Media Releases
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards winners for 2021
15 December 2021
The best of Australian literature, history and poetry has been celebrated today at the announcement of the 2021 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards at the Sydney Opera House.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the awards highlighted the creativity of Australia’s writers and celebrate their enrichment of our culture and identity.
“In these testing times literature carries even more importance, connecting us to a range of Australian voices and bringing us closer together,” the Prime Minister said.
“I congratulate this year’s winners and thank them for their contribution. They have continued a tradition of excellence and creativity in our writing that is recognised by lovers of books everywhere.”
Minister Fletcher said the annual Awards provided much-deserved acknowledgement for Australian authors and celebrate the art of literature.
“This year’s Awards have highlighted the outstanding talent of Australia’s literary community which has enriched lives of many people across the world,” Minister Fletcher said.
“In a year where much of the country relied on reading to access the world beyond their own four walls, this is an opportunity to recognise the authors whose voices have entertained and sustained us.
“Congratulations to all the winners, as well as those who were shortlisted, for engaging the imaginations of Australians young and old.”
The Awards are presented in six categories – children's literature, young adult literature, fiction, poetry, non-fiction and Australian history – with a total prize pool of $600,000.
For more information about the winning and shortlisted works go to www.arts.gov.au/pmla
The 2021 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards winners are:
Fiction
The Labyrinth, Amanda Lohrey, Text Publishing
Non-fiction
The Stranger Artist: Life at the Edge of Kimberley Painting, Quentin Sprague, Hardie Grant Publishing
Australian history
People of the River: Lost Worlds of Early Australia, Grace Karskens, Allen & Unwin
Poetry
The Strangest Place, New and Selected Poems, Stephen Edgar, Black Pepper
Children’s literature
Fly on the Wall, Remy Lai, Walker Books Australia
How to Make a Bird, Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Matt Ottley, Walker Books Australia
Young adult literature
Metal Fish, Falling Snow, Cath Moore, Text Publishing
Interview with Spencer Howson, 4BC
15 December 2021
SPENCER HOWSON: Scott Morrison, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Spencer.
HOWSON: Are you in Queensland yet or are you flying in today?
PRIME MINISTER: Not yet. We’ll be up there very, very soon. Heading up there this morning and looking forward to to meeting with a lot of young people, talking about the challenges that they face in dealing with social media. This is a big focus, has been for our Government over the past three years, taking on those big tech giants to make sure that the online world can be safe, particularly for our kids. As a parent, I know it's it's one of the things that totally concerns us, and I know for so many parents. This is one of the key issues that our Government has been so focused on, and at the end of the day, that's what matters most to families - focusing on the things that matter most to them.
HOWSON: You're launching this, it's called the Online Safety Youth Advisory Council - 20 young Australians, 13 to 24 years of age. What will they do? Who will they be?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they'll be working in with Julie Inman Grant, who is the, is the world's first eSafety Commissioner, and Julie has some significant powers that enables her to work directly with the tech giants to have material taken down. It helps us better understand the challenges that young people are facing in the online world. Now, we've already taken strong action on these issues. We’ve already introduced laws to support the safety of people online. And when we come back in in February, we’ll be, we’ll be implementing more laws which hold these digital companies to account and unmask the trolls, to make it not possible for people to pretend to be someone else. If they, if they won't tell the digital companies who they are, then we’ll hold the digital companies legally responsible directly, and it’s a world first. I was just talking to the Korean President about it last night, and they were very interested in in the leadership that Australia is showing in this area. And it's just such an enormous issue. I mean, our kids are growing up in a completely different digital world to the one we did. And we need to keep them safe. And it's particularly true for women and for girls. The online space is a place where they get trolled, they get harassed, they get abused, and we’ve got to do everything we can to keep them safe.
HOWSON: Will this Online Safety Youth Advisory Council start before the election, or is this an election promise?
PRIME MINISTER: No, we hope, we hope that that will start before then. That's our intention. So we're just moving on that now. It's it's just one additional thing we're doing. We've done so much in this area and have been recognised around the world for doing it. We have been the first to really stand up to these big tech giants and hold them accountable. They've built this world. They've got to make it safe. I mean, it's got great advantages. Of course it does. But, at the same time, it has to be safe.
HOWSON: Prime Minister, you're a casual COVID contact this morning after being at an event on Friday night. Is it still safe for you to come to Queensland today?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, and that's been confirmed by the Chief Medical Officer and Queensland authorities. I've had two PCR tests since then, and that's what living with the virus is. I mean, the virus is there. Omicron is in Australia and we're going to live with this virus. We're not going to let it drag us back to where we've been. We've got one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. We're about to tip over 90 per cent double dose vaccinated all around the country. Yesterday, we had another bumper day in terms of our booster program. Almost 100,000 got their boosters yesterday, and we need people to keep going out and getting their boosters. It's it’s one of the key weapons we've got against Omicron, but we've got to keep moving forward. We can't, we can't slip back. It's great Queensland's opened up, but we need to make sure we're using better and faster methods to ensure that we can get people back in the community doing what they love doing, reclaiming their lives. Time for Australians to step forward and for government's, frankly, to step back. I think Australians have had just about enough of governments telling them what to do.
HOWSON: You hosted the South Korean President last night for dinner, as as you mentioned already. Should he be concerned that you're a casual contact from that event on Friday night?
PRIME MINISTER: No, they totally were not. They were totally relaxed about it. That's the thing. The world's living with it, so we've got to live with it. And these are, there are simple tools that we have to manage it. And and I think, you know, just got to be careful. Of course we're taking Omicron desperately seriously. We are. But we're not about to start going backwards. We're going to keep going forwards. I mean, the livelihoods of Australians depend on it, the health of Australians. We have one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID. We have the, one of the strongest advanced economies in the world as we’ve pushed through COVID, and we want to continue that, and we've got one of the highest vaccination rates, which means we can fight this thing. We don't have to surrender to it.
