Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So as we know Howard Springs Quarantine facility is being
repurposed as accommodation for Defense Force personnel. Now the COLP
so that with defense personnel set to occupy that facility immediately,
the total cost of wear and tear must be known
to the files Labor government. Murray Claire Boothby, the Shadow
Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Small Business, joins me on
(00:23):
the line right now. Good morning to you, Murray.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Claire, Good morning Katie, and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Now, Murray Claire, I understand that the COLP did ask
a number of questions around this during estimates.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What did you find, Yes, Katie, we certainly did. One
thing was for sure that the Treasurer Evil Lawlas said
I think at least four times during estimates that that
damage was where and tear. So they're still continuing to
not accept the fact, not share the information with territorians.
What we do know is that there has been a
(00:56):
significant amount that will be spent on that facility, if
it hasn't started being spent already, including repairs and maintenance,
fire extinguisher replacements, plumbing, you know, more than six hundred windows,
and of course security as well which is all at
a cost to our taxpayer.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
So talk us through those costs, because as I understand it,
you've obviously got a number of different figures that the
government did reveal throughout estimates.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So what I do know is that we have found
out that the repairs and maintenance bill is one hundred
and ninety seven thousand dollars. That is our estimated cost.
The other estimated costs that the CLP have pulled together
fire extinguishers which cost eleven thousand dollars. The plumbing costs
will be thirty five thousand dollars. There is like a
(01:47):
first set of windows that one hundred windows is forty
five thousand dollars, and the estimate for a different set
of windows where there was five hundred and seventy three
smashed is two hundred and fifty seven eight hundred and fifty.
I know, that's a lot of figures that I'm going through,
so it's a bit hard to understand it or if
you don't see it in writing. But in addition, we
(02:08):
also estimate that the security costs that the taxpayers are
being expected to fork out for is over one million dollars. Now,
of course that doesn't include any estimations that we have
for things like catering or food or activities or transportation
you know, to the shops and the schools. The talk
(02:28):
of those numbers are definitely if you start really adding
all those in is upwards of seven million dollars. And
you know what, Katie, this week, Natasha Files has put
her cards on the table, like she does know the
cost of the damage at Howard Springs, and she still
continues to hide it from Territorius. I mean, she never
wanted territories to know what was going on at that facility.
(02:52):
It's just an obsession with being secrets than refusing to
let any kind of light in.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Now, I actually answer about these shasterday and she said,
I'm pretty sure that she said about two hundred and
eighty thousand dollars, and that's obviously taking into account those
windows and things like that. But she said that there
is another tender that's due to go out. I don't
know exactly when that tender is due to go out.
Have you guys seen anything yet?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
No, Katie, we haven't. And you know, like if the
defense force are set to be moving in, and my
understanding is, well yesterday it immediately but it's yeah, it's
within the next four weeks. Natasha Files must have she
must know an estimation of what it's going to cost.
And for her, she's just kicking the can down the road,
just not coming clean about the total cost to pay
(03:36):
for this whole saga.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
So, Mary Claire, you said around one point five six
six million dollars and you went through those different numbers.
So are they numbers that were revealed during estimates or
are they estimates that the CLP of made.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
They are our estimated cost based on some of that
information that we're able to garnish from ministers across the board.
So we had to continue to ask minister after minister
who was you know, you know, not wanting to answer
those questions. They were quite happy to explain that it's
a purview of another minister. You know, you need to
go and ask them. So we had to go through
(04:12):
all of the answers that were given to be able
to come together with some kind of estimate. I mean,
you know, we don't have access to all this information
and territorians certainly don't either, which is why we're having
this conversation. Yeah, because all we need is Natasha Files
to actually say too, Territorians, this is what happened, this
is the cost, and just come clean. I mean, that's
(04:34):
all Territorians are asking for.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
And I don't think they're going to. I mean, the
reality of it is. I doubt that they're going to
come out and give that headline figure because that's exactly
what it's going to be. A headline and people are
going to be pretty annoyed when they know exactly how
much it's cost. But we'll be keeping an eye out,
obviously those for those additional tenders and exactly what value
they are going to add up to. And I think
(04:56):
that Territorians do deserve to know exactly how much money
has been spent. And I think that it's pretty clear,
like we can separate between the damage and security and
that kind of thing, and then also the costs that
you would anticipate you're going to have to obviously house
people out there. But I do think that all of
those numbers need to be known. Territorians actually deserve to
(05:16):
know it's Territorian's money that's being spent.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Yeah, and there's a lot of public interest around this.
