TRANSCRIPT - SKY NEWS WEEKEND EDITION WITH TIM GILBERT

TIM GILBERT: Well sport is, as we know, one of the great unifiers. Last night all Australians came together to support the Matildas in Brisbane wherever they were. Even politics was put to one side. Joining me here in the studio is Paul Fletcher, Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives. No left no right last night.

PAUL FLETCHER:  That's right, I think all Australians were behind the Matildas and so proud of that extraordinary result. That penalty shootout was agonising but also exhilarating and I have to say Mackenzie Arnold is the keeper. Amazing job. A long time ago I was a goalkeeper for a while right at the other end of the ability spectrum I might say for Mackenzie Arnold but I don't think goalkeepers get the recognition they deserve but my word she really played a critical role last night. Cortnee Vine of course, scoring that that winning penalty goal but what a what a thing for Australians to all be proud of and now of course we're all behind them for the next step.

TIM GILBERT: Oh absolutely look there's plenty of things that can divide us here in this country all around the world and plenty of things that divide the people in Canberra. But this was one night which I found being a sports reporter for over 30 years I can see how sport has been an amazing unifier.

PAUL FLETCHER: Look I think it's Australia at its best and we should also acknowledge New Zealand as the other co-host of this Women's World Cup. But I think around the world people will have seen Australians love their sport but Australians have also made teams from so many countries very welcome and I think the other thing that is really worth celebrating here is that the excellence of elite women's sport is getting the recognition it properly deserves and I think the way that all Australians have got behind this event is I think a a strong signal that we all recognise that elite sport whether it's women's or men's it deserves the same respect.

TIM GILBERT: Absolutely and the anticipation for Wednesday night well we need to move away from this as much as I don't want to on to other issues and look Mark Speakman the leader of the Liberal Party the opposition in New South Wales has come out yesterday and said that he will vote yes in the referendum this is a blow to Peter Dutton.

PAUL FLETCHER:  Oh look I don't think I'd characterise it that way obviously Mark's a very respected figure leader of the opposition in New South Wales at the same time of course Libby Mettam the WA opposition leader has said in fact that although she was previously considering supporting the yes case she's now concluded she'll support the no case but ultimately it's a decision for every Australian there's a referendum coming up and what the federal opposition is focused on doing under Peter Dutton's leadership is seeking as much information as we can through question time and the other processes of the Parliament it's very important that Australians have the information they need because now it's a decision for every Australian in this referendum. You know earlier in the year the government was suggesting that they would not have pamphlets with the yes case and the no case going out to every household in the country that's been the requirement in every referendum for a very long time. We said look that's unacceptable. It's important Australians are well informed and I'm pleased to say the government ultimately back down took the position we recommended and we've been using question time over the last couple of weeks to seek more information about how the voice will operate but also about what happens next. Mr Albanese labor have said they're committed to implementing all the elements of the Uluru statement from the heart and that also includes the Makarrata Commission the a treaty a truth-telling process we've been asking questions about what that might involve the important thing is that Australians have the information they need when they come to cast their votes

TIM GILBERT: all right changing subjects the tension with China is easing how important is this relationship 

PAUL FLETCHER:  well of course China is our most important economic relationship a very major destination for our exports coal iron ore and of course exports like barley where China effectively closed the door for a couple of years similarly wine similarly lobster. Now that was an attempt by the Chinese government to put pressure on Australia that was under the Morrison government. We resisted that pressure of course we want a mutually respectful relationship with China but at the same time recognizing some differences in values we've got different systems. What I think is notable is that essentially the current government the current labor government has broadly maintained the direction that the Morrison government was pursuing they've maintained for example and we commend them for

TIM GILBERT: They have improved it a bit haven't they?

PAUL FLETCHER: Well the point I make is that on the Australian side, it's been about consistency and that's very important. So for example, the Albanese government has maintained the AUKUS agreement the the proposal or the plan for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines now that was that arrangement was entered into by the Morrison government the Albanese government has maintained that and certainly we welcome that, the opposition welcomes that. But the point I make is more broadly essentially we've seen a consistency of direction from the Australian government even as the governing party has changed and I think you've seen from both parties a position that we want a mutually respectful relationship with China but there will be issues on which we disagree. It's in the interest of both nations that there be trade between us and we have welcomed the fact that China has now said that the barley trade will resume and we would like to see the exports of wine resume exports of lobster and other products where those have been subject to restrictions on the Chinese side over the last few years

TIM GILBERT: We've seen Cheng Lei incarcerated in China for three years now. Anthony Albanese has been talking about a trip to Beijing whether or not that happens in the foreseeable future or not well we don't know but he was asked will this stop you from going unless something happens here and he says well we can't make our relationship with China transactional. What do you think of that?

