TRANSCRIPT: ARDLETHAN AND BEYOND MUSEUM INTERVIEW, 9 March 2021

10:53AM

E&OE

Subjects: Ardlethan and Beyond Museum, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, Drought Communities Programme Extension, John Anderson, ANZAC Day;

VERITY GORMAN

Tell me about, like, what are your current thoughts at the moment? We’ve got an inquiry happening into workplace culture at Parliament House. What do you think it’s going to uncover?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, hopefully what it does do is engender more respect. And that’s what it is all about at the end of the day. It’s about having respect for one another, respect for people’s private space, respect for people being in that workplace where we’ve got a big job to do. We’re running the nation after all. And when people elect representatives and when those representatives employ staff, they should all have that respect very much embedded in everything that they do for and on behalf of communities, for and on behalf of the nation.

VERITY GORMAN

What are you sort of – in your own experience, have the stories that have come out to do with the workplace culture surprised you? It’s been your workplace for quite some time.

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, it’s disappointing. And look, I’ve always just got along and got my job done. Went there worked long hours in the Parliament, of course and in and around the electorate but reading about these stories and hearing from others about what may or may not have gone on in the past, it is disappointing. And you know there’s been a lot of allegations and certainly know that it’s important that those allegations be aired to the proper authorities – that is the police. If a criminal assault has taken place or a sexual assault has taken place, then those are matters which the police need to hear about, the police need to investigate. And that’s where those matters should go to – always. It is very, very difficult, though, of course, when a staff member says to a Member of Parliament that they don’t want anything said. I’m not sure whether those allegations that have been made or told in the full light as to the gravity of what went on or what was alleged to have gone on, so the Minister made a call on what she was told, made a call on the fact that the staff member at the time apparently told her that she didn’t want to go any further and then has changed her mind later on.

Now, that of course, is entirely a matter for the staff member and the Minister. The Minister has subsequently taken leave, of course. The allegations have now been directed to the Australian Federal Police. And in the case of the other matter, those matters involving Christian Porter and his debating teammate back when they were teenagers, it was referred to the New South Wales police who looked at them and then she actually asked that they be no longer looked at, they be no longer investigated. Of course, very, very sadly, very, very tragically she took her own life the next day.

So, I appreciate these are very, very difficult matters for the people involved – all the people involved. Very difficult matters too for the Police but certainly for the families of those involved, and the right way to do this is through the right channels of our judiciary, the right channels of our policing. And we have a rule of law. We need to follow it. We need to follow the proper processes and protocols and that’s what will be done.

VERITY GORMAN

With the current discourse around sort of what the culture is like at Parliament House, has had made you reflect back on what it has been like and think about it differently?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, not for me, because I’ve always run a pretty tight ship. My staff members know that there’s respect in our office. My staff members have always known that if they need to take time off for family matters or personal matters that has always come first for me as their employer and certainly my door has always been open if they ever wanted to discuss matters that were important to them, matters that they were concerned about. And I’ve always made that quite clear.

And of course, in recent weeks I called my staff together and I told them that I wanted respect in my workplace to continue. I wanted to have a very happy, safe and friendly workplace and I wanted them to go home and tell not only their partners but also their parents that that’s what I had told them. I know that my employees have always been happy in the workplace. I know they’ve always worked hard for and on behalf of the constituents of the Riverina and in the ministerial portfolios I’ve held.

VERITY GORMAN

But they don’t just work in your office and you don’t just work in your office, it’s a bigger workplace than that. So are you saying that you haven’t witnessed it within that bigger setting or thought about any of the goings on within your Party and Parliament House itself?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well look, there’s six and a half thousand people who work in Parliament House and of course there’s always rumours in corridors, there’s always things that are said. But any matter that has ever come to my attention about anything that people have raised concerns about I’ve always directed them to the right places. I’ve never heard anybody come to me with a matter that was serious enough to go to the Police. But, indeed, any matters that they were concerned about, there are processes in place and I’ve always directed people to the right places.

VERITY GORMAN

What changes do you think need to come from this time? Do you think, you know, there is a big, broad discussion happening. There’s an inquiry into what workplace culture should be like. What would you like to see come from this?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

More respect. More respect and not just in the Parliament but right throughout the country. We need to be able to respect one another. We need to be able to respect people for the job that they’re doing, whether it’s in the Parliament, whether it’s in an office situation elsewhere around the nation. We need to have respect for people, and I’d like to see that that respect be more prevalent throughout society.

VERITY GORMAN

What are you hearing from constituents? Have they been writing to you? I’ve heard other federal MPs say they’ve been receiving lots of correspondence from constituents concerned about the culture in Parliament House. What have you been hearing out on the streets from the people who are within your electorate?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, we’ve received a few letters and I’ll be writing back to those. I’ve already written back to some of the people who’ve already raised their concerns. But look, I have to say, most people are more concerned about the vaccine roll-out. Most people are more concerned about their jobs. Most people are more concerned about the issues of the day than what is actually happening with this situation that you’ve just spoken about.

