Television interview with Tom Connell - Sky News Afternoon Agenda

TOM CONNELL, HOST:  Joining me now, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman. Thank you for your time today. Some strong comments from your colleague, Ed Husic, on the protests we saw over the weekend. He says: 'politicians have underestimated how strongly Australians feel about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.’ Is that accurate? 

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: I think it is pretty clear. The Australian Government and myself, as a member of that Parliament, know exactly how strongly the Australian people feel. What we are seeing is completely unacceptable. While I think Ed's views have been well known for a long time on this, I recognise the depth of feeling that the Australian people have. We are, by our nature, a generous, kind, country that looks out to the world and looks to where we can help, and obviously the deep frustration in Australia - that aid that we have funded, and indeed the additional $20 million announced by Ministers Wong and Aly today, is not getting to the people who desperately need it. I recognise why people are so frustrated, and why, like the Government itself, we want to see more action when it comes to support for civilians in Gaza.

CONNELL: One of the shifts we're seeing globally by other nations is a move to recognise Palestinian statehood. Would the Labor Government ever do that, while Hamas remains in power in Gaza?

GORMAN: What we have said is that we see recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of the process towards a lasting peace and as part of two-state solution. We do not see that Hamas has any role in a future Palestinian state. Indeed, as your viewers well know, Hamas is a registered terrorist organisation and have done horrific things and held back the aspirations of the Palestinian people. I would hope that we can get to a point where the Palestinian people can meet their aspirations, which is their own state, free from the tyrannical rule of Hamas. 

CONNELL: The peace process though, is a long and complicated one. Just to clarify, because we had Jim Chalmers, for example, saying recognising Palestinian statehood is no longer ‘if,’ but ‘when.’ So, clarifying on that when, would that happen while Hamas is still in power in Gaza?

GORMAN: What we want to see is steps towards Palestinian statehood and steps to remove the obstructions that are provided by Hamas. As you say Tom, these are an incredibly complex set of circumstances. Only getting more complex as we are seeing huge amounts of humanitarian suffering. We will continue to work through that. That decision is a decision to be made by the Prime Minister and senior ministers, but I am not going to put specific set of -

CONNELL: So whether that happens or not, is a decision to come, but that appears to be on the table, from what you're saying? Because previously, it was not going to happen while Hamas were in power, they were all the indications we had is that now up for debate?

GORMAN: What we are looking for Tom, is recognition of a Palestinian state would be about our aspirations for the future. And again, I state that that would be part of a two-state process where you can look to give, what I know so many people want around the world, and obviously in Israel, which is for the rightful recognition of Israel and the rightful ability of people in Israel to live in peace and security. But also, for the steps towards that future Palestinian state, and a state which, again, I will say to your viewers and the Australian Government said many times, we do not see a role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state. 

CONNELL: Yes, and I know that hasn't changed, but the ‘when’ is the query. Anyway. Had my attempt at that. Let me ask you about the roundtable, the productivity roundtable. Another suggestion coming in from the ACTU, of course, a strong backer of Labor, to limit negative gearing and concessions and CGT discount as well to one property. So, one investment property. Is this something Labor is taking seriously?

GORMAN: What we are taking seriously is the process that we are going through. The process we are going through is to invite a range of ideas to be put forward and to encourage paths towards consensus for ideas that can be taken forward to lift our productivity. To make sure we have got the economic resilience we need and to work for budget repair. Now, some of these ideas from the ACTU they have had around for a number of years, and I'd point your viewers to our most recent budget, which outlined the Government's views on tax policy. But I am really relaxed. In a democracy like Australia - 

CONNELL: Okay - 

GORMAN: - where we have lots of intelligent people and lots of people who can put forward suggestions that they believe are in the national interest. I am really relaxed about all of those ideas coming forward, and then through the roundtable and the processes that follow as well. Then the Australian Government can look at where there might be broad consensus in the national interest to meet those policy objectives that we have clearly outlined. 

CONNELL: Alright, well look, in the spirit of cooperation, let's not try to delve down the path of rule in, rule out. Let me ask you this though. You took, obviously policies on CGT discount, as well as negative gearing, to two elections and didn't win either of them. Do you see those policies as having been simply rejected by voters, or is it more nuanced than that?

GORMAN: You have got to accept the lessons of any election that you can test whether it is a win or a loss. And I definitely have accepted that, in terms of some of the things that people have said to us at those elections that you politely pointed out we did not win. I also recognise that the most recent election that we just went to, I was on the side of arguing for lower income taxes, and the Liberals were on the side of arguing for higher income taxes. So - 

CONNELL: Alright but sticking to this policy, when you say ‘lessons learned’ out of those losses, what are you saying? That because those policies were put up and you didn't win the election, then they have been rejected? Is that what you're saying the lesson is?

GORMAN: I think there is always a bit of those lessons that come through. But also, I think we are showing that as a serious, considered, calm and mature government. We are comfortable about some of these ideas being put forward. I know there are a lot more ideas to come. I know that the ACTU has put out some views. There is a range of other stakeholders and industry bodies who are going to put out their views, in the days and weeks ahead. There will be plenty of content for everyone in the media to sort of have a look at what things are being put forward. And we are comfortable about that. Indeed, we are so comfortable about it, the Treasurer commissioned the Productivity Commission to release five papers outlining new - 

CONNELL: He did. Yep. He did.  

GORMAN: - ideas, because we recognise that, that is how you get outcomes. That is a good thing. 

CONNELL: Just jumping in, because I myself am over budget in terms of time here, we'll let a thousand ideas bloom and ruminate over them when we know which ones Labor are picking up and which they're putting down. Patrick Gorman, thank you.

GORMAN: Thanks Tom.