Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, you are correct in terms of the Australian parliament's role with the Northern Territory. It is a legislative assembly. It, like the ACT, can be intervened on, and we saw that with the 2007 intervention into the Northern Territory. And you're right: there is power, within the self-governing act and beyond. But what I've said on the public record is that we have to be responsible about what our response is to them. I'm very conscious of the powers we have, but just because we have great power does not mean we should use it unwisely. So yes, I am looking at every option, to answer your question.