JO LAVERTY, HOST: Malarndirri McCarthy is former Northern Territory Minister for Statehood and current Northern Territory Senator. This must be bringing back memories of old debates past for you.

SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Yes. But look, I am enormously passionate about the Territory becoming the seventh state in the federation. So any opportunity to try to bring that forward and to certainly have a bipartisan approach will be most welcomed.

THOMAS ORITI, HOST: So the leader of the Nationals made his feelings clear there. He doesn't believe the voice would benefit the Indigenous community. You are a member of the Indigenous community. What's your response to that?

ALEX BARWICK, HOST: Well, a lot of people are really worried that the ongoing spate of stolen cars being driven dangerously by kids, whether in Alice Springs or in Katherine, will lead to someone dying. The Police Commissioner, Jamie Chalker has said he's actually seeing a trend that's happening right across the country, copycats trying to go viral, filming themselves and then posting it to social media, sometimes targeting police or members of the public with those stolen cars.

SABRA LANE, HOST: Stolen Generations Survivors from the Northern Territory, ACT and Jervis Bay regions are being encouraged to come forward and claim redress payments from the Commonwealth. The Federal Government set aside almost $400 million for the scheme, but so far only a few hundred applications have been made. Political reporter Dana Morse has more.

DANA MORSE, REPORTER: Even down a crackly phone line, you can hear the joy in Eileen Cummings voice when she speaks about growing up on Mainoru Station in the heart of Arnhem Land.

LISA MILLAR, ABC NEWS: Let's return to our top story this morning, the rallies and vigils across Australia following the death of Perth teen Cassius Turvey. Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy joins us now from Watarrka in the Northern Territory. Good morning to you. You are pretty remote coming to us, aren't you? About 300 kilometres from Alice Springs?

THOMAS ORITI: More support will be on the way for communities faced with stubbornly high rates of imprisonment of First Nations Australians, the Federal Government will today formally announce funding, it was allocated in the recent Budget though, for community based justice reinvestment programs for 15 locations around the country. The areas include places like Townsville, Katherine, Port Augusta, and they'll share in $69 million in funding to develop their own community strategies to reduce incarceration.

ADAM STEER, HOST: Fracking reports this week have been described as a nail in the coffin and the final puzzle pieces. The long awaited Senate inquiry into fracking in the Beetaloo Basin dropped this week. It was released this week. It recommended an inquiry into Middle Arm Sustainable Development Program. You heard from the Deputy Chief Minister, Nicole Manison, this time yesterday.

MANISON GRAB: This is the part that I thought was absolute garbage of the report, to be brutally honest, Adam.

VIRGINIA TRIOLI, HOST: It is Reconciliation Week, and you may have heard this morning that the Prime Minister gave the Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration in Adelaide last night. Malarndirri McCarthy is the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and the Labor Senator for the Northern Territory.

BARWIK: When I sort of continued that conversation with David Littleproud, yes, he did say that would be the plan. It would be flying department heads in from Canberra to remote communities, all remote communities across the Territory to sit down with elders and get many more people's opinions on what sorts of policies should be made. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy is the ALP Senator for the Northern Territory. She's also the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Health.

ALI MOORE, HOST: Well after the failed referendum for an Indigenous voice to Parliament, What's the future for consultations and engagement to try to close the gap and address Indigenous disadvantage? A delegation of Victorian Indigenous leaders have taken their voice to Canberra today. They've had a series of meetings with the Prime Minister and with senior ministers, including Malarndirri McCarthy, the Senator for the Northern Territory and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Health. Senator, welcome to Drive.