The Week That Was - Federal Election Special

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, a very good morning and welcome to a very
special edition of the Week that was focusing on the
Seat of Solomon. We know that tomorrow is indeed federal
election day, the day in which we'll determine who's going
to be the Prime minister, but who's going to represent
us here in Darwin and beyond in the Seat of Solomon. Now,
we decided we do the week that was a little

(00:22):
bit different and invite, well, invite some different panelists on
this morning. I mean, we've still got our regular Matt Cunningham,
Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
To you, morning Katie.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Now Matt and I are sharing a microphone, so it
could be interesting because we both love a chat. But
we've also got our three candidates for the Seat of
Solomon in the studio with us this morning. We've got
Independent Phil Scott, Good morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Phil, Good morning with you.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah, lovely to have you on the show.

Speaker 1 (00:49):
We have indeed got the colp's candidate Lisa Bayless, Good
morning to you, Lisa.

Speaker 4 (00:53):
Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
And of course Luke Gosling not his first time in
the studio for the week that was, he the incumbent
member for Labor Luke Goslin, Good morning to you, Gay Katie.
Good to have you all in the studio. Now, I
know that you've probably all heard the show before, but
just to remind our listeners, it is of course a
discussion about the issues of the week, but we will
focus on some of the more important issues which have

(01:18):
been raised by our listeners here on three sixty ahead
of tomorrow's federal election. Now, just a reminder to please
be respectful of one another. Obviously everybody will have the
opportunity to speak, but you can refuse as you go.
Matt Nile obviously asks plenty of questions as we go
along as well. It is a discussion, it's not a debate,
but you will hopefully get a bit of time at

(01:40):
the end to you to remind those out there listening
why they should vote for you. But let's get into it.
We know that crime has indeed been an issue which
has plagued the Northern Territory for many years. We know
that this is largely handled by the Northern Territory government,
but it has once again reached tragic proportions with the
death of much loved territory in Linford, Fike. Now the

(02:03):
Northern Territory Government convene Parliament on urgency this week to
pass legislation which will see the presumption against bail applied
to serious violent offenses, which includes assault with intent to
steal and sexual offenses such as indecent touching or indecent
act now. According to the Attorney General, the bill also

(02:24):
changes the test for the offenses that the presumption against
bail is applied to require that bail must not be
granted to a person unless the court has a high
degree of confidence that the person will not if release,
commit a serious offense or prescribed defense, or endanger the
safety of the community. I mean to me, it seems

(02:46):
like common sense. I would have actually thought that that
was at the top of you know, of what was
looked at by judges or indeed the Northern Territory Police
when bailing someone.

Speaker 5 (02:58):
Yeah, cad, if you just allow me to make a
few points about crime and law enforcement in general, and
what the Acting Police Commissioner talked about last week, which
is the work we need to do to address the
drivers of crime as well. Firstly, we are partnered the
Albanezy Federal Labor Government is partnered with Leofinocchio's NT government

(03:22):
to address these issues. Recently, in all Springs we agreed
to a partnership including over two hundred million dollars for
extra policing, so we know these are serious issues. The
stats from police say that in the last six months
all levels of crime against a person against property, theft, stealing, assault,
grievous bodily.

Speaker 6 (03:42):
Harm, they're all up.

Speaker 5 (03:43):
So these are persistent issues that need real support from
the Commonwealth. Let's be really clear, nine dollars out of
every ten dollars up here is from the federal government.
That's why our partnership is so important with the NT government.
But we didn't give extra resources to the end government
for them to take conditions off police. So what we

(04:04):
will do is continue to take the advice of police,
and that includes to tackle the drivers.

Speaker 3 (04:11):
Take conditions off the police.

Speaker 5 (04:12):
Well I'm a bit concerned that at the moment you've
got the Police Association on here yesterday fighting for conditions
for police when we need to recruit and retain as
many police in the forces as we can, and the
extra money for policing seems to be being dodgied in
a way that's not going to end up with good.

(04:33):
That's just not true.

Speaker 6 (04:34):
You'd have an interesting perspective from.

Speaker 4 (04:36):
The police as everyone knows that when you have a
negotiation process, that's actually a process that normally there's a
little bit argie bargie as we go through negotiation. I've
done quite a few in my time in the Police Association.

Speaker 6 (04:47):
The housing's not going to be taken off, clearly.

Speaker 4 (04:49):
And clearly you haven't done a haven't done any negotiations
for the consent agreement as far as I know, for
any union area that you work for.

Speaker 6 (05:00):
I've never worked for a union.

Speaker 4 (05:01):
We're talking about the root causes of crime here.

Speaker 6 (05:03):
Actually, no, that's what I was getting to in the
second point. If I can finish the second point.

Speaker 3 (05:08):
Or did you want to go to live, Well, let's
hear it quickly, Yeah.

Speaker 6 (05:10):
Just quickly.

Speaker 5 (05:11):
So I put up five million dollars for Youth Engagement
Hub that when the acting Police Commissioner talks about the
drivers of crime, that's that's a big part of it, right.
We want to support young people and make sure that
they get on a good pathway. They've got mentors and
so forth. That's incredibly important to us. But the other
one is education, early education. The number of people have
said great that you're putting an early childhood and care

(05:33):
center in Karama, because we need to get around those families,
support those families. We know that early education leads to
better school out.

Speaker 1 (05:40):
Absolutely those things are required. We know that early intervention
is something that the former Labor government had spoken a
lot about and spoken a lot about generational change here
on that local level.

Speaker 3 (05:51):
But we're in a situation.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
Where we have a wound that is bleeding and it
certainly needs to be stopped immediately.

Speaker 6 (06:01):
Mining your police well, I.

Speaker 1 (06:02):
Mean, but the fact is we do need It's not
just about the police, as you've also touched on, but
we certainly do need to make sure and we've seen
over the last couple of weeks, we've spoken about it
at length, Like we've got a situation here where we
had a young person who was bailed for incredibly serious offenses.

(06:23):
I mean, it boggled the minds of territorians that somebody
who had allegedly committed the serious crimes which had been
committed was able to be bailed.

Speaker 4 (06:33):
I think it's you know, Katie, we had over eight
years of labor and I think subsequently look overd like
the last twenty years, we've seen within our law enforcement
and criminal justice system that the whole justice system has
been focused towards the defenders. It's not been focused towards
victims and community safety. And that is why we've had
criminals continually get bail time and time again, including you know, youth,

(06:56):
and that we've seen it, like I've experienced as a
police obviously, you get youth that will say you can't
touch me, you know, and we know you arrest them
and your relation them as.

