Firstly, I can report that baby hats and popped into his first National Cabinet meeting today slip through it the rest of us stayed away The territory Cabinet met yesterday and made a few important decisions. There is so much about our lives right now that is different this year. Territory Day will be different too Not in a million years. Did I ever think I would have to say this as Chief Minister. I confirm that fireworks on tap. Both public and private would not be going ahead in 2020. Cracker night is off this year. There are obvious reasons why this can happen. It's just too much too. many people too risky at this time, but what made it crystal clear to me with the phone calls we got from the business owners who usually sell fireworks, saying I don't want to this year cuz it's simply not possible and not safe. our sellers reached out to me and said imports aren't happening like they used to and our fireworks come from. China, In fact, a lot come from around our sellers don't want to put any more pressure on our emergency services, whether it's our ambush or fires or cops, they have enough on their plate. It's a fairway off but business need to be told now, because now is when they would normally buy fireworks, The Northern territory major events company is working on different ways that we can celebrate territory day this year and we'll have more details on that next week, but I know crack night is sacred to the territory. It is to me something we might be pissed off. Frankly, I did not like making the decision, but it is the right decision it had to be made so this year, the skies won't let up like they normally do, but I promise you this crack and I will be back in 2020, - one and we will make it the best one yet we'll get back to parties on the Beach and bees in the backyard and back to doing what we really love to do once a year blowing stuff up. so take it from me as your territory. Chief Next year's Territory Day will be a cracker night and a To another decision of the Cabinet, the response from territorial to the new home improvement scheme has been incredible. Nearly 10000 homeowners have applied for a trade voucher. That's nearly 10000 families putting in their own money to get work done nearly 10000 projects that will directly keep territories in a job and a total economic impact that will be well above a hundred million dollars. It is blown away our expectations and that is a good thing. It is a jobs jackpot for the territory to get the biggest. Best Bang For our buck We are expanding and extending this game applications for vouchers will close at five PM tomorrow. Every person has put an application by then that gets approved will get their voucher. No one misses out. No one 's cut off. No one is left behind. We expect that will nearly double our initial investment to more than 60 million in vouchers for territorial and we will extend the scheme so that the applications are assessed vouchers are paid and work is done over the next 12 months. It's obvious that the Impacts of the Corona virus will last for at least a year. Our trade is now have a massive part line of work, but we want that work to last so that the benefits to the rest of the economy can last as well. That gets us through this dry and wet or through the low season in the Center and out the other side to this time next year when the territory economy will be ready to bounce back. Nancy Schools School is back for term two on Monday. This is usually a time for excitement for kids and relief for parents by get that right now is a time of anxiety for a lot of people, especially parents and teachers. I know parents are getting a lot of different information for different sources. You want clear advice so here it is in three very simple points. First schools in the territory are safe the medical expert. Say that our schools are safe. Second education is compulsory children must learn there is no excuse for children, not learning third, the government recommends I recommend and expect that parents and their children to school where they can learn best if parents choose to keep their kids at home, they must speak to their school about how they will be learning at home. I've seen it suggested that schools should just be open so that workers have a place to drop off their kids. I reject that that's crap. There's no reason for that to happen at all teachers are not babysitters. They are educators. our schools will be open because they are safe and because education is essential, it is critical. teachers are legends while our doctors and nurses are saving lives. Our teachers are shaping lives. They are amongst the most important people in our territory. right now, I value the important work that you are doing. I value your health and safety principles are all. Implementing new product calls for their schools like not allowing parents onto the grounds or new hygiene standards, and they have got flexible arrangements in place that teaches who may be high risk don't have to be at school, but to make it clear and consistent for everyone. I've directed the Education Department to release additional advice for all schools common sense guidelines so that every parent and every teacher can be confident their school is safe, I've said. I'll do whatever it takes to protect territory from the Corona virus. I've made that decision, I made that commitment, I will keep it. Medical experts said to me at the schools aren't safe, then I would shut them down in a second If I ever get that advice in the future, I will