Kooyong debate: Josh Frydenberg v Monique Ryan go head-to-head

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and climate-backed independent Monique Ryan have faced off in a debate where they clashed on climate change, her status as an independent, wages, interest rates and Australia's relationship with China.

The battle between Josh Frydenberg and independent climate-backed candidate Monique Ryan for the marginal seat of Kooyong has been fierce.

The pair went head-to-head off in a Sky News People's Forum debate where their already-personal campaign reached new heights.

In the most tense moment of the debate, Dr Ryan blasted Mr Frydenberg as the “Treasurer for New South Wales”, saying “you weren’t here” during the pandemic.

“Public hospitals have been doing it pretty hard,” she said.

Mr Frydenberg said he was “not going to be insulted like that”.

He said his father was a surgeon, his sister was a paediatrician and his uncle was a urologist.

“I’m the member for Kooyong, I’m the Treasurer for Australia, and I have delivered economic support for Victoria which is greater than any other state on a per capita basis,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Mr Frydenberg said climate change was “one of the biggest issues the world faces” and that he was “absolutely committed” to practical and strong action to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Dr Ryan and Mr Frydenberg traded blows over her status as an independent, with the deputy Liberal leader accusing her of concealing the truth about her political past and Dr Ryan saying he was calling her names. They also debated interest rates, wage growth and refugees. 

Asked why a hung parliament would be a bad thing, Dr Ryan said the current Liberal government was already a “minority government” given its coalition with the Nationals.

Josh Frydenberg and Dr Monique Ryan during the debate on Sky News.

She said Mr Frydenberg was a “hostage to Barnaby Joyce” and to “his own political ambitions”.

Dr Ryan said if she was in the balance of power, she would negotiate with both major parties, with her top priorities being taking effective action on climate change and delivering a federal anti-corruption commission.

Dr Ryan also blamed the Morrison government for the breakdown in Australia’s relationship with China.

She said ties with Australia’s biggest trading partner needed to be “treated with respect and sensitivity”, not “macho chest-beating belligerence”, as she accused the government of weaponising the relationship for domestic political reasons. Mr Frydenberg said China has changed and Australia's national interest was a priority. 

The Treasurer has admitted he is in the ‘political fight of his life’ to hold on to the seat of Kooyong “and warned voters they face the ‘horror movie’ of an Albanese minority government propped up by teal independents who are performing a ‘fraud’ and ‘con job’ on the nation.

Dr Ryan, who is shaping up to be Mr Frydenberg’s toughest competition, is backed by the Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 machine.

Originally published as Kooyong debate: Josh Frydenberg v Monique Ryan go head-to-head

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