Brian Mitchell, Federal Labor Member for Lyons

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
List alive at Tasmania talks dot com dot au. Hey, Brian,
I'm goody Hello, Hello, I've just discovered something about this
apparat in here turning water into wine. That's pretty good.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Isn't it not a bad thing to do? I think
a blokes like two thousand years ago worked out pretty well.

Speaker 1 (00:18):
It worked out pretty well for him, sort of. We
won't go too far into that. This is this is
to do with the one the one hundred million dollars
that Labour pledged for water infrastructure before the election. You've
come through with the goods. Where's it going to go?
What's it going to achieve?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
So there's five schemes what we call our pipeline of prosperity.
So of course the Tasman Irrigation has been with the
s NOAW for the best part of a decade or
more and this five years games. So the don out
in the Northwest, Northern midlandschame the West Tamar, the Single
Valley and Sasafras. So this this is the federal government's contribution.

(00:56):
Then what farmers and the state government will make their
contribution as well. People will buy into it and basically
it provides water security out they can farmers can get
the water security they need and that gives them the
investment confidence to do things like essentially turn things up,
transform the landscape from what used to be fairly rough

(01:20):
cattle and sheep pasture into things like cherry growing and
fruit growing, vineyards, all sorts of really top value added products.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
David Butler talked about this a long time ago before
it all began. Was it his brainstorm or was it
or where did it come about?

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, David Dwellyn, who is a former Labor State Primary
Industries minister, yes, his brain child. He talks of farmers
and irrigators and the farming community and it was under
David's stewardship, which I think was under David Bartletts Premier
that this all came about. And we've been pleased to
see that it's been continued by the state government and

(02:01):
of course it's being dependent on federal funding because of
the capital expenditure required, but it's just transforming Tasmania. There
are vast ways of Tasmania now that are very different
to what they were more than a decade ago, and
just adding real value to the state's agriculture. The state
government's got a plan to get to I think fifty

(02:21):
billion of agricultural output and the Tasmania sorry ten billion,
and nationally we wont one hundred billion by twenty thirty.
We're on track.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
Obviously, what does that mean? Fifty fifty billion output? Is
that fifty billion dollars or fifty ten billion?

Speaker 2 (02:38):
This spoke there, so it was ten to ten billions
of Tasmania the agricultural value to the economy of billion.
And nationally we've got one hundred billion dollar plan which
incorporates red meat and everything else. And it just gives
us a goal and we're on our way to achieving it.
And this sort of investment helps us get there because

(03:00):
it transforms what was fairly marginal land into high value land.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
I asked this question of Andrew Neiburn earlier in the
week when we talked about the scheme. At the beginning
there was sort of environmental concerns, but he says most
of those are all of those have pretty much been addressed.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Yeah, Well, of course, environmental concerns are always taken into
consideration when these proposers get up. It's not like his
decided to hand over money and to start digging pipes.
There's a lot of work that goes into them. Cultural
aspects obviously, and thinking the First Nations history, historical issues,
so that there's a lot of work that goes into
preparing where the sites are and how they go. And

(03:38):
environmental considerations are a big one because when you change
the nature of where water flows and how it flows,
that can have ramification. So there's a lot of work
goes into these schemes, but at the end of the day,
they transform the landscape. They will high value output, but
also jobs. They quite a lot of jobs in the

(04:01):
reasons a.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Lot of people working on them. Do you ever have
to acquire land to achieve it? Or are farmer's more
I don't know. I guess they can understand what you're
trying to do.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
Well. Essentially, it's these are set up as business modules
under Tasmanian irrigation and then the farmers will buy into
them and get the water. Right.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
So if you went to mister farmer Brown and say
we want to lay a pipe across your land, are
are you happy about that? Or do you give them
money for that? Or do you give them discount water? Maybe?

Speaker 2 (04:32):
I'm sure negotiations will take place.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
Yeah, okay, all right, out of your domain. Now this
is all new money, I'm guessing, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, we've promised this in the election if we're elected
to government, and we've come through. I'm pleased to say
that all of the election commitments that we've made for
Tasmania have come through in this budget. They're either being
delivered now or they're on track to be delivered over
the forwards, and this is one of them. So yeah,
really happy about that.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
It's one hundred million dollars. Which areas are going to
benefit from this in the short term? Can you name
a couple of areas for people right now?

