TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW ON SUNRISE WITH DAVID KOCH, 24 August 2020
E&OE
Subjects: Aged Care, 60 Minutes story;
DAVID KOCH
Explosive new allegations have been made about branch stacking within the Liberal Party in a scheme similar to that which led to the sacking of Labor MP Adem Somyurek in June. Leaked material implicates Liberal powerbroker, Marcus Bastiaan, current Federal frontbencher Michael Sukkar and former Cabinet Minister, Kevin Andrews. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack joins us live from Canberra this morning. Michael McCormack, thanks for your time.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Good morning.
DAVID KOCH
Corruption expert Geoffrey Watson says he doubts whether Michael Sukkar the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing, can or should remain a minister. Will he be asked to resign? Do you support him?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, Michael Sukkar and Kevin Andrews have duly did what they needed to do and have made statements denying the allegations and have reported them to the Department of Finance. This is entirely a matter for the Victoria Liberal division. I'm a member of the National Party indeed, the Leader of the National Party, this is entirely matter for the Liberals. Certainly Kevin and Michael have said the allegations simply aren't true.
DAVID KOCH
You can’t handball it to the Victorians though, he is a Federal Minister.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Indeed he is and that is why he has done the right thing, he has referred all matters raised to the Department of Finance. He’s made a statement on that. And certainly, he is standing by that.
DAVID KOCH
The Coalition was very quick to call for the political blood of Adem Somyurek for exactly the same thing.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Not entirely exactly the same thing, the matters against Labor were far more reaching than what was aired last night. That said, again I say Michael Sukkar has done the right thing, he’s referred them to the Department of Finance and it is a matter for the Victorian branch of the Liberal Party.
DAVID KOCH
Does it past the pub test, though? Branch stacking in either party just goes against what Australians believe should be a fair system.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Indeed, I think at this moment, people don't want to be hearing about politicians talking about themselves and the internal ructions of the political parties. What they want to know is that there is hope for them, for their jobs. They want to know that if there is a vaccine trial, then Australia is doing everything we can and indeed we are, to make sure that is available. What people want to make sure these days is the fact that there is hope, hope for jobs, hope for the health front and that is what the Federal Government is concentrating wholly and solely on. That is my focus and certainly that is the Prime Minister's.
DAVID KOCH
How much focus are you putting on aged care? Parliament is back for two weeks with aged care in the spotlight. Is the Aged Care Minister at risk of losing his job? Is he up to the task of administering this really sensitive area of the pandemic?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Richard Colbeck is and he has been working night and day. I know, I have been on all the calls with him, I have spoken with him a number of times –
DAVID KOCH
But aged care has been a shemozzle –
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Aged care is difficult –
DAVID KOCH
It has been terrible.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, unfortunately, when you have a pandemic such as this and you have vulnerable people who are disproportionately affected because of their age, this is a situation which has unfortunately, spread in aged care centres.
DAVID KOCH
Is Richard Colbeck up to the job?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Yes, he is. He very much is. He is doing his part night and day to ensure that the surge workforce is there to ensure that the right funding is there but more importantly, the right number of people are there in aged care centres addressing this very complex and very difficult and heartbreaking matter.
DAVID KOCH
Michael McCormack, we appreciate your time. Thank you.