Media Releases
Q&A - Daily Telegraph Bush Summit - Cooma, NSW
28 August 2020
BEN ENGLISH: And it's good to hear some announcements, too. It's always good when we put on an event as a paper, and you get a story out of it so thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: I don't think you’re short of stories Ben.
ENGLISH: They’re all good. Look, we had a really tragic development today that is very related to what you have spoken about and was published today in the Telegraph. That is about the serious issue of borders and border restrictions. Would it be fair to say there's no greater mission for the National Cabinet than to sort this out?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I want to start by saying that National Cabinet has never resolved to establish internal borders. Early on in the pandemic we resolved to do a number of things. There were closures that were put in place, and they were done across 8 territories and state jurisdictions. And I think that process provided a lot of certainty. But at the same time, we are very conscious of the changes that were being made were going to have very real impacts for people. I'd say there's probably only been two areas of significant disagreement that has occurred in the National Cabinet. And I don't think the Premiers would disagree with me on this. They were, there were some disagreements about school closures. People know what my position on that was. Ultimately they were decisions that states and territories make. But there was an honest discussion. There was a robust debate. And there has also been this discussion of borders. And there has been a different practice. So this is why it's hard. With New South Wales and Victoria, and the Commonwealth we actually got on the phone, realised there was a medical problem. Agreed this is what we had to do, and then we worked together as best as we could to try and make it is as workable as possible. There's been a border commissioner for some time on that border. And that border commissioner's been called in to help work through some of these problems. But as I've said before, if you impose a border you can't help but cause problems. That's why we got rid of them in the first place. Other states and territories, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia imposed either direct borders or quasi borders, unilaterally. And at the time that was done, I've got to say, this was early on in the pandemic. It wasn't the most pressing issue at that time. In hindsight, I think back then we should have addressed the principles around how those borders were being handled at that time. If I had my time over then I think we would have spent more time on that. But frankly, at that point in time we were looking at people digging mass graves in New York, and we were dealing with the difficulties of building up our health systems to ensure we had enough respirators in ICUs and there was a lot of uncertainty. That's not an excuse. That's just an explanation. So now we find ourselves in a situation where there is, I think, too much inconsistency between these arrangements. We've endeavoured to get some principles to the government, sought to underpin how these work. States, obviously can ultimately take the decision about how that applies. But my appeal to them, and I think today both this, just, many of us in this room are parents, it’s unthinkable. And to know that this family has had to be dealing with border permits at a time when they, the only thing that mattered was the health of their child. [Inaudible] to say that, but [inaudible] feel the same. So let's hope we can get some greater consistency, some greater transparency and we can look to the other examples. I commit myself to work with that with the states and territories. I hope I can get some better arrangements and they'll hear my criticisms or, do anything [inaudible] jurisdictions, but on behalf of Australians we've we've got to try and get this worked out.
ENGLISH: So just, um, how we are going to roll with this is we're going to have one or two questions from the floor. And we’ve also, we've got a COVID aware approach, we've got a couple of one or two video questions as well. So just on the issue of the state, I want to stay briefly on the issue of borders. Getting the CMO involved it seems to me that's a good approach in order to take perhaps political considerations a little bit more out of it and make it more about common sense approach. Would that be a fair assumption?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, look I particularly thank Steven Marshall, who was instrumental in sort of getting us in this place with the states and for the acting chief medical officer, and they're working with the medical expert panel now to get, what is a hotspot? Now, Northern Territory has actually had a pretty reasonable way of doing this, and it's quite flexible and it moves if there are particular places, if there are cases they make a decision then they move them off fairly quickly. And the reason I just pointed over there, is this is what happens in Denmark. They have a sort of a yellow and orange light system because in Europe people are still moving around. Now, I'm not suggesting this is precisely what we do in Australia. But hotspots are defined where there’s an incidence of per 100,000 inhabitants per week are below 20 where there’s these cases? So they have clear metrics like this and say this goes yellow, and orange and different quarantine arrangements apply or whether you can go there or not go there. I think that's quite a sensible approach. Now the specifics of that I'll leave to the medical experts to work out what is the right concentration of cases to represent a hotspot. And the whole point about containing outbreaks is that sure, it's important that you don't, people don't move from a hotspot in Melbourne to Brisbane. But it's also important that if they're in a hotspot in Brisbane they don't go to Ipswich. And so what matters is the outbreak and containing it there. And as localised as possible. And I think these sort of cities have to do this. Now if, I can assure you of this, there will be a Commonwealth definition of a hotspot. Come rain, hail or shine. I hope it's a National Cabinet one but, and I will certainly seek to achieve that. But at the very least, there will be a Commonwealth one. And if there are any differences to that, well people can explain them.
ENGLISH: Yep. And there will be accountability there. I think if I can make an observation there, I think Aussies also would appreciate that because you've got to keep faith with, faith with the population. So if it's arbitrary the way it is now, you can have a situation where people don't feel that they're that they believe you?
PRIME MINISTER: All through this pandemic and I understand people will be frustrated and critical at the moment. I think National Cabinet has done some tremendous things. I mean let’s talk about the freight code, Michael got that up in 2 weeks. We've got a $1 billion commitment to skills with JobTrainer, 340,000 places, and an agreement to reform the skills system. We got that in a fortnight. That would've taken two years under COAG. And all, there are many other things. So that's good. But this is one where we've got to get it right.
ENGLISH: Okay, enough from me. I'm going to invite a question from the floor. In order to be COVIDSafe I'd invite a questioner to come and then we've actually got people who can ask that question on your behalf. It's just so that we don't get multiple people using the microphone. So is there a question from the floor?
QUESTIONER: I'm asking a question on behalf of Gary Nairn the former member for Eden-Monaro, who is Chairman of The Mulloon Institute. Prime Minister you and the Deputy Prime Minister witnessed firsthand what occurred almost two years ago. Now, in the middle of the drought, how landscape repair and rehydration enhances agriculture. The Deputy PM said at that time this should be rolled out across the country. Prime Minister, we know farmers are hands on people. So to assist this rollout to occur would the government support a farmer, peer-to-peer benchmarking, training and upskilling programme to improve for carbon farm productivity, biodiversity and drought preparedness.
PRIME MINISTER: As Gary knows, [inaudible] and I think there are tremendous lessons with what’s achieved there and I think the peer-to-peer support that happens in rural and regional communities, particularly when dealing with challenging situations like drought. And even when farmers have been generational farmers. Sometimes it's some of the new farmers that we need to learn the new techniques and there's sometimes going to be resistance. I mean, farmers are no different to, you know, doctors or journalists or politicians. Sometimes they can be a bit resistant to change. And I think these practices are very challenging and they're the sort of results that are there to speak of. And so through the Ag2030 plan and the work Ben’s doing or others are doing, I hope we can get water rollout and supported projects like that. They obviously are getting results. And so, you know me Gary I'll support what works.
ENGLISH: Right. We're going to get another question from the floor. And then after that, we'll go to a video question so that's a bit of a cue to our technical team.
QUESTIONER: This is from Helen Dalton, the member from Murray. And her electorate covers a thousand kilometres of border. Given what you've said today, Prime Minister, advocating the importance of advocating in regard to border closures, they're not sustainable now into the future. Can you give border communities assurance that borders will be opened for many reasons, health, education, business and compassionate reasons? We want action today.
PRIME MINISTER: Well I thank you for your question. I see John Barilaro, did I see John? G'day John. And I’m sure he can talk about this as well. I’m not sure if you were here before John when I mentioned you. I think New South Wales and Victoria don't want to see this border either. It's necessary for a time. And I hope that time is as little as possible. We don’t build a permanent border. We want to have it there for the period as necessary to deal with the current health challenge and then you get rid of it. And I welcome the fact that John and Gladys have a) brought in the 50 kilometre either side of the border rule change. That's good. That's an improvement. Doesn't solve every problem. You've got 100 kilometres for ag workers. That's good. I welcome that. I was on the phone to Gladys about that one as well weeks ago.
What I've found with New South Wales was a receptivity to try and work out the kinks and the problems. But I think we both understand that you put a border and there's going to be problems. So the only way ultimately to fix all that is to get rid of it. But you've got to do that when you're in a position where you can safely do that with the other risks that it presents. Now, I know that there are not, you know, large numbers of cases in regional Victoria in these border communities. That is true. But at the same time, movement can occur and the last thing any of us want to see is what has occurred in Melbourne and then to the rest of Victoria happening in New South Wales. And in South Australia I should add. So our commitment I think, is that for New South Wales and I’d say for Victoria as well, because Dan Andrews and Gladys and I have been the most I would say forceful advocates for non-borders. And so I can assure you that when we put them in place the three of us, we’ll be the first to get rid of it whenever we possibly can. Is that fair to say, John?
BARILARO: [Inaudible]
QUESTIONER: [Inaudible] and we’re school captains at school in Cooma. We would like to know what are the government's current and future plans for bridging inequities faced by rural students such as access to technology and reliable internet?
PRIME MINISTER: Great. Well, I can speak specifically to what's happening here in this community. I mean, we’ve got a hundred percent complete rollout of the NBN across Eden-Monaro and there's a technology split across the various ways that that's being rolled out. And, of course, that has been a big part of connecting regional communities all around the country. I remember, seven years ago, the level of rollout was obviously not at 100 per cent. Nothing like it in fact it was a very limited rollout. And the rollout of the NBN is obviously going to connect more and more towns and regional centres to do that type of training delivery. But it's not just about that, as Michael constantly reminds me and Dan Tehan constantly reminds me. It's about actually having a training place take place, not remotely from cities back into regional communities, but it happening in regional communities themselves. And that we're training apprentices in regional areas that we’re training doctors and nurses in regional areas. And the additional doctors and nurses training program that Michael championed in budgets, um, three years ago now, I think, I was Treasurer at the time. Training more people in regional communities the higher education changes that Dan Tehan has been working through come now, now come to the parliament. I think they were introduced yesterday. They are about ensuring there are more regional places so people can be getting those opportunities and not having to go to the city. And I hope that it also means that those in the city may take the opportunity to go and try to be a doctor in the bush or in other places or in other areas, because having become engaged in communities, you won't find a more passionate advocate than Michael McCormack for living in a regional part of Australia. And encouraging people to know what he and his family have known, the great life you have in regional Australia, and the opportunity is there for all your kids and others and we'll all continue to encourage that. So whether it's skills placements, whether its technical training, whether it's universities or indeed just ensuring that we have the proper NBN networks and infrastructure and technology available to facilitate all these things in regional areas is a very high priority.
ENGLISH: That’s good to hear, particularly given [inaudible] Daily Telegraph so it’s true. There's a very strong appetite amongst people in the cities to move to the bush and we need to be ready for that. We’ve got a question on behalf of another floor participant.
QUESTIONER: Question from Margy Osmond from the TTF. The tourism industry particularly regional tourism has trickled down to a flow of people around the country. Can we please solve this before the Christmas holidays?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look, I believe we can, domestically. I'd love to say we could do it internationally but I don't think I can give you that pledge internationally. I hope that changes but based on the current evidence that doesn't look likely. But certainly domestically, when we're in a position to have the Melbourne figures in particular fall to even lower levels than they are now, and we have a hotspot definition in place, and that being adopted and certain borders down between New South Wales and Victoria, and I believe that should be possible in other places with low levels of virus infection. Then that should be possible. And what's important is that when these infection rates get down to low levels that then we stick to the plan which I think NSW has done, which is to limit the virus. See borders of themselves, they don’t actually do the job ultimately because borders can be breached. I mean, that’s been seen in Queensland. They have borders but they’ve seen cases in Queensland. But what will protect Queensland will be their testing and their tracing capabilities and COVIDSafe behaviours by their population and local outbreak containment. That's what enables you to live with the virus. The idea that we're going to live with domestic borders until there’s a vaccine is a recipe for economic ruin. That is not the plan. The plan is to ensure testing, tracing and outbreak containment, strong quarantine, COVID safe behaviours in the workplace, in the home, at the footy club, at the ground, in this conference. That is how you live with the virus and keep people in jobs. Borders don’t do that. Borders are not the answer. They can provide a necessary support and constraint in a heightened crisis, but they are a last go to effort. And in New South Wales, I think has demonstrated and they’ve shown the way. And I think that's the way to go.
ENGLISH: Just yesterday I went to the airport for the first time in about six months, and it was like a zombie movie. It was a really eerie experience because there's no one. There was three Rex women there wanting to take my luggage and they were desperate to- They wanted to [inaudible] because they probably hadn’t done it for a couple of weeks. And I think that was a depressing moment. At the same time, we have travel around Europe. You know, people getting on flights from London to Italy et cetera. And you made the point that it is a different situation here. But surely that should be a good by product of whatever progress you make with these border negotiations with the states, is that we get the planes back in the air.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah well, one of the other, there are many programmes that we put in place. And one of the ones Michael has been running is the subsidising of the key network flights around the the country. And I never thought I'd live in an Australia where there were more flights going from Brisbane to Cairns and there were from Sydney to Brisbane. And that's happening right now. And the Federal Government is subsidising the network flights around the country and I want to see jobs back at Qantas have had to cut more jobs, not my words, but Alan Joyce's words, because of border restrictions, domestic ones. They know about the international ones, they understand that. But the domestic ones, that is costing more jobs, now that's not to say borders in circumstances can't be justified on health outcomes. In some circumstances they can. But, we have to understand that when you do that, that costs jobs, particularly in the airline sector.
And so there has to be an accountability around that I suppose every day, and we want to see a viable airline industry, I think the way that Qantas has been able to raise capital in the middle of a pandemic is pretty impressive I've got to say, they've been getting great support from us, as has Virgin and I'm pleased to see that Virgin is rebirthing through this process. They had a lot of challenges you know, before the pandemic it's great to see they're coming through on the other side of it. But this is why I agree with Margie, I mean, ultimately, you've got to get planes back in the air. And you make the point about Europe. I don't know. I mean, I spoke to a lot of those leaders. I mean, we've now seen a massive second wave starting to begin, in the U.K. in Spain, in France and all that moving around over there. I mean, I'm not likening to that, I think we've still got to keep our strong international arrangements in place. We've had I think, you know, I'm keen to get the New Zealand travel bubble back in place, and I'm sure we'll take that up again soon. I'd like to see that also if we can, amongst the Pacific nations, they're keen to do that. Japan is trying to do it with us, Singapore is keen to do it with us. And there are a number of nations that are happy to do this with us. And I can see that as the next stage, but right now we're trying to get the domestic borders open.
ENGLISH: You mentioned China, and it’s been mentioned a couple times today already. And it's a particularly obviously a vexing issue for [inaudible] who have developed lucrative trade links with China. What would be your advice to small, medium, even larger enterprises that have forged those links and now find themselves perhaps in the middle of a delicate, a delicate diplomatic situation? What's your advice to them? Do they, how do they pivot? Or do they, is it about patience as well as pivoting, what do they do?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I think it's all of the above. I think it's also very important to get paperwork right, I don't, I mean that quite seriously. In these times you don't want create situations where if the paperwork is wrong then that can prevent entry. Which you'd expect that if it's not right, it won't get in. And so we've been working with industry to that end and we encourage people to do that.
This is not new. This has been happening for several years now. I mean, the last meeting I had with Li Keqiang last year, we were talking about abattoir issues. We were talking about agricultural issues. So these, a lot of these issues go back also to anti-dumping measures, there were some anti-dumping decisions Australia has taken that the Chinese Government has taken issue with and that goes back some years. So there is a, there is a lot of light and heat on occasion around some of these issues. And some of that is a bit more dramatic than in other times. But the substantial result is that the trade is actually at a greater level, and a greater value than we've seen for the reasons I've said before. The merchandise [inaudible], the trade that occurs is mutually beneficial. And that will always, I think, remain the basis of the trading relationship. But like any business, you cover the risk where you can, there are some that won't be in a position to do that, just because of the nature of the markets they're in. [Inaudible] But there'll be others, take our wine industry for example, I mean, while China is the biggest destination for those exports, it is not the majority destination for those exports. And as a result, they've diversified into many different markets, and that is the case with many other producers as well. So it is good sense to never put all your eggs in one basket. And we've actively achieved [inaudible] supporting that, because as I said, well it's 70 per cent of our trade today is covered by preferential trade arrangements. And that is about tripling from what we inherited when we came to government.
Victorian Border Communities Now Eligible for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment
28 August 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Minister for Government Services
People who live in New South Wales and South Australia but work in Victoria are now eligible for a $1,500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment if they need to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19.
The Australian Government announced on 28 August the extension of the payment to people who do not live in Victoria, but who work in Victoria, to ensure no one is left behind.
In addition to this, Victorians who were directed to self-isolate on or after 5 July can now also submit a claim for this payment. This is to ensure people who were not able to access the Victorian payment during this time don’t miss out on support.
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is a lump sum payment to help workers during their 14 day self-isolation period.
People may be eligible to claim this payment if they’ve been directed by health officials to stay home from work, and have used up all their sick leave entitlements, including any special pandemic leave.
They may also be eligible to make a claim if they’re the parent or guardian of a child aged 16 or under who is a close contact or has tested positive for COVID-19.
Workers are eligible for this payment if they’re not receiving any other income, including JobKeeper payment or other forms of Australian Government income support.
