1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: But joining me on the line right now from Tourism 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Central Australia, it is the CEO Daniel Rochford. Good morning 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: to you, Daniel. 4 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners. 5 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: Daniel, before I ask you about some of the stuff 6 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: going on in Central Australia, what did you make of 7 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: the Chief Minister's speech? Have you heard much of it? 8 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, had a good listen. I think it's great to 9 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: hear our Chief Minister mustling up on the economy. We 10 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: certainly know that the sustainability of the economy here in 11 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory is something that we must focus on. 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 2: Tourisms are obviously a critical part of that, but diversifying 13 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 2: the economy, looking at new options is certainly something that 14 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: we need to see our Northern Territory government do more. 15 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 2: Here in Central Australia. We have our fewer resources just 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: to clicks up the road from Allan Springs. That's a 17 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: rarest mind. You know that's going to be an opportunity 18 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: for many decades in the future, which will be about 19 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 2: a huge jobs boom for Central. 20 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, we definitely you know that diversifying the economy has 21 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 1: been something we've been talking about for a while now, 22 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: and I reckon it is really important. I guess the 23 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: interesting aspect of this and one of the things that 24 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: gets raised continuously is are we going to reach that 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: forty billion dollar economy by twenty thirty. I mean we're 26 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: not many years away now. 27 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's the hefty goal. And you know, I don't 28 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: begrudge your government trying to reach the stars. Look, I 29 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: think it's something that we need to be very focused on. 30 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: I think the government's putting a lot of the eggs 31 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 2: in one basket, but we need to also look at 32 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: other industries, certainly our own here in terms of tourism. 33 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: You know, we're just scratching the surface in terms of 34 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 2: the opportunities, and that's why we've been calling out for 35 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 2: things like looking at airline opportunities. You know, if we 36 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 2: can get more aviation into places like Central Australia, we're 37 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: going to be a boom economy for tourism. And what 38 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: we know about tourism is it's jobs, jobs, jobs, and 39 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 2: we're a job factory. And the more we can see that, 40 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,559 Speaker 2: the more we can see our economy growing. 41 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it is something that we all want to see. 42 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: We want to see the economy growing. We want to 43 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: see the Northern Territory flourishing. Daniel talk us through because 44 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: obviously these concept designs have been released for the National 45 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs. It was and is 46 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 1: continued to be pitched to attract more tourists to the region. 47 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 1: It's one hundred and fifty million dollar project aimed at 48 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: boosting a cultural welcoming circle, top floor events based healing gardens, 49 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: ground floor cafe, and a whole lot more. What did 50 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: you make of those plans that have been released and 51 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: I guess, you know, getting a better understanding of the 52 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: concept design. 53 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, it's great to see progress happening on the 54 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: National Aboriginal Art Gallery, Katie. We have been long calling 55 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: for progress. We do appreciate it. The big project and 56 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,119 Speaker 2: a lot of processes need to be undertaken that it's 57 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: great to see the initial design. Look, you know, like art, 58 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: the everyone's got a view and I think that's the 59 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 2: government is going through a consultation process so people can 60 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: put forward their views. But ultimately we want to see 61 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: a shovel in the ground as soon as possible. And 62 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 2: from what we hear from miniester Fake is that that 63 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: shovel will hit the ground early in twenty twenty four. 64 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 2: We want to see that happen. We want to see 65 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,839 Speaker 2: that project come to fruition. It's going to be such 66 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: a great economic driver for our region and for our CBD, 67 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 2: which is yearning for opportunity. And I think this is 68 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: going to be that game changer. 69 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: Daniel. When is it supposed to be open and operating? 70 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: And I mean, how big a deal is this going 71 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: to make? I guess in terms of trying to get 72 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: to USTs into the Red center. 73 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, answer to your first question, I think it's 74 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: twenty seven or twenty eight later in this decade. It's 75 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 2: obviously going to be a big build in terms of 76 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 2: its economic driver. Look, I've drilled into some of their stats. 77 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 2: I actually think they're under I think they're being really conservative. 78 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: You know, they're effectively saying, I think the figure is 79 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: about one hundred and forty extra tourists a day. You know, 80 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 2: that's only three busloads. You know, I think they're underestimating that. 81 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 2: I think it will be much higher than the figure 82 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: that they're proposing. But you know, it's good to probably 83 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: be conservative, but you know, it is going to be 84 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: such an icon. I think we really need to position 85 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 2: the National Aboriginal Art Gallery is a right of passage 86 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 2: for students around the country to come to our springs, 87 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: to listen, to look at an amazing heritage and culture 88 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: and to sit down in the dirt and hear it 89 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 2: from a traditional owners. And I think that's a unique 90 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: opportunity for our tourism going into the future. 91 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: How sort after are those real cultural experiences? 92 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely, especially from an national perspective. You know, our international 93 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 2: visitors in particular are wanting that cultural immersion. They don't 94 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: want to FAE experience. They want to sit down and 95 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,679 Speaker 2: sit down with a traditional owner in the red dirt 96 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 2: and to be able to hear from them directly. You know. 97 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 2: I think we've always said from day one that this 98 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: is about a wider vision to Central Australia. You know, 99 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 2: back ten fifteen years ago you used to take a 100 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 2: bus from Alice Springs to the Rock with the LaRue Airport. 