Marion Scrymgour
Lingiari · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“I want to say thank you and congratulations to the CEO of Mala'la, Ray Matthews, and the manager of primary health services, Jessica Gatti, who've fought so hard for this facility on behalf of their community.”
“I rise today to speak on the opening of the Manayingkarirra public health centre in Maningrida in my electorate. It was great to be there last week for the official opening of what is an amazing facility.”
“Mala'la delivers so many important services in the Top End, particularly in Maningrida, and their work with rheumatic heart disease and tuberculosis is essential in keeping that community healthy and safe.”
“I'm looking forward to seeing this facility serve the Maningrida region in coming years and help our locals go from strength to strength. I thank everyone involved, because there are increasing numbers of rheumatic heart disease and also tuberculosis, which we thought had been eradicated but which has come back, and we've seen recently, i…”
“Players, coaches and umpires of all ages and at every level of the game came together, and it's easy to see why it has become one of the best events on the Territory netball calendar. We know the importance of engaging with young people through sport. It helps boost mental, social and physical health.”
“I was so grateful to attend the Sitzler First Nations netball competition last weekend at the Territory Netball Stadium on Larrakia country in Darwin.”
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“Like many members in this House, I have raised children and grandchildren, and now I have great-grandchildren. I can tell you with authority that ten-year-olds do not belong in jail. I would challenge anyone to look into the eyes of a ten-year-old and tell me that they are inherently criminal. I think about the conditions many of our young people, particularly in remote areas, face every single day—overcrowded houses, intergenerational unemployment, lack of opportunity and things to do and a disrespect of their cultural heritage. These are structural failures and conversations that Aboriginal people themselves have every single day. It is no wonder we see high rates of disenfranchisement of young people. These conditions are not unique to the Northern Territory but exist all across the country. This is not an inherent failing of youth.”
“In this demonisation and disempowerment, the intervention laid the foundations for the crisis we see today for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. Let me be clear: there are very real issues with sexual abuse across this country. We cannot hide from this fact. There are a number of intractable, complex social challenges faced by our remote communities that feed into this. It is also clear that we have unacceptable rates of youth crime. I don't need anyone in this parliament to tell me about this. I'm living in Alice Springs. I've lived in Katherine, I've lived in Darwin, and I've also lived for a long time in my home of the Tiwi Islands. I know that some of the behaviour of young people is not acceptable, but we have to ask ourselves seriously, what are the factors driving this?”
“The Howard government was not looking for long-term systemic action. They were looking for a quick political hit. The Howard government needed a political win, and Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory paid for it. It was felt most strongly by our young people, our families and particularly our men in our remote communities. Howard and his government used graphic language of mass sexual abuse and paedophile rings, none of which were ever substantiated. They demonised Aboriginal men and indeed our communities. The intervention stripped elders and traditional owners of their power. It undermined land rights, and it disempowered Aboriginal communities. The intervention did not make our children safer, and, in fact, I would argue it made our children unsafe.”
“I had previously served for six years as the Northern Territory Minister for Child Protection. I was, and still am, well aware of the challenges and threats facing young people in our communities. The historical context and the story that has led to this legislation is really important. In fact, it cannot be separated from the previous, punitive policies pursued by former governments. When the Howard government launched the Northern Territory Emergency Response—or the intervention, as we know it—they did it under the manufactured guise of Little children are sacred . The Little children are sacred report was a report that listed many issues facing children in remote communities. Many of the issues raised were valid and needed a comprehensive response. Such a response was not provided.”
“I rise today with a sense of long overdue relief that a legislated, independent and empowered national commission for Aboriginal and Torres Islander children and young people is being established. I want to acknowledge both commissioners—National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Sue-Anne Hunter and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss—who are here. Like many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, I have waited a long, long time to see this legislation. I want to take the chamber back to 2007, when, in this chamber, the former prime minister John Howard launched a savage attack on the Northern Territory remote communities. I want to convey the feeling at that time, as an Aboriginal person and a minister in the Northern Territory government.”
“My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to deliver for regional Australians, and why is unity so important to delivering for our regions?”
“I also want to acknowledge the local member for Wentworth for her leadership and her voice. Such an attack devastates communities, and the member for Wentworth has always sought to ensure her community is heard, seen but also held during these times. Where we go from here is important. We must stand vigilant against extremist violence; however, simply being vigilant will not be enough. As a member of this parliament, I stand ready to work with my community on how to create a better, more cohesive society. Again, like everyone, I convey my sincere condolences on behalf of my electorate to all of the families of the victims. May they rest in peace.”
