Media Releases
Interview with Tony Jones, 3AW
5 January 2021
TONY JONES: The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison. Good morning to you.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Tony.
JONES: Happy New Year.
PRIME MINISTER: Happy New Year to you and to everybody in Melbourne and across Victoria. And thanks again for the tremendous spirit Victorians displayed, particularly in that second half of the year when it was incredibly tough.
JONES: Yeah, and I guess, as you would have heard me saying in the intro, there's another group of Victorians, more than 2,000, who are again having to display some sort of, you know, sort of resilience with the fact that they're stranded.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
JONES: Are we doing enough as a state? Is the government doing enough to show compassion here?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, I spoke to the Premier last night and we talked about a number of issues, and that was one of them. And he’s having a discussion today, I understand, with our Chief Medical Officer regarding the situation in New South Wales. The waste water testing in New South Wales had no positive results for COVID outside of, you know, the Sydney metropolitan area and those specific areas identified like Wollongong. So for all of regional and rural New South Wales, it remains as rural and regional Victoria does, and indeed metropolitan Melbourne substantially. And so, look, that's an opportunity, I think, for the Victorian government to continue to work through those issues there. They're matters for them. And so happy to talk to the Premier about that and provide what support we can to see if we can get a better pathway home for Victoria as soon as possible.
JONES: So, I mean, obviously, without giving too much away of your private phone call, did you did you get a sense that there might be relief on the way for those stranded Victorians?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll leave that to the Premier and the Victorian government. I mean, they're working through their issues and the border arrangements that they put in place. So one thing I've always tried to do throughout this pandemic is respect the decisions that are made by states and states in turn respect the decisions that are made by the Commonwealth. And we seek to support states in the decisions they make to try and make them as painless as possible for them for their own public.
JONES: One of your ministers, Darren Chester, who is an MP here in Victoria, is dead set against the hard lockdown of the border. Is that a view that most cabinet members share?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, the Cabinet hasn't met about this issue because it's a state government decision and it's the state governments to make their rules on public health. I should be really clear about that. I mean, the Federal Government has no power over states when it comes to their public health orders of this nature and so that means state governments have to be transparent and explain those decisions and they have to weigh up the risks, together with the costs and the impact and the disruption. And so that's a matter for them. And I certainly understand Darren’s frustration. I mean, much of his community has been affected by this, particularly those who are in the single economy that effectively operates over the Victorian and New South Wales border in that corner, as it does right across the Murray more broadly when it comes to the Victoria-New South Wales border. So obviously, you know, that'd be great to see these things move in the other direction sooner, particularly given the success that is being had in both New South Wales and in Victoria. I think what we've seen in relation to both of these outbreaks, when you compare it to what happened earlier in the year, then, you know, they're getting on top of this. The systems are working. Of course, we need to remain vigilant. It's still fragile, but I think we're making great progress in both. So that should hopefully mean that we can restore settings to where they were before the outbreak as soon as possible.
JONES: Now, Prime Minister, please don't take this as a cheap shot because it's not intended to be, but you found yourself at the centre of a controversy 12 months ago for being on holidays when Australia was in crisis. Should Daniel Andrews be back from holidays?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, people need to take their breaks. And I spoke to Dan last night, so it's not like he's not close to what's going on in Victoria and he's focussing on those issues. And so, you know, he's always been available to me and just as I was at that time last year. But that's not an issue that certainly I've raised.
JONES: Ok. There has been an urgent call, and I guess this is something, again, that you spoke with the Premier about yesterday, an urgent call for the National Cabinet to be recalled on the back of this terrible strain which is now taking hold of the UK. Where are you at with that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm not sure where this call has come from. I spoke to the Premier last night and he didn't ask for one. So I'm not sure how that, where that reporting has come from. I mean, the health ministers are meeting this week. The medical experts through the AHPPC meet every single day. The director generals of the Departments of Premier and Cabinet and Prime Minister and Cabinet, they've been in constant contact. I've been speaking to both premiers, particularly where in New South Wales it's been running for longer, quite regularly. There is nothing… we spoke about the UK strain last night. And look, it is a great concern to us and it already has been the subject of a paper that's been published by the medical expert panel. They're meeting again today. But they are not recommending any actions at this point that the National Cabinet would have to action. So, you know, the minute they are in that position, then I would have no hesitation and probably wouldn't even require a National Cabinet meeting to action that advice. But we've got to be driven by, you know, the medical experts on what they think the response is. None of us as premiers or prime ministers are doctors out of the best of my knowledge and as a result, when if they and I spoke again contacted this morning the Chief Medical Officer about this issue. And, you know, it's a serious issue, but it's one that is being managed appropriately through quarantine and if any further measures are required, then certainly they would trigger that and they recommend that then, of course, if necessary, we would need to action it. But I suspect we could action it even without that.
JONES: See, I think a lot of people listening at the moment, Prime Minister, would be a little confused as to how in the blink of an eye we can shut down borders and turn economies upside down. And yet a simple, a seemingly simple thing like pre-testing people coming from the UK to Australia still doesn't seem to be on the agenda.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is happening. I mean, most of the airlines do it anyway. And on all the flights that we're bringing back to Australia directly as a Commonwealth, we're doing it. But we should stress that that doesn't change the risk. I mean, because in some cases the argument is that it can be can accentuated, it can highlight it because people can be asymptomatic or have not contracted or the virus has manifested itself yet at the time of travelling and that can create a complacency on the other side. Whoever's coming to Australia must quarantine for 14 days. They must. And so it doesn't change any of the actions that occurs on the other side. But increasingly, that testing is occurring before people come and it's certainly occurring at our mandate for all of those who are coming on the facilitated flights back to Australia. So I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding about the degree to which this is already occurring.
JONES: Yeah, but I mean, you shouldn't it just be a blanket rule, though?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, as I said, the airlines are largely doing it. But my point is this. Let's say someone gets, I mean, one of the problems we've had and it hasn't been widespread, but there have been instances of it where there's been complacency by some who have returned. If they've had a test before they come and they all of a sudden think that they're not at risk because they've had a test, then their behaviours might change. Now, we want everybody who has come back to behave as if they've got it, because that way they won't take any risks regarding their own behaviours when they return and that's the attitude we need them to take so we don't want to create any false sense of confidence. It is not a guarantee of people coming to Australia with the virus. It can't guarantee against them.
JONES: Alright. What about the rollout of the vaccine? How much longer will we have to wait for that? I mean, we're seeing, you know, countries like Israel, for example, saying that they're not far away from having everyone, every member of their population tested. We’re seeing within the United States, the UK. When's our turn?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there were 58,000 cases of COVID in the UK just yesterday, and Israel has gone through another emergency situation and Israel is a very small country compared in Australia. But if you look at the United Kingdom and other countries, they're in the very early phases of that and they've had quite a few problems and they're doing it on an emergency basis. They're not testing batches of vaccines before they're disseminated across the population, is my understanding. They're the processes that we follow here in Australia. Now, we have our scheduled timetable and that's why all our health officials are here in Canberra, where I am, the Health Minister working for Melbourne, to ensure that we are moving this as swiftly as it safely can be done. But Australia is not in an emergency situation like the United Kingdom. So we don't have to cut corners. We don't have to take unnecessary risks. And we're learning a lot from some of the issues that are presenting themselves and the confusion, in particular, that is there about doses and distribution and administering of the vaccines. But they are in a position where they have no other choice because of the terrible situation they find themselves in. Now, in Australia, we're not in that situation, and so it's important that Australians have total confidence in this vaccine and that requires all the proper processes to be followed. And those processes don't just end when the Therapeutic Goods Administration approves the vaccine. You then need to go and test the batches that are coming in that will be administered at across the country, and so these suggestions that I've heard about trying to rush this process I think can be very dangerous. We should let the health officials do their jobs here and do it as swiftly as I know they are doing and as safely as Australians would expect. I mean, I don't think Australians want us just willy-nilly sending out vials of vaccine that haven't had their batches tested, which is the normal process that occurs with any TGA approved vaccine.
JONES: PM, got another few minutes?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
JONES: Terrific. There's a few other issues I want to ask you about. Sport always obviously plays such a large part in, you know, the Australian social fabric. But we are a bit brittle at the moment. The Sydney Test, two questions here, are you surprised it is going ahead? And B, are you going?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm in Canberra. I'm still here working in Canberra this week and because of the rules between the ACT and Sydney, if I go to Sydney, I can't return to Canberra. So I've remained here. Most of my family have gone back to Sydney and so I won't be there. I'll be watching it on the on the screen, I suspect, in the corner of the room while poring over paperwork like some other people, particularly health officials over this break. And Justin Langer and Tim Paine told me they're going to bounce back. So I'm looking forward to seeing that happen. But in terms of the Test, look, New South Wales has done well again. Victoria are doing incredibly well managing the outbreak and we've seen the great improvement in the testing, I think it was 35,000 people were tested in Victoria yesterday. That's fantastic. I just thank Victorians and Melburnians in particular first, but also call on them that if you're, you know, if you've been in a place where or had contact with anyone that you've been advised may present a risk, then please go and get tested today and ensure you can do that. That's been key to also keeping things under control in New South Wales. So they've reduced the number of people who can go. It's a very big stadium. It's at 25 percent and it's an outdoor venue. So the health officials have made their recommendation and the government is acting in accordance with that. And it should be it should be another way of just demonstrating that life can continue, even when we're managing difficult issues like this.
JONES: The Australian Tennis Open is obviously being pushed back. There's a ripple of nervousness with the amount of people coming out for the Australian Open. You still comfortable with that going ahead?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I do. Look, the Premier and I discussed that also last night and the arrangements we've got around that and how the quarantine is being managed and, you know, they've got a very good plan for that. And, you know, it's changing the timing. I think that was wise. I also agree strongly with the decision that they took, the stance that they had regarding the Formula One. I think, you know, that that was the way that those events operate could have been very risky for Australia and so I think that was a good call and we supported the Victorian government very strongly in that. We’ve just got to look at each of these cases and manage them well and just like with the Sydney Test, which was going to be a 50 percent attendance, then it got changed to a 25 percent. You work off the most recent information. You look at the risk, you manage it appropriately. You put the controls and the mitigations in place. And then and then you move on. That's what living with COVID looks like, managing these issues in this way, and as we get it through the first quarter of this year, then on the other side of that we will obviously be well into the vaccine by then. As I said, we're working very hard over the summer break to ensure that that vaccine goes as quickly and as safely as possible. And that will include, of course, making sure that Australians are well informed about the vaccine and how to access it and have good information so people can make their own decisions about their own health care.
JONES: Alright. So assuming, you know, we roll out the vaccine in the latter half of the year, that means we'll all be able to do with some degree of confidence, turn up to the voting booths perhaps, and get our sausage sizzle and vote for either you or Anthony Albanese.
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve seen that speculation. But honestly, it's just Canberra speculation. You know, the bubble likes to speculate about these things. I have only one priority this year and that is the getting Australia continually through this pandemic and ensuring the economic recovery is achieved. And what we've already got over 80 percent of those jobs back, which is fantastic, thanks to the amazing work of Australians and then particularly for small and medium sized businesses, a big shout out to them. I know that, you know, they continue to deal with uncertainty. That's sadly what goes along with a pandemic. But they're getting through. They got through the second half of this last year in Victoria and they're emerging out the other side, you know, and it's over 730,000 jobs created over six months now coming back into the economy. So my focus is getting through this pandemic, ensuring that we get that economy moving again and Australians back into jobs. But there are many other issues, of course, that we haven't lost pace on. Mental health has been a big focus for us as a Government, suicide prevention. We've got a lot of work to do there. Now, this year, our response on aged care we’ll be making some major investments there. And of course, you know, the work on the recycling economy continues. So there's a lot of work to do over the course of this next 12 months and an election isn't a due till 2022.
JONES: OK, your rugby league team would be very proud of the way you just deflected the ball then, Prime Minister. So can I ask you, are you ruling out an election this year? Are you staying true to your word from last year?
PRIME MINISTER: My view hasn’t changed, Tony, and so that's why I'm not distracted by the question. The election is not due until 2022, so I've got enough to do in 2021 and so does the rest of the country. And, you know, the reason Australia has got through this past year, I think, has been because of the tremendous tenacity, forbearance, patience and good spirit of the Australian people. You know, they've just put their heads down and they've just pushed through to get through and we're still in that situation and that's where my focus is. That's where my Government's focus is. That's where the state premiers and their governments, their focus is and seeking to work together as best we can. But, you know, we're a Federation. That doesn't mean we're always going to agree. But in a Federation like we are in Australia, you know, we've got to respect each other's decisions and each of us have to take responsibility for those decisions.
JONES: OK, well, we've stolen probably 10 minutes more than what you allocated us. So there were a couple of other issues, JobKeeper extensions perhaps, and also Julian Assange. Can I get a quick one on Julian Assange?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well, I note the decision overnight. And like any other Australian, I mean, I understand that’s subject to appeal. I mean, we're obviously not parties to that sort of proceedings. But, you know, assuming that if that all turns out, then he's like any other Australian. He'd be free to return home if he wished and he's going through those processes. Consular support has consistently been offered to Mr Assange. So that would be a matter for him but when those proceedings and those processes end.
JONES: Alright. Well, we're going to let you go now. I know that, you know, you're a regular on Neil Mitchell's programme, and we certainly look forward to hearing you on a regular basis again through 2021.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you. Thank you again, Tony. And happy New Year to everyone. And let's hope that Tim Paine and the boys can come back at the Sydney Test and we look forward to that. And I hope everyone has a safe and summer over these next few weeks, but still a lot to get through. So thank you, everyone, for your tremendous good efforts over the past year and a lot more ahead of us. All the best.
JONES: Alright. Thank you. Prime Minister Scott Morrison joining us there live from Canberra.
Australians One and Free
1 January 2021
The Governor-General Hon. David Hurley has agreed to the Commonwealth Government’s recommendation to make an amendment to Australia’s National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair.
The second line of Advance Australia Fair will change from ‘For we are young and free’ to ‘For we are one and free.”
The new Anthem will take effect from 1 January 2021.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the change was made for all Australians.
“During the past year we have showed once again the indomitable spirit of Australians and the united effort that has always enabled us to prevail as a nation. It is time to ensure this great unity is reflected more fully in our national anthem,” the Prime Minister said.
“Also, while Australia as a modern nation may be relatively young, our country’s story is ancient, as are the stories of the many First Nations peoples whose stewardship we rightly acknowledge and respect.”
“In the spirit of unity, it is only right that we ensure our National Anthem reflects this truth and shared appreciation.
“Changing “young and free” to “one and free” takes nothing away, but I believe it adds much.
“It recognises the distance we have travelled as a nation. It recognises that our national story is drawn from more than 300 national ancestries and language groups and we are the most successful multicultural nation on earth. It reaffirms our resolve as one of the world’s oldest democracies, while honouring the foundations upon which our nation has been built and the aspirations we share for the future,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the past year had highlighted the strength of all Australians in staying together and supporting each other.
“We are making our own Australian way through this crisis, a way guided by our enduring principles and values and together, we have done so better than almost any other country in the world. Our unity has been critical to this achievement.
“One and free” is and must be the story of every Australian and it’s the way we truly Advance Australia Fair.”
Advance Australia Fair was composed by Peter Dodds McCormick and first performed in 1878.
Prime Minister Bob Hawke last recommended a modification of the National Anthem to the Governor-General in 1984.
Professor Paul Kelly Appointed as Australia’s New Chief Medical Officer
21 December 2021
The Australian Government has welcomed the appointment of Professor Paul Kelly as Australia’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Prof Kelly has been acting in the role since June 2020, and prior to this was Deputy CMO from January 2020.
