Senator Cash
Well, what we’ve seen today is the Australian Bureau of Statistics have released the labor force figures for July 2022. When you look at the headline figure, a reduction in the unemployment rate from 3.5% down to 3.4%, it is just that – a headline figure. When you go behind the figure itself, alarm bells should start ringing for the Albanese Government. We saw a loss of full time jobs of around 80,000 – that should be concerning for all Australians. But what we also saw, which again, the alarm bells should start ringing for the Albanese Government, is a drop in the participation rate from 66.8% down to 66.4%.
I have just returned from Tasmania, and visiting small business after small business, the one issue that they consistently now raise with me is the fact that we have done well with the unemployment rate, but as we know, what that now means for them is, they need access to labour. Many of them raise with me and say, “I cannot understand why Prime Minister Albanese has not already implemented the very sensible policy that the Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton, has put forward in relation to allowing veterans and pensioners to work one additional day without affecting their pension.”
When you have a loss of around 80,000 full time jobs in July, as those small businesses raised with me, it’s because they are struggling to get people to do shifts, they are struggling to get access to the labour, and they are having to forego a shift, or in some cases, close their doors. So whilst when you look at the headline figure today, 3.5%, down to 3.4%, it is just that – a headline figure. When you’re out on the ground, as I am, as Peter Dutton is, as the entire shadow cabinet was recently in Tasmania, and you’re talking to people about the things that ultimately make a difference in their lives every single day – the fact that we lost, in July, so many full time jobs should be of concern to Mr. Albanese as the Prime Minister.
The fact that we’ve seen such a reduction in the participation rate – 66.8%, down to 66.4% – should set the alarm bells ringing for our now Prime Minister. What businesses, and Australians in fact, are now screaming out for is that access to labour. Without the access to labour – and there is the very sensible policy put forward by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, or alternatively, let’s get our immigration system moving again – what you’re going to see is more and more businesses saying. “we’re going to have to close for that shift”, or alternatively, “we may have to close our doors,” and that does not bode well for any Australians.
Journalist
Senator, when did you find out that the former Prime Minister Scott Morrison had sworn himself into multiple ministries?
Senator Cash
I found out, like it would appear to be the majority of people, when it was printed in the press or first raised in the press.
Journalist
What was your initial reaction?
Senator Cash
Oh, I think look, Scott Morrison yesterday did address the media. It was a very long press conference at which he outlined his position, the reasons that he took at the time, and the explanation for it. But certainly, like so many colleagues and my leader Peter Dutton, he has expressed disappointment. The decision itself based on what appears to be section 63 and 64 of the Constitution is a legal one. But of course, the transparency and the not telling the relevant colleagues at the time is a great disappointment. And Mr. Morrison yesterday in addressing the media, he acknowledged this. He apologised to colleagues, in particular those affected by his decisions, and that was certainly the right thing to do.
Inaudible
Senator Cash
Seeing today, the loss of full time jobs across Australia, their inability to get access to the labour they need. I cannot tell you how many people are aware of the policy announced by Peter Dutton in relation to veterans and pensioners. And they keep on saying, “why won’t Mr. Albanese as prime minister of this country implement that policy?” I’m at a loss because I don’t know why he won’t implement it either. But the other policy decision they keep raising with me is that Mr. Albanese went to the election, he said to Australians “if I’m elected, I will ensure that your electricity prices, your power prices, are reduced by $275 a year.” People voted in good faith on that promise. That has already been gone, that has been thrown away by the now Prime Minister. So when it comes to being on the ground, talking to Australians about the issues that matter to them, they are the two main issues that are raised with me.
Journalist
Mr. Morrison went to the election saying that Karen Andrews was the nation’s only home affairs minister, she’s now calling for him to resign. Do you think he should?
Senator Cash
No I don’t. He was validly, and in fact, overwhelmingly elected by the people in his electorate at the last election. That was only but a few weeks ago. The people of Cook, they voted for Scott Morrison to represent them in the parliament. I don’t believe that he should resign. But what I’d also say is I’m very proud to be part of the former government that got Australia through COVID-19. Because of the decisions that the former government made, we saved around 40,000 lives. I don’t think that should ever be forgotten by the Australian people. I look at the policies that were put in place, and in particular, the JobKeeper policy. How many Australians would not have had a job if it wasn’t for that decision by the former coalition government? You look at the unemployment rate today. At the height of COVID-19, in fact, it was at the outset of COVID-19, I will never ever forget, I was the small business minister at the time, Treasury said unemployment in Australia could go as high as 15%. As we stand here today, talking about the labour force figures for July 2022, you’re actually seeing an unemployment rate in Australia that is now so low, we’ve got the opposite effect – businesses are having to shed jobs because they cannot get access to labour. So I have to say I’m very proud of the former legacy left by the coalition government, and again, as someone who is out on the ground in particular in relation to the portfolios that I have, the issues that matter to Australians are the fact that their power prices are not going to come down by $275 because Mr. Albanese has crab-walked away from that promise. And the fact that businesses are now struggling to get access to labour should be of concern to everybody, in particular when you have a policy that could have been adopted yesterday by Mr. Albanese. But because he wants a Jobs Summit so that the unions can get further control of Australia, he refuses to do what is sensible, and act upon this policy put forward by Peter Dutton and at least take a step forward in terms of access to labour by businesses in Australia.
