TRANSCRIPT – SKY NEWS NEWSDAY WITH KIERAN GILBERT

Angie Bell MP
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education
Shadow Minister for Youth
Federal Member for Moncrieff

TRANSCRIPT

SKY NEWS – NEWSDAY WITH KIERAN GILBERT

24 March 2025

Subjects: 2032 Olympics, Hypocrisy of the Teals revealed, Labor’s cost of living crisis

E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………………………

KIERAN GILBERT:

Let’s bring in the Liberal frontbencher Angie Bell, a proud Queenslander. Let’s start with the Olympics. You must be happy to see there’s bipartisan sort of cooperation there, regardless of who’s in power federally and at the state level, that finally we will start to see some progress towards 2032, Angie?

ANGIE BELL:

Well yes, of course. We’re very excited about hosting the 2032 Olympics here in South East QLD. But I will say that the Prime Minister didn’t highlight those three years lost under the Labor government here in Queensland. But I’m very pleased to see Premier Crisafulli, of course outline his 100 day review, but also what’s very important which is those legacy venues here in South East QLD. Also, can I say, that value to the taxpayer in terms of those venues and cracking down on the CFMEU who have pushed up those prices so much and taken out that value in terms of building that infrastructure. So, it’s great to see and we look forward to welcoming the athletes and also, as Premier Crisafulli said, having the eyes of the world on us here in South East QLD and the Gold Coast.

KIERAN GILBERT:

Yes, it’s a beautiful part of the world, no doubt about it. I think it’s gonna be amazing when it happens and get the sods turned and all that sort of stuff, so that’s good. Let’s look at this not so good development for the Member for Kooyong, her husband apologising and Monique Ryan also apologising, saying that any concerns about signage for your opponent needs to be taken up with the Council. What do you make of that exchange that was videoed? They’ve apologised, is that enough?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, this is a a ridiculous turn of events here from a Teal who always takes the moral high ground in the parliament. She’s always talking about integrity, and here she is, a member of her family, her spouse, pulling down a sign that is in a public location. She’s had to apologise. But the question is, would she apologise if she hadn’t been caught out undertaking this behaviour? I mean, the member for Kooyong last week was also having a go at some Liberal Party volunteers in a shopping centre and it turns out that she was yelling at volunteers who were under the age of 18, so children! Where’s it going to end? I just think this is a complete and utter hypocrisy from the member for Kooyong and from the Teals from their soapbox.

KIERAN GILBERT:

When you talk about the corflutes and the campaign material, if it was a young volunteer maybe you’d understand. But the husband of the local member, it’s just not a good look by any stretch of the imagination. In a close run thing in Kooyong, do you think it will help Amelia Hamer get across the line?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, this is the Teals revealed. And we know that their history when it comes to voting in the parliament is with the Labor Party overwhelmingly and the member for Kooyong has got probably the highest percentage there voting with Labor and voting with the Greens, so the teals are not small L Liberals. Amelia Hamer is a very high quality candidate who’s been working very, very hard. She’s well known in the electorate of Kooyong, and I’m certain that she will give it absolutely her best to get across the line at the federal election. It is a very important seat and it’s a very important fight for the country because it’s only a Coalition government that can get our country back on track with sound economic management and a diminished crossbench.

KIERAN GILBERT:

So what’s the message then this Thursday from Peter Dutton? You said how much is at stake. It’s very important that he nails that reply this Thursday.

ANGIE BELL:

Well, I’m sure you’d love me to outline some policies right now, Kieran, but I’m not going to do that ahead of Peter Dutton’s speech.

KIERAN GILBERT:

Sure, go for it!

ANGIE BELL:

That is not what I’m going to talk about. But what I will say is that Australians know that they have been hurting under the Labor Albanese Government and this election gives them an opportunity to ask themselves, are they better off under their economic policies or were they better off three years ago under a Coalition Government. And we all know the answer to that because our standard of living across this nation has gone backwards. This Budget needs to be an opportunity for this government to restore our standard of living and bring inflation down. They have failed to do this. Inflation is still above, you know, 3%. And so it needs to come down and be sustainably between 2 and 3% in order for our standard of living to be restored. That’s what the Labor Government should be focused on. It’s not what they’re focused on. They’re on a spending spree on $150 for electricity bills. That is a bandaid solution to a bad energy policy, Kieran.

KIERAN GILBERT:

But you’re backing that policy.

ANGIE BELL:

We won’t stand in the way of cost of living relief for families because we understand the pain they are under, the pain that small business is under after almost 30,000 insolvencies across the country under this government. That is a record for any government in our history. And so we understand that Australians need to take that money, but it won’t touch the sides. We won’t stand in the way of that, Kieran.

KIERAN GILBERT:

Angie Bell, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education. Thanks, we’ll talk to you soon.

ENDS.