August 6, 2026 • 8 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
But we also know that well, the Deputy Prime Minister,
Richard Miles is in Darwin at the moment and joining
us on the line, it is Matt Cunningham from News
twenty four. Good morning to you, Matt, Good morning Cody.
Oh mate, keeping busy, hey, following the Deputy Prime minister around.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
It's been a busy couple of days. Actually, he's been
here for a while and still here now. We're actually
waiting for him to hold a press conference with his
counterpart from the Philippines. So yeah, it has been a
busy couple of days.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I like that. I like it when politicians stay here
for more than a few hours, and Richard Miles does
tend to come to the territory quite often.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I reckon, you can there's two kinds of politicians. I reckon.
There are ones that love this place and ones who
really couldn't think of anything worse than coming here. And
Richard Miles fits firmly into the first category. I would
have to say, you know, this is not a sort
of whistle stop blowing, blow out type of visit. You know,
(00:59):
he he was here all day yesterday, he stayed to night.
He's silly here today he was here yesterday while he
was acting Prime Minister, and he is someone who's made many, many,
many visits to day and has shown a real interest
in the place. So I think, you know, most territories
would say that's what they would like to see from
senior members of cabinet.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yep, I agree with you, so, Matt, as I understand
they are going to be wiring seven hundred and thirty
six million dollars to Washington, d C. In exchange for
hundreds of long range air to air missiles. That's what
the paper's reporting.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
That's the announcement he made yesterday. Yeah, Harry Brill's reported
on that he dropped that announcement in the press conference yesterday.
Imagine wiring that amount of I don't know that about
as I was walking, but might are usually in ten
dollar increments of my children these days. But yeah, it's
a lot of money, and I guess it signals, you know,
how significant this region is and the fact that the
(01:54):
government's really paying more and more attention. Another story in
The Australian today, although Richard Marles told us on the
New twenty four this morning that it was more of
a re announcement than anything new, but about two three
hundred US personnel rotating through Wa and that's of course
on the top of the two and a half thousand
US Marines we have rotating through Darwin. So the US
(02:17):
obviously showing a keen and increasing interest in this part
of the world and you can probably understand why.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
So tell us, Matt, is that what's his announcement this
morning that you're expecting in an hour or are you
still sort of waiting to hear a bit further detail.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, Minor Seen is no actual new announcement today, just
an event with his counterpart from the Philippines and obviously
just talking about the strength of those ties between the
two countries, which again is going to be really important
given the growing tension that we've got in this region
and the rise of China is it tries to flexus
(02:55):
muscles in the South China Sea. So he met his
fill Ateno counterpart this morning, Gilberto Tiodoro Junior, the Secretary
of Defense from the Philippines. So we were there for
a bit of a meet and greet this morning and
they're going to hold than a press conference in about
(03:17):
an hour's time.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
We'll keep a close on that. I mean, Matt with
the Deputy Prime Minister here and certainly these announcements being made.
What's the feedback being, you know, in terms of the
investment into the Northern Territory when it comes to defense, Well.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I think for most people it's welcome, Katie. And you
would have read some of the stories in the anti
years recently about the lengths that you know, local businesses
went to to make sure that they were getting a
big share of that investment that is coming from the
United States. I mean, you know, Marketer Builders and others
have made several trips and some of the biggest companies
(03:55):
in this town have made several trips to Hawaii to
talk to the United States officials about their investment here
and trying to reassure them. I think that they have
the capability of doing a lot of that work and
I think that's paying off of them now. So there's
an enormous amount of defense investment, both from Australia and
the United States that's happening in the top end at
(04:16):
the moment. I was out at Kinder Air Base just
last week as well, Katie, where there's an enormous amount
of money that has been invested by Australia and the
US over the past couple of years for upgrades there
that are almost complete. So you know, there's obviously a
recognition that this is a really important part of the
world and that investment is coming and hopefully there is
(04:39):
some local benefit that comes with that.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Now, Mash, I know, there's never a press conference where
you don't ask about a few other topics as well.
What else has been on the agenda with the Deputy
Prime ministuff.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Look, I promise to be on my best behavior today, Katie.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
But.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Certainly yesterday there were plenty of questions being asked. In particular,
I mean Richard Marles answered questions for a good five
minutes on the topic alone, the Luke Gosling topic alone yesterday.
So obviously that's been something that's been in the headlines
for more than a week now after he was charged
last week, those two counts of alleged the assaulting the
(05:19):
administrator David Connell and interestingly Luke Gosling. He was now
in Springs yesterday, so he wasn't at that event that
was held at the Darwin Raft base yesterday. No fund
of him here today either, so I'm not sure I
think he's back and down. I'm not sure, but I'm
not sure if he's going to attend this event today,
which you'd have to say to be a little bit
(05:40):
unusual giving me hold that role as the special envoyer
to defend normally, I'd say, you know, this is the
sort of thing that you could bring him away from.
A lot of talk about that role as well of
the Special envoid. Mark Butwell was interviewed by Andrew Clenell
on News twenty four on Sunday, and Mark Butler said, well,
(06:02):
the reason he hasn't been removed from that position is
that essentially it's a position that holds no power and
he's quote unquote just a backbencher. Jamals sort of took
a slightly different view today. He said that Luke Gozling
someone he takes advice from on some of these defense matters,
and given his experience with the ADF, you know that
(06:24):
is important advice that he receives. But the government's not
going to remove him from from those roles. It doesn't
look like while he can tests these charges, Katie. And
obviously the other interesting development yesterday was the police commissioner
on your show and his response to the claims that
were made by Luke Gosling's bartist to Mardos last week
that you know, there was there was a sort of
(06:45):
a hint of politicization of what was going on here
and something that Martin Dole was suited pretty categorically yesterday.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, look, he certainly did on the show. It's going
to be an interesting one to see play out, and
no doubt but people will be keeping quite a close
eye on things. I wouldn't imagine it's going to be great.
Federal Parliament sits next week, doesn't it. You would expect
that there'll be some questions from the opposition about this
situation as well.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, I would have thought so. And the thing that's
going to be difficult I think for Labor and Luke buzzling.
In court last week, the judge Stephen Geary said that
it might take eighteen months for this case to make
its way to its conclusion in the NT court system
and that would mean Katie, that it's going to run
(07:33):
right up until and possibly even beyond the next Sedil election,
and that's going to cause a real headache I think
for Labor, you know, if it does drag on that long.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Yeah, I think you're right well, Matt Cunningham. Always good
to catch up with you and we'll hopefully get you
on the week that was next week. You keep getting
called away for your actual job.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
They keep paying me, Katie.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
We got we can give you as a coffee.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
That's all that I have to do.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Good to catch up with you. We'll talk to you
again very soon. Thank you.
But we also know that well, the Deputy Prime Minister,
Richard Miles is in Darwin at the moment and joining
us on the line, it is Matt Cunningham from News
twenty four. Good morning to you, Matt, Good morning Cody.
Oh mate, keeping busy, hey, following the Deputy Prime minister around.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
It's been a busy couple of days. Actually, he's been
here for a while and still here now. We're actually
waiting for him to hold a press conference with his
counterpart from the Philippines. So yeah, it has been a
busy couple of days.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I like that. I like it when politicians stay here
for more than a few hours, and Richard Miles does
tend to come to the territory quite often.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I reckon, you can there's two kinds of politicians. I reckon.
There are ones that love this place and ones who
really couldn't think of anything worse than coming here. And
Richard Miles fits firmly into the first category. I would
have to say, you know, this is not a sort
of whistle stop blowing, blow out type of visit. You know,
(00:59):
he he was here all day yesterday, he stayed to night.
He's silly here today he was here yesterday while he
was acting Prime Minister, and he is someone who's made many, many,
many visits to day and has shown a real interest
in the place. So I think, you know, most territories
would say that's what they would like to see from
senior members of cabinet.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yep, I agree with you, so, Matt, as I understand
they are going to be wiring seven hundred and thirty
six million dollars to Washington, d C. In exchange for
hundreds of long range air to air missiles. That's what
the paper's reporting.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
That's the announcement he made yesterday. Yeah, Harry Brill's reported
on that he dropped that announcement in the press conference yesterday.
Imagine wiring that amount of I don't know that about
as I was walking, but might are usually in ten
dollar increments of my children these days. But yeah, it's
a lot of money, and I guess it signals, you know,
how significant this region is and the fact that the
(01:54):
government's really paying more and more attention. Another story in
The Australian today, although Richard Marles told us on the
New twenty four this morning that it was more of
a re announcement than anything new, but about two three
hundred US personnel rotating through Wa and that's of course
on the top of the two and a half thousand
US Marines we have rotating through Darwin. So the US
(02:17):
obviously showing a keen and increasing interest in this part
of the world and you can probably understand why.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
So tell us, Matt, is that what's his announcement this
morning that you're expecting in an hour or are you
still sort of waiting to hear a bit further detail.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, Minor Seen is no actual new announcement today, just
an event with his counterpart from the Philippines and obviously
just talking about the strength of those ties between the
two countries, which again is going to be really important
given the growing tension that we've got in this region
and the rise of China is it tries to flexus
(02:55):
muscles in the South China Sea. So he met his
fill Ateno counterpart this morning, Gilberto Tiodoro Junior, the Secretary
of Defense from the Philippines. So we were there for
a bit of a meet and greet this morning and
they're going to hold than a press conference in about
(03:17):
an hour's time.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
We'll keep a close on that. I mean, Matt with
the Deputy Prime Minister here and certainly these announcements being made.
