The Chief Minister has lashed out at the former-Labor Territory Government over the delivery of the Ship Lift and its budget blowout but has promised to see it finally constructed.
The Public Accounts committee has released its report into the embattled piece of vital infrastructure, providing five recommendations, including the project proceed with stricter cost controls.
Lia Finocchiaro says she is travelling to Perth to learn more about how this infrastructure can finally be delivered and provide the foundation to create a new Territory industry.
The Chief also talked with Katie Woolf about the benefits of Arafura Nolans Rare Earth mine and commits to working with the Commonwealth to improve Top End maternity health services.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You are listening to Mix one oh four nine's three
sixteen Narties just thirteen minutes after nine o'clock.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
And joining me in the studio as she does on
a Monday morning.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It is the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Leofanochiaro.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Good morning, Good morning Katian to your listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Now, late last week.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We learned that a parliamentary committee has recommended the Northern
Territory government finished building the eight hundred and twenty million
dollar doo and shiplift project, that is, despite holding no right.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
To the revenue that it's going to generate.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
The Anti Public Accounts Committee releasing that report into the
embattled shiplift on Thursday, providing five recommendations, including the project
proceed with stricter cost controls. A Chief Minister Review had
a chance to go through that report and what do
you make of it?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, I have, and we're very glad that the PAC
took a really close look at this. This was a
unanimous report, no dissenting reports, and so it is a
position of the Parliament and ultimately it spells out really
clearly for territories that labor completely lacked transpit and see
on this project, that the blowout is astronomical at around
(01:04):
you know, eight hundred and twenty million dollars, but also
that we're at the point of no return on this project.
We've sunk so much now we're contractually locked in. We've
got to move forward. Now. That all sounds pretty doom
and gloom and it is shocking, But what we have
to do now is make the best of a bad situation.
We're going to have an asset that we have to
use to grow our economy, create jobs, and really bolster
(01:26):
the maritime sectors. So I'm going to Perth next week, Katie,
to visit Henderson because I want to see for myself
what we could possibly do to this, because we've got
to go just all in on this now and make
this thing worth it.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Well, we're right in where all the way to go
and look in saying that, I know, I've spoken to
local business operators who say, Katie, this is going to
be a good thing, and they think that it's going
to be a positive for the Northern Territory. But i mean,
like just first off, where is the construction at, Like
how far in are we?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, there's a lot of I've seen it from the
sky whenever I've flown in Katie. So there's a lot
of dirt being moved and things are happening out there.
There's all of the contracts have been done, so that's
all locked in and tenders, etc. And so basically there's
still a number of years for this project to roll out,
but that gives us time to really establish a maritime
industry and what that could look like for the territory.
(02:19):
We know Defense will be interested. Now they generally play
hard to get on these types of it's just Katie,
but I think once it's built, we will see that investment.
But it's all of the other collateral around it and
making sure that territory businesses can grow, expand or create
new businesses to really complement all of the types of
(02:39):
servicing that different ships require. So it's lots of things.
It's electrical, it's plumbing, you know, it's the basics as
well as all of the highly technical components.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
I want to tell you though, I always found it
really odd over the last ten years in discussing this
shiploft that it was a kind of a conversation of
build it and they will come and well, it goes
totally against a usual commercial or any kind of project
that you would or business that you would ordinarily, you know,
you would hope that you've got a few contracts locked
in when you're building something of this magnitude and to
(03:09):
this expense of tax payers dollars. I mean, when you
look at the fact that that PAC report found that
the government would carry more than one point eight billion
dollars in lifetime cost exposure while holding no right to
revenue generated by the building of this facility. To you,
as the Chief Minister, when you look at our debt
(03:31):
levels and when you look at this as going what
it's going to do, do you actually feel confident then
it's going to fulfill what you hope it will in
terms of generating business, generating wealth to other Territorians, if
not actually paying back the Northern Territory government.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, Katie, it's a big issue. Now. Do we want
to see an eight to twenty build.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
No.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
All we can do now is make sure those costs
are controlled as much as humanly possible. Yes, they're a legacy,
they're ongoing costs that we will have to pay, taxpayers
will have to pay. So that's why our using this
to grow the economy is so important. I do believe
in this project, Katie, all things aside costs and the
shamozzle that was labor and the fact that there was
(04:17):
no business case, the fact that they lied to territories
by not putting the costs in the budget. I mean,
it's just an absolute joke. It makes me so goddamn
mad Katie, I can tell you. But at the end
of the day, this is a project where we can
turn the dial for the territory. It is a project
