Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And as I said, we know the Aboriginal Medical Service
Alliance of the Northern Territory am SAND is calling on
the Northern Territory government to outline how they're going to
be delivering that one hundred and eighty million dollar commitment
to tackling the domestic and family violence crisis in the
Northern Territory. Now, we also know that today is the
day that the coroner, Elizabeth Armitage's findings are set to
(00:25):
be delivered in relation to the deaths of four Indigenous
women at the hands of their partners. Now, the peak
body for Aboriginal Community controlled Health Services is urging the
government to draw a line in the sand and commit
to immediate action. Joining us in the studio right now
is the Chief Minister for the Northern Territory, Leofanoki O.
(00:46):
Good morning to your lead.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I come mining Katie into your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Thanks so much for your time this morning. Now, Chief Minister,
the findings of the coronial are set to be delivered today.
I don't want to preempt that, but do the Northern
Territory and the federal governments just need to stump up
here and outline how this one hundred and eighty million
dollar investment's going to be delivered.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, it's certainly something we're working through, Katie. We do
expect the coroner to hand down recommendations, and that coronial
process she's been going through has spanned seventeen months, so
it is going to take us time to review that
report and the recommendation. So we won't be rushing out
today with a statement. We will take the time required
(01:27):
to make prudent decisions on behalf of Territorians in making
sure that what next steps are actually going to drive
down these hideous rates of violence. We've already taken action
with our reducing Crime package last sittings, Katie, and strengthening
bail is going to go a long way to protecting
women and victims of domestic violence. But there's a lot
(01:47):
of work to do here. We continue to call for
the federal government to understand just how catastrophic the violence
is here in the territory. But plenty of work to
be done. And tomorrow in Parliament, Robin Carl the Minute
still will have a minister or report into this issue.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Okay, So we shouldn't expect that there's going to be
you know that there's going to be any detail come
out tomorrow in relation to the findings. The government's response,
it's going to take some time to get through it.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Yeah, I want to be really clear that this is
a process that has taken the coroner seventeen months and
it would be negligent of my government to just respond
in a rushed way. So we're going to take the
time to look at it. But tomorrow in Parliament, recognizing
the start of the sixteen Days of Action against Domestic
and Family Violence, we will have a ministerial report, which
(02:37):
of course at the recommendations that the Coroner's made. But
until we go through that in detail, you know, this
is not guesswork. We've just got to do whatever is required.
And there's multi layers to this. You know, there's of
course DV shelters, there's stronger powers for police, there's dealing
with offenders, there's behavioral change, there's intervening earlier in a
(02:58):
young person's life when they're family and they themselves are
a victim of family and domestic violence. So lots of
work ahead. No, you know, no magic sort of fairy
dust for that one, Katie, but we'll get on with it.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Leah, how is still in a situation where the federal government, like,
have they sat down with you? Have they sat down
with Minister Carl? Are they hearing just how bad things
are here in the Northern Territory. I mean, am Sense
says our rates of domestic violence are worse here in
the Northern Territory than anywhere else in the country. So
I can't wrap my head around how they're not treating
(03:32):
it as an emergency all.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Unfortunately, Katie, the federal government can't wrap their head around
the plight of the territory on a number of topics,
and honestly, DV is just one in a long list.
So I went to Canberra, I think it was week
two of our government, Katie, we're up to week twelve now,
and raised this issue. With the funding that the federal
government put on the table, it's not adequate. We get
(03:54):
about one percent of the national pool. But again, we
can't just keep crying to the Feds about this. We
got to do what we can, which is why we've
strengthened bail laws and targeted repeat offenders and expanded electronic monitoring.
