Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health
TOM CONNELL, HOST: Rebecca White. Thank you for your time. What do you make of the concern around migration? Because Labor has pledged to bring down overall numbers, but there is still, in each year so far, revisions upwards from the number Labor says it will get to. Is this just proving too difficult to bring it down to the number Labor keeps projecting?
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: Hi, Tom. I think the first thing I'd like to say is that Australia doesn't have a race-based migration program and what Senator Price said at the time was wrong and it's not surprising to see that the leader has now taken the steps that she has because it's really important that we be clear with Australians about how our migration program is designed and how it is given effect by government policy. We have a migration program that has a cap at 185,000 migrants coming to Australia every year, and I think that's really important for people to be aware of. We obviously had COVID that saw an increase in migration to Australia once the borders reopened, but since that time it has moderated, and it is now at a very sustainable level.
TOM CONNELL, HOST: That cap you alluded to, that's permanent migration. In terms of net overseas migration, that figure is more than double that and that's driven by demand. Now yes, the government's acting in various elements to sort of try to restrict that demand I guess, but is that something Labor's still comfortable with, that the actual number of people arriving in the country is more like 350,000,400,000?
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: We are comfortable with our migration figures. These are based on discussions that happen nationally around what we need both to support people who are reunifying with family, but also skilled migration that supports our economy. And that's something I think Australians can appreciate because we live in a community that is very multicultural, very diverse, and it's really important for us to continue to support these programs so that we can continue to support delivery of services and deliver a strong economy that we enjoy here in Australia.
TOM CONNELL, HOST: Okay, so in terms of being comfortable though, because there was work done and there's been a few various reforms around, for example, students, graduate visas without diving into everyone, I understand that's not your portfolio, but you believe Labor has now arrived at a system and a methodology where migration is at a good level right now?
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: Yes, I mean, you're right, it's not my portfolio, but I can speak as a member of our community who appreciates how diverse our community is and welcomes migration from people who strengthen the fabric of our community.
We are a fundamentally multicultural country and that is borne out by the fact that 50 per cent of Australians have a parent that was born overseas and this is something that is a reality for all of us as we live together and I think it's really important that we talk about how we do that in a way that builds cohesion, that respects differences of opinion and values of diversity, whether it's from food and culture, that makes our communities far more vibrant. And that's what I'm focused on, both as a member of government but also as a representative of my local community.
TOM CONNELL, HOST: OK, and is that level still going to be a good one if Labor as expected misses the housing target because that's the most basic infrastructure everyone coming here needs and if you know also puts pressure on people already here?
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: We do have an ambitious housing target. We want to build 1.2 million houses because we respect the fact that a lot of people are struggling and we're working hard to address that. We had 10 years of inaction from a coalition government that didn't invest in housing, and we are making up for that. We are training more apprentices, we are providing fee free TAFE that's seen 47,000 people take up an apprenticeship in the construction field. We are building more houses across the country, including 28,000 social and affordable houses that are currently under planning and construction, along with other initiatives to support first home buyers into the market, including the 5 per cent deposit legislation that I was really pleased to see pass the legislation in the last session of Parliament. These are improvements that are happening right across the housing system, not just in the first home buyer space, but in the social and affordable housing space, crisis accommodation. This is all important, working with other jurisdictions, working with councils to address planning constrictions that are sometimes some of the blockers for us getting houses out of the ground.
TOM CONNELL, HOST: I want to ask you about Tasmania, of course, where you're from. The new AFL stadium, this still seems up in the air. Is the Federal Government considering any more contribution towards this, particularly given that might just get it over the line?
Well, the Prime Minister's been very clear here, Tom, that our contribution is capped at $240 million. It's not going to be the Federal Government coming to the rescue here for the State Government. It's their responsibility to manage this project. They're waiting on some further advice from the Planning Commission. I understand they may receive that as soon as next week, but ultimately, they're going to have to make decisions about how they get this project out of the ground.
TOM CONNELL, HOST: Right, but they had that contribution under a previous price tag. It's now going to be more. Are you going to lobby at all? You're a Tasmanian. I'm sure you'd like to see a team. Are you going to lobby the PM at all for more money?
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: I absolutely want to see a team. I want to see pathways for both our women and our men to be able to play at the highest level in the AFL That's something I've always been passionate about. But I have to say that this is a project where the Federal Government's been also very clear. Our contribution is capped. We received a report from the State Government last September that detailed how they're going to progress that precinct because it's not just about the stadium.
It's about housing. It's about associated infrastructure, the wharf, that's a really iconic part of Tasmania's waterfront, the Hobart waterfront, and the developments there are not just around the stadium but also about how we activate that site, so it creates opportunities for jobs and employment and really supports the southern part of Tasmania's economy.
TOM CONNELL, HOST: Okay, so I understand where the government's at but you're not considering at all, trying to say to the PM plenty of Tasmanian representation now for Labor. Would you consider loosening the purse strings at all if this is going to make a difference?
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: I'm talking to the PM about lots of things, as I'm sure you could appreciate. I have to say my priority is in my portfolio areas of health and women, making sure that he hears my views on those areas, which I know are key areas for our state too. So that's where I'll be doing my job.
