KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Welcome back. Matildas Captain Sam Kerr’s alleged racial slur against a police officer in London has been revealed in a British tabloid, as The Sun reports the soccer star called the officer a, quote, stupid white bastard. Joining us to discuss today's headlines is 2GB’s Chris O'Keefe and Finance Minister – on a big day for her – Katy Gallagher. Appreciate your time. Thanks so much. Katy, to you first up, do we think that's worth a four-day trial?
SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Yeah, well I guess we'll learn – morning Karl, morning Chris – we'll learn a bit more as it goes on. But you know, I mean, I think from my point of view, Sam Kerr’s a national hero, a role model looked up to by so many kids across Australia. And, you know, we'll see what happens in the court process, but yeah, I think everyone's been a bit shocked and taken aback by the headlines.
STEFANOVIC: Stupid white bastard, do you think that's okay?
GALLAGHER: Well, I guess that's why you have a trial to work it all out. I mean, it sounds like there was a bit of a big night out. But, you know, I don't know all the details. I guess people have to be accountable for their own behaviour at the end of the day, you know.
STEFANOVIC: Alright, if we all got put on trial for throwing up in the back of the cab some morning and swearing at a cop –
O’KEEFE: Come on. Look, Karl, Karl, Karl… This is a stitch-up. It is.
STEFANOVIC: Of course it is.
O’KEEFE: Stupid white bastard. And then she comes, you know, she holds the flag for Australia at the coronation, she captains the Matildas, she’s playing for Chelsea. And it takes the police 12 months to lay a charge? And she gets the charge in the mail? It just – seriously!
STEFANOVIC: Okay, the reaction from some this morning, that it’s not that bad, and I guess we’re alluding to that this morning – but there’s a double standard?
O’KEEFE: It might be a double standard, but it’s still not that bad. And you don’t go to a 4-day court hearing and have your reputation on show all around the world for that. You just don’t. And you know, if it was the other way around and someone said that to a person of colour, and it was flipped, I get it, it would be outrage, so why aren’t we outraged here? Well, you know, they’re not the same thing. And you can pretend they are, but they’re not the same thing, and Sam Kerr should not be going to court.
STEFANOVIC: I agree with that. Okay, moving on. Under a new plan by the Labor Government, parents will now see 12 per cent superannuation on their publicly-funded paid parental leave. The major move will come into effect mid-2025. Katy, it’s a big day for you as we mentioned. Look, the economy barely has a pulse at the moment, businesses are just staying afloat, people are getting very close to the edge on their mortgages. How are we going to afford this and how much is it going to cost?
GALLAGHER: Thanks, Karl, it’s a big announcement. This has been a campaign people have fought for for a long time. It’s about recognising and valuing care and the role that women play when they’re caring for children and taking time out of the workforce. It’s the only condition that doesn’t have super paid on it, so we’re sort of normalising that. But we’ve made room in the Budget, essentially. We’ve found savings.
STEFANOVIC: So how much is it going to cost?
GALLAGHER: Look, it’ll be – it’s a significant investment. We’re going to release all of the final details in the Budget. So, this will be in the Budget in May. But it’s a significant investment and will be one of the bigger investments we make in the Budget.
STEFANOVIC: And what if employers don’t climb on it? Business doesn’t climb on?
GALLAGHER: Well this will be managed – the payment, PPL, is paid through the social security system as it is now, through with support from the ATO. So, it’ll be done within government, but we will work with businesses to make sure there aren’t any hassles. And that’s a commitment that we’ve given and we’re doing that with the extension to PPL as we move to 6 months.
O’KEEFE: They’re getting excited, aren’t they, the Labor Government? They’ve got a Budget coming up. It’s May. They’ve got an election coming up. It’s their third one. You heard Jim Chalmers yesterday say hey, well look, we’re shifting from inflation to having a growth challenge, and when you’ve got a growth challenge, what do you do? You spend more money! I can see the Finance Minister sitting there very excited, just to throw money at voters –
GALLAGHER: Absolutely not.
O’KEEFE: Trying to woo them for another term, that’s what’s happening, that’s what’s happening –
GALLAGHER: Absolutely not.
STEFANOVIC: Well, I’ll tell you one thing, people do need a bit of cash in their back pocket, but where are you going to get the money from? Are you going to try and go after wealthier superannuation accounts?
GALLAGHER: No, this will be an initiative that’s Budget funded. Look, and the short story is we’ve found savings, we’ve limited spending, we’re saying no to other ideas because we want to prioritise women’s economic equality. And that’s… You know, this is on the eve of International Women’s Day. We’ve still a fair bit of work to do to make sure that women get a fair crack at opportunities in this country. So, I’ll be saying no to a lot of spending, don’t worry about that.
STEFANOVIC: Okay, so no new tax on super?
GALLAGHER: Well, we have our announced changes that we’ve got, we’ve still got to get them through the Senate on high-balance super accounts, so that work continues.
STEFANOVIC: Okay, just finally, Virgin Australia have decided that it’s okay to put dogs on planes. Does that mean some politicians… can take their dogs on planes? Or those in the dog house, vis a vis, e.g., Barnaby, can go back on a plane?
GALLAGHER: Ouch, that’s… It’s too early, Karl.
STEFANOVIC: [LAUGHTER]
GALLAGHER: Look, I’m a mad dog lover, so I’m very supportive of dogs on planes.
STEFANOVIC: Do you take your poo bag?
O’KEEFE: Mate, I don’t want to…
GALLAGHER: Well, you’d have to be in charge of the animal at all times, I’m sure. But I can tell you my nervous Pip, my nervous kelpie, I don’t think she’d be a fan of flying at all…
STEFANOVIC: No, well look, and as we all know, some poo bags are bigger than others.
O’KEEFE: [LAUGHTER]
GALLAGHER: It’s way too early to hang out with you guys.
O’KEEFE: The Great Dane on the Jetstar flight to Bali…
STEFANOVIC: I’ve got my Alsatian German Shepherd; I won’t be taking him anywhere. Thanks guys, have a great day, appreciate it.
GALLAGHER: Thank you.