People are able to claim this payment again if health officials instruct them to quarantine for a period longer than 14 days.
There is no need to visit a service centre to claim this payment.
The best way to make a claim is over the phone by calling 180 22 66, where staff will be able to walk people through the entire claim process.
More information is available at: servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster
Interview with John Laws, 2SM
28 August 2020
John Laws: Would you like the job of leading a nation? Any old nation I mean. I imagine it would never be a very easy task even at the very best of times but to do so during a period like this one, you know, with natural and man‑made disasters and while the state and the Territory leaders are at odds it's a real achievement proving that our Prime Minister is handling things pretty well whether you like him, dislike him, like his politics or dislike his politics it doesn't matter. I'm delighted to say however that we have the Prime Minister on the line, Prime Minister good morning and welcome.
Prime Minister: G'day John, god to be with you. I'm in the car heading out to Cooma, the bush I'm here with an old mate of yours Shane Stone.
Laws: Really? Well good, tell him I say g'day but I hope you have your winter woolies with you because it would be cold.
Prime Minister: It is cold down here. It would be great to be able to be travelling to places like Queensland, Northern Territory and others but we all know why we can't do that but we got the Bush Summit out there today are heading out there today and looking forward to participating in that.
Laws: That's a pretty important thing isn't it the Bush Summit?
Prime Minister: So much has been happening in the bush. I mean, this is why Shane is going out there with me. He’s been working with me on the floods and the droughts and the floods up in North Queensland and the drought and even though it's good to see a bit more green around the subsoil is quite a different story and there's quite a long way to go there as I'm sure everyone in the bush understands. We all drive through us city slickers, city siders we see the grass and we think it's all good again but that's not always the case and there's still a long way to go.
Laws: Your proposal to terminate agreements with foreign powers, does that raise the issues of sovereign risk if the Commonwealth can unilaterally come along and cancel an agreement or a memorandum of understanding?
Prime Minister: It doesn't apply to private companies. So, you know, people got contracts for work and business and those sorts of things so it doesn't apply to that. What it applies to is where state governments have entered into these memorandum of understanding and what are sort of like quasi foreign agreements, well, these things have to be consistent with what the Australian Government's policy is otherwise you get that position chipped away and it can undermine and [inaudible] the power we protect Australia's national interests and promote them. When people elect a federal government, they elect it to look after our relationships with the rest of the world. They don't elect state governments to do that or local Governments or universities to do that, they elect the federal government to do that. So this just make sure that everybody is heading in the same direction and can't be picked off.
Laws: Ok. The point is with China, I mean, relations with China are pretty strained already. Aren't we potentially making that situation worse?
Prime Minister: This isn't about China. This is 30 countries with which state and territory and local Governments have known arrangements with and there could be far more so this actually asks them, it requires them to let us know what agreements they do have and we just need to make sure that they all line up. Now I mean I imagine there will be a limited number of cases where things will be inconsistent and we can deal with that but what it's really about is trying to ensure that people right across the country in governments understand that if you're going to engage with another country, well you have to do it consistent with the way Australia is pursuing our foreign policy. Otherwise, you know, you undermine what we're seeking to achieve here and look the relationship with China is very important, of course it is, it has been for a long time, we're not seeking to do anything to injure that at all. Our trade with China has never been greater and never been of move value and it's been increasing while people have talked about the relationship and saying it's under strain we keep trading and that happens because we make stuff and sell stuff they want and they make stuff and sell stuff we want. So, you know, it's a mutually beneficial relationship. It's not a one-way street. It's worth stuff to them and it's worth stuff to us.
Laws: Ok so you don't think relations with China are strained?
Prime Minister: Oh look I think they’re going through a difficult patch, I think that's right John but what we've done is I don't believe anything to injure that relationship. We've just been standing up for our own interests. Trade is important but you don't trade away your sovereignty.
Laws: Well that's a legitimate point. What measures are you going to unveil today to help regional areas grow their economies because things don't look good in country regions?
Prime Minister: The things continue to be very tough and one of the most immediate problems we’ve got are those border restrictions as a result of COVID. Now I understand why these are necessary, particularly the New South Wales - Victorian border which was agreed between both Premiers and I that we need to put some things in place there but any time you put a border up within inside Australia it's always going cost to and it's going to cause disruption and in border communities particularly in western and northern Victoria, and southern New South Wales, this is causing real issues. I know both Premiers are trying to do the right thing here to try and smooth this over, but Australia wasn't built to have internal borders. That was sort of the whole point of Australia is you got rid of the internal borders so we have got to try and work through those and get some fair principles, there's a terrible story today John up in Queensland ‑ the families from Ballina that couldn't get into Queensland for medical treatment, had to go into Sydney and it's been just a terrible tragedy there. I mean this is just not OK. That's not acceptable. There has to be pragmatism and flexibility and compassion in how these COVID-19 restrictions are exercised and you just cannot be that rigid. It's just not OK.
Laws: Well I agree, I certainly agree with you. I think it's vicious. When do you think the border with Queensland going to reopen?
Prime Minister: I don't know, because we didn't put it in place. The Queensland Government did that unilaterally. And there are virtually no cases in northern New South Wales. And the disruption that causes is fairly obvious and these most recent examples are I think evidence of that. I think ‑I mean, all I've simply said to the Premiers is where they have put these things in place particularly where they haven't worked with their neighbours in Queensland's case New South Wales or with the Commonwealth Government and they've just done it off their own bat, well they've got to be clear to the Australian people that this is how we've done it, this is why we've done it, this is the medical evidence that supports that, I mean the ACT has declared a hot zone. There are no cases in the ACT.
Laws: Why have they done that?
Prime Minister: I can't tell you John, I don't know because I didn't put it there. These are the legitimate questions that I think people can rightly ask of the Premiers. I'm not saying they can't put them there but I'm saying if you do put them there and you do it on your own well you have got to explain to people and this idea that, you know, facilities in one state only for people in one state, no that's not true.
Laws: It shouldn't be true, but have you talked to the Premier of Queensland?
Prime Minister: Yes, I have. And we've raised these issues directly and as well as in letters and various things and with our office and our departments, and I'm not saying there can't be restrictions, I'm just saying if there are they've got to be exercised properly and they've got to be exercised decently and you can't just have a brick wall there. You've got to be able to manage the complexity and you can't just justify everything on the basis that everything that COVID may breakout. You have to be careful about that but you have to weigh it up because there are costs on both sides of the ledger here.
Laws: And big costs
Prime Minister: Yes it's true and simply saying, where we have made decision as a Commonwealth Government and I appreciate that decisions we've made have come at a cost as well, but I hope I've been clear in trying to convey to the Australian people that we understand that there are costs and risks associated on both sides and that's where you have to make a judgment. A good example of that right now, John, is I know we have a lot of people trying to get home to Australia and it's difficult. I mean there are caps at airports and the reason for that is that we don't put too much pressure on the quarantine so that could potentially break. There are 4,000 people coming back every week in Australia, so it's not like no one can, but most of them come in through Sydney because that's where the flights are going to and Gladys Berejiklian and I, we review that every fortnight and if we can lift that cap, if we think it's safe to do so we will and in the meantime we'll just help people where they are but where there are real emergency situations like with that horrific blast in Beirut and as you know there are many Australians of Lebanese descent and at any one time we have quite a lot about 5,000 Australians are in Beirut, now we've got over 200 people out of there and had a cap exemptions to be able to achieve that, in a very short space of time, so you know in a crisis, in a pandemic, in a drought, in a flood, in a fire, we've seen all of those in the last year, you just got to be practical and keep working the problem and make good calls and explain the calls that you make.
Laws: Yep. Some religious leaders have expressed some concern about a COVID vaccine using foetal cells. Now as a religious man, would you be willing to have the vaccine yourself and recommend it to others?
Prime Minister: Yeah I would. I mean it hasn't been proven to work yet so we'll wait for it to go through all the clinical trials and it will have to pass all the tests. Look I'm always respectful and sensitive to those sorts of issues. Many vaccines today have used that cell source from I understand going back to the 1970s that that research has based on so it's not current, it's not current cells that have been taken from abortions or anything like that. This is stuff going back, you know, 40 years and there are many vaccines at the moment that are out currently in widespread use which draw on that so we'll talk those issues through with people who have concerns about that. I understand those concerns and I respect them.
Laws: But you don't have a problem with them yourself?
Prime Minister: No, no, I don't and neither would my family. Again, you've got to weigh all this up about what's in the public's best interests, and in this case given that the concerns relate to things that happened 40 years ago it's not a current practice, personally I'm comfortable with that. But I mean these are personal judgments that people make and you've got to always be respectful of other people’s views.
Laws: You sure have. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says the Christchurch attacker should be sent back here to Australia to serve his sentence. I'm inclined to agree there, would you consider transferring him here?
Prime Minister: I had a chat with Prime Minister Ardern about this yesterday. New Zealand has not made that request I should be clear. What both Jacinda and I are keen to do is ensure that we consult with the families of the victims and I know what one of them, I met, Jenny and I were over there for the memorial service and he came to see me again in Sydney early this year and we just want to be conscious of what they would like to happen and I think that's the first starting point, and I know that's what the New Zealand Prime Minister is doing and we're sensitive to this. It raises a whole bunch of other issues, John, as you know, there are many New Zealanders in Australian prisons and many Australians in New Zealand prisons, I mean that's the standard way you deal with this but I think in this case we'll just deal with it sensitively and the Prime Minister and I are talking about that but there's been no request at this point.
Laws: Well, OK, well, but you are talking about it, it is being discussed?
Prime Minister: We are talking about it now. We had the first conversation about it yesterday, I mean we were talking, she rang yesterday and I was passing on our, you know, best wishes and sincere condolences again because this despicable terrorist who did this and I've been to that mosque, I've spoken to people who were there. It was just an atrocity of unthinkable scale and it's important that that character, that terrorist, never sees freedom ever again whether it's here, there or anywhere else. I'm pleased the New Zealand court made that decision.
Laws: Yes, so am I. You're quite right, he should never see the light of day again. Labor have come out swinging this week and accused your Government of ignoring warnings about the risks of private companies running age care homes, do you think the Government needs to take a bigger role in overseeing the sector? God we hear some dreadful reports.
Prime Minister: This is why I called the Royal Commission John, it was one of the first things I did when I became Prime Minister two years ago and they're doing important work and I said at the time there's going to be some brutal stories that come out of this. In the vast majority of cases people in the aged care system do a great job, but there are cases where that's not true, and I think many of us have had to make difficult decisions about loved ones going into aged care. I certainly have my own case with my late father last year and you want to be confident about the care they'll provide and the people who work in aged care, I mean, they can be angels, they certainly were with my father. That's got to be acknowledged. I think to that suggest that every single aged care facility is not providing good service, that would bed not be a fair assessment. I mean to give you an example, just dealing with COVID, in 97 per cent of facilities in Australia and there's over 2700 of them, there have been no COVID cases and about 8 per cent of Australian facilities aged care facilities have had a COVID case involving either a resident or a staff member. Now, in the UK, that figure is 56 per cent, seven times worse so I don't deny that in a number of cases in Victoria especially and then you have the problems we had at Newmarch and Dorothy Henderson Lodge in New South Wales, those cases have not been good, unacceptable, totally unacceptable. My fear is with that community outbreak we had in Victoria that that could have gone for worse. If we had those UK figures we wouldn’t have 100 facilities, we'd have 1,000 facilities that are affected that like that. So it's tough in a pandemic but I think we've done better than others but in those cases where it's been most severe well they're shocking cases and I've already outlined my apologies for those but when you're facing that COVID outbreak as we did in Melbourne, it's as every other country has found, it will find its way into every part of society. But on the issue of private, well whether it's great stories are in private, public and not-for-profit and there have also been terrible stories in private, public and not-for-profit. I mean the Royal Commission was based after learning what had happened in the Oakden aged care facility when the Labor Government was in power in South Australia so it's not about private, public or not-for-profit. It's about having right stands, sources and clinical supports and workforces and all those things. That's what we'll do. We're increasing aged care funding every year by more than a billion dollars every year so we'll keep putting the resources in, the Royal Commission I think will help but it's a tough area.
Laws: It sure is. I mean, 2020 has been a hell of a year hasn’t it. It's really has been a shocker of a year?
Prime Minister: You remember that film Back to the Future that one with Michael J Fox? I saw someone say the other day there was the Doc in that film should have said to Michael J Fox 'Whatever you do, don't go to 2020.' It has been a really hard year John and said that in the Parliament earlier this year. For many Australians this will be the toughest year of their lives. You know I was reflecting on this other the week, I was down at the War Memorial for the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and it put things in perspective. I met three blokes there one from Air Force, one from the Army, one from the Navy and when we reflect on that I believe our greatest ever generation, the generation that dealt with the depression, that dealt with the Second World War, you can draw a lot of strengths from those Australians and [inaudible]...and that was the way they lived and...
Laws: I think it's great that you touch on those areas and I think it's great that you're sensitive to those areas, it's pretty important. I mean you are not just a politician? No comment? Have we lost it? Oh dear. Did they drop it or did we... all gone. I wonder can we get him back. We were at an interesting stage there. Can you try and get the Prime Minister back? 1300 5646. God, it's annoying when the phone does that right in the middle of an interview that I'm enjoying and I hope the people listening are enjoying. The Prime Minister is very good to talk to, very good to talk to. Whether he's the Prime Minister or not is really immaterial but as a bloke to have a yarn with he's pretty good. And he's a very decent fellow. There's no denying that, whether you like his politics or not, he's a very, very decent bloke.
Prime Minister are you there?
Prime Minister: I am John, sorry dropped out.
Laws: It wasn’t your fault, we can’t go around losing Prime Ministers.
Prime Minister: No, no true, I’m well looked after.
Laws: That’s good let’s hope it stays that way. I can’t remember what we were up to but it would have been interesting.
Prime Minister: I don’t know if you heard me talking about going down to the War Memorial and I was just talking about how reflecting on that generation, that’s a good guide for us today in such a tough year.
Laws: Well it’s interesting that you talked to those blokes. Tell me, you find it easy to talk to most people obviously you’re a very gregarious sort of human being anyway irrespective of being Prime Minister so you don’t have any trouble talking to people that are certainly from a different walk of life and have done different things to your achievements, you don’t have a problem with that?
Prime Minister: I love it and if you don’t love people don’t go into politics that’s the job and that’s the best part of the job whether it’s talking to young kids or old Diggers like those guys you know that’s the great privilege of this job John, you get to meet so many Australians in all walks of life, the good the great and they’re all like that it’s a great privilege.
Laws: When you said you like talking to these people the good, you didn’t include me?
Prime Minister: You go along with that mate, of course of course. It’s good to be on the program again I’m sorry we haven’t spoken for a while and I know you’ve had your own difficulties too mate and I hope you got my letter about Caroline?
Laws: I certainly did get your letter about Caroline and it’s a strange thing to say to the Prime Minister but you’re a very sweet man you’re a very decent fellow and people ought to remember that.
Prime Minister: Well thank you, you’ve had a lot to deal with.
Laws: Well have a good time whatever you’re doing have a good weekend. I suppose you’ve got your sunnies packed and flip flops all ready to go to Hawaii
Prime Minister: I don’t think I’ll be going there for a long time. One of things of this job is you always keep learning you’ve got to keep your feet on the ground and stay humble.
Laws: You’ve got to do that and I am sure you are doing it exceedingly well it’s been a pleasure to talk to you and I hope that we get to talk again. Thank you for your good thoughts about my Caroline.
Prime Minister: Absolutely John, all the best God bless. Bye bye.
Laws: Thanks Scott, bye.
Doorstop - Cooma, NSW
28 August 2020
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister can we ask you, some concerning reports this morning of a twin baby girl who's passed away after not being able to get into Queensland?
PRIME MINISTER: This is terribly distressing. It's, it's heartbreaking. I learnt of this same story this morning as to this terrible news. And there needs to be an explanation as to how these, these hard border arrangements, can lead to people not getting access to this care as it seems to be the case here. I don't know all the facts here and it's important that they're all known and I don't want to get ahead of that process. But as I'll be making a comment here today, I understand why there can be recommendations about having border restrictions under a COVID pandemic. But at the same time, they would need to be an extraordinary explanation in relation to how someone wouldn't be able to get medical treatment in these circumstances. So there does need to be an explanation here. And again, these restrictions need to be put in place with compassion, with common sense and understanding all the risks, not just the COVID risks that present.
JOURNALIST: Are they inhumane these hard border closers?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's important that they're done with humanity. It's important they're done with compassion. It's important they're done with common sense, and not only at looking at risk on one side of the ledger. Any Australian, wherever they are, who needs medical treatment, should be able to access it, particularly in an emergency in any Australian hospital whatever state they're in.
JOURNALIST: Would you consider a prisoner swap with Brendon Tarrant in relation to…
PRIME MINISTER: Well I've already addressed those issues earlier today in my earlier interviews.
JOURNALIST: Will you be discussing the border issues with National Cabinet or would you consider convening a special meeting to discuss this issue again [inaudible].
