Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know that, as we've spoken about, the federal elections
saw Labor routine retain i should say, the seat of
Solomon despite a swing towards the COLP on the weekend.
Now the case was very different in Lingiari, the Bush
seat that takes in all of the Northern Territories Indigenous
communities as well as Alas Springs, Catherine, Noulham, Boy Tenant Creek,
(00:21):
parts of the Greater Darwin region as well. Now, Lingiari
was previously held on one of Australia's tightest margins. Marion
Scrimjaw widening that Martin with margin with a seven point
one percent swing towards labor. Marion Scrimjaw joins me on
the line. Good morning and congratulations.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Marion, Good morning, Ka.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
How are you yeah, really good. How are you feeling
after the election on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I'm pretty pretty tied. That it's been you know since
thesount of the year, but even that, you know, the
last three years just you know, doing my job as
a local member and trying to get around and I
think in some ways I suppose that you know, the
(01:11):
end results which saw an increase in that margin sort
of communicate some of the work that we've done over
the last three years.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Well, and also you know, as you know, I've got
family members out in some remote areas and you know
saying to me, Marion's out here, so is Melan Dierie.
You know, they're out here. They're out helping in the community.
So I think that that is a big factor, being
out there working hard.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah. Look, and it's not always about chucking money at
these communities, Kadie. It's about you know, making sure that
their voices are heard loud and clear, both in the
territory government but also the federal government. And I think
that the next three years for me, it's about delivering.
(01:58):
It's about we've done the talking and now we need
to deliver. And you know, unless we build the bush,
the bush is going to come into our urban centers.
So you know, we've got to take it a bit
more seriously in terms of looking at what we need
to deliver in terms of housing, education, health, working with
(02:20):
you know, organizations like Malala out in Madaingrida, with amsant
with the Northern Territory government to make sure that we
can make life better for people living in our remote
but also our regions we've got to we've got to
fix our regions and I need to do better in
(02:41):
particularly the rural area of Darwin. I realized that, you know,
I need to pay some attention to them as well,
and the places like Kennon Creek to rebuild the economy
there in the Barklay.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
And it's interesting, obviously you've had that swing toward you,
but you sound very humble about that win, and you
sound like you want to get stuck into the work
that needs to be done to make the territory a
better place. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Look, and that's what people expect, Katie. You know, like
I'm not going to you know, I said I'll elect
your knife. You know, I'm coming to the CLP. I
think we need to work with the CLP government. But
we've got to stop playing politics about you know, who's
tougher and who's done what I think. You know, eighty
percent of the Northern territories revenue comes from the comewell.
(03:32):
We need to work together to sit down and look at,
you know, how do we deliver. How do we both
deliver and get the best outcome for everyone across the
Northern Territory rather than the you know, the political games
that often we can all play.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Mariam, what are your main priorities now as you continue
in this role and you know what do you really
want to see get moving over the next three years.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
People still said to me Katie, they need to feel safe.
So we do need to work with the Northern Territory
government about building community safety. There was aspects of that
running the federal election, and I kept saying to people, absolutely,
we need to do more with the Northern Territory government.
I think we've put substantial resources into places like Alice Springs.
(04:26):
You know, I think Catherine, there are some real issues
that need to be addressed in Catherine. And look, I
don't care whether it's a THELP government or what. We've
just got to try and make sure that people feel safe.
And if we're talking about building the economy, we've got
to support small business and look at how can they
(04:48):
know offset the you know, the broken windows, the you know,
the damage that is causing businesses to close up and
leave the territory. We don't want people to leave. We
need people stay here and to build, you know, the
territory to do a better place, to be a better place.
And I'm looking forward to working with Luke and Melandery
(05:11):
to look on how do we the three of us
and also just center. I think we've all got to
deliver for the territory otherwise we lose. You know, it's
a territory that will lose if we're not working together
to try and deliver.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Marion, I know that, you know, when we talk about
this issue of crime, and you and I have spoken
about it on so many occasions and had like you know,
like pretty heartbreaking conversations as well over the last couple
of years when it comes to the issues of crime.