Prof Kelly has been intimately involved in Australia’s response to COVID-19 from the earliest days of the pandemic, and on the health response to the devastating 2019–20 bushfires.
Since Dr Brendan Murphy’s appointment as Secretary of the Department of Health, Prof Kelly has ably led the response to COVID-19, including as Chair of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).
His appointment to the permanent role of CMO ensures Australia remains in very capable hands. He was successful after a rigorous and highly competitive selection process conducted by the Department of Health.
Prof Kelly and his colleagues have been instrumental in our world-leading health response to the pandemic.
He has become a familiar and reassuring presence on our TV screens. His in-depth knowledge of this virus and its transmission has been invaluable.
Prof Kelly is a public health physician and epidemiologist with more than 30 years’ research experience. He has worked around the world in health system development and with infectious diseases.
He has vast experience in infectious disease epidemiology, in particular influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis.
The Australian Government has asked much of the CMO and medical advisers in 2020, and has always acted on their expert advice. We thank them and congratulate Prof Kelly on this important appointment.
Prof Kelly will continue to lead Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular emphasis on our vaccination roll-out.
The Right Honourable Doug Anthony AC CH
20 December 2020
Doug Anthony was a quiet giant of Australian political life.
He was a man with no pretences who was passionate about regional Australia.
Doug Anthony served as a minister under six Australian Prime Ministers. His first Prime Minister was Sir Robert Menzies and he was one of the last links to his Government.
He served as Minister for the Interior, Minister for Primary Industry, and Minister for Trade and Resources.
Doug Anthony served a distinguished career as Deputy Prime Minister for over nine years, first in the Gorton Government, then the McMahon Government and throughout the entirety of the Fraser Government.
As the son of a Federal Minister, Doug spent periods of his childhood in Canberra. Years later, as a Minister he oversaw a series of significant achievements and reforms for Australia.
As Minister for the Interior, he would play a role in the development of Anzac Parade in Canberra as well as the construction of the National Library and the National Carillon.
As Minister for Primary Industry, he established the Australian Wool Corporation. As Trade and Resources Minister, Doug worked to modernise and expand our trade agreement with New Zealand, opened up the uranium industry in Australia, and sought to expand trade with Japan, China and the Middle East.
Doug Anthony was an outward looking political leader. He was the trusted political partner of Malcolm Fraser from the days of the Supply crisis until the end of the Fraser Government. Under Doug Anthony’s 13 year leadership, the Country party evolved into the National Party. He described his party as one that keeps the balance in Australian political life: “A strong Country Party does keep the balance – the balance of stable, dependable government; the balance of development between city and country; the balance of economic activity; a balance between the rural industries and the other sectors of the community. … We keep a balance between the extremes of political thought.”
To Doug’s wife Margot, their children and extended family, I extend the nation’s condolences.
Australian Sports Medal
18 December 2020
I am pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen has agreed with the Government’s recommendation to amend the eligibility requirements governing the Australian Sports Medal.
The amendments to the Australian Sports Medal will enable official members of Australian teams who participate in eligible international multi-sport events to be awarded the medal, commencing with the Invictus Games held in Sydney in October 2018.
The medal is a fitting way to recognise Australia’s inspirational servicemen and women who participated in the 2018 Invictus Games.
The 2018 Invictus Games was a great event and it provided an opportunity for veterans, and their families, to share their stories and experiences with others in a sporting environment.
As a country we should always recognise our veterans, including the servicemen and servicewomen who participated in the Invictus Games did Australia proud.
The Australian Sports Medal will be awarded to eligible Australian team members and officials in recognition of their participation at international multisport events, and a number of international events for people with a disability.
In addition to the Invictus Games in 2018, athletes in future Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games will be eligible for the Australian Sports Medal.
The eligibility and administrative details for the medal will be available in due course on the Governor General’s website.
More information about the medal can be found on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd)
18 December 2020
It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery.
Major General Jeffery will be remembered as a brave soldier, a dedicated Governor and Governor-General, and a passionate defender of the causes he believed in.
Major General Jeffery was a great Australian who served Australia throughout his adult life. He was a remarkable man who I am proud to call a friend.
His contribution to public service began at age 16 when he arrived at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, where he graduated in Infantry. His military career took him to Malaya, Papua New Guinea, Borneo and Vietnam. It was during his tour of Vietnam that he was awarded the Military Cross.
His leadership and camaraderie allowed him to rise through the ranks, being made commanding officer of the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), Major General and finally Assistant Chief of the General Staff Materiel.
From 1993, Major General Jeffery served as Western Australia’s 27th Governor.
Ten years later, he was sworn in as Australia’s 24th Governor-General; an office he fulfilled with distinction and honour.
In retirement, as Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, he was an ardent advocate of conserving and improving the land.
Major General Jeffery left an impressive legacy. He will be remembered both for his many achievements, and as a man of faith, integrity, decency and warmth.
On behalf of the Australian people, I express my deep gratitude for one of Australia’s finest leaders and most devoted servants.
Jenny and I offer our heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife Marlena, to their children and extended family.
Ministry
18 December 2020
Today I am announcing changes to my Ministry which I propose to recommend to the Governor-General. The decisions reflect a strong focus on stability in key portfolios, together with a commitment to bring forward new talent as Australia continues its comeback from the COVID-19 crisis.
Stability and consistency are key at this time.
Key portfolios geared to Australia’s prosperity and security remain unchanged. These include the Treasury, Finance, Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Home Affairs portfolios. The representation of the Nationals in the Ministry and associated portfolio responsibilities also remain unchanged under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, the Hon Michael McCormack MP. The Ministry maintains record representation of women in Cabinet.
Following the appointment of Simon Birmingham as Minister for Finance in October, the Hon Dan Tehan MP will become the new Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Dan brings strong credentials to this role as a former officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as a keen sense of the particular interests of regional Australia in an open, rules-based trading system.
The Aged Care portfolio will be brought into Cabinet with the Hon Greg Hunt MP as Minister for Health and Aged Care responsible for the Government’s response to the Aged Care Royal Commission. Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck will retain responsibility for aged care services, including delivery of residential and home care packages, aged care sector regulation and Senior Australians. He will also continue as Minister for Sport.
The Hon Alan Tudge MP will become Minister for Education and Youth with a clear brief of improving education outcomes and helping younger Australians navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world. In recognition of the importance the Government places on driving down unemployment, the Hon Luke Howarth MP will become Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services.
The Hon Paul Fletcher MP will take on responsibility for urban infrastructure as Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts.
The Hon David Coleman MP will become Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for mental health and suicide prevention, a critical focus of the Government only heightened by the expected legacy of COVID-19.
Strengthening the economic team and in recognition of the growing importance of digital technology to Australia’s economic future, Senator the Hon Jane Hume will join the Ministry and take on expanded responsibilities as Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy.
Building on the demonstrated success of the Government’s housing policies in maintaining construction jobs during the COVID pandemic, the Hon Michael Sukkar MP will have expanded responsibilities as Minister for Housing, Homelessness, Social and Community Housing.
To further drive Australia’s pursuit of new economic opportunities in a post-COVID economy, Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam will become Assistant Minister for Industry Development.
The Hon Alex Hawke MP will become Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs. Australia has yet again proven in 2020 that we are the most successful multicultural nation in the world and my Government will make every effort to ensure our country remains cohesive and united into the future.
Senator the Hon Zed Seselja will become Minister for International Development and the Pacific. The Government’s demonstrated commitment to our Pacific family extends far beyond the Pacific ‘step up’ with our vaccine strategy expected to be a key part of building even closer ties in 2021.
As part of bringing new talent into the executive, I am delighted to announce that Senator the Hon Amanda Stoker will become Assistant Minister to the Attorney General.
The Hon Ben Morton MP will continue in his role as Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet and will add responsibilities as Assistant Minister for Electoral Matters.
I thank the Hon Steve Irons MP for his work and passion and appreciate his making way for Andrew Hastie MP to enter the executive and become Assistant Minister for Defence.
An updated Ministry list is available at https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/ministry-list-proposed-20201218.pdf
Interview with John Laws, 2SM
17 December 2020
JOHN LAWS: Scott Morrison, Prime Minister, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day, John, I'm calling you- I’m speaking to you from Lismore this morning.
LAWS: God, you get around, don't you?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah well, we've been up here opening the last section of the Pacific Highway that we've upgraded with double carriageway all the way from Hexham to the Queensland border. This last section from Woolgoolga up to Ballina has just completed. So that's great. But we've also just called in to the local state emergency services with the Premier and just had a great briefing from the wonderful team up here looking after people in northern New South Wales dealing with these flood events. And they're doing well. But there's been a few rescues, quite a few actually [inaudible] and [inaudible] and in Queensland too in the Southern Downs where one of our farmers was lost in the flood last night. But yes, no we get around. It's a bit damp up here, but the spirits are good.
LAWS: Okay, I, look, I'd be driven mad by people if I didn't ask you about China. You know, I think the way you dealt with Beijing government and the way they tried to bully, I think it was admirable. But do you think it's, do you think the relationship is permanently damaged?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't believe so, John. And I mean, it takes two to be in a relationship, and that always requires respect for each other's sovereignty and each other's laws. And Australia will make our laws in our country. They'll make theirs in theirs. And we don't make them to discriminate against any one country when it comes to foreign investment or how we run our critical infrastructure, our energy systems and communications systems. Now, we're a liberal, democratic, I don't mean Liberal in the partisan sense, but we are a liberal democracy. We're a market based economy, not a state run economy. So we do things different and we're not going to compromise any of those principles. And that shouldn't be an issue. And where we have views on important issues like human rights or, you know, the pandemic or anything like this, then obviously that's what you do in a liberal democracy. You've been a broadcaster, and a journalist for a very long time, John, and you've had an open mike for all that period in a free country. And that's that's one of the things we celebrate here.
LAWS: Well, you're quite right there. The trade dispute with China, which yesterday referred to the World Trade Organisation. Are they going to be able to settle it down, do you believe, or is it any of their business?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look it will take time. The WTO always does, but they are the umpire here. And China has always said that they would respect WTO rules. We certainly do. And those rules are very important for world trade. But it's not just the letter of them, it's the spirit of it also. And so we're taking that barley issue to the WTO. There are a few other issues around at the moment and we're assessing our next steps on those. But I mean, you'll recall, John, I mean, with our export industry from time to time, there are often disruptions. I mean, you'll remember the European Common Market,
LAWS: You bet.
PRIME MINISTER: And that was a huge disruption for Australia's exporters. But Australia got through it, it adapted, it innovated, it overcame, it built its industries. And most, a lot of our growth in our Chinese export markets occurred in the last five or six years. That's where most of the growth has come the resources has been going for longer than that. And so we'll work with the sectors to deal with these changes for as long as they continue. But at the end of the day, a good deal is one where both parties benefit. And that's largely been the deal between Australia and China for a long time. And the basics of that deal and its opportunities are still there. So it's in neither of our interests for this to continue beyond what's sensible. But, you know, we can't see that resolved by yielding up who we are as Australians. I mean, no Australian would want that. And I really appreciate the strong support we've had, particularly in rural and regional communities, for just the consistent stand we've taken on this.
LAWS: China is a building a fish processing facility on Daru Island that's only about 160 kilometres north off of northern Australia. Are you worried they will start fishing our waters?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, not just I mean, we've always had a strong view about illegal fishing and not for Australia, but for our Pacific family partners as well. And that's why we've been building patrol boats and gifting them to Pacific islands and helping them patrol what are vast oceans that affect all of our interests and regardless of what illegal fishers- where they're from, I mean, when illegal fishing occurs, that is taking people's livelihoods and sovereign livelihoods and not just if that affects Australia, but whether throughout Indonesia or the Pacific islands, and that's why these international laws and rules are so important. If we don't have these rules based systems around the world then things just don't work as they should and people can't go about their lives and livelihoods with certainty. We want that for everybody. It's not about any one country. It's just the rule of law globally. And we respect that and call on everyone else to do the same.
LAWS: Sydney had a virus case yesterday, which is believed to have been contracted at the international border, highlighting where our vulnerabilities remain. Is this going to delay international travel? Will it have an ongoing effect?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't believe so at all. I've just been with the Premier and we’ve discussed that. I mean, New South Wales has the gold standard system, not just I think in Australia, but I think you could argue that globally, too. And you’d argue that pretty well, I reckon, they do a great job. And so when there are incidents like this, situations like this, they move incredibly quickly, to get this down and get it under control. And, you know, we've had, we just got the job numbers out you’ve probably already broadcast them, John. But, you know, another 90,000 jobs came in, in November.
LAWS: Good news.
PRIME MINISTER: It's terrific news. The unemployment rate, the measured unemployment rate has come down a couple of points, and that's great news. But a big part of that is because New South Wales, the biggest part of our national economy, stayed open and Premier Berejiklian kept them open with sensible policies that protected health, protected lives, but also protected livelihoods. And I think they've done a great job with New South Wales. I really do.
LAWS: It's been a very interesting time generally. I mean, first we had fires, then we had floods, then the pandemic. Now we've got more floods. I mean, there must have been a point when you were saying to yourself, oh my god, enough is enough?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, you've seen it all before, too, John, over a longer period than me. And look it's great to sort of work, look the broadcasters have done, I think, over the course of the year, as you know I talk to a lot of people on radio, and keeping people's spirits up, I think is really important. And whether it’s your programme or many others have done a great job. But you know, I'm of a Christian faith, John, it keeps me going, and I’ve spent a fair bit of time wearing out the carpet on my knees with quite a few prayers this year, I can assure you. And in many and most cases, I can say, they've been answered.
LAWS: Well, that's good. That's good. I'm happy to hear that, you seem to be out in the community every day. You know, you deserve a bit of a break. Are you going to take some time off over Christmas? New Year?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. During COVID, over the course of this year, I have really missed being able to just be out and finding out directly from people on the ground. You know, earlier this week, I was down in Launceston and Devonport. And you know wherever I go, John, the JobKeeper programme has just kept the whole show together. And I know it has been incredibly expensive. And the Treasurer and I didn’t make those decisions with our Cabinet lightly. But that has been the difference between where Australia is now with all the jobs coming back and what has occurred in so many other countries. I mean, this Christmas, I'm looking forward to Jenny and the girls and my mum and my mother in law, it is our first Christmas without my father this year. So that’ll, you know like for so many families, that'll be the case. There'll be an empty place and we will remember him, but it'll be just nice to be together. And you know, Australia is going to have a Christmas that so many other countries are not going to have, John. I mean, you know, over in Europe and the United States and so many places where they are in lock down. That’s not us, our borders are open like we all worked together to achieve. And I think Australians can be really proud of themselves. And I've certainly never been more proud of my country.
LAWS: No, I’m with you, and it wouldn’t be a week, hardly a day would go by when I don't say to somebody, my God, we're lucky to live in this country because we really are.
PRIME MINISTER: Always true. Always will be John.
LAWS: Yeah, well you're right there. Prime Minister, I hope you have a good Christmas. I hope you're able to do what you want to do, spend some time with your family and enjoy a bit of a rest. Probably not a big rest, but a bit of a rest?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, we'll get a bit of a break. And the Deputy Prime Minister will step up for a week over the January period. And we'll recharge the batteries, but we won't be far away. I'll just be spending the time at home and hopefully get a bit of time down the south coast if events allow, we're keeping a close eye on these serious weather events up here up north with La Nina. But it's good to see that La Nina bringing a bit of rain, too, as you’d know we still need a bit of rain up around the Darling Downs and through that area of south western Queensland in particular, it's still a bit too dry up there. And I know they're looking for some relief, but the rest of the country [inaudible] how good is that. That’s just tremendous.
LAWS: You’re quite right. How good is that? Well, Prime Minister, I hope you had a very, very happy Christmas. I hope you're able to get a bit of a rest. And I hope that we are able to have further discussions in the new year.
