KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: The Assistant Minister to the PM, Patrick Gorman, is with me live in the studio. Angus Taylor says it's a wake-up call for the government that a surplus should be delivered now as a message that the government gets it when it comes to spending restraint. What's your reaction to that?
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think, firstly for Angus Taylor, who sat around the cabinet table when they promised a surplus that they never delivered, I'm not going to take economic advice from someone like that who made such outrageous claims when they were in government and we see more outrageous claims today. What we know with this interest rate rise is that it is tough news for many households across Australia. But those interest rate rises that started when Scott Morrison was Prime Minister have shaped the two budgets that Labor has been in charge of. Shaped our budget in October last year where we implemented plans for cheaper medicines, plans for cheaper childcare, and it's shaping the budget that we're putting together now because we knew that interest rates were already putting pressure on Australian families. That's why you've already seen some announcements around more action to make medicines cheaper through two month dispensing. You've seen action around making sure that we invest in the things that we know Australians want in terms of jobs and skills. And you'll see more in seven sleeps' time about what we can do. The Reserve Bank is independent, we respect that independence. But what we can do in this budget is support Australian families.
GILBERT: Yeah, to support Australian families, but without adding to that inflationary issue. That's a reality, isn't it, that the government's got to be aware of as much as everyone would want people on JobSeeker and Single Parent Payments and all of those less well-off to have some more support, all of those dollars will be spent and therefore, to some extent, add to inflation.
GORMAN: And you talk about the dollars already spent. I mean, the starting line for this budget is a trillion dollars of Liberal National Party debt. So, we start with a range of restraints that I wish we didn't have, but that's the reality of what we inherited from the former government. Now, when it comes to what we have to do, we have to look at what responsible cost of living relief can we provide, but that also has an economic dividend because if we're just doing things that only add to inflation, then we're not actually helping anyone.
GILBERT: Do you hear from your constituents in Perth in your seat about the pain they're feeling right now from these rate hikes?
GORMAN: Look, we know that people feel a range of different economic pressures, whether it be from interest rate increases, whether it be from the rental market, whether it be from challenges of wanting to get a little bit more of a pay rise. There's a range of things that put pressure on family budgets depending on your individual circumstances. I hear that from my constituents and what I say to them is we are doing what a responsible government can do. That's things like taking action on childcare, making major investments in other important areas of the social safety net, like Medicare and aged care. So, we're doing what is possible. And there's legislation in front of the Parliament now that we know will make a difference over time. I look at the Housing Australia Future Fund. I mean, that's something that Angus Taylor, the Greens political party, they could all get behind. We know that would help put more social housing into the mix again, taking pressure off the private rental market. But for a range of politically driven reasons, not for policy or economic reasons, they've chosen to oppose that.
GILBERT: Tobacco excise increased, raising more than $3 billion over three years. Unfortunately, a lot of people less well off are addicted to tobacco, so it's another hit to a lot of smokers out there.
GORMAN: I'd encourage anyone who is a tobacco user that would like to no longer be addicted to tobacco to talk to their GP. We know there's a range of supports out there for people who would like to no longer be a smoker, for not just the financial costs that you outlined, but also for the health benefits that come from no longer being addicted to nicotine. So, we provide funding for support for those measures as well. We've also made sure that we're not helping the tobacco industry through some sort of a back door, creating the next generation of nicotine addicts through the use of vapes, ending those things like these candy flavoured vapes, one-use vapes that have huge environmental impacts. So, we're doing again what a responsible government should do, which is providing the support for people who would like to no longer be using tobacco for those range of health reasons, making sure that we don't have the next generation lured into the tricks of the tobacco industry and running a responsible budget which includes taxing those things which do provide government revenue for the goods and services which we all rely upon from government.
GILBERT: The Coronation is this week. If we turn our attention away from Canberra to London, what are the implications for Australia out of the Coronation of the King? We know the Prime Minister is going there, all the governors, Governor-General. Why? Obviously, it's our head of state. But what are the real-world implications for our nation out of that?
GORMAN: Well, it changes everything, and it changes nothing. We're going to see, for the first time in my lifetime, in your lifetime, unless you're just incredibly well-kept and you're over 70 years old, it is going to be an opportunity to see the first live streamed, indeed, here on Sky News, crowning of a monarch. This is our head of state. The highest authority in Australia's constitution is the King. The King is part of the Parliament. The Parliament consists of the King, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Now, there's a range of things that I think people will learn about Australia in terms of our constitutional arrangements with this Coronation, but it's also important because it speaks to some of our deep historical ties to the United Kingdom. I'm also conscious that it will be a difficult time for many who will be reminded of some of the terrible impacts that have happened, particularly to First Nations people as a result of colonisation.
GILBERT: Do you believe that this is a moment where republicans will seek to try and generate a bit of momentum towards their own cause? We know that Queen Elizabeth was an incredibly popular monarch for such a long time, but now King Charles III, not so much. Is this going to be seen as a window of opportunity for republicans?
GORMAN: I think those who advance the republican cause will always find opportunities to highlight their views about what should change in our Constitution. What I think, whether you be a republican or a monarchist or indifferent, is that what we'll see this Saturday is a reminder of what our constitutional arrangements currently are, whatever you think they should be in the future. I myself am a republican, but I think it's important that people take this opportunity to be educated on what our constitutional arrangements are. And in terms of the individual, King Charles III, I'd just say never have we had a monarch who knows Australia better than King Charles III. He studied at Geelong Grammar's Timbertop. He's been here on 16 visits. The stories that I've heard from people across the country doing radio interviews and other things, he even caught a Spanish mackerel in Cannes on a sneaky getaway fishing trip. I mean, some of those things are long-standing bonds between the now King and Australia. So, I think people can reflect on those, regardless of what your views are on the future of the monarchy.
GILBERT: Indeed, reflect on it and engage with it. I guess some of your colleagues asking if they'll pledge allegiance to the King and be watching Saturday night. What's your read on it? I know you're a republican, but will you be interested to watch?
GORMAN: I'll be watching. I think this is fascinating. This is one of the biggest events of 2023. It does have implications for the Parliament we have today in 2023. It does have implications for us. It is a significant moment. Obviously, you see that in the senior representation that's there from the Prime Minister, the Governor-General, Sam Kerr, is our national flag bearer. Nick Cave, on behalf of the musicians of Australia. We will be well represented. I will tune in. And in terms of the question about pledging allegiance, I mean, anyone who serves as a Member of Parliament in this building has already done that.
GILBERT: Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, thanks so much.