Now, I appreciate it’s a very big issue. I appreciate that I’ve addressed my staff and at all times I’ve always exercised very much respect in my workplace. I’ve made sure that I’ve had the respect for my colleagues, my employees, and they’ve done the same with me and with their peers.

VERITY GORMAN

Do you not think of this as the biggest issue of the day? Because this is the party who is in charge of the country. This stuff sort of filters down right to the micro-level and it’s setting the tone from the top?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, it’s an important issue, but there are a lot of important issues going on. I think people sitting around their kitchen table working out their household budget, that’s important, too. People wondering if the current situation with COVID and jobs, that’s important too. And I know people are concerned about what may be going on in the Parliament. It is, after all, the house of democracy. They want to make sure that the people they send to Canberra and those people who work for them are doing the right thing, they’re working hard for and on their behalf. And that’s what I do every day of the week. I make sure that I work hard for and on behalf of the people of the Riverina first and foremost and of course, in my wider portfolio responsibilities make sure that I’m always doing everything that I should be.

Now, I can’t control the actions of others – other colleagues or, indeed, other employees in other offices. I can only control what I do as myself and what I do with my employees as far as having a respectful workplace. That comes down to those people, whether they’re elected representatives or whether they’re indeed employees of those elected representatives, to take responsibility for their own actions. It does come down to people taking responsibility for their own actions and making sure that at all times they can look their constituents in the eye, that they can look each other in the eye and say, “I did the right thing at all times.”

VERITY GORMAN

Is Christian Porter going to be able to come back into his role and the Government get on with governing? Is it going to be as simple as that?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, I’d like to think so. Christian has dedicated his life to helping others and to making sure that in his previous role in law and his previous role with the Western Australian Government and his current role as Attorney-General, he has very much done what he needed to do as far as respecting the rule of law and making sure that the laws are obeyed. Indeed, he’s contributed mightily to the Parliament, both at the Western Australian level and at the national level. I’m sure he’ll be able to have his time off. It’s a difficult time for him, of course, and we need to give him that space, give him that breathing space. We need to allow him to come back and do the role that he’s been doing in a fine way as Attorney-General and indeed, as the Minister for Industrial Relations for our nation.

VERITY GORMAN

Former Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, has confirmed he’ll stand for preselection as a National Senate candidate. What are your thoughts on that?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I’m pleased that, you know, somebody of his experience and somebody of his values, somebody who understands what regional Australians need, want and expect, deserve, has decided to put up his hand and offer himself for public life again. John was a fine Deputy Prime Minister. He was a fine Member for Gwydir. He knows what it’s like to be a local member. He knows what it’s like to be second in charge of the nation, the running of the nation. And he knows what it’s like to fight for and on behalf of regional people.

Regional people at the moment need every fighter in their corner. They’ve certainly got with the Nationals. The Nationals, as you see here today at this Ardlethan and Beyond Museum opening with Steph Cooke and myself coming together to make sure that they’ve got the right funding to open a magnificent new museum. And that’s the sort of thing that Nationals in government do. I think John’s got a lot to contribute. I welcome his preselection candidacy.

But, then again, it is up to those central councillors, it is up to the National Party whether or not they take that candidacy and give him the preselection nomination so that then he can actually put his name on the ballot paper for the Senate at the next election. So that’s very much the democratic way we do things. It’s not just a walk-up start. You don’t just put your hand up and take that position. It will be up to the members of the Nationals to determine whether, in fact, he does get that preselection. And then it will be up to the voters of Australia, the voters of New South Wales, as to whether he goes forward.

VERITY GORMAN

He said he wouldn’t undermine your leadership. Is that reassuring?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Absolutely. John and I, we get on very, very well. Just like I do with other former Deputy Prime Ministers. I’ve sought his counsel right from the outset from 2018 when I became Deputy Prime Minister. He was one of the first people I spoke to. I’ve always had the highest regard, the highest respect for John and his wife, Julia. They’ve been mighty contributors for northern New South Wales, for New South Wales, for regional Australia. They’ve done a great job. And I’m sure that if he gets preselected and then ultimately wins that Senate spot – it’s very winnable, the number 2 spot on the senate ticket for the coalition at the next election, it’s a very winnable spot – I’m sure that if he goes all the way and gets elected to the Senate of Australia he’ll do a great job for and on behalf of regional Australians.

VERITY GORMAN

Given the current sort of discourse and the concern about culture and women in parliament, would you like to see a female on that ticket preselected?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, again, it’s up to the National Party preselectors as to whom they put forward. At the moment John is the only one as I know. There’s been a lot of speculation as to who might or might not put their hand up for preselection, but John’s the only one who’s actually put his hand up. If a good and viable female candidate from within the ranks of the National Party decides to put her name up, then good on her, too. It will be up to the preselectors as to whom they decide.

VERITY GORMAN

And, lastly, Harry and Meghan. There’s been a lot, obviously, and very serious – you know, they’re serious allegations against Buckingham Palace. Is it time for us to become a republic?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I’ve got more to worry about than what the goings on are in the Royal Family.

