Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Transcript – ABC Drive with Gary Adshead

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Senator Dean Smith Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Liberal Senator for Western Australia TRANSCRIPT – ABC DRIVE WITH GARY ADSHEAD Topics: Labor smear campaign, Chinese warships, Northwest Shelf , Senator Payman Iran comments E&OE GARY ADSHEAD: And if I push a button now, I’m pretty hopeful that I will have at the other end of the line in Canberra, the one, the only, Liberal senator Dean Smith. How are you, Dean? DEAN SMITH: G’day, Gary and Madeleine. I’m, very well. Feeling a bit of FOMO here. MADELEINE KING: Me too, missing out on estimates. DEAN SMITH: I know, lots to talk about. Lots to share, Madeleine. GARY ADSHEAD: There is. Hey, let me get you both warmed up, though. Anthony Green’s retiring, Madeleine. MADELEINE KING: That’s really sad. And haven’t we all been, for many years, watching and listening to Anthony Green on election coverages or reading his blogs more recently? A really insightful fellow. I heard the interview. I was driving back down from York a little while back, and, you know, what a talent that we’ll miss, to be honest. And how he managed to turn those notes in peoples’ heads, I think he put it, into a function on a computer that that more people could look at and we could see on our television screens. GARY ADSHEAD: And Dean, I mean, I don’t know about from your point of view as a politician, but us as journos, he makes our job a lot easier. DEAN SMITH: Well, he makes the politician’s job a bit easier as well, Gary, because he’d always call it relatively early and very accurately. So, we would know whether we had cause for celebration or cause for commiseration. But I’ve met Anthony in person twice, actually, once here in Parliament, but also out and about. And a really informative guy, great passion for our democratic system, and he’ll be greatly missed. But we’re lucky to have him for the WA election, and we’re lucky to have him for the for the next Federal one. GARY ADSHEAD: And, I mean, let’s hope, well, your side of politics is hoping he doesn’t call this one as early as he did the last one. He was going for a record last time in 2021. Alright. Now listen. In the last twenty-four hours, we’ve seen these stories and reports in and around Peter Dutton and, his property portfolio and whether or not he had some sort of insider knowledge around share purchases, going way back. What’s this all about, Madeleine King? This attack on him in terms of his aspiration and ability to get on and make a living and, obviously, a good life for his family and wealth. What do you say to it? MADELEINE KING: Oh, I respect everyone’s right to do precisely that. I mean, I’ve worked before, going into Parliament in different sectors as a lawyer, in the university, doing a number of things. And I think what we’ve seen is journalists asking questions about previous transactions, and those questions will continue to be asked because, you know, you’ve been a journalist, and sometimes it’s a dog with a bone here. They’re going to follow it until they’re satisfied with an answer. And I’ll leave that with Peter Dutton to deal with. GARY ADSHEAD: Yeah. Well, Dean Smith, I mean, obviously, the timing’s interesting, isn’t it? DEAN SMITH: Gary, this is a disgraceful and desperate attempt by Labor to smear Peter Dutton on the eve of the calling of the election. And this particular attack has fallen very flat. Labor Senators in the Senate Economics Committee this morning tried to raise the issue, tried to prosecute an argument, and it’s absolutely fallen flat. I think that if the Prime Minister has any accusations to level at Peter Dutton, he should be up front. He should do it out in the open, and not to resort to these sorts of unnecessary smear tactics. But let’s be clear. Peter Dutton came out this morning and denied that there was any wrongdoing whatsoever. And people will remember that Peter has been a police officer that acted with great integrity. He’s been a Parliamentarian who’s acted with great integrity. A very shameful first attempt, I suspect, by Labor to smear Peter Dutton and it has fallen flat. GARY ADSHEAD: Is there anything wrong with a politician, let alone anyone, having 26 houses or whatever the case may be over the years, given that aspiration of owning a home for a lot of people has well and truly disappeared? MADELEINE KING: I mean, what’s been said is in the newspapers. It’s, you know, been across two newspapers is my understanding. I have no objection that some people have had more time than others to do this, or more natural advantages, or have had different opportunities in life, and that is, in every instance, up to them. So, I’m not going to criticise… DEAN SMITH: There’s absolutely no wrongdoing here. MADELEINE KING: You know I’m not saying that. DEAN SMITH: Good, so you agree it was a Labor smear campaign? MADELEINE KING: It’s not a smear campaign. I just read what was in the papers. And as I said at the start, this is for journalists. If they want to ask questions to the Leader of the Opposition, they’ll get their answers. If they’re not satisfied with the answers, they’ll keep on asking questions. That’s what happens to each of us all the time. DEAN SMITH: We suspect the origin of this was probably a Labor Party dirt unit. MADELEINE KING: Well, I mean, I guess you can suspect all you want, and I’m going to leave it at that. And Peter Dutton will answer those questions. And as you know, Dean, we all get these questions all the time. DEAN SMITH: A Categorical denial by Peter Dutton today. And, Madeleine, can we get a commitment from you and Labor that we won’t see…

Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Media Release – More than 1,200 WA businesses insolvent as Labor’s cost of doing business crisis bites

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE MORE THAN 1,200 WA BUSINESSES INSOLVENT AS LABOR’S COST OF DOING BUSINESS CRISIS BITES Nearly three years of elevated interest rates under the Albanese Government has fueled one of the most severe cost of doing business crises Western Australia has experienced – driving a massive rise in the number of businesses collapsing. Latest figures from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reveal that 1,222 businesses across the state entered insolvency between January and December 2024. This represents a 42 percent increase in WA insolvencies compared to 2023. The data confirms what many local entrepreneurs know only too well – that the rate of insolvencies in Western Australia is accelerating as more and more small businesses struggle to cope with persistent high interest rates and tightening consumer spending. There were 351 insolvencies during the December 2024 quarter, a jump of 142 percent on the 145 insolvencies in the March 2022 quarter. ASIC figures also indicate that businesses in the construction and accommodation/food categories were hit hardest, accounting for 32.4 percent – or nearly one-third – of all company insolvencies in Western Australia last year. Significant Government spending at both Federal and State levels has to an extent masked the true impact of the crisis on small businesses, which remain the main drivers of jobs growth in Australia. As a result of this public spending, more than 80 percent of jobs filled in the past two years have been in Australia’s public service, health, and education. The Australian Government has added over 26,000 new permanent public service positions since Labor’s election, contributing to a 23 percent increase in the wages bill since June 2022. This Government spending is not financially sustainable and long term, sustainable jobs will only be created in an environment where the private sector is thriving. WA’s confronting, rapidly increasing business insolvency rate is proof positive that is not the case under Anthony Albanese and Labor. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith: “Western Australian businesses have battled difficult operating conditions for years under Labor, but the scale of these insolvencies leaves no doubt the situation has badly deteriorated – we are in a full blown cost of doing business crisis.” “These are not just numbers, either. They are real WA businesses, real WA jobs, and real WA households being impacted.” “Contrary to the promise Anthony Albanese made in Perth in May 2022, things have not been easier under his Government – higher interest rates, skyrocketing overheads, weak consumer confidence and overregulation are what Labor has delivered businesses in Western Australia” “Those businesses realise, and the data confirms, that the economy is stagnating while Labor throws more and more money into growing the bureaucracy instead of the private sector.” “That will not be the case under a Dutton-led Coalition Government, with our plan to back small business, cut Government waste and get Australia back on track.” ENDS

Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Media Release – Charity Leaders Unleash on Labor’s Failure to Deliver in New Survey

