HOST:
To talk about that and one of the other crises on the horizon, the challenge against the mining tax, is Assistant Treasurer, David Bradbury. David, good morning, thanks for joining us this morning.
BRADBURY:
Good morning Paul, good to be with you.
HOST:
We'll talk, well I suppose, while you can, because looking at the latest opinion polls you're not going to be with us for long. The primary vote, 31, against 48 for the Coalition, but the worst thing about this of course is you would have been hoping for a considerable lift given the cash giveaway you've embarked on.
BRADBURY:
Well, look I think we just need to steady on a bit there Paul. Obviously we've got a fair way between now and the next election and I think it's fair to say that we've always said that with the introduction of a big reform like the carbon price we weren't expecting things to turn around overnight. Obviously when you talk about the importance of people and their lived experience under the new arrangements, it's a little bit rich to be getting too carried away just a week after the introduction. For a lot of Australian people they haven't even received their first pay packet, in their pay packet of course will be the tax cut - 6 million Australians will be receiving a tax cut of around $300 across the year, so we think it's going to take some and it will take some time.
HOST:
You think it will take some time and it will take some time. Here's the thing, this seems to be Labor's argument. I mean, you've always said it would come good once people understand what we are going to do, and when they understood it and didn't like it you said that once they see that what we want to do isn't as bad as they think it'll come good; and when they couldn't understand that it was, well once it was introduced people will realise it. The Prime Minister's saying just give me an opportunity to explain it. Then all of a sudden there'll be an election and by then your primary vote will probably be six.
BRADBURY:
I'll let you look through your crystal ball Paul, we'll get on with the job of governing. Can I make this point: as Assistant Treasurer I have responsibility for tax policy. One of the areas that I receive the most correspondence about to this day is the GST. I don't think there are many people out there that if you did a random poll down the High Street of any community that are going to stick their hand up and say the GST is a wonderful thing. Of course when you make big changes like this it does take time for people to get used to it and I think over time they'll appreciate that this has been an important reform and one where there will be benefits for [inaudible].
HOST:
Just personally David, do you think you have enough time for people to get used to it before the next election?BRADBURY:
They say a week's a long time in politics and we've got a year. We will be spending every day between now and the next election making sure that people have the information that they need to make the right choice.
HOST:
It'll drive us crazy if you spend every day doing that. Very quickly, Julia Gillard's approval rating is 27 per cent. Is it time to cut and run?
BRADBURY:
No, we're halfway through the job that we're doing and that is introducing some significant reforms of which the carbon price is one, the mining tax is another.
HOST:
So it's not time to cut and run then?
BRADBURY:
No.
HOST:
You don't want to be the Leader?
BRADBURY:
You flatter me Paul, but no.
HOST:
Well I don't really, I'm sure you can do better than Julia Gillard. You could put anyone in couldn't you?
BRADBURY:
You're being a bit harsh there.
HOST:
Possibly. Yeah, there are a couple of people I can think of who couldn't do a job as well as her. Alright, the mining tax. This is right in your bag. You've got Campbell Newman challenging it now. Wayne Swan said yesterday that basically all Campbell Newman is doing is wasting taxpayers' money by challenging this. Are you not worried that they might win?
BRADBURY:
We think the mining tax is on a solid constitutional footing. Can I make the point that Campbell Newman might be prepared, at a time when he's slashing jobs all across the public service, to stick his hands in the pockets of Queensland taxpayers to fund a legal challenge, but I note that Barry O'Farrell's not prepared to do the same thing and I think Mr O'Farrell's made the judgement based on two factors. Firstly I think he recognises that there are strong legal grounds for the mining tax, but secondly I think he's come to the realisation that most Australians already have and that is that it's critical that we spread the benefits of the resources boom to make sure that all Australians get to share in some of the benefits.
HOST:
Well I think David that you're putting words into Barry O'Farrell's mouth, aren't you, that you've just come to the realisation that mining isn't as important to New South Wales as it is to Western Australia and Queensland. The Premier of Western Australia has said natural resources belong to the State and not the Commonwealth, and it's on that that the case rests isn't it?
BRADBURY:
Well these matters will be litigated before the High Court but I think it is instructive to see that Mr O'Farrell, and let's not understate the significance of mining as a component of the New South Wales economy, but Mr O'Farrell, Premier O'Farrell I think has decided to cut and run because he recognises that there are probably a lot more people that want to see the introduction of this mining tax than not in New South Wales.
HOST:
Alright, David you're a money man, just very, very quickly, how much is the Federal Government's side of this court case going to cost me, the taxpayer?
BRADBURY:
Well that's difficult to determine at this stage because we don't know how the case is going to progress and to be honest it's probably also a matter that the Attorney-General is closer to than I would be but in the scheme of things we prefer not to have to spend money on lawyers but sometimes legislation is challenged and we've got the right to defend our policies in the court.
HOST:
David, I thank you very much for joining us.