1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Now, on July first, the Northern Territory government announced a 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,519 Speaker 1: number of changes to electricity pricing in the Northern Territory. 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: We spoke quite a bit about this now. It saw 4 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: a three percent increase in power, water and sewerage tariffs 5 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty five twenty six, but NT schools were 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: taken off the subsidy list and moved to cost reflective 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: pricing and will no longer receive the Community Service Obligation 8 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: CSO subsidy for electricity. So the NT Council of Government 9 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: Schools organization say it means massive power price increases for schools, 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: with one school reporting a six hundred and thirty six 11 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,599 Speaker 1: percent jump in just one month. Now joining us on 12 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: the line is nt COGSO President Ruth Myram's. Good morning 13 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:47,160 Speaker 1: to you, Ruth. 14 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners. Lovely to 15 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 2: be with you again. 16 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, lovely to chat to you this morning. Ruth. Can 17 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: you break down these electricity price changes for us and 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: what it means for government schools? 19 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, one one, duly. As we know, the tariffs went up, 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 2: and you know we understand costs of living and those 21 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 2: kind of things. These increases have to happen. But this 22 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: cost reflective pricing and the removal of the community service 23 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: obligation means the network and supply charges have really jumped, 24 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 2: and so schools are seeing these massive increases, as you said, 25 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 2: six hundred and thirty six percent for one school, other 26 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: schools doubling and tripling in just one month. And you know, 27 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 2: as we know, budgets just can't accommodate this. You can't 28 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 2: suddenly have a bill triple and just find that money somewhere. 29 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 2: And it's really that money set aside for our children, Katie, 30 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 2: for the programs and services and things they need in 31 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 2: their school, and having to use it to keep the 32 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 2: lights in the aircon on. 33 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: So Ruth, tell me, like, for some of these schools, 34 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 1: can you give us some examples of like just how 35 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: much money this has meant for them in a month. 36 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: Yeah? Sure. So for example, you know my school down here, 37 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 2: I can tell you because I'm on the school council, 38 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: so I've seen the bills. We've gone from about five 39 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 2: thousand dollars in June to about seventeen in July, and like, 40 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: I don't know about you, KT, but we don't have 41 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 2: twelve thousand dollars sitting around for a spare power bill. 42 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: Goodness what we do? Yeah, so they're not, and you know, 43 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 2: you reflect that across the one hundred and fifty two schools 44 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 2: in the territory. Not that every school is going to 45 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: be the same. It's different in different places. You can 46 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: just imagine what that means. 47 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: Well, and the thing is like you're in Tennant Creek. 48 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: We're literally just gone, like we're in you know, the 49 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: cooler months for you guys in Tenant Creek, what's it 50 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: going to be like when you're having to run the 51 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: you know, the air conditioning because it's it's really hot outside. 52 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: I would anticipate that it's probably going to get higher 53 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 1: as it gets. 54 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 2: Hotter, exactly exactly. So this is the lowest we can 55 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: sort of expect it to be for the year. It's 56 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 2: just going to get more. And we're quite worried about 57 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: what this means and what can we do. We can't 58 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 2: not have the economics Yeah, ay degrees? 59 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: Well, so tell me, I mean, how like how much 60 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: in subsidies were school receiving previously? 61 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, so it's quite COMPLEXICADID I'm still there in my 62 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 2: head around it myself, to be honest, but this community 63 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 2: service subsidy funding, understand, is estimated in one hundreds of millions. 64 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: And that's not just across schools, that's across all kinds 65 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 2: of organizations. And what's really concerning to us is that 66 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 2: schools have been put in with these commercial, big commercial 67 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 2: providers and big government departments. And you know, I understand 68 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 2: we've got to tighten the belt. We know that cost 69 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 2: of living's affecting everyone and governments too, and we're not 70 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 2: trying to you know, we want to pay our fair share. 71 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: We get that, but I just don't understand why schools 72 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: are the ones being hit for this to recover you know, 73 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 2: some of this money we're estimating we've got data in 74 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: at COGSO from the from twelve schools so far, and 75 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: we're looking at close to a million dollar increase per annum, 76 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: which is significant for our schools, but for government that's 77 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 2: kind of a drop in the bucket. So I just 78 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 2: don't know why they're coming to schools to try and 79 00:03:58,040 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: recover this kind of money. 80 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: Well, and I mean put this into perspective for us 81 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: as well. Roots when you look at schools and you 82 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: look at their operating budget, you know, for the school 83 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: Intendant Creig. For example, if your power bills going up 84 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: by twelve thousand dollars in a month. 85 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 2: Did you say yeah, in a month? 86 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,679 Speaker 1: So if it's going up by twelve thousand dollars, what's 87 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: going to have to be cush or what are you 88 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: going to have to do differently in order to pay 89 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: for that? 90 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 2: Well, it's exactly the conversations we're having, Katie. So we're 91 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 2: looking at, you know, do we need to cut programs? 92 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 2: Do we stop running additional sport? Do we cut a camp? 93 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 2: Do we need to raise our higher fees? You know, 94 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 2: lots of schools have community groups come and higher there 95 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 2: you know, facilities ovals and by sports facilities and things 96 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 2: like that. Do we suddenly you know, ramp that up 97 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 2: and hit the local footy clubs and things like that. 98 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 2: So we're reeling, we're having that conversation now about about 99 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 2: what we kind of cut Ruth. 100 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: Has there been any guidance issued from the Department of Education? 