PRIME MINISTER: I'll be writing to the Premiers as I always do about these issues. We have discussed this issue on numerous occasions with the National Cabinet. Unfortunately, there hasn't been agreement on the principles that should drive that. I was talking to the Danish Prime Minister this week and they have a very interesting way to find hotspots not terribly different to the way the Northern Territory does it. And that's based on clear, objective medical evidence about case rates in particular places. I think there are ways to actually do this in a way that I think people can get a better understanding of how this works and it avoids the arbitrariness. But at the same time, there need to be exemptions. They need to be properly applied. There can't just be blanket arrangements here otherwise you place at risk the very real circumstances, which terribly sadly, we've seen occur. Now, I can't say, I don't think anyone can say definitively, about whether the outcome may have been different here. I can’t say that, I’m not aware of the clinical issues and whether the exemption in this case directly contributed. I can't draw any of those conclusions. And I'm not suggesting that.
JOURNALIST: Does the Queensland Government have some explaining to do?
PRIME MINISTER: Well clearly there needs to be an explanation as to why the exemption was not provided in this rather very extreme case. I think those answers are obviously necessary.
JOURNALIST: What do you say to this grieving family?
PRIME MINISTER: My heart just breaks for you. My heart just breaks for you.
Interview with Allison Langdon, Today
28 August 2020
ALLISON LANGDON: Well, the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Victorian Premier seems to have disintegrated in recent weeks. So is it damage beyond repair? Let's ask the man at the top. Prime Minister, thanks for joining us this morning. We always appreciate your time. Can you two get on?
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Ally. Of course we can. I think all the commentary around this issue is usually overstated. We're both very professional leaders. We work together on so many different issues. There'll be some we disagree on. There are many we do agree on. What we want to get happening in Victoria is obviously continue to get the outbreak under control, get people out of lockdown, get borders open again, get people back to work and ensure we have a very solid basis to ensure that the outbreak won't recur in Victoria. So there's a lot to do and we'll get on with our jobs, he with his and me with mine.
LANGDON: But, I mean, we heard from him yesterday and he wasn't happy. Just take a very quick listen to this.
(EXCERPT FROM YESTERDAY OF DAN ANDREWS: If the Prime Minister has got the time to be focused on these matters, that's fine. That's entirely a matter for him. I don't.)
LANGDON: Yeah, I mean, you could hear it in his tone there. This is your plan to ban deals with foreign powers not in the national interests. It does spell the end for Victoria's Belts and Roads deal with China, doesn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll pass the legislation first and then we'll deal with each of these issues on its merits. That's the legal process. I'm not going to prejudice that one way or the other. It is my job to look after Australia's foreign interests, to promote our national interests around the world and ensure that everything that's happening in Australia is consistent with that, and to protect and defend Australia and to promote our interests and that's what I do. That's my job and it's state premiers jobs to continue to focus on the challenges they have with their pandemic and we're giving them unprecedented support to do that and we'll continue to do that and work closely together to achieve that.
LANGDON: It's hard to view this legislation as anything other than related to Belts and Road Initiative.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I wouldn't agree with that. I mean, there are 130 agreements and memoranda and various other things that we know of with 130 - sorry, with 30 countries. So there are many of these agreements that already exist. There are some that may be considered in the future and what this simply does is ensures that no foreign country can come and seek to undermine the foreign policy position of an elected Commonwealth Government by doing deals with other governments. I mean, it's common sense. It's the Federal Government's powers to do that and we're getting on with the job of protecting Australia's national interests, as Australians would expect us to do and, frankly, elected us to do.
LANGDON: Well, Daniel Andrews is unhappy. China even less so. Are you worried about retaliation?
PRIME MINISTER: No, what we've always done is just acted consistent with our interests and that's what I'll continue to do. It's not about whether I am happy or any other politician is happy. It's about doing the right thing, and that's what we are doing and standing up for Australia's national interests and to ensure there's a consistent approach. We welcome the relationship we have with all countries including China. They're our biggest trading partner and our trade is at record levels and we'll continue to work hard to ensure that happens but we won't trade away our interests, our national interests, with any country.
LANGDON: But, I mean, we now have tariffs on beef, barley; wine is now in their sightings. Industry is concerned: rightly so?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we will address all of those issues that are with the Chinese Government but I can't speak for their actions. All I can do is speak for ours, and ours is to be consistent about what is in Australia's interests and to ensure that our sovereignty is respected here and protected here in Australia. And I would assume, and know, that that is certainly what China would seek to do as well. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. It's not a one-way street. China benefits from our relationship and Australia benefits. But in both of our cases, we have to have clear lines about where our national interest resides and whether that's on foreign investment or our technology or our national security or anything like this. It's my job to ensure that we have very clear positions on those and we don't compromise them or undermine them.
LANGDON: Okay. Can you explain why the Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck, walked out of questioning yesterday?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, he didn't walk out of questioning. The Labor Party was involved in making a whole range of statements in the House. He left the House - sorry, left the Senate to deal with issues in aged care, which he does morning, noon and night. There were some - there continue to be very serious issues there and he went to address those issues, as he needs to do each and every day.
LANGDON: Well, he needs to front the questions. It was a bad look yesterday.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, he and I and the Health Minister - over 75 questions we dealt with during the course of the week. But we also have to deal with the daily challenges. We're here at Parliament this week. We've had a vigorous parliament looking into these issues. There's a Senate inquiry that is looking into these issues. So the government hasn't walked away from any scrutiny here, but at the same time, it is his job to deal with issues that are happening in aged care centres, not to sit in the Parliament and just listen to speeches from the Labor Party.
LANGDON: So 18,000 Australians are currently stranded overseas. What is the plan?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, first of all, there's 4,000 who are coming home every week. And the caps that have been put in place at the airports, particularly in Sydney where the majority of flights come into, are there for an obvious reason. While we are in a sensitive period with the outbreak, then those caps make sense at this time and the Premier and I are reviewing those every fortnight. We're getting further assistance to those who are overseas and particularly those in most urgent need, and in emergency situations. As we saw with Beirut with the terrible disaster and explosion there, over 200 Lebanese Australians have come back to Australia and we've been able to get exemptions on caps to facilitate their movement and to support them in getting out of those very difficult situations. Now, our consular officials around the world do an amazing job. We've flown people out of Wuhan. We've had other flights that we've been able to arrange from many parts of the world. People are coming back on commercial flights. We understand and realise that that is restricted at the moment. But I would stress there's over - there's around 4,000 people coming back every week and there has been around 100,000 people who have gone through the quarantine processes and half of that has actually been in New South Wales. So we have to get the balance right here. We're giving additional support wherever we can to people who need it around the world and there are many cases where there are - you know, there is an urgent need for people to get home and we'll continue to seek to support them in the ways that we can.
LANGDON: Is there a plan to quarantine them in regional areas to take the pressure off the cities?
PRIME MINISTER: No. I'm not - unaware of what the source of those reports are. I mean --
LANGDON: Okay.
PRIME MINISTER: -- the Commonwealth Government, on many occasions, prepares a lot of contingencies for emergency situations. You will recall when we did the Wuhan flights early, we did quarantining at Howard Springs and on Christmas Island. They were one-off cases. In other cases, we've brought chartered flights back into Australia and they've gone through the normal hotel quarantine. But we don't want to put too much stress on that hotel quarantine. We know what happens when quarantine breaks and there isn't the tracing program to back that up. We've seen that, of course, in the terrible incidents that have occurred in Melbourne and the hardship that brings. So you've got to get the balance right here and that's what we're seeking to do.
LANGDON: Now, mosque terrorist, Brenton Tarrant, there is no legal basis for it but if the victims and the survivors want him moved to Australia and the New Zealand Prime Minister asks, will you consider it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, first of all, I would never speak his name, and he should never be out of any prison anywhere and he should never see freedom. I'm pleased that that decision was made by the New Zealand courts. The Prime Minister of New Zealand and I have discussed these matters. I mean, yesterday we were speaking, largely again for me to pass on our deep sympathies particularly to the families of those affected. I've met many of those families and particularly one, Farid Ahmed, who I've met on several occasions now, and we would want to do the right thing by those families, I think, both of us. She has made no request to do this but we're very sensitive to that request. It has a lot of other implications. Minister Dutton, I think, was referring to some of those earlier today. But we're very sensitive to it. I mean, we're family, New Zealand and Australia. We were horrified by this. So, you know, my message to New Zealanders and particularly those affected is kia kaha. We're with them. Stay strong
LANGDON: Yeah, beautifully said, Prime Minister. And just very quickly, you are heading to the bush today. For the large part, the drought is breaking. We're all visiting our own backyard. It is a bit of a bright spot for us at the moment, isn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll be - yes. There's still many parts of the country still in drought, I should stress, but when I drive from here today down to Cooma, I'm going to see a lot more green than I did previously when I was there not that long ago. And that's good news. But there's still a lot of challenges in the bush at the moment. The drought has lingering effects and, of course, we've had - much of the country were impacted by other disasters, bushfires and the like. Of course, the pandemic is hurting those parts of the country as well, particularly with the border restrictions and these borders can be very necessary but they should only be there as long as they have to. Having put a border in, you're always going to have problems. It's better ultimately to not have them and so I hope we can get to that position soon. I mean, Australia was not built to have internal borders. That was sort of the whole point. And I want to go back to the plan A on Australia which is to not have them, but I appreciate that at the moment there are many things we have to manage. So that is affecting a lot of border towns, in particular in northern and western Victoria and, of course, in northern New South Wales. And there have been a lot of heartbreaking cases, and I know you've reported on many of them and I know others have, and we've got to get back to the place where we live with this virus and borders aren't always the answer to that. Well, they're not the answer to that ultimately. Testing, tracing, outbreak containment, COVIDSafe living and an economy, downloading the COVIDSafe app, that's how we deal with it and live with it, and I think New South Wales has demonstrated you can do that.
LANGDON: I tell you what, Prime Minister, you've got a lot on your plate at the moment. We really appreciate you making the time for us this morning, thank you.
PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON: Always, Ally. Good to be with you. Thank you very much.
LANGDON: Karl.
KARL STEFANOVIC: What a terrific message to New Zealand. Well done, PM.
Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB
28 August 2020
Ben Fordham: Here's Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Good morning to you, PM.
Prime Minister: G'day, Ben.
Fordham: We've only got a few minutes but the Christchurch gunman who took 51 innocent lives has been sentenced to life without parole.
Prime Minister: Good.
Fordham: There's a suggestion in New Zealand that he should be sent back to Australia to serve his sentence here.
Prime Minister: Well, there's been no request formally made by the New Zealand government for that. I spoke to Prime Minister Ardern yesterday after the press conference I held here in Canberra and our first concern is the interests of the families. Yesterday, that was just prior to that sentence being handed down, we would want to know how the families felt about all of this. But it also has quite significant broader implications. I mean, we have many New Zealanders in our prisons here, as you know, we send them back to New Zealand after their sentences have been completed. So there's a lot of those issues.
But, I mean, this is a very rare case and it's an appalling and abhorrent case and the Prime Minister and I are open to having discussions about this but there's been no requests made so, you know, we're sensitive to that issue but we would both want to know, particularly what the family - how the families felt about this. I've met one of those family members, I've met quite a few of them actually, Farid Ahmed, who's just amazing, amazing individual. Lost his wife in that terrorist attack and he has a grace and a forgiveness that it would be difficult for many of us to ever contemplate or understand.
Fordham: We'll see what happens there. Just some quick ones; the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has had a crack at you over your crackdown on foreign interference. Do you make any apologies?
Prime Minister: Of course not and Dan will get on with his job this morning. I'll get on with mine. We're both professional leaders, we've got a lot of things to do and it's the Federal Government's responsibility for foreign affairs and State and Territory Governments, Local Governments, universities in the cases that apply to them, they have to line up with the foreign affairs position of the Commonwealth Government. That's what we're elected to do, that's what we are doing, protecting our national interest, promoting our national interests, and we can't have any governments around the country going off in some other direction, that undercuts us. It undercuts us internationally and that's our job to look after that and he has his jobs and we're helping him with those at the moment down in Victoria with the terrible pandemic.
Fordham: You're considering special flights to bring home 18,000 Australians stuck overseas. If they happen, who will pay for the flights?
Prime Minister: Well, I've got to say that report I think is a bit misplaced. We're always trying to help people who are trying to get home and there is a lot of pressure on that. About 4,000 people are coming home each week through commercial flights. Where there are really urgent situations like was the case in Beirut, more than 200 Australians we've been able to get out of Beirut and get back and I appreciate the support from the NSW Government that we had exemptions around the caps to enable that so we're going to continue working with people around the world, through our consular officials. And the government is looking at how we can provide even further support for people in that situation. Right now, the cap needs to stay where it is because it's necessary with that sensitive situation we've got with the virus but Gladys Berejiklian and I, we're looking at that every two weeks.
Fordham: There's another report today saying that you're going to consider offering unlimited English classes to migrants to Australia. Is that true?
Prime Minister: Yeah, but the Immigration Minister today will be speaking about this issue. What it basically means is this: If you can speak English, you've got a higher chance of getting a job and I want more people in jobs and when people are in jobs they're not on welfare and so having ways to help people learn English when they're in this country. I mean, if you're coming here on a skilled visa, there are English-language tests and you've got to pass those to get the visa, but there are others who come on family programs and things like that. If they have English, they can get a job and this is about jobs.
Fordham: I know you've got a busy morning. Just quickly before you go, you uploaded another photo to social media last night of you cooking a curry. Given our relationship with China at the moment, are you prepared to have a go at a Mongolian lamb or a sweet and sour pork?
Prime Minister: I reckon that's a great idea and that was Saturday night, in fact, but, you know, it's a bit of my down time. I got some lovely messages from people in Melbourne because I sort of started a chat with them about all that and they were telling me what they were cooking on Saturday night so, you know, we wish them all the best. I'm pleased that in Sydney, we don't have those lockdowns or in Brisbane or elsewhere and I hope we can get to a point soon where those lockdowns and other restrictions, particularly border restrictions, can be lifted soon.
Fordham: Alright. Are you getting any time off this weekend?
Prime Minister: It's always busy every day, Ben. But I'll take time out for the Sharks and family, of course, they're coming down to see me. Looking forward to that.
Fordham: Alright, and I know that you're catching up with the Bush Summit today, with the Premier Gladys Berejiklian, and I know that people in New South Wales regional areas will appreciate that.
Prime Minister: Yeah, I'm looking forward to that. Have a bit to say about the hardships they're going at the moment with the borders but appreciate what we have been able to do with Gladys in trying to alleviate some of that but you put a border anywhere, Ben, it's going to cause difficulties. That's why the best solution is to get this thing under control in Victoria and then we can open up again and get going again.
Fordham: We appreciate your time. Thanks very much.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, Ben. All the best.
Interview with Samantha Armytage, Sunrise
28 August 2020
Samantha Armytage: Prime Minister, good morning to you. Not a very good look for Richard Colbeck to walk out of the Senate yesterday while this was being debated. Should the Aged Care Minister keep his job?
Prime Minister: Well, the Aged Care Minister left the chamber to deal directly with some very serious issues that were happening at a couple of centres, which is what his job is. And the Labor Party might want to be playing games in the Senate, but his job, he went to the Senate; he gave the presentation that he was asked to give by the senate. But this is a job he’s doing morning, noon and night, and so that’s the reason he had to leave the chamber. And that’s what he should be doing.
Armytage: Could that have waited, though? His performance over the last couple of weeks suggests he is a bit overwhelmed by this portfolio.
Prime Minister: No, I wouldn’t suggest that at all. What I’m suggesting is that he needed to go and urgently deal with a matter in a particular facility in Victoria. That’s what he was doing last night. That’s what he should be doing. That’s what he’s doing every night, every morning, and every day. This is a very challenging situation in Victoria – a situation that started because we had widespread community transmission of the virus in Victoria. Now, in Australia, about 8 per cent of our aged-care facilities have had infections amongst residents and amongst staff. In the United Kingdom, it’s been 56 per cent - seven times worse than what has happened in Australia. Now, in Australia, in every single case where we’ve had people who have died as a result of the coronavirus and in aged care, that is a terrible tragedy. But this Aged Care Minister is just doing his job, and last night, he had to go and attend to urgent issues in the aged care sector rather than sit there and listen to the Labor Party.
Armytage: So you 100 per cent stand behind Richard Colbeck right now?
Prime Minister: Of course I do.
Armytage: OK. Now, let’s talk about changes to foreign policy. You’ve announced new laws to review and cancel agreements made with foreign governments. And currently there’s 130 agreements between state governments, councils, and universities – mainly with China. Why did you decide to introduce these laws right now?
Prime Minister: Well, we’ve been working on these for many months. And some weeks ago, I also ensured that all state premiers and chief ministers were briefed by our senior security agencies on the challenges and the issues we face here. And so this has been a further change on top of the changes we’ve made to foreign investment laws, foreign interference laws. What we’re doing is protecting Australia’s national interests, and promoting those interests. Federal governments are elected to deal with foreign affairs, and we need to ensure that right across the country, that’s being done consistently with the foreign policy position that we set to keep Australians safe, to protect our national interests.
Armytage: OK. Daniel Andrews has been quite vocal about this, and it does look like his Belt and Road project will be scrapped with China. He says you should – you, the Prime Minister – should provide the list of alternative markets and trading arrangements for Victoria. Is that your job, to help Daniel Andrews come up with deals?
