Interview with Kieran Gilbert - Sky News Afternoon Agenda

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Joining me live in the studio is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Patrick, thanks for your time. On the environmental law reform. The Minister's convinced he's going to get it through the Parliament this week. Would you prefer to be doing the deal with the Coalition, given the compromise likely you'd have to make with the Greens to get it through? 

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: My view, the bill as it stands, is in a form that the Greens and the Coalition could vote for right now. It is better for the environment than the current laws. It is better for business than the current laws, and it will create more jobs and more economic activity throughout Australia. Now we are happy to have the conversation with a range of Senators, the Greens Party - 

GILBERT: In WA your resources sector, they - and we saw Jim Chalmers last week say, "please urge the coalition to back it." If you back it with the - if you get it through with the Greens support. Does it undermine the Bill? Because you don't have that bi-partisan support?

GORMAN: This started from the Coalition's work. This was a report. The Graeme Samuel Report was handed to Sussan Ley when she was Environment Minister. I think it is for them to explain why they are not voting for the Bill. It is not for me to explain. We did have the Treasurer in Western Australia last week. We had the Prime Minister bring the whole Ministry down to Bunbury, where there are huge opportunities when it comes to renewables, huge opportunities when it comes to critical minerals, and it is part of the world which would benefit - and the environment of the southwest of WA - would benefit from these laws passing. I know there have been a number of business representatives from the west advocating for this bill to pass. I welcome that. 

GILBERT: And so, you'll be doing - that'll be your first priority is to get the deal done with the Coalition, and the fallback is the Greens?

GORMAN: Kieran I will go back to what I said, which is my view is that the Bill in its current form is entirely reasonable to expect that the Greens and the Coalition could support it. It is a good Bill. It comes after five years of consultations, we had the Samuel review, we have had discussions in the Parliament. We have had two elections, we have had inquiries, we have had everything you could expect, huge number of environment and business groups consulted. This week, it is time to get it done.

GILBERT: The Net Zero Bill, Barnaby Joyce's Bill, is back for the debate today. It takes on a different complexion this sitting week, given the events of recent days. But is this a risk for the Government - that they have actually got their timing right on this, when you look at the lack of momentum internationally, off the COP last week? 

GORMAN: I don't know. You have to be a very good spin doctor for the Liberal Party to say that Barnaby Joyce's Bill from the backbench is somehow good for their Leader, Sussan Ley. I mean, clearly it is the backbench of the National Party that is driving the entirety of Coalition policy development. Now when it comes to COP and COP31, we have been really open about the role we think Australia could play. We have been asked to play a role with Chris Bowen leading as the Negotiations President. That is a good thing. Australia always steps up on the world stage and does our bit. 

GILBERT: Is he then a part-time Minister on energy? 

GORMAN: I think we - 

GILBERT: Sussan Ley's saying that he should be focusing all his attention on getting power bills down - which you get to follow the promise made by the Government two elections back.

GORMAN: I would say to anyone who thinks that what happens in the world doesn't impact Australia, to explain that logic. If that is Sussan Ley's logic, I don't get it. Because clearly what happens at these international negotiations impact Australia. Having Australian front and centre, and someone with the expertise of Chris Bowen, who served as our Climate and Energy Minister, getting our legislated framework for making sure we get emissions down in Australia - delivering on practical things like the cheaper household batteries, so people can keep more of their own energy. All those things make a difference -

GILBERT: You've done that, but you haven't got the power prices down. That's the one missing piece, and it's a pretty big missing piece in the puzzle, isn't it, both the households and industry as well? 

GORMAN: When we saw the international events that led to energy price spikes, we took action. We gave assistance to households through energy bill - 

GILBERT: It's not just international it's the - 

GORMAN: It is a range of factors - 

GILBERT: The transmission roll out. Its all about [inaudible] and the renewable build, it's all adding to this cost. 

GORMAN: When we came to Government, we were really open about the challenges. We had a whole range of coal-fired power stations announce their closure. But the Coalition, at different points in time, where Barnaby Joyce indeed was sitting there as Deputy Prime Minister, Sussan Ley was sitting there as Environment Minister, they were not putting together a plan. They put together multiple plans. They never actually landed on one, and that meant there has been a lot of catch up for Australia to do, just to get the energy we need into our grid - 

GILBERT: As a party, you know, former party official yourself, can you see the vulnerability here if they get their act together? Because if they can nail it and get some unity, they can target the cost of living question, again, that prices question, unless you deliver on the promise that's been made now for years. 

GORMAN: I think Australians know that there have been a range of international factors, including the global inflation pressures, that have put pressure on a range of bills for households. We are focused on cost of living relief in a range of different ways, where we can do it without adding to inflation. That is what we did with the power bill energy rebates. It is what we are doing with our HECS relief that starts this week, where 3 million Australians are about to get that very special text message telling them that 20 per cent has been wiped off their HECS debt. But without putting inflationary pressure into the market. That is not the question - 

GILBERT: Can Chris Bowen - can he do both jobs? Can he be a COP negotiations chief and an Energy Minister? 

GORMAN: Definitely. 

GILBERT: He can do both? 

GORMAN: Definitely. 

GILBERT: Stay in the Cabinet?

GORMAN: Definitely. 

GILBERT: On the Newspoll - 

GORMAN: Chris Bowen has all the skills you need to do that important international role. I am always proud when I see Australians stepping up on the world stage. And I think sometimes when there is a bit of a Team Australia moment, it would not hurt for Sussan Ley to show some leadership. And just for once, back Australians who are doing an important role on the world stage. 

GILBERT: She's obviously trying to shore up her own job at the moment, given the Newspoll. Where things are at the moment, is it a challenge for the Government to avoid a sense of hubris?

GORMAN: I have sat on panels where I have said, maybe I don't think the polls are as bad as they indicate they are, when people would question where things have been for us in the past. I think polls are never as good or as bad as they might appear on the front page of a newspaper. You have always got to earn the next election win. That is - 

GILBERT: Your fellow West Australian, Andrew Hastie, looks like he's chipping away, though, gradually increasing his support? 

GORMAN: He spent the whole year saying that he wants to be Leader. Andrew Hastie has spent the whole year saying he wants to be Leader. But now really the question is, is he going to put up, or is he going to shut up? I mean, realistically, does this guy have the ticker, and does this guy have the courage to actually nominate for the job he says he wants? 

GILBERT: That is a big call, questioning the courage - former SAS soldier? 

GORMAN: Politics is a different tough act. I am just questioning, does he have the courage to stand up for the job that he has been saying all year, he wants. And I guess we will know at the end of this week.

GILBERT: Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. Thanks, appreciate it. 

GORMAN: Thanks Kieran.

ENDS