1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,760 Speaker 1: But an issue which has well and truly dominated the 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: headlines over the last few days is that of the 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: lack of food on the supermarket shelves. And we know 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,239 Speaker 1: that South Australian authorities estimate that it's going to take 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: around twelve days in fact for floodwaters to subside on 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: the Stuart Highway and for restoration works to begin. Now 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: the Stuart Highway is closed between Cooper Petie and Port 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: Augusta still as I understand it, with work being done 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: to reopen it. My understanding is that the Stuart Highway 10 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: obviously will where it connects Adelaide and Darwin and has 11 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: obviously been closed for about a week, so it's between 12 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: Port Agusta and Cooper Petie. It cuts the road off 13 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: from freight to remote parts of South Australia and also 14 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: us here in the Northern Territory. And as I said, 15 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: the issue has sort of caused many to start to 16 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: question if it's time that we need to flood proof 17 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: the Stuart Highway. Now joining me in the studio right 18 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: now is the Federal Minister. I think I've got your 19 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: portfolios right for Tourism and infrastructure. 20 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 2: Catherine King, good morning to you. 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 3: Good to be with you, Katie. Lovely to be back 22 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 3: in the territory. 23 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's great to have you back in the territory. 24 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: I know that you try to get up here fairly often, 25 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: but with COVID it's made things a bit more difficult. 26 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 2: It has been. 27 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 4: I think it's almost probably about ten months I think 28 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 4: since you and I last spoken, I was able to 29 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 4: get here and I love coming up here, but I've 30 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 4: never seen it so wet, I have to say them 31 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 4: onsoons well and surely living up to its name at 32 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 4: the moment. I've never seen it like this before, and 33 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 4: that many years I've been coming up here. But it's 34 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 4: good to be here, and I think it's pretty timely 35 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 4: given some of the supply chain. 36 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 3: Issues you're seeing. 37 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I think that it's the perfect timing for you 38 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: to be here and really to you know, for some 39 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: of our federal polies, really to see just what we 40 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: go through at different times. I know that this flooding 41 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: which is occurring around the nation, it's reak t havoc 42 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: in so many ways. 43 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 2: For us here in the territory. 44 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: It's been that real concern around lack of food on 45 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: supermarket shelves. Have you sort of seen a situation like 46 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: this in a capital city before. 47 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 4: Look, no, and I think that I think there's a 48 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 4: few things happening here that are worth commenting on. I mean, 49 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 4: I think first, sort of more broadly, is we keep 50 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 4: getting told that those flood events are sort of one 51 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 4: in one hundred year events, and the reality is that 52 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 4: they're not. You know, we're seeing them more frequently. And 53 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 4: regardless of what you think climate change is happening, it's 54 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 4: real and we're seeing it and we're seeing the results 55 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 4: of it. So I think the first thing I'd say 56 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 4: is having a government that's serious about dealing with that 57 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 4: is one of the ways we actually build in resiliency 58 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 4: into the system by trying to make sure we actually 59 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 4: tackle the. 60 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 3: Root calls of some of the problems. 61 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 4: The second, I think is this whole issue around disaster mitigation. 62 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 4: We keep every time we have a disaster, we build 63 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 4: the roads back to exactly the same specs that they 64 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 4: were before, and that just seems crazy. Again, if we 65 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 4: know we've seen what's happened, and the fact that you've 66 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 4: got this one core supply route up to the territory 67 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 4: is really problematic, and you're going to have. 68 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 3: We have to build resiliency into the system. 69 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 4: The government's got a disaster mitigation finn four point seven 70 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 4: billion dollars that it's been pretty much sitting on. I 71 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 4: think it's spent about seven eight million dollars of it. 72 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 4: What are they waiting for? Frankly like, if we need 73 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 4: disaster medication, then we should getting on with it and 74 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 4: just doing it. So I think that's another thing. So 75 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 4: there's meant to be two hundred million dollars a year 76 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 4: made available. And again I think we had Murray Watt 77 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 4: up here recently, who's our shadow spokesperson from it, So yeah, 78 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 4: and exactly. And then the other is investments in our 79 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 4: freight routes and actually looking at So there's been this 80 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 4: really scattergun approach to infrastructure events, investments spederally and you know, 81 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 4: the cynic in me says, you know, like if you 82 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 4: live in a National Party seat, the roads might be 83 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 4: a bit better than they are in others. But there's 84 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 4: just not been this strategic planning about what are we 85 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 4: doing about our national freight routes, what are we doing 86 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 4: about our supply chains, and really thinking strategically about that. 87 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 4: The Stewart's clearly important. The tannami is important. We've announced 88 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 4: another policy recently Anthony and I over in Newcastle about 89 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 4: strategic fleet capability, like having a maritime fleet available, not 90 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 4: leasing that when there's times of emergency. So we rely 91 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 4: on our ADF, but we also should be able to 92 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 4: have our commercial coastal shipping to be able to actually 93 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 4: help with that, so we can call on ships to 94 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 4: you know, drop into the port of Darwin or to 95 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 4: drop into wa So again actually thinking strategically about where 96 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 4: are our supply, where are the risks, and looking into 97 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 4: that longer term. So we've made that strategic flood announcement, 98 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 4: but we've also you know, we'll also make some announcements 99 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 4: in terms of freight roads and things like that and 100 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 4: how important they are. We've been I'd already talked to 101 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 4: the South Australian Opposition about the Stuart and how important 102 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,679 Speaker 4: that was. I've done that months ago, and I've certainly 103 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 4: been up here talking to some of the MPs up 104 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 4: here about the critical freight routes as well. 105 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:30,679 Speaker 3: You can't just have one, that's the problem. 