PRIME MINISTER: I look forward to it. God bless, seeya.
LAWS: Okay, goodbye. The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison.
Communities Celebrate Completion of Pacific Highway Upgrade
17 December 2020
Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure Transport and Regional Development, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Federal Member for Page, Premier of New South Wales, Deputy Premier of New South Wales, New South Wales Minister for Regional NSW Industry and Trade, New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, State Member for Clarence
Communities along New South Wales’ North Coast have come together at New Italy to celebrate the completion of the Pacific Highway upgrade, with the final section, from Woolgoolga to Ballina, now open to traffic.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this marks a historic day, as the largest road infrastructure project to be undertaken in Australia is now complete, delivering 657 kilometres of duplicated highway from Hexham to the Queensland border.
“We set the goal to deliver this $15 billion project by the end of 2020 and despite the challenges we’ve faced along the way such as bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve delivered,” the Prime Minister said.
“Across New South Wales, we will be getting people home sooner and safer for generations to come thanks to this generation-defining infrastructure project.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the upgrade had created more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs over its lifespan.
“Since the first shovel went in the ground, this project has injected billions of dollars into the economy, and it will drive long-term benefits for businesses and communities along the North Coast,” the Premier said.
“We continue to invest in improving journeys from Sydney all the way to the Queensland border, with almost $4 billion committed by the NSW and Australian governments to build the Coffs Harbour bypass and extend the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said it was a landmark day for communities right along the North Coast.
“The Pacific Highway is more than a road to them – it is part of their story, connecting them to the rest of Australia and each other,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“More than 40,000 people, including many locals, have worked directly on this project over 24 years. They should be proud that they have helped deliver safer, faster and more reliable journeys to millions of motorists every year.”
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the upgrade had transformed journeys along the North Coast, cutting travel times by more than two and a half hours.
“Not that long ago the Pacific Highway was known as a goat track, but now it’s 657 kilometres of dual-carriageway highway, which will support tourism, unlock new opportunities for regional economies and drive higher productivity for freight,” the Deputy Premier said.
“Many people have fought passionately to bring this project to life over many years – and today their vision of a four-lane highway is finally a reality.”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the number of fatal crashes on the highway had more than halved since the upgrade began.
“From day one, this upgrade has been about saving lives,” Minister Toole said.
“Since the upgrade began in 1996, fatalities have fallen by more than half. To put it in context, in the next 20 years it is expected that there will be 8,039 fewer crashes, 4,218 fewer injuries and critically 565 lives that will be saved. That’s 565 families who will see their loved ones come home at the end of the day.”
Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the scale of the project demonstrated the Australian Government’s commitment to improving local infrastructure in the state of NSW.
“The project has been a remarkable engineering feat with more than 600 new bridges built along the stretch from Hexham to the Queensland border, and more than 35 new or improved rest areas now available for drivers,” Assistant Minister Hogan said.
State Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the project was a source of vital support for the region.
“Infrastructure keeps people employed and regional economies ticking, supporting safer, faster journeys for our local community and freight operators,” Mr Gulaptis said.
The Pacific Highway upgrade has been jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments over more than 20 years from 1996 to 2020.
The final section of the Woolgoolga to Ballina project – the last project to be completed as part of the Pacific Highway upgrade – is now fully operational.
Vision Pack: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/m3iaBW1GNy
Interview with Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies, The Morning Show
16 December 2020
LARRY EMDUR: Prime Minister, welcome to The Morning Show.
PRIME MINISTER: Hey Larry, hey Kylie, good to be with you.
EMDUR: We knew you’d get along at some point, welcome to the show. We know it can be complicated for people like you to be on shows like this. What you need to know is we’re not expecting you to do the Macarena at the end of the interview, so is that ok?
PRIME MINISTER: That is welcome, particularly for your viewers.
EMDUR: It has been a tough year for all of us and for you especially, of course. Are you, like most of us, sort of crawling towards the end line? We’d love a personal answer instead of a political one but how are you feeling as the end of the year draws nigh?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, to be honest, I am feeling very thankful. Australia's management and the co-operation and the support that Australians have provided all through this year has been quite overwhelming, Larry. I mean, I have said it quite a few times now, I've never been more proud of my country than I am now. When I look at what’s happening around the world, this has been an effort from everyone. Certainly, our Government has done its job and state governments have done their job. But this has been people just dealing with the challenges of everyday that has together got us through to where we are. So we are going to have Christmas this year in Australia like few other countries. In other countries, they will be locked down and people will be separated from each other and in this country, from one end to the other, we are reunited. Australia's whole again as we come to Christmas. I am just very thankful and very grateful.
KYLIE GILLIES: What do other world leaders say to you about what we have done here?
PRIME MINISTER: They are obviously quite impressed and they ask well, how did we do it? The answer I give is pretty similar to what I just gave just then. There has been good strong health controls. Yes, we shut down the borders. Yes, that is internationally. Yes, we got our testing and tracing systems in place and they have been highly effective. I think the cooperation we have had from the public when things that have occurred with outbreaks, particularly here in New South Wales where there have been quite a few outbreaks, but they have been well contained. But the other part of it that I stressed to them is it hasn't just been about suppressing the virus where we have had great success. It is also about keeping our economy intact and Jobkeeper and JobSeeker, they have been a lifeline to this country over the last nine to 12 months. I was down in Launceston yesterday and just the number of business people, small business people that came up and said thank you to the Australian people for their support through JobKeeper that kept their employees in jobs. I was at a hydraulics company yesterday in Devonport. They had 106 employees and they did not drop one. Not one, because of JobKeeper. And there were apprentices there and it is a regional town in Australia, city in Australia, that could have been decimated by this and we are whole again still and we are looking to 2021 very optimistically.
EMDUR: If you’re talking to family and friends overseas right now, you do get the feeling we are very much the lucky country right now.
PRIME MINISTER: But we make our own luck, Larry. That’s the other point.
EMDUR: No, true, absolutely.
PRIME MINISTER: The harder you work, the luckier you get.
EMDUR: There you go. Overnight, China has defended its decision to all but ban Australian coal imports, accusing Australia of playing the victim here. Now, do we need to be anxious? I mean, we are anxious, how anxious do we need to be about our relationship with China moving forward would you say?
PRIME MINISTER: We take these issues very seriously and the Chinese Government has not confirmed to us about any official decision they have made in this area. I should stress one point, that our biggest coal exporting country, the country that takes our exports largest on coal are actually Japan and India. So China is not our major importer when it comes to thermal or metallurgical coal. There are many other markets, South Korea is another one. But of course we take these things seriously. But if that were to be true as I said yesterday, if there was such a ban on Australian coal, then that would be in direct contravention to the World Trade Organisation rules. It would also be a complete breach of the free trade agreement. So that is very serious for Australia but it is actually bigger than that because that would be suggesting that China, if that were true, then that perception would take hold very quickly, that they wouldn't be treating those rules with the right respect. And because the World Trade Organisation’s rules are important for the trading system around the world and so I don't think it would be in China's interest, it wouldn’t be in our interest and so I think it is best for us, as we have always called for, is for leader level dialogue and for ministerial level dialogue and we have always been happy for that mature conversation. But Australia will still be Australia. Our values will still be our values. We will still continue to set our laws here about foreign investment and our critical infrastructure. We will have a free press, parliamentarians will be able to speak freely, we want to understand how to deal with world health issues. So they are clear positions Australia has always taken, including on human rights issues. But we want to see China do well economically. That’s good for Australia so the relationship has a big future if we can just focus on the things that benefit us both.
GILLIES: It is party season and everyone loves an invitation at this time of year. In the last few hours, Boris Johnson has revealed Australia has been invited to attend the G7 summit. How important is that in the current climate?
PRIME MINISTER: I think it is very important and Boris, when we spoke some months ago, indicated that to me and I made comment on it at the time and we will join together with India and South Korea as observers at the G7. That makes it three years running now that Australia has been invited to participate at the G7. First in France. It was to be in the United States and we were invited down there as well but COVID prevented that meeting and now again in the UK. This is the meeting of the world’s largest liberal market-based democracy economies. Like-minded countries, including ourselves together with India and South Korea, I think really adds to that and it is important as we come out of this COVID recession around the world, one thing that did not happen during this recession, it wasn't caused by a collapse of capitalism or any of these sorts of things. It was caused by a meteor, a metaphorical meteor in the form of COVID-19 and the way out of this is through the models that we have in countries like ours and the United Kingdom and United States and Japan and France. Liberal market based democracies. That has produced the greatest wealth I think the world has ever seen following that approach and with the right social supports that democracies like ours have. So it is good for us to get together to line up on these issues and see how we can continue to support the recovery of the world economy.
EMDUR: Yeah, that global problem-solving right now, you have to think it is more important than ever, wouldn’t you. And still overseas, there are still tens of thousands of Australians stranded abroad and they were desperately trying to get home for Christmas, desperately, and you hoped to get them home by now. What happened with that?
PRIME MINISTER: There were 26,000 that were looking to come home and I said that’s what we’d seek to get back. We've actually got 52,000 back so we have doubled it and we will more than double that by Christmas. The issue is that since then, more people have sought to come home. So we have just over 30,000 right now registered who want to get home before the end of the year. There is about another 8,000 looking to come back next year. So we have more than doubled what we had hoped to do by Christmas. There are a lot of people looking to come home. That is obviously constrained by the quarantine capacity here in Australia. We have sought to boost that, as well as running additional flights. We have set up quarantine capacity in the Northern Territory and also down in Tasmania where I was discussing that with the Premier yesterday. So we have been doing everything we can to get people home and we have more than doubled what we expected to do by this time of the year. But there are more Australians looking to come home. What that will look like in the New Year, Larry, we will have to wait and see. I think the additional people coming home, contracts are finished, workers finished, the situation particularly in the UK has deteriorated fairly significantly with COVID. But the biggest group that are looking to come home are actually out of India. Almost around about 10,000 looking to come home from India. Just under 5,000, 4,500 looking to come back from the UK and then it goes down from there. So we’re running extra flights, we have expanded quarantine capacity with the states and direct funding and involvement of the Commonwealth. We are providing tens of millions of support for people who are stuck overseas, compassionate assistance for accommodation, emergency accommodation and other needs that they have. So the Australian system is working night and day to get people home and giving them the support they have.
GILLIES: Your message to those still stuck, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: We are looking to get you home as soon as we possibly can and that is what the record shows. We know you want to come home and you have every right to come home. You are an Australian and you are my first priority in terms of people coming back into the country. Many have said to me, oh we need to let our international students come back or others come back and I said well no, they are not taking the place of Australians coming home. They are my first priority and I appreciate the cooperation I have had with the Premiers on that.
EMDUR: Now this morning, the March COVID-19 vaccine rollout strategy was revealed, so can you tell us who will get the vaccine first, and why?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the strategy is yet to be finalised and released. I should stress that. The policy is in place and that has been adopted not only as it needs to be by my Cabinet, the Federal Cabinet but also the National Cabinet. The details of the full rollout are still being worked out with the states and territories because they are our partners in the delivery of this vaccine. I mean obviously, health workers and those in those critical occupations are at the front of the queue just like we have already seen that in the United Kingdom and United States. But the details of that plan are still being worked out Larry. So we will have more to say about that as that time approaches. See Australia is in a much better position than overseas. I mean, overseas they have to do emergency authorisations of these vaccines because frankly, that is the last defence in terms of the situation they are facing. Right here in Australia, as I said, we are going to have a Christmas like few other countries are going to have with families and friends and people getting together. That's not happening overseas. And so this gives us the opportunity to ensure we get these decisions right and we learn from what is happening overseas, the Therapeutic Goods Administration when it gives it the tick, then people can get the jab, and they can be confident about getting the jab because we have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and the reason for that is Australians have great confidence in the system we’ve built to keep them safe and to protect their health. So no one is rushing a decision and we are working consultatively to get all elements of that plan right.
GILLIES: Okay to that point, what is your plan for letting international visitors in you know, into the next year? Can you envisage an Australia that will still let people in who haven’t been vaccinated from overseas?
PRIME MINISTER: I think you will find the airlines themselves make their own decisions on that and that will be largely an international position taken by airlines and that has been the subject of discussion I have had with other global leaders in recent weeks. At this stage our focus, I mean we are not lifting the international borders at present, and we have no immediate plans to do that. We’ve obviously lifted them for New Zealand and that has gone very well. I think we are approaching almost about 10,000 people now who have come across the ditch from New Zealand and we’ve had no issues there. Didn’t expect there to be. The decision was made on a health basis and it is working very well. Pacific Islanders, there is the possibility to do that. We are already doing it with seasonal workers. With on-farm quarantine especially up there in Queensland that's working well. But we are taking this very, very cautiously, Kylie. The reason we have done so well is we have been so careful around our borders and so we will work through those issues but look, I hope that we can see international travel resume well in to next year but I am not expecting it, really, certainly not in the first quarter of next year, and in the quarter after that, a lot would have to change to see that happening in any sort of industrial scale.
EMDUR: Alright, that’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison, let's talk family man ScoMo, through the pandemic I tell you what it has been tough for everyone hasn’t it? To keep all this together. We’ve still seen these great pictures of you being a normal dad at home with the kids. How important has it been for you to maintain being a father to Lily and Abbey? Because everybody has needed a guiding light to get through this and your family would be the same?
PRIME MINISTER: Regardless of what job you have, whether it is mine or yours, or yours Kylie, or anyone else's, when you are a parent that is the most important job, I think we all agree with that, and I really do appreciate the way that Australians also give me great support in that. As a family, we have had so many wonderful messages this year and we are quite overwhelmed by it I’ve got to say, the girls are great. Jen’s great. Mum’s doing well and so is my mother-in-law, we will all be together for Christmas. Right now though as we go into this, I mean obviously we are a bit concerned about things that are happening here domestically particularly with the weather events we are seeing up north. I think we had 1,600 calls to emergency services yesterday in Queensland. 1,100 in NSW. So we are keeping a close eye on that so I am staying very close to home and I will be down at the Lodge this year at Christmas with the family and we’ll take a bit of time off early in the New Year. And Michael McCormack will step up then for a week or so. We’ll be just down the South Coast of NSW. And so not too, we will be very close to home dealing with any issues that arise. We are watching those tropical cyclone and other events, this year we know with La Niña that is going to have an impact and so we have been preparing for that for many months now. But for home, look you know, a bit of time together, that is how we have all gotten through this, haven't we? Just with our family and our friends supporting each other. And I’ve been no different. My family has just been absolutely amazing and Jen is of course the rock of the whole family.
GILLIES: Is it refreshing just to be called dad when you get home? Or do they call you Prime Minister if you ask them to do their homework?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll tell you one thing, you might remember back earlier in the pandemic when there was that issue I think that a whole bunch of people turned u on the beach at Bondi one day and I must admit I was a bit grumpy about that because we were very worried and I said "Stop it, it's ridiculous" and Abbey said, "That's what you say to us!" They recognised that phrase. I don't tell them it is un-Australian though if it’s, if they don't do their homework. But I’ve got to say the girls did, I was really proud of them. They, like all the kids this year and particularly year 12 kids, gosh, they had it hard this year. I am so proud of our year 12 students this year. My girls did great at school this year they really tried hard and I was so thrilled when I saw their report cards and thanks to all the teachers down at their school they have been great for them so they’ve come through I thin like all kids are getting through. They are very resilient, kids. But I think like this year, they deserve maybe one extra present under the tree because they have put up with a lot just like everyone else, and a couple of special hugs. I’m certainly looking forward to my Christmas Day hugs with my family.