VERITY GORMAN

But we’re part of the Commonwealth.

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Yes, sure we are. But, you know, I’m worried about people’s jobs. I’m wanting to make sure that they have a future. I’m wanting to make sure that they meet their household bills. There’s a lot going on in Parliament at the moment. That’s the things that are occupying my mind other than what the Royals may or may not be doing. Whilst it might be grist for it media mill, I appreciate that the Royal Family is a great institution, but I’m worried about regional Australians at the moment. I’m focused on their interests. I’m focused on making sure there are jobs for the future. I’m focused on making sure that we continue to lower taxes for business. I’m focused on making sure that we get all the economic parameters right because we’ve got a big job to do as we build out the back of COVID.

The COVID situation, of course, has hit our economy hard. We’re building back better. We’re getting the vaccine rolled out. Delighted that Mark Coulton’s been able to get so many regional centres with those vaccines so that all regional Australians, indeed all Australians can get that jab. It’s going to be so important. By the end of October I hope every Australian has the jab. We can get aviation back up and flying again, because planes in the air means jobs on it ground. That’s pretty critical for me at the moment. Tourism, I’ll be having a bit more to say about that very soon. Very, very important that we get our aviation sector back to some sort of pre-COVID normality and very focused on regional Australia.

VERITY GORMAN

Where do you sit on the republic debate, though? Because it will come up in the future and Australia will have to make that decision or at least, you know, there’ll be a discussion about it. What are your thoughts? Do you think we should be a republic after the Queen dies?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I’ve got more important things to worry about at the moment than what day Australia Day should be –

VERITY GORMAN

But you must have an opinion?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well look, like I say, I’m focused on the things that really matter to most Australians. At the moment the republic is not the barbeque stopper that some in the media might like to think it is. At the moment I’m focused on making sure that regional Australians have jobs and making sure that those 54,000 jobs that are in regional Australia which aren’t being filled, that we get the word out there to metropolitan Australia there are jobs out here in regional Australia. There are great communities. I mean, have a look. I’m in Ariah Street, Ardlethan. You wouldn’t get a better community. There’s plenty of jobs out here. Plenty of jobs in Wagga Wagga that are just at the moment going begging because they won’t be filled and can’t be filled by Australians. So that’s my focus at the moment, not on the republic, not on what day Australia Day should be. I know there are people who’d like to change the flag, too. All those sorts of things. Yes, we can have those discussions. We can have them in the future. Quite frankly, I’m happy with the constitutional monarchy we have at the moment. Quite happy with the flag. Quite happy with the Australia Day being on January 26.

But what I would say is I do hope that we actually are able to commemorate ANZAC Day in the way we should. And I know we’ve had a lot of protests and parades. We’ve had a lot of people there and that’s all well and good. But what I would like to see is us to be able to have an ANZAC Day as we’ve had it pre-COVID. I don’t want to have to see – whilst it was great last year where so many Australians went to the edge of their driveways or edge of their sort of streets with a candle or a torch, that was good because we were very much in COVID lockdown and that was important that we exercise social distancing and that we weren’t able to mass together in big parades on April 25. But this year, all things being equal, we are able to have other parades and people are able to protest in mass numbers, we should be able to have ANZAC Day the way we always used to know and respect.

And I think that’s going to be very important, because it is an important ANZAC Day this year. We’re celebrating 100 years of the Royal Australian Air Force. That’s important. We’re celebrating other milestones, too. So many Australians provided so much service and sacrifice and they should be honoured on April 25 more than just going down to the edge of driveways and holding a torch; a torch which was a beacon for ANZAC, the spirit of ANZAC, but I think this year it’s going to be important with all the is health orders in place that people are able to gather in mass numbers around cenotaphs, lay wreaths and do what they need to be able to do to honour the service and sacrifice of so many men and women who have gone before us.

VERITY GORMAN

Do you think we’ll be able to?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I hope so. I sincerely hope so. And certainly in our country centres, if it’s good enough to play sport, if it’s good enough to have other events in numbers, then it should be good enough to have ANZAC Day. And I’d really, really like the RSL to help make that call. And it would be very important for the health authorities also to give it a tick off in good enough time so that the various sub-branches around the region can prepare.

VERITY GORMAN

Anything further to add?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Look, I am really delighted to be here with John Seymour, the Coolamon Mayor. Does a great job. I know we’ve spent so much money with Local Roads and Community Infrastructure, the Drought Communities Programme Extension and others which we’ve helped build. So there’s this $426,000 wonderful monument and keeping place and museum to Ardlethan’s history. It’s a great history. Ardlethan, so many great families that contributed so mightily to the wealth and the prosperity of the Riverina. They want to be able to remember their past, but they also want to build for the future. And that’s what they’re doing with this museum.

I know so many people in Ardlethan have made sure and have fundraised so much money to be able to get this facility up and running. And I think people should not only visit it but come and have a look at the Frank Bradley statue as well, former Stawell Gift winner. So much to see and do in Coolamon Shire, so much to see in Ardlethan. Thank you so much.

ENDS 11:12AM