LABOR’S ENVIRONMENT CREDENTIALS ALL WASHED UP

Today’s visit to South Australia by the Environment Minister is an extraordinary admission that the government has been completely flat-footed in its response to the spread of toxic algal bloom.

This last minute dash on the eve of parliament’s resumption is a last second window dressing exercise to say he has visited.
Minister Watt claimed as recently as Friday that the spread of toxic algal bloom in South Australia – which is devastating waters adjacent to Commonwealth Marine Parks – is a state issue, when trying to justify his decision to send only a departmental official to witness the situation. 

Transcript – ABC North and West – Breakfast with Tom Mann

TOM MANN:

ow, we have been hearing in the news this morning that the Federal Environment Minister, Murray Watt, is set to travel to Adelaide today to take a closer look at the algal bloom and consider the role the federal government could play in supporting those impacted.

But the federal opposition are arguing that the government is well behind on the situation and that the government should have acted much earlier when calls were first made for a monitoring system for South Australian waters. I spoke earlier this morning with the opposition spokesperson for the environment, Angie Bell.

ANGIE BELL:

Absolutely have been following that. But I have to say the Labor government has taken 18 months to even send a departmental official down to South Australia, and I think the message there is that South Australians need to look at what Labor does, not what they say.

Transcript – Sky News Weekend Live with Julia Bradley

JULIA BRADLEY:
Parliamentarians are preparing to descend on the nation’s capital with Parliament returning next week for the first time since the federal election. Joining me now is Shadow Environment and Youth Minister, Angie Bell. Angie, thank you so much for joining me. What are the Coalition’s priorities going into this week one?

ANGIE BELL:
Well, thanks for having me on your show, Julia, I’m always pleased to be a guest on the weekend with you. Look, the Coalition’s priorities, obviously are to keep the government to account, to be a strong voice, to be a strong team, to work collaboratively where we can, but also call out the government when it’s failing Australians. Particularly when you look at this cost of living crisis, that’s really, it’s not getting any better out there.

Transcript – ABC Radio Gold Coast – Drive with Bern Young

BERN YOUNG:

Have you ever found yourself in a room and you’re well and truly outnumbered? That’s going to be the Coalition next week, when the new Parliament sits for the first time. That landslide Labor victory in May will see 94, count them, government faces, hogging the lower house, we might say. LNP Member for Moncrieff, Angie Bell, sitting across them. She’s sitting across me at the moment. Of course, you’re part of Sussan Ley’s shadow ministry now. Hello.

ANGIE BELL:

Hello. Great to be with you live in the studio.

Transcript – Paul Murray Live, Sky News

PAUL MURRAY:
We’re two very big brained and beautiful people, none other than the wonderful Joe Hildebrand, here in The Man Cave.

JOE HILDEBRAND:
Good evening sir, how are you?

PAUL MURRAY:
Excellent. Lovely to see you. And Angie Bell is a member of the Shadow Ministry in the federal opposition, and she lives in and around God’s country, otherwise known as the Gold Coast. How are you Angie, nice to see you mate.

ANGIE BELL:
Fantastic, Paul, thanks for having me.

Transcript – Money News with Deb Knight

DEB KNIGHT:

There’s a lot of focus at the moment on the government’s plan to up the tax on the small number of super rich Australians with super accounts over $3 million. The legislation has already been before parliament, but a change in the makeup of the Senate after the election means that Anthony Albanese is likely to get an easier time getting this super tax change through with the help of the Greens. And with that in mind, some families are already taking steps to change their tax makeup. The Tax Office is watching though, and says it will be taking a close look at any restructuring of assets, updating its guidance on private wealth to include the potential superannuation tax.

Transcript – Sky News Weekend Live with Julia Bradley

JULIA BRADLEY:
Now joining me live is Angie Bell. She’s Australia’s new Shadow Minister for the Environment and Youth. Angie, thank you so much for joining me.
ANGIE BELL:
Thanks for having me, Julia.
JULIA BRADLEY:
And Congratulations on the promotion.

ANGIE BELL:
Thank you so very much. It is indeed a great privilege to continue in the portfolio of youth, but also take on the environment portfolio, which is very important to our nation and I’d like to see a balance struck in the portfolio. I look forward to working, of course, with all of the stakeholders across this vast area of environment. So I’m very excited and privileged and humbled at the same time.

Transcript – ABC Radio Brisbane Mornings with Steve Austin

STEVE AUSTIN:
Well, the Liberal Party Leader, federally, Sussan Ley and The Nationals Leader David Littleproud have unveiled their shadow cabinet after renewing the Coalition. The trial separation didn’t work. They’re back together again. It comes just a week after the junior partner, The Nationals, walked away amid policy differences in the way of the May 3 election defeat. Among the changes relevant to Queensland in particular is Queensland Liberal Deputy Ted O’Brien will become the Shadow Treasurer. Notably, this shadow cabinet has fewer women in it than did Peter Dutton’s cabinet. Now one of the women who is in the shadow cabinet is Queensland Federal MP, the Member for Moncrieff, Angie Bell, who is the Shadow spokesperson for Youth and Environment. Angie Bell, good morning to you.
ANGIE BELL:
Good morning, Steve. I feel like I should start with a compliment after Clive’s comments.

Transcript – ABC Radio Gold Coast Drive with Bern Young

BERN YOUNG:
Decimated and divided. That’s the state of the Federal Liberal Party according to a Four Corners special tonight with multiple senior Liberal politicians agreeing to talk candidly from conservatives to moderates. The deep divisions will be on show tonight. At a time when any opposition should be preparing to be exactly that, a united and formidable opposition.

The ABC is not the only one with these kinds of headlines. The Guardian was reporting over the weekend that there’s speculation David Littleproud could be rolled as Nationals leader. Today, Nine News is reporting that a reunion of the Coalition appears inevitable while speculating on who will make it to the opposition front bench. With all of that going on, what’s it like to be inside the Liberal Party bubble right now? Well, my next guest can tell you. Member for Moncrieff, Angie Bell, thank you so much for coming into the studio.

ANGIE BELL MP:
Great to be with you, Bern.