HOWSON: What do you make of these two flights that came into Queensland on Monday and every passenger on board is now in home quarantine for 14 days, including Christmas? It's it’s hard to get confident again about travelling, isn't it, when when that's going on?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think that's a fair comment. But, you know, and of course, we've got to be careful, and I understand that's the intention of the Queensland Government. But what I would hope would happen is that they would be doing everything they possibly can. It's not Christmas yet, for around, almost two weeks. And, so, PCR testing, being able to look at ways to ensure people will be able to join their families before Christmas, I would hope, was a very high priority for them. I mean, there's nothing magical about 14 days, but with PCR testing and other things that can be done, I'm sure those who have been caught up in that would be happy to have those tests every single day for five days or seven days to ensure that they’d be able to be with their families. That's a matter for the Queensland Government. They're the ones who've made this decision. But I think we've got to be more innovative and we've got to be finding ways to let people re-join the community. That's got to be our goal. And governments have got to be fleet-footed and innovative and thinking of those that are impacted by this to ensure that they can be reunited. It's ultimately a decision for the Queensland Government and I understand what they're seeking to do. But Omicron is in Australia and we've got to live with it. We can't live in fear of it.
HOWSON: So then, when are we going to see cruise operators given the green light, if we've got to live with this? They, P&O today are cancelling a raft of cruises. They say that cruising from February 17, which is what it's been put back to at this point, you know, then they've got to ramp up, they've got to get the ships to Australia. It's very frustrating.
PRIME MINISTER: It's terribly frustrating. We’re, the Federal Government is keen to move on this as soon as we can, and we're, and we're waiting for the clearances out of the state health authorities, including here in my home state. And I know here in New South Wales they’re they're working to get that done. I understand that it's, you know, they've got to get it right. And, so, we're still being patient about it. But I agree we've got to get on with this.
HOWSON: But on on the one hand you're saying we need to, we need to live with COVID, we need to just get on with it. But on the other the, it's the Federal Government and the state governments that are both responsible, is it not, for the fact that there is no cruising?
PRIME MINISTER: We're ready to move. We’re ready to move.
HOWSON: Alright. It’s in the, it's in the hands of the state. Just just finally, tomorrow you're announcing, I think, this reverse mortgage scheme in the mid-year Budget update, a cash access scheme for pensioners. How will that work?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've had a pension loan scheme for some time, but this is making it even more attractive by reducing the interest rate. And what it means is that - and it's not just pensioners, it's pension age, so self-funded retirees, others, you don't have to be on the pension to to access this - but this enables them to draw on the equity in their own home through a Government scheme. I I know many pensioners in particular, as I was Treasurer when we first started opening up this scheme and making it more attractive, are concerned about going into reverse mortgages with banks and those sorts of things. I understand those concerns. There’s some good products there, but what this does is provides another what would be considered a safe alternative for them to be able to access the equity in their own home to improve their incomes and their living standards in their retirement years. It just gives them another tool to be able to have a better quality of life in their retirement and using that equity in their own home to be able to achieve. Now, it’s a choice. It's an option for them and it's there to give people that opportunity. And it's been made more attractive in MYEFO to ensure people can have that opportunity and another thing to consider.
HOWSON: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thanks for being on 4BC Breakfast this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, looking forward to being in Brisbane. All the best.
HOWSON: Good on you.
mRNA Vaccines to be Made in Australia
14 December 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Minister for Health and Aged Care
A new sovereign vaccine manufacturing facility will be built in Australia to produce respiratory mRNA vaccines for potential future pandemics and seasonal health issues as part of a new in principle agreement between the Australian Government, Victorian Government and global mRNA company Moderna.
The sovereign on-shore facility will be built in Victoria as part of a long term strategic partnership, secured by the Morrison Government, to increase preparedness for possible future pandemics, including priority access to vaccines, research and development, clinical trials and global supply chain access.
The in principle deal will mean in a pandemic 100 million mRNA vaccines could be produced in Australia each year, starting in 2024 pending regulatory and planning approval, with priority access to both pandemic and non-pandemic respiratory mRNA vaccines, including potential seasonal flu vaccines.
mRNA technology is part of the next generation in advanced health care, it has already helped save hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives worldwide from COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said mRNA technology would play an important and growing role in response to future health issues and securing a sovereign on-shore mRNA technology was critical.
“This investment will continue to secure Australia’s future economic prosperity while protecting lives by providing access to world-leading mRNA vaccines made on Australian soil,” the Prime Minister said.
“The new mRNA manufacturing facility in Victoria will produce respiratory vaccines for potential future pandemics and seasonal health issues such as the common flu, protecting lives and livelihoods.”
“Medical manufacturing is at the heart of our Modern Manufacturing Initiative, creating jobs and securing Australia’s economic recovery, with more than a million Australians back working in manufacturing, the highest level since Labor let it fall in 2009.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said that ATAGI’s recent recommendation on Moderna’s booster dose was a further testament to their advancements in mRNA.
“Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is now available through all channels and just this past Sunday, following expert advice from ATAGI, I was proud to be one of the first in the nation to receive it as a booster dose,” Minister Hunt said.
“Ensuring Moderna has a manufacturing presence here will deliver Australia priority access to products manufactured here in Australia, by Australians, for Australians, using the most cutting edge vaccination science available in the world today.”
“This is another key pillar in Australia’s long term medical manufacturing future, and we are looking forward to finalising the agreements with Moderna as soon as possible.”
Once operational, Moderna will help meet Australia’s ongoing needs for COVID-19 vaccines, and for other respiratory mRNA vaccines as they are developed and approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham said the arrival of onshore mRNA manufacturing would allow Australia to continue to play a role as a world leader in medical research.
“Moderna will become a vital part of Australia’s mRNA research and development landscape, bringing investment and opportunities for the entire research sector,” Minister Birmingham said.
“This investment will mean world-leading clinical trials, a strong local workforce and creating opportunities through supply chain activities, helping to drive Australia’s economy forward.”
“This is a further endorsement of Australia’s capacity to be a world-leader in the fields of health and medical research.”
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Government is ensuring Australia maximises the long-term value of any investment in mRNA.
“These discussions to develop a local advanced manufacturing capability build on our $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy and the opportunities in the Medical Products National Manufacturing Priority road map, helping to chart the course to bring new jobs to the local biotech sector,” Minister Taylor said.
“Our approach is all about ensuring we can have access to, and are able to develop, the next generation of medicines for Australians, and to make sure that Australia’s biopharmaceutical sector and community is at the forefront of that”.
In order to promote the development of an mRNA sector in Australia, the Australian Government will also invest up to $25 million from 2022-23 in the 2021 mRNA Clinical Trials Enabling Infrastructure Grant Opportunity.
This funding will directly support Australian medical research and medical innovation projects that leverage and enhance emerging technologies, platforms, equipment and infrastructure to conduct clinical trials of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics.
This grant opportunity forms part of the Government’s Coronavirus Research Response, which is funded through the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund.
Australia-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
14 December 2021
1. On 13 December 2021, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia, welcomed His Excellency Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, on a state visit to Australia.
I. COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
2. Recalling both countries having stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the Korean War, the two leaders reflected on the shared history between Australia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the occasion of this year’s 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. They recognised that the strong strategic, economic and people-to-people ties that have developed between Australia and the ROK are not only of mutual benefit, but contribute to our common vision of an open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Demonstrating their ambition to further deepen and fulfil the potential of this vibrant, modern relationship, the two leaders announced its elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
3. The CSP builds on already strong cooperation and trusted dialogue between the two governments across many mutual interests, flourishing economic ties, and affinity between our peoples. It is enlivened by our shared values of democracy and universal human rights, and our commitment to a regional and global order where international law, rules and norms guide cooperation on common challenges, drive economic prosperity, promote the peaceful resolution of disputes, and ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. It is these common principles that underpin Australia’s approach to the Indo-Pacific and the ROK’s New Southern Policy Plus. A program of enhanced bilateral cooperation under three pillars – strategic and security; economic, innovation and technology; and people-to-people exchange – will underpin the CSP.
II. STRATEGIC AND SECURITY COOPERATION
4. The security of Australia and the ROK is tied to the stability, openness, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order that protects the rights and sovereignty of states regardless of size or power. Our coordination toward these objectives has deepened since the establishment of the biennial 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting in 2013. Prime Minister Morrison and President Moon agreed to extend bilateral cooperation across security and defence, cyber and critical technologies, health, border protection, and development cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
5. Australia and the ROK have expanded our defence cooperation since 1953 to include joint bilateral and multilateral military exercises, and bilateral military education and training, and have worked together for the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. In recognition of this, leaders acknowledged that this Joint Statement reflects deepening defence and security cooperation between our armed forces, building upon the 2014 Vision Statement.
6. Leaders agreed to promote closer cooperation between our defence industries, particularly on strengthening regional defence materiel supply chains. To support greater engagement in this area, Australia and the ROK have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Industry and Defence Materiel Cooperation. This will allow the ROK’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration to work more closely with Australia’s Defence Capability, Acquisition and Sustainment Group to share information on procurement practices. Leaders also agreed to strengthen collaboration in the field of defence science and technology, including cooperation with other allies and partners. They noted that procuring and operating an increasing number of similar platforms will support improved coordination during joint and combined exercises, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
7. Australia and the ROK recognise pandemic response as a global health and economic challenge for the Indo-Pacific. Leaders welcomed the contributions the two countries have made through coordination on the transparent and equitable supply of COVID-19 vaccines to our region. They committed to pursue further coordination on COVID-19 responses, including by enhancing cooperation on vaccine access and delivery, while working together and with partners to build regional countries’ preparedness for future pandemics. Leaders welcomed the first Australia-ROK Tech-Bridge in September 2021, which supported collaborative research projects on applications of artificial intelligence to counter infectious disease, and noted the two governments’ support for closer cooperation between Australian and Korean industries on vaccine research and development, including through an inaugural roundtable and health officials’ workshop.
8. Australia and the ROK are natural partners for Southeast Asia and ASEAN and recognise the region’s stability and prosperity as indispensable to an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The two leaders reaffirmed their support for ASEAN centrality, and the East Asia Summit as the region’s premier forum for leaders’ strategic discussions. They expressed their commitment to the principles outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and to expanding existing cooperation to support practical implementation of the AOIP. This will include coordination between relevant infrastructure programs led by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Korean Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND). The ROK and Australia will also co-host a forum focused on enhancing maritime connectivity in Southeast Asia, in support of ASEAN’s connectivity agenda. Leaders further announced they would explore a package of cyber and critical technology initiatives to support Southeast Asia’s digital revolution, and welcomed the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding on a Digital Cooperation Initiative in Southeast Asia.
9. Leaders underscored their shared vision of an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful cyberspace that drives economic prosperity, protects national security and promotes international stability. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cyber and Critical Technology Cooperation by Foreign Ministers on 13 September 2021, as well as the inaugural Cyber and Critical Technology Policy Dialogue on 9 December 2021.
10. As major maritime trading nations, Australia and the ROK recognise that the stability of the Indo-Pacific depends on adherence to international law in the maritime domain, including in the South China Sea. Leaders underscored that disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They reaffirmed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight. They agreed to strengthen coordination to uphold these principles, which must not be undermined in the context of increasing risks of instability in the maritime domain.
11. Australia and the ROK will also work together to protect our maritime domains. To support these efforts, leaders agreed that Australia’s Department of Home Affairs and the Korea Coast Guard will enhance information sharing and practical cooperation on civil maritime security between our countries to promote a secure regional maritime domain.
12. Reaffirming their commitment to deepen partnerships with Pacific Island countries and support the region’s economic recovery and resilience, the leaders noted the need for stable, inclusive Pacific architecture to facilitate regional collaboration. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work with Pacific Island countries in areas such as health, infrastructure, disaster response and maritime capacity-building.
13. The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and agreed that Australia and the ROK would continue to coordinate closely through bilateral and multilateral cooperation on these areas. They underscored their mutual commitment to the complete denuclearisation and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, based on previous agreements including the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, Pyongyang Joint Declaration, and Singapore Joint Statement. Leaders called for the full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions by the international community, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). President Moon appreciated Prime Minister Morrison’s strong support for the ROK’s efforts for substantive progress toward permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Leaders also affirmed that diplomacy and dialogue are essential to achieve the complete denuclearisation and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
III. ECONOMIC, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
14. Trade and investment between Australia and the ROK have grown significantly since the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) entered into force in 2014. Prime Minister Morrison and President Moon expressed their strong commitment to enhancing our existing strong economic ties.
15. Agriculture, fisheries and forestry are key pillars of economic activity in rural and regional communities in the ROK and Australia. Recognising the importance of agriculture to both countries and building on the first meeting of the ROK-Australia Committee on Agricultural Cooperation in 2021, Prime Minister Morrison and President Moon agreed the ROK and Australia would deepen ties on agriculture. The two governments agreed to collaborate in sustainable agriculture, biosecurity, food safety, agricultural innovation, resilient supply chains and mutual food security to deliver ongoing benefits to each country’s agricultural sector.
16. Prime Minister Morrison and President Moon reaffirmed their support for the Low and Zero Emissions Technology Partnership, announced on 31 October 2021, which will accelerate the development and commercialisation of technologies to reduce emissions and create new economic opportunities. Australia and the ROK will collaborate and provide funding to the Partnership to support tangible initiatives. Early priorities include supply of clean hydrogen (including hydrogen-based compounds), low emissions iron ore and steel, and carbon capture, use and storage.
17. Australia and ROK will also work together to advance clean hydrogen cooperation with a focus on trade, supply chain development, support for infrastructure, expanding use in the transport and power sector, institutional agreements, and enabling regulatory and skills reforms. Leaders affirmed their shared commitment to ambitious action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, and to technology-led approaches that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also growing our economies and creating jobs. They welcomed the signature by the Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy of the ROK and the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction of Australia of a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Implementation Plan for Low and Zero Emissions Technologies and Collaboration to Advance a Clean Hydrogen Economy.
18. The ROK and Australia will increase cooperative efforts to ensure supply chain resilience for critical minerals and associated products. Leaders recognised that cooperation across these supply chains would provide increased certainty of supply to the renewable energy and advanced manufacturing sectors. They welcomed the signature by the Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy of the ROK and the Minister for Resources and Water of Australia of a Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Mineral Supply Chains and agreed that the ROK-Australia Critical Minerals Working Group would lead collaboration across several joint initiatives, including supply chain mapping, research and development, and trade and investment opportunities. Leaders also committed to driving greater links between the two countries’ private sectors, focused on connecting stakeholders at key points of the supply chain to bolster two-way trade and investment.
19. President Moon and Prime Minister Morrison agreed to enhance Australia-ROK cooperation on digital trade. Leaders acknowledged the robust contributions by both countries to discussions on digital trade issues in multilateral forums and agreed to expand bilateral links on this topic. They agreed to continue working with like-minded partners to establish a regional digital trade initiative. An Australia-ROK Dialogue on Digital Trade, to be held in early 2022, will discuss global trade rules that reduce barriers to digital trade and explore opportunities for practical collaboration on digital trade issues.
20. Australia and the ROK are close partners on earth observation and imagery captured from space. To complement the establishment of an annual Australia-ROK Space Policy Dialogue, Australia and the ROK have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Space Cooperation for Peaceful Purposes to promote joint studies, research and activities between institutes and industries acting in the space sector. At the inaugural dialogue in 2022, Australian and Korean officials will explore bilateral space cooperation and support international efforts to develop norms of behaviour in space to contribute to shaping a safe, secure and sustainable space domain. The two governments will explore enhancing links between space science communities in Australia and the ROK through the 2022 Australia-ROK Tech-Bridge, which will focus on space cooperation.
21. Leaders acknowledged the importance of multilateral rules and institutions in promoting free and open international trade. They expressed their commitment to open, inclusive, sustainable and transparent market economy principles and the rules-based international trading system that should not be compromised by the misuse of economic policies and measures in ways that cause economic harm. They further undertook to promote closer alignment in approaches to multilateral institutions and forums including the WTO, APEC, G20 and the OECD. Both Australia and the ROK have demonstrated our commitment to rules-based regional economic integration through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Australia welcomes the ROK’s interest in accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
IV. ENHANCING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE LINKS
22. Prime Minister Morrison and President Moon noted that the affinity, mutual respect and connections between the peoples of Australia and the Republic of Korea have promoted mutual understanding of each country’s history, cultural heritage and modern outlook, and underpin the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Morrison noted that the community of Australians of Korean descent is a proud element of Australia’s multicultural society. The two leaders agreed that greater cooperation across arts exchange, research collaboration, education, tourism and entertainment, would further deepen people-to-people links and strengthen the CSP for generations to come, and welcomed the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Socio-Cultural Cooperation to guide common efforts to this end.
23. Leaders acknowledged the Korea Foundation’s (KF) and the Australia-Korea Foundation’s (AKF) critical role in promoting bilateral partnerships and other collaborations in business, education, academia, arts, culture, and society. Leaders welcome the foundations’ agenda of collaborative work supporting the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Socio-Cultural Cooperation, including through bilateral endeavours in arts and culture, education and research, next generation technology, health, sport and gender equality.
24. Noting shared democratic values, Prime Minister Morrison and President Moon agreed to deepen cooperation on human rights, in particular gender equality. Leaders agreed the strength of our democracies is underpinned by women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership. Australia and the ROK recommitted to the Women, Peace and Security agenda established by UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Leaders agreed to work together to end violence against women and girls, including cyber-exploitation, through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. They welcomed the recent joint position statement against image-based abuse and agreed Australia and the ROK should pursue cooperation in this area while joining voices in condemning the violence and harassment of all people online, including women and girls.
V. IMPLEMENTATION
25. Australia and the ROK committed to hold annual leaders’ meetings to provide oversight of the CSP and to further deepen economic and strategic cooperation.
26. Foreign and Defence Ministers will continue to meet biennially in a 2+2 format to progress initiatives under the strategic and security pillar of the CSP. Foreign Ministers will meet bilaterally in the years between 2+2s to pursue broader CSP initiatives. Relevant ministries will drive implementation of the economic pillar of the CSP, including through annual meetings between Trade Ministers.
27. Ministerial meetings will continue to be underpinned by robust bilateral architecture at senior officials’ level, including an annual Strategic Dialogue, Defence Policy Talks, an annual Joint Economic Committee, Joint Committee for Energy and Mineral Resources Consultations and Cooperation, a dialogue on bilateral coordination on and support for ASEAN and Southeast Asia, and high-level consultations on development cooperation.
Australia and Republic of Korea Sign New Deals on Clean Energy Tech and Critical Minerals
13 December 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for Science and Technology
Australia and the Republic of Korea have cemented their commitment to a net zero emissions future, by agreeing detailed work plans on clean energy technology and critical minerals.
This follows the high-level partnership agreed between leaders ahead of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the two nations shared a commitment to technology-led solutions in approaching the challenges and opportunities of climate change.
“We committed to working together over the next decade and beyond to develop and drive the uptake of low and zero emission technologies,” the Prime Minister said.
“Australia and the Republic of Korea share a joint commitment to ambitious action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, and to make sure we make the most of new technologies which will help lower emissions while also growing our economies and creating jobs.
“This agreement is the next step in identifying real-world opportunities and nailing down a collective approach to funding.
Australia has announced an initial commitment of $50 million to the Partnership, with the Republic of Korea to match Australia’s funding contribution subject to domestic processes. Together, the governments are aiming to invest up to $100 million towards initiatives under the Partnership.
