TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW WITH KATIE WOOLF, MIX 104.9 DARWIN, 27 August 2020
E&OE
Subjects: Australian Electoral Commission Redistribution, Northern Territory Election;
KATIE WOOLF
Joining us on the line right now is the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. Good morning.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Good morning.
KATIE WOOLF
Well, Deputy Prime Minister we know that –
MICHAEL McCORMACK
No, I have not ever been suspended from school, I thought that I would get that out there straight from the outset.
KATIE WOOLF
Good to know. Good to know. Have you been suspended from the Parliament for doing anything?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, I have been thrown out of the Parliament a few times but only for speaking out for and on behalf of regional Australians.
KATIE WOOLF
That’s alright. That’s alright. Well, you are standing up for Territorians by the sounds of it today, putting your hand up and really adding to the voices that do believe that we need more than one seat in the Federal Parliament. I mean, we are looking as though it could come down to the wire here. Obviously, we've got two at the moment but we're all pretty concerned that it could go down to one due to our declining population.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
What we need to do is make sure we put in policies that are going to increase the population first and foremost, so that the Northern Territory in the future doesn't have to face the consequences of Australian Electoral Commission decisions. But in the immediate future, yes, I do obviously believe that the Northern Territory deserves two seats in the House of Representatives. Because, you know, if COVID has taught us one thing it is that being close to government services and representation is so important. It is such a big, big area. Some of these city metropolitan seats on the eastern seaboard, I mean, you could throw a handkerchief over them and cover them. The Northern Territory – I know Senator Sam McMahon, how many kilometres she drives, I mean just the other day, she drove nearly 1500 kilometres just to touch the hearts and minds of three voters at one of the pre-polls. Now, that's democracy and that’s Sam hard at work, but it's also the Northern Territory, it’s the Top End and what people sometimes don't understand, who haven’t either visited the Northern Territory and shame on them, or just don't get, you know, how difficult it is to get around these regional seats, is that we need representation. If somebody is in Katherine or Alice Springs, you know, they just can't easily make a decision to pop in and see the local Federal Member when that local Federal Member is in Darwin. I come from an electorate that is 50,000 square kilometres, I know how difficult it is sometimes to get from the top end to the bottom end of my electorate, which is about a five hour drive, let alone in the Northern Territory where that is more a Sunday walk in the park.
KATIE WOOLF
I mean, I guess the argument has always been and I would always say that you know, what we lack in population we certainly make up for in things like agriculture, our cattle exports, our minerals
MICHAEL McCORMACK
You punch well above your weight, no question.
KATIE WOOLF
I understand the argument here and I understand that obviously, our population has declined, none of us want it to continue to decline. But, you know, I guess the reality is we also need to ensure that every Territorian’s voice is heard and it's pretty hard to do that with just one Federal Member of Parliament.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Look indeed and as I was campaigning the other day with Lia Finocchiaro and her Country Liberal team – and well done to them and the effort they put in. Of course, congratulations to Michael Gunner, for being re-elected, let's acknowledge that. When I did speak to Territorians, they were telling me that they do want representation, they do want better representation, but they don't want to be served by just one federal Lower House MP and I get that I understand we need a bigger and a louder and a larger regional voice and you can't do that if you are going to reduce the number of seats – you just can’t.
KATIE WOOLF
What needs to happen here? It seems as though we've got the support of The Nationals but realistically, we need the Prime Minister, we need ScoMo to step up here.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Let's see where the legislation goes, let’s see what happens. Obviously, the Federal Parliament can overturn the decision and make sure that we ratify two seats, Tasmania's had five seats as part of the Federation. So they've had five seats and of course, they've got the twelve Senators. And of course, they've got a State Parliament and many local councils besides and you look at the size of Tasmania compared to the size of the Northern Territory, it is chalk and cheese really. We want to make sure that the Northern Territory has even more voices in the Parliament, growing the population is one thing, but in the short term, making sure that there's at least two lower house seats I think is important.
