Media Releases
Interview with Michael Bailey, 4RO
4 May 2021
Michael Bailey: You're at Beef Week! Mate, do you like the camper chair?
PRIME MINISTER: I do, I do. I think I might switch my chair arrangements back in the office. This one's pretty good, put this one in the corner. A chill chair.
Bailey: That is fantastic. Now I believe you went to a big function last night - at beef?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well Beef Week here, it's just great to see a celebration of the industry and what they've achieved, particularly over this last 18 months, which has been very tough right across, particularly right across Queensland, but right across the country. And to see people honoured there for their contributions to the industry and to be part of that and for me to be able to say thank you to the livestock industry, the beef industry, for what they've done for the country over this last 18 months, in particular, I was very pleased to be able to do that. They've kept the country going.
Bailey: Now, what about the biosecurity announcement? This is really big news.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is. I mean, when people think about border security, they often think about programs on television or stopping boats and doing things like that. And of course, that's all part of it. But a huge part of border security is, of course, the protection against pests and viruses and diseases that can wipe out our agricultural producers. In next week's Budget, we’ll have $370 million going into strengthening that ring of containment for our biosecurity. And that's everything from 3D X-ray scanners, pre-screening, additional research preparedness between state and federal governments, it's a very big package of measures which David Littleproud, the Ag Minister, has brought together. We know that you need a strong platform of biosecurity to ensure the future of agricultural exporters and there is targeted money in there for things like African swine flu and combating that. Those producers will know the risks of that very much, particularly up here in Queensland.
Bailey: It’s a wild world out there.
PRIME MINISTER: It is. And so I just want to reassure everybody in our agricultural communities that when I think about border protection, I think as much about pests and weeds and viruses and these sorts of things as I do about the many other important other national security issues. And so it's an important package to underwrite our future export performance and the jobs and livelihoods of Australians right across our producing communities.
Bailey: The Budget that's coming down is going to be kind to us?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think I've just indicated one area in particular where it's being kind, but it's not about being kind, it's a wise investment. The agricultural industries of Australia, like the resource industries of Australia, I know there will be many listening to this broadcast who work in our resources industry, our combined regional Australia has been carrying Australia through the last 18 months as our cities have been locked up and locked down. It's been those in regional Australia have been going out there, going to work, finding the markets, putting the innovation in place, working through the challenges of a COVID economy. We had over $600 million, or thereabouts, in our international freight assistance package, which has ensured that regional Australia has remained connected up to international markets. Michael McCormack, the Deputy Prime Minister, put that in place and that's been supporting our producers all through the pandemic and will continue to.
Bailey: I believe our Deputy Prime Minister will be in Gladstone today?
PRIME MINISTER: The Big Mac will be here.
Bailey: Yes.
PRIME MINISTER: That's what I hear, too. I think we'll slightly cross paths, perhaps, but he has been a great champion of keeping Australia as open as we can, particularly in the transport sector. Over the past year, we've had borders going up and down. I know the frustrations that's caused for people. But the transport code he was able to negotiate and put in place with the states and territories kept those trucks moving and as simply as they possibly could in what was a very challenging environment. So right across regional Australia, the government has been very focused on ensuring that people could continue to do business, keep producing, keep exporting. And now as we're building on the announcements in last year's Budget, where there was also a big, strong biosecurity effort, and that's been always at the top of David Littleproud's list, my Agriculture Minister, he's doing a great job understanding the priority of the safety of our borders for agriculture.
Bailey: COVID-19 still persists - locking down India. And how are people supposed to survive if they can't fly back? I mean, they've gone over for a reason like, you know, dad's dying or there’s a festival or whatever. They've got X, Y, Z, and all of a sudden, bingo, they can't come in for a month or two.
PRIME MINISTER: It’s for two weeks, it’s until the 15th of May.
Bailey: And that's guaranteed.
PRIME MINISTER: That's when the order is signed to, we will review it before then.
Bailey: I mean, but it could drag on, just for that little bit longer, but we hope not?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I don’t want to presuppose that. But already we're making good progress. What this does, we saw a significant increase, one in eight in our most recent charter flights that came through had the virus. Now, what we're seeing in India is just a terrible humanitarian catastrophe. And what we don't want to see, obviously, is Australia's situation deteriorate. We've done very well to get this far and that means on occasions like this, we have to take temporary decisions which protect the broader Australian community. We don't want a third wave. But we also want to be able to bring back people safely and what this pause does for a couple of weeks is ensures that we can make sure our quarantine facilities are set and ready for that. We’ve got the testing regime in place for when people are getting on flights. See, because the problem is, yes, there's just an explosion of the virus in India. But what we've seen is an increase in the rate of infection of people coming in planes much higher than we saw from other countries.
Bailey: Oh, okay.
PRIME MINISTER: And this is putting a lot of stress on the system. So we've got to just redouble our efforts on the testing for people coming on the planes. And so when those repatriation flights resume, we can get more people coming back safely. And we already have 20,000 people back from India through repatriation flights and facilitated flights. We've been extending that support. I want to keep doing that. But to do that, we need to put this temporary pause in place to ensure that we’re set up to achieve that.
Bailey: Small business and large business? They seem to be pretty happy? The only thing they're moaning about is they can't get staff.
PRIME MINISTER: That is the biggest challenge, I think, right across the country. And I think that's particularly the case in regional Australia, in the Ag sector, in the hospitality sector. We've got real workforce challenges. And a big part of that is because we don't have the backpackers in Australia at the moment. Those who were here at the start are still here and we're looking at constructive ways that we might be able to assist that challenge with the workforce, with those who are already in Australia. I was in Darwin last week. Same problem, same set of challenges. It's more pronounced in northern Australia. But that's not to say it's not a problem even in our major cities at the moment.
Bailey: It’s happening here in Rockhampton, I can tell you now. Look, I've just been given the wind up. Everyone's saying, ‘come on, come on, come on’ - the travelling roadshow.
PRIME MINISTER: I’m comfy in this chair! We should tell them settle in.
Bailey: I know [inaudible]. You can take the chair.
PRIME MINISTER: I can call Beef Week for the day.
Bailey: One final comment from you. Give us some inspiration before I let you go, before the other people, you know, go, ‘come on, come on’.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've got to say, the best inspiration is what I've seen Australians achieve over the past 18 months. And that was on display last night. So, frankly, I'm gaining inspiration from people I'm meeting here, from what they've done. They're the inspiration. Australians always inspire each other, and no one in this country needs greater inspiration than the Australians standing next to them.
Bailey: Fantastic. Prime Minister, thank you very much for being on 994RO and ScoMo I do believe you're about to join our good friends at Kix FM.
PRIME MINISTER: I am.
Bailey: Right across the nation, which is absolutely fantastic part of the team and once again, thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Great to see you. Can I take the chair?
Bailey: Mate, you can take the chair. I'm sure, and will someone please take the chair up to Kix. The Prime Minister is very happy. I think you may need a hand right? Are you right? Okay then cause it's a long way down. Mate, thank you very much. Take it nice and easy.
Interview with Paul Culliver, ABC Capricornia
4 May 2021
Paul Culliver: My guest this morning is the Prime Minister, good morning to you.
PRIME MINISTER: Paul, it’s great to be here in Beef Week, it’s great to be here in Rocky.
CULLIVER: I understand this morning you’re making a funding announcement in regards to our biosecurity for our agriculture sector here for beef. What is it?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s right, $370 million being invested in the ring of containment, which is particularly on things like African Swine Flu we've dedicated funds for that. 3D x-ray capability, other screening, both onshore offshore, national preparedness programs that we're doing in partnership with the state and territory governments, because we need to understand that our quarantine officers do an amazing job at the border. But in the event that something were to happen, then we need to make sure that what happens on the other side of the border, our side, the domestic side, that states and territories are in a position to step up there as well. So it's a significant package. It comes on top of what has been almost around about a billion dollars of additional investment in the last 12 months. In last year's budget, we had a further investment in biosecurity support. But on top of that, there was also the international flight freight assistance measures, over six hundred million dollars, which was there to ensure that our producers kept connecting with the rest of the world. So biosecurity: an important part of border security. And for our livestock and grains industry, essential that we keep that ring of containment as strong as we can make it. And Dave Littleproud, our Agriculture Minister, he's been championing this. He understands that the platform that you need for a successful export industry in agriculture is biosecurity.
CULLIVER: We're obviously here at Beef 2021. A big topic, of course in 2021 for the agricultural industry is sustainability, is sequestering carbon. Meat and Livestock Australia obviously have an ambitious target to become carbon neutral by 2030. Given that the beef industry is very keen to showcase that and be recognised for that, can you guarantee that there will be no carve out for agriculture if indeed a target is set for emissions in the future?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll make further decisions and plans as the course of the year unfolds. But what I do know is the agricultural sector has already played a massive role in what we have achieved to date. I don't know if your listeners know, but Australia has already achieved a 19 per cent reduction in our carbon emissions since 2005. Now in Canada, that figure is zero. In New Zealand, it's not much better than that. Here in Australia, we have already reduced emissions by 19 per cent. We beat our Kyoto targets and we're on track to beat our Paris targets as well. And the agricultural sector has played a huge role in that. And there's been a lot of discussion here with the technology about how carbon sequestration not only achieves emissions reduction goals, but also increases the productivity of the producers themselves. And so what I'm excitingly seeing here is an embracing of that agenda, an embracing of the benefits of that for producers all around the country. So you know, the reason we achieve these targets in Australia is because we know if we work in partnership with whether it's the agricultural sector, the industry sectors and the resources sector, when we do that in partnership, we get the job done and we're getting the job done.
CULLIVER: Yesterday, you may have seen Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles appear to come short of calling you the C word yesterday. He then insisted it was a slip of the tongue. Were you offended by those comments?
PRIME MINISTER: I've learnt a long time ago not to get offended. It doesn't get you anywhere in politics or anywhere else. But I think that's for him to explain, not for me. But he's got to get his facts right. He said that I was at a fundraiser. I was at home watching Shrek the Musical with my daughter in Sydney. So he can't even get that right. I think he probably just needs to step up his act a bit.
CULLIVER: An issue that in fact, we've had some comments even coming through this morning of course, the Biloela family, the Tamil family from Biloela on Christmas Island, over three years now. In fact, even Ken O'Dowd, the LNP member for Flynn, has expressed sentiment that the family should stay. Fifty million dollars reportedly spent so far on their incarceration and legal fees. Is it time to have them come home and live in Biloela?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the court processes that they're engaged in and the appeal processes they're running their course and we'll just work with the law.
CULLIVER: There is ministerial discretion. The Home Affairs Minister, Karen Andrews with the stroke of a pen, could bring them home. Why is that not happening?
PRIME MINISTER: Because we're following the appeal processes that they've initiated in the court processes that are underway. And we'll continue to do that. And that's what we've always done right across the board.
CULLIVER: How do you justify the costs, 50 million dollars of incarcerating them in this time?
PRIME MINISTER: Well as I said, there's a legal process in Australia. There are policies in Australia and we don't customise those for any one individual. What we do is we ensure Australia's border security and border protection laws are put in place. And Australia has very, very strong borders. And I think Australians have always supported that.
CULLIVER: Would you oppose Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews intervening ministerially?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's a matter for the Minister. I used to be an immigration minister, and those are matters of discretion. But they're always done as a minister, I think, mindful of the broader policy implications and of any court processes that are underway.
CULLIVER: What do you say to that family who have, they want to make a home in Australia and they just haven't been able to?
PRIME MINISTER: I understand that there are millions and millions and millions of people all around the world displaced people, and for those who are refugees and found to be so. Australia is one of the most welcoming countries in the world. And we've done that through our humanitarian program and we've been taking people out of camps at a per capita rate second only to Canada in the world. And so Australia is a generous country, but we do it through a proper process. We don't do it through illegal entry into Australia.
CULLIVER: The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, your guest here on ABC Capricornia, Paul Culliver is my name. Yesterday David Littleproud, the Agriculture Minister on The Country Hour appeared to threaten ripping up the universal service obligation agreement with Telstra ahead of 2025. You are meeting with the CEO of Telstra this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: I saw Andy last night. We were cracking a whip together.
CULLIVER: How serious is that threat to rip up that obligation?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll just work through the normal commercial processes with Telstra. And we'll do so in Australia's national interests. I mean, we have an excellent relationship with Telstra. We work together to connect the country. We do tremendous things together with Telstra. They're a great Australian company and we enjoy the relationship we have with them.
CULLIVER: Do you share Minister Littleproud's dissatisfaction with Telstra's performance in the region?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I can understand David is always going to be pushing for the best possible deal for people living in regional communities. And that's his job.
CULLIVER: To the topic of India. Look, many people are reaching out, we've heard from many Indian members of the central Queensland community who have heard obviously horrible stories of family members who are over there who have passed, in critical condition. Obviously, we obviously have thousands of Australians stranded over there. Under what circumstances are Australians stranded in India going to be able to begin to come home?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the temporary pause we have on both direct flights into Australia, but also preventing people coming back through third countries. That extends to the 15th of May. This is a temporary pause. We've seen an escalation in the number of cases coming off recent planes that has been far in advance of what we've seen from other countries over the course of the pandemic. And we've got about 85 per cent of the cases up in Howard Springs at the moment originated in India. And we saw the overall level of cases as a proportion in Australia go from around 10 per cent to 56 per cent in just a matter of weeks. So we saw an alarming increase in the infection rate of those travelling from India. And that led us to put in place a pause recommended by the Chief Medical Officer very clearly, that this was a proportionate action and that's what we'll be doing for the next two weeks. What that does, it enables us to ensure that we can to recommence those repatriation flights. And we've already brought 20,000 Australians home from India through repatriation flights registered with our Consulate and High Commission in India. And we've done that through repatriation flights, facilitated flights. And I want to resume that again. But we have to do it safely. I can't allow a situation where Australia is put at risk of a third wave of COVID. That would be terrible for our beef producers. It'd be terrible for our resources industry, it'd be terrible for the regional parts of Australia, not to mention the risk of lockdowns in our major capital cities. You know, we lost over 600 people in the second wave in Victoria. So just because we can put 100,000 people in the in G Melbourne doesn't mean the COVID pandemic's over. I'm not complacent about it. And there are many difficult decisions in managing COVID. This is one of them. A hard decision, not an easy one to make, but I believe it's in Australia's broader national interest. And I look forward to getting more people home from India as soon as we can, but safely.
CULLIVER: And Prime Minister, if I may, just to finish off, you've appointed a central Queenslander, Navy Commodore Eric Young to coordinate the vaccine distribution process.
PRIME MINISTER: He’s doing a great job.
CULLIVER: Well, my question is, how's it going?
PRIME MINISTER: He's doing a fabulous job and I mean, the logistics task, and that's what he's particularly focused on. That's what our Defence Forces do amazingly well. It was another Commodore we sent to help us during the second wave of the pandemic in Victoria. And now our new Commodore he's out there running the logistics of ensuring all those GPs are getting their doses so they could administer them and working with the states and territories. And he's brought great skill and I think calm and a sense of presence to this job. And I really appreciate the great work he's doing for his country.
CULLIVER: Prime Minister, thanks for your time today.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much. Great to be here with you. Enjoy beef week.
