1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Now we know that there has been a huge focus 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,119 Speaker 1: on the response to domestic violence in the Northern Territory, 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,960 Speaker 1: with Coroner Elizabeth Armitich handing down her fundings into the 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: death of four Indigenous Territory women last week. The alban 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: Easy Labor government say that they are going to be 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: investing two point six million dollars to trial a new 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: approach to support First Nations women, children and families at 8 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: risk of or impacted by family and domestic violence and 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: reduce the number of children entering the child protection system 10 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 1: in the Greater Darwin region. Danilla Dilba Health Service is 11 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: going to receive the funding over two years and the 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: project is trialing a new approach. So joining me on 13 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: the line to tell us a little bit more about 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: this is the Federal Minister for Indigenous Australian Senator Melanderrie McCarthy. 15 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: Good morning to your senator, good to work. Well. 16 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 2: This is really important, certainly for the Darwin area and 17 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: I do commend the staff at Dinner La Delba for 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 2: being able to come together on this and the board. 19 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,839 Speaker 2: It is important that they deal with certainly the families 20 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 2: that we have in Darwin. This funding will go towards 21 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: assisting Daniella Delba to work with at least two hundred 22 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 2: families First Nations families in the Darwin region, which I 23 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 2: think is quite significant, Katie, in that we are concerned 24 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: around the high rates of family and domestic violence, but 25 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: also the issues of out of home care where children 26 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 2: are removed as a result of this. So we do 27 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 2: need First Nations families and organizations actually involved. It cannot 28 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 2: just be governments and it cannot just be the police. 29 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 2: This is about investing in ablishment community organizations. 30 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: And so how exactly will it work and what's the 31 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: aim of the program. 32 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 2: Well, the aim, of course is to do a couple 33 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: of things. One is to be there for those families 34 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 2: who do require extra assistance, but secondly to actually encourage 35 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: them to get on the right path if there are 36 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: difficulties in finding out what those hurdles are, but also 37 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 2: to help reduce the numbers as part of closing the gap. 38 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: We see that the removal of First Nation's children is 39 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 2: one of those targets that we're trying to reduce in 40 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: closing the gap. But also, Katie, the high incarceration of 41 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 2: young people in our prisons across the country of First 42 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: Nations people, So we do need to invest in local 43 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 2: Aboriginal organizations to actually be a part of the solution. 44 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: And look, I understand that certainly, you know, we don't 45 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: want to see children in jail. We don't want to 46 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,679 Speaker 1: see a situation where children are being removed from their families, 47 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 1: but we also don't want to see them in unsafe 48 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: situations if that is what's happening. So, I mean, what happens, 49 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: what happens. 50 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: There, Well, this would have to be a call that 51 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 2: those working in the sector at in this case, working 52 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: in dem La Dilba, would have to make. I mean, 53 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,519 Speaker 2: there are certain wirements under Northern Territory law that if 54 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 2: children are in those situations, well, of course there has 55 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: to be action taken that Agashner's of an Abiginal community 56 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 2: controlled organization are the first port of call. Then they 57 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: can give that advice directly to the departments of the 58 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 2: Northern Territory governments, which are. 59 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: Responsible now in relation to the crisis that we are 60 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: seeing when it comes to domestic violence. We know that 61 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: last week the coroner made thirty five recommendations when she 62 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: handed down her findings into the depths of four Indigenous 63 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: women to domestic violence, including calling for a significant funding 64 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: boost to the sector, including for frontline emergency service responses 65 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: and women's shelters. I mean the funding that we've just 66 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: spoken about, it is a drop in the ocean, really, 67 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: isn't it. 68 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: Well, certainly for Danilla Delber it's going to be quite 69 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: important for them to be able to have that over 70 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 2: two million specifically for them, but we've also got other 71 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: organizations across the Northern Terrey as well, Katie. For example, 72 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: Galawenku on Elko Island, you know, the women's space there 73 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: has been provided with five hundred thousand dollars in Darwin, 74 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 2: the aberagin On a Woman's Shelter Indigenous Corporation around nine 75 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: hundred and eighty thousand dollars. In Central Australia, Nanka Jada 76 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 2: Pitching Jada over one point eight million, So we know 77 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 2: that there's it has to be spread across the different organizations. 