Utopia (2013) s04e04 Episode Script
Mission Creeps
My vision for this country - Roads, rail.
- Right across Australia.
- We are in the age of infrastructure.
- The dawn of a new era.
Take this country to the 21st century.
- Bucketloads of bitumen and bricks.
- Building a stronger country.
Record spending We're spending more than any government has ever spent.
- $44 billion.
- $75 billion.
- $100 billion.
- It's big money in anyone's language.
- This is a nation-building - Nation-building.
- Nation-building.
- Nation-building.
- Nation-building.
- Nation-building.
Nation-building.
But this year's priority list is also significant because it comes at a particularly pivotal time for infrastructure decision-making in Australia.
- (LOUD CHATTER) - So, how are these priorities ranked? As we can see here, we adhere to a clear process that takes into account a more holistic view (TAPS MIC) Morning.
Hey.
KATIE: So, how did it go? - Like they all do.
- Oh.
OK.
Now, you've got the Australian Business Council at 11:30.
Haven't I just met with them? No, that was the Australian Business Advisory Forum.
Just a quick get-together.
And Terry would love to catch up.
- Who's Terry? - From Places Victoria.
She said she met you at the business breakfast this morning.
- She wants five minutes.
- It's never five minutes.
Why does she want to see me? To get your thoughts on infrastructure prioritisation.
- That's what my speech was about.
- She couldn't hear you.
Seriously, no more business breakfasts.
- And Terry? - No more Terrys.
- I'll send her a copy of your speech.
- OK.
- Tony, can I - Just hold on a second, Scotty.
Just got to jump on a few things.
- Seriously, I need some clear air.
- Of course.
- Door? - Shut.
Closed.
- Oh - Got a minute? (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) Oh, come on.
You're too kind.
I didn't realise you guys would even know.
- You tweeted it.
- What was the category? Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Design.
Remember the biotunnels at Bullengarook? - Did you make a speech? - A few words.
- Five minutes.
- Who told you that? - You were live streaming.
- Did we get a mention? - Um - Nope.
It was more just a general sort of acknowledgement.
- I was getting the wind-up.
- Can I have a look? - Just watch the - NAT: Congratulations, Ash.
- Who told you? - You Instagrammed.
I did actually mention this at the breakfast this morning, Daniel.
You couldn't hear? I'll get Katie to send you a copy.
OK, mate.
I've got to go.
Yep, alright.
Cheers.
Sorry about that.
So Just got a call from the minister.
Reshuffle.
- Another one? - Good result.
He's also now Minister for Digital Transformation.
- Our guy? - On the rise.
- He still uses a fax machine.
- He'll be briefed.
Jim, there's been five ministers for digital transformation in as many years.
And he's keen to hit the ground running.
Looking for ideas.
And guess who he asked to see first.
- Oh, Jim, I'm flat out.
- 10 minutes.
- Good man.
- (KNOCKS) Now? Uh And on Thursday, you've got the regional advisory team.
Who's advising who? I'll check.
They just want a quick one-on-one in the boardroom.
Why the boardroom? I think there's more than one coming.
- Would you mind handling that? - Sure.
- OK, I think that's about it.
- The award.
Oh, the award, yeah.
I think most of you will have heard.
We won an award on Friday night, so congratulations, of course Thanks, Tony.
.
.
go to everyone involved in the project.
- I said that on the night.
- Not really.
OK, are we done? Oh, Scotty wanted to mention something.
- Just quickly.
- A new podcast.
Another one? I've got about 15 recommendations I've yet to get to.
No, I think we should be DOING a podcast.
- Oh, yes! - Yes! That's great.
A chance to get our message out, let the people know what we're doing.
What happened to the YouTube channel? Wrong demo.
Wasn't getting the views.
I reckon a podcast is the way to go.
A lot of other departments are doing them.
- Defence have two.
- Two?! - Yeah.
- Good week to start, with the award.
Whoa, whoa.
You know what? I think we've all got a lot going on.
Maybe not right now.
Sure.
Let's keep it all in house.
Yep.
OK.
Good meeting.
- (LIFT BELL DINGS) - Oh! Nice to see you, Minister.
- Yeah, let's do it.
Let's do it.
- Great.
Yeah, no.
- Pretty eventful week.
- It has been, it has been.
- Just at the end, I think.
- Sure.
Alright, so I'll just action that.
(TAPS REPEATEDLY) - It's not working again.
- Wrong end.
I'll do it later.
The point is, Tony, it's a brave new world.
What some countries are doing with their digital agenda Actually, I've got a clip here from Gizmodo that will absolutely - It's not playing.
- Try to refresh it.
How do I do that? It doesn't - We'll send through the file.
- The link.
Both.
So, digital transformation.
Oh, yeah, and congratulations, Minister.
- Thank you.
I was - TABLET: Hey, Gizmodos, what is up? Today, we're gonna take So, here we are ready to hit the ground running.
Great.
Can you take note of that, Scotty? I've had some great meetings with the department.
- Really? - They're keen to get moving on this.
- Are they? Yeah, I'm sure.
- (PHONE DINGS) Actually, that is the secretary right now.
- Who am I? The labrador? - Yep.
OK, so, I just let him know that I've received it.
Shouldn't it make the whoosh, the sound? The department, Minister? You were saying? Right, right.
What I said to them, I'm gonna say to you - (WHOOSH!) - There it goes.
There it goes! We're looking for big ideas.
Blue sky thinking.
It's the same challenge.
OK, well, we're happy to have a think.
- We'll put together a brief, Scotty.
- Yep.
Love to hear what you can bring to the table.
Oh, great.
Oh, just before you head off, Minister, can I have a quiet word with you - Yeah, of course.
- .
.
in regards to the Can I just warn you over the Can I just Sure.
Often in situations like this, the department's got a big scheme they've been sitting on just waiting for a new minister to come along so they can reintroduce it as if it's a fresh idea.
They'll have to get up pretty early to pull a stunt like that on me.
- (LIFT BELL DINGS) - What was that? - The lift.
- Ah! - Yep? - I just got an interesting email.
Subject heading, "Delegacion de investigacion ambiental.
" Environmental fact-finding delegation.
- They're actually from Peru.
- Oh, OK.
Coming out for a few weeks, most of the time in Queensland, but they've flagged a visit here.
- Here? - I'll cc you.
- My tunnels! - Our biotunnels, yes.
Oh, my God.
We've gone global! Now, before you start tweeting, are you happy to oversee? Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
There's a few questions they want answered I'll get right onto it.
Oh, Courtney.
I've got an overseas delegation coming next week.
- They want to do a site visit.
- Great.
I'll book a restaurant.
No, no, no.
An actual site visit.
- KATIE: You remember Heather.
- My world's full of Heathers.
- From the Infrastructure Council.
- Oh, that Heather.
She just wants a few minutes.
- Why have you allocated half an hour? - Because it's Heather.
Scotty? Scotty? - Everything OK? - Yeah.
The Attorney General Department's podcast is now weekly.
Is it? Weird.
You know what? Maybe we give it a go.
- Nah.
If you think it's a bad idea - No, I didn't say it was a bad idea.
- If you don't want to do it - No, no, I do.
You know what? Let's give it a go.
- Really? - Let's test it.
- What, like a pilot? - Yeah, yeah.
Like a pilot.
- If you think it's a good idea - Yeah, let's do it.
- It's your call.
