KATIE WOOLF, HOST: Well, today is the day that we're expecting the vote on the Territory rights bill. Senators participated in a preliminary vote on the bill last week, with 41 senators in support and 25 against. Now, as we know, a federal veto on territory rights was imposed around 25 years ago after the Northern Territory legalised euthanasia. But today is the day that is expected to change. Now, joining me on the line to tell me more about the process is the Labor Senator for the Northern Territory, Malarndirri McCarthy. It is certainly, hopefully, going to be quite a historic day for us. That preliminary vote happened last week and the numbers looked good for the Northern Territory. What's the process today?
SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Well, we certainly had a good numbers last week of 41 in favour compared to 25 . So those numbers still stay the same or grow even more. It will be a very, very welcome outcome certainly for both the ACT and the Northern Territory. Today though of course it's still a long way to go and there's been a number of amendments that have been brought forward. So senators are obviously having a look at those amendments, Katie.
WOOLF: So what are some of those amendments and I guess some of the concerns that have been raised? I know that the CLP Senator Jacinta Price, is one of the people who did raise some of those concerns last week.
MCCARTHY: Yes, I'm just looking at Senator Price's amendment and you know, it does need to be given some thought, but I will certainly not be supporting the amendment. My view on this is that the Territory Rights Bill is purely a repeal of an existing bill and does not need any amendments. And so I'll be firm in my response to that. I do understand that it is a conscience vote for every single senator. So every single senator needs to work out their position. But certainly my position will be 'no' to that amendment.
WOOLF: Now, what sort of what time are we expecting this vote to happen?
MCCARTHY: Well, we're going through quite a number of bills. We've still got the IR bill before us in the Senate, the secure jobs, better pay bill. We hope to get to the territory's bill at 5:30 Australian Eastern Standard Time. So that's about 4 p.m. your time in the Territory and I just encourage your listeners to tune in wherever they are, online on TV. Listen in. This matters to the people of the Northern Territory and you know, please join me in listening in and being a part of what I hope will be an historic day for us.
WOOLF: What is going to happen if it passes?
MCCARTHY: Well, naturally, there'll be great relief I think. You know, Katie, this has been a long time coming for the territory, but for the ACT. This is actually about the equality of the parliaments being able to debate and make their own decisions, consult with constituencies just like any state parliament in this country. And that to me is about effective democracy. And I believe we are well and truly worthy in the Territory to have those rights to debate, as we should. And you know, then of course if it does pass here, it does need to go through Royal Assent with the Governor-General and no doubt then go into law. So I guess yes, in the new year it'll be up to the Northern Territory and the ACT Parliament, but for now I won't get ahead of myself. It's going to be a really long night. Katie I suspect that with these amendments that are being introduced at a very late stage, unfortunately means the very real possibility of it being quite a lengthy debate well into the night and in the early hours of the morning.
WOOLF: Now obviously those concerns were raised by the CLP Senator Jacinta Price and we spoke to her on the show last week. The Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro though yesterday told us on the show that the Senator, Senator Price will vote for Territory rights today. Have you spoken to Senator Price and and what's your understanding at this point if she's introduced an amendment?
MCCARTHY: Look, I certainly haven't spoken to Senator Price about the bill at this particular point in time, given that her amendments have now been circulated to all senators. So everyone is looking at the amendment by Senator Price and also Senator Duniam, who's the Tasmanian Senator who's also put in an amendment. So all senators are looking through those amendments. And I'm quite intrigued actually, Katie, to hear that the CLP leader is now saying that Senator Price will vote for the Territory Rights bill and I certainly hope that will be the case. But I guess it remains to be seen really.
WOOLF: Yeah. We'll wait and see how things pan out today. And now I know that that last week as well, Senator Price was indeed raising the discussion about statehood. Do you reckon we need to go back down this path?
MCCARTHY: Look, statehood, I believe, is always an eventuality for the people of the Northern Territory. I do firmly believe in statehood and see it as the next step for our growth in the economy, our growth as a population and our growth to be the seventh state in the Federation of Australia.
WOOLF: Are we there yet?
MCCARTHY: I think we were there a long time ago, Katie is my personal view on it and any opportunity to continue to push for statehood is very welcomed and certainly a bipartisan one. I do believe that's the only way we can achieve it.
WOOLF: Why do you reckon it's stalled?
MCCARTHY: I think that's a probably a really long conversation. I was certainly minister for statehood in 2008, and that was ten years after the referendum in the Northern Territory in 1998 where voters said no, only just said no. Over 51% in 1998 when I was minister for statehood, we tried to get it back up again and running. I was certainly chair of the Statehood Steering Committee in 2005 and we canvassed people's views. There was still warm reception about the ability to do it, but it was the Federal Parliament that also needed to meet us halfway. And I'm conscious now that we have two senators who are for statehood from the Northern Territory, and this might be a very real opportunity to actually get the Australian Parliament to reconsider enabling the Territory to to go forward in terms of statehood.
WOOLF: Well let's see where we end up for early next year, Senator, because it has been a big year in Parliament and it looks like it's really going to end, you know, in a big way. There is so much happening today, but it's been a massive year, hasn't it?
MCCARTHY: Oh, it's been huge. Absolutely huge. It's not over yet. And we have what I suspect will be a very long night ahead of us.
WOOLF: Well, Senator for the Northern Territory, Labor, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, let's wait and see exactly what happens this evening. Thank you so very much for your time this morning.