E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
2CC CANBERRA BREAKFAST
TUESDAY, 6 April 2021

Subjects: COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule; Labor Conference; vehicle technology; independent candidates; and Senator Jim Molan.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Our regular Tuesday panel this morning. Joining us is the Liberal member for Hume and Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor. Angus, good morning.

ANGUS TAYLOR MP, LIBERAL MEMBER FOR HUME: Good morning, Stephen, good to be with you.

CENATIEMPO: And representing the Labor Party, the member for Bean, David Smith. G'day, Dave.

DAVID SMITH MP, LABOR MEMBER FOR BEAN: Morning, Stephen.

CENATIEMPO: Angus, the vaccine rollout continues. Now, I think has been pretty rich of the work experience kid, I'm sorry, I mean, the deputy premier of Queensland, to suggest that attacks on the Queensland government have been a distraction to draw attention away from the things going on in Parliament House. But I think you've got to take some fair criticism for the way this vaccine rollout's been handled.

TAYLOR: Well, I go to the facts. We're up to just about a million vaccines that have been now administered across Australia. Our latest advice is that everyone will have had the jab by the end of October 2021. We know from rollouts in other countries once you get to the first stage and through those early stages of getting everything in place, then it accelerates dramatically. And I actually think our biggest challenge will be making sure those who are hesitant about the vaccine, who have some kind of concern about the vaccine, get it if we're going to get to herd immunity and that is extremely important. That will be the biggest issue, I think, in the coming months, making sure everyone's comfortable to take this vaccine. We need people to take it. It is safe. This is hugely important. We've also got to remember Australia is in a very good position. We're getting over half a million new cases around the world each day. We're getting virtually none here in Australia. So we are in a good position. We're in a position to get this right. But we do need to make sure that people are prepared to get in and have that vaccine. It's all important.

CENATIEMPO: Dave, I think Angus raises an interesting point there about some of the misinformation and the like that's being spread around there. How do we combat that? Because there are lunatics out there still suggesting that these vaccines are dangerous.

SMITH: Stephen, I think that all governments at all levels are doing what they can to ensure that there's the right information that's out there. Obviously, there are some very limited cases where there might be an adverse reaction, but it's really important to keep that in context, to realise that it's at such a low level and in most cases, we're talking about situations where when people are getting their vaccination, they remain with health professionals for a period of time so that you're able to actually walk through those particular issues. It's one of the challenges that we have, though, I guess with fake news. It's one of the challenges we have if we actually undermine the good sources of news and information that are out there.

CENATIEMPO: Dave, I'll stay with you for a moment. You recently held your national conference online, which by all accounts, was a great success and perhaps a precursor of things to come and a lot of good announcements to come out of that, too. And almost got the feeling that Anthony Albanese had woken up to himself with his talk about manufacturing. But there's still a lot of pandering to the Greens with electric vehicles and battery storage and all this pie in the sky stuff.

SMITH: Stephen, as you know, my background is in science and engineering and look, my view is we've got to embrace the future in terms of how we deal with what's going to happen with the transition to electric cars, and at some point hydrogen vehicles, across the economy and the actual positions that were unrolled by Albanese were quite sensible, but they were quite modest. But they're going to be sensible ways of ensuring that there's stronger uptake of moderate cost EVs right across Australia. We're not doing anything that's particularly different from other major Western economies. Effectively we're catching up with where most of the rest of the world is on EV support. 

CENATIEMPO: Angus, this falls into your portfolio area and whether we like it or not, the world motor vehicle industry is moving towards electric cars. Surely, it's time we got rid of this luxury car tax, given that we don't have a local manufacturing industry to protect anymore?

TAYLOR: Well, let's be clear here about what's going on and what Anthony Albanese said. He wants to use the taxes of hardworking Australians to help overseas car companies sell more cars to people who can already afford to buy them. That's what he's doing now. He himself has said subsidies aren't needed and that indeed will reach price parity for electric vehicles, for certain types of vehicles in the very near future and actually, I agree with that, you know. But he wants to throw money around because that's Labor's way. The other point I'd make about this, if you want to reduce emissions right now, the best way to do that is through hybrids. And we're seeing a rapid uptake of hybrids in Australia---doubled in the last 12 months. We know, in fact, what's constrained the demand for hybrids has been getting enough for them into the country. So that's where we're going to reduce emissions. Yes, EVs will come and it's important we prepare with the infrastructure we need to do that and that's why we have our future fuel strategy---we've got a discussion paper out now---but the focus here is on getting the charging in place, making sure our electricity grid can handle it. It's that supporting, enabling infrastructure that counts, not throwing money around and buying cars for people who could already afford them.

CENATIEMPO: Angus, I want to stay with you for a moment because there's been a push to target certain seats. Well, you know, fairly large-scale independent campaigns in certain electorates, including yours, much like the one that was run in Warringah against Tony Abbott. Are you concerned there? And I mean, why do they see you as a as a soft target, so to speak?

TAYLOR: Well, I've had independents like this running against me at every election and I had a Green Left independent run against me at the last election. I welcome democracy; it's a great thing. They didn't make a lot a lot of headway. But, you know, good luck to them and they're more than welcome to do it. But I've seen them off in the past and I'll continue to campaign on my track record as someone who focuses on what's needed in my local area, in places like Goulburn, where we're seeing record levels of infrastructure [and] up to the north where we're seeing the massive infrastructure investment around the new Western Sydney Airport, you know, these are the things that really are having an impact on people's day to day and that'll continue to be my focus. It's worked for me till now and I'll continue to focus on those practical things.

CENATIEMPO: Dave, this is a little bit like the Greens wanting to bring about a minority Labor government by knocking off Labor MPs, isn't it?

SMITH: There's certainly a bit of a flavour of that, Stephen, and look at the last Federal election, even down in Bean, we also had, you know, reasonably high profile independents have a run as well, too. And often one of the classic things about independents is that they can actually hide where their affiliations might lie and they don't necessarily have the responsibilities that often go with being a member of a major party and you can almost pretend to be [all] things to all people in those circumstances.

CENATIEMPO: Angus, before we go, I just want to touch on Senator Jim Molan announced yesterday that he's battling cancer. Well, if anybody's going to be able to fight, it'd be Jim, but a bit of a loss to the government while he steps away.

TAYLOR: Well, while he steps away. I mean, my thoughts and prayers are with him, and I'm sure many, many others are. And, you know, Jim is a good man who has done great work across this region. He's a good friend and we're backing him as we do every day. And we want to see him come out of this and continue fighting the good fight as he has as a wonderful senator representing New South Wales and of course, in particular this region.

CENATIEMPO: Indeed. Angus, good to talk to you this morning. Thanks for your time.

TAYLOR: Thanks, Stephen

CENATIEMPO: And David Smith, good to talk to you again.

SMITH: Thanks, Stephen.

CENATIEMPO: All the best. David Smith, the Labor member for Bean and Angus Taylor, Liberal member for Hume and Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction.