1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,279 Speaker 1: I do want to start the show with very much 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: breaking news. Now we understand that the Greens member for 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: Nightcliff has announced that she is going to be well 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: resigning from her position after eighteen months as the local 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: member for Nightcliff. She has announced or certainly issued a 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 1: statement to the ABC as I understand it, outlining her 7 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: decision for that resignation. Now, I'm pleased to say, joining 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: me on the line right now is Matt Cunningham from 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: Sky News. Good morning, Matt, Morning Katie. Matt. Very much 10 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: breaking news but as we understand it, McNamara announcing in 11 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: a statement that she is going to resign just eighteen 12 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 1: months in to well a four year term. 13 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it's interesting. There has been quite a bit 14 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 2: of speculation for a while that these might be on 15 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: the cards, that she might have been thinking about giving 16 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,279 Speaker 2: it away. But you know, this is going to be 17 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 2: a really interesting development. Of course, you know, predicted by 18 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: some but a shock to others when she won that 19 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 2: seat at the August election back in twenty twenty four. 20 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 2: But the fact that she's now resigning eighteen months in, 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 2: you know, means we're going to have a by election. 22 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: Mate. 23 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: Lot of things, of course, you know, my labour sources 24 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 2: have certainly been hearing for a while that they had 25 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: been hearing murmurs that she might be about to pull 26 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 2: the pin. Of course, you know this is this is 27 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 2: particularly interesting for Labor because I think they will see 28 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: this as an opportunity to win that seat back. They 29 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 2: don't hold a seat in the metropolitan area at the moment, Katie. 30 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: As you know, they has caused issues for them, and 31 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: so it's going to be interesting to see what happens 32 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 2: as far as a Labor pre selecting a candidate, the 33 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: Greens pre selecting a candidate as well. But you know, 34 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: I think probably the most interesting thing coming out of 35 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: this will be whether, you know, Labor can find someone 36 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: to run in that seat, and whether Labor can try 37 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: and pull that seat back. But I think it's really 38 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: unlikely to see how he would win that seat. It's 39 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 2: a long way left of most of the rest of 40 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 2: the territory. But I think that sort of labor will 41 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 2: certainly be thinking, well, maybe we can get one back here. 42 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: Matt. I'll take you across to the statement that's been 43 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: provided to the ABC online a report by Jack Hirslop, 44 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: and it says that she's leaving the role effective immediately 45 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: due to ongoing health challenges. She said, I've made the 46 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: extraordinarily difficult decision to resigne as the Member for Nightcliff. 47 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: It's been an enormous privilege to serve the people of 48 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: Nightcliff and to be the Greens, the first Greens member 49 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. She continues by saying, 50 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: this has been something beyond my wildest dreams and I've 51 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: shouldered the immense responsibility of the role with pride every day. 52 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: She said she could no longer give the job her all, 53 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: and she's someone that likes to commit one hundred and 54 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: fifty percent to everything she does and this community deserves 55 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: to continue to have someone who can give them that, 56 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: and unfortunately I cannot anymore. And as anyone in Parliament 57 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: will tell you, the responsibility of the role bears a 58 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:16,399 Speaker 1: significant toll on all of us, particularly those of us 59 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: with young children. Now we know that this is something 60 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: that you know, it's not the first member of Parliament 61 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: who's had young kids. When you know when they step 62 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:28,239 Speaker 1: into that role. I guess for those of us that 63 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: have covered politics for a number of years, like like 64 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: we have. We understand that it's a huge role and responsibility. 65 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: But yeah, interesting, like really interesting timing and really interesting 66 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: you would think for the Greens Party. 67 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's interesting at one level. I mean 68 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: I think, I mean, I'm just kind of you know, 69 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 2: speculating here, but I think that kat and McNamara maybe 70 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: going into that election, probably didn't think she was a 71 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: huge chance of winning the seat. Probably came as a 72 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: bit of a surprise to her. And I think then 73 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: when you find yourself in that job, I think a 74 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 2: lot of people would underestimate exactly how much is involved 75 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 2: in being a member of Parliament, how many demands are 76 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 2: placed on you. I mean basically, you know, suddenly you 77 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 2: go from from having you know, maybe a quiet life 78 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 2: to just being public property, and not just public property 79 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 2: in terms of you know, you might be in the 80 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: media and you know they might report on thing today, 81 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 2: but in these small electorates we have in the Northern Territory, 82 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 2: basically everyone wants a piece of you. Everyone wants to 83 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 2: raise their little issue, whether it's a crack foot bath 84 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 2: or it's a speaking car down their streets, or whatever 85 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 2: the case might