Minister for Indigenous Australians
Subjects: Garma 25th anniversary, Closing the Gap, Economic Empowerment, referendum, Northern Territory funding, truth telling.
FAUZIA IMBRAHIM, HOST: Indigenous leaders at the Garma Festival in North East Arnhem Land are urging a rethink on solving critical problems facing First Nations communities. While yesterday's announcement of an economic plan for First Nations communities to prosper has been widely welcomed, there are still concerns over other challenges for the Indigenous community.
THOMAS ORITI, HOST: Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy spoke with Bridget Brennan in Gulkula in North East Arnhem Land. And she began by reflecting on the strength and power of the Yolngu people.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Resilience is an incredibly significant word when you think of where First Nations people are today in terms of, I think the words of Djawa, we just keep moving forward. And when you come to Gulkula, that's exactly what you see here and what you hear here.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: 25 years is an amazing achievement, just built from a family camp to what we see now. Why do you think Ministers such as yourself and Prime Ministers have felt such a connection with this place?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes, it is remarkable, 25 years. In fact, I remember coming probably my first time around, 20 years ago, and it's certainly changed and evolved over that time and much bigger. What was important for this trip, for me in particular, as Indigenous Australians Minister, was to have my colleagues here. It's an incredibly difficult challenge that I have with regards to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. But I have emphasized, not only to my colleagues, but state and territory cabinets, that it's their responsibility as well. And not every Indigenous Australians or Indigenous Minister across Australia should be the one to solely carry that burden. It has to be a shared one, because the agreement was a shared agreement.
BRIDGET BRENNAN. So, they're really shouldering that weight. And is that a refreshed message in this term of Parliament as well?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It's one I brought in when I came specifically into the role 12 months ago now, to reach out across the Parliament to all parliamentarians from all persuasions, irrespective of their beliefs or views. I reach out because I believe the issues impacting First Nations families in this country are so dire around justice and our health, they should be above politics. And that means reaching out to everyone. And that's what I do, and it's my nature, I guess. But it is incredibly difficult at times, like here in the Northern Territory, when you see pieces of legislation come in that really does deeply impact, particularly on First Nations children.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: What's the significance of the Prime Minister's announcement on economic development? It feels like he's really put the meat on the bones to the announcement he made last year here at Garma.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely, I mean, one of the things that Australians can see with our Prime Minister is that this is a man who was committed and is committed to improving the lives of First Nations people. He became Prime Minister with the commitment of the referendum and he took our country to a referendum. And as you heard Djawa Yunupingu say there today, as did the late Mr Yunupingu, that the Prime Minister kept his promise and he did. We didn't win that referendum, but again, as Djawa said today, we keep moving forward and that's what we do.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: No regrets on the timing of the referendum? Do you ever wonder now, in this term of Parliament, with such a big mandate, whether now would have been the time where it could have been won?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, I'm sure people sit around the fires at night and reflect on all of those things, but in our position, we just have to get on with the job. This is where we are, this is where our country's at. And we're incredibly grateful for the support of all Australians around the nation to put us overwhelmingly back into the Australian Parliament for the 48th Parliament.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: Yingiya Guyula earlier today gave a very powerful and emotional address where he said Aboriginal people right now fear the NT Government. Are you hearing that sentiment also?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I hear a lot of things. A lot of things and a lot of concerns around where the direction of the Northern Territory Government is going. I do want to meet with the Chief Minister. I have some important conversations to have with her and I do look forward to having those.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: Have you heard back? Is she open to meeting with you?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, I'm certainly pushing for a meeting and I've requested one and I certainly hope I will have one in coming weeks now that our federal parliamentary sittings are over for a little while.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: Does it trouble you that there are children in watch houses being held in solitary confinement with the lights on, sometimes for 48 hours at a time?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I've been to the prisons in Alice Springs and in Darwin and spoke with the corrections staff as well as the prisoners, and also with the Northern Territory Police Association. I am deeply troubled by what I've seen and what I've heard. And this is a conversation I'd like to have directly with the Chief Minister.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: Could you, as the Productivity Commission suggested on ABC News, consider reducing funding to the Northern Territory Government or tying that funding to better outcomes for Aboriginal people in the justice system?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I spoke in the Senate this week about what we're trying to do at the Commonwealth level. It is important to be very aware of the fact that nearly 80% of the funding of the Northern Territory comes from the Commonwealth and that's not just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or projects. That's actually for all citizens of the Northern Territory. So, we have to be very responsible at the Commonwealth level about how we respond to those requests. And also, in terms of the federal funding agreements of states with the Commonwealth. Again, I would seek input from my colleagues who I'm really pleased to see have joined me here, so that this is something that we can all work together collectively on as a Cabinet.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: You said on News Breakfast that you were considering the findings of the Yoorrook Justice Report. So, groundbreaking the work of the Commission. Can you see a federal truth telling commission in this term of Parliament or into the future?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I think it's absolutely amazing what the Yoorrook Commission has done. It's wonderful to see the Commissioners also here at Gulkula as well sharing their stories. Victoria gives you a lot of hope. Even though I know they have their own challenges. Then when you see what's happening in New South Wales, Bridget, as well as South Australia, these are important journeys. I would say to your viewers that I am absolutely, absolutely open to hear what we can do going forward. The primary concern right now, though, is the concerns around justice and the high incarceration rates. But, hey, we're a smart country. I'm sure we can do both.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: What gives you a bit of hope for your final question with us? What gives you hope? Because we are facing many challenges as a people, but you continue to push on with a lot of optimism.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: What gives me hope is when I travel out across Australia to our communities, whether they're remote or whether they're in the capital cities, I see our young people coming through and our policies working. The rangers that I'm rolling out across the country, a thousand rangers, 700 of whom I want to be given to women, to see more of our women in positions, the food security policies, so that we've got over 70 stores that we're targeting with another 70 on top of that going forward to make it cheaper in terms of cost of living for First Nations families. That's working. We had 500 health traineeships that we're rolling out. We've got every single one of those traineeships appointed now and over 100 have graduated. This gives me absolute hope. It shows that the kinds of policies we're putting out there are working. It takes a bit of time, but gee whiskers, you can see it moving now.
BRIDGET BRENNAN: Malarndirri McCarthy, thanks so much.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thank you.