- My call is yes.
I mean, if you think it's a bad idea, we don't have to do it.
No, let's do it.
And we can use those tools to promote emerging technologies in partnership with the private sector, so, a national partnership program.
Mmm.
It's a bit narrow.
Uh, a national um Yeah? OK.
Well, another area we're looking at is start-ups.
So, there's lots of ways to ease the regulatory burden and really, sort of, streamline outcomes and to - Right.
- Yep.
Is there something wrong? No.
No, no.
It's very it's useful.
- Very comprehensive.
- Yep.
I just wonder whether we're missing an opportunity.
- Oh - Maybe a podcast.
- An opportunity to be bold.
- Absolutely.
Now, I had a very interesting meeting with the department.
In fact, I took a snapshot of the whiteboard.
Now, they believe with the right sort of implementation, we can - That's not round the right way.
- Oh.
Just - No, no, I want it I want it - Well, try turning it back.
It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter.
Anyway, they came up with a proposal.
I actually don't know how they managed to pull it together at such short notice.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
What is it? It's a Universal Identification Number.
- A UIN.
- You heard of them? - Not by that name.
- It's pretty cutting-edge.
Every citizen will be able to seamlessly access all government services.
- Like an ID card? - No, no, no.
It's a UIN.
Right, yeah, but if it's gonna be some sort of top-down data-grabbing surveillance scheme No, no, I think we might be a lap ahead of you on this.
- Might be.
- This is to help people f - What was I saying earlier? - Press Club launch? - No, no, no, before that.
- Citizen-centric.
Yep.
We have to bring the people along with us.
- You're in the driver's seat.
- It's an early draft, OK? Our eyes only.
Just love to see if you can pick any holes in it.
Yeah, I'm just not sure whether this is in our wheelhouse.
Are you kidding? This is exactly what the NBA should be doing.
- Right.
- It's digital nation building.
Digistructure.
Can you write that down? Use my styli.
- It's very exciting.
- No, it is.
No, well - Minister, if I could just - Yep.
Minister, I'll have a look at the proposal.
Excellent.
But can I just ask you to promise me that you don't make any moves until we've had a chance to assess it? I'll do better than that.
Diary, note to self.
Call Tony Woodford seven days from now re departmental proposal.
Great.
Yeah, that didn't record.
- We'll do it in the car.
- (LIFT DOORS OPEN) - That's going up, sir.
- Right.
- Oh, well, let's try that again.
- Note to Tony - The microphone's at the end.
- Note RANGER STACEY: I sure won't be crawling through here.
But I tell you who soon will be, mountain pygmy possums.
One of our cutest critters, the pygmy possum, is sadly endangered, so when this road was built through their backyard, engineers came up with the bright idea to build tunnels, biotunnels, so these precious possums could cross the road without tangling with traffic.
I thought we could show the delegation.
Maybe book the theatrette.
I think they just want to visit our tunnels.
- Play it on the bus? - Sure.
- Have you finished their questions? - Almost.
I'm thinking of presenting them with a booklet.
We could add a USB of the Totally Wild episode.
Yeah.
The questions.
I think a USB.
- KATIE: He just wants a minute.
- That's what he said last time.
No, he said a couple of minutes last time.
Yeah, then he turned up with three assistants and a data projector.
- I'll see if Nat can do it.
- OK.
Oh, and what about Andrew from Projects New South Wales? He just wants five minutes, says he can do a quick lunch Tuesday.
Where can you have lunch in five minutes? - Drive-through? - No.
- Nat? - (LOUD BANGING) Oh, it's for the podcast! They're soundproofing the reference room.
- Yep.
- Did Scott have a chance to ask you? About? (WHISPERS) I think he wants to interview you for the pilot episode.
(WHISPERS) There's no need to whisper.
They're behind a mattress.
He said it would only take 10 minutes.
- Sure.
- OK.
- Got a minute? - Yep.
Just spoke to the minister.
Heard your meeting went well.
- In what sense? - Digistructure! - That was his word.
- Apparently you nodded.
We might be onto something.
- Has the minister read this thing? - How long is it? - Oh, 180 pages.
- Doubt it.
- Does he know it's an ID card? - No, it's a UIN.
Doesn't matter what you call it.
It's gonna end up being an ID card.
Wouldn't have thought so.
And between you and me, we're getting a very positive response.
- From? - Other departments.
I thought we said it was our eyes only.
Oh, he's just seeking feedback.
And check this list.
ATO, tick.
AFP, tick.
Attorney General, ASIO, Border Force, very keen.
Jim, what do all those organisations have in common? Bold thinkers? They're all involved in surveillance, enforcement, revenue collection, prosecution Hey, hey, hey, hey! It's just a discussion panel.
Let him take this thing for a run.
Tony, Heather's here.
- Which Heather? - I'll check.
Yep.
Uh-huh.
Yep.
- Do you think we should get it bound? - What about the cost? It's $4.
50 to laminate, but leather would be Of the biotunnels.
They wanted a figure.
Yeah, it's kind of hard to lock down.
Let's just look up the works budget.
Yeah, but that's a big effort to find Here it is.
Open the spreadsheet, hit Control-7.
- I guess that's - Scroll to final costings Yeah, but what's final? It's tricky Alterations and modifications.
Add those two columns and you've got (YELLS) Holy shit! (KNOCK ON WINDOW) - Sure you don't want some cans? - No, I'm fine.
- What? - I'm fine! Thanks, Tony.
Really appreciate this.
- We good to go? - What? - Are we good to go? - Yeah.
Actually, we might just move that mic in a little closer there, Brian.
- Yeah, I can do that.
- OK? Tony Woodford, welcome to Talkin' NBA.
Oh, It's good to be here.
In a nutshell, could you describe your role as CEO? Yeah, well, my main responsibility is to assess the viability of proj well, infrastructure projects and sort of arrange in a sort of a priority - Sorry, is there a problem? - No, it's fine.
You were just doing that.
Oh, it's just, the snappier, the better.
- I thought I was being snappy.
- A little waffly.
- Sure you don't want some cans? - No, I'm fine.
We'll do a pick-up.
We can drop the intro in later.
OK, yep.
Rolling! So, Tony, could you describe, succinctly, your role as CEO? Yes, my role is to assess the viability of infrastructure projects for government.
Now, that government might be federal, it might be state, it can be local councils, and so and after that - I reckon one more time from the top.
- OK, yep.
- Watch the waffle, Tony.
- Yep.
- ASH: That can't be right.
- $72 million?! How do you put a price on protecting our wildlife? I just did.
Control-7.
And when you consider everything we've achieved Do we actually know whether these tunnels have been a success? - We won the award.
- In terms of preserving possums? Well, Totally Wild did that story.
- Ash, Totally Wild is a kids' show.
- I watch it.
Not sure if you noticed, but they didn't actually show any possums using the tunnels.
Yeah, but they would be.
Wouldn't they? Uh, the entrance is up here, mate.
Beautiful, this whole area Um, up there, yep.
And then we head towards that Very exciting to be on the world stage.
- NAT: Mmm.
- ASH: Is that possum poo? Uh, no, wallaby.
So, Peru - And would wallabies use the tunnel? - Wouldn't have thought so, no.
- We're all very chuffed.
- Yeah.
Uh, just out of interest, Graham, how successful have the tunnels been? - Very successful.
- Really? - Yeah.
