Interview with Neil Breen, 4BC
28 February 2022
Neil Breen: Scott Morrison, he arrived yesterday, he was at the Kedron Emergency Centre with the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. He joins me on the line. Prime Minister, thanks for your time.
Prime Minister: Good morning Neil.
Breen: Just extraordinary that you happened to be here to witness this yourself. Tell us what you're feeling and seeing about what the people of south east Queensland are going through.
Prime Minister: Well, it's a very serious and very anxious time. I've been scheduled to come up this week, but I've decided to come early on the basis of what we're seeing with the floods. I spoke to the Premier on Saturday and we were getting regular updates and we've activated assistance in a whole range of areas, particularly the ADF. But the news of a further life having been lost and these are floods that aren't just affecting obviously Brisbane, but also Logan and Ipswich and up to Maryborough and the whole impact zone goes from Bundaberg all the way down. And of course, now we're seeing very desperate situation a bit further south down in Lismore, where I've been speaking to New South Wales Premier this morning. So there's a lot to be done. The ADF are activated and are providing every assistance. The financial assistance is flowing, we'll be advising further council areas that will be able to access the disaster recovery payment and the allowance, that will include Brisbane City, Moreton Bay and many others, and we'll be making further announcements about that this morning. But the most important thing right now is as the floodwaters continue to rise, is that people, wherever they can be in a safe place and people moving around is very dangerous, as we've seen, and it's important to know if it is flooded forget it, and to ensure that people where if they are in a place of safety to remain there.
Breen: Yeah. Well, Prime Minister, people think, look, I just got to get across that road there. It should be fairly easy to do. I saw it myself at three o'clock this morning, I saw these small cars. Look, people have four wheel drives will have a crack. They shouldn't either. The people with small cars, they just lost their vehicles. It's amazing to think people do it.
Prime Minister: Well, this is why, I've been here, as you know, overnight in the Brisbane City Council and I’m meeting with the Lord Mayor this morning and be going through the same, very similar issues I went through with the Premier yesterday. But this message of if it's flooded, forget it, is is very, very serious and these are very serious floods. We've got a weather bomb across the top of south east Queensland and it's going to be moving down the coast. It's a rather extraordinary weather event and it is causing, you know, incredible impacts. So people need to be obviously taking this as seriously as they possibly can. I'm sure they are, but I think it is, oh if, I could just get across there or I need this, a moment's convenience that you think might come from that, could could turn into something very fatal. So I'd urge people to to remain in safety in place.
Breen: Yesterday, the disaster payment that you announced so far for people in Gympie and other places North Burnett Regional Council, you said it will extend and that announcement will be made. So it's a $180 a person or $900 for a family of five or more. So how can they access it? How do they actually go about it and how long will it take to get it to them?
Prime Minister: Well, there are two types of payments that's that's one of them that's done with the Queensland Government. Our payments are $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child, and that is available through Services Australia Disaster Assistance Phone Line, which is 180 22 66. Or you can go to the ServiceAustralia.gov.au/disaster website. These are the same places where COVID disaster payments and other disaster payments have been made. And so those who have accessed those before will know that process is a very efficient one. These are the payments made by the Federal Government, and there are also under the allowance that will also be announced, and that is helping people who are affected with income loss, unable to physically get to work because of floods and things of that nature. These are the same payments that were being affected during bushfires and in so many other natural disasters. So, they will be they will be progressively activated. I've been speaking to Bridget McKenzie, who's the Minister for Emergency Management this morning, in about extending those further. We discussed it yesterday. She was with me here in Brisbane for that briefing with the Premier and all the emergency service authorities yesterday.
Breen: OK, $1000 eligible adult, $400 eligible children, 180 22 66, Service.Australia.gov.au, we'll put all these details out through through the through the morning as we go. How long are you staying?
Prime Minister: Sorry, Neil I should say, now we should say when we activate those for the Brisbane Council area, those I expect will be making those decisions late today. And so I anticipate that then those payments would flow probably from from tomorrow.
