TRANSCRIPT: PRESS CONFERENCE WAGGA WAGGA, 20 MAY 2019

E&OE

Subjects: Direction of the Government post-election; local election results; infrastructure spending; funding for public broadcasters; reproductive health equality.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, fantastic to be back at work and business as usual; back in the office, sleeves rolled up, getting in and working hard for the people of the Riverina and Central West, as I always do. I'm very, very humbled by the result of Saturday's election. And there's a lot of work to be done. I realise that people of the Central West, people of the Riverina have once again placed their faith in me and I will not let them down. The Nationals have never let country communities down. We have never done it. We don't do it now, and we don't intend to in the future. We've been placed with a great deal of faith by the people of the Riverina, indeed, right across the nation. Our 16 seats, our 16 candidates, 14 of whom have been returned. And two new members: Pat Conaghan in Cowper, and what an impression he is going to make in the Federal Parliament. He's worked hard – a decent small business person, former police prosecutor, somebody who has been born at Kempsey so he knows the Cowper area well. I'm delighted that he's going to be in the Federal Parliament. And Anne Webster, Dr Anne Webster, is going to make such a great impression as well in the seat of Mallee, the Victorian seat of Mallee. And delighted that she has earned her place in Parliament, somebody who has given women such prospects for the future. She's established a network by which women who've somehow fallen through the cracks – through no fault of their own – some of whom have been victims of domestic violence, others who cannot get into the workplace and find work. She's created opportunities for them and enabled them to get jobs. That's what the Nationals do, that's what the Nationals are all about.

And I'm very humbled at a local level to be returned as the Member for Riverina for a fourth term. I'm really delighted, I'm pleased. Right across the electorate, I went to Forbes yesterday, a seven-hour drive to make sure that the people who handed out to the Nationals in Parkes, in Forbes and Grenfell as well, that they knew that I was very, very appreciative. And we had quite a number of people turn up and we had a wonderful barbecue. I stopped by Temora on the way home to thank Jan and Terry Wright who head up the branch there; making sure that they knew that the stalwarts of the National Party were very much appreciated by me and recognised for their efforts. But right across the region, delighted that so many people have turned out, once again placed their faith and their vote in the National Party. And once again, I congratulate and commend the other three candidates for putting up their hand because it takes a bit of courage to put up your hand for public office, and just delighted that I've been returned.

JOURNALIST:

Michael McCormack, Gilmore is the only seat the Coalition lost. Do you concede the three-cornered contest created by your Party cost that seat?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, the three-cornered contest was created because we always have three-cornered contests when a seat becomes available. Ann Sudmalis stepped aside as the Liberal Party member and hardworking Liberal Party member. She'd, of course, followed on from Jo Gash. I was delighted that both Ann and Jo supported our candidate Katrina Hodgkinson, a 20-year veteran of the New South Wales Parliament. But we didn't have much of a branch structure in Gilmore, but we have now. And look out, that South Coast area, I would really like to have it as part of the National Party family. I think Katrina Hodgkinson was an outstanding candidate. She met so many people, she was out putting the National Party brand out there. And I think if nothing else, if nothing else, the fact that the corflutes for Perin Davey and Sam Farraway, which were up and about in all the polling booths throughout Gilmore, will possibly help Perin be elected to the Senate. And look, three-cornered contests are part and parcel of what happens in regional areas when an incumbent retires. I fought a three-cornered contest back in 2010; pleased that I got over the line then. And once the seat is established to a particular party, whether it's the Liberals or whether it's the Nationals, and that incumbent doesn't get challenged until such time as they retire. That's the Coalition rules.

JOURNALIST:

What are your reflections on the leadership given the constant rumblings from Barnaby Joyce and will there be any change in what you want to achieve as leader?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, the fact is I have been able to help out my 15 colleagues to be returned or elected to their lower house seats. Fact is, I've worked hard. And the fact is, I think hard work and decency has paid off in the overall election result. I think people looked at Scott Morrison and looked at myself and they saw that we were people with a vision, with a plan, and with the future job prospects of all of those people in mind – all of those people who voted for us. All of those people who wanted a better future for Australia: better infrastructure, better mobile phone communications and a job for the future. I think that people saw in Scott Morrison and myself, as the leaders of the Liberal and National parties respectively, somebody who they could rely on, somebody they could trust, and they placed their vote accordingly.