- And the evidence for that? - We just won that award.
- Sure You know that kids' TV show has been out here filming? - Totally Wild, yeah.
- Here the whole day.
When we come back with the delegations, we'd really like to show them some evidence that those $72 million tunnels (YELLS) $72 million?! SCOTT: Sorry, guys? We're recording atmos.
Some evidence that the tunnels are being used by actual possums.
Do you have any photos or footage? Uh we could set some cameras up, night vision, get some idea of population numbers, yeah.
Yeah? That'd be great.
- What about that? - Wombat.
- And would they? - Nope.
No, no, no.
Guys, just 30 seconds.
- That's all we need.
- That's it.
What's with all the people? Oh, a couple couldn't make it.
- What happened to a casual chat? - I put out biscuits.
Well, on behalf of the minister, I'd like to welcome everyone here this morning to the first meeting of this steering committee.
- Discussion panel.
- Discussion, steering, same thing.
Not really.
And I'd like to formally acknowledge the presence of Mr Tony Woodford from the NBA.
- Are we taking minutes? - Tony will be sitting in with us.
So, looking forward to his robust oversight.
- (ALL CHUCKLE) - Yeah, yep.
OK, well, we might as well make a start.
Everyone got a copy of the proposal? - Discussion paper.
- Yes, sorry, my mistake.
We've all read it, so I don't see any issues.
- So why don't we just fly on through? - Mm-hm.
- Page one.
- Yep.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Sorry, Peter, can we just go back a second? - Uh, six? - Page one.
- Uh, whereabouts? - First sentence.
"A UIN ID card scheme will help Australia counter identity theft.
" Beca I see no evidence.
I don't It just seems a claim, an ambit claim.
(LAUGHS) Alright, are we done? Y-yep.
Yep.
OK.
Well, let's get our skates on.
Page two.
Three.
Four.
- Five - Page two.
"The proposed numeric identification system - Uh, the UIN.
- ".
.
will be voluntary.
" Yes.
But we don't mean to impose.
I mean, you're in the driver's seat.
Yeah, but then it goes on to say - Sorry, which page again? - Page two.
"Non-registration may result in ineligibility "for prescribed government services, health, welfare, etc.
" - Your point? - Not really voluntary.
Well, they still have a choice.
Well, in the same sense someone being blackmailed has a choice.
- You're still in the driver's seat.
- Er, driving where? Can we just maybe put a pin in this? We've got a lot to get through before we sign off.
Who said we were gonna sign off? Oh, just on the exploratory discussion stage Yeah, right.
OK.
Sure.
Yep, OK.
Well, let's move on.
We are all making great progress, everyone.
So, page three, four, five Yeah, still page two, Alison.
Actually, come back to one.
Bottom of one.
NAT: Alright, I'm calling it.
I'm going home.
- Have you heard Treasury's podcast? - No.
Mint Condition.
Lame.
- Right.
'Night.
- 'Night.
- Hey.
- Hi.
What's that? Got the live feed from the biotunnels.
- Oh, how's it looking so far? - It's only just gone dark.
Might need to give it another half an hour or so.
OK.
See you in the morning.
- Morning, Courtney.
- COURTNEY: Good morning, Tony.
Are you able to organise a courier for me? Certainly, Tony.
A courier? I look forward to completing that task for you in a timely manner.
- I'm recording atmos for a podcast.
- Oh, right.
Yeah, no.
Just talk naturally.
Oh, yeah.
Well, thanks for organising the courier.
That'll be most helpful to get the documents to where they need to go.
- Tony? - Mmm? I just got an iCal alert from the minister.
Yep.
"Looking forward to seven-day update.
See attachment.
" Yep.
I don't think he knows how to add an attachment.
Right.
You might have to chase that up.
Oh, and have you got a few minutes for Rhonda? - Yep.
- And Jim? Is it the same few minutes? - I think so.
- OK.
I'll let them know, and I'll chase up that attachment.
Beauty.
Ash.
- Morning.
How'd you go? - Oh Oh I-I might have missed a few hours.
Yeah, but before you fell asleep? Not as many as we hoped.
But in total? In total, none.
- Not one possum? - So far.
I'll go back over the stuff I missed.
There'll be plenty.
- OK.
- We're fine.
We're fine, we're fine.
We'll be fine.
We're fine.
Fine.
KATIE: Are you at the office? No, no, I'm at the cafe.
I'm meeting Andrew.
Andrew who? From Infrastructure New South Wales.
You said he wanted five minutes for a quick coffee.
Oh, that Andrew.
Um, he just texted now.
He's running 15 minutes late.
For a five-minute catch up? The minister also wants a quick chat.
- When? - Today.
He sent you an iCal alert.
Did he? Oh, yeah, it IS for today, in the year 2055.
I'll get back to him.
Yes! Whoo-hoo! - Got something? - Yep.
Just then.
- It's a feral cat.
- I swear I saw a possum.
Wait.
- There! - In the cat's mouth! - That still counts.
- (CLICK!) - That's the minister now.
- (PHONE RINGS) TONY: OK.
Alright, there we are.
I'm getting you.
I've got Yep.
- Tony.
- Yep, I'm here.
- Where where? - Here.
I can't see him.
Uh, wait a minute.
- Ah, there he is.
- Ah.
OK.
Hey, Tony, I hear you're making great progress with the task force.
Yeah No, we're working our way through the discussion paper, yes.
Everyone's taking on board your concerns.
However, we have we've run into a bit of pushback.
In what sense? Well, just all these checks and balances of yours.
Are we tying the hands of our security agencies? See, this is what happens, Minister.
The minute you push back against an ID scheme, they start talking about terrorists and stopping the paedophiles and - Did they brief you too? - No.
No, no briefing, no.
OK, I hear what you're saying, but let's not lose our bold vision, yeah? No, I don't want to lose the vision at all, so - You're gone.
- No, I haven't gone anywhere.
I think he pressed something.
- Did you press something? - No, I didn't.
No.
- What - I think he must have.
What has he done? Sorry, Rhon, I'm just trying to find the minister's attachment.
Fine.
Shall we? - What about Jim? - Oh, we can start without him.
Sorry, Tony, you mentioned it'd be OK to record a meeting? - What? - Audio overlay for the podcast.
- Oh, are you OK with that? - Background only? - Yep.
- You'll edit it? - Sure, OK.
- Alright, alright.
Oh, I didn't realise that we - Oh, quickly, guys.
- Just a sec to set up.
OK.
Just set up quickly.
- The mic in there.
OK.
- Yep.
- Just get some levels.
- Yeah, one, two, three, four.
- Let's go - And rolling.
We're rolling.
Three two one Er, what's up? I've just had the chairman of the implementation task force on the phone, and apparently you're only up to page five.
Yeah, it's called a discussion panel.
And you've discussed.
Now, could we get MOVING?! - Ooh, she's peaking.
- Definitely.
OK, guys, come on You're tying the hands of our security agencies.
- I knew this was coming.
- We can't let the terrorists win.
- Or the paedophiles? - Oh, or the paedophiles.
Exactly.
Time to get back on Australia, my friend.
Rhonda, this whole thing is turning into a top-down, government-controlled data-grabbing exercise.
Ooh! Sounds like we're close.
No, we're not.
Jim, this is poor policy.
- Ooh, sorry, Tony, you're popping.
- I don't give a shit! - We'll beep that.
