Media Releases
Interview with Gold FM
8 October 2018
BRIDGE DALEY: Good morning Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, how are you?
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: Good morning Mr Prime Minister. AJ, Bridge and Spida.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, ScoMo.
BRIDGE DALEY: ScoMo, so you’re happy to be called ScoMo?
PRIME MINISTER: Happy to, always happy to.
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: Spida’s got a question for you straight up.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: Yeah it must be pretty exciting for you, about to raise the bat, 50 days ad Prime Minister. Very, very exciting surely.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Well look, every day is a privilege. Every day is a privilege in this job and it’s a great responsibility. But look, you know, to lead the best country in the world – how good is that?
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: How has the gig been so far, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, it’s been very rewarding, but at the same time I’ve just been really overwhelmed by the really generous response people have given me since taking on the role, particularly in the circumstances I think they’ve been very generous and given me a good go. I was out at Bathurst yesterday for the 1000 and just meeting families and everybody around the pits and all those sorts of things. You know, they were very encouraging and very supportive and it was great to spend some time with them. It was a really great day, I mean it was a fairy tale for Craig Lowndes and Steve Richards, that was quite a finish.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: Yeah yeah it was awesome, we sent the metre maids to put the twenty cents in the parking metre down there for you, but why on the Gold Coast, what are you…?
PRIME MINISTER: In the last Budget I announced a fund of about $140 million to invest in providing a tax offset for big films to come to the Gold Coast. Not just the Gold Coast but you know, all the big studios around Australia and what we’re doing today is we’ve got two big films which we’ve been able to secure. One is “Godzilla vs Kong” and that will be filmed here.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: That sounds like Parliament.
[Laughter]
BRIDGE DALEY: You v Bill Shorten?
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: It sounds a bit like that, was it the UFC fight.
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: I know, shocker.
PRIME MINISTER: That was a bit ugly, but putting that to one side. Then there is “Reef Break”, which one of those sort of big long series. So this is about $16 million of support we’re putting in through the tax offset, but it’s thousands and thousands and thousands of jobs.
BRIDGE DALEY: Local jobs?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah absolutely, on the Gold Coast. And so it’s crew, it’s extras, it’s the actors themselves. It’s like 5,500 accommodation nights, which is all here on the Gold Coast. So the film industry here on the Gold Coast is as big as the tourism industry - bigger - and so when we say we’re supporting small businesses, this is how we’re supporting small businesses. I mean, you go and ensure a film industry has a schedule of work that just doesn’t go film to film. You know, we backed in “Aquaman”, we backed in a range of these big productions that have come and that was done on a one-off basis, but in the last Budget what I did was made it one an ongoing basis. So all these films sort of bid, so they’re coming to us know saying we want to come to Australia, and we’d like to get access to this tax offset fund you’ve put together. And they’re getting it, and so I think “Kong” starts pre-production this month.
BRIDGE DALEY: That’s awesome Scott, and we do want to know – I saw you, I saw Skaife tearing you around the track yesterday, you looked very, very terrified, more than in Question Time. But I do want to know what other privileges you are actually enjoying, being the Prime Minister? For example, you’ve made our show go over time, that’s a privilege, no one else can do that.
PRIME MINISTER: I think I… my daughter didn’t look that terrified, she was having a ball. She didn’t know there was a camera on, the pigtails were flying. It was like, you know, being on a roller coaster. So she had a great time. Look, none of us really think of it in that way when we serve in politics. Of course, the great privilege I have is about what I was telling you about before. I mean, as Prime Minister, people will chat to you. You stop in the street and want to have a chat to them and they’ll tell you what’s going on, and some of them give you good feedback, others give you some helpful advice or contribution. Some people are really nice, others just want to take a selfie. Now, you’re a Treasurer, only accountants want to talk to. Nothing wrong with accountants, particularly our accounts team out there sitting out here in Gold FM. But when the Prime Minister… what’s great about Australia is people feel they can just come up and have a chat to you about everything.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: And having a beer with Bob Katter, it’d be perfect.
BRIDGE DALEY: He doesn’t need a beer.
[Laughter]
BRIDGE DALEY: I do want to ask you, we are in the middle of “Oztober”, Aussie bands we’re celebrating.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh yeah.
BRIDGE DALEY: So the question I want to ask you, if you could go and see any line up of any concert, they’re all Aussie, could be dead or alive, bands of disbanded.
PRIME MINISTER: Does it have to be a band?
BRIDGE DALEY: Or singers, yeah, yeah, yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh Tina Arena I always go to, every single time.
BRIDGE DALEY: Oh?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah I’m a huge Tina fan, as some people know. But oh look, you can’t go past INXS, and if you could ever get…
BRIDGE DALEY: I know.
PRIME MINISTER: INXS you know, I saw them in a number of places and that was fantastic. I was always a fan of The Church.
BRIDGE DALEY: Oh The Church.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s on my playlist.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: Al after 9, that’s his favourite band as well.
PRIME MINISTER: I wouldn’t… look, and we’re going to have to sort of give me the ANZAC leave pass, but always a big fan of Split Enz. I lived in New Zealand for a period of time and I actually got to meet Neil and Tim when I was over there.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: Nah, they’re Aussie owned.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we claim them.
BRIDGE DALEY: Ooh, contro.
PRIME MINISTER: But you know, you back to Brisbane bands like The Smiths, things like that… The Saints I should say, not The Smiths. And Ed Cooper I was a big fan of. He probably doesn’t share my politics, but that’s alright, I only have to like this music.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: We’ve gone well over nine, but Rod McLeod has got a question for you, because we are taking into his news break. So he gets upset, Rod.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh sorry Rod, Ok.
ROD MCLEOD: Good morning, Prime Minister. They say Australia is a land of contrast. Yesterday you hooned around Mt Panorama. Today I imagine you would have travelled up the M1. There’s a bit of a contrast in speed between the M1 at approximately zero to twenty in peak hour. Can we get a commitment from the Federal Government? There was so much argy bargy just getting a little section completed between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes between the Queensland Government and the Federal Government. Can we have an assurance for Gold Coast motorists that we will get the whole thing done all the way down…
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: That’s a news question, here we go Rodney.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: Straight off the tea, the one-wood.
PRIME MINISTER: Well you know, in the last Budget I put a billion dollars into the M1. A billion.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: Where did it go?
PRIME MINISTER: Mate it’s going in there to build to road and to do the roadworks. I mean, we put a billion into the M1 and you know, we’re not finished I reckon. We’ll continue to look at what the road burdens are here on the Gold Coast and the same reason that’s why we invested also in the light rail as well. We put big dollars into that as well and we’re looking at what else can be done there. But the infrastructure congestion-busting package of our Government – a billion dollars into the M1, and people like Bert van Manen, they were the ones who really argued heavily for that and got that delivered. And look, I’m pleased that the State Government came on board and so they should, it’s a state responsibility. But we’ve already stumped up a billion dollars for the M1.
BRIDGE DALEY: Alright well let’s end on a high and…
PRIME MINISTER: I thought that was a high.
[Laughter]
BRIDGE DALEY: No no, that was grown up conversation. Let’s have fun now, ScoMo. I’ve got a competition here called “great Scott”. So it’s about famous Aussie Scotts, so let’s see how you go now that you’re in the…
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: Aussie Scotts.
BRIDGE DALEY: Question number one, what was the full name of the character that dated Charlene on Neighbours?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, Scott… I got that bit right. Pass.
[Laughter]
BRIDGE DALEY: Robinson. Scott Robinson. Question number two, name the famous Aussie golfer with Scott in his name?
PRIME MINISTER: Adam Scott.
BRIDGE DALEY: Easy.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: Yeah. Who hosts the TV show The Block?
PRIME MINISTER: Ah Scotty Cam.
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: And who was the lead singer of ACDC who died?
PRIME MINISTER: Bon Scott.
BRIDGE DALEY: He’s done alright, well done, ScoMo, well done.
PRIME MINISTER: And a shout out to Scotty Buchholz.
BRIDGE DALEY: Who’s that?
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: The Member for Wright, here on the Gold Coast.
[Laughter]
BRIDGE DALEY: Sorry, well done.
PRIME MINISTER: The Assistant Minister for Transport.
BRIDGE DALEY: Good on you Scotty. Is he outside the door?
PRIME MINISTER: Scotty Sorenson at the Sharks.
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: Before you go, I’m sure you might have heard this already, but here’s Mathias Cormann, he joins us each week.
IMPERSONATOR: I also go to the gymnasium, my favourite exercise is the burpee. I find that very energising, doing burpees. Do you do burpees?
[Laughter]
PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT: AJ does Crossfit.
IMPERSONATOR: Crossfitting and wall balls. Where do you put the balls?
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: Against the wall, Mathias. You throw them against the wall. Ah wall ball, I understand.
[Laughter]
IMPERSONATOR: Ah wall ball, I understand.
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: He hasn’t got your voice yet, Scott, but we are working on it. We’re working on it, PM.
PRIME MINISTER: Ah that is priceless.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: I’m going to talk to him about the burpees if I see him tomorrow.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Great to be with you guys.
ADRIAN JOHNSTON: Thank you very much, thanks a lot.
Interview with Alan Jones, 2GB
8 October 2018
ALAN JONES: The Prime Minister is here, Scott Morrison.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Alan.
JONES: Now, you’re getting around, I didn’t know you were a rev-head?
PRIME MINISTER: I had great fun, Lilly and I had a great time yesterday doing the hot lap with Mark Skaife and coming down it was a bit like doing the Wild Mouse. So we had a great time and there were so many great fans there.
JONES: How old is Lilly?
PRIME MINISTER: She’s nine.
JONES: And she copped it too?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, she had a great time and it was such a huge family event. I had never been before and families from all over the country -
JONES: 200,000 - It’s a lot of people.
PRIME MINISTER: It was just tremendous and to be out in Bathurst, you know, mid-western New South Wales, it’s great for tourism. They need that out there, they really do. Because we went to Blayney afterwards to announce the $1 million for every council affected by drought and Blayney is one of those. They’re doing their plans this week and getting them in, so that money will flow very, very soon out there.
Good to see a bit of a green tinge out there, but still a long way to go.
JONES: Absolutely. Do you believe in omens?
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah I wouldn’t say I’m superstitious, but I notice them.
[Laughter]
JONES: Because Bill Shorten is the number one Collingwood supporter. Collingwood led all the way in the Grand Final and was beaten in the last ten minutes by the Eagles. Any omens there? You might still get up right at the end?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I go back to what Robert Menzies says; you fight until the bell rings. That’s what he said down in Albury.
JONES: I thought that’s when you started fighting.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Until the last bell, until that last bell rings he said. And whether it’s the final siren and if you’ve got to kick it from the boundary, that’s what you need to do.
JONES: I don’t want to be self-indulgent here, I will look at this and have quite a bit to say after 7.30 about this Opera House-Everest thing. But you have made the comment, you spoke about it yesterday: “I come from a tourism background, these events generate massive economic opportunities, I don’t know why people are getting so precious about it.”
PRIME MINISTER: Well it’s not as if their painting it on there, I mean it’s some lights flashing up there for a brief moment of time. That goes all around the world and they do it for other things, the Wallabies, indeed and others. So look, I just don’t understand why we tie ourselves up in knots about these things.
JONES: Of course, the Opera House was built funded by lottery, which some people forget, which is a form of gambling.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s ironic and that’s true and it’s maintained by the patronage of Australians and taxpayers.
JONES: We will be talking quite a lot between now and the end of the year at least, so we won’t cover all areas today, I just want to raise a couple of things with you here. This announcement last week by Mr Shorten, $1.75 billion over four years to provide preschool for three and four year olds, saying, “I want our children my children, our children, to be amongst the best-educated in the world”.
You’d be aware I’m sure that a research paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research in Canada has found - quite common sense really - poorer emotional outcomes for children who attended preschool in Quebec which introduced this Shorten-style universal day care in 1997. The research found worsened health and life satisfaction and sadly, increased rates of criminal activity, increases in hyperactivity. Aren’t parents the best teachers for children at that age?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, parents are the best for their children full stop. I mean preschool has a role to play, I mean, I went to preschool and we fund preschool for four year olds now.
But the problem with Bill Shorten’s announcement is, he doesn’t know how he’s going to pay for it. He couldn’t even agree on how much it cost within one day. What it means is higher taxes. See, every time you hear Bill Shorten say something, know this; it means higher taxes. Every time, he’s spending your money. Not the money that you’re currently paying now on taxes, because he’s going to increase taxes by over $200 billion dollars. On everything, from as Josh has been saying this morning, increases in taxes on housing, taxes on retirees, taxes on small businesses and family businesses. I mean the taxes just won’t stop under Bill Shorten. On this issue parents are the number one, the absolute number one. And their choices about how they want to educate their children are critically important. That’s why we have made the decisions and the support we have made on independent schools.
JONES: Could I just ask you though, about content. Now, Miranda Devine wrote yesterday about and an excerpt from a typical note sent home to the parents of a three year old at a northern Sydney preschool, which lays out a checklist of politically correct policies - these are three year olds – which are part of a mandatory preschool curriculum, which is required for accreditation. Sustainability, it said, we already have solar panels and engage in many environmental aware practices; reconciliation action plan, we’re currently working on an acknowledgement of country that we use each day with the children; Harmony Day, it’s a great day to celebrate our diversity, we encourage children to wear orange or orange accessories; and then of course this business about taking kids to the opposite sex’s toilets. Is this the sort of stuff you believe should be going on in schools while you’re Prime Minister? Gender ideology? Climate alarm?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I was Social Services Minister when preschools and more importantly child care was the responsibility of the Social Services Department. One of the big difficulties I had was, the Commonwealth Government paid for all this but had no say whatsoever about what the curriculum was, what the regulations were.
JONES: Correct.
PRIME MINISTER: The state governments were not only bringing in a whole range of things like this, but they were bringing in regulations which forced up the cost of delivering child care as well. I think, you know, if you’re funding it, you should be able to regulate. Or if you want to regulate it, you should fund it and these two things should sit together. So the difficulty for the Commonwealth Government is that states can frankly run riot in this area, with no involvement from the Commonwealth. What Bill Shorten is saying is; “Well we’ll just keep throwing money at that.”
JONES: Yes.
PRIME MINISTER: But he’s throwing your money at it. Always understand, when he’s saying he’s going to spend money, he is spending your money. We believe taxpayer’s money, is their money. Bill Shorten thinks what you earn is his money to throw around for political purposes. That’s what this is.
JONES: Well down the track we will talk about that, because it’s a big issue.
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
JONES: I just want to come back - because you have made comments about your own girls - simply to say that you are concerned about what they are being taught in the classroom.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
JONES: Those concerns are shared by all parents. How do you overcome this business where three year olds are getting manuals to their parents about, you know, gender and sexuality? They’re too young, aren’t they?
PRIME MINISTER: Well particularly on those things, it’s very early. I mean, my girls went to preschool, they went when they were three and they were four. They learnt about Harmony Day and sometimes people would come in and talk about their stories about migration to Australian and I think that’s all good. And it’s also important for them to have an awareness of Indigenous culture. I don’t have a problem with that.
But honestly, at the end of the day, preschool is about learning through play, preschool is about learning and getting on with other people of your own age and having fun. It’s not a big, long day, it can play a role. Parents have had the choice to send their kids to preschool, a lot of them are community-run as well and do a really good job. But you know, if you’re going to make a promise, you’ve got to know how you’re going to pay for it and you’ve got to know how you’re going to deliver it and you’ve got to have some sort of control about what’s going to be delivered on all those three things. As you’ve pointed out; cross, cross and cross for Bill Shorten. Three strikes mate.
JONES: Yeah the IPCC - this is the Achilles heel, I guess, for all or many governments in the Western World at the moment - are now making another report on climate change. You’ve disposed of this so-called National Energy Guarantee, you’ve turned energy debate from “renewable” to “reliable”. Shouldn’t we be seeking a simple national energy policy which makes us independent, because we’re resource rich? Shouldn’t the policy be about availability, reliability, affordability, national security, economic growth, certainly rational conservation and investor confidence?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, yes.
JONES: How do you get that by being a signatory to Paris?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it doesn’t change any of that, because we meet it all in a canter. So, I could ask this question –
JONES: So then rip up Paris.
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, what is to be gained from ripping it up?
JONES: Because you’re being held to the conclusions that will be released in the next 24 hours –
PRIME MINISTER: No we won’t, no we won’t be at all.
JONES: By all those who are signatories to this?
PRIME MINISTER: No we’re not held to any of them at all Alan, nor are we bound to go and tip money into that big climate fund, we’re not going to do that either. So I’m not going to spend money on global climate conferences and all that sort of nonsense, I’m not going to get in there -
JONES: But if that’s the case, why don’t you just say; “We’re out of it.”
PRIME MINISTER: Because Alan, for a couple of reasons. First of all when Australia signs up to something – and it wasn’t the previous Labor Government who signed up to this, it wasn’t the previous Labor Government that committed us to a 26 per cent target, that was actually our Government that did that. I was part of that Government and when Australia puts it’s word to something, it means something. The second is, as I’ve said on your program before, that this is an enormously important issue to our partners in the Pacific who are strategic partners in the Pacific. So my question is, what’s to be gained from ripping it up? I don’t think there’s much to be gained from ripping it up. I mean it’s not going to affect electricity prices, Angus Taylor has already told you that and that’s my view as well. So long as we’re not throwing money into some global climate fund and getting pulled around by the nose by all these international agencies when it comes to these other reports. I mean the same report that’s coming out today, said a year ago the policies were fine. You know, we’re investing in the Reef to ensure that’s secure. We’re taking the practical action that you need to take, but we don’t get led around by the nose by these organisations.
JONES: You said the Pacific, you mentioned the Pacific. The Pacific are rent-seekers.
PRIME MINISTER: I don’t –
JONES: These outfits are saying to you and Marise Payne; “Well, climate change is going to mean that we’ll disappear, we’ll be washed away and we need you money.” Now, Donald Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement.
PRIME MINISTER: Obama signed up, not Trump.
JONES: No and he said it’d cost 2.7 million jobs, it’d cost 440,000 in manufacturing. He said the economic burden would be close to $3 trillion in GDP. Is there a document somewhere which will tell us, Australian taxpayers, what our signatory to Paris is going to cost Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: My understanding of it right now, at 26 per cent is it’s not going to touch electricity prices and it’s not going to touch one job –
JONES: Well we’ve got a story at the weekend, a headline story in The Australian which says in the summer, electricity prices are going to go up.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s not because of Paris.
JONES: No, no, no but I’m just saying, it’s linked to Paris. If we had, if you committed – how committed are you to cheap energy? For example, uranium, would you overturn the illegality of building a nuclear reactor in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, if I thought that this was going to have a big impact on Australia’s electricity prices -
JONES: It’s clean, it’s cheaper -
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll do what is necessary to bring electricity prices down. So I don’t have any issues -
JONES: So you’re not [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: No I’m not, of course I’m not. The issues there are that –
JONES: [Inaudible] at the moment.
PRIME MINISTER: The investment doesn’t stack up. You’ve got to make the investment stack up. I mean I was down in Tasmania last week and I was down there at the Battery of the Nation project. Now, this is exciting, 2,500 megawatts of hydro currently, built between 1910 and the early 1990s in Tasmania, basically one of the biggest engineering projects Australia has ever seen over that period of time. Will Hodgman has a plan to double that capacity, put an interconnector between Tasmania and the mainland and that will double what Tasmania does in terms of reliable, fair dinkum power coming into the energy markets on the east coast of Australia. Now that’s another great project and I’ve talked about how excited I am about that project. The interconnector, the pumped hydro assets that go right across Tasmania, I mean Tasmania is the capital of hydro in Australia and it can be the nation’s battery.
JONES: But see, you’ve got an election coming up early next year. There’s a story in The Weekend Australian, on page nine, it said: “Soaring summer power bills predicted,” that “electricity prices on the east coast and in the southern states will spike”. Now, they’re going to blame you for this.
PRIME MINISTER: They can’t blame 26 per cent, because we meet that in a canter, that’s my point.
JONES: Well, but you’re guaranteeing lower prices and they’re saying they won’t be lower. The ACCC forecasts that gas prices will add $15 a gigajoule over summer, that’s four times –
PRIME MINISTER: I know and it would be great to get more gas out of the ground.
JONES: So, why don’t you have, why not have a gas reservation policy? Stop exporting all this.
PRIME MINISTER: Well we effectively do Alan.
JONES: No, but you don’t have, effectively. It’s not mandatory, it’s not a statutory requirement.
PRIME MINISTER: If we believe the gas is not going to be delivered in the quantum that is required in Australia, then we have a policy to prevent that. I mean that’s what got the gas availability for this year and for next year. And we need more gas from under our feet, there’s no doubt about that. In Victoria we have a state Government that has a ban on conventional gas exploration. It’s crazy.
JONES: But we’ve got enough gas to last us the next 174 years.
PRIME MINISTER: And we need more of it.
JONES: No, but we export the stuff, we’re exporting the stuff. Canada says; “Let’s have a gas reservation policy” I’ve used the analogy on this program before Prime Minister, you know, we’re on a dairy farm. Every day, my old man would say: “How much milk does your mother want?” We’d keep that for ourselves, to be used. Cheap, for nothing, because we milked it. Why don’t we do that with our own gas?
