Minister for Indigenous Australians
STEWART BRASH, HOST: Yesterday, the feds were in town to open extra accommodation for families at the visitor park on Len Kittle Drive. They're also announcing more detail on their $8.5 million package for local tourism with the launch of the $1 million Alice Springs Revival and Resilience Grant program. Now, these grants are designed to help the region's economy, which has slumped, as we know, in recent years, over the spiralling crime in the region and cost of living pressures, making the centre an expensive option to visit. Now, two additional grant programs will be launched shortly to assist development of new experiences as well as promoting the Red Centre to get more domestic and international visitors. Now, the Revival and Resilience grant program, which opens for applications today, will invest $1 million into the Alice Springs and the regional economy. Let's talk to Minister Malarndirri McCarthy. Malarndirri McCarthy, good morning.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good morning, Stewart. And good morning to your listeners.
STEWART BRASH: Hey, can I ask a dumb question we've been speaking about, which is the -
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: You never ask dumb questions Stew.
Stewart brash: Some people might say otherwise. Now, the National Road Safety Action plan was recommending a 70k an hour or talking about consulting on a 70k speed limit on unsigned, unsealed roads. Now, to be honest, you know, you drive on a lot of unsealed, unsealed roads in the Northern Territory. Would you want to drive at 70 ks an hour, anywhere?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Look, it really depends on where you're driving, Stewart, but I think in terms of this particular consultation that the federal government has done and I believe it closed on the 10th of November, it is about the Department of Infrastructure actually researching to look at how roads can be safer. There has been such a massive increase in road accidents and I think it's a sensible thing to do to consult with the Australian community about the roads.
STEWART BRASH: But you wouldn't drive at 70 kilometres. We've got some good dirt roads, they could take 100, 110. I'm sure you would find it difficult to drive at 70.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, look, I think certainly wherever you are, you should always drive to what you're capable of being able to do, Stewart. But these speed limits are ones that responsible governments have to look at and I'd just say to the general community, hopefully you've been able to put in your submissions to this consultation. It is important. But we're losing way too many people, Stewart. That's the thing, we are losing way too many people on our roads, especially here in the Northern Territory.
STEWART BRASH: I don't know, I'm not doubting it. I just wonder if the speed limit is the issue in this one. Hey, let's talk about tourism dollars, million dollars which came out yesterday for the tourism industry. What's that going to do?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yeah, look, this is a really good opportunity for businesses in Alice Springs and also Central Australia more broadly, Stewart, to actually apply first. This is about revival and resilience. We know that it's tough in the tourism industry, but it's part of the overall package that we promised federally with $8.5 million for Central Australia, so this $1 million will assist those businesses who have up to 19 employees with an annual turnover of less than $5 million to be able to apply for these grants.
STEWART BRASH: Someone's already asked me and I think you've got an answer for this. What about the Barkly? This looks like for Alice and the MacDonnell region in general. Is the Barkly included?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: This is largely, my understanding is just for Central Australia, but if I'm wrong on this, I'll certainly call back to your program. But my understanding is it is specifically for Central Australia.
STEWART BRASH: I can hear tourism operators in Tennant Creek going, what about us?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I was actually in Tennant last month just talking to businesses there as well, Stewart, especially with regards to the Barkly Regional Deal and the Backbone mob. They are doing a terrific job. Obviously, we're investing in terms of the remote jobs, especially around Tennant Creek and Barkly.
STEWART BRASH: OK. Regarding tourism now, we've had two very bad years and I was speaking to operators, 2025 has been better. How much do you think the NT Government's efforts to cut crime have had in turning around the reputation of town? Because we've seen crimes stats show 16% drop in crimes against a person, 14% drop in crimes against property. Are the NTG doing the right thing to bring those crime rates down and make that town more attractive for tourism?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I think there's two ways to look at this. Firstly, the personal view of people on the streets and residents and families in Alice Springs. How do you feel? Do you feel safer? I think that's an important anecdotal question to ask.
STEWART BRASH: What are you hearing?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Secondly, in terms of data. Well, I'm certainly seeing, when I visit Alice and the regions that people are feeling, there's much more optimism than I've seen over the years. And it's really lovely, actually.
STEWART BRASH: So, congratulations for the CLP government because they've done a better job than the former Labor government.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I think it's a combination of what we've done federally. If I can look at it from that perspective, Stewart, that we invested considerably and continue to do so, and we will always work with whichever government's in power. It's important that the interests of Alice Springs residents comes first.
STEWART BRASH: You're hearing from the Senator for the Northern Territory, Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. Interesting question here, Senator. Can Malarndirri McCarthy write to the NT Government and offer to withdraw federal funding for the Santa Teresa road unless they build it? Is there any progress on the Santa T road? I know it's a small issue, but people are saying, where is it?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It's an absolutely important issue. And to that listener who's texted in, I hear you. I drove out to Wadeye to check their roads because we have federally given the Northern Territory Government the money to be able to apply to these particular roads, including Santa Teresa. In fact, I will follow that when I next come down to Alice. But I do want to see these roads completed and I know that Marion Scrymgour as the member for Lingiari, is fiercely fighting for that as well.
STEWART BRASH: Let's go to summer holiday programs. Over two years, the Federal Government supporting holiday programs, $3.3 million, the ice rink is back.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I have made a commitment to the Alice Springs Mayor and I think to just about everyone else, that I want to be there for the opening of that, or at least when it's open. The skate rink, we're going to have it back again at the convention centre there.
STEWART BRASH: But it is an ice rink, not a skate, not a roller skating rink. This is the ice rink again.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: This is the ice rink again. It is something that Alice Springs Town Council, when I met with the Mayor, Astor Hill in Alice. This is one of the many programs that the council will be running out and I'll obviously leave it to them to provide the details, but I just wanted to have a look to see how Alice Springs Town Council was preparing for the Christmas break, but along with MacDonnell and Central Desert Regional Councils as well.
