Interview with Heidi Murphy, 3AW

10 January 2020

HEIDI MURPHY: Good morning, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Heidi.

MURPHY: I'll get to the issue of fires in a moment. I do want to start with the Iran US conflict first, though. What is your message to Australian troops? What is your feeling about our safety, the safety of any of our people in that area?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, my first message always to our troops, wherever they're serving, is thank you for your service and for your dedication. That's whether they're serving over in Iraq, as we have many there doing that now and have been for some time, or out there and about in Australia at the moment as part of the deployment, the largest ever deployment we've seen a response to a bushfire disaster in Australia for the defence forces. But secondly, all of their commanders, the chief of defence forces, are very focussed on their safety and we are relieved that after the events of the other day that all of our personnel were safe and they remain safe. And that remains the highest priority for protecting, defending our people there. They continue on with the task and the mission that they have, that they're committed to and Australia has been committed to as part of a coalition for some time now. And we're working closely with our coalition partners, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and others to ensure that we continue to safely pursue this important mission.

MURPHY: Does that mean you're not concerned that this will escalate further, that we could end up at war?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh, look, I think that is getting well ahead of events and it's not helpful to speculate. What's helpful to do is constantly observe and monitor the situation, get the best possible intelligence and information, and work closely with our coalition partners, which is what we're doing. The National Security Committee of Cabinet has been meeting regularly on this issue, as well as the bushfire issue. And we are very focused on the welfare and well-being of our servicemen and women and diplomatic personnel who are in Baghdad and the appropriate arrangements have been put in place for their protection as well.

MURPHY: Do we stand with Donald Trump when it comes to policy on Iran?

PRIME MINISTER: Australia and the United States and Canada and the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, we are all part of this coalition standing together with the mission that we have agreed and committed ourselves to in Iraq to counter Daesh. Let's not forget it is Daesh, that is the terrorist organization that has sought to wreak havoc on so many parts of the world, including in Australia. And so that mission remains very important.

MURPHY: You've had a conversation with the Canadian prime minister in recent hours?

PRIME MINISTER: I spoke to him yesterday. I spoke to New Zealand Prime Minister yesterday about both of these issues and, obviously, I spoke to the Canadian Prime Minister about the terrible loss of their 63 citizens on board the Ukrainian flight out of Tehran and I expressed our sympathies, but also our willingness to support them in any way we can. We have an embassy there and they're getting support from other partners as well to assist families. It's important that a full investigation is done there, that every effort is made to recover that black box and to ensure that that's part of a very transparent inquiry and review of that horrible event.

MURPHY: Is Iran a danger to the world?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, Iran… all of the nations which I've spoken of have had real concerns about nuclear proliferation and many activities that have been occurring and we've been addressing those with our partners in that part of the world for some time. So I think that those issues are well understood.

MURPHY: To the bushfires, Prime Minister, there will be an economic toll that this takes for a very long time. How many... how long do you think it will take the country to recover?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, let's just go back to Black Saturday, you know, a decade ago and when I sat in the memorial, the 10 year anniversary of that, those horrendous events that we listened to the stories of recovery and it took many, many years. The devastation that was inflicted on towns like Kinglake and others required a complete rebuilding and it wasn't just the buildings that needed to be restored. It was people's lives. It was people's wellbeing and the trauma that that impacted. It was the recovery of habitat. It was the recovery of entire communities and environments and we are we faced with the same challenge here. And the real truth is that we're not through this yet. Even today as we know it, particularly in Victoria, but also in New South Wales and, of course, over in South Australia, we're facing very extreme conditions and there are many months to go in places like Tasmania as well, where the season is usually stronger towards the latter in the summer. We still face real threats in the weeks and months ahead. So this is why we've deployed the biggest ever federal response to a national bushfire disaster the country has ever seen. 3,000 call out of reservists. It's never been done before. A National Bushfire Recovery Agency established, being led by former AFP commissioner Andrew Colvin. $2 billion in additional support going into rebuilding communities and businesses and people’s lives, focusing on agriculture, tourism, the environment, small businesses and the direct assistance we announced yesterday for council areas, including in East Gippsland and other council areas affected.

MURPHY: Given that this does appear to be the new normal, the early start to a fire season, a ferocious fire season, a very long fire season and affecting so many different parts of the country at once, is it the new normal that will see things like reservists being called out every year? Is there an argument to set up some sort of permanent mechanism so, I don't know, mid-November, December 1, arrangements kick into place, mechanisms kick into place?

PRIME MINISTER: Heidi, I think there are very good points and they’re obviously ones that will be considered very carefully. I mean, we stood this up last Saturday. We had it moving several days before we'd actually run a trial process for the call out back in November to ensure that we were in a position to be able to roll that out should that become necessary. And it did become necessary. I mean, the scale of these fires going across two very large jurisdictions reached an unprecedented level and that required an unprecedented response at that time and one was delivered and delivered very quickly. And I think Australians have seen each night in the reports of where our defence forces and other support has been providing everything, I mean, even the last day or so, there's been the emergency fodder drops that have been happening in the southeast part of Victoria. There have been pre-emptive drops of supplies through the Chinook helicopters. A lot of those parts in that part of the state can become very isolated. They've been able to reconnect some of those more recently, but fires could see them isolated again and so that's why defence have been supplying those communities to ensure that they're done in advance if the worst were to happen. There is also excellent work being done now through the engineering teams to reopen roads and I know there is a lot of concern amongst your listeners about those roads. And it's important to remember that it's not just about clearing the debris off the road. It's also about securing the tree lines and the other hazards that could potentially compromise those roads.

MURPHY: And fixing the road infrastructure. So it could be looked at, some sort of permanent or regular annual Commonwealth response?

PRIME MINISTER: We'll be looking at everything, Heidi, I can assure you and I mean, now is the time to focus on the response and the fires there in front of us. And I've been working closely with the states and territories, with Premier Andrews and Andrew Crisp who I think is doing an outstanding job, by the way. I've met with him and my team has been working with him closely. I mean, I think the leadership, both particularly at both government and agency level in Victoria has been very strong and we've been very pleased to be working well with them. As you know, the biggest ever maritime evacuation to a natural disaster, which we've seen since Cyclone Tracy occurred off out of Mallacoota. About 1,400 people by sea.

MURPHY: It’s been an extraordinary effort.

PRIME MINISTER: And with a Spartan aircraft complementing that and the rotary wing support. I mean, that has been quite an effort and I want to thank the people who participated in that as being evacuated for the way they went about that. I mean, of course, you get misinformation. I mean, the other day they were saying that, you know, children under five weren't allowed to come on the evacuation operation. There was just simply not true.

MURPHY: I think that's what people were told locally and on the first day that’s what people were told.

PRIME MINISTER: No, sorry, that’s not. I checked that with Defence.

MURPHY: Oh, right.

PRIME MINISTER: We had children on board. There were pregnant women on board there. So there can be misinformation that gets out there.

MURPHY: Certainly can be. I know you don't have heaps long but I’ll go through a couple of things quickly if I can. Royal Commission, do we need one or no into the fires?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, I've said simply in response to questions on this - and I've said this now for some weeks - that I'll be engaging with states and territories about this and what's the best way to proceed with that. The overwhelming majority of issues that are both contributing to these events, plus the response that is overwhelmingly deployed by state governments and then preparations are run by state governments. So obviously, there's an enormous state jurisdiction in all of this and I'll consult with those state colleagues. I think the feedback I'm getting is there is an appetite for an overarching inquiry that brings all of these elements together and that is comprehensive. I think we'll work through those issues and make sure we learn the lessons as we always do and reflect on how the lessons of previous events have been applied.

MURPHY: You've been getting a lot of feedback on the issue of climate change also.

PRIME MINISTER: Sure.

MURPHY: Will you have more to say?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll continue to meet and beat our climate targets. I should remind you that this year, the very year in which these fires are occurring and, you know, climate change is a global phenomenon, Australia is beating the emissions target reduction targets that we committed to Kyoto.

MURPHY: But is it enough?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, right now I'm talking about, these events are occurring right now, Heidi. And when you look at what Australia has achieved to date, we are beating the targets right now by 411 million tonnes. Now, there are many other countries that have similar economies to Australia who are not achieving that. So what I don't accept is that Australia, as we speak right now with these actions, means that we're ahead of what we committed to do. And it's my plan to ensure we're ahead of what we've committed to do in the future as well.

MURPHY: Some protesters will be taking to the streets this afternoon saying you've not done anywhere near enough and they want you sacked.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, people will take political opportunities during things like this, and that's for them to explain. I'm just focused on what people need here and now. There's been plenty of that and I think Australians can see through that.

MURPHY: Two more very quick things. There's talk of Australia Day fireworks needing to be cancelled. I know the Commonwealth has weighed in on some council issues around Australia Day, citizenship ceremonies, dress codes, that sort of things. Do you have a view on whether fireworks should go ahead on Australia Day?

PRIME MINISTER: Those decisions we've made on the basis of fire authorities dealing directly with local governments.

MURPHY: All right. And is it appropriate to shame small businesses, shame high -profile Australians who aren't making a big deal of whether they've donated or not to the bushfire crisis?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm just simply grateful for those who have. And I think it's great whether it's the Packer family, whether it's the Pratt family, whether it's the Forrest family or the Moran family who have been making contributions. Whether it's the, you know, the Smiths or the or the Joneses or the Amans or whoever who are making donations - thank you. My only message to Australians who are providing support is thank you. And I echo what the Premier said the other day, I've been making similar comments in other parts of the country. The best way to assist with this effort is through donations and doing that through the registered charities. Obviously, that is the most effective way to do that. I know in some of the private and other fundraising activities they are channelling that support, which they've been successfully able to raise, I think, into those official charitable causes. And we thank them for that. Thank you, Australia. Thank you, Victorians, for your tremendous generosity. Let's focus on the things that are bringing us together. That's what I think.

MURPHY: Thank you very much for your time. Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42602

Interview with John Stanley, 2GB

10 January 2020

JOHN STANLEY: Good morning, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, John.

STANLEY: Just on the broader question, a difficult day coming up in South Australia and Kangaroo Island. You were there a few days ago. That's ablaze now and they're saying that, you know, everyone's being evacuated, put onto an oval. That's a real tragedy.

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah the fire has broken its containment lines and it’s moving, I understand, towards the airport we flew into this the other day. Brigadier Cantwell who is the head of the joint taskforce that is responsible for ADF both in South Australia and Tasmania, we’re getting advice through from them about ensuring that position is able to be protected today. But it’s going to be a tough day there. It's also going to be a tough day throughout Victoria and New South Wales with the severe to extreme fire forecasts in those areas. And so the message is the same for everyone, to be listening to those instructions, stay safe and get yourself into the position with your family and to listen carefully.

STANLEY: You've gone to Canberra and you've got the ADF involved, although they have been involved from the start. They've ramped up their involvement now with the reserves and the like, so what is your involvement now in terms of trying to make sure that everyone's working together in getting this done?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are two very specific things we're focused on here. One is, as you say, the ADF’s involvement, the Defence Force's involvement and each and every day we are reviewing their operations, together with the Chief of Defence Force and General Ellwood and his team and ensuring that we're going forward and integrating with what's needed on the ground with the states and territories. The other is the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and the Recovery Fund, which we set up with $2 billion. And we are now working through each and every day further initiatives to deploy that support into the communities where it's needed. Now, yesterday, we announced $60 million that's going directly to 42 councils, which are the areas which are the most affected. The majority of those are currently in New South Wales and there's a further supplementary fund within that amount, which is going to provide additional support above the $1 million for each council for those most affected. I mean, you've got councils like Bega Valley or East Gippsland which are very, very large areas compared to some of the smaller ones. But I should stress to your Queensland listeners, that includes the council areas up in Queensland affected by the fires like Scenic Rim and places like that earlier this year. And so the recovery effort is extending to them as well. We're looking at the health support, I'll have more to say about that very soon, we’ve considered and approved some measures there. We were able to do that at National Security Committee yesterday, which is overseeing the Government's response. But you're right, John, I mean, it is elevated to a different level. Never before has Australia deployed at a federal level to a national bushfire disaster like this, particularly in the call-out of reserves. But in addition to that, the $2 billion recovery fund, which is an initial investment and an additional investment to everything the states and territories and the Commonwealth is already doing.

STANLEY: And that million goes to councils and they can just get the million and then they can just spend it the way they want, generators, whatever it might be they need.

PRIME MINISTER: Whatever they need, because they're on the ground and they know what the needs are and they don’t want to fill out forms. I want the cash getting there. I don't want a lot of paperwork. There is none, there is cash going into accounts. The money goes into the state governments today and they will deploy that to those councils as soon as they can, I'm sure.

STANLEY: You've said you're considering and open to a Royal Commission into the bushfire crisis, that requires the states to be involved. Is a Royal Commission the best way to enquire? Because they take a long time, don’t they?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's the right question, John, and I haven't said we're doing one, I've simply said as people have asked me about this issue and they've been asking me about it now for some time, several weeks, if not months, and I've simply said in response that we've worked with the states and territories about what's the appropriate way to take an inquiry forward, to look at all the issues. Now, no doubt, states are going to be doing part of what they're doing and the Commonwealth will be looking at some of the things that we can be recommending as well. I think more broadly in the public, there is a mood to understand. I mean, we've had significant loss of life here, and that requires, I think, a proper response in determining what has occurred and how we can prepare better in the future. But right now, that's not the discussion. And I wouldn't want people to think that is something that's taking up a lot of time. It certainly isn't at our level. I know it's not at the state level. I spoke to the Premier about these issues during the course of this week, but not to the view of any conclusion, just to nominate the discussion we're going to have to have at some point. But right now, we're going to focus on the response and recovery.

STANLEY: The debate about this though in relation to climate change. Now, you're aware that a lot of people listening to this program, if Alan was doing the program, their view is you're doing too much on climate change, you're doing too much in the renewable energy space. And then you go around the community and you're told you're not doing enough and more needs to be done, you need to ramp up the reduction of emissions. Is that a fair characterisation of the debate and the debate within your own party?

PRIME MINISTER: John, I think in terms of how you characterise the debate nationally I think that's a pretty good, pretty good summary. But what I'd say is that what that means is the policy that we have is a balanced one. It's one that understands the need to take action here but one that balances the economy…

STANLEY: But people listening here are saying you're doing too much and they would be demanding that you, for instance, move ahead with a coal-fired power station, because that's going to provide energy security for us.

PRIME MINISTER: At the last election and the policies we're implementing right now, the action we're taking right now, are the policies I set out before the last election. And so we're acting consistently with that and we're getting on with that. But what we're not doing is getting pushed to and fro around on these issues. We continue to consider our policies carefully here and we understand that we don't want job destroying, economy destroying, economy wrecking targets and goals, which won't change the fact that there have been bushfires or anything like that in Australia. The suggestion that there's any one emissions reduction policy or climate policy that has contributed directly to any of these fire events is just ridiculous and the conflation of those two things, I think, has been very disappointing. I mean, over the last few weeks, John, in particular, there's been a lot of misinformation running around. That has been very disappointing. People have been looking to make political points in many cases. That's disappointing. We're just focussing on the response, the recovery, the work of the defence forces. Today is a very dangerous day. Shane Fitzsimmons and his team are doing an amazing job right across the state, as they always are. They'll be backed in by the defence forces who are ready to go and deploy in areas that, let’s hope, not are affected. But indeed, if they are, we’ve got the Adelaide off the coast there down in southern New South Wales. And that's a fully-fledged port, hospital, with medics and teams and engineering equipment that's ready to move should it be required.

STANLEY: Do you know... politically, is it going be harder for you if you wanted to try and build a coal-fired power station to do this in the present climate? Politically, that would be very difficult.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Commonwealth doesn't build any. I mean, I think this is also…

STANLEY: Or underwrite or support it?

PRIME MINISTER: We’ll continue with the policies we’ve laid out on this, John. And what we're about is lower power prices and reliable power. That's what we want and what is pleasing is that the most recent ACCC figures have shown that power prices actually have come down as a result of the measures we have been putting in place, in particular holding the big energy companies to account. And I want to thank those energy companies in particular who've been providing some fee relief to those affected by bushfires and I hope more follow their lead.

STANLEY: Just on that climate matter, no one has suggested that climate change is resulting in the forests spontaneously combusting. But do you acknowledge if it's a longer, hotter…

PRIME MINISTER: I think a few have, John. And we know that would be ridiculous.

STANLEY: Well, no one is seriously saying that, but they are saying because of the longer, hotter summers, what fires do start for whatever reasons are actually harder to put out.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, this has been the challenge this season and I've just been seeing that scene when I was up in Taree and Wauchope in the mid coast fires and prior to that what was happening in northern New South Wales, up in Rappville and prior to that up in Canungra earlier in the year. I mean, the fires at the moment have burnt so ravenously in New South Wales, southern New South Wales and Victoria, but we can't forget that there have been other parts of this country ravaged by fire some months ago, many months ago. And I haven't forgotten them. I haven't forgotten the people that I met and stood in the local primary school there at Rappville and the need for their support. I haven’t forgotten the people I met up in Canungra. I haven’t forgotten the people in Taree or those I have met more recently down in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria where our support package is for all of them and all Australians and God forbid, any other areas of the country that are impacted by fire in the next two months or possibly more.

