The Week That Was - 30th May 2025

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, very good morning and welcome to the show. On
Please that I am back and joining me in the
studio this morning for the week that was, we have
got Josh Burgoyne, who is indeed the Minister for Lands
Planning and Environment.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good morning to you, morning Katie, Good morning to listeners.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
And also in the studio this morning, we've got Matt
Cunningham from Sky News.

Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning, Matts, Morning Katie.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
And in Catherine on the line this morning, we have
got the opposition leader Selena Yubo. Good morning, Selena, Good
morning Katie from Cold Castrot. Yeah, it sounds like it's
beautiful down there, only on twenty degrees.

Speaker 4 (00:31):
It is lovely.

Speaker 5 (00:33):
Jump awa u oh nice stuff. Well, I'll tell you what.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
There's plenty to cover off on this week and we
will head first to the situation in Alice Springs, where
we know Northern Territory police say that they're engaging with
the family of a man who died following an incident
at Cole's Supermarket in Alice Springs. Security guards confronted the
twenty four year old man, who was trying to steal
items from the store on Tuesday afternoon. He allegedly became

(00:59):
aggressive altercation then broke out and a security guard was assaulted.

Speaker 5 (01:04):
Police who were.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
In the store at the time came to assist. Now,
when officers tried to cuff the man, he was found
to have lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital but
couldn't be saved. Police believe the man was involved in
another assault on a woman at the Commonwealth Bank before
the incident at Coles. The twenty four year old wallprey
man from You and Demou was living in supported accommodation

(01:27):
in Alice Springs because of his disabilities. Now, the latest
late yesterday, as I understand, was that an autopsy had
not been able to confirm the man's cause of death,
with a forensic pathologist needing to do further investigations. I mean,
it's a terrible situation. However, you look at it, and

(01:49):
I've no doubt that everybody in Alice Springs pretty sort
of distressed at this point in time.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
Josh, absolutely, Katie, you know our town is HEARDing. This
is another high profile incident that has occurred in Elis Springs.
I was there on Monday and Tuesday. Obviously a lot
of people in our springs shaken after what's happened I
think it's really important in this situation that the facts
are put out there. You've spoken about just saying what
the police have reported. There's been a lot of a

(02:17):
lot of talk in our Springs and online unfortunately, a
lot of a lot of misinformation. So I think it's
really important just to again stick to the facts in
regards to this incident. It is terrible that someone has
lost their lives. The police officers involved, obviously, we have
to think about them as well. The police force has
been through a lot over the last number of years.

(02:37):
So again our town Ali Springs in the media for
all the wrong reasons. And I think it's really important
as a community, and I've certainly been speaking with many
people across the community and what actually does make me
feel positive is that there hasn't been any unrest in
Ola Springs, and it hasn't been any unrest out at
Damum and police along with even I know through my

(02:58):
conversations some education offices ENDO move Aboriginal li Aison officers
have been speaking with the family. They've been assuring them
that there is a process underway, and that's what's really
important is that we allow that process to take place.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
Mash I mean, it is a story that is getting
like it's been reported all over the nation, of course,
a death in custody and Aboriginal death in custody, and
I suppose, you know, different sort of responses from different
leaders around the nation.

Speaker 4 (03:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (03:31):
I think Josh is right when he says that we
need to let the investigation run its course and find
out exactly what happened here before we jump to conclusions.
And there have been a lot of people sort of
jumping to conclusions pretty quickly. I guess that's the day
and the age that we live in with social media,
et cetera. And you know, that's something that governments need
to deal with these days. I thought, I actually thought

(03:52):
Selena's statement that you put out on the day after
the incident happened hit the nail on the head. To
be honest, I thought it was right, you know, just
calling for everyone to be calm, but also saying that
thoughts are with the family of the man who died,
but also with the police and the security guards who
are also going through a pretty rough time, and that
can sometimes get forgotten in all of this. The question

(04:16):
that's being asked is whether we can trust the police
to investigate this matter independently. That's certainly what the family
of the man who died have been saying, and you
know that, and I think even Melanderry McCarthy, the federal minister,
said yesterday that question whether there should be some kind

(04:37):
of independent investigation into this, I guess it's a valid
point if you if you go back and look at
the Kumuenjoy Walker shooting, there were concerns from both sides.
I think that the investigation about the investigation. There were
concerns from Kumuenjoi Walker's family and the community at Yindamu

(04:59):
earlier on about the investigation there, and subsequently I think
there were concerns from the police about the haste with
which Zachary Rolf was charged with murder in that case. So,
you know, I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest
that there is some kind of independent oversight to the
way that this investigator investigation takes place.

Speaker 1 (05:21):
Selena, obviously, Matt's touched on the fact that you issued
a statement the day after this incident had occurred. What
exactly did you say in that statement and do you
think there needs to be an independent look at this?

Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah, Katie this is definitely a deeply distressing incident in
the Northern Territory. The statement I put out on behalf
of my team was acknowledging that there are many people
impacted by this tragic event. But obviously, of course starting
with the man who's lost his life, he's family and
he's loved ones. Obviously it's never fathomable when you lose

(05:58):
someone that you love, and particularly if it's distressing circumstances,
and acknowledging of course the impact that we'll have across
the police force and the security guard and those teams
and those people who are tasked with keeping us safe
in our communities day in and day out, in the
good days and the bad I think a very difficult
time for everyone, and of course acknowledging similar to what

(06:19):
Josh has said that you know, the emotions are going
to be very raw across our springs and Central Australia
as a region. It's a very tight knit region. Like
here in Big Rivers, we're a very tight knit region
and when there is something that happens in the community,
whether it's good or bad, it does impact everyone across
the region. And just acknowledging all of that and allowing
for that opportunity for an investigation to take its place

(06:44):
and to follow the right processes. But also, as we've
heard and Matt's mentioned it, mul and Deerry McCarthy as
Senator for the Northern Territory, has also echoed for an
independent inquiry to see if there's a process that can
be put in place that would allow I guess, sort
of an overarching view of what's happened as well and

(07:07):
a fullsome inquiry around that. So I think that's definitely
something that could be considered.

Speaker 1 (07:12):
Look, I think it's you know, this is such a
difficult situation in so many ways. I mean, we know
that the findings I believe from the coronial inquest into
the death of Kumen Jai Walker were due to be
handed down or there'red you to be handed down quite soon,
aren't they Matt on the tenth, Yeah.

Speaker 3 (07:29):
Tuesday week. But there's some question now about whether that
will still happen. I think the court's saying that they'll
make a decision by next week on Tuesday as to
whether that will actually go ahead.

Speaker 2 (07:42):
So in regards to that, there's obviously sorry business that
will now take place, and absolutely that's right there's been
conversations now about what will happen in regards to those
coronial findings.

Speaker 1 (07:52):
Now I want to talk more broadly about this situation.
As everybody has pointed out, there is a lot, you know,
there is so much that needs to happen here. We
know that there needs to be a full and thorough
investigation at this point in time. We know the Northern
Territory Police are indeed conducting an investigation. We also know
that there's obviously these calls for an independent investigation. But

(08:16):
I do want to talk more broadly about the fact
that we have got some really serious issues in the
Northern Territory right now. You know, nearly every day I'm
talking about various crimes being committed on air or varying levels.
It's just weeks ago that we spoke about the absolutely
tragic death as well of Linford fight in Nightcliffe, and

(08:39):
that situation, you know, echoes in my head even now
where I think to myself, that was a situation where
we allegedly had somebody who was stealing inside that supermarket,
and you know, the outcome of what can happen in
these situations is utterly terror.

Speaker 5 (09:00):
Whichever way you.

Speaker 1 (09:00):
Look at it, But you know, fact is, we are
in a situation where there is crime being committed and
we've got to stop that somehow so that we don't
wind up in either of these terribly tragic circumstances that
we're that we're currently in, and they're not the only ones.
You know, in Catherine, we've got a situation where Woolworths
is closing early due to the issues of crime and
anti social behavior that are being experienced. We've got a

(09:22):
really you know it is, it's a cloud over our
heads at the moment when you look at the crime
that we're experiencing in the NT and I don't know
what the answers are, but I know we've spoken about
it on so many occasions and I know that again
the community is hurting in you know, different ways over
the weeks that we talk about these issues. But I

(09:43):
feel as though we have got another situation where the
Northern Territory Police are potentially going to be worried about
trying to do their jobs.

Speaker 2 (09:51):
It's very concerning and obviously we came to government, we
rightly said that, you know, reducing crime was our number
one priority. There's been a number of statisic sticks that
I can point to in where things have got better.
But the reality is, and the Chief Minister has always
said this, it's a feeling in the community that we
know is so important. It's how people are feeling, whether
they're feeling safe or not. And when these high profile

(10:13):
incidents are occurring, unfortunately, people feel as though when not
seeing those games with which they want to. The fact
that there were one hundred less homes broken into over
this Christmas as opposed to the previous in my hometown
of Alla Springs is a really big positive, But then
when we have these incidents occurring, it really does make
us feel as though and there are still issues that
we need to get on top of. I think when

(10:34):
we you know, I'm very conscious of not trying to
politicize this current incident, but there are a number of
things in the past that we've called for as a
government to get that federal assistance to ensure that people
I guess when we talk about people that may or
may not be going to supermarkets to obviously attain food

(10:56):
all the rest of it. We need to ensure that
the money that people are receiving for welfare is going
to these essential items so that people don't feel the
need to shoplift. And again, let's be very clear here,
a lot of the claims that are out there are alleged.
So I'm talking more broadly in regards to this, Katie,
because you rightly said there have been a number of
incidents around shoplifting that have become very high profile of late.

(11:17):
So I think it's important that we look at all
the factors, what we can do to address these things
and then move forward as a community.