Interview with David Koch, Sunrise (Copy)
4 May 2021
DAVID KOCH: Scott Morrison joins me live from Rockhampton in Queensland. Prime Minister, morning to you. Will the India flight ban be lifted on May 15? And are you considering repatriation flights from India?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, certainly and that's exactly why we put this temporary pause in place, David. What we've done is when the order was signed by the Health Minister, it took us through to the 15th of May. It's a temporary pause to ensure that we can have our quarantine facilities, where we had in one of them - we've had an increase from around 10 per cent of the cases to over 50 per cent, 57 per cent or thereabouts, one in eight people that were coming in in the most recent repatriation flights were infected with COVID. And so this was escalating quickly and we needed to take action to ensure that we could get the system back into a place within that fortnight so we could get those repatriation flights running again. We've already brought back some 20,000 Australians in India who are registered through our consulates and embassy, our High Commission there, and this enables us to get back on that program and get more people home but to do it safely, Kochie, we can't have a third wave here in Australia, and that means you've got to take some tough decisions in order to protect Australia, but also to ensure that we can get those repatriation flights running safely again.
KOCH: But you didn't stop Australians coming back from say the UK or America, and on a proportional basis, the infection rate in India isn't as high as the UK and America at their peak and as a result, you're being accused of being a racist. Is that fair, is that a bit rough?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is. Because the same accusation was made against me when I shut the borders to mainland China. And we all know the wisdom of that decision, particularly in hindsight. We knew it in foresight. And it's not true to say that the infection rate is the same because the infection rate that matters, David, is the infection rate of people who are coming in on the actual planes into our quarantine. And that is much higher, much higher and was accelerating. And it was over 80 people alone in the Northern Territory facility. Now, that is our national resilience facility. That is the facility we established after the review into the quarantine by the Commonwealth Government. It is an investment of around half a billion dollars, that number of places in that facility is going to 2,000 this month. I was just there last week. This enables us to get the number of case numbers there down so we can start bringing those repatriation flights out again. And so that's the urgency here. We needed to take a pause to make sure we would put Australia in a stronger position to bring people safely home. But there's another important point on this, David, and that is that we were going to have people who had been in India within 14 days coming to Australia through third countries, through Doha or Dubai. Now, the alternative to pausing these flights with these strong controls was to stop those flights coming as well. And that means hundreds, if not thousands of Australians trying to get through those other ports would have also been cut off. So this was the sensible, practical, proportionate decision to protect Australia, set us up to be able to take more people back and repatriation flights from India and also keep other Australians coming home – a difficult decision, but we've had to make plenty of them during COVID to keep Australia safe.
KOCH: No, you make a really good point there. Hey, what do you say to our Australian cricketers and cricket commentators who have chased the big bucks in the IPL in India and are now caught there and Michael Slater saying it's a disgrace, and PM, you've got blood on your hands?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I just ask them, like the many Australians who are in India at present, to be patient and understanding. Now, that's what I'd ask. I’d just ask them to be patient like everyone else, and I should stress, David, that it's a 14 day pause, as I've said, but also if people have been in other places outside of India for 14 days, then they can return home at the moment. So this is a two week pause. This is not a permanent pause. This is not a four month lockdown. What we are seeking to do here is ensure that Australia doesn't get a third wave of COVID across the country and that would, you know, damage our economy, damage interests, and as we saw in Victoria with the second wave, we saw hundreds of people who were fatalities of that second wave. That's what we're trying to avoid here. None of the decisions are always, you know, that easy, but you've got to be able to make them based on the best possible advice. The decision was recommended by our Chief Medical Officer very clearly that it was proportionate to the risk that we were seeing.
KOCH: Right. Okay, onto another issue while we've got you. Your Government is seeking security advice on that controversial 99 year lease of the Port of Darwin to a Chinese owned company. Are you willing to tear up that arrangement, that agreement? And if so, are you concerned how China will react? And also other overseas investors? We rely on overseas investment who see us as having a very low sovereign risk.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll just take this one step at a time. And I'm not presuming anything that would be advised to us by defence and security agencies. We will, we will receive their advice in due course, and I'm sure they will present many options, as they always do, about how you can best manage what they might recommend. So I'm not jumping to the next step here, David. I mean, this is a matter for our security defence agencies to advise if there's been any change in the security status of those port arrangements. I should stress, it's not the entire port area of Darwin. I think sometimes, I was up in Darwin just last week and it is one section - it's not where our military and defence facilities are, that's in another area. And so the Defence Department will give us that advice and we'll consider it soberly and thinking through all the other potential implications here and as always, make a sound judgement.
KOCH: Okay, you're announcing a new biosecurity plan today to help strengthen Australia's agricultural sector. You're in the beef capital of Australia, at Rocky today, with what is it auction day up there? What does the plan include?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's $370 million and it does a range of things. It's another ring of containment. In particular, it provides funding to deal with African swine flu. And we're seeing that just outside of Australia's borders now. It is ensuring that we have a national preparedness right across the country to ensure that we can deal with outbreaks, because that is a state-federal partnership. I mean, border security isn't just about ensuring the national security of our borders, but these pests that can come into the country, the diseases that can come into the country and wipe out entire industries, particularly like the beef industry here, and its beef capital here in Rockhampton. It's been great to be here with them. This puts greater protection on our border to keep these diseases and pests out, both for our crops, as well as for our livestock industry. But in particular, there's work being done here to ensure that we're protecting against African swine flu. I know that's a very big cause of concern across the Ag sector. And this means that we're stepping up to that. And it sounds like the announcement is getting plenty of great support from the other participants here at Beef Week at the moment.
KOCH: I love it. It's really added the sound effects today.
PRIME MINISTER: … The Brahmans love it, David. The Brahmans love this policy …
KOCH: Just quickly, I know you've got to go, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles says he stuttered and didn't insult you during a Labour Day speech yesterday. Let's have a quick listen …
Are you insulted? Was it a slip of the tongue? Or deliberate headline grabbing, do you reckon?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, look, this bloke has got a bit of form. I'll let him defend his own thing, he should sort of step up to the responsibility of his position. But just for the record, I was at home watching ‘Shrek the Musical’ with my daughter. There was no events that night. So, you know, he can't even get that bit right.
KOCH: Okay. Prime Minister, appreciate your time. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks David.
Interview with Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon, Today Show
4 May 2021
Karl Stefanovic: PM, good morning to you. Do you have blood on your hands?
PRIME MINISTER: No, it's obviously absurd. What we're doing here is we've got a temporary pause in place because we've seen a rapid escalation in the infection rate of people who have travelled out of India. That is putting enormous pressure on our system. And we need to ensure that we can bring people safely home from India. It's a pause until May 15. We're reviewing it regularly. This ensures that we can get the infection rates down, which is as much as 85 per cent up in Howard Springs. It's increased overall from around 10 per cent of cases to over 50 per cent of cases. We've seen a much higher rise in the infection rate in people coming off planes, one in eight out of our most recent charters that have come out. That means we need to have a pause. We also needed to ensure that people were not coming back through third countries, places like Doha, Dubai and places like that. The alternative to these arrangements was stopping those flights altogether, which would have meant that people coming back from many other places wouldn't have been able to come home. So this is about getting more people home safely, preventing a third wave here in Australia, and ensuring that the 2000 bed facility that it escalates to this month in Howard Springs, our national resilience facility, will be in a position to take those additional charter flights after the 15th of May. And we can bring people home safely. This is one of the hard decisions you've got to take in COVID to keep Australians safe. That's what we're doing. Australia has a very good record, and I intend for us to maintain the protection of Australia to bring Australians home safely.
Allison Langdon: The problem you have here, Prime Minister, the optics of threatening your own people with jail and huge fines is not a good one.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, these are the tools that we have available to us under the Biosecurity Act. They will be used responsibly and proportionately. These laws have been in place under the Biosecurity Act and the measures been in place for 14 months. No one's going to jail. They've been used very judiciously to protect Australia. That's what they're there for. And so I don't think it would be fair to suggest that these penalties in their most extreme forms are likely to be imposed anywhere. This is a way to ensure that we can prevent the virus coming back and it starting a third wave here in Australia. That would have devastating impacts on our country. So we've already brought some 20,000 people from India back through facilitated and repatriation flights from the Commonwealth Government. Bringing them through our quarantine facilities. We're going to keep doing that. We're going to keep bringing back people safely from India, but we have to do it in a way that won't subject the rest of the country to seeing a third wave of COVID. And so it's a temporary measure. Anyone who's outside of India and haven’t been through India for more than 14 days, they can still come back from those other places. But it's a 14 day exclusion period and then people can return. And by the 15th of May, I'm confident we'll be in a position to start resuming those repatriation flights and getting people home safely.
Stefanovic: It's not getting any better in India. In fact, it's getting worse. And jailing and fining returning Aussies. I mean, as a sitting Prime Minister, it's incredibly heartless.
PRIME MINISTER: Well Karl, as I've said, I think the likelihood of anything like that occurring is pretty much zero. This is a measure which ensures that we can keep Australia safe at this time and we can get more Australians back safely. I mean, frankly, if we do not put these measures in place and we saw the rates of increase of the virus coming through on these flights, putting stress on our quarantine system, breaking out across the country and seeing a third wave, then equally you would have told me, pretty bluntly I suspect, that I'd failed Australia. So I'm not going to fail Australia. I'm going to protect our borders at this time. We'll use the measures we have available. We'll use them compassionately and fairly and responsibly, as we have demonstrated for more than a year, where these sorts of penalties and fines have already been in place to protect Australia. So we'll do that. We'll keep Australia safe during this and we'll bring back home people safely, which we’ll be able to do from the 15th of May, and thereafter. If we didn't do this, it would seriously jeopardise our ability to do that over the longer term. So we're acting now to ensure that we can do more over a longer period of time for those who remain in India.
Langdon: Okay, so to be clear, you're now saying that no one will go to jail or be fined. Is that right?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think it's highly unlikely, highly unlikely. In the same way that these powers at the most extreme end have not been used for those sorts of sanctions in the entire time we've had these biosecurity regulations in place. So I think people need to look at this in perspective. That's certainly how we'll be administering it, in perspective. And that's certainly the understanding the Border Force and the other enforcement agencies have. But it's important that we don't see people coming back to Australia until the 15th of May from third countries. I mean, the alternative, Ally, was that we had to close those flights coming from Dubai and from Doha, where we've got hundreds of people, if not thousands, seeking to come home to Australia. So it's a difficult decision. There have been a lot of difficult decisions during COVID and people will criticise me and my government for it. But Australians are living in a way like very few in the world today, and there's a reason for that. It's because the government has shown the resilience and has shown the foresightedness to take decisions like when we shut the borders to China, people criticised me for that too. They've criticised me for many things. But the truth is that Australia now is leading the world out of the COVID-19 pandemic and out of the COVID-19 recession. We're in the enviable position, an enviable position, and I intend for Australians to keep succeeding.
Stefanovic: So if an Australian citizen was to touch down in Australia today and they've been in India, you'd not fine them? You wouldn't throw them in jail as opposed to what you've been saying for the last few days?
PRIME MINISTER: I would expect the Australian Border Force officials, Karl, to deal with the issue sensitively and within their authorities. But I'm not going to tie their hands about how they do that. But they understand the way that these issues have been managed all the way through this pandemic.
Stefanovic: I don't understand …
PRIME MINISTER: I think it's important not to sensationalise this …
Stefanovic: But that's a change in your rhetoric …
PRIME MINISTER: [inaudible] No, it isn't, Karl …
Stefanovic: It is [inaudible] …
PRIME MINISTER: These are the exact instructions I gave to Border Force when we put this …
Stefanovic: [inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER: No, I'm sorry, Karl. I know what the order said because I worked on it with the Chief Medical Officer and the Health Minister. And I spoke to the Home Affairs Minister at the time. These arrangements have always been dealt with responsibly and proportionately. And that's what I'm expecting from Border Force officials. I've said the likelihood of any sanction, anything like that, is extremely remote and that's what it is.
Stefanovic: Okay, so we have had a shift, there is no doubt about that. I think most Australians …
PRIME MINISTER: No, Karl. We haven't had a shift. How you're reporting it is a shift.
Stefanovic: I'm sorry, didn't you have a press conference over the weekend where you stipulated that Australians coming home, if they violated that rule, would be thrown in jail or fined, did you not? Did you not say that?
PRIME MINISTER: I didn't have a press conference at all on the weekend.
Langdon: Your Ministers did, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: We put in place a Biosecurity Act change which the Minister held, and he did that. And, of course, those sanctions are available, but they're not sanctions that I believe the Border Force would reasonably apply in, I think, the foreseeable circumstances. What we want, Karl, is for people who have been in India in the last 14 days to not make their way back to Australia, at this present time, because it puts Australia at risk. This is what you have to do to keep Australia safe during COVID, Karl. And that's we're doing responsibly, in a proportionate way, consistent with the medical advice from Australia's Chief Medical Officer.
Stefanovic: I get all that. I think keeping Australians safe is vital, but the whole rhetoric around locking them up or fining them was off. And why isn't our quarantine system up to the challenge?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the quarantine system has proved one of the most effective, if not the most effective in the world, Karl. I mean, we have a 99.99 per cent success rate of containing the virus within our quarantine system and at Howard Springs, the national facility funded by the Commonwealth Government to the tune of some half a billion dollars, has a 100 per cent success rate. But you don't achieve those success rates without ensuring that you manage the risk appropriately. And that's what we're doing. We are in the middle of a raging global pandemic. I think we need a bit of a reality check here, Karl. Just because we can put 100,000 people at the 'G to watch the footy doesn't mean that the pandemic has gone away. I know how serious it is, and I take my decisions very seriously to keep Australians safe. And I want Australians to keep living that way. And so I'm going to take decisions that keep Australians safe, that are proportionate and act with the appropriate support for Australians to get them home as soon as we possibly can. We've already brought 20,000 Australians home from India. Many of those, some of them have gone over there for work, and they're seeking to come home now. I just thank them for their patience and ask for their understanding to ensure that we can continue to bring them home safely again after this two week pause.
Langdon: But Prime Minister if we've had to stop these flights from India that says that our quarantine system isn't coping, that it's not up to the challenge.
PRIME MINISTER: No, I'm sorry, Ally, what it means is, is that what we're seeing in India, even in COVID terms, is unprecedented. And so, you know, every system is going to face its stresses and I'm not going to break the system. What I'm going to do is take proportionate action to protect that system so I can bring more Australians home and keep Australians, keep Australia safe for the longer term. The pandemic isn't going anywhere. We need to keep these systems in place to ensure we protect Australia for quite a time to come. And to do that, you've got to make calls like this. I appreciate that many Australians will feel uncomfortable about it. It was an uncomfortable decision for us to take. Not an easy one, but it's one that we believe is necessary in Australia's national interest.
Stefanovic: PM, you're in Rockhampton this morning, at Beef Week. As we can hear behind you, there's an awful lot of bull. You have an important announcement on the agricultural sector though?
