First Nations' communities are frustrated and distressed by deaths in custody
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
ABC WEEKEND BREAKFAST
SATURDAY, 12 MARCH 2022
SUBJECTS: Verdict in Rolfe murder trial; Kimberly Kitching; defence spending
FAUZIAH IBRAHIM, HOST: Joining us now is Federal Labor MP and Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us.
LINDA BURNEY, SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good morning.
IBRAHIM: We can definitely understand that there's a lot of hurt, a lot of anger, a lot of grief within the community today, and NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner has said that it was time to bridge divisions apparent in the community. Those were his words. Where do you even begin?
BURNEY: There is enormous distress in the community, which is absolutely understandable, Fauziah. I actually met some time ago and spoke with people from Yuendumu. I think the most important thing is to put this in context: this is the place where the last station massacre of Aboriginal people took place, called the Coniston massacre, in 1928, which is not that long ago.
I think the other thing to say is that it's on the back of the Royal Commission, which this young man was not even born when that Commission had its findings. We also had the Black Lives Matter movement just last year, and the shocking revelations about how many Aboriginal people are in jail, including young people. Of course people are asking for justice. People are just frustrated. It's not just about this outcome. It's in the broader context of racism, poor living conditions, and deaths in custody.
IBRAHIM: I heard that senior Warlpiri elder Ned Hargraves was calling for a ban on guns in remote Indigenous communities. It was a very emotional call from him. Would you agree to this? Do you think this is a good policy?
BURNEY: I did hear Mr Hargraves speaking after the court handed down its findings, and he called for a ban on guns, but he also said why and when will justice be served? I have no role in determining whether there should be guns in remote communities. That's something that has to be worked out in the Northern Territory. But I do understand the frustration and the call for justice, and that's really what today is about.
IBRAHIM: Linda Burney, I want to move on to another piece of sad news that also occurred over the weekend. I want to say my condolences to your Labor colleague Kimberly Kitching's passing. We understand that former Labor leader Bill Shorten had alluded to the stress of political machinations that may have contributed to her early passing. How will you remember her?
BURNEY: Kimberly Kitching was 52 years old and died suddenly, so there is an enormous element of shock and a great deal of sadness. That's poured out from both sides of parliament. I think that that's the mark of Kimberly, that there was an outpouring from both sides of parliament. She obviously died tragically way too young, and our condolences go to her family, and in particular her husband.
IBRAHIM: Now, just on the policy side, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is promising to boost defence spending on personnel and on projects. This is if Labor wins the next election. How much is this part of efforts to neutralize the Coalition's accusation that Labor is soft on national security?
BURNEY: It's not about neutralizing and Anthony's made it very clear that two per cent of gross national product will be spent on defence. I think it's an outrage - an outrage - that the Prime Minister has chosen this as an issue to feed into the federal election. Labor has always supported the Government when it comes to national security, and that has been the course for a very long time. Accusing Labor and Anthony Albanese of being soft on borders and soft on security is an underhand, unacceptable political tactic.
IBRAHIM: Linda Burney, we're gonna have to leave it there but thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us on Weekend Breakfast today.
ENDS
Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra