E&OE….
Topics: Prime Minister Turnbull, water reform, Environment portfolio
JON FAINE:
Greg Hunt, good morning to you.
GREG HUNT:
And good morning Jon.
JON FAINE:
Have you spoken to Tony Abbott since he was deposed?
GREG HUNT:
Ah yes – no I had a long talk with him on Monday night. It was a very hard time for him and his staff. The thing about him which is very interesting is he is of course immensely decent.
And in the same way that Bill Hayden allowed Bob Hawke clear air and to be a successful Prime Minister in his early years, and in the same way that Alexander Downer allowed John Howard clear air and supported him through four very successful terms, Tony Abbott is also going to allow Malcolm Turnbull a clear run.
And I think that what we’ll see is an end to the revolving door of the last five years and we will have a long, long period of stability. And that’s in large measure due to the abilities of Malcolm Turnbull on the one hand and the utter decency…
JON FAINE:
What’s a long period in Liberal politics these days? Are you talking weeks or months?
GREG HUNT:
…the utter decency of Tony Abbott. So our goal, and my belief is that – the Australian people willing – this is a very long-term, stable prime ministership and party position which has now been reached.
JON FAINE:
So many things to talk about. Let’s start with whether or not you agree with Tony Abbott’s public statements about the reasons for his tenure being brought to such an abrupt end.
GREG HUNT:
I respectfully am not going to try to parse the reasons for individuals or for others.
What has happened is that we now move to a position where there’s a very strong focus on compassion and opportunity and innovation – this notion of embracing and capturing the opportunities of the 21st century.
People have challenges, people are nervous about their jobs…
JON FAINE:
Yeah, sure but before we do that, we want to know…
GREG HUNT:
…and this is where we are, where we’re heading.
JON FAINE:
We want to know why you’ve cut down a Prime Minister in his first term who brought you into office against the Labor Party – a man described by everyone from John Howard down as a great Liberal hero and you’ve cut him down in the same way as the Labor Party cut down Kevin Rudd.
And you and your colleagues were absolutely relentless in criticising them for doing so. And we have to be absolutely equal opportunity mongrels in asking you why you’ve done the same to a man who was on a pedestal for Liberal Party politicians until 24 hours ago.
GREG HUNT:
I’ve always said that you were an equal opportunity agent provocateur. I wouldn’t have used the other term.
JON FAINE:
But the answer is?
GREG HUNT:
The answer is that a majority of people thought that we would have a significantly better connection with the electorate, the ability to present a modern face, and…
JON FAINE:
So, what was Tony Abbott doing wrong?
GREG HUNT:
…and that decision was made by the Party Room and…
JON FAINE:
What was Tony Abbott doing wrong?
GREG HUNT:
I am not looking to say a negative word about him – a man of immense decency who will give us the stability and platform to go forwards with Malcolm Turnbull who is now the Prime Minister, now the Leader of the Liberal Party…
JON FAINE:
I understand you want to reset…
GREG HUNT:
…and who’s somebody who is going to…
JON FAINE:
I understand you want to do that Greg Hunt, but…
GREG HUNT:
…work with the people on ideas of opportunity and innovation and how Australia is one of the great modern looking economies and societies of the world.
JON FAINE:
I’ll put to you a reason why you need to explain what went wrong with Tony Abbott.
When Julia Gillard deposed Kevin Rudd but never explained to the public why, the public never embraced her tenure even after she was re-elected – narrowly, but re-elected in her own right – because the narrative of what went wrong with Kevin Rudd had never been properly put.
If you don’t properly explain why you deposed Tony Abbott you will be dogged by the same doubts. You have to explain why you dumped him.
GREG HUNT:
Well with respect, I have just said that obviously a majority of parliamentary members sided with – and were of the view that we wanted to have a more forward looking approach in line with what the public was also saying there was a correlation…
JON FAINE:
Greg Hunt, with profound affection and respect…
GREG HUNT:
…correlation between the public and party.
JON FAINE:
…you have to put some flesh on the bones. You have to put some flesh on the bones.
You have to tell the story otherwise we don’t know why we’ve suddenly got someone we didn’t vote for and elect as the leader of the party that enjoys support of the majority of people on the floor of Parliament…
GREG HUNT:
And Jon Faine, my answer to you – which I am answering clearly and directly – is that there was a decision by the majority in the Party Room to embrace a focus on compassion and opportunity and innovation.
The story of an economy which can transition to give people security of jobs and opportunity for jobs – and so their lives are actually embracing and part of this modern world with all its challenges and all its sense of insecurity.
And so what Malcolm Turnbull will be able to do – and I believe this absolutely – is to give people a sense of confidence and opportunity.
And that is the story which the Australian people were seeking and that is the reality of governance and story which is now about to be provided. And at its core – at its core – that was the fundamental reason that a change was chosen.
JON FAINE:
Tony Abbott didn’t accept responsibility. He didn’t in any way say, well look, I’ve failed. He had no particular self awareness it seems and blamed a febrile media as much as anything for the self-inflicted wounds and own goals that characterised his tenure.
