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| Q&A: Bill Shorten takes questions on housing affordability, tax cuts and the NBN – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.11pm BST | |
| 14:11 | |
| Let's take stock, quickly | |
| Thank you very much for hopping on board the Q&A live broadcast express, it’s been delightful. | |
| Let’s wrap tonight’s event with a short recap. | |
| Now, we’ll be back tomorrow from first light with live coverage of the campaign, which is now rolling relentlessly into the home stretch. Three weeks to go, pack lunch, and plenty of fluids, there won’t be time for many more pit stops now, it’s a gallop for the finish, ears pinned back, nostrils flying. | |
| Have a great evening. See you in the morning. | |
| 2.04pm BST | 2.04pm BST |
| 14:04 | 14:04 |
| PS: And interesting that the prime minister evidently feels he now can’t afford not to turn up. | PS: And interesting that the prime minister evidently feels he now can’t afford not to turn up. |
| A summary next. | A summary next. |
| 2.02pm BST | 2.02pm BST |
| 14:02 | 14:02 |
| Solid performance, some sass at the host won't hurt | Solid performance, some sass at the host won't hurt |
| Bill Shorten got through that outing solidly on his feet. There were a few rough moments. The question on whether Australia was invaded by the British prompted a degree of sliding and swerving. Shorten clearly did not want to come straight out and tell the pensioner she would not get a pension increase if Labor won the election. He clearly worried that he had overshot on sympathy for transparency on the border protection transparency question, and tried to walk that back a fraction. | Bill Shorten got through that outing solidly on his feet. There were a few rough moments. The question on whether Australia was invaded by the British prompted a degree of sliding and swerving. Shorten clearly did not want to come straight out and tell the pensioner she would not get a pension increase if Labor won the election. He clearly worried that he had overshot on sympathy for transparency on the border protection transparency question, and tried to walk that back a fraction. |
| Not seamless, but a solid performance. And I don’t think it would have hurt the Labor leader at all to give a bit of lip to Tony Jones, who kept coming in to try and keep the answers on point. I know why Jones did that, he was seeking straight answers to straight questions, but it’s not always a great look from the arm chair vantage point. You can look a bit fond of the sound of your own voice, not to put too fine a point on it. | Not seamless, but a solid performance. And I don’t think it would have hurt the Labor leader at all to give a bit of lip to Tony Jones, who kept coming in to try and keep the answers on point. I know why Jones did that, he was seeking straight answers to straight questions, but it’s not always a great look from the arm chair vantage point. You can look a bit fond of the sound of your own voice, not to put too fine a point on it. |
| A couple of other points of interest. Western Sydney was the host of that broadcast. Not one question on national security. Not one question on boats from the Ray Hadley perspective. Only one negative question about negative gearing. The biggest applause of the night was on housing affordability – and the Labor leader had an answer. No questions on foreign investment. But several questions on budget management. | A couple of other points of interest. Western Sydney was the host of that broadcast. Not one question on national security. Not one question on boats from the Ray Hadley perspective. Only one negative question about negative gearing. The biggest applause of the night was on housing affordability – and the Labor leader had an answer. No questions on foreign investment. But several questions on budget management. |
| Interesting. | Interesting. |
| 1.50pm BST | 1.50pm BST |
| 13:50 | 13:50 |
| Final question is on arts funding. The questioner quotes Winston Churchill on arts funding. Churchill liked arts funding. | Final question is on arts funding. The questioner quotes Winston Churchill on arts funding. Churchill liked arts funding. |
| Bill Shorten sprints through the arts policy. | Bill Shorten sprints through the arts policy. |
| And with that, Tony Jones wraps it up. | And with that, Tony Jones wraps it up. |
| With an announcement! The prime minister will be on next Monday. | With an announcement! The prime minister will be on next Monday. |
| I’ll be back with a few thoughts shortly. | I’ll be back with a few thoughts shortly. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.51pm BST | at 1.51pm BST |
| 1.47pm BST | 1.47pm BST |
| 13:47 | 13:47 |
| Question sixteen is on the gender pay gap. What will Labor do to fix it? | Question sixteen is on the gender pay gap. What will Labor do to fix it? |
| Bill Shorten says the gender pay gap is a priority for Labor, as is domestic violence funding and women’s representation. | Bill Shorten says the gender pay gap is a priority for Labor, as is domestic violence funding and women’s representation. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| From paid parental leave, through to superannuation, leadership, violence against women, my party sees the equal treatment of women is a mainstream political issue in this election. | From paid parental leave, through to superannuation, leadership, violence against women, my party sees the equal treatment of women is a mainstream political issue in this election. |
