Media Releases
Reciprocal Access Agreement
17 November 2020
Australia and Japan have reached in principle agreement on a landmark defence treaty that will further deepen the countries’ strategic and security relationship.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement represents a pivotal moment in the history of Japan-Australia ties.
We share a Special Strategic Partnership and are deeply committed to working together in support of a free, open, inclusive and stable Indo-Pacific.
Our partnership is built on shared values and interests, and enduring trust and respect.
This agreement paves the way for a new chapter of advanced defence cooperation between our two countries.
The only other such agreement that Japan has struck with another country is with the United States 60 years ago.
It will facilitate greater and more complex practical engagement between the Australian Defence Force and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and enhance our inter-operability and cooperation. This will also support our joint involvement in broader multilateral exercises.
It means Australia and Japan will have a clear framework for how our defence forces operate in each other’s countries.
From joint military training exercises through to natural disaster and humanitarian support, the RAA establishes streamlined arrangements to support the deployment of defence forces more quickly and with less administration.
The Australian and Japanese militaries have in recent years increased cooperation and exercise activities. These have enhanced our ability to work together towards our common security objectives in the Indo Pacific region and our military interoperability. In principle agreement on the RAA will only see that grow.
The significance of the RAA cannot be understated.
It will form a key plank of Australia’s and Japan’s response to an increasingly challenging security environment in our region amid more uncertain strategic circumstances.
As we finalise the RAA I thank the work done by my predecessors as well as by former Japanese Prime Minister Abe across six years of negotiations.
Japan-Australia Leaders’ Meeting Joint Statement
17 November 2020
Prime Minister, Prime Minister of Japan
Overview
The Prime Ministers of Japan and Australia reaffirmed that the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries is based on shared values, including a commitment to democracy, human rights, free trade and a rules-based order; shared strategic interests in the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond; and deep economic complementarity. They renewed their determination to deepen cooperation to promote a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region where disputes are resolved peacefully and without the threat or use of force or coercion, and where the sovereignty and rights of all states under international law are upheld. In this regard, they welcomed the continued commitment of the United States to this region and stressed the importance of close cooperation with the United States to contribute to the peace and stability of the region.
The Leaders confirmed that both countries continue to spare no effort to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, protect lives and livelihoods, and mitigate the social and economic consequences of the pandemic. They recognised that global solidarity, cooperation and effective multilateralism through international frameworks, rules, organisations and institutions are required more than ever, including to defeat the virus and support economic recovery. The Leaders also committed to further enhancing coordination with like-minded countries, including through existing opportunities, such as the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (Japan-Australia-US) and Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting (Japan-Australia-US), the Japan-Australia-India-US quadrilateral meetings, and various dialogues with ASEAN, particularly the East Asia Summit as the region’s premier forum for strategic dialogue. The Leaders welcomed the success of the second Japan-Australia-India-US quadrilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo in October 2020 and the 15th East Asia Summit in November 2020. The Leaders reiterated their strong support for ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led architecture, and the ongoing importance of the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, including openness, transparency, inclusiveness, the rule of law, good governance and respect for international law. In this context, the Leaders welcomed the adoption of the Joint Statement of the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit on cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and the 2nd ASEAN-Australia Summit on ‘A Strong Partnership for Recovery’. The Leaders also looked forward to cooperating on shared priorities at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
The Leaders expressed serious concerns about the situation in the South China Sea and reconfirmed their strong opposition to any coercive or unilateral attempts to change the status quo and thereby increase tensions in the region. They also shared serious concerns about the recent negative developments and serious incidents in the South China Sea, including continuing militarisation of disputed features, dangerous and coercive use of coast guard vessels and ‘maritime militia’, launches of ballistic missiles, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ resource exploitation activities. The Leaders reaffirmed the importance of respecting freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and that all disputes should be resolved in a peaceful manner in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and that the 2016 final award in the South China Sea Arbitration, which was issued by legitimate procedures under UNCLOS, is final and legally binding on the parties to the dispute. They called for any Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to be consistent with international law as reflected in UNCLOS, not prejudice the sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests of non-parties to the Code of Conduct or the rights of all states under international law, reinforce existing inclusive regional architecture, and strengthen parties’ commitments to ceasing actions that would complicate or escalate tensions.
The Leaders also expressed serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea. They shared their intention to remain in close communication about the situation in the East China Sea and expressed strong opposition to any coercive unilateral actions that seek to alter the status quo and increase tensions in the area.
The Leaders shared their grave concerns over the situation in Hong Kong, and emphasised the importance of upholding Hong Kong’s democratic processes and institutions, as well as the high degree of autonomy set out in the Basic Law and Sino-British Joint Declaration.
The Leaders reiterated their commitment to achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missiles of all ranges of North Korea, and emphasised the importance of full implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions by the international community. In this regard, they also reaffirmed their commitment to international efforts in addressing illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers. They called on North Korea to end human rights violations and abuses and to resolve the Japanese abductions issue immediately.
The Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime and the basis for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technology.
Deepening and Expanding Bilateral Relations
With a view to contributing to peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, the Leaders determined to elevate bilateral security and defence cooperation under the Special Strategic Partnership to a new level.
In this regard, the Leaders reiterated their strong belief that a reciprocal access agreement between Japan and Australia ("Japan-Australia RAA") will serve as a solid foundation for both countries’ commitment to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region and for further enhancing strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The Japan-Australia RAA is a landmark bilateral agreement that will facilitate cooperative activities, such as joint exercises and disaster relief operations, between the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), through the establishment of procedures and the clarification of legal status for the visiting force of one party in the territory of the other party, thereby improving the interoperability of the forces of the two countries. Areas covered by the Japan-Australia RAA will include streamlining procedures to facilitate deployment and joint activities, including for entry and departure of the visiting force, customs duties and taxes, and criminal jurisdiction.
The Leaders welcomed the agreement in principle reached between the two countries on the Japan-Australia RAA. They confirmed that both sides would continue to work on the remaining tasks necessary for signing the Japan-Australia RAA at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Leaders instructed their respective Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence to further strengthen bilateral security and defence cooperation and hold the next Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (“2+2”) at the earliest convenient time in 2021. They welcomed the outcomes of the Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meetings in Tokyo in October 2020 and the discussions on further developing, broadening and deepening the security and defence relationship. In this context, they reaffirmed the importance of enhancing cooperation between the SDF and the ADF, such as by increasing the complexity and sophistication of bilateral exercises and operations. They also reiterated the importance of enhancing regular bilateral and multilateral cooperative activities in the Indo-Pacific region, including maritime activities in the South China Sea, to maintain a free, open, secure, inclusive and prosperous region.
The Leaders stressed the significance of creating a framework to protect ADF assets by SDF personnel under Article 95-2 of the SDF Law (Provision for the protection of weapons and other equipment of the units of the US Armed Forces and armed forces of other foreign countries) and concurred to progress the necessary coordination to implement this cooperation.
The Leaders decided to coordinate efforts to mitigate the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, and to accelerate the development and equitable access to diagnostics, therapeutics, and safe, effective and affordable vaccines for COVID-19. The Leaders also shared the view that they would work together with partner governments to strengthen health systems, increase health emergency preparedness, and work towards achieving universal health coverage to ensure essential health services are maintained. The Leaders decided to cooperate on WHO reform to ensure it has the authority and capability to prevent and mitigate future pandemics.
The Leaders affirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pacific island countries in response to COVID-19, including support for health systems and economic assistance. They committed to deepen cooperation on humanitarian and disaster response and maritime security priorities in the Pacific island region, including through closer engagement between Australian and Japanese civil-maritime agencies on maritime security training with Pacific island countries and enhanced information sharing on maritime domain awareness. Recognising the severe economic impacts of COVID-19 on Pacific island countries, they committed to close coordination on financing support and continued close cooperation on Pacific infrastructure.
The Leaders decided to enhance cooperation in Southeast Asia, including expanded support for quality infrastructure development in accordance with international standards expressed in the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, such as openness, transparency, economic efficiency in view of lifecycle costs and debt sustainability, which will be an important part of the region’s economic recovery from COVID-19 and support for sustainable development in the Mekong sub region. The Leaders concurred to enhance cooperation on health, and welcomed the official announcement of the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.
The Leaders acknowledged that assuring economic security is becoming increasingly important as a result of digital transformation and ICT innovation as well as the outbreak of COVID-19. They confirmed that a key element of bilateral security cooperation is to promote coordination in the area of economic security, and expressed their desire to seek concrete ways to deepen cooperation in this area including information exchange. The Leaders reiterated that the mutual prosperity of both countries depends on secure and reliable supply chains for critical goods and services. They also underlined the need to strengthen cooperation on space and cyber issues, digital and critical technologies and infrastructure including 5G networks and submarine cables, and on resource security including the establishment of open, secure, resilient and efficient supply chains of critical minerals.
The Leaders underlined the importance of maintaining free and open markets and enhancing the resilience and efficiency of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region to promote trade and investment. In this regard, they welcomed the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement on 15 November 2020, while reiterating that the RCEP remains open for India. The Leaders confirmed their commitments to expanding a free, fair, inclusive and rules-based trade and investment environment and to keep our markets open in this region and beyond, including through the implementation and expansion of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). They also expressed their hope to further deepen bilateral economic relations under those agreements and the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA). They stressed the need to work together to reform and strengthen the WTO including rule-making on e-commerce as co-conveners of the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI). The Leaders affirmed their strong support for rules-based open trade, based on market principles and in line with their bilateral and international commitments. Such trade builds prosperity and underpins trust and deep links between nations. They further affirmed that trade should never be used as a tool to apply political pressure. To do so undermines trust and prosperity. The Leaders also shared the view that they would work closely to ensure market-oriented conditions and a level playing field to foster a non-discriminatory trade and investment environment.
The Leaders underscored the importance of resuming cross-border travel between the two countries in a mutually beneficial manner in order to facilitate economic recovery and people-to-people links, and expressed their desire to make concrete progress in this area as health conditions permit.
The Leaders concurred to continue close cooperation to ensure secure and reliable energy supply including LNG and to reduce emissions through new and emerging low-emissions technologies and supply chains, including hydrogen, Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and Carbon Recycling (CR). They welcomed the progress made to date on the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain project in the state of Victoria in Australia. The Leaders concurred to advance hydrogen cooperation to support national and global transitions to a resilient, low emissions economy. In this context, Prime Minister Morrison acknowledged the recent announcement by Prime Minister Suga that by 2050, Japan will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero, that is, to realise a carbon-neutral, decarbonised society. Prime Minister Suga acknowledged that Australia is implementing a Low Emissions Technology Roadmap to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible, and has already reduced emissions by 14% since 2005.
The Leaders affirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in agricultural production, particularly to overcome the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Leaders recognised the potential for the two countries to boost agricultural exports into international markets and concurred to explore greater collaboration on regional and global agri-food supply chains.
Doorstop - Broadmeadows, VIC
16 November 2020
STEVE MARLOW, GENERAL MANAGER SEQIRUS: Hello everyone, I’ll explain who I am to get started, my name is Steve Marlow I’m the General Manager for Seqiris, firstly I’d like to welcome the Prime Minister and the Health Minister and the Chief Medical Officer to our Broadmeadows facility today. Also I’d like to thank the federal government for their partnership here and also for the long standing relationship we’ve had with the Commonwealth in protecting public health with our role in the pandemic preparedness, preparing for influenza vaccine, and producing those critical products that are unique to Australia, so anti-venoms and Q-Fever, and really today spells the next chapter in our manufacturing relationship.
I’d also like to thank the Victorian government for their support. Victoria is a very strong biotech hub and we are delighted to be a strong part of it’s future in Victoria.
