NATALIE BARR, HOST: Despite being on track to re-enter a Coalition, it seems some damage has already been done for the Liberals and the Nationals. With tension building from the inside out, party members have expressed feeling deceived over David Littleproud's decision to call the Coalition quits last week. But now, with the band looking to get back together, is it enough to end the civil unrest or a band aid solution? For their take, let's bring in National Senator Bridget McKenzie and Minister for Industry and Science Tim Ayres. Good morning to both of you. So, Bridget, a colleague of yours, Colin Boyce, is saying, quote, 'I can't support a man who misleads the party room.' Did David Littleproud mislead everybody?
BRIDGET MCKENZIE: Well, Nat, great to be with you. Not at all. The party room made its decision based on the four policies that the Liberals couldn't give a guarantee on. And obviously the two leaders are now working their way through those negotiations. I note in other reports there are many Liberal MPs who want to give us gratuitous advice about how to run our party room, and I'm happy to give them membership forms if they'd like to join it. But a Coalition works best when everybody respects the independence of both parties. And right now, we've got Alison Penfold, Pat Conaghan, David Littleproud dealing with the outcome of flooded communities last week and this week, and that's what we really need to be focused on, the impact.
BARR: So, you all knew, even about the Shadow Cabinet solidarity demand?
MCKENZIE: Well, Nat, what was put to the party room and what the party room made its decision on was the four policy issues.
BARR: So, that one was included? Or David Littleproud went off-piste?
MCKENZIE: Nat, I was in the room. I know what the room made its decision on, and it was the four policies. The mobile connectivity, divestiture of supermarkets, nuclear and obviously the Regional Futures Fund.
BARR: So not the Cabinet Solidarity. Did David Littleproud just take that?
MCKENZIE: That wasn't put to the room.
BARR: So, are you saying David Littleproud went to Sussan Ley and added that on and didn't tell the party room?
MCKENZIE: Nat, I think you're going to have to talk to Sussan Ley and David Littleproud about their private conversations together as leaders. I can only let you know what the room discussed and what we made our decision on.
BARR: Ok, very interesting. There are also leaked letters. It's sort of a bit like a movie. It's hard to keep up. But it also sounds like there's a leaked letter from you sort of canvassing this before Sussan Ley was even a leader. Is that right?
MCKENZIE: Well, we saw after the election loss, the impact of the historic loss by the Coalition impacted National Party Senator, on our deputy leader being returned. She was not returned. And also, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price heading off to the Liberal Party impacted our party status within the Senate. And I wrote to the Liberal leader as a result to try and resolve that.
BARR: Okay, let's talk about something that is affecting an awful lot of people. We've been talking a lot about machetes over the past few days with Victoria set to ban the sale of them from midday today. Tim, by the looks of things, it seems as though most states, territories have similar laws in place to deal with machetes, that they're a controlled weapon, you need a lawful excuse to possess one. Is this something we should be looking at as a country from the federal level?
SENATOR TIM AYRES, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE: Well, there's never a good reason for a young person to have a knife or a tool that can be a weapon like a machete. I see the Victorian government has moved on this question. We support that effort. It really is a matter for the states and territories, and you know, for the Commonwealth to step in would be, would be a very significant step here that I'm not sure is warranted. There may be differences between the states and territories in terms of how they deal with this, but the underlining point here has to be that there is never a good reason for a young person to be carrying a weapon in a public place at all.
BARR: And yet here we are.
AYRES: We saw the horrific results of that over the course of the weekend. The Victorian government's acting here. It's a very clear direction to stores that from today nobody may sell a machete in Victoria.
BARR: Yeah, the problem is you can just buy one on Amazon.
MCKENZIE: That's right.
BARR: We've just been trying ourselves. And you can just plug in any address in Victoria, and you can still buy one online. So, Australian Border Force says there are no restrictions on machetes entering this country. You can buy one interstate. How much of a problem is that, Tim? Do you think we should crack down or you think it's, it's fair enough?
AYRES: Well, I think I if you look across the field at whether it's machetes or knives, the correct response is for the state governments to deal with what is sold. It is a big step. I understand that people could still purchase these items on the internet or bring them in from other states, but cutting down on the availability of these weapons for young people is an important step. And I'm glad that the Victorian government has taken it. And we'll keep watching closely. As I said, there is no reason for a young person to have to have a bladed weapon, a knife or a machete or whatever.
BARR: Yep. They're getting them, though. Bridget, what do you think we should do here?
MCKENZIE: Well, I don't think the Labor government's retail ban here in Victoria will actually make it safer. You're right, Nat. You can purchase it online. It does nothing about the existing stock that's already here. And a government's job is to keep their citizens safe. We know crime here in Victoria is a huge issue. The National Party got a 10 per cent swing to it from Labor in the seat like Bendigo, the Premier's hometown, because Victorians aren't feeling safe in their own home and their streets. And whilst this is a retail ban, it doesn't actually solve the broader issue, as you've stated, with those types of - being able to access it online and dealing with existing stock.
BARR: Okay, look, we'll have to leave it there. Thank you very much for joining us this week.
AYRES: Thanks.
ENDS.
