1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: It is time for the week that was and joining 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: us in the studio this morning, we've got the Deputy 3 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: or Position Leader, Jared Mayley. Good morning to you. 4 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners. 5 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: We've got Matt Cunningham from Sky News. Good morning Matt, 6 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: today Katy, and we've got Natasha Files, the Health Minister. 7 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: Good morning to you. See now it has certainly been 8 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 1: a busy week. It is always a busy week. I 9 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: think I say that every Friday morning. But there's been 10 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: a lot of discussion throughout the week about the vaccine mandate. 11 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: We know that it was introduced last Wednesday and then 12 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: we saw that rally on the weekend. There are still 13 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: a small number of anti vaxers in the community, but 14 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: there are also some serious concerns from business, and I 15 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: know that frustrations are growing at the Territory government's implementation 16 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: of the measures into the workplace and at this point 17 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 1: in time, well the NT News has reported the heads 18 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: of two peak industry groups say there is an urgent 19 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: need for greater information and a contact point to government 20 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: to answer questions from concerned employees after a lack of consultation. 21 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 1: So we know that the Chief Minister has been called 22 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: on to honor a long standing request to meet with 23 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: industry to discuss the workplace mandates. The Northern Territory Chamber 24 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: of Commerce Chief Executive Greg Island, he's going to join 25 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: us on the show a little later this morning, but 26 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: he's called on the Chief Minister, Michael Gunner to meet 27 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: to discuss those proposed changes. 28 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 3: He's not the only one. I know that Dave Malone 29 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 3: as well. 30 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,759 Speaker 1: From Master Builders and some of those other industry groups 31 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: are feeling a bit the same. I mean, at the 32 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: end of the day, they are indeed the ones who 33 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: are going to have to sort of implement some of 34 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: these changes within those industries. So wouldn't it be the 35 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: right thing for them to actually be sort of consulted 36 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: with so that they can make sure that they're doing 37 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: the right thing. 38 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 4: So, Katie, the Chow direction is really clear around the 39 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,479 Speaker 4: principles in where people in the cases where people need 40 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 4: to be vaccinated. Of course, industry has been worked with. 41 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 4: They have a contact within the Chose Office. They have 42 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 4: the Department of Tourism, Industry and Trade, and I know 43 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 4: that the head of that department has done us significant 44 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 4: body of work and there's certainly open phone lines. They 45 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 4: also Fair Work Commission can provide them, So some of 46 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 4: these questions cross into that space. But it's really simple 47 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 4: for the majority of our community. There's only a very small, 48 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 4: rare case where it's not clinically safe to get vaccinated. 49 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 5: Just get vaccinated. 50 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: But it's not that simple though when it comes to 51 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: actually if you've got someone turning up for work, then 52 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: who is refusing to get vaccinated? Is it then up 53 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: to the employer to call the police? 54 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 3: Like what needs to actually happen here? 55 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 4: So we put the direction out last week so that 56 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 4: people can see the actual legal directions that will be 57 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 4: enforced from the thirteenth of November. And as I just mentioned, 58 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 4: the Fair Work Commission can help them. If they've got 59 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 4: someone that is saying that they will not get vaccinated, 60 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 4: Fair Work can help them work through that. 61 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 6: What is the ruling from the government. 62 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 7: You need to be able to tell businesses on the 63 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 7: fourteenth of November if someone comes to work and they're 64 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 7: not vaccinated, what does an employer do? 65 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 4: So there will be a fine for the individual and 66 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 4: they'll be a fine for the employer, But so do. 67 00:02:58,280 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 3: They call the police? 68 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 6: Yeah, call the police. 69 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 4: So, as I've said throughout this, we've had an educative 70 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 4: approach where we have tried to work with individuals, work 71 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 4: with people, and we've only had very rare cases of 72 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 4: people breaching Chow directions. 73 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 5: But yes, people do need to uphold the Chow. 74 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 4: Direction once it comes into place from the thirteenth of 75 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 4: November and then and following on it Atash. 76 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: Your people out there are very very concerned about the 77 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 2: miscommunication and about the lack of education. It's allry for 78 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 2: you to sit in here and say that the phone 79 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 2: lines are open. We've heard from industry leaders who say 80 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: they need some more information and need some clarification about this, 81 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 2: and they're not getting that. It's been about two weeks, 82 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 2: hasn't it since a bit over a week a week, 83 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 2: and there's been no clear idea or communication and how 84 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 2: it's going to be implemented. We were talking about the 85 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 2: thirteenth of November. That's not far away. And it's clear 86 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: that these people are concerned about it because these organizations 87 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 2: represent a whole range of people right across the territory. 88 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 2: They're the one saying that there's no information coming from you. 89 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 2: So just to sit here and say, oh, the phone 90 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: line they're open. That's just not good enough. 91 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: I mean, I've got one person who's spending content with 92 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: us this morning in the transport industry and they say 93 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: the show direction number fifty six for freight workers was 94 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: released yesterday afternoon, and they've got different vaccination deadline dates 95 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: to everybody else, and they've got even less time. So 96 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: that first dose by the November first, she said, it 97 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: is madness. I'd be stocking up on essential items because 98 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,160 Speaker 1: with those deadlines, I honestly think we're about to see 99 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 1: massive truck driver and we're house staff shortages. 100 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 4: So, Katie, in relation to the freight drivers, they have 101 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 4: always had a separate national code and principles because they 102 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 4: have been and we've seen a number of instances where 103 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 4: truck drivers have tested positive and we know that we 104 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 4: have to have our critical infrastructure remaining open. We saw 105 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 4: that positive wastewater testing in the top end a few 106 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 4: weeks back, and we do believe that was a truck 107 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 4: driver at some point. And so the truck drivers, there 108 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 4: has been national consultation and they have got separate guidelines 109 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 4: that they have to follow, and that has changed throughout pandemic. 110 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 5: As the variance of change, someone else. 111 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: Has just been in contact and said there's been no 112 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: guidelines as to how businesses and schools are to hold 113 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: the data and being told that schools, for examples, can't 114 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: shred or dispose of them. 115 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 3: So what are they supposed to do? 116 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 4: Katie happy to take that question on notice around the 117 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 4: specifics of that, But it's really simple. People need to 118 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 4: be vaccinated in those roles, and if they're not willing 119 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 4: to be vaccinated and there is no other role for them, 120 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 4: the employers should engage with fair work. 121 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 1: But can the government actually sort of see that From 122 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: your perspective, it might be really simple that people need 123 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: to be vaccinated, and yet we all understand that. But 124 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: from the perspective of those industry groups, what they're seeking 125 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 1: to clarify is exactly how they manage some of these different, 126 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: you know, different scenarios. And I think that it's pretty 127 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: well fair enough when you're talking about a large portion 128 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: of the Northern Territories workforce and some of our major 129 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: industry groups, you know, the Chamber of Commerce, and then 130 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 1: you're talking about Mars to builders, so the construction industry. 