Interview with Murray Jones, 4CA Cairns

MURRAY JONES, HOST: Well some interesting times for the Government in the last couple of days, but I see the primary vote according to the polling hasn’t changed for Labor – most of the toing and froing between the Nationals, the Liberals and of course One Nation. But to talk about a few important things here for the Tropical North Queensland region, the Great Barrier Reef – we might start with the yellow crazy ant funding.

It is so important, and I note that there was a lot of people actually working in that area that were a bit concerned about ongoing funding. Joining me this morning, Senator Murray Watt. He’s the Minister for the Environment and Water.

Good morning, Murray. Nice to have you along this morning. MURRAY WATT, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER: G’day, Muzza.

Always love talking to Muzza! MURRAY JONES: What a beautiful day for it, so welcome to Cairns. Let’s get into these yellow crazy ants, because I know some of the funding there, it was a bit up in the air, a few people were a bit nervous, but we got some good news there.

MURRAY WATT: Sure do, Murray. So there’s some really good news for the Cairns region in the Federal Budget. Obviously lots of investment in housing, health services and other things, but also in the environment area.

What we’ve been able to do in this year’s Federal Budget is extend, for another two years, a total of $6 million that’ll be provided to the Wet Tropics Authority in their fight against yellow crazy ants in Queensland’s wet tropics. I think all of your listeners know that these yellow crazy ants are a really destructive species. They get into our World Heritage areas.

They’ve had big impacts on sugar cane farms as well in the region. So this investment that we're making by extending the existing program is a real sort of vote of confidence in that program and shows that we want to keep up the fight to rid the area of these invasive species forever. MURRAY JONES: $6 million over two years, and obviously aerial baiting, there's a whole range of different measures that they use to try and control them because it is a tough ask, it really is, Murray.

MURRAY WATT: It sure is, Murray, and as I say, we know that these ants, along with a range of other invasive species, do have a very destructive impact on the environment in this region, as well as the local economy. I mean, let's face it, one of the region's real selling points is as a tourist destination, and if we see that natural environment being affected by yellow crazy ants or other species like it, that has an economic impact here as well.

The other thing that's behind one of the other big initiatives we've funded in this year's Budget that's relevant here, and that's ongoing funding for the Great Barrier Reef as well. So some of the funding measures that have been in place for the Reef were due to run out on 30 June, but we've now decided to extend them. So there'll be about another $92 million going towards protecting and restoring the Great Barrier Reef.

That brings to a total since 2014, it's nearly $4 billion that the Federal Government has invested in Reef protection. And again, that matters from an environmental perspective, but it also matters for those 77,000 jobs across Queensland, particularly here in Cairns, that depend upon that kind of protection going forward. MURRAY JONES: And we've actually been focusing even this morning on the World Heritage listing of the Daintree Rainforest in ‘88, the Great Barrier Reef back in 1981.

And of course, looking after these icons and keeping them healthy, I mean, that's the reason why we get so many tourists coming to our region and the area – for its biodiversity, what it has. So making sure that we look after economically, not just for the benefit of the world, economically for our region, it is so important to actually put some serious money into ensuring that these things stay pristine.

MURRAY WATT: Exactly, Murray. I mean, I'm really envious every time I come to Cairns. You live in a beautiful part of the world.

The natural environment here is just stunning, and we owe it to all Australians and the whole world to protect it. But as you say, it's the backbone of so many jobs and small businesses right across this region as well. You can imagine if we didn't have the Reef, if we didn't have those rainforests, if we didn't have some of the other natural selling points, the reality is Cairns would not get as many tourists as it does, and all those small businesses along the Esplanade and other places that depend upon it would struggle.

So really strong economic reasons to keep investing in these kind of protections. We want to make sure that the reef is flourishing for many, many generations to come. MURRAY JONES: And sadly, you still get a lot of people that poo-poo the funding, particularly for the Great Barrier Reef.

But I'd suggest they're not looking at the bigger picture and, of course, those environmental and economic impacts if we don't take this really, really seriously. Can we just move on to two quick subjects before I let you go this morning? MURRAY WATT: MURRAY JONES: Fuel prices.

And when I look right across the world, in the US the percentage increase is staying remarkably high. There's a lot of countries in the world that have actually run out of fuel. And certainly the Government has done a good job.

Just in the last week or so, I mean, there has been a bit of a creep up just in the last couple of days, but we're nearly at levels, even for diesel, that were basically pretty similar to what we had just before the war, Murray. MURRAY WATT: Yeah, that's right, Murray. I mean, it is really great, I think, for all Cairns region residents that those fuel prices have come down from where they were, whether it be your normal petrol for your normal suburban car or also for diesel as well.

Of course, that was one of the reasons that the Government took the decision to halve the fuel excise. That was a way of us demonstrating to Australians that we knew things were tough for people and they were finding it difficult to deal with those fuel and diesel price increases. I think that has made a difference to people, as has some of the tax cuts that we've announced in the Budget as well.

You know, as a government, we recognise that there's a lot of people still struggling with cost of living pressures, and we want to take whatever step we can to help take some relief for people. Whether it be that halving of the fuel excise, the tax cuts that continue to roll through, even the investments we're making in Medicare and those Urgent Care Clinics so that people don't have to fork out when they go to a GP, cheaper medicines, all those sort of things I think really do help with people and show that we get it and we've got to keep showing that as well.

MURRAY JONES: Can we just touch on the Farrer by-election, and Labor traditionally, the party of the battlers. But what we've heard with the exit polls and since the Farrer by-election, which was obviously won by One Nation, One Nation is there for the battlers. And that's what's basically turning quite a few people towards that party.

What would you say to the battlers here in this country as a result of what's occurred just over the last week or so? MURRAY WATT: Yeah look, Murray, I can understand why people who are doing it tough right now might be looking for different parties and different politicians when they cast their vote. But it's also important people know what One Nation do when they actually go down to Canberra and cast a vote that decides what happens to people's lives.

I work in the Senate, I work with Senator Hanson, Senator Roberts and their other senators every single day. And what I've seen them repeatedly do is despite what they say here in Queensland, they go to Canberra, vote with the Liberals to cut things that really matter to working people. I've seen them in the time that I've been there vote against penalty rates being enshrined in awards.

I've seen them vote against wage increases. I've seen them vote against cheaper medicines that some of those battlers really need to be able to get through the week. They voted against our investments in housing while at the same time claiming that we should do more on housing.

So there's a pattern with One Nation where they complain about things, but when they have the opportunity to do something to help battlers, they vote with the Liberals to hurt battlers. So I think it’s just really important that people know what they’re getting when they vote for a certain politician. One Nation don’t like to tell you about the fact that they vote with the Liberals to cut housing, cut wages, cut cheaper medicines, cut other cost of living relief, but that’s what they actually do.

And that’s certainly not helping the battlers who they claim to be helping. MURRAY JONES: This sunshine’s good for you – you’re on fire this morning, Murray. MURRAY WATT: [Laughs] It’s a beautiful day out there, Murray.

I’m looking forward to getting into it. And before I forget, can I congratulate 4CA - is it your 90th anniversary, I think you were saying? MURRAY JONES: 90th, yeah.

MURRAY WATT: Yeah, wow. Well, you’re in better shape than most 90-year-olds, so congratulations! And I look forward to being part of this station’s future for a while to come.

MURRAY JONES: Always great to talk to you. Senator Murray Watt, he’s a Queensland Senator, Minister for the Environment and Water. Have a wonderful day – thanks so much for your time.

MURRAY WATT: You too, Muzza. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.