But there are some levers which can be pulled by
the federal government. And I know that that's something that
the COLP Northern Territory government had written to the federal
(05:49):
government about some of those changes, like you know, the
I believe to allow the drones to fly. I think
that was through CASSA. A couple of those changes have
come into play. But do you think we need to
be looking a step further about you know, some of
those welfare payments and and the royalties and different things
to to make some further impact.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Look, there's been you know, since last year when the
COLP came in, Katie, we extended the branch out strade
away Leah had. We had both Melandering McCarthy and I had,
you know, a meeting with Leah straight up and said
we'll do whatever we can to work with you to
(06:33):
make sure that we can you know, fix what you know,
some critical issues in the Northern Territory. I've written to
the Chief Minister a couple of times in terms of
family responsibility agreements, something I've you know, talked about at
nauseum for a long time, Katie, what needs to be done.
The federal government isn't against looking at what that referral pathway,
(06:58):
and that's been made very clear to the Northern Territory government.
You know, this is the passway if you want people
to be income managed at a higher level, you know,
get those referrals into us and we will work with
you to make that happen. Now I don't just before
the election there was zero referrals, Katie, which is disappointing
(07:21):
given that we know that there are real issues in
the Northern Territory and families are struggling. So how do
we work with not just wrapping services around families, but
also get a better outcome for those young people who
are otherwise disengaged for education, they're in the court system.
(07:43):
We want to try and make life better for not
just them, but the community so that we avoid the
terrible tragedy that happened in Nightcliff, you know, like that
is it is unacceptable even this.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Morning, so we have literally just had confirmation as well.
The members of the Fight family were driving home from
the funeral last night had a brick thrown through the
car window and one of those people has a serious
eye injury. I mean, like, and now the police are
searching for a fourteen year old boy who allegedly fled
(08:22):
the scene with two other youths. Like, it's just reached
the point where it's beyond believable almost some of the issues.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
We're talking with, and it's unacceptable, Katie, you know, like
I think it is unacceptable for young people to be
doing this in the community and all of us. It
doesn't you know, it's not a race issue, it's a
crime issue, and it's unacceptable and we need to you know,
(08:52):
I gave that commitment before I give the commitment now
that you know, as a federal member, I will with
the Northern Territory government, but I'm not going to play
politics with this, Katie, because the community doesn't need politicians
to be playing politics and just needs to well, people
need to grow up to I think, you know, we've
(09:14):
got real issues in our community. We need to work
together to try and fix it.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Marion. I do want to ask you. I understand that
you filed a complaint after a racist incident at a
Catherine pre polling boost. Can you tell me what happened? Oh?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, look, I think it was Look, you know, for me, Katie, Uh,
you know, you know this this position I'm in, I
expect robust you know, debate and discussion, and I know
that not everyone's going to agree with my view and
that's okay, you know, but I think I draw the
(09:54):
line at racism. I draw the line at intimidation and aggression,
and particularly when it's coming from men. I think, you know,
in any workplace, you know, the the fear and the
intimidation and the aggressive nature in which some men think
(10:14):
it's okay just because you're a female politician, get a
backbone tough enough, and you know, just accept this bad behavior. Well,
you know, I don't accept it. And I think even
on my side, so there were issues, you know, in
and around Catherine, I'm dealing with. You know that that
will be dealt with you. You know, I think that
(10:38):
any aggression towards any woman, whether it's an older woman,
whether it's a younger woman, any woman needs to be
dealt with. I'm going through that process. I'm you know,
there were some racist barbs made, Katie, but you know
I'll deal with those in my in in the way
(11:00):
that I should deal with them, and not take that
any further.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Well, Marion, look, I know you're a tough woman. You
don't need me to stick up for you. But I
think it's bullshit. Like I don't think you should have
to worry about about anybody sort of trying to stand
over you or being aggressive towards you when you're doing
your job and when you're trying to get re elected.
Nor do I think you know any any woman for
the CLP or the Independence or whoever is choosing to run.
(11:25):
I think that there's a line and it needs to
be drawn and you shouldn't have to worry about something
like that happening, and that we as a community all
need to go all right, we need to do better.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
It's going to be a better standard Katie. Yeah, they
doesn't think there's you know, I think we're asking the
community to have a better standard and that you know,
violence is no has no place in our community. Well,
you know, treating women in that way is not on.
(12:03):
And I think that we've just got to We've got
to if we want a better place in our society,
well then we've all got to lead by example. And
I think, you know, that's that's certainly something that I
don't you know, dismiss. I think we've all got to
try and do better. But you know, Mary, I think
(12:27):
that you know, the election out come was certainly a
good one, Katie, but one I don't take for granted.