131 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: Isn't it fair enough for somebody to sit down with 132 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: them and actually go through that. 133 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 5: And that has been happening, Katie, and that will continue 134 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 5: to happen. 135 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 4: Like, let me be clear, there has been meetings between 136 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 4: the Chose Office and industry, and there's also been meetings 137 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 4: with who in. 138 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 2: Industry hasn't been saying it hasn't happened. 139 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 4: So there has been an open door and there will 140 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 4: continue to be. So I know, Sean Drabs from the 141 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 4: Department has been in contact with you know, a range 142 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 4: of businesses throughout this and. 143 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 1: They're really clear about this though. Is the government sort 144 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 1: of picking and choosing who they choose to meet with 145 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: in industry, because if you've got these peak bodies that 146 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: are saying that they're not being listened to and that 147 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: they they want to actually have a sit down, and 148 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: you're saying that, hang on, No, the government has actually 149 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: met with some of these people who have they met. 150 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 4: With So Katie, there's government departments, there's ministers, We've all 151 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 4: got key stakeholders. We are in contact with them regularly, 152 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 4: whether it's meetings, whether it's phone calls. So there has 153 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 4: certainly and there will continue to be that dialogue between them. 154 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: Well, I've got one here from keV It says so 155 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 1: as a business owner, I'm now about to be a 156 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,239 Speaker 1: deputized police officer. 157 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 4: So Katie, as I said, we've always had an educative approach, 158 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 4: but it is when people are blatantly misleading, and we've 159 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 4: seen a situation of that in the territory, police and 160 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 4: environmental Health won't hesitate to react. But there has been 161 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 4: the directions published so people can see what's coming and 162 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 4: those conversations and that open dialogue will continue, and it 163 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 4: will continue post the implementation, so that we can make 164 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 4: sure everyone has the information they need. 165 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 6: Who gets fined? Is it the business or the individual 166 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 6: who gets fined? 167 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 4: So potentially both, but of course you know a fine 168 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 4: does have a legal process around it. But an individual 169 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 4: can be fined five thousand dollars and a business twenty 170 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 4: five thousand dollars. But as we've seen that educative approach, 171 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 4: but when people are blatantly abusing that, our police and 172 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 4: environmental health won't hesitate to prosecute. 173 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 6: So can the business be fine? 174 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 7: So day one, someone unvaccinated shows up twenty five thousand dollars, 175 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 7: Day two they show up again another twenty. 176 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 6: Five Like can you be fined? Be fine? 177 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 7: One hundred and twenty five thousand dollars in a week 178 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 7: if your unvaccinated workers show up five days in. 179 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 5: A row, potentially. 180 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 4: But Matt, what we saw, you know, with a recent 181 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 4: example with a business that was blatantly not enforcing the 182 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 4: mask mandate was the police went in multiple times. 183 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 5: Like they didn't. 184 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 4: They don't just turn up heavy handed and say right, 185 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 4: that's it. They tried and tried, and we will see 186 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 4: that approach once again, but it is enforceable by that fine. 187 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 2: This is a clear example of the lack of communication, 188 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 2: the lack of education out there. We probably wouldn't be 189 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 2: in a situation the health officer doesn't just wake up 190 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 2: and go have a little stretch and go I'm going 191 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 2: to mandate vaccines. He looks at a whole range of factors, 192 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 2: and that's to do with the health system and also 193 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 2: the vaccine rollout. This government's had two years to deal 194 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 2: with COVID and it's gone backwards a health system. We 195 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 2: now had four Code yellows this year. And then talk 196 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: about education. We've known vaccines going to happen, and for 197 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 2: this last twelve months, the government should have been out 198 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 2: there educating people, getting that vaccine rate up up to 199 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 2: an acceptable level, and then maybe we wouldn't be in 200 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: a situation with a chose force to be able to 201 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: mandate the vaccine because the government have failed territories and okay, 202 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 2: it's just not good. 203 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 4: Enough, Oh Katie, I think that that's absolute rubbish and 204 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 4: the CLP have failed abysmally in this space. What we 205 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 4: have been doing is we have been across the community 206 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 4: where you would have given the vaccine away and opened 207 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 4: the borders if we're going to go the low blows today, Look, Katie, give. 208 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: Example, Just give you an example though, of some of 209 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: the messages that we're receiving. So as someone else has 210 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: just said, where's the data going to be held by government? 211 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: How will the government know the employers telling the truth 212 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: as to the number of employers employees vaccinated? Who another 213 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: message here? Who's going to check that teachers have been vaccinated? Look, 214 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: they're just a couple of the examples I suppose of 215 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: some of those different industries. Wondering exactly how that side 216 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: of things is going to be managed. 217 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 7: I don't think it's that difficult for the larger businesses 218 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 7: at least. I know in my employment, we had to 219 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 7: show that we were fully vaccinated and all we had 220 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 7: to do was get our sex and vaccination and then 221 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 7: send through the certificate you get from Medicare. So I 222 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 7: think that's probably how you do it, but it might 223 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 7: be a little bit more onerous for a smaller business. 224 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 7: But I mean, I think surely they could just get 225 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 7: those certificates and put them on their own records. 226 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 6: As well well. 227 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: And this is something that was raised earlier in the 228 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: week by the Chamber of Commerce as well. Greg Bignuller 229 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,599 Speaker 1: joined us on Sorry, Greg Island, I should say my apologies, 230 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: had joined us on the show earlier in the week 231 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: on Monday, and had said, that's one of the other questions, 232 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: you know, where are they storing, like for some of 233 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 1: those businesses, where do they then have to store. 234 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 3: Some of this data. 235 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: But then the other side of it as well is, 236 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: you know, let's not forget that in some cases we're 237 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: talking about people entering businesses that if you know, like 238 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 1: if that business decides that they don't want people in 239 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: there who aren't vaccinated, how it like That's something that 240 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: had been flagged a little while back. 241 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 3: How's that going to be managed? 242 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: And I think that these are just some of the 243 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: questions that people are starting to really now have to 244 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: try to get answered as. 245 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 4: We really reach the pointy end of this, I think 246 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 4: Katie just clarifying, So it's a responsibility of every territory 247 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 4: and who has to have the mandatory vaccine to get vaccinated, 248 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 4: they then, as Matt was just saying, provide a copy 249 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 4: of that vaccination certificate to their employer. And it's no 250 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 4: different to keeping responsible service of alcohol. 251 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 5: We have a gambling register. 