Minister for Indigenous Australians
Topics: Community media, Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program, First Nations tourism, Connected Beginnings site for First Nations children in Kununurra, Closing the Gap.
SCOTTY DAY, HOST: The reason that we've hung around a little bit is to say a very good morning and welcome back to Kununurra for the Senator, the Honourable Malarndirri McCarthy, a very good morning to you, Senator. How are you?
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS, MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Good morning Scotty, and a big shout out to all the residents of Kununurra, but right across the Kimberley who are tuning into your program, it's wonderful to be here.
SCOTTY DAY: Well, it's wonderful to have you here, and you're not too far away from home.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: No, 500 kilometres to Katherine.
SCOTTY DAY: Yeah, yeah.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: And then from Katherine, there's probably another 800 kilometres to Borroloola, so, you know, it's very close to the Territory border, that's for sure, with Timber Creek, but yeah, big shout out to all the mob here, and right through to Halls Creek and across to Timber.
SCOTTY DAY: Fantastic. You mentioned Borroloola - well a big welcome to Waringarri Radio -
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thank you.
SCOTTY DAY: Now, you're no stranger to community radio. You set up Borroloola community station. How long ago was that?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Ooh, that's going back a bit now, it's probably when my eldest son was around three or four years of age, so in 1993, no, 95. So yeah, it was in the mid‑1990s, and I'd have to say Waringarri was what inspired us, along with CAAMA Radio. Back then it was very difficult. You did have the Broadcasting in Remote Aboriginal Communities Service program called BRACS, but Borroloola missed out, and I had been working with the ABC, and thought, "Well, I'm going to go home and set up community radio". So that's what I did.
SCOTTY DAY: Fantastic. And of course, community radio right across Australia now, and going very, very strong. First Nations Radio, and it's just brilliant as well, and we ‑‑
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, I'm so proud of the First Nations media area and broadcasters ‑‑
SCOTTY DAY: It's come a long way, hasn't it?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely.
SCOTTY DAY: And of course, you're a groundbreaker in all that, a presenter with NITV, also SBS, ABC.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Look, I was certainly very fortunate with getting a traineeship at the ABC at a very young age. I'd just left high school, and I don't think they do that anymore, Scotty, I think you have to be a little bit older, but I was pretty young when I started, and yeah, very, very thankful for the training and just loved getting back home to Borroloola to try and see what I could do there. And I set up, not only the radio station, but also what we call the Lijakarda Arts, Culture and Media Training Centre, and Lijakarda in Yanyuwa language means all together, one mob together, and we wanted to bring all the language groups, the Yanyuwa, the Garrawa, the Marra and Kudanji peoples together. So, I set up the training centre to get a broadcaster out of that, and we got a few broadcasters come through our local radio station there and just very proud of them. So, I'm inspired by how you guys in Waringarri are going, you keep us all motivated, especially people who love working in the media.
SCOTTY DAY: Well, we're going to talk a little bit more about community broadcasting very shortly, but those roles have really helped set you up to what you're doing now, Senator for the Northern Territory, and of course the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Congratulations on that portfolio, taking over from ‑‑
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thanks Scotty.
SCOTTY DAY: ‑‑ Linda Burney, what, about eight months ago, when you made your ‑‑
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Linda was terrific to work with and I still work with her, obviously she won't retire until the next election. It's been absolutely amazing to walk beside her and Senator Pat Dodson, who represented here in the Senate, and I loved working beside both of them, and it's been quite humbling really, to step into this role, and I'm very grateful for that as well, to have these incredible people around me.
SCOTTY DAY: All right. Well then, it is great to have you in the East Kimberley, and as your role as the Minister of Indigenous Australians, you're here for a reason. Tell us all about it.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, for a few reasons actually.
SCOTTY DAY: For a few reasons. Tell us all about it.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, it's about jobs, jobs, jobs, first, I mean it's one thing that I do want to see with all our mob, right across Australia, including especially here in Kununurra, to see, men and women work and have jobs with good pay, with long service leave, superannuation. So, I spent some time at Lily Lagoon this morning, they have 17 participants, and I met some of those this morning who are working there, and they talked to me about what it means. I want to get a sense of how mob on the ground are really feeling about the jobs we're trying to roll out through the Albanese Government. We are determined to provide these jobs through organisations across Australia, and there is a grant round out now, where people can apply to be a part of the 3,000 jobs program that I have responsibility for rolling out across the country.