I we've got to deliver this term.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Yeah, hey, before I let you go, I know there
was also there's also been alleged aggressive and intimidating behavior
from members of a conservative Christian sect in a separate
incident at the Catherine Early Voting Center.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
What is the go here? Well, look, I it was.
It was interesting Katie when they were talking about the
exclusive Brethren down south now, I think and looking at
the number of I was actually quite shocked at the
number of interstate volunteers that were standing on the Prepole
(13:16):
booth in Catherine, but also in select communities. Now, the
CELP didn't go into every community, but they did send
people into our remote, you know, some select remote areas.
It was clear that those men that were not from
the Northern Territory that they you know, I mean, they
(13:39):
were nice enough. I interacted quite well with them. But obviously,
you know, everyone kept saying they were part of the
Exclusive Brethren. Now, you know, I know that they've come
out saying that they expected a better standard, you know,
and they don't think their members were part of that. Well,
it'd be interesting to find out where a lot of
(14:02):
those men who were in a lot of our regions,
where they were from.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yeah, very interesting, and you know why they were here.
Marian a few messages coming through. I just want to
read one out for you. It's from Tigs. Tigs from
the DO and she says Marian is a strong presence
in the bush communities, she hasn't done as much for
us in the northern rural area. I appreciate though, that
she's acknowledged this this morning on your show. I've been
(14:31):
very quick to criticize her in the past, but I acknowledge.
But the acknowledgment brings an opportunity to regain some good
will moving forward, says Tigs.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
In the do absolutely, Katie, and look, I know that
I need to do better in the darn Roll area.
I have done a lot of work with Litchfield Council,
but I need to work and talk to people directly
like I've done it everywhere else. And you know, I've
a couple of people have contacted me either through messenger
(15:04):
or private message to me, and I've undertaken. When I
come up to the top end, I will contact them.
But I look forward to delivering for the darn rural
area as well.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Marion Scrimjaw remember fore lingiari good to speak with you
this morning. I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
You too, Katie, I always love talking to you.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Mane Sime, thank you. Good to catch up. See you
We know that, as we've spoken about, the federal elections
saw Labor routine retain i should say, the seat of
Solomon despite a swing towards the COLP on the weekend.
Now the case was very different in Lingiari, the Bush
seat that takes in all of the Northern Territories Indigenous
communities as well as Alas Springs, Catherine, Noulham, Boy Tenant Creek,
(00:21):
parts of the Greater Darwin region as well. Now, Lingiari
was previously held on one of Australia's tightest margins. Marion
Scrimjaw widening that Martin with margin with a seven point
one percent swing towards labor. Marion Scrimjaw joins me on
the line. Good morning and congratulations.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Marion, Good morning, Ka.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
How are you yeah, really good. How are you feeling
after the election on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I'm pretty pretty tied. That it's been you know since
thesount of the year, but even that, you know, the
last three years just you know, doing my job as
a local member and trying to get around and I
think in some ways I suppose that you know, the
(01:11):
end results which saw an increase in that margin sort
of communicate some of the work that we've done over
the last three years.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Well, and also you know, as you know, I've got
family members out in some remote areas and you know
saying to me, Marion's out here, so is Melan Dierie.
You know, they're out here. They're out helping in the community.
So I think that that is a big factor, being
out there working hard.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah. Look, and it's not always about chucking money at
these communities, Kadie. It's about you know, making sure that
their voices are heard loud and clear, both in the
territory government but also the federal government. And I think
that the next three years for me, it's about delivering.
(01:58):
It's about we've done the talking and now we need
to deliver. And you know, unless we build the bush,
the bush is going to come into our urban centers.
So you know, we've got to take it a bit
more seriously in terms of looking at what we need
to deliver in terms of housing, education, health, working with
(02:20):
you know, organizations like Malala out in Madaingrida, with amsant
with the Northern Territory government to make sure that we
can make life better for people living in our remote
but also our regions we've got to we've got to
fix our regions and I need to do better in
(02:41):
particularly the rural area of Darwin. I realized that, you know,
I need to pay some attention to them as well,
and the places like Kennon Creek to rebuild the economy
there in the Barklay.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
And it's interesting, obviously you've had that swing toward you,
but you sound very humble about that win, and you
sound like you want to get stuck into the work
that needs to be done to make the territory a
better place. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Look, and that's what people expect, Katie. You know, like
I'm not going to you know, I said I'll elect
your knife. You know, I'm coming to the CLP. I
think we need to work with the CLP government. But
we've got to stop playing politics about you know, who's
tougher and who's done what I think. You know, eighty
percent of the Northern territories revenue comes from the comewell.
