Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
TRANSCRIPT
Doorstop Press Gallery
30 June 2024
TOPICS: Cost of living, Julian Assange
E&OE
Journalist
Michaelia Cash, cost of living relief. Everyone is going to be glad about that. But does the Coalition still stick with its original stage three tax cuts?
Senator Cash
Well, as we’ve always said, all will be revealed prior to the election. But in terms of the cost of living relief that Australians get on the first of July, of course, we are happy for Australians to receive cost of living relief. But the reality is, they need it. They need it because of the policies of the Albanese government. And quite frankly, the cost of living relief that they’re going to get does nothing to touch the sides of the pain the that they are currently feeling. And you’ve got to ask yourself, why are they feeling the pain? You know, the papers said it all last week. Let’s not talk about inflation. It is now Jimflation and as the RBA has actually said, the inflation problem in Australia is homegrown. What does that mean? It means the policies of the Albanese government are putting pressure, upward pressure on inflation.
Journalist
Are you worried that any cost of living relief gets gobbled up in higher prices and potential interest rates?
Senator Cash
The economists have already said that it won’t even touch the sides. I mean, every Australian who wakes up even this morning knows when they go to the shops, when they walk out, they know that the price of food has gone up. If I was a mortgage holder in Australia, you know I’m already doing it tough because of the interest rate rises under the Albanese government. I would be very worried reading about what the economists are now saying in relation to the RBA having either to hold rates or again, a rate rise. If I was someone who was getting my electricity bill, you know, I know that it is going up in excess of 20% because of the policies of the Albanese government. Mr. Albanese, Mr. Chalmers- they get up every morning – and they tell Australians we know you’re doing it tough – words. Where were the actions to actually put in place the policies that will put downward pressure on inflation.
Journalist
There’s a fair bit of interest in what Julian Assange does next. What if he writes a book? What would you say to the proceeds he might receive?
Senator Cash
Well, I’d say to Mr. Albanese and the Attorney-General Mr. Dreyfus, you would need to have a very, very good look at our legislation in relation to not profiting from proceeds of crime. So for example, Schapelle Corby, the proceeds of crime legislation kicked straight in. Mr. Assange has pleaded guilty to espionage. He is not our hero. He is not a whistleblower. He is not a journalist. He is someone who put national security at risk by leaking sensitive information. I would hope that he is not able to profit from this crime. He pleaded guilty to espionage. We do have proceeds of crime legislation both at a Commonwealth and State level in this country. And I would hope our Attorney General and Mr. Albanese have a very good look at whether or not this applies.
Journalist
Would you be worried that given its US conviction, they might fall out of jurisdiction?
Senator Cash
And that’s what we need to have a very, very good look at, whether or not there is an equivalent crime in Australia to enable the legislation to kick in here. Obviously that is what the relevant prosecutor and the AFP would need to mount an argument on. But I would certainly hope that both Mr. Albanese and Mr. Dreyfus are having a very, very good look at whether or not our proceeds of crime legislation does apply. And they just don’t turn their backs on Australians and in particular to profiting by someone who has pleaded guilty to espionage.
Journalist
Do you think he should have been left to the fate of the US legal system?
Senator Cash
We have always said that we maintain and respect the integrity of the US legal system. Mr. Assange pleaded guilty to espionage. I think the focus though, needs to be on Mr. Albanese and his actions in lauding the return of Mr. Assange to Australia as one of the key achievements of his government. Seriously, Australians are doing it tough because of the cost of living crisis this government has brought upon them and Mr. Albanese thinks that a key achievement of his government and I quote, “we got it done” – is Mr. Assange coming back to Australia? I think Mr. Albanese has his priorities all wrong.
Journalist
Was it a bad look to have his legal team and members of his family watching in the House of Representatives?
Senator Cash
Look I’m not going to comment on that, other than this is a reflection on Mr. Albanese and his priorities. I mean, Mr. Albanese needs to be upfront about what he actually said to Mr. Assange in the phone call that he wanted all Australians to know that he made. Was it mere pleasantries or did Mr. Albanese make it very clear to Mr. Assange, as the Prime Minister of this country, that he will not tolerate Mr. Assange doing anything like this again. I greatly doubt he did that. But again, this is a reflection on Mr. Albanese to laud that one of the key achievements of his government is getting this done. In other words, Mr. Assange coming back to Australia.
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