Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care

Shadow Minister for Sport

Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate

TRANSCRIPT

Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News

24 June 2024

Topics: Matt Kean’s appointment as new Climate Change Authority Chair, funding uncertainty for Australian sports in the lead up to Paris Olympics

E&OE…………………………………..

Kieran Gilbert: We're not far away from the Paris Olympics, but a number of our sports, the major ones, haven't got ongoing funding secured. The Shadow Sport Minister joins me in the studio. Anne Ruston, I want to - let's get to the sports in a moment. First of all, the big news out of the Prime Minister's courtyard. Matt Kean, the new chair of the Climate Change Authority. What do you make of that?

Anne Ruston: Oh, well, obviously, I wish Mr. Kean all the best with his new role. But, I mean, I think what we have to do is call the Government out for, you know, it's another distraction away from the fact that their energy policy is in shambles. I mean, no Australians have a lower energy bill. They're just going up and up and up. And so, I think I'd call on the Government to actually address the real issue before Australians at the moment, and that is the ever increasing energy bills despite having been promised a $275 reduction.

Kieran Gilbert: They say he's the best person for the job. But you think it's a political distraction?

Anne Ruston: Well, look, time will tell. And obviously we'll unpack this as the day goes on. But, you know, as I said, the Government needs to address the issues that are really of concern to Australians, and I think this is just a distraction.

Kieran Gilbert: Do you think it's treacherous from Matt Kean to take a job like this, which is so central to the politics right now?

Anne Ruston: Well, Mr. Kean has got to explain the reasoning behind why he's taken this particular job. We'll just keep focusing on what we think is the main game in town, and that is doing whatever we can to try and get a long-term plan to get Australia's energy prices down.

Kieran Gilbert: Do you think some of his, the local members in Hornsby might be a bit annoyed at him for taking this role?

Anne Ruston: That's obviously a matter that he has to address with the members of Hornsby.

Kieran Gilbert: Yeah, but more broadly, the Liberal Party is comfortable, do you think, with it?

Anne Ruston: Well, I mean, obviously we will unpack this as the day goes on. I was unaware of the announcement until I saw it when you did a few minutes ago. But as I said, you know, we are absolutely, singularly focussed on what matters to Australians. And I think - [Interrupted]

Kieran Gilbert: Doesn't it undercut the Coalition's argument on nuclear, though? When you've got a former New South Wales Liberal Treasurer saying the numbers don't stack up on nuclear, said as much just ten minutes ago.

Anne Ruston: Well, I will respectfully disagree with Mr. Kean. But I think the international experience shows, you know, the top 20 OECD countries at the moment have nuclear as part of their energy mix, or are in the process of having nuclear as part of their energy mix. So I don't understand why, you know, Australia is the outlier in terms of the evidence base that sits behind nuclear being part of an energy mix that sees affordable, reliable, clean power delivered to their constituents. And that's exactly what we want to see done. So, that's our position, and we'll be taking that to the people of Australia.

Kieran Gilbert: And disagreeing with your Liberal colleague in Matt Kean. Now, let's move to the sports funding question, because we've got the Paris Olympics, as I said, next month. But our sporting organisations don't have the funding secured beyond the Olympics. What's going on here?

Anne Ruston: Well, I think that's a really serious question that the Government needs to answer. We're sending our amazing athletes to Paris in a few days time, and they go to Paris without knowing what their ongoing funding is likely to be. In fact, the Government's funding - the Federal Government's budget allocation funding for the sports actually runs out in seven days time on the 30th of June. The ASC has been forced to step in and provide some temporary funding until the end of the year. So it's pretty concerning that our athletes are – You know, we're all relying on them to do Australia proud in the green and gold in Paris, and they've got this extraordinary financial uncertainty hanging over their heads.

Kieran Gilbert: But this won't – This doesn't have implications in terms of getting our athletes and our teams to Paris, does it?

Anne Ruston: No, but there are significant implications of not knowing. For instance, I mean, if one of our teams, and hopefully many of them do, win Olympic gold, other countries around the world would be looking at their coaches, our coaches, and saying, well, they're obviously doing a pretty good job - We'd like to have them. And with no certainty about payment for our team officials going forward, the enticement of other countries poaching our really fantastic coaches and support staff is a real, real risk.

Kieran Gilbert: Have you had any response from the Minister as to where the funding is?

Anne Ruston: No, we have had no response. We questioned through estimates where it was. It seems to be, you know, like nothing to see here. We'll tell you in due course. But I mean, I'd say to the Minister, and I'd say to Anthony Albanese, photo opportunities with elite athletes are not the answer. Actually delivering certainty so they can do us proud is what we need.

Kieran Gilbert: Shadow Sport Minister, Anne Ruston. Thanks. Appreciate it.

ENDS