PRIME MINISTER: But we do, Alan. We have that policy now, we actually have that policy where we can ban those exports where the gas is not staying in Australia. That’s already been given effect to. What I’d like to see is revenue sharing with farmers to get access to gas. I think that’d be a great idea.
JONES: Just on drought, because we always run out of time here.
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
JONES: Are you having a summit in Canberra for drought?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah that’s where everybody can get to. I mean where you book the hall doesn’t matter.
JONES: Why wouldn’t you take it to the bush and have that injection, like you mentioned was happening at Bathurst? Go where there’s a dry paddock rather than Capital Hill.
PRIME MINISTER: I think the outputs of the summit are more important and that’s the most convenient for everybody to get to, coming from all over the country. I mean it is the nation’s capital and that’s where we deal with issues as important as this. Everybody will be coming together and we’re looking forward to all their contributions. But it’s important that we coordinate.
JONES: On that, coordinate. When are we going to see this bloke, the coordinator? I talk to farmers, they’ve never seen him. He comes out in an Army uniform, I mean he ought to be a civilian person. There’s thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars he’s being given -
PRIME MINISTER: I think he’s up in Broken Hill today, I think that’s where he is today.
JONES: There’s thousands of dollars given and farmers are saying to me: “We don’t see any of this money.” Where is all this money going?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it’s going into the Farm Household Allowance, which is the -
JONES: No, no, not your money, I’m talking about the charity. The money that is being raised by people, they’re giving it to all sorts of outfits.
PRIME MINISTER: This is one of the big challenges. It’s –
JONES: But that’s what the coordinator has got to be doing.
PRIME MINISTER: Well that’s what he’s seeking to do Alan, it’s easy, it’s not his money, it’s not the Commonwealth’s money -
JONES: Well, he should come public and tell a few people. Could you make him?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure, well not a problem. I think he’s pulled together the coordination plan and he’s been working closely with the charities whether it’s the Country Womens Association or the many other big charities which are out there directing effort into the bush and it has had to be targeting. Can I implore Australians, continually, if you’re making donations, do it through a registered charitable organization and through vouchers. That’s what makes the difference in the towns. We’re putting $1 million into every single drought-affected council to ensure that we can keep the money in the towns. That money is flowing as late as this week and that will make a big difference in those towns, keeping them alive. It’s one of the points Barnaby has been making and we’re delivering on it.
JONES: Good on you. Look, we’ve run out of time, let’s talk again soon.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot Alan, great to be here.
JONES: You too, Prime Minister Morrison.
Big Budget Productions Headed to the Gold Coast
8 October 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Communications and the Arts
Two major international productions will be filmed on the Gold Coast thanks to funding from the Coalition Government.
Godzilla v Kong, a feature film by Legendary Entertainment and Reef Break, a 13 episode series by Disney ABC International Television, will kick off production this year.
The $16 million in funding is provided under the Location Incentive programme, which is designed to attract international feature films to Australia.
Prime Minister Morrison said he was thrilled the first two grants were awarded to such major projects on the Gold Coast.
"These projects will bring hundreds of jobs to the Gold Coast and further cement its reputation as one of the best places in the world to make movies," the Prime Minister said.
"I’ve visited some of the businesses that service the film industry on the Gold Coast and they are the best at what they do.
"We want to keep securing big projects like these ones, so local businesses can thrive and keep employing Australians."
Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator Mitch Fifield said this support would bring investment of more than $100 million to the Australian economy.
"This is one of the ways the Government is boosting small business and creating the conditions for growth in the economy. These productions would not be investing in Australia without these grants. They will use the services of over 1,600 Australian businesses, as well as directly employing more than 1,300 Australians," Minister Fifield said.
"Our stunning landscape will encourage tourism and our talented industry will inspire other projects to film here.
Jay Ashenfelter, Creative Executive of Legendary Entertainment said Legendary Entertainment is thrilled to be returning to Australia with 'Godzilla vs Kong'.
"The incredible crews, facilities and locations Australia offers make for an ideal production location."
ABC Studios International is part of The Walt Disney Company that has brought the productions, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" and "Thor: Ragnarok" to Queensland.
"Having filmed the Harrow series in Brisbane, we appreciate the skills of the Australian crew and actors and look forward to showcasing Australia’s stunning locations to the world," said Keli Lee, Managing Director, International Content, Platform and Talent, ABC Studios International.
The Location Incentive is designed to complement the Australian Government’s existing Location Offset, providing an effective increase in the tax offset rate from 16.5 per cent to 30 per cent for eligible large budget international productions that film in Australia, and are successful through the application process.
For more information visit: www.arts.gov.au/australian-screen-production-incentive.
Doorstop - Blayney, NSW
7 October 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation
ANDREW GEE, MEMBER FOR CALARE: Okay well folks, thanks for coming out today. We are absolutely delighted to have the Prime Minister here in Calare electorate along with the Minister for Sport, and many other things, Bridget McKenzie. Also, the Mayor of Blayney and also Angus and Michelle here from the CRT in Blayney. So we’re absolutely delighted that you could all be here and in particular, we’ve been out at Mount Panorama today which was a wonderful community event, a big regional national and international; event and I was just very grateful that the Prime Minister wanted to come out and see what we do out here in Central-Western New South Wales and see what we can do and how well we do things out here, I think it’s really important to do that. But I also wanted the Prime Minister to come out and talk to some folks here on the ground about the drought. Because from day one, the Prime Minister has been very interested in finding out about the drought and in particular, the impact on country communities. He’s always had a very strong interest in that and he’s been leading on this issue which I think has heartened many people in country Australia. Certainly the feedback that I’ve had here on the ground in the Calare electorate, which has been hard-hit by this drought, is that they have been delighted to see the Prime Minister out learning as much as he can, talking to people and leading on the relief effort. The Prime Minister is his own man, he is who he is, he doesn’t pretend to be something that he’s not. We love it that he comes out in his cap from the Shire, the farmers out here really respect that he’s just who he is and he’s here to learn and he’s here to help. I think that’s really important.
I guess what we’ve seen in recent times is a little bit of rain across this region, which has been terrific. But whilst the paddocks are green now, we’re not out of the woods yet, we’re not out of this drought yet because even though things look nice and green basically every farmer in this area and across the region is still feeding, they’re trying to source hay, they’re trying to source grain. For some of them, the bill is absolutely enormous, so there is a huge toll this drought is taking on the farm and on farming families. But that’s not the only toll that it’s taking. All of our country communities are being hit hard by this drought. It doesn’t matter what part of the community, from the mechanics to the tire-fitters to the grocery stores, to the fuel sellers, everyone is feeling the effects of this drought. The knock-on is huge.
So we’re here today to talk also about the Drought Communities programme which is the federal Government recognising that the impact of this drought is not only on the farm and at the farm gate. It’s in our country villages, our towns and our cities as well. Because all of these businesses are being hit hard and you can talk to Angus and Michelle about that today. Business is really slow and we want people to actually know what’s happening in these communities but we also want you to come out and visit us here in the country. And if you really want to help, come out and see us, come out and spend money in our communities. Come out and spend time in our communities, that’s something that every Australian can do. But the Drought Communities programme is all about making sure that not only farmers are helped and looked after but our country communities are looked after as well. You’ll hear in a moment from Scott Ferguson who is the Mayor of Blayney Shire about the important work that they’re doing. And this money is now available so we’re encouraging the councils to get their submissions in and we can get the money out the door. The money is available, it’s available almost as soon as you can get your submission in. So some councils have but many more haven’t and we want those councils to take advantage of this because, just talking to the Mayor of Blayney Scott Fergusson for example, they’ve got some great initiatives that they’re working on here. You’ll hear more about that shortly but now I will hand over to the Prime Minister and Prime Minister welcome to the electorate and thank you very much for coming.
PRIME MINISTER: Well thank you Andrew and to all those who are gathered with us today, Bridget and Scott and everybody. I want to thank you for joining us here today. Andrew, I commend you for the work that you have done in being a voice for your local community and ensuring that the Government is very well informed about what is happening on the ground. Andrew is one of those who is very well informed on what is happening on the ground and Andrew is one of those who particularly, was very keen to see that we got the Drought Coordinator General in place, Major General Stephen Day, to ensure that regardless of who as out helping, whether it was at a Commonwealth level, a state level, a local government level, whether it was charities or all the great goodwill we’ve seen right across the country, we made sure that our response to both the relief and the recovery and the resilience effort for the future, is incredibly well coordinated. Later this month we’ll be having the Drought Summit and that will be bringing together all of these different efforts that are going on all around the country. It’ll even have Macca there to speak at the lunch and he can be feeding back directly on behalf of all of his listeners all around the country, what their experiences are as well.
I think this is the effort that we’ve had to engage in, helping each other, ensuring that what we’re doing all around the country is well-coordinated and it’s targeted and is focused. I’m sure Andrew would agree that we thank all of those Australians who have shown such generosity.
I’m just coming from Bathurst now, and the work that has been done around the Bathurst 1000 and the money that is being raised through the motor-racing industry, that’s tremendous. To all those out there watching the race today, it was great to be with you today, but make sure you pop into Blayney, pop in as Andrew said around other parts around the central west and make sure you get to enjoy what this wonderful part of Australia is all about.
What we’re announcing today is we’re rolling out the $75 million Drought Community programme extension and that is $1 million, up to $1 million for every single drought-affected council area around Australia. It opened up last week, last Friday. We’ve already had one council in and we’ve got about half of them engaging with us now, putting applications together or beginning that conversation. Scott here from Blayney, they’ve got their council meeting coming up and they’re going to be finalizing some of their submissions. Now what this is about, is really straightforward. The Government can’t make it rain, but what we can do is invest and bring forward investment in projects, in services, in various other things that actually keep the money churning around in the towns. You know, yes the farmers have certainly been impacted. There’s not doubt about that, facing horrendous feed bills and that is still the case despite what is a green tinge, which is pleasantly starting to reemerge. But we’ve still got a long way to go and the towns are also impacted by that. So what this will do is enable communities all around the country who are affected by drought, to invest in some roadworks, invest in dog fencing up north, they can invest in water carriage, they can invest in upgrading their accounts systems and things like that, digitizing their record at the council. This all creates jobs in the towns and it keeps the money in the towns it keeps the economy of the towns ticking over. That’s why we’re engaging in this programme, it keeps the hairdresser open, it keeps the mechanics shop open, it keeps this farm supplier, CRT, open and ensures that the jobs that depend on that continue to be there while we get from where we are now to where we all want to be, which is where it’s raining again and the prosperity returns. We’ve got to get from here to there and that’s what coordinating our drought response is all about. So sure, it’s been great to be at Bathurst today. It’s been great to be at the great race of the nation but frankly the more important job is right here; this is ensuring that every single one of these councils gets access to these funds as soon as possible. So, you know, the money will flow as soon as they can get their applications in. I know they’ve got lots of great ideas how they can do it, from doing up the local amenities block at the swimming pool, to whatever it is that is their priority, that can bring that work forward and ensure that those jobs get created and sustained in those local communities.
The other thing I’ll say to Australians as you continue to support our rural communities is; make sure that you’re doing it in cash, in direct financial contributions through the registered organisations. Because that’s the best way for that support to get into those towns. Often that is then delivered through vouchers in those towns, which means the money is spent in the town, which keeps the IGA going, or it keeps whatever the business is going, in those towns. When we have the Drought Summit in a few weeks time, we’re also going to be looking really carefully at what the resilience plans are going forward. The New South Wales Government has good plans there and we’re going to work with them to ensure we build back up and that our farming communities can be investing in the other infrastructure they want to put on the farm now and making sure the right incentives are in place to achieve that. We’ve already approved the taxation arrangements of silage. We’ve already improved it for things around water infrastructure as well and we want to have those programmes and that will help our rural communities rebuild and have the resilience for the future.
Now Bridget McKenzie is the Minister for rural and regional services and local government among many other things as Andrew said. Bridget is overseeing this programme and she’s going to tell you a little bit more about how it’s working on the ground and how the councils can get access to that, so those jobs can be there and be supported as soon as possible. Thanks Bridget.
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, SPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND DECENTRALISATION, SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE: Thanks PM and it’s absolutely fantastic Scott, to be with you again and in Blayney. I am the Minister responsible to roll out the Drought Communities programme and as the Prime Minister and Andrew have made really, really clear, whilst the farming community is at the forefront of our mind and has been at the cutting edge of our response thus far, the drought has been with us for months and up in the north, for many, many years, it’s the local rural supply stores, it’s the hairdressers, it’s the garages, it’s the IGAs, it’s all the services and small businesses that are within a small rural community. For us to recover appropriately from the drought, our rural communities need to have vibrant local businesses still operating, so that they can go forward when it rains again. So the Drought Communities programme as has been said, puts $1 million on the table for the 60 drought-affected communities, for them to put forward projects to employ locals that may be doing it tough right now. And importantly for those projects to procure the materials that they need locally, if you think about when this programme was rolled out previously I think at Barcaldine Shire in a little town called Alpha, where $161,000 was spent and employed 18 people, 400 employment hours were actually used and 11 of the local businesses were able to supply materials to that particular project. That kept cash going through their cash registers, that meant they could continue to employ people in businesses like Angus and Michelle’s here. That’s important because if they leave town as a result of a lack of financial viability, the recovery from the drought going forward will be absolutely much harder. That’s not what we want.
So the drought programme opened Friday week ago. When I first became Minister I wrote to all the affected councils within the first week, let them know who I was and got them to start thinking about the types of projects that they would want to put forward. Because we need this money hitting the ground as soon as possible. We need these projects, contracts to be signed, people locally to be employed, those good being procured locally, as soon as possible and to get that cash to flow through communities like Blayney.
And you know, I’m really buoyed with the fast response from those local councils, half of them, half of the 60 have already engaged with my Department and are actually looking forward to putting through their projects. I’ll be fast-tracking those as soon as possible. We can get money out the door from the 11th of October and on the ground in local councils bank accounts so they can start getting those contracts organised and getting people employed. That’s what we need to see for a vibrant, prosperous regional Australia. We need small businesses in towns like Blayney to continue keeping on.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Bridget. Why don’t you tell us a bit about how the process is going to work for you here in Blayney, Scott?
SCOTT FERGUSON, MAYOR OF BLAYNEY: Yes absolutely. Thank you and thanks for the opportunity. Certainly, everybody, on behalf of the Blayney community, it’s wonderful to have the PM here. We’re quite chuffed actually because obviously you come from the Shire and we call ourselves the Shire of Villages. So there’s some great synergy there. When I heard about your visit I was thinking there’s probably only one person in Australia that would keep me away from the great race and it just so happens to be the PM, so you’re very welcome here. Certainly to have Bridget here as well in Blayney is great and again, Andrew Gee our federal member who we’re fortunate enough to see a lot of and is very supportive of our part of the world.
I guess I’d certainly like to acknowledge the reality that we have seen an absolutely severe decline in the spending from our rural community in our area. This drought has been at least 12 months, a lot of our farmers have been feeling it for a very very long time. As everyone has mentioned, the cost of this feeding and supporting their livestock is massive and it really now is starting to affect the communities that they live in. We’re extremely grateful for this opportunity that the federal Government has given us to be able to get this money back into the community. The reality is the farmers have pretty much stopped spending. All their money is going into supporting their businesses and their stock. The reality is it is having a very, very detrimental effect, a poor effect on our community. This funding, this programme, will give us the opportunity, the Blayney Shire Council to invest in a whole range of projects on the ground in this community that will actually support the viability of our businesses. We are seeing massive decline, up to 30 per cent in our area and I believe right across New South Wales, in businesses that are not only directly affected by agriculture but indeed indirectly as previously mentioned. I guess the two parts of this programme is one, obviously it’ll put much-needed cash-flow into our community, but for me personally, it also gives the confidence to our community that the federal government acknowledges it’s knock-on effect that the drought has. You all appreciate the difficulties that our farming communities are having now. The reality is that for most of them it could be at least two years before they have any income at all to start investing. I think that is something that we need to be very mindful of, that it will be a long road back. Indeed, it’s ironic that three years ago we probably had the wettest winter and the best spring we’ve ever had, three years ago. Prices were good, there was money in agriculture. 2.5 years later, here we are, almost back to where we started. For a lot of farmers who took the opportunity to pay down some debt and get on top of some farm maintenance 2.5 or three years ago, they are now taking back on that debt again to support their stock and their cattle. So it’s really important that we acknowledge the fact that it’s a very, very long road back from where we were, especially in our community and I’d suggest right across the states.
But the confidence this money, the acknowledgement that the federal Government does, can appreciate the fact that it is hurting our smaller businesses, businesses like we’re here today, who are very happy to have the Prime Minister here to show off, this is a very typical businesses that is struggling down on their turnover and they’re looking forward to that for the next 12 months at least so again.
Blayney Shire welcome this money. We have some great projects that we’re going to be discussing with my fellow councillors tomorrow, a whole range of things, ranging from upgrades to our community bores around our villages, important infrastructure, a great opportunity to upgrade those. We have a lot of showgrounds, we have a lot of volunteer organisations that run our annual agricultural show, it’s the opportunity to update their facilities, their toilets, their air conditioning, sheds. Not only is it able to support those assets and those volunteers, but indeed they showcase agriculture in our community.
So we’re looking forward to that, we have a large equestrian centre we’re hoping to build. There's some really innovative storm-water harvesting and water-saving initiatives that we're really hoping to put that money towards as well. So all in all it's a great initiative. We're excited. We're hoping that we make sure that money really gets through our community. Certainly on behalf of our community we're happy to have Andrew Gee in our corner, acknowledging our problems in our corner and to have the Prime Minister here and really understanding what's going on here, is, as I said, as much as anything, it gives us a great confidence that we're not alone and the Federal Government does understand what we're going through.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much Scott. As you can see there, these guys are ready to go and they’ve got some very practical project to make a big difference here in Blayney. And if you need a horse rug over there, come down and see us.
[Laughter]
I don't know, I recon I wouldn't know one end of a horse rug from the other. But nevertheless plenty of other people do, and they certainly do here at CRT. So let's take some questions on the program itself and if there are other questions I'm happy to deal with those.
JOURNALIST: This funding was originally announced in August, you talk about trying to get it rolled out as quick as you can. Why has it taken this long for the guidelines to come out?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we have been working on it for a number of months, that's true. I'm really pleased it’s out there and it’s rolling out now. This is what Bridget has been working on very carefully, Bridget do you want to&hellip:
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, SPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND DECENTRALISATION: Yeah I'm happy to take that. Obviously I took over the responsibility and it was my first task of business as the new minister responsible. I wrote to each of the 60 councils in that first week of becoming the Minister for Local Government and signed off on the criteria within weeks. So now, set up to go. The Department is ready and raring to go, working hand-in-glove glove with affected councils to actually ensure their projects are ready to go and they're working overtime to get the money out the door by 11 October. So if you think about August to 11 October where the money is hitting the ground, I think that's as far as government programs go, that's pretty good.
PRIME MINISTER: We're spending $75 million of taxpayers money, so you follow a proper process to do that, to ensure that it's being done efficiently, but also observing all the proper probity arrangements as well. I think on the other side of this, I think people would be critical if the money wasn't going to things that mattered most and there weren't proper processes around how the money is being provided.
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, SPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND DECENTRALISATION: I think the other thing to realise is that councils themselves are having to go through their own internal processes. So, they've had a month that I have written to them and said: “Please have your projects ready to go,” but they’ve also had to develop up the projects, take them to their own councils and get approval before they could submit as well.
So I'm really keen to see the money flowing out the door on 11 October and I'm confident that councils like Scott's and others right around the east coast will be flooding my Department with applications soon.
PRIME MINISTER: Your meeting is next week isn’t it Scott, you’ve got a meeting next week?
MAYOR OF BLAYNEY: Tomorrow.
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, SPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND DECENTRALISATION: Tomorrow, so there you go.
PRIME MINISTER: Excellent.
JOURNALIST: The cut off is June 19, do projects also have to start before then as well?
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, SPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND DECENTRALISATION: Absolutely. The purpose of this project, or programme is to actually get on the ground in affected communities, the money as fast as possible, so we can employ locals and that we can actually procure those materials from local businesses and support local economies at towns. So we want to see that money out of our bank account and into those affected councils, so they can start contracting and employing straight away. I don't want to see councils in two years' time still coming up with ideas or waiting to spend the money. The whole purpose of this is to support communities now at this time of need.
PRIME MINISTER: And the money has been budgeted in this fiscal year.
JOURNALIST: Are you confident that all those councils, you said half have come to you, will all have projects that will be beneficial to communities by June?
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, SPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND DECENTRALISATION: Well that’s why my Department is working hand-in-glove with them. I have got additional staff on, so that any council that rings in will have a Department official that will be able to step them through the process and be almost simultaneously assessing and giving them guidance around their projects.
I mean, we want to see this money, as I said, on the ground. We want to see it go to projects that are going to deliver the types of outcomes the Government wants to see; which is locals employed and the money spent locally.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you mentioned horse rugs before and the New South Wales Premier says it is in the public interest to advertise a horse race on the sails of the Opera House. Do you agree with that?
PRIME MINISTER: I do actually, I mean this is one of the biggest events of the year. Why not put it on the biggest billboard Sydney has? Events, look, I come from a tourism background and you know, these events generate massive economic opportunities for the state, for the city.
I mean, just look at the biggest event this place sees every year down at Bathurst. I mean I’d put the Bathurst 1000 on the Harbour Bridge if I thought it was going to get more people there. It’s just common sense and I don't know why people are getting so precious about it.
