1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: Joining me live in the studio for the first time 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: this year. Luke Gosling, Labour's member for Solomon. 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 2: Good morning, Luke, Good morning Katie and congratulations. 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 1: Oh thanks mate, thank you very much for that. And 5 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: I understand your dad was also recognized on Australia Day, 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Is that right? 7 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 2: Yeah? Johnny G's been training people with visual impairment with 8 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 2: guide dogs for fifty years. 9 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. 10 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and he's put in a heap of volunteer work 11 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 2: in that time, helping other countries to get their guide 12 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 2: dog programs up. And he's still doing it after fifty years. 13 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 2: Like this morning, he'll be walking dogs, good on bitching 14 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 2: them out to look after blind people on the street. 15 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: There are so many amazing people in Australia. Hey, I mean, 16 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: I know I talk a lot on this show about 17 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: the different issues that we've got, but I tell you what, 18 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: whenever you're feeling down, or whenever you sort of think, 19 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: oh goodness, you know, how are we going to get 20 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: through this issue? You just look around at the wonderful 21 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: Australians that we've got in this country who do so 22 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: much and expect nothing in return. 23 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, And that's what we are. That's what we celebrate, 24 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,199 Speaker 2: you know, and that's what was really awesome to see 25 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 2: so many great Australians, including Miriam Rose of course, who 26 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: took out the Senior Australian of the Year territory proud made. 27 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: There's a lot to be proud of and happy about, 28 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 2: particularly with this awesome rain. 29 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: I know it's so nice out there, that's for sure, 30 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: but always timely reminder for us to stay cautious on 31 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: the roads. 32 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 2: I saw a praying last night just up the road 33 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 2: in Stuart Park. People just go to slow down when 34 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 2: the rain comes. 35 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: From absolutely now, Luke, there is quite a bit of 36 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: discussion at the moment or quite a few people wondering 37 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 1: whether we're going to end up going to an early election. 38 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: Do you reckon it's going to get called this year? 39 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 2: Lots of people are saying that there's murmurings in the 40 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: Liberal Party about it, and they're trying to get some 41 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: of their seats lined up, and both parties are, I guess, 42 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: getting prepared for the for the what let's call it 43 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: a likelihood of an election later on this year, but 44 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 2: it also could be early in twenty twenty two. But 45 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: either way, you'd really hope that some of the commitments 46 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: that have been made by Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister 47 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 2: and his team come to Fruition this year and we're 48 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 2: not just straight into more promises before we've got the 49 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: previous lot of promises bettered down. 50 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, when a you're heading back to Cambero, when do 51 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: you sit again? 52 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 2: Heading back this Sunday. We're down there most of February actually, 53 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 2: with three sitting weeks out of the short month, so 54 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: it'll be good to hook right back into it. But 55 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 2: I have reached out to the Prime Minister invited him 56 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 2: up to Darwen. It's been a long time since he's 57 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 2: been up here, and also with so much conversation at 58 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 2: the moment about and hope I guess with the new 59 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: president that he will come and visit. I've been talking 60 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,519 Speaker 2: to the PM about how we can coordinate the PM's 61 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: plan for Joe Biden visiting Australia and our plan for 62 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 2: Joe Biden visiting Darwin. 63 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: Oh, that'd be good, there's no doubt about that. We 64 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: spoke yesterday as well to the Chief Minister about the 65 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: possibility of long range missiles being based here in Darwin. 66 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,519 Speaker 1: Now the Chief Minister had said that the Navy obviously 67 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,679 Speaker 1: are here at different times, and their platforms would be 68 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: the ones that would then have those long range missiles. 69 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: We talked about whether that would make the northern territory 70 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: or indeed the top end a target. That's something you 71 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: and I have certainly discussed before. I mean, is it 72 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: a concern for you or do you think that this 73 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: would be a good move if it does indeed happen. 74 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: I think, more broadly, the destabilization that's happening at the 75 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: moment in the Indo Pacific, which is really manifesting in 76 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 2: the situation around Taiwan at the moment, is concerning. But 77 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: I think what we've got to be clear and eyed 78 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: about is the fact that we do need to stand 79 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: up for our sovereignty and the sovereignty of other nations. 