shut them down, but that is not the expert advice. Remember we are not Sydney. We are not Melbourne. We do not have the community transmission. The territory is the safest place in Australia and our schools are the safest schools in Australia. We are now on our tenth day without any new case of crown of ours. A lot of people can take credit for this and a lot of people are making sacrifices so it is fair for people to ask what's next. And when will all this be over, I don't have an easy answer for you. I wish I did. I wish it was easy, but it isn't well. I can't give you a firm timelines. I can include you in my thinking. It is my hope that by the end of this month, we've made enough progress to begin planning our pathway. To normal before that we need to secure the gains we've made like no new cases and all cases recovered. We will then need to expand the testing regime, including random community testing on our borders and our Minister for health will have more to say about that tomorrow, More importantly, they will need to be extensive random testing done in Queensland WWA and SAT because the big danger for us is not here but in areas just across our borders, this is what I have secured in. Cabinet Another reason why the National Cabinet has been so important. We know from what's happening in the Kimberly that the crown of ours is very close to us. We know from what's happening right now in Tasmania that just takes one person and that person was in a hospital One person with chronic virus in a hospital, there's end up with 60 new cases, two hospital shutdown and 5000 people in lockdown. It's been said that my government is walking a fine line on this and that's true we are. We are walking on a tight rope, except with the Corona virus. There is no safety net one foot wrong and we are in trouble. Our whole world has changed in a few weeks. Anyone who tells you that they know exactly what will happen in another few weeks. It's either a lunatic or a liar. I can say with some confidence that at this stage, we do not need to go any further because what we are doing is working exceptionally well and that means we are in the best possible position to begin easing restrictions when the time is right. To stop making those decisions when the time is right, it will happen not a moment later than these two or a moment sooner. When the time does come, we will ease restrictions slowly and we will do it in stages. Some businesses will open before others and businesses will open long before our borders are allowed to open. We will keep others out for as long as we need to to keep territory and safe. They will continue to be some social restrictions in place for at least six months as we've always said at least six months, I know that isn't the most. Answer. I know people would like more, but I will not play trial and Era with territorial lives and I won't make promises I cannot keep the only person I know who promised a hard date for things to quickly go back to normal as Donald Trump, he promised to open up America by Easter heels wrong that didn't happen thousands More Dead. America is still shut so I will not be doing a Trump. We were doing what is right for the territory when it's right for the territory like we have always done, I think all territorial. For their patients so far and I ask you for more, this isn't over this is a long way from over but every day that we keep at it every day we stay tough every day we stick together is another day closer to this being over. Thank you you mentioned that territory day will be back in 2020, - one. so I guess that means that the 320 event is canceled not postpone. We can't hold it in October, November or some other I Statements that I can honor so obviously this territory day, we can't have a crack an eye and next territory day basis of all the advice will be. I have a cracker night, so that's why I can say confidently the territorial next territory day. you'll be able to celebrate being a territory like you've always done so many still be able to let off personal fireworks with the social distancing around that you're meant to have the number outside the Street or on those kind of levels outside so I think those points are made up front are pretty important there where the Sun. Said to me that fireworks we get from China and we do not want to be responsible for putting pressure on our hospital system and a point time with that may be really important. not do so. I think those are two really good points that go to the private sale of fireworks and why we're not doing them this year. I think we have to bear in mind the imports aren't working what they normally do that. These imports come from China and we don't wanna put pressure on our hospital system right now, you're making some points before chief about you'd like to see what wasn't more random testing in. Queensland SAW I can use a lemon right on and what you would. you say that you feel that they're not doing enough of that at the moment or you you think you're making a point about keeping the borders restrictions in place for a lot longer. So this is not a criticism. These are the things that we need to have in place to be confident about rolling back on restrictions, scaling back adjusting. So right now, we know the danger is outside the territory of all information that we have in front of us so zero new cases over 10 days, No community transmission, which secured our borders. We're in a good position, but we have. On our borders, WSA and Queensland, so if we roll back, we