Minister Taylor said the Low and Zero Emissions Technology Partnership would strengthen cooperation on low emissions technologies which would be crucial to help Australia achieve its Long Term Emissions Reduction Plan.
“We look forward to collaborating on a range of new technologies, with initial focus on initiatives in clean hydrogen and other derivatives; low emissions iron ore and steel; and carbon capture and storage,” Minister Taylor said.
“Our two countries share the ambition of advancing the development and commercialisation of low and zero emissions technologies so they can achieve cost parity with high-emitting technologies as soon as possible.”
The Partnership recognises the shared commitment between Australia and the Republic of Korea to reduce emissions while growing economies and creating jobs, and builds on partnerships already entered into with Germany, Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom.
The Prime Minister said the new critical minerals partnership between Australia and the Republic of Korea complemented the clean energy technology cooperation between the two countries.
“Australia and particularly Western Australia has significant reserves of the critical minerals that will be essential to future technologies not just in energy but across a range of industries,” the Prime Minister said.
“More and more countries are realising the untapped opportunities we have right here for critical minerals exports, and this partnership isn’t just about developing those but also helping secure those essential supply chains.”
Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said the Partnership presents an opportunity to expand cooperation on clean technologies and critical minerals.
“Commercial cooperation and investment from the Republic of Korea in Australian critical minerals will create new jobs across Australia, particularly in regional areas,” Minister Price said.
“Australia is blessed with strong reserves of critical minerals, and these precious resources will drive the new energy economy into the future.”
$1 Billion Defence Contract, Sovereign Defence Manufacturing Facility in Geelong Announced
13 December 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for Science and Technology
The Morrison Government has announced a $1 billion defence contract for new Self-Propelled Howitzers for the Australian Army has been awarded to Hanwha Defense Australia. The contract signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea today.
Based in Greater Geelong, the contract will procure Self-Propelled Howitzers and Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles, under the LAND 8116 Phase 1 project. The Government committed to this project in May 2019.
“Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the Republic of Korea is underpinned by our joint commitment to defence and security cooperation. The contract with Hanwha demonstrates the value of industrial collaboration in supporting our countries in addressing mutual security challenges,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“We are partnering with Hanwha to create an Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in the Geelong region, which will establish a further strategic defence industry hub and future export opportunities for Australian businesses.
“This contract will create a minimum of 300 jobs spread across facility construction, acquisition and maintenance, as well as generating ongoing support opportunities for Australian industry until the late 2040s.
“My Government is securing Geelong’s place as front and centre of Australia’s defence industry.
“Australians know they can trust my Government to make the necessary decisions to secure Australia’s interests in an increasingly uncertain world, unlike Labor who delayed this project in government and then cancelled it when they took defence spending to its lowest level since before the Second World War.”
Minister for Defence, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, said this initial contract covers 30 Self-Propelled Howitzers, 15 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles, and weapon locating radars that help find enemy artillery, collectively referred to as the Huntsman family of vehicles.
“The prime ability of the new vehicles is to fire and move quickly, avoiding enemy counter-attack. This project will mean a significant increase in the level of firepower and security for Australian artillery capability,” Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said.
“We are committed to keeping our region safe, while protecting our interests in a rapidly changing global environment.
“The Self-Propelled Howitzer capability, including a strengthened industrial base, is one of several projects that will modernise the Australian Army, ensuring it continues to maintain a capability advantage now, and into the future.
“This new capability will give our soldiers the best possible chance of completing their missions and returning home safe to their families.”
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said investment in Australia’s domestic industrial base enhances our ability to sustain critical defence capabilities and further positions Australia as an exporter of military equipment and technology to our allies.
“The new facility will create hundreds of local jobs and become a national asset for military capability, supporting land combat vehicles for the Australian Army,” Minister Price said.
“Australian industry will play a vital role delivering and sustaining the Huntsman capabilities at the new facility. The announcement of this significant contract and the future facility is tremendous news for Victoria and working Australians, as well as defence companies across the country.”
Interview with Jim Wilson, 2GB
10 December 2021
Jim Wilson: Election is looming, and I'm very happy that the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, can join me live on the line. Prime Minister, welcome back to Drive.
Prime Minister: G'day Jim, good to talk you and your listeners.
Wilson: Thank you PM. Before we talk about the months ahead leading into the election, you've just come out of the last meeting of National Cabinet for the year. What were the main topics of discussion today?
Prime Minister: Omicron was the major topic of discussion today, as you'd expect it to be and getting an update on all that and we're progressing well, we're obviously getting more information. The severity of this virus is so far not presenting to be worse than what happened with Delta, and it's important that people get those vaccinations, as you say. I mean, Australia's vaccination right now is one of the highest in the world. We've just got WA to get past that 80 per cent mark and that will only be a couple of days away. We'll soon go past the 90 per cent mark for the country. But you combine that with one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, one of the strongest economies coming out of COVID. Then, you know, Australia is well set up for 2022, but I really want everyone to encourage everyone to go and get their boosters. This is really important, particularly with Omicron and we're looking carefully, but that booster program is available to everybody. You can get it from your GP, you can get it from your pharmacist. You can get it from the state based clinics as well. So if you are due for one of those, if it's been six months since your last second dose, then please go and get your booster because that will be important as we go into next year.
Wilson: Have you been concerned at all about the slow uptake as far as the booster goes, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: No, well actually the boosters, because you've got to have it six months from your last one. So we had a bumper day of over 30,000 just yesterday and there's been almost 650,000 people who have gone and get their boosters. And that's around about 75 per cent of those who are eligible for them now. So people are going and getting their boosters. And so I've just written to everybody encouraging them to go and do that around the country and together with the Chief Medical Officer and the Health Minister. And so we're really keen for you to go and do that. But today you would have seen that we made the announcement that on the 10th of January, we start the vaccination for 5 to 11 year olds. And so parents get to make those decisions, important decisions, for their children's health. And I was chatting to some of the young ones this morning and I said, I reckon their mums and dads will give them an ice cream or a bit of chocolate afterwards, because Professor Murphy told us, you know, Brendan is a tremendously calming influence on all of these things, he said, ‘you might get a bit of a sore arm, but that'll be about it’. And, and we've done really well with the 12 to 15 year olds when we started that in September. And in your intro, yeah, you're right, Jim, I mean, yeah, we had some challenges at the start, but it's about how you deal with it and we fix those problems. And we were able to land the vaccination program where we sit when we said we would. And so around 137,000 almost every single day since we started, and that's almost 100 a minute. That's what we've achieved. That's taken us a whole year to get there. And now, you know, we've got a vaccinated country, a strong economy, and we're heading to 2022, really positive, very confident.
