Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.
It is just on a quarter past nine now. Late
on Friday, Northern Territory Police release the latest crime statistics
for the twelve months to March, showing an overall territory
wide decline in offending. We know that crimes down eleven percent,
along with falls in assaults, some areas of domestic violence,
(00:22):
alcohol related defenses, property crime, break ins, vehicle thefts and
commercial break ins. Now, despite those figures, we know that
Palmerston is being described as an outlier with increases in burglaries,
assaults and thefts. In response, the police are today launching
Operation Ventura. It is a two month crackdown in Palmerston
(00:42):
involving high visibility patrols, strong enforcement and multiple partner agencies.
The Chief Minister, Leafanocchiaro, joins us in the studio. Good
morning to your Chief Minister.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Good morning Canadians her listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Now, Chief Minister, the latest crime statistics show a broad
decline in offending across the territory. Do you think the
continued decline that we're seeing in these statistics show that
your strategy of tough on crime is working.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
We've certainly been throwing everything at this, Katie. It's our
number one priority. It's the most urgent action we took
on first getting elected, and it continues to be action
that we are constantly reforming.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So we've backed in our police.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
We've got record budgets for courts, corrections and police, better
powers for police, better correctional facilities, and more early intervention
through circuit breaker with child protection because we know tackling
the root causes of crime is so important. So we
are seeing that wholesale downward trend. I mean, if you
look at particularly house breakings and commercial break ins, house
(01:42):
breakings rose sixty three percent under that period of Labor
and under US already in just eighteen months have dropped
twenty three percent. So we're making an impact, but it's
off a really high base. So I don't want people
to think that we're putting out the stats and trying
to be heroes about it. We just want to show
people that there isward pressure. It is making a difference,
but absolutely there's more to do well because the hard.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Thing is, and I've said this for a long time,
even when Labor was in power, you know, the minute
that you say the stats are going down. Someone says, well,
I got broken into all this happened to me, and
even you know, on the weekend I just reported in
the opener. You know, a lady allegedly hitting someone in
her car, then a group then you know, sort of
gathering around the car and threatening her with a knife,
stealing a vehicle. You know, that incident is horrifying, and
(02:27):
there are other horrifying incidents that I can point to,
you know, in Tenant Creek as well. But we're also
seeing that, unfortunately, there's a bit of a trend in
Palmerston or a bit of an issue in Palmerston where
they are unfortunately being described as an outlier. What do
you see as driving you know, the rise in burglaries,
assaults and thefts in Palmerston at the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, Look, Palmerston isn't trending with the rest of the
territory like literally every other town and city is really
coming down. And Parmesan is two in some areas. So
house breakings are down thirty, commercial down fifty, and Carthev's
twenty six, but assaults and DV is up in Palmeston.
So we're seeing those assaults against the person increasing, which
(03:11):
is not good. So police announced a massive operation they're
going to do over the next two months and it's
going to include you know, licensing, Larochean nation, children and
families housing. It's going to be a massive crackdown and
I'm hoping that at the end of that two month
period we see a correction and some stability for the
people in Parmesan Chief Benista.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Unfortunately, it's not the only area where I'm getting called
and people are contacting me saying they've got concerns. At
the moment, the one that I'm quite worried about is Catherine.
I spoke to a resident the week before last and
she had told me that the elderly in Catherine are
essentially being targeted. Her mum, for example, had some horrendous,
you know, horrendous offending against he after a dad had
(03:55):
passed away, which is just horrible, you know, to think
that she's alone in a home and something like that's happening.
And then of course we caught up with the mayor
of Catherine on Friday last week. She said she really
wants to work with you, she wants to work with
the government. There was positives that she pointed out, but
she said again you know, even for her mum, she'd
been targeted in her home. She said, these instances with
(04:16):
the elderly are They're going to pay for their groceries
at Woolli's and someone's going up beside them and trying
to steal their bag. You know, it's pretty horrifying stuff.
So what what are you hearing out of, Catherine, and
what work are you prepared to do with, you know,
with the residents of Catherine to try to really sort
things out for them.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, look, Catherine, understandably, you know, and as you mentioned,
even across the territory, anytime something happens and it's abhorrent,
of course we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.
