1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: We were talking a little earlier about the air conditioning at 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:08,040 Speaker 1: Royal Darwin Hospital's maternity ward. Now, an NTI Health spokesperson's 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: just sent us a statement saying the air conditioner in 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: the maternity ward at Royal Darwin Hospital is operational. The 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: claim that the air conditioning in the maternity ward at 6 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: Royal Darwin Hospital has been broken for five hundred days 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: is incorrect and completely untrue, says the spokesperson. Now, Kathleen 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: has gone back with a couple of other questions about 9 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: whether there's been disruptions, and we'll let you know whether 10 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: we hear anything further. But yeah, just to repeat, they 11 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 1: say that the Royal Darwin Hospital wards maternity well, their 12 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: maternity ward air conditioning is operational. Now let's head across 13 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: and talk about airfares. We know that Quantus is running 14 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: what it's described as the largest sale in five years. 15 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: They're cutting the costs, they say, of one point nine 16 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: million fares, the sale beginning today and we're running for 17 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: a number of days. But for us here in the 18 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: Northern Territory, even when there is a sale, we often 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 1: feel like we're copying it when it comes to those 20 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: flight prices. The Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce spoke to 21 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: the NT News and called for inconsistencies in two tier 22 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: territory airfare prices to be addressed, as Australia's competition watchdog 23 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: targets NT airports for special mention for disproportionate landing fees. 24 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: Now joining us on the line is Glenn Hingley, the 25 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: chief executive of the Chamber. Good morning to. 26 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 2: You, Glenn, can you wolf? Good morning to you. 27 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. It's been a while, 28 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 1: good to have you on now, Glenn. You know this 29 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: is something that we're so often contacted about, these flight prices. 30 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: What's prompted this latest call for a fair. 31 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: Go Well, what's going on at the moment is a 32 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 2: Federal Senate inquiry into the standing Senate Inquiry in Regional 33 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 2: and Rural Airfares and Transport. And what we're seeing at 34 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 2: the moment is that the head who was actually the 35 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: former head of the Australian Competitive and Consumer Commission, Graham Samuels, 36 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: who now works for the Australian Airlines Lobby Group, to 37 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: say it's not about the airlines, it's about the airport 38 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: charges around Australia. But I think ultimately, you know, in 39 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: the territory to a point earlier, we really suffer because 40 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 2: we don't have the population and what regardless of what 41 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 2: happens and how many of those cheap airfares might get 42 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 2: allocated here, it's not every seat on every plane. It 43 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: might be one or two, it might be ten. And 44 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: what we have for so long seen is that we're 45 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 2: a clear example of market failure, you know, where residents 46 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 2: and businesses, investors here in the territory are paying the 47 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 2: price every day. And from a chamber perspective, we're really 48 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,679 Speaker 2: calling on the government to work together on both governments, 49 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 2: both at a territory and a federal level, to come 50 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 2: together and really understand that as one of Australia's capital cities, 51 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 2: and if we think about our Springs as well, we 52 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 2: can't continue to shoulder this burden of this two tier airfares. 53 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: When we consistently see airfares that go longer to international 54 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 2: destinations from Darwin, or use that example, cheaper than flying Darwin, 55 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 2: our Springs or Darwin Cans littlone any of the capital cities. 56 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: I mean, it's so true. I don't know how many 57 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: times I've looked at flights and thought, goodness me, you 58 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: know you could fly internationally for cheaper than what you 59 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: can to fly from Darwin to somewhere else. Glenn, from 60 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: the Chambers perspective, what kind of impact does this have? 61 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: I guess you know when it comes to business, and 62 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: you know, ultimately the tourism industry, but the business industry 63 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: more generally. 64 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: Well, firstly, unfortunately, we have over many years accrued this 65 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: self fulfilling prophecy that a we're a boom and bust 66 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 2: economy be where a very seasonal economy, and tourism is 67 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: a really good example of that, where we believe in 68 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 2: ourselves in the dry season and we kind of hope 69 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: that things might get better without really doing anything. In 70 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 2: the wet season, we're out looking to how do we 71 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: get more people, more visitors and grow our population. But 72 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: we've really got to get behind investment, which is a 73 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: bigger topic and you might say somewhat unrelated to airfares, 74 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 2: but you know, as much as we over many years 75 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: Katie have worked with one of the one of the 76 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: two major airlines to say we need you to respect 77 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 2: the NT in your name, we know that that has 78 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 2: little effect when it comes to their first focus, which 79 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 2: is shareholder returns. So we've really got to focus on 80 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: our economy. We've got to grow our