E&OE
WITH: MS ANGIE BELL MP, MEMBER FOR MONCRIEFF & SIMON NUGUS, CEO OF VOLUNTERING SERVICES AUSTRALIA
Subjects: Volunteering Gold Coast, drought, Commonwealth Games athletes; economic growth;
SIMON NUGUS:
So thank you very much everyone for coming, and of course for our special guests, and we’re very fortunate and privileged to have you both here. So thank you for making the time to come to see our little set up here. So we’re the largest volunteering based resource centre in the country, very proud Gold Coasters- so Volunteering Gold Coast is our name. And so every year we recruit between four and five thousand new volunteers into the sector.
[Unrelated content – chatter]
So every year we recruit between four and five thousand volunteers into the sector. So last year for example we brought about $40 million into the Gold Coast economy so we’re really proud of that. And amongst other things we’re also the region’s largest community transport provider. So in any given year we deliver about a million kilometres per annum of community transport trips for people living with a disability and people over the age of 65 in aged care, so two really important cohorts for us on the Gold Coast.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well done.
SIMON NUGUS:
Yeah, excellent. Alright, Angie.
ANGIE BELL:
Firstly, congratulations Simon on a job well done here at Volunteering Gold Coast it’s wonderful the work that you do for the community, it’s very, very important work. It’s fantastic today to have our Deputy Prime Minister here [inaudible], in Moncrieff and we’re very pleased to talk about the work that you do here at Volunteering Gold Coast, but also the federal government money that we have assisted this organisation with. Over $40,000 has been given in the way of a grant to Volunteering Gold Coast so that they can make sure that their building is safe, the CCTV cameras, but also to upgrade their IT system and it’s wonderful to be able to help the community at this level, the grass roots levels and to be here today to congratulate you. So wonderful to be here.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well thanks Angie. It’s fantastic that we’ve got so much interest in volunteers. And certainly whether it’s the Gold Coast or wherever it is, Gold Coast volunteers, volunteers right across Australia are the heartbeat and the lifeblood of our society. They do so much for so many organisations. People who you know, have difficulties just getting to and from a business appointment, to and from a health appointment most particularly, to and from just doing the little things such as shopping. And when you’ve got to an organisation such as this willing to provide those transport services, that network of not just the opportunity to get in a bus and take somebody somewhere but also a willing and listening ear at times to hear their stories and to just be some company for people who are either down on their luck or old or people who don’t have that care and support. You rely on these organisations here on the Gold Coast and elsewhere to provide that little bit of comfort, little bit of care, that love and support. And so we’re happy to partner up with organisations such as this to provide closed circuit television cameras, to provide IT services and to make sure- it’s a Stronger Communities Program funding that we’re announcing and we’re looking at today, and when it comes to communities, nobody backs those better than Angie Bell. And I know she’s done so much good in just her short time as the Member for Moncrieff. But following on, of course, a fine tradition of Liberals, LNP members doing what they need to do for Moncrieff. Making sure that, yes, they talk up all the sorts of services that they need when they’re talking to local people. But perhaps even more importantly when they get to Canberra – lobbying hard, advocating, campaigning for and on behalf for better services for the Gold Coast and the other environs round here. And Angie Bell, she’s got the back of the people who love this area, who live on the Gold Coast, who’ve made it their home, who’ve made it their holiday destination point. I know that under Angie’s stewardship that the infrastructure, whether it’s light rail, whether it’s the M1, whether it’s getting to and from or just the local roads, they’re going to be very much looked at because she lobbies hard, she lobbies successfully and she’s going to be a great Member for Moncrieff going forward.
Are there any questions?
JOURNALIST:
Is there a reason why the CCTV was needed? Can you describe that?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well I suppose you’d have to ask my learned friend here but you know, no matter what whether it’s a volunteer organisation, whether it’s a business, it’s always handy to have CCTV, even at a home. And we had a Safer Cities Program which provides funding for this. I know even in my electorate of Riverina it was very much used in the central business district, but no matter where it is it’s always nice to have CCTV because even if it’s a volunteer organisation there are still people in society who do the wrong thing and who take advantage of these sorts of places, even though I know no cash is kept on premises, even though I know that they lock up these sorts of places very, very well – there’s always those nefarious characters who will seek to break in and seek to do wrong. Do you want to just add to that comment?
SIMON NUGUS:
Sure. Yeah, absolutely. So we were working quite closely with the local QPS who on numerous occasions have asked us to provide some information to them, bits and pieces that have gone on around the neighbourhood and we were unable to. So this has certainly rectified that.