JOURNALIST: Do you think it is a worry that it opens up the use of other commercial advertising into the future?
PRIME MINISTER: We’re talking about an event that is one of the big money spinners for the state. It creates jobs. This isn't about advertising a packet of chips, this is about advertising one of the biggest events that New South Wales holds. Frankly, I thought it was a bit of a no-brainer, I can't work out what all the fuss is about.
JOURNALIST: Maybe that it's advertising gambling.
PRIME MINISTER: I mean, this is advertising a big event. That's what it’s about. It's about a big event and you know, sometimes I think people have just got to have a bit of a lie down on this sort of stuff. They can get all very unctuous about it. This is about a Premier who just wants to see their state grow and jobs getting created.
JOURNALIST: Bill Shorten has outlined Labor's plan for a government today. Has the election campaign begun?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll tell you what Bill Shorten's “five point plan” is; more tax, more tax, more tax, more tax, more tax. That is Bill Shorten's plan.
More tax doesn't grow the economy. More tax when you don't grow the economy, doesn't guarantee Medicare or hospitals or schools. All it means is more tax dragging the economy down, taking more of what Australians earn. That’s not a plan for a stronger Australia, that is a plan for a weaker Australia.
JOURNALIST: He says he wants to bring back penalty rates, what is your response to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've seen Bill Shorten really backing in the union movement, pretty heavily. The change the rules thing, basically they want the people who are quite happy to break the rules, to make the rules. That’s the Labor Party's plan when it comes to industrial relations. What Bill Shorten wants to do is to drive workers and their employers apart. He wants to go down the path of militant unionism that actually drives Australians apart from one another. You don't make a stronger economy by driving a wedge in your own workplace.
The way you achieve a stronger economy is you get everybody working together - employees, employers - that's how small and medium-sized businesses in particular do so well around the country. They all get it; they have to work together. They're not looking to pick fights with each other.
I mean Sally McManus was the person who said she didn't think “necessarily” that laws applied to the union movement. So, Bill Shorten's problem is that he is going to be the complete puppet of a union movement that thinks it is okay to not have to follow the law.
We shouldn't let the law-breakers become the law-makers under Bill Shorten.
JOURNALIST: The ACTU union ads were launched today, what are your thoughts?
PRIME MINISTER: It’s no great shock that the union movement wants Bill Shorten as the prime minister, because Bill Shorten will let the law-breakers become the law-makers. Union-bred, union-fed, union-led, that’s Bill Shorten. That's why the union movement and all the militant thugs in the union movement are going to get in there and start campaigning for Bill Shorten.
I mean, there's one thing I have in common with Bob Hawke; he was the last Prime Minister to turn up at the Bathurst 1000 and he was a Prime Minister who was prepared to stand up to union thuggery. He was the one who stood up to things like the BLF. Bill Shorten, when it comes to militant unionism, gives them life membership of the Labor Party. So, if you want to see militant unions dragging our economy down, then Bill Shorten is your guy.
JOURNALIST: Bill Shorten has ramped up his election campaign today. What is your message to the Australian people, your mantra, going into the election?
PRIME MINISTER: The same thing I said since coming into the job and frankly before, when I was Treasurer; an even stronger Australia is one where you keep your economy strong. That is what guarantees the essential services that Australians rely on.
Under our Government, more than 1,000 jobs created.
Under our Government, the Budget getting back into the black.
Under our Government, 100,000 young people in just one year getting a job, the strongest ever growth in youth employment in our country's economic history. The lowest level of welfare dependence of the working-age population, in 25 years.
Under our Government 150,000 or thereabouts, got off welfare and into work.
When Labor was in charge, over 200,000 people got off work and went into welfare. So our records show that we know how to run a strong economy. We’re going to keep Australians safe and we’re going to keep Australians together.
The way you lead Australia, is to keep Australians together, not trying to set one group of Australians against another and setting employers against employees or vice versa. Setting one set of parents about where they send their kids to school, against another set of parents about where they send their kids to school.
We're about bringing and keeping Australians together.
JOURNALIST: There's no denying Australians are facing high cost of living pressures, how can you combat any campaign from Labor and the unions on that issue?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Labor will put electricity prices up. That's a no-brainer. I mean, Labor's reckless targets on emissions reduction will see household electricity prices rise by around $1,500 a year. That's what Labor's plan is; more taxes, higher taxes, higher electricity prices, higher private health insurance.
Under Labor you will pay more and more and more.
Under our Government you will continue to have the strong economy which means that you will get a much better deal.
JOURNALIST: When will the election be?
PRIME MINISTER: Next year.
JOURNALIST: Doctors Without Borders have been asked to leave Nauru, can you guarantee the wellbeing of people in Australia's offshore processing centres when such groups have been banned?
PRIME MINISTER: Australia doesn't run offshore processing centres, the facilities on Nauru are run by the Nauruan government and we've been supporting the Nauruan government for many years to ensure medical services are provided. We've been taking the responsible action in relation to people who are in medical distress for many years now and we will continue to.
But I tell you what we won't do. I mean, yesterday Bill Shorten was offering advice on how to run an immigration program to the Government. I think I’ll pass on that one, Bill.
If I'm looking how to run a good immigration program I won't be asking the Labor Party. Under the Labor Party, their failures of immigration led to the most horrible of situations, as we know, where the boats were coming and 1,200 people died. So when it comes to immigration, I won't be looking to the Labor Party for advice.
JOURNALIST: Can I bring you back to the central west again and the drought?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s great, let’s talk about the central west.
JOURNALIST: You talk about a Drought Summit coming up and you talk about the lasting effect and how this will go on for years at least. When do we see any more answers? $1 million for councils is great, but more is needed.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, you will see more announcements, absolutely you will. I'm sure you’ll see them from other agencies other than the Commonwealth government as well.
On the drought summit, we're working to a number of initiatives and we’ll have more to say about that. One of the things that Bridget raised, importantly, is we’ve got to work even more closely with councils. Some of the councils, you know, they don't have a lot of staff and they're already pretty busy. It's how to best use these sort of resources, how to best coordinate drought relief and other things, on the ground. You know we’re carefully about how that can be used to support councils.
In many of the drought-affected areas, the council is actually one of the biggest economic drivers in those communities. That's why the we’ve chosen councils as the primary delivery vehicle for these services. We're looking at how we can bring existing infrastructure programs forward, existing roadworks programmes which are out a bit. That work is going on as we speak, because that also drives a lot of local revenue and local towns. I mean, the contractors who we want to be local, you know, they're going to spend their money in the local communities. So we want to see that work happen. While the work won't be on the farm, we want it to be there with the council.
JOURNALIST: A 30 per cent decrease in business in Blayney, it’s huge. What sort of difference are you expecting the $1 million to make?
PRIME MINISTER: As much as we possibly can, that’s our honest view. We know this doesn’t solve all the problems but as Scott was just saying, this is a tangible demonstration that our Government gets it. We get it that yes, while the farms are struggling and we're doing what we can to support them and the New South Wales Government in particular is doing what they can, because that's their primary responsibility, our responsibility is to ensure that this regional economies, local economies stay alive. As a former Treasurer, I particularly understand that. I want to see these towns remain and sustain their viability through this very tough period. I believe they will. I think the resilience of these towns is magnificent.
You know, we've heard a lot of very despairing stories, but that's not the whole story. There's a lot of great stories out there of resilience, hope and success. We’re going to see those stories. Australians are backing our towns and backing rural communities in all across the country. Because they know, as Scott was just saying, it was 2.5 years ago and that’s coming around again. It will come around and we’re going to keep believing that. Great to be here with you all, cheers.
Interview with Ian McNamara, ABC All Over
7 October 2018
IAN MCNAMARA: Good morning Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day Macca how are you?
MACCA: You’re at Bathurst I believe?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah we’re just rolling up now, up towards the racetrack and there’s a lot of excitement here. It should be a great day. It’s a historic day, it’s the last runout for the Falcons.
MACCA: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: Out here in Bathurst, so yeah.
MACCA: I understand, there’s these two blokes who rang me before and they just said they’d been going there, they get there last week, they camp there and one of them calls it the "Bathurst Hilton".
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah?
MACCA: They’re just, just so keen and wonderful. But look, why I wanted to talk to you Prime Minister, is about the drought still.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
MACCA: Even though there’s been a bit of rain, it’s still very dry in lots of places. We had a lovely call this morning from a bloke called Adam who just read something online and he’s been down, carrying on his truck, with his wife, raised some money, got some hay and taking it down to this little diary farm family who are doing it tough, real tough, down at Finley. So it’s still biting everyone but I heard something about money going to people if they’re getting money and also to councils? We’ve had calls this morning, for instance, a lady Colleen who rings us from time to time says: "Look, we’ve got to save our main streets." Because really the towns, which is, I’ve always said, which is the main thing really, isn’t it? You’ve got to, even if there’s drought, you’ve got to make sure the town is doing alright.
PRIME MINISTER: Well that’s absolutely right and part of our response is the $75 million we’re putting into local councils all around the drought affected areas. Some 60 of those and each of those can get up to $1 million to do up any number of projects, from you know, up in western Queensland I’m sure they’ll be doing dog fencing, they’ll be doing road maintenance works, they’ll be doing up the local swimming pool if that’s what they think is necessary. What that does is that gives people jobs in the towns.
Now, we’ve already made a lot of responses in terms of the Farm Household Assistance and we’re getting that form less complicated. We’ve got more to do there but we’ve already had eight councils come back already, it’s only just opened up about a week and a half ago and some of those councils are right on it. That’s great and I’m pleased to see that but we want to get that money out the door to these important projects. We’re going to work closely with the drought-affected councils to ensure they’re putting it into projects that can really help the community. And you know, you get the money flowing through the towns and that just keeps the grocery store open, it keeps the hairdresser open, it keeps the local café or the bakery or whatever and that’s what we’re trying to see happen.
Can’t make it rain, but we can do things like this which will help the towns so that’s where we’re focused.
MACCA: Saving the main street, it’s really an important thing isn’t it, I mean even if there’s hardship. It’s like that old story you heard about the bloke in drought. He goes into the town and he sees Mr Gardner or whatever his name is, who runs the local store. He gives him credit, because he knows when the drought’s over he’ll be right. But that sort of thing goes on and that’s where you’ve got to start, on the main street, I think, don’t you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well that is true but it sort of builds also on the drought recovery and the programmes we’re working on with Major General Day, who we spoke about last time I was on. Barnaby has been out there as well, he’s been focusing on keeping the towns alive as well. So you know, investing in future water infrastructure and silage. All of these sorts of things are also part of the plan we’ve been rolling out and delivering new tax incentives or those sorts of things.
We’ve got the Drought Summit coming up as you know, later this month and Macca, mate, thanks for coming along.
MACCA: I mean -
PRIME MINISTER: You’ve the speaker at the lunch and mate, you can relay all of the views of your listeners so I’m looking forward to that. I really appreciate your involvement.
MACCA: It’s a pleasure. Now, listen before you go, you’ve got to tell us are you a Ford or a Holden man?
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve got to say when I was a kid, who can ever forget that one-two finish with Allan Moffatt?
MACCA: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: That always just burns in my mind, so that probably makes me lean Ford’s way, I’ve got to say.
MACCA: I’m a Ford man, I have to tell you right now Scotty, I’m a Ford man.
PRIME MINISTER: And it was Colin Bond, I mean that was one of those formational experiences I think. We’re just rolling in now into Bathurst where all the tents are up and everybody is here and they’re looking really excited. You know, it’s great. I mean there there’s been a lot of hardship around mate, but a day like today, people, it’s like the footy finals, it’s like whatever sport; it enables you to get your head away from that for just a little while. Gives you a bit of sanity.
MACCA: They’re important things I think, things like car races and football finals.
PRIME MINISTER: I think so.
MACCA: Stuff like that, even though there can be a little, or a lot of sadness at a football final as you’d know.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
MACCA: We need – because it’s Mental Health Month – you need as many things like that as you can get.
PRIME MINISTER: And some of that money for the councils too, is going to support some of those types of things in those districts; getting people together and ensuring that they can enjoy a normal sort of district life. But I’ve got to say, I was out here in Bathurst about eight weeks ago. My daughter and I were actually picking up a dog for the family. But it’s looking a bit better I’ve got to say, there’s been a bit more rain. This area wasn’t as affected as some of the others, but we need more of it mate.
MACCA: I’ll say.
PRIME MINISTER: So we’ll keep doing what we need to do and I know you’ll keep doing what you need to do mate and thanks for the work you’re doing, just keeping everybody’s spirits up.
MACCA: Prime Minister, enjoy Bathurst, thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Macca, see you.
Additional $75 Million Available for Drought Hit Communities
7 October 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation
Drought affected communities will soon see relief flowing in the form of $1 million in grants to Local Government areas to help stimulate regional and rural economies.
The Drought Communities Programme extension grant hub opened last week and drought impacted councils have already begun submitting their applications.
Nearly one third of eligible councils have started the process since the guidelines were released on 28 September, according to the Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation Senator Bridget McKenzie who was joined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Blayney.
"Helping farmers and farming communities remains this Government’s priority," the Prime Minister said.
"This is a practical step that gets money flowing into these communities right now and I’m thrilled that it’s been take up so quickly by local councils.
"This funding will be used to construct new buildings, road upgrades, amenities upgrades and water infrastructure projects. It will create jobs.
"Mates stand by each other during tough times, and that’s what this funding is about.
Money will start flowing from the 11th of October, and Minister McKenzie urged all eligible councils to engage with the Department of Infrastructure and get their applications submitted.
"Drought not only impacts our primary producers, it hits our towns and regional economies hard. As farmers tighten their belts, so to do local small businesses as cash flow tightens.
"These grants are specifically targeted at this knock-on effect by enabling Local Governments who can identify projects in their communities that will provide the most bang for their buck in helping stimulate and support their local economy.
"147 projects have been funded under the previous round providing new infrastructure and much needed employment.
"Based on feedback, the updated guidelines are even more flexible, giving local governments more choice when it comes to how they will deploy their funding.
"The Liberal and National Government understands that drought is so much more than dry paddocks. There has been some good falls around but we are a long way from drought-breaking rains. We will continue to stand by our farmers and regional communities as they deal with the ongoing dry and make sure they can prosper when the drought does break," she said.
Each eligible council can receive a grant of up to $1 million to fund one or more project.
Since 2015−16 the Australian Government has funded 147 projects in 23 drought-declared local government areas under the Drought Communities Programme.
A total of 60 local councils around Australia have been notified they are eligible to apply for funding under the extended programme.
More information is available at: business.gov.au
Doorstop - Bellerive, TAS
6 October 2018
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister what’s your reaction to Sarah Hanson-Young receiving abusive phone calls from a New South Wales Police Officer?
PRIME MINISTER: I think it’s very concerning and that’s obviously a matter for the authorities. I trust Sarah is well and these reports are troubling. But I’ll leave that to authorities to investigate and take appropriate action as necessary.
JOURNALIST: What do you make of Bill Shorten’s [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think Bill must have little faith in Australia Post, because every time he writes me a letter, it seems to be in the media before it gets to me, and I think that just says that Bill Shorten is good for stunts. But look, as interested as he seems to suggest he is, quite frankly I think he’s betrayed by the way he does it. If he wants to write me a letter, he can just write me a letter, he doesn’t have to put it in the newspaper every time.
What I’d say is this. The Liberal Party won’t be contracting to the Labor Party immigration policy. I don’t think they’ve got very good form in that area. The Liberal Party has always been very strong when it comes to immigration policies that protect Australia’s national interests, that ensure the strong growth of our economy and that we manage the pressures of population growth all around the country.
We’ll have more to say about our additional policies in this area and the Leader of the Opposition will be welcome to support those policies when they’re announced. But when it comes to the Labor Party asking us to sort of contract immigration policy to them, it’s a bit like me trying to suggest to Johnathan Thurston how he should kick goals.
JOURNALIST: Why won’t you include in your legislation to change the GST carve-up an amendment that would mean Tasmania and the other states definitely won’t be worse off under that?
PRIME MINISTER: All states and territories are better off. There’s a better-off guarantee in the legislation we’re putting to the Parliament and there’s a better off guarantee always, from our Government, the Liberal National Government at a national level to Tasmania, because as you’ve just seen under the Liberal and National governments federally and the Liberal Government here, Tasmanians are coming home. Tasmanians are choosing to stay here. Jobs are growing in Tasmania, population is moving forward here in Tasmania. Because Tasmania is always better off under a Liberal Government at a state level and at a federal level.
Thanks very much.
Doorstop - Queenstown, TAS
5 October 2018
THE HON WILL HODGMAN MP, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Firstly, can I welcome you all here today and thank our hosts, the beautiful west coast of Tasmania for providing an absolutely stunning Tasmanian day and a wonderful way to welcome our Prime Minister to the state. So to Scott, fantastic to have you here for today and tomorrow and to be able to talk about Tasmania now and importantly what we intend to do together to keep our state performing as strongly as it is economically and also to continue to make Tasmania as a great place to live, work and play.
To Mitch Fifield and to Richard Colbeck, Ministers here today as well, fantastic to have you in the state and a great opportunity to talk about how we are connecting a remote part of the state with the rest of the world. Not withstanding Tasmania’s geographic challenges, it is absolutely essential we are connected to the rest of the world, that we continue to showcase all we have to offer here and give Tasmanian businesses the chance to be competitive in a competitive, global environment. The progress of the NBN rollout is obviously a significant piece of infrastructure to support that.
Can I just say before I ask the Prime Minister to make some comments, that over the five years that we’ve been in government, or close to it, the Tasmanian Government has worked very closely with our federal counterparts. Tasmania’s best interests are best served by having a Coalition Government working collaboratively with the Tasmanian one. Of course, we will always stand up very strongly for our state and pitch a very strong case for Tasmania and if you look at the recent track record of what the Commonwealth has done to support our shared objectives, whether it be improving our health services, investing in critical infrastructure, sustaining the rapid growth and prosperity that surrounds our tourism industry, this is all illustrative of a shared objective and a common sense of purpose.
So yes, we have a new Prime Minister but it is very much business as usual and certainly I know from my discussions today with the Prime Minister there will be a continuation of the work that’s underway, a focus on what’s important to Tasmanians. Not political sideshows, but actually focusing on improving services. Health services, education standards, keeping Tasmania’s economy as one of the strongest-performing in the country and making sure that more Tasmanians have the opportunity of a good job or to advance their prospects. These are things that we have a very shared commitment to continuing to deliver on and I’m delighted to welcome you here to the beautiful island state, Prime Minister and invite you to make some comments.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much Will, it’s great to be here. How good is Queenstown, particularly on a day like today? It is absolutely gorgeous and it’s wonderful to be here with the Premier and of course my colleagues. And we are here to talk about the significant fulfilment, the honouring of the promises that our Government has made here on the west coast. And in the drive over from Strahan today, the Premier and I had to opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues and flying up from Hobart earlier today. And we’re here to honour the commitments that we made on the NBN. Back in 2016, we said we would be investing $14 million and there was a plus $4 million commitment also from the State Government to ensure that we could be hooking up exactly what we’re hooking up today.
When you think about more remote parts of Australia, you probably think about large, open expanses looking out as far as the eye can see. But there are other parts of the country like here where we are on the west coast of Tasmania, which also deal with the challenges of remoteness. If you’re running a business, if you’re running a motel as you’re seeing here, or if you’re running a graphic design business, or if you’re running an accountancy practice - whatever your business might be - or you’re simply at home and you know you want to be able to access education resources for your kids, or if you want to access tele and e-health services, all of these things, when you’re living in a remote part of the country, are very dependent on the NBN services that are being delivered here. Now, across Tasmania we’re over 99 per cent in terms of connected up now, in terms of what’s available to people. Two thirds of Tasmanians in those households are now connected up. That is going to radically change what is happening in these communities. I mean what we’ve seen here alone in terms of the increase in speeds I think has really been a shot in the arm for the local community here. We do know, for example, that in areas that are connected up to the NBN, women in business is growing twenty times faster than is occurring in other parts where the NBN is not connected. The establishment of home-based businesses, the independence that that provides for households and for families who can have the choices to live in wonderful parts of the country like here in Queenstown and have the same level of services and the same opportunities that exist elsewhere in the country. So we’re really excited about that.
I’m also here to say that our Government is honouring its commitments that we made in the most recent Braddon by-election. $700,000 going into the Mobile Black Spots program, that is going to be rolled out here as well. That is going to support some 4,000 residents across the west coast here. It’s also going to be very good for tourism as well, with the international and other visitors who are coming through this part of Tasmania and throughout this region. Investing in those services is very important.
So as a Government that is working together closely with the Hodgman Government, to ensure a strong economy for Australia, a strong economy for Tasmania, will is absolutely right. The partnership between his Government and our Government has got unemployment down. It’s got jobs up, it’s got investments in infrastructure, in hospitals, in schools. All of these things up and that’s a result of the really strong partnership that exists between the Hodgman Liberal Government here and our Government in Canberra as the national government. And that’s going to continue and we’re going to work closely together on our infrastructure projects, on our health spending, on our education spending, to ensure that Tasmanians get the guarantee of the essential services that they rely on. Whether it’s Medicare, whether it’s university, whether it’s affordable medicines, all of these things are supported by a stronger economy. Without a stronger economy, you can't deliver them. And that’s what the Hodgman Government has been able to do here in Tasmania, it’s what our Government has been able to do over the last five years and this has all meant very, very good news for Tasmanians.