And so Catherine, look, house breakings are up one percent,
so there's three more.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Houses that have been broken into.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Commercial though is down twenty seven and the vehicle thefts
are up seven percent, which is two vehicles. Otherwise, DV
and assaults are the opposite to Parmeston. They're down ten
percent each whereas parmesans are an increase. So it's really
a local response required, which is why we have the
cat reducing crime plan for Catherine. It's why we have
(05:15):
really solid community engagement in Catherine to drive those offenses down.
But as look, I don't know. Certainly older people do
feel more vulnerable. I think that's across the board. But
police aren't reporting to me any any particular going after
the elderly.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I mean, we've got a situation though. From the latest
numbers that I've got, there were fourteen cars apparently reported
stolen in just the past month, so those figures might
be more sort of over the last week. I think
out of Catherine the updated fourteen cars. Either way, however
you look at it, you know we're about to catch
up as well with the local resident at nine point
thirty this morning, who's got some worries about what's going
(05:54):
on in Catherine. I know we spoke to the Meyor
on Fridays. She's calling for that urgent roundtable with you
and other key stakeholders. I know you might not want
another talk fast, but are you committed to bringing you know,
at least that group together or what do you think
should happen to try to achieve some results for the
people of Catherine, because they're feeling, from what they're telling me,
(06:15):
they're a bit broken after the flooding and then you
know there's people who literally have nothing left beside their
car and someone goes and steals sick.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, it's not good. It's not good.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
So, just so people understand, we do have the Catherine
crime Reduction strategy. We have Chief Minister and Cabinet meet
with the Catherine Town Council CEO regularly, and then we
have monthly meetings with the Mayor and the CEO. Then
we have a Catherine Community Safety Collaboration Forum, which is
meaning weekly.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
And that's on top of some of the other things.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
So we just ran in a big operation in Catherine
in April, and so for example, in April police put
another ninety people on band drink or orders. We had
seventy seven high visibility foot patrols, fifteen wandering operations, fifty
five licensed premises checks, seven hundred and fifty point of
sale refusals by police. So there's some excellent work going.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
On by police.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
It's about constantly monitoring the trends and making sure that
as best as we can we can be in front
of it.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Look, I get it, I get that there's obviously that
work happening, But what do you say to those residents
at the moment that don't feel as though things are
under control, and what's your commitment to them?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
So we will continue to prioritize this. It's absolutely our
number one priority. And you can see from the data
already that Catherine is trending down just like everywhere else
obviously except for Palmeerston as we mentioned before. So it's
about working making sure we're continue to pull together all
of the stakeholders because there are plenty of NGOs who
have a role to play here that need to be
(07:48):
held accountable as well. But rest as sure when someone
is committing a crime, our police are finding them, catching
them and putting them before the courts.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
All right, we will talk more about Catherine throughout the hour.
I want to move along and talk about these crisis
talks that are set to be held this week when
it comes to the private maternity services at the private hospitals.
So essentially, as I understand it well, the COLP Government,
the Minister Steve Edgington, who's going to be meeting with
(08:15):
purpose Co formerly health Scope, So what's the go here.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
This has been a really disappointing chapter for us when
Helscoe announced that they were pulling out of attorney services
for the territory and around the country. The federal government
stepped in and said, look, we need to stick together,
do this as a team so that we can't be
picked off, essentially for the more profitable hospitals. Well, being
picked off is exactly what's happened. We've seen some really
(08:41):
high profile hospitals be sold and then the territory one
year on is still left in limbo. So we're not
waiting around for the federal government anymore. They've shown very
clearly in this budget they're just not interested in health
in the territory. So purpose CO is the not for
proper Version of healthscope that is purported to be going
(09:02):
to take over and run the dah and private. They
have canceled several meetings on us. We've meant to have
been doing this deal since December, so I'm extremely disappointed
in their lack of commitment. They will be meeting with
us next Monday, I believe, which will be fantastic if
they stick to that, and if they don't, I'll tell
you what, I'll be getting on a plane and marching
(09:24):
into their head off as Katie, don't worry about that.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
That's like you've had enough. So next totally next Monday,
Steve Idgington's going to be meeting with purpose scholers.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
That's exactly right.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
And what we've also done is written to every single
proponent who showed interest in running the private hospital and said,
you know what, are you still interested because we will
look to do confidential deals around bed buyers because the
Royal Darmond Hospital always buys a certain number of beds
at the private because of the need for overflow. So
we will do our own negotiations with would be proponents.