Speaker 2 (05:05):
I think being Gone I think is the most progressed
up there around Devonport, so that that's the most progressed.
But this gives certainty so that the others can start
moving forward as well. These plans take some years to
develop before they're fully in place, but this is a
good starting point.

Speaker 1 (05:26):
Wow. All right, so we're going to start seeing things
moving on the ground, I suppose straight away. I guess
we're seeing it now already.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah. Well this is called Trump's what they call Trump three,
So it's like the third stage of this rollout. And
so we've already got two stages through Tasmania that there's
a number of these schemes already in place and they
really have to transfort I'm not being hyperbolic, they really
do transform the place. So I live down in the southeast,

(05:52):
which is a fairly dry region normally, and we've got
videos going in on the East coast. They've got videos
going to the East coast really high value wine and
of course all through the south now we've got cherries
and fruits, and they just give farmers that security they need.
They know the water is going to be there when
they need it, which of course is not always the case.

(06:13):
So they know they've got the water. Then that means
they can make the investment decisions for the long term.
So it's a it's a terrific announcement.

Speaker 1 (06:20):
A Farmers generally happy with the price of the water
because I think the water sort of fluctuates, doesn't It
depends on the time every year.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
I would always be hesitant to guess what makes farmers happy.
Farmers are happy when when the sun shining, and when
there's plenty of water but not too much water, and
when prices are up but not so much that they're
that they're that they're they're paying too much, so that
farmers work really hard. They do a fantastic job with
the state. But I'd be a brave man if I said,

(06:47):
you know, our farmers happy about this. But the farmers
I've spoken to, they are delighted that this gives them
the security they need because you know, farmers know that
seasonal issues and what gets in the way they're making
investment decisions. They might make a decision this week and
then there's a draft for three years and that just
throws everything out. Or as we've said, they might plant

(07:09):
some seeds and then a flood comes away and comes
along and washes them away. So those sorts of things
that get in the way of farmers incomes and investments.
What this sort of security does. It just provides them security.
They know that the war is going to be there
when they need it, and that means they can go
forward with their investment decisions with more surety. So it's

(07:30):
a really good insurance policy for them.

Speaker 1 (07:32):
It's a lot of money, one hundred million dollars, and
I'm guessing that it probably came from somewhere. Are we
sure that there aren't any other infrastructures that we're about
to happen that are maybe not going to happen now
as a result of this. Can we be absolutely positive?

Speaker 2 (07:46):
Well, look, that's a terrific question. But of course, whatever
we decide to put money into something, and particularly under
our government, we are always looking for what we call
a return on investment, so it's got to be a
good business case, and we are confident that this is
a good business case. We've seen that in the past
with the other two stages where you put money in

(08:09):
and there's always a multiplier effect at the end of
us and that's good for Tasmania and it's frankly good
for consumers as well. It gets more products on the
shelves which were exports. So we're confident that this is
a good not just a good social decision, but a
good business decision. And it supports our regions. It puts
money back into the regional economies and it supports the
growth of the region, so that that's a great outcome

(08:30):
as well.

Speaker 1 (08:31):
Well. Look, there's a lot of infrastructure going in. Who
gets the fun part of maintaining all of that, is
that tas water or who looks after that in the run?

Speaker 2 (08:42):
Tasmanian irrigation, which is I think a GDA of the
state government. I think is the best way to drive it,
and they will take over to sort of the operation
and running of this. But it's in concert with the
pharmacy buy into the scheme.

Speaker 1 (08:56):
So's yeah, I see, So Andrew Kneebones lot are the
ones that actually put it in and look after it
in the long run. Look, yeah you're still there.

Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yes, yeah, yeah, you're right. That's pretty much the case.

Speaker 1 (09:09):
That's how it works out pretty well. Okay, you're going
out with a silver shovel or something. Is there any
sort of big a major photo opportunities and stuff cutting ribbons?

