KATIE WOOLF, HOST: Now the Territory could have more senators as soon as the next federal election, as part of a new commitment to increase our political representation. So as you may or may not have heard, obviously, the National Labor Party agreed to this, well last weekend at their conference, addressing what they described as the historic proportional under-representation of the Northern Territory and the ACT at its national conference. And they also gave a commitment to give each jurisdiction more senators. Now joining me on the show is one of our Senators for the Northern Territory, Labor's Malarndirri McCarthy. Good morning, Malarndirri.
NT SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Good morning, Katy, and good morning to all your listeners.
WOOLF: Now tell me Malarndirri are Territorians going to see additional senators.
MCCARTHY: Well, that's the huge question really. I certainly would like to see that happen, but there's a fair bit of work that still needs to take place before it can. It can happen in one of two ways. Obviously there has to be an agreement between the Senate and the House of Reps in terms of any major additional numbers just for the benefit of your listeners. Every state has 12 senators. We have two, the territory and the ACT has two. And what we would like to see is obviously more than two, maybe at least a you know, maybe another four would be great. But again, that would have to be something that the Parliament has to consider.
WOOLF: So, Malarndirri, in terms of the process now, look, obviously that's something that did at the Labor Party conference has been agreed to. But in terms of the process now what needs to happen and and these things are actually a reality.
MCCARTHY: Well, what happened at Labor conference was really about delegates agreeing to the policy. So that's one step. But in terms of the reality of whether it can happen, that's going to be determined by the actual parliament. So all it did in terms of last weekend was just get agreement from from members across the country that this would be a policy that the party would support. The second step now is, well, there's quite a few steps. The second one would be that there's currently a parliamentary inquiry underway which will report to the Parliament at the end of the year. And that parliamentary inquiry is looking at a lot of things, including Senate representation for the Northern Territory and the ACT.
WOOLF: What do you reckon, Malarndirri? Should we have more senators?
MCCARTHY: Oh look, I want to see us as a state. I think I've been pushing that for a very long time and I'd like to think that the future growth of the Northern Territory, you know, we deserve to be on equal status with the other states. Hopefully we'll get there one day and if we do where we definitely need to have the same representation if we want to go down that path.
WOOLF: It does seem, though, like there is still quite a body of work on the increase in the number in the Senate. It does seem as though there's still quite a body of work that needs to happen before this could become a reality.
MCCARTHY: Yeah, look, I'd just say to our listeners, watch this space, listen to your show, because once the Parliament delivers its report in October, November, I can certainly come back to you with what that report says and what would our next steps be? And I'm hopeful that there might be some positive steps.
WOOLF: Yeah, we're definitely be keen to have you back on to find out more. Now, I understand a new disability accommodation has been opened in Darwin today. Where is it and what are its features?
MCCARTHY: Look, it was wonderful. Katie. We have the Minister for NDIS, Bill Shorten, in town and we have the Northern Territory Minister Ngaree Ah Kit, who opened the facility this morning in Wanguri. So your listeners would know that Harry's place around Wanguri, around that area, and it's a beautiful home where three people will be able to live with, you know, people with complex needs but also on a more intimate basis. This is something more personal and intimate, and it was beautiful. And there is actually another one in Wagaman that's also being opened today. And the Northern Territory Government announced that another area of land in Alice Springs and two others, which will see some more. So this is good news for those people living with complex needs in terms of disability.
WOOLF: And so, Senator, can anybody sort of utilize that accommodation or is there a process? I'm assuming there's a process that they've got to be able to go through.
MCCARTHY: There would be a process. Katie, This particular one opened this morning, comes under Carpentaria and I would certainly encourage your listeners that if they want to know information that they get in touch with Carpentaria, the board were there certainly the CEO has done an amazing job in this. They're all very excited about it and I certainly encourage your listeners to get online and have a look.
WOOLF: Yeah, I'll be keen to have a bit further of a look and I do think that it is absolutely needed that accommodation is pivotal and also making sure that it's fit for purpose.