I mean, you know, everyone was quite empathetic to be
able to help these evacuees, and they just want to
know what happened, like, how did it get to this,
Why did Natasha Files immediately come out and defend herself
and say it was where and tear and continue to
do it over and over and all the ministers are
saying the same thing and then not be able to
(05:43):
give us a really clear picture of what it's going
to cost. And like you said, this is tax pays money,
and when we're in a state here in the territory
where we're broke and we're broken, we absolutely need to
know where the money is being spent.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Mary Claire is the CLP supportive of the deal that's
been done with Defense.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Absolutely, we absolutely welcome the repurpose of this facility. Is
no point in sitting there going to waste. And I
think the defense and the territory in the Darwin especially
has always been a defense town and I think that
that will be a welcomed part of our community. So absolutely.
The thing that I know territorians still are not happy
(06:23):
with is the fact that they're just being led down
the garden path, not given any answers or clarification as
to what happened during that whole saga.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Mary Claire, I do want to move on. You and
I have spoken about the situation with works on the
runway at the airport on a number of occasions over
the last week. The Chief Minister yesterday called for the
Airport Development Group and also Defense Department to give a
clearer idea around timing of those works. What do you
think needs to happen here?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I just can't believe that Natasha Files is using a
radio platform to call on two groups of people. I mean,
she is the Chief Minister of our territory. She is
our leader. The leadership would show that she should be
sitting down with those two groups and actually going through
exactly what's going to happen. What is the plan? I mean,
Natasha Files and Nicole Madison have tried their absolute best
(07:14):
to confuse Territorians about this. One thing is clear though,
Katie Labour's Deputy Chief Minister, Nicole Madison didn't know that
the Territory's international airport is being upgraded and every Territorian
should absolutely be us.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
When we spoke to her, she knew that the airport
was being upgraded. She knew that run work was runway
work was happening. She certainly said that, but she had
not been.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Notified that the information of it.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
I know, no, she didn't. I will certainly I will
clarify that because I think you've got to be honest here.
There was a situation where she had already pointed out
the fact that that work was happening, but was not
aware of why that flight was not happening for a month.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So in this case, there is the major runway works
that are happening at our international airport. You know, why
was there not a plan in place? You know, I
feel like labor cannot use this runway issue as an excuse.
What territorians want to know is what have they done
to ensure the impact is minimized? And we have tourists
(08:19):
that are impacted, and we have locals that are impacted.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Do you worried that there is going to be further
impacts on tourism? I mean, do you think we're going
to see a situation here where other flights could potentially
be canceled and other routes could be canceled.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
It's a really big concern for territorians. I mean, they
already saw that JETSTA have you put a hold on
those flights to Bali and you know, the airlines will
be looking at this and planning their routes. They forward
planned everything. So and I hear Nicole Madison saying that
she's having conversations with the airlines, but she doesn't give
(08:53):
anybody any detail about that. So I don't know what's
happening in those conversations, and territorians certainly don't know either.
And at the end of the day, our tourism providers
here in the territory just cannot suffer any more setback.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
What do you make then, as well of the discussions
obviously that the Tourism Minister is having with other airlines,
Like she says that she's having those discussions with other airlines,
we don't know exactly which airlines they are. But how
do you reckon we're actually going to entice other airlines
to come to the Northern Territory at this point when
you know, for at least the foreseeable future, over the
(09:28):
next year, these runway works are going to be underway.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Well exactly, Katie, And this is why Natasha Files and
Nicole Madison should be sitting down with those two groups
and with the airlines and creating a plan, a plan
of an upgrade, give people and those corporations some certainty
around how this is going to work, because right now,
the chaos that this is causing is actually ultimately putting
(09:56):
a close sign for business on the territory and we
just cannot for to do that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, we certainly can't. We want to try and get
as many people to the Northern Territory as possible, but
we also want to see some fairer prices. I think
when it comes to those flights, and if those flights
are minimized in any way, shape or form, unfortunately, I
think what we can expect is to see prices go up.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
That's right, and without certainty, like we will never get
our economy moving forward. And we absolutely need those flights
to be at the right prices so that people can
travel in and out of the territory and want to
come and live here because they can do a quick trip,
you know, over the weekend to see family back at home,
and that when you do live here, you can go
and do a quick trip overseas, because that is why
(10:38):
one of the reasons that makes the territory so special. So,
you know, Natasha Philes and Nicole Madison absolutely need to
be sitting down with those stakeholders in this conversation and
making sure that territorians along the way are being informed
about what is happening in that space. And it certainly
does not feel like that now.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Well, Marie Claire Boothby, the Shadow Minister for Tourism, Hospitality
and Small Business. Always appreciate your time. Thanks so much
for joining us this morning.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Thank you Katie, thank you
So as we know Howard Springs Quarantine facility is being
repurposed as accommodation for Defense Force personnel. Now the COLP
so that with defense personnel set to occupy that facility immediately,
the total cost of wear and tear must be known
to the files Labor government. Murray Claire Boothby, the Shadow
Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Small Business, joins me on
(00:23):
the line right now. Good morning to you, Murray.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Claire, Good morning Katie, and to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Now, Murray Claire, I understand that the COLP did ask
a number of questions around this during estimates.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What did you find, Yes, Katie, we certainly did. One
thing was for sure that the Treasurer Evil Lawlas said
I think at least four times during estimates that that
damage was where and tear. So they're still continuing to
not accept the fact, not share the information with territorians.
