Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Matt Cunningham was doing his bit to try and help
us work out who to vote for. Yesterday with the
two major political parties going head to head in the
Sky News federal election debate in the contest for the
seat of Solomon, and we know that Luke Gosling indeed
well went head to head with the Country Liberal Party
candidate Lisa Bayless and they debated the big issues for
(00:22):
Solomon in what many are predicting is going to be
a close contest, that is, despite the fact that it's
got a ten percent margin which is held by mister Gosling.
Now joining us live on theline, Matt Cunningham, Sky News
Bureau Chief for Northern Australia. Good morning to you, Matt.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I get a Matt.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
How did it go yesterday? Oh?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Look, it was good fun. I think, you know, I
both care to thaty CO acquitted themselves pretty well. You know,
there was a bit of argie bartie on a few issues,
but you know, I thought it was a good debate
and hopefully people who watched it had a bit of
a clearer idea about what the different policies are for
the two major parties and helps them make that tough
(01:08):
decision because it is going to be an interesting election.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
I think I think it is going to be a
very interesting election. What were some of the key issues
that you touched on. I mean I watched it. I
know that crime was one of the ones that your
viewers had raised with you. Obviously, the port, middle arm,
What were the you know, what were the main topics
that you guys really got stuck into.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Certainly, it was interesting because we went out a day before,
we went out to the Gateway shopping center and just
got some punters basically to give us their questions for
the candidates. It would be no surprise to you and
your listeners that one of the issues that that was
raised quite often by people when we spoke to them
(01:53):
on the street was the issue of crime and law
and order, even though you know that is the purview
of state and territory governments. But there was quite a
bit of discussion about that. I mean, it's no secret
that Wester Bayless was certainly trying to run strong on
that issue and hitching herself to the new CLP Chief
Minister Leaf noki Aio. But Luke Goslin had some interesting
(02:17):
things to say on that issue as well. Okay. I
it was interesting that he was quite critical of the
Northern Territory Labor government. I asked him directly a question
about that, and he did criticize the former Labor government,
particularly the decision that they had made around allowing alcohol
back into Aboriginal town camps and some of those smaller
(02:39):
communities when the Stronger Future legislation expired. I mean, we've
heard Marion Scrimsher had been sort of very vocal about
that issue in our Springs at the time, but it
was certainly the first time that I had heard Luke
b as strong and as critical of the former Labor
government on that issue. I think that tells you where
the feedback coming to the parties and through focus groups
(03:02):
and polling, et cetera, what it's saying. And you can
see it in the advertising that the CLP is running
as well. You know, I was looking watching the Telly
last night and I saw one of their apps and
it has the former actors, Minister and Natasha files like
front and Center and the CLP dads, so they're trying
to sort of hammer home that point. The CLP, you know,
(03:23):
Lisa Bayless is obviously trying to align herself with Leaf
and Nociero. Probably not great timing for Lisa Bayless that
Leof and no Guiero was away for the first two
and a half weeks of the campaign, but she's back
on the ground now, so they'll certainly. I think I'd
expect to see those two out together quite a bit.
In fact, I think they're out this morning together and
event so, so I think that's where things are at
(03:43):
with crime. We talked quite a bit about cost of
living as well, about flight prices and about the cost
of housing. It was interesting to being the punts because
you know, you know that both of the major parties
in this election have now it's some pretty significant housing
policy around trying to get buyers into the market. So
(04:04):
you know, you've got the coalition making mortgage repayments on
new homes for tax for the first home buyers, or
interest on those payments tax deductible. And you've also got
labor you know, trying to get people into the market
with just a five percent deposit that now won't be
means tested. But a lot of the concerns that people
(04:25):
we spoke to on the ground about were about, you know,
the cost of renting the impact on sort of homelessness
and how hard it is to get a rental property
and the price of a rental property, which can be
I think the median price is the second highest in
the country at about seven hundred bucks a week for
an hour. We had a bit of discussion about that
and whether you know, those policies of the major parties
(04:46):
announced would actually push up those rental prices further and
so much.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
In terms of I know there was some discussion as
well in terms of the Darwin port but also in
terms of Middle Arm and Marian Scrimjor had come out
a little earlier in the week, or maybe it was
even towards the end of last week and had made
it sort of sound as though, you know that the
funding was not there, or that the amount that had
been committed, you know, maybe wouldn't come through. Luke Gosling
(05:13):
made it sound like absolutely it was going to I.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Thought that was really interesting you I think you've spoken
about and you had seen that the ABC had done
that story earlier in the week where they had video
of Marion Scringer from a candidate for him in Al
Springs at the weekend and she was basically walking away
from middle Arm, saying that she never really supported it
in the first place. She thought that any of that
development should be at East but then she said it's
(05:39):
not in my elector anymore, and I'm handballing it to
Luke Goglin. Well, you know, I think Luke Gosling was
unequivocal in his support for middle Arm. He just shot
that idea and I even asked him because there had
been some suggestion I think the Environment Center it suggested
that they should use the money that had been set
aside for middle Arm to pay for the poor to
(06:00):
buy the port back from Landbridge. Luke Gosling shot that
suggestion down straight away and seeming to be all in
his support for Middle Arms, so that I think that
was interesting, and obviously that's the colp's position as well.
