Paterson, Smith, Adeniyi – Media Release – Multicultural youth swimming program will save lives and boost social cohesion

Media Releases

SENATOR JAMES PATERSON SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND CYBER SECURITY SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY FELICIA ADENIYI LIBERAL PARTY CANDIDATE FOR COWAN 30 April 2025 MULTICULTURAL YOUTH SWIMMING PROGRAM WILL SAVE LIVES AND BOOST SOCIAL COHESION An elected Dutton Liberal Government will provide $150,000 over three years from a revitalised Safer Communities Fund (SCF) to support multicultural youth swimming lessons in Cowan, ensuring improved water safety and greater social integration for more than 600 local kids. Utilising Royal Life Saving WA’s 8-week ‘Swim & Survive’ program, the classes will be run from Stirling Leisure Centre – Leisurepark in Balga for up to 208 children a year, with the cost of any swimming equipment included. Liberal candidate for Cowan, Felicia Adeniyi, said this funding would help children and their families feel safer in and around the water. “This is especially important in Cowan, where a significant percentage of the population was born overseas. We know that multicultural communities are at greater risk of drowning due to cultural differences in swimming ability,” Ms Adeniyi said. “This funding is a direct response to requests from concerned families in Cowan, and particularly the Organisation of African Communities in Western Australia, given the tragic drownings that occurred in recent years.” Senator for Western Australia, Senator Dean Smith, said the swimming program also has a key role in preventing isolation and fostering greater social integration for multicultural children. “Water safety knowledge and swimming are, fortunately, part of life for the wider community, but it’s vital that multicultural families are not excluded from this,” Senator Smith said. “The swimming program will help ensure that these children can confidently and safety enjoy the same activities as everybody else in Cowan, fostering a stronger sense of community here.” Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Senator James Paterson, said under a Dutton Liberal Government, the Cowan community will be better supported. “Getting Australia back on track means keeping Australia safe – safe for families, safe for businesses, and safe for communities,” Senator Paterson said. This commitment is part of the Liberals’ plan to strengthen our local communities and get our country back on track.

Smith, Adeniyi – Media Release – $295 million for congestion-busting major road upgrades in Cowan

Media Releases

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA FELICIA ADENIYI LIBERAL FOR COWAN 29 April 2025 $295 MILLION FOR CONGESTION-BUSTING MAJOR ROAD UPGRADES IN COWAN An elected Liberal Government will deliver two transformational upgrades to congested major roads in Perth’s northern suburbs worth a total of $295 million. This much needed infrastructure boost means locals will spend less time on the road and have a safer driving experience. The Liberals will deliver a grade separation project at Reid Highway and Erindale Road for $225 million. $70 million has been allocated for grade separation works at Wanneroo Road and Hepburn Avenue. Liberal candidate for Cowan, Felicia Adeniyi, said that the upgrades would support residents in Hamersley, Balcatta, Westminster and Balga, as well as the thousands of motorists who use Reid Highway every day. “The northern suburbs are growing rapidly and our road infrastructure must keep up with the increased demand to avoid delays and accidents,” Ms Adeniyi said. “Many locals have made it clear this is a priority and we are committed to delivering it so people can spend less time in the car and more time doing what matters.” Senator for Western Australia, Senator Dean Smith, said that the upgrades would improve road safety at some of Perth’s busiest intersections. “These are incredibly busy roads and the upgrades will ensure they are fit for purpose in this dymamic, expanding part of the city,” Senator Smith said. “This significant commitment is confirmation the Liberals understands the needs – and potential – of Cowan and its motorists.” ENDS

Smith, Reynolds, Adeniyi – Media Release – Delivering world-class facilities for Wanneroo Rugby Union Club

