Welcome back good to have your company this Friday morning now here's something
we haven't seen before these images yesterday at Uluru where
hundreds of visitors lined up to climb the iconic landmark while they can it
has drawn comparisons to recent scenes on Mount Everest and large queues are
expected again today before a ban on the climb officially takes effect tomorrow
out of respect to local indigenous people who deem Uluru sacred it's a
decision that's divided opinion so to discuss it we're joined by Senator Malarndirri
McCarthy from Canberra and 2GB and 4BC's Ben Fordham good morning
Welcome to you both. Malarndirri if I could begin with you how does that make you feel seeing those images
from yesterday in recent days where people have really scrambled to get
there to climb the rock? Look it's certainly not a surprise Georgiei we've seen
that perhaps over the last month or months really and I think like anything
that's coming to an end there's always a desire to want to touch and feel but
from my personal perspective you know as a Yanyuwa Garrwa woman I remember
when the rock was handed back to the Anangu people and I was only a teenage
girl at the time and I'm feeling enormously proud of them, I feel that
they've been able to display the the importance of Anangu story and culture
and kujika and I just think that you know it's going to be a momentous day
for for the people who actually live and and surround that very spiritual place.
Georgie: I feel very blessed having been to Uluru myself, have been a couple of of
times and until you actually see it for yourself you can't really understand how
extraordinary it is it's it's just very much it is just the most beautiful
spiritual place absolutely and Ben obviously there are some who are
suggesting that this is not the way to go that it should be this tourist icon
and people should be allowed to climb it. Ben: Well I think it's a natural thing that
if you put a put a rock or a mountain in front of man or woman that man or woman
is going to be fascinated with what's at the top of it and I've never climbed it
I've never been to Uluru which is a massive regret of mine.
Georgie: It's not too late
Ben: I know it's not too like I know you've
climbed it as a as a young person so I'd be interested to know what
it's like when you when you get to the top of it but some of the some
of the commentary around the people who are choosing to do it now I've seen you
know headlines around white privilege and things like that I think that's a
little bit unfair I think it's more than a little bit unfair when you consider
that there is a history here of people climbing this rock. There's now been a
democratic process involving the parks council that's deemed that it's no
longer to be climbed and I think we need to respect that democratic process but
equally I don't think it's a reasonable thing to shame people for doing
something that's happened for thousands of years and the Senator will know
better than better than I do but I gather was first done by Indigenous
Australians but you tell me Georgie what was it like going to the top
Georgie: It was extraordinary. I did it as a 16 year old and at that stage there wasn't a lot of
this sort of discussion well in fact there wasn't as far as I knew there was
no discussion about it but absolutely now if I was to go I certainly wouldn't
clam it but I'm there's a part of me that's really thrilled that I did have
the experience because it is mind blowing and the view from the top was
was amazing but what I remember--
Malrndirri: But Georgie you shouldn't feel ashamed of it I mean
seriously there are so many Australians and people from around the world who
have done that and that's been the generosity of the Anangu over decades
and I think really it's you know this is more about the coming together I think
in Australia that we are acknowledging the importance of First Nations
people in our place in our history here in this country but around the world and
I think certainly when people gather together at Uluru for the closing of the
climb ceremony it will be deeply spiritual and significant I think
Ben: I think Pauline Hanson's visit was probably a bit of a line in the sand moment as well
and that I didn't appreciate how difficult the climb was and
so when I'd read things about the number of people have passed away on the rock
from falling or having accidents that seemed like a statistic on a piece of
paper and then you have a look at had clearly a very difficult challenge that
Pauline Hanson undertook and couldn't manage to do it end up sliding back down
on her backside that probably rammed home that message about danger as well.
Georgie: Yeah and take into effect its sorry take into consideration today when people are
doing that last scramble to try and get to the top I think temperatures are
forecast around 40 degrees there today.
Malarndirri: Well it's already 34 degrees there now
Georgia it's 5 a.m. in the morning so that gives an indication and safety has
always been a real critical concern too -
Georgie: Absolutely, absolutely all right let's
let's move on to talk about an issue that is also getting plenty of coverage and for
good reason all this week we have taken the Today Show to far-flung communities
keenly feeling the effects of the drought and we have showcased the
incredible spirit of of those in the face of adversity. Today, news that
drought declared farmers and businesses could be made exempt from income tax
under a new plan being considered by the government. Ben that's a measure
I would assume everyone would welcome
Ben: There's there's clearly moreannouncements coming from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the drought
he's I think to a degree being somewhat motivated to make some further
announcements because he's realised that the sentiment out there in the community
and this is not something that's being felt in the bush it's being felt in the
big smoke as well I think people are so sad about what they're seeing and we're
seeing images of that sadness now that that's somehow manifest into into anger
at whoever's in charge and even though I'm sure Scott Morrison has been doing
everything he possibly can to support people in drought ravaged areas people
want more. Barnaby Joyce yesterday said on one another 1.3 billion dollars to be
pumped into these communities. There's a suggestion that there could be a HECS
style scheme you know we underwrite banks when banks are in trouble we
underwrite students when students are starting their education so why can't we
underwrite farmers who are doing it tough in the drought so watch this space
I think the Prime Minister's got more announcements to make.
Georgie: Well Malarndirri the overwhelming message from those directly affected by this
drought is that it hasn't been given the sense of emergency that we
see when there's for example floods or bush fires there's been such a slow
uptake of of measures that we're now finally starting to see unveiled.
What are your thoughts on that? The inaction
Malrndirri: Sure Georgie, no, you're right. We've just had Senate estimates here in Canberra
this weekend and certainly in inquiries that I've been involved with you know
farmers people from regional, rural Australia have given evidence and Ben's
right you know they've been issues around education
you know the ICPA for example want so much more support for their children I
think there's some really practical measures that can actually happen now
you don't need a gathering of of people and more meetings and more
meetings. People out there are desperate they need action now you know the mental
health worries Georgie, the suicides and attempted suicide rates
that keep coming through in our inquiries is absolutely heartbreaking
and I think you know there are very clear things that can be done now you
know the the the money that's being talked about in the billions but it's
not landing in simple resources like mental health programs like support for
families like increasing support for the ICPA - and those children who are going
away for school like just some really practical measures that could be done
right now
Georgie: Absolutely and I think also people are screaming out to put politics
aside. This is bipartisan.
Malarndirri: Absolutely. and we've offered that.
Ben: We also shouldn't pretend it's easy you know. I mean I
think sometimes people and we all do when you're not in a position of power
it's very easy to say "Ah come on why aren't they doing more?" Ultimately it's not
raining and there's no rain on the horizon. The rain is what we need the
rain is the only thing that will break the drought and everything else is
needed to look after people in the mean time but let's not kid ourselves the one
thing we need can't be delivered from any politician
Georgie: Well said, alright we will
be speaking to our politicians a little shortly actually on the show we're
putting a lot of these things to them both. Thank you both very much for today. Have a happy weekend.
no worries.