KATIE WOOLF
And what's the best way for us to do that?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, I know that there is a private member's bill at the moment, let's see where that goes. Let's see where it takes us. The National Party turned up and very much campaigned for the CLP, Lia and her candidates during the recent Territory election and I know that Keith Pitt and David Littleproud and Matt Canavan and myself were all up there and we spent quite a bit of time up there. We spoke to the people, we listened to their concerns and their issues and certainly, we know how important the Territories are as you mentioned agriculture and resources. We want to grow those, we want to make sure that the regional populations of the Northern Territory and really it is one big region, one very, very big region, we want to make sure it gets best represented and I'd like to see more Coalition members in and fighting for the Northern Territory’s interests in Canberra. I think that's important. So we'll get on and do what we need to do. We'll have those discussions when they need to be held and we will certainly be in there fighting hard as Nationals for more representation for the NT.
KATIE WOOLF
I just reckon it is so important. We talk about growing the Territory and a lot about the population, but I think it's so important for regional Australia as well. Whether you only talk about the Northern Territory or other parts of regional Australia to really try to get people moving to those regional parts of Australia. When you talk about infrastructure in some of our big locations like Sydney and Melbourne and Brisbane, it can be you know, it can certainly have pressure placed upon it due to the high populations, we would love to see more people living in regional Australia.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Bursting at the seams. These regional centres are big enough in which to get a good cup of coffee and they’re small enough to care. That’s why we are spending $33 billion in infrastructure over the next decade in regional Australia. That's why I urge and encourage and I get mocked for saying it, but there are jobs in regional Australia, good jobs, not just necessarily in resources, not just necessarily in agriculture, but in so many fields of endeavour, I’ll keep pushing the point. I’m a regional member myself, I love the Top End, I absolutely love it. I intend to come back to it very, very soon, as restrictions allow. It's a great place. It is a great lifestyle. Why wouldn't people want to live in the Top End or indeed anywhere in regional Australia?
KATIE WOOLF
And you did touch on the election, now what was your reaction to the results? Did you think that Michael Gunner was going to get in so convincingly?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, I am not so sure that he did get in so convincingly. I mean you look at the CLP, they had two seats in the Parliament and now they have extended that to possibly eight. I rang Josh Burgoyne just last night to congratulate him on his election. I know Lia and her team are going to form a very credible Opposition. I know they are really going to make sure that the Gunner Government is accountable, is transparent and certainly works hard to bring down that debt and I know that over the next four years, there's going to be some fierce debates in the Parliament, to ensure that the Northern Territory can be its best self. So look, as I say, I congratulated Michael Gunner earlier in the interview. Well done to him and his team. You put your hand up for public office and when you succeed and get re-elected, that deserves acknowledgement. And I know I'll be certainly working with Eva Lawler and others to bring about the infrastructure needs that the Northern Territory absolutely needs, wants, expects and most of all deserves. So, I'm happy to work with any State or Territory Government of any political persuasion, to get infrastructure built because it's not about politics. It's got to be about people. That's what I've always said. That's how I've lived my political life and that's how I'll continue to do it as well.
KATIE WOOLF
Well, Michael McCormack, talking about politics. I do notice in The Australian though that that there is an article here saying that there's some destabilisation or a campaign led by some senior National MPs and party figures –
MICHAEL McCORMACK
You cannot believe everything you read, Katie, come on.
KATIE WOOLF
Rivals laying the groundwork for a leadership transition after the Queensland election. What's going on?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Look, you're always going to have ambitious people. You're going to have ambitious journalists who write things, quote anonymous people, unsubstantiated gossip. I mean this is Canberra bubble stuff. Honestly, I am just getting on in the middle of a global pandemic with representing what people want me to be talking about. And that is their jobs, their security their future. I think the last thing people, particularly people in regional areas, who are wearing their heart on their sleeve, who are doing it disproportionately tough at the moment because of outbreaks in metropolitan areas and particularly Melbourne and are in lockdown and we're being told to stay inside and our businesses are shutting. Thank goodness for JobKeeper, they’re keeping the lights on and many doors open as we can and workers connected to their employment. But the last thing people want to see is politicians talking about themselves and I am not going to engage in that.
KATIE WOOLF
So, no niggling in the backgrounds by the likes of David Littleproud?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Nope.
KATIE WOOLF
Bridget McKenzie?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Nope.
KATIE WOOLF
Matt Canavan?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Nope.
KATIE WOOLF
Well, I'm glad to hear, it is always good to talk to you, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. We appreciate your time this morning.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Any time at all, Katie, I'll continue to fight for the Top End as will Sam McMahon down here in Canberra.
KATIE WOOLF
Thank you.