Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now the governments say that restoring private maternity services is
a priority. They're set to hold crisis talks next week
between the Northern Territory government and purpose Co they were
formerly health Scope over the future of Darwin Private Hospital.
Now the Chief Minister set on the show earlier this
week that expanded bed buy back arrangements have been offered
(00:21):
and potential operators contacted as efforts continue to secure long
term certainty around private healthcare in the Northern Territory. Now
joining us on the show is the Health Minister, Steve Edgington.
Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good morning Coaty, and good morning to all the listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Now, Minister tell me Territorians have now been waiting almost
a year for certainty around Darwin Private Hospital, the maternity ward.
Why is it taken so long for these crisis talks.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Well, when we talk about crisis talks, Sir Coty, yes,
it has been twelve months, it'll be twelve months in
June since health Scope closed them maternity service in Darwin.
And when we say crisis talks, what we have been
told leading up to having further having talks with Healthscope
is that there has been some discussion around and certainly
(01:12):
through the receivers of Healthscope that the new entity purpose
Co was expected to be up and running on the
new financial year, which starts around first of July. But
of course there's other things that haven't been resolved. And
one of those issues, of course, is that all of
the properties in which Healthcare health Scope operates out of
(01:36):
there were owned by another separate entity as well. So
there's no certainty at the moment that this deal is
going to be done by the first of July. So
when we say crisis talks, we need to get on
the front foot and start talking to other providers because
the purpose Co arrangement still needs to be resolved with
the property owners and that in itself is causing us
(01:58):
great concerns. So what we are doing is getting on
the front foot to re establish contact with other providers
that did express an interest to take over the private
hospital in Darwin. We want to continue those talks because
of the uncertainty around the purpose Co model.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So Steve laid out on the table for us. So
we're in a situation here where you know, we're health
Scopes obviously currently got management of the private hospital, or
they've currently got the private hospital but it's looking as
though their new entity, Purpose Co is maybe not going
to come through and continue on with that. So is
the reality here that we're not just needing somebody to
(02:37):
run the new maternity services or to run private maternity services,
we need somebody to run the whole hospital.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Well, Well, the issue is that it has been business
as usual and what we are seeing is business as usual,
and that was what was put forward when they went
into administration to receivership. It's always been business as usual
and that is continuing until this issue is resolved. So
talking to the receivers, they have give us some certainty
(03:06):
that the services will continue as is. But when it
comes to changing ownership, this is where the uncertainty lies.
Because Healthscope, what the receivers have been working with Hellscope
is to restructure into a not for profit organization called
purpose Co. When it comes to restructuring into purpose Co,
all of the properties that they operate out, they're owned
(03:28):
by a whole separate entity of private equity firms as well.
So there has to be a deal done between the receivers,
Purpose Co and the building owners to make this deal happen.
And this is where the uncertainty is at the moment.
So what we are doing is, yes, we are having
those talks and we have put out letters to those
(03:49):
that have expressed interest in taking over the private hospital
in Darwin. What we want to do is make sure
that we've covered all of our options and ensure that
those that are still interested in taking over the private
hospital those options are still on the table and we
want to present those to the receivers so that should
(04:09):
the purpose co model fall over, so to speak, we
have those options on the table for the receivers.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So how many other others are they that are potential
options here? Because this is like, this sounds a bit concerning,
to say the least, Well.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
It is concerning. Look, we're very hopeful that the receivers
are not only working with a new model under purpose CO,
are also talking to the property owners as well, so
when it comes to rent and leasing buildings, those conversations
are still going on. What we're doing is having the
conversations with other providers that have expressed interest to make
(04:46):
sure that their options are still on the table for
the receiver to consider should the purpose CO model not
go ahead.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
All right, so your meeting with purpose come next week.
What are you hoping to achieve from that meeting, and
you know, is the reality here that you know that
they're going to look at restoring maternity services. Is it
even an option?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Well that this is the conversation. And look, we've made
it very clear through all of our media we want
to see and this is for all territories. We want
to see a private maternity back operating out of the
private hospital in Darwen. This is a you know, this
has been a long, long twelve months since they shut
down a private maternity. We had no control over Healthscope
(05:33):
shutting down private maternity. But now that the restructure is
underway to move health Scope to a not for profit
model under purpose CO, we want to have those conversations
before the deal is done so that we can not
only have the conversation but talk about bad buys. What
are the options that we need to discuss together and
(05:53):
what are the business opportunities for us to work with
them to ensure that private maternity is restored as part
of the process moving so in terms of.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
The bid by arrangements, how much could that cost taxpayers?
