Doorstop interview, Perth

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: What we know over this very special time of Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Years is that millions of Australians still go to work. I think you only need to look at the heroic efforts of those firefighters fighting the fires in the Boddington region, who have saved lives and livelihoods. I want to thank them for being there and doing their job on Christmas Day, making sure that they save the lives and livelihoods of their fellow Western Australians. You see it in our police forces across the country. Police are out there making sure that people can enjoy this special time of year and keeping their fellow Australians safe. We saw that on Christmas Eve here in Western Australia, where we had the WA Police take action against, what are now allegations before the courts, of a man in Yangebup who was spreading absolutely vile hate and antisemitic garbage online. Some of the revelations following that arrest is truly shocking, but if I can thank WA Police and all of our law enforcement agencies for the work that they have done in continuing to keep Western Australians and Australians safe. And then here in the Perth CBD, we have thousands and thousands of people out working - whether it be in emergency services, whether it be in hospitality or if it is in retail - where people are giving up their time with family and loved ones, so others can get out and get a bargain. What we know is that those people who work in retail rely on the sorts of additional penalty rates that they get on days like Boxing Day to pay their bills. The people who are out in our shopping centres, out in our city, supporting others to get a bargain, are also out earning the money that they rightly deserve. Now, what we did this year as the Albanese Government is we put in legislation, we took it to the election, we put it into the parliament, and we passed it to protect penalty rates. That is to protect the money the people who are working in our shops rely upon right now. When it comes to Boxing Day - Boxing Day has been a public holiday in Australia way back since 1871, but this Boxing Day, 2025, is the first Boxing Day where penalty rates are protected for Australian workers. Some 2.6 million Australian workers rely on penalty and overtime rates. And for a retail worker here, working at one of the stores, I will not name them, but working one of the stores, those workers might be there just on a general retail award. Those penalty rates mean they take home an extra $280 or so today. Now that is a significant amount of money that people rely on to pay their bills, to pay their rent or mortgage, and it is something that we are really proud that we have locked in, in legislation, protection for penalty rates so that workers get the pay they deserve. The Albanese Labor Government will always take action to make sure that workers can earn more and keep more of what they earn and will always look for ways to create new jobs here in Australia. This year alone, some 182,000 jobs were created in Australia, and we are really proud of that effort, building up more than 1 million jobs created on our watch. And again, if I can just say to all Australians, enjoy this special time of year. Thank you to those who are working over the break. Whether it be in our emergency services, in our security agencies, with our police forces, whether it be those who are in retail and hospitality, even those who work in the media, getting out there, doing work on public holidays. And for those who are out grabbing a bargain today, treat the retail workers with respect. Treat retail workers with the respect they deserve. No one deserves a serve in their workplace. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. The people in our stores are there to help get that bargain. They are there to help get the goods that you want. Treat them with respect, keep this Christmas spirit going, and that way everyone can enjoy being out in the shops on what is always a very busy day. 

JOURNALIST: On the flip side the penalty rates make it harder for business to [inaudible]. 

GORMAN: The protections that we have put in place are simply locking in what is already there and it is been there and people have relied upon for a very long period of time. What we know is that penalty rates are about supporting those who are working in retail, but they are also consumers. If you do not get more customers, if you are cutting wages everywhere, we are really proud of recognising that investing in wages is how you make sure that you get economic growth. It is how you make sure that you look after people. It is how we support people dealing with cost of living pressures and the protections that we have put in place was simply to stop people going backwards. 

JOURNALIST: With the 24/7 online economy nowadays, is there a danger that penalty rates are making it more expensive for brick and mortar stores to open on days like this when, at the moment, it looks pretty quiet?

GORMAN: It is 8:30 in the morning here in Perth. I am sure it is going to be very busy in the city today. It is lovely weather to get out and about outdoors in the shops. It is not too hot, it is not too cold. When it comes to the protections for penalty rates, these are also protections for people who work in warehousing, people who work in our logistics and delivery, a whole range of workforces rely on those penalty rates - some 2.6 million Australians. If they were to all start going backwards, that would not be good for our economy. It would not be good for the people who work hard. I acknowledge that our economy is changing, but I think you will also see today that people - I saw one store that was opening at 8:00am, it had a set of queues out the front. I am going to pronounce it wrong because I am not into this brand - Lululemon - had about 40 people waiting out the front as I was getting my coffee. I do not know if that is what they normally have or that is because they have got a special sale - 

JOURNALIST: Are you in the market for lycra? 

GORMAN: I will leave that to your investigative journalism, and I will not subject the good readers of the Western Australian newspaper to me in lycra. These penalty rates that people rely upon help pay bills. That is something we are proud to have protected. And I also think for people who are giving up their Boxing Day, they do deserve a bit extra. It is some contribution they make above and beyond just turning up to an ordinary day of work. So paying people that a little bit extra is the right thing to do and we have protected it. 

