1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: Hello, Katie woll Van three point sixty online at Mixed 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: one O four nine dot com. 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 2: You Well, if you've been wondering how things are going 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 2: tourism wise with these discussions earlier in the week around 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 2: Kakadoo and also the discussions about park fees, joining us 6 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 2: on the line to talk a little bit more about it. 7 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 2: Tourism Top End General Manager Glenn Hinley, Good morning to you, Glenn. 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: Get Katie, good morning, Good morning listeners. 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: Good to have you on the show. Glenn. Obviously there 10 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 2: was that discussion earlier in the week and reports on 11 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 2: four Corners that well, the discussions between traditional owners and 12 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 2: the managers of Kakadoo have broken down yet again. What 13 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: kind of impact does this have for our tourism operators? 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: Well, personally that I think what was being discussed in 15 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: the context of that when those interviews were taking place, 16 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 1: it was they were asked a question of if things 17 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: don't improve, what are you prepared to do? And as 18 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: a last resort that was putting forward that there'd be 19 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: some challenges around access around the parks. We're confident it 20 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: won't come to that. We're confident that we can work 21 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: through this. That said, we still need to see an increase. 22 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: You know, parts Australia are doing have done the right thing. 23 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: They listened, they made changes at the head of the organization. 24 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,199 Speaker 1: They've got some great people in there with some really 25 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: good intent now and yet they need time. They need 26 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: to get out and spend time with traditional owners and 27 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: understand these concerns. And they're not recent concerns. These have 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: been manifesting for years. The accruing mistrust has been happening 29 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: with traditional owners and with the tourism industry. And I've 30 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: got to say, when it comes to tourism industry, so 31 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: many of my members are tourism businesses owned by traditional 32 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: owners as well. So I don't want to speak for 33 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: traditional owners, but only for the tourist industry. And I 34 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: think the indications are right. We're confident that it can 35 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: be and we're committed to making it work. We can't 36 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: fail to work. 37 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with you. I think that we've reached 38 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: a point where it's really you know, it has come 39 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: to a head, you'd have to say, over the last 40 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: year or so, and everybody does seem as though they 41 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: actually want to make it work. 42 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: Yes, they want to make it work. And I think 43 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: there's a couple of things missing, and then the intent 44 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: shown by camera is yes to place and a leading 45 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: a senior role in Darwen. That person is actually went 46 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: to day in high school. This person understands down understands 47 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: what the needs and challenges. But from an industry, the 48 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: park needs better resourcing. It's more than just placing a 49 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 1: couple of key people here. That we're talking about a 50 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: place a third the size of Tasmania needs to be 51 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: taken care of. And it's not just about the tourism aspects. 52 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: It's invasive weeds and feral animals as we saw on 53 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: Monday night. These are real big concerns not only to 54 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 1: the residents of Kakadu but to all territories, and we 55 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: need to be making sure that the park is properly 56 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: funded in an operational sense, not just in new I'll 57 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: look at this new developments and new master plans. 58 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, Glenn, we just caught up so with Minister Selena 59 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 2: Rubo and spoke a little bit more about those park fees. 60 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: We were certainly of the understanding that the fees to 61 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 2: be implemented and introduced for those parks that are managed 62 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: by the Northern Territory government. We thought that we would 63 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 2: have a better idea of what those fees would be 64 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 2: by now, but it sounds well from what the ministers 65 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: seed that it's taking a little longer than anticipated because 66 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 2: they are now sitting down with tourism operators and people 67 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: like yourself to try and get through this without it 68 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: heavily impacting the industry. 69 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was grateful at Minister could give me some 70 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: time last Friday and we did sit down and talk 71 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: about what genuine consultation with the tourism industry moving forward. 72 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: It looked forward, looked like tourism represents a broad range 73 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: of businesses including tours, accommodation, cabin campground, car rentals and 74 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: all businesses you see along the road leading in and 75 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: out of our great national parks, and when we talk 76 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: about park fees, it could have an enormous impact if 77 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: not done right. So whilst the intent there is to 78 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: move towards consultation, there hasn't been any of that yet. 79 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: We're looking forward to it. We've spoken with the senior 80 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: people from Parks and Wildlife and most recently with the 81 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: Minister on Friday, and she certainly was of the view 82 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 1: that it was important and that we're looking forward to it. 83 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 2: Well, they've got to make sure that they're consulting with 84 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 2: you guys. I mean, you're going to be heavily hit. 85 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 2: The industry is going to be heavily hit if it 86 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: isn't rolled out in a way which is manageable, Katie. 