NT MINISTER SELENA UIBO: It's great to be here on Larrakia Country, as the Northern Territory is the host jurisdiction for the National Close the Gap Joint Council. It's really fantastic to be joined by federal and parliamentary colleagues from across the country, as well as our Coalition of Peaks, which are the peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations working on the action that is needed to close the gap for First Nations disadvantage across Australia. As the Northern Territory host Minister.

NT MINISTER SELENA UIBO: It's great to be here on Larrakia Country, as the Northern Territory is the host jurisdiction for the National Close the Gap Joint Council. It's really fantastic to be joined by federal and parliamentary colleagues from across the country, as well as our Coalition of Peaks, which are the peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations working on the action that is needed to close the gap for First Nations disadvantage across Australia. As the Northern Territory host Minister.

ALEX BARWICK, HOST : There seems to be some division within the Country Liberal Party over who is against a voice to Parliament and who is open to hearing a bit more or maybe even letting members decide for themselves. Over the weekend, the CLP membership voted through a motion against The Voice, but this came just days after the CLP parliamentary wing decided to abstain from voting in Territory Parliament for support of the voice, saying they wanted more detail.

KARVELAS: Federal politicians have flown into Alice Springs as the town embarks on a new chapter of alcohol reform. New liquor ban laws are set to be introduced in NT Parliament next week. That's six months after they suddenly were lifted. Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy joins me now from Alice Springs. Welcome to the program. Now it's been more than a week since the Government received Dorelle Anderson's report and days ago the NT Government reinstated alcohol bans. How different is the situation on the ground now?

DAVE MARCHESE, HOST: Senator, firstly, the big news out of Canberra today, as we just heard, Senator Lidia Thorpe has quit the Greens over divisions on the Voice to Parliament. She's been really critical of pursuing a voice before treaty. We're still waiting to see if the Greens are going to commit to supporting the voice in the referendum. Do you think that's more likely now Lidia Thorpe isn't in the Greens.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Well, our first guest today will be involved in that (referendum) working group meeting tomorrow. And like Natasha Fyles, Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy is on the move to take part. She's Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Malarndirri McCarthy joins us live now from Sydney. Very important round of talks, Senator. Can I ask exactly what we should expect to come from what I understand to be one of the presumed to be one of the final meetings of the working group?

HOST, ANDREW CLENELL: And joining me now is the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Senator McCarthy, thanks so much for joining us. You heard Matt Cunningham there talk about the spotlight being on Alice Springs for five minutes and then the country doesn't care anymore. Do you think that's a fair assessment of one of the difficulties with dealing with this problem? Do you think there'll be a fix this time?

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Well, a political blame game has erupted over the ongoing surge of violence in Alice Springs and both Labor and the Opposition are pointing the finger at each other after the Prime Minister's whirlwind emergency visit... It has and whether we like it or not, turned into a political blame game. The PM pointing the finger at the Coalition. And I think as you were alluding to the other day as well for letting the alcohol restrictions expire yet his visit only came after pressure, partly because of the Opposition. Who is at fault here?

THOMAS ORITI, HOST: Can you firstly tell us about the meetings and discussions you've been having with people in the community? What has been the reaction?

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Now we might not get to see all of it, but behind the scenes there's a lot going on to consult and to prepare for next year's referendum on the Indigenous voice to Parliament. Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, has been involved in very recent discussions on the proposal. Malarndirri McCarthy joined us a short time ago from Darwin. Why don't we go to the issue of The Voice? I know towards year's end. You've had this meeting as recently as yesterday with Indigenous Affairs Ministers from the states and territories.