ALEX BARWICK, HOST : There seems to be some division within the Country Liberal Party over who is against a voice to Parliament and who is open to hearing a bit more or maybe even letting members decide for themselves. Over the weekend, the CLP membership voted through a motion against The Voice, but this came just days after the CLP parliamentary wing decided to abstain from voting in Territory Parliament for support of the voice, saying they wanted more detail. And it's also worth remembering that CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro has previously been kind of open to conversations about a voice to Parliament. We are all still yet to hear publicly from Lia Finocchiaro since the weekend's vote by members. But what does Territory Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy make of it all? She's the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health and has been very involved in the detail around the voice. And she caught up with Lia Finocchiaro over the course of the weekend . Malarndirri McCarthy, what do you make of the CLP's rank and file members voting to reject an Indigenous voice to Parliament over the weekend?
NT LABOR SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Well, I actually needed to find out for myself what actually took place. I was at the Bombing of Darwin Memorial on Sunday and I was seated next to Lia Finocchiaro, the Leader of the CLP Opposition, and actually just had a conversation with her to try and understand what had actually taken place. The Leader of the Opposition reassured me that whilst the Country Liberal Party had moved a motion voting ‘no’ to the Voice, the Country Liberal Party wing of the Northern Territory Assembly was still very open to understanding more details which I'm certainly more than happy to provide.
BARWICK: Surely that's not particularly heartening though, knowing that essentially the CLP itself is a little bit divided in its stance on the Voice.
MCCARTHY: Well, I think that's probably for the CLP to sort through, Alex. Clearly every political party and every individual has to work through their own understanding, but from my point of view, I'm reaching out to everyone and I'm certainly reaching out to the Country Liberal Party in terms of the parliamentary wing and offering briefings to them as well as Northern Territory parliamentarians. And I'll be doing the same to local government in terms of the regional councils across the Territory.
BARWICK: I imagine, though, you'll know that's not going to be straightforward. Surely Lia Finocchiaro and the rest of the parliamentary wing is going to be getting a lot of pressure from CLP members, in addition to CLP Senator Jacinta Price very publicly saying she wants Lia Finocchiaro to back in her position, which is very much in opposition.
MCCARTHY: Well there's political pressure right across the country. This is a significant and historic year as we head towards a referendum, whatever the outcome may be, and each of us has to do what we feel is our task and mine is to reach out to all Australians, especially here in the Northern Territory, and encourage them to vote ‘yes’.
BARWICK: One thing that she has said a few times, and that is that she at this stage was abstaining from voting on a motion in support because she didn't feel as though she'd been provided enough detail on the proposal by your government, by the federal government. Now, I know you've spent a lot of time over the last couple of years on that detail. How do you explain how it would work when people keep saying they don't feel as though there's enough clarity?
MCCARTHY: Well, it's the same way where we've been speaking with Peter Dutton. He came to the referendum working group on Thursday last week and the Referendum working group were able to talk through many of these issues. And it's the same thing I'll do withTerritorians and with politicians here.
BARWICK: Okay, so I mean, go, why not go for it this afternoon if they were right here with us? Like what is the clear explanation of what it looks like, how it would work and why you think the whole country should support it?
MCCARTHY: Well, it's two things. First up, one is that it is a simple proposition by the people from Uluru in terms of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and that is to go and change the Constitution to enable First Nations people to be recognised and to have a voice about policy and any kind of legislation that impacts them going forward that can never be dismantled. I think that's a simple proposition that the statement from the heart is asking. And the second thing in terms of what kind of a model or what kind of shape? Well, we've said from the beginning that's for the parliament to decide like it does with any other body, whether it's an independent commission against corruption, whether it's a statutory body, that's for the Parliament to then decide if the Australian people do vote yes
BARWICK: You mentioned a moment ago that you've offered a briefing to each CLP or independent member of the Territory Parliament. Has anyone taken you up on that?
MCCARTHY: Well, the letter only went out towards the end of last week and my office will certainly follow up in the coming weeks.
BARWICK: So to date, no one's taken you up?
MCCARTHY: Certainly not that I'm aware of, no direct response to me, but I haven't checked with my staff.
