1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,679 Speaker 1: We now know that we've seen sort of new South Wales, 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: Victoria the Act and indeed Queensland announce their plans to 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: open up to the rest of the country. Here in 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: the territory, the current plan is to reach the eighty 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: percent vaccination by early next month and when we get there, 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: it is expected and we're expecting an announcement on this 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: pretty soon, if not today, very soon, but we will 8 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,159 Speaker 1: be able to home quarantine for fourteen days if we 9 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: go to a hotspot. Now the catch is the rest 10 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: of the nation aside from wa is opening up. So 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: under that current plan that's been provided by the Northern 12 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 1: Territory government, there is potentially going to be a lot 13 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: of orange or amber and red zones locations with COVID. 14 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: So many are now starting to wonder if we are 15 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: going to have to quarantine if we travel away to 16 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,200 Speaker 1: see family, or if we've got family or friends or 17 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: tourists come to visit us. And that's obviously the big 18 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: issue here as well, is tourism and hospitality industries and 19 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: how they're going to be impacted and if the rest 20 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: of the country does open up. But here in the territory, 21 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: we remain in the situation that we're in now. Joining 22 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: me on the line to talk more about this is 23 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: hospitality NTCEEO Alex Bruce, Good morning, Alex. 24 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 2: Good morning Key Now Alex, we know. 25 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: That WA obviously made that significant move yesterday mandating the 26 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,839 Speaker 1: vaccine for particular industries. Queensland meanwhile has announced a pretty 27 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: definitive plan a phased border reopening for fully vaccinated people 28 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: from November nineteen, so fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed 29 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: to enter Queensland without the need to quarantine. 30 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: Then from December seventeen. 31 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: And at that date those fully vaccinated interstate visitors who 32 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: have recorded a negative COVID nineteen test in the past 33 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: seventy two hours would be allowed to enter without having 34 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: to quarantine. 35 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: Alex. 36 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: Is this the way we need to start looking at moving. 37 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 3: Absolutely? And I think I think the government and the 38 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 3: community understand that it's just a matter of fixing a 39 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 3: date now. You know, a lot of big news yesterday 40 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 3: focusing on the Queensland announcements. That provides the certainty for 41 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 3: everybody in our businesses but also in the community friends 42 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 3: and relatives planning their trips into Queensland now, But unfortunately 43 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 3: territory and families don't have that certainty yet on what 44 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 3: our date would be, and it's a bit toofold for us. 45 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 3: We're seeing with this mandatory vaccination requirement in our industry 46 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 3: and others, a larger uptake of the vaccine. When you 47 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 3: threaten someone's livelihood and coerce them to get the JAB, 48 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 3: you will drive the vaccination rate up in that covid 49 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 3: hesitant group that's occurring in our workforce, at least young 50 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 3: healthy persons. It does nothing to drive up the vac 51 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 3: rates in the vulnerable groups, you know, the indigenous, our communities, 52 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 3: the elderly urban population, both of which we are behind 53 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 3: other parts of the country in the vax rates. So 54 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 3: we think that having this definitive date of when our 55 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 3: borders would open up would help drive the vax rates 56 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 3: up in those two groups as well. And bearing in 57 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 3: mind by all the evidence. You know, we're not doctors, 58 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 3: but the evidence seems to be very clear across the 59 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 3: country they're the groups that are most at risk of 60 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 3: clogging our hospitals. 61 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean your spot on. 62 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: I know that neither you or I are medical professionals, 63 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: and we'll leave the medical advice for those in those 64 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: roles but you know, an observation is that Queensland doesn't 65 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: have COVID similar to us. Obviously we don't have COVID 66 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: in the community, and they've also got a very vulnerable 67 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: community in different locations. So it seems like we could 68 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: really have quite a similar situation here in the Northern 69 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: territory if the will is there, Yeah, and. 70 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: Leave it to the government and based on the best 71 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 3: health advice on what pegg in the sand, the actual 72 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 3: date they want to We've made it clear to them that, 73 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 3: you know, we need to see the borders normalize in 74 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 3: January or February ideally now, but you know, by January 75 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 3: or February, but we need that announcement pre Christmas. We 76 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 3: need the peg in the sand. You know, when everyone's 77 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 3: on their Christmas holidays wherever they are, they're often thinking 78 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 3: about the year ahead, catching up with family and friends, 79 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 3: what their next holiday will be. We really can't be 80 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 3: in a situation where we're telling everyone we'll get back 81 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 3: to you and missed that opportunity to get the bookings 82 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 3: and the marketing done to those customers across the country 83 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 3: over that Christmas holiday period. 84 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: Alex. 85 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: If we don't go down a path like that, what 86 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 1: impact is it going to have on the Northern territory 87 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: from a hospitality perspective. 88 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 3: Look again, we've appreciated the announcements that the government has 89 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 3: made to date, and you know, across the country for 90 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 3: the last eighteen months, our industry has had a better 91 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 3: survival rate and a more balanced approach up in this 92 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 3: jurisdiction compared to any none and that's still the case 93 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 3: right right now. They are doing a good job by 94 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 3: and large juggling a pretty tricky balancing act between health 95 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 3: and the economy and jobs and all the rest of it. 96 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 3: When we do look across the country, we are very thankful, 97 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 3: but going forward, the real risk for us is we're 98 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 3: left as the laggards in the back whilst the rest 99 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 3: of the country is opening up. When they did announce 100 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 3: the Green Amber Red policy, we of course supported it 101 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 3: based on the health advice that the government's getting, but 102 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 3: we made clear as soon as someone from Melbourne or 103 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 3: Sydney that's double vaxed with their seventy two hours less 104 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 3: than a PCR result, jumps on a plane and can 105 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 3: go to cams next dry season, we need to be 106 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 3: matching that and the sooner we can tell those there 107 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 3: would be tourists that we are matching that the better. 