JOURNALIST:

Do you expect any rumblings from Barnaby Joyce now?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Oh well look, time will tell. Time will tell. And if that happens, well that happens. I'll take it in my stride when it happens and I'll put myself forward to the National Party room. The leadership is a gift to the National Party room. I'm humbled to have been the National Party leader for the past 14 or 15 months. I'm humbled to have been the Deputy Prime Minister. To think that a boy from Marrar, born in Wagga Wagga, can rise to the position of Deputy Prime Minister and then be re-elected as Member for Riverina and potentially to that job again – just goes to show what a great country this is. You can you can start from anywhere and you can rise to anything.

JOURNALIST:

With strong performances from Nationals Members in Queensland, will those MPs have to be rewarded with Cabinet positions?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well look, I'll be looking at the Cabinet positions for the Nationals this week; very, very early days yet. Obviously, we have to have another Party Room, we have to go through the Coalition agreement. I've been in discussions with Scott Morrison just a minute ago about where the way forward will be. And obviously, I've got some constituent work to do for and on behalf of the people of the Riverina. So I always put local first. That's what I'm here today doing; sleeves rolled up and back at work, and business as usual for the people of the Riverina. But I'll take those discussions with Scott Morrison and with Bridget McKenzie, my Deputy Leader, and obviously with the rest of the Party Room. And we'll be doing those over the next days and week or so.

JOURNALIST:

And in a state election, we saw the Nationals take quite a hit. I guess what was the difference between state and federal Nationals that we saw the Nationals retain all 16 seats?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

I think candidates and issues. I mean, I think people look at what the National Party has offered federally – and people understand the difference, they do, between state and federal politics. They do get the fact that there is a difference. And different candidates, different seats, different issues, and we have delivered, as federal Nationals and indeed state Nationals, I appreciate too, have delivered. There was one seat which was transitioning; that was the seat of Barwon. We weren’t able to get it across the line, I appreciate too that Thomas George, who’d been a many years veteran, decades in the job. And he had a lot of personal support that he took into that seat of Lismore, and the dynamics and the face of Lismore have changed, and I was saddened to see that Austin Evans wasn't able to hang on to Murray. And, when you have a drought, when you have a prolonged drought and you have zero water allocations for southern irrigators, you know that makes it difficult to get your message through at a time like that. But look, I know that people trust the Nationals. I know that they've placed their faith in us again. I’m looking forward federally to making sure that the National Water Grid - which I established during the election campaign - that we actually get that up and running to take the politics out of building more dams, heightening, lengthening, strengthening weirs, and identifying areas where we can build water storage infrastructure to further drought-proof our nation.

JOURNALIST:

Are you saying that Mackenna Powell who you endorsed and also Austin Evans were bad candidates?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

No, not at all. But people, if you look at the seats that we managed to hold federally, in the seats that we had in the state, I mean we had Mark Coulton who's been now just re-endorsed for his fifth term. I mean, I've just been re-endorsed for my fourth term, and Sussan Ley has been in Parliament a long, long time too. So, you know, the- Austin Evans had only been in there and only been able to establish himself for 18 months. It's not a long time, and of course in the seat of Barwon, we had a brand new candidate, and a retiring veteran. And it just makes it difficult when you are transitioning a seat. The National Party never put up bad candidates. Never ever. They put up local champions, we fight hard, and I think that's why - I really think that's why - we've been returned in the 16 seats that we have, because we had local champions and campaigning at a local level. You didn't see too many National Party people going into capital city TV studios and talking amongst themselves and in that echo chamber that sometimes occurs. You saw them out at town hall forums, in local RSL clubs, making sure that local people knew that we were there for them. We always are. We turn up all year round, not just during campaign time, but particularly during campaign time. It's important to get that local message across, and that's why it's important to talk to local media, not necessarily, you know, to the capital city TV studios who had their own agenda, I have to say. Who had written us off. The national media had written the Nationals off; they’d written the Coalition off. Well, they, like the sporting betting agency which paid out on Labor, how wrong were they?