CSL’s history is linked very much with Australian public health. In 1918 we responded to the Spanish Flu, in 2009 we responded to the H1N1 Swine Flu and today we toured the facility that is looking at producing the COVID-19 vaccine candidate. So we hope that development sees a vaccine early in the new year. The AstraZeneca [inaudible] began production last week, [inaudible] today.
So look it’s been an interesting journey and today we get to announce a significant investment in Seqirus, $800 million investment in a new state of the art biotech manufacturing facility right here in Melbourne, in fact not at all a very long distance away from this facility here, at the airport. We’re delighted to make that announcement.
What this facility will bring, it will deliver new technology, cell-based influenza manufacturing facility. And this will support the seasonal epidemic of influenza and also it will be a key part of our global supply chain network. We have facilities in the US in North Carolina, we’ve got facilities in the UK, and this facility will an integral part of our global supply chain. [inaudible].
Critically, the facility will be in a constant state of pandemic readiness for influenza outbreaks. So pandemic influenza outbreaks, we can pivot the facility very quickly, rapidly scale it up to respond for Australians when needed most. And it doesn’t end there. The facility will also produce anti-venom’s, these are unique products for Australians for snakes, for spiders, and marine creatures, and we’ll also produce the Q-Fever vaccine in this facility.
And just to finish off, we will also produce the MF59 adjuvant and this is really important [inaudible] vaccines and stimulate immune response and this ingredients into [inaudible] CSL COVID-19 pandemic. That will be part of this facility.
So look we are delighted to be able to share this announcement today, with the federal government and it’s a fantastic opportunity that we have in terms of [inaudible] lock in the supply of these critical medicines in Australia for decades to come.
On that note I would like to pass to the Prime Minister, thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Well thank you very much for the welcome, it’s great to be here at Seqirus and [inaudible] and to all the others that are joining us here today for what is a very important announcement.
What is occurring today is bringing together a whole series of strands in terms of what the government is doing to address the great disruption that we’ve seen through COVID-19 this year. Most obviously it is about the production of Aussie doses for COVID-19, for the vaccine, being made here, right here at this very facility. And I particularly want to thank CSL for their tremendous partnership that we have had, for both the production of the AstraZeneca vaccine as well as the University of Queensland vaccine. We're very proud of this work and we are proud of the science that is supporting it, particularly that in the University of Queensland. And the reality that could unfold which would See Australia playing such a critical role in vaccines for COVID-19.
But we also are very proud of the fact that it can be manufactured right here in Melbourne. These Aussie doses here in Melbourne that will prove to be subject to the TGA's approval an absolute game-changer, not just for our own country. Not just for our own economy and getting back to normal, but, more broadly, around the world. So I want to thank CSL for that tremendous partnership.
But the other thing that we have learnt throughout the COVID-19 and this has been a common discussion amongst like-minded countries around the world, is the need for us to do even more to secure supply chains in critical areas and there can be few more critical than those that apply to vaccines. Whether it is the flu, as you say, or whether it is COVID-19, or, indeed, it is for the any number of venomous spiders or snakes that require the anti-venom that is produced. All of this requires a much more substantial capability that already is impressive here in Australia, but needs to be even greater.
So this is just smart thinking on behalf of the government working together with Seqirus. What we are doing here is using our purchasing power to give the certainty of a partnership of some billion dollars invested in these vaccines over the next more than a decade and that gives Seqirus the confidence to make important environment decisions and this is what our recovery strategy from COVID-19 and building for the future is all about. It is about giving these companies the confidence to invest. Whether it is the lost carryback provisions, the instant expensing arrangements - all of this is designed to bring forward investments and see manufacturing and business more generally go forward, and that brings me to the third part.
And in this year as Budget we announced our manufacturing strategy and in that manufacturing strategy we set out some clear priorities and that includes in this area of vaccine manufacturing and production here in Australia. We want to be leaders here. We want to be setting out jobs here for many years to come. This facility alone, 500 jobs in construction, but 1,300 jobs supported over the longer-term. This is a further demonstration of our manufacturing strategy hitting the ground, ensuring that we have secure supply chains in critical areas, supporting jobs, but at the same time building the reputation and the advantage that we want to have as a country in advanced manufacturing in an area like this.
CSL is a world leader. They are an established world leader and we have been able to draw on that at a time of great need for our country when it comes to the production of these vaccines. But, this partnership will just go to a whole new level and so with that I am going to ask the Health Minister Greg Hunt to say a few words about how this all fits in to our plans and our responses.
I am also going to ask the acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly to give you an update on the situation in terms of the national response, in relation to the situation in South Australia. Of course I can add further comment on that when we go to questions.
So with that, Greg Hunt?
THE HON GREG HUNT MP, MINISTER FOR HEALTH: Thanks very much to the Prime Minister and Paul Kelly, but in particular to Brian McNamee and Andrew Cuthbertson and Lorna Meldrum and to Steve. And all of the employees here at CSL and Seqirus.
Today is about lives and protecting lives. It is also about creating jobs and extending jobs. And I say that because with the Prime Minister, we were able to look at the very floor where the AstraZeneca vaccine is currently being produced and that’s on track and on schedule. What we are seeing is that as we speak, it’s a week since the manufacturing commenced so Australia is in an increasingly strong position, not just with regards to our containment, but also with regards to our capacity to address the virus. And we have 134.8 million units directly ordered. We have another 25.5 million units potentially available through the COVAX International facility. All of those are about protecting Australians, but also playing our part in the world.
Today is also though, about the long-term support and this investment, which the Prime Minister has outlined, is a long-term contract by the government to provide supply for Australia with, firstly, a pandemic-flu capability. Secondly, with our Q-Fever capability and, thirdly, with our anti-venom response. It is Taipans and tiger snakes, it is brown snake and black snake venom, it’s redbacks and funnel webs, it is like a roll call of Australiana in a way, and of course the box jellyfish and even the stonefish are covered in this agreement.
What that means is that we are protecting Australians now, but we are protecting them into the future with an agreement that runs out to 2036, so it provides security for Australians and it provides certainty for CSL-Seqirus, so they can then invest in a state-of-the-art long-term advanced manufacturing plant.
At the moment, the world has been largely using egg-based vaccine manufacturing. This new plant will be a cell-based vaccine manufacturing plant, so it puts Australia right at the global forefront and because of past contracts and past investments, we have had the capacity through this pandemic to have Australian manufacturing and therefore certainty for Australians.
What we are doing is providing that certainty for coming generations and I want to thank the Prime Minister and the Treasurer for their investment. It has allowed us on the health side to be able to ensure that continuity is there and at the same time provide the jobs for Victorians, and the certainty going forward.
I'll turn now to Professor Paul Kelly to talk about the situation in South Australia, but what is happening in South Australia is exactly what we have always said would occur, that there would be outbreaks. In a world where you have Australians returning from overseas, in a world where you have Australian wool and wheat being provided overseas or critical medicines coming to Australia, there is always, always been the possibility that there would be an exchange of the virus from a surface or from an inadvertent touch. What matters is that we have the strength of system in place, the testing, the contact tracing and the isolation and Professor Finkel, who has just completed his review, and what we are seeing is that system come in to place literary as with speak and we have confidence in the capacity of South Australia to respond.
Paul?
PROFESSOR PAUL KELLY, ACTING CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: Thank you, Minister. So, my colleague in South Australia, Professor Nicola Spurrier range me yesterday to inform me about the first case they had found in this cluster of cases now in the Northern part of Adelaide. They are doing an enormous effort and very broad effort of finding people, testing, doing that contact tracing exercise and crucially getting people to isolate, anyone who of course has symptoms and is found positive, but also the contacts. So that has been an enormous effort so far from South Australia over the last couple of days. I called an emergency meeting of the Australian Health Protection Committee today and Nicola shared with us the issues that she was seeing. And we had already at that time, from a Commonwealth perspective offered our support of course in whatever way could be done.
So this is guided as the Minister has said from the Finkel review that was just completed and tabled at National Cabinet last week. So we know about the capability of South Australia and we know about the capability of the other states as to what support they can give and indeed from a Commonwealth level. So that has all kicked in, as you would expect it to do.
We remain very ready to assist with that work in the coming days whilst they get on top of this. I do firmly believe that the South Australian authorities with that support from others will be able to get on top of this. As the Minister said, it is not so much what has happened, but how we respond to it. That is how we are going to defeat this virus.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Paul. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: It would appear that the virus has escaped hotel quarantine in South Australia. Does this show that South Australia hasn't perhaps learnt some of the lessons that Victoria should have learnt by now? [INAUDIBLE]
PRIME MINISTER: No, there are no absolute fail-safes in this. That is what Professor Kelly was just referring to. The virus hasn't gone anywhere. It is still there. It will seek to exploit any vulnerability, how small or great, and that is why there are layers to our defences. The most obvious layers are the wearing of masks and the social distancing and the COVID safe behaviours that are on display here in this facility and, more broadly throughout the community. That is the first layer of protection. Then of course there has been the important international border controls and the quarantining arrangements, but they are not fail-safe as well in all cases as we have seen. Not just in South Australia, but we have seen it in Western Australia. We have seen it in New South Wales and of course we have seen it quite significantly here in Victoria.
In fact, we have seen it pretty much everywhere around the country. So it is not a surprise that that can occur from a quarantined facility. What matters is how you respond in these situations. Just as New South Wales saw many small outbreaks, the ability to get on top of them quickly has been essential to keeping that state open and now, as Victoria reopens, it is a very timely reminder here and all around the country, whether you have been behind borders or not, the virus doesn't care. If you are not following COVID-safe behaviours, if you are not following your COVID-safe plan, if you are not appreciating the appropriate social distancing, if you are not registering when you are going into a restaurant or somewhere like that anywhere in the country, then of course you are creating risks. This is a very timely reminder of this very important fact. Borders don't protect you from that. When people are moving around, we still have people coming in, returning from overseas in all states and territories. In fact, we are putting even greater effort into that now with quarantine being set up in both the Northern Territory and in Tasmania to support so many Australians who are trying to get home. So, we always have said that there will be the need for further layers and systems of defence. The testing, the tracing will now be put to the test in South Australia and I spoke to the Premier first thing this morning and, indeed, as Greg has been interacting with his counterpart and Professor Kelly with his many counterparts. Interestingly there, I think, is a greater appreciation of the development of tracing systems around the country. That is one of the things that Dr Finkel was able to highlight. Here in Victoria alone, there has been a dramatic improvement in the tracing capabilities that were on hand going back many months. So we are supporting South Australia in every way that we can and they are aware of that, but I have got to say they have got a lot of people who have moved in isolation. They are running down the contacts. We have stood up the aged care response centre in South Australia. That is important to ensure that we deal with any potential risks or issues in residential aged-care facilities. I particularly spoke to the Premier about that today.
JOURNALIST: The response from other states with regard to the South Australian situation has been different in WA and New South Wales. What is the best response in your eyes?
PRIME MINISTER: It is not for me to make that judgement. The medical expert panel, the AHPPC, met today and they didn't recommend, collectively, any one response. There has been a spectrum of responses by the states and territories and New South Wales and Victoria and the ACT, they are doing more in terms of the screening of people who are coming into their states than other states have shut those things down. What I would add particularly as far as I am aware, particularly with Tasmania is my understanding and the Northern Territory, I was in touch with Michael Gunner earlier today as well, is they see these as temporary responses. What is important is these don't get sort of locked in as part of another enduring disruption and as soon as South Australia is able to get on top of this I would be expecting that states would keep on the path that we have set towards Christmas.