won't have confidence about the health of the people on our borders and the movement around our borders. So the Kimberly outbreak just the other day. Now we're very close to the Kimberly and we've got indigenous populations that can often cross that border. We've got strong security in place. We've got police patrolling that border strong defense force straining federal police patrolling that border, but to make these decisions, you wanna know about the health of the population. so you wanna have confidence, I think. Bring the mouth is just made this point you wanna have confidence about the general population and the testing is going there. So we've now reached a point in this country where we can look at that. We've now reached a point through National Cabinet. We wanna move into that phase where we do that random testing and for me, in particular, it's critical around those borders. So Tasha say more about that tomorrow. I thank mister Wyatt and mister Hunt for the work that they're doing in this space as well to make sure we get that testing done. so it's not a criticism. It's more about where we need to go to be make well informed decisions about how we handle. Our restrictions you're anticipating that he will be understand you don't know exact dates, but you're anticipating the NTSB is going to restrictions before those States that border us. I think there's two different issues that get me up there so for me you wanna have confidence about the general health of your population. so we wanna be our make informed decisions and I think the Centennial testing we're now that natural space as we've scaled up all our responses. sentimental testing now is a very important thing to do is part of our decision-making processes and administer White Minister Hunt have done work here and mister files will talk more to it tomorrow. I also see lawn territory is basically leading the way right now. we are the safest place in the country. by the end of this month, I think. Confident about what might happen next month, what our plans might be So yes, how do I say this? I don't be critical of others. We just in a different position to Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland. That's think that's a general thing you can take away from the numbers. sounds like from Torrance to have patients and to stick with you are you concerned that obviously we're in such a great position at the moment. We hope to stay that way. It's been 10 days, but you can turn that people might get sick of it and lose that patients, especially with events that are so sacred like territory Day being canceled that they may not hang in there. I think things are. Kingdom territory and they're working cuz he made early decisions and tough decisions. and when things are working, you might wanna move those tough decisions, but one reason why things are working out because of the tough decisions. so I am asking territories be patient. I do recognize that we are essentially in this for the long haul because we need that vaccine. we've gotta find here a sustainable place where we can hold what we're doing and make sure we keeping territorial safe. I wanna make a decisions in an informed way of data and against the medical advice. I'm gonna do that. I'll. I've been out front of territory all the way through it is gonna be essentially a six -month process that we're working through here. I think this ones have been pretty good. so it's some respect. I am asking them for it but today I've got it from territorial too. So for me, I'm very grateful for their territories are at we've got the best compliance rate in the country when it comes to staying in your home. I think it shows the the spirit which territories engage in this and we are safe and with the safest place in the country because of territorial if we can't have a territory How can you go ahead with the general election in August? now we're having we're having crackers, but if we can't have these celebrations because of concerns about people being outside and being masculine talking, you go ahead with the election. I think it's a couple of really fun all differences between territory day in an election so we're not allowing the sale and setting off of fireworks for couple of reasons. the fireworks centrally come from China and things go wrong with fireworks people pressure on our hospital system. Now, I'm not wear of too many ballots cast they put pressure on our hospital system. We've got four months to plan for the election and I've got extreme. Confidence in the task force we got set up, it will be put the plans in place to safely manage an election and let's be really clear here. We don't live in a dictatorship. This is a democracy territorial decide who the government of Northern territory is I am not gonna give to myself as Chief Minister an extra day more than what territories gave to me. I'll work really hard for the next four months to everything I can to save lives and to save jobs in August, territories the back mean or kick me out. but until then, I'll just keep working on time. Without your help help lighter anyway, respect women. I think anyone who's seen what's happened over the last four weeks. you know it was basically four weeks ago. We're talking about bands and 500 people outside at 500 people inside and a lot has happened since then, what's gonna happen at the next four months. I have absolutely no idea what the mood of territorial will be and what happens you'll be on Corona virus in four months. the last month has been an