We had an interesting discussion about the port as well.
(06:20):
You know, I'd put it to Luke that he had said,
I think about four weeks ago that there would be
more to say about the port, and we know that.
You know, we had the incident a couple of weeks
ago where Anthony Albanezi rang into ABC radio at four
point thirty on Friday afternoon to try to get ahead
of Petter Duton on that one. So you know, we've
got both sides now committed to buying back or taking
(06:45):
back the port in some way, either through commercial means
or through compulsory acquisition. I think the difference is that
the COLP is saying we'll do it within six months
and Lad's not putting a time frame on that.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Yeah, yeah, and that I mean it's an interesting time.
Do you think was there a winner, was there a
clear winner or not? Really?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Oh, look, it's not for me to say. I don't think,
you know, Kay as the moderator of the.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Debate, right when you're moderating.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Others have their view. I mean it's interesting because I've
spoken to see people and ALP people since the debate
and you know, and they both, you know, both sides
have said that they're pretty pretty happy with their performance
and how it went. Maybe that means I didn't do
a particularly good job.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
I thought you'd done a good job. I thought you
made it quite interesting, Mash. You know, you made it
a bit exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Mate.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Sometimes, you know, we're all sort of getting to the
point as the election draws closer and closer, and you know,
you're seeing the like the federal leaders, Peter Dutton and
Anthony Albanezy go head to head and you're like, oh,
how is this going to you know, like is it
going to be very exciting? What are they going to discuss?
I thought it was good. There was a bit of
fire in there, you know, not too much. You managed
to keep them under control, though more a little.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Bit more sort of archers barge between the two candidate
and there were a couple of moments where it sort
of flared up into that. But I'm not sure whether
it was a deliberate strategy on both of their behalf.
But I didn't seem too too keen to get absolutely
adamantly starting to one another. And so yeah, and I
think two very different personalities as well. We saw in
(08:24):
that debate. Yeah, you know, Luke, who's an experienced politician,
was certainly trying to get on the front and quite
forethrow of the things that he was saying. Lisa, who's
somewhat new to the game, was more measured and more
reserved and more sort of quietly spoken. But you know,
that may have been a deliberate strategy on their part.
(08:47):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yeah, Well, it's going to be interesting there is no
doubt about that. We might try and I reckon I'm
going to try and organize just one final week that
was with the with the candidates, or certainly we'll get
the two from the two major parties and we'll have
to get you in as well. Matten. We might ask.
I'll see how we go. It's a little bit difficult
when you've got you know, like seven or eight sort
(09:10):
of people or however many there are they put their
hand up to have any other kind of debate besides
the two major parties. Nonetheless, we have really seen a
situation I think you and I have probably seen it
over the last ten years with different elections federally and
also in the Northern Territory where you have different independents,
you have green candidates, you have different candidates pop up
(09:32):
from time to time. Terry Mills, I think was probably
the best example, or the biggest example where they do
really want to, you know ingrain themselves into those debates
and into those discussions, and you can't, you know, you
can't knock them for that. They're wanting to have a go.
But I do wonder whether there's going to be as
big a swing towards the Teals or the Independence as
(09:55):
what they think there's going to.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Be interested in. Watch. We spoke about it briefly in
the debate yesterday, and you know, Phil Scott, he's seen
a dirty on me that he wasn't included yesterday. But
we looked at we looked at the results from twenty
twenty two and they are interestingating because more than thirty
(10:19):
five percent of voters in twenty twenty two did not
vourage for one of the major parties. Lo Godley increased
his margin partly significantly at the twenty twenty two elections,
but he still saw a fall in his primary vote,
so his problems vot I think was down north point
five in the twenty twenty two election piece now percent.
(10:44):
That was partly because you know, Sam McMahon had run
in the Senate to the Liberal Democrats and her former
staff a Kyla Gnani had run in the in Solomon
and a good ten percent of the vote I think.
But you also saw it a ticking the Greens vote
at the last colection it was up three percent and
(11:07):
three years before. So you know, I think that it
will be interesting to see how the Greens and the
Independence and Puel Scott the fuel Independent how he goes.
They're certainly running a well organized campaign, so yeah, it's
an interesting an interesting addition to the mix. I would
(11:28):
say that.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yeah, well it always is. Makes things a bit of fun.
Matt Cunningham from scott News. It's always good to catch
up mate, have a great Easter long weekend. Thank you.
