1
00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,040
Speaker 1: Three sixty with Katie Wilf Thanks to Joyce Main Darwin

2
00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,519
Speaker 1: Homes on Stuart Highway, Bereromart.

3
00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:08,560
Speaker 2: Joining us on the line right now for a real

4
00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:13,160
Speaker 2: change of pace. Darwin City Council CEO Scott Waters, Good morning.

5
00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:14,760
Speaker 1: Scott, Hey Katie here you going.

6
00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,080
Speaker 2: Very well, Scott. Quite a few things happened in the

7
00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,600
Speaker 2: council meeting overnight by the look of it. First off, though,

8
00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,160
Speaker 2: keen to find out with Nuttall straight near Monsoon's there.

9
00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,280
Speaker 2: It looks like it's going to have a temporary closure

10
00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,120
Speaker 2: at different times of the week.

11
00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,400
Speaker 1: Look it will, Katie. It'll only be a temporary closure

12
00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,280
Speaker 1: and we really must stress that that's to ensure that

13
00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,280
Speaker 1: we have the safety of patrons utilizing that particular part

14
00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,200
Speaker 1: of the city mainly late at night. So from eight

15
00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:47,800
Speaker 1: pm until four am Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings not

16
00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,800
Speaker 1: a place will be closed. Council will be reviewing that

17
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,160
Speaker 1: though when they meet again after the election in the

18
00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,720
Speaker 1: thirty to September at the absolute laterst so it'll be

19
00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,720
Speaker 1: closed predominantly during the dry season. At the moment, Council

20
00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:06,560
Speaker 1: had a number of different safety concerns and our number

21
00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,160
Speaker 1: of matters is Brore to our attention in January of

22
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,280
Speaker 1: this year and then working through that consultation process, we

23
00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:13,679
Speaker 1: had the decision last night.

24
00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:15,920
Speaker 2: So what were some of those matters?

25
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,840
Speaker 1: Look, it really comes down to that those that are

26
00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:25,240
Speaker 1: trying to enter that particular venue, being Monsoon's party bar

27
00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:29,600
Speaker 1: and nightclub, were taking a lot longer to enter that

28
00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,680
Speaker 1: particular premises and the reason for that is the scanning

29
00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,160
Speaker 1: process that's now required as a result of the COVID

30
00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:41,560
Speaker 1: nineteen restrictions and requirements. We're then seeing people that are

31
00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,080
Speaker 1: starting to be able to queue, but queue out into

32
00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,840
Speaker 1: the street, and you know, we were very, very concerned

33
00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,760
Speaker 1: to see that there was a vehicle that crashed down

34
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:56,560
Speaker 1: that street. Putting all of that into a safety matrix

35
00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,360
Speaker 1: at this point in time, while those restrictions are place

36
00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,720
Speaker 1: and it takes an extended period of time to get

37
00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:07,640
Speaker 1: into that venue. We've put these changes in, but we

38
00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,600
Speaker 1: will be reviewing them and keeping an eye on them

39
00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:10,880
Speaker 1: as they go along as well too.

40
00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,959
Speaker 2: Scott, was there any pushback from the nearby business and

41
00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,200
Speaker 2: landowners or building owners, business.

42
00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,799
Speaker 1: Owners, No, property owners. Absolutely, Three key property owners were

43
00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,120
Speaker 1: extremely concerned about that and what they had put to council.

44
00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,079
Speaker 1: That this was going to be a permanent closure. We've

45
00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,280
Speaker 1: stressed that this absolutely isn't. It is only a closure

46
00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,880
Speaker 1: while the COVID restrictions and requirements are in place for

47
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,360
Speaker 1: entry into these venues, which has seen changes in the

48
00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,960
Speaker 1: way that people are entering and exiting that particular venue.

49
00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,359
Speaker 1: But yes, there was absolutely from the landowners when we

50
00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,800
Speaker 1: took that into account, and that's why we're ensuring that

51
00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,200
Speaker 1: we're going to be reviewing this by the thirtie of September.

52
00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,120
Speaker 2: Now. One of the other changes that came into play

53
00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,880
Speaker 2: last night at that council meeting is the renaming of

54
00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:01,600
Speaker 2: the Chinatown Car Park.

