Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well as we know, Australians voted and the Voice referendum
was rejected by a majority of voters in every state
after millions of Australians backed the no vote, rejecting a
constitutionally enshrined Indigenous advisory body.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Now here in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
As of early this morning, sixty three point four percent
of those votes had been counted, sixty point five percent
had voted No, thirty nine point five percent had voted yes.
Interestingly supporting some of our more remote areas, Indigenous communities
did vote yes. So across more than eleven thousand votes
cast in of the in the twenty AEC remote location
(00:38):
polling teams in the Northern Territory, we'll support for the
Yes campaign was seventy four percent, so interesting numbers. Now
joining me on the line is Labour's member for Lingiari,
Marian Scrimjaw. Good morning to you, Marion.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning Katie. How are you not bad?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
How are you feeling today as you reflect on the
referendum results.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Oh look a bit tired, but I also feel, you know,
when we look at those percentages across the bush and
the regions, I think, including you know, Alice Springs Catherine,
you know, all of those areas within Linkiari whilst there
(01:21):
was you know, a no vote that came into some
of the regional areas. More importantly in the Bush there
was a strong push for yes and that what that
was was Aboriginal people saying we want recognition, but we
want governments to listen to what is happening in our
(01:43):
remote communities. And you know, I've had a number of
conversations with a number of people since that day night
and the result nationally, but what does this mean for
the territory and how do we continue that journey to
fix up you know, some of those intractable issues that
(02:04):
we see on the ground in our community because our
communities want change. You know, a number of women were saying,
we don't want to see our young people in Darwin,
Catherine Tennant, Alice running a muck. We want them back
home and engaged in our rebuilding our communities. We want
(02:26):
them to be good people. We don't want them to be,
you know, in trouble. So you know, communities want to
be part of that solution, Katie, and that you know
I'm going to whilst you know, the rest of Australia
there's been a clean novos. I'm going to use the
opportunity for the Bush to at least look at We've
(02:47):
got to stop weaponizing our Bush communities for political gain.
So how do we all work together to try and
get and make sure that Aboriginal people what they want.
Let's let's put our collective effort towards fixing us, you know,
some of those issues rather than taking rabbit down rabbit
(03:08):
holes and you know, playing politics with you know, whether
it's child sexual abuse, whether it's you know, land council.
Let's work together to fix our health, education, housing, let's
give young people a job. That's what That's what communities
were saying to us that, Marian.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Do we really need a voice?
Speaker 1 (03:28):
So, you know, like the thing is, do we really
need a voice to be able to make that happen?
I mean, we've got people like you on the ground.
We have got indigenous politicians with incredibly loud and strong
voices out there representing their community. And I guess what
we saw over the weekend is a lot of people
around Australia saying that no, they didn't feel we needed that.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So like we're to from here from your perspective.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
No, I think what what everyone was saying was they
voted no because they just felt that there was no
there was very little information about what this all meant.
I think what I heard from a lot of people
was we absolutely support recognition and that's what Aboriginal people wanted.
(04:13):
But the listening part, I think, you know, breaking that
down so that people understood. Now Aboriginal people understood that, Katie,
we didn't put words in Aboriginal people's mounds because this
has been a long journey of Aboriginal people talking about
and I get and a lot of people have said,
(04:34):
but you're their voice in Canberra, absolutely, but I also
need their voices to say to both governments, the Northern
Charity and the Commonwealth government, we're sick of looking at
you know, and being blamed for the bad outcomes when
really ninety percent of the services and the funding into
(04:57):
our communities come from government to send me, isn't it
making a mark here?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
One hundred percent?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I absolutely agree with you on that, you know, and
I think that so many people feel the same, that
there is so much money being poured into different services
and making a difference, but it doesn't seem to be
doing what it's supposed to do.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
So do we need an audit.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Well, we need to have a look at So I've
been able to you know, what this referendum has done
is allowed us to really peel back what's been happening
and what is you know, transpiring on the ground and
whil you know. I've had numerous conversations with common Wealth ministers,
(05:40):
with anti ministers. We've got to get faired income about this, Katie.
We can't keep saying, you know. And my fear is
if we have another audit, if we have another Royal commission,
the money that goes into these things, that's the money
that we should be better targeting of those services and
remote communities. Communities know what they want and it's up
(06:03):
to government to listen to that. So I'm going to
make sure that my voice is heard loud and clear
and will take those messages of the hopes that Aboriginal
people want to change the trajectory of their young people,
including young people who voted for the first time. Katie. Yep,
(06:26):
that's what I got said about Saturday night. I had
a lot of conversations with young people, young Aboriginal people
who had a lot of aspirations and what they want
to do. I don't want to lose that. I want
to make sure that I don't want to see those
young people ending up in Darwin and then ending up
in jail or anywhere else. I want them to become
(06:49):
productive citizens in their community and they become the next
leaders to be able to turn our communities around. And
we can do this now using what happened with this
referendum to turn that in a positive way, not in
a negative way, but to continue a journey with our
(07:09):
mom and you know I always said we need, you know,
non Aboriginal Australians to continue this journey with us, because
it's an important journey and it's one that's the only
way we're going to rebuild our community's cases.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Marion, it is a disastrous result for the Prime Minister.
I mean, the no vote has claimed majority support in
every state by the look of things, aside from the Act.
I've no doubt that there'll be more up to date
figures today.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
But do you.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Regret that this wasn't sort of separated so that you know,
the referendum wasn't just a question or could have been
just a question about constitutional recognition and then maybe working
through an Advisory Body rather than putting both of those
two things together.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Katie, can I you know, like the Yularu statement of
the Heart and what was given to the Prime Minister
was from Aboriginal people. That statement and that sentiment comes
from us. It didn't. It wasn't something that the Prime
Minister or the government just decided to go with. So
(08:21):
you know, as I said yesterday, I am proud to
stand with the Prime Minister and with Minister Bernie and
all of my colleagues in the Federal Parliament. I think
the Prime Minister's conviction in terms of that is unquestionable.
And I know that there are many people who will
unpack over the next couple of days. Everyone needs to
(08:43):
blame somebody, and I think at the end of the day,
he was courageous, he was brave. He could have said,
the polls are going in the wrong direction, let's stop this,
but he didn't because Aboriginal people and those voices kept
telling and I heard it in all the travels throughout
(09:03):
the Northern Arity. People kept saying, we need to keep going,
Let's try and push through that. And that's what I think.
We thought that it was going to be okay. We
were up against a campaign that you know, in a
lot of these areas, I think it's like the perfect
Tom came, you know, the cost of living. There were
(09:25):
always some of these other issues that impacted on people,
and this was just another way to send a message
to government that people were not happy. And I think
it was unfortunate because the very people who and I'm
hearing this a lot from Aboriginal people that I'm talking to,
(09:47):
they just feel that once again they've been weaponized and
news because you know, people didn't feel good, and people
didn't understand, and people didn't know, you know, we are
running three percent of the population. There should have been
more talking with and I think, you know, if you
(10:08):
look at the campaign, you know, yes, twenty three. I
think all of those campaigns, people did some fantastic work
and conversations with people.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Marion, I've got to be honest. They're sure will be,
but I tell you what, you know, one of the
one of the areas where I think that you know
that people were a bit let down, and you may
not agree with me, is I think that for a
lot of us, you know, we do believe that Indigenous
people absolutely deserve that constitutional recognition. I put it on
(10:37):
the table. I voted yes. But one of the things
that I was hearing from a lot of people on
this show is that that basically the government was asking
Australians to trust them. Then when it came down to
how it would all work and how that advisory body
would work when placing trust in politicians is not something
that a lot of Australians feel comfortable with.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
And look, it was it was asking Australian to take
a big leap of faith. You're absolutely right, Katie. I'm
not disagreeing with you. But if you have a look
at and if any of us who look at if
you look at the Constitution, and I must have bet
I hadn't up until this, you know you're going through this.