101 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 2: That doesn't happen anymore. So now we have to reconnect 102 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 2: Alice Springs back to the Rock. That's why we need 103 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 2: to build the Marine Loop Road. That's why we need 104 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 2: to build the National Aboriginal Art Gallery We're going to 105 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: have two book INDs, two iconic book ends, an amazing 106 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 2: experience in between that is going to be one of 107 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: the world's great drive tourism experiences. And you know that's 108 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 2: the reason why we've been so strongly advocating for it. 109 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, look, this is something that I 110 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: will certainly agree with it, the Chief Minister said yesterday 111 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: during a speech. You know, there is the opportunities are 112 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: endless in the Northern Territory. But sometimes I feel like 113 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: we stop ourselves or hold ourselves back in some ways. 114 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: I look where sometimes yes we're our own worst eneman. 115 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 2: Yes there's processes, there's you know, there's a lot of 116 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 2: a lot of checks and balances that need to go 117 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 2: through and sometimes we do, you know, we do get 118 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 2: in our own way. But yes, we do have a 119 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: huge amount of potential just a ma tourism industry alone. 120 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 2: We want to be a billion dollar industry just here 121 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 2: in Central Australia. You know, that's something we're very we 122 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 2: have strong aspirations for. But we've got to do more. 123 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 2: There are a lot of projects that have been sitting 124 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 2: on the shelf, things like the Red Ccenter Mountain bike ride. 125 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: You know the marine feeling of the Many loop. All 126 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 2: of these projects have been funded, we haven't got a 127 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 2: shovel in the ground. I think the most exciting thing 128 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 2: about hearing the Chief Minister yesterday is her muscling up 129 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 2: on the economy. The next thing we need her to 130 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: do is discover a shovel and get these projects moving forward. 131 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: I reckon, that's a really, really good point, Daniel, Mate, 132 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: tell me how things going in terms of getting some 133 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: additional flights into the Northern territory. The last time you 134 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: and I spoke, i'd caught up with Tim Jordan from 135 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: Bonza and he'd said that, you know, he is open 136 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: to doing business in the territory, but he was worried 137 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: about some of that red tape, green tape, whatever color 138 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: tape you want to call it. 139 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 2: Well, the only color that we should be focusing on 140 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 2: is purple and rolling out the purple carpets and Bonder, 141 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 2: that's the color of their planes. And you know, we here, 142 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 2: as I said to you previously, we have obviously next 143 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: to the airlines and are now flying into Darwin, and 144 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 2: now Bonds are wanting to fly in serve An Organ territory. 145 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 2: We need to be moving Heaven and Earth, and we 146 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 2: certainly you know, I'm certainly aware that Minister Manison, the 147 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 2: Airport Development Group are in these meetings and we need 148 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 2: them and now more than ever, to have that can 149 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: do attitude. And you know, it's great to see these 150 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 2: meetings happening, but we need to get the result and 151 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 2: it's going to be great to see that additional capacity, 152 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 2: but also the competition, so that's going to decrease airfares 153 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: but increase opportunities for people to get in and out 154 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 2: of places like Central Australia. 155 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: Now, tell me how have things been going in Central Australia. 156 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: I know Rob's just called in. He was wondering if 157 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: I can ask you if tourists will still come to 158 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: Elie Springs with some Campravanners and caravan has raising concerns 159 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: among their networks about crime and some of the companies 160 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: opting to not even send their sales reps there at 161 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: the moment. 162 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 2: Oh look, there's no doubt. I think I've been saying 163 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 2: for a long time that we need to get on 164 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 2: top of the youth crime issues. We certainly have seen 165 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 2: an increase as you're seeing up in Darwen. As things 166 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 2: a's time to get warmer. You know, a lot is 167 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: being done by the government in the alcohol space, but 168 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: you and I have took many times on this is 169 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: the issues that we were advocating for at the start 170 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 2: of this year was more proactive work on the youth 171 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 2: crime issue. I'm not seeing a lot of evidence of 172 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 2: that happening, except to say the police are saying that 173 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 2: with extra resources they can because of the alcohol reforms, 174 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 2: they can throw at the youth crime issue. I'm not 175 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 2: seeing evidence of that. Cad We're now starting to warm 176 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 2: up and guess what's happening again, And that's exactly what 177 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 2: we've been saying from day dot. We need to have 178 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 2: a focus on this. We need to deal with the 179 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 2: cause or issues and deal with overcoming those challenges because 180 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 2: otherwise we're just going to see those issues rise. And 181 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: when it gets warmer, especially over the summer months, you know, 182 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 2: we're going to see the same issues arise time and 183 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 2: time again. And the definition of insanity is just doing 184 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 2: exact thing and hoping for a different result. 185 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, spot on. Well, I really hope that we do 186 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: see that change because everybody wants, like I said earlier, 187 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: everybody wants the Northern Territory to flourish. We want things 188 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: to be going really well and we want the place 189 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: to be safe and everybody to enjoy living here. You know, 190 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:20,959 Speaker 1: we just want to be able to live to our 191 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: full potential. 192 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 2: One thing I can say is that I track positive 193 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 2: negative comments pretty closely on our blocks and travel sites. 194 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,319 Speaker 2: The amount of people who are coming to the Red 195 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 2: Center and speaking it up is now almost eighty twenty. 196 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: So that's good. 197 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 2: It was a much lower figure in the start of 198 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 2: the year and it's great to see those people who 199 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 2: are having amazing experience here in Central Australia speaking it up, 200 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 2: so hopefully that will continue. 201 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm really pleased to hear that. I think that 202 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: that is good, really good news. Well. Tourism Central Australia 203 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: CEO Daniel Rochford always great to catch up with you, mate, 204 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. 205 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, Thank you.