(03:32):
We need to work together to sit down and look at,
you know, how do we deliver. How do we both
deliver and get the best outcome for everyone across the
Northern Territory rather than the you know, the political games
that often we can all play.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Mariam, what are your main priorities now as you continue
in this role and you know what do you really
want to see get moving over the next three years.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
People still said to me Katie, they need to feel safe.
So we do need to work with the Northern Territory
government about building community safety. There was aspects of that
running the federal election, and I kept saying to people, absolutely,
we need to do more with the Northern Territory government.
I think we've put substantial resources into places like Alice Springs.
(04:26):
You know, I think Catherine, there are some real issues
that need to be addressed in Catherine. And look, I
don't care whether it's a THELP government or what. We've
just got to try and make sure that people feel safe.
And if we're talking about building the economy, we've got
to support small business and look at how can they
(04:48):
know offset the you know, the broken windows, the you know,
the damage that is causing businesses to close up and
leave the territory. We don't want people to leave. We
need people stay here and to build, you know, the
territory to do a better place, to be a better place.
And I'm looking forward to working with Luke and Melandery
(05:11):
to look on how do we the three of us
and also just center. I think we've all got to
deliver for the territory otherwise we lose. You know, it's
a territory that will lose if we're not working together
to try and deliver.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Marion, I know that, you know, when we talk about
this issue of crime, and you and I have spoken
about it on so many occasions and had like you know,
like pretty heartbreaking conversations as well over the last couple
of years when it comes to the issues of crime.
But there are some levers which can be pulled by
the federal government. And I know that that's something that
the COLP Northern Territory government had written to the federal
(05:49):
government about some of those changes, like you know, the
I believe to allow the drones to fly. I think
that was through CASSA. A couple of those changes have
come into play. But do you think we need to
be looking a step further about you know, some of
those welfare payments and and the royalties and different things
to to make some further impact.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Look, there's been you know, since last year when the
COLP came in, Katie, we extended the branch out strade
away Leah had. We had both Melandering McCarthy and I had,
you know, a meeting with Leah straight up and said
we'll do whatever we can to work with you to
(06:33):
make sure that we can you know, fix what you know,
some critical issues in the Northern Territory. I've written to
the Chief Minister a couple of times in terms of
family responsibility agreements, something I've you know, talked about at
nauseum for a long time, Katie, what needs to be done.
The federal government isn't against looking at what that referral pathway,
(06:58):
and that's been made very clear to the Northern Territory government.
You know, this is the passway if you want people
to be income managed at a higher level, you know,
get those referrals into us and we will work with
you to make that happen. Now I don't just before
the election there was zero referrals, Katie, which is disappointing
(07:21):
given that we know that there are real issues in
the Northern Territory and families are struggling. So how do
we work with not just wrapping services around families, but
also get a better outcome for those young people who
are otherwise disengaged for education, they're in the court system.
(07:43):
We want to try and make life better for not
just them, but the community so that we avoid the
terrible tragedy that happened in Nightcliff, you know, like that
is it is unacceptable even this.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Morning, so we have literally just had confirmation as well.
