MARK LEVY, HOST: Now this week, we’re recognising Men’s Health Week, encouraging Australian men to stop putting their health in the too-hard basket and book a check-up with their GP. And look, some people out there may say why, but the facts are clear – research shows two thirds of Australian men do not see a GP straight away when they notice something is wrong, and that should change because we need to look after ourselves. This goes for not just our physical health, but also our mental health, something that I’m very passionate about.
Dan Repacholi is the government’s Men’s Health Envoy. He’s also the member for the Hunter, so we’ll have a chat to him about his seat as well. But let’s have a chat to Dan – he’s on the line with us now. Dan, good morning to you.
DAN REPACHOLI, SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MEN’S HEALTH: G’day, Mark. G’day, listeners. And get excited – Men’s Health Week, this is where we put men’s health front and centre so that we can understand just the different needs that we need as blokes versus the wonderful women in our lives as well, and it’s about getting on top of our health.
LEVY: Why is this a passion project for you, Dan?
REPACHOLI: It’s a huge passion project for me because unfortunately in the city areas, we have men passing away just under five years younger than our female friends. And if we move into rural and regional Australia, that’s up to 13 years younger than female friends there, Mark. And this is something that we need to change, and it just shows the difference in health literacy between men and women, and that women do put a bigger emphasis on looking after themselves than what we do.
LEVY: There’s nothing wrong with a general check-up from the GP either, Dan. I’ll put my hand up here, I’m pretty hopeless. I’m a bit time-poor with my workload and everything else. But you’ve got to prioritise your health, don’t you, because we’re here for a good time, we’re not here for a long time.
REPACHOLI: That’s exactly right, Mark. And we do need to prioritise our health as blokes. If we can just get 10 more per cent of Aussie blokes out there getting out, booking into their GP and getting a blood test every 12 months, we will literally save thousands of lives. We’ll spend thousands of dollars on our cars, on our houses, doing all the maintenance on all of those things, but we won’t maintain ourselves. And if we can just change that just a little bit, to get blokes to get their health front and centre and that number one on the list of their priorities so they’re around for their family and friends for much, much longer, then we will have healthier men in this country.
LEVY: What about the mental health side of things? I’ve spoken in the past, Dan, I lost a few mates to suicide when I was young, and I’ve spoken publicly about the night that I rang Lifeline. I wasn’t going to do anything silly, I just needed to speak to somebody because I was blaming myself for the loss of some of my mates. And I think it’s important for me to say that because it eliminates the stigma around mental health, and there's no shame in reaching out and asking for help. And that's something we need to encourage more men to do because when you look at the suicide rates in this country, 75 per cent of them are men, and that's simply not good enough.
REPACHOLI: That's exactly right, Mark. And I'm glad that you brought up that you have brought this up on air as well, and I've heard you speak about it in the past, and we need more people like you talking about this. We need more people who are out there in the public eye talking about this, because the more awareness we raise on this, the more normal it will be for somebody to go have a conversation. And if we can get young men, especially young men in this country, out seeing a health professional and getting that test, as I said earlier, that blood test every 12 months and seeing their GP, then it's normal for them to speak to a health professional because quite often for blokes, we don't feel comfortable talking to health professionals because it's not our norm, because we only see them when we feel like we're broken – either when we're really sick, when we've broken a bone or in situations like that. So we associate them with being broken.
LEVY: So when it comes to the men's health space, right, Dan, let's put a political spin on this. How much money is the Albanese Government spending in the men's health space?
REPACHOLI: So there's lots of money being spent in the men's health space. And we've seen big increases happen over the last four years, and we'll continue to see that happen along the way. And this is where my role really comes into this, and this is why I've been travelling around the country and talking to all different organisations, but also talking with everyday men and women on the ground to see what their issues are with- where we can get better services and actually get more help and tailored help to blokes as well. Because if we just keep feeding money into all the different organisations and the actual rubber's not hitting the road on the ground with these men and women, then just feeding money up the top isn't actually helping. So this first 18 months [indistinct] …
LEVY: [Talks over] But can you put a dollar amount on it though, Dan?
REPACHOLI: I can go back and get all the figures. I don't have all the figures right now for you. But the whole idea of this role is this first 18 months to two years is to get out there, have the conversations and see where we really can make a difference in men's lives and to then go back, speak to the Health Department, speak to uh the Health Minister, have these conversations and see what we can really do to make generational change so that we can have good, healthy men and young men in this country.