And why is this the right approach?
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Well, it is the right approach because at the moment
the situation is that health Scope went into receivership. They're
the ones that shut down Mattornity services. We've always had
a bed by arrangement with the Darwin Private Hospital because
we have peaks and flows at the Royal dar and
as you know, you've heard of the code yellows and
what code yellow actually means is that access to beds
(06:30):
in the Royal Daren Hospital is limited. So we have
a bed by arrangement with the private hospital where we
can access additional beds when we reach those peak periods.
So what we need to do is sit down and
not only discuss the peak periods where we'll continue to
buy beds, but can we have a more consistent business
model where we purchase a number of beds because quite frankly, Katie,
(06:54):
we need extra heads. That's the situation we're in in
Darwen and Palmerston at the moment. So that's what going
to put on the table and have those conversations to
see what sort of business model we can put in
place to ensure that we not only have additional beds
for the Royal Darwin Hospital, but how can we work
to us ensure that that business model also includes private
(07:17):
maternity services at the private hospital.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Steve, just listening to you this morning and just you know,
hearing all of these there's a lot of uncertainty, you know,
speaking about the private hospital more broadly and making sure
that we've got somebody to take that over if you know,
purpose go or if health Scope aren't able to continue
to do that. I mean you've said that there's a
number of different operators that you're getting in contact with,
(07:42):
but there's concern around that in itself, you know, making
sure that that's going to be viable and that that's
going to happen. And then added to that is indeed,
you know, the maternity ward and the want to get
that back up and running. What do you say to
anybody listening this morning that's thinking, goodness me, this sounds
like a bit of a debarcle.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Look what I want to say to all of those
that want to access private maternity services access to private hospital. Yes,
the maternity services were shut down by Hellscope last year,
much to our dismay, and you know it's everybody is
angry and frustrated about that. But when it comes to
current services at the hospital, at his business as usual
(08:25):
at the DAH and private hospital. We're going to be
out there fighting for all mothers, all families to put
everything on the table so that under any new model
or any new operator moving forward, that private maternity is
at the forefront of our decision making.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
And what do you say to any mum this morning
that's maybe feeling a bit ghastly there may be thinking, well,
why didn't you do this months ago?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
This has been these conversations, Katie, have been ongoing for months.
What it's reaching at the current time is that the
receivers are getting close to getting a new operator to
run the hospital. The conversations have been a number of
complex conversations which have been managed by the receiver. What
(09:09):
we are doing is getting closer to a deal being done,
and this is where we need to sit down with
the new operator once that new operator has decided, because
there was nobody virtually, there's been nobody to actually talk
to because we don't have a new operator yet. So
we're getting closer. We're having those talks and once that
new operator is ready to take over, we want to
(09:31):
ensure that our conversations are well and truly completed so
that we have a deal in place.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Minister A couple of quick ones around housing, but also
I want to ask you about dip theory. Are we
know that there's concerns around this outbreak being raised across
the country. The Federal Health Minister Mark Butler expressing serious
concerns as one of Australia's worst DIP theory or outbreaks
spreads well beyond the Northern Territory into WA Queensland, South Australia.
(09:58):
What's being done here the Northern Territory to manage this outbreak?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It is very concerning cody and the latest number of
cases reported in twenty twenty six, out of one hundred
and ninety four cases, Katie, we've had one hundred and seventeen,
which is about sixty percent of those cases reported in
the Northern Territory. These cases are right across the top
end in Western Australia. There's been a couple in Queensland,
(10:27):
but there's also been a couple of cases down in
South Australia. So what we're doing at the moment is
that NT Health is working very closely with the AMSANT
and through a partnership approach commencing a vaccination program which
is being organized as we speak to help contain this
outbreak at the moment. But what we do want to
(10:50):
get the message out is that people should be checking
that their vaccinations are up to date, and we encourage
people to that need to have the vaccination to come
forward and get that vaccination. But we'll have more to
say on that with amsand and Antee Health working together
to ensure we get on top of this.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Okay, well, we'll stay on to that issue and certainly
try to catch up with someone about it tomorrow morning. Minister,
Can I get you to put your housing hat on
for a moment. We have had parents get in contact
with us that have children out at school in Woodroff
along Emery Avenue. There they are having serious, serious issues
(11:29):
with housing that's being managed by Yilly Housing just nearby
that school. There has been more than five hundred complaints
as I understand it, made over a fourteen month period.