Matt Cunningham was doing his bit to try and help
us work out who to vote for. Yesterday with the
two major political parties going head to head in the
Sky News federal election debate in the contest for the
seat of Solomon, and we know that Luke Gosling indeed
well went head to head with the Country Liberal Party
candidate Lisa Bayless and they debated the big issues for
(00:22):
Solomon in what many are predicting is going to be
a close contest, that is, despite the fact that it's
got a ten percent margin which is held by mister Gosling.
Now joining us live on theline, Matt Cunningham, Sky News
Bureau Chief for Northern Australia. Good morning to you, Matt.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I get a Matt.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
How did it go yesterday? Oh?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Look, it was good fun. I think, you know, I
both care to thaty CO acquitted themselves pretty well. You know,
there was a bit of argie bartie on a few issues,
but you know, I thought it was a good debate
and hopefully people who watched it had a bit of
a clearer idea about what the different policies are for
the two major parties and helps them make that tough
(01:08):
decision because it is going to be an interesting election.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
I think I think it is going to be a
very interesting election. What were some of the key issues
that you touched on. I mean I watched it. I
know that crime was one of the ones that your
viewers had raised with you. Obviously, the port, middle arm,
What were the you know, what were the main topics
that you guys really got stuck into.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Certainly, it was interesting because we went out a day before,
we went out to the Gateway shopping center and just
got some punters basically to give us their questions for
the candidates. It would be no surprise to you and
your listeners that one of the issues that that was
raised quite often by people when we spoke to them
(01:53):
on the street was the issue of crime and law
and order, even though you know that is the purview
of state and territory governments. But there was quite a
bit of discussion about that. I mean, it's no secret
that Wester Bayless was certainly trying to run strong on
that issue and hitching herself to the new CLP Chief
Minister Leaf noki Aio. But Luke Goslin had some interesting
(02:17):
things to say on that issue as well. Okay. I
it was interesting that he was quite critical of the
Northern Territory Labor government. I asked him directly a question
about that, and he did criticize the former Labor government,
particularly the decision that they had made around allowing alcohol
back into Aboriginal town camps and some of those smaller
(02:39):
communities when the Stronger Future legislation expired. I mean, we've
heard Marion Scrimsher had been sort of very vocal about
that issue in our Springs at the time, but it
was certainly the first time that I had heard Luke
b as strong and as critical of the former Labor
government on that issue. I think that tells you where
the feedback coming to the parties and through focus groups
(03:02):
and polling, et cetera, what it's saying. And you can
see it in the advertising that the CLP is running
as well. You know, I was looking watching the Telly
last night and I saw one of their apps and
it has the former actors, Minister and Natasha files like
front and Center and the CLP dads, so they're trying
to sort of hammer home that point. The CLP, you know,
(03:23):
Lisa Bayless is obviously trying to align herself with Leaf
and Nociero. Probably not great timing for Lisa Bayless that
Leof and no Guiero was away for the first two
and a half weeks of the campaign, but she's back
on the ground now, so they'll certainly. I think I'd
expect to see those two out together quite a bit.
In fact, I think they're out this morning together and
event so, so I think that's where things are at
(03:43):
with crime. We talked quite a bit about cost of
living as well, about flight prices and about the cost
of housing. It was interesting to being the punts because
you know, you know that both of the major parties
in this election have now it's some pretty significant housing
policy around trying to get buyers into the market. So
(04:04):
you know, you've got the coalition making mortgage repayments on
new homes for tax for the first home buyers, or
interest on those payments tax deductible. And you've also got
labor you know, trying to get people into the market
with just a five percent deposit that now won't be
means tested. But a lot of the concerns that people
(04:25):
we spoke to on the ground about were about, you know,
the cost of renting the impact on sort of homelessness
and how hard it is to get a rental property
and the price of a rental property, which can be
I think the median price is the second highest in
the country at about seven hundred bucks a week for
an hour. We had a bit of discussion about that
and whether you know, those policies of the major parties
(04:46):
announced would actually push up those rental prices further and
so much.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
In terms of I know there was some discussion as
well in terms of the Darwin port but also in
terms of Middle Arm and Marian Scrimjor had come out
a little earlier in the week, or maybe it was
even towards the end of last week and had made
it sort of sound as though, you know that the
funding was not there, or that the amount that had
been committed, you know, maybe wouldn't come through. Luke Gosling
(05:13):
made it sound like absolutely it was going to I.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Thought that was really interesting you I think you've spoken
about and you had seen that the ABC had done
that story earlier in the week where they had video
of Marion Scringer from a candidate for him in Al
Springs at the weekend and she was basically walking away
from middle Arm, saying that she never really supported it
in the first place. She thought that any of that
development should be at East but then she said it's
(05:39):
not in my elector anymore, and I'm handballing it to
Luke Goglin. Well, you know, I think Luke Gosling was
unequivocal in his support for middle Arm. He just shot
that idea and I even asked him because there had
been some suggestion I think the Environment Center it suggested
that they should use the money that had been set
aside for middle Arm to pay for the poor to
(06:00):
buy the port back from Landbridge. Luke Gosling shot that
suggestion down straight away and seeming to be all in
his support for Middle Arms, so that I think that
was interesting, and obviously that's the colp's position as well.
