1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,159 Speaker 1: Well, today is the day that we're expecting the vote 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,039 Speaker 1: on the Territory Rights Bill. Senators participated in a preliminary 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: vote on the bill last week, with forty one senators 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: in support and twenty five against. Now, as we know, 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: a federal veto on territory rights was imposed around twenty 6 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: five years ago after the Northern Territory legalized euthanasia. But 7 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: today is the day that that is expected to change. Now, 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: joining me on the line to tell me more about 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: the process is the Senator Labour Senator for the Northern Territory, 10 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: Melanderie McCarthy. Good morning to you. 11 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners. 12 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: Senator, it is certainly hopefully going to be quite a 13 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: historic day for us. That preliminary vote happened last week 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: and the numbers looked good for the Northern Territory. What's 15 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: the process today, Well, we certainly. 16 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 2: Had a good numbers last week of forty one in 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: favor and to twenty five. So if those numbers still 18 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 2: stay the same or grow even more, it will be 19 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: a very very welcome outcome, certainly for both the Act 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 2: and the Northern Territory Today, though of course there's still 21 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 2: a long way to go, and there's been a number 22 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: of amendments that have been brought forward, so people senators 23 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: are obviously having a look at those amendments, Katie. 24 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: So what are some of those amendments? And I guess 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: some of the concerns that have been raised. I know 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: that the CLP Senator just Enter Price is one of 27 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,839 Speaker 1: the people who did raise some of those concerns last week. 28 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm just looking at Senator Price's amendment, and you 29 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 2: know it does need to be given some thought, but 30 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: I will certainly not be supporting the amendment. My view 31 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: on this is that the Territory Rights Bill is purely 32 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 2: a repeal of an existing bill and does not need 33 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: any amendments, and so I'll be firm in my response 34 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: to that. I do understand that it is a conscience 35 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: vote for every single Senator, so every single senator needs 36 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: to work out their position, but certainly my position will 37 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 2: be no to that amendment. 38 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: Now what sort of what time are we expecting this 39 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: vote to happen. 40 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: Well, we're going through quite a number of bills. We've 41 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 2: still got the ir Bill before us in the Senate, 42 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill. We hope to get 43 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 2: to the Territory's Bill at five point thirty Australia Eastern 44 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 2: Standard time, so that's about four pm your time in 45 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 2: the territory. And I just encourage your listeners to tune 46 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 2: in wherever they are online on Telly listening. This matters 47 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 2: to the people of the Northern Territory and you know, 48 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: please join me in listening in and being a part 49 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: of what I hope will be an historic day for us. 50 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: Mel And Dearie, what is going to happen If it passes. 51 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 2: Well, naturally there will be great relief. I think you know, Katie, 52 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 2: that this has been a long time coming for the territory. 53 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: But for the act, this is actually about the equality 54 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 2: of the parliaments being able to debate and make their 55 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 2: own decisions consult with constituencies, just like any state parliament 56 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 2: in this country. And that to me is about effective democracy. 57 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: And I believe we are well and fully. 58 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 3: Voiced in the Territory to have those rights to debate 59 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: as we should. And you know, then, of course, if 60 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 3: it does pass here, it does need to go through 61 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 3: Royalist sense with the Governor General and no doubt then 62 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 3: going to law. So I guess yes, in the new year. 63 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 3: It will be up to the Northern Territory and the 64 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 3: Act Parliament, but for now I won't get ahead of myself. 65 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 3: It's going to be a really long night, Katie. I 66 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 3: suspect that with these amendments that are being. 67 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: Introduced them a very late stage unfortunately means the very 68 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 2: real possibility of it being quite a lengthy debate well 69 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: into the night and in the early hours of the morning. 70 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: Now, obviously those concerns were raised by the COLP Senator 71 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 1: just Enter Price, and we spoke to her on the 72 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: show last week. The opposition leader Leofanocchiaro, though yesterday told 73 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: us on the show that the Senator Senator Price will 74 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: vote for territory rights today. Have you spoken to Senator 75 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: Price and what's your understanding at this point if she's 76 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: introduced an amendment. 77 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 2: Look, I certainly haven't spoken to Senator Price about the 78 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 2: bill at this particular point in time, given that her 79 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 2: amendments have now been circulated to all senators, so everyone 80 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 2: is looking at the amendment by by Senate Price and 81 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: also Senator Dunham, who's the Tasmanian senator who's also put 82 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: in an amendment, So all senators are looking through those amendments, 83 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: and I'm quite intrigued, actually, Katie, to hear that the 84 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 2: COLP leader is now saying that Senator Price will vote 85 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 2: for the Church to Rights bill, and I certainly hope 86 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 2: that will be the case, but I guess will it 87 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 2: remains to be seen. 88 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: Really, Yeah, We'll wait and see how things pan out today. 89 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: And now I know that last week as well, Senator 90 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: Price was indeed raising the discussion about statehood. Do you 91 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: reckon we need to go back down this path? 92 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 2: Look at statehood? I believe is always an eventuality for 93 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 2: the people of the Northern Territory. I do firmly believe 94 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 2: in statehood and see it is the next step for 95 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 2: our growth in the economy. Our growth is a population 96 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 2: and our growth to be the seventh state in the 97 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: Federation of Australia. 98 00:05:58,920 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: Are we there yet? 99 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 2: I think we were there a long time ago, Katie. 100 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: Is my personal view on it, and any opportunity to 101 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 2: continue to push for statehood is very welcomed and certainly 102 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 2: a bipartisan one. I do believe that's the only way 103 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 2: we can achieve it. 104 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: Why do you reckon it stalled? 105 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: I think there's you know, I think that's probably a 106 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 2: really long conversation, Gating. I was certainly Minister for Statehood 107 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 2: in two thousand and eight, and that was ten years 108 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 2: after the referendum in the Northern Territory in nineteen ninety 109 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 2: eight where vot have said no. I only just said 110 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,280 Speaker 2: no over fifty one percent in nineteen ninety eight. When 111 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 2: I was Minister of Statehood, we tried to get it 112 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: back up again and running. I was certainly chair of 113 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 2: the statehoods Steering Committee in two thousand and five and 114 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 2: we canvassed people's views. There was still a warm reception 115 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: about the ability to do it, but it was the 116 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 2: Federal Parliament that also needed to meet us halfway. And 117 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 2: I'm conscious now that we have two senators who are 118 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: for statehood from the Northern Territory and this might be 119 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 2: a very real opportunity to actually get the Australian Parliament 120 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: to reconsider enabling the territory to go forward in terms 121 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 2: of statehood. 122 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: Well let's see where we end up for early next year, Senator, 123 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: because it has been a big year in Parliament and 124 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: it looks like it's really going to end, you know, 125 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: in a big way. There is so much happening today, 126 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: but It's been a massive year, hasn't it. 127 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 2: It's been huge, absolutely huge. It's not over yet and 128 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 2: we have what I suspect will be a very long 129 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 2: night ahead of us. 130 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: Well, Senator for the Northern Territory Labor Senator Melandery McCarthy. 131 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: Let's wait and see exactly what happens this evening. Thank 132 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: you so very much for your time this morning. 133 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 2: No worries, Katie, thank you, and your listeners, thank you.