What we do know is that there has been a
(00:56):
significant amount that will be spent on that facility, if
it hasn't started being spent already, including repairs and maintenance,
fire extinguisher replacements, plumbing, you know, more than six hundred windows,
and of course security as well which is all at
a cost to our taxpayer.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
So talk us through those costs, because as I understand it,
you've obviously got a number of different figures that the
government did reveal throughout estimates.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So what I do know is that we have found
out that the repairs and maintenance bill is one hundred
and ninety seven thousand dollars. That is our estimated cost.
The other estimated costs that the CLP have pulled together
fire extinguishers which cost eleven thousand dollars. The plumbing costs
will be thirty five thousand dollars. There is like a
(01:47):
first set of windows that one hundred windows is forty
five thousand dollars, and the estimate for a different set
of windows where there was five hundred and seventy three
smashed is two hundred and fifty seven eight hundred and fifty.
I know, that's a lot of figures that I'm going through,
so it's a bit hard to understand it or if
you don't see it in writing. But in addition, we
(02:08):
also estimate that the security costs that the taxpayers are
being expected to fork out for is over one million dollars. Now,
of course that doesn't include any estimations that we have
for things like catering or food or activities or transportation
you know, to the shops and the schools. The talk
(02:28):
of those numbers are definitely if you start really adding
all those in is upwards of seven million dollars. And
you know what, Katie, this week, Natasha Files has put
her cards on the table, like she does know the
cost of the damage at Howard Springs, and she still
continues to hide it from Territorius. I mean, she never
wanted territories to know what was going on at that facility.
(02:52):
It's just an obsession with being secrets than refusing to
let any kind of light in.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Now, I actually answer about these shasterday and she said,
I'm pretty sure that she said about two hundred and
eighty thousand dollars, and that's obviously taking into account those
windows and things like that. But she said that there
is another tender that's due to go out. I don't
know exactly when that tender is due to go out.
Have you guys seen anything yet?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
No, Katie, we haven't. And you know, like if the
defense force are set to be moving in, and my
understanding is, well yesterday it immediately but it's yeah, it's
within the next four weeks. Natasha Files must have she
must know an estimation of what it's going to cost.
And for her, she's just kicking the can down the road,
just not coming clean about the total cost to pay
(03:36):
for this whole saga.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
So, Mary Claire, you said around one point five six
six million dollars and you went through those different numbers.
So are they numbers that were revealed during estimates or
are they estimates that the CLP of made.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
They are our estimated cost based on some of that
information that we're able to garnish from ministers across the board.
So we had to continue to ask minister after minister
who was you know, you know, not wanting to answer
those questions. They were quite happy to explain that it's
a purview of another minister. You know, you need to
go and ask them. So we had to go through
(04:12):
all of the answers that were given to be able
to come together with some kind of estimate. I mean,
you know, we don't have access to all this information
and territorians certainly don't either, which is why we're having
this conversation. Yeah, because all we need is Natasha Files
to actually say too, Territorians, this is what happened, this
is the cost, and just come clean. I mean, that's
(04:34):
all Territorians are asking for.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
And I don't think they're going to. I mean, the
reality of it is. I doubt that they're going to
come out and give that headline figure because that's exactly
what it's going to be. A headline and people are
going to be pretty annoyed when they know exactly how
much it's cost. But we'll be keeping an eye out,
obviously those for those additional tenders and exactly what value
they are going to add up to. And I think
(04:56):
that Territorians do deserve to know exactly how much money
has been spent. And I think that it's pretty clear,
like we can separate between the damage and security and
that kind of thing, and then also the costs that
you would anticipate you're going to have to obviously house
people out there. But I do think that all of
those numbers need to be known. Territorians actually deserve to
(05:16):
know it's Territorian's money that's being spent.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Yeah, and there's a lot of public interest around this.
