1
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,800
Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line is the Leader of

2
00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:05,400
Speaker 1: Government Business and also Minister for Health and Tourism, Natasha Files.

3
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:06,200
Speaker 1: Good morning to you.

4
00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,680
Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie, Good morning listen man Minister.

5
00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,440
Speaker 1: I know we've just said obviously a test before you arrived,

6
00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,239
Speaker 1: then six more tests once people arrive in the Northern Territory.

7
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,799
Speaker 1: How are these tests going to be conducted?

8
00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,840
Speaker 2: The Katie with weather Nation and our response to COVID nineteen,

9
00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,759
Speaker 2: and we're now taking the steps forward so that fully

10
00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:29,200
Speaker 2: vaccinated territories can undtake quarantine at home. And this trial

11
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,520
Speaker 2: will also allow us to test the regime of COVID nineteen.

12
00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,360
Speaker 3: Testing, so people will get the tests.

13
00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,400
Speaker 2: They are covered by the Health Department, they'll have those

14
00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,000
Speaker 2: tests as you just mentioned, on all of those days,

15
00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:43,360
Speaker 2: and this is the.

16
00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:44,279
Speaker 3: Trial for us.

17
00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,640
Speaker 2: We have the testing capacity within our laboratory system, but

18
00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,200
Speaker 2: we want to work out the best way in which

19
00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,320
Speaker 2: we can deliver this testing regime, acknowledging that it will

20
00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,120
Speaker 2: grow in the numbers of people needing to be tested

21
00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,600
Speaker 2: over time, so that the process can be smooth as

22
00:00:58,600 --> 00:00:59,960
Speaker 2: possible for people quarantining.

23
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:01,840
Speaker 3: We're not putting the community at.

24
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,880
Speaker 2: Risk in the people heading out to get their testing

25
00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:05,440
Speaker 2: and we can have an efficient system.

26
00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:07,440
Speaker 1: So by the sounds of it, it's not just a

27
00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,479
Speaker 1: test in terms of how the home quarantine's going to work.

28
00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,360
Speaker 1: It's actually a test to make sure that our testing

29
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:14,240
Speaker 1: is up to scratch.

30
00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,560
Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, it's not as much as I just said

31
00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,600
Speaker 2: the laboratory. We've got excellent capacity within our labs, but

32
00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,039
Speaker 2: it's the system of getting those tests off individuals with

33
00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:28,360
Speaker 2: very minimal contact of course in the community, and then

34
00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,800
Speaker 2: getting those results back to them. So Healths have been

35
00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,200
Speaker 2: working in earnest at this and we're looking forward to

36
00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,560
Speaker 2: the trial over the next few weeks and then going

37
00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,840
Speaker 2: forward providing that testing so that we can identify if

38
00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,880
Speaker 2: someone has become positive with COVID nineteen before they're a

39
00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:44,840
Speaker 2: risk to the community.

40
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,240
Speaker 1: So will people be tested inside their own homes? Will

41
00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,640
Speaker 1: it be self administered or will there be somebody from

42
00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,440
Speaker 1: the Department of Health go around to people's houses. How's

43
00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:55,120
Speaker 1: it going to work?

44
00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,680
Speaker 2: So there certainly will be logistical challenges ensuring people can

45
00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,000
Speaker 2: compleat with the testing regime and that they get those

46
00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,400
Speaker 2: results quickly enough. So we're working through them. But people

47
00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,720
Speaker 2: will be required to go out to the testing clinics

48
00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,000
Speaker 2: and whether we provide them with those self test tax

49
00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,080
Speaker 2: Katie and they can self test and then drop that

50
00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,760
Speaker 2: test off. Of course, we'll always support someone that's not

51
00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,480
Speaker 2: feeling comfortable to do a self test that we do

52
00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,160
Speaker 2: want to look at how efficient we can get this system,

53
00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,160
Speaker 2: and of course we'll provide ways for people that don't

54
00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,560
Speaker 2: have access to a car to ensure that they can

55
00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:30,600
Speaker 2: comply with the testing regime.

56
00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,960
Speaker 1: So even though they're obviously going to be having to

57
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,400
Speaker 1: stay home for those fourteen days to home quarantine, they

58
00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,080
Speaker 1: will be required to leave their homes to go and

59
00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:41,880
Speaker 1: get those tests done.

