KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Well, a political blame game has erupted over the ongoing surge of violence in Alice Springs and both Labor and the Opposition are pointing the finger at each other after the Prime Minister's whirlwind emergency visit... It has and whether we like it or not, turned into a political blame game. The PM pointing the finger at the Coalition. And I think as you were alluding to the other day as well for letting the alcohol restrictions expire yet his visit only came after pressure, partly because of the Opposition. Who is at fault here?
NT SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: I think, as I said to quite a few people yesterday that really at the end of the day, everyone has to take responsibility here to ensure that we can move forward and actually fix the problems. Not just in Alice Springs and Central Australia, but more broadly across the country where alcohol is concerned. So of course, we've got to see in the next three months that the action that was talked about two days ago actually does flow out on the ground and make a difference for the families. I'm not going to get further involved with the politics here. It really is hurting the people in Alice Springs, and I accept that everyone has to take responsibility here.
STEFANOVIC: ...Alright, let's let's move on. Matt Canavan occasionally, very occasionally I think you come up with a good idea. You've said that there should be a plebiscite on the Australia Day date change. Tell us more about that and then I'm going to go to Malarndirri for her response…
MCCARTHY: …We know that the 26th of January always brings debate. Look at the last ten years now with people talking about changing the date. I've been on the record saying, well, I think we have to change the attitudes across our country. It won't matter what day. We ought to be proud of our country at some point, in a united way and whether it's the 26th of January or another day, that's something that our country has to mature and grow towards. So the 26th of January at the moment I think is about reflection and I have always said, you know, get up at sunrise. For me personally, as a Yanyuwa woman, I do reflect on the brutality of the early days of history in my own families and what still currently happens with the high incarceration rates. But I'm enormously proud of the achievements as well of fellow Australians. Just watching the Australia Day Awards last night and seeing those inspiring heroes, you know, I want that for our country. I don't want our country divided...
STEFANOVIC: Just before we go, a celebration of Australia, your favourite Aussie word...
MCCARTHY: Mine is a Yanyuwa word and it couldn't be more Australian. It's called 'Yamalu' , which means 'all good, everything's okay'.