I mean, you know, everyone was quite empathetic to be
able to help these evacuees, and they just want to
know what happened, like, how did it get to this,
Why did Natasha Files immediately come out and defend herself
and say it was where and tear and continue to
do it over and over and all the ministers are
saying the same thing and then not be able to
(05:43):
give us a really clear picture of what it's going
to cost. And like you said, this is tax pays money,
and when we're in a state here in the territory
where we're broke and we're broken, we absolutely need to
know where the money is being spent.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Mary Claire is the CLP supportive of the deal that's
been done with Defense.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Absolutely, we absolutely welcome the repurpose of this facility. Is
no point in sitting there going to waste. And I
think the defense and the territory in the Darwin especially
has always been a defense town and I think that
that will be a welcomed part of our community. So absolutely.
The thing that I know territorians still are not happy
(06:23):
with is the fact that they're just being led down
the garden path, not given any answers or clarification as
to what happened during that whole saga.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Mary Claire, I do want to move on. You and
I have spoken about the situation with works on the
runway at the airport on a number of occasions over
the last week. The Chief Minister yesterday called for the
Airport Development Group and also Defense Department to give a
clearer idea around timing of those works. What do you
think needs to happen here?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I just can't believe that Natasha Files is using a
radio platform to call on two groups of people. I mean,
she is the Chief Minister of our territory. She is
our leader. The leadership would show that she should be
sitting down with those two groups and actually going through
exactly what's going to happen. What is the plan? I mean,
Natasha Files and Nicole Madison have tried their absolute best
(07:14):
to confuse Territorians about this. One thing is clear though,
Katie Labour's Deputy Chief Minister, Nicole Madison didn't know that
the Territory's international airport is being upgraded and every Territorian
should absolutely be us.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
When we spoke to her, she knew that the airport
was being upgraded. She knew that run work was runway
work was happening. She certainly said that, but she had
not been.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Notified that the information of it.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
I know, no, she didn't. I will certainly I will
clarify that because I think you've got to be honest here.
There was a situation where she had already pointed out
the fact that that work was happening, but was not
aware of why that flight was not happening for a month.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So in this case, there is the major runway works
that are happening at our international airport. You know, why
was there not a plan in place? You know, I
feel like labor cannot use this runway issue as an excuse.
What territorians want to know is what have they done
to ensure the impact is minimized? And we have tourists
(08:19):
that are impacted, and we have locals that are impacted.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Do you worried that there is going to be further
impacts on tourism? I mean, do you think we're going
to see a situation here where other flights could potentially
be canceled and other routes could be canceled.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
It's a really big concern for territorians. I mean, they
already saw that JETSTA have you put a hold on
those flights to Bali and you know, the airlines will
be looking at this and planning their routes. They forward
planned everything. So and I hear Nicole Madison saying that
she's having conversations with the airlines, but she doesn't give
(08:53):
anybody any detail about that. So I don't know what's
happening in those conversations, and territorians certainly don't know either.
And at the end of the day, our tourism providers
here in the territory just cannot suffer any more setback.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
What do you make then, as well of the discussions
obviously that the Tourism Minister is having with other airlines,
Like she says that she's having those discussions with other airlines,
we don't know exactly which airlines they are. But how
do you reckon we're actually going to entice other airlines
to come to the Northern Territory at this point when
you know, for at least the foreseeable future, over the
(09:28):
next year, these runway works are going to be underway.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Well exactly, Katie, And this is why Natasha Files and
Nicole Madison should be sitting down with those two groups
and with the airlines and creating a plan, a plan
of an upgrade, give people and those corporations some certainty
around how this is going to work, because right now,
the chaos that this is causing is actually ultimately putting
(09:56):
a close sign for business on the territory and we
just cannot for to do that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, we certainly can't. We want to try and get
as many people to the Northern Territory as possible, but
we also want to see some fairer prices. I think
when it comes to those flights, and if those flights
are minimized in any way, shape or form, unfortunately, I
think what we can expect is to see prices go up.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
That's right, and without certainty, like we will never get
our economy moving forward. And we absolutely need those flights
to be at the right prices so that people can
travel in and out of the territory and want to
come and live here because they can do a quick trip,
you know, over the weekend to see family back at home,
and that when you do live here, you can go
and do a quick trip overseas, because that is why
(10:38):
one of the reasons that makes the territory so special. So,
you know, Natasha Philes and Nicole Madison absolutely need to
be sitting down with those stakeholders in this conversation and
making sure that territorians along the way are being informed
about what is happening in that space. And it certainly
does not feel like that now.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Well, Marie Claire Boothby, the Shadow Minister for Tourism, Hospitality
and Small Business. Always appreciate your time. Thanks so much
for joining us this morning.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Thank you Katie, thank you
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