1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Joining me on the line right now is Daniel Rochford, 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: the CEO of Tourism Central Australia. Good morning to you, Daniel, Good. 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 2: Morning Katie, and good morning to your listening now Daniel. 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:18,799 Speaker 1: Unfortunately, this morning's some pretty crappy news. Well from my understanding, 5 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: there's been some further cuts when it comes to our 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: flights to and from Alice Springs. 7 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, and the wider Central Australian region. Katie, good morning 8 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 2: to you and good morning to your listeners. I think 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 2: it's certainly really bad us for our industry in our region. 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 2: Today we have found out that we are seeing a 11 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 2: reduction of over thirty thousand seats in and out of 12 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 2: Central Australia over the coming peak tourism season, which is 13 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: going to be a body blow for our sector and 14 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: our body blow for our region. 15 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: Thirty thousand seats. 16 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 3: Yes, to put that into perspective, I think that's around 17 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 3: equivalent onto one hundred and seventy aircraft. So look, this 18 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 3: of course comes off the back of as you know, 19 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 3: we're almost ten percent of our industry being wiped off 20 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 3: the map because of COVID and then staring down the 21 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 3: crime and antisocial issues and the firestorm of national media. 22 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: This has now come upon us and our message this 23 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 2: morning is that we need help from our all the 24 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: territory government. We need the government to be standing up, 25 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: rolling up the sleeves and working with our airports to 26 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 2: actively pursue competition in out of Central Australia. Might I 27 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: just suggest I don't have the statistics with me, Katie, 28 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 2: but these cuts are also happening in Darwin too, which 29 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 2: is something you should have a look at. 30 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, we will try and get in contact with 31 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: tourism top end and see what we can find out 32 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: when it comes to Darwin and the cuts. But Daniel, 33 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: just to put that into perspective for us, a reduction 34 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: of over thirty thousand seats when does he start? 35 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 2: So the first of them will start being seen next 36 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 2: week and they will go through to October, which is 37 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 2: you know, is our peak tours and season across the 38 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: Northern Territory. So you know that's thirty thousand seats we 39 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 2: will not be able to sell to tourists or to 40 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: residents wanting to get out of Central Australia. So you 41 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 2: know this does strike at the heart of the livability 42 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 2: of our communities in Central Australia and you know we've 43 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 2: already got enough challenges. This one on top of that 44 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,119 Speaker 2: is just a real kick in the guts. 45 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: Daniel. Can you just tell us as well, what do 46 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,119 Speaker 1: you think that this is going to mean then when 47 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: it comes to you know, the flights that you do 48 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: still have and. 49 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: The cost, Yeah, there will, no doubt be you know, 50 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 2: upward pressure on airfares. That said corners have put some 51 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: cheaper airfares in place, and that's to be fair on them, 52 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 2: that's what they have done. But what we see when 53 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 2: capacity drops, you do see an upward increase in airfares 54 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: and again that is going to be a real challenge 55 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: for us if we see that, and I suspect we 56 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 2: will really the name of the game here, Katie and 57 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: Quannas can make the decisions and ultimately they're a business 58 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: and they have that ability. But we need to get 59 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: competition into the market here at Central Australia and we've 60 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: written to the Chief Minister on February thirteen to seek 61 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 2: the government support to actively pursue competition in the market, 62 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: and we have bondser offering eighty dollars airfares on the 63 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: Eastern Seaboard we've got recks pursuing a growth agenda. These 64 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: are two airlines that we need to be encouraging to 65 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 2: come to the Northern Territory. 66 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: Have they dropped the ball here, Daniel? 67 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 2: Look, I think it's one of those things where the 68 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: Northern Territory government's got a lot on their plates, Katie, 69 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: and you know what's not that involves. But this is 70 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 2: one that we just can't not lose sight of. It's 71 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 2: really causing a lot of angst here in Central Australia 72 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 2: once people are aware of this news, and it is 73 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: certainly going to be one of those things if we 74 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 2: don't fix it, is going to absolutely attack the social 75 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 2: fabric of our communities right across the territory. 76 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: I mean more than thirty thousand seats across that period 77 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: of time really from next week until October. What does 78 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: that equate to in terms of flights sort of per 79 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: week Daniel? Is it a reduction of a few flights 80 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: a week. 81 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, basically we've lost one Sydney flight. During the course 82 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: of the season, we'll see a loss of two to 83 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 2: one to two seats sorry, one to two services per 84 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: week to mel from Alice and also one service from 85 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: July from Melbourne to Ularu, as well as a cutback 86 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 2: in seats from Cannes to Earlarue. So this is a 87 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 2: fairly wide ranging cut and of course does come off 88 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: the back last year of another thirty thousand feets cut 89 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 2: back from Adelaide and Perth into Alice Springs. So in 90 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 2: the last twelve months we've seen over sixty thousand seats 91 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 2: taken away out of Alice Springs. 92 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: Daniel is a demand just not there because of the 93 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: crime crisis that's been experienced. 94 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 2: No far from it. In fact, my members are saying 95 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: that they're losing business because the capacity is not there. 