That's one way in which the territory can directly contribute
to driving down this violence, as well as giving police
better powers around alcohol fuel violence and public drinking. We
(04:17):
know that drinking often leads to DV and so our
police being able to apprehend more people and intervene earlier
means less crime later.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
For many, domestic violence and what we are seeing in
the Northern Territory at the moment is the biggest emergency
that we've got. What steps you know, just sort of
talk us through. I know you said that you're not
going to be rushing through the findings today. It's going
to take some time.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
But for our.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Listeners this morning, you know, for those that work in
this space, for those that are victims that are listening
to this show this morning, what is your message to
them in terms of what the next steps are for
you as the chief minister to deal with this crisis.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, great question. So tomorrow the Domestic Violence Minister Rob
and Carl will have a report into the Parliament that
will detail some of the work and consultation that's happening
now on how to spend that one hundred and eighty
over five year package. It's fair to say it will
go into a range of services, so from a crisis
(05:16):
accommodation right through to behavioral change. Programs. There's a lot
that needs to be done and can be done with
that money. We need to allocate it prudently and come
January next year we're really looking at them rolling out
these changed plans for domestic and family violence. But we've
just been really cautiously going through all of that and
how we can allocate this money to make meaning it's
(05:39):
very very easy to just sign away dollars to NGOs
who claim to offer services, and we could easily do
that and tell everyone, hey, look at us. We've spent
the money. But if it's not going to deliver an outcome,
I'm not interested, Katie. I'll be really honest about that.
So we're not here just to spend money so we
can put out a press release and say we did it.
We're here to drive different hour comes and that's why
(06:01):
status quo is not an option.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Do you feel as though some of those NGOs have
not been delivering what they say.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
They will, Well, not necessarily in the DV space, but
across the territory we know there just has not been
any key performance indicators when government money goes out the door.
We promised an audit into youth services in Central Australia,
for example, and we're working through that now and hope
to have something to say about that soon. So it
is the case that governments can push money out the
(06:27):
door without the proper oversight so that they can turn
around and say we've allocated the funding. My government will
not be doing that because that doesn't drive good outcomes
for territorians. And at the end of the day, Katie,
I think your listeners are much like meat. They don't
care about all the fluff and talk around it. They
just want to see things make a difference. And so
we're working through what that looks like.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
It sounds like you're putting NGOs on notice right across
the Northern Territory. Deliver or you won't get it funded.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It's really important that we have really clear expectations both ways.
This isn't just a one way street. You know, government
needs to be really clear on their expectations with NGOs
and then NGOs can properly pitch to fun for that.
I mean, it's not fair to to for a government
to not give a clear scope and then expect with
that amount of money a different expectation. So it's a
(07:13):
two way conversation. We're having and it has to be
done and focused around outcomes.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Let's move along because there is a lot on the
agenda and I know that you do need to get
out of here at a certain time, so let's just have.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
A national first, mister meetings, so.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
We'll make sure that you are there on time. Now
it's being reported that the ABC Stateline, well they are
reporting that Virgin Australias claim the fees the Darwin Airport
or the Airport Development Group is charging airlines to land
at Darwin Airport were a key factor in flight pricing. Now,
Quantus and Virgin Australia declined to take part in the
interviews with that show as I understand it, but in
(07:48):
statements both suggested they always tried to get tried to
offer great value. Now, in a statement, a Virgin spokesperson
had said Darwin Airport's plans to double charges over the
next three years, we'll continue to put brochure on air
fes and will not incentivize airlines to grow services to Darwin.
(08:10):
I mean, we know that Territorians already paying an arm
and leg obviously to fly into state. What kind of
impact though, do you think that this is having all
this is potentially going to have on livability and tourism.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, huge, And so I'm just trying to get some
more detail around that, Katie. I suspect that it's got
something to do with the defense renovations that have been
happening out at the airport for some time, but I
don't know that for sure. So, you know, a doubling
of the feats is going to land straight back in
the lapse of consumers, which are everyday territories who already
can't afford to travel. So it's it's not a good situation.
(08:45):
I've met with both Virgin and Quantus and expressed just
how Die this.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Situation sounds like it's the airport, this is.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
This is another. That's right, it's another. It adds another dynamic,
and so it's really important we get to the bottom
of this. I know, Murray Cleipo be the Tourism Minister.
We've now moved that sort of airline management into tourism
for very good reason, and so there's a piece of
work being done right now to try and get to
the bottom of this. But I can tell you, Katie,
(09:12):
this airline game. You ask one, they point the finger
at the other. You ask the other they point the
finger the other way, and I've got to get to
the bottom of this. The truth has to be somewhere,
and I know it's a huge focus for so many people,
and I can't keep going on.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
It has long been reported though that the fees and
services to land at the Darwin International Airport are quite expensive.