JOURNALIST: Just as the Federal Member for Perth, though, would you expect it to be busier around this time? Many years ago, we used to see crowds and crowds of people outside Myer and David Jones, and that just was not happening this morning.

GORMAN: I acknowledge that a range of retailers have shifted the ways that they promote their sales. Some of them now have them online from earlier, very early hours of the morning. Some of them now also participate in other sales throughout the year. I am certain you will see the CBD filling up. We are out here early. I am an early riser. I like to get my work done early. But I am sure the CBD is going to be bustling, and you will see that as the day progresses. 

JOURNALIST: Can I just get your reaction to the firebombing that happened yesterday? It doesn't seem like the nation's united in the wake of Bondi does it?

GORMAN: I believe that the nation has united against the hateful, antisemitic, scumbag actions that we have seen in that fire bombing. It is absolutely disgusting what we saw. It was a Rabbi who was just out providing support to his community, at a time where it should be a time of peace and goodwill. And to see that happen was, for all Australians, heartbreaking that those things are happening in our country. It makes me even more determined as we head into 2026 to eliminate the scourge of antisemitism that, sadly, we are seeing here in Australia. We have got an excellent road map for the work that we need to do from Jillian Segal, I thank her as the Federal Member for Perth for that work. I thank her as a member of the Albanese Government, because we will get that done. We have got all of those recommendations, and I recognise as well that the way we implement that work is to work together as an Australian community.  Government has a leading role to play, but I know that the report that was provided to us was about the role the community can play as well. I have been proud to support a number of initiatives here in Western Australia, including support for the Holocaust Institute, so that we can continue the work to educate and share what is known about how we, as a community, can push back this hateful tide and make sure that we have the welcoming, kind community that we all know and love.

JOURNALIST: On Bondi, polling shows that around half of Australians back a Commonwealth Royal Commission. Will the government consider pulling one into Bondi attack?

GORMAN: We have heard a range of views on this matter, and the position that the government has put forward is that we recognise that Royal Commissions can take many, many years. The work that we need to do in terms of both implementing the recommendations we have accepted from the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, to implement those recommendations, we need to make sure that we get that done now. I do not want a delay when it comes to the work that Dennis Richardson will do. I want to make sure our security agencies, right now, in the months ahead, are ready to do what we need from them as we have seen a significant change in circumstances here in Australia - that is the position we have taken.

JOURNALIST: You can do both at the same time. While you hold a Royal Commission, doesn't prevent the government from doing action at the same time. Why not do both?

GORMAN: We have taken the view that we need to act now. That is what the government can - 

JOURNALIST: But you can act now and call a Royal Commission. Why not do both?

GORMAN: We have taken the view, and I think if you were to look at the proposed terms of reference that have been shared by the Coalition, those terms of reference would see some more than some 100 different points of investigation activity - 

JOURNALIST: So come up with your own terms of reference. 

GORMAN: I will talk about terms of reference, and I will just refer to the fact that in terms of reference for the New South Wales Royal Commission - which we will provide full support for - they will be released in coming days. I respect that they are working through that at the moment. We will do our work that we have outlined over a number of days now, as we think that is the best way to do what is the core responsibility of the Australian government, which is to make sure that every part of our policy settings can do what is needed to keep Australians safe.

JOURNALIST: You still haven't explained why you can't do both.

JOURNALIST: Jewish leaders are calling for a federal Royal Commission. Isn't it important right now for the Albanese Government to show how it is supporting the Jewish community with a federal Royal Commission? Because that's what they are calling for. 

GORMAN: I really understand the different range of views on this, and I respect the views that have been put forward by a range of leaders. The work that we are doing is the work that we have already outlined and committed to, which is the work that is outlined in the Special Envoy's report. The work that we are doing is the work that will be outlined in Dennis Richardson's review. Dennis Richardson, you could not find better Australian to do the work that needs to be done right now, to give the blunt advice to Australia, to our national security agencies, and to others about what action needs to be taken. We will have that in our hands within months, not years. And I think that is the right course for Australia right now. We need unity and action. I do not want division and delay. We need unity and action, and that is the choice we have made. Others choose to go down a path of looking for points of division or looking for excuses to delay. I do not think that is the right course, and I am very confident in the position the Australian Government has taken.

JOURNALIST: Is there regret that Jilian Segal’s report wasn't acted on sooner?

