Nat Barr expressed the frustration many Australians feel about high migration and the effect on housing after an impassioned interview with two politicians on his Sunrise show.
A clearly exasperated Barr ended the interview with Housing Minister Claire O’Neil and Shadow Minister Jame Hume by shaking her head during Wednesday’s edition of the Channel Seven programme.
“Look, that’s really hard to understand,” Barr said of the high levels of migration.
“I can tell you for most Australians because you can’t get a house.”
Earlier, Barr confronted O’Neil, who previously helped oversee immigration as Interior Minister, about why the number of immigrants had risen to record levels despite the government promising to reduce it.
Barr highlighted a recent report showing 49 per cent of Australians think immigration is too high due to economic and housing issues.
‘Claire, when our housing and our economy are already under so much pressure, is it time to completely rethink our immigration strategy?’ -Barr asked.
Sunrise presenter Nat Barr (pictured centre) conducted a combative interview with Albanese government minister Claire 0’Neil (pictured left) and coalition MP Jame Hme.
“You promised to cut it, it seems to be increasing.”
Ms O’Neil responded: “We are a government with a clear plan to reduce migration rates, and we will do it by hook or by crook, whether Peter Dutton comes with us or not.”
But Barr continued to pressure the minister.
“Okay, I’m a little confused because the Australian Bureau of Statistics has recorded long-term permanent arrivals from January to September this year at 391,850,” Barr replied.
“Apparently, that’s the highest number for that period to date, so it’s the highest number we’ve ever gotten for that kind of number, and their goal was 260,000 for the full year.”
‘So what are you talking about from now on?’
“It’s going down, Nat,” Mrs. O’Neil insisted.
“Like now,” Barr interrupted.
‘And the numbers show it to us. We would like to see those numbers continue to go down,” Ms O’Neil continued.
‘What numbers show that?’ Barr tried to ask.
“We would like to see those numbers go back down and that is exactly why we have implemented this policy to limit the number of international students coming to our country,” Ms Hume said.
Barr also questioned O’Neil about whether Australia should copy the incoming Trump administration by having a government waste watchdog, which is run by billionaire Elon Musk and has been backed by mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
“Australians should feel uncomfortable when billionaires argue about ‘efficiency’ in public services,” Ms O’Neil responded.
‘What that really means for your viewers is drastic cuts to essential services like health, education and other services that we ordinary Australians depend on. “This has no relevance to Australia.”
‘But why does he do it?’ Barr pressed.
Billionaires Gina Rinehart (pictured left) and Elon Musk (pictured right) advocate reducing government waste.
‘Because Nat, the government does incredibly important things. It looks after our sick children in hospital, educates our children and pays for the care of elderly Australians,” Ms O’Neil responded.
“These are abstract things for billionaires who can pay their own way, but for ordinary people, they are meaningful and important things in their lives.”
However, Barr was still not convinced.
“Okay, a lot of people might be sitting in their living rooms today thinking, well, okay, I mean, whether you like Elon Musk or not, but if someone becomes a billionaire, they might know how to make money, they might know how to make money. reduce waste,” Barr said.
‘Let’s try it.’
Hume accused O’Neil of being “hugely disrespectful” in her response when talking about Musk and Rinehart, who are worth more than $466 billion and $30 billion respectively.
“You don’t get to be the richest man in the world or the richest person in Australia by accident, you get there because you have some ideas about how to be efficient, effective and profitable.” said Mrs. Hume.
‘I would like the government to spend taxpayers’ money more wisely, and you should too.
‘In fact, there are 36,000 additional public servants who have joined since this government began. 36,000.
‘That’s a cost of billions of dollars, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t necessarily think it’s $36,000. Public servants are better served than I was two years ago.
Barr agreed.
“I just think people at home could be open, I mean, we know the government needs to be run, but maybe people are interested in digging into exactly where the money is going, maybe we should be open to that,” Barr said . .
“I think that’s a very good idea,” Mrs. Hume replied.