78 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 2: It's not up to just one organization to deal with it, 79 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 2: nor is it up to one government department. 80 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: No, you're right, definitely, you know, we need to make 81 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 1: sure that that money is being invested into the right 82 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: areas that the coroner has given that roadmap though and 83 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: I know that many within you know, the domestic violence 84 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: sector that are working in this area every single day, 85 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 1: as well as both sides of government here in the 86 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: Northern Territory, both the COLP and the ALP are saying 87 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: we need this needs based funding from the federal government. 88 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: Where are we at. 89 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: With that, Well, there's a couple of things I just 90 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: want to say there. First week, can I just say 91 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: in regards to Corona Armitage's report last week, it was 92 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: incredibly important not just for the territory but nationally for 93 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 2: all Australians to be aware of how difficult it is 94 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 2: here in the Northern Territory. Our police deal with it 95 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: every day. They have to deal with it because such, 96 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: it's one of the most violent situations with regards to 97 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 2: the activities that police have to contend with. The second 98 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 2: thing is that in terms of their money, there is 99 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: money between the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory that has 100 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 2: not been spent Katie. There's around one hundred and eighty 101 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 2: million dollars that has to be spent. That is a 102 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: conversation that does need to occur between myself, the Chief Minister, 103 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 2: and certainly the I want to. 104 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: See that are you talking about the money that they've committed. 105 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 2: Well, there's two lots. So there's money that's actually provided 106 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 2: to the Northern Territory prior to the Northern Territory government 107 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: or government making that commitment. So at a national level, 108 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: we have invested in five hundred extra positions across the country. 109 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 2: Now eight of those are here in the Northern Territory. 110 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: It would be good to see more of those. So 111 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 2: the government here today, which has been in for about 112 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 2: one hundred days, knows it has access to that funding. 113 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 2: I did read in the reports last week, so I 114 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 2: haven't spoken directly to Robin carl on this, but I 115 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 2: did read that she was looking at an audit and 116 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: wanting to do a review. I'd seriously urge them to 117 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: actually act with the current requests from organizations across the 118 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: territory now to get them through the Christmas and New Year. 119 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 2: I do understand that audits are a relevant part of 120 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 2: making sure funding is being spent, but we are coming 121 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 2: to one of the most difficult times of the year 122 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: with family and domestic violence does seem to escalate around 123 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 2: Christmas and New Year. 124 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: Minister, has the federal government committed to those recommendations? Set 125 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: the coroner handed down. I mean, are the federal government 126 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 1: committed to seeing some really serious change in this space. 127 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: We're always absolutely committed to wanting to see the reduction 128 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 2: in violence, Katie. I know that the Commissioner has certainly 129 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: made recommendations which I'll have to go through more closely 130 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: in terms of the federal side of things, in terms 131 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: of our responsibility, but I can say this to your 132 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 2: listeners and in particular those people who work in the 133 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 2: family domestic violence sector, we are absolutely committed. We've not 134 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: only looked at trying to support our organizations, We've looked 135 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 2: at legislation to ensure that women experiencing domestic and family 136 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: violence can take leave. We want to make sure there's 137 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 2: other issues that support, in particular in our communities, the 138 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 2: disadvantage that women in particular experience. So we want to 139 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: see the build up with housing and jobs. So we 140 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: know that there has to be so many more aspects 141 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: to this, not just around funding the crisis centers. 