60
00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,320
Speaker 2: Yeah, so similar to anyone that has been when we're

61
00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,560
Speaker 2: in the lockdowns, we had reasons you could leave home.

62
00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,280
Speaker 2: Receiving medical care is always an acceptable reason, and also

63
00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,120
Speaker 2: to get either the COVID nineteen vaccine or to the

64
00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,840
Speaker 2: COVID test if you can leave your home. And so

65
00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:58,760
Speaker 2: we need to make sure that they don't put the

66
00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,359
Speaker 2: community at risk in put diticipating in the testing regime,

67
00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,360
Speaker 2: but that's always been a part of the system.

68
00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,920
Speaker 1: Obviously, we are starting with one hundred people during this trial.

69
00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,360
Speaker 1: That number is no doubt going to grow. Do we

70
00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,280
Speaker 1: have the capacity to conduct a high volume of tests

71
00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:14,760
Speaker 1: and keep up with that demand.

72
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,680
Speaker 2: Yes, Katie, that's one thing. When we first started in

73
00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,959
Speaker 2: the pandemic and testing, that was just some hundreds of

74
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,200
Speaker 2: tests that we could do a day, and our systems

75
00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,320
Speaker 2: shown that we can do thousands of tests than We

76
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,280
Speaker 2: have continued to work with the Department of Health to

77
00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,720
Speaker 2: ensure there's increased capacity. So I'm confident we'll have the

78
00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:37,000
Speaker 2: laboratory testing. It's logistics around that that I'm keen to

79
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,560
Speaker 2: make sure that we've got in place so that as

80
00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,480
Speaker 2: we move forward and have more people participating in home quarantine,

81
00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:45,040
Speaker 2: that we're able to manage that.

82
00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,320
Speaker 1: All right, We've got a message from one of our listeners.

83
00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,600
Speaker 1: It says, how on earth are they going to be

84
00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,760
Speaker 1: able to manage seven times more testing with open borders.

85
00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,640
Speaker 1: We've seen the Northern Territory government in recent outbreaks be

86
00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,120
Speaker 1: unable to cope with those testing needs eight our weights

87
00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,520
Speaker 1: three to four day to get results.

88
00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:04,680
Speaker 2: So Katie, I think that this is quite different. So

89
00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,440
Speaker 2: the problems that we had, I think it was back

90
00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,600
Speaker 2: in May when we had the Melbourne hot spot declared

91
00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,960
Speaker 2: and we needed a large number of people tested with

92
00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,080
Speaker 2: more around the systems of people entering and getting that

93
00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,120
Speaker 2: test rather than the actual testing laboratories. But that's why

94
00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,719
Speaker 2: we're starting with a trial and then we can refine

95
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,279
Speaker 2: our systems so that when it's that all important testing

96
00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,719
Speaker 2: regime that's keeping us safe, we have confidence in the system.

97
00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,200
Speaker 1: So can I just clarify that the Chief Finess's office, well,

98
00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,279
Speaker 1: they said to us yesterday that territorians are not going

99
00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,560
Speaker 1: to have to pay for these tests. Can I just

100
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,400
Speaker 1: clarify that that is indeed the case?

101
00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,600
Speaker 2: Yes, Katie, absolutely all the way through, no one's had

102
00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:43,280
Speaker 2: to pay for a COVID test.

103
00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:44,480
Speaker 3: There's a small.

104
00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,880
Speaker 2: Percentage of people that sometimes require a test for international

105
00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:54,320
Speaker 2: trouble and they can pay for that test, and that's

106
00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,479
Speaker 2: not through NTG, there's another provider. But this testing regime

107
00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:58,120
Speaker 2: is covered.

108
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,960
Speaker 1: So what actually the actual areas are eligible at this

109
00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,440
Speaker 1: point in time. My understanding is that it's Darwin Is

110
00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:08,080
Speaker 1: and Dallas Springs is, Palmerston and the rural area also

111
00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:09,200
Speaker 1: going to be eligible.

112
00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,799
Speaker 2: So Katie, the Chief Minister outlines the criteria around people

113
00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,240
Speaker 2: that would be eligible, and I don't need to repeat those,

114
00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,400
Speaker 2: but an area also needs to be classified as a

115
00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,719
Speaker 2: high vaccination zone and that's a fortnight after it reaches

116
00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,839
Speaker 2: eighty percent full vaccination. So the City of Darwin should

117
00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,720
Speaker 2: become a high vaccination zone by the twenty third of November.