Speaker 3 (11:23):
Yeah, I think your point about how people feel is
on the money, and I don't know. I mean, I
certainly feel that I don't think I've ever felt or
less safe for my family in the Northern Territory than
right now, and that's probably because there've been some high
profile incidents close to well where I live as well.
But it just feels like, you know, I just think

(11:46):
it's sad. I don't feel comfortable just to send my
kids down to the shops anymore. And five years ago,
I reckon I would have had no worries doing that.
Ten years ago, I mean, when I first moved here
twenty years ago, I just don't remember the problems being
anything like they are now. Yeah, I just feel like
we're in this point now where it's a constant, it's

(12:08):
a constant concern, and it's something that you it's become
something that he's almost front of mine all the time certainly. Yeah, Yeah,
you've you've really put the.

Speaker 1 (12:19):
You know, yeah, well, and I mean I've got a friend.
I'm sure he won't won't mind me saying who's Who's
a delivery driver. He delivers things, you know, throughout the
night and early into the into the morning. And he
said to me that he's had knives pulled on him
like regularly. You know, it's and generally he's you know,
he's sort of you know, he's able to just sort

(12:41):
of move on, continue with his job and de escalate.
But you know, it's like we're just grappling with so
many issues at the moment. I mean, Selena, I know
you and I have spoken on a number of occasions
really over recent weeks about what's going on in Catherine
as well.

Speaker 4 (12:56):
Yeah, Katie, I think it continues to be concerned for
us here in Catherine, and of course, you know the
reflection of what's happening across the territory. But I think
in terms of you know, acknowledging what Josh is saying
around the ceiling, But what's sort of practical sense of
what the government's wanting to lead with. I mean, here
in Catherine, there's been you know, one or two suggestions made,
but there needs to be more than that, depending on

(13:17):
where you are perhaps and what the issues are that
each community's dealing with across the NT. But what are
some of those practical solutions. What are those community based
solutions as well as supporting the work of our police
and security guards and those people who are in community
safety as a profession, what else is happening across the
territory to really focus on those root causes of crime.

(13:40):
If someone's stealing food, are they hungry? Is it to
do with poverty? You know? What are the other issues
that are underlying that are creating unfortunately more and more
circumstances for crime and across the territory and for community
safety to be at an all time high priority because
people aren't feeling safe.

Speaker 3 (14:00):
My worry, Katie, is that we've got to the point
where I don't know, I just feel hopeless about it.
I feel like there's not a solution. I read your
message that a friend of mine who went to Alice
Springs recently said. He said, mate, I hope you're well.
I did a six day hike on Larapin to Trail
a couple of weeks ago. Loved it, Alice, though there
looks like heaps more needs to be done. From the
very little I saw young men just taking things from

(14:20):
people's shopping bags as they walked out of Woolies, and
no one there saying a thing bizarre to see but
not surprising for you. And I think that's the thing.
What has become normal for us, not just in our springs,
but even here and done. What has become normal is
so not normal. It's not funny.

Speaker 4 (14:35):
You know.

Speaker 3 (14:36):
Sometimes I just drive down because I drive down dick
Wald Drive on my way home, and I just drive
and I actually consciously say, what are you looking at?
And what are you seeing now? That is not normal?
That has become normal? And every every single day you
will see something that is not that should not be normalized,
that has been normalizing. And I don't know what the
solution is. Because we had eight years of vibe. We're

(14:57):
going to deal with the root causes, and we're going
to deal with, you know, e anirational trauma and poverty
and all these sort of things, and that seemed to
make things worse. And then we've had eight nine to
ten months of we're going to be tough on law
and order, and I mean, Josh is talking about some
small improvements, but I haven't seen major improvements yet. Maybe
there's a longer road that we need to hoe, but
it just doesn't seem that it doesn't seem to matter

(15:19):
what we do.

Speaker 2 (15:19):
It doesn't seem to be improvement. And on some of
those things that we've done, you know, along the way
we have we've changed, we've changed laws. We've now had
the toughest bale laws in the country, and I think
it is important to acknowledge that those things have occurred
once again once once. I often speak to police and
they say, in eighteen months, when we've picked up all
the serious offenders, we've got these people off the street,

(15:39):
they're in our correctional centers, and then we wrap the
reform around them. In regards to that rehabilitation piece, we
will be starting to see a lot more progress. And
I think that's important. Is that I heard what you
just said then, Matt, and I never want to hear
people feel that sense of hopelessness because I come from
a town that has felt that for a very long time.
I want to see it turn around. Like you said,

(16:01):
it's been that nine ten months and unfortunately we have
hat a few high profile things that have occurred. But
on the whole we need to continue to drive these
changes forward so we can start to see things turn around.

Speaker 1 (16:13):
Look, we are going to take a bit of a break.
You are listening to Mix one OW four nine's three sixty.

Speaker 5 (16:18):
It is the week that was.

Speaker 1 (16:19):
If you have just joined us, you are listening to
the week that was. And in the studio this morning
Matt Cunningham, Josh Bergoyne and on the line in Catherine
the Opposition leader Selena Ubo. Now we know that we
started the week with Australia's second largest private hospital operator
entering administration after Lender's swooped to secure their one point
four billion dollars in debt. McGrath nickel has been appointed

(16:42):
as the receiver in the future of thirty seven hospitals
under helthscope. Well, those surgeries as well and clinics around
Australia is in doubt, as well as thousands of jobs.
Now we know that in a statement, Health Scope has
indeed said the intention is to transition all hospitals to
new ownership, with no plans for closures or redundancies, the

(17:03):
Commonwealth Bank stumping up one hundred million dollars to support
operations during the sale process. Nonetheless, a lot of you know,
a lot of people are pretty worried about this, given
the fact that we're all sort of well, not everybody,
but you know, if you can afford to, you're paying
for your private health and you're wondering what's it even
get you at this point in time, and is the
hospital here in Darwin going to be able to continue
to operate? Not to mention the poor staff how they

(17:26):
must be feeling.

