1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: Usually if we have a labor minister on the show, 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: we don't then have a labor senator on the show. 3 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: But this morning we are catching up with Melandarie McCarthy, 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: and rightly so, because there is so much happening on 5 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: the federal stage. And she joins me on the line 6 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: right now. Good morning to your Melandiie. 7 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 2: Oh, good morning Katie, and good morning to all your listeners. 8 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now, 9 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: there is so much happening on that national stage at 10 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: the moment and plenty, yeah, there really is. And those 11 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: tax cuts they seem to be making headlines right around 12 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: the nation. Can you break it down for us, how 13 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: do territorians stand to benefit? 14 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 2: Well, the good news for people across the northern territories. 15 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 2: We're looking at at least around over one hundred thousand 16 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: taxpayers in the Northern Territory who will benefit. I mean, Katie, 17 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 2: just in Palmerston Downe region alone, you're looking at at 18 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 2: least over fifty thousand people who will receive a much 19 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 2: bigger tax cut. These tax cuts need to get through. 20 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: We need to have them introduced in Parliament this week 21 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: with the hope that they can begin as of the 22 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: middle of the year. 23 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: I mean, some people not happy that Albo had gone 24 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: to the election saying that he wasn't going to make 25 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: changes to the way people are taxed, and now obviously 26 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: has he said he's made that tough decision because it 27 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 1: will benefit more Australians. What do you say to those 28 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 1: that are criticizing it. 29 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 2: It's a tough one because we know that the cost 30 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 2: of living has been an incredibly deeply difficult issue for 31 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: Australians and this is part of the decision of the 32 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: Albanesi government. Katie. Along with having cheaper childcare, we introduce 33 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 2: cheaper medicine, being able to buy things that your pharmaceutical 34 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 2: benefits a lot sooner and more of it. We've had 35 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 2: an increase in wages, especially in the care sector. Who've 36 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 2: done a considerable number of things to try and ease 37 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: the pressure on families. And this next step where the 38 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 2: tax cut will go further. And we've already seen the 39 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: dropping inflation last week, which is given great encouragement to 40 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: the fact that these policies are working. 41 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: Now, I want to take a step to some of 42 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: the flood recovery assistants and what's going on here in 43 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: the Territory right now, I know that some assistance for 44 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: those pastoralists in the likes of Timber Creek and Victoria 45 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: River Region. They're quite concerned about what they said late 46 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: last week was a real lack of assistance. I know 47 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: that the Northern Territory government has now come out. We 48 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: spoke to Brent Potter a little bit earlier this morning 49 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: about the fact that the Northern Territory government have come 50 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: out and they have said that there is going to 51 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: be some assistance provided. The disaster Assistance is going to 52 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: open this week for the Victoria Daily regional communities in 53 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory following the impacts of that severe flooding. 54 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 1: Could more be happening here, Senator, I mean, was federal 55 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: funding activated by the Northern Territory government. 56 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 2: I think it's really important to make it clear to 57 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: your listeners, Katie, that each state and territory jurisdiction has 58 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 2: the responsibility as to how they're going to handle any 59 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 2: emergency or any evacuation, and then they do make the 60 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,559 Speaker 2: call to the Commonwealth if they feel that that is necessary. 61 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: In this instance, that didn't occur until the weekend when 62 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 2: we have been called in with regards to our disaster 63 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: assistance and that now comes under the joint funding of 64 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: the Commonwealth State Disaster Recovery funding arrangements. So people whether 65 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: they're in the Big Daily region or which covers Calcareine 66 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: g Dagaragi, Pigeonhole, Yarrelin and timber Creek. And I'm conscious 67 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 2: that you've had callers from timber Creek and I've actually 68 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: spoken to our family out at timber Creek as well. 69 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: This will go some way to assisting families in those 70 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: regions because the Commonwealth has been called in. 71 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: So Senator, the NT government didn't activate that until the 72 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: weekend just gone. 73 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: Well, that's a decision that the Northern Territory makes based 74 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: on obviously what they have in front of them. We 75 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 2: are able at the Commonwealth's level to step in to 76 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 2: assist whether it's the Northern Territory or the other jurisdictions 77 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 2: when they reach out to us. And we've done that, Katie. 