SENATOR THE HON ANNE RUSTON

SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE

SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

TRANSCRIPT

INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS KENNY, KENNY REPORT NEWS24

Thursday, 13 August 2026

Topics: The Tomago smelter bailout and Labor’s energy policy, the Prime Minister’s “Melongate” controversy, and anti-One Nation protests.

E&OE……………………………………

Chris Kenny: Joining me is Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston. Thanks for joining us, Anne. Do you think Pauline Hanson should know that the President of Indonesia is Prabowo Subianto?

Senator Ruston: Well, I'm not going to comment on what Pauline Hanson should and shouldn't know, but I can assure you Angus Taylor would know who he was.

Chris Kenny: Do you think it's a serious proposition that Pauline Hanson could actually emerge as Prime Minister after the next federal election?

Senator Ruston: Well, right now, Chris, we are concentrating on making sure that we get our message out to Australians about what we stand for. Others can do as they please in terms of their own desires for the future and their terms in this Parliament. But I know that I'm focused on making sure we respond to the needs of the people of Australia who, quite frankly, are in a terrible situation because of the failed policies of this government.

You know, today, in your introduction, you mentioned one of those: the fact that we've had to bail out Tomago because of the epic failure of this government when it comes to energy policy. So that's what we're focusing on.

Chris Kenny: Yeah, I wanted to go there next. Two and a half billion dollars of taxpayers' money to support one aluminium smelter. Does the Coalition support that subsidy?

Senator Ruston: Well, obviously, you know, this was an important decision by the government for the workers of Tomago, but it doesn't shift away from the fact that taxpayers, once again, have been asked to bail out an organisation because of the failure of that energy policy. I mean, this did not need to happen, Chris. If the government had actually focused on delivering the promise it made in the lead-up to the 2022 election—and that was to get energy prices down—instead of energy prices coming down, they've gone up, and this is what we see as a result. So, you know, I think the person who really needs to front the cameras alongside Anthony Albanese is Chris Bowen, to explain why he continues to pursue an energy policy that is causing this kind of thing to have to happen.

Chris Kenny: I just can't believe it. I call it vandalism—it's an act of national energy self-harm. You can't describe it any other way. Just up the road from Tomago, there's a massive coal-fired power station that's been shut down and blown up, and there are others scheduled to be closed down as well. We have the energy. We have reliable and cheap energy. We've chosen to get rid of that before we have a replacement.

Senator Ruston: Yeah, and this is the stupidity of the situation we find ourselves in. You know, we've got abundant resources in this country with which to generate the energy that this nation needs. But because of the belligerence of this government and its refusal to look at the whole range of energy sources that could feed into our grid, we're seeing the taxpayers of Australia having to fund bailouts because of the failure of this government's policies. Of course, my sympathy goes out to the workers facing uncertainty—not just at Tomago, but in every energy-intensive industry across the nation, so many of which have required bailouts. But the reality is that this is of the government's making, and it should be held to account. The taxpayers of Australia should be pretty annoyed that their money isn't being spent on the things they want because of the failure of a policy that the government refuses to admit is failing drastically.

Chris Kenny: Yeah, this is all borrowed money, of course. But, I mean, I agree. I think it's the right thing to keep this industry alive. We need industry in this country, but it shouldn't be necessary. What we should have is a focus on cheap energy, and then you wouldn't need these bailouts. Of course, Tomago is now one of many steelworks and smelters around the country that are having to be bailed out. I want to get your thoughts on the “Melongate” stuff that followed Anthony Albanese, and which Chris Minns jumped in to try to help him out with. The Coalition followed up in Parliament. Is that it now? Is the issue dead? He won't apologise, and life moves on?

Senator Ruston: Well, no, I don't think the issue is dead. I mean, this goes to the very character of the Prime Minister of Australia. I know there are many women who have spoken to me who, quite frankly, think this behaviour is just flat-out creepy. The fact that the Prime Minister hasn't got the decency to apologise for his actions reflects incredibly badly on the character of the man. So, you know, while this issue may well not be the subject of next week's Parliament, the fact is that it's a blemish on him because this isn't the first time he's done it. You know, this follows him already having to apologise for the lewd remarks he made about Kylie Minogue.

So, I think this is something that will stay with the Prime Minister forever because it's unforgivable that he says one thing about the respect he expects women to receive and then does this. I mean, read the Prime Minister's statement from when he was talking about respect at Parliament House in 2022, and then he goes and does this. It's a character flaw that will taint this man for the rest of his life and, as I said, it is just plain creepy.

Chris Kenny: We started on One Nation, and I want to finish on the anti-One Nation protests across the country today—particularly vigorous protests in Melbourne, which caught out our reporter there, Georgie Dickerson. Have a look.

Georgie Dickerson: As you can see, there are so many students out here protesting today. There's a similar sentiment to where Kaiser is. Give it back! Give it back! Give it back! Give it back! Give it back! Stop! She stole my microphone—it's in her bag!

Chris Kenny: Just brilliant and tough stuff there from Georgie. But what about these protesters and what they're getting up to, Anne?

Senator Ruston: Look, I mean, that was completely unacceptable. Everybody in Australia, I suppose, has the right to protest peacefully. But that kind of behaviour, putting the safety of your reporter at risk, is completely unacceptable.

It just goes to show that we need to have a more respectful debate about the things we disagree on in this country. If that's where we're going, then we really do need to take a very serious look at ourselves.

Chris Kenny: Yeah, it's a worry. Thanks for joining us, Anne. I appreciate it. Anne Ruston there, the Shadow Health Minister, joining us live from Canberra.

ENDS