population. We've got 81 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 2: a back energy sector, defense sector. We've got to back exports, 82 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: in mining, in tourism. We need more product. We need 83 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: year round marketing. Like I said, we can't. I was out. 84 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: I was a Cacka on the weekend with visitors who'd 85 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: never been to the top end before and they loved it. 86 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: And they've come from recently scorching down south and they 87 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 2: were like, this is amazing out on Yellow Waters and Nolanger, 88 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: small example. So we really need to be focused on 89 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 2: growing that. It's not an easy fix. But in the meantime, 90 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 2: we do need the federal on the territory government to 91 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 2: be working together to make it easier for people to 92 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 2: want to move here to live here. Simple but big 93 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: things like tax settings. 94 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: Yep. I agree. You know, different ways to entice people, 95 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: and if that population grows it has a positive impact 96 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: in so many ways, you know. But certainly when you 97 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: look at things like bums on seats on those flights, 98 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 1: it makes a big difference. I mean, Glenn, are there 99 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: other things that we can be looking at? Are there 100 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: other levers that could be pulled, I e. You know 101 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: those landing fees. 102 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: Well, I think the landing fees ultimately pay are a 103 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: small part, a small opponent, and operating infrastructure around twenty 104 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 2: four hours, seven days a week, like what we see 105 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: at Dawin Airport or Our Springs or any other airport, 106 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 2: they're not cheap. They take money. There's a lot of 107 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 2: staff involved, there's a lot of security involved in these 108 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 2: days that weren't there twenty something years ago, necessarily more 109 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: there so that those are a legitimate cost in there. 110 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 2: And I think but ultimately, ultimately we do need governments 111 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: to do some settings at a federal level to say, 112 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: you know, if you're if you're going to service, if 113 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: you're going to maintain these sectors, you need to support 114 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: these other sectors and that includes the territory. And whilst 115 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 2: it's not government's role necessary to intervene around pricing, but 116 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 2: I think there are leavers and the incentives they can 117 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 2: put in place to say to them, you know, if 118 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: you fly with regular times, good times to daylight times, 119 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 2: maintain that pricing. We can we can support you with 120 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 2: tax incentives, we can support you with other aspects that 121 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: are not just around just a small part of every 122 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 2: flight ticket, which is a landing cost. 123 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I cannot tell you how much I hate getting 124 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: on the plane at one in the morning and it 125 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: happens you've got a flight somewhere, Glenn Like, there's not 126 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: many other options. 127 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 2: Right, and so and and that and that has It's 128 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: not just about us who live here, because when we arrive, 129 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: we lose that next day, and when we come back, 130 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 2: we lose the next day. But everyone who wants to 131 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 2: come and do business with the territory invest in the territory. 132 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 2: When when we're looking to attract more defense staff to 133 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 2: come and make the territory their home, and there's spouses 134 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 2: go serious, there's a plane, there's two flights, so there's 135 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 2: two flights during the day and there's six at night. 136 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 2: I'll choose somewhere else, I come to townsfall, I'll do 137 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: something like that. So there are challenges and and and 138 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 2: that's we've just got a there's so many things, and 139 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: I think it's not a one one solution. And what 140 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 2: we're calling for from a Chamber perspective is for governments 141 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 2: to come together with industry, with the airlines and really 142 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: work through what needs to happen for Darwin, for the 143 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 2: Northern Territory and for that matter, in Northern Australia. To 144 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 2: point towards the fact that we've got now largely better 145 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: connectivity with Singapore with Dempasa than we have with some 146 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: of our southern capital cities. Now again, the biggest challenge 147 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 2: here is our population. And if you and I owned 148 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 2: one of the big domestic airlines, we'd be as two 149 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 2: shareholders going We're going to run it full schedule and 150 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 2: make money for our shareholders. That's a big challenge. So 151 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 2: we need to have a really big picture approach to this, 152 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 2: but we need to focus on it and it needs 153 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 2: to become a matter of urgency otherwise this market failure 154 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 2: will continue. And it's everyday territorianes who have family down 155 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 2: south that are forced to pay the big fares when 156 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 2: it comes to a health issue in the family or 157 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 2: for any other reason. We've got to make it attractive 158 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 2: for people to come here, and the affairs are a 159 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 2: big part of that. 160 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, smart on well, Glenn Heingley. Always great to catch 161 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: up with you. Thank you so much for joining us 162 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: on the show this morning.