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE 24 February 2025 CHARITY LEADERS UNLEASH ON LABOR’S FAILURE TO DELIVER IN NEW SURVEY The charity and not for profit sector has made its most damning assessment of the Albanese Government yet – venting its frustrations at the lack of support and policy progress under Labor at a time when it is most needed. New charity leaders’ survey A report released today slams Labor’s inaction since coming to power and notes how it is jeopardising the charitable organisations supporting millions of Australians through the Government’s own cost of living crisis. It notes that “Charities and NFP community groups have been on the back burner”, that they are “not a priority for the Government” and asks when the Government is “going to start doing things”. State of the Sector Report, Charity Policy Delivery: The Government’s Scorecard surveyed the 56 leaders and CEOs of major charities and not for profits who are part of the Community Council of Australia Charity Expert Panel. Conducted by Piazza Research, the report reveals at least two thirds of charity leaders are critical of the Albanese Government’s failure to act and inability to progress key reforms aimed at improving the operational capacity of the sector. Many of these reforms were Labor election promises in 2022, and the report observes that “actions speak louder than words, and commitments need to be followed through” – also noting there have been “lots of consultations and review processes”, but that these are “yet to see much action”. The leading concern, voiced by nearly 85 percent of survey respondents, was Labor’s failure to cut the red tape burdening the sector. Other issues highlighted include insufficient action to assist charities and not for profits in adapting to changing technology and updated models of funding that allow long-term planning. Labor’s record of failure The report mirrors long-standing criticisms from the sector – and the Coalition – that the opportunity to make vital progress to grow and future-proof charities and not for profits has been lost under Labor and Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh. Its July 2024 Future Foundations for Giving Inquiry Report, whose stated aim was to “increase opportunities for philanthropic giving”, contained limited pathways to practically achieve this and left the national goal of doubling philanthropic giving by 2030 in doubt. Labor’s Not-For-Profit Sector Blueprint, described as a “roadmap for Government reform and sector-led initiatives to boost the sector’s capacity to support and connect Australian Communities”, was announced in October 2022, but only released in December 2024 after the sector had struggled through one of the most challenging periods in its history. Where Labor has attempted to act, its approach has been flawed and counterproductive. Its rollout of new not for profit tax reporting requirements, for example, has seen hundreds of community organisations across Australia overwhelmed by new regulatory requirements because the Albanese Government provided conflicting advice and insufficient transitionary arrangements and support. Labor also pursued changes under Fair Work legislation regarding fixed-term contracts that was incompatible with the way most charities receive funding and hire their staff – only finally agreeing to consult and grant the sector an exemption when Senator Smith, on behalf of the Coalition, achieved the support of the Senate to make public documents revealing Labor’s mishandling of the situation. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith “This report is clear confirmation of the frustration and disappointment charity and not for profit leaders and their organisations are feeling with the Albanese Government after three years of inaction.” “Their anger and concern is justified – these have been the most challenging years in the sector’s history, with Australians experiencing major hardship and requiring record support in Labor’s cost of living crisis.” “Instead of rewarding and supporting it, Labor has stalled, watered down, or delivered late the key reforms our charities and not for profits need to operate in an increasingly challenging environment characterised by skyrocketing operating costs, volunteering challenges and cybersecurity issues to name a few.” “And when the Albanese Government does act, it acts contrary to the sector’s best interests, often failing to understand their concerns and making an already bad situation worse.” ENDS

Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Transcript – ABC Drive with Gary Adshead

