ADAM STEER, HOST: Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy has been a proponent of the voice. Senator, thanks for your patience this morning and welcome back to the program. How important is this vote to you personally?
RAFAEL EPSTEIN, HOST: How important is this vote to you personally?
NT SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Oh, look, it is such an incredible sort of time, I guess. Certainly for myself, my families, you know, and I'm quite excited, you know, with the announcement today and look forward to the next six weeks of reaching out even more to all Australians everywhere in the hopes that we get a yes outcome.
EPSTEIN: Do you think you will?
STEPHANIE BORYS, HOST: The request for a voice to Parliament was outlined in the Uluru Statement from a Heart back in 2017. So six years on, what does this day mean to you?
MARION SCRYMGOUR, MEMBER FOR LINGIARI: Thank you, and I want to thank May and Olivia for the welcome to country. It's always great to be part of being welcomed to other people's country. I think the investment and it is a proud moment to stand here with the Prime Minister, with the Minister for Indigenous Australians, and for the announcement in terms of the biggest investment by any government into the Northern Territory.
GREG JENNETT, HOST: Let's continue with matters involving the Senate, which is already into debate on the bill to alter the Constitution and create the voice referendum, that debate's underway and continues. Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy joins us now in the studio. Welcome back, Senator. Let's start with reference to that exchange we just heard. Were you in the chamber?
The Albanese Labor Government is establishing a new $18 million capital works fund to build new and improve existing boarding facilities in Central Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote Northern Territory communities.
The Central Australia Boarding Response Fund comes after the review of boarding school options in Central Australia announced last October by the Federal and Northern Territory governments.
LISA MILLAR, HOST: Let's go to federal politics and the last parliamentary sitting fortnight before the winter break. Today begins with the Government very keen to ensure the path of its legislation for the Indigenous Voice referendum. Now, of course, the Government doesn't have a majority in the Senate, but the opposition has indicated that it will support it to get it through. But it's still going to have to convince Australians to vote yes, because there's a new poll suggesting that support has slipped below a majority.
WOOLF: Big announcement made yesterday by the Federal and Territory governments to support community led place-based approaches to justice reinvestment. At the Joint Council on Closing the Gap meeting, which happened here in Darwin. Now, as part of its landmark $81.5 million First Nations justice package, the Albanese Government is going to be assisting 15 communities that have expressed interest in designing and developing early stage justice reinvestment strategies.
ANDY PARK, HOST: Well, 15 remote communities across the country will receive support as part of an $81 million fund for community led initiatives, which the federal government says will help reduce the incarceration rate for First Nations Australians. A wicked problem if there ever was one. The announcement came earlier this morning ahead of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap meeting in Darwin. Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said working with communities can lead to better outcomes.
The Albanese Labor Government is establishing a new $18 million capital works fund to build new and improve existing boarding facilities in Central Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote Northern Territory communities.
The Central Australia Boarding Response Fund comes after the review of boarding school options in Central Australia announced last October by the Federal and Northern Territory governments.