252 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 4: There's a range of our HNS documentation that's required for people, 253 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 4: and so it's added to that file and the business 254 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 4: you know, must present it. It must be cited if 255 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 4: it's asked upon. 256 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 7: I just think we are in the weeds of this 257 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 7: argument a little bit though. You know, at the end 258 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 7: of the day, the mandates in place. People need to 259 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 7: get vaccinated. They've been given the dates. You know, the 260 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,559 Speaker 7: easiest way around this if you're an employee or an 261 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 7: employer is to go out and get vaccinated. Now, there 262 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 7: will be issues for employers when they have employees who 263 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 7: flat out refuse to get vaccinated. That will be an issue, 264 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 7: and that's going to be a tough issue for employers 265 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 7: to have to deal with. You know, we were talking 266 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 7: about this months ago because you've been running ads on 267 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 7: here from the Silver about the you know, like they 268 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 7: were ahead of the game six months ago, saying, you know, 269 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 7: come and get your legal advice. 270 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 6: I think that's where we're heading with this, because there. 271 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 7: Will be and they will be limited instances, but there 272 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 7: will be instances where employers have employees who refuse to 273 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 7: get vaccinated. And I think that's where we're going to 274 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 7: run into issues. 275 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 6: What do you do? Do you have to sack that worker? 276 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 7: You know, a lot of places are desperate for workers 277 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 7: at the moment. You know, it's a difficult situation. 278 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:26,719 Speaker 2: To some of the issues that need clarification. 279 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so at the moment if you're a public servant, 280 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: obviously public service have to have their vaccine, don't they. 281 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 4: Absolutely managed in one of those roles that's captured by 282 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:37,599 Speaker 4: those three principles, you need to be vaccinated. 283 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 8: Now. 284 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: One of the other questions that some people keep asking 285 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: on the tech sign, so I will ask it. Politicians 286 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:44,199 Speaker 1: all got to be vaccinated? 287 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 5: Absolutely, I know. 288 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 4: I think everyone in the anti parliament is vaccinated, Jerry, 289 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 4: all the opposition of the government are and I know 290 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 4: that Mark Yuler, for example, one of the independent members, 291 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 4: he was really proud to be vaccinated and shared that 292 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,079 Speaker 4: with me and I assume our other colleagues on the 293 00:12:58,080 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 4: cross bencher. 294 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 7: I just got a clarification from one of our listeners too, 295 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 7: you don't, actually I have to hand it over to 296 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 7: your employer. According to the Chow's direction, a person conducting 297 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 7: a business or undertaking must take reasonable steps to determine 298 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 7: the extent to which any worker who performs work is vaccinated. 299 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 6: And it just basically means you have. 300 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 7: To see the proof of vaccination, don't have to store 301 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 7: it well. 302 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 3: And this is an interesting thing. 303 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: I know that when Western Australia made their announcement a 304 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 1: bit earlier in the week, they said that they were 305 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: going to have compliance offices I believe was the term 306 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: that they had dubbed for them. So they were going 307 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 1: to have those compliance offices going out to different businesses, 308 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: obviously checking that those that were in the categories that 309 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: needed to be mandated, that they would actually be going 310 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: out and checking the vaccination status in some of those businesses. 311 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 1: Is that something that we're going to have to do 312 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: in the territory or are the police and health going 313 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: to take on those roles? 314 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 4: So currently public and environmental Health and police are delegates 315 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 4: around that responsibility, so certainly they can perform that task 316 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 4: if required. 317 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: Now, before we take a short break, I do want 318 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: to ask you Ministry, you were able to give us 319 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: the latest stats when it comes to those vaccine numbers 320 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: in the territory at the moment. 321 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 4: So the vaccine we've seen over three hundred thousand doses 322 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 4: delivered in the territory. This week, we hit seventy percent 323 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 4: fully dosed and we certainly expect to hit that eighty 324 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 4: percent in the coming weeks. Having hit that seventy percent, 325 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 4: and Katie, we've seen in some of our remote communities 326 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 4: a really excellent turnout and some communities are a hitting 327 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 4: ninety percent first dose, and I think we need to 328 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 4: acknowledge that we've also been doing a lot of work 329 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 4: with community leaders and the Aboriginal medical organizations around some 330 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 4: of those communities where we're really concerned and that will continue. 331 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: And I know my understanding is with some of those 332 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: numbers as well, with the figures that there's five three 333 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: hundred vaccine booking appointments in that seventy two hours after 334 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: the mandate was announced. 335 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 4: So, Katie, when that man Tree vaccination for employment in 336 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 4: certain categories was announced, we saw a turner in fifty 337 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 4: percent increase in bookings. So we certainly and our teams 338 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 4: have been out there. There's a pop up in the mall. 339 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 4: We're really trying to get that vaccine as easy for 340 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 4: people to access as possible. 341 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: All Right, we're going to take a very short break 342 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: and when we come back, we are going to talk 343 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: further about those borders and some of the things that 344 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: are happening around the rest of the nation when it 345 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: comes to travel. We also know that Quantus has indeed 346 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: made some fairly significant announcements this morning that actually include 347 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: the Northern territory. So more on that in a few 348 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: minutes time. You're listening to Mix one oh four point 349 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: nine's three point sixty also broadcasting on eighth. It is 350 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: just after nine twenty and in the studio with us 351 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: this morning, Jared Maylee, Matt Cunningham and Natasha Files. Now 352 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: we know throughout the week we've had some very clear 353 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: i think plans put forward or roadmaps forward you might 354 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: call them, from other states in relation to opening up 355 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: and we saw into state Queensland Premier and Nastasia Palachet 356 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: releasing a roadmap to open the state to the rest 357 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: of Australia, including COVID nineteen hot spots in New South 358 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: Wales and Victoria. Queensland is going to begin a phased 359 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: border reopening for fully vaccinated people from November nineteen. Fully 360 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: vaccinated travelers will be allowed to enter Queensland without the 361 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: need to quarantine from December seventeen. At that date, fully 362 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: vaccinated interstate business who have recorded a negative COVID nineteen 363 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: test in the past seventy two hours would be allowed 364 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: to enter without having to quarantine. 365 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 3: Now. 366 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: We spoke to Alex Bruce from Hospitality NT yesterday about this. 367 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: We also spoke to Daniel Rochford from Tourism Central Australia. 368 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: I might just play you a little bit of what 369 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: Daniel Rochford had to say on the show yesterday in 370 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: terms of the need I think you'd have to say 371 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: for a bit of a date and a really clear 372 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: plan when it comes to that roadmap forward, take a listen. 373 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 8: All my members are saying that visitation is dropping dramatically 374 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 8: and quickly, so there needs to be that form of support. 