where businesses can grow and it will grow the private sector,
(04:38):
and that's our focus. We can't have a strong economy
without a strong private sector. So I'll learn as much
as I can about it myself. That's I'm going to
Henderson because we need to put a serious focus on
this to make sure it is ready to go. We
want it to be successful and people are sick of
talking about it as well, you know. So we just
(04:59):
need to get this done and we need to make
the absolute best of it while controlling the cost as much.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
The report also recommended the Northern Territory government legislate an
access and pricing regime for the ship lift as soon
as possible. When's that going to happen.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yes, So some work has already been done on that,
but we've been waiting obviously for the Public Accounts Committee
to do their report. So the Treasurer is responsible for
that legislation and we will move as quickly as we
can to make sure that that's done, Katie, because it's
the next big piece of the puzzle.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
One area where we are looking right now is critical
Minerals Arafura Nolan's. They could eventually supply five percent of
global rear earth demand. Now, from your perspective, what needs
to happen to get this moving and to get it
moving as soon as possible.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
It's a very exciting project and you know it's on
the global scale. There are global eyes looking at this
project now, which is a great position for the territory
to be in. So I had an update from the
CEO of our if you're last week, and it's all
looking good. They've had really successful capital rays. Obviously we
saw the US Export Import Bank and Export Export Finance
(06:06):
Australia tip in some significant funds, so it's all progressing well.
I'll be on site I think Thursday this week, Katie,
to go and see the world getting being done. I'm
heading out there. It's a huge project and I made
it I want your listeners to know. I made it
very very clear to our Refurra that there is more
to this that needs to be done for the territory
(06:27):
than just the royalties. We will eventually get this. I
want to see local jobs based in Alice Springs. I
want to see a workforce in Ala Springs traveling that
one hundred and thirty five kilometers to the site. Recognizing that,
of course we won't have all the expertise and all
the people, and there is a lot of goodwill from Arafura.
They've really embedded in all of their strategic planning the
(06:48):
territory context and the territory content. So I think we
can have a very strong relationship with them going forward
and make sure we deliver for our people.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
For you, as a Northern Territories Chief Minister, do you
hope that we are able to become a location where
the rest of the world looks at for these critical
minerals and how do you bid that down? How do
you actually make sure that that happens.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Well, we've got to be the first mover, so Arafurra
has got to get up This is not just a mine,
it's also all of the processing which is very unique
and so in theory, over time, other minds could be
processing their rare erth and minerals at the Arafura site.
It also gives us that important opportunity to develop our
supply chains and really make sure we've got an Australia
(07:32):
first focus on what is a very important resource, not
just for renewables, but for defense and technology and all
sorts of other things. So this is globally significant. The
size of the resource, the size of the project, the
location in the territory, and so for us, the focus
is to make sure you know, you can talk about
six hundred jobs during construction and these big numbers. Our
(07:54):
focus really is how are we developing a territory workforce.
How are we making sure that kids in school right
now know that when they graduate or they should be
studying in these fields, doing trades and knowing that for
the next thirty eight years they will have a solid
pipeline of well paid, good work here in the territory.
And that's our core focus.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
All right, Chief, Let's pivot for a moment.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
I know that a maternity forum was held over the
weekend our berth Our Voice, a community lead forum for
women to share their stories about what families need from
maternity services in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
First off, did any of your minister's attempt Yes.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
We had the Minister for Education Joe Hersey go and
remember for Drysdale Clinton how he also attended, And the
reports I got back from them was that it was
an excellent opportunity to hear from women and families first
hand with their stories, their concerns, and the bravery and
the courage that that took. So I just want to
thank everyone who attended for the generosity of information that
(08:51):
is very, very helpful to us as a government. I'm
following that up this morning, Katie with another briefing with
Health to make sure that we're on track. But we
are really pushing the federal government hard for funding across
our hospital systems, which includes maternity, but specifically, I mean
there's two issues at play here. One is the offering
at the public hospital and one is of course the
(09:12):
lack of private services out of health scope due to
them going into administration. So both balls are actually in
the federal government's court, but we are making sure we
keep the pressure on and we're also looking at, for example,
what levers we have. So the Northern Territory issues the
license for the private hospital and we're exploring right now
can we write into the license that there must be
(09:33):
maternity services so any new operator is locked in. And
these are the conversations we're having with Mark Butler and
the federal government to make sure we get the best
for territory mums.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
On the other side of things, on those discussions with
Mark Butler then about maternity services in the Northern Territory,
as I understand it, there was a bit of an
update from the Health Department saying, look, we've written to
the Health Minister or we're liaising with the federal Health Department.