Media Releases

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA SENATOR LINDA REYNOLDS LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA FELICIA ADENIYI LIBERAL FOR COWAN 12 April 2025 DELIVERING WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES FOR WANNEROO RUGBY UNION CLUB An elected Liberal Government will provide $4 million towards the redevelopment and expansion of the Wanneroo Rugby Union Club, ensuring that the club remains a hub for grassroots and elite-level rugby in Perth’s northern suburbs. Liberal candidate for Cowan, Felicia Adeniyi, secured this commitment to ensure local athletes, families, and community groups can enjoy improved sporting opportunities and facilities. “The club has long been a mainstay of Western Australia’s rugby community, but its current facilities have become outdated and no longer meet the demands of a growing player base, including in the rapidly expanding women’s rugby competition,” said Ms Adeniyi. “This investment will ensure that the club can expand and modernise its infrastructure to cater to increased membership.” The upgrades will include: New female change rooms to support the club’s growing women’s teams, providing a professional space for training and game days. Improved spectator amenities to enhance the game-day experience for families, fans, and visiting teams. A high-performance training academy, aimed at developing the next generation of elite rugby players, supporting pathways into professional and national teams. The club’s redevelopment will help attract visiting teams for training camps and tournaments, boost the local economy, and raise the profile of rugby players in the local area. Senator Dean Smith and Senator Linda Reynolds both welcomed the announcement. “Sport is at the heart of our northern suburbs lifestyle and this investment will ensure that the club remains a centre for rugby excellence in WA, attracting locals and interstate and international teams,” Senator Smith said. “It is also advantageous timing ahead of the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups, where professional teams will be looking for high-quality training facilities,” said Senator Smith. “This funding recognises the key role the club plays in our local sporting and social life, and will enable it to deliver improved services to athletes and their supporters,” Senator Reynolds said. “This redevelopment will not only enhance the playing experience for athletes and sports enthusiasts, helping them to reach their full potential, but also drive economic benefits through use by professional teams and for events,” said Senator Reynolds. This commitment is part of the Liberals’ plan to strengthen our local communities and get Australia back on track. To read more about our plan, visit https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan. ENDS