GORMAN: The government responds to the report from the Special Envoy and notes a number of the matters that have been outlined in the report had already been acted on. One of the ones that I am very passionate about is the work that has been done to make sure we have stronger protection for students on university campuses here in Australia. A Student Ombudsman has been in place for a period of time now. What we have seen in some of our university campuses has been unacceptable and un-Australian. Every student should feel safe at their university workplace. It is entirely appropriate that we respond. We outline the items that have already been actioned, and we provide that further response. I will again like to thank, on behalf of the Australian Government, the Special Envoy for the work that she has done, but will continue to do. Because I also note that a number of the recommendations were about the work that the Special Envoy will continue to do in an ongoing capacity to make sure that we deal with the circumstances that Australia faces right now, and equally, the work that needs to be done in our education system, to be co-lead by David Gonski. I think again, you could not find a better Australian to do that work. And again, I thank David Gonski for being willing to do that job and to have -on being appointed - gotten straight down to work. 

JOURNALIST: Are you confident that you'll be able to gain the support of the Greens, cross bench or the Coalition to pass those laws you talked about earlier relating to antisemitism, hate speech, violence?

GORMAN: When it comes to the laws that the Australian government is currently drafting. When it comes to hate speech and further powers to the Immigration Minister to ban people from Australia who might come to spread division and hate here, I am confident that we will get those laws through the parliament. I think every parliamentarian will recognise that this is a time for action. When it comes to various parties that are mentioned, I think this ultimately comes down to a question for every parliamentarian. Whatever their party. Whatever their state. Whatever their group is. This is about a moment of national unity for the parliament to respond to the challenges in front of us. The Immigration Minister needs more powers, and the parliament should provide them. We need stronger hate speech laws, and the parliament should enforce those laws. And we continue to do that drafting over the summer break. We will have Parliament return to make sure that we can get those laws through. And I think anyone in the parliament who is seeking to unnecessarily delay those laws needs to have a good hard look at themselves, because it will be clearly for their political partisan advantage, not for the national interest in which they are acting. 

JOURNALIST: Will the summer break be cut short if parliament [inaudible] earlier in January? 

GORMAN: As we have said, we are drafting laws right now. We remain open to how we act to make sure we get those laws done as quickly as possible. What we need to do, though, and we are very clear about this, is we do need to do consultation, with specifically the Jewish community and a range of the States and Territories to make sure that we get those laws right. But the minute that that work is done, we will get Parliament considering and passing those laws.

JOURNALIST: As Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, you work closely with Anthony Albanese. What have you made of the criticism of his response to Bondi? Is he taking that personally? And what have you made of it?

GORMAN: I think when Australia faces the most horrific, terrorist attack on Australian soil we have ever seen, there is obviously going to be a range of [inaudible]. The Prime Minister's job, which he has been doing in a very careful, considered, passionate way - to bring the country together and to focus on the work we as the Australian Government need to do. I think you have seen real unity from the Australian Government about what needs to be done. We have seen real leadership from the Prime Minister about the work that lies ahead of us, and at the same time, respectively, there is too much hurt and too much sorrow in Australia right now. That is not as anyone [inaudible]. 

JOURNALIST: A Canberra man has been recently charged with giving the Nazi salute in a shopping centre. Is the Government concerned at just how brave this behaviour is becoming in public shopping centres?

GORMAN: Let us be clear, there is no place for antisemitism anywhere in Australia - in private spaces, in public spaces. Those who are doing this will be found and will be punished in accordance to the law. That is what I expect. That is what the Australian people expect. And anyone who is making excuses for those sort of behaviours needs to have a really good, hard look at themselves. Because Australia is a kind, welcoming place where we look out for one another, and these sort of actions are the complete opposite of that. It disgusts me. I will continue to call it out. I know others will as well.

JOURNALIST: Has the criticism of the Prime Minister in the wake of the Bondi attacks been up there? 

GORMAN: People can have their views. This is a time where there is great sorrow in the Australian community and we are experiencing something that Australia has not experienced before. We are a democracy where people can put their views. But when it comes to political leaders, and when it comes to political leaders in other parties, they need to remember they also have a job to do. That is a job to act in the national interest. Sometimes, when you walk into that chamber in Parliament, you have to put the partisan divides at the door and act in the national interest. And that is what I am really hoping we see in 2026. Because the Australian people do not get outcomes, when you have just got people firing hot shots. They do not get anything out of it. And if we want to deliver outcomes to the Australian people, to preserve the safe, cohesive society, which we all want to be and which we have all been fortunate to live in, then we have to work together. 

JOURNALIST: You support the bans on the protests?

GORMAN: New South Wales bans – yes. 

JOURNALIST: Should that be replicated here in WA? 

GORMAN: We will provide support to state governments as they work through their various responses. I think the reason we have different state and territory governments is the particular challenges, when it comes to keeping people safe, are different in different parts of the country. There have been protests here in Western Australia that I thought were inappropriate, disgusting, completely unhelpful for any form of social cohesion. As some of you are well aware, I have had some pretty disgusting protests out the front of my electorate office just up the road in Inglewood. I do not see how the people who have supported some of those protests have added anything to the sort of Australia we want to have. 

