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Katie Woolf spoke with Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison · 360 with Katie Woolf

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  Speaker 1: As we've discussed this morning, we know the government yesterday
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  Speaker 1: released the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission's final report, which, as
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  Speaker 1: we know, has got an ambitious goal of making the
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  Speaker 1: territory a forty billion dollar economy by twenty thirty.
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  Speaker 2: So how do we get there?
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  Speaker 1: Well, joining me on the line right now is the
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  Speaker 1: Deputy Chief Minister as well as Minister for Mining and
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  Speaker 1: Industry and Northern Australia and Trade, Nicole Madison. Good morning,
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  Speaker 1: Good morning, Katie Minister. We know the roadmap seems ambitious.
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  Speaker 1: A forty billion dollar economy in just over ten years.
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  Speaker 1: This requires a sustained average growth state product growth of
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  Speaker 1: three point nine percent.
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  Speaker 2: How do we get there?
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  Speaker 3: Well, we get there by pushing as hard as we
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  Speaker 3: can to get these projects out of the ground as
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  Speaker 3: quickly as possible and supporting our existing industry to grow.
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  Speaker 3: I think what we saw in the Territory Economic Reconstruction
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  Speaker 3: Commission report, which was authored by some of the nation's
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  Speaker 3: Anglo business leaders like Dale Kelly and Andrew the Griff
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  Speaker 3: and Martin Parkinson, who's had prominent roles in the federal government,
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  Speaker 3: was that we do have a followed economic plan for
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  Speaker 3: the territory. We do have amazing opportunities here in the
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  Speaker 3: Northern Territory and now it's about making sure we push
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  Speaker 3: as hard as we can to get those out of
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  Speaker 3: the ground as quickly as possible.
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  Speaker 1: Now much of the roadmap is reliant on the private
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  Speaker 1: sector investment. There has been a lot of criticism over
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  Speaker 1: the past four years that the Gunner government has so
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  Speaker 1: far failed in this space.
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  Speaker 2: What makes this time different?
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  Speaker 1: Oh?
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  Speaker 3: Well, I think that we've put a huge amount of
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  Speaker 3: work into shaping these projects up, Katie. So we haven't
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  Speaker 3: sat on our hands. We've been pursuing these aggressively around
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  Speaker 3: the development of further gas industry, both on sure and offshore,
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  Speaker 3: and getting these mining projects out of the ground, as
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  Speaker 3: well as making sure that we harness renewable energy and
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  Speaker 3: advancing that industry, creating a data industry for the territory
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  Speaker 3: as well. So we have been pushing very hard, and Joe,
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  Speaker 3: we're going to keep pushing as hard as we can
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  Speaker 3: because there are some amazing opportunities here.
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  Speaker 2: All right, let's be really frank about this.
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  Speaker 1: If things don't turn around, the population is going to decline,
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  Speaker 1: those debt levels are going to rise, and we are
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  Speaker 1: going to continue to struggle what immediate steps are going
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  Speaker 1: to be taken following on from the release of this report.
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  Speaker 3: Well, we've already started work. So back with the interim report,
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  Speaker 3: we have tasked the public sector, do you put in
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  Speaker 3: place some of the changes that came through. We've also
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  Speaker 3: got the public sector working towards in February getting back
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  Speaker 3: to assist the implementation plans for the recommendations of the
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  Speaker 3: Reconstruction Commission report. But we've been going hard at it.
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  Speaker 3: From winding government again, Katie off that they've been out
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  Speaker 3: talking to as many mining companies as possible, gas companies
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  Speaker 3: seeing the projects, talking to the FED, talking to private investors,
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  Speaker 3: doing what we can to get projects out of the
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  Speaker 3: ground and get investment into the territory.
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  Speaker 1: So did you say that the public service has until
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  Speaker 1: February to come back to you with their plan.
