Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The government say that they've identified two hundred million dollars
in savings as they promised to rebuild the economy.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The Treasurer Bill Yan said that tough.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Decisions were being made to ensure that taxpayers money was
put to the right priorities and to help claw back
Labour's nine billion dollar debt. Now he yesterday announced the
government had commenced this work and taken the decisions to
pause the undergrounding of high voltage power lines running along
corridors in Darwin and also suspend negotiations with the NBL
(00:31):
about a local franchise. Now as a result of that,
you will also see a deferring of the upgrade to
the Darwin Convention Center. The opposition leader Selena Rubo joins
me on the line. Good morning to you, Selena, Good.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Morning Katie, Good morning to you listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Great to have you on the show.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Now, Selena, the government is pausing underground high voltage power lines.
It is work which is costly but has been happening
will It had been for quite a number of years
in an effort to prevent to outages that we often
see as a result of storms, sometimes tree branches falling
down and also even wildlife on those lines. Are you
(01:08):
surprised that they've decided to go down this path?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, Katie, it doesn't make sense to me. I mean
we've seen what the changes are when we're making our
power systems safer and the underground power are power process.
So program is a ten year program and it covers
thirteen different suburbs, So I know a lot of Darwin
suburbs will suburbs residents will remember cyclone Marcus. You know
(01:35):
that was only a category two cyclone Katie, and the
devastating effects that we saw in Darwin because of that,
and of course Palmerston because of that. So it really
it's quite strange that they've gone to this and saying
that this is going to save territorians money. So I
think it's a bit of a low blow. I think
for the northern suburbs and for our city suburbs, all
(01:57):
of those older Darwin suburbs that really need high voltage
underground because of that safety risk because of cyclones, because
of the strong weather in the territory. It's only going
to get worse because of climate change. So I'm very
surprised that they've gone to this level.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Look, I am someone who lost power for more than
seven days following on from cyclone Markets. So, you know,
I do think that it's a good idea to underground
those power lines, but the fact is it costs a
heck of a lot of money. It takes a really
long time, and we don't have any money.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
We're wearing an enormous amount of debt.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, it does cost a lot of money. But the
planning of the technical process for that one kdin As
you said, you know you're one of the people who
experienced the effects of cyclo Markets. I think some of
our territory families we are without power for up to
eleven days because of that particular cyclone and the effects
of that cyclone. But the investment in underground with the
(02:54):
high voltage would mean that, of course there's less risk
when we do have those severe storms or indeed cyclones
in the top end, and ultimately saving money in the
long run because we don't have to worry about any
time that there is impact of those severe storms or
cyclones that you're not having to then bring power back
(03:14):
online and you know, unfortunately putting people's safety at risk
who have to work in that field as well.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
As you've touched on obviously in the wake of cyclone markers.
That is when you know, there was a lot of discussion,
a lot of sort of push towards the undergrounding of
those powers. But you know, since then we've seen schools
move to underground power under labor, but no residential homes
were connected, as I understand it. So, I mean, is
it a bit hypocritical of labor now to be having
(03:42):
a crack at the COLP when the work really hasn't
happened over the last few years.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, Katie. The schools definitely were the priority because they
often get used as cyclone shelters and a place of
safety when we do have cyclones or cyclone warnings or
watchers or indeed if a cyclone does hit in the
TI territory. So that's why the schools were prioritized, because
it meant the safety for the wider community in the
long run would be able to access power in those
(04:11):
emergency circumstances. It is a slow process, That's why it
was a ten year program. It was very clearly nutted
out in terms of the time frames around that, and
it was slow, yes, absolutely, but it means that it's
going to be well now it's not going to happen
at all, unfortunately on the Sea of Pia government. But
(04:31):
it meant that it would happen properly. It would happen
at the due process with that technical expertise from Power
and Water to be able to do it properly and
to do it once to create that. Obviously, all of
our new suburbs in Down and Palmerston are already underground,
so those older suburbs, people living in those old suburbs
deserve to have that safety aspect as well. Katie.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Look, someone's just messaged through Andrew and Herbert, and he
said Katie, regarding the undergrounding of power. If we can't
afford it, we can't have it so as our household budgets.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yeah, and we know it does come with the cost
it was budgeted. I am as I said earlier, Katie,
I'm quite surprised that this is one of the things
that the COLP government is cutting. I mean, if I
was a new CLP member in one of those seats
that the suburb is going to affect, I'd be quite
outraged that my suburb would be missing out.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Selena, Let's move along because it's not the only thing
that they've said that they're going to sort of stop
at this stage. They said they're going to suspend negotiations
with the NBL as well about a local franchise, and
as a result of that, they're going to defer the
upgrade to the Darwin Convention Center. Why did Labour think
that a push for an NBL team was so important?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
So we know territories of their sport, but we also
want to make sure that the territory is showcase for
all the other things that we love in the NT.
