26 March 2020

Interview with Laura Jayes, First Edition, Sky News Australia

Note

Topics: coronavirus pandemic, economic stimulus package.

Jayes:

Let’s go to Canberra now.  Joining me is Michael Sukkar, the Housing Minister and Assistant Treasurer.  Michael Sukkar, thank you for your time.  Sad news out of your state of Victoria, two deaths overnight, two people in their 70’s.

Sukkar:

Yeah Laura, it’s an extraordinarily sad whenever we see the death toll rise and you know, our heart goes out to those families and seeing those tragic events occur I think, just steals everyone’s resolve for what we need to do to stop the spread of COVID-19 and I know that that’s been weighing very heavily on the minds of the National Cabinet.

Jayes:

We have so many cases and they are not consistent around the country.  The Prime Minister says that whatever comes out of the national, war cabinet, if you like, is a baseline.  Do you think that some states that all have different circumstances like your own, should be making rules that suit their own circumstances?

Sukkar:

Well Laura there’s no doubt that the PM has made very clear that in his view and the view of the National Cabinet that, of course, where you’ve got different circumstances in different states or territories, it’s wholly appropriate that on occasion, different responses will be taken.  I mean the first of those examples was the lock-down initiated by the Northern Territory who has very vulnerable, remote communities.  That was obviously the Northern Territory doing what was in the interests of their people and that is wholly appropriate.

Now that of course, extends to, whether it’s New South Wales or Victoria or Queensland, which is obviously seeing the majority of cases and the majority of new cases.  So, I don’t think there’s any inconsistency between that position which says that the National Cabinet will come up with a baseline but where there are circumstances that a particularly state or territory – who is dealing with a different issue or a more acute issue – that they should undertake heightened or different responses, I think is wholly appropriate and I know that the National Cabinet and the PM of course, endorse that.

Jayes:

We should all know by now that social distancing is our best weapon against the spread of coronavirus.  If it doesn’t work, basically if we fail as a community, will we need to go into lock-down?

Sukkar:

Well Laura, there’s no doubt that we’ve seen this through a staged approach and that most jurisdictions around the world implemented and have implemented as light-touch a response as is possible and ramped those up as necessary.  Our experience has been similar.  I think – and I know that a lot of Australians have copped a little bit of flak for not following the rules – my experience is somewhat different.  I, in just what I’ve observed just even in the last few days, I think has been a remarkable response from Australians on taking it very seriously.  I think there has been a real change and I perhaps have some confidence, Laura, that people are taking it so seriously that the social distancing rules, the no-essential travel outside of your house effective-rules, are being strictly adhered to by the vast majority of Australians.  Now, we won’t see the fruits of that perhaps for another week, but I have some confidence, Laura, that people are taking it seriously and that will make a difference.

Jayes:

An estimated one million people have lost their jobs in recent days, this is a risk to life and livelihoods.  Many of those will go on unemployment benefits.  Can you look at or will the Government look at the mutual obligation rules that remain in place?  From Tuesday, anyone on unemployment benefits still needs to meet those mutual obligation rules.  Isn’t this tying up people at Centrelink that need to be helping others but also causing unnecessary strain on people that have just joined the jobless queue?

Sukkar:

Yeah Laura, look I think that’s it’s worth noting that we have suspended all of the mutual obligation requirements, you’re right…interrupted.

Jayes:

Only until Tuesday though, right?

Sukkar:

Yeah, correct, until next week.  Then, to the extent that any mutual obligation rules apply, they have all been modified to take account for the fact that we don’t want people engaging in face-to-face activities.  So, every single mutual obligation requirement – to the extent that it requires any face-to-face activity – has been completely modified to remove that requirement.  We’ve also ensured that the mutual obligation requirements for people like sole traders are very different and take account of their circumstances which essentially just says to a sole trader that you’re trying your best to keep your business going which of course, every sole trader is doing anyway.  So, it’s a mutual obligation requirement that I doubt that many of those sole traders would struggle to meet anyway.

Jayes:

But Minister, will you review this because the reality is that thousands of jobs every day are being lost.  No one is hiring.

Sukkar:

Laura, look, there’s no doubt that it’s a pretty extraordinary thing – particularly for a Coalition Government – to completely suspend mutual obligation.  I think that’s a pretty strong signal from us to the Australian community…interrupted.

Jayes:

We are in extraordinary times, are we not? Can’t we just suspend this indefinitely until we are on the other side of this thing?

Sukkar:

Well that’s I think my point, Laura, that we have taken an extraordinary step because yes, it’s extraordinary times.  What I’m saying to you is that you can take that as a pretty strong signal that we don’t disagree with your basic point which says that we want and are doing everything that we can to assist people who – through no fault of their own – are unable to work.  Their entire industry might be shut down, that’s why we’ve brought in the Coronavirus Supplement payment which will bring, for many people, up to $1,100 or $1,200 a fortnight of payments in addition to a one-off $750 payment.  We are recognising that – through no fault of their own – people, many, many thousands of people who have worked hard their whole lives, who have contributed to the system, who have paid taxes, who have been great citizens, now need something back from their country and we, I think, have stepped up to the plate in supporting them and we’ll do the same thing with mutual obligation as we have with suspending the requirements and it’s a, you know, Laura, it’s a rapidly evolving situation.

Jayes:

I know, it is and you’re not the Minister in charge and I appreciate that but can you give us some assurance that the Government is looking at this, looking at the indefinite suspension of such rules?

Sukkar:

Well the assurance that I can give you, Laura, is that we are looking at everything that makes this very difficult time for those people, a little bit easier.  We wouldn’t do anything to make a hard time, harder for those individuals.

Jayes:

Okay well, keep us up-to-date.  We thank you for your time today.

Sukkar:

Thanks so much, Laura.