EMDUR: Hey, who gets the best guest suite at the Lodge? Is it mum or mother-in-law? This is an important question.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they are pretty similar I got to say. They sort of pick them themselves. Because- so I'm not getting into that.
EMDUR: Good answer.
PRIME MINISTER: Mum and Beth, they were both down for the first wave, we spent the first wave in Canberra for obvious reasons. That was where I needed to be and so all the family joined me there. The kids were doing school from there and so mum and Beth they were there. And that was great to have them there with the girls as well, with Jen. That was, they’ll just go, they can run up the stairs and pick their own rooms.
GILLIES: It’s made us realise how important family is this year hasn’t it, so important.
PRIME MINISTER: It is.
EMDUR: Now, before we let you go, Prime Minister we’ve been waiting to talk to you for a while and one of the things we really wanted to flash back and enjoy this moment again with you was when you went to visit our very own Glenn Wheeler, it would have been a couple of years ago now. We know you are great mates and gee we love this picture. You went round to his house to say hello. You have been mates for a long time?
PRIME MINISTER: We have and to Glenn and the whole family. I know that Glenn is not always at home now and I caught up with the news when I was down in the shire the other weekend and they are a wonderful family and Glenn has got a heart as big as the sun and it warms everybody and he is totally unfiltered. The truth was he was pretty unfiltered before, I have got to say. As you guys would know better than anyone.
EMDUR: Correct.
PRIME MINISTER: He is still full of love and he plants those big wet lips on you anytime you get within any distance, I mean I don't know how he got through COVID without sort of kissing anybody who came within any sort of measurable distance. I really hope him and the whole family have a Chrissy together, they are a wonderful family and down in our Shire community they are royalty and they are loved greatly and I reckon he’ll be watching that fight with Gal I suspect and he’ll be backing the local boy there no doubt.
EMDUR: Well he’s watching now with Michelle we know that for sure, he’s probably smooching the TV as you speak absolutely.
PRIME MINISTER: Is he? Oh great! G’day guys. Good to see you and God bless and hope you’re great. I’m sorry we usually try and have a meal with Glenn before Christmas, this year’s been really hard to organise it but I am glad they are watching and love you mate.
GILLIES: He’s been busy, we get it. So nice to talk to you, my favourite quote is, Glenn is totally unfiltered. That’s my takeaway-
EMDUR: But also was before, was before.
GILLIES: And always will be. Thank you Prime Minister.
EMDUR: Thank you Prime Minister, great chat, we appreciate it.
PRIME MINISTER: Merry Christmas guys, have a real happy new year- I think we are going to say that with feeling this year.
EMDUR: For sure. Looking forward to next year that’s for sure, thank you.
Record Investment in Home Care Packages Continues
16 December 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians
The Morrison Government will invest an additional $1 billion in funding to help older Australians live at home for longer.
Another 10,000 home care packages - at a cost of more than $850 million - will be released as the Government continues to prioritise the needs of older and vulnerable Australians.
It adds to the Morrison Government’s record investment in aged care, from $13.3 billion in 2012-13 to $21.3 billion in 2019-20.
While the population of those aged 70 and over has jumped by 28 per cent since 2012, home care packages have increased by over 200 per cent with funding tripling - or more than 10 times the growth in population of older Australians.
Estimated funding for aged care will grow to more than $27 billion in 2023-24 – or an average $1.1 billion of extra support for senior Australians each year over the forward estimates.
The latest additional investment means almost 50,000 packages, at a cost of $3.3 billion, have been funded since the Royal Commission’s Interim Report.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was important older Australians received the care they needed.
“The health and wellbeing of older Australians is an absolute priority,” the Prime Minister said.
“By providing more support to people at home, we are ensuring that Australians, as they age, have greater choices and their families have greater choices.
“Our Government has continued to increase funding in aged care every year by more than $1 billion, adding thousands of extra home care packages at every opportunity.
“We will continue to address the many challenges there are in aged care, not only by boosting funding but also providing better access to health services to improve physical and mental wellbeing for older Australians.
“At every opportunity for the last three years, the Government has tripled the number of home care packages and in addition to Budget announcements, we have provided 10,000 additional home care packages at MYEFO every year for the past three years. This commitment continues.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the new packages are in addition to a $1.6 billion investment for more than 23,000 packages announced in the 2020–21 Budget.
It will increase the number of Australians receiving in-home care support to approximately 195,600 by 30 June 2021 – more than three times as many as when the Coalition formed Government.
“The latest investment underlines our commitment to help older Australians live at home for longer,” Minister Hunt said.
“It’s an important measure that can be instrumental to overall health and wellbeing and offer reassurance to families that their loved one is receiving appropriate care.”
The Government continues to build on the reform process for the delivery of care in the home as proposed by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Funding also includes:
an additional $57.8 million for aged care under the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response;
$63.3 million to support increased access to allied health services and improved mental health care supports for people in residential aged care, which includes:
$35.5 million to provide access to Medicare subsidised individual psychological services under the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the MBS (Better Access) initiative until 30 June 2022 and to evaluate Better Access.
$12.1 million for additional individual allied health sessions under Medicare chronic disease management plans.
$15.7 million for allied health group services for residents living in facilities affected by COVID-19 outbreaks.
The expansion of the eligibility requirements for the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners is ensuring people living in residential aged care can access suitable mental health support.
This will help all aged care residents access the Better Access initiative in the same way as people living in the community.
Psychological services will be provided by eligible general practitioners, psychologists, social workers or occupational therapists in accordance with a mental health treatment plan developed in consultation with the patient’s general practitioner or psychiatrist.
Financial disincentives for providers to offer services for those living in residential aged care will be removed.
The extension of the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response will bolster protection measures, including expert training and support in infection prevention and control for all states and territories.
Additionally, the Government is providing $8.2 million to extend the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre until 30 June 2021 to ensure the dedicated scalable support remains in place to rapidly respond to the pandemic and coordinate the Victorian response to outbreaks in aged care.
Another $11.1 million over five years will help fast-track the implementation of the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) to protect senior Australians from abuse and neglect. It takes the total investment in the program to $67.2 million.
The SIRS will drive improvements in quality and safety at the individual service and broader system level, by requiring residential aged care providers to manage all incidents, with a focus on the safety and wellbeing of consumers and reducing preventable incidents from reoccurring.
Minister Colbeck said the latest investment underlines the commitment of the Australian Government as it continues to implement recommendations from the Royal Commission’s Special Report on COVID-19, released in October 2020.
“We are building on more than $1.7 billion in support measures implemented as part of the Morrison Government’s response to the impact of COVID-19 in aged care,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The virus has presented the greatest challenge the sector has ever faced, but the Australian Government is moving beyond responding to the pandemic to drive the biggest transformation of aged care in our nation’s history.”
Doorstop - Riverside, TAS
15 December 2020
Bridget Archer MP, Member for Bass: It’s terrific to be here right in the heart of Launceston today. Launceston has got a very proud history when it comes to energy generation and I’m delighted to be joined here today by my mate Gavin Pearce, the Member for Braddon. Also Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Premier Peter Gutwein, Minister Angus Taylor and Minister Guy Barnett. It’s very fitting that we’re here in Launceston. As I said, we’ve got a very proud history of energy generation here in Launceston and it’s a great place to be talking about the future of energy here in Tasmania. Clean, green energy and lots of jobs.
The Hon. Peter Gutwein MP, Premier of Tasmania: Bridget, thank you for that warm introduction and it’s a pleasure to have the Prime Minister with us again for the second time in a couple of months and it’s been a fantastic opportunity over the last nine months to work with the Prime Minister. I must say, on one hand, I think I’ve spent more time on Webex with Scott than I have with my own children. But it’s been a lot of work over the period but it’s fantastic to see him here today. Look, Bridget just touched on the fact that Launceston has a proud history in terms of hydro generation. I think it is worthwhile making the point that here in Launceston at Duck Reach, that was the first hydro generator in the country when it was first developed and importantly Launceston was the first city in Australia to actually have electric power in terms of its streetlights. And so that was the start of the journey that we’re on. Today is another significant step in that journey. Over the last more than 100 years, what we’ve developed in Tasmania is a renewable energy system that is the envy of the country. Already we produce around 25 percent of the nation’s renewable energy and the next steps that we’re taking in terms of Marinus and Battery of the Nation will enable us to turn Tasmania into the renewable energy powerhouse of this country. The agreement that we will be signing today formalises the partnership between the state and federal government as we take forward Marinus. Importantly, with Marinus we’re working the design and approval stage and working towards having a bankable project by 2023-24. And importantly, already the feasibility work that has been undertaken indicates that this project is technically feasible and economically viable. So this next step of formalising our partnership is an important step. From the point of view of the state, the next step as I have said in turning Tasmania into the renewable energy powerhouse of this country. There will be thousands of jobs created as a result of this project and the underlying Battery of the Nation opportunity that comes with it. And importantly, with those jobs will come greater economic prosperity for Tasmania, built off the back of, as I have said, more than 100 years of work to get us to this point now, where we generate 25 percent of the country’s renewable energy. This will take us to a point where Tasmania will stand alone in the country in terms of our renewables. With that, I will hand over to the Prime Minister to provide the detail.
Prime Minister: Well, thank you, Peter, thank you, Premier. It is great to be here with my colleagues. Of course, Bridget and Gav, but also to have Angus and Guy here with me who have really been doing the heavy legwork when it comes to the agreement that the Premier and I are going to be signing today. To Ange and to Ian and to all the team here at Hydro, it is great to be here with you and see the amazing work that you’ve been doing in Launceston for a very long time, since the mid-1950s. And it just goes to show that if you’ve got a good idea, it sustains and it really carries and that’s what we’re seeing here with the hydro industry here in Tasmania.
Our Government is working with state and territory governments to get electricity prices down, to ensure we’ve got reliable energy that can support our industries right across the country to create jobs and how we do that, both within the sector and outside the sector and to get our emissions down. That’s why we’re working with the states and territories. We’ve already signed an agreement with the New South Wales Government and today we’re signing a similar agreement here with the Tasmanian Government. A deal which is about getting electricity prices down, creating jobs and getting our emissions down. That's exactly what we're achieving here. What we're achieving in this agreement is we go to the next phase of the Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link project. The Commonwealth is increasing our investment up to $150 million to get us through the design and approval phase. In the agreement today, we established the Special Purpose Vehicle who will carry the project forward. Of course, there are more hurdles to clear into the future. But as the Premier just said, the technical and economic feasibility is very, very sound. That gives us great confidence, Minister Taylor and I, to go to the next step, to make the further investment. Here in Tasmania, you will be an exporter of clean, reliable energy to the mainland, to the rest of Australia. You will be exporting the sort of energy that the rest of Australia needs. Already there's some 400 megawatts, which sits idle. We want to connect that up to the rest of the economy. We want to connect that up to the rest of Australia. This is really important to ensure Australia emerges from the COVID-19 recession and that we charge up our businesses, not just here in Tasmania, and particularly here in the north of Tasmania, where the bulk of the jobs will be. Some 2,800 jobs in just the Marinus Link project alone, with further jobs coming in the form of Battery of the Nation.
This is a very exciting project and it's the sort of project which says ambition is great, but I tell you what, action is better. I mean, what we're doing here is reducing emissions. What we are doing here is generating energy in a renewable way that is reliable and can power jobs and that's why we're so excited about this agreement. And so we're looking forward to taking the next step and the partnership I have with Premier Gutwein builds on that, that we had previously with Premier Hodgman. I'm sure both Peter and I will join in praising the future vision, supported of course by Guy Barnett, and all of the Tasmanian team that understood the great power of this idea. It's becoming a reality now. I mean, this project will be contributing to Australia achieving and beating our 2030 emissions reduction targets, without even having to draw on our carbon credits, which Australia rightfully earned through our overachievement of the Kyoto commitments that we had. So, this is a key part of our plan. Along with Snowy Hydro, up on the mainland, these projects, this is how you reduce emissions. This is how you actually get it done. When you are focused on doing these things, the achievements then follow, and so we're going to keep focused on the practical on this. We're going to keep focused on investing in the jobs and the lower power prices. I want to thank again Premier Gutwein for partnering with us on this. Look forward to coming to similar agreements with other states and territories in due course. But this is how we're getting it done, Australia, and I really am so proud of what Tasmania is achieving here. I am really thrilled to Gav and to Bridget about the jobs that are going to be created here. Because we're also investing in the training here in northern Tasmania to ensure that people from northern Tasmania can be a part of this special project. Some years ago, when I was here, last year, in fact, with Gav and we were up in Ulverston and we were making announcements about the training that we were putting in locally to ensure that people could be trained to do the jobs here. So Ange, there will be plenty more for you to employ into the future as we go forward with these projects.
It is a very exciting day for Tasmania. The power is on. I will hand it over to Angus.
The Hon. Angus Taylor MP, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction: Thank, PM. It is great to be here with my federal colleagues, but also by state colleagues, who have been fantastic partners in working on this project together. Guy and Peter are passionate about hydro and the potential of hydro, as of course are Gavin, Bridget and the Prime Minister as you have just heard. Of course, our great challenge as a country is to bring down, contain, energy prices and at the same time bring down emissions. That's exactly what this project is doing. We're seeing a really dramatic investment right now across Australia in solar and wind. $9 billion last year. We expect from the Clean Energy Regulator, what they are telling us, is we will see a similar $9 billion this year. Over 6 gigawatts of new solar and wind going into our grid. Emissions falling in the national electricity market 5 percent in the last 12 months alone and that's in keeping with dramatic reductions we're seeing in emissions right now. The challenge of that is to make sure we have firm, reliable power and we contain prices when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. That's exactly what hydro projects can do for us and it is why we're so excited about projects like Battery of the Nation, Marinus and, of course, the Snowy project on the mainland.
When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, you need a solution and Tasmania has part of that solution which is very exciting for all of us here. Now, the $150 million we have invested in total in this project will get us to financial investment decision in the coming months, then we want to get on and build this project, because it really is needed. As the Prime Minister said, it's about practical action that contains energy prices and brings down emissions at the same time. A balance in our system between the dispatchable power that hydro delivers and the intermittent power from fresh solar and wind. That balance is what will serve us well to get the practical outcomes we want to in the coming years. Our focus is on technology, not taxes. Hydro is an old technology but it is being used in new ways. We are seeing dramatic improvements in efficiency in hydro, 10 percent improvement in the upgrade going on here. But hydro has also come of age in the way it can balance and store energy. That makes it a technology that's time has come. It's been around for a long time, but it's particularly important in our energy system now. These hydro projects create big batteries with dispatchable energy that can balance and ensure that we have the reliability and affordability all Australians need in our electricity grid.
The Hon. Guy Barnett, Tasmanian Minister for Energy: Thank you, Angus and to Prime Minister Scott Morrison for being here. It's so good to have a positive working relationship with Premier Gutwein and our federal colleagues. Strong, strong support from Gavin Pearce and Bridget Archer. It’s absolutely fantastic and to have that recognised today with the signing of the MOU to identify Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation to proceed to the next level, it is so exciting. Tasmania is the renewable energy powerhouse of Australia. We have just reached 100 per cent fully self-sufficient in renewable energy, just announced a few weeks ago. We are so pleased and so proud of that. The only state in Australia to achieve that accomplishment and one of the few jurisdictions in the world. We have now just recently legislated our Renewable Energy Target to be 200 per cent by 2040. This is remarkable. We're leading the way. Tasmania has the trifecta - affordable, reliable, and clean electricity and we have what the rest of Australia needs and wants. We have what the rest of the world needs and wants, and Tasmania has natural assets with our world-class water resource, our world-class wind resource and we're delivering. We're delivering jobs on the ground here in Tasmania, as has been outlined by the Prime Minister and Premier Gutwein. This is all about jobs on the ground. Billions of investment, improved energy security, and downward pressure on electricity prices.