Speaker 2 (09:18):
We love the silver shovels. I'm sure at some stage
we'll be announcing these things as they come together. You'll
see Polly's wandering around digging holes and.

Speaker 1 (09:28):
How many how many holes have you dug with a
silver shovel? Bright?

Speaker 2 (09:32):
Not too many. We've only been in government for six months. Yeah,
one long the airport, but yeah, it's just one. I see.
It's good to be able to support initiatives, support the community,
support the economy going forward. The key thing I guess
alan is as a government, what we are determined to
do is make sure that we use task pays funds

(09:52):
wisely and we're not going to spend it recklessly. And
we you know, we make decisions in a very considered, methodical, calm,
collected way, and that's what we've done with this decision,
and that's what we'll do with future investment decisions. That
the federal government has always been called on to support
various projects, and we'll always consider them in a very cool, collected,

(10:13):
methodical way.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
How do you reckon the labor government's going now? We're
into what are we into a few months down the track?
Is it going good? You're enjoying it?

Speaker 2 (10:21):
Six months this week, we'll really really enjoying it. It's
nice to be able to do the things that you
say you want to do. As I say, we've met
all our promises today. Look, and there's no doubt. We
know we're in tough times. Cost of the thing is
a big issue in the community, but we are determined
to address that. Our budget went some way to doing that.
We have five initiatives in the budget, but again they

(10:41):
weren't a big sugar hit giveaway, which I think people
have still of got used to over the last few years.
We're putting in play structural foundations for sustainable growth, so
cheaper childcare, cheaper medicines, these are things that will make
a real difference to the hip pocket. So they also
lay down the strong foundations for a stronger economy going forward.
So it's about making just just getting back to the

(11:03):
basics of good government and good governance. So we're really
enjoying it, but we also know we've got a really
big responsibility and we're determined to make it.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
Are we getting any closer with the electricity prices that
are about to go up? In the gas prices, what's
the story there?

Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, we are very cognizant of the impact of those
and I know our industry and energy ministers and finance
ministers are working day and night to try and find
it again, a long term solution on this. It's not
just going to make a knee jerk like I could have.

Speaker 1 (11:34):
We could have recorded that answer and played it six
months ago and it would have been the same, wouldn't it.

Speaker 2 (11:41):
I know it sounds boring, but these things that they
are very complex and they do take time.

Speaker 1 (11:45):
Why don't you just tell a gas company that you're
not going to pay on that much money anymore. You're
going to have to give us this much, this much
of our gas for this much.

Speaker 2 (11:52):
That's just the way it is to leave legal frameworks.
There's regulatory frameworks. They've got to be worked through it,
but it's our gas. I wish it was as simple
as that, and I really do, but it's just not there.
There there are very long standing legal and regulatory frameworks
that needs to be sorted out, and kids, you're not.
Industry energy and finance ministers are working day and night

(12:14):
on this because they know not only the hip pocket consumers,
but it's also having a big impost on small and
medium sized business.

Speaker 1 (12:22):
Well, they're already closing the doors as a company in
South Australia that I think keeps closing the doors and
then coming back when the gas price goes down again.
People aren't happy with it. They're getting very nervous.

Speaker 2 (12:34):
There are real there are real impacts out there, but
it's got to be said. We've got to make sure
that we state this very clearly. Pupils are legal. War
in Ukraine is chief chiefly responsible for this because that's
had a cascading and effect or inflation and energy pricess worldwide.
We have a responsibility to deal with it domestically, and
our ministers are talking to the energy providers saying, look

(12:58):
that the prices you set are having massive impact on
users and your customers. You need to do all you can.

Speaker 1 (13:06):
Now they've had months, haven't done they haven't done it.

Speaker 2 (13:09):
So they don't listen to please and entreaties. Then we
need to look at other measures, and it's those measures
that take time to bring into place.

Speaker 1 (13:19):
I think most economists say you should just simply tax
them more simple as that put on a higher tax
and that would just fix the problem.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
That's certainly, that's certainly a view that's put out there.
I'm sure we'll be taking into consideration. But we've made
it clear that in this in this electoral cycle, that
we are you know, we're looking at taxing multinationals a
fair rate of tax and we'll certainly stick by that commitment.

