SUBJECTS: Funding for local schools; Middle Arm; upcoming Federal Budget; visa processing; overseas labour; crime; Bali Bombings 20th anniversary in Bali.
KATIE WOOLF, HOST: Joining me live in the studio is Labor's Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling. Good morning to you, Luke.
LUKE GOSLING, MEMBER FOR SOLOMON: G’day, Katie.
WOOLF: Luke, plenty happening at Parliament particularly. We know that the federal budget is going to be handed down, of course, next week. But yesterday, for example, you were out there officially opening the early years hub at the Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Karama. What exactly is this hub?
GOSLING: So, the Holy Family is a primary school at just next to O’Loughlin in Karama there. And it's up and operating, but it's just a little hub for early years where they got the early childhood educators, teachers, and parents can come in and spend time with the kids, particularly the kids that need a little bit more attention. And then this morning, out at Palmerston Christian College, we opened two facilities, really. One of them is some federal funding, went into a science lab and the other is a multi-use facility where their old demountables used to be. Back in 1988 when it all started out there. So they were really happy to bulldoze all those old demountables and build some really first class educational facilities at there. So it's great to acknowledge Ken the principal and the great work that all the teachers do out there. They're starting to get a fuller experience there for the kids where there's two kids doing the year 12 at there now and there's 14 in year 11. So in conjunction with Marrara Christian College and the other network of Christian schools, in much the same way as the Catholic system do, they're really building some sustainability and support throughout their network of schools, which is great. And of course our government schools, I was at one of them this morning where my daughter and son were doing an extravaganza, which was really, really excellent.
WOOLF: Good fun. And it's good to have the kids back at school, that is for sure, after a couple of weeks off. I know they enjoy it, but it's always good once they get back there and getting to normality again for their final term. Hey, Luke, I think that everybody was probably quite surprised in some ways to hear that we here in the Northern Territory, when Labor hands down their first federal budget on the 25th, so next week, we're set to receive $2.5 billion in infrastructure funding, second only to Victoria. How did we end up with such a huge, huge block of money?
GOSLING: Yeah, I mean, it's a credit to the NT Government and to all the federal members. We've been obviously lobbying our colleagues for some time and obviously with an election year that had that phenomena that always happens around elections where there's election commitments made and commitments are matched. And I think what we've got now is a really good balance between enabling infrastructure in terms of wharves, but also the roads that we need to really make the most of our abundant resources here in the north, whether that be the roads funding or the logistic hubs right up the track. So we're talking Alice Springs through Tennant Creek and places like Elliot, but hubs in Katherine as well. Now that's vital for a whole range of industries and I guess it's a really strong commitment from Federal Labor in times where, you know, the Treasurer is not looking for things to spend extra money on. But this is seen as important not only for the Territory's growth but for our national economic growth, and also supporting defence and the strategic position that we're in has been backed in by this federal budget.
WOOLF: And so obviously some of that $2.5 billion is going to be going into the Middle Arm industrial precinct and other funding is going to be going into roads and other infrastructure?
GOSLING: Yeah. And those logistic hubs as part of that other infrastructure. I think we've come a long way in terms of really selling the importance of the North in Canberra and you know, I would have loved to knock off Victoria As the jurisdiction that got the most federal funding in this budget, but it is a strong sign of confidence in our ability and the Northern Territory Government's ability to get infrastructure built that is going to enable economic growth. We've got critical minerals that have been found in the Northern Territory. We want to get those to market, and also we've got big projects like Sun Cable and that's getting Territory sunshine into solar panels and export it, but also into the grid up here in the north. But then obviously green hydrogen, everyone is talking about hydrogen, everyone wants to get their hands on hydrogen as a fuel of the future. And that's going to be the biggest role, I think, for that Middle Arm precinct.
WOOLF: Luke, we've got a couple of listener questions coming through. There's one here that's come through from Rob, and he's asking “why are the Feds rejecting visas amid a workforce shortage?” Rob reckons he's trying to bring over extended family to become a chef, but the visa is being rejected on the basis that they won't go home in four years’ time. I know that's just probably one example. We have spoken at different times, you and I, and also I've spoken to Paul Kirby about some of those issues that are being experienced at the moment when it comes to visas and when it comes to the workforce shortage here in the Territory. From your perspective, you know, what can we do to try to sort this out in the Territory?
GOSLING: Yeah, I think the first thing to say is that after the budget, not only will we have Catherine King, the Federal Infrastructure, Transport, and Regional Development Minister up here, but we'll have Brendan O'Connor up here as well and he's Jobs and Training and Skills Minister. First thing is trying to get Aussie kids into the jobs that we've got, but we know that that isn't going to satisfy the skills shortages that we have. So we are going to be – and this is already happening – increasing the number of public servants who are processing these visa applications. Unfortunately, we've been left with about a waiting list of about a million visa applications.
WOOLF: That's unbelievable.
GOSLING: It is. And it's a real handbrake on our economy, unfortunately. So that's what we've inherited and that's what we're trying to work through as quickly as we possibly can. Now, you know, we have a visa system in place for a reason, and that is people are engaged to come to our country to study or to work or because they're a partner of an Australian. And it's really important that people abide by the conditions of those visas. Now, sometimes when people are knocked back, it may be because they've displayed an unwillingness to go home at some point, but it's really important that people honour the visa requirements and then that way they give themselves the very best opportunity of coming here, doing some work, adding to our workforce for the period of time that Australia needs and they can obviously help people back home during that time. But it's got to cut both ways. So I think increasing the number of people that are processing these visas is the most productive thing that we can do at the moment, and we are doing that. And I just invite people, as I know they are, because I've got one staff member that only looks after these issues because there are so many people who want to come here and work and there's so many businesses that need those workers.
WOOLF: One of those businesses that we did catch up with last week, and I'm sure you've probably spoken to her, is Tou from Tou’s Mango Farm and the concerns that they've got at the moment around the pickers and packers. You know, even with that, it does seem as though – and I know it's not an easy process, but you sort of think, are there different ways that we could be doing this a little bit more strategically, particularly in places like northern Australia, where we do have very different issues around workforce shortages, I would think, to other parts of Australia?
GOSLING: There's got to be ways that we can do a better and that's what I've been, using Tou as an example, talking about her specific situation. But other mango farmers and other horticultural businesses too, is that there has been a length of time for the PALM program, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility program, labour mobility. In layman's terms, it's how do we get people who want to work that live in the Pacific here, to work in businesses that want to support them for that time? And at the moment we're trying to work through the fact that the rules have said that you need them here for a period of time and the businesses don't need them for that period of time. And if you talk to people in the Pacific – and I'll be going there soon to talk about these issues with them – if you get them over here for two weeks, three weeks, the business is happy, but they're happy as well. They go back home with some money in their pocket that their families would really appreciate. You know, these Pacific countries, they have economic development difficulties. So it's a win-win. So I am working with a number of our ministers at the moment that have responsibility for that Pacific labour mobility program, just to get it a bit easier to use for our people. There is work to be done and I look forward to giving an update on that when we get back from Canberra.
WOOLF: Luke, another question that's come through. Is there anything that the Federal Government can do to assist the Northern Territory Government when it comes to the issues that we're experiencing around crime?
GOSLING: Yeah, we need to be doing a lot more I believe, to help the NT as a jurisdiction, and there's a number of ways we can do that. One of the ways is that I was proud to commit $6 million to a youth engagement hub for the northern suburbs during the campaign. But there is some more diversionary ideas that I'm working with on local proponents that want to get kids out on country to work with them to get their heads right. And I was just talking to someone yesterday about Wildman River and in the past, how that was a successful program. And I think one of your listeners, or on another radio program this morning was talking about boot camps. There is, I think, in people of the Northern Territory an understanding that there is a role for getting kids on a better trajectory earlier. And I think that's where the Federal Government can help. But I won't speak for the Justice Minister in terms of the federal policing aspect in that and how we can support the Northern Territory Government with further police resources with the end of the Intervention legislation.
