Matt Kean's Interview

Here is Matt Kean's interview. He was very positive and wanted to talk to all of my family and Takayuki when we stepped in to his office. My project is due tomorrow and I still need to finish my poster and write my reflection. Wish me the best of luck!

Me: Why did you want to become a politician?

Matt Kean: I wanted to become a politician because I wanted to make a difference to our community. I grew up in the area, I was born here, I’ve lived here my whole life and it’s something I care deeply about. So I wanted to make a contribution to that area and I thought the best way to do that was in politics. When the opportunity came I agreed and let myself get endorsed in the Liberal party to be the candidate at the election that we recently had. I won. Now I can help people even more. I have recently spent $15,000 on the rebuild of Hornsby Hospital which is a wonderful facility full of great, hardworking people who unfortunately have to work in very difficult conditions.

Me: What is your favourite part about being a politician?

MK: What is my favourite part about being a politician…? I think, like you’re doing, it’s this part, meeting lots of people who are working in our community to achieve outcomes. Since I have been elected to parliament I have met wonderful people from church leaders, community leaders, volunteers who make this community the wonderful place it is. I think we are very lucky in Hornsby because so many people care about this area. Working with people, getting to know people, that is the best part about being a politician.

Me: If your friend wanted to be a politician what would you tell them is the key to becoming one?

MK: If my friend wanted to become a politician, I would probably advise against it! You’ve got to be passionate and that is not just with politics it’s with anything that you do. If someone’s motivation is right then they can do anything. So passion, hard work and to understand and be part of your community are the keys to becoming a politician.

Me: What was your first day of parliament like?

MK: Well my first day of parliament was like my first day of high school really. So I turned up, the Liberal party had a lot of new faces in it this year so there were a lot of people like me who had never been in parliament before and didn’t know what to expect. It was certainly very exciting and a pretty surreal event as well.

Me: What is a typical day for you like?

MK: The first thing I do every day is go to the gym at 6:30. I start work at about 7:30 to 8:00 where I’ll go through my diary for the day. We normally have a staff meeting where we work out what we have to do for the day. The day is usually taken up with sending emails, letters, meeting people and then in the evenings I normally go to functions. However, this is when I am in Hornsby having my winter break. When it is not my winter break I am in parliament debating and etc.

Me: A lot of the politics I hear and see are boring, what do you see as fun?

MK: Why do you see them as boring Joel?

Me: Well, probably because I don’t know much about them and all I see is people debating and making speeches all day.

MK: I guess I can see how you might see it as boring but to me all the debating is a good thing because people are able to have their own say where as in other countries to make your own statement you must go to war.

Me: So back to the question, what do you see as fun?

MK: I think for me personally I love engaging in the battle of ideas, so I love debating. I love putting forward my beliefs and working with my colleagues on the merits of my argument, trying to convince them to support my view points.

Me: How nerve racking was it waiting to find out if you became the MP of Hornsby?

MK: Let me tell you, it was so nerve racking because in the election I was a new candidate and no one knew me, whereas my opponent was very well known and very high profiled. So we thought it was going to be very close. When the first votes came in from Hornsby Hospital it was very close! I was very nervous. Eventually, after more and more votes came in though it became clear that I was going to win.

Me: What occupation did you want to have as a little boy?

MK: Oh that’s easy, a test cricketer. I always wanted to play for Australia but unfortunately I didn’t achieve that. Thankfully I still enjoy playing for the Berowra cricket club.

Me: Do you have any hidden talents?

MK: Hidden talents… What do you think, Christine (Christine is one of Matt’s staff)? “No”. Well I do cook and that is something I love. I will cook anything, because I love eating but I did a cooking course and I’m a trained cook.

Me: Do you have any hobbies?

MK: Cooking, rugby league, sport. I’m obsessed with sport! So I love my rugby league, I’m a mad St George fan, I watch any St George game, I am nuts about my cricket!

Me: Do you watch any sports?

MK: Well basically, if it’s on TV and its sport, I’ll watch it! I go for St George in NRL, Australia and NSW in cricket, Waratahs in rugby, I don’t really watch soccer, but I go for Sydney FC.

Me: What is your favourite car?

MK: Well, I did enjoy having this van which we drove during the election and basically we stuck my face all over it and drove it around. However I am getting a new car which is a Volkswagen Golf.

Me: Do you play any instruments?

MK: I did. I used to play the piano and I did music for my HSC.

Me: What is your favourite food?

MK: Definitely Chinese.

Me: Who is your role model?

MK: My role model is my Dad. He is just the type of person that I’d like to be because of his values and his work effort and his commitment to his family.

Me: What is your number one life motto?

MK: I don’t really have a motto but it would go along the lines of the importance of hard work, the need to stand for something and the importance of community and being good to your neighbour.

 Did you like it?

Matt and I, like my hippie shirt?