Today Show

E&OE TRANSCRIPT Interview - Channel 9  Today Show with Karl Stefanovic Wednesday 3 December 2014 SUBJECT:  Higher education reforms. KARL STEFANOVIC:           Well the Government's ragged week has gone from bad to worse with its controversial plans to deregulate university fees rejected by the Senate. And it appears Education Minister Christopher Pyne has antagonised some key crossbenchers, including Palmer United Senator Glenn Lazarus. Take a listen. [Excerpt]. GLENN LAZARUS:              We are opposed to the higher education reforms for a number of reasons, and no amount of texting, chocolates, and red roses from Christopher Pyne is going to change my mind. [End of excerpt]. KARL STEFANOVIC:           Just nasty stuff isn't it. Christopher Pyne joins us now. You must be thinking, Chris - good morning - where is the love? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        [Laughs]. Karl, I haven't sent any flowers or chocolates to Senator Lazarus. So I hope that nobody is sending them to him in my name. I have sent him a Christmas card, so I hope he won't be offended by that, but it was sent before he said he didn't want any SMS’s. But then he did run into another journalist later in the day and say that he was happy to get as many SMS's as I ever wanted to send him so, I'm as confused as the next bloke I'm afraid. KARL STEFANOVIC:           It is like an episode of The Bold and The Beautiful. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Well it's not, that's the thing you see, it's too important. KARL STEFANOVIC:           I know! CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        This reform is too important. KARL STEFANOVIC:           The way he was treating you - let's get onto that, the way he was treating you. He is a newly minted senator with virtually no experience; he was mocking you. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Well, that's a matter for Senator Lazarus. I intend to have a great relationship with him, as I intend to have with all the crossbenchers. Today we will introduce a new higher education reform bill which picks up a lot of the issues that have been raised by the crossbenchers - none by Labor of course or the Greens, because they are just saying no, they are not part of the conversation at all. And as Churchill said, this isn't the beginning of the end; this is the end of the beginning, Karl. And we will do it again next year in February. KARL STEFANOVIC:           Okay. Whose fault was it that the bill was rejected? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Well, the crossbenchers, Labor and the Greens, didn't vote for it. Four of the crossbenchers did, and I would like to thank Senators Muir, Madigan, Leyonhjelm, and Day for their support. But the Government obviously believes strongly in it, and we have campaigned very hard for it, and I will continue to do so. Because great reform takes time. But there is an inevitability about it, and it will happen, because it is necessary for our universities and for our students. KARL STEFANOVIC:           Ultimately you have got massive dramas, as you know, in the Senate getting any bill passed. Do you think that these senators are holding the country to ransom at the moment, they are black mailing the country? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Well there was a Telegraph poll a couple of weeks ago that said that 66 per cent of people thought the Senate was being obstructionist, and would welcome an election to change that. We are obviously not going to do that but the message to the Senate is be cooperative and work with the Government. I would love to work with the crossbenchers, I had a great relationship with them. I think in February, when we debate this again, I'm happy to wipe the slate clean, and as I see this as round two. As I said to Clive Palmer a few months ago, if it loses the first time, Clive, it would be like losing the first test of a five-test series. So I'm not going away Karl. KARL STEFANOVIC:           They are black mailing in a way, though, aren't they? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        I certainly wouldn't say that, no, I don't believe that's the case. KARL STEFANOVIC:           You wouldn't say that. I think the PM ... CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        No I wouldn't say that. KARL STEFANOVIC:           ... said something like that yesterday. This is a form- CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        I think he might have ... KARL STEFANOVIC:           [Interrupts] This is a form of - this is a quote - this is a form of blackmail, and this is not something that any sensible mature government can submit itself to. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Well, I think he was saying that senators on the crossbench shouldn't link one issue to all of the other issues. Now, voting no to everything in the Senate because you can't have your way on one particular thing is, I think the Prime Minister was saying, is not the way to negotiate with the Government or with anybody. But each crossbencher has got to make their own decision, and they are answerable to the electorate when they face re-election. KARL STEFANOVIC:           The reality is, I mean, let's face it, you would much rather a much more co-operative Senate. Why don't you just double dissolution, get on with it, let the country get on with it? Man up and double dissolution. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Because the public elected a government at the end of 2013 to get on and do the job. We have had a great year ... KARL STEFANOVIC:           But you're not- CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        ... we've abolished the carbon tax, the mining tax, stopped the boats. KARL STEFANOVIC:           It's ground to a halt, all of these things, even last night is an example of things ground to a halt. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Not really. We have settled three free trade agreements, confidence- business confidence, consumer confidence on the rise, the economy is being repaired. KARL STEFANOVIC:           [Interrupts] Anything related to the budget though? Anything related to the budget? Even this morning in The Australian, Chris, it reports that the backbench MPs have blocked the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund amid concerns over the way their leaders are communicating economic strategy. The way you are communicating economic strategy - not even your own party has any kind of faith in your arguments for existing reforms. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Well 75 per cent of the budget is through. The Economics Committee that chose to put the Medical Research Future Fund legislation off for more consideration, that is their role, that is what backbench committees are supposed to do. They are supposed to look at legislation and say no, we would like more time; or yes, we are happy with this. But there is nothing in the least bit embarrassing about that. KARL STEFANOVIC:           Here's the issue: you can't get your own policy through the Senate - and yes it is hostile - but you can't even get your own policy through your own people, let alone the Senate. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        That's not right Karl. That's the job of the backbench committees is to scrutinise legislation before it's introduced. And they are just doing their job. And I am not in the least bit dismayed by the defeat in the Senate 33-31 with four crossbenchers voting for the Government. I'm not dismayed about that. My view is that is democracy, that's what the people gave us in the election, and I will work with that. And this morning I'm bouncing back, putting up a new reform bill, I will be back again in February with that debate and I'm looking forward to trying to get the crossbenchers to support it. KARL STEFANOVIC:           Well, you do bounce back, and you've got to woo Clive Palmer. Just before we go quickly, how are you going to woo Clive Palmer over the Christmas break? Roses? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Well, I get along very well with Clive Palmer. I'm looking forward to more meetings with Clive Palmer. KARL STEFANOVIC:           Chocolates? Dinosaurs? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Now Karl, don't try to lead me astray. KARL STEFANOVIC:           What about model dinosaurs? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        No [laughs] I have a very good relationship with Clive and I intend to continue that. KARL STEFANOVIC:           Good on you Chris. Thank you very much for your time today. Appreciate it. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Thank you. [ends]