In terms of the announcement today around Battery of the Nation, the Lake Cethana has been identified as the preferred site for work to progress. So congratulations to Hydro Tasmania for the work they’ve undertaken to identify out of Lake Rowallan Power Station and Lake Cethana. Lake Cethana is it. I spoke to the mayor, Tim Wilson, this morning. He is absolutely delighted. In terms of the MOU, it also includes and identifies Tarraleah for a major redevelopment. We're talking a $650 million development with jobs on the ground, hundreds of jobs during construction, a lot of civil construction work down through in the Derwent Valley in the southern part of Tasmania. This is part of the Battery of the Nation. So it's been identified, further work will be required subject to finance and further discussions with between the federal and state government here in Tasmania. So here we are at Trevallyn. This is part of our Battery of the Nation. You can see the improvements. We are increasing efficiencies and offering opportunities for more affordable, reliable, clean electricity. We're delivering in spades in Tasmania, and I say thank you to the Australian government for the commitment to this going forward. It's a very exciting day. A watershed event. I'm absolutely delighted on behalf of all Tasmanians to say we have the credentials to be the renewable energy powerhouse of Australia and to, indeed, lead the globe.
Prime Minister: Happy to take questions. But can I also congratulate you, Guy, on the great work you did to have Teddy Sheean recognised with the VC, which we were able to have invested just recently. I was in isolation at the time but was able to contribute remotely. But to you particularly, Guy, fantastically supported by the Premier and so many Tasmanians. And here Gav and, of course, Bridget, for the tremendous work you’ve done to making sure we work through that process well. It was a great outcome for Australia, it was a great outcome for Tasmania. A particularly good outcome for northern Tasmania, so that was tremendous. Happy to take some questions.
Journalist: Prime Minister what does this deal mean for who will own and operate the finished interconnector?
Prime Minister: We are setting up the SPV to deal with that in an interim way. But ultimately, this is a commercial project. This is a project that has a customer base, that is commercially viable, it has income streams that will support itself, ultimately. What we're doing here as a state government and a federal government is we're getting this thing moving. Now, the Commonwealth Government has been doing this in a number of different ways. The ultimate ownership structure varies, depends on the project, and how it ultimately plays out. In Snowy Hydro, for example, well, the Commonwealth now completely owns that project. With Western Sydney Airport, a big infrastructure project, we currently own all of it, but that’s isn't our intention long-term. So the ownership structure, I think, becomes clearer as time goes on. But what is important is that the project happens. The state government and federal government are very keen to ensure that this project happens and those issues, and the Premier may want to comment on this as well, from their perspective, but what we want to see happen is the project happen. And ultimately, down the track, this will be a project, this will be a business that will stand on its own two feet. Peter, did you want to add anything?
Journalist: So who’s going to pay for the whole interconnector?
Prime Minister: This will be a combination of investments, no doubt. But ultimately a business supports itself based on its customers. That's how it works. And the great compelling idea of Marinus and of also, of course, Battery of the Nation is it's generating lower cost electricity which is reliable and dispatchable. That's something that people need and want. That will support the investment from whichever sector it comes from. We're setting up a special purpose vehicle, that means we expect this to wash its face and the investments that are made from Commonwealth and state entities are supported by the revenues that will come from this business operating as a business, but those revenues will be based on lower-cost electricity. So there are winners everywhere here.
Journalist: How much do you expect Tasmanian taxpayers will pay for this given it’s exporting the power out when we don’t actually need it here in Tasmania?
Prime Minister: There is a great benefit, and the Premier and Minister may wish to comment on this. I am talking about a business that actually earns, so this is something that is not only going to create jobs, but this is something that is actually going to support itself. That is the whole point, which means that the Tasmanian public are double beneficiaries. They will be shareholders as they already are through hydro, in a successful business, but one that is actually producing lower power prices and jobs. So I would say they will benefit greatly, but I will let Peter speak to that as well.
The Hon. Peter Gutwein MP, Premier of Tasmania: Very happy to deal with that. This is a fantastic opportunity for Tasmania. Already, we generate 100 per cent of our renewable needs. In fact, our overall needs for electricity. The Battery of the Nation provides us with the opportunity to increase that opportunity to generate. Importantly, the rest of the country from the point of view of both needing dispatchable power, but also in terms of reducing emissions, wants our green energy and the rest of the country will pay for this as an export out of Tasmania. That is the bottom line. This will provide, importantly, ongoing economic security for the state and, importantly, thousands of jobs as well.
Journalist: How much will Victoria pay for this, then?
The Hon. Peter Gutwein MP, Premier of Tasmania: At the end of the day, what we are working through at the moment is to get to a financial investment decision and, in terms of the project, as I have said, as it stands at the moment, it is technically feasible. Importantly, it is economically viable. But our energy is needed by the rest of the country. Green energy is needed by the rest of the country. No one else can do what we are currently doing in terms of the network of bands we have, the network of catchments. So we are in a prime position to export clean, green energy to the rest of the country. And at the end of the day, customers will purchase that.
Journalist: If we are the only state that can do this, why should we be the ones paying for it?
The Hon. Peter Gutwein MP, Premier of Tasmania: At the end of the day I think you are having a little overreach there. What the Prime Minister has said is that what we have set up at the moment is a special purpose vehicle which will take us to the financial investment decision. This is the next step in terms of the proving of this project as a bankable project. Once it becomes a bankable project, there will be a range of options to consider in terms of who finances it and who ultimately owns it. It could be owned privately, it could be owned by the Commonwealth Government in partnership with the State Government. Those matters will be worked through as we prove up this project.
Journalist: So you want it to be bankable within the next four years, when will construction officially start?
The Hon. Peter Gutwein MP, Premier of Tasmania: As soon after that as we can take the first step.
Journalist: Prime Minister, onto other national matters, on coal exports, the Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says that the Australian Government has not been able to verify the Global Times report but have you got any reason to doubt the report?
Prime Minister: Well, we take official information from the Chinese Government and so that is what we are seeking clarification of and those reports have not been clarified by the Chinese Government. So, until we are in a position to have that clarified, then we can only treat these as media speculation in the Chinese state-owned media. That said, what is important to note here is that if that were the case, if that were the case, then that would obviously be in breach of WTO rules. It would be obviously in breach of our on free trade agreement and so we would hope that is certainly not the case. That is why we are seeking clarification on this. But I make the point that thermal coal is about $4 billion out of the $13 billion in exports to China. China is not our biggest market for thermal coal. That is, in fact, Japan, which is more than double the exports that we have to China. On metcoal, India is actually our biggest metcoal export. Our coal mines and our coal exports have a diverse customer base. But, obviously, we take these issues very seriously. If this were to be the practice, the 4 billion-odd that goes into coal-fired power generation in China, it really is a lose-lose here. Because Australian coal compared to the coal that is sourced from other countries, the other countries have 50 per cent higher emissions than Australian coal. As a result, that would be a bad outcome for the environment. It would be a bad outcome for the trading relationship between Australia and China, that both countries benefit from. So I would hope that we could get to the point of having some mature discussions about these issues. That is what the Australian Government is seeking to discuss that a number of other trade issues that are currently on foot.
Journalist: Can the relationship with China ever be fixed, do you think?
Prime Minister: Well, it takes two parts to achieve that. I have made it very clear that Australia has always participated in China’s economic development and that has particularly been the case as we have been able to free up our trading relationship in recent years. We all have been a proponent of China's economic growth. We are not one of those countries that have sought to contain their growth. We are a country that has engaged with over a long period of time. They have benefited greatly from that and we have benefited greatly from that. That is where the future of the relationship is. What concerns, I think many, not just here in Australia but overseas as well, is if there is any sort of conflation, if a perception emerges that there is a conflation between political issues and a trading relationship, then that can create a lot of uncertainty for many other trading partners. I am sure that is not something that China would be hoping to achieve here. What we are looking for is ensuring that we can continue on with what has been a very mutually beneficial relationship. On a trade basis, I think the proof of that is in the economic performance of both countries. But, of course, Australia's sovereignty is never for sale. Australia's sovereignty and the issues that are important to us a number of those issues have been flagged as concerns, I don't think anyone would have any expectation that Australia would ever consider any changes to things that go to our national interest. No self-respecting country would. So I think there is ample room for this relationship to be able to proceed on a mutual basis because we have both benefited and when we are not engaged in that way, well, then both partners to that relationship lose out.
Journalist: Do you accept you have mismanaged the relationship with China to be the detriment of Tasmanian exporters across multiple industries who now face an uncertain future, especially given our exports to China are three times greater than exports to any other country?
Prime Minister: No, I don't. I don't at all. Because what our Government has done has stood up for Australia’s sovereign interests. We decide who invests in Australia. We have a free liberal, open democracy where members of Parliament can speak their mind and you as a journalist can report in a free press. I don't think these are things that we should be changing. I don't think these are things that we should be bargaining. I think our national security interest, whether it deals with our critical infrastructure or indeed our energy systems, our communication systems, any of these things, are things that we trade away. I think Australia’s long-term position when it comes to human rights issues that this Government and many other governments, together with countries around the world, have always held a consistent position is something that we should be trading away. I think it is important that we work with organisations like the World Health Organisation to understand and learn lessons from global pandemic issues. I mean, these are practical, real things that any Australian government you would hope would do. So those who might make those accusations might want to nominate to me, which one of Australia's national sovereign interests are they thinking the Government should have traded away?
Journalist: Do you think that Bridget Archer’s comments on cashless welfare and then the decision to abstain will hurt your chances to retain Bass at the next election?
Prime Minister: Quite the contrary. Bridget is a woman who has a deep experience and understanding and she brings a lot to the table in our Coalition and in the Liberal Party. I am incredibly proud of Bridget Archer, as I am with Gav, and our entire team in Tasmania because what they bring is their experience and their perspectives and their views and that makes my Party stronger and it makes my Government stronger. I think the people of Bass can understand that when Bridget comes to the Parliament, she tells people what she thinks and she tells me what she thinks and I greatly respect that in Bridget. She is an extraordinary person, just like Gavin and all members of my team. She is warmly embraced by my Government and certainly by me. Bridget Archer is exactly the sort of person that I want in my team and I am so glad she was elected by the people of Bass because she is making an enormous contribution and I am looking forward to her continuing that contribution. She's exactly what I am looking for.
Journalist: Can you guarantee…
Prime Minister: I will go over here. We have a good go over here, so we might have a fair go over here.
Journalist: Shadow Housing Minister Jason Clare is also in Tasmania. He wants the Government to invest half a billion dollars for urgent repairs in social housing. Is this something you would consider?
Prime Minister: Well, I trust the State Government and they are doing a great job and they are responsible for social housing. And it is $300 million, isn't it, Peter? $300 million is being invested by the Tasmanian State Government. That is a State Government job and they are doing that job. We are doing JobKeeper. We are doing JobSeeker. We are doing the Instant Expensing, which is enabling businesses to invest again. We are doing the job hiring credit which is getting young people back into jobs here in Tasmania. See, what may have escaped the Labor Party over the course of this year is we have built, I think, a great partnership with the states and territories through the National Cabinet and we all focus on doing our job well. Peter is doing a great job when it comes to social housing and building into that infrastructure. We are doing a great job on HomeBuilder and ensuring that first homeowners, in particular, are able to get the finance through the first home loan deposit scheme to actually buy their first house and all Tasmanians are getting the opportunity to go and build their own home through the generous grants program we are running on HomeBuilder. So we are doing our job. Peter is doing his job and the big winners from that are Tasmanians.
Journalist: Back to China, given your ministers haven't been able to speak to their Chinese counterparts, have you any way of speaking to the Chinese ministry and what are they telling you?
Prime Minister: Well, the business relationships continue and the trade volumes, particularly on resources, continue to be at very high levels and very high prices. So look, obviously, we monitor all of those things and there continues to be official diplomatic engagement between the Australian and the Chinese governments. That continues. We obviously would welcome the restoration of direct ministerial and leader-level discussions. Of course we would welcome that and we are totally open to that. But let me be clear about something. Those discussions happen without condition. They don't happen subject to Australia getting rid of a free press. They don't happen with Australia giving away our rules regarding to who can invest in Australia. I mean, that wouldn't be sensible at all. So we would welcome that discussion. We look forward to it. We are open to it. We will see where that goes.
Journalist: When will you speak to the Chinese president man-to-man?
Prime Minister: Whether it is man-to-man, we will have a direct conversation with each other at some point. There will be summits that will occur over the course of the next year. I hope it happens sooner than that, but there is no barrier to that occurring on the Australian side whatsoever.
Journalist: I assume you’re watching the rollout of the coronavirus vaccines in the US and the UK, and when might Australians and Tasmanians expect to…?
Prime Minister: First quarter of next year. We are in a very different position to the United Kingdom and the United States. We are not in the position of having to do emergency-level authorities for these vaccines. Australia has one of the highest rates of vaccinations in the world and that is because Australians, I think, have great confidence in our institutions, in our health authorities that make decisions about what vaccines are made available to Australians and the Therapeutic Goods Administration and Professor Skerritt who leads that organisation I think holds the trust of the nation. So we will go through the normal processes of certifying and authorising the vaccine. We will have a front-row seat when it comes to what the experience is, particularly in the United Kingdom, through the many relationships that we have with them at both a scientific and medical level to ensure that we learn any lessons that are necessary from the first rollout of vaccines there and in other places. But our vaccine policy and our strategy is right on track and because of the great work done by all Australians, including right here in Tasmania, the great work done by our premiers, including Premier Gutwein here and, of course, the work done by the Federal Government means that Australia is one of a handful of countries around the world to both having suppressed the virus. There won't be too many places around the world where Christmas will be as normal as it is in Australia this year. There won't be too many places where you have got people coming from various parts of the country, whether it is from North Queensland down to Tasmania or across to the west or wherever it happens to be. That is going to be our reality this Christmas, Australia. That will not be the reality in many countries around the world. That is a product of your amazing efforts, Australia, and the governments that have sought to support you to get to this point. But we look forward to the vaccine next year. We are right on track for that and the strategy for how that is being rolled out continues to be confirmed by the Health Department and in close consultation with the state premiers and chief ministers and was a big topic of our discussion last Friday.
Journalist: Joe Biden will be duly elected by the Electoral College today as the next President. What do you especially look forward to working with him on?
Prime Minister: Security in the Indo-Pacific. That has always been the bedrock of Australia’s relationship with the United States. We, of course, have deeply ingrained and shared values and societies and that has been the basis of our relationship. But the United States always has been a key ingredient, the bedrock, if you like, of the security platform that Australia enjoys in the Indo-Pacific. That is not just Australia's view. That is a view shared across our region. I know that is President-elect Biden's view as well and the conversation I already have had with him, quite a lengthy conversation, and that is where a lot of our focus was in that discussion. We look forward to pursuing our economic relationships and many other issues with the Biden administration. Its formal recognition I don't think comes until January or thereabouts, but we already have gauged as appropriate with the incoming administration as we continue to work with the current administration out to the end of 20th of January. But on that note, thank you all very much for coming today and we will wrap it up there. Thanks very much.
Energy and Emissions Reduction Deal with Tasmania
15 December 2020
Prime Minister, Premier of Tasmania, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Tasmanian Minister for Energy
The Morrison and Gutwein governments have signed a State Energy and Emissions Reduction Deal that will create thousands of jobs and deliver secure, reliable and affordable power to the state and the broader National Electricity Market (NEM).
Under the agreement, the governments will work closely to deliver Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link projects to better connect Tasmania with mainland Australia and the NEM, while improving energy security, keeping prices low and reducing emissions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said delivering the Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation projects are a key part of the Federal Government’s JobMaker Plan to ensure affordable and reliable energy in the east coast energy grid.
