Media Releases
Interview with Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic, Today Show
24 June 2021
Karl Stefanovic: PM, good morning to you. Thanks for your time this morning. Look, the situation in Sydney …
Prime Minister: Thanks Karl, thanks Ally.
Stefanovic: … is developing really fast, as we’ve seen on our show this morning. Health Minister Brad Hazzard is in isolation. It’s a big worry.
Prime Minister: Well, it is and it’s obviously very troubling. The pandemic is unrelenting, I mean, they’re inconsistent. The pandemic hasn't gone anywhere, the virus hasn't gone anywhere, and it continues to seek to strike where it can, not just here in Australia but all around the world. I mean, we had 27 people die in the United Kingdom yesterday from this virus. There were 12,000 new cases there, and I’ve just come from there. Here in Australia we continue to fight this thing and the way that we’ve been able to fight it here has been more successful than most countries around the world, but that doesn't mean we still don't have our challenges, and I’m very confident that the NSW Government, that has shown such strength and determination over the course of this pandemic, and the people of NSW, and particularly those in Sydney now, will work together to ensure they get through this latest challenge.
Allison Langdon: Well, that’s it, isn't it? I mean, you have praised the Premier for her handling of the pandemic. So has the world. In fact, we have on the show here. But is her policy of keeping things open potentially going to come back to bite her?
Prime Minister: Look, I don't believe so. The Premier and I spoke at some length yesterday and I’ve been keeping in contact over the course of this last week with the situation in NSW. I think the approach that she’s taking is the right one. There are sensible restrictions that are being put in place and they’re affecting people right across Sydney. My family is back in Sydney. I was talking to Jen and the girls last night and they’ll be obviously doing what everyone else in Sydney is doing. But everyone knows that to get out of this current situation we’ve got to follow those rules, and I have no doubt that the NSW Government will ease those restrictions the second they can. That’s always been their disposition and I think that encourages people, particularly in NSW, knowing that as soon as those restrictions aren’t necessary they will be lifted, because that’s what Gladys Berejiklian and her Government have always sought to do during the course of this pandemic.
Stefanovic: Are you surprised that NSW, or at least parts of it, haven't gone into lockdown?
Prime Minister: No, I’m not, because that has always been, I think, their determination through this process, where we go back to the situation earlier in the year, they didn't shut the whole city down ...
Stefanovic: This is different, though.
Prime Minister: … They focused on the Northern Beaches, and they’ve always had a very targeted approach to how they address these things, a hotspot approach, and, as you know, I’ve always been a big proponent of that hotspot approach. Now, there are hotspots in Sydney now. But the virus, we’ve got to remind ourselves, the virus has not gone away, and I know it’s incredibly frustrating that it hasn't gone away, but we’re not alone in that. And, you know, we are still in this fight with this virus. But despite that fight, our economy is stronger today than it was before the pandemic. There are more people in work today than there was before the pandemic. There are few countries in the world that can say that, and there is not one person in the country right now who’s in an ICU because of COVID-19. That is something most countries in the world also can't say.
Langdon: But, we’re still in a position where we’re seeing borders close and lockdowns across the country, so how much of this is on you and the slow vaccine rollout?
Prime Minister: Well, the vaccine rollout will hit 7 million doses this week. We’re at, just, two thirds of people aged over 70 have had their first dose. Around half of those over 50 have had their first dose, and more than one in four over 16 have had their first dose. The ramp up with the supply will really kick in next month in July. There'll be some 600,000 doses of Pfizer that will come in a week and that will ramp up, as General Frewen, who heads up the operation for the vaccine, that will be hitting over two million when we get into October. The challenge we’ve had, of course, has been with AstraZeneca. I mean, the medical advice has restricted its availability to those over 60, and prior to that over 50. Now, that was a big shock to the rollout and they are events outside of the Government's control. But thankfully we are able to put in place significant supply arrangements, not just with AstraZeneca, but also with Pfizer and Moderna. And of course there’s the Novavax and the COVAX facilities as well. So, we’ll keep working towards that goal, by the end of the year, of offering that vaccine to everybody who would want one and there will be an escalating ramp up as we move through the second half of the year.
Stefanovic: So Jacqui Lambie says the Government took the cheap option on vaccinations and it’s come back to bite you.
Prime Minister: Well, that’s rubbish. I mean, it’s $7 billion, that’s not cheap in anybody's language.
Stefanovic: Cheaper than Pfizer, though.
Prime Minister: $7 billion. No, I’m sorry, $7 billion in actually creating a manufacturing capability here for AstraZeneca, and then the purchase of some 40 million doses of Pfizer, and then on top of that the doses from Moderna and through the COVAX Facility and Novavax. I mean, the Commonwealth has invested over $310 billion in supporting Australia through this pandemic in health and economic measures. That’s more than twice what all the states and territories have done together combined, and more. So Australia has spared no effort in protecting the lives and livelihoods of Australians and, had we not, if we had the same death rate as countries around the world, like Australia, 30,000 more Australians would have died. I’d say that we’ve acted to save lives and livelihoods.
Langdon: Well, I mean, AstraZeneca’s going to be phased out in October, that’s the only one we can produce on home soil. You’re now reliant on international supplies. It puts us in a very vulnerable position, doesn't it?
Prime Minister: Well, we’re no different to most countries around the world. I mean those mRNA vaccines were a proprietary IP that was held in the United States and it can be manufactured in Europe. It’s not manufactured anywhere else. And so it’s important that we secured those supplies, and I’ve got to say the Pfizer supply deliveries have been consistent with their contractual arrangements. So, you know, we’re in the same boat as New Zealand. They don’t have a manufacturing capability there either for those mRNA vaccines. We’re all working to establish those. But let’s not forget, when we were talking a year ago - a year ago mRNA vaccines - indeed a vaccine for COVID, was almost science fiction. A year on they’re being dispensed around the world and Australia has millions of them going into the arms of Australians.
Stefanovic: Ok. In reality, it will be at least until the end of the year before the majority of Australians get their second vaccination, right? So …
Prime Minister: That was always the case, Karl.
Stefanovic: But, it does leave the majority of Australians in the meanwhile vulnerable to this variant. The rollout is that slow, those who have their vaccinations will probably need a booster shot by the time it rolls around for a second shot for some Australians, the way it’s going. If the public believes this rollout has been too slow, too mistake ridden, will it cost you the next election?
Prime Minister: That is the last thing on my mind, Karl. I’m just simply doing everything we can to save lives and livelihoods. And as I said, the record of where we are in this country - I mean, there were 14,000 cases in the UK yesterday, 14,000. They’ve got a vaccination rate of 81 per cent. You know, more than 20 people died in the UK yesterday. That’s not happening in Australia, and Australians understand that. And, so we’ll continue to ramp up the vaccination program. It had its challenges on the AstraZeneca vaccine because of the medical advice, and we’ve responded to that and we’ve ramped up the vaccination program. So it’s just important that we just get on with it, Karl. I’ll leave the politics to others.
Stefanovic: Ok. Look, it’s good to see, while you’ve been away, the cat has been playing. Barnaby is back. He’s kind of like a pebble in your RM William boat, isn’t he Prime Minister? I mean, how are you going to control him?
Prime Minister: No, I’d describe him as a wind in the sails, a wind in the sails. Barnaby and I have worked together before ...
Langdon: Do you like him and can you work with him?
Prime Minister: Of course, we have before. I was Treasurer when he was Deputy Prime Minister before. Barnaby and I have sat around Cabinet tables for years. And, we’re both passionate about what we want to achieve for this country, and the Government's program, which has been, you know, making an enormous difference. I mean, just think about where we are. Unemployment rate in Australia is 5.1 per cent. I mean, while the pandemic has wreaked havoc around the world, when I sat around the G7 table only South Korea and Australia could say their economies were bigger now than they were before the pandemic, and the rest of the world is in astonishment that while they’ve had fatality rates like they’ve experienced overseas, Australia has been able to come through this pandemic to this state with losses that are dwarfed by those overseas. So Australia has done, Australians have done well, is really my point, Karl and Ally.
Stefanovic: Yep.
Prime Minister: Australia, and Sydneysiders are going to be doing well over the course of this next week, and we will get through it like we have every time. But we can't kid ourselves, this pandemic, this virus …
Stefanovic: Yep.
Prime Minister: … COVID-19 is out to cause damage, and we’re going to fight it, as we always have, with everything we’ve got.
Stefanovic: Having sailed a few times, wind when you’re on board a vessel can be a funny thing. It can be helpful, it can also be very destructive.
Prime Minister: This is going to get us where we need to go as a country.
Langdon: Where are you taking us?
Stefanovic: Well done on the sailing analogies.
Prime Minister: You’ll see.
Stefanovic: Good on you, PM. Thanks for your time today, appreciate it.
Prime Minister: Thank a lot Karl, thanks Ally, all the best.
Langdon: Thank you, nice to talk to you.
Interview with Neil Breen, 4BC
24 June 2021
Neil Breen: The Prime Minister has been in the Lodge. He's gotta self-quarantine because he was on G7 duties. He joins me on the line. Good morning to you, Prime Minister.
Prime Minister: Good morning Neil, how are you mate?
Breen: Good thanks, I'm well. While you've been in the Lodge working away, we've seen you on all you zoom calls and everything. You ended up with a new Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, known to be a bit of a maverick. And he's going to be asking plenty of things from the Federal Government or from yourself, the Liberal Party, is he going to cause you grief?
Prime Minister: No, look, Barnaby and I have worked together many times before. When I was Treasurer, he was the Deputy Prime Minister. We worked very well together. I mean, Barnaby is the Deputy Prime Minister, he forms part of the Government. He works alongside me in leading the Government and working through the cabinet process. That's how policies form. That's how decisions are made. The Government has a strong agenda. I mean, the key focus is to save lives and save livelihoods. And the economic performance that we're seeing at the moment where we've got more people in work today than before the pandemic and unemployment down to 5.1 per cent. And also the economy's growing again. It's roaring back. And that means that we've got a bigger economy today than we had before the pandemic. And when I was at the G7 overseas, I mean, there aren't too many countries that can say that.
Breen: Well, while that economy grows, we're going to need power. And The Nationals are talking about a new coal fired power station in Queensland at some stage and they're not happy with net zero emissions. I know that's not an actual policy of yours, but you've raised that. Is net zero emissions by 2050 going to be a rod around your neck?
Prime Minister: What we need to do is ensure that we continue to reduce emissions and Australia has cut emissions by 20 per cent since 2005. See, where a lot of other countries are talking about what they're going to do, Australia is already doing it. We've got the highest rate of rooftop solar in the world. We've got, you know, incredibly high rates of take up of renewables in Australia and investments. So we're just getting on with it and getting it done. And what we're saying is that, you know, when we change towards this new energy economy, then you've got to do it through technology, not taxes. And that's something that Barnaby and I strongly agree about. We're not going to get there by taxing Australians. We're not going to get there by shutting down industries. We're working on a plan and we'll work on that plan together. But it's not a plan to close things down. It's a plan to ensure that the jobs continue to grow in regional parts of the country, whether it's up there in Gladstone or in Townsville, right up north in Cairns or in the suburbs of Brisbane and out in Ipswich, where there's so much industry. So, you know, we're going to keep working on that plan. I mean, the world is changing and we've got to make sure that Australia is as successful in the new energy economy, as it has been in the old one.
Breen: This week in Queensland, it is very dear to our heart. Obviously, the Barrier Reef, we saw this recommendation from the World Heritage Centre and the advisory bodies. There's Chinese influence on those bodies about putting the Barrier Reef on the endangered list. But this morning, there's been many delegates to UNESCO from all over the world, who have been co signatories on a letter pretty much denouncing the findings of that. Australia is getting some support around the world for the fact that we believe China is trying to damage our reputation with the Reef.
