NATALIE BARR, HOST: In the past year, rising interest rates have been blamed on a number of factors from inflation, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and an unstable global economy. However, the coalition believes there is a simpler explanation. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, backed by Nationals leader David Littleproud claims the Prime Minister has taken his eye off the economic ball due to his obsession with the voice. Joining me to discuss this is Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy... the Prime Minister, is he too focused on the voice?
NT SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: No, the opposition leader has run out of ideas and clearly he's obsessed with the voice in such a way that he's forgotten that in the last sittings of Parliament, the only questions they asked about was the voice, not the economy, and all of a sudden the economy is the one that they're concerned for. But they've not asked any questions around it.
BARR : You're a great person to talk about the voice, obviously. Peter Dutton, is he cutting through? He's saying it's first of all, he's saying it's too confusing. Then he's saying there's not enough information on it. And now he's saying to PM is too focused on it. Does the 'Yes' side need to explain it more? Has he got a point there?
MCCARTHY: Look, I'll just say this and I'll say this to all Australians. The job of oppositions is to distract, and to make sure that the job of the government of the day is not doing its job. And that's really what their focus is. Can I just say this though, for the voice for First Nations people, it really matters to us. It is not a political football. It is something that will make a difference in the lives of First Nations people across our country. And I cannot stress enough and reach out to all Australians enough to say please look through the games that are going on. This does really matter to First Nations people. And it does matter to those Australians who want to see a better way of life in our country. And I'm so confident. I'm so confident that this is the right way to go if people can vote Yes.
BARR: ...okay, moving on. Australians are being warned they need to call ahead if they want to make cash withdrawals at the bank ANZ and NAB have announced they will no longer permit withdrawals over the counter at some of their branches. Moving to digital banking only. Customers wanting to withdraw money now need to make a booking. No money at the bank. What do you think?
MCCARTHY: A real worry for our older Australians. I mean, I think my dad and others in that category who who still like to go the old way, even with the bank books. It's like 'oh my gosh', now you want to get rid of the money. But can I just say certainly from a parliamentary level, there is a Senate inquiry that's looking into the banks closures across the country. And then don't forget too that Stephen Jones also announced as a minister there, about the national anti scam centre. So we're certainly looking at all those issues that the banks are saying are the reasons why they want to remove the dollars, but I just say hey, look out what about remote and regional areas where we don't have access to cards often when the cyclones come and flooding and, you know, remote areas so people won't even be able to use their cards. So I just say, can you put a pause button on that for a moment.