JOURNALIST:

So when will people in the Riverina start to see progress towards some of the election promises like the PCYC, tax cuts and the Riverina Murray River Medical School Network?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Rex, they're seeing it all the time. Fact is, I am there delivering all the time. Not just during campaign time, PCYC, well the build will start midyear, and that of course is up to the council, it's up to the PCYC, it's up to getting building contractors. That work is all happening right now because that $10 million was good money, was good money whether the election was won or not. It was good money, it was on the table and we will get on and build it. That great state organisation which provides such opportunities for the young people of Wagga, some of whom fallen through the cracks and need that bit of a hand up, and others who just want to exercise and have fun in a safe environment. That's going to be such a good facility there on the corner of Edward and Fitzhardinge streets. Now, the Riverina - the Murray-Darling Medical School Network, well that is going to be constructed as well. I’m delighted that I was able to last year announce that $94.5 million, which is going to provide training for doctors from start to finish. Now there is a process in place and a program in place to start that, and work should start soon. And as far as the water infrastructure, well, $500 million tipped into the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund. Important money, important funding and we'll get on and do that, thanks now to the National Water Grid with the cooperation of states, because we're taking the petty politics out of it. We're going to talk to key state stakeholders at a local level, but also the scientists to make sure that we get the right infrastructure in the right places.

JOURNALIST:

What about the Parkes bypass? When’s that promise going to be fulfilled?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well as part of the $100 billion infrastructure that we're rolling out right across the nation - I only announced it last Friday - but work will begin soon. I want to make sure that the trucks that go through, that rumble through Parkes at a minute - a truck a minute - they are taken away from that CBD. There'll be access of course to the CBD for trucks which need to deliver goods to the central business district, to Clarinda Street of Parkes, but we need to get those trucks around that important and growing and vibrant town and we'll do it.

JOURNALIST:

What about Wagga Wagga’s bypass then?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, Wagga Wagga’s bypass needs to be placed on the state priority list. We work in conjunction with state governments, and when they put things on the priority list, well we fund them 80/20 per cent. It's just a good- that's a good thing that the Labor Party - the Labor Party - was not elected to government, because they only do things on a 50/50 split. We do things on an 80/20 split.

So 80 Commonwealth, 20 State, that's why we can build more infrastructure and build better roads. Princes Highway, Newell Highway, no matter which highway, Pacific Highway, we're getting on and doing that. And we'll build the tunnels for Coffs Harbour that they so desperately need. We do it in consultation with communities; we do it in consultation with state governments. I'm talking to Paul Toole to make sure that we get the priority projects placed at the top of the list so that we can fund them. And that's what you get when you get governments at a state and federal level, both Liberal and Nationals working together, working collaboratively, working cooperatively to get infrastructure built.

JOURNALIST:

You say soon, but when is soon for all of these projects?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well you can't just roll out everything at once, and, you know, it's like when I get asked a question in Parkes about whether we put water treated water effluent into Lake Albert, which is very much a local and state issue. And then we have certain reporters talking about the Gobba Bridge which was nothing to do with the question asked. The fact is we get on and we build things but we do it with state governments. We do it, we obviously have to have the workforces in place. We have to have the labour there. We have to have the environmental impact statements done; we have to have the cultural arrangement sorted. We have to make sure that there are enough builders and people who can work, either at a white collar and blue collar level. But we're getting things done, we're getting a better regional Australia built and we're doing it in conjunction with local communities, local state- local and state governments. And thanks to the people of the Riverina and Central West, many of those commitments will be met and they'll be met in good time.

JOURNALIST:

So some of your softer results were in the Cootamundra and Harden areas. Why didn't you connect as successfully with those communities during the campaign?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well I won every booth Rex, I'm not quite sure softer results. It's like saying to North Queensland - you won the premiership by one point. Gee, you must be worried about next season. I mean, the fact is, I was out there representing, working hard. I attended meetings; I went into small businesses. There wasn’t a local government area that I didn’t visit during the election campaign. And for anybody to suggest, for anybody at all, to suggest that I was missing in action during the election campaign at a local level – well they can take a good long, hard look at themselves because the fact is I was getting out and about. I was making sure that people were cared about, that they understood the fact that I was in there fighting hard for them. And so, for any media organisation to even possibly contemplate that I wasn’t turning up at a local level, well, that’s just plain wrong.

