Michael Sukkar MP

Interview with Mark Levy – 2GB Radio

THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP – SHADOW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, NDIS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

TRANSCRIPT

INTERVIEW WITH MARK LEVY – 2GB RADIO

Wednesday 13 December, 2023

TOPICS: MYEFO, NDIS, Housing, Migration

E&OE

Mark Levy: Now, it’s been a big few days for Australian politics, hasn’t it? And today Labor’s mid-year budget will be handed down. We’re expecting to see that Australia’s debt level has come down, but it still sits at $900 billion. That’s 900 billion with a B. The Government is set to declare a war on inflation. We’re going to see millions of dollars in savings, but spending pressure will be a huge topic of interest. And sitting high on the list is the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will announce a 10.1% growth of the NDIS over the next decade and this follows the year long review into the scheme. Labor wants to slash costs from the $42 billion program. This includes cutting down the number of people on the NDIS, but families are worried. They say the report gives no answers and no clarity. They’re scared they’ll lose funding or even be kicked off the scheme altogether. Michael Sukkar is the Shadow Minister for the NDIS and Housing and I’m pleased to say he joins me on the line. Michael, good morning to you.

Michael Sukkar: G’Day Mark, great to be with you.

Mark Levy: Wonderful to catch up. All eyes will be on the budget update today. What are you expecting from the Treasurer Jim Chalmers?

Michael Sukkar: Well, there’s been a few little tricks along the way in the lead up to today, Mark. I mean, the Government over the weekend was spruiking their plan to supposedly reduce migration and yet we find that in the Budget they projected that over the next five years that we’d bring in 1.5 million Australians. We now are expecting today that the documents will say in that time that instead of 1.5 million, they’ll be bringing 1.6 million. So far from being a reduction in migration, we’re seeing migration increase even further. In relation to the NDIS, it will be interesting to see the outcome of some of the discussions with the states. The truth is that in order to get a deal with the states on a slightly higher contribution to the NDIS, a very small additional contribution, the Government’s handed over an extra $25 billion to the states in order to obtain those extra contributions. So higher spending from the Government. All of it’s inflationary. So again, far from being a fight on inflation this government will keep doing what they’ve been doing all year, which is pouring fuel on the inflation fire, is my expectation.

Mark Levy: As part of the recommendations when it comes to the NDIS. The Government is planning to cut back on who is eligible for the scheme. We understand the scheme is unsustainable as is, but we have to think, Michael, don’t we, of the families who rely on it? 2.5 million Australians who are set to be affected by the changes, should they be worried by what they hear today from the Treasurer?

Michael Sukkar: Yeah, I think they have every right to be worried. I mean there’s a range of things that we think can and should be done in order to get the scheme onto a sustainable footing. Mind you, when we were in government, Bill Shorten and the Labor Party fought tooth and nail to stop every single thing that we sought to do in order to help that process. But nonetheless we’ll be more constructive in opposition, but we’re not going to provide the Government a blank check on just kicking young children off the NDIS who need support, particularly children with autism, autism spectrum disorder or developmental delay. Unless there’s a really good, a really good process and program for those children outside of the NDIS. The Government’s called that foundational supports. We don’t have any details what that looks like and we’re not going to take the Government on trust. We’d want to see and know that those children are going to be catered for. So yeah, I think people have every right to be worried. I think a lot of the difficult answers have been kicked into the long grass by the government after this review. And so they’ve got a lot of work to do in order to put the meat on the bone of a range of the recommendations that were outlined in the review.

Mark Levy: Michael, you touched on migration in your opening comments there. I’ve sort of sat back and listened to what a few of the government ministers have said about all of this, and they’ve been quick to point the finger at the Coalition, given you guys were the previous government. Is that fair, having giving given the fact that Anthony Albanese has been prime Minister for, what, a year and a half now and they’ve still allowed half a million people to arrive on our shores when we’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis, we’ve got a housing crisis and we’ve got nowhere for these people to live as is.

Michael Sukkar: Mark, they’ve got no idea. And if they want to blame the former government, then they should hand the keys to government over and go and do something else. If they’re incapable of governing, then give it to somebody else to do because they are the gold medallists of migration This year we will reach nearly 520,000 people. That’s the absolute highest level of migration and the same time of bringing in 520,000 people, we’ve built 175,000 new homes. So the housing crisis is getting worse. And what is even worse than that, Mark, I can tell you, as shadow housing minister and the former housing minister in the coalition government, we’ve got first home buyers at levels we haven’t seen for decades. We’ve got new home builds at decade lows and most concerningly, approvals, housing approvals are at their lowest level for 20 years. So this problem is getting worse because fewer homes will be built over the next 12 to 18 months. And at the same time, as I said to you in my opening remarks, far from reducing migration, what we’ll see today is that migration goes from 1.5 million people over five years, which is a huge number to 1.6 million over five years. I mean, it takes it takes absolute hide for a politician like Jim Chalmers to come out and say we’re reducing migration when surely he would know he’s increasing migration from 1.5 million, which is massive to 1.6. It’s quite remarkable.

Mark Levy: Michael I’ve got 30s. I just want to squeeze this question in, if I can, on housing. Given it’s virtually impossible for young people to enter the housing market in this country at the moment, and it’s very hard to find houses that are available at an affordable price for people. Do we need to virtually say to those people overseas, you cannot buy the houses in Australia? Should we not be making it easier for our own to enter the property market instead of allowing countries like China to just waltz in and and secure all of our real estate?

Michael Sukkar: Well, I think there are very good arguments there, Mark, and there are certainly a number of countries around the world who do not allow foreigners to invest in residential real estate. So there are very good arguments around it. There are some arguments that say that particularly for new projects, that sometimes a small number of foreign investors can help get there.

Mark Levy: They’re the arguments though, Michael, what do you think, though? I mean, you’re the shadow housing minister, so you’re the alternative housing minister. What do you think?

Michael Sukkar: Sure. Well, having been the former housing minister, my view is very strongly that residential real estate is here to house Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. That’s my view and I’ve been on the record with that view for a very long time.

Mark Levy: Alright, fantastic. Well, Michael, if I don’t speak to you beforehand, have a great Christmas to you and the family and to your colleagues in Canberra. And here’s hoping to a much better 2024 on the Federal Government front. But lovely to catch up, as always.

Michael Sukkar: Great to talk to you. Thanks so much, Mark.

ENDS