TRANSCRIPT: Interview with Tim Shaw, Radio 2CC Canberra, 8 November 2018
E&OE
Subjects: Trucks; infrastructure projects; energy prices; train link trial between Canberra and Sydney; Nationals Party
TIM SHAW:
The Leader of the Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack accepted my challenge to experience a day in the life of a truck driver. Yesterday he hopped on board a truck delivering wool to Melbourne with Yass-based Australian Trucking Association CEO Ben Maguire. Now, it was a Volvo FH 540, 30 bales of wool on board and the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Michael McCormack joins me now.
Deputy PM, welcome back.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Good morning, Tim.
TIM SHAW:
How was the ride, what did you learn?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
It was very smooth and it was pretty light traffic, so there weren’t too many hold ups or incidents but when you get that high up in the rig, you do see some driver behaviour particularly from some smaller cars which does make you question and obviously any truckie who’s probably listening to your show, and I know there’d be many, would probably be nodding in agreement right now. We drivers driving lighter vehicles need to always remember that trucks have big turning circles and they’re big heavy rigs and we need to remember and respect them on the road perhaps a little bit more, I think.
TIM SHAW:
That’s a big lesson that you’ve observed yourself first hand because you’re getting your hands dirty - that’s what this Government is doing, getting out there and finding out what the people of Australia are saying. You were in Rockhampton yesterday with that incredible announcement of $800 million upgrade to the Bruce Highway there and the good folk in Capricornia and any truck driver using the Bruce Highway. Of course, the Hume, this morning, Deputy Prime Minister, they’re up and down the Hume and a big shout out to those drivers. How do we get the message out to drivers using our roads to give those truck drivers the space they need to be able to deliver in Australia’s economy safely every day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
It’s just driving defensively and it’s driving sensibly and it’s having the respect for the truckies on the road, you’re quite correct and not cutting in front of them, giving them time and the space that they need. Truckies will obey the rules; we all need to respect their size and give them a bit of room when we’re on the road. And you’re right we were up at Rocky yesterday, Bryan Smith’s Rocky’s Own Transport, he’s got transport companies or transport links all around Australia, particularly in WA and Queensland where he’s carting a lot of explosives. We must remember that trucks aren’t always carrying supermarket goods. Yesterday we carted 30 bales of wool; they’re very heavy, but when you’ve got a truck carrying dangerous explosives or flammable liquid, we need to give them that bit of room on the highway. But it was a great exercise yesterday; we left a property at Kilmore, we drove to Geoff Crouch’s Ron Crouch Transport, which are a little bit familiar with me. Geoffrey Crouch, he’s a Wagga Wagga boy. He’s making his world in the transport industry and of course he’s got a big part to play as chair of the Australian Trucking Association too. So he and Ben are doing a great job, making people aware that trucks are important, they’re the lifeblood of the nation, they cart our good all round our great country and they’re doing a fantastic job.
TIM SHAW:
You see, so are you. You’re Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development. The Prime Minister announced that $112 million for a light rail extension on the Gold Coast. Would you consider helping to fund the Stage Two of the light rail here in Canberra’s light rail project and importantly help us dig a tunnel under Lake Burley Griffin? Because that’s the only way we’re getting across from one side of Canberra to the other. Have you got the chequebook open, Deputy Prime Minister?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
We’ve got to get the books back in balance yet. I know Josh Frydenberg, the Treasurer, is very committed to doing that, as is Prime Minister Scott Morrison. But look, we’re rolling out $75 billion worth of infrastructure right around the nation. I look forward to catching up with the Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris at the Transport Infrastructure Council Meeting in Sydney late this afternoon and tomorrow. I know she’s got some plans for the ACT. We need to make sure that our cities don’t have that congestion. We need to make sure that our cities are running as smoothly as possible on their transport links but also as the Leader of the Nationals, the regional infrastructure is so important to dovetailing in with that urban infrastructure, making sure that we’ve got the right links, the efficiency, the logistics task is being addressed. That’s what we’re doing.
TIM SHAW:
Yes, and do you know I spoke to your state colleague MP Steph Cooke, she’s a good hard worker. She’s got a proposal for that coach service between the great city of Wagga Wagga and Canberra, possibly linking Junee, Cootamundra and Gundagai. You’d support that, Deputy PM?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
She’s the Energizer Bunny really. She just never stops. Steph Cooke is doing a wonderful job in the seat of Cootamundra, it’s a very, very large electorate but she’s out and about morning, day and night and I give her credit. I’m working well with the NSW State Government; the two of us, we can get some really good stuff done over the next few years, and I’m looking forward to doing just that.
TIM SHAW:
That’s Nationals backing Nationals in regional and rural Australia. Now, the important next round of funding applications for the National Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative nhvr.gov.au that’s open now. This is a big measure. You’ve cut the red tape though, haven’t you? You’ve made it easier for trucking organisations to be able to go from territories to states; that’s an important measure and that’s saving a lot of time and money for the trucking industry and it’s better for the economy, Michael McCormack.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
It absolutely is. And that’s what is going to be part of the discussion at the Transport Infrastructure Council Meeting today and tomorrow - making sure that we as best we can better harmonise the laws in between states. Why is it right that a truckie can drive with one load and one limit and one width and one height in one state and not do it when he or she travels interstate? It just makes good commonsense. We need to break down that red tape, as you call it, because it is bureaucracy gone mad and we’re doing just that, we’ve cut a lot out of it. And if there’s any truckie listening who has ideas of how we can even streamline it better, drop me a line.
TIM SHAW:
Yes, well done. Now, Angus Taylor, your Cabinet colleague, he wants to get power prices down. This is the right decision by Josh Frydenberg on blocking this $13 billion China deal relating to infrastructure gas pipeline company, APA. It's an important measure because it's going to keep power prices and gas prices down.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
It is the right measure; of course we've got the default price, the investment certainty and most importantly the best measures whereby if these companies continue to gouge we’ll break them up. We’ve said that. The Prime Minister keeps calling it the big stick measure and we’ll do it. We need to drive power prices down. We shouldn’t be paying the power prices that we are. The energy companies had it too good for too long. The Federal Government will make sure we address this issue and we’re doing just that right now and Angus Taylor is the right man for the job.
TIM SHAW:
Absolutely. Deputy Premier John Barilaro, is very keen to expedite a very fast train link between Canberra and Sydney. You'd support that but we can't have too many stops, can we, Michael McCormack? Because it wouldn't be very fast if we were stopping at eight stations on the way.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
(Indistinct). That’s great and John has a vision for obviously his electorate, Monaro, but right through rural and regional New South Wales. He’s the Deputy Premier. He’s the leader of the Nationals in New South Wales. I spend a lot of time on the phone and in meetings with John and just getting things done, so he’s a great colleague of mine and he's doing a fantastic job.
TIM SHAW:
Yes, very important. I just want to say this about the Member for New England, do you believe it's important that Nationals, in any seat, get to be able to have their say about local representation? It’s important that the members of the National Party get to have their say about the right candidate for their seat.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
It's not only important, it's critical. They have to have a say. It’s up to them to make the choice and that's what the Nationals are all about, local people making decisions for other local people. We don't parachute candidates into high profile seats. To win a seat, we use local people, and grassroots members of the National Party get to decide who represents them. That's the only way to do it.
TIM SHAW:
Just finally, you always regretted not getting that heavy vehicle truck drivers’ licence. Has Ben Maguire from the Australian Trucking Association inspired you to maybe get that licence, Michael McCormack?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
He’s a good driver. We’ll have to see. I’ll have to squeeze a bit of time into the diary. My diary, these days doesn’t give me a lot of time. It’s quite an exhaustive exercise. But we’ll see what we can do, Tim, but if I do, you’ll be the first one in the passenger seat when I go for the first drive. But thanks for that challenge. I eagerly await your next challenge.
TIM SHAW:
It’s…
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
…But maybe that’s going a bit too far.
TIM SHAW:
No, it's coming, Deputy Prime Minister, don’t you worry.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
[Laughs]
TIM SHAW:
Safe travels today and give our warmest regards to the Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris from the ACT when you meet with those ministers in Sydney today. Thanks for your time.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Will do. All the best.
TIM SHAW:
Cheers. Michael McCormack, hard worker, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Regional development on 2CC Breakfast.