2: Well, again, I think it comes down to what Rod McCrae,

40
00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,080
Speaker 2: the AMA Victorian president, was saying recently, where people are

41
00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,519
Speaker 2: turning up in hospital saying, you know, we're really sick

42
00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,800
Speaker 2: from COVID, saying can I have the vaccine now? But

43
00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,799
Speaker 2: it's too late. And I mean the evidence is we're

44
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,320
Speaker 2: both short and long term COVID. It's a disease. It's

45
00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,160
Speaker 2: not worth getting. If you're not vaccinated, it can kinue you.

46
00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,360
Speaker 2: They can also leave you with very serious health consequences

47
00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:24,959
Speaker 2: the vaccine, and the evidence is very much in from

48
00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,880
Speaker 2: overseas that while the vaccinated populations are a much healthier

49
00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,680
Speaker 2: population in terms of COVID than people who are not vaccinated.

50
00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,400
Speaker 2: So the vaccine has a real benefit in terms of

51
00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,520
Speaker 2: an individual as well as the community. I mean, I

52
00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,320
Speaker 2: always think that people will get vaccines generally because they're

53
00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,239
Speaker 2: making a contribution to the community. It's actually a system,

54
00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,440
Speaker 2: not just them, but other people, other people's families in

55
00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:48,799
Speaker 2: staying healthy.

56
00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,720
Speaker 1: Dr Parker, how is the health system coping at this

57
00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,240
Speaker 1: point in time? Are things fairly steady?

58
00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,119
Speaker 2: Well? Again, the NT's got a particular action plan. We're

59
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,880
Speaker 2: working around problem as they arise, and their regular meetings

60
00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,440
Speaker 2: to look at solutions the problems. I mean, we're very

61
00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,280
Speaker 2: much aware of the constant stress. And I mean this

62
00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,760
Speaker 2: goes back again to the to the letter I wrote

63
00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,040
Speaker 2: the Hunts three years ago, telling is telling him that

64
00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,480
Speaker 2: territory hospitals were very stressed at that time in two

65
00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,720
Speaker 2: or three times as a busy The other hospitals are Australia

66
00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,200
Speaker 2: and I mean we're all aware of the you know,

67
00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,840
Speaker 2: the frequent Level four escalations and code yellows that were

68
00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,440
Speaker 2: occurring before COVID, So I mean the hospital system is

69
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,919
Speaker 2: just having to cape. And I mean again, Robinson River

70
00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,440
Speaker 2: was well vaccinated one person. I mean it has still

71
00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,040
Speaker 2: had the same problems with crowding and whatever small population

72
00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,560
Speaker 2: in close contacts. But I think Robinson River showed the

73
00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:45,119
Speaker 2: benefit of a vaccination. Unfortunately, with Binjarring and Rock Hole,

74
00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,600
Speaker 2: they're less vaccinated, so there's there's more problems there and

75
00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:52,120
Speaker 2: that's what am SAND and am have always been aware of,

76
00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,480
Speaker 2: which is why we've been very keen to get these

77
00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,120
Speaker 2: vaccination rates up to ninety five percent exactly for the

78
00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,680
Speaker 2: reasons that are happening at Binjarring and.

79
00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,640
Speaker 1: Rock Hole the moment, Dr Parker we know over the

80
00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,080
Speaker 1: weekend obviously the government amounts announced this roadmap. Effectively it's

81
00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,840
Speaker 1: been brought forward by one month with the plan to

82
00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,920
Speaker 1: open the country by January. But these changes to home

83
00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,880
Speaker 1: quarantine do mean that fully vaccinated travelers from red zones

84
00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,720
Speaker 1: will be allowed into the territory. And I mean it

85
00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:24,039
Speaker 1: makes a lot of different changes. But what was your

86
00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,640
Speaker 1: reaction upon hearing those changes. Is it a concern when

87
00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,160
Speaker 1: you look at our health system?

88
00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,120
Speaker 2: Well, again, Katie, I've been in touch with some really

89
00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:37,080
Speaker 2: senior health experts who you know, are not particularly worried

90
00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,039
Speaker 2: I think by the changes. I mean, they're sort of

91
00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:40,960
Speaker 2: accepting that we have to open up at some stage

92
00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,400
Speaker 2: and they're not that concerned by all of the government's

93
00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:45,359
Speaker 2: proposing at the moment.

94
00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,400
Speaker 1: Well, that is good. I mean, that's good to hear,

95
00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,200
Speaker 1: and I think that that will give us some members

96
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,000
Speaker 1: of the community that real confidence. And I guess it

97
00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,000
Speaker 1: does go back to what you were saying about those

98
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,280
Speaker 1: vaccines as well. And if it is travelers coming in

99
00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,159
Speaker 1: who've been vaccinated.

100
00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,120
Speaker 2: That's right. And again, we can't stay closed forever. There's

101
00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,280
Speaker 2: very good evidence now that the vaccine and booster shops

102
00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,080
Speaker 2: and I said, they have a booster shot recently more protective,

103
00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:10,719
Speaker 2: and I mean that's the evidence coming out of Israel,

104
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,719
Speaker 2: where they've managed to contain a further caved approp pretty

105
00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,839
Speaker 2: much everyone having booster shots. So you know, the evidence

106
00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,160
Speaker 2: is more and more the vaccination helps protect against this

107
00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:24,440
Speaker 2: appalling virus, and that you know it also helps medically

108
00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,680
Speaker 2: but also socially that you can start to open up

109
00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,200
Speaker 2: communities well.

110
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,560
Speaker 1: Doctor Robert Parker, the head of the Australian Medical Association

111
00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,719
Speaker 1: here in the Northern Territory, always appreciate your time. Thank

112
00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,480
Speaker 1: you very much for chatting with me this morning.

113
00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,240
Speaker 2: No worries, Katie, good to talk to you too,