KIM LANDERS:
Treasurer, good morning.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Nice to be with you.
KIM LANDERS:
How will this $50 million be used to help wildlife affected by bushfires?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
It’s an initial $50 million contribution, $25 million of which will go to an emergency recovery fund. It will be a panel of experts led by Dr Sally Box, our threatened species commissioner, who will be partnering with the CSIRO and leading universities and the zoos to put in place measures to control predators, to map the impacts of these fires on our native flora and fauna and to prioritise the recovery effort by working with land owners. And then $25 million will be provided to other groups who are doing excellent work trying to protect our wildlife, to restore our habitat and that includes Greening Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia, land management groups and some of our leading zoos across the states.
KIM LANDERS:
It’s not just wildlife that’s taken a hit, the economies of many towns have also taken a big hit. The Government is going to hear from small business leaders tomorrow. What sort of assistance package will you be providing for small business?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
The first thing to say is there already are measures in place to ensure that funding goes out to small businesses, whether that’s primary producers, whether that’s other small businesses that have lost much of their earnings that they would expect through the year from that holiday period. We will be continuing to make further announcements. The roundtable tomorrow will be important and I have noted the comments from the peak body for small business, COSBOA, saying that the Government has been very receptive to the understandings required about what has been occurring for small businesses as a result of these fires.
KIM LANDERS:
The latest Newspoll shows that the Prime Minister personal approval rating has dropped 8 per cent. Are voters rightly venting their anger at how he has handled the bushfire crisis?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Firstly, you’ve got to put aside what is a healthy scepticism among many people about polls. The other key point here is that we have heard the message from the public. The public do expect that when it comes to natural disasters that there is a very direct response from their Federal Government and that is what we’re doing with the unprecedented call-out of the ADF, and particularly, talking about the reservists, the fact that we’ve established this Bushfire Recovery Agency and we’ve provided $2 billion…
KIM LANDERS:
I understand that but my question was do you think that voters are right to have given, not only the Prime Minister but also the Coalition – the Coalition has fallen behind Labor on a two party preferred basis for the first time since the election – to give both entities, both parties if you like, a bit of a whack over this?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
The voters are never wrong. We are the servants for the Australian people, our job is to deliver for them and that’s why we’re ensuring that no stone is unturned in getting the assistance out to these communities after these devastating bushfires.
KIM LANDERS:
On emissions, can you confirm that the Government won’t need to use their Kyoto carry-over credits to meet and beat it’s 2030 target?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Our policy is to use the carry-over credits if they are required and what history has shown is that we have made very significant progress in meeting and beating or earlier targets, Kim, if you look at situations…
KIM LANDERS:
You must know, you know this area well, you’re a former Energy and Environment Minister, you know it well. Will Australia need to use them or not?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
The situation by 2030, no doubt, will be very different than today. What I would say is that we’re focusing on new technology, the economy is in a transition when it comes to a lower carbon footprint. Whether it’s our hydrogen program, biofuels, micro-grids, the new technologies in solar panels, what we have shown is an ability to meet and beat our earlier targets and our 26-28 per cent reduction by 2030 on 2005 levels is a comparably strong target with many other countries. So far, we’re nearly about 13 per cent down on our 2005 levels today, while other economies like New Zealand, like China, like India, have seen their emissions go up.
KIM LANDERS:
The Prime Minister used the word yesterday “evolve” when talking about climate policy. Is he signalling any adjustment to the Government’s position?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Look, we took to the Australian people in an election just months ago, a 26-28 per cent target. We will meet and beat our target. This is an international problem that requires an international solution, our focus is on technology…
KIM LANDERS:
Are you open to having a higher emissions reduction target? Are you personally open to that?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
I’m very much focused on delivering on our international commitments, ensuring that the economy transitions to a smaller carbon footprint, to adapt the newest technologies and to recognise we need to always get the balance right. What I learned in this portfolio is that we must avoid the extremes of this debate. There are people who will always say that you’re doing too much to reduce emissions and there are many who will say you’re also never doing enough and it’s about finding the sensible, balanced approach that ensures that we play our part in what is meeting a global problem.
KIM LANDERS:
Treasurer, thank you very much for joining AM this morning.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Thank you.