- I said this would happen! Back in the red there.
(SHOUTS) Got enough?! - Yep.
- Plenty.
Heaps.
Thank you.
Have a seat.
Thanks.
- G'day.
- Hi.
How's it going? Hi Thank you all for coming in at such short notice.
- I realise everyone is busy.
- Oh, we're happy to be here.
And may we extend our congratulations on the award.
Thank you.
Now, Ash and I have a few Um Would you mind? Oh.
Um, Ash? I guess the question we'd like answered today is, have the Bullengarook biotunnels been a success? - Oh, absolutely.
Very good.
- Yes.
And when you say that, in what way have they been successful? Uh, I think it's the message that they send.
What message is that? That this government is willing to commit significant funds to the right-sounding idea.
But in terms of species preservation, have we saved many pygmy possums? Uh, it's not really for me to say.
- You're head of the department.
- It's early days.
I mean, projects like this need to be assessed over a broad time line.
We found a survey from before the tunnels were built that put population at approximately 430 possums.
That sounds about right.
I mean, there's seasonal variations And after two nights of a survey this week, we've spotted seven possums, each in the mouth of a feral cat.
One was a fox.
Is it possible that the biotunnels have in fact become biofunnels, concentrating our possums into a regular food supply for feral cats who now wait at the entrance? It certainly is one scenario.
Is there another? That might explain the increase of cats.
- Mmm, and foxes.
- OK.
So I guess the immediate question is what to do now.
Uh, we could look at a longitudinal study - I mean now.
- We could start it now.
In order to save the remaining pygmy possums.
Oh.
Um We could, uh .
.
fence off the tunnels.
The $72 million tunnels? Yes.
Well, just until the study is completed.
OK.
All those in favour? - Yes.
- Why not? Huh? What? Sorry, Minister.
Thanks for making the time.
You look concerned.
I am.
I'm worried we're rushing the process, getting ahead of ourselves.
- Not on my watch.
- OK.
Oh.
Shall I show you this? - You've made a card? - Yeah, yeah, it's just a prototype.
But check out the hologram.
- Yeah, but is that an RFID chip? - What's an RFID chip? - It's - Hang on.
Don't tell me.
Hey, Siri, what's an RFID chip? SIRI: Radiofrequency identification uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.
- It's incredible.
- That's incredible.
This is exactly what I'm talking about, that we start off with a limited idea and then mission creep sets in.
Well, what's mission creep? SIRI: Mission creep is the gradual or It means in this context that the scheme expands into a top-down, centralised database where the citizens lose No, no, Tony Tony.
Tony, we need to give our security agencies the tools they need.
Yeah, but we have to have the highest level of regulatory oversight.
- We need full anonymisation.
- Well, what's anonymisation? Anonymisation is the type of information - Oh, can you just turn it off? - Yep.
- Just off.
- Yep.
It's off.
OK, Tony, I'll tell you what.
I'll take all your concerns on board.
Thank you.
You take another look at that draft bill.
- When did it become a bill? - We need to get our skates on.
- No, but this We're jumping - Just have a look at it.
- OK, well, I'll have a look, but - Can I have my card? COURTNEY: Tony? Stefan's here.
Yeah, I saw him in reception.
He's got six people with him.
Just wants five minutes.
That's 50 seconds each, not allowing for Stefan.
- I'll put them in the boardroom.
- Please.
- Oh, and Jim's here.
- Yep, I can see.
Tell you what, this UIN thing of yours is getting some traction.
- Yeah, it's not my thing.
- Biometrics.
- Looks like a mug shot.
- Yeah.
And check this out.
A passing police car can scan you.
Are they gonna add your DNA to it? (QUIETLY) Did you get the classified briefing? No.
Did you ask the Minister about my idea? What idea? Setting up a fully independent body to regulate the scheme.
Oh, a bit of pushback.
- Yeah? What did he say? - No.
Good news, though, loves the ad! What ad? Access to all government services? I'm on board.
(BEEP!) Getting payments direct to my account? I'm on board.
Making sure my family's protected from online predators? I'm on board.
Keeping us safe from terrorists? I'm definitely on board.
I'm on board.
VOICEOVER: Australia, it's time for all of us to get on board.
- (KNOCKS) Tony.
- Yep? - Did you hear the news? - Is it good? The podcast dropped last night.
- We're number four.
- Oh, well, that's that's great.
In the building and infrastructure category.
Still not bad for a pilot.
No, it Sorry, what did you just say? - Number four.
- No, before that.
- Dropped? - No, "pilot".
- Katie? Katie, can I grab you - You said we could do a pilot.
Oh, no, I said that.
Oh, no, no, definitely.
We pull the trigger.
Number four.
Amazing! (LAUGHS) Katie, what's the date for the next discussion panel? It's now an implementation authority.
Yeah, whatever.
I want to organise a special meeting.
All the department heads, minister, chief of staff, Jim, Rhonda.
Anyone who's had anything to do with the, uh - UIN.
- .
.
the UIN.
Yeah.
- ASH: What are we gonna do? - We can be up front.
Just admit it was a costly mistake.
- Or - Sounds better.
- .
.
we wait.
- Yes! - Review.
- The longitudinal study! Gain a better perspective.
I think a better perspective.
And rather than claiming all the credit, we share it.
Oh, yeah.
Let's share.
Definitely.
That still leaves us with our friends from Peru.
- Oh.
Well, we can't do a site visit.
- No.
But they've travelled halfway around the world.
They're gonna want to see some form of wildlife.
Who's having the wild rabbit? Whoa! Wild rabbit! "Ooh! Conejo salvaje!" Ha! Tony, your very own UIN.
Oh, very citizen-centric.
So, seriously, you're supportive now? Yeah, but I'm gonna suggest we start with a trial.
- Done.
I'm on board.
- OK.
- SCOTT: OK? - Yep, sure.
- MINISTER: Sorry we're late.
- Oh, Minister.
- Uh, do you mind if I FaceTime this? - No, not at all.
It's just there's a couple of Cabinet colleagues who want to hear the good news.
- Uh, other way round, Minister.
- Will you? Uh, let me begin by saying, on reflection, I think we should proceed.
- RHONDA: Ah.
Finally! - That's great, Tony.
I don't want to be a Luddite.
(LAUGHTER) What's a Luddite? SIRI: The Luddites were a secret oath-based organisation But I think we should start with a large-scale trial first.
- Like a pilot.
- Excellent.
I'm on board.
- (LAUGHTER) - Minister! And I'm suggesting we use Canberra.
You know, opt in everybody.
Citizens, public servants, staffers, MPs, ministers.
Cabinet ministers.
You know, get all their information.
Travel expenses, credit cards, phone records.
Track every meeting, every arrival, departure, dinner, free event.
You know, make it easy on you guys.
You meet with a lobbyist, whoosh!, everything's logged immediately.
On a database.
Forever.
I mean, get this card to tell us everything we need to know.
Who's on board? - I can't hear anything.
- Yeah, I've got nothing either.
Welcome to episode two of Talkin' NBA.
I'm joined by Natalie Russell.
So, Nat, the biotunnels.
Actually, can we stop tape? And so that's at 10:30? - Mm-hm.
- Mm-hm.
- Have we heard from Jim? - He's still not speaking to you.
- Rhonda? - Nup.
- Oh, the minister called.
- Oh, what did he want? - I think it was a butt dial.
- Yep.