118
00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:33,040
Speaker 2: We expect Alice Springs to follow closely and then Palmerston.

119
00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,200
Speaker 2: So that's the criteria for a high vaccination zone which

120
00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:38,680
Speaker 2: allows people to be eligible.

121
00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,200
Speaker 1: All right, So by the twenty third the City of Darwin,

122
00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,800
Speaker 1: Alice Springs and Palmerston. What about the rural.

123
00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,239
Speaker 2: Area, Katie, So I should just clarify We expect Darwin

124
00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,120
Speaker 2: by the twenty third November. Then we expect Alice Springstown

125
00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,919
Speaker 2: Council to follow after that, and then Palmerston. In terms

126
00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,920
Speaker 2: of the rural area, we will I'll get you some

127
00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,680
Speaker 2: more advice and provide you on what percentages that they're

128
00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,840
Speaker 2: sitting out. They also, Katie, though you need to have

129
00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,200
Speaker 2: access to the good to go and that four G

130
00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,960
Speaker 2: for the system to work. So I know some areas

131
00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,159
Speaker 2: of the rural area have got four G and some don't.

132
00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,640
Speaker 2: But people can also they can stay. It doesn't have

133
00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,000
Speaker 2: to be their home. It can be a location that's

134
00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,599
Speaker 2: suitable to ensure that they can quarantine at home.

135
00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,680
Speaker 1: So does that mean like if the City of Darwin,

136
00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,840
Speaker 1: Alice Springs, Palmerston, the rural area. If we are all

137
00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,680
Speaker 1: at those vaccination rates at different times, does this potentially

138
00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,440
Speaker 1: mean that when the time comes to move to the

139
00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,240
Speaker 1: seven days home quarantine and then when the time comes

140
00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:42,479
Speaker 1: to move to no quarantine, that it's that different parts

141
00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,480
Speaker 1: of the Northern Territory are going to be moving at

142
00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,680
Speaker 1: different places.

143
00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,960
Speaker 3: So Katie, I will see some further advice in terms

144
00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:54,760
Speaker 3: of areas geographically such as Darwin, Palmerston in the rural area,

145
00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,920
Speaker 3: whether there'll be one cohort together for those further changes.

146
00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,000
Speaker 2: But I do imagine that you'll see, for example, in

147
00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,560
Speaker 2: the top end moving to the next steps before perhaps

148
00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,839
Speaker 2: remote areas, and that's not just based on vaccination rates,

149
00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:14,320
Speaker 2: but also support with the land councils for those particular areas.

150
00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,280
Speaker 1: All right, I've got a text from a vaccinated person

151
00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,800
Speaker 1: in Lichfield worried that she'll be locked out of areas

152
00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,560
Speaker 1: like Darwin and Palmerston if her community does not have

153
00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,760
Speaker 1: high enough vaccination numbers. Is that the case?

154
00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,440
Speaker 2: So congratulations and thank you to that individual for being

155
00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,840
Speaker 2: fully vaccinated. And there certainly will be as we I

156
00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,520
Speaker 2: feel the inevitable see COVID coming to the communities will

157
00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,920
Speaker 2: pivot to lock out, So people that are fully vaccinated

158
00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,160
Speaker 2: will be able to go about business as usual, but

159
00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,920
Speaker 2: if people are unvaccinated, that's when they'll start to feel

160
00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,720
Speaker 2: that impact of not participating in the vaccination.

161
00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:48,960
Speaker 1: Now we know as well. I believe it's the twenty

162
00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,800
Speaker 1: third of November that the traffic light system comes into play,

163
00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,400
Speaker 1: So those hot spot areas presumably would be regarded as

164
00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,960
Speaker 1: red zones. And then if we do see transmission in

165
00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,480
Speaker 1: other states or other locations, I'm assuming that, based on

166
00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,400
Speaker 1: the level of risk, that they may move to amber

167
00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,920
Speaker 1: or orange zones, and we will still have some that

168
00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,680
Speaker 1: are green zones. At this point in time, when you

169
00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:14,480
Speaker 1: look at that traffic light system, where would actually be

170
00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,240
Speaker 1: considered as a red zone.