Speaker 2 (17:27):
Yeah, I've certainly been someone cady like yourself. I've paid
for my private health insurance. In other springs we don't
have a private hospital, but there have been times more
recently where I've had to come up to Darwin and
access that for operations. I do want to note for
everyone because I don't have you spoken the Minister Edgington
this week.

Speaker 5 (17:43):
I did. I spoke to him earlier in the week.

Speaker 2 (17:44):
Excellent. So there was a meeting with all the health
ministers on Tuesday and Mark Butler in an emergency meeting
about this health scope. The Australian Government is going to
take the lead on this issue in regards to the
continuity of private health services across Australia. So you rightly said,
this isn't just us here in Darwen, a range of
facilities right across the country. Darwin is one that's really

(18:07):
being looked at. That's critical because we don't have another
private health provider. So it's really important that this is
one of those instances where you've got the territory and
the federal government working together to find a pathway forward
because I completely understand if you're used to always having
that private hospital up here and now it's possibly know
all the issues that we've been speaking about in regards

(18:28):
to it. We need to work through this and it
is definitely front of mind now, both through our Health
Minister and the Federal Health Minister.

Speaker 3 (18:35):
I think the question that you raised earlier is a
good one that a lot of people will be asking too.
Is we all pay a lot of us pay our
private health insurance a lot, Yeah, a lot. If the
service isn't there, what are we paying for? I mean, yeah,
you're sure you pay for when you go to the
dentist or you go to the physio, or whatever the
case may be. But the large chunk of what you

(18:57):
pay in your private health insurance is for hospital cover.
If there's no hospital there.

Speaker 5 (19:02):
Yeah, you're wondering what all those what it's worth.

Speaker 1 (19:07):
I mean, Selena, it's it's going to be a tough
situation no matter how you look at it. I mean,
we spoke to the AMA earlier in the week. They
said that ensuring that these private hospitals continue to operate
is absolutely essential. Doctor John Zorbis had also spoken to
me about the fact that you've got specialists and obviously
come here to the Northern Territory, they operate out of

(19:29):
that private hospital and then do further work within the
public system. I mean, what do you make of all
of this? And you've obviously got concerns like the rest
of us.

Speaker 4 (19:39):
Yeah, O, Katie, this is a huge concern across the country,
but particularly here in the NT having the one private
hospital and obviously it's located in Darwin. And you know,
when we've been talking about for months the issue around
the maternity service and the uncertainty and the anxiety that's
created for a lot of expectant mums and their families
and their support networks, leaving territorians in limbo broadly now

(20:03):
with around the Healthscope issue nationally. But the simple fact is, Katie,
there was an opportunity for the CLPA government to get
on top of this issue earlier, earlier than the receivership
that's now recently been announced. We know when it comes
to maternity services. The CELPAK government new back in October.
That's like seven months before they acted in I think

(20:25):
it was early May when they finally decided, oh, let's
write to the federal government and ask for help. And
we saw Tasmania do that earlier in the year and
get that federal bailout and get in to the federal
governments early to get that support, and we didn't see
that happen here in the NT. And now we're fighting
like the rest of the country for federal support across

(20:46):
all of the services of Healthscope nashally and the NT
is going to be in unfortunately on the backfoot again.

Speaker 5 (20:54):
It was look, I can't.

Speaker 1 (20:55):
Quite wrap my head around how come Tasmania did get
that bailout whereas Anas and Territory didn't do.

Speaker 4 (21:01):
Is anybody they got in early, Katie. They worked at
the federal government early, and that's what we should have
seen from our coop government. We should have seen Steve
Edgington reach out to the federal government early, put it
on them to make sure that there was a territory solution.
We didn't see it.

Speaker 1 (21:15):
Do you reckon that's the only reason, because I sort
of think to myself, if that is the case, then
that's actually you know, like putting politics before patience is
what it feels like.

Speaker 5 (21:26):
But I could be wrong.

Speaker 2 (21:28):
I think there's a lot of disputes about who knew
what and when. The reality is this service has obviously
been operating for some time, there's been some issues in
regards to it, and now anyone that knew that this
was going to happen at a federal level obviously didn't
tell the right people because I certainly didn't know this
was about to happen. We're now put in a position
where we have our private hospital provider in Darwen, like

(21:50):
it's really important that it will continue to be operational
with no impact of staff. That's really important in the
patients whilst they work through this period. And now there
is absolute collaboration between our Health Minister, the Federal Health
Minister to ensure that there's an outcome here because we
can all we can all say who knew what when.
At the end of the day, we've been working through
the issues that have arisen and right now we now

(22:12):
have health Scope as an Australia wide provider that have
gone into administration and we have to work through how
best to get the best outcome here.