STANLEY: Just in relation to this, if there is an inquiry, things like hazard reduction is an issue people keep rising. That's a matter for the states. Can you do anything to override that and try and get some sort of national approach?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, there would have to be cooperation between the states and territories on that, whether it's on planning and building laws or any of these sorts of things. So many of the issues that go to the contributing factors relate to states and territories. I mean, we're not going to have a referendum or rewrite the constitution around this. I mean, we all have our responsibilities. But I do think there's merit in making sure that through consultation with the states and territories that all the relevant issues that need to be looked at here and you've summarized them well, they need to get looked at and whether that's through one inquiry. I think the feedback I’m getting is that would be a sensible thing. But you’re right, John. You've got to make sure. I mean, I would want recommendations, at least in at an interim, to be put in place…

STANLEY: An inquiry rather than a Royal Commission? That’s going to be quicker, isn’t it?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, you can do both, John. I mean, there are longer-term issues. There are short-term issues. I want recommendations and we are already working on that on things we can do immediately before COAG in March. We've tasked our people along those lines, and so that'll be a first decision point and then they'll be further reviews, which I think states individually I’m sure will do themselves, which they can respond to. But I think Australians, because of the scale of this particular disaster, will be looking for something more holistic and as I say, that's not the focus right now. Today, there is a severe and extreme fire forecast in Victoria, New South Wales but down the track, that's what the premiers and I, I'm sure, will discuss and find the best way to deal with that comprehensive set of issues.

STANLEY: Are you concerned about these reports this morning that this plane, a 737, may have been shot down by Iran?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I can confirm that we have had similar intelligence that as our partners have on these things. But what I would say is that this is not a deliberate act as far as we can determine. It's not, as best as we can understand.

STANLEY: So as we understand it was an accident?

PRIME MINISTER: It's a terrible accident. But what's important is that the cooperation with the full inquiry into what has occurred there, that the black box can be recovered, obviously that will be important to that inquiry. I mean, this is a terrible tragedy. I spoke to  Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau yesterday. 63 Canadians who have lost their lives in that terrible, terrible disaster, many more from many other countries and including from the Ukraine, I believe. I'm talking to the Ukrainian Prime Minister later today. We're looking to do that. I had a message about that last night seeking contact and that inquiry into that is really important, particularly for the families of those who've lost so many people in what is a terrible tragedy.

STANLEY: I know you've got to go. Can you help me with this, because I've got an emailer here saying that you're coming on the program while Alan is on holidays. You'll get an easy run with John. He wants to know whether you’ll come on when Alan comes back in that first week.

PRIME MINISTER: My media program weeks from now is the last thing on my mind, John. But I'll tell you one thing that I'm still focused on and I'd like your listeners to know and that is the drought. These fires are burning and we're dealing with those fires. The drought, I know, continues to ravage, and Shane Stone, who I appointed just before Christmas to head up the National Drought Recovery Agency. Shane, I've been in constant, constant contact with over the break. They're standing up their broader support to connect all the things we're doing in the drought, the financial support and all these things and making sure that’s reaching communities. So that hasn't, while we’ve got these current disasters, I have not forgotten the drought for a second and all those affected by it.

STANLEY: You know Alan will want to talk to you about it when he comes back, so can you do it for me?

PRIME MINISTER: Mate, honestly, I’m not doing media plans on the radio. I’m focused on fires.

STANLEY: Ok, alright, thank you for your time.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42601

Interview with Kim Landers, ABC AM

10 January 2020

KIM LANDERS: Prime Minister, good morning.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Kim.

LANDERS: As we've just heard, Canadian intelligence suggests an Iranian missile brought down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Does Australia have similar intelligence?

PRIME MINISTER: Yes, we do. But it does not suggest that this was intentional. And that's why it's very important that there is full cooperation with any inquiry that is going on in relation to the tragic downing of that Ukrainian flight and 63 Canadians who are affected. I spoke to Prime Minister Trudeau about this yesterday. We're offering what support we can through our embassy in Tehran. And same, the Italian embassy is also providing a lot of support to the Canadians in that area as well.

LANDERS: You talk about support given Australia's experience with the MH 17 investigation. Will we offer to help with the investigation in that way?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, at this stage, I think we'll let those countries that are directly involved here take carriage of that. I mean, I've said to Prime Minister Trudeau, if there's anything we can do to assist then of course, we will. They have lost a large number of citizens in this terrible tragedy. And obviously it's important for the sake of their families that this matter is addressed fully. And we would expect that to occur and we'd be seeking everyone to be cooperating with that.

LANDERS: Turning to the bushfire emergency. Are you shocked by the magnitude of this disaster? And as a nation, do we need to brace ourselves for many more years of this?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, certainly I am, in terms of the shock, and I think all Australians are. I mean, the scale of what we've been seeing, as I've been relaying to international leaders, as they've called in and expressing their concern and sympathies to all Australians, that just taking them through what the scale of this has been, has been- they've been very interested to know. And it's been, it's been the length of the season, Kim, but also the fact that there's been the lack of dousing rains that is enabled, to get relief from a lot of these very large fire complexes which continue to expand. And today they threaten again in  South Australia there on Kangaroo Island as well. Of course, in New South Wales and Victoria, where there are severe to extreme fire forecasts. And so I encourage everybody to get yourself to a place of safety, listen to instructions, stay together and support each other as you've been doing so well over so many months now, and particularly, the last few weeks.

LANDERS: You've copped a lot of criticism for your initial response to this crisis. Have you taken a bit of time to reflect on your leadership and your judgment?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've been just very focussed on delivering the response Kim, I mean, copping flak comes with the job, whether it's, you know, however it comes. And that's just part of what the job is as Prime Minister. But the other and most important part is getting your response in. This is the single largest response to a national bushfire crisis that the country has ever seen. Up to 3,000 reserves have been called out. The National Bushfire Recovery Agency established within days following that $2 billion dollars to support in initial and additional funds. Yesterday, rolling out money, which I understand hit the New South Wales bank accounts yesterday so they can move that quickly into the councils, I would hope today, which enables them to immediately respond. Health responses I'll be announcing very soon based on the decisions we made yesterday at National Security Committee. Ministers are bringing forward proposals right across the spectrum of all of their operations. Andrew Colvin is not only heading up the recovery agency, but chairing all departments secretaries as part of a Commonwealth effort to bring forward the initiatives, whether it's in agriculture, tourism, environmental restoration, immediate support needs, the defence force, of course, each and every day out there providing support that's needed in communities.

LANDERS: You're considering some sort of national inquiry. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, points out that there have been reviews after every season. Would you seek the advice of fire chiefs before deciding on whether to press ahead?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's exactly what I have been saying. All I've said in response to questions when this has been put to me is that I'd be working with states and territories to find the most effective way to undertake a review of what has occurred, what the contributing factors were, what the response has been, how we can better prepare for the future. And that's simply all I've said. People have suggested royal commissions. I mean, I don't rule those sorts of things out...

LANDERS: Any states on board with that idea of a royal commission?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we haven't even commenced any discussions on that at all. And now is not the time for that. Now is the time for fighting fires and getting response in place. All I've said and I have discussed with some Premiers that at some point we're going to have to come to agreement on how we can do some of that together. And I think that's the appropriate way to do it. But I'm certainly not going to do that in isolation to the states and territories. It's my intention to work very closely with them about how we best organise that. But right now, Shane Fitzsimmons is, as he and I both know, we want him focussed on fighting fires, not what review should be and shouldn't be. And that's not a position or an issue that's being progressed at this stage.

LANDERS: On climate change, who's telling you that the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2030 is still good enough?

PRIME MINISTER: This is the commitment the government has had, outstanding for many years now. And we've had that...

LANDERS: Doesn’t the scale of the disaster require some sort of recalibration?

PRIME MINISTER:  Based on - that would reduce the fire risk in Australia?

LANDERS: That's what I'm asking you. You don't- you don't think that the scale of this disaster requires the policy to be re-examined?

PRIME MINISTER: Well of course... what it requires for us to do is to meet and beat our commitments. And that's what I've said we're going to do Kim, the suggestion that Australia, either increasing its emissions reduction targets would somehow not have resulted in these fires, I think is an absurd proposition. Let's just remind ourselves...

LANDERS: I’m asking about were there anything further need to be done though?

PRIME MINISTER: Kim, Kim, if I could just finish my answer. What I'm saying is 2020. This is when these fires are occurring, in 2020 Australia is beating its emissions targets under the Kyoto Protocol by 411 million tonnes. Now, there are very few countries that can make that claim. In fact, there are many countries that won't even meet their Kyoto targets. So if we're talking about countries that are meeting and carrying their burden right now, when these fires are burning, right now, then Australia has been meeting and beating its targets, right now and we will meet and beat our 2030 targets and our policy will continue to be progressed to meet those 2030 targets and that’s where we’re heading...

LANDERS: And I’m asking about whether there will be some revision of a target needs to be made because are you- are you saying that Australia is doing all it can and more, you're saying, to limit greenhouse gas emissions? But is there a possibility that we need to do more?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, when I talk about beating our targets, Kim, then obviously that would be the result of us being able to achieve more than what we've set out. I mean, that's what meeting and beating targets means. But what we’ll also do, Kim, is make sure that our policies are balanced and sensible. Our policies don't pursue reckless job destroying and economy destroying targets which won't reduce bushfire risk, but will take people's jobs. So we'll keep a balanced view on this and we'll keep an applied view on this. A practical view. 50 million tonnes of emissions less on average every year under our government compared to the previous government. That's what we're achieving Kim...

LANDERS: You've mentioned that the national inquiry may look at everything, including climate change. So are you leaving the door open if that national inquiry comes back and says some sort of adjustment needs to be made, some sort of recalibration, that the government would be open to taking the advice of any inquiry?

PRIME MINISTER: I've simply said that any inquiry would need to look at the full breadth of factors that are relevant. And of course, we’d review any recommendations that came from that and Kim, but the suggestion that somehow Australia's emissions reductions are directly linked to fire events in Australia. Well, that's just not true.

LANDERS: If we look beyond greenhouse gas emissions and we look at climate adaptation, for example, would you, for example, guarantee funding for the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC beyond 2021, which is when it's due to run out?

PRIME MINISTER: This is- yeah I know, which is some time away from now. And that would have been addressed in the normal course of the Budget. And these are the obvious things. I mean, these things are not under threat Kim and people running around suggesting that they are I think is not very helpful at times like this.

LANDERS: You don’t think the public opinion has changed because of this terrible summer?

PRIME MINISTER: I think the public opinion on this issue, has been heightened across a whole range of factors and climate is one. But I mean, there are a range of other things. I mean, the drought, which is not unrelated to the issues we're talking about, but the hazard reduction and how we manage that in the future, because hazard reduction has proved to be very difficult in recent times because of the drought. And so with longer fire seasons, which, you know, there's a view that those longer fire seasons will be with us, then we have to look at ways that we can reduce hazard in a way where there are more drier conditions. Now, that goes to where people build houses, that goes to how people can clear land. It goes to how we manage native vegetation. And there have been many controversial debates about that and a lot of pushback on some of those policies as well. So Kim I'm up to discuss all of those things and there's no hesitancy or pushback from the government to address any of those things. And I think we have to address them calmly and rationally and in proper context and perspective. And it's important that we maintain that balanced approach-

LANDERS: All right.

PRIME MINISTER: But right now, there's fires and they need to be addressed. Right now there are people at risk who need support, and that's where my full effort and full attention is focussed.

LANDERS: Okay. Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time this morning.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot Kim.

LANDERS: That is the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42600

Interview with Michael Rowland, ABC 7.30

9 January 2020

MICHAEL ROWLAND: I spoke to the Prime Minister earlier.  Prime Minister, thanks for joining us.

PRIME MINISTER: Thank you Michael.

ROWLAND: You have flagged in a teleconference with  coalition MPs today, the prospect of a royal commission into the bushfires. Will there be a royal  commission?

PRIME MINISTER: This is something I've said we would be consulting closely with our state colleagues on. I  mean, so many of the factors that  are relevant to these inquiries that will need to be undertaken fall within the states’ jurisdiction, and there are matters that fall within the Commonwealth. So I mean there will be a time, I think, to ensure that we work with the states and territories to get to the proper inquiry in place. It needs to be comprehensive, it needs to deal with contributing factors which is everything from hazard reduction to climate  change through to the response issues, the national coordination matters  and, of course, resilience and  planning for the future. But right now, the states and territories and ourselves are very focused on responding to these fires and the immediate recovery operations. So we will work together to ensure that there's an appropriate inquiry that addresses the broad gamut of issues that must be considered, as we come out of what has been a, just an awful natural disaster.

ROWLAND: Any royal Commission or inquiry will obviously as you say, examine the responses by all levels of government, do you concede Prime Minister that you should have recognised this was a national emergency much earlier than you did? And stepped in much earlier with firm national leadership?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's just – to summarise the national response we've had - we've had the single biggest response which has included the call-out of the Reserves - some 3,000 - that's never happened before. The establishment of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, and $2 billion of initial and additional funding to support that. Prior to us instigating that move-forward and integrate posture, we were operating under what has been the standing arrangements with states and territories for many, many years - that is, we respond to requests and we work in with them as they direct us. Now what became clear on New Year's Day, in particular, as we had moved from catastrophic fires, particularly in one state, to across two states in particular, and emerging threats in South Australia and other places, is that had gone well beyond, and at an unprecedented level of an event required an unprecedented response from the Commonwealth. So even just a week before that, the conditions were quite different. They were certainly disastrous in New South Wales, as  they had been in Queensland and other places. But in terms of the overwhelming capacity of resource that could be brought to bear, that needed a different posture from the federal government, and that's what we took the initiative to do at that time - because it had escalated to that level.

ROWLAND: But it took you a few days, that was New Year’s Day, it wasn't until the weekend - the  Saturday, if my memory serves me  correct - that you announced the Army was going in. You’d spent a few days before hand saying, using your words, you didn’t want to have different levels of government tripping over each other. Surely you should have seen much sooner that this is something that you needed to be much more involved much more quickly?

PRIME MINISTER: Well Michael you don’t call out the Reservists, some 3,000 of them overnight. That takes a few days to start moving into place. That's exactly what we were doing at that time and indeed earlier that week, we had started moving into this posture by making sure we were moving vessels into place, and particularly the Choules, and that was taking place - that's the big navy vessel that was involved in the evacuations out of south-east Victoria. And so, these initiatives were already moving at that time. We had already been preparing some contingencies around this and, in particular, the Reserve call-out was trialled back in November in the case that we might have to activate it. And so we were working under the arrangements that governments had been working under for many, many years. We've seen big disasters before in Australia that have not led to the call-out of Reserves and a national response like we have now seen. But such was the comprehensive scale across many borders, many  jurisdictions, that it required us to take that additional supportive step. Now that wasn't to reflect, in any way, any lack of response at the state level. It was to reflect the scale of the intensity of the disaster that elevated over the  course of that week.

ROWLAND: You’ve been visiting fire grounds over the last week and a half or so. You have been receiving warmly by some but also, Prime Minister, we've all seen the pictures of fire victims and the firefighter refusing to shake your hand, pictures of you being heckled by fire victims, and yesterday you forgetting that two people had died on Kangaroo Island. It hasn't been your finest week, has it?

PRIME MINISTER: Well Michael I’ve got to correct you there. I mean, even in that last question that you've just put to me – no that's not true. I was referring to lost volunteer firefighters when I made that remark on Kangaroo Island. That was pointed out to the ABC. So I'm disappointed that you'd raise that in that way. Look, I've been out there on fire grounds and meeting people since September. These fires were started back in Queensland when I was up there in Canungra meeting those who'd been affected. You're right - there's a broad variety of responses you get in relation to these events. They're very emotionally raw. People have lost everything. And I obviously don't take any of that personally –

ROWLAND: But why why the hostile – excuse the interruption – directed at you- why do you see there has been such a hostile reception for you, in particular?

PRIME MINISTER: Well in the circumstance you referred to I was the first politician at a senior level to have walked in to that very affected community. And that wasn’t the universal response. As the pub owner from Cobargo and the bushfire captain Mark has made very clear. So look there's a myriad of responses you get in these environments and, when you choose to take the media along, they'll focus on some  elements and they won't focus on others. That's the decisions that others make. The decision I take to is to turn up, to show up. And if people are upset, then I'll listen to that upset. If people are looking for comfort, then I provide that comfort, and have been pleased to do so on so many occasions. I mean it was a  great privilege the other day to be with the Horsley Park Rural Fire Service as we honoured their two fallen. And Darren, the local captain there, was very pleased to extend, you know, his support. And I thank him for that. Because they understand the great sacrifices that are made, and they understand the true emotion and the true sense of loss which occurs. And so there are many different responses, Michael, and I think it would be unfair to  suggest that that's been uniform. It's mixed and people are - we're all human beings. We respond in different ways. It's my job to extend that comfort and support in whatever way I can but, most importantly, to ensure the biggest single ever response we've ever made in response to a bushfire disaster of this nature is being delivered  each and every day, as it is.

