Press Conference, Canberra ACT
2 March 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning everyone, it’s a beautiful morning here in Canberra. Today, I’m pleased to announce that Senator Linda Reynolds will be sworn in as a Cabinet Minister today here in Canberra by the Governor General in a few moments' time. Senator Reynolds has had an extraordinary career. I am sure many of you probably do know that she is a Brigadier in the Army Reserve. She has worked with our most senior people in our defence forces, and so after I received the advice from both Steven Ciobo and Christopher Pyne that they would not be recontesting the next election, and after Steven advised me that in those circumstances, with two ministers in defence portfolios, is that he thought it was the best thing to do to stand aside also from the Ministry to enable me to make an appointment into a defence portfolio but also to flag very clearly that should we be successful at the next election, and my Government is re-elected, that Linda Reynolds also would become the Minister for Defence in my Government if we return to the next election.
So today she is being sworn in as the Minister for Defence Industry. She is also being sworn in as the Minister for Emergency Management, and also the Minister for the North Queensland Recovery. As you know, yesterday in Townsville I made an announcement about our North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Authority, which Shane Stone is leading, and that Authority reports directly to me. Linda will continue to work very closely with me on that incredibly important issue for North Queenslanders. Since I elevated her to the executive after becoming Prime Minister, Linda has shown an incredible ability to get things done, and that is what I look for in people who are part of my team, that they can get things done, they know how to get things done. And Linda has demonstrated that outside of this place and inside of this place. And so it wasn't a difficult decision at all to make this decision to elevate her both into Cabinet, but particularly to put her into a defence portfolio.
Now, of course, that elevation comes as a result of two members of the ministry, of the Cabinet, who have decided not to recontest the next election, and Christopher Pyne and Steven Ciobo, I want to thank both of them for their many years of service. I mean, Christopher Pyne has spent more time in this place than he has been on the planet, he has spent more than half of his time, I should say, in this place, then he has been on the planet. Maybe it felt like the whole time, I am not sure. But I want to thank Christopher for his service to our country. 26 years is a very long stint in the Parliament, and as he said this morning, at some point all members have to make those decisions about the future, and today that was announced both in Christopher's case and also in Steven's case, and Steven was first elected back in 2001. He has also served a very long time here in the Parliament and both men have achieved a great deal during their time here, and they have already made mention of all that this morning, and I would only reflect on that, that has been an excellent period of service for both of them, and they have made their decisions going forward.
So what has changed today and what hasn't changed today? What's changed today, of course, is we have two members of the Cabinet who have decided not to recontest the next election. That's true. What has also changed today is we have elevated Senator Reynolds into the Cabinet, which means there will now be seven women in our Cabinet. Already my Government had the equal highest number of women in Cabinet, along with the Rudd government, with six women in Cabinet, and also that was true of the Turnbull government. This now makes our Cabinet the strongest level of female representation in the history of Federation, and that is something that I would intend to continue should we be elected at the election in May.
JOURNALIST: Is that a bit ironic, Prime Minister...
PRIME MINISTER: I haven't finished yet, sorry. Seven women in the Cabinet, I think is a great way to start the week when we go into international Women's Day, amongst many other things, and because we are a Government that has been delivering for women, and to have seven women in the Cabinet is something I think that Liberals and Nationals can feel very proud of in terms of where we have got to today.
I will tell you what hasn't changed today, though. What hasn't changed today is our Government's record for delivering a stronger economy. What hasn't changed today is our Government's plan to deliver a stronger economy into the future. The plans that I have laid out for a stronger economy, for a stronger position on national security, for stronger borders, all of these plans remain in place, and I have the team in place to achieve that. Josh Frydenberg leading as Treasurer, Peter Dutton leading as Home Affairs Minister. Linda Reynolds, who will serve as the Defence Minister if we are reelected. Marise Payne serving as Foreign Affairs Minister. Of course we have outstanding Ministers in Greg Hunt and Dan Tehan leading the way in education and in health. These are the portfolios that drive much of what governments do and there are many others, I acknowledge that.
But you know who our people are, going forward into the election, who will perform those roles. Bill Shorten can't tell you who his Home Affairs Minister will be. We still don't know. Who will be apparently stopping the boats if Bill Shorten is the Prime Minister? And because there is so much confusion about that, we don't even know if Richard Marles will be the Defence Minister if Bill Shorten is elected, because it has been made pretty clear that he is an option for them to serve in Home Affairs. So the irony is this - the contrast, actually, today could not be more clear. Our team is very, very certain in terms of who will take on these key roles in my Government, and they are people who have been performing these roles, in many respects now, for many years. And ultimately, at the end of the day, Australians will make a choice about who they want to lead this country, and they will make a decision between me as Prime Minister and Bill Shorten as the Leader of the Opposition. And that hasn't changed.
We have a plan to make Australia stronger. Bill Shorten's plans will make Australia weaker, and at the end of the day that will be the choice that Australians will make as we go to the election in May. So I’m going to ask Linda to make a few comments and then I am happy to take questions.