96 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 2: They can't physically get people on planes, so you know 97 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: that certainly flies in the face of the demand. We 98 00:05:55,320 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: know these demands. We know I hear locally across Alice 99 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: Springs people wanting to travel by air, but it's not 100 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: cost effective for them. They're literally choosing to drive out 101 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 2: of Alice Springs rather than fly. The demand is there, Katie, 102 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: but unfortunately when you're experiencing you know, for me to 103 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 2: fly home to Brisbane will often cost upwards of a 104 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 2: thousand to twelve hundred dollars, So you know people are 105 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: making the decision to drive instead of fly. 106 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: Well, you know, we'd even heard about that a couple 107 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 1: of weeks ago. I think I mentioned it to you 108 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: last time, You're on the show where we had you know, 109 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: one of one of our listeners who also runs Wonderful 110 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 1: Business Savvy Social saying that you know, she was keen 111 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: to get across to Alice Springs for Pachama, as I 112 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: know a lot of people are, and the cost of 113 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: flying there was insane. 114 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I don't you know, you guys up in 115 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 2: Darwin have jet Start, so you do have an alternative, 116 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,119 Speaker 2: albeit that's Corners Group, but it is a lower cost option. 117 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: We don't have that luxury in Central Australia. And that's 118 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 2: one of the reasons why this message is very much 119 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 2: to the Chief Minister and our Minister for Tourism that 120 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: we need to drive competition here across the Northern Territory. 121 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 2: We have bonds that we have wrecks who are eager 122 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: to expand their network, but we need to roll up 123 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 2: the sleeves and to encourage and incentivize that expansion. Yeah. 124 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: Hey, with all of these, you know, with these carts, Daniel, 125 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: is it going to mean that there will be job 126 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: losses in Central Australia as well. 127 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: Oh look, I've not heard anyone say that to me, 128 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 2: but there's certainly pressure on the upcoming tourism season. I 129 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: had heard from one operator this morning that was saying 130 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: her bookings have never been so low for July at 131 00:07:56,320 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 2: this time of year. I've heard many operate is saying 132 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 2: that there is a shallowing of length of stay. I 133 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 2: think that's directly attributal to the crime issues that we've 134 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 2: been facing. So rather than staying three or four nights, 135 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: people are just staying one night at out of springs. 136 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 2: So there will no doubt be a massive economic impact here. 137 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 2: We have publicly stated, and I say it again, that 138 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: we expect to be losing tens of millions of dollars 139 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 2: out of our regional economy just from the loss of 140 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 2: events that we've talked about in recent works. So this 141 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 2: is on. 142 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: Top of that, Oh mate, what a kick in the guards. 143 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: And you know, it is on top of the social 144 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: issues that you've been experiencing for quite some time. And 145 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: I know that that national you know that national media coverage. 146 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: It doesn't help in the sense that it does make 147 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: you scared to get there. But you've been calling out 148 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: for you know, for a long time last year on 149 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory level, for some change and and you know, 150 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: like nobody's sort of listened in the way that they 151 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: needed to, and now we've wound up in this situation. 152 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's not something that we haven't been talking about. 153 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 2: And you know, it's something that if you live in 154 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 2: Central Australia, you live with every day. You know. There 155 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 2: are literally people sitting around at coaching table now thinking 156 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 2: about leaving Alice Springs because they just can't get in 157 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: and out to see their family, or someone looking to 158 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 2: come to Alice Springs seeing how much it's going to cost. 159 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 2: These are things, these decisions really strike at the heart 160 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 2: of the social fabric of our town. 161 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, they really do. 162 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 2: Daniel. 163 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: You did touch on the fact that there's also going 164 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: to be cuts two flights to Darwin, but you don't 165 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: have that info, do you in front of you? 166 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,719 Speaker 2: I know that's actually no, that's the only positive. There 167 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 2: is actually a little increase between Alice Springs and Darwin 168 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 2: and a very small increase to to Adelaide. So there 169 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: is some positive news in this, But when you compare 170 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 2: it to against the loss that we've had. Yeah, it's 171 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 2: fairly small. 172 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, well that's exactly right. I mean when you compare 173 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: it to the PA and your decrease that you're going 174 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: to see, it's a big loss for you guys, and 175 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: just one that is not needed at this point. But Daniel, 176 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 1: I reckon that point that you're making about us trying 177 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: to attract Bonza or even Rex. You know, I'd seen 178 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: it out of North Queensland. They're flying from Cans to 179 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: Rocky for like ninety dollars and that kind of thing. 180 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 2: Well, I think the biggest thing that your listeners can 181 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 2: do to do this is send an email to the 182 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 2: Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister saying this is 183 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 2: what we want guys, because we need people from across 184 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory to say that our government. You need 185 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 2: to help us roll up your sleeves and back the 186 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 2: Northern Territory on this. 187 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, Daniel Rochford, I always appreciate your time. I'm sorry 188 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: that in recent weeks it has been certainly on some 189 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: really tough stuff for you guys. But we'll continue to 190 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: keep chatting and I'm sure that at some point we're 191 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: going to have something positive going on. No worries, Dani, 192 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: you'll look after yourself mate. Thank you.