be, and that becomes quite a full 86 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 2: on responsibility, and she would have also had the disadvantage 87 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 2: at some level of having followed Natasha Files as the 88 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 2: member for Nightcliff. You know, I live in this electorate, Katy, 89 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 2: don't tell you, you know. And I think Natasha File has 90 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 2: had some faults as chief ministers that have been well 91 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: documented by you and I. Over that entire period they 92 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: had a local member. I don't think there was anyone 93 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: who really mastered the art of being a local member 94 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: of the modern territory better than Natasha Philes. I was 95 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 2: at the opening of every envelope. As a constituent. You 96 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: would have sort of contact her office and say I've 97 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: got an issue with X, Y or Z. You would 98 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 2: get a response within about five minutes. In say half 99 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 2: the time you'd get her rocking around on her pushpike 100 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: to your house to try and sort it out. I mean, 101 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 2: it was the most you know, the hyper local local politics. 102 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: Not only yours and your partner's name, but yeah, your dogs. 103 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 2: Well, and that's territory politics. Chris Burns. Chris Burns who 104 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 2: was the member for Johnston for a long time and 105 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 2: made it one of laid the safest seats, which they 106 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: also don't hold at the moment. But he used to 107 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 2: have a little map that had the name not only 108 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 2: all the people who lived there, but the names of 109 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: their pets as well, the entire electorate drawn out. When 110 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: he went down knocking, he knew who everyone was. And 111 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 2: that's the thing, and that's a great thing about territory politics. 112 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 2: But it's also the difficulty because everyone wants a piece 113 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 2: of you, and everyone expects you to be able to 114 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 2: fix every one of their little problems. Sometimes I think 115 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 2: if you're maybe from a party like the Greens, or 116 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 2: if you but you know, maybe you're you're taking a 117 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: sort of more global view to this role. Maybe your 118 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: priorities are climate change and you know, the war in Gaza, 119 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: whereas you know, most of your constituents are probably more 120 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 2: worried about, you know, whether that tree that's been hanging 121 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 2: over their fence has been cut back or some other 122 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: issue that probably belongs to the council. But they expect you. 123 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: To deal with spot on well, Matt, it's going to 124 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: be a really interesting time. We're going to put in 125 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: a request to see if we can get Kat McNamara 126 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: on the show. We'll do our best to find out 127 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: a little more. But I think it's really going to 128 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: be an interesting time now to see who the Labor 129 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: Party can sort of find or select to run in 130 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: this seat in what will be a really interesting by 131 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: election where I would suspect that Labor is hoping to 132 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 1: pick it up and also to you know, maybe sort 133 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: of have somebody step in who's pretty strong, who can 134 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: sort of try to bring you know, the center of 135 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: the territory I guess, back to their party. Yeah. 136 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: That becomes a difficult challenge as well, though, doesn't it, 137 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: Because you know, if they were if the one seat 138 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: that they were going to get back in the sort 139 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 2: of Daral and Tarmiston area was nightly, you know, it 140 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 2: may prove a challenge when it comes to pulling Labor 141 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: back to the middle. I mean we're seeing we're seeing, 142 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: you know, a split like I haven't seen in a 143 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: long time in Northern Territory politics, where Labor went further 144 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 2: to the left and now the Sea I please sort 145 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: of gone further to the right. And I actually think 146 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 2: there's a bit of a fertile middle ground there for 147 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: someone to pick up if the clever about it. But 148 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: it'll be interesting to see whether whether Labor can find 149 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 2: someone who's going to sit that role and you know, 150 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: do that. But and then of course the other thing 151 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 2: is that they've got to win the seat now, you know. 152 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 2: I think the Greens will probably make a concerted effort 153 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 2: to try and hang on to that seat. You had 154 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 2: Suki Doris Walker who narrowly lost Fanny Bay at the 155 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 2: last election. I wouldn't shop me if she stood in 156 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 2: Nightcliff for the Greens, and she'd probably be a good 157 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 2: chance to win it. So that's the only question, you know. 158 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 2: The other question is whether you know constituents there have 159 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 2: a bit of buyers regret regret after electing a Green 160 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: who's pulled the pin, you know, just eighteen months in. 161 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. Yeah, Well, it's going to be an interesting morning. 162 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: I'm going to have to take off because we've got 163 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: the Deputy Chief Minister waiting to come on. Will be 164 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: keen to hear his thoughts about this situation as well. 165 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: Matt Cunningham from Sky News. There's never a dull day 166 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 1: in our jobs. 167 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 2: Is there? The other day? 168 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 1: Not anymore? 169 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 2: Not me more. 170 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: Matt Cunningham from Sky News, Thanks so much for your 171 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: time this morning.