From Qantas to Manus

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s3946769.htm Panellists: Josh Frydenberg, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister; Jason Clare, Shadow Communications Minister; Sue Morphet, Chair of Manufacturing Australia; Katharine Viner, Editor-in Chief, Guardian Australia; and David Bridie, Musician. -- Josh Frydenberg Josh Frydenberg was elected as the Member for Kooyong, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, in the 2010 election. He is the seventh person since Federation to hold this seat that was previously held by such Liberal blue-bloods as Sir Robert Menzies and Andrew Peacock. Widely regarded as a future key player for the Liberal Party, Josh was promoted to the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister after Tony Abbott’s election victory. He is a former senior adviser to Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Prime Minister John Howard. Josh attended Bialik College in Hawthorn and completed his secondary schooling at Mt Scopus College in Burwood. He has Law and Economics honours degrees from Monash University, and completed his articles of clerkship at Mallesons Stephen Jacques. He went on to graduate with a Masters in International Relations from Oxford University and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Josh is a keen tennis player and represented Australia at the World University Games in England in 1991 and the United States in 1993. He currently sits on the Board of the Kids Tennis Foundation which provides coaching to disadvantaged kids. Josh and his wife, Amie, live in Hawthorn. -- Jason Clare Jason Clare is the shadow communications minister and represents the seat of Blaxland in Labor’s western Sydney heartland. Born in 1972, Jason has been associated with Labor for most of his adult life. He was a policy adviser to former NSW Premier Bob Carr before working in corporate relations for the Transurban tollway group from 2003-07. He came into Parliament at the 2007 election and was made Parliamentary Secretary for Employment in 2009. After the 2010 election he was promoted to the Ministry as Minister for Defence Materiel, then Minister for Justice and Minister for Home Affairs. -- Sue Morphet Sue Morphet is a highly regarded businesswoman and was appointed chair of Manufacturing Australia in March 2013. Sue is passionate about the future of manufacturing, having spent the last 30 years working in this sector. More than half of this time was with the apparel company Pacific Brands, maker of such iconic brands as Bonds and Kig Gee. As the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer from January 2008 until September 2012, Sue was responsible in 2009 for putting in place a strategy that has since helped the company return to profit and ongoing viability. At the time the strategy caused enormous controversy, with seven factories closed and nearly 2000 jobs shed as production was moved to Asia. Prior to Pacific Brands, Sue held senior positions with a number of other well-known manufacturing companies including Sheridan and Herbert Adams. Under Sue’s leadership, Manufacturing Australia intends to continue working with the Federal and State governments to ensure fair and appropriate industry policies, and to secure the future of this sector. -- Katharine Viner Katharine Viner is editor-in-chief of Guardian Australia and deputy editor of the Guardian worldwide. She joined the Guardian in 1997 and has worked as a writer, editor of Weekend magazine, features editor, head of comment and Saturday editor; she has been deputy editor since 2007 and launched Guardian Australia in May 2013. Katharine is a board member of London's Royal Court theatre and is the co-editor, with Alan Rickman, of the award-winning play My Name Is Rachel Corrie. She gave the AN Smith lecture 2013 at Melbourne University and she tweets at @KathViner. ---- Audience: ALP 33%, Coalition 45%, Greens 11% QANTAS – TOO BIG TO FAIL? Dan Cregan asked: Political and business leaders often admit that despite the moral hazard large financial institutions are too big to fail. Are certain industries too important to fail? Is QANTAS in that category? FROM THE FLOOR An audience member asked: Is the only way we can compete globally by cutting wages and conditions in Australia? Is this the Government policy? FROM THE FLOOR An audience member asked: How is the government’s policy on this issue to just let the free market handle it and hope for the best any different? CONROY VS THE GENERAL Andrew Wilson asked: Senator Stephen Conroy accused Lt-Gen Angus Campbell of being be engaged in a political cover up. He had no trouble issuing an apology to Mark Latham for a statement he denied making so why isn’t he man enough to apologise to General Campbell? And why does Mr Shorten keep him on? MANUS INQUIRY Paige Burton asked: Following the riot on Manus island, the government has announced a review into violence on our offshore centres. Does the lack of urgency reflect the government’s indifference to human rights abuses, or is this the best process to ensure action is taken? MANUS DETENTION ILLEGAL? Brian Davies asked via video: It’s been revealed that Manus Island detainees have no possibility of being resettled anywhere as the PNG Government has no plans or legislation for their resettlement. Indefinite detention without charge or trial is illegal under the PNG constitution. Our High Court ruling on offshore detention made clear that any place designated by the minister must have the capability for resettlement. If the gulag is illegal under both PNG and Australian law, then why is it still open? JOBS AND MANUFACTURING Mehmed Hasic asked: Sue Morphet: When you were CEO of Pacific Brands, you made some tough decisions and closed several clothing factories, leaving nearly 2000 workers without jobs. How do you now see the future of manufacturing in Australia and what are your thoughts on government assistance to keep the manufacturing sector viable? US MANUFACTURING INITIATIVE Graeme Sheather asked: The current challenge for Australian manufacturing is to transform from old systems and products to advanced manufacturing. In the US, Barack Obama announced $320 million to set up a top-of-the-line digital technology manufacturing hub in Chicago to make USA manufacturing world competitive based on high tech qualified staff and industry partners rather than transferring low tech employees from old manufacturing industries. What are Australia’s government, industry bodies and small to medium enterprises doing to match the USA initiatives? SPORTS “BLACKEST DAY” Geoff Prenter asked: Jason Clare sometime last year, a time best forgotten, you as Justice Minister declared: "This is the blackest day in Australia's sporting history." You were referring to a tsunami of drug abuse, gambling rorts and all kinds of skulduggery. From where I and the rest of the population sit, it appears as though you are either colour blind or the blackest day claim was without one skerrick of foundation.