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA TRANSCRIPT – ABC DRIVE WITH GARY ADSHEAD Topics: Whyalla Steelworks, RBA rate cut, mortgage stress under Labor, BHP CEO IR comments, North-West Shelf delays E&OE GARY ADSHEAD: Okay, first up and we’re watching just on the TV at the moment, actually, we were just glancing there. Whyalla Steelworks. Madeleine King, this is of course, you know, historically a major steelworks in South Australia. Are there any implications for the Federal Government in the fact that this will now be forced into administration by the South Australian Government? MADELEINE KING: Well, it’s a very important step that the South Australian Government has taken under the leadership of the Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis and, of course, Premier Malinauskas. This is a great industrial city in South Australia. It’s important that the South Australian Government stepped in so that they could save those jobs and look for a future for Whyalla, as it has had some poor management decisions, to say the least. Obviously we as a Government have been closely in contact with the South Australian Government about the Whyalla Steelworks and I have no doubt there’ll be more to be said about our assistance in this regard in the future. But, right now, we’re totally in line with Premier Malinauskas and his intentions to save the steelworks, but also to save the jobs of all those workers, which is really important. There’s been a lot of doubt around this, and doubt creates a lot of tension in the community and that needed to end. GARY ADSHEAD: Is there potentially any way that the Federal Government would be asked to sort of come in with funding to try and save it in the meantime? Because if it goes into administration, then obviously first thing is creditors that have to be looked at and so on, and then you have to work out whether there’s another operator that would come in and run it. But, in the meantime, there might be a need for the Federal Government to commit to funding, yeah? MADELEINE KING: Well, there’s a lot of options being looked at. The preference, of course, is always that the private operators, you know, invest in projects. Like it’s not a project, it’s a longstanding facility, the Whyalla Steelworks. And I have no doubt that is exactly what’s going on right now is seeking other investors and experienced steelwork operators. There are a number of them around the world. What we really want to concentrate on is making sure the community is reassured that the steelworks can continue, but that will, that will take a lot of effort. The South Australian Government has stepped up and will step up alongside with them to make sure the Whyalla Steelworks survives, and that will involve talking to other operators around the world and encouraging that investment, because we know we’ll continue to need steel and Australia needs our steelmaking capacity to continue. GARY ADSHEAD: Is this a bipartisan view that, you know, saving this particular steelworks is important? Or are there politics at play here? DEAN SMITH: There’s no doubt that the Whyalla steel mill is critical to Australia’s sovereign capability. I think 75% of the steel production of Australia’s steel production comes from Whyalla. A thousand jobs at risk here. You know, I think the town has 20 to 25,000 people, so there’s no doubt that this is an important piece of national and South Australian infrastructure. But we are at the beginning of this, there’s no doubt about that. I think there are some questions. Why is it only now that the South Australian Government might be choosing to step into this? I mean, there have been issues around the Whyalla operation for a considerable period of time, not just the operator, but in terms of its, sort of the technology that it uses, etcetera. I think the furnace has been out of action. I would worry how deeply South Australian taxpayers and perhaps even Commonwealth taxpayers might be drawn into this. You know, we would prefer to have private operators of large industrial developments like this. Of course, we know that the international dynamics around steel manufacturing are changing and changing very, very competitively. So, this actually could be the beginning of what could be a bad outcome. Just because steel production is getting more expensive, we don’t know the full impact of tariffs, for example, we don’t know what is going to be the nature of changing Chinese demand. I suspect this has got a long way to run yet. GARY ADSHEAD: 132 720. I have with me Madeleine King, the Resources Minister, Dean Smith, the Liberal Senator. If you want to get involved in the conversation, feel free to give us a call right now and we’ll put you through. Our interest rate cut. It’s been a long time coming. When’s the Federal election? Because you’ve been waiting for it, haven’t you? DEAN SMITH: I’m looking intently at Madeleine as well. MADELEINE KING: I mean, we’ve had this conversation a few weeks running. And, even in the room, we’re having the same… GARY ADSHEAD: Now we can look at each other in the eyes. But no, seriously, though, I mean, this is important for the Government settings in terms of going into an election campaign. To see that interest rates have finally been eased up somewhat. MADELEINE KING: But more importantly, and much more importantly, it’s in the interests of Australians, particularly mortgage holders, of which there are many. My electorate has one of the highest rates of people with a mortgage in the country. So, it is really important for people, you know, everyday families and workers right around the country. So, that really is the focus and that’s where the benefit accrues to. But it’s a benefit that, you know, the hardworking women and men of Australia have earned through…

Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Media Release – ACCC nod to Virgin-Qatar alliance a win for competition