JOURNALIST: Given the two weeks to see how things play out, does this jeopardise your chance of getting borders opened up before Christmas?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I hope not. But we have always said that these are subject to the local health conditions and what occurs. But I would hope not. That will depend a lot on the disposition of various states and territories, but ensuring that you press on is a sign of confidence in your testing and tracing system. That is what it is. These have significantly improved. It will be a strong test of the South Australian system in the days ahead. But the early signs are encouraging in how they are reacting to that and being able to track down, Paul, the number of cases and they are very much concentrated in one family group, which I am sure the Premier has spoken more about. So far, it is an early good response, but we are certainly not getting ahead of ourselves as to how we anticipate this will play out in the days ahead.
JOURNALIST: In an interview this morning Minister Hunt said that the Commonwealth had offered ADF personnel to South Australia. Has South Australia accepted that offer?
PRIME MINISTER: Not to my knowledge, no. I spoke to the Premier about that this morning. There has already, has been a sort of standing support across Australia of the ADF. There will be ADF personnel in South Australia now already supporting, as they are in many places around the country, and so that is available to them to either redeploy or be reassigned. Paul, there has been a lot of work has been done by our Commonwealth public servants in supporting tracing capabilities and supporting that now. The Aged Care Response Centre has Commonwealth's support and involvement. So there is a ready response that has been in preparation for such an event and that has been swung into action. So it is all hands on.
JOURNALIST: [INAUDIBLE] quarantine programme [INAUDIBLE] Are you disappointed that South Australia hasn’t [INAUDIBLE]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well each state and territory is responsible for running their own show when it comes to these arrangements and we’ve had a very extensive review done by Dr Finkel and prior to that of course the review of the quarantine system that was put in place and while that of itself is not a failsafe it has indicated that around the country there are some very good practices in place. In fact, this is one of the things that has set Australia out from the rest of the world. And while the events in South Australia and in the last 48 hours are of course of very serious concern and are treated as such, I mean the worst day in Australia on COVID-19 is the best day that many would even hope to see overseas, in my regular discussions with overseas leaders, so I think it is important to understand that Australia is doing incredibly well, compared to all the other countries, but one of the reasons that we do is we are not complacent isn't about it. We are very cautious and we are very attentive to what needs to happen. That will be the case in South Australia as all states and territories you would expect it to be.
JOURNALIST: Just on other matters, the government settled the Robodebt class action today. Why did they wait until the day the trial started to settle that given that [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: There has been a process under way, but we have already have paid out more than $700 million of the $1.2 billion so we have been getting on with making this right. I have made comments about this in the Parliament earlier in the year, regarding the Commonwealth’s position and we have been working through that process with the lawyers. But, what we had been doing most importantly, is we have been settling those payments. So over $700 million has already been paid back out through this process and there is a bit more to go and remember these payments have been made at the same time that working through government services and our agencies we've had to enlist some 1.6 million Australians on to JobSeeker and the extraordinary level of disbursements that have been made as part of the Government’s response to COVID-19. So I think the combination of those enormous demands on the system but for us to still follow through on the commitments we made here to make this right, we have done exactly that and the settlement announced today is a further demonstration of that.
JOURNALIST: Is this embarrassing for the government and will you apologise for the Robodebt?
PRIME MINISTER: I already made remarks on that in the Parliament earlier this year. So I can only just refer you back to those, where I did just that. In addition to that, what I would say is we are righting a situation which has found to have been present in this program over two governments and we are dealing with income averaging being used as a basis for raising debts. That was a practice that was employed by the previous Labor government as well as our own government and that has been addressed as being not appropriate to base those payments, those raising those debts, and we have corrected that, and we have been paying the money back, some $700 million already out of $1.2 billion. So that is what the government should do. That is what the government has done, and that is what we will continue to do.
JOURNALIST: [INAUDIBLE] This is a $1.2 billion mistake that has cost the taxpayer that has also caused welfare recipients untold pain. Should the minister Stuart Robert lose his job over it?
PRIME MINISTER: As I said, this is a matter that goes back over two governments. It goes back about a decade, as using income averaging. I would say that the Minister has been the one working together with the Attorney-General having identified the issue of setting, and making it right. This is the same Minister who ensured that 1.6 million Australians have been able to access vital income support, particularly here in Melbourne at a time of great crisis and so to be able to deal with both of these challenges at the same time, suggests to me that he's been getting very much on top this issue and has been a key part of making it right.
JOURNALIST: [INAUDIBLE]
PRIME MINISTER: If he wishes to raise questions with me about that, I'll be happy to address them, but I think the important matters that we have discussed today is not only the continued work we are doing together in response to COVID-19. There are a range of infrastructure issues we were actually dealing with before the pandemic hit and I look forward to returning to some of those and to the agreements and the work we are doing there. But most importantly, an issue that the Premier and I share a great passion for, and I know that Minister Hunt does as well and of course Professor Kelly, is the issue of mental health. Now, you have got the royal commission into mental health here in Victoria. Today, I have handed down the Productivity Commission's report on mental health. There is the interim advice of the National Suicide Prevention Adviser. What these reports show is this,is that we have a hospital system. We have got a Primary Health Care system. And you have people, particularly those who are some 30,000 Australians who seek to take their own life each year, thankfully they are not all successful, but sadly over 3,000 of those result in death by suicide.
But when you have people who have suicide attempts, one of to critical issues that is identified is when they leave hospital, when they are at great risk. Now, we have invested in - and further invested in the Way Back program and those programs exist here in Victoria. There are also the issues of when people come out of incarceration and the mental health pressures equally as when people come out of the defence forces and the mental health pressures that are faced by veterans. All of this is extenuated by the rather extraordinary year we are living through and the anxiety produced by the pandemic.
My point is, outside of hospital, outside of the public health networks, out of the GP care system there is enormous shared responsibility when it comes to community-based mental health care and today I committed to a national framework again for that to be developed by this time next year and I believe between particularly Premier Andrews and myself we will be able, I think because of our shared passion on this issue to try and get that framework right and work with other Premiers whose I know are equally passionate. The next National Federation Reform Council, well, the first I should say National Federation Reform Council will be held in about a month’s time. That is where that process will begin. It will be the most important item on that agenda. Many other important items on that agenda, but that will be in my view, in particular, the most important. That is an area where we want to see how National Cabinet work together well. Sure, there are some disagreements, but frankly it set out Australia apart from so many other countries, the way that we work together. And to take that unity of purpose and apply it to challenges, particularly like in the area of mental health, so probably from the nature of my answer you can expect that he and I will have a good chat about that because we both both feel strongly about it as the minister does and his counterparts around the country. There is a lot of good work for us to do together, and I look forward to catching up with him again. It has been a while since I have been in Melbourne. It has been great to be back. I have ended my run without a Melbourne coffee for some time and I enjoyed that catching up with some people this morning. It is great to be back here but it is particularly great to be seeing jobs, 500 jobs going into this construction alone and a future vaccination capability here, Brian, that is just going to continue to hold Australia up in lights for our great response. So thank you all very much for your time today.
Interview with Tony Pilkington, 5AA
16 November 2020
TONY PILKINGTON: Hello, Prime Minister. Good afternoon, you're talking to Adelaide, thank you for that.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I am. Is that you, Pilko?
PILKINGTON: Yes, it is.
PRIME MINISTER: How are you?
PILKINGTON: I'm all right, thank you. But well, I'm Ok. But God, some of us here all of a sudden battling. Prime Minister, can you tell us what's planned?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I spoke to the Premier first thing this morning. And, you know, these are things that South Australia have been preparing for. There are no failsafes when it comes to all the systems that are there. And the quarantine arrangement has been running for a long time. But I think there's an appreciation that there is a certain inevitability at some point it'll find a vulnerability and that's what's occurred. But it's what matters now is how South Australia responds. And I know the Premier is moving swiftly, the identification and the tracing and the testing that has been done over the weekend. We've stood up the aged care response centre there in South Australia to address any particular needs in the aged care, residential aged care community and more broadly. But I particularly want to let South Australians know that the whole country is working together. All other Premiers have been extending their support to Premier Marshall through the National Cabinet processes that we have. But there's a lot of confidence in South Australia's ability to address this. Of course, that will be put to the test over the next 48 hours in particular. But they are prepared for this and we'll be giving them every support to ensure that they're successful.
PILKINGTON: Prime Minister, what's the immediate support you can offer to the government here, to the people of SA?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the first and most important thing we've done is to stand up the aged care response centre. That's an area where we're particularly involved and we want to make sure that we're out there ensuring that appropriate testing is being conducted in aged care facilities and standing up that, as well as the re-statement of all the necessary precautions that need to be taking place in aged care facilities, the wearing of protective equipment and infection control practises. What this reminds, I think, all over not just in South Australia, but all around the country is the virus hasn't gone away. It hasn't gone. It's still there. And whether you've had borders up or down, does it matter. If there is a weakness that it's found then within the community it can move and so we can't be complacent about it, and I don't believe South Australia has. But they will move now to address the risk that is presented. And I think people should sort of go cautiously about their business following the COVIDSafe behaviours and the government will get on with its job.
PILKINGTON: Prime Minister, before we let you go, and thank you for the call this afternoon. What's the information that you're getting on on a possible vaccine? I mean, is that still airy fairy sort of stuff? I mean, we're hoping to God it perhaps eventuates. What's the information you're getting?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's a timely question. I've literally just driven out of the manufacturing facility here in Melbourne, which I've just seen that production upstairs there in the facility. So that's the AstraZeneca vaccine. Now, of course, that still has to go through the TGA approval processes where, you know, the only vaccines that will be made available to Australians will be those that satisfy the highest health requirements. But in preparation for that, that vaccine is in production right now. In addition to that, there are three other vaccines. There is, of course, the University of Queensland vaccine, which is a bit further back in the process. But that would also be an Australian-manufactured vaccine that would occur here also in Melbourne. And then there are two others. There's the Pfizer vaccine, which at the moment is sort of out in front of the pack. And we have 10 million doses of that which we've been able to secure, including the cold storage facility transfer to take it right to the point of vaccination. And then there's another vaccine out of the United States. So all of this would see Australians vaccinated three times over in terms of the scale. But they're making great progress. But we can't. We can't count on that until, you know, the trials and the medical hurdles are appropriately cleared.
PILKINGTON: Prime Minister, we’ll let you go. Who wins State of Origin on Wednesday?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course, the Blues do. It was my great regret that I was unable to come down to Adelaide to see that game. It was probably just as well because the Blues threw that one away, I’m afraid. But I was watching intently and I did see Premier Marshall, he sent me a text with him and Wayne ‘Junior’ Pearce before kick-off and I was incredibly jealous. But congratulations on South Australia. Who knows? We might have converted a few people to rugby league.
PILKINGTON: Good on you, Prime Minister. Thanks for the time this afternoon. I know you're busy. Much appreciate the time. Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
$1 Billion Manufacturing Agreement Secures Australia’s National Health Security
16 November 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology
A new high-tech vaccine manufacturing facility will be developed in Melbourne to secure Australia’s long-term supply of critical health products including pandemic influenza vaccines and life-saving antivenoms.
The $1 billion agreement between the Morrison Government and Seqirus also provides the ability to rapidly manufacture vaccines when responding to health pandemics in the future.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new complex would be the largest influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere.
“Keeping Australians safe is my number one priority and while we are rightly focused on both the health and economic challenges of COVID-19, we must also guard against future threats,” the Prime Minister said.
“This agreement cements Australia’s long-term sovereign medical capabilities, giving us the ability to develop vaccines when we need them.”
“Just as major defence equipment must be ordered well in advance, this is an investment in our national health security against future pandemics.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said under the agreement, Seqirus would invest $800 million in the development of the facility project, creating 520 construction jobs, commencing in 2021.
