Transcript – Sky News Afternoon Agenda with Tom Connell

Angie Bell MP

Shadow Minister for the Environment

Shadow Minister for Youth

Federal Member for Moncrieff

TRANSCRIPT

Sky News Afternoon Agenda with Tom Connell

25 July 2025

Subjects: Gaza, South Australian algal bloom continues to bloom, Listening to young people and staying true to our Liberal Party values.

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

TOM CONNELL:

Let’s return to that situation in Gaza. It’s been described as the strongest condemnation yet from the Australian government on the Israeli government, saying more aid needs to be let through. Joining me now is Shadow Environment Minister Angie Bell. Thank you for your time. We’ll get to your portfolio in a moment but what do you make of this shift? Is it time for Israel to stop with excuses about difficulty of getting aid through and just make it happen.

ANGIE BELL:

Well, thanks, Tom, for having me on your show. I’m sure that Australians around the country are horrified at the scenes that we’re seeing coming out of Gaza. But I think for the Prime Minister to completely and utterly ignore the listed terrorist organisation of Hamas in his comments is just unconscionable. Because let’s think back to October 7, where 1,200 Israeli lives were taken by this terrorist organisation, Hamas. Those hostages, the remaining hostages, are still in tunnels in Gaza, and a ceasefire could possibly occur if Hamas were to lay down its weapons and return the hostages. So, I think the fact that the Prime Minister has completely and utterly circumnavigated around that issue is wrong.

TOM CONNELL:

We heard the Foreign Minister today mention that very point and it’s mentioned by a lot that those hostages have to be released. And clearly Hamas as a terror organisation, had very clear motives on October 7. At this point of this crisis, though, does Israel just need to make sure this aid gets through?

We had a Middle East, a former reporter from the Middle East area before saying all her colleagues that she knows within various organisations are saying that armed groups that Israel is allowing to be there are holding this up. Israel wants other entities other than Hamas to flourish, and that’s fine as a long-term goal, but in the short term, is it really OK for babies to starve to get that aim to be successful?

ANGIE BELL:

No, it’s not okay. Of course it’s not okay, Tom, for babies to starve, but again, Hamas is standing in the way of aid being delivered and they have intercepted aid and taken it for themselves. The government seems to be ignoring this fact that this is a listed terrorist organisation undertaking these activities.

Now, Penny Wong said about the ceasefire, that there should be a ceasefire first and then the hostages released. If the hostages were released first, then surely the ceasefire would ensue if Hamas laid down their weapons. I mean, they started this on October the 7th with 1,200 innocent Israeli deaths.

TOM CONNELL:

Algal blooms in South Australia getting a lot of headlines. Do you see this as a bit of a preview of one of the things climate change could deliver? Experts say part of the contribution is warmer ocean temperatures. You know, we think of climate change as sort of warmer days and maybe slightly higher oceans, but is this a reminder it can come in many forms?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, the scientists in South Australia of course, have outlined that this is, of course, part of the climate changing, and they have asked the two successive Albanese governments in Minister Plibersek and Minister Watt, for funding to monitor the algal bloom in South Australia or monitor the waters on the Great Southern Reef for this very event. And they have been denied now for 18 months.

They have now asked for $10 million, a paltry sum, very modest sum, to do that and research the impacts of this algal bloom on the South Australian coastline with 14,000 species that have been wiped out and I support that. What we have done is put pressure on the Labor government to go down to South Australia. We saw Murray Watt do a quick dash down there, stand on the beach for 10 minutes, announce $14 million in funding for help, which, to his credit, the South Australian Premier has matched. But they still haven’t given scientists any money to actually monitor this. So, do they believe in the science? I certainly believe in the science.

TOM CONNELL:

I might ask you as well, you’ve got the portfolio of youth. How do you go about that? Because every bit of commentary and polling suggests young people are walking away from the Liberal Party in droves. Why do you think that’s the case?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, certainly we have been sent a very clear message from the Australian public at the last election and we are listening and we have a lot of work to do. Let’s admit that, put it on the table. We need to engage more closely with young people and we need to have policies that are compassionate and that are aspirational for young Australians. I think that is the key to speaking with the next generation. How do we help them? How do we give them opportunities through policy measures?

And young people that I speak to here on the Gold Coast, where I am at my Gold Coast Youth Impact Summit, which I’ve delivered three of now, Tom, as the Shadow Minister in the last term, and I’ll deliver another three for opportunities for young Gold Coasters.

They’re telling me it’s about their mental health, it’s about housing, it’s about cost of living, and it is also about the climate. They are concerned about that as well. And so, we need to talk directly to young Australians so that we have a policy suite that helps them with their aspiration.

TOM CONNELL:

It’s an interesting area. I mean, if you think about two elections ago, a lot of talk was the thing that got the Liberal Party over the line was this campaign on franking credits, which advantages older Australians. Are we entering a situation where younger Australians are really struggling, tax rates are high, and retirees, not everybody, but the superannuation system is really generously taxed compared to someone actually earning a salary and trying to raise a family. But you’re going to have to switch that dial if you want to get young people looking at the Liberal Party and coming back.

ANGIE BELL:

Well, Sussan Ley has said all of our policies are up for review and our values are not. And I agree wholeheartedly with that. I talked about compassion and aspiration. Leading with compassion is understanding Australians and listening to them, but then tapping into what it is that will help them. And so the fact that Sussan Ley has elevated youth into cabinet with the environment portfolio has already seen us speak more about young people in shadow cabinet, and that is something that I’ll continue to do to put their views forward.

I’m very much in touch with young people here on the Gold Coast. I have young stepchildren as well, who tell me what they think whenever we have a family gathering. I think it’s important that we do listen and that we appeal to what they need.

TOM CONNELL:

Yeah, no, there’s nothing quite like young people to tell you what you’re doing wrong in my experience anyway.

ANGIE BELL:

Absolutely.

TOM CONNELL:

Angie Bell, appreciate your time today. Thank you.

ANGIE BELL:

Thank you.

ENDS.