JIM CHALMERS MP
SHADOW TREASURER
MEMBER FOR RANKIN
KRISTINA KENEALLY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
SALLY SITOU
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR REID
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP INTERVIEW
HOMEBUSH, SYDNEY
FRIDAY, 29 APRIL 2022
SUBJECTS: Cost-of-living crisis; Labor’s campaign launch; Operation Sovereign Borders; RBA independence; Election debates; Morrison government always too little, too late.
SALLY SITOU, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR REID: Hi everyone, welcome to David's Fresh at Homebush. Local families did not have to wait for the CPI figures this week to know that everything is more expensive. They feel it at the petrol bowser, at the checkout, and they feel it when they're having to pay their childcare costs. So I'm really grateful that we've got Jim Chalmers and Kristina Keneally here today to outline Labor's plan to make sure that we can ease the cost-of-living for families.
JIM CHALMERS, SHADOW TREASURER: Thanks very much Sally. Really pleased to be here in Homebush with Sally and also with Kristina Keneally as well. We're looking forward to having our captain back on the field as Anthony Albanese rejoins the fray today. You know, leadership is about dealing with adversity. It's about playing the cards you're dealt. And we've seen that from Anthony. It's about putting people at the absolute centre of your vision for a stronger economy and a better future. Leadership is also about building a team, empowering your people and trusting them to do their jobs. I've had the opportunity to speak to Albo a couple of times today before and after he re-entered the fray. And I was able to express to him our gratitude on behalf of the team for the opportunities and the trust that he has placed in us while he's been away with COVID. Anthony is very focused on the cost-of-living crisis. On every shelf, in every shop, in every suburb, is a reminder of Scott Morrison's cost-of-living crisis and his failures on the economy. Now we've heard more excuses from him and from the Treasurer.
This government has an excuse for everything, and a plan for nothing. They want to talk about international comparisons. Australians couldn't give a stuff what inflation is in the United States. Australians know that what really matters here is that it's harder and harder for them to keep up and almost impossible to get ahead on Scott Morrison's watch. Now, real wages have been going backwards now for some time, and wages have been stagnant for the best part of a decade. And international developments in the last couple of months don't explain or excuse almost a decade now of Coalition attacks on wages and job security in our economy. Now, Josh Frydenberg had a train wreck interview this morning on Radio National. In that interview, he lied about the impacts of the withdrawal of the low- and middle-income tax offset. He confirmed that he'll be preferencing One Nation in his electorate. He dismissed a woman who was a very accomplished part of the medical profession as nothing more than a slogan. But he also tried to wash his hands of this cost-of-living crisis that has emerged on the Morrison government's watch. The independent Reserve Bank will make its decision on interest rates, independent of any political interference from the Treasurer or from anyone else. The Treasurer and the Prime Minister need to take responsibility for what's happening in the Australian economy. When things are going well, they take all the credit. When times are tough, they take absolutely none of the responsibility and we're seeing that once again. Leadership is about taking responsibility. And that's where Scott Morrison disappoints again and again.
In a moment, I’ll throw to Kristina. But first I’ll say that we're off to Western Australia, obviously we're looking forward to launching officially Labor's campaign on Sunday. Our campaign for a better future, as part of that, a stronger, better economy as well. So we're looking forward to being out west. Being out west will give us the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the workers and employers and communities of Western Australia for helping to keep the wheels of the Australian economy turning throughout the worst of this pandemic. We want to work with the workers, employers, communities and the State Government of Western Australia. The Morrison government always wants to pick fights with that government. Leadership is about working every day to bring people together. Scott Morrison is supporting Clive Palmer's court case against the West Australian Government. Scott Morrison's constantly trying to pick fights with Mark McGowan and others out west. That's not the future for this country and this Federation. We'll be going out west to launch our campaign, the first time a major party has ever launched a campaign out west. And we'll be doing that as an acknowledgement of the contribution that Western Australia makes to our economy and to our country. And also as an opportunity to acknowledge the really quite remarkable performance of WA as we've gone through the worst of this crisis together. Now we'll hear from Kristina, and then happy to take some questions.
KRISTINA KENEALLY, SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS: Thanks, Jim. Great to be here in Homebush in the seat of Reid with our fantastic candidate, Sally Sitou, who has been fighting for local families, particularly for cheaper childcare, cheaper power prices, and real action to get good, secure jobs with wages moving again. So Sally, well done to you. Look forward to serving with you in the Parliament. But Sally's right, families here didn't need to wait for the inflation figures to know that this cost-of-living crisis is really biting. And families here in Reid and right around Australia know that Mr. Morrison always goes missing. He went missing with the bushfires, went missing with the floods, went missing with the vaccines and went missing when the Solomon Islands were looking to sign a deal with China. Now he's gone missing with this cost of living crisis.
Here today at David's Fresh, we see great staff doing great work providing support to the local community. But they are facing, here at David's Fresh, as are supermarkets right around the country, real pressures, and costs are going up. Here we’ve got today what is happening to Australian shopping trolleys under Scott Morrison, when you see the price of beef, between $10 and $13 for 500 grams. When you see a simple head of iceberg lettuce $5, $15 for a 24-roll pack of toilet paper. These are essential things. They're not avoidable purchases. You add to that petrol, now at $1.77 a litre. You see the rising costs in electricity and housing. Australian families are truly struggling to make ends meet. And they're facing these rising costs with stagnant wages. There's no plan for Mr Morrison to get wages moving again. There's no plan beyond the election to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Mr. Morrison only has a plan for getting past the next few weeks. He's got no long-term plan to deliver the real cost-of-living relief that the Australian people want and need, and that's why Labor's got a positive plan which Anthony will speak to on Sunday at our launch. Cheaper childcare, cheaper electricity, good secure jobs and getting wages moving again.
JOURNALIST: When the Prime Minister came out of isolation, he flew to Lismore and did a press conference. Why is Anthony Albanese not doing a press conference today? And you made reference to the document behind you, what are all of those things, what's the percentage that those things are going to come down if Labor is elected into government?
CHALMERS: Well, first of all, Anthony Albanese is returning to the fray today. And we're very pleased that our captain will be back on the field with us, and consistent with doctor's orders, he is coming back making sure that he can do enough on the first day back, and then we're heading out to the great state of Western Australia after that, and Anthony has fronted the media this morning. He's done a number of interviews.
JOURNALIST: But there’s still plenty of people, plenty journalists who aren’t able to ask questions.
CHALMERS: Well, the campaign’s still got three weeks to run. Anthony Albanese has done a heap of interviews this morning, and he'll have a heap of engagements out west as well consistent with the health advice.
JOURNALIST: But isn’t that a contrast with the Prime Minister, who did come out of isolation and held a press conference when he came out of isolation?
CHALMERS: I'll tell you the contrast with the Prime Minister. Anthony Albanese shows up. He takes responsibility. He works hard every day to bring people together and he acknowledges, and has a plan for, the cost of living crisis that has emerged on Scott Morrison’s watch. He'll have a number of media engagements over the coming days.
JOURNALIST: There’s reports that Tanya Plibersek is holding her own campaign launch on Sunday. For a united team, as we've been hearing all week, why haven't you got the full front bench at the national Labor launch in Perth on Sunday?
CHALMERS: Well, Tanya has been doing a heap of media, and making a huge contribution to our campaign, and making a big difference. The launch on Sunday in Western Australia will have some of us there, but not all of us there. And that's appropriate.
JOURNALIST: Mr Albanese and Kristina Keneally have accused the Prime Minister of going missing, saying that he's avoiding scrutiny. You said these words just a moment ago. But your leader, despite having said he could debate the Prime Minister every day of the week on multiple outlets prior to this campaign, is being reluctant to do so. Aren't you, and your Leader, and your party doing everything you accused the Prime Minister of doing?
CHALMERS: Well, Anthony Albanese is not reluctant to debate the Prime Minister. And the last time they had a debate Albo cleaned him up. And so, if you just let me finish my answer, there are negotiations that happen in every election campaign that I can recall. Those negotiations involve broadcasters. They involve the two parties. And that's what's happening here. What's happening here is the usual negotiations that happen in the usual way with the broadcasters. And with the major political parties.
JOURNALIST: Well, all parties have agreed except for Anthony Albanese, why?
CHALMERS: You know, I think this is part of the usual conversation that happens.
