| Subjects: Labor’s taxes, leader’s debate, preferences
EO&E…………………………………………………………
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
…Minister Simon Birmingham, Simon Birmingham good morning to you.
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
Good morning Michael.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
Yes the polls are tight and still very much within the margin of error, Labor 51 to the Liberal party 49 per cent, that would still see a loss of up to ten seats, a heavy defeat for the Liberal party, do you see any glimmer of hope from these polls?
SIMON Birmingham:
well Michael I think what we’re seeing is that as the campaign goes on Australians are asking more questions and are understanding the – very stark choices that are at play in this election campaign and many Australians will start to vote today and they’ll go to the polls in a situation, where bill shorten continues to refuse to detail the cost of his tax policies. How much extra will Australians pay? He was asked four times yesterday, the day before voting commenced, what the cost of his tax policies would be to hardworking Australians and he dodged the question on every occasion and I think it is that inability of the Labor Party to explain their taxes, their costings, their policies and to answer those questions and particularly of Bill Shorten, compared with the fact that we outlined a comprehensive budget a few weeks ago that outlined a long term agenda to pay down Labor’s debt, to reduce the tax burden of hardworking Australians, to also continue record investment in our schools and hospitals and roads, but also to really make sure that we continue to create more jobs, more opportunities for Australians, the 1.25 million jobs target, the choice is a very stark one between those higher taxes of the Labor Party or the more jobs lower taxes agenda that we’ve outlined.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
Well the Labor Party’s been upfront about winding back tax concessions, various other tax measures to fund issues like the one we saw announced yesterday, massive subsidies – extra subsidies for child care, free dental treatment for pensioners, will the government seek to match those Labor promises?
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
Let me deal with a couple of things there. Labor hasn’t been upfront, Bill Shorten certainly has not been upfront about ultimately the total cost of his tax policies and exactly where the burden will fall. There are a lot of tax policies out there, the tax policies on retirees, on incomes and wages on houses and investments, a range of them from Labor, that you see him squibbing the detail when it comes to answering. But yes, yesterday he went on a huge spending binge, $230 million dollars a minute and no the Liberal and National Parities will not be matching the reckless spending of the Labor Party. We have a plan to keep taxes lower, to repay Labor’s debt, to grow more jobs, that’s our agenda, we’re not going to get into a realm of suddenly matching the reckless spending. We’ll maintain funding for schools and hospitals and roads which is at records levels now and keep growing that into the future but we do so at a responsible rate rather that with the type of spending that will really cripple the economy, see new taxes and creates then a bit of a vicious circle you know, as you tax the economy more, you end up with weaker jobs growth, you have weaker jobs growth, you end up with a poorer budget situation, which makes it harder to fund that spending. What we’ve been able to do is create 1.3 million more jobs. From that we get people off of welfare, we generate more tax revenues because there are more people in the labour market and from that you are able to actually lower the tax burden on Australians and let him continue to grow the economy through their investment and their activities.
Michael Rowland:
Ok let’s go to that opinion poll again, the Newspoll showing Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party taking up a sizeable proportion of the primary vote, the biggest minor party vote under Greens. Are you, Simon Birmingham, comfortable with this signing of a preference deal with a man who still owes all that money to workers from his former refinery and posted $70 million dollars to your Federal Government?
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
Clive Palmer, like any other Australian should honour the law, meet all his commitments and obligations…
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
…How do you feel about doing a deal with a person…how do you feel about doing a preference deal with him?
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
Michael, they are all matters for him and he should answer those questions just like anybody else. When it comes to preference allocations, firstly it’s in the hands of Australians, they each decide who when they go in the ballot box. Secondly, I admit sometimes it is a bit of a least-worst occasion when you’re dealing – when your choosing between One Nation or the Greens or the high taxes of the Labor Party, or any other minor parties. Now, ultimately, what we are arguing is that every Australian should think long and hard about their vote and the stark choice that is there and we will want them to put a number one next to the Liberal and National Parties. That’s our priority. That’s our argument. It’s a system that requires compulsory preferential voting show we recommend how people can order their how to vote cards amongst the least-worst choices that are there.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
You say it’s a matter for him, it’s a matter for you because the Liberal Party’s actually signed off on this deal, it takes two to tango… I’ll ask the question again. Do you feel any unease…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
Well is Bill Shorten responsible for…
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
…And we’ll ask those questions to the Labor Party people when they’re on. Do you feel any unease about signing a preference deal with Clive Palmer?