MCCARTHY: Absolutely. And you know, we all deserve to live with dignity in our lives. And, you know, whether you have a disability or not, I think it's important to have the compassion and obviously the security of a home. We're certainly got a long way to go with trying to get houses more broadly for people who are living homeless and rough. But I was pleased to be a part of this announcement with Bill Shorten this morning in terms of people who live with disabilities in our communities.
WOOLF: Now Malarndirri, I also understand it's quite a significant announcement was made yesterday, funding for Central Australia targeted towards FASD, ADHD and autism being rolled out. Talk us through how exactly this is going to happen and what it's going to mean.
MCCARTHY: Yeah, Katie, it's a serious concern. We know that a lot of our youth and not just in Central Australia but indeed right across the country, experience feotal alcohol spectrum disorder. And that does impact their behavior and the way they react, whether it's in a classroom setting or whether it's on the streets of Darwin or Alice Springs, Tennant Creek. So we've certainly invested a considerable amount in Central Australia. For starters to assist the identification of FASD in some of our youth, you know, who are having a rough time in Central Australia to make sure that we can provide the clinical support as much as the general home and accommodation support. But there's clinical needs here that need to be addressed. So we're focused on that with Congress, the Aboriginal Community Health Organization in Alice Springs. But clearly there's something that impacts so many people across the country.
WOOLF: How many kids do you anticipate this is going to be able to help and support?
MCCARTHY: Well, in terms of a list of Congress, and they'd be more than happy to speak with you about it in greater detail than I can. But we are looking at a couple of hundred people who are just on a waiting list and their families. So this will be quite significant to be able to reach out to them and give the assistance that's required at a much quicker rate, but also with the substantial funds that come with it.
WOOLF: And is that funding part of the the money that had been announced by Anthony Albanese earlier this year for Central Australia? Is that part of that?
MCCARTHY: That's correct. That's part of the 250 million for Central Australia in terms of the package that was provided. There's still quite considerable amount of funding still being finalized with the Indigenous leadership group in Central Australia. So we are on target and can I just reach out to the businesses as well. We've worked very closely with the businesses and Marion Scrymgour as member for Lingiari has certainly done that there and I know they've been incredibly appreciative of the changes, especially with Lhere Artepe, the Aboriginal rangers who walk the streets around Alice Springs to keep giving the assistance that's required.
WOOLF: Yeah, we did actually speak to a to a business in the mall. It was a couple of months ago now they had said that the Lhere Artepe rangers had made a significant difference. Can I just ask, Senator, because something that we did speak about really extensively last week and the week before was the situation that we'd seen with those very young children that were allegedly involved in the theft of a bus and also a vehicle. We've spoken to the principal of the Yipirinya School and he called again for a boarding facility for that school. Is that something that is being considered or discussed?
MCCARTHY: What's happening with Central Australia in terms of education, is that Jason Clare, as the Federal Education Minister has been there and every school in Alice Springs is going to receive a substantial funding to assist under the Gonski review and that's close to over $40 million that will be spread across not only the Alice Springs School but the Central Australian schools as well. So all of that is going towards working with our youth. It's not just one school that's dealing with this. We've got Yirara, which is also a boarding school in Alice Springs. You've got Saint Phillips, which is also a boarding school. This has to be a holistic approach so that every area of Central Australia is taking responsibility.
WOOLF: So with that additional funding and with that funding, it's additional it's on top of their already operational funding, is it?
MCCARTHY: That's correct. I was just speaking to a principal from one of the schools yesterday just to see how they were going. We just happened to be flying back to Darwin together. And, you know, she certainly informed me that it's been sort of ground breaking for them and they know that every school has received the additional funds and this is what we've got to do as a community is we've got to work at this together, not just as individual groups. And I'm certainly appreciative of Jason Clare as our Education Minister bringing that forward.
WOOLF: Have you spoken Yipirinya school and is that going to assist them in terms of that boarding facility?
MCCARTHY: Look, I'm not aware yet as to whether Yipirinya have had the additional funds that they need on top of the Gonski one. I know that's a decision that Linda Burney, as the Minister for Indigenous Affairs is looking at, but I'm certainly happy to get back to you once I understand more of where thats at.
WOOLF: Yeah, definitely. Well, good to speak to you as always senator for the Northern Territory, Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, thank you very much for your time this morning.