(09:55):
We will put that to the Administrator of Healthscope and stay,
stop mucking around. Pick someone who's going to deliver, because
we have to end this limbo right now for territory.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
So it sounds like you're prepared to do whatever you
can to make this go ahead, including what like prop
it up a bit.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Well, we always do bed buys if we have to
buy more beds, which quite frankly, Katie, we need anywhere.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
I mean, it's you know, everyone knows that. Then absolutely fine.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
But one bit that is totally conditional upon all of
these is the return of private maternity services.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
And we are steadfaster.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
It's a joke, and look it's having an impact in
a lot of different ways. I mean I mentioned it
to you, I think last week, or I may not have.
I certainly did speak about it last week about the
lack of sonographers in the Northern Territory at the moment,
the impact that that's having. But you know, there is
a flow on, and I guess that we're all concerned
that there might be a flow on. But then we
were waiting to hear if we got the ten million
(10:51):
dollars in federal in the federal budget, which we didn't get. Now,
I had Luke Gosling on the show last week. He said, Katie,
I've spoken to the Health minister. This money is coming,
but I don't know exactly when that's going to be.
I think they've got to do the mid year MAIFO
or whatever it's called. So I don't know whether I'm
hoping that that money flows through then. But if it doesn't,
(11:14):
would the Northern Territory government still be prepared to start
that work. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Look, we have a record health budget, so the ability
to do work as required is there. The point is, though,
that the federal government were happy to bail out a
bunch of other hospitals who lost their private maternity, but
seemingly completely forgot about the Northern territory. Now, the Member
for Solomon, instead of picking up stones and trying to
throw them at ours, needs to start doing his job,
(11:40):
which is lobby his.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Own colleagues for delivery.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
And also he should be getting on board, as should
the Senator MALANDERI McCarthy and the Member filling Yari with
Purpose Cook saying stop mucking around.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
I say, you know from my perspective, and I know
to all the mums and families out there listening this morning,
they're going to be thinking to themselves, I'm sick of
the shit show. I'm sick of people slinging mud. I
want this to get sorted. So I mean to those families,
what do you say this morning? Obviously that meeting with
with Purpose co is happening, and then you know we
(12:14):
have got the as I understand, the planning work for
the you know, the ten million dollars worth of work
for maternity. So are you like, are you going to
deliver that regardless? Well, I guess we'll look at it, Katie.
There's money there available in our budget.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Other fed's going to finally come through in the maifo,
who knows our first priority really is getting Purpose Coat
in the room and you know, getting a please explain
from them about what the hell is going on? You know, hock.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Are we gonna get anywhere with them?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
We have to, and if we don't, as I said,
we are simultaneously going it alone to find a better proponent.
So Purpose Co can pull their socks up, get in
the room and start to talk details with us about
what this looks like going forward, or they can go
somewhere else. I couldn't care less and we'll find someone who's.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Going to do the job.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeay, So what's the like for you from the government's perspective.
If they don't come on board, and if you know,
like if Purpose Code don't want to, you know, to
come on board with that maternity water, you then open
to be able to negotiate with whoever to try and
get somebody else in.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Well, we will make a very compelling argument that it
should be another provider, and we will make it very
clear to Purpose Code that they aren't welcome here if
they're not willing to deliver maternity services. And that is
the crunch point for these negotiations, which we should have
been having pre December, but for them pulling out, so
you know, here we go.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Let's hope Monday is.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Very productive, but they should be coming with a few
apologies in the pocket and ready with the pencil and
the eraser to get the deal done.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Chief Minister. A couple of quick ones the AMA joined
us on the show last week. They're concerned about changes
that you've made last week enabling pharmacists to prescribe medication.
They're really concerned that this could have larger implications. Why
did you forge your head with this despite some of
that pushback, particularly from our doctors.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
This was an election commitment of ours. We delivered it
because that's what we do. We deliver our election commitments.
