1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: And we know that it has been announced that Charles 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: Darwin University is going to mandate COVID nineteen vaccinations for 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: all staff. Now joining me on the line to tell 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: us more about the situation is Vice Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman. 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Scott, Hi ka the great to 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: have you on the show. Now, why was that decision 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: made to well to mandate the vaccine for all staff? 8 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, look, all of. 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 3: Our staff really come onto our campus and now our 10 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 3: campuses are really meld in pots really for people from 11 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 3: all over the NT to come into them. We have 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 3: lots of Indigenous people coming in off of communities to 13 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 3: teach or to be students. So we really thought it's 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 3: a time that we followed the mandate of the Chief 15 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 3: Minister and so basically that's what we're doing. 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: And so I know that you of wanting to make 17 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: sure that you keep all of those staff safe and 18 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 1: hoping to do the same with all of the students 19 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: coming into the campus as well. Will you be doing 20 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: the same for the students. 21 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 3: Well, look, that's something we're looking at, Kadie, and you 22 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 3: know that is a big question for us. If you 23 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 3: have a look at the Chief Minister's guidelines or well, 24 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 3: in fact beyond guidelines really it talks about people that 25 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 3: have jobs with organizations. Our students obviously don't work for us, 26 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 3: so we are looking at that. At this point, we 27 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 3: are strongly recommending to our students that they do get 28 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 3: the vaccination, get fully vaccinated. 29 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 2: But look, I. 30 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 3: Think at some point we're going to have to say 31 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 3: to our students if you come on campus, then you're 32 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 3: going to need to be fully vaccinated or have one 33 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 3: job by the twelve to November and fully vaccinated by 34 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 3: Christmas Eve. And I think we will be talking to 35 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 3: our students about that pretty soon. 36 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: And do you reckon like obviously we'll be seeking some 37 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: legal advice I'm assuming to make sure that it is 38 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: something that you're able to actually do. 39 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, we understand it is, and we've spoken to 40 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 3: the staff representatives, you know, the unions about this. They 41 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 3: also want to create this safe environment. We think that 42 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 3: some well we know that some universities down south have 43 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 3: already gone this way as well, those that are in 44 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: sort of very high levels of COVID. In fact, we 45 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 3: did this for our Sydney campus a few weeks ago. 46 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 3: So we think we're on pretty strong ground. 47 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: And Scott, have you had much pushback from staff? For 48 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: most of the staff quite happy to have the vaccine? 49 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 3: Oh, look, the vast, vast majority of staff are very happy. 50 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 3: In fact, we a few weeks ago, as part of 51 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 3: our encouragement to get the vaccine, we said that any 52 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 3: staff member they've got fully vaccinated could an ad for 53 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 3: an extra. 54 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 2: Day's annual leave, and we've had a lot of. 55 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 3: Staff sending in their certificates to get that annual leave. 56 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 2: Look, I guess. 57 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 3: There's going to be a few students, sorry, staff that 58 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:21,119 Speaker 3: can't get the vaccine for medical reasons, and as for 59 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 3: the Chief Minister's guidelines, we're willing to make exemptions for them, 60 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 3: and we're probably going to have a handful that we'll 61 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 3: just say no, they don't want the vaccine. 62 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,959 Speaker 1: And so what will happen with that handful that say 63 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: that they don't want the vaccine. 64 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 3: Well, look, our advice to those members of staff at 65 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 3: the moment is that if you're not fully vaccinated by 66 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 3: Christmas Eve, you are putting your job at risk at 67 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 3: the university. So you know, we're not saying at this 68 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 3: point if you're not you're going to be sacked. But 69 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 3: I think you know, if you're not fully vaccinated by 70 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 3: christ and see if you really are putting your job 71 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 3: at risk, and you know, we may well have to. 72 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: Move that way. 73 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: Now you said that obviously it offered that annual day 74 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: additional annuals day leave for those that have been vaccinated 75 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 1: and they've had to present their vaccination certificate. What percentage 76 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: of staff are currently vaccinated? 77 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 3: Look, I think the number of people that put they're 78 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:30,679 Speaker 3: fully vaccinated certificates in is about fifty five percent. 79 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 2: Yep. 80 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 3: I'm not sure how many people out there have actually 81 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 3: been fully vaccinated and haven't given their certificates and how 82 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 3: many have just had one jab. But I think looking 83 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 3: at the vaccination rate for the cities like Darwin, I 84 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 3: think you know it will be way higher than that. 85 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: And how come you decided to sort of go with that? 86 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: You know that bonus of having the extra day leave. 