Journalist
As the Attorney-Genreal at the time, did Scott Morrison betray you as Attorney-General and has he reached out to apologise?
Journalist
Absolutely not. And again, Scott Morrison gave a very long press conference yesterday. He explained the reasons for his decision, and in particular, as he said, we were going through a once in a 100 year global pandemic. Should he have told relevant colleagues at the time? I think it is abundantly clear that is exactly what he should have done, and on that basis, he has publicly apologized to those colleagues. But again, the Prime Minister, the now prime minister of this country, has put in place a process. He needs to stop acting like an Opposition Leader, assume a little bit of dignity and grace, await the outcome of that process, which on Monday he will receive – I understand, the advice from the Solicitor General – and perhaps start focusing on the fact that he’s only been in office for a few weeks and he has already trashed one election commitment – something that people actually voted on to bring the power prices down by $275. And I have to say, if I was looking behind the unemployment rate today, I would be very worried. The loss of 80,000 full time jobs, a decrease in the participation rate, and the fact that the Labor Government is looking more and more every day, like it is completely, totally and utterly controlled by the union movement. I’d start to be pretty worried if I was Mr. Albanese.
Journalist
So Scott Morrison has not reached out to you personally?
Senator Cash
No he has not. He gave a global apology yesterday.
Journalist
You haven’t spoken to him about it?
Senator Cash
I have not, no.
Journalist
You’re saying he apologised for not informing colleagues but in the same breath he also defended the decision not to tell colleagues yesterday.
Journalist
Two of the appointments were made while you were Attorney-General. While you were Attorney-General, if you’d known about those appointments at that time, what action would you have taken?
Senator Cash
Again, Mr. Morrison gave his explanation yesterday. He gave his reasons for not informing colleagues at the time. But he also said yesterday, he now recognises he should have. But again, the prime minister himself has put in place a process. We should all now await the outcome of that process, which I understand on Monday, he will receive the advice from the Solicitor General.
Inaudible
Senator Cash
Well let’s wait for the outcome of the advice from the Solicitor General. Mr. Morrison gave his reasons yesterday. He made a apology to all of those concerned. As someone who was in government or in opposition today, in August 2022, I can assure you I am focused on the things that matter to Australians and in particular, in my portfolios. When I’m out there every day, it doesn’t matter what shop I go into – it’s really confronting when people have to say to you, “I can’t do this shift this afternoon”, or “I can’t do the dinner shift tonight”, or “I can only serve a certain amount of meals because I cannot get access to labour”. It is really concerning when across Australia, the economy sheds 80,000 full time jobs. It is really disappointing when people have to say to you, “why did Mr. Albanese walk away from his promise to reduce my power bill by $275”. They’re the issues that get raised with me every day, and they’re the issues that as a member of parliament, a Senator for Western Australia, in particular, the Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, I’m focusing on everyday.
Journalist
Is it a bad look for the Premier of Western Australia to be going to the Penfolds function?
Senator Cash
I think the premier made it very clear – we get a lot of invitations that come across our desk. And as elected members of parliament, and in particular as the premier of Western Australia, you do get to attend a lot of events. I was not at the event, I understand, though, it is something that has been regularly occurring for many, many years now. And I don’t agree with Mark McGowan on many things but I accept his explanation in relation to there’s a lot of events he gets to attend. This was just another event.
Journalist
Do you accept Scott Morrison’s explanation for overruling Keith Pitt’s decision with regards to the gas project?
Senator Cash
And again, that that was the decision that was made by the Prime Minister at the time. He was upfront about that decision, and the decision was made. But again, there is now a process that has been put in place in relation to all of this. And that is advice from the Solicitor General will be provided, I understand, on Monday to the government. I will await that advice on Monday. At this point in time, I get to look at the labour force figures today, I get to go out and talk to people this afternoon about the impact of those labour force figures on them, on their business, or their family, on the average Australian.