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

Transcripts

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA TRANSCRIPT – INTERVIEW WITH GARY ADSHEAD, ABC PERTH DRIVE Topics – Leader’s debate; polls, early voting; defence spending; EV subsidies E&OE GARY ADSHEAD And we have in Canberra Dean Smith, the Liberal Senator firebrand, as we like to call him. DEAN SMITH G’day to you, Gary and Madeleine. MADELEINE KING Why don’t you put that on a t-shirt, Gary? DEAN SMITH I thought you might ask me what I’m doing in Canberra when I should be somewhere at pre poll? MADELEINE KING Well, I was going to just let that slide by. GARY ADSHEAD Well, I just thought it must be sort of secret business. I wasn’t going to ask, Dean. But you’re not going to tell us. DEAN SMITH I’ve been participating in a debate with Andrew Leigh, who is Labor’s charity spokesman, at the National Press Club. And, of course, the flights don’t line up. But I’ll be back in town tomorrow. So, you’ll see me out on the pre poll in the Northern Suburbs. GARY ADSHEAD Excellent. Alright. How’d the debate go? Did you have a win? DEAN SMITH Debates are so hard to know when you’re in the thick of it. I think there is one rule of thumb, though. If no one comes up to you after the debate, you haven’t performed very well. If people do come up and introduce themselves, you think, okay, I didn’t do too badly. But people came up and asked me some questions. GARY ADSHEAD Well, there you go. Now this was last night. This was the debate that was on Nine, of course, between Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese. I’ll get your reaction to what was said here. (RECORDING) ANTHONY ALBANESE You ripped $80,000,000,000 out of those two items in February 2014. (RECORDING) PETER DUTTON Prime Minister, you couldn’t lie straight in bed, honestly. This is unbelievable. (RECORDING) ANTHONY ALBANESE Well, you can go to abuse, you can… (RECORDING) PETER DUTTON Well, it’s just the reality. It’s just the reality. (RECORDING) ANTHONY ALBANESE That’s a sign of desperation, Peter, frankly. As is lying. That’s a sign of desperation. (RECORDING) PETER DUTTON Go to the February 2014 budget papers. People can do that online. It’s all available for all to see. (RECORDING) ALLY LANGDON Okay. I feel like we’ve given a fair bit of latitude here. I mean, let’s see what’s – I think we’re done with this one. GARY ADSHEAD Ally Langdon there finding out what it’s like to sometimes control politicians who are either face to face or not. Now listen, Dean Smith, is the Prime Minister a liar? Is he? DEAN SMITH Well, last night’s debate was a clear win for Peter Dutton. We saw strength of character. I thought that Peter was very quick off the blocks, drawing attention to Labor lies around nuclear costs, power prices, Medicare. I thought it was great to hear Peter populating his arguments with cost-of-living statistics, with some important data. So, I thought it was a clear win for Peter Dutton. Some of the commentary in today’s papers reinforced that view as well. It is the third debate. I think there’s one more debate on the fourth Sunday. So, I think, certainly, someone like myself was really encouraged by it. GARY ADSHEAD Right. Okay. I think that might have been the fourth, to be honest. But, Madeleine, who won that debate, do you think? MADELEINE KING Well, I mean, I, I can’t really tell how Dean judges the winner of the debate. So, who chats with someone after? It is really difficult to tell. But from that, what we heard then is, it did sound a little bit unhinged, a little bit desperate from Peter Dunton. But what I would say about these debates, and especially this level of debate between a Prime Minister and someone hoping to be Prime Minister, is the enormous amount of pressure both of these leaders are under. And I don’t know about you, Dean, and you’ve been in a debate at the Press Club today with Andrew Leigh, who’s also a very competent Member of Parliament. You can hardly imagine the level of pressure both of these men are under. So I have a lot of respect for both of them for doing it, but I think the Prime Minister is clearly much better prepared and well-practiced in in debates because he’s been in front of the media consistently, openly and honestly for much longer than Peter Dutton. I think it shows in the past debates and again last night, but, you know, I would say hats off to everyone who participates. DEAN SMITH But there was a very interesting part of the debate, Madeleine, when the Prime Minister was asked to talk about whether people will be better off in the next three years based on what he said in Perth back in May 2022, that people would be better off under Labor. And his response was, we certainly want people to be better off in three years’ time. Hardly a vote of confidence. GARY ADSHEAD Well, out of interest… MADELEINE KING I would say everyone knows that they will be better off under a Labor government because… DEAN SMITH But he said we want people to be better off – hardly a vote of confidence. MADELEINE KING Cheaper medical care and cheaper medicines are going to be put on the chopping block… GARY ADSHEAD Are you worried about the polling, Dean Smith? Are you worried about it? Because, I mean, the, the Australian’s front page has got another news poll that says that one of the interesting factors at the moment is the switch off of women from Peter Dutton. DEAN SMITH You’ve heard it said, Gary, but we will know the outcome on Saturday, the 3rd of May. There’s a lot of business to be made, lots of papers to be printed speculating about…

Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Address – National Press Club

