1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: You might recall back in two thousand and eleven, the 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,119 Speaker 1: Commonwealth was ordered to pay up to a billion dollars 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 1: in court ordered compensation for the twenty eleven Indonesian live 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: export ban. Now, the cattleman and the Commonwealth have been 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: left at odds over the government's refusal to pay that 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: compensation and interest over the ban that devastated the territory's 7 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: cattle sector and associated industries. Now, according to the Northern 8 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: Territory News, the former NT Cattleman's Association chairman David Connolly 9 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: was a fierce critic of the Commonwealth's refusal to pay 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: that compo, using his final address in the role in 11 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: Alice Springs last month to deliver well a withering spray 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: to the Agriculture Minister Murray wash Joining us on the 13 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: line to tell us a little bit more about where 14 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: things are at right now is the CEO of the 15 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: NT Cattleman's Association, Will Evans. 16 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Will. 17 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie, thanks for having me on. 18 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, mate, really good to speak to you this morning. 19 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: Now, I reckon most people listening today would be thinking 20 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: to themselves. I remember when this court, like when this 21 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: decision was made. Tracy Hayeser joined me in the studio 22 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: to talk about it. 23 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 2: It was a day that a lot of people. 24 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: Felt like, hey, you know that genuine Territorians are finally 25 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: getting the compensation and you know, getting what they deserve 26 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: after what had been a horrendous decision by the federal government. 27 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 3: Okatie, Look, I was in the room on that day, 28 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 3: and it was twenty ninth of June twenty twenty, and 29 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 3: we're almost four years after that. Now we are no 30 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 3: further along progressing or finalizing the settlement that we were 31 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 3: on that day. It is extremely, extremely frustrating that we're 32 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 3: dealing with a federal government. Eleven members of this cabinet 33 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 3: were in the cabinet in twenty eleven who made the 34 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 3: decision to ban the trade, and today they're telling us 35 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 3: that this isn't politics, this isn't political, This is an 36 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 3: independent legal process and we're just going to let it 37 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 3: play out. And I think anybody listening to that knows 38 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 3: that that's a very political statement. 39 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: So, Mate, where exactly are things at right now? It 40 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: sounds like there's a standstill well. 41 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 3: Where we're trying to agree on the total sum of damages. Now, 42 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 3: the government gave us an offer of two hundred and 43 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 3: twenty million dollars without interest and without costs. Now, Katie 44 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 3: is anybody would know that is very very standard in 45 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 3: a court case. Is you get costs and you get interests. 46 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 3: And the government said, no, we're not paying that. And 47 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 3: there are more than two hundred claimants, more than two 48 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 3: hundred claimants to this case, and they're offering almost nothing 49 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 3: to those people. So this is where we're at at 50 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 3: the moment. Now we know the damages are far over 51 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 3: a billion dollars. We put forward an offer and we said, look, 52 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 3: this is reasonable, we believe it, this is what we 53 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 3: should do. And the government said absolutely, we're not accepting that. 54 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 3: So where we're out today. We've got a hearing scheduled 55 00:02:55,120 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 3: for next year. Next year we try to agree next 56 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 3: year to finally try to agree to a total quantum 57 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 3: of damages. 58 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: That'll be nearly five years after the case. 59 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 3: The government has requested additional time to understand what is 60 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 3: more about the damages that were inflicted and try to 61 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 3: understand how we've reached the number that we've reached. It. 62 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 3: They need more time after thirteen years of advocating on this, 63 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 3: after more than a decade before the courts. They've requested 64 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 3: additional time because they don't quite understand the intricacies of 65 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 3: our claim. 66 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: Look, how how are you guys feeling? You know, when 67 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: you think about that, when they're saying that you know 68 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: that they need more time, How is that? How is 69 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: that making everyone feel right now? 70 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 3: Well, I think there's a lot of issues. There's a 71 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 3: lot of issues because we've got a government, a federal 72 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 3: government at the moment, that is saying we're banning the 73 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 3: sheep trade in Western Australia because we don't like it. However, 74 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 3: we do very much support the Northern cattle industry despite 75 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 3: the fact that we tried to ban it in twenty eleven. 76 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 3: We recognize that it's the backbone of Norman Australian's economy. 77 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 3: We see it as being critically important. We understand all 78 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 3: of that now, but we're going to drag out the 79 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 3: compensation in this case as long as possible because we 80 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,679 Speaker 3: don't believe what happened in twenty eleven was actually very bad. 81 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 2: But it makes them sound like they're full of us. 82 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 3: They are full of the Katie. And look, I think 83 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 3: we've reached a point now where we have engaged in 84 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 3: good faith. David in his time in the role, met 85 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 3: with representatives and ministers of the federal government and said, 86 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 3: let's get in a room. Give us one day. We 87 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 3: will get to an agreement on this. We will sort 88 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 3: this out. And they said, no, David, this is an 89 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 3: independent legal process and we have to respect that. And 90 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 3: I think we've reasappointed. We put everything that we can 91 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 3: on the table. We are trying to bring this to 92 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 3: a conclusion, and we're being ignored. 