ROWLAND: You said at a media conference over the weekend that your government had always accepted the link between climate change and extreme weather including bushfires, but that is not the case, as you probably know your Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack in December said climate change was only the concern of, quoting him directly, “woke capital city greenies”, your Communications Minister Paul Fletcher on News Breakfast I had to ask him three times to accept the link between climate change and bushfires, he didn’t go there so why would you make that statement?

PRIME MINISTER: Because it’s true. Because, when Quentin Dempster asked me at the National  Press Club-

ROWLAND: [inaudible] saying otherwise...

PRIME MINISTER: Michael…

ROWLAND: …excuse the interruption.

PRIME MINISTER: No I'm sorry, Michael, it is the policy of the government to acknowledge the link between these events at a global level. Of course, global changes in the environment  and the climate have a broader impact on the world's weather systems. What we've always said,  though, is you cannot link any individual single emissions reduction policy of a country - whether it's Australia or anyone else - to any specific fire event. I mean, that's just absurd. And to suggest that that is the case would be simply wrong. It is, and always has been, the policy of our government to understand the need to take action on climate change and the impact that has on the world's broader weather systems and climate systems. I think that’s what-

ROWLAND: Do you accept the need…

PRIME MINISTER: The disappointing thing – you can interrupt.

ROWLAND: Do you accept there’s a need given the disproportionate impact these fires are having on Australia compared to other countries, there a need for the government to do more in upping its emissions reductions target?

PRIME MINISTER: Well I think we should be meeting and beating our targets and that’s exactly what we are doing. I think that point is often lost. See, Michael, I think one of the unfortunate things of the last few weeks has been, I think, the attempt to deliberately create a polarisation on this issue. There  isn't one when it comes to the actions of the government. The government accepts the need to take action on climate change, and we are. Many have suggested that that's not the case. Well I'm sorry, the actions speak loudly in terms of the fact that emissions under our  government are 50 million tonnes a year less, on average, than they  were under the government that preceded us. They have fallen in the last two years. We will meet and beat our Kyoto targets this year by 411 million tonnes, and that is better than many other developed economies with similar economies to Australia who won't meet their targets. So Australia is doing its share. We are meeting our targets. And we are going to beat them. And we will continue to do that out to 2030. We remain a signatory to the Paris Agreement in 2030. That hasn't changed. Our 26% emissions reduction target, that has been the same for many years, and the policies to achieve that are in place to achieve it.

ROWLAND: Prime Minister before you go, if we can switch our attention to the Middle East, we have seen a, a pause in the tensions overnight between the US and Iran. If the conflict there was to escalate, would the Government, would the Australian Government, have serious reservations of following the United States into another Middle East war?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, Michael, I don't think that's a very helpful question, because it begs a hypothetical response to events that have not occurred. What the government is doing is remaining committed to the mission that we've set ourselves - that is to combat Daesh through our involvement in a coalition based out of Iraq. That's what so many hundreds and thousands of Australians who've been part of that mission over many years have been so proud to participate in. I visited them and I saw personally, around about this time last year - and the Governor-General was only with them only a few weeks ago. Now the events of the last 48 hours and a bit longer than that have obviously been events that we've had to look at very closely, and the National  Security Committee has been meeting regularly on this issue, and the decision we've taken is that we can remain doing the job that we're doing, but we'll obviously continue to monitor events very closely with our partners in this important exercise. I was only speaking to Justin Trudeau today and Jacinda Ardern today, with whom we are equally there with them, and we are sharing very similar views about how we manage that over the next few  days and weeks and months ahead.

ROWLAND: You’ve urged restraint on both sides, and the US and Iran. Does that restraint in your view, or should that restraint, in your view, include the President's tweets?

PRIME MINISTER: I welcome the statement that the President said today in terms of how that indicates a de-escalation of what we’re seeing in the Middle East. And we will continue to work closely with our US partners and all coalition partners to stay focused on the job that we've set ourselves there. And I just really want to thank all those Defence Force men and women who have both served in  the Middle East - whether it's in Afghanistan or Iraq or other parts of the Middle East - for the great sacrifice you've made for the great values of our country, and we'll  continue to honour that in the way we make decisions to keep you safe and your colleagues safe now and into the future and, and to ensure we remain committed to what you’ve made that sacrifice to go and do.

ROWLAND: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thank you very much for joining us tonight.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Michael.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42599

Immediate Financial Support for Bushfire Affected Communities

9 January 2020

Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Minister for Water Resources, Minister for Water Resources Drought Rural Finance Natural Disaster and Emergency Management

The Morrison Government will provide an initial and immediate base payment of $1 million to 42 of the most severely bushfire impacted councils in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland to help quickly rebuild vital infrastructure and strengthen community resilience.

A further $18 million will be set aside to provide additional support to larger council areas which have experienced the most significant damage, with the National Bushfire Recovery Coordinator Andrew Colvin working with state governments and impacted local councils on determining this additional allocation.  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his Government was committed to working hand in hand with regional communities to rebuild towns and villages.

“These payments will provide immediate assistance directly into the hands of local councils to rebuild roads and infrastructure, employ staff to help in recovery activities and hold events which bring the community together and bring tourists back to town,” the Prime Minister said.

“We are moving immediately to support local councils and our funding will be in state government bank accounts by tomorrow.

“Importantly this is a base payment and just the start of our support for local communities, in what we know will be a long recovery.”

Funding will be directed to councils which have been ‘activated’ by their respective state government for Category C bushfire disaster recovery relief under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Payments will not require matched funding from state governments. 

Currently there are 40 councils across Australia in receipt of Category C assistance, including 33 in New South Wales, five in Queensland and two in South Australia (list attached).

Funding will also be provided to the Local Government Areas of East Gippsland and Towong in Victoria in recognition of an imminent request from the Victorian Government for Category C assistance for these severely impacted regions.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government was backing regional communities to rebuild and recover.

“We have always known regional communities are Australia’s most resilient and in the devastation of these fires we have seen again the remarkable community spirit existing in our regions, said the Deputy Prime Minister. 

“The immediate payments to councils will boost affected economies by supporting local small businesses, farmers and trades as they rebuild, restock, replant and recover.”

Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the focus would be on supporting local communities.

“I’ve made it clear this won’t be a Canberra led recovery, it’ll be a locally led recovery and this is our first instalment in that process. We’re empowering local governments to be part of that process today. We’re committed to rebuilding communities but also the lives of those impacted by these devastating fires,” Minister Littleproud said. 

All funds will be drawn from the $2 billion allocated to the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and this is in addition to funding that is automatically available to councils through other disaster recovery arrangements.

The lump sum payments will be delivered by the Commonwealth by the close of business tomorrow to State Governments who administer payments to councils.

The only condition placed on councils is that they develop a Program of Works within three months and report back to the Commonwealth in 12 months’ time.

Councils will be able to spend their $1 million payments on projects and activities that they deem essential for the recovery and renewal of their communities, including:

• Rebuilding damaged or destroyed council assets such as key local roads, bridges, and community facilities;

• Employing additional local staff to take on specialist recovery or planning roles to help coordinate and plan the rebuilding effort;

• Hosting new public activities and events to bring communities together and attract visitors back to affected regions; and

• Immediate maintenance and repairs to relief and evacuation centres.

Councils to receive assistance

NSW

• Armidale

• Ballina

• Bega Valley

• Bellingen

• Blue Mountains

• Byron

• Central Coast

• Cessnock

• Clarence Valley

• Coffs Harbour

• Eurobodalla

• Glenn Innes Severn

• Hawkesbury

• Inverell

• Kempsey

• Kyogle

• Lismore

• Lithgow

• Mid-Coast

• Mid-Western

• Nambucca

• Port Macquarie-Hastings

• Queanbeyan-Palerang

• Richmond Valley

• Shoalhaven

• Singleton

• Snowy Monaro

• Snowy Valleys

• Tenterfield

• Tweed

• Walcha

• Wingecarribee

• Wollondilly

QLD

• Livingstone

• Noosa

• Scenic Rim

• Southern Downs

• Sunshine Coast

SA

• Adelaide Hills

• Kangaroo Island

VIC

• East Gippsland 

• Towong

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42597

Doorstop - Kangaroo Island, SA

8 January 2020

PRIME MINISTER: I’m very pleased to be joined here today by my good friend Premier Marshall, ministers who are joining me, Mayor Pengilly, it’s great to have you here, Assistant Minister Ben Moreton, obviously Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. He is assisting me, particularly as we’re working through the many issues that are relevant to the bushfire response and the recovery programme we’re already engaged in. Senator Ruston, it’s great to have you here, not only as a Senator for South Australia but because of the important role you're playing as Minister for Families and Social Services. And of course, we have General Ellwood who is joining us and he will provide an operational update for you in just a few minutes. Of course, there's the usual operational update that's been provided each and every day out of Russell. 

Before I go to the matters of the bushfire today, can I just quickly address, importantly, the matters in Iraq and then I will turn to the issues here. I've been advised and have been in regular contact today with the CDF General Campbell about the rocket attacks that have occurred in Iraq. This is a matter, and in terms of the situation in Iraq, that the National Security Committee has been monitoring and watching very closely now since the events of a few days ago. But the status of issues in Iraq and safety is something that we are constantly assessing. The CDF has been able to confirm to me at this point that all Australian diplomatic personnel and all ADF personnel are safe, but it is obviously a very fluid situation and this is something I'm receiving regular reports on, together with the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, we have all been in contact with our counterparts on these arrangements. I, through the Secretary of State, and the Minister for Defence, through the Defence Secretary in the United States, seeking to ensure that we continue to be updated and we're working closely together to protect the safety of Australians. The CDF, I gave authority this morning, to do what was necessary and to take what actions and decisions were necessary to protect ADF personnel and diplomatic staff in Baghdad and this is something that I will be returning to Canberra later today and meeting both with the defence chiefs as well as our key ministers and there is the scheduled meeting for the NSC in the morning to take further decisions. I know particularly for ADF personnel, whether they're reservists or otherwise who are here today, they will be pleased to know that their colleagues that they fight alongside and they serve alongside with, at this point, are safe and we're doing everything to ensure their continued safety. 

Here at Kangaroo Island, we are also seeing the best of Australians, whether it's those reservists who are here and over 100 now, and they will be scaling up to around 600 and the work they're doing is incredibly important. Whether it's in engineering works, road clearing, providing support to the community, filling in holes, the disposal of stock - all of these issues are incredibly important to the recovery and response operation that's occurring here in South Australia. I want to commend the South Australian Government for the efforts that they have been leading across not only here in South Australia, but also in the Adelaide Hills. We have been working closely together, as I'm sure you know, and today we are announcing together the provision of category C assistance in both the Adelaide Hills local government areas and here on Kangaroo Island, which includes payments of up to $10,000 for small businesses as immediate assistance and payments of up to $15,000 for farmers, graziers, primary producers, to provide some immediate relief and assistance. There will be further announcements made in the coming days and weeks as the National Bushfire Recovery Agency looks at further category D payments and classifications and support to local governments and we will have more to say about that. 

Here at Kangaroo Island, what you see come together are the two most impacted, I would argue, sectors of our community. These fires, whether it be here in South Australia, in New South Wales, Victoria, certainly earlier in Queensland, the tourism industry and our agriculture sector have been very much in the front-line of the impact. With estimates of some 100,000 stock lost here on Kangaroo Island, this is a catastrophic event here for that sector. The rebuilding of those sectors will be incredibly important for these local economies, to rebuild the livelihoods. It's very important as part of the recovery that we rebuild the local economies as much as we rebuild the local infrastructure. That means supporting communities and getting in behind them to do just that. They know what they need to do. Defence forces are here and the state emergency services are here to help them do that and the income support assistance and the infrastructure assistance, which I know will come from the State Government as well, will be designed to deliver on those key needs.

I will ask General Ellwood to go over more of an operational update of things that are happening more broadly, but in addition to the announcement I have just made about category C assistance here in South Australia, a couple of points of feedback that we're picking up from around the country. First of all, I want to thank all Australians for their incredible generosity, for the donations and the other offers of support that they have been provided to Australians affected all around the bushfire-impacted areas. But I would make this one plea on behalf of those who are seeking to deliver and provide that support - and from this point on, we would encourage you to be providing your donations and support in direct financial donations. There is a list of the approved donations that are available of those charitable sites and there are others I know others are supporting. That is fine, but let's just make sure you're putting cash in because that's what they need. Talking to the Salvos, in particular, we’ve just been up there to chat to them and that's what they need. To mobilise their efforts, they need that cash support. So if you're looking to help, the best way you can help, if you're not in a fire-affected zone and not volunteering because of your other arrangements or where you happen to be, the best way you can help is to provide that direct financial support. 

The second thing I would say, in relation to the tourism sector, which at this time of year would be expecting to be having one of the best parts of its season and obviously in the bushfire affected areas, that is absolutely having a dreadful impact. First thing is to say is that whether it's here domestically in Australia, or, indeed, overseas - because I have spoken to many leaders, particularly in the last 24 hours - that Australia is open, Australia is still a wonderful place to come and bring your family and enjoy your holidays. I just have been at the Salvos with the volunteers and we've got two tourists from Belgium who are there in the Salvos volunteering to support. But even here on Kangaroo Island, where a third of the island has obviously been decimated - two-thirds of it is open and ready for business. It's important to keep these local economies vibrant at these times. So I would ask you, if you have already made those plans and otherwise can't change them, then, by all means, follow through, because I'm sure the local tourism businesses, whether here in South Australia, or other places where they're able to continue to take visitors, that you would proceed. 

Can I also offer a request on behalf of tourism operators that have been affected - if you booked accommodation and you're now seeking a refund, can you cut them a break? In terms of at the very least on the timing about when you might expect to receive a refund. These businesses have been hit very hard and their cash flow positions are not going to be in a position where they're going to be able to meet every request. I would particularly ask the international tourism trade industry to be mindful of that when they're dealing with customers. For Australians in particular, you want to help in these regions? Then cut these local tourism operators a break when it comes to what you might like to do. Even better - why not, if you're in a position to do so - I know not everyone is - but if you're in a position to do so, then why not even let them keep it or, indeed, arrange for another time when you can take it up and come back and visit, whether it's Kangaroo Island or anywhere else. They need that help at the moment. They're trying to keep their businesses on foot. To large businesses that have small businesses that are affected, I thank them for the support they're providing and I would ask them also as the banks have already done, to give quite a period of grace and to give people in the bushfire affected areas plenty of opportunities to deal with what their immediate needs are, rather than having to deal with other things. The Australian Government has done that, whether it's through the tax office or the Social Services Department and Human Services and Government Services Australia. 

So with those, one last announcement I’ll make today is the Treasurer and I have agreed that we will be bringing forward legislation to ensure that the disaster payments that people receive will be non-taxable in the same way that we've extended in the case of previous disasters, in particular, most recently in relation to the North Queensland floods, just to provide some clarity on those issues as well. So with that, I'm going to hand over to the Premier and then we will hear from General Ellwood.

THE HON. STEVEN MARSHALL MP, PREMIER OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Thank you very much, Prime Minister. It's great to have you back in South Australia, especially at such a very busy time for you. This is your second visit to South Australia in the last two weeks and we genuinely appreciate your ongoing interest. We particularly appreciate the Federal Government and the State Government getting together to authorise those category C payments, a 50/50 payment between the State and Federal Government. This will really enable us to back those businesses, small businesses and primary producers, to get back on their feet as quickly as possible. We're absolutely delighted with your announcement that you will be proceeding now making sure the payments are not going to be taxed. That is absolutely fantastic news. It's a big relief for people in South Australia. 

Our focus as a State Government now is to do everything we can to extinguish the fires that still exist in our state but very soon moving to full recovery mode. We're standing shoulder to shoulder with communities right across this state who are affected, in particular, the Adelaide Hills and here on Kangaroo Island. The Prime Minister's 100 per cent right - we've got to be doing everything we can to support these communities, particularly the things that people sitting in metropolitan areas or other parts of the states can be doing is booking holidays on Kangaroo Island or in the Adelaide Hills, buying their fantastic wine or produce. These are the things that will be able to keep the economies in these areas ticking over, people employed and making sure that we don't add compounding issues to the communities that have been hit so hard since the 20th December last year. So again, great thanks to the Federal Government. I would particularly also like to at this point very much thank the ADF. They are integrating extraordinarily well with the other personnel here, with the CFS, the MFS, the State Emergency Service - they are doing a great job fitting in. I think they've been welcomed here on Kangaroo Island almost like heroes. This is a very large landmass - 4,500 square kilometres. It's a big area. There's no way the locals can do all of the work themselves. So we're very grateful to General Ellwood and Brigadier Cantwell and all the ADF personnel who have come on to Kangaroo Island at the moment. I am going to take questions at this point. Then I think we're moving on to General Ellwood. Are there any questions for me?

JOURNALIST: Premier, just quickly on tourism, we've seen so many booking cancellations from visitors around the world, months ahead. Is there a real risk that this Island’s economy will just keel over?

THE HON. STEVEN MARSHALL MP, PREMIER OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Look, we've got to be careful on Kangaroo Island. There are two major sectors here, ag and tourism. They've both been really kicked in the guts in recent days. That's why the State Government is moving into recovery as quickly as possible. We will be announcing things in the coming days which are really going to put a focus on making sure that we keep the economy moving in the right direction. 4,500 square kilometres - 2,500 square kilometres of pristine island completely and utterly untouched. So if you want to do the people of Kangaroo Island a favour, book a holiday, get over to this island. There's still plenty to see.

