Media Releases
Greater Cooperation with Japan
16 November 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Australia and Japan have agreed to strengthen our investment and research ties and to work together to tackle maritime crime.
Our countries are great friends and these initiatives recognise our deep shared interests and values.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support bilateral infrastructure financing in the Indo-Pacific provides us with a new framework to work together on projects that increase the stability and prosperity of the region, by supporting economic development and regional connectivity.
The MOU will support sustainable regional infrastructure investment that is needs-based, transparent and avoids unsustainable debt burdens. Australia continues to welcome investment into our region from partner nations where it meets these criteria.
We want to help our regional partners get the infrastructure support they need.
The MOU complements our recent announcement of a new Australian Infrastructure Finance Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), delivering on our commitment to step-up our engagement in the Pacific.
It will also help Australia engage on a broader range of projects and it builds on the extra resources we’re delivering for Efic to give it more flexible infrastructure financing power.
The MOU will support the trilateral partnership between Australia, Japan and the United States to mobilise investment in infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific region. By working together with our partners in the Indo-Pacific, Australia is addressing development challenges, increasing connectivity and promoting economic cooperation.
CSIRO and the Japan, Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) have also signed an MOU to increase cooperation and encourage joint research activities in support of the hydrogen value chain and unconventional resources for energy.
Our countries have also exchanged a Statement of Intent between the Department of Home Affairs and the Japan Coast Guard targeted at boosting civil maritime security. We’re committed to strengthening our ability to work together to combat cross border maritime and trade-related crimes, and promote capacity building activity in the Indo-Pacific region.
As Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Darwin signifies, our countries have made immense progress as partners and these new initiatives will take that even further.
Visit to Darwin by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
16 November 2018
Prime Minister, Prime Minister of Japan
Overview
Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Shinzo Abe met today in Darwin for the annual Australia-Japan summit meeting. The annual meetings between Australia and Japan are symbolic of the deep, enduring and resilient friendship between the two countries, based on common values and interests. This engagement builds on strong business, community and education ties between the Australian and Japanese people.
During Prime Minister Abe’s first visit to Darwin, the two leaders acknowledged the loss and sacrifices of World War II and their determination to work tirelessly to ensure a peaceful future for the region. They highlighted the immense progress made since the war, the speed and sincerity of reconciliation between the two countries and the development of deep trust, reflected in the Special Strategic Partnership the two countries share today.
The Prime Ministers noted the significance of their meeting in Northern Australia, at the confluence of the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation to ensure a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region underpinned by the rule of law, as enunciated in Australia’s 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper and Japan’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
They acknowledged the important role of regional and global institutions and welcomed substantive discussions at the East Asia Summit (EAS) [Singapore, 15 November] on regional strategic issues. The Prime Ministers looked forward to attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Papua New Guinea.
The Prime Ministers reiterated the importance of deepening and expanding people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, including at the regional level, which underpin the vitality of the bilateral relationship. In this regard, they looked forward to the expansion of the exchange of researchers and students.
Economic Cooperation
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to a free and open rules-based multilateral trading system for global stability and prosperity. They moved to enhance cooperation to improve the functioning of the World Trade Organization (WTO) through its reform, including to address market distorting subsidies, support monitoring and notification, and strengthen dispute settlement functions. They reaffirmed the importance of the ongoing WTO e-commerce initiative, including with a view to moving to negotiations in light of the importance of e-commerce to global economic growth.
The Prime Ministers committed to continue to work together to advocate the importance of free trade and promote practical initiatives to liberalise international trade, amidst rising concerns over protectionism. They welcomed expeditious completion of domestic processes by seven members, including Japan and Australia, which ensures entry into force of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP-11). They confirmed their commitment to expand free markets in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond through expansion of the agreement. The leaders also shared their commitment to the conclusion of negotiations in 2019 for a high-quality Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, which would promote closer regional economic integration.
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate closely to ensure the success of Japan’s G20 Presidency and to reinforce the role of the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
The Prime Ministers recognised the importance of strengthening Japan and Australia’s strategic economic partnership. They emphasised the value of the inaugural Ministerial Economic Dialogue held in July this year. They also noted the ongoing success of the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) and expressed their hope to further deepen bilateral economic relations under the agreement.
The leaders committed to cooperate in enhancing connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region through the development of quality infrastructure in accordance with international standards and principles, such as openness, transparency and economic efficiency. They highlighted fiscal soundness, including debt sustainability and transparency, as essential for sustainable development and sovereignty. They welcomed progress in developing international standards for investment in infrastructure under the framework of APEC and committed to further collaboration in the G20 in this area.
They welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (Efic) and the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) to advance infrastructure financing and investment cooperation. They also welcomed the signing of a MOU among DFAT, Efic, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) of the United States which reflects the strong commitment to regional cooperation by Australia, Japan and the United States. The leaders underlined the importance of accelerating the discussion at the International Working Group on Export Credits (IWG).
The Prime Ministers looked forward to continued and sustainable cooperation on resources and energy, and looked forward to expanding their work to third countries in the Indo-Pacific region to achieve open and competitive energy markets and universal access to affordable and reliable energy. They were delighted to celebrate the first gas production and LNG shipment from the INPEX-operated Ichthys Project which illustrates the development of bilateral energy cooperation. They welcomed the signing of a MOU between the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to further scientific cooperation in the field of energy.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the progress in bilateral collaboration in agriculture, including in northern Australia, on prawn farming in the Northern Territory and a research project on a new variety of soybean in North Queensland. They recognised the potential for the two countries to boost agricultural exports into international markets through cooperation on bilateral counter-seasonal production.
Strategic Cooperation
The Prime Ministers decided to continue to support regional stability and security, including through broader and deeper defence cooperation. They welcomed ongoing growth in the bilateral security relationship, including initiatives identified at the Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (“2+2”) in October 2018, and directed their respective Ministers of Defence to further enhance and explore practical and effective defence cooperation.
The Prime Ministers affirmed their shared view of the strategic importance of concluding a reciprocal access agreement, which would improve administrative, policy and legal procedures to facilitate joint operations and exercises, in order to deepen the mutually beneficial defence cooperation and strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership between Japan and Australia. They welcomed the significant progress made to date in negotiations, and directed all relevant Ministers to accelerate negotiations with a view to concluding them, preferably by early 2019.
The leaders reaffirmed the importance of the United States’ role in the stability of the Indo-Pacific region and their respective security alliances with the United States. They welcomed the progress in cooperation among Japan, Australia, India and the United States, and reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing trilateral and quadrilateral cooperation with both the United States and India.
The leaders reaffirmed their strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture and noted the achievements of ASEAN in fostering peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. They resolved to further enhance their engagement with ASEAN, noting the success of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2018 and the Japan-ASEAN Summit to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation in 2018.
The Prime Ministers recognised the importance of a stable and secure regional maritime order, and looked forward to increased cooperation on maritime safety and security in the Indo-Pacific region between Australia and Japan, and trilaterally with the United States. Prime Minister Morrison welcomed the visit of Japanese Coast Guard Patrol Vessel Echigo to Darwin.
The Prime Ministers stand united behind the international community’s commitment to the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all North Korea’s nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). They welcomed ongoing discussions between North Korea and each of the United States and Republic of Korea as a step towards the comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues regarding North Korea. They emphasised the importance of full implementation of UNSCRs to urge North Korea to take concrete steps towards compliance with relevant UNSCRs. They reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate to that end, such as through surveillance of suspicious maritime activities, including illicit ship-to-ship transfers involving North Korean-flagged vessels. Leaders noted the United Nations cap on the North Korean importation of refined petroleum products for 2018 had been breached, and called upon all Member States to immediately stop supplying these products to North Korea in accordance with UNSCR 2397. They also called on North Korea to end its human rights violations and immediately resolve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.
The Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to international law and its importance in maintaining peace and stability in the maritime domain. They remained seriously concerned about the situation in the South China Sea and reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight and of upholding the rules-based regional and international order. They noted the importance of resolving maritime disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They urged all parties to pursue demilitarisation of disputed features and to fully respect legal and diplomatic processes without resorting to the threat or use of force. The leaders emphasised the importance of self-restraint and expressed strong opposition to any coercive or unilateral actions by claimants that could change the status quo or increase tensions.
They urged relevant states to make and clarify territorial and maritime claims based on international law. They acknowledged recent movement towards a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea and called for it: to be consistent with existing international law, as reflected in UNCLOS; not to prejudice the interests of third parties or the rights of any state under international law; to reinforce existing regional architecture; and to strengthen parties’ commitments to cease actions that would complicate or escalate disputes, including militarisation.
The Prime Ministers shared their intention to remain in close communication about the situation in the East China Sea and expressed opposition to any coercive unilateral actions that seek to alter the status quo or increase tensions in the area.
The Prime Ministers emphasised the importance of close cooperation between Australia and Japan to work in partnership with Pacific island countries to support the region’s economic and social resilience, stability and prosperity. They committed to strengthen collaboration in the Pacific, including in the context of Australia’s stepped up engagement in the region and Japan’s PALM process.
The Prime Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to an open, free, fair and secure cyberspace, and resolved to deepen cooperation and promote information sharing, including in the United Nations, to deter and respond to the malicious use of cyberspace, particularly by states and their proxies. They reiterated that existing international law and voluntary peacetime norms of responsible state behaviour apply in cyberspace. They also recognised the importance of taking appropriate measures to protect critical infrastructure from ICT threats and ensuring the security of the supply chain from cyber threats.
Science and Innovation Cooperation
The Prime Ministers recognised the opportunity for greater collaboration between Japan and Australia in space activities, noting the establishment of the Australian Space Agency on 1 July 2018. They welcomed the official launch of Japan's Quasi Zenith Satellite System services on 1 November 2018 and ongoing projects using the system.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the expansion of collaboration under the bilateral Innovation Framework, including into healthcare, artificial intelligence and the internet of things for Smart Cities. The Prime Ministers welcomed the launch of the joint Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain Pilot Project this year as a significant first mover project in the development of a low-emissions hydrogen partnership.
The Prime Ministers acknowledged the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) signed the first memorandum of cooperation in the field of medical research and development between Japan and Australia on 17 October 2018.
This year’s meeting coincides with the 30th anniversary of Questacon, Japan’s 1988 Bicentennial gift to the people of Australia. Celebrations include Questacon’s Science Circus Tour of Japan as part of the successful Australia Now public diplomacy program. Prime Minister Morrison thanked Japan for the contribution Questacon had made over 30 years in inspiring Australians to participate in and learn about science. He was pleased to gift Japan with three Questacon exhibits, and hoped they would inspire future generations of Japanese scientists.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Morrison and Prime Minister Abe look forward to the next annual summit meeting in Japan.
Doorstop - Darwin, NT
16 November 2018
PRIME MINISTER: Well ladies and gentleman, it’s great to be here in one of the world’s great tropical cities, Darwin. It’s great to be here in Northern Australia. It’s great to be here in one of Australia’s great cities, Darwin. It’s great to be here with the Chief Minister, the Mayor and the Leader of the Opposition, CLP candidates and Luke, the local Member. It’s great to be here together and particularly with Alan Tudge, the Minister, to be here to announce what is a very big deal for Darwin. It’s a very big deal for the Territory and it’s a very big deal for Australia. It’s a deal that brings together all three levels of government to focus on the future of our most important cities. A city that has been all sorts of history over a long period of time, which we’ll be marking in a very special way a little later today with a visit with Prime Minister Abe. But here, what we’re looking at is the future of this city, to be a leading light for other tropical cities around the world.
What we’re announcing today is a Cities Deal which will see around half a billion dollars invested in its’ future over the next ten years. The Commonwealth, together with the Territorian Government as well as the City Council, coming together to invest in projects which will enliven this city. Now, from the Commonwealth’s point of view, that involves just over $100 million of investments, principally when it comes to Charles Darwin University to create a vertical campus right here in the middle of the city of Darwin, which will bring some 1,100 students into the middle of the city, increasing the vibrancy of the city and bringing future Territorians to Darwin where they will come and they will study and they will live. The plan is that they will hopefully stay and embrace the wonderful tropical city life of what is Darwin. This is a project that will see a great boost, not only in construction works that will take place, but a long-term viable, sustaining, driving force in the heart of the city of Darwin.
Now, on top of that, there will be some important works that we’ve funded, just under $5 million that is looking at the tropical city management process here in Darwin. The greening of the city, its’ temperature management, these are challenges which are being faced by tropical cities all around the world. Now I have just come from the East Asia Summit in Singapore and the issue of managing these types of issues in tropical cities is one of the biggest challenges being faced by countries in our region today. Whether it’s in Malaysia or Singapore or Indonesia or Vietnam or other places, one of the key initiatives, the new cities initiative that we are part of in the region, is taking the expertise that we have developed here in Australia and exporting that to the world in terms of how you manage and plan and develop cities in tropical locations. So with the CSIRO we’ll be working here to manage an urban city lab which will be looking at those tropical city management design issues and project issues. I think that’s going to be real boost, not just for the city of Darwin to be one of the lead tropical cities in the world, but on top of that it will ensure important export business for services and technology that will further boost the Australian economy.
In addition to that, we’ve got Stokes Hill land area just behind us, which will be made available to go through a process to ensure that it can be put to best possible use, particularly working together closely with the Larrakia People for whom this is a very important piece of land in the Northern Territory. We work consultatively with them and with the Territory Government to ensure that’s put to its best and most appropriate use. But also as Nigel Scullion has been championing, this deal has a jobs guarantee for Indigenous Australians. A jobs guarantee, to ensure that Indigenous people are employed on the projects that go into this deal and it also includes $2 million to support the Larrakia People and their economic development here in the Territory.
So, this is a deal that will make our economy stronger. This is a deal that will make the Territory stronger and it’s a deal that I think will improve the living standards and livelihoods of people who live in Darwin. Not just today, but the many more that we hope will come and live in this tropical city of the future here in Darwin. I want to thank again Michael Gunner the Chief Minister here, I want to thank Kon the Mayor, I particularly want to thank Alan Tudge who has brought this to a conclusion today with our partners. As the Minister responsible, I think he’s done an extraordinary job, not just here but many of the other deals we have been able to announce in recent times, so well done Alan. And I’m going to pass on to the Chief Minister and congratulate him again on the win.
HON MICHAEL GUNNER, NORTHERN TERRITORY CHIEF MINISTER: Thank you, Prime Minister. This is an exciting day. Today, the Australian Government, the Territory Government, Darwin City Council are investing in Darwin as the capital of Northern Australia. This is an investment that will drive the creation of local jobs here in Darwin and in the Territory. We will now see more students, more international students call Darwin home.
We’re now going to see a greener, more tropical Darwin. We’ve already started that investment with the creation of extra parkland in the heart of our CBD and the start of Cavenagh Street shade trial and this will be driven by that CSIRO living lab. We see Darwin as not near Asia but in Asia. We see Darwin as a driver of economic activity and we want, we have a vision for Darwin to service our northern neighbours, the wider region. We see our competition as Singapore, not Sydney. That’s what we want to do and this investment drives and supports that vision. I thank the Prime Minister, I thank the Lord Mayor, I thank the Vice-Chancellor, the Minister Alan Tudge, everybody who’s helped deliver this vision, the Larrakia people who have bought into this vision for Darwin. This is a very exciting day as we celebrate today the first gas of INPEX and that major project, I think it’s perfectly fitting that we celebrate this, another major investment into Darwin, the place that we call home and that we love. Thank you very much.
LORD MAYOR KON VATSKALIS: Well, it is a tropical city as you can see. But this is the deal that will change Darwin. We’re not going to be a city in Australia, far away from everywhere. We’re going to be the centre between Australia and Asia. This deal between the Federal Government and the Territory Government and the Darwin City Council is very important for Darwin. They’re putting $100 million investment, we’re putting one of the biggest and the only available block in the middle of the city for the university to be placed there. $25 million worth of land that if it was not there, you couldn’t put a university in the middle of the city. A university that will change the face of the city, not only the students but the businesses around that are there now or that will develop to support the university. Greening the city, finding solutions for this hot city that is getting hotter. Greening the city, putting public art in the streets, in our parks. It is not “we may think about it,” but now, “it will happen”. It will change Darwin as we know it. Thank you.
MINISTER ALAN TUDGE: Well, thanks, Prime Minister. We’ve now signed a number of City Deals around the country and each one has a different theme. The most recent one, the Geelong City Deal, is very much about stimulating the tourism economy. The Western Sydney City Deal is about creating a new city almost, built around the Western Sydney Airport. This one is about really developing the heart and soul of Darwin itself to grow it, to make it more liveable and to activate the city centre.
As the Prime Minister said, the central investment from the Commonwealth’s perspective is to build a brand new university campus right in the heart of the city and that means you’ll have 11,000 students there on a daily basis, spilling out into the streets, purchasing food at the local cafes and restaurants and enjoying life in Darwin and hopefully making it their home forever. It also provides a tremendous opportunity though for international students. I know the Vice-Chancellor is particularly keen on that university because the Northern Territory only gets about 0.2 per cent of all international students, despite having about one per cent of the population here. There’s real opportunity for international student growth into this city and that brings people, but it also brings money, because every international student, on average, brings about $44,000 into the local economy, half in fees, the other half in expenditure. So, there’s huge economic potential here as well from this deal.
Can I just thank the Chief Minister and the Mayor and the Mayor and also the Vice-Chancellor for working so cooperatively together to land this particular deal, but it’s amazing what you can achieve when the three levels of government work cooperatively, honestly, thrash things out together and land something really significant which will shape our city here for the next decade. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Let’s take some questions on the City Deal and as I’ve said before, if there are some other matters, we can deal with those separately.
JOURNALIST: What evidence is there that bring university students to the city centre will revitalises the economy?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve seen this firsthand in my own city in Liverpool, Western Sydney University went and put a very large vertical campus there and that is now the biggest training centre for nurses in New South Wales. It has completely transformed the City of Liverpool and interestingly, because Alan just referred to it, one of the reasons the campus was put there in Liverpool was because of the investments we’d made in the City Deal around the Western Sydney Airport. It all makes sense and so these investments create momentum. They are catalysts and to bring 1,100 people into the centre of Darwin, 1,100 in terms of the students, then this will ensure that we are rapidly increasing the money that is churning around in the Darwin economy. So that’s what we’ve seen in Liverpool in Sydney, we’ve seen it in other places around the country and this will be a significant investment.
JOURNALIST: It’s less money than the money provided for Townsville and for the Launceston. Why is there $100 million for Darwin more than for other cities?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, every City Deal is different and every City Deal deals with the projects. I mean, it’s not a league table of investment, what it is it’s a project-based approach. What are the right projects to actually get the city moving in the right direction? The selection of projects that is being done here - we’re doing a series of projects, the Territory Government is investing in projects like the Arts Centre and others - and it’s the combination of those projects which is what matters. Then the Government stepped up with the funding required to make it happen.
Now, I should stress that on top of what we’ve put in, in terms of our investment in direct funding, there is also the opportunity for further support to be provided through the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund so there is additional opportunity for us to be involved here and that will be a function of those projects as they’re further developed.
JOURNALIST: Malcolm Turnbull, when he came to Tennant Creek a couple of months ago, proposed a regional deal for the Barkly Region. Where are things at with that?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll be having a bit more to say about that at lunchtime.
JOURNALIST: Why did you block access to your letter offering the GST top-up, which refers to fracking –
PRIME MINISTER: Why don’t we just stay, we’ll stay on the City Deal and we can deal with other political issues later. Are there other questions to the Chief Minister and the Lord Mayor or Alan on the issue of the City Deal?
JOURNALIST: What projects are you expecting will be good for regenerating the city Stokes Hill Wharf site?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this has to be consultative process on the Stokes Hill site and I’m not going to pre-empt that and that consultation. Particularly that consultation has to be undertaken with the Larrakia people. But I’ll let the Chief Minister speak on that.
CHIEF MINISTER GUNNER: There are two projects that have been identified as possible for that site amongst others. One is obviously the Larrakia cultural centre and there’s investment through the City Deal for doing a business case around that. We’ve also flagged around the corner from there, the potential for a water park to be on that site as well. So there’s a couple of projects that may be for that site, that’s not to rule out potential for others to be there as well. Obviously, what we’ve done through the City Deal is agree to work together about clearing those old fuel tanks there and rehabilitating the site and working on that.
JOURNALIST: Just another question for the Prime Minister. Will the Federal Government commit any funding to revitalise Kakadu?
PRIME MINISTER: We’re currently working through that issue. Nigel Scullion, the Senator is working with the Territory Government and I know Gary has written to us as well about some issues with Kakadu. But coming out of the tourism industry, I probably know better than most from the southern states how important Kakadu is to the Northern Territory tourism industry. So we’re aware of the issues there and I’ve been working closely with the Territory Government. Today, we’re here talking about Darwin and once we’re in a position to say more about those matters, then I will.
JOURNALIST: Why did you block access to your letter of offering the GST to the Territory?
PRIME MINISTER: Are we done with the City Deal, because there will be different people standing at the microphone if we’re going to talk about politics.
Well, I’m glad to see everybody is excited about the City Deal. We’re excited about the City Deal as is Gary as is Kathy and of course, as is Jacinta, great to have you here. So, why don’t we thank you very much and of course the Vice-Chancellor.
JOURNALIST: Later today, you’ll meet with Shinzo Abe. How does it feel to be the first Prime Minister to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister since WWII?