JOURNALIST: What is Mr Albanese scared of?
CHALMERS: He’s not.
JOURNALIST: What is he doing next Thursday?
CHALMERS: I don't have his diary here. I’ll come to you next.
JOURNALIST: Wholesale power prices are going up, the Labor Party has a plan to essentially bring them down by 2025. But what are you going to do in the two years before then?
CHALMERS: Well, power prices are going up. Healthcare is becoming harder to access and harder to afford. Groceries are going through the roof. Petrol is unaffordable for a lot of families. Right across the board there are cost-of-living pressures. And this is a cost-of-living crisis on Scott Morrison's watch. Now, one party, please let me finish, one party has got a plan to add cheaper and cleaner energy to the system, and to transmit it more effectively, more efficiently and more cheaply. The other side is having a barney about whether or not they believe in net zero. And so, our plans to get cleaner and cheaper energy into the system will bring power prices down, by 2025, $275 a year. That is more than what our political opponents are promising. We're gonna go to Tillett and then we're going over this side.
JOURNALIST: On cost-of-living, you’ve got markets saying interest rates are going to head towards 3% in the next 12 months sort of thing, perhaps. You can't control the price of petrol, because that's globally demanded. There's worries about the price of wheat because of what's happening in Ukraine and Russia. How much would families be better off overall, under a Labor government in so many things under your control?
CHALMERS: Well, let me give you a couple of examples where government policy makes a big difference…
JOURNALIST: How much will they be better off. In 12 months how much more money will I have in my pocket?
CHALMERS: Can you let me answer the question. For example, in childcare, if you're on 120 grand as a family, and you're accessing it five days, it'll be more than $80 a week. If you're on 150 grand and you're averaging three days, it'll be more than $70 a week. And that policy comes in next year. And it'll be in the first Budget if we're successful that we hand down before the end of the year. That's one example. I've already given you an example on power prices. When it comes to wages, Australians understand that if you train people for higher wage opportunities, than they will earn more. Australians understand that if you make it easier through the childcare system to work more and earn more, than that will have an impact on wages. Australians understand if you invest in the care economy, the digital economy and advanced manufacturing, you'll create more well-paid secure jobs. Now the difference between Labor and Scott Morrison, is Scott Morrison has completely washed his hands of this cost-of-living crisis. And Labor takes a different view. Now our policies are all about recognising where we can make a meaningful difference, not over promising and under delivering, but working out where we can make a meaningful difference. Now you asked me about interest rates as well. Now most of the market commentators, the analysts, expect that interest rates will go up either next week or next month. That is a matter for the independent Reserve Bank, independent of political interference from Josh Frydenberg or anybody else. I said I'd come over this side, we’re going to Madura, then Sarah.
JOURNALIST: Just a question for Senator Keneally. So on the ABF’s newest video, the 30 second one. Do you concede that Operation Sovereign Borders has had to put out a deterrence campaign in people's smuggling markets, because Labor has been sending mixed messages about border policies during this campaign?
KENEALLY: No, in fact, I welcome the Navy's video today. And I welcome it because it confirms no matter the outcome of this election, Operation Sovereign Borders remains the firm policy of Australia. Labor’s support for Operation Sovereign Borders is clear. Boat turnbacks where safe to do so, regional resettlement and offshore processing. And let me be clear again, you attempt to come to Australia by boat, you will not make it. You will be turned back or sent to Nauru.
JOURNALIST: Peter Dutton said the timing of the video is pretty unusual. Do you agree with him?
KENEALLY: No.
JOURNALIST: Which third countries will you send refugees and asylum seekers to if you need to regional resettlement for people who –
KENEALLY: I answered this question yesterday.
JOURNALIST: Which countries?
KENEALLY: I answered this question yesterday, I made clear that yes, I answered this question yesterday.
CHALMERS: I said we’d go to Sarah, next.
JOURNALIST: A couple of questions. It’s obviously been a huge couple of years when it comes to issues affecting women. But we're not seeing the person responsible for that portfolio, Tanya Plibersek, with us on the campaign. I'd just like to know why. And why is it, you know, since it's so important. And secondly, Peter Costello today had some comments in the Australian saying the RBA is behind the curve, they should have acted earlier. I know it's independent. I know you’re not going to tell the RBA what to do.