So it’s great to be here with you Will, but of course Richard my Tasmanian colleague and our senior representatives from Tasmania, but also Mitch, who has been on this project of rolling out all around the country and it’s tremendous to see that.
One last thing, on this internet for Tasmania, on the NBN, 1,870 extra businesses are expected to be established by 2021 as a result of this investment. Now you just think about the jobs this means for Tasmanians, think about those small business who will also benefit from our lower taxes. Whether it’s the instant asset write-off or the 25 per cent corporate tax rate for businesses with less than $50 million in turnover. Those businesses are being supported by the services, the infrastructure and a better tax environment.
So if you’re coming to Queenstown, you are going to see the difference, you are going to feel it. And particularly, because I promised we said we’d do this Will - Unconformity, it’s on in a couple of weeks here in Queenstown. As an ex-tourism person, always happy to sell the message for tourism across Australia.
[Applause]
Do yourself a favour, do yourself a favour get to Queenstown and enjoy Unconformity. Good on cheers. Mitch?
SENATOR THE HON MITCH FIFIELD, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: Well can I thank Bernie and Julia for having us here at the Gold Rush Inn. What we are seeing here at this business is what we are seeing around Tasmania and around the nation; a business that a week ago was only getting speeds of one, two, three megabytes per second, is now is averaging speeds of about 46-47 per second. And the order is already in for 100 megabits per second package from their retailer. It’s now up there? Bernie has just advised me that the 100 megabits per second package that they’ve ordered has just come through, so that’s good news.
But this really is a moment to acknowledge a community on the west coast that came together, that said that they wanted to see the NBN delivered in a different way. The Tasmanian Government and the Commonwealth Government have come together to see that happen. The great news is that for Tasmania, the project is 99.7 per cent complete. When Zeehan comes online, Tassie will just about be done. So Tasmania will be the first state that will be construction-complete for the NBN. Nationwide, the NBN is on track to be completed by 2020. We already have the NBN available to more than 7 million premises nationwide. More than 4 million premises have already taken it up. The reason that it will be completed by 2020 is because we wanted to ensure that Australians received the nationwide benefits of the NBN as soon as possible. Because of our approach, Australians will have the NBN six to eight years sooner than would have otherwise been the case and at $30 billion less cost. And why that’s important is because our approach will the Australians pay $500 a year less for the internet, than would have been the case under the approach of our predecessors.
So this is a good day for Tasmania, it’s a good day for the west coast and it’s also an opportunity to acknowledge the work of the community here and also Phil Vickers the Mayor, who along with Richard Colbeck and the former Liberal member Brett Whiteley, really championed the community cause. So today we have a tremendous opportunity for businesses and residences to be able to connect to the rest of the world. It shouldn't matter where you live, you should be able to do your business and stay in touch with family and friends.
SENATOR RICHARD COLBECK: Thanks very much. Welcome everybody, great to be here and PM it's great to have you here in Queenstown on the west coast of Tassie as part of your first visit here as Prime Minister. And particularly to be here to demonstrate that what we’ve been saying to the community in Braddon over recent times is that we as a Government will deliver for this community and that’s exactly what we are doing today.
At the 2016 election we said that we would make a commitment of $14 million, joined with $4 million from the Tasmanian Government to bring fibre to the node services to the west coast and it’s being switched on today, or this week. To hear the reaction immediately from the community about the difference that it’s making is just fantastic. So not only did we say we are going to deliver, but we are actually delivering, and it’s great to hear your commitment again today, Prime Minister, that all the other commitments we made in the Braddon by election will also be delivered, particularly the $700,000 to assist with backhaul and mobile services to the west coast, which we know will make a big difference and will be a game-changer in the context of mobile services to the west coast of Tasmania.
So thank you Prime Minister. It’s great to have you here to do that. And can I also say to NBN, thank you for the work that you’ve been doing in actually managing the rollout of the service here on the west coast. It’s been great to work with them, they have been really diligent and working hard to get the services delivered. We talked this morning, about the 50 megabit per second services being delivered to the hotel, the order being in for a 100 megabits per second and it’s already being delivered. I mean you can’t get much better than that.
So a significant day, Prime Minister. You’ve brought high speed internet to the west coast and the last time I was here we didn’t have sunshine, so you’ve brought sunshine to the west coast as well. It’s great to have you here and I look forward to the conversations that we’ll have as a team, state and federal, over the next weekend for our State Council. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Tasmanian government has been adamant that it wants to see a “no worse off” provision for GST reforms. Why won’t you support that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we’ve got is a better off guarantee. We’ve got a better off guarantee of over $1 billion of additional investment in the GST pool which is indexed forever. Which means $112 million extra anticipated for Tasmania over the next eight years. That’s borne out by the independent work which is done by the Productivity Commission, on the figures that they worked up and based on the analysis that we’ve also done with the Tasmanian Government which they participated in. But we’re going to continue to work constructively with the Tasmanian Government.
As the Premier and I have been discussing today, what we're committed to as a Prime Minister and Premier is to guarantee the essential services that Tasmanians rely on. On their schools, on their Medicare, on their hospitals. And our guarantee is our record on that. We have been delivering that as a partnership, both in Tasmania and nationally for the benefit of all Tasmanians and we’re going to continue to deliver on that.
This is a package where we’re investing more. More than, at its peak and onward, over $1 billion extra goes into the GST pool, which is shared around all the states and territories to ensure that every state and territory is better off. Now we’re the only ones planning to legislate that additional investment into the GST pool.
Bill Shorten is not making any such commitments to Tasmanians. He wants to legislate just a 75 cent floor and that’s it, with no compensation, with no additional investment for Tasmanians. He will leave Tasmanians high and dry. We’re committed to making and legislating the additional investment in the GST pool, from outside the GST resources, to ensure that every single state and territory is better off.
There were a range of other recommendations that were made in the Productivity Report which we will work very closely with the Tasmanian Government on and we will work through the implications of those. They’re not part of the legislative package and that’s where we’ll be able to ensure that all the issues that are important are covered off. But we’re working very closely as a team and I want to thank the Tasmania Government for the strong input there has been for this process.
JOURNALIST: Will you agree to the amendment put forward by Peter Gutwein?
PRIME MINISTER: I haven’t actually seen an amendment. What we’ve got to be careful of is that, you know, if you’re upgrading to digital, you don’t keep running an analogue service forever, do you? This is the issue where we’re looking to make the GST system fairer. We’re adding additional resources into the GST pool to make sure that every state and territory is better off. So that’s a better off guarantee of more than $1 billion a year and when you do that and you make the change to that system, you upgrade. And so we’re upgrading the GST, we’re upgrading the GST for the states and territories and all states and territories, based on the independent work done by the Productivity Commission demonstrates that all states and territories are better off.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister yesterday [inaudible] redesign, just on the GST, if there needs to be a redesign because we failed to foresee an iron ore mining boom in Western Australia, don’t any changes need to take into account the possibility of a second boom?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we’ve done is ensured – that’s why we’ve put the extra money into the pool. See, the problem with the GST before was you had a fixed pool. So if you changed the formula then there’s pluses and minuses. But if you put more into the pool, then that washes it out. That’s how the system has been designed, to ensure that into the future any possible impacts that are reasonable and credible will be dealt with by the bigger pool. See the problem in the past is that the argument has always been about trying to carve up the same sized pie. And what we’ve done as a Government is made the pie bigger. So what you end up getting is bigger, because the pie is bigger and it hasn’t just been what we’re doing with the addition more than $1 billion indexed forever that we’re putting into the GST pool; as Will and I were discussing on the way here, the changes that we’ve already made to the GST to include digital transactions, to include low-value threshold goods and to remove that threshold, those and other amendments on the black economy are delivering an extra $6.5 billion alone, in just the next four years into the GST pool. So this is the healthiest looking GST pool we’ve seen for quite some time, as a result of the changes we’ve made as a Government. And you know what it means? It means more money for the states to invest in schools, in hospitals, in police, in infrastructure, in services, in all of these things. So under our Government, under the GST we’ve been ensuring that more resources, more support is being delivered to all states and territories.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Stuart Robert has charged taxpayers $2832 for his home internet connection in May. Should the Finance Department be investigating this?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve asked the Special Minister of State to look into this and report back to me.
JOURNALIST: Do you believe it’s unreasonable though? That’s a fairly hefty internet bill.
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ve asked the Special Minister of State to look into this and report back to me.
JOURNALIST: At face value, does it pass the pub test?
PRIME MINISTER: Well again, once I’ve heard from the Special Minister of State then we’ll take the next step.
JOURNALIST: How do you think voters will feel about an MP paying or spending $90 per day for their home internet connection?
PRIME MINISTER: I think they’d want an explanation and that’s why I’ve asked for one.
JOURNALIST: On the [inaudible] are you excited to climb the Harbour Bridge?
PRIME MINISTER: I am, I’m very excited. I suspect he’s going to get up there a little quicker than I will, as well as the other athletes who will be going up there. You know, I think I’ll be puffing a bit by the time I get to the top. I suspect my daughters would get up there a bit quicker than I could and if they could take my place, I’m sure they would. But look it’s a great thrill having the royals come out. I mean, they’re so great and I think wherever they go, they just fill people with hope. They just fill people with hope and they make people feel better themselves and what the Prince has done with the Invictus Games is nothing short of inspirational.
But the only thing more inspirational than him, are the athletes who will participate in these Invictus Games. So look I’m thrilled as to get a guernsey to be able to climb up the Bridge with the Prince and the other Invictus Games athletes. I think it’ll be a great visit to Australia and I think right across the country, not just in Sydney but here in Queenstown, up in Townsville, over in Bunbury, I think people will have a bit of a look in. They’ll have a bit of a giggle at me puffing and panting all the way up the top, but I’ll get there. My brother is a paramedic so you know, I might have to take him in tow.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister have you spoke to Stuart Robert about this?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve spoken to the Special Minister of State. I’ve spoken to the Special Minister of State.
JOURNALIST: The Vice President of the US is calling Chinese Navy action in the South China Sea “reckless harassment”, do you agree with him? Will you commit Australia to join an international freedom of navigation fleet in the South China Sea?
PRIME MINISTER: What I will always do and what Australia will always do is act in our national interest. That is always, I think to deescalate situations and to use our influence and our relationships in the region to ensure continued prosperity for our region. We will always take a calm and measured approach to these issues, engaging with all of our partners, both in the region and more broadly.
JOURNALIST: Just back to the royals, you’ve got three meetings with them. Is it too much prime-ministerial time, when they’re not heads of state?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, it’ll be in Sydney, I’m a Sydney boy at the end of the day and we’re happy to participate as we’ve been asked to in the programme by the Palace. These programmes get put together over a long period of time. They haven’t been just put together over the last six weeks I can tell you, there’s a lot of work that’s gone into this. But what it’s really about and what I think they would want it to be very focused on, is the Invictus Games and Sydney’s hosting of the Invictus Games. This is a big deal and it’s a big deal for those athletes and their families. I’m sure the prince and the princess would very much want the focus to be on those athletes and their courage and their service and their inspiration.
JOURNALIST: The US and the Netherlands have now followed your suit in condemning the Russian cyber-attacks, are you pleased with that?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I am.
JOURNALIST: Any elaboration?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I am, because you’ve got to call this stuff out. When you’ve got countries acting contrary to the international rules, of law, the international community has to call it out. That’s what we’ve done and I welcome the other nations who have joined us and the UK and others who have already done that. That’s how you make the world safer, when we act together to call out this sort of behavior. It’s not on.
JOURNALIST: Are you open to having some discussions with West Coast mayor Phil Vickers about the Battery of the Nation Project?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’m glad you’ve asked about the Battery of the Nation project. Will and I are off to see what is a potential part of the Battery of the Nation. I’m very excited about this project. I think it’s a cracker of a project and we’ve invested, already, in working up business cases and feasibilities around a lot of these projects for pumped hydro and we’re going to have a look at one of those very soon.
This is an enormous opportunity for Tasmania and energy and getting electricity prices down is one of the big focusses of our Government. Tasmania is so well placed, I mean this is not just a renewable powerhouse – which it is and can be for the country, particularly for south-eastern Australia – but on top of that, it’s dispatchable power as well. This is what I call fair dinkum power; stuff that works when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine. Now, the sun is shining on us today in Queenstown but that’s not always the case. It’s important that we have both the reliable energy supply, as well as the renewables and dispatchability actually go together. I think it’s an exciting project, a really exciting project. But Will, you might want to talk about it, because we share that passion.
PREMIER OF TASMANIA: That’s right. I’m really thrilled to be able to have another really positive discussion with the leader of our nation’s government about the shared vision that we’ve established to transform Tasmania’s energy status as the nation’s battery. It will take a lot of work and a lot of work has already been done to understand the opportunities and we’ll go to one such place where there is an identified potential pumped hydro storage option, which will be part of that network. But also, I think it’s a really encouraging thing to hear that our vision of not only perhaps a second interconnector and further wind and renewable developments taking place here in Tasmania, entirely constituent with a national government’s energy agenda and energy vision. So this is in my view one of the single greatest opportunities for Tasmanian and it is a great example of a very practical Commonwealth working with a delivering state Government that realizes this potential, the opportunity and what we’ve already invested, that will take Tasmania to the next level and put us in our rightful position of being the nation’s battery of renewable energy.
PRIME MINISTER: So let’s not forget – because we’re going to have to go, because we’ve got to go look at that – unconformity.com.au 19-21 October - new cultural experiences at the edge of the world. Get online and get yourself to Queenstown.
Thank you.
Fast Broadband Delivered to Tasmania's West Coast
5 October 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Communications and the Arts
Families and businesses now have access to fast and affordable broadband in the regional towns of Rosebery, Queenstown and Strahan on Tasmania’s West Coast, thanks to the Morrison Government’s National Broadband Network (NBN).
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the milestone reflects the Government’s commitment to delivering fast broadband for all Australians.
“We are bringing faster, cheaper internet connectivity to the West Coast of Tasmania,” the Prime Minister said.
“We know a decent internet connection is really important for health, education and business services.”
Senator for Tasmania, the Hon Richard Colbeck, said the NBN provides the West Coast a fantastic opportunity to seize the benefits of fast broadband.
“Fast and affordable broadband will help boost our local economy and secure new investments, jobs and opportunities for the area,” Senator Colbeck said.
“In total, around 2900 homes and businesses will benefit. Residents in Zeehan are next and will be able to order a service by the end of the year.”
Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator Mitch Fifield, said the improved connectivity will provide real economic benefits for the region.
“Access to the NBN contributed $1.2 billion to Australia’s GDP in 2017 and this is expected to reach $10.4 billion once the rollout is complete. Fast broadband delivered over the NBN will boost economic growth on the West Coast,” Minister Fifield said.
The Government committed $18.5 million in 2016 to see the rollout upgraded on the West Coast from satellite to a mix of fixed line and fixed wireless. This is made possible through NBN Co’s Technology Choice Program where interested parties can upgrade their technology type by paying the difference.
The funding, which includes $4.5 million from the Tasmanian Government, sees Queenstown, Rosebery and Zeehan connected by NBN Co’s fixed line technology and Strahan connected by fixed wireless.
NBN Co are making full use of the local Tasnetworks fibre link, a testament to using existing infrastructure to deliver better outcomes for consumers. Tasmania is on track to becoming the first fully connected state in Australia, with around 99 per cent of the rollout now complete. For more information visit: www.nbnco.com.au
Doorstop - Hurstville NSW
4 October 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Immigration Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship
THE HON DAVID COLEMAN MP, MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS AND CITIZENSHIP: All right, well good afternoon everyone and welcome to Hurstville. It’s been terrific to visit some small businesses here in Hurstville today. Hurstville really is the economic heart of the central region. Thousands and thousands of people are employed in the Hurstville area and so many of those people are employed by people who have immigrated to Australia in search of opportunity. They’ve gone out and taken a risk, started a business, in the process employing so many, so many Australians. In fact around the nation about 1.4 million people are employed in businesses that were started by a migrant and that’s a really powerful statistic. It explains one of the really important benefits that we see through immigration, in helping to grow the economy. In my electorate of Banks, we’re fortunate to have a very multicultural community of around 30,000 people of Chinese background. So many people of Chinese background in my community have started businesses, have done so many positive things for our community. So it was great to introduce the PM to a few small business owners today and to chat to some of the employees about all the good work that’s going on here in Hurstville. I’ll hand over to the PM.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you David and you’re doing a great job as our Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship and particularly here as the Member for Banks. We’re his neighbours, between Cook and Banks, I’ve seen the great work David has particularly done with Chinese Australian community here right across southern Sydney. But I’m here because I’m passionate about small business. I’m passionate about Australians getting jobs and I’m passionate about the role that the many different ethnic communities right across Australia play in achieving those two things for Australia. What we’ve seen here as we’ve walked around the streets of Hurstville are Australians who have come to make a contribution and not take one. Here they are, investing, starting businesses. Was it one in three businesses started by migrants here? I mean this is the economic heart of this part of southern Sydney and it is being built on the investment and the commitment of Chinese Australians who are starting businesses, investing, as we’ve just seen, and creating jobs here for Australians.
Another big part of our agenda as a Government though is to keep Australians together. I think the key to that is to always recognise, always acknowledge the contributions that are made by all sections, all parts of the Australian family. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been here for 60,000 years or if you’ve been here for 60 minutes, you’ve come to make a contribution. If you’re here to make a contribution rather than take one then you have a big role to play in the future of our country and that’s what we see all around the city. So it’s great to celebrate it David. This is going to be and continue to be a big part of our agenda as a Government, bringing all Australians together for those purposes of ensuring our economy is strong so we can guarantee the essential services Australians rely on. That we keep Australians safe and we keep Australians together.
Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: PM an important stand announced today on Russia and cyber security. Can you talk us through that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look the online environment is not the Wild West and the international rules apply. The rule of law needs to apply and our support for the rule of law and international law applies around the world, whether it's online or offline or wherever it happens to be.
We’re going to call this stuff out and that's what we've done today. That's what other countries like the UK are doing. It’s not on and as an international community, we need to send that message very, very clearly. I understand others have expressed similar sentiments and others will and the random areas and where these things are occurring - in sports, doping, or in areas of economic interest – it’s just not on. As an international community, we need to make that incredibly clear and as a Government we are doing exactly that.
JOURNALIST: What can we do substantively though to punish the Russians for this type of behaviour? What can Australia do?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we need to look at specific areas of relationship we had with the Russians and we’ll obviously do that. But you make a lot more ground I think, when you do things together as an international community. So we’ll be working closely with our international partners in this area. We've already seen the outrageous actions when it came to the poisoning scandals that we saw in the United Kingdom and we stood with the UK in their moment of need on those issues and called that behaviour out as well. We will continue to do that, we’re not going to cop it.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what evidence is there that Russia is responsible and what response are you expecting from the Kremlin.
PRIME MINISTER: The response I'm most focused on now is the coordinated response of the international community and these issues and cyber security and cyber operations and all of these sorts of things, I think, we’re all a lot more aware of these things today and we all know what's going on and they know what's going on too. So we’re going to call it out.
JOURNALIST: Will you match the Opposition’s plan to provide subsidised pre-school [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: What I’d like to know - because the Labor Party haven't explained it yet - they actually don't seem to have funded anything for three year-olds at all. They can't decide whether the funding is over two years or four years. They haven't explained what the support of the states and territories is going to be for this, because my understanding is that sort of funding would have to be matched by the states and territories. So what we have is just another announcement from the Labor Party wanting to spend your money with higher taxes, with detail that’s all over the place. That's why at the end of the day, Labor will make lots and lots of promises between now and the next election. Every time you hear Bill Shorten saying he wants to spend more money, know that you're going to pay for it with higher taxes.
The Labor Party has committed to taxing Australians more, keeping more for the Government of what you earn, every day. Whether you’re a small business, whether you own an investment property, whether you are just going to work and paying income tax, they are going to pull out $70 billion of the personal income tax relief that we have legislated. They are going to ensure that small businesses like the ones we were just meeting now, will pay higher rates of tax. So every time you see Bill Shorten promising to spend money, know that he is promising to spend your money. He is promising to get more money out of you, by taxing you more.
JOURNALIST: Australia has been slipping down the international rankings though when it comes to education. Do you think by getting more three year-olds to access preschool would be a way too - ?
PRIME MINISTER: And we’ve backed that in. When I was Social Services Minister, I was very involved in increasing our investment into early childhood education. Our early childhood education support through the child care program, is the biggest change to child care that we've seen since subsidies were first introduced into that system. That's seeing more children staying longer and ensuring that the early childhood education component of what they're receiving in child care, is more certain. They no longer hit the barrier three quarters into the year, where they no longer get the subsidies. We've got rid that. The subsidies run all year.
So, we've invested billions more in child care, which has also meant more into early childhood education. We have supported every single year until the end of 2019, the universal access funding, done in partnership with the states. That's currently going to the end of 2019 and we are currently working with the states and territories as to how we might take that program forward.
But what we want to see though from the states, is with the money that we've already invested - you know, $440 million a year - we want to see the take-up rates and the participation rates in early childhood education, particularly for preschools, increase. It’s one thing to invest money, but you know, taxpayers expect results for it. And when we go into partnerships with the states and territories, we expect them to deliver results and we want to see improved results in that area from the investments we've already been making. We will be considering further investments in that area in the future.
JOURNALIST: Will you consider taking it to three year olds as well?
PRIME MINISTER: We're open to a lot of these things. You've got to pay for these things. But we've been committed to the universal access for preschool for the last five years. We've done that every year in government and we've extended it out to the end of next year, so the funding is secure all the way to the end of 2019. We will go through that process through MYEFO and the Budget as usual, as we've done and continue to deliver the funding each and every year.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER: I couldn't quite hear that.
JOURNALIST: The breach rates for Indigenous people in the community development program are disproportionately high in remote areas. Will the Government make allowances for the circumstances of Indigenous people?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, 93 per cent of those breaches in interprets of those penalties, have been waived in the past. So I think there has always been a very flexible approach taken by those administering those programs. But you know, we run a Work for the Dole program. We expect all Australians to turn up for Work for the Dole, for those who’re involved in those programs and we don't like to make exceptions in that area and we don't. So there has got to be one rule for everybody when it comes to Work for the Dole, and I think that's what Australians would expect.
JOURNALIST: So when you [inaudible] breaching on average about 15 times in some communities, is that just too high, those [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there’s clearly challenges in those communities and this morning I met with my Indigenous Advisory Council and we discussed a lot of issues this morning. In particular we were talking about getting young Indigenous Australians, all Indigenous Australians of working age, into jobs particularly here in Sydney and Western Sydney and the Indigenous hub in Western Sydney. We want to see more Indigenous Australians in work. I want to see more Indigenous children in school. I want to see more Indigenous families living in safe communities.
That's my objective, because being safe, being healthy, going to school, getting a job, growing older with dignity and respect and having choices, I want that for all Australians and that includes Indigenous Australians, of course.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, when [inaudible] expect the delivery of [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ll let David comment on that.
MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS AND CITIZENSHIP: That's an issue that I've been looking at in recent weeks since taking on the role the Minister for Immigration and discussing that with the Department. I will be having more to say about that shortly.
JOURNALIST: Do you think that having such a large fee, $20,000 for the ten year [inaudible] does that mean [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well in terms of the temporary sponsored parent visa, it’s about creating opportunities for families to bring parents out for that temporary period. We think it’s an important area and it's something that as I say, we’ll be having more to say on. This is not something that the Labor Party properly addressed when they were in government. It’s something that we've committed to addressing and it's something that we will be taking forward.
PRIME MINISTER: A bit more work to do there. A bit more work to do there. Yes?
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible] Nationals MPs are saying that you’ve been tasked with helping craft a new agricultural visa to help with the picking season this summer. Can we expect an announcement before the end of the year?
MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS AND CITIZENSHIP: Look I'm not going to pre-empt a timeline. What I would say is where there are opportunities for the immigration system to be better matched to regional needs, then that's what we should be looking at and that's what we are looking at. There have been some calls from farmers' groups and from agricultural groups to say that they think that the system could be better matched to their needs. That's something we are looking at very closely.
PRIME MINISTER: And let me add to that. With the harvest season approaching, what we need to know is where are the jobs needed? When are the jobs needed? For how long are those jobs needed, in which particular areas? Are there Australians who are there right now who can be doing those jobs and what can we be doing to ensure that those Australians are going into those jobs?
You know, we’ll look at all the issues around welfare and so on to ensure that Australians are going into these jobs, but where there is real shortages, you can't let the fruit rot on the vine. I get that. I was just up - I think it was last week - up in the Glasshouse Mountains and that is probably one of the sectors, in the strawberry farming which we've had a bit to say about lately. If you don't pick them, you can lose the whole field. So those labour access issues are very important but let’s not forget the fact that in these areas there are Australians who can and should be doing this work and I want to make sure that they’re being given the opportunities to do that and not giving a leave pass for not doing it either.
JOURNALIST: So Minister [inaudible] likely to be focussed on higher skilled workers what exactly, what skills are you targeting?
MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS AND CITIZENSHIP: Well, again, I'm not going to pre-empt the outcome of the process we're going through. But where there are opportunities for the programs to be better matched to regional needs, we’ll look at addressing those.
JOURNALIST: Will you make sure that it doesn’t undermine the seasonal workers visa program for Pacific nations?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS AND CITIZENSHIP: Well obviously, we've already made a very clear statement about the importance of seasonal workers program and we’ll look at ways of providing additional opportunities in regional areas.
PRIME MINISTER: The Pacific Islander Scheme has the priority in our program. Of course it does and that's the assurance I give to all of the Pacific Island leaders who we’ve been engaging closely. But we also know there are limits to how much that scheme can meet the overall demand, but we need to get a much better handle on that level of demand. So I'm highly sympathetic to that, particularly coming into this next season and so short-term issues that need to be addressed, which we've been working on closely with our rural and regional colleagues, both within the Liberal Party and the National Party. But there are longer-term issues that need to be addressed. We also want to make sure of this; that is anyone who comes to work in this country, has to be treated properly. I want to be absolutely certain that those who are going to work in these areas and going to work in those environments are properly looked after and properly catered for. We've seen some things in the past which hasn't thrilled me, frankly, and this is a deal, this is a compact when we do these things, where we allow people to take on that work, where there are real shortages and Australians can’t do the work. They’ve also got to be treated properly and I’ll be keeping a very close eye on that.
Thanks very much, good to see you.
Attribution of a Pattern of Malicious Cyber Activity to Russia
4 October 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Today, the Australian Government has joined international partners to condemn a pattern of malicious cyber activity by Russia targeting political, business, media and sporting institutions worldwide.
Based on advice from Australian intelligence agencies, and in consultation with our partners and allies, the Australian Government has determined that the Russian military, and their intelligence arm ‘the GRU’, is responsible for this pattern of malicious cyber activity.
While Australia was not significantly impacted, this activity affected the ability of the public in other parts of the world to go about their daily lives. It caused significant, indiscriminate harm to civilian infrastructure and resulted in millions of dollars in economic damage, including in Russia.
This is unacceptable and the Australian Government calls on all countries, including Russia, to refrain from these types of malicious activities.
Cyberspace is not the Wild West. The International Community – including Russia – has agreed that international law and norms of responsible state behaviour apply in cyberspace.
By embarking on a pattern of malicious cyber behaviour, Russia has shown a total disregard for the agreements it helped to negotiate.
Australia’s International Cyber Engagement Strategy recognises that there must be consequences for those who act contrary to the consensus on international law and norms.
A first step is to attribute malicious behaviour publicly – as we are doing today. Our message is clear: the rule of law applies online, just as it does offline. We will protect the rules-based international order online, just as we do offline.
Australia is working with allies and partners to improve cooperative global responses to malicious cyber activity that undermines international security and global economic stability. At home, the Australian Government has invested in world-leading cyber security systems to help deter, detect and manage cyber incidents, together with domestic and international partners.
The ACSC has issued updated advice on how to strengthen systems and harden defences. All Australian organisations are strongly encouraged to review the ACSC’s website at www.cyber.gov.au
Unacceptable malicious cyber activity being attributed by Australia to the Russian Military
In October 2017, BadRabbit ransomware infected victims in Ukraine and Russia interrupting businesses and critical national infrastructure, including energy and transport sectors.
In August 2016, the Russian military released confidential medical files relating to a number of international athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency has stated publically that this data came from a hack of its Anti-Doping Administration and management system.
In 2016, the US Democratic National Committee (DNC) was hacked by the Russian Military and documents were subsequently published online.
Between July and August 2015, multiple email accounts belonging to a small UK-based TV station were accessed by the Russian Military and content stolen.
Doorstop - Henderson, WA
3 October 2018
PRIME MINISTER: Well thanks very much Jim, it’s great to be here with you and it’s great to be here with all of my colleagues from Western Australia for who this has been a passion project. Particularly, obviously I want to acknowledge Mathias Cormann, the Leader of the Government in the Senate and the Minister for Finance. Of course Julie Bishop, 20 years today Julie, congratulations, from the first time she was first elected to represent Western Australia in particular in the federal Parliament and what a stunning career she’s had and it continues as we go towards the next election.
Before I talk a bit about this project, I just wanted to say a couple of things about Indonesia. You would have heard the Foreign Minister, Marise Payne already announce that the Commonwealth Government, the Australian Government, is planning to provide a further $5 million worth of support and assistance to assist the relief effort in Indonesia in Sulawesi. Those planned arrangements include medical teams, medical equipment and as well as providing the support of defence assets as required. That will be coordinated all through the Indonesian Government. All Australians, all Australians, stand with our Indonesian friends and neighbours as they’re going through what I can only imagine is the most horrific of times, as they work through this. There are many challenges ahead and the Australian Government stands with our friends in Indonesia to do what is necessary to support them in a time of need.
But here we are today in Henderson, a $3.6 billion program to build the 12 OPVs. This is 1,000 jobs. We've met with many of the trainees and the apprentices here. We're cutting Illawarra steel out of Port Kembla. As you've seen here today, Australian steel going into Australian ships, creating Australian jobs. This is what our defence industry plan is delivering.
Earlier this week on Monday, I was up at Northlink; $800 million of investment into important road infrastructure, busting congestion, connecting markets to our produce and freight. This is what our Government is doing. We're investing in the infrastructure. We're investing in the defence capability and all of that is driving our economy forward. The Western Australian recovery is underway. That economic recovery is underway and what's happening here at Henderson will provide an important boost to that.
As the ships are built here, as the trainees are made here, the jobs of the future are created and the capability is built. This entire complex has been a vision now for many years and you can see it taking shape. That enabled what we're now able to do here with the OPV. So our commitment to the defence industry build here is very, very significant. I want to commend all of my Western Australian colleagues for the really strong advocacy they've made that Henderson in particular had a big role to play in the naval ship-building program.
Now this is the biggest investment in our defence capability across all the platforms we're working, whether it’s Land 400, which is having a huge impact particularly up in Queensland, or the subs which are happening out of South Australia or around the country, what you can see here is the defence supply chain at work.
So you know, steel out of Port Kembla. Cutting here, work being done in other parts of the country. These are the supply chains that will be generating jobs all around the country and a strong economy is the result of that. A strong economy that guarantees the essential services that Australians rely on. This is what produces the money to support Medicare. To support aged care. To support affordable medicines. That is the result of a Government that knows how to drive a strong economy and this investment right here, that's what it's doing.
So we're really pleased to be here for this important occasion, cutting steel on the OPVs. Ten will be built here and we're really looking forward to that programme rolling out into the years ahead. It's a big investment in Western Australia's future and capability. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, five of the State's treasurers just had a joint press conference –
PRIME MINISTER: Why don’t we stay on defence first, then I’m happy to move to other issues.
JOURNALIST: The State Government 12 months ago set up an office called Defence West, to lobby members in Canberra, have you had much to do with Defence West? Have you been in contact with…
PRIME MINISTER: Not at this stage, but I mean our programmes for ensuring a big defence industry here in Western Australia are pretty obvious. You're standing in the middle of them. We'll continue to make those investments and we're very happy to work hand-in-glove with the Western Australian Government on ensuring that we're realising all the opportunities for jobs and economic growth that come out of these investments. I mean, this is about building our capability. The biggest boost to our capability since the Second World War. We're hitting our targets on the defence spend ahead of what we promised at the 2013 election and we'll work closely with every State Government - WA, Queensland, South Australia, right around the country, Victoria - to realise the economic opportunities and jobs that come from these investments. That includes Australian steel.
Okay, that seems to be the end of questions on what is a very big, $3.6 billion project. Let’s get to politics.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister five of the state treasurers including the Treasurer of New South Wales have just called a joint press conference to say that you want to enshrine in legislation that no state will be left worse off as part of the GST legislation. Why not just legislate it and include that?
PRIME MINISTER: I've already done that. We've got $1 billion a year, indexed forever, to ensure that no state and territory will. In fact, they'll all be better off and that's what they'll have as a result of the GST plan that I outlined as Treasurer and we will implement in Government through legislation.
The only person standing in the way of WA getting their fair deal, their fair share of the GST, is Bill Shorten. The legislation will be coming into Parliament in a fortnight's time and there will be the opportunity for Bill Shorten to do what he said he would do; that is stand on a unity ticket with myself and Mark McGowan and make sure that that plan is delivered.
Our plan on the independent work that has been done by the Productivity Commission, shows that all states and territories are better off.
It’s time we did this. It’s time we stopped arguing about it. I'm going to get it done, our Government is going to get it done and we want Bill Shorten to be on that unity ticket to ensure that is achieved when we come back to Parliament in a few weeks’ time.
JOURNALIST: Have you got five Premiers that aren’t confident of that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they'll talk their book, they always do. They’re always asking for even more money, the Premiers and the Treasurers, I'm pretty used to that. I've sat around that table for many years.
Our Government isn’t in the habit of writing blank cheques to anybody. What we're in the habit of doing, is setting out clear, well-researched plans which demonstrate, demonstrate clearly that every single state and territory is better off under this plan. In fact, New South Wales actually wanted us to go further, go even further in terms of what would have been the better outcome in states like Western Australia. But we’ve arrived on what I think is a fair deal.
Look I'm used to states and territories trying to talk up for more money out of the Commonwealth. I suppose that’s their job. It's my job to protect Australian taxpayers and ensure that we deliver on our plan to ensure that every single state and territory is better off. That's what the independent analysis by the Productivity Commission demonstrates. In fact, research and information provided to us by the states themselves, demonstrates and backs that up.
So it's time to stop arguing about it. It's time to get it done. We’re doing it, I believe in it, that's why we've got to the position we’re in now and that’s why we’re going to deliver it.
It's time, Bill, to come on board. Stop crab-walking. Stop looking for excuses not to do it and join the unity ticket with Premier McGowan and I to make sure this gets done.
JOURNALIST: You’ve said before Prime Minister that you don't need the agreement of the states, you can get the package done?
PRIME MINISTER: True.
JOURNALIST: You don't necessarily need the legislation either, so will you commit to delivering this GST package ahead of the next federal election?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm going to do that through the legislation. I believe the legislation is going to be passed.
JOURNALIST: But without legislation?
PRIME MINISTER: I mean we can do that directly, through a direction of the Treasurer, but why they the legislation is important is that it locks it into legislation forever. So I think that West Australians deserve that certainty. I think all states and territories deserve the certainty of what we're delivering.
So let me just be very clear what we're legislating; we're legislating the additional investment of over $7 billion over the next eight years and in perpetuity. Which means that every single year, forever, there's more than $1 billion going into the GST pool from outside the GST, which means that every state and territory is better off as a result.
That's what will go into the legislation. Every Government at a Commonwealth level, will be legislated to provide that additional support. We're legislating the change to the formula. The change to the formula that Bill Shorten said wasn't needed. He just wanted to put a band-aid on it and chuck a few extra sly dollars to Western Australia, hoping that would keep you happy. No, we're legislating to change the formula forever. We're legislating to put in place the 70 and the 75 per cent floor, forever. Now, that's what I believe in. That's what our Government believes in. We'll find out if Bill Shorten believes in it, in two weeks.
JOURNALIST: But regardless of that, West Australians are sick of this debate and they’re obviously sick of waiting. So if you can't get the legislation through, do you guarantee…
PRIME MINISTER: We can do that. We can do that, but it's better to do it by legislation. It's better to do it by legislation because that guarantees it.
I mean, you can't trust Bill Shorten on this. Why would you leave it to a future government, ten years from now, five years from now, 20 years from now, to go and change the rules on Western Australia again? This guarantees the deal for Western Australians, forever.
JOURNALIST: Just double checking, so if you don't do it with legislation, you’ll just do it with the stroke of a pen before an election?
PRIME MINISTER: I will take the legislation to the election. I will take the legislation to the election. I will take our direction to the election, because if there's any change of Government in the future, any direction provided by a Treasurer can be overturned. So that's why I think it's important that we do the legislation. So you know, there's the opportunity. We passed strawberry laws in 24 hours, in 24 hours when there was bipartisan support. So this can be done very quickly and this can all end. This ten years of this debate can all end. We've taken the leadership and we've put the plan out. The legislation is there. Get on board, Bill.
JOURNALIST: Prior to campaigning on it though, will you just instruct the Treasurer to make the change?
PRIME MINISTER: That instruction wouldn't happen until next year anyway or it wouldn’t happen for several years, because the changes to the formula kick in three years from now. That's when the directions take place, so there might be some misunderstanding about how the process works.
That's why the legislation is so important; it locks it in today. It locks it in right now. Why would Bill Shorten not want to lock in a deal he said he supported?
JOURNALIST: But you said previously on your last trip here – I think on 6PR – that even without agreement of the States and before they had even committed to the legislation, that you would be able to get on and do it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well you can, but that can be unpicked. So why wouldn't you want to do something that was more certain? That's what I want to do.
The reason I've been prepared to bring in the legislation is Bill Shorten said that he was going to support legislation. He's crab-walking away from that now. So I hope that he comes back to the promise that he made Western Australians.
I made a promise to Western Australians, I said that I was going to fix this and I've kept my promise to Western Australians. I've kept my promise to the country on this. I said that I would find a way through and I've found a way through. We as a Government have found a way through that leaves everybody better off. There will never be a better deal than this for everybody.
So over-negotiating things is a bad way forward. Honouring what is a very fair proposal and getting it legislated and moving on, is what I think the Australian people expect us to do. That's what we'll do.
JOURNALIST: Do you really want to go campaigning next year on a fairer distribution of the GST for Western Australia? In Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania? When you’ve got the Premiers saying that we don't really trust you because there's no guarantees?
PRIME MINISTER: There is a guarantee. There’s $1 billion a year for a guarantee. Who would like a $1 billion guarantee on anything? I'm prepared to put our Government's money on the line with our guarantee and back it up with real hard dollars and legislate it. That's what I'm doing.
JOURNALIST: It’d make interesting campaigning though?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m putting in and I’ll legislate it, because Queensland is better off, Tasmania is better off, New South Wales is better off, South Australia is better off, the Territory is better off and the ACT is better off. Everybody is better off.
So it's time to get on board. Stop the arguing, stop the posturing, stop the politics, vote for the plan because everybody's better off.
JOURNALIST: So why not just put that in legislation and make that clear?
PRIME MINISTER: That's what is in legislation. Read the legislation mate, that's what is there.
JOURNALIST: On another issue, images have emerged of US and Chinese warships coming within 40 meters, is this brinkmanship dangerous?
PRIME MINISTER: We've got to manage these issues carefully and as I said this morning on radio, Australia will continue to conduct itself around these issues in a very modest and very constructive way, working closely with our friends in the region and our friends more broadly.
I mean, Australia I think has always - as Julie well knows - played a very constructive role in all of these affairs. We'll continue to do that in a very sober, a very mature and a very measured way. In a way that would seek to deescalate any issues, rather than escalate.
JOURNALIST: Just on aged care, the Royal Commission is going forward obviously but it's still some time away and revelations keep coming out about poor treatment in residential aged care facilities. What can be done, now, to give families of residents reassurance?
PRIME MINISTER: We're investing $1 billion extra every year in aged care. We've increased the number of in-home place for aged care. We've introduced legislation when we were last in the Parliament, to protect the safety of people living in residential aged care facilities. We’ve got the Safety Commissioner for Aged Care - and Ken is here, he can make comment on this - that's before us as well to appoint that commissioner. So they're all the things that we're doing right now.
JOURNALIST: So are you confident enough is being done?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we also need a Royal Commission. I'll be announcing the terms of reference and the Commissioners very soon.
So we're acting on all fronts I think, when it comes to aged care. Aged care, yesterday, as you know, is getting $100 million extra for the Commonwealth Home Support program. That’s at the real entry level of support for senior Australians as they're ageing, so they can have the choice and have the independence and have the dignity of living in their own home for longer.
So we're acting on all fronts, we’re investing more and we're dealing honestly with the problems that have occurred and the truth of what's been happening in that sector and dealing with that truth. Some of that truth will be pretty hard I think, for many of us to confront. But we have to. We have to deal with it with the plans that we take forward.
The Royal Commission won't just be looking at the abuses that have occurred in the system, but it will be looking to ensure a stronger system over the next 30 years and looking at the challenge that we have in residential aged care to ensure that as our population ages, as the people are going into residential care at a more acute level of need, that their services will be up to the job.
So there's a lot of work to do in this area and our Government is doing that work.
JOURNALIST: The Banking Royal Commission. Are you worried about that there could be a massive class action against the banks?
PRIME MINISTER: That's a matter for the banks. That's our legal system and people should take whatever remedies and things that are available to them.
But it was our Government that has set up the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and this is important. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority allows people who have a grievance with their banks or the financial services sector to actually have their issues dealt with without having to lawyer up all the time. This is very important; that people get access to having their complaints and issues with the financial sector remedied. I think that this has been one of the big problems in the sector. People have been frustrated and have basically had their complaints or issues not resolved, because they've had to work through a very costly legal system. Now our Australian Financial Complaints Authority, which was set up by Kelly O'Dwyer when she was the Minister, deals with that problem and I think that it provides a better avenue for people to get the sort of justice and the sort of resolution to issues, that they would expect.
But you know, I support the Royal Commission. I support the independence of the Royal Commission. I don’t think that people should be playing politics with the Royal Commission. I was very disappointed yesterday that it seems the only reason that Bill Shorten ever wanted a Royal Commission into the banking industry, was to play politics with it, to try to use it for his own political advantage.
I don't think that you should be using people's misery for political advantage.
JOURNALIST: On the tsunami, the 54 doctors from Australia, where are they coming from and are they civilian or military?
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry I couldn’t quite hear.
JOURNALIST: The doctors that are going to help out, are they civilian or military?
PRIME MINISTER: Well there's a balance of support that will come through. We'll have more to say about that because we’re planning to do this and we're working closely with the Indonesian authorities. It's their country and so we work closely with them about how that support is delivered. The Foreign Affairs Minister and the Defence Minister will have more to say about that as those plans progress.
JOURNALIST: Just quickly on your planned R&D tax incentives?
PRIME MINISTER: Yep?
JOURNALIST: The State Government Minister here Alannah McTiernan has called for renewable energy companies like Carnegie Clean Energy to be exempt from that. Is that something that you would consider?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we're always open to good suggestions, I want to see more research and development investment in Australia and in the lithium industry as well. We've been talking to some of the lithium operators and miners here over the last couple of days. We had a resources roundtable yesterday.
In Western Australia, you account for more than half of Australia's resource exports every year. We're putting through some overdue changes I think, into the R&D system. There's been some abuse in research and development, which has meant that some companies have been getting tax concessions which would have been better targeted to those who were making a higher-intensity investment. But where there are anomalies in this, we'll work it through with the industries.
So look, we’re open to be working with all of these sectors to make sure that the changes, all of the positive changes we're making, to make sure that the rip-offs and the rorts that sometimes occured in that system in the past, are stamped out. But the incentives are targeted at those making fair dinkum investments in research and development.
REPORTER: So to be clear, you're open-minded to an exemption?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm a very open-mined fellow, I'm very open-minded, I’m always interested in good ideas and when people have good ideas, I'm always interested in them. When people are trying to shake the Commonwealth down for extra money, well you know, Mathias and I have always shown a pretty acute view about that.
I'm just really pleased to be here in WA over the last few days. I'm always inspired by the passion in the West and obviously that was a bit ramped up by the West Coast win on the weekend which would have added to the flavour of the last few days. But I think there's been a real shot in the arm for Western Australia. I think that the economy is really starting to come back. There's a lot more work to be done, but our investments here, our investments in major infrastructure projects, our investments in the services that Australians rely on, we're working very positively and constructively with the State Government here, to get things done. We may be from different sides of the political fence, but we've been able to come to the middle on a number of issues, the GST being one of them. On that issue, Bill, you've got two weeks. Show up and vote for the bill.
Cheers.
Interview with Mike Crichton - 98Five FM
3 October 2018
MIKE CRICHTON: Prime Minister, good morning and welcome to 98Five.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day Mike, good to be with you.
CRICHTON: Now, can I call you ScoMo? Is that alright?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah sure mate, no worries, that’s what they call me back in the Shire, so that’s all good.
[Laughter]
CRICHTON: There you go. Now, ScoMo we know you’ve been in town to talk about the GST changes for Western Australia and also the rest of the country. But more importantly, I’ve heard that you’re a massive Tina Arena fan, is this true?
PRIME MINISTER: My interest is unhealthy, bordering on unhealthy, but she’s great. I’ve met her quite a few times actually –
[Laughter]
CRICHTON: Have you?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah after concerts and things like that and through friends, we’ve been able to meet her and she’s just a great Aussie.
CRICHTON: She is.
PRIME MINISTER: She’s just a great Aussie.
CRICHTON: I’ve seen her live, she’s great live hey?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah awesome, no her production stuff is also great, but I mean I’ve seen heaps of her shows. I saw her at Evita in Sydney the other week and she’s stunning in that. She’s, you know, a great theatrical talent, not just obviously a performing artist from a singing point of view. Yeah she’s a very talented lady, good on her.
CRICHTON: She is indeed. Now, ScoMo in the short time you’ve had the top position in our country, how have you managed your work-life balance, especially not just being the Prime Minister, but also an MP and raising a young family?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look, it’s a challenge for anyone who has a busy job. But honestly as PM, I’m sure that there are a lot of people out there who have a much more difficult task than me in terms of managing that. If you’re out there managing a mortgage and both parents working, you know, it’s tough. So look I’ve got my challenges, but I reckon there’d be people out there – heaps and heaps – who have a bigger task than me on that.
But look, you just keep the commitments to your family. I mean I take my younger daughter to the football during the season, we enjoy that. We cook a curry on a Saturday night. We just sort of always make sure that we honour those sort of family times together.
Now, in politics I’ve found that you can’t always do that, but if you make a promise to your kids you keep it and if you make a promise to your wife, you keep it.
CRICHTON: Love it. Now in your Maiden Speech, you highlighted how your Christian faith motivates your approach to politics. Can I ask you how does this play out in day-to-day policies?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I don’t see it as a policy handbook, that’s not how it is. I mean my faith is a big part of my life. It makes up who I am and so of course it’s going to impact on how I think about things. But I don’t look up Leviticus and try and work out what today’s policy agenda is going to be, that’s not how it works. It’s just part of who I am, like it is for millions and millions of Australians. I mean, faith is a big deal for millions and millions of Australians and that’s why I’m quite passionate about protecting religious freedoms in Australia. I mean if you don’t have freedom of faith, then what freedoms do you have?
CRICHTON: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: I mean what is more fundamental than what you believe as a person, as a family? And subject to the laws of the land, you should be able to live out those beliefs and raise your children in accordance with your beliefs.
CRICHTON: Yeah, so good. Now, you’ve said you will take charge of the federal Government to ensure it can put its best foot forward at the next election, I’m assuming coming up in May. Can I ask you, what is your main hope for Australians in, say, the next three years?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look, I’ve always believed that it is the government’s job to enable Australians to achieve their visions and their dreams. It’s not my job to go and tell Australians what they should be doing. They know what they want to do. They’ve got their own plans. They’ve got their own visions and their own dreams. It’s our job as a government to ensure that we don’t get in the way of that and we enable it wherever possible.
The three things I’ve highlighted is that I want to keep the economy strong - because if you don’t do that, you can’t afford Medicare, you can’t afford affordable medicines through the PBS, you can’t afford the pension, you can’t afford any of that. A strong economy is what delivers all of that. So I’m going to keep the economy strong and we’ve had record jobs growth under our government. We’ve got 150,000 people off welfare and into work. When Labor was last in power, there was over 200,000 people, they got off work and into welfare. So, if you want less people in jobs and more people on welfare, well, vote Labor, because that’s what they do.
I want to keep Australians safe. That’s a very important objective of a national government, whether it’s protecting Australians from the threat of international terrorism or basically doing what we can to ensure kids aren’t bullied in school. Keeping Australians safe, and in their homes as well, we put a lot of money – hundreds of millions of dollars – into protecting women and families from domestic violence and the threats of that.
And certainly, I want to keep Australians together. I think Australians want to work together. I think they’re tired of having to fight about everything. I mean politics has been so much like that - and you know, there will be still things we disagree on in politics, I mean politics is a passionate business and it’s based on the things you believe – but I want to see us focus more on what we can get done.
CRICHTON: Well on that, what would you say to people who feel a little bit disillusioned or even cynical towards Australian politics and politicians at the moment?
PRIME MINISTER: Take a fresh look. I can understand why they feel like that, I think Australians have been turning their sound down on Canberra now for some time and not just politicians by the way. Not just government or even the Opposition, I think the minor parties as well. I think they’ve seen all that politicking and they’ve seen how the media carries on and they seem to be an expert on everything. I think Australians have tuned out to a lot of that.
What I’m seeking to do is reengage Australians on the things that are really important to them. Like in Western Australia, a fair go for those who have a go – that’s one of my mottos. That means the GST should be a fair deal for Western Australia. And that’s why I’m doing it, I just believe it’s right. That’s why I’m passionate about it. I’m determined to see that it gets done and that it gets legislated. So I think Western Australians can trust me on this, because I’ve demonstrated that I mean it, I believe in it. And yeah there are people in some of the other states who raise concerns, but it’s the right thing to do.
If you want to get things done in this country, you can’t just fall over every time someone raises a concern. You’ve got to know what you believe in and you’ve got to pursue it.
CRICHTON: Yeah. Finally Prime Minister, what kind of legacy do you want to leave on Australia from your time as Prime Minister and how would you want to be remembered?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the biggest thing for me when I came into Parliament - I gave my first speech and I talked about a country that would be stronger, a country that would be prosperous, a country that would be generous. And an even stronger Australia, I think, amounts to those things, what I’ve been saying; a country that is strong in its’ values and its’ economy and the services that it delivers. A country that is safe and a country that is together.
So strong, safe and together, that’s what I’m working towards and I believe that’s what Australians want to see happen. That’s why I believe going forward at the next election, they will trust us. They will trust us because that’s what we believe in.
I’m enjoying the opportunity now as Prime Minister to get out and have that chat with people and I really appreciate the warm response I’m receiving, particularly here in WA, even for a bloke who doesn’t know anything about AFL.
[Laughter]
CRICHTON: Now finally, before I let you go, would you like to introduce the next song coming up? Which is of course, I had to put it in for you, Tina Arena. Look, it’s one of my favourites, it’s Sorrento. Would you like to do that for us, before you go?
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely. This goes back to her Don’t Ask album.
CRICHTON: Yes.
PRIME MINISTER: That was one of the first, when she really started to crack through and other great songs on that, the Chains was one of her big anthems which she always belts out towards the end of her set. But Sorrento Moon is a beautiful song. Jenny and I love this song, it’s one of my favourites. When I hear this song, I often think of Jen.
CRICHTON: Well could I get you to say, “this is Mornings with Mike and our next song is Tina Arena and Sorrento Moon”? Ready to go?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll give that a go.
[Laughter]
CRICHTON: Okay and I’ll start playing the song alright, you ready? Away you go.
PRIME MINISTER: This is Mornings with Mike, I’m ScoMo and this is Tina Arena, Sorrento Moon.
CRICHTON: Nicely done!
Interview with Gareth Parker, 6PR Perth
3 October 2018
GARETH PARKER: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, welcome.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day Gareth, it’s great to be here.
PARKER: Before you were Prime Minister you sat in this studio and you told us that you didn’t need legislation to effect a GST fix, that you as the Treasurer had the power to simply implement it. You said you wanted to get agreement of the states but if that didn’t work, you’d just do it, you’d use your powers to do. Now you’re the Prime Minister, why have you sort of changed tack? Why do we need to go through legislation now? Why do you take the risk with this Parliament?
PRIME MINISTER: What I said last time was I was open to legislation, I’d consider it. And that’s right. I mean the Treasurer can just issue an instruction to the Commonwealth Grants Commission but what this will do is give it greater certainty. I mean I just wasn’t going to let the whole process be held hostage to states and territories trying to go for a blank cheque type of arrangement. It’s important this gets done and it will get done. It’s for Bill Shorten now to support the legislation. I heard Matt Keogh just said they were going to vote for it, but until I see Bill Shorten walk into the House of Representatives Chamber -
PARKER: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: And vote for my bill, then until that happens Western Australians won’t have the certainty that they deserve.
PARKER: I’m happy to come back to him, but again, if the Treasurer has the power to do it, why not just do it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the result would be the same, what that would mean –
PARKER: So, quicker –
PRIME MINISTER: Hang on, no, it wouldn’t actually, it wouldn’t be quicker. It wouldn’t be kicking in until the exact timetable that the plan I outlined back in July. But the difference here is if we legislate this then no future Treasurer can change it. This locks it in forever and gives Western Australians the certainty. Now that’s what I want to see happen. Previously there had been a lack of clarity about what the Labor Party would do. That was one of the things we talked about when I was here last time. Bill Shorten said he was going to be on a unity ticket with Mark McGowan and I on this. Well, he’s crab-walking at the moment. It’s time to show up, Bill. When push comes to shove, he always seems to fall over. I hope he stands up and supports my plan.
PARKER: If you get agreement from the state and the Federal Treasurers at the meeting that Josh Frydenberg is chairing in Melbourne as we speak, will that be the signal to everyone that this game is over?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, no, we’re consulting with states and territories but the outcome of that meeting today has no bearing on the legislation whatsoever, my legislation is going forward in the next sitting of Parliament and we’ve been consulting them on what this all means and what that consultation shows, what our independent figures show from the Productivity Commission is that every single state and territory is better off under this plan. So we’ll take that legislation forward. We’ve been talking to them, but at the end of the day this is a decision for our Government and that’s why I’m putting my legislation into the Parliament. It’s time for Bill Shorten to stop making excuses and looking for excuses. Just turn up and vote for it, Bill.
PARKER: Today’s meeting, will the legislation be amended as a result of any of the consultations? If the Queenslanders or the Victorians or the South Australians come up with a point, is Josh prepared to negotiate on those?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, we’ll listen to them, but I mean the legislation sets out what I outlined to people back in July. What I outlined to people back in July shows that every single state and territory is better off. My Government isn’t interested, our Government isn’t interested in providing blank cheques to anybody, that’s how you run your Budget down. We’ve provided in this plan, for $1 billion a year and more guarantee, to ensure all states and territories are better off. Now, the states and territories have never had it better. Last time we were here, we talked about the changes we’d been making to the GST, on digital transactions, things like that. That means that over the next four years, there’s $6.5 billion of extra revenue for GST going into the pool. On top of that, over this eight year period almost $8 billion, so the states and territories frankly, under our Government have never had it so good when it comes to the GST. And finally, that story will extend to Western Australia, because of what our Government is doing.
PARKER: The Victorians in particular seem to be saying that that $1 billion of top-up money - they’re modelling all sorts of scenarios, I don’t know how realistic they are – but –
PRIME MINISTER: Oh look, they’re trying it on.
PARKER: But they seem to be saying that, well, there might be a scenario in which the changes leave us $1 billion worse off on the GST, or more than $1 billion.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s rubbish. They say if they stand on one leg and they point their head towards Saturn or something like that, and then turn around three times, then in that scenario – I mean, it’s just rubbish. They’re trying it on, they’re trying it on. There’s more than a $1 billion guarantee. It’s time for the whole country, frankly, to recognise that WA has had a raw deal. I’m doing this because I believe in it Gareth. I know there have been opponents to this in other parts of the country. But if you believe it, you do it.
This is what we’re seeing from Bill Shorten; he doesn’t believe it. I think at the end of the day, he’s going to be forced into supporting this legislation. Not because he wants to do it, not because he believes in it, but because he’s been called out for being shifty on it.
PARKER: Okay the legislation itself, when are you or your Treasurer, I presume, going to introduce the bill into the House of Representatives?
PRIME MINISTER: First week back.
PARKER: First week back? You want to have it passed within the next session?
PRIME MINISTER: I’d love to, but I mean we’ve got to work that through the Senate. But I mean if the Labor Party is supporting it –
PARKER: But just on that, that’s my issue with this, with this parliamentary process. It’s why I’m nervous about it as a West Australian. Because if you go through the Parliament and Bill Shorten is entitled to do what he does, I don’t agree with him if he –
PRIME MINISTER: And West Australians are entitled to do to Bill Shorten what they would do to him if he did oppose this. I mean we passed –
PARKER: But how is it in the deal’s interest, if you’ve got to start negotiating with the crossbench, Pauline Hanson and Derryn Hinch and Fraser Anning and all these others?
PRIME MINISTER: I don’t believe I’ll have to, because I think Bill Shorten will understand, ultimately, that having said he’s on a unity ticket with me and Mark McGowan on this, he’ll have to stump up and actually do it. Now, last time we were in Canberra, I got legislation through the Parliament in 24 hours, 24 hours to change the law to ensure that strawberry growers in Australia, including here in Western Australia would have the protection that they needed. So I think I’ve already demonstrated that if I want to get something done, I’ll get it done.
PARKER: Okay. Would you rather have the legislation passed in this next session of Parliament, or would you rather have it as an election issue that you can beat Bill Shorten over the head with to win seats here in the West?
PRIME MINISTER: I want it passed now.
PARKER: Pretty simple.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. I want it passed now because I mean, Western Australians have waited long enough. We can fix this. This can be fixed when we all go back and we can demonstrate to the country that we actually can pass some legislation, which we already did as I said in the last sitting on an important issue related to strawberries. On this one, it’s even bigger than that. It effects the livelihoods of all Western Australians and all states and territories are better off. So let’s just get it done. Stop the excuses, just get it done. Stop the excuses, just get it done. Stop the politics, stop looking for an angle, Bill. Just vote for it, mate.
PARKER: Just on, related to the GST, not about this debate but we understand that something many people have been campaigning for a long time, that is the removal of the GST on tampons, women’s’ sanitary products.
PRIME MINISTER: Yep.
PARKER: Is it, a deal has been done on that in the last hour or so?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah the Treasurer has told me that they’ve been able to reach that agreement at the meeting of state and territory Treasurers today. You know, second time lucky. I mean Joe Hockey put it up last time and they said no. We put it up, I put it up on the agenda earlier in the year for this meeting and Josh has been there to bring it home. So look, I’m pleased to see that’s happened. I think it’s a bit of common sense. You know it had always been our view that we wanted to see a change. Last time the states and territories said no, this time they’ve said yes. So that’s great.
PARKER: Common sense?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah I think so.
PARKER: Okay can I take you to matters other than the GST? It seems as though temperatures between China and the United States are really hotting up, particularly in the South China Sea. Do we have things to worry about here? It does seem as though the Defence Minister Marise Payne is making it known to China –
PRIME MINISTER: The Foreign Affairs Minister.
PARKER: Sorry, yes.
PRIME MINISTER: It wasn’t that long ago she was Defence Minister.
PARKER: Apologies, it’s hard to keep up in fairness.
PRIME MINISTER: Fair enough Gareth, fair enough.
PARKER: It does seem as though she’s sending a strong message to the Chinese that everyone just needs to cool it here?
PRIME MINISTER: Well this is always the role we play. I mean we’re cool heads, in this situation we’re measured, we have very strong relationships with both the United States and with China, have had for many years. It’s in all of our interests I think, to take that approach. The prosperity of our region has been a major boon for Australia and we want to see that continue. But our values are our values and we work closely with our defence partners in the region and more broadly. We’ll continue to do that, but what you can expect from our Government is just a continued common sense. Cool heads engaging with everybody in a very calm way and ensuring that we’re working for the best strategic outcomes of everyone involved here, but also most importantly, the national interest of Australia which demands the approach we’re taking.
PARKER: Have Australians got anything to fear from this confrontation?
PRIME MINISTER: Times of uncertainty are exactly that and it’s our job to work with everybody to reduce that uncertainty. That’s what we’re doing.
PARKER: Okay. Are you worried about the chances that house prices across the country might crash and might blow a hole in your Budget? In terms of the general way that people feel about their wealth, the way they might spend, as a result of some of the fallout from the Banking Royal Commission? It does seem as though the banks are going to crack down on lending and that’s going to affect house prices. You’re already seeing it on the east coast, of course we’ve had it here for some years.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are two separate issues here. I’m not worried about that outcome under our policies at all. I mean our policies led to the calming of the housing market in Sydney and Melbourne which was running at very unsustainable levels. I mean it was almost up at 20 per cent growth in Sydney. We’ve had a soft landing under our policies in the housing market in the eastern states –
PARKER: It’s not over yet.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Reserve Bank has supported the view that the Government has expressed about this and this has been a soft landing. Ratings agencies have supported that, in fact one of the reasons our AAA credit rating was restored to ‘stable’ was because of the way that the housing market pressures had been managed in Australia through the prudential policies we did through APRA, which was restricting the access to interest-only loans which had been exacerbating the supply-demand problems in the eastern states. So we’ve had a soft landing there which has supported Australia’s credit-worthiness as a country, which saves people on their mortgages ultimately. Because it doesn’t force rates up.
But what I am worried about is Labor’s plan to increase taxes on housing, abolish negative gearing as we know it, increase capital gains tax by 50 per cent. Now, if you want a housing market shock, elect Bill Shorten.
PARKER: There’s going to be an election by May next year. The unions this morning are promising another big new campaign about industrial relations. Is that an issue that your Government just will take off the table, industrial relations, in the lead up to the next election? Or are you going to stick to core Liberal principles of trying to free up the labour market?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve got a Minister for Industrial Relations, it’s the first time we’ve called our Minister that for some time, that’s Kelly O’Dwyer and what she wants to do is ensure we have a set of modern rules in Australia to cope with the flexibility and the needs of our economy, of businesses, of workers. That’s what she’s working on and you know, we can’t run a 21st Century economy with 20th Century rules. I mean in some cases the Labor Party wants to take us back to 19th Century rules. That’s not how people get jobs, that’s not how they get higher wages. All that’s about is trying to entrench the power of big union militant bosses. Bill Shorten is union bred, union fed, union led. He’s not his own person when it comes to these issues. I’m captive to no one on these issues and nether is Kelly O’Dwyer.
PARKER: Not captive to big business?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course not, why would we be.
PARKER: The unions are making –
PRIME MINISTER: I’m the one who put on the bank levy. I’m the one who has been taking on the electricity companies.
PARKER: The unions are making the link between changing the rules and pay rises. Their thesis if you like is that wages aren’t growing because workers don’t have enough power. Are they right about that?
PRIME MINISTER: No I mean the unions now, have continued to reduce their representation as a share of the workforce, year on year on year. And you know why? Because they’re out for union bosses. Militant union thugs have been out there threatening small businesses, threatening jobs and Bill Shorten has sat there and done nothing. When Bob Hawke was Prime Minister, when Bob Hawke was leading the Labor Party, he called militant union thugs out. Under Bill Shorten’s Labor, they give them life membership of the Labor Party.