PRIME MINISTER: Here in Darwin? Well, I’ve had the opportunity to discuss this with Shinzo Abe during the recent Summit I’ve just been attending in Singapore and he’s looking forward to being in Darwin. This is going to be a very significant day for Darwin with his visit, not just because of the marking of the fact that the first shipment of gas to come out of the INPEX project which has been an enormous investment, the single largest investment ever by Japan in Australia. But it will be, I think, a very sombre time, particularly for Australians all around the country, wherever they are, whether they’re in Darwin or they’re in other parts of the country and they were here at the time of the raids, or had family members who were killed, over 230 during those raids.
I think this is an important time of healing. It’s an important time of reconciliation and for some, I know that will always be difficult, who were directly touched by those events. But what I do know is that the humility of Prime Minister Abe’s attendance here today and the way he has approached similar issues in other parts of the world, says a great deal, not only about his character as a leader and his vision as a leader, but it says a lot about the relationship between Japan and Australia. We share so much in common in this part of the world and we have a very similar outlook on how issues need to be managed in this part of the world. I’ll be looking forward to discussing those with him further today. Obviously, those of you who were up with me in Singapore know that those formal discussions have already commenced and we’ll have a lot more today. I’m very much looking forward to welcoming him here today and I think it will be an important visit, not just for Darwin, but for Australia.
JOURNALIST: PM, could you speak to the strategic implications of what you and Prime Minister Abe will be signing today, with the view to the region, with a view to the tensions between China and the US which we saw writ large in Singapore?
PRIME MINISTER: We both have a very similar outlook when it comes to managing our relationships with two important partners. Japan has a very important strategic partnership with the United States, as do we. They also have a very significant trade relationship with China and a broader relationship, as do we. So I think in getting together and talking about the many tense issues that exist in managing both of those relationships, I think it’s a very positive way of taking all of our relationships forward. We’re basically dealing with the same set of issues. So to round that out, whether it’s on defence issues, whether it’s on trade issues, we are working very closely together and identifying more and more ways to do that.
The Defence and Foreign Ministers met in Sydney recently and that further implemented a whole range of more cooperative activity in terms of joint activities and exercises and that’s been continuing. We’re very keen to see how that can be progressed to the future and we’ll have more to discuss on that topic today. But the trade issues around RCEP and the potential additional participants in the TPP which Prime Minister Abe was instrumental in ensuring that that deal came together along with our former Prime Minister, Mr Turnbull and the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key. So Prime Minister Abe I know, sort of carries a great deal of ownership of that arrangement and his intention as is ours is to see others join that relationship in the future.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible] right to be concerned that Chinese investment could affect Australian democracy, openness and transparency, perhaps in this country but maybe also in the region?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t share that view.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you expect this will be an awkward or uncomfortable visit of the Japanese leader, having had the chance to speak with him?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t. Because he has undertaken similar visits around the world in similar locations with similar history and he approaches this with an authenticity and a humility which comes very naturally to him. I think that will greatly assist in putting at ease some of the very deep feelings that are around this issue, so I think he’s demonstrated very well and in a very positive way at how these visits can actually take the issue forward, provide a moment of reflection and healing and continue to reinforce the relationship in very positive terms.
JOURNALIST: Why did you block access to, basically, your never offering GST top-up to the Northern Territory, that refer to the lifting of the moratorium? Because the Australia Institute has basically alleged –
PRIME MINISTER: The Australia Institute? Oh, the Australia Institute, that well-known, independent think-tank. Okay.
JOURNALIST: They are an environmental think-tank.
PRIME MINISTER: They’re a left-wing think-tank, so let’s not say they don’t have any partisan bias. Okay, next.
JOURNALIST: Okay, is that why you refused access?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: So if I applied, would you give me the letter?
PRIME MINISTER: No. The GST issue in the Northern Territory and the decision of the Northern Territory Government in relation to gas were unrelated. I’ve said that, the Northern Territory Government said that. They’ve made their decision, we made our decision. I applaud their decision, I did at the time.
More than $250 million has been put in top-ups to the Northern Territory Government and that’s to ensure that they can meet their obligations here to essential services in the Territory. This has been a significant investment by our Government. We understand the needs of Territorians and that’s why we were so quick to provide that support and that will be backed up by another $69 million. So the Northern Territory Government for that, $500 million for remote Indigenous housing over the next five years. This is another part of the important partnership so our Government is investing heavily, heavily in the Territory because of the unique challenges that are faced here. I mean, we’ve talked about the $100 million and more going into the City Deal today. But that comes on top of $100 million we’ve already put into road infrastructure and congestion management projects here in Darwin already. So, we’re doing a lot of investment here in the North.
JOURNALIST: Is it appropriate to invite Japanese families to grieve in Darwin in the same place the Australians gathered will?
PRIME MINISTER: We’ll continue to work sensibly through those issues.
JOURNALIST: Mr Morrison, you said that the NSC will have a role in reviewing the Israel embassy shift, whether they’re doing it or not. Will they take into account the views of Dr Mahathir about raising the terrorist risk?
PRIME MINISTER: Australia sets foreign policy in Australia, nobody else.
JOURNALIST: And what did you make of Josh Frydenberg’s comments on radio this morning? He’s saying that Dr Mahathir comments should be taken with a grain of salt.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Dr Mahathir I had the opportunity to meet with yesterday. He raised these issues, I must say, quite courteously, at the end of the meeting. That was not only expected, he raised them and I think what Josh said today was basically a bit of filling in the history of his record on various issues over time. I think those issues are well-known and his contributions to the public record on these topics are well-known, they go back a long way through many, many Prime Ministers, going back to Paul Keating as we remember.
So look, Australia decides foreign policy in Australia and we also decide what questions we’re going to ask ourselves. I do not resile one inch from the fact that I think that this is an issue that the Australian Government should be able to consider. What I’ve done is put in place a proper process to ensure that we can consider it carefully and make a decision. I’ve said that will be done before Christmas and that’s what will be done and I’ve relayed that to our partners in the region. But make no mistake, I’m not going to have our policy dictated by those outside the country. I respect their views, I listen to their views and have in the last few days, but Australia determines Australian foreign policy. And it seems Bill Shorten doesn’t seem to quite understand that.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, AGL has just announced that they’re going to offer a safety net for customers, what is your response?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I welcome the fact that AGL is going to be dropping the electricity prices on the basis of the discussions that Angus Taylor has had directly as part of our policy to put the heat on the big electricity companies to reduce electricity prices.
Angus Taylor is the Minister for reducing electricity prices, just like Tudgey is the Minister for busting congestion. And he’s getting results. So, for all of the nay-sayers, for all of those who like to mock the big stick like the Labor Party does, well, it’s getting results. And that’s what Australians measure these things by.
Our policies are getting results. Our economic policies are getting results. Unemployment at five per cent. Real wage growth in the most recent quarter. Female participation in the labour force at record levels. Youth unemployment falling, the strongest record of youth jobs performance in Australia’s economic history in the last financial year. Our economic plan which involves trade, infrastructure, getting taxes down, backing small business, this is getting results. And our policy on getting electricity prices – as demonstrated by AGL’s decision today – is also getting results. So, we’re getting on with it. The Liberal National Government is getting on with it as we have been for the last five years and we’re getting results.
JOURNALIST: The new military arrangements with Japan, the upgrade in our military relationship with Japan. What’s your best guess on when that might actually have some Scott Morrison ink on it, like the NT deal, when will it be finished?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there’ll be further discussions on that today, Tim. There are still some issues we’re working through on that and I look forward to having more discussions on that today.
But that said, the tempo and the amount of engagement that we’re having is already lifted and outside of that particular agreement – that was agreed in the last meeting of Defence and Foreign Ministers, the Two Plus Two in Sydney just a little while ago. So the tempo and the level of interaction has already increased and that agreement will obviously add to that. But you need to have arrangements right. Australia will ensure that we have the arrangement which best protects and services the needs of Australia’s Defence force personnel in any such arrangement.
There are more than 5,000 Australians serving here in our Defence Forces in and around Darwin and the Territory and they do a fantastic job. We're putting $8 billion into upgrading the defence infrastructure here in and around Darwin. That is a huge investment over the next ten years. So the investment here, the investment in the Defence Forces, the investment in remote Indigenous housing and the investment in small businesses here, you can take these opportunities. That's our plan. It’s a plan that that is going to produce a stronger economy here in Darwin, here in the Territory and across the country.
So it’s great to be here today. I commend everybody for their involvement in this project today. I'm very much looking forward to the engagements with Prime Minister Abe today and welcoming him today and having that time of commemoration, but also recognising the investment that has been made in INPEX which has had an enormous impact here in the Territory and how we can continue to grow and develop that economic and broader partnership.
Thank you very much.
Interview with Katie Woolf, MIX 104.9 Darwin
16 November 2018
KATIE WOOLF: I’m joined in the studio by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day, great to be here.
WOOLF: We voted you in, ScoMo, they said it was alright for you to come in earlier.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Voted onto the island. That’s great, thanks.
WOOLF: I don’t know if it’s an island people usually want to be voted onto, a radio studio.
PRIME MINISTER: It’s great to be here. There’s a lot of really good things to talk about. It’s going to be a very important day in Darwin today.
WOOLFE: It really is. I think it’s honestly one of the biggest days we’ve had in quite a long while and I know that you and I have spoken a couple of weeks ago about the Cities Deal. We were certainly putting some pressure on, wondering when that Cities Deal is going to come to fruition. Prime Minister, today is the day?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, we’re signing it today and I think it’s a very important day for Darwin. We’re investing a further $100 million in to Darwin and that comes on top of the $100 million we’d already put into roads and congestion management here in Darwin. The centrepiece of what we’re doing as part of that is the Charles Darwin University campus, right at the middle of the city.
WOOLF: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s going to bring about another 1,100 students into the city and this is going to create a real drive to the city with more people, with services and other retail and other components of the project. Now, that’s going to be backed in by a number of other projects that the Territory Government and the City Council are working on. Another part to the project is opening up the Stokes Hill site to enable that area to be used for further development in the direction that Territorians want to take it. We’ve also got this urban living lab and some investment in greening the city, ensuring that they can mitigate temperatures in the city.
Now, what’s exciting about this is, cities all around the world in tropical areas - and you just think about it, just to our north -
WOOLF: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve just come from the East Asia Summit. These are big challenges for those cities. How they cope with living in tropical areas with modern urban centres, waste management, how they manage temperature, traffic and all these things. Darwin is going to have a CSIRO, basically, city lab here and they’ll be trialling things here, which means that if they work here in Darwin, they can be actually used all around the world. So it’ll be the coolest city – not just –
WOOLF: Well, we can only hope.
PRIME MINISTER: Not just from a temperature point of view, but also a cooler city in how you’re managing keeping your city cool. I think that will provide a lot of opportunities. But for the Larrakia People also, there’s $2 million we’re supporting for their economic development and a jobs guarantee for Indigenous Australians here in the Territory for all of these big projects.
So, look, it’s a huge package. On top of that, there’ll be opportunity for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund to support some of these projects and particularly the education and civic precinct.
WOOLF: Prime Minister, it’s something we’ve been waiting for some time for. I feel as though it’s the shot in the arm that we really need. You and I spoke a couple of weeks ago and I certainly pointed out the fact that within our city at the moment, we’ve got some businesses that are really struggling. We’ve got extremely high vacancy rates. Being able to bring students into the city as part of the Charles Darwin University campus sounds like a wonderful thing. But how difficult do you think it’s going to be for us to increase those numbers of students? Obviously, the fact that we are a gateway to Asia is going to be part of that and that’s really something the Northern Territory Government is trying to do, boost the population. I know that migration has been also on your agenda?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well, both of those things are the short answer to your question. We do support the population growth strategy for the Territory and I said that when the Chief Minister was down in Canberra recently. Not all parts of the country have the same plans when it comes to population. In Sydney and Melbourne, they want fewer people. But in Darwin, they want more, and in North Queensland, in South Australia and Western Australia.
So we need a population plan right across the country that suits what the conditions are and the needs are on the ground, not just what the debate is in Sydney or Melbourne. I think it’s very important that we keep that focus on regional areas and what their needs are. But students are a great way to do this because people will come, they’ll study - and they may come from other states by the way – they mightn’t just come from overseas. They come, they live here, they enjoy it here if we’re building up the services and the infrastructure – which we are - and don’t forget also we’ve got $8 billion of investment going into Defence capability and infrastructure here, in and around the Territory and Darwin in particular. So that’s going to be a big fillip to the economy as well. That’s how you build the city up. That’s how you make it more successful
So I’ll be looking forward to being out there with Kathy Ganley, our CLP candidate here in Darwin for the next federal election and of course Gary will be joining me as will Mr Gunner and others from the Territory Government. So, it’s a big day but there are other big things happening in Darwin today.
WOOLF: There really are. Well, it’s an unbelievably big day for the Northern Territory. We hear a lot about Darwin’s strategic importance in terms of Defence and industry and of course, today our importance is on display for the world to see. We do know that the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is here for the official commissioning of the INPEX gas plant. But this is also the first time a Japanese head of state has visited the Northern Territory since the Bombing of Darwin in 1942. I know yourself and the Japanese PM are of course, going to be laying a wreath at the cenotaph in what is set to be an incredibly important and symbolic moment, isn’t it?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s true. I spoke to Shinzo Abe just yesterday when we were up in Singapore together and the day before. He’s looking forward to coming, this is a very important visit for him. He has made similar visits in similar places around the world. He brings an incredible sense of humility to his attendance at these very solemn events and I think that’s a very important message to Australians.
I know for Australians – whether they’re here in Darwin today or elsewhere in the country, those particularly who were here at the time when over 230 Australians lost their lives in those bombing raids – that this will be potentially a difficult time for them. But I hope it’s a healing time for them and I think the way in which the Prime Minister will come with a deep spirit of humility, will greatly assist it. It comes out of the spirit of the relationship we have with Japan today; they are one of, if not our biggest strategic partners in the region. We manage very similar issues, we have a very similar outlook on how the region is developing. So I’ll be holding talks with him throughout the day, both formally and informally and it’s a big part of our relationship.
Of course, the INPEX plant and having its first shipment, it’s the biggest ever investment by Japan in Australia, ever. So this is ‘the’ big deal and so he’s obviously here to mark that as well.
WOOLF: We know that the gas is certainly something that you’ve had words over, at different times when it comes to speaking with the Northern Territory Government. Certainly fracking was something that has been on the agenda for a long time. As I understand it, there was a memorandum of understanding signed yesterday with Matt Canavan and Michael Gunner for the Beetaloo Basin.
PRIME MINISTER: Great.
WOOLF: I mean, how sort of, significant and how much can we really talk about or expect the Northern Territory to produce and do when it comes to the rest of Australia’s needs, when it comes to energy?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think the other states need to do their own heavy lifting on this. I mean, the Territory are and I think this agreement and this decision will set up the Territory for the future in terms of their own prosperity and their own economic development and their own opportunities. So I commend the decision and was, as people know, a keen urger of the decision. But that doesn’t give a leave pass to Victoria or even New South Wales. They’ve got to realise the resources that they have to support their development. They can’t rely on the Northern Territory and a pipeline. If they want lower electricity prices, which is what I want -
WOOLF: They’re not really stepping up at the moment though, are they?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’m hopeful that New South Wales will see something. But you know in Victoria, we’re in the middle of a state election in Victoria and they’re keeping the gas underground which is pushing the electricity prices up on Victorians. Wherever you keep the gas in the ground, that means your electricity prices are higher.
I’m all for getting electricity prices down so I commend the decision here, I supported it strongly. We’re putting record support into the Territory. I mean, not only did we put the more than $250 million on the GST top-up which I announced earlier this year, I mean, that was there to make sure the Territory can continue to meet its commitments for services delivery. There’s an extra $69 million going in the next year, so they can do that. Half a billion dollars we’re putting into remote Indigenous housing which is a chronic need here in the Territory and the Commonwealth, you know, we understand we have a special responsibility on those issues in the Territory and we’ve more than measured up to that challenge.
WOOLF: Scott Morrison, I feel like this isn’t going to be the last time we’re going to see you in this studio obviously, with the federal election imminent. When can we expect that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think you can expect to continue to see me up here with Kathy Ganley, as well as Jacinta Price, throughout the Territory talking about the things that matter most to Territorians and Nige as well - who is well known, Scullion - up here. He’s working hard on a range of projects, particularly on Kakadu at the moment. I’ve been talking to Gary about that as well, about those Kakadu projects. I mean, coming out of the tourism industry as I did, I understand where Kakadu fits in on the national list of icons and experiences –
WOOLF: Unfortunately, at the moment though, you know, some people call it “Kaka-don’t,” because it does need significant investment. It is on your agenda?
PRIME MINISTER: It is.
WOOLF: Can we expect some funding when it comes to Kakadu?
PRIME MINISTER: We’re just working that through but as you know, when I have something to say, I do and until then, I just sort of work methodically away. I get it. I understand it, just like I got it when it came to the Darwin City arrangements. But you know, you’ve just got to work to land it properly.
I’m really pleased how this Darwin City Deal has come together, it’s been on the agenda for some time, but we got on with it, we’ve delivered it. So I think for the CLP here in the Northern Territory, as part of our Liberal National team around the country, I think Territorians know that we get it and we just get on with it and this is a big deal.
WOOLF: Well, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, we are going to have to leave it there. We’ve got a throng of politicians waiting outside ready to get in. Thank you so much for your time this morning. I really appreciate it.
PRIME MINISTER: Great to be here, look forward to being back soon.
WOOLF: Sounds good, thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Cheers.
Interview with Sarah & Taz, Hot 100 Darwin
16 November 2018
SARAH PASSALICK: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, good morning!
PRIME MINISTER: G’day Sarah, g’day Taz, it’s nice to be here in Darwin.
SARAH: Thank you for coming on our show.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, you’re my first appointment today that’s how, you know, serious it is. Here it is.
TAZ ERIKSEN: It can only go better from here, that’s what I’m thinking.
[Laughter]
SARAH: Is that what’s going to happen? Now, you are in Darwin today for some very exciting things that are going to be released and that is to do with the Darwin CBD?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah that’s right. We’ve already put in around $100 million into roads and congestion-busting around the Darwin CBD. But today we’re announcing with the Northern Territory Government a further $100 million, which is going to go into create an education and civic precinct in Darwin. That’s particularly to expand and have a campus here for the University here in the middle of Darwin.
SARAH: This has been spoken about quite a bit in the last couple of months and it’s finally sort of, starting to come together and people can see it. It’s exciting.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah it’s part of a big plan and it’s going to mean more students here in Darwin, which means that supports the local businesses, it makes the city more vibrant. We’re really supportive of the plans to actually grow the population, not just for the Territory but Darwin in particular. But to do that you’ve got to have, you know, more infrastructure in the city.
SARAH: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: There needs to be more amenities and that’s what this is doing. The other thing I think that’s really quite interesting, is they’re doing this “urban living lab”. Now that all sounds all very kitschy, but what it means is, Darwin is a unique city because it’s in a tropical environment and so what they’ll be doing up here is trialling new ways to keep and mitigate the temperatures, where they plant trees -
SARAH: Oh, yes please.
PRIME MINISTER: All these sorts of things. Now, I’ve just been up in Singapore and right across the region, what they’re doing is looking to Australian companies more and more, as to how they can better manage their cities. They have the same challenges that Darwin has. So Darwin is basically going to be a bit of a test case, I think, for cities all around -
SARAH: Everyone will be following us?
PRIME MINISTER: They will. Darwin will be leading the way on being the most liveable tropical city in this part of the world. I think that’s really quite exciting. So, we are backing that in and we are putting several million dollars into that, together working with the Council and Territory Government. So this is all about making Darwin the place Territorians want it to be.
SARAH: I like the idea of it sounding cooler. We will let you know how our sweat factor is going.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, cooler in two ways.
SARAH: Yes, exactly.
PRIME MINISTER: The coolest city in more ways than one.
TAZ: Now while we have got you here Prime Minister, we want to chat because last week I said something on Facebook and it angered a few people. I upset almost half of -
PRIME MINISTER: What, on social media, angry people?
TAZ: Yes, no surprise.
PRIME MINISTER: Knock me over.
[Laughter]
SARAH: He went for the vegans.
TAZ: I didn’t mean to go for the vegans.
SARAH: But you did.
TAZ: I ended up offending half a million vegans on a Facebook page.
[Laughter]
Okay and I wanted to ask you is how you deal with people that may not agree with you? Because you’ll always be trying your best, but –
SARAH: You did.
PRIME MINISTER: It happens.
TAZ: Because there will be people that just won’t be a fan.
PRIME MINISTER: It happens from time to time, like everyday in this job, as it does I think with any political leader. But look what I do is, you’ve got to front up, you got to take it on the chin.
SARAH: He did that, he did do that.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s number one. Two is, everyone has got a view and you listen. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with everybody, just because people give you negative feedback doesn’t mean you have got to change everything you do, but you have got to listen. You’ve got to be exposed to it and I’ve always tried to do that in my political career and otherwise. You’ve have got to listen what people say, the good stuff, the bad stuff, it keeps you grounded.
SARAH: He does choose some of his meals to be vegan now.
PRIME MINISTER: There you go.
SARAH: So I feel like he listens a little bit more.
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: What’s your favourite vegan dish?
TAZ: They have got these fish things … but it’s not fish, I don’t know what it is.
SARAH: It’s fake.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah?
TAZ: But it tastes like fish
PRIME MINISTER: But it works for you?
TAZ: Apparently, well it does now because otherwise the vegans will be coming for me.
PRIME MINISTER: So Claytons Fish. You guys probably don’t know what Claytons is, that’s well before your time.
SARAH: One more thing we want to take you to before you go is, look, most of Australia know you by your nickname?
PRIME MINISTER: They do.