Prime Minister: Well, the UNESCO process has been appalling and we've been busy talking to our friends. And the list of countries is quite extraordinary. Indonesia, Canada, the UK, France, Thailand, Hungary, Poland, Bangladesh, Philippines, Turkey, Spain. Joining us in highlighting that this process, you know, is not on. And then there's a proper way to do these things. We invest together with the Queensland Government, some $3 billion on reef science. It's one of the best managed reefs in the world, and sure, it's got challenges like sensitive environments all around the world does. But Australia does it better than anywhere else. And so we'll be making that case. And we really do think that this process has been absolutely appalling, quite different to when this issue was dealt with by UNESCO early on in our Government back in 2014, I think it was, Greg Hunt was the Environment Minister and we worked through that process and got the right outcome. But this process is a bit of a triumph.
Breen: Mark Killian will be reunited with his father Frans at Robina Hospital today. Frans is dying from pancreatic cancer. I know that you wrote to Mark Killian. The Queensland Government was slow to the party here, but you'll be happy that common sense has prevailed.
Prime Minister: Yeah, I am. I mean, these are incredibly heartbreaking cases. And we obviously enabled Mark to get into the country. And I thank the New South Wales Government as well, they were happy for him to be able to transfer out of their quarantine to get up there. And I'm pleased the Queensland Government has made that possible. I mean, at the end of the day, this was just about Mark and his family. And I'm very appreciative of the kind words Mark had to say about our role and my role in this. But at the end of the day, it was just the right thing to do. And when that happens, I'll seek to do it sort of quietly. And on this occasion, we've been able to get the right outcome.
Breen: Maybe only because you've got a little bit loud towards the end. Hey, I do want to ask you...
Prime Minister: You have got to.
Breen: That's right. That's right.
Prime Minister: It's much better if you don't have to go through that process and people can just work together to get the right outcome. I mean, that's just what should have happened a bit sooner.
Breen: Hey, just quickly, because I'm coming up to the 7.30 news, but Sydney's got some grief. We've got some border lockdowns again. Are we ever going to get out of this?
Prime Minister: Well, the pandemic, mate, is still raging all around the world and it still presents its challenges. And look, I just feel for the Queensland tourism industry. I hope, you know, they can get these border bans out of the way as quickly as possible. New South Wales will do, I think, a fantastic job getting on top of this as they've demonstrated time again, they haven't locked down Sydney, but they've got some additional restrictions in place which are sensible. But I know the Queensland tourism industry would be very much wanting to see people coming from Sydney, in particular for those school holidays. I mean, those tourism industry players that, you know, put up with so much, need that business. And we've been supporting that through everything, from our discount airfares programmes, which has been a real boon for domestic tourism in Australia. And so it's important that those restrictions get lifted as soon as they possibly can and that they're highly targeted. These blanket bans, that’s just going to hurt tourism businesses in Queensland. But, you know, public health decisions have to be made based on the health advice. But let's see if we can get things opened up as quickly as possible.
Breen: Okay, good stuff. Prime Minister, thanks for joining us from the Lodge. Enjoy State of Origin from lock down when Queensland makes it one-all. Bye.
Prime Minister: Good on you Neil, I'll be enjoying watching. There's a Queenslander here with me, as well, so it will be a rowdy night, I suspect.
Breen: Good.
Interview with Natalie Barr, Sunrise
24 June 2021
NATALIE BARR: Prime Minister Scott Morrison joins me now. Good morning to you. How concerned are you about the situation in Sydney?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, obviously concerned but also very confident in the ability of the NSW Government which they've demonstrated time and again in dealing with these situations. I think the restrictions they put in place are understandable and common sense, and I commend Premier Berejiklian for resisting going into a full lockdown. I think New South Wales and particularly Sydneysiders, my family is up in Sydney at the moment, going through the same thing, will do the things that are asked of them, as is always the case, I thank them for their patience. I thank them for working with the instructions of the State Government and once again, they’ll get through this like they always have.
BARR: It’s a nearly $200 million disaster for business though, off the back of a driver who was transporting international crews, who apparently wasn't vaccinated and apparently wasn’t wearing a mask. That's a real problem. Do you think those two things should be compulsory?
PRIME MINISTER: The vaccination for all those associated with quarantine work is a requirement, and the system on this occasion in these two areas, obviously that hasn't been met, and that's disappointing. But we’re talking about large numbers of people, hundreds of thousands of people have been coming through the system, and the virus is insidious and it will find those points of weakness, but I know the NSW Government will continue to double down on their processes. It's been a common issue that we've raised around the National Cabinet table, that was our first priority to get those working around quarantine vaccinated, but clearly on this occasion that was not met.
BARR: So the NSW Premier says we may not see such harsh restrictions if more people were vaccinated. I think we have about 3 per cent of Australians who have had those two doses. Why is our rollout speed so slow, and our supply so low?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’ll correct you on a couple of things. We've had two thirds of those over 70 have received their first dose, we've got about a half of Australians aged over 50 having their first dose, and more than one in four Australians aged over 16 have had their first dose. All residential aged care facilities have been provided with their first dose, and 99% have had their second dose. This week, we will hit 7 million doses, having been delivered. Obviously, early on in the program we were frustrated by two things, one was the non-delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines from overseas, several million of those in the first few weeks, and then on top of that, we’ve had two decisions from ATAGI that has significantly constrained the use of AstraZeneca now to those over 60. In the second half of the year, as General Frewen outlined yesterday, General Frewen is heading up the operation for the vaccination and we will see the doses that are available from July escalate significantly, and that will rise again in September, in October when the rest of the vaccines will become available. But obviously, the challenges around the ATAGI advice on AstraZeneca has had an impact over the last few months, but even that said Nat, 140,000 people yesterday had a dose of the vaccination, and that was a record day, so it continues to escalate and it continues to improve, and the supply continues to rise.
BARR: So, isn't it 3 per cent who have been fully vaccinated in Australia, though?
PRIME MINISTER: The reason I’d caution you in using that number is that it suggests if you've had your first dose, that you have no protection, and that's simply not true. And it would be wrong for people to think that the first dose doesn't provide you protection, because the scientific evidence shows it clearly does.
BARR: Ok, so if we go with that, we've had 6 million Australians who have had some form of vaccination.
PRIME MINISTER: 7 million.
BARR: Ok, 7 million.
PRIME MINISTER: We’re getting to 7 million, pretty close.
BARR: Ok, so that’s great. They’ve got some form of protection. America have got, what, 140 million, they are opening up, they’re in night clubs, we got the Foo Fighters performing in New York City. We have got states around Australia closing their borders and holidays ruined, and hundreds of millions of dollars of businesses in disarray today. What are we doing wrong, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: I'd offer you this comparison. In the UK today, we have got people dying every single day. In the UK, 12,000 cases a day, we had 27 deaths yesterday. They have a vaccination rate of 81 per cent on their first dose. Now, Australia has got not one person in ICU today because of COVID. If we’d had the same fatality rate of other countries around the world similar to ours more than 30,000 additional Australians would have died. Our economy is bigger today than it was before the pandemic hit, and we’ve got more people in work today before the pandemic hit. Now, that compares favourably to any other country around the world today. I've just got back from the G7, and the world is amazed at how Australia has been able to both keep, save lives and save livelihoods. In the United States and in the UK, it has been an absolute fatal calamity. That has not occurred in Australia. Yes, will get outbreaks from time to time Nat, and we will deal with those outbreaks, but it would be a mistake to think that if you get high rates of vaccination that you won't get cases. The UK is proving the exact opposite of that.
BARR: Yeah, no you’re right. We have done so well in this country and you know the death rate has been low, and it's been a remarkable achievement. But, I guess, now people are saying how do we deal with this interstate border situation, where everything is shut down on a whim, people’s plans are thrown into disarray and businesses are suffering. Do you think there needs to be a national approach to stop what's happened overnight here?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, when you have an outbreak, the States will seek on their own decision to ensure that does not spread to other states. And that should only be done for as briefly and as necessary as possible. This is why I commend the work of the NSW Government who haven’t gone to those levels of restriction, but I would add this caution. In Australia, we don’t have the virus at the rates that we have in other countries. I mean, if we were to take those steps that seem to be suggesting, we would have to be comfortable with 5,000 cases a day. Now, I don't think Australians would be happy with that. What we are doing is we are keeping our economy growing and we’re keeping people safe and we are doing that behind international borders, and I agree with you. We should keep Australia as open as possible behind those borders, but with virulent strains that are coming out of the developing world now, as the virus goes in to the developing world, and this is what we were discussing when I was over in Cornwall. The strains are unpredictable, the variance and their impact on future vaccines and all the rest of it is unpredictable. And once you let it in Nat, you can't get it out. And I'm not going to recklessly exchange places with countries in the rest of the world who are suffering from that problem where they’ve got people dying every day. That is not happening in Australia.
BARR: Ok, on an interstate basis, what is the point of being vaccinated, when you have got people being thrown out of states, you know overnight, when they're fully vaccinated?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we know at the present time, that people who are vaccinated can still pass on the virus. What the vaccination does is it prevents you from getting a serious illness. The key figure going forward will be is how many people are suffering serious illness, and that's what we are watching closely in the United Kingdom. The reason why the United Kingdom extended out their restrictions, was despite the fact they have a high level of vaccination, they were seeing hospitalisations from the new variant increase, and so we can't kid ourselves that this virus is not unpredictable, it is unpredictable. And we learn more about it each day, but equally it mutates and it causes new strains all the time. And so we have to deal with the information as we understand it and watch the experience in other places and have to take decisions that keeps Australians safe and protect lives and protect livelihoods. If the virus was riddling through our country Nat, we wouldn't have more jobs today than before the pandemic. Our economy wouldn’t be bigger today than it was before the pandemic. The only other country that sat around that table at the G7 Plus, that could say that was South Korea. So, Australia and South Korea has been able to protect their citizens from the deadly elements of this virus, and preserve our economies. And that's what we've got to keep doing to get the balance right. But, I appreciate the border issues are incredibly frustrating, of course they’re frustrating, that's the challenge of dealing with a global pandemic.
BARR: Ok, Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time today.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, Nat.
Australia and Solomon Islands Break Ground on Outpost
23 June 2021
Australia and Solomon Islands have held a ground-breaking ceremony in the Shortland Islands for the Western Border and Patrol Boat Outpost.
Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison said the ground-breaking marks the next phase of the Australia and Solomon Islands infrastructure and security partnership, with the commencement of a critical, multi-million Australian dollar infrastructure project to boost Solomon Islands border and maritime security.
“Australia is proud to be working closely with Solomon Islands to promote economic development and stability in the region, and strengthen and protect its Western Border,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“We share an enduring and close friendship and this joint project demonstrates the strong security relationship between our two countries, as bilateral security treaty partners.
“The project will boost Solomon Islands’ capacity to respond to natural disasters, deliver health programs in the Western Border area and provide a foundation for economic growth in the region.
“Together we are advancing this important project while adapting to the challenges and complexities of COVID-19. Australia looks forward to working together to progress technical aspects of the project over the coming months.”
Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare thanked Australia for the security partnership and described Solomon Islands and Australia as two nations not separated by the oceans but joined by the waves of peace, cooperation, prosperity and mutual respect.
“I was truly glad when Prime Minister Morrison offered to support the Government’s initiative to establish a Border and Patrol Boat Outpost,” Prime Minister Sogavare said.
“I must commend the steadfast support Australia has rendered in ensuring the safety and security of Solomon Islands. In fact, our friendship is one that is not only built on trust and friendship, but one that is cemented by our friendship and recognition of mutual understanding.”
The new facility will bring together police, customs and immigration officials in a single location to reinforce the security of Solomon Islands’ Western Border and promote peaceful cross-border movements.