I think anyone listening can understand. Doctors don't like it
when pharmacists do a little bit of doctor work because
it means the doctors aren't doing it.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
They push back on that. Last week, John's aubist said
that's absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
They take Katie, but come on, he reckons.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
He's main concern is the lack of governance and no
way to order it or to keep people safe.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Is that a concern, It's not a concern at all,
And at the end of the day, you know, our
doctors need the support of some of these lower level
things not being put on their desk because you can't
get in to see a doctor if your life depended
on it.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Katie, So now, and this is a huge thing.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Big issue though, doesn't it that we actually need more
funding for you know, to be able to you know,
it's not even the.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Funding, it's just we need people going to medical school,
which means we need people wanting to go to school
and work really hard and get good grades.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
And it's a bigger problem.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
But right now we have pharmacists very capable of identifying
a urinary tract infection, for example, and just giving you
the medical that you need. I mean, this is some
really simple stuff. It's cheaper for people, which again is
a cost of living initiative for us, and it's quicker
because you can rock up to your pharmacy, so they're
now twenty one different ailments. If you like that you
(15:13):
can rock up to the pharmacists for instead of booking
in to see a GP, which is actually good news
for everyone. They have had to do one year's training.
There is a lot of work around it. It is
safe and we're very excited.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
All right, Chief Minister, before I let you go. Massive
weekend obviously with Base on the Grass and also the AFL.
We are going to catch up with Amy Luxton a
little bit later to talk about those numbers. But then
we've also got the oceana Athletics kicking off today, eight
hundred and sixty athletes.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I think it's huge.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
So Base in the Grass had one thousand more people
up to about thirteen thousand. I think the footy went off.
The Suns are just absolutely nailing at Katie and we've
had them two weekends in a row and then the
Oceaniya Athletics Championships, which is huge. This is pre positioning
the territory for people to train for the twenty thirty
two Olympics. So eight hundred and sixty athletes, you know
(16:05):
a bunch of locals who are absolutely keen, but it
just gives those pathways for our young people to see
that this is possible. It brings tourism, it brings people
in spending money on dinners and all sorts of stuff,
and it really profiles our facilities to be able to
capture more of that pre Olympic build up, which is
exactly what.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
We want, Well, what do you reckon?
Speaker 1 (16:23):
We're doing it for swimming, could we be doing a
bit more.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
For athletics one hundred percent? I think with the athletics
here now, this is a pathway to the Olympics, with
our swimming Australian swimming team as training here. This is
just a build up to twenty thirty two and the
territory is very well positioned to take a good share
of that training which our eyes are focused on.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Katie Weld, Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro, appreciate your time. As always,
we'll catch up with you next week.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Thank you, take care, Thank you.
You are listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty.
It is just on a quarter past nine now. Late
on Friday, Northern Territory Police release the latest crime statistics
for the twelve months to March, showing an overall territory
wide decline in offending. We know that crimes down eleven percent,
along with falls in assaults, some areas of domestic violence,
(00:22):
alcohol related defenses, property crime, break ins, vehicle thefts and
commercial break ins. Now, despite those figures, we know that
Palmerston is being described as an outlier with increases in burglaries,
assaults and thefts. In response, the police are today launching
Operation Ventura. It is a two month crackdown in Palmerston
(00:42):
involving high visibility patrols, strong enforcement and multiple partner agencies.
The Chief Minister, Leafanocchiaro, joins us in the studio. Good
morning to your Chief Minister.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Good morning Canadians her listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Now, Chief Minister, the latest crime statistics show a broad
decline in offending across the territory. Do you think the
continued decline that we're seeing in these statistics show that
your strategy of tough on crime is working.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
We've certainly been throwing everything at this, Katie. It's our
number one priority. It's the most urgent action we took
on first getting elected, and it continues to be action
that we are constantly reforming.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So we've backed in our police.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
We've got record budgets for courts, corrections and police, better
powers for police, better correctional facilities, and more early intervention
through circuit breaker with child protection because we know tackling
the root causes of crime is so important. So we
are seeing that wholesale downward trend. I mean, if you
look at particularly house breakings and commercial break ins, house
(01:42):
breakings rose sixty three percent under that period of Labor
and under US already in just eighteen months have dropped
twenty three percent. So we're making an impact, but it's
off a really high base. So I don't want people
to think that we're putting out the stats and trying
to be heroes about it. We just want to show
people that there isward pressure. It is making a difference,
but absolutely there's more to do well because the hard.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Thing is, and I've said this for a long time,
even when Labor was in power, you know, the minute
that you say the stats are going down. Someone says, well,
I got broken into all this happened to me, and
even you know, on the weekend I just reported in
the opener. You know, a lady allegedly hitting someone in
her car, then a group then you know, sort of
gathering around the car and threatening her with a knife,
stealing a vehicle. You know, that incident is horrifying, and
(02:27):
there are other horrifying incidents that I can point to,
you know, in Tenant Creek as well. But we're also
seeing that, unfortunately, there's a bit of a trend in
Palmerston or a bit of an issue in Palmerston where
they are unfortunately being described as an outlier. What do
you see as driving you know, the rise in burglaries,
assaults and thefts in Palmerston at the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, Look, Palmerston isn't trending with the rest of the
territory like literally every other town and city is really
coming down. And Parmesan is two in some areas. So
house breakings are down thirty, commercial down fifty, and Carthev's
twenty six, but assaults and DV is up in Palmeston.