STEWART BRASH: Can I be a Scrooge for a moment? I'm just saying an ice rink is very costly to keep frozen in a 40 degree environment of Alice Springs. Is that good use of money? I'm being Scrooge.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: You are. And look, there are certain politicians who've also asked that question too. But sometimes I think it's good to be able to have a bit of fun. And if this is something that the community has asked for, then we looked at it. We obviously didn't run it last year, but it's something that they've asked to see if we can do this year, and I'm sure we can.
STEWART BRASH: I know there's a whole packed, a packed program for Summer. Can I go to another question on the text line? Someone's asking whatever happened to the government's review of mandatory income quarantining? Now, there was a review. Has that been completed yet?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Look, Tanya Plibersek is the Minister responsible for that and I know that Minister Plibersek is working through that. It might be good to actually see if you could have a direct chat with her, Stewart, to see where that's at.
STEWART BRASH: I mean, you're aware of, obviously, is there plans to dismantle mandatory income quarantining or what is the end game here?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, we've always said when we came into government that we wanted income management to be voluntary. We said that, but we are -
STEWART BRASH: That was 2022. That's a long time ago.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: And it does take time for these systems to be looked at. As we talked about even earlier on in the piece, when the CLP government came in and they asked for specific changes. When you do changes to Centrelink, it takes an incredible amount of time and preparation.
STEWART BRASH: Let's look at the Central Australia Plan. Now, some of the monies we've been speaking about over the next few years are from the Central Australia Plan. A total of $350 million spent through to 2028. We're halfway through. Is there a halfway? Are you doing a review of the impact that plan's having? Because so many people come up to me and say, what's that plan done? And there's not a lot of detail on the impact. We know where the money's going. But have you done a review of the impacts and if it's having the required and predicted impacts? And this is about building infrastructure in communities, changing social conditions as well, is it having an impact?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: There hasn't been an external review done at this point that I'm aware of, Stewart, but I can certainly get back to you and your callers in regards to what we're going to do going forward.
STEWART BRASH: Do you want a review, Minister? Because it's a lot of money. Do you want a review?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It's always wise to have a review. There is no doubt about that. It's always wise to have a review. So, we are almost at the halfway mark and that would be a really important time to do that.
STEWART BRASH: Because what happens after 2028? Because that's the question also because I think the money will run out. What then?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, I don't think it so much runs out. I mean, we've also got other programs going on around the Northern Territory. We've got the four billion in housing for remote and regional areas. We've got the remote jobs which I'm rolling out at the moment with the 3,000 jobs across Australia, with a large percentage of that in Northern Territory and the Remote Australia Employment Service. So, you know, we're talking specifically about the Central Australia Plan. That does have an end date, but that doesn't mean the federal government will stop investing in Central Australia.
STEWART BRASH: But you think there should be a review?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I do believe it is wise to do that.
STEWART BRASH: Ok, can we look at some of the detail on the plan now? There's something which, again, people come up to me and say, what is happening with community patrols? I've not seen Lhere Artepe patrols on the streets. They may be still there now. There was $6 million in the plan. What is the status of those patrols?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Look, I'm advised that the patrols are still going. I would certainly be aware if they weren't, because I know the Northern Territory government is doing this in partnership as it is important to keep those patrols going, and they certainly are going, as far as I'm concerned.
STEWART BRASH: Ok. Now, something I spoke to BRC Mayor Sid Vashist, as I'm not sure you're aware, that the BRC, they've had a big roundtable meeting about a month ago talking about the issues, social issues, housing issues, a range of issues in the Barkly. Now, he came on the program last week and essentially said, we need something similar for the Barkly, to the Central Australia Plan. And he said, separate to the Barkly regional deal, which he says, well, he's not sure if that's delivering. Will you be considering the request from the BRC for more funding to go into social issues, for infrastructure issues for the town?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Look, I met with the mayor and I also met with his councillors at the Barkly Regional Council and heard a number of the concerns that they were raising around, largely around the council itself and its future. There seems to be a great instability in knowing whether the Barkly Regional Council will continue in the whole of the Barkly and what the changes under the CLP government will be for Barkly. I think that was the real critical aspect of that meeting with them. In terms of general funding for the Barkly, I did say that we are funneling all this through the Barkly regional deal, but I'm still happy to keep having those conversations with the mayor.
STEWART BRASH: Yeah. On the issue of local government reform, which Steve Edgington, the local member and local government minister, he's promised to break up the BRC. Do you have an opinion on the move to devolve more power to community councils?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, this was the concern that was raised directly with me by the Barkly Regional Council, Stewart, and I hear that concern. One of the things that I understood from that meeting was that they had not really been advised either way what their future is. And like any organisation, you need to have a sense of, well, are we growing or are we going to end? And I think the not knowing is what makes it really difficult.
STEWART BRASH: We only have a minute left together. Minister, Outback Stores, you and I spoke about it about a month ago. Have you spoken with distributors, with the private sector about the impact the remote food subsidy is having.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, I think when I last spoke to you, I'd already spoken to those distributors. What we've also done in the last week is start the review into the food subsidy program. So, I'd certainly encourage both. Well, not only the distributors, but anyone out there to contribute to that review.
STEWART BRASH: What will the review look at? Will it look at the impact maybe on those private distributors?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, it's whatever people would like to write about it. You know, some of the communities may write to us about whether the prices are good enough for them or still not low enough. It's whatever the people feel they need to contribute because I need to understand. This is the first time we've ever run a policy like this and I need to see where we're going well and where we're not.
STEWART BRASH: OK look forward to what comes out of that. Minister, time is against us, but thank you.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thank you.