WOOLF: Do you reckon we could be though?
GOSLING: Well, I think we probably need to, right, and I know that Alice Springs is a high priority for Federal Labor. We've got a series of ministers coming through with Marion Scrymgeour down on the ground in Alice Springs. I think Territorians can expect to see some more support coming.
WOOLF: Even this morning, we spoke to Karl Basic who's the chair of Tourism Central Australia. He got punched in the car park yesterday at Coles at 8:10 in the morning in Alice Springs. You know, if that isn't a message screaming out that something needs to change, I don't know what is.
GOSLING: It is, and it's totally unacceptable that that type of behaviour is happening. I know the Northern Territory Government, there's been a number of NT Government ministers down there. And whether it be local government, I think Matt’s doing a great job down there in Alice Springs. I think we need to pull together as a bit of a Team Territory on this because it's too big not to do that. And I just know that from my colleagues’ perspective they'll be coming through Alice Springs, and we're funding things like a national Aboriginal art gallery because we know that, you know, the future sustainability of Alice Springs, it's tourism-related, right? And what's not good for tourism? it's anti-social behaviour on the street. So I know Marion Scrymgeour, who is well connected down there and spending a lot of time in Alice Springs, even though her electorate is basically all of the Northern Territory, she’ll be getting around as much as she can. But she's got a real focus on Alice Springs and getting our settings right. And obviously we've launched a national domestic violence strategy and that's an important part of our suite of supports for organisations in the community that are trying to make the Territory a better and safer place for everyone.
WOOLF: Luke, I do want to ask you about Bali in just a moment, but a couple of messages coming through as well, asking “Do you think we could be doing more? Could the Federal Government be doing more when it comes to victims of crime?”
GOSLING: Yeah, I think there's always more to be done for victims of crime. We can never forget the trauma. I mean, the royal commission that I pushed so hard for into veteran and ADF suicides is on at the moment. Partially some of the pressures around trauma is something that victims experience, and we need to make sure that where so much talk and so much effort goes into trying to stamp out crime. But we've got to remember the other part of crime is the effects, the consequences of that, and that's where the victims are. And yeah, it's a good reminder to for me to touch base with victims of crime. I'm a big supporter of the support that they give to people. Trauma is something that holds us back from living, you know, fulsome and happy lives. And yeah, I'm committed to working on that.
WOOLF: Luke, last week, of course, we know it was the 20th anniversary when it comes to the Bali bombing commemorations. I know that you actually were representing the Australian Government in Bali. How was it over there? What was the reaction from the Aussies that were over there and also from the Balinese?
GOSLING: You know, it just makes you so proud of the Australians, just the dignity in which the victims themselves and the families of those 88 Australians that were lost, that attended, the way they held themselves, the way they remembered their loved ones. The tears were shed. But the embraces that I saw looking into a crowd of Aussies getting around their mates and respectful of the Balinese and to see the Balinese who were there, who were impacted so much 20 years ago, it was really humbling to be there. But, you know, we talk about trauma and we talk about the victims of crime or the victims of terrorism. And you know, when we think back as Territorians, Cyclone Tracy, I think we lost 71 and so many more injured. This was 88 Australians in those two incidents, huge incidents in our modern history. And really Bali, some people consider to be almost another province of Australia, we're so fond of that place. And also to see some ec-Territory policemen doing counterterrorism work still with the Australian Federal Police and making sure that Australians and Indonesians alike and people from all around the world can be safe. It’s really important, because we can't forget that even though we've had a series of wars over in the Middle East, we can't ever become complacent about terrorism. And I'm proud of all those people that are working to make sure that Australians are safe.
WOOLF: Well, Luke Gosling, the Federal Member for Solomon, thank you very much for having a chat with us this morning. So Parliament back on next week and of course that budget being handed down Thursday.
GOSLING: Yeah, and we'll try and get one of our senior finance people on to have a yarn, But it's great news for the Territory in this upcoming budget and I'm proud of it.
WOOLF: Luke Gosling thanks for coming in and having a chat with us today.
