Friday 31 October 2025

E&OE

Karl Stefanovic:

Welcome back to the show great to have you company live from Melbourne this morning well fresh fallout for the CFMEU this morning union boss Zach Smith succumbing to pressure from the Coalition and quitting Labor's top executive committee. Shadow Minister for Small Business Tim Wilson and 9 news and 3aw presenter Heidi Murphy join me to discuss nice to see you both. Timmy you you're first up, you've been on Labor about Smith for weeks, but ultimately he was the one to cut ties your reaction? 

Tim Wilson MP:

Well it's welcome that he's pulled the pin from the National Executive of the Labor Party, but he's still a key adviser to Minister Rishworth, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on a body she has, which is the National Construction Industry Forum. She's got to sack him from that role because even he knows he can't be attached to the Government. Surely the Government now knows that he has got to jump off that. But yesterday in question time she defended his role and ran interference to keep him there.

Karl Stefanovic:

Heidi it's been a while coming, hasn't it? He resigned two weeks ago, kept it on the quiet. Just keeps kicking along, that story.

Heidi Murphy:

Well it certainly does and perhaps why has it been kept a secret for so long I think that's just how this union operates it seems to operate. Tim makes a good point why is he still on that particular advisory body to the Minister and why in fact has he been sending a proxy along since the Administrator was put in why has he still been sending a representative along for those National Executive Committee meetings with the Labor Party we've had the Administrator in for more than a year now has the cleanup worked? No.

Karl Stefanovic:

And the stories keep coming moving on that surge in inflation which the Reserve Bank says has been driven by rising electricity prices. Tim another thing we didn't see coming 

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, that's true, rising electricity prices, but it's also the government is fueling spending today through higher debt. Because they won't pull in their belts, it means Australians are paying more. It's been fueling inflation, which means higher interest rates are sadly going to be sustained. And that means every Australian is going to be paying more on their mortgage if they've still got one, and of course be putting upward pressure on things at the supermarket. Until the government pulls in its belt and cuts spending, we're all going to pay higher prices.

Karl Stefanovic: 

Would you extend rebates?

Tim Wilson MP: 

Well I think rebates are only a salve to the actual problem, which is higher inflation. We should be addressing the problem of higher inflation, that would be a better long-term solution than just throwing more money onto the inflation fire, which is only going to fuel interest rates.

Karl Stefanovic:

Still the pressure on household budgets though is immense.

Heidi Murphy:

Well it is immense and I can understand the argument against extending the rebates but the last thing we need between now and Christmas is an interest rate increase. I think the best Jim Chalmers can hope for at the moment is that the Reserve Bank holds steady. We can't do anything that adds further to inflation. Energy prices are not going to go down. Well they're not with the move to renewables and the transmission lines that need to go in absolutely, the cost is enormous.

Karl Stefanovic:

It’s a good thing Timmy you've got this ground-breaking meeting today with the Coalition and net zero when you're finally going to show the Australian people your policy. 

Tim Wilson MP:

What we're focused on is how do we get to net zero price increases and of course net zero outages because you know when Australians go and flick the switch on to walk into a room they want to know that the power's going to turn on but more important they're going to be able to afford the bill at the end of it and so that's going be our focus and of course people care deeply about emissions but they want to make sure we get the price right they want to make we have a reliable system and then they'll be supportive of lower emissions too.

Karl Stefanovic:

Nicely avoided that question. The Nats aren't even going to this meeting. It's going to be a couple of randoms sitting around in a pub. 

Heidi Murphy:

I thought they were in a Coalition, I thought you were all friends Tim.

Tim Wilson MP:

It’s a really important issue, otherwise I'd be there in Melbourne with you.

Karl Stefanovic:

Well, you'll be there. Let's see what happens. Finally, Kevin Rudd is in Sydney talking up Albo giving him, quote, full marks for repairing our relationship with China. Heidi, Rudd has been very successful over the last couple of weeks. It's good to see him back on the international stage.

Heidi Murphy:

It is good and he could probably solve all manner of conflicts. Perhaps he could help with net zero, perhaps he could help in the Coalition party rooms Tim, I mean he's available, he's very good at sorting relationships out.

Karl Stefanovic:

You’d accept that wouldn't you, a bit of advice from Ruddy, Timmy?

Tim Wilson MP:

Look, I'm not sure he's the first person I go to council. He was the guy who actually remember he tried to introduce the carbon tax and his entire government exploded. 

Karl Stefanovic:

All right, finally before we go it's early, but can I get a tip? Not necessarily for the Melbourne Cup but your favourite place to eat in Melbourne Heidi your first up.

Heidi Murphy:

Oh, goodness. Cumulus Inc.

Karl Stefanovic:

Oh yeah? Alright, and for you Timmy? 

Tim Wilson MP:

I’d probably have to go in the CBD, the City Wine Shop, because it has simple Italian, it's really delicious. But of course I'd always have to recommend somewhere in my electorate in Goldstein I guess. 

Karl Stefanovic:

Alright, beautiful stuff, Melbourne is coming alive, it's going to be a great carnival. Thanks so much for being with us.

ENDS