Speaker 1 (13:41):
Now, this one's come around pretty quick. It's now turned
into a bit of an emergency, and six months seems
like a long time to ask them and be polite.
Maybe now it's the time not to be polite.

Speaker 2 (13:50):
I think, you know, we we think it's important to
stick by promises. I think for the last ten years.
You know, people really got cynical about politicians who said
one thing before an election then did another thing after
an election. And we are very aware of that, and
we think it's really important to get trust back into
the electoral system and we're determined to keep our promises.

Speaker 1 (14:11):
Are we going to have the guests an electricity prices
fixed by the end of the year. We've got a
couple of weeks. Is that long enough?

Speaker 2 (14:17):
Working on at night and day, worked on at night and.

Speaker 1 (14:20):
Day, so by the end of the year we'll have
it sorted.

Speaker 2 (14:23):
We're worked on at night dale and I'm not.

Speaker 1 (14:26):
You've got to put a timeline otherwise you're going to
be working on it night and day in twelve months
from now.

Speaker 2 (14:31):
I'm not going to I make a point of never
making a promise that that I'm not sure I can't.
I made promises before the election that I knew I
could keep, and I've delivered on those and I'm saying
to you now with all sincerity, we are working on
this night and day. We know energy prices are a
big issue in the community, not just for households but
for businesses as well, and our ministers are working on

(14:54):
at night and day to get a resolution, and it'll
take as long as it takes, but they are working
on it night and day.

Speaker 1 (15:00):
All Right, you have to realize that the people that
are probably turning the electricity off as we speak. Should
the liberals in the state. Liberals here said that we
should not be part of the national energy We've gone
right off track. The liberals here. They said that we
should not be part of the national energy market ages ago,
and they promised to get out of it, but now
they've changed their mind. Should we actually be part of
this mess or should we just say no, we don't

(15:22):
want anything to do with it.

Speaker 2 (15:23):
Well, I think what the real point there is that
the liberals said one thing before an election and are
doing another thing after election. And I think that just
feeds into the semisism that people have. Don't say things
that you don't mean, and don't do things that you
said you weren't going to do I mean. And that's
why people are frankly fed up with politics and politicians,
because politicians will say one thing before an election and

(15:44):
do another after an election. I've been determined over my
six years not to be that sort of politician. I
say what I mean, and I do what I say,
and I'm pleased to see that our government is doing
the same thing. We went to an election with a plan,
we called it Power in Australia, were wiring the nation,
and we are implementing that plan. People people know exactly
what we are doing because we said we were going

(16:06):
to do it.

Speaker 1 (16:07):
As a Tasmanian though, Brian, would you actually like to
see the national energy market ditched by Tasmania.

Speaker 2 (16:14):
I want to see power prices as low as they
can be for all Australians and of course all Tasmanians.
And I also want to see energy security and I
want to see cleaner and cheaper and more available energy.
Now the experts say that the best way to achieve
that is through a national grid and the Tasmania being
tied into that through Marinis. We've made a decision that

(16:37):
we are backing Marinas. That will double the state's renewable
energy capacity, that will provide Tasmania with energy security going
forward and will promote investment in Tasmania's energy supply, but
also make sure that our renewable energy can be used
on the mainland and feed us into the national system.
So that's experts talking. I'm not an energy expert, Alan

(16:58):
and I don't pretend to be one, but we do
listen to the experts and that it actually matches what
we said before the election. We went to the election
with a power in Australia and we're wiring a nation
plan to modernize our grid and to make it cleaner
and cheaper and more dependable on renewables. And that's what
we're implementing. We're implementing the plan we took to the election.

Speaker 1 (17:18):
So we should be we need to be part of
the national energy market. And that's that's from Federal Minister
Brand Mitchell or from Tasmanian Bran Mitchell.

Speaker 2 (17:27):
Well, it's from Labor Party member Bryan Mitchell, who is
a member of a party that went to an election
with a plan to the ended in government and we
are inpmending that plan. I don't know how to be
more clear and more plain.

