MTR1377 Melbourne, Drive, Gambling Reform

Transcript— Tuesday, 24 January 2012 — MTR1377 Melbourne Drive with Luke Grant

E&OE

Luke Grant

G’day Kevin. Good to talk to you again, are you well?

Kevin Andrews

Very well, its been a nice summer I suppose.

Luke Grant

Yes, and another warm day in our city. So this even looks more grubby now doesn’t it, with the fact that Bob Katter and Tony Crook have come out today and said that we really didn’t have much of a chat about this?

Kevin Andrews

Well, when Julia Gillard ripped up the agreement with Andrew Wilkie the reason she gave was she couldn’t get the numbers in the House of Representatives, and yet now we find out that Tony Crook wasn’t approached, he hasn’t spoken to the Prime Minister about this in five months, and Bob Katter who everybody knows is a pretty straight shooter has come out and said that Julia Gillard didn’t approach him at all. So she’s not ascertained whether or not she had the numbers, and frankly this is a deception upon a deception, where the first one was with Andrew Wilkie by ripping up the agreement with him, and now telling us an untruth about the reason she had to rip it up.

Luke Grant

Absolutely right. So where does that leave Andrew Wilkie? I know your leader Tony Abbott was guarded in what he had to say in relation to any meetings you have had with him but surely if the deal is off you’d have to think that Andrew Wilkie presents a real danger to the continuing of this government, surely?

Kevin Andrews

Well this was a test of credibility for both Julia Gillard and Andrew Wilkie—

Luke Grant

—That’s right—

Kevin Andrews

She’s obviously failed it by ripping up the agreement. Mr Wilkie said that would have consequences in terms of his support for the government so we’ll see what happens in the coming weeks.

Luke Grant

What do you make of this trial in Canberra? There has been some discussion, as you know Kevin, in relation to the fact that the ALP have got an interest in a number of clubs in that territory.

Kevin Andrews

I believe Australians would be very unhappy if they thought or believed that money going to this trial was going back into ALP coffers. Now that’s a real possibility at the moment. The government has to not only rule that out, it has to make sure there are proper accounting and auditing requirements in place so that none of the money, if the trial goes ahead, goes back to the ALP by way of donations from the clubs.

Luke Grant

Well, as you know, today Christopher Pyne has asked the PM to ensure exactly what you just said there and he also made the comment: pokie clubs in the ACT, traditional supporters of the ALP, gave them around $600,000 before the last federal election. $600,000! That’s a lot of money.

Kevin Andrews

It is a lot of money, it’s one of the very big donors to the ALP in the ACT, and that’s why there has to be absolutely no question that there’s a conflict of interest here. That’s why I say they have to be able to show us the books that this has been properly accounted for and properly audited, otherwise I know people listening to this program who are hard working to earn their taxes I think would be very unimpressed by that money going back by way of a donation to the ALP.

Luke Grant

Yes, you’re absolutely right. Alright always good to talk to you Kevin, thanks so much.

[ends]