SARAH: Like it’s become extremely popular, how did you get that nickname?
PRIME MINISTER: It was some years ago - I can’t recall whether it was in opposition or in government - it was actually a journalist who once called me that and it just stuck. I can’t even remember which journalist it was, it might have even been a journalist from the ABC from the best I can recall. But when I was a kid, when I was at primary school, my best mate was a guy called Scotty Merriman - and Scotty Morrison –
SARAH: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: So we used to go by the nicknames of ScottyMe and ScottyMo to tell us apart.
TAZ: What?
PRIME MINISTER: So it was just a bizarre link that one day people started calling me it and then it just sort of stuck.
SARAH: So you don’t mind that you have been given that nickname?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t mind at all. I mean as people around the country know, I’m a bit of fan of my local NRL team the Sharks. When I go down to Shark Park, they have been calling me ScoMo down there for years and years and years and years. So the rest of the country have sort of got to know.
Look, if that makes things easier for people to chat to me, I don’t mind at all. So if you see me in the street today, as I am sure you will around Darwin, by all means refer to me that way.
SARAH: Yell it out!
PRIME MINISTER: I have no problems with it at all.
SARAH: We have got one little game to play with you before we say goodbye.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah?
SARAH: We play this every morning, it’s called “Yeah, Nah”.
PRIME MINISTER: What is it?
SARAH: "Yeah Nah”, that’s how Aussies answer things –
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah okay.
SARAH: We give you three topics and we want your instant reaction.
TAZ: Just a “yeah” or a “nah,” depending on how you feel about the topic.
SARAH: Do you think you can play along?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah sure.
TAZ: Topic number one is kale.
PRIME MINISTER: Nah.
[Laughter]
SARAH: You’re not a fan of kale?
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, I don’t spend much time in Glebe.
[Laughter]
SARAH: Topic number two?
TAZ: Topic number two, petrol prices.
PRIME MINISTER: Nah at the moment, but they have come down a bit. We’ve seen the oil price come down a bit over the last couple of weeks and that’s welcome. That’s what is driving prices so hopefully we’ll see a bit more of that.
SARAH: And lastly, onion on sausages?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
SARAH: Yeah?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m all for it, I don’t care if –
SARAH: On the bottom or the top?
PRIME MINISTER: I couldn’t care less.
[Laughter]
As long as - you know, I don’t prescribe, I just eat it.
SARAH: Thank you.
TAZ: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thank you for joining us this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Great to be here, lots of fun.
TAZ: Enjoy Darwin.
PRIME MINISTER: I will, cheers.
Doorstop - Singapore
15 November 2018
PRIME MINISTER: Australia’s economic plan is working. It’s one of the reasons, one of the many reasons, why we’re here at this important East Asian Summit. Australia’s economic plan, which is about getting taxes down, ensuring that there is the confidence for businesses to invest, backing in small businesses, assisting the transition of our economy through our investments in things like defence industry, technology, ensuring the research infrastructure is in place, the medical industry and a lot of these new sectors, FinTech, financial services. All of this combined with expanding our trade, expanding our markets, providing opportunities for Australian businesses to do well.
This is all part of the strong economic plan our Government has been putting in place for the last five years.
That's why unemployment is at that lowest level since April of six years ago. That's why the participation rate is up. That’s why there are fewer unemployed people in Australia today, not just than 2016 at the last election, but back in 2013. That's why the female participation rate is at it’s highest ever level. Our plan for the Australian economy, to make it stronger, is working. That means real benefits for Australians who are in jobs, which means that small businesses do better, that means Australian families have greater certainty. We already saw this week as well, when it comes to wages, that we saw real wages growth in the most recent September quarter’s data.
So better wages, more jobs, a stronger economy. That is what delivers for Australians every single day and that's what our Government will continue to deliver, by sticking to the economic plan that is working. That's why I’m here at this forum representing Australia once again, engaging with other leaders - whether it was Premier Li Keqiang last night or Prime Minister Modi or earlier today with the Thai Prime Minister and engaging with leaders around the world - to ensure that we keep a focus on regional stability, which delivers regional prosperity in which Australia shares a very great dividend, which means more jobs. Our trade arrangements, our trade successes are delivering more jobs in Australia, which means unemployment is at five per cent, we’re keeping it there and the Australian economy is doing well.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, China’s Premier last night talked about a turning point in relations. Do you believe you are at a turning point in relations and what do you take that to mean.
PRIME MINISTER: We’re getting on with business with China. That’s what I said last night and not just the business of the commercial relationship, but a broad-based relationship. We have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China and it’s the opportunity to engage - like we did last night - over a wide range of issues. Within the security of that discussion and within that partnership, it was a very positive meeting, as I know that you’ve seen the reports of. We’ll continue to get on with business in that manner.
JOURNALIST: Did you talk about specific projects that you could work on together?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we did talk about was that the announcements that I’d made in relation to the Pacific were not exclusive; that I had deliberately, when I made the announcement when I was at Lavarack up in Townsville, that I noted that we would work with all partners which would include China. But I made the same remarks when I was talking to other leaders as well. That’s been well-received and yesterday, I met with Prime Minister Ardern and we spent most of our meeting not just talking about issues at Bunnings – which was only a passing remark, I should stress, we actually spent the meeting talking about quite serious issues - and that was our joint initiatives in the Pacific and how we can bring their reset initiative, together with the initiative I announced in Townsville. I think together with New Zealand, we’ll be able to make some real progress.
JOURNALIST: Presently it’s been referred to as “ups and downs” with your predecessor with that relationship. Do you feel under some sort of pressure to make sure there’s no more “downs” with China?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: Did Premier Li ask you to explain your comments backing in Trump’s trade strategy?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: What about the refugee resettlement [inaudible] -
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry, couldn’t hear you.
JOURNALIST: Ms Ardern said she’s brought up the refugee resettlement offer with you again last night. What would you have said to her?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we didn’t discuss it at yesterday’s bilateral, but it was raised casually last night when we were at the dinner. The Government’s position hasn’t changed.
JOURNALIST: How important is it for Australia that Jim Mattis remain at the Pentagon?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’m not getting into the commentaries other than to say that we’ve worked incredibly well with him and we’ll always work incredibly well with the Administration.
JOURNALIST: What do you make of Minister Ciobo’s comments to Fairfax about there being a less than five per cent change of the embassy being moved?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't make any, because they don't reflect the views of the Government. I am not aware of him even having said that.
JOURNALIST: So that’s not true?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s my understanding. I have no knowledge of that, but the position I set out yesterday is what has been relayed to the Government of Indonesia. That was very clear; we have our process that is in place to consider the matter that I highlighted some weeks ago. That's what you would expect us to do. I said we were going to raise the question, we were going to address the question. We’ve got a process in place to do that through a Cabinet submission process and once we have concluded that, we will make our views known and then we will move on from there.
And the issues are not related. They were not conflated, they were not raised together in the meeting yesterday and I have had further opportunity to speak to President Widodo since that meeting as well as Foreign Minister Marsudi and those engagements have been warm and very receptive.
JOURNALIST: You’re meeting Dr Mahathir later today, do you anticipate this will come up, the embassy deliberations will come up in that discussion?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’ll wait and see.
JOURNALIST: If Steve Ciobo is wrong though Prime Minister, what are the chances that Australia will move its’ embassy?
PRIME MINISTER: All I have said is that we will consider the matter. I raised this in the context of this being potentially consistent with the two state solution. I said all along, that this is the context in which Australia is considering that issue, in the context of it furthering a two state solution. I have reasserted in the meetings here and in my discussions about Australia’s respect for Security Council resolutions as well. So I think the parameters of what we are considering is clear. We have a process.
Now, I notice the Leader of the Opposition doesn't believe we should have a process. If he doesn't wish to consider the issue, well, that’s a matter for him. But Australia will determine our foreign policy issues and we will consider those within our timeframe, on our terms. This matter is not going to be considered in the context of the issues in relation to the trade agreement.
JOURNALIST: What do you say to his comments that it has made Australia look stupid?
PRIME MINISTER: Bill Shorten is the one who does not even want to consider this question at all. He doesn’t want to consider the question. He then says; “There should be a process,” and when the Government engages in a process, he says we shouldn't follow the process. So, I will leave it to Bill Shorten to explain the contradiction of that position.
I noted quite clearly the issue that I wished the Government to consider. I have been consulting with people since that time, as I said I would. I have put in place a process to do it properly and to ensure the position we ultimately arrive at is one consistent with Australia’s national interests and not related to the other matters.
Because Australia has to be sovereign in determining its’ foreign policy. We can't have Australia’s foreign policy determined, or our agenda set, by any other nation. I mean that's just a matter of treating yourself with respect and I'm disappointed the Leader of the Opposition position would be so quick to take cues on Australia's foreign policy from those not within Australia.
JOURNALIST: If the question though Prime Minister, that you’re putting, is whether it improves the process to a two state solution, what’s your view, does it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I will be outlining what the Government’s position is once we’ve concluded our process.
JOURNALIST: But you must have a view?
PRIME MINISTER: And I will articulate that through the final position that the Government arrives at.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER: I didn't quite hear you.
JOURNALIST: You accompanied Mike Pence to the gala dinner last night?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes I did.
JOURNALIST: Can you share with us what was discussed and do you share the US’s view that China is engaging in dangerous [inaudible] diplomacy?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we didn't have the opportunity to have a long bilateral, we were having a social conversation. It was a great pleasure to meet the Vice President, I have on an earlier occasion and we were catching up on his most recent trip to Australia. It was much more of, I would say, a personal and private and social discussion. We’ll be, I understand, catching up as part of the APEC meeting and I look forward to that. He’ll obviously be coming to Australia at that time as well, while I'm meeting with Prime Minister Abe in Darwin. But it was great to meet him and to catch up.
JOURNALIST: Was the embassy issue raised [inaudible] when you had those informal discussions?
PRIME MINISTER: It was a private, social chat.
JOURNALIST: Dr Mahathir said yesterday that China is resolved to solving the South China Sea problem in three years. By three years, do you think it will be too late? What do you think will be happening in three years?
PRIME MINISTER: I wouldn't speculate on the timeframes. It's obviously been the topic of much discussion here.
JOURNALIST: Did you raise it?
PRIME MINISTER: It’s been a constant discussion item amongst all leaders here. There's a code of conduct discussion which is taking place which Singapore has been very involved with. I had the opportunity to discuss that with Prime Minister Li yesterday. On that issue, it's important that any outcome respects international maritime law, that it ensure an inclusive approach for those outside the ASEAN region and the whole Indo Pacific agenda which is being championed here, particularly by President Widodo is one that recognises the independent sovereignty of all participant states. One that insures connectedness between them. That means that both within and without the region, there is the opportunity for continued freedom of navigation and overflight.
JOURNALIST: Do you think Mike Pence’s comments today were strong enough? About -
PRIME MINISTER: I’m not running a commentary.
JOURNALIST: Does China have Japan - you’re meeting President Abe tomorrow in Darwin ahead of APEC, reportedly to sign a reciprocal agreement. Do you envisage increased military cooperation between Australia and Japan?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there's been a number of things under discussion for some time and when those discussions conclude I'll have more to say.
JOURNALIST: Does China have any reason to be concerned about the meeting of the Quad, the resurgence of that possible quadrilateral alliance between Japan, Australia, India and the US?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, did you raise the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday about Australia’s participation in the Malabar military exercises next year?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I didn’t.
JOURNALIST: Can you tell us Prime Minister, what you’re seeking to achieve at APEC particularly?
PRIME MINISTER: At APEC, apart from providing very strong support for our dear friend and neighbour, Papua New Guinea - and I think this will be a strong and special event for Papua New Guinea, this is the most significant meeting that they have hosted and I think that's a testimony to their nation and I commend them for it and we have as you know, given them an enormous amount of support and cooperation to assist them in conducting the meeting - but Australia is always about in APEC, championing the issues of free and open trade. That's what we're all about. We will always be the first to make that argument in every single forum. Whether it’s APEC, or whether it’s the G20, or as it was here yesterday when we had the RCEP summit where I stressed again the need and confirmed, I think, the consensus that next year we need to conclude RCEP, that RCEP needs to be an inclusive arrangement. That’s certainly the direction that it’s taking, with ASEAN obviously at it’s centre. But there was a lot of progress made. I think we were up to about 80 per cent in terms of the finalisation of the document. We want to get to 100 per cent by the end of next year. I met with the Thai Prime Minister today, he will have carriage of ASEAN next year and will play an important role in bringing that agreement to a conclusion.
But I note on that issue that Australia today we’ve been able to conclude our negotiations on the Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement and a statement will be issued later today on that. The Foreign Minister will be speaking to that. But that means that the removal of tariffs on Australian exports in to Hong Kong and that is just another example again, of our economic plan working. We are committed to these issues. We are not just the sum of our deals, as I said a few weeks ago, when it comes to our foreign policy. Our foreign policy is informed by our beliefs, by our values as a nation and that's why it's important that you separate the questions that I have earlier referred to. In discussions we've had with Indonesia, there are issues of belief and principle, as there are for every single nation that comes here, every single one. We have to respect each other as we do and the positions we each take and work together on the things where we can.
In all of the meetings I have had that has very much been the tone and I've been able to be very pleased to keep advancing our position with each of those countries.
JOURNALIST: The delicate balance between the US and China, are you stuck between a rock and a hard place? How do you handle that balance?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the way we always have, successfully. Our relationships with each of these major partners are different and they're both successful. Australia doesn't have to choose and we won't choose. We will continue to work constructively with both partners, based on the core of what those relationships are.
Our relationship with China is obviously very important, not just in relation to the commercial elements of that. I mean there is a very large - and has been for a very long time, since the early 1800s - strong Chinese national ethnic population in Australia. I spoke yesterday with the Premier about how once upon a time, when I was younger, Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, would be celebrated very much within the Chinese community of Australia. Today, it’s an Australian celebration. It happens all over the country, in every part of the country. I think it’s one of the great examples of how successful an immigration nation Australia is. Chinese diaspora is part of that important multicultural dimension we have to our country.
So there are more than just the connections that are commercial, there are deeper ties there between peoples. Similarly with the United States, the belief and values and history that we share is equally important. So we don't choose, we don’t choose between the issues. We don't choose between the partners. We get on with the relationship and that's what I’m here at this summit and this conference to do; that is to implement our economic plan, which has got unemployment down to 5 per cent. There are fewer unemployed people in Australia today, than not just at the last election but at the election before that. Because our economic plan, the Liberal-National economic plan, is delivering jobs and economic security for Australia, which is great for Australian families.
Negotiations Conclude on the Australia-Hong Kong FTA
15 November 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Trade, Minister for Trade Tourism and Investment
Australia and Hong Kong have concluded negotiations on the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a significant milestone in our already substantial trade and investment relationship.
The conclusion of the Agreement means Australia now has FTAs with seven of its top eight export markets for goods and services.
Australian farmers, businesses, service suppliers and investors will benefit hugely from the certainty this FTA will bring.
Through the Agreement Australia has secured the best commitment on services that Hong Kong has ever offered in an FTA, with guaranteed certainty of access for Australian suppliers of education, professional, financial, transport, construction, tourism and recreational services.
It also delivers a guarantee to Australian business that Hong Kong’s relatively open services and investment regime will continue with Australian investment in Hong Kong already totalling $47 billion.
Modern trading rules on e-commerce, financial services, telecommunications, and intellectual property will also provide regulatory certainty for Australian businesses and the confidence to make long-term investment decisions.
Hong Kong is also a large and vibrant market for Australian goods and services and is a major gateway for Australian producers into East Asia. Last year exports of goods to Hong Kong by Australian businesses totalled $12 billion.
Under World Trade Organization rules both Australia and Hong Kong have the capacity to increase tariffs but this Agreement permanently locks in zero tariffs on all Australian exports to Hong Kong, which is good news for our farmers, and in particular our seafood industry, our beef and pork producers and winemakers.
Australia now has an FTA with China and Hong Kong, which reaffirms the value we place on the principle of one country, two systems.
Free trade deals such as this one are part of the Liberal-National Government’s plan to keep our economy strong which helps create more jobs for Australians.
Expanding the Pacific Labour Scheme and Establish an Office of the Pacific
15 November 2018
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Australia continues to take our partnership with the Pacific to a new level. Building Pacific labour mobility is a priority for Australia and for our partners in the Pacific.
Our Government will progressively roll out the Pacific Labour Scheme across all Pacific island countries. Currently open to six Pacific countries, Tonga will be the next country to join the Pacific Labour Scheme. We will also discuss with our Papua New Guinean counterparts a pathway for Papua New Guinea to join the scheme.
In addition, the current cap of 2,000 places will be lifted, providing more opportunities for Pacific workers to undertake non-seasonal work for up to three years.
Uncapping the Scheme builds on the success of the uncapped Seasonal Worker Programme, which has enabled more than 28,000 job opportunities for Pacific workers in Australia since 2012.
Together, these measures will help farmers and regional communities get the workers they need, when they need them. Australia will continue to prioritise the Pacific to help fill jobs where Australian workers are not able to do so.
To support Australia’s deepening engagement with the Pacific, the Government will also establish a new Office of the Pacific in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to enhance whole-of-government coordination.
The Office of the Pacific will have increased resourcing and will support our efforts to develop even closer ties with Pacific governments and regional organisations, including the Pacific Islands Forum.
Other agencies including the Australian Federal Police, Defence, Department of Home Affairs and Attorney-General’s Department will be invited to provide secondments to the Office to help better coordinate our efforts to develop even closer ties across the region.
Visit http://dfat.gov.au/labourmobility to learn more about the Pacific Labour Scheme.
Annual Leaders’ Meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang
14 November 2018
Today I met with China’s Premier, Li Keqiang, for the Australia-China Annual Leaders’ Meeting. We had very positive discussions on a range of bilateral and international issues.
Premier Li and I confirmed our continued commitment to advancing our nations’ long-standing and constructive relationship, including through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Our discussions built on earlier meetings between Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham and their Chinese counterparts.
These meetings underscore the continued strength of Australia and China’s bilateral relationship and our shared commitment to promoting cooperation, consistent with the principles of equality and mutual respect.
Premier Li and I also confirmed our commitment to expanding our thriving economic relationship and building on our world-leading free trade agreement. Trade, investment, education engagement, and two-way visitor travel are all at record levels, benefiting both our countries.
Doorstop - ASEAN Conference Singapore
14 November 2018
PRIME MINISTER: Well it’s great to be here with Minister Birmingham and it been great to be here in Singapore at my first ASEAN Summit and first of all, to be able to have a very friendly and respectful meeting this morning with President Widodo and his colleagues. But also to attend the breakfast session here which was the ASEAN-Australia Breakfast Forum. Australia has been part of this forum for 44 years in terms of our relationship with ASEAN, and that we were the first partner and we are still here today. And Australia, whether it is students studying in Australia, the trade that has taken place, that the people-to-people relationships, our partnership with ASEAN as a whole as our second largest trading partner, as a group, and this has always been an incredibly important part of our world and part of our external outlook. So that has been a good opportunity to exchange views and there's been a lot of appreciation for the work that Australia is doing today, that we're planning to do. But the work that is being done over generations and Prime Minister Mahathir in particular, was raising the issue of the great relationship on education that Australia has always had with Malaysia. And there's also great support for the New Colombo Plan as well with Australians going and studying in parts of the ASEAN nations right across the region. So, many positive points in terms of the relationship.
But looking forward, a lot of focus on whether it's the trade liberalisation agenda that we've always been a champion of, but in addition to that, the strong and close work we're doing in terms of counter-terrorism and human trafficking. The important work we're doing about the economic improvement for women across the region received a very good reception and, of course, maintaining I think those day-to-day, people-to-people links. So a positive morning but happy for Simon and I to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask you a question about China and just a point to the end of this week. You've announced the Pacific pivot and the intention is to help the Pacific Islands. The Chinese made a fairly strong statement yesterday about that area is not the sphere of influence for any one country and they said that no country can block China's cooperation with these nations. Do you feel that there's a sense of competitiveness now there with China and these nations could become subject of a bidding war?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t believe so, and that's certainly not the spirit of which we've entered into this new initiative. We are engaging with our Pacific family. And I'll be meeting with Prime Minister Ardern later today, and this will be a key topic of our discussion. Both New Zealand and Australia have always been engaging with our Pacific family and we're taking that just to a whole new level. And we're not doing that to the exclusion of others. In fact, when I made the announcement last week and in my previous presentation to the Asia Society, I talked about working with a whole range of different nations within the region to advance the prosperity and stability of the Pacific. Here, a key topic of discussion has been the Indo-Pacific connectedness and for sovereign independent nations that band together within ASEAN can also band together to be connected outside the ASEAN family as well to ensure that there's freedom of navigation, overflight and the continued rules-based order of the multilateral trade. This is the connectedness that President Widodo talks about, which we are very strongly supportive of, and I was able to relay our strong support for his leadership in that area this morning.
JOURNALIST: What are your hopes for the Quad and what do you think that the Quad can do?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it remains an important sort of architecture in the region for us and the interoperability, the connectedness on our operations and the things we do, both in the economic and the strategic side, will remain important to our engagement with the region. So that’s what I think.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what detail were you able to give President Widodo on the process for determining whether we'll change the site of our Israel embassy? And did he give you an indication that he was likely to proceed with any other deal, trade deal perhaps, until that issue had been resolved by Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: Well let me make a couple of points. The first point is that as always, it was a friendly and respectful conversation. We have a long standing relationship with Indonesia and we have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which goes well into the future. And that means that from time to time, when issues arise, you're able to take about them openly and honestly and in a friendly way.