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
There is no deal when it comes to policies, the Liberal and National Party’s policies have not been on the trading table with anybody at all, we know that Labor, when it comes to governing, trades away with the Greens quite happily. We have not done that. We’re simply recommending how people fill out their ballot box papers here. It’s there choice though. We don’t think any of the other choices are worthy of their first preference. We think the Liberal and National Parties are the only Party worthy of a first preference vote, that’s where we urge people to put their vote. Now in terms of the rest of the negotiations or otherwise, Labor saw fit to send multipole senators, union leaders in to contact with Clive Palmer, to try to discuss preferences there, so I won’t buy any hypocritical criticism from the Labor Party who were happy to try and have discussions with Clive Palmer themselves, ultimately officials decide these thing between the parties but voters decide when they go in the ballot box, when voters go to vote today, they know we are going to lower taxes for the future and they don’t know and haven’t heard from Bill Shorten exactly how much he says he’s increased taxes will cost each and everyone.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
Ok, now I want to move on from this issue there are a couple other issues I want to address but before I do, you well know that this preference could ringfence some marginal LNP seats in Queensland, it could also see Clive Palmer take a seat in the Senate. Clive Palmer has also expressed a very virulent anti-Chinese views, he once described the Chinese government as mongrels. As Trade Minister in a re-elected Morrison Government if you win, how concerned would you be with Clive Palmer holding a position of power in the Senate?
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
Michael look, I will make sure that Australia’s trade policy remains one that is open to the world, remains one that is non-discriminatory, as we do with all of our other policy settings in terms of our engagement. That we act in ae trade policy sense to act in the best interests of the nation.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
You don’t think that Clive Palmer would hurt those trade policies with Australia’s key trading partner in China?
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
We’ll we see the Greens vote against trade deals all the time. We’ve seen One Nation vote against trade deals all the time…
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
We’re talking about Clive Palmer here. Clive Palmer. If he’s in a position of power, if he does get in the Senate will that hurt our important relationship…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
Michael, I’m just making the point when I said before, often you’re dealing with least-worst alternatives with these scenarios. You’ve got pretty much all of the parties on the fringes, the minor parties and even the Labor Party now, arguing against aspects of our trade policy. What’s remarkable about them doing so is that Australia has a record trade surplus. Last year was the first year since 1973 when we exported more than we imported as a nation, each and every month of the year. Now, why on earth would Labor want to change trade policy when we’re actually in a situation where we’re exporting more than we’re importing each and every month. Why would Clive Palmer or Pauline Hanson or the Greens go and criticise trade policy as well when we have got a record trade surplus in place? That’s what is helping to fuel our economic growth. That’s why people should reject One Nation, Labor, Greens, Clive Palmer. Reject the lot of them, vote one for the Liberal and National Parties because we have Australia to a point with a record trade surplus. Exporting more than we’re importing. 1.3 million more jobs. That’s fuelling the balanced budget and the budget surplus, that’s fuelling tax cuts.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
We’re just about out of time, but finally before you go Simon Birmingham, the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders in the televised debate tonight. Three weeks to go before election day and the campaign effectively starts today. How important will that debate be?
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
Every debate is important. We, of course, would like to see more debates. We’re surprised that Bill Shorten doesn’t want to come on the ABC and have a debate. Scott Morrison has told Leigh Sales that he’s there for a debate and happy to have one. Why won’t Bill Shorten front up there? These are important opportunities for the Australian people to see their leaders and to hopefully hear answers. We didn’t hear answers when Mr Shorten was on Channel 9 yesterday morning about his extra tax policies. But we’ll happily be there outlining our positive agenda – 1.25 million more jobs over the next five years. 250,000 more jobs targeted at young people. New policies supporting apprenticeships, mental health support, as well as tax reductions. These are the types of things that Scott Morrison will positively outline in that debate, and we hope that Mr Shorten will answer the questions on his side.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
Simon Birmingham in Adelaide, thank you so much for joining us on News Breakfast.
SIMON BIRMINGHAM:
Thank you
[ends]
Media Contact: Coalition Campaign Headquarters: T: (07) 3557 7533 / E: media@cchq.org.au |