Prime Minister: Well, those arrangements don’t go to trade matters. But what we have done as a government is lifted the amount of trade that free trade agreements are covered in Australia, from less than 30 per cent to over 75 per cent. So, he’s got the list because we’ve been expanding our trade agreements. Indonesia was the most recent one; Singapore commercial digital commerce agreement. We’re now working on the European free trade agreement and the UK free trade agreement, so there’s no shortage of work that our government has done in opening up trade opportunities.
But this must be done in Australia’s interest. We can’t trade away our interests. We always have to put up for Australia’s national interests. And this is just a further step by the government, our government, to ensure that we do that, and we do it consistently across the country, whether it’s local and state governments, or, indeed, universities, in the cases that it applies to them as well.
Armytage: OK. Prime Minister, let’s talk about Victoria. It looks like a complete mess at the moment. There is unrest, protests, each night, at the moment, over the lockdown restrictions. You spoke with Daniel Andrews earlier this week about your concerns about the lockdown. What did you say to him on the phone?
Prime Minister: Dan and I usually text each other, and that’s what we did on that night. Look, I just relayed that that announcement that he made about the 12-month extension – we’d received a lot of concerning feedback about that. People, I think, hadn’t understood that that didn’t mean that the lockdown was going on for another 12 months, and urged that there be clarity given to that and that a cautious approach be applied to further decisions. And the Premier made further comments about that. I wasn’t the only one who raised those issues. People in the Labor Party raised those issues. The Premier and I just deal with the issues. And from time to time, we will disagree on things. But we’re professional leaders and we deal with the problems in front of us. We stick to our jobs and we get on with it. And today, I’m going about my job, he’s going about his. And in Victoria, that means continuing down the path of getting on top of this community outbreak that has occurred there, so we can get people out of lockdown, we can get borders open across this country, we can get people back to work and businesses open. That’s what I want to achieve, and I’m sure that’s what he would like to achieve too.
Armytage: OK. Prime Minister, while we have you, the New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister has demanded Australia take back terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who was sentenced to life in jail yesterday. Should we take him back? Will we take him back?
Prime Minister: Well, I had a discussion after the press conference I had yesterday with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and we were, of course, talking about the case itself. And I’m pleased that that terrorist will never be released anywhere, ever again. And we’ll have an open discussion and look at the issues around this. I think the most important thing, though, we discussed, we’ve got to focus on the families who are affected. And I spoke yesterday about an amazing man, Farid Ahmed, who lost his wife Hosne in that horrific terrorist attack. And he is an amazing individual. And he’s full of love and hope and forgiveness. But in this case, I know all Australians and all New Zealanders would want to see this character locked up forever and never see the light of day again. And I agree with that. Whether he’s held in New Zealand or Australia – look, we’re open to that discussion. That obviously has a lot of implications, these sorts of decisions, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, and I, we’ll talk about those issues. But most of all, we’re concerned about what the views of the families would be, of those affected, and we want to do the right thing by them.
Armytage: OK. Prime Minster…
Prime Minister: But there’s been no request made for that, I should stress.
Armytage: OK. Alright, so for now, that’s not on your to-do list. Prime Minister, we’ll let you go. Thank you for your time.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot. Good to be with you.
Interview with Paul Murray, Sky News
28 August 2020
PAUL MURRAY: Socially distanced, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: We are.
MURRAY: Welcome to the show. I said it earlier in the editorial so it’s not going to be a guess to anyone. I think that the decision to override the deals that undermine our country is something that is much wanted and much overdue. How many deals could we be talking about here potentially?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm not going to prejudice the process but we know there's at least 130 agreements that are out there, with 30 countries, and they are the ones we know about. And I think what we've done today, what the legislation will do, what the new powers will do, will will require whether it’s the local government, whether it’s universities in the relevant circumstances. State governments, where they’re doing these, they notify, they provide that information. So there's a new transparency about this. There's new reporting about this. So you know, everyone can know what's sort of going on. Now, in some cases, if it's the case that it's inconsistent with what we- it's our job to look after foreign affairs, when people go to a federal election and they vote, decide who's going to be the government. Well, that's one of the things they decide, we want you to do that. And so I think it's fairly reasonable that the federal government would do that and all other governments in the country would line up with that. So some could be inconsistent. And if that's the case well the powers there. But there may well be others that haven't been brought to our attention. And that actually could be quite helpful and could plug in more with what we're doing internationally.
MURRAY: Do you think that there are examples of these sorts of deals that are selling out the country for the 50 pieces of silver?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I wouldn't put the laws in if I wasn't concerned that that could happen. But what I have to be very careful about Paul, is I can't prejudice any of these decisions that the laws need to be established and that needs to go through the Parliament, which I believe they will. And then you've got to follow the process to assess them and then someone needs to make a decision. So I would never put any of that at risk by speculating about which ones might be the subject of that scrutiny and fall foul.
MURRAY: Belt and Road has been something a lot of people concluded would be affected by this, so much so that the Victorian Premier was asked about it. His response seemed fairly sharp, that essentially he's focussed on the pandemic and you are focussed on other things. And there seemed to be an innate criticism in what he said today. Did you see his comments?
PRIME MINISTER: I saw them reported, but the Premier should be focussed on the pandemic and I should be focussed, not only on the pandemic, but also my job, which is protecting Australia's interest in promoting Australia's interests and promoting Australia’s interests. It is my job to ensure that our foreign affairs are in order and presenting a consistent position to the rest of the world. And there is not an undermining of anything that is occurring in Australia against that. But it's also my job to deal with Defence Forces. It's also my job to deal with cyber attacks and terrorism and so on. It's my job to deal with many, many things as Prime Minister. So I'll keep getting on with mine. I'm sure he’ll keep getting on with his.
MURRAY: And he also, I mean it didn't seem like he was saying it as a compliment. But the idea that somehow you had to present the list of alternative places for Victoria to be doing trade deals with, as far as I know, the Belt and Road isn't about trade,
PRIME MINISTER: No it’s not a trade deal.
MURRAY: What do you say to that portion of it where essentially if we cut off these sorts of arrangements, then there's going to be money that's not going to be flowing into economies like Victoria, I’m just putting forward his logic?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah no I understand. But I mean, trade, our government, the government I’ve been part of over the last seven years is the one that lifted our trade agreements, as a share of our total trade from 29 percent to 76 percent. Trade agreements with China, with Korea, with Japan, now working on a very important one with the European Union and the United Kingdom, with Indonesia, a digital commerce arrangement in Singapore. So we've been opening up opportunities for trade. I mean, we've had record trade surpluses. Trade has been one of our government's great successes. And when we strike those deals, all the states and territories benefit. Whether it's seafood out of Tasmania or services trade out of Victoria. This has been part of what was occurring for Australia just before COVID hit. And that has been one of the success stories. And we do that working with states and territories. So of course we do. But the argument that somehow this stops people trading with China is nonsense, or any other country, for that matter. Our trade, particularly with China, our biggest trading partner, has never been greater and never been more valuable.
MURRAY: Are you surprised by the amount of psychoanalysing there seems to be of your relationship with Daniel Andrews? Do they love each other? Do they not love each other? Tell us, what's the truth of the Andrews-Scomo relationship?
PRIME MINISTER: We obviously come from different political sides of the fence. A team Red and a team Blue, as you often refer to it, but our- we both understand, I believe each other's responsibility. He's a Premier. I'm a Prime Minister. There’s stuff we've got to get done. And it's our jobs to work together to make it happen. Whether one likes each other or not, well it helps. And there is, I've got to say, there's always been a great civility in how we work together, and we've never had a difficulty in being able to work through issues, certainly disagree on some things. And clearly, this is one. But we'll just get back at it tomorrow. And whether it's working together on health issues or the pandemic or anything like that or indeed other opportunities in mental health. I mean, one of the things that he and I actually have spent a lot of time talking about has been mental health and how there's a royal commission on mental health in Victoria. And we've got a lot of stuff we'd like to do there together. But also the other one has been on skills training. Now we have slightly different views about how that can be best done. But we both agree that getting more Australians skilled for jobs, that will be there and with the skills they need to do those jobs, and that businesses need. So there's a lot you can agree on. So look, I tend to focus on the things you can agree on, that’s how you get on.
MURRAY: Also I mean, there is this strain of feedback that exists, no doubt you see it as well, which is, why doesn't Canberra just take over the mess in Victoria? Why doesn't the Prime Minister step in on borders in Western Australia? Why doesn't the Prime Minister overrule the Premier of Tasmania? Insert insert. It feels to me like there's a lot of Australians that need a civics lesson because we've either got too used to the concept of a Prime Minister can do whatever the heck they want, without actually understanding there is a limit to your power isn’t there?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course, there is. I mean, Prime Ministers are not emperors, they’re Prime Ministers. And that's what our Constitution provides for. We have checks and balances in our systems of government, and states have responsibilities. Federal government has responsibilities. And I understand that people, frankly, couldn't care less. Is it your job or is it their job? They just want the problem fixed. You guys sort it out. I get that. And when it's not sorted out, people get really cranky. And I get that too. And they’ll direct that at me. They'll direct that at Premiers. They'll direct it at the local mayor. They'll direct it at the dog on a bad afternoon on a Friday, if they're particularly cranky and I get that, I understand that. And so that's why it's important for me as a Prime Minister and other Premiers as much as possible to try and work together because outside of the room, no one cares whether it's my job or their job. They just want the thing fixed. And when we take that attitude, we do get a lot more done. But it would, people write to me, they ring this office. They say, why can't you come in and do that? Well, that's not an option that's there, nor it is one that I think necessarily helps the problem at the end of the day. At the end of the day, there’s a huge problem in Victoria with the pandemic, and we need to fix it. And it's going to get fixed a lot quicker if people are working together, not arguing.
MURRAY: Do we have to lock in a little more in terms of the way the states are working, about how we step out of this, because it feels like those rampant days we were all very aware of, this is changing here, but it doesn't seem like there's a Formula, X number of cases Y number of days equals this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it would be nice if that was that simple too by the way. One of the reasons I've been so enthusiastic in talking about what's happened in New South Wales is I think New South Wales is showing the way. And that is, there's a virus, it's going to come, there'll be outbreaks, but if you test if you trace, if people are using the COVIDSafe app, all that's happening. Well you can keep your economy open and deal with outbreaks at the same time. When Gladys and Dan Andrews and I talked about the Victoria - New South Wales border, I gotta say I don’t think any of us were particularly keen on there being one. But it did necessitate it, regrettably, that the three of us had always been those most in favour of trying to keep Australia as open as possible in terms of borders. But it needed to happen. And the thing is this, if you put a border in, if you put any restriction, it's going to cost. It's going to hurt. There’s going to be an impact. And I've got to tell you, one of the things that I, that really bristled me most particularly over those months, was knowing that when you had to announce that things regrettably had to be shut down because the unknowns were so great. I mean, if you go back to the early part of the pandemic Paul, no one knew what was going to happen. We were looking at images of people digging mass graves in New York, and big tents full of bodies in the UK, Spain, Italy, ventilators running in short supply. And we had to make sure that we could get the health system up to a level where it could cope with a pandemic of that scale running at full flight. Now, once we got on top of that and we are on top of that element of it, then that's when we say, okay let's open up now. Let's get moving again, let's get the economy going again and going towards mid-June we were on that plan and that was great. And then, of course, the Victorian wave hit, and that’s really knocked us back quite a way. But what I want us to do now is exactly I think what you're suggesting is okay, we’ve got to look past that and how do we start opening up again? New South Wales has demonstrated you can deal with the virus coming here and keep everything open. I saw a quote by Alfred Deakin, one of our early Prime Ministers, and you know, a father of the federation. And he said ‘Australia, one and indivisible’, Australia wasn't built to have borders. In fact, that was sort of a point not to have them. And so we're not set up. So if you put a border in place, even if you have goodwill to try and resolve every one of these annoying, frustrating issues, it's not going to be perfect and you're never going to get it perfect. That's why they created Australia.
And so I'd like to go back to plan A, which is Australia, where you don't have them. And the sooner we can get to that, the better, because it's costing people their livelihoods, it's costing people their jobs. And worse than that, on occasions, the number of letters I've gotten, I've been advocating, of course, but people getting access to medical treatment, or accompanying loved ones. These are, these are heartbreaking stories. Now, I'm not suggesting, you know, the officials who are dealing with this are heartless, but that is the consequence of when you put a border up. So it's not like, oh, we put the border up, everything's okay and everybody's protected, no, there are real costs to that, too. And I think it's fair enough for Australians to know how those things have been balanced up. There's the risk of the spread. That's true. But there's also the great damage that is done to people's lives and livelihoods as well. And that's the assessment they, so on New South Wales - Victorian border, I would think that the minute we believe that that risk of the transfer is at a level that that is no longer necessary, I believe both premiers and I will move in a heartbeat to get rid of it.
MURRAY: Good.
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely. Now, that was done as a co-operative arrangement. Others have made unilateral decisions on this, and that's a bit more difficult.
MURRAY: We've got a bit more time.
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry
MURRAY: Not at all, I think people need ot hear it. They'll be happy to hear that. It's been a week where there's been a lot of discussion about aged care and we're in this strange scenario where the best way of working out what's wrong with aged care is to have a royal commission. That's what's happening right now. But there's a lot of people who want to use examples about what's happening in aged care for all the obvious politics. But there's real human beings, and I've said a lot about that this week. What do you want to say to people who've got a mum or dad in aged care in Australia right now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I was a son of a father in aged care, not that long ago. And so I know what that's like. And I know what the concerns are. And the first thing is, know that those who are there looking after you family, they are amazing people and they're doing a really hard job. But I think in the overwhelming number of cases, those people just are loving people in those facilities and they love doing what they're doing, now I can't say that that is going to be the case in every facility. Nothing is perfect. I'd say that first. Secondly, we will just keep trying to address this problem. A billion dollars extra every single year. And it's changing, what we need from our aged care facilities. I mean, 20 years ago, people would go into facilities for a lot longer. These days, when people go into aged care facilities, their visit is a lot shorter. And there'll be a period and then they'll move into a palliative care stage. And we all understand that, but that means the clinical requirements of facilities are very different. The costs of doing that, very different. And the aged care royal commission, I called because I knew there were just unanswered questions and unacceptable situations occurring. And that's what a royal commission is intended to address. And then you got to deal with the brutal reality of it. But that's not the only thing that needs to happen. And that's why last Budget, next Budget. The one after that, we'll keep doing things. I mean, in-home aged care places, is one of the big challenges and we've increased that from 60,000, to 150,000 now and it's going up to about 165,000. And that's because people want to stay home longer. Good. And about 99 percent of people who are on a waiting list for a higher level in-home care package are already on some other arrangement. So it's not like people are on no package. They're on a package, but obviously want to be on a higher one. And so we've got to get through that. But you've got to get the people to do the jobs who do that. It's not unlike the National Disability Insurance Scheme, a massive scheme of magnificent, I think, ambition. I am a passionate supporter of this, but it's pretty, it's very hard to deliver. You've got to train tens, if not hundreds of thousand people right across the country to deliver these services. And the same is true in aged care when you need more and more and more people, now that's a lot of jobs. And that is also good news. I mean, we are training right now Paul, people who are working with Virgin and Qantas, who know how to look after people, they are now being trained, right now in Victoria and are going into aged care facilities. That's something we've been working on for a while. And in the height of the pandemic, in the first phase, we were taking people who used to be taking calls in call centres for Qantas, and places like that. And then they were taking calls with Services Australia and getting benefits to people. And if there is a bright spot in all of this awfulness, it has been the adaptiveness of Australians. And I’ve got to say in the public service too, I mean, we have people in this building sitting in committee rooms upstairs who usually look after committees of the parliament, they were doing the same thing for Services Australia. There was a lot of everybody in. Let's get this sorted. And a lot of help was provided in a very short time. So we've shown a lot of grit, I think. In the parliament today I said that, today in parliament I just wanted to thank people.
MURRAY: All hands on deck. It's a good Australian thing. Last one here,
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry.
MURRAY: Not at all mate. You’re the Prime Minister, please! It’s good for people to hear from you rather than just see the little five second piece. How are you powering down? Clearly, there's so much happening every day. Are you stealing power naps? Are you, you know, deliberately don't talk to me on Saturdays? How are you getting through?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I power down better if the Sharks are powering up, sadly that didn't happen last weekend, hopefully that will improve this weekend. You know me, I love my footy. But most of all, I love being with my family and they come down here often to be with me on a weekend or I try and get back up to Sydney when that's possible. Of course that's a huge part of my life. I mean, I’ve got a wonderful church family as well. And I connect with that, so, of our lives as well. I try to get to the pool and get a swim, but it's not, it’s not open this week. So that isn’t helping. And when I can, I like to cook my famous curries. And, I got, I did the Sri Lankan lamb baduma on the weekend. I don’t know if I get the pronunciation right, but I tell you I got the flavours right.
MURRAY: Ay! That’s all that matters.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s all that matters. So you got to do stuff like that. And what was fun on Saturday night I said I cooked this, and posted it up there and I said to the people in Melbourne look, thinking of you, hope you’re doing alright, people were sending me messages back, well we’re cooking lamb, and we’re Greeks we’re cooking this, and you know we’re Indian, we’re cooking this, we’re Chinese Australians we’re cooking this, and it was just a lovely sort of banter. And that's how you get through it. Australians help each other get through it. Our sense of humour. But more importantly, our sense of I think genuine care and compassion for each other.