Speaker 3 (07:04):
Like actually you're saying they say.

Speaker 4 (07:05):
That, They say that, they say that to you know,
they say that, they said it to me, they said
it to other police members. And it's been it's been
a very frustrating period. I think eight years of labor
we had, we saw crime, law and order within the
Northern Territory. It just turned absolute rubbish. It's been lawless
for a very long time. And I know that these
bail changes will have the effect of putting the priority

(07:27):
of community safety above that of the offender. We talk
about the rate causes of crime, and I think it's
really important to understand that it's it's so multifaceted. It's
it's it's not just about you know, the family unit.
It's about housing, it's about poverty, it's about substance abuse.
There are so many layers within there, and having a

(07:47):
proper understanding about the response that's actually required. I think
it's vital to you know, to be able to work
in partnership with the Northern Territory government and assist them.
I'm just going to go back again to you know,
for me as a former police officer of thirty years,
I'm just going to talk a touch on the consent
agreement negotiations. I'm totally biased. I mean, I think the

(08:08):
police nor the Churchary Police should be the best paid
in the country. I think we should have the best
conditions in the country. My husband's still a serving police officers.

Speaker 2 (08:15):
So they should get more than three percent.

Speaker 4 (08:17):
Then I cannot be I cannot be impartial when it
comes to this, But so what's reason. But what I
can say is that this is a matter for the
Northern Churtary government to work through because it's not just
we're not just looking at police, You're looking at it.
You're looking at all all the different the different areas education, health.
Everyone always thinks that, you know, they need to get
top dollar and it's really hard it's really hard to

(08:39):
recruit and to retain place.

Speaker 7 (08:40):
On your campaigns very closely linked to Leaf and I mean,
what are you saying to her about what sort of
pay rise police deserve in the Northern Terrier.

Speaker 4 (08:50):
And again I'll go back to the Leaf and government
inherited an absolute mess from Labor government previously, not just
law and order, but a budget they massively massive deffice.
So at what point do you do you they need
to also be physically responsible well at the same time
trying to attract and retain police. That is a matter
for them to work through with the Police Association. And

(09:11):
again I say, like, it's very difficult because I am
someone who's clearly biased towards supporting the police. I'm a
former police officer and I always think the police should
get every support possible, every resource possible.

Speaker 7 (09:23):
So we're not saying that though, Phil your campaign is
all about, or has been, all about, listening to the
community and acting on what the community wants to see.
Over the past week and a half, we've just seen
an absolute outpouring of I think anger from the community
over what happened to Linford Fike, and I think I

(09:44):
would be right in saying there's been widespread support for
what the government, the Northern Territory government did on Wednesday
when it made changes to bail that Katie spoke about before.
Do you support what the government did this week?

Speaker 8 (09:58):
I absolutely believe that everybody has a right to feel
safe in our community and people who commit these violent
fences need to be held accountable. So if this is
going to help do that, great. What concerns me is
that these responses are not being given proper consideration by

(10:21):
lawmakers with enough time. So I understand that Justine Davis
was only able to see this proposed bill at half
past ten on the day that it was proposed. That
does not give me confidence that whatever these changes are
are going to be effective. I think that the community

(10:41):
needs to be involved in how these bills are drafted.
I'm very skeptical of parties imposing these without giving due
opportunity for experts in the community in.

Speaker 6 (10:55):
Crime government input into this government.

Speaker 8 (10:57):
Yes, but communities being ignored in the process. It's government
as we're used to.

Speaker 4 (11:03):
You've got to remember that the colp government was elected
basically because Laura and Order got out of control on
the all the territory. The community expect this, the community
expect that we have the tough as Bayol laws in
the country. But I think we're getting distracted because they're
talking about local issues and we probably should be talking
more about the federal issues.

Speaker 1 (11:21):
A well. Look, I mean the thing is, though, I
guess what we do want to be sure of is
that our elected members are going to make decisions. So
I suppose Phil, you know, the question is, would you
abstain from voting as Justine did in an instance like that,
or I mean, does leadership come down to standing up
and making a tough decision, even if it goes against
what some in the community may feel is right when

(11:44):
you've got the majority saying, you know, we actually want
this issue stemmed and we don't feel it's appropriate that
somebody who's committed a serious violent offense is on bail.

Speaker 8 (11:55):
Oh absolutely, I agree with that. I'm just saying that
follow good process, make sure that the enough time is
given to considering these issues properly, and make sure that
the community is able to participate in that process.

Speaker 5 (12:09):
Can I just make a point, Catie, just quickly about
youth diversion. I heard on your program, I think it
was yesterday or the day before you were talking to
the Corrections Commissioner and he was saying about youth diversion,
and they're thinking about a design for youth diversion. Oh
my god, Like, where are we This government was backed
by the tech, by terror.

Speaker 3 (12:29):
It was on a camp or a different like a different.

Speaker 5 (12:33):
Pro community has been talking about bush camps for a
long time. I've been on your program saying when I
talk to people out in the community, they say something
like Wildman River out of town, get kids out there
in the bush, work with the families, work with the parents,
get some responsibility back, gets some discipline back. And we're
hearing that they're thinking about a design.

Speaker 6 (12:53):
Now.

Speaker 5 (12:53):
I've had five million dollars on the table for a
youth engagement hub to stop kids just running through Casarina Square,
shopf and the colp of knocked down.

Speaker 6 (13:01):
How long?

Speaker 2 (13:01):
How long has that been on the table for.

Speaker 5 (13:03):
That's been on the table since the last election. I
committed that funding.

Speaker 7 (13:07):
So I mean the point is though that the points
you're making a good relevant points. But I think what
a lot of people would would argue is that there
was eight years of a labor government here where we
got all of these promises about you know about these sort.

Speaker 5 (13:21):
Of Casinea fire station. They got rid of it, they
did the co designer, they're ready to build.

Speaker 7 (13:27):
But a lot of these things, a lot of these
things didn't happen though, did they in that eight year period.

Speaker 5 (13:31):
I'm not here to defend the former anti government. What
I'm saying is we are partnered federally. The alban Easy
Labor government has partnered federally financially to support the current
Anti government to do the job to make people feel
safer in that community, and we're committed to that.

Speaker 4 (13:45):
You've been in this position for nine years and I
can tell you that out in the community people do
not feel safe. But we had a territory labor government
for eight years. Let's the actual well, the actual disaster
that has been left, a legacy that's been left because
of them been in power. And and I can say
federally we're heading in the same direction.