PRIME MINISTER: We do, biosecurity and other border protection issues. $370 million. This is for 3D X-ray scanners. It's for additional screening equipment and specific funds to combat African swine flu. I mean, we all know about what's happening with COVID. Our agricultural sector, whether it's with pests or those that can get into our crops, those that can come and take out our livestock industry. We need to combat those as well. Border protection is about a lot of things. But here in the agricultural sector and here in Beef Week, here in Rockhampton, which the resilience of our agricultural sector, our regional communities, has been outstanding. It's great to be here with them today. But to invest in their future, we need to invest in our biosecurity for our agricultural industries, whether it's our livestock or our crops. And this additional investment will be in next week's Budget is there to strengthen that ring of containment, to protect Australia's agricultural producers and ensure they can continue to produce and export the best quality produce anywhere in the world.
Stefanovic: Prime Minister -
Langdon: Thank you for your time this morning.
Interview with Murray Jones, 4CA
4 May 2021
PRIME MINISTER: G'day Murray.
MURRAY JONES: Sorry about that, I don't know what's happened while I've been away, but a lot of things have changed. But I appreciate your time this morning. Live from Rockhampton. Interesting start to Queensland. I won't be doing any contrasting. You got a bit of an unusual welcome from our Deputy Premier yesterday, didn't you?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, well, I mean, he has a habit of carrying on like a bit of an idiot. But, anyway, when he does that stuff … he says he started … oh well, fair enough, I'm happy to accept his word on that.
JONES: OK, we'll move on from that one.
PRIME MINISTER: Water off a duck's back.
JONES: Sure. Well, look, let's talk about something that I guess has been an issue for North Queenslanders for many, many decades. Now, we're talking about a 50 per cent saving on insurance premiums on the horizon with a reinsurance pool to the tune of $10 billion. Unusual for the government to basically step in. But I guess in a situation like this, of market failure, you've really had no choice.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is something I know people right across Australia's north, but particularly in north Queensland, and particularly Warren Entsch up there in Cairns, has been arguing for some time. We've listened to people very carefully. And what this does is it basically puts a floor underneath the insurance industry up in north Queensland and that will encourage more insurance companies into the market, which is very important to drive down the cost of those premiums. Now, the government hasn't said 50 per cent. That's what others are speculating. We have a more cautious view about that. But let's just see how that plays out. But what's important is we've got to put that $10 billion of guarantee on the insurance sector up there so we can get more companies in. We've also got a $40 million program, which is a pilot program for strata title resilience to deal specifically with the problems that we've seen, especially up there in north Queensland on strata title arrangements. So this is very practical. It's a real problem. I know it's been a cause of great concern in the North for a very long time, and this is necessary to ensure that people continue to be able to live and work in north Queensland.
JONES: Let's talk a little bit more about body corporates, because I guess that's been a real issue for particularly people here in tropical north Queensland. It's a type of model that a lot of people use. What can be done to reduce some of the prices when it comes to body corporate insurance?
PRIME MINISTER: What this involves is, it's a three year resilience pilot, set at $40 million to reduce cyclone risk for residential strata properties in northern Australia. They face some of the most acute insurance affordability pressures in northern Australia. In 2018-19, the ACCC said the average strata premium was $6,800 in north Queensland, compared with an Australian average around $3,300. So they have few options. So what is needed to lower that risk and lower those premiums is to reduce the expected damage caused by natural hazards. So that's us supporting putting in place mitigation investments that can create benefits for the residents, but also for the insurance companies to ensure that they're mitigating the risk of these cyclones so that again a very practical way. Now, the other thing I should stress here, Murray, is that all of this is being done without levying others in other parts of the country to put these controls in place, to put these supports in place. Plenty of people have said to us, 'you need to put levies on everybody else's insurance right across the country to do this.' We didn't think that was fair either. And I don't think North Queenslanders would want us to do that either. So that's why we've stepped in with some practical responses on the strata and we'll get that right, through that pilot program. But more broadly, by putting in place the floor, if you like, the solid foundation for insurance in north Queensland by putting that $10 billion guarantee on the reinsurance pool. And this is the same mechanism we use in the terrorist insurance mechanism. It's run by the same people. This will ensure a fairer deal for people living in the north.
JONES: Well, it's certainly about time. And it looks like, from what I can see here around about July next year it's likely to come into effect?
PRIME MINISTER: This is what we hope. But I got to say, Warren Entsch has been a dog with a bone on this, and rightly so. This is something he has been advocating for, for a very long period of time, together with all our North Queensland MPs. Phil Thompson there, down in Townsville and so many others, they've done a great job because we've had inquiries into this. It's a very difficult issue to solve. It's easiest to say it's not usual for the government to get into these areas. But there is a very special need in northern Australia. We're serious about supporting northern Australia as a place to live, a place to work, and for people to raise their families and live their lives. And this is one of the practical things we've got to do to ensure that that lifestyle can be maintained.
JONES: Look, speaking of maintaining our lifestyle as we wrap up this morning. Obviously, some concerning things happening in India at the moment. But can we just touch on China? Media reports again this morning about the escalating tensions with China. No doubt it was a fair call by you to basically push for an investigation into the COVID outbreak. But considering the impact that this has basically had on Australia, would it have been, you know, diplomatically more wise at the time to actually wait until we had a coalition of countries? Because Australia has been very much singled out in recent months.
PRIME MINISTER: No, well it would be wrong to suggest there was any one thing here. The tensions we're currently facing, the challenge we're facing, have been as a result over many years now. And the suggestion that it's any one item, I don't accept that. And the wise analysts on this have got the same view. What we're doing is ensuring that we maintain our ground as a country on our sovereign interests, that we stand up for Australia and our values, and how we want to live our lives here in Australia. And we'll respect the way that China wants to do that. We want to have a peaceful relationship where we can trade and get on with each other in the region. And that's what we're seeking to achieve. But we're not going to do that by, you know, by compromising on the things that Australia feels most passionately about and our values.
JONES: Sure. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, sorry about the issue with the phones this morning, but great to talk to you.
PRIME MINISTER: Good on you, Murray. All the best. Look forward to seeing everybody in Cairns.
JONES: See you soon, cheers.
Biosecurity for a Safe Australia and Thriving Farming Sector
4 May 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management
The Coalition Government will bolster its commitment to protect Australian agriculture and regional communities.
A new $371 million biosecurity package strengthens Australia's ability to keep out exotic pests and diseases, and improve our ability to fight an outbreak.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government is stepping up efforts to stop threats such as African swine fever, khapra beetle and foot and mouth disease entering Australia.
"Protecting our borders is as much about protecting our livestock, crops and environment from diseases that have the potential to devastate them and the livelihoods they support, as it does the health of Australians during COVID-19 or protecting Australia's national security," the Prime Minister said.
"Australia's biosecurity system protects $42 billion in inbound tourism, $53 billion in agricultural exports and 1.6 million Australian jobs across the supply chain.
"This investment is about building a protective ring around Australia to safeguard our industry as well as the rural and regional communities that depend on it. There will never be zero risk but we are committed to reducing the risk where possible.
"We need to make sure agriculture continues to play a leading role in our national economic recovery."
The package comes after a record $888 million investment in biosecurity and export services in 2020-21 and includes:
$34.6 million for research and improved field tools to better understand how pests and diseases could enter the country, particularly in northern Australia.
$19.5 million to trial pre-border biosecurity screening technology on inbound and outbound passengers.
$1.5 million to review current systems and bust congestion for importers.
$96.8 million for the offshore treatment provider assurance program, and data and technology advancements to rapidly identify containers for intervention.
$25.5 million for modern technologies to improve the speed and accuracy of pest and disease identification at the border.
$28.7 million to expand the Maritime Arrivals and Reporting System to include reporting on international aircraft and non-commercial maritime vessels.
$31.2 million to improve management of biosecurity risks associated with incoming international mail, by automating workflow, modernising risk assessment capability and using 3D X-ray technology.
$58.6 million to continue and expand the 2019-20 investment in preventing African swine fever (ASF) from entering Australia through: increasing frontline screening activities for ASF; supporting assets and tools to detect porcine products; and capability building exercises in Australia and neighbouring countries to improve detection of and response to ASF outbreaks.
$67.4 million to support Australia's biosecurity preparedness and response capabilities, including delivery of a national scale preparedness exercise to stress-test the biosecurity system; building and maintaining a national surveillance information system on the national animal sector; operational diagnostic equipment for testing and molecular diagnostics; and epidemiological and economic modelling to support surveillance prioritisation.
$3.9 million to increase community and business biosecurity awareness through targeted awareness campaigns focusing on significant biosecurity threats such as hitchhiker pests, developing education and communication materials, and conducting social and market research; and
$3.2 million, already announced, to trial new industry arrangements that aim to reduce red tape and biosecurity regulatory costs for importers and agricultural businesses.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the package is comprehensive.
"It complements the reforms we are implementing across our biosecurity system, to make it modern, efficient and keep Australians safe," Minister Littleproud said.
"Those reforms include investment and business improvements to address recommendations made by the independent Inspector-General of Biosecurity, including efforts to manage the unique public health risk posed by passengers and crew on arriving international vessels.
"We are investing in technical solutions to keep biosecurity threats out of Australia, including through new screening technologies for people and goods at the border.
"We will fund a series of ground-breaking trials to screen for biosecurity risks offshore and continue the development of modern, innovative detection systems.
"We are investing in better management of hitchhiker pest risk before they reach Australia, through expanding offshore management of risks and strengthened border interventions of shipping containers, while ensuring the safe, efficient clearance of low-risk commodities.
"Building community and industry awareness of our biosecurity system is also essential to ensuring the effectiveness of the system.
"This is why we are investing to increase importers' and individuals' understanding of their role in the system, including through a new biosecurity brand and targeted biosecurity campaigns.
"This package demonstrates our commitment to our agricultural sector and unique environment."
Fast facts:
Recent University of Melbourne Centre for Excellence in Biosecurity Risk Analysis modelling puts the net present value of the biosecurity system at $314 billion over 50 years.
This means a $30 return on investment for every dollar we spend on biosecurity over the next 50 years.
The national biosecurity system is a key contributor to our farming systems, the wider economy, our environment and biodiversity, our human health and the social fabric of our country.
Last year there were over 2.5 million container arrivals into Australia, 19,000 commercial vessel arrivals and 60 million mail items.
Full details of all measures are available at www.awe.gov.au/budget.
Federal Budget Infrastructure Boost to Help Build Western Australia's Economic Recovery
4 May 2021
Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations, Senator for Western Australia, Premier of Western Australia, WA Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports
The Western Australia economy will be boosted by a $1.3b infrastructure package, with record funding for major new projects to be announced in next week’s Federal Budget.
Key projects to be funded include:
$347.5 million for METRONET: Hamilton Street-Wharf Street Grade Separations and Elevation of Associated Stations, including Queens Park Station and Cannington Station and an enhanced METRONET Byford Rail Extension project, with new grade separated rail crossing at Armadale Road and an elevated station at Armadale
$200 million for the Great Eastern Highway Upgrades – Coates Gully, Walgoolan to Southern Cross and Ghooli to Benari
$160 million for the WA Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements – Package 1
$112.5 million for the Reid Highway – Altone Road and Daviot Road-Drumpellier Drive – Grade-separated intersections
$85 million for the Perth Airport Precinct – Northern Access
$64 million for the Toodyay Road Upgrade – Dryandra to Toodyay
$55 million for the Mandurah Estuary Bridge Duplication, and
$31.5 million towards the METRONET High Capacity Signalling project
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said these projects will make WA roads safer and improve public transport, reducing travel times and supporting thousands of jobs across the state.
“From upgrading the Great Eastern Highway and building METRONET, to improving roads and rail lines that are crucial to our grain growers and farmers in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt - these projects will support more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs across WA,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“Our record funding commitment is boosting businesses and communities as part of the Government’s National Economic Recovery Plan.
“And of course the landmark GST deal for WA delivered by our Government enables the WA State Government to also deliver on their infrastructure commitments.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the substantial new funding delivered in this year’s Budget was a key plank of the Government’s plan to help Australia bounce back stronger than ever from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In this Budget, the Federal Government will continue our strong record of infrastructure delivery as we lay the economic foundations for recovery from the pandemic,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Since April last year, we have delivered NorthLink WA – Northern and Central Sections, which received $556 million in federal funding. We also partnered with the Western Australian Government to deliver the Great Northern Highway – Muchea to Wubin Upgrade, with a $276 million federal investment.”
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan said the additional $1.26 billion would ensure WA’s pipeline of infrastructure work will continue, providing an ongoing economic boost.
“We are already embarking on the biggest road and rail investment program our State has ever seen,” he said.
“This program has something for the city and regions, targeting major congestion pinch points in the eastern, northern and southern suburbs which are currently experiencing major population growth.
“With nine METRONET projects under construction, as well as more than 50 major road projects, we’re building the major infrastructure for tomorrow as well as creating the local jobs for today.”
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the Government is driving the delivery of major infrastructure projects across the state, building the economy, creating jobs and providing certainty for business over the long term.
“Importantly, this budget includes significant funding for digital technology investments to support more efficient use of rail and road infrastructure, including METRONET signalling. This builds on the Morrison Government’s existing investment in Intelligent Transport Systems across Perth,” Minister Fletcher said.
“Digital technology is transforming every aspect of modern life including transport, and with these investments Western Australia will be at the forefront.”
Senator for Western Australia Michaelia Cash said in this Budget, the Government was providing funding to better connect regional Western Australia.
“This includes the WA Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements project to better connect our world-class farmers to domestic and international markets,” Senator Cash said.
“Regional WA is the backbone of our State, the powerhouse of our economy, and by backing supply chain improvements, we are supporting them to continue to lead our State’s recovery.”
Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti welcomed today’s major investment by the Commonwealth Government.
“Today’s funding announcement will ensure there is a pipeline of work for industry over the next five to six years,” she said.
“Not only does this mean we have a plan for future works, it also provides industry with certainty, which will encourage and create more local jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities.
“Our Government has been working collaboratively with the Commonwealth to negotiate this funding and we will announce our allocations later this year in the State Budget.”
For more information on investments in Western Australia visit Infrastructure Investment Program.
Interview with Ray Hadley, 2GB
3 May 2021
RAY HADLEY: Morning.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day Ray. Congratulations.
HADLEY: Ah, the India … Thank you very much. I very much appreciate that, it's very kind of you. They said it wouldn't last Prime Minister, it’s now five weeks and three days.
PRIME MINISTER: I'm sure it's got a long way to run mate.
HADLEY: Thank you. Now, India, I've spent the morning and most of late last week defending your position in relation to this. And all I pick up and read over the course of the weekend is you’re racist, your Government's racist and everyone else is racist. Can you elaborate on why you're not racist?
