Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's get into it, because there is an awful lot
happening around the place. And earlier this week we did
speak about those comments made by the Quantus CEO, Alan Joyce,
who was speaking in Darwin last Friday, and according to
the Northern Territory News, said that flights in and out
of the Red Center are still languishing well below pre
COVID levels, despite top end roots making a full recovery
(00:23):
blaming Alice Springs crime wave. Now he and the company's
boarded mesh in the territory last week and reportedly said
that high profile coverage of the crime that had obviously
impacted the town earlier this year had landed a direct
hit on visitor numbers. Now joining me on the line
is a Deputy Chief Minister and also Minister for Tourism,
(00:43):
Nicole Madison. Good morning to your minister. Let's try that
once more. Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Just a bit of a technical issue there, Operator eraror
from my part now, Minister to this report. Quantus flights
to the territory, well, they're currently at one hundred and
nine percent of pre COVID levels, while passenger flights into
Alas are still just around seventy percent of pre COVID figures. Minister,
(01:13):
when you were asked about the impact of crime and
it's what it's having on tourism during estimate, Jude indicated
that the cost of living pressures were the greater concern.
Do you concede that crime has seen tourism in the
Red Center take a serious hit?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, Katie. At the start of the year, we listen
to the tourism operators of the Northern Territory, particularly those
ones in Central Australia, and we did embark on a
package of measures to go out there and to really
market those positive, amazing tourism experiences in the Northern Territory,
in Alice Springs and Central Australia in particular. We put
(01:50):
in extra money in there and those campaigns are running
right now. But crime has obviously had people, yes, without
a doubt. For some people they will read reviews and
that will influence their decisions about where they go to
and for some of those people, reading about crime will
influence their decisions. But when you have a look at
(02:11):
the state of the Australian tourism industry right now and
the trends that we are seeing last year was a
record year and we were still seeing the effects of
COVID come through and very strong domestic visitation right across
the board, and we had record expenditure here in the
Northern Territory of over three billion dollars, which was great. However,
what we are seeing is that and this isn't unique
(02:32):
to the Northern Territory, We're seeing it right across the
country that cost of living factors are biting. And as
well as that, we are seeing that people are now
going outbound again. They have confidence to travel internationally and
those services are opening up to them, so we are
seeing a bit of an impact there too.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Look, there is no doubt that cost of living pressures
are having a huge impact for people. But I just
don't understand why the Northern Territory government's not prepared to
go Yeah, do you know what the crime issues that
we had earlier in the year did have a massive
impact on people traveling to the Red Center.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, for me, that's why we responded very quickly. We
went in there, we announced the extra measures to go
out there to market Alice Springs and Central Australia. We
put in extra measures around trying to get more of
the school tourism groups into the Alice Springs in the
Red Center as well, because it's a very popular place
for them to go. And we did go in with
(03:25):
a support package there because there was significant national media
coverage and we wanted to make sure that we were
out there supporting our tourism operators. And like I said,
that campaign and that effort is out there in market
right now and we have huge efforts about telling those
amazing stories about our springs happening right now.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Is it a bit embarrassing?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
I mean to have the CEO of Quantas come into
the Northern Territory and after you guys have sort of
dug your heels in and said that everything else is
having an impact on tourism. But again, I mean, even
this morning, it sounds like you're not prepared to sort
of say, yeah, crime has had a big hit on tourism.
Is it a bit embarrassing? Then to have Alan Joyce
come in and say it is.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Oh, Katie, I have said that we've gone through at
the start of the year acknowledged that there was significant
coverage around crime in Alice Springs and that's why we've
gone out with the response package. To go out there
to support our hard working tourism operators and again to
make sure we're telling those amazing stories. But without a
doubt the start of the year we did see significant
(04:26):
national media coverage and I have no doubt that that
would have impacted some people's decisions about where they travel
to in Central Australia and reviews as well. So that's
why we've responded, and that's why we're trying to back
in the tourism industry there.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So obviously we are now seeing those crime levels reduced.