375 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 8: I think there needs to be some hope and that's 376 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 8: where this concept of picking a date in the future 377 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 8: is important. I think we need to have that certainly, 378 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 8: and understanding of when we will open up and when 379 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 8: businesses can plan around that. This is going to be 380 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 8: the most challenging time of this pandemic and needs to 381 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 8: be done in a balanced way. Otherwise we're not going 382 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 8: to have a tourism industry on the other side. 383 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: Katie, Well, and this is really sort of coming to 384 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 1: a head. I think you'd have to say at the moment, 385 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 1: as every other state does come forward with their plans 386 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: to open up, nobody's suggesting that we decide we're going 387 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: to do it from tomorrow. We all know that we've 388 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: got to get to that eighty percent vaccination rate. But 389 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: the reality here is I think that the longer we wait, 390 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 1: and you know, I'm not saying we need to do 391 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: anything irresponsible, but the longer we wait, we are going 392 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: to get left behind when it comes to tourism and 393 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 1: when it comes to business. 394 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 3: We've heard this morning. 395 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 1: Quantus obviously have made some additional announcements I think Matt 396 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: you were saying. Even Jetstar has made some extra announcements 397 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: around flights as well. 398 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 8: Well. 399 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 7: Quantison and Jetstar have announced more international flights and that's 400 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 7: because Sydney's opened up in Melbourne's now opened up. So 401 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 7: both Sydney and Melbourne are both saying, or New South 402 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 7: Wales and Victoria both saying international arrivals who are fully 403 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 7: vaccinated can come in without quarantining, not even home quarantining. Yeah, 404 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 7: and this is like the game is up now. The 405 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 7: world has decided it's going to live with COVID nineteen, 406 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 7: Australia has decided it's going to live with COVID nineteen. 407 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 7: The Northern Territory cannot be its own little hermit kingdom, 408 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 7: you know now that those decisions have been made. Queensland's 409 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 7: opening up from the seventeenth of December, So like what 410 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 7: happens now? You know, I'm going to Queensland in January 411 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 7: for holidays, but it's open to New South Wales and 412 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 7: Victoria as well. So does that mean that you know 413 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:25,919 Speaker 7: I'm going to have to quarantine when I come back 414 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 7: from Queensland? That that is a situation that cannot exist. 415 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 7: You know, You've got to have a lot of sympathy 416 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 7: for those tourism operators. And I think we've reached the 417 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 7: point now everyone in the Northern Territory has had an 418 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 7: opportunity to get vaccinated. We keep saying, oh, you know, 419 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 7: up until this point, we've relied on the government to 420 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 7: protect us. We said, oh, you know, you shut the borders, 421 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 7: you keep a safe YadA, yogada. It's time for some 422 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 7: personal responsibility. Go out and get vaccinated. If you don't, 423 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 7: all right, fine, your choice, but you run the risk 424 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 7: of contracting COVID nineteen and having serious illness, if not 425 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 7: worse if you do get COVID nineteen. So you know, 426 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 7: I I think then needs to start being rewards for 427 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 7: those of us who have gone out and got fully vaccinated. 428 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 6: Otherwise, why did we bother well? 429 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: And that's the question that a lot of people are 430 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 1: sort of starting to ask. I know that there's been 431 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: a lot of people in contact with me in relation 432 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 1: to whether they are going to be able to go 433 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: and visit family at Christmas time, what the requirement is 434 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: going to be when they return, taking into account that 435 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 1: traffic light system that we're moving towards. And I know 436 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: that the Chief Minister had said to me on the 437 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: show last time he was on the show a couple 438 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 1: of weeks ago, when we were talking about the London flight. 439 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: And now obviously New Deli has been added to this, 440 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: this that Darwin has got. 441 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 3: That direct access to. But the reality is. 442 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 1: You then have to quarantine for fourteen days. As you've 443 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,120 Speaker 1: just pointed out, Matt, Look at what point, Filesy, are 444 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: we actually going to have a really clear plan as too, 445 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: when we're going to have that roadmap similar to Queensland 446 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: where it's an rapid antigen test seventy two hours and 447 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: then you're able to come into the territory. 448 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 4: So Katie, the northern territory hasn't seen community transmission of 449 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 4: the virus. We're in a slightly different to New South 450 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 4: Wales and Victoria, but we certainly hear the calls from 451 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 4: not just industry but the community around COVID and stepping 452 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 4: forward to living with it. And so we have outlined 453 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 4: the home quarantine plan and the Chief will provide more 454 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 4: details on that in the near future. It's just conscious 455 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 4: that we haven't seen the virus and we have that 456 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 4: particularly vulnerable population. But absolutely the territorians that have gone 457 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 4: and gotten vaccinated and those high rates of vaccination we're 458 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 4: starting to see in some areas will be rewarded. 459 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,439 Speaker 1: I will note though that Queensland, obviously I know that 460 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: they've got COVID in the community at the moment with 461 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: this uber driver that they're keeping a very close eye on. 462 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: But Queensland also has very vulnerable community, so they've got 463 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 1: a large indigenous population up there in North Queensland and 464 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: in Central Queensland where I grew up, there is a 465 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: very large Indigenous population that are regarded as vulnerable as well. 466 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: Yet they are still forging ahead. 467 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 5: With this, Katie. 468 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 4: It is a very fine balance and I can absolutely 469 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 4: assure Territorians that we are listening to our health advice, 470 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 4: but very conscious that those rates have back the nation 471 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 4: a rising significantly and quickly, and that people do want 472 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 4: to step as quickly as possible to to the new normal. 473 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 4: They want to see family and friends, they want to 474 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:09,919 Speaker 4: resume life of travel. 475 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 2: I've heard the government come out so many times in 476 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 2: the past week or so, even probably the last couple months, 477 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 2: we're going to announce this into the future. It won't 478 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 2: be long before we make that announcement. It's time to 479 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 2: make that announcement, and I think attack you said that, 480 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 2: then the Chief minus is going to come out in 481 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 2: the near future to make an announcement. The time is 482 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 2: to make an announcement. Now people need to start planning 483 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 2: and more importantly, businesses need to start planning how theyre 484 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 2: going to operate and how a they're going to get staff. 485 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 2: Because these people are going to start moving out of 486 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,439 Speaker 2: New South Wales and Victoria to go and find work. 487 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 2: They need to be able to come to the territory 488 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 2: and settle down because if they go to Queensland and 489 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 2: settle downhen they're not going to move back to the 490 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 2: north of the territory. We're already in a short start 491 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 2: in relation to staff. It needs to be equal. It 492 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,719 Speaker 2: needs to go across the board and the government need 493 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 2: to come out with a clear plan to make sure 494 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 2: that the territory can move forward. 495 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 6: It's interesting how things change. 496 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 7: I mean a week ago to said the Anti government 497 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 7: was ahead of the curve, ahead of all the other 498 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 7: states and territories when it came to a plan to 499 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,360 Speaker 7: reopening announced you know this traffic light system, that announced 500 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 7: that fully vaccinated arrivals once we hit eighty. 501 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:07,199 Speaker 6: Percent, you know, won't have to go into how it 502 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 6: springs anymore. 503 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 7: And then all of a sudden, Dominic Perrote came out 504 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,199 Speaker 7: last week and good on him, I say, and just 505 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 7: said look, this is We've had enough. 