Media Releases
New vision for National Science and Tech Council
25 February 2019
Prime Minister, Minister for Industry Science and Technology
Australia’s technology and education future is the focus at the first meeting of the new National Science and Technology Council, held in Sydney.
Chaired by the Prime Minister, the National Science and Technology Council builds on the work of the former Commonwealth Science Council, providing independent advice to Government on key science issues like new technologies, health and education.
Science and technology are critical to Australia’s future - they are major pillars of our economy and our quality of life. For Australians’ jobs, security and health, we need these sectors to continue to thrive.
The Council’s first meeting will consider the opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence, STEM education, outcomes of the Government’s $1.9 billion research infrastructure investment and an ambitious Council work program to provide expert advice and ensure deeper engagement between Government and the science sector.
The Liberal National Government recognises the importance of science, research and technology in improving the competitiveness of Australian businesses and driving further local job creation, that’s why we have invested $1.5 billion more into our science agencies than Labor when they were last in government.
We invested $2.4 billion in science and technology in the 2018/19 Budget and we are increasing funding to our world-class research agencies like CSIRO over the next four years. This builds on our regular annual investment of around $10 billion in science, research and innovation.
Our Government’s plan for a stronger economy means we can guarantee the funding for Australia’s science and technology sectors and ensure they continue growing and creating more jobs.
The Council forms part of our plan to further grow these sectors.
Further details about the Council, including its membership, is available at http://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/national-science-and-technology-council/
Interview with Jon Faine, ABC Melbourne
25 February 2019
FAINE: So you’ve gone from coal-aphobia to recognising a climate emergency. What’s your credibility on climate policy?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, those things are mutually exclusive, Jon. I mean, we are allowed to have reliable energy. That’s okay. And we’re also able to reduce our emissions. These two things can be achieved. And how do I know that? Because that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. When we came to government in 2013, we inherited a more than-700 million tonne deficit on meeting our 2020 emissions targets. Now we’re going to beat that by 367 million tonnes through the measures that I am saying will be extended today. And that’s continued to occur…
FAINE: Five years after this virtually the same proposal was abandoned, so we’ve lost five years.
PRIME MINISTER: It wasn’t abandoned. It hasn’t been abandoned. It’s been running for the last five years. I mean there are…
FAINE: Sorry, what you’re announcing today?
PRIME MINISTER: That program has been running and we’re extending it as part of what I’m announcing today.
FAINE: You’re allocating more funds for more of it…
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
FAINE: It’s been undersold, underprepared, underrun…
PRIME MINISTER: No, Jon, none of that is true.
FAINE: And now suddenly you’re saying, ‘We’ve got an election coming we’ve got to crank it up.’
PRIME MINISTER: No, Jon, none of what you’ve just said is true at all. What we’ve been…
FAINE: That’s the ACF’s analysis of it.
PRIME MINISTER: They’re welcome to make their commentary, like anyone is. But we have been running this program and it’s been responsible for around 200 million tonnes of abatement over the period of running those programs. It has been a successful program that has helped us meet our existing targets, the 2020 target, which we will now beat by 367 million tonnes, and will be a key role in meeting our 2030 targets, which we’ll meet in a canter.
FAINE: Isn’t the reality, in fact though, that you’re on a tightrope, on the one hand you’ve got the coal lobby and the resources sector, some of whom are changing their mind, mind you, on one side, what works with the coal industry is disastrous for people who want action and more action on climate change, and you’re on that tightrope trying to juggle the two.
PRIME MINISTER: No, Jon, what I’ve got is a sensible, practical policy which is based on reducing our emissions, which we need to do and have done, and a plan to keep doing that out to 2030 and meet our targets which will see emissions per capita fall per person by more than 50 percent and our emissions intensity fall by more than two thirds. Now, only Brazil has got a target better than that in the G20. That’s better than everyone else, what we’re doing, and our record of achievement is one that says, we meet our targets when we set them. We set them responsibly. And I don’t believe I have to choose between our environment and our economy. I think both are achievable. And what we’ve got is the runs on the boards to demonstrate that.
FAINE: And to those who say…
PRIME MINISTER: So these misperceptions that are out there, well that’s for them to explain. All I know is our record.
FAINE: Too little, too late, is the widely heard rejoinder.
PRIME MINISTER: How can it be ‘too little, too late’ when what we’ve put in place means we exceed our targets by 367 million tonnes? Explain that to me.
FAINE: Well, those targets keep shifting around, apart from [inaudible].
PRIME MINISTER: No, they don’t. They haven’t moved around at all. We had our 2020 target, which we had, and we’re going to meet it and beat it. We’ve turned around a 700 million tonne deficit that Labor left us, to achieve that target. And we’re going to better it by 367 million tonnes. Now that’s a 1.1 billion tonne turnaround on emission reductions that our government has achieved. Now the plan I’m outlining today builds on that success. See, one of the problems with this debate, Jon, is that it doesn’t focus on the results, I mean, what’s the real test of a policy? That it meets the objectives that it set out to achieve. And that’s exactly what we’ve done. Now there’s been a lot of hot air and shouting at the clouds on this issue, but what we’ve done is just get on and achieve. And our plan to achieve our 2030 targets is based on the success of the policy that we already have in place. And how do I know it is successful? We’re going to beat our target.
FAINE: Some of that shouting and hot air has come from your side of the ledger.
PRIME MINISTER: Well there’s been plenty of shouting and hot air, Jon, but what I’m saying is…
FAINE: Well, to those on your side, who have been holding up or even saying there is no need for further action on climate change, what do you say to them today?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what I’m saying is, whatever people have been saying, we’ve just been getting on with the job. That’s what our government has been doing. See, this is what I’m talking about, the debate runs around, and whether it’s the bubble or anything else, what matters is what gets done. And we believe we need to take action in this area and have been ever since we come to government, turning around, you know, Labor talks big on this, but they left us a 700 million tonne deficit on carbon abatement, and we’ve turned that around by 1.1 billion. So, that’s our record and I stand by it. And it’s with programs that were started, like the Emissions Reduction Fund, it’s continuing the programs of ARENA and CFC and all of this, Battery of the Nation which we’re backing in, and particularly the Marinus Interlink with Tasmania, I mean, that of itself, with reliable hydro, that’s a 2,500 megawatt capacity.
FAINE: Snowy Hydro 2, still committed?
PRIME MINISTER: Snowy Hydro 2, absolutely, totally.
FAINE: Okay…
PRIME MINISTER: I mean, that’s all part of the plan.
FAINE: You know, the Labor Party love it every time you talk about them?
PRIME MINISTER: The Labor Party?
FAINE: Mmm.
PRIME MINISTER: I don’t really care what they think.
FAINE: But…
[Laughter]
FAINE: But every time you reference them, every time you make them more relevant. They go, ‘Cha-ching, cha-ching, hooray, thank you. That’s the Prime Minister doing our work for us.’
PRIME MINISTER: I’m not quite sure what you’re referring to. When I refer to the Labor Party, I talk about the fact that their emissions reduction targets are going to cost wage earners $9,000 each a year. That’s what the independent evaluation showed last year. You want to talk about the Labor Party…
FAINE: That’s contested…
PRIME MINISTER: I talk about how they’re going to hit retirees with a $5 billion a year tax.
FAINE: Well, they’re announcing today a $640 million fund over four years for what they call ‘bank fairness’.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Labor Party’s answer to every question, Bills Shorten’s answer to every question is higher taxes. I mean, how much tax does he think the Australian economy can bear? He already has it at $200 billion in higher taxes over the next 10 years…
FAINE: He’s proposing tax relief for most Australians whilst at the same time going to get rid of what he says is a rort…
PRIME MINISTER: Jon, that’s not true…
FAINE: That some people have exploited through access to franking credits.
PRIME MINISTER: I’m sorry Jon, I’m going to do a fact check on you okay.
FAINE: Excellent, we like that.
PRIME MINISTER: $144 billion is the legislated tax cuts that we currently have taken through the Parliament. Labor have said they are going to halve that.
FAINE: Mmhmm.
PRIME MINISTER: So how can they be providing more tax relief when they’re actually halving the amount of tax relief that is currently legislated before the Parliament?
FAINE: I’ll leave that for Mr Shorten and Mr Bowen to explain but it’s going to be an interesting contest.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you’re the one who said that they’re cutting taxes.
FAINE: Well, they, I, I’m referring to what their policy claims are, which is only reasonable.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think they are highly dubious. Bill Shorten’s answer to every question is, ‘I’ll just tax you more.’
FAINE: Overnight, its been announced by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs that the Dawn Service in France at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Centre, the Monash Centre, which has just been completed at a cost of, I think, $100 million, they don’t want to run a Dawn Service anymore, they want to move it to a 10 o’clock ANZAC Day service, what’s your view, is it good or bad?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that’s not gonna happen. I’ve spoken to the Minister this morning, the service will go ahead at dawn as usual.
FAINE: Because?
PRIME MINISTER: Because that’s the right decision.
FAINE: Regardless of what it costs and how many people turn up?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I think it’s important to continue the Dawn Service in the way it’s been done. I’ve discussed that matter with the Minister this morning and they will consult with the local community there, but I believe the Dawn Service should continue in its current form and I’ve made that very clear to the Minister this morning.
FAINE: That will be very welcome news in many quarters, Dawn Services are Dawn Services, they’re not 10 o’clock in the morning/morning tea services.
PRIME MINISTER: I agree. And when this matter was brought to my attention, I dealt with it.
FAINE: They’re incredibly moving, it’s astonishing that so many people now turn up all over Australia and all around the world.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well it’s true. I mean, other services, you know, when we have the 11am services on Armistice Day, they are equally also very moving, there’s an importance about that time. Now, I understand that the Villers-Bretonneux service, the dawn element of that is different to what it is at Gallipoli, I mean it was a dawn landing in Gallipoli, but that said, there is a tradition that has developed in recent times about that service in Villers-Bretonneux and I want to ensure the integrity of that is kept because the people I care most about on this is our veterans and how they feel about it.
FAINE: It’s a cliché for journalists to ask Prime Ministers about Newspoll, and the latest Newspoll’s come out this morning, so I won’t ask you about the figures which show nothing’s changed, but border protection has been a lively issue during the last two weeks, and the figures haven’t budged. Does that mean border protection is not something that changes peoples’ votes?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, whether it is or whether it isn’t is not really my concern. What my concern is that we have strong border protection and that’s the only thing that’s ever motivated me.
FAINE: And you were hoping that that would result in an improvement for your side in the polls.
PRIME MINISTER: No, I was hoping that I would be able to stop the Labor Party from weakening our border protection. That’s what I was hoping. And now I’m taking action to make sure that it doesn’t.
FAINE: So Newspoll’s result on this issue specifically, in the last little while, would suggest that the parties are level-pegging on that topic…
PRIME MINISTER: That’s not actually true…
FAINE: When peoples’ voting intention…
PRIME MINISTER: No, that’s actually not true if you read what the polls said today. I mean, the Coalition is overwhelmingly favoured to the Labor Party when it comes to national security and the economy. But my point is this Jon, when it comes to border protection or these measures, the only thing that ever drives me on this is making sure that it’s strong and secure so I never have to see the human carnage of 1,200 people who died at sea ever again. That’s what motivates me. That’s why I’ve done everything I’ve done in this area.
FAINE: Would you do the same if it cost you votes?
PRIME MINISTER: I would.
FAINE: That’s hard to believe.
PRIME MINISTER: Well Jon, you can make up whatever mind you like about this but when it comes to border protection, I don’t think anyone can doubt my conviction, sincerity on this.
FAINE: I think we all want to see people not drowning…
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I know how to stop that, Jon.
FAINE: … we also have a view of assessing politicians and what they offer and we always see it through the prism of what’s going to get them re-elected.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well you see Jon, I have a very unique perspective on this because I was the one who had to stop it. And I had to make the decisions that resulted in that. So I am probably well qualified to make a judgement about how you stop boats and how you stop deaths at sea. Plenty of other people have opinions that have no consequences but when you are the minister responsible for doing it, you have to make the decisions and you have to deal with the consequences of those decisions. And that’s what I’ve done. And I’ve always done it for one simple purpose. That is, our borders should be strong, and I don’t want to see kids on boats dying.
FAINE: And it, also, has been a key part of your ascendancy to a leadership position and ultimately being the Prime Minister, which is, I’m not suggesting for a moment that you would only do it for those reasons but the two fit well together. They fitted, they dove-tailed together.
PRIME MINISTER: So what are you suggesting?
FAINE: If those policies were unpopular, would you have still pursued them?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes. Because some of those policies were unpopular. I remember turnbacks, before the 2013 election. I was lectured on the fact that they wouldn’t work, and that wasn’t actually a particular popular policy, back in 2013. If you, sort of, have a look back, you’ll see that’s the case. Regional processing was more acceptable, temporary protection visas was more acceptable. Well I can tell you, turnbacks was not a popular policy over that time and it was split quite evenly, but I knew that if unless you did that, and did it successfully, you could not stop the boats. So, I did it with General Campbell and others who were very involved in pulling all that together, and Jim Molan, and we had a plan. We were mocked about that plan, on the ABC, in Fairfax, in other places. They mocked us, they said it couldn’t be done, the Labor Party said it couldn’t be done, the Greens said it couldn’t be done. Well you were wrong. It could be done, it was done. It was achieved. And I am never going to allow our border protection regime, if I have anything to do with it, from being compromised again because the consequences of that are deadly.
FAINE: So you will do anything you can to get the best laws in place to advance those policies but you rejected the advice of the security agencies on the medevac laws last week …
PRIME MINISTER: No, that’s not true…
FAINE: and it wasn’t enacted.
PRIME MINISTER: No that’s not true. That report was rubbish.
FAINE: They said that you could include in Kerryn Phelps’ legislation…
PRIME MINISTER: We opposed the bill.
FAINE: …a provision that would allow for people to be medevaced to Australia but then returned.
PRIME MINISTER: No, no…
FAINE: and you didn’t adopt that recommendation.
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, Jon, you’ve got to stop reading the Saturday paper. It’s not true. That report is just not true. That bill...
FAINE: What half of it was not true? That was the advice from the security agency.
PRIME MINISTER: No it wasn’t Jon. It wasn’t. We declassified the advice. We released the advice.
FAINE: Partially leaked to the Australian newspaper.
PRIME MINISTER: We declassified the advice so Jon, what you are putting to me…
FAINE: The security agencies had to say “Hang on, that’s not what we said”..
PRIME MINISTER: No Jon, what you are putting to me is just not true.
FAINE: What part of it?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m saying the report is not true. Ok? So we acted in accordance with our security advice, and that was, that bill should not be accepted. That bill was going to weaken our border security arrangements…and it has.
FAINE: That bill can be improved. That bill can be improved with a simple addition
PRIME MINISTER: No, it can’t actually Jon, you can’t. That bill in any form was going to weaken our border protection laws. In any form. Any form.
FAINE: But if it was going to go through because you no longer control the numbers…
PRIME MINISTER: No, I’m not going to split hairs with you Jon…
FAINE: … it can be ameliorated and improved.
PRIME MINISTER: …on border protection I don’t trade. It’s absolute. And that’s how I act. So, we acted in accordance with our security advice. It’s a bad change to the law. It;s actually now complicated even further, frankly, how these matters are arranged. But I’ll tell you one thing. At least people know what my view is on this Jon. I mean Bill Shorten has changed his position on Christmas Island every day. So, I mean, who are you going to trust? Someone who doesn’t know what they think about this issue and are swayed by whoever spoke to them last. Or someone who’s actually had very real experience in this area, has got the results, and knows what they think.
FAINE: 13 minutes to 9, Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister is with me, we’re running out of time rapidly. There’s been several calls over the weekend for you to return to a John Howard definition of ministerial accountability, which would have seen at least Mathias Cormann, if not others also coming into strife in the last week or two.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think you have made a couple of leaps there Jon. I mean, I mean, what was discussed last week was shown to be of no substance.
FAINE: Which bit?
PRIME MINISTER: Well all of it.
FAINE: Well Mathias Cormann didn’t pay for travel.
PRIME MINISTER: And he paid it back.
FAINE: It was offered to him, once…
PRIME MINISTER: Once it was drawn to his attention, he paid it back.
FAINE: Once it was made public.
PRIME MINISTER: Bill Shorten didn’t declare a donation to his own campaign for eight years. So I am not going to get lectured by the Labor Party.
FAINE: No it wasn’t the Labor Party actually, I’m not even aware of what the Labor Party…
PRIME MINISTER: Well it was the Labor Party who pulled this out of their…
FAINE: This doesn’t pass the sniff test…
PRIME MINISTER: …out of their bottom smear draw because they were under pressure in the Parliament. And that’s, look I get it, I get it how all that works…
FAINE: The Minister in charge of finances who doesn’t look after his own credit card transactions.
PRIME MINISTER: He paid back the money and that’s the end of the matter.
FAINE: Doesn’t pass the sniff test, does it?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s your assertion.
FAINE: Major contract goes from a government department to a …
PRIME MINISTER: There’s no link between those Jon, look Jon, if the Labor Party wants to get into those smears, look, I understand that. But, I, I don’t think I should allow you to draw a connection between those two events because there is no connection between those events, there is none. There was no connection between Minister Cormann and the decision on that contract. None. Absolutely none. He wasn’t the decision maker.
FAINE: And Joe Hockey likewise?
