Interview with Andrew Clennell - Sky News Politics Now
ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Well, joining me live in the studio is Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth. Thanks for your time. And to take us to this interview here was the Prime Minister about the protests around the visit of the Israeli President in Question Time this afternoon.
[Excerpt]
ANDREW CLENNELL: Amanda Rishworth, what did you make of the actions of protesters last night?
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS: Well, I would say that a lot of Australians found those protests and the scenes quite confronting. I think people have a right to peaceful protest, but it has to be done peacefully and respectfully. And I think a lot of Australians do not want to see conflict that is happening in the Middle East brought to our shores. So I think there were some very confronting scenes and we want to see people disagree in this country, but do it respectfully.
ANDREW CLENNELL: What do you think of the actions of the protesters, though?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, obviously there's a number of investigations. There are scenes that we're confronting in terms of distressing, in terms of, I think if you're referring to chants that were made, some of those chants are absolutely distressing, and I understand that, and have no place. And people have to actually reflect on their behaviour and make sure that we are in a place where we are disagreeing, but doing it respectfully.
ANDREW CLENNELL: The President's visit, probably you would have always expected this, wouldn't you?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, obviously there was going to be concerns, people with those passionate, strong positions put forward. But it shouldn't be above us to disagree with each other, to peacefully protest and put our position forward, but do so in a peaceful way.
ANDREW CLENNELL: What about the police response - some of the pictures there?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well look, obviously that is a matter for police. I'm not going to make any comment on that. I would note, though, the New South Wales Police has said they're investigating some of that video and will be reviewing some of that video. But we need to have a respectful discussion in Australia. And, you know, the Prime Minister said in question time today, this isn't picking a football team. This is really serious stuff and people have to really reflect on their own behaviour.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Should Grace Tame lose her Australian of the Year title? He wouldn't come at that in Question Time.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Oh look, firstly, I would say, as I've just said, some of the chants that we saw during those protests have no place. They are deeply distressing to people. But in terms of Grace Tame's Order of Australia, that is a matter for the Australia Day Council.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Well, Australian of the Year Award.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Sorry, Australian of the Year Award, It is really a matter for the Australia Day Council.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Were you disappointed in her comments?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well as I’ve said, those chants are deeply, distressing for many Australians and have no place.
ANDREW CLENNELL: I wanted to ask about this Four Corners program last night. Is this why we need a Royal Commission? Could there have been failings by ASIO?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Oh look, I'm not going to comment on an investigation that's underway. I have no doubt that Dennis Richardson - very respected - is doing a review. This is why we absolutely, you know, took action as a Government. And that review's underway, and I'm not going to comment any further.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Productivity is an issue with inflation. Do we need some IR reform - not really in Labor's DNA - to assist employers?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well Andrew, I'll be really clear. I don't see, and I think most Australians wouldn't see, how paying people less actually leads to greater productivity. Of course we need to do things on productivity, and the Treasurer's been very clear about that. But paying people less is not the answer. Pitting unions against employers and having extra industrial action is not the answer.
ANDREW CLENNELL: A Story in The Australian, you’re giving the union movement more grants. Why? It's a tight budget.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, I have to say that, I think, is Tim Wilson auditioning, perhaps, for the leadership of the Liberal Party.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Is it true though?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, what I would say is, yes. Grants were given to the unions along with business organisations. They didn't start in 2022. In fact, they started back in 2011 and continued under the Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison Government. So, this is not a new programme or a new concept and it's about working together. So it has been even-handed and both employers and unions receive those grants.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Are you expecting capital gains tax changes in the budget? Would they be accompanied by income tax cuts, do you think?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I'm not going to pre-empt the budget. Obviously that is not our current policy and I don't intend to pre-empt the budget.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Are you expecting budget cuts in your own area?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Obviously the Government is taking a very responsible budgeting approach. And you would have seen in MYEFO, a $20 billion worth of savings - that is really, significant.
ANDREW CLENNELL: We need more, it seems.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, of course we've got to continue to do the work that we can as Government when it comes. But we have been making progress and I have to say our Government will continue to do what we can when it comes to budget responsibility.
ANDREW CLENNELL: What do you think of the prospect of Angus Taylor becoming Liberal leader?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, first I would say they haven't really given Sussan a good go, have they?
ANDREW CLENNELL: She's at 18 per cent today.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, She was given a smouldering wreck of the Liberal Party.
ANDREW CLENNELL: She's made it half the smouldering wreck it was.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well look, to be fair to her, she hasn't been given unanimous support. But, I mean, whether it comes to Angus Taylor or whoever wants to put their hand up, they will be held to account for the policies they took to the last election, including an increase in tax on ordinary working Australians.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Are you going to make a thing of the fact she's the first female Liberal leader rolled, if she's rolled?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, what I'm pointing out is that she has had less than a year in the job and, you know, we've already seen moves to move her on. She wasn't really given a strong start from Peter Dutton.
ANDREW CLENNELL: Amanda Rishworth, thanks for your time.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Thank you.
[ENDS]