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE 18 February 2025 ACCC NOD TO VIRGIN-QATAR ALLIANCE A WIN FOR COMPETITION The latest ACCC green light to a flight partnership between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways is welcome news for Australian air consumers. The competition watchdog today released a draft determination that a five-year integrated alliance between the carriers can go ahead. This long-standing issue has been at the heart of the airline competition debate in Australia, with greater competition and its many benefits to travellers given low priority – and in some cases actively prevented – by the Albanese Government. Under the proposal, the carriers will operate 28 new weekly services between Doha and Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with Virgin using Qatar aircraft and crew under a wet lease arrangement. Although its final determination is subject to regulatory approvals and feedback, the ACCC has judged the Virgin-Qatar alliance “is likely to result in public benefits and is unlikely to result in any public detriment”. The release of this draft decision coincides with the publication of ACCC’s February 2025 Domestic airline competition in Australia Report, an important pro-competition initiative which Labor attempted to shut down in October 2023 but was forced to retain under Coalition pressure. The Report revealed that total arrivals and departures to and from Australia increased by 6.8% and 11.6% respectively in the 12 months to November 2024, demonstrating a steady increase in demand for international travel over the past year. This increased demand makes the Virgin-Qatar proposal, and the alternatives it will offer, timely good news for passengers. And while today’s draft determination is a positive step for all Australian air consumers, it is worth noting that those in Western Australia will especially benefit from it. The ACCC Report notes “Western Australia in particular experienced significant growth in international travel. International passenger numbers at Perth Airport were 23% higher in 2024 than in 2023.” These additional services to the Middle East and beyond will provide Western Australians with greater choice and flexibility when booking an air ticket. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith: “This draft decision is welcomed by the Coalition as an important step for aviation competition in Australia.” “It gives consumers the choice, flexibility, better service and cheaper prices that accompany improved competition – and the latest data confirming increased demand makes the timing of this especially significant.” “This decision comes nearly three years after the Albanese Government came to power and its term has been characterised by either neglecting, or blocking, increased competition in this sector.” “There is still a long way to go until we have the sector Australian travellers deserve, but the ACCC’s draft decision today, and the various Coalition initiatives aimed at boosting aviation competition, reveal progress will happen despite Labor’s incompetence and skewed priorities.” ENDS

Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Media Release – Mortgage repayment survey pinpoints the hardest hit locations across Australia

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE 18 February 2025 MORTGAGE REPAYMENT SURVEY PINPOINTS THE HARDEST HIT LOCATIONS ACROSS AUSTRALIA A new nationwide analysis reveals the Australian suburbs worst impacted by rising mortgage repayments under the Albanese Government – and confirms most are in Labor-held seats. Undertaken by the Federal Parliamentary Library at the request of Senator Dean Smith, the survey covers the 50 suburbs in each capital city that experienced the most drastic repayment increases between March 2022 and September 2024. Perth topped the list, with its 50 worst affected suburbs recording an average 154.3 percent rise over the period. It was followed by Adelaide at 140.6 percent, Brisbane at 133.9 percent, Sydney at 95.2 and Melbourne at 68.1 percent. Salisbury in Adelaide recorded the highest increase anywhere in Australia at 211.7 percent, with repayments there soaring from $679 to $2,117. In Perth’s Bayswater, households saw repayments leap from $762 to $2,355 per month – an extra $1,593. Armadale was second worst affected, jumping from $1,024 to $2,972 per month. Repayments in Brisbane’s Eagleby increased 177.5 percent, equal to $1,760 more every month, while Woodridge was just behind at 172.5, or $1,407. In Sydney, Little Bay lead the way with a 153.8 percent rise, adding $4,586 to monthly bills, followed by Wilton at 146.9 percent and Punchbowl at 132.8 percent. Maidstone in Melbourne saw a 100.72 percent jump, translating to an extra $1,746 per month, while repayments in Box Hill increased $1,625 after a 99.1 percent jump. These findings highlight the direct consequences of the Albanese Government’s economic mismanagement and skewed priorities on Australian mortgage holders. Notably, worst impacted are suburbs in electorates represented by Labor in the Federal Parliament – including Spence, Perth, Burt, Rankin, Kingsford Smith, Watson, Fraser and Chisholm. Instead for being rewarded for their vote, these constituents are being pushed to the brink by a Government they elected to be represent their interests, and which promised it would make life easier. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith: “This data leaves no doubt of how tough Australian households, regardless of what city they are in, are doing it under Anthony Albanese and Labor.” “A dozen interest rate rises, fuelled by Labor’s spending and economic mismanagement, are pushing Australian mortgage-holders to the edge – and, while rate cuts will be very welcome, it will take far more than one or two to repair the damage Labor has inflicted. “What is most striking about this data is that it confirms the hardest-hit suburbs are overwhelmingly in Labor-held electorates, whose voters will soon have an opportunity to hold the Albanese Government to account.” “The Coalition understands Australians should not be forced to choose between making mortgage repayments and putting food on the table, which is why we have a plan to get our economy back on track and address the housing crisis under a Dutton-led Government.” ENDS

