TRANSCRIPT
AFTERNOON AGENDA WITH ANDREW CLENNELL
19 JANUARY 2023
E&OE
Andrew Clennell
Let’s go live now to Perth, where I’m joined by the Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Senator Michaelia Cash. Michaelia Cash thanks for your time might start by asking about…
Senator Cash
Great to be with you.
Andrew Clennell
…Jacinda Ardern. What do you think of her departure?
Senator Cash
Well, look, New Zealand is obviously a key ally and key partner of Australia. Jacinda Ardern, has worked well with prime ministers of both political persuasions in Australia. And certainly I think like anybody, you would always wish her well. But ultimately, now it is over to the people of New Zealand, who in October of this year, will vote on who will be their next prime minister, and which political party will ultimately lead New Zealand.
Andrew Clennell
And that looks like the Nationals, doesn’t it? Assume you’d welcome that sort of outcome?
Senator Cash
Well again, that is ultimately up to the people of New Zealand, and they’ve got the next 10 months, it’s in October of this year, to work through and look at the different policies that are put forward by both political parties. But like anywhere or in Australia, it is ultimately up to the people to make that decision.
Andrew Clennell
All right well, it’s less than a year ago that Anthony Albanese couldn’t name the unemployment rate of 4%. Look at it today, it’s three and a half. This is good news, isn’t it? Does the government deserve a pat on the back for this Michaelia Cash?
Senator Cash
So what we’re actually seeing though, is the unemployment rate remain at you know, what are without a doubt, historical low levels because of the policies that were put in place by the former coalition government. You haven’t seen the impact of Labor’s industrial relations laws, which employers across Australia said will ultimately have an impact and a negative impact on jobs, wash through the economy. You also have the next attack on the labour market in Australia, which is basically the Labor government want to get rid of the flexible working arrangements in the labour hire industry. That’s something they’ll bring on next year. And employers are saying this will also have a detrimental effect on their ability to employ. Andrew, you’ve got unions out there recently saying they want to see a union tax imposed on non union members in relation to any wage rises, that they may receive, because the union’s been involved. So again, the former coalition government’s policies, that’s what you’re still seeing the employment market react to, but as many commentators have today said, Yes, whilst the unemployment rate remained the same, there are worrying signs against all market expectations that said, 20,000 jobs would be created, you actually show the economy, it actually shed jobs. I think the most worrying statistic, though, was the decrease in the participation rate, because the participation rate is Australians saying, we’re ready, willing and able, and we have faith in the jobs market. To me, the decrease in net participation rate really does need and should worry, the Albanese government,
Andrew Clennell
All right, what are you saying that somehow within a year, it’s going to be five to 6%? Is that Is that what you’re predicting here? Can we hold you to that?
Senator Cash
Look, I wouldn’t make any predictions. But what I would say is, the economy to date is functioning on the basis of the policies that the coalition government put in place. That is what employers are responding to, and I do know that Anthony Albanese was out there the other day saying…
Andrew Clennell
We’ve had a budget set, we’ve had a federal budget since I mean that that seems, frankly, a bit rich. And if you make the case…
Senator Cash
You may have had a federal budget
Andrew Clennell
…inflation rate based on what your government did is the inflation rate also based on the coalition government’s policies?
Senator Cash
Employers create jobs governments don’t. Governments put in place policies that employers respond to. And to date, what you’ve been seeing is employers responding to the strong economic policies that the coalition government put in place. You’ve now seen in December of last year, the Albanese government put in place several policy decisions, whether it’s on the industrial relations front, or the energy front, and all of the job creators out there and that is the employers of this country are saying they will ultimately have an impact on their ability to create jobs. I’ve spent much of the Christmas break talking to employers here in Western Australia. And the one word they continue to raise with me now in particular in relation to the industrial relations environment is uncertainty. And as we know, when you create uncertainty in particular, in the jobs environment, employers are not likely to create jobs. But as we’ve always said, the test for the Albanese government is to actually maintain the strong low unemployment rates that you saw under the coalition government. That is the test that they will be held to account to.
Andrew Clennell
Okay. Well, let’s move on now to the voice. What’s been the reaction in your home state to that? What’s your personal view of the concept?
Senator Cash
Well, it’s really interesting because this is Mr. Albanese now prime minister of this country, who went to the election saying this government will be one that is transparent, and is one that will have integrity. And when it comes to the voice, and in particular, the details on the voice, their approach is quite baffling. They cannot even answer the most basic of questions to ensure that the Australian people have some form of detail in relation to what this body will or won’t do. When I thought the questions that Peter Dutton proposed for the Prime Minister to answer, were actually quite basic ones, who will actually be on this body? How will they be elected? What will the nomination process be? Will any qualifications be required? You had absolutely nothing coming out of Mr. Albanese. But what you do have is this, the doctoring of a transcript in an interview that he gave where he got the answer wrong. The transcript that that has been issued conveniently just misses out that bit. You have the Attorney General of Australia in a recent interview, he actually sits there………
Andrew Clennell
Sorry, I just want to I mean, that’s an allegation you’re making the I just want to get on top of the allegation, the Albanese government, people are probably listening so they can respond to this. Are you saying what part of this transcript in which interview was saying, Are you saying was doctored?
Senator Cash
Well, again, my understanding is based on media reports, it was in relation to a recent interview that he did, where he was asked about advice that had been sought from the Solicitor General, and the Attorney General has had to come out and clarify that advice. But as I was saying, again, what it goes to his the basic lack of detail, he is asking the Australian people as the prime minister of this country to actually make to vote on constitutional change. But he is either refusing to or unable, I don’t know which one is worse, to provide them with the answers to the most basic of questions, which Peter Dutton has said, please answer them. When you look at the questions, in all honesty, you’d think that’d be able to create a website, have the question, and then actually put next to it to the answer. But all you are seeing to date from Mr Albanese is either as I said, I hope this is not a deliberate move by Mr. Albanese to not provide the Australian public with the detail that they need.
Andrew Clennell
All right, just briefly, we’re almost out of time. In fact, we are out of time. But anyway, I just want to ask this. We had your former colleague Ken Wyatt on here the other day saying that Peter Dutton had become a bit of a naysayer on the voice and he traditionally hadn’t been. So what’s your reaction to Ken Wyatt’s comments?
Senator Cash
Oh, well, they are comments for Ken Wyatt – we all work very well with Ken Wyatt, when we were in government. But what I’d say in relation to Peter Dutton, is on behalf of the Australian people, that’s the Australian people who are going to be voting in this referendum, all he is saying to Mr Albanese is there is a lack of detail a complete total and utter lack of detail. You’re asking the Australian people to make what is a very, very serious decision. Changing the Australian Constitution should never be taken lightly. And the most basic of questions What will this body be? Will it be a decision making body will merely be a body that provides advice, who’s going to be on it? How many people? What are their qualifications? The most basic, basic questions cannot be answered. This is on Mr. Albanese to provide the Australian people with this detail.
Andrew Clennell
Sure he will be in the next couple of months after all the pressure is sustained Michaelia cash. Thank you very much.
Senator Cash
Always great to be with you.
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