Speaker 3 (22:20):
For so is the federal government saying to you, Josh,
that they'll give extra support to the Northern Territory on
this issue, like Scopes obviously got thirty seven private hospitals,
but many of them are in Victoria and New South Wales,
et cetera, but that we will get special support from
the from the federal government to ensure that our private
hospital doesn't see a reduction in services, a further reduction

(22:42):
in services, or doesn't close.

Speaker 2 (22:44):
What's important is that our Health Minister and the Federal
Health Minister are working together to ensure that there's an
outcome here. I haven't been privy to the negotiations or
the discussions between those health ministers, but obviously right now
we're in a predicament now where we have the service
that provides services right across the country. They're now looking
at essentially what's going to happen with healthscope across the

(23:07):
entire country, acknowledging that we have held one private hospital
here in the Northern Territory that provides those services, and
obviously without it, it then puts a huge demand on
our public service, which is partly funded by the FED.
So I think that's something that everyone needs to understand,
is that if I'm not saying that's what's going to happen,
is that this all falls onto the public hospital. But

(23:28):
that's a real that's.

Speaker 3 (23:31):
What happens if the private closes then.

Speaker 1 (23:33):
When we already know that our public hospitals are always
under a lot of strain. Now, look, we are going
to head to a break. When we come back. There's
plenty still up for discussion, including the Darwin Porsche and
of course those tanks that are apparently not cyclone coded.
Lots happening around the Northern Territory. You are listening to

(23:54):
Mix one O four nine's three sixty. It is indeed
the week that was, and gee, there's been plenty happening week.

Speaker 5 (24:00):
But I want to talk.

Speaker 1 (24:00):
About the Darwin port and if you have just joined us.
Josh Burgoyne and of course Matt Cunninghammer in the studio
with a Selena. You both on the line in Catherine
and yeah, the Darwin Port. So it was reported earlier
in the week that a US private equity firm with
strong ties to the Trump administration could be poised to
make an offer to buy the Port of Darwin from
its Chinese owner in a test of Anthony Albanesi's resolve

(24:24):
to bring the port back under Western control. Now we
spoke to Luke Gosling, the Member for Solomon, about this
earlier in the week. He said that there are a
number of Australian firms from his understanding, that are interested
in taking that lease back and that it does sort
of all need to happen. I'm trying to think of

(24:45):
the right word, but you know, like it doesn't need
to be rushed to make sure that we get this right.
I mean, Matt, I feel like we've been reporting on
the port for a very long time, mate, Yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:57):
We have, we have indeed, but you heard it here first, Katie,
I have to say that we said first that there
would be an announcement during the election campaign about the
Darwen Port, Yes, and there was Yeah. This is interesting
about the fact that an American private equity firm might
be involved and has apparently had meetings with Bill Yann.

(25:19):
According to that report in The Australian, that wouldn't fulfill
the Prime Minister's promise though to return it to Australian hands.
But he appears to be open to the idea because
at a press conference this week he said, we have
said we want to see it in Australian hands. I
have noticed speculation which is there, but we will examine
the process. We are determined to make sure it is
in the national interest. It for it had to be

(25:43):
in Australian hands. But if there are other proposals, we
will work through those as we go, but we will
go through a through that on a commercial basis. So
the Prime Minister does appear to be open to the
idea that it could be in American hands as opposed.

Speaker 5 (25:59):
To Chinese hands.

Speaker 1 (26:01):
I did speak to doctor John Coyn from the Australian
Strategic Policy Institute earlier in the week. I believe that
you also spoke to someone as well, Matt about this.
I mean, I suppose what I sort of question is
what kind of impact is it going to have on
our diplomatic relationship with China should the US.

Speaker 5 (26:24):
Take over that Porsche?

Speaker 1 (26:25):
What do you make of it, Josh.

Speaker 2 (26:27):
Look, at the end of the day, the Federal government
went to the election, they made their commitment as the
landholder for the Downport. The ANTI government will continue to
work with the Fed's in good faith to make sure
that whatever deal is done can occur. And I think
that's important to this stage where we're not the ones
that it's all about working.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
You are the ones you take in to your lines.

Speaker 5 (26:49):
Selena, what do you reckon? I mean, would you?

Speaker 4 (26:53):
I think you know just starting of course with this
and I think it's about ten years that you and
Matt have been talking about there. But is he just
re memory? But you know it should have never been sold.
I think that the best way to clean up the
mess will be through a commercial deal. But going to
your point as well, Katie, you know last financial year
the Northern Territory did about three billion dollars worth of

(27:15):
trading with China. So I really do hope that, however
the CLP government's handling this, that it's not going to
damage that relationship. One of our most important trade partners
for the Northern Territory and that economy of scale that
we have with that trade partner. But yeah, I think
it's probably a good opportunity for Josh to clear up

(27:36):
once and for all the CLP government and how they
stand on the port and the issue which we know
lots of territories are very interested in.

Speaker 2 (27:44):
I look forward to us seeing what the Federal Labor
government come back with in regards to these negotiation discussions.