Speeches

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA ADDRESS – CHARITIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS PRE-ELECTION FORUM – NATIONAL PRESS CLUB 23 April 2025 ***CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY*** INTRODUCTION Thank you, Julie – and thank you to both our sponsors and all of you from across the Australian charity and not-for-profit sector joining us today. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue this vital conversation with you. Since becoming Opposition charities spokesman, my door has been wide open to the sector – listening to your challenges and sharing your hopes for the future. And I have been out in the community, starting with visits in late 2022 and early 2023 to Adelaide, Moree and WA’s Kimberley region, to name just a few locations. The challenges organisations faced were real and the need for practical solutions was, and continues to be, urgent. Three years have now passed under the Albanese Labor Government. I have been visiting many charities again recently – in Queensland, Western Sydney, the Mornington Peninsula – especially those with a focus on food relief. Their situation has not improved. After three years of this Government, it is more desperate than ever. Labor policies heralded three years ago have been allowed to lag, practical initiatives are nowhere to be seen, and process has been dressed up as outcomes. The sector has been left to feed, clothe, house and counsel record numbers of Australians – many of them for the first time – through the Government’s cost of living crisis. Our charities and not-for-profits are, in many cases, literally keeping people and communities alive. And while the Albanese Government remains in power, they are doing it alone. FOOD RELIEF CHARITY FUNDING That is why I was in Brisbane’s south last week with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, announcing $19.5 million from an elected Liberal Government to build a new Foodbank Queensland distribution centre. It is part of a $69.5 million commitment to the food relief sector over four years from the 1st of July this year. The $50 million announced in the Budget in Reply will be made up of: $20 million over one year – $10 million to the three nationally funded food relief charities of Foodbank, OzHarvest and SecondBite and $10m for other charities also providing these services around the country – for the new freezer or delivery truck they desperately need; and $10 million annually for three years from 1 July 2026 for Foodbank, OzHarvest and SecondBite. The Coalition believes it is significant, immediate initiatives such as these that will changed the lived experiences of local charities, volunteers and those in need. THE SECTOR AND ECONOMY UNDER LABOR I don’t need to tell you that the sector and its clients are doing it tough – you are living it. But look at the numbers. Real household disposable income has collapsed by 8 percent under the Albanese Government and ABS statistics reveals basic foodstuffs, including bread, breakfast cereals, fruit, eggs, cheese and cooking oils all jumped in price by more 20 percent. Nearly 2 million households experienced severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, more than half with at least one person in paid work. And RBA data confirms the number of Australian mortgage holders running at least three months late on their repayments has increased in every state and the ACT during the past couple of years. MISSED OPPORTUNITIES There has been opportunity alongside the challenges – opportunity for genuine reform, to improve giving, to build a stronger sector by making it easier, rather than harder, for charities and not-for-profits to operate. These are goals we all support. Frustratingly, these opportunities have largely been lost. Great expectation surrounded the Productivity Commission’s efforts and the ambition of doubling philanthropic giving by 2030, but the Report was underwhelming. At best, it represents refinement over transformation – but its work is not completely lost. Many of you will be interested in how to progress the proposed DGR system reforms and the Coalition will listen intently to your position. But it is also important to recognise that the Report expressed some caution, noting that “making assessments about which classes of charitable activities should be within the scope of the DGR system is challenging, subjective and contestable”. Key policy makers, including the Government and Opposition, have rejected commendations affecting the DGR status of school building funds. And, importantly, the Report also observed that “the effects on the overall level of giving are expected to be relatively modest” – adding there would be a net fiscal cost to the Budget. DGR reform is still very much a work in progress, but the real opportunity for transformation is not with the DGR but through philanthropic giving. The Coalition has a strong record of tangible policies to support philanthropy, including: introduction of prescribed private funds by the Howard Government; and provision of DGR status to 28 entities associated with community foundations by the Morrison Government. It is to the philanthropic part of the giving equation that the political effort must be applied if we are to realise a genuinely new world of giving in this country. The Coalition’s first step will be to engage with the Fundraising Institute and Philanthropy Australia on a clear, agreed plan to uplift giving. The ‘Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint’ will also be top of mind for many in the room. Let me tell you that the Coalition understands: the need for a plan that looks to the medium and longer term; the importance of strengthening relationships between government and the not-for-profit sector; that effectiveness depends on an enabling environment; and the centrality of decisions around funding and procurement. I commit that an elected Coalition Government will engage in comprehensive consultation with the sector on the Blueprint across all its 18 key initiatives. But more than this, I announce today that a Coalition Government would escalate our consultation with the sector by convening two Ministerial-level round-table discussions within the first six months of being elected. The…

Dutton, Sukkar, Smith, Evans – Media Release – Coalition Commits Funding to New Foodbank QLD Distribution Centre