“This new facility will guarantee Australian health security against pandemic influenza for the next two decades.”
“Our government’s strategy to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians and the Australian economy, as well as having access to a world class health system.”
“This is a major milestone, ensuring that Australia can mass produce vaccines against future flu pandemics, as well as continuing onshore production of seasonal flu vaccines, Q fever vaccines and antivenoms.
Without this historic agreement, the nation would need to source these critical medical products from overseas.
Seqirus is currently the only company making influenza and Q fever vaccine in Australia, and the only company in the world making life saving antivenom products against 11 poisonous Australian creatures (snakes, marine creatures and spiders).
The current agreement between the Australian Government and Seqirus—a subsidiary of CSL Ltd—is due to end in 2024-25. To continue onshore manufacturing in Australia, Seqirus will now invest in a major new vaccine manufacturing facility close to Melbourne airport to replace its existing, ageing production facilities in Parkville, Melbourne.
The highly specialised production facility is expected to be operational by 2026 with the contract for supply of these critical products extending to 2036.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said Australia’s manufacturing capability had been a huge asset during the COVID-19 pandemic and this agreement will keep us in a strong position.
“The Morrison Government knows just how important it is for Australia to be able to stand up for itself when it really matters,” Minister Andrews said.
“This investment will not only allow us to continue to manufacture the essentials we need well into the future but it will also create and secure high paying manufacturing jobs across a range of skills.
“This agreement is just one in a range of investments we’re making to drive Australian manufacturing forward and create jobs. We’re also investing a further $1.3 billion through our Modern Manufacturing Initiative into projects across six priority areas, including medical products.”
The Morrison Government acted quickly and decisively to address the consequences of COVID-19 and as a result, Australia has achieved some of the best health and economic outcomes in the world.
More than $18.5 billion has committed to support the emergency COVID-19 health response to the pandemic, including $3.2 billion to secure access to over 134.8 million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccine candidates developed by the University of Oxford-Astra Zeneca and the University of Queensland, Pfizer-BioNTech and Novavax.
The Victorian Government has also supported the procurement of suitable land for Seqirus.
Interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW
16 November 2020
NEIL MITCHELL: Prime Minister, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Neil. It's great to be back in Melbourne after quite a while.
MITCHELL: I was going to say, welcome back to Victoria. It's February, I think, isn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: It has been quite some time. It’s a beautiful day and it's great to be back.
MITCHELL: Does it look any different? I suppose you haven't gotten to the city yet.
PRIME MINISTER: The traffic is a bit quieter, I can assure you of that, from last time I went down, as Melburnians would know. But as time goes on we will see things continue to sort of get back to some form of normal. But it's, you know, I commend all Victorians for pulling through what has been such a terribly difficult time and now coming out the other side and the comeback has begun.
MITCHELL: You, and more so Josh Frydenberg, were very critical of the way Daniel Andrews ran things here. But was he right, given where we are? Did he do the right thing in retrospect?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't think that's how you describe what I was saying.
MITCHELL: Well, Josh was.
PRIME MINISTER: When Melbourne went into lockdown, we supported the lockdown because it had become necessary because the outbreak had not been contained. There was the hotel quarantine failures and then there was the outbreak containment which wasn't able to bring it under control and lockdown became the only way of dealing with it. Now, that lockdown has gone for a long time, a very long time, and obviously that has significant costs that are associated with people's livelihoods as well. But we've come out the other side and the only real issue was towards the end about at what point did that move open again. But they were decisions for the Victorian Premier and we've maintained a very good working relationship all the way through. In fact, I’ll be meeting him later today while I’m here.
MITCHELL: Yeah but you also, you and other ministers, in fact the Health Minister and Josh Frydenberg talked about the contact tracing not being up to scratch while the Victorian government was saying it was. Well, you were right there, weren’t you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, and we've just had Dr Finkel who has just completed a national review of all the contract arrangements, including in South Australia, which is now dealing with, you know, a very concerning outbreak there. I’ve spoken to the Premier this morning, the chief medical officer also and they’re swinging into action there, picking up from the lessons from what has occurred in Victoria. And so hopefully they'll be able to get onto that very, very quickly. But that's a concerning situation, but one which no amount of resources being spared to deal with. But the contact tracing, I mean, making sure you quarantine arrangements are in order. But the outbreak containment through contact tracing is absolutely critical and ensuring that they move towards an industrial and digital scale is, I think, one of the key lessons there. And that's what Dr Finkel has done and that has led to a significant improvement in the Victorian contact tracing.
MITCHELL: Is it fixed yet? Is Victoria fixed yet?
PRIME MINISTER: Certainly the advice from Dr Finkel was that there's been significant improvements from where it was.
MITCHELL: Yeah but is it done?
PRIME MINISTER: It is chalk and cheese, night and day.
MITCHELL: Is it right, though? Is it gone as far as it needs to? Does it still need improvement?
PRIME MINISTER: There are still improvements to be made and I am sure the Premier would agree with that. But those improvements are being made. I think that's the critical thing. But it is in a position now that if it were in that position many, many months ago then I think things would have been quite different.
MITCHELL: Ok. In South Australia, would you be sending in more help there? Or have they got it under control?
PRIME MINISTER: We've already stood up the aged care response, like the one we had in Victoria that we set up there. And so, again, moving quickly. There are excellent facilities there because of staff, not because of residents, that we've put into a lockdown amongst those facilities. More broadly across South Australia, they've engaged in very significant testing over the last 24-36 hours. And there are large numbers that have been placed into isolation this morning and that's right. But I think, Neil, it's a reminder, even after, you know, a lockdown, even after all of this time, the virus hasn't gone anywhere and it can be activated. And that's why none of us can be off our game. And we've got to match fit on this all the time. New South Wales have been able to keep pushing through. They've had outbreaks they have contained and, you know, Victoria’s had outbreaks, smaller ones more recently and they’ve been able to get on top of in regional areas. And so, you know, Tasmania was the same. So we've just got to stay on the front foot. But in comparison to the rest of the world, I mean, I just finished the events over the weekend with all the ASEAN leaders and spent a lot of time also with European leaders recently and the United States. I mean, the comparison there could not be more stark. It’s getting worse, not better there. But here in Australia, they're getting better, not worse.
MITCHELL: What does this say about home quarantine and the dangers of home quarantine, which one would assume is less secure than hotel quarantine? What does it say about that?
PRIME MINISTER: We looked at this and considered this last Friday at the National Cabinet and we're not convinced at this point that we can take those risks and that the systems can be as certain. Particularly when you've got the elevated number of cases overseas, we don't think at this stage we can move toward anything like that. I mean, there are already some exemptions that are provided in all states and territories that sort of deal with specific circumstances. But that's only where they can meet the high standards expected of quarantine that is applied in a hotel setting. But let's not kid ourselves that those are foolproof either. And that's why the outbreak containment, the tracing, the COVIDSafe behaviours, the wearing of masks, all of these things are very important to ensure we stay on top of it.
MITCHELL: By the way, you may be aware of this, the Northern Territory has just declared South Australia a hotspot, which means people going to the Northern Territory will have to go into quarantine.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I was advised of that by the Chief Minister and, look, I anticipate other jurisdictions will make similar decisions and that's for them to do. The whole point of the hot spot is that it does provide that temporary protection. It's important, though, that as Northern Territory has demonstrated, they put areas of the country, not entire states, on hotspots from time to time, and they quickly take them off again. The Northern Territory has shown a very good model there.
MITCHELL: Would you object to, say, Victoria and New South Wales closing their borders to South Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’ll leave that to both of those states to make those judgments. I mean, I remember the conversation I had with Premier Andrews and Premier Berejiklian when we shut the border down between New South Wales and Victoria. I mean, that was a sensible decision, it was necessary and we look forward to those borders reopening. And these are always temporary measures and they need to be done on the basis of health advice. But I spoke to Premier Marshall this morning, and I mean, they've been working hard to keep their systems match fit. But as he said to me this morning, you know, there's a constant reminder and a wakeup call for the whole country. Perhaps particularly for those states and territories that have been behind borders. In New South Wales and the ACT and I'm sure as I move around Victoria today, I don't think I'll see any situation where I think people are not taking this seriously. And it's important that behind borders that a complacency doesn't build up.
MITCHELL: The tennis coming to Melbourne, all the international players coming here for all tournaments, do you need to sign off on that or have you signed off on that?
PRIME MINISTER: No, that's a, that's well, the visa issues, but that of itself isn't an issue. It's the public health issues are being done by the state government.
MITCHELL: So are you happy with it? Happy with it?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I am.
MITCHELL: A lot of, a lot of people coming from a lot of countries?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah but we've already seen a lot of this happening already. I mean, we have people who are coming in for a range of different occupations. I mean, they're not celebrities. They're not coming and playing tennis or anything like that. But I think we've demonstrated through a lot of our major sporting events this year, I mean, the fact that the AFL and NRL and the women’s netball were able to continue, I think, demonstrated that within these codes and within these events that Australia is very good at managing their practices of these things.
MITCHELL: The vaccine lab that you're opening, just how important is that for, I mean it’s great for the Victorian economy and everything - not opening, but announcing - it's great for the Victorian economy, the Australian economy. What does it mean for the future of public health?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is, there are two elements here. I mean, the things we've already announced, which is the fact that the AstraZeneca vaccine and the University of Queensland vaccine will both be manufactured here in Melbourne. And that's part of our manufacturing agreements for those vaccines that we've already completed with CSL and that was announced some time ago. So that's dealing with the immediate issues of the COVID vaccine. But what we're doing here is over the next 12 years, we're ensuring that our procurement for vaccines going through CSL and that's about a billion dollars over the next 12 years, that gives them the certainty to invest in upgrading their capabilities. And one of the lessons that many countries, including Australia, is we'd need to continue to invest in supply chain resilience, particularly in areas, it just doesn't deal with the COVID, things like COVID vaccines, because, you know, there could be another pandemic on something else. And to have this capability at an upgraded level, I think is very important. So this is for the future. But it also is creating obviously economic opportunities right now and a security right now and security around our supply chains and in a critical medical area.
MITCHELL: A couple of quick things, I know as the former prime minister John Howard suggested, you have a face-to-face meeting with the Chinese president to try to work out problems there. Will you try to do that once the restrictions on travel are lifted?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what John said was to do these face-to-face meetings, actually assists, of course they do and Australia is always open to those. I mean, just on the weekend where I was engaged in a multilateral discussion with Premier Li Keqiang on three occasions, actually on the weekend. Sorry, two occasions on the weekend through the East Asia Summit and the RCEP, which is the trade...
MITCHELL: So do you want to do that with President Xi?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, again, we welcome that. I mean, Australia has not broken off any dialogue. We're totally happy to be having those discussions. And we stand ready to.
MITCHELL: This new trade deal with China, though. How can we trust it at a time when Australians are still being told they can be locked up for no reason in China?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, let me just put in context what was agreed on the weekend. This was a new trade arrangement that was driven by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. So countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and others, and they have been driving, for the last eight years, it's quite been quite a bit of time to get a trade arrangement between all of these countries, which includes China, including ourselves, includes Japan, includes Korea. Now Australia already has trade agreements with all of those countries. And what this does will, I think, really simplify those arrangements. So, I mean, what we have with China, we already had established through the China- Australia Free Trade Agreement. But there's no doubt there's been some tensions around some particular commodities and exports at the moment. And we're seeking to work through those patiently and practically. China says very clearly that they're saying that this is not an act of retribution or coercion or anything like that. That's what they're saying. And so we will work with that and seek to resolve these issues as practically as we can.