The members of the Fight family were driving home from
the funeral last night had a brick thrown through the
car window and one of those people has a serious
eye injury. I mean, like, and now the police are
searching for a fourteen year old boy who allegedly fled
(08:22):
the scene with two other youths. Like, it's just reached
the point where it's beyond believable almost some of the issues.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
We're talking with, and it's unacceptable, Katie, you know, like
I think it is unacceptable for young people to be
doing this in the community and all of us. It
doesn't you know, it's not a race issue, it's a
crime issue, and it's unacceptable and we need to you know,
(08:52):
I gave that commitment before I give the commitment now
that you know, as a federal member, I will with
the Northern Territory government, but I'm not going to play
politics with this, Katie, because the community doesn't need politicians
to be playing politics and just needs to well, people
need to grow up to I think, you know, we've
(09:14):
got real issues in our community. We need to work
together to try and fix it.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Marion. I do want to ask you. I understand that
you filed a complaint after a racist incident at a
Catherine pre polling boost. Can you tell me what happened? Oh?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, look, I think it was Look, you know, for me, Katie, Uh,
you know, you know this this position I'm in, I
expect robust you know, debate and discussion, and I know
that not everyone's going to agree with my view and
that's okay, you know, but I think I draw the
(09:54):
line at racism. I draw the line at intimidation and aggression,
and particularly when it's coming from men. I think, you know,
in any workplace, you know, the the fear and the
intimidation and the aggressive nature in which some men think
(10:14):
it's okay just because you're a female politician, get a
backbone tough enough, and you know, just accept this bad behavior. Well,
you know, I don't accept it. And I think even
on my side, so there were issues, you know, in
and around Catherine, I'm dealing with. You know that that
will be dealt with you. You know, I think that
(10:38):
any aggression towards any woman, whether it's an older woman,
whether it's a younger woman, any woman needs to be
dealt with. I'm going through that process. I'm you know,
there were some racist barbs made, Katie, but you know
I'll deal with those in my in in the way
(11:00):
that I should deal with them, and not take that
any further.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Well, Marion, look, I know you're a tough woman. You
don't need me to stick up for you. But I
think it's bullshit. Like I don't think you should have
to worry about about anybody sort of trying to stand
over you or being aggressive towards you when you're doing
your job and when you're trying to get re elected.
Nor do I think you know any any woman for
the CLP or the Independence or whoever is choosing to run.
(11:25):
I think that there's a line and it needs to
be drawn and you shouldn't have to worry about something
like that happening, and that we as a community all
need to go all right, we need to do better.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
It's going to be a better standard Katie. Yeah, they
doesn't think there's you know, I think we're asking the
community to have a better standard and that you know,
violence is no has no place in our community. Well,
you know, treating women in that way is not on.
(12:03):
And I think that we've just got to We've got
to if we want a better place in our society,
well then we've all got to lead by example. And
I think, you know, that's that's certainly something that I
don't you know, dismiss. I think we've all got to
try and do better. But you know, Mary, I think
(12:27):
that you know, the election out come was certainly a
good one, Katie, but one I don't take for granted.
I we've got to deliver this term.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Yeah, hey, before I let you go, I know there
was also there's also been alleged aggressive and intimidating behavior
from members of a conservative Christian sect in a separate
incident at the Catherine Early Voting Center.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
What is the go here? Well, look, I it was.
It was interesting Katie when they were talking about the
exclusive Brethren down south now, I think and looking at
the number of I was actually quite shocked at the
number of interstate volunteers that were standing on the Prepole
(13:16):
booth in Catherine, but also in select communities. Now, the
CELP didn't go into every community, but they did send
people into our remote, you know, some select remote areas.
It was clear that those men that were not from
the Northern Territory that they you know, I mean, they
(13:39):
were nice enough. I interacted quite well with them. But obviously,
you know, everyone kept saying they were part of the
Exclusive Brethren. Now, you know, I know that they've come
out saying that they expected a better standard, you know,
and they don't think their members were part of that. Well,
it'd be interesting to find out where a lot of
(14:02):
those men who were in a lot of our regions,
where they were from.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yeah, very interesting, and you know why they were here.
Marian a few messages coming through. I just want to
read one out for you. It's from Tigs. Tigs from
the DO and she says Marian is a strong presence
in the bush communities, she hasn't done as much for
us in the northern rural area. I appreciate though, that
she's acknowledged this this morning on your show. I've been
(14:31):
very quick to criticize her in the past, but I acknowledge.
But the acknowledgment brings an opportunity to regain some good
will moving forward, says Tigs.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
In the do absolutely, Katie, and look, I know that
I need to do better in the darn Roll area.
I have done a lot of work with Litchfield Council,
but I need to work and talk to people directly
like I've done it everywhere else. And you know, I've
a couple of people have contacted me either through messenger
(15:04):
or private message to me, and I've undertaken. When I
come up to the top end, I will contact them.
But I look forward to delivering for the darn rural
area as well.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Marion Scrimjaw remember fore lingiari good to speak with you
this morning. I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
You too, Katie, I always love talking to you.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Mane Sime, thank you. Good to catch up. See you
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Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.