PRIME MINISTER: Because this is about health. I mean, the same accusations were made against the Government over a year ago when we closed the borders to mainland China, and that was one of the most important decisions we made as a Government. I mean there is a raging pandemic and we need to just continue to take decisions that are in the best health interests of Australia. What we've seen in recent weeks is the percentage of cases that are appearing in our quarantine from people who have arrived back, having been in India, go from 10 per cent to 50 per cent. We've seen a sevenfold increase in the rate of infection of those in our Howard Springs facility coming back from India. And so it's important that we ensure that we have a temporary pause here to strengthen those arrangements in those quarantine facilities, get stronger testing arrangements, both when from leaving India but also on people coming from third countries. And that's why we’ve had to put these arrangements in place. People, for example, coming back through third countries, that could be out of Doha or Dubai or other places like this, if they are there for 14 days, they can return home to Australia. But if they haven't, then they have to wait those 14 days. Now the alternative to doing what we've done Ray, was preventing those flights in their entirety, which would have stopped many hundreds, if not thousands, of other Australians coming home from other places. So this is a temporary arrangement. It's being put in place to ensure that we do not get a third wave here in Australia and that our quarantine system can remain strong. I mean the, yes, I understand the measures have strong sanctions with them, but we've had the Biosecurity Act in place now for over a year and no one's gone to jail. There hasn't been any irresponsible use of those powers. They've been used very, very carefully and I can assure people that they will be used appropriately and responsibly in these circumstances. But we've done all the right things to keep Australia safe during this pandemic. This is another very difficult decision. I feel terribly for the Indian community. I want to get those repatriation flights running safely again, and these are the things we have to do to ensure I can do that, so I can. We've already brought home some 20,000 people from India through supported flights and facilitated flights, and they were just those who are registered. And so that has been a big effort to get people home. There are more people who are caught there, and I want to ensure that we ready our facilities and our systems and our testing arrangements to sure we can bring more Indian Australians home.
HADLEY: See, one of the first questions posed by my listeners when you made the original announcement, without the fines and the sanctions imposed on the weekend, was what's the Government going to do to people who rort the system? Because you and I have spoken about it, you know, over and over and over again. You put things in place and I'm talking unrelated to the pandemic, and the first thing that happens is someone rorts the system to usurp what the Government’s doing trying to protect the community, in this particular case. And, and as you say, if someone wants to spend 14 days away from India, they can freely travel to Australia obviously, that's not a problem. But we had 400,000 cases in the last 24 hours, 400,000 Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, and more virulent strains too. I think that's one of the other differences. I mean, a few weeks ago we had to do something very similar in relation to Papua New Guinea. And, and that was a hard decision that we had to stop those direct flights coming into Cairns and places like that to protect North Queensland. And that was very effective. Now, there weren’t third countries Papua New Guineans go to to try and come to Australia. So we didn't have that problem. But in ensuring that we don't put undue strain, that we can take people back in an orderly way through repatriated flights, that's what we're gearing up to do. We discussed it with all the Premiers and Chief Ministers on Friday, about the need to to prepare for that time. And I particularly want to thank Gladys Berejiklian, she's been very supportive working with us. That's where we had direct flights into Sydney from, from India. So we agreed to pause those, and, and we're both quite keen to ensure that we can resume those when it's safe to do so. And we'll get to that as soon as we can.
HADLEY: Well, I know you've had problems at varying stages with, you know, the politics involved with Labor federally, but I note that the West Australian Labor Premier, who you've had problems with as well, Mark McGowan has backed absolutely, absolutely.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes he has, as has the South Australian Premier and as the New South Wales Premier. I mean, we're all just, you know, working to do what's right for the health interests of Australians. We’re deeply, deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in India and that's why we're sending, you know, 1,000 non-invasive ventilators, we’re, we're sending, you know, a million surgical masks, we're sending 100 oxygen concentrators, we're, you know, providing support. Barry O'Farrell, well-known to your listeners, is over there leading a great consular team, providing support to Australians who are all over the country in India. So we're standing with our, with our Indian friends, as they're great partners of Australia. But Australian citizens and residents who are there, the best way I can effectively get them safely home is by doing what I'm doing right now. I'm disappointed that the Labor Party has chosen to politicise this once again and make those claims. I mean, you know, we've seen that right across the pandemic, and that's very disappointing. I mean, I've had more cooperation out of the state premiers of both political persuasions because we're all leaders of governments who understand our responsibilities. I have clear advice from the Chief Medical Officer that this is a decision that is supported and should take. And, and that's, we've done that all the way through and that's kept Australia safe.
HADLEY: The only thing I'd say to you is that my view was you waited a bit long. I mean, you finally did it. But there was no criticism from the federal Labor Party in Australia when Prime Minister Ardern did the same thing a month ago in New Zealand. No criticism or no racism allegations against her.
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, there wasn't. But and she, I mean, she's doing the same thing.
HADLEY: Yeah, exactly.
PRIME MINISTER: She's listening to medical advice. We’ve, we haven't all agreed with all the steps. You know, we've both made decisions which we believe are right for our own countries. But there's no politics or ideology in a pandemic, and I'm constantly taken aback by those who seek to inject it into it. It's got nothing to do with politics. This is a virus. It doesn't care whether you’re Labor, Liberal. It doesn't care, you know, where you're from. It'll get in and it can cause death in a country, like we're seeing in India and, you know, in our country Ray, if we'd had the fatality rate of COVID that the average of all the OECD nations have, and those are the countries which are like-minded to, you know, like economies, strong health systems to us, 30,000 more people would have died in Australia, 30,000. It's a staggering figure, and we prevented that here in Australia by working together. But it's also meant we've had to take some unpopular decisions on occasions, and I know this is one and my heart breaks for the Indian community. But I assure them I'm going to restore those repatriation flights. We will get them running again once we can safely bring people back to Australia. And that's how the Australian community, I know, will continue to support those repatriation flights when they have the confidence that they know we can do it safely.
HADLEY: Well, you talked about those figures, 30,000, less than a thousand is, less than a thousand. USA, 600,000. India approaching, at the moment, 300,000. Brazil, where we also banned 12 months ago, 407,000. I mean, look, I don't care whether you're a Liberal Prime Minister or you're a Labor Prime Minister or a Green Prime Minister. I don't care whether you're a Premier in Queensland from the Labor Party, the Liberal Party. I think all of you, all of you collectively have handled this crisis absolutely magnificently on behalf of our country. And that, I mean, there have been blues made along the way but, you know, we've been in territory, Scott, we've never been in before. We're uncharted, uncharted territory.
PRIME MINISTER: This is absolutely true, and we've always been conscious of that. My Cabinet, that is, you know, the Federal Cabinet with Michael McCormack and Josh Frydenberg and Marise Payne and others, we've been conscious of that, Greg Hunt, all the way through, but also the National Cabinet. And it's just about, you know, making sure that we keep Australians safe, but also we keep them in jobs and their livelihoods. Australia is living at the moment like few countries in the world, and I'm not going to put that at risk. And that means taking some hard calls like this. But we will do it compassionately and we will seek, as I say, to restore those flights coming back, chartered flights into Australia, when we can do that safely. I was up in Howard Springs last week, inspected those facilities, talking to the medical officers on the ground there, the nurses, the, those who are involved there, the security people, the local police, and, and they're doing a great job up there. They’re doing a tremendous job for our country, as all those working in quarantine are. And we can't, we've just got to make sure we manage the system and not put too much strain on it. And here in New South Wales they're doing the biggest job, taking 3,000 people in a week. That is an heroic effort out of New South Wales, and I'm very grateful for the New South Wales Government for the responsible, you know, the decisions they've taken on all that.
HADLEY: I might just mention that, you'd be heartened, I've said publicly and I'll repeat it again, I think those people who’ve come from India to settle here are among the best immigrants we've ever had.
PRIME MINISTER: No doubt.
HADLEY: They’re productive, they’re hardworking, they’re decent. And I'll tell you what, they also, they understand. I've had about 12 emails this morning from different parts of the country, people been here for over 10 years, 14 years, 50 years, from India, and they say the same thing, we are doing the right thing. And these are people who have mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles and siblings in India, and they understand all of that. The one thing they've asked me, asking me, and I'll ask you now, obviously it's down to the Chief Medical Officer. This is a pause until the middle of the month. Obviously, you'll review it at the middle of the month and see what the step, next step is. Is that the case?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah that’s the case, and Ray I mean, I can, and we’ll be reviewing it before then, too.
HADLEY: Alright.
PRIME MINISTER: With Greg Hunt and the Chief Medical Officer. And we will continue to do that. We'll do it, you know, this week. We'll do it the following week. This only needs to be there in place for as long as it needs to be there to keep Australians safe. And I would just implore all those members of the, Australians and Australian residents as well, with family and friends in India, who have Indian heritage. A) I want to thank them for their patience and their understanding with this decision. I know there'll be plenty of people who will try to tell them all sorts of things about this, about what it means. It only means that we're trying to keep Australians safe. And as Australians, we're all in this together and, and it's very tough for them and I thank them for their patience and their understanding. And we're going to do everything we can to help both our great friends in India as a country, but more specifically, Australian citizens and residents and their families.
HADLEY: Well done. We're lucky to have you. Thanks so much.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, Ray. All the best.
The National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board
3 May 2021
The National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board has concluded its work on behalf of the Australian Government.
Australia has come a long way since I announced the Board on 25 March 2020.
We have moved past the emergency phase of the COVID-19 response and are now on the path of economic recovery. Australia’s strong health and economic circumstances and our strong outlook make it the right time for the Board to conclude its work.
A hallmark of our response to COVID-19 has been the way we have listened to a wide range of trusted, expert voices. The Board provided a real-time business perspective on critical aspects of our COVID-19 response.
They used their experience and networks to help with troubleshooting in the crisis management phase of the pandemic, helped businesses safely reopen with COVIDSafe plans, and provided a business perspective to help inform our policies for economic recovery.
I want to thank the Chair of the Board, Mr Nev Power, and each of the current and former Commissioners for their work. They answered the call for their country when they were needed and have worked hard to support the Government’s plans for managing the virus and economic recovery.
Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB
30 April 2021
Ben Fordham: PM, good morning to you.
Prime Minister: G’day, Ben.
Fordham: Is this a loophole?
Prime Minister: It was one that became apparent to us on Wednesday and it was closed off at about seven-o'clock Wednesday evening. That flight that those cricketers were on managed to get away just before that. We had information on Monday that that wasn't possible. I'm advised there is a 14-day requirement when someone goes into Doha, but that wasn't being applied to transit passengers. Now, that was different from the advice we had on Monday night that came to our attention. We acted, we had it changed on Wednesday night. And we'll be taking some more action there regarding transport of transit passengers today and I'll be speaking to the premiers about that and when we meet at National Cabinet.
Fordham: So you're confident that you'll be able to close the loophole or that involves some discussions with people in other countries like Qatar?
Prime Minister: No, no. We've already directly dealt with the airlines in Qatar. And so those transit passengers, the airlines advises, are no longer coming through from Doha. The other places they were principally coming from were Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. And our advice is that those routes are closed off, as I said earlier in the week. And Doha was another of those and the advice we had on that wasn't fully correct. So when we got the additional information, we took that action and I proposed to take further action today, which would be done under the Biosecurity Act.
Fordham: OK, I know you've got National Cabinet today, as you mentioned, and the vaccine rollout will be a hot topic today. Numbers have jumped from one million to two million pretty quickly. So you must be happy with the recent progress?
Prime Minister: Yeah, once we got the GP's online and more than a million of those vaccinations of the two have been done by GPs. In fact, yesterday was the biggest day of GP vaccinations, over 60,000. That was their biggest day and that will continue to grow from the 3rd of May. The states and territories will use their distribution arrangements and our GP respiratory clinics for people aged over 50 and on the 17th of May, that will be done through GPs as well. So, look, this is just a matter of just continuing to keep those clinic doors open, booking the jabs, getting them through. I mentioned the other day, my mum's had it and my mother in law has had it as well. I was speaking to a number of people at the function I was at last night and they were getting their bookings in place. So, look, I think people are just getting on with it and when there's medical advice that we receive, we're being very transparent and advising the public about that. But our GPs, Ben, they’re the heroes of this, they're the ones who are answering the questions that people have and they're taking care of their patients and then getting them vaccinated.
Fordham: Just on that advice, Prime Minister, the blood clots, we've seen a few people die from blood clots after getting the AstraZeneca jab. Are you confident it's just a coincidence?
Prime Minister: Well, the Therapeutic Goods Administration make those calls and their advice to date, and they're investigating those issues now. They have not advised of a link and they're the right ones to give that medical advice and they are the best medical regulators in the world.
Fordham: Those cheap flights that you announced, we've had 300,000 flights go to Queensland and just 1,400 to New South Wales. Now, when we blew up about this at the time, we were told the new routes were coming. But six weeks on, we're still waiting to hear some more. Can we expect some news on that front, PM?
Prime Minister: I mean, the programme was really about getting people to more remote locations where people don't drive, Ben. I was up in Darwin a couple of days ago, 50,000 of the flights went to Darwin. Now, these are places where you couldn't drive in a couple of hours from Sydney, from or Melbourne or Adelaide or Perth. And it was in those more remote communities, those far flung communities, which really had a much higher proportion of their economies determined by tourism. And having been there and getting the feedback from particularly up in North Queensland and those heavily dependent tourist and destinations will benefit from that. Over, I think, 660,000 of those flights have gone out. There's nothing stopping states and territories, if they want to see more, they can go to the airlines and they can fund half price flights themselves. I mean, there's nothing stopping any state and territory doing that.
Fordham: Sure. You know, though, that the New South Wales tourism operators felt like they've been ignored, that there was only that one flight route going from Melbourne to Merimbula. Only 1,400 passengers took up that offer and the Minister did tell us at the time that there would be more routes added. Are you now saying that that won’t be the case?
Prime Minister: There were more routes added across the country and it's been a very successful programme that's supporting the tourism industry. I mean, there's six million people who live in and around Sydney. That's a big population base to move across New South Wales within a drive. There are, you know, parts of the country that aren't in that sort of a drive. And it's not a competition between the states and territories. It's not that type of a programme. It's targeted, and it was particularly targeted to support those remote and further afield tourism destinations so heavily dependent in their economy, not just in their tourism industry, but in their economy on international tourism. And it's had a very positive effect in those places.
Fordham: There've been some angry exchanges between Australia and China of late. And this week we've heard warnings out of Canberra about the drums of war beating. Now we know we need to be prepared. But is that kind of talk helpful?
Prime Minister: Well, that's not what I've been saying. Our defence forces are there to secure peace. They're there to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific and we work particularly with our US allies on that. I was up at Darwin at Robertson Barracks the other day where the Marines trained together with Australian forces. And we've just upgraded $747 million, all the training fields and bases that they operate up there in the Northern Territory. That's there to secure a stable region, a peaceful region, and we make a very positive contribution to that. So that's what we're doing. We updated and upgraded our strategic defence position last year and we've taken some decisions since then to ensure that our defence forces are in the best possible position to protect and defend Australia's national interests.
Fordham: Just on Australia's national interest, is the Port of Darwin and Port of Newcastle under review when it comes to the long term leases held by Chinese interests?
Prime Minister: Well, firstly, on Port of Darwin, Port of Darwin was leased by the Northern Territory government. There was no involvement of the Commonwealth Federal Government whatsoever. Under the law as it was back then, states and territories could privatise those assets and they didn't have to go to the Federal Government. Now, as Treasurer, I changed that so that wouldn't happen again. In relation to the Port of Darwin, if there is any advice that I receive from the Department of Defence or intelligence agencies that suggest that there are national security risks there then you'd expect the Government to take action on that, and that would be right. The same would be true in relation to the Port of Newcastle, which was privatised by the New South Wales government. Now, what I understand is going on up there is there are some disputes involving one of the big mining operators up there. So I think that has a bit more to do with a bit of commercial toing and froing. And certainly there has never been anything presented to me at Newcastle Port regarding any problems with Australia's national security interests.