Journalist
Just on the resources decision did no one in cabinet twink that Keith Pitt was inclined to approve this project? Did no one in cabinet question under whose authority that decision was made?
Senator Cash
Well again, Jessica, the [former] prime minister made it very clear yesterday – I don’t comment on what did or did not occur in cabinet – that would be a breach of cabinet confidentiality. But the [former] prime minister made it very clear yesterday, he made that decision as the prime minister of this country.
Journalist
But the former prime minister was critical of the media yesterday for not realising at that time that he must have sworn himself in as a secondary resources minister. So if he was critical of the media for that fact, then how did all of his cabinet miss it?
Senator Cash
Well, again, the [former] prime minister made it clear yesterday, he made that decision as the prime minister of this country.
Journalist
He made the decision as the resources minister, [inaudible]
Senator Cash
In his capacity, though, as he said, as the prime minister he made the decision. But again, there’s a process in place here. It is always important to follow the process.
Journalist
Mr. Morrison didn’t follow the process
Senator Cash
Advice will come on Monday. And then you’ll probably all get to see or you’ll hear about the advice that’s been received and you’ll be able to ask further questions then.
Journalist
But Mr. Morrison didn’t follow the process on that occasion. Should he have?
Senator Cash
Again, I think Mr. Morrison was very clear yesterday. He should have told people at the time. He understands that now. He explained the reasons for his decisions at the time, and he has publicly apologised to all ministers concerned. I accept that apology, and he should have apologised – there’s no two ways about that. But after that, I’m not going to be a commentator on this issue because there’s advice coming from the Solicitor General. That advice will be there on Monday. It’s August 2022 – there are a lot of things that are worrying Australians. The two things that come across my desk every day: lack of access to labour; and the fact that your power bill is not going to be going down by $275, as promised by the Prime Minister, the man who is now the prime minister, in the lead up to the last election.
Journalist
Are you disappointed that Scott Morrison hasn’t personally reached out to you to apologise?
Senator Cash
I wasn’t one of the ministers concerned personally. I accept Scott’s global apology yesterday. But again, I can assure you this is not something that I dwell on. The reason being, the issues that are raised with me are actually issues that are out there affecting people’s ability to run their business on a daily basis, that are affecting their ability to pay their employees on a daily basis. The fact that their power prices are not going down and they continue to go up. These are the very, very really issue that I get confronted with on a daily basis as a member of parliament.
Journalist
As the Attorney-General, you’re essentially the highest law officer in the land. Did Mr. Morrison’s failing to tell you about his actions impede your ability to perform your functions?
Senator Cash
I do not believe so, based on the explanation that I have been given to date, and in particular, the reliance, I understand, on section 63 and 64 of the Constitution. But again, a process has been put in place by the now Prime Minister. Advice is, I understand, coming from the Solicitor General, and that advice will be provided on Monday, at which point in time, I have no doubt that Mr. Albanese will address with the media. It’d be nice if he addressed the media today actually, on the fact that the economy has shed 80,000 jobs, on the fact that he has walked away from his $275 promise to lower your power bills – a broken promise within weeks of being elected – and the fact that the Jobs and Skills Summit, more and more on a daily basis is just becoming almost a rubber stamp for the demands that have been put out by the various unions, and in particular, the ACTU who yesterday – if you haven’t read their latest list of demands, I suggest you do because – they actually want to be in charge of every migrant that comes into this country.
Journalist
Should Christian Porter have told you about this instrument that he’s told Morrison about?
Senator Cash
Now you’re dealing in hypotheticals, and I’m not going to deal with hypotheticals. The process is in place. I’ll await the outcome of it.
Journalist
Is Scott Morrison now a distraction for Liberal Party in Canberra?
Senator Cash
Well, again, I know what I’m focused on every day, as the Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. I know what I’ve been doing for the last few days in particular in Tasmania. I know what I’m going to be doing going forward, and that’s just getting out there talking to Australians about their disappointment in the Albanese government – within a few weeks of being elected they have already trashed one election commitment – the reduction of power bills by $275. But in particular for me, and you know I was the small business minister, I was previously the employment minister – access to labour, you’re walking into businesses to be told they can only do a certain number of meals because they just don’t have the labour to actually do it anymore. The fact that businesses have to close a Saturday, because they can’t get access to the labour they need to open their doors. They’re the very real issues that I get to deal with every single day, and I promise you and I promise Australians, I won’t be distracted from those issues. Thank you very much.
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