May 5, 2026 • 6 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And all eyes this morning have indeed been on the
Northern Territory budget and tourism is always an interesting part
of the budget given the industry is so important to
the Northern Territory's economy, especially as we head into the
dry season. Now joining me is Margie Osmond, the chief
executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good morning to you, Margie, Good morning Katie. Lovely to
see you at the breakfast this morning, now in the flesh.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Across the table in the studio as well, lovely to
have you here. And look, there is so much happening
around the Northern Territory and when we look at the budget,
it is good to see that certainly the tourism industry,
well it seems to be a bit in there for
for tourism, doesn't they.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well look, can I say that I'm thrilled when a
treasurer can actually say the word tourism and your treasury
here is clearly all over it. So you know, that's
good news in the first instance, because the battle is
getting government to understand just how important the tourism industry
is and what a contribution it makes. So look, I
think you know the most important things today, you know,
(01:00):
continued funding for the very important agency here that represents
the tourism sector and markets and so forth, and I
think increase spending in national parks because let's be honest,
this is you know, this is the most gorgeous part
of Australia. I mean, look, you know, when I'm up
here and I walk along Mindle Beach, I just pinched myself.
It is such a beautiful spot.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
We sometimes forget that, I reckon in the Northern Territory
because we like we live here. You see those sunsets,
those sunrises every day, but then you go away and
you think, oh, hang on a second, you just don't
have these spectacular views every everywhere you look. Look.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I mean I've been lucky enough to fly over that
Delta area up you know, right up north, and just
the view from the air is so gorgeous as you're
heading towards the Arafura Sea. I mean, you know, I
tell everybody who'll listen down south that they need to
come up here for Darwin Festival. Absolutely the best.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Yeah it is. Well, I'm glad to hear that, and
I know that you really, you know, when it comes
to tourism across Australia. You advocate in so many ways
to really, you know, make sure that Australia is on
everybody's bucket list. I think right around the world when
you look at the Northern Territory at the moment, we
sort of talk about preserving the territory lifestyle, boosting the economy,
(02:16):
and tourism is a huge part of that. You know,
what areas do you think that you know that we
do things really well here? Oh?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Look, I think it's you know, the amazing lifestyle, the
incredibly open and friendly people, fabulous food. I think the
issue for the Northern territories you're on everybody's bucket list,
it's how we convert that bucket list into reality. And
I think one of the big challenges at the moment
obviously is the fuel situation, because a big component of
(02:49):
tourism here is the drive holiday market as well, and
if you're pulling a caravan you probably need diesel in
the tank. So from our point of view, we think
that that's one of the big issues nationally at the moment,
and it's not even so much the price of petrol.
It's the certainty issue that's what's got people worried. Can
I get it. So we're actually proposing and all of
(03:12):
the tourism ministers had this discussion last week that we
need a single platform of information across the country that
tells you between you know, the beginning of the journey
and the end of the journey, where are all the
petrol stations, have they got the fuel and how much
is it going to cost? And you need to be
able to get that information updated every day, and that
we think is going to get people back on the road.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So we've got a platform like that obviously for the
Northern territory, but how good would that be right across
Australia for the drive market.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Well, every state seems to have them, but they're all
a different operability. There's no a single place to go
to to get them. Some of them are better than others.
So what we're saying is it is not necessarily to
reinvent the world because we just have a single platform
of truth and that will make a difference to people
certainty in getting on the road, and that's such a
big deal for regional and remote locations.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
We obviously the drive marketing is going to be impacted
with you know, with what we're seeing when it comes
to petrol prices. What about when we look at our
you know, like flights, because we know that even when
it comes to the certainty to be able to get
that jet fuel as well, that's been an issue with
some of the airlines earlier this year or even just
a month ago. And then for us in the territory,
(04:20):
it can sometimes be really difficult for us to get
you know, flights in and out and to have tourists
come to the territory at a reasonable flight costs.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Look, I think there are a whole range of historic
issues in terms of the aviation part of the puzzle.
I would say this to you though, that from an
airline perspective, and I don't know how much you know
about what they put in an airline tank, but it's
made up of crude and a refined product. And the
price of the refined product that goes into that tank,
you know, in the first couple of weeks, went from
twenty seven dollars or something to over one hundred dollars
(04:52):
a barrel. So obviously some of that cost is going
to have to be passed through. It's as simple as that. Look,
I think the Northern Territory got such a superb product
and you know your agency here is doing great work
in this space. I think, like every other part of Australia,
we're just going to have to wait at this current
crisis and then start spending the cash on the right
(05:13):
kind of marketing, whether it's domestic or international.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Now, Margie, I know that you are meeting with tourism operators.
You've got plenty of meetings on. I think you're going
to one straight after you leave here. But what do
you think we need to be doing here in the
Northern Territory, you know, to support our wonderful tourism operators.
What needs to be happening for us?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And look, in the first instance, if you're planning on
taking a holiday, take it at home, you know, go
somewhere in the Northern Territory, or have a fabulous staycation
in Darwin a wherever you live, and do all the
things that are on your bucket list locally, because it's
the locals who need your support, and particularly in areas
like the Northern Territory it's that a little bit more
(05:53):
difficult to get here. Locals need to be supporting the
tourism sector, even if it's just going out and having
an extra meal. And I know it's difficult when everybody's
got cost of living problems, but that for me is
the go and the other part of the puzzle is
just do more of what you're doing now because it's
such a great place to come. It is well.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Margie Osmond, CEO of Tourism and the CEO of the
Tourism and Transport Forum, lovely to speak with you this morning.