We allready are flying out at two o'clock in the
morning to get somewhere. I mean, honestly, people have had
a gut.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
For they have, and it means people are missing really
significant moments in their families' lives or the ability to
have some reprieve and go on holidays and leave, which
everyone needs to rejuvenate and come back into it stronger
after that break. So it's a major issue. And again
another component of this, and I have to say another
component is our population. Client If we had more people
(10:01):
and the territory was growing, there'd be more peoples and
then you know, it's a classic supply and demand you
know matrix that happens. But we've got to be continuing
our economic growth as well. And that's why things like
our Territory Coordinator legislation are also so important, because the
territory has to be strong in order for everything else
(10:22):
to be here.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
So don't get to that in just a moment. But
can I ask, are you or the Minister for Tourism,
Mary clair Booth be going to be speaking to the
Airport Development Group about this?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I think that may have already happened, it just I didn't, Katie.
I'm pretty sure Mary clair boothby has and I'm just
circling back now to get the information myself and we'll
clearly communicate with Territorians if there's any update we can
give on that. Unfortunately, it is the airport and they
are private. But certainly as a government we have a
very strong position on this and a focus that we
(10:51):
can push on behalf of the community.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Now, a couple of quick ones to get through again.
I know we're very pressed for time, so I want
to move quickly. It was last week reported the territories
facing on gowing roasts of power blackouts and higher energy prices.
That's according to Australia's Energy regulator. Despite the fact that
we sit between two of the world's largest gas prospects,
Chief Minister, are we in a situation here where we
(11:14):
could end up having to purchase gas from other.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
States absolutely and it's a travesty. Are just how embarrassing
and ridiculous that we are having to look to purchase
gas from Queensland, sending gas the opposite direction in which
that pipeline over was built. When we have the Beterloo basin,
we have incredible, vast offshow resources. And again this comes
(11:38):
down to a government without any focus on the economy
at all, without any clear plans. And this all links
back to cost of living when territory and think well,
how does this economy affect me? It affects you every
time you open your wallet, It affects the job opportunities,
your pay, it affects your kids. It's huge. And so
when we talk about having a strong economy and doing
(12:00):
what we need to get it going, it's because literally
turning the lights on when you get home from work
depends on a stronger So are we.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Seriously going to need to purchase gas from Queensland and
how soon?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Well, we're looking at it. It is an option that
we've had to not us in the last twelve weeks.
This is something the previous government knew full well about,
which is even more astonishing that they didn't get cracking
with Betloo. So there are a number of gas agreements
with gas companies in the Beloo, but of course we're
not in a production stage yet, so that's all a
(12:30):
future hope. And then the pipeline into Queensland has been
retrofitted to make sure that if we need to, we
can get gas from Queensland. But this is just absolutely
unacceptable and expensive. You think about how much it will
cost us to buy gas from queens So do we have.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Any idea how much that might cost.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I don't know, but I know it will be more
than our own gas, Katie, And that's the biggest stroke.
Could that be happening, Well, it just depends, honestly. There
are a number of contingencies in play. It could be
next year, it could be the year after. So we've
got a really green light projects across the territory. And
because you know what, at the end of the day,
when you come home from work, you work hard, you
(13:10):
want to put the aircon on, turn the lights on,
and you have every right to do that. And you know,
we can't say, going for confidence that will happen.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
Meanwhile, the Opposition's Chancey Paik is taking to social media
to ask territorians to join him outside Parliament House tomorrow
morning to protest the Territory coordinator role. He's described it
as a blatant power grab to undermine existing laws. He says,
we'll join us to stand against this dangerous overreach. Chief Minister,
(13:39):
is this role and overreach?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I want to do some really clear fact checking on this, Katie,
because labor should really close their mouth and get out
of my way when it comes to growing the economy,
because they have ruined it for a generation of Territorians.
The Territory coordinator would do things like this, and this
is a real life example. If you are a solar farm.
You want to develop a solar farm, you would have
to get a non pastoral use permit, a land clearing permit,
(14:05):
and a water license. Now, all three of those processes
would require you, the person wanting to build a solar farm,
to do public consultation. What the Territory coordinator will be
able to do is recognize, okay, there are three processes there,
all requiring community consultation. Why don't we make that one
big piece of community consultation and then it's all done
(14:27):
in one go. Does that sound crazy to anyone listening?