JOURNALIST:
Simon, just while you’re up there, a lot of your work is also involved with NDIS and advocating for people on the NDIS. What other assistance would you like to see from the Federal Government on that?
SIMON NUGUS:
Yeah. So the NDIS-
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
[Interrupts] Now’s your opportunity.
[Laughter]
SIMON NUGUS:
No pressure. The NDIS is so critically important to the people we support and we’re very, very fortunate to be invited, to be part of the lives of a couple of hundred people now on the Gold Coast with regards to helping him through the NDIS process. And so I think that where a lot of the issues come into play is when there’s the overlap of the systems. People get lost in- can get lost in the system and the NDIS is such a mammoth beast. It’s come in and, I guess, eradicated a whole sort of service system that preceded it. So, of course, people are going to get lost within that. So, when we’ve got the opportunity to support and to advocate for people and to make sure that they don’t get lost in the system but in fact get the support that they require, then, yeah, we take that opportunity with both hands.
JOURNALIST:
And Minister, can we just speak to you about drought now?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Sure.
JOURNALIST:
Do you think that exit packages for farmers should be considered as part of the Federal Government drought response?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
I think when the National Farmers’ Federation came to the decision and the announcement that exit strategies and exit payments were part of the overall plan, it was a very grim day for the NFF and I know that Fiona Simpson talked about as much as that to me when she said this is part of our plan. Look, at the end of the day, when it comes to making sure that we have the right provisions in place for farmers who are considering exiting farms, that’s got to be a decision that they make without self-assessment. That’s got to be a decision that they reach in very close consultation with their families, with their accountant, with their banks most importantly. And it’s the ultimate step for them to say: we’re going to leave the land. But at the moment, happily, land prices in most areas are very, very high. Drought notwithstanding, land prices are not only stacking up but in some areas, even drought areas, they are at record prices, such that there is even some concern about how do young people get to break into a start on the land. And so, that is, in one sense, a good thing. But also, obviously, stock are at very high prices at the moment.
So, whenever you have a drought, mainly, you’re going to have people who are looking to see what their futures do hold. It’s that ultimate step when you decide to leave the land and go to something else. And of course, as part of our overall measures, the Federal Government always looks at ways and means of helping our farmers. They always look at organisations such as the NFF, such as AgForce here in Queensland, New South Wales Farmers, the Victorian Farmers Federation, to see what we can do to help. That’s not saying that we’re going to, in any way shape or form, come out with a package which is going to say: yes, we’ll instantly take that on board. But we will look at it as part of our overall drought strategy measures. David Littleproud, I know, is doing it a great job as the Drought Minister; and of course, working in with Bridget McKenzie, the Agriculture Minister, we will come up with continued strategies to help these drought-stricken farmers, and more importantly, perhaps, the communities in which they serve because it’s not just the farmers doing it tough, it’s also regional small businesses such as the cafes, such as the hairdressers. They are also doing it very, very tough. And whilst I know we’ve been out beating the drum for and on behalf of farmers and we’ll continue to do so, it’s also those small little businesses, not generally agriculture-related, but I tell you what – when the farmers aren’t spending the money, they do it tough too.
JOURNALIST:
When the Prime Minister makes his drought stimulus package announcement next week, will you be there alongside him?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, I’m always alongside the Prime Minister to make sure that we make these announcements. And much has been made about the fact that the Prime Minister is leading the way on the drought. As the Nationals leader, I’d be pretty disappointed and pretty amazed and pretty astounded if the Prime Minister of the day wasn’t out there leading the drought. I well remember how John Howard was front and centre of the millennium drought. I well remember how he was there with John Anderson, how he was there with the Nationals leader of the day, making sure that this was priority for the federal government. That’s what we do as Liberals and Nationals: we make sure that in a united way, in a united front, we are there for our farmers who are doing it tough. And I’ll certainly be there with the Prime Minister for any announcements.