Thanks so much for your time. Thank you
And all eyes this morning have indeed been on the
Northern Territory budget and tourism is always an interesting part
of the budget given the industry is so important to
the Northern Territory's economy, especially as we head into the
dry season. Now joining me is Margie Osmond, the chief
executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good morning to you, Margie, Good morning Katie. Lovely to
see you at the breakfast this morning, now in the flesh.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Across the table in the studio as well, lovely to
have you here. And look, there is so much happening
around the Northern Territory and when we look at the budget,
it is good to see that certainly the tourism industry,
well it seems to be a bit in there for
for tourism, doesn't they.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well look, can I say that I'm thrilled when a
treasurer can actually say the word tourism and your treasury
here is clearly all over it. So you know, that's
good news in the first instance, because the battle is
getting government to understand just how important the tourism industry
is and what a contribution it makes. So look, I
think you know the most important things today, you know,
(01:00):
continued funding for the very important agency here that represents
the tourism sector and markets and so forth, and I
think increase spending in national parks because let's be honest,
this is you know, this is the most gorgeous part
of Australia. I mean, look, you know, when I'm up
here and I walk along Mindle Beach, I just pinched myself.
It is such a beautiful spot.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
We sometimes forget that, I reckon in the Northern Territory
because we like we live here. You see those sunsets,
those sunrises every day, but then you go away and
you think, oh, hang on a second, you just don't
have these spectacular views every everywhere you look. Look.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I mean I've been lucky enough to fly over that
Delta area up you know, right up north, and just
the view from the air is so gorgeous as you're
heading towards the Arafura Sea. I mean, you know, I
tell everybody who'll listen down south that they need to
come up here for Darwin Festival. Absolutely the best.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Yeah it is. Well, I'm glad to hear that, and
I know that you really, you know, when it comes
to tourism across Australia. You advocate in so many ways
to really, you know, make sure that Australia is on
everybody's bucket list. I think right around the world when
you look at the Northern Territory at the moment, we
sort of talk about preserving the territory lifestyle, boosting the economy,
(02:16):
and tourism is a huge part of that. You know,
what areas do you think that you know that we
do things really well here? Oh?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Look, I think it's you know, the amazing lifestyle, the
incredibly open and friendly people, fabulous food. I think the
issue for the Northern territories you're on everybody's bucket list,
it's how we convert that bucket list into reality. And
I think one of the big challenges at the moment
obviously is the fuel situation, because a big component of
(02:49):
tourism here is the drive holiday market as well, and
if you're pulling a caravan you probably need diesel in
the tank. So from our point of view, we think
that that's one of the big issues nationally at the moment,
and it's not even so much the price of petrol.
It's the certainty issue that's what's got people worried. Can
I get it. So we're actually proposing and all of
(03:12):
the tourism ministers had this discussion last week that we
need a single platform of information across the country that
tells you between you know, the beginning of the journey
and the end of the journey, where are all the
petrol stations, have they got the fuel and how much
is it going to cost? And you need to be
able to get that information updated every day, and that
we think is going to get people back on the road.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So we've got a platform like that obviously for the
Northern territory, but how good would that be right across
Australia for the drive market.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Well, every state seems to have them, but they're all
a different operability. There's no a single place to go
to to get them. Some of them are better than others.
So what we're saying is it is not necessarily to
reinvent the world because we just have a single platform
of truth and that will make a difference to people
certainty in getting on the road, and that's such a
big deal for regional and remote locations.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
We obviously the drive marketing is going to be impacted
with you know, with what we're seeing when it comes
to petrol prices. What about when we look at our
you know, like flights, because we know that even when
it comes to the certainty to be able to get
that jet fuel as well, that's been an issue with
some of the airlines earlier this year or even just
a month ago. And then for us in the territory,
(04:20):
it can sometimes be really difficult for us to get
you know, flights in and out and to have tourists
come to the territory at a reasonable flight costs.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Look, I think there are a whole range of historic
issues in terms of the aviation part of the puzzle.
I would say this to you though, that from an
airline perspective, and I don't know how much you know
about what they put in an airline tank, but it's
made up of crude and a refined product. And the
price of the refined product that goes into that tank,
you know, in the first couple of weeks, went from
twenty seven dollars or something to over one hundred dollars
(04:52):
a barrel. So obviously some of that cost is going
to have to be passed through. It's as simple as that. Look,
I think the Northern Territory got such a superb product
and you know your agency here is doing great work
in this space. I think, like every other part of Australia,
we're just going to have to wait at this current
crisis and then start spending the cash on the right
(05:13):
kind of marketing, whether it's domestic or international.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Now, Margie, I know that you are meeting with tourism operators.
You've got plenty of meetings on. I think you're going
to one straight after you leave here. But what do
you think we need to be doing here in the
Northern Territory, you know, to support our wonderful tourism operators.
What needs to be happening for us?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And look, in the first instance, if you're planning on
taking a holiday, take it at home, you know, go
somewhere in the Northern Territory, or have a fabulous staycation
in Darwin a wherever you live, and do all the
things that are on your bucket list locally, because it's
the locals who need your support, and particularly in areas
like the Northern Territory it's that a little bit more
(05:53):
difficult to get here. Locals need to be supporting the
tourism sector, even if it's just going out and having
an extra meal. And I know it's difficult when everybody's
got cost of living problems, but that for me is
the go and the other part of the puzzle is
just do more of what you're doing now because it's
such a great place to come. It is well.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Margie Osmond, CEO of Tourism and the CEO of the
Tourism and Transport Forum, lovely to speak with you this morning.
Thanks so much for your time. Thank you
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