GARY HARDGRAVE [HOST]: This week we're talking with candidates and sitting MPs running for various electorates around South East Queensland and asking them about issues important to you. Joining me on the phone now, Anthony Chisholm, who is actually a sitting Senator for Queensland. He's been in that job since 2016. He's also an Assistant Minister in the Albanese Government. Senator, great to talk with you. You’re obviously out campaigning since the election was called. What are you finding out on the hustings?
ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: It's been really enjoyable, Gary, so far. The best part about my job, being a Senator for Queensland, is that you get to travel the length and breadth of the state and meet with people. Obviously, parts of Queensland have gone through some tough times in recent months. So, I was out in Quilpie and Longreach last week with Jenny McAllister and Jim Chalmers and we were able to talk to the mayors and some of those people who've been impacted by the recent floods there. So, it just shows you the different challenges that the state is facing and the importance of a Federal Government that's there, listening and acting on things that we pick up on when we're in those parts of the world.
HARDGRAVE: They've been extraordinary floods and good on you for getting out there as others have done as well. But I mean, importantly, what sort of things did they tell you in those huge parts of western Queensland? I mean, what are they expecting? I found, to be honest, Senator, extraordinary that there was no weather radar in that part of the world. They kind of didn't know what was coming till it kind of came. What are you going to do about those sorts of things?
CHISHOLM: Yeah, and that's obviously a challenge in such a big country like Australia to ensure that you can provide adequate warning. I was in Hervey Bay after they were similarly impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred. There's been too much of it lately. But the good thing is that when these things happen, the country does respond. We've seen that from the government in terms of announcing that will support a new weather radar system in that part of the world to help predict these storms that are coming. But also, it's about support on the ground. So, when we were there with Minister McAllister and the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, we announced that we'd provide support with the State Government to those primary producers that have been impacted. Then when the Prime Minister was out there on Saturday, he was able to announce more funding as well. He also announced support for exclusion fencing, which has been really important for that part of the world to get the sheep industry back on its feet. They've obviously been devastated with the loss of sheep, but also a lot of that fencing has more than likely been washed away as well. So, it's starting to ensure that when we get support to people now, but we’re also starting to set up for that longer term recovery and exclusion fencing, which is going to ensure that our cattle and sheep producers can get back on their feet as soon as possible.
HARDGRAVE: Yeah, we certainly need it because we don't want to be paying any more than we're currently paying for everything at the butcher shop for instance. So, with regards to what voters are saying to you, beyond just western Queensland, what are you hearing from people? What do you think their priorities are? Cost of living is right up there.
CHISHOLM: It certainly is, and I think the interesting thing for me as I've spent time in the Federal seats of Brisbane and Ryan is as they’ve obviously got a sitting Green MP, I've detected that there's a lot of disappointment among people who voted Green at the last election, and there's a bit of buyer's remorse out there. So, these are seats that we think we've delivered a strong track record for, with regards to cost-of-living relief, but also fee free TAFE and other things that we've dealt with in government. That also includes the 20 per cent reduction in HEC fees that we’ve taken to the election, which will obviously benefit a lot of people who are studying at the moment. So, we think that we have a strong agenda, but also it's one that we think is important to be part of a re-elected Albanese Labor Government. We're going to have to win seats like Ryan and Brisbane, but then in the outer suburban seats, like where you are today, working from home is top of mind and they've enjoyed the benefits of and that's something that we've supported amongst the public service. And then you have our support for infrastructure across Qld, so that people in those suburbs can get around and not spend too much time in their cars. Whether that be on the weekend as they're taking their children to sport, or whether they're dropping the kids at school and getting to work themselves. So, I think it's important that the Federal Government supports councils in that area to build that long term infrastructure that ensure that these communities remain a great place to live, like it is on the outer north side.
HARDGRAVE: Yeah, no good on you. I mean you should have been listening to me an hour ago. I spent about $25 billion in about 25 seconds. I mean the reality is the big picture stuff, Anthony Chisholm, is really desperately needed. We've got Caboolture West which is going to pick up another 100,000 people in this part of South East Queensland. It's going to be bigger than Springfield currently is, but it's going to be another Springfield. They can't just use the Bruce Highway; we've got to come up with alternate routes. The D'Aguilar Highway is rubbish, it's full of potholes. I know the Federal Government doesn't do that, but surely, you've got to be open for a conversation that actually says where's the big ideas? And then we can talk about the funding. I just see nobody coming up with big ideas about this stuff.
CHISHOLM: Well, we know it's important to have a constructive relationship with the council and I'd like to think I have that with the Mayor. We work constructively together. They've been very good about briefing us on what their longer-term challenges are. As you've identified, Caboolture West is going to be an important part of that. Every time you drive through a part of that area you come across new houses being built, which is fantastic. That is exactly what we need. But you also need to ensure that you're keeping up with that demand through infrastructure and community facilities as well. And that's what we want to do in Federal Government. There's obviously a lot of demand across the country because there is a lot of growth. But we need to ensure that we're doing our part as part of the Federal Government delivering infrastructure that's going to make a difference in that part of the world, and the broader South East Queensland region as well.
HARDGRAVE: I guess I'm just worried with the Olympics and the planners all being in the middle of the city and so forth. Everything's going to be all about the Olympics, which are important, I get it. But I just don't want outer metro South East Queensland to be neglected. We've just got to rise up for the good people of this area and other areas like it.
CHISHOLM: There's no doubt about that, Gary, and the growth that we're experiencing is absolutely a part of that. We need to ensure that we're supporting infrastructure for the Olympics, but we're not losing sight of what it takes to ensure that these communities remain great places to live and that will continue. I've got no doubt we're going to continue to attract people to these suburbs, but we've got to ensure we're supporting them as well with infrastructure.
HARDGRAVE: Okay, well Anthony Chisholm, you've been briefed on this. Probably better briefed than I was. A thing called minute to win it. Are you ready to give us a minute as to why there's a compelling reason to vote for you and to get exactly the result you want? You got a minute to win it. We've got a special theme for it, and everything so stand by, here it comes… and then as soon as you hear the gap, you race towards it. Here it comes. Minute to win it. 4BC Drive’s minute to win it. Three, two, one, go.
CHISHOLM: There's obviously a clear choice at this election. In just three years the Albanese Government has lowered taxes for all taxpayers, delivered cheaper childcare and cheaper medicines, Fee Free TAFE and cost of living relief. All of these achievements are at risk at this election because of the Dutton Opposition. They will raise taxes, oppose cost of living relief, and cut health and Medicare funding to pay for their $600 billion nuclear schemes. We don't want to go down the path of an Americanisation of our political system. It's only an Albanese Labor Government that can continue to focus on building Australia's future.
HARDGRAVE: Well done. That's a discount. That's like a minute to win it with a discount. Well done to you Anthony Chisholm. It's not known that Senators are brief. How come you've done that?
CHISHOLM: Well for this election, and I probably should have confessed that at the start, I'm on the six-year cycle so I'm only halfway through my second term, so you know, less pressure. But we're obviously hoping that we can have a good Senate result in Queensland, we did pretty badly six years ago. So, we've got an opportunity to pick up an extra Senator in Corinne Mulholland, who will be an outstanding Senator and I’ll be out on the road across Queensland with her in coming weeks as well, to ensure that people don't forget that the Senate is really important as well.
HARDGRAVE: Indeed. All right. Nice to talk with you. Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm, Senator for Queensland. Appreciate your time today.
