1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:00,240
Speaker 1: Leave.

2
00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,520
Speaker 2: We've got the Health Minister Natasha Files on the line.

3
00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:03,640
Speaker 2: Good morning to your minister.

4
00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:06,280
Speaker 1: Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners.

5
00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,119
Speaker 2: We've got you excellent now, Minister, I do want to

6
00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,799
Speaker 2: start this morning by asking you about crime. I know

7
00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,240
Speaker 2: that you're not the police minister, but we have seen

8
00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,639
Speaker 2: a terrible few days when it comes to crime on

9
00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,159
Speaker 2: the streets of Darwin and indeed Palmerston. We had a

10
00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,880
Speaker 2: situation where a woman was raped in broad daylight in

11
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,720
Speaker 2: the Northern suburbs. Late last week, a teenager assaulted and

12
00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,640
Speaker 2: robbed on a bus, police assaulted in the CBD, a

13
00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,120
Speaker 2: worker threatened with an edged weapon in Palmerston before having

14
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:34,879
Speaker 2: money stolen.

15
00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:36,040
Speaker 3: Last night.

16
00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,640
Speaker 2: Well, we've started to receive some vision this morning from

17
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,000
Speaker 2: Casarina where apparently there was kids throwing rocks at buses

18
00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,720
Speaker 2: and smashed the windows. Minister, are we in the midst

19
00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:48,920
Speaker 2: of a crime crisis?

20
00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:52,199
Speaker 1: So, Katie, just before a comment, I do need to

21
00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:53,840
Speaker 1: be careful of some of those matters are before the

22
00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,040
Speaker 1: courts and there were some very serious incidents that we

23
00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,080
Speaker 1: need to allow that court process to take place, but

24
00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,440
Speaker 1: they're unacceptable in terms of tackling these issues. There's a

25
00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,840
Speaker 1: range of measures that we're putting in place, and there's

26
00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:05,600
Speaker 1: some that are a short term and there's some that

27
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,160
Speaker 1: are into the longer term, particularly around youth and making

28
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,080
Speaker 1: sure that we have consequences for those youth offenders under

29
00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,000
Speaker 1: our new youth justice reforms.

30
00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,520
Speaker 2: Look, I understand that obviously, you know there's issues with

31
00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,400
Speaker 2: youth crime. There is issues at the moment as well though,

32
00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,520
Speaker 2: with what we are seeing with public drunkenness. So I

33
00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,280
Speaker 2: know that you and I have spoken about this on

34
00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,759
Speaker 2: a number of occasions, but are you able to tell

35
00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,920
Speaker 2: us this morning, because honestly, I feel like people have

36
00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:35,840
Speaker 2: reached their wits end. Is there any urgent work that's

37
00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,080
Speaker 2: going to get underway when it comes to the issues

38
00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:42,319
Speaker 2: that we're seeing right now with that public drunkenness, Katie?

39
00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,280
Speaker 1: So, we do know that alcohol is often one of

40
00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,080
Speaker 1: the root causes to crime and antisocial behavior, and we've

41
00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,480
Speaker 1: made some significant reforms in this space and we continue

42
00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,520
Speaker 1: to do so. We've given police more powers and ensuring

43
00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,520
Speaker 1: that when there is alcohol related time, they can stop

44
00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,720
Speaker 1: it before it happens. Around provide support to Laraikian nations.

45
00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,960
Speaker 1: We've done work around the Sobering Up Shelter and making

46
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,160
Speaker 1: sure that there is a place if people are drinking

47
00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,280
Speaker 1: in public, if they're drunk, if their behavior is unacceptable,

48
00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,040
Speaker 1: but they're not breaking the law, but there is an

49
00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,040
Speaker 1: opportunity for Larochian Nation and police to take them to

50
00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,680
Speaker 1: a facility rather than just leaving them there to potentially

51
00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,880
Speaker 1: cause harm later on. But these are complex issues, but

52
00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:23,560
Speaker 1: they're certainly not acceptable by any them.

