SUBJECT/S: New Ministry; Superannuation; Kevin Rudd’s nomination for UN Secretary-General.
KIERAN GILBERT: With me now Labor frontbencher Brendan O’Connor, Mr O’Connor, thanks for your time as we see these pictures of Ministers arriving for the swearing in this morning of the Turnbull Ministry. A reminder I guess for Labor, that while you had a good campaign it’s another three years of Opposition.
BRENDAN O’CONNOR, SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS: Well we had a better campaign than you thought we would Kieran.
GILBERT: True.
O’CONNOR: We did very well, but you’re right we didn’t get over the line, but we are going to continue to pursue this government and hold it to account. You’re already hearing the Prime Minister talk about breaching his commitments to superannuation reform. No one wants to see a tax cut in this time of $50 billion, much of which would go overseas and to big banks is something the Australian public do not want to see. I think there are a whole range of issues for the Government – a lot of challenges for them. Whilst we will be constructive we too believe we’ve got a mandate to protect Medicare and present our case. That’s while we will work constructively with the Government, but we’ll have to wait and see how things go.
GILBERT: There was a lot of talk about the superannuation points of difference within the Coalition leading up to yesterday’s party room but not a lot of action when it actually came about. It looks like the Prime Minister, Treasurer, Finance Minister if there is to be any change it’s only going to be minor by the looks of it.
O’CONNOR: Well again we’ll have to see what’s there. I thought the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was talking about potential changes saying he’d listen to his own caucus. Now whilst not everyone got up in their party room and raised concerns there’s been a lot of commentary as you know to journalists and others about the disappointment. The concern Labor has, however, is we don’t believe there’s been a real articulation of the plans for this country by the Prime Minister or the Government. We don’t believe their replete with policies that would attend to the challenges of this nation and therefore we’ll have to wait and see how they respond. But the first point I think needs to be clarified is what the Government, given its commitments before the election, will be doing in relation to super reform. Are there going to be changes? Are they going to be the same as those that were outlined before the election? Or will the Government walk away from those promises made before the election.
GILBERT: And we have the new Assistant Minister for Industry and Science and Innovation Craig Laundy arriving at Government House as we speak as the Ministers arrive, you’ve done this before Brendan O’Connor a number of times, as a former Minister in the Labor Government -
O’CONNOR: As I say, I like talking to you Kieran but I’d far prefer to be getting out of a Comcar at Government House and having the honour to serve the Australian nation again. But you know I think we did a remarkable job and we will continue to pursue the Government and hold it to account. We think the Government doesn’t have the answers for the challenges of this nation and I guess we’ll just have to see what they’re going to do in relation to their commitments before the election. We do know this though, they’re still looking to attack Medicare, underfund education and they have no jobs plan what so ever. And I do note that Christopher Pyne’s been given a very unusual portfolio, is he now a junior Minister in the Turnbull Government? Is the Department of Defence reporting to him or to Marise Payne, I think these things are not clear, I guess we’ll have these things clarified as we get along.
GILBERT: Yeah indeed and on a different bipartisan note, this is a big day for many of the politicians, some of them have been sworn in for the first time accompanied by their families who have made their way to Canberra over the last 24 hours. Regardless of which side of politics you are from, when you enter Government House and receive that audience with the Governor General and sworn in it’s a great honour, Brendan O’Connor regardless of your political stripes?
O’CONNOR: That’s right, absolutely. On a bipartisan note it is a remarkable privilege and honour to be sworn in as a Minister of an Australian government. I’ve had the honour and it will be a day they never forget especially for those who are being sworn in for the very first time. As I say, leaving aside the politics, it is a great achievement and it is great honour and a day you’ll never forget.
GILBERT: On the policy debate we were mentioning superannuation but on small business the Prime Minister has defended the fact they’ve now moved that small business portfolio out of Cabinet into the outer ministry but arguing it’s the responsibility of all of their frontbench – it’s a key priority for all of them.
O’CONNOR: I think that’s a cop out, Kieran. I think that’s a mistake. The Liberal Party likes to laud itself as representing small business but it happened under the previous Liberal administration. In fact, I was the Small Business Minister appointed after ten years when Labor was last in government and I brought in the Small Business Commissioner and the instant asset tax write off and other small business policies. I think it’s a grave error for the Government to sideline small business by not having room, let’s remember not having room in the largest Cabinet I can remember – 23 Cabinet positions and yet no room for someone to represent small business. A sad indictment I think on the lack of regard that Malcolm Turnbull, I guess someone who is a creature of big business before coming to parliament, has forgotten the constituency that employees 4.5 million people and in many ways is the engine room of our economy.
GILBERT: A couple of quick questions just to finish. The Labor front bench: is it time for renewal there after the election?
O’CONNOR: Well firstly, I think it’s important to note we did very well and led by Bill Shorten and by the Labor Team, I think we did very well and we shouldn’t forget that. This is a political party that has been replenished by the many new members that come into the caucus and we are ready to take up the fight to the Government. Secondly, of course you always want to have some renewal and regeneration. You want to balance the injection of new talent with experience, and we need to get that blend right. It will be determined this week, as it should be. I look forward to that happening, so we can get on with holding the Government to account. We are a coherent and stable Opposition, by way of contrast the Government has internal divisions. We need to make sure we stay that way.
GILBERT: And finally, Brendan O’Connor, yesterday the Foreign Minister confirmed on this program that Kevin Rudd has asked for the Government to nominate him for the UN role. If they do nominate him it’s not apparently an endorsement, it’s just a formal nomination. Would you endorse him?
O’CONNOR: I think it’s conventional that if there is an Australian going for an international post, one as senior as that, then we would expect the Turnbull Government to follow that convention and support an Australian for the task. I think there are some good people that are looking to put their hand forward, and Helen Clark springs to mind. So, as a Labor person I’d like us to support Labor people. And as an Australian, I do believe it is incumbent on the Australian Government to support the former Australian Prime Minister.
GILBERT: Brendan O’Connor, thanks for that from Melbourne. And as you said, you did better than I thought. Congratulations on a better than expected result. We’ll talk to you many times over the next few years. Mr O’Connor, thanks very much.
O’CONNOR: Absolutely. Thanks very much. Thanks, Kieran.