Interview with Tom Connell, Sky News Afternoon Agenda

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
SKY AFTERNOON AGENDA
MONDAY, 26 MAY 2025

SUBJECTS: NSW Floods, Casino Beef Week Funding, Federal Election Results in Qld

TOM CONNELL [HOST]: Big focus, of course, on what's happening in terms of that flooding situation, particularly around Taree. The Prime Minister is heading there tomorrow to assess the damage and see what exactly might be needed. Joining me live is Assistant Minister for Resources and Agriculture, Anthony Chisholm. Thank you for your time. I know you've been in Casino, but what can you tell us about the extent of this flooding situation? We know there are the normal areas of assistance, but is this looming as something where the Federal Government will need to go above and beyond?

ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Well, I think that exemplifies the importance of the Prime Minister being there tomorrow, Tom. I'm in Casino, people here are very familiar with the damage that flood water can do, and it was a topic of conversation at the Beef Week lunch I was at — the thoughts of everyone here in Casino are with those further south that have been impacted. I know the Prime Minister made an announcement today about the ADF and also the Disaster Relief Australia providing more support. I think that will be welcomed. But I also think it's important that the Prime Minister visit tomorrow as well to see firsthand the damage that's been done. I know he made some announcements about further assistance today, and I'm sure that in coming days, between us and the NSW Government, further assessments will be made and more support will be provided as a result.

CONNELL: Is it worth a discussion when you're sitting down and thinking about this - and you know, you're talking to these regional communities, as you mentioned at Beef Week - somewhere such as Taree for example, they looked into a levee, and it was not feasible. Councils can't afford these things, or they'd have to charge their ratepayers so much that no one would stay, that there might need to be a real re-examination of this - a place such as Taree that's been flooded several times in a major way in the last 10 to 12 years alone.

CHISHOLM: And that's something that the Federal Government would be prepared to look at. We work constructively with states and councils when it comes to these things. I know a previous Labor government funded the levee in Roma. That's made a difference for that town. We've invested in one in Bundaberg, because Bundaberg has been a town that's flooded repeatedly as well. So, we do have money that can go to ensuring that we provide more remedy to ensure that these things don't happen again. If that's the case in Taree, that the council want to pursue that, that the NSW Government want to pursue that, I'm sure it's something that the Federal Government would be willing to talk to them about. We understand that these events are becoming more prevalent. That's why we need to ensure that we're doing what we can to prevent them from happening. But also when we do fund efforts to rebuild, that we rebuild bigger and better as well, to protect roads, protect local infrastructure at the same time.

CONNELL: Yeah and I guess part of that is not the futility of rebuilding and watching things get ruined again. We'll watch this space on the holistic look at things and which towns might need, you know, there's a lot of options, relocation, levees, but none of them are easy. You mentioned Beef Week. So, for someone sitting around Australia, doesn't know what this is, you're tipping another $3 million. Why is that a good use of taxpayer money?

CHISHOLM: Obviously, it’s a significant industry here in Casino and across the Northern Rivers region. The lunch I was at today was about celebrating women in agriculture. Tonight they've got a dinner focused on men's mental health in agriculture. There's a series of events throughout the week that support the community, but there's also the industry and business element to it as well. Obviously, the ability for the local producers to get together. People come, they get tens of thousands of visitors from outside of town and it really does go to celebrating the importance of the beef industry in this region and around Australia, but also the ability to grow those regions, better connect, but also support the challenging mental health issues that impact so many regional communities at the same time. So, I think events like this touch on so many elements, whether it be industry, whether it be business, whether it be the local community, but also the work they do to provide that outreach, get people together so that they can socialise, spend time together. That's great for mental health and wellbeing at the same time.

CONNELL: Yeah, we know that these areas like getting together, and that community spirit remains alive and well through the sort of natural disasters you were talking about. Let me ask you this, finally. I know it's a hat you haven't worn for a while, but you were the State Secretary in Queensland for the Labor Party. What do you make of finally winning back a host of seats? And I guess just briefly on this, what does Labor need to do to make sure you keep these voters back in your column? Because a lot have come over that haven't been there for a while.

CHISHOLM: Yeah, obviously we're really excited about the result and getting more Labor MPs elected to Parliament out of Queensland. To be honest, Tom, we felt a bit flat after the 2022 Federal Election when we actually went backwards in Queensland, despite forming government. So, we feel as though we've finally been able to make a contribution to the overall tally that we've got. The thing I'm probably most excited about is that of all those new MPs that are coming in, I'm confident they're going to be really good local performers. They're going to be able to contribute to an Albanese Labor Government, and I look forward to working with them. I think the Prime Minister has been really clear, and he did this when he was elected in 2022 and reinforced this in 2025. We're going to deliver on what we promised and that's what I think will work well with Queenslanders. We've got a Prime Minister who delivers on what he says, works constructively with the states and councils in this part of the world to build the vital infrastructure in a growing region. There's a focus obviously on infrastructure, but also Olympic infrastructure at the same time. So, I think that is going to be a great opportunity to have more Labor MPs in Queensland working constructively with the Prime Minister to deliver as part of an Albanese Labor Government agenda, that’s what I think Queenslanders will respond to.

CONNELL: Anthony Chisholm, appreciate your time today. Thank you.

CHISHOLM: Thanks, Tom.