Interview with Sally Sara on ABC RN Breakfast

‍Subjects: Protests in Sydney, Liberal leadership, Coalition policy development

E&OE………

Sally Sara

Andrew Bragg, welcome back to RN Breakfast.

Senator Bragg

Morning, Sally.

Sally Sara

Before we talk about politics, what do you make of these protests yesterday and last night, particularly in Sydney, surrounding the visit to Australia of the Israeli President Isaac Herzog?

Senator Bragg

Well, I think it’s been in terrible taste to be protesting against something that the Jewish community has asked for after they have been severely affected by Australia’s worst religious massacre. They’ve asked for the head of the Jewish state to come to provide comfort and people have protested against that. I think it’s a disgrace.

Sally Sara

Have you seen some of the footage and how do you reflect on the actions of protesters and police in what we’re seeing so far?

Senator Bragg

Well, they were told to stay home. I think most Australians think this is ridiculous, that it’s offensive to the Sydney Jewish community. It’s really offensive that a couple of the MPs here in this building like Zali Steggall and Sophie Scamps have kind of gone along with this. And I think it’s just ridiculous that they didn’t follow the police’s orders.

Sally Sara

Do Australians have the right to protest when their protest may be offensive to another group?

Senator Bragg

Well, of course, but I think in this case, we’ve just had a religious massacre. I can’t believe people have to sort of ask the question. We’ve never had this sort of stuff happen in Australia before. People were targeted on the beach because they were Jews. They were murdered. And the head of the Jewish state was asked to come out by the Sydney Jewish community to provide comfort.

Sally Sara

The Israeli President, as you’re saying, was invited to provide comfort to members of the Jewish community. Is there a view also that his visit could create anger and strong feelings from those who oppose the Israeli government’s military actions in Gaza?

Senator Bragg

There are military actions all over the world. In terms of the extreme left’s obsession with Israel, I don’t hear them talking about what Russia’s doing in Ukraine.

Sally Sara

Let’s move to a separate issue. Do you support Sussan Ley continuing as leader of the Liberals at the federal level?

Senator Bragg

Yes, I do. And we’ve been sent here by taxpayers to work hard, to hold the government to account and to develop alternative policies, not to play games.

Sally Sara

Is it time for your colleague Angus Taylor to either resign from the opposition front bench and challenge for the leadership or rule out a challenge?

Senator Bragg

I’m not giving colleagues advice through the radio, but what I will say is that we have a very big job to do because the country is going in the wrong direction. We have to hold the government to account and we have to focus on developing our own suite of measures. Now, we haven’t put many policies out yet. We need to do that. We’ll have more to say about migration, more to say about other things like housing. That’s got to be the focus. I think the Australian people will continue to mark us down if we just continue to debate internal matters.

Sally Sara

Yesterday, your colleagues Jane Hume and Sarah Henderson said something has to change. Do you agree and do you think their comments were helpful yesterday?

Senator Bragg

Well, I think policy is the purpose of our visits to Canberra. We’re paid to come to Canberra, to do policy work, to hold the government to account as we’re doing through Senate Estimates. Make sure the programmes are properly administered. Make sure taxpayer funds aren’t wasted. And then to develop over the course of these two years options for the Australian people to consider. That’s the job. The job isn’t to be talking about internal games and other things.

Sally Sara

Did the Newspoll results from yesterday — do they give you confidence to continue the way that the Liberal Party and the Coalition are travelling, or that there is a need for change?

Senator Bragg

I think Sussan’s been dealt a pretty bad hand. The Nats have, unfortunately, busted up the Coalition twice. That’s all been repaired now, which is good. But it’s been a pretty tough few months for Sussan. And I think most Australians would look at that and say, well, she needs to be given a reasonable crack at the job. And that’s what I expect will happen.

Sally Sara

Andrew Bragg, we’ll need to leave it there. Thank you for your time this morning.

Senator Bragg

Thanks, Sally.

[Ends]

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