“There is no question that the world we are living in and the fabric that underpins our community are changing quickly. We are living in a more unstable and perhaps more dangerous world than we have experienced previously. Hate speech is increasing, and we need to make sure people who incite violence are held accountable. There is an element of moral leadership which must be demonstrated by all of us. We all have that responsibility in this chamber. The work of bringing people back together is not easy, but it is in our national interest. We must expend every energy in making sure Australians come out of this devastating attack more connected and more united. I do thank the Prime Minister for his leadership during this time and for ensuring our government is focused on national unity and tangible responses.”
“We saw bravery in the actions of the first responders and the dedication of nurses and doctors who travelled to Sydney to help with the medical emergencies. We saw mateships in the record amount of blood donations following the attack. We saw compassion from the beautiful tributes from all sections of the community. This is what our country is good at. But we must continue to worry about the much darker elements that have emerged following this attack, especially from voices online. Rising hatred risks tearing at the seams of our multicultural society, which we have worked so hard to build. More and more, we are seeing a polarised political environment with voices of reason finding it harder to cut through. As elected representatives, it is imperative that we all work tirelessly to bring people together, not drive them apart.”
“I remember sitting beside my granddaughter who was the same age as Matilda and her asking me, 'Why and how can this happen in our country and at that same age?'—talking to young people and removing their innocence about what had just happened. But their stories and young Matilda's story and many others that emerged that day paint a picture of what is important and the diversity that we mustn't lose sight of and what is within the Australian Jewish community. How do we comprehend the shooting of defenceless victims? But targeting individuals because of their religion makes the Bondi executions all the more shocking and vile. While we saw the worst kind of evil during the terrorist onslaught, we also saw the best of the Australian character.”
“It has deeply impacted our national psyche and our sense of security as citizens of this country, a safe and multicultural country. We cannot let fear, anger and distrust be the cause of further division. This is what the terrorists wanted, and it is what we must deny them. Fifteen innocent lives were lost at an event, the purpose of which was to bring people together and celebrate the vibrance of the Jewish community. Feelings of grief for lost ones cannot be put into words by those immediately impacted. It is right to mention that the stories from this tragedy are as inspiring as they are heartbreaking—the bravery of a Holocaust survivor who died shielding his wife, the married couple of 35 years who bravely stepped forward to confront the criminals in order to try and protect others and, of course, young Matilda.”
“I join everyone in this chamber in expressing my sincere condolences to the families of those who were killed in the terrorist attack at Bondi last December. As a First Nations parliamentarian, I can imagine the pain, the fear and the grief that exists for these families right now, and I share their resolve to see justice upheld. My thoughts are also with those who were injured and hurt by this awful crime and for those who are still recovering in hospital. Most will carry the trauma and the scars for the rest of their lives. To the entire Jewish community in Australia: we're all standing with you. An attack on you is an attack on all Australians. As a nation we are still coming to terms with the brutality and the horror of what happened.”
“I was in the Northern Territory government when John Howard, as the Prime Minister, launched a savage attack on remote Australians under the Northern Territory intervention. I've watched the circus roll in and roll out, and I've watched the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government alongside their mates Joyce, McCormack, Joyce and Littleproud systematically underinvest—or should I say their electorates—”
“I enjoyed listening to the member for Dawson. I just think that the hypocrisy that I hear sometimes is simply unbearable. They want to run around proclaiming to stand up for regional and remote Australia when they are far more interested in the walls of their party room. The member for Page—and I'm glad he's come back—should know that his electorate wouldn't take up one local government area in the bush of Lingiari. The Barkly Regional Council could fit 10 areas the size of the member for Page's area inside it. I know regional Australia and I know they have a government that is working hard to address the cost of living. The Nationals don't care about the bush, and they should just be honest about it.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting First Nations Australians living in remote parts of the country by securing good jobs, easing the cost of living and delivering essential infrastructure?”
“The objective and the responsibility to this community will be to do what I can as their federal representative—a commitment to Alice Springs that respect the town, its history and its people.”
