Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
The Today Show with Sarah Abo
TOPICS: antisemitism, Trump tariffs, Federal election ads
3 February 2025
E&OE
Sarah Abo
Welcome back. Well, we are waking up this morning to news of another wave of anti-semitic attacks right across the country, the group of joggers egged in Bondi, as well as graffiti sprayed on a home in Melbourne, as well as graffiti seen in Perth. Joining us to discuss today’s headlines is WA Senator Michaelia Cash from Canberra and independent MP Monique Ryan in Melbourne. Good to see you both this morning. These attacks are becoming relentless. Much of it has been fuelled online. Michaelia, the government has imposed sanctions on Terrorgram, a part of Telegram, an online platform that advocates for these kinds of acts of violence and promotes that kind of harmful material. But you guys, the Coalition, would like to see broader sanctions than just that.
Senator Cash
Oh, absolutely. I mean, I no longer know the Australia that we live in under Anthony Albanese. You now have Jewish people in Australia who fear for their lives, fear for their safety, are worried about their homes, are worried about their places of business. And this can be squarely put down to a failure of the Prime Minister to take decisive action. I mean, where has he been since October the 7th, 2023, when we saw the pro-Hamas rallies at the Sydney Opera House? I mean, in my home state of Western Australia, yesterday, the most disgusting display of anti-semitism. And we have said to the Prime Minister, the Parliament returns tomorrow, we will work with you. In particular, let’s legislate minimum mandatory sentences for acts of Commonwealth terrorism, but also minimum mandatory sentences for the gross display of public hate symbols. Enough is enough, Prime Minister, enough of the weakness. Let’s now act.
Sarah Abo
I mean, Monique, you obviously have to catch these people, right, to try and impose these kinds of punishments. But from where you stand, you know, you’re in Melbourne. You’ve seen these attacks unfolding there. It’s now gone nationwide. How do we stop it? Obviously, what the government’s doing isn’t enough, what the government, what the Coalition is proposing, goes a bit further. But is any of it actually sending a message?
Monique Ryan
Well, I think it is a really distressing time for all Australians, and we’re seeing a rise of anti-semitism, which none of us anticipated seeing in our own lifetimes, and I am hearing from constituents every day that it’s making them feel unsafe. I do think that the government needs to act more in a way which brings in everyone, whether it’s the states and the territories, the Commonwealth and the state police. But I also think that politicians need to stop calling each other names, and we need to work more effectively together in a bipartisan way, on a matter which matters to all Australians.
Sarah Abo
Yeah. I mean, I get what you’re saying there about this kind of being a bit of a political football, but you can’t ignore the fact that it’s ramping up. It’s getting worse. We’re seeing it almost on a daily basis.
Monique Ryan
It has worsened. It’s clearly that things are getting worse and they are ramping up, and that’s causing increasing distress for Jewish Australians in particular. All the more reason for Australians and politicians to come together, to wrap our arms around each other and to work effectively and cohesively together, to act on something which affects all of us.
Sarah Abo
Yeah, it’s not who we are as Australians. It’s really sad to see. Well, let’s move on, and the world is reacting after Trump has launched a trade war targeting Canada, Mexico and China. Monique, are you concerned about the flow on effects and what we could see here in Australia from the President’s actions over there?
Monique Ryan
I think we’re all really concerned about Donald Trump’s actions and their economic implications for Australia. We know that that could have an immediate effect on a share market that could flow on to interest rates, and we’re all dealing with the crisis of housing affordability and availability in this country, so we’re watching it very closely. I’m hoping that Minister Farrell will be engaging very closely with his American counterpart to protect Australia’s trade interests.
Sarah Abo
Michaelia, it’s all a bit far offshore for now, but in a few months time, you guys could get elected into power. Donald Trump then becomes your problem. How do you manage that?
Senator Cash
Well, we successfully worked with the Trump administration last time we were in office. As you know, they did impose tariffs on certain products. We worked with them, and Australia did not have those sanctions imposed. What it shows is, under a Coalition government, you can work with a Trump regime. And certainly this is the problem with this government. How many ministers have been out there prior to President Trump being re-elected absolutely bagging him and bagging his administration? You need to be able to show that you can have a working relationship with this administration. And that is something the Coalition has done previously and successfully when in government, and I can assure you it will be something that the Coalition does successfully again. But I worry about this government, given so many ministers are on the record saying the most disgraceful things about now President Trump.
Sarah Abo
He’s quite emboldened this time around though, Michaelia, it could be a different president to manage.
Senator Cash
He’s showing that he’s a man of action. He was overwhelmingly re-elected by the American people. He was elected as President. He took the House, he took the Senate. The American people, they expect action, and that is what they’re getting, and they’ll get the exact same attitude under a Peter Dutton government. And I can assure you, just like last time, we will work successfully with the Trump administration.
Sarah Abo
Well, the American people are very different to the Australian people, let’s not forget that, but let’s quickly move on, because we are actually starting to see campaign style ads hit the airwaves now. Michaelia, we don’t even have an election date yet, but the ugly campaigns have started.
Senator Cash
Wow, after two and a half years in government, literally destroying the lives of the Australian people with their cost of living crisis, the best that Mr. Albanese can come up with is they don’t like Peter Dutton. I think Australians are sick and tired of this government. I think Australians will look at this ad just like they look at the empty promise of $275 off their energy bill, just like they look at the empty promise of cheaper mortgages and cheaper interest rates. You know, Mr. Albanese needs to stop focusing on the negative, and for once, start focusing on delivering cost of living relief to the Australian people. Australians have had enough.
Sarah Abo
All right. Look, it’s going to get ugly, Michaelia, we’ll be watching from the sidelines, and Monique as well. Thank you so much for joining us.
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