The second point would be this. And that is - these issues were not related in terms of whether Australia's position on the foreign policy matter you've referred to and issues of our trade. These were not raised in connection. We discussed both of those issues. On the issue of the trade agreement, there was an absolute understanding of the great opportunities that this presents for both countries. The final text of that is still being brushed, so that's not in a position to be signed at this point. And we discussed that we'll be looking for an opportunity to do that and that's a matter still to be determined.
On the question of the Government's position on the issue that I raised some months ago in relation to Israel, I was able to talk through the Government's process on how we're seeking to resolve that and to come to a position. I'm intending to do that over the next little while and I was able to take and step them through some of the key principles that have always been important to us in addressing this issue. And the first of those is that Australia and I and my Government is motivated by wanting to see progress towards a two-state solution. Whatever perspective you have on the issue, there is I think widespread frustration at what is occurring and the frustration about getting progress in this area. And we all want to see progress. We all want to see progress on this. So that is what motivates us. Our support for a two-state solution is unquestioned and we're absolutely committed to that. And Australia has a long history of respecting Security Council resolutions, and I restated that that remains our position. So I think I was able to give some greater clarity on the role that we're playing there and the time frame for that and I know that was well received.
JOURNALIST: What is the time frame?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll be dealing with it over the next little while.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you said that the Indonesians said that they weren’t conflating the two issues in your meeting today. However, publicly, they have linked the two issues. Why do you think they’re saying this publicly...
PRIME MINISTER: I'm just saying they weren't raised in that context this morning.
JOURNALIST: Can you define a ‘little while’ for us, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: It's a little and a while.
JOURNALIST: Before Christmas?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, that's our intention.
JOURNALIST: Did the President ask why you want to move the embassy? And did you explain Australia's motivation for that, and did he explain that there might be any consequences if that was to happen?
PRIME MINISTER: We had a respectful and friendly discussion about the issue, and as I said, we're both motivated by wanting to see a two-state solution. And for those who have been around this issue a long time, there's a lot of frustration about the progress towards that, and we want to see that happen. And that's what's motivating me. That's what's motivating our Government's consideration of the issue and that's what will be informing the process.
JOURNALIST: Did he explain what his opposition was?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we discusses the issue.
JOURNALIST: Did he ask for any assurances that the embassy move wouldn’t go ahead?
PRIME MINISTER: Again, we discussed the issue and the two issues were not linked in any way, shape or form in our discussions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, did you endorse these comments from Eric Abetz today who says, “If Indonesia really wants to dictate Australian foreign policy on the Middle East, should we rethink the $360 million each year we give them in aid.” Is that helpful?
PRIME MINISTER: Australia has been always there for Indonesia. And that is respected and appreciated by Indonesia. And today, we talked about... I was following up on how things were in Sulawesi. There was also the recent air disaster. We have always been there to support Indonesia's development and to be there for them in times of great crisis and distress. And that's our way. That's what we do. Indonesia doing well economically, Indonesia doing well, Indonesia doing well strategically, is good for Australia and that's why we do it. We do it because it's good for our national interest to support Indonesia's advancement. We've seen them come ahead in leaps and bounds, I think particularly under President Widodo.
So they understand full well our commitment as part of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to continue to pursue those objectives. Working together, they'll be stronger, we'll be stronger and that's what is guiding our decisions.
JOURNALIST: The US has asked China to pull it’s missiles from the disputed territory in the Spratly Islands, do you agree with that? Should China pull back those missiles?
PRIME MINISTER: When it comes to disputing claims in the South China Sea, as I said the other day, we're not taking sides on that issue. But we continue to express our position when it comes to the freedom of navigation and movement through that part of the world as well as overflight, our position hasn't changed on that. We will continue to be consistent.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister on you Pacific speech in Townsville you spoke about not taking our relationship with our Pacific neighbours for granted and you said that you felt that too often we had. Can you maybe elaborate on how you feel that relationship could have been better in recent years and why?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I think that I said it out well in the speech, I don’t feel the need to go much beyond what I said there. But I meant it and it's not just about what we're doing - which is significant, I should stress across multiple layers, whether it's in the cultural space, people-to-people space, strategic, capability, economic development - it's a comprehensive package we've put together to lift our engagement in the Pacific region and improve the connectedness that exists. It's being done very much in its own right, because as part of a Pacific family, we have responsibilities. Again, it's like while obviously, the nations are quite different in scale and complexity, the Pacific doing well is good for Australia. Of course it's good for Australia. But it's about more than just providing development aid. It's about being there and it being a real priority for Australia.
What I'm seeking to do in pursuing this initiative is to highlight the priority of sending our best and brightest into that region, ensuring that we're represented in every single PIF country throughout the region. This is a very serious long-term commitment from Australia, which I think lives up to both our responsibilities and I think what are reasonable expectations from our family members.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask about India?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
JOURNALIST: You're going to be meeting with Narendra Modi, will you be talking about the sugar tariff issues that some of the Nationals MPs are concerned about?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, Simon might want to comment on this as well and I mean that's obviously an issue of concern to Australia. We have a very good relationship with India and we're seeking to resolve those issues I think, within the framework of that relationship. There are obviously other paths open to us, but we're seeking to that I think in a cooperative way. Yes, it does have some pretty serious implications for our sugar farmers and so, it is a matter that's high on my list. But more broadly, in this forum, in the same way we're here in a plus capacity here at ASEAN, so are India. Now, India are very critical to the Indo-Pacific connectedness initiative that Indonesia has been leading. So I’d be also, importantly, encouraging India to be continually connected to what is happening with ASEAN countries. We would see ourselves as fellow travellers in pursuing that. But Simon, did you want to comment on that?
MINISTER FOR TRADE, TOURISM AND INVESTMENT: Sure PM. As is well known, I have raised Australia's concerns with India's trade distorting subsidies in relation to sugar with India's Trade Minister on multiple occasions, as indeed has our High Commissioner to India, made sure that they understand the strength of our concerns, that we are looking at and have been looking at options to engage through the World Trade Organisation to seek to have these matters resolved.
Our farmers, our sugar farmers deserve to be able to compete fairly on the global market without seeing sugar prices distorted through other trade subsidies. We'll continue to make honest and fair representations there. But as the Prime Minister said, our relationship with India, economically, strategically, is far richer, far stronger, than one single issue. We'll continue to pursue the many, many positives and we of course look forward to welcoming the Indian President to Australia shortly.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister just on US-China tensions, do you agree with the Malaysian Prime Minister that those tensions risk triggering a “domino effect and protectionism measures” in the region?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I made some comments on this before coming up here. I think what we have to try to seek to ascertain is; what is the end goal here? What are we all trying to achieve? I choose to take the view that what we're all trying to achieve here - including the United States, and I think that that is exemplified by the fact that they are able to come to those agreements particularly with Canada and Mexico after there was much commentary before that about the atmospherics - at the end of the day, the outcome that was achieved was, further trade.
So I believe that that is what the ultimate objective is here and that's a view I've been articulating for some time, previously as Treasurer and now as Prime Minister. That we need to ensure that we keep a focus on what the end outcome here is that we're all seeking and I believe that that is what the United States are seeking to achieve.
Now, there are a whole range of issues thrown up in the course of that and of course, their approach has been described as unorthodox and unconventional. That's not an unreasonable description. But you know, they have the sovereign right to be able to pursue those objectives, like any other country. I was speaking at the forum this morning and the countries throughout ASEAN and beyond, whether it’s India or ourselves or New Zealand, we're independent sovereign country, but seeking to work closely together and be connected. That means that we share interests, we work together where we can actually move issues forward and it was encouraged this morning that ASEAN leaders were asking for even more areas where we could be working on. I think that that is great and in the education area, that is one where they're very welcoming. We’ve seen Australian universities being established, Prime Minister Mahathir particularly made that point. But we also had the same points coming from Laos and obviously one of key parts of the agreement with Indonesia is actually seeing more of that investment going into Indonesia. Indonesian President Widodo was very keen to talk to me about wanting to see more Australian investment in Indonesia and obviously, that's what the agreement is about.
JOURNALIST: Now that you've revealed that the timetable is “a short while” for the review, can you tell us who is conducting this review?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's being done internally within the government and there will be consultation that's conducted by those conducting it and that will go through the process of the National Security Committee and Cabinet. So that will be done through a Cabinet process and that is quite usual.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible] do you still plan to raise that issue with other world leaders?
PRIME MINISTER: It already has been.
JOURNALIST: But others, apart from Indonesia.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I would take the opportunity where I think there are parties that would have a particular interest in this topic, I’ll be sounding them out.
JOURNALIST: Can there be more details revealed about, like a specific [inaudible] review rather than [inaudible]? I don’t know if there’s –
PRIME MINISTER: Because it’s an internal process which is being done within Government and in any matter that comes before Cabinet, not all of those processes follow external review, external consultation. I mean there will be consultation, there’s consultation done on pretty much every submission that comes to Cabinet. What I'm talking about is a process that mirrors that.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible] do expect it to come up in your conversation with Mahathir?
PRIME MINISTER: We had, I quite enjoyed meeting him this morning. I mean he is a legend of the region, an absolute legend of the region and it was quite a special moment to meet him in person. So I am looking forward to the discussion over the course of the next… I am seeing him tomorrow I understand. So I look forward to how we’ll take forward the many issues we are working on.
JOURNALIST: I’ll just ask you on sausages at Bunnings –
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry?
JOURNALIST: Sausages at Bunnings. I know it’s a trivial issue by comparison, but it’s snagged some interest back home. Bunnings has now dictated that onion must be served underneath a sausage because it poses a threat to people slipping over. The question; is it un-Australian? Will you accept that, or is it just a ridiculous sort of…
PRIME MINISTER: Whether the onions are on top or underneath, I’ll always be buying sausages on bread. Whether it’s at the football, whether it’s at Bunnings or anywhere I can assist with those great charitable causes. Can I particularly say that those who are cooking them out there every weekend, supporting their local teams and charities and all the rest of it, how good are you! People of all ages do this, it’s part of our Australian life that we support our local community organisations. So it’s part of what we do and frankly I’m not going to give them any recipe hints.
JOURNALIST: PM can I just ask one about an Australian man that’s in strife abroad, a Perth man Luke Cook appears to have been sentenced to death in Bangkok of drug charges. What is the Australian Government doing, if anything, to help him? What is your message to others that perhaps may take actions that find themselves in a similar predicament?
PRIME MINISTER: Well first of all I’d say this; it would clearly be a very distressing time for him and his family and friends. I would also say that Australia's position on the death penalty is well known. We don’t do it and we don’t support it.
As is the case with any Australian citizen who find themselves in this situation, they will get the full consular support you would expect them to receive. That will be being provided even as we speak.
But I would also say this; when Australians travel - and we love to, we go far and wide - we need to remember that when you are travelling overseas, you are travelling in their country, as their guest, according to their rules and laws. There is no special protection afforded to you when you enter another country. You need to be very mindful with that. So this is sadly a rather distressing reminder of that fact. So we will do what we do for every Australian in this situation, but I would urge, particularly as we’re going into the summer period and people will be travelling, as a Member of Parliament and as a Senator, Simon would know, it’s not uncommon for us to get those calls in early January with a constituent who has found themselves in a spot of bother.
My plea to you is, respect the countries you’re going to. Respect their laws and respect their rules and behave accordingly and have a good time and have a safe time. Okay, thanks very much.
Strengthening Australia’s Partnership with ASEAN
14 November 2018
I was delighted to join my ASEAN counterparts at an ASEAN-Australia Summit this morning.
Australia is proud to be ASEAN’s longest-standing dialogue partner. Our vision of the Indo-Pacific has ASEAN at its centre, and we share a vital interest in the stability and prosperity of this shared region. Our relationship reached a new high this year with the convening of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney in March.
I was pleased to engage with my ASEAN counterparts on a number of new cooperative initiatives.
Australia has committed to a Southeast Asia Economic Governance and Infrastructure Initiative that will help unlock our region’s next phase of economic growth. Through this initiative, Australia will provide countries with technical advice to support economic growth, such as taxation and competition policy and debt management. It will also support infrastructure project selection and preparation and help governments to mobilise finance. This investment will provide ASEAN countries with access to public and private-sector specialists and support regional dialogue on economic and infrastructure issues.
A new five-year phase of the Greater Mekong Water Resources Program will support more equitable, transparent and effective water resource management. This investment will help make available Australia’s internationally recognised expertise on an issue at the heart of the region’s economic development and stability.
Australia will also step up its engagement on maritime issues in Southeast Asia, building on our long history of maritime support across the Indo-Pacific. This will deepen Australia’s investment in maritime cooperation, focusing on regional civil maritime organisations, maritime domain awareness, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, and support for a rules-based maritime order.
Australia and ASEAN mark 45 years of diplomatic relations in 2019. The Government’s public diplomacy program Australia now will build understanding of Australia across the region. With a focus on youth, it will showcase our country as an education and tourism destination and an innovative and creative partner for economic collaboration. Activities will take place across all ten ASEAN countries.
Visit to Australia by the Prime Minister of Japan
14 November 2018
I am pleased to announce that His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, will visit Darwin on 16 November.
Japan is a Special Strategic Partner with whom we have a strong and enduring friendship, built on solid economic, security, community and historical ties. It is one of immense progress and opportunity.
As our second largest trading partner, and a key source of foreign direct investment, our relationship with Japan makes our economy stronger.
During the visit, Prime Minister Abe and I will highlight our deep trade and investment relationship including through INPEX’s Ichthys LNG Project which has created jobs and opportunities for Northern Australia and will continue to benefit the Australian economy for decades to come.
Our nations share common perspectives on strategic and economic issues, and I look forward to furthering the development of our bilateral ties. Prime Minister Abe’s visit is a chance to discuss shared challenges and our cooperation to keep the region secure and open.
During this visit we will also acknowledge those who served in World War II, and recognise the importance of the reconciliation that followed between our countries.
Prime Minister Abe’s visit is deeply symbolic and significant and it will build on our two countries’ strong and enduring friendship as well as our economic, security, community and historical ties.
Doorstop - Melbourne, VIC
13 November 2018
PRIME MINISTER: Well it’s a deeply humbling experience to be here with Matthew Guy today on Bourke Street and to stand where Sisto used to be every morning, read his paper and have his coffee. But I tell you, the response of Melbournians just chatting to people in and around Pelligrini’s, swapping the stories, I think was truly inspirational. This is an amazing city. It’s got such a heart, it’s got such a soul, and Sisto I think captured that spirit and that soul in a way that it’d be hard to replicate.
But there are so many Sistos here in Melbourne. The Sistos of Melbourne built this city, particularly after the Second World War. They created the businesses, they raised their families, they worked hard. They were honest people. They looked after each other. They were caring. They were compassionate and this is the great city it is today because of people just like Sisto. And so to come here and be able to pay respects to him today, as others have, and rightly have, and more will - you know, the best way we respond to these horrific and radicalist, extremist, Islamist attacks, is to do the very thing that they would have us stop doing and that would be to stop smiling, like Sisto would every day, to stop living a life full of joy and full of compassion and full of freedom, like Sisto did every single day. I mean he came here for the life that he was able to live here, and he lived it. He lived it, and he touched so many other lives. And they would have that taken away and for us to live a different way in this country and so to wear that Sisto smile, to follow his example, to embrace that, I think is the greatest tribute we can pay to him.
But it also says to those who want to have none of this, and would have us live very differently, that we won't cop that and we will always live the way that we have the freedom to live in this country and you will never take from us, you will never wipe that smile from our face. Because we will always know that this is the greatest country on earth in which to live and the values and the beliefs that enable it to be that great country, and the sacrifices that have been made from people to make it this great country are things that will always put a smile on our face and on those of our children.
It's wonderful to be here with Matthew. I want to commend you, Matthew, on the great support you've been giving to authorities and others, as Melbourne has worked its way through this crisis. And I particularly want to thank the first responders who we both had the opportunity to meet with earlier today and their families and to thank them. As someone who grew up in a police family, it was quite moving to meet the boys and girls and they have to deal with every day with what their dad goes out and faces or other police families, their mum. And you know, that is a thing for families to deal with, but for the first responders, the way they were able to step up with their training and do exactly what was called upon them to do, they are the front line of these things and they did their duty on that day and they kept more Melbournians safe and our cities safe. And it's important that we do keep Melbournians safe and it's important that our streets are safe and it's important that we do all we can to ensure that's the case. So it's a great honour and pleasure to be here today but it's obviously tinged with sadness. But as I hear the stories of Sisto, it's full of hope for our future. Thank you, Matthew.
MATTHEW GUY, LEADER OF THE VICTORIAN OPPOSITION: Prime Minister, thank you. It is a real... tinged with sadness to be here today but it's an honour to, again, have been through Pellegrini's. I was here just two weeks ago with colleagues talking with Sisto, speaking with Nino and others in the shop. Can I just say as a lifelong Melbournian, we are so in awe of our first responders and the police and the work they did last Friday. I want to thank them so much and put on record our deep appreciation for everything they do. Meeting their families this morning and seeing how these guys are ordinary, hard-working Victorians. They're in a job that puts them on the front line of these circumstances. They put so much out there for us and how appreciative we are of the work that our emergency services and first responders do.
Can I just again say our sympathies, our heartfelt sympathies to Sisto and his family and everyone at Pellegrini's. It is a Melbourne institution that we love. But I want to say again as a lifelong Melbournian enough is enough for our city. We will not accept, whether it's terrorism or violent crime, that this is going to be the norm for our city, that this is going to be the norm for a city of 5 million-plus people. It is not the norm. We don't have to accept it. We will stand up to it at every turn. We will make sure that every Victorian is safe and that every Victorian deserves to live in a safe community, a safe environment. We'll make sure those who commit crime are appropriately punished, that those who are protecting us as first responders have every method at their disposal to keep us safe and that the attitude in government is one that your safety if first. Your family's safety is first. There is no greater challenge, and there is no greater responsibility for government to keep the population safe and that is what Melbournians expect and that is what they should be receiving. PM, I think that questions are for you.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Sheikh Omran of the Hume Islamic Centre has referred to you as "the bloody Prime Minister" and suggested that you have scapegoated the Islamic community over Friday's attack. What's your response to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look I'm not going to get into personalities. What I am going to say is simply what I said on the weekend, that the violent extremist Islamic terrorist who did this on this street was radicalised in this country. He wasn't radicalised in a suburban mall, he wasn't radicalised in a schoolroom. He was radicalised in a community here in Melbourne. Now, we all have jobs to do to keep Australians safe. It's my job to ensure that our intelligence agencies and our law enforcement agencies both have the resources and the powers to enable them to do their jobs. It's the job of state governments to do similarly. It’s the job of communities to protect themselves and to keep the wolves from coming in amongst the sheep in their own religious communities.
We want a country where people can have freedom of expression and freedom of belief. Of course we do. I'm a passionate supporter of this. But with that comes great responsibility. In religious communities, we need to ensure that people who would seek to infiltrate, people who would seek to take advantage of vulnerable people and spread hateful doctrines and ideologies that can inspire people to the most evil of acts, religious communities have a responsibility. So I won't cop the excuses. There are responsibilities for all of us and, importantly, in religious communities, there are Imams and there are Muslim communities that are absolutely doing this and they are protecting the integrity of their religious communities. And I applaud them and I know people and I've worked with people who are doing exactly that and they are brave and they are courageous.
But for those who want to stick their head in the sand, for those who want to make excuses for those who stick their head in the sand, for those who want to walk past those comments and allow those excuses to be offered up, you not making Australia safer. You are giving people an excuse to look the other way and not deal with the things that are right in front of you. If there are people in a religious community, an Islamic community, that are bringing in hateful, violent, extremist ideologies into your community, you've got to call it out. Because it will take root and it will take root with your sons and daughters, with your friends, with your uncles, with your cousins, and it will infest and it will lead to the sorts of things that we have seen here on Bourke Street and I don't want to so see that happen ever again.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is it in poor taste to be here at a site of mourning campaigning in the Victorian state election?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not. I'm here to pay my respects and talk to the very issues that took place right here in this street.
JOURNALIST: You previously criticised Victoria Police for not being a force like they are in New South Wales. How do you view those comments in light of what happened on the weekend?
PRIME MINISTER: I wasn't criticising the Victorian Police. That's not what I was doing. What I was doing was talking about the arrangements that are put around the Victorian Police. They're the decisions of politicians. They're decisions of governments. I applaud the Victoria Police officers, the first responders, those who serve in the police force around the country. They serve in the environment and in the organisations that are created by their governments. And I have made the observation on many occasions that in New South Wales I believe they have been able to get that right and they've been able to ensure that the men and women who serve in their police force have the right support and the right settings to enable them to do their job. I stand with police officers all across the country and I want them to have the right environment, I want them to have the right policies, to support them to do their job and that's as important here on the streets of Melbourne as it is in Perth or Darwin or anywhere else.
JOURNALIST: Do you believe that mental health is being used as an excuse, particularly in the last three violent episodes in Melbourne involving cars?
PRIME MINISTER: While in any incident these issues can be factors, they should never be used as a shield or a cover for tolerating radical, Islamic fundamentalist radicalisation.
JOURNALIST: Who is tolerating?
PRIME MINISTER: Communities need to ensure that they weed this out. I mean we can't have the situation, frankly, where you have in religious communities, you know, police officers and others - these are places of faith. These are prayer rooms. These are places of instruction. There are people who are seeking counselling and guidance on any number of issues as they should be able to do and that's happening in their communities. Now look, I'm a member of a religious community and my Pastor knows what's going on in our church community. He would know if there was someone, or his wife would know if there was someone who was leading a local Bible study group or something like that who was teaching things that were not in accordance with what our faith believed. They'd be pointing that out and they'd be dealing with it because that's the responsibility of a religious leader, to actually protect the integrity of your faith community.
