Today Show

E&OE TRANSCRIPT Interview – Today Show with Karl Stefanovic and Anthony Albanese Friday 7 November 2014 SUBJECT: Politics of the week. KARL STEFANOVIC: Joining us is Christopher Pyne and Shadow Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, nice to see you guys. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Morning Karl. KARL STEFANOVIC: G’day Christopher. Have we been instructed, we being the Australian Government, been instructed not to shirtfront Vladimir Putin over the MH17 by the White House and also Germany? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: I think it is important that the G20 summit remain focussed on economic outcomes. This is 80% of the world's GDP. The Prime Minister will certainly have a clear-eyed discussion with Vladimir Putin, there is no doubt about that, about the role of Russia in the downing of MH 17. KARL STEFANOVIC: That will definitely happen at the G20 summit? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: There will be a discussion, he will have a side meeting with Vladimir Putin. I think that has been the plan all along but obviously we want the G20 to be about ending tax avoidance, about making people pay their share of taxation around the world because that is not happening and the G20 can help make it happen. KARL STEFANOVIC: There is a lot of emotion in regard to this story, isn’t it? The Dutch Prime Minister yesterday who I thought was describing that he thinks Russia still has a lot to do here. Russia still does have a lot to do here and the rhetoric should still be strong. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well we have to be clear about what our objectives are. We want to bring home the remains of those people who have been murdered and there is no doubt they were murdered by separatists supported by Russia, armed by Russia and probably armed by Russia. We also want to have to make sure the area and the fuselage of the MH17, as much of it as possible, is repatriated to Holland and that is being worked on. The Dutch Prime Minister is talking about that in his visit to Australia. KARL STEFANOVIC: We should be shirtfronting Vladimir Putin, shouldn't we? ANTHONY ALBANESE: We should be putting forward strong views but in adult way. The important thing here is to have an impact. And you don’t have an impact when you are focussed on domestic political messages. You have an impact where you put forward your views in an appropriate way and you can do that with strength. KARL STEFANOVIC: Okay, let's move on. There is lots to talk about with regards to that but we will move to the next story. A big deal has been done with cattle exports, something in the order of $1 billion for cattle export which is huge news for the agriculture industry and farmers. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: It’s fantastic. It’s one million cattle worth $1 billion. The ink is not dry on the contract though… KARL STEFANOVIC: It is in The Australian, it must be. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: It is very close. It is a great breakthrough. This is the kind of thing that happens when we have a Government that focussed on economic outcomes. We have a free trade agreement with Japan, free trade agreement with South Korea, working on one with China. These are the kind of outcomes you can get when you are focussed on the results rather than the process. ANTHONY ALBANESE: The Government got to sign the agreements that Labor had negotiated in Government and I'm pleased that the benefits are flowing through. Well, this is a deal with China and the agreement with China is not signed yet. KARL STEFANOVIC: Either way it is moving forward for producers. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Can’t you at least congratulate the Government on achieving… KARL STEFANOVIC: It’s a good thing. Congratulations to you both to finally getting something done because you have been sitting on your bums for weeks. Let’s talk about national security, obviously at a time like this you would agree, national security is of the most importance… CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Sure, protecting the Australian public is the Government's number one job. KARL STEFANOVIC: And you are also trading on it at the moment, under your success in terms of the electorate, it’s working for you? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: There is a bipartisan approach at the moment about national security and the Prime Minister is at pains to keep saying that the Leader of the Opposition has been extremely adult about supporting the Government. KARL STEFANOVIC: Okay, how then can it be possible that you would only offer defence staff, the people on the front lines here, 1.5% below inflation, 1.5% of an increase in pay? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well because we were left a deficit of $123 billion into the future. KARL STEFANOVIC: But you don’t skimp on defence, do you? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: No, no you don’t. And Labor did, Labor cut our defence budget to the lowest level since 1938. KARL STEFANOVIC: You can fix it. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Yeah, and we are trying to get the budget under control. And part of that is being careful with the money that the taxpayers provide for the Government. Now under Labor debt was rising to $677 billion, deficit was rising to $123 billion over the next four years, 1.5% is what the Government can afford, and it is what the taxpayers can afford. ANTHONY ALBANESE: They doubled the deficit. KARL STEFANOVIC: How much would you give them then, instead of just criticising, how much would you give them? ANTHONY ALBANESE: I would have thought common-sense would indicate they should at least be keeping pace with inflation. That is not too much to ask. And when it comes to real wages in general, are declining under this Government for all Australians. KARL STEFANOVIC: If you gave them that, where would you get the money from? ANTHONY ALBANESE: Well you know, you make choices... KARL STEFANOVIC: But you criticise… ANTHONY ALBANESE: You don’t have a paid parental leave scheme, there is $20 billion, Karl, for a start. KARL STEFANOVIC: Okay. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: So Labor is going to abolish the paid parental leave scheme apparently? But nevertheless, the problem with Labor is that they are a national complaint’s box… ANTHONY ALBANESE: No, your proposed paid parental leave scheme… we introduced one… CHRISTOPHER PYNE: …and they were going to give money to everybody who asked for it. KARL STEFANOVIC: Of more significance for you, Jacqui Lambie said she will knock back all legislation until [inaudible], she will knock back all legislation CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well we will continue to talk with the cross-benchers, every issue has to be seen on its own merits. Whether it is higher education reform, the Medicare co-payment, the pay deal for Defence personnel doesn’t have not got to go through the Parliament. KARL STEFANOVIC: She has lost the plot, hasn't she, Jacqui Lambie? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: I certainly wouldn’t say that. But we obviously have to work with all the cross-benchers. KARL STEFANOVIC: She is coming up after 7 o clock by the way; you didn’t fall for that, anyway. Just finally, video has emerged, uncomfortable video, I cannot look at it but cannot look away of the Gough Whitlam memorial service just a couple days ago. Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, this is Julia walking in, this is Kevin over the back there. Now he looks away, he looks there, looks a way, there. She is supposed to be sitting next to him. He is looking at him, he is looking at her. It’s all very unforgettable. No correspondence at all taking place. "Where do I sit?" She says hello to someone else, not Kevin. Why was there such a fiasco there at such an important event for Labor? Tony Abbott turned up and got booed but you guys couldn’t sort yourselves out. Come on! ANTHONY ALBANESE: Come on Karl, it was a fantastic event and nothing should take away from the fact that this was one of Australia's greatest days as well as a great day for Labor. I was there, Karl. It was great. KARL STEFANOVIC: It was uncomfortable, but we will have to leave it there though. Nice to see you guys. [ends]