Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Shadow Minister for Regional Communications - Member for Mallee - Transcript - Sky News - Chris Kenny - Monday 6 July 2026

‍

‍DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

‍

TOPICS:  Anti-Semitism in healthcare, Ahpra disciplinary process, Prime Minister’s comments about Kylie Minogue, sincerity of apology, Labor women’s silence

Kenny  

Let's go to the wonderful Sunraysia district of Victoria, and catch up with the Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Anne Webster. Anne, thanks for joining us. I want to get you on a related issue. Actually, we've just been talking about rampant anti-Semitism, and obviously your portfolio relates to the health sector. You're pretty concerned about what we've learned when it comes to alleged anti-Semitism in hospitals in the medical profession.

Webster  

Absolutely, Chris, last week there was an article in The Australian where Jewish patients were telling their stories of what they had been experiencing in hospitals and by some health professionals. I was so dismayed by what I read ... and also Jewish health professionals who are experiencing the kind of anti-Semitism that has been going on for two and a half years blatantly under the Prime Minister's watch. So, I wrote to Ahpra and asked them what is going on, and what are they doing about this behaviour? What actions are they taking? I asked them six questions. They have written back to me, which is pretty extraordinary - immediately - but I'm going to meet with them to articulate again, this is completely unacceptable. Unacceptable. It doesn't matter what your religion is, what your race is, who you are, you should be able to go to hospital, see a health professional, and feel like you are going to get the best care, compassionate care, not political or religious, awful, really. I mean, if the accounts are accurate and true, and I've got no reason to debate them, then it's terrorism in our hospitals. I mean, it's just horrendous.

Kenny  

Yeah, and we've got to have the medical authorities and doing everything they can to stamp it out. You're absolutely right. Any thought, any hint of discrimination in the health system is just anathema to what we should be doing. I had a knee replacement recently, and did my rehab, actually, at a Jewish hospital, and the other side of that coin is just like the schools and the synagogues, heavy security at the hospitals. It's tragic, a place of healing and care, but they have to have heavy security because they fear these sorts of attacks. Look, let me get your thoughts on this. I need to, as a Coalition woman, I've got to get your thoughts on Anthony Albanese and his Kylie Minogue comments. Demeaning, I would have thought, diminishing for the office of Prime Minister. But should we all move on?

Webster  

No, I don't think so. I think the Prime Minister holds the highest office in our land. He came into parliament ... let's not talk about all the lies that he did to get there ... but he came into parliament promising integrity and a kinder, gentler parliament. He's got 50 per cent of his lower house are women, I mean, honestly, what are they thinking about his behaviour? His behaviour towards his wife, his behaviour towards an esteemed star in Australia? It's unacceptable, it's embarrassing. It was kitsch, it was horrendous, and he ought to be called out for it. And I'm sorry, getting your press people, even if you are in Fiji at the moment, to write a little, oh, you know, I'm sorry, doesn't cut it. I agree with Dan Tehan’s comment earlier, he needs to front a camera and apologise to every woman in Australia that he thinks that kind of language and that kind of attitude is okay.

Kenny  

What does this say about the so-called strong feminists of the Labor Party? Where's Tanya Plibersek calling him out? Where's the Minister for Women, Katie Gallagher? We know they would be screaming blue murder if a Coalition MP male was stupid enough to say something like this. Where are they now? They're all completely condemned by their own silence.

Webster  

I'm waiting, I'm waiting to hear what they have to say, because I've heard nothing that says that they would condemn that behaviour, and you are absolutely right, Chris. They would pin Angus Taylor to a wall, they would pin anybody on our side of politics to a wall and make them, you know, beg for mercy and to apologise to the Australian women and hear they are dead silent. It's just appalling. Two standards: hypocrisy writ large... one more time.

Kenny  

Spot on. Thanks so much for joining us, Anne. I appreciate it.

‍

‍