“These two projects will maintain downward pressure on electricity prices, so households can keep more of what they earn,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“They will also develop the backbone of a reliable, lower emissions National Electricity Market for the next decade and beyond.
“These projects will create 2,800 jobs which will be crucial as Tasmania continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said this deal with Tasmania demonstrates the Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring households and businesses in every corner of the country can access affordable and reliable power.
“Projects like Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation can help deliver a more reliable energy system, reducing the risk of blackouts and electricity price volatility.
“Marinus Link will provide the additional interconnection needed to export the electricity generated by the Battery of the Nation projects to the mainland. In doing so, it will unlock a pipeline of new renewable energy investment, including pumped hydro energy storage.
“Energy projects like this also represent a massive economic opportunity for Australia as we recover from the COVID-19 recession.”
Premier Peter Gutwein said the MOU between the State and Federal Governments will underpin our plans to rebuild a stronger Tasmania.
“The MOU will help to further unlock Tasmania’s renewable energy potential, with thousands of jobs and over $7 billion in economic activity set to flow as a result,” the Premier said.
“Having already achieved 100 per cent self-sufficiency in renewables, Tasmania is already punching above its weight in generating low cost, reliable, clean energy for the nation, and this will help us achieve our target to double our renewable generation to 200 per cent of our current needs by 2040.”
Tasmanian Minister for Energy Guy Barnett said it confirms Tasmania’s reputation as a global leader in renewable energy.
“The anticipated increased energy interconnection between mainland Australia and Tasmania will also improve energy security and help put downward pressure on power prices, while enhancing our growing reputation for renewable energy production.”
The Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments have previously provided a combined $95 million to advance these projects.
Key components of the Tasmanian State Energy and Emissions Reduction Deal include:
The Morrison Government will contribute a further $93.9 million as part of the agreement for the Marinus link project;
The creation of a joint special purpose corporate vehicle (62.5 per cent shares to Commonwealth & 37.5 per cent shares to Tasmania) that will progress the Marinus Link transmission through to a Final Investment Decision; and
The agreement as part of the Morrison Government’s Underwriting New Generation Investments (UNGI) program to a scoping and development process for underwriting the first Battery of the Nation project site at Tarraleah that will provide additional dispatchable electricity and energy storage to the mainland.
Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link go hand in hand. Marinus Link will enable the export of an additional 1,500 megawatts of capacity to the mainland.
The Tarraleah redevelopment is a $650 million project that could see early works commence in 2021 and is expected to create 100 new ongoing jobs and 250 jobs during peak construction.
The governments expect to announce more emissions reduction projects as part of the deal in 2021.
The economic benefits of Marinus Link for Tasmania and Victoria are estimated at $2.9 billion.
The Government is working with state and territory governments to establish agreements that accelerate cooperation on energy and emissions reduction projects.
These agreements will help deliver affordable and reliable energy to consumers, while reducing emissions and creating jobs.
In addition to Marinus Link, the Morrison Government is progressing Project EnergyConnect, VNI West, HumeLink and the QNI Interconnector upgrade. This means we are accelerating all major priority transmission projects, creating thousands of new jobs, putting downward pressure on prices and shoring up the future of the grid.
National Federation Reform Council Statement
11 December 2020
Today the National Federation Reform Council (NFRC), comprising the Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers, Treasurers and President of the Australian Local Government Association, held its inaugural meeting, in Canberra.
The NFRC reflected on the achievements of Australian governments and the Australian community in 2020, working together to effectively slow the spread of COVID-19, save lives, keep Australians in work and business in business.
Australia’s health and economic position at the end of 2020 should give Australians cause for optimism and hope. We have a plan for national reopening. Work is underway to accelerate growth now and into the future. While the risk of further outbreaks will remain until a vaccine is in use, and the economic recovery will be long and hard, Australia is among a small handful of countries leading in terms of both health and economic outcomes heading into 2021.
This response has been delivered by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments working together through National Cabinet. National Cabinet has met 32 times since it was established on 13 March 2020, and has worked hand-in-glove with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) to steer the country safely and successfully through the pandemic.
National Cabinet has reformed and rationalised the intergovernmental architecture to follow this model. It has established:
National Cabinet Reform Committees to support National Cabinet’s job creation agenda,
the National Federation Reform Council (NFRC) and NFRC Taskforces to deal with priority federation issues that fall outside National Cabinet’s job creation remit, and
Ministers’ Meetings that are more agile and responsive, significantly reducing bureaucracy and red tape.
Following on from this year’s success, there is a big program of work to continue next year through the Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR) and the National Cabinet Reform Committees.
National Cabinet has stood-up and identified reform priorities for five of the six National Cabinet Reform Committees, and each of these committees will bring forward reform proposals to National Cabinet in 2021. National Cabinet will also receive reform proposals from CFFR next year, and identify reform priorities for the final National Cabinet Reform Committee – on Population and Migration.
The National Federation Reform Council will meet again in late 2021.
Mental Health
Dr Stephen King, presiding Commissioner for the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Mental Health, and Ms Christine Morgan, National Suicide Prevention Adviser, provided updates on their recent reports.
NFRC acknowledged many of the findings are not new and reform is overdue. The PC Review provides a sombre and detailed picture of a system that is fragmented, complex to navigate for Australians and their families and carers, and not sufficiently focused on prevention and early intervention. The cost to Australia of mental illness is up to $600 million every day. Ms Morgan’s report is informed by the voices of more than 2,000 Australians with lived experience of suicidal behaviour and similarly points to the need for a more compassionate and comprehensive system that acts early to support Australians in distress. The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System interim report also highlights the need for a more consumer-centred system.
NFRC also acknowledged the work of all jurisdictions to support Australians’ mental health in response to the significant, and often cumulative, challenges for Australians including drought, bushfires and COVID-19. These challenges have amplified the need to improve our mental health and suicide prevention system to address increased levels of mental illness, and increased levels of suicidal risk, self-harm and distress. While a range of measures have been put in place to address the immediate impacts of lockdowns and uncertainty created by COVID-19, the impacts of these challenges are likely to be long-lasting and make further demands on an already stretched mental health system.
Today, NFRC agreed to collaborate on systemic, whole-of-governments reform to deliver a comprehensive, coordinated, consumer-focussed and compassionate mental health and suicide prevention system to benefit all Australians. This will be achieved through a new National Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention to be negotiated through the Health National Cabinet Reform Committee by the end of November 2021.
Specifically NFRC agreed to:
a. completing a stocktake of existing government funded mental health programs across all jurisdictions by the end of April 2021, to inform the development of the new National Agreement;
b. prioritise the development of a National Stigma Reduction Strategy, led by the National Mental Health Commission, in consultation with all levels of government;
c. building the mental health and suicide prevention literacy and capability of our public sector workforces to ensure services are timely, coordinated and compassionate; and
d. working with Indigenous people to address social and emotional wellbeing and high Indigenous suicide rates, including in line with the Closing the Gap target of moving the rate towards zero
NFRC agreed the following principles that will underpin whole-of-governments efforts to transform and improve Australia’s mental health system. All jurisdictions will:
a. work together to build a better mental health and suicide prevention system for all Australians
b. recognise all governments play a critical role in policy and service delivery across the system
c. ensure all jurisdictions provide funding to address identified gaps and not duplicate service provision
d. reduce system fragmentation across prevention, primary and secondary care and specialist settings
e. establish structures and mechanisms as required to jointly drive planning and reform that supports a stepped care model, addresses the ‘missing middle’ and supports effective early intervention
f. ensure the particular needs of Australia’s rural and regional communities are equitably addressed
g. work together on shared funding arrangements for services as appropriate, informed by decisions on roles and responsibilities as part of the new system, and identified gaps based on key inputs such as:
final reports from the Productivity Commission, Victorian Royal Commission, the National Mental Health Commission’s Vision 2030, and the National Suicide Prevention Advisor, and
the jurisdiction-wide stocktake of mental health and suicide prevention programs.
Emergency management
NFRC reaffirmed that all jurisdictions will collaborate to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (the Royal Commission), through the National Emergency Management Ministers’ Meeting (NEMMM).
Emergency Management Ministers will work with other members of their Governments to implement the Royal Commission recommendations, ensuring the recommendations are comprehensively addressed in a whole-of-governments manner.
Ahead of the 2021-22 high-risk weather season NEMMM will focus on:
a. the Australian Warning System
b. the Australian Fire Danger Rating System
c. Nationally Consistent Pre-Agreed Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
d. a review of the path to expeditiously deliver the Public Safety Mobile Broadband
e. making substantial progress to reform fundraising laws, and
f. making substantial progress to improve natural disaster risk information to support decision-making such as land-use planning for new development, and the construction code.
Hazard reduction data and information will be shared across jurisdictions to maximise its utility and value for hazard risk reduction.
NFRC Taskforces
NFRC agreed Terms of Reference for the NFRC Taskforces on Women’s Safety, Indigenous Affairs and Veterans’ Wellbeing.
Establishing these NFRC taskforces shows the commitment of all governments to these priority national federation issues.
The Women’s Safety Taskforce will oversee implementation of the Fourth Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 and funding under the COVID-19 Domestic Violence Support Package. The Taskforce will be responsible for developing and implementing the next National Plan, which will commence in 2022.
The terms of reference of the Indigenous Affairs Taskforce are broad, allowing the Taskforce to define its own priorities each year, and invite Indigenous partners and other relevant ministers to its meetings. The existing Joint Council on Closing the Gap will retain its focus on coordination, cooperation, monitoring and reporting on the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The Indigenous Affairs Taskforce will not replace these arrangements.
Supporting veterans’ wellbeing is a priority for all jurisdictions, with each jurisdiction providing various supports and services that can contribute to improving veteran outcomes. It is critical that governments work together to determine how to best improve veteran wellbeing.
Local government representatives will support the taskforces as requested by the chairs.
Local government
Councillor Linda Scott, President of the Australian Local Government Association, provided information on the enormous effort of local governments in 2020 to support communities dealing with the effects of bushfires, drought, and COVID-19. These efforts were recognised by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, and all levels of government looked ahead to the collaborative effort needed in 2021 to support Australia’s economic recovery.
Mental Health
Today, NFRC agreed to a vision for Australia’s future mental health and suicide prevention system (attached) and to collaborate on systemic, whole-of-governments reform to deliver a comprehensive, coordinated, consumer-focussed and compassionate mental health and suicide prevention system to benefit all Australians.
This will be achieved through a new National Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention to be negotiated through the Health National Cabinet Reform Committee by the end of November 2021.
National Cabinet Statement
11 December 2020
The National Cabinet has held its 32nd meeting today, in Canberra.
At the final meeting of the year, leaders discussed Australia’s economic recovery, the 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 measures to get 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.
National Cabinet received a detailed briefing on the labour market by the Commonwealth Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy and National Skills Commissioner Adam Boyton. Leaders also noted progress on the successful rollout of the JobTrainer program for over 300,000 free or low-cost training positions across the country.
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 28,000 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 908 people have died. There are now around 50 active cases in Australia, all in hotel quarantine. Over the past week there has been no cases of community transmission in Australia. More than 10 million tests have been undertaken across the country.
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-19 compared to most other developed economies. Globally there have been over 68 million cases and sadly over 1.5 million deaths. Globally, average daily cases have now reached more than 600,000.
National Cabinet welcomed Australia’s achievement of a goal to reopen Australia by Christmas under a three-step framework agreed by all states, except Western Australia. All states are on track to successfully reopen state borders by Christmas, subject to health precautions.
National Cabinet again discussed the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth, states and territories in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. It is vital that Australians have public confidence in vaccination and its roll out. The roll out plans will continue with a partnership between the Commonwealth and States and territories under the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.
National Cabinet welcomed the extension of vaccine purchasing arrangements with AstraZeneca and Novavax, which bolster arrangements with both vaccine suppliers and support Australia’s diversified portfolio of vaccines which also include the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine and the COVAX facility.
While vaccines are being developed, and treatments for COVID-19 are being improved, an important means to continue 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.
Infrastructure Australia
National Cabinet agreed that Infrastructure Australia will now evaluate project proposals which require more than $250 million in Commonwealth funding, an increase from the existing threshold of $100 million.
The increase will better focus Infrastructure Australia‘s business case evaluation process on the key projects that will help rebuild our economy and support jobs into the future.
All states and territories have advocated for the increase and it is supported by Infrastructure Australia.
The increase will be reflected in an updated Statement of Expectations to be issued by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, and Regional Development, and will take effect from 1 January 2021.
Streamlining Approvals
National Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to implement ‘single touch’ environmental approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) to speed up projects, support economic recovery and create jobs.
Leaders agreed the immediate priority was to pass legislation streamlining approval processes and to develop national environmental standards reflecting the current requirements of the EPBC Act.
Subsequent phases of reform will build on these streamlining efforts and address any further changes and improvements, including to environmental standards, taking into account the recommendations of the independent review led by Professor Graeme Samuel AC.
Automatic Mutual Recognition of Occupational Registration
All jurisdictions signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on Automatic Mutual Recognition of Occupational Registrations, with the exception of the ACT. The Agreement, which will be subject to revision following consultation and to reflect the legislation agreed by the signatories, will ensure that licenced workers will not bear additional costs to perform the same activities in those jurisdictions and makes it easier to do business across state and territory borders. The ACT will continue to work towards finalising arrangements, with the aim of signing the Intergovernmental Agreement shortly.
Seasonal Workers
National Cabinet acknowledged the importance of Australia’s agricultural sector having sufficient workforce to harvest what is a bumper season across the country. It was agreed that bilateral arrangements will be established between the Commonwealth and jurisdictions based on each jurisdiction’s health protocols for Pacific workers. As a next step, jurisdictions will write to the Commonwealth outlining their health protocols (including for example, on-farm quarantine arrangements similar to the Queensland model, requirements for workers to remain in the jurisdiction etc). The Commonwealth will then be able to facilitate visas for workers under the Seasonal Worker Programme and the Pacific Labour Scheme based on these bilateral arrangements.
International border arrangements
Quarantine arrangements are an essential part of Australia’s response to COVID-19. Existing quarantine arrangements will continue to prioritise returning Australians. Other groups including international students and skilled migrants will be further considered by National Cabinet in February 2021 subject to the health and safety advice.
National Cabinet agreed that the Commonwealth and NSW will work to strengthen standards regarding quarantine and testing arrangements for international air crew and noted an additional compliance requirement being put in place for incoming diplomats.
Priorities for 2021
National Cabinet discussed priorities for 2021 to support Australia’s COVID-19 recovery. Priorities tasked to the Council on Federal Financial Relations and the National Cabinet Reform Committees include:
Delivering the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement;
Delivering a new National Skills Agreement to improve vocational education and training;
Expediting infrastructure projects to support job creation;
Ensuring more affordable and reliable energy, including progressing National Electricity Market and gas-market reforms;
Promoting economic growth and job creation in rural and regional Australia.
National Cabinet will meet again on Friday 5 February, 2021.
Interview with Jim Wilson, 2GB
10 December 2020
Jim Wilson: I'm very happy to say the Prime Minister is on the line this afternoon. PM, welcome back to Drive.
Prime Minister: Thanks Jim, good to chat, and thanks to everybody listening along.
Wilson: The final sitting day for Parliament for 2021. What a year it's been.
Prime Minister: Well, what a year it has been. But it was a day today to just say thank you to all Australians. I mean, I've never been more proud of Australia than as we come to the close of this year. We’ve still got a long way to go. But the comeback that we've had from COVID-19, the economic setbacks within the year, the pressure people have been under, people in lockdown, kids learning from home, the pressure on frontline health workers, businesses being shut, people losing jobs. It's just been such a difficult year. There's been a lot of loss this year. People have lost loved ones. It's just been a very hard year. But Australians mettle and character has just shone through, helping each other, you know, following the leadership that's there and getting through together. It's been quite extraordinary, Jim. While it's been our most difficult year, in many ways it's been one of Australia's most finest.