I don't I mean we are looking for feedback, but
to me that sounds like a smart efficient use of time,
where then actually territories have better consultation because you get
to see the whole picture, you don't have to keep
coming back at different points, and you've got greater oversight
of all of the approvals required for that process. So
(14:49):
that's what we're talking about. I don't know what Labour's
talking about, Katie, and quite frankly talking in the wind, Well, look.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Will if I'm sure if anybody wants to get in
contact with us on that they can really quickly. We
know that the controversial unveiling of the Cyclone Tracing monument
or art installation is happening on Friday. Are you attended.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
No, I won't be attending that one, Katie, and I'm
not sure many people will be at this point. Look
what a saga. And it's a shame because this is
a really special important time, the fiftieth commemoration of Cyclone Tracy,
and there are a lot of commemorative events. There was
an ad again in the paper, I think on Saturday
or Sunday, So if you do want to see what's available,
(15:30):
and everyone has a very personal and different approach to this,
and some people don't want to hear about it, don't
want to know about it, and we respect all of it.
So if you are keen, have a look at what's
available to you. There's a church service, for example, there's
something on Saturday at the Ski Club. There's a wide
range of storytelling and sharing and yeah, something for everyone.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
We had Richard Creswick on about that last week as well.
Really quick one, Katie, can you ask the Chief Minister
or we're going to keep a reserve of gas for ourselves?
So I thought we were.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Yeah, so we don't have there is no gas reservation.
Labor didn't keep gas reservation, but what they did right
at the end of their government was sign agreements with
Empire and tam Boren And so that work is continuing
around shoring up multiple points of gas supply so that
if one fails, we're not back in this situation like
when the previous Henderson Labor government signed us up with
(16:19):
the E and I and hence the shortfall now so
we're certainly looking going forward. How can we secure the
lights on for every territory? And and it's a mess,
like many other messes we've inherited Katie.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Chief Minister. We better leave it there. I know your
press for time. Thank you so much for joining us
this morning.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Thank you, Take care everyone,
And as I said, we know the Aboriginal Medical Service
Alliance of the Northern Territory am SAND is calling on
the Northern Territory government to outline how they're going to
be delivering that one hundred and eighty million dollar commitment
to tackling the domestic and family violence crisis in the
Northern Territory. Now, we also know that today is the
day that the coroner, Elizabeth Armitage's findings are set to
(00:25):
be delivered in relation to the deaths of four Indigenous
women at the hands of their partners. Now, the peak
body for Aboriginal Community controlled Health Services is urging the
government to draw a line in the sand and commit
to immediate action. Joining us in the studio right now
is the Chief Minister for the Northern Territory, Leofanoki O.
(00:46):
Good morning to your lead.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I come mining Katie into your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Thanks so much for your time this morning. Now, Chief Minister,
the findings of the coronial are set to be delivered today.
I don't want to preempt that, but do the Northern
Territory and the federal governments just need to stump up
here and outline how this one hundred and eighty million
dollar investment's going to be delivered.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, it's certainly something we're working through, Katie. We do
expect the coroner to hand down recommendations, and that coronial
process she's been going through has spanned seventeen months, so
it is going to take us time to review that
report and the recommendation. So we won't be rushing out
today with a statement. We will take the time required
(01:27):
to make prudent decisions on behalf of Territorians in making
sure that what next steps are actually going to drive
down these hideous rates of violence. We've already taken action
with our reducing Crime package last sittings, Katie, and strengthening
bail is going to go a long way to protecting
women and victims of domestic violence. But there's a lot
(01:47):
of work to do here. We continue to call for
the federal government to understand just how catastrophic the violence
is here in the territory. But plenty of work to
be done. And tomorrow in Parliament, Robin Carl the Minute
still will have a minister or report into this issue.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Okay, So we shouldn't expect that there's going to be
you know that there's going to be any detail come
out tomorrow in relation to the findings. The government's response,
it's going to take some time to get through it.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Yeah, I want to be really clear that this is
a process that has taken the coroner seventeen months and
it would be negligent of my government to just respond
in a rushed way. So we're going to take the
time to look at it. But tomorrow in Parliament, recognizing
the start of the sixteen Days of Action against Domestic
and Family Violence, we will have a ministerial report, which
(02:37):
of course at the recommendations that the Coroner's made. But
until we go through that in detail, you know, this
is not guesswork. We've just got to do whatever is required.
