24 November 2025
Karl Stefanovic
Yes, it’s that time of year again. Deputy Liberal leader Ted O’Brien and chief political correspondent for 9 papers, Paul Sakkal, joining me now at the start of Parliament’s final week. Good morning, lads.
Ted O’Brien
Good morning.
Karl Stefanovic
All right, let me start with the most important question facing this country today. Should Travis head open the batting Teddy, your first up?
Ted O’Brien
Yes. Wasn’t that a crack, holy. So anyone who doubted him, unbelievable. So anyway, I guess it’s a big yes for me, mate.
Karl Stefanovic
I’ll circle back to that. Who should open the batting for the Liberal Party, though Hastie, is circling, but have a look who’s rocketed in a contention with 3% of support, none other than Today shows Ted O’Brien, you’re on the move, Teddy.
Ted O’Brien
Well, that’s all to do with the Today Show I think Karl. Also, thanks to mum, who I think, cast three votes.
Karl Stefanovic
Rigged voting. Paulie, what do you make of the poll?
Paul Sakkal
What are we doing wrong in here Ted? Do reckon we need to do like a wet t-shirt contest for you or something to get your numbers up.
Ted O’Brien
Well, I’m certainly, I’m certainly not going on television for that, mate. I’m in the business of winning votes in Fairfax, not losing.
Karl Stefanovic
I’d be open to that, though.
Paul Sakkal
I know you would be Karl.
Karl Stefanovic
All right, you’ve got some important stuff to do. Look, let’s look at Albo has been overseas on the way back, he’s defying Trump, doubling down on the Paris Agreement. Look, how does the coalition’s policies sit with our Pacific friends?
Paul Sakkal
Paul, well, I think there’s an incongruence here. Look at the G20 statement. Trump avoids it. He hopes that the whole thing goes pear shaped, and the leaders get together and unexpectedly put together a document that talks up climate action, the Paris Agreement and net zero. But over the on the other side of the world, in Brazil, where COP is going on and Chris Bowen is over there trying to salvage a deal for Australia to get COP, there’s nowhere near unanimity on climate action, and there’s a kind of fracturing of the consensus. So there was a nice document that got put out on the weekend, but don’t be fooled that Trump is not messing with global multilateral infrastructure anymore.
Karl Stefanovic
Ted, Labor is going to have to sell a bit of their soul to get their environmental laws through Parliament today. How does that look?
Ted O’Brien
Oh, look, I don’t know why they’ve taken so long and they refuse to actually really engage in good faith. So I’m hoping that Murray Watt changes his tune and engages proactively with the Coalition on it today. Paul’s comments, right by the way, just in terms of the glossy documents coming out of the G20 that the Prime Minister signed, the only document that counts for households in this argument is your power bill. And power bills have gone up 40% since Labor came to office. That’s got to be our focus. That should be the focus of Albanese and Chris Bowen too.
Karl Stefanovic
Okay, newly minted New South Wales leader Kellie Sloane doesn’t like that you’ve dropped Net Zero. How does that sit with you?
Ted O’Brien
Well, I have to say, Isn’t she fantastic. I’ve seen a couple of interviews with her, and I think she is absolutely brilliant. And so big congratulations to the team. Thanks very much to Mark Speakman for his service. Well, look, when it comes to the net zero debate, Karl, I mean, it’s a national target. It’s responsibility the federal government. I’m pretty relaxed about, you know, state leaders having a view on it. Ultimately, it’s a it’s a matter for the Commonwealth Government, therefore the Federal Opposition, and since this government cannot tell us how they’re going to get there, how much it’s going to cost, and who’s going to pay. We’re opposing it because we’re focused on one thing, one thing, and that’s affordable energy.
Karl Stefanovic
But what I do like about it, she’s come out saying she likes the she wants to return to the baby bonus. You know, remember this one? Have one for mum, One for dad and one for the country. I mean, we need to have more kids, right? Paul, have you given any thought to having one for the country?
Paul Sakkal
I’m a few years off, and I’ve got to find someone willing to engage in the act.
Karl Stefanovic
Okay, that’s a big N O daddy-oh. Teddy, what do you think about that?
Ted O’Brien
Well, mum and dad had nine kids Karl, so they covered off the next generation pretty well and our obligations. I’ve already had three with Sophia so but I think where Kellie right is family is the most important institution in the world. We need to ensure we are focusing our policies on helping families, especially those who are struggling, and we need to make sure families who are resisting having kids because life’s too hard, we’ve got to clear those barriers away. So if they choose to have more children, they’re able to do so.
Karl Stefanovic
Paul, what is interesting is that Kellie Sloane obviously believes that some of those seats in the eastern suburbs of Sydney and inner cities everywhere, they’re going to be a problem for the Liberal Party for abandoning net zero.
Paul Sakkal
Well, I mean, you look at the New South Wales Liberal Party, and yes, they’re in opposition, but they’ve still got a lot of MPs in and around the city of Sydney, as you mentioned, whereas you look at the center of gravity in the federal coalition, and the bunch of blokes will be sitting around Ted in question time today, and there’s a lot of people from the regions, some in the outer suburbs, but a lot of Nationals MPs as well. So it’s just a different way of thinking in the New South Wales Liberal Party. And there is some flair among these new liberal state leaders, Jess Wilson in Victoria. Kellie Sloane, New South Wales Lia Finocchiaro in the Northen Territory. Ted O’Brien, maybe men in their 50s might have been out of vogue in the Liberal Party.
Ted O’Brien
Well, thanks for the compliment there, Paul. But as I sit in question time, two to my left is Melissa McIntosh, Western Sydney. Two to my right is Angie Bell, the Gold Coast. I tell you, what, if they are on this program, you’d be apologizing for that.
Paul Sakkal
There are a few. I know there are a few.
Karl Stefanovic
All right, we’re going to end with we need to gloat. The country needs to gloat this morning. What about the Ashes, the win feels especially good in light of these comments from Stuart Broad and Piers Morgan, have a look.
Piers Morgan
By the way, Ashley is we’re going to win five nil. The worst Australian team I’ve seen in 25 years.
Stuart Broad
It’s actually not an opinion, it’s a fact. It’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010.
Karl Stefanovic
Okay, all together, let’s laugh.
Paul Sakkal
Absurd.
Ted O’Brien
That’s beautiful, beautiful.
Paul Sakkal
Travis Head has never heard of a moral victory. He only knows a real one.
Karl Stefanovic
Exactly. I love it. He should get his own statue, though. Don’t you think Ted? He should be some federal government money for that.
Ted O’Brien
Oh, look, I think we could go outside and just sort of use mud and build it today actually, Karl. Paul and I might do that right after the interview.
Karl Stefanovic
All right, great stuff. To you Paul.
Paul Sakkal
Karl there’s chat around Canberra that Ted O’Brien at the National Press Club on Tuesday or Wednesday might do a bit of a Travis Head for the Liberal Party, and just bring it home this year.
Karl Stefanovic
Oh, there you go. Straight bat. Let’s see it. Good on you guys. Thank you so much.
ENDS