Doorstop Interview - Parliament House
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: I welcome the great decision of the Iranian Soccer team, who have made the decision to stay here in Australia.
No doubt that was a difficult decision. But we welcome them choosing to live a life here, just as I welcome the decision of the Home Affairs Minister to provide them with humanitarian visas. Similarly, we have seen the announcement from the Prime Minister just a few moments ago. Announcing that Australia will send assistance to those who need it in the United Arab Emirates, and, of course, some assistance to make sure that those 24,000 Australians who live in the UAE and the 115,000 Australians in the broader region, get the assistance that is needed to make sure that we do everything to protect people from the offensive fire from the Iranian regime.
Just two other things very quickly. This week in Parliament, we are working to make sure that low income Australians get more in their superannuation. This is about, not making sure that we don't just support people on low incomes today with cost of living relief, but support them for the long term as well. Some 1.3 million Australians will benefit from the superannuation changes that we are hoping to get through the Parliament this week. Then they have got more money in retirement, and it builds on top of our commitments to 12% superannuation, which has been delivered, and Payday Super. Things that will make a real difference for working people.
Finally, I am a Western Australian Member of Parliament. We have seen reports that this week, a completely nuts book will be launched in Western Australia, arguing for the secession of the state of Western Australia from the Commonwealth. If you look around the world, I can't think of a worse idea, at a worse time. Australia is stronger together. Western Australia is stronger as part of the Commonwealth. And those who are pushing this idea of tearing Western Australia out of the Commonwealth, they will find very few friends in Western Australia. There is no benefit in making it so you have to get a visa and a passport to get from Perth to Sydney. There is no benefit in making it harder to get goods from Victoria over to Western Australia. It is a terrible idea whose time will never come.
JOURNALIST: Just on the deployment of personnel and that Wedgetail plane. I mean, the Government's saying this is strictly defensive, but we're going to be over there. Australian troops will be in the Middle East, so we are part of this war now, right?
GORMAN: We look to support our friends in times when they are under attack. This is a defensive action. It is an action where we have considered very carefully what we can do to, as I said, protect our friends in the region, but also to protect those thousands of Australians who live in the region. I think Australians will recognise that we need to do our part, and this is an opportunity for us to do so, in a way which is about protecting civilians. This is about protecting civilian lives, which is something that I think people recognise is very consistent with our Australian values.
JOURNALIST: On the Iranian women who have been granted asylum, will the Government consider extending that to their families who now face punishment in Iran?
GORMAN: It is a very brave decision of those women who have made that decision. I don't want to forerun any further policy action. Obviously, it is a very sensitive situation. It is important that we recognise that the decision that they have made is incredibly difficult, and there may be other decisions that others make in the future, but I don't want to get ahead of that.
JOURNALIST: But in principle, well, their families are in danger now, aren't they?
GORMAN: I do not want to speculate about the safety of others. I do not think that would be responsible for me to do so. I think it is appropriate that we recognise that it has been a very difficult decision for those players who have made a decision. We will continue to listen to other players, and as they accept those humanitarian visas, we will continue to talk to those who have chosen to make Australia their home.
JOURNALIST: Members of the National Party are calling for the Government to revisit cutting fuel excise in the federal budget. Is that something that is under consideration?
GORMAN: I remember, this was a proposal the National Party took to the last election, along with a whole range of proposals they had for higher taxes on working people –
JOURNALIST: This is about cutting fuel prices at the bowser.
GORMAN: But I think if you look at the total tax package that the National Party took to the last election, actually would result in higher taxes on working people across Australia. We will continue to look at ways to support Australian people as we prepare our budget. But our focus has always been on making sure we do those things that can help as many people as many people as possible, like the tax cuts that will come in on the first of July this year. That will help some 14 million Australians with cost of living relief.
JOURNALIST: But no support at the petrol pump at this stage?
GORMAN: Our focus right now, appropriately, is on making sure that Australians can get the fuel they need through our strategic reserves and the work that Minister Bowen is doing. I understand the Minister is meeting with, along with the Industry Minister and the Agriculture Minister, meeting with stakeholders today to make sure we can continue having those conversations about ensuring we have the fuel reserves that Australia needs and people can get access to these essential goods so they can continue to run their businesses, get their kids to school and everything else.
JOURNALIST: Thank you.
GORMAN: Thank you. I'll hand over to Corinne.
CORINNE MULHOLLAND, SENATOR FOR QLD: [inaudible] I want to acknowledge the flooding right across the Northern Territory [inaudible]. We have seen some harrowing scenes overnight of people needing to get rescued out of cars. A child had to get rescued out of the car in the Gladstone region. It reminds us of the danger of flooding events, and I just reiterate the messages of emergency services. If it is flooded, forget it. Do not drive through flooded roads, particularly in the Gladstone region, we've seen some really, really extensive flooding over the last couple of days. I was really pleased to see Minister Kristy McBain out this morning. Federal and State Disaster Assistance has been activated for 49 local government areas in Queensland. That's almost two thirds of the 77 households in Cleveland. So really extensive flooding, and we know that that tropical low is continuing to travel down the state. So, we're going to see heavy falls throughout today, I encourage people stay tuned in to Bureau of Meteorology. Listen to those warnings. Really be mindful about your travels. Do not drive through flooded roads and stay safe today.
JOURNALIST: And of course, that flooding is affecting trade routes, which is also making it more difficult for farmers to get access to fuel. So, what can be done to alleviate some of these shortages that have been felt in regional areas?
MULHOLLAND: So, our disaster management system is activated, and we have representatives of AgForce and the agriculture industry sitting on those meetings at our district and the state level. So those discussions are happening around the clock at the moment. I know the Premier and the Ministers are working around the clock to make sure that we have support in place. We do also - Queensland is very, very activated and very experienced in disasters. We have one of the best systems in the country, and we have pre-positioned caches. I know Woolworths has a significant cache of groceries up in North Queensland and Townsville, just for situations like this, when the Bruce Highway does get cut. We are experienced in this space. Our food and grocery operators, our agriculture industry, they are really well experienced in this space, so I know that they have those plans in place today.
JOURNALIST: Thank you both.
ENDS