It's a pretty boring and cut dry constant. You know.
(11:23):
It's a document that was drafted in nineteen oh one,
I think or nineteen and in that document, for example,
and this is what I said, you know, I said,
I have conversations with people. It allows the government to,
for example, to tax its citizens. Now in the Constitution
it doesn't go into detail about that, but it leads
(11:47):
that to the Parliament. And that's I think the same
as the voice while it's in the Constitution, the development
and the process and the you know, the framework in
which the voice become we'll be up to the Parliament.
Now we had had I heard the Prime Minister, I
(12:07):
heard Minister Bernie. There was conversations with the broader community,
but people kept running this thing. We need more information,
we need more information. Well that information was going to
come in a bipartisan way with both governments. Now, very
early in the piece, Katie, the leader of the Opposition,
(12:28):
was invited by the Prime Minister to have a discussion
and to talk with the referendum group. That had happened,
but still we saw, you know, the coalition walk away
from this. We can't change what's happened on Saturday night, Katie.
We can't change that, but we can change how we
(12:48):
go forward in the Northern Territory. And that's what I
want to do. I want to turn you know, I'm
committed to making sure that the territory gets the best
deal out of all of this, and that's what I'm
going to you know, set about making sure that happens.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
The Northern Territory has been used a lot in the
debate in the lead up to the referendum, and our
issues were constantly referenced. Do you lay any blame on
the Northern Territory government and their inability to get social
and you know, crime issues under control.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Look, all of those issues were well and truly weaponized, Katie,
and that's unfortunate because people at Bush saw that and
the message to me was we want better house and
we want better health, we want better education. So I'm
going to make sure that the Northern Territory government they
(13:44):
aren't just going to be sitting on their laurels here.
They need to show the Northern Territory why they are
the elected government. And it's not just the federal government. Yes,
we need to resource and we need to work in
partnership with the terroratory government to get the best outcome.
But absolutely, I think the crime and there are other issues.
(14:07):
People were feeling pretty demoralized, and I think that vote
in Darwin. Look, I wasn't surprised Katie at the vote
in Darwin and in the rural area, I know people
were pretty cranky. But what I'm heartened by is the
vote in Nallice Springs. And whilst the no vote you
(14:28):
know had you know, taken and won in terms of
Ellas Springs. If you break that down, it gives your
hope that you know, there's been a lot of work
done in and around Central Australia, Nalys Springs. We need
to now do that for the rest of the territory.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Marian you said just a moment ago that the Northern
Territory government needs to show the people of the territory
why they were elected when it comes to some of
these issues. What do you think they need to do,
because you know, if you talk to a lot of
Territorians right now, they are feeling like things are out
of control. You and I have spoken about it before,
but it is a huge issue and I can't help
(15:08):
but think that you know, those social issues that we
are having, those criminal issues that we are having, that
they have impacted the way in which people have voted
locally where they're thinking to themselves, well, you know, we're
continuing to pour money into various different organizations, but we
are not seeing any change. In fact, many arguing that
things are getting worse on the ground.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Yeah, and look, you know I've seen evidence of some
of that, Katie. I spoke to the Chief Minister and
message after the vote. After I returned from Camberra. I
am going to go to down and meet with the
Chief Minister because they have to put you know, like
there's got to be some fundamental shifts and the anti
(15:51):
cabinet ministers are elected to listen and to act on
behalf of territoriums and.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Do you think they're doing that.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
I think that people have stopped listening and acting and
you know they they will get cranky with me for that,
but look, I think that all of us are not
above criticism and we all need to pull our weight
and to make sure that we get the best outcomfort Territoriines.
