1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: We did just catch up with Richard Fijo larak Here 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: elder and also Darwin Waterfront Corporation chairman about why he 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: will be voting yes in the upcoming referendum. Now, the 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: aim of our discussions this morning, you know, it's not 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: like we're not having these discussions, you know, to sort of, 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: you know, to create a debate where people are going, oh, 7 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,639 Speaker 1: I'm doing this or I'm doing that. It's more actually 8 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: to hear from some well respected territorians about why they're 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 1: voting a certain way and to hopefully inform you either 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: way and really get your thinking so that you do 11 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: go out there and do a bit of research yourself 12 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: before your head to the Pulse on October fourteen. And 13 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: joining me on the line right now is gol Darren 14 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: Inky Association chairperson and also Lara Kie, a Traditional owner, 15 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: Helen's secretary. Good morning to. 16 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: You, Helen. Good morning Caden. 17 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. Now, Helen, I 18 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: know that my understanding is that you are going to 19 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: be voting no at the upcoming referendum. Explain to us why. 20 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 2: Well, a lot of it falls back to when my 21 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 2: old laroche of people that started this raising the flag 22 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 2: and a Larochia petition, fighting for a treaty where they 23 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 2: could have rights and voices for their country and pushing 24 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:38,559 Speaker 2: forward to be independent, to achieve their goals for their 25 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: people and their country. Understand my understanding of this vote 26 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: a referendum is we already have three senators, we already 27 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 2: have about a dozen parliamentarians. We have Land Council, we 28 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: have local and state, territory and federal. We have the 29 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 2: un We have non government organizations, sporting bodies, we have universities, 30 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: we have TV and newspapers stations, we have businesses, sports, music, 31 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 2: fashion and politics. Now my understanding and why I won't 32 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: support it is I still believe in what the old 33 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 2: people have always taught us. You look after country, country 34 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 2: looked after, looked after you, your determination to be self 35 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 2: responsibility on making decisions on your own country. Now, going 36 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: back to the referendum for a voice vot yess Indigenous 37 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 2: people around Australia, we receive forty billion dollars of tax 38 00:02:55,880 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 2: pays money every year to help house education, employment and training. 39 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 2: And that still isn't where this Commonwealth government, the federal 40 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: government is not looking after First Nations people. I think 41 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: to me it's very disrespectful that we all as Australian 42 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: were a multi cultural country and we should be proud 43 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: as one. Australia didn't get built just by our first 44 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 2: nation people. We had help. We were a mixed race. 45 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 2: We are indigenous and we are the first nations people 46 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: from our ancestors. But give the rights back to the tribes, 47 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:48,559 Speaker 2: the traditional owners of their lands. Are them what they want? 48 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: They can benefit by utilizing their land for the benefit 49 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 2: of their people. Are them? Yet we're supposed to have 50 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: voices in Parliament like senators, parliamentarians for backbenches. We have 51 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 2: ministers that are Indigenous. They are supposed to be our voice. 52 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 2: We don't see them. We only see them when the 53 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: election times comes around. In regards to this referendum, we've 54 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 2: gone and had double a come out once last month 55 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 2: to do a questionnaire on our people that color like 56 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 2: and minrama in regards to how do they feel about 57 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 2: the voice? Do you understand the voice? And paid them 58 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: twenty five dollars each I did it. I told them 59 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: to keep their twenty five dollars because we need more understanding. 60 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 2: But for our people that don't understand and have always 61 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: supported of going forward, to be independent creating economic development. 62 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 2: I will give you an example. We're an indigenous organization. 63 00:04:55,279 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 2: My grandparents and larrycare people fought they were given SBLI purposely. 64 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 2: Then they change it to a grim lease of perpetuity 65 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 2: that was handed back by Paul Everingham. Our organization for 66 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: over twenty years have not received any funding direct. Our 67 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 2: business is indigenous housing. We have a nursing home, Indigenous 68 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: nursing home, the only Indigenous nursing home in Darwin. Yet 69 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: we pay our rates, we pay our taxes, we pay 70 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 2: our super with pay our word en sewage and that's 71 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 2: not from government funding. We're using our land and as 72 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: the custodian of eye sights of this land is protective. 73 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 2: Give the rights back to the traditional liners of their country, 74 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 2: give them a treaty, work with them to achieve economic development. 75 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 2: Instead of saying we are the First Nation's people and 76 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: we don't get no support. But for me to say 77 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 2: what I'm going to say, people may get offended, but 78 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: a lot of our First Nation people we have ethnic 79 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: genes in us too. I'm not just here. I'm Kiery 80 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 2: and I'm proud that my father was Greek, but he 81 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 2: helped build this country, and as a multicultural country, we 82 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: should be working as one. Indigenous people, we don't live 83 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 2: in a time capsule, We don't live in under huts. 84 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: We have essential services. We live in a house that 85 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: has fared a lot of us work and we pay 86 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: our taxes. And where do you think our taxes go 87 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 2: into the forty billion dollar pool that organizations scared every 88 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 2: year to look after Indigenous people? So hells naked people, so. 89 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: Helen by the sounds of it, you don't feel as 90 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: though the voice is going to make a difference for 91 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: Indigenous people. 