It’s a sad state of affairs when every time I step up to the dispatch box, it’s to talk about how much Australians are struggling. Why? Because of those opposite. Australians are being hit from every direction in this government’s home grown cost of living crisis.
Has anyone noticed the two things the government doesn’t talk about? They don’t talk about productivity, and they don’t talk about inflation. They are the two topics that this government has absolutely avoided. The member across there, the member for Bonner, just mentioned a number. That number was 41,000. What do you think Australians might equate that number to? Well, I’m telling you now that it’s 41,000 small and family businesses—incomes and livelihoods—that have gone broke since this government came to power. It’s a disgraceful number, and the member for Bonner should think about that number that she just spruiked. That’s 41,000 families who now do not have a small and family business.
STEPHEN CENATIEMPO:
The Shadow Minister for the Arts, Shadow Minister for Sport and Shadow Minister for Youth, Angie Bell joins us. Angie, good morning.
ANGIE BELL:
Good morning, Stephen. Great to be with you.
STEPHEN CENATIEMPO:
A lot to talk about this week. The first sitting week and first set of question time performances under the new leadership structure of Angus Taylor and Jane Hume. How do you think it’s gone so far?
I recently had the pleasure of attending my first event as the shadow minister for the arts, a topic I’m deeply passionate about. As part of a strategic cultural partnership between the European Union, Arts Queensland and the Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts, locally known as HOTA, I explored the new and acclaimed exhibition […]
The first job of any government is to keep its people safe. But over the past week, Australians have watched this minister for home affairs dodge serious and legitimate questions—questions about what assistance the Albanese government has provided to individuals linked to ISIS. This is not a political game; this is a matter of national […]
STEVE AUSTIN:
Let’s go to federal politics and look at both sport and art with my guest, Queensland Federal Liberal MP, Angie Bell, the MP, the Member for Moncrieff, based on the Gold Coast. Angie Bell was reshuffled, if you like, with Angus Taylor winning the leadership. And Angie Bell now has the role for the opposition federally. Normally called an outer ministry role, so I regard that as somewhat of a demotion, covering youth, sport and art. Angie Bell, do you see it as a demotion? Morning to you.
ANGIE BELL:
Good morning, Steve. Great to be with you. Look, I see it as a great opportunity to deliver Liberal values to young Australians, and that is through the arts and through the sport portfolios. Because it really is the great leveller when it comes to opportunities for young people, and we want young people to have those opportunities to be ambitious as artists and sports people. We want more Australians to be successful and we’re seeing great success on the world stage at the moment obviously at the Winter Olympics and our artists are doing great things abroad as well.
STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: This week, we’ve been talking about Angus Taylor’s new shadow ministry. And it’s always interesting when they put these things together. Some people will be elevated, some people will be dumped from ministry, some people will keep their portfolios, others will be given new roles. Angie Bell, who was previously in the environment portfolio, is now the Shadow Minister for Arts, Shadow Minister for Sport and Shadow Minister for Youth and joins us now. Angie, good morning.
It has been an honour to serve in Sussan Ley’s Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Environment and Shadow Minister for Youth.
I now look forward to my continued service in Angus Taylor’s Shadow Ministry as Shadow Minister for the Arts, Shadow Minister for Sport and Shadow Minister for Youth.
Before life in politics, I enjoyed an illustrious thirty-year career as a professional saxophonist that included performances across the globe. It’s an absolute privilege to serve in the Arts portfolio for which I am very passionate.
Well, here we go again. It seems like the CFMEU saga will never, ever end. But this time it isn’t just another messy chapter in the long and troubled history of the CFMEU. It is something far more serious. It’s an industrial-scale cover-up that goes to the heart of this Albanese Labor government. It has […]
It is indeed a privilege to represent the good people of Moncrieff, and it’s something I will never, ever take for granted. Moncrieff is in the heart of the Gold Coast, and we’re so incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful community—a community built on mateship, on shared values and of course on service. That’s why I rise today to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding Aussies from Moncrieff who have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours. Australia Day is a time to reflect on who we are as a nation.