OK.
- Was that a miaow? - Something's eating something.
- Right across Australia.
- We are in the age of infrastructure.
- The dawn of a new era.
Take this country to the 21st century.
- Bucketloads of bitumen and bricks.
- Building a stronger country.
Record spending We're spending more than any government has ever spent.
- $44 billion.
- $75 billion.
- $100 billion.
- It's big money in anyone's language.
- This is a nation-building - Nation-building.
- Nation-building.
- Nation-building.
- Nation-building.
- Nation-building.
Nation-building.
But this year's priority list is also significant because it comes at a particularly pivotal time for infrastructure decision-making in Australia.
- (LOUD CHATTER) - So, how are these priorities ranked? As we can see here, we adhere to a clear process that takes into account a more holistic view (TAPS MIC) Morning.
Hey.
KATIE: So, how did it go? - Like they all do.
- Oh.
OK.
Now, you've got the Australian Business Council at 11:30.
Haven't I just met with them? No, that was the Australian Business Advisory Forum.
Just a quick get-together.
And Terry would love to catch up.
- Who's Terry? - From Places Victoria.
She said she met you at the business breakfast this morning.
- She wants five minutes.
- It's never five minutes.
Why does she want to see me? To get your thoughts on infrastructure prioritisation.
- That's what my speech was about.
- She couldn't hear you.
Seriously, no more business breakfasts.
- And Terry? - No more Terrys.
- I'll send her a copy of your speech.
- OK.
- Tony, can I - Just hold on a second, Scotty.
Just got to jump on a few things.
- Seriously, I need some clear air.
- Of course.
- Door? - Shut.
Closed.
- Oh - Got a minute? (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) Oh, come on.
You're too kind.
I didn't realise you guys would even know.
- You tweeted it.
- What was the category? Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Design.
Remember the biotunnels at Bullengarook? - Did you make a speech? - A few words.
- Five minutes.
- Who told you that? - You were live streaming.
- Did we get a mention? - Um - Nope.
It was more just a general sort of acknowledgement.
- I was getting the wind-up.
- Can I have a look? - Just watch the - NAT: Congratulations, Ash.
- Who told you? - You Instagrammed.
I did actually mention this at the breakfast this morning, Daniel.
You couldn't hear? I'll get Katie to send you a copy.
OK, mate.
I've got to go.
Yep, alright.
Cheers.
Sorry about that.
So Just got a call from the minister.
Reshuffle.
- Another one? - Good result.
He's also now Minister for Digital Transformation.
- Our guy? - On the rise.
- He still uses a fax machine.
- He'll be briefed.
Jim, there's been five ministers for digital transformation in as many years.
And he's keen to hit the ground running.
Looking for ideas.
And guess who he asked to see first.
- Oh, Jim, I'm flat out.
- 10 minutes.
- Good man.
- (KNOCKS) Now? Uh And on Thursday, you've got the regional advisory team.
Who's advising who? I'll check.
They just want a quick one-on-one in the boardroom.
Why the boardroom? I think there's more than one coming.
- Would you mind handling that? - Sure.
- OK, I think that's about it.
- The award.
Oh, the award, yeah.
I think most of you will have heard.
We won an award on Friday night, so congratulations, of course Thanks, Tony.
.
.
go to everyone involved in the project.
- I said that on the night.
- Not really.
OK, are we done? Oh, Scotty wanted to mention something.
- Just quickly.
- A new podcast.
Another one? I've got about 15 recommendations I've yet to get to.
No, I think we should be DOING a podcast.
- Oh, yes! - Yes! That's great.
A chance to get our message out, let the people know what we're doing.
What happened to the YouTube channel? Wrong demo.
Wasn't getting the views.
I reckon a podcast is the way to go.
A lot of other departments are doing them.
- Defence have two.
- Two?! - Yeah.
- Good week to start, with the award.
Whoa, whoa.
You know what? I think we've all got a lot going on.
Maybe not right now.
Sure.
Let's keep it all in house.
Yep.
OK.
Good meeting.
- (LIFT BELL DINGS) - Oh! Nice to see you, Minister.
- Yeah, let's do it.
Let's do it.
- Great.
Yeah, no.
- Pretty eventful week.
- It has been, it has been.
- Just at the end, I think.
- Sure.
Alright, so I'll just action that.
(TAPS REPEATEDLY) - It's not working again.
- Wrong end.
I'll do it later.
The point is, Tony, it's a brave new world.
What some countries are doing with their digital agenda Actually, I've got a clip here from Gizmodo that will absolutely - It's not playing.
- Try to refresh it.
How do I do that? It doesn't - We'll send through the file.
- The link.
Both.
So, digital transformation.
Oh, yeah, and congratulations, Minister.
- Thank you.
I was - TABLET: Hey, Gizmodos, what is up? Today, we're gonna take So, here we are ready to hit the ground running.
Great.
Can you take note of that, Scotty? I've had some great meetings with the department.
- Really? - They're keen to get moving on this.
- Are they? Yeah, I'm sure.
- (PHONE DINGS) Actually, that is the secretary right now.
- Who am I? The labrador? - Yep.
OK, so, I just let him know that I've received it.
Shouldn't it make the whoosh, the sound? The department, Minister? You were saying? Right, right.
What I said to them, I'm gonna say to you - (WHOOSH!) - There it goes.
There it goes! We're looking for big ideas.
Blue sky thinking.
It's the same challenge.
OK, well, we're happy to have a think.
- We'll put together a brief, Scotty.
- Yep.
Love to hear what you can bring to the table.
Oh, great.
Oh, just before you head off, Minister, can I have a quiet word with you - Yeah, of course.
- .
.
in regards to the Can I just warn you over the Can I just Sure.
Often in situations like this, the department's got a big scheme they've been sitting on just waiting for a new minister to come along so they can reintroduce it as if it's a fresh idea.
They'll have to get up pretty early to pull a stunt like that on me.
- (LIFT BELL DINGS) - What was that? - The lift.
- Ah! - Yep? - I just got an interesting email.
Subject heading, "Delegacion de investigacion ambiental.
" Environmental fact-finding delegation.
- They're actually from Peru.
- Oh, OK.
Coming out for a few weeks, most of the time in Queensland, but they've flagged a visit here.
- Here? - I'll cc you.
- My tunnels! - Our biotunnels, yes.
Oh, my God.
We've gone global! Now, before you start tweeting, are you happy to oversee? Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
There's a few questions they want answered I'll get right onto it.
Oh, Courtney.
I've got an overseas delegation coming next week.
- They want to do a site visit.
- Great.
I'll book a restaurant.
No, no, no.
An actual site visit.
- KATIE: You remember Heather.
- My world's full of Heathers.
- From the Infrastructure Council.
- Oh, that Heather.
She just wants a few minutes.
- Why have you allocated half an hour? - Because it's Heather.
Scotty? Scotty? - Everything OK? - Yeah.
The Attorney General Department's podcast is now weekly.
Is it? Weird.
You know what? Maybe we give it a go.
- Nah.
If you think it's a bad idea - No, I didn't say it was a bad idea.
- If you don't want to do it - No, no, I do.
You know what? Let's give it a go.
- Really? - Let's test it.
- What, like a pilot? - Yeah, yeah.
Like a pilot.
- If you think it's a good idea - Yeah, let's do it.
- It's your call.
- My call is yes.
I mean, if you think it's a bad idea, we don't have to do it.
