Interview with Jane Norman, ABC TV

JANE NORMAN: Well sticking with this issue, I'm joined in the studio now by the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister.  Welcome to the program.  

JENNY McALLISTER: Thank you Jane.  

JANE NORMAN: Now we know of course that the Government has the numbers in the Lower House, so this bill is expected to pass but it all comes down to the Senate where Labor doesn't have a majority.  How confident are you at this stage that this bill will actually make it through Parliament?  

JENNY McALLISTER: Well, Jane, you heard my colleague Minister Bowen before talking about the election and what it meant for this issue.  So, the Australian public voted for climate action and now of course all parliamentarians will have the opportunity to vote for it as well.  I do hope that my Senate colleagues join with Labor, join with the Government in passing this bill.  It's incredibly important for the future of the country, it's incredibly important for our international standing, it's important for investment, it's important for the energy sector. There are so many reasons to vote for this bill.  We're of course talking with the Greens and with other parliamentarians about how they intend to vote.  We've said all along that we're open to sensible suggestions that are consistent with the mandate we received at the election, but those conversations are ongoing.  

JANE NORMAN: So, we know the Coalition's not part of this conversation because they have said they're opposing the bill; they've dealt themselves out.  So it's the Greens really that Labor needs to be focusing on here to get this legislation across the line.  You have given some ground on the wording of the bill but are you really prepared to make substantive changes here given the arguments you made for getting this bill through Parliament?  

JENNY McALLISTER: Yeah, look I think the key point we've made is that we did have a mandate for the scale of our ambition, and that's actually really important.  We had a public conversation with the Australian people.  We received agreement to a particular approach and democratic values matter.  We've been to an election.  People voted and we're determined to implement that program.  That's not to say that there aren't sensible things that can be done to improve legislation.  There always are and I think we are willing to work with anyone who approaches this with goodwill in the Parliament.  

JANE NORMAN: The Greens have so far put one bargaining chip on the table.  They want the Government, Labor to can all future coal and gas projects.  Now the Prime Minister's made it really clear that's not going to happen.  So clearly, he doesn't see that as a sensible way to go about negotiations so can you see a path through this?  

JENNY McALLISTER: Look, there's a couple of changes that we've made already.  The Greens were keen, and I think some of the independents to see that it was made explicit in the legislation that 43 per cent was a minimum ambition, not the maximum.  The bill now reflects that and makes that explicit.  That was always our position, but we were happy to change the legislation.  I am hopeful that people will want to put the climate wars behind us.  Really the Australian public need action.  Certainly the global climate needs action.  And this bill provides an incredibly stable foundation for that action to take place, not just government action but actually also business, industry, community.  

JANE NORMAN: So you've clearly laid out the case for why you believe it's important but at the same time the Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has said that Labor is prepared to walk away from legislation should the Senate decide to block it.  So does that sort of indicate that this is actually really just symbolic that it's not I suppose vital to your agenda that this be passed?  

JENNY McALLISTER: We've indicated to the international community that our new target or 2030 is a 43 per cent reduction in our emissions.  We really would like to put that in legislation.  It is best practice; it gives certainty to the business community.  They've had 22 energy policies from the previous Liberal Government and none of them landed.  That is a recipe for chaos.  We'd like to give people that certainty in legislation, but if the Parliament is not of a mind to support that then we will continue implementing our agenda.  

JANE NORMAN: Right.  Well the other big story around today of course is inflation, confirming really that the gap between wages growth and the cost of living just continues to widen.  Obviously really bad news really all round on the economic front.  I suppose wages growth was central to Labor's campaign.  It was a big feature on the campaign.  What happens if you can't deliver that in this term of government?  

JENNY McALLISTER: Yeah, well we come to government in a situation where we've sort of had declining productivity, flat lining wages growth and a very, very large amount of debt wrapped up by the previous Liberal Government.  So these are not easy questions to grapple with.  But we know that we need to look after those Australian households that are hurting.  I think you'll hear tomorrow the Treasurer lay out a new set of economic figures and I think he's determined to have a pretty honest conversation with the Australian people about the challenges that we face.  But front of mind for us, relieving pressure on households, removing some of the constraints and challenges for the economy that have been left unattended by the Liberals for the last nine years, and looking after the Government budget.  They're the sort of three domains where we're really trying to structure a response that will meet the challenge of the moment.  

JANE NORMAN: Okay, I just wanted to ask you about something that happened in the Senate chamber this morning.  During the usual acknowledgement that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the traditional custodians of this land, One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson walked out and said no, she won't acknowledge that.  She has since said it's because she believes that acknowledgement perpetuates a racial division.  What do you say to that?  

JENNY McALLISTER: I really just couldn't disagree with Pauline Hanson more.  I mean it's just courtesy, isn't it?  We share this continent with the oldest continuing civilisation in the world.  I think a lot of people saw the images yesterday of the First Nations people here in Canberra welcoming us to their country, bestowing their good wishes on the Parliament in the hope that we would governor for all of the nation.  That was a beautiful ceremony that bought people together.  That's how I think about an acknowledgement of country.  It's a courtesy but it brings people together. 

JANE NORMAN: And so what would your advice be to Pauline Hanson as we enter this period of government where you are proposing a referendum to enshrine a voice to parliament in the constitution?  Today the Senate is voting to install the First Nations flag in the Senate.  Obviously it's a big item on the agenda and yet you have Pauline Hanson who is refusing to acknowledge traditional custodians.  

JENNY McALLISTER: Everyone has to make their own decision about how they behave in this place and what they bring to this place.  I think that it's up to Pauline Hanson to make her own decisions about that but I'm really clear about my position.  I think that acknowledging country and acknowledging our traditional owners is the right thing to do.  It's a core feature of how our government wishes to proceed.  

JANE NORMAN: And Jenny McAllister, just before I let you go, in the House this morning changes, basically changes to the rules were made to try and make it a family friendly place, a more family friendly place by ensuring that late night sittings are a thing of the past.  Can we expect the Senate to be implementing similar rules?  

JENNY McALLISTER: Yeah well, Jane, we've been through a big conversation, haven't we, about how the Parliament works and whether it's a friendly space for families and for women in particular.  Lots of people, new parents bring their kids down to Canberra when Parliament is sitting, and I understand the changes in the House are designed to make it easier for them to be with their children in the early evening.  I know that my colleague Senator Gallagher is consulting with other parliamentarians, other senators about whether or not similar changes could be made in the Senate, but that conversation is an ongoing one, so we'll have to wait and see.  

JANE NORMAN: All right, we'll leave it there.  Thank you, Jenny McAllister.  

JENNY McALLISTER: Thank you.

END