So we're seeing those assaults against the person increasing, which
(03:11):
is not good. So police announced a massive operation they're
going to do over the next two months and it's
going to include you know, licensing, Larochean nation, children and
families housing. It's going to be a massive crackdown and
I'm hoping that at the end of that two month
period we see a correction and some stability for the
people in Parmesan Chief Benista.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Unfortunately, it's not the only area where I'm getting called
and people are contacting me saying they've got concerns. At
the moment, the one that I'm quite worried about is Catherine.
I spoke to a resident the week before last and
she had told me that the elderly in Catherine are
essentially being targeted. Her mum, for example, had some horrendous,
you know, horrendous offending against he after a dad had
(03:55):
passed away, which is just horrible, you know, to think
that she's alone in a home and something like that's happening.
And then of course we caught up with the mayor
of Catherine on Friday last week. She said she really
wants to work with you, she wants to work with
the government. There was positives that she pointed out, but
she said again you know, even for her mum, she'd
been targeted in her home. She said, these instances with
(04:16):
the elderly are They're going to pay for their groceries
at Woolli's and someone's going up beside them and trying
to steal their bag. You know, it's pretty horrifying stuff.
So what what are you hearing out of, Catherine, and
what work are you prepared to do with, you know,
with the residents of Catherine to try to really sort
things out for them.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, look, Catherine, understandably, you know, and as you mentioned,
even across the territory, anytime something happens and it's abhorrent,
of course we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.
And so Catherine, look, house breakings are up one percent,
so there's three more.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Houses that have been broken into.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Commercial though is down twenty seven and the vehicle thefts
are up seven percent, which is two vehicles. Otherwise, DV
and assaults are the opposite to Parmeston. They're down ten
percent each whereas parmesans are an increase. So it's really
a local response required, which is why we have the
cat reducing crime plan for Catherine. It's why we have
(05:15):
really solid community engagement in Catherine to drive those offenses down.
But as look, I don't know. Certainly older people do
feel more vulnerable. I think that's across the board. But
police aren't reporting to me any any particular going after
the elderly.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I mean, we've got a situation though. From the latest
numbers that I've got, there were fourteen cars apparently reported
stolen in just the past month, so those figures might
be more sort of over the last week. I think
out of Catherine the updated fourteen cars. Either way, however
you look at it, you know we're about to catch
up as well with the local resident at nine point
thirty this morning, who's got some worries about what's going
(05:54):
on in Catherine. I know we spoke to the Meyor
on Fridays. She's calling for that urgent roundtable with you
and other key stakeholders. I know you might not want
another talk fast, but are you committed to bringing you know,
at least that group together or what do you think
should happen to try to achieve some results for the
people of Catherine, because they're feeling, from what they're telling me,
(06:15):
they're a bit broken after the flooding and then you
know there's people who literally have nothing left beside their
car and someone goes and steals sick.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, it's not good. It's not good.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
So, just so people understand, we do have the Catherine
crime Reduction strategy. We have Chief Minister and Cabinet meet
with the Catherine Town Council CEO regularly, and then we
have monthly meetings with the Mayor and the CEO. Then
we have a Catherine Community Safety Collaboration Forum, which is
meaning weekly.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
And that's on top of some of the other things.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
So we just ran in a big operation in Catherine
in April, and so for example, in April police put
another ninety people on band drink or orders. We had
seventy seven high visibility foot patrols, fifteen wandering operations, fifty
five licensed premises checks, seven hundred and fifty point of
sale refusals by police. So there's some excellent work going.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
On by police.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
It's about constantly monitoring the trends and making sure that
as best as we can we can be in front
of it.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Look, I get it, I get that there's obviously that
work happening, But what do you say to those residents
at the moment that don't feel as though things are
under control, and what's your commitment to them?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
So we will continue to prioritize this. It's absolutely our
number one priority. And you can see from the data
already that Catherine is trending down just like everywhere else
obviously except for Palmeerston as we mentioned before. So it's
about working making sure we're continue to pull together all
of the stakeholders because there are plenty of NGOs who
have a role to play here that need to be
(07:48):
held accountable as well. But rest as sure when someone
is committing a crime, our police are finding them, catching
them and putting them before the courts.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
All right, we will talk more about Catherine throughout the hour.
I want to move along and talk about these crisis
talks that are set to be held this week when
it comes to the private maternity services at the private hospitals.
So essentially, as I understand it well, the COLP Government,
the Minister Steve Edgington, who's going to be meeting with
(08:15):
purpose Co formerly health Scope, So what's the go here.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
This has been a really disappointing chapter for us when
Helscoe announced that they were pulling out of attorney services
for the territory and around the country. The federal government
stepped in and said, look, we need to stick together,
do this as a team so that we can't be
picked off, essentially for the more profitable hospitals. Well, being
picked off is exactly what's happened. We've seen some really
(08:41):
high profile hospitals be sold and then the territory one
year on is still left in limbo. So we're not
waiting around for the federal government anymore. They've shown very
clearly in this budget they're just not interested in health
in the territory. So purpose CO is the not for
proper Version of healthscope that is purported to be going
(09:02):
to take over and run the dah and private. They
have canceled several meetings on us. We've meant to have
been doing this deal since December, so I'm extremely disappointed
in their lack of commitment. They will be meeting with
us next Monday, I believe, which will be fantastic if
they stick to that, and if they don't, I'll tell
you what, I'll be getting on a plane and marching
(09:24):
into their head off as Katie, don't worry about that.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
That's like you've had enough. So next totally next Monday,
Steve Idgington's going to be meeting with purpose scholers.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
That's exactly right.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
And what we've also done is written to every single
proponent who showed interest in running the private hospital and said,
you know what, are you still interested because we will
look to do confidential deals around bed buyers because the
Royal Darmond Hospital always buys a certain number of beds
at the private because of the need for overflow. So
we will do our own negotiations with would be proponents.
(09:55):
We will put that to the Administrator of Healthscope and stay,
stop mucking around. Pick someone who's going to deliver, because
we have to end this limbo right now for territory.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
So it sounds like you're prepared to do whatever you
can to make this go ahead, including what like prop
it up a bit.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Well, we always do bed buys if we have to
buy more beds, which quite frankly, Katie, we need anywhere.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
I mean, it's you know, everyone knows that. Then absolutely fine.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
But one bit that is totally conditional upon all of
these is the return of private maternity services.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
And we are steadfaster.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
It's a joke, and look it's having an impact in
a lot of different ways. I mean I mentioned it
to you, I think last week, or I may not have.
I certainly did speak about it last week about the
lack of sonographers in the Northern Territory at the moment,
the impact that that's having. But you know, there is
a flow on, and I guess that we're all concerned
that there might be a flow on. But then we
were waiting to hear if we got the ten million
(10:51):
dollars in federal in the federal budget, which we didn't get. Now,
I had Luke Gosling on the show last week. He said, Katie,
I've spoken to the Health minister. This money is coming,
but I don't know exactly when that's going to be.
I think they've got to do the mid year MAIFO
or whatever it's called. So I don't know whether I'm
hoping that that money flows through then. But if it doesn't,
(11:14):
would the Northern Territory government still be prepared to start
that work. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Look, we have a record health budget, so the ability
to do work as required is there. The point is, though,
that the federal government were happy to bail out a
bunch of other hospitals who lost their private maternity, but
seemingly completely forgot about the Northern territory. Now, the Member
for Solomon, instead of picking up stones and trying to
throw them at ours, needs to start doing his job,
(11:40):
which is lobby his.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Own colleagues for delivery.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
And also he should be getting on board, as should
the Senator MALANDERI McCarthy and the Member filling Yari with
Purpose Cook saying stop mucking around.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
I say, you know from my perspective, and I know
to all the mums and families out there listening this morning,
they're going to be thinking to themselves, I'm sick of
the shit show. I'm sick of people slinging mud. I
want this to get sorted. So I mean to those families,
what do you say this morning? Obviously that meeting with
with Purpose co is happening, and then you know we
(12:14):
have got the as I understand, the planning work for
the you know, the ten million dollars worth of work
for maternity. So are you like, are you going to
deliver that regardless? Well, I guess we'll look at it, Katie.