| If this country did nothing else in the next 15 years, we’d make sure women are treated equally, we’d have it made. We’d be the richest country in the world. | If this country did nothing else in the next 15 years, we’d make sure women are treated equally, we’d have it made. We’d be the richest country in the world. |
| 1.45pm BST | 1.45pm BST |
| 13:45 | 13:45 |
| Question fourteen is on the ABCC. Why won’t Bill Shorten support it given the CFMEU intimidates people, women, on building sites? | Question fourteen is on the ABCC. Why won’t Bill Shorten support it given the CFMEU intimidates people, women, on building sites? |
| Bill Shorten doesn’t think anyone should intimidate women. He also doesn’t think the prime minister mentions the ABCC very much. | Bill Shorten doesn’t think anyone should intimidate women. He also doesn’t think the prime minister mentions the ABCC very much. |
| Question fifteen on Badgery’s Creek airport. | Question fifteen on Badgery’s Creek airport. |
| Q: Are you prepared for Labor to lose the west in your support for the airport? | Q: Are you prepared for Labor to lose the west in your support for the airport? |
| Bill Shorten says he supports the airport. He thinks it will be good for western Sydney. He loves western Sydney, loves jobs for western Sydney. | Bill Shorten says he supports the airport. He thinks it will be good for western Sydney. He loves western Sydney, loves jobs for western Sydney. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| It’s not an accident I’m having my campaign launch here on Sunday. Because I get that Western Sydney speaks for a lot of the stories of Australia. | It’s not an accident I’m having my campaign launch here on Sunday. Because I get that Western Sydney speaks for a lot of the stories of Australia. |
| 1.41pm BST | 1.41pm BST |
| 13:41 | 13:41 |
| Question thirteen. The gentleman quotes Gough Whitlam on trusting the people. | Question thirteen. The gentleman quotes Gough Whitlam on trusting the people. |
| Q: Bill, what’s your position on trusting the people? Will you repeal those provisions of the border protection legislation and other legislation that have the potential to keep the truth from our citizens? | Q: Bill, what’s your position on trusting the people? Will you repeal those provisions of the border protection legislation and other legislation that have the potential to keep the truth from our citizens? |
| Bill Shorten starts with whistleblower protection. | Bill Shorten starts with whistleblower protection. |
| Tony Jones interrupts. Shorten goes the sass. Sorry, mate. I don’t want to interrupt your question with an answer. | Tony Jones interrupts. Shorten goes the sass. Sorry, mate. I don’t want to interrupt your question with an answer. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| It would have to be an amazing set of circumstances where we’re not prepared to tell you what was going on [on Nauru or Manus island]. I haven’t got all the security agencies in front of me but as a general rule, this nation operates best if you treat people as smart and intelligent and tell them what’s going on. I find it the easiest way to get consensus on tough issues. If you treat people like mushrooms and keep them in the dark, you can’t be surprised people don’t back in policies. | It would have to be an amazing set of circumstances where we’re not prepared to tell you what was going on [on Nauru or Manus island]. I haven’t got all the security agencies in front of me but as a general rule, this nation operates best if you treat people as smart and intelligent and tell them what’s going on. I find it the easiest way to get consensus on tough issues. If you treat people like mushrooms and keep them in the dark, you can’t be surprised people don’t back in policies. |
| Q: You’d allow journalists into any offshore detention centre? | Q: You’d allow journalists into any offshore detention centre? |
| Bill Shorten pivots to Labor not being soft on the people smugglers. | Bill Shorten pivots to Labor not being soft on the people smugglers. |
| 1.35pm BST | 1.35pm BST |
| 13:35 | 13:35 |
| Question twelve, from a specialist at Nepean hospital. | Question twelve, from a specialist at Nepean hospital. |
| Q: Will you work with us in a constructive and collaborative manner to create a funding model which more evenly distributes and more justly distributes our health resources so that we can look after our patients? | Q: Will you work with us in a constructive and collaborative manner to create a funding model which more evenly distributes and more justly distributes our health resources so that we can look after our patients? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| The answer is yes, we are providing extra funding. We’ll work with the states in hospital administration. We’re providing more funding than the other guys. | The answer is yes, we are providing extra funding. We’ll work with the states in hospital administration. We’re providing more funding than the other guys. |
| Q: Isn’t it the case that you’ve had to cut back on your original promise for funding to public hospitals? | Q: Isn’t it the case that you’ve had to cut back on your original promise for funding to public hospitals? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| There’s no way anyone currently breathing in this world could replace every dollar the Liberals have taken out. | There’s no way anyone currently breathing in this world could replace every dollar the Liberals have taken out. |