Speaker 1 (17:42):
So prices will be lower for Tasmanians attached to the
grid on the mainland than what they would be before
we said leave it go away. We're not going to
be part of this violence in such a mess.

Speaker 2 (17:53):
Look, prices will be as low as they can be
under labor and they will be lower under our plan.
And we know under our plan because you know, renewable
energy is the cheapest form of energy you can have.
I mean the liberals now we've got.

Speaker 1 (18:07):
That at the moment, but we're about to probably give
most of little way. That's the thing that people are
worried about.

Speaker 2 (18:12):
The Liberal the alternative government. They are talking now after
nine years in power, that they're talking about bringing out
nuclear power. They never talked about that when they're in government.
Suddenly six months after the election they think nuclear powers
the answer when nuclear is the most expensive power you
can have globally. You know, that's all the studies show that.

(18:34):
We know that renewable energy is the future. We need
to be able to transition to it in an orderly way.
We've mapped out away we're going to do that and
that's what we're doing. You know, we're implementing the plan
that we gave a commitment to before the election. And
I think people expect I think it's a refreshing change
after the last nine years, but a government is actually

(18:55):
implementing the planet took to the election after the election,
and that's what we're doing.

Speaker 1 (18:59):
That's fair should I mentioned COVID, the fact that Albo
never talks about COVID. None of the ministers mentioned COVID,
and this year just gone Actually under Albo, more people
have died with COVID than previously in the whole time
that we've been stuck with this damn thing. Do you
think you're doing a good job with the COVID controls?
There is no COVID controls.

Speaker 2 (19:18):
Is there being managed? It's been managed as best as
well can be expected. I mean, you know, it's what are.

Speaker 1 (19:24):
You doing to manage them well?

Speaker 2 (19:27):
Implementing all the policies that that are in place.

Speaker 1 (19:30):
It's what policies are. We've We've got rid of most
of them.

Speaker 2 (19:36):
Said, we've got a lot of the mask controls and
those sorts of things. According to health advice, and will
always listen to health advice and take it into account
because that that that's important.

Speaker 1 (19:46):
But if people are dying at a greater rate than
they've ever died before of it, that that should mean
that that health advice at least should be looked at,
shouldn't it.

Speaker 2 (19:54):
Yeah, it's important though that people are dying with COVID.
I mean that COVID is is one of the things
that they have when they die. I'm yet to see
evidence and I'm happy to be proved wrong that it's
COVID that is actually causing their death, you know. And
I think that's an important distinction. You know, somebody, for example,
may have other code morbidities of which you know, and

(20:17):
then they get COVID as well, and they die, so
that their counters a COVID death because they had COVID
at the time of their death. But it doesn't necessarily
mean that COVID, you know, is what caused their death.
And and I don't pretend to know all the details
of that, and I'm me getting into the weeds of
that would be difficult. But that's one of the things
I think about.

Speaker 1 (20:37):
You sort it sounds it sounds almost as that you're
heading towards the if they're old and they die, it
doesn't matter much, so a.

Speaker 2 (20:46):
Not at all. But but I think it's an important distinction,
is that if if COVID is causing death, like if
you if you catch COVID and it is what kills you,
that is that is different to that you you I
feel already and then you get COVID. I mean your
Canadas a COVID death even though it's not what's necessarily
killed you. And again, I'm not a doctor, so I'm

(21:08):
hesitant to get into that.

Speaker 1 (21:10):
AMA President Steve Robson, think about that. AMA President Professor
Steve Robson. Earlier in the week he said, he said,
this is a quite here's a prediction. I'm going to
put my money behind if the major public hospitals on
the East Coast aren't overwhelmed with patients and facing staff
shortages over the holiday break, I'll donate one thousand dollars

(21:33):
to charity. Okay, that's he's a doctor, does that listening
to just that's that's a bit of a throwaway line,
but it's from someone who knows what they're talking about.
Does that mean that we should be bringing back in
some sort of protections.

