E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
TODAY SHOW
TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2020

SUBJECTS: Coronavirus; Economic impact; Easing social distancing; Police investigation; Dean Laidley Victoria Police scandal; Increased family time.

DAVID CAMPBELL HOST: Welcome back to Today. Now $4 billion a week, that's the staggering cost to the nation of the coronavirus shut down, increasing the pressure on the government to bring us out of lockdown even sooner. To discuss, I'm joined by Shadow Minister for the Government Services Bill Shorten and Triple M's Gus Worland, good morning boys. Bill to you first, the national cabinet meets today, how important is it to get this nation back to work?

BILL SHORTEN, MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG: It will be very important, I mean, it's not just the cost of $4 billion, I think probably a million and a half people have lost their jobs, a lot of small businesses have been slammed against the wall. But of course, it's always important as we assess this, I mean, only 96 people have died, that's a tragedy, but it could have been much worse. So I think the common sense of Aussies has got us through it this far, and, you know, there's now a light at the end of the tunnel. So, you know, I'd take it as fundamentally we're headed in the right direction, which is good.

CAMPBELL: It is going to be hard to get us out of this $4 billion, you know, hole though that's happening each week though Gus, I mean, and you know, when we want to put our faith in Australians, as we saw in the GC this weekend, you give a little and they go crazy with all the freedom they're getting.

GUS WORLAND, TRIPLE M: Yeah, exactly right. I think the government has done a magnificent job, I think the government has done a magnificent job, Bill and I have both agreed over the past month or so that politics have been thrown out the window and it's been fantastic from both sides of politics. Now it's time just to slightly release, but like you say, David, they give us an inch and we take a mile. But, you know, like as Bill said, it's a tragedy, any death at all, but you know how many people are we going to lose through mental health and other dramas that have come through the fact that we haven't got jobs and money and our economy is not going well. So there's a real balancing act there, and it's horrible to even think about one death. But what we're losing eight beautiful people a day every day to suicide, six of those men so, you know, we don't talk about that as much as we perhaps should as well, so it's a very difficult topic. At the end of the day, we are in a real crisis, we're in a trauma as a country and we need to slowly but surely climb ourself out of it and I've just got to believe that the government has got the interests at heart of everyone and we're just gonna have to suck it up and do whatever they say.

CAMPBELL: And Bill, what about that though? I mean, because unemployment is going to be a key thing of getting this nation back on track with so many jobs lost. A lot of these jobs, a lot these businesses, small business as Gus says, they won't come back from this. How are we going to get everyone back on track? And when do we see this recovery happening?

SHORTEN: Well, what we've got to do is we realise that it's, you know, eventually kids will be back at school, we’re able to get out of the pub to have a drink with a mate, is that life's not going to return to normal for everyone at the same pace and I think it's important that we remember that some people will go back to a job tomorrow, but others won't have a job to go back to, or their business has been really hurt. So we've got to make sure that we don't leave people behind. You're not going to simply snap back as if, you know, the world in June is the same as the world in February, so we've got to make sure that we just don't leave people behind.

CAMPBELL: Yeah, this post COVID world, we still don't know what exactly it is yet. But let's move on to this really disturbing story which is still unfolding down in Melbourne, six police officers now under investigation, accused of leaking and sharing photos of former North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley as he was being interviewed by the police. Bill, I mean, this has sent shockwaves through your home city. It's a real tragic story. But this is a breach of privacy and trust, which they've got to do something about.

SHORTEN: Yeah I agree, listen, no one knows. Well people, most people don't know what's happened with Dean Laidley and that's that matter has got to take its course. But the idea that someone's been photographed when they're going through the legal system and being distributed on social media, I mean, only a week ago we saw the shocking images of police being killed in the line of duty and some idiot posting those photos, and whilst this isn't of the same gravity, it lets down the police. I'm sure the people who will be, along with Dean Laidley and his family, will be most shocked and disappointed will be the thousands of men and women of the police force who realise that this has been thoughtless, it's a mug's act and it's so unprofessional, it lets down the police force.

CAMPBELL: Should they throw the book at him?

SHORTEN: Well, I imagine they will. I mean, I think ordinary Victorians, they don't know what's going on with Laidley, but I know in the street yesterday people are stopping, just shaking their heads, saying, what were they thinking? It's a real breach of faith.

CAMPBELL: You’re right there Gus, I mean, let's speak to Dean and his family too, he is a father. His mother's spoken out now, saying that this is just not my boy, this is just not him at all, you've got to feel for his family right now.

WORLAND: Of course, that's the absolute number one priority, and I again agree with Bill. Throw the book at them. Like you said D.C, just throw the book at them and hopefully it'll stop this sort of stuff happening. I received those photographs in all different varieties on WhatsApp within about half an hour the other night, I'm like, what is this all about? Then all my mates were having a look as well. Then that conversation started, those coppers, unfortunately, unless we throw the book at them, it'll keep on happening because it's just so easy, isn’t it now? Quick snap, one button and all of a sudden it's out there, and once it's out there it then spreads like a virus. So, let's make sure that we give them such a penalty that the next time someone has an opportunity to do it, that they don't.

CAMPBELL: Yeah, but lives are ruined and there's a cost of that, isn't it? Let’s move on to something a bit more positive, fellas, there's been a lockdown has been frustrating for all of us since some of us parents out there too have been really feeling it, but there has been some good which I see the light in the darkness here. A little later Alex has got a great report about families who are rediscovering and enjoying spending quality time together. This dad Chris Latchford finally making Billy Carts, old school Billy Carts for his kids, he never got around to it in the past because he was too busy. Gus, what positives are you taking from the lockdown?

WORLAND: Oh, look, it's been wonderful in so many ways, the lockdown of course, taking away all the drama that we've already spoken about many times. The simple fact is connection, people are connecting again with their families. I saw you the other day getting the makeup with your child, which is fantastic. I have never spent so much time doing puzzles with my children. We actually sit now and have dinner together, we actually set the table rather than have one flying off to different sporting events or being in different parts of the city. So, for me, it's just a fact that we've just slowed down and reconnected again. I believe reconnection or knowing that someone loves you and you're connected to someone is the most important thing for the human spirit. So for that, that's my positive I'm taking out of it Dave.

CAMPBELL: Well Bill, while we talk about the economy and post COVID, what's going to happen there? Lisa and I were discussing the other night post COVID for our family like less activities after school, let's just spend time together. Let's give them a break they're young kids and just focus on our families and what's really important.

SHORTEN: Well I've got three kids and I spend about 150 nights a year away as a politician and for the last month and a half, you know, I know it's been terrible for a lot of people, but I've got to put my hand up and say some of it's been okay. I know my kids better now than I did six weeks ago. My oldest boy is explaining to me his love of rap music, I’ve - and you know he really knows what's the latest in the scene.

CAMPBELL: In the scene? He is down with the beats? Are you spitting bars with him at home?

SHORTEN: He was trying to explain to me where the best bands are from Mount Druitt to Hampton Park and I'm going, oh yeah, and I've got my 10-year-old and she’s ah, her music is more sophisticated than mine too and my Year Twelve girl is killing it at school. But what I'd realise I'm proud to say is I'm now housework fit, you know when you've been away and you come home and you do the dishes or you do one task, you know, I now know the noise that my house makes, I’m right onto it. So the mopping and cleaning, I tell you one thing, I don't wanna swap places with my wife.

CAMPBELL: Well MC Billy Shorten has just dropped the mic there, great to have you both on.