2GB

E&OE TRANSCRIPT Interview - 2GB Sydney Live with Ben Fordham Wednesday 5 November 2014 SUBJECTS: Gough Whitlam memorial; Remembrance Day; ARC grants BEN FORDHAM:     While we're on the topic of people behaving inappropriately at official functions, I've already mentioned this, people attending Gough Whitlam's memorial service have booed Prime Minister Tony Abbott has he arrived at the function. This is how it happened: Sydney's Town Hall, filled with mourners who'd come to pay their final respects. Outside, another group of people gathered, also there to pay their respects. Former Labor Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating received a standing ovation as they walked in. Then came the former PM Kevin Rudd, he received a much more subdued welcome, Kevin Rudd, no-one getting up from their seats. The last Labor leader to arrive was former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and when she walked in the doors she was greeted with applause and a standing ovation. [Excerpt - Applause] So, contrast this to the mood when Tony Abbott arrives. Have a listen to the mood change: [Excerpt - Applause turns to booing] And remember, this is a memorial service for a deceased man: [Excerpt continues - Booing continues] I mean, honestly. Behaving like this as a football match is one thing, but you are booing someone at a memorial service, what an absolute disgrace. Booing a man who is there to pay his respects to someone who's died. I mean, can you think of anything that's lower? It says more about those making the noise than the target of their anger. Today wasn't about politics; it was about honouring a great man who changed Australia forever. Now, quite a lot to talk about this afternoon and I want to get the point of view from Education Minister Christopher Pyne. He's been busy today announcing hundreds of new research projects and he's also busy behind the scenes negotiating with the Palmer United Party to try and get his education reforms through the Senate; good luck with that. Christopher Pyne, good afternoon. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Good afternoon Ben. BEN FORDHAM:     Can I ask you first of all about that reaction to Tony Abbott's arrival at the memorial service today? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Well it's very disappointing. I think the people who are responsible for it are misguided. I think their behaviour is un-Australian. And to put this into perspective, the Prime Minister Tony Abbott accorded former prime minister Gough Whitlam full honours as should be the case. Flags were hung at half mast; the Parliament, after a speech is given by the leadership group, including myself and led by the Prime Minister, was suspended in honour of Gough Whitlam. The debate in the House continues to occur in the House of Representatives so that every Member of Parliament gets the opportunity to honour Gough Whitlam as a former prime minister. A state memorial service was accorded to Gough Whitlam by the Government. Tony Abbott couldn't have been more gracious in his speech in the House of Representatives; and the way he should have been treated was as a current Prime Minister paying his respects to a great Australian and not like a crowd of soccer hooligans. BEN FORDHAM:     I mean the point of the whole thing is that this is a man who was attending a memorial service to pay his respects to a former Prime Minister who passed away. Who in their right mind would think that's a time to go yelling: Abbott's a wanker; or booing, as people did today when he arrived? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Well the people responsible for that have reflected very badly upon themselves and shown themselves to be ill-mannered and not know how to behave in a public place like a memorial service for a former Prime Minister. And I think the vast majority of Australians would be embarrassed for them and expressed their apologies to the current prime minister for their appalling behaviour. BEN FORDHAM:     What do you make of Jacqui Lambie's suggestion today that on Remembrance Day; members of the public should turn their backs on politicians because of the 1.5 per cent pay rise for members of our Defence Force? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Well I hope that they don't do that and I'll obviously be laying a wreath on Remembrance Day here in my electorate and I wouldn't expect anybody to turn their back on me, they haven't in 21 years of representing them. Obviously we'd like to give the Defence Forces a higher wage rise, but after six years of Labor profligate spending leaving us with a $667 billion debt and $123 billion of deficits, we can afford to give them 1.5 per cent and that's the best we can do. We'd like to do more, but I don't think anybody would blame the current Government for trying to fix the mess that we were left by the previous Labor Party. BEN FORDHAM:     Look - and I've got a strong feeling about the members of the Defence Force deserving more money and they should be earning more money and I've expressed them on the radio show, there's all sorts of ways of expressing their point of view. But to turn your back - once again, it's the whole idea of hijacking an event, whether it be a memorial service for someone who's passed away, or Remembrance Day for those who've sacrificed their lives - to hijack an event for another purpose is just lacking in taste. You announced today - well hundreds of research grants and projects. Are these going to get off the ground, or do they have to get the tick of approval from the Palmer United Party? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     No, they will definitely be off the ground; $354 million worth of research projects will benefit over 900 researchers in Australia, doing vital research across many, many different fields. It's part of the ongoing commitment of the Abbott Government to supporting our research effort in Australia. We have 15 Nobel Prize-winners in Australia; we really, really punch above our weight. And the Government has continued to commit research funding. But it's why my reforms are so important, because without those reforms, research funding in the future will be unaffordable for universities and for government. BEN FORDHAM:     I was listening to Jacqui Lambie talking to my colleague Chris Smith earlier; she's a tough cookie, is she a tough negotiator as well? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Jacqui Lambie is doing what she thinks is right. I am continuing to talk to her, I look forward to each of my meetings with her. We have a very cordial relationship... BEN FORDHAM:     Is she a tough negotiator? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     ... and I intend to continue at that - to continue to have that kind of relationship. I don't want to categorise her as being a tough or a soft negotiator. She is a good representative of the people of Tasmania and I intend to continue to do what I can to get her to support the reforms which I think are vital for students and for our universities. BEN FORDHAM:     Very smooth, Minister. Thanks for your time, we'll talk to you soon. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Thanks Ben. BEN FORDHAM:     Christopher Pyne, the Education Minister. [ends]