They've made formal complaints, they've written to you, they've written
to Yilly Housing, they've written to the Department of Housing,
and they are really getting not the response that they
(11:52):
are after. We're talking here about you know, people at
different times exposing themselves to children at the school through
the far trying to enter the early learning center play area.
A woman defecating naked at the school pedestrian crossing. I
mean it beggars belief that people behaving in this way
have still got a house across the road from the school.
(12:14):
What is going on, Codie.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
This behavior is absolutely disgusting. The reports that I've received
showing quite a number of complaints. We've had complaints relating
to the public housing, but there's also been complaints about
people in public places. The connection between those in a
public place and the public housing. What we need to
(12:40):
do is work very closely with the police, and what
we are doing is working with the police, the Public
Order Response Unit and of course Larakia. But at the moment,
Operation Ventura has commenced. But what I do want to say, Coatie,
is that we have as the anti house. We have
(13:00):
taken back those four properties.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
So at the moment, it's told me that you would
say that they said that you had written back to
them and said that, but they say that's not the case.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
No, it is the case.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Are the people just squatting in there?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
No. When I say we've taken back the houses, Katie,
what we have done is that the houses in question
have previously been run by Yilli, the housing provider. What
we've done is worked with Yilli. They have a number
of houses under management. We've taken those four specific houses back.
They're under our management at the moment. Two of those
(13:37):
houses are vacant. We've got one particular matter which is
before the ntcut at the moment, and we're working with
another tenant to look at other options for that housing.
So when I say we've taken them back, that we've
taken them back from Yilly so to a vacant and
we're working with two tenants at the moment to reduce
(13:58):
the impact on the community. And we are taking very
strong action to make sure that that anti social behavior ceases.
While we are dealing with issues through inteach.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
You can understand why people think this is just a joke, right,
Like public housing is not a right, it is a privilege,
and to have people behaving in this way when there
are kids right there at the school, it's just disgraceful.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Absolutely, absolutely, Katie. And that's why since coming to government,
we've strengthened our approach when it comes to dealing with
dealing with anti social behavior in public housing. And I
think I've quoted some of these figures before. We've got
two teams out, but we have thirty six houses have
now been vacated through action through NTCAT. But the pressure
(14:47):
and working with some of the tenants, some tenants have
even handed back the key. So putting in place out
putting in place our policy. We've got some simple accountability measures.
We expect our tenants to pay rent, we want them
to look after the house, but more importantly, we want
them to be good neighbors. And this is the message
(15:08):
that we're sending to tenants right across the sad So.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Steve, what do you say to those parents this morning?
What are you going to do to ensure that their
children are not going to see people flashing them, They're
not going to be experiencing this behavior.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Well, what we are doing, as I said, Katie, two
of those houses are vacant as we speak. What we
have at the moment is Operation Ventura happening in the
Palmerston area. But we have increased patrols between police, public
Housing Safety offices and also the Public Order Response Unit.
We've closed the alleyway close by there.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
So not going to kick them out, not going to
get those tenants out that.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Work is underway. As I said, the work is underway
through the Civil Appeals Tribunal. At the moment, the process
that we currently have in place is to a victor
person from a house, there needs to be a process
followed through the Northern terret Civil Appeals Tribunal. What we
are doing moving forward, Katie, is that this has been
(16:04):
a constant process of reviewing legislation. We are reviewing that
legislation as well as taking action in regard to these tenancies.
So later in the year we'll have some further announcements
around some changes to the Residential Tenancies Act so that
we can have a better policy and better procedures and
better legislation in place to deal with these issues in
(16:26):
a more timely way. So at the moment, what I
want to do is just reassure everyone living in that
area that we have additional patrols through police, public Housing
Safety Offices, and Public Order Response Unit. We are taking
the action. Two houses are vacant and we're working with
the tenants in the other two.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Steve Edgington, I better let you go. I think you've
got to get into a meeting. We've got to get
to our next interview. Thank you very much for your
time this morning. Greatly appreciated.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Thank you, Katie, and good morning to all the listeners.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Thank you
Now the governments say that restoring private maternity services is
a priority. They're set to hold crisis talks next week
between the Northern Territory government and purpose Co they were
formerly health Scope over the future of Darwin Private Hospital.