(16:20):
I know a lot of people in Darwin are not
happy and I've seen that, Katie. I've spoken to you
several times. You know, we've got to fix up some
of these issues. And I think if you, if I've
said this in Central Australia, if you starve the bush,
if you stop putting the funding and the resources in
the bush, the bush is going to come into town.
(16:44):
And that's what's happened. We saw the issues and the
fighting and the unrest in what is a lot of
those young people have moved into Darwin and that's why
we're seeing the issues that we're.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Seeing, CLARONO.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
We've got to take some strong Standenrica in relation to
that and solutions and fix that.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Yeah, we certainly do. Before I let you go, because
we are fast running out of time. But before I
let you go. There is speculation in the Australian newspaper
today that some within the Labor Party are pushing for
Linda Bernie to stand down and Malandarie McCarthy to step
up as the Minister for Indigenous Affairs.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Is this something that you'd support happening?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Look, I support both of these women, Katie. I have
huge and a lot of respect for both Linda Bernie
and Melanderie McCarthy. Linda had an unenviable cask and I
said that to her at the outset of this referendum,
she will carry the burden of our people and not
just in the territory but across this nation. And she
(17:47):
has my hundred percent support, just like Melanderi McCarthy. We
went into this knowing it was going to be tough,
and both of these women were dignified and they carried
this with the dignity and with the integrity that we
knew that both of them were capable.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Of Marrion, just very quickly before I let you go
to those out there listening this morning who did vote
yes and a feeling quite disheartened. To Indigenous people who
are maybe feeling pretty disappointed and distressed today, watch your
message to them.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Look, hang in there, you know, I just have faith,
a bitch. There will be some solutions. I will be
putting out a statement soon too, all of those communities, Katie,
I just say to everyone in the territory, don't lose faith.
We will. You know, it's a long, hard slog, but
(18:43):
we're on a journey now and we need to we
need to make sure that we don't lose sight of
what we have to fix.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Marion Scrimjaw, I always appreciate your time, no doubt we'll
talk to you again very soon.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
No worry, Thank you, thank you,
Well as we know, Australians voted and the Voice referendum
was rejected by a majority of voters in every state
after millions of Australians backed the no vote, rejecting a
constitutionally enshrined Indigenous advisory body.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Now here in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
As of early this morning, sixty three point four percent
of those votes had been counted, sixty point five percent
had voted No, thirty nine point five percent had voted yes.
Interestingly supporting some of our more remote areas, Indigenous communities
did vote yes. So across more than eleven thousand votes
cast in of the in the twenty AEC remote location
(00:38):
polling teams in the Northern Territory, we'll support for the
Yes campaign was seventy four percent, so interesting numbers. Now
joining me on the line is Labour's member for Lingiari,
Marian Scrimjaw. Good morning to you, Marion.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning Katie. How are you not bad?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
How are you feeling today as you reflect on the
referendum results.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Oh look a bit tired, but I also feel, you know,
when we look at those percentages across the bush and
the regions, I think, including you know, Alice Springs Catherine,
you know, all of those areas within Linkiari whilst there
(01:21):
was you know, a no vote that came into some
of the regional areas. More importantly in the Bush there
was a strong push for yes and that what that
was was Aboriginal people saying we want recognition, but we
want governments to listen to what is happening in our
(01:43):
remote communities. And you know, I've had a number of
conversations with a number of people since that day night
and the result nationally, but what does this mean for
the territory and how do we continue that journey to
fix up you know, some of those intractable issues that
(02:04):
we see on the ground in our community because our
communities want change. You know, a number of women were saying,
we don't want to see our young people in Darwin,
Catherine Tennant, Alice running a muck. We want them back
home and engaged in our rebuilding our communities. We want
(02:26):
them to be good people. We don't want them to be,
you know, in trouble. So you know, communities want to
be part of that solution, Katie, and that you know
I'm going to whilst you know, the rest of Australia
there's been a clean novos. I'm going to use the
opportunity for the Bush to at least look at We've
(02:47):
got to stop weaponizing our Bush communities for political gain.