MITCHELL: Two other quick things if I may, I was just talking to a mother whose 29-year old son in the UK desperately needs cancer surgery, stage 4, back in Melbourne, problems getting him in. Can we raise that with your office and see if there's any room for compassionate action?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you certainly can. And we've been, I mean, we've facilitated the arrival of over 30,000 Australians directly. I mean, 400,000 Australians have actually come back to Australia since the start of this pandemic and we've got a team of case managers working vulnerable cases specifically. So very happy to chase that up, Neil. It's very hard getting people back because every time we get someone back, there's at least one or two who also wants to come back on top of that. I understand that. And that's why we've had to say RE international students, that there's no shortage of flights. And we put on additional flights. We've opened up quarantine capacity in the Northern Territory and Tasmania, the Commonwealth’s funding that. But until we can get m, continue to be hard for people to get home. But we're moving everything we can to get them home.
MITCHELL: Thank you so much for your time. Just finally, a good working relationship with the state government. Daniel Andrews - Josh Frydenberg, quote, ‘He's not a leader. He's just a liberal.’ That's a good working relationship?
PRIME MINISTER: We get on just fine. I'm looking forward to catching up with him this afternoon. I mean, the National Cabinet has met on 31 occasions, Neil. And so, you know, over the course of this year, of course, there's been a lot of difficult issues. And from time to time, there's been some disagreements. I think people understand that. But I can assure you that we're both leaders, him of Victoria, me of the country, and it's our job to work together and we’ve never lost sight of that.
MITCHELL: Josh isn't going with you is he?
PRIME MINISTER: No, he won’t be there today. But I'm sure he and Treasurer Pallas equally work together very well. Doesn't mean they have to agree on everything. And one of the things I should say, Neil, because one of the other reasons I’m here in Melbourne today is one of the things we have to work on together. And I think Victoria and the Commonwealth can actually set the framework here, is on mental health, because the royal commission is here in Victoria. But also today I'm releasing the Productivity Commission report on this and the national suicide prevention adviser's interim report. One of the key things we've got to do here is work in this grey zone that exists between primary health, your GP and what happens in hospital, there’s a lot of shared responsibility to sit in the middle there. And that is something that he and I are very committed to try and resolve. There’s a lot of good faith and goodwill to achieve that.
MITCHELL: Quite extraordinary isn't the number of self-harm attempts by young people has increased by a third? The number of presentations anecdotally for mental health issues at emergency departments has at least doubled, yet the suicide rate hasn't gone up?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think that's a testament to the fact that the services [inaudible] and we have surged those supports, particularly here in Victoria, particularly here in Victoria, through the lockdown. And look, I hope what you’ve just said doesn't change [inaudible] coming in in terms of the actual death from suicide. And it is running on an equivalent level to what we've seen last year. But, you know, whether it's the services for young people, or BeyondBlue, or Lifeline, they have all done an amazing job here in Melbourne. And I really thank all the workers there and the volunteers and those who support those organisations they have been lifesavers.
MITCHELL: Thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Neil. Good to talk to you.
Regional Trade Deal to Boost Export Opportunities for Aussie Farmers and Businesses
15 November 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Trade, Minister for Trade Tourism and Investment
Australian farmers and businesses are set to benefit from better export opportunities with the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement between Australia and 14 other Indo-Pacific countries.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the signing of this long-awaited agreement signalled our region’s shared commitment to open trade and investment, despite the challenges of COVID-19.
“Our trade policy is all about supporting Australian jobs, boosting export opportunities and ensuring an open region with even stronger supply chains. RCEP builds on our trade successes and is good news for Australian businesses,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“With one in five Australian jobs reliant on trade, the RCEP Agreement will be crucial as Australia and the region begin to rebuild from the COVID 19 pandemic.
“This agreement covers the fastest growing region in the world and, as RCEP economies continue to develop and their middle classes grow, it will open up new doors for Australian farmers, businesses and investors.”
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said RCEP would be the world’s largest free trade agreement and would improve export opportunities for Australian farmers and businesses, especially in the services sector.
“This deal will further integrate Australian exporters into a booming part of the globe, with RCEP countries making up nearly 30 per cent of world GDP and the world´s population,” Minister Birmingham said.
“RCEP has been driven by the ten ASEAN nations, who collectively constitute Australia’s second largest two-way trading partner and have successfully brought Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea into this regional trading block with them.
“This agreement may have taken eight years to negotiate but it could not have come at a more important time given the scale of global economic and trade uncertainty.
“Economic cooperation of this scale sends a strong signal that our region is committed to the principles of open trade for the post COVID-19 recovery, just as we advanced them during the previous years of strong economic growth.
“Greater openness within our region, as well as the greater integration of value chains and more common rules of origin which this deal delivers, will make it easier for Australian businesses and investors to operate throughout our region, helping Australia to continue to grow our exports.
“There are particular gains for Australian providers within the financial services sector, education, health, engineering and other professional services, who can become better integrated within the region and have more access within RCEP countries.
“Australia is committed to fully ratifying RCEP as soon as possible so Australian farmers, businesses and investors can start to access the benefits of this agreement. It will also be an inclusive agreement, with the door open for others, especially India, to join if and when they are ready.”
Australia will also commit $46 million to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help eligible ASEAN countries implement their RCEP commitments, ensuring RCEP delivers on its full potential.
When finalised, the main benefits for Australia will be:
A new single set of rules and procedures for accessing preferential tariffs in any of the 15 RCEP markets
New scope for trade in services throughout the region including across telecommunications, professional and financial services.
Improved mechanisms for tackling non-tariff barriers including in areas such as customs procedures, quarantine and technical standards.
Greater investment certainty for businesses.
Rules on e-commerce to make it easier for businesses to trade online.
A common set of rules on intellectual property.
Agreed rules of origin that will increase the competitiveness of Australian inputs into regional production chains.
For more on the Regional Economic Partnership Agreement visit:
https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/negotiations/rcep
Investing in our Southeast Asian Partnerships
14 November 2020
I met with regional counterparts virtually today for the ASEAN-Australia Summit. Australia’s vision of the Indo-Pacific region has ASEAN at its centre.
Australia was ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner. I welcome ASEAN’s agreement to annual leaders’ summits with Australia, building on the 2018 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney and marking a new chapter in our Strategic Partnership.
COVID-19 has changed much but Australia’s commitment to ASEAN remains steadfast. Australia and ASEAN share a vision for a peaceful, inclusive, sovereign and resilient region.
ASEAN is more important than ever as we collectively deal with the health and economic challenges brought on by COVID-19.
Australia will invest in a new package of economic, development and security measures to support the region’s recovery from COVID-19.
We will invest $21 million for the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, as part of Australia’s commitment of an additional $500 million over three years to support access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the Pacific and Southeast Asia, plus a further $24 million towards the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
We will provide $232 million to support economic integration and development in the Mekong.
This includes scholarships for emerging leaders, strengthening of cyber and critical technology capabilities, and support for the implementation of the Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy. Australia will also open a liaison office in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
We will invest a further $104 million towards the region’s emerging security needs, including in military education, infectious diseases, cyber resilience, maritime security and English language training.
We will expand our Defence Adviser and Defence Attaché network to cover all ASEAN countries and fund Australia’s defence industry to work with regional partners on peacekeeping.
ASEAN’s economic recovery will be supported with $70 million for high quality infrastructure development and technical assistance, plus $65 million for regional maritime states to develop their marine resources sustainably and address challenges through enhanced training, technical advice and cooperation.
We will invest $13 million to help partners work with technology standards-setting bodies to get their economies geared for the future.
Supporting open, rules-based trade is vital as the world emerges from the pandemic recession.
We will provide $46 million for eligible ASEAN countries for technical assistance and capacity building to help implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the ASEAN-Australia and New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
Australia and ASEAN are partners in the challenges we face, with Southeast Asia’s economic and health recovery critical to our own.
Reforms to National Natural Disaster Arrangements
13 November 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture Drought and Emergency Management
The Australian Government is today announcing major reforms as part of our response to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
The Royal Commission made 80 recommendations with over 50 involving the Commonwealth, and we intend to support every recommendation for which we are responsible:
14 recommendations directly targeted to the Australian Government;
23 recommendations specific to States and Territories;
41 recommendations that are shared between the Commonwealth and States and Territories;
2 recommendations specifically focussed on the Insurance Industry and the Australian Building Code Board.
In the face of the unprecedented 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires, the Royal Commission made clear that there is a need for a genuinely national approach and a greater role for the Commonwealth to support states and territories to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters.
While the serious work to implement each and every recommendation in a timely manner will now be a priority for all governments, we are pleased to be announcing a package of Commonwealth measures which will enhance and strengthen our emergency response and recovery capacity as soon as possible.
The package includes a number of interlinked reforms and provides strong leadership on all hazards emergency management and natural disaster risk reduction.
We will introduce legislation to give the Australian Government the power to declare a national emergency to help mobilise Commonwealth resources and help tackle the challenges states and local communities may face.
National Cabinet has also agreed to establish a National Emergency Management Ministers Meeting which will be initially responsible for driving and coordinating implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations – in consultation with the range of responsible Ministers - and ultimately ensure that Australia is preparing for future disasters at the highest levels.
We will enhance and strengthen national coordination arrangements within Emergency Management Australia (EMA) to streamline requests for Australian Government assets to assist states and territories in their preparation and response to disasters.
In addition, the Royal Commission has identified the need for a new, dedicated National Resilience, Relief and Recovery Agency, and the government will now commence the necessary work to establish this new agency.
The new agency will initially incorporate the functions of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, which we established in response to the Black Summer bushfires. It will also integrate the functions of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency, and the disaster recovery and risk reduction functions within the Department of Home Affairs.
Importantly, it will drive the reduction of natural disaster risk, enhance natural disaster resilience and ensure effective relief and recovery to all hazards.
We will also establish a Resilience Services function to provide enhanced climate and disaster risk information and services to meet the information needs of the enhanced Emergency Management Australia, and the proposed National Resilience, Relief and Recovery Agency.
The government thanks and commends the Royal Commission for its examination of the events leading up to, during and following the devastating Black Summer bushfires.
The Australian Government’s response to the Royal Commission’s report is available at: https://www.pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/pmc/national-approach-national-disasters
Prime Minister's Literary Awards Shortlists Announced
13 November 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Communications Cyber Safety and the Arts
The 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlists have been announced today by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP.
The Awards recognise the exceptional talent of Australian writers across six categories and help raise the profile of our established and emerging writers, inspiring audiences to choose new Australian books.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that now, more than ever, we see the profound contribution of books to our cultural, intellectual and recreational life.
“Australia’s literary sector entertains us and educates us. Our authors, illustrators, poets and historians are our storytellers, shaping our national consciousness and contributing to a record of our culture,” the Prime Minister said.
“Books have the power to educate and comfort us, and I know many Australians of all ages have drawn on books during COVID-19.”
Minister Fletcher said the 2020 shortlists highlight themes that are relevant to us all.
“From more than 550 eligible entries, our judges had the difficult task of selecting 30 books, which this year capture diverse voices that make up Australia’s literary community,” Minister Fletcher said.
“I welcome the large number of stories by Australian Indigenous writers and women that are a prominent feature of this year’s shortlist.
“I congratulate the shortlisted authors and thank the judging panels for their work.”
Winners of the 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards will be announced in December 2020.
