Presenter, Evelyn Manfield: Treasurer Jim Chalmers has welcomed a rate cut from the Reserve Bank. Earlier I spoke to Labor frontbencher Anne Aly.
Anne Aly, thank you for joining Afternoon Briefing again. We've had some relief for mortgage holders, another rate cut. Do you expect there could be more good news to come and how soon?
Minister Anne Aly: Well, let's take it one at a time. I think this is really great news, and I think the Treasurer, in his speech, enthusiastically welcomed it, and I think I share that sentiment, and I'm sure that's the sentiment that millions of Australians with mortgages will share as well. I think what the Treasurer pointed out was how extraordinary it was that this rate cut came at a time where we're not seeing an increase in inflation. So, we've got low downward pressure on inflation, wages are still growing, and unemployment is still low. So, I think, you know, that's, as the Treasurer pointed out, that's due to the hard work of all Australians and our previous term in government. I think it's really great news today with that rate cut.
Manfield: Now, there's other news today, including that the Nationals and Liberals have split. Quite an extraordinary decision there. Is this something that shocked you?
Aly: I think it was a bit of a wow moment. Look, to be honest, it's a decision for the Liberals and the Nationals, you know, if they choose to consciously uncouple, that's onto them. And I think in terms of our approach is that we are, we were elected as a majority to deliver on a mandate, and we'll continue to be focused on that mandate as having a majority in government. I think it also speaks to the fact that Australians voted for stability and unity, and that is why we see a return of a Labor government at such a big majority.
Manfield: Does it make life easier for Labor, though, in terms of the Opposition? It's now just the Liberals, and you've got a much bigger crossbench. So, does it change how you will work with the Parliament?
Aly: I think, you know, our government will work with whatever Parliament is made up of. The fact that we do have such an overwhelming majority means that we have a responsibility to deliver on the mandate that Australians have given us, to continue the work that we've been doing on easing cost-of-living pressures for Australians. We went to the election with a very positive agenda, positive vision, positive policies and a positive program for building Australia's future. And that's what we'll continue to work on, and that's what we'll continue to focus on, regardless of the makeup of the Parliament.
Manfield: Now, overseas, after about an 80-day blockade, we've seen that Israel has let about five trucks with humanitarian aid and food into Gaza, but aid agencies say there's around 9,000 still waiting to get in. So, will these five trucks, does that make much of a difference, do you think?
Aly: Look, we've issued a statement today along with 22 other countries and aid agencies calling once again for Israel to abide by the laws of humanitarian, the humanitarian laws. And we will continue to raise our voice to call for Israel to ensure that it abides by humanitarian law. Any small amount of aid is welcome. Obviously, it is a lot less than what is needed. Obviously, there are many Australians and people right across the world who are understandably distressed by the images that they're seeing coming out of Gaza. And we will continue to work with like-minded partners and to continue to put that pressure on Israel to abide by humanitarian law, to allow unimpeded and immediate access to aid to alleviate the suffering of people in Gaza.
Manfield: You referenced a statement that Foreign Minister Penny Wong was part of, but there was actually another statement from UK, Canada and France, and that was talking about not hesitating to take further action, talking about things like sanctions on Israel. Why wasn't Australia part of that statement when Australia has done joint statements with countries like Canada previously during this conflict?
Aly: Look, I think the important thing is that our statement today, and I want to focus on our statement today, that was with 22 other countries and with humanitarian donors as well, to really put that pressure on Israel to allow the unimpeded immediate access of aid to Gaza. That is what the immediate needs are. The immediate needs are to alleviate the starvation of children, to alleviate the suffering of people in Gaza. And we continue to iterate, and continue to reiterate, and put that pressure on a ceasefire and to continue to say that we see a long-term peace process as being vested in a two-state solution. So, we'll continue to do that as we have done in the past and we will continue to use our voice where and when we can to ensure that Israel abides by the expectations of the world, to ensure that it has a humanitarian approach to civilians, children and women and men in Gaza as well.
Manfield: But what about more sanctions?
Aly: Look, that's something that I'll have conversations with the Foreign Minister on, but I do want to point –
Manfield: To push the Foreign Minister on?
Aly: I want to ensure that Australia continues to do what it can to ensure the immediate needs of the people in Gaza, which right now is the unimpeded and immediate access of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering that we're all seeing. We're all seeing it on our phones as we're scrolling through. I want to continue to ensure that Australia uses its voice to ensure that those immediate needs are met.
Manfield: You, as you mentioned, see those distressing images on your phone screen. Just on a human level, I know you've spoken about this before, but it's been so many months now. What is it like to see those images for you?
Aly: It's harrowing. It's harrowing, and, you know, I'm not alone in that. I know that anybody who sees those images feels very deeply about them. Regardless of whether you have a personal connection to the region, as I do, or, you know, whether you just care about the well-being of children and people around the world. It is harrowing to see those images. And that is why, again, I support our government to continue to push for a ceasefire and, importantly, immediate, immediate access to unimpeded aid to alleviate this suffering and stop the starvation.
Manfield: I want to ask you about your former Cabinet colleagues, Ed Husic and Mark Dreyfus. I don't think you've necessarily spoken since the reshuffle. Do you think that was the right decision by the Party's right faction to replace those two Ministers?
Aly: Well, I'm not in the right faction, I'm in the left faction and we have a very different way of doing things. You know, I think that Ed and Mark both made incredible contributions to the ministry and to the Cabinet and will continue to make contributions as members of the Labor government. Unfortunately, that's part of what we do. You know, it's a sad part of being a member of Parliament is that you see people come and you see people go. Whether that's through losing their seats, whether that's through retirement or whether, indeed, that's through the kinds of machinations that means that they lose their Cabinet positions.
Manfield: Was that, then, hard to see? I know you're not part of that faction, as you said, but was it hard to see people you'd worked closely with and, as many have said, represented their communities well?
Aly: Yeah, I work very closely with Ed and worked very closely with Mark, and I will continue to work closely with all my colleagues, both within Cabinet and outside of the Cabinet as well. As many of my colleagues have pointed out, we are in an extremely fortunate position that we have such a rich diversity of cultural backgrounds, but also of professional backgrounds in this Labor government. It is the most diverse government that we have had in a very, very, very long time. Culturally, it's the most diverse government ever in terms of cultural and linguistic diversity. But if you have a look at the backgrounds, the lived experiences, the professional experiences that we have in the Labor government now, it is of a really, really high calibre. And of course, in those situations, you know, there are so many people who could be promoted to Cabinet and who will make contributions and who will make very valuable contributions in whatever role they perform, whether it is as a backbencher or whether it's part of the ministry.
Manfield: Do you think the Party could do a better job, though, at giving a senior voice to people of diverse backgrounds? I note that there have been big steps forward in sort of the caucus, but I guess in some of those leadership positions, is there room for that?
Aly: Well, I'm there.
Manfield: I appreciate that, but-
Aly: And I did get an elevation to Cabinet and to the ministry. Penny Wong, is a senior member of our leadership group as well. Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister. Tanya Plibersek comes from, also from a culturally, linguistically diverse background as well. You know, I think that when we talk about diversity, we don't just talk about our own diversity, we talk about the diversity of others as well. Diversity as a concept, diversity as a valued concept as part of our Party as well. So, I think that we have done a lot in terms of not just having diverse representation in our caucus, as you mentioned, in our government, as you mentioned, but in elevating those diverse voices as well.
Manfield: Anne Aly, thank you very much for your time and congratulations again.
Aly: Thank you, I appreciate it.