JOURNALIST: The Mayor behind you is calling for cash assistance. Is that going to be coming from the state? 

THE HON. STEVEN MARSHALL MP, PREMIER OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA: We've already put out, I think, as of Monday morning, 1,600 emergency payments have been made, totalling almost $1 million. I think we have already sailed past the million-dollar figure there. The Feds have put their emergency money on the table. And of course today the payments that we’re talking about in excess of $11 million to go to these people that are affected by bushfires, is 50/50 between the state and the Federal Government. And you've just heard it straight from the Prime Minister's mouth that they're going to be making sure that people that receive those will not be paying tax on those. That’s a great, great announcement today from the Prime Minister. Thank you very much.

JOURNALIST: Premier, is it the case though that as generous as it might seem, and under the circumstances it probably is, it’s just a drop in the bucket. It’s not going to get these people back on their feet.

THE HON. STEVEN MARSHALL MP, PREMIER OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA: There is plenty more to come from all levels of government, whether it be local government, State Government, Federal Government and of course, a lot of the NGOs. We will have to be wrapping our arms around the people of the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island and other parts of the state as well for a long period of time. But we're in it for the long haul. We're going to be doing everything we possibly can to get these economies back on track as quickly as possible.

JOURNALIST: Premier, is one of the things you’ll be considering subsidising the ferry trip across? I know a lot of people want to come over and help out. Will you be looking at that?

THE HON. STEVEN MARSHALL MP, PREMIER OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Look, can I just say every single solitary thing is on the table at the moment. We've appointed our local recovery coordinator, Mike Williams, he's in place, he's been on the island since Monday morning. We're looking through all of the options. We're prioritising those. When we can make announcements, we do. We're delighted today to be announcing the $11.5 million between the State and Federal Governments and now it's tax-free as well. So a great announcement today but plenty more support that will be required in South Australia. Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER: I might ask Brigadier Campbell and General Ellwood if you could step up and just provide an operational update, particularly as it relates to South Australia.

MAJOR GENERAL JAKE ELLWOOD DSC: So as you know, you will get a detailed operational update from General Bilton at 1430 in Canberra. I will talk about the broader operations and then I will get Brigadier Cantwell to talk about specific operations here. Look, firstly I would say that the connections between the emergency services and the ADF continue to go particularly well, great communications, making sure that we are leaning in where the emergency services and, indeed, the community require us. You would have seen yesterday that we had Choules undertake evacuation operations from Mallacoota. We have Adelaide based off Eden and it is preparing, if it hasn't already started to, disembark elements to go and assist inland. In terms of aircraft, you would note that we've had an increase in aircraft. The Singaporeans have provided kindly two Chinooks that should be serviceable or working, I should say, from tomorrow. The New Zealand Defence Force has provided helicopters for support and also fixed-wing support and we have also brought additional helicopters down ourselves from Townsville, so that will have a significant and positive impact. In terms of our troops, you will see out on the ground, we are moving more and more into isolated communities, to make sure that we have boots on the ground to understand what the needs are of the communities so we can either make sure we inform appropriate elements or, indeed, provide the support ourselves and I think over the coming days, that will pay dividends. I have directed that we will have two elements that will be capable of air mobile operations, based out of New South Wales and also Victoria, to make sure that they can launch at very short notice to provide multidisciplinary teams that can provide support or make assessments and then provide that support as it's required. Everyone is moving out hard. You would have seen the numbers in terms of reservists have increased significantly. We've doubled our numbers, certainly, over the thousand, I’m not sure what the exact figure is. I'm sure you will get that figure from General Bilton at 1430 hours. But I must say, having yesterday been at Eden and Merimbula and having been here today, you can't help but be impressed with our emergency management services, volunteers, and, of course, our ADF are doing us proud as they always do. I’ll now hand over Brigadier Campbell who might like to talk specifically about operations here.

BRIGADIER DAMIAN CANTWELL: My role is to lead and coordinate the effort across South Australia and, indeed, Tasmania if required. But right now, the focus is clearly on Kangaroo Island. I've positioned forward here on Kangaroo Island for a couple of days a team of about 120 people. The immediate task that they are working with the state emergency authorities here on the Island include such things as the provision of water to the community, both for drinking and also for farming and livestock purposes, also provision of engineering assets and sheer manpower to help deal with the pressing issue, both with the farmers, and also to get access along the roads of the dead livestock and wildlife that have tragically been killed also in these fires. Also, bring a whole range of other capabilities. We're leaning forward with the other state emergency service agencies across the space here to see where we can help. I've got a whole raft of people also behind me in this effort. I'm building up what will be about a 600-person group here on the Island over the next two days. They will be made up of both high-readiness units from across the Australian Defence Force, but also immediately after that, so we can be here for the long run, the contingent of reservists behind them to sustain the ADF effort. I'm buoyed by the confidence and the freedom of action that the ADF leadership has imparted to me as commander here, to ensure that I can bring any resource required to aid the community and the emergency services in the job on the ground right here today.

JOURNALIST: Brigadier Cantwell, just quickly on the water unit, does that now mean that locals now have enough water for non-essential use? They have been rationing for weeks. Can they splurge a little bit more now?

BRIGADIER DAMIAN CANTWELL: Yes. We will work with the authorities from SA Water. I'm not the person to give authorisations about water dispensation from their perspective, but I can assure you the ADF has now provided sufficient quantities to meet the immediate demand that was expressed to us. Today we will have a water filtration and purification unit established which I had flown in by Air Force assets from Brisbane overnight and trucked onto the Island as we speak. That has got a capacity of 250,000 litres of fresh drinking water available per 24 hours, as well as the 150,000 litres of water we've provided already. So we're working with SA Water to make sure the community has got what they need.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, can we ask about the situation in Iraq. When you say you’ve spoken to the CDF and you have authorised him to do what is necessary to protect Australians, does that include the withdrawal of Australian troops and can you also confirm whether the Taji base has been attacked?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're receiving further updates at this point of the precise location of where the strikes have been are still being verified. What I have been advised by the CDF directly is that all Australian personnel at Taji, but as well as the other locations we have there as well as our diplomatic personnel at this point are safe and we will continue to get reports from our people, whether it's in Taji, Baghdad, or otherwise, to ensure that we're kept updated on that. One of the obvious... what I'm talking about with protect and defend, he has those clear authorities. We will continue to assess the situation. That's what I will be returning to Canberra in the not too distant future to do, with the CDF and ministers this afternoon as well, as we visit all of these issues again in the morning and what further developments there have been. But at this stage, it is a matter of protecting and defending those Australians where they are, and working closely with our partners in the region.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, it's not unsurprising after the assassination of the Iranian commander and President Trump appears to be very pleased with himself over that, this missile attack would come as no surprise, would it?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the United States have taken the action that they have to address what's been intelligence that they say they received which was putting their interests at risk and under threat and they have been clear about that. I should also stress that the Australian Government has said following that attack that the individual we're talking about here as well as more broadly, there have been concerns about their operations in the region for some time. So the United States has taken that action. We will work continually closely with them. It was a matter I did discuss with the President yesterday when we spoke. Obviously, we also talked quite extensively about the bushfire situation here. I note that there have been many, many calls of support. The Polish Prime Minister last night, the Japanese Prime Minister, the European Council President, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea - a long list of calls were made last night. The President of Sri Lanka - there was support that Australians are receiving from around the world and it is very heart-warming. We thank them for that. There have been lots of offers of very practical support. As always, we will take up those offers where they can be practically integrated with our own effort but we thank them nonetheless for the great offers.

JOURNALIST: So you have total faith in President Trump’s judgement on this?

PRIME MINISTER: The Australian Government is working closely in partnership with all our partners in the region. I discussed this matter with president Macron the other day as we will with all of our partners. My focus now is on Australia's interest, my focus is on those Australians who are in Baghdad and in Taji presently. They are getting all the authority they need to ensure that their position is put in the best possible place.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what were some of the things locals asked you for today or that the community needed when you were on Kangaroo Island?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, number one was a rural financial counsellor, and between visiting them this morning and driving back here, the Premier and I have already put that in motion. I've already touched on a number of them in terms of local tourism operators just asking for some, at the very least, some patience when it comes to any cancelled accommodation or any work with local tourism operators. I would repeat that message. The other feedback is the longer-term arrangements that will need to be in place. I mean, there's stock, there are stock disposal issues here. The stock losses here are just at 100,000 for an area such as this, quite staggering. The process of having those stock buried is very important from a health point of view and the ADF are assisting with that tasking, but I have to say the other thing that we will need to do and is already in train is the delivery of mental health support, not just in this community, but in bushfire-affected communities all around the country. That has a very high priority. I touched on that when I announced the National Bushfire Recovery Agency a few days ago and the Health Minister has been working up a package to that end. But there was appreciation for being here, there was appreciation for the men and women you see standing around you, whether they're from the emergency services or the defence forces, reservists or otherwise, there's great appreciation for that presence here. I think that presence is providing much needed practical support but I think much needed moral support as well.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you didn't go very far into the fire grounds today, just saw the tip of the iceberg. You didn't the most destroyed properties, you didn’t see the animal carcasses, destroyed forests. Will you be making plans to come back and see the true scale of what happened here with your own eyes?

PRIME MINISTER: Today and particularly given the events in Iraq, that was on the way here, was going to constrain particularly how long I could stay, as I'm sure you would understand. But with the Premier today, he's got a very big photostream and was showing me during the drive out there this morning those particularly decimated areas. These are areas I visited many years ago as a private tourist here on Kangaroo Island, so I'm quite familiar with how spectacular the place is and particularly down there towards Admiral's Arch and places like that. I’ve seen the moonscape in the images shared by the Premier. So you can rest assured that I'm in no doubt about the level of devastation on that part of the island.

JOURNALIST: You said you spoke to the US last night, have you spoken to the US this morning?

PRIME MINISTER: I have been in contact with the US this morning, as has the Minister for Defence by the way.

JOURNALIST: Given you’ve spoken about global financial support, given Chinese interests here are substantial and Chinese interests throughout Australia, shouldn’t the Chinese Government be doing something to assist this? 

PRIME MINISTER: Look, I’m focused on what the Australian Government is doing.

JOURNALIST: Can I just ask about the deployment of reservists? There was obviously some concern about how they would be integrated and deployed. Are you confident that everything is running smoothly with the reservist force?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm very pleased with the level of integration between the reservists and the full-time complement of the Defence Force and how they're integrating, particularly under local priorities and direction, whether it's here in South Australia or in New South Wales. We've been in regular contact with Commissioner Fitzsimmons in New South Wales, for example, and in Victoria, it’s going extremely well there. I was only down there a few days ago in East Gippsland. I could see it for myself. I'm very appreciative also of the support coming out of Singapore, with the additional helicopters. There's more New Zealand support which is turning up those helicopters also turning up today, I understand General, but also there are the engineers support coming out of New Zealand and that is all working effectively under the local priorities and direction. When ADF, particularly reservists who are going into communities and setting up pop-ups together with Government Services Australia, that's been done in concert with local state police and others to ensure there's a very close working relationship at the local level but also at the state level and, indeed, well, today obviously I've been with the Premier and had quite a lengthy conversation with the Premier of New South Wales on the way here today about events there as well.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, fire brigade unions from every state have joined together to call for a Royal Commission into bushfires. They want to know what causes it and what can be done to prevent these disasters. Is that something your Government would support?

PRIME MINISTER: This is something that we're very open to me but as I said when this question was put to me the other day, I think this is something we have to work closely with the states on. There are state responsibilities here and state issues, there are federal responsibilities here and how they work together. That goes on everything from arson laws work when you have fires that go across state boundaries. It goes to the activation points for effort like the ones we're seeing here. I mean, in this natural disaster, these fires, this is the first time, the first time ever, we have seen the call-out, to the best of our knowledge, of reservists to be available to be deployed here in response to a bushfire crisis which runs over many states. Now, that has been backed up within days by the establishment of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and a commitment of $2 billion initially to that effort. Let me stress by way of comparison, that $2 billion does not include the category A to C assistance that we've been talking about here today. If you go back and look at the Brisbane floods and Cyclone Yasi some years ago when a levy had to be struck, that total bill was about $5.6 billion over six years. And category A to C and like assistance which is exempted from our $2 billion was about $5.25 billion. So we're comparing there this financial recovery support that the Commonwealth Government is providing is absolutely significant, above and beyond what we've seen in a very long time, if ever. And if more is needed, more will be done. What I'm also heartened by is the fact that the state governments are doing exactly the same thing. We both have different tasks. We can provide income support. We can provide support to state government infrastructure works. The state governments will be taking the lead on those infrastructure works. Our commitment also doesn't include the deployment of what you see around and about you here through the defence forces and other agencies. So this has been one of, if not the biggest, responses by a Federal Government to a disaster of this nature we've seen in this country and you can expect that to continue.

JOURNALIST: You touched on arson laws in what you just said. Do you think that the current penalties across the states are sufficient or would you support harsher penalties?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm as disappointed by the disgusting behaviour of seeing arsonists active in a season like this as any other Australian. It just makes your skin crawl, frankly. State governments have been taking that up and have been arresting people. I know in my own community, this was some months ago, I want to thank the locals there who alerted police to some behaviour that they’d seen from some people going into a bush area and they were able to tip the local police off and they were able to turn up and deal with that. And Australians have been doing that all around the country. We’ve got to keep our eyes open because while we always see the best of Australians through events like this, we can also see the worst. That includes arsonists, it includes those trying to scam others who have been caught up in this disaster, it includes looters. What I will say is that's not Australia and that is certainly not the overwhelming comprehensive definition of Australia. What you see of the spirit of Australia is what I saw where those families I met with this morning, some of whom have lost their homes, some of whom have lost their properties, and have lost thousands and thousands of stock. But there they do, stand together, support each other and commit to rebuild. That's what we will build on. We will build on that spirit of Australians which is exemplified by all those amazing Australians going out there and doing what they're doing each and every day. There's some more difficult weather coming up in front of us over the next few days. Here in South Australia, particularly over the next two days I'm advised, and on the east coast particularly on Friday. So I would just encourage everyone to follow those instructions, make sure you're in a place of safety, look after each other and let's stay focused on the job we've got ahead and supporting each other to do just that job. Thank you all very much for your attention, thank you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42596

Support for Bushfire Affected Communities in South Australia

8 January 2020

Prime Minister, Premier of South Australia, Minister for Defence, Minister for Water Resources Drought Rural Finance Natural Disaster and Emergency Management

The Federal and South Australian Government will provide more support to South Australian communities devastated by bushfires, as they look to rebuild and recover.

Primary producers and small businesses on Kangaroo Island and in the Adelaide Hills can now access grants to help them get back on their feet.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said assistance is being provided under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

“South Australia, particularly the Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Hills communities, have faced devastating losses. The bushfire threat is not over yet, but we will be there, backing the communities every step of the way as they rebuild and recover,” said the Prime Minister.

“This funding will provide grants of up to $10,000 to impacted small businesses, and $15,000 to primary producers and farmers. This will give businesses and families the immediate assistance they need to begin rebuilding.

“We have also deployed a force of 121 ADF engineers, logistics specialists and personnel to Kangaroo Island to help with immediate relief and clean-up.”

Premier Steven Marshall said the State Government is committed to rebuilding the communities affected by these devastating bushfires.

“We are acting swiftly, focusing initially on the engine room of these communities, primary production and small business, and this investment will help jump-start the recovery of both Kangaroo Island and Cudlee Creek,” said Premier Steven Marshall. 

“We want these communities back on their feet and flourishing as soon as possible.”

“Despite the tragic circumstances, the people I meet on the ground are determined to recover and rebuild, and we are working with the federal and local governments to provide the support needed.”

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said we are seeing the largest domestic mobilisation of the Defence Force in our nation's history, as our serving men and women respond to the devastating bushfires.

"A military water purification system has been flown to Kangaroo Island from RAAF Base Amberley in Brisbane. It can create 25,000 litres of potable water each day, enough for the island's population, and this water will be distributed by the ADF.

"Army veterinarians and personnel are also treating injured and orphaned animals including koalas at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park."

Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said supporting farmers and small businesses was a priority.

“This will help farmers and small business clean-up, repair damaged equipment and fencing, and replace stock,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Getting back to business is one of the best ways to recover.

“This support will make sure businesses can open and people are back to work sooner.

“When money flows around a community it can help to speed up the whole recovery.

“We will see this through together and further assistance will be made available if it is needed.”

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42595

Unfolding Events in Iraq

8 January 2020

The Government is closely monitoring the unfolding events in Iraq.

The Prime Minister, Chief of the Defence Force and Ministers for Defence and Foreign Affairs are in frequent contact.

The Prime Minister has directed the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) to take whatever actions are necessary to protect and defend our ADF and diplomatic personnel and keep Australians safe.

The Prime Minister has contacted the Leader of the Opposition to brief him on the current situation.

