SUSAN TEMPLEMAN MP
SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR MACQUARIE
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
2GB Straight Shooters
TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2025
SUBJECT: COST OF LIVING, TARIFFS
CLINTON MAYNARD, HOST: For a Tuesday afternoon, we feature the Labor MP for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, and Liberal Senator for New South Wales, Hollie Hughes Hello, Susan.
SUSAN TEMPLEMAN, MP: Hello.
MAYNARD: Coming both to us from Canberra today. Hello, Hollie.
TEMPLEMAN: Afternoon.
MAYNARD: You must be both very excited to be back in the chamber this week.
HOLLIE HUGHES, SEN: Oh, riveted.
SUSAN TEMPLEMAN, MP: Yes.
MAYNARD: Look, it does look like this is probably the last week as well before the election is called. Well, the last week that Parliament will sit. But I'll talk about the big issue. Firstly, and I'd like your perspective as a member of the government, Susan, about what's transpired today with the Prime Minister speaking with the president of the United States. So we have a situation where the tariff increase, the 25% for aluminium steel is now under consideration for an exemption. Are you confident is the word inside caucus at the moment that we are going to get that exemption, Susan?
SUSAN TEMPLEMAN, MP: Well, I will certainly following this blow by blow as it happened, because the Prime Minister came to our caucus meeting immediately after that phone call and told us what he had told the media, and that is that there was consideration being given by the president of the United States to exempt Australia. I then walked out of caucus and I got to see the president's media conference. And, you know, I heard him say no exemptions. And then I heard him get a question about Australia. And he very clearly said, after saying lovely things about the Prime Minister, said he was going to give great consideration to an exemption. And so I'm really pleased to have been able to hear those words directly from the president's mouth, which exactly matched the you know, report that we had the way that it had been described by our Prime Minister. So I think, you know, we take that all at face value. We know there's a lot of work being done on this. You know, I point out that when this happened previously, with a different prime minister and about the same president, it did take about eight months for the issue to be resolved. So, you know, this is not necessarily something that's going to be fixed tonight. But I think it's terrific that Anthony Albanese was able to get on the phone and have that conversation at the time that he did with President Trump, and that it's been publicly acknowledged.
MAYNARD: And I think we need to bear in mind that President Trump can be known to change his mind fairly quickly. So this is certainly nowhere near over the line. But, Hollie, is this a pragmatic approach from both countries? The fact that we are a greater importer of American goods than we are an exporter?
HUGHES: Yes. So we're certainly in surplus with the US which puts us in a different position to a lot of the other nations that are due to be impacted by this tariff impost. And certainly when it comes to these sort of matters, it's Team Australia here. It's not a partisan issue. We want to make sure that Australian manufacturing has every opportunity to succeed. It is, you know, hopeful that Australia will be given that consideration. The president is known to make big statements and then sometimes wheel part of it back. But he's also known to be personally affronted and quite susceptible to personal criticism. So it's certainly a matter for the Prime Minister and our Ambassador, Kevin Rudd, to continue to build those relationships after the quite nasty personal comments that they have made in the past about President Trump.
MAYNARD: Well, that seems to be forgotten about based on what President Trump said.
AUDIO, PRESIDENT TRUMP: Very fine man.
MAYNARD: What did you think, Hollie? What did you think when you heard him say that? Very fine man.
HUGHES: We hope so. You know that this is the relationship rebuilding itself because, you know, the US is an incredibly important not only trading partner but incredible ally to Australia. And we have a very long relationship. And certainly the opposition doesn't support tariffs at all. We are very supportive of free trade and therefore, you know, would hope that this exemption does come through.
MAYNARD: The latest polling. Research shows that Labor's primary vote in outer suburban areas of Sydney is down to 27% now. Susan, as the member for Macquarie, that's very much an outer suburban area of Sydney. You must be concerned about that polling.
TEMPLEMAN: Oh look, I don't pay as much attention to those polls as an MP as I did when I was a journalist.
MAYNARD: I-really?
TEMPLEMAN: Yeah.
MAYNARD: Hang on, we get ratings here at the radio station every eight weeks or so, and it's the biggest day for, people who work on the radio. Surely it's important for you?
TEMPLEMAN: Well, my future depends on what the voters in Macquarie decide on Election Day.
MAYNARD: Very diplomatic.
TEMPLEMAN: That is what matters. And, you know, I want to point out that trade surplus we've got with the US one of the reasons that's going to continue is because of the $9.8 billion investment we're making into more Hercules, which are, of course, based at the Richmond RAAF base. So we play a really key part out in Macquarie, out in the Hawkesbury in this relationship with the United States.
MAYNARD: But that message that the manufacturing and what you do in outer suburban areas, it must be getting through because that primary vote at 27%, that's trouble for Labor.
TEMPLEMAN: It's no surprise to me that people are hurting. And I think that's what we see expressed in the polls now, you know, whatever the number is, my job is to represent my community. And I'm out there and I think my community knows how hard I have been working for them, not just in the lead up to an election, but day in and day out since I got elected in 2016. So, you know, I was out all weekend talking to people, what people are wanting to see from me and talk to me about are better services. And that's exactly what I've managed to get great mental health services out to the Hawkesbury, something we didn't have in the same at the top of the mountains, places where it's hard to access those services. So, you know, I'm talking to people about not just what I've done, but the things I want to do, because my goodness, there is so much I'd like to see. And that includes an urgent care clinic, a Medicare urgent care clinic, you know, and that is something that the Hollie’s team aren't supportive of. But we think I'm seeing what a game changer that is.
MAYNARD: Well. Hollie on outer suburban areas is it as a Liberal, and look you're in the Senate, so it's a little different for you. But as a Liberal, is it time to maybe concede that you're not going to win back the teal seats? So almost forget about the teal seats in the inner parts of Sydney and Melbourne and focus on the outer suburban areas.
HUGHES: Look, I don't think it matters if it's outer metropolitan, inner Sydney, rural and regional Australia. Australian families are hurting. Australian families are doing it incredibly tough. And you know, Susan can be out in her local community. But the problem for the Prime Minister and this government is Australians quite frankly, don't believe them. And it's almost a form of gaslighting the Australian electorate every time the Prime Minister goes out and says, but look, you know, cheaper childcare, renewables are free, free TAFE, when Australian families are looking every, week at their grocery bills, at their energy bills, how they're going to pay their rent, how they're going to pay their mortgage and know that they are worse off than they were when this government came to office.
MAYNARD: Well, the test will be what happens. I think it'll be the 12th of April, the election, maybe it'll be in May, but I think that'll be the real test. We're almost out of time, so just a quick, fun one for you ladies. Ikea has released their Global Sleep report today. They found that 5% of Australians share their bed with a pet. Susan, do you fall into that category?
SUSAN TEMPLEMAN, MP: Absolutely not. I even kicked the cat off the end of the bed because I can't bear having them there. But I do have a daughter who falls into that category.
MAYNARD: Hollie, do you have a pet in the bed?
HUGHES: We absolutely do. He snuggles up at the end of the bed every night, and he's a small Maltese Shih Tzu, so does not take up much room at all. He is a, his name is Braith because my husband is a massive Eastern Suburbs fan. So I do exchange photos of Braith with Braith Anasta who he’s named after. And so Braith sleeps at the end of my bed every night.
MAYNARD: Okay. Thank you, Susan. Thank you, Hollie. Talk next week. Straight shooters for a Tuesday afternoon Susan Templeman, the Labor MP for Macquarie, and Hollie Hughes Liberal senator in New South Wales.