SCOTTY DAY: And the feedback to you, what was it?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, look, the men and women I spoke to this morning just love what they're doing. You know, there's always challenges, and life is like that, but they have great support around them, and I certainly do commend Prue and Dan and Vinnie and some of the people who are working, supporting them at the resort. That is just one example and a really fine example of what can be done anywhere really, Scotty, and that's important to me to keep encouraging men and women across Australia, First Nations people to get up and have these jobs and take advantage, really in a positive way.
SCOTTY DAY: There are amazing opportunities out there at the moment.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely. You know, I know it's been tough, it is tough for people, but these programs are genuine, they are meant to give the support that's required to assist our families, to have good pay, to be able to have a life that lifts them from poverty, but also to give them hope for the future, and to give their children hope for the future.
SCOTTY DAY: Fantastic. And also, tell us a little bit about First Nations tourism in Western Australia. This is really, really important. I've had a little to do with tourism over the years, and I know that both tourism from Australia, but also major tourism from overseas want to know and learn and be immersed in Indigenous culture.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely. This is an important announcement between the Federal Government and the Western Australian Government in terms of supporting First Nations tourism, and I know that the WA tourism First Nations sector is a very strong sector. I did meet some of the representatives when they all gathered at the national First Nations tourism conference in Melbourne a few months ago, and I also met with them some years ago, actually, and I just think you have some terrific programs here in Western Australia in tourism, and right here in Kununurra, First Nations organisations can really take advantage of this incredible announcement.
SCOTTY DAY: It is, the opportunities are incredible. And I'm led to believe you've got another announcement today -
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes, this is exciting. In fact, I think you've got a bit of a scoop, Scotty. Shall I tell you a little bit about it?
SCOTTY DAY: Yeah, go on.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: So, we're certainly going to, in terms of Minister Anne Aly, it is her portfolio area, she will be launching, and I'm very pleased to be with her this afternoon in Kununurra to launch the 50th site for the program that supports our little babies in terms of learning programs. It's going to be really, really important, called Connected Beginnings. This is an opportunity really for our young mums and dads to raise their babies and early childhood through a program that assists their learning development. This has been important in trying to also identify issues like FASD, Scotty.
SCOTTY DAY: Yes.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: So, we're going to be able to launch that here today, and it will cater for around 600 young babies and children here in Kununurra, which I think is really, really exciting.
SCOTTY DAY: Yeah, it sounds like a fantastic thing. Now, 50 Connected Beginnings sites around Australia supporting about 20 per cent of all First Nations children, aged zero to five. It's incredible.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It is, and it's so, so important. We know that we have to work with our families right from birth, with our babies, to get them on track, and I do commend the work of SNAICC, the Secretariat for National Aboriginal and Islander Children, they have been pivotal in terms of working with our government to ensure these programs roll out across the country for First Nations families.
SCOTTY DAY: It is brilliant. Now closing the gap, how is it going?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, this is one of the programs -
SCOTTY DAY: Exactly.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yeah, this is certainly an important target, assisting our babies and children, and getting them through to school, getting them through school into jobs. So, this is very much a part of closing the gap.
SCOTTY DAY: Fantastic. And that is, as you said, a bit of a scoop here at Waringarri Radio, 'cause you're going to be kicking off that very shortly.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: That's right, yeah. Hopefully I can see some more of the families from Kununurra at the event.
SCOTTY DAY: Well, I hope so. I hope they do come out and say hello to you, and more importantly, give you some feedback about what's going on in the East Kimberley, and what's important to them, and, yeah, it should be fantastic.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thanks, Scotty.
SCOTTY DAY: Of course, we were just talking before about the tourism, some really great opportunities happening there, and Strategic Indigenous Tourism Projects, investing $6 million for tourism, also co‑investing $17 million for state Indigenous tourism. Incredible, really incredible.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It is, and for those who are listening, please, if you're involved in the tourism industry, and even if you're not and you'd like to be, this is a great opportunity.