No, let's do it.
And we can use those tools to promote emerging technologies in partnership with the private sector, so, a national partnership program.
Mmm.
It's a bit narrow.
Uh, a national um Yeah? OK.
Well, another area we're looking at is start-ups.
So, there's lots of ways to ease the regulatory burden and really, sort of, streamline outcomes and to - Right.
- Yep.
Is there something wrong? No.
No, no.
It's very it's useful.
- Very comprehensive.
- Yep.
I just wonder whether we're missing an opportunity.
- Oh - Maybe a podcast.
- An opportunity to be bold.
- Absolutely.
Now, I had a very interesting meeting with the department.
In fact, I took a snapshot of the whiteboard.
Now, they believe with the right sort of implementation, we can - That's not round the right way.
- Oh.
Just - No, no, I want it I want it - Well, try turning it back.
It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter.
Anyway, they came up with a proposal.
I actually don't know how they managed to pull it together at such short notice.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
What is it? It's a Universal Identification Number.
- A UIN.
- You heard of them? - Not by that name.
- It's pretty cutting-edge.
Every citizen will be able to seamlessly access all government services.
- Like an ID card? - No, no, no.
It's a UIN.
Right, yeah, but if it's gonna be some sort of top-down data-grabbing surveillance scheme No, no, I think we might be a lap ahead of you on this.
- Might be.
- This is to help people f - What was I saying earlier? - Press Club launch? - No, no, no, before that.
- Citizen-centric.
Yep.
We have to bring the people along with us.
- You're in the driver's seat.
- It's an early draft, OK? Our eyes only.
Just love to see if you can pick any holes in it.
Yeah, I'm just not sure whether this is in our wheelhouse.
Are you kidding? This is exactly what the NBA should be doing.
- Right.
- It's digital nation building.
Digistructure.
Can you write that down? Use my styli.
- It's very exciting.
- No, it is.
No, well - Minister, if I could just - Yep.
Minister, I'll have a look at the proposal.
Excellent.
But can I just ask you to promise me that you don't make any moves until we've had a chance to assess it? I'll do better than that.
Diary, note to self.
Call Tony Woodford seven days from now re departmental proposal.
Great.
Yeah, that didn't record.
- We'll do it in the car.
- (LIFT DOORS OPEN) - That's going up, sir.
- Right.
- Oh, well, let's try that again.
- Note to Tony - The microphone's at the end.
- Note RANGER STACEY: I sure won't be crawling through here.
But I tell you who soon will be, mountain pygmy possums.
One of our cutest critters, the pygmy possum, is sadly endangered, so when this road was built through their backyard, engineers came up with the bright idea to build tunnels, biotunnels, so these precious possums could cross the road without tangling with traffic.
I thought we could show the delegation.
Maybe book the theatrette.
I think they just want to visit our tunnels.
- Play it on the bus? - Sure.
- Have you finished their questions? - Almost.
I'm thinking of presenting them with a booklet.
We could add a USB of the Totally Wild episode.
Yeah.
The questions.
I think a USB.
- KATIE: He just wants a minute.
- That's what he said last time.
No, he said a couple of minutes last time.
Yeah, then he turned up with three assistants and a data projector.
- I'll see if Nat can do it.
- OK.
Oh, and what about Andrew from Projects New South Wales? He just wants five minutes, says he can do a quick lunch Tuesday.
Where can you have lunch in five minutes? - Drive-through? - No.
- Nat? - (LOUD BANGING) Oh, it's for the podcast! They're soundproofing the reference room.
- Yep.
- Did Scott have a chance to ask you? About? (WHISPERS) I think he wants to interview you for the pilot episode.
(WHISPERS) There's no need to whisper.
They're behind a mattress.
He said it would only take 10 minutes.
- Sure.
- OK.
- Got a minute? - Yep.
Just spoke to the minister.
Heard your meeting went well.
- In what sense? - Digistructure! - That was his word.
- Apparently you nodded.
We might be onto something.
- Has the minister read this thing? - How long is it? - Oh, 180 pages.
- Doubt it.
- Does he know it's an ID card? - No, it's a UIN.
Doesn't matter what you call it.
It's gonna end up being an ID card.
Wouldn't have thought so.
And between you and me, we're getting a very positive response.
- From? - Other departments.
I thought we said it was our eyes only.
Oh, he's just seeking feedback.
And check this list.
ATO, tick.
AFP, tick.
Attorney General, ASIO, Border Force, very keen.
Jim, what do all those organisations have in common? Bold thinkers? They're all involved in surveillance, enforcement, revenue collection, prosecution Hey, hey, hey, hey! It's just a discussion panel.
Let him take this thing for a run.
Tony, Heather's here.
- Which Heather? - I'll check.
Yep.
Uh-huh.
Yep.
- Do you think we should get it bound? - What about the cost? It's $4.
50 to laminate, but leather would be Of the biotunnels.
They wanted a figure.
Yeah, it's kind of hard to lock down.
Let's just look up the works budget.
Yeah, but that's a big effort to find Here it is.
Open the spreadsheet, hit Control-7.
- I guess that's - Scroll to final costings Yeah, but what's final? It's tricky Alterations and modifications.
Add those two columns and you've got (YELLS) Holy shit! (KNOCK ON WINDOW) - Sure you don't want some cans? - No, I'm fine.
- What? - I'm fine! Thanks, Tony.
Really appreciate this.
- We good to go? - What? - Are we good to go? - Yeah.
Actually, we might just move that mic in a little closer there, Brian.
- Yeah, I can do that.
- OK? Tony Woodford, welcome to Talkin' NBA.
Oh, It's good to be here.
In a nutshell, could you describe your role as CEO? Yeah, well, my main responsibility is to assess the viability of proj well, infrastructure projects and sort of arrange in a sort of a priority - Sorry, is there a problem? - No, it's fine.
You were just doing that.
Oh, it's just, the snappier, the better.
- I thought I was being snappy.
- A little waffly.
- Sure you don't want some cans? - No, I'm fine.
We'll do a pick-up.
We can drop the intro in later.
OK, yep.
Rolling! So, Tony, could you describe, succinctly, your role as CEO? Yes, my role is to assess the viability of infrastructure projects for government.
Now, that government might be federal, it might be state, it can be local councils, and so and after that - I reckon one more time from the top.
- OK, yep.
- Watch the waffle, Tony.
- Yep.
- ASH: That can't be right.
- $72 million?! How do you put a price on protecting our wildlife? I just did.
Control-7.
And when you consider everything we've achieved Do we actually know whether these tunnels have been a success? - We won the award.
- In terms of preserving possums? Well, Totally Wild did that story.
- Ash, Totally Wild is a kids' show.
- I watch it.
Not sure if you noticed, but they didn't actually show any possums using the tunnels.
Yeah, but they would be.
Wouldn't they? Uh, the entrance is up here, mate.
Beautiful, this whole area Um, up there, yep.
And then we head towards that Very exciting to be on the world stage.
- NAT: Mmm.
- ASH: Is that possum poo? Uh, no, wallaby.
So, Peru - And would wallabies use the tunnel? - Wouldn't have thought so, no.
- We're all very chuffed.
- Yeah.
Uh, just out of interest, Graham, how successful have the tunnels been? - Very successful.
- Really? - Yeah.
- And the evidence for that? - We just won that award.
