Subjects: Parliament returns, NAIF, Citizenship
Wolf: Its just on 10.30 and as we know in Canberra parliament does resume will there be much focus on the north? Its hard to know but Im guessing probably not. There was quite a bit of focus on the north and developing the north on Friday when a hearing did take place on the NAIF and joining me here on the line is the person who chaired that committee Malarndirri McCarthy the Senator for the Northern Territory.
McCarthy: Good morning Katie and good morning to all your listeners.
Wolf: Malarndirri we know on Friday the NAIF was certainly on the agenda here in Darwin can you talk us through the hearing and exactly what you heard?
McCarthy: The North Australia Infrastructure Facility is of great interest right across northern Australia and with $5 billion to spend it hasnt spent any in the three years since the legislation came through parliament. What we heard on Friday was from businesses and also interested parties talking about what theyre trying to do and what theyd like to see happen.
Wolf: Who did you hear from and what did they have to say? Do they feel as though things are being held up by the federal government or is it more just the process?
McCarthy: Its more the process, I mean this is what the inquiry is about Katie, how can you have $5 billion and not have spent any of it when were just screaming for projects to take place especially in Darwin City. And we certainly heard from the Darwin business group and Ian Kew in particular from NT Airports talk about two major projects theyre hoping to get support for. But in reality it is nearly three years Katie and I think thats the real concern. The federal government is waving $5 billion in front of people but no-ones had the opportunity to make anything of it yet.
Wolf: Yeah that is the real concern because it sort of just makes you think as a Territorian well its fine to promise money but if nothings going to be invested in the top-end whats the point?
McCarthy: It creates a lot of anxiety and nervousness because youre right people say what am I doing this for? Why am I wasting my time putting in proposals? What is supposed to happen? What are the next steps? Can you at least give us some sort of guarantee that somethings going to happen? So this is what we were examining and what well continue to do and our report will go to parliament in a couple of months time.
Wolf: Malarndirri whats the process now? Obviously you heard from a number of people on Friday about their concerns about how the NAIF is working, whats the process now?
McCarthy: The process now is that well continue to have hearings here in Canberra Katie and once weve completed those hearings well write a report for the Senate and the Senate (Government) will have an opportunity to respond to it. So it is a process in itself, but I think its important here to send signals to both the government but also to NAIF that there is absolute frustration out there in all businesses across the sector and we need so desperately for that funding to be spent on worthwhile projects and people are genuine in what theyre putting forward to NAIF.
Wolf: Do you feel as though this process will make a difference? Do you feel as though it will see some investment in the Northern Territory from that fund?
McCarthy: Well I believe it has to, I think the credibility of NAIF and the government is on the line here, you cant wave around $5 billion and not spend it.
Wolf: Thats exactly right. I mean Malarndirri there is very often in the Territory that sense that were forgotten about by our politicians in Canberra.
McCarthy: Big time Katie, I heard your intro that it may not be on the agenda down here and let me just say its something that I certainly push every single time were in Canberra. That these guys down here have to recognise that weve got terrific opportunities in the north and theyve just got to let go of the purse strings and let us get on with it.
Wolf: Lets hope they do, we know this years going to be a tough year in the northern territory there are a lot of businesses doing it tough if we could see some of that investment not just from our own government, not just from the federal government, obviously we need that private investment and this is where this fund could come into play.
McCarthy: Absolutely youre spot on Id say to people out there who are putting in proposals, keep going let me know how youre going with your proposals and where things are at and with all the kinds of pressure were applying at different levels something positive Im sure will give.
Wolf: Malarndirri obviously parliament is back this week, I know you sit in the Senate, what are you expecting to happen this week? More of the citizenship fiasco?
McCarthy: Yeah look unfortunately I think the Prime Ministers office have flagged thats definitely where theyre going certainly Labor wants to just say to the Parliament that weve just got to get on with business, Australians are waiting for other things to occur and we need to get on with business now.
Wolf: Malarndirri McCarthy, of course, the Senator for the Northern Territory its always good to catch up with you thanks very much for taking the time to catch up with us from Canberra.
McCarthy: No worries anytime Katie, give me a call anytime.
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