1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: Now, obviously the focus this morning is remaining on the 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: Big Rivers region and the Opposition leader's electorate of Arnham 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: takes in many of the areas which have been impacted 4 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: by the floods. Joining us on the line is the 5 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: Opposition leader Selena Ubo. Good morning to you, Selena. 6 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 7 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 3: Now it's been a. 8 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: Hectic weekend with a huge logistical effort to evacuate some 9 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: remote community residents. 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 3: You've been in constant contact with people. 11 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: How have they been, yeah, has Katie. It has been 12 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 2: very stressful for the people of Catherine and the surrounding area, 13 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 2: but particularly the communities in my electorates, so wig most 14 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 2: people would know as Beswick is the other name. The 15 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 2: lower subdivision was evacuated on Friday to the High subdivision, 16 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 2: so people were pretty displaced there, but everyone was pretty calm. 17 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: Once I actually spoke to people, my anxiety went down 18 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: a bit, Katie. But in terms of people being safe, 19 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 2: that was the number one priority, which I'm very grateful 20 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 2: for and the work that the police and the community 21 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 2: did on the ground, as well as the school. They 22 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:08,479 Speaker 2: became the evacuation center of Wigela or Basic School. Also 23 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: down the track, a little bit too. The community of 24 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 2: Mataranka was evacuated completely on Saturday afternoon. There was a 25 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 2: bit of misinformation about whether to evacuate or not on 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 2: Saturday morning, and I think that caused, you know, again 27 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 2: a bit of anxiety for people. But people moved in 28 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 2: officially evacuated to Madaranka. There's two shelters that have been 29 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 2: stood up there. Not a lot in terms of resources 30 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: because of the quick amount of time to get people out. Again, 31 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 2: people safe there, but again just a bit of frustration 32 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 2: around the lack of communication and lack of resources there. 33 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: So I just wanting to make sure that people know, 34 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 2: you know, people are safe, but then also to not 35 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 2: forget about them, because of course there's been a huge 36 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: and rightly so focus on Catherine and the surrounding area. 37 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: They've now received the announcement that they will be available 38 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: to receive the disaster fund relief, which I think is 39 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 2: really important. We haven't heard yet, Katie from the Anti government, 40 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 2: if places like Wiggla and Jilkming in a Matteranka, who've 41 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 2: also had their homes inundated with water and have lost 42 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 2: their goods and personal property, if they will be able 43 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: to be assessed and to be able to access the 44 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: same disaster relief as the people of Catherine, which I 45 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 2: think they should. 46 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 3: Well, we'll find out. 47 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 1: We are going to be catching up with the federal 48 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: Minister chrisy McBain this morning to talk a little bit 49 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: more about these payments and we'll see if we can 50 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: find out exactly who's eligible. I mean you did touch 51 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: on a moment ago a lack of communication. Who were 52 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: the residents sort of where did that frustration come from? 53 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 2: Well, when people were told in Jilkming and as an example, 54 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: Katie to they could self evacuate, then it was officially 55 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 2: declared to evacuate and understand, things change, people are aware 56 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 2: of that, but when there's no place that's set up 57 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: to go to, people I think get very concerned and 58 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: anxious first and then that frustration kind of grows from there. 59 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: When there's been a really interesting balance about you the 60 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: worth and the use of evacuation center the shelter, and 61 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 2: there's different processes attached to both. Katie, I've been trying 62 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 2: to work through to make sure that I can provide 63 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: the latest information for my constituents and also Catherine residents 64 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,679 Speaker 2: have been reaching out directly to me, particularly on messages 65 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 2: and Facebook Over the last couple of days, there's been 66 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 2: some concerns, you know, five to seven hundred people accessing 67 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 2: the shelters in Catherine, but miscommunication or not understanding some 68 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 2: of the messaging around what you can bring to the shelter, 69 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 2: what's provided and what's not provided. More importantly, and then 70 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 2: a bit of sort of you know, getting people getting 71 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 2: together and being able to support and address those issues. 72 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 3: Sound rude, but is it a bit of sort of semantics? 73 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: Are you kind of you know, like, is it sort 74 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: of a situation here with some of those emergency crews 75 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: would imagine absolutely under the pump or some of those 76 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: people that are working on the ground are absolutely under 77 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: the pump. I mean, is it sort of you know, 78 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: maybe having a crack for having a crack's sake? 79 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 2: Oh No, definitely not in this case, because I'll give 80 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 2: you an example, Katie, where I've had constituents from my 81 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 2: electorate who are not Catherine residents who were flooded into 82 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 2: Catherine because the roads closed. They weren't able to get 83 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 2: back to their community. They then had to go to 84 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 2: the Catherine shelter. You had to bring your own bedding 85 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: and food. They weren't able to do that because they 86 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 2: don't live in Catherine, so they weren't just moving from 87 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 2: home in Catherine to the shelter. They were literally a 88 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: couple of hundred commers away from their community. So there's 89 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: those instances. So that's why I'm not trying to have 90 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: a crack at all in this case. But when people 91 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 2: have said, oh, you know that people got to bring 92 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: their own food, and they should know that. But then 93 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,679 Speaker 2: when people have brought food and they're not able to cook, 94 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 2: you know, there's also that kind of stress level. And 95 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: it's not no flight on the emergency service workers, all 96 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 2: the volunteers. Just if you rock up with three days 97 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 2: of food, you're going to expect that you're able to 98 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 2: talk to that's not part of Yeah, that's not part 99 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 2: of the shelter rules. And people were frustrated with that 100 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,239 Speaker 2: because they they some of the people who were prepared 101 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 2: were then not able to provide food to them in 102 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: the way that they thought they would, you know, which 103 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: I mean I think absolutely can be resolved in the future. 