So how do we all work together to try and
get and make sure that Aboriginal people what they want.
Let's let's put our collective effort towards fixing us, you know,
some of those issues rather than taking rabbit down rabbit
(03:08):
holes and you know, playing politics with you know, whether
it's child sexual abuse, whether it's you know, land council.
Let's work together to fix our health, education, housing, let's
give young people a job. That's what That's what communities
were saying to us that, Marian.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Do we really need a voice?
Speaker 1 (03:28):
So, you know, like the thing is, do we really
need a voice to be able to make that happen?
I mean, we've got people like you on the ground.
We have got indigenous politicians with incredibly loud and strong
voices out there representing their community. And I guess what
we saw over the weekend is a lot of people
around Australia saying that no, they didn't feel we needed that.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So like we're to from here from your perspective.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
No, I think what what everyone was saying was they
voted no because they just felt that there was no
there was very little information about what this all meant.
I think what I heard from a lot of people
was we absolutely support recognition and that's what Aboriginal people wanted.
(04:13):
But the listening part, I think, you know, breaking that
down so that people understood. Now Aboriginal people understood that, Katie,
we didn't put words in Aboriginal people's mounds because this
has been a long journey of Aboriginal people talking about
and I get and a lot of people have said,
(04:34):
but you're their voice in Canberra, absolutely, but I also
need their voices to say to both governments, the Northern
Charity and the Commonwealth government, we're sick of looking at
you know, and being blamed for the bad outcomes when
really ninety percent of the services and the funding into
(04:57):
our communities come from government to send me, isn't it
making a mark here?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
One hundred percent?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I absolutely agree with you on that, you know, and
I think that so many people feel the same, that
there is so much money being poured into different services
and making a difference, but it doesn't seem to be
doing what it's supposed to do.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
So do we need an audit.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Well, we need to have a look at So I've
been able to you know, what this referendum has done
is allowed us to really peel back what's been happening
and what is you know, transpiring on the ground and
whil you know. I've had numerous conversations with common Wealth ministers,
(05:40):
with anti ministers. We've got to get faired income about this, Katie.
We can't keep saying, you know. And my fear is
if we have another audit, if we have another Royal commission,
the money that goes into these things, that's the money
that we should be better targeting of those services and
remote communities. Communities know what they want and it's up
(06:03):
to government to listen to that. So I'm going to
make sure that my voice is heard loud and clear
and will take those messages of the hopes that Aboriginal
people want to change the trajectory of their young people,
including young people who voted for the first time. Katie. Yep,
(06:26):
that's what I got said about Saturday night. I had
a lot of conversations with young people, young Aboriginal people
who had a lot of aspirations and what they want
to do. I don't want to lose that. I want
to make sure that I don't want to see those
young people ending up in Darwin and then ending up
in jail or anywhere else. I want them to become
(06:49):
productive citizens in their community and they become the next
leaders to be able to turn our communities around. And
we can do this now using what happened with this
referendum to turn that in a positive way, not in
a negative way, but to continue a journey with our
(07:09):
mom and you know I always said we need, you know,
non Aboriginal Australians to continue this journey with us, because
it's an important journey and it's one that's the only
way we're going to rebuild our community's cases.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Marion, it is a disastrous result for the Prime Minister.
I mean, the no vote has claimed majority support in
every state by the look of things, aside from the Act.
I've no doubt that there'll be more up to date
figures today.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
But do you.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Regret that this wasn't sort of separated so that you know,
the referendum wasn't just a question or could have been
just a question about constitutional recognition and then maybe working
through an Advisory Body rather than putting both of those
two things together.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Katie, can I you know, like the Yularu statement of
the Heart and what was given to the Prime Minister
was from Aboriginal people. That statement and that sentiment comes
from us. It didn't. It wasn't something that the Prime
Minister or the government just decided to go with. So
(08:21):
you know, as I said yesterday, I am proud to
stand with the Prime Minister and with Minister Bernie and
all of my colleagues in the Federal Parliament. I think
the Prime Minister's conviction in terms of that is unquestionable.