For more information on the shortlists, including judging panel comments, visit: https://www.arts.gov.au/departmental-news/2020-prime-ministers-literary-awards-shortlist-announced-pmlitawards
The 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlists are:
Fiction
Exploded View, Carrie Tiffany, Text Publishing
The Death of Jesus, J. M. Coetzee,Text Publishing
The Weekend, Charlotte Wood, Allen & Unwin
The Yield, Tara June Winch, Hamish Hamilton: Penguin Random House
Wolfe Island, Lucy Treloar, Picador: Pan Macmillan
Non-fiction
Hearing Maud: A Journey for a Voice, Jessica White, University of Western Australia Publishing
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia, Christina Thompson, William Collins: HarperCollins
See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Abuse, Jess Hill, Black Inc.
Songspirals: Sharing Women’s Wisdom of Country through Songlines, Gay’wu Group of Women, Allen & Unwin
The Enchantment of the Long-haired Rat: A Rodent History of Australia, Tim Bonyhady, Text Publishing
Australian history
From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting, Judith Brett, Text Publishing
Meeting the Waylo: Aboriginal Encounters in the Archipelago, Tiffany Shellam, University of Western Australia Publishing
Progressive New World: How Settler Colonialism and Transpacific Exchange Shaped American Reform, Marilyn Lake, Harvard University Press
Sludge: Disaster on Victoria’s Goldfields, Susan Lawrence and Peter Davies, La Trobe University Press in conjunction with Black Inc.
The Oarsmen: The Remarkable Story of the Men Who Rowed from the Great War to Peace, Scott Patterson, Hardie Grant Books
Poetry
Birth Plan, LK Holt, Vagabond Press
Empirical, Lisa Gorton, Giramondo Poets
Heide,π.O., Giramondo Poets
The Future Keepers, Nandi Chinna, Fremantle Press
The Lost Arabs, Omar Sakr, University of Queensland Press
Children’s literature
Catch a Falling Star, Meg McKinlay, Walker Books
Cheeky Dogs: To Lake Nash and Back, Dion Beasley and Johanna Bell, Allen & Unwin
Cooee Mittigar: A Story on Darug Songlines, Jasmine Seymour, illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson, Magabala Books
One Careless Night, Christina Booth, Black Dog Books: Walker Books
Winter of the White Bear, Martin Ed Chatterton, Dirt Lane Press
Young adult literature
How it Feels to Float, Helena Fox, Pan Macmillan
The Honeyman and the Hunter, Neil Grant, Allen & Unwin
The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling, Wai Chim, Allen & Unwin
This Is How We Change the Ending, Vikki Wakefield, Text Publishing
When the Ground Is Hard,Malla Nunn, Allen & Unwin
New Head of Australian Space Agency Announced
13 November 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Industry, Minister for Industry Science and Technology
The Morrison Government is continuing to put industry at the heart of the Australian space sector, to create jobs and grow the economy, with Virgin Galactic’s Chief Operating Officer Enrico Palermo to become the new Head of the Australian Space Agency.
Mr Palermo will return home to Australia to replace inaugural Head Dr Megan Clark, who will finish in the role at the end of December, before commencing as the Chair of the Australian Space Agency Advisory Board in the New Year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Mr Palermo comes to the position with extensive international experience in the space industry and will be an enormous asset to the Agency.
“Mr Palermo’s leadership will rocket Australia toward our goal of becoming a major player in the international space industry, while providing benefits across our economy,” the Prime Minister said.
“By 2030, we want to triple the size of our space sector – adding $12 billion to our economy and creating up to 20,000 new, high-skilled jobs.
“I extend my deepest thanks to Dr Clark who has led the Agency from its infancy in 2018 and set a clear path forward.”
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said Mr Palermo’s background in engineering, commercialisation and innovation would provide strong leadership and direction for the Agency.
“Mr Palermo’s skill set reflects the reality of the space sector, which is about so much more than just research or launch – it improves life on earth and creates opportunities in a range of areas including manufacturing,” Minister Andrews said.
“The economic benefits of space exploration are vast, with highly skilled jobs right along the supply chain from manufacturing to robotics, engineering, and resources.
“The Australian space sector continues to expand at the speed of light, and I look forward to working closely with Mr Palermo to capitalise on the opportunities for Australian businesses and manufacturers in the space industry.
“I know he will build on the solid foundation of Dr Clark, who saw the Agency through lift off – establishing the Agency headquarters in Adelaide, modernising the space legislation framework to ensure safe operations and securing agreements with international space agencies and companies.”
Mr Palermo said he was honoured by the appointment, and excited to take up the role in January.
“In its first two years, the Australian Space Agency has made significant progress and achieved many firsts. I look forward to working with the Agency team to continue the mission of growing and transforming Australia’s space industry,” Mr Palermo said.
After graduating from the University of Western Australia, Mr Palermo has worked extensively in the space industry over the past two decades in the United Kingdom and the United States, including as President of The Spaceship Company, Virgin Galactic’s aerospace-system manufacturing organisation.
Strategic Partnership with Thailand
13 November 2020
Australia has a longstanding friendship with Thailand, stretching back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1952.
Today, with my Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, I have elevated our relationship to that of a Strategic Partnership.
In view of the evolving strategic shifts in the region, through this Strategic Partnership we will enhance cooperation in key areas, including defence and security, cyber affairs, anti-money laundering and combating transnational crime.
This historic announcement delivers on a joint commitment that Prime Minister Prayut and I made at the East Asia Summit last year in Bangkok.
Ahead of tomorrow’s East Asia Summit, hosted by Vietnam in virtual format, today’s announcement will strengthen our engagement on economic recovery, political and security cooperation, and in the Mekong.
Thailand is a top-10 trading partner and a natural leader within ASEAN. Our trading relationship will grow even more important as both countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Cabinet Statement
13 November 2020
The National Cabinet met today for the 31st time to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, the Framework for National Reopening by Christmas, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and getting the economy moving again.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions to the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
The Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, provided an update on the latest epidemiological data and medical advice in relation to COVID-19.
There have been more than 27,600 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 907 people have died. There are now around 80 active cases in Australia. Most notably, National Cabinet noted the significant reduction in community transmission, and that there have been only a small number of cases of community transmission in the last fortnight. More than 9.2 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.
Australia has done well on both the health and economic fronts compared to most countries around the world. National Cabinet noted the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in many countries and the comparative strength of Australia’s effort in addressing COVID compared to most other developed economies. Globally there have been over 52 million cases and sadly over 1.2 million deaths. Today there have been more than 500,000 new cases reported.
National Cabinet endorsed the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth, states and territories in rolling out COVID-19 vaccination. National Cabinet welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s announcement that Australia had secured access to 134.8 million doses of four leading vaccine candidates.
National Cabinet adopted all recommendations in the National Contact Tracing Review, presented by the Australian Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel. While vaccines are being developed, and treatments for COVID-19 are being improved, an important means to bring about a return to normal economic and community activity is rapid testing, contact tracing, isolation and outbreak management. These measures back up the ongoing need for COVID-safe behaviours such as social distancing and good hygiene.
National Cabinet will meet again on Friday 11 December 2020, when the National Federation Reform Council will also meet, with a focus on mental health.
Framework for National Reopening - A COVID Normal Australia
The Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory agreed to a new ‘Framework for National Reopening Australia by Christmas’ (document attached), subject to local health advice and building on and enhancing the 3-Step Framework for a COVID Safe Australia developed in May 2020.
Western Australia did not agree to the National Framework for Reopening, specifically the domestic border and international arrival proposals.
The Framework provides the Australian community and businesses with a way forward where Australians can live and work in a COVID Normal Australia, recognising that the highly infectious nature of COVID-19 means that it will be present until a COVID-19 vaccine is found.
The Framework underscores the need for continued health vigilance while providing a path to easing the physical and mental burden on Australians.
The Framework establishes an updated Common Operating Picture based on the advice of Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel AO, with strengthened criteria to ensure that health systems are prepared and detailed information is publicly available on COVID-19 conditions.
The Commonwealth and seven states and territories agreed that reopening by Christmas under the Framework sets a pathway for the removal of domestic border restrictions where it is safe to do so, and with free movement of people and freight consistent with National Cabinet’s strategy of suppression with a goal of no community transmission.
Review of state and territory contact tracing and outbreak management systems
National Cabinet endorsed the review led by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel of the contact tracing and outbreak management systems in each state and territory and agreed to adopt all 22 recommendations.
All states and territories were assessed as now having strong contact tracing and outbreak management systems in place. The review provides characteristics of an optimal contact tracing and outbreak management system and recommends that every state and territory regularly stress test their systems.
The review found that patient testing, contact tracing and case management should be fully digital end to end. However while a fully digital system dramatically improves efficiency of contact tracing, it will never replace the need for well-trained contact tracers and expert public health oversight – states and territories should employ a permanent workforce for tracing and outbreak management, with senior public health leadership and should have an additional surge workforce trained and at the ready. Contact tracing must never fall behind. In the event of an outbreak, every effort should be made to go hard and go early.
The review recommended the creation of a digital data exchange so that states and territories can easily access and transfer information about cases and contacts where people have crossed borders. Commonwealth, NSW, Vic and ACT will work to develop a data exchange system.
The review found that states and territories should share new and emerging technologies, such as electronic venue and workplace attendance registration systems, smartphone apps to monitor self-quarantine, new diagnostic tests and wastewater surveillance.
Further details are available at: www.health.gov.au
Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Policy
Australia is well positioned for early access to a breakthrough COVID-19 vaccine in 2021. The Commonwealth Government has secured early access to 134.8 million doses of four leading vaccine candidates worth over $3.2 billion, in addition to up to 25 million vaccines candidates through the global COVAX facility.
Vaccines, should they be deemed safe and effective, are expected to be available by March 2021.
National Cabinet endorsed the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (the Policy). The Policy sets out how the COVID-19 pandemic vaccination program will be rolled out - one of the biggest exercises in health logistics Australia has ever seen. The policy sets out clear lines of responsibility and clear plans for delivering on these responsibilities will be crucial. The Commonwealth will purchase all vaccines, leading logistics and distribution and will manage significant centralised national oversight and coordination in order to manage continuing complexities and critical unknowns, as well as to track the movement of doses and uptake of vaccination and oversee future surveillance. Immunisation administration will be managed jointly between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories.
The key principles and assumptions for the vaccination program include:
Free of charge for all Australian citizens, permanent residents, and most visa-holders
Not mandatory, but strongly encouraged
To be rolled out on the basis of identified priority populations, linked to delivery schedules, with scope for redirections to outbreak response
Centralised Commonwealth oversight, with defined responsibilities for the Australian and State and Territory governments
The initial priority groups for COVID-19 immunisation identified by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) are:
People who have an increased risk, relative to others, of becoming very sick or dying from COVID-19 should they contract it.
People who are at increased risk of exposure and hence being infected with and transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to others at risk of severe disease or are in a setting with high transmission potential.
People working in services critical to the functioning of our society, including select essential services staff and people working in supply and distribution of essential goods and services.
Further details are available at: www.health.gov.au
Australians returning home
National Cabinet agreed to continue to prioritise the return of Australians.
Since the beginning of the pandemic over 414,000 Australians have returned to Australia on commercial flights, and 69 flights facilitated by the Department fo Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Since 18 September 2020, around 10,900 Australians registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have returned to Australia. However, since 18 September 2020 the list of registered Australians has grown from 26,200 to 35,637. Between now and Christmas, we expect to bring an additional 27,000 Australians home. Further places will become available once Melbourne Airport reopens to international arrivals.
National Cabinet agreed international air passenger caps have played an important role in ensuring jurisdictions’ quarantine systems can protect Australians at home. The Commonwealth will be extending the international air passenger caps till 31 January 2020 for Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with further increases to be made if and when additional quarantine places become available.
National Cabinet welcomed progress on plans by the Victorian Premier to reopen Melbourne to international travellers.
