REUBEN SPARGO, HOST: I want to start on the economy. What's your attitude towards any revenue raised through different tax policies in the upcoming budget? Is it to get the budget back in a good state, or is it to return that money to taxpayers somehow?
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Reuben, it is a long weekend here in Western Australia, and I am always happy to talk about tax policy and making sure we have got a strong, productive economy that works for Australians. When it comes to the decisions we make in every budget, we are committed to budget repair.
If you look at the figures that Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and the team have been able to achieve, we have had some $174 billion of Liberal debt paid down and pushed away thanks to our decisions. We have made tough decisions in our budgets, and we make no apologies for that.
When it comes to the objectives of tax reform, obviously, we have been having a big conversation, which the Treasurer hosted in the Cabinet Room last year about productivity. Productivity is always going to be a focus for us. We do want to make sure that people see reward for their effort.
Again, public holidays here in Western Australia over the next few days, I want to make sure that those people who are working hard, getting their penalty rates, that they get to keep as much of that as possible. So, of course, we have got our tax cuts coming in in the middle of this year. Again, helping working Australians earn a bit more and keep more of what they earn.
We will keep looking at things we can do to make sure that we support Australians, and that is our approach. But there are always difficult decisions that governments have to make. I think your viewers know better than anyone, there are no easy decisions when it comes to making sure that we have a fair tax system for everyone.
SPARGO: After the election, a big 'hoo-ha' was made of productivity. Yet it seems as though no major announcements have been made from that roundtable which was held soon after the election, are they on their way?
GORMAN: Firstly, I think you can look at one really big, major announcement that was coming out of that, which was our commitments around housing to make it easier to get houses built by deferring some of the requirements when it came to changes to the Construction Code. So that has made a difference, and that has been welcomed. But we were always really clear with the Australian people that when it came to the discussions that we had with senior business leaders, senior community leaders and public servants and former public servants, getting everyone's views in the room, we were always clear that that would feed into our budget in May, and that is what is happening.
SPARGO: Women and children with links to ISIS are in the headlines currently. I want to play you this from the Shadow Home Affairs Minister a little earlier:
JONNO DUNIAM, SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS [CLIP]: Well, it's been nearly a month since Australia knew that there were a cohort of so-called 'ISIS brides' making their way back to Australia, and we've all seen the footage of them piling into vans to head to the airport to come back here only to be turned around. We are very concerned, as an opposition, and like many Australians, that these people will be coming back to Australia. But the big concern is, what has the government done to prevent this? What security checks have been put in place, what measures have been put in place to protect Australians? [END CLIP]
SPARGO: Patrick Gorman, what has the government done to prevent this cohort from returning to Australia?
GORMAN: Of course, they are receiving no assistance from us, and I think that has been very clear for a long period of time. When it comes to the other work we have done, of course, we work with our security agencies to make sure we have got the latest advice. And they are monitoring this situation in Syria very closely, because our priority is keeping Australians safe, making sure that we act to protect Australia's national security.
This cohort have made terrible decisions. This cohort have gone to Syria in support of an abhorrent cause. They have gone to Syria to support ISIS. There is no compassion for these individuals from myself. It is very clear that that has been the position of the Australian Government.
When it comes to what we have just seen from the Liberal Party spokesperson, I would note that it was not that long ago that himself and Angus Taylor and others were out there saying that they had a legislation proposal, that they had a fix. I have not seen that legislation. I do not think they have released it.
Again, we are seeing a lot of noise from Angus Taylor and the team, but Angus Taylor and his team and his shadow ministers know that when you are dealing with keeping Australians safe, you listen to your national security agencies, and sometimes, the less you say, the better.
SPARGO: And Patrick Gorman, closer to home, the Australian Federal Police say they have charged someone for the first time with preparing for a terrorist act in WA - why is this occurring now?
GORMAN: Look, the revelations that we heard yesterday are absolutely shocking, and particularly for Muslim Australians, would be very concerning that they were the target of these terrorist preparations that are alleged to have occurred.
But equally, some of the allegations are relating to threats to the WA Police Headquarters, threats to the WA Parliament, and so what we have seen is this really shocking online radicalisation, disgusting white supremacist ideology that could have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people. I am really grateful for the work that WA Police, the Australian Federal Police, and ASIO have done.