CHRIS BOWEN, SHADOW TREASURER: Well thanks for coming everybody. Today weve seen the release of a remarkable Freedom of Information request from Fairfax media from the Treasury. Now this request tells us a number of things.

Firstly, the Treasury told the Treasurer that the cost of dividend imputation refundability was blowing out, was increasing very dramatically, which we already know. $6 billion a year now, expected to grow to $8 billion a year in the not too distant future and that has grown very substantially over recent years.

Secondly, the Treasury telling the Treasurer that the vast bulk of the benefits of dividend imputation refundability goes to people with more than $1 million in their superannuation account already. Just as Labor has been saying. The Treasurer has been going around saying it impacts on pensioners which is a lie, and low income earners which is also not true. And he knew that because the Treasury was telling him exactly what Labor has been saying.

A couple of other interesting points about this Freedom of Information request. It went in on the day Bill Shorten and I announced our policy the request from the Treasurers office to the Treasury for information. The Treasury responded very quickly with distributional analysis and full details. That says one thing: that the Treasury was looking closely at dividend imputation refundability. That the Government, indeed, was probably considering reforms to dividend imputation despite the Governments denials about that and the Treasurers personal denials of that. Why would the Treasury have undertaken detailed distributional analysis an analysis of imputation refundability if changes werent being contemplated? A sort of request the Treasury provided the Treasurer with an answer for within hours would normally take weeks of work to put to get up. They had that work at their fingertips because they know that dividend imputation refundability is not sustainable and is not fair.

And finally the point is that the point man in the Treasurers office doing the work, arranging the political attacks on Labor, was his Chief-of-Staff, Phil Gaetjens; fair enough, thats his job as the Treasurers Chief of Staff, I dont have a quarrel with that. That is the role of a political staffer. My quarrel is that this man has now been appointed the Secretary of the Treasury, a role which should be entirely non-partisan, beyond reproach when it comes to partisan politics.

This Treasurer treats the Treasury as his personal play thing when it should be the pre-eminent economic policy making institution in the country. There are good and fine executives in the Treasury who are up to being a Secretary but theyve been passed over for a political appointment an inappropriate political appointment one which politicises the Treasury.

You know Scott Morrisons a former State Director of the Liberal Party. You can take him out of that role but you cant take the Liberal Party out of Scott Morrison, hes always playing the political game, treating the Treasury as his political play-thing of the Liberal Party just like as he were still State Director. Well hes the Treasurer of Australia now and he should be showing more respect to the independence and non-partisan nature of Australias premier economic policy making department.

Happy to take any questions.

JOURNALIST: Do you have confidence in the Member for Lindsay, Emma Husar?

BOWEN: Look, I know Emma well obviously through her work. I didnt know her until she was elected to Parliament. In my view, in my dealings with her, shes always been entirely professional and passionate. Now theres an investigation underway being conducted by the NSW Branch of the Labor Party. That investigation should be able to take its course. These are serious matters. All staff should be at all times be treated with respect and as I understand it John Whelan, an independent person is conducting that investigation and that investigation should be allowed to continue. In my dealings with Emma, Ive always found her very passionate about Western Sydney about the issues she cares about deeply and entirely professional, but these serious matters should be dealt with through that independent investigation.

JOURNALIST: Is there any proof that shes done anything wrong? Will there be any action taken against her?

BOWEN: Well look, lets let the investigation run its course. I dont know what has been told to the investigators. You dont know whats been told to the investigators. Its appropriate that that investigation should continue.

JOURNALIST: Have you personally heard of any concerns about her approach to staff before last week?

BOWEN: Look, I only became aware that there was an investigation last week. Obviously around Parliament you get all sorts of people saying all sorts of things. I stress these are very serious allegations. Thats why the New South Wales branch of the Labor Party has instigated as independent review and in fairness to everybody involved, in fairness to Emma Husar, in fairness to her staff and former staff, in fairness to absolutely everybody, that should be allowed to continue its work without running commentary from me or anybody else.

JOURNALIST: Do you believe it is appropriate for her to use a Comcar while travelling around Sydney?

BOWEN: She should always comply with the guidelines. She says she has complied with the guidelines. Thats a matter for the newly formed, Labor supported the establishment of the independent body, the name of which escapes me off the top of my head, but the independent body to examine all travel entitlements and other matters for Members of Parliament. Any concerns about that could be referred to them and no doubt they would be looking at the matter.

JOURNALIST: Did you ever use a Comcar when you were a backbencher?

BOWEN: I have always complied with the rules when it comes to Comcar and other entitlements.

JOURNALIST: So you say you have been very impressed with Emma in your dealings with her but you cant give taxpayers any guarantees that the money hasnt been wasted?

BOWEN: Well again, there is a process here. There is the independent process through the New South Wales Branch of the Labor Party, there is the independent body under the Commonwealth law which examines these matters. Every single MP, every single MP, Labor, Liberal, National, Greens, Callithumpian. Whichever your political persuasions must always treat taxpayers money and entitlements with the upmost respect. Thats what that body is set up to do.

JOURNALIST: Some of the former staffers alleged that the United Services Union refused to advocate for them because of the political fallout that it may cause. Does that concern you?

BOWEN: Well again I really dont think I can add much more to the fact that it is an independent review going through all these matters. Im not aware of all the facts. With all due respect, youre not aware of all the facts. Only those who have been interviewed by the investigator are aware of the facts. I have no first hand knowledge of any of these matters and really I cant add much more.

JOURNALIST: Does Bill Shorten have your support if Labor loses a by election seat on the weekend?

BOWEN: Bill Shorten has my support. Full stop. He will lead the Labor Party to the next election with my full support.

Can I just say one more thing about that? There is a lot of speculation, a lot of people saying this is a test for Bill Shorten. There is another by election on Saturday in a seat that the Liberal Party has I dont think ever lost until the last two years: Mayo. Now if Malcolm Turnbull cant hold the crown jewels of the Liberal Party, if he actually loses Mayo on Saturday, the legitimate question that you asked me is fair enough. Well, what about Malcolm Turnbulls hold on the Liberal Party leadership if you cant hold a safe seat?

We are fighting two marginal seats in fairness. I believe we can win them, we have got two great candidates and better policies but the seats of Longman and Braddon have changed hands regularly. In fact the Liberals have held Longman more than theyve lost it. Braddon is a very typical swinging seat, marginal seat which changes hands very regularly. Of course we are in a fight there. If Malcolm Turnbull cant even win Mayo, if he loses on Saturday, there are serious questions over his political judgement and his hold on the Liberal Party leadership.

JOURNALIST: Have you spoken to Anthony Albanese about any of the speculation that has been around?

BOWEN: No.

JOURNALIST: One more, when the report is finalised from the investigator into the staffers allegations, do you think that report should be made public?

BOWEN: Look, in fairness I havent thought about that matter. There would be matters in that report which are quite private to the individuals concerned, not only to Emma Husar, her staff, and it would need to be handled appropriately.

JOURNALIST: And will you be opting out of the MyHealth record?

BOWEN: Personally no but I think that is a matter for individuals and I think the Government should extend the period of time that individuals have to opt out. This is the Government which brought us Census fail and the robo call disaster in relation to debt in the Department of Social Security so they are really bad at IT. Im personally comfortable with my personal circumstances but I respect the rights of those Australians who arent and they should be given longer to opt out.

Okay? Thanks very much.