The Commonwealth and Northern Territory Government are finalising arrangements to increase capacity at the Howard Springs Quarantine Facility. Both the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmanian Governments have agreed to facilitate the return of 360 and 450 Australians respectively before Christmas.
Leaders agreed that, wherever possible, existing surge capacity for quarantine will remain in place for vulnerable Australians. The Queensland Government agreed to continue to surge above their weekly 1,000 passenger cap, and will now allow an additional 300 vulnerable Australians per week.
National Cabinet agreed a range of measures to support efforts to maximise the use of available seats to further boost the number of Australians who can return before Christmas. Going forward, caps and other arrangements will be implemented on a weekly basis and, in consultation with the relevant jurisdiction, an overallocation by up to 10 per cent above caps will be allowed.
The Commonwealth will continue to work with states and territories to facilitate the arrival of additional facilitated flights, carrying registered Australians and prioritising vulnerable Australians.
International Students
The National Cabinet agreed to continue prioritising returning Australians. Quarantine space must be prioritised to Australians, including vulnerable Australians, seeking to return home. While we look forward to welcoming international students back and will continue planning for their return, we cannot progress the broader entry of international students at this time.
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements
The National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth Government’s proposed response to the Royal Commissioner into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and agreed to work collaboratively on the recommendations that require joint government action.
The National Cabinet further agreed that a National Emergency Management Ministers Meeting will be initially responsible for driving and coordinating implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, including design of ongoing governance mechanisms. This Meeting will work closely with other relevant Ministers who have responsibilities relevant to recommendations of the Royal Commission.
The Commonwealth’s response to the Royal Commission can be found at: https://www.pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/pmc/national-approach-national-d…
National Cabinet Infrastructure and Transport Reform Committee
The National Cabinet agreed to establish the Infrastructure and Transport National Cabinet Reform Committee (the Committee), which will be chaired by the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development the Hon Michael McCormack MP.
The National Cabinet tasked the Committee with coordinating efforts to deliver infrastructure investment stimulus between jurisdictions, and presenting opportunities to improve freight transport connectivity across all transport modes by mid-2021. The National Cabinet also tasked the Committee with developing proposals to streamline planning and approval processes at all levels of government to support faster and more efficient delivery of infrastructure projects.
Automatic Mutual Recognition of Occupational Licences
The National Cabinet agreed in principle to establish an Intergovernmental Agreement on Automatic Mutual Recognition of Occupational Licences, with that agreement to be signed by the end of the year following further work by the Council of Federal Financial Relations. To give effect to this, draft legislation to amend the Commonwealth Mutual Recognition Act 1992 will be released by the end of the year to facilitate automatic mutual recognition commencing by 1 July 2021.
Asean-Australia and East Asia Summits
13 November 2020
On Saturday, I will participate in a virtual ASEAN-Australia Summit and a virtual East Asia Summit, alongside Australia’s key Indo-Pacific partners.
ASEAN remains at the heart of Australia’s vision for a peaceful, stable, inclusive, sovereign, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific. ASEAN has a central role to play in the region’s recovery and the post COVID-19 regional order.
At the ASEAN-Australia Summit, I will discuss Australia’s role in our region’s response to COVID-19 recovery. Australia is proud to be a Strategic Partner of ASEAN and its oldest Dialogue Partner.
At the East Asia Summit, I will highlight the importance of our collective COVID-19 recovery being guided by the principles set out in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific – by transparency, inclusivity, good governance and respect for international law.
The East Asia Summit is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for discussion of our region’s most pressing strategic challenges. Never has this been more important as the world continues to tackle COVID-19.
I will also deliver an address at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Friday night and participate in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit on Sunday.
RCEP brings together Australia’s top regional trading partners into a single economic framework and will link us more closely with this dynamic region.
I congratulate Vietnam for its stewardship as ASEAN Chair during a very challenging year and for Prime Minister Phuc’s hosting of the ASEAN-Australia, East Asia and RCEP Summits.
Interview with Jim Wilson, 2GB
13 November 2020
JIM WILSON: The Prime Minister is on the line. G’day Scott.
PRIME MINISTER: Hey Jimmy how are you?
WILSON: Very good thank you. Thank you for your time Prime Minister. National Cabinet has met today for the 31st time. Lots of discussion around borders.
PRIME MINISTER: Nothing about State of Origin though.
WILSON: No no, we'll talk about that shortly okay don’t mention Queensland or the Maroons, don’t rub it in. Just on Queensland though on the borders. Are you frustrated that Annastasia Palaszczuk will not open the Queensland border to Greater Sydney well before Christmas?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look let's wait and see what she actually does decide Jim. I think that's the issue. I mean we had a positive meeting today, everyone this was the first meeting since the election and so the Queensland Government signed up to this opening framework by Christmas. There's a lot to be achieved under that plan and and there was no hesitation there. So I welcome that. You know me Jim, I'm always very optimistic and hopeful about these things and they've indicated I understand in the press conference she held later after the meeting that they’re heading in that direction, talking positively also about Victoria. What was very important about today's meeting is Dr Alan Finkel who’s the Chief Scientist for Australia. I tasked him a couple of months ago to go around and look at all the contact tracing systems all around the country and he had unhindered access to everything all around the states and territories and while he says, you know you can't have a zero risk system, he said that you know there's been really great improvements made particularly in Victoria which was not looking that great several months back but all of the states with Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, everywhere they have the capacity to deal with things with outbreaks through their tracing system but there's no substitute for the first line of defence which is COVIDSafe behaviours and distancing and making sure you're checking in when you’re going into restaurants and doing all those things. So we have we’ve built the systems up Jim that's the point and so that means that has enabled a decision to open up and so I hope to see that soon. I think there's very strong health reasons and defence in our health systems up there to do it and and so there's no reason not to be confident making that decision in Queensland.
WILSON: We've heard some cruel stories. We've got one coming up after 5 this afternoon a heartbreaking story of a family, Ted who's a Vietnam veteran dying in hospital on the Gold Coast, he has three daughters two are in Wollongong. They can get into Queensland because they're from regional New South Wales and the other one the other daughter is in Penrith with Ted's sister but they are being rejected flatly rejected to go into Queensland and yet we can have a full Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night. It's just, it's just I think it's very, very cruel on behalf of the Queensland Premier.
PRIME MINISTER: Well look this has been the great frustration with the whole system and I've made a comment on these issues before as you know and it's the it's the inability I think, for, you know, whether you live in Sydney or elsewhere of trying to understand that very point you make and I think that's why it's important they move there as quickly as possible. I mean borders are not a sign that you've got it under control. Borders are a sign that you don't think you can control it and that's what they actually are. It's like when you've had to lock down it's not because everything worked it's because everything failed and that's why I've always been pushing the states to get their contact tracing systems, their public health response systems, their COVIDSafe behaviours and COVIDSafe plans, in their pubs, in their restaurants.
WILSON: But the contact tracing, the contact tracing Prime Minister in Sydney in greater Sydney has been world class.
PRIME MINISTER: It is. It is.
WILSON: So yeah,
PRIME MINISTER: Exactly. They can handle it. The cases I think today's cases again, were only cases in quarantine now the reason New South Wales will have more cases in quarantine is because there are over 3000 people coming in every day in New South Wales and I think that's on a daily basis and there's 1,000 coming in to Queensland.
WILSON: Are you frustrated that you can't make and you talked about this earlier in your press conference I was listening to you, that you can't force the borders open earlier than Christmas as far as Queensland’s concerned?
PRIME MINISTER: That's the Constitution and states have the states have the powers regarding public health management in their states. That's see for listeners who haven't spent time around the Constitution but basically when the Federal Government was formed it was powers that were given to the Federal Government by the states. So if they wasn't specifically given to us they keep everything else.
WILSON: But you'd love to see some common sense and compassion?
PRIME MINISTER: All the way through every day and these things should not be there a second longer for health reasons than than they should be and what Alan Finkel’s saying is that, hey Queensland you've got a good contact tracing system. You've got a good public health system and they do. So I think Queenslanders could feel confident about their borders opening and their ability of the Queensland Government to handle it the delay can only suggest that perhaps they don't think they can and I don't think they've got any reason to think that.
WILSON: Today, the Government also released its vaccination policy for COVID-19 who will be the first Prime Minister to get the vaccine?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the first step of, most importantly is to ensure that the TGA the Therapeutic Goods Organisation actually signs off on the health side of this. So there'll be no shortcuts on any of that. So once we've been able to deal with that then and we know the vaccine is safe then it can start to be administered. Now those who are in the front of the line of all of this are our health workers and and people in that area and they obviously are the first ones we need to vaccinate and that will make sure that those places are much safer as well. We saw it also around aged care facilities and things like that where our most vulnerable people are and those who are interacting with them and in those in those areas are very important but what we agreed today was a vaccination policy. We needed to agree. It's a Commonwealth, it's a Federal Government policy it's our responsibility. But it was good the states and territories approved and endorsed it they said that's a great plan and there will be further plans which we will get into the specifics as we move through the various groups in the community. I mean one of the things we've often talked about is that you've got a lot of people working in occupations that have a lot of contact with the public and can be potentially transmitters of the virus. People who drive buses, people who drive cabs or Ubers, people who are couriers.
JOURNALIST: Just on that, just on that Prime Minister, Professor Mary-Louise McLaws will join me very shortly she's an epidemiologist also an adviser to the World Health Organisation. She says we should look at vaccinating those who are considered COVID super spreaders that is socially connected people aged between 20 and 30. She says they should get it first. What do you say to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I say I'll turn to my epidemiologist and Dr Brendan Murphy who heads up a very expert panel and I will put all of those sorts of medical questions to those people. It's not really Jim for politicians. I'm a geographer with a science degree so I'm going to rely on the medical doctors and experts when it comes to how those strategies and priorities are set. I mean those points that you've just outlined have been made and so they're the sorts the very sorts of things that Dr Murphy, who everyone knows who was the former Chief Medical Officer there particularly through the height of the pandemic and he will be the one ultimately making those recommendations.
JOURNALIST: A couple of things before I let you go. Really appreciate your time. The Premiers discussed the Bushfire Royal Commission Report at the National Cabinet. You've supported most recommendations, but why not the push for national aerial firefighting fleet?
PRIME MINISTER: The states don't either. I mean the states hold assets these firefighting vehicles, the fire firefighting aircraft they own some of them and what happens each year is that the firefighting chiefs actually make a recommendation to us about what things we should go and get to support them in the year. Now some of them they already have and they just share them between the states and territories and that has worked very effectively. Now we put money into that and we're putting additional money into that this year some $11 million. We put a lot more into it in the last fire season. So what all the Premiers and Chief Ministers and myself agree is that the firefighters and the fire chiefs are the best people to tell us about what we need and that has been working and we've provided additional support to it and we'll continue to do that and so we're basically going to continue to be guided by the fire chiefs on those things and they're not calling for that.
JOURNALIST: Just quickly, before I let you go you're going to Japan and PNG next week. Reports emerging this afternoon of political strife in Papua New Guinea. So just as there's been a move against the country's PM will you still be able to go?