Speaker 2 (21:46):
Well, I'm not the best person to ask Allan. I
mean asking a labor back then from Tasmania, whether we
should bring your master to hospitals. Frankly, you know that
that is a question for health experts and for people
who are experts and infection control and the health Minister
and others who deal with this daily. But they get
the advice from the experts, you know, I don't pretend

(22:10):
to be an expert, and now I've got my own
personal opinions as a citizen, just like you and your listeners.
My view is, I think my view is that people
want to just get on with on with life. And
we want to be cognizant that COVID still exists, and
we want to be careful and still maintain careful controls
where we can. But people also want to get on

(22:31):
with get on with life.

Speaker 1 (22:32):
Yep, that's fair. Look, I'll tell you what. We'll make
friends again. One minute for a one minute for a
free kick. How do you reckon? How boy's going on
the national scene? How good is he looking?

Speaker 2 (22:42):
Well, he hasn't stopped the man. The man has not
off in six months. He has not taken a breath.
He's just super busy. He's and he's implementing what he
said he would do. He's not wasting a day. He
knows how, he knows what government can do and the
how how government can make a different to people's lives,
and he's he's determined to do that. He's determined to

(23:04):
make sure that we can do the best for the
people who not only elected us, but there's a lot
of people who didn't vote for us, and we're doing
the best for them as well.

Speaker 1 (23:11):
He did he make good progress with China? What do
you reckon there?

Speaker 2 (23:14):
Oh? Look, I think it was a really useful first meeting.
It sort of breaks the ice and now we've got
a long way to go in terms of trying to
repair that relationship over time. But of course we'll always
do that in our national interest. We'll put our national
interests first and as they will put their first. But
I thought it was a really good first sign and
of course that's good news for our exporters if we
can get that relationship back on track. I think I

(23:36):
think it was hopeful that the President g seems to
be dipping his toe in the water internationally again and
seems to be making those outreaches, and I think that's
a positive step. So but we've got a way to go.
We'll see the next step and the next step after
that is but again we'll just we'll do it in
an orderly, methodical, calm and collected way and just put

(24:00):
to put the Australian interest first, always state our sovereign interests.
And of course we raised the issue of those Australians
who are detained and other matters, but we want to
get this relationship back on track of a major training partner,
and it's better to have a relationship with them that
is respectful and mutually respectful than not to have a

(24:23):
relationship at all.

Speaker 1 (24:24):
It's going, it's going good. A question. I know you're
not going to know the answer too. So look, Richard
will be doing the show next year, and I'm sure
you'll be talking to Richard, so maybe you can tell
him the answer to this, because he's asked the question
how many tis does albow take when he goes on
these trips, because he's made the observation that he keeps
changing the tai color every day every press conference, he's
got a different color. I realize you're not going to

(24:44):
know the answer to that. Maybe you do.

Speaker 2 (24:46):
I think he got that right the first time he said,
I won't know the answer that I'm not a what
is that habidata?

Speaker 1 (24:52):
What were they call a tie person? I don't know
what it is.

Speaker 2 (24:55):
I don't know what they're called. But I'm not as
tie as Taigh fashion adviser. And when you see some
of my side, that's probably good reason for that. I'm
not a tie for Scenardo myself, I've got to wear one. Oh,
in fact, we don't have to wear one in the
parliament now that you.

Speaker 1 (25:10):
Can scrap it. Yeah, exactly, good riddance.

Speaker 2 (25:13):
Yeah, but yeah, yeah, when I get around my lecture,
I try not to be wear and tied and get
away with it.

Speaker 1 (25:20):
Oh they're not healthy. You look at Barnaby Joyce with
his type. Goodness, you think his head's going to explode.
It's a horrible looking thing. Baby, it's horrible.

Speaker 2 (25:28):
Well, I just say I know because because Mike's having
gone now but with with with his issues. But you know,
thank you for having me on, and thanks to Mike
for his time and the mIRC over the over the
past years. He's just been terrific and I wish all
the best.

Speaker 1 (25:41):
Yeah, I know he's enjoyed talking to you. You get
Richard next year and and by then you'll know the
answer to the tie question. You have a good Christmas.
All that is Brian Mitchell, of course, a Federal Labor
member for Lions. Listen live at Tasmania Talks dot com.

Speaker 2 (25:56):
Don Au