That's according to the police. You've touched on the fact
that there are going to be some additional measures to
really try to get things moving again. But are we
doing enough? I mean, from all accounts, when you listen
to the likes of Daniel Rochford, when you listen to
you to the council, here's a struggle for them at
(05:01):
the moment. Daniel Rochford was on the show earlier in
the week and he said, Katie, I'm standing in the
mall right now I can see two tourists yep.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So I caught up with Tourism Central Australia last week.
We catch up regularly and we have some very frank discussions.
It is a story of mixed fortunes at the moment
out there. There are some businesses that are doing very
strongly and doing very well and reporting to us that
they are fully booked and going very very well. There
are other businesses that are seeing softer numbers out there
(05:30):
and would like to be doing a bit better. But
that's why at the start of the year we did
announce those measures. They are in market they are going
out there right now. But I think it goes beyond
just the marketing. It's about accessibility as well Alice Springs,
and that's why we're doing more work around getting more
airlines into Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Tom yeah, well, and I reckon not just Alice Springs
but the territory more generally. When you talk about the
accessibility of flights, it's a bit of a.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Disaster at the moment. Trying to get a flight anywhere.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
You have to plan ahead, as we know, because it
is tight and you know, I certainly flew over to
Brisbane the other day for some meetings with the mining
ministers and it wasn't a spare seat on the plane.
So it's school holidays. People are moving about and if
you're not organized, then you need to have to pay
a huge amount of money to get on a flight
or you're just going to miss out. We're working really
(06:21):
hard to attract more airlines to the Northern Territory. Yes,
to Darwin and to Alice Springs. We're having some very
positive conversations. We'll have more to say about that. But
the Northern Territory government alone can't do this. The airport
plays a fundamental role here too in their charges and
what they do to help attract airlines too. And you know,
(06:42):
we also welcome local council support. Often the aviation packages
that you see and the work that it's done, it's
a joint effort by airports, governments and local government organizations.
But you know, I know that certainly Mey and Matt
Patterson works very hard in this space. I've had some
great conversations with him over time about the work that
we're all doing. But I want your listeners to be
(07:02):
assured that we are absolutely making every effort to get
more airlines in. It makes a huge impact on our
lives every day, on livability, but also to tourism and
also of course to business, and we want to make
sure that we have more services here to the Northern Territory.
It is highly competitive out there, but as from a
government's perspective, we are pushing as hard as we can Katie,
(07:25):
and we're going to continue pushing.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah, we're going to try and well we're going to
catch up with Matt Patterson in just a couple of
moments before I get to that though. And you know
what's happening or what they're calling for in allis in
terms of that additional or potential additional funding when it
comes to tourism. Can I just touch on you mentioned
in terms of those negotiations with other airlines and bringing
them to the Northern Territory and the charges which the
(07:48):
airports obviously charge those airlines. Is the airport coming to
the party here? Are they prepared to move the goalpost
slightly so that we are able to get some other
airlines operating out of the territory.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
We're working very closely with the airport. Basically, you can't
do a deal in isolation without the airport at the table.
They play an incredibly important role there and it comes
down to those landing fees and the charges that they have.
So we are working very closely with them. We're having
some really positive discussions, hoping to have some more positive
(08:23):
announcements coming forward. But please be assured that we are
working very hard. But the airport plays a very important
role here, so we do work very closely with them
and with their team there.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
How do those fees compared to other locations.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
So that's not for me to say, But what I
will say is it's about talking to the airlines about
what's going to work for them in terms of securing
their services. We want to see more competition here. We
want to see more availability of new routes into the
Northern Territory's not those markets. I constantly as a Northern
Suburb member. I have conversations with my international community with
(09:04):
only one option to go into Singapore at the moment,
and that makes it so difficult for them to go
see family, to have family come in, you know. So
it's not just looking south, it's looking north too for
those options, and also to get more international tourists here
because you know, people are beseas too. They're going, right,
I'm ready to leave my country. I'm kind of sick
of doing everything domestically now. I want to go out
(09:25):
and see the world. Again, so we need more availability
to come directly into Darwin and into Alice Springs from
north from south east west. We are pushing really hard.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree. I don't think anybody
would disagree with that. The more with you know, the
more airline capacity we've got, obviously, the better that would be.