101 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: Like there they must be here caring very loudly and 102 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: clearly at this point in time, as different schools get 103 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: their power bills that this is going to be a 104 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: nightmare for them. Oh. 105 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely, they're hearing the message Loud and Claire, and we're 106 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: really grateful for the support of the ce Susan Bowden, 107 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: who's been very responsive in listening to this, and they've 108 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 2: promised that they will help support schools. What we haven't 109 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 2: seen from government at this stage is what that support 110 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 2: will look like. Are they going to put back the 111 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 2: community service obligations subsidy for schools? Are they going to 112 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 2: provide additional money while school's planned. Will the budgets next 113 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: year be bigger? So we're hearing the right things from 114 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 2: the CEE absolutely, but the response in terms of practicality 115 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,919 Speaker 2: from government still being worked through and in the meantime 116 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 2: we're having to pay these bills. You know, there's due 117 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: dates for these things. 118 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, spot on. Well, look we'll definitely follow this up. 119 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: We've got the Chief Minister on the show tomorrow, so 120 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: we'll definitely ask about this. Can you give us a 121 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: bit more perspective. I don't know whether you've got sort 122 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: of details from other schools as well, but you know 123 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: how much other schools are seeing an increase as they're 124 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: receiving that first power Bill, you know, following on from 125 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: these changes. 126 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, Katie. So we're we're encouraging our members, so 127 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 2: the school councils to send us their bills and to 128 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 2: you know, so we can understand the full picture. We 129 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: don't want to, you know, just because my bill's going up. 130 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: Is happening everywhere, so we want the full picture. And 131 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: we're seeing almost universal increases in the information we're being shared. 132 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: They very you know, significantly. Some are going up by 133 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: fifty percent, sixty percent, one hundred and fifty percent, but 134 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 2: we're almost seeing universal increases. So while the impact might 135 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: be different, everyone's having to find more money that they 136 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 2: hadn't budgeted for. 137 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 1: I mean when you say, you know, potentially more than 138 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: one hundred percent or fifty percent, what kind of numbers 139 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: are we talking like twelve thousand dollars like it is 140 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: for you guys. 141 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, sure, twelve thousand, two thousand, five thousand. Yeah, it's varying, 142 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 2: but they're in I mean, some are small, you know, 143 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: two hundred dollars, but even that, you know, it's meant 144 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: for our kids. So yeah, variable across, but some big, 145 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 2: big numbers that we're seeing. 146 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: I mean, we know that the Commonwealth government increased school 147 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: funding from twenty twenty five to twenty twenty nine. To 148 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: improve student outcomes. Is that funding now going to have 149 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: to go towards these power price increases. 150 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: That's how fear, Katie. We know, and there's been significant 151 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: work to secure that money from the federal government. We 152 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 2: know money doesn't come out of Canber easily for us 153 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 2: in the territory and so that's meant for our kids, 154 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: as you said, to help lift those outcomes and help 155 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 2: them thrive. And that's what we want as parents and families, right, 156 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: we don't want that money. It's not meant to keep 157 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: the lights on. Other money is meant to provide that 158 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 2: really basic essential services. So we're really concerned that you know, 159 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 2: that budget uplift will just get tucked into this kind 160 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 2: of thing. 161 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, So Ruth as the president of nt cogso what 162 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: are you calling for? 163 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 2: So we are calling for a reinstatement of that subsidy. 164 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 2: We don't understand why schools are being treated as commercial customers. 165 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 2: We're looking for the anti government to fully cover these 166 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 2: increases while they're working through the reinstatement of the subsidy 167 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: and to ensure that that doesn't come out of that 168 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: Commonwealth funding that you mentioned, Katie. We're also a bit 169 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 2: baffled as to why each school has their own agreement 170 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: around provision of power. You know, our schools are meant 171 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: to teach our kids. They're meant to be you know, 172 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 2: places are learning. Why are they often negotiating all these 173 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 2: electricity bills? So we're really calling for the Department of 174 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 2: Education to act as a central client and cover those negotiations. 175 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 2: Then they can have that heads up if changes are coming, 176 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 2: and they can model what it means and make a 177 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 2: plan for it. So if we have three things, we're 178 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 2: calling for reinstatement of the subsidy, coverage of the bills, 179 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 2: and some efficiency in how these the contracts are negotiated. 180 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 1: And Ruth, if the government doesn't come to the table 181 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 1: on these calls to action and assistance, yeah. 182 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 2: Look, we'll continue to navigate and continue to share, but 183 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 2: ultimately it's going to hit the school's budgets, so they're 184 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 2: going to have to find that money and it's going 185 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 2: to mean less for our students and less for our kids. 186 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: Well, Ruth, look we'll continue the discussion about this. It 187 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 1: was quite the shock to me when I saw the 188 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: kind of impact that it's going to be having on 189 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,599 Speaker 1: our public schools, and I mean, at the end of 190 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: the day, we know that our schools are doing their best, 191 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: you know, to juggle budgets as it is, and in 192 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: some cases, if you're talking about thousands of dollars increase 193 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: sort of per month, it's going to have a huge blow. 194 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 1: It would have a huge blow on any budget, whether 195 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 1: it's a household budget or a business, but it's going 196 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: to make it really difficult for those schools. So we'll 197 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: continue those discussions. I really appreciate your time this morning. 198 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 2: No likewise, Katie and Yeah, really appreciate it, and we're 199 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 2: just hoping this can be fixed for our kids. 200 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, Ruth, thank you so much for joining us this morning. 201 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, have a lovely day to you listeners, you too, 202 00:09:59,240 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: Thank you.