FLOYD DOYLE, HOST: Now we have someone special in the studio with us at the moment who is in town here and we are going to find out why. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians and Senator for the Northern Territory. Good afternoon Senator, how are you?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good afternoon. A big shout‑out to all your listeners wherever they might be.It's lovely to be here on CAAMA radio.
FLOYD DOYLE: At the moment we are on the remote Indigenous broadcast.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Awesome.
FLOYD DOYLE: So, we are out there in the bush. Everyone is all tuned in all over the place.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: G'day to you mob out bush wherever you are.
FLOYD DOYLE: Now, we understand why you are in town here. There is an expansion happening down at the visitor park here in Alice Springs. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It is pretty special. We have invested in making sure there’s more beds at the Aboriginal hostel south of Alice Springs here. It's the visitor park, it's really a beautiful area for the Aboriginal hostel and we are able to extend it with 20 extra beds and so we are going to open that sort of new wing of the park this afternoon. So, it's all very exciting and I think the residents out there are pretty excited about it. And for those who want to come in to visit Alice there is extra places to stay.
FLOYD DOYLE: I believe it's ‑ there is going to be like emergency accommodation now available down there? Is that sort of like part of the plan of it?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Sure. This is part of the Central Australia Plan, when we decided as a federal government, when the Prime Minister came into Central Australia, Floyd, that we’d make sure that there was support on every level, including accommodation. So, we had a lot of families who come in from out bush because they need renal dialysis or they might need to visit family who is in hospital or just have other appointments and didn't have anywhere to stay. So, the Aboriginal Hostels, which we have over 40 hostels across Australia, they are kind of like the backbone for our mob.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yes.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: And I am so proud of our hostels and I'm proud of the people who work in the hostels, and we need to really love our hostels and as governments we need to really invest in them. And we have invested $4.9 million into the developments just here at this one hostel and I'm really proud of that.
FLOYD DOYLE: Now, you did mention dialysis there and remote. So just a while back, a couple of months back, you were going out into communities and opening up -
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Still do. Still do. I'm travelling right across the country, it's lovely.
FLOYD DOYLE: No, it is great. And you were ‑ you did put a number of dialysis clinics out there. How are those ones going?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Sure. Well, the one I opened was in Ceduna in South Australia and my understanding is it's going really well. We want to see a couple more here in the Northern Territory start to get built and open up. There were some in the Torres Strait, some in WA. So, this is a real push of our government to make sure we have more dialysis chairs for families to go back on Country. A lot of people just say they want to go back on Country and have their treatment. Because as you probably know, when people are on dialysis they need to be on it like three days a week. So, that's most of their week gone just being on those chairs and getting the treatment that they really need.
FLOYD DOYLE: And we know with our people, especially elder ones and that, when they do feel very sick they prefer to be closer to family and that sort of thing.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: They do.
FLOYD DOYLE: And to be away, you know, it's very lonely for them.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It is.
FLOYD DOYLE: Very, you know, sad for them. And I think now putting them back out in community it will make them feel a lot better. And plus, you know, like if they are in there for a couple of hours, well ‑ and they have finished and they can more or less go home because it is down the road.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes. So, trying to find that ‑ trying to give people some choice because obviously we have got renal dialysis units here in Alice Springs and then when you have someone on renal their families come in and they don't have accommodation.
FLOYD DOYLE: Correct.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: So, we've got to make sure that we've got accommodation. So, it's a balance of so many things just to give comfort to families that they have somewhere to stay. And I'm really looking forward to opening this new 20‑bed wing this afternoon.
FLOYD DOYLE: Geez, you have come along with a lot of good things here for us. I've got another one, a tourism boost for the Red Centre. Tell us about this.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes. Look, this is really, really exciting. It's for our tourism businesses in Alice Springs and the centre really. We wanted to give a resilience package here of $1 million to those tourism businesses that have up to 19 staff can apply for this. We recognise that it is over the summer months that it's tough for Central Australia, and we want to make sure that our tourism businesses can get through the summer and then start to prepare for their programs going into 2026. And this resilience package is quite important.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yes. So, a lot of Northern Territory ones, especially here in the centre, need those boosts there for tourism as well.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: That's right. So, they can go on the website once we launch that.I think it is going to be on the Central Australia tourism website, but it will certainly be available for businesses who are listening. And if they have any problems finding it they can touch base with my office or Marion Scrymgour, the Member for Lingiari, who has fought fiercely and continues to do so for the residents of Lingiari.
FLOYD DOYLE: Now, don't take this personally.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes.
FLOYD DOYLE: You are sitting there in a red shirt and is this like a Santa Claus thing and all these Christmas presents?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Hey, come on. I just needed my little Santa Claus hat, hey.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yes. No, because the ice rink is coming back for the summer school holidays.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I know, how exciting. I do have to come, like I have to come back and see the ice rink. I kind of feel, we have got it in the Top End on Larrakia Country, the ice rink, which seems crazy in really hot, sweaty weather to have it. But you mob are going to have it here again over Christmas.I'm really encouraging families to get on board, go and use it. And I can't encourage families to do it if I'm not doing it, so I had better get back down here at some stage once the skate rink is up. I have to get my staff, Sheralee is going to lead me on there.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yeah, good on you, Sheralee. Excellent stuff. Now one thing, do you know how to ice skate? Watch out.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I will be hanging on to the sides.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yeah. All those things like the penguins they hold onto so they don't fall over.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: True, hey. They will be going how come Malarndirri is walking so slow.