93 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: Have you spoken to the Agriculture Minister Murray Walham? 94 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 2: What does he had to say? 95 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 3: Murray's in a difficul position. I think the reality is 96 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 3: these decisions I don't think of being made made by Murray. 97 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 3: I know they're not being made by Marray. They're being 98 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 3: made by other people. And I don't think he's got 99 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 3: the influence to be able to tell them that they 100 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 3: need to do this. I know Maray is sympathetic to 101 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 3: our situation. I know he agrees that this should be concluded, 102 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 3: but I don't think he's the one making that call. 103 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: So what is your message for the federal government today? 104 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: Will where to from here? 105 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 3: I think there's a really clearly message Katie and they said, 106 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 3: the expectation of everybody, not just a Northern Territory Cattleman's 107 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 3: Association or the members or the claimants to this court case, 108 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 3: expectation of all Australians's government shouldn't hurt the people who 109 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,919 Speaker 3: elect them or who they are elected to represent. Government 110 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 3: shouldn't have for calm on those people, and when they do, 111 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 3: they should own up to it and make good. And 112 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 3: the fact that this government walks around the country saying 113 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 3: we see everyone as being equal and we want to 114 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 3: help everybody equally, but refuses to own up to the 115 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 3: mistakes that they made a decade ago, I think tells 116 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:03,359 Speaker 3: everybody exactly what but how strongly they hold those beliefs. 117 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: Mate to anybody that's listening this morning that's thinking, oh, 118 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:09,039 Speaker 1: you know, the amount of money that the cattleman wanted 119 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: is too much. 120 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 2: What would you say to them, Katie. 121 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 3: This is just the cost so compensation conversation. We have 122 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 3: to calculate compensation based on loss, yep. So it's not 123 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 3: about you know, this is the money that we think 124 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 3: we might have all we would have liked to have 125 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 3: done or we would hope happened. This is what we 126 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 3: lost and it's dragged on so long now that the 127 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 3: interest is enormous. This is going to cost the taxpayer 128 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 3: of fortune. And what's important for the taxpayer to understand 129 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 3: is we're not the ones dragging this case out. The 130 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 3: people who are elected to make these decisions are the 131 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 3: ones who are dragging this case out. And it is 132 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 3: going to cost a lot of money. 133 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 1: Mate, it sounds like the anti Cattleman's Association. You guys 134 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: aren't prepared to just go away here. The federal government 135 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: should expect to fight. 136 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 3: Well, I think we have tried everything. We have tried 137 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 3: to be nice. We've tried to be put light. We've 138 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 3: flown the camper, We've spoken to them, we've met with them, 139 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 3: we have tried to put offers on the table that 140 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 3: we considered to be reasonable. We have done everything that 141 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 3: we can to try and mend this bridge, and at 142 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 3: every single turn we've been cut off. And there has 143 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 3: to be a show of good faith and there has 144 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 3: to be something from this government to say, no, look, 145 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 3: we are going to own up to this. But the 146 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 3: reality is Anthony Alberniz he spoke at an event in 147 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 3: rock Campton last or last month, and when he was 148 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 3: attacked or not attacked. When it was raised with him 149 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 3: that he needed to consider compensation in the Brett cattle case, 150 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 3: he was shocked. He was surprised that that was an 151 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 3: issue that the room had and I just you know, 152 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 3: I think that's just speaks of volumes about this current government. 153 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: Well it actually like it makes me think it shows 154 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: that he's that he's out of touch. Either him or 155 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: his staff have no idea, Like I don't understand how 156 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: you can rock up to something like that and not 157 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: think that it's going to be raised as an issue. 158 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 3: He was in a room in Northern Australia where there 159 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 3: were people in the room his government owe money to 160 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 3: and he was surprised that it was raised as an issue. 161 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: Mate, I find that so unbelievable. And you know, again, 162 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 2: I will. 163 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: Say, it shows that you're quite out of touch, like 164 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: that he's quite out of touch with regional Australia, I think, 165 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: And that's something that a lot of us feel in 166 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: regional Australia as it is. But then when you look 167 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: at what's going on and you look at the fact 168 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: that that compensation has not been paid, it just beggars belief. 169 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 3: It does, Guardie, and I think the only other thing 170 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 3: I'd say is this isn't just cattleman who are part 171 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 3: of this case. We have trucking companies, we invest we 172 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 3: have all sorts of people who are part of this case. 173 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 3: This isn't just a cattle issue. This is a Northern 174 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 3: Australian issue. It's a Norman territory issue. And the fact 175 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 3: that the central government thinks that they can drag it 176 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: out as long as they like tells US. I think 177 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,359 Speaker 3: a lot of territory is exactly what they've always suspected. 178 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: Well mate, I really appreciate your time this morning, appreciate 179 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: you coming on the show. Please do keep in contact 180 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: with US. US know how things progress, and we will 181 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: talk to you soon. Thank you, thank you, Thanks so much.