What's the feedback being, you know, in terms of the
investment into the Northern Territory when it comes to defense, Well.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I think for most people it's welcome, Katie. And you
would have read some of the stories in the anti
years recently about the lengths that you know, local businesses
went to to make sure that they were getting a
big share of that investment that is coming from the
United States. I mean, you know, Marketer Builders and others
have made several trips and some of the biggest companies
(03:55):
in this town have made several trips to Hawaii to
talk to the United States officials about their investment here
and trying to reassure them. I think that they have
the capability of doing a lot of that work and
I think that's paying off of them now. So there's
an enormous amount of defense investment, both from Australia and
the United States that's happening in the top end at
(04:16):
the moment. I was out at Kinder Air Base just
last week as well, Katie, where there's an enormous amount
of money that has been invested by Australia and the
US over the past couple of years for upgrades there
that are almost complete. So you know, there's obviously a
recognition that this is a really important part of the
world and that investment is coming and hopefully there is
(04:39):
some local benefit that comes with that.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Now, Mash, I know, there's never a press conference where
you don't ask about a few other topics as well.
What else has been on the agenda with the Deputy
Prime ministuff.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Look, I promise to be on my best behavior today, Katie.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
But.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Certainly yesterday there were plenty of questions being asked. In particular,
I mean Richard Marles answered questions for a good five
minutes on the topic alone, the Luke Gosling topic alone yesterday.
So obviously that's been something that's been in the headlines
for more than a week now after he was charged
last week, those two counts of alleged the assaulting the
(05:19):
administrator David Connell and interestingly Luke Gosling. He was now
in Springs yesterday, so he wasn't at that event that
was held at the Darwin Raft base yesterday. No fund
of him here today either, so I'm not sure I
think he's back and down. I'm not sure, but I'm
not sure if he's going to attend this event today,
which you'd have to say to be a little bit
(05:40):
unusual giving me hold that role as the special envoyer
to defend normally, I'd say, you know, this is the
sort of thing that you could bring him away from.
A lot of talk about that role as well of
the Special envoid. Mark Butwell was interviewed by Andrew Clenell
on News twenty four on Sunday, and Mark Butler said, well,
(06:02):
the reason he hasn't been removed from that position is
that essentially it's a position that holds no power and
he's quote unquote just a backbencher. Jamals sort of took
a slightly different view today. He said that Luke Gozling
someone he takes advice from on some of these defense matters,
and given his experience with the ADF, you know that
(06:24):
is important advice that he receives. But the government's not
going to remove him from from those roles. It doesn't
look like while he can tests these charges, Katie. And
obviously the other interesting development yesterday was the police commissioner
on your show and his response to the claims that
were made by Luke Gosling's bartist to Mardos last week
that you know, there was there was a sort of
(06:45):
a hint of politicization of what was going on here
and something that Martin Dole was suited pretty categorically yesterday.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, look, he certainly did on the show. It's going
to be an interesting one to see play out, and
no doubt but people will be keeping quite a close
eye on things. I wouldn't imagine it's going to be great.
Federal Parliament sits next week, doesn't it. You would expect
that there'll be some questions from the opposition about this
situation as well.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, I would have thought so. And the thing that's
going to be difficult I think for Labor and Luke buzzling.
In court last week, the judge Stephen Geary said that
it might take eighteen months for this case to make
its way to its conclusion in the NT court system
and that would mean Katie, that it's going to run
(07:33):
right up until and possibly even beyond the next Sedil election,
and that's going to cause a real headache I think
for Labor, you know, if it does drag on that long.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Yeah, I think you're right well, Matt Cunningham. Always good
to catch up with you and we'll hopefully get you
on the week that was next week. You keep getting
called away for your actual job.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
They keep paying me, Katie.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
We got we can give you as a coffee.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
That's all that I have to do.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Good to catch up with you. We'll talk to you
again very soon. Thank you.
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