Radio interview: Bumma Bippera Media, Indigenous Radio Service

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Subjects: Food security, Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme, Remote Jobs and Economic Development program, One Nation

TREVOR TIM, HOST: Now the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy is visiting Far North Queensland as the Albanese Government delivers on its commitments to remote Indigenous communities. Minister Malarndirri has been taking a look at the government's remote jobs, ranger and food security programs in action, which are all a part of the commitment to Closing the Gap. We're going to have a yarn with deadly sister, who is on the line now. Senator the Honourable Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. A very good morning, my sister. How are you?

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Hey. Good morning, Trevor, and good morning to all your listeners. Lovely to join you as always.

TREVOR TIM: Thank you, my sister. Before we start, let the mob know who your mob. Where you from?

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Sure. I'm Malarndirri. My mob are the Yanyuwa Garrwa people from Borroloola in the Gulf Country on the Northern Territory side.

TREVOR TIM: Yeah. Beautiful. And big shout out to your mob. Thank you very much. So, look, feet on the ground, visiting remote areas and looking at the commitment from the Albanese Government regarding looking after our mob in remote Indigenous communities. So, this is a thumbs up, look it’s part of Closing the Gap. We sound like a broken record. We need to close some gaps, don't we, sister?

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely. And it's important, especially in this area of food security and jobs, jobs, jobs Trev. Sorry if you can hear the chopper behind me, I'm just at the airport.

TREVOR TIM: That's all good. Yeah.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Not that I'm getting on a chopper, ‘quickly, get me to the chopper.’

TREVOR TIM: Yeah, that's right. Exactly. So, talk about this beautiful space. It's so, so very important and, you know, hats off to Albanese Government. We, like I said, sound like a broken record. Closing gaps, closing gaps. We're in the 21st century, 2026, and we're still singing that same song, aren't we?

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It is difficult. It's really tough. And that's where we need all the states and territories on board, Trev. We do need the states and territories on board with the Commonwealth. We can't do it on our own. And the Coalition of Peaks needs all the state and territory governments on board. What I'm doing is trying to get, as best as I can, the policies out there. The food security policy is a really important one and that's to lower the cost of 30 essential items in remote stores across Australia. And I've been visiting Wujal Wujal to have a look at the store there to make sure the prices are lower. And with the Queensland subsidy, they're also lower, which is terrific. It's important that these stores are like that, Trev. And then of course, with the jobs, jobs, jobs. I need to see the remote jobs rolling out. We said we'd deliver 3,000 jobs. We should be on that mark in the next couple of months. And the Prime Minister has announced a further 3,000, so we'll have 6,000 jobs to fill over the next couple of years.

TREVOR TIM: And when you're talking jobs, when you're talking about low prices, what have you. Look, we have the solution to our own problems. Money's a tool. Money at the table then creates jobs. So, that's not an expense, that's investment, is it not?

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely. And you're right, communities, mob, know what they need on the ground. The community in Wujal Wujal will be different to the community in Papunya and that'll be different again to the community in Kununurra. So, we have to really listen to the local families on the ground. They know what they need, they know the jobs that would interest them and keep people getting up each morning and going to them. This is a really terrific opportunity for people to have dignity in work. Full pay, long service leave, holiday pay, superannuation. All the entitlements that really make, well, you, Trev and me, really comfortable with our jobs because we know we've got those entitlements that come with getting up each morning and going to work.

TREVOR TIM: Exactly. So, this is a great thing, great commitment. You're on the ground and you’re sussing out the situation, which is so very important, front and centre. And you're dealing grassroots, which is great. Thank you for the yarn there. I want to ask you in regards to the so called favouritism for the Prime Minister, lady with the red hair, in regard to Pauline Hanson. A lot of our mob here in Cairns have got that fearmonger happening in regards to if she becomes the next Prime Minister. That would be scary for a lot of First Nations people, is the talk.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, I say to all Australians, really, look at her record in the Parliament. She votes against reducing cost of living for ordinary Australians, let alone First Nations. She votes against having jobs. She votes against tax relief. People just have to see what they do in the Parliament to know that if they get into those positions, that's the kind of country we would have. So, I'd say to everyone listening, take this very seriously. We are trying to do the best that we can, the Federal Government, and rolling these policies out matters. So, please, get on board and really make these policies flourish.

TREVOR TIM: Exactly. Well, we're talking about, we're all in this together and like I said, we're moving forward and this is a great country. We need to keep it great and working towards a light at the end of the tunnel. But I thank you for your yarn, Senator. Thank you very much. And look, travel safe. Watch the helicopter there behind you. We will talk soon, sister. Thank you very much.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thanks Trev. Okay, bye bye.