142 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: Minister, Where do we go from here though, Because I mean, 143 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: you've got a situation locally where we are seeing an 144 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: absolute crisis when it comes to domestic violence, the level 145 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: of women being killed to domestic violence is it is 146 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: a shame. It's an absolute national shame. You've got the 147 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: Northern Territory government. They've obviously said that they're committing one 148 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty million dollars. You know, you've got both 149 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: sides of the parliament here in the Northern Territory and 150 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 1: those sitting on the cross bench saying we need this 151 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: needs based funding. I mean, you know you live in 152 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory. You know what it's like. Could the 153 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: federal government be doing more in terms of that funding. 154 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 2: Well, we certainly need to look at what's happening with 155 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 2: the men, Katie, and this is where where the investments 156 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 2: in working with men who are either in our jails 157 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: or either going through difficult problems at home and what 158 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 2: kind of support do they have. I know we've seen 159 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 2: people like Charlie King and the No More program, but 160 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 2: I do believe there needs to be a greater support 161 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: in that space. Working in the justice reinvestment space is 162 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 2: also part of that. But we have to change behaviors. 163 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 2: When I was Minister here in the Northern Territory, I 164 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,839 Speaker 2: was part of introducing making it mandatory to report family 165 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: and domestic violence. We never did that in the Northern Territory. 166 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 2: We were the first jurisdiction, and when I was Minister here, 167 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 2: I had carriage of carrying that through to make sure 168 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 2: it was mandatory that anyone and everyone who saw family 169 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 2: and domestic violence reported it. There was an outcry across 170 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: the country saying, don't do that, don't do that, but 171 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 2: we did do it. We led the way. The problem 172 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 2: is is the behavior, and we have to contribute as 173 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 2: much as we can can, whether it's at federal government 174 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 2: funding or Northern Territory to make sure the behavior changes 175 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:06,319 Speaker 2: in our family. 176 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: It truly has to change. And we spoke last week 177 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: about this with John Patterson and he said, you know, 178 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 1: he put a call out on air and said, blokes, 179 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,199 Speaker 1: you know, if you are committing domestic violence or if 180 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: you are you know, hurting your partner, stop the behavior 181 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: has to stop, you know. And what we are seeing 182 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: is appalling. I mean, even in the last twenty four hours, 183 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Police have been out and said that 184 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: they are, you know, as part of another operation Operation Jardine. 185 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: They've arrested eighty domestic violence offenders since the start of September. 186 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: It like it is it's appalling. What we're seeing. 187 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 2: Raises the question of those eighty how are they going now? 188 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 2: In terms of learning about our behavior. This isn't just 189 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 2: a woman's problem. It certainly isn't just a man's problem. 190 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 2: But we still have to look at the violence that's 191 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 2: occurring in family. So you've raised an important point there, Katie, 192 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 2: and this is where we've got to push through with 193 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 2: lots a lot more support in the men's behavior programs. 194 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: Hey, a very quick one. I know we are keen 195 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: to ask you about this Justice Reinvestment in Central Australia 196 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: program the federal government obviously making the announcement yesterday. What 197 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: exactly is it going to mean? 198 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: Yes, sure, Katie, this was largely to do a couple 199 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: of things. Again, with the high rates of incarceration, we 200 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 2: have to look at what's going on and reaching out 201 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 2: to the local Aboriginal community organization. So certainly in Central Australia, 202 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: I'm conscious that this time of year it does become 203 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 2: really difficult in Alice Springs. So we've been able to 204 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 2: work with some barn to a mob there, with Tongue 205 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 2: and Jira, with Lure Tippa, with quite a number of 206 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 2: organizations to make sure the peacemaking project is in place. 207 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 2: I was just us before Parley the last sittings to 208 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 2: actually go out with the group at night in terms 209 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,079 Speaker 2: of the buses and how the First Nations people are 210 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 2: working in the local community in terms of safety. So 211 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 2: we want to keep supporting them. We know that there 212 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,559 Speaker 2: has to be local solutions to these local problems. 213 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, there absolutely does. Melanderye McCarthy, Senator for the Northern 214 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 1: Territory and also the Minister for Indigenous Australians really appreciate 215 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: your time this morning. We'll talk to you again soon. 216 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: No whries, Katie. 217 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: Thank you.