TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW ON AFTERNOON AGENDA, SKY NEWS, 23 July 2020

E&OE

Subjects: Coronavirus, Live Cattle Exports Federal Court Decision;

KIERAN GILBERT

Here, joining me in the studio is the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack. Thanks so much for your time.

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Good afternoon, Kieran.

KIERAN GILBERT

These are extraordinary numbers we're seeing, the largest deficit since the Second World War and there's a view that it could be optimistic because it's basically assuming that everything goes okay from here on, on the health front –

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, after the Second World War of course, trade resumed and certainly with Japan and I know Black Jack McEwen made a strong point of doing that. Arthur Fadden of course, was one of the post-war Treasurers who did a lot to help Australia through those years and regional Australia will be at the forefront again. Agriculture, despite COVID-19, has held up well. Our resources sector also doing well, iron ore is over $100 a tonne. So regional Australia can play a big part in the relief and recovery efforts.

KIERAN GILBERT

You must be worried though, about some of the reports in terms of outbreaks in regional areas in Victoria?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I am and of course there are a number of people in regional Victoria who are also very concerned because they felt as though more could have been done and should have been done to assist them in their endeavours. They of course, had to shut their businesses when they were a long way from the hotspots. But look, I know that the ADF, I know that they are working very hard. I know that the Federal Government is providing every bit of assistance and as well the Victorian Public Health System is also doing what it now needs to do to get this contained. Look, it is worrying that we're seeing three and four hundred new cases a day. It is concerning, of course our condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones – another five today. This is of course, concerning but when you compare overall with what we've done as a nation to any other country in the world of comparative size, we've done very well and on any measure, we've done well both on the health front and on the economic front. So let's not forget that. We will get through this. We'll get through it together but people need to be their best selves and need to continue to practise that social distancing. Stay in isolation, stay at home if they can. If they can, work from home. Do all those things that we were doing so well in April and May which then looked as though we had got over, we had flattened the curve.

KIERAN GILBERT

This six-week shutdown in Victoria is already costing the budget billions – more than $3 billion lost. So, would you like to see Premier Andrews do a hard lockdown now for a month or so to ensure that this is dealt with?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, that is a matter for obviously him and of course, National Cabinet meets again. So, I'm sure that tougher measures will be taken. They need to be taken and we'll see where we go from there. But for regional Victorians of course, they're worried about the border. I know Anne Webster, the Member for Mallee, is very concerned that her mandarins and her navel oranges aren't being picked at the moment and that is of great concern because some of those visa holders, they can't be issued the permits to get over the border. And it's working both ways. There is concern about those sorts of issues for the farmers, for the irrigators who have grown their fruit, who have put their hard work and perspiration into getting that fruit where it needs to be and then, of course, if you don't have the staff, the labour, to pick it up, to pluck it off the trees, it is a major issue for them.

KIERAN GILBERT

But, there is a view that Premier Andrews will move with tougher restrictions because at the moment with cases over 400 – is that your expectation?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Look, he may have to do it. Something needs to happen to ensure that people not only stay at home but are kept at home. And obviously schools are still operating, my daughter is a school teacher down there. Georgina is doing face-to-face with her year 12’s, but her year 7’s and 8’s, she is doing via telepresence. So there are all sorts of different rules. There are all sorts of different ways. But Victorians need to be their best selves to help not only themselves but particularly those vulnerable members of their community but the rest of the nation as well.

KIERAN GILBERT

Indeed and that's the point I was going to make because obviously you've got the vulnerable members of the Victorian and Melbourne community and we feel greatly for our loved ones there – your daughter, my family also in Melbourne – it's a very difficult time right now in a personal sense. In terms of the nation, it's one-quarter of the nation's economy. If it spreads beyond that though then it hits the whole country and the economic impact is vastly greater even further than what it is right now.

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, indeed and New South Wales is rightly concerned and of course, Gladys Berejiklian has taken measures and steps to shut down the borders. Annastacia Palaszczuk has done the same in Queensland and had that in place for some time. Look, this outbreak is of great concern but we will get through it. Again, we need Australians to be their best selves.

KIERAN GILBERT

And just finally I should ask you about this decision by the Government. It's not going to appeal that court ruling on live cattle exporters, you would welcome that?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Absolutely and we fought for that, advocated for that. There are a number of regional Liberals as well as of course, the National Party for whom this was of great concern. These farmers, these cattle producers, had been through enough over nine-years. They had their industry shut down overnight by an atrocious decision made by the Gillard Government. Fortunately, the Government has now decided that they won't appeal against this decision. The farmers will get their due compensation and we can move forward from there. This was a terrible time – 

KIERAN GILBERT

Did you convince the Attorney-General on this path?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Christian Porter is very good. He had a stake in it as well of course. We were concerned that any ministerial decision going forward, the legal complexities might well have been that this would open the door for a flood of litigation against every ministerial decision. Of course that was a concern and constitutionally it was a concern. But the right decision has been taken and made and this will be a great relief for our farmers.

KIERAN GILBERT

So the Attorney-General has been reassured now that that won't happen in terms of challenges?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

The Attorney-General made the right decision. And look, Ministers have to have discretion but also Ministers have to take on board so many things, their departments, they have to take on board stakeholders. They have to take on board the right thing and due and careful consideration must be made in any decision. Don't make a decision as a knee-jerk reaction on a television program because of what Twitter is telling you. That was a mistake.

KIERAN GILBERT

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, as always, thanks.

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Thanks, Kieran.

KIERAN GILBERT

Talk to you soon.

Shane Manning