And really, you know, some fairer prices because it is
it's ridiculous right now.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
And let's say so in this country, we do have
a very dominant airline and they are our nation's airline
and they do have a lot of market control there
and you know they cannect exercise that power and we're
doing everything we can to make sure we continue you know,
constructive conversations with them. It was great to have the
board here last week to be able to show them
(10:10):
the opportunities they were speaking so positively about the opportunities
in the Northern territory. We also got to meet with
a new chief executive and start building those relationships there.
So so you know, we'll continue working with quantas. But
you know, my goal as the Tourism Minister is to
see new entrants into the market, to drive more competition
(10:32):
and to see more availability and better prices for territorians.
But the other challenge we've got right now, Kati is
the airport is about to undergo runway works and this
is going to possibly have an impact over the next
few years. This is an airport that is owned by
Defense and works with the Airport Development Group. They are
(10:54):
finalizing the details of how those runway works will go.
That tour is also something airlines are very live to
you right now about what the consequences and the impacts
could be there. So we are strongly advocating from the
Northern Territory Government's perspective to have minimal disruption to services.
It is important runways do need to be upgraded every
(11:14):
fifteen to twenty years. It is time for this runway
to be upgraded. This is for safety reasons. However, you know,
we must make sure the impact on commercial airlines is
minimal and we continue to advocate that to Defense, who
ultimately have control of the contractors here through the federal government,
and also the airport who are working with them.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Look, I agree, I think it's going to you know,
we don't want it to have massive impact on what
is already by the sounds of it, you know, it
can be difficult, and we do want more airlines flying
in to the territory. We want more options for territorians. Minister,
I do want to ask mister Joyce apparently took a
swipe at local tourism operators on his way through the territory,
saying we'd be strong advocates of them doing more than
(11:58):
they're doing today. We've tweaked capacity slightly, but we've kept
the capacity in place, so there's plenty of seats. We
just need to have a concerted effort to start filling
them again. The local tourist organizations really need to get
behind this and do some really hard yards to get
tourists back to Alice Springs. Do you think they're doing enough?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I just applaud Tourism Central Australia and our operators there
on the ground, to the amazing people out at Ularu
and Tenant Creek and all of our remote areas in
Central Australia. They work so hard to tell a good story,
and at the last Tourism Central Australia meeting, I know
that they passed emotion that really emphasized their commitment to
(12:42):
telling the positive stories about Central Australia and the amazing
opportunities and trips that people can have the stick up for.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Did you stick up for them? To Alan Joyce?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
So I always stand up for the territory tourism industry.
And what I will say is that I think we've
got the most amazing organization there and operators in Central Australia,
and they do a wonderful job and I get the
great privilege to work with them and keep backing them
in every day.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Just with those airlines that you're in discussions with, which
other airlines are we talking here?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Bonds are Rex?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I'm not going to go into the discussions here, Katie,
but to say that there are some very exciting prospects here.