MURRAY: Good man. PM, thank you very much.
PRIME MINISTER: Good on you Paul. Cheers.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
28 August 2020
On behalf of the people of Australia, I would like to thank Prime Minister of Japan HE Mr Shinzo Abe for his enduring commitment to Australia-Japan relations over his long and successful career.
Shinzo Abe is a true friend. He is Australia’s true friend.
Japan is one of Australia’s closest partners, propelled by Prime Minister Abe’s personal leadership and vision, including elevating the relationship to new heights under our Special Strategic Partnership. The political stability he has delivered over eight years has been a major asset for Japan.
One of the most moving experiences I’ve had as Prime Minister was to lay a wreath with Prime Minister Abe at the Cenotaph in Darwin. Standing side by side, we honoured Australia’s fallen and marked the bonds of loyalty and friendship that our two countries now share. It was another symbolic step in our journey, started many years ago.
The foundation of our modern relationship was laid by Sir Robert Menzies, and Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi – Mr Abe’s grandfather - with the commerce treaty they signed in 1957. It is a journey that looks to the future.
Prime Minister Abe has often quoted the guiding words of Sir Robert: “It is better to hope than always to remember.” That is the guiding light for both of us.
Today, Australia and Japan share a vision for an open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, strengthened by cooperation between our likeminded countries.
Prime Minister Abe is a man of integrity and wisdom. He has been the senior statesman in our region and across the globe, a strong promoter of open trade and an outstanding international diplomat for Japan.
He has advocated for the region’s prosperity and stability, bringing his leadership as an experienced statesman of the first order. Prime Minister Abe steps down as a regional leader having made unprecedented contributions, particularly as we respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.
Prime Minister Abe may be standing down, but the legacy begun by his grandfather that he has continued magnificently, will endure.
I wish Prime Minister Abe all the best for his health. I look forward to continuing our friendship, and Jenny and I wish he and Akie the very best for the future.
Ensuring a Consistent Australian Foreign Policy
27 August 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women
The Morrison Government will introduce new legislation to ensure the arrangements states, territories, councils and universities have with foreign governments are consistent with Australian foreign policy.
The Commonwealth Government has exclusive responsibility for conducting Australia’s foreign affairs. However, state and territory governments and their entities currently also enter into arrangements with foreign governments in a range of areas – from trade and economic cooperation to cultural collaboration and university research partnerships – without having to inform the Commonwealth.
Under the reforms, the Foreign Minister will have the power to review any existing and prospective arrangements between state and territory governments and all foreign governments.
Arrangements that adversely affect Australia’s foreign relations or are inconsistent with our foreign policy could be prevented from proceeding or terminated.
The laws will cover state or territory entities, including departments, agencies, local governments and universities established under state or territory law.
The Commonwealth Government has the policy expertise and comprehensive understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with any arrangements with foreign governments.
This legislation will support state and territory governments to ensure they are acting in a way that serves Australia’s national interests, is consistent with our values and aligned with our foreign policy objectives. This will give states and territories the confidence necessary to enter into arrangements with foreign government entities.
The Morrison Government looks forward to working closely with state and territory governments, councils and universities and providing all Australians with the certainty that all levels of government are aligned to ensure a consistent approach to managing Australia’s foreign relations.
Doorstop - Fyshwick, ACT
26 August 2020
ZED SESELJA, SENATOR FOR THE ACT: Welcome, great to be here in Fyshwick at Datapod, thank you to Scott and Adam for hosting us, they are part of a growing and vibrant defence industry here in the ACT and as we invest in the defence of our nation, it is great that we see the flow on for jobs right around the country but I’m particularly pleased, right here in Canberra. It's great to have the Prime Minister, Minister Reynolds, Minister Price. And thank you again to Scott and Adam from Datapod for hosting us and showcasing your amazing technology. But with that welcome, I'll hand over to our Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you, Zed. It is good to be here this morning and I want to thank Adam Scott for inviting us here to be here today and all the team, we had the opportunity to meet these systems engineers. It's great to see them being trained and being here on the job when it comes to important defence equipment. Not only does Datapod obviously supply the Commonwealth government through the defence forces, but they also have contracts in many other sectors, the utility sectors, they’ve come out of the mining sector and they’ve applied their know how, their knowledge, their expertise, their technology. And they are applying that to these unique products that help us in deploying all around the world wherever we need to be. And data and its storage and its management is a critical element in what our defence forces do. And so it's wonderful to see how that's being done here. And Australia's best and brightest minds and very young, bright minds as well being applied to this task, is exciting to see people finding those jobs and those careers as we continue to develop and grow our defence industry in the manufacturing, advanced manufacturing sector.
But today is all about jobs. Today is again about the JobMaker plan, doing everything we can as we grow out of the COVID-19 recession to ensure that we keep Australians in jobs, and we keep businesses in business. And one of the key areas we are doing that is ensuring that how we're spending money in the defence industry, how we're procuring, how we're managing our defence estate, how we're providing enterprise grants to support the development of new technology that will keep people in jobs, 4,000 jobs and $1 billion dollars of brought forward expenditure, more reservists, more reservist hours, estate management works done in every effort from Jervis Bay, to all around the country as particularly up in the Northern Territory, in the works of almost $200 million dollars being there.
What we're doing is we're ensuring that we can keep Australians in jobs. The JobMaker plan, whether it's what we're doing with over $2 billion dollars in skills investments together with the states and territories, the work we're doing in industrial relations, the work we're doing in energy, bringing forward infrastructure, all of these things, are part of our plan to ensure that we keep Australians in jobs, and jobs is the key focus of our government as we seek to grow out of the COVID-19 recession.
I'm going to ask the Minister for Defence to speak about the capability and the other elements of this announcement that will support our defence forces, in particular the reservist announcements. Then I'm going to ask Melissa as the Minister for Defence Industry to talk about how our defence industry plans are supporting our JobMaker programme and supporting keeping people in work.
Linda?
SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS CSC, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Well, thank you very much, Prime Minister. Several months ago, I asked the Department of Defence and the ADF to look for projects during COVID-19 that would accelerate capability development, that would accelerate our infrastructure projects around the nation, and that would employ more reservists, but also ensure that we support the 70,000 jobs around our nation in the defence supply chain. And there is no greater example of that than the Datapod seen here today in the ACT. They are an example of extraordinary Australian innovation, and they provide a critical capability in deployed data centres, not only here in Australia for the ADF, but also overseas. And they're a great example of a company who started in the mining sector, providing these services in very harsh and dusty conditions which we now use around the world. So this project is all about enhancing defence capability, but it's also about jobs. And as we've seen here today with Scott and Adam and their team of young systems engineers, in mechatronic systems design, they are developing the next generation of these technologies. And I couldn't be prouder. And can I say, during COVID, the ADF had to adapt very quickly to working at a new movie business as usual in COVID. We also had to make sure that our defence industry, which supports our capabilities, was also able to operate in new ways during COVID. And again, Datapod is a great example of that.
So I'll now call on Minister Price to talk a little bit more about the jobs and the capability we’re providing.
THE HON. MELISSA PRICE MP, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY: Thank you. Good morning, a great morning to be here at Datapod. Over COVID-19, Defence and the government have worked hard to ensure that we've kept the wheels of defence industry turning. One of the ways we did that was by paying invoices early. To date, we’ve paid nearly $10 billion dollars to defence industry contractors early. What that has meant, I'm quite sure, is that we've saved thousands of jobs, especially for those companies who don't have a lot of defence work and in the non-defence industry. They've been able to keep their staff employed, pay the bills, keep the wolves from the doors. And we're very proud of that initiative. Various aspects of this recovery programme I'm particularly pleased about, one relates to more funding for skilling and we've met some fabulous examples today of young innovators. So more money to make sure that our defence industry has the skills that it needs to ensure that our nation has the defence capability. One other aspect that I'm really pleased about with respect to the recovery programme is nearly half a billion dollars for more funding through our infrastructure and estate programme. What we've learnt over COVID is that if you're a subber, you’re a plumber, you're a tradie that lives close to a base, you've been given an opportunity to prove yourself. And I have no doubt this extra half a billion dollars investment in infrastructure, especially around those local bases, will make sure that we support the local industry, the local tradies. This is very good news for them to make sure that they have opportunities to employ more Australians. Thank you.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister yesterday-
PRIME MINISTER: Just before we get to that, also today, of course the JobMaker- JobKeeper legislation is obviously coming in to be incorporating the changes that the Treasurer and I made some time ago. I can also announce today that we've reached an agreement with the Tasmanian Government. And that is that the pandemic leave disaster payment will also be now made available in Tasmania after reaching that agreement with the Tasmanian Premier and we welcome that cooperation with Peter Gutwein and the Tasmanian Government as we’re working with states and territories all around the country in our COVID response.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, yesterday you pointed to failures in Victoria on contact tracing, testing and quarantine, who is accountable for those failures? Is it the Premier?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, all I was basically yesterday was the leader of the opposition seemed to have a blind spot on what had occurred in Victoria. And I mean, I don't think those issues are in great dispute. There has been significant failures there in the areas that you’ve highlighted. And that has of course contributed significantly, overwhelmingly, almost entirely I’d have to say to the community outbreak that we’ve seen. I said earlier this week in the House, that this virus probes for weaknesses. And where those weaknesses are found then it results in what we've seen in Victoria. Now, I have no doubt that the Victorian government feels as strongly about this as I do, in terms of the impact it has had on the people of Victoria. They are now subject to these most horrendous restrictions that are regrettably necessary, as I said at the time. But where- we can't ignore what has occurred in Victoria of course it's happened. I'm not seeking to get into any blame game here at all. I mean, I work constructively with the Victorian Premier, but where there are issues that need to be raised then I’ll of course raise them with him and I've done so consistently and that's done in the spirit of the partnership that is necessary to work through a crisis. You don't agree on everything, but you certainly discuss everything.
JOURNALIST: But won’t there be consequences Prime Minister where both you and the Treasurer take shots at the Victorian government and its Premier on the floor of the parliament. The cohesion of National Cabinet comes to the fore, doesn't it? Under that pressure?
PRIME MINISTER: No I think that analysis is exaggerated. I mean all I simply did yesterday was draw attention to some basic facts that I think are well understood. I think for all Australians and particularly all Victorians, I wasn't seeking to direct any blame anywhere. I was just basically calling out what was the simple facts. I mean, we can't ignore the fact of what's happened in Victoria, and I don't believe the Victorian Premier is ignoring it either. That's why we're working together to deal with the consequences of what has occurred in Victoria. I do find it strange, though, that Anthony Albanese has a complete blind spot. He must be the only person who doesn't understand what's happened in Victoria. I can assure you, Victorians do. I'm not a Victorian and I can work that out. And he's not one either but he needs to do a bit more work to understand what's been going on down there, because he doesn't seem to know and I feel terribly for what Victorians are going through.
I know that the announcement that was made by the Premier the other day about that extension of the additional 12 months, I’ve raised our concerns with the Premier about that. I did that directly. I know others have, I know other Labor figures have. And I think it's important to dispel any uncertainty and get clarity around that issue. I think people are concerned that lockdowns would extend for another 12 months. Now, we've received many calls through offices right across Victoria, including in my office as well. There was great concern that that would occur. Now, of course, I don’t think that's what the Premier was suggesting at all. But in these times, we've got to be very careful about the announcements that are made. And I welcome the fact that he was clarifying that yesterday.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Michael Sukkar’s now blaming one of his former electorate officers for using taxpayer funds for political purposes. Should, shouldn’t Minister Sukkar be responsible for what happens in his own office?
PRIME MINISTER: Well these matters have been referred by Mr Sukkar himself to the Department of Finance and that’s the appropriate response. That’s where-
JOURNALIST: Have you had a discussion with him about this?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I’ve been dealing with COVID crisis. I’ve been dealing with getting people back into jobs and the matter’s been referred to the Department of Finance. I don't think Australians would want me distracted by those issues at all.
JOURNALIST: But are you confident he hasn’t been involved in any misuse of taxpayer-funded staff?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, allegations have been made and the matter’s been referred to the Finance Department by Mr Sukkar himself.
JOURNALIST: On jobs Prime Minister, there are reports from the UK this morning that Tony Abbott has picked one up with Boris Johnson's government as some sort of trade envoy-
PRIME MINISTER: A good hire! I think that's a good hire.
JOURNALIST: The question that arises from it, would he, on your reading, have to register as an agent of foreign influence under our transparency scheme?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll leave that to the Attorney-General to sort out. And I'm sure if there are things, if there's paperwork for Tony to fill out, I'm sure he’ll get that done. But well done, Boris. Good hire.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, today we'll be hearing from China's deputy head of mission in Canberra on China and Australia, where to from here. Where do you think things go from here?
PRIME MINISTER: A mutually beneficial relationship. That's where it goes from here. We've got a comprehensive strategic partnership with China. It's in both of our interests to continue to support and nourish that relationship in both of our national interests. And that's what Australia has always done. That's what we'll continue to do. But our interests are set out very clearly and consistently and respectfully. And that's the way we seek to engage in that relationship. And we'll continue to do that.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER: Well I think the trade that is occurring between Australia and China speaks for itself about the strength of the relationship, that’s what’s ultimately mutually beneficial. But the partnership goes beyond trade and the engagements continue to happen at many levels. And the point is simply this, Australia will always stand up for its own interests. We will always be very clear what they are and we won’t trade them away, we'll just be very clear, respectful about how we engage with all nations, including China. It is an important relationship. It is an important partnership, but it's one that goes both ways. And that's how we will always seek to approach it. But, at the same time, our sovereignty just like theirs I think will be paramount.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on aged care there's been calls for the emergency response centres in each state to be stood up permanently rather than only when an outbreak occurs in a facility. Is that something that you'd consider? And if not are you confident that the current quality and safety commissioner has the capacity to do that preventative work and the powers to enforce measures if necessary?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there's a range of work that's going on. This matter was considered by National Cabinet in fact last week. And what was proposed is that you- if in the event that circumstances escalate in any state or territory, knowing, understanding that we don't currently have community transmission in any of the other states and territories, we do already have a set of protocols and arrangements, in particular with Queensland and New South Wales, which have been the states of greater risk, and both in New South Wales and Queensland should we need to go to that next step, what we agreed last Friday was the complete package, the complete operation, frankly, not unlike, you know, a deployable here. So it's ready to go and ready to establish and it can be initiated by either the Commonwealth or the states. And so that very precise situation that you've outlined was discussed in quite a lot of detail. And we've now got in place that arrangement that that can be progressed should that be needed. And the trigger for that is the medical evidence, the state of the pandemic, should it escalate to the level or move towards the level that we've seen in Victoria, then what we've seen in Victoria is the aged care response centre has been absolutely critical. The circumstances, the terrible events we've seen in four facilities in Victoria are heartbreaking, they're terrible. They're unacceptable. And this, I think, has shocked and deeply disturbed all of us. What, though, governments working together, all of those who are involved in aged care, have been able to do though is ensure that that's been limited to a very relatively small number of centres. I mean, there's over 2,700 aged care facilities in this country and 97 per cent of those have had no resident COVID infections. Eight per cent of all of those facilities have had infections amongst both staff and also amongst residents. In the UK that figure is 56 per cent, and any per cent is not good. And any per cent we seek to try and ensure it doesn't occur. But I think the relative performance of Australia versus like-countries I think demonstrates that the real effort that's gone into this has prevented what we've seen terribly in a number of centres not spread, to- had the UK results been realised here in Australia, over a thousand centres would have been affected and those critically affected and severely affected, significantly greater. And for everyone who has family or those who are in aged care facilities right now, I would hope that that brings at least some comfort that while there has been terrible events in a few centres, that in the vast majority of cases, those working in those facilities and the supports that have been put around them, the work that's been done by the federal government with our responsibilities and those that have been supported by the state and territory governments, has meant that while there has been an enormous pressure on the system in Victoria because of the community outbreak, the events have been able to contain what has been a very, very terrible threat.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, when exactly do you want state borders to reopen, as in your words, “so we can live with the virus”?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, as I said yesterday, that is our goal. Australia has-
JOURNALIST: When exactly?
PRIME MINISTER: I know, I heard the question. Australia wasn't built to have internal borders. The federation was not built to be run that way. And in New South Wales and Victoria, I've been directly involved in actually putting one in place, based on the medical advice that was there and the need to take that action. Other state premiers have taken their own decisions over the course of many months and the medical advice for that has to be clear, I think so people understand, because any restrictions we put on Australians, any infringement we put on their liberties, Australians need to be confident that that is a last resort, that all other measures have been pursued before those restrictions come in place because borders do cost. They cost people's livelihoods. They cost people's jobs. And you don't enter into having those borders lightly and nor should you. And you should be seeking on all opportunities to seek to be in a position to lift them whenever you can. And that, of course, will always be directed by medical advice. And that's what should drive our decision making.