Now, this isn’t an assault on those communities, I should stress. I'm standing up for the integrity of their communities and want to work closely with religious leaders and others in the community to ensure that they don't allow these wolves in, because these wolves will take advantage of vulnerable people. And I want to protect those people and I am looking to work together with religious communities, particularly Islamic communities, where we know that radical extremist Islam can take seed and we've seen it here again and we have seen it on other occasions and let's not forget about the attack in Parramatta. That radicalisation took place at lightning speed with a young boy, so this can happen fast. It can happen over a longer period of time and I'm not going to look the other way and I'm not going to allow others to make excuses for people who want to look the other way.
JOURNALIST: This man was known to counter terrorism police, should they have done more to prevent this?
PRIME MINISTER: There are 400 people on special investigation. There are 230 individuals who have had their passports cancelled and the advice is that in this case there had been no reporting, there had been nothing to suggest they should have been put on a higher level of observation than they are on.
I mean it is simply impractical. This is why I stressed the issue of community cooperation. You know how you stop these attacks? And remember 14 attacks have been thwarted, including a very serious one here in Melbourne. A very serious one here in Melbourne. And seven have been able to go ahead. So our authorities have done an extraordinary job working with communities to be able to thwart these attacks. And what I am calling for is an even higher level of cooperation, standing up even more and to ensure that we don’t look the other way and we call this out and we root this out of religious Islamic communities in Australia so the fundamental extremism, the violent extremism, the hate, can take no place in these peace-loving communities.
JOURNALIST: It was the evidence - not in this case - that he in fact wasn't participating in mosques, he wasn’t participating in religious communities.
PRIME MINISTER: You must be looking at different information to me.
JOURNALIST: Have you had information on where he was radicalised in the community?
PRIME MINISTER: These are matters that are, you know, within the cone of silence of the investigation and they’re not things I would be prepared to comment on. What I'm telling you, and I can tell you authoritatively, is he was radicalised in this country. He was radicalised as an Australian citizen, he came here when he was five years old, for goodness' sake. And so those who suggest it's an issue of migration, he was five years old.
What happened here, happened here. And so we need to focus on what happened here and that is a man grew up in this country, and was radicalised with these hateful views and beliefs and he didn't get it from the postman. He didn't get it from the police. He got it from the community he was living in and the people he was speaking to. And this is what we have to ensure does not take hold in this country. We're in a position where we can deal with this.
So I'm urging, positively, to encourage all leaders, all those who take positions of responsibility in these communities to ensure that they work closely with authorities so that this does not take hold, because it's your children, it’s your cousins, it’s your family members, it’s your community, and I want to work with you to protect the integrity of these communities, so they are resilient to this sort of hate and violent extremist Islamic practices are not taking root in this city, or any city in Australia or any other part of the country.
JOURNALIST: Just one other, can Matthew Guy win the election?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course he can and I hope he does. I really hope he does, because that’s what Victoria needs and it’s not just on issues of law and order where Matthew has stepped up big time. But on the issues of cost of living equally, he's been stepping up, on the issues of infrastructure and congestion-busting. Last time we were standing together down at Frankston, working together on that Baxter line, and that’s one of the many projects that I would hope to working closely with Matthew Guy on. He's got a plan for Victoria. He's got a vision for Victoria. As a lifelong Melbournian, the heart and soul of Melbourne beats in him as well and I think would beat passionately in a government that he would lead and I think he'd do an outstanding job and I'm really thrilled to be here with him today. But the circumstances of us coming together today are obviously very tragic and very sad, but at the same time I leave hopeful because of the wonderful spirit of Melbournians and the way that they're responding to this and putting their arms around Sisto's family and all of those, not just his direct family, but the family of Pellegrini's who are up there today. It's tremendous to see that response from a great city. Sisto was the heart of this city and the heart of this city will always beat proudly. Thanks very much.
East Asia Summit
13 November 2018
I will travel to Singapore over 13-15 November to participate in the East Asia Summit and bilateral meetings with some of Australia’s key partners.
The East Asia Summit is the region’s premier forum for strategic dialogue and helps to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains peaceful, open and prosperous.
The Australian Government’s international agenda advances our domestic priorities – keeping our economy strong, keeping Australians safe and keeping Australians together.
Our focus is on progressing practical initiatives in areas including counter-terrorism, infrastructure and maritime cooperation.
In addition to the East Asia Summit, I will join leaders to review progress towards the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, an important agreement that will help to promote closer regional economic integration and create trade and investment opportunities for Australian businesses.
I will also participate in a meeting with my ASEAN counterparts, building on the momentum of the historic ASEAN-Australia Special Summit held in Sydney earlier this year.
Frank dialogue and mutual respect and cooperation underpin the East Asia Summit, and I look forward to the opportunities it presents.
Interview with Studio Ten
12 November 2018
HOST: Welcome Prime Minister, it’s good to have you here after a busy weekend, can we talk about polls? To begin with the latest Newspoll that’s out this morning, the Coalition, it puts the Coalition behind Labor, trailing Labor 45-55, this is on a two-party preferred basis. What is going on here?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I think the public want to see from us a coming together, showing a very clear direction and that’s going to take some time, I think, to establish that after the events of several months ago. That’s why I’ve been out and about. In Queensland the situation is a lot stronger as was reported in the Courier Mail today and in Townsville, even stronger than that, with the front page of the Townsville Bulletin. So the trip up through Queensland resonated with Queenslanders, that’s what the evidence is showing there. But Australians want to see the stability in the Government and that’s what we’re delivering and they need to be convinced of that and that will take time. I have no illusions about that, I knew when stepping up into this role, there’d be a big, big mountain to climb and a very steep one. But I’ve climbed those mountains before, as has our Party on many occasions and that’s what we intend to do.
HOST: Prime Minister is it time the parties started ignoring these polls? They’ve been cited as the example for overturning prime minister after prime minister, as people within the party react to the potential of these polls. Shouldn’t you just put your head down and focus on an issue and ignorne them? Concentrate on governing the country and doing what has to be done?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s exactly what I do and have always done. That’s my model and that’s what I think we should do. But any politician who tells you that these things are not part of the system and, you know, they don’t feed into people’s perceptions and things like that, wouldn’t be telling you the truth. Of course, they play into the commentary and the discussion and the first question you asked me today is about polls.
HOST: Everyone is talking about them…
PRIME MINISTER: So, I’ll deal with them honestly.
HOST: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: Does it change the agenda that I’m seeking to pursue for the country, particularly about keeping Australians safe of keeping our economy strong, or bringing our Budget back into surplus next year? Or the investments in water infrastructure or dealing with the drought or the aged care Royal Commission? No, of course it doesn’t. I get on with all of those things. But I think you’ve got to be honest with the Australian people; yes, we’ve got a big mountain to climb and at the present point in time, Bill Shorten thinks he’s an absolute shoe-in for the job. That‘s why his policies on everything from abolishing negative gearing as we know it, ripping off people’s retirement savings and increasing taxes are all very relevant.
HOST: Well, we’ll grill Bill Shorten about that when he’s on the show. But you mentioned keeping Australians safe, obviously awful news out of Melbourne over the weekend. You made headlines yourself for saying that the Muslim community and Muslim leaders needed to take a special responsibility for this and needed to cooperate more, come forward more with authorities, call these things out for what it is. What led you to say that? Do you have evidence that Muslim leaders of the Muslim community are tolerating this sort of behavior, that they’re aware of radicalism kind of boiling away but they’re not talking to authorities?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it’s the elephant in the room and you’ve got to acknowledge it. Now, I have many, many friends in the community, particularly in the Sydney Muslim community and I consulted one in particular who is a very good friend of mine before I made those comments. Now people in that community, they care about their kids, they care about the safety of their kids and what is happening in these communities is we have people coming into them and spreading this vile evil and taking advantage of vulnerable people in their community. Now imams and others who are the leaders in their religious communities, need to be looking carefully about who is coming into their community. Who is talking to their kids? Who is at the back of the mosque and walking out with some young person who seems a bit disenfranchised, do they go up and talk to these young people? Now I know in many cases they do and there is I think a very positive level of cooperation, but there needs to be a heightened sense. Because you can’t watch everybody and what you need to do is ensure that the community is working constructively together with authorities, to be seeing who is influencing who and how.
HOST: But not every imam in Australia holds that point of view.
PRIME MINISTER: They need to, they need to.
HOST: Why? We spoke to one on the Project last night and he accused you, in a way, of racist dog whistling.
PRIME MINISTER: That is the same lame old tired excuse for not dealing with this problem as has always been served up, whether it’s Anne Aly saying it or whether it’s someone else in the community saying that. I don’t believe that’s where the majority of decent, hard-working, respectable Australian Muslims are at, they want their community to be safer. There are people coming into their community and they are infecting their young people and others with hatred and false teaching which is taking them off the path. Now, that has to be called out and it has to be stopped. This happened because of an Australian citizen who was radicalized in Australia. He didn’t bring it from somewhere else. He learned it all here.
HOST: But if people make these noises, say these things, they’re branded racist.
PRIME MINISTER: Well people can throw that at me if they like but I’m going to call it out.
HOST: Yeah, but how do we stop that? How do we get to –
PRIME MINISTER: By saying it confidently and saying it in a way which, I think, is measured but also always respectful of all of those, of my friends who are in the Sydney Muslim community, who I know well. I mean Jamal Rifi I think you may have had him on the program -
HOST: I spoke to him yesterday, yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: I mean Jamal is a good mate of mine and Jamal is strongly supportive of dealing candidly with these issues within the Muslim community. He’s a brave man and I’ve known him for many years. You know, he has stood up in his community and we need more Jamal Rifis, that’s what I think.
HOST: What about people who argue that this man who was shot dead in Melbourne on Friday had mental health issues? That he was struggling with alcohol and substance abuse, his wife had just left him and that he wasn’t really a terrorist? What do you say to those people who say that he should be treated with some sort of sympathy?
PRIME MINISTER: I think that’s an excuse. This bloke, radicalized here in Australia with extreme Islam, took a knife and cut down a fellow Australian in Burke Street. I mean I’m not going to make excuses for that. Of course issues of mental health and all these other things are important. Those things lead to -
HOST: Was he a terrorist?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes he was.
HOST: Not just a madman?
PRIME MINISTER: No, he was a terrorist. He was a radical extremist terrorist who took a knife to another Australian because he’d been radicalized, in this country. We can’t give him excuses and we can’t allow others … these other issues are relevant, don’t get me wrong. But he was radicalized –
HOST: The family say –
PRIME MINISTER: That’s why he took a knife to people.
HOST: The family said that they had no idea why his passport had been cancelled in 2015, that they were kept in the dark about a lot of things. Do you think the Government needs to do more to make sure that if people are on watch lists, that the families know about it?
PRIME MINISTER: I think that sort of defeats the purpose.
HOST: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: But equally, I mean, he wasn’t on a watch list and he was prevented from travelling overseas because he was seeking to go and fight in Syria.
HOST: Why don’t we let them go?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what happens if you do let them go – you’d all remember Khaled Sharrouf and all these others – what they do is you take someone here, they go over there and they become basically weaponized, in a form that is unimaginable in this country. They build up networks and they actually speak from there, using social media, back to people here in Australia and they radicalize them.
Now there are about 230 that we’ve cancelled their passports and there are around 400 people what are currently under investigation. Now you can’t watch all of them all the time, you just simply can’t do that. That’s why the cooperation with the community, as Peter Dutton was saying yesterday, this is where we need the community. That young person who is being quiet of late or has been on the internet or talking to others who you know have some fairly dangerous ideas, spending a lot of time with them, that’s where I think leaders within the community and particularly religious leaders, have a duty of care to be pastorally looking at what’s going on in their own community.
HOST: I couldn’t agree more that that is what’s happening. But is it possible, I mean, does the Government have intelligence that there are community leaders or religious leaders at the mosques, imams or whoever they may be, who actually know that this is happening and are tolerating it? Or know that this is happening and are not reporting it?
PRIME MINISTER: Joe you wouldn’t expect me to be discussing the intelligence we have and I would never –
HOST: Not specifically, but –
PRIME MINISTER: Not even generally Joe. I wouldn’t be saying these things if I didn’t know that they were serious and that it was important, very important, to call this out. Now what I said on the weekend –
HOST: So specifically, you can’t ask them to come forward about something they do not know. So by your own statements that you’ve made public already, there seems to be an assumption that certain community leaders know things that they are not bringing forward?
PRIME MINISTER: Let me put it to you this way; as people know I go to church. My pastor in my church would know if there was a local, you know, bible study group leader, who was teaching things in our church that were completely against what we thought was okay, that was responsible, that was sensible. My pastor would know and that person would have no role in our local church. Now, that is just the pastor doing their job to protect the integrity of what’s happening in their religious community. Now we can’t provide excuses for people to look the other way and I can’t have them looking the other way. Now, many don’t and there are many great imams and I’ve met many of them who do what is necessary. But theres a difference between not propagating this stuff and just sitting there while someone in your community is. You know, communities have got to self regulate as well as what is done in partnership with authorities.
HOST: What do you think about trolley man?
PRIME MINISTER: I think he’s a hero. As all Australians have seen, he stepped up and look, he’s an interesting character with a colourful background. But in his moment, he stepped up and I think that’s what Australians have responded to very positively. But with Sisto, who we lost –
HOST: Would you like to see a state funeral for him?
PRIME MINISTER: For Sisto? Look, they’re matters for the State Government and I don’t think that’s what the family would want either, I think you’ve always got to be very respectful to the family and what their wishes are in these things. I mean Melbourne – I’ll be down there tomorrow and paying my respects there tomorrow – but as much as this event has affected all of us, I think it’s incredibly important that we respect the privacy of the family and how they want to grieve the loss of a dad, a brother –
HOST: A grandfather –
PRIME MINISTER: A grandfather. This is something that goes beyond that issue for them, this is personal and we should respect however way they wish to mark that.
HOST: Trolley man obviously as we all know, has had issues with homelessness. Why has the Government cut funding for Foodbank in half? I mean that seems to defy belief.
PRIME MINISTER: Let’s be clear what we’re doing – I know Bill Shorten raised this point – we’ve actually maintained the funding for those services, but it went to three charities –
HOST: It’s gone to three charities –
PRIME MINISTER: It’s gone to three charities instead of one.
HOST: So it’s not a cut?
PRIME MINISTER: No. No, it means that the overall level of services that are being provided for food support is exactly the same, it hasn’t changed. In fact Foodbank gets $1.9 million over the next four years and those services are now being shared with two other agencies including OzHarvest. Now what that means is we have a competitive process to tender on who can best deliver these services instead of doing one organization, there are now three. So the services are being delivered and that’s what’s important to those who need those services. But I’ll have a chat to the Social Services Minister and if there’s any need to review that decision, well, it was a decision obviously made by the Department and we’ll take a look at that. But the important point I think to those watching at home is, the services in relation to food support have been maintained at the same level, it’s just being delivered through more agencies. It’s not a closed shop, I mean there are other agencies that can do this job as well or better. Well, why wouldn’t we want to enlist them all in that task?
HOST: Prime Minister you’re going to be dealing with a hung Parliament, Kerryn Phelps who has just come in as the Member for Wentworth says it’s carbon emissions and getting children off Nauru are the main issues that Australians want. What sort of concessions are you going to have to make to those crossbenchers to get anything done?
PRIME MINISTER: Well last Thursday I met with Bob Katter in Townsville and Bob Katter has given us a formal support for the Government on all motions of confidence, supply.
HOST: So, that’s one…
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, we need one. We needed one so, that was the one we had previously with Wentworth and we lost that seat as we know, then Bob Katter signed up last Thursday and he’s signed up not just on confidence and supply, but on procedural motions and other things that happen in the House where the Labor Party seek to disrupt the operations of the House and pursue political games. Bob Katter has –
HOST: So does that mean you’re not going to address those issues that have been raised by Kerryn Phelps?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Government will address the issues that are central to it’s agenda and that has included dealing with issues on Nauru, as it has indeed addressed issues of maintaining our border security. But I’ll deal respectfully with all the cross-benchers as I have Cathy McGowan, Rebekha Sharkie, I meet with them all the time. I’ll meet with Kerryn, I’ve been in contact with Kerryn. I’m about to go overseas for the week for the East Asia Summit and APEC and when we come back to parliament, we’ll catch up. But the Government will get on about it’s agenda. We’ve been able to secure this arrangement with Bob Katter which means the Government can just get on with it’s business.
HOST: Does that mean you can ignore those issues? Does that mean you can just put them – ?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don’t ignore those issues.
HOST: What about -
HOST: Okay the Government has previously indicated that it would get all the kids off Nauru by Christmas.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I haven’t said that either by the way –
HOST: That’s been reported by the Australian with fairly good authority it seems?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look, I’m the Prime Minister, let me tell you what the authority is –
HOST: What is the Government going to do then?
PRIME MINISTER: The Government will continue to manage the challenges on Nauru with children, both through the policy that we have with the United States and dealing with the existing policies we have with medical treatment. That’s simply what we’re doing. That’s what we’ve been doing for some period of time and the number of children on Nauru has obviously been reducing as we’ve pursued those policies. So I haven’t changed any policies, I haven t compromised any border protection settings and that’s –
HOST: Will the Government get all children off Nauru within in the –
PRIME MINISTER: We’ll have – we’ll keep reporting from time to time on where those numbers are at, but what is clear is that they have been falling and they will, I imagine, continue to fall as we pursue particularly the relationship with the United States.
HOST: Many people look at Nauru and say it’s a hellhole. What’s your view of the conditions in Nauru?
PRIME MINISTER: I think that’s a very offensive view to Nauruans, they live there. That’s their home, their children live there, their children go to school there, they bring their children up. I mean this idea that a Pacific island nation is some sort of “hellhole” I think is very insulting to Pacific Islanders. It’s their home, how would we feel if someone called where we live a hell-hole? I think it’s very offensive.
HOST: So they’re allowed access everywhere? Medical, health?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes. They get actually more medical help than local Nauruans do. They get more medical help than frankly many Australian Indigenous People get in remote communities as well. There are more medical staff than there are children on Nauru.
HOST: Do you agree with Tony Abbott then, that actually it’s a pretty nice place to live if you like the weather?
PRIME MINISTER: What I –
HOST: Or it’s not as bad as people are saying?
PRIME MINISTER: What I’m saying is –
HOST: Would you take a holiday there?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve been there many times –
HOST: On holiday?
PRIME MINISTER: If you were a big fisherman, you would, the fishing there is quite good, but I’m not. But my point is this; this is their home and I think we have to be respectful to our Pacific neighbours. I gave a major presentation last Thursday up at the barracks in Townsville and what I said to them was, I outlined our new plan for the Pacific as a whole. We need to reach out to our Pacific neighbours and embrace them and work with them. It’s an important area of strategic interest for Australia and we need to step up more and I’ve outlined how we’re doing that. When I was at Lavarack Barracks, they are the men and women who will be implementing those policies and I thought that as the right place – not in some hotel in Sydney –
HOST: [Inaudible] we’ve got to get through a few questions because we are going to run out of time. But before we do, how is the Scomobile going?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it ran –
HOST: Did you get it here?
PRIME MINISTER: No that was up in Queensland, it’s parked up on the Gold Coast.
HOST: Oh that’s a shame. That’s a shame because we’ve got some great tweets that have come through on social media showing some alternate slogans on the Scomobile; “It’s the same one we threw Malcolm under.” Is that a bit mean?
HOST: Bit unkind.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah well, Twitter, who would have thought they would come up with that sort of nonsense? What a surprise.
[Laughter]
HOST: We’ve got some other viewer questions though, look at that, off the cliff Thelma and Lousie style. Let’s go to Josh Welkins first; on Facebook he says; “Are the Liberals going to put in place a policy where they can’t roll their leader as Labor has done? Australia is a laughing stock to the world because of the practice.”
PRIME MINISTER: We have a parliamentary democracy in Australia, it’s not a presidential system. John Howard also had this strong view and it is that we represent our elected members of Parliament, they go to Parliament and they elect who their leader is to run their Parliamentary party. That has been the case since Federation began and that is what a representative parliamentary democracy is, not just here or any other part of the world where that’s done. So we don’t have any plans to change our processes but what we have plans to do, is just get on with the job of governing.
HOST: To be fair, you weren’t the one who actually moved against Malcolm.
PRIME MINISTER: No.
HOST: You actually defended him as far as you could and then basically ran a rear-guard, sort of white knight action to become Prime Minister instead of Peter Dutton. Do you feel like, no good deed goes unpunished? Do you feel like Malcolm Turnbull’s kind of knifed you, after you basically were his Lancelot?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t and I appreciate the very kind remarks Malcolm had to say last Thursday night. While we haven’t been in touch for a couple of weeks, we worked very closely together as you can see. I mean, the fact that we’ve been bringing the Budget back into balance, he and I worked on that closely for years. So look, I intend to treat all previous Prime Ministers with the greatest of respect and they all have contributions to make and that’s my job.
HOST: [inaudible] diplomatic missions for you?
PRIME MINISTER: I have no plans for that.
HOST: Let’s talk about leadership because I understand John Howard was a mentor of yours and he gave you some advice several years ago on leadership which said; “Don’t spend time plotting and scheming because, frankly, it’s for those with performance limitations.” So they were your words; “performance limitations”, so where does it leave the Greg Hunts, the Peter Duttons, the Tony Abbotts?
