Minister Rishworth interview on the Today Show with Karl Stefanovic

E&OE TRANSCRIPT

Topics: Royal visit at Parliament House, Lidia Thorpe's protest, alpaca sneezes on the King.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Welcome back to the show. Well, Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe has this morning spoken to Sky News UK about her decision to heckle King Charles at Parliament House.

[IN CLIP] LIDIA THORPE, SENATOR: I'm not fussed about what people say about me. I will continue to fight for justice for my people. We are the real sovereigns in this country. The king is not our sovereign. The king lives in your country. He's from your country. He can't be our king. I have the support of Aboriginal people around this country. I have the support from my grandmother. I have support from elders around the country. You might look, you know, put up the scary photos, but I will continue to resist.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Joining us to discuss today's headlines is Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth and Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie in the studio. Nice to see you, ladies. Alright, Amanda. First up, how was that to witness firsthand?

AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Well, look, it was pretty disrespectful, and not just to the king, but to the many great Australians that had gathered in the Great Hall. I was standing next to a number of great Australians who were pretty shocked, were pretty shocked and didn't quite understand why this was going on. So, it was very disrespectful and really disrespectful for everyone in the room. So, it was pretty disappointing, but didn't put a dampener on, I think, the very positive rest of the Welcome Ceremony, which I think was really very positive.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Alright. Bridget, senior members of the Liberal Party are reportedly considering a censure motion against Lidia Thorpe. Would you bother with it?

BRIDGET MCKENZIE, SENATOR: Well, it's appalling behaviour, Karl. You know, we're embarrassed across the globe as a result of this. If you're not a fan of King Charles and Queen Camilla, don't accept the Prime Minister's invitation. I think it's a real test for the Prime Minister here. You notice after the outburst, he was smiling as if he was indulging a naughty child instead of a militant activist. He actually put a code of conduct in place for a more respectful Parliament. PM, time to use it.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Alright. Amanda?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, I just wanted to respond to that. I mean, this is entirely Lidia Thorpe's behaviour and we should be united in our sort of condemnation of it.

BRIDGET MCKENZIE: What are you going to do about it? Well, you've got the tools, use them.

AMANDA RISHWORTH: This is Lidia's behaviour and, well, quite frankly, this was a stunt by Lidia Thorpe and by giving it oxygen is exactly what she wants. So quite frankly I thought, Bridget, that we would be united in a response of respect, not play these political games.

KARL STEFANOVIC: So, I thought I'd climb in here today because it's normally you two out there on the tightrope every week. And I just wanted to give you my take on what happened yesterday and the whole thing. So, here it is. The dude has been going through a lot for obvious reasons. His youngest son's cheese has slightly fallen off its cracker. That son is feuding with the good son. And as a parent, that must ache his soul. The good son's beautiful wife got diagnosed with cancer at the same time as Pops. Imagine the psychology and physicality of that joint battle. He hasn't finished treatment yet, but he flies all the way to Australia and starts pressing the flesh straight away, because, for some bizarre reason, he genuinely loves this country and us. In comes Lidia, giving a Welcome to Country Thorpe-style in sacred possum gear, shouting obscenities at him. Then the cream on top. Amanda, Bridget, he wanders outside and runs into the most socially obnoxious creature in the animal kingdom, the alpaca. Known for only two things: expensive fleece and spitting. Lo and behold, the bloody thing spits. All the while, the king and queen keep smiling. You don't have to like the royal family and what it stands for, but by goodness, this King, Amanda, is a dude. Here ends the lesson.

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Look, he put up with an alpaca spitting on him, right. And just kept, kept going on. In true British style, I think.

KARL STEFANOVIC: I like him. You, Bridget?

BRIDGET MCKENZIE: Yeah. I'm a constitutional monarchist. I thought his speech…

KARL STEFANOVIC: Oh, no.

BRIDGET MCKENZIE: Who would have thought? But I thought his speech yesterday was fabulous. He talked about our warmth, our unique Australian characteristics of humour. He knows us well as a nation and loves us and has only our best interests at heart. And I think it's great.

KARL STEFANOVIC: And also, Amanda, I mean, just how he spoke about our emergency services, the deep connection that he feels with them. This is a man who has devoted his life to public service and it's to be admired and honoured.

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Oh, look, he absolutely has. And the way he spoke about our environment as well, our nature, the connection he made through schooling here in Australia, he obviously has a deep connection with our country, spoke about the emergency services, but really, his respect for the Australian people and our Indigenous people, he made that point very strongly. So, look, you know, politicians have to shake a lot of hands, but he has to shake a lot of hands and greet a lot of people. And he did it really graciously and with a smile on his face.

KARL STEFANOVIC: As I mentioned, the king is a dude.

BRIDGET MCKENZIE: He's a dude.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Thanks, ladies.

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