LABOR’S INFLATION CRISIS FORCING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OLDER AUSTRALIANS BACK TO WORK

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6 February 2025 LABOR’S INFLATION CRISIS FORCING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OLDER AUSTRALIANS BACK TO WORK The consequences of the Albanese Government’s rampant spending were laid bare in this week’s interest rate rise to 3.85 percent, the 13th cash rate hike under Labor. But new data highlights another very human cost of Labor’s economic mismanagement, revealing that a record number of older Australians are continuing – or returning – to work to cope with financial pressures. There were 760,100* Australians aged 65 and over in the workforce in October 2025. This is the highest number since the relevant data set began in 1995 and confirms that the number of older working Australians has spiked by nearly 100,000 in two years, up from 682,300*. Since Labor came to power in May 2022, the number has jumped by 124,200* workers – or just under 20 percent. The data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and collated by the Parliamentary Library for Senator Dean Smith, also details the number of working Australians aged 65 and over in the most populous states. There were 243,200* in New South Wales in October 2025, another record high, representing a 22 percent increase compared to May 2022. Victoria followed close behind with 201,400* older employees, up 27 percent from 159,200* when the Albanese Government was elected. In Queensland, numbers totalled 143,600* workers, a 15 percent rise from May 2022. It proves that Australians are delaying retirement, or coming back to work, at unprecedented rates as the cost of living crisis rages on and fixed incomes are eroded. While working into your late 60s and 70s was once a personal choice for many, it is increasingly becoming an economic necessity on the Albanese Government’s watch. This crisis, as the Reserve Bank of Australia has made very clear, is being driven by Labor’s failure to curb spending. National inflation rose to 3.8 percent in the year to December, up from 3.4 percent the month before, pushing up household costs across power, rent, groceries and mortgages. Cost-of-living stress is now the single biggest concern for Australians planning for retirement, with data from Equip Super showing workers are pushing back retirement by up to six years. At the same time, the so-called “bank of mum and dad” is placing growing pressure on older Australians, with many parents drawing on home equity or delaying retirement to help their children enter an increasingly unaffordable housing market. The Federal Government’s own Intergenerational Report has warned that rising housing costs and mortgage debt among retirees will place increasing strain on the age pension and broader Government finances. Quotes attributable to Senator Dean Smith: “These are the numbers everybody needs to see – hundreds of thousands of older Australians delaying retirement because it is the only way they can survive financially.” “It is not about choice – it’s about financial stress caused by Labor’s failure to manage inflation and the economy.” “Rising inflation, soaring housing costs and mounting interest rates under the Albanese Government are destroying the retirement plans of a record number of Australians, robbing them of the dignity and security they deserve at this time in their lives.”   *Based on annualised average.

Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Transcript – ABC Perth Drive with Gary Adshead

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Senator Dean Smith Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Liberal Senator for Western Australia TRANSCRIPT – ABC PERTH DRIVE WITH GARY ADSHEAD Topics: Federal election; anti-Semitism; Production tax credits; Nature Positive; Coalition simpler meal tax deduction for small business; Gaza. E&OE GARY ADSHEAD: Alright, let’s get to our segment, the campaign, as the Federal election heats up and Parliament is sitting. My two guests are Madeline King, the Labor Resources Minister, and Liberal Senator Dean Smith, who are in Canberra in our studio over there. Hello, you two. MADELEINE KING: Good to hear from you, Gary. It’s great to be here with Dean as well in this tiny little studio here in Canberra. DEAN SMITH: I was just sharing with Madeleine, Gary, that we are lucky we’re both Dockers’ supporters. It’s very cozy in the ABC studio here in Parliament House. GARY ADSHEAD: Ah, both Dockers’ supporters. Well, we’ve found that out about you then, haven’t we? Let’s find out some more. Hey, look, obviously question time today there was no doubt where the Opposition wanted to go with this, and that’s asking the Prime Minister questions about when he was told about the issue of the caravan which was found with explosives. Why won’t the Prime Minister just answer the question, Madeleine? MADELEINE KING: Well, I think he’s been very clear on why certain details don’t get discussed in Parliament or at press conferences, and that’s about the national security and about letting the security forces do the work they need to do to catch the people responsible for that particular incident, where there is this seemingly abandoned caravan with explosives, with hate speech on it. So, it’s pretty plain that that’s the reason why, and that makes a lot of sense. I think everyone understands that sometimes you’ve simply got to let security forces do their bit, and having Prime Ministers or Ministers or other members of Parliament just chip in without warrant or need doesn’t really help the investigators. GARY ADSHEAD: But the question is really whether or not the PM was briefed like the New South Wales Premier was, and it seems like the Prime Minister just doesn’t want to say whether he was or wasn’t. That’s what doesn’t add up here. MADELEINE KING: Well, the questions in question time, which obviously I was there for, were more about specific dates and sometimes those specifics aren’t particularly helpful. Also, not helpful for how security forces deal with future incidents like this, and briefings of members of our national security committee and, also, of course, the Prime Minister himself. GARY ADSHEAD: It won’t go away though, will it? MADELEINE KING: Well, the main priority is to catch the people responsible and make sure they pay the penalty for what fear they have created in the community. And that’s my priority. It’s certainly the government’s priority and I’m very sure that that’s the security forces priority as well.   GARY ADSHEAD: Dean Smith, can you give us an idea as to why Peter Dutton and the Opposition keep pursuing this line as to when the PM was told? DEAN SMITH: Absolutely I can, Gary. Of course, I was sitting in Senate question time on the red leather and not on the green leather with Madeleine. But I think this case is a pretty simple one. At a time when we’ve seen a rising escalation of anti-Semitism in this country, in our own state, which will come as a surprise to people, we argue that there has been a lack of clear national leadership on the issue since the events of the 7th of October. That has made the situation very perilous across our country. As the national leader, Australians would expect that Anthony Albanese would take a high level of interest in these matters. Of course the speculation is this, that he did not know about the caravan incident in New South Wales for several days. People would find that unacceptable for the national leader to have not inquired, to have not been told for a number of days. And we are still yet to determine exactly how many days, about what could have been a mass casualty terrorist attack in this country. GARY ADSHEAD: That’s not his fault though, is it? That wouldn’t be his fault if he wasn’t told by the AFP or whoever might’ve been the responsible agency to tell the PM or brief them. That wouldn’t be his fault. He would be asking questions himself, wouldn’t he? I mean, he be saying why wasn’t I told? DEAN SMITH: I’m sure Peter Dutton will continue in this line of prosecution. Five questions, Peter Dutton asked the Prime Minister today, and the Prime Minister did not provide a clear answer at all. To what is a simple question. What was the date? When we know the date, we might be able to ask other sorts of questions about when the inquiries were made. What effort did you, the Prime Minister, make to make yourself more appraised of these events? So, I think at a time when we are expecting our national leadership to be hypersensitive to risks to our safety in this country, to risks that give rise to further antisemitism, this is another example we would argue of Anthony Albanese asleep at the wheel. GARY ADSHEAD: Alright now I’ve got in the Canberra studio talking to me, Madeleine King, the Labor MP for Brand, of course Resources Minister and Dean Smith, WA Liberal Senator, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury. 1-300-222-720 if you’d like to ask a question as we obviously step up the Federal election campaign, feel free to do so. I just do need to get a quick reaction from you too, because it, when we talk about the Middle East here in Australia, obviously there’s a lot of contention and there’s been a protest in the street about what happened in Gaza, et cetera. Now we do…