JOURNALIST: Which protest Are you referring to [inaudible]? 

GORMAN: Some of the chants which I will not repeat, have been disgusting. 

JOURNALIST: Labor MPs attended the more recent protests in Forrest Place. Is that problematic that Labor MPs have attended these rallies around the nation?

GORMAN: I am not aware of what happened at every single rally. I have never attended any of them. But some of the chants, which have been made out in front of my electorate office in Inglewood, have been completely inappropriate, have disgusted me. And I am aware of those chnats because I was sitting inside and I heard them, and it just broke my heart.

JOURNALIST: So then, you know, the laws banning the phrase ‘globalise intifada’ in New South Wales. Should that be replicated in other states?

GORMAN: Western Australia has been a real leader in some of the responses, when it comes to; how do you make sure that you pushback on those who seek to speak or spread hate. Through National Cabinet, we are having different states and territories share their approaches. In some areas, you will get harmonisation. In other areas, you will see the Commonwealth take the leading role. And in some areas, states will come up with their own approaches. When I think about what I am grateful for here in Western Australia; in recent times, we have had less of the forms of hate than we have seen in Sydney and Melbourne. But we have not been free from it. We have seen awful [inaudible]. We have seen awful protests. We have seen things happen on university campuses here that are unacceptable for students. We have seen things happen outside the schools that are unacceptable. There has been too much of it, and it has to stop. And that is the determination, that I think, you see very clearly from state government here. You see very clearly from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. You see very clearly from Premier Chris Minns. We are all going to work together, because this is the national priority right now, and where there are good ideas [inaudible] - 

JOURNALIST: Mr Gorman does that include the union movement? Because the union movement supports the Labor Party, but we have seen a lot of advertising from unions that have participated in these protests, either in Perth or at Fremantle Port, and the chants have been from the river to the sea, which calls for the destruction of Israel. And union members have participated in those chants or been present when people have said ‘globalise intifada.’ To what extent does union movement have responsibility for some of this as well?

GORMAN: Well, firstly I will say, of course. The right of Israel to exist is something that Australia has supported since we voted for the creation of Israel at the United Nations. But I do not have to say that about other countries, and that makes me very sad. I do not have to say that I support the rights of other nations to exist. Israel is a democracy. It is a nation that has provided medical and other technologies to the world, and I do not know why anyone would [inaudible] and that is deeply troubling. I think everyone has – whether be a trade union movement, business, community, society - I think everyone has to reflect over this period of time about how we appropriately engage going forward. I will note that there are a range of union leaders acknowledging that they are not going to be supporting any further protests in the time ahead. I think that is the right response, and I welcome them for that. I draw your attention to the statement that the ACTU put out, a period of time ago relating to these matters, which I think is very definitive. And I welcome that statement. But also, I think everyone has to reflect on how we engage in these discussions, because we want to build the sort of Australia that is welcoming and safe. We have a lot of work to do, and we have all got a role to play. 

JOURNALIST: Minister, can I ask you on another topic? 

GORMAN: yes, might be the last one.

JOURNALIST: The Government introduced a wage grant from last year to fund educator pay rises. Would you accept that this program is underfunded, because calculations show that the subsidy doesn't quite replace actual wages?

GORMAN: We did introduce a wage support for those who work in childcare. Because people who work in childcare were being underpaid and it was unacceptable. What we have done is made sure, with a 15% support, people have been able to get the sort of wages they deserve for the important work of caring for and educating the next generation. Now, the changes that we have made, have meant that the average educator gets about an extra $200 a week in their pocket. That is a good thing. And you know how I know it is a good thing? Because the numbers show us that more people are entering into or returning to the Early Childhood sector to go and work in that sector. Numbers we have seen show a growth of some 15,000 more people working in this incredibly important part of our care economy. And what that means is more places for families to get their children into early education. It means less reliance on casuals and contract staff. And it means that more people are getting a great opportunity of working in early childhood education and care. There is a lot more work to do when it comes to supporting those who work in early childhood education, but we will continue to do that work throughout 2026. The Prime Minister has been very open about his view. Some form of a universal education care system is the sort of model that we want to investigate. I support that and continue to do that work.

JOURNALIST: Just to clarify, you would consider potentially increasing that grant? Providers are saying that they have [inaudible].

GORMAN: We have provided extensive support to providers to get the wages for their staff up without putting additional pressure on parents. We have provided both parts of that package. It continues to roll out. We are always happy to hear from providers. I have seen in early childhood centres across the country, I have seen people getting paid more, and what I have seen is, when you go and talk to childcare providers, they are not dealing with the sort of staff shortages, that were really hurting their businesses just a few years ago. So, it is working. Helping kids and helping families. Thank you very much.