SENATOR THE HON LINDA REYNOLDS: Prime Minister, thank you very much and I am incredibly privileged and humbled to have been appointed the Defence Industry Minister today, and also to attain responsibility for Emergency Management and also Queensland Reconstruction. My career, my whole life up until now, I think has prepared me exceptionally well for this role. This role is about, in my mind, two things. It is about ensuring that our 80,000 men and women who serve our country in uniform have the best possible equipment that we can provide them. Secondly, it is about ensuring that we use as much as possible of Australian industry resources in supporting our own men and women. And having not only served in the Australian Army for nearly 30 years but also having worked in defence industry and working with defence industry for many years, I know just how capable our people are, right across this country. And I've got to commend this Government. My role will also be over the next few months to make sure that we keep rolling out the $200 billion that we are investing in upgrading our entire military forces, our Army, our Air Force, our Navy, and also new capabilities in cyber and in space. We are developing to meet the changing and not necessarily more secure geostrategic environment we are facing globally.
So Prime Minister, thank you very much for your confidence in me, and I can say that I will give this job absolutely everything, because I understand how important this role is. And there is no greater responsibility for any Prime Minister or any Minister in the defence portfolio, than the safety and security of all Australians. So Prime Minister, thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you, Linda, I should also say I deeply appreciate the support of Michael McCormack as the Deputy Prime Minister. Obviously in responding to this latest set of decisions of two of the Ministers, I consulted with the Deputy Prime Minister and in the Deputy Prime Minister, you know the team between him and I is a very strong coalition.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, are you at all worried that this mass exodus is damaging your potential campaign in the lead up to the election?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I am not, because... No, I am not, because the election is about what we are going to do and what we have done. You know, the personalities will change from time to time. But it is what you are doing that matters, and what you are going to do that matters. 1.25 million jobs is what my economic plan is going to deliver over the next five years. Stronger national security and stronger borders, based on the National Security plan that I outlined a few weeks ago. That is what we’re going to do and I have the people in place to do that. It is about what needs to be done, and ensuring you have the people who can do it, and my Government can tick both of those boxes. And so there will be a very clear contrast at the next election between a plan for and credentials to deliver a stronger Australia, which is my Government's plan, and the Labor Party and Bill Shorten's plans that will deliver a weaker Australia.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you are about to head to Yarralumla. What do you say to those who say you should call an election while you are there?
PRIME MINISTER: No, because we will be handing down the first surplus Budget in early April. See you know Brett, as Prime Minister there are many things that happen, that come along, some foreseeable and some not. But the real test for people who stand in this position is how they deal with those issues. I don't get distracted by these things. I always just remain absolutely focused on the job I have for the Australian people, and that is to ensure that our country is stronger, that our economy is stronger, that they are safer, and I can bring and continue to bring the country together. So that is what I am focused on. I don't get flapped by things like this. I just keep going. Because I am clear about my plans and I know what we need to achieve, and I got the people to do it.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, it doesn't appear that you have a praetorian guard. Have you been let down here?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I mean don't even understand the point of the question.
JOURNALIST: On the resignations of Minister Pyne and Minister Ciobo, they have been talking to you about it for some time. As you say, Christopher Pyne has been here for 26 years, did you ask either of them to reconsider their decisions to leave politics?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, when both of them came to me - and with Christopher it was only in the course of this past week, earlier in the week, and with Steven it was a couple of weeks ago - but there were things we still had to focus on at that time, and we were working through Parliament and our focus was on that and not on these matters, so I said we would deal with them in turn. In both of the cases, of course if they had wisheda to continue I would have welcomed that. But particularly in Christopher’s case, 26 years as a long time. HG and Roy used to have that great saying, too much is never enough. Well I don't think Christopher Pyne would even agree with that in relation to himself. So look, they have made their decisions, I understand them, I respect them.
But I think what it demonstrates, when I can pull Brigadier off the bench in the Assistant Minister ranks to take on a role in the defence portfolio, and raise the number of women in our Cabinet to seven, the highest number of women ever in an Australian Cabinet, which will be continued under my Government, I think that demonstrates the strength of where our party is out. And when you think when you have people like Doctor Katie Allen, who have joined our ranks in Higgins, seeking election in the seat of Higgins - a paediatrician, a research scientist, a mother. You have Warren Mundine who has joined our team, a vote of confidence in our team, and Warren's leadership in indigenous affairs, but more actually importantly in creating jobs for people in rural and regional Australia, I think these things demonstrate that people want to get on board with our team. And in both of these cases where we will have selections and we will ensure that we will have members who will carry that forward and further bolster the ranks. I mean, Christopher has made that point himself today. It is an opportunity for new people to come into those roles.
I mean, in the last... since I have become Prime Minister, 18 women have been selected in either Senate or House of Representatives seats. 18, and two and the National Party as well, both in the New South Wales Senate and in the seat of Mallee, which I think are very important seats. And you've got three of our Senate tickets at this election, including in Western Australia, all being led by women. So look, I think we've got a very strong story to tell there, and we will continue to move forward in that area.
