SENATOR PENNY WONG, ACTING LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Today we saw former Prime Minister Tony Abbott on radio talking about the disunity and division inside the Liberal Party, the division that is on display for all to see.
But what was more interesting is this: it was the extent to which he said nothings changed. Nobody knows Tony Abbott'spolicies more than Tony Abbott.So Tony says changing leadershas changed nothing, he'sright.
Nothing's changed onclimate change, nothings changedon marriage equality, nothing'schanged on cuts to health andeducation, nothing's changed onlooking at a higher GST.Nothing's changed except theleader.And I think out of TonyAbbott's own mouth, nothingchanged when the Liberal Partychanged leaders.
Happy to takequestions.
JOURNALIST: Senator,Tony Abbott's also said that hesupports continuity of leaders,that the last thing Australianeeds is a sixth Prime Minister in six years. Doesn't that sortof blow your case out ofthe water a little?
WONG: Actually I thought whatwas more interesting in that context, is that he said Australians should vote for MalcolmTurnbull through gritted teeth.Gritted teeth, thats hardly a resoundingendorsement. I think Australians deserve better thansomeone they are asked to votefor through grittedteeth.
JOURNALIST: What was yourreaction to the interview?
WONG: Ithought it is quite telling thatTony thinks nothing haschanged. And certainly he was pretty open aboutthe division and disunity inside the LiberalParty. I know the Governmentwants to paper over all ofthis, but it was a verydivisive time and I think we'llsee the reverberations of thatcontinue.
REPORTER: Was Abbottbeing, was he sniping and backstabbing?
WONG: I'll leave others tocomment on it. He's certainlyobviously not very happy aboutwhat his colleagues did tohim.
JOURNALIST: But Senator, again lookingat the leadership issue, howthe rest of the world looks atAustralia, certainly there isspeculation that if there is a change of leader it might do usdamage on a world stage, sodoesn't that put Bill Shorten'scase back by, how do you winan election if you do have asixth Prime Minister in sixyears?
WONG: You know what I think? I think Australians atthe next election will look towhich party can manage theeconomy, has a commitment tocreating more jobs, has acommitment to a healthcaresystem that's accessible toeveryone and has a commitmentto their local schools, theirlocal hospitals, and to theiruniversities as well as theirTAFE. I can say to you, we willbe putting, and have beenputting, those policies to theAustralian people before thenext election.
JOURNALIST: Doesit do damage to theGovernment's cause every timeTony Abbott just has one ofthese moments of either wantingto speak to newspapers or radioannouncers . What does it dofor the Liberal Party?
WONG: I thinkthe damage to the LiberalParty's cause has been the lastcouple of years of government.It has been the fact that theytold people before an electionthere would be no cuts, thenthey implemented a budget fullof cuts to health, toeducation. They said before theelection there would be nochanges to the GST. It's clearthat's on the agenda.
So thisdivision comes on top of twoyears of broken promises thathave hurt hard-workingAustralians. That's the damageto the Liberal Party and thatsimply continuestoday.
JOURNALIST: Doesn't itprove that if things haven'tchanged, according to TonyAbbott, the only thing that'schanged is the leadership, yetMalcolm Turnbull's getting asurge in the polls, then theproblem was Tony Abbott?
WONG: Well,look, are there's no doubt TonyAbbott was pretty unpopular,but so were his policies, andthe reality is MalcolmTurnbull, retains all of thosepolicies, that's what TonyAbbott's made clear today.
Iwill say this, I know Malcolm,I obviously dealt with MalcolmTurnbull when he was previouslyleader and it is verydisappointing to manyAustralians to see him sellingout on things we know hebelieves in.
He sold out on climate change, he sold out onmarriage equality, he's had tosell out to the hard right ofthe Liberal Party and to theNational Party. It's very disappointing to see somebodywho does hold these beliefshaving to sell out in order toget to the top job.
Now, Malcolmhas called a summit for this week. What Id say is this: a summit on theeconomy and the future of theAustralian economy, it's notmuch chop if you're notprepared to talk about climate change.Malcolm used to beprepared to talk about climatechange, let's see if he'sprepared to talk about it thisweek.
JOURNALIST: In regards tothe China Free Trade Agreement, the Ambassador to urge Australians to seize that opportunity in a speechtonight. Would you be willingto welcome a compromise withthe Prime Minister?
WONG: We havemade clear for some time anumber of things in relation tothe China Free Trade Agreement.First, we understand theimportance of the Chinese economy and the Chinese nationto Australia's future. This issomething Labor has been notonly talking about, but actingupon for decades, ever sincethere was diplomaticrecognition of the PRC by aLabor Government. I would saythat first.
What we say aboutthe trade agreement, it does have great potential to createjobs here in Australia. We wantto make sure that Australiansget the first opportunity forthose jobs. We have made clearto the incoming Prime Minister,Mr Turnbull, we have made clearto him we want to find a waythrough here, but we need tosee safeguards, complementary safeguards to the agreementaround jobs, around Australianwages and conditions, avoidingthe exploitation of migrant workers and of coursemaintaining Australianstandards when it comes to ourtrades.
Now, we are willing tosit down with him and find away through this and the failureof the Government to do that, Ithink, speaks volumes.
JOURNALIST:Have you met with the ChineseAmbassador personally toexplain Labor's position?
WONG: Asyou would anticipate, I willmeet with the Chineseambassador on a regular basis,given my portfolioresponsibilities.
JOURNALIST: Today's interview, what do youbelieve Abbott's real agendawas?
WONG: Well, you'd have to askhim.You'd have to ask TonyAbbott. As I said, I think it'spretty clear from looking atthe interview, a lot ofdisunity, a lot of division on displayand frankly no change inpolicies.
JOURNALIST: Just inregards to Syria, VladimirPutin's presence at the UNseems to have changed theconversation about Syria.CouldLabor see itself supporting adiplomatic solution thatsupports President Assadstaying in power?
WONG: Look, theseare difficult and sensitiveissues and I don't propose tocomment. I haven't been fullybriefed on the currentsituation. I know that TanyaPlibersek has recently returnedfrom the US, so I might leaveit for her to comment on.
Anything further? Thankyou.