Minister for Indigenous Australians
DAVE MARCHESE, HOST: Next month will mark a year since Australia's Voice to Parliament referendum. Now, people remember the referendum was defeated after a really intense and sometimes toxic debate. So, where are we now? Because since then, Australia's got a new Minister for Indigenous Australians. Linda Burney has finished up in the job and now NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy has taken over. So, we wanted to have a check in and speak with the new Minister. She's with us now. Malarndirri McCarthy, thank you very much for joining us on Hack.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good afternoon, David, and good afternoon to all your listeners across the country.
MARCHESE: We're coming up to a year since the Voice referendum, a debate which many First Nations Australians say really hurt them. You're the new Minister in this portfolio. What are your priorities now?
McCARTHY: That hurt is still there, Dave. It's something that we experienced recently again, when we had the Garma Festival, to hear from First Nations people who attended. It is something that I see still when I travel across the country. But I can say this to your listeners that I am very conscious we are coming up to 12 months to when more than 6 million people voted yes, but it wasn't enough to get us over the line. I would like to still appeal to all of those Australians who voted yes to not give up. This is an opportunity that we're seeing now in the Senate with a bill, the Truth and Justice Bill, that has been introduced to the Senate and is now in a Senate inquiry. And it will be holding hearings across the country so we can hear from all Australians. And yes, it is a bill that's been brought on by the Greens and we have supported that. And this is an opportunity for Australians to speak to the Senate about where we should go next.
MARCHESE: There has been some research out this year that's found there is declining interest from the public on Indigenous issues. Are you worried about that?
McCARTHY: I'm conscious that the First Nations issues that seem to be in the media are very negative. I'm conscious that some of the political debate that goes on here in the Australian Parliament is quite depressing in terms of the focus on First Nations people. So, I'm going to continue in my role to encourage and look at the absolute highlights of First Nations people. We only have to look at the Paralympians who've come back, Dave. We've got four amazing First Nations people who've come back from that. I want to be able to point out the excellence that there is because I'm not going to talk First Nations people down. And sometimes here in the Senate, I find too many people talk our mob down.
MARCHESE: There are some people from advocacy groups who are worried that Labor, the Government, might be distancing itself from talking about anything that might remind people of the referendum result in the lead up to the election. What do you say to that?
McCARTHY: Well, it's a political reality that the yes vote was lost and it's a political reality and a very lived reality for many Australians, that cost of living is their number one focus. And as the Australian Government, we have to be responsible and empathetic to that fact that there are Australians who are really suffering right across the board. And that's not to say we are not interested in pursuing or advancing the issues for First Nations people. It's just that we're mindful that these issues of cost of living are taking number one priority.
MARCHESE: Minister, a 17-year-old boy died at WA's Banksia Hill Youth Detention Centre last month. It's the second child to die in WA custody in less than a year. What can the Federal Government do to address this?
McCARTHY: Yes, it was incredibly tragic to hear that. I certainly visited Banksia last week. I have, in my previous role as Assistant Minister in Indigenous Health, been pushing to see Aboriginal medical centres involved with our corrections and justice systems across the country. I just firmly believe that we need to have the right health care for those incarcerated because a lot of First Nations people have underlying health issues and when they enter these facilities, it's critical that they're getting the appropriate care. So, one of the reasons why I went to Banksia was to actually have a look at that facility in terms of health. And unfortunately, that tragic incident occurred the week before my visit.
MARCHESE: Some, like Senator Lydia Thorpe, say the feds need to do a whole lot more because, like they did with vaping, she feels the states aren't doing enough and it is the Commonwealth's responsibility to step in. We've had today WA's law society urging the West Australian Government to hold an independent review of its juvenile justice system. Do you need to be putting more pressure, as the Federal Minister, on states to stop deaths in custody and seriously look at youth detention?
McCARTHY: Well, every state and territory who's responsible for incarcerating people need to be very, very aware of their responsibilities to care for those people in their facilities. And if that's not happening, then appropriate action needs to be taken. But can I just say this? The Australian Government through the Attorney-General, has certainly pushed for many programs to assist at the state and territory level. In particular, David, with justice reinvestment, we are certainly working as closely as we can. And as I've said, in terms of the healthcare in prisons that is also being led by Health Minister Mark Butler and myself, and Ged Kearney as Assistant Minister in Indigenous Health now.
MARCHESE: But what more could the Federal Government be doing? I appreciate you highlighting some programs that are already underway, but a lot of people are saying that's not enough.
McCARTHY: Well, we have to keep pushing. I mean, at the federal level, there are many, many levers that can be pulled, and I know that the Attorney-General is working on that and working specifically with those jurisdictions.
MARCHESE: Do you have faith that there is some common ground politically, like in the wake of the Voice debate, after we saw not a lot of common ground and a lot of fighting and very concerning discourse from politicians, from people in society, do you think we've reached a point now where there can be some cooperation?
McCARTHY: Well, I have a lot of hope and a lot of faith that we have to just keep trying. I am deeply honoured to be in this role as Indigenous Australians Minister, and I will be reaching out at every opportunity across the aisles because I think it's absolutely critical. I think the language that we use and the way we talk about First Nations issues is also incredibly important. Instead of pushing down and putting down people, we need to be lifting people up and supporting and encouraging them, and that's what I'll be doing.
MARCHESE: Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, thank you very much for joining us on Hack.
McCARTHY: Thank you, David.