506 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 6: This is over. 507 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 7: And I think he's shown some real courage as a leader. 508 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 7: You know, he lifted the lockdown in Sydney. Their cases 509 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 7: haven't gone through the roofs since he did that. 510 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 6: He's opening up. 511 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 7: He's basically forcing the hand of the other state and 512 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 7: territory leaders. And I think it's necessary because you know, 513 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 7: we just can't continue to live like we're living. 514 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 6: And I know we need to protect. 515 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 7: Our vulnerable communities and there are measures in place to 516 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,359 Speaker 7: try and do that. But at the same time, we 517 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:43,439 Speaker 7: can't have a situation now where the rest of the 518 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 7: country opens up. 519 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 6: If you WA you can do it right. 520 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 7: You know, wa WA gets fifty cents back from every 521 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 7: dollar it puts in. For GST, in the Northern Territory, 522 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 7: we take almost five dollars for every dollar we put in. 523 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 7: We cannot afford to be in a situation where we 524 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 7: continue to remain shut up if the rest of the 525 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:03,360 Speaker 7: country reopens well. 526 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,400 Speaker 1: We actually heard as well yesterday from Daniel Rochford. He said, 527 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: we feel like we've been in a cyclone and we're 528 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: only just getting to the eye of that cyclone, and 529 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: that they've been through those eighteen months of hardship, they're 530 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: about to go through, you know, further hardship. But he 531 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: said that realistically, if we don't sort of have that 532 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 1: plan in terms of moving forward, that we're going to 533 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 1: wind up in that situation over the Christmas period as well, 534 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 1: where you can travel around to other parts of Australia, 535 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 1: but trying to get into the Northern Territory you're not 536 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 1: going to be able to. You know, at least now 537 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: we have got a situation where you can travel from Queensland, 538 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: the likes of Essay as well can come across I'm assuming, 539 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 1: you know, into the Northern Territory, but those hot spots 540 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: obviously can't. 541 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 3: But once we get to the point where the. 542 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: Rest of Australia, as you've pointed out, Matte opens up, 543 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 1: you know, I'm assuming that we're going to see that 544 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: just about everywhere is a red or an amber location 545 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: and we're going to have very very minimal visitation numbers 546 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 1: because really you as a tourist going to come into 547 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: the territory quarantine, you know, and he made this point 548 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 1: quarantined at a hotel at one of the Lovely hotels 549 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: for fourteen days, then have a holiday I doubt it. 550 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 2: Imagine the cost of spending fourteen days cooped up in 551 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 2: your hotel. That's going to be pretty expensive. 552 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 6: It just won't happen. 553 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,160 Speaker 7: There's one other thing I think of real concern, and 554 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 7: you know what's the number one tourist attraction in the 555 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 7: Northern Territory right is Ularu. Yeah, and that's the first 556 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 7: place a lot of people probably want to go in 557 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 7: to want to go once we do open up. The 558 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:33,119 Speaker 7: vaccination data for Mudajulu is not available. We do not 559 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,120 Speaker 7: know at the moment whether five percent or ninety five 560 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 7: percent of people at Mudajulu are vaccinated, and I think 561 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 7: that is absolutely disgraceful, hugely problematic, and absolutely needs to 562 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 7: be known as part of the decision making around opening up. 563 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: And Fozzy is that that's the federal government data obviously, 564 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,159 Speaker 1: is there any way you can get your hands on it? 565 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 4: So Matt raises the point around we've got eighty remote 566 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 4: clinics across the Northern Territory about fifty NTG and we've 567 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 4: published the vaccination rates so people can see what's happening. 568 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:08,959 Speaker 4: And there's a number with the Aboriginal medical organizations. So 569 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 4: I'll keep working with them to stress the importance of 570 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 4: sharing that data so that people can have confidence going forward. 571 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 4: But yeah, that sits with the AM. 572 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:18,640 Speaker 6: Set and they're not even sharing it with you. 573 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 4: Some limited data has been shared at a clinical level, 574 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 4: so not with me, but at a clinical level. 575 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 7: Because the're the one who has to make the decision 576 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 7: on the border is essentially you and the Chief Minister 577 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 7: and the rest of the cabinet. 578 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:31,439 Speaker 6: I mean, how can you make that decision if you. 579 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 2: Don't have it, and if you're the healthat's why caldn't 580 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 2: you pick the phone up and give them a call? 581 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 5: I promise you. 582 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 4: There's been a lot of phone calls made and we're 583 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 4: heading into sittings next week and then I'll head down 584 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,439 Speaker 4: to Central Australia. And it is hard work. It's working 585 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 4: with these communities. It's making them understand around the vaccine, 586 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,199 Speaker 4: particularly that it's important that they have it, that we 587 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 4: can't keep this virus out no matter what measures are 588 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 4: in place, it's inevitable the virus will come to the 589 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 4: Northern Territory and particularly we saw you know with the 590 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 4: previous when we had virus come in and there was 591 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 4: no vaccine. We locked down, like I just don't even 592 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,479 Speaker 4: think that's feasible going forward. 593 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 5: No, there's back roads. 594 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 4: You know, the resources would be so intense, But even 595 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 4: if you did somehow make that happen, I still think 596 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 4: that there's ways around it. So these are the conversations 597 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 4: we're certainly having at a community level. 598 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,679 Speaker 1: How soon do you think that we are going to 599 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: have that plan in terms of knowing when we go 600 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: to a similar model like Queensland is heading towards an 601 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,160 Speaker 1: a stage of palache announcing that you know, they will 602 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 1: open up December seventeen with the rapid antigen testing and 603 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 1: the seventy two hours. 604 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 4: I think Matt raises in his point just a moment 605 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 4: ago where he said, you know, a week ago he 606 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 4: would have had us in the you know, the leading 607 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 4: in the nation as a jurisdiction around this, and then 608 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:45,440 Speaker 4: in the space of a week, and that does highlight 609 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,880 Speaker 4: how rapidly this space is changing because the vaccination rates 610 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 4: are rising and also you know, the regimes in keeping 611 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 4: the community safe with public health measures. So we'll keep 612 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 4: working with our health officials to make sure that we 613 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 4: do what's right for the territory and our context, but 614 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 4: at the same time acknowledging the impact on business and 615 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 4: also individuals and families. 616 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 1: The other point that Alex Bruce actually made on the 617 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: show yesterday is that right now they've got their survey 618 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: that they're conducting and they've got about nine percent of 619 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:17,440 Speaker 1: their workforce who do not want to get the vaccine, 620 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:19,239 Speaker 1: so aren't going to at this point, you know, I 621 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: potentially have that vaccine, which means that they're going to 622 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:25,120 Speaker 1: need to fill those positions. He also said that there's 623 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: about a twelve percent vacancy rate as they are, and 624 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,160 Speaker 1: that if we get to sort of early next year 625 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 1: and we're you know, they're looking at essentially when you 626 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,919 Speaker 1: add those two figures together, are twenty percent you know, 627 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: workforce shortage. And the border is still closed and unable 628 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: to you know, to bring staff in, but also you know, 629 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: not seeing that business. 630 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 3: It is going to have a big impact. 