The National Security Committee of the Cabinet has been meeting to review this situation and take decisions as necessary since Saturday, is already scheduled to meet again for this purpose on Thursday and will be convened sooner should further information be confirmed requiring such a response, and will be done so in consultation with the CDF.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43958

National Bushfire Recovery Agency

6 January 2020

Prime Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Water Resources Drought Rural Finance Natural Disaster and Emergency Management

The Federal Government will establish a new agency with an initial $2 billion for a national bushfire recovery fund to coordinate a national response to rebuild communities and livelihoods after the devastating fire-front has passed.

The Prime Minister said the National Bushfire Recovery Agency would be funded with an initial $2 billion to ensure the families, farmers and business owners hit by these unprecedented bushfires would get the support they needed as they recover.

“It’s a long road ahead and we will be with these communities every step of the way as they rebuild,” the Prime Minister said.

“While the immediate focus for our emergency services and the Australian Defence Force is keeping people safe and defending against the fires hitting so many areas, we also need to be ready to hit the ground in communities where the fire-front has passed to help them rebuild.

“The Agency will ensure the work of state and territory governments is being supported and act as a ‘one stop shop’ central team to coordinate the response. We will do whatever it takes.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the initial $2 billion investment for the Agency and its recovery work would be on top of the existing disaster recovery payments and allowances which have so far seen more than $100 million worth of assistance flowing through to families, small businesses and farmers.

“An unprecedented joint effort with the states, territories and local government will be required to assist with the recovery, rebuilding and future resilience of these communities,” the Treasurer said.

“Our initial $2 billion investment help to get communities back on their feet by assisting with restocking and replenishing, rebuilding roads and telecommunications infrastructure, mental health support, attracting tourists back to the regions and helping restore the local environment and impacted wildlife.”

The Agency will be led by Andrew Colvin APM AOM and will be modelled off the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency established following the 2019 North Queensland floods, as well as the experience of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority created after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

The Agency’s key tasks include:

• Build on the effective working relationships with state, territory and local governments, including their recovery and reconstruction bodies, and to work with stakeholders in bushfire affected communities, and relevant Commonwealth agencies to inform and integrate recovery and rebuild activities

• Ensuring affected communities have ready access to meaningful support and all available services

• Providing advice and recommendations to Government on the economic and social impacts of bushfire on affected communities, in consultation with relevant agencies across all levels of government;

• Developing and coordinating the delivery of a long-term plan for the recovery, rebuild and resilience of bushfire affected communities

Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the Commonwealth would continue to step up to do whatever it takes.

"We will continue to respond to changing conditions while these fires affect communities across the country,” Minister Littleproud said.

“We will help people on the fire front and people that have been evacuated from affected areas and the ADF is also helping deliver supplies such as food, fuel and medical assistance.

“When the rebuilding begins, the Commonwealth will be there to make sure communities are well-resourced.”

The Agency will work within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and report to Minister Littleproud. Funding for the Agency is in addition to the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements that have been activated in all bushfire affected areas already with $25 million in Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance flowing to communities. The Commonwealth and NSW Governments have already committed $86 million for the recovery effort in that state and Category C assistance between the Commonwealth and Victoria is also expected to flow shortly. The funding is in addition to the Australian Government’s support for Volunteer firefighters who are eligible for up to $6,000 per person to provide for lost income.

People affected by the bushfires can claim disaster payments by calling Services Australia (Centrelink) on 180 22 66 and find more information at www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster. As soon as it is safe to do so, Mobile Service Centres will head into affected regions to assist with all Government payment services, including disaster payments.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42593

Doorstop Interview - HMAS Albatross, NSW

6 January 2020

PRIME MINISTER: Of course, it's wonderful have the Premier Gladys Berejiklian with me here, of course, Commissioner Fitzsimmons and Major General Ellwood, who's taken on the two star role, which is overseeing all of the ADF's operations right across the country with the various joint task forces, they are reporting up through to him. He's based in Russell in Canberra, and it's been a very good opportunity this afternoon not only to see the work that has been done here out of Albatross and particularly what they've been dealing with most recently and the capability, and the capability of what we see behind us here is the same capability which is currently sitting on the Choules and the many other assets that you are familiar with. I want to thank very much Premier, you for the close working relationship we've had over many, many months as we've worked through all of these fires, whether it's standing together up in Rappville all those months ago.

THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN, PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES: Indeed.

PRIME MINISTER: And here we are again today and as we will be for many months to come, and can I thank you also Commissioner Fitzsimmons, for your incredible leadership over these many, many months, going back to August for you. And I know that puts a very heavy load, and despite that, you turn up fresh every single day. And it's always a great encouragement to see that and to Major General Ellwood, it's been a good opportunity for you and of course, the Commissioner and the Premier and I to talk about the announcement that was made yesterday and to address any range of issues to ensure we are getting that close communication in place, and I'm looking forward to that being a very, very strong relationship going forward as it indeed has been through the embedded nature of the ADF in the New South Wales operations now for a very long time. So I want to thank you for that Gladys and there is a lot more work to do. Both of us will have to return to our various bases straight after this. Of course, the Commissioner and the Premier returning to Sydney and I and the Major General to Canberra. There will be a cabinet meeting there tomorrow and National Security Committee meeting there also tomorrow. We've both conducted rather lengthy press conferences today, Premier?

PREMIER BEREJIKLIAN: Thank you Prime Minister, it's good to be here and to obviously continue to work together. The Defence Forces have already been embedded in our operations intimately in New South Wales for a significant number of months. We're grateful for the support we have received to date. And we look forward to this ongoing close working relationship.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Gladys. Commissioner?

SHANE FITZSIMMONS, COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES RURAL FIRE SERVICE: I can confirm that we've still got 150 fires across New South Wales. We are certainly seeing an easing of conditions right across the state. And as a matter of fact, there's even a bit of drizzle happening down here on the south coast. And it's certainly a welcome reprieve. It's a psychological relief, if nothing else. For all the communities being affected by these fires. But unfortunately, it's not putting out the fires. It's not helping us with the furthering of the work of back burning and consolidation work. So we will have to wait till we see this moisture dissipate so we can get on with the important work of containment lines and back burning and consolidation right across the enormity of these fire grounds. Hundreds of thousands of hectares. As a matter of fact, millions of hectares currently in New South Wales on active fires will be doing that right throughout the coming week before we see a return to warmer conditions and more windy conditions towards the end of the week. All our fires are now off the emergency warning alert level. We've got nine at the watch and act alert level, which is indicative of ongoing fire behaviour and potential and fire still burning in and around lots of communities. There's lots of damage and destruction. So roads are being assessed and being repaired and being made good. So people please sustain your vigilance, maintain that vigilance, maintain the focus. Yes, we can, we can take a bit of a reprieve in the weather conditions but what we want everyone to do is remain focussed. Complacency kills and we've still got a long part of his summer to go.

PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much. Major General? He's been in Victoria yesterday and New South Wales today.

Major General Jake Ellwood DSC: It’s been actually a really good opportunity get out on the ground and see what has been happening, there's been some amazing work from the emergency services. I've been to Victoria and I've been to New South Wales. Fantastic integration with the ADF and obviously now a significant surge in capabilities available. And we will work very closely with the states to make sure that it is in sync and we have the right forces at the right time doing the right things.

PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much. Time for a couple of quick questions?

JOURNALIST: In your conversations with Commissioner Fitzsimmons today have you apologised to him for what you've described as poor communication?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah we've had that discussion today and we've been working closely together for many months and the communications issues have been addressed within Defence. And that's been a good opportunity today for the Major General and the Commissioner actually just to talk through the arrangements that have been put in place today. And it's been a good opportunity to follow that up this afternoon.

JOURNALIST: Lucy [inaudible] BBC News. Given the severity of the crisis and some of the missteps that have been made, why should Australians be confident in your leadership?

PRIME MINISTER: The response that you're seeing rolled out here in Australia at a state level and a commonwealth level is unprecedented. This is the largest single call out ever of Defence Force reservists working together with our full time Defence Forces to provide support which this country has never seen before. On top of that, the financial support that is going to be provided and I will be making more announcements about that yesterday, but already, some $25 million, working in close partnership with the states and territories. What it matters is what happens on the ground. The resources that are made available, the delivery of the services that are necessary and the rebuilding effort, and the recovery effort that we will see into the future, I'm focussed on the work that needs to be done, just like the Commissioner, the Premier and the Major General.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, a quick follow up. We've flown from London this morning via Singapore. The whole world is watching Australia right now. The hashtag is Australia on fire- what message would you like to give the world and the people who are watching?

PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much for your support. Thank you.

PREMIER BEREJIKLIAN: Thanks, everybody. Thank you very much.

JOURNALIST: [Inaudible]?

PREMIER BEREJIKLIAN: I think we've covered those issues, thank you very much.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42592

Interview with Luke Grant, 2GB

4 January 2020

LUKE GRANT: Good afternoon PM

PRIME MINISTER: Gday Luke, and mate thanks for the work you guys are doing today. It's a very difficult day, particularly all around the state, but a lot of the other areas you've just been talking about as well. So, you know, thanks for helping people today and all your listeners.

GRANT: Good on you. It's amazing, isn't it, to think, PM, that they say Penrith is the hottest place on earth right now?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, mate I've experienced some pretty high temperatures out in Penrith over the years, but this one has obviously set a new record. I remember when I was a kid, we'd be, you know, in the back of the combi van coming back from the Blue Mountains on a Saturday, Sunday afternoon. And I remember some pretty hot afternoons because they didn't have air conditioning in the cars back then.

GRANT: That's right.

PRIME MINISTER: A few listeners, I'm sure, can remember that. But this one's a scorcher out there and it’s a very dangerous day, Luke. Terribly dangerous day.

GRANT: Indeed. We've already lost two people on Kangaroo Island. They fear it could get worse?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I've been talking to Premier Marshall very regularly. I was just down there at the fire affected areas and Lobethal just before Christmas, visiting those communities, and Kangaroo Island basically half of it's gone in terms of what's been burned there. And there is still some concerns for some individuals. Many people were evacuated off the island, others to safer places on Kangaroo Island. But that has been a very ferocious fire. It was a bit cooler today and the humidity was a lot higher today. The premier told me earlier today so that improved conditions. But some very grizzly and some very devastating news.

GRANT: Now this morning you've come to a conclusion that we need to send reservists to some of these fire zones. I think the number PM is about 3,000. How soon will they get there and what can they do to help?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, they're raising that call out now this is a compulsory call now. This isn’t just would you mind reserves coming in to volunteer? We've already had a lot of reservists that have already done that, I should stress. But this is a compulsory call out signed off by the Governor-General under a specific authority. It's the first time we've ever done that to our knowledge, in response to a disaster like this. Now they will have a range of different of roles, they've been called out in four brigades and they will be doing everything from just supporting safety of life operations, supporting evacuations, making contact with isolated communities, dropping supplies, providing medical assistance and supporting the state managed evacuation centres. There's also roles for clearing roads, supporting traffic management, supporting civil order in areas that are desperately affected. And there's a big recovery job, too. And I know Luke, that you’ve on 2GB already started talking about this. And you're right to. I’ve also said today that we'll be setting up a national recovery agency. I'll have more to say about that shortly. Today's focus, though, was on responding to these fires. Two other things we've done today, importantly, is we've sent the HMAS Adelaide now that is our largest amphibious ship that'll be steaming south very soon. That'll go down to about the Victorian and New South Wales border. And they, I mean they have a hospital on that ship, that's been stocked with supplies to support isolated and cut off communities along the coast. A very similar job, if necessary, for evacuation, as the Choules did out of Mallacoota in Victoria. I was down that way yesterday, and so they're deployed. But the big difference with what we're doing now, Luke and before,  and it's really got to this point is the national arrangements, which were set up together with the states and territories, has always been for the federal government to respond to requests from the state. So they initiate all actions. And we've been respecting that rightly for many months now. But when you are fighting fires and stretching resources right now across four states, in particular, two of those in the state of disaster and emergency, then we have moved from what is said a posture of respond to request, to move on and integrate with local commands. So we're stepping in now. We're not waiting to be asked. But when we will move in, then we will ensure that we're operating hand in glove with those local authorities.

GRANT: Now, you're adding, I think, some aerial capability. I just want to understand this. Earlier this year, if I heard David Littleproud when we spoke the other day, he said that the head of all the firefighting groups of volunteer organisations, et cetera. And the states get together and they give you a list. Normally in April or might be March for the summer ahead based on the best advice. So they gave you that list and as a result, you act upon it. What you're doing today is you're adding 4 aircraft at their request but you’re saying, listen, we've got to go a bit further.

PRIME MINISTER: Both. They asked us for 1 and I'm giving them 4. Last night we received a request at eight o'clock, 8pm for an additional large air tanker. Now that takes 11,000 litre capacity. That's available within 7 days. So we said, yes, of course we will do that. But on top of that, we're going to get one very large year tanker, which is long range, that has a 36,000 litre capacity. We'll be getting one of those as well. And we'll be getting another 2 additional large air tankers, which are at the 11,000 litre capacity. And that will cost around about up to about $20 million and we will meet that cost to the Commonwealth. And that will all be available to our state firefighting agencies to deploy as they see fit to fight the fires. I mean, we're not here to direct what they do. I mean, Shane Fitzsimmons is the best in the business and he knows what he's doing. And we just need to, you know, respond to this specific request, but actually go beyond that and anticipate the next one.

GRANT: Things like, as I mentioned earlier, essential energy's problem today, 30,000 people, Batemans Bay without power. Some of those probably since New Year's Eve and some of them isolated. There's nothing really government can do to step in and help here. Or is there?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the energy companies themselves are best placed to try and re-stand up transmission and things of that nature. They've got the people who are skilled and qualified to do those things if they need any help from us then obviously we can provide that. What is being done by both the federal government through the Defence Force and the state government is to get generators into these communities. I mean, one of the, particularly when they're cut off. I've seen that occurring now in two states, and what- that’s often done using the additional rotary wing, the helicopters that we're putting in place to access those cut off communities. The HMAS Adelaide, obviously, because it's a loading helicopter dock, as it's called, means it can use the Navy's helicopters also to go in and out of those affected communities along the coast. But what this really is, I mean, it is, there were preparations made based on the advice provided by the fire chiefs. Additional resources were put in to support going into this fire season. What is different about this fire season is it's running in many states concurrently at a very, very high level. And the fire’s are running for longer. So normally when you'd get some dousing rains after a period of fire and that would settle it down or extinguish those fires, that's not happening. So they are remaining smouldering/ burning at a low level. And when the climatic conditions change, as we've seen in recent days, then they flare up again. And that's really the challenge of this season. So with that stretching resources, this is, what we're doing today is I should stress, no criticism of state governments - they're doing an amazing job. But as I've seen when I've been out there on the ground talking to people and, you know, I've had a you know, I've had good responses and I've had some angry responses. Look  I expect that when I go in to places, Luke, I mean, I was the first leader to go into Cobargo the other day, and I expected to get, you know, some angry voices. I mean, I would expect that people are angry. They're hurt, they've lost everything. So you just don't take it personally. You listen carefully. You try and comfort people and you just get back to work and get on with the job.

GRANT: This is only January and we know sometimes it gets worse in February and March. Is anyone telling you, PM this is nothing, wait until you see what happens, you know, in February and March?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, no one's telling me it is nothing. People are telling me this is very severe, obviously. But when I was in Victoria yesterday, a lot of the concern there is their worst season usually does come in February. And the fires currently in Victoria are very focused in the south east of that state. The rest of the state is in pretty good order except for one fire down towards Warrnambool, or spot fires, things like that. But that's where its focused now. Now god forbid that Victoria would see those fires move across its west. We are seeing some things more up towards Albury and Wodonga and obviously Wodonga’s in Victoria, in New South Wales, though, that's where the most fires still rest. I mean, it is like, this morning it was around 136 fires. But, you know, there's 10 fires in Western Australia. There's 39 in Victoria. There's 9 in Tasmania. There's fires in South Australia, Queensland and the only state, the only places where we don't have registered fires this morning was in the ACT and the Northern Territory. So some of them obviously more severe than others. But New South Wales is bearing the load and that is really stretching things. And that's why we weren't going to wait to ask. I mean, it's not being impolite. That's just knowing that we've got to get in there and provide that support as quickly as possible. And we think the New South Wales government for their cooperation and support.

GRANT: You touched on what you came across yesterday. And I really don't want to get into the politics. But at some point, a young Scott Morrison would have said, gee, I hope I'm PM one day and then you become PM and you see reactions like that. I know you've got to focus and it's something many would be envious of because you are just able to put your head down and get on with the job. But you wouldn't be a human being if you didn't walk in there as a Prime Minister just offering support and help and to hear that response and not think yourself, you know what a people expect me to do, as you've said before, you don't hold a hose. If you get asked to do something, you do it. In my experience, I think what you've done today is brilliant. You've answered the calls of the other states, but as a human being, you hear that, it's got to affect you PM?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well, look, Prime Minister’s don't get those indulgences and nor do they seek them. I understood going down there with Jenny the other day that people would be feeling very raw. And when you were there, you could understand absolutely why. And there was a mixed response. I got to say, Luke, I mean, some of the media is just focused on one element of that. That doesn't surprise me. The broader response was much different to that. And I want to thank many people in Cobargo who were, you know, were pleased, expressed their thanks for coming. They shouldn't have to. I mean, that's where I thought I should be. I hadn't had the opportunity to get down to the south coast. I'd been at Geoff Keaton's funeral that morning with the commissioner and then the premier. And I was keen to get down there knowing I'd be in Victoria the next day. I was keen to get there and see these things on the ground. And when I was in Cobargo it was very clear to me that why people feel so isolated in these circumstances. I mean, it's dark, it's hazy there’s an eerie quietness to it as well. Luke. And you normally when you know, at that time you can hear cicadas and all those sorts of things, mate, you can hear nothing. And so, look, I totally get it. And I'm obviously not, don't take it personally and so it's all good from that point of view, but it's obviously extremely difficult for those people. And that's what I really care about. I’m not overly fussed about the other stuff.

