Radio Interview - RTRFM
| BETH MACKIEWICZ, HOST: We've been getting into all sorts of Federal Budget commentary and analysis across the station this past week, but I'm delighted to chat to friend of the station and our Federal Member for Perth, Patrick Gorman, on his thoughts after the Budget was passed down on Tuesday. Patrick Gorman is also the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, the Assistant Minister for the Public Service, Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on top of being, of course, the Federal Member for Perth. He wears many hats and I'm very excited to chat to him. Good morning, Patrick. PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Beth. And I am very excited to chat to you. It is not just an exciting Budget week, but it is also Radio Love Month, so - MACKIEWICZ: Yes. GORMAN: - It is great to be here. MACKIEWICZ: He's got a mention in early. Thank you so much. So, this government has repeatedly talked about Australia becoming a renewable energy superpower. How does this Budget actually move us closer to that goal? GORMAN: Yeah, so we have made significant investments and they are all locked in, in this Budget. When it comes to the big things we're doing, like the Capacity Investment Scheme, which is what we use to help the West Australian Government in the joint projects that we're doing in terms of installation of batteries, more wind. And then it continues the investments we've been making around what has been an incredibly successful Cheaper Home Batteries program. And I have bumped into people on Beaufort Street, in fact, who have benefited from that very program. We have seen thousands and thousands of Western Australians put in a battery with a bit of support from the Commonwealth and the state government. But also, what that is doing is giving us a stronger, more resilient energy grid, which means that it is easier and easier to put in more renewables, which is a huge part of our plan to get to net zero emissions by 2050. MACKIEWICZ: For Western Australia specifically, where do you see the biggest tangible benefits from this Budget in terms of jobs and industry growth? GORMAN: When it comes to jobs, I think what it really does is secure the investments we are making in our TAFE colleges and in our universities, specifically around our Free TAFE program. Now that has been a huge success. Whether you are at Northbridge TAFE, East Perth TAFE, Leederville, or Mount Lawley, across the Perth electorate. We are seeing that program give people the skills they need to get the really good jobs that are available in Western Australia. We have seen a range of bits of Western Australian industry welcome the Budget that we have released. And I think what we have known for a long time is that one of the reasons people want to get a good, secure job in the West is so that they can save up some money and buy their own home. MACKIEWICZ: Yeah. GORMAN: And that connection has been fraying, and people have been feeling that they are working hard, they are doing everything that the generation before them did, but they are not able to get into the housing market. And so, bringing that promise of home ownership closer for people early in their careers is really important, and this Budget delivers on that. MACKIEWICZ: What is being done at a federal level to support the long-term sustainability of arts and cultural organisations? GORMAN: We did some really important work in our first term around writing a new cultural policy, which is called Revive. The Revive Cultural Policy has given us the guidance to put more money into Creative Australia. And putting that additional funding into Creative Australia has really enabled us to support organisations, including PICA in Northbridge, which is much loved here in the Perth electorate. But also to make sure that we are funding our arts organisations more broadly. There are two things that I think will be welcomed by your listeners in particular. MACKIEWICZ: Yeah. GORMAN: We have increased the funding for Creative Australia, which funds arts organisations across the country, by $14.7 million in this Budget. And the other thing, I think, for those who are lovers of radio and our radio history, in particular, there is additional funding for the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Now, your listeners may not have heard of that, but it's the body that is responsible for capturing those important moments of Australia's history that have been in broadcast or film. And we are giving them an additional $9.9 million so they can keep preserving our rich history, and so we can rely on Australian stories and Australia's history, rather than importing culture from elsewhere. MACKIEWICZ: We are told arts and cultural participation is very high in WA, higher than some of the other areas of community activity. Is that reflected in more consistent federal investment? GORMAN: I think that just speaks to the character of Western Australians, that we really appreciate art and recognise that it's a fundamental part of life. The two things I would say that we have done, and this was in an earlier Budget, is obviously we came to the table when it came to preserving and saving Sculpture by the Sea, which is one of those mass public participation arts events that welcomes people from all walks of life in to engage with art. Obviously, I'm really proud of the funding we provide in the electorate for PICA, for example, but also, I recognise that what I want is for people to be able to afford to go to see that local band at a local venue. And so, some of the things we do, where it is about making sure that we help people with cost of living pressures, which we have done to our tax cuts and our Working Australians Tax Offset of $250, it is also about making sure that people can keep doing the things they love, like going and seeing a band at the Rosemount on a Friday night. MACKIEWICZ: Yeah, so it's not just out of necessity getting those payments. It's to be able to enjoy things like live music. GORMAN: I don't want any Australian to feel that they cannot find a way to engage in the arts. Whether that be going to free galleries or free exhibitions or free community activities, or if they choose to, being able to afford to go and see live music or live theatre. Because that is how we share some of those things that are fundamental about being Australian. That is how we share our stories, and there is great joy. I always say, I don't have a lot of musical talent, I've got a lot of audience talent. And I reckon there is probably a few people who are listening to your program who also have good audience talent. And if that is the contribution that we can make, some of us can make to the arts, then that is a really great contribution. MACKIEWICZ: Yeah. GORMAN: There is nothing better than being in the audience of seeing new and emerging artists. MACKIEWICZ: I'm right there with you. There's nothing, there's nothing like it, it's the absolute best. How confident are you that what's been announced in the Federal Budget will actually be delivered on the ground, particularly for smaller organisations and regional communities? GORMAN: One of the focuses the Prime Minister’s been really clear with us is that it is about delivery. We have got a really proud track record of delivering on the things that we have prioritised. When it comes to the Perth Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, now some, not only have we opened it, we have had some 37,000 people go through the doors and benefit from that. When it comes to what we have been able to deliver, some of the social housing projects that we have invested in. Including on Pier Street in Perth, where we have got significant investment in new-build housing to make sure that we are helping the next generation get a secure roof over their head.Or, the some 2000 people who have benefited from our 5% deposit guarantee, helping people into the housing market without having to save excessive amounts of deposits. The reason I point out all those things is because that is, that is what gives me confidence that the things we have put in this Budget, we can deliver. And I want to note, you know, in the electorate of Perth, we have got a lot of people who work in the state and federal public service. We do this in partnership, and I know that we deliver because we work in partnership with the public service and with many community organisations to deliver on our agenda, and everyone who has a role to play in making sure that we can deliver these things, not just in Perth but across the nation, I say thank you. MACKIEWICZ: Thank you so much for your time this morning, Patrick. GORMAN: Thanks Beth. MACKIEWICZ: That was our Federal Member for Perth, Patrick Gorman, getting into the Federal Budget and its implications for Western Australia. ENDS |