“The whole town would not benefit from the crash-through approach of the construction of a purported cultural attraction at a location which would see it damned as culturally toxic by senior Arrernte custodians. Common sense, cultural sense and a commercial sense must prevail. These considerations do not have to be in opposition to each other. We have an opportunity here—federal, state, local and community—to all work together to advance a national agenda of truth-telling and reconciliation, and to significantly expand and enhance the economy of Alice Springs and Central Australia. Keeping faith with the vision of Aboriginal people will deliver for Alice Springs and for our nation, which is so important.”
“Many years ago, many people in Alice Springs started a campaign for a national Aboriginal art gallery in Alice Springs. They pointed out that, if done right, this could be a magnet, and an important one, for interest and visitors, both nationally and internationally. There must be opportunities that we need to look at. We need to continue to work with the state government and also the community, and to see that we all need to come together. The commercial potential of Alice Springs for the establishment of such a centre is still high no matter where this could be. Tourists who go to the centre will always end up going up to the Todd more, even if we put it somewhere else, and would spend money. The whole town would benefit.”
“Reconciliation is a destination where all Australians can embrace and celebrate the heritage which Aboriginal Australians have bequeathed to this nation, which is why it is disappointing to hear the current Northern Territory government treasurer and some others recently speak of—and remove—the partnership for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia as if it were a Bunnings site, a box to be ticked in order to promote foot traffic through the Alice Springs mall. Concerns about sacred sites and the Northern Territory government's downscaling of the building, as well as the proximity of the proposed site to a commercial alcohol and gaming machine business which profits from Aboriginal people, were dismissively shrugged off.”
“In other words, Aboriginal art is not a mere decoration, but a true appreciation of it involves opening up to truth-telling about ownership of country under traditional lore and custom and a willingness to understand the ongoing structural conflicts which arise as a result of that appropriation of that land. Discussions about these things should not be shied away from as divisive or uncomfortable. They are a necessary pathway to reconciliation.”
“This aspect of Alice Springs's contemporary character features the interconnection of Aboriginal culture from different groups across various regions and adds value to what would be an otherwise extremely limited local economy. Many tourists come to central Australia specifically because of this cultural context, and everyone loves Indigenous art. Most Indigenous art is sourced from the world view of what in central Australia they call jukurrpa. There are other equivalent terms throughout the country. This world view substantially links together particular living human stories about how the country was formed and shaped and obligations of ownership and protection. Understanding this art requires acknowledging how Aboriginal people have been impacted by history, both distant and recent.”
“The vulnerability of such sites under Northern Territory legislation had been revealed in 1992, when the Northern Territory government of the day would have destroyed the important Todd River sites if it hadn't been for Commonwealth ministerial override. Consistent with results in the last federal election are the recent Alice Springs town council elections. The people of Alice Springs are progressive. They're multicultural and mutually respectful. They want to see business development and opportunities for everyone. But, at the same time, they recognise and, in fact, seek to leverage Alice's unique circumstances. It is a native title town which is the hub for a constellation of remote Aboriginal communities spread throughout central Australia.”
“Not enough is done to remind Australians what an extraordinary place Alice Springs is. For so many people throughout the country and the world who are interested in Indigenous art and culture, it is a place worth visiting and celebrating. Perhaps the best starting point is to understand that Aboriginal people and culture have endured in the heart of our mostly arid continent. Against all odds and on 23 May 2000, there was a determination that the rights of the Mparntwe, Antulye and Irlpme estate groups had survived the imposed establishment of an urban population centre on their country, although, by the mid-20th century, native title had been extinguished throughout much of that area. The determination made it clear that the significance of sacred sites and the authority of custodians to protect them were reaffirmed.”
“I was at Uluru in 2017 with the hundreds of First Nations delegates from all over this great continent. I felt the hope and the resilience that was still in the air. That longing and desire to forge a better and more just country—a country that has reckoned with its history—has not diminished. As a representative of the dozens of remote communities which overwhelmingly voted yes, it is my duty to continue advocating for a path forward. To me, that path lies in truth-telling. As we saw at Uluru, celebrating First Nations cultures enriches all of us. It brings people together in a way we can be proud of, but this celebration has to be meaningful, and it has to be genuinely there to uplift First Nations people. A recent example of what this celebration could and should look like unfolded in Alice Springs.”
“It was one where Aboriginal and a number of non-Aboriginal people came together to celebrate an important milestone. It was the first time a prime minister celebrated this important milestone, and having the PM there was an important symbol of this government's commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people—to say, 'We are behind you in the fight for recognition.' As the Prime Minister said, this fight is not linear; it takes twists and turns and it holds successes and many failures. Going back to Uluru reminded me of this. It is a place I have been many times before, most recently in 2023 just before and prior to the referendum. While we all accept the outcome of the referendum, the journey forward is not over. The words of the Uluru statement still ring loud and clear.”