53
00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,280
Speaker 2: Do you feel as though those changes that are in

54
00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,320
Speaker 2: place at the moment, giving police more powers and also

55
00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,440
Speaker 2: the work that's happening with Larikia Nation, do you feel

56
00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,160
Speaker 2: as though it's enough at this point in time? Do

57
00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,200
Speaker 2: you are you accepting of what we're seeing on the

58
00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:39,120
Speaker 2: streets at the moment.

59
00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,080
Speaker 1: I think you can never stop working in this space,

60
00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,400
Speaker 1: and I think that it's unacceptable the incidents that you

61
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,440
Speaker 1: just spoke of and what our community is feeling. So

62
00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,640
Speaker 1: for me, it's about working across the sobering up and

63
00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,280
Speaker 1: that detox and that sits within health, but there's licensing

64
00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,040
Speaker 1: to stop issues before they happen, but also police and

65
00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,240
Speaker 1: so I work across those three agencies. I met with

66
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,320
Speaker 1: them last, if I meet with them regularly to make

67
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,119
Speaker 1: sure that they've got all the tools in the toolbox

68
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,600
Speaker 1: from a legislative point of view and from a policy

69
00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,680
Speaker 1: point of view that they need and do.

70
00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,320
Speaker 2: Do you feel as though they've got all the tools

71
00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,280
Speaker 2: in the toolbox right now to be able to do

72
00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,959
Speaker 2: their jobs, because I've got to tell you, like people

73
00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,640
Speaker 2: listening this morning, they are going to be thinking, it

74
00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,120
Speaker 2: doesn't sound as though there's anything new. It doesn't sound

75
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,400
Speaker 2: as though there's anything urgent. It sounds as though it's

76
00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,080
Speaker 2: the same thing that we've all heard before.

77
00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,600
Speaker 1: It's o Katie, what we often see with alcohol policies.

78
00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,720
Speaker 1: If we address one area, we then see an issue

79
00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,200
Speaker 1: in another area. You know, the balloon pushes the other way.

80
00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,120
Speaker 1: And so that's why it's really important that those different

81
00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,200
Speaker 1: agencies are working across the board. We want to stop

82
00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,680
Speaker 1: police from having to deal with these issues, but then

83
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,440
Speaker 1: we do need to make sure that they've got those

84
00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,640
Speaker 1: resources when the issues get to that point that these

85
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,480
Speaker 1: are complex. As a government, we've done more in the

86
00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,520
Speaker 1: space of alcohol policy than any other government.

87
00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,000
Speaker 2: So right now, I mean, I know that you've said

88
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,160
Speaker 2: that there is these longer term legislative changes. As I mentioned,

89
00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,440
Speaker 2: you and I have spoken on numerous occasions about this,

90
00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,720
Speaker 2: but you know when you look at what is going

91
00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,680
Speaker 2: on around the streets of Darwin and Palmerston at the moment,

92
00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,240
Speaker 2: are you happy with the way that things are, Katy,

93
00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:09,920
Speaker 2: we can't.

94
00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,839
Speaker 1: Stop working in this space. And I think that we

95
00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,200
Speaker 1: see each year there's some seasonal factors, but absolutely I

96
00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,760
Speaker 1: acknowledge that the behavior presently in our community is not

97
00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,360
Speaker 1: acceptable and we're working, as I said, to address that.

98
00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,080
Speaker 1: And it's complex in terms of alcohol. We've got obviously

99
00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:29,479
Speaker 1: changes coming forward around alcoholic communities and that responsibility coming

100
00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,360
Speaker 1: back to the territory government. So it is complex, but

101
00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:33,560
Speaker 1: we can never stop working.

102
00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:34,160
Speaker 3: Again.

103
00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,160
Speaker 2: I know that you're not the chief Minister. I know

104
00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,279
Speaker 2: that you're not the police minister. I do know that

105
00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,960
Speaker 2: you are obviously the minister that's responsible.

106
00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:41,560
Speaker 3: For alcohol policy.