PARKER: You’ve been to a lot of footy finals over the last few weeks. I saw you got booed at the MCG a couple of weeks ago.
PRIME MINISTER: I just joined 30 other Prime Ministers, 29 others in that category I think.
PARKER: Did you notice Julie Bishop at the grand final on Sunday got cheers?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah that’s great, she’s the number one ticket holder of the West Coast Eagles so good for her and - should I say this? It’s Julie’s –
PARKER: It’s not a reflection on her popularity versus yours?
PRIME MINISTER: No it’s Julie’s 20th anniversary today actually, as a Member of Parliament and I want to send her all the best. She has shown –
PARKER: She’s a backbencher.
PRIME MINISTER: Well I invited her to be in my Cabinet and she chose not to, that’s up to her. But Julie is a great part of our team and she’s actually heading over east very shortly to support us in the Wentworth by-election over there. So she’s a big asset for our team and she’s very welcome on our team and I commend her for everything she’s done for Western Australia. I mean I worked closely with Julie on this GST arrangement as I did with Mathias Cormann. So good on you Jules and thanks for being part of the team.
PARKER: Scott Morrison, Prime Minister, appreciate your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Gareth, great to be here mate.
Interview with Nathan, Nat & Shaun, Nova 93.7 Perth
3 October 2018
NATALIE LOCKE: We’re joined by the Prime Minister, the Honourable Scott Morrison. Scomo, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning.
NAT: I tell you what, you timed your visit to WA very well.
SHAUN MCMANUS: Didn’t you what, Scott.
NAT: Jumping on the West Coast Eagles bandwagon, nice job.
NATHAN MORRIS: We feel like you helped them win.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: There’s nothing to that. I was pleased to see them win on the weekend but as I think everybody knows now, I’m not really an AFL aficionado. But it was a great game and it’s just great to see everybody excited here. I expect there are a few people around Western Australia who barrack for Freo and so on, who wouldn’t be as excited. But nevertheless, you know, it’s a great moment.
NAT: Yep, here’s one now.
SHAUN: I’m one of them Scott and so are my parents, I spoke to them yesterday. But more importantly you’ve been over here splashing the cash? You’re telling us that 75 per cent is the minimum we’re going to get out of the GST? Which would - I think all the other states are going to be up in arms, even though it’s super fair.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is super fair. I mean I’ve been working on this for years as Treasurer, I was working on this as people in the West will know and I announced the package back in July, last time I was here actually. Yeah look, the reason I’m doing this is that I believe in it. That’s why I’m going to see it through. Bill Shorten has been crab-walking away from this and I don’t know what he believes on this. But I’ve been working on this with people here in the west now for years. I think it is fair. We’re putting more than $1 billion in forever, indexed to ensure that every state and territory is better off. So I think it is a fair deal. We have covered it all off and we’ve just got to get on and legislate it. Now, we’re going to make it law and I’ll be putting that law into the Parliament in a couple of weeks and if Bill Shorten supports it, it will be law and this issue will be finally addressed.
NATHAN: We get really angry when we see this being used as a political game, which is what Bill Shorten is doing at the moment, I feel. Because right at the start of this, he was super supportive, now he’s sort of back-tracking. Just recently he said something like; “I’ll only support it if it’s fair for the other states,” and if it’s not fair for the other states, then basically, screw WA. But it’s like, how long has it been unfair for us?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that’s right.
NATHAN: That’s the frustrating part for us.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s right and he doesn’t believe it. At the end of the day, look, I’m going to put a lot of pressure on him and I think, well, I’m going to succeed here. Because I believe in it, I’m determined. He will back down. He will fall in line, because it is the right thing to do and if he’s not prepared to stand up for WA, then why should West Australians support him at all? I mean they already know, right now, they’ve got their message right now, that when push comes to shove, he falls over. For WA, I’ve been working on this for years. I think it’s the right thing to do and I know there’s been some opposition to it in my home state back on the east coast. But it’s the right thing to do and that’s why we’ll get it done.
NATHAN: Well, tell your home state to dig into the earth and find their own gold. Stop taking our money!
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Well I come from a state which, you know, New South Wales has been paying above the odds since the Federation was set over 100 years ago, as has Victoria and Western Australia has particularly over the last decade. But look, this is fair and we’ve worked really hard to make it fair. So I’m removing all the obstacles to make sure that we can pass this legislation. There’s only one obstacle that remains and his name is Bill Shorten.
NAT: Now Scomo, in that you’ve got an open letter to all West Australians in the paper today, a full page ad – nice work – one of the things that you’ve said is that you want to, or that your legislation will permanently increase the size of the GST revenue pool to ensure that every state and territory is better off. How do you do that without increasing GST?
PRIME MINISTER: Because the way it works is that all the money that’s raised from the GST goes into one pool and what I’m doing is adding to that pool from other revenues.
NAT: Right.
PRIME MINISTER: An additional, at the end of that period, over $1 billion every year and it’s indexed. That’s why it’s fair to all the other states and territories, that extra $1 billion guarantees that everyone is better off because any smaller changes it might have had to what they would have otherwise got, is more than compensated for by the extra money that goes into the pool.
NAT: Right so you’ll be topping it up from other revenue sources?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll be topping it up right across the board. But the important thing then is that all of that money out of that bigger pool gets distributed on the new fairer formula.
SHAUN: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: Which means that WA doesn’t get ripped off.
SHAUN: Hey Scott, I want to know, do you think that the prime ministership is like a poisoned chalice these days? Because every time anyone has taken the position in the last five years, they’ve been stabbed in the back and it’s both parties. It’s been an embarrassment to our country, let’s be honest, all overseas, every time a new Prime Minister has to go to Indonesia and America and all that and meet the guy. “Here’s the new guy.”
NAT: Like, new Prime Minister, who ‘dis?
SHAUN: Are you worried who is coming down the corridor?
PRIME MINISTER: No I‘m not. This is a great privilege, it is an incredible privilege and a huge responsibility and you know, I’ve stepped up to take that on and I’m going to give it everything and I am. And the things that drive me and the reason why I’ve acted on this GST, is because I think if you have a go, you should get a go and you should get a fair go. That’s what fairness should mean. It’s why I think taxes should be lower and it’s why I’ve already legislated to take taxes down. It’s why I think, you know, people should be looking to make a contribution rather than take one. And we’ve got to look after our mates, particularly in the aged care sector. I’ve announced a Royal Commission into the aged care sector because as people get older they should be able to age with dignity and be confident that they’re going to get looked after properly. So there’s a lot to do, we’re going to get on with it. But it’s good to see the Western Australian economy starting to come back now, that’s very encouraging. We’ve seen a lot of jobs created around the country.
NAT: It’s mostly West Coast Eagles merchandise to be honest.
[Laughter]
NATHAN: Hey Scomo, how are you going with the new job? Are you tired? Like how is your social life, what’s going on?
NAT: Are you a bit worried you’re not seeing the kids enough?
NATHAN: What’s happening?
PRIME MINISTER: I haven’t seen the kids that much lately –
NATHAN: That’s alright, worked out well for Barnaby.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Bit harsh.
[Laughter]
No look, my family has supported me in politics all of my life and you know, they’re being wonderful now. But my family is honestly what drives so much of what I’m about, you know that’s always been how I’ve done things. One of the things I’ve always loved, being over here in the west is it’s always been such a go-getting state. You know, WA has had its troubles over the last five years in particular, but they’ve hung in there and you know, we’re seeing the hope ahead and I think that’s great. The investment is going to come and I think there’s some really good days ahead for Western Australia.
SHAUN: Being in the prime ministership as you said, is an unbelievable honour and everyone else would, I mean, it’s a fantastic job and to be recognised by your peers to take that position is fantastic. The one thing, are you disappointed in the way Australian politics has been in recent times with the upheaval, the change, the lack of getting the things you want to have done achieved? Because everyone is fighting.
NAT: Yeah, nobody is serving full terms, that kind of thing.
PRIME MINISTER: Well yes is the short answer to that question but you know, it doesn’t always go that way. It was encouraging the other day – and this effects Western Australia as well – the issue that we had with the strawberries and the strawberry tampering.
SHAUN: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: In 24 hours, I got new laws through the Parliament, to ensure that any idiot who tried to do that would face up to ten years jail and the response from Australians to actually get behind our strawberry farmers was amazing. I was up in the Sunshine Coast, where there are a lot of strawberry farmers and I went past one of those roadside fruit shops. I went in there and I was chatting to the guy and I said; “Well how many strawberry trays do you normally sell?” He said; “Oh about 20,” and I said; “How did it go last weekend?” And he said; “Over 90.”
NATHAN: Wow.
PRIME MINISTER: That was just Australians going; “No, we’re with you.”
NATHAN: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: So yeah, it can be frustrating, yes it can be disappointing. But always, when you can do things like that, then you know you’re doing the right thing.
NATHAN: Hey Scomo before we let you go, quickly, I just want to know how many of the politicians are jealous of your “Scomo”? Because we’ve got “J-Bish”.
NAT: Yep.
NATHAN: We had “K-Rudd” and I’m just thinking of Peter Dutton, he wanted to be probably “P-Dutt”?
NAT: That’s not great.
NATHAN: And “B-Short”?
NAT: “J-Fry”?
NATHAN: Do you feel like you’ve got an edge over them, because you’ve got your –
NAT: Scomo is catchy as.
NATHAN: Celebrity name?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it sort of fits and I’m sort of, happy with it, but I don’t know if they can do a take on will.i.am or something like that?
[Laughter]
I got to meet him on the weekend that was pretty cool.
SHAUN: Oh, was it?
NATHAN: Yeah he’s a nice guy isn’t he?
PRIME MINISTER: Yep, so between him and a few of the others, that’s one of the sort of fun things you get to do.
NATHAN: Look at you with your little celebrity friends!
SHAUN: Was he really small by the way, will.i.am? Was he really short?
NATHAN: like everyone from Hollywood is really small.
PRIME MINISTER: He was a bit smaller than me but you know, I’m not the smallest unit around.
[Laughter]
NATHAN: How tall are you?
PRIME MINISTER: Me? Oh, just over six foot? Yeah.
NAT: Enough of the probing personal questions.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Do you want my star sign too, or –
NAT: Yes!
NATHAN: Please! What’s your star sign?
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: I’m a Taurus, but you know, goodo, whatever.
NATHAN: And you’re the Year of the what?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh I can’t, I don’t know, I don’t know.
SHAUN: I’m Year of the Dragon, Nathan and I are –
NAT: You’re Dragon, I’m Rooster…
PRIME MINISTER: I dunno, you tell me.
NATHAN: Rooster?
PRIME MINISTER: It was the Rooster’s weekend last weekend.
[Laughter]
SHAUN: Are they your team by the way Scomo?
PRIME MINISTER: Nah, the Sharks are my team.
SHAUN: Oh, you had your moment in the sun a couple of years ago?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah we did a couple of years ago and –
NATHAN. Monkey, you’re Monkey.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: There you go, there you go. I used to watch that show –
SHAUN: Some Monkey Magic?
PRIME MINISTER: Monkey Magic, yeah.
NATHAN: Do you know there’s a reboot of Money Magic, they’ve done it again Scomo.
PRIME MINISTER: Is that right?
NATHAN: Yeah!
PRIME MINISTER: Maybe I’ll get a walk on role.
[Laughter]
NAT: We really appreciate your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks guys.
NAT: Next time you’re in town come in and talk to us in the studio Scomo?
PRIME MINISTER: That’d be fun.
NAT: Good man, thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: All the best.
Steel Cut for First Offshore Patrol Vessel
3 October 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence
Australia has hit a key milestone in its landmark naval shipbuilding program with the first steel cut for the country’s new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs).
This is the next step in our nation’s $90 billion naval shipbuilding program that will keep Australia safe and deliver jobs for generations around the country.
Our plan for an even stronger economy means using Australian steel, Australian workers and investing in Australia’s skills base.
Australian steel is being used for all 12 OPVs and after being prepared and processed in Western Australia it will be delivered to South Australia. Two ships are being built at Osborne in SA by ASC Shipbuilding before construction for the other ten moves to Civmec in WA in 2020.
Ultimately, our Government’s OPV project will create up to 1,000 positions.
The first bolt has also been locked down on the steelwork at the country’s largest ship assembly hall at Civmec’s massive new $85 million facility at Henderson.
The facility will also include a blast and paint workshop, undercover storage, offices and carparks.
The new assembly hall will be bigger than the WACA Ground in Perth and large enough to house multiple OPVs for construction.
The facility project will create around 140 jobs and Civmec estimates it will provide positions for up to 1,000 West Australians, including 100 new apprentices and trainees, when it’s up and running.
Our Government’s investment in Australia’s naval shipbuilding program demonstrates our commitment to the safety and security of our nation, its people and its borders, and it represents an unprecedented investment in the local economy, workers and skills.
Sulawesi Earthquake and Tsunami Assistance
3 October 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Defence
Australia will provide an additional $5 million package of humanitarian assistance to support the Government of Indonesia and humanitarian partners to respond to the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi.
This follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of an initial $500,000 to the Indonesian Red Cross for food and essential relief items such as blankets and tarpaulins.
The additional funding to the UN and local humanitarian partners will provide temporary shelter, access to safe drinking water and health care for injured and displaced people.
Australia is planning to deploy a medical team and is currently working with the Government of Indonesia to determine where this will be best deployed to support relief efforts.
Australia is also in a position to provide humanitarian emergency relief supplies including shelter, water and hygiene kits.
Australia has offered Australian Defence Force assets to assist the Indonesian Government with their response.
The remoteness of the area and loss of communications infrastructure continues to make it difficult for Indonesian authorities to assess the full scale of the disaster at this stage.
The Australian Government stands with the Indonesian Government in offering support to the people of Indonesia affected by this tragedy.
Doorstop - Guildford, WA
2 October 2018
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it’s great to be here at People Who Care with people who care. It’s a tremendous organisation and does a great job, not just in supporting senior Australians here in WA and Perth in particular, but it’s supporting Australians right across the aged spectrum, from homelessness services, right through the many needs that exist, work for the dole groups and so on. So, it’s great to be here Ken in your electorate, you're very familiar with the work that they do.
Before I sort of talk about the issue I’ve come here to talk about today, I would just like to say in relation to Indonesia, we have over 840 people who are confirmed dead in this terrible, shocking disaster that we've seen in Sulawesi. This is a very remote part of the country. I've been in regular contact with the Foreign Minister about this issue. We have several million, potentially, people that will be affected by this crisis. We've got many people who are injured. We've got a lot of people working in a very dangerous situation, not just because of the physical conditions, but obviously the risk of disease and these sorts of things. It's a very, very significant crisis.
The Australian Government has already provided $500,000 of support immediately, through the Indonesian Red Cross and that's to support the most obvious emergency aid needs, tarpaulins, things of that nature. But our ambassador has been working closely with the Indonesian Government to be looking at a second round of support. We're currently working together with them on that now and we'll have more to say about that when some decisions have been made. But that's being done consultatively and cooperatively with the Indonesian Government. Australia has some expertise, it has some resources in particular areas where it can deploy and we're looking to see how best we can fit the need, to ensure we can do whatever we can to support our Indonesian friends and neighbours in this time of very genuine need.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is that boots on the ground, not financial aid?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll have more to say once the arrangements are settled. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves here. We're still working through some of those details and once they have been confirmed, then I will be in a position to announce soon.
JOURNALIST: Is that likely to be today? Given the urgency of the situation –
PRIME MINISTER: Well the sort of responses we're going to be making won’t just deal with what is needed right, today, but also over some period of time as well. So I'll leave it until I think those arrangements have been confirmed.
But on a more positive note, I should say it’s great to be here to announce that the Commonwealth Government, our Government is providing $50 million a year for the next two years, $100 million to support the Commonwealth Home Support program. This is a program, that as you can see from the people we've just been meeting outside, enables them to have the choice to stay in their home for longer. It's the entry-level level – if you like - of support for senior Australians. It deals with everything from meals to transport, to domestic help, to help around the house and in the garden and these sorts of things and it means senior Australians have those choices. Now there are many other needs that are necessary to fulfil. Our support for in-home care places, 20,000 announced between the last half-year update and the most recent Budget. The work we're doing to deliver that on the ground, which is the next level of care which enables Australians to stay home for longer. This is about allowing senior Australians to age with dignity, with choice, with independence and to be able to live the life that they want to live; surrounded by their friends, family and community and to stay connected.
People Who Care are an important part of delivering those services here in Hasluck, in Ken’s community, but there are just so many other providers. Well over 800,000 senior Australians benefit from the Commonwealth Home Support program. I know from my own family's case many years ago, when my elderly relatives had support from that program, it does give them choices. So we’re very pleased to make that support available. The decision was taken in the Budget this year for announcement and we're announcing that today. I particularly want to commend Ken on the great work he's done here, in looking across the range of needs that are essential to deliver for senior Australians. Whether it's how they want to continue their education or how they want to continue their work opportunities or how they can remain connected in their community. These quite specific level service needs that are delivered through this program, or indeed the more advanced care needs in the residential aged care sector. Of course you know we've announced we’ll be holding a Royal Commission into that sector. I'll have more on that in the not too distant future as we seek the terms of reference and the Commissioners.
But none of this wouldn't be possible without a strong economy. That’s why we can invest in these services, ensuring also that the State Government here has the support they need. Our GST package, our GST reform, our changes; $4.7 billion extra for Western Australia, but every single state and territory is better off with a more than a billion-dollar a year guarantee, not just out over that next eight years, but into the future and indexed. That's the guarantee that demonstrates that all states and territories are better off under that arrangement.
As I said yesterday, we'll be legislating that when we come back to the parliament in a few weeks’ time. That is a decision of the Australian Parliament, it doesn't need the agreement of the states and territories for that to proceed. There's a meeting happening tomorrow, where I'm sure those details will be discussed. But we appreciate those states that have been working with us and the work has demonstrated once again, as the Productivity Commission showed, all states and territories are better off.
So Ken, tell as more about People Who Care, from someone who I know cares very much.
THE HON KEN WYATT MP, MINISTER FOR SENIOR AUSTRALIANS AND AGED CARE: Thank you very much Prime Minister. What we see is the translation of policy and budgetary commitment at the national level, translate down into the community, where people who live within this community receive the benefits that are derived from our Budget commitments. We see is senior Australians out there this morning who received ramps in their homes, they have railings put in, they have someone who delivers meals to them. If you’re up in Kalamunda, the nuts that fall on their driveways are swept off those driveways to make it safe for them. It’s about social connectedness. It is about having somebody who connects with you at least once or twice a week, provides you with meals, but also checks on you.
Commonwealth programs are there for all senior Australians. Right across Australia I’ve seen outstanding delivery by organisations like People Who Care, who take that little bit of extra time to provide the level of support, to enable people to live at home much longer. It's a great initiative by our Government.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Ken. Happy to take questions, why don’t we talk about questions about the things I've raised and then if there are other issues, happy to do that.
JOURNALIST: Is it new money Prime Minister? Are we talking new money here?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah it was, the new money was created in the Budget, so $50 million for two years, $100 million in total. That’s over and above what was already being spent on the program and overall we are spending billions in this area. In aged care in particular we're spending $1 billion extra, every year.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister on aged care, COTA is calling on the Government to provide 30,000 more high-level home care packages over the next financial year. Is that something the Government will consider?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we’ve already provided 20,000 extra in the last 12 months, in the last two Budget updates; the Budget update before that. It's an over 80 per cent increase over the next four years, particularly in the level of higher care places. Now, we know that that need is growing and that demand is increasing and it's an area of priority for the Government. But obviously these things have to be paid for. What we are doing is managing with the other places that we have, while people mightn't be able to get the highest care level place initially, then they might be able to move into a lower level of care package and then graduate to the others. But it is a priority for our Government to increase the number of in-home care places that are available and wherever we can do that in the future, beyond what we've done, then we will.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister just on GST? Two issues, first you’ve got Bill Shorten holding out, that he might not support parts of the package –
PRIME MINISTER: So, the crab walk begins.
JOURNALIST: What do you say to that? You’ve also got the states including your home state of New South Wales raising some concerns about it, what do you say to them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well Mark McGowan and I are on a unity ticket when it comes to the GST changes. But it seems the Labor Party is not on a unity ticket when it comes to this issue.
He said he was and now, when I’ve sent him the legislation, which he received yesterday, Bill Shorten, the crab walk seems to be starting from him, when it comes to the fairer deal on the GST that WA deserves. The package we put together leaves all states and territories better off. Now that is a matter for the Commonwealth Parliament to determine. It's not a matter that will be determined through the Council of Financial Federal Relations or any other state and territory or Commonwealth arrangement. This is a matter directly for the Commonwealth Parliament.
So the only person standing between a fairer deal for GST and Western Australia, is Bill Shorten.
JOURNALIST: Nevertheless, your home said New South Wales seems to have concerns about it?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I’ve spoken to Dom Perrottet many times about this, Dom’s broader point is that New South Wales, like Western Australia, has been a donor state for a long period of time and he's keen to see other states match their reforms and their changes. I think Dom makes some good points about that, but New South Wales hasn't raised concerns about the overall package. They've raised more concerns about other states catching up to their level of economic leadership.
JOURNALIST: Are you saying it can’t be derailed?
PRIME MINISTER: The only person who can derail the better, fairer deal for WA, is Bill Shorten. If Bill Shorten supports the legislation I sent to him yesterday, it is done.
