Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
Sunrise
3 September 2025
Topics: Desi Freeman welfare payments; free to air TV tax
E&OE
Natalie Barr
On the run cop killer Desi Freeman has been labeled a hypocrite by family members and neighbours who claim he was pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in welfare payments, despite describing himself as a sovereign citizen who didn’t recognise the state of Australia. The Herald Sun reports that one relative told police Freeman had been receiving a disability pension for more than 20 years, saying he was happy to take money from an authority he publicly loathed. For their take, let’s bring in Labor MP, Josh Burns and Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash, good morning to you. Josh, these are claims that will anger a lot of Australians. Should someone who does not identify with the Australian state be getting taxpayer funded pensions?
Josh Burns
Well, morning Nat, and thanks for having me on. I mean, let’s not get into this guy’s fantasy. He’s an Australian citizen, and he’s allegedly killed two police officers, Detective Thompson and Senior Constable De Waart, who lost their lives serving in uniform and serving our community. And what this guy deserves is the full force of the law. He’s on the run, and anyone who’s assisting him will also be facing the full force of the law. I don’t think we should be indulging his fantasies, and frankly, he will be treated just like every other citizen of this country, and people who, you know, who do the wrong thing and who have done the worst sort of crime in this instance, will face the full force of the law. And I also don’t think we should be tarnishing good people who might be receiving the DSP with his sort of terrible, terrible behaviour.
Natalie Barr
No, and obviously nothing to do with anyone else who is receiving any pension. But Michaelia, what do you think about this? We’ve got friends and family of his saying he is claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars on a pension for many years, and saying, you know, he doesn’t support the state of Australia?
Senator Cash
Well, look at this point in time, I think the clear focus needs to be on bringing this man to justice. As Josh said, you know, he has killed two police officers. One is wounded, a community is traumatised. I want to see this man caught, and I want to see the full force of the law brought against him, but I do understand what the family are saying. I mean, what a hypocrite. This is the problem with this movement. You either accept there is a government in Australia, and if there’s a government, there are rules that apply, but there are also benefits that you can access. Or, quite frankly, don’t be a hypocrite, don’t access them. There are legal rules and obligations that you need to comply with, but I agree at this point in time, it’s all about ensuring that this man is caught and the full force of the law is quite literally brought against him. He is a disgrace.
Natalie Barr
Moving on, TV networks including Channel Seven, Nine and Ten, all came together in Canberra last night to make a vital pitch to the Prime Minister about the future of free TV. Now, the networks pay about $50 million a year for the commercial broadcast tax, yet global streaming giants, including Netflix and Amazon, don’t pay anything to bring their content to Aussie viewers. The tax is currently frozen for a year, but the networks are asking for it to be abolished entirely. Michaelia, what do you think about this? Global streamers getting a free ride, Australian media companies paying.
Senator Cash
Well, it’s unfair, and that’s why we took a policy to the last election that we would axe the tax. I mean Nat, we’re doing free to air right now. 20 million Australians, they watch free to air each week, and certainly, what we are focused on as the Coalition is ensuring that you can continue to provide the best possible service to those Australians. I mean, it provides a public good, in particular, though, for those in rural and regional communities, you know, keeping them informed when there’s fires and floods, It gives us access to sports, to Australian content. So certainly, we believe that the tax, the tax should be axed, and in particular, you need to back in the bush. The problem with Labor is this: they know there’s a problem with the tax, they’ve admitted it. They suspended it for a year, but that’s not policy certainty. They now need to give the 20 million Australians who watch free to air each week that policy certainty. There is a problem. You’re not competing on a level playing field anymore. But as I said, we’re doing it right now Nat. This is the benefit of free TV, free to air TV. Australians can tune in and get their news. That’s a good thing.
Natalie Barr
Yeah, let’s look at the Prime Minister. He was overwhelmingly supportive last night, saying the government has our back. Take a look at what he said.
Anthony Albanese
Is it that is leading to increased polarisation. People get their information, including their news, from their devices and algorithms mean they go down rabbit holes. You are a last bastion of what is an essential part of our democracy.
Natalie Barr
Pretty supportive words there. Josh, will the government abolish the commercial broadcast tax?
Josh Burns
Well Nat, I can’t make any announcements this morning, but what I can say is that the pause is significant. I mean, it’s going to save commercial networks $50 million a year.
Natalie Barr
One year.
Josh Burns
And it’s really important. Yes, absolutely, and it and I completely understand that there is a call to do it in the long term, because, as the Prime Minister just said then, that people are getting their news and they’re getting polarized online. The streamers don’t compete with the commercial networks. And I think that everyone recognizes there is a problem here. We’re going to work through this because we want Australians to be accessing high quality programs. It means jobs for Australians. It means jobs for your colleagues Nat, and that we want people on commercial networks. I love watching the drama that is the Carlton football club on this channel as well. I know, we need to see commercial TV, strong, vibrant and sustainable in this country, and we’re going to work with you
Natalie Barr
So Josh, when will the government decide whether the tax will be abolished or whether that stay will be extended?
Josh Burns
Well, we’ve got it until 2026 Nat. So, I think we’ll work through these matters and make sure that well before this current pause to save the commercial networks $50 million is over, that there is an answer for what’s going to happen in the future.
Natalie Barr
It’s not fair in any way, though, is it Josh?
Josh Burns
No, I don’t think so. Nat, and I think that we all recognise that, that we want commercial networks to be sustainable, to be here for the long term, to make sure Australians can watch the content, the drama, the sport that they love. And you know, if they’re brave enough to get up early and watch Michaelia and I this morning, then we should also be making sure that they are supported and that your colleagues are supported to do the great work you do Nat.
Natalie Barr
It sounds pretty positive for an abolition Michaelia.
Senator Cash
Oh, well, look, I have to say, given the words of the Prime Minister last night, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know why he just didn’t say we’ll adopt the Coalition’s policy they took to the last election. Let’s axe the tax, back in the bush. But more than that, give you guys the certainty Nat that you need. We are doing free to air right now. Let’s back in those 20 million Australians who watch free to air every single week and ensure that you as a free to air network can continue to deliver the best possible service to them. So quite frankly, let’s call on the Prime Minister today. You stood up last night, you said some great things, but you didn’t back it in with what the free to air across Australia are asking for, which what 20 million Australians are asking for, but in particular, what mum and dads in the bush are asking for, axe the tax, back in those Australians, and let’s continue to ensure that free to air gives them the best possible service available. That’s what we want to see.
Natalie Barr
Thank you both. We’ll see you next week.
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