87 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: Last night we had a meeting that with seventy of 88 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: our members here here last night down at RFTS in fact, 89 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: and it was a big topic concern from our members 90 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: impact and that's not just for those businesses that are 91 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: in and around the parks. It's those businesses in the 92 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: CBD of Darwin that know that people are coming here 93 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: for a great parks and one of the things, if 94 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: done poorly, we can't afford for this to appear like 95 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 1: a tax on tourism. We know that already that locals 96 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,799 Speaker 1: won't be wearing any of the cost or park access. 97 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: That this will be front and center on the shoulders 98 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 1: of tourism industry. So it's really really essential that tourism 99 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: industry has consulted because ultimately it's tourism industry that are 100 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: going to have to be the ones mom and dad 101 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: businesses having to collect the fees or work in and 102 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: around the fees and we can't afford a place where 103 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: the way that the fees are delivered, if it's outside 104 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: the tourism industry, impact the number of arrivals. Well, we've 105 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 1: got the recovery of this top end tourism sector to 106 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: get it back to what it was in twenty nineteen, 107 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: a two point two billion dollar industry. We've got to 108 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: move to be able to get that back, and getting 109 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: park seas right is key to that. 110 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: Oh one hundred percent. I mean, Glenn like, at the 111 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: end of the day, it's been a very tough, to 112 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 2: say the least twelve months for tourism here in the 113 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 2: Northern Territory. If this isn't rolled out, you know, in 114 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 2: the right way, what kind of impact could it have 115 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 2: on some of those operators. 116 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: Well, a lot of my members are extremely concerned, and 117 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: they're probably more there because that's the unknown. To answer 118 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: your question, they're also concerned. I'm also concerned about their 119 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: well being. They've been through some really hard times this 120 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: last robment. There's so many businesses and people across the 121 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: territory in the top end. I've been but we've got 122 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: businesses that have been working in their owner operators working 123 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: their businesses seven days a week since March last year 124 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: and haven't any time off. And then when they read 125 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 1: about this in the paper and there's no information coming 126 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: out that gives them concerns as to what it is 127 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: that's been discussed because we don't know that yet. Tourism 128 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: has been doing tough. I know that we like to 129 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: talk about the success of oourchis and we're grateful to 130 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: the support of territories. But in a recent survey we've 131 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: sentiment survey we've just completed with our members, our industry 132 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: was fifty nine percent down for the October November December 133 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: period period over twenty nineteen. And yes, whilst there was 134 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: a dramatic uptick in Territorius travel, we're still almost sixty 135 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: percent down on the same time last year from our 136 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: interstate and of course no international visitors, so things like this, 137 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: things like and we know that those visitors were coming 138 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: here for our great parks and so we've got to 139 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: get it right. Katie and I think what the tourism 140 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: industry has. We have some of Australia's leading tourism commercial 141 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: minds to sit now with parks officials and be able 142 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: to say you've got a problem that you're underfunded. Let's 143 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: work with you on a way that not only can 144 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: you achieve your budget targets, but possibly you can exceed that. 145 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: We can make for better visitor experience, invasive weed control, 146 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: feral animals, and also doing it really importantly in close 147 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: collaboration with our traditional owners, traditional owners who live on 148 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: these lands. They're there lands that are jointly managed with 149 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: Parks NT and we've got to make sure that in 150 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: this tourism is also hearing the voice thank you, and 151 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: not just listening but acting in the best interest to 152 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: those people. We operate on their lands at their invitation. 153 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 2: Glenn, I'm so sorry We're going to have to cut 154 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 2: it short. I'm going to have to leave it there, 155 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 2: but mate, I've got so much that I'd still like 156 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 2: to discuss with you. Let's catch up again in the 157 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: very near future. 158 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: Hey, absolutely, Katie, thank you, thank you. 159 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: Glenn Hinley there our general manager of tourism top End, 160 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 2: and I tell you what, you can hear that man's 161 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 2: passion every time he speaks for the operators of tourism 162 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: here in the Northern Territory, and my heart goes out 163 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 2: to all of you. You you know, you business operators 164 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 2: who are doing it really bloody tough at the moment, 165 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: and this is what I think the government really needs 166 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 2: to hear right now. With some of these decisions that 167 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 2: they make, you've got to understand the impact that it 168 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: has on everyday territorians and the way in which they're 169 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: trying to run their businesses.