GRANT: All right. Stay well, thanks for what you're doing. Good to chat.

PRIME MINISTER: Good on you Luke. Thanks for the opportunity to talk to you

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42589

Interview with Sandy Aloisi, ABC News Radio

4 January 2020

SANDY ALOISI:  …to fight the bushfires that are gripping large parts of the country, with 3000 Australian Defence Force Reservists to be deployed and the federal government to invest a further $20 million to lease four additional firefighting aircraft. Scott Morrison has also announced the Navy's largest amphibious ship, HMAS Adelaide, will sail from Sydney this afternoon to sit off the coast should it be required to help with evacuations. And the Prime Minister joins us live now. Mr Morrison, good afternoon to you, thank you for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon.

ALOISI: A welcome announcement of these extra resources, but why has it taken so long to do that?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, yesterday was the first time that a disaster declaration had been made in Victoria. And over the last couple of weeks, we've been escalating the role of the Defence Force. We've been operating on what has always been the arrangements, which is to respond to requests and have been doing that. But we have now moved to a new phase, which is to move forward and integrate into areas. So previously we've asked for requests, now we are just moving in and then integrating with the local command and what's taking place on the ground.

ALOISI: But did you need a disaster announcement to make you aware of just how serious the bushfire crisis was in Victoria and, of course, in NSW?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course not. We know that has been a serious issue that's why we've had Defence Force people deployed since September of this year. And that's why we've been supporting the emergency services and firefighting efforts by the states and territories now for many months, and we’ve had 2,000 people involved in that.

ALOISI: I’m sorry to interrupt you, you've only announced the upscale of that this afternoon. Why has it taken so long?

PRIME MINISTER: Well no the upscale has been occurring now for several weeks. I mean, it was several weeks ago that I ensured that we had Defence Force personnel who were deployed directly into the incident response centres in towns and areas all across New South Wales as well as Victoria. But it has been the states who have been, we have been respecting and responding to their requests and as me, myself being out and about and seeing things on the ground, particularly over the last week, it became clear that the scale and the extent was getting beyond the capacity of those state agencies and there were places that needed additional assistance. And so in the absence of any request, we will now just move forward and position and integrate with what's happening on the ground.

ALOISI: But Prime Minister, were you not warned of the scale and the extent of this bushfire season as far back as last March when former bushfire chiefs actually said to you, something has to be done about the upcoming fire season, which could turn into a crisis? And indeed, it has.

PRIME MINISTER: That was the same advice that we received from the existing fire commissioners, and then we responded to the actions that needed to be put in place as they recommended. And so I don't accept that. I just [inaudible] simply accept that at all. We received the same advice from the existing fire chiefs and responded to their recommendations with additional resources and the planning work that was put in place. I think the response that has been led by the state commissioners in each of their jurisdictions has been outstanding and phenomenal. We’ve got 147 aerial fire- I mean, water bombers out there. And now on top of that, they asked us at eight o'clock last night, 8:00pm, for an additional asset, the first request we've had on that and I've decided to provide 4 with up to $20 million dollars. And they're two very heavy and large ones and two other large water bombers that will be made available to the states and the Commonwealth will be meeting all of that expense.

ALOISI: Prime Minister, I spoke to Susan Templeman earlier this afternoon. She is the federal member for Macquarie. She has a home at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains and is playing that awful waiting game that so many people in those bushfire areas are playing. She says you visited the area in December, in early December. You were told then by people, residents, that the bushfire season that was coming was going to be a very tragic one unless something was done. She asked this afternoon why something wasn't done after those conversations.

PRIME MINISTER: Things were happening even then-

ALOISI: -they weren't evident, obviously.

PRIME MINISTER: Well I'm very sorry but I mean, she may not be aware of the amazing work the Defence Force were doing, dropping firefighters into incredibly dangerous areas, evacuating people, engaging in search and rescue. The staging point for the water bombers themselves being run out of Richmond, ensuring that we had ample fire retardant and supplies of that going into New South Wales at the time. I can't help it if Susan Templeman isn't aware of all the things that the ADF were doing at the time. I think it's very important that at times like this, it's not a time for point scoring. It's just a time of getting things done. And that's what our ADF has been doing. Getting things done with whether it is there - I personally saw those fire grounds. I was over on the other side, particularly over in Mudgee and seeing what was occurring there and the fires were on the other side of the range. And many of the things I've announced today is a result of what I observed there with the connecting up the needs on the local level with what the ADF could deploy and do.

ALOISI: I think Susan Templeman really epitomised what many people on the fire grounds are feeling this afternoon, and that is that they really don't feel like there's any there's been any leadership in this bushfire crisis. You're aware of the criticism yourself. What do you say to that?

PRIME MINISTER: The response I’m providing? To ensure-

ALOISI: - No, you as a leader, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: The response, that is what is required to deliver the response that I've outlined today, to have listened carefully as I have, to see that the fact that our our assets and our resources and the people that we have available are able to move forward, not having to wait for requests, but they're able to move in there quickly and take action is what we're doing. But that has been occurring in response to the many requests that have already been made. But the fires have gone to another level. And they're not just in New South Wales, they're in Victoria, they're in South Australia. We've had two fatalities there today which have been confirmed - 23 people have lost their lives. This is not a time for arguments. It's time for action. And that's what we're doing

ALOISI: Prime Minister, why then do you think you've been heckled when you visited various fire grounds and people have really asked you not to come back unless you can provide further resources?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, there was a bit a mixture of responses, and it would be very unfair to characterise it as that being the overwhelming response, that that has not been the overwhelming response in the places I've been. There's been a mixture of responses. I was the first senior person to go into Cobargo after that terrible fire ripped through and I expected to hear anger and upset and people to be very raw and as I've listened to people's fears and concerns, that's how I've responded and in what I've put in place today -

ALOISI: And I think they were angry and upset at you, Mr Morrison.

PRIME MINISTER: Were you there?

ALOISI: Well no, I wasn't. I saw the vision.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I was there and I met with many people on that day. And many people were pleased to have Jenny and I there. And many people were pleased that their isolation had been recognised and that so soon after the event, I was able to get there. I listened very carefully. They said they wanted more resources for the Rural Fire Service, that’s what they said. I spoke to others who had said to me that what was occurring in terms of getting access to local roads and what was needed to clear those, and we have emergency services people doing that work but it was clear to me that they would need more support, and that's why I've made the announcements I have today. So I hear all of that. I hear those who are angry and frustrated and outraged and I hear those who are appreciative and encouraging. I mean, there is a mixture of responses that happen when you go into these places. I've visited many, many, many of these communities going back as far as September when it started up in Canungra. And there's always a mixture of responses and sometimes only one aspect of those responses are what's given amplification in the media.

ALOISI: So finally, Prime Minister, do you feel you can look Australians in the eye this afternoon and say, I have done my best for you as your Prime Minister? As far as this bushfire crisis goes?

PRIME MINISTER: Of course I do. I say that every single day to the Australian people on every issue and every responsibility I have.

ALOISI: All right Prime Minister, thank you for your time this afternoon.

PRIME MINISTER: Thank you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42588

Bushfire Relief and Recovery

4 January 2020

Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for Defence, Minister for Water Resources Drought Rural Finance Natural Disaster and Emergency Management

Our country is facing devastating and widespread national bushfires.

They have been burning throughout the country for months now but today is shaping up as our most challenging day, with a state of emergency declared in NSW and Victoria while Tasmania and South Australia also face significant threats.

We are well prepared, well organised and well resourced, but we are also realistic: These fire conditions are unprecedented, and the challenge is formidable. If fierce conditions prevail, today could be a dark day for our country.

The rapidly escalating damage and the heart-breaking human cost calls for nothing less than an all-out response. The task in front of our country today and in the weeks ahead requires us to do whatever it takes; to not only fight the fires and protect lives, but ensure our fire-affected communities are well-resourced and functioning, and evacuations can be affected quickly and effectively. And when the fire threat has finally diminished, that we have the tools and personnel to reopen and rebuild.

Following today’s meeting of the National Security Committee, the Morrison Government is:

• The compulsory Call-Out of Australian Defence Force Reserve Brigades for the first time in the country’s history, together with specialist personnel,

• Deploying HMAS Adelaide to support the efforts of HMAS Choules and MV Sycamore, as well as additional Chinook helicopters, C-17 Globemasters, C-130 Hercules and C-27 Spartans, and

• Leasing a fleet of extra waterbombing planes for the states and territories to deploy

It will mean boots on the ground, planes in the sky and ships out at sea all supporting the bushfire fighting effort and recovery.

We continue to support the states to run the operational response and we will continue to act on every request we receive for further assistance.

In recent months ADF resources have been deployed in response to state requests - from the operational base at Canungra in Queensland in September, to the 2,000 personnel already deployed to support with logistics, evacuations, catering, accommodation and clearing, our Air Force helping transport firefighters, Defence bases being used as refuelling and staging sites and HMAS Albatross assisting with water and fire retardant reloading.

We have also been listening to the people on the ground in these fire-affected areas and we are unilaterally changing the posture of the ADF to proactively mobilise and position our resources where we expect they will be needed most.

Through the authority of the Governor-General, the Government has directed the Australian Defence Force surge to bring every possible capability to bear by deploying Army Reserve Brigades to fire-affected communities across Australia.

Australians have watched with admiration as our emergency services have dealt with the fires and extreme weather events engulfing much of the country. We have their backs.

Two-Star Emergency ADF National Support Coordinator Major General Justin Ellwood will have national authority over the ADF Joint Task Forces in each affected state working in cooperation with and to support state emergency authorities.

The priority for this deployment is to assist in ensuring the safety of life, support the evacuation of affected people from isolated communities, provide assistance to isolated communities and support State-managed evacuation centres.

The ADF surge includes the deployment of up to 3,000 designated ADF Reserve forces including the 4th Brigade from Victoria, the 5th Brigade from New South Wales, and the 9th Brigade from South Australia and Tasmania and specialist logistic elements of the 17th Brigade headquartered in New South Wales to push Defence resources into fire-affected areas progressively, and in coordination with State authorities, from as early as tomorrow. These Brigades will be enhanced with specialist ADF personnel with skills in engineering, medical, logistics and transport support.

Following the Prime Minister’s conversation with the Chief of the Defence Force on New Year’s Eve, the HMAS Adelaide, the Navy’s largest amphibious ship, has been readied to join HMAS Choules and MV Sycamore in supporting evacuation of citizens from fire affected areas along our coast line. HMAS Adelaide will sail from Sydney this afternoon, and will be located offshore from the fire affected areas tomorrow afternoon. The Adelaide is fully equipped for disaster relief and humanitarian aid and is able to operate all ADF helicopters, 400 crew including medical staff as well as 300 tonnes of emergency relief supplies.

The Government has ordered relevant ADF air lift and reconnaissance capacity to pre-position to RAAF Base East Sale, which will remain the central hub for the Defence response in southern areas. 

From tomorrow an additional three Chinook helicopters from Townsville, will be deployed over the coming week to support a range of resupply, evacuation and transport tasks across the breadth of the affected areas. An additional C-17 Globemaster, two C-130 Hercules and three C-27 Spartans will also be pre-positioned to East Sale.

For people in short term evacuation distress, other Defence bases from Brisbane to Adelaide will provide temporary transit accommodation and support arrangements.

This is a major step-up in ADF involvement and assistance and demonstrates our absolute commitment to supporting states to fight the fires, and to immediately swing into disaster recovery operations as soon as the fire-front has passed. 

Following a request from the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council at 8pm yesterday for one additional waterbombing aircraft, today we have also committed $20 million to lease four extra planes to fulfil that request and to meet any further requests - two long-range fixed wing DC-10s with 36,000 litres capacity and two medium-range fixed-wing Large Air Tankers with 11,000 litre capacity. The Commonwealth will fully fund the leasing costs with operational costs to be shared with states and territories as usual.

From the heart-breaking loss of life to the destruction wrought on towns and communities, businesses, farms, livestock, homes and our wildlife, the impact of these bushfires has left deep financial, emotional, mental and environmental scars.

We are conscious of the enormous challenge of rebuilding these devastated communities. Australians are resilient and want to rebuild - and we will be with them every step of the way.

The Government has already processed 20,600 claims for assistance this bushfire season and delivered nearly $25 million in Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance as well as deployed Mobile Service Centres and extended Centrelink’s phone hours including opening them this weekend. But, as with the floods and drought, we can and will ensure communities and businesses have the helping hand they need. The Government will detail further work to aid the recovery in coming days. 

Our government’s entire focus is on supporting Australians in this difficult time – those facing immediate danger and those who are recovering after the fire-front has passed.

The Prime Minister has postponed his state visit to India and his official visit to Japan to stay close to the disaster and recovery operations underway in Australia. We deeply appreciate the arrangements that India and Japan have made to date and look forward to rescheduling the visits at a mutually convenient time in the coming months.

Everywhere across the country in the communities we visit we see the absolute devastation and despair these bushfires have wrought. What we have also seen is the best of Australians coming together, supporting one another.

We urge Australians to keep informed about the situation in their area and to follow the directions of state and territory authorities and the ADF as they work to keep people safe.

We will do whatever it takes to get Australians through these terrible times.

Full details on the ADF’s operations to date are available at https://news.defence.gov.au/national/defence-boosts-bushfire-support.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42586

Interview with Paul Cullivar, ABC

3 January 2020

PAUL CULLIVER: Joining me on the line today is the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison.  Good afternoon to you.

PRIME MINISTER: G'day Paul.

CULLIVER: Where do we find you right now?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, right now I'm in Sale I'll be heading down to Melbourne shortly but I've been out in Lucknow and out across the fire grounds and seeing first hand what's happening out there. But also in particular, getting briefings earlier today in Sale from Brigadier Laidlaw about the evacuation that has been successfully taking place with the Choules and with the Sycamore, the Sycamore's already left, of course and the Choules we anticipate leaving later this afternoon taking people back into town. So there's quite an operation out here today with the Defence Force and equally that operation is involving the dropping is some 12,000 litres of fuel each day into Mallacoota which is so important.

CULLIVER: There's been a lot of commentary today with regards to your visit to Cobargo and the response you got there. There was two instances on film in which you attempted to shake the hands with locals and volunteers and they clearly were not wanting that and you, despite that, took their hands anyway, how can you account for that behaviour?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I was just seeking to offer comfort that's what people would expect me to do in these circumstances. Any who felt differently, in a situation like that you have people feeling very differently to each other within a community and so it's just a matter of trying to find that support wherever you can I understand people are feeling very, very hurt they're feeling very frightened in many cases and some are angry and some are just very, very warm and If you stood where I stood yesterday you would have seen the same thing.

CULLIVER: Do you now think that you did the wrong thing by touching people that clearly did not want physical connection with you?

PRIME MINISTER: I was just offering support. I'm always happy to offer support.

CULLIVER: Okay, but do you now see that there was perhaps a breach of personal space there?

PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't believe so. I was just seeking to provide some comfort and support.

CULLIVER: What about the anger and frustration that is being expressed by various communities affected by fire in Victoria, New South Wales, other places. A lot of it has been directed at you. Do you appreciate the anger that is being expressed?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I know people are angry and I don't take it personally. I know in circumstances like this people feel a great array of emotions. I've been very pleased with the other responses that I've had in other parts of the country, particularly here today. I understand that in the middle of a natural disaster people will be responding in different ways and I just simply have to keep focusing on the task ahead and that is to ensure that the coordination is taking place that our Australian Defence Forces who are, as the crisis continues and they continue to up-scale what they're doing and that's particularly taking place here in Victoria as the Premier has acknowledged and has appreciated the great coordination between the federal government and state government here.

CULLIVER: Do you think it should take it personally?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think that is not the way that you get on with your job. I mean, I understand the frustration, I understand the anger, I understand the rawness people feel and there's a lot of emotions in experiences like this I've been in these circumstances on many previous occasions,

CULLIVER: Sure but do you take those expressions of anger and frustration as a commentary on the way that you're doing your job? Do you interpret them as such?

PRIME MINISTER: It's not about me. This is about what's happening out here,

CULLIVER: But you're the Prime Minister so it is about how you handle a national crisis.

PRIME MINISTER: Yes and that means ensuring that we get the support on the ground where it is needed, understanding where those needs are, providing comfort and support where I can and ensuring that all of the commonwealth agencies and all the payments that are being made, The Australian Defence Force, the chief of the Defence Force l, the brigadiers that are leading the task forces both here, and in New South Wales are getting what they need on the ground that's what it's about it's about people who are facing some very difficult days ahead and have had some terrible days most recently and that's where my focus is. I’ll let others make commentaries, what I'm doing is focusing on the job.