Now the Chief Minister set on the show earlier this
week that expanded bed buy back arrangements have been offered
(00:21):
and potential operators contacted as efforts continue to secure long
term certainty around private healthcare in the Northern Territory. Now
joining us on the show is the Health Minister, Steve Edgington.
Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good morning Coaty, and good morning to all the listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Now, Minister tell me Territorians have now been waiting almost
a year for certainty around Darwin Private Hospital, the maternity ward.
Why is it taken so long for these crisis talks.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Well, when we talk about crisis talks, Sir Coty, yes,
it has been twelve months, it'll be twelve months in
June since health Scope closed them maternity service in Darwin.
And when we say crisis talks, what we have been
told leading up to having further having talks with Healthscope
is that there has been some discussion around and certainly
(01:12):
through the receivers of Healthscope that the new entity purpose
Co was expected to be up and running on the
new financial year, which starts around first of July. But
of course there's other things that haven't been resolved. And
one of those issues, of course, is that all of
the properties in which Healthcare health Scope operates out of
(01:36):
there were owned by another separate entity as well. So
there's no certainty at the moment that this deal is
going to be done by the first of July. So
when we say crisis talks, we need to get on
the front foot and start talking to other providers because
the purpose Co arrangement still needs to be resolved with
the property owners and that in itself is causing us
(01:58):
great concerns. So what we are doing is getting on
the front foot to re establish contact with other providers
that did express an interest to take over the private
hospital in Darwin. We want to continue those talks because
of the uncertainty around the purpose Co model.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So Steve laid out on the table for us. So
we're in a situation here where you know, we're health
Scopes obviously currently got management of the private hospital, or
they've currently got the private hospital but it's looking as
though their new entity, Purpose Co is maybe not going
to come through and continue on with that. So is
the reality here that we're not just needing somebody to
(02:37):
run the new maternity services or to run private maternity services,
we need somebody to run the whole hospital.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Well, Well, the issue is that it has been business
as usual and what we are seeing is business as usual,
and that was what was put forward when they went
into administration to receivership. It's always been business as usual
and that is continuing until this issue is resolved. So
talking to the receivers, they have give us some certainty
(03:06):
that the services will continue as is. But when it
comes to changing ownership, this is where the uncertainty lies.
Because Healthscope, what the receivers have been working with Hellscope
is to restructure into a not for profit organization called
purpose Co. When it comes to restructuring into purpose Co,
all of the properties that they operate out, they're owned
(03:28):
by a whole separate entity of private equity firms as well.
So there has to be a deal done between the receivers,
Purpose Co and the building owners to make this deal happen.
And this is where the uncertainty is at the moment.
So what we are doing is, yes, we are having
those talks and we have put out letters to those
(03:49):
that have expressed interest in taking over the private hospital
in Darwin. What we want to do is make sure
that we've covered all of our options and ensure that
those that are still interested in taking over the private
hospital those options are still on the table and we
want to present those to the receivers so that should
(04:09):
the purpose co model fall over, so to speak, we
have those options on the table for the receivers.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So how many other others are they that are potential
options here? Because this is like, this sounds a bit concerning,
to say the least, Well.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
It is concerning. Look, we're very hopeful that the receivers
are not only working with a new model under purpose CO,
are also talking to the property owners as well, so
when it comes to rent and leasing buildings, those conversations
are still going on. What we're doing is having the
conversations with other providers that have expressed interest to make
(04:46):
sure that their options are still on the table for
the receiver to consider should the purpose CO model not
go ahead.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
All right, so your meeting with purpose come next week.
What are you hoping to achieve from that meeting, and
you know, is the reality here that you know that
they're going to look at restoring maternity services. Is it
even an option?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Well that this is the conversation. And look, we've made
it very clear through all of our media we want
to see and this is for all territories. We want
to see a private maternity back operating out of the
private hospital in Darwen. This is a you know, this
has been a long, long twelve months since they shut
down a private maternity. We had no control over Healthscope
(05:33):
shutting down private maternity. But now that the restructure is
underway to move health Scope to a not for profit
model under purpose CO, we want to have those conversations
before the deal is done so that we can not
only have the conversation but talk about bad buys. What
are the options that we need to discuss together and
(05:53):
what are the business opportunities for us to work with
them to ensure that private maternity is restored as part
of the process moving so in terms of.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
The bid by arrangements, how much could that cost taxpayers?