There are things at for some funding for maternity services.
How is that looking from your perspective.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
We're hoping we're close and I'll learn more about that
early this morning, Katie. But ultimately what we know is
the territory is underfunded in hospital care by about four
hundred million dollars a year, which is huge dollars. This
is not a new issue. It's not a colp issue.
This is a legacy issue. So as part of the
national Health agreement that the Prime Minister wants to get done.
(10:27):
We are pushing very hard to in that first year, Katie.
We believe the territories hospitals should be funded like everyone
else and then allow us to glide up to that
increased funding with everyone else at the same time, not
be left behind like we have been probably since self government, Katie.
So there's a number of things on the table, but
with healthscope in particular, all the states and territories said
(10:51):
it was best for Mark Butler, the federal Minister, to
lead this so that no new operator could just pick
the hospitals they want and that the territory would fall apart.
We are the only private hospital for as far as
you can can to go o Katie. So this is
not something where I don't want to hear anyone talking
about us as being in the same boat as Tazzi
or anyone else. It's just not true.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
It's very different.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
It's such a different scenario for us so as well,
because your tyranny of distance means that it's not a
situation where we can just duck off over the weekend
and you know, go and receive maternity services or what
we need somewhere else. But it also it's having an
impact on our population. I truly believe that if you
look at the Northern Territory, if you're considering moving here
with your family and you're wanting to start a family,
(11:35):
and you go, oh, hang on a second, they don't
have these services, I actually can't even My understanding is
that the private obstetricians will cease to be able to
operate out of the public hospital as the year ends,
or they will definitely have to modify, at the very
least the way in which they're doing things that has
an impact on families.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
And whether they want to live here.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
We talk about liveability, we talk about growing the population.
We've got some good signs, but you've got to make
sure that we've got, you know, the services that people
expect exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
And this is why, you know, it is a bit
chicken and egg. We want to go hard on growing
our population, and we're ranking first in the country Katie
with growth, but it is and look at Defense. You
know we've got a big defense population. We want to
increase that. And you know, Defense families are looking and saying, what,
there's no private health services. I mean, it's a joke.
So we following this very closely, and I hope we've
(12:25):
got something to report to families as soon as possible.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
All Right, just finally we know that here in the
Northern Territory we've been grappling with domestic violence for a
very long time. Now in New South Wales, survivors of
domestic and family violence are going to be able to
receive an alert when an alleged perpetrator is released from
custody as part of a new digital pilot program to
launch in New South Wales now, according to the ABC,
(12:51):
Domestic Violence No to FY that's what it's called. It's
a joint federal and state government led initiative. It's going
to provide real time text email updates from the time
that a violent offender is arrested through to their final sentencing.
The app was developed with input from victim survivors to
ensure that it was trauma informed, victim centered and culturally responsive.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Now, I don't know whether you've read.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Much into this or whether you've had a close look
at this DV notify it's called, But is it something
that you'd potentially look at for the Northern Territory.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
It certainly is, Katie and so we're going to watch
that trial that New South Wales is running really closely.
We're really proud that in Alice Springs, for example, we've
dropped DV by seventeen percent this year and territory wide
down one percent. So there's still plenty of work to
do in that space, but this could be one really
effective tool to give victims a lot more power and
opportunity to understand the environment they're living in. Because at
(13:48):
the end of the day, the police can catch them,
the courts can lock them up, they can sit in
jail for years and years and years they eventually come out,
and so putting this power back in victim's hands is
very significant. So we're really really keen on that. I mean,
one other dev related issue we've been pushing federally is
to try and get the territory to be a pilot
jurisdiction for a threat assessment center. So we've been unsuccessful
(14:12):
with that so far, but it's something we keep pushing
and there's lots of innovation in this space. But this
could be could be a great TOOLKITI, so we'll keep
our eye on it, so you're keeping keeping it close.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Look if very quick one before I let you go
someone's message through. Can you explain why the government won't
be getting any profit from the ship lift? If we're
paying for it, who's going to get the profits?