107
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,400
Speaker 2: But does the cabinet, does the Northern Territory government cabinet

108
00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,880
Speaker 2: right now realize that this is an issue that is

109
00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:55,080
Speaker 2: absolutely devastating people around the place. You know, they are

110
00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,760
Speaker 2: fed up, They've had enough of it. They want some work,

111
00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,920
Speaker 2: they want something urgently to change.

112
00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,320
Speaker 1: Katie. We're members of our community. We go to the

113
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,760
Speaker 1: grocery store, we go for walks along the foreshore. We

114
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,520
Speaker 1: see this behavior so absolutely, and I think that in

115
00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,680
Speaker 1: terms of making sure that the government agencies at both Council,

116
00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,520
Speaker 1: NTG and Commonwealth are aware of the issues, we do

117
00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,360
Speaker 1: that so we do understand these issues and as I

118
00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,760
Speaker 1: keep saying, they're difficult and complex, but we'll keep throwing

119
00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:21,479
Speaker 1: everything at them.

120
00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,240
Speaker 2: And so right now, for people listening this morning who

121
00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,200
Speaker 2: are thinking it doesn't seem as though anything's changing, they're

122
00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,560
Speaker 2: not hearing from you that there's sort of urgent work

123
00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,880
Speaker 2: going on. Are there steps happening behind the scenes to

124
00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,719
Speaker 2: urgently try and address what is happening at the moment.

125
00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,400
Speaker 1: Yeah, Katie, So we're looking at the factor as why

126
00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,440
Speaker 1: and I know the Chief Minister's spoken to you about

127
00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,479
Speaker 1: why there's the numbers of people in du and why

128
00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,719
Speaker 1: they hear what we can do to support them. The

129
00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,560
Speaker 1: information coming is that we do have short term accommodation

130
00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,120
Speaker 1: and there is capacity. There is capacity within those so

131
00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,159
Speaker 1: bring up shelters. So there is certainly work across government

132
00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,640
Speaker 1: in an urgent scent looking at these issues right now

133
00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:57,880
Speaker 1: that our community is facing.

134
00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,600
Speaker 2: And do you think from your perspective alcohol policy perspective,

135
00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,360
Speaker 2: is there something that needs to change or is there

136
00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,680
Speaker 2: something that you need to look at to review, because

137
00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,280
Speaker 2: there will be people listening this morning thinking, how is.

138
00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,040
Speaker 3: It okay that we've just got people that.

139
00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,880
Speaker 2: Are drinking in the you know, in the city, in

140
00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,920
Speaker 2: parks all hours of the day and night, and it's

141
00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,400
Speaker 2: and it's deemed okay.

142
00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,040
Speaker 1: That's why, Katie, we've put in place measures to stop

143
00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:23,839
Speaker 1: the GRD getting into the hands of people that do

144
00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:25,719
Speaker 1: the wrong thing with it. It's always a balance, but

145
00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,800
Speaker 1: we're certainly looking at those policies that we've got and

146
00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,240
Speaker 1: how we can strengthen them to keep the community safe.

147
00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,800
Speaker 1: But it is a legal product commodity alcohol, and so

148
00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:35,839
Speaker 1: we do need to balance that.

149
00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,400
Speaker 2: So we spoke to the police yesterday morning after that

150
00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,520
Speaker 2: horrendous situation had unfolded in Casarina last week.

151
00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:45,039
Speaker 3: What the police had.

152
00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:48,000
Speaker 2: Said is that there were you know, and obviously it

153
00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,800
Speaker 2: isn't matter that's that's before the courts. So, like you said,

154
00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,400
Speaker 2: from the get go, I want to be careful about

155
00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,600
Speaker 2: what I say, but we're we are of the understanding

156
00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,200
Speaker 2: that there were groups of people who were drinking and

157
00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:02,200
Speaker 2: then this terrible event has unfolded. I think what we

158
00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,640
Speaker 2: are seeing around the place right now is that people

159
00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,920
Speaker 2: aren't just drinking and you know, and then behaving themselves.