So the work was around seeing what other avenues we
can showcase of the territory like NBL, like having a
top of the range, you know, high level sporting precinct,
(06:02):
as well as getting some of those other things that
we love in the territory like music, like arts, and
creating a space where you can have a large complex
that has you know, we're going to the shoulder season
now we call it before the wet season, where we
can have those big gatherings, have those big communiments, have
big concerts in a place that is comfortable and that
(06:23):
will bring people to the territory but also benefit territory.
So that was a bit of a joint package there
and the new Clpic government's obviously not interested in any
of that.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Well, oppositionally, do they say that these measures alone, like
everything that they've announced yesterday, are going to save the
territory close to one hundred and fifteen million dollars over
four years from twenty twenty four to twenty.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Five plus were plus there.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Were unfunded obligations of up to eighty five million dollars
I reckon that were not on the books. Was the
former government making promises that you simply couldn't afford.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
O Katie, I'm not sure where they're getting that one
hundred and fifteen million dollar figure, because what we've looked
at is the seventy nine point two million around the
in total, which would be the underground power which is
sixty million over the four years, and nineteen point two
around the convention Center upgrades. So I'm not sure where
they're getting the one one five from. I would love
(07:19):
to be corrected and have some explanation from the treasure
and the Chief on that, but we can't see where
the one fifteen is that they're talking about.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Well, look, we are going to catch up with the
Treasurer hopefully tomorrow morning, So I'll try and get a
bit further detail on that. But how much were those
negotiations have? Like, how do you know how much it
was costing for us to push through those negotiations with
the NBL team, because I know that.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
That is I honestly don't have. Yeah, I honestly don't
have that figure, Katie. I'm sorry. I would share it
if I did.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Yeah. Now, I know though that they are saying that
there's eighty five million dollars in obligations which were not
on the books.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah, I'm I would love to know what they are
to then be able to respond properly. So everything prior
to the territory election, our labor team had budget and
we had to do that because that was requirement through
the treasurer at the Department of Treasury. So I would
like to respond if I knew what they were. So
I don't know where the eighty five million is. I
(08:17):
would again like to respond if I could see that list, though,
that would be great.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I'll try my best to get some details we can.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Told me helpful and I probably listened to you more
than me, Katie.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I'll see if I can get some details so we
can talk about it on Friday for the week that was.
We know as well that the new Youth Detention Center
it's becoming operational this week. It was indeed supposed to
be up and running when you guys were still in power, Selena.
From your perspective, what held it up and are you
pleased that it is now actually operational?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Definitely please that the investment into the new facility is
coming to the fruition now, Katie, and it will be operational.
It was a big part of the recommendation around the
Royal Commission, as we know. I don't want to repeat
myself too much around that, but that was a huge
piece of work and that's something that we undertook in
our eight years of government to respond and to act
(09:11):
on those recommendations from the Royal Commission. I think it
will make a huge difference to have it operationally now.
Unfortunately it wasn't ready in time while we were still
in government. But I understand that there were just some
infrastructure delays. Whenever you get something built, whether it's your
house or you know, you know, a huge commercial building
(09:31):
or something like the new Youth Detention Center, it has
to be handed over properly. So the contractors walk through infrastructure.
If there's any little niggles that they're not happy with,
that all has to be done before it's officially handed over,
and that was my understanding the delay. Really glad that
the work that we did in government is now able
to be operational.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Well, look, fact is you know it went hugely over
budget as well and it is delayed. Is that something though,
that you're going to be sort of trying to keep
a close eye on With the current government. You know,
they've spoken a lot about pet projects and said that
they're not going to have pet projects like the Labor
Party did. How are you going to hold them to
(10:12):
account in that space?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Yeah, it'll be interesting because they're using the pet projects
but not actually labeling what those pet projects are. And
this is definitely not I think anyone in the territory
would disagree that having the new detention facility for use
will be is a pet project. So I'm glad that
that's not being labeled as that. I think it is
quite dismissive, Katie for the Colp government to call some
(10:37):
of those projects. They may to be projects that have
come from the community. There may have been projects that
have been lobbied for and advocated for for particular reason.
So I'm yet to see what the list of pet
projects are. They're using that terminology to try and I
think soften the blow when they do cut projects out
of the infrastructure budget. I think they've said forty two
(10:59):
million dollars if going to be cut from infrastructure. They
haven't said what those projects are. As long as they're
up front, then people can see what they're cutting. I understand,
you know, their focus is around rebuilding the territory economy,
but there also needs to be things that we can
all hang our hat on across the territory that are
going to make the territory even better, and that you
know does rely on infrastructure, it does rely on upgrades.