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Yeah, so I'm not across the all of the contractual details,
but essentially it's just the way the labor structured the deal.
So we're providing the infrastructure and then there's an operator.
But what that's exactly why we need to focus on
creating the industry. That is where if we can grow
those businesses, grow the tax revenue, the jobs people coming in,
(14:53):
then the territory will benefit and equally then territorians will benefit.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Chef andess. So sorry to do this to you. Another one.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Luke Gosling's just issued a statement saying that the Commonwealth
and Northern Territory health departments have been engaging on this issue.
This is on the maternity services and Federal Health Minister
Mark Butler has been crystal clear about what's needed to
progress funding discussions. He says the Northern Territory government new
(15:20):
private maternity services were closing more than fourteen months ago,
yet the NT Health Minister only contacted Minister Butler in
May and still hasn't provided the detailed costed proposal request
by the Commonwealth. He says the alban Ezy Labour government
stands ready to help the government meet its responsibilities, but
the ball is firmly in their court.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
He reckons.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
He said, we need to see a clear, evidence based
plan that sets out the scope of works, costs and
how outcomes for territory mothers and families are going to
be improved, just as New South Wales and Tasmania promptly
did when faced with similar challenges over a year ago.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
He reckons.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
This financially year alone, the Commonwealth has increased its contribution
to nt Health by thirty percent. Look, I think we
all understand that that's still not enough. We need more
funding here in the Northern Territory, but just on the
maternity services.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Side of things. I mean, what do you say to that.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah, what I say is Luke, spend less time worrying
about AUDI and more time fighting for the territory. I mean,
this is a joke. Mark Butler got the letter in
May and you want to nitpick politics with me over
the radio. Mate. I think you've got better things to
do and people expect more of it. And at the
end of the day, We've got to take a team
territory approach, and that's getting offense to open.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
We really do need to have a team territory approach
on this situation with maternity services.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
I mean, are you prepared to work with him on
this of.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Course, Katie, But he's a headline grabber, not a work doer,
so we'll have to see that. Priefs in the pudding
with him, mate, she's.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Going to studly IFINOI AO always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Thanks so much for joining me this morning.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Take everyone,
You are listening to Mix one oh four nine's three
sixteen Narties just thirteen minutes after nine o'clock.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
And joining me in the studio as she does on
a Monday morning.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It is the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Leofanochiaro.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Good morning, Good morning Katian to your listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Now, late last week.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We learned that a parliamentary committee has recommended the Northern
Territory government finished building the eight hundred and twenty million
dollar doo and shiplift project, that is, despite holding no right.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
To the revenue that it's going to generate.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
The Anti Public Accounts Committee releasing that report into the
embattled shiplift on Thursday, providing five recommendations, including the project
proceed with stricter cost controls. A Chief Minister Review had
a chance to go through that report and what do
you make of it?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, I have, and we're very glad that the PAC
took a really close look at this. This was a
unanimous report, no dissenting reports, and so it is a
position of the Parliament and ultimately it spells out really
clearly for territories that labor completely lacked transpit and see
on this project, that the blowout is astronomical at around
(01:04):
you know, eight hundred and twenty million dollars, but also
that we're at the point of no return on this project.
We've sunk so much now we're contractually locked in. We've
got to move forward. Now. That all sounds pretty doom
and gloom and it is shocking, But what we have
to do now is make the best of a bad situation.
We're going to have an asset that we have to
use to grow our economy, create jobs, and really bolster
(01:26):
the maritime sectors. So I'm going to Perth next week, Katie,
to visit Henderson because I want to see for myself
what we could possibly do to this, because we've got
to go just all in on this now and make
this thing worth it.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Well, we're right in where all the way to go
and look in saying that, I know, I've spoken to
local business operators who say, Katie, this is going to
be a good thing, and they think that it's going
to be a positive for the Northern Territory. But i mean,
like just first off, where is the construction at, Like
how far in are we?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, there's a lot of I've seen it from the
sky whenever I've flown in Katie. So there's a lot
of dirt being moved and things are happening out there.