PRIME MINISTER: It leaves them doing a great job of the portfolios they’re in. I mean, Peter is an outstanding Minister for Home Affairs. Greg Hunt is a fantastic Minister for Health –
HOST: So they don’t have performance limitations?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t believe they do. Look, the events of several months ago are done, they’re done. We need to get on with governing and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
HOST: Another question from Brad Young and I think this is what every Australian wants to know; “Why do you wear those baseball caps, what’s wrong with the Akubra?” You’re wearing baseball caps everywhere. He says; “They don’t stop sunstroke, is it just another advertising opportunity for the Cronulla Sharks?”
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’m not always wearing a Sharkies hat but I wear caps.
HOST: Caps, that’s right.
PRIME MINISTER: I wear caps.
HOST: Why?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s what I wear. If you find me at home, I’ll be wearing a cap. If I’m down at Shark Park or at Cronulla Beach or something like that or (inaudible), I’ll be wearing a cap. So, look, people can have a view about whether I wear caps, whether I wear ties, where my bus goes, whether I catch a plane. You know what? Who cares? I’m just going to be myself. If you don’t like it, too bad. If you do like it, good for you. But you’ve got to be yourself in this business.
HOST: Is it ever going to say; “Make Australia Great Again”? How’s your relationship with Donald Trump?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve already had, obviously, the one conversation with him and there’ll be further coming up when we go to Buenos Aires in few weeks’ time. It’s one of our most important relationships along with many others and it’s being managed very well. We’re managing our relationship with the United States, we’re managing our relationship with China, you would have seen what happened last week, a very productive exchange between ourselves and China. So we’re getting on with business with China, we’re getting on with our relationship with the United States, it’s an important balancing act that we’ve done for many years.
HOST: You’ve said in the past you admired Donald Trump. Do you still?
PRIME MINISTER: I think he is someone who stands up for what he believes in and he says it his way and he’s not intimidated – whether it’s by the commentariat or the media or anyone else, his political opponents - to be someone other, who he is not. Now, you don’t have to agree with everything he says or what he’s about, but he’s Donald.
HOST: It’s pretty fashionable to dump on him.
PRIME MINISTER: Well it is and you know, there is a bit of a pile-on mentality when it comes to these things. But you know, in politics, people get very focused on the process and they sometimes forget what it’s really about when they’re talking about these issues. You know, in the last ten weeks, a Royal Commission into Residential Aged Care, I mean, how important is that?
HOST: Absolutely.
PRIME MINISTER: Dealing with the drought, $50 million to support farmers directly on putting on-farm water infrastructure in place. We’re putting in $30 million into the CWA and other charity groups to actually ensure that the charitable support can reach not just the towns but the farmers as well. So the Government is getting on with the job. I’m not going to get distracted. I mean, the polls exist and the commentary exists and - cap or no cap - I’m bringing the Budget back into balance next year. The economy is strong, unemployment’s down to five per cent. So, that’s all put at risk if we decide to change direction.
HOST: And the election will be?
PRIME MINISTER: Next year.
HOST: On?
PRIME MINISTER: Next year.
HOST: May?
PRIME MINISTER: Next year.
HOST: Any more questions?
[Laughter]
HOST: Mr Scott Morrison, thank you so much for joining us.
PRIME MINISTER: Great to be with you.
Interview with Bloomberg
12 November 2018
HAIDI LUN STROUD-WATTS: Let’s get straight into it. Australia-China relations, Wang Yi – the Foreign Minister – said last week they’re not competitors, we’re not rivals here. You’ve come out and said this is our patch though when it comes to this region. Those are pretty strong words.
PRIME MINISTER: I just think it’s a statement of the obvious. I mean, Australia is situated where we are, the Pacific has always been part of the family in which we’ve lived and we’ve always had an incredibly strong relationship but I was making the point as we sort of step up our engagement of the Pacific that we’re going to be working with all partners, including China, throughout the region and I’m looking forward to having some of those discussions when I catch up with the Chinese leaders over the next week or so. So, it is a partnership and we’re getting on with business with China as well and this is all to advance prosperity within the region and for that, you need stability and that’s how all citizens of the region actually do better.
STROUD-WATTS: A couple of weeks ago, we spoke about what Australia could do to be involved perhaps to counter the likes of the AIIB, the Belt and Road Initiative and you’ve recently announced this $2 billion infrastructure fund to be rolled out across the region. Is this a sign of a more regionally assertive Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: No, it’s just a sign of us working together with our Pacific family. We’ve always had strong relationships in the region and I’ve taken the decision and the Government has taken the decision to enhance those levels of engagement. It’s been incredibly well-received by Pacific leaders and the meetings I’ve had and I’m looking forward to getting together with all of those Pacific leaders when I’m actually up in PNG…
STROUD-WATTS: You’re hosting a barbecue.
PRIME MINISTER: I am hosting a barbecue and I’m looking forward to that but we’re also looking forward to sort of getting together in what is very much a family group and talking through the issues that are important to them. Things like our Pacific Labour Scheme I know is very important, Seasonal Workers Scheme is very important but also our improving and assisting them with their own capability development in Fiji or in PNG.
STROUD-WATTS: There is some concern amongst those Pacific leader partners, or family members as you like to put it, in terms of getting stuck between a more assertive China where Australia finds itself and the fact that the elephant in the room is that at these ASEAN and APEC Summits, the US President won’t be there.
PRIME MINISTER: He’s got his reasons for not being there. Vice President Pence will be there and I think that’s highly appropriate. I mean, the President is currently over in Europe and he’s just had his mid-terms…
STROUD-WATTS: Actually the VP said don’t take it as a snub. He’s just said that now.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don’t think of it – I think he’s right. I mean, the Vice President, I’m looking forward to seeing him as well so the US is very engaged in the region and the President, I understand, will be in G20 down in Buenos Aires so there’s a lot of these meetings on at this time, this part of year, and Vice President Pence, I think, will make a very important contribution.
STROUD-WATTS: How do you rate the state of Australian-Chinese relations after the Foreign Minister’s visit? After what’s been a rocky couple of years?
PRIME MINISTER: I’d say they’re very stable and I welcome that and Australia’s always, I think, sought to be a very productive partner and our comprehensive strategic partnership, that is the official status of the relationship, and I welcome the most recent meetings with our foreign ministers, our trade ministers and I look forward to the engagements we’ll have during the summit season in the weeks ahead.
STROUD-WATTS: I want to get your view on where the lay of the land is with regard to foreign investment, particularly when it comes to a Chinese company or a Chinese-linked company. There’s been a couple of pretty notable high-profile knock backs. CK Group’s $13 billion bid for the gas pipeline operator, we’ve have of course attempts by Huawei, Ausgrid in building out the 5G network. Is it getting to the point where if you are a Chinese connected company you’re not going to have a very good chance of getting an approval for investment in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: No not at all. I mean, you’ve highlighted some exceptions but the normal state of affairs is there has been, you know, many many approvals dozens of times over. I mean, at least in relation to the APA, that decision was taken about the concentration and aggregation of a single owner.
It wasn’t about the nationality of the owner at all. And Australia will always make decisions about foreign investment in our national interest but we will always be the most liberalized foreign investment regime in this part of the world. I mean, you can invest in Australia more so than an Australian can invest in the rest of the region. And so I wouldn’t describe the arrangements necessarily as reciprocal but we have a very open, liberalized investment arrangement.
We have clear rules and I think whether it’s on the most recent decision you’ve referred to or the others you’ve made mention of. We went through a very disciplined process of explaining the decisions and there were no surprises in those decisions and I think that’s an important mark of what I would like to be how we continue to engage with China.
We have our rules, we explain our rules and people can come and we welcome that investment in accordance with our rules and that is no less than what I am sure China would expect of any investment in China or that Singapore would invest in Singapore or Indonesia or Malaysia or any other part of the region. But it’s no question that Australia’s foreign investment arrangements are the most liberal of any of the region.
STROUD-WATTS: Let me get to this FTA with Indonesia. You flagged before that it would be signed in November, will it be signed at APEC or ASEAN?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I didn’t flag that, what I said when I was in Indonesia is that the intention was that trade ministers would be able to deal with that before the end of the year. But look, there’s no hurry here, we’re not pressing anything.
STROUD-WATTS: Are you still negotiating?
PRIME MINISTER: The negotiations have been concluded but I’ll leave that process to be finalized at the appropriate time. It would still require ratification in both parliaments so it’s not like there’s a pressing urgency on this and we believe it’s a win-win deal and we appreciate the very strong support for the arrangement, both from President Widodo but also the support that has come from Sri Mulyani in particular when she as a guest of Government which I was able to issue when I was Treasurer. And of course Thomas Lembong, the special representative when it comes to investment in Indonesia.
STROUD-WATTS: They’re not waiting to see if we’re relocating the Australian embassy?
PRIME MINISTER: Well Australia doesn’t conflate these issues. We never conflate these issues and so from our point of view, they’re very separate issues.
Interview with CNBC
12 November 2018
MATT TAYLOR - HOST: The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is joining us now live from his office in Sydney. Prime Minister great to see you there and thanks for joining us. I mentioned you’ve got a busy week coming up, trips to Singapore, Papua New Guinea. What is going to be top of your agenda as you head into these meetings? Will it be focussing on trade and in particular a free trade agreement between Australia and Indonesia?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think there are three primary focuses. The first one I think is to articulate and talk through the announcements we made last week and the week before in terms of our commitment to the Pacific. Australia is obviously a principal participant in the Pacific and we’re stepping up our involvement there, both strategically and economically and socially as well. It’s always been a very important part of the world for us and we’re significantly expanding what we’re doing there in partnership with many other countries – whether it’s the US or whether it’s China or other countries. That will I think, be an important part of the discussion, particularly when we’re up in Papua New Guinea for APEC.
Trade always, any time an Australian leaves our shores in service of the Government – whether as a Prime Minister or a trade official – we are always the ones who are advocating the need for greater open trade and liberalisation around the world, that’s what our record has always delivered and that has, I think, always improved prosperity throughout the region. So you will always find us as the lead advocate for open trade. Thirdly, issues of security, whether it’s dealing with returned foreign fighters or dealing with cybersecurity where there’s increasing threats in that space and in that realm and working together to combat those in partnership. So these are three key areas of my focus and that’s what I’ll be pursuing.
TAYLOR: It’s your first big round of talks, first big round of summits since you became Prime Minister. What would be your message to other world leaders that you speak to and indeed international investors that are watching now, worried about the constant churn of prime ministers and leaders in Australia and the perceived risk that people outside have, looking into Australia, of political instability?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think that all of that is overstated and Australia’s policy and priorities and our agenda remains exactly as they have been since we were first elected in 2013 and that is always been to pursue a strong trade agenda, a strong economic agenda, infrastructure investment, a very significant investment in lifting our defence capability to two per cent of GDP, we remain on track, in fact, we’ll hit that three years ahead of our original target so there’s a continuity and a stability in the policy agenda being pursued by our Government and we’re getting very strong results – whether it’s our economy, which hit 3.4 per cent growth, is higher than the developed world, particularly the G7, the fact that our Budget is actually returning to balance next year and that is on track to be achieved and our jobs growth record in Australia as a Government is second to none and has been heavily successful so we’re just getting on with it and the program that we’ve been outlining we’ll be continuing with our partners.
ORIEL MORRISON - HOST: Prime Minister, it’s Oriel here in Singapore, such a pleasure to have you with us this morning. I want to delve more into what you’re doing in Australia in just moment. But first of all, to go back to what you were talking about a little bit earlier when it comes to foreign relations. International relationships in particular with your biggest trading partner which is of course China, right now in the midst of a trade spat with the United States. It has not always been an easy relationship, the one between Australia and China, what is your next conversation with Chinese officials going to entail?
PRIME MINISTER: Well obviously they’ll be subject to the internals of those discussions. But our approach is very much about getting on with business with China. As you say, they are our major trading partner. They’re increasingly invested in Australia and across a whole range of different areas of our industrial sectors. At the same time we maintain a very positive and longstanding relationship with the United States. So I think we’re in a bit of a unique position to be able to, I think, to deescalate any issues. That’s always been our approach because regional stability is important for regional prosperity. That’s why we don’t involve ourselves in any of the territorial disputes, we don’t take sides on those things. Those positions have been set out by Australia for some period of time. So we don’t take any sides in those types of disputes whether it’s in the South China Sea or elsewhere.
MORRISON - HOST: So how does Australia then get involved when it comes to issues like the trade spat that I mentioned earlier, between the US and China and you’re talking about Australia sitting on the sidelines, when it comes to territorial disputes as well. Well, what about the South China Sea, does Australia need to take a stronger position on issues like the South China Sea? I mean obviously it’s something that has been discussed over the last few weeks in Australia and your Defence Minister has taken a very strong position on it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look, there are claims and counterclaims and there have been processes and we’ve observed those processes. But we don’t take sides on those particular competing claims. But at the same time, our policy is expressed through the freedom of navigation exercises and other things we have done in transiting through the region. That’s done I think in a very transparent and respectful way and we just continue to maintain our dialogue and the investment continues to flow, the business continues to run and we’re able to I think, engage in a very constructive partnership. We have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at official status with China and that’s something we take very seriously and we work very hard to on to maintain.
TAYLOR: You are of course heading into an election in Australia in 2019, your predecessor Malcolm Turnbull essentially broke his silence last week since he was removed from the top job, saying that decision to oust his was self destructive for the Government. The latest Newspoll out in the last 12 or 24 hours shows that you’ve got your work cut out for you, you’re trailing the Opposition party by about ten percentage points. How are you going to arrest any further slide and what would be the top priority for you in terms of communicating your Government’s performance to the electorate as we move into that critical election period next year?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I think it’s very reasonable to say that we have got a big job ahead of us. That’s no surprise under the circumstances of several months ago.
But the Government has a clear agenda to ensure we have a strong economy because we understand that it is the strong economy that supports the services and infrastructure that are necessary to provide the way of life and the standard of living that Australians enjoy. Now on top of that, keeping Australians safe is critically important and the terrorist incident we had here in Australia just on Friday, is another reminder that these issues are never far away. We need to be constantly vigilant and this is why we also work closely with our regional partners on these issues. There is a very strong focus from our Government to keep Australians together and what I mean by that is industrial harmony. Our Government is not going to take Australia back to some of the chaos of industrial disputes of many, many years ago. That is not a place that our Government wants to take our industrial settings in Australia. We’ve always sought to improve them and that’s been a key to our prosperity. So our message to Australians is very straightforward, and that is a stronger economy delivers the services and the essentials that they rely on for their standard of living.
We’ve got a great track record of economic management and growing a strong economy; record jobs growth and at the same time bringing the Budget into balance - which is an economic and financial management achievement which I know is very important to Australians - and maintaining our AAA credit rating under the period of one of the most extreme pressure that we’ve seen in our country.
MORRISON - HOST: Are you convinced that you will indeed be able to do that, Prime Minister, when it comes to growth in Australia? Once again, if you look at the big picture, you look at the macro issues out there that are facing the global economy at the moment, global markets, there is a lot of concern about a potential slowdown for the world economy, not just purely Australia to deal with. When you look at the global picture are you convinced that Australia is going to remain strong in the face of a potential economic slowdown?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I am, because that has been our track record. We are now in 27 years of continuous economic growth and the last five years have been a very hard slog. For many other countries the global financial crisis was the key economic event that impacted the performance of their economies. In Australia that was not the case. At that time, we were going into the upside of a mining investment boom and there was a very strong growth out of China. Now, on the other side of the mining investment boom we had more than $80 billion ripped out of our economy as investment in that sector fell. That had a very significant impact on our economy - yet through that we continued to grow, we continue to restore our budget position and we maintained our AAA credit rating all the way through under that pressure. So we’ve got good form I would say. Yes there are lots of uncertainties and lots of challenges out there well beyond our shores, that’s why we have pushed and achieved the free trade agreements that we have with China and South Korea and Japan and they are critical. I mean Prime Minister Abe will be in Australia soon and I will be meeting with him here in Darwin and continuing to work on the defence arrangements and other issues that we have been working with them. We have got a great programme which has been getting taxes down in Australia, getting investment up, expanding our markets and investing in critical public infrastructure. Our public infrastructure program - whether it is the Western Sydney Airport, or now working on the major Tullamarine airport line between the Melbourne CBD and our major airport, major pumped hydro projects in the Snowy Mountains - these are big, big infrastructure projects which have been supporting the strength of our economy during what has been a testing time.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister just before we let you go, when can we expect the next election to be called?
PRIME MINISTER: Next year.
JOURNALIST: Next year 2019, any more specific than that?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
MORRISON – HOST: Always worth a try. Prime Minister such a pleasure to have you here on Street Signs with us on CNBC. Thank you so much for chatting to Matt and myself.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you Matt, thanks Oriel.
Interview with David Speers, Sky News
12 November 2018
DAVID SPEERS: Prime Minister, thanks for your time. Can we begin with the terrorist attack in Melbourne on Friday? Do you regard this to be a national security failure?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t. I do consider it to be a serious terrorism incident and the reason I don’t is because we’ve had 14 thwarted attacks, we’ve had seven attacks of this nature and as we’ve always said you can’t guarantee in all cases. As we’ve gone back and looked over all the issues here – and that process of investigation continues – any lessons, of course, will be learned.
SPEERS: Are there any immediate lessons?
PRIME MINISTER: I think one of the key lessons is the one I pointed out on Saturday and that is the issue of ensuring that we do even more to counter against extremist radical Islam and these teachings and this vile presence.
SPEERS: What more are you going to do?
PRIME MINISTER: It’s about more, I think, raising greater awareness in the community. I think it’s raising a greater sense of proactivity. We already get good cooperation and that’s why we’ve been able to thwart 14 attacks but the only real guarantee that you can provide is ensuring you can get the information out of the community.
SPEERS: How will you do that?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll give you an example of how this works. It’s not the imam necessarily, it’s that shady character who was at the periphery of the mosque. The one talking to young people. These people prey on vulnerable Australians – vulnerable young men particularly – and they fill their heads full of this hate and this vile rubbish to try and make sense of their lives. Now, they may be faced with any number of personal challenges themselves but these characters are quite targeted in who they go after and if you’re an imam or a leader in one of those communities, you need to know who those people are in your community who might be doing that. They are the infiltrators.
SPEERS: Do you think they know who they are?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think in many cases they will and what I’m saying is you can’t look the other way. You can’t look the other way. Now, the imam themselves, I think, I have no doubt, would be doing the right thing in terms of what they’re teaching and how they seek to manage things within their own community. But these characters, they’re the ones that have to be weeded out. They’re the ones whose influence has to be removed.
SPEERS: So the lesson is what? The imam needs to do more -
PRIME MINISTER: The leaders of the community need to know what’s going on in their community and there can be no excuses for looking…
SPEERS: And you don’t think they are -
PRIME MINISTER: Clearly, clearly not, clearly not. I think many are, but more needs to happen in this area and I want to work with the Muslim community across Australia. I have had a lot to do with the Muslim community in Australia and I’ve built up a reputation for being honest but also being understanding -
SPEERS: So the Muslim community needs to do more on that front. What about the government’s agencies here? They’re very well-funded, we know this guy was, you know, his passport was cancelled, there was fears that he was going to become a foreign fighter, he was on a watch list. All of this and yet still he was able to mount this attack. Is there a lesson there about where he slipped off the radar?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, David, there are 400 people under investigation. There are 230 people with whom passports have been cancelled and not all of them can be under observation all the time…
SPEERS: Do we have to live with the reality that this is going to happen time to time?
PRIME MINISTER: What we have to live with is understanding that the only way that you’re going to be able to thwart something like this – with an individual who was exhibiting no greater level of agitation than the other 399 on the list and had done nothing to elevate their status in the view of agencies who examine this stuff very, very carefully – what you rely on is the relationship with the community and understanding what’s going on. And this is the point that Peter Dutton made as Minister for Home Affairs yesterday. This is not – my encouragement to the Muslim religious communities across Australia is, I think, to raise the level of awareness and alertness and raise the level of proactivity both members of that community and the leaders of that community. Because their community is the one being infiltrated and we have to say that because it’s true and it presents a real risk to the safety of Australians and themselves and their own children.
SPEERS: One of your MPs, Jason Wood, he’s a former counter-terrorism police officer, he reckons anyone on the watch list, presumably if they’re a dual citizen, should be deported. Good idea?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are cases where we do exactly that. They’re exactly the cases of doing that.
SPEERS: Okay, but everyone on the list?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, those cases are assessed on their merits by our security agencies and we hold a pretty strong record of deporting people who we consider to be threats to Australia – whether they’re gangsters or mobsters or paedophiles or indeed suspected terrorists – so this is what we do and Jason’s right, we need to continue doing that and…
SPEERS: But this guy wasn’t deported?
PRIME MINISTER: This guy was an Australian citizen. Let’s be clear about this. He was radicalised here. He didn’t bring this from somewhere else. This happened here in Australia and this is why I’m making the point about the threat of extremist radical Islam in Australia. We can talk about all these other issues but why did this happen? Why was he motivated to do this in this way? Because of what he had been exposed to in his religious community.
SPEERS: Let me turn to some other issues, The Australian newspaper today reporting you’re planning to give the states more say in setting Australia’s migration intake. They do, as I understand it, already have an opportunity to make an annual submission to the Immigration Department as to what -
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, it’s not working.
SPEERS: Right. So what’s going to change?
PRIME MINISTER: I mean, the classic example is the New South Wales Government actually asked for more people, now they say they need less. Now, I’m not making a criticism in that sense, all I’m simply saying is that process is not working as it should be…
SPEERS: So what’s going to change?