Wilson: 88.9 per cent of our population are now fully vaccinated, have our stunning vaccine rates exceeded your expectations?
Prime Minister: No, no. I believed Australians would. I knew it would take time and I knew we just had to be persistent and and as we just added more and more and more to the program and, you know, with the pharmacists and the GPs and all the nurses out there and the GP respiratory clinics and all around the country, thousands and thousands of places where this was occurring. And you know, I knew I didn't have to pay them to do it or do anything like that. Others thought we had to pay people to do that. I didn't think so because I knew Australians knew it was important and that they wanted to see them get their lives back. And over the last couple of years, frankly, I think people are pretty sick and tired of governments telling them what to do. You know, they tell them whether they can get on the train, whether they can go to work, you know, when they can have a meal and all this sort of thing. It's been a very invasive time, necessarily, I'm sure we all agree, but the time for that is moving, moving on, time for governments to get out of people's face and let them get on with their lives.
Wilson: I want to ask you about the parliamentary culture and the report handed down by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins. It was very disturbing reading. It's clear there's an onus on all sides of the political aisle to take action, Prime Minister. When will you start implementing the 28 recommendations from the report?
Prime Minister: Well, let me say we were already implementing before it even was handed down. I mean, beginning right at the start of this year, we immediately put in place those 24 hour counselling lines. Very important, and a lot of people have been using those over the course of this year. We also commissioned to have an independent complaints process established, and we've already done that. And now these 28 recommendations I've already tasked, with Cabinet met on it just the other day and we're getting, we're getting on with that right now. We'll be making further announcements on that not too soon from now, and it will be done in a bipartisan way. Not just bipartisan, all all parties, this is, this is an issue in our workplace and it applies in the Labor Party. It applies in the Greens. It applies in our party. It applies, you know, everyone who works in that building. And I don't know whether people know this. But the report and the work they did also included surveys and talking to media that worked in that building. So it's a it's a problem that's owned by everyone in the building and everyone in this building in leadership is taking responsibility to get it fixed and working together to get it fixed. Because I want people to be safe in every workplace, including the one that we work in every day.
Wilson: Let's move our attention to the upcoming election. Firstly, would you be, are you disappointed that Gladys Berejiklian won't enter federal politics?
Prime Minister: Well, not just for me personally. I think, I think people in New South Wales would be. But I totally respect that decision. Look, I really am working hard to get as many wonderful female members into the parliament, and I've got more female members in my Cabinet than any other prime minister in Australia's history. I got a third of my Cabinet is female and I was very keen to see, you know, Gladys, come and join the team. And I'm sure people in New South Wales would welcome that too. But the other thing is, I totally respect her decision. You know, I've been very public about my views, about the way I think she's been treated and, and I thought that was awful.
Wilson: Do you stand by your kangaroo court reference?
Prime Minister: Well, it's about how information was being disclosed in the public arena about some of the most personal things. That's not justice. It's not. It's just not how people should be treated with respect, let alone the Premier of New South Wales. And you know, I've said my piece on that, Jim. People can have their view one way or the other, you know, I'll call it pretty straight. But look, Gladys, I respect her decision. She's a good friend. She's been great to Jen and I, particularly over these last few years, been a good friend and we've worked together, got through some really tough stuff. She's, as I said, blazing a new trial now. But the trail she's blazed both as Premier, as a great, strong woman in the Liberal Party has enabled so many more people to come through and I was with Dr Fiona Martin this morning. I mean, she's another one in the New South Wales branch and a great mate of both Gladys and I. Marise Payne has been blazing that trail for a very long time, and we've just got so many great women coming forward as candidates and already there in our parliament and in our Cabinet.
Wilson: Speaking to Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Independents are getting a lot of support and financial backing. Some cases, well, they're a genuine threat to certain Liberal seats. Is that a concern to you, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: Well, I, I don't, they’re the voices of Labor. I mean, what, I don't quite get this. So apparently they’re Independents, but they're only running against Liberals. I think people see that for what it is, and they're backed by some, you know, pretty big financial crowd who seem to want to trade, trade in seats like they trade in shares. I don't know. But this is not, I mean, the thing about these groups is they’re they're pretending not to be a party. They are a party. They're backed by some big money at the end of the day, and and they're about trying to attack the Liberal Party. I tell you who does a great job on the ground, Dave Sharma. Dave Sharma does a tremendous job on the ground in Wentworth, and, you know, you want to elect a local member who gets things done, and our Government members are getting things done. I mean, Trent Zimmerman over there in North Sydney, Fiona Martin in Reid, they're all doing great jobs and getting things done on the ground. And that's what matters. Rather than just being, you know, used as a, as someone to be the voice of of whatever money’s backing them and who wants to oppose the Government. So it doesn't sound very Independent to me. So when people hear Voices Of, hear voices of Labor and the Greens.
Wilson: Could we be facing the potential of a hung Parliament after the election? Would you look at forming a minority Government, if it came down to that?
Prime Minister: I intend to take the Government to the election for re-election, just I did, just as I did last time, and I, there were plenty of doubters last time, but we all know what happened. And I have great trust in the judgement of the Australian people, and they know the the key things we've got to focus on as we go into next year - optimistically, confidently - is to secure our economic recovery. Their jobs, their incomes, their wages, their economic opportunities, people, you know, wanting to do the best for their kids. And we've got to make sure that we keep Australians safe. We're very aware of the very real challenges that Australia faces as we, as we go into these these this next decade, whether it's the security issues in the region, cyber security issues, keeping women safe, keeping kids safe online. You know, the work I've been doing with Erin Molan in trying to ensure that we're keeping kids safe online and standing up to the big digital companies and and platforms to make sure they're making Facebook and Twitter and all of these things safer places for our kids. And so they don't become a, you know, a cesspit of abuse, which they can so often be and so damage young people's mental health and their lives. So keeping Australians safe, securing the economic recovery, that's what we're focused on. And I get really excited when I see what we've achieved in three years. Three years ago I stood up and I said, ‘We need to help people get into their homes.’ 320,000 Australians, in the last three years, we've been able to help to get into their home. At, when I made that commitment, the there was around just less than 100,000 Australians buying their first home. This year, 177,000. So we're getting people into homes, we're getting people into training. There are 217,000 apprentices in trade training right now. That is the highest level since records began in 1963, which is, by the way, when the Bathurst 1000 went to Bathurst, we were, which I enjoyed being at on the weekend. Did you catch the race, Jim?
Wilson: Yes, I did. I saw you up there. You were in your element, weren’t you. It was a, it’s a great race. I mean, it’s fantastic, it's just a great atmosphere and whatever. Just before I let you go, just a couple of quick ones. What can you tell our listeners about international borders reopening? Is it still tracking well for Christmas in a couple of weeks?
Prime Minister: Yes, it is. We're just taking some final bits of information. We discussed that today. With the moves that Queensland have made, that means people are going to be able to return back to Queensland and be quarantining at home. We’ve already, you know, got the 72 hours which we've got in New South Wales and Victoria. I know that South Australia is looking at those issues as well very soon. I mean, the National Plan, which I took to all the premiers and chief ministers, we got them to agree it twice. I remember when we got it through the second time, all the media were saying and others and critics saying ‘Oh, you know, it's not going to open up,’ and all the rest of it. Well, here we are. There's only one state that hasn't got there, but all other seven states and territories have got there. I knew they would because we made a deal with the Australian people and we said, ‘You roll up your sleeve, and we'll bring Australia back together again.’ And that's exactly what we've been doing. It's been a tough road, but we've been very, very consistent, very, very consistent. But …
Wilson: Are you confident, are you confident the premiers will stay the course and not go and shut borders at the blink of an eye?
Prime Minister: Well, well, I, they shouldn't, and I don't believe they will. And I think there was a good test of that in the last few days, when Premier Marshall decided not to go back that way and keep going forward, when Premier Palaszczuk decided to open up just that little bit earlier, and I think we're really getting the message through. You, as you know, I've been advocating this for a very long time and pushing this very hard. It's, you know, the federation is, you know, is a is a is a challenging environment, because all the premiers and chief ministers have their own powers. There's no power for me to come over the top and make them do X, Y or Z. They haven't been given any additional powers during this pandemic, the same powers they’ve had for over 100 years. It's just that we don't have a pandemic every other, every other year. They turn up like this about once every 100 years. And so that has enlivened a lot of those powers, but you've got to sort of get them there together. And that's what we've done. We got the deal in place and I'm pleased to see so many of them have kept that deal with the Australian people. And I can tell you, I certainly have.
Wilson: Well, a huge thank you for coming on my final show for the year. I hope you, Jenny and the kids have a great Christmas, Prime Minister. And I might see you at the cricket …
Prime Minister: Yes.
Wilson: … and we could talk about your loved Sharks ahead of the NRL season as well, as is the tradition.
Prime Minister: I look forward to that, and I'm looking forward to seeing Pat and the boys just continue on with this great start. I mean, can you remember a better first ball in an Ashes?
Wilson: Oh, it was wonderful, and I love how Warnie’s changed his tune on Mitchell Starc, sort of going … It was wonderful, it was great. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins - what a dream debut as captain. I know you love your cricket.
Prime Minister: Yeah.
Wilson: You have a great Christmas, Prime Minister, and thanks for your time this arvo.
Prime Minister: Good on you guy, good on you mate, thanks a lot Jimmy. Bye.
New Approval Allows Australia To Rollout Covid-19 Vaccines For 5 To 11-Year-Olds
10 December 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Health and Aged Care
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program will be extended to all children aged 5 to 11 years from 10 January 2022, after the Australian Government accepted recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
Vaccination experts on ATAGI have recommended the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine be made available to all children aged 5 to 11 years to help prevent serious illness from COVID-19. The vaccine for this age group is one-third of the dosage given to people aged 12 years and over.
This is the second of four critical steps to be completed before January 10, with next steps including childhood specific vaccination training for healthcare providers and batch testing of doses by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The Prime Minister said keeping our kids healthy and safe is important to every family.
“This will be welcome news for millions of families across the country who want the opportunity for their children to be vaccinated,” the Prime Minister said.
“In one month from today, around 2.27 million Aussie kids aged five to 11 years will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeve and get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“This will bring great relief to so many mums and dads, who now have a choice on what’s best for their kids. They can have peace of mind knowing this has the tick from the best medical regulators in the world.
“Australia is a proud vaccination nation, especially when it comes to protecting our kids, with more than 95 per cent of all five-year-olds currently fully vaccinated against other diseases.
“Vaccinating our kids is the next step in our National Plan, which has continually provided us with a safe, step by step pathway to keeping Australians safe throughout the pandemic.
“Australia has a strong record of dealing with COVID, we have one of the lowest fatality rates, highest vaccination rates and strongest economies in the world.”
ATAGI, after reviewing clinical data from Canada, recommended an eight-week interval between the two doses, which can be shortened to three weeks in special circumstances such as outbreak settings.
Clinical trials have shown the vaccine to be more than 90 per cent effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 from seven days after a person has had their second dose. The vaccine was demonstrated to be well tolerated, with most adverse effects being mild and transient.
Whilst most children who get COVID will have mild or no symptoms, some children will experience severe disease and can be sick for months from COVID related complications.
This year, the effects of lockdowns on the mental health of children have been all too prominent – with children missing school, activities and the benefits of friendships and wider networks.
The TGA and ATAGI are also assessing the Moderna vaccine for children 6-11 years of age with advice expected over the coming weeks.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt today welcomed ATAGI’s recommendations, which will help provide greater reassurance to parents, carers and guardians.
“Australians can be reassured that by vaccinating their children against COVID-19 they have done everything possible to keep their child safe from this virus,” Minister Hunt said.
“Vaccinating children can also help reduce community transmission and help prevent children passing the virus on to younger siblings, grandparents and the wider community.
“We encourage all parents to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.”
So far approximately five million children aged 5-11 years of age have received at least one dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the United States and approximately 1.4 million have received two doses.
Parents, carers and guardians will be able to book appointments from late December, with vaccinations starting on 10 January 2022.
Vaccines for kids will be made available through General Practices, Aboriginal Health Services, community pharmacies and state and territory clinics. Individual clinics will determine if they will provide vaccines for children 5-11 and states and territories will be responsible for any school based programs and will provide further information as necessary.
Healthcare providers will be able to order vaccines over the coming weeks. Check the Vaccine Clinic Finder for the latest information.
National Federation Reform Council Statement
10 December 2021
Today the National Federation Reform Council (NFRC), comprising the Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers, Treasurers and President of the Australian Local Government Association, met virtually for the second time.