FLOYD DOYLE: You will probably have to ban the cameras for that one, there sister. Okay, just one more very quick question. The CDP has changed now to RAES or Remote Australia Employment Service. What's the difference between the two models?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: A huge difference. People might remember the old CDP model, which a lot of people said was just unfair. That it was discriminatory, that it didn't pay good money, that people were just painting rocks and not really doing worthwhile work. Well, when I was in opposition before coming into Government, we said that was one policy that we wanted to change if we had the chance, and we now have that chance to create real jobs with real pay, superannuation, long service leave, holiday pay and giving people dignity in work. And that's really what the bottom line is here. The more people have access to good jobs, good pay, then they lift their own standard of living and that of their families to rise up from poverty. You know, I really do believe in that.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yes. Because also with this new program where work is not available the job seekers will be encouraged to gain skills anyhow.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely.
FLOYD DOYLE: To upskill them in local community projects. What does that mean? Like the community might have an idea of a project?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes, so there is two components to it. First there is the remote jobs, which is what I was talking about in terms of dignity in work and the fair pay and conditions. And then with RAES, the Remote Australia Employment Service, that's to help people who are on Centrelink who have some form of, you know, disability pension or single parent pension, or some form of pension. This program is to assist them to get job ready. So, that if you are a family member out there who can for three days a week try and find some work or do some training, this will be really good for you.
FLOYD DOYLE: Okay.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: To prepare you for a point where you might be able to go the next step and really get a solid job.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yes. Because like you said, it is all about gaining those skills if you don't have them.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: That's right.
FLOYD DOYLE: And if you are interested in let's say carpentry or mechanics or something, you can slowly say ‑ it is not like every day. You can just do it a couple of days to get used to it and then build, build, build from there.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Because one of the things we are probably facing with all our families for over decades of not being able to have that work ethic, if you like, is trying to get people into that rhythm of getting up each day and feeling good about where they want to go. I know it's really simple stuff, but that's what I think it has to be. Like, you want to feel good about getting up out of bed and going to do a job that you enjoy. And this is really about starting and encouraging people and incentivising people.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yes, because more or less that is how it used to be before the NT intervention came in. Communities were proud, they had their own money. It was like, I think you’d call it like self‑determination and there was leadership, proper leadership within communities. All those things have fallen by the side. But these things here and that new program, I think we can start to try and build those up again.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: You are spot on. Because the intervention really struck at the heart of mob across the Northern Territory, it really did. And it has taken a couple of decades to kind of get out of that sense of deep disempowerment which I believe was what the intervention was really all about.You know, disempowering First Nations families.
FLOYD DOYLE: Yeah, it did take a massive toll.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: We all took a great hit and our families and communities really did. So, I am a firm believer also in the resilience of our mob right across Australia as First Nations families and I do believe that with the right support we can find our way back again.
FLOYD DOYLE: There is just one more question. In regards to employment, has the government ever thought about like a mentor's role where a qualified worker could mentor a local person from that community to work alongside them until they are qualified or capable to do the role, and then once the local worker is competent the mentor, you know, he is there for so long or she is there for so long and then they step aside because that will help build that self‑determination and leadership within the communities again. Has anyone ever thought about, you know, trying to do that? I don't know if it can be done, but, you know, it's an idea.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It's an important question and an awesome idea. This is where both RJED and RAES, the two programs we are rolling out, the key to it is community. The key to it is co‑design and engagement with the local people of that area.
FLOYD DOYLE: Ah ha.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: So, for example, if you are at out Yuendumu and you mob got an idea there that you think will work for your community, then put it forward. And if mentoring young people or older people, it doesn't really matter, if mentoring is a key part of that program then you make sure you see it included in the kind of programs that are running out at Yuendumu. The same again in the Top End. Same again in WA communities and South Australia.
FLOYD DOYLE: So, it is sort of not like a blanket approach, it can be adjusted for each community?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, this is what I'm asking communities to do, is you mob know the answers for what works for you, for your families and your residents of that region. There might be particular projects that you think, this will be a good project for us to work on here at Atitjere or out at Santa Teresa. You might think this is a good program, let's put this forward. But it might be different again to someone who is out at Kintore, they may have a different kind of program. But this kind of funding from the Commonwealth is actually about encouraging that co‑design at the local level.
FLOYD DOYLE: Excellent.Okay. Well, I won't take much up much of your time because you have to get on down.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Go and open this hostel.
FLOYD DOYLE: You bet. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, thank you once again for coming into CAAMA Radio. We love having you here and we will see you back again to do some ice skating, hey.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: My absolute pleasure. I will see you then. And if I'm going on you are going on that ice.
FLOYD DOYLE: Okay, yeah, I will go on down there. I will give it a go. Cheers, mate. Thank you very much.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: See you. Bye.