Fordham: I'm trying to work out whether Newcastle would have come under the Foreign Investment Review Board or whether they were looking into those things back then or whether that would have been the Treasurer at the time. It might have been Joe Hockey?
Prime Minister: Joe was the Treasurer at that time. My advice is that it was probably covered under the arrangements, which I said, but I wasn't Treasurer at the time and happy to check that for you.
Fordham: The ASIO warning today that we should expect a terror attack on Australian soil in the next 12 months. Have we been made aware of any specific threats, do you know?
Prime Minister: No, look, the terror threat level hasn't changed. It's probable. But that's to reinforce and the Director-General yesterday, I think, was just reinforcing again, that this is not a threat that's gone away. This is not something because there are many other issues that I think people are reading about and that that threat is something that has moved away. And we continue to be incredibly vigilant on all of those things. We've been very effective in our operations as a result of 61 direct counter-terrorism operations, we've managed to charge 133 people. We've put some $2.3 billion extra into what we're doing, some 51 terrorists are now behind bars under our Commonwealth terrorist laws and people like Benbrika and others, they’re remaining behind bars under our continuing detention order laws. So we've always taken this very seriously. We never take our eye off it. There's always a risk and we always need to remain very alert.
Fordham: You’d be aware, PM, that there are more allegations of inappropriate behaviour today against the Liberal MP Andrew Laming. You instructed him to undertake empathy training. Were you aware at the time that it was only an online course?
Prime Minister: Look, at the time he said he would arrange to undertake appropriate training. As you know, Andrew has also advised that for some period of time now he's been affected by ADHD. Look, Andrew is not running for the LNP at the next election. The LNP have made that decision. And in the meantime, I expect him to serve his community that elected him on many occasions and to do that job between now and the election.
Fordham: Is that what you expected, though, when you said empathy training, that he was going to do it online, tick a box routine?
Prime Minister: He undertook to me to be correcting and changing his behaviour and getting help for that and I know he has been doing that. I mean, I haven't seen the exact course that he's undertaken. I mean, there's been a few other things that I've been a bit focused on.
Fordham: I'm sure.
Prime Minister: But that was his undertaking to me and I would expect him to be taking that very seriously and correcting his behaviour and as a member of Parliament.
Fordham: Just lastly, Prime Minister, were you surprised by some of the reactions to your speech at the Australian Christian Churches National Conference? There were comments that you made about your faith, and there seem to be some people reacting in a way where they were shocked or surprised. I didn't think it was a big secret that you're a man of faith.
Prime Minister: We have Christian talks to Christians about Christian things. I don't think that's really a newsflash, but I have been, I suppose, disappointed about how some of that has been mischaracterised. Ben, people of faith, Christians particularly in accordance with my faith, we just feel that, you know, whatever you do every day, you do as part of your Christian service. Some suggestion that, you know, I was saying something other than that, I mean, most Christians who, you know, would be aware of that. We all feel it's part of, whether you serve as a prime minister, whether you serve as a journalist, whether you serve as a police officer or a nurse or teacher. We just see that as part of our faith that, you know, you're there doing service as part of your Christian faith. And for that to be mischaracterised by, frankly, others who should know better, I'm disappointed. But there's no suggestion about anyone other than the Australian people deciding who runs this country.
Fordham: I know you've got a busy day. Good luck at National Cabinet. We'll catch up soon.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, thanks Ben.
Fordham: Prime Minister Scott Morrison joining us live on the line.
National Cabinet Statement
30 April 2021
The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response and changes to the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions for the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
There have been 29,801 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 910 people have died. More than 16.8 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.
Globally there have been over 150 million cases and sadly over 3.1 million deaths, with around 882,000 new cases and more than 14,000 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world.
National Cabinet noted the significant increase in cases in India and welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s support package including oxygen concentrators and consumables. National Cabinet expressed solidarity with the Indian community both within Australia and overseas.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues to expand. To date 2,179,544 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia. The number of administration sites has expanded, with 4,500 general practices as well as general practice respiratory centres and Aboriginal health services now administering COVID-19 vaccinations.
Today, National Cabinet received a briefing from Professor Brendan Murphy, Chair of the Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group, the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly and Commodore Eric Young, CSC, RAN, Operations Coordinator, Department of Health Vaccine Operations Centre on the Vaccine Rollout Phases Implementation.
National Cabinet agreed the imperative to work together to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to Australians as quickly as possible.
National Cabinet noted the measures that have been put in place to restrict entry into Australia of people who have previously been in high risk countries determined by the Chief Medical Officer. These measures will be reviewed before 15 May 2021. National Cabinet noted the Chief Medical Officer’s assessment that India is the first country to meet the threshold of a high risk country. The Commonwealth will consider further measures to mitigate risks of high risk travellers entering Australia.
National Cabinet will meet again on Friday 7 May 2021.
Major Investment in Northern Territory Defence Bases
28 April 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence
The Morrison Government will invest $747 million to upgrade four key training areas and ranges in the Northern Territory to enable the Australian Defence Force to conduct simulated training exercises and remain battle ready.
Essential upgrades will be made to four key military training areas and weapon ranges in the Northern Territory, including: Robertson Barracks, Kangaroo Flats, Mount Bundey and Bradshaw.
These Defence training areas and facilities will support greater engagement with our Indo-Pacific neighbours and our allies, and to conduct small and large scale military exercises across a number of different scenarios.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investment was part of almost $8 billion in defence capital infrastructure works over the next decade in the Northern Territory.
“This investment will deliver a jobs boom for the Northern Territory,” the Prime Minister said.
“We continue to invest more than $270 billion in defence capability across Australia over the next decade, ensuring we have a capable defence force to meet a changing global environment, while backing thousands of ADF men and women with the newest technology and training,” the Prime Minister said.
“Working with the United States and Indo-Pacific neighbours, we will continue to advance Australia’s interests by investing in the Australian Defence Force, particularly across Northern Australia.”
“Our focus is on pursuing peace, stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific, with a world order that favours freedom.
“This investment will also maximise local jobs through a targeted industry plan to contract local businesses throughout the entire supply chain. My commitment is keeping Australians safe and keeping Australians in jobs.”
Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said this significant investment would ensure the Australian Defence Force continues to deliver world class training and our engagement with allies and other nations through the conduct of joint training exercises, including with the US Marine Rotational Force - Darwin.
“This investment is critical to ensuring that our ADF land combat capability is equipped with the cutting edge technology it will require to maintain our competitive advantage,” Minister Dutton said.
“These works will provide a strong economic benefit to the region, with significant opportunities for the local construction industry and local tradies over a five-year delivery phase program.
“Significant opportunities will exist for local Australian industry to bid for almost all of the construction works, planned to be delivered through numerous local sub-contractor packages by Defence’s local Darwin-based Managing Contractor, Sitzler.”
Subject to Parliamentary approvals, construction is expected to commence in the second half of 2021, with completion expected by mid-2026.
Doorstop - Robertson Barracks, NT
28 April 2021
SENATOR SAM MCMAHON: It gives me great pleasure to be able to have the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison here at Robertson Barracks. And thank you very much to Brigadier Ash Collingburn for hosting and facilitating this visit and to Michael Sitzler, managing Director of Sitzler, who are the major contractor who will oversee the work that is going to go on in this base and the other three bases over the next five years. It is a fantastic announcement. $747 million of work that is going to be done in the Territory, Territory jobs, and Territory economic boost and developing these fantastic facilities to make them absolutely world-class.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Sam, thanks for having us here today and to Brigadier Collingburn, I want to thank you very much for hosting us here today and to Colonel Banning from the United States. And to all of those who are here and joining us from our great friends and allies, the United States, it is tremendous to have you here with us. And Michael Sitzler, it is great to be here with you. You’re going to be very busy over the next five years.
Before I come to that announcement, though, I just would like to acknowledge that it is 25 years today since the Port Arthur shootings. Some 35 souls lost on that day and some 23 who were injured. We think of Walter Mikac, in particular, and the Foundation that was then established in memory of his children and the work that that has done ever since, is a reminder I think, of the selfless spirit of those who have often been hit by such terrible tragedies. And as Australians, we grieve again today. That is a day that is etched in infamy in Australia's history. And it is one that our leaders at the time, Prime Minister Howard and now late Tim Fischer, the Deputy Prime Minister and I also acknowledge the then Leader of the Opposition Kim Beazley, who came together and introduced gun law reform in this country which put us in another class around the world and has been keeping Australians safe ever since. But to all the victims’ families, our thoughts still remain with you and our love and care is sent to you on this most difficult of days 25 years later.
I'm very pleased to be here today at Robertson because this is another significant step forward in the steps we're taking as a Government to ensure that our Defence Forces are always ready and that they have access to the best training facilities of anywhere in the world and that they can work with our allies and partners, as we are here with the United States Marines, to ensure that together, as always, the United States and Australia will be a combination that pursues peace. Our objective here in this part of the world is a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our objective here is to ensure a peaceful region but one that at the same time Australia is in a position to always protect its interests, always advance our national interests, always support a global world order that favours freedom and that is something that we share very deeply with our American friends and allies. And to see what is on display here today, as you've had the opportunity to also do, to see people who have come from both countries, from all four corners of those countries, and be here at these training facilities here working together to hone their skills, to ensure that they are testing each other, and putting our Defence Forces together in a very strong position.
$747 million is a significant investment and I want to show you the areas which we're talking about here in the Territory. At Robertson Barracks, of course where we are here today and in Kangaroo Flats about an hour's travel from here, Mount Bundey Training Area, a larger area still and then, of course, the Bradshaw Field training area. These facilities, and particularly Bradshaw, will be significantly enhanced because of the investments we are making as part of these investments. Essential upgrades made to these four key military training areas. Simulation for battle space, the use of new technology, and medical facilities particularly at Bradshaw which will enable that world-class facility to be the best in the southern hemisphere and providing the training opportunities that our Defence Forces need to be at the top of their game, which is what we expect of them but more importantly it's what they expect of themselves and I want to thank all of them who are here for their service. Both the Australian forces who are here and of course the US Marines who are here serving in the same cause and we thank them very much for that. So it's a significant investment. It's an investment that not only keeps Australians safe and advances and protects our national interests in what is a very uncertain world and can be a very uncertain region, a region in which there are many pressures. What this means is Australia will be able to continue to play a very significant role. Australia has agency in our region, positive agency, we work right across the government in all the areas that we have that opportunity, diplomatic and other channels, to work with partners in the region to ensure that our region is safe, that it is stable and that there is a balance that favours freedom ultimately, which is in the interests of all of those who live in the region.
The other part of this is, of course, the $747 million which is going to be spent here and right across the Territory as a major boost to the Northern Territory economy. What this means is 98 per cent, 98 per cent, of the contracts that will be as part of this program, which will go to Australian companies. And in fact they'll go to predominantly almost entirely Northern Territory-based companies and they'll certainly go to northern Australian companies and that's because these companies have got the wherewithal to get this job done. And it's very pleasing that when the Government makes these decisions, we made this decision yesterday. I chaired the National Security Committee meeting in Sydney yesterday. This is a project that was first scoped out some years ago on its first pass, and since then has been upgraded and adapted to deal with the new force posture and strategic update that I outlined last year. And that means this plan now can meet the demands of that plan and that's why the investment has been significantly upgraded to $747 million. But that's going to be creating jobs here in the Territory. That's going to be supporting the development of new skills, new apprentices, others working in sectors on challenging tasks. One of the reasons why we're so supportive of our Defence investments and Defence industry capability development is if you can get it right on a Defence contract, then you can pretty much tackle any job and that's what we want out of our industry. I know this is going to be a very challenging task for Sitzler, and I know that they will be up to it and they'll be working with contractors right across the Northern Territory to get this job done.
The only other point I wanted to make in talking to you today is later I'll be joining Chief Minister Gunner. We'll be touring the Howard Springs facility, that is the national resilience facility for our COVID-19 quarantine. This is the facility that was recommended by the Halton Review which said there needed to be a national resilience facility. The Commonwealth has invested some half a billion dollars in ensuring we can put this in place and operate it together with the Northern Territory Government. It's been an excellent partnership with the Northern Territory Government to make this happen. Where we will be today is to be looking at those elements of the facility which are being expanded. We have it currently operating at an 800 bed capacity. This will go to 2,000 capacity over the course of the next month. What that means is we'll be able to continue to bring our charter aircraft for our repatriation flights back into Australia from all around the world. For the next couple of weeks, as you know, we've had to suspend those flights out of India but we'll be returning to those flights. We'll be restarting those flights in several weeks’ time, we hope, and that means that the facility will be ready to take those returning Australians and we'll be continuing to move as many Australians from all around the world back to Australia as safely as we possibly can. We have now clipped over half a million Australians, half a million, who have returned to Australia during the course of COVID. We've been facilitating those flights, we have been directly running charters to get Australian home and that is the number of Australians that have come back during the course of COVID.
Final point. Two million Australians have now been vaccinated, more than half of those have been vaccinated by their GPs. The vaccination program continues to roll out, focusing on those most vulnerable Australians and those in the front lines of our health workforce and we will soon move on the 3rd of May the bring forward of the over 50s vaccinations with AstraZeneca through the GP respiratory clinics and the state and territory-related facilities and two weeks after that we will move to over 50s, I should say, more broadly for the GP rollout all around the country. So with that I'm going to pass you on to Michael. He's going to talk to you a bit about the project and, of course, the Brigadier is available to answer any detailed questions on elements of the training facilities. Michael.
MICHAEL SITZLER, DIRECTOR OF SITZLER: Thanks very much, Prime Minister. I'm Michael Sitzler. Sitzler is really, really delighted to be appointed the managing contractor for this terrific project. It's going to be a huge boost to the Territory economy. We estimate that in excess of 2,000 jobs will be created over the life of the project, and as the Prime Minister mentioned, 98 per cent of this project will be done by Australian companies with a very high proportion of that, close to 98 per cent, being done by northern Australian and Northern Territory businesses. We're just really delighted to be involved and that's pretty much, that's it from me.
PRIME MINISTER: Good on you, Michael. This is $747 million, that's out of an $8 billion commitment to these types of projects across the Territory over the next 10 years. This project goes over five years, and there are still some processes to go through, through the Parliament, but we don't expect any issues there and we'll be able to get construction boots on the ground as they're required as soon as possible.
JOURNALIST: Is it correct to say this was announced as a $500 million project back in 2019?
PRIME MINISTER: It was less than that actually. It was less than that.
JOURNALIST: So how much is new money?
PRIME MINISTER: It's now $747 million so it's been significantly upgraded and the reason for that is that all of our major Defence projects go through a two pass project. There is initial scoping and the Defence budget all sits in what is called the integrated investment plan. That's the allocations that sit to the Defence Department that encapsulate our 2 per cent of GDP and in fact we're over that now. That is then deployed against projects and it goes through a very disciplined project of a first pass and second pass. Since the first pass approval, that was part of our National Security Committee at the time, it was scoped at a particular level but the strategic environment and the other capabilities that have come forward mean that we could significantly ramp up and upgrade that project to what it is now. So hundreds of millions more as a result of its final approval which was yesterday.
JOURNALIST: Was the decision to ramp it up because of concerns about rising tensions in this region?