631 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 1: Now, obviously that is one industry, but I'm assuming across 632 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: the board that we've probably got a little bit of 633 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 1: a workforce shortage in a number of different industries. It's 634 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 1: something that we've heard at different times, but you do, 635 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 1: I do just tend to wonder, you know, whether the 636 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: border restrictions as well are. 637 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 3: Going to have a part to play. 638 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 4: So tourism and hospitality have had some significant stuff impacts 639 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 4: because of the pandemic, and we've acknowledged that and we've 640 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:17,360 Speaker 4: worked with that particular industry around assisting them, and yeah, 641 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 4: it certainly is a challenge and acknowledging Alex Bruce's comments 642 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 4: around what they foresee may happen over the coming months, 643 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 4: and we'll continue to work with them. 644 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 2: I think it goes to if we don't make the 645 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 2: territory an attractive place for people to come and visit and 646 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:32,199 Speaker 2: live and work, they're not going to come here, and 647 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 2: then they're going to open up into state. They're going 648 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 2: to start moving around and it will miss the boat. 649 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 2: And I'm really worried about that because we have got 650 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 2: a shortage of staff and lots of people say to me, 651 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 2: we can't get staff, and we've got to keep our 652 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 2: businesses small or some people got to close their business. 653 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 2: I think I remember reading there's some business down the 654 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 2: waterfront that has this shut because they couldn't get staff. 655 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 2: So this is going to be a massive problem. And 656 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 2: if we don't get on top of it now, we're 657 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 2: the boat's going to go and we'll be stuck. 658 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: Well, We're going to take a very short break. It 659 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: is just twenty three minutes from ten o'clock. You are 660 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 1: listening to the week that was also broadcasting on AHA 661 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: in Alice Spring. It is the week that was it's 662 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: twenty minutes away from ten o'clock. And in this studio 663 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 1: this morning, we've got Jered Maylee, Matt Cunningham, and Natasha Files. 664 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 3: Now we know that the public pay. 665 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 1: Service negotiations certainly continue on and public servants, Matt, you 666 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: wrote this story a bit earlier in the week, have 667 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: been offered up to three days extra annual leave as 668 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: part of enterprise bargaining negotiations. Women would also have their 669 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: superannuation payments double when all maternity leave, But the Commissioner 670 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: for Public Employment is refusing to budge on that government 671 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 1: imposed pay freeze, sticking to an offer of a one 672 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: thousand dollars cash bonus. Matt, it's been an interesting process. 673 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: I know you've done quite a few stories on this topic. 674 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: It's been an interesting process working through this public public 675 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 1: service pay negotiation. But really, you know, like when you 676 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: add those three days annual leave, my MAT's is not great. 677 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: I have misdebatement on every Friday to try and you know, 678 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 1: teach me a. 679 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 3: Little bit better with my mats. 680 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 1: But my mats wouldn't you know, three days would that 681 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: work out? 682 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 3: Like one percent? 683 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 7: Well, don't ask Wolfy, ask me, because I've got to 684 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 7: the stage where my son's year five maths homework is. 685 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 6: Too difficult for me, right, So. 686 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 7: Last two Thursday nights and he's saying to me, he's showing, 687 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 7: and I'm just going, oh, my brain hurts. 688 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 6: I can't seriously, I'm a journalist for a reason. 689 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 8: Good. 690 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 6: I do know, however, that. 691 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 7: This pay negotiation is interesting and is going to continue 692 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 7: for a fair while, I would say, because that pay 693 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:43,160 Speaker 7: free seems to be a real sticking point for the unions. 694 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 7: They you know, interesting too that the counteroffers keep coming, 695 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 7: and they've been several counter offers that have been made. 696 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 7: The last one is this Christmas closed down leave, so 697 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 7: basically means that, you know, for those agencies that are 698 00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 7: shut down at Christmas, normally you'd have to take the 699 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 7: three days that are missing from your annual league. 700 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 6: Now you'll get those three days on top of it. 701 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 7: I think I said to you yesterday one of the 702 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 7: concerns I have about what's being proposed here is that 703 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:13,480 Speaker 7: you know, at the end of these negotiations, all those 704 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:15,560 Speaker 7: extra things that have been added on, and now we've 705 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 7: got n March leave, gender transitioning leave, Christmas cloth, closed 706 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 7: down leave like that will be settings, don't They'll be 707 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 7: there forever, right, there's no wrong. And there's the Langland Report, 708 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 7: which is really interesting and you always go. 709 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:29,760 Speaker 6: Back to that. 710 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 7: I'll miss quote this slightly because I don't have it 711 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 7: in front of me, but there was something like nine 712 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 7: hundred different leave entitlements across the public service, you know, 713 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:43,640 Speaker 7: and we're just adding and adding and adding to these, 714 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 7: which is a sort of fascical situation. The pay freeze 715 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 7: was implemented for a reason as well. It was because 716 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 7: we were in such a bad budget situation, but also 717 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 7: because of the disparity it was creating between the public 718 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 7: and the private sector, right, And you had people sort 719 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 7: of contacting you today saying that they were losing all 720 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 7: of their employees to the public sector because the pain 721 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:06,480 Speaker 7: and conditions are so generous. I mean, there's an argument 722 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 7: at the moment that inflation is so high there should 723 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:11,520 Speaker 7: be a pay rise. The counter argument to that, I 724 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 7: think is that over the past five, six, seven, eight, 725 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:19,880 Speaker 7: years when inflation was low and every private business was struggling, 726 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 7: and really the economy here was in the toilet, those 727 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 7: public servants continued to get quite generous pay rises. So 728 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 7: it's a tough situation. The final point I'd make is 729 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 7: I think there needs to be a differentiation when it 730 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 7: comes to these agreements between. 731 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 6: Frontline workers and non frontline workers. 732 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 7: You know, if you're the social media manager for the 733 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 7: Department of Parks and Wildlife whatever, I don't mean to 734 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 7: verbal that particular person, you probably don't need a pay rise. 735 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 7: But if you are a nurse at the Royal dal 736 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 7: And Hospital working long shifts with seven eight nine patients 737 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 7: instead of the four that you've been looking after in 738 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 7: a much easier situation, if you're in Adelaide or perse Well, 739 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 7: then you know you probably do deserve a pay rise, 740 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 7: and we probably do need to offer those sort of 741 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 7: people more money to deal with the shortages that we're 742 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 7: seeing at the moment in the health system. 743 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:17,760 Speaker 2: I think it all goes back to the debt that 744 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 2: gunn of Government's put us into, where nine billion dollars 745 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 2: worth of debt over four or five years, and the 746 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 2: Labor Government Commission of Angland report, and they didn't even 747 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 2: follow that report because he made recommendation to how the 748 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 2: pay free should work, which is different to what the 749 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 2: government to put in. And this pay three has come 750 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 2: about because this is the only cost saving measure the 751 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 2: government made about their budget to try and save their money. 752 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 2: They're talking and they haven't even done that, So they're 753 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:43,160 Speaker 2: really passing the buck back to the public service here 754 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:45,760 Speaker 2: say you have to take a pay cup because we're 755 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 2: our mismanagement of the spending off the budget. 