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  Speaker 3: We've already got many plans for these projects, but with implementation,
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  Speaker 3: we have tasked them to make sure that we've got solid,
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  Speaker 3: solid frames at time frames around how we're going about
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  Speaker 3: implementing these recommendations, and we're going to get those back
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  Speaker 3: in February, But make no mistake, we're already working hard
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  Speaker 3: at it. The growth of many of these industries, and
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  Speaker 3: we haven't stopped.
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  Speaker 1: I mean, there'll be people listening right now who are thinking,
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  Speaker 1: goodness me if we're going to wait until February, you know,
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  Speaker 1: to get these plans. I know you've said that there
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  Speaker 1: is some work underway, but if we're going to wait
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  Speaker 1: any longer, it's going to continue to impact territorians. I mean,
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  Speaker 1: have you set yourself some KPIs and set yourself some
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  Speaker 1: benchmarks here of how quickly you want different things to
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  Speaker 1: be implemented and you want different measures to be in place.
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  Speaker 3: Well, we're already working towards many of these projects, Katie,
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  Speaker 3: So I don't want you to think that we are
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  Speaker 3: not working on these already. Like we already have got
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  Speaker 3: work every day around the development of the gas industry,
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  Speaker 3: which is put forward with great success, and also pursuing
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  Speaker 3: getting more mince out of the ground. We've been pursuing
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  Speaker 3: getting those approvals done as quickly as possible and helping
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  Speaker 3: those minds also get their their mind management plant in
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  Speaker 3: as quickly as possible. So there's a rafter work happening.
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  Speaker 3: There's been huge work in the development of the data
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  Speaker 3: industry as well, so we're continuing on with this, and
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  Speaker 3: we're going to be making sure that we're pushing hard
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  Speaker 3: against those recommendations as well.
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  Speaker 1: The mining industry. It is something that we're certainly, you know,
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  Speaker 1: we talk a lot about. I know, over the last
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  Speaker 1: sort of five years, I've had Drew Wagner from the
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  Speaker 1: Minerals Council on the show on numerous occasions, who's spoken
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  Speaker 1: at length about the approvals processes and how long it
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  Speaker 1: has taken in some cases here in the territory. I mean,
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  Speaker 1: if we are really looking to the mining sector now,
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  Speaker 1: how do we sort of you know, change the way
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  Speaker 1: that we're doing things right now so that we are
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  Speaker 1: more attractive not only to investors within Australia, but in
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  Speaker 1: terms of making ourselves compared it is against other places
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  Speaker 1: all around the world completely.
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  Speaker 3: Agree about approvals processes. We've already significantly cut the time
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  Speaker 3: frame for exploration my management plans. We're are working with
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  Speaker 3: the extracted industry to cut the times for approvals on those,
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  Speaker 3: and we are working on cutting the approval times for
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  Speaker 3: mind management plans for those big existing operations and those
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  Speaker 3: new minds. We've already made significant in roads there. I
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  Speaker 3: just recently approved the MacArthur with a mind plan, and
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  Speaker 3: we've done significant work to make sure that there was
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  Speaker 3: a better streamlined process for that. So we're also publishing
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  Speaker 3: those my management plans. So anybody who wants to say
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  Speaker 3: that there is an a rigorous process and that there
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  Speaker 3: isn't good process around these minds, well they can go
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  Speaker 3: see those mind management plans for themselves online, so it's
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  Speaker 3: more transparent. But as mine's ministers, yes, I'm absolutely putting
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  Speaker 3: the blowtorch to making sure that we have a better,
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  Speaker 3: more streamlined process going forward. But over the last few years,
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  Speaker 3: I have to give credit to my predecessor full Care,
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  Speaker 3: he'd already been pushing through some significant reforms in that department.
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  Speaker 1: Minister, There's no doubt there is going to be a
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  Speaker 1: change of mindset. There needs to be a change of mindset.
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  Speaker 1: This is something that we heard really clearly from Andrew
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  Speaker 1: Liveris when he was on.
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  Speaker 2: The show a couple of weeks ago.