BARWICK: I want to get your thoughts on some of the comments made by CLP Senator Jacinta Price. She says she believes party members, party CLP members held concerns that enshrining an Indigenous voice in the constitution would divide the country along the lines of race. Now there clearly is some division on The Voice, but what do you make of those comments?
MCCARTHY: Well, it's inaccurate. It really is. It's a simple proposition about policy. It's a simple proposition about advising the Parliament of Australia on issues that impact First Nations people. We see that all the time on other matters, but the difference here is to have it in the Constitution.
BARWICK: Senator, I want to talk about some of the alcohol policies that have just been announced over the last week and then over the last couple of weeks here in Central Australia and actually that affect right across the Northern Territory. Before we dig into them. People might wonder if there was a voice enshrined in the Constitution, how would it affect what we've just seen unfold in terms of, you know, the reinstatement of alcohol bans and sort of quick policy changes that affect many people's lives here in Central Australia and the Barkly?
MCCARTHY: Well, I'd certainly want to see it have an effect with regards to any piece of legislation. For example, the Stronger Futures legislation is one that could possibly, you know, if we had a voice, had an impact in terms of people having an opportunity to advise on that.
BARWICK: Now that we have seen the reinstatement of alcohol bans across some town camps, remote communities and Aboriginal protected areas of the NT, are you supportive of that and what are you hearing from constituents
MCCARTHY: Well, I'm certainly supportive of the Northern Territory Government's moves to have the bans across the Northern Territory. This has been a tremendously difficult time right across Central Australia and indeed I know that there are certain concerns even up the track on the Stuart Highway to places like Katherine and others who have been watching what's happening in Central Australia and feeling the same in regards to those problems. So I think this is a really important step. However, and I stress this, this has also been about a circuit breaker, but we have to make sure we get to the heart of the issues like what are we doing and working with our families and children. What about the foetal alcohol spectrum disorder that we know impacts so many of our youth across the country, not just Central Australia. So we now have to get to the heart of what the substantive issues are.
BARWICK: Yeah, look, you talk about it as a circuit breaker. Could it also just be seen as yet another kneejerk response in part from Canberra, because of course, you know, that decision went to Canberra and back interfering in the lives of remote Bush residents once again.
MCCARTHY: Well, everyone will have their own opinion on it, Alex, but I'm certainly of the view that this has to be the way to go to have that circuit breaker so we can get in there and ensure that organisations who work there, certainly with First Nations families, now have the opportunity to get on top of the issues that we see affecting families.
BARWICK: Do you have any sense of where your government's commitment of $250 million will be spent I know we've been given some broad areas. But do you know where the focus will be?
MCCARTHY: Yeah, Look, we're certainly working with the organisations across Alice and Central Australia to get a sense from them. What we're also doing, Alex, is going through just our budget process, but we do want it to go to the areas of family and domestic violence, but in particular employment. The regions need the infrastructure and employment and we have to focus on that. So they're just some of the areas just to give you a bit of an insight into what we’re thinking. Its clear those decisions aren’t mine alone and this will go through the ministry.
BARWICK: Earlier this week the Chief Minister indicated on our breakfast program that she would like to see some of that money spent on the community alcohol plan development which is of course part of this where if 60 per cent plus of the community are in support of an alcohol management plan they are able to see that through. Surely that’s not what the $250 million was allocated for.
MCCARTHY: Well, there’s certainly no doubt the Northern Territory Government is putting in its bids but so can I add many other organisations around Alice Springs are also putting in what they think are important areas.
BARWICK: Would it be acceptable in your mind if any off that money was spent on the development of alcohol management plans.
MCCARTHY: These are the discussion that the Chief Minister is having with the PM but I’ve outlined where I think we should be concentrating.
BARWICK: We’re going to leave it there. Territory Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy who’s also the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous speaking. I should also let you know that we recorded that conversation just before going to air this afternoon. Since then I’ve been contacted by her office to confirm that the Independent member for Araluen Robyn Lambley and also Lia Finocchiaro’s office have both responded to that letter of an offer of a briefing on the Voice. They’ve both responded and said ‘yes please’, they would like to take Senator McCarthy up on that so we’ll wait to see what comes of those briefing sessions.