CHALMERS: Good guesses.
JOURNALIST: Do you agree or do you disagree with Peter Costello?
CHALMERS: Yeah, first of all, I think Tanya Plibersek has been doing as much, if not more media, than most of her colleagues. She's making an absolutely outstanding contribution to this campaign. I speak to her regularly. I see her performances in the media, they are outstanding. And she is a massive part of our campaign. I think any objective observer, any objective observer would conclude that now. I'm going to answer the second part of Sarah's question.
JOURNALIST: Why is she not here in an official, why, why hasn't she been campaigning with you in Sydney?
CHALMERS: Tanya Plibersek has been campaigning in Sydney. She's been campaigning right around Australia. She's been campaigning right around Australia doing a heap of media, doing a heap of good as we expect from her. I'm going to answer the second part of Sarah's question. Now, Peter Costello made some comments about the Reserve Bank, you’re right that I'm going to say the Reserve Bank is independent, and rightly so. And we don't second guess it. And we don't pre-empt its decisions. You know I was frankly disappointed to see Josh Frydenberg try and exert some political pressure, I thought, on the independent Reserve Bank, the Bank should make its decisions independent of any political pressure, whether it's from current Treasurers or former Treasurers, and that's appropriate. Now we have to fly west in a moment.
JOURNALIST: You've been critical of the government on inflation, given international pressures what will you do in the short term to help people financially should you get elected and also, in your home state of Queensland, the message on the ground is they don't like Scott Morrison, but they're not trusting Anthony Albanese, and they're not shifting their vote. How do you cut through to people that still don't trust your leader with three weeks to go to polling day?
CHALMERS: Well, first of all on the international comparisons, as I said before, you know, Australians who are doing it tough couldn't care less what the inflation rate is in the US or the UK. Australians know that their real wages are going backwards. They feel it every time they come to supermarkets and shops like this one. And so that, I think, is the most relevant thing. When it comes to Queensland. Anthony has a natural affinity with Queenslanders and that's because he's been showing up there even before this election campaign…
JOURNALIST: But that’s not what we’re hearing on the ground.
CHALMERS: I don't agree with that.
JOURNALIST: I’ve been in Queensland for the past few days I can tell you people up there do not trust Anthony Albanese.
CHALMERS: That’s not my experience and I live and work in Queensland, it hasn't been my experience. My experience is that when the floods were happening, when the pandemic was at its worst, Scott Morrison turned his back on Queensland and Queenslanders. As Scott Morrison flies into Queensland, he bags our Premier, he bags our efforts to combat the virus. He sells us short on flood relief, he turns around, has a photo with a warm tinny of XXXX and then flies off again. And that's not the leadership that we need in Queensland, and the contrast couldn't be clearer. Anthony shows up in Queensland. He has a natural affinity with Queenslanders, and I'm confident that we'll give a good account of ourselves here. I'm just gonna take one more question. And then we're done. Gerard hasn't had one yet. We're gonna take one and then we're gonna go.
JOURNALIST: You said the political pressure before was most amped up by Josh Frydenberg. If there's a rate hike next Tuesday, are you concerned there will be a further escalation in political pressure on the RBA’s independence?
CHALMERS: I think that the independence of the Reserve Bank should be protected and cherished at all costs, and at every opportunity. It could have been the easiest thing in the world for me, frankly, the last two days, to make political commentary about the work of the Reserve Bank. And I haven't done that, because I think that the Reserve Bank should make its decisions free from political interference from current and former Treasurers. I think that's an important principle and an important convention.
Now you will draw your own conclusions about a Prime Minister who tried to play politics at the end of last year with interest rates, and it's at risk of blowing up in his face. Our beef with the government is about a decade now of attacks on wages and job security, which has made it harder if not impossible for Australians to get ahead. Now, that's our issue with the government. Now the government wants to raise the white flag on inflation, and they want to go after people's wages. And they want to pretend that they haven't been in government for much of the last 10 years, in office. Now, these inflationary pressures didn't just show up when Russia invaded Ukraine. They showed up when the Coalition started attacking wages and job security in our economy. And that's the issue here. And the government, and particularly the Prime Minister, has to take responsibility for that. And that'll do us. Thanks very much.
ENDS