“To them, their custodianship of Uluru has never been in question, yet their legal right to this ancient landmark was only recognised 40 years ago. This recognition under Australian law—or white fella law—took many decades of struggle and advocacy. It's incredibly hard to describe First Nations people's connection to their country. Severing First Nations people from their country is like a person going blind. You still exist in this place, but you are cut off from your senses. Your ability to understand and interact with the world around you is greatly impacted. That's why the Uluru handback was so important. It was an act to make the Anangu people feel whole again. The Australian spirit I saw on display over the weekend was not a spiteful one.”
“I want to spend a few moments reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the Uluru handback. I want to thank the Anangu traditional owners for welcoming the Prime Minister, the minister for the environment and me, including some of my colleagues from the Northern Territory parliament. I want to thank the Anangu for their grace, for their hope, for their strength. Uluru is a place of immense importance in our national fabric. This landmark is also known across the world as an emblem of Australia. It attracts tourists and visitors from all over the country and from all walks of life. People come because Uluru holds a unique power, and anyone who has visited can attest that it is a sacred place. The Anangu have protected this place for countless generations.”
“They are only three small areas, but they are also big areas that will certainly make a difference to those communities, on top of the $4.2 billion housing and homelands program, which is the biggest investment of any federal government into the Northern Territory. Proposed expenditure agreed to. Remainder of bill—by leave—taken as a whole and agreed to. Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.”
“About 100 remote stores have signed up to this subsidy, and it is being positively received. The other program that is being rolled out is the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program, which is the old CDP. We've begun the hard work of rectifying this and rebuilding a remote employment program. In a lot of areas in my electorate where jobs are hard to come by we're finally seeing a lot of young people engaged in full-time jobs. That's often good, because if we can stop a young person from ending up in the justice system by being out in their community and working full time and being productive then that is a good thing. The store program, the jobs program, the huge investment into Central Australia—there is so much more that the Labor government has invested in the Northern Territory.”
“I want to commend the Minister for Indigenous Australians and her agency, and Outback Stores for their policy work and the rollout of this scheme. It seeks to reduce the cost of living for people in remote First Nations communities by lowering the price of 30 essential items, such as pasta, rice, tinned vegetables, canned fruit, nappies, soap and toilet paper. These are very basic essential items, but this scheme has certainly made a huge difference to people going into those stores and purchasing those items. We're saying 30, but really it's about 160 items. I can tell you that, going around a lot of the remote communities, it is making a difference to families and it is making a difference to how people are eating. But it is also changing the way people are investing their money and buying those foods. So this has been really good.”
“It needs an answer from right across government so that these intractable issues, which we are seeing the communities confront all the time, can finally be the responsibility of ministers and the government. I applaud the Prime Minister and all of our government ministers, but in particular our minister for Indigenous Australians, who's putting her shoulder to the wheel and who knows what needs to be done. So good on the Labor cabinet and government, who see that there needs to be a whole-of-government effort, working in this area, to try and close the gap and make a difference to Aboriginal people out in the bush. One of the policy centrepieces that we took out-bush to a lot of the remote communities during the election was the Low Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme.”
“I have spent a lot of my professional life working in this area, often at the coalface of government policy, and witnessing firsthand its impacts on a lot of our remote communities. From that vantage point I can see the challenges facing a lot of our remote communities across the nation. The challenges are vast, complex but also structural, and it takes a concerted effort by all levels of government to address them. I was listening to the member for Bonner when she was talking about women's policy and how that policy needs to be across government. It's the same with Indigenous affairs and Indigenous policy. It needs to not be pigeonholed in one area, because our communities, our people are sick of being pigeonholed.”
“It is a privilege to be speaking today on the Albanese government's agenda for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Indigenous public policy is a complex space, and it is one rooted in history and context. I do not shy away from the fact—and it was interesting sitting here listing to the new member for McPherson and hearing his ignorance and hearing him spouting misinformation, particularly on areas in the Northern Territory, when he was talking about the budget. Maybe he needs to get a history lesson on what happened in the Northern Territory under the Morrison Liberal government and the lack of funding particularly for places in Central Australia but also the Northern Territory, which was starved of funding for 10 years under the Liberal government.”
