Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
2SM with Chris Smith
TOPICS: Leaders debate and Albanese’s lies, taxation reform, our plan to get Australia back on track
16 April 2025
E&OE
Chris Smith
With me right now, WA Liberal Party Senator Michaelia Cash. Senator, good to have you on the program. Happy Easter, I should start with.
Senator Cash
Absolutely, happy Easter. Can you actually believe it though, the first few months of this year have flown quickly past us, and in about, what is it, 16 days’ time, Australia goes to a sliding doors moment in terms of the federal election.
Chris Smith
Yeah, and we got an indication last night of what the leaders are focusing on with two weeks to go. My gut tells me that in that debate I saw last night, there were no knockout points scored. The Prime Minister did get very agitated at times, and Peter Dutton lifted his tempo. How did you think that debate went last night?
Senator Cash
I think Peter clearly articulated to the Australian people that there is a clear choice on the third of May, and that choice is about who can better manage the economy and help Australians get ahead. And I think Peter clearly articulated that. But I thought what was interesting about the Prime Minister is what the debate showed last night that he actually does have a problem with the truth. I mean, Chris, how bizarre, he looked the Australian people in the eye last night and claimed his government didn’t model an overhaul of negative gearing and the capital gains discount. I mean, that is actually a lie. We know that. Jim Chalmers confirmed it last year, that he had tasked Treasury officials to do just that. So, I think for me, what was so evident last night is Mr Albanese lied. He has a problem with the truth. And I have to say, I’m actually baffled, but there is an answer to that question. It’s yes. He could have given that to Australians, and I would have thought Australians would have come away just as baffled last night as to why Mr Albanese has a problem telling the truth, but, Chris, in the face of what we all know are the facts.
Chris Smith
Yeah, it’s very interesting. I do hope the media mob that travelled with the Prime Minister put him on the rack on this, because most people who follow politics know that Jim Chalmers stated the obvious, that Treasury was onto forming some kind of plan or schedule related to these issues, and for him to get up so publicly and deny that last night, it was more baffling than it was anything else.
Senator Cash
It was just a blatant lie. And what’s worse is, I mean, we all know Greens leader Adam Bandt, who, if there is a Labor minority government, will be running the country with Albanese, and he has made it very clear himself: regardless, Labor will have to axe negative gearing in return for the Greens’ support in minority government. But I mean, you’ve also got, sort of on all the TVs today, again, more of Mr Albanese’s lies. He fell off a stage, the video is there for all to see, and the first thing he says in response is, “I didn’t fall.” I mean, Chris, the only reason people asked him about it is because they were actually concerned he’d fallen off a stage. And the best he can do is look down the barrel of a camera to the Australian people and say, I know the video evidence is there, I know it looks like I fell off a stage, but trust me, I didn’t. This is a man that over the next 16 days, I hope the journalists do press him as to why he clearly is prepared to yet again mislead Australians. Because the biggest worry for me, Chris, is this: this is not new with Mr Albanese. He had a problem with the truth prior to the last election. I mean, he kept on telling people, “My government will lower your power bills by $275.” Even last night, he refused to answer that question. He refuses to admit it. He is lying blatantly to the Australian people every time he stands up at a press conference about his government’s record on Medicare. Chris, it’s a fact. He can’t deny it; bulk billing rates have plummeted under Mr Albanese. But I think the greatest lie of all, he told Australians that life would be cheaper under Labor, and instead, as you know, we’ve had the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world. So, I mean, if the Prime Minister is prepared to mislead Australians in the face of the actual facts, Chris, what else is he prepared to lie about over the next 16 days?
Chris Smith
That’s true, or over the next three years? Can I just make a point about Peter Dutton, and I make this point on behalf of my listeners, I was inundated on the open line yesterday by clearly conservative voters who were frustrated by the Liberal Party campaign and even Peter’s lack of aggression. Do you think the campaign could have been run better up until now?