55
00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,280
Speaker 1: Yeah, book, the Chinatown Car Park. That's been a great

56
00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,160
Speaker 1: piece of infrastructure for our city for a long period

57
00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,040
Speaker 1: of time. Council have just given that a faith lift

58
00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,400
Speaker 1: and we're really looking forward to the official opening of that.

59
00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,680
Speaker 1: The Larokier artists have worked with council officers to be

60
00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,680
Speaker 1: able to have a fantastic dragonfly installation and screening on

61
00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,240
Speaker 1: the front of that particular car park. But it is

62
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,600
Speaker 1: time for a change. There is no historical tie with Chinatown,

63
00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,200
Speaker 1: and that was more so about a development that didn't

64
00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,760
Speaker 1: go ahead as opposed to the history of Chinese people

65
00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,160
Speaker 1: coming to Darwin and the Northern territory. So what we

66
00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,560
Speaker 1: want to be able to is celebrate our Larakia culture

67
00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,320
Speaker 1: and what we will be doing is renaming that Chinatown

68
00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,400
Speaker 1: car park to the Dragonfly Car Park, and then we'll

69
00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,040
Speaker 1: be talking with Larochia traditional owners as to what's the

70
00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,280
Speaker 1: appropriate dual naming that we can put over that particular

71
00:03:58,320 --> 00:03:59,279
Speaker 1: piece of infrastructure.

72
00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:01,880
Speaker 2: But it will have a dual name. How long do

73
00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,600
Speaker 2: you reckon it'll take before you have the Larachee name

74
00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:05,080
Speaker 2: as well.

75
00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:10,120
Speaker 1: Look, our general manager of Innovation, Growth and Development has

76
00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,000
Speaker 1: been working with Larachie traditional owners over the last few

77
00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,560
Speaker 1: months and when we have the next available council meeting

78
00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,640
Speaker 1: that those traditional owners are available, will ensure that they

79
00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,920
Speaker 1: come to council have a really good talk to our

80
00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,159
Speaker 1: elected members as to what's an appropriate name. And you know,

81
00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,520
Speaker 1: we want to be able to celebrate the Dragonflyers the

82
00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,800
Speaker 1: insignia of the City of Darwin, but then also at

83
00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,640
Speaker 1: the same time how we can get the right and

84
00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,400
Speaker 1: the correct naming with the Larachie people there as well.

85
00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,400
Speaker 2: Now, Scott, obviously you know they're both both some pretty

86
00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,800
Speaker 2: straightforward stories. We also know though yesterday. Well, the City

87
00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,880
Speaker 2: of Darwin was the latest involved in an IKAC investigation

88
00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:55,880
Speaker 2: into the Thrive public art management procurement and essentially the

89
00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:00,200
Speaker 2: Deputy Commissioner Rex Wild AOQC presided over hearing z to

90
00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,360
Speaker 2: this matter and found that one former executive manager had

91
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,320
Speaker 2: failed to manage an actual law perceive conflict of interest

92
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,960
Speaker 2: and engaged in conduct that adversely affected the honest, impartial

93
00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,120
Speaker 2: or effective performance of official functions by a public body.

94
00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,640
Speaker 2: There was also another former officer who was found to

95
00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,960
Speaker 2: have failed to manage an actual law perceive conflict of

96
00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,600
Speaker 2: interest as well. Scott, what changes are going to happen

97
00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,560
Speaker 2: with the way that the City of Darwin manages procurement

98
00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,800
Speaker 2: to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again?

99
00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:37,279
Speaker 1: Well, Katie, look, this is extremely disappointing. It was the

100
00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,599
Speaker 1: City of Daryln's procurement processes that actually picked this issue up,

101
00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,039
Speaker 1: so I need to be really clear about that. And

102
00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,960
Speaker 1: no public funds had left counsel because of the way

103
00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,200
Speaker 1: that our processes were in place, and we welcome what

104
00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,920
Speaker 1: the Commissioner put forward and that we had a robust

105
00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,480
Speaker 1: policy in place and robust framework. These are two former

106
00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,880
Speaker 1: employees that chose to work outside that and as the

107
00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,839
Speaker 1: Commissioner has put forward, ultimately there was a separation of

108
00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,400
Speaker 1: employment that occurred. And I really don't want to go

109
00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,760
Speaker 1: into what occurred for those individuals because you know it

110
00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:10,680
Speaker 1: is very difficult for them at this point in time.

