Angus Taylor to ‘kiss and make up’ with Pauline Hanson

We've got Angus Taylor, the Liberal leader in the studio.He's had a bit of a boost this week because according to one major opinion poll, he's now the preferred Prime Minister.And Anthony Albanese is copying it online at the moment over his changes to trusts, negative gearing and capital gains tax.Angus Taylor, good morning.Great to be with you, Ben.It looks to us like it's the PM versus the internet today.

You've got small business owners everywhere and they're photoshopping the PM, scrubbing floors in their business or moving plates in the kitchen of the restaurant because the theory is, well, the PM's acting like he's working for the business because he wants so much of the profit if it's sold.

Well, he's going to take 47 % share in it.I mean, that's the effect of this.And we're not talking here necessarily about tech startups.We're talking about small businesses in my part of the world, Ben.Now, I was at a big festival in in Wollondilly, in Thillmere, in my own electorate, southwestern Sydney, on the weekend.And I got there early and I went down the food vans.

You have all those vans selling food and honey and all those sorts of things.And the number of small business people who said to me, I've got a new business partner.It's Anthony Albanese.And he hasn't bought in, but he's taking.And this is, I think, a disaster for small business in this country.You know, small business is the key to growing, to employing, to the strength of our local communities.

And if you undermine small business, you undermine the country.And that's exactly what this is about.

Our number 131873.I want to give you a chance to talk directly to Angus Taylor.Denise, good morning.

Hi, good morning Ben.I'd like to ask Angus when he and Matt and Pauline are going to sit around the table and come up with a three -year plan because it's going to take three years to get rid of this in, I can't even use the word, this government.

So when will Angus Taylor sit down with the Nationals leader Matt Canavan?the One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to come up with a three -year plan?

Well I'll tell you I will work with anyone to get rid of this rotten Labor government that's taking this country in the wrong direction.I'm obviously working with Matt every day.I'm sure I'll catch up with Pauline in the near future and of course our parties talk regularly about legislation coming through but I'll tell you the first fight we're going to have with Labor and I want to work together with every political party, including of course One Nation on this, is to stop these toxic taxes getting through the Parliament, Ben.

Do you catch up with Pauline Hanson one on one?

Yeah, we have in the past and we need to again in the future.

It sounds like you're overdue.

Yeah, we're probably over.That's probably right, actually.And that's fair.And we reached out even yesterday to set up a time to have a catch up.But we will.And we catch up regularly through the parties on legislation coming through the Parliament.

The most important one, the most important one, is these taxes coming through.We want to axe these toxic taxes and we want to work with every political party, including One Nation, to do it.

I think Robert wants some confirmation on that.Robert, Angus Taylor's with us.What's your question?

Good morning, Angus.My question is simple.If you were to be successful in the next election, would you reverse the capital gains tax that this government's bringing in and the negative gearing tax?

Yes.What, both of them?Both of them.Absolutely.These are toxic taxes.They are undermining hope and aspiration in this country.

Young Australians rely on being able to invest, whether it's in an investment property or in a small business, to get ahead so they can build a nest egg, buy a home, grow a family.This is essential to the Australian dream and if you start undermining that, which Labor's doing with these taxes, you undermine our country and you undermine hope for younger Australians.Reward for effort.is central to my beliefs and the Liberal and National Party's beliefs about what makes this country tick.You take away reward for effort, you take away what Australia is and has made it successful.

As you know, the Prime Minister is framing this budget as a way of helping younger people into the property market.George wants to talk about those younger Aussies right now with a question for Angus Taylor.Go right ahead, George.

Yeah, g'day fellas.I just want to put it to you, Angus.What exactly would you be looking at to help young Australians look forward?

Well, look, from my point of view, there's a couple of key things.Number one, make it easier to start a business and grow a business.And that means getting rid of these toxic taxes.Secondly, make it easier to get into a home.Right now, under Labor, 1 .4 million people in just four years coming to the country.And yet housing construction has gone backwards under this government.

We've got to get that back into balance so young Australians have the hope of being able to buy a home and start a family in their home.That means getting immigration, ending mass immigration, which is what we've seen, mass migration, but making sure that we don't let more people in than we have houses to accommodate.

exactly how they are?