Wilson: It also typifies our resilience as a nation, doesn't it?
Prime Minister: It does. I mean, you guys, whether it's you guys on broadcasting and keeping people's spirits up and giving them the information they need to know, particularly in New South Wales. And you're right to say about the gold standard of Gladys Berejiklian and her government. One of the things that New South Wales has done so well is how they have informed people, you know, if you're in this place or at that venue. You guys have played your role in that, as have other media. So it really has been an amazing team effort. And so the premiers will gather with me this evening and tomorrow and we will sort of reflect on what has been a quite an extraordinary year. A few disagreements here and there, but we go into 2021, I think, looking optimistic, but knowing we've got a lot more work to do.
Wilson: Now, you've got the premiers for dinner tonight and then the final National Cabinet tomorrow. Mark McGowan, the WA Premier, and his decision to basically say, no, I'm not coming because it's a health risk being in the same room as South Australian Premier Steven Marshall. Really? I mean, it's a bit of a copout excuse, isn’t it?
Prime Minister: I'm taking my chances with the South Australian Premier tonight. But I don’t think they’re very big ones, and neither are the others. Look, the Western Australian government has a rule, Ok, they've got a rule about travelling and associating with I think it's known South Australians or something like that, which is a strange term. But anyway, he's saying I'm the Premier, so I've got to obey the rules that have been set, and that's fair enough. But I think people can draw their own conclusions on this rule. Some strange rules this year, I think it's fair to say. But I've got to say, that one…
Wilson: It takes the cake.
Prime Minister: It takes the prize.
Wilson: I mean, 11 days of no new cases. There's 13 active cases. If anyone should be pointing the finger, it should be Steven Marshall towards Mark McGowan.
Prime Minister: Yeah, look, I know Mark, I spoke to Mark this week. And I get on very well, actually, with all the premiers and because we all work together. We're all leading governments and we've got important jobs to do. I spoke to Mark and he'd like to come. But as long as his officials have these rules then he doesn't think he can break that rule. But you're right. I mean, I'm not going to make Stephen Marshall sit in the corner in a, you know, with a plastic suit or something tonight or anything like that. I think we'll all be quite safe. And I'm looking forward to Stephen's company and that of other South Australians. The South Australian Treasurer will be here tomorrow because tomorrow's meeting isn't just the premiers, it's the premiers at all the treasurers and the head of the local government association for what is called the Federation Reform Council. But so National Cabinet will meet before that, and it's been a good innovation. It means premiers have worked together far more than I've ever seen in my time in public life and we're hoping to take the lessons from how we've worked together this year and make it even better next year.
Wilson: You passed major legislation this year, JobSeeker, JobKeeper, these are the biggest. You’re facing some challenges, though, on these IR reforms. Would you be prepared to water down the reforms to get them through?
Prime Minister: Well, look, a couple of things on this. We got everyone together and talked through some of the problems that are there to try and get people back into work. I mean, the Labor Party have been carrying on this week. They're trying to make out that things are different to what they are. They want to run scare campaigns. They're basically just not telling the truth about any of this. They are actually very modest and moderate changes. I mean, when you get the Australian Financial Review actually write an editorial saying they don't amount to much, well, Labor can’t then turn around and say they’re something that they're not. I mean, they're just practical changes that help businesses employ people and give people more hours and keep them in jobs and they're there because we're in a COVID-19 recession, well, we're coming out of it now. But these are things that are just going to help more people get into jobs. And I think one of the things we've learnt this year, Jim, is people are sick and tired of all, you know, the phoney fighting that goes on in all the politics and all the sledging and all this sort of stuff. I mean, these are just practical, simple changes that help people get in a job or stay in the job that they've got and get more hours. That's all they're trying to do. There isn't some sort of industrial relations barney going on here. That's just rubbish. And it's you know, it's just the Labor Party wanting to fight rather than just accepting there are some practical things that actually might help people keep the job and stay in one. Because if business is not there, mate, no one’s got a job.
Wilson: No, exactly. We’ve got to be all about jobs. To the coronavirus vaccine has been rolled out in the UK, the first country in the Western world to do so. Are we still on track, Prime Minister, for it to be rolled out in March here?
Prime Minister: Yeah, our timetable, we just met on this last night again and again today. I'm just getting updates all the time on this. You know, we have got four that we've been working on and we always know not all of those would, you know, necessarily get there and so we'll just follow the medical advice on all of that. And we're having vaccines actually produced, manufactured right here in Melbourne as we speak and that's great. So we're well-positioned. But what matters most is the health tick off. We're not doing anything without the health tick off. And that's the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia. I want Australians to feel very confident that when we get to the point where we're rolling out the vaccine, that they can feel very safe. Because Australians are, you know, good when it comes to vaccines. I mean, we've got one of the highest rates of vaccination in the world when it comes to, you know, the things that we take vaccines for. I was talking to the Dutch Prime Minister last night and we were swapping notes about this, about how we're dealing with the vaccines. We're using quite similar ones. And he was quite surprised and interested to know how well Australia did when it comes to vaccines. I said, well, it comes down to having a very good regulatory process, the rules that we put around what vaccines are approved. So I think Australians can be very confident that if our TGA approves it, then we can take it.
Wilson: To other issues, I wanted to speak to you about, bringing Aussies home for Christmas. In September you said you hope to have as many people home, if not all of them, by Christmas. That's not going to be achievable.
Prime Minister: Well, that's not actually what I said, Jim. What I said was that those who we had registered at that time, and back then that was about 26,700 people. Now, the last figure I saw was that we got 43,800 back since then. The problem is, is that the more time goes on, more people join the queue. But in terms of the overall number that we said we were looking to get home by that time, which was just over 26,000, we've actually done far more than that, some 43,800. We've had 76 flights that have directly facilitated by our Government, from everything from Peru, South Africa, India, the United Kingdom. Just in the last couple of months, we've had 12 commercial flights, 17,000 passengers. We facilitated flights with Qantas from Delhi to Hobart, they landed last weekend. We’ve got further ones to follow from London and Frankfurt and Paris. So, you know, we're getting more and more Australian’s home. It's obviously limited by the amount of quarantine places and we've created additional quarantine places, federally funded, in the Northern Territory and in Tasmania. So everyone's moving heaven and earth and we're contacting all of those who are overseas. We've got a $60 million programme which we've been supporting Australians who are overseas and find themselves in hardship so that can deal with emergency needs or accommodation or food assistance or any of these things. And that is extended already, well over $10 million on that as well. So, Jim, we're throwing everything at it and have been for a very long time. I mean, Australians mightn’t know, but over the course of the pandemic, I mean, 432,000 Australians have come home. 432,000.
Wilson: Have you got the vulnerable home, the ones that are vulnerable? I think it’s about 8,000. Have you got them home?
Prime Minister: Yeah, we’ve been getting them home. I mean, we're still looking to get more of them home.
Wilson: Sure, sure.
Prime Minister: And people's vulnerability sort of changes too a bit, Jim. That's why we keep contacting everyone just to update them and get an updated status on, you know, how vulnerable they are. And as you come to the end of the year, you've got people whose jobs are finishing up and they're looking to come home because of that or they're looking to return to Australia for the summer or, you know, people's circumstances change. And that's why it's important to constantly update that through our consular offices all around the world that. And look, I know the Labor Party has tried to make it a political thing. It’s got nothing to do with politics, we’re just trying to get people home and where there are those needs, we're seeking to meet them. So, you know, we’re just focused on the job and others can make all the noise about it if they want from politics and Labor, but we just shouldn't be making this a political thing. It's just public servants, consular officials, the government, airlines just doing the best we can to support people coming home.
Wilson: I had a desperate cry for help earlier this week on the programme from Julie-Anne Finney, who's the mother of David who was a petty officer in the Navy who took his own life last year. She's wanting a royal commission into veteran suicide. Labor's wanting a royal commission into suicide, veteran suicide. Are you open to the idea of a royal commission? Because 11 suicides in the past month, it's obvious that the current system is not working.
Prime Minister: We want to do better than that and that's what we've introduced into the Parliament. What I think we need is what is effectively the same thing as a standing royal commission, which is permanent. The problem with a royal commission, Jim, is you look at a set of cases and then it's over. And what we've put into the Parliament is something that would do this on every case, sadly and if it occurs again, it'll keep happening, and that that will actually feed directly into government responses and it's permanent. That's what we're trying to bring into the Parliament right now and it will also look back at past cases as well upon establishment. I've been trying to get this up and through the Parliament all year. And Julie-Anne knows about it and I really grieve for her loss and I know how strongly she feels about this and I've spoken to her myself. But as the Prime Minister, I believe the best way we can deal with this is by having one established by the Parliament, not just by the Prime Minister and the Governor-General, but by the Parliament, which has all the powers of a royal commission to look at what, when and if this occurs every single time. Now, the Labor Party said they were going to support this back in February and now they're playing politics with it in the Parliament. We could have passed it this week if they supported it. We could have legislated what is effectively – for your listeners benefit, a royal commission is when the Prime Minister gets the Governor-General to establish an inquiry and that has a start date and an end date and it's temporary and it's finished. The Parliament can do the same thing and it gives exactly the same powers and they can do that on an ongoing basis.
Wilson: But what do you say to Julie-Anne, PM, about the fact that this commissioner that you've selected is not impartial and not independent?
Prime Minister: Well, I understand her strong feelings about it, but the person who is currently doing that role is the former coroner of the ACT government. So they have a lot of experience, professional experience in dealing with these very sensitive issues, and they were appointed by a Labor government to do that job. So, I mean, they're not a political appointment of the Liberal Party or anything like this. I greatly respect and understand her sensitivity on this issue. We're trying to solve the problem and I can tell you, a one-off royal commission, we don't believe that's the best answer. We think the better answer is what is effectively a permanent one and I would have loved to have got that through the Parliament this week. And the fact that Labor backflipped on what they said they’d do at the start of this year, I'm just really disappointed about that. Because this should not be a partisan issue. This should not be about politics. And we just want to get this done.
Wilson: Speaking of veterans, will those who participated in those Invictus Games in 2018, you and I have spoken about this, you've supported the fact that they should get these Australian sports medals. They have been promised them two years ago. It's got bipartisan support. You're passionate about our Invictus athletes. When will they get these medals? Will they get them in time for Christmas?
Prime Minister: Christmas, I can't say that because it is at the final stage of the process, Jim. I can't say more than that. But I can tell you it’s certainly left our shores for its tick off. Right and so that process is well advanced. And I had a chat to Bill Shorten actually during the course of the week to just let him know that was up to and I know Bill is on your programme and spoken about this as well and he was pleased to hear that. So we're not too far away now, and I'm looking forward to that happening.
Wilson: I'm glad it's in the final stages because they’ve been waiting for more than two years. So I appreciate your support and as I said, wouldn't it be great if it happened as a wonderful Christmas present?
Prime Minister: It will certainly be new year’s.
Wilson: Very good. Before I let you go, what are you doing for Christmas? What are your plans with Jenny and the girls?
Prime Minister: Well, look, thanks, Jim. I'm just looking forward to being with them, frankly. We haven't had a lot of time together. Well, in some ways we did, we were sort of isoing there early in the first part of the year. But obviously, I was pretty much here the entire time and will see them later tonight. But we’re just going to get together as a family. It's the first time for mum, she'll be with us without Dad this year. So that’s going to be true for many families around the country this year. There'll be one less place and I'm thinking of all of them as well. And we'll have that this year, but we’ll also be giving thanks for the wonderful life that my father had. And we'll miss him, but it'll be great to be all together.
Wilson: I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope it's a good day with your mom.
Prime Minister: It'll be great.
Wilson: And to you and the family. Just before we go, as is tradition with you and I when we chat, can the Sharks do it in 2021?
Prime Minister: Of course we can. The Sharks never lose faith, mate. Always full of belief. Did you see…
Wilson: Here we go, yeah.
Prime Minister: The Santa on the shark blow up decoration is on the lawn of Kirribilli.
Wilson: How did that go down with Jenny?
Prime Minister: She wasn’t so flash, I’ve got to tell you. She wasn’t flash but she has indulged me. It's up there. It's sort of, it's one of those ones you plug in. So it goes up, I think, in the early afternoon and to wave to all the commuters coming home from the CBD.
Wilson: I saw the picture with you and your board shorts up on the ladder looking like Clark Griswold going to Christmas vacation.
Prime Minister: We love that stuff. I've been doing that with the kids ever since they were very little. I probably enjoy it a little more than they do, but it's all fun.
Wilson: Thanks for your leadership this year and all the best to Jenny and the girls and to your mum and have a great Christmas, mate.
Prime Minister: Good on you, cheers.
Prime Minister's Literary Awards Virtual Event
10 December 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Today I am speaking to you from the Lodge here in Canberra, which is on Ngunnawal land and I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners and pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging for the future.
I also wish to acknowledge serving members of our Defence Forces, any veterans who may be watching this broadcast and thank you sincerely for your service to our nation.
So welcome to the 13th Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.
Today’s virtual event has provided an opportunity to break what has become a rather unfortunate tradition, for the past two years, these awards have been held at Parliament House, and both ceremonies have been interrupted by the less than melodic Parliamentary bells. So far, I’m two for two for having to dash off to a division. But not this year. It would seem this year, we’ll at least be spared that distraction.
Let me start by congratulating everyone who’s nominated - you are our nation’s story tellers, our poets, our historians and our illustrators.
Your work helps to define of course, who we are as Australians, and articulates what many of us feel but so often struggle to put into words. You make it look too easy. But I know it’s not.
It takes countless hours. Long days. Research. Hard work. And above all, a great talent.
And this year, maybe more than any other, Australians have relied on your work, I know I have, on your stories.
For most of us, this has been a very tough year.
A book, a kindle, an audiobook, has been the perfect retreat - to escape into another world, to savour a different time or reflect on the ideas that are contained in your works.
This year, one in five Australians have reported they’re reading more often.
And our younger Australians, our ‘Gen Zers’, like my daughters — are reading more than they have, also. And I welcome that, it’s terrific.
They’re discovering the remarkable insights that books offer.
Books like The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku released only a few months ago. A truly great book. It’s Eddie’s first work, he’s 100 years of age.
You are never too old to tell a story.
Eddie’s is a harrowing but hopeful story. Of life in Nazi concentration camps. Of surviving Auschwitz and the holocaust. Of losing family.
And despite the deprivations, Eddie never lost his faith in humanity or the importance of friendship. At War’s end, Eddie found himself a home in Australia where he was welcomed with open arms.
He called our country the working man’s paradise: a land where opportunities abound. But there was one thing Eddie said that really struck me.
For years, he never wanted to tell his story. It was just simply too painful. But he realised that if he didn’t, his story would be lost, and with it would go the chance to make the world a better place, his ambition.
That’s the power that stories have.
Whether it’s the lessons from history, narrative fiction, or even stories for our children. Each one carries a seed for change.
And that’s why what you do of course, is so important.
Your voice, your stories, show us what’s possible.
And we need a diversity of voices. Which we pride ourselves on in this country.
I was very pleased to see so many Indigenous writers shortlisted this year. Of the 40 shortlisted authors, 9 are of Indigenous heritage. Now that is wonderful - because we know how integral storytelling is to Indigenous culture.
And this means we are now sharing stories that struggled to be heard for so long. When these stories are told our Australian history is preserved, it’s enriched, and that rich mosaic of what it means to be Australian shines ever more brighter.
With it, the canon of our national life grows. Those stories become part of who we are. And they make us a stronger, a richer nation.
We are a country that believes passionately in the freedom of ideas, of speech and expression.
Australia is a place where ideas come from across a very broad spectrum, they intermingle, they co-exist. Even when they may be at odds with each other.
It’s why for people like Eddie, Australia was heaven after the awfulness and the atrocities of the Holocaust.
A place where people are accepted, no matter who you are, no matter your race, your first language, your creed, your background, your ethnicity.
So keep telling your stories.
Keep reflecting and shaping the character of our nation.
Congratulations again to everyone nominated, and very well done.
Interview with Ray Hadley, 2GB
10 December 2020
RAY HADLEY: In our governments and in our various medical offices, there have been some hiccups, but they were screamed at in the early part of this, you’re going to ruin the place, you're locking it down, it's only a cold. But they stood firm and the man at the charge- leading that charge was Scott Morrison. He's on the line. Prime Minister, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: G’Day Ray, how are you?
HADLEY: I'm glad it's nearly over, that’s how I am.
PRIME MINISTER: Hey it was great to be at the police passing out parade for all those cadets who were sworn in last Friday. It was a tremendous day at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It was just absolutely wonderful. I know you follow those things as well, closely. I'm very proud of New South Wales’ finest.
HADLEY: Well, of course, both of us have a connection with the police family as they call it.
PRIME MINISTER: We do.
HADLEY: But the thing that Mick Fuller did last Friday for people who haven't heard it, it was a gala. It wasn't just about, you know, 800, 900 acting constables, probationary constables being inducted. It was about a celebration of a year where they couldn’t have their families there. A wonderful thing.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s true. It was really good, families bursting with pride as yours and mine always does when it comes to that issue mate.
HADLEY: Extraordinary year, you couldn't have imagined this time last year, no one could have envisaged what we were about to confront by the time we got to January, February, March?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, look, that's true. And it's often at this time of year you get a bit reflective on where things are at, and you think about a year ago. And that's that's absolutely true. This time last year, we were dealing obviously with the bushfires and they were escalating. They became very severe, particularly on the 19th of December. And that’s the day we lost Geoff Keaton and Andrew O'Dwyer, in particular on that day. And we had a wonderful time to gather together last weekend at Wollondilly and remember them and Jess and Melissa and their wonderful- Harvey and Charlotte. It was a very special time. And I know all of those, Darren Nation- if you're listening mate, out there and everyone out at Horsley Park, we will be thinking of you as we get into that time of commemoration once again.
Ray I've got a problem. The bells are ringing and that means I've got to go to a division. Can I call you back in a few minutes mate? I’m sorry, it’s a division.
HADLEY: Hey listen- run off! Go! See ya, bye. They’re rung the bell. Oh dear oh dear, these things are set to try- so they’ve rung the bell and when they ring the bell, even the Prime Minister see- everyone’s got a boss.
...
HADLEY: The Prime Minister is back with us right now. He's come from the division. He's back on the line. Prime Minister, good morning again!
PRIME MINISTER: G’Day Ray, sorry about that.
HADLEY: No, no apologies required. These things happen. That's what it's about. And it's happened that many times over the last 35 years that it's now usual fare.
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
HADLEY: Good you could come back. Now we had a bit of a yarn, for listeners joining us in Queensland, about the way that you handled COVID and congratulations to everyone, not just you, but your various departments and the state departments, we had a few hiccups along the way, but everyone was saying it, oh, they're going too hard, they’re going too hard, they’re going to ruin the place. And now if we look where we are compared to other nations, we can’t gloat about people dying, and fewer people dying here. But by gee, we are at a very strong position economically and also in terms of our nation's health?
PRIME MINISTER: That's true Ray. And I appreciate that. But it's you know, it's been a- my thanks are just to Australians. I've never felt more proud of Australia than I do as we go into this Christmas Ray. I mean it's just been the test of tests over the last 12 months and not just obviously COVID, but bushfires, drought, and floods and so many other challenges to our country and to see confidence at its highest level in a decade, that's the survey that came out yesterday. That is incredibly encouraging. And that's because Australians, we’re resilient. I said at the start of the year, we like to think we're strong, well we're going to find out how strong we are this year. And we did. And and we're, we're strong. And that means we got through this. We can get through what's coming next. We'll go from strength to strength next year. And when we say Happy New Year this year, I know we're all going to mean it in a way we never have before.
HADLEY: Vaccine, March, do you think?
PRIME MINISTER: We think a bit earlier, but- hopefully. But that's that's the current timetable. We've put our effort into a number of different vaccines, 4 in fact, I mean, there's no expectation that all of those will come off. I mean, that's why you cover yourself across a number of them. But the AstraZeneca vaccine in particular and the Pfizer vaccine, they're going very well. We're seeing those administered over in the UK now. I mean, they really have no choice but to do that, given the seriousness of the situation there. Here in Australia, we will have a front row seat to how that goes and we'll learn from that. But the health, the health side of this is paramount. And the Therapeutic Goods Administration, they must give its tick off. And so there's no shortcuts there. And then I've got the states tomorrow, meeting for the last meeting of National Cabinet tomorrow. I've got them round for dinner tonight. And we can talk about those issues and more.
HADLEY: Well, we didn't think we'd get back into Queensland before Christmas, I know you holiday elsewhere, on the south coast I think from time to time. But to think that we've now got all those borders open- where we were back in August. It's just incredible.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I believed we would. And part of this year. And you're right Ray, of course, there's been some disagreements. I mean, this whole experience has been without a guidebook for the whole world. And so the most important thing has been to actually keep everyone together as possible. And there's been the odd disagreement between states and territories. And they've been significant ones on occasion, on borders. But you just got to keep saying, let's not forget where we want to get to. And I just kept laying out in front of everybody, you know, let's get Australia open again, appreciate there are different circumstances in each state and territory, we’ve got to respect each other's you know, authorities and responsibilities and take accountability for all of that. But we've got we've got to keep reminding ourselves where we're going and we get to Christmas and we've got there even in Western Australia, which I'm thrilled about. And that's great for people in the West who have been cut off from the rest of Australia for some time. I was on a call the other night and there was a lot of Western Australians and I said, welcome home, welcome back to Australia. It's great to have you with us.
HADLEY: Now we get to a very difficult thing, and these allegations made against just 19 unknown soldiers from special forces in Afghanistan. As you'd be aware, I've been speaking to members of, and former members of the SAS about the impact it has had on them. And it's had a tremendous impact, Prime Minister, on many men who served with distinction but weren't part of these allegations. Now, yesterday, your Defence Minister described the allegations as cold blooded murder. I think it's a bit like flying- throwing petrol on the fire just at the moment where we are. I know that the government, to a certain extent, has stepped back from perhaps where we're heading with meritorious citation unit awards and all the rest of it. But we have people's lives in our hands at the moment, Prime Minister, because there are men who may take their lives, backed on, you know, what's being said about them. And I'm not talking about those 19 names. I'm talking about a whole range of others.
PRIME MINISTER: And I understand that, Ray. And I think this is a very difficult time with the issues that have arisen here. And and I've sought to use very careful language on these things. And what's important is that the many shouldn't be held accountable for the actions of a few. That's an important principle. Innocent until proven guilty. Very important principle, and what we've set up with the office of the special investigator and the other processes are very important to protect that. We've got to deal with this. We can't pretend there's nothing to deal with here. And I think that's also understood. But we've got to do that sensitively. That's the course we're endeavouring to chart. I know I know people's feelings, more than that, than feelings- people’s, even sense of identity is understandably linked to these issues. And we have to proceed very sensitively. And I want to give people, whatever their view on this matter is, my assurance that I'm going to continue to seek to do that. It's very difficult, Ray. I think people understand that as well. And we can't we can't reduce this to just some simple solutions. That's not the case. And so look, we've got some processes set up. I will continue to exercise great caution in the language that I use. We will continue to greatly respect all of those who have served, all of those who've served, as you know as Prime Minister one of the first things I do in any presentation I give anywhere in the country, I acknowledge our veterans and serving men and women. I do that out of deep respect. They've earned that respect through their own actions in their own service. And that matters a great deal and always must. And I want to preserve all of that as we work through this difficult issue. It goes to matters that happened some time ago. Well before, obviously, I became Prime Minister and indeed before I was even a Minister of a government. And so there's a history here that we just have to deal with and deal with it fairly and appropriately in accordance with our values and our principles, but most importantly to any veterans who are out there, there's support available. You are honoured and valued in our community. And and I want to ensure that you get all the support and respect that you deserve.
HADLEY: Well could I be as bold to suggest that you should talk to the Defence Minister to stop calling people cold blooded murderers, as she did yesterday. And maybe that would alleviate some of the pain suffered by people who are dealing with a great deal of pain at the moment in relation to their service of this country?
PRIME MINISTER: I understand your point Ray. I understand it.
HADLEY: Okay well I take you at your word because I just think that in a normal- we got a young bloke in Wagga court today charged with terrorism offences or with offences because he's allegedly a right wing extremist. We've got paedophiles in New South Wales being charged today, no-one - murderers being charged. No one's pre-empting their guilt until they face a court of law and a jury of their peers. In this particular case, I feel and very strongly, Prime Minister, I feel that many people have thrown these poor buggers under a bus. And I feel very strongly about that.
PRIME MINISTER: I understand that and can I assure you, everyone is innocent until proven guilty in this country. That is one of the values for which our defence forces have served and fought and died. And that principle will be upheld by me and my government.
HADLEY: OK, well, I take that assurance on board may I wish you and your family and, I don't give a toss where you go for Christmas to tell you the truth, you know what?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm staying relatively close to home. I can tell you- this year-
HADLEY: If you get on a rocket and go to the moon, you’ll go with my best wishes because you've had a bugger of a year. You've handled it magnificently.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Ray.
HADLEY: And we owe you and we owe your wife and your children a great debt of gratitude, because I know that Jenny and the kids have barely seen you this year. Various quarantine's and the rest of it, they are also acknowledged in this package. We acknowledge you and without you we'd be in a lot of strife, I could tell you.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks Ray. That's very kind of you to you and all yours mate, too, and all your family. You enjoy it, and to all your listeners as well. We haven't spoken as regularly as we once might have, mate, but hopefully we can do it a bit more next year as well. And and I appreciate your kind wishes. And I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with Jen and the girls and mum and and my mother in law as well actually. So I'll be at a house full of women this Christmas. I'll be, I'll be in good company.
HADLEY: Well, we haven’t spoken as regularly for good reason. That's called the virus!
PRIME MINISTER: It is, been a bit busy. Good on you mate.
HADLEY: Thanks mate, all the best. Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister.
Literary Excellence Receives Top Honours
10 December 2020
Prime Minister, Minister for Communications Cyber Safety and the Arts
Outstanding work by Australian authors has been recognised today, with the winners of the 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards announced.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the winners spoke to issues around society and family and the compelling well-researched works of non-fiction and Australian history spoke to our collective experience.
In handing down the awards, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Paul Fletcher, said the accolades highlighted the talents of Australia’s esteemed and emerging writers.
“I congratulate this year’s winners, with the awards recognising our most talented authors, poets, illustrators and historians,” the Prime Minister said.
“Literature plays a vital role in connecting us to Australian voices and our story as a nation. In a year like no other, the diverse contribution of home-grown writers is more important than ever.”
Minister Fletcher said that the annual awards recognised Australian authors and the important role of Australian literature.
“The awards endorse a national appreciation of Australian literature and increase our understanding of Australian history. They also provide much-deserved acknowledgement and recognition for authors and illustrators,” Minister Fletcher said.
“Literature allows Australians to express their individuality and creativity, and what better way to take audiences of all ages on unique journeys that will excite, intrigue, and break down complex issues.”
The Awards are presented in six categories – children's literature, young adult literature, fiction, poetry, non-fiction and Australian history – with a total prize pool of $600,000.
For more information about the winning and shortlisted works go to www.arts.gov.au/pmla
Winners | 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards
Fiction:
The Yield by Tara June Winch
Non-fiction:
Songspirals: sharing women’s wisdom of Country through songlines by the Gay’wu Group of Women
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson
Poetry:
The Lost Arabs by Omar Sakr
Children’s literature:
Cooee Mittigar: A Story on Darug Songlines by Jasmine Seymour, illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson
Young literature:
How it Feels to Float by Helena Fox
Australian history:
Meeting the Waylo: Aboriginal Encounters in the Archipelago by Tiffany Shellam
Joint Statement Australia and the Netherlands
9 December 2020
The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia, and H.E. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, held a Leaders’ virtual meeting on 9 December 2020.
The leaders expressed their deep sadness at the ongoing loss of life caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. They stressed the importance of international cooperation to overcome the health crisis, including universal, equitable and early access to safe, effective and affordable COVID-19 vaccines. They reaffirmed their commitment to re-building resilient and sustainable economies in line with open and rules-based trade. They also agreed to work together in relevant forums to promote the development of international standards to enable COVID-proof international travel.
The leaders committed to continue to pursue truth, justice and accountability for the 298 victims of Flight MH17 and their loved ones, including the 196 Dutch nationals and 38 people who called Australia home. The leaders reaffirmed their strong support for the work of the Joint Investigation Team and the ongoing criminal trial of four suspects in The District Court of The Hague. The leaders expressed their disappointment in the Russian Federation’s decision to withdraw from the trilateral meetings with Australia and the Netherlands regarding the Russian Federation’s role in the downing of Flight MH17. The leaders agreed to continue to urge the Russian Federation to reconsider its decision. The leaders also acknowledged further efforts to hold the Russian Federation to account through the cases brought by the next of kin and the Netherlands against the Russian Federation in the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the downing of Flight MH17. The leaders also acknowledged further efforts to hold the Russian Federation to account through the cases brought by the next of kin and the Netherlands against the Russian Federation in the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the downing of Flight MH17.
Prime Minister Morrison welcomed the Netherlands’ Indo-Pacific Guidelines and its commitment to cooperate closely with Australia and other regional countries in support of an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The leaders agreed to work together to maintain regional resilience and capacity for sovereign choices and to promote and uphold international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The leaders emphasised their commitment to multilateral cooperation, and to a rules-based global order. They stressed the importance of multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, OECD, World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization, and the importance of effective, independent leadership within institutions. They confirmed their commitment to the continued and timely implementation of the World Health Assembly resolution of 19 May 2020 on COVID-19, including the impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation into the response to the pandemic.
The leaders underlined the crucial role the rules-based trading system plays in supporting COVID-19 economic recovery. They emphasised the need for open markets, greater supply chain resilience and enhanced trade and investment that contributes to sustainable development. In this context, they welcomed progress towards a comprehensive, high-quality, sustainable and inclusive Australia-EU FTA.
The leaders committed to establishing a General Security Agreement (GSA) between Australia and the Netherlands. The GSA will enable greater collaboration between our respective Governments and reflects the commitment of both countries to work in partnership to uphold international law and address common strategic security challenges.
The leaders agreed that resolute and coordinated action is key to tackling the urgent challenge of climate change and environmental degradation. The leaders underlined their commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement and to step up global action to tackle climate change in the lead up to COP26 in 2021, including through intensifying global cooperation on low emissions technologies. Both leaders acknowledged the need to achieve net zero emissions and to pursue a low emissions development strategy in accordance with the Paris Agreement. The leaders recalled the request by UNFCCC COP21 to communicate or update their Nationally Determined Contributions reflecting the highest possible ambition. Both leaders also acknowledged the importance of reducing waste and emphasised their commitment to cooperation on the circular economy.
The leaders welcomed the continued broadening and deepening of the bilateral economic and security relationship, including in the areas of critical minerals, disinformation and countering foreign interference, as well as cyber security and critical and emerging technology.