Doorstop Interview - Parliament House
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: For years Australia has condemned the Iranian regime; their human rights abuses, their nuclear program. We have seen in more recent times Australia has had to take the very serious step of expelling the former Iranian Ambassador. That is why Australia supports the actions that the United States has taken.
When it comes to our focus here in Australia over the last two weeks, the Albanese Government has continued to focus on delivery. Things that will improve the lives of Australians. Things like the Melbourne Airport trainline, which started construction over the last two weeks. Things like making sure that we have safer early childhood education care centres through the mandatory training that we're rolling out. And then things like AusAlert, that was announced over the last week, which will make sure that Australians get better, more timely information in times of natural disaster.
Over the last two weeks, we have been focused on delivery. When we were last here, the Liberal Party were tearing each other apart. We didn't know who their leader was going to be, and we didn't know what they stood for. In the last two weeks, we have seen that Angus Taylor has two priorities. Priority one is keeping the campaign review secret, refusing to even share with the Shadow Ministers what was in that campaign review. Priority two is cozying up to One Nation.
Today marks 30 years since Pauline Hanson was elected to federal parliament. She was elected at the March 2 election in 1996. John Howard had the guts to kick Pauline Hanson out of the Liberal Party, and now, 30 years later, Angus Taylor and his Shadow Ministers are welcoming her back in to form this new Coalition of Chaos, a Liberal-National-One Nation Coalition. It would be the worst minority government you've ever seen anywhere in the world.
JOURNALIST: Did you see preference deals between the two?
GORMAN: We know that we've seen preference deals between the Liberal Party and One Nation before, but now they're talking about preference deals on steroids. Preference deals where they're actually talking about forming a form of Coalition Government. Now, we've seen the Liberal Party and the National Party can't work together, I don't know what adding Pauline Hanson into that chaotic mix will do. I think you'll end up with a minority government that hates minorities. I'll hand over to Rebecca.
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: It's been just over one year now since Labor launched its landmark Medicare policy in Tasmania as part of the pre-election campaign, and I'm really thrilled to see the results that are delivering for Australians. We've seen a significant increase in bulk billing rates, but also in the Women's Health package, which I'm proud to say has delivered results for Australian women right across the country. With about 700,000 women now benefiting from accessing PBS items and 2.3 million scripts issued for cheaper medicines for contraceptives, endometriosis and menopause treatment. Our Government is focused on supporting women have access to the healthcare they need.
Just like my colleague said the secret election review that the Liberal Party is not sharing with Australians, apparently says that candidates didn't want Peter Dutton to come to their electorates because they were worried about his influence and impact on the female vote. I question the current Liberal Party by saying, what's changed? How do they represent women today?
JOURNALIST: Labor's primary vote has slipped noticeably in the latest Newspoll, that can't delight you.
WHITE: We're working hard every day to deliver for Australians. Whether it's in Medicare and making sure people have access to the medicines they need through PBS, making sure that we're delivering better access to education, training and skills, and building houses - because we know that's one of the key things that is challenging generations across our country. We are determined to do the work to deliver results for Australians. And I think you can see across electorates, like mine in Lyons, that people are responding to that well.
JOURNALIST: Last question, are you confident Australia is well prepared for a world that's changing because of the conflict in the Middle East, for example, our oil supplies onshore and our ability to perhaps weather a stormy economy?
WHITE: Australia is a strong middle power. We have good relations across the world with other like-minded countries, and in fact, just this week we're having an address from the Canadian Prime Minister. Strong relationships like this are really important. We do live in a world that is very well connected. We're also doing a lot to increase our sovereign capability, investing in advanced manufacturing, providing opportunities - not only for employment and jobs here in our country, but also upskilling more capabilities. Those things stand our country in good stead.