TED O’BRIEN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FAIRFAX
TRANSCRIPT
ABC NEWS RADIO
RN BREAKFAST, INTERVIEW WITH SALLY SARA
11 August 2026
Topics: Gambling reform, NDIS, rate rises, Albanese melon joke, diplomatic incident, national unity, Chinese diaspora & Social cohesion
E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………………
Sally Sara
In the studio this morning, Ted O'Brien, welcome back to breakfast. Good to have you here.
Ted O'Brien
Likewise, Sally. Nice to be here.
Sally Sara
The Opposition has indicated the government's gambling bill needs some significant amendments but hasn't yet outlined exactly the changes it wants. In your view, what's missing from what the government is proposing?
Ted O'Brien
We're certainly working very constructively with the government. The Leader of the Opposition met with the Prime Minister yesterday. No doubt, this will be discussed further in the Coalition party room today. I'm a liberal, Sally, so let me speak from my own values, if you like. I believe in the importance of personal choice, which means those people who want to have a punt should be allowed to have a punt. But we should also recognise it comes with harmful effects that need to be addressed. I believe in the importance of the family, in particular the protection of children, and footy time should be family time. So, we've got to protect children from being exposed unnecessarily to gambling ads when really, they should be spending time with family. I also believe in the importance of law and order, which is why we need to ensure that we push back against any predatory illegal behaviour of inducements and what-not. They are some of the basic principles that my colleagues and I will be applying as we continue to engage constructively with the government and discuss the matters internally.
Sally Sara
So, we understand from Katy Gallagher, Labor frontbencher in the Senate, that discussions are continuing between the PM and the Opposition Leader. So, the timeline sounds like Angus Taylor is going to take something to your party room this morning. Is that right?
Ted O'Brien
I can't speak for Angus's plan in that regard, but certainly we're meeting as a party room today. Unlike our political opponent Sally, our party room speaks very openly, and so we have had discussions before. We'll continue to have discussions, and no doubt we will today.
Sally Sara
And on the NDIS?
Ted O'Brien
Likewise, again, we just need to continue to have discussions. We are working constructively with the government. They are wanting to bring forward some reforms. We've got to remember that there is an enormous amount of dodgy behaviour that goes on within the sector that needs to be rooted out as a priority. We also need to be very mindful that those people who are most disabled still need assistance. Again, it's trying to get that balance right.
Sally Sara
The Reserve Bank is releasing its latest interest rate decision today. How much is the conflict in the Middle East and restricted shipping lanes in the Gulf - how much pressure is that putting on the Australian economy right now, in your view?
Ted O'Brien
Well, it certainly doesn't help. However, the real strain in the Australian economy comes from a government that doesn't know how to stop spending, and the Reserve Bank itself has been very clear, reminding us that it's really a sovereign problem that this government is spending too much. When a government spends too much money, they pour all this cash into the economy. They ultimately compete with households and businesses for goods and services, and that pushes the prices of everything up, and that's inflation, which is why we see inflation way above the 2.5% target of the RBA, and it's most likely therefore that we won't be seeing any decreases in interest rates anytime soon. I mean, the average mortgage holder, Sally, today is paying around $30,000 more. $30,000 more every single year under the Albanese government, and that is just because this government cannot control money, and the RBA has no choice in such circumstances but to respond, and that's with higher interest rates.
Sally Sara
You don't think they'll stay on hold today?
Ted O'Brien
Look, all the market is indicating that they're likely to stay on hold, and so I've never been in the habit of trying to pre-empt an RBA decision, I won't start today.
Sally Sara
On a separate issue, your colleagues, including your Opposition Leader, Angus Taylor, have been calling on the Prime Minister to apologize to his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi after Mr. Albanese gestured to his chest when discussing the melons that the Japanese Prime Minister gave him, this was all in a podcast interview. I raised this issue with the Federal Finance Minister Katy Gallagher in the past half hour. Let's take a listen.