SCOTTY DAY: And of course, the major Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program, about $700 million invested in that. So, a serious whack. You're taking it very seriously.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, this is vital, and you know, I come from community, I grew up through watching and learning from my elders and seeing that, you know, from where I come from, Scotty, you know, my grandparents were in the stock industry, so they'd get up early, looking after Country, but then be home for ceremonies when the dry season was over. It just was a way of life that I grew up with, and I just know that despite all the negative media that I see around our mob, I firmly believe we're a resilient people for a reason, and I'm encouraging all our mob to take advantage of the jobs that we are trying to provide right now.
SCOTTY DAY: And real jobs as well, serious jobs, trade jobs, you know, very, very important.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely. I mean just again, if I use Lily Lagoon as an example, you know, there's carpentry, there's construction work, there's maintenance, there's learning to use the heavy vehicle equipment, you can work in the restaurant, you can learn how to be a barista, making coffee; it's whatever takes your fancy in terms of the hospitality industry, and if that's not for you, there are certainly other organisations who are trying to apply for the remote jobs program. So, I would just encourage you to reach out or go online and check the National Indigenous Australians Agency website, and see what jobs are out there.
SCOTTY DAY: Now, one thing that also caught my attention was the additional $27 million to back Australia's vital community broadcasting sector.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yeah, isn't that great news?
SCOTTY DAY: That is close to my heart. Being here at Waringarri Radio, community broadcasting sector, I know through feedback that community radio is very, very important.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely.
SCOTTY DAY: It's not necessarily gauged like commercial radio, but it is widely, widely used, widely listened to, very, very special, all around Australia.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely, and it's good, you know, it's good for locals to be able to hear the information, to know what's going on, and community radio does that. I was just having a look at your gear here actually, and some of the computers that you've got, I mean it's certainly changed from when I was working in broadcasting, I wouldn't know how to use half that stuff. It's just lovely, you know, and if people enjoy talking away, and one of the things I used to find with, you know, First Nations media is the telling of stories, we're really good storytellers, so yeah, take it, get a job in broadcasting.
SCOTTY DAY: Yes, I think we've got like a little bit of a museum here at Waringarri Radio, they've kept everything. They've dusted it off, and I don't know what it's worth, but it might be worth something to somebody, but it's a little museum. Now 15 million through the Community Broadcasting Program to support the community broadcasting sector, including 3 million to support community television. Now that's an interesting branch‑out, community television.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes, absolutely. So, this is again about supporting community. So, if you want to further enhance what you're doing in television, this is an opportunity. If you still want to keep working in radio, another opportunity, or do both. This is important for the media industry. I've found, certainly when we think about COVID for example, if we hadn't had our community radios, broadcasting in language, explaining what was going on, where to go, you know, what was happening, that was a really clear time of how our First Nations media really stepped up, and our First Nations health organisations; the Aboriginal community controlled health orgs. So, our government invests in both, First Nations health, First Nations media. I mean that's what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's all about.
SCOTTY DAY: Minister, we're blessed with some fantastic services here, and I'm not too sure if you're familiar with OVAHS (Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service) but it's a great bunch of people, they do such a great service.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing them as well, while I'm here.
SCOTTY DAY: (indistinct) There is a lot of people on the ground in the East Kimberley, doing some amazing things.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Well, I think it was some of your health practitioners here who encouraged me to come up, actually, so I'm looking forward to catching up with some of them today as well.
SCOTTY DAY: Minister, I want to talk to you for ages, but I know that ‑
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Same. See, we can just chat away, Scotty.
SCOTTY DAY: Well, exactly, and we'll play some tunes and all that sort of stuff. But I know that you're a very, very busy lady and you've got lots happening over the next couple of days.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Always have time to say g'day.
SCOTTY DAY: Yeah. And right now, I put the invitation out, any time you're in the East Kimberley, please pop in and say hello to us, tell us what's happening.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Always.
SCOTTY DAY: You know, which way the wind's blowing, all that sort of stuff. We would ‑ we really love to have a chat to you.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yep. Happy to do so. Thanks for having me on and thank you Kununurra for having me here.
SCOTTY DAY: All right. Now, if you do see the Minister around town, please go up and say hello, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, the Honourable Malarndirri McCarthy, in town for some great announcements. It's been an absolute pleasure. Look forward to doing it all again.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thank you, Scotty.
