Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
2SM Mornings with Chris Smith
TOPICS: Federal election, cost of living
6 January 2024
E&OE
Chris Smith
I’m going to talk to Michaelia Cash the WA Senator. She will be playing a major role in attacking government, as you’d imagine during this year’s election campaign. Happy New Year to you, Michaelia.
Senator Cash
Happy New Year. Chris Smith on 2SM, what a great way to start the New Year. Mate, congratulations. I mean, to step into the huge shoes of John Laws, that’s an achievement in itself. But just listening to your previous listeners on talkback and their congratulations to you – I think it’s going to be a fantastic 2025 with you hosting this show on 2SM. So well done, mate. Well done.
Chris Smith
Very, very kind. Listen. Are you rested? Because, as you know, election campaigns are 16 hour daily slogs, aren’t they?
Senator Cash
Look they are, and they need to be 16 hour daily slogs. And in particular, with the decision that Australians are going to make, you know, at the latest, in May this year. And just in terms of your introduction, I mean, the bad news for Australians is the data doesn’t lie. No matter how Mr. Albanese, no matter how Jim Chalmers or anybody else in Labor is going to spin it, the bad news for Australians is and they know this – they are worse off under Labor. The reality is this, after nearly three years of this government, Australians are poorer, and that’s just not me saying that Chris, as a Liberal. The data shows that, and in particular when it comes to our living standards. I mean, we are now living through the worst collapse in living standards on record. Who would have thought that after nearly just three years of Labor, that would actually be a fact. Chris, the data doesn’t lie. That’s the reality under Labor for Australians.
Chris Smith
You’re in The West Australian tomorrow, as I understand it, your office has sent the article, and I read down in this article, in this editorial, that you will be published tomorrow, some of these figures on rents, food, education, electricity and gas. When you look at it as a percentage, it is alarming.
Senator Cash
Well, Chris, it’s interesting because recently the Prime Minister in an interview said this “his government, the Albanese government, have laid our foundations in our first term.” And immediately the question for me was, good, God, if that is the foundation, what in the hell is Mr. Albanese building? Because when you look at those statistics, so prices have increased by 10% since the election, gas up 32% I mean, Australians know that their electricity is up 31%, rents are up 16% I mean food, Chris, you go to a shopping centre and you talk to people, up 12%, it is heartbreaking when people now have to say to you, I can barely afford to put food on the table. And that’s the foundations that Anthony Albanese is talking about. Again, this is why the vote that you cast at the next election as an Australian, is going to be so important, because you’ll either build on the foundation that Mr. Albanese has laid, which I don’t think any Australian wants to build on, or you can vote for change, vote for Peter Dutton and vote to get our country, and I love our country, back on track.
Chris Smith
Yeah, all the best for 2025. Thank you very much for calling in, and I appreciate your kind words. We’ll have you on again, no doubt, maybe a little bit more regularly.
Senator Cash
Would love that.
Chris Smith
You’re able to cut things down into a discernible and understandable words, you know.
Senator Cash
You’ve got to talk plain English for people, Chris, as you and I both know – plain English. In fact, I like what your last talk back person said. They said, you know, let’s talk about what was it getting unwoke, let’s just talk plain English. And what’s actually going to make a difference in Australians’ lives under Peter Dutton.
Chris Smith
Brilliant. Take care.
Senator Cash
Take care. Bye.
Recent Comments