There's all of the contracts have been done, so that's
all locked in and tenders, etc. And so basically there's
still a number of years for this project to roll out,
but that gives us time to really establish a maritime
industry and what that could look like for the territory.
(02:19):
We know Defense will be interested. Now they generally play
hard to get on these types of it's just Katie,
but I think once it's built, we will see that investment.
But it's all of the other collateral around it and
making sure that territory businesses can grow, expand or create
new businesses to really complement all of the types of
(02:39):
servicing that different ships require. So it's lots of things.
It's electrical, it's plumbing, you know, it's the basics as
well as all of the highly technical components.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
I want to tell you though, I always found it
really odd over the last ten years in discussing this
shiploft that it was a kind of a conversation of
build it and they will come and well, it goes
totally against a usual commercial or any kind of project
that you would or business that you would ordinarily, you know,
you would hope that you've got a few contracts locked
in when you're building something of this magnitude and to
(03:09):
this expense of tax payers dollars. I mean, when you
look at the fact that that PAC report found that
the government would carry more than one point eight billion
dollars in lifetime cost exposure while holding no right to
revenue generated by the building of this facility. To you,
as the Chief Minister, when you look at our debt
(03:31):
levels and when you look at this as going what
it's going to do, do you actually feel confident then
it's going to fulfill what you hope it will in
terms of generating business, generating wealth to other Territorians, if
not actually paying back the Northern Territory government.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, Katie, it's a big issue. Now. Do we want
to see an eight to twenty build.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
No.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
All we can do now is make sure those costs
are controlled as much as humanly possible. Yes, they're a legacy,
they're ongoing costs that we will have to pay, taxpayers
will have to pay. So that's why our using this
to grow the economy is so important. I do believe
in this project, Katie, all things aside costs and the
shamozzle that was labor and the fact that there was
(04:17):
no business case, the fact that they lied to territories
by not putting the costs in the budget. I mean,
it's just an absolute joke. It makes me so goddamn
mad Katie, I can tell you. But at the end
of the day, this is a project where we can
turn the dial for the territory. It is a project
where businesses can grow and it will grow the private sector,
(04:38):
and that's our focus. We can't have a strong economy
without a strong private sector. So I'll learn as much
as I can about it myself. That's I'm going to
Henderson because we need to put a serious focus on
this to make sure it is ready to go. We
want it to be successful and people are sick of
talking about it as well, you know. So we just
(04:59):
need to get this done and we need to make
the absolute best of it while controlling the cost as much.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
The report also recommended the Northern Territory government legislate an
access and pricing regime for the ship lift as soon
as possible. When's that going to happen.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yes, So some work has already been done on that,
but we've been waiting obviously for the Public Accounts Committee
to do their report. So the Treasurer is responsible for
that legislation and we will move as quickly as we
can to make sure that that's done, Katie, because it's
the next big piece of the puzzle.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
One area where we are looking right now is critical
Minerals Arafura Nolan's. They could eventually supply five percent of
global rear earth demand. Now, from your perspective, what needs
to happen to get this moving and to get it
moving as soon as possible.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
It's a very exciting project and you know it's on
the global scale. There are global eyes looking at this
project now, which is a great position for the territory
to be in. So I had an update from the
CEO of our if you're last week, and it's all
looking good. They've had really successful capital rays. Obviously we
saw the US Export Import Bank and Export Export Finance
(06:06):
Australia tip in some significant funds, so it's all progressing well.
I'll be on site I think Thursday this week, Katie,
to go and see the world getting being done. I'm
heading out there. It's a huge project and I made
it I want your listeners to know. I made it
very very clear to our Refurra that there is more
to this that needs to be done for the territory
(06:27):
than just the royalties. We will eventually get this. I
want to see local jobs based in Alice Springs. I
want to see a workforce in Ala Springs traveling that
one hundred and thirty five kilometers to the site. Recognizing that,
of course we won't have all the expertise and all
the people, and there is a lot of goodwill from Arafura.
They've really embedded in all of their strategic planning the
(06:48):
territory context and the territory content. So I think we
can have a very strong relationship with them going forward
and make sure we deliver for our people.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
For you, as a Northern Territories Chief Minister, do you
hope that we are able to become a location where
the rest of the world looks at for these critical
minerals and how do you bid that down? How do
you actually make sure that that happens.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Well, we've got to be the first mover, so Arafurra
has got to get up This is not just a mine,
it's also all of the processing which is very unique
and so in theory, over time, other minds could be
processing their rare erth and minerals at the Arafura site.
