E&OE TRANSCRIPT
SUBJECTS: Paul Denyer potential parole; China trade tariffs review; Liberal Party splits over Voice vote; scientific justification for pies
KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Welcome back to the show. Some of this is uncomfortable, but we need to say it. Paul Denyer stalked the streets of Melbourne, plucking young women at random and brutally killing them. Elizabeth Stephens, grabbed after she got off a bus on her way home from the library. She was strangled and her throat was slashed. Deborah Fream, a young mum, ambushed in her car. She was buying milk to make an omelette for dinner. Natalie Russell, dragged from a Frankston train track, stabbed, and hidden in scrubland. Paul Denyer is sadistic. He is a threat to society. He has never shown any remorse. He never provided a reason for killing. Three murders, 30 years behind bars. Police say had they not apprehended him, well, he may have gone on for more killings. Now he's eligible for parole. Can you believe it? Minister of Government Services and the NDIS, Bill Shorten and Triple M's Gus Worland join me now. Good morning, guys. It is a tough subject matter, but we need to talk about it, Bill. I mean, how does someone who kills three people like this, or any way get parole?
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: I don't know. I was thinking about it when I saw this story yesterday and this morning. The system - he got a life sentence. He appealed it, then he got 30 years non parole. But for the families of these three women and for the three women, 30 years doesn't feel long enough. Listen, it's a state court system issue, but thinking about it, 30 years on one hand, sounds a long time, but for those three women, they're gone an eternity and their families live with that pain every day.
STEFANOVIC: The grief, Gus, it's terrifying. He's never even showed any remorse.
GUS WORLAND, TRIPLE M: Absolutely, no remorse. Even if he did show remorse, he's got to stay in prison forever. And the simple fact is, the families now, because of confidentiality, don't know if he's actually up for parole or not. I mean, the victims here, at the end of the day, surely he lost his confidentiality clause or whatever the moment he did what he did, the people have got to know what's going on because he's got to stay behind bars. But if he's going to get out, these families need to know.
STEFANOVIC: The pain.
WORLAND: Oh, mate.
STEFANOVIC: It's horrendous, isn't it? Okay. Let's move on. In other news, Beijing has announced it's reviewing trade tariffs, which is sparking hope for Aussie farmers this morning. Bill, barley is a big one here. There are others, too, that are just waiting. What about wine and beer, for example?
SHORTEN: What's good about this is that our trade minister and foreign minister seem heartened. We're taking China to the International Court of the World Trade Organisation. The Chinese have said if we park that for three months, they're going to expeditiously review what's happening with barley. If this mechanism works, then I think it's going to be fantastic for our farmers and exporters and our economic relationship with China.
STEFANOVIC: It doesn't sound like you're 100%. I mean, and this is the thing. It's all under their terms. It's all basically what they want when they want it. And then we don't even know if this is going to work out.
SHORTEN: No, I'm more positive than that. The reality is that we're taking our action under world trade rules. The Chinese have said, hold on for three months. We've said we'll hold on for three months, give this other process time. At the end of the day, what we want is a result. I think that if Australia hadn't taken a strong position, maybe we wouldn't be in this position where the Chinese are saying they're going to reconsider and review all the facts of the matter. So, I don't think it hurts us at all to put our action on hold. It's not gone away for three months and let's see what we can do. At the end of the day, what matters is an outcome for our farmers and our trade balance.
STEFANOVIC: Gus, it still seems like it's on their terms?
WORLAND: Yeah, and it probably is, but Bill's right. We weren't having communications at all with China, you know, under the previous government. So, the simple fact is we've now got a chance to have a chat about it. They want what we want. So at least we're talking, which is going to give us some chance of getting a solution.
STEFANOVIC: Some of those producers, particularly.
Well, cracks are forming in the Liberal Party over its stance on the Indigenous voice to Parliament, with the Shadow Attorney-General walking away from the front bench to campaign for a yes vote. Bill, look, you know, life in opposition and pretty well, I want you to put your former Opposition Leader's hat on and give some advice to Peter Dutton this morning.
SHORTEN: Oh well, Pete shouldn't - don't just oppose for the sake of opposing. I think it's taken quite a lot of principle by Julian Leeser. He's a front bencher. He's now taken, amongst other things, a pay cut to stand up for his principles. Sometimes in politics you see things occur which are just beyond the ordinary. This has shown a bit of courage. As for Mr. Dutton, we've got to have a constructive opposition. I worry that he's injected such a political note into an issue about recognition of our First Nations people in the Constitution, the nation's birth certificate. I'd just say to Peter, you don't have to chase every ball when you're in opposition. Pick the issues that really matter. So far, I think he seems to be more of a negative mindset than constructive.
STEFANOVIC: All right. Anything else? [laughter] Carn, let loose, Billy.
SHORTEN: Oh, no. Well, yeah, Pete's got one gear at the moment. It's just a jaw clenching sort of angry gear. And he's got to sort of find a bit more shade and movement, doesn't he? A bit more colour, a bit more performative theatre, not so much angry.
STEFANOVIC: That's the grab. All right. Finally, you can now smash through a few extra meat pies.
WORLAND: At last!
STEFANOVIC: Guilt free. The latest scientific research, this is true, showing that an Aussie classic can boost your mood and may be good for you. Gussy. I feel like this is more your wheelhouse. This is how you talk to me.
WORLAND: See you later, Kale. See you later, Salad. You don't make friends with salad. So, at last, get your pie and a sauce. And maybe a sausage roll as well. Little lamington. Can you add that as well?
STEFANOVIC: We're not confusing, just pies today. Okay. What's your favourite pie?
WORLAND: I have a pie. There's a place in Collaroy called the Upper Crust, which wins awards all the time. They've got a pie and it's a little bit posh, but it's chicken and asparagus.
STEFANOVIC: What?
WORLAND: I know, it doesn't –
STEFANOVIC: It’s got salad in it. What? Billy, What's your favourite
SHORTEN: Designer pies, Gus? Down in Ascot Vale, Routley’s Pies are excellent down in Union Road, and Anne runs a great place opposite Routley’s, Union Cafe and Deli. They're very good pies. Not as fancy as Gus' pie. We don't use a knife and fork to eat them, Gus.
STEFANOVIC: I love it. Guys, thank you so much. Have a good week and your ongoing work with Got You For Life. Always a pleasure.
WORLAND: Thank you, brother.
