Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Matt Hepworth spoke with Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis re RSL build vote on hold

Transcript

Matt Hepworth spoke with Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis re RSL build vote on hold · 360 with Katie Woolf

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Well, we spent all day yesterday extensively covering what was
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: supposed to be d day for the decision from Darwin
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: Council on whether to allow the RSL to build a
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: new clubhouse on the Esplanade. But Lord Mayor convat Scala
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: says some last minute information came to hand, delaying the decision.
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: So what is this new information? Let's find out with
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: the Lord Mayor of Darwin, convat Scaralus con. Good morning,
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: Good morning, Matt Con. Can you talk us through what
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: happened last night?
• 0:26
  Speaker 2: Well before we went to the meeting and I was
• 0:29
  Speaker 2: hoping that we got the meeting and we make a decision.
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: So we're finished with this story about the RSL and
• 0:34
  Speaker 2: v Estronat just about five o'clock received a phone call
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: from a very respective it didn't sell the Bilawar Ali
• 0:41
  Speaker 2: who draw my attention to the fact that the proposed
• 0:44
  Speaker 2: side was a women's secret bursting site and also part
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: of the Rainbow Serpent Trail. Well, something that blew me
• 0:53
  Speaker 2: away because I was not aware of that. And of
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: course this information indicates the significance, the culture significance of
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: the site, which we haven't considered at all. So I
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: advised my colleagues that we had some new informers at hand,
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: but at the time I could not verify them so
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: late in the afternoon, and would put not to make
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: a decision without considering this information extensively. And I put
• 1:20
  Speaker 2: the mayor minutes on the table after everybody agreed with
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: that that until we get a new information, the decision
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: on the arseet would not take place. I apologized it
• 1:30
  Speaker 2: was so late we couldn't put a notice out to
• 1:32
  Speaker 2: advise the public not to come because the decision would
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: not be debated. But it was so late and so
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: studdened that it had to be done. Their way was done.
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: Con Why did it come through so late?
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: Well, I don't know about it, but I really really
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: appreciate that Bilaware took the time to ring me and
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: talk to me about it, because some of these informations
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: they are not well known around Darwin and adding all
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: that one either that I really really appreciated did that,
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: and I thank you very much for that. And I
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: spoke to here again today. So we're now trying to
• 2:07
  Speaker 2: verify some of this information because one is already verified,
• 2:10
  Speaker 2: the Rainbow certain trail. I spoke to other introduced people
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: with their conferment, So we're trying to verify the secret place.
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: I fully understand and respect that. I guess the question
• 2:24
  Speaker 1: is the timing of it. I mean, this is something
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: that we've been talking about for a long time, you know,
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: is this normal of counsel if an objection comes through
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: this light to be able to accept that.
• 2:39
  Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely, this is actually so significant. And I'll tell
• 2:42
  Speaker 2: you what, Matt, it's better late than never, because making
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: and decision not based on information that they're so significant,
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: I think it would be the wrong decision. I appreciate
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: it came forward. I don't know why it's so late,
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: but as I do you better late than never? Do
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: we go from here con well, as a you will
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: verify the information and we'll put it before council and
• 3:06
  Speaker 2: we'll call another meeting which would be again open and
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: then not, and the public will be notified and we'll
• 3:13
  Speaker 2: make a decision. But again, these are informations that the
• 3:16
  Speaker 2: councils get to get before them to make an informed decision.
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: And suddenly there's so significant this new information that I'm
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: pretty sure we change some people's mind or even their decision.
• 3:28
  Speaker 1: That was going to be my next question. I mean,
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: given the significance of this news that you were given
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: late yesterday. Is this going to be enough for the
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: counsel to say no to this proposal?
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: Now? I haven't asked my counsel what they're going to
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: vote on purpose because I want them to make a
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: democratic decision without pressure. I had my mind. This information
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: at hand now has actually led me to change my
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: view on the whole issue. And I'm pretty sure other
• 3:57
  Speaker 2: ultimates might feel per say, so.
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: You've changed your view, you know, will support this proposal
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: on the Esplanade.
• 4:03
  Speaker 2: I can't put an RSL on a touch a cultural
• 4:07
  Speaker 2: significant site. That's my personal opinion.
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: I have a tendency to agree with you there, I said,
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: I think it's just the timing of it. I mean