JOURNALIST: But if you can't get it through to the Parliament, what will you do?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Bill Shorten will have to explain that to the people of WA and I’ll take it to the election.
JOURNALIST: Are you worried about the downturn in house prices when combined with huge household debts? Is that a ticking time bomb for the economy?
PRIME MINISTER: On the housing market, as the Treasurer has explained, we've had a soft landing in the housing market to date and that has been welcome, that it has only been a soft landing. I mean particularly specially in Sydney and Melbourne, house prices were running very hot. I mean Sydney house prices at one time were running at about 18 per cent growth a year. In Perth, you all know that's not been happening here. Adelaide and other parts of the country, the housing market has performed very differently from what it has in Sydney and Melbourne. It was in those markets that was really driving up the increased levels of debt and that's why as a Government, we took the decision and then it was enacted through the actions of the regulator, to constrain interest-only loans and some other changes that were made that basically ensured that the housing market had a soft landing.
What I'm worried about is that if the Labor Party were able to increase the taxes on housing through abolishing negative gearing as we know it, increasing the Capital Gains Tax on housing by 50 per cent, then that's when you would have a serious impact on the housing market, well beyond what we've seen today. For all those hundreds of thousands, millions of Australians actually who own investment properties, even the ones you own, they’ll be impacted by the effect on the housing market and the effect on housing values - where small businesses effectively have their superannuation in investment properties, locked up in that - Labor's increased taxes on housing will have a very negative impact on the Australian housing market. It will negate the sort of improvements that we’re seeing in other states like Western Australia, as the Western Australian economy rebounds. In the other states, it is a real threat to the savings of mums and dads who have worked hard to get themselves an investment property to ensure that in the future, their finances can be more secure. So that's what worries me about what's happening in the housing market; the prospect of a Labor government will have serious consequences for the savings and the biggest asset that most, if not all Australians own, their home.
JOURNALIST: The newly-named captain of the Australian Rugby League team has been charged with drink driving and speeding. Do you expect more from an Australian captain?
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry, do I … ?
JOURNALIST: Do you expect more from an Australia captain.
PRIME MINISTER: I love my NRL and I’m happy to leave the running of the NRL to the NRL.
JOURNALIST: Yes, but –
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve got lots of views you know, I’m not a big fan of the bunker either in the NRL, but nevertheless, they pick the teams, they make the choices and I don't think it's helpful for a Prime Minister to be engaged in that. I'm sure the NRL will manage these issues appropriately.
JOURNALIST: Petrol prices in Perth are at an all-time high, you mentioned the ACCC yesterday does have the power to take action?
PRIME MINISTER: They do.
JOURNALIST: Do you know why they haven't and will you push them to take action?
PRIME MINISTER: Well they’re an independent authority, the ACCC. They are an independent cop on the beat and because they're independent, that means the Government isn't in a position to direct them in the way that your question asks. So I expect the independent cop on the beat to do their job where there illegal activity occurring. We've given them increased powers and resources to address this and I expect Rod Simms and his team – who I’ve got a lot of respect for – to be out there doing their job on this one.
JOURNALIST: What do you think about Labor’s push to increase the Royal Commission into banks, claiming not enough victims have given evidence? Is this just political?
PRIME MINISTER: I think Bill Shorten is already getting caught out on this. I mean it seems that the only reason Bill Shorten wanted a Royal Commission into the banks, was to play politics with it. I mean he's basically attacking the independence of the Royal Commissioner. I think he’s acting very recklessly in calling into question the actions of the Royal Commissioner. I mean he's an independent Royal Commissioner, let him do his job. I think it's an insult to all staff of the Royal Commission, who have pored over the 9,000 submissions they have received. You can see quite clearly in the interim report that been released by Commissioner Hayne that all of these issues that have been raised in these submissions have been taken up in what they're finding. There have been a number of people who have had the opportunity to appear, but everyone who has made a submission to that inquiry, has had the total respect given to that submission by it being fully considered by the Royal Commissioner.
So you know, Bill Shorten, he’s got to stop playing politics with everything. We have a Royal Commission into the banking and finance industry. Now what you don’t do is go out there and attack the Royal Commissioner's independence and start trying to second-guess him and tell him how he should be doing his job. That's not what I'm doing, I didn't do it as Treasurer.
I initiated this Royal Commission as Treasurer and I want to see it do its job, free from political interference and free from political grandstanding. Bill Shorten needs to respect the Royal Commission and allow it to do its’ job.
What we've been doing while the Royal Commission has been going on, is to ensure we do our job; that is to increase the penalties that are out there for those who do the wrong thing in the banking industry. We've increased the authority for APRA, the banking regulator, to be able to throw banking executives out of the industry. Those laws have already been passed. We've increased the powers for ASIC. We've ensured that we now have a Deputy Commissioner of ASIC, the corporate watchdog, whose job is to prosecute those who do the wrong thing. As you saw in the interim report, that was one of the key issues that was raised by the Royal Commissioner.
So my message to Bill Shorten is stop playing politics with a Royal Commission that is supposed to be independent. Respect the Royal Commissioner and his independence and respect the hard work of the Royal Commission staff who are doing their job. To suggest they have been ignoring the submissions that have been provided to the Royal Commission I think is offensive. I think Bill Shorten should apologise to the staff of the Royal Commission for suggesting they haven't been doing their job properly. Stop the politics, Bill.
Thank you.
Interview with Gillian O'Shaughnessy, ABC Perth
2 October 2018
GILLIAN O’SHAUGHNESSY: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, welcome to ABC Perth.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: You’re announcing $100 million for seniors this morning, is this a distraction from the aged care royal commission Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I initiated the aged care Royal Commission and I’m pleased that it’s going ahead. We’ll have a bit more to say about that and the terms of reference and the Commissioner soon. I think it’s very important that we have that residential aged care royal commission, which looks at in-home care as well as looking at young Australians living in an aged care setting with disabilities as well. So that will be a wide-ranging inquiry and I’ll have a bit more to say about that soon.
But today, we’re extending further the support we provide under the Commonwealth Home Support program. That does everything from meals, transport, home maintenance, home modifications, supporting the choices of Australians to remain in their homes for longer, which more Australians are doing. We’ve also backed it up with the increase in in-home care places in the last Budget and the mid-year statement before that.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: When would the money start to flow Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well this money starts in the next financial year, from January 19th, so that’s the 2018/19 year. This was announced as part of this year’s Budget.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Can we look at this then, essentially an election promise, given how close we are?
PRIME MINISTER: It’s not a promise, it’s actually money. It’s going to flow, it’s happening, it’s our Government doing things that were in our Budget. We’ve provided for it because we want to ensure that senior Australians have more choices as they age and that they can age in their own homes. So they can be home, you know, for the kids’ birthday parties and the family meals and all the things that make up a full life. We want them to have that opportunity for as long as possible.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Prime Minister your Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt has been hit by accusations of bullying in his office. How much does that concern you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well there’s an independent process going on with that, which is appropriate. I don’t think it’s sort of fair to prejudge that or cast aspersions. I think there’s a process, but it actually involves a member of his staff, an allegation against that member of staff. So I think it’s fair to everybody involved that the process be done independently without any suggestion one way or the other.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Given the allegations, the wider allegations of bullying within the Liberal Party, is it not part of your role as the new leader of the Party to deal with these kinds of allegations though, directly?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the other ones you refer to are being addressed by the Party organisation. I dealt with that some weeks ago and this is a matter which is appropriately referred to the Department for a proper review and that’s how it should be done. I don’t think people should beat these things up. I think they should just wait to see what the independent process delivers and that requires you to respect all the parties in the process.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Is that how you see allegations of bullying within the Party, as a beat up?
PRIME MINISTER: No, that’s not what I said. You were referring to the matter involving Ken Wyatt and what I’m saying is, I don’t think those matters should be beat up, or discussed particularly given there’s an independent process. Surely people that are part of this independent process should be given the respect of allowing that to be done without any conclusions being drawn.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Prime Minister on the other royal commission, into the banks, the Labor Party has said it’s clear more time is needed. Has Kenneth Hayne asked you for an extension yet?
PRIME MINISTER: No, he hasn’t and if he asks for one, he’ll get one. I am very concerned at the way the Labor Party and Bill Shorten and Claire O’Neil are starting to really attack the Royal Commissioner here and the Royal Commission staff. I mean they have reviewed, personally, 9,000 submissions. They’ve gone through every single one of them and you can see that they’ve taken a lot from that in the interim report that they’re released. So to suggest that the Royal Commissioner and the Royal Commission staff has not been looking seriously at those submissions, I think is very disturbing. I think it really questions the independence of the Royal Commission and I think that’s very disappointing.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Yesterday Prime Minister, you promised to legislate changes to the GST. When you announced those changes, you said legislation wasn’t needed. Why did you change your mind?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the last time I was here, I actually said I was considering legislation, when I was in Perth a few months back. I was open to that and I believe that’s the best way to move forward. I mean Bill Shorten says he’ll support the legislation, now that wasn’t the case when I first announced those measures. We announced our plan and he subsequently said he was on a unity ticket. Well, we’ll see if he is on a unity ticket. The legislation will come into the Parliament and he’ll have the opportunity to support that plan and I certainly hope he does so. I sent him the full legislation yesterday, so he’s got plenty of time to look it over. It’s exactly what I announced some months ago as Treasurer. It provides $4.7 billion specifically for Western Australia, but that’s part of a broader deal which leaves every single state and territory better off, which is the way that you need to make these changes. Because you need to deal with it nationally, not just for any one state.
So we’ve delivered the plan that others in the past have not been able to. I look forward to it getting supported by the Parliament and by the Labor Party, given they said that’s what they’d do. I mean he is the only one standing in the way now, of this deal becoming law.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Prime Minister, I wanted to ask you about remote community funding while we’ve got you. It’s been three months now since Federal funding for remote Indigenous community housing stopped, no new agreement has been reached. I understand our Premier Mark McGowan has written to you asking the Commonwealth to contribute further funding. Can you confirm whether you’ll be doing that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’re looking at that, but at the end of the day, housing is the responsibility of the state and territory governments. We’ve provided support up in the Northern Territory because there are quite specific responsibilities we have, because it’s a territory and the nature of the Commonwealth leasehold arrangements around the housing in the Northern Territory. But for states like Western Australia, like Queensland and others, they actually have the responsibility for dealing with those issues. You know, my view about the Federation is we’ve all got to do our own jobs. We’ve all got to fund our own responsibilities and just on the GST alone – I’m not talking about the $4.7 billion extra which is coming to WA under this arrangement – but on the changes we’ve made to the GST and how it deals with digital transaction and things like this – the states in total are getting $6.5 billion more than they would have otherwise got, because of the changes we made. So the states are really getting a lot of support from the changes we’ve made at the Commonwealth level, to enable them to make these investments. We’ll consider the proposal from Western Australia but ultimately it’s the West Australian Government’s responsibility to look after housing, particularly that type of housing, social housing and so on, within their state.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: The decision was made by the Abbott Government, is it one you agree with? The states should be responsible for housing?
PRIME MINISTER: Well that was a terminating agreement, there was no suggestion that agreement would go beyond the existing profile for that. The Commonwealth and the states do this quite frequently; they’ll come to agreement for a couple of years – and that was for a couple of years, it wasn’t suggested that would be a permanent arrangement – so it’s important that once those arrangements come to an end, yes you can reconsider them, but first and foremost it’s the responsibility of the state government. We keep providing them with, well, I don’t think anyone can say we haven’t been supporting Western Australia when it comes to resources. I mean the GST deal for WA is what they’ve been wanting for a decade. This enables them now to go and take up those responsibilities that they have. I’ve agreed in the past they’ve been really struggling because of the poor GST outcomes they’ve got. Well, I’ve fixed that and so that should enable them to better deal with the responsibilities that they have.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been doing lots of tweeting from New York. What would your advice be to him?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, to enjoy his time in New York, enjoy his time with his family and I look forward to seeing him when he comes back. I’ve been in contact with him, as many of my colleagues have and you know, he’s a good friend and I wish him all the best. I am looking forward to catching up with him and Lucy when he gets back.
O’SHAUGHNESSY: Thanks for your time Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, all the best.
Interview with Clairsy, Matt & Kymba - 94.5 Big Breakfast
2 October 2018
HOST: The 30th Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, welcome.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I just thought I’d pop in, you know? I was wandering by and I saw the light on.
[Laughter]
HOST: Welcome, welcome.
HOST: Could you have brought us a coffee Scott?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I was hoping there was one in my future, but maybe there is in yours too.
HOST: We’ll work on it, welcome to Perth mate. How are you?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m great. I mean the place is buzzing after West Coast’s win on the weekend.
HOST: It certainly is.
PRIME MINISTER: I mean grand finals are awesome –
HOST: You were there weren’t you?
PRIME MINISTER: I was there and I was barracking for West Coast. As you know I don’t follow AFL but it’s a great game and Julie was sitting behind and she was going off completely.
HOST: Yeah!
PRIME MINISTER: You know there were a lot of Western Australians there and they were having a great time. But you know, as I said to the boys yesterday when I went and saw them, it’s a massive achievement for them obviously, just as professional sportspeople and they work all their lives to achieve that. But I think the thing that always really blows them away is just what it means for the fans and the supporters.
HOST: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: They really see it and they go; “Gosh, we’ve really done something huge for our community.”
HOST: It changes people’s lives.
PRIME MINISTER: For the fan base, they get so excited and that’s the great thing about sport; you just forget all the other stuff going on maybe, for a little while.
HOST: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: You escape it a bit, that’s –
HOST: But here you are, come on mate, come up with the goods.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, yeah.
HOST: How is the gig working out?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look, I’m enjoying getting around and talking to a lot of people, but importantly it’s been about getting the show back on the road very, very quickly. I think we’ve done that and the focus is there, the Ministers are all getting about their tasks. We’re dealing with issues around the drought, we’re making some further announcements today around how we’re supporting people in their homes as they get older. We’re going out there with Ken Wyatt today to make some announcements there. So that’s everything from making sure they’ve got household assistance around the place, even mowing the lawn and that sort of thing. So it means they get to stay in their home for longer. We announced the Aged Care Royal Commission, we’ll be putting the terms of reference out for that fairly soon.
HOST: That independence thing is a big deal for people isn’t it?
PRIME MINISTER: It totally is. I mean, look, I’ve got elderly parents. My Mum is very healthy, I mean, Dad is not so well, but you just want them to be able to age with dignity.
HOST: Yes.
PRIME MINISTER: And with choices and the family can just sort of relate to them normally and preferably not in a residential aged care centre if you can avoid it. But if you do, you make that as accommodating as you can.
HOST: There’s currently a Royal Commission into the banking industry as well as the Royal Commission on aged care. Can we get a Royal Commission on petrol prices please? It’s like $1.64 on average in Perth today and it’s just … people can’t afford it.
PRIME MINISTER: I saw that and we’ve been seeing similar prices more recently over in the east coast as well, they’ve been there for a little longer. But there basically already is, with the ACCC. They are the cop on the beat and they do have the powers to bring actions when the prices have been gamed and not just people doing it at the pump and locally; I gave them powers when I was Treasurer so they can look back behind the pump and see what’s doing back in the head office. They get access to documents and things like this, so it’s Rod Simms job, he’s the cop on the beat. So I’ll be expecting him to do that job.
HOST: Now, Prime Minister welcome firstly and of course, it’s been a weird kind of decade, let’s be honest.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: It’s been a weird bit of gear.
HOST: Yeah, now you said yourself last year that the electorate was infected with entrenched cynicism etcetera, that’s all true. So here you are, you’re blank sheet of paper in terms of how people view you, but you come from a marketing background. What can you tell me? Lie to me, give me something.
[Laughter]
HOST: What?
HOST: Hang on, that’s the first time ever people have openly said to a politician; “Please lie to me”.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I won’t be doing that, I can assure you of that.
HOST: All I want is a kernel of something that I can hang on to, to think we’re moving in a grown-up direction in this country.
PRIME MINISTER: Well right off the bat, I talked about making sure Australia remains strong, safe and together. But look, what I hope people understand from me is, I’m just a guy who gets it. I get it that they want their taxes to be lower and that’s why I lowered them. I get it that they want their jobs to be secure and they want the economy to be strong, not just so they can be confident about their job, but everything we do – hospitals, schools, all of this – depends on the economy being strong. That’s why I think Australians want that and I get that. You know, you can’t pay for Medicare if you can’t run an economy and you can’t run a Budget. I’ve been able to achieve that both as a Treasurer and in other portfolios and now as Prime Minister. But keeping Australians safe, that’s really important to me and whether it’s bullying in schools or it’s threats of terrorism, the Government has to work across all of these things. But the one area I’m finding people are responding really well to – and it goes to the point you were making – Australians are so over everybody fighting, about everything.
HOST: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: Do we really have to fight about everything? Can’t we just agree on a few things? I think that’s why people responded really well to the strawberries issue. Because they just, for once, saw well, here’s problem and we actually got it legislated in 36 hours.
HOST: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: I was up with some strawberry farmers last week and the response – you know, I put it all down to Jen’s pavlova personally –
[Laughter]
But putting it to one side - people responded. I went to one roadside shop, you know, a fruit shop up on the Sunshine Coast. They went from what is normally 20 trays a day of selling strawberries, to 94 in one weekend. And that was just Australians going; “Yeah, we get it, we’ll turn up.”
HOST: Just putting out strawberries for the country.
PRIME MINISTER: So I’m a guy who gets it and I’m also a guy who gets it done.
HOST: Okay now, you are getting it done. You’ve got the job now and you worked closely obviously with Malcolm Turnbull and you are friends.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
HOST: But in the job so far, is there one thing, one little thing or even a bigger component of the job, where you were surprised? Something you’d only know if it’s hard or easy, when you’re the PM? Is there something in the job that’s surprised you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well you know, having been a pretty senior member of the Government for the last five years, you do have a pretty direct insight into the running of the country particularly working closely with the former Prime Minister. Look, the biggest frustration is just always, whether it’s state and territory governments or, it’s just trying to get everybody to work together. That’s actually one of the biggest jobs of the Prime Minister. When you’re the Treasurer, you’re putting a Budget together –
HOST: Of course.
PRIME MINISTER: When you’re the Immigration Minister, you’re running the immigration program, you know, you’ve got line responsibilities. But as a Prime Minister, it’s your job to try to bring the whole orchestra together.
HOST: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: And not just your own team, but as the leader of the nation, outside of government as well. I mean for the drought at the moment, Major General Stephen Day he’s coordinating our response to the drought. One of the biggest areas he’s identified – and I know this more effects the eastern states, less here in the west. The west have been doing great and actually getting feed across to the other side of the country and thanks for that. But coordinating the charitable support, so making sure that - we don’t run that – but making sure all the charities work together so it gets to where it needs to get to. I mean one of the problems we had is, people were sending tins of food and all these sorts of things; that’s great for the farmer but then the local greengrocer and the local shop there goes broke. We want the towns to remain viable.
So that is the job, you’ve got to bring everybody together to focus on the big challenges.
HOST: Can you work with Bill Shorten?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, yeah. We did the strawberries thing the other day. But look, politics in Australia is always going to be … the Westminster system is based on there being an Opposition and a Government. So I don’t think we should be unrealistic about it, but there have been occasions where we have. But there will be other occasions where we don’t.
I certainly hope he’s going to work with me on the GST. I mean we’ve got $4.7 billion in extra support. Deserved, it’s not charity, it’s what WA deserves and has always deserved. So, I’m going to be introducing legislation when we go back, to make sure that WA GST deal sticks. He votes for it, it’s done. Ten years to 15 years, but ten years at least, this has been an issue, I recon. This is all done when we go back to Parliament, all he has to do is vote for it.
HOST: Okay alright. Scott Morrison, get out there and go and do it. You said that you get it and it’s time to go and do it. But before you go, we’ve been taking calls this morning on the little things that annoy people, that has to be just right. For Matty, he hates when people are late.
HOST: Sorry about that.
[Laughter]
HOST: You’re forgiven.
HOST: I straighten shoes and Kymba doesn’t get on a treadmill if it’s crooked. What’s the one thing that you have to get right before you leave home or work, or the office?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh you know, it’s a simple rule; pants first shoes second, that always usually works for me.
HOST: Yep, a good start.
PRIME MINISTER: If you get that right, I think you can get the rest right. But can I tell you one of the coolest things I’ve got to do over the last month? I got to meet will.i.am.
HOST: Yeah?
HOST: Oh right, the Black Eyed Peas!
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, because they played at the Grand Final and look, I like a lot of these reality television shows, I’ve always loved the Voice. I don’t know if that breaches any sort of commercial arrangements –
HOST: No, no.
HOST: We’ll just shut you down there.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: I really like will.i.am and I was like a kid, going up and we got a selfie and all the rest of it. He was a really lovely bloke, he was a really, really nice guy and he loves, he just loves Australia too. So he was just really happy to be there. So, it’s a very serious job, I know that and I think everyone knows I do take it seriously. But every now and then, like meeting will.i.am –
HOST: Some perks.
PRIME MINISTER: It was cool.
HOST: Nice.
HOST: Good one.
PRIME MINISTER: Even for a big Tina Arena fan like me.
[Laughter]
HOST: Let’s get it started, right there, for the Black Eyed Peas. The 30th Prime Minister Scott Morrison, all the best.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks guys, great to be here.