Media Releases

THE HON PETER DUTTON MP LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY MR TREVOR EVANS LIBERAL NATIONAL PARTY CANDIDATE FOR BRISBANE COALITION COMMITS FUNDING TO NEW FOODBANK QUEENSLAND DISTRIBUTION CENTRE An elected Dutton Coalition Government will commit $19.5 million for Foodbank Queensland to establish a new distribution centre in South East Queensland to deliver more critical food relief services across the state. This builds on the Leader of the Opposition’s announcement in his Budget-in-Reply speech of $50 million to help food charities – like Foodbank, SecondBite and OzHarvest – to expand their services, including school breakfast programs, to support Australians struggling under Labor’s cost of living crisis. Foodbank Queensland currently delivers over 13 million kilograms of food every year from its facility in Morningside, providing food to over 425 charities to assist families impacted by food insecurity. It also runs School Breakfast Programs in 425 schools, giving children access to a healthy breakfast and making sure they do not attend school feeling hungry. A new Foodbank Queensland Distribution Centre will include: 4,500 pallet spaces, which is triple the current volume; temperature-controlled zones allowing for enhanced food safety, quality and extending the shelf life of ambient, chilled and frozen products; dedicated areas for safe and efficient food delivery and dispatch; and multipurpose training space and office space for volunteers and staff. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, who visited Foodbank’s Morningside site today, said this announcement highlighted the Coalition’s commitment to helping those in need. “Under Labor’s cost of living crisis, we know that charities are experiencing increased demand, including from Australians who have never previously relied on that support. Families are having to make difficult choices about whether they can afford the necessities like food, rent and medicine. The Coalition is committed to making life easier for all Australians, and ensuring our most vulnerable can access the support they need.” Shadow Minister for Social Services, the Hon Michael Sukkar MP said nearly 2 million Australian households of all age groups and demographics have experienced severe food insecurity in the past 12 months. “Under the Albanese Labor Government, Australians are experiencing the worst collapse in living standards in history. Real household disposable income has plummeted by 8 per cent, and the price of everything has soared by more than 10 per cent since the last election. “Unlike Labor, we have listened to the sector and know Australians need increased support now. Only a Coalition has a plan to fix Labor’s cost of living crisis and get Australia back on track.” Shadow Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Senator Dean Smith, noted that Foodbank had reported that around 700,000 Queensland households experienced food insecurity last year, including 22% of households earning more than $95,000 and 25% of mortgage holders. “This significant investment in food relief will make a real difference on the ground where people are doing it tough. The new Foodbank Queensland Distribution Centre will be three times the size of the current facility, enabling Foodbank Queensland to expand its services to more families in crisis, including in regional and remote areas, and expand the School Breakfast Program.” Liberal National candidate for Brisbane, Mr Trevor Evans, said “People in Brisbane are doing it really tough right now, and it’s the same story for community and volunteer organisations like Foodbank. I’m really proud that this funding commitment will go some way to getting better outcomes and support for some of Brisbane’s most vulnerable people.” Only the Coalition has a plan to fix Labor’s cost of living crisis and get Australia back on track. 14 April 2025 MORNINGSIDE, QLD

Australia’s Emissions Flatline Under Albanese Labor Government as Key Sectors Worsen