Speaker 7 (14:03):
Does the federal coalition government deserves some of the blame here,
because if you know the history, you'll know that in
twenty sixteen it was Malcolm Turnbull who after a TV
show went to air, got up the next day and
called a Royal commission and in twenty twenty five, most
people in the territory would say that the outcome of

(14:24):
that Royal Commission has not been beneficial to the Northern territory.
Would you accept that the Federal Coalition deserves to wear
some of the blame here?

Speaker 4 (14:33):
Look, I remember that when we had the intervention and
was Claire Martin was the Chief Minster at the time,
and it's really easy to look back and think things
should have been done differently, and I think they should
have been. I think that it was literally handed over
to the federal government to run everything, and it should
have been led by the territory of the territory.

Speaker 7 (14:49):
I'm not talking about the indiventual on that intervention that
gets called the intervention. I'm talking about I'm talking about
the Royal commission that the Malcolm Turnbull called in twenty
sixteen with Adam Jarles, the Royal Commission into Youth Detention.

Speaker 4 (15:02):
Yes, yeah, no, I remember, and again we saw the
results of that was literally don't lock up use and
that's been again a disaster for the territory.

Speaker 1 (15:10):
Look, we are going to have to take a very
short break. Well, it is three point sixty and it
is the week that was a special edition with some
of the candidates for the seat of Solomon, and of
course Matt Cunningham here with us. But we've got Phil Scott,
Lisa Bayliss and Luke Gosling. Now we know that when
it comes to the election, there has been a lot
of discussion about cost of living. I think it's safe

(15:31):
to say that cost of living is one of the
biggest issues impacting territories ahead of tomorrow's election, and the
major political parties have taken different approaches in terms of
trying to tackle the issue. The government of course announcing
tax cuts by the Coalition focused on the fuel excise
policy and some changes to cabotage for Darwin so for

(15:52):
our airfares in an effort to really try to lower
the cost of flights, something that is continuously raised as
being a frustrating point. I mean, look, there's lots of
different ways to slice and dice the cost of living changes,
but I think it's all safe to say.

Speaker 3 (16:08):
That we are all still struggling with the cost of living.

Speaker 1 (16:12):
I mean, where are each of you ash in terms
of trying to reduce that cost of living for territory.

Speaker 4 (16:17):
Yes, look, Cartie, I'll go first if that's okay, Luke,
jump in there before you get in there. I'm not
the coalition that we've got a plan. You would have
seen the posters around town. We want to cut the
fuel tax excize by fifty percent, so that's saving twenty
five cents later every time you fill up your car,
which is about fourteen dollars for a smaller car and
a big twenty dollars for a larger size one, particularly
of the four drives we have around around the territory.

(16:39):
That's a real practical saving. I think for families and businesses,
it's something that every day we've got to fill up
pretty usually it's weekly that I fill up my car
with petrol. So I think for families that's really really important.
For two car family, you're looking at about fifteen hundred
dollars in a year, and we're speaking to people. That's
been really it's been a very popular, very popular thing
for people to hear that the col we'll do. I'm

(17:00):
sure the other thing that the other thing, well, it
is it's for twelve months, and then at the end
of twelve months, it'll be something that we could always
reassess and do for another another twelve months. And I
think this is practical stuff for families, immediate relief that
they're going to be able to work on.

Speaker 2 (17:15):
Has that been discussed in a twelve month extension.

Speaker 4 (17:18):
Well, it has been, it has been, but not locked in.
It's one of those things Let's see what the economy
is like at the end of twelve months, and it'll
be something that could be further further done. It's going
to it costs around about seven billion dollars, and particularly
for the For the other for the Albanesi government, they're
talking about bringing the tax cut next next July, which

(17:38):
is seventy cents seventy cents a day, and that's going
to bit's cost it seventeen billion dollars. So even if
we extend it for another another twelve months, it's still
cheaper than what time is proposed by them. And I
think the other the other tax cut that we've talked
about so that we're going to introduce is to twelve
hundred dollars rebate for those people who are earning under
one hundred and forty four thousand, which again I think

(18:00):
will provide immediate relief for families. Come that tax rebate time.

Speaker 6 (18:05):
It's just a one off though it's not tem it's
just for one.

Speaker 4 (18:07):
It is and I think the economy, the economy of
the state that it's in. People are really hurting. And
the two things when I've been outdoor knocking, one is crime.
Crime is still a number one in the territory. And
the second thing is cost of living. And I know,
being remote, you know, for the rest of Australia, everything's
more expensive. We usually have high wages, but everything's more
expensive and people are really hurting.

Speaker 5 (18:29):
Can I do a bit of just so we can
compare in contrast, so cost of living has been elbow.
The Prime Minister and us here in the territory are
number one focus when it comes to household budgets. Obviously
making people feel safer. We're committed to working with the
anti government on that. But if we go to tax cuts,

(18:49):
our tax cuts. If you're an average way journer in
the Northern Territory at the moment, if you're on say
seventy five thousand a year, one thousand, seven hundred dollars
tax cut this financial year, this current financial year, more
in the next financial year, more in the next financial year.
By twenty seven to twenty eight, we're looking at two
thy seven hundred tax cut. So what I'm saying is

(19:11):
they're permanent tax cuts and not just a one off
handout that Peter Dutton.

Speaker 6 (19:15):
Is talking about. I mean, with the.

Speaker 5 (19:17):
Fuel excise drop, it's pretty heroic to think that you're
going to give all billions of dollars to fuel companies
and that they're going to hand it all on to
the consumer. What we've done is energy bill relief off
the Jacana dollars to But that's how it works. The
funding goes a disc Can I just quickly can finish
a point on energy bill relief. Of course there's cheaper childcare,

(19:40):
cheaper medicines through the PBS, all of that, but the
energy bill relief off the Jacana bill is that's been
consistent and that is through to the end of the year.

Speaker 4 (19:50):
So this is aimed the Prime Minister promise to everyone
they'd get a two hundred and seventy five.

Speaker 6 (19:54):
Times four hundred and fifty power.

Speaker 4 (19:56):
Production and we've seen them go up by more than
thirteen hundred dollars, So I don't think can take too
much for labours promises. When it comes to electricity, you
can just.

Speaker 6 (20:03):
Say what we're committed to I can just get that party.

Speaker 2 (20:05):
What do you reckon foe hundred and fifty reckon cost
of living happen?

Speaker 8 (20:12):
First of all, tinkering around the edges with a twelve
month proposal for a fuel excise is just so base.

Speaker 6 (20:20):
We like.

Speaker 8 (20:22):
These sugar hits that we give to the electrics every
three years are why people are so sick of the
lack of vision from the parties. We need six systemic
tax reform here so we don't have a cost of
living crisis.

