CO-HOST: Senator Malarndirri McCarthy is with us, Senator, how would you describe what January 26th means to Australia in 2024?
MCCARTHY: Well, certainly for me it means a day of reflection, a chance to have a look at how far we've come, where we want to go. To also listen to those who have different concerns about today, but at the same time, be really proud of our Australian of the Year, of our Senior Australian of the year, Yalmay Yunupingu from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. So it is a day of mixed emotions, but one that I do reflect on and certainly respect the different views.
CO-HOST: The Prime Minister spent today fulfilling various ceremonial roles. Is there much support within the government to change the date?
MCCARTHY: Well, our government has always said that the 26th of January will remain. We're certainly very aware of the calls by others, certainly those who've, met at rallies across the country who are asking for the change to the date. I personally feel that there has to always be something about a change of attitude. I think it's really important, that our country looks at our history and tries to understand it. A nnd it was one thing that I saw with the outcome of the referendum, that people across Australia still don't really understand, that Australia does have a black history. So for me, I just think that we've got a lot of work to do to ensure, that most Australians actually understand what our history is all about.
CO-HOST Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price supports legislating for Australia Day to remain on the 26th of January. What impact would that have?
MCCARTHY: Well, I wonder for what purpose, though? If the government says that January 26th is the date and if the opposition says January 26th is the date, for what purpose would there be to legislate other than to introduce laws? And when you introduce laws, laws also have penalties. So what? Is that an attack on democracy? Do you want to attack people? Lock them up for having a say for the fact that they think there should be a change in the date. Oh come on. I think we're bigger than that. We're smarter than that.
CO-HOST: Do you think a change in attitude would inevitably lead to a change in the day?
MCCARTHY: I do think that we are smarter as Australians. I do think that we have heart. I do think we have compassionate in the Australia that I believe in. And I think we have fairness, and I think we can find a way to work together. We've got to remember that our history was born of conflict. Our history, even with the convicts, was born with, people who were already prisoners of this country. So our history isn't all that pleasant. So therefore, our ability to kind of, reflect and move forward is always going to be, fraught with that kind of tension. But I think we can find something better. We can either have a particular day that we want to celebrate on top of the 26th. I know that just listening to the Metro local Aboriginal Land Council here, where they talk about it being a day of 'mourning'. They do that in the morning, literally in the morning with the sunrise. And they reflect on that. But we also know that we have to come together. We see that with the Olympics, with the Commonwealth Games, with footy teams. We can as a nation come together. Why are we afraid of January 26th being a day to have these discussions and debate and just agree to disagree?
CO-HOST: Do you think it's ever possible to have a day where indigenous and non-Indigenous in this country just feel good about this country, or is that is that not, and I'm not taking the piss. I mean, literally, is that a possibility?
MCCARTHY: We do that through our NAIDOC Week, we do that through Christmas. We do that through Boxing Day. We do that through ANZAC Day. We certainly respect and commemorate on those days. We do so many days throughout the year, where we do come together as a nation. I think the 26th of January, we should be unafraid and unashamed of having, the diversity of views that we do have about how this country began.
CO-HOST: We want to thank you for your time, and especially I know you announced today that your son is in hospital. And so it means even more that you've taken the time to chat to us now. So our thoughts are with him. And we thank you very much for your time, Senator.
MCCARTHY: Thank you very much. And just a big shout out to my son and his girlfriend. I'm very proud of both of them.