incredible time at four months is gonna be you know a journey but let's be clear. We've done the work we are doing whatever it takes to make sure territories are safe about do that for the last month. I'll do my best to death for the next four months and then territories make the call in August. I I wouldn't be I'll tell you what the movie territories are gonna be in four months time, you said. you know in four weeks ago position to plan for a way forward but then he said some sort of restrictions would last six months. Yeah So by the end of this month, I think we can start planning out how we might be a scale back, but let's be really clear. We're not talking about a role back to where we were a month ago. Alright as just a scout up will scale back. That's the way through this and as we said consistently, we're essentially working to a six -month window here around tackling Corona virus and it is based around the hope that the vaccine will come along in six months time. So I've been up front territories. We're gonna work this through for six months, the Prime ministers said the same thing fact they've every leader We're working to essentially a six -month time frame around it. We've got to find a way for this to be sustainable. Now I think in the territory we've done this pretty well we haven't had to, for example in force on two people with advised on two and enforced on 10 so that's a much more sustainable position already then New South Wales Victoria. Now I get why they've done what they've done. They've had community transmission. They've had it go further than us, but so we are already in some ways. they're much more sustainable position for how we maintain what we do over a six -month period, but you know let's be I want the economy ticking over I want people in jobs I do, but it has to come second to me, making the decisions that lead to lives being saved. So if I can get the economy going again, I will, but I'll do that against the medical advice of the data and let's work that through. Could you explain, maybe what theoretically could be a first step of of easing chief. I'm reluctant again to hypotheticals, but I think it would be reasonable to look at the way we scaled up. It's the most obvious way to scale. Dan again, but you might that decision in an informed way and you do that through the medical advice and you do that. based on the data you got in front of you. I've been cafes or something like that. So when you say you have cherished day, what does that look like that? they will be able to go out and mingle by them or how this territory I look like this year well territory day this year will be very different. Everyone's gonna have to find their way to celebrate what being a territory in is for them. the big difference obviously is no crackers and none of those major events that we normally do for for territory day, but what I've said consistently now for a month. It's been a tester best territory and you can be go out and support a local business by local shop local the same thing. On territory day, find a way to celebrate being a territorial, but you have to do that that saying of a firework, there are limits on how much alcohol we can purchase at the moment. Will we be allowed to get married on July? You might not feel too good in July two but obviously the amount of alcohol you choose to consume at home is your decision to make we do allow the sale of alcohol in the Northern territory. There's been some National restrictions around that, but they're pretty generous restrictions. There's also been some work in down and Palmisano, making sure that people are are drinking at a at a residential address. Citrus Essential Sorry drinking a presidential address so we don't support Mass gatherings but you know. Well, the government ban evictions like every other jurisdiction in the country. Yes, we're working towards what's essentially an effective moratorium around residential tenancies for hardship. so we've got some hardship provisions. We're working on how we put that into legislation and the Minister responsible if they have more to say on that soon, do you accept that people are getting evicted already though, and maybe something needs to happen like as soon as I can. This is extremely complicated bill that we're working on we've consulted extensively with assisted general and the Commerce. The general be honest like it's actually extremely difficult area for us to work through. so there's a lot of people a lot of people working. I've had a chat with how we manage to deliver this. I think we've got something we can do and we'll be looking to do that really soon about how we provide those protections for hardship. There are existing hardship provisions in the act. so there's there's not like there's no safety net. the moment we're looking at how we can improve that safety net the territories just in a in a unique position compared to the States on it extension of the home improvements game now topping up the stimulus that you've already got out there would you expect that you'll need to go any further? In terms of support for the economy now, oh, so we'll keep monitoring this and we'll keep scaling up as we need to. I think we've made the most significant decisions we needed to today, so you know having those power bills for businesses and hardship find that pay tax payroll tax relief for businesses in hardship working with the councils. I think the councils for how we provide the right relief and provide the security around commercial tenancies, the