And the fact is, I am the Deputy Prime Minister. I’m very humbled to be that title. I am very humbled to occupy that role. But that also requires me to criss-cross the nation. It also requires me to spend time in other electorates. Because had I just spend every waking minute at the pre-poll booth, like I appreciate some others did. Not every candidate spent every waking minute, mind you. But people were there. But for me to go and do that, I wouldn’t have then possibly been able to bring home my 15 colleagues. And then, of course, the questions would have been asked: Mr McCormack, why didn’t you go and help your colleagues out? It’s about balance. It’s about making sure you’re in the right place at the right time to do the right things. And I always prioritise my work. I never forget – I never forget – from where I come. I never forget the Riverina. I never will, and I know that whether it’s Cootamundra and Harden as you suggest, there might have been a softer vote where I might have only just won the booth by a handful of votes or perhaps a few dozen or a few hundred because some of them were bigger booths and some of them weren’t. The fact is, those people still know that I care, still know that I turn up. I’m in contact with the mayors all the time. I’m in contact with local businesses and I understand the issues in those particular local government areas.

I’ve got 12 local government areas. It’s a big job. I haven’t had a day off this year. So, you know, and I’ll continue to work hard because I love my job, and moreover, I love the people of the Riverina and I’m very thankful and grateful to them for re-endorsing me. And they know that I care, and I will continue to do that.

JOURNALIST:

On the issue of infrastructure, you spoke of the importance of that and that’s a focus for the Government over the next three years. The ABC provides social and cultural infrastructure, and the SBS – they’re facing a funding freeze. The ABC’s managing director David Anderson said today that he will be seeking to have a chat with the Government about getting a more secure, long term funding agreement given the cuts the ABC is facing. Would you be open to discussions about increasing funding for the public broadcasters?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Always happy to talk to ABC authorities; always happy to talk to David, as I’ve done in the past. The ABC plays a vital role. I was happy to take Lucy Barbour and her cameraman Scott on the Wombat Trail; happy that Omar was there from SBS on election night and all through election day. I think the ABC and the SBS plays a vital role. And for those critics of the ABC who point the finger and say: well, they’re one way or the other, the fact is, in rural and regional areas the ABC plays a critical role, particularly at times of crisis; particularly when you have a fire, when you have a flood, when you have one of those natural disasters. No better media organisation, with all due respect to all of the commercial stations here, but there’s no better outlet than the ABC for providing updates that do save lives.

So I recognise the role the ABC plays. That’s why I helped save the ABC when Wagga Wagga was under threat not that many years ago. And I always widely respect the role that the ABC plays at a local level.

JOURNALIST:

Mr Anderson has said, though, that jobs and programs are going to be affected by that $86 million freeze over the next three years, beginning from July. I know there are areas that are quarantined in news and so on, but aren’t you worried that this will flow on to regional areas because of those inevitable cuts that would have to be made?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, the ABC could always move out of Ultimo and move to a regional area. Decentralisation would actually save them a lot of rent money. I’m probably sure it would probably save $14 million. What better place to bring the ABC headquarters than right here at Wagga Wagga? I’m sure there’s plenty of sites that I could work with the ABC to investigate. I think the ABC perhaps could move to a regional capital. I think it would be well-placed to serve many of the people who love and respect the ABC, unlike some of those capital city people who often point the finger and say: the ABC is biased. I, of course, don’t believe that.

JOURNALIST:

So when will- will you be able to deliver tax cuts and a Budget surplus going forward with the new Senate and the economic conditions going forward?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, the short answer is yes. We will get through our tax cuts through the Parliament. That was our economic blueprint. What a wonderful Budget that was released last month. And I think the people of Australia – I know the people of Australia – have endorsed our economic vision for this nation – our plan for the future. I think they looked at our Budget and they looked at the fact that Bill Shorten couldn’t quite come to any honesty to release his climate change costings or, indeed, much about his economic policies. And, they endorsed- they gave us a ringing endorsement about what they wanted us to do in the future.

Yes, we will work with the Senate. I’m hopeful, given the result on Saturday, that Perin Davey will join the Nationals team in the Senate. We need that voice for regional Australia, particularly Southern Riverina and Western New South Wales in the Senate. And we will work with anybody in a conciliatory way. We will do that. We’ve got a vision, we’ve got a plan and we’re going to have the mandate to implement our policies.

JOURNALIST:

The Royal Australian- Australasian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has recently issued a statement saying: regardless of who wins the election, they want access to reproductive health services to be equal for all Australian women, and they say they’re not at present. That does come down to issues of abortion, both medical and surgical. Labor did promise to work with the states; will the Commonwealth be looking to listen to what the ANZCOG has said? Rather than it being a political issue, they say it’s an issue of equal rights for women.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, it’s also an issue that has not come up before the Federal Parliament during my time there and it is very much a state issue and it has always been resolved as a state issue, as it should.

Thank you very much.

Shane Manning