Friday, 7 August 2026

Transcript

Interview - Channel 9, Today Show 

Topics: Pauline Hanson’s European travels; family travel expenses; Dan Andrews statue; friction-maxxing.

E&OE……………………..

Tom Steinfort: The Age has this morning confirmed that Pauline Hanson used party funds to pay for a five star London hotel during her recent European trip. And that included keeping rooms vacant while she flew off to Italy to catch up with Gina Rinehart. Joining us to discuss today's headlines are Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson in Melbourne, and independent MP Dai Le who's with us in studio. Tim, starting off with you, what do you think? Is it better than using taxpayer funds? Where does this stand?

Tim Wilson: Well, we have people who donate to her party from their limited savings, they're struggling to get ahead, and now we find it's going towards luxury hotel rooms in London, Dolce and Gabbana fashion shows, luxury hotel stays in London, I'm starting to see images of global elite, and this seems like a pretty clear betrayal of the people she claims to represent.

Tom Steinfort: Dai, on that, I mean this is someone who is effectively positioning herself as a champion for the everyday battler. Do you think though that these rusted-on One Nation voters would actually care, or they'd say go for your life?

Dai Le: Look, I don't think voters will care at this stage, from my perspective. And I think that, look, the party funds, they have got party rules, and how you spend that party funds is up to the party, you know, and it's not taxpayers' money. So, it's the people who donate it, and so she's not using taxpayers' money to book for five-star hotel. So, I have no doubt that, you know, there are rules and regulations around spending within the party rules. So, at the moment let's focus on really what matters to people in Australia, and that is absolutely the cost of living, cost of the rising fuel, the petrol price has gone up, and that's probably hurting people more than focusing what the you know Ms Hanson spent using party funds.

Tom Steinfort: Well, let's talk about actually politicians who have been using taxpayer funds for travel, because Tim, we're learning this morning that several politicians, including ones from your own party, spent thousands of taxpayer funds bringing their families to Canberra during budget week. Does this pass the old pub test?

Tim Wilson: I have no doubt there will always, you know, if you take anything to the pub test, politicians spending money, it will virtually never pass the pub test. There is a simple process where politicians can fly to Canberra, and sometimes it involves family reunification because they spend half their year away, and so people take advantage of it. So, do I think the public will accept it? Probably not, but the reality is it's part of their terms and conditions at work, like everyone has terms and conditions at work.

Tom Steinfort: Alright, we'll move along now because new polling has revealed that almost three quarters of Victorians want the infamous Dan Andrews statue proposal scrapped. Tim, a statue like this, you know we're talking maybe Stalin, Kim Jong-un, maybe this is perfect for the socialist state of Victoria to have Dan immortalised in bronze.

Tim Wilson: Well, I'm currently in Church Street in Brighton and I can assure you this is not a socialist state and this is not a socialist town, and we are going to liberate it with a fresh start come November 28. But you know, I don't think Dan Andrews should want this statue, frankly, because I think there's serious risk of becoming a public urinal if it's erected. Today we have Ben Carroll the new premier out there saying that he's cutting back on major public projects because the state can't afford it. The first minor public project that should be cut should be Dan Andrews’ statue, because that does not sit on any hierarchy of a single Victorian and their priorities, so they can get to home, be able to support their family, get to school, get a better hospital, or of course be able to improve the standard of living in a state that has seen a rapid decline under this corrupt cartel-ish Labor government.

Tom Steinfort: Dai, what I find so fascinating about this is that there is one person that could stop this statue in its tracks. That's Dan Andrews. He could just come out right now and say, I don't need a statue, guys, don't worry about it. Yet, he wants it.

Dai Le: There should be no statue for a politician, full stop. And yes, he should say, no, listen guys, I I'm a public servant, I was there to serve the state, and that's it. No need to idolize me in a statue. But really, no politicians should have a statue to their name.

Tom Steinfort: Finally, now you've heard of looksmaxxing, heard of moneymaxxing, what about friction-maxxing? Apparently this is a new buzzword with the youth that describes when young aussies do things the old fashioned way, you know, no shortcuts, actually put in the work. Tim, think cooking from scratch instead of ordering out, wrapping a present instead of a gift bag. What does friction-maxxing mean to you?

Tim Wilson: It sounds like I've been friction-maxxing my entire life. You know, I've always tried to cook things from scratch or I go to the supermarket myself and buy things at the local Woolies or Coles or Aldi or wherever it is. So, look, everything old is new again, I think is the conclusion. Believe it or not, to those people who think friction-maxxing is a new thing, if you do things for yourself and you take the time, you get satisfaction. I highly recommend gardening, because you actually get to plant and then you get to watch things grow.

Tom Steinfort: So deep. So deep.

Dai Le: God, yeah. I don't know, gardening, that's definitely friction with the soil and everything and the bugs there. But, you know, absolutely, I think let's take it back to the 80s, to the 90s, if that's friction-maxxing, I don't know, I like a bit of friction there, but my, you know, we do start from scratch, cook all the time and all that, cleaning, house cleaning, is that friction-maxxing?

Tom Steinfort: Apparently. Claim it, run with it. Alright, great to see you, Dai, Tim, Thank you.

[ENDS]