Minister for Indigenous Australians
Subjects: Perth terrorism charge
SALLY SARA, HOST: The attempted bombing of an Invasion Day rally in Perth last week has been declared a terrorist act. The West Australian Premier Roger Cook says a 31 year old man accused of throwing the homemade bomb has now been charged with engaging in a terrorist act.
This charge, which has been laid by the joint task force, alleges the attack on Aboriginal people and other peaceful protesters was motivated by hateful, racist ideology.
HOST: That's the WA Premier Roger Cook speaking yesterday. Well, Malarndirri McCarthy is the Minister for Indigenous Australians. She joined me earlier. Minister, welcome back to breakfast
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good morning, Sally, and hello to all your listeners.
HOST: Minister, you've been speaking to members of the Indigenous community in Western Australia. What have you heard from them since the attempted bombing was declared a terrorist attack?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, there is certainly, as I've said in the Parliament this week, in terms of the motion to the Parliament, that First Nations people have felt very scared and also angry and a bit confused. And it was important that we were able to gather yesterday in Perth with the Premier and for the Noongar Elders and rally organisers and organisations to come together and actually talk about how they're feeling and what the next steps are.
HOST: Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe says the alleged terrorist attack was initially greeted with silence and minimisation. Are some of her criticisms valid in your view?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I know Senator Thorpe certainly raised that in the Parliament and in the media. What my focus is though, Sally, is that we've still got a way to go here and it is important that First Nations families feel supported and that was really important yesterday to be able to work directly with them on that and in person. I am conscious that there are many views across the country, but my focus is to actually keep working with the families and those who were present at the rally and how we can get through these next couple of months. There's still a way to go.
HOST: Did it receive the public and political attention that it deserved?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, initially it certainly could have received far more attention in terms of media coverage and expression from other political leaders from other political parties. But I would have to say that this is actually not about a blame game anymore. What I heard from the Noongar families yesterday was how can we now go forward and feel safe in our own country? And that's what we have to work on now and that's what we're going to do.
HOST: Is it correct that the first comments from the Prime Minister on this issue were in response to a question rather than releasing a free standing statement?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It was certainly in response to a question.
HOST: Do you think in retrospect that it would have been preferable for the Prime Minister to make a public statement on its own rather than waiting for a question on this issue?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, this week when the Parliament came together, Sally, we saw incredible unanimity in this and it was so important to be able to send that message in a time when we see great division on the other side. I was incredibly proud that the Parliament, in both the Senate and the House of Reps, could send a message to all Australians, especially First Nations Australians, that the Parliament is behind them. This is of deep concern and that's where my focus remains.
HOST: What message does the federal government have for Indigenous Australians now that the attempted bombing has been met with terrorism charges?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, that we certainly stand with First Nations Australians, but all Australians in wanting to feel safe in this country, not just in rallies or protests where we can do that because we are a democratic country and we can do that peacefully and we have that as a right, but also in our everyday life, Sally. People were talking about, can they wear their shirts, can they wear their hats, can they go and walk around safely? I mean, these are the questions we're dealing with now. It's a very day to day need and I was there to certainly not only listen but also look at how I can work with the WA Government to assist all of those families who were involved on January 26. But also much further than this, we've got the Closing the Gap announcement next week, so I'll be making further announcements along with the Prime Minister. And this will be important about sending a clear message across our country that everyone, everyone deserves to live in this country and feel safe.
HOST: On Radio National Breakfast, I'm speaking with the Minister for indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Minister, you're limited in what you can say about this specific alleged incident in Perth due to the court case now underway. More generally, how would you describe the state of social cohesion in Australia right now?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, we all have to work on it, Sally, without a doubt. I said that in a press conference yesterday. Each and every one of us need to be vigilant about what we can do. The Police Commissioner of WA also called on Australians to report what they see. Now, we need this kind of assistance in terms of hatred, any racist behaviour, especially online. We all, every single one of us, need to be vigilant and also report what needs to be reported to authorities.
HOST: Has Australia become a more divided country in your view?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I'd like to think that these incidents will bring us much closer together, Sally. There is no doubt there has been concern about division, but my focus is on unity. The Prime Minister's focus is on unity and social cohesion. They were his first steps in regards to what happened in Bondi. They've continued to be that, it is our government's focus. We are very conscious of the different views in Australia, but that's what makes Australia a beautiful place. We can have different views, but we should show them respectfully and have those debates respectfully.
HOST: The Parliament passed new laws to combat hate last month. Do you believe these laws will better protect Indigenous Australians?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: They certainly are there to protect all Australians, Sally. It is important to do that. I am mindful there's a lot more work to do in this space and I'll certainly be doing that in terms of my particular role directly with First Nations people. Racism is an issue for us in this country. Clearly, we have to work all together. And I am calling on those on the crossbenches and those in the opposition. The Parliament is the place to also send a very clear message to the rest of Australia that this is who we are. We want to be a country that is very aware of one another and we have strong social cohesion. And we have to work very clearly on that.
HOST: Minister, thank you very much for your time this morning.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thank you, Sally.
