Topics: SA Opposition Leader David Speirs resigns; Childcare; Political donation reform; PNG Power offshore investment;
04:20PM AEST
8 August 2024
Greg Jennett: Simon Birmingham, welcome back once again. Why don’t we start with the Liberal leadership in your home state there in South Australia it’s been plunged into degree of disarray, I suppose, with the resignation of state leader David Speirs. How much of a setback will this be in what looks like being a long and difficult claw back against the Malinauskas Government over only 18 months remaining.
Simon Birmingham: Greg, I think that David Spiers has come to this decision himself. That he’s done so a long distance out from the next state election means that it is not a set back in any way. It is a time I think to pay thanks to David who took over the leadership at an incredibly difficult time. Assuming the leadership of a party that had just lost an election significantly, after just one term in government. He, I think, has shown great energy for the job. He’s been very focused on some of the critical early failings of the Malinauskas Government and he has led a state parliamentary team that has shown significant unity in that time. I hope that unity can continue forward under a new leader who will no doubt bring their own drive and zeal to the role of holding the government to account here. Given the failures of state Labor to live up to promises on fixing ramping and related issues, there are real things that should be used to hold that government to account and make it much more competitive at the next election than many pundits think, such as your question suggested.
Greg Jennett: You speak of unity being necessary from here. Are there suggestions that his confidence, David Speirs’s confidence, might have been undermined by colleagues?
Simon Birmingham: These are always personal decisions as well as political decisions for leaders and it is a huge undertaking to lead a political party. David has done so, as I said, I think with great drive, with real commitment over the last couple of years. I think the state team showed more unity and more commitment with getting on being an effective opposition than many people thought possible after such a surprise and significant election loss and he deserves credit for being able to achieve those outcomes. He’s come to his own decision. He’s clear about the fact that there are personal, family and other reasons attached to that. We respect that and the party will now regroup under a new leader and those discussions will no doubt happen amongst my state colleagues over the next few days.
Greg Jennett: All right, let’s move on to domestic policy in the federal sphere, and I’ll take you to the childcare wage subsidy announced today by the government, Simon Birmingham, $3.6 billion. It is finite, though, would the Coalition support it? Not that you’re being technically asked to support it now, but if in government, because it is finite, would you support it and or its continuation?
Simon Birmingham: Well, I think this shows some of the chaos around the government’s policy and approach to this, that they have intervened in a process that they had said should be respected and should play out. They’ve come in early. They’ve done so clearly for blatantly political reasons, to dole out more money ahead of an election, to get a short-term band aid on increases in childcare costs ahead of an election. But with little plan for what the budgetary implications long term will be. For what the implications in terms of childcare costs long-term will be, and, of course, for what the ultimate outcome of the proper process will be. And it just shows the government has put politics ahead of process or policy in relation to this decision today. Whilst we all respect enormously the work of early childhood educators and care givers, it’s important that as a government, they aren’t just playing politics in a sector where people have great care and regard for the individuals involved, but they’re actually thinking about the long-term policy and the long-term budget implications, which they don’t seem to have done.
Greg Jennett: So, are you saying it’s unwarranted, not deserved by the childcare workers who receive it?
Simon Birmingham: Not saying that at all, Greg. As I’ve said, there were processes that this government had said should be respected in terms of the IR processes that were afoot for consideration of wage rates and rises in this sector. They’ve made the decision to intervene in the midst of those processes. Doing so once again at the behest of union lobbying and union power brokers that seem to influence so much of what the Albanese Government does. The individuals themselves, of course, they work incredibly hard. They deserve fair recompense. But governments also have to be strong enough to not just be pushed around by unions, but to make considered, careful policy decisions.
Greg Jennett: All right, let’s move on to electoral reform. When you return to Canberra, next week will be a little bit closer, I think, to Special Minister of State Don Farrell starting briefings and unveiling an overhaul of donation laws and transparency measures. Has the Coalition reached some in-principle agreements with the minister on the core elements of this package?
Simon Birmingham: Greg, no, we await to see from the government details of their response to the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and the approach that they are going to bring to electoral reform. I think there are a couple of key tests that personally I see as being very significant. One is how the government approaches this in a way that doesn’t give themselves an advantage, that ensures that affiliated entities who are attached to political parties, like trade union members of the Labor Party, don’t get to spend at large without any restraint whilst they apply restraints that will impact more significantly not only the Liberal Party, but also independents and other minor parties who may be affected. So, they’ve got that significant test there. I see also talk about the pursuit of truth in political advertising reforms. And let me say, as a South Australian coming from the state where we have such legislation in place, it largely results in lawfare between the political parties. It hasn’t changed the tone of political campaigns in this state, and I’d urge the government to tread very, very carefully there that we don’t just end up with a system that sees lawyers at ten paces between the political parties, and does nothing to actually advance the conduct of political debate.
Greg Jennett: All right. A few markers put down there. Let’s not speak any further in the hypothetical. I’m sure we’ll have the opportunity, Simon Birmingham, to go over that. When the details of the bill are eventually released. Now, to foreign matters in your shadow portfolio. There were reports, you’re well aware of them. And for our audience, who may not be reports carried by Seven News last night that Papua New Guinea’s PNG Power, that is, the operators of the grid in that country, could be looking to sell off those assets to China. That has been firmly rebuked, I suppose, by the state Enterprises Minister, William Duma. Today, he says, this is inaccurate reporting that has the potential to cause serious damage to regional stability. Now, you, Simon Birmingham had said you were very concerned about this, and it was a potential failure on behalf of the Albanese Government. Do you stand by those comments?
Simon Birmingham: Well, those comments were made in relation to reports of quotes attributed to PNG Power leadership and the talks that they said they were having with Chinese officials. Now, I welcome the statement from the Papua New Guinea government. We respect them intensely and have high regard for their relations that they’ve had with governments of all stripes in Australia. And it’s important that as we worked the Coalition in government with PNG to secure the telecommunications network in PNG through the Digicel agreement, that the Albanese Government is working just as closely to ensure that PNG has the same type of protection and approach to its critical infrastructure as we’ve developed in Australia, not only in our telco sector, but critically in energy and other sensitive sectors going forward.
Greg Jennett: Do you take Minister Duma at his word that there is nothing to see here in relation to a sale?
Simon Birmingham: Of course, I said, I welcome very much the statement and I do very much welcome it. It is pleasing in that regard. If they are seeking-
Greg Jennett: Do you regret going too hard then?
Simon Birmingham: Well, I was asked about reports and reports of comments attributed to leadership within PNG Power and obviously that would be of concern if they are seeking investment, if they are seeking infrastructure financing in certain ways, then I trust that Australia is working as closely as possible with them to support them through the different processes and options available for that. Including the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, which we established in government and provides a very strong pathway for such engagement.
Greg Jennett: That’s what it’s there for. All right, Simon Birmingham, thank you so much for clearing that up and for coming back on with us. We’ll see you back in Canberra very soon.
Simon Birmingham: Thanks, Greg. My pleasure.
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