Breen: OK, from tomorrow. How long are you in Brisbane for, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: Well, I'm here today and there are significant limits on where we can move. I mean, we certainly don't want to get in the way of any of the disaster recovery efforts that will be taking place, but right now we're in the middle of disaster response. We don't need the Prime Minister's cars or anything moving around, getting in the way of emergency assistance. I'll be here in Brisbane dealing with some of the other issues about where we can provide further support, also connecting a lot with the New South Wales Government about the serious situation they've got there. We're rolling out ADF support. I've just spoken to the Premier this morning about that for Lismore as well. We've got the team up here at Enoggera as well who are on standby and have been for the entire time. The real issue is not just, of course, dealing with the direct response in the middle of this flood event, but also then the recovery operation that will follow. And that's where I anticipate, having spoken to the Premier, tomorrow ADF and others will be playing a more significant role.
Breen: Well, you've got a fair bit on your plate. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, because obviously Ukraine, and I can update people when I let you go so I don't take too much more your time, there's a lot of developments overnight. Russia is making threats, nuclear type threats. But you've put out a statement this morning along with the Treasurer, Marise Payne, Peter Dutton as well, and Australia's going to work with NATO to provide lethal as well as non-lethal military equipment, medical medical supplies and financial assistance to support the people of Ukraine. So tell us about that move.
Prime Minister: Well, all of the above as you've just said and I actually got a message from the President of Ukraine last night, very appreciative of what Australia was doing and the stance we've taken, but also extending our support to lethal lethal aid support. We're working that through with our NATO partners now. The most effective way to do that is through them and their supply chains and their ways of getting that into Ukraine. So that's on that front. On the humanitarian support, I made some announcements yesterday about how we're supporting through visas. We've got an initial commitment into NATO this morning, which is providing nonlethal support, so that medical packages those sorts of things to assist in the conflict zone. But we'll be making further announcements about a broader humanitarian assistance support. Many other countries have been doing that. The Treasurer and I and the Foreign Minister have been discussing that this morning. And so we'll make an announcement later after further assessment about what will be, I think, an important but significant humanitarian package of support financially and that will occur, that will assist in places like Poland and other neighbouring countries, where we are seeing large numbers of displaced people arrive.
Breen: I did a lot of reading on the weekend. It looks like the financial squeeze the world has put on Russia is having an effect. But Prime Minister, I have to ask you. Vladimir Putin has ordered the defence chiefs to put the country's nuclear deterrence forces on high alert. Does that concern you?
Prime Minister: Well, of course it does. It is a reckless thing to say in these circumstances, and I think the response from so many countries, particularly in NATO countries, but also, you know, Australia, Canada and others, we've been doing our bit as well to to support this initiative. I think the advance in Ukraine has not gone to quite the timetable or plan that I think Russia expected. And I think the world's response has been swift and has been significant. It's literally SWIFT, the payment system, I was calling for that early this week. I'm so pleased that the advocacy we're undertaking, particularly with Europe and the United States has been effective and that is now moving. I think the announcements by the German Government overnight have been very, very strong and I welcome and commend the Chancellor for his his announcements. This has really, I think, focused the minds of the world and there is a real difference occurring here. There are those autocratic bullying states and there are liberal democracies who aren't going to stand for it. And so I think the bravery and courage we've seen from the Ukrainian people has been extraordinary. I was with the Ukrainian Sydney community yesterday at their at their church and offering prayers as well as support. The strength and courage they're showing is extraordinary. I understand I'll be talking to the President later today.
Breen: Oh, okay, yeah, you'll be talking later today, he's been amazing. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thanks so much for your time this morning. Thanks for being in Brisbane.
Prime Minister: Thanks Neil. Everybody, stay safe, wherever you are. Please stay safe. And that's the best way you can help all the emergency authorities is by ensuring that you don't need to call on them, and you can do that by staying exactly where you are.
Breen: Yeah. And Prime Minister, when you're out and about today, to your press conference and your meetings, if it's flooded, forget it.
Prime Minister: Absolutely. That's, we'll be following our own advice.
Breen: Exactly. 20 after 7. Thanks Prime Minister.
