Interview with Lisa Wilkinson
TODAY Channel Nine
25 June 2010
SUBJECTS: Labor leadership; Prime Minister Julia Gillard; Resource Super Profits Tax; G20
WILKINSON:
Good morning to you Wayne Swan and congratulations on your new role.
TREASURER:
Well thanks very much. It's an honour to serve as Deputy Leader and as Deputy Prime Minister.
WILKINSON:
Did you wake up this morning and wonder if you dreamt the last 24 hours?
TREASURER:
Well, I have to admit it was a bit surreal. But yesterday was a very significant day in Australian politics and I thought it was very important that we had a decisive change so that the Party and the country could unite behind our new Prime Minister.
WILKINSON:
When did you decide that Julia Gillard would make a better Prime Minister than Kevin Rudd?
TREASURER:
Well I'd obviously thought very long and hard about all of the issues of leadership in recent times but it wasn't really until the day before yesterday in the afternoon when I was approached by a very significant number of Caucus members who said that they desired a change. And I took a view in those circumstances and it was very important we had a strong decisive change so we could unite behind a new PM.
WILKINSON:
So how much time were you given to make that decision?
TREASURER:
Well I wasn't given time by anybody. I sat down and made my evaluation of the situation in a very calm and considered way. And when I had done that I informed Kevin Rudd of my decision.
WILKINSON:
So you told him face to face once you made that decision?
TREASURER:
No, I did tell him, I told him on the phone.
WILKINSON:
Did you watch his speech?
TREASURER:
Yes I did. Look, I've known Kevin for over 25 years. I know his family, I know his staff well, and I feel very sorry for them in these circumstances. But in politics, sometimes you've got to take tough decisions. It's tough for everybody involved.
WILKINSON:
Many called it almost excruciating to watch - this was clearly a broken man. Did you find it hard to watch?
TREASURER:
Well, I was pained by the decision. These decisions have personal impacts. Kevin Rudd has been a good Prime Minister and he also has a good record. I sat there and watched and thought about the good things that we have done together. He does have a good record and there are very substantial achievements. But the Party's view was - and I believe more broadly the country's view was - that we needed a change.
WILKINSON:
For all of that, is it really tenable for Kevin Rudd to contest the next election as he has promised? Can you really have him sitting in the backbenches?
TREASURER:
Look, that's entirely a matter for Kevin and the Prime Minister has said she'll be talking to Kevin about all of those matters. I simply can't speculate about that. My focus is on continuity and very strong economic management. I'm going off, as you said before, to the G20 this afternoon. Australia was the only advanced economy to avoid recession bar one. We have an unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent. What we have to do, given the uncertain global outlook, is reinforce all of that, all of our economic management credentials, put a new focus on improving and strengthening our economy and also domestic services.
WILKINSON:
Okay. For all of that though, you would be aware, talk back went crazy yesterday, peoples' reaction to a change happening to a man that they voted for. Can we just have a look for a moment at Kevin Rudd as he sat in the backbenches yesterday while Julia Gillard paid tribute to him.
(Clip shown)
WILKINSON:
What do you think he was thinking there?
TREASURER:
Well I don't know what he was thinking. I know he would be very disappointed but he would also accept the will of the Party and I believe as an Australian patriot that he understands the need for the Government to get on with the business of governing, of strengthening our economy, of improving our health and educational services.
WILKINSON:
Well let's move on, as the country's going to have to. Wayne Swan, your claims that the Budget would be out of deficit in three years based on revenue from the mining tax. Now that is not assured, how long will that take us to get out of debt now?
TREASURER:
I'm sorry, our Budget is not based to getting back to surplus on the mining tax at all…
WILKINSON:
It figures very largely in being able to bring us back to that point.
TREASURER:
No, no it does not. We said very clearly in the Budget that any revenue that was raised from the mining tax would be spent on boosting superannuation, would be spent on infrastructure, and those things. And if that revenue was not available then it would not necessarily be possible to deliver those improvements. So, there is nothing in the mining tax that in any way inhibits the country's return to surplus in three years time, three years ahead of schedule.
WILKINSON:
Okay. You are off to the G20 as you mentioned. You've got a few world leaders that you need to introduce yourself to. What's on the agenda?
TREASURER:
Well, I have met most of these leaders before because I have attended the G20 with Kevin Rudd in the past. What's on the agenda here is international financial regulation – something that's very important so we can avoid a repeat of the global financial crisis. And a very long discussion about how we strengthen the global economy, how we need to continue to reform economies, national economies, much along the lines that the Government has put forward here. We do need a whole series of structural reforms, particularly in developed economies, to lift growth. That's what the Government here is focussing on and that's what other Governments around the world are looking to Australia to provide the lead for.
WILKINSON:
Do you think a few of them might ask for the inside running on exactly what happened yesterday?
TREASURER:
I'm sure it will be raised with me Lisa, I'm sure it will be raised.
WILKINSON:
I think you're right. Okay, Wayne Swan, we'll have to leave it there. And have a safe trip.
TREASURER:
Thank you.
