Subjects: Perth Terrorism charge.
JEFF MICHAEL, HOST: The attempted bombing of an Invasion Day rally crowd in Perth was a terrorist act, authorities have declared. On the day, police were quick to arrest a 31-year-old man and he is awaiting a court date. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says to meet the conditions of a terror charge, police will allege the man accessed pro-white material online. And joining us now is Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy. Welcome to Perth.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Oh, hello, Jeff. And a big hello to your listeners. I told you I might be here sooner rather than later and I'm here in person.
HOST: Good to have you in the studio.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It's great to be here.
HOST: Firstly, suppose you were at the huge press conference earlier on today.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yeah, that's right.
HOST: Tell us in detail what the accused has been charged with.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Sure. Thank you, Jeff. Well, the Western Australian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which makes up the WA Police, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, they have now charged a 31-year-old male with engaging in a terrorist act. And that announcement was made today by the Police Commissioner and the AFP Commissioner along with the WA Premier.
HOST: Understand, over in Canberra in Parliament House, the Prime Minister had something to say as well.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, given I'm here in Whadjuk Country and Noongar Country, I didn't hear what the Prime Minister said in the House of Reps, but I am certainly aware that he was very, I think it was one of the first statements he made, was that this was a really serious incident and it needed a very serious approach.
HOST: Now, WA Police allege the man accessed pro-white material online. Now, what is the Federal Government able to do to stop the spread of hate online?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes, that was certainly discussed today, Jeff, when I met with Elders, I actually started off the morning at Forrest Place with Uncle Ben and a couple of the Noongar members who were at the rally and those who weren't. But it was important to hear from them first up as to how they were feeling and what happened that day. When I went to the gathering with the Premier with a lot of Noongar leaders and also people who organised the rally and listened to them, we talked about racism and hate, and I know that we have to really deal with the online hate. The Police Commissioner raised that as well, Jeff. He just said that all of us really have to look at the hate that is out there online. It's just got to stop.
HOST: Now, the hate laws that were recently introduced, now how would they have worked in this case?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, that's why we introduced the hate laws last month because we could see the escalation in commentary. Words matter. I've said that many times in the Parliament. Our language, what we say matters. Everyone has to be aware of that. I think the crux of it is this, that everyone should feel safe, even online. And one of the things that came through around hate and racist commentary, especially with the Chief of Police, is that if you know someone, I mean, we need the community to be vigilant as well. That person allegedly acted alone. Someone, somewhere must know what's happening to their family member, a friend or a colleague in terms of those escalation online. So, this is what the Police Commissioner was talking about and it's what I've echoed as well. We've all got to start to step up as well in that vigilance.
HOST: Now, you mentioned earlier on that you met with some Noongar Elders today. What have they said to you? Can you give us some more details?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Sure, it was really good and I did appreciate meeting with each and every one of them. People are still quite in shock and traumatised, and there's real understanding behind that. This will go on for some time, Jeff. So, we talked about the social and emotional wellbeing and care for families and for those who attended the rally, whether they were First Nations or allies, but also for people right across the country. One of the areas that I can certainly assist in is that social and emotional wellbeing side of things with the National Indigenous Australians Agency and working on how we can further support the community here in terms of Noongar organisations and individuals to feel safe.
HOST: Do you have any local organisations in mind that could help with that program that you just mentioned there?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I'm sure there's quite a few. I don't want to go into particular names right now because we only had the meeting a few hours ago. What matters now is that we've got to keep a cohesive group happening here and really get to the heart of some of the issues that were raised but also reach out to those people who weren't a part of constant talks with the WA Government and the Police Commissioner. I want to reach out to everyone, really, and certainly people have reached out to my office. This is going to take some time to be able to look at a plan going forward, but we have to get out immediately in terms of the short term on assisting those organisations now that assist with social and emotional wellbeing.
HOST: Now, the wider community, what have they said to you, the mainstream community?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, look, I had a few questions today, I guess from the mainstream media, largely around racism, and hate. And I spoke personally about how it's a lived experience for me. I've grown up with it, I live with it, I have my Facebook or social posts, you can really get some vile comments on there. We've got to not only block that, we have to stop that and I think we have to report that. So, I would say to people listening, we can step up too, and just report. And I mean, not just to Facebook or to Instagram or TikTok, but report it to the authorities so they have the information to follow through.
HOST: Now, suppose going from online to in real life now, some Aboriginal organisations have introduced tighter security, things like appointments only, or ring up over the phone to try and help them with their query. Your thoughts on that?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It was also raised today in the meeting with just that sense of people feeling unsure about wearing their colours. Whether it's their shirt for their work that's got Aboriginal designs that reflects who they are, or whether it's the Aboriginal flag, wearing it on their shirts or hats and wondering, should I be wearing that? And I think we've got to reclaim that space and say, yes, we as First Nations people in this country deserve to feel safe like anyone else. And so, these are things that I'm certainly taking on board now as we try to progress where we go to from here with the group that I met with today.
HOST: Now you kind of mentioned this earlier on as well, but what can we, the community do to prevent future incidents like this?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, again, that came up obviously with the rally organisers as well, that we have to look at how rallies are run. People should not be stopped from protesting. That is our democratic right. In this country, when you object to a policy or a government or a position, you have a right for peaceful protest. So, I would say to those listening, this is not about losing any of that. This is about stepping up and strengthening that.
HOST: And finally, anything you want to say to the community listening?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Can I just reach out to all of you in the sense that it was important for me to be here to feel the spirits of that Country in terms of Forrest Place and get a sense of what it was like. It doesn't replace the real fear that people felt, maybe not so much at the time, but certainly what they’ve felt since when it plays over in their minds. And again, I heard that today from people who were at the rally that they still, it is re-triggering. It's reoccurring. And this is why it's important to me to see that we do, from a federal perspective, work with the WA Government immediately on reaching out to our men and women and children, our Elders, to give them the support that's required.
HOST: Okay. Minister, thank you very much for joining us today here at Noongar Radio. And for you at home, if this topic has concerned you, there is Lifeline you can call and also 13YARN. Go to Google, check those numbers.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Please reach out to them, and stay safe, you mob. And look out for each other.