PAUL FLETCHER:  clearly the notion that somebody is imprisoned without due process without a fair trial without the right to defend herself. Those are all things which in the Australian system we take for granted the presumption of innocence the right to a fair trial that is a good example of some of the differences between China and Australia. At the same time it is important that we maintain a continuing relationship and these are always matters for judgment as to how issues where there are a difference where there is a difference of opinion are to be pursued and it is an ongoing relationship when it needs to be managed in Australia's national interest and that is important but challenging whichever party is in power

TIM GILBERT: 60 days dispensing changes for pharmacies big medical discussions in Parliament of course around pricing. There is huge cost of living pressures, your thoughts?

PAUL FLETCHER: Well we've been clear that we support cheaper medicines for Australians the concern that we have and this came to a head really in this last week in Parliament the concern that we have is the lack of adequate consultation between the Health Minister Mark Butler and pharmacies. This will have a significant impact on the financial viability of pharmacies. The hit to pharmacies in dollar terms is significant. Now at the same time of course we want to see Australians getting cheaper medicines but the issue we've been pursuing is well what happens if this leads to pharmacies particularly in regional remote areas but potentially metropolitan areas as well, having their viability threatened such that they no longer operate. It is not of much benefit to Australians to say we can get cheaper medicines but you don't have the pharmacy to be able to go to particularly for example in a regional town to get your medicines and we have been pressing the government to have a more appropriate process in the way that it engages with pharmacies on this matter and that was the focus certainly of our disallowance motion in the Senate last week and so we do continue to call on the government to engage with the pharmacy sector on this matter and that's been our consistent message.

TIM GILBERT: Finally looking overseas and it's a bit of a question without notice but we discussed it this morning with a legal expert in the US you're a very learned individual. You were dux of your school, studied, but also keen you know a keen viewer of what happens internationally. Do you find what's happening in the United States in and around Donald Trump all the legal issues and still being the lead candidate in the Republican Party to have the candidacy for the next election astonishing?

PAUL FLETCHER: The United States is an extraordinary nation I had the chance to live there for a couple of years when I was doing a master's degree at Columbia in New York. It is a very big place it's a very diverse place. In one part of the country you can feel it's very different from another part of the country. It's also a country that has optional voting rather than compulsory voting and that tends to cause both major parties to have more of a focus on rather than going to the centre and seeking to engage their base to come out and vote so that shoot that can produce some different behaviours in the political system. At the same time, what I'd say is you know the United States has been a robust and vigorous democracy for a long time it's gone through some very testing times there was a civil war of course in the second half of the 19th century

TIM GILBERT: I don't think we've seen a political scene quite like it since the Civil War

PAUL FLETCHER:  Well the point I make is yes the United States system is under strain at the moment but it's also proven to be a very resilient system over more than two centuries it's certainly in Australia's interest that the United States gets through the current challenges and that balance between the political process and judicial processes criminal investigations and so on, is always one that needs to be navigated carefully. So I would simply say it's in our interest, that the great strengths and flexibility of the United States system which has overcome big challenges before is able to overcome these challenges now

TIM GILBERT: certainly challenges that's for sure it's gonna be an interesting 12 months. Let's finish on a bright note how many do we beat England by on Wednesday

PAUL FLETCHER: Well let's not put any kind of hex on the Matilda's. They've done such a fabulous job and I'm sure their coach will be working with them very closely on the right mental attitudes they've shown such great mental strength in getting through. I was at our local live site at St Ives village green watching the loss to Nigeria so to bounce back from that of course has been important I'm sure they will be focused and they'll bring their mental strengths as well as the superb physical attributes to that game.

TIM GILBERT: oh yeah fingers crossed and I think the TV ratings I reckon they'll be the greatest we've ever seen on Wednesday night I really do. Mr. Fletcher always good to talk.