JAMES GLENDAY, HOST: Well, let's get to some federal politics news. And we're joined now by the Communications Minister, Anika Wells. Anika, welcome back to our program.
MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTER FOR SPORT ANIKA WELLS: Good to be with you, James.
GLENDAY: Now, you are in Canberra today, and we understand that ministers are coming together to look at savings. Have you all been asked to take a look at your portfolios?
WELLS: Absolutely we have and, like you say, we're here to work and work out what savings we can do at MYEFO, offer savings like we have at every other budget package.
GLENDAY: Is there anything that you are specifically looking at this morning?
WELLS: Nothing I can disclose to you I'm sorry, James, much as I respect our ABC. Our deliberations are ongoing, but I can tell your viewers that we understand the pressures that people are under and we're here to work and make sure that we can offer whatever savings are available to us.
GLENDAY: And of course, you don't hold an economic portfolio, but you are part of Cabinet. Are you expecting that there might be some substantial trims at the mid-year budget update later this year?
WELLS: Look, we have made savings at every budget package that the Albanese Government has handed down, and we'll continue to do that. We understand that Australians are under a lot of pressure. They want to see us working hard delivering for them, making their lives easier. Obviously, like you say, my space is more online safety, and we've got a Senate inquiry underway, but we are all here to do that work.
GLENDAY: Well, let me get to that Senate inquiry. It's been some time since we discussed the Digital Duty of Care laws on this program. Can you remind us, what are you hoping to achieve?
WELLS: We think that Big Tech needs to be held to account, and if you build it you should be responsible for its harms. This is an industry that has gone unregulated, it's been the Wild Wild West for 15, 20 years. You should be responsible for the harms that you are live-testing on Australians whilst you seek to make profits for your shareholders.
GLENDAY: Okay. Do you have the numbers to get it through the upper house, do you think?
WELLS: We passed the House of Representatives last sitting week, and we are negotiating with Senators. The Digital Duty of Care has the support of 93 per cent of Australians, so it's something that I would love to see all parliamentarians support in the same way that our world-leading online safety laws have been bipartisan in every previous iteration.
GLENDAY: Are there any areas, though- and at the moment it doesn't appear that you have that same support with inside the parliament - are there any areas where you're willing to give ground in negotiations?
WELLS: Again, none that I can disclose via our national broadcaster with you this morning, James. Though I welcome any amendments being put by any parliamentarian that strengthen or improve these laws.
GLENDAY: You are also the Sports Minister. Is netball going to be at the Olympics in 2032? What's actually going on here?
WELLS: Well, I've voiced my support for netball. It's the biggest female sport in Australia. I think it deserves its Matildas moment, if you will, at Brisbane 2032. But this is a decision for the IOC, who are currently deliberating on all future sport events through a Fit for the Future process with their new president. So, we won't know until April next year. But I guess the opportunity of hosting a home games is that we get to decide on a handful of sports and events working with the IOC.
GLENDAY: Is it all but locked in, though? It seemed to sort of come from the Queensland Government, Netball apparently didn't know that it was coming. You've then voiced your support. It must be pretty close to being locked in.
WELLS: Nothing is locked in because the IOC has to determine what sports and events are even part of their program before we get to negotiate what might be specific to Brisbane 2032. But I think we're here if you need.
GLENDAY: We're here if you need, okay. Just one other issue. Of course, there's a major UN climate summit taking place in Turkey. Australia had hoped to host this conference, but obviously it is still putting in a fair bit of money. There's a lot of scrutiny about how much spending has gone into this, and also the Pre-COP summit as well. How would you be selling this to voters in your electorate? Why do you think this was a good idea?
WELLS: Well, I did mobile offices in Chermside and Chermside West last week. Big good morning to everybody in Chermside and Chermside West watching on. And I have constituents come to mobile offices to say, we want to see action on climate, we're concerned we don't hear about this in the news enough. So, I think they'd be grateful to see you giving this the platform, James. Climate and energy security is so important to our region and particularly to our Pacific family. It's something that we need to show leadership on, and I'm glad we're doing it.
GLENDAY: Just before I let you go, we're asking our viewers this morning when they put their Christmas tree decorations up. And goodness me, we have a lot of people writing in. As the Communications Minister, when do you do it?
WELLS: I have young children, so we are a 1 December family.
GLENDAY: Oh strict, okay.
WELLS: Well, sometimes I have to tilt it based on my travel schedule because I'm not always at home on 1 December, but that's certainly the feedback from the little voters in my household.
GLENDAY: The little voters, yeah, they all get a say. Anika Wells, thank you so much for joining our show this morning.
WELLS: Have a good morning.
