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Transcripts
November 1, 2025
CLINT STANAWAY: We're joined this morning by Shadow Minister for Finance James Paterson and our very own Lizzie Pearl as well. Good to see you both.
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Good morning.
CLINT STANAWAY: James, like me, you're a Victorian, you've lived here all your life. Seeing vision like that, you know, offenders putting so many lives at risk, what do you think, what's your reaction?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Well, when I arrived on set this morning, Clint, I was very relieved to see you had security because we don't need a live machete incident on air, and sadly, along here on Southbank, there have been machete incidents. And this crazy driving we've seen on the roads. It's a real test for the new post and boast laws that the government introduced here, which makes it an offence to commit a crime and post it on social media. They took way too long to introduce them, but now the test is, can they enforce them, are there real consequences for these people? Or are they just going to get a slap on the wrist and be released on bail to go on and commit more offences?
CLINT STANAWAY: Do you feel safe?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: No, I don't. And I travel a lot for my job. I was in Adelaide recently, Perth, Sydney. No one in those cities feels as unsafe as Victorians do in our city. And I love this state. I love this city like you do, mate. But it's not at its best at the moment.
CLINT STANAWAY: So Queensland was in a similar position, what, 12-18 months ago. They seemed to have turned things around. I mean, is there hope for Victoria?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: There are some real lessons from what they've done in Queensland. The Liberal National Government there introduced this law called Jack's Law, which gives police metal wands and the power to scan people to see if they're carrying a knife or a machete. Laws like that in Victoria would be a big help, and Brad Battin and the Victorian Liberals are promising to introduce it if they win the next election.
CLINT STANAWAY: So why aren't they getting cut through?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Well, look, it's a tough environment. This is a very good government from a political point of view. They're great communicators, they're great at politics, they are just terrible at governing, and we're all paying the price for that.
CLINT STANAWAY: Lizzie, the Premier here, Jacinta Allan, copping a lot of flak for her lack of action on crime, or apparent lack of action. Surely parents have a lot to answer for here when you see videos like that one, terrifying videos.
LIZZIE PEARL: Absolutely. This is a whole community problem. Its parents, its schools, its social media, its government. It is also the judges and the magistrates because we need to see tougher action in the courts. If these kids are just going to do this and then get a slap on the wrist and not see any real punishment, I mean, then there's no deterrent to them or their friends doing the same thing. So it is a whole community problem, and the whole of the community needs to be brought in to fix it. I've sat with families in rural regional New South Wales who've lost people to youth crime, and once you meet those people and you look them in the eye and you see the devastating impact.
CLINT STANAWAY: Consequences, yeah.
LIZZIE PEARL: Until it touches your home, you don't have a full understanding, and it is just awful.
CLINT STANAWAY: Hey guys, moving on, I want to talk beer. James, it seems you Libs can't agree on anything with the Nats at the moment. Even beer is in the firing line. Now, the Nationals want to put a permanent tax freeze on tap beer, but you won't support it. Why is that?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Mate, I'd love to see cheaper beer, I love to cut tax on beer, I'd like to cut the tax on spirits, but last financial year there was a $12 billion deficit federally. This financial year, it's forecast to be $42 billion. So if we want to cut taxes, and I do, we have to demonstrate how it's affordable, otherwise we're just going to make future generations pay for our cheaper beer today, and I don't think that's a very fair exchange. So we will do the work to make sure that at the next election we can offer lower taxes for all Australians, particularly on their income tax, so they can buy whatever they like, whether it's beer or whatever else.
CLINT STANAWAY: So we're not sensing another breakup here over beer?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: No, I don't think so, mate. I think we are all agreed. Cheaper beer would be a wonderful thing, but let's do the work, let's get it right, let's not rush it out, and demonstrate how we can pay for it.
CLINT STANAWAY: Jokes aside, we did see a bit of a squabble, not so long back, Lizzie.
LIZZIE PEARL: We did, we did. Wouldn't that be the most Aussie thing ever if the Libs and Nats broke up over beer? But you know, I think we are going to see a few more squabbles in the next couple of years. The Libs suffered a big defeat at the last election, a lot of soul-searching has been going on, and each party is trying to figure out who they are. And we are seeing a shift towards the more right-side of politics. Some politicians aren't right enough, so they're sussing each other out. They are figuring it out, aren't they?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: We will, we will, I promise.
CLINT STANAWAY: Hey, just very quickly and look, I want to celebrate Melbourne as well this morning because there's so much happening in our backyard here. I was at Oasis last night, what 60,000 fans there, the cricket across at the G 80,000, Derby Day today, I mean, there's something to celebrate for everyone in this great city.
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Sydney tries very hard, but they just can't match the cultural and sports agenda that we have here in Melbourne, mate. They would love to have it. As long as we're as safe as Sydney, just imagine how good we could be.
CLINT STANAWAY: You get a right of reply. Pearler?
LIZZIE PEARL: Look, I love Melbourne, I'd move down here if the price is right. Melbourne does a great event, I will give you that, people show up, they show up enthusiastically, you put on great events, sporting events, music events, everything, so yes, great. Sydney, you know, we're a bit harder to please.
CLINT STANAWAY: Yeah, and you do love a marquee as well. It must be said, Lizzie Pearl.
LIZZIE PEARL: Love a marquee, very at home in a marquee.
CLINT STANAWAY: James, good to see you as well.
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Good to see you.
CLINT STANAWAY: Thanks so much for being with us.
ENDS