Welcome back to Today. Support for the major parties has taken a blow in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. New national research reveals that voters are ditching Labor and the Coalition in favour of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, which has picked up two million votes since the last election. Let’s bring in today’s talkers: Liberal Senator Paul Scarr and Western Sydney Women’s Amanda Rose. Good morning to you both. Paul, let’s start with you. I don’t think anyone will be surprised by this. They’re not happy with the PM given what’s happened over the last four to six weeks. They’re not happy with Sussan Ley either.
Senator Scarr
Well, polls come and go. What we need to focus on as a Coalition is working hard every single day for the Australian people, listening to their concerns, developing policies in the national interest, and, as an Opposition, putting pressure on the Labor Government to do the right thing. A really good example of that was the success we achieved this week with the Government calling for that Royal Commission.
Host
Does the Liberal Party have a bit of a leadership issue though, because Sussan Ley has struggled for support since the election?
Amanda Rose
Look, I think it’s a combination of things. Labor has lost support not just because of the last six weeks, but over the past four years. The economy, the fact you can’t buy a house, you can’t afford rent, people are struggling with work. That’s why they vote governments out: because they can’t afford food. Sussan, I think, missed the opportunity that comes when you first become Opposition Leader, to really be gung-ho with your policies and show how different they are to the government of the day. I think she’s tried to be too fair, if that makes sense, and talk to everyone. Now, when I ask people what they think of the Liberal Party, they say: “Where are the policies?” We need very clear, distinct policies from the Coalition so they can be seen as a real choice. Right now, people are picking One Nation, which I think is dangerous, because they believe One Nation is the party that complains about the two major parties. Sussan needs to step up and deliver better policies, or at least some policies to start with.
Host
Who’d be a politician, is what I say. And who’d be a teacher as well, because Queensland classrooms have seen a shocking increase in violence. More than 20,000 teachers reported being assaulted or threatened last year alone. Paul, this is astonishing. It’s sickening. What is going wrong in our classrooms?
Senator Scarr
These are terrible statistics. We’re talking about eight teachers being hospitalised and over one thousand physically assaulted, not just threatened, but assaulted. Premier David Crisafulli hit the nail on the head when he said our teachers deserve the utmost respect. They shouldn’t be treated as punching bags, and we need to do everything as a society to make sure that happens. Teachers are so important in educating the next generation.
Host
I was close to going into the teaching profession, and I didn’t go in for this reason, but I’ve got a lot of respect for teachers. There have been calls to address this violence for a long time. Amanda, are we just going to see more teachers leaving until something changes?
Amanda Rose
Teachers have their hands tied behind their backs. They’re told they can’t even tell students to shut up. They can’t say what they need to say to control the classroom because students will complain, to parents, or to the media. We need the government to back teachers, to say: you can call students out. And if they’re violent, we need to bring the parents in and say: “Right, your child is being sent to a boot camp for eight weeks run by the army, and then they can come back to class.” There’s no accountability, no punishment, and kids are just getting away with whatever they want.
Host
Not a bad idea. Amanda, now just quickly, Gen Z reckon old-fashioned Aussie mateship is out the window, and it’s hard to make friends. The three of us are friends. It’s not that hard, Paul, is it?
Senator Scarr
They do say in politics: if you want a friend, get a dog. I’m very blessed to have Incy Wincy, my rescued greyhound, who’s a dear friend. But I do have some other good friends, human friends, and I’m blessed to have them. Our young people really need those strong friendships with all the pressures they’re under today.
Host
Amanda, you’re a friendly person. Got any tips for Gen Z?
Amanda Rose
Get off your phone. Get off technology. Join a gym, take up a hobby, join a running club, do something where you’re engaging with people without technology. Don’t have such high expectations of others. Get to know people in real life. Instead of hating on millennials and Gen Xers, find a friend in those generations.
Host
Thank you very much.
