DAVID KOCH:
Joining us now, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Treasurer, vaccinations are helping to re‑open the economy, is the worst of the pandemic over?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
It certainly feels like we're getting to that point, but who knows what's around the corner. But certainly Kochie, with the vaccination rates reaching these record highs, with businesses re‑opening, with the restrictions easing, the jobs coming back, I think Australians can be very hopeful and optimistic and confident going into Christmas. We've seen a number of economic data points that point to a strong recovery. Insolvencies are down by 40 per cent year on year. Job ads are up 30 per cent compared to where they were at the start of the pandemic. Unemployment is at 4.6 per cent, when we came to government it was 5.7 per cent. People are buying airline tickets to travel internationally or domestically, and consumer confidence is up. I'm feeling pretty upbeat about the Australian economy right now.
NATALIE BARR:
Yeah and businesses are going crazy because they can't get staff Josh, what are you doing about that?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Nat, I was talking to the Prime Minister about this very point last night, and obviously, we are working on plans to bring in skilled workers as soon as it is COVID safe to do so. We've already made announcements with respect to Australian citizens and residents who can now come and go from Australia if they're double vaccinated without having to go through home quarantine or hotel quarantine. The next step is skilled workers and international students and then tourists. We are hopeful of making decisions and announcements before too long.
DAVID KOCH:
Okay. One of the outliers at the moment is still Western Australia. Flight Centre boss Graham Turner is talking about taking the WA government to the high court to open up the borders. Will you back Graham Turner?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
No, we're not getting involved in such court cases. They are matters for individuals if they pursue them. What we obviously have sought to do is to point out to all the state Premiers and to the territory Chief Ministers that once you reach those 80 per cent vaccination rates, it is possible to ease those health restrictions that are put in place, including the closed borders. And that's good news for the economy, but it's also good news for the well‑being of their citizens because people can connect with friends and family and travel more freely. It's really pleasing to see here in Melbourne, people are out and about, playing sport, going to their friends homes, shopping as they couldn't do under curfews or under the health restrictions. And so too in New South Wales with a greater easing of restrictions again today. This is the payback for the high vaccination rates as Australians have rolled up the sleeves in record numbers and got the jab.
NATALIE BARR:
Treasurer, WA is going for 90 though, not 80. They won't reopen they're saying well into next year. And Flight Centre say this federal court case, it's a violation of section 92 of the Constitution which relates to freedom of movement. You surely have an opinion on that.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
My view is that Western Australia shouldn't be any different to any other state that has opened up at that 80 per cent vaccination rate and ease restrictions at the 70 per cent vaccination rate. It's true that Western Australia has not seen the extended lockdowns that we've seen in the southern states, but at the same time, they've got their own citizens who want to move more freely across the country, and indeed internationally. They've got tourism businesses that rely heavily on interstate travel and those borders being open. And of course, we want to see those borders open as soon as possible, which means that the 80 per cent vaccination rate, not at the higher vaccination rates.
DAVID KOCH:
Treasurer, I appreciate your time.