Topics: Newspoll, Housing, Labor government’s debt, World Cup final
E&OE.......................
ETE STEFANOVIC: I want to bring in the Liberal Senator Dave Sharma now for this and more. And it comes off the back of fresh polling by Newspoll out today, Dave, that shows a surge in support for One Nation. So it doesn't necessarily include the speech over the weekend because I think it cuts off about Friday, but it would include parts of her trip that some viewed as controversial, particularly links to Gina Rinehart and going to fancy hotels in Italy. So does that in itself show people don't— her voters anyway— don't care where she goes, what she says, or who she hangs out with. They're going to vote for her to disrupt the system.
DAVE SHARMA: Well, look, I think certainly part of her appeal is she's not the established parties, right? And if people are voting for her not to vote for her but to vote against the status quo or established parties, then it's almost immaterial what she does. Now, I don't think that level of support is going to endure. I’m not being complacent about it, but I'm thinking that If people ultimately have to decide who do they want to put into government, who do they want to have as the Prime Minister, who do they want to have as the Treasurer, the Defence Minister, the Foreign Minister, I think if they look seriously at One Nation's team and their offering, they will know that they're not up to that job. But it's our job, the Liberal Party, but also, frankly speaking, the government, to convince people that, you know, we have the answers, not One Nation.
PETE STEFANOVIC: I mean, looking at the polling numbers though, I mean, those are numbers that you can only dream of at the moment, right, from the Liberal Party. I mean, languishing in third Angus Taylor third as preferred Prime Minister. And look, it is just a monthly snapshot, but still, I mean, you'd prefer those numbers.
DAVE SHARMA: Look, we need to do better, but it is a poll that's at least 2 years or close to 2 years out from an election. I think we've got time to show that we need to do better, and I think we've got time to develop the policies. But ultimately, I mean, how we win back the public is by convincing them that we have a set of answers to Australia's problems. And I think Australia's problems are well known and quite deep-seated, and I don't think the government has the answers. I don't think Pauline Hanson and her party have the answers. They're able to, as she showed in her speech over the weekend, articulate the grievances but not articulate the answers. That's where we need to be different as Liberals.
PETE STEFANOVIC: Do you think, I mean, you've seen auction clearance rates, they've dived for a 9th straight week in a row now, and sure there are a number of factors, but I feel like primarily it's going to be the budget changes because all of a sudden established homes are a bad investment, investors just aren't going to do it. Sure, new builds, but not for established homes. Would those voters who are frustrated by that come to you or One Nation?
DAVE SHARMA: Look, I'd say firstly on the housing figures, I mean, I don't think this is just a housing market issue. This is about a lack of confidence in the economy overall, and you're seeing that reflected in lower auction clearance rates, but you're seeing that reflected in, you know, people talking about moving their business offshore, people trying to restructure their tax affairs, businesses not hiring, small businesses thinking about folding, because the budget has created confidence in the economy. Now, I think we would— would expect that people who've lost faith in the government's management of economy will look for someone who's better economic managers of the economy. That is our brand strength. That is our track record as Liberals. We came in in, you know, 1996 and repaired Labor's government debt. We did the same thing in 2013. We're to have to do it again next time. But we need to convince people that we have the answers to that issue.
PETE STEFANOVIC: Funny, there's a story around at the moment, the ALP's national conference coming up, and there's a clause in there that seems to point to a gas tax coming back and Matt Thistlethwaite on this morning saying, "No, no, no, there's no plans." But now we all remember, well, there was no plans last time.
DAVE SHARMA: No plans for industrial relations changes, no plans for taxes on super, no plans for changes to negative gearing. government, I mean, you're seeing, I think, this government reveal their true ideological colours this term, which is they're a redistributive, high-tax, high-spend government.
PETE STEFANOVIC: Did watch that World Cup final today?
DAVE SHARMA: I did. It was fabulous. I mean, look, I was I was getting very— my heart was backing Spain. They had the better of the game, but I thought Argentina might well pull this off because they've shown incredible doggedness. I'm glad Spain got the victory though. I think it was what they deserved.
PETE STEFANOVIC: I think they deserved it too. Good to see you, Dave.
DAVE SHARMA: Thanks so much.
[ENDS]