PRESENTER:
Treasurer, good to see you.
TREASURER:
It's great to be here, thank you.
PRESENTER:
Yeah, thanks, we like a nice little visit.
TREASURER:
Well it's a lot better than the weather in Sydney I hear, which is horrific.
PRESENTER:
Yeah, we do everything better than Sydney.
TREASURER:
Of course you do.
PRESENTER:
You were at a business dinner last night, here in Geelong, at Le Parisien. You're looking pretty relaxed this morning and the photo in The Addy today, it's almost like you're glad it's a new week.
TREASURER:
Each week, each day, is a new day and you start again and you keep climbing the mountain.
PRESENTER:
Can we talk about, first of all touch on the dinner last night. You weren't here to make any specific announcements but you were here to listen to what Geelong has to offer.
TREASURER:
Sarah Henderson came to see me about a week ago in Melbourne to talk about some of the challenges that Geelong is facing and I only say they're challenges because as last night reinforced in my mind, this is a city and region that is full of potential but has also got lots of surprises.
PRESENTER:
Lots of positives.
TREASURER:
Yeah, they came through last night. As an outsider, they quite surprised me, the stories about worldwide retailers being based here in Geelong or the dredging of the port or, you know, the tremendous potential growth in IT. Even just catching the Jetstar plane from Sydney down to Avalon, I mean, a guy came up to me on the plane and talked about his little IT business that he's growing here in Geelong and they're great stories. Sarah talked to me about the challenges moving forward and what we can do to try and help in that regard in partnership with the State Government and I was all ears.
PRESENTER:
We'll come back to that in a minute but I do want to talk about the elephant that's been in the room for you for a few days and that's your tough week last week. The comments about poor people which you apologised for, quite profusely, the travel and accommodation issued and that kind of thing, the struggle to sell the Budget. There seems to be an image coming across that you're out of touch, do you feel that?
TREASURER:
No I am the same person I have always been, someone who focusses on doing the job that's at hand. Like you, I polish my boots, I do my washing, they're the things you do as a human being, you're no different. But it's really important that you don't allow people to try and misrepresent your values and that's what annoyed me most about last week and I feel responsible for it and I accept that. But, I am absolutely determined to ensure that we have a stronger nation, more jobs, not just here in Geelong but right around the country, and greater prosperity.
PRESENTER:
Were the words twisted at all? The comment of 'poor people don't drive cars'?
TREASURER:
Look I think anyone who actually looks at what I actually said as opposed to what people were reporting that I said might form that view. But any words I use now will be, again, misinterpreted. I just move on with what we're doing and focus on the job that I have, which is to get the Budget through, to lay down the plan to fix the economy.
PRESENTER:
There's always negative and positive comments about politicians depending on who people support. A couple of the quotes I've just pulled out of the paper this morning from letters to the editor: 'materially rich, but bereft of compassion – a Treasurer who doesn't understand the concept of progressive taxation'. You used to be the nice guy of politics and suddenly you're in Government and suddenly, whack, you cop that kind of thing.
TREASURER:
Politics is a tough game and if you don't want to do the right things for the country then you should get out. I am not going to indulge in self-pity, that would be a very conceited thing to do. I am focussed on what needs to be done. The best thing that I can do is, when it comes to the economy, lift the tide so that all boats rise. Whether it's a boat called Geelong or a boat called Melbourne or a boat called Mungeranie. If we can do that, and there are a number of steps along the way, first thing is, we've got to grow our markets and that's exactly what we're doing signing these Free Trade Agreements with Korea and Japan and we've been on the verge of signing one with China – opening up new markets. Second thing is, get rid of the speed humps on the road, that's why we've got rid of the Carbon Tax, we want to get rid of the Mining Tax, that's why we want to get the Budget back towards surplus. Then we've got to undertake further reform, you know, tax reform and federation reform so that we can build the foundations for a stronger future.
PRESENTER:
Can these things be done without hurting people? Or is there always going to be some degree of collateral damage?
TREASURER:
No, I hope there is no collateral damage. That's why we need to be vigilant and that's why we can't stop listening. I am prepared to listen, I have never been any different. Commentators will sit back and say whatever they want but I won't stop listening to what people say.
PRESENTER:
What else have you got on here in Geelong today?
TREASURER:
We're going out to visit a business that has a good story, I don't know if I can say it for various reasons but…
PRESENTER:
Yes you can, what's the worst that could happen?!
TREASURER:
There could be a few people out there to meet me. We are focussing on these sorts of stops, and I'm heading off to Melbourne for Cabinet, but on these sorts of stops we are focussing on the importance of listening to the community and reacting appropriately, but also explaining what we're doing. We are doing everything we can at the moment to build things, now, Sarah Henderson has given me a bit of a list, a shopping list, but it's got to be in partnership with the state and local city council. We all work in partnership together with the private sector and what impressed me last night was the sense of ambition and how positive people are about Geelong. I know unemployment is high, I know it is amongst the highest in the state and the nation in some areas, but we're going to get there, we are going to get there, because we must. No one is going to be left behind.
PRESENTER:
Can I put to you that two of the things on Sarah Henderson's list would have been a cruise wharf and Geelong's push to develop itself as a hub for the defence industry, can you help us? How can you help us with that? Can you give us the wharf? I know Darren Lyons would be very happy, he would love you.
TREASURER:
If we all work together. What happens is, and I'm not suggesting this with Sarah at all, but when proposals come forward I think, because we're using tax payers' money we have got to make sure that everything is going to deliver something. So in partnership with the State Government we put $30 million into helping to fund innovation in Geelong. Some of that has already gone out the door, I think $5 million, which has already helped to create in excess of $40 million of investment. I'm mindful that, the best thing about living today and being ambitious about the future is distance is not a barrier to our opportunity. When we were all much younger I remember people saying Australia was down under, we were a long way from the rest of the world. But that's all changed, you never hear that any more. Why? Because telecommunications have changed our destiny. We could be in Geelong or we could be in Georgia or wherever we might be, Georgetown, anywhere in the world, and it's as if you're sitting next to someone. So this is a great opportunity for Geelong, because you've got smart people, you've got innovative businesses and you've got a terrific education system.
PRESENTER:
And we're passionate.
TREASURER:
Obviously.
PRESENTER:
Including our Mayor.
TREASURER:
I noticed there's quite a big stadium here and I know you are passionate.
PRESENTER:
Have you thought about, because Darren is pretty popular around Geelong, have you thought about the hair thing and maybe that might work for you? A pink or blue mohawk might work for Joe Hockey. I think it would look good.
TREASURER:
Do you think so, really? I just need a bit more attention don't I?
PRESENTER:
Can I just ask you, are you planning on coming down to help out during the state election campaign?
TREASURER:
I am always asked, I expect I've been asked again.
PRESENTER:
We may see you?
TREASURER:
You may, I've got a fairly full dance card between now and the end of the year but yes, I'm always asked and I expect, in fact, I know I've been asked to do some campaigning around the place.
PRESENTER:
Nice to have you here in Geelong and thank you for your time this morning.
TREASURER:
Thank you very much. Thanks a lot for having me in guys.
PRESENTER:
Thank you, Treasurer of Australia Joe Hockey.