Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service
TOM CONNELL, HOST: Welcome back, Joe Biden has tapped the mat – that is official. So, whatever happens, the Australian Government will have to deal with a new President. Joining me now live is Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman, thanks for your time. The Prime Minister was on holiday but then popped up on a press conference, didn’t he trust the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, to hold the fort at that point and you know, reassure everyone that everything was fine?
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE: There’s a lot of trust in this government, Tom and I’m glad that you’ve identified that. What I think was important is that President Biden has been a significant figure, not just in US domestic politics, but in world affairs. And the Prime Minister thought it was appropriate – which I think anyone in a similar position would – to stand up and make a statement, acknowledging his significant contribution to the Australia-US bilateral relationship. That’s what we saw from the Prime Minister’s remarks. It did look like he was having a good time in Queensland. And I think most people would be pleased to see our prime minister holidaying locally and also getting a bit of rest.
CONNELL: So, you’re trying to promote the right to disconnect, and there’s the example of the Prime Minister. So, when I’m on holiday next, my employer can go ‘oh, the PM, you know, dialled in from holiday, Tom, give us a couple of crosses from wherever you are in the world.’ Has he thought about people like me, I guess?
GORMAN: Tom, I was thinking about you actually, on Friday where I thought you actually had a scheduled end to your programme, and world events resulted in you having to go even longer – going beyond your rostered hours.
CONNELL: Well, there’s a good point.
GORMAN: Now, if you need additional representation, I’m sure there are people in this building and –
CONNELL: No, no complaints, they’re pretty reasonable. But you’ve got to work when it happens. And when you don’t, they’re pretty good. Doing a great job, all of the management out there. What about Kamala Harris? Does she have what it takes to be president, do you think?
GORMAN: Of course. I think if you look at the nominees that are put forward in both the primary processes – which she now finds herself in as the Democratic Party goes through choosing their candidate – but the nominees that the Democratic Party and the Republican Party put forward. They’re always people who value the Australia-US bilateral relationship. They’re people who have great capability. And I think if you look at her remarks, she has a really good understanding of the depth of the Australia-US relationship. Going all the way back –
CONNELL: Do you think Donald Trump does as well?
GORMAN: I think you’ve seen that in terms of his actions when he was previously in that role –
CONNELL: For Australia? What about – how would you be feeling right now, if you’re in Ukraine? At the prospect of Donald Trump as president?
GORMAN: I’m not going to speculate on what might happen, both in Ukraine in four months time, let alone the decisions that a potential second presidency under President Trump might be. I think if I look at Australia’s interests I, like many, watched parts of the Convention last week for the Republican Party. I think, as we saw Former Ambassador Hockey and current Ambassador Rudd both noting that Australia can sustain a good, strong bilateral relationship with the US under President Trump, as we did in the past.
CONNELL: Okay, sounds like you were glued to Sky News. So, watching those two in action?
GORMAN: Tom, I like to see what you are up to, I like to see what my other friends, Joe and Kevin are up to. It’s good to see that everyone is paying attention to what this means for Australia.
CONNELL: Normally it’s me who mentions that you used to work for Kevin Rudd, but you’ve – well, you mentioned his name anyway, I took the in. Look better cover the CFMEU. So no donations from the construction division. What does that mean – given this has just happened, it’ll take a while to clean up – no donations at all, from any CFMEU construction division up until now and the election?
GORMAN: Well, I think it’s a no to any donations. And that’s the decision the National Executive made last week –
CONNELL: Could that be lifted though, before the election? Or is that going to have to be for a while for them to sort themselves out?
GORMAN: I think, Tom, if you’re looking to get yourself into a position of elected office in the CFMEU to be able to make donations to the Labor Party, you’d be waiting a long time. You’d be waiting a very long time.
CONNELL: Years?
GORMAN: Certainly, I mean, we’ve got an administrator in there doing work to make sure that they clean up that union. I think what I’ve seen, and what you’ve seen, has been incredibly disappointing. And I think everyone has disappointment for different reasons. I don’t have any time for that sort of corrupt activity. But I think it’s really disappointing for working people who do rely on unions, if I think, you know, the people who should be most angry, in my view, are people who work in construction who expect that union to be –
CONNELL: What about construction costs, people that are paying it? I mean, this was getting hyped up because of corruption, wasn’t it?
GORMAN: Oh, it’s going to take quite a bit of time to find out exactly the extent of all of these activities. But, on this occasion, I really do praise the journalistic efforts to make sure that corrupt behaviour is brought to light. I mean, –
CONNELL: It seems surprising though that why couldn’t Labor have had an inquiry on this? I mean, there was talk about this in various articles for years and it took a piece from Nine to blow the lid open.
GORMAN: I think in a democratic system, everyone has responsibilities. I take mine seriously. The media takes theirs seriously. We have had a trade union royal commission that looked into a range of matters. That didn’t come up with recommendations in this space. We’ve had previous watchdogs on the case who, while those watchdogs were in place, they were actually seeing the rise of the power of John Setka. I think if you look at the trajectory under the Albanese Government, indeed, under Anthony Albanese’s leadership of the Labor Party, the influence of people like John Setka has dramatically reduced to nil.
CONNELL: Okay, well, he’s quit only after these reports. Better end with this, because often Jason Falinski is on this show –
GORMAN: So Jason is on this show?
CONNELL: Can we put a message to Jason? You look down camera three there. Can you just tell him to pick up your calls or my calls? I’m not sure what’s happened. Have we done something wrong?
GORMAN: Jason, Tom is very upset that you’re not returning his calls –
CONNELL: Camera four here – I’ve got it wrong. There you go.
GORMAN: I at least listen to what you tell me, Tom. Jason, come on. Answer Tom’s call, come back. We need you. Democratic debate in Australia needs you. And if I can say to my good friend, Jason Falinski, I even think the Liberal Party of New South Wales needs you on this panel.
CONNELL: Patrick Gorman, services to democracy there. Thank you.
GORMAN: Thank you.