- Sure You know that kids' TV show has been out here filming? - Totally Wild, yeah.
- Here the whole day.
When we come back with the delegations, we'd really like to show them some evidence that those $72 million tunnels (YELLS) $72 million?! SCOTT: Sorry, guys? We're recording atmos.
Some evidence that the tunnels are being used by actual possums.
Do you have any photos or footage? Uh we could set some cameras up, night vision, get some idea of population numbers, yeah.
Yeah? That'd be great.
- What about that? - Wombat.
- And would they? - Nope.
No, no, no.
Guys, just 30 seconds.
- That's all we need.
- That's it.
What's with all the people? Oh, a couple couldn't make it.
- What happened to a casual chat? - I put out biscuits.
Well, on behalf of the minister, I'd like to welcome everyone here this morning to the first meeting of this steering committee.
- Discussion panel.
- Discussion, steering, same thing.
Not really.
And I'd like to formally acknowledge the presence of Mr Tony Woodford from the NBA.
- Are we taking minutes? - Tony will be sitting in with us.
So, looking forward to his robust oversight.
- (ALL CHUCKLE) - Yeah, yep.
OK, well, we might as well make a start.
Everyone got a copy of the proposal? - Discussion paper.
- Yes, sorry, my mistake.
We've all read it, so I don't see any issues.
- So why don't we just fly on through? - Mm-hm.
- Page one.
- Yep.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Sorry, Peter, can we just go back a second? - Uh, six? - Page one.
- Uh, whereabouts? - First sentence.
"A UIN ID card scheme will help Australia counter identity theft.
" Beca I see no evidence.
I don't It just seems a claim, an ambit claim.
(LAUGHS) Alright, are we done? Y-yep.
Yep.
OK.
Well, let's get our skates on.
Page two.
Three.
Four.
- Five - Page two.
"The proposed numeric identification system - Uh, the UIN.
- ".
.
will be voluntary.
" Yes.
But we don't mean to impose.
I mean, you're in the driver's seat.
Yeah, but then it goes on to say - Sorry, which page again? - Page two.
"Non-registration may result in ineligibility "for prescribed government services, health, welfare, etc.
" - Your point? - Not really voluntary.
Well, they still have a choice.
Well, in the same sense someone being blackmailed has a choice.
- You're still in the driver's seat.
- Er, driving where? Can we just maybe put a pin in this? We've got a lot to get through before we sign off.
Who said we were gonna sign off? Oh, just on the exploratory discussion stage Yeah, right.
OK.
Sure.
Yep, OK.
Well, let's move on.
We are all making great progress, everyone.
So, page three, four, five Yeah, still page two, Alison.
Actually, come back to one.
Bottom of one.
NAT: Alright, I'm calling it.
I'm going home.
- Have you heard Treasury's podcast? - No.
Mint Condition.
Lame.
- Right.
'Night.
- 'Night.
- Hey.
- Hi.
What's that? Got the live feed from the biotunnels.
- Oh, how's it looking so far? - It's only just gone dark.
Might need to give it another half an hour or so.
OK.
See you in the morning.
- Morning, Courtney.
- COURTNEY: Good morning, Tony.
Are you able to organise a courier for me? Certainly, Tony.
A courier? I look forward to completing that task for you in a timely manner.
- I'm recording atmos for a podcast.
- Oh, right.
Yeah, no.
Just talk naturally.
Oh, yeah.
Well, thanks for organising the courier.
That'll be most helpful to get the documents to where they need to go.
- Tony? - Mmm? I just got an iCal alert from the minister.
Yep.
"Looking forward to seven-day update.
See attachment.
" Yep.
I don't think he knows how to add an attachment.
Right.
You might have to chase that up.
Oh, and have you got a few minutes for Rhonda? - Yep.
- And Jim? Is it the same few minutes? - I think so.
- OK.
I'll let them know, and I'll chase up that attachment.
Beauty.
Ash.
- Morning.
How'd you go? - Oh Oh I-I might have missed a few hours.
Yeah, but before you fell asleep? Not as many as we hoped.
But in total? In total, none.
- Not one possum? - So far.
I'll go back over the stuff I missed.
There'll be plenty.
- OK.
- We're fine.
We're fine, we're fine.
We'll be fine.
We're fine.
Fine.
KATIE: Are you at the office? No, no, I'm at the cafe.
I'm meeting Andrew.
Andrew who? From Infrastructure New South Wales.
You said he wanted five minutes for a quick coffee.
Oh, that Andrew.
Um, he just texted now.
He's running 15 minutes late.
For a five-minute catch up? The minister also wants a quick chat.
- When? - Today.
He sent you an iCal alert.
Did he? Oh, yeah, it IS for today, in the year 2055.
I'll get back to him.
Yes! Whoo-hoo! - Got something? - Yep.
Just then.
- It's a feral cat.
- I swear I saw a possum.
Wait.
- There! - In the cat's mouth! - That still counts.
- (CLICK!) - That's the minister now.
- (PHONE RINGS) TONY: OK.
Alright, there we are.
I'm getting you.
I've got Yep.
- Tony.
- Yep, I'm here.
- Where where? - Here.
I can't see him.
Uh, wait a minute.
- Ah, there he is.
- Ah.
OK.
Hey, Tony, I hear you're making great progress with the task force.
Yeah No, we're working our way through the discussion paper, yes.
Everyone's taking on board your concerns.
However, we have we've run into a bit of pushback.
In what sense? Well, just all these checks and balances of yours.
Are we tying the hands of our security agencies? See, this is what happens, Minister.
The minute you push back against an ID scheme, they start talking about terrorists and stopping the paedophiles and - Did they brief you too? - No.
No, no briefing, no.
OK, I hear what you're saying, but let's not lose our bold vision, yeah? No, I don't want to lose the vision at all, so - You're gone.
- No, I haven't gone anywhere.
I think he pressed something.
- Did you press something? - No, I didn't.
No.
- What - I think he must have.
What has he done? Sorry, Rhon, I'm just trying to find the minister's attachment.
Fine.
Shall we? - What about Jim? - Oh, we can start without him.
Sorry, Tony, you mentioned it'd be OK to record a meeting? - What? - Audio overlay for the podcast.
- Oh, are you OK with that? - Background only? - Yep.
- You'll edit it? - Sure, OK.
- Alright, alright.
Oh, I didn't realise that we - Oh, quickly, guys.
- Just a sec to set up.
OK.
Just set up quickly.
- The mic in there.
OK.
- Yep.
- Just get some levels.
- Yeah, one, two, three, four.
- Let's go - And rolling.
We're rolling.
Three two one Er, what's up? I've just had the chairman of the implementation task force on the phone, and apparently you're only up to page five.
Yeah, it's called a discussion panel.
And you've discussed.
Now, could we get MOVING?! - Ooh, she's peaking.
- Definitely.
OK, guys, come on You're tying the hands of our security agencies.
- I knew this was coming.
- We can't let the terrorists win.
- Or the paedophiles? - Oh, or the paedophiles.
Exactly.
Time to get back on Australia, my friend.
Rhonda, this whole thing is turning into a top-down, government-controlled data-grabbing exercise.
Ooh! Sounds like we're close.
No, we're not.
Jim, this is poor policy.
- Ooh, sorry, Tony, you're popping.
- I don't give a shit! - We'll beep that.
- I said this would happen! Back in the red there.
(SHOUTS) Got enough?! - Yep.
