21 May 2025
E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Ali Moore: Dan Tehan is the Liberal member for Wannon in Victoria. Dan Tehan, hello.
Dan Tehan: Hello, Ali, how are you?
Moore: I'm good. Thank you. Before we get to all this going on in politics, state politics, because I know that you were there today at this protest, can you tell us anything about a Wannon CFA truck that was being towed?
Tehan: No, I can't, unfortunately, all I can tell you is that I was on the a truck that came down from the Branxholme, and it successfully made it over the West Gate Bridge this morning. And I've got to say it was an incredible sight seeing all the trucks from western Victoria going up over the West Gate Bridge at around 8am this morning and made it to the rally and back again. So I'm not, not quite sure about that truck, but I think a message was sent loud clear to the Premier that she needs to axe this tax and start again, because the fact that they're doing this to people who volunteer, and have volunteered over the summer to keep this state safe at this time, when they're also facing the ravages of drought, I think, is just unconscionable.
Moore: So let's, let's move to the situation with the Coalition, which is no longer. What's your reaction to that?
Tehan: Look, I think it's disappointing. I think we're much better as an opposition when we're in coalition, we can take the fight up to the government collectively. It means that we're putting all our resources towards holding the government to account, and more so than ever, I think it's necessary that we show a united front to take the Albanese Labor Government on. Obviously, we had an incredibly disappointing election result, and I think those of us who are left, both Liberals and Nationals, owe it to the Australian people that we have to come together to hold this government to account at the same time incredibly disappointing.
Moore: I guess, though, Dan Tehan and I mean, you had a hard fought battle to hold your own seat in Wannon, what chances do you think there are of being reunited? You might be stronger together but can you come together on policy? I mean, for example, do you think the nuclear policy is a keeper?
Tehan: Will I think we can come together on policy, and I think we've been able to do that as a coalition now for decade upon decade upon decade upon decade, and we have been the most successful political movement, the Liberals and the Nationals, in federal government history. Now, I think…
Moore: It wasn't so good this time around, though, was it?
Tehan: Look, obviously this time around, it was incredibly disappointing. But if you look at since the Second World War, who has been the most successful political movement in this country, who's won the most flags to put it simply, we have. And we need to be able to get back, to be able to put a united front to the Australian people as to why we should form government. My hope is that we will be able to do that, because it's times like this when we need to be thinking about the future of this country and what are the best policies towards putting towards ensuring that this country continues to be the greatest place on earth to live, and that's what we should be focusing on.
Moore: When we spoke with David Littleproud, the leader of the Nationals, earlier, he also expressed the view that he would like to see the Coalition reform before the next election. It sort of begs the question, I guess, is, why split? I mean, is, is it really that the policy platform questions are so intractable? Is that, is that the problem?
Tehan: Look, I'm not quite sure. And I think one of the things that we all should look at and see and especially do so in the next sort of 48 hours, is, what can we do to actually see if we can bridge these differences, which don't look all that insurmountable, and be able to come together. Because that is how we will be at our most effective if we can do that. You know, one of the things I think that would be worth considering is to say, okay, well, is there a way, Is there a means that we can come together? Because today's news, which I heard about after the rally today, is just incredibly disappointing. And I think, you know, we owe it to the Australian people to think again about, okay, is there some concessions that can be made which will enable us to put the coalition back together again.
Moore: Like, what would you be thinking and do you fear that apart, the two parties will simply become irrelevant?
Tehan: Look, I think it's going to be up to all of us if we can't form a coalition to make sure that doesn't happen, and I think we'll have to make sure that we can work as closely together as we possibly can outside of being in a formal coalition agreement to do that. Because there is just no question or no doubt whether you look at it the Victorian State level, or whether you look at the federal level, when we are in coalition that's how we win elections, and that's how we best govern this nation. And I think in the end, we should always remember that you know, if that is the way to achieve success, then we shouldn't just throw that away over what, when you step back and look at it, are differences which I think can be reconciled.
Moore: What concessions would you be prepared to make as a member of the Liberal Party?
Tehan: Well, look, I'm not going to have those negotiations over the radio this afternoon, but I just would - looking at it, looking at the past, looking at how we've always been able to more or less solve all our differences and make sure that we've been a very, very good political force for this nation, I think that's why we need to step back and just say, okay, is there anything that we could do in the next 24/48 hours to basically make sure that we can look at these differences and see if there's a way forward to solve them.
Moore: Dan Tehan the news is upon us.
ENDS
