Interview with Kieran Gilbert on Sky News Newsday

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Subjects: Liberal leadership, ISIS brides, Immigration and the Muslim community, Capital Gains Tax.

E&OE………

Kieran Gilbert

Let's return to the debate about the leadership. I want to talk now to Andrew Bragg. He's a member of the Shadow Cabinet, a strong supporter of Sussan Ley, and Shadow Minister for Housing and Environment under Angus Taylor's new-look team. Can it be competitive, the Taylor-Hume-led team, Senator Bragg?

Senator Bragg

Well, definitely, Kieran, and we owe that to the Australian people — to be competitive — because the government is terrible. And so we have to hold them to account and we have to develop alternative policies. I'm very confident we'll be able to do that.

Kieran Gilbert

Are you encouraged by the first couple of days under Angus Taylor and Jane Hume's leadership?

Senator Bragg

Well, I think they have definitely identified the right priorities and I think the Australian people are desperate for us to do a better job. I think they're desperate for us to develop detailed plans, detailed policies that they can consider and pull apart. And that's what we intend to do over the next few months and years.

Kieran Gilbert

I want to ask you a bit about the Housing and Capital Gains Tax — you're staying in housing, which I think you're welcoming — and taking on environment as well. So the new leader extending an olive branch to those who were supportive of Sussan Ley. But let's talk a bit about this story we've been covering — the ISIS brides. Would they be blocked from returning to Australia, that whole cohort?

Senator Bragg

I think the government needs to look at any way they can to prevent these people from coming back into our community here in Australia. Whatever control orders they've got, they should be deploying them, because I don't think it's reasonable that the Australian community should be exposed to people who have been in some way part of the most extreme ideology and the most extreme positions, which have been frankly positioned against humanity.

Kieran Gilbert

Yeah, and we've seen the terrible examples of that sadly on our shores recently as well. What do you say to those who are making the case for the children involved in this?

Senator Bragg

Look, these are always difficult cases, but the reality is that the Australian people will not put up with these people coming back into our community or coming into our country. But I think you have to draw a line somewhere.

Kieran Gilbert

On the issue of immigration more generally — do you think you can get the balance right? There are people who want to be reassured about the security of the nation, as well as the strain on infrastructure. Can you get that balance right without getting into the territory that Pauline Hanson found herself in this week, with that remark about Muslims?

Senator Bragg

Well, I think Australians feel that the government have lost control of the nation's borders, and they've also lost control of the nation's finances. So there are a lot of Australians who are worried. But the point I make here is that leadership is not about bashing up on the various groups in our community. It's not about bashing up on the Muslim community - and the Muslim community should not be attacked as it has been by Pauline Hanson. I think these remarks from One Nation are absolutely disgusting and outrageous. The Muslim community in Australia are patriotic, loyal Australians. They make a great contribution to our community and this is the last thing that we need. Elected officials have a responsibility, and it is not leadership to be bashing up on minority interests. The mark of our society — the mark of the quality of our society — is how it treats minority interests. And so those are disgusting comments. I think that frankly rules One Nation out of being taken seriously.

Kieran Gilbert

It's the extremist Islamist ideology that needs to be rooted out.

Senator Bragg

Exactly. Not the broader community.

Kieran Gilbert

I want to just finish, if I can, in less than a minute — Capital Gains Tax. Is there a sweet spot you can find on this? The McKell Institute suggested, say, a 35 per cent discount for established detached homes but keep it at 50 per cent for new homes, thereby driving supply?

Senator Bragg

The government have collapsed the housing supply. They have destroyed the range of options for younger Australians by priming the market at the bottom end with their five per cent deposit scheme. And now they want to deploy a new tax. That would be a trifecta of disasters on the Australian housing system. The idea of a new tax will not provide any new supply. Now, if you tweak the tax, you're not likely to get the revenue gains anyway, because of the behavioural effect and the behavioural impact. I think you'll find that you actually get less tax revenue in the coffers in Canberra. So I don't think any new tax on housing will give you one more dwelling.

Kieran Gilbert

Shadow Minister for Housing and the Environment, Andrew Bragg — appreciate it. We'll stay in touch.

Senator Bragg

Thanks, Kieran.

[Ends]

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