JIM CHALMERS MP
SHADOW TREASURER
MEMBER FOR RANKIN
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
TODAY SHOW
MONDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2021
SUBJECTS: Anti-vaccination protests; Vaccines for children; Economic recovery; Morrison and Frydenberg always claiming credit but never taking responsibility; Beer and wine research.
KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Take a look at this. Just a month really until reopening and yet more chaos on the Queensland / New South Wales border. This was yesterday. Thousands of demonstrators take to the streets to protest against vaccine mandates, yet again. Let's discuss with Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers who's in Logan for us this morning and in Sydney Deputy Editor for The Daily Telegraph Anna Caldwell. Morning guys, nice to see you, thanks for your time. Jim, to you first up. These protesters don't believe in the vaccine, yet the border opens on December 17. There's only so much you can do right?
JIM CHALMERS, SHADOW TREASURER: Exactly, Karl. Ideally, everyone would want to get the vaccine but it's just the fact of life that some people don't want to get it. Some people are quite adamant that they don't want to get it. The most important thing is we get those numbers up. In Queensland the numbers aren't as high as they need to be, not as high as they are around the rest of the country. So we need to get those numbers up. We need to reopen safely and confidently. We're looking forward to when that happens.
STEFANOVIC: There's obviously a disproportionate number on that border and just south that border who aren't in for it. Is Queensland ready for what might happen then?
CHALMERS: I think we will be. I mean obviously when you're dealing with a big logistical exercise like this, and as three Queenslanders talking to each other today, we can all agree that everybody wants to come here, but it’s a big logistical exercise. Obviously, it won't be completely without some difficulty, but there'll be a lot of thought going into how that's arranged and how we make sure people can get over the border safely when the reopening happens.
STEFANOVIC: We have Queensland Police on the show in about 20 minutes time to talk just that. Meantime Anna, Queensland Police officials say if they have to check every car going over the border of the queue will go back to Newcastle.
(LAUGHTER)
STEFANOVIC: There's gonna be a bit of chaos?
ANNA CALDWELL, DAILY TELEGRAPH: What a debacle. Probably all of us have had the experience of going over that border and it's not even great really at the best of times. You know, we can't afford to have that type of chaos. I think what people need is they need certainty, and they need high vaccination rates. And you know, I do think that's on the Queensland Premier to keep pushing that message. You know, quite frankly, I'm so sick of seeing scenes like those scenes of those protests. You know, I know there are people who don't want to get the vaccine, but really broadly the rest of Australia has spoken. You know, here in New South Wales, we're closing in on 90% double-dose, which is a great result. And we need to bring the rest of the country along with us.
STEFANOVIC: Well, the country is going to be something in the order of 90%, which no one ever thought we would get to I don't think. It's a big day in our vaccine rollout as you mentioned, with booster shots available from today. But this is an interesting one. Kids aged between five and eleven will have to wait much longer, vaccines for young Aussies now not being made available until early next year. Jim, you happy to wait that out?
CHALMERS: I think it's a bit stressful for parents, Karl. Next year we'll have two out of our three in primary school, and as probably you and Anna know there's not a lot of social distancing in primary schools with the little kids. So what we want to make sure is whenever that's approved, and if it's weeks away then so be it, but whenever it's approved we need to make sure that there's a really good plan to roll it out quickly and effectively amongst the kids. Because it is a stressful enough time for parents right around Australia thinking about the vaccination of their kids and so we want to have a really good plan in place. We didn't have a great plan initially when it came to vaccines for adults and we don't want to repeat that mistake.
STEFANOVIC: Look, there was a pilot yesterday - I think he was part of those demonstrations - who said do not put this vaccine in our kids, but I think he'd be in the minority of parents who do want to protect their kids, right Anna?
CALDWELL: Yeah, that's right. And I mean, we need to trust the science. You know, we've all gone through this. We're taking these vaccines so we can get our lives back. I agree with Jim Chalmers there, you know, it is a stressful time for parents. They want to do the right thing. They want to keep their kids safe. We know the virus doesn't harm young children in the same way it harms adults - that's what the science says - but at the same time they want that security. In terms of the rollout, one option that I know is being looked at is giving it to kids in classrooms. I think if that's a way to get these jabs into arms faster then we should be looking at that.
STEFANOVIC: Okay, I'm really looking forward to after seven o'clock this morning. We're talking to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who's on the show talking about how good the economy is tracking post-COVID, helping the nation avoid a tidal wave of small business closures and keeping the economic engine room firing. He is Jim, you'd have to agree, one of our great Treasurers?
(LAUGHTER)
CHALMERS: I think he's part of the defining feature of this Government, Karl: when the economy was bleeding $2 to $3 billion a week because of their failures on vaccines and quarantine, it wasn't their responsibility but now that things are starting to improve he's there to take the credit. Never there to take responsibility, always there to take the credit. We're seeing that again with the economy. We want the economy to recover strongly. It's pleasing to see that it is starting to get some momentum, but don't forget last month in the unemployment figures 138,000 Australians lost their job and 129,000 gave up looking. So it's a mixed bag still. We want to see it recover strongly. We want to see the Government take responsibility for things when they're difficult and not just take credit when things are recovering.
STEFANOVIC: Well it just looks like everything's falling into place for them - April Budget, May election. That's what you're getting ready for, right?
CHALMERS: Clearly now the election will be next year, whether it's March or May we'll be ready for it. And if they want to have a conversation about who can build an economy where people get decent wages, and decent living standards, and secure work, then I say bring that on. That'd be a good outcome for the Australian people to be reminded that for much of the last eight years we've had stagnant wages, and insecure work, and people have found it really hard to get ahead. So let's have a debate about that. Let's have an election about that. I'd welcome that.
STEFANOVIC: Okay, Jim Chalmers says bring it on Anna?
CALDWELL: I think I can hear the faint sound of a Treasurer and a Shadow Treasurer revving their engines for an election. Look, Josh Frydenberg is just gonna keep talking about the economy. You know, as far as he's concerned it's a good result. Unemployment is down, jobs figures are going well, business confidence is up. I think it is a good battleground for the Government to fight on.
STEFANOVIC: Okay, now this could be the best news of the year, certainly in the best news of this working week. A beer a day keeps the doctor away. And new study by Monash University reveals drinking a modest amount of daily alcohol can reduce your risk of dying particularly for older Aussies. Jim, Queenslanders have been doing this for years.
CHALMERS: That's right, that explains the rude health of Queenslanders I think.
(LAUGHTER)
CHALMERS: I think this news will be pretty warmly welcomed if not celebrated with a few tins.
STEFANOVIC: Yeah!
CHALMERS: I noticed in the news report before it had become a beer for breakfast, which I'm not sure is exactly what the University is recommending.
STEFANOVIC: That should be Labor's campaign strategy! Have a beer for breakfast, Australia!
(LAUGHTER)
CHALMERS: Have one on Albo?
STEFANOVIC: Oh, there you go Anna!
CALDWELL: Oh, is that on the record?
(LAUGHTER)
CALDWELL: Bring it on, it's good to have some good news for a Monday morning, isn't it? I mean, I do struggle to keep up with the news about whether red wine is good for you or bad for you, but I'll go with this one.
STEFANOVIC: Hard to keep up with. Have one on Albo, I like that on a t-shirt! Good on you guys. Thank you.
ENDS