It also gives us that important opportunity to develop our
supply chains and really make sure we've got an Australia
(07:32):
first focus on what is a very important resource, not
just for renewables, but for defense and technology and all
sorts of other things. So this is globally significant. The
size of the resource, the size of the project, the
location in the territory, and so for us, the focus
is to make sure you know, you can talk about
six hundred jobs during construction and these big numbers. Our
(07:54):
focus really is how are we developing a territory workforce.
How are we making sure that kids in school right
now know that when they graduate or they should be
studying in these fields, doing trades and knowing that for
the next thirty eight years they will have a solid
pipeline of well paid, good work here in the territory.
And that's our core focus.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
All right, Chief, Let's pivot for a moment.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
I know that a maternity forum was held over the
weekend our berth Our Voice, a community lead forum for
women to share their stories about what families need from
maternity services in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
First off, did any of your minister's attempt Yes.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
We had the Minister for Education Joe Hersey go and
remember for Drysdale Clinton how he also attended, And the
reports I got back from them was that it was
an excellent opportunity to hear from women and families first
hand with their stories, their concerns, and the bravery and
the courage that that took. So I just want to
thank everyone who attended for the generosity of information that
(08:51):
is very, very helpful to us as a government. I'm
following that up this morning, Katie with another briefing with
Health to make sure that we're on track. But we
are really pushing the federal government hard for funding across
our hospital systems, which includes maternity, but specifically, I mean
there's two issues at play here. One is the offering
at the public hospital and one is of course the
(09:12):
lack of private services out of health scope due to
them going into administration. So both balls are actually in
the federal government's court, but we are making sure we
keep the pressure on and we're also looking at, for example,
what levers we have. So the Northern Territory issues the
license for the private hospital and we're exploring right now
can we write into the license that there must be
(09:33):
maternity services so any new operator is locked in. And
these are the conversations we're having with Mark Butler and
the federal government to make sure we get the best
for territory mums.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
On the other side of things, on those discussions with
Mark Butler then about maternity services in the Northern Territory,
as I understand it, there was a bit of an
update from the Health Department saying, look, we've written to
the Health Minister or we're liaising with the federal Health Department.
There are things at for some funding for maternity services.
How is that looking from your perspective.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
We're hoping we're close and I'll learn more about that
early this morning, Katie. But ultimately what we know is
the territory is underfunded in hospital care by about four
hundred million dollars a year, which is huge dollars. This
is not a new issue. It's not a colp issue.
This is a legacy issue. So as part of the
national Health agreement that the Prime Minister wants to get done.
(10:27):
We are pushing very hard to in that first year, Katie.
We believe the territories hospitals should be funded like everyone
else and then allow us to glide up to that
increased funding with everyone else at the same time, not
be left behind like we have been probably since self government, Katie.
So there's a number of things on the table, but
with healthscope in particular, all the states and territories said
(10:51):
it was best for Mark Butler, the federal Minister, to
lead this so that no new operator could just pick
the hospitals they want and that the territory would fall apart.
We are the only private hospital for as far as
you can can to go o Katie. So this is
not something where I don't want to hear anyone talking
about us as being in the same boat as Tazzi
or anyone else. It's just not true.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
It's very different.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
It's such a different scenario for us so as well,
because your tyranny of distance means that it's not a
situation where we can just duck off over the weekend
and you know, go and receive maternity services or what
we need somewhere else. But it also it's having an
impact on our population. I truly believe that if you
look at the Northern Territory, if you're considering moving here
with your family and you're wanting to start a family,
(11:35):
and you go, oh, hang on a second, they don't
have these services, I actually can't even My understanding is
that the private obstetricians will cease to be able to
operate out of the public hospital as the year ends,
or they will definitely have to modify, at the very
least the way in which they're doing things that has
an impact on families.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
And whether they want to live here.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
We talk about liveability, we talk about growing the population.