GREG HUNT:
I think that his final statement yesterday was one of immense decency and dignity. I don’t accept that characterisation of it and I think when somebody has lost the prime ministership – and done it in a way with decency, with a commitment to the future of the country – then we should acknowledge and respect that.
This a period where we have laid down a foundation of significant economic reform.
But people want to go forwards now with more optimism and more confidence, a sense of compassion and above all else a sense that under this new prime ministership, there can be increased opportunity – for job creation, for investment, for small business to operate with greater confidence.
When you bring those things together, we’ve got a platform which has been developed. We’ve turned around an economic nightmare under the previous Government.
And now we move to a period of deep confidence and opportunity and innovation and that’s – that is the fundamental story that is here now.
JON FAINE:
Have you spoken to Malcolm Turnbull about keeping your job?
GREG HUNT:
Look, I have had quite good conversations with Malcolm about a range of factors. So far I’ve got to say I’ve been delighted with what he has done. He is a very strong supporter of climate action.
JON FAINE:
Well, you’re hardly going to say anything else about the new boss who’s about to hand out the portfolios…
GREG HUNT:
He and I go back a long way. We go back a long, long way together and we’ve worked on issues in relation to renewable energy together – reforming the Renewable Energy Target – we worked very closely on that over the period of 2009.
We’ve always shared a belief in action on climate change, and now we have…
JON FAINE:
Do you get to keep your job?
GREG HUNT:
Look, my approach to this is always to be optimistic but never to be presumptive.
I am actually very, very comfortable with circumstances. Because what we see is that the fundamental policy has been embraced. It’s working. We’re reducing emissions.
We’re making real outcomes and everybody on our side is now completely supportive of it. So my point here is none of us are being presumptive about our positions at all. I do however feel very comfortable about my circumstances.
But at the end of the day it’s about what is going to deliver environmental outcomes for the country and what is going to deliver job opportunities and cost of living relief for Australians. That’s what it actually – what actually matters.
JON FAINE:
And we’ll get to the price paid by the Liberal Party to get the National Party on board with a new leader in a moment which is – details are starting to emerge.
But there’s also rumours now of a split – the religious right, in particular the hardcore, many of them Christian activists and the like who make up the Christian right of the Liberal party – forming a new party, splitting away from the Liberal Party. Any chance in your view of that?
GREG HUNT:
None.
JON FAINE:
Just speculation and chatter or wishful thinking by some of the commentariat?
GREG HUNT:
I just think it’s wrong. I do think it’s wrong. I am living with and part of the group of parliamentarians who form the Coalition, who form the Government.
And what actually happens after something like this is there is a period of catharsis – that people naturally come together.
And because of the grand historic analogies which I think are most accurate – of Hayden supporting Hawke, of Downer supporting Howard, of Abbott through his immense decency supporting Malcolm Turnbull – then I think we will see a deep, strong, prolonged period of stability in the Government.
I don’t think Australians want Bill Shorten as Prime Minister. I don’t think they want an economic vandal. I don’t think they want somebody who has the complete lack of economic credentials running the country.
I do think they look at Malcolm and see somebody who has an extraordinary history. His business success should be a matter of great pride and confidence – and somebody who is able to lift and to inspire and to make Australia a great destination for international investment.
JON FAINE:
Okay we will see what happens with the ministerial shuffle.
The Nationals are meeting with Malcolm Turnbull as we speak and the new Coalition agreement – no consultation – being described in some quarters as the first of Malcolm Turnbull’s captain pick.
No discussion even with key ministers such as yourself over giving away water policy as part of the deal. How do you feel about that?
GREG HUNT:
Well with respect I can categorically say that you are incorrect. Malcolm and I talked about this at length yesterday.
Prior to the election, Water was part of Barnaby Joyce’s portfolio. It was then included in mine. I actually didn’t seek it, it was included in mine. I was asked to make a series of reforms.
There were three major reforms that we made. We brought the Basin Plan into being – got the agreement with the States. We completed the National Water Commission reforms. We completed the infrastructure rollout where it got to the point of $2.5 million a day.
Those three things were done and then – on Monday morning by serendipity – we got through the Senate a fourth major reform, which was reforms to the Water Act to put in place security for rural and agricultural communities, whilst achieving the return to the river of 2750 gigalitres.
That’s an enormous, huge flow for the river. That was all completed Monday morning. My job was done.
Now, we move to implementation. The reform is done and so Malcolm and I actually spoke at length and he sought my counsel as to whether I was comfortable.
And I said, look frankly, I was asked to do the reforms, the reforms were done at 11am yesterday morning. That was what I said on Tuesday about the Monday reforms. So I am perfectly happy.
Barnaby had this portfolio and did it damn well up until the election. The reforms have been achieved, the job has been done.
And I am not just happy but I’m delighted to see it in the hands of somebody who knows and lives agriculture – who breathes the concerns of rural communities and is able to work with them on implementing the infrastructure reforms which are seeing us re-plumbing rural Australia.
The greatest period of water reform in Australian history has just been completed on Monday morning.
JON FAINE:
Thank you indeed for your answers to all of my impertinent questions this morning and good luck with whatever happens in the shuffle and I hope we get to speak again whichever job it is that you’re given.
(ENDS)