PRIME MINISTER: Well that's my plan and as I said earlier today with all of these sorts of things you monitor events as they unfold but these are reports we've also received today but that's my plan. I'm also very much looking forward to heading up to see the new Japanese Prime Minister. This is an incredibly important relationship for Australia. I mean I was planning on going to PNG on my way back through because I would have been out of the country it wasn't planned as a very big visit to Papua New Guinea but we thought we'd take the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Marape on the way through because we're doing a lot there to support with COVID, particularly to talk through the vaccine, the commitments we've got in the area. This weekend I'm participating in a virtual summit with Vietnam and all the countries of South East Asia where that will be a big focus. COVID The COVID vaccine our support for those initiatives which you know we have a vested interest in making sure our entire region is more stable. So Jim this is a big part of the job but it doesn't take away from the job that is needed here every single day. On the vaccine front I'm very encouraged about how that's moving forward. I was very pleased we got the agreement on the support for the policy today. Greg Hunt has been up at the University of Queensland seeing how that's all going. Another thing that I know comes up on vaccines a lot Jim this Pfizer vaccine which requires cold storage I think it's about 80 degrees minus celsius. Now, that is you know, that's not an easy thing. It's dry ice effectively but our contract with Pfizer requires them to deliver through the supply chain all the way to the point of immunisation where it's administered that cold storage transfer. So we covered that off in the contract as you'd expect us to do but that's just one of four vaccines that we've invested in. I mean, the other one AstraZeneca, that's already being manufactured now down in Melbourne but no one will be offered it until it has cleared all the health checks.
WILSON: and also good progress as far as the University of Queensland. Now, finally, you’ll be away for Origin III. We’re trying to get Ray Warren into Queensland to call Game III. So can you maybe ring Annastacia Palaszczuk and try to bring it forward to Tuesday or Wednesday and get Rabs in there for State of Origin III and do the Blues win the decider?
PRIME MINISTER: Without Rabs I mean that’s just insane that’s mad you can’t have that but I was here in Canberra this week and enjoyed the games with one of my Queensland colleagues and the week before I was watching with my Chief of Staff who is a Queenslander and so the tables were turned let's see how it goes this weekend. Hopefully the Blues will do as good as the Wallabies did up there that was a magnificent game. It was nice to see that turnaround too.
WILSON: We’ve got to get Rabs to Queensland to Brisbane. It’s not Origin without Rabs being there.
PRIME MINISTER: I couldn't agree more sign me up.
WILSON: Good on you, thanks for your time. It’s been a busy day with National Cabinet as always appreciate your time and have a good weekend.
PRIME MINISTER: You too, Jim.
WILSON: Safe travels to Japan and PNG. That’s the Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Statement on IGADF Inquiry
12 November 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Defence
A new investigative body will be established to assess and examine the findings of the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) Afghanistan Inquiry.
The Inquiry, which has now concluded and provided its report to the Chief of the Defence Force, was set up to investigate rumours and allegations relating to the conduct of Australia’s Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.
The new Office of the Special Investigator will address the potential criminal matters raised by the Inquiry and investigate allegations, gather evidence and where appropriate, refer briefs to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) for consideration.
The Special Investigator will be either a senior counsel or retired judge with extensive criminal law experience and will be appointed as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Australian Defence Force had served our nation in Afghanistan over a prolonged period, with great sacrifice, while dealing with significant challenges.
“I am so extremely thankful to every Australian who chooses to put on our uniform, to serve under our flag, to protect our freedoms, to uphold our values and to protect our interests,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our serving men and women are deserving of the respect and admiration in which they are held by the Australian people and it’s a respect that requires the highest standard of conduct.”
“The release of the report will be difficult and hard news for Australians but it is our Australian way to deal with these issues with a deep respect for justice and the rule of law, but also to illuminate the truth.”
“We need to ensure justice is truly served by illuminating the conduct of those who may have acted in ways that do not accord with the high standards expected of our ADF and those expectations held by the serving men and women of our ADF and their veterans community, past and present.”
The Government has also established a separate and independent Oversight Panel to provide oversight and assurance of Defence’s broader response to the Inquiry relating to cultural, organisational and leadership change.
The Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel includes individuals recognised for their expertise and experience in complex legal matters, forensic review, organisational scrutiny and reform, and will report directly to the Minister of Defence.
The independent Oversight Panel will be comprised of:
Dr Vivienne Thom AM, a former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
Robert Cornall AO, a former Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department
Professor Rufus Black, noted ethicist and Vice Chancellor of the University of Tasmania
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds CSC said the Inquiry was conducted at arm’s length from the Australian Defence Force chain-of-command and the Government, to ensure the independence and integrity of the process.
“This will be very difficult and distressing for those involved and impacted and we are committed to ensuring that current and former serving ADF members and their families have access to the right support at the right time,” Minister Reynolds said.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the Office of the Special Investigator would be established within the Home Affairs portfolio and staffed with experienced investigators from the AFP, state police experts, legal counsel and support staff.
“There are a significant number of incidents requiring consideration and there are complex issues to deal with and the Office will be drawing on the expertise of senior police investigators, with strong support from the CDPP,” Minister Dutton said.
“As with any allegations of serious and possibly criminal misconduct, these matters need to be assessed, investigated and, where allegations are substantiated, prosecuted in Court.”
The Office of the Special Investigator would exist as long as needed to carry out its brief.
Minister Reynolds said the independent Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel would provide oversight assurance to Government and Australian people.
“The Oversight Panel will provide an independent body to ensure Defence is making the changes recommended by the Inquiry to help ensure we address any underlying issues.”
Welfare and other support services are available to participants and other individuals involved in, or affected, by the Afghanistan Inquiry, including through:
Defence All-hours support line (1800 628 036)
Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling (1800 011 046)
Safe Zone
The Defence Family Helpline (1800 011 046)
ADF Health and Wellbeing portal
For a full list of support options, visit: Afghanistan Inquiry Welfare Support
Current and former serving ADF members who are the subject of the IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry or related investigations or proceedings can access assistance under the longstanding Commonwealth Legal Financial Assistance Scheme.
The Afghanistan Inquiry report has been delivered to the Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, who is currently considering the report’s comprehensive findings and recommendations and will address them next week.
The Terms of Reference for the Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel have now been released.
Visit to Japan and Papua New Guinea
12 November 2020
Next week I will hold important meetings with two of Australia’s closest friends in Tokyo on 17 – 18 November, and Port Moresby on 18 – 19 November.
This will be my first meeting with the new Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Mr Suga Yoshihide. I’m honoured to be the first foreign leader to visit Japan to meet with Prime Minister Suga following his appointment.
Our relationship with Japan over the past few years has gone from strength to strength. We are Special Strategic Partners, and we work closely together on trade, security, defence and technology issues. I look forward to continuing to deepen that partnership.
Japan will play an important role in our economic recovery from COVID-19. I hope we can chart a course for the re-opening of travel, and discuss ways to deepen our trade ties worth $86 billion, including under the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement.
On the way back to Australia I plan to take the opportunity to see my friend the Hon James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, our closest neighbour.
We will continue our discussions about advancing our many shared regional and global objectives, ahead of a formal bilateral visit I hope to make next year.
Australia, Japan and Papua New Guinea have managed the coronavirus incredibly well, and I am confident the precautions in place during this travel will minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
I will be strictly following health advice and quarantine requirements when I return to Australia, as will staff and officials accompanying me, RAAF attendants and pilots, and media.
I look forward to hearing from Prime Minister Suga and Prime Minister Marape about their experiences in responding to COVID-19 and discussing ways to work together towards a stable, peaceful and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Jobseeker Supplement Extended to March
10 November 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Families and Social Services
The Morrison Government will extend temporary support through the social security system, for those Australians seeking work, for a further three months as economic confidence and momentum builds.
Both existing and new JobSeekers will be paid the Coronavirus Supplement at a rate of $150 per fortnight from 1 January 2021 through to 31 March 2021 on top of their base rate of payment and other supplements they are eligible to receive.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said JobSeekers would continue to be able to earn up to $300 per fortnight without their social security payments being reduced.
“My number one priority is to get more Australians into work,” the Prime Minister said.
“As the country is safely reopening and businesses starting to return to full steam, we need to connect those seeking work with available jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“When the global COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia, we acted decisively by boosting our health response and putting in place more than $257 billion of direct economic support measures to cushion the blow, and today that support continues for those Australians that need it.”
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the Government was committed to supporting all Australians as the economy reopens and they return to work.
“We have temporarily put arrangements in place so that our social security safety net is not just for people who have lost their jobs but it is also supporting people who have had their hours or income reduced,” Minister Ruston said.
“As the jobs market improves we want to encourage people to re-engage with the workforce because we know that even a few hours of work a week while on payment can have a dramatic impact on the pathway off income support.”
Expanded criteria will continue to provide payment access for permanent employees who are stood down, sole traders and the self-employed until 31 March 2021. The relaxed partner income test will also continue meaning that a JobSeeker can still access payments where their partner earns about $80,000 annually.
The Ordinary Waiting Period, Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period and the Seasonal Work Preclusion Period will continue to be waived until 31 March 2021.
The extension of temporary measures is estimated to cost an additional $3.2 billion.
Dr Cathy Foley to be Australia's Next Chief Scientist
9 November 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Industry Science and Technology
Renowned physicist Dr Cathy Foley AO has been appointed Australia’s next Chief Scientist.
Dr Foley, who has spent the last two years as the CSIRO’s Chief Scientist, will take over from Dr Alan Finkel AO whose tenure comes to an end in December 2020.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Dr Foley had the background needed to deliver during such a pivotal time in history.
“As we recover from COVID-19 and look to rebuild a brighter future, the role of the Chief Scientist has never been more important,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“Dr Foley has a big task ahead to drive collaboration between industry and the science and research community, as we look to create jobs for the COVID-19 recovery and for the future.
“I would like to thank Dr Alan Finkel AO for his outstanding contribution as Chief Scientist over the past five years. He has been a valued and respected voice to Government, and I know he will continue to make a significant contribution to the Australian and international science communities.”
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews also thanked Dr Finkel for his service and said Dr Foley would bring a unique mix of experience to the role.
“Dr Foley is highly regarded in the scientific community, has extensive experience working with government, but most importantly understands how to drive collaboration between industry and researchers,” Minister Andrews said.
“We know science will play a crucial role in helping to create jobs at this critical time, and Dr Foley’s skills as a talented science communicator will help sell that important message.
“Like me, Dr Foley is also a strong advocate for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and her lived experience will make her an important role model for aspiring young scientists.”
Dr Foley is the second woman to be named Australia’s Chief Scientist, after Professor Penny Sackett, who held the role from 2008-2011.
Dr Foley is a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science, and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering. She is an accomplished scientist who has made significant contributions in the area of physics relating to superconductors.
Her appointment as Australia’s Chief Scientist is for three years, starting in January 2021.
Statement on US Presidential Election
8 November 2020
On behalf of the Australian Government, I congratulate President-elect Joe Biden on his election as the 46th President of the United States and wish him every success for his term in office.
The President-elect has been a great friend of Australia over many years, including when he visited Australia in 2016.
The Australia-US Alliance is enduring and built on shared democratic values such as the international rule of law, respect for human rights and equality, freedom of religion and belief, freedom of expression and diversity of opinion.
Our partnership goes back more than a century. Next year, our countries will celebrate 70 years since the signing of the ANZUS Treaty — the foundation of our security alliance.
Today, the world faces many challenges, including managing the COVID-19 pandemic, on both a health and economic front, ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and peace and stability.
American leadership is indispensable to meeting these challenges and upholding the rules, norms and standards of our international community.
We also look forward to working with President-elect Biden and his Administration to continue to fight the COVID-19 global pandemic and recession, to develop a vaccine, drive a global economic recovery, and develop new technologies to reduce global emissions as we practically confront the challenge of climate change. We welcome the President-elect’s commitment to multilateral institutions and strengthening democracies.
I also extend my congratulations to Kamala Harris on her election as Vice President of the United States.
On behalf of the Australian Government I also acknowledge and thank President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for their contribution to the Australia-US relationship. Australia has enjoyed a strong working relationship with the current administration, one that has seen the strength of our alliance continue to grow and deepen.
We will continue to work closely with President Trump and his administration in the transition period between now and 20 January.