E&OE…
Topics: The re-elected Morrison Government
JON FAINE:
Scott Morrison unveiled his new ministry over the weekend. There’s winners and losers, and one of the big winners is the Victorian- senior Victorian Liberal, Health Minister Greg Hunt, who gets new responsibilities as sort of general government trouble-shooter, it would seem as the best way I can describe this in colloquial terms. Greg Hunt, good morning to you and congratulations.
GREG HUNT:
Good morning, Jon, and many thanks. We were very fortunate to find favour across the country and in Flinders, and now the job is to deliver outcomes that will actually help people with their individual lives and collectively.
JON FAINE:
So what is you new role? I’m calling you a trouble-shooter.
GREG HUNT:
Look, I have two primary responsibilities. One is the immense task and role of health, and in particular mental health and youth suicide preventions, which is just an enormous national responsibility. Secondly, I have a role of assisting the Prime Minister with Cabinet and public services, and that’s simply to help with the long-term coordination of policy and the long term development. We’ve got outstanding ministers just to see that there’s consistency and to assist the PM with that work around a vision and ensuring that the ministers are brought together. But he’s done great job…
JON FAINE:
So you can poke your nose into anyone else’s portfolio. Is that what it means?
GREG HUNT:
I wouldn’t be so bold as to say that.
JON FAINE:
No you wouldn’t, but I am. Is that what it means?
GREG HUNT:
Look, what it means is that as a government, what the Prime Minister wants to do is to make sure that the policies are linked across all of the different fronts to help the ministers on those linkages and to ensure that the public service sees those linkages. But what do we want from the public service? That they’re actually responding to the public.
It’s called the public service, and what that means is- and they do a great job, but we can always be better and that means are we responsive? Are we getting answers to people? Are we really focused on getting services to people so as their lives can be better? And ensuring that the economy helps them build jobs and have the dignity of work as well as the economic security which comes with that. That’s the big vision for the government.
JON FAINE:
Okay. I haven’t done the arithmetic, but it seems across the board – both the Cabinet and also the outer ministry – there’s a lot of new faces and a lot of very much younger people. Is this is one of the youngest ministries we’ve seen sworn in?
GREG HUNT:
Look it’s certainly younger, I also haven’t sat down with a calculator to look. But you have magnificent Victorians such Alan Tudge who’s coming in to Cabinet, Jane Hume who’s coming in as the assistant minister, she’s a super talent. Michael Sukkar, who’s going into- who’s I think about 37, who’s going in as the Assistant Treasurer.
JON FAINE:
Sure, but there’s completely unknowns. Jonathon Duniam, Trevor Evans, some of these people are unknown to most of us and completely fresh faces with important jobs.
GREG HUNT:
Well, Trevor’s the member for Brisbane. He’s been immensely successful in his seat but he’s been immensely successful prior to coming to Parliament. He was one of the leading advocates for the same sex marriage process and getting the plebiscite up and getting the result implemented. He’s a powerful spokesperson. Jonno Duniam, as he’s known, is a Senator from Tasmania. He is total gold, pure capability. He has worked as a bridge between Tasmania and the Australian Government.
JON FAINE:
So rewarding Tasmania and rewarding Queensland is a key part of it all. Quite separately, how appropriate is it to have an election then immediately afterwards take people who have just been, you know, confirmed in the Parliament – Arthur Sinodinos, Mitch Fifield – I know their terms weren’t up this time round, but to suddenly then move them on is a bit weird after an election isn’t it?
GREG HUNT:
Look, neither of them were standing at this election is my understanding. They were three years through their six year terms, and the nature of the Senate is that the people’s will can be honoured because primarily people are voting for parties above the line. But more importantly, each of Arthur Sinodinos and Mitch Fifield in those two important postings of the US Ambassador and the United Nations Ambassador bring immense skill and capability and huge calm.
They’re both very calm individuals, and to have those skills there I think will be of great value to Australia. So they’re positions of enormous importance. And then other younger people come through, such as Jason Wood who’s the member for La Trobe, and he’ll make a fantastic support in the home affairs and multicultural affairs. He just loves working with the diversity of the Australian community.
JON FAINE:
But Tim Wilson missed out which I thought was disappointing given the work he did on the franking credits issue. He would have to be the unluckiest one of your group. But time’s defeated us. Thank you indeed, congratulations.
GREG HUNT:
Thanks Jon.
JON FAINE:
Greg Hunt, Minister for Health, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister now on a whole lot of issues. As I’ve said, I’ve dubbed him a trouble-shooter across the whole of government.