It will also deliver new facilities to coordinate operations, accommodation, and a wharf capable of supporting RSIPV Taro and Gizo, Solomon Islands’ Guardian-class Patrol Boats, and Australian-gifted fast boats.
Solomon Islands has chosen Lofung South in the Shortland Islands as the location for the Outpost. Construction will take up to three years. Engineers will conduct technical site investigations in the coming months on land and at sea, with the main works expected to commence in 2022.
Australia and Solomon Islands continue to work together to ensure that our Pacific home remains secure, stable and prosperous.
Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB
21 June 2021
BEN FORDHAM: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has had a busy couple of weeks. He's been flying around the world for the G7 and other conversations as well. He's now back on home soil. He's in quarantine at the Lodge. Prime Minister Scott Morrison's on the line. PM, good morning to you.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Ben.
FORDHAM: Good to be back?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, yeah, I mean, like everybody comes back, you do your two weeks quarantine. So I'll get to see Jenny and the girls in a couple of weeks. But plenty, plenty going on between now and then.
FORDHAM: There's a stack of support for Australia's position on China, a reminder that when push comes to shove, we've got lots of friends in high places.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we do have important partners and allies, but we can't take it for granted. And that's why the meetings were critically important for Australia. And we've got to stand up for Australia. And there are a lot of countries that are prepared to stand with us when our interests are under any pressure. So it was good to join up with the G7 leaders to talk about those challenges, because really it's about liberal democracies around the world and standing up for those freedoms and ensuring that we can all sort of get on with each other and find practical ways to achieve that here in our part of the world. I mean, we want to live with everybody in our region and get on. But we've got to stand up for our values. And there are lots of countries around the world, our good friends and partners who are prepared to stand with us.
FORDHAM: We spoke to farmers last week who were happy about the free trade deal with the UK. We're also told that you shared with other world leaders that list of complaints that China issued about Australia. Is that the case? Did you, did you share it with some of those other world leaders and what was their response?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I tabled it because I thought it made the point very clearly what this was all about, because there'd been a lot of interest in the sort of pressure Australia had been under. And so that document which was released, set out very clearly what the issues were. And they all went to basically who we are as a liberal democracy. We have our own foreign investment laws, that we have our foreign interference laws that we put in place freedom of the press and parliamentarians can speak their minds and that we stand up on issues like human rights. Now, these are all issues that are held in common with all of the countries that sat around that G7 table. So I think this just served to highlight what this is really all about and why we need to be able to stand up for those things and find practical ways to work together.
FORDHAM: We know that China didn't like you asking the question about the origins of coronavirus. And now the Wuhan lab theory is being discussed at the highest levels in Europe and America. Has your opinion firmed in any way when it comes to the question of whether it started in a lab?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't know. And that's why I've always been in favour of a thorough investigation and review into the causes. But one of the other things we discussed when we were there, Ben, was not just that, which there was strong support for that, for those investigations to continue. And we'll find out what the facts are. I don't sort of have a particular view about which one it is. I'm happy for the evidence to decide that. But the other thing we talked about was the need for an early warning system. And so that in the case that where there's a contagious virus that may be in its early stages, it's important that there's an obligation to disclose that and to give a warning to other countries through the World Health Organisation. I mean, I was sitting next to the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi. Now we all know the devastation that hit Italy in the early parts of the COVID-19 outbreak. And we you know, we shut our borders and we ensured that we were able to close ourselves off, but many other countries weren't able to do that. And so it's important that there's a greater transparency about all this. And that's not about politics. It's not a part about any of the issues between any countries. It's just common sense that the world should have greater protections by all of us being more transparent about if there's an issue that's running from a health perspective that can affect other countries.
FORDHAM: Just on your trip, it is being reported this morning that your office spent weeks planning a G7 side trip to explore your convict family roots while you were arguing that Britain was too risky for Australian travellers. I'm guessing there'll be some people saying that this is double standards.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh Ben, I think that's, I wouldn't describe it like that at all. I mean, we had to land north of London as opposed to landing down there in Cornwall because of the fog. And we stopped off along the way. We had some lunch and stopped off in another location on the way and after the G7 on the way to the airport, we stopped at another place, which just happens to be where my fifth great grandfather was from. So I think it was pretty innocent. I think that's massively overstating it.
FORDHAM: When do you reckon the rest of us are going to be able to travel? Because we know that Europe has just reopened to travellers from the US and we don't have a timeline here in Australia. We know that this Christmas is most likely off the cards, but is there also a chance that we won't be able to fly by next Christmas 2022?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, that's too far away to, I mean, I would certainly hope so, Ben, in 2022, I'd certainly hope so. And I would hope that we can do it as soon as we safely can. And what we'll be watching and what the experience of when I was there in the UK, I mean, that's a country that has I think 76 per cent of the population vaccinated, was hitting about 8000 cases today with rising hospitalisations when I was there because of the new variant. And so what that says is, is that the virus is still very dangerous and we can't come to definitive conclusions about it. In Europe and the UK, the virus is already through those countries, not like here in Australia. And so, you know, we've got to be a bit more careful that we don't let it in in the way that it is in those other countries. So we'll watch what's happening there over their summer where they are moving about. And I think we'll learn a lot from that. I mean, if it's not causing, you know, serious illnesses and rising hospitalisations, then that will be important information for our medical experts to look at and give us good advice about what that means for travel.
FORDHAM: As I mentioned, you're in quarantine in the Lodge at the moment. You've got National Cabinet today and the states are saying they want more supply when it comes to vaccines. So when can we expect that increased supply?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we gave them all those numbers on the weekend. And General Frewen, who heads up the vaccination rollout for us, he'll be updating the premiers and chief ministers on that today. And they're all getting additional doses. I mean, it scales up again in July when the additional Pfizer doses go out. But, you know, let's remember, 60 per cent of those aged over 70 are now had their first dose. More than 45 per cent of those over 50 have, and one in four of people aged over 16 have. So we've really been lifting the rate of vaccination, six and a half million doses already having been delivered. And when it took 45 days to do the first million, it only took 10 days to get that last million to six million doses. So a lot of progress is being made. We'll work closely with the states and territories. There's no need for argy bargy about it. We'll just get on work together, which is what I think people expect State and Commonwealth governments to do.
FORDHAM: We're chatting to the Liberal MP Eric Abetz shortly. He's one of 15 MPs demanding action on the Port of Newcastle, which is 50 per cent leased to Chinese operators. They're worried about fee hikes hurting our coal exporters. Are you listening to those concerns?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the National Competition Council has reviewed this on many occasions, and they provide the advice about whether there's competition effects. And we've got the critical infrastructure laws that are in place that give us the power for the Home Affairs Minister to give directions to the port. And so those sort of decisions Ben have got to be made based on evidence and where there's evidence to support those actions then the government would certainly take them.
FORDHAM: While you were away, Four Corners put together this investigation trying to link you to a bloke called Tim Stewart who's involved in the QAnon conspiracy theory. What did you make of all of that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I thought it was, I think it was pretty ordinary. I mean, we've all got friends and we've all got acquaintances and people we know who have views that we don't share. But you know what they expect us to do just to sort of cancel people just because they have views different to ourselves? I don't support the views of QAnon. I barely even knew what it was until more recently over the last year or so. So, you know, look, if people are going to have a crack at you because of what people you know think, I think that's really starting to, you know, bit of a longbow.
FORDHAM: Out of interest, are you still close to him or have you given a little bit of fresh air there?
PRIME MINISTER: No, look, I haven't seen Tim for some time, much closer to his wife, who you know, Jenny and I are long time friends of her, I just think it's sort of a bit ordinary to drag other people into, I mean, I'm the Prime Minister, hold me accountable for my views. For people who have known me or have been friends with me over the period of time, they're entitled to their privacy regardless if people don't agree with their views. And I certainly don't agree with Tim's views on those things at all. I mean, he's a Sharkies supporter. I agree with him on that, but not on QAnon.
FORDHAM: PM, I'm told you don't want to talk about the leadership of the National Party today. So, you know, I'm going to ask you about it. Michael McCormack ...
PRIME MINISTER: You ask the questions, mate. Not us.
FORDHAM: That's right. He's been running the country while you're away. And there are some in the National Party who want him to move on. Are you happy with Michael McCormick's performance as National Party leader?
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely. I've got a wonderful partnership with Michael. We've worked very closely together and provided great, stable leadership for Australia. I mean, we've got a lot to do in the parliament this week. In particular, we're focused on the deregulation that we're seeking to have reduced on getting major new mining projects up over particularly in Western Australia, which Labor are opposing. He's been a key supporter of, as we've sought to, you know, get the cost of regulation down in this country so we can get jobs into this country. We've got new online safety laws we're trying to get passed this week and new telecommunications laws which support our police officers. We saw what was able to be done with Operation Ironside just recently. And these laws are exactly the sorts of laws that help them do their job. So that's the important stuff that, you know, the government is focused on this week. The Nationals will have their discussions, I'm sure, as they always do, and we'll just get on with the job.
FORDHAM: Last time you were in quarantine, we saw you business up top, you know, the suit and tie up top and the board shorts down below. Can we give that a miss this time?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a bit, it's a bit cooler this time around, Ben, so, no, I don't think so.
FORDHAM: So it'll be pants on this week, is that right?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. The only sort of break will take is, you know, caught you on Ninja Warrior, last night, Ben.
FORDHAM: You were watching last night?
PRIME MINISTER: I caught you last, I like that, I like that young guy from Boggabri.
FORDHAM: Okay. Well, I'm glad that you're fitting in a little bit of downtime amongst all the other business that you're into at the moment. We wish you the best of luck today and we'll catch up again soon.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Ben, it will be a very busy week. All the best.
National Cabinet Statement
21 June 2021
The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response 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 30,356 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 910 people have died. More than 19.7 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.
Globally there have been over 178.4 million cases and sadly over 3.8 million deaths, with 305,611 new cases and 6,700 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 6,590,741 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 34,712 in the previous 24 hours. In the previous 7 days, more than 723,442 vaccines have been administered in Australia. To date 26.7 per cent of the Australian adult population have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 65.2 per cent of over 70 year olds.
National Cabinet agreed on the imperative to work together to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to Australians as quickly as possible.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield, Professor Brendan Murphy, Chair of the Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group and Secretary of the Health Department, and Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided a detailed briefing on the vaccination program.
Vaccine Roll Out
National Cabinet noted the updated advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and the changes to the COVID-19 Vaccination program.
The updated advice of ATAGI recommends that the Pfizer vaccine is now preferred for adults under the age of 60 and that access to Pfizer vaccine should be provided to people aged 50-59.
All states and territories agreed to prioritise Pfizer appointments for people aged 40-59 and Phase 1a and 1b eligible people under the age of 40 years of age.
The Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield, Lieutenant General Frewen, provided each state and territory government with planning projections of Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses for their jurisdiction over the remainder of 2021, to inform state and territory vaccination plans.
The Coordinator General confirmed that Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine allocations are provided on a proportional population basis. The Coordinator General confirmed that the Commonwealth delivers all first dose allocations to states and territories with matching second dose allocations delivered three weeks after first doses are administered. This ensures that states and territories have control over allocation of first and second doses delivery based on the supply schedules.
National Cabinet noted that the Commonwealth is fast tracking plans to expand the number of access points for Pfizer as supply increases. By the end of July, all 136 Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics, 40 ACCHS and 1,300 GPs will be administering Pfizer. Many more primary care providers, including community pharmacies, will be offered the chance to administer mRNA vaccines as the supply of Pfizer significantly increases and the first supplies of Moderna arrive in September/October.
National Cabinet noted the forward COVID-19 vaccines communications strategy.
The Coordinator General confirmed that based on our expected supply picture, Australia remains on-track to offer every eligible person in Australia a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021.
Leadership of The National Party
21 June 2021
The Liberal-National Coalition has been a successful and enduring partnership for seven decades.