No, we'll repeal them.

No, no, no, I'm talking about what has been in place up until this budget.Oh, I see.You'd go back to what they're like pre -budget.Correct.Let me get Aiden on the line with a question for Angus Taylor.Aiden, your call.

Morning, Benny.Morning, Angus.I'm a small business operator in Canberra, originally from Crookwell.Been in the family business my whole life.My family owned a bakery in Crookwell for 60 -odd years and had to close down.It's just getting tougher and tougher to have a small business.

I just want to know Angus's thoughts on actual change when it comes to apprentices and being able to afford to work and train up people to keep building these homes.Because if they stop, we're all buggered.We might as well pack up and go.It's getting to a stage now where people are just losing hope.They're losing vision for the future.We've all got small kids, small families.

just trying to get ahead.We just need some optimism and a little bit of positivity for once.It just feels like there's always so much negative talk and this has been here, this has been there.I just want to know what Angus's thoughts are moving forward.

Yeah, well good on you Aidan and of course I know Crookwell well, as you know, a wonderful town and to see businesses closing there and I've seen other businesses closing there in recent years, it is just galling because they are so important to that local community.We've got to help small business to be successful.That means not imposing taxes on small business, which is what Labor's proposing to do, of course, making it easier to invest, and we're proposing accelerated depreciation up to $50 ,000.For those of you who are not in small business, that means just making it easier to make an investment and making it lower cost to make an investment for a small business, and that's crucial.You're right about apprentices.We need more apprentices and small businesses Not easy to beat Anthony Albanese when he can go to an election and just lie.

tax changes they were denied before the last day he said they wouldn't do them before the last election 50 times his own words he said 50 times I've said I won't I won't put these taxes through they're gonna do it I mean and I gotta say Ben I was in business including small business before I came to politics and one of the worst things I have seen is the loss of trust in in politics in this country in recent years.It upsets me because I'm a politician and it worsens the country.But every time a politician breaks a promise like this, it does undermine that trust.And we've got to re -establish trust because if we don't, I don't know where the country's going to end up.

In business, when you say one thing and deliver another, you get hauled before a court.In politics, apparently you get another term in office.Let me ask you about an AFL transgender scandal that we have exposed this morning on 2GB Breakfast.Scott has told us about a Newtown side here in Sydney that is supposed to be a female team.However, it's fielding male -born players and the AFL will do nothing about it.Here's Scott.

A number of players had raised that individuals on the opposing team had overly masculine physiques.They were running faster, they were kicking further and they were hitting harder.And it wasn't just one player.We're not talking about an isolated incident here, we're talking about multiple players in a team.And I think it's important to note that whilst we've also named the team, they've done nothing wrong under the policy guidelines that the AFL have put out.They're not cheating, they're not trying to get a competitive advantage.

They're only operating inside the guidelines that they've been allowed to.

And sure enough, Scott's team sought clarification, and under the current AFL policy, self -identification is sufficient for participation in women's competitions.

Yeah, well I can understand why that's incredibly upsetting to people.We saw a big court case on this come down on Friday.and I have said, I said on Saturday morning, that we would change the legislation to make it possible to have safe spaces, places where people can go, both online and offline, based on biological sex.We need to change the Act to recognise biological sex, and we need to make sure there is protections for people who want to restrict activities or spaces to biological sex.And this is important change.I mean, this was legislation that was changed back in 2013 by Julia Gillard.

I think it's had really unfortunate, unintended consequences.Whether they're intended or not, we can debate, but it's got to change.

Before you go, I've got a note here saying Angus needs to pick up the phone now and ring Pauline to show you're a man of your word.When are you calling Pauline?

We've already been in touch yesterday, but I'll look to catch up with her soon.Look, the most important thing I want to talk to her about is stopping this legislation and we will have that discussion as soon as we possibly can.

And we've got to get to the news, so I'll say goodbye and we'll catch up again soon.Good on you, Ben.Angus Taylor, the Liberal Leader, happy to take your calls in the studio, which we appreciate, and we'll do it again with him soon.