PRIME MINISTER: Joe Hockey is not even a member of the Government.
FAINE: He says, ‘hang on’…
PRIME MINISTER: Joe works for DFAT. And so I am sure the Secretary will deal with whatever, if any, matters there are to be dealt with as she made clear to estimates last week. This was a smear campaign by a desperate Labor Party that was under the pump and those who want to sort of support the Labor Party by continuing to give that oxygen well, they can, but that’s what it is.
FAINE: Ita Buttrose, not on the list, of possible chairs, of the board of this organisation the ABC but certainly well-placed sources in today’s newspapers say even though there were no men on the list that was put to Cabinet, Ita Buttrose may leapfrog the field?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, two things, a) Cabinet have not considered this matter, Cabinet will soon consider this matter. It is true that she was not one of those who have been independently recommended. I can confirm that the independent recommendations did not include a female candidate…
FAINE: None at all?
PRIME MINISTER: None at all.
FAINE: What was your reaction when you saw the list?
PRIME MINISTER: Surprise…
FAINE: Surprise? Disappointment?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, of course. But, anyway, the Government will make a decision and we will go through the normal processes that are required in terms of consultation with the Opposition and on that, the rules on that are very clear by the way. But the Labor Party is over assuming on what that entitles them to but they already think they have won the election and that seems to be the way that they’re behaving.
FAINE: You have meetings with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today…
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
FAINE: What’s on the agenda?
PRIME MINISTER: A number of issues. I was in Gippsland yesterday, meeting with drought affected farmers, and they have raised a number of issues with me about support. I mean, the two biggest things they’re seeking Jon is,one the fodder subsidies which are provided in NSW and Queensland, and what that did, is that it has lifted the price of fodder and Victorian farmers are now in a double whammy of having to pay higher prices for their fodder but also not having the subsidies. Now those subsidies are provided by state governments and they are very keen to see those provided by the state Government. And the other issue is rate relief. And again, that’s a matter for state governments.
FAINE: Local council rate relief?
PRIME MINISTER: Local council rate relief. I spoke to local farmers yesterday and there rates are in the tens of thousands. I mean, the councils themselves, it’s about 45-50% of their revenue base so they have got a lot of work to do in this area too, so look, I’ll relay that to the Premier. I think he and I are working quite well together on this issue so I am just, so, l, that’s what they raised with me. We will continue to provide the support we do through drought assistance.
FAINE: We are going to see a bit more of you in Victoria in the next few months…
PRIME MINISTER: Oh. I am, you certainly will. The $5 billion drought fund that went through the House of Representatives. I was genuinely quite surprised Labor voted against the drought fund. I mean, I’m still shaking my head about it to be honest.
FAINE: And we’ve got seats now, Liberal seats which the Labor Party, with what are projected to be swings, seats that they now have within their their gaze, which otherwise they thought were well beyond their reach so we will see more of you.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, elections are always a contest whether it’s are in Victoria, or North Queensland, or Western Australia, we will be everywhere.
FAINE: Do we clone Scott Morrison’ so you can try and get around more places than you otherwise can?
PRIME MINISTER: (laugh) No, I think one is enough.
FAINE: (laugh)
PRIME MINISTER: I think one is enough for you Jon.
FAINE: No, well, we don’t get enough time…
PRIME MINISTER: Well I am pleased to be here with you today.
FAINE: We may have an overinflated sense of our self-importance. We like to see the Prime Minister here in town.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I am happy to be here.
FAINE: It’s good when we do have the chance.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Jon.
FAINE: I’ve made you late for your next appointment. I’ve got your staff glaring at me through the glass, I’ll have to let you go.
PRIME MINISTER: Not a problem.
FAINE: Thank you for your time this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you.
Interview on ABC News Breakfast
25 February 2019
PAUL KENNEDY: Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: G’Day.
KENNEDY: What is the difference between your Climate Solutions Fund and the Emissions Reduction Fund created by Tony Abbott?
PRIME MINISTER: It guess beyond the Emissions Reduction fund. So it is embracing many others projects as well. But the Emissions Reduction Fund which Tony Abbott started has been a great success. I mean it has been responsible for about 200 million tonnes abatement and it was always our intention that we would need to extend that out to ensure we met our 2030 targets, which we will. The 2020 targets we will meet comfortably by around 367 million tonnes in addition to what our commitments was. Now let’s remember when we came to government we were inheriting a deficit on that of some 700 million tonnes. So that is a 1.1 billion tonne turn around and that program, which Tony started, and was followed through by Malcolm and now myself, has been very successful. So we are adding to the success of the project to meet those targets.
KENNEDY: When you are quoted as saying you will meet your targets in a canter, you were including this money? You had this in mind?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
KENNEDY: What is the difference for small business and farmers?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it’s continuing the projects that we already do. So it’s a reverse auction basically and what we’ve seen through this program is it does everything from improving soil productivity and boosting energy efficiency, assisting small businesses and their management practices. Savannah management practices and things like that for indigenous communities. It has been an incredibly successful program, both improving the economy and supporting the environment. So it has been a success and we’ll continue it.
KENNEDY: How will people in remote communities be able to hold off severe bushfires was one that (inaudible)?
PRIME MINISTER: They are already doing that in terms of how they manage their burn management programs and that is part of the reverse auction process.
KENNEDY: Haven’t they have done for a long time?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah and this helps them continue to do that and provides an economic basis for doing so, supporting jobs in rural and regional communities, particularly for indigenous Australians, who know how to manage the land and we are backing in them on doing that.
KENNEDY: Now you are in Melbourne today to make this announcement. How much will the Victorian result from November, which climate change was a really big concern for voters, how much is that playing on your approach to climate change from now until the election?
PRIME MINISTER: I want to make some simple points. Yes, we know of course we must address climate change and more importantly, we have been. We have been meeting our targets. We will meet those targets into the future and we have a plan to achieve that. So when it comes to our climate …
KENNEDY: If I can just jump in on that, from the Victorian election there was a lot of criticism and blow back from previous Liberal voters who did not vote for the Coalition in Victoria because of a lack of climate change policy.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think because of a lack of awareness of our climate change policy and I think ...
KENNEDY: It wasn't sold well.
PRIME MINISTER: What I’m saying today is we that we’ve got a very strong record of achievement. I was in New Zealand on Friday. New Zealand to meet their targets will have to buy foreign carbon credits. Under our plan we don't have to do that. We are actually achieving our abatement on our side of the line. And not only just achieving it, but we are bettering it. There are very few countries in the world that can claim a 367 million tonne better than 2020 on our targets. Our emissions reductions by 2030 will be more than 50% per person and they will be about a two-third reduction in emissions intensity by 2030. So these are serious targets but our targets are measured and balanced.
KENNEDY: Why not aim higher if things are going so well?
PRIME MINISTER: Well because it will crash the economy. It is not needed to have a higher target that will close industries and close jobs.
KENNEDY: So you won’t change your targets?
PRIME MINISTER: Labor's target at 45% would result in a loss of wages, per wage earner of $9,000 each per year. So you’ve got to have a responsible target that meets your environmental obligations, which we have been doing, but also supports our economy because our obligation to future generations is to give them a better planet, but it is also to ensure they have got an economy that supports their lifestyle.
KENNEDY: Just a couple more on the politics of this. Malcolm Turnbull said in his final press conference, that the truth is the Coalition finds it very hard to get agreement on anything to do with emissions, emissions issues and climate policy issues. Have the same problem within the Coalition of bitterly entrenched views, that are actually more Ideological than views based on engineering and economics. Are those views still entrenched?
PRIME MINISTER: This program has absolute support right across the party because it deals with things that Malcolm started also on Snowy 2.0 and we are picking up with the Marinus link with Tasmania.
KENNEDY: But are those views still entrenched in some parts?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I think the proof is the policy I am announcing today. Because this is what matters. What matters is what you get done and our record on addressing climate change is a very strong one and we have the plans in place to achieve our next set of targets which are responsible. So whether it is the Battery of the Nation, Snowy 2.0, the work that is being done in energy efficiency, the work that is being done on our Emissions Reduction Fund, all of that is adding up to meeting our obligations and our targets.
KENNEDY: Are you better at bringing the party together on this issue than Malcolm Turnbull, is that what you are saying?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I am saying we have a clear plan based on a great track record of which Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott were key parts of putting together and driving that success.
KENNEDY: Newspoll is out today. No big shift on those numbers. Are you surprised you that didn't get a bump following your attack on Labor on border protection?
PRIME MINISTER: No, because that was not what it is about. It was about … I mean people know many things about me but one thing I am sure they know is that when it comes to border protection I don't waiver, ever and that is why I took the strong position I did on this. For that and that reason alone.
KENNEDY: Dr Katie Allen was pre-selected as we just mentioned in Higgins yesterday.
PRIME MINISTER: A tremendous candidate.
KENNEDY: Are you relieved given a woman was not pre-selected in Stirling.
PRIME MINISTER: Let's go to Stirling. We have Vince Connolly who is a veteran and I would be pleased to have another veteran who has served overseas for our defence forces. Three great kids. Great family man. He is coming to join the Parliament and now we’ve got Katie who was pre-selected on the weekend. A paediatrician, a medical research scientist, a mother herself. I mean, she is an outstanding candidate as is Vince. So we are recruiting great talent to our team. It is about talent. It is about people who can come and bring their experience and credentials to my team and the fact we have got so many people signing up to our team, it gives me a great sense of confidence about the direction we are taking.
KENNEDY: But it is also about women. What is the great disadvantage of taking too few women in the Liberal Party ranks to the next election?
PRIME MINISTER: Since I became leader I think it is now 19 women that have now been selected in the both the Senate and in the House and Wendy has already joined us, taking over from David Bushby's position in Tasmania.
KENNEDY: So you are not concerned you have too few women?
PRIME MINISTER: Well what I am saying is since I have become Prime Minister the record of actually seeing women come into the ranks in very, very strong seats for the Liberal Party has been pretty good.
KENNEDY: A couple of quick ones to finish on. Labor has announced today a levy on banks. It is calling it the Banking Fairness Fund. So another fund there. Do you think it sound like a good idea?
PRIME MINISTER: The Labor Party's answer to every question. Bill Shorten’s answer to every question is higher taxes. So who is next? He has announced this today…
KENNEDY: It’s a levy on the banks to help people who are struggling in financial circumstances and can't get good advice and it is a follow from the Royal Commission, of course.
PRIME MINISTER: A good program should get support, but what we are able to do is fund Medicare to its highest rate of bulk-billing in history without it increasing people's taxes. We are able to have the highest funding for education. Increasing education funding for schools, independent and public and without increasing taxes. Bill Shorten doesn't seem to be able to do anything without increasing taxes. So its retirees, homeowners, wage earners, superannuation. I mean they are all getting hit with Bill Shorten's tax stick. I mean that is the only stick he's got - a higher tax stick that he hits anybody, anybody who gets anywhere near him.
KENNEDY: Well ok, we will hear from the Opposition today about that issue. Just one final one, Ita Buttrose as the chair of the ABC. Would you give that the green light when it is presented to Cabinet?
PRIME MINISTER: Cabinet hasn't made a decision on this matter yet and we are considering these matters and when we have made a decision we will make an announcement.
KENNEDY: Do you think she would she be a good person for the job?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't get into commentary about things that Cabinet are considering. Do you think she would?
KENNEDY: We have been pretty positive in the newsroom this morning about Ita Buttrose being the chair of the ABC.
PRIME MINISTER: I have known Ita for a long time …
KENNEDY: But it’s not up to me, it’s a question for you
PRIME MINISTER: … and I think she's an extraordinary Australian. An Australian of the Year and there have been few people more than Ita that I think have lifted the standards of journalism in this country and I think that says a lot about her character and her abilities.
KENNEDY: Joining the ranks of the great journalism of the ABC, it would be a nice fit, it seems. Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot.
Interview with Laura Jayes and Kieran Gilbert, Sky News
25 February 2019
LAURA JAYES: Prime Minister Good morning, if we are to meet our Paris targets in a canter as you have repeatedly promised why do we need to spend another $3.5 billion dollars in tax payer funds?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I always said there would be additional initiatives and there are in fact the Emissions Reduction Fund and the flagging of additional investment was set by Tony Abbott back in 2015 so this is a continuation of those programs and that is why I have always been so confident and why am I so confident because the 2020 targets we will exceed by over 400 million tonnes and when we came to Government we inherited a deficit of more than 700 million tonnes and we turned that around through these programs we will be one of the few countries in the world that will have exceeded our targets in 2020 by that type of amount well beyond many of the others who are often claimed and out to 2030 we have the plan to get us to hit those targets in a canter as well so our record speaks for itself we meet the targets that have been set for us that we have set ourselves and we will meet them in the future and they are sensible.
I mean a 45 per cent emissions reduction target as we learnt last week is going to cost everyone’s wages $9,000 a year, now that is a carbon tax on steroids. Remember that was $500 per year this is $9,000 per year and the reason for that is we have to hit 328 million tonnes to get to our 2030 target. Labor will require more than 3 times that amount shutting down industries around the country which will be terrible for our economy. Sensible, balanced that’s our approach with a track record of achieving.
KIERAN GILBERT: Prime Minister do you think that the wild weather that we have seen over recent months over Summer has made you know this an even more potent issue in the minds of people in the electorate. Is that your sense of the politics of this issue?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I mean I think that is absolutely a perception that is there and as I said at the Press Club a few weeks ago obviously these things play into this issue you know the extent of that currently I think that is a matter that is often debated but let’s understand where we are right now we are meeting and exceeding our carbon emission reduction targets that we set for ourselves right now.
So in terms for our action on climate change we are bettering what we said we would achieve and that means right now when these events are occurring we are well ahead of what people thought would be able to achieve and certainly what the Labor Party left us with which was a 700 million tonne deficit to meet our 2020 targets which we will now as I have said before smash more than 400 million tonnes.
JAYES: Well this climate solutions fund as you are calling it this morning, will it be used to underwrite new coal projects of which the government, your Government with Angus Taylor has identified ten?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s not what the Emissions Reduction Fund does, no.
JAYES: So there won’t be any funding from this to go to underwriting of new coal, that money will be found elsewhere and I imagine you will require legislation?
PRIME MINISTER: That is a separate process which continues to be underway which is agnostic about what the source of reliable energy is and that is a separate process. What I am talking about today is the Emissions Reduction Fund which is a $2 billion over the next ten years. This is also important, we are meeting our targets without having to go and purchase foreign carbon credits. Now in New Zealand I met with Jacinda Ardern last Friday and she told me that they are going to have to do that in New Zealand now in Australia we are not doing that. We are meeting our Emissions Reductions Targets, and lets remind ourselves is a reduction in per capita emissions by over 50 percent by 2030 and a reduction in the intensity of our emissions by two thirds now that stands up as credible anywhere in the world today and so they are credible targets but they are also sensible targets. Labor’s targets are reckless, I can’t describe it any other way and they will hit tax payers and they will hit industries and they will hit jobs and they will hit wages.
GILBERT: Well that is the debate you will obviously continue over coming months but did you concede this morning that $2 billion it’s a big figure this is a carbon price isn’t it of some sort on the economy and on tax payers.
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, no this is an investment in programs … it’s in the Budget this is the point it’s in our Budget.
GILBERT: It’s a carbon price.
PRIME MINISTER: It’s fully funded, no it’s not I think with great respect Keiran it shows a misunderstanding of the issues what this is investing in practices whether it’s in farms, in businesses or in other places to adopt energy efficient and improving technologies and practices which result in a reduction in carbon emissions but they also result in an improvement in productivity.
GILBERT: But it’s not free that’s the point.
PRIME MINISTER: So everybody wins, everybody wins from this project it’s not a price it is an investment.
JAYES: Can I ask you about the latest Newspoll 47 out of 53 you are still six points behind after the last fortnight in Parliament are you disappointed that there hasn’t been some kind of improvement there?
PRIME MINISTER: I just focus on the plan we have, the plans that we have outlaid on the economy, our national security plans, the plans I’m announcing today to meet our climate change targets and that’s what we are putting to the Australian people. Now the only reference I would make to those numbers today clearly what we are saying on the economy and the national security is resonating when it comes to my plans and I welcome that.
JAYES: Where is the evidence of that Prime Minister with these numbers?
PRIME MINISTER: You must have missed the bit that showed the difference between Bill Shorten and I when it comes to the economy and national security, we are resonating when it comes to our economic message and our national security message. The election is in May, West Coast were behind at half time and there is still a long way to go.
GILBERT: Do you feel that you have misread the mood though somewhat on asylum seekers, in terms of medical evacuations as you say in terms of the polling you are up on national security you are up on border protection that’s fine but in terms of the primary vote it hasn’t budged. Are people more sympathetic than you might have expected?
PRIME MINISTER: Honestly guys, seriously you are focussing on the wrong things. What border protection is about is border protection it’s about ensuring you have an integrity of border protection that’s why we do what we do that’s why we have always done what we have done.
It’s not about these numbers you are talking about if you focus on those numbers then you do what Bill Shorten does every day and changes his position on Christmas Island I mean what is his position today it was different yesterday to what it was two days before that. He’s chasing the polls around what I am doing is laying out plans for our economy, national security, climate change and border protection and people will make their own judgement but what people know about me is when I make decisions, when I put plans in place I achieve them whether it is on border protection, the economy and indeed our Government has from the first time when we put the Emissions Reduction Fund in place, I mean that of itself has resulted in almost 200 million tonnes of carbon abatement over the course of our Government. Now these are real results so we are focussed on those results the policy results because that’s what impacts on the outcomes for every Australian.
JAYES: A few final things Prime Minister, why have you cancelled the dawn services at Villers-Bretonneux is there any chance of overturning that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well that was a matter that I understand was decided by the Department and that has been brought to my attention and I will be discussing that with the Minister.
GILBERT: All right and so hopefully some change or potential change on that front and finally onto China and the coal issues do you think it is believable what they have said in relation to environmental checks for our coal given the standard of our exported coal is better than most of the rest of the world and yet exports from Indonesia, Russia are still going in to that port of Dalian in China is their reason believable?
PRIME MINISTER: Well this has happened before this is not the first time this has happened we have worked through these issues before these are local decisions that are made in these ports I should stress and they don’t represent a very large proportion of coal exports through that port into China in terms of our broader export of coal into China so we will just work through these issues as we have previously it’s not new and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in China has made it very clear that these two things are not related and we take that at their word but I do know this I don’t think a global market for coal being impacted negatively is a wonderful thing, the Labor Party does.
Everyone in Townsville should know everyone whose job depends on our biggest single minerals export, 55,000 of them should know that the Labor Party thinks that the market that supports your job not doing well is wonderful, that is an absolute disgrace. We believe in creating jobs and having sustainable industries we also believe in our traditional industries whether its forestries, whether is fisheries, whether it’s mining whether its agriculture. Yesterday I was in Gippsland talking to farmers in Gippsland who have been affected by the drought. As you know I have been up in Cloncurry in Julia Creek talking to those who have been affected by the floods we support our agriculture and primary industries and I was also in Tasmania the week before putting in place our forestry hub plan which is very important for jobs in north west Tasmania.
GILBERT: Prime Minister we appreciate your time thanks for that.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot Kieran, see you guys.
Interview with Deborah Knight, Today Show
25 February 2019
DEBORAH KNIGHT: Scott Morrison joins us now from Melbourne, good morning to you.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Deb.
KNIGHT: Now you’ve gone in hard over the past fortnight to try and discredit Labor on border protection. This Newspoll though shows things haven’t shifted. Why do you think your message isn’t cutting through?
PRIME MINISTER: We’re just doing the right thing for Australia’s borders. That's why we are doing this. We have always been strong on this issue, and I take great issue, whether it is the Labor Party, the Greens or anyone else, who want to undermine the strong border protection that we have put in place. That's why I acted on it, Deb, and that's why I will always act on it.
KNIGHT: You have been accused of scaremongering on this issue. Do you think that that’s not cutting with voters?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I know what the accusations are. I was accused of that when the boats were turning up thick and fast when we were in Opposition and people said I wouldn't be able to, as a team, turn it around. But we did. So that was an important thing for us to do as a nation. So I don't get swayed by those sort of criticisms. I just do what's right for the country and what’s right for our borders.
KNIGHT: Now, you are taking the fight to Labor on the issue of climate and your Party we know has been tearing itself apart on this for years. It has brought down leaders on both sides of politics. How do you come up with a united policy on climate change when some within your own ranks appear to doubt that it is even real?
PRIME MINISTER: We have one and we have been achieving it is. It is a right thing to do for future generations. The plan that we have been working to has taken where we inherited a 700 million tonne deficit on carbon emissions for the 2020 targets and we are now going to beat that by more than 400 million tonnes. And the core of that success has been the Emissions Reduction Fund and we are putting more money into that over the next decade to meet our 2030 targets. But it is not just that, it’s the work we are doing on hydro, whether it is Snowy Hydro 2.0 or down in Tasmania with the Battery of the Nation project where I was last year with Will Hodgman and I met with him again this week and we have been working on how we can bring that project to life.
And all the work that has been done on energy efficiency, whether it is on people's roofs or within their businesses, this is what will get us to the 2030 target. And what I'm announcing today will make sure that we can do that. We are already over achieving on our targets and with our plan we will continue to meet those targets which is what matters at the end of the day. Are you getting the job done? And when it comes to climate we are getting the job done on the targets that have been set and they are responsible targets as well as real and credible targets.
KNIGHT: Because I guess that would make people why we need to spend another $2 billion to get there, because you have said in the past as you have said now we will meet those Paris targets by 2030, and you used the language in a canter, so why do we need to do this spending?
PRIME MINISTER: And we will, Deb. Deb, I always knew we were going to put these policies in place and I was very clear about that all the way through and these are the policies that will continue to get us there in 2030. And they are built on the success of what we have achieved to date and they carry that success through to make sure we can achieve it by 2030. Now, we won't be do it by buying foreign carbon credits using taxpayer's money. Other countries will be doing that. New Zealand just confirmed to me last Friday that's what they will have to do. We will be reducing our missions on our side of the line, but we’ll be doing it without putting a wrecking ball through the Australian economy. I mean, Labor's 45 per cent emissions reduction target will cost everyone’s wage $9,000 a year. That's what the independent assessment came out and said last week. That's a carbon tax on steroids. We won't be doing that. Our target reduces the intensity of emissions by two thirds by 2030 and emissions per capita by over 50 per cent. We will achieve all of that. We will be doing our bit but keeping the economy strong at the same time.
KNIGHT: We know how crucial credibility and authenticity is in politics and you were the Treasurer who came into Question Time with a lump of coal talking up fossil fuels. I guess the big question for voters is how can they trust you to turn things around on climate policy?
PRIME MINISTER: Because our policies have been working. We need to draw our energy from all sources, Deb, all sources. And we need reliable power, as well as renewable, and in many cases, like with hydro, it is both and that's why we are investing in those areas. But I'm not going to join the Labor Party who sees the global market for our biggest mineral export facing some real problems as being wonderful. The Labor Party has said to 55,000 people who work in the coal industry that your jobs don't mean anything to us. Now, I know that would be a terrible message for people to hear up in Townsville. They are already dealing with the floods, and now they have got a Labor Party who wants to take their jobs away.
KNIGHT: All right, Prime Minister, time is unfortunately against us as always. There is lots more to talk to you about. But we hope to have you back on the show again soon. We thank you for your time this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Deb.
Accelerating a second Bass Strait Interconnector
25 February 2019
Prime Minister, Minister for Energy
The Morrison Government is backing the next step to make Tasmania the battery of the nation with $56 million for the proposed second interconnector with the mainland, after the Tasmanian Government released a feasibility study highlighting the business case stacks up.
The report finds the business case for a 1,200MW interconnector will unlock new generation and storage in Tasmania helping lower prices and increase reliability in the National Electricity Market, as well as boosting the Tasmanian and Victorian economies by $1.6 billion and creating 1,400 jobs.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the interconnector would mean more affordable and reliable electricity for homes and businesses and the Government’s $56 million investment would accelerate the delivery of the Marinus Link.
“After a summer of blackouts, the interconnector will mean more reliable power at lower prices for homes and businesses in Tasmania and on the mainland,” the Prime Minister said.
“Tasmania has the potential to be Australia’s battery to keep the lights on and running costs down and we’ll be there backing them to get there.”
Energy Minister Angus Taylor said approximately 400MW of available dispatchable generation cannot currently be delivered to the mainland, due to constraints on Basslink, the first Tasmania-Victoria interconnector.
“A second interconnector and new dispatchable generation and storage will help alleviate the significant supply and demand pressures we saw across the NEM over summer,” Minister Taylor said.
The Morrison Government will continue to encourage investment in the new generation and storage needed to provide more affordable and reliable power to Australian families and small businesses.
The additional funding builds on the $20 million already invested by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and Tas Networks, into the initial feasibility report.
Importantly, new reliable renewable generation and storage unlocked by the second interconnector is expected to deliver up to 25 million tonnes of emissions abatement by 2030.
More information, including the initial feasibility report, can be found at: projectmarinus.tasnetworks.com.au/initial-feasibility-report/
Interview with David Koch, Sunrise
25 February 2019
DAVID KOCH: Prime Minister, good morning to you.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day David.
KOCH: Given this poll out today, are you disappointed with that, that you haven’t had a bounce in the polls? Because you made a big thing of the difference between your policy and also the Opposition’s in terms of Medivac and asylum seeker boats.
PRIME MINISTER: We stand by all of that because that was about the policy. We don’t want to see Australia’s border protection policy weakened and that's why we took the step we did. The polls will be the polls. West Coast was behind at half time too, David, as you’ll recall. So the hooter goes in May, at the end of the session. And so we’re focused on whether is our stronger economy plans, our stronger national security plans, and today of course, outlining how we will meet our 2030 emissions reductions target through the Climate Solutions Fund.
KOCH: So you honestly think you can win the next election?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course I do.
KOCH: Is it right Bill Shorten has written to you advising the Opposition front bench will be having meeting with senior public servants in the next couple of weeks to ensure a smooth transition of power?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I know that… yes, that have, they tried the same thing back in 2016. They are getting ahead of themselves. The hubris we’ve seen from Bill Shorten thinking he has already won an election I think has risen to new levels. We will follow all the normal protocols that are associated with elections and he is trying to actually over-assert what his entitlements are in this area. But that is because he is overconfident about the next election and is approaching it, I think, quite arrogantly.
KOCH: Australians though are seeing all of these colleagues of yours resigning, Julie Bishop the latest one. A lot of women resigning from the Party. A lot of Australians are thinking wow, have they have seen the writing on the wall? Are they are getting out early and getting new jobs before the inevitable?
PRIME MINISTER: No and Julie Bishop said exactly the opposite, as did Kelly O'Dwyer. And yesterday, we preselected Dr Katie Allen. She is a paediatrician who is also a medical research scientist working on children's health. Her victory yesterday, a very substantial one in the seat of Higgins, I think demonstrates the vote of confidence that people of real talent, women of real talent, are putting in the Liberal Party. And so they are joining our team, just as many others have been to take up these positions and in fact the retirements are no different than what happens at most elections, David. They’re consistent with that and Labor have had many women retire as well.
KOCH: But you are, you have got to admit, you are pretty short on women in your ranks. Are you looking at bringing in quotas? How are you going to rectify that, because it is not a great look.
PRIME MINISTER: Well since I became Prime Minister, we’ve has I think now 19 women selected in key roles. Whether it’s Bridget Archer down there in the seat of Bass or Jess Whelan in the seat of Lyons. We have got women coming in to the Senate replacing men who have gone out of the Senate, so we’ve seen quite a number come in over these last few months. But it is certainly an issue the Party will need to address in the future, but I’m pleased at the number of women who have stepped forward in the last six months to take on these roles, and they are high-quality and they are great candidates and they are there absolutely on merit.
KOCH: OK. Let’s talk about climate change. You're unveiling your plan to tackle climate change today, including allocating $2 billion over ten years for practical solutions to reducing emissions and making sure we meet our Paris Agreement target in 2030. You can understand people get a bit confused about the Coalition’s climate change policy. Are you a climate change believer?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes. Three things. First of all, we owe it to future generations to address this issue, and we have been addressing this issue. Our record, when we came into government, we had to make up for a 700 million tonne deficit on carbon emissions when we came to government. The policies we have put in place to meet our 2020 targets means we will now beat that by 400 million tonnes. The policies we have put in place are working, they are hitting our targets. There are very few countries in the world that can say that they will not only meet our 2020 targets but exceed them.
KOCH: So why are you spending an extra $2 billion if you are reaching the target comfortably? Are you going to set new lower targets?
PRIME MINISTER: No, the 2020 targets are the one we're going to meet by over 400 million tonnes. The 2030 targets will require this additional investment in the very programs that have been…
KOCH: So you are a bit behind on that?
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, we always knew that there would be more that needed to be done and I have said that on several occasions and I said we’d be announcing that before the election. And today, I’m making those plans clear. These are responsible targets, David. I believe that you can meet your emissions reduction targets, address climate change and not put a sledgehammer through your economy. That is why our targets are balanced. They will reduce per capita emissions by more than 50 per cent by 2030 and our emissions intensity by two thirds. Now, that is one of the best targets in the G20. Countries like Canada won't meet that. Countries like New Zealand will not meet that same level of result and they will have to buy carbon credits from overseas. We are dealing with it on our side of the line, making sure we are taking the action that is needed.
KOCH: So this Climate Solutions Fund is the renamed the Emissions Reduction Fund?
PRIME MINISTER: No it’s more than that, because there is the work being done on Emissions Reduction Fund, there is the investment that will be going into Snowy Hydro 2.0 and also the Battery of the Nation project, another pumped hydro very significant project in Tasmania. It also deals with electric car strategy and on top of that, continuing with the energy efficiency measures whether it's in households or businesses. So it’s a comprehensive package.
KOCH: It sounds like you like renewables and renewable energy has a real place in this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well of course it does. So does reliable energy. I mean, I don’t… as my predecessor used to say, these things don't have moral qualities, they just produce energy that people need to use, so I don't get hung up on personal affections for one or the other.
KOCH: Your colleagues slammed South Australia for their batteries and renewable energies.
PRIME MINISTER: I just want stuff that works, David. That’s what I want to do. My plan will do that, it’ll meet our targets and it won’t put a sledge hammer through our economy. Labor's emissions reduction target of 45 per cent will cost everybody's wage $9,000 a year. $9,000 a year. That's a carbon tax on steroids.
KOCH: OK, Prime Minister, thank you for talking to us this morning. Appreciate it.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks David, good to be with you.
Meeting our climate commitments without wrecking the economy
25 February 2019
Prime Minister, Minister for the Environment
Australia will meet its international climate targets without wrecking the economy and driving power prices sky high.
The Morrison Government today announced a $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package.
Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, said Australians recognise climate change and the importance of protecting the environment.
“We will meet our global commitments, and do what is right for our environment, without taking a wrecking ball to the economy.
“We have an obligation to preserve the environment for our children. We also have an obligation to hand over a strong economy, where our kids and grandkids can get jobs.
“We will meet our commitments in practical ways by working with land holders, farmers, businesses and indigenous communities.
“There will be further announcements ahead but as part of the $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package, we will invest a further $2 billion in the Climate Solutions Fund.”
The Climate Solutions Fund will build on the success of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) which has contracted 193 million tonnes in emission reductions.
The Minister for the Environment, the Hon Melissa Price MP, said that Climate Solutions Fund will ensure the ERF delivers a further 103 million tonnes in emission reductions to 2030. This will make a key contribution to us meeting our 26% emissions reduction target under the Paris agreement.
“We are working with people on the ground to reduce emissions and lead real environmental change.
“The ERF is investing in our farmers to help them revegetate degraded land, to protect existing forest areas and to increase habitats for our native species.
“We are working with businesses to invest in the adoption of energy efficient business practices that are reducing costs and working with waste managers and with recyclers to reduce waste emissions.
“We are working with indigenous communities in projects such a savannah burning where traditional land care practice is blended with modern environmental science.”
For more information visit:
https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-solutions-package
Doorstop - Gippsland, Victoria
24 February 2019
THE HON DARREN CHESTER MP, MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND: Well first of all, it's great to welcome the Prime Minister here today along with my colleague David Littleproud, the Minister for Agriculture, Danny O’Brien the Member for Gippsland South and Melina Bath, Upper House and State MP as well. While it's great to be here, it's obviously a very sombre topic for us here in Gippsland. The drought is starting to bite very deeply for a lot of our dry land agriculture and the farmers we met with today make it very clear to us all that they are going through some pretty tough times. For some of our farming communities, this is the worst drought that they’ve experienced in a hundred years. So we need to keep working with them. And I've got to say I'm very pleased with the way Minister Littleproud and the Prime Minister have been responsive to the concerns I've raised about making sure we try and reduce the amount of red tape around farming household allowance and making sure we work with our local government members to try and get more infrastructure into our regional community and also work with the farming families themselves about how we can help their properties be more sustainable in the longer term.
We all know it's going to rain again. When it rains again, we want to make sure that our farmers can be viable in the longer term. So today's about listening to our farming families, getting a better appreciation of beyond the ground impacts of the drought and what are the steps we might need to take in partnership with both state and local government to try and reduce some of those cost structures and make sure our farming families are here for a very long time. So with those words PM, it's great to have you here in Gippsland. I would have preferred you had brought nice grey skies and a couple inches of rain but if it can’t rain it might as well be beautiful like today.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Darren. And that is the purpose of my being here today. It doesn't matter what corner of the country you are in. If you’re being affected by drought I’m listening, whether it's here at Gippsland, whether it's in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, doesn't matter where it is. Our Government is keenly interested in the plight of our rural communities. Of course those on farm, but also those who are in the towns who depend on the agricultural sector to provide the livelihood that exists right across Australia and in rural and regional centres. So it’s been a good opportunity to come here today and have a listen. It doesn't matter where I might be. The stories are different. The challenges are often different. The country is different and that means always you've got to have a very local response. And that's why a big part of our response is to work with the local shires and councils. The support that can be provided through those councils, that immediate support we've put in through our drought recovery program. That is, we know, providing some of useful support, but it's not everything. Whether it's the farm household allowance or the other measures that we've put in place, this is all important, but every single part of the country does need its own response. It does need its own plan. And that's why I’m pleased to come here today and meet with so many.
And I'll be meeting with more later on this afternoon. I'm meeting with Premier Andrews tomorrow, we’ll be talking about a large number of topics, but this will be one and there's been some feedback here for me today, but there's also been some important feedback here today for the state and I’m sure they’ll be interested to hear my firsthand relaying of that to the state government. I know the Victorian agricultural minister has been out here and would have got it firsthand too, I imagine, got some fairly direct feedback. So we'll have those discussions when we meet together tomorrow.
But there have been some announcements today, but I'm not overstating what they are. Some of them relate to parts of this district, but others don't. And what's most important is that we ensure that how we're responding to the drought is as useful here as it is in other parts of the country. And that's principally why I've come along today. I'm going to ask David to talk a bit about some of those particular announcements, but I do stress that they don't directly impact particularly where we're standing today, but in other parts of the district they do.
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: Well thanks PM. Can I firstly say, last week we saw the lowest political act in this nation's history when the Labor Party and Kerryn Phelps voted against the Future Drought Fund. To politicise the misery of these people is something I never thought I'd see in this nation. They become irrelevant to this debate. Every Australian should be ashamed that they would vote against a future fund that goes to protect regional and rural Australia, make sure that we're prepared for future droughts. For them to vote against that is the lowest political act I've ever seen.
But we're going to get on with the job as the PM has said, and we're going to be agile, continue to be agile, we're going to come and listen. You don't want Canberra solutions, you want local solutions. So today we're proud to announce $31 million for the Macalister water project here to get greater efficiency. A project that was started 80 odd years ago and to be able to make sure we get greater efficiency to make sure there's more water available during the dry times. And so we're proud to be able to partner. We would ask the state government to consider kicking the tin with us, but we're also not just looking at irrigation. We're looking for those farmers that are out there doing it tough that don't have access to irrigation. We're also announcing on-farm order measurements, measure efficiency programs up to $25,000 or 25 per cent the Federal Government will kick in and that will allow farmers to desilt dams. To get in there while things are dry now and desilt those dams or put in pipes and troughs to get greater water efficiency. And I’d also reach out to the state government and ask them to kick the tin as well. In other states they're doing it. This'll be a real, tactile program that will give real results to farmers on the ground while they have the opportunity to do it now. But while cash flow is tight, it will be an opportunity to help them make these strategic investments in the here and now.
PRIME MINISTER: I'm happy to take some questions and we’ve got others who can field some of those questions as well. Let's just talk about what we’re here today about. I’ve already done a press conference early in the day on broader matters. I can take one or two on that if you insist, which I’m sure you will. So why don't we deal with the issues we’re here to talk about today and Darren and David and others can jump in.
JOURNALIST: What was some of the feedback you received?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I think one of... there were two key thing that seem to be really impacting at the moment. There’s obviously an impacts on cash flow and there the fodder transport and fodder subsidies that are being provided by state governments elsewhere aren’t being provided in Victoria. And that's a real issue of concern. Rate relief as well is another big issue. And again, that's an issue that is a state matter. Look, so I’ll pass those on to Dan tomorrow. I'm sure he's quite aware of those. He would have got the same big feedback when his ag minister was out here over the course of the week. We'll do the things that we can do and David is, as I think just set out what they are.
I mean two of the biggest areas of success in providing relief that we've found in our response to the drought. And this was also backed up at our Drought Summit last year. And then the follow on from that has been the support we've put in the councils and the support we’ve put on for the on-farm infrastructure. These two things have, as we've got the feedback from farming communities all across the country, they have been working well. Now, they are being rolled out here as well now. And the other issue is how long will this go on for? And I think there is a natural and understandable anxiety about what you're planning. How long is a piece of string, you know, in parts of the country they've been a drought for seven years. We're not down that far down the road here compared to those parts of the country.
So I think there's a natural anxiety about how much you can do and what you're trying to prepare for it. So you know, the farm household allowance, we didn't get a lot of feedback on that today, but we've got the rural financial counsellors, they’re the support people if you need that. I think David can update on how many people…
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: About 380.
PRIME MINISTER: About 380 in this part of the world who are getting support on that and if others need it then the rural financial counsellors can come and assist you with that. Darren's office can support you in making sure you get access to that. The other thing we put in is support for the mental health services locally. Again, that has to be driven locally, that I would only ask all of those in the district to keep an eye out for each other. That's very important. It doesn't matter what time of the country you’re in, people tend not to volunteer how they're feeling about this stuff. That's, you know, it's, people are tough and they certainly like to be seen that way. But know that people are there to support you and help care for you and these services can just help you deal with a really tough time. So we're putting additional supportive of that but it's not the whole solution. It's just part of the support network that’s needed.
JOURNALIST: The Victorian Farmers Federation, the Wellington Shire Council and the East Gippsland Shire Council have all raised concerns that the criteria with the federal grant funding is too restrictive and it's not going to things that are actually helping farmers on the ground. What have you got to say to those concerns?
PRIME MINISTER: Well one of the biggest things that Wellington done has been doing water cartage, which has had a great response and that was one of the pieces of feedback that we've had. Remember that the million dollars we give to the council is not there as the entire response to the issues facing farmers on the land. That's where the on-farm infrastructure incentives, that's what they're there for. That's what the farm household allowance is there for. It is not the only thing. The principle role of those funds that go into those councils is to ensure that there is money circulating in the local economy. It's as much to keep local jobs, whether they are people who previously might have been working on a farm and now can’t because the farm isn't doing the work that it was doing before, and now they can be working in other areas. I mean, we've got people in Queensland doing it with dog fences. We've got others upgrading amenity blocks, we've got some that are doing roads, others are doing water cottage. So around the country the response has been that the parameters have been quite good and the important thing is it's giving local communities the decision making about how they spend the money.
JOURNALIST: The feedback we’ve had from many farmers and councils is anger and frustration. We've got the Wellington Shire Council spending $500,000 in upgrading the sale yards and the East Gippsland Shire Council is spending $700,000 on resurfacing car parks. Farmers are wondering how does it actually help them on the ground battling the drought?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll let Darren respond to that. But again, the million dollars to the councils is not intended as a farm subsidy. That's not its purpose. It was never designed that way. It was about understanding that all the towns [inaudible] drought affected communities, because those towns will not be getting the income from the ag sector coming in and spending in the towns. That won't be there. There'll be a cash drought in the towns because of the drought that is occurring on the properties. And so that's its purpose. And so there are many things we have to do and that's just one of the things, but Darren might want to comment. And the decisions are made locally, not by the Commonwealth.
JOURNALIST: But you approve them.
THE HON DARREN CHESTER MP, MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND: Well thanks. And to clarify as the Prime Minister was saying, the infrastructure grants that local governments are being provided is intended to improve the infrastructure to boost local funding. I mean, I don't want to defend the East Gippsland Shire and Wellington Shire in that regard. The money they are spending is going to improve agricultural facilities for the long term. This is money that we need to spend anyway. If the council had to find it from their own rate revenue, it would be money taken from local roads, it would be money taken away from facilities. So the council, I think, has made responsible decisions to invest in their agricultural industries for longer term. We have a rich and a proud heritage in agriculture industries in Gippsland, but we also have a great future and part of that great future is having world-class lifestyle facilities for the sale of stock, making sure that we meet the animal welfare standards. And meet the expectations of the buying and the selling public. So I congratulate both councils for investing in the longer term, notwithstanding the fact that there's still more or what we can do with local state governments to address some of those social, economic and environmental issues on farm. And that's why we've been here today listening to farms concerns.
PRIME MINISTER: So what we’ve also done as we’ve rolled this program out, and Senator McKenzie has been, I think, very agile in listening to the feedback on the program. We've made a number of changes, as I have in terms of disaster payments in places that have been stricken by floods. And then one of the first things that we did in response to the Townsville floods was to pretty much straight away remove some of the paperwork requirements for people accessing those monies. And enabled us to get about $40 million out the door in about a week. So the Government, I think, has demonstrated an active ear when it comes to how these programs are rolling out on the ground. Frankly, that's the reason I'm here today. It’s to listen to some of those concerns that have come back and if the program needs to be altered, then we'll make those calls.
JOURNALIST: I have a question for Minister Littleproud, if you mind. So some of the feedback we've been having from local contractors, so for example hay cartage contractors, say that we were talking about the red tape around the rural financial household allowance. They say despite, you know, relying on the land for their income, they don't qualify as a farmer per se for the legislation and therefore are missing out on some assistance that could really help him. Is this something that you'll take away from these meetings and maybe reconsider redrafting the legislation?
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: Well, look, obviously we are here listening and in fact I ordered a review into the farm household assistance program which was started in 2014. So it was long overdue. The reality is I've got to be honest, that is a safety net. It's a safety net for social security for people. It's not an entitlement. I have to be honest with people, but we are working through with an FHA review team to see whether we can streamline it, in terms of not only the application but in terms of how some of the income is treated so that it does in encompass an understanding of the agricultural sector better. But let me say, we'll continue to work through that and we're putting more rural financial counsellors on the ground. There was 116 RFCS staff, but I've put another 39 and we're continuing to go and listen. If there is a need for more rural financial counsellors on the ground, we'll put them in. We've been agile, the PM cut a cheque straight away when we needed an additional 39 and we'll continue to do more.
But we're not going to make it a Canberra-based solution, it has to be a local solution. If we're asked for that, then we'll look for that.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask you about on Aussie Farms, you wanted to revoke the charity status of Aussie Farms. What process is that at now?
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: That's totally incorrect. I have not asked for any charity to have their charitable status revoked in terms of drought. I have written, I have written... Oh, sorry.
JOURNALIST: I’m talking about Aussie Farms, the organisation that published the locations of numerous farms.
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: So obviously that's sent through to the Charities Commission. Under the provision of the Charities Commission that is something that isn't made public and I understand they're working through that process as they speak. It's not something that they would refer back to the Agriculture Minister. I understand they're working through that process, but I would hope that they would look very carefully at that. Because what this group has done is effectively putt and attack map on farmers and their homes where children. It is abhorrent. I don't think any Australian would say that is what a charity would do it. So I'll leave it to the Charities Commission. They're a reputable organization in terms of trying to sort this out. But I'd expect some action. I know everyone else would.
PRIME MINISTER: Let's do a couple of them, then we've got to get on the road.
JOURNALIST: Are you disappointed that a female wasn’t selected for Stirling?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it was a good field and the grassroots of the party made a decision after Michael's departure. I was in Tasmania this morning and, you know, down in Tasmania, whether it's in Bass or in Lyons or in our Senate ticket and just recently replacing Senator Bushby, I think there's been about 17 or 18 now, female candidates that have been selected both for the National Party and the Liberal Party since I became Prime Minister. Whether it's the seats like Lindsay or Macquarie in New South Wales and as I’ve already mentioned the ones in Tasmania. So look at, these are issues that will continue to work on as a Party. But at the end of the day, our Party rank and file make the decisions and that’s what’s happened on this occasion our candidate there who was selected yesterday, he’s an ex-serviceman. He’s served overseas in peacekeeping missions, he’s served his country. He used to work on Julie Bishop's staff, in fact. So look, we had some excellent choices to choose from yesterday and the Party rank and file have done that for Western Australia.
JOURNALIST: The Liberal Party still has to fill seats vacated by senior MPs, including some women. How difficult is that task?
PRIME MINISTER: It’s the same task as filling any of these seats. There’s the selection in Higgins and there’ll be a selection in Curtain as well. The Party will go through its normal processes to make their selections in each case. Now I tell you one thing that won’t happen, they won’t be picked by unions. They won't be big union vote blocks just coming in and telling our Party who our candidates should be. That's how things roll in the Labor Party. That's not how it works for the Liberal Party.
JOURNALIST: Potentially thirteen weeks from here until the election, how do you feel?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're just focusing on the things that matter to Australians. That's why I'm here today. We are focused on ensuring our economy is strong so we can support essential services that Australians rely on. As I said earlier today, today we have said that from the first of next month, first of April I should say, there will be access to heart checks for all Australians under the Medicare system and it's unlimited, I should stress. The Labor Party's put a cap on how much can be done, ours is uncapped and that will be available to all Australians, uncapped. We're announcing today more listed medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This time dealing with leukemia, taking a drug that would cost around $8,000 I think down to just a 40 bucks, just over 40 bucks and $650 if you’re on a concession.
Now you can't do these things unless you're investing in having a stronger economy. You can't turn up and provide support, whether it's in the flood-riven communities of North Queensland or drought savaged communities of Victoria. If you don't have a strong economy, I mean you're dipping into an empty bucket and that's what the Labor Party will offer - an empty bucket. The only time there'll be anything in that bucket is if they put their hand in your pocket and take more taxes from you.
So running a strong economy enables us to support these important programs, whether it's in the drought affected communities, flood affected communities, essential services like on Medicare. I mean, we have the highest level of bulk billing for Medicare on record. That's what we've been able to achieve by running a strong economy and supporting essential services. So you asked me how I feel? I feel we're doing a great job focusing on the things that really matter to Australians - their economy, their security, their safety, their future, and for standing by them when they're going through stuff, which is really tough. Like they are here and like they are in many parts of the country and I think they know, all those quiet Australians out there. They don't get around being advocates, they don’t get around, you know, shouting and going to marches and all this sort of thing. They're just trying to keep their farms going. Keep their small businesses going. They're taking their kids to school and raising them. They're doing the best they can, running their lives and having their aspirations and they know I can hear them and I know exactly what they're saying and I'm totally on their side. Thanks very much.
Doorstop - Hobart Airport, Tasmania
24 February 2019
SENATOR THE HON ERIC ABETZ: Today's announcement is exceptionally exciting for southern Tasmania, but indeed all of Tasmania. It builds on the good economic management that has been delivered by the Coalition Government over the last few years. The Premier and I still recall the 2013/ 2014 period when this state was in recession, was going backwards, and as a Federal Coalition, we promised to turbo charge the Tasmanian economy.
The Coalition was elected federally, shortly thereafter the Liberals were elected in Tasmania. And we have worked hand in glove ever since to ensure that we deliver good economic management to Tasmania. And the statistics are there for all to see. The Premier and his Treasurer have a great trade record for Tasmania, as we do federally. Unemployment down from 8.1 per cent to below 6 per cent. These are the sort of things that are transformational for this state.
And it's very apt that today, with the signing of the Hobart City Deal, we are here at the Hobart Airport. In 2013, as part of our policy to turbo charge the Tasmanian economy, we agreed to extend the Hobart runway. That has been delivered on time and I might add below budget and as a result, we are able to make these further announcements today. As a Tasmanian Liberal Senator along with my colleague Senator Jonathon Duniam, this really is a very exciting moment to see all this hard work after the past five years come together in this Deal which now allows us, if I can borrow a term from you, Premier, to take Tasmania to the next level. And with that, allow me to introduce the Premier.
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Thanks, Eric. Prime Minister and federal colleagues and to Treasury Government and our state team and also to the Lord Mayor and our local governments colleagues as well as many other distinguished guests, it's an appropriate moment to celebrate the culmination of a lot of hard work, but I think a really great example of all levels of government coming together to plan strategically for growth, to deal with challenges that come with a growing economy, and most importantly to invest in ways that will turbocharge not only the City of Hobart, but also our state.
I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the mayors and the work that they've done. This is a really important collaboration and they inform part of this greater Hobart that is really a different place now that it was just a few years ago. Tasmania's economy, now one of the strongest performing in the country. We’ve seen strong levels of population growth, a lot of business investment, and we need to match that with government investment and infrastructure.
This is a wonderful way to capitalize also on our great competitive advantages. Our role and our status as the nation's gateway to Antarctica will be enhanced by this extraordinary deal. And that will further lead to growth in that important sector and at this airport for Tasmania's exporters, for our tourism industry, for those of us who need to travel out of Tasmania. And to those we welcome here in increasing numbers, to have this airport restored to international status is something that's been a dream of mine and this government for many years. This is a massive investment that will secure Tasmania's international status and we really welcome that.
In conclusion, I just want to take the opportunity to acknowledge my Treasurer and Minister for Local Government Peter Gutwein, who's not only been pivotal in ensuring that Tasmania's budget is in such great shape, our economy is firing on all cylinders, but has put in aa power at work into this City Deal. He's been the lead minister for the state government, so thanks very much to you and for your efforts working very closely with Alan Tudge and I'm delighted to again, welcome the Prime Minister back to Tasmania very swiftly after his last visit. I know we'll see a lot more of you over the coming weeks. But great to have you back PM.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Premier. It's wonderful to be back here, Premier, and to be back in the turnaround state. I've said it many times and you are taking it to the next level. And I can also extend my good morning, because it is a beautiful morning here in Hobart today, to my federal colleagues, my state colleagues, and those from local government as well. This is a partnership which we're announcing here today. We have signed it here today.
You can do a lot when you've got a strong economy. If you don't, you can't. That's the lesson, I think, whether it's in Tasmania or Australia, when you've got an economy which is strong, you can do a lot of things. And today we're announcing the Hobart City Deal, which we'll sign here today. But today I can also say because of a strong economy, we're announcing that from the first of April of this year, any Australian will be able to get their heart check-up and they'll be able to do that on Medicare and there is no cap on the amount of money that we'll put on it. It's unlimited. That's what our commitment is today. You do that because you've got a strong economy.
We’re also announcing today that we are listing further drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, in this case that will be the pharmaceuticals associated with leukemia and leukemia-fighting, life-saving drug. These are the things you can do, taking a $7,000 drug down to a $40 drug and $6.50 if you’re on a concession. And that's to fight leukemia. That's on top of what we've done with lung cancer and breast cancer and ovarian cancer. All of these incredibly important things.