160
00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,760
Speaker 2: We are seeing the flow on effect of some pretty

161
00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,200
Speaker 2: horrendous criminal behavior afterwards.

162
00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:15,440
Speaker 3: And that is what I'm trying to get to the

163
00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:15,960
Speaker 3: bottom of.

164
00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,080
Speaker 2: How we're i able to work on that so we

165
00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,880
Speaker 2: do not have a situation where there are members of

166
00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:21,640
Speaker 2: the public who.

167
00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:22,080
Speaker 3: Or at risk.

168
00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,720
Speaker 1: So, Katie, in terms of alcohol, we've got measures to

169
00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,640
Speaker 1: stop the supply. I've go to those that cause harme.

170
00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,880
Speaker 1: We strengthen secondary supply, both the legislation and the resources

171
00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,840
Speaker 1: to police, because we often know when something's restricted legally

172
00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,679
Speaker 1: that there is a bounce back in that secondary supply,

173
00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,400
Speaker 1: so we've put in place those resources. We've also got

174
00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,160
Speaker 1: the therapeutic options for people. We know that some people

175
00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,480
Speaker 1: struggle with alcohol, and so it's putting in place a

176
00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,840
Speaker 1: range of measures and making sure that police have the

177
00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,640
Speaker 1: tools to do their job. There's more police, more CCTV,

178
00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,960
Speaker 1: and as I just pointed to, those alcohol policies and

179
00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,040
Speaker 1: legislations have been strengthened so that they can when people

180
00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,520
Speaker 1: do the wrong thing, they can be penalized and they

181
00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,480
Speaker 1: can face the consequences to their behavior.

182
00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,440
Speaker 2: Have we seen last a couple of weeks ago, the

183
00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,800
Speaker 2: Chief Minister said that around four hundred people had gone home.

184
00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,560
Speaker 2: We have about two thousand, two thousand, five hundred, as

185
00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,200
Speaker 2: I understand in from other communities at the moment he

186
00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,679
Speaker 2: said about four hundred had gone home.

187
00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,200
Speaker 3: Have those numbers been updated, Katy.

188
00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,840
Speaker 1: I don't have those figures, but I'm certainly happy to

189
00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:21,960
Speaker 1: ask them and provide them through.

190
00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:23,840
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'd be keen to try and find out.

191
00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:25,960
Speaker 2: Look, I am going to move along because there is

192
00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:27,640
Speaker 2: a lot on the agenda this morning, and we know

193
00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:32,600
Speaker 2: that the Australian Salary Medical Officers NT President Tom Fowls

194
00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:37,360
Speaker 2: had told the Northern Territory News Well that doctors NT

195
00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,760
Speaker 2: doctors have voted no to this four year pay freeze

196
00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:44,360
Speaker 2: offer by the government. Ninety point four percent of medical

197
00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,960
Speaker 2: officers rejected the offer, with forty three point nine two

198
00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,280
Speaker 2: percent turning out to have their say. Minister, are you

199
00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:53,720
Speaker 2: concerned that this proposed pay freeze is going to make

200
00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,000
Speaker 2: it difficult to recruit doctors to the Northern Territory?

201
00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,560
Speaker 1: So, Katie, we respect our hardware medical offices and will

202
00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,480
Speaker 1: continue to negotiate in good faith with them. We do

203
00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,439
Speaker 1: see the enterprise bargaining agreements every few years and miss

204
00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,920
Speaker 1: about every four come around, and so we're presently in

205
00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,040
Speaker 1: those negotiations and we'll continue in good faith respecting how

206
00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,560
Speaker 1: hard they work and the roles they play in our community.

207
00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,800
Speaker 2: So my understanding is that they are after a pay

208
00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,600
Speaker 2: increase which is in line with inflation. So I think

209
00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,320
Speaker 2: it's three point five percent. Do you think that's fair enough?