It will continue to be a strong partnership, one based on shared values and a shared passion for building an even stronger Australia.
We have achieved so much together, especially for rural and regional Australia, and together we will achieve even more.
I welcome Barnaby Joyce to the role of Leader of The Nationals and soon to be Deputy Prime Minister and I look forward to working closely together to ensure Australia continues its recovery from COVID-19 and the recession it caused.
Our focus remains on two outcomes – protecting lives and protecting livelihoods, as we continue to bolster our vaccine roll out and build on the economic recovery that has led to the creation of almost one million jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barnaby and I have a shared passion for ensuring our regions and rural communities thrive.
I thank Michael McCormack for his dedicated service as Deputy Prime Minister. Michael will continue to be an invaluable member of the National Party, and a passionate advocate for regional and rural communities.
I wish him and his wife Catherine and their children well.
Interview with Andrew Clennell, Sky News
17 June 2021
Andrew Clennell: Prime Minister, thanks for joining us.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, Andrew.
Clennell: Now, we've all been over here with you and seen what another world is really, what living with the virus is like, what's your impressions of what you're seeing?
Prime Minister: It confirms the view that I've often expressed when we've been home, and that is in Australia, we're living life during COVID like few, if any other country around the world and we’ve had quite a bit of a glimpse of that here, whether in Paris here today, or in the UK over the course of the weekend. The rest of the world is carrying a load when it comes to the virus and the pandemic, which is extremely heavy. And the decisions that they're making, just like Prime Minister Johnson had to make just most recently, I think continues to highlight the uncertainty of the pandemic and it means that even though there is much we do know now about the virus, there is still a lot we don't. It means we need to continue to be cautious to protect lives and protect livelihoods as Australia is doing.
Clennell: Well, that struck me as well. Boris Johnson, just before you met him, gave that press conference where he spoke about extending lockdowns and he spoke about the unpredictability of the Indian variants and so forth. And it just made me think that we have to learn to live with this virus for some time, for some years. Is that how you are seeing how it plays out?
Prime Minister: This is what I've been saying now for some time, that the nature of how you live with it will change over time as well. And the UK, indeed, a country with almost 80 per cent, well over 70 per cent of the population vaccinated, but yet still having those very significant challenges. It just goes to show that there's no one thing. There's a range of things that we have to do. And I'm pleased that our vaccination programme is growing stronger. Of course, we've had the issue with the TGA advice and that obviously impacts, but as it has previously, we've just worked through that. We’ll get it done. But we just have to keep learning, acting together, making sensible choices. And importantly, this is something I think was fed back to me when I met with leaders these last few days. They see us managing that balance between the health issues and the economy issues very well. It's quite a thing to be able to say that Australia's economy is bigger now than it was before the pandemic and more jobs now than before the pandemic. Only South Korea could say that. And so getting those two things right has been recognised.
Clennell: I guess I could say we're an island nation, we could shut our borders. But so is Britain, they could have gone for that option.
Prime Minister: They could have taken that option. They didn't take that option at the time. And that just highlights the point that, once you pass through the gates of decisions like this, it's very difficult, difficult to go back. And that's why we've been cautious on those issues.
Clennell: Well, you were someone who through the pandemic has tried to shift public opinion gradually. When you think about international borders, if you just did it suddenly, apart from the fact, you'd probably be voted out if the virus spread everywhere, people just wouldn't accept it. If, when we do get to that international border decision, I assume you're going to do it very gradually and methodically.
Prime Minister: It isn't one decision. It isn't closed one day, open the next. I mean, the challenge, the next challenge we have, in addition to getting Australians home, is our workforce needs. You know, that's incredibly important. And today we were talking about those around agriculture visas and we know the challenges that our agriculture sector, but not just our agricultural sector, our defence industry sector, our infrastructure sector. This is one of the challenges of having closed borders is it puts real constraints on the size of your workforce. Australia is a migration nation. It's an immigration nation. And so that has been cut off for us largely this last 18 months. And so we've got to find practical ways to solve those problems over the next 12 months. And that's what other countries are trying to do. So whether it's that, or whether it's the student pilots we're doing, it's the gradual process of opening things up safely, but also in a way that is targeted on the things that will give us the biggest benefit for our economy in doing so.
Clennell: So green zones for some countries, safer countries, for example?
Prime Minister: That is a common discussion amongst the leaders and even discussions I've had these last few days, even with countries that are have much more open borders because the virus is riddled through their countries, they will still be making those choices of green countries and red countries and amber countries across Europe. I mean, we will see over the course of this summer in Europe, where a lot of people will be moving around under those new arrangements and we'll be able to see what the impact of that is. Now, while hospitalisations in the UK were rising in this last week or so, I think the Prime Minister noted that, and that is an issue of great concern for them. If the virus is there, but the hospitalisations and the serious illness doesn't occur and we see that on a sustained basis, well, that says that there is a potentially different pathway there. But the jury is not in on that yet. There's new variants like Delta and so on that can change all of that.
Clennell: People do look to vaccination as a cure all. It's not a cure all, but it is very important, isn't it? It's one, well you just said, it's one of a number of weapons.
Prime Minister: It's one of many things. Borders is another. Rings of containment on how we run quarantine and how we do testing and tracing and how we use QR codes and how we do all of those things. I mean, just these last few days, you and I have both been having daily rapid antigen tests so we can operate and do the things that we've been doing.
Clennell: Could they become more used in Australia?
Prime Minister: I wouldn't prejudge any of it at this point. All I'm simply saying is there's no one thing. There never has been just one thing. And there is still a lot that is unknown. But Australia is doing better than most, if not all.
Clennell: It seems part of this trip on the G7 was about showing the strength of liberal democracies, the old allies in the face of China, frankly. And Boris Johnson was saying that was important today, but he was also saying he didn't want to see a Cold War.
Prime Minister: Yeah, that's a shared view. That’s a shared view of all the leaders. It's our view…
Clennell: But are we sliding towards that?
Prime Minister: We are working hard to prevent that type of an outcome, and that is achieved by having as much engagement as possible. The countries that have sort of met together, whether it was in Cornwall or, you know, where I am today when we're catching up on the discussions I had over these last 24, 48 hours in London. All of this is about finding that way where you can get that balance, where we can trade, where we can interact, and we can give confidence and assurance that this is all possible without interfering in the sovereign independence of nation states. And we've got to find that way of working together, find that way of living together and not put ourselves in the position where we're being told how to live.
Clennell: Australians fear war with China, you hear that anecdotally. What would you say to reassure them about that?
Prime Minister: That is not an outcome that we would wish for in any circumstance. I mean, that is why you take the steps that we do take to ensure that we can get some stability in the region, a free and open Indo-Pacific, of which China is a part, and the ASEAN nations, that the relationship we have with Japan, I think has been very important. And how we've progressed this understanding. Of course, Japan and Australia know full well the challenges in the Indo-Pacific, but I was being greatly encouraged that particularly across Europe and of course in the United Kingdom, and has always been the case with the United States, there is an increasing and profound understanding of the challenges we face and that we have to manage to get to the very outcome you're saying, a happy and peaceful coexistence.
Clennell: Now, your first meeting with Joe Biden, what were your impressions of him?
Prime Minister: He has a deep understanding of the Indo-Pacific. He does understand. He has a very strong institutional understanding of the United States system and the role the United States has played in our region over a very long time. And he's certainly not fresh to these issues. And that is enormously useful in our partnership. His leadership within the Quad leaders meeting, in convening that first meeting. This is a very high priority for him. And he sees the Quad as we do, as not just about the traditional defence relationships, but a broader way of engaging the Indo-Pacific and doing that through ASEAN's eyes to endorse and support and reinforce the role that ASEAN, the sovereign independent states of the Asia Pacific, their outlook, what they're seeking to achieve and how nations such as Australia, India, Japan and the United States can enable and support that.
Clennell: Some Australians will question this trip. I've seen how busy you've been. And obviously it's very important for an Australian Prime Minister to meet a US President, to have that face to face. What would you say to them? I mean, for them, the international borders [inaudible]?
Prime Minister: Well, this is essential. This has been essential. This has been the first time when these nations have been able to gather together in person for some time. There was never a more important occasion for Australia to be around this table. We're talking about how we're managing COVID, the recession that it's caused, understanding the fracturing that we've seen around big international institutions like the World Trade Organisation and getting that back on the right foot to ensure that it plays a positive role. Ensuring that our cooperation more broadly in multilateral institutions. This all impacts on Australia's interests. It all impacts on our security. It impacts on our prosperity, and it impacts on our well-being, our health. Today, I was speaking with Boris Johnson about mental health issues and Headspace and the fact that Headspace is keen to do what it does in Australia, in the United Kingdom. There's a lot of interest in this. Australia has a lot to offer from what we know and how we do things. And there's a genuine level of interest in that. So it's not just in the commercial sphere, it's in the wellbeing sphere. It's in the security sphere. So this has been important for us to be here. And the key thing, Andrew, is we're here by invitation. We weren't knocking on the door. The invitation was sent out and we were invited enthusiastically in. And then the ability to land this in-principle agreement around the free trade agreement with the UK, the first that the UK's entered into and the opportunity to speak also with President Macron is a very welcome one.
Clennell: I want to ask you just briefly about climate change.
Prime Minister: Sure.
Clennell: It seems to me a lot of these nations want a target out of Australia. You've indicated that could well happen, but at the moment, it's as fast as we can do it and it is technology, not taxes. How are you going to convince The Nationals?
Prime Minister: We're just working the problem. And the problem is how we address a world that is moving to a new energy economy, a new carbon neutral economy. That's going to happen. Financial markets, capital markets, whether it's governments, internationals, this is where the world is heading and that has profound implications for Australia.
Clennell: Why is Boris Johnson...
Prime Minister: We have to ready ourselves for that. And that's why the technology partnerships are so important. Yesterday, I had a technology roundtable on clean energy with those operators in the United Kingdom. And there's a shared view about how we have to find these solutions, but not just that, make them scalable. So these are technical tasks. These are practical things that we have to achieve to be successful. I mean, when you sit down with countries like Japan or South Korea, where Australia has been a major energy exporter and driver, ever since the 50s and earlier. We get to do that again in a new energy economy and be successful again. But we have to adapt to be successful.
Clennell: Why is Boris Johnson so hot to trot on the issue, do you think?
Prime Minister: He's got a deep commitment and I think people in the United Kingdom do also. And that's fine. And they also carry the responsibility of COP26 this year. I thought Boris did an incredible job at Carbis Bay. I thought the way he created an atmosphere was one of the most candid, free speaking international summits I've ever been to. There was a genuine dialogue and there was a genuine rapport. I mean, a number of the leaders now, we have been meeting with each other, whether it's been on screens or in person, pre-pandemic, post-pandemic, during pandemic, now for some years. And so there is a good understanding amongst particularly that group. And even with Narendra Modi only being able to join us by video screen, Narendra and I and the others in the room already have a good understanding of each other. So this is a, I think, an important, an important exchange. It's more than a dialogue. It's a genuine exchange.
Clennell: I know you get asked this every interview, but even though you keep saying the election's next year, people are still saying the election could be this year.
Prime Minister: I don't know what they're doing that. Why do you keep saying that?
Clennell: Well, you did say if there was a major political event, it could happen.
Prime Minister: I'm not aware of one having occurred.
Clennell: Yeah, well, that's what, that's the trajectory we can see that's the end of it.
