E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TV INTERVIEW
CHANNEL 7 SUNRISE
MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026
Topics: Polling; Fuel excise
NATALIE BARR: Well, Labor has woken up to a polling disaster this morning, with the Government falling to a near record low primary vote of 27 per cent in the latest Newspoll. That is just one point above the worst ever result recorded in 2012 and the lowest support for the party under Anthony Albanese. His personal numbers have also dropped to a record low, with a net approval rating of -27 per cent, on par with Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd's worst polls. Let's bring in Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce. Good morning to both of you. Tanya.
BARNABY JOYCE: Good morning, Nat.
TANYA PLIBERSEK, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Good Morning.
BARR: These are the worst numbers for Labor and the PM since you came to power in 2022. Is it time to rethink your strategy, if not your leader?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, the polls are obviously not great, but we are not focused on the polling. What we're focused on is making a real difference in people's lives. We know that they're doing it tough. We hear that, I'm out all the time in my electorate. People will tell you that they're feeling pressure and so our whole focus is on relieving that pressure. That's why we back higher wages. It's not something that Barnaby did when he was in government and it's not something that One Nation does. One Nation says that Australian workers are lazy and should be easier to sack. We back tax cuts. We've delivered tax cuts. They were opposed by Barnaby both when he was in the Coalition and as part of One Nation. And all of the things that we're doing in government, like bringing down the cost of medicines. In Barnaby's electorate, his voters have saved more than $20 million altogether through cheaper medicines. We've increased the rates of bulk billing, so you don't have to put your hand in your pocket every time you go to the doctors. In every part of our government, we are wholly focused on taking pressure off Australians. We know they're feeling it because they tell us.
BARR: How frustrating is this? You're doing all that and how frustrating is this? When just a year ago you were 10 per cent higher and in the polls, that's a lot. You were 37 per cent primary, now you're 27 per cent. And after Bondi, you started going down. The reaction, the refusal to do the Royal Commission initially and then the budget. So, how frustrating is that when, you know, you say, I'm working hard for the people and all my colleagues are, and then you see these numbers.
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, it's not the polling that frustrates me. That's not the issue. The issue here is people are obviously still feeling the pressure and as a government, we need to focus on that and to keep doing everything we can to take that pressure off people. It's why we're helping them into a home of their own. So, instead of paying rent, they can buy a home of their own. Sorry, Nat, I missed that.
BARR: Yeah, no, I'm sorry. Do you need to do something different?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: I think we need to be wholly focused on delivering for Australians, taking pressure off them, making sure that their wages are growin. We've done tax cuts, we want to make sure that we keep supporting higher wages. We want Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn through lower taxes. And then wherever we can, we're taking pressure off them in their day-to-day expenses as well, whether it's through health care, through education, through electricity. In Barnaby's electorate, more than 3,000 people now have put a battery on their homes. That takes their electricity bill down to zero in some cases. It's those sorts of practical things that make a difference to people's lives. That's what we need to focus on as a government and that's what we'll keep doing.
BARR: Ok, let's go to you, Barnaby. Not all sunshine for Pauline Hanson either. Her personal rating has slipped. She's still behind Anthony Albanese when it comes to preferred PM. What do you guys need to do more of?
JOYCE: Well, first of all, thank you for the talking pointers, Tanya. We usually get them at the end, but we've got them at the start today, so I've got them out of the way. That's good. The second thing is polls are an indicator and they're not a vote. And we don't get carried away with ourselves. We believe that you just stay humble and keep trying to do the job and show what is actually required. A substantial change in behaviour, that's what brings a better outcome for people's lives. You can make a choice. You can go out there with climate policy to change the clouds, or you can try and change the cost-of-living issues by bringing back baseload power through such things as coal fired power, which removes our reason to have to subsidise such things as your batteries. They're subsidised, that's why they're rolling them out. Or subsidising Tomago, or coming with rescue packages for the steel industry. Letting your rear industry grow, your coal, your glass industry go, we know what's happening. Your debt's racing through. I just saw you. What's going to happen when we're 86 and 89 we're going to live 86, 89 that's great one thing I disagree with is that the debt's going to be gone why? Why would it have gone? It'll just be worse what is the substantial thing that's going to happen?
BARR: Just before we go Barnaby, can I just ask. The opposition talked about cutting the excise yesterday have you got a policy on cutting the fuel excise, Barnaby? As fuel prices go up.
JOYCE: We supported the last cut on excise and we support the people able to utilise their vehicle. If they can't get the vehicle, they can't get to work, they can't buy the groceries out here in the countryside.
BARR: So, you want a cut?
JOYCE: We do, we do, we support a cut in the excise we're not going to claim what the number is. We're still waiting for the Coalition's policy on immigration you know like, the Coalition’s policy is always let's see what One nation does, lets see what Labor does and then do something different.
BARR: Which is separate. We can talk immigration. Just on the excise clarifying what you're doing because everyone's putting their policies forward.
JOYCE: We'll support a cut in the excise. We're not coming forward with a number at this stage.
BARR: Okay, thank you very much. Okay we'll see you next week.
ENDS