“My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Minister, how will the Albanese Labor government's $1.1 billion commitment to building a sustainable fuel industry in Australia help support net zero by 2050, and what other approaches is government being asked to consider which would harm the development of this new critical industry?”
“The Speaker has received a message from the Senate informing the House that the Senate concurs with a resolution of the House relating to the variation of appointment of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission.”
“Certainly, with a lot of these men—and they were exclusively men who were flown into some parts of the electorate—their intimidation and manhandling in some cases, in the way in which they pushed up against Aboriginal women, was quite disgraceful.”
“What was different was the 40 people from the Exclusive Brethren who were flown into parts of my electorate. I think it was quite frightening to see the way in which these people acted—the bullying and intimidation. I had not seen them before. There have been some complaints to the Electoral Commission in terms of some of the behaviour. It was interesting to see one jet in particular that was flying these 40 members to some particularly remote areas across Lingiari. It would be interesting to find out who was the owner of that jet that flew the Brethren particularly into parts of Lingiari because the CLP didn't have the manpower.”
“He has an incredible amount of knowledge and love for the fight as much as I do. To my union comrades at the United Workers Union, Erina Early, Joel Bowden and all of the NT unions: I thank you for your support. The United Workers Union was out in force in Gunbalanya, Ali Curung, Batchelor and all different parts of the electorate. To Mae Mae Morrison, Alan Sagiba and Peter Wellings: I thank you. To the CPSU and Mitch in Alice Springs: I thank you for providing your support. Lucas was very helpful in the Top End rural area, along with Rob, Dennis, Cecily, Kirsty and Amber. Just before I'm ready to finish off, I do want to pick up something in the one minute I have left. I started talking about what I thought was different about this election.”
“Labor legend Kerry Gardiner and Sean were out in Elliot, Marlinja, Lingara and Yaralin. I will provide all of these names to the office. To Team Senator McCarthy: they always provide great support, and during the campaigns it was no different. They all took leave and were all over Lingiari and Solomon for the member for Solomon and me and provided my office with tremendous assistance. In particular, I have to thank Sharna Edwards, who was an excellent support to my campaign manager, Anna. Thanks to Shlok Sharma and Ella Shaw, who provided overarching support to my campaign. Ella came up to the Territory for a couple of months. Thank you to Ella and to Shlok, who always gives his life to the party at every federal election, territory election, by-election, council election.”
“It's a magnificent and important part of my electorate and of Australia. In Katherine, I thank Reuben, Mike, Jessie, Nick, Jo, Tristan, Mick Uibo, and, of course, Selina Uibo—the fantastic Labor Leader of the Opposition in the Northern Territory. She and her team are doing an incredible job up against a very divisive and uneducated CLP government. Thanks go to Kay, Len, Sid and all the Tennant Creek and Barkly team. In Nhulunbuy, we had Denise, Rachel and Syd Stirling, Sharna Edwards and Ursula, and Gillian and Lynne and some of the families over on Galiwinku. Helping out across the Arafura Sea, thanks go to Ebony, Maina, Manuel, Gawin, Edwina, Nathan, Karlene, Kesara, Wesley and other family members. Over in Wadeye and the Daly region we had Dheran, Birrigan and Anthony.”
“We had a great time together on the campaign driving tractors and forklifts, handling buffaloes and baby crocodiles but all the while delivering really important messages. Thank you, Senator McCarthy, for your support throughout during the campaign and over the years and for your ongoing friendship. I also want to thank some of the volunteers on my campaign. To the Central Australian team of Lachie, Andrea. Matt, Scott, Kathy, Chansey, Mark, Sheralee, John, Mark Stoyles, Ali, Amy, Hayesy and, of course, my old friend Warren Snowdon: thank you all for travelling out to communities in remote central Australia and for holding the fort in Alice Springs. To Vince and to Haji Adams on Cocos Island: thank you. To Gordon, Zoey, Sukia and the whole team on Christmas Island: I thank you.”
“On housing, I'll be working with the Minister for Indigenous Australians and the broader ministry to make sure that this program and the $4 billion national partnership agreement will address critical housing shortages out bush. We aim to build 270 homes in remote communities per year over the next decade, as well as providing much-needed upgrades and repairs to current housing stock. I look forward to working with the minister and the Northern Territory government to ensure that these houses are delivered on time and in full. I'm delighted to be able to announce all these programs with my friend and co-star of the Mal and Mim show, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. I think a few of you may have seen our videos on social media.”
