Transcript of
Senator Mitch Fifield
Senator for Victoria
2UE Radio Sydney
Drive with Murray Wilton and Murray Olds
27 November 2009
4.05pm
E & OE
Subjects: Leadership, Emissions Trading Scheme
INTERVIEWER:
Senator Mitch Fifield was one of the frontbenchers who tendered his resignation from the frontbench yesterday. He is also one of the MPs who has called for a vote on this question of leadership on Monday, and Senator Fifield is on the line. Good afternoon to you.
MITCH FIFIELD:
Good afternoon Murray.
INTERVIEWER:
Thanks for joining us. Busy day, busy 48 hours for you people? And the pain has to stop sometime doesn’t it?
FIFIELD:
Well clearly we need a resolution of the current situation. I, like most of my colleagues, am of the view that it is important to defer this flawed legislation until next year. It is important to wait until after the Copenhagen climate change conference so that we have a better idea of what the rest of the world is doing. And what we propose is that the legislation be referred to the Senate Economics Committee so that it can be subject to greater scrutiny. It is my hope, and I think it has been the hope of most of my colleagues, that Malcolm Turnbull would come to the same view, as it is the view of the majority of the Party Room. It doesn’t look as though that will happen. And in that situation I think it is important that we endeavour to seek a resolution at the earliest opportunity and that’s Monday.
INTERVIEWER:
Senator can I ask you a question? Can we go back to yesterday? We were watching this unfold. There is ten of you know that have stood down. Did you all know that the ten of you were going to do that? It almost seemed to be like dominoes on a desk.
FIFIELD:
I took my decision on Wednesday with two other colleagues, Senator Cormann and Senator Mason. We had no indication of other frontbench colleagues intending to take the same action. But since we made our announcement on Wednesday, as you’ve pointed out, there has been something of the order of ten or twelve frontbench colleagues who have now stood down.
INTERVIEWER:
And you are the former Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector, I mean it has come from right across the whole spectrum of the frontbench. And it does appear that Mr Turnbull doesn’t have a whole lot of frontbench support left. He may have a few in his corner but is it true that Joe Hockey is emerging as the most likely replacement, can you comment on that?
FIFIELD:
Well I am not sure who will nominate.
INTERVIEWER:
You must have a gut feeling though?
FIFIELD:
Tony Abbott has indicated that if the policy that Malcolm Turnbull currently has isn’t changed that he is prepared to nominate. You mentioned Joe Hockey. Joe is a very good man. He is a very effective frontbencher. He was a very successful minister in the Howard Government. I don’t know what Joe’s intentions are, but the colleagues will consider whoever puts their hand up.
INTERVIEWER:
Joe’s thinking is very much in line with Malcolm Turnbull’s. You are almost you know, replacing one with the other aren’t you there?
FIFIELD:
Well Joe is a separate individual. He is someone who makes up his own mind. He has got a very good political antenna. He has got very good political judgement. He is someone who cares very deeply about the Liberal Party and who has great ambitions for Australia. And Joe is someone who cares and wants to bring the Party back together, as does Tony Abbott. So as I say, I don’t know if Joe will nominate, we will have to wait and see should there be a Party Room meeting called on Monday. We’ll make a determination from those who nominate.
INTERVIEWER:
Everybody out there who backs the Liberals across Australia would want this matter put to bed as quickly as possible too Mitch Fifield. Can you answer this one, you’ve mentioned, I mean Tony Abbott made it very, very clear this was nothing about Malcolm Turnbull as a person it was all about the policy. And the Government gave you until 3.45 this afternoon last time I saw to pass the legislation. Is there still scope for this legislation to be defeated before Copenhagen, can you deny the Prime Minister that opportunity to go to Copenhagen with a deal done with your side?
FIFIELD:
The important thing is to look after Australia’s national interest. And Australia’s national interest is best served by there being proper scrutiny of this package of legislation. It’s one of the largest packages of legislation to ever be put to the Australian Parliament. It potentially has major consequences for jobs and Australia’s international competitiveness and we would be derelict in our duty as Senators if we didn’t seek to give this legislation the greatest possible scrutiny. And hopefully, that’s what our Party Room will decide.
INTERVIEWER:
Knowing Malcolm Turnbull as you do, if he believes that he doesn’t have the numbers on Monday, do you think he will step down gracefully, or do you think he will dig his heels in and it will have to go to a vote?
FIFIELD:
Well I hope Malcolm does what is in the best interests of the Party and that he reflects the will of the Party. The will of the Party, both the Parliamentary Party and the Organisational Party the people in the branches who hand out the how to vote cards is that this legislation be deferred, and that it be subject to greater scrutiny. And it is incumbent on every leader of the Liberal Party to have the Party’s interests paramount. But more important than that, to put the national interest first.
INTERVIEWER:
One final comment if I may, Senator Fifield. Have the actions of yourself and your colleagues over the last 24 hours just about guaranteed that the Liberals cannot win the next election? Have you damaged the Liberal brand that much, do you think?
FIFIELD:
It has been a very inelegant week for the Liberal Party. I think the public are actually pretty understanding of the need for political parties to have robust debate. They want us to get this right. They are not particularly concerned about our internal bickering. What they are concerned about is that political parties apply appropriate scrutiny to legislation and that they don’t vote for legislation that will damage jobs and damage the Australian economy.
INTERVIEWER:
You don’t believe that the general public would think that if the Liberal Party can’t get it together internally they are not going to be able to get it together and manage the country?
FIFIELD:
Well it is incumbent upon us to get it together and that’s why we need a quick resolution of the current situation and I hope that happens on Monday.
INTERVIEWER:
Good to talk to you.
FIFIELD:
Thanks Murray.
ENDS