We can't live in a zero risk society though in COVID. That is not a liveable, viable option. And so zero per cent is not a threshold for how borders should be managed. We have to, I think as New South Wales has demonstrated, the number of threats to the system that have occurred in New South Wales and their ability to actually get on top of these outbreaks has demonstrated how Australia can live with the coronavirus and at the same time, keep people's jobs, save people's lives and save people's livelihoods. But today we are about doing that exact same thing here by bringing forward a billion dollars through our defence industry investments to ensure that we're keeping people in jobs, wherever- through any programme my government is involved in, we are scanning and searching for every opportunity to keep people in jobs. And the JobKeeper legislation will be in the parliament today. I look forward to it being supported and I look forward to continuing to provide the single greatest ever income support that Australians have ever received in Australia's history.
But thank you to Adam and Scott. Great job. And to all the team here and all the systems engineers, you're going to be very, very busy with our defence industry programme. Thanks very much.
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment for Tasmania
26 August 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Minister for Government Services, Premier of Tasmania
Tasmanian workers are now eligible for a $1,500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment if they cannot work because they need to self-isolate or quarantine.
The Australian Government has extended Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment arrangements to include Tasmania following agreement with the Tasmanian Government.
It is a lump sum payment to help workers during their 14 day self-isolation period and applies from 22 August 2020.
If an individual is instructed by a health official to stay home from work, and has used up all their sick leave entitlements, including any special pandemic leave, they may be eligible to make a claim. People may also be eligible if they’re the parent or guardian of a child aged 16 or under who is a close contact or has tested positive for COVID-19.
Tasmanians workers are eligible for the payment if they are not receiving income, earnings or salary maintenance from work, receiving the JobKeeper Payment or other forms of Australian Government income support. The payment can be claimed again should an extended quarantine period longer than 14 days be instructed by health officials.
To date in Victoria more than $8.8 million has been paid for almost 6,000 granted claims since 6 August.
The fastest and easiest way to make a claim is over the phone by calling 180 22 66. Please do not visit a service centre. Further information is available at http://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster.
$1B to Accelerate Defence Initiatives in Covid-19 Recovery
26 August 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence Industry
The Morrison Government has announced a $1 billion investment package to boost Australia’s defence industry and support thousands of jobs across the country.
The package is directed towards nationwide projects and jobs across Australia including:
Increasing the employment of ADF Reservists who have lost their civilian income, with an allocation of up to an extra 210,000 days, and the targeted recruitment of an additional 500 ADF Reservists;
Increasing employment opportunities for current and former ADF personnel and their families;
A $300 million national estate works program that will focus on regional areas (including bushfire affected regions), such as Jervis Bay & Eden, RAAF Bases East Sale, Pearce, Wagga and Amberley, the Albury Wodonga Military Area and Blamey Barracks;
Accelerating the sustainment of ADF platforms and capabilities, including the upgrade of Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, modernisation of ADF uniforms; and additional C-27J maintenance, which will engage ex-Qantas and Virgin technicians;
Bringing forward around $190 million of investment in approved infrastructure projects in the Northern Territory;
Increased funding for Defence innovation, industry grants, skilling and micro credentialing and cyber training for Defence industry; and
Accelerating important ADF capability development projects, targeting key manufacturing, construction and high-tech sectors.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package is estimated to support around 4,000 jobs across Australia and help many small and medium sized businesses in the defence-industry supply chain.
“Like much of the economy, our local defence industry is doing it tough because of COVID-19. This is especially so for small and medium sized businesses, that are critical to jobs,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“Supporting our defence industry is all part of our JobMaker plan – especially high-paying, high-skilled jobs that ensure we are supporting a robust, resilient and internationally competitive defence industry. We want to build our sovereign industrial capabilities and Australian workforce to keep our people safe.”
“We will also support our ADF members and families, particularly any Reservists who are doing it tough because of COVID-19.”
The announcement was made at Canberra-based company, DATAPOD (Australia), which has been awarded a two-year, $20 million contract.
The Australian owned company will provide Defence with portable, containerised data systems which can be rapidly deployed by sea, air or road. By bringing forward this acquisition, we will help to protect up to 27 direct and up to 80 supply chain jobs.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said supporting Australian defence industry is crucial to the economy’s recovery.
“Already we’ve fast-tracked a range of capability, infrastructure, skilling and workforce initiatives over the next two years. This includes rolling out a number of Defence estate works tenders as part of Defence’s economic stimulus initiative package, that will run over the 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial years,” Minister Reynolds said.
“Over $11 billion has already been provided in early payment for invoices and work to improve or sustain industry capacity for the delivery of critical supplies."
“We’re getting on with the job of delivering critical capability outcomes to Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as continuing to support our personnel, including ADF Reserve members.”
Defence will retain a great level of agility to phase and adjust expenditure of the initiatives to ensure they are affordable and remain suitable over the next two years.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said it’s now more important than ever to back Australian businesses and create more Australian jobs.
“We want to ensure defence industry continues to provide vital supply chains to develop and maintain defence capabilities, as we look at opportunities to accelerate projects across Australia,” Minister Price said.
“These projects will support and grow the 70,000-strong workforce in defence industry supply chains and those benefiting from our investment in defence.
“We are committed to supporting small and medium sized enterprises across Australian defence industry, with programs that will support regional areas, including bushfire affected communities.”
Further details of individual initiatives will be approved and announced shortly. Further information regarding Defence’s response to COVID-19 in supporting defence industry can be accessed at: https://www.defence.gov.au/covid-19/defence-industry/
Reinforcement of Australia's Aged Care Sector
21 August 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians
The Morrison Government will scale up aged care support programs in Victoria and across Australia with an additional $171.5 million to boost a new COVID-19 response plan agreed by all states and territories at National Cabinet today.
The package is in addition to age care support already announced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with funding now totalling more than $1 billion from the Commonwealth Government.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said more funding would be used to continue current programs for infection control training and surge workforce staff, alongside greater compliance by the Aged Care Commissioner and coordinated response centres.
“Our plan for combatting the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic is based on the best medical advice and continues to evolve, as the crisis continues, as we do all we can to protect older Australians,” the Prime Minister said.
“We are committed to supporting aged care recipients, workers and providers in Victoria to respond to the ongoing crisis and we are putting in place critical measures to ensure we remain prepared across the country.
“It is critical to have a coordinated approach as we battle this virus and I thank all Premiers and Chief Ministers for their agreement at National Cabinet today, which does just that.
“However, as long as community transmission is occurring in Australia, we will continue to face significant challenges in aged care but we will do everything we can to stop the spread and protect old Australians.”
The package includes:
More support for the Aged Care workforce:
$81 million for additional surge workforce and increased training for aged care workers.
$8.4 million for supplementary payments to include quarantine costs and interstate staff
$50 million to account for additional demand for retention bonus measures, (noting eligibility has not changed)
$9.1 million for the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, established with the Victorian Government, to boost their additional workforce while undergoing more training, providing a workforce that could quickly respond to outbreaks in other states;
$12. 5 million to support residents and their families with increased availability of grief and trauma support services to assist aged care residents and their families who have experienced a COVID-19 outbreak
Supporting more compliance and quality checks on aged care providers by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, checking on preparations and responses to COVID-19 outbreaks.
To step up this engagement, National Cabinet has endorsed a plan to boost aged care preparedness for rapid emergency response to COVID-19.
States and territories each agreed a plan to set up aged care emergency response operations centres in their own jurisdiction, as needed.
The operations centres will be formed by mutual agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories, which will fully integrated with public health and aged care emergency response arrangements
To support continued Commonwealth, state and territory collaboration, a time-limited AHPPC Aged Care Advisory Group will also be established, bringing together a broad range of critical expertise about the aged care sector, infection control and emergency preparedness.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was imperative that the Government adopt a multi-pronged approach to respond to the pandemic in aged care, which was bearing the brunt of the pandemic.
“Our comprehensive action will provide assurance to residents, families aged care providers, and the Australian community. This builds on our national aged care COVID-19 response plan which commenced in January,” Minister Hunt said.
Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said communication and support for residents and their families and loved ones is essential at this difficult time.
“We are also providing $1.5 million in funding to ensure appropriate and regular communication from Health Direct to families and loved ones of aged care residents impacted by COVID-19,” Minister Colbeck said.
“We are also increasing the availability of grief and trauma support services to assist aged care residents and their families.”
It is critical that quality care is maintained in all aged care services across the country, Minister Colbeck said.
“We are further supporting the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to continue its critical work supporting aged care providers across the country to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks with additional $9.1 million in vital funding.”
National Cabinet Statement
21 August 2020
The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s economic recovery, Australia’s COVID-19 health and aged care responses and the Victorian outbreak.
The Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, provided an update on the measures underway, the latest data and health advice in relation to COVID-19.
There have been over 24,000 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 472 people have died.
The outbreak in Victoria has meant that there are now around 5,000 active cases in Australia. Daily infection rates have remained low in all states and territories, other than Victoria. At the national level testing remains high, with more than 5.5 million tests undertaken.
National Cabinet recommitted to providing as much support as necessary to Victoria during this very difficult time. The National Cabinet noted the advice from Professor Kelly that the epidemiological situation in Victoria had improved and the numbers of cases in Victoria has reduced from its peak.
National Cabinet again agreed the need to continue to have the right controls in place to test more people, trace those who test positive and contain local outbreaks when they occur. These are fundamental to reducing the spread of the virus.
Seven of Australia’s eight states and territories are successfully implementing the suppression strategy for COVID-19, with the goal of no community transmission, enabling Australians in those jurisdictions to live and work in a COVID-safe economy.
National Cabinet agreed to release a weekly set of data on the common operating picture of COVID-19 responses across states and territories.
National Cabinet discussed the updated economic outlook following the additional restrictions imposed in Victoria and the changes to the JobKeeper program announced in response to these restrictions.
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Philip Lowe, and the Treasury Secretary, Steven Kennedy, provided National Cabinet with an economic update. Both reiterated that the biggest economic challenge that faces Australia is jobs and unemployment.
The Governor outlined there is a need for a coordinated focus from all levels of government on three key areas:
Income support programs which includes the substantial investments already made in JobKeeper and JobSeeker;
Investments in our physical capital including infrastructure and human capital via skills and training; and
Greater ease of doing business through lower and efficient taxes and less regulation
Combined with the health response, the Commonwealth economic and balance sheet measures now total more than $314 billion, and along with the response from the state and territories of $48 billion, significant economic support is flowing into the economy.
Given the economic challenges, the Governor called on state and territory governments to provide more fiscal support, with additional support of 2 per cent of GDP, or around $40 billion over two years, needed from states and territories to support economic growth. Mr Lowe outlined that this expenditure needs to be purposeful and achieve the maximum economic dividend, and not lead to permanent or structural increases in government expenditure.
National Cabinet also noted progress made on skills reform and that all states and territories have now signed the Heads of Agreement for the $1 billion Skills and JobTrainer Programme.
Aged Care Emergency Response Plan
National Cabinet endorsed the Commonwealth, State and Territory Plan to Boost Aged Care Preparedness for a Rapid Emergency Response to COVID-19 Plan.
Noting that there were existing protocols and arrangements between states and the Commonwealth that were effective and worked well in support of aged care preparedness, National Cabinet agreed that in the event of significant change in circumstances, particularly with respect to community transmission of COVID-19, either the relevant jurisdiction or the Commonwealth would be able to initiate the establishment of emergency response centres on a bilaterally agreed basis.
The Plan will strengthen the preparedness for responding to a rapid escalation of COVID-19 in the aged care sector. It includes a high-level series of actions for Commonwealth, state and territory Governments to strengthen aged care emergency response preparedness. These actions include:
Ongoing assessment of the preparedness of aged care providers to respond to outbreaks of COVID-19, including a risk profiling tool developed by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to inform emergency response planning;
An audit of State and Territory Emergency Response Capabilities to support the establishment of a joint aged care emergency response;
Additional face to face infection control training.
The National Cabinet also endorsed a guide to assist in the establishment of an Aged Care Health Emergency Response Operations Centre should it be required in the future in other states and territories. These Operations Centres will supplement and boost capacity to respond to outbreaks of COVID-19 in residential aged care settings. They will be consistent and complementary to, and fully integrated with Commonwealth and state/territory public health and aged care emergency response arrangements. National Cabinet acknowledged that these arrangements are not currently required.
A time-limited AHPPC Aged Care Advisory Group will be established to support the national public health emergency response to COVID-19 in aged care. The Advisory Group will bring together expertise about the aged care sector, infection control, emergency preparedness and public health response.
The Commonwealth Government will provide $171 million in additional support to the Aged Care Sector to increase national preparedness and respond to the State of Disaster in Victoria which brings the Commonwealth’s Aged Care COVID-19 response to over $1 billion in support.
Support includes:
Victorian Aged Care Response Centre - $9.1 million to support a coordinated response between the Commonwealth and Victorian Government agencies to fight COVID-19 in Residential Aged Care.
Aged Care COVID-19 Preparedness - an additional $103.4 million to:
increase nation-wide workforce surge support for aged care providers experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak;
activate national emergency call centre surge capability to support communication efforts with residents’ families;
fund compressed training for new workers;
cover quarantine costs for interstate staff deployed for workforce surge; and
strengthen the capacity to support aged care residents and their families with the grief and trauma associated with a COVID-19 outbreak.
Supporting Aged Care Quality and Safety Monitoring for Aged Care Services - an additional $9 million to ensure quality care is maintained by supporting the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to continue its critical work supporting aged care providers across the country to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks
Aged Care Workforce - a further $50.6 million to be provided to extend funding for the second instalment of the aged care workforce retention payment, due to be paid in September 2020.
Mental Health
National Cabinet discussed the impact of the pandemic on key wellbeing and safety outcomes, including mental health, online safety and family and domestic violence, and noted the increase in contact with crisis helplines. National Cabinet agreed to continue to work together to monitor these areas and continue to track areas of concern and to share data.
Vaccine Strategy
National Cabinet welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategic Approach and the in principle agreement in place between the Commonwealth and AstraZeneca for the supply of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for Australians, once safety and efficacy had been proven.
Further the Prime Minister updated National Cabinet on the advanced progress of further arrangements for research and development, vaccine supply and manufacturing including the Commonwealth and Queensland Government funded University of Queensland - CSL, molecular clamp vaccine.
Domestic Border Management
National Cabinet noted some recent changes by states and territories to make it easier for Australians to cross borders, subject to restrictions, and access essential services and activities.
National Cabinet noted discussions had commenced on an Agriculture Workers Code and agreed further work be undertaken by Agriculture Ministers so that a paper could be considered by National Cabinet at its next meeting. The Agriculture Workers Code, will provide for a nationally-consistent approach that would be enforced by relevant states and territories through their Public Health Orders and emergency management measures. It would apply to individuals with occupations deemed critical to ensure the continuity of the agricultural sector.
National Cabinet also agreed that the AHPPC develop a common understanding to define a hotspot and consider movement restrictions relating to a hotspot.
Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Workers
National Cabinet agreed to resume the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) to help with workforce shortages. The approach has been informed by the trial recruitment of Pacific workers in the Northern Territory to address labour shortages affecting mango farmers. States and territories will decide whether to access the arrangement.
Employing Australians remains a priority for all Governments. Employers can only recruit through the Pacific labour mobility programs if they can demonstrate they cannot find suitable Australian workers through labour market testing.
Protecting Australian and Pacific workers from COVID-19 is also a key priority. States and territories that would like to participate in the arrangement will ensure sufficient health and quarantine system capacity.
National Cabinet will meet again on 4 September 2020.
Interview with Jim Wilson, 2GB
19 August 2020
Jim Wilson: Prime Minister, good afternoon to you.
Prime Minister: G’day Jim, look, I just heard that caller, can I be really clear to everyone? No one's going to be- it's not going to be compulsory to have the vaccine. Okay? It's not compulsory. There are no compulsory vaccines in Australia. There are no things that force people to do things. What we want to achieve is as much vaccination as we possibly can. Should the vaccine actually prove successful and get through those trials. I mean, Australia has one of the best records of any countries in the world in getting high rates of immunisation. And we do that through a mixture of measures. I think there's been a bit of an overreaction to any suggestion of this, there will be no compulsory vaccine, but there will be a lot of encouragement and measures to get as high a rate of acceptance, as usual.
Wilson: So just clarifying, Prime Minister, so you're not making it mandatory? I thought unless you had medical grounds for an exemption, you wanted to make it mandatory if the vaccination was successful and if you introduced it?
Prime Minister: No. Well, there are no mechanisms for ‘compulsory’. I mean, we can't hold someone down and make them take it, Jim. That doesn't happen anywhere in Australia today under any of those systems. And that's not what people are proposing. Also, I want to stress that the vaccine has to clear all of the trial tests and to be as safe as any other vaccine that we have operating in Australia. Where we have in some cases of vaccines around about 95 per cent take up, and that protects the health of everybody. So I understand that people can feel very anxious about these things and it's a very stressful time. But I think everyone, we just need to understand no one's going to force anybody to do anything as a compulsory measure. But we certainly will be encouraging people to take this up and to ensure that we support that through ways that the government can assist that. So, you know, I think everybody just needs to understand what we're trying to achieve here. I mean, it's a good, it's a good thing that we're getting close to a vaccine, whether it proves to be one or not. We'll see. But today, we announce that Australia will be in the leading pack to ensure that every Australian can get that vaccine so we can give life back to normal.
Wilson: Well, you've described this as a day of hope, Prime Minister, with the signing of this agreement between the government and the AstraZeneca drug company for a coronavirus vaccine. Are you, are you confident it will be successful because there is a long way to go in this process, isn't there?