JOURNALIST:
How much of the package will be because of your advocacy?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, I advocate all the time for and on behalf of not just farmers but for regional Australia. But if I ever have something to say to the Prime Minister, I do it behind closed doors. I’m not somebody who spends a whole lot of time in television studios in capital cities beating the drum about what I’m doing and what I’m saying. It’s far better to make sure that we get the right outcomes for and on behalf of farmers. This isn’t about who takes the credit for what’s being done. This is about getting real delivery on the ground for our farmers, for our regional communities. And I know that Scott Morrison knows that. I know that he knows that certainly the Nationals have been in there fighting hard, and as the leader, I’ve been in there fighting hard and advocating for and on behalf of those farming communities, who are doing it very tough at the moment. And I must sometimes, when they’re feeding sheep in very difficult and trying circumstances, just scratch their heads when they listen to the national media crapping on, and I mean really crapping on, about who gets the credit for and on behalf of outcomes being delivered. What they want to see is real delivery. What they want to see is states stumping up, transport subsidies stumping up for fodder assistance and making sure that states make sure that they have their right responsibilities covered, and of course, making sure also that the Federal Government has their back, which they know they have. They know that we’ve got their back always, all the time, and that’s why we’ve put more than $7 billion already on the table for these farmers and their communities and we will continue to be there side by side with them.
JOURNALIST:
How harmful do you think it is for the Coalition, for the Nationals, to be whinging about who is getting the credit?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, it’s not about who gets the credit. I’ve said that in the Parliament last week and I’ll say it again here: it’s not about who gets the credit. It’s actually about the real delivering. We have provided real delivery for farmers in these very uncertain times. We have put more than $7 billion on the table for our farmers. We’ve changed the Farm Household Allowance measures, which were just three years in a lifetime under Labor. We’ve changed it to four years in every ten. We’ve put on the table more supplementary assistance payments for farmers. We’ve made sure that when it comes to water infrastructure- we’re spending at the moment $1.5 billion dollars on making sure that we get that right; to make sure that not just for this- not for this drought necessarily but for the drought that obviously will ultimately follow, that we’ve got those water storage measures in place so that we can store the water when it does rain again and it will; to ensure that for the next dry period that we’ve got the water available for our farmers and for our communities. And we need to also, obviously, ensure that farmers know that if they need rural financial counselling help, indeed if they need help as far as counselling services, that they are available and we’ve done that, and I commend David Littleproud for the efforts that he’s gone to make sure that more rural counsellors and more financial counsellors and more counsellors indeed are there to sit around the kitchen table and talk to farmers and their partners and their families about what help is available. There’s plenty help available and we just want to make sure that people know that it’s out there and for them. I can’t stress enough again not to self-assess.
JOURNALIST:
When it comes to the drought in Western Queensland, has the Gold Coast desalination plant got a role to play?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, look, and it depends on what measure, because of course, urban water supplies are the remit, are the duty, are the obligation of state governments, and I know there are some communities, Stanthorpe is one of them, which is very worried about its water storage capacity. And I know that we’re building the Emu Swamp Dam. I know that that will help ultimately. But of course, we haven’t got shovels in the ground and we won’t now unfortunately be able to get shovels in the ground until next July. So, if it doesn’t rain in Stanthorpe, well, that’s going to be too late for them, they’re going to need trucking water in. But we will continue to monitor the situation. As the Federal Government, we are not going to allow any country community to run out of water. That’s first and foremost and I’ve said that time and again. But the fact is when it comes to urban water supplies, that is the duty of state governments. And I know that state governments too are concerned about the drought. I know they’ re doing as best they can. But we also always need to make sure that we are doing the right thing. We are in constant contact with these regional communities. I know because I live there and it’s incumbent upon the Palaszczuk Government to make sure that they also understand just how desperate the situation is.
JOURNALIST:
On something totally different, the Commonwealth Games, after that last year, we had about 200 athletes flee, and I understand a decision’s been made to deny a large number of them that have been found asylum. Is there anything that you would like to say, like, as a message out there to- because we’ve got still got like another dozen or so on the run.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
[Talks over] I think there’s 13 at the moment.
JOURNALIST:
Yeah, yeah.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK;
And look, obviously each of these asylum cases and each of these individual cases are treated on a case by case basis. The government has very, very good processes in place to consider all of these applications, but of course ultimately we have to decide who comes to this country and under what circumstances, and just because you’ve come as part of a sporting team, if you abscond and if you do a runner then, you know, these obviously have to be dealt with in the appropriate manner by the appropriate people. You can’t just come to Australia and overstay your welcome and expect to be able to stay. You have to have your- the merits of your case judged on a case by case basis. That’s what we’re doing for those people who are still overstaying their welcome. Or they need to report themselves to authority and have their cases dealt with. You can’t just overstay your welcome in Australia. You have to go through the right processes.
There are many people who go through the right way, who end up as permanent residents because they’ve gone through the proper processes and protocols of getting permanent residency in Australia. We are very, very generous as a nation. And certainly I know the two ministers in this area – Peter Dutton and David Coleman – are very, very good people, and they do consider these cases on their merit. And we are- I say again, I stress, very, very generous. Certainly our regions always welcome their arms to people from overseas, but people have to come here in the right way, in the right manner, and have their cases determined by the right people.
