Topics: Central Australia, Equatorial Launch, Budget.
ADAM STEER, HOST: Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, who's the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Senator, welcome to the program and Merry Christmas.
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS, MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, good morning to you, Adam, and Merry Christmas to you and all your listeners. It's just lovely to get to this time of year.
ADAM STEER: Yeah, it is. Have we had a highlight for the year, Senator?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, look, the highlight for me has been many things, actually. Firstly, just seeing my girls graduate, you know, from one year to the next. They're still in primary school, so that was pretty significant. But on the work front, obviously incredibly proud to have stepped into the Cabinet on behalf of the people of the Northern Territory. I’m just very grateful for that role and know the responsibility that comes with that, Adam.
ADAM STEER,: Yeah, well, let's get to some of those issues. The Chief Minister wrote to yourself and Marion Scrymgour earlier this month with seven demands to help address crime. You met with the Chief Minister yesterday. How did that meeting go?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes, oh, very well. I mean, I reached out to the Chief Minister last week, the minute I heard about what was going on in Alice Springs and offered her a briefing in regards to what we're doing federally in Central Australia, which she did take up. So, yesterday's meeting is a continuation of working with her and the Northern Territory Government. We just want the people of Alice Springs and indeed the Territory, just to be safe.
ADAM STEER: In terms of the demands, there were some about restrictions on Centrelink payments. How did you go? Tell me what happened.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Look, I'm very mindful that these are ongoing conversations, but what I'd like to say to your listeners, Adam, is that I have reached out to the Chief in trying to see if we can work with Amanda Rishworth, who is the Minister responsible in this case. And I know that will be one of the next steps. And also the Chief Minister is continuing to work with Marion Scrymgour and Marion has been just an incredibly fierce advocate for Lingiari and the people of Central Australia. So, that will keep going. The Chief will meet with her over the Christmas period.
ADAM STEER: Would you back the idea of the Chief Minister to 100% quarantine welfare payments for those that are doing things wrong or their kids aren't going to school?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: There are complexities with that, Adam and I did relay that to the Chief Minister. One of the things we have to be mindful of is also other areas that are impacted, like the Race Discrimination Act. We have to have a look at all of these things. One of the other things is that Centrelink goes right across the country. So, if you impact one certain payment, you've got to be careful of how you impact others. So, this will be an ongoing conversation.
ADAM STEER: Okay. One of the demands was easing of restrictions for drone operators. Is that a yay or nay?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: We were able to do that pretty much straight away. Mark Butler, the Health Minister, certainly reached out to the Chief Minister on that and we were able to make sure through Catherine King, we could get that happening straight away.
ADAM STEER: The CLP came into power in the Northern Territory in August promising a sweep of changes to do with law and order, knife crime and alcohol reform. There has been some criticism that those laws are unfairly targeting First Nations people. What do you say?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Look, I expressed that at the beginning of the Chief Minister's introduction to the NT Parliament, that I thought even the reduction from 12 to 10 with the age (of criminal responsibility) was a real concern. We certainly spoke about it at the Indigenous Affairs Ministers’ meeting, which Steve Edgington is the Minister here in the Northern Territory, represented the NT on. We raised that there amongst all Indigenous Affairs Ministers about working with youth, that there must be other solutions, not incarceration.
ADAM STEER: On other news, Equatorial Launch Australia has made the surprise decision to opt out of the Northern Territory. They say they are heading to Queensland. How big of a loss is that for the Northern Territory?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, look, no doubt that's incredibly disappointing, Adam. I, like many Territorians, was pretty excited to know that there was going to be this kind of work done, especially in Arnhem Land. So, it's incredibly disappointing. But the first I heard of it was actually in the media. There certainly hadn't been any advocacy to me in regards to problems with that project. So, it's disappointing and it's sad to see that Queensland's got it.
ADAM STEER: Certainly, I think there was minor stakeholders, including the Northern Territory Government, that didn't hear about ELA's decision until they announced it in the media. There's a bit of finger pointing going on and I'm a bit restricted, actually, to what I can say in terms of this -
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Okay. That’s unlike you.
ADAM STEER: There’s some legal action, but like the fingers pointed at the NLC for dragging their feet, issuing permits. What do you know about that?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Look, I approached the NLC or I attended the NLC's full council meeting in Katherine just last week, and certainly the NLC have given a response as to their version. I don't really want to get caught in the middle of this because I haven't actually heard from Equatorial Launch either. What I can say is that it's just disappointing that they certainly didn't make any approaches to me if they were having difficulties, and I would have expected that might have been the case.
ADAM STEER: Yesterday, the Australian federal budget, I think it looks like it's in the worst financial position outside the crises of the recession, the GFC and the pandemic. What's your reaction to what the Treasurer announced yesterday?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: We have been really focused on cost of living, Adam. One of the things that we're certainly continuing to focus on is improving wages and jobs for Australians. We've certainly seen increases in wages, certainly in the care sector, and we've been able to provide at least a million new jobs. We recognise it's still really tough, but we have handed down consecutive surpluses as well, the first in almost two decades. So, we're very mindful that we've got a way to go. But we do believe we've got a very sensible position with the budget and with the Treasurer's position yesterday.
ADAM STEER: Well, Senator, good to hear from you this morning. I do appreciate your time. Your Christmas message for everybody today.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, look, be happy, be kind to one another. You know, just look out for one another. I think there's been a lot of difficult times, but, you know, Christmas is a beautiful time and I certainly wish everyone a very peaceful and happy time with your people that you love and people that you just meet very randomly wherever you may be. So, yeah, Merry Christmas.
ADAM STEER: Senator, Merry Christmas to you as well. Thank you.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thankyou.