210
00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:30,640
Speaker 1: So, Katie, we need to balance our budget situation here

211
00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,800
Speaker 1: in the territory, and I would argue that our health

212
00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,040
Speaker 1: workers are some of the most vital and deserve that.

213
00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:36,760
Speaker 1: But we have a policy where we don't want to

214
00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,000
Speaker 1: have to have job cuts, so we're working within those confines,

215
00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,560
Speaker 1: and the Minister for Public Employment is certainly making sure

216
00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,480
Speaker 1: that the Commissioner for Public Employment is negotiating. But I

217
00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,240
Speaker 1: can absolutely assure our doctors and our medical staff across

218
00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:51,600
Speaker 1: the board that it's within good faith.

219
00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,000
Speaker 2: Mister Fowles has said it was a surprise that the

220
00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,000
Speaker 2: offer was even on the table given the state of

221
00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,760
Speaker 2: the health system in Australia at the moment amid the

222
00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:02,840
Speaker 2: global pandemic. He said that fewer doctors means longer waiting

223
00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,120
Speaker 2: lists and more over crowded emergency departments. I mean, can

224
00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,360
Speaker 2: we really afford to shortchange doctors right now when we

225
00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,840
Speaker 2: do have weight lists that have blown out and we've

226
00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:15,760
Speaker 2: had several months of staff shortages in various areas within

227
00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,240
Speaker 2: the Northern Territories health system.

228
00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,720
Speaker 1: So, Katie, when you talk about fewer doctors, that would

229
00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,000
Speaker 1: be if we don't manage our budgets, then we would

230
00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,640
Speaker 1: have to be in the position that we couldn't recruit

231
00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:27,520
Speaker 1: to So what we're trying to find is that balance

232
00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:31,320
Speaker 1: between recruiting the most doctors but also acknowledging that work

233
00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:32,640
Speaker 1: they do so away we're going to.

234
00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:34,600
Speaker 2: Recruit them if they get paid less than what they

235
00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,000
Speaker 2: are in other states.

236
00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,000
Speaker 1: So, Katie, what you see particularly across the medical professionals.

237
00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:44,239
Speaker 1: Did you see different jurisdictions go in and negotiate those EBAs.

238
00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,839
Speaker 1: We've got our wages policy set, we saw the General

239
00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,440
Speaker 1: Anti Public Service wrote that up. We will continue to

240
00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,840
Speaker 1: negotiate in good faith and take on board all the

241
00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:52,720
Speaker 1: points that they raise.

242
00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:54,480
Speaker 3: But are you worried at this point in time?

243
00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,320
Speaker 2: I mean, have we got the number of doctors that

244
00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,640
Speaker 2: we need here in the Northern Territory at this point?

245
00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,640
Speaker 1: So this year we've welcomed almost three hundred and fifty

246
00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,440
Speaker 1: new junior doctors, nurses, midwives is a part of all

247
00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,439
Speaker 1: of our anti health training programs. We've also got two

248
00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,840
Speaker 1: hundred and fifty four junior doctors who've commenced working in

249
00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,440
Speaker 1: our hospital. So we have a program of making sure

250
00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:20,840
Speaker 1: that we support and we need absolutely those experienced doctors

251
00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,160
Speaker 1: and nurses and midwives within our system. We have strong

252
00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,400
Speaker 1: training programs. So we certainly have welcomed a number of

253
00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,080
Speaker 1: staff and will continue to work not only to make

254
00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,800
Speaker 1: sure that they have accessibility to the training programs, but

255
00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,480
Speaker 1: that also we negotiate this EBA and good faith to

256
00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:36,079
Speaker 1: have the professionals in place.

257
00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:40,000
Speaker 2: So right now, have we got enough experienced doctors here

258
00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:41,120
Speaker 2: in the Northern Territory?

259
00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:44,520
Speaker 1: So, Katie, the way the health system is set up

260
00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:48,040
Speaker 1: is you have structures within each division of medicine and

261
00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,160
Speaker 1: they have to have certain criteria met so that we

262
00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,040
Speaker 1: can provide those services. And we've been meeting all of

263
00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,320
Speaker 1: those compliance checks and accreditation that we go through within health.

