WELLINGTON: And we did hear about these historical injustices and the change that is coming from
within our communities. Earlier today I spoke with Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri
McCarthy and i began by asking about her reaction to the death of George Floyd.
MCCARTHY: I saw it on social media and it was the most horrific bit of footage that
you could witness. I think for the families, of Mr Floyd it would have been also absolutely horrific
to see that. I think most people who've seen that coudl not help but be touched by it in
some way.
WELLINGTON:We've seen a lot of the Australian public speak out about the horror and the
injustice of what they've seen. They've taken to social media, in our daily conversations,
to quickly condemn it, but I guess we're kind of seeing a reaction to injustice that we
never really saw on our home soil. Why do you think that is?
MCCARTHY: Look I think we''re seeing a reaction that is certainly touching everyone in some
way. Some people who support it, some people who don't support it. I do believe that we
have seen previous hot issues in Australia. We only have to reflect on what happened on
Palm Island and the scenes there of absolute outrage and anger. We've seen the marches
in Australia where thousands of people have marched over decades against Aboriginal deaths
in custody, so we feel it very deeply as First Nations people. And I think the reason why
we think that what we're seeing now is unique is perhaps because we're coming out of a situation
in terms of COVID-19, where everyone has been polarised into beating that virus and whilst
we're still not through that, I think what we're witnessing in the US is also a combination
of the many, many deaths that have occurred in the US and the feelings of people, especially minority groups,
they've been pent up not only for months or for years but for generations. We clearly
have to look at relationships in our country between black and white Australians and no
doubt that's what the US has to do but they need the leadership in that country to be
able to do it. Here in Australia, we've got people who can stand up and speak very strongly
and very clearly about the need to look at these issues but handle it in a way where
we actually have to work together to handle it. It's very easy to blame one group of people
but at the end of the day, we all have to find a way together and that means First Nations
communities, it means Elders, it means families, it means the justice system, it means the
police system, and in particular and most importantly, it means governments across every
state and territory jurisdiction.
WELLINGTON: Coming off that point, the Prime Minister spoke on radio yesterday and mentioned
the murder was upsetting and terrible but also went on to call Australia a wonderful
place to live. What do you make of those comments when talking about black deaths in custody?
MCCARTHY: Well there is no doubt there is a particular section of the population of
Australia who feel that there are no problems but I think for those of us who live with
these problems, have to be able to express it in a way that is non violent but express
it in a wya that says well hey, you know what, that is not the Australia that we know. And
that is not the Australia that we can see if we look at the high incarceration rates
of First Nations people right across every state and territory, if we look at the high
rates of removal of First Nations children from their families that still continues to
this day and if we certainly look at the factors of life expectancy and closing the gap, which
we're still unable to achieve, then you cannot say that this is a fantastic country. We're
a country that has a lot of work to do and I believe we can do it but we have to be open
to the fact that there are seriuos problems in this country, systemic issues of racism
that continue to this day.