Prime Minister: Yeah, there's no guarantees Jim. And there's, I mean, they're very well advanced they are one of, if not the most advanced of the 160 like projects all around the world. And that's why we've entered into this arrangement with AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca now needs to complete manufacturing contracts with those here in Australia. And I had discussions with those who are involved in this today directly on the production side. And I'm very, very comfortable about how that's proceeding. And that is going exactly as we hoped it to be going. So, you know, we will have that production capability here in Australia. But first of all, it has to clear the- it has to clear the trials and and if it doesn’t get out of the trials well it doesn't get into the system. And that's why we set up an expert panel which will be identifying other vaccine projects. And we've got the University of Queensland, which is already underway now, and we're supporting that to the tune of $5 million dollars to ensure that we have other irons in the fire.
Wilson: If one of those other irons in the fire come to fruition and come off, have you got a ‘get out’ as far as this company in the UK that you've signed this letter of intent with?
Prime Minister: Well, there are all sorts of options that go around these arrangements. And AstraZeneca are doing this on a, on a ‘no win, no loss’ basis all around the world. That's what they've committed to. They're not using this to profiteer or do anything like that, which may seem a little surprising in the pharmaceutical industry, but that's how they're approaching, in an excellent phase. So good for them for doing that. And they're doing that all round the world. And Australia can benefit from that. But, you know, these things have to be produced and there are costs that are involved in that. And that's what enables countries like Australia and many others, the United Kingdom being another one, to be able to effectively underwrite that all being able to occur.
Wilson: What is the initial cost of this, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: Well, at this stage, that's all commercial in confidence Jim. And by, when we get a bit further down the track then the normal process that will apply to that.
Wilson: The Opposition has accused you of lying today, saying a letter of intent is not the same as an agreement and that there are no guarantees in terms of production. What do you say to that?
Prime Minister: The Opposition is always playing politics on this pandemic. They throw stones and sledge every single day. I, you know, what else were they going to say, I mean, to make themselves relevant? Honestly, they do this every day, Jim. And honestly, they just embarrass themselves by the way they play politics with this pandemic. So I don't give them much mind.
Wilson: Just on the battle against COVID. Victoria obviously remains a concern, another 216 cases today. Sadly, 12 more deaths. Now the numbers have come down. What are you being told? I heard the Premier, Daniel Andrews, said he was having a conversation with you late afternoon. What came of those conversations?
Prime Minister: We haven't had that one yet. We've both been tied up in lots of things today and hopefully we will have that conversation today. We sort of text each other quite a bit, as you can imagine. But we're both running from meeting to meeting. Look, we are, I think we have turned the corner there in Victoria and that's very important. One of the things that the Premier and I just had a briefing, another one just this afternoon before coming on this call, and just reinforcing that we still need the testing rates to be kept up in Victoria. And the Premier's been making that point as well and he's absolutely right. So we need to keep that up. But we have seen very significant improvements in how they've been getting the tracing timetables met and isolating people, the doorknocking. I mean, we've got 1,700 ADF Defence Force personnel down there in Victoria. They're knocking on doors. They're entering data. They're in aged care facilities. They're testing and retraining on the use of personal protective equipment. They're everywhere. And they're working with emergency services people. They’re on borders. They're assisting in border towns and they're doing a tremendous job.
Wilson: I want to get to borders shortly. Just quickly on China and its threat against our wine industry. Your Minister Simon Birmingham was very vocal and angrily denied claims that we were dumping or unfairly dumping wine in the Chinese market. What's your response to it?
Prime Minister: Well, it's the same as Simon's, and that is there's absolutely no truth to these suggestions that Australian wine is dumped in China. This is an 18 month process. I know that in the sort of Chinese state media and other reports we've seen that this has been played down a bit at their end. There's an 18 month process. But, you know, if it's based as it should be entirely on the facts, then the Australian wine industry can hold its head up high. I also commend the Australian wine industry for diversifying their markets. China is their biggest market, but almost two thirds of the rest of where Australian wine is sold is in other places. And it's great quality. It's the best quality, we believe, in what's sold into China. It's at one of the highest prices, too. So there's no evidence of anti-dumping and we completely reject those claims.
Wilson: Is it more about politics rather than the wine? Because it's a lot of…
Prime Minister: These things come up from time to time. But the truth is the value and volume of our trade with China has never been higher. And so I'm aware of all the noise that is out there about these issues. But the facts are that the trade is getting done. And the reason for that is we sell things that they want and we buy things that they make. And that's what trade is and that's a mutually beneficial relationship. It's not a one way street and we're that where the benefits go both ways then these deals stick.
Wilson: We appreciate your time this afternoon. Now, before you go, you've got the National Cabinet meeting on Friday. We're told the issue of borders is going to be high on the agenda. You've written to the premiers and the state leaders. What concerns are being expressed to you? There seems to be a lot of people being inadvertently caught up in this. And we spoke to the Mayor of Moree in northern New South Wales earlier on the program who just expressed so much frustration with the ridiculous border, ludicrous border restrictions that the Queensland Premier has imposed on people, especially in those border towns.
Prime Minister: Well, it's about getting some common sense in how these arrangements are put in place. States have imposed these border restrictions. Their reasons for doing that is for them to explain and their medical advice that that's based on. I'm not taking issue with that, I’m just saying they put them in place, they need to be mindful of the impact that has on people. I’ve obviously raised issues around, you know, people having to get to work, particularly in the agricultural industry, as well as people being able to access medical services. And I'll continue to raise those issues just directly with premiers and privately and seek to resolve some of those issues that have been raised with us at a federal level, particularly by our federal members of parliament who are in those areas. And just looking for some practical resolution of specific problems that people are facing. Now, it's not restricted to Queensland. I've raised similar issues in New South Wales and in South Australia where these arrangements are in place and we've been able to make a lot of progress on a number of those. I mean, the New South Wales government just this week, Gladys Berejiklian put in a much more sensible arrangement for agricultural workers within about 100 kilometres of the border coming out of Victoria. So in good faith and goodwill, you can resolve some of these things. But the facts are you put a border in place. We haven’t had borders operating at the state level for 100 years. More, in fact, 120 years. And so them coming back in it can be very disruptive. And I just think in the spirit of cooperation and good faith, we should be able to resolve some of these most severe inconveniences which should be avoidable.
Wilson: I know it's been a very busy day. Prime Minister, we appreciate your time on Drive.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, Jim, good to be with you. And again, the vaccine is not compulsory, but we would want everyone, should we be able to get these trials through, well, I think that's a great day of hope for Australia. So let's just focus on that element.
Wilson: Well said. Thank you, Prime Minister.
Interview with Studio 10
19 August 2020
Sarah Harris: This is the news we've all been waiting for. Australia has signed a deal to acquire a COVID-19 vaccine. And if trials are successful, we will be among the first in the world to get the jab. The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, joins us now from Kirribilli House in Sydney. Prime Minister, it's great to see you. Thank you for joining us. Why did you choose this...
Prime Minister: Great to be here, it’s a bit warmer in Sydney.
Harris: Which is great. It's nice to have you here. Why did you choose this particular vaccine to sign up to?
Prime Minister: Well, it’s the most advanced in its trials and our advice is from the medical experts that it is showing the best prospects, and that's borne out by a number of the discussions I've had with other Presidents and Prime Ministers around the world. This is a very, very good program and one that looks very strong and so we wanted to ensure that we are right in the lead pack on this and we have the added advantage that we can make it here, too. So we're not relying on it being produced anywhere else in the world. We'll manufacture it right here in Australia and we'll get cracking on that as soon as those trials, if they're successful, enable us to do that.
Harris: You weren't tempted by the Russian vaccine?
Prime Minister: No, I think we'll go with AstraZeneca. We’ll probably go with the University of Oxford. Let me put it that way.
Joe Hildebrand: It is great news. Dare we hope, PM, that this could actually be, finally, the magic bullet that puts an end to all this. It's at this stage three phase, you mentioned that we actually have the capacity to manufacture it here. Can you just talk us through, where is it, where is it at in terms of human trials? And then how does it go from there? Do we get like a concentrated version that we then mass produce here, or how does it actually work mechanically?
Prime Minister: Well, in simple terms, you basically get the recipe and off you go. And the manufacturing capability exists here for this type of a vaccine. They're very complex things. I'm obviously not a medical expert, but my advice is that, you know, we have the capacity to produce that type of a vaccine here in Australia and it's just a matter of basically getting the formula and off you go. And we would hope that with the trials going into their further stages now, that if that means that it is, if it is and I’ve got to stress that it's not a certainty here, there's never been a vaccine for a coronavirus ever. There are 160 projects around the world right now. If ever, there's never been such a concentrated effort on finding a particular vaccine before. So there's enormous resource being put into it around the world. But should that be successful, then we would hope to have production underway and it available in Australia next year, early next year.
Hildebrand: And just to clarify, this vaccine has been shown to work in humans, but it hasn't gone to that mass kind of trial yet. Is that right?
Prime Minister: Yeah. You've got to go through that and you've got to understand its side effects and the various vulnerabilities and all of these things that would have to be looked at by Australian medical experts for it to be approved for use here in Australia. And while there's a clear urgency and keenness to get this into the population, the same caution has to be provided as we do with any other vaccine.
Kerri-Anne Kennerley: Prime Minister, will you publicly get vaccinated?
Prime Minister: Of course, as would my family. The priorities...
Kennerley: So you’re, you would be very happy when we're rolling it out to stand there, roll up your shirt and get the vax?
Prime Minister: Jab away. Yeah, absolutely, I think that's very important. But there'll be, I suspect, more important priorities than me. People working in health care and aged care and people working in disabilities, people working in remote communities. A lot of those who are in frontline roles, but also the more vulnerable in our community. They'll be our priority, I suspect. But that priority list will be done by medical experts, not by me.
Angela Bishop: Prime Minister, for the vaccine to work effectively a large number of our population are going to have to take it. Some people say two thirds. Some epidemiologists suggest actually, because they don't know the long term efficiency of it, that maybe as many as 90 percent. Now, here in Australia, and I'm not talking about anti-vaxxers here, I'm talking about ordinary Australians, could have some concerns about how quickly this has been developed and so forth. I mean, you couldn't even get that many people to take up, put an app on their phone. Are you concerned that everyday Australians will have some concerns about this and that not enough people would get vaccinated to make it effective?
Prime Minister: Well, 95 percent is the target for vaccinations. That's what's applied to many vaccinations here in Australia. You're right. I mean, on coronavirus sort of herd immunity by people getting it, the two thirds figure is what has been often quoted, but 95 percent is what you go for on a vaccination strategy. And, but what I want to assure people is there'll be no corners cut. There'll be no steps missed. We will apply the same rigour to this vaccine as we would to any other vaccine and the same rules would apply and in getting out as far and wide as possible. Now, you're right, there are some individuals for whom vaccines can't be provided. They can't take them for medical reasons and that that occurs with vaccines now. And those people, in particular, depend on everyone else getting the vaccine, because that's what provides the full herd immunity that protects them and their families.
Harris: We had our Studio 10 viewers vote in an online poll and it's trending at the moment, 71 percent of them said that they would get the COVID-19 vaccine. That's 29 percent of people who watch our show and follow us on social media that you still need to convince. How will you sell this vaccine to those people who might not be sure, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: Well, look, I'm confident about that. And I think as time goes on and the process is better understood that this is something that's in the national interest and in the health interest of every single Australian. We know the absolute havoc that the pandemic has caused, not just to people's health and their lives, but also their livelihoods. The disruptions to people's jobs. I mean, this is the way, ultimately, out of this, is through a vaccine. And until there is a vaccine, then we need to continue with the testing, the tracing, the social distancing. I mean, the COVIDSafe app now is just shy of seven million take-up and that's about double what people thought it would achieve early on. And so people are taking that up and I'd encourage them to keep doing it because that has been very effective in New South Wales, where we have been able to crack down on the outbreaks of the virus and it's certainly assisted the contact traces in New South Wales to do that job.
Harris: All right, Prime Minister, we know you're a busy man this morning. Thank you very much for your time. Maybe you could provide a jelly bean for everyone who gets jabbed?
Prime Minister: That sounds like a good idea. That sounds like an excellent idea.
Harris: Save a black one for me, they’re the best.
Prime Minister: I don’t like the, I don’t like those ones. I like the red ones, so, anyway.
Hildebrand: Who likes the black ones? That’s a whole other segment.
Harris: Typical.
Prime Minister: I’ll save those for you.
Harris: Thank you Prime Minister, appreciate your time.
Prime Minister: Cheers.
New Deal Secures Potential COVID-19 Vaccine for Every Australian
19 August 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology
Australians will be among the first in the world to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, if it proves successful, through an agreement between the Australian Government and UK-based drug company AstraZeneca.
Under the deal, every single Australian will be able to receive the University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for free, should trials prove successful, safe and effective.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Oxford University trial was in a phase three stage and more work was needed to prove its viability.
“The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian,” the Prime Minister said.
“If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians.
“However, there is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will be successful, which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine.
“We are taking advice from Australia’s best medical and scientific expertise to ensure that the Government’s work to select, produce and purchase COVID-19 vaccines and treatments is based on the best available knowledge.”
The Prime Minister also remains committed to ensuring early access to the vaccine for countries in our Pacific family, as well as regional partners in Southeast Asia.
The Government has also released Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy, guided by a group of medical and industry experts.
The Strategy sets out Australia’s approach to acquire doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines based on:
Research and development
Purchase and manufacturing
International partnerships
Regulation and safety Immunisation administration and monitoring
The first announcements under the strategy are the signing of a Letter of Intent with AstraZeneca to supply the University of Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate to Australia and a consumables contract with Becton Dickinson for the supply of needles and syringes.
The Letter of Intent covers vaccine development, production and distribution. It commits to production of the vaccine in Australia, subject to safety and effectiveness.
A final formal agreement will include distribution, timing and price of the vaccine.
Becton Dickinson has been contracted to supply vital consumables, such as needles and syringes, to ensure that we can deliver vaccine doses as soon as we have them.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said “From early on Australian officials led by my department has been meeting with developers and manufacturers of a number of promising vaccine candidates, both domestic and international, over recent months.
“We are confident these actions and targeted investments will put us in the best possible position to secure early access to safe and effective vaccines for Australia.”
The country’s most experienced scientists, biotech and pharmaceutical experts have been brought together to provide advice on acquiring a portfolio of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccinations.
The COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments for Australia – Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group met for the first time earlier this week.
The advisory group is led by Professor Brendan Murphy, Secretary of the Department of Health, who has a leading role in managing the Government’s pandemic response.
The group will also provide advice on implementing Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy that drives the Government’s work with the states and territories, research organisations, industry, regulators and other countries.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said Australia’s manufacturing capability is a huge asset in the push to deliver a COVID vaccine.
“The Australian pharmaceutical industry and its ability to produce vaccines is already among the best in the world and that puts us in a strong position to be able to roll out a COVID vaccine as quickly as possible,” Minister Andrews said.
“Through a coordinated approach and strategic investments we can also improve our knowledge and strengthen our manufacturing capability to respond in the future.”
Australia is contributing significantly to vaccine development work both in Australia and around the world, investing $333 million in vaccines, therapeutics and COVID medicines - including $256 million in vaccines.
This includes $5 million for the University of Queensland’s innovative “molecular clamp” COVID-19 vaccine. This Australian vaccine has commenced trials here in Australia.
The University of Queensland has partnered with CSL to manufacture its vaccine here in Australia. CSL has made a commitment that its dose allocation of the University of Queensland vaccine will be used, at a minimum, to support its long-standing public health commitment to the Australian community
More information is available on:
Interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW
19 August 2020
NEIL MITCHELL: The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Neil. Just before we get started, could you give me the details of that hay transfer issue into New South Wales? I will raise that with the Premier today.
MITCHELL: I certainly will.
PRIME MINISTER: We’re working on a number of those issues with them and we've made a lot of progress. So look, if you get that to me, I will see what we can do.
MITCHELL: Well, that's good. You almost need a group of sort of border monitors, don't you, or envoys, people who can sort it out on the run?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there is a Border Commissioner, and that's where we have been able to resolve a number of these things. So let me get those details and we'll see if we can get that sorted out.
MITCHELL: Ok. I’ve got his name, I haven't spoken to him yet. But he's amused, I would say, at the least. Now, the vaccine. Key question to underpin it before you get to the detail, would you be prepared to make the vaccination mandatory?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, certainly we've got to get about 95 per cent and so we'd be applying that as well. Well, I’ll take the medical advice. That's the obvious answer to that, Neil, but that's what I would be expecting.
MITCHELL: You'd expect it to be mandatory?
PRIME MINISTER: I would expect it to be as mandatory as you can possibly make. There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis. I mean, we're talking about a pandemic that has destroyed the global economy and taken the lives of hundreds of thousands all around the world and over 430 Australians here. So, you know, we need the most extensive and comprehensive response to this to get Australia back to normal.
MITCHELL: I take your point. We need a high level of uptake. But there's going to be, I think you'll get community resistance to mandating it.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll take that issue when it presents both when the clinical trials are finished and we have to understand what the medical issues potentially might be. And that's why we'll take advice on its application. But I'm certainly open to that suggestion but that is not a decision the Government has taken.