And I know that there are many people who will
unpack over the next couple of days. Everyone needs to
(08:43):
blame somebody, and I think at the end of the day,
he was courageous, he was brave. He could have said,
the polls are going in the wrong direction, let's stop this,
but he didn't because Aboriginal people and those voices kept
telling and I heard it in all the travels throughout
(09:03):
the Northern Arity. People kept saying, we need to keep going,
Let's try and push through that. And that's what I think.
We thought that it was going to be okay. We
were up against a campaign that you know, in a
lot of these areas, I think it's like the perfect
Tom came, you know, the cost of living. There were
(09:25):
always some of these other issues that impacted on people,
and this was just another way to send a message
to government that people were not happy. And I think
it was unfortunate because the very people who and I'm
hearing this a lot from Aboriginal people that I'm talking to,
(09:47):
they just feel that once again they've been weaponized and
news because you know, people didn't feel good, and people
didn't understand, and people didn't know, you know, we are
running three percent of the population. There should have been
more talking with and I think, you know, if you
(10:08):
look at the campaign, you know, yes, twenty three. I
think all of those campaigns, people did some fantastic work
and conversations with people.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Marion, I've got to be honest. They're sure will be,
but I tell you what, you know, one of the
one of the areas where I think that you know
that people were a bit let down, and you may
not agree with me, is I think that for a
lot of us, you know, we do believe that Indigenous
people absolutely deserve that constitutional recognition. I put it on
(10:37):
the table. I voted yes. But one of the things
that I was hearing from a lot of people on
this show is that that basically the government was asking
Australians to trust them. Then when it came down to
how it would all work and how that advisory body
would work when placing trust in politicians is not something
that a lot of Australians feel comfortable with.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
And look, it was it was asking Australian to take
a big leap of faith. You're absolutely right, Katie. I'm
not disagreeing with you. But if you have a look
at and if any of us who look at if
you look at the Constitution, and I must have bet
I hadn't up until this, you know you're going through this.
It's a pretty boring and cut dry constant. You know.
(11:23):
It's a document that was drafted in nineteen oh one,
I think or nineteen and in that document, for example,
and this is what I said, you know, I said,
I have conversations with people. It allows the government to,
for example, to tax its citizens. Now in the Constitution
it doesn't go into detail about that, but it leads
(11:47):
that to the Parliament. And that's I think the same
as the voice while it's in the Constitution, the development
and the process and the you know, the framework in
which the voice become we'll be up to the Parliament.
Now we had had I heard the Prime Minister, I
(12:07):
heard Minister Bernie. There was conversations with the broader community,
but people kept running this thing. We need more information,
we need more information. Well that information was going to
come in a bipartisan way with both governments. Now, very
early in the piece, Katie, the leader of the Opposition,
(12:28):
was invited by the Prime Minister to have a discussion
and to talk with the referendum group. That had happened,
but still we saw, you know, the coalition walk away
from this. We can't change what's happened on Saturday night, Katie.
We can't change that, but we can change how we
(12:48):
go forward in the Northern Territory. And that's what I
want to do. I want to turn you know, I'm
committed to making sure that the territory gets the best
deal out of all of this, and that's what I'm
going to you know, set about making sure that happens.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
The Northern Territory has been used a lot in the
debate in the lead up to the referendum, and our
issues were constantly referenced. Do you lay any blame on
the Northern Territory government and their inability to get social
and you know, crime issues under control.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Look, all of those issues were well and truly weaponized, Katie,
and that's unfortunate because people at Bush saw that and
the message to me was we want better house and
we want better health, we want better education. So I'm
going to make sure that the Northern Territory government they
(13:44):
aren't just going to be sitting on their laurels here.