“We are well under way on delivering this commitment, and while we have a lot of work to do, we have a strong commitment to this. The first stage of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Project, or RJED, will create 3,000 new jobs in critical community-led sectors. I'm encouraged that 1,450 of these jobs have already been rolled out, and I'm very eager to work with the community on the remaining rollout. These jobs are absolutely transformative, and they will have a wide reaching impact. They will be driven by local businesses, local organisations and local people. These jobs will bring more money into families and develop skills, which will serve these workers throughout their life.”
“Reducing the cost of 30 essential products—we're talking about 160 items in more than 76 remote stores—went a long way in helping to ease cost-of-living pressures and improve food security in remote communities. Building a nutrition workforce in these communities by upskilling up to 120 local First Nations staff in remote stores is crucial not only to improve nutrition but to create jobs for locals. That helps the local economies in these communities and, more importantly, allows locals to stay with families, to live and work in their own communities. We took a commitment to the 2022 election to reform the abysmal CDP. This policy had abjectly failed remote Australia. When we told people out bush that we would be working to replace this program, there was visible relief.”
“During the last term of government, and particularly during the last election campaign, we were able to deliver some hope and trust to Territorians by announcing the cheaper groceries program and programs to create 3,000 jobs, as well as building more than 2,700 more houses in the Territory. These programs will activate remote communities, provide education and job opportunities and empower our people. Food security for remote communities is of critical importance. The Albanese Labor government has released a 10-year national strategy to improve food security in remote communities. This national strategy is aimed at improving access to affordable and nutritious food, regardless of where people live.”
“My team and I have started focusing on how we need to target and work with young people to start getting them engaged in our democracy. We need to get them to see that voting is an important part of this place that we call Australia and that it's also important in the Northern Territory. So I will certainly work with the Speaker to look at the school civics program. I was pleased to be appointed chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia. I've lived my whole life in northern Australia, and it is a wonderful, unique, strong place. We need to encourage our young people living in remote communities to be role models and provide education and opportunity for them. This message is critically important. Whether it's through jobs, housing, economic empowerment or food prices, we want to build a stronger future.”
“I am looking forward to working with the Speaker of the parliament to continue his school civics program. Recently I spent a week on Christmas Island and went to the school there to talk to students about the civics program, and a lot of those young people had come to Canberra to have a look. Hopefully we can take the school civics program to Christmas Island, which I think would be a great place to go to. It is a particularly important program for all students in Lingiari, to show them the importance of democracy and voting and to show them what they can achieve. Whilst we saw a small improvement in the percentage of voters that voted in Lingiari in this election compared to the 2022 election, we still saw low voter numbers, particularly amongst our youth across Lingiari.”
“The night of the referendum was just so devastating to us. There have been many tears. Going around the communities and talking to many Aboriginal people right across the Northern Territory, the thought was that Australia had rejected our people. People felt that. But the election result showed the kindness in this country. What I got in particular from a lot of the communities in Lingiari was that they wanted me to express gratitude to all Australians for the last federal election and the vote. People felt that Australians had voted against division—that they no longer wanted division in this country but that they wanted everyone to come together and work to address a lot of the challenges that we've got. I know that we can take this country to a better place, and we're already well on our way.”
“We still have challenges and a lot of work to do, but under our government I am confident that we can get it done. I was honoured after the election to be appointed the Special Envoy for Remote Communities. The creation of this role is a testament to this government's commitment to remote communities right across Australia and to the Territory as a whole. I'm also very proud to have been selected on the Speaker's panel of the House. Being the first Aboriginal person ever to take the chair is a huge honour, and I thank Mr Speaker. In particular, I want to acknowledge the Deputy Speaker, the member for Newcastle, for all of the support that she gave me not only when I first came into this House but also as a mentor and a friend. I acknowledge and thank both the Speaker and the member for Newcastle, the Deputy Speaker.”
“Territorians know me. They know where I'm from and they know what I stand for, and this is reflected in the numbers. As I said earlier, they voted resoundingly for a strong, stable Labor government and a member who will stand up for them. It is important to see the changes in Alice Springs, and there has been huge investment by this federal Labor government into Alice Springs. We have had our problems in Alice Springs, like a lot of the small towns across Australia, but the people of Alice Springs recognise the tremendous investment that the Albanese government has put into their town, and they voiced this with their vote. Our government had a good story to tell. People know we're in safe hands with the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.”