Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud - Weekend Today
WEEKEND TODAY TRANSCRIPT WITH HOST ALISON PIOTROWSKI AND COMMENTATOR GUS WORLAND; BARNABY JOYCE; ANTHONY ALBANESE AND PRESIDENT TRUMP MEETING; MARIAH CAREY AND CHRISTMAS SONGS.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Welcome back to Weekend Today. Let's bring in today's talkers, Nationals Party Leader David Littleproud and Wide World of Sports commentator Gus Worland, who's here with me in studio. And the Coalition is this morning in disarray after former Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce revealed he was quitting the Party.
In a statement, the outspoken backbencher said, ‘My relationship with the Leader of The Nationals in Canberra has, unfortunately, like a sadness in some marriages, irreparably broken down’. First, of course, to David, Gus, I have to warn you, you might be on the bench a little bit, just for a few minutes. David, big blow to your Party. What are you thinking?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Well, can I just take a step back? Barnaby Joyce hasn't left The National Party.
He's still a member of The National Party. He's made it clear that he won't be contesting the next election for the seat of New England. He's left a big legacy there and he's left all these options open. We want him to stay in The National Party. I think he has a contribution to make between now and when he retires.
We've got some big decisions to make, some decisions to make around things like net zero. How we address those sort of challenges and have a practical solution, not just be part of a protest party, but where The Nationals are a party of government. We have to have solutions to take to the Australian people. And we took them to the last election. We held onto all our seats.
In fact, we nearly pulled off a miracle in Bendigo of a double-digit swing. So, obviously, we'll be talking to Barnaby. We want to make sure that his contribution is a valued one within our party room, as everybody is. But it's the collective of The National Party that determines the policy settings and sometimes our policies take a little bit longer because we want to draw on all the collective. But that's where we sit today and that's what we'll be continuing to work through and obviously the party will recognise also the contribution Barnaby made, not just for the people in New England, he was also a Senator in Queensland.
So he's had a long history in the Parliament and when that comes to an end, the Party will also obviously acknowledge that.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Yeah, I mean, Barnaby's name is synonymous with The Nationals. I'm just confused with your tone, David. I'm trying to read between the lines here. Are you saying that you may still try and convince him to stay on?
His description of describing it like a broken-down marriage doesn't give us a lot of hope, but are you saying that you'll keep talking, that you may try and try and change his mind?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Well, of course. I mean, he was elected a National Party member. He, like the other 18 members of the party room, including me, all have a voice. And that voice is important to be in the collective.
And he hasn't tendered a resignation from The National Party. He's made it clear to his party members that he won't be recontesting the seat of New England. I've been out of range yesterday but I'll be reaching out and having a conversation and making sure he understands that he, along with the rest of us, will play a very important role in shaping the Coalition and helping the Coalition rebuild.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
If you can't talk him round David, Barnaby does have a lot of fans. Are you worried more of your party could follow his lead and walk?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
No, I think that ultimately the people that have joined The National Party have joined because of our values, our beliefs and we proved that at the last election by holding onto all our seats and nearly winning a new one. And we've led on many debates, but we do that and sometimes not as quick as some would like, but we do that when we draw on the collective and we have sensible policies that are drawn from the collective of our party room.
And we're working through those processes. One of the ones that Barnaby is worried about is net zero and Matt Canavan and Ross Cadell are working through that to bring something to our party room. But we've got to make sure that we're not just a party of protest.
We're a party that can govern and say to the Australian people, there's an alternative way to address climate change, to make sure that we don't go broke, that we can take our country forward. That's what we're working through and I think all our members will have a contribution to make in that and setting the right settings for our nation.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Alright Gus, I'll bring you in now. Do you think that David can talk Barnaby Joyce around and keep him with The Nationals or if he goes and perhaps goes to One Nation as the rumours are suggesting? How does it all play out? What do you think?
GUS WORLAND
I think David is pretty persuasive if he can be. I suppose once everything settles down a little bit and Barnaby's been one of those sort of rockstar pollies hasn't he? Someone in...
