SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR FINANCE: Well, it’s great to be here at this fabulous childcare centre and watching all of these amazing children and their educators work together. This is really what Labor’s plan around early education and care is all about. It’s about making sure that the children get the best opportunity as soon as they can and that we’re investing in early childhood education like it’s part of the school system, really. We think it should be treated the same and our changes, the three-day guarantee of access to subsidised care, plus our funds to build and work in partnership with owning facilities, to make sure we have places like this open for many more children across the country. So, it’s a big announcement. It builds on our earlier investment in the childcare subsidy, but also builds on our investment in early childhood educator wages which have started flowing this month. So, we’re trying to come at this in a number of ways, but it’s really about building an early childhood education system that’s on par with other education like pre-school and primary school and high school. And this is the start, the next big tranche of that. But over time, we hope to work towards universality for early childhood education and care. We’ll go to Frances.
FRANCES CRIMMINS, CEO OF YWCA CANBERRA: YWCA Canberra really welcome this election commitment. We know the difference that access to three days and removal of that activity work test will have on children. Every child deserves the best start in life. So, we're thrilled that this is an election commitment, particularly for vulnerable children. You truly change the trajectory of a child if you provide them with early learning education. We're also proud to say that we are very pleased to be putting in our grant for the wage bonus for our staff. The educators are professional. They make significant impact to the lives of children and we look forward to being able to pass on that wage retention bonus to our staff. So, we welcome both of these policy initiatives to manage the workforce, invest in the workforce, but most importantly, children at the heart of this decision, and every child at the heart of this decision.
JOURNALIST: We've seen two big promises now surrounding education with HECS and this. Is that a priority for the government heading into this campaign?
GALLAGHER: Well, it's going to be a tough campaign next year, whenever it's called. We don't take anything for granted. And really, you know, we've had the opportunity to govern the last two and a half years, and we want to, I guess, explain that while we've delivered some things, there's a lot more to be done to build on those key areas like education, whether it be university students or the younger citizens. You know, this is a longer-term story and you need to get those messages out, and you need to show people that you have plans for the future, and that's what those announcements are for.
JOURNALIST: Are these announcements a sign that we might be seeing an earlier election, if you are already campaigning strongly now?
GALLAGHER: Well, I think it's the nature of modern campaigning, the campaign usually starts months ahead of anything being officially called. You know, I certainly feel that the way the parliament operates. Look, that's a matter for the PM, when the election actually is called. But we know that it will have to be between now and May. And we are here today to explain some of the things that we want to do with a second term if we are fortunate enough to win the election.
JOURNALIST: We’ve seen Dutton come out saying that he thinks nuclear is going to be cheaper than renewables. What do you make of these claims, do you think that is financially right?
GALLAGHER: Well, we'll wait and see what the modelling that they've done show, but I would say that goes against every other piece of evidence. We know, that nuclear would take too long to build, cost too much, and it would put up people's power bills. That's pretty clear. And I don't think any dodgy modelling, or kind of, you know, assumptions in that modelling is going to change that reality. It's just going to take too long. Everything that their idea is based on has problems, like keeping coal-fired power stations going. The biggest risk to the energy grid right now, on hot days like today, is coal fired power stations breaking down and we have to get serious about the shift to renewables as the cheapest and most efficient form of energy.
JOURNALIST: You think it’s dodgy, do you think he's lying to Australians? Or do you think he's just getting his stats from somewhere a bit less reliable than other places?
GALLAGHER: Well, you know, we rely on the modelling done by AEMO or on the integrated systems plan and CSIRO. They are preeminent experts that provide that advice to government. I think politicians, and perhaps Mr Dutton when he answers questions about this modelling, will have to answer the assumptions that they’ve put into that model. Like, if there's no assumptions about extra transmission lines, if there's no assumptions about future demand for energy, those are the types of things that can change this. And the reality is, whatever way you dress it up, it takes too long, costs too much and will put up power prices.
JOURNALIST: It's a good headline, though, saying it's cheaper than renewables. Do you think people will read beyond the headlines?