business survival funds that the work we're doing now to match the gaps and job keeper to help look after business and operational ongoing basis. So we've done significant amount of work in this space One thing I am worried about or and monitoring is the impact of this over a 12 -month period, so I wanna make sure people have confidence that they can see a future we will get on out on the other side of this. I wanna show everyone is with me on that. We've done a lot of stimulus programs in the amount of six month window with now extended across the 12 -month window at those things. That's a genuine reflection over the low season in the Center around Christmas, You know, obviously the wet season up here. That's a traditional economic low patch. So how do we get people through from now to essentially this time? Might be looking to expand expand some other stimulus for that extra 12 months rather than sticking to that right now, I'd say watching brief rather active plans, and I think what we've done with HHS has been pretty good and we'll get a lot of money flowing through the economy over that period. How are we what plans have you guys put in place for you know places like high schools where students move around on the hour by real desks to be clean? Like what's what's the solution? so they'll be managed internally on on school grounds, but let's be clear school can operate essentially like normal. We we don't have community transmission. We've had no new cases for the 10 days. we're in a very good position here. I've asked for some common sense advice that will be distributed to schools, but how they manage some of those things and they'll be managed on a school by school basis against those guidelines but we are in a really good position in the NT and that's due to territorial. choose a fantastic advice for my health experts, a student the place and lots of others. I should start doing thank you. I'm not gonna miss somebody we are the same. Place in the country right now, that means that we can maintain essential services like schools. that's critical. I do think it's important right now, a little pandemic that we let our children leave the most normal lives that they can and that our children keep learning and our teachers are the best people possible to spend time with our kids. We gotta make sure that teachers are safe at the same time and I can give that guarantee as well based off that medical advice that both teachers and students will be safe in our schools and we can we can essentially wear possible now living normal life can what announced today. There'll be a program of testing in remote communities are you aware how that will be implemented here or which communities will get access? So that's what we'll talk about more detail tomorrow and that goes to that that need we have to make sure we're doing random testing and that just goes to having that good monitoring of what's going on in the community, which also we've been following that National testing regime with probably one of the best countries in the world at testing but now as you move into that surveillance phase, so I think the way that the Chief medical officer describes it just might give yourself that conference about how you're managing. Success of your restrictions and give you the the data you need to make some of these decisions moving forward. This is a really good announcement from our Minister, White Mister Hunt and Minister Files talk more about it tomorrow and we also saw some federal Labor members calling for Virgin to get help to ensure airline services to the territory is that something that you think should be a priority for the federal government. It is a party for the federal government so again I think they'll say more about that extremely soon, but the deputy Prime Minister has been doing an excellent job talking about quantum and Virgin about. We maintain services around the country, but obviously to the territory as well, I thank them for that work. It is critical that we maintain those services not just for passengers of people who might be returning home to the territory but pets even more importantly for frightened supplies that we do need here in the territory when we begin to flow from the 50 million dollars Small Business Arrival fund and if it is dependent on emergency legislation that passed how soon after April 20 -fourth in businesses expect the cash it's already But there's important point to Miki a kinda please ask businesses to do their best and filling out the paperwork right up front. so unfortunately, two thirds of businesses filling out the business survival paperwork a fling it out correctly. There's two really obvious areas where they need to do better. They are putting the turnover information. so that's about whether you qualify for the scheme or not so they're not putting in the right information around their drop in turnover. So are they eligible important point. We need to know if you're eligible and they're not putting in the information around their FDA's, which goes how much money they get so two thirds of applications. Doing that now, unfortunately, that slows everything right down to the Department and then follow up those businesses and do a lot more work to get those applications up to scratch. So please I'm just asking you. We wanna get this money out as quickly as possible. We need your help to do that. please fill out those forms correctly but we're already getting money at the door Run our small business survival fund. Okay. Thank you.