Transcript - Interview with Kieran Gilbert, NewsDay, Sky News, 15 August 2024

MELISSA MCINTOSH MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR ENERGY AFFORABILITY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WESTERN SYDNEY
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LINDSAY

Thursday, 15 August 2024

Subjects: Unemployment rate; CFMEU legislation; Gaza; immigration.

Live on NewsDay with Kieran Gilbert (Sky News)

Kieran Gilbert

Let's return now to federal parliament. Joining me in the studio live is the Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability, Melissa McIntosh. We just had the breaking news with Ross Greenwood. Unemployment's ticked up a bit. Markets think there will be a rate cut by the end of the year. Many in your electorate would welcome that.

Melissa McIntosh

Well, people are suffering so much right now. You just need to walk down the high street of Penrith; speak to small businesses that are closing at record rates with unemployment up. That's the figure that we're really looking at. In the US in 2008, it was those high unemployment figures that put a lot of stress on people, and we saw suicide rates go up. Mental health is a big issue in Australia right now.

Kieran Gilbert

We've still got participation rates at near record levels. So, the labour market actually remains quite resilient; doesn't it? In the face of everything else going on in the economy.

Melissa McIntosh

We haven't been able to see the figures that happened as I was walking in, but it'll be interesting to see if those figures are strong because of the private sector, which we know is suffering. As I said, small businesses are laying off employees, they're closing their doors, or whether it's government employment that is keeping those levels okay.

Kieran Gilbert

Okay. Now, the CFMEU law to introduce administrators. The government's written to Michalia Cash. They want to vote by 3:00pm this afternoon. Again, I spoke to Murray Watt just a few minutes ago. They want this deal done. They want the administrators in. Is it time for the Coalition to get on board?

Melissa McIntosh

Well, we had some fair amendments to the bill and one that stands out for me as someone who has stood on a prepoll with 30,000 people come in against the unions, is the fact that the CFMEU can have their union operators still participating in election campaigns. That's not right. And as a female MP, who has been up against some pretty big blokes, I'd hate to see that happening on my next election campaign.

Kieran Gilbert

Yeah. In terms of the transparency, though, and those other amendments, the government's agreed to a lot of that and they've said they're not going to take donations from the union, so isn't that enough to get the Coalition on board?

Melissa McIntosh

They shouldn’t have been taking donations from the union in the first place. And that’s a question that we’ve been putting to them constantly in Question Time. But it’s fair to say that Michalia has some fair amendments and it’s going to be up to her as the lead for the Opposition on this. But as I said, donations is one thing, campaigning still is another.

Kieran Gilbert

On the comments made by Peter Dutton this week, toughening the position on refugees out of Gaza. How's that going to be received in Western Sydney?

Melissa McIntosh

Well, people in my patch want to ensure that our national security is a top priority and that we're looking after Australians first. We're talking about Gaza. We don't have a diplomatic presence there. It is under the control of a listed terrorist organisation, and it is a war zone. So what Peter Dutton is doing is putting Australians first and just wanting appropriate measures put in place.

Kieran Gilbert

On the security situation though, Jacqui Lambie warns that this is going to heighten the risk of triggering events we don't want to see. What do you say to that? That the language actually heightens the tempo of this debate and creates a security concern?

Melissa McIntosh

Well, it's interesting that some politicians are saying this, but at the very time politicising the issue. So, they themselves are contributing to what they're saying that they're trying to stop. Peter Dutton has made it clear that what we're talking about is the security of Australians and ensuring that people are vetted correctly, which they haven't been.

Kieran Gilbert

Everyone's on board in your party on this.

Melissa McIntosh

There has been no dissent.

Kieran Gilbert

Melissa McIntosh, appreciate your time.

Melissa McIntosh

Thank you.