111
00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,720
Speaker 1: But what I can say is that our training will

112
00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:18,160
Speaker 1: continue with our staff. Our frameworks are very robust already.

113
00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:23,280
Speaker 1: They protect our council, they protect our community funds. This

114
00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,880
Speaker 1: was an investigation that was triggered internally within the City

115
00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:30,080
Speaker 1: of Darwin that we concluded and that we referred to

116
00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,280
Speaker 1: IKAK because we saw that there was an issue there.

117
00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,159
Speaker 1: So it was our reporting that was able to put

118
00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,640
Speaker 1: this forward. But it's extremely disappointing. We continue on. There's

119
00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,480
Speaker 1: a number of recommendations that the k Commissioner has put

120
00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,320
Speaker 1: forward as a result of this investigation, and we welcome those.

121
00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,800
Speaker 1: We really welcome those, and we'll continue to be able

122
00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,600
Speaker 1: to deliver against them. But to be absolutely clear that

123
00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,400
Speaker 1: this was our internal processes that picked this issue up.

124
00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,920
Speaker 1: We investigated, we put that to IKAK, and we welcomed

125
00:06:57,960 --> 00:06:59,640
Speaker 1: the findings by the Commissioner on this matter.

126
00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,960
Speaker 2: If it was picked up internally and you already knew

127
00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:04,960
Speaker 2: what had you know what had gone on, and tried

128
00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:06,720
Speaker 2: to sort it. How come it was then put forward

129
00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:07,400
Speaker 2: to the KAKE.

130
00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:12,720
Speaker 1: We have mandatory reporting requirements, okay, So as a public body,

131
00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,560
Speaker 1: if we see anything that we believe may contravene the

132
00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:22,480
Speaker 1: ICAQ Act, maybe inappropriate, maybe corrupt conduct, we will automatically report.

133
00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,480
Speaker 1: And that is for the Commissioner and the members of

134
00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:30,040
Speaker 1: the ICAC to be able to assess and then make

135
00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,720
Speaker 1: a decision where they put an investigation forward and what

136
00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,840
Speaker 1: they do on that. And ultimately, on this occasion, Council

137
00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,240
Speaker 1: finished its internal investigation. We then referred our findings to ICAK.

138
00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:43,800
Speaker 1: They assessed, they investigated, they went through proceedings, and we

139
00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:48,520
Speaker 1: see yesterday's report that was put forward. That's the combination

140
00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:49,880
Speaker 1: of eighteen months worth of work.

141
00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:52,920
Speaker 2: And when do you anticipate, I know that you said

142
00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,720
Speaker 2: that the k had put forward then those recommendations that

143
00:07:55,760 --> 00:08:00,000
Speaker 2: they had, when do you anticipate that they'll be implemented immediately?

144
00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,600
Speaker 1: We're working on them now already, and we've worked very

145
00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,960
Speaker 1: closely with the IKAK throughout this matter as well too,

146
00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,240
Speaker 1: so they'll be implemented immediately. But our policies are procedures,

147
00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,000
Speaker 1: processes and frameworks are strong, they can always be strengthened.

148
00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,920
Speaker 1: Training is the key, but it really comes down to

149
00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,400
Speaker 1: public trust in the way that we handle public funds

150
00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:23,040
Speaker 1: and money, and it's extremely important that we continue to

151
00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,280
Speaker 1: self report on issues and matters that they occur, and

152
00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,600
Speaker 1: we definitely ensure that we will be having the highest

153
00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,319
Speaker 1: level of procurement that we possibly can. We have ninety

154
00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,560
Speaker 1: five percent of our procurement procured locally. We want to

155
00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,000
Speaker 1: be able to deliver that to have economic growth for

156
00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,160
Speaker 1: our entire community, and we want to have confidence in

157
00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,120
Speaker 1: the community and what we do well.

158
00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,040
Speaker 2: City of Darwin CEO, Scott Waters. We appreciate your time

159
00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,120
Speaker 2: this morning. Thanks so much for having a chat with us.

160
00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:50,280
Speaker 1: Oh you're welcome, Katie.

161
00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:50,800
Speaker 2: Thank thank you,