LINDA REYNOLDS:

Good morning, Tim, and thanks very much for having me on your show.

TIM SHAW:

Tell me how prepared we are for bushfires and other disasters in this country. Even earthquakes - I found out that yesterday the ACT is in the top three places where, of course, we can live with and suffer from earthquake, but tell us about our disaster preparedness here in the country.

LINDA REYNOLDS:

Well, Tim, as you said, one of my many responsibilities in this portfolio - I've got customs, emergency management, community safety, countering violent extremism, and as you mentioned, firearms - so one of the issues we're looking very closely at, I am particularly, is our preparedness for the upcoming bushfire season. And as you know, it's going to be a very challenging season this year across the country for various different reasons. So, in the north of our country, it's going to be quite challenging because it has been extremely wet and there's a lot of undergrowth that built up and that's the case in my own home state of Western Australia. We've actually had our third heaviest rainfall ever. So, that's because we've had too much rain and unfortunately, in the southeast of the country, and including in the ACT, you had almost drought conditions- or drought conditions in much of the country and very low rainfall in the ACT, which means that as soon as it starts drying out, it's a very challenging bushfire season.

So, for various different reasons, we are preparing- the Australian Government is, in particular, working very closely with our state and territory counterparts to prepare for the bushfire season. So what we're doing at the federal level is Emergency Management Australia, who I have responsibility for, is delivering a program of annual preparedness briefings right across the country.

And I'll just make this point, Tim, that preparing for the bushfire season and any other disaster is a shared responsibility. So it's not just a responsibility in some areas for the federal government¬¬ – state and territory governments have probably the most important on-the-ground responsibility, but what I'd say to all of your listeners this morning in the ACT is that they also have a really important role to play and that's ensuring that everybody in the ACT has a fire plan in place now.

TIM SHAW:

It's such an important message and every morning around 6.30, we speak to our emergency services agencies just to bring Canberrans up to date with what's been happening overnight; and it's an important message. You and your state and territory counterparts getting together. This is a timely reminder, Senator, that we need to be prepared and to have that plan.

Looking ahead to next Monday evening, Four Corners program is claiming that a cashed up gun industry has Australia's firearms laws in sight. Is that true? Is the Morrison Government being lobbied to relax our gun laws?

LINDA REYNOLDS:

Look, what I'd say is just a couple of things in relation to this. First of all, I'm organising now to meet with the gun industry in the consultative committee to actually hear what their concerns and their issues are. But equally, I'm also meeting with the Alannah & Madeline Foundation and many other organisations, who are lobbying for gun- tighter gun control. So, my role at the moment is to listen to both. But already, what I've found is that both sides are actually saying very similar things because both sides of the argument want to have tight gun control laws to make sure that we clamp down and we have the smallest possible black market or no black market; and that legitimate firearm owners and users can do so responsibly. So while it appears that there's- on the face of it that they're two very different arguments, I think they're both sides of the same coin. So, that's my role at the moment is to talk to both but there is no suggestion that we're going to water down any laws or the National Firearms Agreement to make it easier for the illegal gun market to flourish.

TIM SHAW:

Yeah, no. I understand that and I think that what we've proven since the horror of Port Arthur that there has not been a major incident, a catastrophe such as that since the Howard-Beazley-Milne coalition of bipartisan approach - a mature education, Tim Fischer stepping up into the breach - excuse the pun, but great strength in leadership shown at that time. And I believe the sentiment around Australia, as I'm sure you get in Western Australia, is that protection of our community and relaxing gun laws - there seems to be no appetite for that. I know that you'll look closely at that.

Can I talk to you about being a senior woman in the Australian Liberal Party? And you're a granddaughter of Alfred Reynolds, a former Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. Did he ever counsel his granddaughter about the great virtues of Labor and how did she end up being a Liberal senator?

LINDA REYNOLDS:

[Laughs] Well, that's a very good question, Tim. Sadly, yes, my grandfather was a member of the Labor Party in the West Australian Parliament, but that was a long time before I was born, unfortunately. And so, he passed away when I was quite young, but he was a Gallipoli veteran and I have researched extensively into his past, his speeches and what he stood for and I've got to say his values and his ethos for his community. He was a strong environmentalist well before it was called that and he had a great passion for his fellow working class people to get jobs and to be treated with respect. So, while I didn't- he passed away when I was quite young…

TIM SHAW:

Yes.