JOURNALIST:
And what’s being done to try and locate the ones that are outstanding?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, of course there’s always- the Immigration Department always looks to ensure that those people in Australia are here for the right reasons and are here under the right circumstances. And of course, those people who have absconded and who have run away and are hiding basically from the law – well, if they continue to do that, eventually they will be found. You can’t just stay in a country in which you haven’t come here in the right way. So I would say to them, if they are watching this, make sure that you report to the proper authorities and have your case dealt with in the proper way. There are ways and means of coming to Australia, the way these people have done it is not the right way.
JOURNALIST:
And also, Senator Dean Smith has called for the expansion of the GST. Is that something that the coalition will support?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
That’s not something that Government’s considering at this time.
JOURNALIST:
No. And if it did happen, do you think it would-
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
[Interrupts] No, it’s not happening. And to take- to change the way fresh food is dealt with, particularly at a time of drought, would be silly. We don’t want to push the price of food up, and we certainly don’t want to make sure that those farmers who are already doing it tough enough have an even more difficult times making a quid. Government is not considering that at this stage.
JOURNALIST:
Would it help raise any revenue or [indistinct]?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
[Interrupts] I’ve just ruled it out. The Government is not considering this – changing the GST. We’ve also got to remember that to change the GST formula, it has to have the proper consideration and the tick off by the states. I haven’t seen the states coming forward rushing to suggest we push the GST up or tweak it in any way shape or form. It’s not being considered by the federal government at this stage.
JOURNALIST:
This morning on Sunrise, Barnaby Joyce has said that he’s happy with the leadership, I’m just wondering…
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
[Talks over] Good on him. Well done, Barnaby.
JOURNALIST:
… how you feel about having Barnaby’s support?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, I’d like to think I’ve got every National Party members’ support, and certainly we are- we went to the election on 18 May presenting a united and stable front, and that’s what people want. They want a united stable government. When they turn on the television at night, they don’t want to be bombarded with chaos and division. That’s the Labor way. What people want to see is politicians out of their lives. What they want to do is make sure that the politicians are doing the right thing in Canberra, lowering their taxes. And that’s what we’re doing. Making it easier for business by cutting through red tape, that’s what we’re doing. Making it easier for regions and small businesses to hire people, that’s what we’re doing.
We’ve had 36 unbroken months of jobs growth in Australia, and that’s a fantastic achievement. So there’s more people in work than there’s ever been before. That’s not by coincidence. That’s because you’ve got a Liberal and Nationals government in there with the back of the small business making sure that we back them all the way; making sure that we’ve provided the lowest tax rate since 1940; making sure that provision such as the instant asset are there for them; and making it easier for us to compete on an international stage. And I know the Treasurer’s delighted that the AAA credit rating has been maintained today – a tick for Josh Frydenberg. He’s doing a fantastic job.
We went to the election with a blueprint for the economic growth of this nation. On 2 April, that budget was handed down – first time for 12 years it’s going to be in surplus. That also doesn’t happen by chance, that happens because you’ve got a Liberal and Nationals government in there fighting hard for the cities, fighting hard for the regions and delivering.
JOURNALIST:
I think Barnaby said that he thinks you’re doing the best job you can – is that sort of a swipe from him to you?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Again, I state that I am doing absolute my utmost every step of the way to make sure that the regions are considered in every federal government policy – and we’re delivering. Fact is, Barnaby’s got a dam in his electorate – Dungowan Dam – that he’s fought for for as long as he’s been in Parliament, being delivered under my leadership. Fact is, the region’s drought notwithstanding agriculture is still punching above its weight and we’re making sure that we can meet our commitments as far as the deliveries and supplying food and fibre, as far as our economic free market arrangements are with South Korea, China, Japan; our free trade agreements; our Trans-Pacific Partnership. [Indistinct] trillion opportunity for Australia, for Australian farmers, and getting on board with building the Inland Rail. That is happening under my leadership. And the Murray-Darling Rural Medical School Network, providing doctors for the bush – all that’s happened under my leadership. There’s a number of ticks that I’ve had under my leadership, I want to continue to obviously lead the National Party; great organisation to be involved in, 100 years strong next year, and we’ll keep on going in a united front with the Liberal Party. They’re celebrating 75 years, 75 years it’s been a very, very happy coalition.
Thank you very much.