Speaker 4 (20:36):
We have a cost of corporate greed film.

Speaker 8 (20:38):
By speaking, we have a cost of corporate greed crisis. Yeah,
we have small businesses paying twenty eight percent tax. We
have working people paying a minimum of thirty percent tax.
It is small businesses and working people who are doing
the heavy lifting of our economy here, whilst woolies and
coals are paying one percent tax whilst they price guage

(20:59):
can humors. Now, these guys don't talk about this stuff
because these big corporations donate to their parties and it's
a pretty sweet deal that they've got going on. What
we're suggesting is actually, let's look at systemic tax reform
so that we can address these sorts of things in
the first place and actually permanently bring down the level
attacks that small businesses and working people are paying. They've

(21:22):
got more money to wash around in the economy. Small
businesses have got more money to be able to invest
in research, development, growth of that business. And that's a conversation.

Speaker 7 (21:33):
Can I just ask you one before before Luke has go,
But can I just ask you one question about the
point you made about coals and bullies and those big
corporations donating to the major parties. I saw a story
in the ABC this week that had asked thirty five
Climate two hundred backed candidates to disclose their funding, and

(21:55):
I think nineteen of them did and sixteen of them didn't,
And I think you were one of the ones that didn't.
If I'm wrong, is if you're talking about this transparency
and integrity, why wouldn't you make that information public.

Speaker 8 (22:09):
We are scrupulous and making sure that we're adhering to
the Australian Electoral Commissions disclosure laws.

Speaker 7 (22:17):
I understand that, but your movement of your campaign has
talked about going further than that. We want to be
better than that. We want to be more transparent than that.
We want people to have real vision across who's giving
what money to who for what reason? Given you've set
the bar there, should you not then comply with the
bar you've set rather than what the AAC.

Speaker 8 (22:39):
Yeah, that's why we're campaigning for full disclosure changes to
these laws. At the moment, we're adhere to the laws.
We want to change the laws, but we're not going
to cut off our nose to spite our face because
we're already underfunded as a community independent campaign, unlike the
two parties. We can't afford to fly out volunteers from

(23:01):
interstate to stuff pre polling booths. In the last two weeks,
we are volunteers.

Speaker 4 (23:07):
You have actually spoken to that, and I say, Luke,
that that you guys have spent more money on advertising,
more money on coll flutes than than I believe I have.
And so your budget is obviously quite healthy.

Speaker 5 (23:20):
Phil territory to know that because when they drive around
Darwin and Palmerston they see a picture of Phil on
every corner.

Speaker 3 (23:27):
Sound healthy about the money he's getting. I mean, don't
you questions that need to be usked.

Speaker 6 (23:33):
I've got a billionaire and I will.

Speaker 3 (23:35):
Get back to that in a second. But you know,
let's let's not beat around the bush.

Speaker 1 (23:39):
We know that the major parties do certainly get funding
from the unions, and many would argue, you know, the
CLP from from wealthy developers or wealthy people across.

Speaker 3 (23:48):
The Northern territory.

Speaker 1 (23:50):
But look, I do think this what's a little bit
different is that you don't really have a situation where
the ALP or the Liberal Party or the COLP, you know,
they they know that they're getting money from these big
donors and and I mean I don't know who exactly
is the major donors to you guys, but it has
been an issue in the media this week. Fill with

(24:12):
the fact that climates is a climate two hundred or
climate two thousand, whatever they're called, that you know that
it is the major donor fatial candidates across Australia. How
much money have they provided to your campaign?

Speaker 8 (24:27):
I can't tell you. I'd have to speak to our
numbers person. But to run a when we did the
numbers to start well, I mean that's what I keep
getting asked by these guys because they want to know.
And I'll be happy to share that after tomorrow.

Speaker 6 (24:46):
But we we after everyone's.

Speaker 8 (24:50):
We are not funded in nearly the same way as
these big parties are. They have about eighty shady fundraising
entities each across the country. They raise a bit five
hundred million dollars from billionaires from big corporations to to
fund their campaigns. That you have a bunch of independents
across the country billionaire twenty five million dollars between that

(25:14):
now funds you to have twenty five million dollars between
them trying to compete at that level.

Speaker 1 (25:19):
I mean, I certainly agree with that on a national stage, right,
I agree with that on a national stage, But I
think when you're talking about a seat like Solomon in
the Northern Territory, it's actually a bit of a different
discussion because I know, even for Luke and Lisa, and
I'm sure for some of the other candidates that are
maybe running for the Greens or for whichever, you know,
whoever they're running for, you do have a general idea

(25:43):
of who's making big donations to your party, I mean,
or to your campaign.

Speaker 3 (25:48):
You do have a pretty good idea.

Speaker 1 (25:50):
And I think for you know, if you're going to
run on a campaign of transparency, then it's important that
you are transparent.

Speaker 8 (25:58):
Yeah. Absolutely, Look, and like I said, before these guys
are desperate to know how we're funding our campaign. We
have hundreds of local donors from across our community who've donated.
You can also have a little on the Climate two
hundred website where they're all listed. Yeah, so if you
want to know who's donating it is, it is these folks.
But the Climate two hundred is a not for profit

(26:20):
company that fundraises from regular Australians who want to see
a change in our politics because they're over the two
major parties, so they donate on the understanding that it's
going to go towards community independent campaigns, just to level
the playing field. Now, what these guys would have is
for us to be some two pot independent campaign scratching

(26:43):
around for a few thousand dollars and running it that way.
That's the way they'd like to see it. Yeah, But
as soon as we get organized and we organize with
local people and we actually have volunteers rather than flying
people up from Intero State, they start squealing about it.

Speaker 6 (26:58):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (26:59):
Well, anything on this fundraising as an insult to the
people from our community. The hundreds of folks have donated
to and continue to donate to this campaign and not
only that are putting in hundreds, actually thousands of hours

(27:19):
of in kind volunteer support. None of us are being paid.

Speaker 7 (27:24):
Can I read direct a question to these two, because
if you look at the result from twenty twenty two
in Solomon, more than thirty five percent of the primary
vote went to non went to parties or candidates other
than the CLP and the ALP, a number that has
been growing every election for quite a while. Is there

(27:46):
something that the major parties are doing at the moment
that is turning off mainstream voters.

Speaker 5 (27:53):
Well, yeah, let's see, it's up to every territory and
to place their vote where they think it's best for
the territory in the future of the territory, of the economic.

Speaker 6 (28:02):
Growth and social growth.