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  Speaker 1: The public service right now is seen as being slow
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  Speaker 1: and cumbersome when it comes to approvals and helping businesses
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  Speaker 1: get started. Whether that's correct or not, that is certainly
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  Speaker 1: the perception. How are you going to change that perceived mindset?
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  Speaker 3: Well in twenty twenty, I think we've all seen our agile,
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  Speaker 3: responsive and quick the public sector can be, so we're
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  Speaker 3: going to keep that momentum going. Twenty twenty has really
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  Speaker 3: pushed everybody and tested some new boundaries and I think
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  Speaker 3: our public service is absolutely delivered this year. So we
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  Speaker 3: want this culture to continue. It's not just what territorians want,
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  Speaker 3: it's what they need. So we are going to be
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  Speaker 3: continuing doing significant work with the public service and ensuring
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  Speaker 3: that they open for business public sector that works for
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  Speaker 3: people to get successful outcome.
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  Speaker 1: Now, I know that one of those recommendations includes the
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  Speaker 1: establishment of an Investment Delivery Task Force.
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  Speaker 2: When is that going to happen and who's going to
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  Speaker 2: be on it?
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  Speaker 3: So I don't have that information for you right now, Katie.
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  Speaker 3: And clearly the Chief Ministerry is going to be driving
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  Speaker 3: this or from the top, and this will be information
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  Speaker 3: that will be coming out in the future.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, So we'll hopefully be those sooner rather than later.
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  Speaker 1: I'm anticipating.
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  Speaker 3: I think that's fair to say, Katie. As you know,
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  Speaker 3: no one's sitting on their hands here. This is seen
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  Speaker 3: as an absolute priority. Continuing on the momentum of getting
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  Speaker 3: some quick wins and some good outcomes for the economy.
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  Speaker 1: And is that going to be like, is that task
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  Speaker 1: force then going to be who oversees the implementation of
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  Speaker 1: the report or is that going to be a job
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  Speaker 1: of the ministry.
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  Speaker 3: Oh, ultimately, you know, the Cabinet is going to be
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  Speaker 3: the one responsible for the outcome there and the delivery.
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  Speaker 3: But we will be working with a range of people
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  Speaker 3: to make sure that we're delivering on the recommendations of
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  Speaker 3: this report. And let's face it, this is a very
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  Speaker 3: highly well poplar sized support industry. Has it, media has it,
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  Speaker 3: everybody's got it. There's sane to see. So you know,
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  Speaker 3: people will be able to see the delivery each and
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  Speaker 3: every day and hold us to.
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  Speaker 1: A counselor minister. What happens to Team Territory. Are they
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  Speaker 1: still in operation?
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  Speaker 3: Team Territory is still well and truly in operation and
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  Speaker 3: have been doing a great job. It is a fantastic group.
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  Speaker 3: I met with him for a dinner with the Economic
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  Speaker 3: Reconstruction Commission a few weeks ago and it's a really
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  Speaker 3: important group that represents our biggest industry in the territory
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  Speaker 3: as well as our Land Council. To are very important
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  Speaker 3: partners in economic development of the Northern Territory moving forwards
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  Speaker 3: with Aboriginal people, So Team Territory. He's been doing great
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  Speaker 3: work under Claire Martin, Dick Goyd, and there's certainly a
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  Speaker 3: great team of advisors working with stuff. Now.
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  Speaker 1: I know the relationship between Australia and China is very
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  Speaker 1: strained at the moment. Is that going to impact us
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  Speaker 1: here in the Northern Territory and our roadmap forward When
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  Speaker 1: it comes to trading partners, well.
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  Speaker 3: You know clearly there are some very tense times right now, Katie,
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  Speaker 3: and I think what that clearly shows is that it's
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  Speaker 3: important to make sure that you have a diversified economy
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  Speaker 3: and that you do have diversified relations with two different
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  Speaker 3: trade partners. So the Fedial government clearly are doing some
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  Speaker 3: very sensitive work at the moment. This is having a
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  Speaker 3: big impact on many businesses around the country, so we'll
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  Speaker 3: be watching very closely how this goes.
