Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Transcript - Interview on Sky News, First Edition

Topics: Labor-Greens dirty deal, NDIS, One Nation voting with the Teals and Greens, paid parental leave

E&OE……………………..

Jaynie Seal: Joining us live is Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson. Great to see you, Tim. What do you make of Julian Hill's comments just then?

Tim Wilson: Great to see you as well. Well, where our focus is to make sure the NDIS is reformed so that we get the best outcome for the Australian people. What we know is Labor has gone off and done a dirty deal with the Greens to delay these changes because their focus is on how to increase taxes on the Australian people. I actually think we should focus on stopping the corruption in the NDIS and other schemes first. Labor's answer is how do they increase taxes on the Australian people.

Jaynie Seal: And what do you make of new One Nation MP David Farley who sided with the Teals and Greens and voted to cap the fuel tax credit scheme on mining companies?

Tim Wilson: Well, it's a fascinating revelation because at the end of the day, it shows they're all over the place in terms of their agenda and what they're doing and they're voting for. I don't really know where it is they stand or who they're fighting for, but that's a matter for them.

Jaynie Seal: Colleen Harkin has left the Liberal Party and now, because of the good policy choices, she's now decided to become a One Nation member. What do you think of that?

Tim Wilson: Oh well, I mean people are entitled to do that. The reality is if you want a forward-looking agenda focused behind a united team that wants to build out a better future for Australia, you vote Liberal. If you want to divide Australians, you vote Labor. If you want to divide Australians on the environment, you go and you vote for the Greens. And of course, there are other political parties to the far right that are also looking to divide Australians. Our focus is on how we build a united future for every Australian—one that grows the economy, grows the economic pie, and most importantly, people channel their energy towards building a better future for all of us. And I think that's really important, but unfortunately, some people get tempted by the orange paddock of despair.

Jaynie Seal: Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek just spoke moments ago on paid parental leave. She mentioned you as well. Let's take a listen:

Tanya Plibersek: There is a risk to paid parental leave when you look at the way the Liberals, the Nationals, and One Nation have responded to paid parental leave - [break] - You'll recall Tim Wilson, the current Shadow Treasurer, saying that it's not his choice that women have babies, it's genetic.

Jaynie Seal: Not women's choice, it's genetic?

Tim Wilson: Well, she's made those comments. I support paid parental leave, I just didn't support—and this is the oddity and she knows this—I didn't support the Abbott government's proposal on paid parental leave, and that's what I was talking about at the time. Minister Plibersek has a long history of trying to drum these debates up. She's not focused on building the future of Australia. She's not interested in backing small business. We believe that women should have choices about how they live their lives, whether they wish to pursue motherhood, whether they wish to pursue working and getting ahead, or of course, a combination in the two. In the meantime, she's just focused on punching down on small businesses.

Jaynie Seal: And just quickly, Tim, we've got a bit of time. The NDIS—we spoke to the state ministers earlier on about the Thriving Kids and also the opposition leader. So, the New South Wales government, for example, are putting towards $603 million for Thriving Kids. They mentioned some more money for other parts of the health system and more is yet to come. But are you going to be talking to government today about what the states and territories are going to do for those hundreds and thousands of people who are going to be left off NDIS?

Tim Wilson: Well, this is a conversation obviously between Anne Ruston and Mark Butler amongst others, as well as Melissa McIntosh. What we want is a pathway forward where Australians with a disability get the support they need in a sustainable way. Labor's focus has been to crack down on clients, not corruption. We know that the NDIA themselves have said that nearly 10% to 20% of the NDIS is currently open to fraud and corruption, and that's coming off the sustainability of the system, it's coming off the sustainability for clients, and it's coming off the certainty for clients. And I hear from constituents all the time, they're deeply worried about the Labor government's priorities, and particularly their disinterest in cracking down on corruption but their active interest in pursuing clients.

Jaynie Seal: Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson, always great to see you. Thank you so much.

[ENDS]