JAYES: Front bench Minister, Penny Wong, spoke to Kieran Gilbert on AM Agenda this morning, and he started by asking her about the policy changes in the works at the moment. Particularly about those asylum seekers and genuine refugees being resettled elsewhere.
WONG: Look, what we do know is this is a really tough policy area. Its a policy area that, unfortunately, has meant weve seen really tragic consequences as a result of the people smuggling trade, particularly in recent days and weeks. We also know its an area where simply chanting slogans is not going to have the outcome we need. What the Government is doing is what needs to be done, which is to work with our region, to get a regional approach to what is a regional problem.
GILBERT: Now, Tony Abbotts repeatedly said the Government needs to take the sugar off the table. Is that what youre doing with this plan to resettle refugees elsewhere?
WONG: Well, Kieran, Im not going to comment on the speculation thats in the papers this morning. But I will say this: Tony Abbott is very good at fronting up with a lot of slogans which he repeats over and over again. This is a very difficult policy area. It is a policy area that demands a much more considered approach a much more sophisticated approach than simply chanting slogans in front of a camera over and over again. There is a regional problem here and the Government will continue to work with our region to get the answers that are needed to prevent people getting on leaky boats. Because we all understand the tragic consequences of that.
GILBERT: Now, I want to ask you about another development though in this space. The Indonesians have announced that theyre going to remove the automatic visa on arrival for Iranian citizens. First of all, just explain to us why thats important and significant.
WONG: Well, I dont have all the detail of that announcement, but I would say that it really confirms the point I was making in our first discussion: you have to have a regional approach here. You have to work collaboratively with countries of transit. You have to work collaboratively with Indonesia, as well as Malaysia and the other nations of our region. And that is why Tony Abbotts policy approach is so ridiculous. I mean, what hes saying to you is that we will tell you we will turn back the boats, even though the Indonesian Government has said that is not acceptable to them and they will not countenance it. This is an extraordinary proposition from the Leader of the Opposition; that our most populous neighbour, instead of working with them, he would actually say were going to engage in unilateral action, even if you dont agree with it.
GILBERT: But dont Australians also have the right to question Mr Rudds credibility on these issues his credentials on border protection given he was the one that made the mistake in the first place and dismantled the system that worked?
WONG: I think there is a range of ways you can look at whats occurred over the last 10 years, and what Id suggest to you is that whatever people say about domestic policy there are also international factors and what is happening in the people smuggling trade. I think, as the Prime Minister and Tony Burke have said: you cant just look at the past and decide that policies which you put in place five or ten years ago are the right policies.
This is an area where you need to look at policy changes relevant to the business model that people smugglers adopt. And that is why you have to work with your region. Because simply acting unilaterally as much as Tony Abbott might like to beat his chest is not going to get the outcome we want, which is to prevent people getting on boats and people purchasing the product the people smugglers sell.
GILBERT: On the Governments move to rein in fringe benefits tax concessions for salary sacrificed vehicles ... There has been quite a backlash; the automotive industry held crisis talks yesterday. The third largest leasing company announced its standing down more than 70 people. Did you anticipate this sort of reaction?
WONG: Can I start by reminding everybody what this change actually is. Were not abolishing the concession. What were saying is that if you claim a tax deduction for work-related use of your vehicle, you actually have to use it for work. Its the same proposition as saying if you want a childcare rebate, you have to put your child into childcare. I dont think that is an unremarkable proposition.
As Finance Minister, I have to say any savings decision that the Government takes is usually criticised, often vehemently by a particular group. We have to look at what is in the national interest, and the national interest I think is served by moving to an emissions trading scheme; a lower carbon price for households and for business, but at the same time reaching Australias reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in carbon emissions. Thats a much better policy outcome than what is certainly being proposed by Tony Abbott which will, as you know, just hit families.
GILBERT: You say its not an unremarkable or not a remarkable move, I should say; its not unremarkable to close a loophole. But hasnt an industry built itself around that particular tax treatment and then were seeing dozens of jobs lost as a result?
WONG: And this is a Government, as you know, that has always made jobs a priority and thats why weve seen the creation of over 950,000 jobs since the Government was elected. Its why we acted in the way did through the global financial crisis. And its why we put money on the table which the Coalition would take off the table to support the car industry, because we understand the importance of those jobs.
But, ultimately, I understand that some people find this controversial and some people are opposed to this, but I think the proposition that if you claim a tax deduction for work, you need to be using your vehicle for work, is a sensible one.
I appreciate that there are people who have built businesses up under the old system but we have to look, as a Government, to whats sustainable in the long term.
GILBERT: And finally, Senator Wong, I want to ask you about this Channel 7 ReachTEL poll. Its got the Coalition still in front despite the Rudd bounce your thoughts on that?
WONG: Well, I dont really need the sort of commentary on the polls to tell me what people are telling me, and people are saying very clearly around the country that theyre tired of the personal, aggressive, negative politics that we see on display from the Coalition. What they do want is a vision for the future and they want people talking about the national interest and whats in the national interest, rather than just going the personal attack. I think its a great credit to Kevin that hes really focussed on that in the face of the constant personal attacks that were seeing from the Opposition.
GILBERT: Finance Minister and Government Senate Leader thanks so much, Penny Wong. I appreciate it.
WONG: Good to be with you.
ENDS