SENATOR PENNY WONG, ACTING LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Thanks very much. The firstpoint I wanted to discuss wasthe asserted nuclear testing bythe North Koreans, which we know about. I want to make veryclear the Opposition's view onthis. We, too, like theGovernment, are extremelyconcerned by this news. Weshare with theSecretary-General anunequivocal condemnation ofNorth Korea's actions in thisregard. It is in contraventionof successive UN Security Council resolutions. Theirnuclear program is a threat toglobal security and it is athreat to regional stability,and so we are deeply concerned by this and join with theGovernment and the rest of theinternational community in ourcondemnation of the actions ofNorth Korea.
On another matter, we see today out in thepapers Barnaby Joyce on hiscampaign to become Leader ofthe National Party. I wantto make a couple of commentsabout that. Even BarnabyJoyce's own colleagues areexpressing concern about himbecoming Leader of the NationalParty. Let's remember, if hedoes become leader, he becomesthe Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.Now, Barnaby is prettyentertaining, but he is alsoerratic, and he simply doesn'thave the sober and sensibleapproach to public policythat the Australians expectfrom the holders of highoffice. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: So, withthat in mind, Senator, do youthink he would make a goodActing Prime Minister, if that were tohappen?
WONG: Well, as I say, I thinkBarnaby is very entertaining,but he is erratic and that'sthe last thing you want insomeone who is one step awayfrom being the Prime Minister and who iscalled upon to act as Prime Ministerregularly. And if you lookthrough recenthistory, or even longer, we'vehad people who have served inthe position of Deputy Prime Minister whohave served well, and I thinkthe concern is even Barnaby'sown colleagues are worriedabout him taking on thisrole.
JOURNALIST: Consideringwhere things are at with theNationals at the moment, do youthink the time has come forWarren Truss to make hisintentions clear?
WONG: Well, theNational Party is the NationalParty, and it's upto them how they manage theirinternal affairs. I'm simplymaking this point: as a SouthAustralian, we are alwaysworried about Barnaby Joycewhen it comes to policymatters. We know what he thinksabout us here in Adelaide, weknow what he thinks about thewater issue when it comes toAdelaide's priorities.But moreimportantly, if he becomesLeader of the National Party,he is the Deputy Prime Ministerof the country, and this is abloke who we all know ispretty erratic.
JOURNALIST: Soare you saying it would be dangerous for thecountry?
WONG: Look, I just thinkAustralians expect a more soberand responsible approach frompeople in high office. We allremember Barnaby being Shadow Finance Minister. That wascertainly entertaining, but ifhe can't hold down that job, Idon't know how you hold downthe Deputy Prime Ministership.
JOURNALIST: But ifWarren Truss goes for whateverreason, whether it be forhealth reasons or just wants toget out of politics, theresnot really much alternative, isthere?
WONG: Well, that's a matterfor the National Party and forthe Coalition, but as I say,I think Barnaby has demonstrated whathe is like - very entertaining, butdo you really want him beingthe Deputy Prime Minister of thecountry?
JOURNALIST: Do you thinkthat voters deserve to havesome kind of clarity overwhat's happening (inaudible)Nationals?
WONG: Well, therecertainly seems to be a lot ofpublic speculation, doesn'tthere? And this isn't just aninternal position; this is aposition that comes with it thesecond most senior politicalposition in the country. So, itis pretty destabilising I wouldhave thought to have Barnabyout campaigning in the way hehas, and clearly it is hiscampaign to become NationalParty leader and DeputyPrime Minister.
JOURNALIST: How stable do youthink the Coalition is (inaudible)
WONG: Perhaps about asstable as this shade thatChannel 7 has provided for me,but thank you very much forholding it. Iwas here a few days ago, Ithink, speaking with all of youand we were talking about thefact that a few days into theNew Year we've got a couple of ministers gone, another under acloud and now we have theNational Party in their ownlittle leadership dance. Soit's not the sort of stable government I think Australianswant. We've had a lot ofdivision on display over thisChristmas-New Year break, andnow Barnaby has simply added toit.
JOURNALIST: Onto the CFMEU (inaudible)
WONG: Look, unions have beenamalgamating for a long periodof time - that's theconsolidation of the tradeunion movement - is alongstanding position. What Iwould say is any allegation ofbad behaviour or criminalbehaviour should be dealt withappropriately, regardless ofwho engages in it.
JOURNALIST:Are you concerned that they mayincrease their political power (inaudible)
WONG: Well myview about the trade unionmovement is - I say two things - first, there are a great manythings we have achieved in this country, including penaltyrates, which I know theCoalition wants to take away,which would not have beenachieved without the support ofthe trade union movement,without the work of the tradeunion movement. But ultimatelyhow the Labor Partydeals with them, they are affiliates, we listen to whatthey have to say, but we haveto make judgments in terms ofwhat we think is in the bestinterests of thecountry.
JOURNALIST: Senator,there are reports JamieBriggs is almost skulkingaround-
WONG: -Skulking?
JOURNALIST: Almost skulkingaround.
WONG: How does oneskulk?
JOURNALIST: Incognito, baseball cap,sunnies.
WONG: That probably doesn'twork.
JOURNALIST: Around his electorate atthe moment, would that besymptomatic of he doesn't wantto be seen, do you think?
WONG: Well,you would probably have to askhim that, but if you are inyour electorate and as an MP,or as a senator, I think youjust assume you are going to beknown.
JOURNALIST: So you think a baseballcap-
WONG: -So, I dont think-
JOURNALIST: -So sunnies and skulking isn't agood look?
WONG: Occasionally whenI've been wearing a very daggybucket hat and sunglassestrying to stay out of the sunpeople have said to me "Penny, areyou trying to be incognito?" And I justsay, "No, Im actually just trying to stay out of thesun."
JOURNALIST: Do you think he shouldperhaps be loud and proud and have a high profile in the electorate at the moment?
WONG: I think theissue for Jamie is not whether or not hes got a profile, I think the issue is whether people think he is theright person to represent them and whether the standards ofbehaviour that he hasdemonstrated are what they expect of an MP and I think the concern about that is eveninside the Liberal Party, where weve already seen local speculation aboutwhether he is the rightcandidate to run in thatseat.
JOURNALIST: You touched on stability, how safe and stable do you think his tenure in Mayo is at the moment?
WONG: Thats ultimately a question for the Liberal Party and the voters of Mayo. On the former, the Liberal Party, weve already seen Liberal Party gossip here in South Australia suggesting hes not the right person for the job. I think the voters in Mayo do deserve a good representative and I think certainly the feedback that Ive seen through media and through public discussion, some people are very concerned about his behaviour.
JOURNALIST: Just on another issue, Australia is spending $90 million to convert luxury corporate jets into spy planes. Does Labor have any concerns about that?
WONG: Ive only seen those reports, I understand theyre based on some US information. Theyre certainly not reports that the Government, to my knowledge, has added detail to. The Opposition hasnt been briefed on this matter and we would hope the Government would brief us in the very near future about an acquisition of this sort.