PETER CAVE: The Government says it's not focusing on polls but on the important policies outlined in last week's budget. Finance Minister Penny Wong says that Tony Abbott is good at fighting but that is not the same thing as real leadership.
Penny Wong spoke to Alexandra Kirk.
WONG: When we were putting this budget together we weren't focused on the polls. We were focused on what was right for the country. And that is why this is a budget that gets Australia back in the black and it is very much focused on jobs, on the half a million jobs that are being created, on how we make sure people have the skills for those jobs and how we get Australians into those jobs.
KIRK: But beyond the budget, the Prime Minister's bleeding support and Labor is stuck way behind the Coalition.
WONG: Well as I said, you have to in Government focus on what is right for the country and not on what polls that come and go might say. That is what I'm focused on, that is what the Prime Minister is focused on what is the right thing for the nation and that is really a stark contrast between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott. Julia Gillard is focused on what is right for the country and Tony Abbott is focused on the political fight.
KIRK: But voters don't appear to like what Julia Gillard has to say.
WONG: As I said, what we have to do is what voters expect of government which is to govern the country well, to focus on what's right for the country. That is what this budget is all about.I mean we have a situation in Australia where we have growing employment, low unemployment, we know we are going to see more jobs over the next few years. These are the sorts of things that governments have to keep ensuring happen.
KIRK: But wouldn't you think that those things would be popular with voters?
WONG: As I said, you know, the focus for us always has to be what policies will do the best for Australia, for Australian households, for Australian families and that's what the Government continues to be focused on.
KIRK: You accuse Tony Abbott of mindless negativity but clearly something is working for Tony Abbott.
WONG: Well Tony Abbott is mindlessly negative. Tony Abbott is a man who likes a fight and he is pretty good at fighting but that doesn't make him good at leading. He offers no vision for the country. He can't stand on his record because his record is WorkChoices and reducing funding to public hospitals so he has to stand on his ability to have a political fight. I think Australians deserve more than that. I think they do deserve politicians that look to what is right for the country and put forward a vision for the nation.
KIRK: Why is it then that voters are marking the Government down and the Prime Minister down?
WONG: Alex, all I can say is what I have said to you and that is our focus shouldn't be polls and I think you rightly would criticise us if it were. Our focus has to be on the policies that are good for Australia.
KIRK: What mistakes do you think the Government is making? If you think you have all the policies right, you think you are doing everything right in terms of the national interest, why are you doing so badly in the polls?
WONG: Alex I'm sure, as always, governments have to go out and talk about why they are doing things and talk about why things are not as simple and easy as some people say, what sort of policies have to be put in place. And we have to counter the relentless negativity from Tony Abbott.
KIRK: So is Tony Abbott better at selling his product than the Government is?
WONG: No, Tony Abbott is better at being negative but that is not the same thing as being a leader.
CAVE: Finance Minister Penny Wong speaking there to Alexandra Kirk.
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