JOURNALIST: PM, you said that you were going to maintain at least seven women if you are reelected. Has that become almost a de facto quota for you for having... and given that one of those women currently in the Cabinet is Kelly O'Dwyer and she is coming out, are you telling every woman who is standing for the Liberal Party and the National Party at this election that they are a chance of coming into Cabinet?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, everyone is a chance, I suppose, and there will be some vacancies that I will fill if we are successful at the next election, and that is when I intend to fill them. We have ministers who are serving well, and let me particularly be clear about the case in Christopher Pyne'sportfolio. We are dealing with some quite sensitive issues presently in the defence portfolio, and I think for the sake of continuity it is very important that, through the election period that Christopher, based on his involvement in those issues as a member of the National Security Committee, I think it is a very wise and responsible thing for him to continue on and perform that role at this time. I mean, yes, we could have appointed Linda to that role today. But I think the responsible thing to do is exactly what I have done in this case.
SENATOR THE HON LINDA REYNOLDS: And Prime Minister, I might add I think what the message is clearly saying is to every woman in the Liberal Party today and every woman that will get elected is that you don't need to be a quota. If you are good enough, you could get in. I think that is what it is saying, is we have an incredibly talented team of women in the Liberal Party that I am absolutely privileged to serve with. And I have been appointed not because of my agenda but because of my experience, and we have got many other women who equally are capable, and what the Prime Minister has done is demonstrated to them that they too can succeed because they have the talent.
JOURNALIST: Will any other ministers be announcing that they are also stepping down before the next election?
PRIME MINISTER: That is not my understanding… that’s not my understanding.
JOURNALIST: What have you done to make sure of that? Have you asked…?
PRIME MINISTER: I talk to them all the time.
JOURNALIST: You talk about the number of women in your Cabinet, but it is true that there aren't as many women as some would like on the benches of Parliament, the backbench and frontbench. Do you think that the people who are replacing Minister Pyne and Minister Ciobo in the seats of Sturt and Moncrieff should be women?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is a matter for the selectors to determine, I am not going to prejudge that, and should that be the case I think that would be a positive development. But that will be a matter ultimately for those selectors. But as I said, 18 women selected in these critical seats going into this next election, including Senate positions. I mean, Wendy Askew is about to come into the Senate replacing David Bushby out of Tasmania. We have got Jessica Whelan down there in Lyons, we have Bridget Archer down there in Bass and Jacinta Price up there in Lingiari. I mean, Fiona Kotvojs out there in Eden-Monaro. This is an impressive group of women candidates we have got running at the election. I was down in Tasmania just as you know over the course of this week, I have been a quite a few times over the last several weeks, as I am sure you have noticed. And in each of those Labor seats, I think they are providing a really great alternative to see further Tasmanian representation in the House of Representatives in my Government.
JOURNALIST: The Ministers leaving are relatively young in political terms. Why would people...
PRIME MINISTER: Christopher will be so flattered you have referred to him in that way. He will be overwhelmed.
JOURNALIST: ...and the others such as Kelly O'Dwyer in recent departures. But they are relatively young in political terms, why would people so young be leaving if they thought they could win?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Christopher has been here for 26 years. That is a very long time. I understand he is one of the longest serving, if not the longest serving, South Australian member of the House of Representatives ever. And I am sure Christopher can give you a long list of all the other milestones that he has reached, and he will take that opportunity, no doubt. But Steve Ciobo has been here since 2001, Michael Keenan has been here since 2004. He has one infant child and three other children, it is a long way from Western Australia. It is a tough grind. And you will be very well aware of Kelly O'Dwyer's very personal and very specific circumstances. So I would encourage media, frankly, to see each of these decisions in their own right, because they have been made by individuals, by people. Human beings who have made decisions about their own lives and their own future.
And what I am telling the Australian people, those decisions can be made, but my Government will remain absolutely on track to ensure that we continue to create the jobs which Australians rely on, that we can have the strong funding of essential services that Australians rely on, because it is strong funding. I mean, I talked about Greg Hunt before. 2,000 medicines listed on the PBS, and the highest rate of bulk billing ever. That is the result not just of funding, but strong funding backed up by a stronger economy. So we will remain focused on the job, what needs to be done, and I have got the people to do it. I have already noted that I don't know who Bill Shorten is going to have when it comes to Home Affairs or stopping the boats. I know who will be stopping them on my watch, Peter Dutton and me, and the people smugglers know that, and that is why they are not trying it on with us. But I will tell you what, they will certainly try it on with Bill Shorten, and whoever he has in mind to do that job.
JOURNALIST: Do you have any ongoing links with the ADF through the Reserves or anything and have you had to seek any legal advice whether that might present a conflict?
SENATOR THE HON LINDA REYNOLDS: When I first stood for preselection in 2012-13, I did transfer to the standby Reserve, so there is no constitutional issue, if that is what you are asking, in relation. So yes, I am still technically a member of the Australian Army as an inactive Reserve member, so I retain my rank but I don't serve.
PRIME MINISTER: We are going to have to go, because we have to swear Linda in, so thank you very much.