PRIME MINISTER: It goes back to the strategic update that I provided last year and of course the environment in which we're operating has been changing. That's well set out and that strategic update that is already available. So, it's the capabilities, the joint capabilities, the training facilities, the ability to simulate which involves bringing more people into the training arrangements that is necessary to meet the need. And the need changes and the plan changes and that's what this has done.
JOURNALIST: Does the build up in the north contribute to your objective of pursuing peace or is it sending a message to China that you're preparing for war, like some of the other ministers have said?
PRIME MINISTER: All of our objectives here through the activities of our Defence Forces are designed to pursue peace. That is the objective of our Government. That is the path that we are pursuing but to do that, in a region as uncertain as this, you need to ensure that you have the Defence capability that enables you to protect and defend Australia's interests in that region and this enables us to ensure there's an appropriate balance. And particularly in partnership with our United States allies to ensure we can promote an environment where peace will be the outcome.
JOURNALIST: Mike Pezzullo’s comments have made the front page of The Times in London. Did he overstep the mark and should he have run those comments past you?
PRIME MINISTER: I have just set out what the Government's policy is. I'll let others commentate on others.
JOURNALIST: You have members of your Cabinet though now making these drums of war type comments as well. I mean, Peter Dutton's comments on Saturday were very similar to those of Mr Pezzullo’s. Is it time for people to stop making comments that could be seen as inflammatory or whipping up or sabre rattling?
PRIME MINISTER: I wouldn't draw the same conclusions you have. I think I have set out what the Government's purposes and I know that's strongly supported by both the Defence Minister, who has simply made the point about ensuring we have appropriate capability and that's the Defence Minister's job, to ensure we have that capacity to deal with any matter of scenarios and that’s what these training environments provide for. That's why you invest $747 million to ensure that your Defence Forces have the best training environments possible to build their capabilities to keep Australians safe.
JOURNALIST: Given Mike Pezzullo’s recent comments and also the uncertainty that you just mentioned in the region, do you think that the spending should expand beyond the 2 per cent level that you just mentioned?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it already has.
JOURNALIST: How much further do you think it should go?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we, in our Government, we will always do what is necessary to ensure Australia has the capability it needs to protect and defend its interests. That has been our approach. When we came to government in 2013, Defence spending as a share of our economy had fallen to pre-Second World War levels. That was a disgrace. It was shameful that we would leave our Defence Forces in Australia in such a state of lack of support. We have worked hard over these last seven years to ensure that we have raised that to 2 per cent and in fact we will now start exceeding that. So 2 per cent is a floor, it's not a ceiling, and that is going to continue to be done to ensure that we can protect and defend Australia's interests. But we will do it also in a way that builds Australia's sovereign capability in our defence industries and Minister Price is doing an outstanding job there. It's not just about getting the kit, it's not just about getting the capability but it's ensuring that Australia has the ability to produce it and that's what we're seeing here in the Northern Territory, that's what we're seeing in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, right across to country, and this has been a job-generating investment. As I say, 2,000 jobs estimated here alone by our contractors and as I said part of an $8 billion investment over 10 years here in the Territory.
JOURNALIST: What about the lease of Darwin Port, is that still in the national interest? It’s got 90 years still to run with Landbridge Group. Is that one of the deals your Government is going to be looking at?
PRIME MINISTER: As you know, the lease of that Port was undertaken by the former Territory Government and it was not a lease that was approved by the Federal Government, it was not. That was not something that was subject to Federal laws at that time and indeed as Treasurer I made sure that in the future that such transactions would be subject to Federal approvals, and sought and received agreement from all the state and territory treasurers at the time. If there is advice from the Defence Department or our security agencies that change their view about the national security implications of any piece of critical infrastructure. We have legislation now which is dealing with critical infrastructure. Then you could expect me as Prime Minister to take that advice very seriously and act accordingly.
JOURNALIST: Have you got that advice yet?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: DFAT’s previously said that it falls outside the scope of that legislation. Are you looking at other alternatives for...
PRIME MINISTER: No, I was talking about critical infrastructure legislation which is different to the foreign. They're different pieces of legislation.
JOURNALIST: If I can just finish my question. I just wondered if the Government is looking at alternatives, for example, looking at clauses in the current contract so see if perhaps it could be voided without the financial implications...
PRIME MINISTER: That presupposes a piece of advice from our defence and intelligence agencies.
JOURNALIST: Is that what they're looking at?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm just saying that’s what it presupposes and there is not anything before the Government that would make that recommendation.
JOURNALIST: The NT Government has requested to take control of the Howard Springs facility and that has created quite a bit of anxiety in the local community. Do you have confidence in the NT Government being able to manage the facility and contain a potential outbreak of COVID beyond the facility?
PRIME MINISTER: We have worked carefully through these arrangements with the Northern Territory Government and we have had a great partnership with the Northern Territory Government. I have often referred to the Northern Territory Government as being the model jurisdiction in the way they have managed COVID here in the Territory and the hot spot arrangements they've put in place I have commended as the model for the rest of the country. Not always taken up, I should stress, but I do think the way they flexibly and been very adaptive in the way they've managed things here, we have worked together to establish this Howard Springs facility. And I think one of the great jobs that was done by the Government here was with the way they did engage with the community right from the outset in getting this right. So as they take on new responsibilities under these arrangements as the national resilience centre expands then we wouldn't have entered into those arrangements were our expert advisers and medical experts not comfortable with those arrangements.
JOURNALIST: Can you confirm that you’ve abandoned the aged care levy and that the Treasurer was opposed to the idea?
PRIME MINISTER: The Budget is in May. So all decisions taken by the Government are taken together and I can assure you that the Treasurer and I always move as one.
JOURNALIST: In terms of AstraZeneca, given the small risk of serious side effects from AstraZeneca, isn't your job to balance up the risk-adverse advice from ATAGI and keep Australians confident in the vaccine?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll leave the matters that relate to the medical advice to the medical experts and the work of ATAGI has been doing its job in terms of keeping Australians well advised. When we were advised of things by ATAGI, I and the Health Ministers or the Chief Health Officer or the Secretary of Health have been very quick to report these matters to the public and to ensure if there is any discrepancies that they're reconciled as quick as possible between the various expert bodies that are making any recommendations. I think that's what's important for there to be confidence. I think our medical experts and medical advisers, I think, have been very transparent and I think as clear as they possibly can be. I think the daily release of information on the vaccination program, the regular updates that are provided by the Commodore but as well as those running the logistics but also on the medical side of things through the Chief Medical Officer have been very helpful.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible] stop flights into Howard Springs because it doesn't appear to have been the medical staff in there. They already are dealing with lots of people from flights from India with COVID positive?
PRIME MINISTER: It was based on our own medical advice.
JOURNALIST: From your Committee that you have, your Federal committee?
PRIME MINISTER: It was based on the advice of the Chief Health Officer.
JOURNALIST: Wouldn't he take the advice from the people running facilities about whether they can deal with the cases coming in?
PRIME MINISTER: At the end of the day, I look to my Chief Medical Officer at a Federal level to advise the Cabinet on these decisions.
JOURNALIST: Just on that topic, the Territory Government did say it urged for this to happen because of the…
PRIME MINISTER: The Northern Territory Government were very supportive of the decision that we took.
JOURNALIST: Because of feedback from local health professionals and the pressure being placed.
PRIME MINISTER: What basically had happened is we had a very significant increase in the ratio of positive cases in the Howard Springs facility, particularly tied to the recent repatriation flights out of India.
JOURNALIST: How much under pressure was the Territory's whole system?
PRIME MINISTER: And what that means is that put it into a red level where no other states were in that situation and that means that in that situation you have to revise the potential flow of cases into that facility. That would be true in any state and territory were that occurring. So the Chief Health Officer and other medical advisers have clear parameters that they use to assess this risk and where steps need to be taken. We listened to that medical advice and we followed it.
JOURNALIST: Last week the Chief Minister said no flights in May and now that appears to have changed, from the 15th of May we could possibly have flights. Was that pressure from the Federal Government and the fact that you're paying the Northern Territory half a billion dollars have anything to do with that?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I think you're reading a bit too much into that. What we agreed yesterday as a National Security Committee of Cabinet was that we would suspend those flights into the Northern Territory as well as into New South Wales where the direct flights occur until the 15th of May and then we would review the situation prior to that and make any further decisions at that time. I need to stress that we've worked very, very closely with the Northern Territory Government here, and I appreciate that working relationship that we have with the Chief Minister. We're in quite regular contact with each other. We have been over the course of this past year and longer. As I am with the other premiers and chief ministers. Australians quite rightly expect me to work very closely with the premiers and the chief ministers and that's exactly what we're doing here, and this national resilience facility that we've been able to establish here with the support of the Northern Territory Government, half a billion investment from the Commonwealth, means that we have a well-equipped facility to bring Australians home. It will expand from 800 to 2,000. It is within close distance of a major capital city airport and tertiary hospital. These are the key criteria that you look for when establishing a facility of this kind and we decided to expand the facility here because of its success to date. You can't be complacent about these things. It's true that there has not been a single breach from the Howard Springs facility. But that said, across the network, the success rate of containing breaches in the hotel quarantine network is 99.99 per cent. Now, I'd say that's a pretty impressive stat, and we're looking to keeping that in place. Here in Howard Springs, it's been 100 per cent. But, you know, we've got to stay very careful, and we've got to stay on it to ensure that we maintain that level. So thanks very much everyone. Appreciate your time. Thank you.
Port Arthur 25-year Anniversary
28 April 2021
25 years today. Yet it still seems like only yesterday our hearts were shattered on that terrible Sunday.
28 April 1996. Port Arthur.
35 innocent people taken from us. 23 more wounded in that heinous and cowardly act.
To call to mind the names of those who died is heart-breaking.
Victims as young as 3 and as old as 72.
Among them “a lovely, devoted couple”.
“The happiest girls in the world”.
An “adored Nanna”.
A “humble man” who “simply wanted to serve.”
And a woman who “brought joy and warmth to all who knew her.”
Today we remember and send our love to all those who still bear the scars of that terrible day. The families and friends of those who died; the injured, the survivors, the first responders and all those who witnessed and were impacted by the unspeakable horror of that day.
We remember the incredible bravery and selflessness as well - the family members who sought to shield and protect others.
We pay tribute to the strength, resilience and courage of the local Tasmanian community and to all those who could never forget but still found a way to heal.
We look to the light that was found from the darkness of that day. Light like the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, which Walter Mikac named for his two daughters he lost that day, and which is dedicated to keeping children safe from violence and bullying.
We also give thanks for the courageous response to this terrible event by former Prime Minister John Howard and former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Tim Fischer, supported by then Leader of the Opposition Kim Beazley, who put in place some of the strongest gun laws in the world today, that have served to keep Australians safe.
May Walter, and all the families of the victims taken from us that day, be comforted and renewed on this day.
Flights from India Now Paused as Australia Sends Emergency Medical Supplies
27 April 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women
The Morrison Government has agreed a number of new measures to protect Australians from the increased risk of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, while also providing significant new support to assist the Indian Government in their humanitarian response.
We recognise the challenging COVID-19 crisis that India is currently battling and we stand ready to provide more support to our friends in India and Indian Australians during this difficult time.
On advice from the Chief Medical Officer, India has been determined to be a high-risk country for the purposes of travel arrangements.
Australia will implement a temporary pause on direct passenger flights between India and Australia for two weeks, with consideration of further flights to be made by 15 May 2021.
Passengers on all future flights will be required to have both a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result and a negative Rapid Antigen test result prior to taking off.
Once flights restart, the Government will prioritise the return of vulnerable Australians. Already almost 20,000 registered Australians have returned from India since the pandemic began.
Restrictions have been placed on outbound travel exemptions to high-risk countries to strictly essential travel only (national interest, medical exemption and COVID-19 purposes).
For indirect flights through Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), the Government is aware that flights to and from these transit points and India have been paused by respective governments.
As a close friend and comprehensive strategic partner, Australia stands with India as it battles a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Following consultation with the Indian Government, Australia will provide emergency medical supplies.
The initial package of support includes rapid deployment of 500 non-invasive ventilators, with capacity to deploy up to a total of 3,000 ventilators.
Our Government is also supplying a significant package of personal protective equipment (PPE), including one million surgical masks, 500,000 P2/N95 masks, 100,000 surgical gowns, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves and 20,000 face shields.
The Government has agreed to commence procurement of 100 oxygen concentrators, along with tanks and consumables.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will manage the movement of PPE and equipment over the next week.
Our Government is standing with Australians in India and we recognise the difficulties they face. The Hardship Program and Consular Support continues to be available to Australians in India.
The current restrictions will be under regular review, as we look to find a solution for those seeking to return to Australia.
Doorstop - Taren Point, NSW
23 April 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for the Environment
PRIME MINISTER: Welcome to the Shire, everybody. It’s nice for once to be welcoming you all to my home, my electorate, and particularly welcoming Sussan Ley as the Minister for the Environment, in particular, here to the Shire, to the electorate of Cook. I’m here today because last night, I joined with leaders of nations from around the world and I thank President Biden again for his initiative in bringing us all together to focus on the significant challenges that we have ahead as the world moves towards net zero and carbon and that is where we’ll be making our contributions and the role we’ll all be playing along that process. I mean, that is where the world is going and Australia is going there also. There are many opportunities that are there for Australia, particularly as I said last night, and when it comes to the hydrogen valleys we can be developing all across the country and with the measures that I announced earlier this week with Minister Taylor. These technological opportunities, even here in my local electorate today, I was visiting with one of my local manufacturers and sheet metal workers. They are also now investing in how they can be bringing hydrogen power into their own businesses. So this is the fuel of the future and Australia is very well placed.
Last night I made a pretty important point and that is that the world won't thank us for the promises we make, the future will not thank us for the promises that are made. The future will thank us for the delivery of our key commitments, it will thank us for the work we actually do, for what we actually get done. And on that front, Australia is very proud of what we are achieving. Our emissions have fallen by 19 per cent since 2005. Many countries making commitments last night can't speak of that performance and can't speak of having met and beating their Kyoto targets and on track to beat our Paris targets, investing some $20$nbsp;billion over the next decade, leveraging around $80$nbsp;billion of investment in the technologies that will make our future one where we can engage with the new economy of the world. So staying on that front foot, we are no stranger to these things, we are no stranger to the commitments, we are no stranger to the achievement of those commitments which ultimately is what matters at the end of the day. Australia, we have our plan. We are working to our plan in Australia's national interest. We have unique challenges here in Australia with the structure and size and complexion of our economy as well as the amazing habitats, whether they be in sort of the ocean environments and coastal environments where we are today, or those in the desert country right across the far reaches of our continent. We are dealing with those and we are addressing those and we are doing it in a way that the rest of the world does take interest in and learn from with our great scientists, but I've also got to say our great industrialists. It is the industrialists and pioneers and the entrepreneurs that will be making the way forward with new technologies. We will reach our commitments through technology. We won't be doing it by taxing our industries and jobs out of our country. We believe that we can continue the transition path that we are on, not just keep the jobs but add to those jobs, whether it is here in southern Sydney or up in the Pilbara or up in Gladstone or down at Devonport, or wherever you might be around the country.