PRIME MINISTER: The Commonwealth Government, the Australian Government will always set out migration rates. We’re not going to contract this out to the states, that’s not what we’re contemplating. What we are looking at is the states actually plan the roads, plan the hospitals, plan the schools, they have planning departments that do these jobs, both within particular areas of delivery – whether it’s schools and hospitals or indeed the planning department where the housing is going and all the rest of it. They are in the best position to actually make a judgement about what the carrying capacity is in their states and territories down to local areas about how many people can actually be there.
SPEERS: So how would they put that forward?
PRIME MINISTER: Our process, I think, to date has not been enough ground-up. Just taking a top-down approach to migration levels I don’t think has served us well and so what I’m saying is, yes, we’ll set the target – sorry, I should say the cap because there is no target – we’ll set what the cap is, we’ll let it be demand driven but it has to be based on what the carrying capacity is at state and territory levels. I mean, the frustrating thing about whenever you have this discussion, it’s always polarised, it’s always this or that, but what we actually need is a more sensible, middle course way to manage this issue.
SPEERS: So they’ll put in more detail around what infrastructure they’ve got, what capacity they have and I guess most people will say, “Well, is it going to mean fewer people or more people coming in?”
PRIME MINISTER: It’s a good question because in Darwin, they want more people. In Tasmania, they want more people. In Western Australia, they want more people. South Australia, they want more people…
SPEERS: But you can’t keep them [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, no, this is not the case. Under non-permanent migration, you can. You can. Now, then people say, “How are you going to police it?” If you want permanent residency in this country and you’re on a non-permanent visa and you haven’t been compliant with the terms of your non-permanent visa, you don’t get a permanent residency visa and you go home.
SPEERS: So temporary workers, students who come on temporary visas, if they want permanent residency, they’ll have to stay in Darwin, Adelaide, Tasmania?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, yeah, where the jobs are, where the services are, where the opportunities are and that’s where you’ve got to work closely with the states and territories. The Commonwealth Government can’t say, “We’re just going to spray them all over regions in Australia.” What we need to know is what regions and where? And where are the jobs and where’s the infrastructure and the services going?
SPEERS: So they’re there for five years?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, about that. I mean, different visas are different but we’ll have a bit more to say about the nature of any changes we’re contemplating on visa arrangements but there are tools and this is the point I’ve been making for some time and that is what has been driving population growth in Australia has not been permanent, permanent intake, it’s been the temporary intake. Because the people who get permanent visas are already here. They’ve arrived as temporary migrants and then they apply for a permanent visa once they’re here.
SPEERS: Could this, I mean just thinking this through, could this mean permanent residents, there won’t be much change, there’s a family reunion and so on, they still come to Sydney and Melbourne, but the temporary workers, the highly skilled temporary workers -
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, where the Far North comes in.
SPEERS: Will all end up going to some of the smaller centres.
PRIME MINISTER: Well you’ll still see people come to major urban centres, I mean it’s not them all going to the regions, and it’ll depend on the carrying capacity of those regions. But what we are saying, that in the past when we have attempted to do this, and I’ve been critical of this in the past, it hasn’t stuck. And the reason it hasn’t stuck, I think, is because there hasn’t been a good enough connection between what the states are doing with their settlement and population policies and what the Commonwealth is doing. So this is, you know, a blinding piece of common sense which says how about states who plan for population growth and the Commonwealth Government who sets the migration levels actually bring this together. Because I can’t say that that has been done well for decades.
SPEERS: Now you’re heading off tomorrow for the start of summit season. There’s the East Asia Summit in Singapore, APEC in PNG and towards the end of the week. You’ll be having a lot of meetings, are you going to see the Indonesian President?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
SPEERS: And will you be signing the free trade agreement?
PRIME MINISTER: No there’s no plans for that and I’m not troubled by that. Look, it’s a good deal for both countries but -
SPEERS: Where’s it up to, when will you sign it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, when we get around to doing that.
SPEERS: No timeframe?
PRIME MINISTER: There’s no rush on this, there’s actually no rush at all.
SPEERS: Has the Jerusalem, Israel embassy issue affected negotiations at all?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the negotiations have been completed on the actual agreement and it would still have to go through ratification in the Indonesian Parliament as it would go in Australia.
SPEERS: So what’s the sticking point?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, Australia is always going to look at these issues on their merits. We don’t conflate other areas of non-related policy when it comes to these agreements.
SPEERS: Is that what Indonesia is doing?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’m not making that observation, I’m just saying that Australia will always not conflate issues and we’re prepared to move forward and when the Indonesian Government, who I know is very supportive of the arrangement, particularly their economic ministers have relayed that back to us directly both to the Treasurer and the Finance Minister…
SPEERS: The President though, it sounds like you’re ready to sign this deal.
PRIME MINISTER: I believe he is very supportive of the agreement but look, the timing of any ultimate signing is up to them.
SPEERS: What will you say to him about it, the embassy issue?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ll update him on where we’re at.
SPEERS: And where are you at?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ll update him that we’re still working through the issue as a Government and we’ve got a process in place to deal with that internally and we’ll continue to work on that respectfully and restate our Government’s 100 per cent commitment to the two-state solution.
SPEERS: You’re going to be meeting the Chinese President and the Chinese Premier over the course of the week -
PRIME MINISTER: They’re the plans currently, but a lot of these plan fall in at the last, as you know, the last sort of 24 hours.
SPEERS: One of the points of tension over some years has been the South China Sea. What is your view of… how would you describe China’s behaviour in the South China Sea?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I don’t get into running commentaries about this, David, I don’t find it terribly helpful. I mean, Australia -
SPEERS: What is your position as Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Australia has operated its freedom of navigation, we’ve been doing that under my Prime Ministership and previous prime ministers.
SPEERS: But just your view of what China has done on the South China Sea?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look I don’t think any of that commentary is terribly helpful. Australia’s position is expressed by what we do and what do we do? Well we’ve expressed our freedom of navigation but we’ve gone about it I think in a very constructive way and a very transparent way.
SPEERS: Let me ask you directly - is your view that China now holds these islands?
PRIME MINISTER: Our policy has not changed when it comes to the South China Sea.
SPEERS: I’m just asking you to explain that policy.
PRIME MINISTER: Well we understand what the territorial boundaries are and there’s been no change to our view on that.
SPEERS: So who owns these islands?
PRIME MINISTER: We express our freedom of navigation through this part of the South China Sea and have done so now for many years and I don’t think it’s helpful, I don’t think it’s helpful, for Australia to be drawn into an exacerbation of any of these issues. I don’t think that’s in Australia’s interest, David, for me to sort of respond in the way you seem to be inviting.
SPEERS: No, no, I’m just saying -
PRIME MINISTER: I’m just saying our relationship with China is getting on with business with China, and we are doing that.
SPEERS: I appreciate that -
PRIME MINISTER: And you saw last week, I think, the success of that approach. Australia’s position is well known, it’s very well known.
SPEERS: I’m just asking you to articulate it. Does China hold these islands? Are they Chinese territory?
PRIME MINISTER: Well David again, our view about the sovereignty of the nations involved have been set out now for a long time and I don’t think there is any great advantage in me basically repeating back our position...
SPEERS: Not even just saying whether these islands are Chinese territory or not?
PRIME MINISTER: Well David I think that is not the case.
SPEERS: They’re not Chinese territory?
PRIME MINISTER: That is the international position, the internationally understood position.
SPEERS: Is it your position as now the Australian Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Look David our position hasn’t changed under my Prime Ministership, the previous Prime Ministership, the previous Labor Government. And so I don’t think there’s any profit in me as Prime Minister agitating on these topics because our position is well known and it’s understood.
SPEERS: Do you think China should be, or should stop, detaining Muslim minorities in these detention camps?
PRIME MINISTER: We always raise any concerns that we have, particularly about human rights issues. We have done that consistently over a long period of time -
SPEERS: On this one?
PRIME MINISTER: But David, we do that privately. We do it directly when we do these things and again, we don’t get into showboating about this sort of thing. We just do it respectfully and within the comprehensive strategic partnership that we have with China is very important to Australia and it enables us, I think, to engage with them on any number of issues which we will continue to do. But we’re not about to do those things in a way that, you know, is public.
SPEERS: But you support, obviously, what Australia… the United Nations on this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well David, our view on human rights I think, is very consistent. We raise these issues directly with those with whom we want to raise them and we do it in a respectful way. In the same way we would expect any other countries to raise issues that they would like to raise with us in that way. That’s how we do things, it’s not a livestream approach to international relations, that’s not one that I intend to follow because I don’t think that’s in Australia’s national interest.
SPEERS: Ok but it’s also about stating Australia's position clearly.
PRIME MINISTER: And we do.
SPEERS: And you will with the Chinese leadership?
PRIME MINISTER: We always are very clear about human rights issues and they’re raised in all the relevant forums -
SPEERS: And you will this week?
PRIME MINISTER: David, I don’t get into speculating publicly about what issues I will or won’t raise in a meeting, I don’t think that’s a constructive way to handle relationships.
SPEERS: A couple of other things, you said the other day that you prayed for the refugee children on Nauru. How are many are there still now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we’ve got around just over 30.
SPEERS: Just over 30?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
SPEERS: And why are they still there?
PRIME MINISTER: Well because that’s consistent with the policy we have as a Government, that’s why they’re still there. And where there is the ability for them to be transferred to the United States, or whether there are any medical issues that require their transfer to Australia then that’s what will occur.
SPEERS: So those who have been brought to Australia have been brought for medical reasons?
PRIME MINISTER: Correct.
SPEERS: And will they be allowed to stay.
PRIME MINISTER: They will not have a permanent visa in Australia, no.
SPEERS: So what happens to them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well at some point they won’t be allowed to remain in Australia forever. I mean, that’s the policy of both the Labor Party and our Government.
SPEERS: So presumably they’re not still receiving medical treatment, all of them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well my understanding is that many are.
SPEERS: But those who aren’t?
PRIME MINISTER: There’s been hundreds who have been transferred, some of them subject to court proceedings, which as you know means that maintains their stay here in Australia. Each and every case is different, David, we haven’t changed any of our policies, we’ve just acted in accordance with our policies and we’ve been reducing the number of children on Nauru.
SPEERS: The policy is still to send them back to Nauru?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s always the case, that hasn’t changed.
SPEERS: So if you can, you’ll send them back to Nauru.
PRIME MINISTER: Well that’s the policy, but there are other issues that, you know, get between that outcome and where they currently are now. I mean, there have been hundreds of kids who have been moved off Nauru now for some years and they’ve still been here in Australia. But David, our policy settings have not changed, is my point. The policy settings that have been in place for years, the policy settings that actually stop children getting on boats and dying have not changed and they’re not going to change under my watch.
SPEERS: Final one, the Newspoll. What did you think, Prime Minister, when you saw those numbers?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it’s a big mountain and I’m still climbing it.
SPEERS: Do you look at it and think I need to change anything?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve got an agenda that I’m working to, and that agenda has ranged from everything from addressing the essentials that Australians rely on like aged care, making sure we get the right response to the drought, that we continue to bring the Budget back into balance next year, that we get the unemployment rate down, it’s now under 5 per cent, that we’re delivering on things like mental health care, expanding Headspace, getting infrastructure, whether it’s the roads or the water infrastructure which I was just announcing up in North Queensland which has been incredibly well received. I mean, in Townsville, they said the other day that our water announcement was the best thing to happen to North Queensland since the Cowboys won the premiership. And we had a great response up in Queensland last week, as you would have seen in the Courier Mail today. So look, we welcome that, but we’ve been moving pretty quickly over the last ten weeks I’m sure you’d agree. I was also very pleased the outcome of that investigation in Queensland regarding the Strawberry tampering, that was one of the many other issues we dealt with in the last ten weeks. But David, I knew when I had to step up just over ten weeks ago, that this was a big mountain to climb, and our Government is getting on with the job. And we’ve got a lot more work to do, I think, to convince Australians -
SPEERS: Well do you? Did you think things would get this bad in the polls?
PRIME MINISTER: None of what is happening is surprising me, David. I didn’t take the job on thinking it would be an easy one. I have always taken on hard jobs in my political career and I have been able, on every occasion, to actually come to terms with those challenges and get on top of them.
SPEERS: Did you take on the job though thinking you can still win the election?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course, and that is why I stepped up. Because what these polls also tell you is that the question Australians I would put to them, and I encourage them to ask themselves, how will Bill Shorten abolishing negative gearing as we know it increase capital gains tax by 50 per cent affect you? How will increasing… taking away, I should say, the tax refunds for retirees - $55 billion a year - affect them? Increased tax on small business, higher electricity prices, a 45 per cent… I was at Boyne Island Smelter the other day. A 45 per cent emissions reductions target, which is Labor’s policy, that would shut the Boyne Island Smelter and take 1,000 jobs out of Gladstone. Now, today’s Newspoll says that’s on its way, and that’s what’s at stake. You cannot take the Australian economy for granted. Australians have made that mistake before. You can’t take it for granted.
SPEERS: But is the issue here PM, that you’ve been running that line, that campaign and the polls are only getting worse.
PRIME MINISTER: It’s ten weeks, David. The election is next year and I think you’re right to highlight the fact that there is a very strong prospect of Bill Shorten being the next Prime Minister after the election, of course there is. Anyone reading that today couldn’t draw any other conclusion. So the question is, do you want Bill Shorten as your Prime Minister? Do you want to put Australia’s economy at risk, that actually pays for hospitals, for healthcare, mental health, affordable medicines, schools, all of these things. Is that what you want? Because a Bill Shorten-led Government will take Australia’s industrial relations back to the 1970’s and pitch worker against employer again in a way that we haven’t seen for a generation. I mean, that is a big risk. Labor is a big risk and I think what today’s poll shows is the real question that Australians are going to be faced with at the next election. And I’ll be putting forward our strong beliefs and why we do things, why I think Australians should keep more of what they earn, why I don’t think we have to bring some Australians down to bring others up, why I think the best form of welfare is a job, and our Government has the best jobs record of any Government.
SPEERS: Alright Prime Minister, thanks very much for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks David.
Q&A, Lifeline Australia Luncheon
9 November 2018
MICHAEL MUNRO: Prime Minister, the elephant in the room. Last night Malcolm Turnbull’s response, how do you think he went?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I didn’t catch it as I was coming back from Queensland, because that’s where I was last night. But look, I want to thank Malcolm for his service to our country as a prime minister. He’s someone who has been involved in public life inside politics and outside politics. When I first met Malcolm many years ago, I knew him as the bloke who had been one of the biggest supporters for things like the Children’s Hospital over in Randwick. That’s the nature of the guy.
When I would often introduce Malcolm I would say he’s the best husband and dad I know in Parliament and that’s the bloke I know. This has been a pretty traumatic period of time for him and I understand that. I appreciated the opportunity to serve as his Treasurer. And many of the things that I talked about today, which I was able to do as Treasurer, I was able to do with his support. So look, I thank him for his kindness towards me and in how he has spoken about these things. I know he and I will both like to ensure that I can get on with the job of ensuring we deliver a stronger economy for Australia. Because that’s what pays for things like mental health services –
MUNRO: He wasn’t all that flattering to some of your Ministers.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’m happy to let that go through to the keeper.
[Laughter]
MUNRO: He named the nine assassins who were responsible. He said you lost the Wentworth by-election in the last week with the farcical “it’s okay to be white,” vote, Barnaby’s tilt at Michael McCormack to take over the National Party and because of your decision to perhaps move the Israeli embassy to Tel Aviv. Sorry, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Do you think you lost it in the last week?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I think we lost it.
MUNRO: You lost it or he lost it?
PRIME MINISTER: I know –
MUNRO: 19 per cent lost. But could you have won it had it not been for those three issues?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ve run campaigns, I’ve been around politics for a long time and you know, you take your assessments and you look back at campaigns and you take some lessons and you move on. So that’s what we’ve done. I mean people were very angry about the events, particularly in the seat of Wentworth, I know that. I grew up in the seat –
MUNRO: Can we take that as a yes?
PRIME MINISTER: No I don’t necessarily agree with all of those assessments, I mean there were a range of issues that play into any by-election. But the point about by-elections is they’re run and they’re done, I don’t tend to get very focussed on public post-assessments.
MUNRO: What is the status of moving the embassy at this stage Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ve made some observations on that some weeks ago, that it’s a matter that the Government is continuing to consider within government.
MUNRO: It wasn’t just a ploy to pick up more votes for Wentworth?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
MUNRO: No, okay. He also mentioned that the moderates in the Liberal Party are being bullied by the conservative right, that the Liberal Party, is – well, a lot of people think the Liberal Party is in a shambles. Costello, Hewson is down on you.
PRIME MINISTER: John Hewson is down on the Liberal Party?
[Laughter]
MUNRO: Absolutely.
PRIME MINISTER: Is that right? I hadn’t – is that the last 20 years, or just the last little while?
[Laughter]
MUNRO: [Inaudible] you’ve got Tony Abbott perhaps already plotting against you for the election next year?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m not giving you a grab on any of this, mate.
MUNRO: No, but answer the question about the moderate Liberals being bullied by the conservative right? You don’t think so?
PRIME MINISTER: We’re a big party. John Howard used to talk about it as the big church, John used to talk about it as the big tent. Everybody is welcome in our tent, it doesn’t matter what your background is.
[Applause]
What area you’ve served in. One of the great strengths of our Party Room is that people come from so many different walks of life. You know, our ranks aren’t just made up of ex union officials. I remember in the Parliament - I don’t want to be particularly partisan today, but you asked –
[Laughter]
I said to those on the other side, “Put your hands up if you’re an ex-union official,” - I couldn’t see one hand – then I turned around to my guys and I said: “Tell me if you’ve ever run a small business?” Hands up everywhere. “Tell me if you’re an ex police office?” Hands up. “Hands up if you’ve served in the Defence Forces?” Hands up. The diversity of our Party I think is its great strength. Now there are going to differences of views on particular issues from time to time. Good, I would hope so. I’d be disappointed if -
MUNRO: But too many bullies?
PRIME MINISTER: No, look, no, I don’t agree with that mate.
MUNRO: Because he was the Prime Minister at one stage and says now he deserves an explanation. He still doesn’t know why he went. He said you aren’t sure why he went. No one will tell the Australian public why he lost the prime ministership. Are you able to explain to us?
PRIME MINISTER: Well again, as you know I didn’t support the spill motion, as Malcolm confirmed again last night. But you know, the gift that is provided, the leadership of the Liberal Party, the parliamentary Liberal Party, John Howard always said it is a gift that comes from the Party Room. It’s the Party Room that who will make judgements and decisions about who they believe is best in a position to lead the Liberal Party at any given time.
MUNRO: Even when you have a chance of winning the next election?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is the will of – we live in a democracy and we live in a parliamentary democracy. We don’t live in a presidential system, we live in a system where Australians all around the country elect their members of Parliament and those members of Parliament from their parties, elect their leader.
MUNRO: Even if it means self-destruction?
PRIME MINISTER: The parliamentary Liberal Party decides who their leader is and the parliamentary Liberal Party formed a decision that they wanted to make a change. Those who had advocated that and had made points about the need to better connect with the values and the beliefs of Liberal and LNP members all around the country. That’s the judgement they formed and a change was made. So that change has been made and in that context, I stepped up and I’ve stepped up ever since. Because there’s a big job to do and I’m getting about that job. That job is to ensure that we do not take our economy for granted, that we don’t allow Bill Shorten’s $200 billion tax sledgehammer to come and destroy our economy and put us in a position where we can’t afford to pay for things like affordable medicines and Medicare and things like that. The way you pay for important social services – let me put it this way – sometimes on our side of politics when we talk about the economy, people think we just want to put a big trophy up on the shelf and say: “Isn’t that wonderful, it’s a beautiful, wonderful, strong economy.”
I don’t think about the economy like that. I think about the economy as something that pays for hospitals, for schools, for disability services, for mental health services, for all of these things - that’s the point of a strong economy.
[Applause]
Now why I admire small and family businesses and the business sector more generally is, when you’re doing well the country is doing well. I was up in a room full of community service providers at Mackay yesterday. Mackay is a city, a town that has a boom-bust cycle in past. When you’re talking to people who are providing mental health care support or social services support in those towns, they know that they are more able and better equipped to help people when their town is doing well than when their town is in a recession. So I think it’s great we haven’t had a recession in more than 27 years in this country and under Liberal and National parties we will keep that going. And that means we can provide the essential services that Australians rely on.
So every time you hear me say I want a stronger economy, it’s because I believe in Medicare, it’s because I believe in health funding, it’s because I believe in schools funding. That’s why I want to see a stronger economy and that’s what this election will be about.
MUNRO: Can I ask about the Queensland election campaign, or your swing through Queensland.
PRIME MINISTER: Yep?
MUNRO: It was an election campaign swing, surely you admit that? With your bus, the strawberries?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m a politician, I went and talked to people in Queensland, I’m not shy about that.
MUNRO: But it was an election swing, wasn’t it?
PRIME MINISTER: I find it funny, when you’re a politician who isn’t selling your message, that apparently that’s the problem, you’re not selling the message. But when you’re a politician who is selling the message, apparently that’s a problem too.
[Applause]
You can’t have it both ways. I was up there selling my message. I was up there telling them about the importance of a strong economy to deliver things like $200 million we put into the pipeline for Townsville, which secures their water supply for generations to come. Or the $112 we put into the light rail on the Gold Coast, which is one of the most economic, transforming pieces of infrastructure that city has seen in a long time and Paul Fletcher has had a lot to do with that in previous portfolios. Or up in Rockhampton, where we’re putting in the ring road there, that’s $800 million and that’s going to connect to the north and south and to the west of Rockhampton and secure jobs in regional Australia forever.
