Peter Stefanovic, Host: There's been more expenses billed to the taxpayer. From the Federal Sport and Communications Minister, Anika Wells revealed this morning $4,000 dollar worth of flights for her husband to go to the cricket and the F1, and almost another 2k to fly her husband to the F1 in Melbourne last year. So, it's getting up to six now, but this is just the latest episode to it all. Joining us live is the Assistant Foreign Minister, Matt Thistlethwaite. So, it might be within the rules, Matt, but the bills are certainly stacking up for your colleague.
Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: G'day, Pete. Anika is the Sports Minister, so it's her job to travel to events, particularly sporting events, to represent the government. It's nothing new. Where we've had sports ministers across the political divide, they've always been invited, particularly to international events like the Olympics and Paralympics, where they're representing our country. So, that necessitates quite a bit of travel. But the important thing is that Anika's travel's all been within the rules and it's all been publicly declared.
Stefanovic: I think it's getting the family on board, though, as well. So, when everyone is struggling to pay for their energy bills Matt, do you think this meets community expectations now?
Assistant Minister: Yeah, look, I understand that people might be concerned about it and obviously cost of living is the priority for our government and that's why we've implemented all of the reforms around energy bills, cheaper medicines, cheaper childcare. So that's the priority. But the family travel is all within the rules. It's allowed under the rules and it's importantly, it's disclosed so that people are able to look at the travel of every single politician. And I think that that's what's important, that everything is publicly disclosed and people are able to go through those records and see what travel their particular member of parliament has been undertaking on behalf of the government or as an opposition member.
Stefanovic: When you take family members to the sport or whether you're taking them skiing, though, should she have to pay some of that money back if it's for private reasons?
Assistant Minister: Well, that's a matter for Anika. The rules make sure that there is a certain amount of family travel that is permitted. Members of parliament, particularly ministers, are on the road quite a bit, and the rules permit family members to travel with the minister or a member of parliament up to a certain threshold. And Anika has made sure that it's all within those rules and it's all been publicly disclosed.
Stefanovic: On those New York flights, though, when you guys make or approve a booking, should there be a priority placed on business class flights rather than first class?
Assistant Minister: Well, it's all within the entitlements. I'm not sure what class of travel was undertaken, but it's all within the entitlements and it's done through a public, a company that undertakes the travel bookings on behalf of everyone in parliament. And that's all done within the rules and they have an obligation to try and seek out the best value for money for the taxpayer.
Stefanovic: In these times, though, do you think those rules need to be looked at? I mean, and like you said, this is not just a Labor thing, it's all sides of government. Do you think in 2025, while we are undergoing this cost of living crisis, that those rules need to be looked at?
Assistant Minister: Well, the rules have been looked at in the past and there have been changes that have been made and they're meant to ensure that taxpayers get value for money for the travel that members of parliament need to undertake. And I think that you need to see, Pete, that sometimes members of parliament have to undertake travel at very short notice. So, it's not uncommon for, particularly a minister to be told that they may need to travel in a couple of days to an event to represent someone or to represent the government. And obviously when you're booking late, then that can increase the cost. But it's all done through a company that do it on behalf of members of parliament and their mandate is to try and get the best value for taxpayers.
Stefanovic: Ok, let's get to these AUSMIN talks Matt. The US is now seeking a higher defence spend. A few months after Donald Trump said himself that he seemed ok with our military spending as a proportion of GDP. Is the pressure back on now to boost our military budget?
Assistant Minister: Well, I don't think the pressure is on. I think that the US administration, particularly the President, indicated that he was comfortable with the level of defence expenditure because the Prime Minister explained that we're actually increasing our defence expenditure…
Stefanovic: [interjecting] But there's since been a change on that, though. There's since been a change from his administration.
Assistant Minister: Well, I'm not sure about that. I think that we'll obviously find out in the AUSMIN talks that are going on. But we're increasing defence expenditure by $70 billion dollars over the course of the next decade…
Stefanovic: [interjecting] As a proportion of GDP, though, you're nowhere near the 3%, which is what Pete Hegseth had demanded months ago.
Assistant Minister: Yeah, but in my view, Pete, the important figure is what Australia needs, not the proportion of GDP. And we make sure that we acquire the capability that we need to defend Australia in cooperation with our allies into the future. And the way we did that was we undertook a Defence Strategic Review. So, we asked some independent experts to audit what Australia needs in terms of capability to defend our nation into the future. And they recommended AUKUS, they recommended an upgrade in the surface fleet, they recommended guided weapons, explosive ordinances. So, all these recommendations we've actually implemented and that's why we've lifted the level of defence expenditure, and it's all been done in cooperation with the United States. All of the bases across the north of Australia are being upgraded to improve…
Stefanovic: [interjecting] So, is that a way of saying you're not going to go any higher?
Assistant Minister: To improve interoperability between Australia and the United States in the way that we train and that we prepare for the worst case scenario. So, we're actually doing what the United States and our Defence Strategic Review has recommend.
Stefanovic: So, you're not gonna go any higher?
Assistant Minister: There's no plans to go higher because we're already going higher and we've already made those announcements. And the other point, Pete, is Richard made a very important announcement as the Defence Minister about the way that we deliver projects. So, we're implementing a Defence Delivery Agency that streamlines a number of agencies into one to get better results on the way that we deliver defence projects.
Stefanovic: We will have to leave it there. I'm out of time, but Matt Thistlethwaite, good to see you. Talk to you soon.