And there's multi layers to this. You know, there's of
course DV shelters, there's stronger powers for police, there's dealing
with offenders, there's behavioral change, there's intervening earlier in a
(02:58):
young person's life when they're family and they themselves are
a victim of family and domestic violence. So lots of
work ahead. No, you know, no magic sort of fairy
dust for that one, Katie, but we'll get on with it.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Leah, how is still in a situation where the federal government, like,
have they sat down with you? Have they sat down
with Minister Carl? Are they hearing just how bad things
are here in the Northern Territory. I mean, am Sense
says our rates of domestic violence are worse here in
the Northern Territory than anywhere else in the country. So
I can't wrap my head around how they're not treating
(03:32):
it as an emergency all.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Unfortunately, Katie, the federal government can't wrap their head around
the plight of the territory on a number of topics,
and honestly, DV is just one in a long list.
So I went to Canberra, I think it was week
two of our government, Katie, we're up to week twelve now,
and raised this issue. With the funding that the federal
government put on the table, it's not adequate. We get
(03:54):
about one percent of the national pool. But again, we
can't just keep crying to the Feds about this. We
got to do what we can, which is why we've
strengthened bail laws and targeted repeat offenders and expanded electronic monitoring.
That's one way in which the territory can directly contribute
to driving down this violence, as well as giving police
better powers around alcohol fuel violence and public drinking. We
(04:17):
know that drinking often leads to DV and so our
police being able to apprehend more people and intervene earlier
means less crime later.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
For many, domestic violence and what we are seeing in
the Northern Territory at the moment is the biggest emergency
that we've got. What steps you know, just sort of
talk us through. I know you said that you're not
going to be rushing through the findings today. It's going
to take some time.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
But for our.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Listeners this morning, you know, for those that work in
this space, for those that are victims that are listening
to this show this morning, what is your message to
them in terms of what the next steps are for
you as the chief minister to deal with this crisis.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, great question. So tomorrow the Domestic Violence Minister Rob
and Carl will have a report into the Parliament that
will detail some of the work and consultation that's happening
now on how to spend that one hundred and eighty
over five year package. It's fair to say it will
go into a range of services, so from a crisis
(05:16):
accommodation right through to behavioral change. Programs. There's a lot
that needs to be done and can be done with
that money. We need to allocate it prudently and come
January next year we're really looking at them rolling out
these changed plans for domestic and family violence. But we've
just been really cautiously going through all of that and
how we can allocate this money to make meaning it's
(05:39):
very very easy to just sign away dollars to NGOs
who claim to offer services, and we could easily do
that and tell everyone, hey, look at us. We've spent
the money. But if it's not going to deliver an outcome,
I'm not interested, Katie. I'll be really honest about that.
So we're not here just to spend money so we
can put out a press release and say we did it.
We're here to drive different hour comes and that's why
(06:01):
status quo is not an option.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Do you feel as though some of those NGOs have
not been delivering what they say.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
They will, Well, not necessarily in the DV space, but
across the territory we know there just has not been
any key performance indicators when government money goes out the door.
We promised an audit into youth services in Central Australia,
for example, and we're working through that now and hope
to have something to say about that soon. So it
is the case that governments can push money out the
(06:27):
door without the proper oversight so that they can turn
around and say we've allocated the funding. My government will
not be doing that because that doesn't drive good outcomes
for territorians. And at the end of the day, Katie,
I think your listeners are much like meat. They don't
care about all the fluff and talk around it. They
just want to see things make a difference. And so
we're working through what that looks like.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
It sounds like you're putting NGOs on notice right across
the Northern Territory. Deliver or you won't get it funded.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It's really important that we have really clear expectations both ways.
This isn't just a one way street. You know, government
needs to be really clear on their expectations with NGOs
and then NGOs can properly pitch to fun for that.