MITCHELL: Ok, so what's the deal? Everybody would get one free?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
MITCHELL: Cost millions?
PRIME MINISTER: The cost we're working through. But no, that's not our anticipated costs. But we'll work through those costs with the manufacturer and we'll make sure that that will be made available to all Australians.
MITCHELL: Sorry. Go ahead.
PRIME MINISTER: I was going to say, we would hope that based on where we think the clinical trials are and if they're successful, then I've got to stress, Neil, it's still a big if. I mean, we don't know it works, but we've got to be positioned to move on it quickly if it does. And hopefully early next year, if it could be done sooner than that, then great. But I don't want to raise an expectation, you know, you'll be able to get a jab next week.
MITCHELL: Who would be first?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, again, that's the medical advice we’d take. I mean, obvious candidates would be health workers, those working in aged care facilities, things like that, as well as more vulnerable parts of the community. But that will be dependent on the medical issues that might present with some of those cohorts, those people, groups. But by and large, then trying to get it out as quickly and as far and wide as possible.
MITCHELL: Well, as you said, the most optimistic timeline in the UK, is the end of this year. How soon after they approve it would we be able? How long would our approval process take?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, we'd be moving very quickly. That's why I think we'd be in place early next year and the production process would take a month or two, I'm told, and we're still working through those details. But as soon as - as someone said to me this morning we get the recipe - we'll be making it.
MITCHELL: Ok. And are you optimistic or, sorry, is it your view that Oxford is leading everybody else? I mean, we've had the Russians claiming things, the Chinese, our own University of Queensland, which has more credibility is getting some CSL has been tied to them. Are you reasonably confident Oxford will be the first there?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's our advice at the moment. Things can change and we're not going to put all our eggs in one basket either. The expert panel we've established that Professor Murphy is leading is also advising on others that we will support. And that work is being done now and, in fact, is already underway. You mentioned the University of Queensland project, which we are also involved with, and that's looking promising. But AstraZeneca and Oxford’s project is more advanced.
MITCHELL: When is one of the most optimistic time you think you could see it used in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: Which one? AstraZeneca?
MITCHELL: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: Early next year.
MITCHELL: Early next year. You know, you're going to have campaigns from the anti-vaxxers, don't you?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm used to that. I was the minister that established ‘no jab, no play’. So my view on this is pretty clear and not for turning.
MITCHELL: Ok. So and you also bought needles and syringes, all the equipment needed to…
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. That's been done through an arrangement with Becton Dickinson to supply needles and syringes. So, you know, we're getting everything in order. But you've got to wait for the medical trials, clinical trials, to complete.
MITCHELL: Ok. Who would oversee it, state or federal?
PRIME MINISTER: It would be a federal programme.
MITCHELL: Ok. So it would be the vaccine…
PRIME MINISTER: But we would work with the states, as you do with any vaccination program. But it obviously would be overseen like all other vaccine programs.
MITCHELL: Ok. A couple of other things, if I may. The quarantine outbreak in Victoria, that's the reason that the country is being held back. Do you believe that came about because the defence forces were not involved?
PRIME MINISTER: It occurred, as my best advice is, because of the quarantine breaches and then there's obviously been very significant challenges on the tracing that has taken place in Victoria. And the comparison there is obviously with New South Wales and the different capabilities, and I'm talking about stuff which is on the public record. So I'm not making criticisms. I am just talking about facts and the individual contribution of whether this group or that group was responsible for breaches in quarantine, well, there's an enquiry going on into that. But certainly, as Lieutenant-General Frewen made very clear yesterday, the offer was there and the Victorian government made their own decisions.
MITCHELL: Did you personally make the offer to Daniel Andrews?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it was done at a press conference. It's on public record.
MITCHELL: Yeah, but I assumed it was brought up at a National Cabinet when he was present?
PRIME MINISTER: There was a discussion at National Cabinet.
MITCHELL: About the ADF being available on quarantine?
PRIME MINISTER: Yep.
MITCHELL: What about contact tracing. Are you concerned about the level of contact tracing in Victoria?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes. And that's why when Commodore Hill was made available through the ADF at once to lead our effort in Victoria, I mean, so much of his early work has been about the information systems and the organisation supporting the Victorian medical team to be organising how they're getting their tracing done. Because more resources were being made available from South Australia and New South Wales to support those tracing efforts. But it's one thing to have the people available but you’ve got to have the systems to support them.
MITCHELL: So our system is failing?
PRIME MINISTER: Pardon?
MITCHELL: Is our system failing?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've been doing a lot of work to improve the information systems together with the Victorian government.
MITCHELL: There's obviously a degree of disagreement between the state and federal government. And I'm assuming that Linda Reynolds, the Defence Minister, only puts out a statement with your approval?
PRIME MINISTER: I was aware of her statement that was basically providing facts.
MITCHELL: Have you and Daniel Andrews sort of thrashed this out and talked about it? Because tension is not constructive, is it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think… I just deal with what we need to do each day. I mean, I'm not interested in having an argument about what was said two months ago. I'm interested in what we need to do today and I'm interested in the resources we need to get there and the support that we need to provide. I'm interested in getting that hay from Victoria to New South Wales. I'm interested in getting medical treatment across the borders. I'm interested in ensuring that we continue the inspections occurring at aged care facilities and over 60 facilities that have been put in place. The operations, the aged care response centre. I’m interested in getting the vaccine arrangements in place. I've got to deal with today and tomorrow. I frankly, and the Premier is in the same boat. So, you know, we've just got to get on with it.
MITCHELL: Yeah but the public also needs trust and to have trust they need openness.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't think trust is built by premiers and prime ministers having public slanging matches about things. I think trust is built by them being assured that we're working together each and every day, even where there may be differences between our governments.
MITCHELL: Do you feel, well, guilt, responsibility, how would you describe it, for what's happened in aged care in this state?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm deeply distressed about what's been happening.
MITCHELL: Is it your fault, though, Prime Minister? Is it the fault of the Federal Government?
PRIME MINISTER: It is a federal responsibility for the regulation of aged care and public health is the responsibility of the Victorian and the state governments more broadly. So it's a shared responsibility there about how all this plays out. In individual facilities the Aged Care Victoria Response Centre, which is a joint effort of the Victorian and Federal governments, is addressing this issue and that's how it should be. I mean, responsibilities and federations are, you know, are shared in many instances. The reregulation of the centres, and we've had a handful of centres which have had just unacceptable experiences and outcomes. In over 350 aged care facilities in Victoria, there's been about a half a dozen where there have been very serious issues. And there'll be follow up in terms of the actions that need to be taken against a number of those facilities.
MITCHELL: You have apologised for that?
PRIME MINISTER: I have.
MITCHELL: I think that's constructive. Should our own Premier do the same?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that’s a matter for him. I’m responsible for what I do.
MITCHELL: What about disability services? Are you confident we can avoid the aged care disaster in disability services?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, my advice is there has been about 44 cases. There are in Victoria, I think, 13 in a residential setting. And they're in group homes and they're half run by the state. There’s about 7,000 vulnerable participants in the NDIS that have all had double contacts from us over the course of this. And so the minister responsible, Stuart Robert, there has been a plan in place. There has been constant vigilance in sort of checking on the welfare of those participants in the programme. And so, you know, I think we're managing that well. But it's a highly vulnerable group. We've always been aware of that. But so far, what's important is that the incidence of cases for those participants in the NDIS is less than we're seeing more broadly in the community. That's welcome news.
MITCHELL: Thank you so much for your time. Do you reckon that will be any chance in Victoria of having a normal Christmas lunch?
PRIME MINISTER: I certainly hope so, Neil.
MITCHELL: We won’t be at the Boxing Day Test, will we?
PRIME MINISTER: Again, I hope we do. But I think we are turning the corner, though, Neil. And I want to say that to Melburnians particularly and say thank you. The sacrifices you're making, are making a difference. I wish you never had to make them. I wish that the situation hadn't deteriorated to the level that it had. And certainly there'll be a big discussion in Victoria about how and why and where that all happened. But the actions the Victorians are taking, Melburnians are taking, in dealing with this are turning the corner. And so thank you.
MITCHELL: Thank you so much for your time. We'll get that detail of the farmer to you.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. Thank you.
MITCHELL: Thanks very much for that. The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.
Interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM
19 August 2020
Sabra Lane: We’re joined now by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, good morning welcome to the Programme.
Prime Minister: Good morning Sabra.
Lane: Just on that story, you didn’t have the benefit of hearing all of it, but a man basically couldn’t see, go to his mum’s funeral, you have been frustrated about closed borders for quite some time, Tasmania’s is keeping it’s closed now until December, Queensland says its borders are closed until there is no community transmission, that could be a long time, National Cabinet’s meeting on Friday, what’s your message to the Premiers?
Prime Minister: Well we’ve got to be practical about these things, and we’ve got to act on medical advice and that has to be transparent. The suppression strategy is to ensure we get no community transmission. I think what’s been demonstrated particularly in NSW is that outbreaks can be addressed and they’ve got another challenge at the moment, but the cases have come right down there. I’m pleased that we are turning the corner in Melbourne and Victoria. But you know, people have got to get access to medical treatment. I mean we fund hospitals, and Medicare, and services all around the country so Australians wherever they live, can get to those services. I mean, I am making some real progress, I mean I appreciate the work we’ve been doing with Premier Marshall with a lot of those cross-border issues, particularly for medical needs. Premier Berejiklian, we’ve been getting some good movement on agricultural workers, shearers and others having to do various work and so on. We just need to be practical about it and ensure that we only need to do what is needed, and that we’re obviously concerned about the spread of the virus, but we’ve also got to look at the medical evidence of what’s occurring on the ground.
Lane: Alright. We’ve got a lot to go through, to the flu vaccine agreement you’ve got for the Oxford vaccine made by AstraZeneca, there are still some big hurdles, you acknowledge that, it’s not known if it’s safe or it’s effective, it’s stage 3 now when many vaccines do fail, how long before you know for sure?
Prime Minister: I think it’ll be a few months yet. And if that clears that hurdle then we will be able to manufacture the vaccine here, have 25 million vaccines available to everyone in the country. And, but as you rightly say, Sabra, I mean, it is well advanced. It is one of the best prospects in the world today. That's just not me saying that or Australia saying that even, when I was Speaking to President Macron recently, we we talked about it. And so it obviously is one of the more favoured of 160 projects that are around the world today. But we won’t be putting all our eggs in one basket. Our expert medical panel that's been set up to deal with this, which Professor Murphy leads, will be identifying and already doing the work on identifying others that we can take positions on to ensure that Australia is best positioned, and well positioned to get that vaccine to Australians as quickly as possible.
Lane: Yeah. On this, though, you've said all Australians will get it for free. It is the Oxford vaccine. If it works, it's a two dose process, meaning two jabs for each person to be effective. How long could a staggered national immunisation program take? And when would it start? And how would you ensure that people would actually get both jabs?
Prime Minister: Well, this is why we've not only entered into this agreement, we’ve got a, obviously for the syringes and all those things we've gone into the agreement with Becton Dickinson, on top of that, there's the manufacturing arrangements, we will obviously be taking clinical advice on the rollout program for how that's achieved, that will take several months to rollout in terms of getting that underway. And so look, at at this stage, there are more questions than answers when it comes to the vaccine, because it hasn't obviously gone through all of its stages and there'll be information learnt in that process that will inform its rollout. So at this stage, what's needed is to have the agreement, to have the manufacturing capability and the other things that are needed to roll it out. And now we need to wait to see those trials complete, which will inform the next stage of the process.
Lane: And how mindful are you that this vaccine needs to be safe? Because if there are side effects, anti-vaxxers will jump on this.
Prime Minister: Well as as concerned as I am with any vaccine that's out there. As people probably know, I've been I was the one who introduced ‘no jab, no play’. I've always been very heavily in favour of ensuring we get safe vaccines out in the community. They save lives and this vaccine will be the same. But it obviously has to clear all the tests. That's why we have to be patient to ensure that it does do that. And we have the best medical advice to to authorise that.
Lane: The Aged Care Royal Commission has said that the Federal Government should be listening to it closely, that you should appoint a dedicated national coordinating body right now to work with all homes to advise them and the Government on handling COVID, that you shouldn't wait. Are you acting on that idea?
Prime Minister: Well, we already have been. I mean, what we have already in place in Victoria does exactly that, I mean the expertise and experience of geriatricians, to to specialists in diseases and how they transfer in facilities, I mean, that that is the advice we have been taking. And where we need to supplement that, then that will be done. And and that is, they are the things that Professor Murphy and Professor Kelly and his team have been leading now for months.
Lane: Commissioner Pagone, though, said last week that the Government could implement this right now, that it was a practical improvement that didn't need to wait?
Prime Minister: Well, that's what I'm saying. I mean, what they're suggesting is is effectively already being mirrored in the actions the Government is taking. I have no doubt that where Professor Kelly and Professor Murphy need to supplement what's going on at the moment, then they would certainly do that and they’d do it straightaway.
Lane: Will the Federal Government mandate a requirement for more qualified staff, especially registered nurses in aged care, along with ratios of staff to residents?
Prime Minister: Well, I'm going to, the reason why I appointed the Royal Commission into aged care is, as we have known, that for, you know, a generation, decades, that this has been an issue that despite putting a billion dollars extra into it every single year, that it is an area that still really struggles and it struggles because the demands on aged care have changed so dramatically in the last 10 years. Let alone the last five years and so what that means is, is that when people are going into aged care these days, their needs are very different. I mean, effectively, sadly, that when people are going into aged care now, families know that they're effectively engaging in a pre-palliative care. Now, that is completely different to what was happening 10 or 20 years ago, when, in many cases they are more akin to a retirement village. So the clinical needs, the staffing needs, all of this is is why we need to get the structure and the resourcing right. And that's why I called the Royal Commission. So we won't be just waiting on the Royal Commission. We've already been putting significant additional resources into in-home aged care facilities. We've done that at every statement, I think, since the 18-19 budget. Every update we just did that again, recently, you can expect more of that,
Lane: Sure Prime Minister. Sure, but if if if the Commission actually says that these mandates, these things should be mandated. Will you accept that that finding?
Prime Minister: Well, I'm going to wait for the Aged Care Royal Commission to make its recommendations. I'm not going to speculate about what they are and give speculative responses at this point. I mean, we want to ensure that we get the right resourcing and structures into aged care. We've been making many improvements now over many years. But the reason I called the Royal Commission is I wasn't satisfied with the progress that we were making.
Lane: Alright. China's latest decision to open an anti-dumping enquiry into Australian wine has been described as a weapon, the Chinese ambassador said in April, his country would take action on barley, beef, wine and students, and that's all come to pass. And that was threatened in response to Australia calling for an enquiry into the origins of the COVID virus. Is this coercion? Is it punishment?
Prime Minister: Well, look, we'll deal with the challenges as they present and whether that's on barley or whether that's on meat or whether it's on wine. Well, I do know, is Australia’s education, Australia's wine is much sought after in the Chinese market and that has been reinforced by any number of surveys of the Chinese population themselves. And so there's a high demand for Australia's products, just like is, whether it's for iron ore or other resources or these sorts of products as well. And that gives the consumer a lot of pull. I think in the trade relationship, this is a mutually beneficial trade relationship. China benefits from it. Australia benefits from it. And that's why our trade with China at the moment, both in volume and in value, is at an all time high. And we want to see that continue,
Lane: And we may be the case, but what do you think of this action? Is it coercion? Is it punishment?
Prime Minister: Well, Australia would never respond to anything like that. We would maintain our positions as we always have, and be true to who we are and protect our national interest. So if that's the suggestion, then Australia would never be influenced by anything like that. But it is for others to to to label this as as they might and for others to defend any suggestions they might be doing that.
Lane: There are concerns that milk powdered products are next? What’s your plan to end this?
Prime Minister: Well, we will just in our relationship, continue to be true to who Australia is. See Australia's position hasn't changed, Australia's actions right across the board, whether it's on our national security or whether it's how we deal with our infrastructure, foreign investment, all of these things, we do on Australia's terms. That has not changed. It's the same position today, we’ve held for a very long period of time. And so we will continue to look out for Australian's interests and put that first, our sovereignty, and and our national interests and our defence and our protections. That's what we'll do and Australians can rely on that.
Lane: Just quickly, the Department of Social Services said yesterday on the aged pension, pensioners won't get the automatic boost to their bank balances they're used to in September because inflation has gone backwards. Are you going to try and review that?
Prime Minister: Yeah, this is just very recent information. And I would point out that there's already been $1,500 dollars of additional payments that have already been made to pensioners this year on those one off payments that were made as part of the pandemic response. But on top of that, the Treasurer and I will work through the implications of what was not really a foreseen event when budgets were put together for the for the moment. I mean, the idea that you'd have had negatives in that quarter is not what the estimates would have taken into account. So the Treasurer and I will work through those issues. But we've already demonstrated that we've been stepping up when it has been, whether it's the need of pensioners which includes disability pensioners, or those through JobKeeper or JobSeeker, or businesses needing support to keep people in jobs. So it is one of the, the impacts that we've seen flow from the pandemic. And we will just deal with that in the orderly way that we have with so many of these issues.
Lane: Prime Minister, thanks for talking to the program this morning.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, Sabra. Good to be with you.