These are delicate negotiations and we're working really hard.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
How far away do you reckon from knowing whether they
are going to enter the market in the territory.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
As soon as I've got good news, I'll be the
first one screaming it.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Excellent, Kati, excellent. Now I do want to ask.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I know that it's being reported today that in Central
Australia that basically from what I can gather, some members
of the town council are wondering if there'd be any
opportunity to use a portion of the two hundred and
fifty million dollar lifeline from the federal government to encourage
tourism in the area. Minister, is that one thing that
(14:00):
could be a possibility here to try to give them
a bit more of a boost to Central Australia.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
We'll continue to We didn't have government representation at that meeting,
but I understand it was a really constructive meeting and
I applaud Marion Scrimshaw as their local member for sitting
down with them Quantas and the Council to have a
look at what they can do to drive further tourism
and further services into the center. So you know, really,
(14:28):
you know clearly that is just a new idea that
has been put on the table there. It would have
to be worked through with the Commonwealth because it is
their funding. But any extra efforts that can be put
in place to drive further aviation services I welcome. And
what I will say, Katie is that there are so
many benefits to more airlines coming in. It is for
(14:48):
people's liveability, for people's affordability to be able to tackle
their own personal cost of living of living in our
springs and knowing that they can get around see family
or have family coming in. It is the business to
help drive down the cost of business and drive further
economic activity and of course tourism as well, so everybody
wins if we get more airlines and more services into
(15:11):
Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Minister a couple of quick ones, because I know your
press for time, as are we our listener question though
somebody's been in contact and said, hi, Katie, we tried
to book Jetstar flights from Darwin to Bali for October,
but there are no flights scheduled between the seventh of
October and the tenth of November. They apparently rang Jetstar
and there was no explanation. Minister, are you aware of
(15:33):
you know, are we in a situation here where there's
no flights to Bali for a month.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I'm going to have to take that on notice, Katie,
and we will look into that and get some information
back to your show.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah, that'd be great if we could, because we had
a bit of a look on web jets ourselves and
couldn't see any available for that period of time.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
But to be good to find out was that.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Seventh of October the tenth of November yes, that's.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
What this listener is saying. So if we're able to
get some detail, that'd be wonderful. Hey, just a quick one.
We've been talking about this throughout the week and no
doubt we'll talk about the gain on the week that
was tomorrow. We know that the ABC had reported two
Northern Territory government MLAs charge taxpayers more than three grand
in private interstate travel this year thanks to the fuel
card entitlement. We have got a statement which we read
(16:16):
out in full yesterday from the Speaker of the Northern
Territories Legislative Assembly about this situation.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
But Minister, do you.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Think it's appropriate for fuel cards to be used interstate
by politicians when they're on private trips?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Well, it comes down to what the Remuneration Tribunal say
is allowable under their independent determinations about what members can
and can't do with their vehicles and with their fuel cards.
This is within the rules, Katie, and that is something
that the RTD makes allowance for.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Would you do it?
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Well, I work under different circumstances there where I don't
have those vehicles and those fuel cards, but you know
we can live within the rules. The most important thing
is to be working within the rules, Katie, do you.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Reckon that rule needs to change because it's not passing
the pub test for a lot of our listeners.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Well, that's a determination for the RTD. Like I said,
they are independent and they independently assess what members of
Parliament are allowed to get in terms of allowances, salaries,
entitlements and those things. So that is something for them
to look at.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
But not prepared to really give us your personal view
here as to whether you think it's all right.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Well, you know, members need to be working within the
rules and this is what our hard working members are
doing here and so they are actually that is part
of their entitlements.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
There, Minister, a few more messages coming through about that
Balley situation, so keen to find out a little bit
more if we can, well, no doubt be in contact soon.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Yeah, no, we will go have a look into it.
Ask the department if they can get any more information
about it too, and if we get any response by
the end of the show today, we'll get it through
other Katie like, we'll get it there as soon as
we can.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Wonderful, Thank you very much, minister. We appreciate your time today.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Thanks Katie. Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Thanks mate.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
That is Nicole Madison there, the Minister for Tourism, also
the Deputy Chief Minister, and yeah, a few questions coming
through actually about flights and things. It's obvious that it
is something that's of concern to a lot of you.
We'll take a really quick break. When we come back,
you're going to be hearing from the Mayor of Alice Springs,
Matt Patterson.