80 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: That's vital trade will come and go. Part of my 81 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: role with Federal Labor has been to look at the 82 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: Indo Pacific, and I've been doing that work over the 83 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: last year and a half to see what markets we 84 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: can diversify too, so we're not too strongly dependent on 85 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: any one market, because we want to continue to look 86 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: after our interests but also work with our allies like 87 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 2: the US like other countries, and I'd like to see 88 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 2: US helping Indonesia a lot more, for example, because they're 89 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 2: really copying it with COVID At the moment, I think 90 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: there's a big role for us. I'm so proud of 91 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: the work that the National Critical Care and Trauma Response 92 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 2: Team has been doing in the past in our relationships 93 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 2: with health, relationships with team or in Indonesia, but also 94 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: obviously the work they're doing out at Howard Springs is 95 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 2: just first class and I think there's a lot more 96 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 2: we can be doing to help out in our region 97 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: with our partners. 98 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: Look, I do want to ask you about a story 99 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: which is broken this morning by the ABC. It's been 100 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: reported that Senator Sam McMahon spent part of a trip 101 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: to Townsfall supporting LMP candidates during last year's Queensland election, 102 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 1: saying she was entitled to build tax payers for lights 103 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: because the main purpose of the trip was to research 104 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: live cat export policies affecting her constituents. Now, the total 105 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: cost of the taxpayer funded flights was one ninety dollars. 106 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: The senator paid for accommodation, food, another transport out of 107 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: her own pocket. She reckons that she was there to 108 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 1: attend official meetings and support of the LMP candidates between meetings. 109 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: I understand that she's now going to pay that money back. 110 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: Do you think it was appropriate to take that trip. 111 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 2: I'm glad to hear that she's going to pay the 112 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: money back, because it's pretty obvious that it was a 113 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 2: trip there was designed to coincide with the election to 114 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 2: help out over there. I'm not sure too sure how 115 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 2: it would have helped any towns or Liberal Party candidates 116 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 2: to have Sam over there with them, but if there 117 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 2: were some good outcomes with the live cattle stuff, obviously 118 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: we need to have a great amount of support for 119 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 2: that industry. And I hear the buffalo numbers are also up, 120 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:04,239 Speaker 2: which is fantastic. So I think it's appropriate that pays 121 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 2: it back. And it's just important to be clear about 122 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: when you're using taxpayers funds, what is the real purpose 123 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 2: of those trips. 124 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: Would you take a trip like that. 125 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 2: I wouldn't coincide it. If I was going to go 126 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 2: and help some of my mates in an election, I'd 127 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 2: pay for it myself if there is work to be done, 128 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,679 Speaker 2: and I'll certainly be in Townsville in the near future. 129 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: But it'll be about veterans and defense issues that I've 130 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: been asked to come there and speak about. It wouldn't 131 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 2: be to help anyone out with an election. 132 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: Now, Look, I understand, just on a positive note, there 133 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: is some funding which is available at the moment for 134 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: projects that preserve our local military history and honor our 135 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: service personnel. Can you just tell us a little bit 136 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 1: more about that and who might be eligible? 137 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 2: Heah, Our ex service organizations can apply for that. Local councils, 138 00:06:54,880 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 2: local organizations can fund things like flagpoles, memorials, and it's 139 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 2: really so that we continue just to make sure in 140 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 2: the community there's a deep understanding and appreciation of the 141 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: sacrifices of those that have served. And coming up to 142 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: nineteenth of February bombing of Darwen also it's fifty years 143 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: since a lot of those the end of the Vietnam 144 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: War there, so there's a big focus in making sure 145 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: we don't forget those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. 146 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,119 Speaker 2: Out at Red Hilly House out in the rural area 147 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 2: where the Vietnam Vet's a camp, they've got a fantastic 148 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: memorial structure there, and I know people in the rural 149 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 2: area want to establish some memorials as well. We've got 150 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 2: fantastic World War two history, so we really want to 151 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 2: really commemorate that. We've got the eightieth anniversary of the 152 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 2: bombing of Darwin next February that we're obviously hoping the 153 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 2: US President might make the trip out for that. So 154 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: this funding up to ten thousand dollars or if it's 155 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 2: a big project, that can be up to one hundred 156 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 2: and fifty thousand dollars, and that allows you to do 157 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 2: some good projects, but also little organizations also make wanna 158 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 2: put in flagpoles, for example, and that's really good and 159 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 2: I support that, and anyone out there that wants a 160 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 2: set of flags, they can get them from my office. 161 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: Louke Gosling, we are going to have to leave it. 162 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: They're good to. 163 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: Catch up with one. To catch up again, Cadie, look 164 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 2: forward to giving you some updates from camera. 165 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: We look forward to it too. The last few times 166 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: i've had you and some of the other federal pollys on, 167 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: even from the other side, the bells have rung and 168 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: there's been a division ever in Parliament we've had to 169 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: cut it short. 170 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 2: We try and dodge those, but sometimes you can't. But yeah, 171 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 2: it'd be great to chat. 172 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, good stuff. Good on you, Luke. Thanks for coming 173 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: in this morning.