Prime Minister: The election's due next year. There's too much to do now. And Australians expect me to be focusing on that. I mean, that has always been my view. 2021, I knew was going to be an even bigger challenge than 2020. I mean, in 2021 you were dealing with coming through the pandemic and the challenge of 2021 is only accelerated because of the fallout from the pandemic to date and the more uncertainties that are coming, the delivery of the vaccination programme, these other major events that are coming up later in the year. I'm very pleased that the Australian economy has been able to weather the storm better than almost any other advanced economy in the world. But we have to keep that up. And so we're constantly having to adapt. So that's where my focus is. And it has to be. That's where the government's focus has to be. It can't afford, for the sake of the Australian people, to be taken off and looking at those issues, unless they are forced upon us.
Clennell: Do you have confidence then, the vaccination programme is on track, that it's looking perhaps better than it was, that you know...
Prime Minister: Well, it's certainly accelerated.
Clennell: By the end of the year, we could look pretty good on that front?
Prime Minister: I would certainly hope so. But there are shocks that come along the way. As, we're only seeing again now. And, you know, you have to deal with those and you have to respond to them. There's also the broader challenge of the vaccination programme, not just in Australia, but in our own Pacific region. I think an important point that was made at Carbis Bay, was that for each of our own nations to be more protected, than more of the world needs to be vaccinated. And that's certainly true in our region when we're thinking about South East Asia, Indonesia of course, but also Papua New Guinea and the islands in the Pacific. So that is an even bigger challenge than just our own country. But we are, I think, making great progress there. And there's a lot more to be done. And we want to continue to encourage people to come forward and get those vaccinations. But then you've got the additional supplies which have been coming through for Pfizer and you’ve got Moderna to come in later. And the sprint later in the year will be very important. But you've just got to roll with the challenges that come your way and get the job done.
Clennell: Thank you so much.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, Andrew.
New Free Trade Agreement to Deliver Jobs and Business Opportunities in Australia and the United Kingdom
15 June 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
A new free trade agreement with the UK will deliver more Australian jobs and business opportunities for exporters, bringing both countries closer together in a changing strategic environment.
Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson have agreed on the broad outlines of an Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The FTA is the right deal for Australia and the United Kingdom, with greater access to a range of high-quality products made in both countries as well as greater access for businesses and workers, all of which will drive economic growth and job creation in both countries.
Australian producers and farmers will receive a significant boost by getting greater access to the UK market.
Australian consumers will benefit from cheaper products, with all tariffs eliminated within five years, and tariffs on cars, whisky, and the UK’s other main exports eliminated immediately.
The UK will liberalise Australian imports with 99 per cent of Australian goods, including Australian wine and short and medium grain milled rice, entering the UK duty free when the agreement enters into force.
Beef tariffs will be eliminated after ten years. During the transition period, Australia will have immediate access to a duty-free quota of 35,000 tonnes, rising in equal instalments to 110,000 tonnes in year 10. In the subsequent five years a safeguard will apply on beef imports exceeding a further volume threshold rising in equal instalments to 170,000 tonnes, levying a tariff safeguard duty of 20 per cent for the rest of the calendar year.
Sheep meat tariffs will be eliminated after ten years. During the transition period, Australia will have immediate access to a duty-free quota of 25,000 tonnes, rising in equal instalments to 75,000 tonnes in year 10. In the subsequent five years a safeguard will apply on sheep meat imports exceeding a further volume threshold rising in equal instalments to 125,000 tonnes, levying a tariff safeguard duty of 20 per cent for the rest of the calendar year.
Sugar tariffs will be eliminated over eight years. During the transition period, Australia will have immediate access to a duty-free quota of 80,000 tonnes, rising by 20,000 tonnes each year.
Dairy tariffs will be eliminated over five years. During the transition period, Australia will have immediate access to a duty-free quota for cheese of 24,000 tonnes, rising in equal instalments to 48,000 tonnes in year five. Australia will also have immediate access to a duty-free quota for non-cheese dairy of 20,000 tonnes.
Working Holiday Visa makers in the UK will get expanded rights and will now be able to stay for three years with an increased cut off age of 35.
Professionals will benefit from provisions to support mutual recognition of qualifications and greater certainty for skilled professionals entering the UK labour market.
This ambitious bilateral free trade agreement will help pave the way for the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The two countries will now finalise the text, and carry out the domestic processes required to enable signature and the subsequent entry into force of the FTA.
Australia Joins International Alliance to Conserve Planet’s Biodiversity
14 June 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for the Environment
Australia has joined an international coalition of countries committed to forging a global deal to conserve 30 per cent of the world’s land and sea, in order to halt the loss of biodiversity.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the G7 Summit that Australia will join the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People, an intergovernmental group of 60 countries.
The HAC is a global pact to protect 30 per cent of the world’s land and sea, to halt the loss of species and ecosystems. G7 leaders have championed global biodiversity targets and with a view to supporting these global targets, Australia is committing to protecting a combined 30 per cent of domestic land and ocean by 2030.
“Australia is a frontrunner when it comes to taking action to conserve our biodiversity,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
“Currently, Australia has more than 29 per cent of its land and sea in protected areas, compared to 15 per cent of land and 7 per cent of seas globally. We are well placed to make a strong contribution to a global ’30 by 30’ target and encourage other countries to do the same.
“Australia should be proud of our world-leading environmental credentials, including our actions to manage the impacts of climate change.
“We support the aim of an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, to be agreed under the Convention on Biological Diversity when the parties meet in Kunming China, in October this year.”
Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley highlighted the importance of countries working together to protect the resilience of natural systems that support climate stability, food supply and water.
“Being part of the HAC will allow Australia to play a leadership role in managing oceans, the Convention on Biological Diversity negotiations, and to promote the positive environmental outcomes we are achieving through our National Reserve System and Indigenous Protected Areas,” Minister Ley said.
“Australia has one of the world’s largest representative systems of marine protected areas, covering 37 per cent of Australian waters, and we are looking to extend that to up to 45 per cent. With one of the world’s largest maritime jurisdictions and measures already in place to protect the biodiversity of our land, we have demonstrated the ‘30 by 30’ target is achievable.
“We look forward to working with like-minded countries in finding the best ways to implement the detail of the 30 x 30 targets.”
The HAC is co-chaired by Costa Rica and France, with the United Kingdom as ocean co-chair.
Read more about the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People here.
Australia and Germany Partner on Hydrogen Initiatives
13 June 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Australia and Germany will invest in a series of new initiatives to accelerate the development of a hydrogen industry, creating new economic opportunities and jobs while reducing emissions.
Today, our countries announce the Declaration of Intent between the Government of Australia and the Government of Germany on the Australia-Germany Hydrogen Accord.
The Accord builds on our respective strengths, with Australia looking to be a major hydrogen exporter and Germany holding expertise in hydrogen technology and planning to import significant quantities of hydrogen in the future.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said international collaboration focused on technological innovation was key to getting new energy technologies like hydrogen to commercial parity.
“Our partnership with Germany will accelerate the development of an Australian hydrogen industry and create new jobs,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“Our ambition is to produce the cheapest clean hydrogen in the world, which will transform transport, mining, resources and manufacturing at home and overseas.
“Developing new low emissions industries means more jobs for Australian workers, and cheaper energy means lower costs for businesses so they can reinvest in hiring more people.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said getting new energy technologies to parity with existing technologies was the only way to reduce emissions without imposing taxes or new costs on households, businesses and industry.
“Australia is playing its role in the global effort to reduce emissions by driving down the cost of low emissions technologies,” Minister Taylor said.
“Clean hydrogen is a priority under the Technology Investment Roadmap and we’re excited to be working with Germany to bring this new industry to life.
“We have a mix of all the key ingredients needed to be a major global player in a thriving global clean hydrogen industry – abundant land and energy resources coupled with an excellent track record and reputation as reliable energy partner.
“We have set the goal of producing hydrogen at less than $2 a kilogram – ‘H2 under 2’, the price at which hydrogen becomes competitive with higher emitting alternatives.
“Getting new technologies like hydrogen to cost parity will enable substantial reductions in global emissions, while strengthening existing industries and creating new ones.”
The Accord includes three major initiatives:
Establishing the German-Australian Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Incubator (HyGATE) to support real-world pilot, trial, demonstration and research projects along the hydrogen supply chain. Australia and Germany have respectively committed up to $50 million and €50 million to establish HyGATE.
Facilitating industry-to-industry cooperation on demonstration projects in Australian hydrogen hubs.
Exploring options to facilitate the trade of hydrogen and its derivatives produced from renewables (such as ammonia) from Australia to Germany, including through Germany’s H2Global Initiative, which supports long-term supply agreements with German industry.
The Accord builds on Australia’s existing collaboration with Germany on low emissions technologies including hydrogen, with a two-year supply chain study between the two countries already underway.
Together with partnerships with Singapore and Japan, these new initiatives are part of the Government’s $565.8 million commitment to build new international technology partnerships that will drive investment in Australian-based projects and create up to 2,500 jobs.
Building demand for future low emissions energy exports will help Australia’s emerging hydrogen industry scale up and attract investment. An Australian hydrogen industry could generate more than 8,000 jobs and deliver over $11 billion a year in GDP by 2050.
Joint Statement with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel
13 June 2021
The Prime Minister of Australia and Chancellor of Germany discussed their mutual commitment to ambitious action on climate change in line with the Paris Agreement, and to deeper collaboration and partnership towards achieving net zero emissions and keeping the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach.
Recognising low emissions technologies are critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring economic growth and job creation, the Leaders announced the two countries have agreed an Australia-Germany Hydrogen Accord, which has formally been signed by Ministers on 11 June. The Accord is an enduring commitment to enhance collaboration in technology innovation, research, development and deployment to build a global hydrogen industry.
Japan-Australia Partnership on Decarbonisation Through Technology
13 June 2021
Japan and Australia emphasise their shared values and close relationship, their common commitment to ambitious action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, and their determination to further collaboration on efforts to achieve decarbonisation and a net zero emissions future. We recognise that climate change is one of the defining challenges and opportunities of our time, and that all countries must play their part in the global response. Japan reaffirms its commitment to transition to net zero emissions by 2050. Australia reaffirms its commitment to achieve net zero emissions as soon as possible, preferably by 2050.
Japan and Australia consider a technology-led response is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also ensuring economic growth and job creation. We share an ambition to accelerate the development and commercialisation of low and zero emissions technologies as soon as possible, as achieving cost parity with high emitting alternatives is vital for decarbonisation efforts.
Japan and Australia are determined to make low and zero emissions technologies that will underpin decarbonisation strategies to make them globally scalable and commercially viable, through collaboration on technology research and development, in order to rapidly accelerate global emissions reduction and reach net zero emissions.
In this regard, Japan and Australia commit to collaborate and coordinate together, and with key likeminded partners regionally and multilaterally, on ways to support economic growth and resilience of the Indo-Pacific region and particularly amongst ASEAN members. This commitment will be displayed, by supporting regional partners in their pragmatic and clean energy transitions in various forms, which reflect their own circumstances and increasingly utilise low and zero emissions technologies and energy resources, to meet the region’s growing energy demands. We, together with their partners, will coordinate approaches wherever possible on support for clean, pragmatic and realistic energy transitions in the region, including for developing countries, through finance, capacity building, technology development and deployment support, and knowledge sharing.
To this end, Japan and Australia commit to jointly support initiatives that will help drive the transitions to net zero emissions. We take on to increase our joint focus on lower emissions LNG production, transport and use; clean fuel ammonia, clean hydrogen and derivatives produced from renewable energy or from fossil fuels with substantial carbon capture, utilisation and storage; carbon capture utilisation and storage; carbon recycling; and low emissions steel and iron ore.
In support of this shared objective, Japan and Australia will provide financial support, as appropriate, to advance initiatives that will contribute to the development and deployment of low and zero emissions technologies. We commit to collaborate on the development of initiatives that would leverage funding from other sources, including subnational governments and the private sector.
This partnership builds on our already strong cooperation through initiatives and statements such as the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC), the Japan-Australia Energy and Resources Dialogue (JAERD) and the Australia-Japan Joint Statement of Cooperation on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.
