Ted O'Brien MP
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Federal Member for Fairfax
TRANSCRIPT - INTERVIEW - SKY NEWS - FIRST EDITION
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Topics: Fuel excise, inflation, interest rates, polling, One Nation, trip to PNG.
E&OE...............
Jaynie Seal: Ted, so should the Albanese government extend the excise? We know we're going to know in a few days, but should he?
Ted O'Brien: Well, there's no doubt, Jaynie, that Australians are still under an enormous amount of financial pressure right now, and if there's one thing the Albanese government really should be doing is axing their toxic taxes. These taxes are going to be stinging families and businesses alike, and that's the number one thing they can do. We did call some time ago for there to be relief at the bowser. We were pleased that the government heeded our call. What they failed to do at the time, though, was find room in their budget to pay for it. As a result, we see an inflationary impact. So if Albanese and Chalmers decide next week to extend relief, the challenge for them is going to be to find room in their budget to pay for it. Otherwise, Australians will be paying anyway through higher interest rates.
Jaynie Seal: What about the Reserve Bank expected to hold rates today? We just heard from Cameron Reddin there, apparently it's [he is] going to be 100% sure that they're going to keep them on hold. What do you think?
Ted O'Brien: Well, Jaynie, certainly the market is pricing in a hold, certainly no relief for struggling households, and there's no relief because inflation is so high, and yes, there is a war on at the moment, which is putting pressure up on on the price of fuel and fertilizer, and the like, but even before the Middle Eastern conflict began, Australia's inflation was at a record high, going even higher, far higher than our peer economies, and so unfortunately, due to the Albanese government, Australians probably won't see any relief today through an RBA decision. In fact, the market is pricing in an interest rate increase later on this year.
Jaynie Seal: And let's talk about the polls, because One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, is ahead of our Prime Minister as preferred Prime Minister, and One Nation in terms of the party moved to first place on the primary vote. So, what does this tell us about what the country is wanting at the moment?
Ted O'Brien:
Change, I think, Jaynie, the nation is crying poor right now, and they want to see a change in government and I think the message to the Albanese government is very clear, Australians are hurting right now and giving up hope, and they are calling for change. What it means for the Liberal Party and the National Party as a Coalition is we have more work to do to convince the Australian people that the change should be to a Coalition government, because we are the only team with a proven track record of fixing Labor's messes. Still, we've got work ahead of ourselves, but I do believe what the polls indicate is genuine anger and a lack of hope on the part of Australians.
Jaynie Seal: If you look at the preferred Prime Minister as a leader, Ms. Hanson is 33% so roughly one in three people would like to see Pauline Hanson as Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese 29%, Angus Taylor 16%, what do you make of those numbers?
Ted O'Brien: Look, all of these numbers, of course, tell a story, and the story is the one I just mentioned to you. I think ultimately, though, you can't sort of judge a one-off poll as to what might happen in two years' time. I think what you see under Angus Taylor's leadership is a united party room with a very clear focus on the Australian people, putting Australians at the center, and as we continue to roll out our policies, as you've already seen with the biggest automatic tax cut on offer through the budget-in-reply that Angus delivered. I do believe time, of course, it will take to be carrying the Australian people on this, but I do believe we can do that if we sell what it is we have on offer, which is fixing Labor's mess in a very positive plan to ensure that Australians' standard of living is restored and their way of life protected, Jaynie.
Jaynie Seal: And you mentioned that one poll, but we are seeing consistent polls, certainly not the Prime Minister one, but the One Nation polls consistently moving towards One Nation. We know the federal election is a long way off, but how nervous is your party about the Victorian election, the Queensland election, for example?
Ted O'Brien: I wouldn't use the word nervous, but we're absolutely focused, and as we should be. And this is the beauty of democracy, you know? If you feel the pressure, well, that's a good thing, because it's pressure that makes diamonds, right? Yes, you've got to make sure. That you are continually focused on the Australian people, and if polls come out that says you should be bearing more of that pressure, well, so be it. All I can say is that my state colleagues, like my federal colleagues, are absolutely squarely focused on one thing, and that's the people they serve. And so we just need to get out there, keep engaging, and doing the right thing by them.
Jaynie Seal: Alright, we've got about 10 seconds. Ted, abroad, you're in Papua New Guinea to promote Coalition relations. Tell us a little bit about it, please.
Ted O'Brien: I am in Papua New Guinea, indeed. I wanted to make sure that the first overseas trip as the Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister was to the Pacific Islands, starting with Papua New Guinea, to send a message, and that is the Coalition and indeed team Australia prioritises this relationship. We're all part of the Pacific family, Jaynie.
ENDS
