Sen Susan McDonald (2) – Federal issues

0:00Welcome back to Rural Queens Land today or with Ben Doberman, Senator Susan McDonnell joining us this morning. Oh, Ben, I'm deeply concerned because I don't know how some of these businesses will survive and they're important businesses that they can be running. They do. I just don't understand why the consultation process is always a drama and there's always a sense to be issues but what I don't get is that they could have well and truly discussed this, looked at it and really made a decision that was beneficial to everybody. But the regional Queens Land legacy with the Labor government is nothing that they want to know about. So we've seen this from the environmental laws, we've seen it from the migration, we've seen it from the way that they do health. Oh, disaster recovery, Ben. disaster recovery is another one. They're pulled that right. Right, spending. Nothing they do is in any way linked to trying and I mean, is trying to make our regions

1:06better. That's the problem that I have. That's exactly right. That is exactly right. But we saw this with them overturning the cap on veterans allied health payments yesterday. So I think this is, and I guess we've seen it before in previous Labor government. They put something out. They see if they can get away with it. And if there's a real outcry and so it has been with the cap on veterans payments, then they overturn it. They say, oh, we got that wrong. Sorry about that. And people forget, people forget and they continue bumbling and stumbling along, are destroying the country. But that was a great win. I'm very proud of the work that Michael McCall-Mac and Philip Thompson and others in our team went in and talked to Australians, let them know what was going on. The veterans community got together and stood as one. And so this is outrageous. We've just had a Royal Commission in the veteran suicide.

2:08We know that veterans are, you know, the people who put on a uniform and go away to represent our country, whether it be peacekeeping or in war, the very least we can do, given that they put on a uniform to go away to protect us, is look after them when they come home. And to cap medical services, particularly for mental health and for recovery from injuries sustained while they're in service, seems to be, me to be the bare minimum. Maybe 25,000 people were affected. Why would they overturn this cap on the health veterans' health? What is that about? I think they've realised that they've got it so very wrong and Australians across the country are furious and saying, this is not right. This is not the fair Australia. We have a contract with veterans. You go and do the hard, tough jobs.

3:09You put your life on the line. You leave your families. You go away to protect and defend Australia. And in return, when you come home, we will look after you. We will look after you. That is supposed to be the contract that we have. And Labour tore that up, stomped all over it and said, no, people can do their service. So when they come home, they can think or sweep. That is absolutely not on. And Australians spoke to that with one voice. And so for me, I'm so proud that we were able to clearly met Australians, know what was happening. They were able to respond with messages to the Prime Minister and others. But this government is just making the wrong decision. Time after time, things that make it harder for us to grow food, harder for us to mine and for taxes to be paid for the benefit of all Australia, harder for us to do every

4:15single, the harder for us to have a beer now because they're taking people out of regional pubs and clubs and hotels. This is government that is so focused. Well, I don't know what they're focused on. But they're certainly unionising. They're now saying that every contract that government let has to have a union involvement in it, union decision making, union wager. I mean, this is why productivity is on its knee. We've increased the wages for juniors. We've made it harder for businesses to employ people. As I walked around the bulls-town yesterday, the single message I got was, it is just getting too hard to employ people to run a business and to do the things that we're not doing. So, you know, but then I've just, I don't want to hold you up all morning, but one final thing is yesterday, I was, or this week I was able to get up in the productivity inquiry,

5:15agreement that we would hear from farmers and grazeers across Australia about the red tape for them to go through audits and accreditation for them to grow food and fibre. Some of them are completing eight and nine pieces of accreditation, everything from anti-slavery and workplace health and safety through to five or six different accreditations, audits and fees in order to send their produce off. I mean, that's crazy. Instead of having farmers out in the paddock and growing food, we have them setting at a desk, filling in forms, filling in off in the same form that was slightly different information. It's keeping them out of their businesses, not growing food and what's it say to the young people? The young people look at their parents, look at the business model and saying, I think there's an easier way for us to be involved in our future. And it's not sitting at a desk, seeking a farmer, but not really.

6:18So, anyone very pleased, you'll be hearing more about this about how people can get in touch, send examples. They have to have some hearings and hopefully some good recommendations about how we simplify this whole process so that farmers can farm and the agents and wholesalers can take care of distributing the food without it taking farmers out of the field. Senator, you're pretty realist. Paul, Iain Hanson's apology this week. Was it needed? Oh, I think it was. I mean, regardless of the grubby tactics from Labor, if we don't have some standards about how we talk about other people's families and veterans and other things, well, we're all the poorer for it. So, I'm pleased she has apologized. I think that's now drawing Lauren on it under it and move on. Is there a threat? And I know you're very pragmatic around it. But can I just say, is there in any way a worry from your party Labor and everything that

7:24the focus is on playing the man and not the ball? And there's just going to be in the lead up to next year's election, just everything gets too personal. Like people are attacking. Why not attack? If people don't believe one nation's the right way forward, attack their policies. I mean, why play the individual? It just seems like everybody's looking for something that an individual does and all three sides and they're all getting attacked just attack the policy. Well, Ben, I'll let other people reflect on that. But you can't come after somebody's mother or call somebody. Now, she's in the wrong. Absolutely in the wrong. She's in the wrong. Like, that's what I'm saying. Like, everybody's to blame here. Like, is it getting down that road? Yes, that would be it. So, we should not be doing that. That is not the Australian that we are. We are, I think we're dead of that. I think Labor is giving us just where you started.

8:24They're telling us over and over again the party they are now. It's not a party for Australia. It's certainly not a party for working people. It's not a party for small businesses or farmers or truck drivers. It's not a party for fishermen. It's not a party for drought and flood effect communities and remote parts of Australia. So, they keep telling us who they are. We just need to listen carefully what they're doing and vote accordingly. And I hope that the election is about making a clear decision about who is in the better interests of this country. That's what I'm working on. That's what everybody I know in the coalition is working on. And certainly our small but mighty big rate of national party members. We are very focused on what are the practical policies that means Australia is better off after the next election and not worse off. Well said. Thank you for being with us this morning. We're going to take a break and appreciate it.

9:25Senator Susan McDonald, as usual, great chat and we really appreciate your time this morning on Rural Queensland today. Hey, thanks Ben and I think your prediction has come true that dolphins are doing well. Yes. And very sad that the cowboys have not had a better season. But you know, there's always next year then. There certainly is. All right, well we appreciate you. Thanks for being with us. We're going to take a break and come back this year's Rural Queensland today.