At least 34 Australians are missing after the catastrophic flooding we have seen in Nepal. Joining me live now is LNP Senator for Queensland, Paul Scarr.
Paul, I know south-east Queensland, and Queensland overall, has a vibrant Nepalese community. Lots of families with loved ones back home will be very worried today.
Senator Paul Scarr: Absolutely. This has had a devastating impact on the Nepalese community in Queensland.
I had discussions with a senior community leader earlier today, and you could hear the heartbreak in their voice. There are so many unanswered questions about family members and friends that people have not heard from. They are desperately seeking information, and all of the trauma you would associate with a catastrophic event like this.
The images we have seen from Nepal are deeply disturbing. My thoughts and prayers are with the community, everyone in Australia who has been impacted by this, and of course the people of Nepal.
Host: It is devastating to try to comprehend how shocking and sudden this would have been for those on the ground.
Paul, I want to move on to the politics of the day. We have seen the migration debate playing out again. There was a revelation in The Australian Financial Review today that the refugee intake has been cut by a third. Is that the sort of tough decision you believe needs to be made to bring migration numbers down?
Senator Paul Scarr: There is no doubt that migration needs to come down.
Like all Australians, I am waiting for the minister to come out and give us a definitive direction on what the government’s policies actually are.
The fact is that the Labor Government has now been in power for four years, and many of the issues currently being discussed, such as people who are unsuccessful in obtaining student visas and then take their cases to the Administrative Review Tribunal or the courts, are not new issues. They have existed for the past four years.
We are still waiting for the minister to provide some definitive direction on the government’s proposals. We have not heard enough about the long-term solutions needed to address these issues.
Host: On your side of politics, Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg was accused of freelancing, including by the Nationals leader, when he suggested that hitting migration targets may require consideration of categories such as working holiday makers. The Nationals say those visas should not be touched. What is your view?
Senator Paul Scarr: I represent Queensland, and Queensland’s agriculture, tourism and hospitality sectors rely heavily on working holiday visa holders.
These people are working on our farms, harvesting crops and helping service our tourism industry. They are an essential part of our economy.
This highlights a broader challenge in the migration debate. There are competing interests between our major urban centres, where infrastructure and housing have not kept pace with demand, and regional and agricultural areas, which are heavily dependent on this workforce.
Host: But how do we get the numbers down? Angus Taylor has not put a figure on it ahead of the election, but hard decisions will need to be made. Not everyone will be happy with the choices required to reach those targets.
Senator Paul Scarr: I think that is right.
We need to go through visa category by visa category. It is fair to say that, of the three million temporary visa holders currently in Australia, a significant proportion are on student visas.
I mentioned the issue where approximately 55,000 unsuccessful student visa applicants remain in the country while progressing through appeals processes.
We need to tighten the system to ensure people cannot obtain a student visa and then game the process to remain in Australia for an extended period while appealing for another student visa or another type of visa. That is an area that clearly requires a lot of attention.
Host: There has also been a heated debate at the Bush Summit today over the GST. When the Productivity Commission sounds the alarm about the 2018 GST deal, arguing it is unfair and costly to the budget, why should politicians dismiss those concerns simply because of the politics involved in Western Australia?
Senator Paul Scarr: I do not think we should have a knee-jerk reaction.
Everyone should read the Productivity Commission’s interim report and consider some of the legitimate concerns and potential distortions it raises.
The arrangement was introduced by a Coalition government to address what was seen as an inherent unfairness affecting Western Australia because of the unique structure of its economy and its reliance on the resources sector.
At the same time, I look at my home state of Queensland. Over the past 12 months, Queensland has received the largest transfer of GST revenue under these arrangements that it has ever received, something in the order of $2 billion.
This is an interim report. I do not think the Premier of Western Australia should have attacked the Productivity Commission itself in the way he did. People should make orderly submissions and allow the process to run its course before we see the final report.
Host: Will you encourage Opposition Leader Angus Taylor to keep an open mind? He was asked about this issue this week and said he would not change the arrangement.
Senator Paul Scarr: I saw those reports.
As I said, there were a number of points in the report that deserve consideration. One example raised was that if there were a major bushfire in New South Wales and the state had to spend more money responding to that disaster, it could have the unintended consequence of increasing the amount of GST revenue allocated to Western Australia.
Those are the sorts of distortions that should be examined. I believe we can continue to do the right thing by Western Australia while also addressing some of those anomalies.
Host: It sounds like you have a more open mind than Angus Taylor on this issue.
Finally, Paul Scarr, gambling reform. You were one of the members of your party room prepared to cross the floor on this issue. Will you be pushing internally for stronger gambling reforms before the next election, or was this simply a first step?
Senator Paul Scarr: I think there needs to be more reform.
I have used the example of gambling advertising during State of Origin. Gambling advertising is banned between 5.00 pm and 8.30 pm, but after 8.30 pm it is effectively open slather.
To me, that is ridiculous when millions of children are watching what is arguably our most significant annual sporting event.
I think we need to revisit that issue. I am also unhappy with the position that was adopted in relation to inducements.
Predatory inducements can be targeted at people who have placed themselves on BetStop. Three months after joining BetStop, they can be retargeted with gambling promotions and advertising.
Those are the types of issues that require further attention. I have no doubt that the data will continue to demonstrate the harm that can be caused by these practices.
