Interview with Karl Stefanovic on the Today Show

Subjects: Royal line of succession; ISIS brides; Capital Gains Tax; Trump Tower Gold Coast

E&OE………

Karl Stefanovic 

Welcome back to the show. Australia has become the first Commonwealth nation to support Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's removal from the line of succession. Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth and Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg join us now to discuss. Good morning guys. And Amanda first up. Now I'm not sure what difference Albo's letter will make but it's a spectacular bit of PR.

Amanda Rishworth 

Well, firstly I would say there's pretty serious charges, and of course anyone should face the full brunt of the law. And the UK government has signalled it was considering this, of course we would have to be part of that. And what the Prime Minister's done has made a clear statement that he would look to remove Andrew Mountbatten Windsor from the line of succession.

Karl Stefanovic 

He hasn't been charged yet.

Amanda Rishworth 

Well look, as what was very clear is these are really serious allegations. Anyone should face the full brunt of the law, but I think it's incumbent on us to make our intentions clear to the UK government if required.

Karl Stefanovic 

No objection from you Andrew, I take it?

Senator Bragg 

Well Karl, I think most Australians would look at this foreign family and say, what have they got to do with our government here in Australia? And so, you know, if he can be moved on I think that probably makes sense. But it's also a reminder that we have elections in Australia and there's no guarantee that Tony Burke or Jim Chalmers will be in the line of succession to replace Mr Albanese. They're both obviously breathing down his neck.

Karl Stefanovic

The award of the day for the longest bow, I like it Andrew, I like how you're thinking. Hey, look Amanda, let's go back to the ISIS brides. Chris Minns seems to have known an awful lot last year, late last year, nailing that New South Wales would be resettling a group of about 12. And now we hear most will go to Victoria. Is all that true?

Amanda Rishworth 

Well firstly I would say that it shouldn't be a surprise that both state security agencies and federal agencies plan for any return of ISIS brides. Indeed they've been doing this since 2014. This is an issue that we've been dealing with as a country since 2014 under Tony Abbott, under Malcolm Turnbull, under Scott Morrison, and indeed the previous government put the laws in that we are dealing with. Of course, the government is not providing any assistance if people choose to make it back here, and choose to come back here, and they have participated in illegal activities they will face the full force of the law.

Karl Stefanovic 

Okay, so the Prime Minister wrongly claimed that up to 40 terrorist fighters returned home under the Morrison government, when the vast majority did so more than a decade ago. Was he wrong to do that?

Amanda Rishworth 

Well let's be clear, the Coalition Government, 40 returned under the Coalition Government. You know, whether it's the Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison government, there were three Prime Ministers, so if Andrew wants to talk about the cycling of Prime Ministers, but under that government there were 40 ISIS fighters and others that came back to Australia.

Karl Stefanovic 

Okay, Andrew?

Senator Bragg 

Well I mean the job of the government is to keep Australians safe and I think these people have effectively undermined their oath to Australia, especially if they are naturalised citizens. And they have basically voted not to be part of Australia anymore and to stand against everything that we stand for here. So, Mr Albanese's job is to keep Australians safe. He should do everything he can to keep the door shut. And frankly if these people do get in the back door under Mr Albanese's government then we should be prepared to sanction these people. I mean, we shouldn't be stuck with people who have sought to destroy humanity. I mean it's just not a reasonable thing for the Australian community to have to put up with.

Karl Stefanovic 

Doesn't pass the pub test, there's no way about that. Okay Amanda, Peter Costello this morning says you're softening young Aussies up for a tax hike. Is that true?

Amanda Rishworth 

Well first I would say that Peter Costello isn't the first former leader that thinks life was great under him. And of course he was the Treasurer that gave a tax hike to all Australians with the GST. But look, you will see the Budget when it comes out. Of course we haven't changed our policy in terms of the tax that he's talking about, but quite frankly for Peter Costello to talk about tax and the big hike of the GST, look you will see the Budget but, as the Prime Minister and the Treasurer has said, we haven't changed our policy.

Karl Stefanovic 

Okay Andrew?

Senator Bragg 

Oh I mean the government are looking for new taxes to pay for their unfunded spending. The Budget is absolutely stuffed in Australia. And people can see this new tax coming on housing. At the moment we're doing the hearings into the capital gains tax discount. 2.2 million Australians are currently providing rental stock to other Australians. And the government seems to want to change their tax concessions, increase taxes on them, and then get their mates in the super funds to come in and be landlords for Australians. I mean, these guys have got no idea what to do with the Budget, no idea what to do on housing, it's pretty ugly stuff.

Karl Stefanovic 

All right Amanda, we've greenlit, we learned this morning Trump Tower on the Gold Coast without getting a deal on tariffs. Maybe that could have been the negotiating tool that we needed?

Amanda Rishworth 

Yeah well it's a very big tower, it's…

Karl Stefanovic 

Go on Amanda.

Senator Bragg 

Well if he's able to get two or three hundred houses, two or three hundred apartments, then that's more than Mr Albanese's built with his $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund. So I think it'd be welcome…

Amanda Rishworth 

Well I would say absolutely Andrew you have fought against all the houses we want to build and we are getting on with the job but of course it's a very big...

Senator Bragg 

No you're not, you're building fewer houses…

Amanda Rishworth .

Well that is just absolutely, that's absolutely not the case Andrew, we are getting on with the job, we are the first Commonwealth government...

Senator Bragg

30,000 fewer houses. 

Karl Stefanovic

Alright, you are breathing down my neck guys  and that's a very uncomfortable position to be in at 8 minutes to 7 in the morning. Appreciate your time this morning.

[Ends]

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