Let's get into it, because there is an awful lot
happening around the place. And earlier this week we did
speak about those comments made by the Quantus CEO, Alan Joyce,
who was speaking in Darwin last Friday, and according to
the Northern Territory News, said that flights in and out
of the Red Center are still languishing well below pre
COVID levels, despite top end roots making a full recovery
(00:23):
blaming Alice Springs crime wave. Now he and the company's
boarded mesh in the territory last week and reportedly said
that high profile coverage of the crime that had obviously
impacted the town earlier this year had landed a direct
hit on visitor numbers. Now joining me on the line
is a Deputy Chief Minister and also Minister for Tourism,
(00:43):
Nicole Madison. Good morning to your minister. Let's try that
once more. Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Just a bit of a technical issue there, Operator eraror
from my part now, Minister to this report. Quantus flights
to the territory, well, they're currently at one hundred and
nine percent of pre COVID levels, while passenger flights into
Alas are still just around seventy percent of pre COVID figures. Minister,
(01:13):
when you were asked about the impact of crime and
it's what it's having on tourism during estimate, Jude indicated
that the cost of living pressures were the greater concern.
Do you concede that crime has seen tourism in the
Red Center take a serious hit?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, Katie. At the start of the year, we listen
to the tourism operators of the Northern Territory, particularly those
ones in Central Australia, and we did embark on a
package of measures to go out there and to really
market those positive, amazing tourism experiences in the Northern Territory,
in Alice Springs and Central Australia in particular. We put
(01:50):
in extra money in there and those campaigns are running
right now. But crime has obviously had people, yes, without
a doubt. For some people they will read reviews and
that will influence their decisions about where they go to
and for some of those people, reading about crime will
influence their decisions. But when you have a look at
(02:11):
the state of the Australian tourism industry right now and
the trends that we are seeing last year was a
record year and we were still seeing the effects of
COVID come through and very strong domestic visitation right across
the board, and we had record expenditure here in the
Northern Territory of over three billion dollars, which was great. However,
what we are seeing is that and this isn't unique
(02:32):
to the Northern Territory, We're seeing it right across the
country that cost of living factors are biting. And as
well as that, we are seeing that people are now
going outbound again. They have confidence to travel internationally and
those services are opening up to them, so we are
seeing a bit of an impact there too.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Look, there is no doubt that cost of living pressures
are having a huge impact for people. But I just
don't understand why the Northern Territory government's not prepared to
go Yeah, do you know what the crime issues that
we had earlier in the year did have a massive
impact on people traveling to the Red Center.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, for me, that's why we responded very quickly. We
went in there, we announced the extra measures to go
out there to market Alice Springs and Central Australia. We
put in extra measures around trying to get more of
the school tourism groups into the Alice Springs in the
Red Center as well, because it's a very popular place
for them to go. And we did go in with
(03:25):
a support package there because there was significant national media
coverage and we wanted to make sure that we were
out there supporting our tourism operators. And like I said,
that campaign and that effort is out there in market
right now and we have huge efforts about telling those
amazing stories about our springs happening right now.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Is it a bit embarrassing?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
I mean to have the CEO of Quantas come into
the Northern Territory and after you guys have sort of
dug your heels in and said that everything else is
having an impact on tourism. But again, I mean, even
this morning, it sounds like you're not prepared to sort
of say, yeah, crime has had a big hit on tourism.
Is it a bit embarrassing? Then to have Alan Joyce
come in and say it is.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Oh, Katie, I have said that we've gone through at
the start of the year acknowledged that there was significant
coverage around crime in Alice Springs and that's why we've
gone out with the response package. To go out there
to support our hard working tourism operators and again to
make sure we're telling those amazing stories. But without a
doubt the start of the year we did see significant
(04:26):
national media coverage and I have no doubt that that
would have impacted some people's decisions about where they travel
to in Central Australia and reviews as well. So that's
why we've responded, and that's why we're trying to back
in the tourism industry there.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So obviously we are now seeing those crime levels reduced.
That's according to the police. You've touched on the fact
that there are going to be some additional measures to
really try to get things moving again. But are we
doing enough? I mean, from all accounts, when you listen
to the likes of Daniel Rochford, when you listen to
you to the council, here's a struggle for them at
(05:01):
the moment. Daniel Rochford was on the show earlier in
the week and he said, Katie, I'm standing in the
mall right now I can see two tourists yep.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So I caught up with Tourism Central Australia last week.
We catch up regularly and we have some very frank discussions.
It is a story of mixed fortunes at the moment
out there. There are some businesses that are doing very
strongly and doing very well and reporting to us that
they are fully booked and going very very well. There
are other businesses that are seeing softer numbers out there
(05:30):
and would like to be doing a bit better. But
that's why at the start of the year we did
announce those measures. They are in market they are going
out there right now. But I think it goes beyond
just the marketing. It's about accessibility as well Alice Springs,
and that's why we're doing more work around getting more
airlines into Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Tom yeah, well, and I reckon not just Alice Springs
but the territory more generally. When you talk about the
accessibility of flights, it's a bit of a.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Disaster at the moment. Trying to get a flight anywhere.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
You have to plan ahead, as we know, because it
is tight and you know, I certainly flew over to
Brisbane the other day for some meetings with the mining
ministers and it wasn't a spare seat on the plane.
So it's school holidays. People are moving about and if
you're not organized, then you need to have to pay
a huge amount of money to get on a flight
or you're just going to miss out. We're working really
(06:21):
hard to attract more airlines to the Northern Territory. Yes,
to Darwin and to Alice Springs. We're having some very
positive conversations. We'll have more to say about that. But
the Northern Territory government alone can't do this. The airport
plays a fundamental role here too in their charges and
what they do to help attract airlines too. And you know,
(06:42):
we also welcome local council support. Often the aviation packages
that you see and the work that it's done, it's
a joint effort by airports, governments and local government organizations.
But you know, I know that certainly Mey and Matt
Patterson works very hard in this space. I've had some
great conversations with him over time about the work that
we're all doing. But I want your listeners to be
(07:02):
assured that we are absolutely making every effort to get
more airlines in. It makes a huge impact on our
lives every day, on livability, but also to tourism and
also of course to business, and we want to make
sure that we have more services here to the Northern Territory.
It is highly competitive out there, but as from a
government's perspective, we are pushing as hard as we can Katie,
(07:25):
and we're going to continue pushing.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah, we're going to try and well we're going to
catch up with Matt Patterson in just a couple of
moments before I get to that though. And you know
what's happening or what they're calling for in allis in
terms of that additional or potential additional funding when it
comes to tourism. Can I just touch on you mentioned
in terms of those negotiations with other airlines and bringing
them to the Northern Territory and the charges which the
(07:48):
airports obviously charge those airlines. Is the airport coming to
the party here? Are they prepared to move the goalpost
slightly so that we are able to get some other
airlines operating out of the territory.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
We're working very closely with the airport. Basically, you can't
do a deal in isolation without the airport at the table.
They play an incredibly important role there and it comes
down to those landing fees and the charges that they have.
So we are working very closely with them. We're having
some really positive discussions, hoping to have some more positive
(08:23):
announcements coming forward. But please be assured that we are
working very hard. But the airport plays a very important
role here, so we do work very closely with them
and with their team there.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
How do those fees compared to other locations.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
So that's not for me to say, But what I
will say is it's about talking to the airlines about
what's going to work for them in terms of securing
their services. We want to see more competition here. We
want to see more availability of new routes into the
Northern Territory's not those markets. I constantly as a Northern
Suburb member. I have conversations with my international community with
(09:04):
only one option to go into Singapore at the moment,
and that makes it so difficult for them to go
see family, to have family come in, you know. So
it's not just looking south, it's looking north too for
those options, and also to get more international tourists here
because you know, people are beseas too. They're going, right,
I'm ready to leave my country. I'm kind of sick
of doing everything domestically now. I want to go out
(09:25):
and see the world. Again, so we need more availability
to come directly into Darwin and into Alice Springs from
north from south east west. We are pushing really hard.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree. I don't think anybody
would disagree with that. The more with you know, the
more airline capacity we've got, obviously, the better that would be.