INFLATION AND HOUSING FAILURES PUSH OLDER AUSTRALIANS BACK TO WORK

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA 3 February 2025 INFLATION AND HOUSING FAILURES PUSH OLDER AUSTRALIANS BACK TO WORK New national data reveals a deepening cost-of-living crisis across Australia, with record numbers of older Australians being forced back into the workforce as inflation, housing costs and interest rates continue to bite under the Albanese Labor Government. Across the country, Australians are delaying retirement at unprecedented rates, with workforce participation among people aged 65 to 74 climbing steadily as fixed incomes are eroded by rising prices and mounting housing costs. Once, working into your late 60s and 70s was a personal choice, but under Labor it is increasingly a financial necessity. ABS data shows retirement rates have collapsed over the past two decades. Twenty years ago, nearly 70 per cent of women and almost half of men aged 60–64 were fully retired. Today, those figures have fallen to just 41 per cent and 27 per cent respectively. Census data also shows the number of Australians aged 55 to 64 who own their homes outright has almost halved over the past 20 years, leaving many approaching retirement with large mortgage debts and little financial flexibility. Research from Digital Finance Analytics reveals the scale of the problem with three-quarters of retirees with a mortgage owe more than they have in superannuation, while the number of older Australians who planned to retire but changed their minds doubled in the year to September. The average mortgage balance among this group is around $190,000, with many owing far more — in some cases up to $500,000 — forcing them to stay in the workforce longer than planned. This crisis is being driven by Labor’s failure to contain inflation and manage the economy. National inflation rose to 3.8 per cent in the year to December, up from 3.4 per cent the month before, pushing up household costs across power, rent, groceries and mortgages. Experts warn these pressures are widespread and unavoidable, with the average household expected to be more than $2,100 worse off this year alone due to rising prices. Cost-of-living stress is now the single biggest concern for Australians planning for retirement, with data from Equip Super showing workers are delaying retirement by up to six years, while more than one in five Australians have been forced to reduce their super contributions simply to make ends meet. At the same time, the so-called “bank of mum and dad” is placing growing pressure on older Australians, with many parents drawing on home equity or delaying retirement to help their children enter an increasingly unaffordable housing market. The Federal Government’s own Intergenerational Report has warned that rising housing costs and mortgage debt among retirees will place increasing strain on the age pension and broader government finances.   Quotes attributable to Senator Dean Smith “This surge in older Australians delaying retirement is not about choice — it’s about financial stress caused by Labor’s failure to manage inflation and the economy.” “When three-quarters of retirees with a mortgage owe more than they have in super, that is a flashing warning light for the nation.” “Labor’s cost-of-living crisis is forcing Australians to work longer, retire later and take on risks they never planned for.” “Rising inflation, soaring housing costs and mounting interest rates have shredded the retirement plans of thousands of Australians.” “Parents are staying in the workforce longer to help their kids buy a home, while still carrying their own mortgage debt — this is the real cost of Labor’s housing failure.” “Australians deserve dignity and security in retirement, not an economy that traps them in the workforce just to keep up with rising bills.”