Speaker 5 (28:03):
So that's a decision that's really important because there's a
bit there's a stark contrast between the two major parties.
At least it doesn't mention Peter Dunton much, but you know,
he's the guy that's putting his hand up to be
the alternative prime minister and he's got no idea. But
when it comes to the independence, they've.

Speaker 4 (28:22):
Actually, you know that's fairly typically.

Speaker 6 (28:27):
Really he does.

Speaker 4 (28:28):
Character assassination It's very typical of like you run a
medi scare campaign, you're constantly you know, throwing dirt. But
actually when you look at the substance and the policies
that are that are offered. You know, the Liberal Party
and the Country Liberal Party, we're conservative, so we're well.

Speaker 6 (28:44):
Bulk billing is to go back to the post.

Speaker 4 (28:46):
Willing is something that we have, we have committed to
and we've round health. We've also committed to.

Speaker 6 (28:51):
Haven't you committed?

Speaker 3 (28:53):
All constructor, I want to talk.

Speaker 1 (28:56):
I want to talk health, and I do want to
talk about some of the announced and said have been
made around health. And we know that the Prime Minister
was indeed here last month to talk further about Labour's
health and age care plan for.

Speaker 3 (29:09):
The Northern Territory.

Speaker 1 (29:10):
It includes sixty million dollars to be used in partnership
with an age care provider to support the delivery of
a residential care home for the Darwin region.

Speaker 3 (29:19):
Now it's certainly you know, it is welcome news.

Speaker 1 (29:24):
We know that it's not the first time that money
has been allocated to the Northern Territory when it comes
to age care beds and goodness knows we need them
like we are in a situation where we've got senior territorians,
we have got people with dementia who are forced into
beds inside Royal Darwin Hospital because there's nowhere else. I
think we all all them to go like it's a

(29:45):
terrible situation. So I think, why hasn't it happened sooner?
Is the question that a lot of people are asking
at this point, because you know, we've been out for
this before and we still have no age care beds,
no extra ones.

Speaker 5 (29:59):
The agecare commitment from the last election that you rightly
point to was for the operational costs of the bed
so funded beds, but not the physical construction of a
new agecare facilities. Although you know we have put money
into the extra twenty six beds down at Pearl for dementia.
But when it comes to so they're the beds that
are funded. But when the previous antique government went out

(30:22):
to market and said all right, who wants to build
and operate an age care facility?

Speaker 6 (30:26):
No one could make No one could make it work.

Speaker 3 (30:29):
So how do they now, Well.

Speaker 5 (30:31):
That's why we're stepping in, because we're putting sixty million
of capital into the build. So the not for profit
organization that runs the age care facility doesn't have to
stump that cash up, which means we can get something
done quickly like there should be literally straight after this
election we start design and build for a brand new

(30:51):
age care facility so that we.

Speaker 1 (30:53):
Can look up provider. Yeah, but we need a provider.
They're definitely is providers.

Speaker 5 (31:00):
They just couldn't make it work without the extra capital
from the federal government.

Speaker 1 (31:04):
Keen to get your thoughts fill and le so not
only on this, but what will you guys do if
elected to make sure that there is.

Speaker 4 (31:10):
Bet so Katie. We actually made announcement a few weeks
ago around this as well. One of the key things
that I've looked into since since I got nominated as
the candidacy or PEA candidate, was around age care. So
my parents are in their late seventies, they've retired here
in the territory and it is really concerning that there
is a lack of age care facilities here in the NT.

(31:30):
And interesting enough, we have one of the fastest growing
populations per capita over sixty five. It never used to
be that way and you know, we were known as
the young capital within Australia. We're now actually people I
think it's becoming more expensive for people to go down
south to retire, so they're staying in the territory or
they're moving to the territory. That's really something I've noticed.
But that was a commitment that was made, and I

(31:51):
really fought very hard with the Coalition to ensure that
we could secure sixty million dollars in funding. You know,
we not only want to match it. It's something that
we have a little bit of variety about where it's
going to be built. We're not saying any one place,
but however we could put that sixty million dollars to
ensure that those we've got agecare people in hospitals. Sixty

(32:12):
bears are currently taken up with age care patients and
they're it's not an appropriate place.

Speaker 6 (32:16):
From the they should be somewhere else. Exactly.

Speaker 1 (32:18):
A tough one for you, I guess as an independent,
because you can't come out and make these big announcements
like the two major parties can.

Speaker 3 (32:24):
I mean, what do you think needs to be happening?

Speaker 8 (32:26):
Well, I mean imagine if we actually had an independent
in Parliament at any stage in the last four decades
to actually advocate on behalf of territorians rather than have
to endure major party powerbrokers in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
calling the shots and pulling the strings, and all the
while neglecting them Northern Territory whose citizens have chronic levels

(32:52):
of health disease, who are impoverished to degrees in a
developed country that should not be the case, where we
have substandard education. Because of this level of neglect, these
guys don't give U stuff about the territory. What we
need is an advocate in camera who actually comes from
the community, but not only that, is actually engaging.

Speaker 4 (33:13):
Someone who was born in the territory. Whole life here
had the community for the non LOCALI continue to find
parents retired to retire all a part of you want someone.

Speaker 8 (33:24):
Who's making sure that the community's community.

Speaker 4 (33:30):
Because I'm who's going.

Speaker 1 (33:31):
To be I'm losing control. I left my microphone to
mad he didn't step in. Hang, I'm going to talk
for a moment.

Speaker 3 (33:42):
Phil.

Speaker 1 (33:43):
The difficulty is, I suppose and some out there listening
will go, you know that all sounds good in theory,
but it's really hard when you're an independent because unless
you hold the balance of power in some way like
we've seen here in the Northern Territory with the likes
of Jerry Water unless you're an incredibly effective independent and
we have had some incredible ones here in the Northern

(34:04):
Territory Parliament.

Speaker 3 (34:05):
But how do you get whoever.

Speaker 1 (34:07):
Becomes our next Prime Minister to focus on the Northern
Territory if you're not even at the table with them
for that discussion.

Speaker 8 (34:14):
Well, we are actually so we're anticipating a minority government
at this upcoming election. With that comes leverage and the
Poles have been saying into sixty chance of a minority
government this election, that's what they've been saying. So we
have enormous opportunity for leverage and negotiating power at a
national level, to have a community representative from the territory

(34:39):
advocating four things such as GST revenue, which once upon
a time was in our interest but now it's per
capita based. We need needs based funding. Here in the territory.

Speaker 2 (34:50):
We get five to one.

Speaker 7 (34:51):
We get five dollars for every dollar we put in
when it comes to GST. We get the best GST
deal by far any state or territory.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
In the country.

