SENATOR MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

 

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
NITV
WEDNESDAY, 2 APRIL 2025

SUBJECTS: Indigenous Rangers, Income Management, Makarrata, Water Security, Housing.
 
EMMA KELLAWAY, HOST: With today’s announcement of the expansion of the Rangers program, how does this program and its expansion go towards delivering on the Federal Government's commitments to Closing the Gap?
 
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: It's wonderful to be here at Ramingining in far north-east Arnhem Land, especially out with the Arafura Swamp Rangers. It's been important for our Government to see the increase in ranger employment for First Nations people across Australia. We launched it in Victoria, we have a second round of grants now open, and one of the things that I want to see is more women involved in the Ranger program.
 
JOURNALIST: Obviously the last round had a strong focus on women, is that the same demographic you’ll be focusing on with this round?
 
McCARTHY: It is important to see women have an opportunity. We do as carers for Country, in terms of whether you're Jungai or Numeringi you have roles and responsibilities, and for those who want to learn more and teach others, especially other older women teaching younger women, I think it's beautiful to be able to do that in caring for Country in a ranger program, but also it’s about jobs. To be able to have fulfilling jobs, jobs that make you feel worthwhile, jobs that enable you to look after your family, to care for your children, to live a quality of life that perhaps you didn't have before.
 
JOURNALIST: And this expansion goes towards existing commitments to double the amount of Indigenous Rangers by the end of the decade, is that target on track?
 
McCARTHY: We are well on track in terms of doubling the number of rangers across the country. We obviously would like to win the election and continue this program, we see it very worthwhile. It's not just about caring for Country, but it is about jobs. We see worthwhile jobs and the pride that we see in men and women who are working as rangers across Australia, we see this is an important area to continue to support.
 
JOURNALIST: And to a few other matters, the CLP has suggested using compulsory income management as a tool for parents whose children are out late at night. This was a suggestion or a call from the NT Government. Is it something Labor would consider? And if not, why not?
 
McCARTHY: Look, we have income management in the Northern Territory already, what the Northern Territory Government has to do is use the financial resources that it does receive from the federal government to do its job. I was in Katherine recently, I was out with the night patrol, I was talking to the police, I was talking to the Northern Territory Government staff. There are good programs that are working at night and those programs need to continue to be supported.
 
JOURNALIST: Has the Labor Government committed to any of the seven requests by the CLP NT Government?
 
McCARTHY: We've certainly met a number of those points, in particular the drones across Alice Springs. We said we would work with them on a number of other areas. We reminded them that they have to obviously speak to the Land Councils in terms of royalties, we have also pointed out to them that in terms of changing the days in which people receive Centrelink dollars, that that will not work in this instance, it does require a broader change across Australia in terms of Centrelink. We've continually tried to work with the Northern Territory Government and I would encourage them to realise the potential that there is in having a much more harmonious relationship.
 
JOURNALIST: And why did Labor abolish the Cashless Debit Card?
 
McCARTHY: Well, the Cashless Debit Card was a policy that we came into government in 2022 that we said we would abolish wherever it was taking place. In the Northern Territory, people have been on income management under the Basics card. So we've not had that here in the Northern Territory in that regard. So, we came in with it specifically because of the reports of poverty and disadvantage and in many areas racism about those people who were on the cashless debit card.
 
JOURNALIST: Are there any circumstances in which Labor would support compulsory income management?
 
McCARTHY: Income management actually occurs now. This is the actual misnomer. Governments need to recognise, in particular the Northern Territory Government, that income management happens now. If there are issues with child protection, the Northern Territory Government can refer that to the Federal Government, it hadn't been doing that when it came to power in August. We had to remind them that they actually had that power to refer, they are starting to refer. There is a natural roll on then of course with referrals for income management to take place. So, it actually occurs now in circumstances that are important for the care of any child, but also in the case of the justice system, if they require it as well.
 
JOURNALIST: And obviously at the last election, the referendum and commitments to Makarrata propelling Treaty were a high draw card for a lot of Indigenous voters, will a re-elected Labor Government deliver on its previous election promise of establishing a Makarrata Commission?
 
McCARTHY: We were very proud to come in in 2022 and win the election. We came in on the promise that we would hold a referendum and we kept our promise. We held that referendum and we took it to the people of Australia and we lost. But we are very proud, we stood by our guns and we took that referendum to the people of Australia. Peter Dutton has called for three referendums. He's even called for a referendum on First Nations people already, even when he wouldn't support the previous referendum. So the Labor Government and the Labor party stand by what we say.
 
JOURNALIST: And to other matters, what would Labor do to increase water security and access to clean water around the country if re-elected?
 
McCARTHY: We're already doing that in many communities across northern Australia. One of the areas that I did have previously was as Assistant Minister in Indigenous Health to roll out renal dialysis. The only way I could do that was to ensure there was a good water quality for those patients who required renal dialysis, and we've done that, and we're looking at that, we've worked with Tanya Plibersek in her area of the environment to roll out supports in better water quality, especially in those areas that don't have good water quality. So, we want to continue to do that if we are re-elected.
 
JOURNALIST: And a final point, here in the Northern Territory, the Government has the existing $4 billion dollar deal for building houses in remote regions. What about other jurisdictions like in New South Wales and Queensland? What would your Government do to address overcrowded housing elsewhere in the country?
 
McCARTHY: Well, the Housing Australia Future Fund, under Clare O'Neil as the Minister for Housing is a solid example of our support for housing across Australia and the Coalition voted it down every single time. They have no policy on housing and they have no interest in improving the lives for Australians when they keep voting down cost of living pressures, but also housing availability.
 
JOURNALIST: Those are all my questions.

ENDS

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