Senator Cash
I think Peter has done an outstanding job. And I’d say to Australians, look at Peter Dutton over the last three years. This is a man who, against almost all the newspapers in Australia, against Mr Albanese throwing everything that he could, was prepared to stand up and say, as the Leader, as the alternative Prime Minister, I will not support Mr Albanese’s divisive Voice. I remember that at the time, Chris. I remember what Australians said about Peter Dutton then, that it was the wrong decision. Mr Albanese threw everything at him, and I would say to the Australian people, that is Peter Dutton. A man who is principled, who is prepared to say, I will stand up for Australia and Australians. One Australia under one flag, and I will not…
Chris Smith
They want him to take the gloves off, Michaelia. They want him to take the gloves off.
Senator Cash
I think what you saw last night was a man who took the gloves off, who was prepared to call out Mr Albanese’s lies. But more than that, has set out a clear vision to get Australia back on track. And he’s also been up front and honest with the Australian people. I mean, when he talked about ending bracket creep, he didn’t make an unrealistic promise to the Australian people like Mr Albanese does. He was up front with them, we want to move, under Peter Dutton, as quickly as we can as a country to changes around personal income tax. And that, of course, includes that hideous bracket-creeping indexation, because we know that is a killer in the economy. But he also said to the Australian people, the first thing I need to do on your behalf is get the budget back into shape. Once I have done that, I will move to tackle and achieve equality in our tax system. So, I think what Australians saw is a man who is prepared to stand on his previous record. But more than that, he has said to the Australian people, I have a long-term vision for you. But guess what? Unlike Mr Albanese, I am not going to mislead you. I’m going to tell you the truth. I’m going to tell you what’s in my DNA. And once again, because, Chris, we do this every single time, we clean up Labor’s economic mess. But once we have done that, absolutely, we will then aspire to long-term tax reform. Because bracket creep, all Australians know this, it’s a brake on productivity, it’s a brake on entrepreneurialism, and it’s a killer in the economy. And we will move to do that at a time when the budget can afford to do it.
Chris Smith
So pleasing to see one of the leaders talk about proper reform of the tax system, which is so overdue it’s not funny. One quick one, I played on the program, I think it was earlier this week, last week, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in WA at a function that you hosted. She’s a popular operator. Gee, I’d like to see more of her.
Senator Cash
She is beyond fantastic. I am always proud to stand by Jacinta. In fact, she described me the other night as her sister from another mister, which I just love. But look, Jacinta is doing, as you know, a great job in the Northern Territory. A lot of people forget, she has got to win her seat every three years, unlike Senators from states who are up every six years. So, Jacinta is based in the Northern Territory doing just that, but also, Chris, the seats of Lingiari and Solomon, we need to deliver good Liberal members, good CLP members to those seats to actually make a difference in the lives of Territorians. I mean, the Territorians under the former Labor Territory Government, but also under Mr Albanese, my God, are they doing it tough. Just look at Alice Springs. I mean, what is it going to take, Chris, for Mr Albanese to actually admit his government’s policy decisions are literally destroying the town of Alice Springs? So, look, Jacinta, a great Australian. I am always prepared to stand by her. In fact, I should say I am proud to stand beside her. I’m proud to be her sister from another mister. But more than that, I look forward to seeing her win her seat in the Australian Senate resoundingly on May the third, and I look forward to her delivering, hopefully, Lingiari and Solomon, but at least one of those seats so we can deliver a better government to the people of the Northern Territory.
Chris Smith
One final one, 16 days to go, as you pointed out. Can the Coalition pull off an Easter miracle?
Senator Cash
The answer is yes. But unlike Mr Albanese, who is now showing hubris, who is showing that he’s treating the Australian people like mugs quite frankly, and has already said, Well, I’ve won this election, I’m now moving on to my third term as Prime Minister, God help the Australian people, Chris. We know we are the underdog. We know there is a long way to go. But we will stand on our record as a good, strong Opposition. But more than that, that we do have the plan. We are the better managers of our economy. We have the policies that will ensure Australians get ahead. But more than that, God, we love this country. God, I’m disappointed with what Albanese has done to it. And under Peter Dutton, we absolutely will get this country, Chris, this great country, which I love so much, and you love so much, back on track.
Chris Smith
Well said. Enjoy the rest of the campaign. Hopefully we can talk before election day. But have a great Easter too as well, Michaelia.
Senator Cash
Happy Easter to you as well, Chris, and your listeners.
ENDS
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