Patrick Gorman MP on Triple M Goldfields Interview

ABBEY CULLEN, HOST: You're on the Goldfields 981 Triple M. Hey, happy Wednesday. It's Abbey with you, taking you through till three. Right now, I've got Patrick Gorman on the line. He's all the way over in Canberra. He's the Federal Member for Perth, Assistant to the Prime Minister, Patrick. Thank you so much for joining us. I can imagine you've had a busy couple of hours talking all things Budget. So I don't want to hold you too long, let's get straight into it - the tax cuts for 2026.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: So what I'd say to your listeners is that this is a tax cut for every taxpayer across the country. That's some 14 million Australians, but everyone who's listening, if they pay income tax, they're getting a tax cut in this budget. What it will mean when we combine it with the tax cuts that we put in last year, that next financial year, or 2026-27, people will be about $43 a week better off. Or by the time all the tax cuts roll through in 2027 people will be $50 a week better off.

Now this is about trying to get that balance just right. To give people a bit more, so they can keep a little bit more of what they earn, without risking undoing any of the hard work that the Australian people and workers across this country have done in the fight against inflation.

CULLEN: Patrick, I really appreciate you spreading this word, because, you know, I think talking all things budget, it's a confusing time, but it's also a clarifying time. So Patrick, we're going to catch up with you after 11 o'clock as well and chat a little bit about bulk billing, cost of living particularly, and jobs and wages, because those points, for me, are significant. They really stood out. And just exactly how this Budget affects us here in the Goldfields region. As you may know, last year, years on end, we've had problems with our power. So I'm intrigued to ask you questions about that one, but we'll catch up with you after 11.

[Show break]

CULLEN: You're with Abby for your work day, taking you through till three. Hey, I have Patrick Gorman, the Federal Member for Perth, and Assistant to the Prime Minister on the line. Patrick, the Budget has been announced. Can you tell us a little bit about wages and jobs? Because here in the Goldfields, we do have such a diverse range of people, right? Locals, should I say residents, there's mining, there's retail, there's educators, there's nurses, medical staff. Let's talk about how the budget affects jobs and wages.

GORMAN: One of the things this Budget does is, we put it in our Budget last year, but this locks in the funding for what I call the 'mining jobs tax credits' - that is the Critical Minerals Production Tax Credits - which means that we can really expand those industries that are doing well in making critical minerals across the Goldfields, and across the great state of WA. And also make sure that we encourage more and more investment into those jobs, which we know means more construction jobs for new mines, it means more maintenance jobs, it means more jobs for bidders, turners, boilermakers, everything. It's really good stuff.

And the other one is, a lot of your listeners might have at some point in their career, had to sign what is called a non-compete clause. And a non-compete clause basically means that even if you get offered a better job somewhere else, with higher pay, you can't move. And they're across all industries, including in childcare and hairdressing. And what we're saying is we're going to legislate to abolish those non-compete clauses so people can go to the job that is best for them, without any of those unfair legal restrictions that have been holding people back.

CULLEN: Wow, okay, and Patrick, I really want to highlight bulk billing, because that was a big one in the Budget as well. So I understand that the government has set aside $8.5 billion until the year of 2030 to increase the bulk billing rate. Is that how it's looking, or?

GORMAN: Yes, so we've taken the advice of the best health professionals and the best economists on how we make sure that people's local GP doesn't have to charge them a gap fee and can instead bulk bill. That means send the bill for the doctor's visit to Canberra so that people can see a GP for free. And the plan that we've put together will mean that nine out of ten visits to the GP will be free.

When I was young, I had really chronic asthma. I was at the GP all the time, but my mum didn't have to get her credit card out every time we visited because our doctor bulk billed. And that meant I got the best health care, and the health care I needed, and that my parents didn't find themselves financially held back. And that's the sort of health system that I want -

CULLEN: Yeah.

GORMAN: - for the next generation and the generation beyond. And so anything we can do, and I should also say that for GPs outside of metropolitan areas, there'll be even more incentives and even more financial assistance so they can bulk bill, and that'll be great for the Goldfields.

