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

Wednesday, 7 October 2026

Topics: High Court coal mine decision; resources and energy; Coalition immigration policy.

E&OE……………………………………

CHRIS KENNY: Let's go live to Canberra now and catch up with the Shadow Health Minister, Anne Ruston. Thanks for joining us, Anne. I've got to get your reaction first up to that High Court decision. This is our second-largest export industry, and we've now got a High Court — we've got our legal system — telling us that we can't effectively export anything that's going to create emissions overseas.

SENATOR RUSTON: Well, I mean, the craziness of this is the fact that, you know, the sovereign risk that this presents to our nation when it comes to our own prosperity is so huge. But I think the thing that is more terrifying, Chris, is that this coal mine was originally approved in 2022. So, some four years later, we have spent the last four years with lawfare preventing this coal mine from proceeding.

And so, you know, we have got laws in this country that are basically stopping this country in its tracks. And it's about time that Anthony Albanese and, in this case, Chris Minns actually looked at the laws of the state and the nation to make sure that they are in the best interests of this nation.

And, you know, quite frankly, the idea that this government continues to fund the Environmental Defenders Office so the environmental defenders can actually take action using taxpayers' money to stop taxpayers being the beneficiaries of the resources of this nation, I think, is something that this government should be seriously questioned about, because, basically, they're paying people to stop Australia from getting ahead.

CHRIS KENNY: Yeah, that's well worth pointing out. Our tax dollars fund the Environmental Defenders Office. They're effectively activists helping others to take action to stop projects that other government departments have already approved. I mean, you mentioned the sovereign risk. We've had that gold mine expansion thwarted on dodgy Indigenous claims out of Orange. We've got this coal mine now banned in a decision which must cause concern about all further coal developments. We won't allow any nuclear development in this country. I mean, this idea that we are harming ourselves as a nation — it's obvious, isn't it? That's what we're doing.

SENATOR RUSTON: Well, quite clearly. And, I mean, in our own home state, Chris, South Australia, we've seen the lunacy of the green hydrogen dream that has seen one of our great communities in South Australia, Whyalla, brought to its knees again, because we've got this ideological pursuit on one hand without any great thought being put into it. And then, on the other hand, the resources that we know are already proven technologies are being stopped. I mean, it's just nuts on both sides of the equation.

CHRIS KENNY: Yeah, it is frightening, and your call echoes that, of course, of your leader. The Liberals want law changes to make sure this can't happen again. You can't change the High Court ruling, but you can change the legislation, state and federal. Let me get you on the big issue yesterday, the launch of the immigration policy by Angus Taylor and others. This is a serious debate now, with a lot of detail on the table. But you, the Coalition, have got leading business and property groups out there condemning you, suggesting these cuts are too hard and that you'll harm the economy. How are you going to go into the next election arguing against these major industry groups?

SENATOR RUSTON: Well, I think the thing that we need to do now is to make sure that we get out there and talk to industry groups, because I believe this is a very balanced policy. I mean, we know that Australia has been struggling because of this government's failed immigration policy. Their uncontrolled migration, with no infrastructure support and no services to support the massive number of people they've brought into this nation, is why we are having the crisis that we're having at the moment when it comes to access to services, housing and, basically, the economy more generally.

But we do also need to be very mindful that there are many sectors that rely on migration, and my area of aged care is one of them. So we will be making sure that the critical sectors that we know rely very heavily on migration will continue to be the sectors that we prioritise.

But instead of making everybody come through a pathway, which this government seems to be doing, where our education system is being used as an alternative migration pathway, we're saying that the pathway to this country is through skills and the skills that we are determining, as a nation, are needed in this country. I mean, our migration policy must be a policy that benefits Australia. It can't just be a mechanism by which people can come to Australia by using the education system as an easy way to get here.

CHRIS KENNY: Spot on. I think you're on to a winner. I think you've just got to continue to argue the case day in and day out. Thanks so much for joining us, Anne. I appreciate it. Anne Ruston there, live.

ENDS