Subjects: QLD state election; 2024 Walk for Daniel; Senator Thorpe’s embarrassing antics.
E&OE.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Let’s bring in NDIS and Government Services Minister Bill Shorten in Ipswich, and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton from the Sunshine Coast, also in Queensland. It’s all about the Sunshine State today, isn’t it, Bill? Good morning to you.
After almost a decade in power it seems Queensland will soon be LNP territory. Does that worry you ahead of a federal election?
BILL SHORTEN:
Well, it’ll be up to the people of Queensland. I’m here in Ipswich West with Wendy Bourne, who’s seeking to win the seat back for Ipswich West.
I think Steven Miles has surprised people, running a very active campaign. He’s focussed on the issues which affect Queenslanders – housing, health, cheaper transport and of course tackling youth crime.
So, we’ll find out soon enough who’s going to win, but Wendy Bourne is without a doubt the best candidate in Ipswich West.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Well Peter, David Crisafulli has squandered a comfortable lead in this campaign. He’s already losing support and he’s not even Premier yet. Is he up to the job?
PETER DUTTON:
Good morning, Sylvia. Good morning, Bill.
Look, it’s always going to be a tough race. The Labor Party’s able to sandbag seats, but if you’ve got Bill Shorten out in Ipswich West, you know that Labor’s in trouble, that should be a safe seat for them.
The fact is that it’s time for a change in Queensland, and law and order is out of control and you’ve got a situation where people are sick of what the Government’s had. Steven Miles has tried to abandon his entire period as Deputy Premier in this state, and I think people are ready for a change in Queensland. But you know, it’s always tight, and people shouldn’t take anything for granted.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Well, it’s interesting, the cost of living has emerged as the main issue in this campaign, Bill, and Steven Miles has given that a red hot go. But this was basically mission impossible for him, wasn’t it? Should Annastacia Palaszczuk have stepped down earlier?
BILL SHORTEN:
Oh listen, I think we’re close enough to the election that we’ll wait ’till Saturday night before we start working out what went well and what went badly, but your cost of living points are very solid, and I think that Steven Miles’ proposition for cheaper transport has gone down very well, and the thousand dollar energy rebate on top of the $500 energy rebate that we’ve been supplying people – yeah, I think Labor’s talking about the issues that matter.
I have been a bit surprised to see the issue of whether or not abortion should be criminalised emerge, though. It seems like someone in the LNP swallowed the Trump playbook and we don’t need that sort of division in this country and women in Queensland should have access to safe health care.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Well, it’s Robbie Katter who raised that and put it on the table and has effectively derailed the campaign in a way.
Newspoll, though, is not the only place Steven Miles is making gains right now. He has run an interesting campaign in the gym, and Peter Dutton, I wondered if this might be a strategy that you may employ in your campaign? Can you bench press 100 kilos?
PETER DUTTON:
Can I assure you that you won’t be seeing any photos of me in gym wear?!
I’m at the Daniel Morcombe Walk this morning, which is the 20th anniversary. It’s a wonderful Foundation and people should jump online and donate to this amazing cause, but this will be as close as I get.
I learnt the lesson from Bill in 2019 just to be very careful of skin-tight clothing and what you’re doing in front of the cameras!
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Well, it’s nice that you can support one another in such a meaningful way!
BILL SHORTEN:
Thanks, Pete!
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
They do fantastic work, the Morcombes, I’ve been following them for a very long time and we will have more on that a little later.
I want to just get you quickly, though, on the story that has dominated news out of Canberra this week: Lidia Thorpe – the Senator who, of course, heckled the King in Parliament.
Peter, Lidia is shrugging off your calls for her to resign. It seems she’s not going anywhere!
PETER DUTTON:
Well, I think this is a really serious issue. You swear an oath of allegiance, and under Section 42 in the Constitution, as was the case – without getting too technical – but remember, a couple of years ago, Section 44, where people were in breach of that and ended up having to go to the High Court? By her own admission, she hasn’t made the proper oath, she hasn’t taken that proper oath, and I think there’s an issue for the President of the Senate to address here.
The Prime Minister shrugs it off because he’s more worried about Lidia Thrope’s vote in the Senate, but this is what happens when you vote for the Greens. You end up with pretty radical people who aren’t about the environment – they’re about every other cause. I think, on Saturday, tomorrow, people should think twice about voting for the Greens because they’re a radical party. That’s the reality.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Well Bill, quickly, what’s your take on this? Does Lidia Thorpe deserves her spot in the Senate?
BILL SHORTEN:
Well, I don’t think she’ll get re-elected. She was in the Greens and she defected from them.
I think that Lidia Thorpe is just seeking attention. I’m not sure that Pete’s helping the cause by keeping talking about her. Someone once said, ‘only the impotent are pure’. This is a person who thinks that performative yelling is going to extend the life expectancy of First Nations people, it won’t. This is someone who thinks that swearing at the King is going to see more Aboriginal kids finish school, it won’t. This doesn’t help the health or job outcomes of First Nations people. It’s pressure group tactics, it’s a shame for someone to squander the privilege of being in the Senate by just going down the road of ‘look at me’ antics. It doesn’t help First Nations people and it doesn’t persuade anyone.
So, I think she’s letting her cause down as much as the Senate and everyone else.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Alright. It’s a very big day in Queensland. Bill and Peter, we appreciate you both joining us today. Thank you.
[ends]