104 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 2: This should definitely be a learning point. But big thanks 105 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: to all the people who volunteered, those emergency service workers 106 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: who are still going those business owners, particularly in Catherine 107 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 2: and Madaranka and Wiggla who've stepped up and spending their 108 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 2: own time supporting fellow community members. It's been such a 109 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 2: huge pressure and weight on the region and to then 110 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 2: be able to get people safe number one, but you 111 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: know fed and you know, sleeping with dignity when they 112 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,559 Speaker 2: are spending many nights away from home. So it's definite 113 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 2: a crack. It's going to say, what can we do 114 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: better next time? 115 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: Now, any idea at this point in time, you know, 116 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 1: of any of the damage or way too early to 117 00:05:58,080 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: tell at this point in. 118 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: Those I think yeah, I think too early. For wiggl Art, 119 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: people were able to get home to the lower sub 120 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 2: yesterday and check their homes to move anything further up 121 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: because they've gone back to moderate flooding warning today, Katie, 122 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: so more water unfortunately for us in that area off 123 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: the Waterhouse River. But also in Madaranka there's one particular 124 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 2: property where people where neighbors went in and helped, you know, 125 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 2: move some things around. So people are really stepping up 126 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: and looking after you know, fellow community members and neighbors, 127 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 2: which is the territory way I reckon. But also food 128 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: security and supply where we've seen, you know, some essential 129 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 2: flight supplies and critical goods start to diminish. Being able 130 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 2: to know and understand where that's coming from and when 131 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: it's coming I think will be really important. And the 132 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 2: rural blocks and Catherine, you know there's people who can't 133 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: get throughout that Florina roadway. Are they going to be 134 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 2: food dropped? So just some of that more communication will 135 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: be really important. When people have stopped up for those 136 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 2: couple of days, not going to be able to access 137 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: essential goods and services, how will they be supported? I 138 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: think yeah, just a bit more information from the government 139 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 2: round that would really put a lot of people's anxiety 140 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: at base. 141 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: Look, we've put a number of requests in to have 142 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: the incident controller on the show because I actually think 143 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: that that's the person who needs to answer these operational questions. 144 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: So we've put in a number of requests to have 145 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: that person, whoever it is for today on the show. 146 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: To no avail at this point in time, but we 147 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: will certainly keep trying. 148 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 3: Opposition Leader. 149 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: Before I let you go, and I know your press 150 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: for time, you've got to get into Parliament. I do 151 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: want to talk about this situation with the pump out 152 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: at the Darwin River Dam. It's an unprecedented situation, is 153 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: what we are being told at this moment. The Chief 154 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: Minister had joined us a little earlier and said, you know, 155 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,559 Speaker 1: there's no need to panic that they are certainly working 156 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: on this. We're due to catch up with power and 157 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: water at eleven o'clock this morning. Now, you used to 158 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: be the Minister for Essential Services, didn't you? 159 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 3: Did you ever hold that? 160 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: Yes? 161 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 3: I did. What are you like from. 162 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: Your perspective, do you know and from I'm a assuming 163 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: modeling that's been done in the past. Do you know 164 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: if they would have some contingencies up their. 165 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: Slaves well, for this particular one, I would expect they would. 166 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: But in terms of the flow of information and communication out, 167 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 2: I think that's been a big concern with looking back 168 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 2: at the time frames of last night in particular, and 169 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: I know people, you know, it's late at night, but 170 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 2: information like that's quite critical, Katie, is people waking up 171 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: to hear that news, or of people who would have 172 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 2: been awake last night to see it or read it 173 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 2: for themselves. So you know, again, communication around what to 174 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 2: do what not to do in these situations is critical, 175 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 2: but what's the plan, what is the contingency plan in 176 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: the process, and you think of every worst case scenario 177 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,559 Speaker 2: in a business, then of course in our central services 178 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 2: that also follows through. So I think that the government, 179 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 2: and I hear that they're going to speak today at 180 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 2: lunch time, should have some more information for people, and 181 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 2: rightly so, they should be on top of this. The 182 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: Central Services Minister sharing posts on social media about it, 183 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: like you should have come out done a statement. Yes, 184 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 2: I know it's late at night, but that's politics. We 185 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: work sometimes twenty four hours to be able to get 186 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: information out to the public that's in the best interest 187 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: of the public, and I think they really need to 188 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: step up in this space. 189 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: Selena, before I let you go, Obviously, over the weekend 190 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: the Nightcliff by election, we've all almost forgotten about that 191 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: due to all the flooding. But it's looking as though 192 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: Labour's Ed Smelsh has won the seat based on the 193 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: most up to date count. How is the Labor Party 194 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: how are you, as the leader feeling about that? 195 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm feeling so proud of Ed and the work 196 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 2: and the Labor team and the positive campaign that we ran. Katie. 197 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 2: Ed's very well known in the community and this work 198 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 2: as a counselor. You know, he lives in the elector 199 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 2: and he's growing his family there. He's definitely going to 200 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: be a strong voice for Nightcliff. So feeling really proud 201 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 2: of the work that we've done. We wanted to rebuild 202 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,479 Speaker 2: some trust with the community here in Darwin and Palmerstan 203 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 2: and this is a really great first step, but such 204 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 2: a great campaign from Ed and the supporting Labour team. 205 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 2: So really really proud of that and looking forward to 206 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 2: having him in the Parliament. That you won't get sworn 207 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 2: in until May. They've got to do the declarations and 208 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 2: the ritz, but it will be fantastic to have Ed 209 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 2: as part of our labor. 210 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 3: I can hear those bells ringing. I better let you go. 211 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 3: Selena you Bo, thank you so much for your time 212 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 3: this morning.