171
00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,200
Speaker 2: So Katie, for example, right now Victoria would be considered

172
00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,200
Speaker 2: a red zone because they've still got significant case numbers,

173
00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,080
Speaker 2: but they have seen a decrease in recent days and

174
00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,680
Speaker 2: we hope that that continues. And then I think as

175
00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:35,120
Speaker 2: you step forward, you'll start to see more narrow areas

176
00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:39,439
Speaker 2: declared red, orange, and green, so you won't necessarily see

177
00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:43,720
Speaker 2: a whole jurisdiction, so you might see Melbourne Metropolitan remain

178
00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:44,839
Speaker 2: or you.

179
00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:46,080
Speaker 3: Could see the opposite.

180
00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,360
Speaker 2: In fact, you could see that the virus is spreading

181
00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,840
Speaker 2: in Regional Victoria, but Melbourne has got the high vaccination

182
00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,360
Speaker 2: rate and they're on top of it, and so they

183
00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,880
Speaker 2: could be an orange where parts of Regional Victoria could

184
00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,119
Speaker 2: be red zone. So we'll make sure that that information

185
00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,199
Speaker 2: is very clear to territorians as we shift across to

186
00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:04,840
Speaker 2: that regime.

187
00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,360
Speaker 1: And that's obviously so that all comes into play on

188
00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,079
Speaker 1: the twenty third of November, doesn't it, Katie.

189
00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,880
Speaker 2: I'll just get clarification on that specific date when the

190
00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,719
Speaker 2: traffic light system and those border changes from a hot

191
00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,240
Speaker 2: spot policy to the three types of travel categories for

192
00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:20,040
Speaker 2: you are there.

193
00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,320
Speaker 1: Now, I do want to ask. We've spoken at lengths

194
00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,760
Speaker 1: obviously about the impacts of border closures on tourism. Yesterday's

195
00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,680
Speaker 1: announcement confirmed that it's going to be incredibly difficult for

196
00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,800
Speaker 1: anyone to travel to the Northern Territory for a holiday

197
00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,200
Speaker 1: over the Christmas break. Are you worried the NT tourism

198
00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,960
Speaker 1: sector is going to be left behind by states which

199
00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,080
Speaker 1: are opening up and allowing people who are vaccinated to

200
00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:41,840
Speaker 1: travel freely.

201
00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:47,760
Speaker 2: Oh Ki, these challenges balancing the public health advice versus

202
00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,439
Speaker 2: the needs of the community and the impacts that we've

203
00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,360
Speaker 2: seen in insectors and tourisms a sector that's been hard hit.

204
00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,600
Speaker 2: But we do need to acknowledge that COVID is still

205
00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,800
Speaker 2: a real streat and we may need to make sure

206
00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,680
Speaker 2: we do everything practical to keep it out. But this

207
00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:04,960
Speaker 2: system what was announced yesterday, the different stages, we will

208
00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,440
Speaker 2: move quickly through it. But I can, of course understand

209
00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,600
Speaker 2: the frustration of the tourism industry, but we must remember

210
00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:13,839
Speaker 2: that COVID and the severe illness that it is is

211
00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:14,600
Speaker 2: still a threat.

212
00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:15,120
Speaker 3: To our community.

213
00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,200
Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, But I guess you know, at the end

214
00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:19,360
Speaker 1: of the day, we are also talking about the fact

215
00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,800
Speaker 1: that the people that we're allowing into the community are

216
00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,000
Speaker 1: double vaccinated, or they would be double vaccinated. But I

217
00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,120
Speaker 1: suppose there's a lot of people questioning at this point

218
00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,600
Speaker 1: in time, if they've gone out and made sure that

219
00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,720
Speaker 1: they had that vaccine, why they're not sort of being

220
00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,840
Speaker 1: rewarded with being able to travel freely.

221
00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,160
Speaker 2: Oh, Katie, It just comes back to that point that

222
00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,760
Speaker 2: the COVID is a real threat, and we have in

223
00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,080
Speaker 2: the Northern terrictory of particularly vulnerable population and so our

224
00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,600
Speaker 2: plans are reducing the risk as much as possible. And

225
00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,080
Speaker 2: I can you know different jurisdictions, but where you know,

226
00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,680
Speaker 2: our plans are strong. They're backed by our public health

227
00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,400
Speaker 2: officials and things will move quickly once we get into

228
00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,360
Speaker 2: this home quarantining and then hopefully reducing that and shifting

229
00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,240
Speaker 2: across in the end to a testing regime.