CULLIVER: There's of course, an ongoing conversation about how Australia is dealing with climate change and its contribution to our current state of bushfires in Australia. Do you acknowledge that given the drought and now the bushfires that we're facing that perhaps Australia needs to reassess what we are doing?

PRIME MINISTER: Well we're going to continue to meet the commitments we've made and emissions have been falling, particularly these last two years. I mean, you may not be aware but emissions now are 50 million tons a year less on average than they were when we came to government. This year we'll meet our Kyoto Emissions Reductions Targets which means we're acting inside the commitments that the world has made together to ensure that we can keep those temperature increases to the standards that they've set and on top of that on 2030 for Paris we have the plan to meet that and I believe beat it as well. So we're going to keep doing those things and we're going to keep taking action but let me say this, this is one of many factors and I don't think anyone believes that any one policy on climate can be attributed to these fires that I've just been seeing on the ground both here and in New South Wales, to suggest that would be to speak against the science there are many other factors that need to be looked at and I've got to say the biggest feedback I've had from fire grounds I've been in has been how you manage fuel loads in national parks.

CULLIVER: Is it not true that Australia's opportunity to beat or meet our Paris climate targets are only because of carry over credits, an accounting, well accounting tricks they've been called and so therefore Australia could actually do more to do real reduction in climate change emissions rather than rely on carryover credits that we're doing at the moment.

PRIME MINISTER: Our Kyoto targets 2020 we will exceed by 411 million tons. That's the targets that we needed to meet by this year. That is the environment and the climate in which this current fire season is taking place and Australia has beaten the emissions reductions targets that we set by 411 million tons. Now going out to 2030 I intend for us to continue to pursue policies that reduce emissions and do so in a way that also means that we have a sustainable environment along with a strong economy and that will mean taking real action on climate change there's no dispute about that there's no dispute about taking action on climate change and the government will continue to do that.

CULLIVER: Alright, Prime Minister Scott Morrison now what's on for the next few days for you?

PRIME MINISTER: Well continuing to visit those places and where we can provide that support but the National Security Committee will meet in the morning and consider a number of other initiatives that we have before us, continuing to work very closely with Premiers both in Victoria and New South Wales. But also in the other states where fire risks are emerging, so in South Australia as well as in Tasmania and we also appreciate the support coming out of Queensland at the moment who have had the fire crisis earlier. I mean, the fire season started back in September where I was visiting those fires up in Canungra seeing very similar scenes to where I've been today.

CULLIVER: Alright, do you expect any more Defence deployments to Victoria?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we will continue stepping up the response here in Victoria. And that's exactly what we're planning, at the press conference I outlined today the three major tasks they're focused on at the moment are evacuation, making connections with isolated communities and to ensure that we can clear the roads using the engineers, and on top of that they're also looking to provide additional accommodation for those who are evacuated, particularly over the next few days and they're standing those options up at the moment and at the moment that is resulted, we've got about 100 or so Defence Force reservists who have volunteered and they're now part of that effort here in Victoria and we will continue to say yes every time the state government needs something from the Defence Force but more than that we are actively looking at ways that we can help above and beyond those requests.

CULLIVER: Anthony Albanese, opposition leader, today criticised your decision to have an emergency Cabinet meeting not until Monday. Why is it taking that long to get together?

PRIME MINISTER: They’re meeting tomorrow.

CULLIVER: Okay, I was not aware of that. Thank you for your time, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, ta, bye.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42591

Interview with Leila McKinnon, A Current Affair

3 January 2020

LEILA MCKINNON: Prime Minister, thank you for coming on the show this evening. People didn't even want to shake your hand out there, do you fear that you have lost the respect of Australians?

PRIME MINISTER: People are really hurting Leila, and I’ve been in many of these fire zones now I mean these fires have been burning since up in Queensland in September, and I’ve been to a lot of these places and there's a lot of different receptions wherever you go. But I do know particularly where I was yesterday, people were hurting very much, they’re very raw, and they're very angry and I don't take any of that personally. We just went, Jenny and I went to comfort people and some did and some didn’t want to.

LEILA MCKINNON: That could be read as a little bit dismissive, but perhaps they have genuine cause to be angry. Do you regret walking away and not listening to people like Zoe McDermott? The woman that you spoke to yesterday?

PRIME MINISTER: Well Zoe and I did speak, actually, and she did raise the issue of her concerns about the level of support for the local brigade that was there. That was the matter that she raised with me. And I said I'd pass that on to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.

MCKINNON: When you look back at that video and you see the way that you compelled people to shake your hand, does that look odd to you? Do you have any regrets?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, look you seek to try to provide some comfort in these places. And people are feeling in very different ways. When, in all of these situations, some want to reach out and give you a big hug, others are feeling a little more stand-offish. And look I understand that, I mean, it is a very emotional time. You seek to try and respect that, every gesture is offered in good faith and in goodwill. That's why Jenny and I went there yesterday. We were keen to get down the south coast of New South Wales, where the fires had just been ravaging.

MCKINNON: You been criticised for saying that people will be encouraged or inspired by the cricket players. Do you really think that people in those situations will find any comfort in the cricket?

PRIME MINISTER: Look Leila I think that's been taken a bit out of context. I mean, it was at an event where we had both of those teams together and both the captain, Tim and I had made some very strong comments in support of those who were out fighting the fires. And that the test will be played against the backdrop of these terrible events. And I won't be getting to that match, as you'd expect, because of the other things I'm doing.

MCKINNON: Well, there's no doubt that you've got a bit of a PR problem coming out of these fires with your leadership, given time to reflect, were there things that you wish that you'd done differently?

PRIME MINISTER: You know Leila it’s not about me. It's not about those problems. It's not about any of those issues. It's about the people who need the support on the ground. And that's what I'm focussed on. My biggest focus at the moment is continuing to roll out the support of the Australian Defence Force. We had 12,000 litres of fuel, which has been dropped into the town there to ensure that it can stand up, and continue to support the people who are there. But about 1,000 of those have been evacuated today because of the great work of our Defence Force. That's what I'm focussed on. I'm not focussed on those other issues. That's for others to Twitter about.

MCKINNON: Well, that is very encouraging to see the Defence Force out like that. Do we need to look in future at a more national approach to a crisis, of better coordination and more use of the Defence Force, should we have other fire seasons like this, or as this one continues?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, after every fire season, these things are reviewed but there already is a very strong coordination, and the Defence Force, I should stress, has been out there since September and they'll play a very big effort in the recovery that follows these fires.

MCKINNON: Well, we are hearing from fire chiefs, former fire chiefs, that they tried to warn you that this was going to be the kind of catastrophic, catastrophic fire season we are having and that you didn't heed those warnings. Do you have regrets there?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that just simply isn't true. I listen to the fire chiefs that are in their jobs now and those fire chiefs provided those exact same warnings and prepared our services to deal with the situation we find ourselves in now. Now, because of the drought, now because of the fact that there's been no quenching rains following these fires starting, that means this season is running longer and it's presenting even more difficult challenges.

MCKINNON: But what could we have done better?

PRIME MINISTER: We will learn those lessons. But I've got to say, the coordination as I've gone into incident response centres in small towns, in larger towns, and as I've done now over many, many months in many states, the coordination has been excellent. But as we go into this weekend, it's going to be a very difficult Saturday

MCKINNON: In this situation, you can never do enough. And there are firefighters who are going out there knowing that they could be leaving children behind like Harvey Keaton.

PRIME MINISTER: True.

MCKINNON: How can we do more to help them? Is that your one number one priority every night as you retire for the day?

PRIME MINISTER: Well I was there with Geoff Keaton's family at the funeral with Jenny just yesterday, which is where I was before I went down to Cobargo and Bega yesterday. And it was heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking. And what I've been impressed by in this fire season, is the predictive fire technology and the planning tools and the technology that is being used that has been put in place with the support of all of the agencies. So in more and more occasions, we aren't putting our fire volunteers in harm's way, but they're dangerous fire grounds there and you can never avoid those. That's why these men and women are so brave.

MCKINNON: Have you been working the phones, trying to get more resources from overseas, more people, more planes?

PRIME MINISTER: Of course.

MCKINNON: And can we expect any more planes coming?

PRIME MINISTER: Yes.

MCKINNON: When will we see them? That is very good news this evening that we’re going to get more resources.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is. But as, Leila, this is what we do, as things escalate. We put an extra $11 million dollars to enhance the firefighting fleet that we had in the air, going into this season. We had $15 million in and we put a further $11 million in which we announced, that was well before Christmas. And so this is the way that you continue to respond as states and territories. So, you know, we continue to meet the need and anticipate it and get in front of it. But now a lot of my effort is focussing on the recovery, that will be necessary on the other side.

MCKINNON: Prime Minister, thank you for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot Leila, it was good to be with you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42585

Interview with Paul Culliver, ABC

3 January 2020

PAUL CULLIVER: Joining me on the line today is the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison.  Good afternoon to you.

PRIME MINISTER: G'day Paul.

CULLIVER: Where do we find you right now?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, right now I'm in Sale I'll be heading down to Melbourne shortly but I've been out in Lucknow and out across the fire grounds and seeing first hand what's happening out there. But also in particular, getting briefings earlier today in Sale from Brigadier Laidlaw about the evacuation that has been successfully taking place with the Choules and with the Sycamore, the Sycamore's already left, of course and the Choules we anticipate leaving later this afternoon taking people back into town. So there's quite an operation out here today with the Defence Force and equally that operation is involving the dropping is some 12,000 litres of fuel each day into Mallacoota which is so important.

CULLIVER: There's been a lot of commentary today with regards to your visit to Cobargo and the response you got there. There was two instances on film in which you attempted to shake the hands with locals and volunteers and they clearly were not wanting that and you, despite that, took their hands anyway, how can you account for that behaviour?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I was just seeking to offer comfort that's what people would expect me to do in these circumstances. Any who felt differently, in a situation like that you have people feeling very differently to each other within a community and so it's just a matter of trying to find that support wherever you can I understand people are feeling very, very hurt they're feeling very frightened in many cases and some are angry and some are just very, very warm and If you stood where I stood yesterday you would have seen the same thing.

CULLIVER: Do you now think that you did the wrong thing by touching people that clearly did not want physical connection with you?

PRIME MINISTER: I was just offering support. I'm always happy to offer support.

CULLIVER: Okay, but do you now see that there was perhaps a breach of personal space there?

PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't believe so. I was just seeking to provide some comfort and support.

CULLIVER: What about the anger and frustration that is being expressed by various communities affected by fire in Victoria, New South Wales, other places. A lot of it has been directed at you. Do you appreciate the anger that is being expressed?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I know people are angry and I don't take it personally. I know in circumstances like this people feel a great array of emotions. I've been very pleased with the other responses that I've had in other parts of the country, particularly here today. I understand that in the middle of a natural disaster people will be responding in different ways and I just simply have to keep focusing on the task ahead and that is to ensure that the coordination is taking place that our Australian Defence Forces who are, as the crisis continues and they continue to up-scale what they're doing and that's particularly taking place here in Victoria as the Premier has acknowledged and has appreciated the great coordination between the federal government and state government here.

CULLIVER: Do you think it should take it personally?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think that is not the way that you get on with your job. I mean, I understand the frustration, I understand the anger, I understand the rawness people feel and there's a lot of emotions in experiences like this I've been in these circumstances on many previous occasions,

CULLIVER: Sure but do you take those expressions of anger and frustration as a commentary on the way that you're doing your job? Do you interpret them as such?

PRIME MINISTER: It's not about me. This is about what's happening out here,

CULLIVER: But you're the Prime Minister so it is about how you handle a national crisis.

PRIME MINISTER: Yes and that means ensuring that we get the support on the ground where it is needed, understanding where those needs are, providing comfort and support where I can and ensuring that all of the commonwealth agencies and all the payments that are being made, The Australian Defence Force, the chief of the Defence Force l, the brigadiers that are leading the task forces both here, and in New South Wales are getting what they need on the ground that's what it's about it's about people who are facing some very difficult days ahead and have had some terrible days most recently and that's where my focus is. I’ll let others make commentaries, what I'm doing is focusing on the job.

CULLIVER: There's of course, an ongoing conversation about how Australia is dealing with climate change and its contribution to our current state of bushfires in Australia. Do you acknowledge that given the drought and now the bushfires that we're facing that perhaps Australia needs to reassess what we are doing?

PRIME MINISTER: Well we're going to continue to meet the commitments we've made and emissions have been falling, particularly these last two years. I mean, you may not be aware but emissions now are 50 million tons a year less on average than they were when we came to government. This year we'll meet our Kyoto Emissions Reductions Targets which means we're acting inside the commitments that the world has made together to ensure that we can keep those temperature increases to the standards that they've set and on top of that on 2030 for Paris we have the plan to meet that and I believe beat it as well. So we're going to keep doing those things and we're going to keep taking action but let me say this, this is one of many factors and I don't think anyone believes that any one policy on climate can be attributed to these fires that I've just been seeing on the ground both here and in New South Wales, to suggest that would be to speak against the science there are many other factors that need to be looked at and I've got to say the biggest feedback I've had from fire grounds I've been in has been how you manage fuel loads in national parks.

CULLIVER: Is it not true that Australia's opportunity to beat or meet our Paris climate targets are only because of carry over credits, an accounting, well accounting tricks they've been called and so therefore Australia could actually do more to do real reduction in climate change emissions rather than rely on carryover credits that we're doing at the moment.

PRIME MINISTER: Our Kyoto targets 2020 we will exceed by 411 million tons. That's the targets that we needed to meet by this year. That is the environment and the climate in which this current fire season is taking place and Australia has beaten the emissions reductions targets that we set by 411 million tons. Now going out to 2030 I intend for us to continue to pursue policies that reduce emissions and do so in a way that also means that we have a sustainable environment along with a strong economy and that will mean taking real action on climate change there's no dispute about that there's no dispute about taking action on climate change and the government will continue to do that.

CULLIVER: Alright, Prime Minister Scott Morrison now what's on for the next few days for you?

PRIME MINISTER: Well continuing to visit those places and where we can provide that support but the National Security Committee will meet in the morning and consider a number of other initiatives that we have before us, continuing to work very closely with Premiers both in Victoria and New South Wales. But also in the other states where fire risks are emerging, so in South Australia as well as in Tasmania and we also appreciate the support coming out of Queensland at the moment who have had the fire crisis earlier. I mean, the fire season started back in September where I was visiting those fires up in Canungra seeing very similar scenes to where I've been today.

CULLIVER: Alright, do you expect any more Defence deployments to Victoria?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we will continue stepping up the response here in Victoria. And that's exactly what we're planning, at the press conference I outlined today the three major tasks they're focused on at the moment are evacuation, making connections with isolated communities and to ensure that we can clear the roads using the engineers, and on top of that they're also looking to provide additional accommodation for those who are evacuated, particularly over the next few days and they're standing those options up at the moment and at the moment that is resulted, we've got about 100 or so Defence Force reservists who have volunteered and they're now part of that effort here in Victoria and we will continue to say yes every time the state government needs something from the Defence Force but more than that we are actively looking at ways that we can help above and beyond those requests.

CULLIVER: Anthony Albanese, opposition leader, today criticised your decision to have an emergency Cabinet meeting not until Monday. Why is it taking that long to get together?

PRIME MINISTER: They’re meeting tomorrow.

CULLIVER: Okay, I was not aware of that. Thank you for your time, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, ta, bye.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42584

Interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW

3 January 2020

NEIL MITCHELL: Prime Minister good morning.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Neil.

MITCHELL: Where are you headed to?

PRIME MINISTER: We’re heading up to Bairnsdale today and we’ll be taking a look up there and just seeing the scene on the ground there. But particularly this morning I've been meeting with Brigadier Laidlaw who's come up here, he's been down at the headquarters in Melbourne, speaking again, on many occasions, yesterday with the Premier. A lot of the focus today has obviously been the evacuation through the Choules, which I put in place from Tuesday of this week to get things moving. That evacuation is proceeding at the moment, as I think you were just chatting to someone from down that way just then. But there is still a lot of work to be done on clearing roads where we can to get to a lot of these some inaccessible communities and where possible, although it's been difficult because of the smoke, to get our roving aircraft in to try and get people out who are wanting to go. But today, a big focus on evacuation. I think the declaration of disaster that the Premier has put in place, I think will heighten that that urgency around people's decision to move. We saw that yesterday and early on that in New South Wales, which is what that does, is that does very much relieve the pressure on the local emergency services to be focussed on the local community if others, holiday makers or others, get themselves back home.

MITCHELL: The people being evacuated on the Choules, where will they go?

PRIME MINISTER: They will head back, that information isn’t exactly in front of me I’ve got to say Neil, but that's been obviously run by Defence. But they are taking them to the port, which is not too far away so they can get back access to Melbourne.

MITCHELL: Yeah well that was part of the problem. We're not clear. I wasn’t clear whether Port Welshpool or to Hastings,

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah to Welshpool, it’s Welshpool.

MITCHELL: not Hastings?

PRIME MINISTER: I understand it’s Welshpool.

