Welcome back. Great to have your company here on Weekend Today. Much to the dismay of White House officials, this morning, Donald Trump has not been awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize with the honor going to María Corina Machado of Venezuela. Let’s bring in today’s talkers, Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Scarr in Melbourne, and here with me, Lizzie Pearl. Good morning to both of you, Paul. Let’s start with you. The White House is taking this rather personally. A spokesperson saying the Nobel Committee placed politics over peace. Do you think that Donald Trump should ever have been in with a chance?
Senator Scarr
Well, I’d make a few points. The first point I’d make is what an incredible woman this Mrs. Machado is from Venezuela, standing up for democracy for the Venezuelan people, against the authoritarian regime that’s in control in Venezuela. What an incredible story. So what a worthy recipient. With respect to Donald Trump, I think we have to recognise he has played an amazing role in terms of bringing together this peace plan in the Middle East, and we all hope and pray that it holds, that it works, and there’s a real question as to whether or not anyone else could have done that.
Tim Davies
It will be a significant legacy, won’t it? If it, if it goes from zero to hero. We’re seeing both Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese praising the US President for this peace work in the Middle East, but former treasurer, Lizzie, Josh Frydenberg today saying that Penny Wong should be condemned for taking a victory lap over someone else’s finishing line. Is it just damage control from our pollies?
Lizzie Pearl
Yeah, look, I think that was a bit of overreach by Josh Frydenberg in that and at the moment, it’s giving credit where credit is due. I mean, this is extraordinary, if Donald Trump can pull this off. Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese are praising him as they think they think they should, because this is something that no one has managed to achieve before. As Penny Wong said, Donald Trump plays from a different playbook, and at this stage it appears to be working. It is a complicated road to peace. It involves the cooperation of not only Hamas and Israel, but also neighboring countries, and we are in the very first early stages. So look, I think Donald Trump, if he wants his peace prize, maybe next year, because, as Paul has said, this is very early days, but there are green shoots and there is a lot to be happy about in this deal so far.
Tim Davies
All right, moving on. It would appear that some Queensland cab drivers are taking customers for a ride. There are reports customers were charged upwards of $70 for a trip. Get this, just spanning two km, Lizzie. This is highway robbery.
Lizzie Pearl
Nothing is more frustrating. This has happened to me in Sydney. So it’s not just up there in Brisbane, in South East Queensland. Something needs to be done. A cabby tried to charge me $100 from the airport to my home the other day and it’s not worth that much. It’s about 60 bucks. Look, and I feel sorry for tourists, because they don’t know – they can’t be like “Hey, mate, you’re ripping me off”. This is not good for tourism in this country. So yes, we need a crackdown and you know, it’s not okay, and you’re taking advantage of people who don’t know any better. So the quicker, the better someone can stamp this out.
Tim Davies
It feels like we used to have a consistent way across the board with the system of these fares. You jump in now, though, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed this as well, Paul, but you jump in and they’ve got iPads running things, and all of a sudden there’s a new toll for this and a new toll for that. Should penalties be harsher for these drivers if they’re caught?
Senator Scarr
Well, I think those people who aren’t doing the right thing need to be held to account. But also, I’d just like to say I think the vast majority of our cab drivers do the right thing. It’s not an easy job, especially when you’re competing with Uber, etc, so I think the majority do the right thing, but I think those who aren’t doing the right thing should be held to account.
Tim Davies
Yeah, competing with ride share, it is a time, though, to make sure that the officials within the taxi industry are cracking down on this to give customers some confidence. Paul, I want to ask you as well this morning, you are welcoming this debate over migration levels here in Australia, since the resignation of front bencher, Andrew Hastie. There seems to be some infighting over your party’s stance on immigration?
Senator Scarr
I made a few points during the speech I gave in Melbourne yesterday. This is a debate we have to have in relation to immigration numbers. The Australian people expect us to have this discussion and this debate, so we come up with a migration policy which is in the national interest. That is a complicated question. We need to consider issues like housing supply, skill shortages and a whole raft of other issues. But the second point I made was it’s really important how we conduct this debate. We shouldn’t inflame emotions. We need to be really careful that we’re considered and measured in how we conduct this debate, and I think that’s in the national interest.
Tim Davies
Does Sussan Ley have your support?
Senator Scarr
Absolutely. My 100% support.
Tim Davies
Good to know. All right, let’s get this straight from the horse’s mouth, this morning, possibly the most important issue of the morning. Maxibon have finally settled the age old debate, which side do you eat first. Paul, there’s obviously only one correct answer here.
Senator Scarr
Well, it’s a question of integrity, structural integrity. Structural Integrity of the ice cream. It’s got to be the ice cream first.
Tim Davies
Lizzie?
Lizzie Pearl
Well, okay, so the Maxibon. One side is biscuit with ice cream in the middle. The other side is ice cream with chocolate on the outside.
Tim Davies
Doesn’t everyone know this?
Lizzie Pearl
Yes, I’m just explaining it for viewers who may not know. So, in order to not get sticky fingers with the chocolate, you need to hold it like this guy is. You hold the biscuit side, because then you’re not going to get sticky fingers and melted ice cream and then you are able to eat it. But you know, some people like the biscuit side better, and they want to save it for last, in which case you get melted chocolate on your fingers.
Senator Scarr
I’m a man of integrity.
Tim Davies
Have you ever had a Gaytime, Paul?
Senator Scarr
Sorry?
Tim Davies
Another debate for another day. Don’t you worry about that. We’ll get our ice creams mixed up. Good to have you on Paul. Lizzie, thank you both.