They need to show the Northern Territory why they are
the elected government. And it's not just the federal government. Yes,
we need to resource and we need to work in
partnership with the terroratory government to get the best outcome.
But absolutely, I think the crime and there are other issues.
(14:07):
People were feeling pretty demoralized, and I think that vote
in Darwin. Look, I wasn't surprised Katie at the vote
in Darwin and in the rural area, I know people
were pretty cranky. But what I'm heartened by is the
vote in Nallice Springs. And whilst the no vote you
(14:28):
know had you know, taken and won in terms of
Ellas Springs. If you break that down, it gives your
hope that you know, there's been a lot of work
done in and around Central Australia, Nalys Springs. We need
to now do that for the rest of the territory.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Marian you said just a moment ago that the Northern
Territory government needs to show the people of the territory
why they were elected when it comes to some of
these issues. What do you think they need to do,
because you know, if you talk to a lot of
Territorians right now, they are feeling like things are out
of control. You and I have spoken about it before,
but it is a huge issue and I can't help
(15:08):
but think that you know, those social issues that we
are having, those criminal issues that we are having, that
they have impacted the way in which people have voted
locally where they're thinking to themselves, well, you know, we're
continuing to pour money into various different organizations, but we
are not seeing any change. In fact, many arguing that
things are getting worse on the ground.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Yeah, and look, you know I've seen evidence of some
of that, Katie. I spoke to the Chief Minister and
message after the vote. After I returned from Camberra. I
am going to go to down and meet with the
Chief Minister because they have to put you know, like
there's got to be some fundamental shifts and the anti
(15:51):
cabinet ministers are elected to listen and to act on
behalf of territoriums and.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Do you think they're doing that.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
I think that people have stopped listening and acting and
you know they they will get cranky with me for that,
but look, I think that all of us are not
above criticism and we all need to pull our weight
and to make sure that we get the best outcomfort Territoriines.
(16:20):
I know a lot of people in Darwin are not
happy and I've seen that, Katie. I've spoken to you
several times. You know, we've got to fix up some
of these issues. And I think if you, if I've
said this in Central Australia, if you starve the bush,
if you stop putting the funding and the resources in
the bush, the bush is going to come into town.
(16:44):
And that's what's happened. We saw the issues and the
fighting and the unrest in what is a lot of
those young people have moved into Darwin and that's why
we're seeing the issues that we're.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Seeing, CLARONO.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
We've got to take some strong Standenrica in relation to
that and solutions and fix that.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Yeah, we certainly do. Before I let you go, because
we are fast running out of time. But before I
let you go. There is speculation in the Australian newspaper
today that some within the Labor Party are pushing for
Linda Bernie to stand down and Malandarie McCarthy to step
up as the Minister for Indigenous Affairs.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Is this something that you'd support happening?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Look, I support both of these women, Katie. I have
huge and a lot of respect for both Linda Bernie
and Melanderie McCarthy. Linda had an unenviable cask and I
said that to her at the outset of this referendum,
she will carry the burden of our people and not
just in the territory but across this nation. And she
(17:47):
has my hundred percent support, just like Melanderi McCarthy. We
went into this knowing it was going to be tough,
and both of these women were dignified and they carried
this with the dignity and with the integrity that we
knew that both of them were capable.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Of Marrion, just very quickly before I let you go
to those out there listening this morning who did vote
yes and a feeling quite disheartened. To Indigenous people who
are maybe feeling pretty disappointed and distressed today, watch your
message to them.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Look, hang in there, you know, I just have faith,
a bitch. There will be some solutions. I will be
putting out a statement soon too, all of those communities, Katie,
I just say to everyone in the territory, don't lose faith.
We will. You know, it's a long, hard slog, but
(18:43):
we're on a journey now and we need to we
need to make sure that we don't lose sight of
what we have to fix.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Marion Scrimjaw, I always appreciate your time, no doubt we'll
talk to you again very soon.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
No worry, Thank you, thank you,
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