I mean, it's not fair to to for a government
to not give a clear scope and then expect with
that amount of money a different expectation. So it's a
(07:13):
two way conversation. We're having and it has to be
done and focused around outcomes.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Let's move along because there is a lot on the
agenda and I know that you do need to get
out of here at a certain time, so let's just have.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
A national first, mister meetings, so.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
We'll make sure that you are there on time. Now
it's being reported that the ABC Stateline, well they are
reporting that Virgin Australias claim the fees the Darwin Airport
or the Airport Development Group is charging airlines to land
at Darwin Airport were a key factor in flight pricing. Now,
Quantus and Virgin Australia declined to take part in the
interviews with that show as I understand it, but in
(07:48):
statements both suggested they always tried to get tried to
offer great value. Now, in a statement, a Virgin spokesperson
had said Darwin Airport's plans to double charges over the
next three years, we'll continue to put brochure on air
fes and will not incentivize airlines to grow services to Darwin.
(08:10):
I mean, we know that Territorians already paying an arm
and leg obviously to fly into state. What kind of
impact though, do you think that this is having all
this is potentially going to have on livability and tourism.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, huge, And so I'm just trying to get some
more detail around that, Katie. I suspect that it's got
something to do with the defense renovations that have been
happening out at the airport for some time, but I
don't know that for sure. So, you know, a doubling
of the feats is going to land straight back in
the lapse of consumers, which are everyday territories who already
can't afford to travel. So it's it's not a good situation.
(08:45):
I've met with both Virgin and Quantus and expressed just
how Die this.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Situation sounds like it's the airport, this is.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
This is another. That's right, it's another. It adds another dynamic,
and so it's really important we get to the bottom
of this. I know, Murray Cleipo be the Tourism Minister.
We've now moved that sort of airline management into tourism
for very good reason, and so there's a piece of
work being done right now to try and get to
the bottom of this. But I can tell you, Katie,
(09:12):
this airline game. You ask one, they point the finger
at the other. You ask the other they point the
finger the other way, and I've got to get to
the bottom of this. The truth has to be somewhere,
and I know it's a huge focus for so many people,
and I can't keep going on.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
It has long been reported though that the fees and
services to land at the Darwin International Airport are quite expensive.
We allready are flying out at two o'clock in the
morning to get somewhere. I mean, honestly, people have had
a gut.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
For they have, and it means people are missing really
significant moments in their families' lives or the ability to
have some reprieve and go on holidays and leave, which
everyone needs to rejuvenate and come back into it stronger
after that break. So it's a major issue. And again
another component of this, and I have to say another
component is our population. Client If we had more people
(10:01):
and the territory was growing, there'd be more peoples and
then you know, it's a classic supply and demand you
know matrix that happens. But we've got to be continuing
our economic growth as well. And that's why things like
our Territory Coordinator legislation are also so important, because the
territory has to be strong in order for everything else
(10:22):
to be here.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
So don't get to that in just a moment. But
can I ask, are you or the Minister for Tourism,
Mary clair Booth be going to be speaking to the
Airport Development Group about this?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I think that may have already happened, it just I didn't, Katie.
I'm pretty sure Mary clair boothby has and I'm just
circling back now to get the information myself and we'll
clearly communicate with Territorians if there's any update we can
give on that. Unfortunately, it is the airport and they
are private. But certainly as a government we have a
very strong position on this and a focus that we
(10:51):
can push on behalf of the community.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Now, a couple of quick ones to get through again.
I know we're very pressed for time, so I want
to move quickly. It was last week reported the territories
facing on gowing roasts of power blackouts and higher energy prices.
That's according to Australia's Energy regulator. Despite the fact that
we sit between two of the world's largest gas prospects,
Chief Minister, are we in a situation here where we
(11:14):
could end up having to purchase gas from other.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
States absolutely and it's a travesty. Are just how embarrassing
and ridiculous that we are having to look to purchase
gas from Queensland, sending gas the opposite direction in which
that pipeline over was built. When we have the Beterloo basin,
we have incredible, vast offshow resources. And again this comes
(11:38):
down to a government without any focus on the economy
at all, without any clear plans. And this all links
back to cost of living when territory and think well,
how does this economy affect me? It affects you every
time you open your wallet, It affects the job opportunities,
your pay, it affects your kids. It's huge. And so
when we talk about having a strong economy and doing
(12:00):
what we need to get it going, it's because literally
turning the lights on when you get home from work
depends on a stronger So are we.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Seriously going to need to purchase gas from Queensland and
how soon?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Well, we're looking at it. It is an option that
we've had to not us in the last twelve weeks.