106 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: That's exactly right, and as you've said, you know, you've 107 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: got to have other options there. And I know that 108 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: sometimes it takes a once in one hundred year flood 109 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 1: or once in a fifty year flood for you to 110 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: you know, to look a little bit more closely at it. 111 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: But we know that a federal election is nearing, there's 112 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: always plenty of promises made. But what exactly would the 113 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: Labor Party do when it comes to this space and 114 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: would there be you know, a feasibility study firstly to 115 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: see how exactly we could fix the Stewart Highway to 116 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 1: flood proof it, and would there be an actual tangible investment. 117 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 4: Will make some announcements in relation to freight routs, and 118 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 4: as I said, I'm not able to do that today, 119 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,919 Speaker 4: but we've certainly been looking very seriously at it. Good try, Kadie, 120 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 4: you really do you know what we do. But what 121 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 4: I would say is the approach I take to infrastructure 122 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 4: is very different to Barnaby Joyce. Frankly, I've been in 123 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 4: public policy and public life for a long period of 124 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 4: time and I have a really firm view that infrastructure 125 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 4: investment is. You know, you have to have equity in 126 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 4: infrastructure investment. It's an enabling factor. It has to be 127 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 4: one of the principles on which you're building in and 128 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 4: I think that building in strategically improving our freight routs 129 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 4: and making sure that people actually can get food is 130 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 4: a pretty basic business of government, and so as minister, 131 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 4: if that's what I'm lucky enough to be in the 132 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 4: next four or five months whenever it is, that will 133 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 4: be certainly one of the principles I'll take to the table. 134 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 4: I don't know if we need to do too many 135 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 4: feasibility studies on the Stewart To be honest, I think 136 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 4: we know what needs to be done. I think it's 137 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 4: the investment it's needed, and as well, obviously the rail 138 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 4: lines caused a problem as well that I don't know 139 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 4: how to resolve that. But if I was Minister, I'd 140 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 4: be certainly asking some questions about from ARTC and see 141 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 4: if you build that in. 142 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: Have you had much advice, you know, from local authorities 143 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: both in South Australia and also here in the Northern Territory, 144 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: but mostly in South Australia where the road is still 145 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: flooded as to how quickly they are going to be 146 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: able to get that road back up and moving again. 147 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 4: I don't think they've been able to get in there 148 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 4: to see just what the damage is yet, so I 149 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 4: will certainly take advice, and I know the South Australian position, 150 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 4: they've got an election coming up as well. I think 151 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 4: they have been talking about the minister that the shadow 152 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 4: minister there has been talking about it quite a bit 153 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 4: and they've raised the issue with me, you know, as 154 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 4: I said months ago, So I think we don't know yet. 155 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 4: But again, if you're going to repair it, why would 156 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 4: you just repair it as is? If this is you know, 157 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 4: this has happened before like this is not, but it 158 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 4: seems to be, you know, happening more frequently, and we 159 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 4: just can't have this circumstance where you can't get food 160 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 4: like it just seems ridiculous to me that we're in 161 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 4: this day and age that or have not been able 162 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 4: to get food. 163 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: Now, one of the other things I'm keen to ask 164 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: you about in that tourism portfolio, we know that tourism, 165 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: the tourism industry right around Australia has certainly been doing 166 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: it incredibly tough. 167 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 2: In the Northern territory. 168 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: They have also been doing it very tough, specifically in 169 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: Central Australia. I know that Central Australia, prior to Christmas 170 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: was going through such a difficult time in terms of nobody, 171 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: you know, nobody visiting basically, and that's certainly not gotten. 172 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: Easier is the Labor Party planning, you know, if you 173 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,119 Speaker 1: do get elected at the federal at the federal election, 174 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: are there plans to do more to try to support 175 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: the tourism industry here in the Northern Territory and to 176 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: really try to help them rebound back. 177 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 4: Look, absolutely, I think the tourism sector is one of 178 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 4: the sectors that's been really abandoned by the Morrison government 179 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 4: throughout this but and they are key drivers of economic 180 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 4: activity in regional communities right the way across this country. 