Interview with Clinton Maynard on 2GB Drive

Subjects: Teal party rumours, Australian economic policy, Political polling

E&OE.........

Clinton Maynard

Andrew Bragg joins us. So, thanks for your time.

Senator Bragg

Clinton, how are you?

Clinton Maynard

Well, first up, have you been sounded out?

Senator Bragg

No, I haven't. And can I also say, as a lad who grew up in Shepparton in northern Victoria, which was actually the Melbourne Demons zone, Neil Daniher was an absolute inspiration. And I'm really pleased that you've covered this on Sydney radio because he does deserve national recognition for what he was able to achieve, and I hope he does rest in peace. But the answer to your question is no.

Clinton Maynard

Had you heard talk in recent times that this was being discussed behind the scenes?

Senator Bragg

Oh look, you know what politics is like. People are always talking different things, but at the end of the day, I'm sitting here in Senate Estimates trying to blow a hole in this bad government, which is proposing all these new taxes and all these crazy regulations and they're wrecking the economy and wrecking our society. I'm very focused on trying to get rid of the bad government.

Clinton Maynard

But no one said to you in the corridors—maybe they didn't put anything in writing in an email—but nobody has said to you, Andrew, in the corridors, "Hey, if a Teal party was to be formed, would you be keen?"

Senator Bragg

Well, why would I?

Clinton Maynard

Because the polling shows the Liberals are headed for oblivion.

Senator Bragg

Yeah, but I mean, at the end of the day, I know it might be a bit of an academic argument, but the Teal party... sorry, the two-party system...

Clinton Maynard

Is dead.

Senator Bragg

...Has actually served Australia incredibly well. It has, right? But it has served the nation very well. If there's going to be more fragmentation, then we might end up with sort of South American-style crazy politics. I think it's incumbent on all people that have a long-term interest in the country to try and get the best possible policy coherence on the economy and on foreign affairs and the like. That should be our main focus, not sort of who can get the most power.

Clinton Maynard

But do you believe the two-party system is over?

Senator Bragg

No, I'm not willing to concede that yet. I don't think it would be... I think that would be premature. I think at the end of the day, we've been punished for not having enough difference with Labor on the economy. And I think just the chickens have come home to roost. I agree with that. We should have done more to offer a different tax package, we should have done more to cut government spending, we should have done more to give people more choice, like superannuation, I'm not sure why it has to be compulsory. All these sorts of things, giving people more choice when it comes to the economy. Now, this is fixable. We have time. Angus has started out with the Budget Reply with a lot of good policy in there, indexing the tax scale, stopping bad taxes. There's a lot more we need to do, but it's a good start.

Clinton Maynard

And the indexation has been well received along with his commitment to scrap the changes to CGT and negative gearing. But the research that was released over the weekend—and granted, that research was conducted before the Budget was handed down and the reaction to it—but when it shows that the Nationals would have no seats in Parliament and the Liberals would be a rump and One Nation would have, I think it was 59 seats. Isn't that an indication that the traditional Liberal-National Coalition v Labor model is over?

Senator Bragg

I think you need to take these things seriously, Clinton, but I think we have time to steady the ship and to do a radically different economic policy. I think Australians want an economic revolution. I mean, all these promises people make in Canberra about spending money, it's all fake, it's all bullshit. I mean basically, all these promises are money that is from the future. I mean, the Government has its back side out of its pants in terms of its debt profile, and I just think people are onto us. I think they know that it's crooked.

Clinton Maynard

Okay, so tell me this, just for the sake of the argument, if the Coalition doesn't gain many more seats—I'm not talking about losing seats, but more seats at the next election—if there is a Teal party along with One Nation's stronger performance, would the Liberal-Nationals consider some sort of coalition with a Teal-style party?

Senator Bragg

Well, I mean, we'd still be trying to shoot for majority government, but ultimately, you deal with whoever the people give you. But my view is let's focus on what we can control. What we can control are our own policies. We need to have very ambitious policies when it comes to fixing up the Budget, cutting taxes, cutting red tape, giving people more choice. We've got to seriously, massively differentiate on the economy from the Labor Party, which is pursuing communism. I mean, Albanese's tax plan is communism.

Clinton Maynard

And you've made progress on that, granted, in the last couple of weeks. I think that the public is now on side that the CGT changes in particular go far too far in terms of stifling smaller business and innovation. But, Andrew, just finally on this point, Malcolm Turnbull effectively today has endorsed the idea. He hasn't conceded that he's pulling any strings. Why does he retain Liberal Party membership?

Senator Bragg

Well, that's a question for him. But my point is like I'm trying to make sure that we have the right policies so that we can actually win majority government. Like ultimately...

Clinton Maynard

But are you happy with a former Prime Minister who is a Liberal, still a card-carrying member of the Liberal Party, can be out there effectively rubber-stamping another opposition party?

Senator Bragg

At the end of the day, you know, people have all sorts of different views. There are people who are in all sorts of positions inside the Liberal Party that have been contrary to the official policy of the time. I just think, you know, where do you draw the line? People are allowed to have an opinion, and my opinion is that if we don't have the economic policies needed to offer the Australian people an economic revolution, then we are dead.

Clinton Maynard

Based on those polls, you might just be about dead. Maybe it's on life support. Thank you, Senator.

Senator Bragg

Thanks, Clinton. See you.

Clinton Maynard

Senator Andrew Bragg.

[Ends]

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