We take on to develop initiatives under this Partnership as soon as possible, with the aim of further progress in advance of COP26. The Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction will lead work to develop joint initiatives under this Partnership for Australia side. The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry will lead work to develop joint initiatives under this Partnership for Japan side. Ministerial follow-up is expected to take place through existing frameworks such as Ministerial Economic Dialogue (MED), where appropriate. Officials’ level follow-up is expected to take place through existing officials’-level frameworks, such as the JAERD, where appropriate.
Joint Statement by President Biden, Prime Minister Johnson and Prime Minister Morrison
12 June 2021
President Biden, Prime Minister Johnson and Prime Minister Morrison met in the margins of the G7 summit in Carbis Bay on 12 June 2021.
They discussed a number of issues of mutual concern, including the Indo-Pacific region. They agreed that the strategic context in the Indo-Pacific was changing and that there was a strong rationale for deepening cooperation between the three governments.
They welcomed the forthcoming visits and exercises in the Indo-Pacific by the Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.
Australia Commits 20 Million Doses to G7 Vaccine Initiative
11 June 2021
Australia will commit at least 20 million vaccine doses to a global G7 push to boost access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and pandemic preparedness in developing countries.
“I am pleased to be able to join my counterparts in the G7 and beyond to commit more vaccines for people in developing countries in our region,” the Prime Minister said.
“COVID does not respect borders and the pandemic is not a problem confined to any one nation. That’s why we will commit to distributing at least an additional 20 million vaccine doses across our region.
“The more people we can safely vaccinate around the world, the more we stop the spread and devastation of this disease.”
These 20 million doses will build on Australia’s existing significant financial and technical support for the Pacific and Southeast Asia, and on the almost 300,000 vaccine doses already provided to the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
We are delivering a $523 million, three-year Vaccine Access and Health Security initiative, which provides end-to-end support for vaccine roll-outs in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
This includes an Australian partnership with UNICEF to procure vaccines for up to 15 million people in our region, also by mid-2022.
And we have also committed $100 million to the Quad Vaccine Partnership, which will support the production and distribution of one billion doses to the Indo-Pacific by the end of 2022.
In addition, Australia's $130 million contribution to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC) for developing countries will also assist the COVAX AMC to deliver more than 1.8 billion doses worldwide, reaching at least 114 million people in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The Minister for Health and Aged Care and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women have been working with their G7 counterparts to progress this and other key health issues.
“In Cornwall, I will also raise with G7 leaders how we can work together to learn lessons from this pandemic and make sure the world is better prepared to combat future outbreaks,” the Prime Minister said.
“Australia welcomes the opportunity to contribute our scientific and medical expertise to G7 discussions on how we improve surveillance and early warning systems to stop outbreaks at their source, and to strengthen rapid response capabilities and disease defences to ensure we can move quickly and decisively in the event of future pandemics.”
At least 20 million new COVID-19 vaccine doses will be provided by mid-2022.
They will be a mix of vaccines that have been already contracted by the Australian Government, including AstraZenca, Pfizer and Moderna.
The Australian Government has entered into 5 separate agreements to secure more than 195 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Australia Partners with Singapore on Hydrogen in Maritime Sector
10 June 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Australia and Singapore will establish a $30 million partnership to accelerate the deployment of low emissions fuels and technologies like clean hydrogen to reduce emissions in maritime and port operations.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was driving practical international partnerships to get new energy technologies to commercial parity with existing approaches.
“We’re working with partners around the world to make clean energy more affordable and reliable,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“We are positioning Australia to succeed by investing now in the new technologies that will support jobs and industries into the future.
“Developing new low emissions industries means more jobs for Australian workers, and cheaper energy means lower costs for businesses so they can reinvest in hiring more people.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said getting new energy technologies to parity with existing technologies was the only way to reduce emissions without imposing taxes or new costs on households, businesses and industry.
“We are working with our international partners and neighbours on practical commitments that will support technological innovation,” Minister Taylor said.
“Our joint investment with Singapore will attract investment into Australia, create jobs, reduce global emissions and help deliver on the goals of the Technology Investment Roadmap.”
The Australia-Singapore partnership is part of the Government’s $565.8 million commitment to build new international technology partnerships that make low emissions technologies cheaper and drive investment in Australia-based projects to create up to 2,500 jobs.
The partnership recognises Singapore’s role as a major global shipping hub and Australia’s ambition to position itself as an emerging leader in the growing use of clean hydrogen and clean ammonia. This builds on the existing Australia-Singapore MOU on low emissions technologies and solutions.
Each country will commit up to $10 million over five years to fund industry-led pilot and demonstration projects, with at least $10 million of additional investment expected to be leveraged from industry.
The initiative will trial the use of clean hydrogen, clean ammonia and other hydrogen derivatives in shipping and port operations and explore the potential for hydrogen demand from the maritime sector.
Building demand for future low emissions energy exports will help Australia’s emerging hydrogen industry scale up, attract investment and create jobs. This will be critical to achieving the Technology Investment Roadmap goal of producing clean hydrogen at under $2 a kilogram (‘H2 under 2’).
Brokering practical international partnerships is a key part of the Government’s plan to accelerate the development of the Roadmap’s five priority technologies, with Australia’s Special Adviser on Low Emissions Technology, Dr Alan Finkel, playing a key role.
Australia’s Technology Investment Roadmap will drive at least $80 billion of total new investment in low emissions technologies in Australia by 2030 and support over 160,000 jobs.
Interview with Liam Bartlett, 6PR
10 June 2021
Liam Bartlett: Scott Morrison joins us now. Prime Minister, good morning.
Prime Minister: Good morning, Liam. Good to be with you.
Liam Bartlett: Prime Minister, nice to talk to you too. Look, why aren’t we talking to the Chinese, at your level, like adults to fix this?
Prime Minister: We would be very happy to speak to them on any occasion. Those opportunities are provided to China. At this point, they're choosing not to take those up. As I said yesterday, we're keen to work with countries all around the world, particularly in our own region, we’re for a free and open Indo-Pacific, we're there for countries to trade with each other, to work with each other. And we work with China on many other issues, including in the Pacific. But when the Chinese Government is willing to have those discussions again, then of course, we're available for them.
Liam Bartlett: But, it really is the tale of the minnow and the whale, isn’t it Prime Minister? We’re not sitting around the table with them, we’re never going to win this fight.
Prime Minister: Well, I wouldn't describe it in those terms. They have raised a set of issues with Australia that are issues that Australia are not prepared to concede on. They go to our values, they go to our sovereignty. And, of course, Australia will maintain our very clear positions on those. We've made that very clear. But at the same time, we're very willing to work, and trade and engage with China in our own region and more broadly around the world. So there's no obstacle at Australia's end, to engage in that dialogue.
Liam Bartlett: I say this with the greatest respect, but, we know what makes them unhappy. We know the origins of the problem. Are we being a little bit pig-headed?
Prime Minister: Well, you never trade away your values and who you are in your own sovereignty, integrity, ever. And nor would any other country in the world and so the position Australia…
Liam Bartlett: Does talking mean you have to trade things away, Prime Minister? I’m not suggesting we fold, I’m just saying it’s not a great look is it, not a great position not to even be discussing things?
Prime Minister: Well, we're very happy to discuss things. Always have been, have made those offers constantly, but it takes two to have a conversation. And when China is prepared to have that conversation, we're very pleased to do so. They've set out 14 points and many Australians would be aware of what they relate to. They go to how Australia runs our democracy, then goes to the freedom of the press. And these are matters that they've raised as concerns. They are not matters with which Australia is prepared to provide any change to, quite rightly. And as a result, we're very happy to engage in them. But that is really a matter for China. Australia is providing no barrier to any dialogue with China.
Liam Bartlett: Prime Minister, would you concede that if the Chinese decide, at some point, at any point, to treat our iron ore the same way it’s already taken action against our coal, our barley, our wine, we are in serious strife aren’t we?
Prime Minister: Australia will always act in our national interest, Liam. We will always stand up for what we believe in, we will always be consistently clear about where we stand on these issues. I mean, that is no different to what any Australian Government should ever do, or I believe has done in the past. There's a very changed situation. And I think Australians would very much expect our government, my government, to be true to who we are. It's a very straightforward proposition, very straightforward and very clear.
Liam Bartlett: As you know, WA’s Premier Mark McGowan is struggling to understand the rhetoric and the tone of the rhetoric, the language your Government is using against China. I’d like to play you, right now Prime Minister, just a little part of what he said, just to get your reaction.
[excerpt of Mark McGowan comments plays.]
Liam Bartlett: Is he right, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: Well, I spoke with the Premier yesterday, we met. We often meet when I'm in town and we had a good chat about these issues yesterday. I mean, barley producers in Australia, wine growers in Australia, have been targeted with trade sanctions that we believe are completely unconscionable. And we are seeking to take those up in the World Trade Organisation to see them resolved there. That's what Australia is doing. Whether it's wheat, sorry whether it's barley or whether it's wine or any other exported commodity or product out of Australia, then, of course, we would expect our products and commodities to be treated fairly in accordance with international law.
Liam Bartlett: Absolutely.
Prime Minister: Our international, and that's what we're that's what we're doing.
Liam Bartlett: Absolutely, but he’s doubling down isn’t he?
Prime Minister: And so, you've got to call trade issues out. If you believe in an open trading system. If you don't have an open trading system backed by an international rule of law, well, it's very hard to be a trading country in this world. And that's the key point that I was making yesterday when I was speaking here in Perth.
Liam Bartlett: Yes.
Prime Minister: And that is these rules based order - we need to stand up for them because our livelihoods depend on it.
Liam Bartlett: That’s if the other side recognises the rule book, that’s the problem..
Prime Minister: Well, this is the challenge that we will continue to discuss when we, when I get to Cornwall, and it's important that liberal democracies, like minded countries, middle democracies work very closely with countries like Vietnam, in the region, and obviously has a very different system to ours. But they have a very strong view about the international maritime law and how that operates in their part of the world. And we've been so very supportive of the position that they've taken. But a world that is, that is run by rules and laws, that all countries are accountable to, is very important. That protects us. And that's what we're standing up for. And no matter how large or small a country is, it's important that we all embrace that and work to that.
Liam Bartlett: How confident are you, Prime Minister, that China will keep buying our iron ore?
Prime Minister: Well, the forecast I have is that, you know, the thing about Australian iron ore is it's the best in the world and when people need it, they buy it. And that puts Australia in a very strong position.
Liam Bartlett: You could argue that our wine was in the same category. I mean, the point is, if they wake up tomorrow and stop buying it, we’re in serious trouble aren’t we?
Prime Minister: Well, this is not a prospect that I believe would be in their interests or Australia's, and it's very important when you're working in this area that you understand that what the shared interests are. I think it provides the best way forward. It's in Australia and China's interests to continue our trade and indeed our trade continues to go at record levels. And that is because it's in both countries interests for that to occur. And that's what I'm focused on.
Liam Bartlett: Prime Minister, talking about shared interests, when you meet Boris Johnson next week, will you be signing a free trade agreement with the UK?
Prime Minister: We're still working on those details now.
Liam Bartlett: So, it’s not finalised?
Prime Minister: No, not yet.
Liam Bartlett: To the vaccination rollout, Prime Minister. Why don’t you take the lead on this, why don’t you put a firm date on Australia opening up and give people a reason to get the jab?
Prime Minister: Because the medical advice doesn't support that.
Liam Bartlett: Doesn’t support, what? Having a date at some point in the future?
