Minister Shorten interview on Sunrise with Natalie Barr

E&OE TRANSCRIPT

SUBJECTS: President Biden's announcement; US Election; Latest Newspoll;

NATALIE BARR, HOST: Welcome back to Sunrise. Let's get more on our breaking news now. US President Joe Biden has made the extraordinary call to drop out of his re-election race. In a statement released just hours ago, Biden said he believes it is in the best interest of both the Democratic Party and his country to stand aside. Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has responded to the news already, thanking the President for his leadership and his ongoing service, saying our country's alliance has never been stronger. Let's bring in NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce. Good morning to both of you. Bill, what's your reaction to this pretty extraordinary news overseas.

BILL SHORTEN MP, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Oh well I think Joe Biden's been very good for Australia-American relations. And I also salute Joe Biden for his service. It takes a person of exceedingly strong character to walk away from power. It hasn't happened very often in American politics. I think the last time it happened was Lyndon Johnson in 1968, and before then, probably only about four times in the whole history of America. So, it shows that he's a man capable of putting what he thinks is his nation's interest first, rather than his own ego or his own pride. So, he's a great leader, and I congratulate him for everything he's done.

BARR: Barnaby. Was this the right decision by Joe Biden, do you think, or should he have dug in?

BARNABY JOYCE, NATIONALS PARTY: I think Nixon walked away, too, just quietly. Look, I think-

BARR: Different circumstances-

SHORTEN: Different, yeah yeah with some sheriffs-

JOYCE: I think he should have done it earlier. I think there was a lot of people close to him who obviously gave him very good advice. I think it was incumbent upon those who loved him and were closest to him some time ago. Rather than push him to go on to ask him whether he thought it was best to leave. And I agree with the Bill in that it's incredibly important that the other week, with that attempted assassination, if that bullet had gone an inch and a half to the right, that round had got an inch and a half to the right, America would have gone into an incredible time of introspection, civil strife. I don't know how much it would have gone. But you can bet your life they would have lost focus on foreign affairs and issues that we have to contend with, such as China, would have become a lot more dire for us. So, we have a lot riding on what happens in the United States. And so, we have a great interest in making sure that they're contenders for president are the best they can possibly be.

BARR: Yeah, you're right there. Moving on back home, the latest Newspoll results will be tough to swallow for all our politicians this morning, with less than a third of voters saying they would choose either Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton to lead their own parties on a two-party preferred basis. Labor has a two-point lead over the Coalition, Barnaby, both leaders proving unpopular with voters. What does that say about the state of Australian politics?

JOYCE: There's another person who was in that poll, and I think he might be on the other side of the screen to me. It wasn't a good day in the office for any politician, was it? But ultimately, what people want is not a populist. They want a leader. They want someone who's strong. They want someone who they can rely on. And if you want a populist, then we don't need a leader. And AI will do it. They'll do it. It'll do a remarkable job of having a popular voice. But what a nation needs is leadership. And I, you know, obviously, I think that Peter Dutton, I think most people would agree he's a tough he's a tough dude and he's a good leader. And that's what we need in times such as these. And when I go to a dentist, I don't ask if they're a mate. I ask if they can do the job. If I go to a doctor before they put a drill in my mouth, I want to know if they're competent, and that's what I want from the leader of Australia. And that's why I believe Peter Dutton is the best man for the job.

BARR: Bill, it's not great news for the Prime Minister, is it? People really care about cost of living and housing. Barnaby's right, you're up there, though. You know, I think polling third. Does that make you confident? And our Prime Minister not so much?

SHORTEN: Well, I think if they want us to concentrate on, as you said, the cost-of-living issues. And as we know, there's been tax cuts come through the cheaper medicine we're tackling the Medicare, the superannuation is up. I also think they don't want our politicians to freeze to death. And I have to say, Barnaby, you're looking very-

JOYCE: Where were you on the scorecard, Bill? I think that's what's on everybody's lips. How many rungs did you get on that poll?

SHORTEN: I think I made it to double digits. But how did you go, Barney?

JOYCE: I was so good; they couldn't put me up there. It was embarrassing-

SHORTEN: You were still at- you were still in the grandstand, but that's all right I'd have polled you.

JOYCE: It was, I don't know whether I want to go out in the field. If I get a score like that, I think I'll just. I think I'd rather stay in the group.

SHORTEN: Well, we'll never know Barney, they didn't check on you.

BARR: Ohh-

SHORTEN: Oh, I would have put you on the list. I would have put you on the list. I'd have put you on the list.

BARR: Boys they didn't have any scores for a Green Wiggle. Looking good this morning, Barnaby.

SHORTEN: Pardon?

BARR: Look, they didn't have any scores for a Green Wiggle.

JOYCE: No, you and I Nat, we, no one can tell us apart except our mothers.

SHORTEN: No. That's right I was very confused. I said, which, who's who?

BARR: Exactly what I was going to say. Okay, thank you, gents. See you next week.

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