Interview with Kieran Gilbert on Sky News

‍Subjects: Liberal Party leadership, economic management, cultural and social issues on the campaign trail, nuclear energy

E&OE………

Kieran Gilbert

Let's go live to Liberal frontbencher and Senator Andrew Bragg. Thanks for your time. What went wrong with the Liberal campaign?

Senator Bragg

Good afternoon, Kieran. I think it's clear that we did not win the election, principally because we didn't have enough policy and mainly in the economic sphere. And that is where I think we need to now turn our focus, because we have the greatest capacity, I think, to improve people's lives as long as we get the policies out there and developed.

Kieran Gilbert

Were there distractions? Is that what you're pointing to, that the main message wasn't delivered, or are you saying that the policies themselves were wrong?

Senator Bragg

I'm not sure the communications and campaign analysis will be sufficient here. I think the main issue is that we didn't have enough work done and we had many years to develop policy and regrettably, there was not enough ambition, particularly on the economic front. And then I think there were some distractions on the social and cultural front, which also didn't help the Liberal Party on the weekend.

Kieran Gilbert

Yes. So are you saying, first of all, you need to start earlier in terms of the work, you need to be more ambitious and not be distracted by other issues that aren't the main game with middle Australia?

Senator Bragg

Well, Australia is a diverse nation and we need to better connect with its diversity to present solutions. And, I don't think that we showED that we had a good understanding of contemporary Australia. And I don't think that a lot of the social and cultural issues are front of mind for people. I think they want to vote Liberal because we have the best economic policies. And I fear that we did not succeed in that endeavour.

Kieran Gilbert

Do you think that there was a, just in terms of both of those points you're making, was the Voice to Parliament and the repudiation of the voice so clearly in the referendum, did that breed the complacency, both in a policy sense, but also in that sort of, those cultural issues that you're touching on, that some maybe thought that they were a political winner to keep driving on that front?

Senator Bragg

I never thought that people voting No was a proxy for people voting for the Liberal Party. Now, I voted Yes at the referendum. I campaigned for Yes, so I recognise that I was a minority in my own party on that issue. But, the no was never a proxy for a Coalition vote. And if that bred some complacency, then that is also a factor. But I think the dual national issue, the Indigenous matters, working from home, all of those factors, I think were untidy and looked like we weren't focused on the main game, which was the economy, and also that we didn't have a good understanding of the community which we sought to represent.

Kieran Gilbert

And so the thing like the acknowledgement of country and those sorts of issues, was that mishandled, do you believe?

Senator Bragg

I just think these are sideshows from the main game, which is the economy. And Australia is a diverse and respectful country, and we have to remember that and we have to be inclusive in our approach. Most Australians subscribe to a live and let live ethos and that is entirely consistent with liberalism. And that should be the focus for the Liberal Party as we chart our course back to the centre, because that's where elections are won, Kieran - they're won in the centre.

Kieran Gilbert

Who should be the next leader of your party? Should women, in younger women like Zoe McKenzie, be elevated to a more prominent role?

Senator Bragg

Well, I'm not in a position to go into the entrails of this right now because it's a matter for colleagues, but I think that we need to put our best people forward if we are to reclaim the centre. But as for the leadership and those issues, that's a matter for colleagues right now.

Kieran Gilbert

And just finally, on the nuclear issue and energy and climate, net zero - what's your thinking? How do you manage that? Does nuclear go?

Senator Bragg

Net zero is a very important objective and we are committed to that. We signed Australia up to that and that must be a feature going forward. But, our policy suite should be reviewed. I think there's a question around whether you have government involvement in the provision of energy, and I think that's a separate question to removing the prohibition on nuclear energy.

Senator Bragg

And on climate change more broadly, that issue and how you grapple with it, what do you want to see from your side of politics?

Senator Bragg

Well, I mean, I'm a Liberal in terms of the market outlook on the economy, but also on a social basis. And I think we want to minimise the government's role in the energy market, but we also must recognise the economic challenge and the risks and the opportunities of climate change. In so many respects, it is an economic challenge.

Kieran Gilbert

So, yeah. Is there anything specifically that you would like to see pursued by your side, or is that something that you work on once you're back in Parliament, in the Opposition benches?

Senator Bragg

Well, during the campaign, we tabled a report on household electrification. That is a report which would be an agenda for decarbonising households, and empowering households and small businesses to be decarbonised and electrified. And I think that is part of our agenda going forward, because we, the Liberal Party, believe in the idea of self-sufficiency as much as possible.

Kieran Gilbert

Thanks very much for your time. A tough weekend for you and your party, Andrew Bragg, but we appreciate you fronting up today. Thanks.

Senator Bragg

Thanks Kieran.

[Ends]