We've got some good signs, but you've got to make
sure that we've got, you know, the services that people
expect exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
And this is why, you know, it is a bit
chicken and egg. We want to go hard on growing
our population, and we're ranking first in the country Katie
with growth, but it is and look at Defense. You
know we've got a big defense population. We want to
increase that. And you know, Defense families are looking and saying, what,
there's no private health services. I mean, it's a joke.
So we following this very closely, and I hope we've
(12:25):
got something to report to families as soon as possible.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
All Right, just finally we know that here in the
Northern Territory we've been grappling with domestic violence for a
very long time. Now in New South Wales, survivors of
domestic and family violence are going to be able to
receive an alert when an alleged perpetrator is released from
custody as part of a new digital pilot program to
launch in New South Wales now, according to the ABC,
(12:51):
Domestic Violence No to FY that's what it's called. It's
a joint federal and state government led initiative. It's going
to provide real time text email updates from the time
that a violent offender is arrested through to their final sentencing.
The app was developed with input from victim survivors to
ensure that it was trauma informed, victim centered and culturally responsive.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Now, I don't know whether you've read.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Much into this or whether you've had a close look
at this DV notify it's called, But is it something
that you'd potentially look at for the Northern Territory.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
It certainly is, Katie and so we're going to watch
that trial that New South Wales is running really closely.
We're really proud that in Alice Springs, for example, we've
dropped DV by seventeen percent this year and territory wide
down one percent. So there's still plenty of work to
do in that space, but this could be one really
effective tool to give victims a lot more power and
opportunity to understand the environment they're living in. Because at
(13:48):
the end of the day, the police can catch them,
the courts can lock them up, they can sit in
jail for years and years and years they eventually come out,
and so putting this power back in victim's hands is
very significant. So we're really really keen on that. I mean,
one other dev related issue we've been pushing federally is
to try and get the territory to be a pilot
jurisdiction for a threat assessment center. So we've been unsuccessful
(14:12):
with that so far, but it's something we keep pushing
and there's lots of innovation in this space. But this
could be could be a great TOOLKITI, so we'll keep
our eye on it, so you're keeping keeping it close.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Look if very quick one before I let you go
someone's message through. Can you explain why the government won't
be getting any profit from the ship lift? If we're
paying for it, who's going to get the profits?
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Yeah, so I'm not across the all of the contractual details,
but essentially it's just the way the labor structured the deal.
So we're providing the infrastructure and then there's an operator.
But what that's exactly why we need to focus on
creating the industry. That is where if we can grow
those businesses, grow the tax revenue, the jobs people coming in,
(14:53):
then the territory will benefit and equally then territorians will benefit.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Chef andess. So sorry to do this to you. Another one.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Luke Gosling's just issued a statement saying that the Commonwealth
and Northern Territory health departments have been engaging on this issue.
This is on the maternity services and Federal Health Minister
Mark Butler has been crystal clear about what's needed to
progress funding discussions. He says the Northern Territory government new
(15:20):
private maternity services were closing more than fourteen months ago,
yet the NT Health Minister only contacted Minister Butler in
May and still hasn't provided the detailed costed proposal request
by the Commonwealth. He says the alban Ezy Labour government
stands ready to help the government meet its responsibilities, but
the ball is firmly in their court.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
He reckons.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
He said, we need to see a clear, evidence based
plan that sets out the scope of works, costs and
how outcomes for territory mothers and families are going to
be improved, just as New South Wales and Tasmania promptly
did when faced with similar challenges over a year ago.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
He reckons.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
This financially year alone, the Commonwealth has increased its contribution
to nt Health by thirty percent. Look, I think we
all understand that that's still not enough. We need more
funding here in the Northern Territory, but just on the
maternity services.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Side of things. I mean, what do you say to that.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah, what I say is Luke, spend less time worrying
about AUDI and more time fighting for the territory. I mean,
this is a joke. Mark Butler got the letter in
May and you want to nitpick politics with me over
the radio. Mate. I think you've got better things to
do and people expect more of it. And at the
end of the day, We've got to take a team
territory approach, and that's getting offense to open.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
We really do need to have a team territory approach
on this situation with maternity services.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
I mean, are you prepared to work with him on
this of.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Course, Katie, But he's a headline grabber, not a work doer,
so we'll have to see that. Priefs in the pudding
with him, mate, she's.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Going to studly IFINOI AO always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Thanks so much for joining me this morning.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Take everyone,
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