DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

TOPICS:  RBA rate hike,  impact on families and small business, future heavy vehicle bypass for Mildura, aged care deaths waiting for care, ministerial accountability, next federal election, preferred prime minister polling

Burrows

Joining me on the phone is a member for Mallee and Webster. Good morning to you, Anne.

Webster

And good morning to you.

Burrows

Hey, look, let's just dive straight into it. Yesterday was Melbourne Cup Day. A lot of people having the day off. In fact, a lot of people having Monday off as well. Another rate hike though, interest rate hike.

Webster

Yeah, absolutely. 17th under Labor in four and a half years. What could possibly go wrong? And that's at the highest level since 2008 when they were in power.

Burrows

18 years.

Webster

Yeah, 18 years. And not good. It will raise everything. It just does, because, you know, people who have invested in homes, of course their rents that they're charging, will have to go up to continue paying for their mortgages. It's just a really, it's not a good time.

Burrows

No, no. A lot of conversations are going to be had over the dining…. in fact, they may have even been had last night, but people have been looking at where they can cut back next and it only gets to a certain point you can't cut back anymore.

Webster

No, well, that's right. I've been talking with business owners who are struggling to meet their costs and are looking at actually moving overseas, can you believe?

Burrows

Wow.

Webster

And there are people in Mildura who are considering upping their business and taking it to, you know, potentially Singapore or somewhere else because the taxes that they're paying the increased costs under the two Labor governments is just beyond bearing.

Burrows

Wow. Well, look, speaking of travelling, getting across the river there, I do notice a new Murray River Highway crossing at Monak possibly coming up. Talk about this for years.

Webster

Yeah, we have been talking about it for years. I held a roundtable with the Minister for Infrastructure and Jade [Benham MP], and I'm so pleased that Jade's now talking about it as a election commitment, I believe, to build that business case, and that is excellent because we need the Federal and State Governments working together to ensure that that bypass for Mildura for the trucking route can take place.

Burrows

Where exactly was it going to be in Monak? Do you have any idea, Anne? I know I'm putting you on the spot here a little bit.

Webster

No, look, I don't mind - obviously it's got to come off the Sturt Highway. I think the intention is to it would be positioned - I have seen a map, but it's a while ago now - it would be in a position where we could join back in just south of Red Cliffs. That would be the idea. So, it's not just a bridge, obviously. We actually need a changed trucking route. We need bypasses. for that whole system from Sydney to Adelaide or Melbourne. And, yeah, look, that particular crossing is the best - that's seen as the best position in order to come back onto the highway.

Burrows

Yes, yes, yes. Well, watch this space, I'm guessing. Hey, look, I can't believe these figures. Is it 6,400 over older Australians that have died waiting for aged care in the last 12 months?

Webster

Yes. 17 people are dying while waiting.

Burrows

Every day?

Webster

Every day. And plenty have died in the last year, financial year, while waiting for aged care to be delivered. Now, we're talking Support at Home, we're talking Commonwealth home support packages. It is an absolute travesty. I have had strong words with Sam Rae and I handed him letters that I wrote back in May to him that he has not responded to. So, I went across the Chamber the other day and handed them to him personally and said, Listen, mate, I'd like some responses.

Burrows

Yes, please, seriously. 6400.

Webster

Yeah, no, it's atrocious. And we were saying 5,000 people had died while waiting, but these new figures, you know, we've gone up a whole other level. So, I believe I am absolutely justifiably calling Albo out, the Prime Minister out, the Aged Care Minister, the Health and Aged Care Minister, Mark Butler as well, for these failures and in regional areas it is even worse.

Burrows

And we're talking about the state election less than a month away. How long until we've got a federal election? Just a bit tongue in cheek, Anne.

Webster

Look, he can go till May ‘28, but he could go as early as August next year. I'm thinking on today's poll, perhaps he won't do that. But, you know, we'll see. And either way, we'll be ready. We're all working incredibly hard with great policies to get Australia out of the big hole that we've fallen into in such a short period of time.

Burrows

Yes, the polls, what are the polls looking like? I haven't even looked at the polls today.

Webster

Yeah, Angus Taylor has beaten him as preferred PM for the first time.

Burrows

There you go. Okay, I'll be looking into that when I get off here. Anne, always good to talk to you. That phone line is still breaking up just a little bit, so I'll let you go. But we will catch up in a fortnight. In fact, no, you will catch up with Damien in a fortnight because I will be on holidays.

Webster

Oh, look, you just have a great time.

Burrows

Yeah, I am …  I can tell you. I'm certainly going to. Hey, I'm going to say this. Susie Quattro at the Sydney Opera House. That's why I'm heading over to Sydney.

Webster

I see.

Burrows

Sydney, yeah.

Webster

Wow, that will be something.

Burrows

Yeah, no, it'll be different. It'll be different. Thanks for that, Anne. Good to talk to you.

Webster

Goodbye

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