Media Releases

The latest Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: March 2025 exposes the Albanese Labor Government’s failure to deliver on its emissions reduction promises, with rising emissions in key sectors leaving Australia dangerously off-track to meet its 2030 target. While overall emissions remained relatively flat, this is not the result of Labor’s policies. The only real progress in emissions cuts came from COVID lockdowns, state schemes and the favourable weather — not from anything the Albanese Government has implemented. Despite Anthony Albanese’s rhetoric, the data tells a very different story: Transport emissions are now higher than pre-COVID levels, up 1% (0.5 Mt CO₂-e) since 2020, driven by surging domestic aviation. Agriculture emissions have surged 7% (5.3 Mt CO₂-e) since 2020, dominated by post drought livestock recovery and fertiliser use. Fugitive emissions from gas venting have surged 24% (2.4 Mt CO₂-e), even as Labor touts safeguards and CCS schemes. The land sector “net sink” has weakened sharply since 2022 as La Niña ended, rainfall declined, and bush fires increased — exposing the fragility of Labor’s reliance on offsets. Half of Australia’s 2030 carbon budget is already spent, yet Labor has no credible plan to tackle the harder task ahead. These figures make it clear: Labor is failing to deliver durable outcomes. Agriculture and transport — two of the hardest sectors for families and exporters — are moving backwards. Gas venting is surging. And the land sector, heavily relied upon by Labor to meet targets, remains vulnerable to rainfall and fire seasons. The update also confirms that reductions in the electricity sector are being driven by projects approved years earlier, many under the Coalition, rather than by new policies from Labor. To meet its 2030 emissions target, Australia needs to reduce emissions by roughly 15 Mt CO2‑e per year from now until 2030. By comparison, emissions fell by only 3 Mt CO2‑e in 2023–24, and the long-term average reduction since 2006 has been around 12 Mt CO2‑e per year. As the Climate Change Authority highlighted in its 2024 Annual Progress Report, maintaining the current pace of reductions will leave Australia well short of its 2030 goal (p. 29). Without a significant acceleration in emissions cuts, the target is unlikely to be achieved. Australians deserve an energy policy that lowers bills, ensures reliable power, and reduces emissions. This latest update shows the Albanese Labor Government has delivered none of the above. Quotes attributable to Senator Dean Smith “Labor is coasting on the legacy of Coalition projects. Their emissions reduction policy is failing, and families are left paying the price.” “Halfway to 2030, Labor has already burned through half the carbon budget with no plan for how to deliver the rest.” “Labor’s climate plan isn’t a plan at all — it’s higher prices, rising pollution, and a reliance on good rainfall and luck with the fire season.” “Australians deserve a credible energy and climate policy that cuts emissions while keeping the lights on and bills down — not empty promises and excuses.” “Labor promised transformation, but instead emissions are flatlining, while transport emissions are now higher than before COVID, agriculture is surging, and gas venting is up 24% — that’s Labor’s record.” Quotes from the Quarterly Update “Australia is 48% of the way through the Paris Agreement target period and has generated emissions equivalent to 48% of the emissions budget to 2030.” (p4) “Overall transport emissions in the year to March 2025 are 0.1% above the levels observed in the year to December 2019, immediately before the COVID pandemic. This overall increase is largely the result of increases in annual emissions from domestic aviation and road transport diesel consumption, which are 16.8% and 7.6% higher in the year to March 2025 than they were pre-COVID in the year to December 2019 respectively.” (p19) “There have been significant declines in electricity sector emissions since 2020… This decline in emissions has occurred while demand for electricity across residential and industrial sectors has increased. Residential demand is increasingly being met by rooftop solar supported by the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, putting downward pressure on demand from the grid. Similarly, industrial demand is being met with a growing proportion of renewable generation, supported by state and federal policies such as the expanded Capacity Investment Scheme.” (p30)