756 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 1: But then when you look at it, like if they're 757 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:52,600 Speaker 1: getting an extra three days and you'll leave and then 758 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:54,959 Speaker 1: they're getting a thousand dollar bonus, if you know, if 759 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 1: that is what gets agreed upon, is it really a 760 00:33:57,560 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 1: pay cut? Do you know, like when you add those 761 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:02,480 Speaker 1: two things together, does it really actually work out to 762 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: be a pay cut or are we just hearing what 763 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: the government wants the broader public to hear that there's 764 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,399 Speaker 1: a pay freeze. But the reality of it is, then 765 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,799 Speaker 1: when you change all those pay and conditions, is it 766 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:15,760 Speaker 1: actually going to save very much money? 767 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,359 Speaker 7: Well, I think people in the private sector would say 768 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:20,879 Speaker 7: it's probably a better deal than many of them them 769 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:22,400 Speaker 7: or their employees. 770 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,320 Speaker 6: Have had over the past few years. 771 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 2: So yeah, a lot of you If the government's going to 772 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,600 Speaker 2: shut down these people, they take all these extra lead, 773 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 2: what about the productivity is it's going to increase a 774 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:33,759 Speaker 2: decrease in relation to it. So you know, they might 775 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:36,440 Speaker 2: actually cut down the amount of money the budget is 776 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:39,279 Speaker 2: or the weekly pay for the government payroll is, but 777 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:41,319 Speaker 2: the productivity is going to go down because there's going 778 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 2: to be less time at work. Is that a trade off? 779 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:44,839 Speaker 2: Is that a fair trade off? 780 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:45,359 Speaker 8: Katie? 781 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:47,799 Speaker 4: We value our staff, they do an incredible job and 782 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 4: we've seen over the last eighteen months. We won't do 783 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 4: what the Coop did, which way sack people. Will continue 784 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:57,280 Speaker 4: to negotiate in good faith through these EBA Enterprise bargaining agreements. 785 00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: But I mean, really is like, are we actually going 786 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,440 Speaker 1: to see minimization in terms of the amount that the 787 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 1: public service costs every single year when we get to 788 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 1: the end of this negotiation. 789 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 4: So we have a responsibility between managing the Northern Territories budget. 790 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 4: We saw the CLP sell off the Port Too and 791 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 4: didn't invest that into the. 792 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:26,720 Speaker 7: Dollars from the too Infrastructure fund was plown by the 793 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:28,920 Speaker 7: Anti government on a trade scheme. 794 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:32,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, so just that the trainees that it kept them 795 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:35,320 Speaker 4: in the territory and kept them in jobs and say that, Matt, Katie, 796 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 4: we'll keep negotiating. We certainly value our staff right across 797 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:40,719 Speaker 4: the public service. They do an incredible job and we 798 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:41,480 Speaker 4: thank them for that. 799 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 1: Well, we might take a very short break. We're always 800 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:47,880 Speaker 1: running out of time in here. It flies by. It 801 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 1: is just thirteen minutes away from ten o'clock. You are 802 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 1: listening to Mix ONEOW four point nine. 803 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 5: It is the week that was. 804 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 3: It is just ten minutes away from ten o'clock. 805 00:35:56,239 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 1: And one of the issues and topics that we've been 806 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: discussing for quite some time now is the situation between 807 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:05,440 Speaker 1: both Royal Darwin Hospital and the Palmeston Regional Hospital and 808 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:09,840 Speaker 1: some of the concerns when it comes to the staffing measures. Now, FALSI, 809 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:11,560 Speaker 1: I know that you had told us a couple of 810 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 1: weeks ago that there was going to be approximately forty 811 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:16,520 Speaker 1: additional nurses starting. 812 00:36:16,880 --> 00:36:18,200 Speaker 3: Have they hit the ground. 813 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:19,920 Speaker 4: For the advice I've got, Katie, is that forty three 814 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:21,800 Speaker 4: additional nurses have started this week. 815 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:22,320 Speaker 3: Okay. 816 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 1: Now, one of the other things that was announced a 817 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago was the review into the Palmeston 818 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 1: Regional Hospital. 819 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:31,479 Speaker 4: Where's it at, Katie, I haven't seen that of late. 820 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 4: What I can say is we've seen a thirty nine 821 00:36:33,120 --> 00:36:36,360 Speaker 4: percent increase in Royal Dalen and Palmeston Hospital emergency department 822 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,560 Speaker 4: presentations and a ten percent increase in the last year alone. 823 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:42,240 Speaker 4: So we're looking at how we can have those two 824 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:46,400 Speaker 4: emergency departments work together to provide that care to people 825 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:48,880 Speaker 4: not only in Darwin but also in the rural area 826 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:49,440 Speaker 4: in Palmerston. 827 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:51,640 Speaker 7: Can I go back stip how did we manage to 828 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 7: get forty three nurses so quickly? 829 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:58,680 Speaker 4: So we have a recruitment campaign. We've been extending the 830 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 4: graduate nurse program, but we've also had a real focus 831 00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:05,480 Speaker 4: campaign of late, and we committed to around forty nurses 832 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 4: a couple of weeks ago, and I'm advised that we 833 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:08,600 Speaker 4: got forty three that have. 834 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:10,880 Speaker 5: Begun this week. Where they come from, I don't know 835 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:11,800 Speaker 5: where they all came. 836 00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:13,839 Speaker 3: From in state into stay. 837 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,000 Speaker 4: I'll go back and ask these questions on our report 838 00:37:16,080 --> 00:37:18,480 Speaker 4: back next week, but we're certainly very focused. We know 839 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:22,319 Speaker 4: that COVID and in international migration and domestic you know, 840 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,919 Speaker 4: travel has certainly impacted our staffing, but health have done 841 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:28,080 Speaker 4: some work around how they can make sure that people 842 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:31,520 Speaker 4: are suitably qualified, of course, but speed up that recruitment 843 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 4: and get people on the front line. 844 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:34,880 Speaker 2: But these nurses not just like a reshuffle, that actually 845 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:36,760 Speaker 2: new nurses into the health system. 846 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:40,200 Speaker 4: I'm advised that's forty three new nurses into the system, Jared. 847 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 1: And so I know when we spoke to kath Hatter 848 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:44,680 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago, she'd said that we realistically 849 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:45,160 Speaker 1: need up. 850 00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:48,080 Speaker 4: To one hundred. Are we trying to recruit more? Yes, Katie, 851 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 4: we think the figure is about fifty to seventy. And 852 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 4: I've spoken to you about the areas of surgical nurses, 853 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:56,680 Speaker 4: mental health nurses, and the emergency department. We're also focused 854 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:58,799 Speaker 4: in mental health. The tender went out for the new 855 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:02,160 Speaker 4: eighteen bed facility for the design of that will bring on. 856 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:05,120 Speaker 4: We've already bought on more subacute mental health beds. We've 857 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:07,600 Speaker 4: got the adult community Mental Health space, which is designed 858 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 4: to help keep people out of hospital. 859 00:38:09,239 --> 00:38:10,040 Speaker 5: And the acute setting. 860 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:12,919 Speaker 4: But we'll also bring on more acute and subacute beds 861 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:16,319 Speaker 4: before Christmas. And we're also focused on people that are 862 00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:19,280 Speaker 4: already nurses if they can come across into that mental 863 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:22,319 Speaker 4: health nursing space because it is quite specific qualifications, but 864 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:23,880 Speaker 4: we want their expertise. 865 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:24,880 Speaker 2: And attach you can you give as an update on 866 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:27,320 Speaker 2: what's happening to the emergency department at the palms On Hospital. 867 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,600 Speaker 2: Is it up and running, is it the beds all available? 868 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:30,319 Speaker 2: How are we going with that? 869 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:35,319 Speaker 4: So my understanding is that Palmerston Regional Hospital ED has 870 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:37,960 Speaker 4: continued to run throughout this We're committed to that facility. 871 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:39,440 Speaker 5: It adds important bed capacity. 872 00:38:39,440 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 4: It also is really important as you would know, that 873 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:45,000 Speaker 4: bit closer to people in the rural area in Palmerston. 874 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:48,280 Speaker 5: So it's certainly a key part of our health facilities. 