Speaker 8 (34:59):
Yeah, and the outcome and the outcomes aren't shown aren't
showing us the results we need to be having. So
we need needs based funding for education for health that
we're not getting at the moment. We also need to
be investing more. Our country spends two hundred and fifty
billion dollars on healthcare every year. Three percent of that
goes into prevention prevention measures. We need to spend more

(35:21):
on prevention and actually stopping people from ending up in
hospital in the first place. That's what the medical community
is saying, and we just need somebody to actually listen
with them, but not only that, work with them to
be able to get better outcomes for us.

Speaker 1 (35:33):
Look, we're actually going to have to head to a
break because I want to come back and talk about
the Darwin Port and Middle arm and I want to
give each of you a minute to describe or tell
people why they should vote for you. So let's take
a really quick break. You are, of course listening to
Mix one oh four point nine. It is the week
that was a special edition with some of the candidates
for Solomon and of course Matt Cunningham stealing my microphone. Well,

(35:53):
if you have just joined us, you've missed out. It's
been plenty of fun in here. It is indeed the
week that was, but with some of the Solomon candidates,
we've got Phil Scott, Luke Gosling and Lisa Bayless in
the studio with us this morning. Now, I do want
to talk about the Darwin Port. We know the Federal
Coalition and indeed Labor have both now said that the

(36:15):
port will return to Australian hands. The way in which
it all happen, I guess remains to be seen, and
both parties sort of going down a bit of a
different path when it comes to returning the port to
two Australian hands. I mean, I think it's safe to
say when this port was leased, it's one of those
topics you know that got our phone lines absolutely screaming

(36:40):
off the hook. You know, people didn't want it to
be leased, but we were in a situation where there
really was not an investment into the port. I mean,
Luke keen to find out from you, how exactly will
it come back into Australian hands if Labor is re
elected and if it's such an important issue, why hasn't.

Speaker 3 (37:00):
It happened sooner?

Speaker 1 (37:01):
Is something that I know listeners will be asking this morning.

Speaker 5 (37:04):
Obviously your listeners understand that we've been in government for
three years as the Federal government and ten years ago
when the COLP flogged the portal for ninety nine years,
we were against it and critical of it, and I've
been consistently critical of it. But what we have seen
as a lack of investment out there and a worsening

(37:27):
of or the situation as it is strategically in the
Indo Pacific. And we've seen a bigger focus from the
federal government on defense in Northern Australia. So fourteen to
eighteen billion dollars coming out of the Defense Strategic Review
is going to be spent on infrastructure in Northern Australia.
That's important for our future defense, but so is industrial

(37:51):
development as well. So out at Eastaham we've got land
and we've got the ability we need to become more efficient.
There's some mining companies that can't get their critical minerals
to port because of the inefficiencies at the port, so
we need investment in the port. I've been working for
many months now with Australian companies super funds that are

(38:11):
interested in taking over the lease. I've been connecting them
with the Lanbridge Board because they've got an Australia.

Speaker 1 (38:19):
It's more of a diplomatic way to go. Well, get
the port back, is what you're looking at.

Speaker 5 (38:24):
Yeah, well, they're commercial negotiations that are occurring, so you're.

Speaker 7 (38:29):
Connecting them with the Lanbridge board. Every public utterance I've
heard from Lambridge has been unequivocal that the port is
not for sale.

Speaker 5 (38:37):
Well, obviously, as far as we know, there are really
positive discussions towards that end.

Speaker 7 (38:42):
That's what your discussions with Lanbridge would contradict. What they
are saying publicly is that.

Speaker 5 (38:47):
What Look, I've had discussions with people that suggest that,
you know what happens in a commercial deal. In a
commercial deal, you get to a price point where they go, geez,
that's a good deal.

Speaker 2 (38:57):
That's a really good for taxpayers. If you have to
do that is.

Speaker 5 (39:00):
Well, that's where we differ from Peter Dutton. What Peter
Dutt's saying, if a commercial deal can't be reached in
six months, then the taxpayer is going to fork out.

Speaker 6 (39:08):
We've got more respect for a taxpayer.

Speaker 7 (39:09):
Well no, he's saying it will be compulsorily acquired and
presumably if it went to court, that'd be done on
just terms which is what happens in these.

Speaker 6 (39:16):
You don't reckon. The taxpayers are going to be on
the hook for that.

Speaker 7 (39:19):
Absolutely, they'll be on the hook for that, but they'll
be on the hook on just terms as opposed to
what you're talking about, which is a a commercial A
commercial deal which could be anything where Lambridge holds all
the cards.

Speaker 5 (39:31):
Well, a commercial deal obviously means that the current holders
of the lease Lambridge will consider offers that are put
to them. But I think what we need and I
think you understand this Matt's investment at the port and
the neist Arms generally that is not happening that will
happen under an albin Esi Gun.

Speaker 7 (39:50):
I agree with that. I agree that that investment is needed.
But I guess the question is what if that commercial
deal can't be reached.

Speaker 5 (39:56):
Obviously, that's when we have to assist we're not going
to put a time limit on it, because that's idiotic.
When you're in a negotiation, you don't put a time
limit on it because all that says is to the
proponent will hold out and you'll get more money. We
are going to land at a place where there is
a good return on investment for Landbridge, but the port
will come back into Australian hands, so Elbow and I

(40:17):
will do that. Have been working towards it for some time.

Speaker 4 (40:19):
Well, look, the Coalition have committed and saying our national
security is that important that we are going to do
a six month limit on that. So if we don't
able to get a successful commercial interest that's prepared to
spend the money, then will we will acquire it? And
I think that's probably the difference between us and Labor.
We make it a commitment to ensure that that comes
back to Australian hands for a national security do you.

Speaker 7 (40:40):
I mean Peter Dutton came here and made that announcement,
but do you understand the people's I'm not sure what
the right word is, but the fact that they were
a little bit bemused by that fact given the port
lease was done by a CLP government while a coalition
government was empowerful.

Speaker 6 (40:58):
Well Peter Dunton was in the cabin Yeah.

Speaker 4 (41:00):
Look, and I think that's one of those things we
can't look back, we can only look forward, and that's
ten years. It was a very different CLP government to
what we have now in power and we all want
to see the port come back to Australia.

Speaker 7 (41:11):
The Chief Minister, the current Chief Minister was part of
that government.

Speaker 4 (41:13):
Though, yes, yes she was, but not part of the
decision making around that obviously.

Speaker 1 (41:20):
I mean, Phil, what do you think does the port
need to come back into Australian hands? And what do
you think do you think that we need to do
whatever is required to get it back?