Of the many commitments that we’ve already made in this area, last night I alluded to another and that is the $100 million additional that we will be investing in our oceans policy that will be particularly addressing the challenges of blue carbon. Here across the great blue Pacific as it is known amongst the Pacific family, we have great opportunities through the works we are doing in our ocean environment, to make significant progress when it comes to managing emissions. I don't know if you know, but Edith Cowan, a recent paper research has found that Australian seagrass, mangrove and salt marshes absorbed 20 million tons of carbon dioxide each year which remains locked up in their soils for millennia. Now, that is about the same as the annual emissions of more than 4 million vehicles. Damage to these ecosystems is causing some 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide to be released back into the atmosphere each year and a result of many different things, including impact of weather, climate change and human development. And to conserve and foster high impact investment in this vital resource, we need to measure its impact. So the initiatives we are announcing here today which Sussan will take you through specifically are all about how we manage these amazing wetland areas, our coastal environments. Australia is the island continent and how we manage our ocean environment, particularly on our coasts, these mangrove environments are often referred to the lungs of the ocean. Some might even call them the liver of the ocean in the cleansing impact they have in our oceans environment. And so Australia is leading the world in this and countries in the Pacific and South East Asia are turning to Australia for the science and research and ability to manage these incredibly sensitive environments. But they are a big part of the answer. Everything we do here ensures that we not only create jobs and those projects, but ensures we are able to save jobs in many other parts of the country in our regional areas as we continue to challenge and go down the path that we are on towards a net zero economy.
With that, I will hand you over to Sussan.
THE HON. SUSSAN LEY MP, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Thank you very much, Prime Minister, and it is terrific to work with you as a Prime Minister who understands the oceans. The significance of our coastline, not just nationally but internationally. Today's $100 million package continues your leadership set last year, particularly around plastics in the ocean. But there it is more that we are doing, continuing with that work today. And as President Biden said, oceans equals climate and climate equals oceans. The oceans are critical to the fight against climate change. And here in your part of the Sutherland Shire and thank you, Gloria, civil engineer, project manager who has just taken us up and down this restored area, we can write this large around Australia’s coastline. In fact, we are already starting to do that. But this package will allow us to demonstrate further that having the second biggest network of marine parks in the world but I would argue the best managed marine parks, we can improve on that. We can showcase that management when it comes to sustainable fisheries and conservation. We can work on blue carbon solutions. And while blue carbon has become something of a buzzword, it is critically important, as I said in the fight against climate change.
So if you consider the oyster reefs that were once all along our coastlines, between them and the seagrass, the mangrove and the salt marsh, you have one interconnected ecosystem that stores four times as much carbon as terrestrial ecosystems. But we need to work harder on the methodology and part of this package will do that. It will allow blue carbon accounting so that we can calculate exactly how much carbon you can store in these systems and bring it to life. We will work with our Pacific family, as the Prime Minister said, on projects that make a difference to the work and the undertakings that mattered to them. And marine conservation is so important. We host marine migratory species, like turtles that travel all over the world. Part of this package will tackle invasive species. If you think of pigs along the coast of Cape York, digging up turtle eggs and smashing them. If you think of islands that have got feral cats and foxes and that in turn damages the island and marine habitat. Part of this package will tackle that. And just to come back to the turtles, because the turtles in Australia are endangered. They come out of their eggs on beaches all around our coastline, particularly our northern coastline and they travel all over the world. They are distracted by light. Not that many of them make it but we want as many as possible to be absolutely part of that marine environment.
So, whether it's turtles, or hammerhead sharks, or the humpback whale, which is coming back in numbers, or the migratory shore birds. As we have seen here, the Eastern curlew lands here. But it starts its journey in the Arctic in many cases. So being able to go to these migratory shore birds on our mud flats and understanding why they need the sea grasses so they can fatten up for that long journey home is absolutely vital. So, whether it's blue carbon accounting in a technical sense or whether it's preserving our marine species, but every single one of these initiatives in this $100 million is recognising the role of our coastal communities. This brings back jobs. It brings back recreational fishers, because when you have a pristine environment like this, the fishers are out here, the tourists are coming, there is a buzz in the cafes. People who walked along this walkway today remember how it used to be will just go wow, the coastline is coming back. So I'm delighted Prime Minister, to be of course here in the Sutherland Shire but to be recognising your strong leadership in oceans.
PRIME MINISTER: Let’s take some questions on the initiatives and happy to take any other matters.
JOURNALIST: The conservation group Sea Shepherd, they have welcomed this announcement. They have also said they would like to call on the Government to shut off the Great Australian Bight from any further fossil fuel projects? Is that something that will be happening?
PRIME MINISTER: Those projects, to the best of my knowledge right know, there are no projects pressing there. There were some before the last election and those have already been dealt with. So what we're focused on with this announcement today is how we can use the blue carbon initiatives that actually address our emission reduction targets. It's a huge part of what we're trying to do. When you think about reducing emissions, people often think about how they use electricity or how we produce electricity or they think of coal-fired power stations or things like that. But that's not what it's only about. The emissions that come and then can be captured in places like these, very sensitive environments, all around the country, you just think about how much coast there is in Australia and what that is in terms of an opportunity for us to manage that environment effectively, that can help us achieve what we're seeking to achieve with the transition of Australia into a global net zero economy. And so today is really about focusing on that, on that challenge, and that's why we're here today and focusing on these particular environments.
JOURNALIST: Last night, I believe, you said that for Australia it is not a question of if or even by when for net zero but importantly how.
PRIME MINISTER: Correct.
JOURNALIST: Why don't you think it matters when Australia reaches net zero given that climate scientists agree?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I have said we want to do it as soon as possible, preferably we’d like to do that by 2050, potentially could be done earlier. But the how decides when you get there. I've heard a lot of people make a lot of commitments in this area, and I've heard it from countries that frankly haven't had any reduction in their emissions. I have heard it from countries whose emissions are still rising. But how we actually achieve it will determine when we achieve it. And that's why I said last night that one of the most important targets that Australia has is to be able to produce hydrogen at $2$nbsp;a kilo. If we can achieve that, if we can achieve that, that will be one of the biggest game changers there is in the energy economy. I mean, hydrogen can be used to drive vehicles. I mean, up there in the Pilbara at the moment, they are putting them in the mining trucks. It can be used through the catalytic process that I was seeing earlier this week to drive the turbines that currently are fired by, in coal-fired power stations. I mean, how you do it actually shows you how you get to the end of it. See, it's not enough if Australia continues to make the progress that we're making. To address the global challenge, then we need commercial technologies that are going to transform how the economies of China operate, of how India operate, how Indonesia operates. I thought one of the most significant contributions last night was from President Widodo. I thought he had a very practical outlook on this, and he's not interested in extra taxes on borders to shut out economies. What he wants to do is work with countries like Australia where we have a great partnership to develop these technologies and ensure that they can transform their industries. So the how is what this is all about. And the how is not just being done by governments. The how is being done by entrepreneurs. It's being done by businesses who are investing. It's being done by scientists. It's being done by practical people, solving practical problems, to ensure that we can keep making things, creating jobs, and looking after and enhancing our standard of living. Not just in Australia, but in developing countries all around the world. So, the path we're on is a shared path with the developing economies of the world, but particularly in our region. And that's why we're so focused on the how. Because if you don't know how, you'll never know when.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister on that point though, at the Summit last night Xi Jinping said developed nations need to increase their ambitions with respect to targets, pitching in more to help with developing countries. Given that China is the biggest emitter and the second biggest economy in the world, do you think it's right that it is classed as a developing nation from a climate perspective and should they be held to a greater account?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the globe doesn't recognise the accents or nationalities of emissions. Carbon emissions, methane emissions, they don't have an accent, they don't have a nationality. They all have the same impact. And for a truly global problem, then that's how you have to address it. Now, I made the comment several years ago that when it comes to these things, in particular, but more broadly, when you have countries the size of the United States and their economy, but particularly China, where they continue to build coal-fired power stations every week, and the emissions will continue to rise until 2030, those emissions combined will add significantly to the carbon load that the world will be dealing with over the next 30$nbsp;years. My point about this, though, comes back to technology again. If we expect developing economies to change what they are doing, then we have to be able to deliver the commercial technology that enables them to make that change. That is not going to come because some politicians sit in a room and say some things. It is going to happen when Australia can present to an industrialist in Indonesia or Malaysia or in Vietnam or in China, or in India, and say, ‘You can do exactly what you're doing in this plant with this hydrogen catalyst and this technology and you can employ everyone you're looking to employ and you can make the steel you're looking to make, or the aluminium, or whatever it might happen to be.’ That is the answer here. The answer is technology, not taxes. And here in Australia where the load for this challenge in the past has often been wanted to be forced on to regional Australians, and for their industries to be taxed off the planet, I'm not going to be doing that. The plan that we're pursuing on climate change, the plan that we're pursuing to adjust and to participate in the big change in the global economy to a net zero economy, is being done through technology. Because if you do it through taxes, as I noticed one large economy last night, who made a big commitment – very big commitment, it was 45$nbsp;per cent reduction by 2030 – they've also announced $170$nbsp;per tonne carbon price. I won't be doing that in Australia. I will be getting there by technology, not taxes.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, will you have an update on the climate target before Glasgow?
PRIME MINISTER: I indicated last night that we were reviewing all those at the moment. We're going through that process and when we have more to say about that, we will.
JOURNALIST: Can I just ask you on hotel quarantine, Prime Minister, there's a couple of the premiers who are starting to get itchy feet around arrivals from India. You made a commitment yesterday – would you consider upgrading that to a full suspension of flights?
PRIME MINISTER: The only place where there are direct flights to Australia from India are to Sydney. We have already agreed and are working with the New South Wales government on reducing the capacity on those flights by 30$nbsp;per cent and if a state government wants to do more than that, then we will work with them to that end. In the Northern Territory, we're rescheduling what were the flights out of India. So that means that will significantly reduce the load up there in the Northern Territory. If we need to go further there, they are the discussions I am having directly with Chief Minister Gunner. We are all working on the same page there. There are only two airports in the country where direct flights come from India.
As we discussed yesterday, and that's why we agreed to what we did yesterday and there was unanimity on this point from all premiers and chief ministers yesterday, that where we have people who are coming in from India, which we know is a high-risk country – as I said yesterday, the percentage of cases in our quarantine of those who have come from India has gone from 10$nbsp;per cent to 40$nbsp;per cent. That's a serious issue we have to address. Now, the largest element of that is in the Northern Territory and in Sydney, as you'd expect, because that's where the direct nights come. So that's why we're addressing those principally. But we also agreed and we're putting this in place now, that if someone has been in India in the past fortnight, and if they’re coming through a transit country, then they will have to have a PCR test in that country 72$nbsp;hours before departure. That will I think put a brake, a filter, on those who are getting on the flights, whether it is Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or perhaps in Doha or other parts where people are coming through. So, it's not a simple matter of just saying people from India can't come to Australia, because they are not coming directly from India, they are coming through other places. And so that's what we're working to put in place. That's what we agreed to do yesterday as a National Cabinet and so we're working hard to implement that agreement. If there is further action, not just in relation to India, because yesterday we agreed this not specifically about India, but in other cases where there are countries that we consider to be very high-risk. So it's about managing all these risks. I should stress this also though, that is the total number of cases in quarantine, albeit that a proportion of those that have originated from India, the total number of cases that are occurring in quarantine are about the same they have been all year. So, we haven't seen a spike in the number of total cases over that period of time. There's been a slight increase in the last week or so. So the quarantine system is not failing because of that at this point. So we need to put in place the risk management that protects it going over the next few weeks and the pandemic is raging around the world and I don't expect this to be the last time when we have to make such a decision.
JOURNALIST: Just back to Glasgow quickly.
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
JOURNALIST: It is possible that you will go to Glasgow without setting a new target? Is that a possibility?
PRIME MINISTER: When I go to Glasgow, which is what I hope to do, assuming we can all go to Glasgow, then we will be making the statements that we will be making there. And so when we're in a position to do that, that's where we will make them.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, we have seen 18$nbsp;new cases in hotel quarantine in New South Wales in the past 24$nbsp;hours. How confident are you in the hotel quarantine system? And obviously at this stage it would be preferable to be further along with the vaccine rollout in case there were any leaks from hotels.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we will soon reach on the vaccination program a million Australians vaccinated by GPs. And so the enlistment, as was always the plan, of the GPs in the vaccination rollout, has just been going from strength to strength. The numbers going through, as I said, including my mum yesterday, focusing the AstraZeneca on those over 50s, ensuring that we have the available Pfizer doses focusing on those under 50, particularly those in those urgent categories, which are being administered by the state and territories. So I think the partnerships there are really starting to kick in now and we welcome that. Let's understand that while there have been occasions where quarantine has seen some break-outs, of course there has been, no system is completely foolproof. But I must say, particularly here in New South Wales, where they have carried the lion's share of arrivals coming back into Australia, three times what has been done in WA or in Queensland when they were operating at a thousand, they are half rates at the moment. Even Victoria, which has a lot more capacity, is still only doing a third of what New South Wales does. I think the New South Wales quarantine system has proved equal to all those tests and has kept people here in New South Wales very safe and our quarantine system, working with the states and territories because, remember, the quarantine is a function of the public state health orders, and that's how we agreed to do that a year ago at National Cabinet, just more than that actually. And so they are enforcing their own state public health orders. When you look around the world and how we're living in this country today, how are we going to live this weekend and how are we going to come together on Anzac Day in a couple of days' time, in a very different way to what we did last year, a very different way. And that's going to be, I think, a very special and moving moment for the country. One of the many reasons we can do that, not just the shutting of our international borders, but is the way the quarantine has been managed. Not always perfect, but I’ve got to tell you, compared to the rest of the world it rates extremely highly.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you’re happy to be back in the shire. There was traffic, it’s horrendous around here at the moment. There was a project that you announced up at Kirrawee just before the election, it is still nowhere to be seen. What's happening?
PRIME MINISTER: It is in the design phase with the state government. We're expecting, I'm told, we expect progress on that on the ground next year. It's one of the many, many projects that are part of the urban congestion program. After the election, we went, because they were election commitments at that time, they went into the process where we were sitting down with state and territory governments and that's what we have been doing here with the New South Wales government and so they are doing that design work and now in consultation with the local community. I know one thing as a local member, when you do those projects, you want to make sure you get them right. A lot of people have an opinion on that intersection. I have gone through it many times myself. So we are getting that right. And here in the Shire I know that people have been pleased to see the works that we have rolled out. We have a great partnership with the local council here, the Sutherland Shire Council and the state government. We are getting a lot of things down here in the Shire, in St. George, and area where the Cook electorate focuses. And it is just wonderful to be home. So this is a very special part of the world. But for me and my family, it is the most special place in the world. So thank you, all, very much for your time today.
Australia Announces $100 Million Initiative to Protect Our Oceans
23 April 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
The Morrison Government will make an additional $100 million investment to continue leading the world and our region in how we manage our ocean habitats and coastal environments and contribute to the global task of reducing emissions.
As the world’s only island continent, Australia has always understood that how we manage our oceans and coastal environments will determine the success or failure of our world’s efforts to address climate change. That is why we have been leading the world in taking action in this important area.