We had an interesting discussion about the port as well.
(06:20):
You know, I'd put it to Luke that he had said,
I think about four weeks ago that there would be
more to say about the port, and we know that.
You know, we had the incident a couple of weeks
ago where Anthony Albanezi rang into ABC radio at four
point thirty on Friday afternoon to try to get ahead
of Petter Duton on that one. So you know, we've
got both sides now committed to buying back or taking
(06:45):
back the port in some way, either through commercial means
or through compulsory acquisition. I think the difference is that
the COLP is saying we'll do it within six months
and Lad's not putting a time frame on that.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Yeah, yeah, and that I mean it's an interesting time.
Do you think was there a winner, was there a
clear winner or not? Really?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Oh, look, it's not for me to say. I don't think,
you know, Kay as the moderator of the.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Debate, right when you're moderating.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Others have their view. I mean it's interesting because I've
spoken to see people and ALP people since the debate
and you know, and they both, you know, both sides
have said that they're pretty pretty happy with their performance
and how it went. Maybe that means I didn't do
a particularly good job.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
I thought you'd done a good job. I thought you
made it quite interesting, Mash. You know, you made it
a bit exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Mate.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Sometimes, you know, we're all sort of getting to the
point as the election draws closer and closer, and you know,
you're seeing the like the federal leaders, Peter Dutton and
Anthony Albanezy go head to head and you're like, oh,
how is this going to you know, like is it
going to be very exciting? What are they going to discuss?
I thought it was good. There was a bit of
fire in there, you know, not too much. You managed
to keep them under control, though more a little.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Bit more sort of archers barge between the two candidate
and there were a couple of moments where it sort
of flared up into that. But I'm not sure whether
it was a deliberate strategy on both of their behalf.
But I didn't seem too too keen to get absolutely
adamantly starting to one another. And so yeah, and I
think two very different personalities as well. We saw in
(08:24):
that debate. Yeah, you know, Luke, who's an experienced politician,
was certainly trying to get on the front and quite
forethrow of the things that he was saying. Lisa, who's
somewhat new to the game, was more measured and more
reserved and more sort of quietly spoken. But you know,
that may have been a deliberate strategy on their part.
(08:47):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yeah, Well, it's going to be interesting there is no
doubt about that. We might try and I reckon I'm
going to try and organize just one final week that
was with the with the candidates, or certainly we'll get
the two from the two major parties and we'll have
to get you in as well. Matten. We might ask.
I'll see how we go. It's a little bit difficult
when you've got you know, like seven or eight sort
(09:10):
of people or however many there are they put their
hand up to have any other kind of debate besides
the two major parties. Nonetheless, we have really seen a
situation I think you and I have probably seen it
over the last ten years with different elections federally and
also in the Northern Territory where you have different independents,
you have green candidates, you have different candidates pop up
(09:32):
from time to time. Terry Mills, I think was probably
the best example, or the biggest example where they do
really want to, you know ingrain themselves into those debates
and into those discussions, and you can't, you know, you
can't knock them for that. They're wanting to have a go.
But I do wonder whether there's going to be as
big a swing towards the Teals or the Independence as
(09:55):
what they think there's going to.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Be interested in. Watch. We spoke about it briefly in
the debate yesterday, and you know, Phil Scott, he's seen
a dirty on me that he wasn't included yesterday. But
we looked at we looked at the results from twenty
twenty two and they are interestingating because more than thirty
(10:19):
five percent of voters in twenty twenty two did not
vourage for one of the major parties. Lo Godley increased
his margin partly significantly at the twenty twenty two elections,
but he still saw a fall in his primary vote,
so his problems vot I think was down north point
five in the twenty twenty two election piece now percent.
(10:44):
That was partly because you know, Sam McMahon had run
in the Senate to the Liberal Democrats and her former
staff a Kyla Gnani had run in the in Solomon
and a good ten percent of the vote I think.
But you also saw it a ticking the Greens vote
at the last colection it was up three percent and
(11:07):
three years before. So you know, I think that it
will be interesting to see how the Greens and the
Independence and Puel Scott the fuel Independent how he goes.
They're certainly running a well organized campaign, so yeah, it's
an interesting an interesting addition to the mix. I would
(11:28):
say that.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yeah, well it always is. Makes things a bit of fun.
Matt Cunningham from scott News. It's always good to catch
up mate, have a great Easter long weekend. Thank you.
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