And really, you know, some fairer prices because it is
it's ridiculous right now.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
And let's say so in this country, we do have
a very dominant airline and they are our nation's airline
and they do have a lot of market control there
and you know they cannect exercise that power and we're
doing everything we can to make sure we continue you know,
constructive conversations with them. It was great to have the
board here last week to be able to show them
(10:10):
the opportunities they were speaking so positively about the opportunities
in the Northern territory. We also got to meet with
a new chief executive and start building those relationships there.
So so you know, we'll continue working with quantas. But
you know, my goal as the Tourism Minister is to
see new entrants into the market, to drive more competition
(10:32):
and to see more availability and better prices for territorians.
But the other challenge we've got right now, Kati is
the airport is about to undergo runway works and this
is going to possibly have an impact over the next
few years. This is an airport that is owned by
Defense and works with the Airport Development Group. They are
(10:54):
finalizing the details of how those runway works will go.
That tour is also something airlines are very live to
you right now about what the consequences and the impacts
could be there. So we are strongly advocating from the
Northern Territory Government's perspective to have minimal disruption to services.
It is important runways do need to be upgraded every
(11:14):
fifteen to twenty years. It is time for this runway
to be upgraded. This is for safety reasons. However, you know,
we must make sure the impact on commercial airlines is
minimal and we continue to advocate that to Defense, who
ultimately have control of the contractors here through the federal government,
and also the airport who are working with them.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Look, I agree, I think it's going to you know,
we don't want it to have massive impact on what
is already by the sounds of it, you know, it
can be difficult, and we do want more airlines flying
in to the territory. We want more options for territorians. Minister,
I do want to ask mister Joyce apparently took a
swipe at local tourism operators on his way through the territory,
saying we'd be strong advocates of them doing more than
(11:58):
they're doing today. We've tweaked capacity slightly, but we've kept
the capacity in place, so there's plenty of seats. We
just need to have a concerted effort to start filling
them again. The local tourist organizations really need to get
behind this and do some really hard yards to get
tourists back to Alice Springs. Do you think they're doing enough?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I just applaud Tourism Central Australia and our operators there
on the ground, to the amazing people out at Ularu
and Tenant Creek and all of our remote areas in
Central Australia. They work so hard to tell a good story,
and at the last Tourism Central Australia meeting, I know
that they passed emotion that really emphasized their commitment to
(12:42):
telling the positive stories about Central Australia and the amazing
opportunities and trips that people can have the stick up for.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Did you stick up for them? To Alan Joyce?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
So I always stand up for the territory tourism industry.
And what I will say is that I think we've
got the most amazing organization there and operators in Central Australia,
and they do a wonderful job and I get the
great privilege to work with them and keep backing them
in every day.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Just with those airlines that you're in discussions with, which
other airlines are we talking here?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Bonds are Rex?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I'm not going to go into the discussions here, Katie,
but to say that there are some very exciting prospects here.