MITCHELL: And how do you get them from Welshpool to Melbourne?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's been coordinated by emergency services in Victoria. So that's being handled by the State agencies.

MITCHELL: Ok, because we've got people ringing in, offering to go and drive them, drive people back if necessary. That won't be necessary?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't believe so from what the Premier's been saying. But the Defence Forces are coordinating the move to get people and this is being done actually with the Red Cross and others who were on the ground and has been processing the people there to ensure we know where everyone is that and then coordinating their movements. And so this is the coordinated effort with the State agencies, so they’ll pick it up on the other side.

MITCHELL: I'm told that if these fires join, we could- they could be unstoppable. They could burn to the sea. Is that your advice?

PRIME MINISTER: This is the risk, and something the Premier I discussed last night. I mean these fires are catastrophic and joining up of the New South Wales and Victorian fires obviously presents a very great risk with what we're seeing with the weather conditions we're expecting over the next few days. And that's why both Premiers in both states have declared their respective disaster and emergency status.

MITCHELL: I was talking to a farmer earlier in a place called Bruthen, which is, he’s a CFA man as well. He said they've got real problems with communications, he said, tell the Prime Minister we desperately need generators for that and also to milk the cows because the cows are in trouble. How do we do that? How do we get generators to these people?

PRIME MINISTER: Well I get emergency services, are working on those issues. And the towns they’re in yesterday. They're working on getting those in place. That's something I've been raising with the Defence Forces today. I mean, once the fires move through on the weekend, I mean, a lot of the effort now we're working on with Defence and linking it up with the state authorities is the response to exactly those types of situations. Now, the scale of these fires though Neil, I think we have to understand mean that the scale of the [inaudible] will be significant. And in some places where you've got comms towers, which are in very inaccessible areas, it’s very difficult to stand them up again. And so but in those circumstances, that’s where sat phones and other things are used to get that support in where it's needed. But this is a very extreme situation and that will place a lot of pressure on the system.

MITCHELL: What are - you are quoted today talking about possibly reviewing fuel reduction policies and building restrictions. What do you mean there?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, with hazard reduction. I mean, I've been asked on many occasions over the course of the last three months, because while the fires are burning savagely here in Victoria and New South Wales, they've been burning since September in Queensland and up in northern parts of New South Wales. And, you know, one of the constant issues that is raised and quite reasonably, is what is causing all this, what is leading to all this. And my response has always been there is a wide range of factors. And obviously, the drought is the most significant of those and the climate conditions around that. And also what has been raised on the ground with me, and it is true here as well, is hazard reduction and fuel load management in national parks. That is just an issue that has been raised and on the other side of this post, the fires, then when you look at all the contributing factors and then obviously that's one along with many others that we will all have to look at together.

MITCHELL: And the restriction of building in certain areas.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, again, I mean, it's if we're looking at homes that have been destroyed and places where people have been put at risk, then obviously for state governments, they have to be thinking carefully about where they're allowing people to build. But equally, the rules, that then sit around land clearing around properties and the ability for people to better fortify their premises.

MITCHELL: This is going to be with us, the effects of this will be with us for years won’t they? I mean there’s economic effects, there’s the personal trauma and the rest of it. We've got many tough days ahead because of all this.

PRIME MINISTER: More than days.

MITCHELL: Months.

PRIME MINISTER: That's exactly right. And then the fire risk still there in the months. Not the weeks. And so this will prolong. And that's why I've put in place, and spoke again to the Premier last night, about arrangements for the volunteer firefighters where they're suffering income losses and if he wishes to activate that then I'm sure he will. That's also being activated in South Australia and Tasmania today. It already is in New South Wales and Queensland. These fires are different because of the prolonged nature of the season across the country. I appreciate that in Victoria, they are raging more recently, but as I said, around the country the season has been very long and we've had Victorian firefighters up fighting fires in New South Wales and Queensland and other parts of the country. And that service has been extraordinary helpful and now, that the fight is here in Victoria.

MITCHELL: After Black Saturday, we saw significant economic impact. Is there an economic impact from these fires, on the Australian economy I mean?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course, there will be, and we'll have to assess that. And I think the recovery phase, as we've been working through up in north Queensland from the floods that were there earlier this year, and a big part of our response there has been the rebuilding, looking at how we rebuild herds and how we are obviously working with the state government there to rebuild railways and roads and then all of this, the same will be necessary here in Victoria and in New South Wales. So there'll be a lot of focus on the recovery effort once the fires are out. But the payment mechanisms that we have in place, around about $25 million dollars has already been paid out in disaster payments to people across the country. The majority of that has been in New South Wales. I'm expecting that to rise quite significantly here in Victoria as the damage assessments are undertaken and I admit right now we're in the middle of a firestorm here. And one of the issues is, is getting in and seeing where the damage is. And that's why we had so many people still unaccounted for, which is terribly distressing, I know for everyone.

MITCHELL: Is this, we’re talking about it being an unprecedented situation, but is this the new normal, for whatever reason? Is this the new normal?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think that's a very important question. And we're looking at a season here which has been very prolonged. But I think we also have to understand that it’s on the back of a very severe drought and there were concerns that we may have faced this last year with the severity of the drought as well. And it has hit us this year. What that means in terms of where the situation of the climate is 12 months from now. Well, the best weather specialists will be examining that and advising us like they always do, as they did going into this season, which is why we increased the aerial for firefighting, the big fire bombers, we increased the size of that, on the recommendation of the Chiefs, I mean, these Chiefs meet very regularly. And that's a big part of what the Commonwealth does through Emergency Management Australia, is constantly coordinating between all the fire Chiefs and all the emergency services Ministers across the country. I mean, rightly, these efforts are run at a state level and should be, our job to support them in every way we can. And I appreciate the strong co-operation I've had with Dan Andrews. Everything he's asked, he's got, and we're going beyond that now and being quite proactive. I mean, the Choules was a very good example of that. But we've also had the Spartans and the Chinooks and the Black Hawks have also been doing evacuations up here where I am in East Gippsland.

MITCHELL: Do we need to get a more formal arrangement. Where you've got emergency services Ministers in a video conference or something? I know you've been criticised for not doing it.

PRIME MINISTER: Well these things already happen. I mean, the Chiefs already do this on a regular basis. I mean, one of the things I often see in events like this is a lot of assumptions are made about what does and doesn't happen. These things already do happen, and the level of coordination is there. The challenge now, Neil, is the scale of what we've seen across several states now and those resources being stretched. And that's why the ADF deployment has been increasing quite markedly now. But I want to stress, the ADF, our Defence Forces have been out there supporting these fire efforts now since September. They're not new to the scene. What has happened is obviously with the evacuation necessity here in Victoria, then using those naval assets has become very important. So it has been a prolonged and sustained effort, but it's been escalating based on the requests that we're receiving.

MITCHELL: Prime Minister you’re receiving, you're being heckled in some places you are going, people are refusing to shake hands with you? Why?

PRIME MINISTER: Because people are angry and people are,

MITCHELL: Angry with you?

PRIME MINISTER: People are upset. Well, whether they're angry with me or they're angry about this situation, all I know is that they're hurting. And it's my job to be there to try and offer some comfort and support. That's my job. I don't take these things personally. Why would I? I know that people are hurting. I know that they're raw and I know what our job is. And it is to work closely with the states, support them in everything they need and to pre-empt their requests and ensure that our Defence Forces or other agencies are ready to go.

MITCHELL: But even the local Liberal member in Bega, the state member Andrew Constance said the reception you got, you got what you deserved. I mean, you know, he's not one of the people in the middle of the trauma. He said, you go what you deserved.

PRIME MINISTER: I haven't seen those comments.

MITCHELL: You're confident you've done everything you could?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course. I mean, this is a massive fire that has been running across four states and arguably now five, because Tasmania has also been affected more recently as well. Not in the same way we've seen here, a year ago, they were fighting fires down in the Huon Valley. So it is our role to support and give every assistance we can to the state and I appreciate what Premier Andrews has been saying about that level of cooperation. But what I do know Neil is I know people are angry and they'll often fixate on whether it's a Prime Minister or someone else, and I understand that. I understand the emotion. I understand the hurt, the anger and the frustration. And what we will do is just continue to use every resource and person we have to assist the situation, and every Australian as we are able.

MITCHELL: You are also due to go to India later this month. Are you still going?

PRIME MINISTER: That's still the plan. We're reviewing that at the moment. It is a very important meeting, that meeting in India. But we will be considering that over the next few days. But at the moment, that plan is still in place. But, you know, when you're dealing with these issues, then you need to consider, you know, the relative merits of the choices.

MITCHELL: When are you due to leave?

PRIME MINISTER: I'll be leaving on Sunday week, that’s the plan.

MITCHELL: Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it. Thank you.

PRIME MIINSTER: Thanks a lot Neil, can I just ask everybody to follow instructions and be aware of the urgency of the situation and please be patient and all resources and all authorities are working very closely together. Thank you Neil.

MITCHELL: Thank you. Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42582

Statement

31 December 2019

Last night we tragically lost another volunteer firefighter, in terrible circumstances in Jingellic, New South Wales.

Sam McPaul was a brave firefighter and a member of the Morven Rural Fire Brigade.

In one of the cruellest developments, Sam and his wife Megan are due to have their first baby next year.

I cannot imagine the terrible sense of loss and grief that Sam’s family are now feeling.

I have spoken to Megan to extend my deepest sympathies and our love and support at this terrible time and express that same sentiment on behalf of the entire country. Sam McPaul was the best of us.

This is devastating news and I also extend my sincere condolences to his entire family, friends and fellow brigade members.

It is an unimaginable loss and one felt by the entire country.

A further three firefighters were injured in the same incident, one severely.

Our thoughts are with these brave firefighters and their families in this difficult time. We wish those in hospital a fast and full recovery.   

The firefighters were working on the Green Valley, Talmalmo Fire, approximately 70km east of Albury when extreme winds flipped their truck and a second vehicle.

They were doing what thousands of other volunteer firefighters are doing around Australia, and have been doing for months – selflessly and bravely protecting their local communities. For that, the nation is incredibly grateful.

The devastating impact of these terrible bushfires is continuing. This week, fires in South Australia and Tasmania, brutal fires in Victoria and, of course, the fires rolling on in New South Wales, many at emergency levels.

As these fires continue to rage, the response continues to be run and well-led at a state level. We will continue to provide every support to those state firefighting agencies through the Commonwealth.

In particular, through the support of the Australian Defence Force. These are well-resourced, well-coordinated, well-responded to fires.

I thank all of those who are directly involved out there on the fire grounds and the teams supporting them behind the scenes.

This will continue to be a significant effort in the days and the weeks ahead and I fear, in the months to come.

We are expecting more difficult news out of New South Wales and Victoria today as the assessments are undertaken of the terrible fires from yesterday and last night.

I am closely monitoring the situation in all states and I am receiving regular daily briefing on all emerging issues. I am also in regular contact with the premiers and fire authorities.

I have seen the impact and devastation of these fires first hand, but I have also seen communities pulling together and caring for each other with a remarkable spirit. This is the Australian way.

We have stood up and responded to these terrible disasters before and we have come through the other side. We will rebuild and we will stay strong.

I urge all Australians to continue to listen to the warnings from the authorities and take care.

To those fighting these fires; please be safe, and continue to pull together in this difficult time. Your country is behind you every step of the way.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42577

New Payments to Support NSW Volunteer Firefighters

29 December 2019

Prime Minister, Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Services

Volunteer firefighters will receive financial support from the Morrison Government for loss of income, where they have been called out for extended periods of service.

Rural Fire Service Volunteers in NSW who are self-employed or work for small and medium businesses, and who have been called out for more than 10 days this fire season, will be able to apply for the payments.

The payments will provide for lost income of up to $300 per day up to a total of up to $6,000 per person.

These payments are tax free and will not be means-tested, but are targeted to those most likely to suffer lost income by volunteering for extended periods of time.

For most, this will represent the equivalent of at least 20 days’ emergency leave for employees of small and medium sized businesses and volunteers who are self employed.

The Prime Minister says this will include farmers, small business owners, tradies and contract workers in rural and regional areas who have been hit especially hard by this fire season.

“Earlier this week I announced the Federal Government would be providing paid leave for up to four weeks for Commonwealth public servants fighting these devastating fires.

"This announcement provides employees of small and medium sized businesses and self employed volunteers with the same level of support.

“We expect larger companies to provide their employees with 20 days of emergency services leave.”

The Australian Government will cover the costs of the grant payments. The NSW Government will administer the payments.

Other State and Territory governments are invited to enter into a similar scheme based on their assessment of need and the demands on their volunteer effort from their own fire seasons. Other requests for assistance will be assessed on their merits.

“I know that our volunteer firefighters in NSW are doing it tough, especially in rural and regional areas. The season started early and has a long way to go.

“The early and prolonged nature of this fire season has made a call beyond what is typically made on our volunteer fire fighters.

“While I know RFS volunteers don’t seek payment for their service, I don’t want to see volunteers or their families unable to pay bills, or struggle financially as a result of the selfless contribution they are making.

“This is not about paying volunteers. It is about sustaining our volunteer efforts by protecting them from financial loss. It’s targeted and is the result of a direct request and consultation with the NSW RFS and NSW Government, following the Commonwealth’s announcement of increased emergency services leave for Commonwealth public servants earlier this week.

“As I have said on many occasions – we take our advice on what is needed and what the priorities are from the organisations running the operational response. That’s what we are doing here.

“The fire chiefs and state and territory governments know they have our full support.

“We’ve already got our Defence Forces providing helicopter search and rescue, ground transport, accommodation, meals and re-fuelling. We’ve boosted our support for water bombing planes and helicopters by $11 million.

“Disaster recovery payments of $23 million have also flowed to affected families and businesses with more to come.”

These arrangements have been put in place for this financial year only. Any longer term arrangements will be considered by leaders at the COAG meeting in March, after there has been proper opportunity to assess the most recent fire season.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government has a strong record of standing side by side with RFS volunteers, many of whom have been on the front line fighting fires for weeks, and in some cases, months.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with the brave volunteers who are putting their lives at risk to protect the community,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The NSW Government already provides unlimited paid leave to all state public service employees who volunteer with the RFS or the other emergency services.

“On top of that, NSW public service employees are able to take rest leave to allow time for their recovery before returning to work.

“NSW has committed more than $166 million in additional natural disaster funding this bushfire season over and above our record firefighting budget.

“We are now pleased to provide administrative support to the Commonwealth to compensate our brave volunteers for loss of income.”

Minister for Natural Disasters and Emergency Services, David Littleproud, said volunteer firefighters personify the Australian Spirit.

“This is a helping hand from the Federal Government for those giving to their community through an extreme fire season.”

“These payments will help support volunteer fire fighters financially for all the support they’ve provided their communities.”

Payments are expected to be available before the end of January 2020.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42578

ADF Continues to Support Firefighting Effort

27 December 2019

Prime Minister, Minister for Defence, Minister for Water Resources Drought Rural Finance Natural Disaster and Emergency Management

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will increase its support to fire authorities, deploying additional specialist personnel to advise Incident Controllers at Fire Control Centres in New South Wales.

Planning will also begin for the recovery effort to access and clean-up affected areas, which could involve support from the ADF, if requested by NSW state authorities.

“This deployment will see Defence Liaison Officers positioned at all 14 Incident Control Centres in New South Wales with a list of equipment and support that can be made available. This will include bulldozers, bulk water carriers and troops,” the Prime Minister said.

“We’ll continue to do everything in our power to ensure our fireys have the resources and support they need. 

“We’ve already got our Defence Forces providing helicopter search and rescue, ground transport, accommodation, meals and re-fuelling. We’ve boosted our support for water bombing planes and helicopters by $11 million.

“Disaster recovery payments of $23 million have also flowed to affected families and businesses with more to come.

“My Ministers and I remain in constant contact with our state and territory counterparts and fire chiefs and we stand ready to deliver whatever extra help they ask of us.”

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC said enhancing its liaison network will enable the ADF to continue providing extensive support to State emergency services.

“These additional liaison staff will embed with Fire Control Centres across NSW to advise their NSW Rural Fire Service counterparts and help coordinate ADF logistical and engineering support,” Minister Reynolds said.

“All three services of the ADF continue to provide significant behind the scenes support to firefighting efforts across the nation, including aerial fire reconnaissance; helicopter search and rescue; logistical support such as ground transport; providing meals for exhausted firefighters; as well as basing, re-fuelling, water re-supply, loading fire retardant and air traffic management for firefighting aircraft.

“Navy helicopters have helped with evacuating residents from their homes, Army crews have provided assistance with clearing fire breaks, while our Air Force bases are supporting the state Large Aerial Tanker fleet.

“This behind the scenes support from the ADF frees up more of our firefighters to perform their specialised roles fighting the fires.”

Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, the Hon. David Littleproud MP offered his congratulations.

“This is another great example of how the bushfire response has been coordinated between all levels of Government,” Minister Littleproud said.

“They’ll be wearing two different uniforms but have one objective, protecting Australians and their property.”        

The Federal Government stands ready to deploy whatever further assistance State and Territory authorities request to manage this disaster.

Details of ADF’s support to the firefighting effort is updated daily here:  https://news.defence.gov.au/national/defence-continues-bushfire-support

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42575