JIM CHALMERS MP
SHADOW TREASURER
MEMBER FOR RANKIN

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
SKY NEWS AFTERNOON AGENDA
MONDAY, 8 MARCH 2021

SUBJECT: International Women’s Day; Closing the gender pay gap; Morrison Government’s JobKeeper cuts; Treasurer arriving empty-handed in Cairns.
KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Today I caught up with the Shadow Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, from the Cairns Marina, where he's been visiting and discussing the issue of JobKeeper support. I began by asking him what Labor's plan to name and shame companies that underplay women is all about.

JIM CHALMERS, SHADOW TREASURER: Kieran, it's all about recognising that the gender pay gap in this country is still unacceptably large, and whether it's ensuring that bigger companies report that pay gap, whether it's getting rid of secrecy clauses, whether it's showing leadership in the Commonwealth Public Service, whether it's empowering the Fair Work Commission to do more to boost the earnings of Australian women, all of these things are really important initiatives when it comes to closing that gender pay gap, which has bedevilled our country for too long now, even before COVID-19.

But I think on International Women's Day, it's also important to recognise that the impacts of the pandemic themselves have not been felt equally. If you look at that important piece of work by the Grattan Institute released today, it showed that Australian women lost more jobs, did more unpaid work, and received less government support. I think across all of these areas, you can see the challenge that we have ahead of us to give Australian women the opportunities that they need and deserve in a country like ours.

GILBERT: The Grattan report suggests that the government needs to provide more funding to services sectors like childcare, aged care and so on, because of the female dominant workforce, but it's more than just the money isn't it? It's about the structural changes as well, to ensure that the workers actually get any extra dollars?

CHALMERS: Absolutely, Kieran. And we've said for some time now, and it's a tribute, I think, to Amanda Rishworth and Anthony Albanese, who made the announcement that we would invest more substantially in childcare, but not just that, some of the other issues that we've just talked about, some of the transparency issues, some of the Industrial Relations issues, are absolutely crucial. There's not just one area or another that needs attention, and not just on International Women's Day, but indeed every day, if we are to close that gender pay gap, invest in the care economy, in particular, and make sure that Australian women aren't left behind as we recover from this worst recession in almost 100 years.

GILBERT: We're seeing this cultural shift at the moment, more than a 'me too' moment it seems. In terms of the gender equality of pay, there are suggestions that investors will increasingly look to companies that make gender inclusion and equity a priority. Do you think that's a fair assessment?

CHALMERS: Absolutely, Kieran. And I welcome that. I think right across the board, what investors are looking for is not just a return on the bottom line, but recognising that in many instances the investments or the companies that they are looking at, whether it's gender pay, whether it's issues around cleaner and cheaper energy, whether it's about environmental responsibility, whether it's training and opportunities provided to their workforce, there are a broader set of considerations here. And it's important, I think, that investors do that. It's a good thing that that has been a development in recent times and long may it continue.

GILBERT: Now, you're in North Queensland, a hugely dependent economy on tourism and international tourism. The Treasurer says the post-JobKeeper support will be provided within days. What do you make of the idea of interest free loans to businesses that already are receiving JobKeeper as the next step of support?

CHALMERS: We'll be constructive about anything that the government announces. Obviously, any support for the struggling workers and small businesses here in Cairns and the surrounding region is welcomed. But in my view it's no substitute for a responsible and temporary extension of the JobKeeper payment.

If you look behind me, Kieran, at this marina. Usually, in normal times, this marina is empty, all the boats are out on the reef, taking international visitors. Normally, there's 3,5000 international visitors per day in this time of year here in Cairns. Something like $5 million a day into the local economy. And because the international borders are closed and a lot of businesses and workers are still struggling here, we've called on Josh Frydenberg to extend JobKeeper in a temporary and responsible way to recognise that those parts of Australia which aren't recovering as quickly as we like, the areas that are reliant on the opening of the national border, they're still struggling.

Now, unfortunately, Josh Frydenberg has raised the expectations of this town. He's come here and given a big speech about how good he is and he's told them all about what's happening here, but he doesn't seem to understand that what they need here is a helping hand, instead he has given them a slap in the face. He's come here with no plans for Cairns. He's come here empty-handed. And a lot of the small businesses, and particularly tourism operators, that I've spoken to today are very angry about that.

GILBERT: So, interest free loans in the short-term, at least post-March and post-JobKeeper, won't be good enough?

CHALMERS: Well, they'll be no substitute for an extension of JobKeeper. I mean, JobKeeper is playing a really important role in this town. In lots of ways, this town is on JobKeeper life support and Josh Frydenberg will be pulling the plug before the end of this month. And when you think about the role that JobKeeper is playing in the economy, I think there's no substitute for continuing that.

If there are other ideas that he wants to propose, whether it's concessional loans, whether it’s other kinds of support like the Queensland Government has provided with the voucher scheme, obviously we'll be constructive about that. Obviously, we want federal government support to flow into this town, it desperately needs it, but there's no substitute for extending JobKeeper.

GILBERT: Just finally, I know you've got to get to the airport yourself, but the government's prospect of providing direct grants, basically to airlines, tied to flights that are running and seats that are being offered, Would that be something that makes sense to you in terms of another sector that's absolutely copping it?

CHALMERS: Again, we'll have a look at that, but there's a lot of scepticism here in Cairns today, Kieran, that if the government makes an announcement about grant programs or some other kinds of assistance, they'll make the big announcement but there's scepticism that that support will actually reach the small businesses and workers of this town. So, we'll have a look at it, but unfortunately the government's got form when it comes to making their announcements about grant programs, and then not getting the money out the door. And we'd be worried about that happening again.

Again, Kieran, there's no substitute for that extension for JobKeeper. Nobody's saying it should go on forever, but it should be tailored to what's actually going on, on the ground and in local communities like this one. If we want the national economy to recover strongly, then towns like Cairns, and regional economies like those throughout Queensland, need to be a bigger part of the story. I'm not sure that Scott Morrison or Josh Frydenberg actually understand that.

GILBERT: And crucial that the aviation sector remains healthy to get people into those places too, surely?

CHALMERS: Absolutely, Kieran. And we've been saying all along there needs to be a national plan for aviation. The reality is that those international flights won't be coming back anytime soon. So, a lot of these businesses will be experiencing some pain for some time. It's not their fault that the international border is closed, we don't want to see those businesses hit the fence. We don't want to see them lose their workers, or their experience, or their skills, because if we hollow out a town like Cairns, it'll find it harder to get back on its feet when the international borders do reopen.
So, there's a lot at stake here. The Treasurer had an opportunity to come here today to announce an extension of JobKeeper, or some of these other issues that you've been talking about. Instead, he came empty-handed. And that's why a lot of people here are quite angry at the Morison Government today. They just don't seem to understand what's happening here and what the consequences are for the government continuing to leave people in the lurch and leave them behind.

GILBERT: No doubt one of the most beautiful parts of Queensland, and the country. Jim Chalmers joining us from the Cairns Marina, very much appreciated, thank you.

CHALMERS: Thank you, Kieran.

ENDS