These are delicate negotiations and we're working really hard.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
How far away do you reckon from knowing whether they
are going to enter the market in the territory.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
As soon as I've got good news, I'll be the
first one screaming it.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Excellent, Kati, excellent. Now I do want to ask.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I know that it's being reported today that in Central
Australia that basically from what I can gather, some members
of the town council are wondering if there'd be any
opportunity to use a portion of the two hundred and
fifty million dollar lifeline from the federal government to encourage
tourism in the area. Minister, is that one thing that
(14:00):
could be a possibility here to try to give them
a bit more of a boost to Central Australia.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
We'll continue to We didn't have government representation at that meeting,
but I understand it was a really constructive meeting and
I applaud Marion Scrimshaw as their local member for sitting
down with them Quantas and the Council to have a
look at what they can do to drive further tourism
and further services into the center. So you know, really,
(14:28):
you know clearly that is just a new idea that
has been put on the table there. It would have
to be worked through with the Commonwealth because it is
their funding. But any extra efforts that can be put
in place to drive further aviation services I welcome. And
what I will say, Katie is that there are so
many benefits to more airlines coming in. It is for
(14:48):
people's liveability, for people's affordability to be able to tackle
their own personal cost of living of living in our
springs and knowing that they can get around see family
or have family coming in. It is the business to
help drive down the cost of business and drive further
economic activity and of course tourism as well, so everybody
wins if we get more airlines and more services into
(15:11):
Alice Springs.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Minister a couple of quick ones, because I know your
press for time, as are we our listener question though
somebody's been in contact and said, hi, Katie, we tried
to book Jetstar flights from Darwin to Bali for October,
but there are no flights scheduled between the seventh of
October and the tenth of November. They apparently rang Jetstar
and there was no explanation. Minister, are you aware of
(15:33):
you know, are we in a situation here where there's
no flights to Bali for a month.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I'm going to have to take that on notice, Katie,
and we will look into that and get some information
back to your show.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah, that'd be great if we could, because we had
a bit of a look on web jets ourselves and
couldn't see any available for that period of time.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
But to be good to find out was that.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Seventh of October the tenth of November yes, that's.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
What this listener is saying. So if we're able to
get some detail, that'd be wonderful. Hey, just a quick one.
We've been talking about this throughout the week and no
doubt we'll talk about the gain on the week that
was tomorrow. We know that the ABC had reported two
Northern Territory government MLAs charge taxpayers more than three grand
in private interstate travel this year thanks to the fuel
card entitlement. We have got a statement which we read
(16:16):
out in full yesterday from the Speaker of the Northern
Territories Legislative Assembly about this situation.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
But Minister, do you.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Think it's appropriate for fuel cards to be used interstate
by politicians when they're on private trips?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Well, it comes down to what the Remuneration Tribunal say
is allowable under their independent determinations about what members can
and can't do with their vehicles and with their fuel cards.
This is within the rules, Katie, and that is something
that the RTD makes allowance for.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Would you do it?
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Well, I work under different circumstances there where I don't
have those vehicles and those fuel cards, but you know
we can live within the rules. The most important thing
is to be working within the rules, Katie, do you.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Reckon that rule needs to change because it's not passing
the pub test for a lot of our listeners.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Well, that's a determination for the RTD. Like I said,
they are independent and they independently assess what members of
Parliament are allowed to get in terms of allowances, salaries,
entitlements and those things. So that is something for them
to look at.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
But not prepared to really give us your personal view
here as to whether you think it's all right.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Well, you know, members need to be working within the
rules and this is what our hard working members are
doing here and so they are actually that is part
of their entitlements.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
There, Minister, a few more messages coming through about that
Balley situation, so keen to find out a little bit
more if we can, well, no doubt be in contact soon.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Yeah, no, we will go have a look into it.
Ask the department if they can get any more information
about it too, and if we get any response by
the end of the show today, we'll get it through
other Katie like, we'll get it there as soon as
we can.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Wonderful, Thank you very much, minister. We appreciate your time today.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Thanks Katie. Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Thanks mate.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
That is Nicole Madison there, the Minister for Tourism, also
the Deputy Chief Minister, and yeah, a few questions coming
through actually about flights and things. It's obvious that it
is something that's of concern to a lot of you.
We'll take a really quick break. When we come back,
you're going to be hearing from the Mayor of Alice Springs,
Matt Patterson.
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