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

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA TRANSCRIPT – INTERVIEW WITH GARY ADSHEAD TOPICS: Work from home and public service policies, Gas policy, Port of Darwin, BYD manufacturing standards in Indonesia. E&OE GARY ADSHEAD Alright, boom. Alright, and the conversation now turns to Federal politics, because with me in the studio I’ve got Madeleine King, the Federal Resources Minister. How are you, Madeleine? MADELEINE KING Yeah, very good, thanks, Gary. Good to see you again. GARY ADSHEAD And you. And Dean Smith, of course, the Federal Liberal Senator. I call him the firebrand Liberal. I don’t know how he feels about that. DEAN SMITH Thanks very much Gary. I hope I live up to expectations. GARY ADSHEAD Pressure’s on, great to have you both in the studio. And what are we, two weeks in now? Are we two weeks in? I’ve just lost track. MADELEINE KING I check my calendar each morning, but then I forget as soon as I walk out the door. GARY ADSHEAD I think we’re two weeks into the campaign and it’s almost Easter. And this is a time where people just work about three more days, and then they get this massive holiday if they want between Easter and Anzac Day. Hard to keep people focused, do you think, guys? DEAN SMITH Madeleine and I were talking about this outside just before we came into the studio. MADELEINE KING It sort of reduces the whole campaign time. Because you go into almost a voluntary quiet time. But then the other thing about holidays is, you know, maybe people are sitting around a bit more, being able to read. DEAN SMITH Or waiting for Madeleine to knock on their door. MADELEINE KING That’s it, or a phone call… DEAN SMITH Or their local Senator to knock on their door or wave a sign on the side of the street, like I was this morning on the corner of Marmion Avenue and Reid Highway, with Vince Connelly our Candidate for Moore. GARY ADSHEAD What does it say by the way? MADELEINE KING Are they beeping at you, Dean? DEAN SMITH They were beeping and cheering. But in the interest of full transparency, there were one or two, sort of, middle fingers. GARY ADSHEAD That’s Madeleine’s people. She sends them. MADELEINE KING Yeah, yeah. All the way from Rockingham. DEAN SMITH That’s right. But it’s interesting, I mean, the whole point of the campaign, over the 33 days, is to build momentum and then to have that momentum peak when the pre-poll starts. And then on election day itself. So, Easter does interrupt the building of the campaign. Absolutely. GARY ADSHEAD And pre-poll is right in the middle of it, isn’t it? 22nd? DEAN SMITH Yeah, Tuesday the 22nd. 8AM. GARY ADSHEAD Okay. That’ll be interesting. In your local community, how many people rush out to do it for the Federal Election? We saw a start in the State Election, which was big, and then it sort of tapered off. And that might be all part of the problems that the Electoral Commission statewide have. But anyway… MADELEINE KING Yeah, I’m sure the AEC would be much better organised. DEAN SMITH I’ve got a hundred percent faith in the AEC.   MADELEINE KING So do I. I’ve got four pre-poll booths. DEAN SMITH I did notice that. MADELEINE KING I’m surprised that, yeah, I… DEAN SMITH The pre-poll list came out earlier in the week and I looked at the pre-poll for Perth’s northern suburbs. And I thought, really? Wow, there are lots of pre-poll options. So, there’s no excuse for not getting to the polling booth before your holiday. MADELEINE KING Yeah. And the other thing is people I’ve spoken to that are going away, they’ve just pre-booked holidays and are trying to organise getting a postal vote if the pre-polls aren’t open. So that can be difficult to organise. But also, people visiting from… DEAN SMITH I’m happy to organise anyone getting a Liberal Party how to vote. So just call my office. GARY ADSHEAD It’s good to know that you’re both there to help and serve. DEAN SMITH Don’t go to Madeleine, come to my office. GARY ADSHEAD Hey, let’s just start with a couple of the policies and issues that are around then. Clearly, Dean, you are bleeding in relation to the public servants policy, whether it be work from home or the 41,000 figure that was put on everyone’s head in the public sector. I mean, for Peter Dutton, just to sort of cut it off at the knees is interesting. DEAN SMITH Well, it was said to me, and I do agree, that Peter Dutton deserves ten out of ten for humility. He did listen and responded very quickly. He admitted that it was a mistake, reaffirmed that, and gave people a high degree of satisfaction that it will not be happening. GARY ADSHEAD Did he listen to internal polling, or did he listen to the headlines in the paper? DEAN SMITH I’m sure he listened to his very capable Liberal Party candidates out in the field. I’m sure he listened to those people around him. Made it very clear that he understands better now than perhaps previously the importance of flexibility in the workplace. Flexibility in working from home. These are part of the modern family arrangements for so many people. I think also ten out of ten for Anthony Albanese in running a very effective scare campaign trying to say to people that this was Peter Dutton’s desire across the whole economy. Not true at all, but it’s no longer the policy. Peter’s been very clear about that. And then we’re moving on to other issues. GARY ADSHEAD I mean, it’s a heck of a backflip. Because I watched Jane Hume’s presentation to the Menzies Foundation. I think, Madeleine, I think it was the Menzies Foundation. She was really quite glib…

