Subjects: Helen Haines, Member for Indi; MP security; Government spending.
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: We have returned to a very different Parliament. I think everyone who comes into this building today will be thinking of our colleague Helen Haines. When I was a new MP, our offices were next to each other. I know how hard she has worked for the community of Indi. She brought a little bit of Indi here to the Parliament of Australia with her volunteers - and just the incredible work that she has done in this Parliament and will continue to do. I believe that her biggest contributions to this Parliament are not behind her, but ahead of her. And I encourage every Australian, if they can, if they have the capacity, to consider supporting the Save the Children fund in her name.
And I also want to recognise that we've seen something that has shocked the nation, but also, it's an opportunity where people can celebrate the good. We see a lot of commentary about people telling politicians when we get it wrong. I think one thing that I'd encourage Australians - the overwhelming majority who are kind, thoughtful, and want this Parliament to do well - if you see a Member of Parliament who's doing something good, give them a shout out. Say something nice. Share the positivity. I think that's something we can all do on a day that is very difficult for everyone who comes into this building.
JOURNALIST: Is it enough for Parliamentarians to reflect on Helen Haines today, or does Parliament need to get to some result about the question of security and about the question of civility?
GORMAN: Well, I think we have to have an open mind about what needs to change and what we are doing that is working, that is making people like myself, Carol, and others feel like we can go about our democracy and participate in Australia's democracy in a way that we should be able to. That is, in an open community where people are safe because they're in the community, not safe separate from the community. But I've got a very open mind about the different measures that may be needed. But I might let Carol to say a few other things.
JOURNALIST: Carol, can I ask just to get to get things started here? Do you feel safe and secure in your job?
CAROL BERRY MP, MEMBER FOR WHITLAM: Look, I think all of us, all female politicians in particular, would have times when we don't feel safe. And certainly there's been a heightened environment online, which I think adds to our stress and our sense of vulnerability at times. So, what I think is really important is that we all collectively take some steps to ensure that everyone in public life is safer moving forward.
JOURNALIST: Does that mean cooling the temperature on the rhetoric in this place? Do politicians - do you and others, go too hard on the attacks?
BERRY: I think that Australians expect us to have a robust democracy, and we can still have very robust debate without it descending into personal attacks. So I think that's what Australians expect of us.
JOURNALIST: One other question, if I might, on a different topic. Jim Chalmers says there is no need to set any ceiling on government spending as a proportion of gross domestic product, so against what our economy produces. Others say no, come on, that's driving inflation. Your thoughts?
BERRY: I think we've done a really good job of reducing spending. So, we're doing a - for example, we've delivered two surpluses. We've also saved $180 billion. So, I think we've done a fantastic job as a government to invest in those areas that we know are really important to Australians, particularly doubling the rates of bulk billing, for example. So ultimately, government is about balance. How do you strike a balance between investment and spending? So, I think we have done a great job in that space.
JOURNALIST: Great job by some measures, but almost 27 per cent of GDP now spent by our government. Is that too much?
GORMAN: We want to make sure that Australians have the services that they expect. That they can get to see a bulk billing doctor. We want to make sure that our schools have the funding that they need. And Australia's hospitals, whether they be in New South Wales or Western Australia or anywhere in between, have the funding they need. So we don't rush to the conclusion that some others in this building have, which is to slash and burn and cut public services to the bone.
But I'd also note there are savings measures in front of the Parliament right now that currently don't have enough support to pass. So, if people want to have a serious conversation about responsible budget management, we could start with the conversation around the work that the Health Minister is doing, where we are looking to find appropriate savings to level the playing field when it comes to private health insurance rebates. Thank you.