264
00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,720
Speaker 3: So I would say yes, so we're meeting those clients checks.

265
00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:02,040
Speaker 3: Have we got enough surgeons?

266
00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:04,400
Speaker 2: Are we in a situation where we have these all

267
00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,760
Speaker 2: of these positions filled? Because what I'm getting to is,

268
00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,360
Speaker 2: you know, if we're not actually prepared to put the

269
00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:11,240
Speaker 2: level of pay on the table that they would get

270
00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,160
Speaker 2: in another state, how can we expect to fill those jobs?

271
00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,640
Speaker 1: The Katie. Within the health structures, as I was just outlining,

272
00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:19,480
Speaker 1: you have to have a number of positions and you

273
00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,920
Speaker 1: have to have the seniority and the levels of those positions.

274
00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,160
Speaker 1: We then get order to touot out and get our accreditation.

275
00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:28,199
Speaker 1: So we've been meeting those requirements. They're regularly undertaken. And

276
00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,239
Speaker 1: in terms of you know, you raise the specifics around surgeons,

277
00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,040
Speaker 1: we do have positions. It's a big agency, there's over

278
00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,600
Speaker 1: seven thousand staff within health. Then you will have positions

279
00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,960
Speaker 1: from time to time, but I'm not advised in any

280
00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,800
Speaker 1: specific areas that we're drastically under that that accreditation would

281
00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:44,320
Speaker 1: be perhaps being considered.

282
00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,559
Speaker 2: And so, are you confident that the negotiations at the

283
00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,200
Speaker 2: Northern Territory government and then are underway at the moment

284
00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,760
Speaker 2: with our medical professionals, specifically our doctors. Are you confident

285
00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,080
Speaker 2: that they're not going to have an impact when it

286
00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,480
Speaker 2: comes to trying to fill some of those jobs in

287
00:12:58,520 --> 00:12:59,120
Speaker 2: the territory.

288
00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,680
Speaker 1: The Kadie it's going through an enterprise bargaining agreement and

289
00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,040
Speaker 1: I have to respect that process with fair Work Australia.

290
00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,600
Speaker 1: But the Commissioner for Public Employment and the Government certainly

291
00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:10,720
Speaker 1: making it clear that we're negotiating in good faith and

292
00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:12,160
Speaker 1: revalue our medical staff.

293
00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,120
Speaker 2: All right. Just finally this morning, we know that nationally

294
00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,479
Speaker 2: there is now a discussion about the classification of close contacts.

295
00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:22,000
Speaker 2: So quarantine for close contacts of COVID nineteen cases could

296
00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,080
Speaker 2: be removed all together, is what is being reported nationally

297
00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:30,199
Speaker 2: if a recommendation by Australia's top public health officers is adopted.

298
00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:31,439
Speaker 3: By state and territory governments.

299
00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,000
Speaker 2: So a statement was released over the weekend by the

300
00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:39,319
Speaker 2: Australian Health Protection Principal Committee the AHPPC over the weekend

301
00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,760
Speaker 2: and it said that quarantine could be replaced with other

302
00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,559
Speaker 2: risk mitigation measures for close contacts once the peak of

303
00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:51,240
Speaker 2: the current wave of BA two omicron subvariant is over. Minister,

304
00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:52,959
Speaker 2: is this something that we're going to be looking at

305
00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,600
Speaker 2: in the Northern Territory as well.

306
00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,240
Speaker 1: So the Chief Health Office and I've spoken about these

307
00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,480
Speaker 1: changes that have occurred being discussed nationally. We of course

308
00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:04,760
Speaker 1: take on board all that national information we have to

309
00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,320
Speaker 1: overlay in the territory's context, and you're absolutely correct. We

310
00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,200
Speaker 1: are seeing a slight increase in those numbers presently, but

311
00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:14,600
Speaker 1: we're hoping that eases soon. So this is as we

312
00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,080
Speaker 1: change from the pandemic to an endemic. These are the

313
00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:19,080
Speaker 1: sorts of changes that will be discussed, and we'll make

314
00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,040
Speaker 1: sure that the territory is context that goes through that

315
00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,680
Speaker 1: sensive process with the advice of our chief Health.