92 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 2: Know why we have representatives now that are supposed to 93 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:50,239 Speaker 2: be our voice. The federal government is giving forty billion 94 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 2: dollars to all these agencies, land counsels and abi iba 95 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 2: where Indigenous people can go and apply for a loan 96 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 2: to create their own business so they are independent. We 97 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 2: have funding for health centers. We have opportunities where our 98 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 2: kids can go to unis that they don't have to 99 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: pay twenty five thousand dollars but actually get paid ads 100 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 2: study to attend where non Indigenous people have to pay 101 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: to attend unis. Tell me have housing. Money is given 102 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 2: to channels through local governments in the territory through can 103 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: camps where we need R and M done to our housing, 104 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 2: we need municipal services, rubbish removal, parts and gardens. We 105 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 2: have all that, So why should I support a voice 106 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: that don't live on Glassroots on country where I live now, 107 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 2: Lary Care country where I'm sitting talk for us thousands 108 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 2: and thousands that kilometers away that don't know Glassroots and 109 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 2: what Usigenous people are fighting for independence two for determination 110 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 2: to do better for our people and to get INDEPENDENTI 111 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: you then have self responsibility and that's what we're aiming 112 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: to do. 113 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: Well. 114 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 2: Why would we have another voice that's waste of tax 115 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: pays money when we have Indigenous senators and we have 116 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: Indigenous parliamentarians and Indigenous menaces in the northern territories that 117 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 2: are supposed to be our voice. 118 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: Helen, I do want to ask you, you know, what 119 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: do you say to people that think the voice? And 120 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: I've asked you and Richard pretty similar questions because I 121 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: want to give people the opportunity, you know, to hear 122 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: things from both sort of sides of the spectrum. 123 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: You know, what do you. 124 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: Say to those out there who do think that the 125 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: voice is going to be like an elitist representative group 126 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: that is more. 127 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: Is going to be The Voice is going to be 128 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 2: divisive and it will cause a lot of racial problems. 129 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 2: And like I said, I have three nationalities in me, 130 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 2: My kids have different nationalities. My grandkids have Greek, Lebanese, White, Australian, 131 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 2: Indigenous Laroche and TV blood runs in them like other 132 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 2: Indigenous people around Australia. It is going to be divisive 133 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 2: because to me, it seems like this voice is about 134 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: what First Nation people want. Now, hang on, We're written 135 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 2: in the Australian Constitution that the First Nation people were 136 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 2: the first people here. But we don't live in a 137 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 2: time capsule. We live in the twentieth century where avenue 138 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 2: people do get assistance the federal government at a taxpas money, 139 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 2: your tax paying money, my tax paying money, like other 140 00:09:54,760 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 2: Indigenous people that work and non Indigenous people that make Australia. Helen, 141 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 2: what do. 142 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: You say to people though, who you know who who 143 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: feel as though this is needed, that you know that 144 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: the voice is needed and that constitutional recognition is needed. 145 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 2: But don't we have close in the gap and reconciliation. 146 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 2: What happens to that if this voice gets a yes vote, 147 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 2: that lapses, so the forty billion dollars goes away and 148 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 2: then renegotiate. I don't see it like that and I 149 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 2: don't support it. To me, it's divisive. We're supposed to 150 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 2: be all Australians. If it wasn't for the immigrants and 151 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 2: ethnic groups that have come to Australia that help make Australia, 152 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 2: we wouldn't be here today. Australia is a proud country. 153 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 2: Do we want it to be a divisive and racist country? 154 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: I don't support that, Helen. 155 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: How do you reckon Territorians are going to vote? 156 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: Well, I hope they vote, know, because at the end 157 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 2: of the day, really our votes don't count. But that's 158 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 2: how I feel when you have a look at the 159 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 2: majority of Indigenous people. We all live in the Northern 160 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 2: Territory and we have a ride. You know. I heard 161 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 2: respect for Richard and I've heard how he grew up. Well, 162 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 2: I can say this. I grew up here at Colak 163 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 2: since I was six and four tin sheds. Before that 164 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 2: was a yellow tent with my old people until they 165 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 2: got the land back, and with our four tin sheds 166 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 2: with two shutters living beside a big billibong, and then 167 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 2: in the afternoons, the fog machine would come to eradicate, 168 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 2: try to eradicate the mosquitoes. And we lived and we survived. 169 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 2: But you know what, we're in the twentieth century now. 170 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 2: We don't live in sheds, we don't live in huts, 171 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 2: and we are supposed to be all Australians. And for 172 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 2: people to say that First Nations people need more look 173 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 2: at the agencies so that allocate access. Is that forty 174 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 2: billion dollars and ask them where the hell is all 175 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 2: the money going to if it's not going to the 176 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: First Nations people. 177 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: Well, Helen's secretary, I always appreciate your time. I do 178 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: want to ask you though, before I let you go, 179 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: same as what I the same as what I asked 180 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: Richard to end our interview. What do you say to 181 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: those Aussi's today, those territory ins that are listening this morning, 182 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: that are you know, that are sitting on the fence. 183 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: They're not one hundred percent sure which way to vote, 184 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: They're not one hundred percent sure what they're going to 185 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: do when October fourteen rolls around, Well, like. 186 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 2: I vote know, and I hope everyone else vote know, 187 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 2: because this will be very divisive and there hasn't been 188 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: a full on understanding about this process, but I still 189 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 2: continue to believe what my grandfather, Bobby's Secretary and the 190 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 2: Lara Kia people wanted a treaty. But this is a 191 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 2: no for me. Like I said, there is money already 192 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 2: being looked. I'm there being available for Indigenous people. We 193 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 2: live in houses, but at the end of the day, 194 00:12:54,080 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 2: it's about our First Nations people being responsible as well. 195 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: Helen Secretary, I really appreciate your time this morning. Thank 196 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: you very much for speaking with us. 197 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 2: As always, thank you for having me on. 198 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 1: Thank you, thanks so much. Bye now.