MUNRO: Which is why you desperately need Queensland for the election, don’t you? You’re in deep trouble up there.
PRIME MINISTER: Well after the swing through Queensland I was feeling much more encouraged Michael. People seemed to be responding very well.
MUNRO: How will the polls go?
PRIME MINISTER: I was welcoming people back into the LNP, supporters into the LNP. Every room I walked into was full and they were happy to see me and responding really well to what I had to say.
MUNRO: Do you think you’re better off now that you replaced Malcolm Turnbull? Do you think seriously that the Coalition can win the next election, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: I do believe the Coalition is going to win the next election, because Australians agree with the beliefs that the Liberal and National parties hold. They don’t want to see a weaker economy with less jobs. They want to see a stronger economy. They believe in a fair go for those who have a go. They believe the best form of welfare is a job. They believe Australians first duty is to make a contribution, not take one. And this one most importantly; they do not believe like the Labor Party believes, that to lift some people up, you’ve got to pull other people down. Now they’re my beliefs. That’s what my Party believes and I reckon the majority of Australians agree with me.
[Applause]
MUNRO: I don’t think Malcolm Turnbull would believe that.
PRIME MINISTER: I think Malcolm Turnbull believes in every single one of those things I just said.
MUNRO: Not in the nine assassins he mentions last night. I don’t think - I think it was all –
PRIME MINISTER: No, I think you’re getting fixated on this.
MUNRO: No, I think Turnbull –
PRIME MINISTER: A little bit fixated.
MUNRO: I think Turnbull last night made a point that he deserves an explanation, he still doesn’t understand it. No one has explained it and nor will you.
PRIME MINISTER: Can I tell you one thing I do know about Malcolm? Malcolm has always understood that politics is not about any one individual, the reason we go into politics is to serve others. That’s why he went into politics and he has always known that politics was not about him, politics is about the work you’ve got to do and the opportunity to serve. That’s what I believe in and that’s why, you know, my Party is coming together to focus on that one job, to ensure that we’re able to keep going forward for the Australian people, delivering the economy which delivers them the services, keeps Australians safe and importantly, keeps Australians together.
On that last point, on keeping Australians together, you know I do not want to see a throwback to the 1970s industrial relations policies that actually pits employers from employees. I love going to small and family businesses around the country, where you walk into those businesses and there is not industrial tension on their floor. There is just a sense of cooperation and unity and purpose. I don’t believe in letting the law-breakers in the militant union movement, become the law-makers on industrial relations in Australia. If you want to throw back to the 1970s industrial relations policies, well, get ready to turn the economy off and the jobs off and the things that rely on it. Because that’s where Bill Shorten wants to take the country and I’m not going to let him take us there.
MUNRO: Let me ask you, if I may, are you a person that has been touched by suicide.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
MUNRO: Are you happy to discuss it, or not?
PRIME MINISTER: I was very young at the time and – I mean there have been many other occasions when I’ve known people who have taken their own lives but I’ll never forget the first time. I was only a young boy, I was maybe 10 or 11. My parents ran a youth organisation for 45 years, both of them, it Boys and Girls Brigade. It was an older boy who I knew in the Boys Brigade and dad came in to tell me one night that he’d taken his life at the place I was referring to earlier in my speech. And I just remember praying actually, as a young boy. I just prayed that I would never be in a situation where I might feel as helpless as that, that you would do that. Now thankfully for me that prayer has been answered, but I know for many, that has not been their life’s experience. It’s not, obviously just others who are in that prison, I thought the picture we saw up there from Philip was incredibly –
MUNRO: You talked about mental health, you mentioned intervention, you mentioned dark places and whether it’s a lounge room or a bedroom or a kitchen. I wonder if you have ever put in much thought about the mental health of the children on Nauru.
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve been talking about the children and I’ve been focussing on – John referred to them before – children who live in families affected by mental illness is something I’ve got a track record on. We talked about Kookaburra Kids and we talked about the children of returned servicemen and women with PTSD. These are men and women – largely men – who have come home and their kids say to us and John has heard these stories too, you know; “Dad has come back, but he’s never come home.” So the kids are sitting there trying to understand that and deal with it and that’s why we’ve funded and supported Kookaburra Kids to take their programmes – specifically-run programmes for children of veterans – and we’ve increased that funding again from just recently, where we’ll be able to cater for about 600 kids up to 1,800 kids. This is a tremendous programme.
But you asked me about Nauru. Ever since I took over the job as Immigration Minister many years ago, we set about the job on ensuring that there would be no children on Nauru and that’s what we’ve been doing ever since.
MUNRO: For five years.
PRIME MINISTER: It takes a long time. It takes a long time.
MUNRO: Do you think about them, I mean do you think about their mental health?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah look, when I was Immigration Minister and when I was shadow immigration minister - people may have observed this about me – I’m someone who likes to go, right, and speak to people. So if I make hard decisions about things, I don’t do it from some room in Canberra without having personally met with and looked in the eyes of people who are affected by my decisions. I have done that on Nauru, I’ve done it on Manus Island. I’ve visited refugee camps all around the world, I’ve sat in the middle of a refugee camp in Myanmar with their thousands of Rohingyans families, but also Burmese refugees as well. I’ve met them and I’ve looked at their conditions. You know, politics is not for the faint hearted. You’ve got to be prepared to understand and own and carry the burden of decisions. You’ll find yourself on your knees, you’ll find yourself in tears, you’ll find yourself wrestling with this stuff.
MUNRO: You’ve been on your knees in tears?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course I have, why wouldn’t I be? These aren’t easy issues Michael. You’ve got to be prepared to go through that and expose yourself to the consequences of difficult decisions. Now, if you can’t do that, do another job. Do another job. This job is not for people who can’t confront this stuff and you’ve got to make tough calls.
Now, you don’t get children off Nauru by putting more on and I – probably more than any other, perhaps a few – have to deal with the consequences and understand what happens when a young Border Force officer or a military officer has to push a child face-down from the water. I’m never going to let that happen again Michael.
MUNRO: Well, we know, but –
PRIME MINISTER: No, you don’t. This is my point, you can’t deal with those two issues separately. You can’t. There is no decision that you make in this space that is free of moral burden. You cannot allow yourself the leave-pass to think there is, on their side of this debate. What I’ve always tried to do in this debate is respect the motives of people who are participating, I can understand that people have a very different view to mine and are motivated by the purest of motives. All I ask is that they might give the same benefit of the doubt to those with whom they might disagree with.
MUNRO: Is there a timeline when all these… I mean, certainly the public generally agrees with the border control, no argument. When it comes to the children, a lot of people don’t. Is there a timeline when you might get all these children out of the detention centres?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the number as everyone knows has been coming down dramatically. We got 8,000 children out of detention in Australia, we closed 17 detention centres. And the number… you know, we didn’t send children to Manus Island, by the way. Our predecessors sent pregnant women to Manus Island. We put an end to that and when it comes to Nauru, the numbers of children have been reducing dramatically in accordance with our existing policies.
MUNRO: You know what they are today?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes I do.
MUNRO: Are you able to tell us?
PRIME MINISTER: Just about 30, I understand.
MUNRO: And what might the timeline be?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we’ll continue to act in accordance with our policies and what we’ll do is ensure that anything we do will also not compromise the strength of our border protection policies, which has successfully to date, for five years, five years, has ensured that people haven’t got back on those boats. And I will manage both and I’ll do both. But as John said, it’s about being strong and compassionate, and the two are not mutually exclusive, and I think our policies and the way we have handled this have demonstrated that. There are no decisions free of moral burden.
MUNRO: I know you’re a Christian, I know you have a very strong faith. Have you prayed for these kids?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course I have.
MUNRO: Do you think it’s helped?
PRIME MINISTER: I hope so.
MUNRO: So you can’t say whether they’ll all be off by –
PRIME MINISTER: It doesn’t help, frankly, to speculate on these things. People will remember some years ago when I was first addressing this issue that I didn’t believe that it helped to address these matters publicly because I know how anything I say in this area can be used by people who want to put people on boats. And so I don’t give them that opportunity. Never have, won’t do it in the future and I think people should be careful in their public commentary on these issues. Let me say something else about kids on Nauru. There are Nauruan kids who live on Nauru, let’s not forget. And I think some of the ways that people have spoken about Nauru has been very disrespectful to those communities. That’s where their kids go to school, they’ve lived there for generations. They’re a proud people. I don’t think we should talk about our Pacific neighbours in that sort of way.
MUNRO: Look just one, what can you offer the Australian public that Malcolm Turnbull could not offer?
PRIME MINISTER: It’s not about beating Malcolm Turnbull, it’s about beating Bill Shorten. And I’ll tell you what I offer –
[Applause]
You don’t get two goes. It’s me or Bill Shorten, it’s the Liberal and National Parties or it’s the Labor Party. Under our Government, record employment growth. Our economy leading the advanced world pack, record funding going to hospitals, schools, mental health funding, whether it’s in affordable medicines right across the board, Triple A credit rating restored, the Budget coming to balance next year, a Defence budget which is going back to 2 per cent of GDP three years ahead of what we promised, and ensuring our servicemen and women get the respect and capability and support they deserve, and a Government that knows how to run an economy that delivers for Australians. Under the alternative, you’re going to have a weaker economy with less jobs, without the money to pay for the things that are important to Australians, a tax sledgehammer that is going to hit everybody from people just humbly providing for their future by investment in property or retirees who have had the gall to go and buy Australian shares and have had their dividend imputation credits ripped away from, a $200 billion wet blanket to go on the economy, an industrial relations throwback to the 1970’s. So there’s your choice, I know what I’m backing, and I know what Australians are backing every day.
[Applause]
MUNRO: [Inaudible] very possible that you’re going to be knifed before May next year by the May assassins? No?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course not.
MUNRO: By the middle of next year we’re going to have, maybe, our eighth Prime Minister in twelve years so that’s –
PRIME MINISTER: And if that’s Bill Shorten, the Australian economy, the Australian people, I think will regret it. And that’s why I’m focused 100 per cent, as is my team, on ensuring that we can continue to govern with the values and beliefs - the same beliefs that Robert Menzies founded that Party on 74 years ago - that we believe will provide the strength, the unity and the purpose and the safety for Australians that they expect of their national government. You know - let me finish with this one - in 2007, if I came and knocked on your door, you remember 2007, John Howard was the Prime Minister, Peter Costello was the Treasurer, our economy was the envy of the world, does this sound familiar? The Budget was in surplus and they were delivering for Australians. A guy called Kevin Rudd came along and he said, “I’m an economic conservative and it’ll all be Ok if we make the change.” A $20 billion deficit… if I knocked on your door and said; “Oh don’t do that, a $20 billion surplus into a $20 billion deficit, 800 boats will turn up with 50,000 people on board and 8,000 kids will go into detention, they’ll put in place policies that literally set fire to people’s rooves.” You would have locked me up. You would have said; ‘“There is a mad person on my doorstep and you need to come because he is dangerous.”
[Laughter]
That all happened. That all happened. It can all happen again. Don’t risk our prosperity, don’t risk our strength, don't risk out unity. And that’s why we are stepping forward at the next election to stand for a stronger economy, keeping Australians safe and keeping Australians together.
MUNRO: And look, just on that, Ken Henry said last night that we should have been back in deficit a number of years ago, under a Coalition Party, um chair of NAB and of course former Treasurer, uh, Department of Treasury.
PRIME MINISTER: He was the Treasury Secretary at the time and encouraged Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan to spend all that money which we are still paying off now.
MUNRO: The $16 billion?
PRIME MINISTER: No, the $42 billion.
MUNRO: The Building Education Fund?
PRIME MINISTER: The $42 billion stimulus package that was first set at $16 billion. Look, I’m not here to make a commentary on Ken.
MUNRO: You’d agree that we should have been in deficit before now?
PRIME MINISTER: Do you know we’ll be back in balance quicker than occurred in New Zealand [inaudible]? In five years, we have been able to turn the books around, and it hasn't been easy. We’ve had to make a lot of difficult decisions, some of which were very unpopular. I suspect some by people in this room and others rooms like it around the country. But we will be back in balance next year, we’ve been able to do that in the course of just over five years. It hasn’t been simple, we’ve got there while continuing to preserve record investments in infrastructure, in Defence Forces, health, education, all of these things. We’ve been able to walk and chew gum at the same time because we know how to run a strong economy and we know how to manage a Budget. We maintained the Triple A credit rating over that period. One thing I think that people forget - we had the GFC, but the GFC we hit, we hit as we went into a mining investment boom that is still going like that and we had a China boom that was going on and the stimulus that actually protected our economy. We had strong prudential requirements in our banking and financial system which ensured that banks kept lending during the GFC. The toughest period we’ve had economically in this country is when we have come down in recent times from the top of the mining investment boom, when you had $80 billion ripped out of the Australian economy. And to continue to have an Australian economy that had grown during that period, and to have maintained a Triple A credit rating which came under incredible risk during that time and we sustained it, I think speaks volumes of our Government’s economic credentials and our economic capacity to manage a Budget well. So you know, there will always be critics who say, “Oh you could have done this or you could have done that.” Those of us who actually sit at the seat, make the decisions that have to make it happen, we get on with it and that’s what I plan to do between now and the next election and we’ll be good.
MUNRO: And you’ve certainly got a job ahead of you, ladies and gentleman, would you please thank the Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Doorstop - Mackay, QLD
8 November 2018
GEORGE CHRISTENSEN, MEMBER FOR DAWSON: Well it’s great to have PM here in Mackay and I’ve also got our soon to be Senator, Suzie McDonald who will be based out of North Queensland as well. What we are doing this afternoon after we have done a bit of a walk through the local shopping centre just talking to locals about their needs and wants and concerns, we are going to be hearing more of that here today with a community afternoon tea so people from all walks of life whether it’s from you know the local scouts club to the local SES groups, surf lifesaving all different service clubs we’ve invited a lot of different community group representatives here to come and listen to the PM and more importantly to engage directly with the PM so I’m not going to talk any further, you get to engage with me every day, let’s hear from the PM.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks George, it’s great to be here in Mackay today and as we approach the end of my run up the Coast, it’s been tremendous to be listening to Queenslanders this week and it’s a great opportunity to be listening to community organisations here at Mackay today and hearing them and doing as you would have been seeing as we have moved up throughout Queensland, we have making a number of announcements and I have also been taking a careful note of the key priorities that Queenslanders have been raising with me as I have moved throughout the state – and the range of projects as you know here in Mackay which are very important during the next phase of the ring road project, is an important project and that’s one that George has been, I can assure you, advocating very strongly for so there has been a good opportunity for us to have a bit more of a chat about that today so we will continue to assess that and see where that goes in the not too distant future. George has got a package of material there - that he is handing over to me today and as I say he is really pushing this issue very strongly as you would expect him to be doing as the local member and I’ve been carefully listening to and hearing what George and the locals have had to say.
It was also a great privilege to get out to the CQ Helicopter Rescue today and to meet all the crew and those who keep that service operating throughout Queensland. I want to thank them for the tremendous service that they have given most recently in attending those very tragic incidents that have occurred with the shark attacks. I met directly with those who were attending those at the scene and were involved directly at the scene and that would have been a tough day at the office for those individuals and they provide a great and compassionate and very professional and dedicated service and I want to thank them again publically for what they have been able to do.
The other thing I mentioned more broadly on a national level is earlier today, I met with the Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter in Townsville, Bob and I have been talking for a number of weeks now and we were able to reach an agreement for his ongoing and continued support of the Government to ensure that we are able to continue on the way that we have been governing and he has provided his support to our Government and I will be releasing the details of the letter that summarises that agreement that we have been able to reach in terms of ensuring the Parliament can operate with stability and not be held up by the tricks and games and the nonsense that the Labor Party, the Opposition, try on every occasion and I want to thank the Member for Kennedy for his great support in ensuring that there is stability in our Parliament so that we can get on with the job of governing for Australia, continuing to roll out plans for a stronger economy that guarantees the essential services that Australians rely on and a stronger economy that pays for the essential infrastructure, for Medicare, for affordable medicines and all the important things that Australians need and that we keep Australians safe.
I was down at Lavarack Barracks earlier today and meeting with our Defence Forces and the important investments we make in the Defence of our nation and of course keeping Australians together. I don’t want to see an Australia, I don’t want to see a Mackay, where you have got employers and employees being set against each other. We have got small and family businesses here who just work together for the good of that enterprise and the better that business is doing, the better that they are all doing whether they work for that business or they own and run that business and it is great to see the strong economic performance of Mackay and of the electorate of Dawson more generally. The unemployment rate well below what the national rate of unemployment is and one of the key reasons for that is the works we have been putting in in infrastructure but equally it’s the importance of sectors like the mining sector and the sugar sector, sectors that have got a lot of support from our Government.
Mining creates jobs and it deserves the support of a government that is committed to jobs and we have that. Sadly I can’t say that for the Labor Party, who are quite happy to sell out mining jobs here in North Queensland to try and attract the votes of others in the inner city suburbs and areas of Melbourne. So I’ll say the same thing about mining here in Mackay as I will anywhere else in the country, and you’ll get the same message from me. It creates jobs, I think it’s good for the country. So happy to take a couple of quick questions.
JOURNALIST: What do you think of Keith Pitt’s comments to cull sharks?
PRIME MINISTER: Well as a local member, Keith is going to be part I think of providing a local response to these issues but as the Prime Minister, it’s not an area that we have any direct responsibility over. It’s a very sensitive issue and there have been three lives lost and my sympathies and thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have been lost and those who were involved in attending the scene at the time, as I mentioned. So I don’t want to complicate that issue, I think it should be handled sensitively. There are a lot of strong opinions on how these issues should be handled and I’m going to leave it to the local authorities and the state government to work together with local communities I think to manage those issues in the best interests of the safety of the local community who are visitors and to act in accordance with environmental processes.
JOURNALIST: Are you one of the few people in Australia who would actually ask Santa for a lump of coal?
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ve already got one. What I’m hoping is when we go into this Christmas season is as people have really worked hard and really put in this year, I know that people have been making a lot of sacrifices. The one thing they will be looking forward to is just some really precious time with family and that’s my Christmas wish for Australia. That they’ll be able to get some special time, some special time with their family, their friends and to be able to focus positively.
JOURNALIST: You’ve called the ring road an important project. When will we actually be seeing funding for stage two?
PRIME MINISTER: Well as I say, George has been making a very strong case and when we’re in a position to saying something further about that we will.
JOURNALIST: Do you think Luke Foley should resign, following these allegations that he inappropriately touched a journalist?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I found the allegations, when I reviewed the statement that had been provided by the young journalist in question, very shocking. The alleged behaviour of Mr Foley is very, very shocking and concerning. And really they are matters for him and his colleagues in the Labor Party to address, whether it is Bill Shorten or others. They are matters for them to reflect on and for him to make judgements. I’m not here to act as a judge and jury on these sorts of things but I must say I found those allegations very, very shocking.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, there has been some criticism of you catching a plane instead of taking the bus [inaudible] some of the smaller communities of Dawson. What’s your response to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the reason we left the bus in Gladstone is because that enabled me to get up to Townsville last night and to do the community forum we had on air last night and it enabled me to be here this afternoon. Queensland is a big state and as Prime Minister you’ve got a pretty punishing schedule, which is fine, and I chose to spend more time on the ground practically, talking to people, than I did in transit between locations. I mean, it’s just a practical thing.
What matters is coming to listen, coming to hear, coming to do. That’s what I’ve been doing and that’s why I’ve really taken a lot out of the week. And one of the things I’ve really taken out of the week, in addition to the issues that issues that are really focused in the minds of Queenslanders. They’re infrastructure, power prices. Power prices which are basically set at the end of the day by the Queensland state government. They’re the ones who own the power companies in Queensland, they’re the ones who take the dividends out of the companies, put them in their own pocket while Queenslanders pay higher power prices. So that’s a really big issue. Water infrastructure is a big issue, you’d be familiar with the announcement we made further south in terms of the pipeline project. We’re looking at a lot of important water projects here in Queensland and we’ve been doing a lot of feasibility work on those and we’ll carefully consider those.
But it’s been a very informative week, but what’s been great is the amount of support we’re seeing supporters of the LNP coming back in solid numbers. People who had previously been a bit frustrated, been a bit anxious, being able to come and for me to be there and welcome them back into the LNP. New members coming in, old members coming back, supporters coming back, rallying around the Party, because they believe the same things we believe, and that is we need a stronger economy, that’s what’s good for Queensland. That’s what delivers the services Queenslanders are looking for. Under Labor, you’ll have a weaker economy, you’ll have fewer jobs, they’ll be shutting down industries up here in North Queensland because of their reckless policies. Whether it’s on emissions reductions targets or whether it’s on taking away the tax refunds of older Australians through their retirees tax or smashing, up here, those who invested in properties for their own future through negative gearing. There are more people who negative gear in George’s electorate than in my Sydney electorate to the south. They’re people like those who have been working in the mining industry who have gone and they’ve invested for their future. Now what the Labor Party is going to do on negative gearing, I’ve seen Bill Shorten and Chris Bowen have been taking a hammering on this today, and so they should. Their policies on the taxation of housing are reckless and they put at risk the Triple A credit rating of Australia and they will undermine the value of the most important asset every family saves and scrimps for and pays for over the course of their entire working life and beyond and that is their home. They are a threat to the value of people’s homes and that’s why they should walk away from these reckless policies and that’s why you will not see those policies from our Government. Thanks very much.