Speaker 8 (41:31):
Well, I haven't heard any compelling argument for how this
is going to benefit tax payers yet, I'm really interested
to know what that benefit is. Because we sold it
for five hundred and six million bucks, we're now going
to have to endure the sold at least sold the
lease for five hundred and six million bucks. We now

(41:51):
have to go going to have to endure a legal
process to extricate ourselves from a ninety nine year lease agreement.
Estimates are that that's one point three billion dollars. I'm curious,
what is the benefit to the taxpayer?

Speaker 7 (42:04):
Well, I guess, I guess the question is who is
going to pay that figure, whether it's one point three
billion dollars or hopefully that's an ambid claim, but the
federal is the proposal that the federal government stumps up
that money or does the Northern Territory government have to
stump up that money.

Speaker 5 (42:20):
As a Prime minister has been clear, we're are looking
for a commercial deal. See Lambridge and the COLP people
who made this deal and then went off. I'm talking
about you know Coalition people, Peter Dutton's mates in the
Federal cabinet. They went on and worked for Lambridge afterwards
on about eight hundred and fifty grand a year. There's

(42:42):
still people that are benefiting financially from the deal and
don't want to see it change's.

Speaker 6 (42:47):
That's their parole.

Speaker 1 (42:48):
I will say that I think both sides of politics,
not necessarily not on the port, but I mean when
you look at jobs that people go into after they
leave politics, I know that there's certainly there could be
samples on either side of the fence with major parties
where people have gone into jobs after being ministers. I
want to well, look, yeah, it may well be, but

(43:10):
we're fast running out of time and I want to
talk about Middle Arm now. At a candidate's forum in
Alice Springs last month, we know the lingi Amp Marion
Scrimdaw spoke about the planned Middle Arm industrial hubs, saying
the federal government's one point five billion dollar equity share
loan to the project was presenting a hurdle. One of
the biggest turtles in Middle Arms, she said, is the

(43:31):
whole project is equity based. The Northern Territory government is
signaling to the federal government that they don't want to
put their equity to it. They just want the federal
government to continue to fund this on their own. The
federal government has said no, if you want this to happen,
it has to be with the agreements that were signed
with the former government. Now, she said that the Northern

(43:53):
Territory was not anywhere near getting the sign off on
the project.

Speaker 6 (44:00):
That's just Katie just quickly.

Speaker 5 (44:01):
That is because it is not stacking up commercially and
it is not stacking up environmentally because it just doesn't
stack up currently. They've got a lot more work to do.

Speaker 2 (44:11):
But so you're not committed to Middle Arm anymore.

Speaker 5 (44:13):
Well, no, Middle Arm is important. I'll tell you why
it's important. If we're going to reach net zero, and
that's where we want to move to, we need renewable
energy from territory sunshine going into that precinct and critical minerals,
which we know there's a many proponents that are looking
at it to process their critical minerals, but also making batteries.
If we're going to have a renewable energy future, we

(44:34):
need the batteries. We need to produce batteries. Green hydrogen
is another one.

Speaker 7 (44:37):
Green hydrogen has not been successful anywhere it's been tried
in this country at this point. In fact, we've seen
many of the major players pull out of it.

Speaker 5 (44:46):
Well, Twiggy Forrest was talking about doing it here out
at Middle Arm and then he pulled out.

Speaker 6 (44:49):
But he pulled out of a lot of places.

Speaker 5 (44:51):
Right, Green hydrogen is going to have a role, but
it's the critical mineral stuff that's so important. But powered
by sun cable, two thirds of sun Cable's power that's
the world's biggest precinct of solar is going to go
into that precinct of fire green industry. The other one
third will go to buy undersea cable to Singapore, which
helps them, but.

Speaker 7 (45:11):
Again another technology that's never worked at that scale before.

Speaker 2 (45:14):
I mean, that's my question.

Speaker 7 (45:15):
It's a big cause, all just pie in the sky
stuff that's never going to happen because it certainly and
Marian Scrimmages casts a lot of doubt over Middle Arm.
And we have these big arguments about middle Arm about
whether it's going to pollute us to death or whether
it's going to be a great renewable savior. But my
biggest question about middle Arm is whether it's actually feasibly

(45:37):
ever going to happen at all.

Speaker 5 (45:39):
Well, yes it will, Yes it will. And before Phil
starts protesting, and because let's face it, people who have
been here for a while understand, Look, I think it's
great that people like Phil can come here and protest
about Lee point and protest about middle Arm after a
very short period, and then talk over Lisa, who's born

(46:00):
and bred. Let's spend her whole life here. What we
need here is industrial development, but we need industrial development
that is powered by solar because we've got heaps of land.

Speaker 1 (46:12):
We're fast running out of time, so I'm going to
just get the get fills.

Speaker 3 (46:16):
Take.

Speaker 1 (46:16):
I mean, Phil Luke kicking the boot in a little
bit there about your former protesting, I mean, obviously you
are opposed to the Middle Arm development.

Speaker 8 (46:26):
Oh yeah, absolutely, let's go for starters on economic grounds.
Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis point out that
the plan is fundamentally flawed and the business model is
not viable. These aren't greenies, these are hawks. In oil
and petrochemical industry analysis, the robust market for al G

(46:47):
exports is anticipate. Anticipating the plan is unlikely to materialize.
The off taker industries anticipated to become partners are unlikely
to locate in the Northern Territory, relying on a sea. Yes,
as you pointed out, Matt, is unrealistic. I mean point
twelve key risks, any of which on their own make

(47:10):
make the proposal outrageously unbeeneficial for taxpayers. We're not going
to get anything out of this. And our community remembers
the prosperity that was promised from the last big gas
plant across the harbor. We were told that that was
going to kickstart the Northern Territory economy. X impacts.

Speaker 1 (47:30):
Absolutely, you feel as though impacts should never have happened.

Speaker 8 (47:33):
Well, I mean, look at the outcome. We were promised prosperity.
That thing was supposed to be a boon ten years on.

Speaker 6 (47:41):
Their house.

Speaker 3 (47:43):
I mean, I will just.

Speaker 1 (47:44):
Ask because I know a lot of people listening, Yeah,
good point. A lot of people listening will be keen
to know, Phil, I mean, are you are you totally
against the development of gas.

Speaker 8 (47:55):
We need to transition away from gas. It's expensive anyway,
so why would we why? I mean, if this is
one we talk about cost of living, we have amongst.

Speaker 3 (48:04):
Them to should it go ahead?

Speaker 8 (48:07):
No? Not in not in a million years. That thing,
That thing is so unbeneficial to the taxpayer that it's outrageous.