230
00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,719
Speaker 1: Okay. So I also want to ask a few other

231
00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,720
Speaker 1: questions that have come through from listeners. Are the rules

232
00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,440
Speaker 1: going to be the same for international travelers?

233
00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:17,720
Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, So we're expecting the repatriation flights. They do

234
00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,280
Speaker 2: need to quarantine at Howard Springs and that's a particularly

235
00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,920
Speaker 2: vulnerable cohort and they're a different regime that we work

236
00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:27,400
Speaker 2: with the Commonwealth to get those people home. There's flight scheduled, Katie,

237
00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:32,079
Speaker 2: repatriation flights through till December's my understanding. Even though international

238
00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:36,280
Speaker 2: travel will resume from next week, we still won't have

239
00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,360
Speaker 2: you know, regular air routes connecting the world, so to speak.

240
00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,560
Speaker 2: And there's people that are caught up in terms of

241
00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:46,040
Speaker 2: people coming in to the territory. The rules apply, so

242
00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,439
Speaker 2: they have to have that test, the negative tests before

243
00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:53,120
Speaker 2: they leave their location and then they can undertake those

244
00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,520
Speaker 2: two weeks home quarantine with that testing regime. We don't

245
00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,840
Speaker 2: have anyone understand in the first couple of weeks scheduled

246
00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,720
Speaker 2: off those cointus flights. But beyond that we are expecting

247
00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,400
Speaker 2: people to start to utilize and Darwin will be an

248
00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:06,520
Speaker 2: international destination.

249
00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,200
Speaker 1: All right, What about five FO workers. There are quite

250
00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,920
Speaker 1: a few FIVEFOUX workers who are concerned at this point

251
00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,760
Speaker 1: in time with those changes and how they could indeed

252
00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,440
Speaker 1: impact them when it comes to coming to work in

253
00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,040
Speaker 1: the Northern territory or traveling away for work and trying

254
00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:20,640
Speaker 1: to get home.

255
00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:23,880
Speaker 3: Oh, Katie, So this is a step forward.

256
00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,840
Speaker 2: So this is you know, within a period of time,

257
00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,240
Speaker 2: a relatively short period of time, we'll be on a

258
00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,600
Speaker 2: testing regime and trouble will be much easier than it

259
00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,360
Speaker 2: has been over the past eighteen months. So some of

260
00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,440
Speaker 2: the FIVEFO situations, some of the mind sights had different

261
00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,600
Speaker 2: COVID management plans and so that would be specifically a

262
00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,920
Speaker 2: question for their employer. Otherwise the rules more broadly apply.

263
00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,880
Speaker 2: But it's certainly a positive step forward around these changes.

264
00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,400
Speaker 1: Are you worried though that, you know, as the rest

265
00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,760
Speaker 1: of the country opens up like as Queensland obviously opens

266
00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,240
Speaker 1: up to New South Wales, the potential for COVID breed

267
00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:04,960
Speaker 1: is going to potentially become greater, as is the case

268
00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,679
Speaker 1: for other parts of Australia. I'm assuming that as they

269
00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,520
Speaker 1: open up to some of those spots that are indeed

270
00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:14,280
Speaker 1: regarded as hot spots right now, that we are realistically

271
00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,320
Speaker 1: going to be here in the Northern Territory unable to

272
00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,440
Speaker 1: travel anywhere else without then having to come home and

273
00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,440
Speaker 1: adhere to this very strict testing regime, and that we're

274
00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,040
Speaker 1: not going to be able to have tourists travel into

275
00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,480
Speaker 1: the territory or do you feel as though with this

276
00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:31,439
Speaker 1: traffic light system we're actually still going to be opened

277
00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,920
Speaker 1: to parts of Australia, or that those areas could increase.

278
00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:36,920
Speaker 3: So, Katie, I.

279
00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,440
Speaker 2: Think that that COVID is still a very real threat,

280
00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,680
Speaker 2: and I think these plans ensure that we're doing everything

281
00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,000
Speaker 2: we can to keep the territory safe, but we are

282
00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:47,080
Speaker 2: acknowledging that we need to move forward to the new

283
00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,400
Speaker 2: normal and that people do need to be able to

284
00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,559
Speaker 2: travel more freely. And I think you'll see that by

285
00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,920
Speaker 2: early next year we will be in that space.

