Subjects: Perth terrorism charge.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: I acknowledge the Noongar people and this beautiful country that we've come to, and we hope to continue to be on in a very safe way. I'd like to thank the Premier for your announcement this morning, but also the Commissioners and the work that you're doing in terms of keeping Australians safe, in particular First Nations people.
I just want to say that I know that the First Nations community here in Perth, and right across Australia, are indeed hurting. They're feeling scared, they feel very angry, and I've certainly been in contact with the Noongar community since January 26. And even this morning with Uncle Ben and some of our Noongar community, I was able to just walk through Forrest Place this morning, just to hear from them how they're feeling, but also the work that still needs to continue in terms of bringing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people together here, but right across the country with our fellow Australians. We all want to be safe; we all want to know that we can protest in an environment where we don't have to be looking over our shoulder or looking around to see if someone's going to hurt us or violently attack us. So, there's a fair bit of work to take place in coming months in terms of that kind of healing, in terms of the social cohesion that we require, not just in Western Australia but right across Australia. Just this week in the Australian Parliament we saw a unanimous support for the condemnation of what occurred here on January 26 in Perth. And it was really important that the Australian Parliament did do that, to send an incredibly clear and decisive message to all Australians that we need to look out for one another, we need to care for one another, we need to be kinder to one another, and we need to be alert, as the Commissioners have said, alert to those in our society who are choosing to do the opposite. I do want to thank those in the Noongar community who have reached out to work with our families. I also want to thank the staff of the National Indigenous Australians Agency who are also reaching out, who have also had families impacted as a result of what happened on January 26. I want to thank Senator Dorinda Cox, Senator Sue Lines and Patrick Gorman, my colleagues, who have been working here with the WA Government but also with the Noongar communities. The Australian Government, the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and all our Parliament stand with the people of Western Australia and stand with First Nations families across this country.
Thank you, Premier.
ROGER COOK: Thank you very much. Any questions?
JOURNALIST: We've heard from the Commissioners this morning around the criticism about the time it's taken to get to this point. Do you accept that? Do you hope that that will, you know, soothe the anguish that's been felt in the Indigenous community?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Today's a really important day in terms of this process of the investigation. I am mindful, always, of the words that I use, conscious that there is an investigation and now a court case underway. What I will say is this, and I will say to the First Nations community across Australia, that there is no doubt in my mind that the Australian Federal Police, the WA Police and ASIO worked immediately to assist to keep Australians safe.
JOURNALIST: We also heard from the Commissioners that [indistinct] this is the first time an event like this has been targeted at First Nations people to result in these kind of charges. Hearing that, I mean I can't imagine how it feels, but are you able to put into words again what you and the community are going through?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, obviously, there is no doubt people feel afraid, and we should not be feeling that in this country. No one should be feeling that. You know, it is a beautiful country. We should be able to protest and have our quarrels and have our different opinions and do so respectfully. That's the right of every Australian. I would just say this, that what's happened these past couple of months has certainly highlighted the fact that all of us, wherever we are in this country, need to be vigilant, and we need to deliberately work towards a social, cohesive community, and in doing that, it is the basic values of human kindness, looking out for one another, taking care of one another.
JOURNALIST: Not only was it obviously a day of protest but of course day of mourning for Indigenous Australians. Does this further tarnish a day that is already so painful?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: We know that January 26 has different meanings for different people in this country. I've always said that we have to look at all of our attitudes whatever the date is in terms of bringing our country together. But this moment was about people's ability and their right to democratically protest and put forward their views, and they should, like anyone in this country, be able to do that safely.
JOURNALIST: What is your message to people who won't feel safe doing that after this announcement today?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well this message today is about saying to all Australians, we deserve to feel safe, and I would say to you out there, make sure you do look out for one another and do what the Commissioners have said, if you do see someone across your communities who is escalating in some way in terms of the online, I mean I receive horrible things on my Facebook in terms of racism, in terms of hateful commentary. I would say to people out there it is something we've all got to say as all Australians, no more.
JOURNALIST: This is, you know, I guess what you're speaking about there has been something First Nations people have dealt with since colonisation. How do you reflect on how it is changing over time? Is it getting worse? Is the nature of it changing?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I think from my own personal experience as a Yanyuwa Garrwa woman, I've experienced it all my life. What we're seeing in Australia is that it's no longer just compartmentalised to First Nations people. I think all Australians are seeing that it's very real in this country. My response is this though, that like anything you just show people another way and say that is not the country we want to be, that is not the person I want to be, and those hateful comments have to stop. Our Parliament delivered laws specifically for that purpose. Our Prime Minister led this country specifically for that purpose. Social cohesion depends on each and every one of us as well.
JOURNALIST: You've said you've dealt with this all your life, and you spoke about how hate is growing, particularly online. Did you see it escalating to this point at this time?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: That's a good question. When, with the work that I do and the area that I cover across Australia with the policies that I'm rolling out, I have seen it from time to time, but there are particular moments where it does escalate, where it doesn't need to.
JOURNALIST: What does the next January 26 look like with the [indistinct]?
ROGER COOK, PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Look, I think as we progress we all understand that, as Minister McCarthy said, that Australia Day represents a different experience for everyone. I think for the Noongar community in particular, it will be a day of reflection. A day where they will reflect on the fact that a tragedy where you saw loss, you saw injury and potential loss of life narrowly pass them by as they were undertaking what they understood was their right as an Australian to protest in a free society. So, this will add to the complexity of that day. I don't think there's any doubt about that. But it is also an opportunity for us to remind ourselves about who we are. Who we are as Australians, who we are as Western Australians. The fact that I think everyone in the community would condemn this act, this act of violence and now allegedly an act of terrorism. From that perspective I think it's an opportunity for us all to recommit ourselves to a safe and peaceful community.