The investment package will target ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems that involve seagrass and mangroves playing a key role in drawing carbon out of the atmosphere. The package will also support Australian Marine Parks, expand the Indigenous Protected Areas into Sea Country and protect marine life.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia’s oceans economy not only supported 400,000 jobs and was projected to contribute $100 billion each year, but would also be key to Australia’s role in driving down emissions.
“Our oceans are part of the lifeblood of our economy and this investment will secure those jobs and the important role our oceans can play in our efforts to cut emissions,” the Prime Minister said.
“The climate and the planet’s oceans are inextricably linked. This investment is a major contribution to domestic and international efforts to build healthier oceans and combat climate change.
“Our oceans are part of our national identity and critical to the daily lives of millions of Australians. Around 85 per cent of our population lives within 50 kilometres of the coast so every Australian understands the vital role our oceans play.
“This investment will boost the seagrass and mangroves that will help cut emissions and it’ll mean cleaner beaches, lower fisheries bycatch, more fish stocks, better protection for turtles and seabirds, and help for coastal and Indigenous communities reliant on the ocean for their livelihoods.”
Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley said, “The investment will see effective action that provides direct benefits to Australians through growth in the tourism, research and fisheries sectors, as well as deliver significant environmental outcomes.
“I am so proud to see Australia continue its leadership in oceans. This announcement keeps Australia at the forefront of global leadership in oceans and marine protection.
“The package will be delivered across four key areas of Australia’s oceans management, implementing on ground actions to support Australian Marine Parks, expand the Indigenous Protected Areas into Sea Country, restore blue carbon ecosystems and protect iconic marine species.”
$39.9 million will go towards reinforcing Australia’s position as a world leader in marine park management which includes:
$19.4 million to be delivered through two additional rounds of the successful Our Marine Parks Grants program which will create opportunities for industry, community organisations and Indigenous communities to further engage and connect with the management of Australian Marine Parks.
$15 million towards ocean discovery and restoration projects to help us understand more about our marine parks.
$5.4 million for steps to support the health and sustainability of the pristine waters around Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories.
$11.6 million will be delivered over two years to incorporate Sea Country in Indigenous Protected Areas in nine locations, to provide Indigenous communities with economic and employment opportunities.
$30.6 million will be invested in practical action to restore and account for blue carbon ecosystems. This will improve the health of coastal environments in Australia and around the region and export Australia’s internationally recognized expertise in ocean accounting, while boosting regional employment and enabling us to account for the value of these habitats as blue carbon repositories
Almost $19 million will go to four major on-ground projects restoring coastal ecosystems across the country, including tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses
$10 million will provide three major on-ground projects to assist developing countries in the region restore and protect their blue carbon ecosystems
Over $1 million will help to solidify Australia as a leader in ocean and natural capital accounting assistance – this enables us to understand and account for the environmental and economic benefits of protecting these critical ecosystems.
$18 million will target practical actions to protect iconic marine species, improve the sustainability of our fisheries through reducing bycatch and stimulate investment in our oceans
$10 million will deliver ocean health through at least 25 targeted projects to restore and protect threatened marine species, eradicate invasive species from our islands and restore coastal habitats.
$5 million will fund new and innovative measures to support the marine environment and sustainable fisheries through practical measures to avoid bycatch of threatened species
$3 million will support the roll-out of ocean accounting at a national scale
The package will create regional jobs, engage coastal and Indigenous communities and the private sector, deliver actions to improve environmental outcomes for species and ecosystems, and provide a clear pathway for working with all sectors to realise Australia’s ocean potential.
The Government has also committed a new $59.9 million to develop a high-integrity carbon offset scheme in our Indo-Pacific region.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the scheme would be modelled on the Government's successful Emissions Reduction Fund to stimulate investment in high-quality projects that deliver offsets that meet the requirements of the Paris Agreement.
“The Emissions Reduction Fund is one of the largest and most robust offset schemes in the world. We see an opportunity to work with our Indo-Pacific partners, and pass on the know-how and success of that program to reduce emissions and create jobs,” Angus Taylor said.
The investments are in addition to more than $1.1 billion the Morrison Government has this week announced it will invest in low emissions energy technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, and is in addition to the $18 billion of investment the Government is making alongside the Technology Investment Roadmap over the next 10 years to drive at least $70 billion of total new investment in low emissions technologies in Australia by 2030.
Cutting Emissions and Creating Jobs with International Partnerships
22 April 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
A series of new international technology partnerships are set to make low emissions technologies cheaper and drive investment in Australia-based projects that create jobs.
A new $565.8 million commitment by the Morrison Government in the 2021-22 Budget will help create up to 2,500 jobs by backing low emissions international technology partnerships and initiatives by co-funding research and demonstration projects.
The partnerships will leverage $3 to $5 of co-investment for every dollar invested and Australia is in discussion with potential partners that will build on our already strong relationships.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said technology partnerships were key to the world finding the solutions to the world’s climate challenges and creating new jobs and protecting jobs in heavy industries and regional areas.
“These partnerships mean Australia will keep leading the way in low emissions technology that also means more jobs here at home,” the Prime Minister said.
“The world is changing and we want to stay ahead of the curve by working with international partners to protect the jobs we have in energy-reliant businesses, and create new jobs in the low emissions technology sector.
“As we look to take advantage of these new export opportunities, we won’t look to reduce our own emissions by shutting down our existing export industries like agriculture, aluminium, coal and gas.
“Cheaper energy from new technology that meets our emissions reduction commitments means lower costs to businesses so they can keep employing Australians and grow jobs for the future.
“We’ll work closely with our friends and neighbours to play our part in the global effort to cut emissions through technology while driving economic growth, creating jobs and pushing down energy costs.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the world looked to Australia as a leader in new and emerging energy technologies.
“The five technologies prioritised under our Technology Investment Roadmap have the potential to substantially reduce or eliminate emissions from sectors that account for 90 per cent of global emissions,” Minister Taylor said.
“Getting new energy technologies to parity will enable substantial reductions in global emissions – in both developing and developed countries – and ensure countries don’t have to choose between growth and decarbonisation.
“But Australia won’t be able to make these technologies globally scalable and commercially viable all on our own.
“Rapid progress and innovation can be achieved when the world works together towards a common goal.
“We need to bring a laser-like focus and collaborative effort to accelerating the development of practical technology pathways.”
Today’s announcement will advance and support the goals of the Technology Investment Roadmap and facilitate deployment and export of home-grown low emissions technologies and energy.
Australia is already collaborating with our trading and strategic partners, including Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the UK and the US. This year, ahead of COP26, the Government will ramp up that collaboration.
Australia’s Special Adviser on Low Emissions Technology, Dr Alan Finkel, will play a key role in brokering new international partnerships.
Australia’s Technology Investment Roadmap is expected to guide $18 billion of Government investment over the next 10 years and drive at least $70 billion of total new investment in low emissions technologies in Australia by 2030. Our plan will support 130,000 jobs by 2030 and avoid in the order of 250 million tonnes of emissions by 2040.
National Cabinet Statement
22 April 2021
The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response and changes to the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions to the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
There have been 29,602 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 910 people have died. More than 16.4 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.
Globally, there have been over 143 million cases and sadly over 3 million deaths, with around 1.2 million new cases and more than 16,000 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine roll out continues to expand. To date, 1,785,698 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia. The number of administration sites has expanded, with 4,500 general practices as well as general practice respiratory centres and Aboriginal health services now administering COVID-19 vaccinations.
Today, National Cabinet received a briefing from Professor Brendan Murphy, Chair of the Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group, the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, Ms Caroline Edwards, Associate Secretary, Department of Health and Commodore Eric Young, CSC, RAN, Operations Coordinator, Department of Health Vaccine Operations Centre on the Vaccine Rollout Phases Implementation.
Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Strategy
National Cabinet agreed the imperative to work together to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to Australians as quickly as possible.
National Cabinet agreed to recalibrate the delivery model for the COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout Strategy, taking into account the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) medical advice on the use of AstraZeneca vaccines, and COVID-19 vaccine supply arrangements, by:
Limiting access to the Pfizer vaccine to:
People aged under 50 years eligible in phases 1a and 1b (pending commencement of subsequent phases);
Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) residents (through completion of the Commonwealth’s existing in-reach program):
Disability care residents with complex needs who require in-reach vaccination services;
People in remote and very remote communities where it makes sense to use a single vaccine for all or most of the community; and
In very limited circumstances, quarantine, border and frontline health care workers who are 50 years of age or over and not already vaccinated, where the relevant state or territory determines the worker should be fully vaccinated and protected as soon as possible.
Better utilising the available stock of AstraZeneca doses: by bringing forward access to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for phase 2a eligible people aged 50–69 years commencing with General Practice Respiratory Clinics (GPRCs) and state and territory COVID-19 vaccination sites from 3 May 2021 and General Practice (GP) clinics from 17 May 2021. Individual GP clinics who have the capacity to and wish to commence earlier than 17 May can apply to the Department of Health for access to this cohort earlier.
Increasing access to the Pfizer vaccine: by immediately opening state and territory-operated sites to eligible people, including under 50 year old aged care and disability care workers; and establishing a Pfizer mass vaccination plan, which includes state and territory mass vaccination sites and large GP and GPRC sites, to establish readiness for operations where demand exists and supply is available.
Maintaining the lead role for GPs in administering the AstraZeneca vaccine: as demand exists and supply permits, allocating more doses to GPs (including by re-allocating or re-directing doses allocated to states and territories, where it makes sense to do so).
Supplementing the role of GPs: with states and territories continuing to operate AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination sites and services where required to supplement the primary care network and immediately opening these sites to people aged 50 years and over and eligible in phases 1a and 1b.
Making better use of some vaccination sites: by permitting state and territory-operated vaccination sites (and other sites if clinically safe) to operate Pfizer and AstraZeneca services from one site, provided the site is large enough to allow for complete clinical separation of the two services.
States and territories can choose to incorporate community pharmacies (which were originally due to commence from Phase 2a) into their roll-out plans in rural and remote areas where there are no or limited other points of presence. National Cabinet agreed that the broader role of community pharmacies in the national rollout is deferred.
Revised COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout Strategy
National Cabinet agreed the revised COVID-19 vaccine national roll-out strategy which, in light of the age-based preferential Pfizer vaccine recommendation, adjusts the age cut-off for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people eligible in phase 1b to ‘50 years and over’ (down from 55 years and over) and expands eligibility in phase 2b to 16 and 17 year olds (now that Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for this age group and is approved for use in 16 and 17 year olds).
National Cabinet agreed to the implementation of the recalibrated delivery model through addendums to the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Implementation Plans, with Health Ministers to finalise and sign the addendums for noting by National Cabinet at a future meeting.
The Commonwealth will further contribute 50 per cent of the genuine net additional costs incurred by states and territories to set up additional COVID-19 clinics after 21 April 2021, where necessary to support the recalibrated delivery model. Funding arrangements will be finalised through the Council on Federal Financial Arrangements.
High risk countries
National Cabinet noted that there has been a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in many countries that are experiencing third and fourth waves.
National Cabinet agreed to place additional restrictions on Australian citizens and permanent residents seeking to enter Australia from high risk countries which are experiencing rapidly increasing COVID-19 outbreaks. The Commonwealth will work to establish a list of high risk countries. Going forward:
Anyone entering Australia who has been in a high risk country in the last 14 days before entering Australia and is transiting through a third country will need to return a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to entering Australia from the final point of embarkation.
The Commonwealth will further restrict outbound travel exemptions to high risk countries to strictly essential travel only.
To address the significant increase in COVID-19 positive case numbers in returned travellers from India, National Cabinet agreed to:
Reducing the number of passengers on Government facilitated flights into the Centre of National Resilience at Howard Springs for all flights departing India, until the rate of positive cases has decreased to acceptable levels.
An approximate 30 per cent reduction in passenger numbers for Australians returning from India on Government-facilitated flights during May 2021. In addition, four of the scheduled facilitated flights will be rescheduled from May to June 2021.
A 30 per cent reduction on commercial flights direct from India to Australia, as soon as it is practical.
In addition:
National Cabinet will seek advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) regarding the benefits of having aircrew vaccinated as a priority cohort.
The Commonwealth will seek Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) for Australians returning on direct flights from high risk countries.
National Cabinet will meet again on Friday 30 April 2021.
Jobs Boost From New Emissions Reduction Projects
21 April 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
New investments in clean hydrogen and carbon capture technologies are set to create around 2,500 jobs, support Australian industry and manufacturing into the future and further drive down Australia’s emissions.
The Morrison Government’s 2021-22 Budget will invest a further $539.2 million in new clean hydrogen, carbon capture, use and storage (CCS/CCUS) projects that will support Australian industry, create jobs, help cut emissions and drive investment.
$275.5 million to accelerate the development of four additional clean hydrogen hubs in regional Australia and implement a clean hydrogen certification scheme.
$263.7 million to support the development of CCS/CCUS projects and hubs.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the world was changing rapidly and Australia will need to be competitive in a new energy economy to support the jobs of Australians, especially in our heavy industries and regional areas that depend on affordable and reliable energy.
“It is essential we position Australia to succeed by investing now in the technologies that will support our industries into the future, with lower emissions energy that can support Australian jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“There is a strong appetite from business for the new emissions reduction technologies that they know will be needed to run their operations and keep employing Australians and grow jobs for the future.
“World-leading projects like these are about cutting emissions and creating jobs.
“We want to make clean energy more affordable and reliable, while looking for ways our investments can get more people into work.
“We cannot pretend the world is not changing. If we do, we run the risk of stranding jobs in this country, especially in regional areas.
“Australia can and will continue to meet and beat our emissions reduction commitments, while protecting and growing jobs, by commercialising low emissions technologies like hydrogen and CCS/CCUS, that can support our industries and critical economic sectors. And when we commercialise those technologies, they also create new jobs.
“Low emissions industries mean more jobs directly for workers, but also cheaper energy means lower costs to businesses that they can reinvest in hiring more people.
“Our technology-first approach will see Australia achieve its emissions reduction goals while continuing to grow our export industries and also supporting our trading partners’ efforts to decarbonise.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Government was backing practical, technological solutions to reduce emissions, not big new taxes.
“We are backing technology to meet our 2030 target and get to net zero,” Minister Taylor said.
“The Government’s investment will reduce technical and commercial barriers to deploying these technologies. It will encourage new large-scale investment from the private sector, creating jobs and supporting Australia’s economic recovery, particularly in regional areas.
“It's a tangible example of our commitment to being a low emissions technology leader and reducing emissions through technology not taxes, or imposing costs on households, businesses or the economy.
“Australia’s potential to supply our trading partners with low cost, clean energy and permanently and safely store emissions underground has our trading partners, including Japan, South Korea and Singapore excited.”
The Government is actively pursuing opportunities to collaborate on low emissions technologies with Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Australia’s Technology Investment Roadmap is a plan to create jobs, cut energy costs and reduce emissions.
The Roadmap will guide $18 billion of Government investment over the next 10 years and drive at least $70 billion of total new investment in low emissions technologies in Australia by 2030. Our plan will support 130,000 jobs by 2030 and avoid in the order of 250 million tonnes of emissions by 2040.
Investing in low emissions technologies will contribute to Australia’s continued success in meeting and beating our emissions reduction targets. Australia beat its 2020 target by 459 million tonnes and we are on track to meet and beat our 26-28 per cent 2030 Paris target.