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

Transcripts

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA TRANSCRIPT – INTERVIEW WITH GARY ADSHEAD TOPICS: Election campaign, NDIS, public service cuts, superannuation, schools curriculum E&OE GARY ADSHEAD You through till six o’clock, of course, here on 720 ABC drive, and we’re going to get into our campaign next with Liberal Senator Dean Smith and the Resources Minister for the Government, Madeleine King. One of them is in Canberra, and that would be Madeleine, if I can find her. Are you there? Madeleine? MADELEINE KING I am Gary. I believe we passed over the Nullarbor with Dean. DEAN SMITH Like planes in the night, or planes in the afternoon. I was coming back, and you were going. GARY ADSHEAD Well, welcome to the studio. What to start with. This is a bit unusual, but I was just talking about NDIS issues leading up to the news, Madeleine, and our phones have lit up. I don’t know whether we’ve hit on something here, but it was a mother just telling us that her son’s plan had changed suddenly, and she’s now having to sort of go backwards to try and get it all back in place. I’ll just take a couple of calls on this, and you guys feel free to jump in on the conversation. Hi, Melinda, you there? CALLER: Yes, I am. GARY ADSHEAD Okay, you are a former local coordinator for NDIS. Is that right? CALLER: WA NDIS, before Mark McGowan. We worked very hard to keep the WA NDIS, but then it went, switched over to the federal model, which is very different in operation, to how we used to do it in WA, which was a lot cheaper, more person centred, very individualised to the person and the family. And we’d have unfunded strategies, not just funded strategies. I remember one plan I had for a schizophrenic client, and he didn’t have any funding. He didn’t need it. He was doing great. So, he was an example of an unfunded plan that we had, but he had all these community social supports in there, you know. I just think if we could ever go back to the WA model, that would just be great. I don’t know if that would be very difficult to achieve… GARY ADSHEAD Thanks for the call, Melinda. I mean, Dean, hearing what I was talking about before the news. Do you get many constituents come to you at all? DEAN SMITH Well, I was listening outside the studio to the segment, and it reminded me, I have got one or two matters before me at the moment where I’m advocating for people who have, like the story that you aired, people without any warning, without any preparation, they find that their NDIS program is significantly reduced. There’s not an explanation for it. During the end of COVID I had a very heart wrenching experience. A mother came to see me. She had a severely disabled young son with all sorts of challenges. Happy to report that we were successful in putting fresh information before the NDIS, making the case strongly, and she was able to have that funding restored. So, what I would say to people is: collate the information. If you don’t feel like you are getting a fair hearing from the NDIS, then go and see your local Parliamentarian, because that is one of the reasons why Madeleine and myself are there to advocate on behalf of people. I’ve got one very important matter at the moment, which listening to your program reminded me that, you know, I must stay on top of it, because I do think what Melinda just said about where we’ve got to as opposed to where we’ve come from, I think it’s very, very true to say that the West Australian disability service model that existed before the NDIS was very, very good. It was very grassroots. People felt very, very connected to the system. And I remember very clearly Colin Barnett, who was the premier at the time, arguing strongly that we should have a federated NDIS model rather than a national model. And in making that point, Colin Barnett was really wanting to preserve all that was good about the West Australia model, as well as take up some of the benefits that might have accrued from the national body. But all I say to people, and it is tragic because it comes to people often. These sorts of things come to people without any warning, at a time when people are under a lot of personal and financial pressure. What I say to your listeners is, reach out to someone. Reach out to a service provider. Reach out to your local Parliamentarian. Gather all the necessary evidence, the doctor’s evidence, the specialist evidence, and make the case. There are examples where people have had their funding packages restored. GARY ADSHEAD All right. Madeleine, I don’t know whether constituents have come to you of late or not, and sort of asked for help on this one. MADELEINE KING Hi Gary and Hi Dean. I just say, I mean, I’d back in actually, what Dean said is that the electorate offices are there to help in regard to many inquiries, but particularly NDIS and yes, I’ve had people come to my office, and my staff have helped them get through some of these challenges in the system. I would say it is a very complex System, the NDIS, but it is, it’s really essential, and I think it’s a very good thing that it’s a bipartisan policy now in this country where people with disability can get that support. It does need to be sustainable, and that’s challenging. I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the story before I got to this. GARY ADSHEAD It was a lady saying that she’s got a son, he’s 18. He’s been on a plan for about four or five years. It…