CULLEN: I agree Patrick, I do think it will be great for the Goldfields. And as you know, we have WASM here, the WA School of Mines. Those students are working, they're experiencing life in the mines, and they might not be able to have a job because they're busy studying. So having that bulk billing option is just an incredible thing. I know when I was at uni, it would have been very helpful.

GORMAN: I've visited WASM a number of times, it's a great campus there in Kalgoorlie. I first visited there when I was 19 years old, I've been back a few times since. The great news for anyone who's at the WA School of Mines, or has previously studied there but still has a HECS debt, is our plan after this federal election if Labor is returned, will chop every single Australian's HECS or TAFE debt by 20 per cent.

CULLEN: Wow.

GORMAN: Making it easier to do the other stuff, like save for a house and deal with all the costs of kids and all the rest.

CULLEN: Yeah, just life in general I think Patrick, life in general. Before we wrap up, Patrick, I really want to touch on the cost of living, because I know that the most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that prices actually rose by 2.4 per cent in the year to December. So that's down from a peak of 7.8 per cent in December in 2022. Let's talk about that one a little bit.

GORMAN: Abbey, the numbers you've just put there is really a success story for the Australian people. It has been really tough in the fight against inflation. And we know that inflation rips money out of pockets, particularly of those on low and middle incomes.

So I'm really proud of the work the Australian people have done in the fight against inflation, but we recognise that where we can, we need to keep helping out, and that's why this Budget also includes one additional $150 Energy Bill Credit.

We've been really fortunate in WA with the $700 that everyone got last year off their energy bills. We're going to do that again for all households, every single household who receives an energy bill, they'll get $150 off.

And for a range of small businesses as well, because I know that small businesses are doing it tough and we want to give them a bit of support as well. Because small businesses are an essential part of our community, and an essential part of our economy.

CULLEN: Absolutely they are, Patrick, I couldn't agree with you more. Patrick, we're going to take a short break. I will get you back on after 12. I've got a very important question for you in regards to the Goldfields.

[Show break]

CULLEN: You're on Triple M with Abbey, taking you through till three for your work day. Hey, I've got Patrick Gorman, Federal Member for Perth, on the line right now. He's also the Assistant to the Prime Minister. Patrick, this is the last time we'll get you on the airwaves for the day, I can imagine it's been busy for you over in Canberra, with the Budget coming out.

Patrick, let's talk a little bit about specifically the Goldfields. Because, as you may know, over the years we've had problem after problem in regards to power. Last year, for example, over the months of January to March, there was a power outage for over four days, and it was really hard. The local businesses had to chuck out so much stock. It was a really hard time. So in regards to this Budget, Patrick, what have you got to say? How's it going to help us?

GORMAN: When it comes to making sure that people have more secure energy, that is something that is essential for the industries that power our economy out in the Goldfields. It's essential for small businesses and it's essential for households. And it's essential for particularly our vulnerable people who might rely on electricity for keeping them healthy and safe.

What we have done is a $3 billion partnership with the Western Australian Government to invest in additional electricity transmission infrastructure. We call that Rewiring Australia. It's an agreement we made with the state government a few years back, and that's rolling out, that $3 billion of investment, into making sure that we have the sort of grid and energy that we need. To both get more renewable energy into our grids, but also to make sure that we have more reliable energy. Because, obviously what a number of your listeners experienced was really - I was reading those reports of people who were either small businesses losing huge amounts of stock, families who were without power for days. It's not where we want to be. So the solution is big, big investments in energy infrastructure, and that's what we've done.

The Goldfields have really been powering a huge part of the Australian economy since before Federation. For more than 130 years, the Goldfields have been an essential part of the Australian economic story. I want to make sure that we grab the opportunities of the future to build Australia's future, build the Goldfields' future, and really invest in those things that we know, whether it be investing in the 'mining jobs tax credits', whether it be investing in energy infrastructure or just investing in health. Because good health policy is good economic policy. We get all of that right, and the future is really bright, and that's what I think this Budget does.

CULLEN: Patrick, thank you so much for joining us here on the Goldfields. 981, Triple M, if you've got any questions for Patrick, let me know on the text line, and I can get those questions to him.