LEVY: All right. Well, with that said, I'd love you to respond to this question from a concerned mum. Mark, can you please ask Dan this? It's about young boys and men feeling like they don't have a place in society. Masculinity slammed, lower university participation, seven on average die by suicide every day, men living fewer years than women. What are they doing to help men? I noticed they released a women's statement in the budget, but what's the plan to help men? Your response, Dan?
REPACHOLI: So my response to that is exactly this position, the position I'm in now. This is the first time any government has ever put in a priority into men's health. So me being appointed as a Special Envoy for Men's Health, first time any government has ever done that. And I'm exceptionally proud of the Albanese Labor Government for seeing that there is an issue in men's health and that we need to get on top of it, and that we think it's important enough that we're going to have somebody to talk about it. And we’ll …
LEVY: [Interrupts] But if there's a women's statement in the budget though, Dan, why isn't there a men's?
REPACHOLI: And we can argue black and blue in this point, Mark, and many, many people will, right? But this is the first step to making sure that we're putting men's health front and centre, and I'm extremely proud that I get [indistinct] ...
LEVY: [Interrupts] But mate, if it’s- but Dan, with respect, if it's not in the budget, how are you putting it front and centre? If you've got a women's statement, why haven't you got a men's?
REPACHOLI: And as I said, Mark, we could continue to argue black and blue on this, right? But this is the first step. And I'm extremely proud of the Albanese Labor Government for actually taking the courage to go and do this and to put this forward because this has never, ever been done before. Previous governments have not done this at all. And now, we're starting to see some of the states and territories actually get on board and see that this is something that needs to be looked at too. And they're starting to put some ministers in for men and young boys. We've got Victoria that's just done it. We've got the Opposition in New South Wales that has done it. We've got South Australian State Government talking about it as well. This is the first step to make sure that we have equal health decisions for men and women. And I think that's a great thing, Mark.
LEVY: All right. We move on to the budget. There was an announcement from the Prime Minister and the Treasurer yesterday, a backflip on these capital gains tax changes in relation to small businesses. Are you able to explain them for me, Dan? I must admit, I thought they were confusing at first, and I think it's just become even more confusing. Can you simplify it for the listeners and for me, mate?
REPACHOLI: To simplify it, the easiest way is when Chalmers brought out the budget earlier this year, said we're going to consult with small business and start-ups, and that is what we've done. We've consulted with small business and start-ups. They've listened to what they've had to say. They've listened to what they thought the issues were. And now, there has been a few changes put into that. And that was very clear upfront that we were going to listen to small business and have that conversation with them, and now this is the outcome of consultation. So we’ll continue to work with small business along the way …
LEVY: [Talks over] So how are they going to help, Dan? How are they going to help the small business owners of Australia?
REPACHOLI: So we were told by small business owners and representatives that the threshold was too low. And they said that many, many times to Jim Chalmers. And so now, after consultation, that has been changed. And now, all those small businesses will be captured in this now as well, and then 98 per cent of other businesses will be too. So that's a great thing.
LEVY: It's got nothing to do with the decline in support in the polls for the government? That's got nothing to do with it?
REPACHOLI: Look, I don't have access to everything there, my friend, but what I would say is [indistinct] ...
LEVY: [Talks over] You read the newspaper, don't you, Dan? Come on, you read The Australian. You see all the polls.
REPACHOLI: [Talks over] Of course I read the newspaper. [Indistinct] …
LEVY: [Talks over] You've gone from the penthouse to the outhouse in the space of a couple of months, Dan. Surely, the polls mean something.
REPACHOLI: The only poll that matters, Mark, is the poll on the day. I've been told here in the Hunter that I’d lose my seat every election since the first one I was in, because that's what the polls told us, that's what the polls said to everything. But you know what? The only poll that matters is the poll on the day when people are going to cast their vote. And we're still two years off from an election, so we'll continue to work hard and make sure that we're delivering for the Australian people every way we can.
LEVY: Well, yours is one of the seats that's under threat from One Nation, as you've sort of alluded to there, Dan. What did you make of the stunt at the Press Club during the week by GetUp! when Pauline Hanson was there?
