Interview with James Glenday - ABC News Breakfast

JAMES GLENDAY, HOST:    Now, though, we want to check in with federal politics because it is a pretty big week. Of course, we've got all these ructions within the coalition that are still rumbling away, but the Prime Minister is also heading to Washington as we speak to meet with the US President Donald Trump. And Labor Minister Amanda Rishworth joins us now from Parliament House. Minister, welcome back to the show.

AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS:    Great to be with you.

JAMES GLENDAY:    Can I just start on on this very first- this meeting between Anthony Albanese and the US President? Of course, we've seen some fiery scenes in the Oval Office. How do you think the Prime Minister is going to be approaching this to ensure it all goes smoothly?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, I'm not going to pre-empt the discussion between the Prime Minister and the President. But of course, we are the closest of allies, we've got such a long history and shared goals around peace and security around the world. So, no doubt there'll be a number of opportunities to have discussions about how we deepen our ties as a country. So look, I'm not going to pre-empt any discussions the Prime Minister has, but I'm sure they'll be very productive.

JAMES GLENDAY:    I won't get you to pre-empt it, but you must be hoping that Donald Trump gives his full-throated backing to AUKUS given all the coverage there's been about this review into it.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well look, I'm not going to pre-empt the review either. Of course, we see AUKUS as a really essential, important part of our defence capability. Of course, it's not just a benefit to Australia, it's a benefit to the three partners - the UK and the US. But look, there'll be an opportunity, you know, of course, as the review comes out, to have a discussion about that. But I have no doubt that this is a great opportunity for us to look at how we deepen our ties as two countries.

JAMES GLENDAY:    Just on another issue, you can say a lot of things about Barnaby Joyce, but no-one would accuse him of not being good at garnering publicity. What do you make of him toying with One Nation?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, it's very hard to work out who's in and out of the National Party, who's in and out of the Liberal Party, but look, at the end of the day, that's a matter for Barnaby Joyce about which party he wants to align himself in. I think the issue is that it's more than just one man. I mean, what we've seen, a level of infighting in the Liberal Party and the National Party and between the Liberal and the National Party, that really shows, I think, unfortunately they're more interested in themselves than the Australian people.

But as a government, we're not going to get distracted by that. We're going to get on with the job and we're going to fight, not for ourselves, but for the Australian people.

JAMES GLENDAY:    Would you be at all worried, though, if Barnaby Joyce - who, let's not forget, he's a former Deputy Prime Minister, he held that role twice, he's got a lot of experience in Government - would you be at all worried if he joins One Nation and then somehow breathes extra life into a right-wing populist movement in Australia?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, look, I'm not going to get caught up in what Barnaby Joyce does and doesn't do. I mean, ultimately, we've got a situation here where he is- who knows if he's in or out? But, you know, what I'm focused on is what's in the interests of the Australian people, not who's in which party which day, who's having a a break-up, who's having a fight. I mean, that is all incredibly distracting and what people don't like about politics. So, you know, we're just going to get on with the job and let them just do what they need to do. And really, though, our focus is on the Australian people.

JAMES GLENDAY:    The former Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, will join us next hour. Just to your portfolio area before I let you go, the details are pretty sparse, but Sussan Ley is going to give a speech today, it's being billed as a major speech. She's going to outline some broad policy areas that she is going to pursue.

One of the things that she'll reportedly announce are plans to unwind multi-employer bargaining. Of course, this was introduced by your predecessor, Tony Burke, during the last parliament. Are you worried about that move by the Coalition?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, firstly, I would say there is- you're right, it is very sparse and we would expect to see a lot more detail from Sussan if any of her positions are to be taken seriously. But when it comes to industrial relations, Sussan Ley has got to explain how paying people less will actually lead to greater productivity. It just doesn't happen by reducing people's wages.

Of course, reinvigorating bargaining was a key focus of our Government, and we're starting to see that deliver. We have the most number of people covered by enterprise bargaining, 2.8 million people since enterprise bargaining was brought in. And those enterprise agreements are delivering above economy-wide wage increases. They're allowing for flexibility between employers and employees.

But when it comes to multi-employer bargaining, is Sussan Ley saying that she is going to rip up the agreement that is delivering our early educators wage increases? That is what she is effectively saying, because multi-employer bargaining has been one of the tools around bargaining, not the only one, to reinvigorate bargaining. She's got to answer the question, are we going to see early educators take a pay cut as a result of this announcement? Of course, there is no detail yet and I'm sure we'll be waiting. But paying people less isn't the answer, and I hope Sussan Ley understands that.

JAMES GLENDAY:    Stay tuned to the ABC, we'll have coverage of that speech later today. Amanda Rishworth, thanks for joining the show this morning.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Thank you.