This is something the previous government knew full well about,
which is even more astonishing that they didn't get cracking
with Betloo. So there are a number of gas agreements
with gas companies in the Beloo, but of course we're
not in a production stage yet, so that's all a
(12:30):
future hope. And then the pipeline into Queensland has been
retrofitted to make sure that if we need to, we
can get gas from Queensland. But this is just absolutely
unacceptable and expensive. You think about how much it will
cost us to buy gas from queens So do we have.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Any idea how much that might cost.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I don't know, but I know it will be more
than our own gas, Katie, And that's the biggest stroke.
Could that be happening, Well, it just depends, honestly. There
are a number of contingencies in play. It could be
next year, it could be the year after. So we've
got a really green light projects across the territory. And
because you know what, at the end of the day,
when you come home from work, you work hard, you
(13:10):
want to put the aircon on, turn the lights on,
and you have every right to do that. And you know,
we can't say, going for confidence that will happen.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
Meanwhile, the Opposition's Chancey Paik is taking to social media
to ask territorians to join him outside Parliament House tomorrow
morning to protest the Territory coordinator role. He's described it
as a blatant power grab to undermine existing laws. He says,
we'll join us to stand against this dangerous overreach. Chief Minister,
(13:39):
is this role and overreach?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I want to do some really clear fact checking on this, Katie,
because labor should really close their mouth and get out
of my way when it comes to growing the economy,
because they have ruined it for a generation of Territorians.
The Territory coordinator would do things like this, and this
is a real life example. If you are a solar farm.
You want to develop a solar farm, you would have
to get a non pastoral use permit, a land clearing permit,
(14:05):
and a water license. Now, all three of those processes
would require you, the person wanting to build a solar farm,
to do public consultation. What the Territory coordinator will be
able to do is recognize, okay, there are three processes there,
all requiring community consultation. Why don't we make that one
big piece of community consultation and then it's all done
(14:27):
in one go. Does that sound crazy to anyone listening?
I don't I mean we are looking for feedback, but
to me that sounds like a smart efficient use of time,
where then actually territories have better consultation because you get
to see the whole picture, you don't have to keep
coming back at different points, and you've got greater oversight
of all of the approvals required for that process. So
(14:49):
that's what we're talking about. I don't know what Labour's
talking about, Katie, and quite frankly talking in the wind, Well, look.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Will if I'm sure if anybody wants to get in
contact with us on that they can really quickly. We
know that the controversial unveiling of the Cyclone Tracing monument
or art installation is happening on Friday. Are you attended.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
No, I won't be attending that one, Katie, and I'm
not sure many people will be at this point. Look
what a saga. And it's a shame because this is
a really special important time, the fiftieth commemoration of Cyclone Tracy,
and there are a lot of commemorative events. There was
an ad again in the paper, I think on Saturday
or Sunday, So if you do want to see what's available,
(15:30):
and everyone has a very personal and different approach to this,
and some people don't want to hear about it, don't
want to know about it, and we respect all of it.
So if you are keen, have a look at what's
available to you. There's a church service, for example, there's
something on Saturday at the Ski Club. There's a wide
range of storytelling and sharing and yeah, something for everyone.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
We had Richard Creswick on about that last week as well.
Really quick one, Katie, can you ask the Chief Minister
or we're going to keep a reserve of gas for ourselves?
So I thought we were.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Yeah, so we don't have there is no gas reservation.
Labor didn't keep gas reservation, but what they did right
at the end of their government was sign agreements with
Empire and tam Boren And so that work is continuing
around shoring up multiple points of gas supply so that
if one fails, we're not back in this situation like
when the previous Henderson Labor government signed us up with
(16:19):
the E and I and hence the shortfall now so
we're certainly looking going forward. How can we secure the
lights on for every territory? And and it's a mess,
like many other messes we've inherited Katie.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Chief Minister. We better leave it there. I know your
press for time. Thank you so much for joining us
this morning.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Thank you, Take care everyone,
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