LINDA REYNOLDS:

…I know his ethos is with me.

TIM SHAW:

That's such an important message, and you would have carried forward it as grandfather, as a Gallipoli veteran. There you were overnight, welcoming the Invictus Games Team Australia to Sydney; and as you said on social media, the team is not just our 72 competitors but over 200 family, friends, coaches, and support staff.

This Invictus Games to be opened by the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, is such an important thing for Australia to recognise the service of these men and women. What's your message to Canberrans about the Invictus Games 2018? What do you want them to do?

LINDA REYNOLDS:

Well, I want all Australians, including all Canberrans, to watch the games this week and just to remember a couple of things. Firstly that all 72 competitors this year, Australian competitors, are winners simply because they've made it here. Now, I was listening and talking to them and listening to their story, and it was almost impossible not to shed tears because to them, winning is being here at the starting line because all of them have overcome- they've all got their own stories but they've all overcome significant hurdles to be here.

And I think the message I took away very much was what the Invictus Games and sport has helped them all do is it reminds themselves of who they are. They are not their disability and they still have significant contributions to make in the military, in many cases, or in society. So, when you see these competitors on TV, and you hear their stories and you see them, champion them along, but just remember that they- I think that they represent the best in all of us - is they're overcoming personal adversity together as a group; and look at them not at their disability but look at them as these amazing Australians.

TIM SHAW:

I need to go back to your career. Of course, you've served as brigadier and adjutant general in the Australian Army Reserve. You were recognised in the 2011 Australia Day Honours with the Conspicuous Service Cross for outstanding achievement as director of Army Strategic Reform Program coordination. I understand you did a doctorate, also, in military equipment procurement. Am I right?

LINDA REYNOLDS:

Almost. I did a Masters in Strategic Studies at the Australian Defence College in 2011. So, I was very fortunate to spend 12 months with my peers, studying military strategy, and that has helped me greatly now as an MP, and as I reflect, there are so many things in my military career, mostly as a reservist but several times, full-time in the Army, including up in Army headquarters, so it has prepared- I've got to say, Army has prepared me well for the rigours of the Senate.

TIM SHAW:

Yes, I was going to say that. Is Scott Morrison prepared for the rigours of possibly coming to work on Monday, leading a minority government if the Liberal Party do not retain the seat of Wentworth?

LINDA REYNOLDS:

Look, there's no question that the seat of Wentworth is going to be a challenging one for us to win but despite-one of the biggest observations I've got is that being in the Senate is despite all the harbingers of doom, we have got through many, many pieces of important legislation and despite this - just have a look at this week. We've got through five years early additional tax cuts for small to medium businesses, including some hundreds if not thousands across the ACT. We've got 5 per cent - we're down to about 5 per cent unemployment. I took through the Senate the legislation to enable the TPP-11 trade deal, which again is a huge benefit for all Australians because it means that we can do- we've opened up new markets for our farmers and for many other businesses. So, yes, it's going to be tough, but whatever happens on Monday morning, we will still be governing.

TIM SHAW:

Should you-

LINDA REYNOLDS:

[Interrupts] And governing well.

TIM SHAW:

Should you be climbing the Harbour Bridge with the Prime Minister and with the Duchess, the Duke of Sussex, I wonder? I don't think the Duchess is going to be doing it. Have you ever climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Senator Reynolds?

LINDA REYNOLDS:

I have not, but it is certainly on my bucket list. But having a look at this pea soup fog this morning here in Sydney, I just hope it lifts because, otherwise, no one will be able to see the Invictus flag that the Duke and Prime Minister will be raising today on the bridge.

TIM SHAW:

Can I thank you for your service in the Australian Defence Force, your service in the Senate, and assisting, of course, Peter Dutton and Minister Coleman. A lot of work in Home Affairs, and I think a really timely message for our listeners here in Canberra. Lindareynolds.com.au - if you'd like to know more. Senator, have a safe day and go those Invictus warriors that are there over this wonderful term of the Invictus Games; and it's just a wonderful recognition of their service and I'm pleased you're able to share that with us this morning. Have a great morning. Thank you.

LINDA REYNOLDS:

You too. Thank you very much, Tim.