Speaker 5 (27:49):
Well they went then and then and then.

Speaker 3 (27:51):
I love this because this is what has happened like
certainly in the last couple of years.

Speaker 2 (27:59):
It's just his hair balling game between the nt and
it's up to them. No, it's up to them.

Speaker 3 (28:03):
No, it's up to them. No, it's up to them.

Speaker 4 (28:06):
Was also important, Matt. You know before the federal election
you coverled obviously the NTI election and the federal election
of course, but before the federal election, Lefanokia as our
Chief Minister and Bill Yanners, the Territories Treasurer, insisted that
the Darwin Port returned to Australian hands. And now we
hear about you know, this negotiation around a US buyers.

(28:27):
So have they flipped? Are they playing it quiet, but
we just don't know. They're not going well it was.

Speaker 3 (28:32):
It wasn't just the anti government, it was the Prime
Minister and the Member for Solomon who said that it
would return to Australian hands, so.

Speaker 4 (28:41):
As well as the seal Pick government. Who now, Josh
is not you know, it's a position of government. What's
the position of our territory government? We don't even know.

Speaker 3 (28:50):
Well, what's your position? Do you think it should be
in Australian hands? Are you happy for the US?

Speaker 4 (28:55):
I think it should be in Australian.

Speaker 3 (28:56):
What's your position, Josh? Do you think it should be
Australian hands or you're happy for the US?

Speaker 2 (29:00):
Just be really clear about this. Okay, this was all
kicked off because of someone beating their chests, I think
on this radio show, actually there are conversations that are underway.
It certainly wasn't Bill. Certainly wasn't Bill.

Speaker 5 (29:17):
First to talk about it, and.

Speaker 3 (29:20):
He got upset that his thunder was being.

Speaker 1 (29:24):
Well, look, I tell you what, it does seem as
though there's a movement. However, you look at it on
the port So I don't know exactly what is going
to happen. I don't know how territorians feel about it
potentially going into US.

Speaker 3 (29:35):
And I don't know about that either. I know that
to your earlier point, and to Selena's point that the
Chinese are clearly un'thappy, the Chinese ambassador was here last week.
He subsequently released a statement and he made a pretty
decent point, and that was that it is somewhat unfair
for Lambridge to have come here and done so much

(29:55):
work when it comes to the rectification of the issues
at the port, the upgrade of the vascil at the port.
I mean, if you go back to twenty fifteen and
you remember the state the port was in at the time,
I mean it was literally sinking, and so you know
there was a lot of work that would be done.
And Peter Stiles, who Anthony Albaneze, he couldn't remember when

(30:15):
he was asked about this at a press conference, but
Peter Stiles, the former Infrastructure Minister, swears on his life
that he went down and had a meeting with Anthony
Albanesi and say said we need federal money to fix
this port or it's cooked, and none was forthcoming. So anyway,
but to the point about the Chinese, they have said
that Lambridge has made a significant investment in the port

(30:37):
and upgraded those facilities. And you can see some of
that work for yourself when you go down and look
at the cruise ship terminal and so on. So you
know they are going to have their noses out of
joint at the point that this deal gets Undone part
of that might just be them sort of leveraging and
trying to get more money for Lanmbridge out of the deal,
because I think according to reports, this US equity firm

(30:59):
has offered just over the five hundred and six million
that Lanbridge has paid for Itridge. Officially, he says it's
not for sale, but unofficially, apparently according to that report
in the Australian, they'll take bids of a round a
billion dollars, so big.

Speaker 1 (31:10):
Jump, not many real estate jumps, goes up double the price.

Speaker 3 (31:15):
But realistically Lanbridge holds the cards, don't they in this
negotiation unless the federal government's going to put its money
where its mouth isn't step in into compulsory requires.

Speaker 5 (31:23):
Which I don't think they're going to do.

Speaker 1 (31:25):
I think they're going to want to do this in
the most diplomatic sort of way possible. Now look another report,
this one online by the ABC that eleven fuel tanks
built for the US military to hold flammable liquid at
the Darwin Harbor of reportedly not being designed to withstand
a Category three cyclone.

Speaker 5 (31:43):
Now.

Speaker 1 (31:43):
It was outlined in an engineering report which was obtained
by the ABC, which also claimed the tanks were built
without a building permit. The report says if the tank's
failed in cyclonic wins, more than two hundred million liters
of combustible liquid could be released, having catastrophic consequences on people,
property and the environment. I mean, Josh, you've obviously got

(32:06):
those portfolios of environment, infrastructure and planning.

Speaker 5 (32:10):
How has this happened?

Speaker 2 (32:12):
It's a very good question, Kay. Obviously we've come into
government the last eight of nine months. There's been a
number of issues that we've had to deal with. This
is one of them. As the Minister for Department of
Lands Planning, Environment, we've been the Department's been working with
Crowley is what I've been briefed on to ensure the
independent verification of the required safety, construction environmental standards are
all met in regards to that. That's what's really important here.

