Jim Chalmers:
The election was a big win for Australian workers. These workers here will be the beneficiaries of Labor’s economic plan which is all about getting inflation down, keeping unemployment low, getting wages up, getting the debt down, seeing growth rebound solidly in our economy, and we’re starting to see interest rates come down as well. On Saturday, Australians voted for decent pay and lower taxes and help with the cost of living. Now, in our first term, we governed every day for the working people of middle Australia and that approach won’t change. In uncertain times, we will continue to manage the economy in a responsible and a methodical and a considered way and the working people of our great country will continue to be front and centre. I’ll hand you over to Murray and then Anika.
Murray Watt:
Thanks very much, Jim. Well, today will be a great celebration for the working people of Queensland. Over the last term, the Albanese government has deliberately changed our workplace laws to make sure that working people get a fairer deal. We’ve seen real wages increasing now under the Albanese government as a result of our laws and today will be a celebration of the fact that Australians said yes to higher wages and more secure work, and they said no to Peter Dutton’s plan to cut wages, cut working from home, and make life harder for working people. So I know we’re all looking forward to getting out there and celebrating with people who put their shoulder to the wheel in this election. It’s going to be a great day, and it’s a great day for Queensland.
Anika Wells:
The ABS tells us that the average Australian is a 38‑year‑old working woman, and that’s what the union movement looks like here, and that’s what the labour movement looks like, and that’s why the Albanese Labor government understands that and has delivered for women in the first term. And we are so thrilled that Queenslanders in particular, have placed their trust in us to continue to do that important work for another term. We set records in the 47th parliament. We were the first ever majority woman government. We were the first ever gender equal Cabinet, and now in the 48th parliament, I’m confident we will continue to do the work and set records, because Queenslanders have elected 7 new Queensland women to send Canberra to fight for their communities and we can’t wait to get going.
Chalmers:
Happy to take your questions.
Journalist:
Does it feel like a big victory rally after what happened over the weekend?
Chalmers:
Oh, certainly I think there’s a lot of gratitude for the working people of this country, what they do every day, but the way that they showed up on election day to re‑elect a good Labor government and our responsibilities to the working people of Australia, the working people of Queensland, are really clear – decent pay and conditions, lower income taxes, helping people with the cost of living, making sure that in difficult times, people can get by, work hard and provide for their loved ones.
Journalist:
How big should the Cabinet reshuffle be?
Chalmers:
Well, that’s a matter for the party to determine, the new party room which is bigger now, and as Anika said, a much bigger contribution from Queensland which we are incredibly proud of. And so the party room will determine the make‑up of the front bench, and the Prime Minister will allocate the portfolios and that’s as it should be.
Journalist:
Should there be more Queenslanders in the ministry, now?
Chalmers:
We can never have too many Queenslanders. And standing here with 2 Cabinet colleagues from Queensland, I know the huge difference that these 2 make in the Cabinet. For too long now, Queensland has been long on influence but short on numbers in the federal parliamentary Labor party. Now we are long on influence and longer on numbers and that’s a very good thing, and we hope to see that represented in the decision making of the government going forward.
Journalist:
So maybe a couple more ministers from Queensland?
Chalmers:
I don’t want to pre‑empt the party’s processes or the deliberations that the Prime Minister will be engaged in right now. You can never have too many Queenslanders. I’ve seen the difference that these 2 have made as they’ve joined the Cabinet, Anika most recently. So the more Queenslanders, the better, that’s our position. We have made a huge contribution to this victory, massive contribution and I give a big shout out to all of the new members from Queensland and everybody who helped get them over the line.
Journalist:
Do you have a preference for Liberal leader?
Chalmers:
I think it would be extraordinary if Angus Taylor was rewarded for one of the worst performances that I have ever seen. It would be very strange if Angus Taylor escaped the blame for the Liberal Party debacle on Saturday. Peter Dutton has stood up and taken some responsibility for that outcome, it’s time for Angus Taylor to do the same. I think it would be extraordinary if Angus Taylor was rewarded with a promotion after the diabolical contribution that he made to this history making Coalition defeat.
Journalist:
There could be a new Shadow Treasurer as you elude to there. Is there anyone that you’re worried about going up against?
Chalmers:
Well, I’m not sure who they’ll put up for shadow treasury. My focus is on doing my job well, working with Anthony Albanese and the Cabinet to continue to provide that responsible economic management with working people front and centre. In due course, we’ll get a Shadow Treasurer. I can’t imagine they could be any worse than the current Shadow Treasurer, but we’ll see.
Journalist:
Just a couple of quick questions for Minister Wells. Are you happy with your current role or would you like it to change?
Wells:
It’s been an absolute privilege to be the Aged Care Minister and the Minister for Sport. You’ll probably remember by now that mum and I worked together in aged care 20 years ago and it was such an honour to come back and do important structural work to set the sector up for success in the future. There’s a lot more work to do in aged care, and I’d be privileged to do it. Now as for sport, obviously Brisbane 2032 is our North Star. It’s the zenith we’re all working towards. It’s a real privilege to work on policy that allows us to think beyond the 24/7 media cycle, or this week in the media, think about how we want to set up our own city and how we want it to look in the eyes of the world from now to 7 years’ time.
Journalist:
You don’t want a new portfolio?
Wells:
That is for the Prime Minister to decide and like Jim says, for our party colleagues to work through, particularly given we are still waiting on several races to settle, including here in Queensland with Longman and Forde still being counted.
Journalist:
Senator Watt, same question. Would you like a new portfolio?
Chalmers:
You got a bit of warning, Muzz.
Watt:
I did, yeah. Look, it’s a privilege to serve in the Cabinet, and any role there obviously matters for the Prime Minister. I’ve really enjoyed working in this role, and particularly on a day like this when we get together with working people to celebrate the wins of the entire labour movement to deliver better wages and conditions for workers in Australia.
Journalist:
You’ve been to a few of these marches? Is it pretty jubilant atmosphere here today?
Watt:
It really is. We couldn’t have timed this rally better, this march better for the day after the election, so thanks Prime Minister for organising the election date around that and already you can see the smiles on the faces here, lots of people cheering for a Labor win, because they know what it means to have a Labor government working for working people and making sure their wages rise and don’t go backwards.
Journalist:
Thank you.
Chalmers:
Thanks everyone.