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: the RSL, you know, I think they were pretty confident
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: that they might have had this over the line last night,
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: and you know, within two hours everything's changed.
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: Well, this is what's happening. They say, in hour is
• 4:29
  Speaker 2: a long time in politics. But I said you before,
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: I'm very very pleased and tendful to Bill a Lad
• 4:35
  Speaker 2: that even that lad came to this information. So we
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: didn't make the wrong decision.
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: You mentioned now, you obviously you received this phone call.
• 4:43
  Speaker 1: But you've got to verify this information. What does that involve?
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: Oh, just we probably talked to the Sacred Charge authority.
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: We talked to Adelakia elders to confirm this one. Before
• 4:55
  Speaker 2: we actually have all the information, tend to make the
• 4:57
  Speaker 2: final decision.
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: Con speaking as to and Glossa a short time ago,
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: he said that when those upgrades were done on the
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: esplanade around the Eternal Flame and upgrades on the Cenotaph,
• 5:07
  Speaker 1: he'd spoken to the Larakia people to see if there
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: was anything of importance there. Then they said no, Is
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: that just simply because it's a slightly different location.
• 5:18
  Speaker 2: I believe so. Billavara specifically referred to the car park area,
• 5:23
  Speaker 2: and she said to me that all that respect the
• 5:26
  Speaker 2: sacrificed by the soldiers during the war. After all, there
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: a lot of people they were actually killed during the war,
• 5:34
  Speaker 2: both in the wars and in the in Darwin, and
• 5:37
  Speaker 2: certainly the cenotaph commemorates all of these people, but their
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: heir concern was actually on the car park area.
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: Can were you surprised at the amount of people that
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: turned up to the meeting last night?
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: Look, Matt, we live in a democratic country. Everybody is
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: entitled to come and express their opinion. There will have
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: two hundred people here that they're still very strongly about
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: the the chef theater, and I welcome that one. That's
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: actually a sign of a living democracy. I always appreciate
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: people's participation, even if I don't agree with some of
• 6:08
  Speaker 2: their years, and even they don't agree with some of
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: my views. At the end of the day, we live
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: in a democratic society and I respect them.
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: There was a lot of anger and hate directed at
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: you last night.
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: Usually the mayor's the lad in the world that attracts
• 6:23
  Speaker 2: everything because it's the face of the council. Let me
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: remind you when the tree was cut in the old
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: in the University new campus, I coped with the flag,
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: despite the fact that the decision to cut the tree
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: down was unanimous. All thirteen aldermen agreed to cut the
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: three down because we had the information the tree had
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: to go and the tree was sick. But everybody blamed me.
• 6:49
  Speaker 2: People tend to not to read the full story, just
• 6:53
  Speaker 2: the headline, and the mayor usually attracts the blade.
• 6:56
  Speaker 1: So con what happens next? When will this proposal be
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: voted on in council? Next.
• 7:01
  Speaker 2: Well, my intention is to find all the information as
• 7:04
  Speaker 2: soon as possible as them bring back to the council.
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: I can't give you a timeline now because it might
• 7:09
  Speaker 2: take a while for people to actually dig out all
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: the necessary information maps, histories, oral history, contact the appropriate
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: additional elders you mentioned before.
• 7:20
  Speaker 1: Obviously, twenty four hours ago, you were in support of
• 7:22
  Speaker 1: this proposal. Given this new information that you've received, you
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: no longer are. Do you think there are other oldermen
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: who would have been in support of this proposal that
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: will now change their mind.
• 7:31
  Speaker 2: I can't read them. I can't read their mind, but
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: I will be very surprised if people decide to disregard
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: this kind of information.
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: Well, combat's it's been an eventful twenty four hours.
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: Thanks you never a dull moment.
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: No, thank you for explaining that this morning. You have
• 7:50
  Speaker 1: certainly cleared up a lot of questions and speculation. I
• 7:55
  Speaker 1: know many people are questioning the timing of how it
• 7:57
  Speaker 1: all unfolded, but we're certainly not going to undermine the
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: signific so what you were told. I think it's just
• 8:02
  Speaker 1: the timing that a lot of people are surprised at.
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: Matt when you get a phone call around five o'clock.
• 8:08
  Speaker 2: With this kind of information, you do not just ignore it,
• 8:11
  Speaker 2: because then you deserve to get the blame. You have
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: to make sure that everybody is well informed and before
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: they make such an important decision.
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: The Lord Mayor of Darwin convat Scarlus, I know that
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: we more to come from this. We will hopefully catch
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: up with you again on next Tuesday. Thank you for
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: your time this morning, my pleasure, Mit,