Doorstop in Hobart, Tasmania

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP
HOBART
SATURDAY, 24 JANUARY 2026

SUBJECTS: Backing Australian lamb this Australia Day; Australia Day; Coalition chaos; NATO.

JULIE COLLINS, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY: This Australia Day weekend, the Australian Government is encouraging people to put a bit of lamb on the BBQ or to enjoy great Australian lamb. We know that Australians have enjoyed lamb for many Australia Day long weekends. And of course, as always, the famous Lambassador ad with Sam Kekovich is promoting great Australian lamb. Lamb exports from Australia are up year on year from 2024 to 2025, up 17 per cent to $3.9 billion. But the largest market, of course for Australian lamb is Australia and Australians love it. So, this Australia Day, I'd encourage Australians to put a bit of lamb on the BBQ or, you know, have a kebab or even have a lamb roast. But given the weather and the temperature over most of Australia this long weekend, I'd say also take care of yourselves in those areas that are experiencing heat waves. Have plenty of water, but it's also a great opportunity to have a BBQ.

JOURNALIST: How important is the domestic market for our lamb producers across the country? And I guess they will probably be licking their lips come this long weekend given that, as you mentioned, it is a Aussie pastime, an Aussie tradition to throw a lamb on the BBQ, so to speak.

COLLINS: Well, it's always a great long weekend for Australians to enjoy their lamb and their BBQ and I'd encourage Australians to do so in that tradition too. Chuck a bit of lamb on BBQ and enjoy, you know, a lamb chop, a lamb kebab, a lamb sausage and enjoy that lamb. It is great for Australians to enjoy and obviously it's a great Australian product, but we’re also very proud to export across the globe.

JOURNALIST: In terms of the Australia Day date, it continues to be very contentious and divisive in our community. EMRS polling shows that while a majority of Tasmanians, overall, 55 per cent still support the January 26 date, there's the younger cohort of around about 18 to 34 year olds who want to see the date changed. What's your view of the Government's view on whether or not we should see the date change?

COLLINS: Well, the Government's been very clear that we're not changing the date of Australia Day. As I said, a lot of Australians enjoy the Australia Day long weekend. It's an Aussie tradition, you know, you go to the beach, you put something on the BBQ, you know, have a lie in, eat your lamingtons. It is a great thing that Australians have enjoyed traditionally.

JOURNALIST: Aren't they showing, though, that nationally, more and more Australians, Tasmanians might be different, but nationally more Australians want change?

COLLINS: Well, we've been very clear as a Government that we're not changing the date. And as I said, it's a great long weekend that Australians really enjoy. And I'd encourage them to put a bit of lamb on the BBQ as they're enjoying it this weekend.

JOURNALIST: For our Indigenous community, it's a day of hurt and it's a day of sorrow and pain for them. What would your message be to our Aboriginal and Indigenous communities who likely won't be celebrating January 26th?

COLLINS: What I'd say is it's a reflection and a day to bring all Australians together. It's a day where we can think about, you know, how lucky we are to have our Indigenous Australians, our First Nations Australians, the longest continuing culture across the globe. It is something that Australians should celebrate and it's a great weekend for all of us to reflect on that continuous culture and what it means to be Australian.

JOURNALIST: How can everyone come together when one whole culture feels like their country was invaded with decades of slaughter?

COLLINS: Well, I can understand that there is some contention and concerns, but we as a Government have been very clear that we're not changing the date. And I'd encourage all Australians to come together on the day and to remember what it means to be Australian.

JOURNALIST: And in terms of, perhaps moving on to other issues, looking at the Coalition, what do you make of the state of the Liberal Party and the National Party at the moment?

COLLINS: Well, I think many Australians would be disappointed on the two parties, the Nationals and the Liberals, focusing on themselves. We've been getting on with governing. This weekend, we're getting on with encouraging people to support Australian farmers at a time when I don't even know if the Opposition has a spokesperson for farmers. What we want to do as a Government and what we've been doing is getting on with our job. I'll leave it to the Nationals and to the Liberals to focus on themselves as they have been for the last week.

JOURNALIST: Does the dysfunction of the Opposition make it harder for the Government to do its job?

COLLINS: Well, I think all Australians have been disappointed that they're focusing on themselves. But as a Government, we're getting on and we're governing. And, you know, the Australian people, I'm sure, will be very vocal about what they think. Meanwhile, we're getting on with the job and getting on with government.

JOURNALIST: Is Sussan Ley the best person to lead the Liberals and the Coalition, if they do to get back together?

COLLINS: Well, that's a question for the Liberal Party and, you know, it's up to the Liberal Party and the National Party, who their leaders are and how they feel about their Coalition and each other. We're getting on with the job of governing.

JOURNALIST: Given that she's the first Liberal Party leader, at the federal level, would it be disappointing, perhaps step backwards, to see a first female dethroned? If that happens to be the case.

COLLINS: That's really a question for members of the Liberal Party. It's up to members of the Liberal Party about who their leader is, but as a Government, we're getting on and governing. I think most Australians will be disappointed that they're focused on themselves at this important time.

JOURNALIST: Is Angus Taylor or Andrew Hastie better as a replacement Opposition Leader?

COLLINS: As I said, they're matters for members of the Liberal Party, we're getting on with the job of governing and, you know, Australians, I think, are disappointed that those two parties are focusing on themselves, particularly given the week we've been dealing with serious legislation in the Federal Parliament. We want Australians to be more safe and to feel more safe. We also want Australians to celebrate what is a great icon in Australia, the Aussie Australia Day long weekend. And I'd encourage Australians to focus on that.

JOURNALIST: To what extent do you believe this chaos and turmoil that we're seeing with the Coalition and the Liberal and the National Party, I guess be a result of a moderate leader. Do you think someone like Hastie or Angus Taylor, who were in the right faction of the Liberal Party, could potentially be a more galvanising force for those two parties?

COLLINS: What we've seen is them focus on themselves and fight each other. And really, unless that stops and they get on with the job of, you know, being parliamentarians and being responsible, I think Australians will be particularly concerned.

JOURNALIST: Do you think Sussan Ley has been treated fairly by her party in the Nationals?

COLLINS: Look, that is really a question for her. What goes on inside the Liberal Party and how the Liberal Party operates are questions for the Liberal Party.

JOURNALIST: And what does the Australian Government make of Donald Trump's recent comments about NATO allies and their contribution to the conflict in Afghanistan?

COLLINS: The Australian Government has been clear about the NATO alliance and the responsibilities there and our outcome, and what we want, of course, is peace, and we're not going to be running a daily commentary on some of those discussions that have been occurring.

JOURNALIST: Do you think Donald Trump's remarks were offensive? Particularly given that for Australia we lost around about 40 odd troops in the conflict in Afghanistan?

COLLINS: As I said, we're not going to be running a daily commentary or daily commentary on some of the things that are coming out of discussions. What we're focused on is making sure that we continue to have peace and stability across the globe.

JOURNALIST: The UK Prime Minister has called to Donald Trump to apologise, are you going to do the same?

COLLINS: As I said, the Australian Government is not going to run day to day commentary on the discussions that are occurring.

JOURNALIST: It's a sensitive topic for our veterans community and for many Australians. Do you think that the US President overstepped the mark with his remarks?

COLLINS: I think I've been pretty clear about where the Government stands.