- Plenty.
Heaps.
Thank you.
Have a seat.
Thanks.
- G'day.
- Hi.
How's it going? Hi Thank you all for coming in at such short notice.
- I realise everyone is busy.
- Oh, we're happy to be here.
And may we extend our congratulations on the award.
Thank you.
Now, Ash and I have a few Um Would you mind? Oh.
Um, Ash? I guess the question we'd like answered today is, have the Bullengarook biotunnels been a success? - Oh, absolutely.
Very good.
- Yes.
And when you say that, in what way have they been successful? Uh, I think it's the message that they send.
What message is that? That this government is willing to commit significant funds to the right-sounding idea.
But in terms of species preservation, have we saved many pygmy possums? Uh, it's not really for me to say.
- You're head of the department.
- It's early days.
I mean, projects like this need to be assessed over a broad time line.
We found a survey from before the tunnels were built that put population at approximately 430 possums.
That sounds about right.
I mean, there's seasonal variations And after two nights of a survey this week, we've spotted seven possums, each in the mouth of a feral cat.
One was a fox.
Is it possible that the biotunnels have in fact become biofunnels, concentrating our possums into a regular food supply for feral cats who now wait at the entrance? It certainly is one scenario.
Is there another? That might explain the increase of cats.
- Mmm, and foxes.
- OK.
So I guess the immediate question is what to do now.
Uh, we could look at a longitudinal study - I mean now.
- We could start it now.
In order to save the remaining pygmy possums.
Oh.
Um We could, uh .
.
fence off the tunnels.
The $72 million tunnels? Yes.
Well, just until the study is completed.
OK.
All those in favour? - Yes.
- Why not? Huh? What? Sorry, Minister.
Thanks for making the time.
You look concerned.
I am.
I'm worried we're rushing the process, getting ahead of ourselves.
- Not on my watch.
- OK.
Oh.
Shall I show you this? - You've made a card? - Yeah, yeah, it's just a prototype.
But check out the hologram.
- Yeah, but is that an RFID chip? - What's an RFID chip? - It's - Hang on.
Don't tell me.
Hey, Siri, what's an RFID chip? SIRI: Radiofrequency identification uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.
- It's incredible.
- That's incredible.
This is exactly what I'm talking about, that we start off with a limited idea and then mission creep sets in.
Well, what's mission creep? SIRI: Mission creep is the gradual or It means in this context that the scheme expands into a top-down, centralised database where the citizens lose No, no, Tony Tony.
Tony, we need to give our security agencies the tools they need.
Yeah, but we have to have the highest level of regulatory oversight.
- We need full anonymisation.
- Well, what's anonymisation? Anonymisation is the type of information - Oh, can you just turn it off? - Yep.
- Just off.
- Yep.
It's off.
OK, Tony, I'll tell you what.
I'll take all your concerns on board.
Thank you.
You take another look at that draft bill.
- When did it become a bill? - We need to get our skates on.
- No, but this We're jumping - Just have a look at it.
- OK, well, I'll have a look, but - Can I have my card? COURTNEY: Tony? Stefan's here.
Yeah, I saw him in reception.
He's got six people with him.
Just wants five minutes.
That's 50 seconds each, not allowing for Stefan.
- I'll put them in the boardroom.
- Please.
- Oh, and Jim's here.
- Yep, I can see.
Tell you what, this UIN thing of yours is getting some traction.
- Yeah, it's not my thing.
- Biometrics.
- Looks like a mug shot.
- Yeah.
And check this out.
A passing police car can scan you.
Are they gonna add your DNA to it? (QUIETLY) Did you get the classified briefing? No.
Did you ask the Minister about my idea? What idea? Setting up a fully independent body to regulate the scheme.
Oh, a bit of pushback.
- Yeah? What did he say? - No.
Good news, though, loves the ad! What ad? Access to all government services? I'm on board.
(BEEP!) Getting payments direct to my account? I'm on board.
Making sure my family's protected from online predators? I'm on board.
Keeping us safe from terrorists? I'm definitely on board.
I'm on board.
VOICEOVER: Australia, it's time for all of us to get on board.
- (KNOCKS) Tony.
- Yep? - Did you hear the news? - Is it good? The podcast dropped last night.
- We're number four.
- Oh, well, that's that's great.
In the building and infrastructure category.
Still not bad for a pilot.
No, it Sorry, what did you just say? - Number four.
- No, before that.
- Dropped? - No, "pilot".
- Katie? Katie, can I grab you - You said we could do a pilot.
Oh, no, I said that.
Oh, no, no, definitely.
We pull the trigger.
Number four.
Amazing! (LAUGHS) Katie, what's the date for the next discussion panel? It's now an implementation authority.
Yeah, whatever.
I want to organise a special meeting.
All the department heads, minister, chief of staff, Jim, Rhonda.
Anyone who's had anything to do with the, uh - UIN.
- .
.
the UIN.
Yeah.
- ASH: What are we gonna do? - We can be up front.
Just admit it was a costly mistake.
- Or - Sounds better.
- .
.
we wait.
- Yes! - Review.
- The longitudinal study! Gain a better perspective.
I think a better perspective.
And rather than claiming all the credit, we share it.
Oh, yeah.
Let's share.
Definitely.
That still leaves us with our friends from Peru.
- Oh.
Well, we can't do a site visit.
- No.
But they've travelled halfway around the world.
They're gonna want to see some form of wildlife.
Who's having the wild rabbit? Whoa! Wild rabbit! "Ooh! Conejo salvaje!" Ha! Tony, your very own UIN.
Oh, very citizen-centric.
So, seriously, you're supportive now? Yeah, but I'm gonna suggest we start with a trial.
- Done.
I'm on board.
- OK.
- SCOTT: OK? - Yep, sure.
- MINISTER: Sorry we're late.
- Oh, Minister.
- Uh, do you mind if I FaceTime this? - No, not at all.
It's just there's a couple of Cabinet colleagues who want to hear the good news.
- Uh, other way round, Minister.
- Will you? Uh, let me begin by saying, on reflection, I think we should proceed.
- RHONDA: Ah.
Finally! - That's great, Tony.
I don't want to be a Luddite.
(LAUGHTER) What's a Luddite? SIRI: The Luddites were a secret oath-based organisation But I think we should start with a large-scale trial first.
- Like a pilot.
- Excellent.
I'm on board.
- (LAUGHTER) - Minister! And I'm suggesting we use Canberra.
You know, opt in everybody.
Citizens, public servants, staffers, MPs, ministers.
Cabinet ministers.
You know, get all their information.
Travel expenses, credit cards, phone records.
Track every meeting, every arrival, departure, dinner, free event.
You know, make it easy on you guys.
You meet with a lobbyist, whoosh!, everything's logged immediately.
On a database.
Forever.
I mean, get this card to tell us everything we need to know.
Who's on board? - I can't hear anything.
- Yeah, I've got nothing either.
Welcome to episode two of Talkin' NBA.
I'm joined by Natalie Russell.
So, Nat, the biotunnels.
Actually, can we stop tape? And so that's at 10:30? - Mm-hm.
- Mm-hm.
- Have we heard from Jim? - He's still not speaking to you.
- Rhonda? - Nup.
- Oh, the minister called.
- Oh, what did he want? - I think it was a butt dial.
- Yep.
OK.
- Was that a miaow? - Something's eating something.