Topics: Albanese podcast, gambling reform, online safety
Peter Stefanovic: Sarah, good to have you with us this morning. So walking around the halls outside, I mean, are you picking up any detail on what this call might have been about?
Senator Henderson: No, Pete. I’ve just rushed straight from my office to the studio, so I haven’t been stalking the corridors. But I do hope that it has been a positive discussion between the Prime Minister and the President of the United States for the benefit of our two countries and our great relationship.
Peter Stefanovic: Okay, just got a message from Cam Reddin, confirmation 7:30. So we’ll hear from the Prime Minister in about 20 minutes or so about what that was about. Just another one too, I don’t know if you just caught the interview that Chris Kenny did with Pauline Hanson, she drew a blank on the two leaders of Indonesia and Japan. Any criticism of that at all?
Senator Henderson: Look, our focus very much, Pete, is on Angus Taylor becoming the next prime minister. I’m not going to criticise Pauline Hanson for that. But we are very focused on our plan on getting this country back on track, it’s going off the rails under Labor and that’s very much our focus.
Peter Stefanovic: Okay. Well, as for Anthony Albanese too, I’ll seek your reaction to another one. So he’s done an interview with Kieran and he’s apologised for elements of the Bush Deep podcast. That’s his words, but not the melons part. That’s the bit he left out. Have you got a thought on that kind of half apology to Kieran?
Senator Henderson: Yes, I do, and in fact, I just watched that clip and he said ‘I have already apologised for elements of the podcast’. So I assume that relates to his disgusting comments in relation to Kylie Minogue. On the 6th of July, I actually called for the prime minister to apologise to the Japanese prime minister when I uncovered what he said about the melons. There is no doubt about the meaning, they were disgusting. He was joking about a pair of melons, aren’t they beautiful? This sort of stuff [showing the hand gesture] That only means one thing and so he needs to man up. He needs to apologise. He needs to do the right thing, Pete, because frankly, it is completely unacceptable. And of course, the office of the Japanese Prime Minister is not going to openly criticise Anthony Albanese but he needs to do the right thing. Australians know he needs to do the right thing, and he needs to expressly apologise for those disgusting and revolting remarks.
Peter Stefanovic: Let’s move onto some policies this morning. Sarah, have you reached a deal with Labor over gambling yet?
Senator Henderson: Well, we’ve made it very clear, Pete, that we cannot pass the bill as before the Parliament in its current form. It is lacking in a number of very significant respects. It doesn’t appropriately protect children. There are no provisions in relation to predatory inducements and of course, as a result of the Coalition’s stand, we had that Senate inquiry and heard that very damning evidence. We certainly respect Australians’ choice. We understand the importance of personal responsibility when it comes to gambling. We know how important this sector is. But frankly, this bill is not good enough, particularly in protecting vulnerable Australians. And negotiations, good faith negotiations, continue.
Peter Stefanovic: Okay. Well, not there yet on that one. As for bills, there’s another one today, or at least another hearing into online safety, the online safety bill. What do you expect to emerge from that?
Senator Henderson: Well, we’re really concerned the government is not doing enough in terms of protecting Australians online. The online safety, particularly of children, is incredibly important. We know the social media ban is not working. It was rushed. It’s defective in its design. And while the government has put forward some improvements, we don’t think they go far enough. Look at what’s happening with children online. The doom scrolling, the way the algorithms work. There’s not enough to give parents access to safety tools which parents should have, so that they can make the choice as to what their children see online. So we think a lot more work has to be done. That’s why we’re focused on tougher amendments. And really, this is another example where I think the minister has not been tough enough, and protecting children online is a fundamental obligation of this government.
Peter Stefanovic: Okay, Sarah Henderson. We will leave it there.