78 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: I mean, there'll be people listening this morning thinking how 79 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: on earth did the Northern Territory government only do that 80 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: on the weekend when we were literally, you know, on 81 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: Thursday last week hearing from some of those pastoral lists 82 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,799 Speaker 1: that they had had no assistance for eighteen days. 83 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: Well once and that the Northern Territory has its own 84 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 2: emergency procedure in place, so you have two levels of 85 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: sort of events if you like, So you have the 86 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 2: emergency disaster situation and then you have the disaster recovery situation. 87 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: We're now obviously in the recovery situation where the Commonwealth 88 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 2: has been called in to assist with that, and that's 89 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 2: what we're doing. And I've certainly been able to relay 90 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 2: that through to families who've asked me in the Vick 91 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: River region as to what support is there. They will 92 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 2: be able to apply for personal hardship and distress payments 93 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: in terms of emergency home repairs, a removal of debris, 94 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 2: and personal and financial counseling. So that is now available 95 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:22,799 Speaker 2: for them and how. 96 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 1: Can they apply, well, how can they try and get 97 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: that assistance if they require it? 98 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: Sure, Well, we'll certainly have an online websites. Who've got 99 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 2: the disastro Assist website and also the Northern Territory Government's 100 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 2: website of Secure inte so they can go on to 101 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: those and I'm happy to provide those to you, Katie, 102 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 2: if you want to provide that to your listeners. 103 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: That would be awesome. We can do that a little 104 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: bit later in the morning. Now, Senator, we know that 105 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: Parliament resumes. When does it resume again and what's on 106 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: the agenda? 107 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 2: Yes, it certainly does resume. In fact, it's looking like 108 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: quite a big week. We kick off tomorrow, Katie. So 109 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: there's plenty of senators who are preparing for their private senators' 110 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 2: bills this week. Obviously, the lower House will be introducing 111 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 2: the tax bills, so we want to see that go 112 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 2: through the lower House, hopefully this week, but naturally it 113 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: will take some time in terms of getting to the Senate. 114 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 2: We seem to be the chamber that requires a little 115 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 2: bit more time given the kind of numbers that we 116 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 2: have in the Senate, Katie. 117 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: Now, what you've been traveling around as I understand as well, 118 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: for the last few weeks. What are there some of 119 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: the big concerns that residents have been raising with you 120 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: and will you be taking any of that to the Senate? Well? 121 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I mean one of the big things that we 122 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 2: look at and here a bit is around the health situation. 123 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 2: I'm very conscious of some of the people who raise 124 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 2: issues even in the local media around the health situation 125 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 2: here in the Northern Territory. We try to work very 126 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: closely with the Northern Territory government, but on a federal level, 127 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 2: what we tried to do in the health space is 128 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 2: making medicines cheaper. We've just seen the fortieth anniversary of Medicare, Katie, 129 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 2: and we just want to make sure that people are 130 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 2: able to do bolt billing in the Northern Territory. We've 131 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: seen an increase in that certainly, an estimated two and 132 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 2: twenty eighth bolt build GP visits just in November December alone, 133 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: So these are the sorts of things we want the 134 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 2: Territorians to access. We've also opened the urgent care clinic 135 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 2: at Palmerston and also one in Alice Springs and this 136 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: is just to assist people in addition to the hospitals. 137 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: Well, Senator Melanderie McCarthy, we are going to have to 138 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: leave it. They're always good to speak with you, particularly 139 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: on a parliamentary sitting week. Thank you very much for 140 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: your time and for joining us for the first time 141 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: for the year. 142 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, lovely to be on. Thank you. 143 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: We'll talk again soon.