E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
NINE TODAY SHOW
SUBJECTS: U.S. election; Inflation; High Court detainee decision
SARAH ABO, HOST: Well, questions are being asked about what impact a Trump presidency will have on Australia's economic future, but leaders are maintaining the bilateral relationship will thrive despite a change of president. For more, we're joined by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in Queensland and NDIS and Government Services Minister Bill Shorten in Canberra. Good morning to you both. Bill, I'll start with you. This was a comprehensive red wave across the U.S. Donald Trump soon to return to the White House, of course, and it's really off the back of voter dissatisfaction about the economy, inflation. Those are the same kinds of cost of issue, the cost of living issues we're facing right here at home?
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Yeah. Well, congratulations to President Trump and commiserations to Vice President Harris. It was a clear win, I think. President Trump elect got over 72 million votes and Vice President Harris got over 68 million votes. Cost of living was clearly one of the issues in America. I think the American election, there were lots of, lots of moving parts in that, and I'll leave it to time and the experts to work out every factor. In Australia, we've been fortunate over the last period of time with a government who's been focused on cost of living here, and we've been making it our number one priority. Times are tough for Aussies with mortgage rates and pressure, but we've been putting in place measures to try and help take some of the sting out of it. So, hopefully it's not an identical situation to Australia.
ABO: I mean, considering we might have an election early next year, it's just a question about whether you've done enough? Peter, Trump is quite the polarising character, we all know that, but his campaign based on the economy and immigration, is very similar to your hallmark issues. Does this give you confidence you're on the right track?
PETER DUTTON, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Well, Sarah, I think part of the problem in the United States was that people didn't believe that the government was listening to them when they couldn't pay their bills, couldn't pay their mortgages, couldn't pay their insurance, their rent's gone up, et cetera, et cetera, and they just felt a real disconnect. It seems to be some of the analysis. And to be honest, there's sort of an eerie parallel with what's happening here in Australia in that sense, the government this week during Question Time, telling people essentially that, you know, we're past all of this inflationary period. Don't worry, you know, you've never had it so good. And I just don't think that washes because the lived experience, the reality for lots of families sitting around the kitchen tables at the moment is that they're pulling their hair out and they can't pay the bills and people having to sell their homes because they just can't afford the mortgage repayment. So, I think there are some parallels, but as Bill points out, there are other parts which don't have an equivalence here in Australia.
ABO: No, that's for sure. But certainly, the economy was number one for both sides, it seems, when we were talking about U.S. election. Bill, the PM has already spoken with President Trump. He won't be your problem for long once you take up your plum gig, but how do you see our relationship with the U.S. playing out?
SHORTEN: Well, it's great that the Prime Minister was one of the first people that, world leaders that President Trump spoke to. We've got a long strategic relationship. I never forget that when Darwin was bombed in World War II, 10 planes went up to defend Darwin, the first bombing of an Australian territory and or on the continent of Australia. And of the 10 planes, nine were shot down, but all 10 planes were American fighter pilots. So, that reminds us that we've got a long relationship going back to the Second World War. It's stronger than individuals and between. I'm sure that on trade in coming days, we'll see the shape of who he appoints in some of the key positions as President Trump, and we'll be working with America to maintain the successful relationship.
ABO: I think trade really will be the sticking point, won't it? I mean, the U.S. Federal Reserve just cut interest rates again this morning, as expected. But here the Reserve Bank says a hike is actually more likely thanks to the threat of Trump's tariffs on China?
DUTTON: Well, I mean, the Reserve Bank Governor has had a few things to say, and I think she's getting clearer and clearer in her language, Sarah, and that is that the amount of money that the government, both at a federal level, but some of the state Labor governments as well, the amount of money they're pumping into the economy is fueling inflation here. And that's why when you look at comparable countries around the world, we're basically at the back of the pack. Interest rates have already come down, as you say, again, overnight in the United States, but they've come down in Canada and the United Kingdom and in New Zealand. And here they're sticky and they're likely not to fall until mid next year or perhaps later. And yes, I mean, if tariffs are imposed, then that will have an inflationary impact and that will be further pressure on the economy here. And I think what the government's demonstrated over the last two and a half years is with three budgets, they've made decisions which have actually made it harder for families, not easier. And that's the real concern that a lot of Australian families have. And that's why I think they see the Prime Minister as pretty weak in his leadership and unable to answer the questions that need to be answered about how we weather all of these storms.
ABO: Yeah, I mean, I guess the trade issue is kind of out of our hands if the U.S. decides to post –
SHORTEN: Hang on, Sarah. Sarah, just – Pete's had a good old swing there, but when he talks about the government – listen, inflation, the last numbers we got were 2.8, underlying inflation 3.5. When we came into office, thanks to Mr Dutton and his crew, inflation had a 6 in front of it. So, yeah, it is really tough for people and no one's saying anything else, but the trend is, the trend is heading in the right direction. And, you know, I'd love coming on every Friday and listen to Peter talk down the country. It is tough, but, you know, Pete's never seen a bit of good news that he couldn't be unhappy about.
ABO: Look, we will get to more of that because it's only going to play out over the next few months and certainly ahead of a federal election here next year, but let's get to some other news now. The Federal Government was left scrambling after the High Court overturned its bid to monitor detainees with ankle bracelets and a curfew. Pete, the government says it will now individually assess each of the released detainees and will have the power to reinstate monitoring devices if necessary. Is that enough?
DUTTON: Well, Sarah, it's not enough. I mean, over 200 people have been released into the community. These are not refugees. They're people who have committed murders, sexual offences, serious domestic violence, repeat offenders. And the Government earlier in a case in the High Court, didn't present the evidence that the court required. As a result of that, the High Court gave an order for one person to be released. And the government has extrapolated that out to over 200 cases and they have made out. I think it's one of the worst exercises that the Albanese Government's been involved in. And I'm sure in private Bill would be as scathing as I am of the way that the Government's handled this debacle and they've gone on to commit further offences, now they're out in the community. So, this is a mess that the Government's making. And I mean, to talk about the U.S., the migration issues there were very real in the election and I think they're going to be real in the upcoming election.
ABO: I guess –
DUTTON: The issue is obviously just a disaster.
ABO: – the High Court's really just enforcing what's in the Constitution. They've deemed this unconstitutional, Bill, rather. That kind of leaves you in a position where you're scrambling.
SHORTEN: Well, first of all, the courts exist. We've got a separation of powers, you don't have – this isn't the decision that we wanted, but it's a decision we prepared for within a day, within 24 hours, Tony Burke, the Immigration Minister, was down at Yarraluma, at the Governor-General's getting new regulations for electronic monitoring devices. We've increased the number of police officers working on operation agents. That's the monitoring of people who we don't want in this community, who are in the community by 66%. At the end of the day, if the court gives you a result you don't want, you can, you know, throw your arms in there all you like, but you're better off just getting pragmatic and keeping the community safe. That’s what we're doing.
ABO: Yeah. Look, we have run out of time. I feel like this is a saga that may go on for some time. Thank you both so much for joining us. Have a great weekend.
SHORTEN: Have a lovely day.