(11:22):
And I think that the new government will hopefully come
out and say what they're cutting so that we know
that we can concentrate on looking at the projects that
do remain and making sure they're delivered for territories as well. Well.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Look, I'll certainly continue to ask those questions, and I
know when it came to those pet projects, that is
something that I'd asked several times of the now Attorney General,
Mary Clare Boothby on the week that was one week
both myself and Matt Cunningham peppering her with questions about that.
So don't worry. I will stay on to that and
try and find out exactly what those pet projects are.
(11:53):
Opposition leader Doctor Richard Fijo joined me on the show
yesterday and explained why he decided to stand down as
the chair of the Waterfront.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
He does not agree with kids age ten going to jail. Now.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
When Labor was in power, we were told that there
would be programs for kids that are this young. I mean,
from what I can see, it really seemed that there
wasn't that there actually wasn't a lot of support for
kids that were this young that were engaged in the
wrong behavior, criminal behavior in some instances. Do you think
(12:26):
that if you guys actually did things a little bit differently,
if you did have those programs in place, like the
then Attorney General Chancey Paig had promised, that we maybe
wouldn't be going on this path.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah, Kaanie, I think doctor Richard Veijo's message. You know,
he's a very well respected leader and territory, and I
think it seeks volume that he's publicly made this decision
and he's been talking about it very much. Respect him
for that position that he's held, and you know, to
his own values. Something that Labor does hold firm on
(12:58):
is that locking up tenere old kids aren't actually going
to make our commute safer. We do agree that consequences
need to be face Katie, so I don't want there
to be any misconception around that, but we don't believe
that a prison cell is the right place for a
ten year old territory in We do think that there
was delays, and I acknowledge there's frustration that we didn't
get the amount of youth programs and the diversity of
(13:22):
youth programs up for youth offenders. I think that is
definitely a frustration under our former Labor government that we
didn't get some of those programs up. It's also something
that the new CLP government has promised and committed to.
So we'll be watching that very carefully because we want
to make sure that we do have those programs. The
(13:42):
CLP has promised them in different forms and I think
you know that refresh Start from them will be watching
very closely, but it is based to enter as well.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Do you acknowledge that had they been operating and had
there been those consequences for kids that are committing times
that we may not be going, you know, down this path.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Now, which path are you talking about, like.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Going down the path of potentially seeing ten year olds incarcerated?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Yeah, well, I think that in terms of addressing the
and we've said it lots of times, that it really
does make a difference when we're thinking about and analyzing
why a young person is in that you know, in
that action is offending, is you know, part of crime,
is you know, creating an unsafe community for all of us.
(14:32):
I think when we're looking at the reasons why, I
think that's really important as well. We can always deal
with the action at the moment. The CLP's answer is
to lock those kids up. That's okay, that's what they've
come out and said, and that's what they're going to do.
But actually the programs around.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
This is one thing that I will I will, you know,
I will say is that they actually haven't said they
want to lock ten year old kids up.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
In fact, they've said the very opposite.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Even you know, when you've been in here with discussions
with the CLP members, they've said, we actually don't want
to go down the path that we don't want to
see ten year olds locked up, but we'd like you'd
said earlier, but they do want to see a consequence
if a young person, whatever age they are, is committing
a crime, and that is something that was lacking previously
that a lot of people were very frustrated with.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Yeah, Katie, definitely not your point. But if you didn't
agree with locking up ten year old and eleven year
old kids, then they wouldn't have had to change the legislation.
They could still go through the programs that they're saying
that they're going to create or instill and diversify. You
can still do that without those legislative changes which they
made in the last sittings. But when we're talking about
(15:39):
how do we really focus on that behavior, there has
to be a holistic view. We definitely want to see consequences.
We want to make sure that all territorianes are safe.
Those young people who do do the wrong thing have
to face the consequences. Katie. There's no data, no way
around it, and there's no doubt about it. But what
then happens after that action and then what happens before
(16:01):
when we're talking about bringing online, more diversion programs to
stop that, you know, that negative behavior or that offending behavior.
We're you know, we'll be watching very closely to see
what the CLP come up with, because that's that's a
value that we have as labor is to see how
do you then reduce the pressures on the justice system
and create a safer community, which the CLP has promised,
(16:23):
So we'll be watching that very closely.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Well. Selena Ubo, the opposition leader, always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Thank you very much for joining me this morning.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Thank you for having me. Katie much appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Thank you