ABC NewsRadio with Marius Benson
Wednesday, 01 February 2012
Subjects: Tony Abbott’s National Press Club address; Fair Work Australia’s investigation into Craig Thomson; Gina Rinehart’s interest in Fairfax Media
E&OE…
PRESENTER Tony Abbott signalled yesterday the real beginning of his political year with a speech at the National Press Club which set out a broad vision for a government led by him. The Opposition Leader promised small government and low taxes, and he declared an aspiration to extend Medicare to cover dentistry. Well, to look at that promise and the assessment of the Opposition vision Marius Benson is speaking to the Deputy Liberal Leader, Julie Bishop.MARIUS BENSON Julie Bishop, good morning.
JULIE BISHOP Good morning Marius.
MARIUS BENSON Is Tony Abbott open to criticism of that speech yesterday in that was, in a sense, the easy path that he delivered? He is promising tax cuts, although he is not saying when they will be, but not saying where the pain will be felt when those tax cuts mean cuts to government services.
JULIE BISHOP Tony Abbott laid out a clear set of values that will guide the Coalition in government. Lower taxes, less government interference in our lives, less red tape and regulation, and cutting out Labor’s horrendously wasteful spending. And he demonstrated that his team has the experience to achieve that. Sixteen members of our frontbench were Ministers in a government that many rate as the best government in living memory. And Tony’s theme was one of hope and reward and opportunity, and he gave examples of what can be delivered when the budget is under control.
MARIUS BENSON What do you say to the view that the Coalition shouldn’t be taken seriously when it promises small government and tax cuts because you just made the point there that 16 of the shadow ministry where part of the Howard Government. In 12 years, under John Howard, the size of government increased, the tax take at the end of the Howard Government as a share of GDP was higher than it has been since under Labor.
JULIE BISHOP And we had paid off $96 billion of Labor’s debt, we had no government debt, and we delivered successive surpluses…
MARIUS BENSON But on the specifics…
JULIE BISHOP Hang on. Marius.
MARIUS BENSON But can I just ask you specifically on that narrow point?
JULIE BISHOP Can I just say this, no one could possibly claim that Australia is in a stronger financial position under this Government than under the Howard Government. I mean this Government has descended into debt and deficit, jobs growth has flattened.
MARIUS BENSON Well the world, the Labor Party would argue, is in a much weaker position and Australia is much stronger than the rest of the world. You governed the boom, they have governed the global downturn.
JULIE BISHOP While criticising European leaders for their borrow and spend approach Julia Gillard is adopting that same approach. Labor’s response is, ‘well Australia’s debt is not as bad as those countries in crisis’. But the descent into debt has been outrageous.
MARIUS BENSON Can I go back to those specific points that you raised as promises? Smaller government and tax cuts. Twelve years, they weren’t delivered.
JULIE BISHOP Tony Abbott has said that this is what the Coalition will achieve in government: lower taxes, less government interference in our lives, less red tape and regulation. And we’ve set about doing that. I am a member of our Expenditure Review Committee; we are going through the budget line by line to cut out wasteful spending. We have another meeting coming up this week. That is what we have been doing over the last 12 months. We are also in the process of developing our detailed set of policies for the election and Tony’s speech yesterday gave the public an opportunity to hear his values and see his vision for the future.
MARIUS BENSON Can I move on from that speech to a couple of other stories around today? Craig Thomson has been under investigation, he is the Labor MP under investigation over the alleged misuse of credit cards when he was with the Health Services Union. That investigation by Fair Work Australia has been going for three years. Kathy Jackson, the Union Secretary, said last night that she believes there may be Government interference in that Fair Work Australia investigation. What is your view?
JULIE BISHOP Fair Work Australia must explain why it has taken so long to investigate very serious allegations made in relation to the Health Services Union particularly in relation to Craig Thomson, Labor’s Member for Dobell. We do know that Julia Gillard’s staff contacted Fair Work Australia, that needs explanation, and Fair Work Australia should reveal all contact it has had with the Government over this affair. This investigation is taking longer than many wide ranging Royal Commissions.
MARIUS BENSON Another issue this morning, Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, is increasing her share of Fairfax Media and the Greens are raising questions about that saying her role in that - because she is a political activist campaigning against the mining tax, for example - is a real risk to diversity and public debate. What do you think about that?
JULIE BISHOP The coalition’s – the Government’s coalition partner, should I say, the Government’s coalition partner the Greens now want to determine who can buy shares in a public company? I think market forces are a better judge than Bob Brown. But I would take it as a vote of confidence in the future of Fairfax. If a private investor such as Mrs Rinehart seeks a stake in the company then she must believe it is a worthwhile investment.
MARIUS BENSON Julie Bishop, thank you very much.
JULIE BISHOP My pleasure.
PRESENTER That is the Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop speaking there to Marius Benson.