Speaker 3 (48:15):
Right Lisa, In terms of middle ARM, do you support?

Speaker 4 (48:18):
Yes, absolutely support Middle ARM, And I see it's an
opportunity for territory to ensure that that we can have
this development not only just for this generation, but for
generations to come. In relation to be tolou Basin, there's
more gas that's in Belu than there's oil and Dubai.
So understanding what that means not just for the Northern
Territory but for all of Australia. That's natural gas we're
talking about. It's something that we've got a shortage. You know,

(48:41):
Australia that's abundant in their resources. We have a shortage
of gas in this country and the Northern Territory is
poised where we could actually deliver that gas, that much
needed natural gas safely and under regulation to not just
the Northern Territory but with all of Australia. We are
running out of that.

Speaker 8 (48:56):
That is a that is as you take money, you're
a mouthpiece that's reliable.

Speaker 1 (49:02):
But Peel, we can't find out exactly where you're getting
your funding from either those so you'll have an argument
actually but you.

Speaker 4 (49:11):
And it's very hard to take what you're saying seriously
because anything to do with I will see natural guess.

Speaker 8 (49:16):
I don't take money from corporate.

Speaker 1 (49:18):
I know our.

Speaker 3 (49:18):
Listeners will be interested in this.

Speaker 1 (49:20):
I did go online and I tried to find all
of the people that are donating and it is literally
just a page of names upon names, so it doesn't
actually give you you know, it doesn't actually tell you
whether they are part of any business or anything like that.
It's individual's names. It doesn't give you a breakdown of
who's donating to the Northern Territory, doesn't give you a

(49:41):
breakdown of who's donating to your campaign. So I did
try and go and have a look at that just
for the sake of transparency from my side of things,
and I wasn't able to get that level of detail
that I was hoping for.

Speaker 3 (49:51):
But look, we are going.

Speaker 1 (49:52):
To have to take a quick break because it's already
ten o'clock and I still need to give you all
the opportunity to tell people why they should vote for you.

Speaker 3 (49:58):
So let's take a really quick break.

Speaker 1 (50:00):
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three
sixty if you have just joined us, it's been an
eventful hour, the text lines going berserk. I've got heaps
of messages to get through. But look, we have indeed
gotten the studio with us this morning. Three of the
Solomon candidates, Phil Scott who's running as an independent, Lisa
Bayless who's running for the COLP, and Luke Gosling, the

(50:22):
incumbent for the Labor Party.

Speaker 3 (50:25):
Now you have each got a minute.

Speaker 1 (50:26):
This is the one part where you're not allowed to
talk over the top of each other, but you've each
got a minute to explain to our listeners why they
should vote for you. Luke, I might let you go first.
Are you ready?

Speaker 3 (50:38):
Let's hear it?

Speaker 6 (50:39):
Well, thanks Katie for the opportunity, and well done, Matte.

Speaker 5 (50:44):
Look, I've been really proud over the last three years
of our first term of federal government to be working
with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanezi. I'm really proud that
he's been to the Territory more times than Abbot, Turnbull
and Morrison combined, and that we're really seriously developing in
the social and development of the Northern Territory. Now, up
on my Facebook page, I'll have two maps, one of

(51:04):
Solomon with all the things I've either delivered or that
we've committed to delivering and are on the way to delivering.
And a broader map of the Northern Territory with all
the roads investments that we're making as well. Because we
need the ability for industry to get their product to market,
we need to build the Northern Territory's economy and I
am one hundred percent the same with making our community

(51:24):
safer committed to working with the NT government to achieve that.
But let's just talk about the economy quickly. We've brought
down two budget surpluses, We've brought down inflation and that
means that people with a mortgage is soon going to
get that relief and that's really important for Territorians.

Speaker 1 (51:41):
And that is the Minute's Luke Gosling, well done. Now
let me just restart my stopwatch and go to Lisa
Bayless from the COLP.

Speaker 4 (51:50):
Sorry, it's going to put my stopwatch on too thank you, Katie.
Look a little bit about me. Those that don't know.
I'm born and bred here, live me here, my whole life.
My mum and dad Daryl morey Man's retired here, have
lived here their whole life, in the typical since the sixties,
pretty much most of their working life in the territory.
I'm committed to the Northern Territory. I've done thirty years
as a Northern Territory Police officer. I've lived and work

(52:10):
in many different areas. I have a very good understanding
of the root causes of crime and the issues that
the territory faces. I know that you need a strong
voice in Canberra. We've had, you know, Gosling's been there
for nine years. And I look around and look at
the territory and think, you know, what's that what is
actually achieved for us? Because it is not what it's
not what it should be. And in order to be

(52:31):
able to fight and have a strong voice, you need
someone who's committed to the territory and is prepared to
fight tooth and now. And I'm going to work hand
in hand with the Leafanochi anti government to ensure that
we get not just our fair share that we should
be around the country. We talked I think you know
earlier you spoke about per capita. This is something that
the territory needs to have, you know, a greater a

(52:51):
greater spotlight put on them. And I'm going to fight
for that.

Speaker 1 (52:55):
All right, one minute is up, and our final candidate
for this this morning, Independent Phil Scott.

Speaker 8 (53:03):
So, when developing public policy, I actually have the courage
and the willingness to actually consult with experts from our community,
and I don't have a bunch of party bosses three
thousand kilometers away who have little to no interest in
the territory pulling strings and calling the shots. That's why
we're in the state of neglect in our healthcare system
and education and social outcomes, and a stagnating economy that

(53:26):
is decades in the making. And I can say that
with a lot of confidence because look where we are today.
All we're talking about is neglect. So I'm saying, plan, plan, plan,
use data and implement what works, not what's suitable for
a major party every three years in their political interest.

(53:47):
Bring in the knowledge and expertise of community who not
only understand our problems deeply, but also deeply understand what
the solutions are.

Speaker 1 (53:55):
Well, Phil, thank you so much for your time this morning,
and you came in about five under mate. Thank you
Phil Scott, who is running as an independent, Thank you
for joining us this morning. Lisa Bayless for the COLP,
thank you so much for your time this morning. And
Luke Gosling for the Labor Party. Thank you for your
time this morning. I couldn't let Matt go though without

(54:16):
saying thank you.

Speaker 4 (54:16):
To Matt.

Speaker 3 (54:17):
I didn't give you a minute mate to say, need.

Speaker 2 (54:21):
More than a minute for that.

Speaker 3 (54:23):
Thank you all so much for your time.

Speaker 1 (54:25):
I know it's an interesting format for the week that was,
but it's been a lot of fun.

Speaker 3 (54:29):
Thank you.