And why is this the right approach?
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Well, it is the right approach because at the moment
the situation is that health Scope went into receivership. They're
the ones that shut down Mattornity services. We've always had
a bed by arrangement with the Darwin Private Hospital because
we have peaks and flows at the Royal dar and
as you know, you've heard of the code yellows and
what code yellow actually means is that access to beds
(06:30):
in the Royal Daren Hospital is limited. So we have
a bed by arrangement with the private hospital where we
can access additional beds when we reach those peak periods.
So what we need to do is sit down and
not only discuss the peak periods where we'll continue to
buy beds, but can we have a more consistent business
model where we purchase a number of beds because quite frankly, Katie,
(06:54):
we need extra heads. That's the situation we're in in
Darwen and Palmerston at the moment. So that's what going
to put on the table and have those conversations to
see what sort of business model we can put in
place to ensure that we not only have additional beds
for the Royal Darwin Hospital, but how can we work
to us ensure that that business model also includes private
(07:17):
maternity services at the private hospital.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Steve, just listening to you this morning and just you know,
hearing all of these there's a lot of uncertainty, you know,
speaking about the private hospital more broadly and making sure
that we've got somebody to take that over if you know,
purpose go or if health Scope aren't able to continue
to do that. I mean you've said that there's a
number of different operators that you're getting in contact with,
(07:42):
but there's concern around that in itself, you know, making
sure that that's going to be viable and that that's
going to happen. And then added to that is indeed,
you know, the maternity ward and the want to get
that back up and running. What do you say to
anybody listening this morning that's thinking, goodness me, this sounds
like a bit of a debarcle.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Look what I want to say to all of those
that want to access private maternity services access to private hospital. Yes,
the maternity services were shut down by Hellscope last year,
much to our dismay, and you know it's everybody is
angry and frustrated about that. But when it comes to
current services at the hospital, at his business as usual
(08:25):
at the DAH and private hospital. We're going to be
out there fighting for all mothers, all families to put
everything on the table so that under any new model
or any new operator moving forward, that private maternity is
at the forefront of our decision making.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
And what do you say to any mum this morning
that's maybe feeling a bit ghastly there may be thinking, well,
why didn't you do this months ago?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
This has been these conversations, Katie, have been ongoing for months.
What it's reaching at the current time is that the
receivers are getting close to getting a new operator to
run the hospital. The conversations have been a number of
complex conversations which have been managed by the receiver. What
(09:09):
we are doing is getting closer to a deal being done,
and this is where we need to sit down with
the new operator once that new operator has decided, because
there was nobody virtually, there's been nobody to actually talk
to because we don't have a new operator yet. So
we're getting closer. We're having those talks and once that
new operator is ready to take over, we want to
(09:31):
ensure that our conversations are well and truly completed so
that we have a deal in place.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Minister A couple of quick ones around housing, but also
I want to ask you about dip theory. Are we
know that there's concerns around this outbreak being raised across
the country. The Federal Health Minister Mark Butler expressing serious
concerns as one of Australia's worst DIP theory or outbreaks
spreads well beyond the Northern Territory into WA Queensland, South Australia.
(09:58):
What's being done here the Northern Territory to manage this outbreak?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It is very concerning cody and the latest number of
cases reported in twenty twenty six, out of one hundred
and ninety four cases, Katie, we've had one hundred and seventeen,
which is about sixty percent of those cases reported in
the Northern Territory. These cases are right across the top
end in Western Australia. There's been a couple in Queensland,
(10:27):
but there's also been a couple of cases down in
South Australia. So what we're doing at the moment is
that NT Health is working very closely with the AMSANT
and through a partnership approach commencing a vaccination program which
is being organized as we speak to help contain this
outbreak at the moment. But what we do want to
(10:50):
get the message out is that people should be checking
that their vaccinations are up to date, and we encourage
people to that need to have the vaccination to come
forward and get that vaccination. But we'll have more to
say on that with amsand and Antee Health working together
to ensure we get on top of this.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Okay, well, we'll stay on to that issue and certainly
try to catch up with someone about it tomorrow morning. Minister,
Can I get you to put your housing hat on
for a moment. We have had parents get in contact
with us that have children out at school in Woodroff
along Emery Avenue. There they are having serious, serious issues
(11:29):
with housing that's being managed by Yilly Housing just nearby
that school. There has been more than five hundred complaints
as I understand it, made over a fourteen month period.