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  Speaker 2: Minister.
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  Speaker 1: By the sounds of things when we talk about this
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  Speaker 1: roadmap and the report, we are expecting the private sector
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  Speaker 1: to have a huge part to play in the Northern
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  Speaker 1: Territories rebound. But from what I can gather from our
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  Speaker 1: listeners right now there does seem to be a divide
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  Speaker 1: between the public service and the private sector. That public
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  Speaker 1: holiday announcement on Friday was an example of this. How
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  Speaker 1: can you bridge that divide when some Territorians feel as
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  Speaker 1: though the labor government is being dictated to by the unions.
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  Speaker 3: Well, I think that Boxing Day is a public holiday
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  Speaker 3: and it absolutely is, and I remind people that are
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  Speaker 3: in twenty fifteen that the CLP government is the same
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  Speaker 3: basically to the public holiday. So it is important that
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  Speaker 3: when workers go out there and they work in a
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  Speaker 3: public holiday that they get that recognition. We've done a
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  Speaker 3: lot this year to support businesses through COVID nineteen two,
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  Speaker 3: and the important thing is is that that money that
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  Speaker 3: goes into the pocket of Territorians through their wages will
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  Speaker 3: go back into the economy.
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  Speaker 1: Now, all right, So just to go back to that question, though,
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  Speaker 1: how do you think you bridge that divibe when there
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  Speaker 1: are some Territorians at the moment that are feeling as
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  Speaker 1: though there's a real gap between the private sector and
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  Speaker 1: the public sector.
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  Speaker 3: In what way, Katie?
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  Speaker 1: Well, in the example of obviously a pay rise before
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  Speaker 1: the election and also with the public holidays.
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  Speaker 3: Yeah, well, clearly we're trying to make sure that we
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  Speaker 3: give people here this is truly about recognizing a fairtess
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  Speaker 3: test about Boxing Day being a public holiday. And so
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  Speaker 3: we think work within the public sector and the private
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  Speaker 3: sector deserves to get the right pay to recognize that
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  Speaker 3: Boxing Day is a public holiday. That's what this is about,
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  Speaker 3: both public sector and private sector workers.
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  Speaker 1: And so then with something like the pay rise, I
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  Speaker 1: mean when you've got the private sector, we've been struggling
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  Speaker 1: through for the last year.
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  Speaker 3: And we have been giving the private sector there and
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  Speaker 3: businesses out their significant support through this challenging year, Katie.
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  Speaker 3: But fundamentally it comes down to Boxing Day is a
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  Speaker 3: public holiday and that money is going to flow back
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  Speaker 3: through to the benefit of those businesses.
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  Speaker 1: Nicole Madison, anybody listening this morning who's still is you know,
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  Speaker 1: feeling worried about the economy and the Northern Territories roadmap
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  Speaker 1: forward and the implementation of a very good report which
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  Speaker 1: has been handed down by the Turk What would you
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  Speaker 1: say to those listeners that that's still you know, are
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  Speaker 1: feeling a bit worried that the government isn't going to
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  Speaker 1: get there.
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  Speaker 3: Well, this is an endorsement of the economic plans that
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  Speaker 3: we had in place that we've been pursuing, and I
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  Speaker 3: think this is also recognition of the immense opportunity and
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  Speaker 3: potential of the Northern Territory through some of the most
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  Speaker 3: significant business leaders in this nation and public servants. So
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  Speaker 3: we've got a very exciting future ahead, Katie. That's what
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  Speaker 3: I take out of this report, and for me as
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  Speaker 3: a minister, it's about making sure we get these opportunities
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  Speaker 3: out of the ground as quickly as possible because it
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  Speaker 3: is all about jobs for territory.
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  Speaker 1: Well, Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Madison, it is always good
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  Speaker 1: to speak with you.
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  Speaker 2: I really appreciate your time today.
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  Speaker 3: Thanks Katie, Thank you.