Prime Minister: There's no medical advice that I've received at any point in time, which gives a magical number of vaccinations that enable you to provide that level of assuredness to Australians about when that can occur. Because, I mean, you don't go from shut one day, fully open the next. That's not how it works. What you can do over a period of time, is you can build up your ability to open up to more and more groups of people coming to Australia. It's not, doesn't happen overnight. And as we continue to make very good progress, and we are. In the last seven days, we've had almost 850,000 vaccinations. I mean, that's getting to almost three times what it was when I was back here in Perth last time. So there's been a significant ramp up and it's continuing to occur and Australians are getting the jab. And I'm keen for wherever there's a dose available and an arm that's available, than I want to connect those two as quickly as possible. And that's what the states are doing with us. And we're really seeing that take-up occur. And so we're very, we welcome that. And that keeps giving us options. But it is not as binary as the question suggests.
Liam Bartlett: So, you don’t think giving people a finish line, even if you had to move that finish line, would be an encouragement for people to go and get vaccinated?
Prime Minister: Well, I wouldn't mislead people, I mean, all the way through, we've been very careful to try and understand the medical advice that goes around this pandemic. I mean, I'm going to Singapore. I'm going to Singapore.
Liam Bartlett: Prime Minister, you were the one who said you know ‘we can’t live under a doona’. Those were your words, not mine.
Prime Minister: Sure. And I don't wish to see us do that forever. I don't wish to see us doing for us any longer than it's absolutely possible in terms of having our borders shut. But our borders will remain shut as long as it's in Australia's interests, to protect the health of Australians, but also I'll say Liam, to protect Australia's economy. Australia's economy is world leading. There won't be another G7 country sitting around the table that can say that their economy is bigger than Australia’s was before the pandemic or that there's more people employed in their economy today than before the pandemic. South Korea can say that, but Australia's position is even stronger than that.
Liam Bartlett: OK, so we don’t have any percentage point. I mean getting back to your point about the medical advice, we don’t have any percentage point? 60, 70, 80 per cent of Australians?
Prime Minister: No, I mean, and I'll tell you why. I mean, you go to, where I'm heading to the UK. I mean, they have vaccination rates in the 70s and with their older population even higher than that. And they have 4,000 cases a day Liam, daily. 4,000 cases a day.
Liam Bartlett: They also have borders open to a lot more countries than we do.
Prime Minister: Exactly, so if you're suggesting that we should be aiming for a position where we can have 4,000 cases a day, then no, I don't think Australians would agree with you. I don't agree with you. And the medical advice doesn't support that for Australia's position. See, in countries around the world, Liam, they lost that battle long ago, they lost that long ago.
Liam Bartlett: We know the history. But how do we learn to live with it for the future?
Prime Minister: Well, this is what we are doing, Liam. This is exactly why the vaccination programme is incredibly important and that will give us more and more and more options going forward. But I'm not about to swing the doors open and open up to Australia to 4,000 cases a day. I mean, you know what that would do, it would shut the country down internally and it would ruin our economy. So we're not about to do that either. So we'll continue, I think, to get the balance right.
Liam Bartlett: [inaudible]
Prime Minister: Well, Liam, if we had 4,000 cases a day, do you think there wouldn't be a border up in every single part of this country?
Liam Bartlett: No doubt, but you’re talking hypotheticals, aren’t you?
Prime Minister: Well, you're raising hypotheticals with me, Liam. So, if we want to talk about hypotheticals.
Liam Bartlett: You’ve just pulled 4,000 people out of the air.
Prime Minister: No, I'll tell you what's real, I'll tell you what's real. Vaccination rates in the UK of over 70 per cent and over 4,000 cases a day. Vaccination rates where I'm going today in Singapore, which are over 40 per cent, and they are in lockdown. So what we've always learnt from this pandemic is there are no absolutes. The virus writes the rules. You get the balance right as best as you possibly can. The Australian way has been the most successful in the world, along with a handful of other countries, like New Zealand, where I was just a week or so ago, following a very similar path. And that means that we've got more people in work, our economy's bigger. We haven't had the carnage of the hundreds of thousands of deaths we've seen all around the world, more, millions of deaths. Here in this country, we've fared extremely well. And we want to maintain that.
Liam Bartlett: Prime Minister, I know you’re a busy man. You’ve got to get on a plane, we really appreciate your time. But just before you go, on one other subject, and we spoke about this a lot on the program yesterday, talking about opening countries up, this is only for a small amount of people. But the Afghan interpreters left behind in that country, when are we all going to give all of them a visa and get them out?
Prime Minister: Well, we're working on that right now, and I can't go into too much detail because I don't want to put anyone who is the subject of what we're doing there in any position of risk or danger. This is not the first time we've done that. When I was Immigration Minister, we were involved in a very similar role with interpreters and others who were assisting us many years ago. And so this is a programme we know well, we've done it before and we will work through this steadily. And our form and our record is being able to use our special humanitarian visa processes to do the right thing.
Liam Bartlett: You’d agree, wouldn’t you, that if they were good enough to work aside Aussie Diggers in battle, they’re automatically good enough to live here, aren’t they?
Prime Minister: Well, what I just said was we've been faced with this exact same situation before and we've answered that question positively. That's our form, that's our record. That's what we've done. And we will act consistently with what we've done in the past. In fact, what I personally did on a very similar set of cases many years ago, we know what we need to do here and we're getting it done.
Liam Bartlett: And time is of the essence, isn’t it?
Prime Minister: Always is.
Liam Bartlett: Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time this morning.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, Liam. All the best.
Joint Statement by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Australia
10 June 2021
Prime Minister, Prime Minister of Singapore
1. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 10 June 2021 in Singapore for the sixth Australia-Singapore Annual Leaders’ Meeting. The Prime Ministers acknowledged the longstanding friendship and deep bilateral collaboration between the two countries, anchored in shared strategic and economic interests. They reaffirmed the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as unique in its ability to be constructive, expansive and forward-looking, and welcomed the progress made since the virtual fifth Annual Leaders’ Meeting in March 2020, in spite of the challenges presented by COVID-19. They also welcomed the entry into force of the Singapore-Australia Digital Economy Agreement in December 2020.
2. The Prime Ministers agreed that in an increasingly uncertain and complex strategic environment, Australia and Singapore are like-minded partners with a high degree of strategic trust. They welcomed the entry into force of the Treaty on Military Training and Training Area Development in 2020. The leaders undertook to increase the frequency and complexity of professional exchanges, dialogues and training activities between the two countries. The Prime Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which is in its 50th year. Prime Minister Morrison affirmed Australia’s commitment to expanding its defence presence in the region.
3. The Prime Ministers acknowledged the importance of open borders to the post-pandemic recovery and committed to resuming two-way cross-border travel when the public health situation in both countries permits. They welcomed the ongoing discussions between border, health, transport, and other officials to identify detailed operational requirements for COVID-19-safe travel, including discussions on health and vaccination certificates. They also discussed cooperating on welcoming the return of Singaporean students to Australia to continue with their studies.
4. The Prime Ministers welcomed the following new initiatives which will deepen the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Driven by their mutual support for practical action on climate change, and building on progress under the 2020 MoU on low emissions solutions, the Australian and Singaporean governments will join business in a public-private partnership on low emissions maritime and shipping, with a combined initial contribution of up to A$30 million. The initiative will see business and government in Australia and Singapore work together on low emissions fuels and technologies, including clean hydrogen and clean ammonia, to drive down emissions in maritime shipping and port operations.
Both sides will start discussions on an Australia-Singapore FinTech Bridge. The FinTech Bridge will enhance cooperation on FinTech policy and regulation and look for opportunities for collaboration on joint innovation projects, as well as facilitate investments and new business opportunities in digital trade and financial services. The FinTech Bridge will build on the strong foundations of the Digital Economy Agreement between the two countries.
Both health ministries have signed a new MoU to enhance cooperation on healthcare and health technologies, which will facilitate deeper exchanges of information, knowledge and expertise to support timely and affordable access to medicines and health technologies for Singaporeans and Australians.
The Australian Federal Police and Singapore’s Home Team Science and Technology Agency have agreed to sign a MoU on operational science and technology cooperation to develop and enhance capabilities for homeland security and law enforcement agencies to prevent crime and maintain law and order.
Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will renew their MoU on cooperation as an important marker that despite the pandemic, our cultural exchanges continue to flourish through innovative and digital ways of working and performing together.
5. The Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional cooperation and international issues. They discussed COVID-19’s impact on communities, health systems, economies and supply chains. They agreed to continue to share best practices in tackling the pandemic, work closely together to keep markets open and supply chains functioning, and support regional efforts for a sustainable and resilient recovery. They reiterated their commitment to the region’s access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, including through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility.
6. The Prime Ministers recognised that a strong, cohesive, and responsive ASEAN is vital to the region’s success and recovery. They reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture, particularly the East Asia Summit as the region’s premier Leaders-led forum for strategic discussion. They agreed to work together to further enhance the ASEAN-Australia relationship, and expressed support for an open, inclusive, rules-based and resilient region, consistent with the principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. They also welcomed the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, as a signal of support for the multilateral rules-based trading system underlining the importance of free and open trade and investment for COVID-19 recovery, and urged continued efforts by RCEP signatories to ensure the entry into force of the RCEP by 1 January 2022.
7. The Prime Ministers shared their concerns on developments in Myanmar and called for an immediate cessation of violence, the release of all political detainees including foreigners, and inclusive dialogue between all parties. They agreed that ASEAN could play an important role in facilitating a peaceful solution in Myanmar and called for implementation of the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar adopted at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on 24 April 2021, as soon as possible. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintain and promote peace, security and stability in the region, as well as the peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is universal in character and sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. They underlined Australia and Singapore’s strong support for freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded trade in the South China Sea. They also emphasised the importance of non-militarisation of disputed features and self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability. They urged all claimants to take meaningful steps to ease tensions and build trust, including through dialogue. They acknowledged work towards a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and emphasised the importance of the Code being effective and consistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. They agreed Australia and Singapore would remain in close contact on regional issues.
Media Statement
10 June 2021
At the invitation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, I will travel to Cornwall, United Kingdom from 11 to 13 June for the G7 Leaders’ Summit.
There has never been a more important time for Australia to be at the table with the world’s largest liberal democracies and advanced economies.
The global pandemic and the recession it has caused means likeminded counties and businesses need to work together to lead the global recovery to restore lives and livelihoods.
There is a lot at stake for Australia, the region and the world.
Later today, I will visit Singapore to hold my Annual Leaders’ Meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
I look forward to discussing cooperation under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, health and economic responses to COVID-19 and sharing perspectives on developments in the Indo-Pacific.
The G7 Summit will be my first travel outside the Indo-Pacific region since the beginning of the pandemic and will provide an opportunity to meet many leaders for the first time since 2019.
I look forward to working and engaging with all of the leaders, including Prime Minister Johnson, President Biden, Prime Minister Suga, Prime Minister Trudeau, President Macron, Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Draghi, as well as President Moon, President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Modi.
We will discuss strengthening preparedness for future pandemics; promoting our future prosperity, business-led growth and championing free and fair trade, tackling climate change and protecting our planet; and supporting open societies, open economies and the international rules-based order.
Importantly, regional security in the Indo-Pacific will be a central part of our discussions.
Following the G7 in Cornwall, I will travel to London for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Johnson, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, ministers, senior national security and intelligence officials, and business leaders.
I look forward to engaging with the UK – Australia’s oldest friend – on our Free Trade Agreement.
I will also visit Paris to meet with President Macron and discuss how Australia and France can strengthen our defence and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to meet the region’s strategic challenges.
I will take the opportunity to visit the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to celebrate its 60th anniversary and discuss priorities with Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, who assumed the role on 1 June 2021.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack will be Acting Prime Minister during the period 10-17 June, while I am away.
During this time I will remain in constant contact with my ministers and officials regarding the health and economic responses to COVID-19 in Australia.
On my return to Australia, I will strictly follow health advice and quarantine requirements, as will accompanying staff, officials and media.