They've made formal complaints, they've written to you, they've written
to Yilly Housing, they've written to the Department of Housing,
and they are really getting not the response that they
(11:52):
are after. We're talking here about you know, people at
different times exposing themselves to children at the school through
the far trying to enter the early learning center play area.
A woman defecating naked at the school pedestrian crossing. I
mean it beggars belief that people behaving in this way
have still got a house across the road from the school.
(12:14):
What is going on, Codie.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
This behavior is absolutely disgusting. The reports that I've received
showing quite a number of complaints. We've had complaints relating
to the public housing, but there's also been complaints about
people in public places. The connection between those in a
public place and the public housing. What we need to
(12:40):
do is work very closely with the police, and what
we are doing is working with the police, the Public
Order Response Unit and of course Larakia. But at the moment,
Operation Ventura has commenced. But what I do want to say, Coatie,
is that we have as the anti house. We have
(13:00):
taken back those four properties.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
So at the moment, it's told me that you would
say that they said that you had written back to
them and said that, but they say that's not the case.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
No, it is the case.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Are the people just squatting in there?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
No. When I say we've taken back the houses, Katie,
what we have done is that the houses in question
have previously been run by Yilli, the housing provider. What
we've done is worked with Yilli. They have a number
of houses under management. We've taken those four specific houses back.
They're under our management at the moment. Two of those
(13:37):
houses are vacant. We've got one particular matter which is
before the ntcut at the moment, and we're working with
another tenant to look at other options for that housing.
So when I say we've taken them back, that we've
taken them back from Yilly so to a vacant and
we're working with two tenants at the moment to reduce
(13:58):
the impact on the community. And we are taking very
strong action to make sure that that anti social behavior ceases.
While we are dealing with issues through inteach.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
You can understand why people think this is just a joke, right,
Like public housing is not a right, it is a privilege,
and to have people behaving in this way when there
are kids right there at the school, it's just disgraceful.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Absolutely, absolutely, Katie. And that's why since coming to government,
we've strengthened our approach when it comes to dealing with
dealing with anti social behavior in public housing. And I
think I've quoted some of these figures before. We've got
two teams out, but we have thirty six houses have
now been vacated through action through NTCAT. But the pressure
(14:47):
and working with some of the tenants, some tenants have
even handed back the key. So putting in place out
putting in place our policy. We've got some simple accountability measures.
We expect our tenants to pay rent, we want them
to look after the house, but more importantly, we want
them to be good neighbors. And this is the message
(15:08):
that we're sending to tenants right across the sad So.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Steve, what do you say to those parents this morning?
What are you going to do to ensure that their
children are not going to see people flashing them, They're
not going to be experiencing this behavior.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Well, what we are doing, as I said, Katie, two
of those houses are vacant as we speak. What we
have at the moment is Operation Ventura happening in the
Palmerston area. But we have increased patrols between police, public
Housing Safety offices and also the Public Order Response Unit.
We've closed the alleyway close by there.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
So not going to kick them out, not going to
get those tenants out that.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Work is underway. As I said, the work is underway
through the Civil Appeals Tribunal. At the moment, the process
that we currently have in place is to a victor
person from a house, there needs to be a process
followed through the Northern terret Civil Appeals Tribunal. What we
are doing moving forward, Katie, is that this has been
(16:04):
a constant process of reviewing legislation. We are reviewing that
legislation as well as taking action in regard to these tenancies.
So later in the year we'll have some further announcements
around some changes to the Residential Tenancies Act so that
we can have a better policy and better procedures and
better legislation in place to deal with these issues in
(16:26):
a more timely way. So at the moment, what I
want to do is just reassure everyone living in that
area that we have additional patrols through police, public Housing
Safety Offices, and Public Order Response Unit. We are taking
the action. Two houses are vacant and we're working with
the tenants in the other two.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Steve Edgington, I better let you go. I think you've
got to get into a meeting. We've got to get
to our next interview. Thank you very much for your
time this morning. Greatly appreciated.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Thank you, Katie, and good morning to all the listeners.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Thank you
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