(32:33):
There's been one leaked report that obviously states what it states.
I haven't seen that leaked report that the ABC have
apparently written this article in regards to but going forward,
it's important that Crowley, the Defense that they obviously have
the contract with, can come together in regards to dealing
with all this. It was Michael Gunner I believe that

(32:55):
was taking pictures down at the site and talking up
how wonderful this was all going to be. And obviously
we welcome any investment here in the Northern Territory. We
do want to ensure that all the all the appropriate
checks and balances are followed and that at the end
of the day we have that independent verification that these
are going to be fit fit for purpose.

Speaker 1 (33:14):
They're not operational at the moment though.

Speaker 2 (33:16):
Are that No, there's no fuel and that's what's important.
There's it's also important to note that there's been a
number of issues in regards to contractors and all the
rest of it. So there may be a number of
people who feel very aggrieved by this construction process.

Speaker 5 (33:29):
Who can they be fixed?

Speaker 1 (33:31):
I mean like, like, can these are they ever going
to be able to be used?

Speaker 2 (33:35):
If there are any issues that are found in regards
to the structural integrity or otherwise. Obviously there are things
that you can do to ensure that those things are remedy.

Speaker 5 (33:44):
But I think it's saying they might not be.

Speaker 2 (33:46):
What I'm saying is that there's currently been one report,
and as we all know, when we know there's something
wrong with us, we go and get a second opinion
from the doctor. What I'm saying is is that there's
one report that has supposedly come out and said that
they are rated to I think a category three cycling.
What we need to ensure is that when the final
sign off is given, is that we have the certification

(34:09):
and a structural engineer that's willing to sign off saying
that it is built to that standard.

Speaker 3 (34:12):
Is there a planning a problem with our planning and
our certification laws more generally, because there seems to be
these sort of things that come up quite a bit.
I think about the Baalomack houses, which are an absolute cluster.

Speaker 2 (34:27):
That was something else entirely around the way in which
the houses were built. And this is generally and.

Speaker 3 (34:32):
The way around the way around the way the houses
were certified as well, though, And again I think because
someone has to sign off and say yes, this is okay,
and I just think there seems to be an issue.
My understanding was there used to be an independent certifier
who would come in and sign off on these things,
and then the rules changed, and you know, it was

(34:55):
sort of that wasn't the case anymore. And it's not
just with those how it's either I mean too Stadium
had a heap of issues that were raised around and
I know that's a historical one, but there do seem
to be a few flaws in our planning and certification
process that allow some of these things to happen when
clearly they shouldn't.

Speaker 1 (35:15):
Now.

Speaker 3 (35:16):
I mean, I'm not talking specifically about the Tanks one
and the Tanks one. You know, if that's a problem, well,
that's a problem for big corporations in governments. I'm more
worried about when it's a problem for some poor bugger
who's paid half a million plus for an affordable house
and is left with an absolute.

Speaker 2 (35:32):
And it's important to realize that there's now a funding
place that will ensure that if anyone's left high and
dry in regards to that because the builder goes bankrupt,
things aren't aren't finished to the necessary certificational standards. There
is a fidelity funding place. Currently we're working around the
protections in place as Bell and that Cows is my understanding,
fell outside of when there was that protections in place,

(35:53):
which is why it's been such a drawn out issue
that once again our government's working really hard to resolve
and I have more to say on that into the future.

Speaker 1 (36:02):
So, Selena, I mean, what do you make of this
situation with these tanks, Like, obviously it's happened, it's you know,
it's something that's been sort of reported on for a
little while, not so much this you know, the fact
that they're not, actually, according to this report, designed to
withstand category three cyclones.

Speaker 5 (36:20):
But what do you make of it all?

Speaker 4 (36:22):
Yeah, Katie, this is a huge error and in terms
of what you'd expect, and going to Matt's point around
you know, building codes and expectations to prevent anything, whether
it's large scale, whether it's medium scale or small scale
development here in the territory when it comes to infrastructure
has to be improved. There was a building confidence around

(36:43):
better Planning for the Northern Territory report that came out
a few years and it was around those specific regulations
and legislations to improve here in the Northern territory. We
always want to see obviously the territory develop and do
things around development in the proper way, but also to
make sure there are safeguards when it comes to infrastructure

(37:05):
and the way that it is built. And obviously in
the top end we've got cyclans and it's just a huge, huge,
huge error when it comes to these tanks and obviously
what they're supposed to hold and thankfully they don't hold
fuel at the moment. But my understanding is, you know
there's water intruding into the base of those tanks, so
you're very keen to hear you know what the work

(37:26):
will be ongoing around this particular issue. But I think
going to that bigger picture as well, that process around
building reform and improving protections and regulations in the territory
when it comes to infrastructure is a really important work
of government as well.

Speaker 1 (37:42):
We are going to take a break. You're listening to
Mix one oh four nine's three sixty. It is the
week that was. You've just joined us in the studio.
With us today, we have indeed got Josh Burgoyne, the
Minister for Lands Planning and the Environment. We've also got
Matt Cunningham from Sky News and in Catherine the opposition
leader Saline Ubo. Now, before we wrap up, good news yesterday,

(38:03):
particularly if you're a Dolphins fan like me, with the
Dolphins announced as the NT's new NRL team as part
of this three year partnership. It does indeed follow the
conclusion of the Northern Territories twelve year partnership with the Eels.
Now I was speaking to the coach yesterday. He reckons
they're excited, they're pumped.

