Great to have your company this morning, you’re watching Today on Nine and 9Now. The safety of Australia’s most vulnerable children is in the spotlight this morning amid warnings of critical staff shortages and cases not being investigated. In Queensland alone, 19,000 more reports were made to Child Safety authorities last year, adding to the pressure on already strained departments. For more, let’s bring in Liberal MP Paul Scarr and our very own Lizzie Pearl this morning. Good morning to you both. Paul, these innocent kids — they deserve better than this, and right now, government agencies are failing them.
Senator Scarr
Absolutely, Michael, and I think we have no greater obligation than to help kids who are in situations where they’re in danger. And I think we need to listen to the frontline workers and make sure we’ve got enough staff in these agencies to act and to intervene at the earliest possible moment. It’s just heartbreaking to hear these stories.
Host
Heartbreaking is certainly an appropriate way to describe it. Lizzie, where do you even begin to try and fix a problem this big?
Lizzie Pearl
Well, it sounds crass to talk about money when we’re also talking about children’s lives, but that’s what it boils down to. It’s money, it’s resources, it’s time, it’s effort, and it’s a whole‑of‑community approach as well. We can’t look away when we see children in danger, and these kids — they’ve had no say into the family and the life they’ve been born into. But it’s important that we address it, because these problems are sometimes generational, and once we can fix the problem at a young age, then it’s not going to be repeated. But it is just so sad when you hear stories of how some babies and children are being born into these environments. And as I said, they had no say, no choice in that.
Host
Yes, certainly not their fault. Paul, you and your colleagues in politics, government or opposition — you are in positions to change this or make a difference. How high on the priority list is this?
Senator Scarr
Well, I don’t think there’s anything more important. I really don’t, and as Lizzie says, the children have no say over the families and the situation they’re born into. So I think we need to make sure, especially where red flags are raised early, that we have the resources to intervene and to protect these children and give them an opportunity to fulfil their potential in their lives. I think there’s nothing more important.
Host
Yes, feels like a systemic failure — should be right at the top of the priority list. Let’s move on. A former NASA Deputy Chief has thrown her support behind a push to get Australian of the Year, Katherine Bunnell Pegg, into space. If successful, it would mark the first mission by an Aussie astronaut under our flag. Paul, this is incredible — I mean, what an achievement if it happens — but it’s not cheap. $100 million. Is there going to be any return on the investment? Because right now, people are already being squeezed for every penny.
Senator Scarr
Well, that’s true, but I think we’ve got to look at the bigger picture. And I think we’ve got to look at all the opportunities that could flow from this. Think of the inspiration it would provide to young Australians all over the country to see this wonderful woman in space — our Australian astronaut — and all the commercial opportunities which flow from the space industry. So I think we need to be open‑minded about it, and I think we need to look really carefully at this opportunity.
Host
It’s an interesting perspective. I think Paul makes a good point about the potential opportunities and putting the cost aside. Lizzie, it’ll be an incredible moment, not just for the Australian of the Year, but for our country as well.
Lizzie Pearl
I don’t have to be a rocket scientist to say this, but the future is in space, and it’s going to happen with or without Australia. We need a seat at the table to be part of that future, because it’s happening whether we’re there or not. And it’s not just about $100 million to send one woman to space. It’s the $100 million that buys you access to the research, to the science, to everything that is happening in that space. It’s not just about space — it’s about defence. It’s about environment. And we need to be part of it, because the rocket’s leaving — we can either be on it or off it.
Host
Finally this morning, Queenslanders could soon have an extra public holiday. It’s all part of a new campaign launching today, coinciding with Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympic Games. Lizzie, you’re never one to say no to a day off. I know you don’t live in Queensland, but you’d be on board.
Lizzie Pearl
Look, I love coming to work, so you know I would never have a free day off — no, no, just kidding. Look, I know everyone’s like, yeah, yeah, yeah, public holiday. However, small business has to pay extra wages if they choose to open on these extra public holidays. If they don’t choose to open, they lose all the business for that day. So yes, when everyone’s like, yes, yes, public holiday, just think about who’s actually going to pay for this — because you’re going to be paying an extra 15% on your coffee on that public holiday. I’m not normally a party pooper, but I am today.
Host
Don’t bring logic into this discussion. Paul, this is a campaign that’s being led by the Greens. Your Liberal Party could use a few extra votes right now. So do you back a day off and, you know, curry the favour of people, or do you think there’s a better way to use resources?
Senator Scarr
Well, I think this gets the gold medal for silly ideas. From my perspective, we haven’t even had the Olympics yet — that’s the first point. And the second point is we need every single working day to build the infrastructure, the stadiums, the facilities for the Olympics. So I just think this is a dumb idea.
