Interview with Jayne Azzopardi, Today Show, Channel 9

JAYNE AZZOPARDI:

I want to bring in Treasurer Jim Chalmers now who joins us live from Canberra. Good morning to you, Treasurer. You're a Queenslander. We've seen some pretty wild scenes in that state overnight. Are you looking at any federal government support to flow there, particularly to those tourist towns like Port Douglas and Mossman that have really been hit?

JIM CHALMERS:

Good morning, Jane. I mean, how tough are Queenslanders, particularly in the Far North? Very tough and resilient communities. It's pleasing to see that while there has been a heap of heavy weather, it looks like that community will bounce back relatively quickly. We will, of course, support the communities of Far North Queensland if they need us, that have been impacted by yet another natural disaster. As I understand it, my colleague Murray Watt, the Minister, will be on the ground in Cairns. Emergency services will be out and about assessing the damage as well. But these communities are so tough and they are so resilient and we will be there for them if they need us because they are there for each other when these sorts of harsh weather events, which are becoming more frequent, hit some of these great parts of Australia.

AZZOPARDI:

They sure are tough. I want to get to yesterday's budget update. Now, you say you're in striking distance of a second surplus, but that is actually largely thanks to ordinary taxpayers. Is a surplus more important than giving more cost-of-living relief to Aussies who are really struggling?

CHALMERS:

Well, we don't see it as an either-or, Jane. We're rolling out $23 billion in cost-of-living assistance at the same time as we get the budget in much better nick. We're not yet forecasting a second surplus after that first surplus in 15 years that we delivered last year. We're rolling out this cost-of-living help, we're investing in housing and skills and energy and Medicare at the same time as we are trying to run a tighter ship when it comes to the budget because running a tight ship in the budget is one of the ways that we put downward pressure on inflation. It's inflation which is putting so much pressure on people right around Australia, we've got to get on top of that. It's moderating, but we need it to moderate further and faster. Responsible economic management is a big part of that. Rolling out the right kind of cost-of-living help is a big part of that – we're doing that too at the same time as we invest in the future of our economy. So, we don't see it as an either-or. This responsible economic management has a number of elements: helping people when times are tough, getting the budget in better shape and making sure that we're laying the foundations for future growth in our economy at the same time.

AZZOPARDI:

So, are you saying that that help is enough? Because we had Dr Nick Coatesworth on the show yesterday with a new report that showed something like 70 per cent of Australians are either deferring their medical care or borrowing money to pay for it because they can't afford it. And that's despite those cost-of-living measures that you've introduced.

CHALMERS:

Well, Nick should be a big supporter then of the literally billions of extra dollars that we found in the budget to help alleviate some of these out-of-pocket health costs. We're strengthening Medicare, we're making medicines cheaper, we're making it easier to see a bulk billing doctor. All of these things are very, very important because we recognise that part one of the pressures on family budgets is being able to get the health care that people need and deserve, so billions of dollars in new investments. We are a Labor government – we're always looking to strengthen Medicare. We're proud of the progress that we've made and if there's more progress that we can make into the future, obviously we'll consider that too.

AZZOPARDI:

All right. I do want to ask you about another story that's breaking today. The US Navy asking Australia to send a warship into the Red Sea. A move like that could be seen as a dramatic escalation in Australia's response to the conflict in the Middle East. Are we going to send a warship?

CHALMERS:

Well, first of all, we need to remember that we already participate in maritime security in that part of the world. Obviously, that is a difficult part of the world. There's a lot of commercial shipping in addition to military shipping in that region, and we already make a contribution to the combined management of that part of the world. As I understand it, there has been some kind of request conveyed to the government. The Defence Minister Richard Marles will consider that in the usual way and we'll come to a concluded view but it's really important for your viewers to understand, Jane, that we already make a contribution in that part of the world.

AZZOPARDI:

All right. Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Thank you for your time this morning.

CHALMERS:

Thanks for yours, Jane. All the best.