Speaker 2 (38:24):
Finns up. We are proud to get him on the show.

Speaker 1 (38:28):
Help me the most awkward interview.

Speaker 2 (38:33):
Has been a three year deal secured and this is
a positive thing even in Alice Springs. More recently, I've
seen representatives from the Dolphins coming through to run clinics
and all the rest of it. My daughter ended up
with a with a hat a few months ago, so
they're definitely getting out there on the ground making sure
that the people in the territory feel like they're a
part of this. It's obviously a growing team, new team

(38:53):
in the NRL, and I think that's what's worked really well.
If you look at the other agreements that have been
signed over the years. It brings sport into the territory.
People are being able to be exposed to these top
tier level events, which which you know the government is
always happy to get behind, and it means that you
don't have to travel in the state to see some
of this top tier NRL or we've just had the
AFL Games, We're going to have one in our spring soon,

(39:15):
so that'll be fantastic for the locals in Alice to
have as well.

Speaker 1 (39:17):
So partnership with the Gold Coast Suns, that's a good.

Speaker 3 (39:21):
Point, Katie. I'm not an NRL fan, obviously, I'm an AFL.

Speaker 5 (39:25):
Fan, but all of the above.

Speaker 3 (39:27):
Matt, Well, no, not really, but if you if you
look at the Gold Coast I think the good thing
about the Gold Coast Sons is because they're a new
team and because they don't have a big supporter base
and they're not from the traditional market, they put a
lot more effort into their Northern Territory deal than the

(39:48):
teams that had it before them had Like when Melbourne
had it previously, the Darwin Deal, they looked like they
were here under sufferance every time they came, and the
Gold Coast now look like they want to be here.
They come here for two weeks, they play two games
in a row, they're out in the community, they're media
team's brilliant. I've never seen a sporting team that has
a more open, reactive, proactive media unit, and I would

(40:12):
expect that the Dolphins are going to be pretty similar.
In fact, if the coach won't come on your show.

Speaker 5 (40:16):
There there'll be a problem.

Speaker 3 (40:17):
But I do think we'll probably get more out of
the Dolphins then perhaps we got out of Well.

Speaker 1 (40:25):
I think they've got a bit more connection to the
Northern Territory, which is a really good thing. So look,
I think it's going to be a hopefully going to
be a really positive move. Selena, who do you support
in the NRL?

Speaker 4 (40:36):
Yeah, okay, I do want to offend you. I'm actually
a cowboy supporter, but I used to be. I do
think it's good news for the territory when we do
have that, you know, high level professional tier of national
sporting pross come to the territory and be able to
travel around and support you know, grassroots footy and all
the different codes that we have. You know, my daughter

(40:57):
just started rugby this year, which was really interesting because
I'm soccer player from way back, so I'm learning all
the rules, but under sixers is pretty easy not understand
at the moment. You know, Dolphins have already been in
Catherine on Sunday and now we're doing some a barbecue
and a clinic with the kids down here, and I
think that's a really fantastic way to start off, you know,
the territory connection in that more formal capacity. But the

(41:19):
only thing that I would criticize around the deal, Katie,
is that Alice Springs misses out on a game. You know,
how we've spoken about the AFL and how we see
those Central Australian games, So if there was an inclusion
in that, you know, in future, to make sure that
we've got top end and Central Australia covered through the NRL,
I think we will see the sport grow across the territory.
But I think, you know, again, it gives fans across

(41:42):
the NT that close connection to be able to see
those games up close, live in person, and then to
be able to meet the players and the coaches and
the support stuff and to really look at what the
development is for that code here in the territory. So
that would have been my only thing to ask that
the government consider in any future deals.

Speaker 2 (41:59):
Good on you and I reckon we can get on
a bipartisan too. We can.

Speaker 3 (42:06):
Line is real everyone, don't you worry about that?

Speaker 1 (42:09):
Well, look, I can confirm that the Wolf Boys spent
quite a bit of time in Alice Springs actually back
when Melanka's was still.

Speaker 2 (42:18):
We've got it in and we just need to picture
to the dolphins.

Speaker 5 (42:21):
All right. Well that is it for this morning.

Speaker 1 (42:24):
Josh Burgoyne, thank you so much for your time.

Speaker 2 (42:26):
Thank you, Katie. Just before I go weekend in Harmony
down in our Springs and obviously the footy game on
Sunday Melbourne v. S and Kilda.

Speaker 1 (42:34):
Matt Cunningham from Sky News, thank you for your time
this morning. Thanks Katie and Selena Robo in Catherine, thanks
so much for joining us.

Speaker 4 (42:41):
Thank you Katie, and my little shout out. The Junk
Festival is on this Saturday here in Catherine. It's actually
the new venue. It's going to be at the Catherine Speedway,
so please get out and support the amazing work of
the Catherine Ritual Arts team and some of the great
local sculptures that we'll see from all the things that
people throughout the.

Speaker 1 (43:00):
Year, awesome stuff. Well, thank you, so very much for
your time,