JOURNALIST: Premier, the Police Commissioner says as witnesses of this attack he'd been unable to speak with event organisers yet. In the past few days have you reached out, have you spoken to them yet or made plans to?
ROGER COOK: So, the Police Commissioner's a sworn officer of the WA Police Force so obviously it's important that he doesn't, by his conduct, you know, interfere in the investigation that's taking place and I absolutely respect that. I'll be meeting with leaders of the community today plus the event organisers, following this with Minister McCarthy to express our solidarity with the Noongar community and Aboriginal people everywhere, our condemnation of this act and the fact that this was an act targeted predominantly against Aboriginal Australians for being just that, Aboriginal Australians. It's unacceptable and we will do everything we can as a government to ensure that it never happens again. Now we can't make sure, we can't guarantee that these acts of violence won't take place elsewhere, but we can do everything we can to address this particular act and continue to recommit ourselves to making sure Western Australia stays safe and peaceful.
JOURNALIST: Should that meeting have come earlier? It's been 10 days.
ROGER COOK: Well, again, as the Police Commissioner pointed out there was nine days since that incident took place. I've obviously had conversations with individuals in the community with regards to the incident. I've had opportunities provided by you to make comment in the media since that day, including at 4 pm on Monday immediately following the attack. So, this is the first opportunity I've had. As you know, I was travelling last week. And I think it was also important that we allowed the Joint Counter‑Terrorism Taskforce to conclude its initial investigations before we had those conversations.
JOURNALIST: On a personal level, Premier, have you had a chance over the last few days to reflect on your own role in trying to promote social cohesion in WA? You know, looking back, do you think there are opportunities where more could have been done?
ROGER COOK: Look, I want to make a couple of observations and so thank you very much for the question. As community leaders we all have a role to make sure that we reflect the values that we all hold dear as part of this great Western Australian community. That's why I've taken the opportunity wherever I have, wherever I've been able over the last nine days, to condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. I invite, indeed I call on, all political leaders in Western Australia to do so as well. The other point I want to make, and this was the point that Commissioner Blanch made, and it's a very important one. The reason why we were able to apprehend this individual so quickly on the day immediately following the incident, was because members of the public were vigilant and called out the actions, alerted police and police were able to act. The reason why we were able to undertake an arrest on Christmas Eve with regards to the activities of a particular individual was because members of the public observed and acted and informed police and they were able to take steps. It is up to all of us in the community to be vigilant. The nature of hatred in our community and the way it is expressed is changing all the time, enabled by the digital technologies which sit in the palm of our hand every day, with a mobile phone. So, we must continue to make sure we all do everything we can to assist the police to continue to make sure Western Australia stays a safe and peaceful place to live.
JOURNALIST: And you're confident you've done as much as you could?
ROGER COOK: Well, we continue to make sure the police have the resources they need to ensure that we can protect the rights of Western Australians, and that's something that we continue to be committed to. Of course, as the Premier of Western Australia I want to ensure that every Western Australian has the opportunity to feel secure at work, at home and where they live. That of course, is a key priority of any government, but particularly of my government. We'll make sure that we continue to work across all our agencies to ensure that we commit to that mission.
JOURNALIST: There was a bit of chaos and confusion as well when it first erupted, people were confused about what it was exactly, a fire or a bomb, etcetera. Were you satisfied with the response of how quickly people moved away from that considering the seriousness of it now that we know it wasn't a fire [indistinct]?
ROGER COOK: Yes, I was. You could anticipate, particularly a protest of this nature, if police are saying, right, you've got to stop. You've got to get out of here, initially there would be some confusion as to what's motivating the police actions. But I think the police did everything they could to explain the seriousness of the situation and to get the community to respond, but in particular I want to once again acknowledge the protest organisers, who did everything they could to assist the police on the day to make sure that everyone could move out of the area as quickly as possible.
JOURNALIST: Minister, can I just ask you a similar question. Before the Royal Commission and the internet's role in spreading this hateful ideology, do you hope that it kind of looks at that, travels in that direction as well?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely. I do think that when we talk about social cohesion, I'm sure that in terms of the Royal Commission, Australians have an opportunity to put forward their submissions. No doubt there will be many who will be talking about the impact of the internet and the impact that it has on their own personal lives.
JOURNALIST: Can you clarify when this charge was laid, was it this morning, yesterday?
ROGER COOK: Yesterday afternoon.
SPEAKER: We might move to other issues.
JOURNALIST: Just one for the Minister if that's okay. We've been speaking about social cohesion, and you've spoken about your experiences with this over a long time. When you look at the landscape we're facing now with social media, the rise of parties like One Nation, do you genuinely believe that we can regain social cohesion and come back from the point that we've got to?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I'm a pretty optimistic kind of person. I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't had the opportunities to be guided by good people throughout my life in the most difficult and extraordinary of circumstances. I do believe though, as Minister for Indigenous Australians, and the policies that we've rolled out in the Federal Parliament, for example the banning of social media for 16‑year‑olds and under, I do think that is going to have an incredibly important and significant impact for our next generation of young Australians on how to do things sensibly, responsibly. So, I do believe we can as a country come together, I think history shows we're pretty good at coming together in times of need. I guess what I'm urging all Australians to do and think about now is that every day is our time of need, so let's come together every day.
ROGER COOK: Thank you, Minister.