Today we're also announcing more than $200 million in research to fight heart disease in Australia. This is what you can do with a strong economy. And it's also what you can do here in Hobart with this City Deal that we’re announcing today. I share the Premier's joy and enthusiasm in terms of particularly what this Deal is doing for Hobart International Airport. It has been the dream of the Premier and one we've been very pleased to partner with him on to realise. This is great for Hobart. Make no doubt, but it's great for all of Tasmania. Whether it is Jess Whelan who is here with us or Bridget Archer up in Bass or anywhere across the state, this is a good deal for the state. It's just not about Hobart down in the south. It's about all of Tasmania and I know that's why the Premier is also so committed to this project because it is a gateway and enables all Tasmanians to benefit.
The project encompasses our environmental commitments and our research and capability that is based here on the Antarctic and the Environment Minister Melissa will say a bit more about that in a minute. It deals with everything from affordable housing through the busting congestion in our cities. It's great to see the turnaround not only in the economy, but the population of Tasmania and that requires us to invest and that's exactly what we're doing.
So it is a landmark day for Tasmania, for Hobart, and for Australia and I'm very pleased to be here with the Premier and all of our other colleagues of local, state, and federal government to get this done. Thank you. I'm going to pass you on to Alan Tudge, the architect of the Deal from the Commonwealth's point of view. Thank you.
THE HON ALAN TUDGE MP, MINISTER FOR CITIES, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POPULATION: Well, thanks so much, Prime Minister and Premier and colleagues and mayors. This is a Deal worth waiting for. It is a really transformational Deal for Hobart and for Tasmania. On Friday, we announced the details of the social housing package that is going to be $30 million, 100 new public houses for Hobart, which will assist the most disadvantaged in our community, including those who have escaped from domestic violence.
Yesterday was congestion busting day. We announced hundreds of millions of dollars for projects across the greater Hobart region. And that included $461 million for the Bridgewater Bridge, the single largest investment in Tasmania's history. And today we're announcing the rest of the deal and obviously with the two leaders signing it. And that's the most important elements of the deal itself is exactly as the Prime Minister said. And that is the opening up of this airport behind us to be an international airport.
Now that comes about from many things. We've already extended the runway thanks to $38 million which we put in a couple of years ago. We're investing in the gateway coming into the airport. But today we're announcing $82 million to be able to put the security in place, the migration settings in place, for people to be able to come in as an international airport. Now this means that from 2020, it'll be open for business.
Now when you look at other airports, and just recently we did this to the ACT Airport, it has led to in the ACT, a 20 per cent increase in international travellers in just two years since we opened up international airport there. And so the possibilities for Tasmania are exactly the same. And we hope that this will mean more international visitors are able to fly directly into Hobart and visit the whole of Tasmania and add to the tourism economy there. Overall that will add, we estimate, at least 680 jobs in the process.
The other key component that we're announcing today as well is the enormous contribution, which we've along with the Tasmanian government will be making towards creating what will undoubtedly be the world's best Antarctic and Science Precinct down at Macquarie Point. And that is an unbelievable vision which the Premier has articulated and we are joining him on that today. And that's going to be complemented by a $450 million investment in Antarctic research and work, which we've done in part with the University of Tasmania. And Melissa will say a couple of things about that.
Can I just conclude, though, in just in thanking the Tasmanian government, in particular Treasurer Gutwein for his work in working so closely with me along with the mayors, the four mayors involved in this. It has been a long journey, but it's been worth the wait. And it's been great cooperation across the three levels of governments and when you have the three levels of government working closely together as we have to produce a Deal like this, it's just amazing what you can achieve. So thank you so much to the Premier, to Treasurer Goodwin, and to the mayors for all the work that they've done here as well.
THE HON MELISSA PRICE, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, everybody. And can I just say first thing, happy 50th birthday to Casey Station. It's great to be here. It's wonderful to have an invitation to Tasmania. Complementary to the Hobart City Deal is the $450 commitment over ten years to Australia's Antarctic presence. The key infrastructure, whether it's water, whether it's power, improving communications, improving research facilities, improving administration. This is in addition to our existing commitments to the Antarctic, including a $1.9 billion icebreaker which due for delivery in 2020 and also other key infrastructure like an all-weather airstrip.
This is good news clearly for Tasmanian businesses, the local people of Hobart, but all around Tasmania and this just shows us what we can do with a strong economy. So I'm thrilled that we've got $450 million commitment to improving our Antarctica facilities, good for Tasmanians, good for Australia. Thank you. I'd like to introduce the Lord Mayor of Hobart.
ANNA REYNOLDS, LORD MAYOR OF HOBART: Thank you, I’d just like to introduce the other three mayors that are involved in the greater Hobart area, Doug Chipman from Clarence, Kristie Johnston from Glenorchy and Dean Winter from Kingborough. The four mayor of greater Hobart are really pleased to be signing this Deal today. And most see this Deal as the start of a really important journey that's going to be occurring over the coming few years. Because implementation of this kind is the really important next step. There are many projects in this plan that we need to work out how we're going to continue to fund and implement and build and deliver. But all of the really key projects that are important for Hobart's future are in this plan. We're excited about that.
I personally am very excited about the investment in Antarctic science because any investment in Antarctica is good for Hobart. Hobart is the capital of Antarctica and it is great to see this investment in Antarctic science. It's the beginning of the journey. We've got a lot more work to do. And we’re really keen for the first time as four mayors to be working much more closely together, but also working closely with the state and federal government and they're very supportive of the concept of city deals because it is about all levels of government working very closely together. The community wants to see us working together. They don't want to see division. They want to see collaboration for the community. And so city deals are a good project and a good initiative from that perspective. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Lord Mayor. What I suggest we do is why don't we address if there are any questions about the City Deal itself and there's quite a cast that can take those questions from you today and we'll direct those to the appropriate place. And if there are other matters, I suspect others who are already directly associated with the City Deal, we'd be happy to excuse them and I'm happy to deal with any other matters of the day. So, the topic.
JOURNALIST: Is there any investment for UTAS’ STEM building to come to the city?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’ve got to say, we've got the Vice Chancellor, and I’ve got to commend UTAS for the tremendous work they've been doing. As you know, UTAS was the beneficiary of $150 million as part of the Launceston City Deal. They have also made a tidy profit [inaudible]. And they receive around $400 million each year when it comes to Commonwealth payments. And they've got over $1 billion of capital of which they can leverage and pursue. There are many opportunities, which I have no doubt the Vice Chancellor will be very expert in opinions of. So that is not something that is part of this Deal. We think that's something that obviously, though, they'll be able to pursue in their own capacity and they've been significant beneficiaries of the deals we've already done.
JOURNALIST: Similarly, there's a concern there's no real commitment to light rail, which many see as the key to unlocking Hobart's traffic congestion.
THE HON ALAN TUDGE MP, MINISTER FOR CITIES, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POPULATION: Well I addressed this point yesterday, I don’t know if the Premier or the Treasurer wants to add anything.
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: I might invite Treasurer Gutwein to make some comments
THE HON ALAN TUDGE MP, MINISTER FOR CITIES, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POPULATION: I addressed this point yesterday, in terms of it was a huge congestion busting package which we announced, including $25 million to go into the northern corridor. And what I mentioned was that really this Deal is the first step in having better public transport solutions for that northern corridor. And there's a commitment to investigate what the best option is going to be going into the future, knowing that we need to activate that corridor, do the better planning, have the development options on the table, get rid of the red tape, and do all the pieces along the way as well.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible]
PETER GUTWEIN, TREASURER OF TASMANIA: Obviously there's a congestion busting piece to this [inaudible]. More importantly, what this also provides in the Deal is the first steps to be taken respectively with all the planning that needs to occur that could unleash hundreds of millions of dollars of urban development on those transport corridors. So it's the first step, the first stage, but importantly, there's $25 million under the Deal that will enable us to do that.
JOURNALIST: How much of the $1.43 billion or whatever it is actually budgeted for now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ll tell you, it’s all in our forward estimates. It’s all in there. This isn't a promise. This is an actually funded commitment. It's actually in place. When it comes to commitments that are made around the election, they will be made at the time of the election being called and subsequent to that. Everything that I'm announcing all around the country, as I have been since becoming Prime Minister last year, all of that is fully committed in the budgets and in the forward estimates. So that's real money. So it’s a fair question, I suppose, to put to our counterparts. Will they reverse the funding that we’ve put in place? I would certainly hope not. But my plan is to ensure they aren't given the opportunity.
JOURNALIST: This airport is getting busier and busier. We will have the AFP here any time soon?
PRIME MINISTER: As soon as there's international flights, yes.
JOURNALIST: So that's a definite?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
JOURNALIST: Do we know when there will be international flights?
PRIME MINISTER: Once the international flights are here, that's what actually brings the two together.
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: And it's anticipated that by 2020, we'll be able to have international flights coming in and out of the state. Obviously there are the investments that we are talking about today that Hobart's airport also needs to undertake the master plan upgrade to also accommodate not only for the investments that are part of the city deal, but also to make sure that we have the capacity to welcome the large numbers of visitors, to get our freight exports out to the world. We've had the highest rate of growth in international tourists of any state. We've had the highest rate of growth in exports of any state over the last year. So this is a response to that growth, but we're expecting that international carriers will continue to have an interest in our state and its progress with flights expected to commence in 2020.
PRIME MINISTER: There's about $80 million that is going, or just over that actually, going into Border Force and Immigration and those types of other services that enable the Hobart Airport to be Hobart International.
JOURNALIST: Just to be clear on that, is that new money or are you taking that from somewhere else in those budgets?
PRIME MINISTER: Everything we're announcing here today is new money.
JOURNALIST: And Premier, just on the flights, we're talking about scheduled passenger flights and scheduled freight flights, is that the intention?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Yeah.
JOURNALIST: So how far down that path are you, because you've had discussions already?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Yeah, well and those discussions are ongoing. We do have high numbers of passenger movements. We've got more exporters wanting to get their product into markets right across the globe. So we're certainly building a strong case to put to international carriers and whenever we're able, we continue to keep them engaged and interested in Tasmania. We just need the infrastructure, it will take some time to deliver that. But by 2020, we expect to have those international routes coming into our state and out.
JOURNALIST: Where do you think... where will they be coming from and to?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Well there are... the opportunities abound us really and we've got strong growth in key sectors that very much have Asia at the forefront at a lot of what we're doing. But our closest neighbours where the Prime Minister's been just this week, I think, will be an obvious opportunity for us, but no doubt right across the globe.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Labor has a pledge to create…
PRIME MINISTER: If there are no other questions on the Hobart City Deal… those who wish to remain are very welcome to remain but otherwise I’m happy to go to those other matters. Is that the case from the journalists? OK, why don’t we do that.
JOURNALIST: So Labor has pledged to create a new shipping fleet to enhance Australia's national security if they win government, will the Coalition consider doing the same?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what I find surprising about Labor'sannouncement today is that when they were in government, they didn't commission one naval ship. And they seemed to be more interested in doing what the MUA tells them to do, the Maritime Union, than what the Australian people wanted them to do and that was to actually commit to our Navy and to build our defence forces. I mean, we have the biggest naval ship building program going on since the Second World War. That's where our commitment comes to these investment and that is not only ensuring that our defence capability is back where it needs to be. I mean, the number of consecutive starts to these programs is almost unparalleled even in the United States, anywhere in the world. That is the scale of our commitment when it comes to our naval ship building. And while I can only observe from the ALP is when it comes to issues of boats, whether it's building naval ships or stopping illegal boats coming to Australia, the only thing they're interested in is what the MUA tells them to do.
JOURNALIST: Labor is saying that our Australian flagged vessels have shown that [inaudible] during times of global instability. Do you share that concern?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: Is it pure coincidence China is delaying our shipments of coal through their northern harbours or do you think it’s political?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I think the Chinese Minister said very clearly yesterday that’s not what was occuring. And I said on Friday when I was in New Zealand that leaping to those sorts of conclusions is very warranted and that the Chinese government has actually pointed that out. From time to time, there have been decisions made in local ports. And we're talking about ports here which actually represent a very small proportion of our coal exports to China. And so I think it’s very careful how they characterise these events. I don’t think… I think the great risk of that is inviting concern, particularly in our mining and resources sector.
I was pleased to be here last weekend for two great events. One was of course the Tasmania Achievement II launch up in Burnie, which was tremendous. But also we were here to announce our forestry hub here in Tasmania. We're very committed to our traditional industries, whether it's our agricultural sector, whether it's our forestry sector, and mining for resources sector. I mean, you have the Labor Party saying it’s wonderful that the market for our biggest export is having difficulties. What does that say to people, not just get mining jobs, but in forestry jobs. What does it say to the forestry workers of Tasmania that if Labor thinks it's okay for the global market for our biggest minerals export to be going through some tough times, then how do we know they didn't feel the same about the forestry industry for the same reasons? That's why you just can't just trust Labor on jobs.
JOURNALIST: Yesterday it was published in the Australian alleging that historic child sexual abuse claims against the Tasmanian Liberal MP who was a key minister at a federal or state level. How concerning are these allegations?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: I'll make some brief comments in relation to this matter, which is a serious one and obviously given the nature of it, it needs to be dealt with appropriately. I can advise that I have written to the Tasmanian Police Commissioner to draw to his attention the article and to request that the Tasmanian Police take any appropriate action as is necessary.
JOURNALIST: What will the Liberal Party be doing to follow up these allegations?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: That's the appropriate course. I'm not able to provide any further commentary in relation to this matter at this time.
JOURNALIST: To what extent are you concerned that the alleged victim in this case says that she contacted police in 2014 and made the allegations then and she heard nothing back from the police?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Well again, it's a matter that I've referred to Tasmanian Police to give consideration to obtaining the appropriate action as is required. That's what I expect will occur. And it's appropriate for that matter to be followed up through those channels.
JOURNALIST: How long have you been aware of this issue?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Since the report yesterday.
JOURNALIST: Have you spoken to the person who it’s referring to?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Again, I've outlined the course of action, the appropriate course of action that I've taken and it is on the basis of advice I've received as well in relation to it. And that's the course of action underway, the step that I've taken.
JOURNALIST: Did you receive [inaudible]?
WILL HODGMAN, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: I take advice from appropriate offices and respond accordingly.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much for your time. It's been great to be in Tasmania.
Drought support for Gippsland
24 February 2019
Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
More support is on the way to help Gippsland farmers and families cope with unprecedented drought conditions and to help drought-proof the region for the future.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in addition to the $1 million already locked in for each of the East Gippsland and Wellington Councils to help with local projects to boost jobs and the economy, his government would invest in additional mental health services and short and longer term water infrastructure for the region.
“Help is on the way for Gippsland farmers and families,” the Prime Minister said.
“I can’t make it rain but we’re working closely with the local community to ensure the right supports are in place and that we have the water infrastructure needed for the future.
“I’ll also be meeting with the Victorian Premier tomorrow to discuss what else all three levels of government can do to cooperate and get Gippsland through this drought. Like the farmers, families and businesses trying to cope with the drought across other parts of the country, supporting Gippsland is a priority for my Government.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals Leader Michael McCormack said the new water infrastructure projects were key to helping drought-proof the region for the future.
“Having spent time on the ground with drought-affected farmers earlier this month, we understand the importance of immediate and meaningful assistance for Gippsland’s farming families,” Mr McCormack said.
“That’s why our Government is putting in place immediate and long term measures to provide relief for those people who are doing it tough.
“The up to $31 million we’re putting on the table for the Macalister Irrigation District project as well as the On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme are about the short and longer term future of Gippsland farming.
“Throughout Australia it’s water projects like these that may sound small in the scheme of things but have huge positive potential.
“We also understand the impact on local business in times like these which is why our $25,000 Instant Asset Write-Off and accelerated depreciation measures for new water infrastructure and fencing are so important to help keep incomes flowing.”
The Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said he had spent the past fortnight in Canberra working to secure extra help for his community.
“Drought conditions across the region have worsened considerably over the past two weeks,” Mr Chester said.
“The drought is having a huge social impact on communities across Gippsland in areas like Giffard, Stradbroke and McGaurans Beach; Briagolong, Bengworden and Meerlieu to Orbost, and into the high country in places like Ensay, Swifts Creek and Dargo.
“Gippsland has now secured an extra $2.5 million for extra mental health services that will be distributed through the Gippsland Primary Health Network. That funding will be available immediately so farmers will have someone to talk to and discuss their situation.
“While it won’t turn paddocks green overnight, we’re also backing local water projects to ensure farmers are better prepared for the future.”
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said the centrepiece of the government drought response would be the $3.9 billion Future Drought Fund, which passed the House of Representatives this week, would provide a sustainable source of investment for climate adaptation, drought resilience, preparedness and recovery.
Minister Littleproud said Labor opposed the Future Drought Fund last week which made it the lowest point of this parliament.
“For Labor to politicise the misery of Australian farmers is a new low I didn’t think even they would reach,” Minister Littleproud said.
“I’m pleased to announce Victorian farmers will now have access to the $50 million On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate scheme so drought-hit farmers can claim up to 25 per cent on new farm water infrastructure costs.”
Additional support already available from the Commonwealth Government includes $3.6 million to expand Medicare Benefit Services to enable local doctors to offer mental well-being support services via telehealth to rural and remote patients, as well as $225,000 for ReachOUT to raise awareness of counselling services in drought affected communities.