There's money there available in our budget.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Other fed's going to finally come through in the maifo,
who knows our first priority really is getting Purpose Coat
in the room and you know, getting a please explain
from them about what the hell is going on? You know, hock.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Are we gonna get anywhere with them?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
We have to, and if we don't, as I said,
we are simultaneously going it alone to find a better proponent.
So Purpose Co can pull their socks up, get in
the room and start to talk details with us about
what this looks like going forward, or they can go
somewhere else. I couldn't care less and we'll find someone who's.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Going to do the job.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeay, So what's the like for you from the government's perspective.
If they don't come on board, and if you know,
like if Purpose Code don't want to, you know, to
come on board with that maternity water, you then open
to be able to negotiate with whoever to try and
get somebody else in.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Well, we will make a very compelling argument that it
should be another provider, and we will make it very
clear to Purpose Code that they aren't welcome here if
they're not willing to deliver maternity services. And that is
the crunch point for these negotiations, which we should have
been having pre December, but for them pulling out, so
you know, here we go.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Let's hope Monday is.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Very productive, but they should be coming with a few
apologies in the pocket and ready with the pencil and
the eraser to get the deal done.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Chief Minister. A couple of quick ones the AMA joined
us on the show last week. They're concerned about changes
that you've made last week enabling pharmacists to prescribe medication.
They're really concerned that this could have larger implications. Why
did you forge your head with this despite some of
that pushback, particularly from our doctors.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
This was an election commitment of ours. We delivered it
because that's what we do. We deliver our election commitments.
I think anyone listening can understand. Doctors don't like it
when pharmacists do a little bit of doctor work because
it means the doctors aren't doing it.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
They push back on that. Last week, John's aubist said
that's absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
They take Katie, but come on, he reckons.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
He's main concern is the lack of governance and no
way to order it or to keep people safe.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Is that a concern, It's not a concern at all,
And at the end of the day, you know, our
doctors need the support of some of these lower level
things not being put on their desk because you can't
get in to see a doctor if your life depended
on it.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Katie, So now, and this is a huge thing.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Big issue though, doesn't it that we actually need more
funding for you know, to be able to you know,
it's not even the.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Funding, it's just we need people going to medical school,
which means we need people wanting to go to school
and work really hard and get good grades.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
And it's a bigger problem.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
But right now we have pharmacists very capable of identifying
a urinary tract infection, for example, and just giving you
the medical that you need. I mean, this is some
really simple stuff. It's cheaper for people, which again is
a cost of living initiative for us, and it's quicker
because you can rock up to your pharmacy, so they're
now twenty one different ailments. If you like that you
(15:13):
can rock up to the pharmacists for instead of booking
in to see a GP, which is actually good news
for everyone. They have had to do one year's training.
There is a lot of work around it. It is
safe and we're very excited.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
All right, Chief Minister, before I let you go. Massive
weekend obviously with Base on the Grass and also the AFL.
We are going to catch up with Amy Luxton a
little bit later to talk about those numbers. But then
we've also got the oceana Athletics kicking off today, eight
hundred and sixty athletes.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I think it's huge.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
So Base in the Grass had one thousand more people
up to about thirteen thousand. I think the footy went off.
The Suns are just absolutely nailing at Katie and we've
had them two weekends in a row and then the
Oceaniya Athletics Championships, which is huge. This is pre positioning
the territory for people to train for the twenty thirty
two Olympics. So eight hundred and sixty athletes, you know
(16:05):
a bunch of locals who are absolutely keen, but it
just gives those pathways for our young people to see
that this is possible. It brings tourism, it brings people
in spending money on dinners and all sorts of stuff,
and it really profiles our facilities to be able to
capture more of that pre Olympic build up, which is
exactly what.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
We want, Well, what do you reckon?
Speaker 1 (16:23):
We're doing it for swimming, could we be doing a
bit more.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
For athletics one hundred percent? I think with the athletics
here now, this is a pathway to the Olympics, with
our swimming Australian swimming team as training here. This is
just a build up to twenty thirty two and the
territory is very well positioned to take a good share
of that training which our eyes are focused on.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Katie Weld, Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro, appreciate your time. As always,
we'll catch up with you next week.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Thank you, take care, Thank you.
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