316
00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,120
Speaker 2: Officer for US, but no urgent changes at this point

317
00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,200
Speaker 2: in TIMEE.

318
00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,600
Speaker 1: COVID is very fast moving, so you know, we could

319
00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,800
Speaker 1: be discussing this and I can genuinely say exposn to

320
00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,520
Speaker 1: the trow about it being absolutely no decisions, and then

321
00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:37,760
Speaker 1: you know tomorrow there could be a SENSEI called and

322
00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,080
Speaker 1: that could change. We saw this early on with changes

323
00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,960
Speaker 1: of measures of protection brought in, and we've seen those

324
00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,440
Speaker 1: changes as we step out. But that is where it

325
00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,000
Speaker 1: is presently at it it's a discussion nationally. Our show

326
00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,640
Speaker 1: will take that advice plus the territory's context, and we'll

327
00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,040
Speaker 1: make those decisions to the territory. But I can assure

328
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,520
Speaker 1: people that we're moving from that pandemic to an endemic.

329
00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:57,280
Speaker 1: I know, people want it to hurry up. They want

330
00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,680
Speaker 1: that bright light of COVID to be over quickly, and

331
00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:01,960
Speaker 1: we're trying with that health advice to get there.

332
00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:02,440
Speaker 3: Minister.

333
00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,320
Speaker 2: I've just had a question come through on the techt line.

334
00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,000
Speaker 2: It says a question for the Minister if I, as

335
00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,200
Speaker 2: a regular member on a nightly basis, drank near a

336
00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,320
Speaker 2: bottle shop and conducted myself in the same way as

337
00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,280
Speaker 2: some itinerant people are right now, how long would it

338
00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:18,640
Speaker 2: take until I was arrested?

339
00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:23,240
Speaker 1: Okay, that's an operational question for police who enforce the law.

340
00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,800
Speaker 1: There is strong laws around ourcohol policy. There's a two

341
00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,040
Speaker 1: kilometer law in the Northern Territory where you can't drink

342
00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,040
Speaker 1: within a license premise. So our police then respond to

343
00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:32,920
Speaker 1: the situations that are at hand, I guess.

344
00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,240
Speaker 2: So it does point to the sentiment at the moment

345
00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,280
Speaker 2: that you know, there is this feeling that we are

346
00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,560
Speaker 2: just turning a blind eye to people drinking, to their

347
00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,560
Speaker 2: being domestic violence on the streets, to their being criminal

348
00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,440
Speaker 2: behavior in some cases on the streets.

349
00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,800
Speaker 1: Right now, Katie, we're not turning a blind eye to this,

350
00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,080
Speaker 1: and there's a number of measures that I can point

351
00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:56,200
Speaker 1: to the investment in domestic violence, the resources that we're getting,

352
00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,680
Speaker 1: police worker not turning a blind eye to this behavior.

353
00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:00,520
Speaker 2: All right, we are going to have to leave it there,

354
00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,320
Speaker 2: Minister Files. We always appreciate your time. Thank you for

355
00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:04,520
Speaker 2: speaking with us this morning.

356
00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:07,080
Speaker 1: Thanks Katine. I won't be on week it was, but

357
00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,440
Speaker 1: wishing all your listeners are happy Easter and I hope

358
00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:10,360
Speaker 1: they get some time with them.

359
00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,760
Speaker 2: Well, we're all having this Friday off, so you'll be

360
00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,240
Speaker 2: all right. We'll have you back on very soon. Thank

361
00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:16,280
Speaker 2: you for your time today.

362
00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:17,760
Speaker 1: Take care.

363
00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:18,280
Speaker 3: Thank you,