The Government has also committed $30 million for selected charities to continue their important work of supporting farmers, farm workers and farm suppliers who are facing hardship arising from drought with through cash payments and vouchers to be used to meet basic needs such as food, personal products and utility bills.
City Deal to open Hobart up
24 February 2019
Prime Minister, Minister for Cities Urban Infrastructure and Population, Premier of Tasmania, Treasurer of Tasmania
Federal, state and local governments have come together on a landmark agreement to bust Hobart congestion and back the fast-growing tourism and science industries that are key to Hobart and Tasmania’s future.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the 10-year $1.43 billion Hobart City Deal would open the city up by tackling congestion bottlenecks, boosting tourism and making the airport a true international gateway, driving scientific investment and creating an extra 720 jobs.
“Our Hobart City Deal will open the city and Tasmania up for locals and for the world,” the Prime Minister said.
“The $1.43 billion investment going into the Hobart City Deal is about driving investment into the city to make it an even better place to live and work, but also to drive benefits well beyond Hobart for all Tasmanians, whether in the north or the south, especially through the investment in the airport.
“With ink on the page on this landmark second City Deal for Tasmania, the state will be in prime position make the most of its tourism drawcards and its potential as a science hub.”
Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said the Hobart City Deal relied on productive collaboration between all three levels of government.
“The Deal will make sure we get ahead of the curve on population growth, bust congestion and address housing affordability issues,” Mr Tudge said.
“We want to get Tasmanians home sooner and safer, so we will undertake the single largest Tasmanian transport infrastructure project – the $576 million replacement of Bridgewater Bridge.”
The success of the Launceston City Deal demonstrates the benefit of governments coming together, agreeing on a vision for the city and then aligning our policy and investments to achieve that vision. Together the City Deals have attracted over $1.8 billion in investment in Tasmania.
That is on top of other transport infrastructure investments from the Morrison Government including:
$400 million over 10 years to upgrade and improve safety on the Midland Highway
$400 million for Tasmania through the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) intiative with initial commitments of $60 million for Bass Highway upgrades from Marrawah to Wynyard, and up to $10 million for Murchison Highway upgrades
$119.6 million for the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation project which will improve freight transport links to key domestic and export markets
$38 million for the recently completed Hobart International Airport Runway Extension and $24 million for the Hobart Airport Interchange project to improve traffic flows to and from the airport.
The Hobart City Deal includes;
An international gateway - $82.3 million for border services including immigration, customs and biosecurity at Hobart International Airport.
A hub for jobs - the Morrison and Hodgman Governments will continue to work together to realise the full potential of Macquarie Point as a major scientific, tourism and cultural hub, and the Commonwealth will provide more than $450 million for the upgrade of Australia’s Antarctic research station network and supporting infrastructure as part of our ongoing efforts to back Hobart as the gateway to Antarctica.
Busting congestion - An extra $25 million from the Morrison Government and $105.5 million from the Hodgman Government for projects including the Kingston bus interchange, easing traffic congestion in the Kingston area and activating the northern suburbs transit corridor, on top of the $576 million replacement of the Bridgewater Bridge, funding for a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet and setting up a Derwent River ferry service
Affordable housing - Boosting the supply of community housing across the city with a $30 million investment from the Morrison Government for projects in partnership with community housing providers, delivering over 100 new dwellings.
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said as Hobart continues to see positive economic and population growth, the investments under the Deal would be a game-changer for the people who live and work in and around Hobart.
“Through collaboration between all three levels of government, the City Deal secures $1.43 billion of investment and a long term plan to help facilitate growth, create jobs and improve livability for our State’s capital,” Mr Hodgman said.
“The Deal creates the right conditions to protect our enviable way of life while, enhance Hobart’s natural amenity, and secure its reputation as a vibrant, liveable and connected city.”
Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the City Deal will further enhance Hobart’s reputation as the preeminent gateway to Antarctica by building on past investments with the development of a world-class Antarctic and scientific precinct at Macquarie Point.
“Macquarie Point is one of the most attractive, centrally located capital city development sites in the entire country. By taking full advantage of the site’s potential we can unlock millions of dollars of investment, create hundreds of jobs and deliver a hub that will serve the community for generations to come.”
The deal will also see the City deal partners activate the Northern suburbs transit corridor through transit-oriented development that underpins urban renewal and improves housing supply and affordability whilst reducing congestion.
Joint Statement by Prime Ministers the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern and the Hon Scott Morrison MP
22 February 2019
Prime Minister, Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern and Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison MP met in Auckland on 22 February 2019 for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting. Prime Minister Ardern and Mr Clarke Gayford warmly welcomed Prime Minister Morrison and Mrs Jenny Morrison to New Zealand.
The trans-Tasman relationship is unique and precious. It is underpinned by two centuries of shared history, values, open borders, free trade, and joint endeavour. It is a relationship of family, of whānau.
Trans-Tasman Cooperation
The Prime Ministers welcomed the role that Closer Economic Relations (CER) and the Single Economic Market (SEM) agenda play in growing both economies, driving prosperity and creating jobs. The trans-Tasman trade and economic relationship sets the benchmark for economic integration. The Leaders committed to making sure the SEM agenda continues to meet the day-to-day needs of trans-Tasman business and remains ambitious and responsive to new opportunities and challenges such as the future of work, the growth of the digital economy, data and emerging technologies.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the Australia and New Zealand Productivity Commissions’ joint report on “Growing the trans-Tasman digital economy and maximising opportunities for SMEs”. They directed officials to consider the Report’s findings and proposed actions, including on improved digital delivery of government services; digital financial services and open banking; possible areas for the expansion of trans-Tasman data sharing; and the alignment, standardisation and streamlining of the collection and use of data, including from importers and exporters.
The Leaders welcomed the Report’s focus on addressing domestic barriers to digital trade. They committed to strengthening trans-Tasman cooperation on e-procurement (including electronic invoicing), payment practices, digital identity for citizens and businesses, and company director identification. Leaders took particular note of the Report’s finding that the mutual recognition of verified digital identities is a foundation for growing the digital economy, and directed officials to seek opportunities to align our processes to drive growth in the digital economy by increasing citizen and business confidence in the digital marketplace. They agreed to promote global digital trade rules.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the significant progress on e-invoicing since 2018. They announced the creation of the Australia and New Zealand Electronic Invoicing Board (ANZEIB) to help drive an estimated A$30 billion in savings over 10 years in Australia and New Zealand. They also announced the two countries’ intention to jointly adopt the Pan-European Public Procurement Online (PEPPOL) interoperability framework for trans-Tasman e-invoicing.
The Prime Ministers directed officials to maximise the opportunities and manage the risks of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, block chain and quantum computing.
The Prime Ministers met the co-Chairs of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) and other business leaders to consider further improvements to the trans-Tasman small business operating environment, including a trans-Tasman mediation mechanism for SMEs. They welcomed the ANZLF’s championing of the economic partnership and direct business input into the SEM agenda. Business leaders welcomed the Prime Ministers’ announcements on data settings, digital identities and the future of work, and committed to collaborate with government on streamlining payment practices to improve SME cash flow and viability, and on implementing e-invoicing.
The Prime Ministers recognised further efforts are needed to ensure policies and regulations are inclusive, and in this context welcomed the ANZLF’s launch of the Indigenous Women’s Business Network and announced Viet Nam and Malaysia as the preferred destinations for a joint indigenous/Māori business mission in 2019. Leaders also announced an inaugural Women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) bilateral dialogue.
The Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to a more streamlined and secure trans-Tasman travel experience, noting that both countries have now removed departure cards, and remained focused on more efficient passenger clearance processes through the better use of more timely data, and of digital and x-ray technology, including digital options for arrival cards and passports. Leaders also welcomed joint efforts to improve trans-Tasman movement of goods, through joint trialing of a secure trade lane for low risk cargo, and improving processes for border clearance of online purchases sent by mail.
The Prime Ministers recognised that this year trans-Tasman collaboration will expand into marine biosecurity through a unified approach and commitment to consistency in ballast water and biofouling management requirements. New cooperation activities will include building marine biosecurity capacity in the Pacific.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the five-yearly review of the Australia New Zealand Government Procurement Agreement and looked forward to practical outcomes that maximise opportunities for Australian and New Zealand suppliers and reduce costs of doing business for both government and industry.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the announcement that the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission will work closely with its Australian counterparts to progress the integration of the two countries’ infrastructure markets. Leaders also welcomed the trans-Tasman “Cities Symposium” in Sydney on 25-26 February and looked forward to its outcomes on tackling urban development challenges.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the expansion of collaborative activities under the Australia New Zealand Science, Research and Innovation Cooperation Agreement, including the launch of a trans-Tasman cyber security research programme; completion of the groundbreaking Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) trial; and investigations into the feasibility of developing a shared trans-Tasman SBAS service.
Prime Minister Ardern welcomed Australia’s 2018 budget initiative to reunite people with their lost retirement savings and Prime Minister Morrison’s support for this initiative to be extended to New Zealanders who have worked in Australia.
Leaders welcomed New Zealand’s application to become an international member of the Australia’s Meeting of Cultural Ministers (MCM) as a way to strengthen collaboration on arts, culture and heritage. New Zealand and Australia will collaborate on the repatriation of ancestral remains, and a joint 18 month project on cultural indicators.
The Prime Ministers celebrated the depth of the trans-Tasman defence alliance and its roots in ANZAC mateship. Leaders welcomed the forthcoming annual Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 28 February, and consideration of our respective capability requirements, investment plans and opportunities for collaboration. They highlighted the valuable work of the joint Australia-New Zealand Building Partner Capacity mission in Iraq, our respective deployments in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and support for our Pacific partners.
The Prime Ministers agreed that the prosperity and security of the Pacific was of fundamental importance to Australia and New Zealand. The Leaders welcomed the strong alignment between New Zealand’s Pacific Reset and Australia’s Pacific Step-Up, and agreed to strengthen their partnerships with Pacific island countries and territories, the Pacific Islands Forum and other regional institutions in support of the Blue Pacific.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the Boe Declaration, including its recognition that climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific. The Prime Ministers commended the target set by Pacific signatories for the entry into force by 2019 of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) and invited Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and the French Territories to support PACER Plus. The Prime Ministers committed to increasing labour mobility opportunities, and looked forward to New Zealand’s hosting of the 2019 Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting.
Leaders recognised the trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement as a key pillar of the Australia-New Zealand relationship, and committed to working closely on ongoing implementation of the unique pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders who are long-term residents of Australia. They acknowledged the importance of the sensitive management of visa cancellation decisions, appeals and removals of New Zealand citizens who have been convicted of crimes in Australia, and committed to continue working together.
Regional and Global Trade, Security and Environment
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their steadfast support for an open, rules-based global trading system and agreed that Australian and New Zealand citizens benefit from a global trading system that creates jobs, delivers opportunities, and lowers costs for consumers.
Leaders reaffirmed the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the pre-eminent global body for the development and oversight of multilateral trade rules, and the settlement of disputes, and committed to working together to ensure the WTO is modernised and strengthened, including to resolve the Appellate Body impasse and conclude meaningful disciplines on fisheries subsidies in 2019.
The Prime Ministers welcomed Papua New Guinea’s successful hosting of APEC 2018, the pre-eminent regional forum for promoting regional economic integration, open trade and investment, and sustainable and inclusive growth. They looked forward to New Zealand’s hosting of APEC in 2021 as an opportunity to advance shared economic interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Prime Ministers agreed that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will provide significant benefits to its members both individually and collectively. The CPTPP is open to other economies that can meet its high standards. Leaders committed to concluding negotiations in 2019 for a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The Prime Ministers affirmed their commitment to work together in support of a region that is open, prosperous, secure and inclusive, in which disputes are resolved peacefully in accordance with international law and without the threat or use of force or coercion, and where freedom of navigation and overflight are upheld.
Leaders welcomed continued close cooperation and alignment on the full range of global and regional security issues, including cyber security, countering violent extremism and the return of foreign terrorist fighters, and the deterrence and disruption of people smuggling networks. Leaders shared views on foreign interference, and agreed that New Zealand and Australia would continue to share information and work together closely to address this issue.
The Prime Ministers welcomed positive developments on the Korean Peninsula, including the upcoming summit meeting between the United States and the DPRK. They shared their concerns over the DPRK’s ongoing violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions and agreed on the importance of enforcing sanctions. Both Leaders remain committed to working with the international community to encourage the DPRK to take concrete steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.
The Prime Ministers expressed concern with the continuing militarisation of the South China Sea and urged all claimants to take meaningful steps to ease tensions and build trust, including through dialogue. They acknowledged work towards a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea and supported conclusion of an effective Code that is consistent with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and that does not prejudice the interests of third parties or the rights of all states under international law.
The Prime Ministers recognised that the Paris Agreement on Climate Change marks a global commitment to taking climate action. They welcomed the rules and guidelines adopted in Katowice, which bring the Paris Agreement to life. Australia and New Zealand congratulated Fiji on completing its successful Presidency of COP23 and for introducing the Talanoa Dialogue to the international climate change process.
The Prime Ministers expressed their support for the protection of marine biodiversity in the Southern Ocean, including through the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area and the proposed East Antarctica Regional System of Marine Protected Areas. The Prime Ministers expressed their disappointment at the continuation of commercial whaling, and called on relevant governments to cease this practice.
Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting
21 February 2019
I will travel to Auckland, New Zealand on 22 February 2019 to participate in the annual Australia‑New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Australia and New Zealand share deep economic and security links and our two countries have a history of generations of cooperation.
Few countries share such a similar outlook as Australia and New Zealand. Our countries benefit from our Closer Economic Relations free‑trade agreement and trans‑Tasman single economic market.
Prime Minister Ardern and I will discuss how we can integrate our economies more deeply, improve our business environment, and create jobs and growth on both sides of the Tasman.
We work together to maintain the rules-based international order that has served the world so well since 1945, be this through our strong advocacy for a liberalised and open trading system or as we serve together to promote peace and security in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Australia and New Zealand have also worked closely with our Pacific partners to build a stable, prosperous and resilient region. I look forward to working with Prime Minister Ardern to take forward our shared priorities for our region in partnership with our Pacific neighbours.
As allies and family, our relationship is as important today as it has ever been. I look forward to this opportunity to capitalise on the opportunities such close ties offer both our countries and people.
Retirement of the Hon Julie Bishop MP
21 February 2019
Julie Bishop is a giant of the Liberal Party and she has been a ground breaker for women in public life.
Julie has been a good friend. I have valued her judgement, appreciated her insight and admired the tireless way she has served the Party, the Parliament and Australia.
On behalf of the Government and the Liberal Party, I thank Julie for her great service to Australia for nearly two decades.
Julie was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 2007 – 2018 and played a critical role in our election to Government in 2013.
As the first woman to be Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and the first woman to be Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie’s place in the Liberal Party pantheon and in the history of the Howard Government and this Government is secure.
There are many achievements from her time as Foreign Minister in which Julie can be proud: the New Colombo Plan, the establishment of the DFAT innovationXchange and strengthening Australia’s relations throughout the Pacific.
However, I believe her greatest achievement was her work in the days after flight MH17 was brutally felled. Julie’s judgment, determination and energy helped secure a United Nations Security Council resolution that ensured Australia and its partners could repatriate the victims of that terrible crime. Australia has not forgotten those terrible days and still waits for the perpetrators of that crime to be brought to justice.
Julie was one of Australia’s truly great foreign ministers. In the Liberal Party she will take her place alongside the greatest foreign ministers of our history: Casey, Hasluck and Downer.
Julie is enormously popular with party members across Australia and for more than a decade, in addition to her travels as foreign Minister, Julie has hit the highways and byways of our country in support of our Members and candidates.
On behalf of the Party and the Government, I wish Julie well in the next chapter of her life. I have no doubt it will be a roaring success.
National Principles to keep our children safe
19 February 2019
Prime Minister, Minister for Families and Social Services
Keeping children safe from harm and wrongdoing while they are in the care of organisations is the focus of a new set of national principles unanimously endorsed by the Australian Government and its state and territory counterparts.
As part of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, a new national approach has been developed to assist institutions foster and maintain cultures that prevent harm to children and young people.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Council of Australian Governments was unwavering in its support to endorse the National Principles to give effect to Royal Commission’s recommendations.
“I am pleased to announce the National Principles have now been endorsed by all Australian governments,” the Prime Minister said.
“This is a reflection of how important the safety and protection of children is to all levels of government.
“Everyone has the right to be safe – particularly our children and young people who are more vulnerable than most.
“We want our children to be free from harm and wrongdoing and we want parents to be confident that their children will be safe and looked after when not in their care.”
Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher said: “The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations will help institutions across the country develop the safe, loving and caring environments Australians expect for their children.
“From leadership to governance and culture, the Principles offer organisations clear guidance to ensure they are set up to protect children from harm.
“The National Office for Child Safety will work with governments and non-government sectors to promote the National Principles and to support their implementation across all sectors.
“I know many people and organisations contributed to the development of the principles and I want to thank everyone involved in this important work.”
Further information on the National Office, the National Principles and resources to support implementation of the National Principles are available through https://pmc.gov.au/child-safety.
Statement to the House of Representatives on the 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Israel
19 February 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. On indulgence, I rise to acknowledge the 70th anniversary of Australia’s formal diplomatic relationship with the State of Israel and affirm our deep friendship with the people of Israel.
In doing that I welcome the Ambassador here with us in the Chamber today.
In any long friendship, there are moments that matter.
