Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service, Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
SALLY SARA, HOST: We're staying with federal politics now I'm turning into the government. Patrick Gorman is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Patrick Gorman, welcome back to Breakfast.
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Sally, great to be with you and with your listeners on this Australia Day. So happy Australia Day to all.
SARA: How do you avoid hubris within the government, as the Liberals and Nationals are still sorting out the fallout from a split Coalition?
GORMAN: Our focus has to be on the Australian people and delivering the services and policies that they need to be able to live the sorts of lives that we celebrate on Australia Day, where people can have full and rich lives. I think when you have the privilege of being in government, you stay focused on why you are there, and that is to serve the Australian people. Now I have got many views about what's happening on the other side, but right now, I want to make sure we are focused on doing what the Australian people elected us to do, everything from cheaper medicines, to making sure investing in childcare all the way through delivering tax cuts that come into the middle of this year.
SARA: So you won't be commenting on the division in the Coalition at the moment, the former Coalition?
GORMAN: Your question was about how do you make sure that you stay focused, and I have just answered that question. When it comes to what we are seeing in the Coalition, I think your listeners would have heard that interview, and would have heard that there is clearly deep divides in the Coalition. There is one public divide in the split between the Liberal Party and the National Party. You only need to pick up newspapers on Australia Day to see that there is a very active, multi-pronged backgrounding campaign happening amongst different people who aspire to be, or currently are, leader or deputy leader in the Liberal Party.
SARA: We saw the results of a couple of polls out early last week. They're showing a fall in popularity for the Coalition. Some of that polling data arise for One Nation, but Labor Party's primary vote has also been sliding. Why do you think that's been happening for the Labor Party?
GORMAN: Polls will come and go. I answered a range of questions similar to this in the lead-up to the last election, where people had predicted all sorts of outcomes that didn't end up being the case. As I said, if we stay focused on the Australian people, while others in the parliament might be focused on themselves. That is the best thing that I can do as a member of the Albanese Labor Government to make sure that we get these sort of outcomes that people want.
SARA: The government is making an attempt to secure a new public hospital funding deal with the states and territories this week. Is there anything new that the government is putting on the table and offering?
GORMAN: There will be a meeting of the National Cabinet on Friday. That is an opportunity for an in depth discussion between the Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers, but we have put a significant additional offer on the table. The total of that over the five years of the agreement that we seek to refresh will be some $216 billion into the hospitals across Australia. That is significant money. It will be the largest investment we have ever seen from the Commonwealth into the hospital system over the course of that time, and it will mean that we have the things that all Australians want, which is hospitals that are there if you need to rock up to emergency. But equally, we are really proud of the other investments we have made. We know that the work we have done when it comes to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics is taking pressure off our emergency departments, and we will continue making those investments as well.
SARA: A deal was supposed to be done in December. That's the second deadline that's been missed. Will it be secured this week, and if so, why are you confident?
GORMAN: I will leave those discussions to the Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers, but I think the Australian people want to see governments work together to get things done. We have put the money on the table, a significant investment, it is now for those final discussions. But I know that if I was walking down the street in my electorate of Perth, and I said, 'Do you want us to put more money into the local hospitals?' people would say, 'Yes, please do that'. And they would also expect us to come to a final agreement.
SARA: You're listening to Radio National breakfast. My guest is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman. Today on January the 26th many people around the country will take part in Australia Day events and citizenship ceremonies, while others will demonstrate in protests organised by indigenous Australians and supporters. What's the government's message to Australians who might feel very differently about January 26?
GORMAN: My message is that this is a day where we can come together and discuss the things that bring us together, the things that are our shared humanity. As Australians, I recognise that there are some people for whom this is a difficult day, that includes some indigenous Australians. But I also note that in the events that we sponsor across the country - we have got some 300 events across the country - where we have significant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander elements where parts of that amazing story of 65,000 years of culture on this land can be told. I also recognise it can be a difficult day for others, those who might have served in uniform for Australia, where it brings back many memories. Equally, for people who might have chosen to make Australia their home, where they can sometimes on Australia Day feel a little bit distant for the place they might have been born. But it really is a day where, as Australians - wherever we come from, whoever we are - we can come together and celebrate the things that make this nation so great.
SARA: Patrick Gorman, thank you so much for your time this morning. Thank you, Patrick Gorman, there joining me in the studio.
