NOUR HAYDAR, HOST: As campaigning around the voice to parliament ramps up. One no group is facing criticism for for an ad it had published in a national newspaper. The cartoon by advance Australia has drawn condemnation from both sides of politics for its depiction of prominent yes campaigner Thomas Mayo. One state liberal described it as a 'racist trope from the Jim Crow era'. The target of the ad was one of Australia's largest companies, Wesfarmers, which has thrown its weight behind the voice. And it was published as the Opposition Leader this week took aim at corporate Australia for funding the Yes side. Senator, thank you for speaking to Afternoon Briefing. You've repeatedly called for people to ensure that there is dignity and respect in this debate around the Voice. Can I begin by asking you for your response to the No campaign ad that was published in the in the AFR yesterday?
NT SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: I'll continue to keep calling for dignity and respect. Clearly, the article that was in the Australian Financial Review this week was absolutely inappropriate. Certainly did not rise to the best of what our country can be. Whether you vote yes or no, we can do better than that. And I was very pleased to see that removed.
HAYDAR: It's been criticized by some as being both racist and sexist. But Advance Australia, who was behind this ad, has defended it. Are you worried that this is a sign of what's to come?
MCCARTHY: Well, I've stood on my feet for nearly 10 hours in the Senate debating the constitutional alteration bill and answering questions right up until 4:15 in the morning. So nothing really surprises me in terms of the levels that people will go to put information out there that is not helpful, that does hurt others. None of that surprises me, unfortunately. And so I will continue to say to the Australian people, please look through all of these things and see where people are coming from. But also at the same time know that for First Nations people, it is very real for us. We certainly want to see a yes vote across the country because it matters to our lives.
HAYDAR: The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, has been criticized by some for saying that the No campaign is adopting Trumpian style tactics. Do you agree with her? Is that what you're referencing when you say that you're not surprised by some of what's being said?
MCCARTHY: Linda Burney is an outstanding advocate for us in leading the campaign for Yes across our country. We have no doubt in knowing how difficult the challenge is to win any referendum in this country when 44 questions have been put to the Australian people and only eight have been supported. So I have no doubt that she is leading the campaign to the best of her ability. But I'm also very confident as well know that Australians will see the importance of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the simple and very generous message of First Nations Australians who gathered on Anangu country that we want to walk with you, with all Australians, so that this can be a game changer for our country in the most positive of ways.
HAYDAR: The minister has also outlined this week four key areas that she wants the voice to focus its work on. Would you support some sort of more formal edict once the voice is in place to ensure that they are the areas that it turns its attention to first?
MCCARTHY: Well, one of the things we canvased certainly in that long hours of committee debate on the floor of the Senate is that if we are successful in this referendum and the Australian people support a voice, then of course the legislation will then go before the Parliament, but not before further discussion with the Australian people and in particular First Nations people. That will be an absolute must. But of course we have to get there first, we have to win this referendum. And I have to say that's all I'm staying focused on at the moment.
HAYDAR: I do want to turn to some comments made by the Opposition Leader this week. He's taken a swipe at what he's described as corporate elites for their support and the campaigning in support of the voice. What role do you think big business should be playing in this national conversation as you've described it?
MCCARTHY: Well, it's up to each individual, organization and business to work out where they support the referendum. And I welcome the support from all of those who are wanting to see a yes outcome, whether they're in our regional remote areas. Whether they're in organizations or businesses or sporting bodies. I do welcome that and I say thank you because this will matter and it will matter for the best for our country. And I would say that in terms of any criticisms that they're experiencing, I certainly would like to say to them, thank you.
HAYDAR: The coalition has this week also accused the government of being too focused on the voice that it's dropped the ball on the economy. Are you worried that sort of message that those sort of comments will resonate with Australians who are feeling the pressure of cost of living and may potentially taint their attitude towards the voice?
MCCARTHY: What I'm hearing here from the Opposition Leader and certainly the Nationals leader is that they've run out of ideas. They clearly didn't take the opportunity to talk about the economy during the last sittings. We have seen with childcare just this month the support for families across the country. We have cheaper medicines available for Australians. We're certainly working in terms of the energy prices across the country. So in terms of the economy, there is no doubt that the Prime Minister is working and has worked from the get go to focus on the economy. I think this is more about the opposition who opposed the voice running out of ideas as to how they can continue to oppose it. And can I just add that I will certainly not give up on even those who say no to the voice now. I will not give up on them because I do believe our country has its own movement. And that movement is to say yes to this. And I say to those politicians who are saying, no, you know, you can still say yes.
HAYDAR: Some have said that the yes campaign has been lackluster to date. How do you see the next couple of months playing out for the Yes campaign?
MCCARTHY: We had thousands and thousands of people walking the streets here on Larrakia Country in Darwin. And so much support for the Voice, not just here in the Territory, but around the country where even more thousands have have gathered to say yes to the to the voice. So I'm sort of not in that area that says people aren't interested. Clearly people are very interested and I thank them and I welcome that and I encourage them to keep encouraging others.
HAYDAR: It's been somewhat of a bruising week when it comes to the public debate around the Voice. Are you worried that it's detracted from the message of NAIDOC Week this week?
MCCARTHY: NAIDOC Week is for our elders. You know how we value them. We appreciate them and we love them. And we wouldn't be where we are as first Nations people in calling for the voice if we haven't had the wisdom of those elders who've gone before us and the work that they've done and those who are still with us today. So no, I think that NAIDOC Week has been an incredibly important week to gather support, to bring people together, and to show that there's nothing to be afraid of here. This is about our country being much better than what it is today.
HAYDAR: What message do you hope Australians will take away from that?
MCCARTHY: The message that I hope Australians can take away from NAIDOC Week is that this is about all of us. This is about future generations of Australians recognizing and respecting the over 60,000 year old history of First Nations people and enabling First Nations people to have a voice, a say on legislation and give advice on policies that impact them.