REPACHOLI: Look, I obviously had a bit of a chuckle at it, as many, many people did. But I think the worst part about this is that there was clearly some security breaches there that need to be looked at as to why that happened. And it doesn't matter who's there speaking at the National Press Club. That's a platform that people have to speak at. So whether it's One Nation, whether it's the Libs, whether it's the Nats, whether it's us as Labor, these sorts of things shouldn't happen. So definitely condemn what was happening there, and that should not have happened. And I know it was a stunt and people are doing what they're doing, but people do also- that are invited to speak at the National Press Club, they do have the right to be able to get up there and have that conversation without these sorts of things happening. And I do hope better that this sort of thing doesn't happen again into the future for any party.
LEVY: You really had a chuckle? I must admit, I saw it and I sort of cringed. I thought, oh, really? And, mate, it's backfired on GetUp! Surely, you'd concede that. If anything, it's just mobilised the One Nation supporters and fuelled the fire that Pauline Hanson thrives on.
REPACHOLI: Look, everyone's different, and everybody has different opinions there, Mark. And that's one of the great things about this country is that we get a chance to vote every three years or so and that we get to choose whichever way we want to vote, which is a really good thing because a lot of countries around the world don't have that option and we do have that. So I think it's a good thing.
LEVY: All right. Well, just one last question on sort of One Nation and your seat. You obviously get out in the community and you talk to some of the locals. I made the point recently, and I've said this to Barnaby Joyce, I've said it to Pauline Hanson, I've said it to Angus Taylor. Everywhere I go at the moment, it happened at Melbourne Airport yesterday on my way back to Sydney after commentating on State of Origin. It happened at Sydney Airport yesterday when I landed. People were coming up to me saying, Mark, I've been a rusted-on Labor voter, I've been a rusted-on Liberal supporter, I'm no longer, I'm sick of the major parties, I'm voting for One Nation. What are they telling you in your seat in the Hunter Valley, Dan, which is, let's face it, a coal mining town and one that's thrived on coal mines, but under this government, we've got this infatuation with renewable energy? Are you worried about that?
REPACHOLI: So we're the only seat in the country that's two-party preferred with One Nation, and we've had One Nation knocking on the door here for a long time. And so, it's been a continual fight with One Nation to keep winning this seat, and I'll continue to keep bringing that fight to them as well and making sure that we are looking after the people of the Hunter.
So here, you're right, we are the powerhouse of New South Wales right here in the Hunter. We have the best coal in the world. We have the cleanest coal in the world. And I know you'll have some listeners that blow up about that, but that doesn't worry me. And whilst people want to buy our coal, we'll always sell our coal. There's not a single doubt in the world there. Whilst there's a market there for it, we'll continue to export the greatest coal in the world out of the largest coal port in the world, which is Newcastle Port. We'll continue to ship that to the world while the world needs it.
But with the coal-fired power stations in our area, they are coming to the end of their life in time. We've just seen Eraring extend out for 2029, which is a good thing in my opinion and many people's opinions around this area as well. And we'll continue to work with the businesses in these spaces that own these coal-fired power stations and make sure that they are open for as long as they need to be, and we'll continue to work with that along the way.
LEVY: All right. One last one, Dan. It's got nothing to do with politics. It goes back to your sporting days. I think if memory serves me correct, I covered your bronze medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the 50-metre pistol ...
REPACHOLI: [Talks over] You did.
LEVY: … so I was a fan of your work back then. We can agree to disagree on political things now. But I've been talking all morning about the fact the Socceroos are in action tomorrow morning at 5 AM, and here's one thing we will agree on, mate. And that is if there's one thing to unite a country, it's a national sporting team. We've got to get behind the Socceroos, eh?
REPACHOLI: Most certainly. And we do got to get behind the Socceroos. The Socceroos are out there. They gave it to Turkiye. They gave them a flogging, which is great, and now we've just got to get in there and do that to the US as well. And I'm looking forward to getting up early in the morning to watch the game and cheer the Socceroos on because any time there is anyone representing our country at the highest of levels, we need to get behind them because it's an amazing thing, sport. And the Soccer World Cup is the largest sporting event in the world, and we have our amazing team representing there, and I wish Socceroos all the best.
LEVY: All right, fantastic. Dan, you're a good man. Thanks for joining us, and good luck over the next couple of years. I think you've got a bit of a fight on your hands up there in the Hunter. We'll chat soon.
REPACHOLI: Cheers, Mark, and cheers, listeners. Enjoy the end of Men's Health Week and get out there and get tested, blokes.
LEVY: Good on you, mate. Dan Repacholi, Member for the Hunter and the Men's Health Envoy for the Albanese Government.