875 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:49,759 Speaker 2: Do you know how many beds are open in the 876 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:51,480 Speaker 2: ED department of the hospital now? 877 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:54,640 Speaker 4: In terms of the beds, it's a twenty four bed facility. 878 00:38:54,680 --> 00:38:58,360 Speaker 4: I don't get daily updates on the operational matters the 879 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:02,160 Speaker 4: team within health our facilities to best care for the community. 880 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:04,920 Speaker 1: Well, I know that it is something that's front of 881 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:07,399 Speaker 1: mine for a lot of people. And again we did 882 00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:09,960 Speaker 1: catch up with Cathacher again this week as well and 883 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,200 Speaker 1: she spoke a little bit more about the need to 884 00:39:12,239 --> 00:39:14,880 Speaker 1: actually try to recruit further nurses and maybe some of 885 00:39:14,880 --> 00:39:18,440 Speaker 1: those different incentives, but also when you speak about you 886 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:22,120 Speaker 1: know about the pay and the patient to nurse ratio 887 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:24,120 Speaker 1: and how it is quite different to what it is 888 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:26,440 Speaker 1: in other states, and how our nurses here in the 889 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:28,520 Speaker 1: territory are working incredibly hard. 890 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:30,080 Speaker 3: Matt, I know that you ran a story on this 891 00:39:30,120 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 3: earlier in the week as well. 892 00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:32,440 Speaker 6: Yeah, that's right, and. 893 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,799 Speaker 7: As you know, I speak from experience pretty close to home. 894 00:39:37,040 --> 00:39:38,960 Speaker 7: I think there's probably not a harder job in a 895 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:41,400 Speaker 7: hospital in the country than working as a nurse at 896 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:44,480 Speaker 7: Royal Day and Hospital. I mean in Victoria and South Australia, 897 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 7: other states they have a mandate that it's four to 898 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:49,080 Speaker 7: one you have four patients per shift. As a nurse 899 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:52,080 Speaker 7: here there is no limit, so you can have seven, 900 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:54,319 Speaker 7: eight or nine patients depending on how busy you are, 901 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:56,920 Speaker 7: and that makes it really tough I think for the 902 00:39:56,960 --> 00:39:59,759 Speaker 7: people who work at Royal Day and Hospital and in 903 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:02,239 Speaker 7: our hospital system generally in Alice Springs as well. So, 904 00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:04,919 Speaker 7: and that was the point kath Hatcher was making around 905 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:08,120 Speaker 7: the pay freeze, is that if we implement at the 906 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:10,719 Speaker 7: moment she was saying, we're basically our nurses are in 907 00:40:10,719 --> 00:40:13,640 Speaker 7: the top three best paid in the country. If that 908 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:16,759 Speaker 7: freeze kicks in for them. Then by next year they'll 909 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:18,560 Speaker 7: fall out of that top three. You might be the 910 00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:20,640 Speaker 7: fifth or sixth best paid in the country. Now, that's 911 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:24,279 Speaker 7: a difficult task to attract nurses to come and work 912 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:27,520 Speaker 7: in the toughest nursing job in the country when the 913 00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:32,520 Speaker 7: pay is you know, not among the top the top 914 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:33,360 Speaker 7: pay in the country. 915 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:34,920 Speaker 6: So you know that is going to be it'll be 916 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:36,040 Speaker 6: challenge for the government. 917 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:38,359 Speaker 3: Do you think that. 918 00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:41,440 Speaker 1: We're going to see a bit of you know, some 919 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:45,080 Speaker 1: of those nurses that have maybe been in charge of 920 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:48,760 Speaker 1: the vaccine rollout and working out there at Howard Springs 921 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:51,560 Speaker 1: as we do see some of that wind back, are 922 00:40:51,560 --> 00:40:53,720 Speaker 1: we going to see those nurses re enter the system 923 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:56,839 Speaker 1: and go back into the likes of Royal Darwin and 924 00:40:56,880 --> 00:40:57,840 Speaker 1: Palmerston Regional. 925 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:00,680 Speaker 4: So, Katie, someone that's a nurse, there's ae of areas 926 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:02,240 Speaker 4: that they can work. They can work in the public 927 00:41:02,239 --> 00:41:04,439 Speaker 4: and private health system, they can work in age care, 928 00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:07,160 Speaker 4: they can work in community based and so what the 929 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:09,719 Speaker 4: Department of Health is focused on with its recruitment is 930 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:12,239 Speaker 4: making sure that we've got easy pathways for people to 931 00:41:12,280 --> 00:41:15,160 Speaker 4: engage in the system and also looking at working with 932 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:17,600 Speaker 4: people with experience, if they're looking at a change, how 933 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:19,560 Speaker 4: we can support them to do that to keep them 934 00:41:19,560 --> 00:41:21,880 Speaker 4: in the system. So I acknowledge it's one of the 935 00:41:21,880 --> 00:41:24,040 Speaker 4: toughest systems in the country to work in. 936 00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:25,600 Speaker 5: But our staff, not. 937 00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:28,040 Speaker 4: Just own nurses, but our Allied health for doctors and 938 00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:31,640 Speaker 4: those that support them in administration and also the PCAs 939 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:35,520 Speaker 4: all of those roles are incredibly important and they are valued, 940 00:41:35,600 --> 00:41:37,160 Speaker 4: and so we'll continue to make sure we have a 941 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:38,080 Speaker 4: strong health system. 942 00:41:38,239 --> 00:41:41,640 Speaker 7: One thing I was talked to last week to a 943 00:41:41,680 --> 00:41:43,799 Speaker 7: woman who used to be a nurse a long time ago, 944 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:46,480 Speaker 7: who last year tried to get back in to the 945 00:41:46,560 --> 00:41:51,520 Speaker 7: system and she was enrolled nurse but was told that 946 00:41:52,040 --> 00:41:53,840 Speaker 7: she would have to do retraining that was going to 947 00:41:53,840 --> 00:41:56,560 Speaker 7: cost her thousands of dollars. I think she was saying 948 00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:59,560 Speaker 7: almost fifteen thousand dollars to do the training to get 949 00:41:59,560 --> 00:42:01,719 Speaker 7: back into the system because she hadn't been a nurse 950 00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:04,319 Speaker 7: for for some time. And I just wonder whether that's 951 00:42:04,360 --> 00:42:06,280 Speaker 7: an area where we can sort of try and speed 952 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:08,160 Speaker 7: things up. I'm sure you're probably looking at it already, 953 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:10,719 Speaker 7: but whether you know to get I think getting some 954 00:42:10,760 --> 00:42:13,000 Speaker 7: of those nurses who might be retired or might have 955 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:16,640 Speaker 7: left nursing because they'd had kids or done whatever, and 956 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 7: whether they can be brought back into the system in 957 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:21,640 Speaker 7: an easier way than exists at the moment. 958 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:23,680 Speaker 5: I think we should absolutely support people. 959 00:42:23,719 --> 00:42:26,360 Speaker 4: I think that there's a value in people that perhaps 960 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:29,000 Speaker 4: are a little older with that experience, but making sure 961 00:42:29,040 --> 00:42:31,799 Speaker 4: that their qualifications can be easily updated. AARPRA, which is 962 00:42:31,840 --> 00:42:35,600 Speaker 4: the body that sort of oversees registration and licensing, certainly 963 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:38,799 Speaker 4: looked at with the pandemic, how recently retired nurses can 964 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:41,160 Speaker 4: come back into the system to be that surge workforce. 965 00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:43,439 Speaker 4: But very happy to raise that with the nurses' union 966 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:45,080 Speaker 4: and the department, because I think we have to be 967 00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:47,319 Speaker 4: agile and we have to look at even though it 968 00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:49,560 Speaker 4: only might be half a dozen or a dozen nurses there, 969 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:51,720 Speaker 4: that can be the difference within our system. 970 00:42:51,880 --> 00:42:54,719 Speaker 1: One very quick question from a listener. It says, are 971 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:57,080 Speaker 1: those new nurses new graduates? 972 00:42:57,640 --> 00:43:00,800 Speaker 4: So, Katie, we've got the graduate program, which we've committed 973 00:43:00,840 --> 00:43:04,880 Speaker 4: to everyone that is eligible, so they meet the qualifications 974 00:43:04,920 --> 00:43:08,000 Speaker 4: and required can go into the graduate program. 975 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:10,719 Speaker 5: My understanding is this forty three nurse positions. 976 00:43:10,840 --> 00:43:13,640 Speaker 1: But these ones, these ones are or right, the forty 977 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:16,080 Speaker 1: understanding is this is different to the graduate program. 978 00:43:16,080 --> 00:43:18,080 Speaker 2: All right, no worries how many is coming out in 979 00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:18,960 Speaker 2: the graduate program. 980 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:20,840 Speaker 5: We increase the places in the graduate program. 981 00:43:20,840 --> 00:43:22,000 Speaker 4: I don't have the figures in front of me, but 982 00:43:22,040 --> 00:43:24,160 Speaker 4: I want to say thirty to forty positions were increased. 983 00:43:24,200 --> 00:43:25,960 Speaker 4: So it was a couple of hundred graduate nurses. 984 00:43:26,320 --> 00:43:27,920 Speaker 2: And when will they be on the floor working. 985 00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:31,160 Speaker 4: So the graduate nurse program usually see an uptick about 986 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:33,480 Speaker 4: this time of year as they start to finish their 987 00:43:33,719 --> 00:43:37,960 Speaker 4: pure studies and they do do practical components all the 988 00:43:37,960 --> 00:43:40,279 Speaker 4: way through their nursing degree. But this is giving them 989 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:42,800 Speaker 4: that graduate year so that they can then have the 990 00:43:42,880 --> 00:43:43,920 Speaker 4: full qualifications. 991 00:43:44,120 --> 00:43:46,440 Speaker 1: Well, we have run out of time. That is it 992 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:48,640 Speaker 1: for this morning for the four of the week. That 993 00:43:48,880 --> 00:43:51,719 Speaker 1: was Jared Mayley, the Deputy or position Later, thank you 994 00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:53,120 Speaker 1: very much for your time this morning. 995 00:43:53,239 --> 00:43:53,600 Speaker 2: Thank you. 996 00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:56,120 Speaker 1: We've got Matt Cunningham from Sky News. Thanks for your 997 00:43:56,120 --> 00:43:59,560 Speaker 1: time this morning, Matt. Natasha Files, the Minister for Health 998 00:43:59,560 --> 00:44:01,680 Speaker 1: and also Tourism, thanks for joining us this morning. 999 00:44:01,719 --> 00:44:02,280 Speaker 5: Thanks Katie