87 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: Was it because you're sort of worried in case I 88 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: are feeling a bit off to having it, or more 89 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: so that you thought it was a reward for the 90 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: staff for doing it. 91 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 3: No, Look, I think it was more of a reward 92 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 3: because that's just added to the leave they can you know, 93 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 3: if they feel sick after the vaccination, then we've got 94 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 3: pretty generous leave provisions, sickly visions. 95 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: But no, this was just a bonus. 96 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 3: And you know we put that in place at a 97 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 3: time before there was the regulation around that you had 98 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 3: to register your vaccination status with your employer. But you 99 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 3: know we're not taking that away. That will continue. So 100 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 3: as soon as people put in their certificate, then they 101 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 3: get that extra day. And people are saying, oh, that'd 102 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 3: be a good Christmas shopping day. 103 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, it is always good to get out and 104 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: get your Christmas shopping done, Scott. I know that. In 105 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 1: some good news as well, the tender has been awarded 106 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: for Charles d Owen University's new City campus Halikos Group. 107 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: I understand have been awarded that how soon is all 108 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: the work going to get underway? 109 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 2: Oh, go and have a lookdown the hole. I did 110 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 2: last week. 111 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 3: It's going so we did sign some advance work contracts 112 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 3: so to start pouring the concrete. So they've had a 113 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 3: lot of concrete trucks going in there pouring concrete. And 114 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 3: I do want to apologize for any of our neighbors 115 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 3: in that area because I think they have been pouring 116 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 3: through till aid or nine o'clock at night because of 117 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 3: the temperature. So I do apologize, but you are going 118 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 3: to get a really fantastic building. So yeah, there's a 119 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 3: lot of work going down in the hole, and you know, 120 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 3: my hat goes up to the people or working down 121 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 3: in that hole. There's no breeze down there or anything, 122 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 3: but they're really working really hard at the moment. 123 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: Oh, hats off to like any of those trades people 124 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: that are working in the heat that we've got at 125 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: the moment, but particularly you know down there without that 126 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: breeze coming through and concreting, it would be tough going. 127 00:06:59,160 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: Well. 128 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 3: I was talking to one of the contractors who had 129 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 3: been doing a lot of work down in Melbourne and 130 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,719 Speaker 3: he was just saying, people down south would not be 131 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 3: working here in the conditions, and we just cannot believe 132 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 3: the quality and the determination. 133 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: Of the workers that we've got up here in the 134 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 2: top end. 135 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 3: So and looking at what they were doing, I quite agree. 136 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, Hey, and Scott, there's been some changes to the design, 137 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: as I understand. I know when it first came out 138 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: a lot of people were sort of looking at that 139 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: design and going, oh, I'm not too sure about this 140 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: but it has changed, hasn't that? 141 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:38,559 Speaker 2: Well, I must submit. 142 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 3: When I first saw those designs before I was working 143 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 3: at the university, I thought, oh, I'm not sure about that, 144 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,239 Speaker 3: because I've lived in the tropics for a long time, 145 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 3: it looked a bit like a greenhouse. But no, the 146 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 3: design has been completely revamped again. 147 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: We've got a local builder. 148 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 3: And we've had local architects and I think now it 149 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 3: is a very tropical design building. You know, lots of 150 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 3: shade in there, so I think it's really now fit 151 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 3: for purpose, fit for the. 152 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: Tropic And when are you going to see students inside 153 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: that building and studying? 154 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 3: Semester one twenty twenty. 155 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: Four, all right, so still a while away with. 156 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: It's still Yeah, it's a big building. But Helicoster, I 157 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 3: think are going to do a great job. And they've 158 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 3: got a reputation Helicost for delivering on time, so we're 159 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 3: pretty confident. 160 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:41,839 Speaker 1: Oh well, good stuff. Vice Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman were 161 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: making sure that we had your title right as well, 162 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: because we'd seen we were seeing a couple of different 163 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: areas for you or a different names for your title, 164 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: so we thought we'd better get it right. 165 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 2: Katie. You get it right if you just say, Scott, 166 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 2: that's fine. 167 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: Good stuff. Good on you, Scott, thanks so much for 168 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: your this morning. 169 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 3: Jeer, it's great talking to you as always. You two, 170 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 3: thank you.