286
00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,400
Speaker 1: But for tourism obviously that means that they are at

287
00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,160
Speaker 1: a real risk here over that distmas break of having

288
00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:02,400
Speaker 1: nobody in town.

289
00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:05,640
Speaker 2: So Katie, I know I probably need to keep my

290
00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,440
Speaker 2: comment short because Parliament is about to begin. I need

291
00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,040
Speaker 2: to get down to the chamber. But we certainly acknowledged

292
00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,199
Speaker 2: tourism as an industry and hospitality of being particularly devastated.

293
00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,040
Speaker 2: But we have in the territory managed to keep COVID

294
00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,560
Speaker 2: out and not have that community transmission, which means we

295
00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:23,240
Speaker 2: have enjoyed more freedom. So as a government, we've supported

296
00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,800
Speaker 2: the industry where we can our tourism vouchers out at

297
00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,760
Speaker 2: the moment, so we're hoping that Territorians can continue to

298
00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,240
Speaker 2: support the industry. And we're only you know, some weeks

299
00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,200
Speaker 2: a few months away from, as I just said, a

300
00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,280
Speaker 2: more normal travel scheduled for all of us.

301
00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,160
Speaker 1: All right, we are going to catch up with tourism

302
00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,200
Speaker 1: in just a couple of moments. Finally, I do want

303
00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,040
Speaker 1: to ask you, as you've just mentioned there, Parliament resumes

304
00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,040
Speaker 1: in the territory today. The government is introducing the Termination

305
00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,720
Speaker 1: of Pregnancy Law Reform Amendment Bill. It follows on from

306
00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,800
Speaker 1: when the reform was first introduced four years ago I

307
00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,440
Speaker 1: understand this bill is going to bring the territory's termination

308
00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,640
Speaker 1: of pregnancy laws more in line with other jurisdictions. Can

309
00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,040
Speaker 1: you just explain to our listeners what this is going

310
00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:04,840
Speaker 1: to mean for Territorians.

311
00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,280
Speaker 2: So for women and their families accessing these services, it

312
00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,800
Speaker 2: will acknowledge that at a particularly difficult time, we're trying

313
00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,880
Speaker 2: to support them and allowing them to work with their

314
00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:23,400
Speaker 2: health professionals. So the legislation allows for health professionals at

315
00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,560
Speaker 2: the twenty week scan Katie is a time that can

316
00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,960
Speaker 2: often go from joy to tragedy for individuals and their

317
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,440
Speaker 2: families when fiddle abnormalodies may become apparent, and so this

318
00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,160
Speaker 2: allows health professionals to work with those women and provide

319
00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,640
Speaker 2: the best care to them. So as a parliament it

320
00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:41,400
Speaker 2: will be a conscience vote, so people can vote at

321
00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,400
Speaker 2: not along the party lines. And I'm confident that this

322
00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,440
Speaker 2: legislation it builds on those reforms from twenty seventeen. It's

323
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:53,480
Speaker 2: feedback from the health sector and also advocates in this space,

324
00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,080
Speaker 2: and I believe that it allows women and their doctors

325
00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,640
Speaker 2: and their health professionals to make the best decisions. So

326
00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,120
Speaker 2: I look forward to that being intran reduce this parliamentary

327
00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,880
Speaker 2: fittings and debated in around a month's time.

328
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:05,720
Speaker 1: And so how soon will it come into.

329
00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,280
Speaker 3: Effect, Katie.

330
00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,880
Speaker 2: So the legislation will be introduced into the Parliament tomorrow

331
00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,240
Speaker 2: and then it will be debated later this year, and

332
00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,240
Speaker 2: then there's normally a process of a few weeks whilst

333
00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,800
Speaker 2: things are gazetted. So hopefully by early next year these

334
00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,560
Speaker 2: changes will be in place. Of the Church of Women to.

335
00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,000
Speaker 1: Access all right, Health Minister, also Leader of Government, Business

336
00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,240
Speaker 1: and Tourism Minister Attasha Files. We appreciate your time this morning.

337
00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:35,040
Speaker 1: We'll probably see you Friday for the week that was, We'll.

338
00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:35,480
Speaker 3: Do take care.

339
00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:36,080
Speaker 1: Thank you,