Subjects: Pauline Hansen promises, One Nation popularity
E&OE
Kieran GILBERT
Let’s return now to the Press Club and the address by Pauline Hanson. I want to get the thoughts of the former Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack. He’s the Shadow Minister for Water and Veterans Affairs. Now, Michael McCormack, thanks for your time. What do you want to see from Pauline Hanson today, given according to some polls, she’s seen as the preferred Prime Minister? According to our Sky News polls today, the primary vote for One Nation shows it’s the most popular party right now.
Michael McCORMACK
Well, that’s according to some polls, which account for 0.005% of the population. That’s the number of respondents who are taking part in these polls. But we have to take it seriously. We have to, as a Coalition, show up, turn up, and put up. Now Pauline Hanson needs to explain at the Press Club today her housing policy. How, in fact, permanent residents have to sell their homes within two years or face ten years jail. She has to explain her economic narrative, and how she is going to pay for all of the things that she suggests that she’s going to do. And there are economists out there who are saying this is going to cost tens of billions of dollars to the bottom line just for some of the quick slogans that Pauline is putting out there at the moment. So she’s got a bit of explaining to do. I’ll be very fascinated to see the questions put to her, and moreover, the answers that she gives to those questions.
Kieran GILBERT
Are you concerned, though, Michael and I understand the points you’re making, but are you worried that we’re going beyond a threshold here where a lot of people who are supporting One Nation don’t care? They’ve had enough, and regardless of what she says, they’re going to back her.
Michael McCORMACK
Look, I do hear a bit of that, but I was at Boorowa last night where the National Party reformed our branch there not that long ago. We reformed a branch or formed a branch in the Southern Tablelands. Certainly people are coming out also to support policies that the Nationals’ are putting forward in The Coalition. And they too are worried about whether Pauline Hanson, in fact, takes over the country and changes the whole dynamic. I mean, the world is upside down at the moment when Hillary Clinton is agreeing with Donald Trump. You know, there’s something going on in politics. You really do. But look, we just have to, as members of Parliament, turn up in our electorates, make sure that people know that we’re listening and acting on their concerns when we get to Canberra and work hard. Electorate by electorate, seat by seat, street by street, basically. And if we do that, I think people will certainly listen to the narrative. Angus Taylor had a great Budget-in-Reply speech the other day. Matt Canavan has been out expressing his vision for the country, which is getting back to making sure that we use the resources that we have under our feet to the best possible advantage for all Australians. It’s an interesting time. We’ve got two years to make sure that we can get our act together and get re-elected or elected.
Kieran GILBERT
It’s so interesting as well, watching this dynamic at play with the Press Club and the journalists there, the mainstream media, as it’s called by, you know, that’s what most of them are. Not all, but most of the members of the Press Gallery are. But it’ll be this dynamic as well, potentially, where Pauline Hanson will, you know, if she cops unfair questions or a lack of respect – fair enough – but this is this is the shtick that we’ve seen from Donald Trump as well, saying they’re attacking him, fake news, and all that sort of stuff.
Michael McCORMACK
Well, what she claims are unfair questions as journalists just doing their job. Kieran, I’ve been a journalist. I’ve been a politician. And that question the other day, the reporter asked about her plane travel, she should have just answered that in a plain fashion and in a straightforward way. And the fact that she left another press conference with calling a journalist a nasty name, that’s not how you should treat journalists. They are just doing their job. I mean, we saw on the night of David Farley’s election to Farah, there were certain news organisations, let’s call it for what they are – the ABC – weren’t allowed into some of those some of those things that went on not just on that night, but in elsewhere during the by election. This is not the way you treat the media. The media are there for transparency. The media are there for free speech. And that’s the democratic way. And you can’t pick and choose which news you’re going to give your stories and your free line slogans to.
Kieran GILBERT
Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. I’ll see you next week. Thanks. You’ll be back here for Parliament. We’ll catch you then.
Authorized by Michael McCormack, the National Party, Wagga Wagga.