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Certainly gets some headlines sometimes.
GUS WORLAND
So, if you're not sort of involved in it or if you're only just voting every few years and stuff, he's one name that you keep hearing. So you think, OK, well, he's always going to make a bit of a splash and, like you say, the headlines and stuff. So it's always going to be interesting to see where he ends up with. But it's always a shame when someone is sort of synonymous with one party decides to go somewhere else. So hopefully David...
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
But it is out for them normally when they do swap sides, I would say?
GUS WORLAND
No, that is very true, because people sort of believe you and they go back to your quotes that you made all those years ago and say, ‘Don't you believe that anymore?’ So hopefully David can turn him around, because, like David said, at the moment Labor are dominating. We need the Coalition to be strong.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Absolutely.
Meantime on the other side of the globe, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's leadership will be put to the ultimate test in the coming days when he finally sits down face to face with US President Donald Trump. David, I know we've been talking about it a lot. It's been a long time coming. What's the first thing on the PM's agenda in this meeting?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Well, I think it's about AUKUS and making sure that we can secure that and then obviously trade.
It's been 330-odd days since President Trump has been elected. And every other world leader as well, through the White House, Anthony Albanese hasn't been anywhere near the place. So it's great that he's there, but we're coming from a long way back and it's important that we understand what we have to offer.
We also, if you only look at the events of this week around critical minerals and rare earths and the power that China has, we are sitting on a lot of those in this country. So we have a lot to offer and that's why it's so disappointing and it's taken the Prime Minister so long to get to see President Trump when you can see that we have something to offer.
We have already handed over $1.6 billion for our first instalments on our Virginia-class submarines. So we've got a compelling story. We've just got to get in front of the Prime Minister. So something's not right and we just need it to happen and we need Australia to be stronger and the best way is to have good allies.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Gus, there are tensions over tariffs and defence navigating these touchy topics.
It's not going to be an easy task for Albo, is it?
GUS WORLAND
No, it's not, but it's the starting point. So we've been talked on this show, haven't we, many times, the three of us, about him getting in front of the President. So now he's going to have a crack. We've learnt in this world, it's about relationships.
So if we can have some type of relationship where the President sees the PM in Australia as an ally and a strong one, as it has been over all these years, then that's the starting point for us. And then things can move quickly. And we know things can move quickly once that relationship is set.
We do have a lot to offer. We put a critical minerals offer on the table and, you know, Donald Trump likes an offer.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Absolutely right. You know, and I think, I think President Trump, if he decides that he wants to be with us, it can move quickly.
Alright, let's lighten the load this morning. Finally, gents, have a listen to this.
(MARIAH CAREY ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS PLAYS)
Look, it's a bit of a pivot from critical minerals to Mariah Carey, but that was Mariah performing her festive hit ‘All I Want for Christmas’ last night at Fridayz Live. I need to remind you both, though, it is only the 19th of October, But Gus, surely it is too early to be hitting play on these songs?
GUS WORLAND
It is not. I defrost Bublé and Mariah in July for Christmas in July. And I reckon, and it's unpopular in my family, I must say.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
I can imagine.
GUS WORLAND
The 1st of November is when you can start blaring the carols out, not just at home, but on spotify in your car, all that sort of stuff as well. So I'm a big fan of Christmas carols and they shouldn't just be used in the month of December.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
I always thought it was December 1. What's the rule in your household, David Littleproud?
When can you press play on Mariah and ‘All I want for Christmas’?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Well, if it was my wife, it would have to be all year for Mariah, but I constrained her to November, December. And I'm with Gussie, 1st of November. Let's crack it. Crack on with Christmas.
It's the best time of the year. So, right, Gussie's nailed it. Even a bit of Bublé doesn't hurt either.
GUS WORLAND
I love the Bublé.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Do you?
GUS WORLAND
The Bublé is a legend.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI
Alright. David and Gus, great talking to you this morning. Over to you, Timmy.
Thank you very much.