GALLAGHER: Well, that's part of our job, to contest some of that. The reality is renewables are the cheapest form of energy. That's simply the case. And I don't think you'll find an energy expert in the country that says that's not the case. So I think, you know, look back at the history of this. When they were in government, Mr Dutton was a senior minister, they had 22 energy policies, they didn't land one of them. So, I think people have the right to be pretty sceptical about this, and it's really a “look over here, everybody,” it's not a serious plan to deal with the energy requirements of the nation.
JOURNALIST: You’ve said that Pocock will win the first seat. Why didn't you push more senators to the Senate when you guys were rushing through legislation during the last sitting week?
GALLAGHER: Well, there wasn’t agreement across the Parliament. I think these things should be done with everybody in agreement. And our priority, frankly, wasn't on extra politicians. It's how we deal with the cost-of-living pressures people are under, and that's why legislation like the early childhood educator wages was a priority for us. It's about actually making a difference in people's lives. And you know, extra senators – it's something we support, but I don't think it's a priority. I haven't been inundated by people across Canberra saying that that's their number one issue. So, we're trying to focus on cost-of-living. And you know, the election will be tight. It will be really tight in here, in the Senate, and I don't take anything for granted. I think it's easy to be independent, harder to be in government and making some of those decisions you need to make.
JOURNALIST: Do you think you found the right balance between offering nationwide promises and actually catering to Canberrans? Obviously, we’re a very different demographic from the rest of the country.
GALLAGHER: Yeah, sure, and that is a balance. I mean, I've got to be Minister for Finance for the whole country. But I think if you look back, you wouldn't have seen two years where the federal government has done as much to invest in Canberra as when I've been, you know, part of that decision making. And it's not all about me, I'm not trying to say that, but having someone who is a Canberran sitting at the table when we are making decisions about investing in the national institutions – what we do with the AIS, you know, what we do with the public service, how we can create better, secure jobs for people – I think that matters. And you know, I used to work in early education and care. Like, it's a real privilege to come here and see the workers here and know that one of our decisions means they'll get better pay than they would otherwise. That's what kind of drives me, and yeah, I'll proudly campaign on my record.
JOURNALIST: So, you’ve said you’ll be campaigning on your record, what do you think is actually going to stand out to people about your record that's going to want to make them put a one next to your name?
GALLAGHER: Well, again, I mean, some of those things that we've talked about or I just outlined then. You know, standing up for Territory rights, it's been a big change that we've been able to bring about here. Investment in the public service. But things like those long-standing problems around national institutions, about partnership on light rail, around the opportunity that comes up in Bruce with the AIS precinct. All of those really matter. But it's also things like this that matter. I mean, making sure early education and care is sustainable, making sure the aged care system works here, that's all part of what we've done in the last two years. And hopefully we’ll be able to do a bit more of it.
JOURNALIST: Obviously the RBA is its own entity, but you are the Finance Minister. Has the government pulled enough levers to fix inflation heading into Christmas? With interest rates holding steady, it would be nice to have gotten Canberrans some relief heading into Christmas.
GALLAGHER: Yeah, look, we get it. People are doing it really tough, particularly those with mortgages. Which is why we focused on trying to get wages moving and paying out energy bill relief and things like that, to try and alleviate some of that pressure. The Bank will make its own decisions. I mean, it really is quite remarkable what's happened here, while we've been able to deal with the inflation challenge to keep hundreds of thousands of jobs going and the jobs numbers yesterday speak to the strength of that. So, partly the answer is making sure people are in jobs. You know, the economy is still growing, and I think people will see – well, the Bank will make its decisions next year, but you'll see a government that continues to focus on cost-of-living and helping people out.
JOURNALIST: Andrew Barr has just celebrated ten years this week as Chief Minister. Why do you think he has managed to maintain such success at staying in power?
GALLAGHER: Well, it’s a good administration. I mean, with my ten-year anniversary of leaving that job this year too – that decade has really whooshed past. I'm sure Andrew feels the same. But I think it's a mature, responsible and responsive government. He’s faced three election campaigns, he's won them. The city is growing. It's a hard job being Chief Minister, you're responsible for everything here. But I think people know him, they know he will deliver. And you know, ten years is a really remarkable record.