GREG JENNETT, HOST: Malarndirri McCarthy we find you not in Canberra in early autumn, but New York in early spring. This comes with the job. I guess you're there leading this Australian delegation. Tell us a little about its work this week.
NORTHERN TERRITORY SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Thanks, Greg. Hello to you and to all your viewers across Australia. This is such an important time for Australia to be represented here at the United Nations, and I'm very pleased to be able to be here, certainly on behalf of the Australian Government and on behalf of Senator Katy Gallagher, who is our Minister for Women. This is an extraordinary experience because it's actually been about three years since women from around the globe came together here at the United Nations, and we have a huge Australian contingent. Certainly the many that I've brought across, but there's also others and we probably total about 30 who are here representing our country.
JENNETT: And you're talking, as are other international delegations around a theme this year the Commission on the Status of Women has set up innovation and technological change education in the digital age for women and girls. What have you discovered about the patchiness or if you like, the uniformity of the use of technology? What have you picked up from other countries in these discussions?
MCCARTHY: Well, we're certainly talking about the importance of providing a pathway for women and girls around the world on every level. And this one is about digital technology. How do we create a safe environment for women and girls, in particular online? We've seen tremendous abuse in many countries, but even in Australia, in terms of the treatment of women, the abuse that's aimed towards women and girls online and this conversation at the United Nations is about how do we bridge that gap and create a safer space as we do and try to do in life with the issues of family and domestic violence. Perpetrators seem to now use technology to create an even greater problem in terms of the safety of women. So thats a huge theme that's really the heart of this gathering.
JENNETT: I just wonder whether this is more pronounced in the developed world. I mean, is it fair observation to say that in some countries, you know, they're flat out getting an online education, let alone, you know, all the downside that goes with cyber stalking, harassment and the rest of it?
MCCARTHY: You know, that's an important question, Greg. I will certainly be raising the fact that we have issues just with access, you know, in remote and regional Australia. I'll certainly be talking about the flooding in Northern Australia where we've seen access to communications almost completely gone, where people don't or couldn't and still at various times can't even have food or access to petrol to fuel their cars up because they use certain cards where if the system communication system goes down. So we are bringing that into the discussion around the gap in terms of online systems. But you're right, in terms of the issues with developing countries, I've just listened to a woman talk about just what happened to her and she's a journalist and the issues she's had to face online and the predatory behaviour of some state actors in trying to stop her and silence her. So we are clearly hearing some very personal stories and this is resonating right across the spectrum.
JENNETT: And you've got Julie Inman Grant as part of your delegation, the E-Safety Commissioner. Australia is in some senses leading the world with trying to bring to heel the worst aspects on the big social media platforms. We won't name them, but we all know who they are. How much inquiry do you receive from other delegations about that regime that Australia has set up?
MCCARTHY: Well, I've certainly heard feedback, Greg, from other countries. Just even the secretary from Kenya spoke about it in her speech this afternoon at how advanced we are by having at Julie as our commissioner, and the fact that when you have an E-commissioner, which is something that is not anywhere else in the world at the moment. So by having Julie here, speaking at these forums, giving some advice about what we're doing in our country, is being certainly welcomed and appreciated. And I think we are going to find that other countries will start to look at what we're doing and the regulations we have around that.
JENNETT: Now, you've already mentioned in our discussion here, Malarndirri, that there's an Indigenous component to the delegation beyond your leadership of it. I imagine the crossover is inescapable between what you talk about and what you're advocating here on the Voice and what you're doing on the world stage. Can you say that this voice concept is well understood beyond Australia's shores in the conversations you've had there?
MCCARTHY: Look, I've certainly spoken to a number of ministers in the bilateral meetings. Just this morning I spoke with a minister from Greenland as we talked about and shared similarities with the Inuit people and the issues that women there face and talked about the voice with her. It was something that she was interested to know about and is clearly going to watch very closely what we're doing and has also asked if we can have an event next year at the United Nations between Australia and Greenland, for example, to show what we're trying to do in the space of First Nations women.
JENNETT: And is the idea of recognition of First Nations indigenous people in a constitution novel to some of these parties.
MCCARTHY: Absolutely. I have spoken to a number of people and there is a great deal of interest in what Australia is doing. And I know that we're being watched. I know that there is also interest in First Nations people. Generally, we are seeing more and more participation, especially with our own delegation. So I think the world is starting to recognise that we have to hear the voices of First Nations people even at this level.
JENNETT: Well, there's a bit to be resolved on all of that. The voice mechanism any way before the next delegation goes back in 12 months, whoever may lead it. But really appreciate that update from New York from you today, Malarndirri McCarthy. We'll see you back on home base before too long.