Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Shadow Minister for Regional Communications - Member for Mallee - Transcript - Sky News - Chris Kenny - Tuesday 12 May 2026

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‍DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

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TOPICS: Federal Budget, housing policy, capital gains tax, negative gearing, Senator Price speech on Kumanjayi Little Baby, child protection, spending in indigenous organisations

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Kenny  

Let's go to Canberra now and catch up with the Shadow Minister for Regional Health and Regional Communities. Anne Webster, congratulations, Anne, for staying out of the budget lock up. So when we get out, when we hear the budget, though, we're going to get broken promises. Now, of course, Coalition governments in the past have broken election promises, but this mob are getting quite a list up. When are they going to be made to pay a price?

Webster  

Look, it's absolutely in every Australian's interest to hold this Albanese government to account. They are breaking promise after promise and you know, the whole 'My word is my bond' is just running a little bit thin for the Prime M<inister at this stage, and 'no one left behind', likewise, because we know that in regional areas in particular, people are being left behind.

Kenny  

It really concerns me also that they seem to think the way to fix the housing crisis is to put more taxes on housing investments and to get more government involvement. I mean, the trick to freeing up the housing market is surely the strip away government involvement, maybe pull back some of the taxes on housing and properties, and certainly get rid of a lot of the regulation and planning controls so we can actually get out there and build more supply.

Webster  

Absolutely. At the moment, houses, it's taking longer to build houses. Certainly, the Albanese target of 1.2 million homes by 2030 is a long way off, and the cost of building continues to rise. So why would you then make it harder for young people to get into that market, removing negative gearing and capital gains tax? I mean, these are tools that were for previous generations and going to be grandfathered, as you said in your earlier spiel, that older people will still be able to utilise so so much for intergenerational equity. I don't think that's going to happen. And it's our younger people who are really suffering under this government and the decisions and policies that they're taking forward.

Kenny  

Yeah, well, they're going to spin it as being a budget for young people, but I agree. I think it's just going to make things worse for younger Australians. I want to go to something else, something totally unrelated today, but it did play out in Canberra today, after the tragic death of that little girl out of Alice Springs, allegedly murdered, she is a nice she's part of the extended family of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who was one of the many politicians who spoke mourning the little girl today, here's some of the Senator:

Price  

My niece was a little Australian girl. Yet there is an ideology in this country that has deliberately encouraged people to treat children like her differently because of her racial heritage. It's that same ideology that has created a hands-off culture within parts of a child protection system, an ideology that too often places cultural sensitivities and political correctness ahead of the safety of children.

Kenny  

Now Anne, I've known Jacinta, I don't know, 10 years, something more than that, and since the very time, first time I spoke to her, this has been her focus, the way children, in particular in indigenous communities are neglected, and this racism of low expectations the people who are living in town camps and remote settlements in the Northern Territory and other states, we would just not tolerate non-indigenous children living in those conditions anywhere in the country. Why do we tolerate these living conditions?

Webster  

Well, look, I think Jacinta nailed it today - through her tears -I was so proud to listen to her and to listen to her articulate that child protection is letting down these children, and that race and populist culture is also ruining and risking their lives on a daily basis. I think, you know, Jacinta has been calling for an audit of all expenditure that in every indigenous organisation. I think she raises really good questions about accountability. And yeah, it was just, it was very moving watching her on the screen, obviously, I'm not in the Senate, but watching her on the screen, it is heartfelt, and it's just a complete tragedy. And you're right, it would not be tolerated. Should not be tolerated in any home, in any town anywhere.

Kenny  

Yeah, there's got to be action, but people will move on ... the carnival will move on, tragically, but not if Jacinta can help it. Thanks for joining us. Anne. I appreciate it. Anne Webster there.

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