BELLING: Finance Minister Penny Wong and shadow immigration minister Scott Morrison join us now for our weekly debate. Good morning to both of you, thanks once again for joining us.
WONG: Morning Tarsh, good to be here.
MORRISON: Morning Tarsh.
BELLING: Now we start of course with this breaking news out of Canberra this morning, very disturbing and new claims of course these are allegations at this stage of a new sex scandal at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Were told this morning and in recent years that this culture was a thing of the past after previous investigations. If I can start with you Senator Wong, why would this happen again? Allegations that a woman was being filmed in the shower by a cadet, why is this culture continuing?
WONG: These are concerning allegations, and I think the Governments view about these sorts of behaviours has been demonstrated by how the Defence Minister responded and has responded so effectively to previous allegations. Obviously I cant say much more than that at this stage because its still very early in terms of the allegations being made, but I think all Australians would regard the sort of behaviour thats been alleged as inappropriate.
BELLING: Scott Morrison, weve heard Senator Wong say that the Defence Minister has reacted effectively. Is it effective enough considering this is still happening, allegedly?
MORRISON: Well these matters should be investigated as Senator Wong said. This is unacceptable behaviour, whats been alleged here. And its important that the matters are thoroughly followed through by the Defence forces and appropriate action undertaken.
I mean, no one wants to see these sorts of things happen and its concerning that it is reported that it has happened again, but I would expect that a full investigation would be undertaken and an appropriate action be followed through.
BELLING: Senator Wong, if we could now move onto the other big political issue of the week, the ongoing Craig Thomson scandal. Now there are allegations coming through this week that the Prime Minister was closely monitoring the situation concerning Mr Thomson. That alleges that obviously she was very concerned about this.
WONG: Tarsh, if youre referring to the story that is on the front page of one of the papers today, thats actually been a story thats been around for a couple of years. Theres nothing remarkable in it. But I do think one of the concerning things has been the way in which some Liberal Party politicians have been handling this.
Lets understand what sort of system we have here in Australia. We have a system where politicians keep completely clear of independent investigations by our police. That is the separation of powers. The police are entirely independent and free of any interference or suggestion by others, including the political system. Thats our political system.
It is concerning that we see Senator George Brandis quite upfront about the fact that hes spoken to the Federal Police Commissioner, hes spoken to his Liberal colleague in New South Wales regarding these matters. And I think there are some questions for Senator Brandis to answer.
BELLING: Mr Morrison, on that point, surely this is not a good look that Mr Brandis is making these phone calls? There could obviously be an inference that there has been political interference in this case.
MORRISON: I think its a desperate inference made by a desperate Government seeking to divert attention frankly from the scandal theyve found themselves completely paralysed by, and thats whats happening here. This Government has been paralysed by this scandal. They refuse to answer the questions that have been put, and the Australian people are asking. And its the Prime Minister who we learned for at least two years it would seem had been asking some questions about this and going straight to those who were apparently investigating them a couple of years ago. I mean it was her chief of staff that was making these enquiries of people, and I suppose theres questions that they should be responding to on that, but its ultimately a question of judgment for the Prime Minister. Shes said she has full confidence, absolute full confidence in the Member for Dobell. She should be explaining why she has such confidence. Is she aware of every single issue and every single incident in this area? If shes not, then why did she give full confidence? And if she is, how can she give full confidence?
BELLING: Senator Wong, whats your response to that? Do you think the Prime Minister does have full confidence in Craig Thomson?
WONG: The Prime Minister has made her views about this clear and shes stated it in the Parliament on many occasions. But isnt it interesting Tarsh that were at a time in Australia where weve got job losses at Blue Scope, weve got job losses at Qantas, major changes in our economy, weve got a whole range of economic issues that were focused on as a Government because jobs are our priority.
The Coalition, all they want to talk about is Craig Thomson. And the question is why? And I can tell you why that is, because Mr Abbott has never accepted the result of the last election. He has viewed his job as simply doing nothing other than trying to tear down the Government. You look at Question Time, you see the tactics
MORRISON: I think youre doing a pretty good job of that yourself there Penny.
WONG: If you look at Question Time, the tactic is very clear. These gentlemen and others do not ask questions about jobs. They do not ask questions about the economy.
MORRISON: We do actually Penny. Im in the House of Representatives
WONG: They dont explain how they are going to fill their $70 billion black hole. All they want to do is play politics. And pretty grubby politics at that.
MORRISON: But Tarsh, the point here is that the Government is paralysed by this crisis. This is a crisis of their own making.
WONG: Were dealing with the economic issues, youre not.
MORRISON: Penny, I let you make your point. This is a crisis of the Governments own making. Theyre paralysed by scandal, theyre unable to deal with the issues that are before this Parliament, before this Government, because they basically go from one bungle to the next. Whether its in my own area of immigration, or the area of how money is spent and wasted, or particularly in this area of scandal, and the inability to explain it. I mean theyre basically saying, nothing to see here, please move on. Well theres lots to see here, people are asking questions, and the Government is literally paralysed by a crisis of its own making and their inability to handle these matters.
WONG: I think quite clearly what I said has been demonstrated by that answer Tarsh. The Coalition have nothing to say on the economy, they have nothing to say about jobs. The only thing theyre interested in is trying to create a big political crisis.
MORRISON: Its your crisis Penny.
WONG: Were the Government and were going to continue to do the things that are in the national interest. Were going to continue focusing on things like the economy and jobs.
MORRISON: But youre unable to do it because of your handling of these matters.
WONG: This is a Coalition
MORRISON: And the inability to be upfront with people. Thats the problem with this Government is you cant just be upfront about people. As you know in Malaysia this week, we had a serious incident involving 10,000 people. I asked the Prime Minister about this yesterday, about whether she was aware of what occurred outside the immigration offices in Malaysia. She knew nothing about it, she couldnt answer the question. Im sure she must have a got a brief on it from the High Commission, she knew nothing about it because shes mired in scandal and this Government is paralysed.
WONG: What Id compare, at a time where we have major changes in our economy, is the Government seeking to ensure that we put forward our economic plan that we implement a reduction in company tax, a reduction in taxation for small business, that we support jobs, how weve handled the BlueScope announcement, with what weve seen from the Coalition. Nothing on the economy
MORRISON: With a carbon tax. Thats the answer to the manufacturing crisis, hit them with a carbon tax. That will help, more taxes.
BELLING: I think youve both got the messages across this morning. Ill have to leave it there.
WONG: No worries.
BELLING: Weve run out of time, Im very concerned that that youre both so close up there. Makes the argument
WONG: (laughs) Were good friends.
BELLING: (laughs) OK, no problems. Have a lovely weekend. Thanks so much for joining us, Mr Morrison and Senator Wong, much appreciated.
ENDS