And moments never forgotten.
For Australia and Israel, it was in 1947, and it was at the United Nations.
There was, at that point, no nation of Israel.
Instead, there were broken and scarred Jewish people scattered around the world.
Places like Auschwitz-Birkenau, Dachau and Buchenwald, though they no longer existed as state-sponsored machines of death, they seemed more real, than a permanent home for the Jewish people at that time.
It was as if darkness and hopelessness had covered the Jewish people as the true extent of the Holocaust became known.
Maybe it was for such times that the Book of Joel spoke of “Young men seeing visions and old men dreaming dreams”.
And ‘the age old dream’ in the words of David Ben-Gurion was ‘the redemption of Israel’.
It was in this setting, that Australia chaired the 1947 UN Committee that voted in favour of dividing the territory of Mandate Palestine.
And on 29 November 1947, at the United Nations General Assembly, Australia joined 32 other nations in successfully voting for the Partition Plan.
Looking back across seven decades, it might seem that was a simple thing to do, an obvious choice to make.
But it was neither of those things.
But Australia made, in Doc Evatt’s words, who was instrumental in this recognition, an “inevitable and just” choice to stand with the Jewish people of the world and their vision for a Jewish state — and a place of sanctuary where they would never again, and should never again, face persecution.
Australia extended official recognition to the new State of Israel in January 1949.
In May that same year, Australia was proud to preside over the vote which formally admitted Israel as a member of the United Nations.
As that new nation formed, the Jewish people arrived, in the words of David Ben-Gurion, with “the dew of dreams still moist in our hearts”.
Our small part, Australia’s part, is a legacy of which we are proud and one we hold dear today as we mark this anniversary.
In the words of our then Prime Minister, “The new nation of Israel will be a force of special value in the world community”, and its recognition was “fair and just”. And so it has proved to be.
Today, Israel’s light is now a beacon of democracy in the Middle East.
Ours is a 70 year long friendship between two peoples which share a commitment to democracy and the rule of law; have a multi-cultural character, committed to science and research, to a free press, to prosperity for our people and to innovation to overcome the challenges of our often hostile natural environments.
My Government is resolved to ensure our commitment to Israel remains as firm today and in the future as it indeed was 70 years ago for Australia.
That is why our Government has acted for Australia to now recognise West Jerusalem—the seat of the Knesset and many institutions of government — as the capital of the State of Israel.
And we look forward to moving our Embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, in support of, and after the final status determination of a two-state solution.
And in the spirit of a two-state solution, we acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its Capital in East Jerusalem.
My government is also currently establishing a Trade and Defence office in West Jerusalem to enhance and support our deepening collaboration on trade, defence industries, investment and innovation.
Just as it was 70 years ago, it remains in our national interest to see Israel continue to flourish as a liberal, participatory democracy in the Middle East.
And, now as then, Australia continues to strongly support Israel’s right to exist within secure and internationally recognised borders.
But my Government won’t just proclaim these words and these sentiments. We will continue to act on them and not step back from or shrink from our commitments. And this includes standing by Israel in the face of biased and unfair targeting of Israel in the UN General Assembly.
The UN General Assembly is now the place where Israel is bullied and where anti-Semitism is cloaked in language about human rights.
Think about it: a nation of immigrants; with a free press; parliamentary democracy; financially prosperous; the source of innovation in the world; and a refuge from persecution and genocide, is somehow now the centre of cruelty in the world, according to some in the UN.
That is intellectual fraud.
Last year, there were 17 UN General Assembly resolutions critical of Israel. This compared with a total of five covering all other countries, including Myanmar, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine; Iran and North Korea.
This year, the UN Human Rights Council passed six motions condemning Israel, compared to a total of 14 across the rest of the world.
Last year, at my direction, Australia opposed six resolutions that attacked Israel in the UN General Assembly. These included the ‘Jerusalem’ resolution, which contains biased and one-sided language attacking Israel and denies its historical connection to the city, and the ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine’ resolution, which confers on the Palestinian Authority a status it does not have.
In the past, we had abstained on these resolutions. Not anymore, and not on my watch.
My Government will not turn a blind eye to an anti-Semitic agenda masquerading as defence of human rights in the UN.
This has also extended to calling out those who would seek to wipe Israel from the map.
Again at my direction, last year Australia supported a UN General Assembly resolution to condemn the egregious and ongoing violent acts of the terrorist organisation Hamas.
Hamas are violent extremists. Terrorists who use the Israel-Palestinian conflict as an excuse to inflict terror.
They should have no friends at the UN.
The failure of the resolution to pass with the requisite majority was an indictment, I think, on the UN.
Australia condemns Hamas’ activities in the strongest possible terms.
Now of course, our partnership has always been underpinned by the people of our nations.
Australia’s Jewish community began with those who arrived on the First Fleet.
Though persecuted in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Australia has been, to quote the words of the Member for Berowra, a land “almost uniquely in human history, good to the Jewish people”.
Though numbering about one hundredth of our population, Australians of Jewish heritage have made a remarkable contribution to our national life and our story.
We are the nation of John Monash, of Isaac Isaacs, Sir Zelman Cowen, Governor Linda Dessau, Frank Lowy, Harry Triguboff, and Joan Rosanove and thousands more who in their own way, have all sought to be light unto the nations, performing the mitzvot or good deeds according to the law of Moses.
Mr Speaker, Australia has been a steadfast and loyal friend to Israel since its very creation.
And I can assure the House and the people of Australia and our friends in Israel that the Liberal and Nationals Parties will never walk back or shrink from the recognition that Australia now affords Israel and the commitments and support for the state of Israel, whether in the General Assembly of the United Nations or elsewhere.
We know this about Israel, they are a steadfast and loyal friend.
Seventy years on, this Parliament re-states our commitment to Israel, to its people and to the deep friendship between our nations.
We are friends who have always stood with each other – and may that always be the case.
Radio interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW
19 February 2019
NEIL MITCHELL: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day Neil, good to be with you. I’m sorry we couldn’t catch up the other day.
MITCHELL: Thank you, I understand you were ill. Thank you for your time. This cyberattack - the head of ASIO says it's an unprecedented threat, the damage will last for years. Can you rule out China as the main suspect?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I'm not commenting on where it might come from other than to say the sophistication, as I said in the Parliament yesterday, has led agencies to advise that this is a state actor but I'm not...
MITCHELL: What does that mean, what’s a state actor?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it means it’s a government. But we're not in any position to attribute that to any particular nation.
MITCHELL: So we don't know who did it.
PRIME MINISTER: We're not in a position to do that.
MITCHELL: Sorry but who do you know who did it or not?
PRIME MINISTER: No what I'm saying is you don't go and make those claims wildly.
MITCHELL: I'm not asking you to say.
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not suggesting you are. So we don't have any information, I don't have any information that would enable me to make that claim.
MITCHELL: So you don't know who did it?
PRIME MINISTER: I've said what I've said, Neil. That's a very specific wording I've used.
MITCHELL: Well clearly you've got suspicions.
PRIME MINISTER: Well it's not up to me to have suspicions and share them, it's up to me to to speak to the facts as we know them and what we can be very confident of.
MITCHELL: Can you give us a list of likely suspects?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
MITCHELL: China says media speculation on this is heightening tensions between the two countries, is that right?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I'm not responsible for the media.
MITCHELL: No, no, but are tensions being heightened? Are tensions with China heightened?
PRIME MINISTER: We work constructively with China. I've met with [inaudible] as well as the President and we have a very important relationship with China and I'm very positive about particularly the economic growth of China. I mean, there's some suggestion that Western countries don't want to see and want to frustrate China's growth. We don't share that view. We want to see China do well. I've just been down in Melbourne recently for, you know, Chinese New Year celebrations. I think this is one of the key points - we celebrate their prosperity. And you know we've got one point two million Australians of Chinese heritage in Australia. And we celebrate those links and they’re positive.
MITCHELL: Prime Minister, I take from what you said that you've got a fair idea who's responsible and you don't want to say it, is that right?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not going to get into a discussion on security matters.
MITCHELL: But once it is established, will you make it public?
PRIME MINISTER: Well again, whatever we might say would be a matter that I would consult with the National Security Committee of Cabinet.
MITCHELL: Fair enough. What… what have they got on us? Whoever did it and whoever did it, what information they got now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well yesterday Alastair MacGibbon I think sort of went into that and it's not clear what the precise purpose of this is at this stage. But those investigations continue and there is no suggestion that there is any, any at this point, any greater access to information. But these things are concerning, as I said yesterday...
MITCHELL: If they've hacked in, there must be access to information.
PRIME MINISTER: Well I mean, people can make all sorts of suppositions. But I've just deal with the information that I have.
MITCHELL: Is there any is there any evidence or suggestion that could have been an attempt to interfere with our democratic process?
PRIME MINISTER: No, and I said that. There's no evidence to suggest that at this point.
MITCHELL: Why else would you be hacking into the Parliament?
PRIME MINISTER: Well that’s supposition, that’s speculation. And what I said in the Parliament yesterday… see, as Prime Minister I've got to stay on the facts
MITCHELL: I understand, I understand.
PRIME MINISTER: The facts say that there is there is no evidence of that. But clearly one of the general areas of risk, not specific to what I'm, you know, I've identified in the Parliament yesterday is that we need to make sure Australia is protected from this. This is why we introduced the foreign interference laws into the Parliament and...
MITCHELL: But wasn't there a warning to upgrade the system in 2015, three or four years ago?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we did and have been.
MITCHELL: The political parties as well?
PRIME MINISTER: The political parties do this under their own steam, just like any company or business does. And that's why all all businesses, all political organizations. You know, even 3AW’s website and systems. I mean, everybody is responsible for their own security on their own sites just like they are for protecting their own home.
MITCHELL: But would I be correct in saying the area that's been hacked has a lot of personal details and on a lot of voters?
PRIME MINISTER: That's not clear. I've heard that being suggested, but there's nothing to suggest, at least in front of me, that has occurred.
MITCHELL: So it's possible, we don't really know.
PRIME MINISTER: Well anything's possible but that doesn’t mean it happened.
MITCHELL: OK. Border protection. Isn't the problem that you've been campaigning about and saying the weakening of the borders, isn't that fixed now? Nauru's tightened the laws.
PRIME MINISTER: Well what Labor did last week was weaken them.
MITCHELL: But hasn't Nauru fixed it now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it's not quite clear what they've done and how that will play out. I think what's happened in Nauru is a good example of what happens and how Labor didn’t think through what playing around with border protection laws will do. I mean, there are consequences.
MITCHELL: The reports are in Nauru though, limited medical evacuations and stopped remote assessment by doctors. Is that right?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I'm still getting reports in of exactly what they've decided to do and what the legal force of that is. But look that's a matter for them and it's a reminder that it's their country.
MITCHELL: But if they have done that, it certainly reinforces the strength and undermines your argument that it's weakened, doesn’t it? If they have done that?
PRIME MINISTER: What Labor did was weaken our border protection.
MITCHELL: And now Nauru has tightened it again.
PRIME MINISTER: Well what Nauru has indeed done and, that it is legally able to be done, well we’ll make our assessment on that. But there's no leave pass here for Labor. Labor weakened the border protection laws last week wilfully, wilfully.
MITCHELL: ASIO also says the leak on their advice was incorrect and you were in part using that leak publicly to convince us the boats were coming. Are the boats still coming?
PRIME MINISTER: They were always at risk of coming. That never changes.
MITCHELL: But are the increased risks still there?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course there is. There's always that. When you weaken the border protection laws, as was said last night by Mike Pezzullo the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, that always increases risk. Now I have taken actions on the advice of these agencies, particularly Home Affairs, to take a number of step which has included the reopening of Christmas Island, which was recommend to us by the Secretary of Home Affair. And to strengthen what we were doing with Operation Sovereign Borders and that included everything from our strategic communications through to posturing in terms of where our assets are and what they're doing and that's what we’ve done. We had to strengthen it because Labor weakened it.
MITCHELL: Is it correct the US has refused entry to 265 people from Nauru who wanted to go there?
PRIME MINISTER: They were always not going to accept everybody, that's their own.
MITCHELL: And why have they rejected them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well for reasons that would suggest that they weren't welcome in the United States because they'd be concerned about who they were.
MITCHELL: So what, matters of security?
PRIME MINISTER: They’re matters for the US and not for me to comment on.
MITCHELL: But I mean I'm worried that the situation. The US could say these 265 people are not coming here but do they end up in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: Well not under our laws, but they can under Labor's.
MITCHELL: So under these changes they could still come to Australia? Rejected by the US for security reasons, you’d assume.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s exactly right and this is the point we're making. Because in a lot of these cases, these people they won't have serious criminal convictions. But they may well be facing charges for such convictions and not have been sentenced and what Labor did to the laws means there is no ability for us to stop those transfers. The other group, Neil, is the group that have been found not to be refugees.
So they're there because they refused to go home. They're not refugees, they’re living in the community in Nauru and they can also be brought to Australia where they can, you know, engage the court process and play the system like always happens.
MITCHELL: Prime Minister, I know you short for time.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh no, we’re good, we’re good.
MITCHELL: Oh good. Why should we trust Border Force? I mean, they have mucked up this footballer, Hakeem al-Araibi. He spent two months in jail in Thailand because some bloke forgot to send an e-mail. Told him it was OK to travel there. At the very least he's owed a pretty serious apology isn't he?
PRIME MINISTER: Well you know I'll be taking that up with Border Force. There had been a review into these matters internally. But it was my job to get him home and I'm very pleased that Hakeem has come home, and it was great to meet him and his wife recently in Canberra.
MITCHELL: But he wouldn't have been there of Border Force had done their job properly.
PRIME MINISTER: No I don't... I think that is actually a bit of a leap, Neil. There are many other ways that Hakeem would have been kept in (inaudible) other than just that incident. But I'm not suggesting that incident was not something that needs to be addressed. But it would be wrong to assume that other than for that that wouldn't have occurred. I don't think that’s correct.
MITCHELL: A couple of minutes prior, are you happy Mathias Cormann, your Finance Minister, took a junket, free tickets for a family holiday from a company that had just won a billion dollar contract? Is that… it doesn’t look good.
PRIME MINISTER: Well that is not what happened.
MITCHELL: But he did he take free tickets, didn’t he?
PRIME MINISTER: Well no he didn't. He thought he was paying for them.
MITCHELL: Who paid for them?
PRIME MINISTER: He has paid.
MITCHELL: He has after he got caught.
PRIME MINISTER: Because he wasn't aware. He wasn't aware.
MITCHELL: He wasn't aware and he wasn't paying for the tickets?
PRIME MINISTER: No that's the statement that he's made and he had nothing to do with the issuing of the contract, by the way, that had been issued prior and Ministers aren’t involved in those decisions. There's a clear separation that minister… any suggestion that the two were linked would be complete rubbish.
MITCHELL: Bit it is not a good look, though.
PRIME MINISTER: Well that's why he's cleaned it up.
MITCHELL: After. I've just robbed a bank but I'll give the money back.
PRIME MINISTER: No I think that's a bit unfair to put it in those terms.
MITCHELL: It probably is.
PRIME MINISTER: There was that oversight which had been identified and he fixed it up. I mean what more can he do?
MITCHELL: He could not have taken the free tickets in the first place.
PRIME MINISTER: But he didn't take free tickets in the first place.
MITCHELL: Well they paid for his tickets.
PRIME MINISTER: He was fully… they were going to bill him and he didn’t get billed and that was drawn to his attention he paid the bill.
MITCHELL: Well what about another case, a former Minister and a Minister Michael Keenan and Michaelia Cash refusing to cooperate with the police investigation. That's outrageous.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s not true.
MITCHELL: Did they refuse to give an interview?
PRIME MINISTER: They were written to and they were asked to respond which they did and they provided responses and the police have not sought any further statement from them. So they have cooperated.
MITCHELL: It's reported today they refused to give statements to federal police, is that right?
PRIME MINISTER: They provided a response and the police have accepted that response and they haven't sought any I'm advised, any further statement.
MITCHELL: So the police didn't want a statement, so they...
PRIME MINISTER: Well I'm just saying that cooperate with the investigation and nothing's been sought from them. And remember what this is about. This is about the alleged…
MITCHELL: A political leak.
PRIME MINISTER: Misuse of union funds by the AWU, Bill Shorten’s union. There was a raid because the police believe they were destroying evidence that may have suggested that the Shorten’s union was sending money, allegedly, to GetUp! and even to his own benefit. So that's what this is about. So Bill Shorten should cooperate and actually provide the minutes of meetings and the other things that are necessary for the police to do their investigation. I think he's the one with the questions to answer and obviously to be cooperating.
MITCHELL: Well I thought everybody should cooperate. You would hope, that didn’t happen here in Victoria.
PRIME MINISTER: They should, you’re dead right Neil. People should cooperate with police investigations and my Ministers have.
MITCHELL: OK speaking just quickly of Victoria, a three billion dollar cheque you us for a road down here. Are we going to get it?
PRIME MINISTER: I will continue to work with the Victorian government. Let's just be very clear. What there is, is a contingent liability in in the Budget. What does that mean? That means if the state government had chosen to trigger investment in the East West Link, then the Commonwealth would have raised that money to support that project. So it's not like there's three billion dollars sitting actually there to spend on the road. That money would have to be added to the bottom line of the Budget and that would have to be allocated, so it would have to be new money. But I can tell you, we've already put in the last Budget there was over seven billion dollars we invested in Victorian infrastructure, we’re investing in busting infrastructure all over Melbourne and I'm keen to do more and I'm keen to work with the Victorian Government to achieve that. And we've got a Budget coming up in April and we'll have a bit more to say that then.