| Q: But the previous promises made by Labor governments, you’ve had to cut back? | Q: But the previous promises made by Labor governments, you’ve had to cut back? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| That’s not right, mate. 50% efficient funding is what we’re doing. | That’s not right, mate. 50% efficient funding is what we’re doing. |
| 1.31pm BST | 1.31pm BST |
| 13:31 | 13:31 |
| Question eleven. | Question eleven. |
| Q: If Labor win this election, can we expect an increase in aged pensions? | Q: If Labor win this election, can we expect an increase in aged pensions? |
| Bill Shorten doesn’t give the questioner a direct answer, he speaks about health care funding and other benefits. He says Labor foiled a government effort to lower the indexation rate. | Bill Shorten doesn’t give the questioner a direct answer, he speaks about health care funding and other benefits. He says Labor foiled a government effort to lower the indexation rate. |
| Tony Jones pushes him for a direct answer. | Tony Jones pushes him for a direct answer. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| We have no plans to increase [the pension] beyond indexation. | We have no plans to increase [the pension] beyond indexation. |
| 1.27pm BST | 1.27pm BST |
| 13:27 | 13:27 |
| A lady wants Labor to fund a national express bus network. Bill Shorten says he’d like to talk to her about that afterwards. | A lady wants Labor to fund a national express bus network. Bill Shorten says he’d like to talk to her about that afterwards. |
| 1.27pm BST | 1.27pm BST |
| 13:27 | 13:27 |
| Question nine is on the reef. Tony Jones wants to know if the Coalition has outbid Labor on the reef today with a $1bn commitment when Labor has promised half that amount. Bill Shorten laughs at that. The Coalition has not outbid Labor on climate change, he says. You can’t be serious about the reef if you aren’t serious about climate change. | Question nine is on the reef. Tony Jones wants to know if the Coalition has outbid Labor on the reef today with a $1bn commitment when Labor has promised half that amount. Bill Shorten laughs at that. The Coalition has not outbid Labor on climate change, he says. You can’t be serious about the reef if you aren’t serious about climate change. |
| 1.25pm BST | 1.25pm BST |
| 13:25 | 13:25 |
| Question eight: was British settlement of Australia an invasion? | Question eight: was British settlement of Australia an invasion? |
| Bill Shorten walks around this very carefully, affirmation without explicit acknowledgement. | Bill Shorten walks around this very carefully, affirmation without explicit acknowledgement. |
| If anyone says that Aboriginal people weren’t dispossessed from their land by the British settlement they’re telling lies. | If anyone says that Aboriginal people weren’t dispossessed from their land by the British settlement they’re telling lies. |
| Q: Would you describe this - that’s the question - as an invasion? | Q: Would you describe this - that’s the question - as an invasion? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| If I was Aboriginal, I wouldn’t exactly call it a welcome, would you? | If I was Aboriginal, I wouldn’t exactly call it a welcome, would you? |
| Shorten points to his convict ancestors. He says they weren’t part of an invading force because they were brought to Australia against their will. | Shorten points to his convict ancestors. He says they weren’t part of an invading force because they were brought to Australia against their will. |
| I want to go to the issue. Aboriginals were dispossessed off their land. This was Aboriginal land. | I want to go to the issue. Aboriginals were dispossessed off their land. This was Aboriginal land. |
| The questioner wants sovereignty for Aboriginal people. | The questioner wants sovereignty for Aboriginal people. |
| Shorten gives a clear signal that Labor would countenance a treaty with Indigenous people (Pat Dodson flagged this in the first week of the election campaign), but when Jones pushes him on the treaty, Shorten walks is back slightly. | Shorten gives a clear signal that Labor would countenance a treaty with Indigenous people (Pat Dodson flagged this in the first week of the election campaign), but when Jones pushes him on the treaty, Shorten walks is back slightly. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| What I’m not going to do is give all the answers on one spot at one time. | What I’m not going to do is give all the answers on one spot at one time. |
| 1.17pm BST | 1.17pm BST |
| 13:17 | 13:17 |
| The would-be homeowner persists. Housing has never been so expensive. | The would-be homeowner persists. Housing has never been so expensive. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| My party is giving first home buyers a chance to compete on a more level playing field so you can get your home. The dream of Australians is not the right to claim a tax deduction, the dream of Australia is making sure your kids can grow up and buy their own home. | My party is giving first home buyers a chance to compete on a more level playing field so you can get your home. The dream of Australians is not the right to claim a tax deduction, the dream of Australia is making sure your kids can grow up and buy their own home. |
| Q: How can he do that unless prices come down? | Q: How can he do that unless prices come down? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| Prices, if they grow more slowly, give you a better chance. | Prices, if they grow more slowly, give you a better chance. |
| 1.15pm BST | 1.15pm BST |
| 13:15 | 13:15 |
| 'I believe that our policies will mean housing prices won’t grow so fast' | 'I believe that our policies will mean housing prices won’t grow so fast' |