Q&A, Perth USAsia Centre - Perth, WA
9 June 2021
PROFESSOR GORDON FLAKE: You know, I wonder if you might talk a little bit more about what you see as the potential for hydrogen in your Government's priorities going forward. But more importantly for Australia's role in addressing on a technological level, the challenges of climate change.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the development of hydrogen in Australia will be one of the most exciting developments and biggest game changers in the transformation of the Australian economy, the new energy economy that will be a reality over the next 30 years. It just so happens, I was talking to a Western Australian this morning, I was talking to Andrew Forrest earlier today and he was in another far-flung [inaudible] early hours of the morning. And what has been done in our resources sector, we were having that conversation at our table, is a transformation and a realisation of what the energy economy's going to look like over the next 40 years. So that's just the reality.
The way the world will move towards zero emissions, I'm a firm believer that will be realised by technology, entrepreneurship, it will be realised by commercial transformation. Governments can provide a context for it, they can provide a framework to support it. But all the great energy revolutions of the world, going back centuries have always ultimately come through technological change and commercial enterprise. That's what's actually changed the world each and every time. Gas revolution in the United States, a classic example of how that fundamentally transformed, not only the U.S. domestic economy, manufacturing, but also geopolitics. And there wasn't, barely a government involved in it. Technology exploration, commercial interests and entrepreneurism - the world changed. I see it playing out the same way, as the world moves into a new energy economy which is supporting a net zero emissions outcome. But the only way that will be achieved is where companies like in Australia, which I think will be the showcase on the world. Australia's resources companies, will be the showcase around the world for how they've transformed their operations in the new energy economy to do what they do and be the best in the world at doing it. So many look in at Australia from far away and they look at our resources industry and they tend to think this is the reason why the world is warming, but quite the contrary. I think it will be our resources sector that will demonstrate how the world will change because of the incredible technological revolution that has taken place in that sector, whether it's in a hydrogen powered mining vehicle. Significant [inaudible] companies operate in Australia have their targets and they have been fully operational in some cases this year. And this story of Australia's technological innovation whether it be in the resources sector, whether it be in the aluminium smelting business or green aluminium, green steel, all of these things. This is what will enable Australia to do this and that's what our technology roadmap is about achieving. It's about ensuring that the hydrogen hubs that will be set up around the country will see that combination of innovation, commercialisation, research, technology and partnerships.
And the partnerships I listed a set of countries in my remarks, whether it be Germany, the United Kingdom, United States, South Korea, Japan and many others. They're all for the same solve, and hydrogen is in the middle of every single one of these conversations. There is not a conversation that I have about net zero, a conversation that I have about the new energy economy, that does not have hydrogen at the centre of that discussion. And here in Australia, we will, I believe, have the best regulatory environment. That's what we must achieve. And we need to ensure that around the world that the regulatory environment and taxation environments and others, do not see the development of the hydrogen economy in any way held back. We need to ensure that our regulatory systems embrace it and nurture it and enable what they can achieve to be achieved. That's how you address climate change.
PROFESSOR GORDON FLAKE: Well, if our experience in Western Australia is any indication, in your upcoming conversations with Prime Minister Suga from Japan and President Moon from South Korea, I'm very confident they'll be raising Hydrogen with you.
PRIME MINISTER: They will.
PROFESSOR GORDON FLAKE: There is a really busy international summit calendar. And one meeting that didn't get as much attention as it should have in Australia, was that remarkable virtual summit that you held on the 13th of March, of the Quad, of the United States, Japan, India and Australia. And against expectations the agenda that came out of that was quite far reaching, focusing on obviously climate change, but also on vaccines and vaccine diplomacy and technology etc. It really marked not just the first time ever the Quad was held at a leaders level, but also a much broader agenda than that. So, in the context of now the G7, the work that you've done in the G20 in the past, would you help us place the Quad and tell us how you see that very important relationship moving forward in the Indo-Pacific?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the first point I'd make is the point I make about the G7 Plus dialogue, and that is it is not a club. Not a club. It is a group of like-minded partnerships, liberal democracies, advanced economies that share a set of interests for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and that we want to enable that by our collective efforts, not just in areas which have been traditionally in defence cooperation, but more broadly in technology, in supply chains, in humanitarian efforts, in emergency response, in health and social policy, to demonstrate that this group of liberal democracies, advanced economies, which have benefited greatly from the region, are also investing back to part of the region to ensure that that prosperity and that freedom and that independence and that sovereignty can be enjoyed by all the nations of the Indo-Pacific.
We see the Quad together as leaders as an enabler. We see it as an accelerator of freedoms and prosperity and living standards within our region. We each individually do many things. And Australia has had and continues to have a remarkable relationship with ASEAN, and particularly Australia and Japan, because we live here, and India specifically, we understood the importance of the Quad and ASEAN being central to this outlook for the Indo-Pacific. And so this is why this is not a grouping, as I said, as a club that is seeking to compete or differentiate itself, it is another forum in which we are participating together to enable whether it is the agendas for these outcomes that ASEAN is pursuing. Or how we engage with that together through the East Asia Summit, which I put this as one of the first meetings that go in my calendar every year, if not the first. I can see Stephen nodding, I am sure it was the first in yours too. It is the most important meeting in our region because it brings together so many economies from so many different perspectives. So we take that very, very seriously. And I greatly appreciate it, from the President, his understanding of that and the importance of ASEAN and how it's about enabling the nations, their capability, their self-sufficiency, their sovereignty, their independence and so it's important for us as a Quad to keep reassuring the region that this is what it's about.
Now, equally we all share a view that it is another opportunity to demonstrate the virtue and value of liberal democracies and to see markets succeed. We're here to see trade expand. We're here to see technology transfer. We're here to enable all of those things, beyond what some might have seen purely in a quite narrow security, defence interests, which is of course important. But it is just so much more than that. And I think the President articulated it well in our meeting, and he enjoyed warm support from the rest of us who have been having those discussions, the three of us, Narendra and even most recently, Yoshi and I, and before it was Shinzo Abe, who was a key driver of that dialogue throughout the region.
PROFESSOR GORDON FLAKE: So the quote that in your speech that struck me is that quote that you attributed to President Biden saying that the Quad must demonstrate that liberal democracies at work. And I think you're probably pretty pleased with the press coverage today about your trip to the G7, suggesting that a strong economy and a remarkable response to COVID, that you're in a strong position. But, in some respects, the G7 Plus is preaching to the converted. So you highlighted that you can go back to the Biden quote, we have to prove that liberal democracies work to a broad audience. So the question I would have, whether it was ASEAN or the rest of the world, what does the G7 Plus or the Quad need to do to get the message out?
PRIME MINISTER: To get involved. So, I maybe don’t share the assessment of the- I'm not going to there to tell other liberal democracies that liberal democracies work. If they haven't worked that out by now, I can't help them. And they do know, they do understand. It's about, that we need, like I suspect in no time we've had to for a very long time, to be aligned in how we get that message across to the rest of the world that liberal democracies do provide a pathway to prosperity and freedom, which is incredibly important. And we believe that leads to greater stability within the region. And we respect other nations and their borders and their sovereignty, and whatever system they have in place. Like-minded is a term we tend to use, and it doesn't only refer to liberal democracies. I'll give you an example. Australia's relationship right now with Vietnam has probably never been better. Not saying that it was bad before, but it has been building over many years. We share, Vietnam and Australia, very similar views on the challenges and issues within the Indo-Pacific. Particularly, in the South China Sea, freedom of navigation and [inaudible], and all of those issues, we share very similar views. We share very similar views on trade. We share very similar views on technology. And on COVID. I just spoke to the new Prime Minister very recently and this is what we were discussing. So the message to G7, the message for Quad is we live here, we are involved. But what I'm seeing is that there's a need for greater alignment amongst liberal democracies a little bit further from here, that what is happening here in the Indo-Pacific and the strategic competition, which is occurring [inaudible], Australia and countries of the region, it extends globally and it is necessary for that appreciation to be stressed, or I should say enhanced. And I'm seeking to encourage even greater alignment amongst the liberal democracies of the world to understand where we're at right now and what we all need to do.
PROFESSOR GORDON FLAKE: So let me ask one final question that I think will be of particular interest here in Western Australia, where there is such an intense reliance on exports, upon the liberal rules-based system. In your remarks, you made a very clear point that it's not about a closed circle. It's about maintaining an open rules based system. I wonder if you make an assessment of number one, where do you think the primary challenges are to that rules-based system? And then the particular role of Australia, we're one member now of the G7 Plus, we are one member of the Quad, we are one member of the G20, what is our role? Because, again, we do have this mantra about a rules based order, a liberal rules based system, because we rely on it so much. What is our role in maintaining it and expanding it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I have two favourite quotes which go to the answer. One was from Bill English, the former New Zealand Prime Minister who said 'no one's ever got rich selling things to themselves.' And he said that at a dialogue that we had, which was pointing out that Australia and New Zealand are shared in our outlook about the need for trade to be the basis of our prosperity as trading nations. So Bill's right. And Australia's prosperity will always depend on being an open trading environment. The second one relates to how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. And that's what dealing with reform in the WTO is a bit like. But that doesn't mean it's not time to chow down. You need to. You need to take each and every step.
Now what are the steps that can be taken? The two biggest challenges and Robert and I were discussing this at the table before. Of course, the Appellate Body and the frustrations that have been present there for some time, need to be resolved. Need to be sorted. This thing needs to start working again and resolving disputes. The other part is these organisations can be incredibly bureaucratic and they can take an enormously long time. And so it's important that the justice of the outcomes around trade disputes not just be delivered, but delivered in a timely way and we need to redouble our efforts to ensure that can be achieved. Otherwise, the rules based order will become impotent when it comes to these things. Now, you can start to do that, this is the one bite at a time principle, by focusing on particular areas where you may speed it up. Our digital trade agreements, we concluded one with Singapore a few years ago now, and what we've done in trying to reform rules around digital commerce and online commerce has been one of the more positive developments where we have seen [inaudible] take place in this space. Disputes are best resolved if they never have to end up in those processes, but knowing they work and they'll be there is integral to ensure the front-end of it more effectively. So I think where Australia's focus is ensuring that there are standards and various agreements are existing between nations, in new areas of commerce, are very compliant with what the broader principles are.
So, our technicians in the trade space are doing a lot of work [inaudible], and we've got a lot of kudos and a lot of good credibility, I think the progress we're making there. So we'll keep doing that. It's a very painstaking and detailed agenda and it just requires continued application and having more like minded nations around the world working with us to that end. And the larger economies of the world will always have particular interests that sometimes can clash with these reforms efforts and we've seen that. And I'm not talking about China, the US position in these areas has of course been greatly frustrating. But we can have those honest conversations with them and I look forward to having them again, and Australia won't be the only one making those points. But we make those points as friends, seeking the outcome that we both wish to see achieved.
PROFESSOR GORDON FLAKE: On these specific issues, let me congratulate your Government on its foresight in supporting the candidacy of our mutual friend and your former colleague and our former Senator from WA, Mathias Cormann, who is Secretary-General of the OECD. I know for the past week he's already been in London, ahead of the G7 Finance Ministers meeting, wrestling with many of the exact same issues. So a pretty impressive advance team you've got.
PRIME MINISTER: Well just on the Mathias point, because it goes to what you were just asking. We have taken a very targeted approach to a number of multilateral fora, where we think we can add value and the OECD is a critical one. And the reason we decided to do that was to that the OECD brings together the liberal democracies of the advanced world. And so finding commonality across a whole range of these, what are often quite technical issues in regulatory systems and tax systems. That's what makes the economy work if it achieves the type of reform across jurisdictions. So Mathias will do a great job in that way, he's someone who believes strongly in business led growth, not government led growth and that's certainly our view. We see that this is the way the world will recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it'll be businesses and business led economies that do that in the developed world.