RAF EPSTEIN, HOST: We're joined now by the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Good morning.
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Raf, and good morning to your listeners, whether they be monarchists, republicans or people who are just passionate about the constitution of Australia.
EPSTEIN: There's a lot of them, people just passionate about constitutional law. Let's start at the beginning. Why was the PM so quick to jump on board the line of succession, when it's still only an idea?
GORMAN: As we know this discussion has already started in the United Kingdom, and the experience Australia had the last time we had to change the line of succession here in Australia, it took a number of years. We started the process at CHOGM, which was held in my electorate of Perth, back in 2011. It didn't conclude until 2015. It took four years. We have to express our view as one of the Commonwealth realms, but these things take a period of time. And obviously, given the incredibly grave allegations that Australia takes very seriously, this was an appropriate step to take.
EPSTEIN: So that took four years just to allow women into the line of succession. I didn't realise it took that long.
GORMAN: What has to happen is that every state has to also agree, because they are also of course part of - and with our states existing before we federated, we have quite a complicated process to go through here in Australia.
EPSTEIN: I want to know what you make as the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister of texts like this, because a lot of people don't believe that Anthony Albanese is really serious about a republic. If I can just read Brendan's text 'interesting Trump is being mentioned this morning because Anthony Albanese is what Trump would call a rhino, a Republican In Name Only.' There's a lot of people don't think the PM is interested in the fight. Are they right?
GORMAN: I think if people go and look at the Prime Minister's history the last time Australia had a referendum, they would say that his view is very clear and firm. But I think also people understand that when you've got limited bandwidth in government, focus on the things that you have promised at elections. We were really clear with the Australian people that a referendum was not on our agenda. We were also really clear about our commitment to make sure we delivered on the things that we did take the election. Our tax cuts, our commitments to continue invest in childcare, our commitments around Medicare, they're the things that I think Australians - and ultimately these are big conversations about democracy. In a democracy, people will expect the elected governments do the things that they went to an election promising.
EPSTEIN: If I can just fire another text at you before I get onto the fast rail and other matters. Someone else texted this 'the PM is very strong and rapid on virtue signalling. Wish he'd be as strong and rapid on stuff that matters.’ What would you say to that texter?
GORMAN: I would say, if you look at how our Government responds when we've had awful tragedies, as we did at the end of last year, I think you see a strong response. If you look at how this Government responds when we've had economic shocks and we've had to go and advocate strongly for Australia's interest, you see this Government responds very firm and fast in Australia's national interest. And also on this matter, this is a serious matter. Who is the Head of State of Australia is fundamental to who we are. The more that you look into Australia's constitution and our history, the more you will realise how important this matter is. And so it is appropriate that Australia be clear and firm as a sovereign nation where we can put our view very clearly. We have put that view. And I think most Australians recognise that when it comes to the line of succession, this is a very appropriate step to take.
EPSTEIN: Patrick Gorman is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. It's about 13 minutes after nine on 774. Patrick Gorman, I think the Government's announced something like $240 million just to plan some fast rail on the east coast of Australia. So that's a serious amount of money. $240 million to plan. Is it ever going to happen?
GORMAN: I really think it will. The business case details that have been released today show that it will really transform Australia. And while we've got to go through each step carefully, when you're building massive infrastructure like this - and Australia's never built a High Speed Rail project like this before - we have to go through every single step. But the vision is big, and the transformation for Australia will be even bigger. I believe it will happen -
EPSTEIN: Can I interrupt you on the bigger? Does that mean it's going to come to Melbourne?
GORMAN: The work that the High Speed Rail Authority have done is looking at a broader high speed rail network. Obviously, you have to start somewhere, and it makes pretty good sense to start with that ability to get people between Sydney and Newcastle within an hour. And I think once we see the transformation - and this project will take many years to go through all of the stages. I was excited to hear that possibly it could be shovel-ready for the first part of the project within two years. But it will take some time, and we've got to be realistic about that. But often big nation building projects do take time, and we see the benefits over and over, decade on decade. Snowy Hydro is another very good example of that. It wasn't built overnight, but it transformed the country.
EPSTEIN: But if it's many years away, doesn't that mean no fast rail to Victoria for decades?
GORMAN: Well I'm the Member for Perth, so I'm a realist, Raf. It's probably not going to get to my side of the country in my lifetime, but I think -
EPSTEIN: Do you really think it'll be built at all?
GORMAN: Yes.
EPSTEIN: Why are you so confident?
GORMAN: We've seen the growing Australian population, the need for people to be able to work and live in different modes to the way our cities were built more than a century ago. High Speed Rail has been a success in many other parts of the world. We've got some very high traffic corridors in Australia. You talk about the Sydney-Melbourne high traffic corridor, one of the busiest air routes in the world. I think we've got a lot of detailed work - some of this planning work began more than a decade ago. But it does make sense that Australia, being both a big country, but with very dense populations in - particularly that Sydney-Newcastle corridor - and then obviously lots of transit between, as you say, Sydney and Melbourne. There's an opportunity here, and I think for Australia, this is also an opportunity for us to think big. To think about something that will maybe not benefit myself, or you in your working lifetime, but benefits the nation.
EPSTEIN: It's extraordinary, $240 million for planning, but we'll see where it goes. Just before I let you go, Patrick Gorman, the Trump family and a Gold Coast developer say there will be a Trump Tower and hotel on the Gold Coast. So let's give them the benefit of the doubt for the question, if there was a Trump Tower and hotel on the Gold Coast, would you go and visit?
GORMAN: Raf I'll be honest, I have visited a Trump Hotel in the United States. So based on my previous actions, I probably would be curious to go and have a look.
EPSTEIN: Was it any good?
GORMAN: Look, I've had cheaper beers in my life, if I'm honest. But look, I think of this, I do welcome the investment. I mean, significant hotel investment is really important for our tourism economy. It's incredibly important for the construction jobs that come with it. And again, we're talking about big projects, as we just were with high speed rail. It's always good to have big projects that are funded by the private sector.
EPSTEIN: Thanks for your time this morning.
GORMAN: Thanks Raf.
EPSTEIN: Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, ALP Member for the seat of Perth as well. There's never going to be fast rail to Perth. Never? I suppose never is a big word, isn't it? It'll go to Newcastle first before it goes to Melbourne.