181 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 4: Why would you not have used COVID as an opportunity 182 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 4: to help in tourism, to improve the quality of its infrastructure, 183 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 4: to do some builts like they haven't you know, the 184 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 4: last two and a half years really very little investment 185 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 4: in tourism infrastructure. Will start to see a bit of 186 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 4: that obviously with the federal election coming up. But you know, 187 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 4: the previous Labor government, we had these t cooal grants 188 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 4: that you know, improve the quality of terurim infrastructure. So 189 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 4: while they're in downtime, help them, you know, fix fix 190 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 4: accommodation facilities, improve the infrastructure so when visitors do come back, 191 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 4: you can say, you know, look at all of this 192 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 4: new new infrastructure we've got and how terrific is to 193 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 4: attract people. We will, you know, again, be making some 194 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 4: broader announcements around that. But I see tourism as part 195 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 4: of the overall regional development package and it's really about 196 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 4: how do you actually grow and develop that economic opportunity 197 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,559 Speaker 4: in every one of the regions where we've got, you know, 198 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 4: where tourism is a key driver. You've been smashed here 199 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 4: in the Northern Territory, Far North Queenslands are same. But 200 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 4: like even in my hometown of Ballarat Sovereign Hills I 201 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 4: made to tourism icon, it's really struggled with the numbers. 202 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 4: It's not getting the international tourists back and that's not 203 00:08:58,080 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 4: going to happen for a long time to come. So 204 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 4: it's revenue is really much lower than it used to be. 205 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 4: So we'll certainly be making some announcements about that support. 206 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 4: But I think the biggest thing has been why have 207 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 4: we not been investing in the last couple of years 208 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 4: in actually helping rebuild the tourism infrastructure. In this country 209 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 4: so that when we're open people are ready to go. 210 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: Have you or are you planning to meet with the 211 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: tourism sector while you're here in Darwin? 212 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm heading off because we've got Parliament soon and 213 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 4: I'm actually not. 214 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: The Tourism Shadow Don ferroffrom South Australia is not at all, 215 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 3: not at all. That's fine. 216 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 4: Don has been meeting with the tourism sector right the 217 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 4: way through this crisis. 218 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 3: But as Regional. 219 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 4: Development Shadow Minister, I have certainly had representations from various 220 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 4: parts of the tourism sector. 221 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 3: The one issue, you know, one of the. 222 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 4: Biggest issues here you've got is this Kakado issue, like 223 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 4: why is that money not flowing? Why is that not 224 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 4: actually going into the territory at the moment in terms 225 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 4: of fixing the infrastructure for Kakado, because when tourism come back, 226 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 4: they will you want to be ready. 227 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: Well, then when you talk about regional developlopment and by 228 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: apologies and we've rittfolio there, but when you talk about 229 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 1: regional development, one of the biggest issues we've got in 230 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 1: the territory around regional development or one of the things 231 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: that we are really wanting to do in the territory 232 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: is build the population. What is Labour's strategy, you know 233 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: when it comes to regional Australia and really getting people 234 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: not only in those capital cities we don't want everybody 235 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: living there, but getting them out to some of our 236 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: regions and filling some of those jobs that are difficult 237 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: to fill as well. 238 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 3: It's place based solutions. People already know. 239 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 4: You know where you live, you know what the economic 240 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 4: advantages you've got of those communities. You also know what 241 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 4: the infrastructure is that you needed, whether whether it's tourism, 242 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 4: whether it's other social and liverability issues. It's really investing 243 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 4: in those areas. We made an announcement here just yesterday 244 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 4: about seven point five million dollar to Caserina swimming Pool, 245 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,439 Speaker 4: making sure that again there's equity across communities so the 246 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 4: people in the North of Darwin actually have decent recreational facilities. 247 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 4: In the same way. Those sort of investments in partnership, 248 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 4: particularly with local government, I think are where the key 249 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 4: is to restrain a. 250 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: Bit of pushback from some territorians on that announcement, saying 251 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: you know, why are we spending money on a pool. 252 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: It could be invested on other things. You know that 253 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: are more important at this point in time. 254 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I guess a year ago when I came 255 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 4: to the territory that was one of the priorities that 256 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 4: the council, the City of dal And have. They've obviously 257 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 4: got a number of others. It's one of the announcements 258 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 4: will make in the course of the election campaign. That 259 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 4: Pool in particular, I think is interesting and that you've 260 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 4: had commitments to Palmerston, You've had Perup has already had 261 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 4: significant investment in and I think that in our older 262 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 4: suburbs in particular that have been around for a long 263 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 4: time that Pool's been I think it's fifty years old plus, 264 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,199 Speaker 4: that you actually should be improving those recreational facilities. I 265 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 4: think what I've seen with COVID particularly is people want 266 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 4: opportunities to be able to gather outdoors, to recreate outdoors 267 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 4: together in a COVID safe way, and those recreational facilities 268 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 4: are actually really critical to keeping people socially connected and 269 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 4: also making your sub livable and attracting new people into them. 270 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 4: So I think you know the North deserves it is 271 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 4: just as much as anywhere else. But please be assured 272 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 4: that is not the only infrastructure investment that we'll be 273 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 4: making here in Darin and here in the Northern Territory. 274 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 4: There's lots more that we'll have on offer in the 275 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 4: course of the election campaign. 276 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 1: Well Catherine King, the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport 277 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: and Regional DELIVERYYS, good to catch up with you, Thanks so. 278 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 2: Much for your time. 279 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 3: Lovely to see you in your beautiful bright yellow today. 280 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. Always good to catch up with you. 281 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for your time this morning.