Sky News PM Agenda with David Speers
DAVID SPEERS:
Scott Morrison is the Social Services Minister. I spoke to him earlier.
MINISTER MORRISON:
Well it is still increasing but in some areas we are managing to plateau off particularly as a percentage of GDP with some changes under the DSP and things of that nature, there’s been changes on Family Tax Benefits as well which we are also looking to add to with the negotiations we are currently having with the Senate. But the pension continues to increase that’s obviously had a mitigating impact with the changes we were able to get through the Senate, aged care costs are still going up, child care costs will go up obviously with the Jobs for Families package so overall the bill keeps growing. Eight out of ten income taxpayers are required to pay that bill every year. So it is the largest and most highly growing area of Commonwealth expenditure.
SPEERS:
And what about NewStart – that continues to grow. The Government in last year’s Budget tried to introduce that six month no dole for under 30s. You have backed off a little on that is there anything more you are contemplating to slow down the growth of NewStart?
MINISTER MORRISON:
Well getting people into work that is the best way to slow the growth of NewStart and other working age payments. That was also the experience of the Howard Government where we had the single largest drop off in the percentage of welfare payments it was because we were able to get people into work. That is always why we focus on the economy, growing the economy, growing the jobs, that is how you ultimately get big chunks of your welfare budget down. But in other areas of social support, particularly whether it is in aged care – the NDIS over $5 billion in what is effectively not funded by the levy – new Commonwealth expenditure will hit in 2019/20 so preparing the 2019/20 Budget out years is $20 billion. Now that has to be absorbed within the welfare budget – within the social services budget and that is an enormous task; it is over one per cent of GDP.
SPEERS:
Couple of other issues, the same sex marriage decision from the US Supreme Court, do you think that adds to pressure here in Australia?
MINISTER MORRISON:
Well I don’t feel any further pressure on it. I mean we are having an Australian discussion about these issues. I find it interesting that as this debate continues I think there is a lot more focus on process now actually. About well how would one make this decision and there are discussions about plebiscites, there are discussions about other processes and I think a lot of Australians have a lot of views about that. I think that will continue to be ventilated over the next little while.
SPEERS:
Where are you at though on whether there should at least be a conscience vote?
MINISTER MORRISON:
Well that is well down the track because there are issues well before that about the Party’s own policy position and the Party’s current policy position is expressed in the Marriage Act.
SPEERS:
You can – you will have to make the decision on whether to have a conscience vote though?
MINISTER MORRISON:
But that would only assume that those other decisions are made. I think there is a lot more process on this on our side of politics than I think people appreciate.
SPEERS:
Do you have a view though on whether there should be a conscience vote?
MINISTER MORRISON:
Well there is no actual Bill that will be actually voted on in the Parliament so that question is well down the path…
SPEERS:
There are a few Bills before the Parliament.
MINISTER MORRISON:
That doesn’t mean – Bill Shorten can introduce bills on compulsory union membership as well. That doesn’t mean they will be voted on.
SPEERS:
You haven’t thought about this at all though?
MINISTER MORRISON:
Well my position hasn’t changed over my lifetime and it’s not about to change.
SPEERS:
Well I know your position but on a conscience vote though you must have thought whether it would be a good idea for the Party?
MINISTER MORRISON:
No, I think it is premature because there is currently a party position and then there is a question about whether the Government would allow a bill to be voted on in Parliament. Only at that point would those issues even become relevant so I think people may be getting ahead of themselves there in terms of the Liberal Party’s position. I mean it has always been the position with the Liberal Party that you have a conscience vote on pretty much everything. The real question you are asking me is if there should be an open vote and for that to happen the Party’s policy position would have to be changed to one which didn’t have a position on this particularly issue.
SPEERS:
Last one, Labor is grappling on what to do on boat turn backs at the moment and I am sure we know where your advice would be to them. If they do ultimately at their conference decide ok we are going to accept boat turn backs, will the Government accept that that’s their position or will you still be pointing to the division in their ranks.
MINISTER MORRISON:
Well it is not really for us to decide whether that is the position it what the people smugglers believe that actually has the absolute impact on the trade. Right now people smugglers would think the Labor party are a complete mess on this and they would know they would be able to play them off a break. Now they have never had that view about our side of politics so what really matters is the integrity and consistency of the position of the Labor Party. Bill Shorten today still can’t make his mind up on this so if he can’t make his mind up going into the National Convention of the Labor Party then what conviction would that position ever hold on the other side of a national convention.
SPEERS:
So even if they do decide to back it you reckon the people smugglers won’t believe it?
MINISTER MORRISON:
No because – and why would they? Why would they? These people have been all over the place on this issue. There is no conviction behind their position. I tell you what stops the boats it’s not just the policies, it’s not just how you organise yourself through Operation Sovereign Borders – which the Labor Party laughed at when we announced it in Opposition which has now proved to be so successful. But it’s the conviction behind the position and the resolve. The Australian people know that the Labor Party just come up to naught on that question. They can say whatever they like. Frankly if they even tried it I suspect they would stuff it up because they just don’t know or understand – to quote Malcolm Turnbull on another issue they have “lost the plot,” they just “don’t get it.”
SPEERS:
Scott Morrison, thank you.
MINISTER MORRISON:
Thanks a lot.