Transcript | ABC News Breakfast | 29 April 2025

Transcript – ABC News Breakfast

29 April 2025

E&OE

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

Let's turn to the federal election, which is now on the home stretch and Coalition Campaign Spokesperson James Paterson joins us now. Welcome back to the show, James.

JAMES PATERSON:

Good morning.

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

The Guardian Essential poll doesn't have much good news for the Coalition this morning, but what are you hearing on the pre-polls?

JAMES PATERSON:

Well I've canvassed 11 candidates and colleagues around the country in a range of different seats for their feedback and they said yesterday on pre-poll was the best reception they've received on pre-poll to date, and it's been pretty good generally over the first few days but yesterday was particularly strong across the country. We're very encouraged by that. We think the Australians who are deciding early and are turning up are very strongly backing the Coalition. But of course there is a large number who have not yet made up their mind who will be tuning in particularly closely in the next couple days to make up their mind. And it's critical from our point of view that they understand that we're going to cut their petrol tax by $14 a tank, that we are going to give them up to $1,200 back on their tax next year and that they will be safer in Australia under a Dutton Coalition government.

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

Some polls in Canada, those people are going to the polls this week, Canadians of course voting in the same week that we are, some polls suggest that Canadians are concerned that a Conservative Prime Ministerial candidate wouldn't be able to stand up to Donald Trump. Do you think that will be a factor here in Australia and was the Prime Minister right to say that Peter Dutton has darkened his own brand?

JAMES PATERSON:

Well, there's no need for any Australians to have that concern about Peter Dutton as Prime Minister. He would be a much stronger Prime Minister than the current one and would always stand up for our country to anyone who threatens our interests and will stand up for Australia, whether that's in our U.S. relationship or any other relationship. I think Peter's demonstrated that over a long career that he's a strong leader, that he is willing to make tough decisions in the national interest. And if that means standing up to our allies or our adversaries, he won't take a backward step for Australia.

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

We are hearing some reports in the nine papers that there are members of the Brethren sect in Coalition shirts at some of the pre-polls. Have you heard of this and is it concerning?

JAMES PATERSON:

Well, there's no religious test for participation in public life in Australia, and the Liberal Party is not going to start enforcing one. We do not ask our volunteers about their religious beliefs. Anyone who wants to sign up to our agenda to get our country back on track is very welcome to volunteer for us, regardless of their religious background. But speaking about our candidates, I can say that we have atheists and agnostics. We have Catholics. We have Anglicans. We have Jews. We have Muslims. We have Hindus. We have Sikhs. It's probably the most diverse range of Liberal party candidates that we've ever put forward at a federal election, and that's because we're united on principles of religious pluralism and religious freedom, and whether you have no faith like me or whether you're a person of faith, you're welcome in the Liberal party

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

Do they share your values though, the people within that sect? I mean, has enough been done to vet people who are on the pre-polls?

JAMES PATERSON:

Well, hang on, are you suggesting that we should interview potential volunteers about their religious beliefs? And is that a test that just applies to this community, or should we apply it to all communities? And are all parties being held to this same standard? I think that would be an extraordinary thing in a country that has no official state religion, that has freedom of religion, that we would say that some people are not welcome to participate in the political process because of their religious beliefs. If you support the Liberal party's agenda, you are welcome to assist our campaign.

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

You've been quoted also in The Australian this morning concerned about some volunteers in Kooyong. Can you tell us about those concerns?

JAMES PATERSON:

That's right, so The Age first reported and other media has since picked this up that an organisation connected to the United Front Work Department, which is the overseas influence arm of the Chinese Communist Party that Xi Jinping has described as his quote-unquote “magic weapon”, has been directing people to volunteer on the campaign of Monique Ryan in Kooyong. Now, if those reports are confirmed, that could constitute a serious act of foreign interference, which is against the law, and so I think it's critical that the Federal Police and ASIO investigate this and that Monique Ryan be transparent about what involvement she's had in this scheme.

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

We have contacted Dr. Ryan for a response on that story as well. Let's move to ANZAC Day now. Do you think a Welcome to Country is appropriate at an official ANZAC Day ceremony?

JAMES PATERSON:

My view is it's up to event organisers. I've been at ANZAC day ceremonies where there has been either a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country, and I've been at ANZAC services where that's not happened. It's up to the local organisers, whether it's the RSL or others, to choose whether they think that's appropriate.

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

So, do you not share Peter Dutton's view that it may not be appropriate to hold an ANZAC Day Welcome to Country?

JAMES PATERSON:

Well, what Peter said yesterday when he was asked, is that in his judgement, he thinks probably the majority of veterans don't want to have a Welcome to Country at these events, but he also said it's a matter for organisers. We're not proposing new legislation or new laws to dictate when there should or shouldn't be welcome to countries. We've said that we think they are appropriate at some events, and Peter's given the good example, I think, of the opening of Parliament, which is an important occasion to do that. But he's also said he thinks it can be overdone. I think we've all seen events where on Zoom calls, people are doing various acknowledgements of country or at conferences where every single speaker does it, and I think some Australians think that's a bit too much, and it cheapens it if it's tokenistic.

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

And so would you cut back funding for community organisations to perform Welcomes to Country?

JAMES PATERSON:

Well, our Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has said that we will be having an audit of all spending on Indigenous affairs because the tragedy in this country is we do spend a lot of money for very little outcomes and I think we all have to be honest and humble and recognise that when we're failing to achieve the closing the gap targets that governments of both persuasions have set for a long time, that we do need to look really critically at where that money is being spent to make sure it's going on the highest priority things addressing Indigenous disadvantage in this country.

BRIDGET BRENNAN:

Alright James Paterson, we'll let you get on with the very busy week you've got ahead, thanks very much.

JAMES PATERSON:

Thanks for having me.

ENDS

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