Katy Gallagher
They've been interpreted in a way that he never intended, and absolutely rejects, and I accept that. I work closely with him. I know the Prime Minister, and when he says that he was he was making some remarks about a gift that he was given, I think he was responding to a question. They have been interpreted by media and our political opponents in a way that he never intended.
Sally Sara
Do you accept that explanation?
Ted O'Brien
No, I don't. People can interpret whatever they like. Unfortunately, this has become a national embarrassment, and and it does warrant an apology.
Sally Sara
The Japanese Government, we've seen reporting in the Australian of the cable from the Japanese Government, which is playing down and moving on in the relationship. What's your evidence that it has-
Ted O'Brien
I, too, would like to move on in the relationship, Sally. I mean, let's not forget-
Sally Sara
It seems like that's happened.
Ted O'Brien
Let's not forget that we should be celebrating 50 years of the co-operation and Friendship Treaty with Japan this year. That should be the focus. Instead, we're talking about inappropriate remarks made by the Prime Minister. Now, the Prime Minister can say all he wants, that he didn't mean it. Really, he should just apologise and move on. The fact that he is now denying it is prolonging this. I've spent many, many years working in Japan. We are talking about people who are deeply respectful. We need to show that same level of respect, and I ask the Prime Minister just to do the right thing here, apologise, and then let's move on with what really matters, and that is deepening the relationship with one of our closest partners, Japan.
Sally Sara
The Australian is reporting this diplomatic cable from Japan, and that cable has described the media reporting as sensationalised and said it would take no further action. Given that, are you satisfied that the incident has not damaged relationship with Japan? That's from the Japanese Government.
Ted O'Brien
I absolutely respect the ambassador and what he has written. However, the fact is, Sally, here you and I are on our national broadcaster talking about the remarks of the Australian Prime Minister, which implies being vulgar and crude to a female leader, the leader of Japan, nonetheless. This is one of our most important partnerships. This is a national embarrassment. Now we can we can say yes, but you know some people think it isn't. Well, here we are on national radio talking about it. The Australian Prime Minister has been inappropriate. This is a national embarrassment. He would be doing Australia and the Australian-Japan relationship a favour in just apologising and stopping this charade of denial.
Sally Sara
News.com reported that you met the Japanese Ambassador to Australia, Kazuhiro Suzuki, yesterday to express your deep regret over the comments. Why did you seek that meeting? And given the diplomatic cable, if the Japanese government has moved on, why can't you?
Ted O'Brien
Well, look, I don't intend to go into the detail of that meeting out of respect. However, yes, I did seek that meeting, and I wanted to express my deep regret at the Prime Minister's remarks. Of course, we are the Opposition, Sally. I'm the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. I don't have the authority to apologise on behalf of the government or the Prime Minister. If I did have that authority, I would have done so.
Sally Sara
Just finally, you're releasing a series of short videos in Mandarin talking about Australian values such as freedom, equality, and a belief in democracy. You said your Chinese is a bit rusty. Why is that, why have you decided to release these?
Ted O'Brien
I think there's nothing more important than national unity. It stands in equal measure with the importance of a strong economy and a resilient country. You know, if you look at where the world is going at the moment, we're entering a new age. We're already there with entrenched competition between the United States and China. Australia has its challenges ahead. If we're going to learn some lessons here, especially from the disastrous treatment, the abhorrent treatment of Jewish Australians, we need to protect all Australians. We need to treat all Australians equally. Chinese-Australians are a valued part of our community, and there is an importance for all of us. We need to ensure we unite, and the one thing that unites us is a common set of values: freedom, equality, fair go, rule of law, you know, reward for effort. These are the sorts of things that bring us all together, regardless of background. There are a lot of Chinese-Australians, people from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, who have expressed concern to me about new laws coming out of Beijing, which suggest that China might actually target Australian citizens. We don't want to see the People's Republic of China do that. We need to be very clear that we will protect all Australians, and as Australians, we need to become more united, and we therefore we must focus on values, and that's why I'm doing these videos.
Sally Sara
Ted O'Brien, thank you for coming on this morning.
Ted O'Brien
Thanks very much, Sally.