108 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: Well, I mean in Queensland that's happening from December seventeen. 109 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,239 Speaker 2: So are we going to be left behind? 110 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: Ah? 111 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 3: Look looking at the numbers and the modest uptake of 112 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 3: the tourism vouches today, still is some reluctancy for territoriums 113 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 3: to travel out of the territory. This this quiet wet season, 114 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 3: we will see an uptick in our accommodation and some 115 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 3: tourist products. It's not a silver bullet and definitely more 116 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 3: top end focused and less less support for Central Australia 117 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 3: through any of those schemes. So I suppose you know, 118 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 3: with the high turnover of bookings and cancelations and rebookings 119 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 3: we've had, we're all right to sit through on what 120 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 3: we're doing right now. You know, we want it more normalized, 121 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 3: We want it yesterday, but we just really need a 122 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 3: date in January or February announced before Christmas for us 123 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 3: to all really plan our year ahead. 124 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: Now, when you you said just a little bit earlier 125 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: that since that vaccine mandate there has been quite an 126 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: uptick of people in your industry going to get the vaccine. 127 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: How like, how many are we talking? Is there any idea? 128 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, So we've got a survey out at the moment 129 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 3: because we have to all of the respectful discussions that 130 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 3: we spoke about last week between the businesses and their 131 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 3: workers are still ongoing, and you know, there's a bit 132 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 3: of a process to go through with all that to 133 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 3: make sure that fair work obligations are met. And I 134 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 3: do want to stress we fully appreciate that our industry, 135 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 3: like the community, there are very mixed views on this topic. 136 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 3: We're not supportive of language that seeks to denigrate people's 137 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 3: views on this It is very important. We would have 138 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 3: preferred more of a carrot approach versus a threatening people's 139 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 3: jobs stick approach, but it is what it is. We're 140 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 3: working through it. The survey at the moment, we've had 141 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 3: over fourteen hundred workers surveyed through their businesses. Nine percent 142 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 3: is the rate that aren't going to get vaccinated at 143 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 3: this at this stage that they're reporting through to their businesses. 144 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: Right, so about nine percent of the hospitality workforce saying 145 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: at this point in time that they do not want 146 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: to get vaccinated. 147 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 3: Correct that. I think they're the higher proportion than that 148 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 3: but when you threaten their livelihoods and their employment, nine 149 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 3: percent of the ones that are really saying well, I'll 150 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 3: end up having to leave the business when this direction 151 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 3: comes into effect. And on top of that, we're currently 152 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 3: holding about twelve percent vacant positions in our businesses too, 153 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 3: So the cumulative effect you will see a challenged offering 154 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 3: in our space going forward for a while until international 155 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,679 Speaker 3: boarders normalize and we can really get our workforce back 156 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 3: where it needs to be. So we just ask customers 157 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:38,119 Speaker 3: and territories to be conscious of that when they're operating 158 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: in our businesses. 159 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: So right now, there is that twelve percent vacancy rate 160 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: in your industry, in the hospitality industry. And then add 161 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: on top of that that from this survey that you're 162 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 1: conducting right now, it's showing that you've got a nine 163 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: percent of the workforce not wanting to get vaccinated. I mean, 164 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: when you add those two figures together, is this going 165 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: to have quite a big impact. 166 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 3: Oh. Look, if if we're carrying into the ramp up 167 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 3: next year a twenty percent workforce shortage, it's going to 168 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 3: have some challenges for us. But look, the survey is 169 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 3: still ongoing at the moment. That's from fourteen over fourteen 170 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 3: hundred responses. But you know our combined tourism hospitality industry 171 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 3: sixteen thousand workers strong. So we'll wait for more of 172 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 3: a data to roll through until we can get that 173 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 3: picture made clearer. 174 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 2: When are you expecting that to be complete? 175 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 3: To Alex, Well, the businesses are all having those discussions 176 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 3: and that started last week. We got some industrial relations 177 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 3: advice out to our members Monday this week with some 178 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 3: of the formal ways they need to engage with their 179 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 3: workforce on the chose direction. So that that's happening, and 180 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 3: so you know, a small business with fewer employees, they're 181 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 3: the ones that are probably able to be quite definitive 182 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 3: about what their workforces were in that specific business is doing. 183 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 3: Some of the larger employers that are continuing to go 184 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 3: through that process. So you know, we think the numbers 185 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 3: will continue to roll through this week and next. 186 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: Alex, you mentioned before the carrot and the stick. I 187 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: can see from other locations around Australia that different states 188 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: are certainly trying different tax It seems as though in 189 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: way they're certainly going with the stick approach as we 190 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: are here in the territory in Queensland they're going with 191 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: that carrot. Is it time for the Chief Minister to 192 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: sort of come out and maybe, you know, give the 193 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: territory in some kind of carrot to aim for when 194 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: it comes to opening those borders up. 195 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 3: I look would very much like to see that. You know, 196 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 3: we're working with the two dates that have been defined 197 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 3: in terms of the impact on our workforce, vaxed and unvaxed. 198 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 3: The missing date is when do we all get to 199 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 3: get normalized domestic travel again. 200 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: Well, Alex Bruce, the CEO of Hospitality here in the 201 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: Northern Territory, really appreciate your time this morning and we 202 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 1: will no doubt talk to you again very soon. 203 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 3: Thanks Katie, thank you you too.