MITCHELL: Prime Minister, you've come back in the polls. Is that the message you're getting from the ground, you’re back in the fight?
PRIME MINISTER: Look all I've been doing Neil is [inaudible], showing Australians what our record is on national security, on the economy and that's what guarantees essential services. People I'm finding when I when I'm relating this to them, are responding well. I think they're focusing very much on the future and what it all means for them. I think, you know, the Canberra Bubble and all the noise here which people go on to, they're telling me very clearly that they're not interested in, there interested in what's going ahead in the future to the extent that is being well received, I welcome it.
MITCHELL: I assume you're confident about being re-elected.
PRIME MINISTER: Of course. I mean, I didn't take the job on to, you know, to do anything else but that. I took the job one because I believed it was essential that the Liberal and National parties will return to this next election because the Labor Party will change it all. The retirees tax, the housing taxes, busting the borders - all of this, Labor will change it all.
MITCHELL: If you are re-elected, given the history of the party in recent years, can you guarantee to stay Prime Minister for three years?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
MITCHELL: How?
PRIME MINISTER: Because our party resolved that last year. An elected Liberal Prime Minister will now have the security of that arrangement over the next term. That's what we saw last year.
MITCHELL: Well if you’re not re-elected do you want to be opposition leader?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not contemplating that situation. I'm contemplating being re-elected and ensuring that we continue to keep Australia safe, secure borders, and keep our economy strong.
MITCHELL: Well they’re both hypothetical
PRIME MINISTER: Not in my mind. I’m dealing with the reality. You know me, Neil. I’ll leave nothing on the field.
MITCHELL: So what emoji are you going to put on your number plate?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh a big smiley face, mate. A big smiley face. You know me, I’m that cheery. How about you? I'd love to know what yours is.
MITCHELL: Might be grumpy.
[Laughter]
Thank you for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Good on you Neil, cheers mate.
Statement to the House of Representatives on cyber security
18 February 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Australia’s democratic process is our greatest asset: our most critical piece of national infrastructure.
Public confidence in the integrity of our democratic processes is an essential element of Australian sovereignty and governance.
While we will vigorously argue over many issues in this place, we are all united in our commitment to democratic principles.
Members will be aware that the Australian Cyber Security Centre recently identified a malicious intrusion into the Australian Parliament House computer network.
During the course of this work, we also became aware that the networks of some political parties - Liberal, Labor and the Nationals - have also been affected.
Our security agencies have detected this activity and acted decisively to confront it. They are securing these systems and protecting users.
I do not propose to go into the detail of these operational matters.
But our cyber experts believe that a sophisticated state actor is responsible for this malicious activity.
Let me be clear though – there is no evidence of any electoral interference. We have put in place a number of measures to ensure the integrity of our electoral system.
I have instructed the Australian Cyber Security Centre to be ready to provide any political party or electoral body in Australia with immediate support, including making their technical experts available.
They have already briefed the Electoral Commissions and those responsible for cyber security for all states and territories. They have also worked with global anti-virus companies to ensure Australia’s friends and allies have the capacity to detect this malicious activity.
We have acted decisively to protect our national interests.
The methods used by malicious actors are constantly evolving and this incident reinforces yet again the importance of cyber security as a fundamental part of everyone’s business.
The Australian Government will continue to take a proactive and coordinated approach to protecting Australia’s sovereignty, our economy and our national security.
That is why the Government has invested in cyber security, including strengthening the Australian Cyber Security Centre by bringing all of the Australian Government’s cyber security capability together in one place (July 2018).
Our political system and our democracy remains strong, vibrant and is protected. We stand united in the protection of our values and our sovereignty.
The Government has chosen to be transparent about these matters. This in itself is an expression of faith by our Government in our democratic system and our determination to defend it.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Radio interview with Alan Jones, 2GB
18 February 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Alan.
ALAN JONES: Thank you for your time. Could I just begin by saying that politicians rarely get praise. I have been speaking to farmers during the course of the weekend. You went to Julia Creek. They asked me if I'd thank you for going there. They believe you should know that you were fair dinkum and compassionate, and they wanted to say thank you because that opportunity isn't available to them. Can I just ask you, having been there and witnessed this devastation to listen, you're talking to people all over Australia. What was your reaction?
PRIME MINISTER: It was heartbreaking. It was devastating, not just there but also over Cloncurry. In both places and talking to a lot of the graziers, the property owners and other small business owners, the trucking companies. This is devastating, personally to families but also obviously the local economy. Obviously we're going to have to play a very big role in rebuilding the cattle industry in North Queensland. I can't imagine Australia without a cattle industry in North Queensland, it's not the same place. That’s basically what I said, it's a way of life, but it's also intrinsic to the success.
JONES: It's the fourth biggest export market.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah it is just … so we're there, that's the commitment I made. The reconstruction effort, it’s going to be significant and it's going to take a long time. It's not, you know, an announcement today or next week, it's the next two, five, ten years.
JONES: Can I come to that in a moment, just on basically what you saw. I mean, how long did they tell you… I know the military have got about 150 personnel on the ground. My own view from talking to people is that - I don't know how many people you can have on the ground - it wouldn't be enough. I mean how long did they tell you it would take to clean up? This is all they will be talking about at this hour of the morning; bloated animals which are littering the landscape. I mean there are kangaroos as well as cattle, 30,000 sheep. The infrastructure has been wrecked. The Flinders Highway east of Julia Creek is still cut as I said last night. There were travelers and trucks stranded. The railway track from Mount Isa to Townsville was completely buckled. How does Mount Isa get its copper, lead and zinc for export to Townsville? These are massive logistical problems.
PRIME MINISTER: They all are. Look, the way I'm looking at it, there's three stages to this. The first stage is the immediate response and that's everything from mental health support to immediate cash assistance too. Just the physical, immediate response. That's been underway now as you know, with Brigadier Jobson and the $1 million we've put into each of the councils, the $75,000 that’s going to reach the producers. That’s just to deal with the most immediate reaction to what is happening there.
The second stage is really doing what you've just mentioned. It's the rail line, it's the road, it's the disposal plan that is now being enacted up there to remove the carcasses, to have them buried safely. Now, what the station owners, what the producers told me is they very much want to control that process.
JONES: Yes, they don't want the councils. They're worried about the council, it’s separate from the graziers.
PRIME MINISTER: They're supporting them in it but they just don't want, you know, people just stomping all over their properties. They know how to do this, they're getting the support through both the safety equipment and the protective gear, which you need because I tell you, you smell this stuff long before you see it and it has to be done.
JONES: And it stays with you.
PRIME MINISTER: The Queensland Government is working with us on that. The military are directly involved. But also I've got to say the mining industry up there, Glencore in particular, have been fantastic with their help. Because their equipment that they have there, their heavy equipment is suited for those conditions. So they are marshalling all of the heavy equipment they have up in that region to support that role of disposal and they're focusing on things like clearing the Flinders and Landsborough Highways. That's as important for morale as it is for safety and getting these carcass out of the way. But Alan, they still don't know the extent of the losses. I mean, I was on one station and they hadn't been able to venture too far out from the homestead because of where the waters had been and so they were guessing. They were -
JONES: There’s still an area the size of England underwater. There’s still an area the size of England underwater.
PRIME MINISTER: There’s an inland sea. I saw it was making its way down through the Gulf. So you know, this is a long way from over in terms of the immediate impact. But the third phase of course is there is the reconstruction and what I was incredibly impressed by, was the will to rebuild. A mate of yours, you know Phillip, I spoke to Phillip at the Gannons Hotel in Julia Creek. I thought he put it best; “We don't want people -
JONES: Just stop there for a minute, just stop there for one minute. There’s a lot of people out there that know this bloke, Scott Morrison. He's brand new on the block. New Prime Minister, people don't know about him now. I - and I can tell them this - I texted the Prime Minister on Friday to just say; “Look, there's a farmer up there who really would like to say something to you. If you get the chance at Julia Creek, could you see him?” And I sent the mobile number. The Prime Minister rang the farmer, which to the farmer was virtually like, you know, God arriving, that someone of his status would ring. Rang the farmer, had a beer with him, stuck a cap on. Scott Morrison, you have no idea what that meant to those people there.
PRIME MINISTER: Well they were very encouraged and it's great to be able to do that as a Prime Minister. Because what they really want is the plan to go forward.
JONES: They do.
PRIME MINISTER: They want to rebuild and they know it's not going to be easy. And it's different station by station, Alan. I mean, you can't just drop a whole bunch of cash from the sky on this thing. That's not going to work. What they need is a reconstruction plan, property by property by property, because they're all different. I mean, one of the stations I went to that is basically the top of the breeding cycle for Australia's herd. They have been genetically, you know, supporting their herd up there for generations now. You can't just go and buy cattle from the Northern Territory to replace those. They took generations to breed in and that's going to take a lot of time. So the value of those cattle is extremely high. You've got others which is at the other end. So every case is different. Their debt is structured differently. Their capacity to borrow is different. Some have lost 30 some have lost 95 per cent.
JONES: You said you'd cut red tape so that small business operators – this is at the bottom end of the market - could get $25,000 disaster relief payments. Philip Alexander, the supermarket owner, told you that no one fitted into the category and he said I can't handle this paperwork. You said leave the paperwork to me. What does that mean?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it means I'm working on that now. One of the things I brought back - I'm going to be working Michaelia Cash and the Queensland Government over the course of this week - my first priority was to sort out the paperwork on the $75,000 for the producers, for the graziers. We got that sorted before I even got up there on Thursday night and that was well received, I can tell you, at the Cloncurry Bowling Club. I'm pretty happy about that. So now we need to apply ourselves to sorting out how that's going to work for the small business owners. I've got to say, in Cloncurry it was a bit better than Julia Creek. In Julia Creek, they really were hit very hard there. Because I mean, over at Cloncurry, you've also got the Henry mine so you've got you know the mining sector there as well. It's a bit more divers. But for some of these other smaller towns it's all about the cattle industry.
JONES: Can I just raise this with you - and I wrote to you about this - but you have said quite a few times since Friday, you've talked about a 10 year rescue plan. PM, many of these people won't be here in 10 years. I was asking you on behalf of the farmers, whether the Cabinet would consider giving a 100 per cent compensation for losses, so that the farmers and the businesses can immediately continue to employ - because those employed continue to pay taxes and they won’t go onto welfare which will cost the taxpayer a fortune - can build the infrastructure, the roads and railways lines, the fences and the sheds and can buy materials and work from the locals which will rebuild the community and the families together.
I hate to inject a negative point in here, but they keep saying to me that there wasn't a 10 year plan to give $444 million dollars to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
PRIME MINISTER: Well they’re completely different things. I mean the Great Barrier Reef Foundation that's money to actually apply over that period of time Alan and it's being done through one organization, so that wasn’t just today, that was for many, many years to come. So I think with respect, the two things are quite different.
JONES: Okay well what do you say –
PRIME MINISTER: What we’re talking about here, up in north Queensland
JONES: They’ve got no money, no income.
PRIME MINISTER: I understand that and this will cost hundreds of millions of dollars if not more.
JONES: It will, it will.
PRIME MINISTER: It's going to require a reconstruction plan, property by property. It's going to require dealing with existing debt. It's going to have to deal with future debt. It's going to have to deal with subsidies for how you rebuild your stock. So this is what we're putting in place.
JONES: But you see, the date today Scott, the date today Prime Minister, is the 18th February 18. Come March 1 the mortgage payments due.
PRIME MINISTER: No but they won't be Alan. That's the thing, the banks are already –
JONES: But for the workers, it’s due for the worker as well, it's due for the small businessman in Townsville.
PRIME MINISTER: Exactly and that's why we'll work on those 25,000 payments and their extension. That's why we've put the 1 million bucks into every single council.
JONES: Where does the money come from, to go out and buy the fence posts, to be able to start fencing hundreds of miles that have been destroyed?
PRIME MINISTER: Well that's what we'll do, property by property by property. One thing I'm not going to do is rush to failure on this. I am acutely aware of the urgency. I've spoken to people directly about it on the ground and as Phil said to me in the pub of the Gannons Hotel he said; “What we want is reconstruction not compensation”. So they want us to partner with them to rebuild every single one of these stations. It’s my plan for them all to be there in 10 years and I'm going to do that working with every individual station.
JONES: Okay just a couple of things before you go. Kerryn Phelps has been in Parliament for five minutes, we now face 2008 revisited, when Labor abolished the Pacific solution.
PRIME MINISTER: And temporary protection visas.
JONES: And temporary protection visas. That cost us 16 billion dollars. Now, where do you think we stand, in a realistic sense in relation to this, what is your intelligence telling you now - Home Affairs, security, ASIO, all these people and your contacts in Indonesia - about boat people?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it says we need to firm up Operation Sovereign Borders, which is exactly what I did the day after, and on the day of the vote I convened the National Security Committee. We put those measures in place. We've engaged in direct messaging into the region that, you know, that may have happened, but frankly I'm still here, Peter Dutton is still here, the Government is still here, the one that stopped the boats and we won't let you in.
I mean I didn't want to have to reopen the Christmas Island detention centre a week ago, I didn't have to. I do today and that's going to cost about half a billion dollars.
JONES: That was recommended to you by Home Affairs.
PRIME MINISTER: By Home Affairs, exactly. So you've got the Labor Party out there saying; “Oh, we will always follow the advice of agencies on this”. Yet they're describing the decision to reopen Christmas Island as ridiculous.
JONES: What is the problem with Nauru? I don't understand what the problem with Manus is, I mean there’s 64 professionals there, half of them are doctors.
PRIME MINISTER: If you had anywhere in Australia the ratio of medical professionals to people –
JONES: One to seven?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah one to seven and 14 – 1 for mental health services. I mean, there's nowhere in the country to my knowledge that that's it's that concentrated, not even in Wentworth for goodness sake with the number of doctors they have there.
JONES: You should open a detention centre there. What's the point of going to the polls, if in fact migration policy and refugee policy is going to be determined by doctors?
PRIME MINISTER: That's what Labor have done. That's exactly what they have done, taking it away. But you're right the medical professionals are there. The children are off. So what this is about - let's make no mistake - is about shutting down offshore processing. That's what it's about. That's what Labor voted for. They did it with their eyes wide open. They had the declassified advice and the classified briefings from ASIO and from the head of the Defence Force and the head of Home Affairs and Sovereign Borders. And when we'd gone and implemented that advice, they said; “Oh what did you have to do that for?” Well, we told you what was going to have to happen if you voted for that bill. He has decided to take a cheap vote in Canberra to play to the Canberra bubble, rather than understand that Australians expect political leaders to stand up for border protection, which is what I’ve always done.
JONES: I will just confirm, you already have, sorry - it was last week, before this rubbish was passed – a Transitory Persons Committee don't you? I think within the Department of Home Affairs and they meet once a month?
PRIME MINISTER: Medical professionals.
JONES: That’s right, they assess the needs and seek urgent medical care, the mechanism is in place and there have been transfers from the Papua New Guinea or Nauru since July 2016.
PRIME MINISTER: There have.
JONES: That's already being done. So basically, this is a heap of humbug.
PRIME MINISTER: They sought to solve a problem that didn't exist.
JONES: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: And as a result - you know, what I should be focusing on, only frankly, at the moment is dealing with these issues in north Queensland not having to reopen a detention centre on Christmas Island because Bill Shorten the Labor Party wanted to go and crash border protection in this country.
JONES: And implement a policy –
PRIME MINISTER: The money I’m going to spend on Christmas Island, I would very much like to be spending all of that up in north Queensland. That's where the rubber hits the road.
JONES: Well if the Labor Party - and this very political, I know he’s pretending it’s not –
PRIME MINISTER: Just on North Queensland, let me be clear, I'm still going to make sure that’s happening. But you can imagine my fury and frustration.
JONES: And I think the public feel that way as well and it is political. He’s saying; “Oh, get the politics out of it.” It is political. But if the Labor Party in Opposition will reject the advice from the Department, from ASIO and from security and intelligence people, what chance do any of us have when they are in government?
PRIME MINISTER: Well that's right and they say they'll still turn boats back. Well, really? really? Tanya Plibersek sitting in the National Security Committee with Bill Shorten? “Trust us, we’ll still turn boats back”. They’ve got no idea what's involved.
JONES: Good on you.
PRIME MINISTER: I know, I did it.
JONES: Yes, I know. Well listen we thank you for that, we'll talk again and we'll keep you posted on the feedback from the farmers as well.
PRIME MINISTER: Can I just say one last thing Alan.
JONES: Yes?
PRIME MINISTER: Sisters of the North; they have done an amazing job in raising funds for people up there and there's a bloke up there, Tim Pratt who runs a trucking company.
JONES: Yes, the cap.
PRIME MINISTER: He was the one, I wore a cap of his and people sledged me for the hat.
JONES: The cap on, good on you. Good on you.
PRIME MINISTER: But he's got a thing called Gumnut Designz and they're selling hats to raise money for Sisters of the North which is supporting those local charities up there. In about 24 hours they'd raised 120 grand, when I got there on Thursday night. It's awesome.
JONES: Leave it with me.
PRIME MINISTER: I'll send you the details.