Doorstop Interview, Canberra
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. Well, we have got sitting of Parliament, a regular sitting week, the first normal sitting week for 2026. A chance for myself, Alice Jordan-Baird, the Member for Gorton, and the whole Labor team, to get on with delivering the agenda which we took to the people last year. This week, the Parliament will deal with important legislation such as the Tertiary Education Commission, making sure that we have high standards and the quality education that Australians deserve. We have also got the legislation for copyright, the legislation to make sure that we support veterans' entitlements and legislation to make the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the PBS, even stronger. These are all practical things that make a real difference to the lives of Australians.
That is the work that we are focused on. When you look at the other side, it is really clear, day on day that the Australian people are switching off from the Coalition chaos. Australian people are leaving the group chat. They are completely over it, and it's time for everyone who is involved in that absolute mess to bring it to an end. To make sure that this building is focused on the Australian people. Because what we have seen for more than a week now is secret meetings. We have seen assertions that people are challenging, are not challenging. Andrew Hastie was apparently never challenging but then announced that he was not going to challenge. Angus Taylor has not put out a similar statement. So, I do not know what it means about Angus. But the Australian people just want to sort it out, wherever it lands. So, this building can get focused on them.
JOURNALIST: When do you think inflation will come down?
GORMAN: I remember when we came to office in May of 2022, inflation had a six in front of it. Inflation really does hurt people who are on low incomes, and I know that. That is why we are focused on every budget we have delivered to push inflation down. We have delivered two surpluses. This has been a key part of that. Just some of the cost of living measures that we have put in place, we have designed in a really careful way to make sure that we are not adding to inflation but helping people with their household budgets.
JOURNALIST: Do you think we will see another rate hike today?
GORMAN: I do not sit on the Reserve Bank Board. We respect the independence of the Reserve Bank. Like millions of Australians, I will be interested to see what they have to say later today.
JOURNALIST: Why is Australia one of the only developing countries where inflation is going up?
GORMAN: We see some movement in the quarterly figures. But what we do know is that [inaudible] when Labor came to office. Alice has a few things to say about her electorate, so I will throw it to her. I will keep taking your questions, but I will let Alice have a [inaudible] build Australia’s future.
ALICE JORDAN-BAIRD, MEMBER FOR GORTON: Thanks Patrick. So, my name is Alice Jordan-Baird. I am the Member for Gorton [inaudible] here. The ‘Noalition’ are divided and in disarray. We’re here [inaudible] for Australia. And I want to tell you three ways of which we are doing exactly that.
This year marks 42 years of Medicare. Labor built Medicare, and only the Labor will strengthen Medicare. We have seen last week an amazing partnership agreement with states and territories of $25 billion for hospitals. This builds on a huge investment in our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. It's been rolled out across the country, including my own community in Melton and Sunshine as well. This also builds on the huge investment in GP bulk billed clinics. I met with the wonderful team there last week, and they told me it makes such a difference to families in our area, given they don't have to choose between paying the bills and seeing a doctor. They can just use their Medicare card and see a doctor for free.
The second way we're building Australia's future is through the Thriving Kids initiative and securing the future of the NDIS. I'm really proud to be part of the Standing Committee who help aged care and disability, and this week, we'll be tabling a really important report called ‘No Child Left Behind’. We did an amazing inquiry with our wonderful community members, led by Dr Mike Freelander, as our chair, which saw submissions from peak bodies, from healthcare professionals, from our health professionals, as well as, most importantly, families with lived experience that taught us about how the system should be working to better support children under the age of eight with developmental delay and autism. I'd like to thank everyone for contributing to such an important inquiry. I'm really looking forward to that report being tabled in Parliament this week.
The third thing I want to talk to you about today is how the Labor Party is building Australia's future in terms of investing in our local road infrastructure. I've got wonderful growing community in Melbourne's western suburbs, and we have two really important projects that I want to talk to you about today. One is building a $300 million interchange at Calder Park Drive. Which would mean safer roads and saving time for families sitting in traffic. As well as $1 billion into the Western Freeway. Meaning more lanes for better interchanges. Meaning people can spend more time with their families and not just sitting in traffic. I'm really excited to share more of these important updates with my community.
GORMAN: I will just say one last thing, if I can, as the Member for Perth. Yesterday, I was briefed by the Australian Federal Police about the incident that occurred on 26th of January, where we saw an explosive device thrown into a crowd of people who were peacefully gathering exercising their democratic rights. This has sent fear into First Nations communities. It has sent fear across my electorate of Perth, and indeed, across Australia. It was an attack on our democracy. It was an attack on people exercising their democratic freedoms. I just want to thank the Australian Federal Police and the WA Police for their ongoing investigations. And of course, we know that this has now been investigated as a potential terrorism incident, that work is ongoing. I'm really grateful for the work the police are doing.
ENDS