KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Let's bring in the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Are you encouraged watching the developments in New York there on the Let Them Be Kids campaign and the government's legislation on social media? It looks like it's getting some traction there.
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: It is encouraging, Kieran, and I think most Australians will watch that and be both proud of what we've done here in Australia, but also say that this is what the United Nations General Assembly should be about: nations taking good, positive ideas, sharing them with the world, and giving hope. And that is what we really seek to do with having not just the Prime Minister, but Minister Anika Wells there, sharing Australia's experience of putting together these world-leading laws, which will do something that, from its founding days, the United Nations has been there to do — which is to protect children, to protect them and their rights, and to make sure they have a fulfilling childhood. And that is why we are doing these world-leading social media reforms, and it's very encouraging to see the European Commission President, amongst others, saying that this is being received warmly by the global community.
GILBERT: The technology won't work, or whatever else. But speaking as a parent of some young kids, and I know you would speak to parents day in, day out, with a similar view that the general view among those that I speak to is just throw everything at it. And if it ends up a situation like with young kids and, you know, maybe using alcohol before they should, or cigarettes when they shouldn't, that's always — there's always going to be someone who gets around the rules, but at least set the social parameters for this.
GORMAN: I think I don't want to live in a world, or in a country, where we don't try and do difficult things. That is what legislators are there to do: to look at the difficult problems and come up with the best solution that will protect as many people as we possibly can. And I know that parents want to see these laws to back them in and their parenting decisions. But one of the things that constantly surprises me is I did a Youth Forum last week with my Senator colleague Dorinda Cox, and we had a range of young people who were there, who were also saying that they want to see these laws — not because they necessarily like them for themselves, but because they see their younger siblings, and they see the harm that it does when they might have a 14-year-old being bullied on social media, and their older siblings feel helpless. So let's give them some help, and that will come in here in Australia on the 10th of December.
GILBERT: Absolutely, and I think having the bipartisan support is a good thing with the Coalition on board with it as well. Now, the speech by the Prime Minister, no surprises in there. No surprise really from what Donald Trump said; he's been consistent on his view when it comes to issues like recognition of Palestine or on climate change, which he calls a 'con-job'. With those differences, how does the Prime Minister navigate? They're not small issues, he's going to have to navigate on a few different fronts as he tries to keep the alliance on a firm foundation and keep that meeting scheduled for October 20 at the White House.
GORMAN: Of course, as you say, many of the positions that the United States Government have put are not new positions. They have put them to the United Nations, as you'd expect them to do, and as I respect them in doing so. What we do — and we come to some of these questions — whether they be global policy questions or local policy questions, we look at what is the Australian national interest? That is what we've done when it comes to things like action on climate change. We've done that because we recognise the huge opportunities for Australia and for jobs for Australians. And so that is a pretty obvious driving factor for us in making our decisions. Then when it comes to how we engage with some of our oldest friends like the United States, we recognise there are huge areas of mutual benefit and mutual cooperation. There is the work that's been done for a period of time around recognising the two-way capital flows in terms of Australian investment, including superannuation into the United States, just as we benefit from United States investment here in Australia, including here in WA, where you've got US companies doing fantastic work when it comes to our mining industry. And then, of course, there are big projects about our shared security interests, such as the AUKUS arrangement.
GILBERT: So you think that there's enough positive in the relationship to navigate the stumbling blocks, so to speak?
GORMAN: Of course, there are huge positives in the relationship, huge positives in our people-to-people links, huge positives in terms of what we can achieve together when it comes to the great products that Australia sells to the United States and indeed, the great products that the United States sells here in Australia. So there are huge benefits there. We recognise that, of course, every nation will think locally about their national interests, and then bring that to the table. Then you have an engagement — a two-way engagement — and we saw some of that happening about a day or so ago when the Prime Minister and President Trump had a reception that President Trump was hosting and invited Prime Minister Albanese to.
GILBERT: Was there a sense of relief in the government that finally, that meeting has been locked in and there was a handshake, even just to tick that box?
GORMAN: It comes as part of a large amount of ongoing engagement. Our relationship with the United States, and our engagement with the United States has been something that has been there for decades and decades and decades. And to have Prime Minister Albanese have four phone calls with President Trump, to meet up for a function in New York, and to have a more formal working meeting in October — that is all pretty normal. It is what we expected and I think it is what the United States expected. We have got ongoing engagement between our diplomats, and indeed, obviously, we've had other senior ministers — including the Foreign Minister, who was at the inauguration of President Trump — and senior meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and also the Defence Minister on his visits to the United States.
GILBERT: Just, let's turn our attention back home, if we can. I've got to ask you a few issues locally, the Treasurer launching that review of tax, including the distribution of GST — the carve-up, as it's called — can you guarantee WA, your home state, that there won't be any reduction in their rights under that current situation?
GORMAN: Of course, I can. Kieran, the WA GST deal is rock solid. I've said that. The Prime Minister has said that. That has been our policy position for the entire time we have been in government. Indeed, I think it's worth reminding your viewers — and indeed, particularly your Western Australian viewers — the reason this review is happening is not because of a decision of the Albanese Government. It is because of a decision that was made by the Morrison Government back in 2018 and agreed to with the Western Australian Labor Government. Part of the arrangements to make sure everyone is on a fair share.—
GILBERT: Why have a review?
GORMAN: — Things get reviewed often, and we've seen recently in the Economic Reform Roundtable that was hosted that the Productivity Commission can give a view to government, but it doesn't set government policy. The government — the Australian Government, led by Anthony Albanese — sets government policy. And I think it's also worth reminding when it comes to the GST arrangement we have right now, that for every billion dollars of GST that Western Australia contributes to the pool, $250 million of that is distributed to other states and territories. I think that is pretty fair that WA chips in a bit. We are a wealthy state. We have the benefit of a great economy, not just in resources, but in agriculture, in technology, and in education as well. We have got a great economy here in the West. I want to keep it strong and make sure that we chip in our bit to the rest of the country. That is what this arrangement allows for. And it also means that WA gets a fair share to fund the health services, education services and social services that my community relies upon.
GILBERT: Your fellow West Australian, Andrew Hastie, has been causing a bit of a stir with a post on social media, but it's one that will resonate with a lot of Australians worried about net overseas migration, particularly when people are struggling — younger ones — to get into the housing market. Is this a political risk for the government?
GORMAN: Andrew Hastie has been in Parliament since 2015. I wish he had cared more about housing for Australians when he was in government from 2015 to 2022. Sadly, we know the story of how many social and affordable homes were built during that time — it was less than 400 by the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Governments. They have a shocking record when it comes to housing affordability. I don't remember Andrew Hastie ever talking about housing affordability when he was in government. Maybe he is a late convert to the fact that people deserve the right to have a secure roof over their heads, but he hasn't really got any policy solutions on the housing front. I think what this is really about is his leadership aspirations. That is what's driving his social media activity at the moment, it is a pitch directly for the heart of the Liberal rank-and-file branch members, saying 'go and knock on the door of your local MP and tell them that I should be leader'. Now, it is a pretty interesting thing that we are at the moment. I don't know about how much longer it can run —
GILBERT: Yeah, okay, well, sorry I'm gonna interrupt here, so it's an unlikely throw saying Patrick Gorman to Snoop Dogg, but there you go. Snoop Dogg ahead of the AFL Grand Final.
SNOOP DOGG, AMERICAN RAPPER AND SINGER: — understanding what they told me I was taught. I just didn't just do what I was taught by two of the greats. They gave me some tutelage on how and what to kick and where to aim, and you know the whole form thing, so that way I could look right in case you know I took a picture.