| Seventh question is on housing affordability. What will Bill Shorten do for 31 year olds who can’t afford a house in the city they live in? Big applause for this question. | Seventh question is on housing affordability. What will Bill Shorten do for 31 year olds who can’t afford a house in the city they live in? Big applause for this question. |
| Bill Shorten goes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, and level playing fields between owner occupiers and investors. | Bill Shorten goes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, and level playing fields between owner occupiers and investors. |
| It’s not going to ruin the housing market, but it will reduce the heat in the housing market. | It’s not going to ruin the housing market, but it will reduce the heat in the housing market. |
| Tony Jones calls up another questioner who is “quite sad” about negative gearing going away. Shorten says you can still negatively gear, you just need to buy a new house, and existing investors aren’t pinged, they are grandfathered. | Tony Jones calls up another questioner who is “quite sad” about negative gearing going away. Shorten says you can still negatively gear, you just need to buy a new house, and existing investors aren’t pinged, they are grandfathered. |
| Jones says what about second hand houses - this argument the government uses about houses being driven off lots and becoming second hand houses. Bshaw, Shorten says, or some noise approximating that. | Jones says what about second hand houses - this argument the government uses about houses being driven off lots and becoming second hand houses. Bshaw, Shorten says, or some noise approximating that. |
| Typical government propaganda! | Typical government propaganda! |
| Q: To pick up Damian’s point earlier, the price of housing would go down so people like Damian would afford to buy one? Is that what you’d hope would happen? | Q: To pick up Damian’s point earlier, the price of housing would go down so people like Damian would afford to buy one? Is that what you’d hope would happen? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| Tony, let me answer it. I believe that our policies will mean housing prices won’t grow so fast but I don’t believe that this is going to affect in a downward way the price of houses. | Tony, let me answer it. I believe that our policies will mean housing prices won’t grow so fast but I don’t believe that this is going to affect in a downward way the price of houses. |
| 1.07pm BST | 1.07pm BST |
| 13:07 | 13:07 |
| Sixth question is on the banks. Why does Bill Shorten hate banks? | Sixth question is on the banks. Why does Bill Shorten hate banks? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| I’m not against banks, I just don’t think they need a $7.4bn budget transfer to their bottom line to make more profit. | I’m not against banks, I just don’t think they need a $7.4bn budget transfer to their bottom line to make more profit. |
| I work with banks and have my whole working life. | I work with banks and have my whole working life. |
| I just won’t work for them. | I just won’t work for them. |
| 1.06pm BST | 1.06pm BST |
| 13:06 | 13:06 |
| Fifth question is on the corporate tax cuts. Will Labor support them? | Fifth question is on the corporate tax cuts. Will Labor support them? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| No, we’re not prepared to match [the Coalition’s] 10 year plan. I would love to be in a position where I can make everyone happy but I also know that’s not leadership. | No, we’re not prepared to match [the Coalition’s] 10 year plan. I would love to be in a position where I can make everyone happy but I also know that’s not leadership. |
| Bill Shorten is back to choices. He’s not prepared to cut Medicare or school funding. He says he’ll support tax cuts for small business, turnovers less than $2m. | Bill Shorten is back to choices. He’s not prepared to cut Medicare or school funding. He says he’ll support tax cuts for small business, turnovers less than $2m. |
| The questioner is from a business which turns over more than $2m. She thinks the Labor leader is stereotyping business. | The questioner is from a business which turns over more than $2m. She thinks the Labor leader is stereotyping business. |
| Bill Shorten says he’d like to tell her what she wants to hear, but he can’t on this occasion. | Bill Shorten says he’d like to tell her what she wants to hear, but he can’t on this occasion. |
| Tony Jones asks is he prepared to hear submissions on the size of businesses? Shorten says he’s always prepared to listen but $2m has been the acceptable turnover threshold until very recently. | Tony Jones asks is he prepared to hear submissions on the size of businesses? Shorten says he’s always prepared to listen but $2m has been the acceptable turnover threshold until very recently. |
| 1.00pm BST | 1.00pm BST |
| 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Q: Would you put a cap on the cost of degrees? | Q: Would you put a cap on the cost of degrees? |
| Bill Shorten walks around that carefully. He says Labor’s policies would create a defacto cap because Labor doesn’t support fee deregulation. | Bill Shorten walks around that carefully. He says Labor’s policies would create a defacto cap because Labor doesn’t support fee deregulation. |
| But I can’t speak for each course and the technology involved in each course. | But I can’t speak for each course and the technology involved in each course. |
| That would be a bridge too far. | That would be a bridge too far. |