The NFRC reflected on the achievements of Australian governments and the Australian community in 2021, including collaborative efforts to support the COVID-19 health response and vaccination rollout. Other inter-jurisdictional achievements were also noted, including the creation of a nationally consistent framework for measuring progress of women’s economic security and an intergovernmental agreement on data sharing.
The Australian community, supported by all levels of governments, has shown remarkable resilience to adapt and sustain the health and economic response throughout the second year of this pandemic. Australia is well placed to keep driving the recovery as the pandemic evolves. All levels of government will continue to work together to support the ongoing COVID-19 health response and economic recovery, including job creation, and broader Commonwealth-State priorities.
The NFRC will meet again in late 2022.
COVID-19 Economic Recovery, Productivity and Growth
Dr Steven Kennedy, Treasury Secretary, and Philip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, provided a joint update on the economic and market outlook for 2022. Michael Brennan, Chair of the Productivity Commission, continued the discussion with observations on productivity enhancing reforms.
The NFRC noted a number of opportunities have arisen in the post-COVID-19 environment, including growth in manufacturing and local industries, building on regulatory flexibility, and boosting skills and human capital. However, work will also need to occur to mitigate risks. Workforce constraints, cost of living pressures and global disruptions to domestic supply chains may inhibit these potential opportunities.
The NFRC agreed that to enable economic growth, all members must prioritise an economic growth and job creation agenda in 2022.
Local Government
Councillor Linda Scott, President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), provided an overview of the significant efforts of local governments in 2021 to support communities dealing with the impact of COVID-19. These efforts were recognised by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, and it was agreed that a collaborative effort is needed in 2022 to support Australia’s economic recovery.
NFRC Taskforces
The Women’s Safety, Indigenous Affairs and Veterans’ Wellbeing NFRC Taskforces provided updates on their work in 2021.
The NFRC noted the Women’s Safety Taskforce will work to finalise the next National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children in 2022. They will also progress the National Partnership on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2021-23 and other priority work to address violence against women and children.
The NFRC noted the Indigenous Affairs Taskforce key priorities including the National Roadmap for Indigenous Skills, Jobs and Wealth Creation and developing a national strategy for priority actions on food security in remote Indigenous communities.
The NFRC noted the Veterans’ Wellbeing Taskforce will meet next week to consider mental health and wellbeing, transition to employment, commemorations, and research and data collection.
Mental Health
The NFRC noted that National Cabinet provided in-principle endorsement of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. The Agreement sets out a shared objective to improve the mental health and suicide prevention system and builds on and reaffirms the NFRC’s vision and principles for reform, agreed in December 2020.
Emergency Management
The NRFC noted progress on the implementation of the priority actions associated with the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. The NFRC endorsed a second tranche of priority actions requiring a national coordinated approach for prioritisation over the next year.
National Cabinet Statement
10 December 2021
National Cabinet met today for the final time in 2021 to discuss a range of significant national issues, including our response to COVID-19 and the new Omicron strain.
National Cabinet, which has met 27 times in 2021 (59 times since its establishment in March 2020), is a critical forum to talk through plans for managing COVID-19 and also key national policy alignment on other critical national issues, including mental health and suicide prevention, health and hospital systems, ensuring the wellbeing of our Indigenous communities, and women’s economic security.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 225,640 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 2,084 people have died. More than 49.6 million tests have been undertaken, with 1,202,886 million tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 268.4 million cases and, sadly, over 5.2 million deaths, with 715,430 new cases and 8,033 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 rollout continues to expand. To date, 40,031,174 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 96,692 in the previous 24 hours. In the previous 7 days, more than 545,241 vaccines have been administered in Australia.
More than 93.2 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 97.9 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 99 per cent of over 70 year olds.
More than 88.9 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated, including more than 95.1 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 98.7 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.
National Cabinet will meet again in February 2022.
Omicron Variant
National Cabinet received an update from the Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly on the Omicron variant and governments’ responses. Professor Kelly advised that Australia is still in the early stages of understanding the Omicron variant.
National Cabinet noted that the Commonwealth Health Minister has extended the human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 for a further two months to 17 February 2022.
Vaccine Rollout
The Coordinator-General of the National COVID Vaccine Rollout, Lieutenant General Frewen, provided an update on the progress of administering vaccine boosters and delivery arrangements across Australia. He also updated National Cabinet on the plans to close the gap in vaccination rates between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and the general population, and on preparations underway to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 years, including targeted communication strategies.
On 5 December 2021, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provisionally approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in 5 to 11 year olds. Following recommendations from the Australian Technology Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the rollout for this age group - approximately 2.3 million children - is expected to begin on 10 January 2022.
Professors Murphy and Kelly provided an update on advice from the TGA and ATAGI on vaccinating 5 to 11 year olds in 2022 and the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as a booster.
Test, trace, isolate and quarantine measures, alongside public health and social measures such as mask wearing, remain key to ensuring COVID-19 cases in the community remain within clinical capacity. National Cabinet noted that, as Australia transitions through the National Plan, test, trace, isolate, quarantine (TTIQ) and public health and social measures (PHSM) settings can be adjusted for different local circumstances.
COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plans for Indigenous Communities
The need to update existing COVID-19 outbreak management plans is necessary in light of the Omicron variant and current outbreaks in the Northern Territory. National Cabinet agreed updated plans from the Commonwealth and states and territories which will protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Commonwealth will continue to monitor the situation and provide the relevant state and territories assistance against the virus during the pandemic, including variants of concern.
National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response
National Cabinet noted the significant progress in reopening Australia under the National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response. All jurisdictions are expected to reach 80 per cent vaccination coverage for their populations, 16 and over, and enter Phase C of the National Plan by the end of 2021.
National Cabinet welcomed plans by Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory to reopen borders next week.
National Cabinet agreed the Chief Medical Officer will work with the Doherty Institute to develop advice on thresholds to inform transition to Phase D of the National Plan for the next meeting of National Cabinet.
Living with COVID-19 - Health System Capacity
National Cabinet received an update on progress being made by all states and territories on enhancing health system capacity planning under the various phases of the National Plan to Transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response and potential surge responses.
National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth’s progress to support primary care providers in preparation for all of us continuing to live with COVID-19 in the community.
National Cabinet agreed local hospital networks and other relevant jurisdictional bodies should work together to develop COVID-19 Community Care Pathways to ensure that they adequately address the specific requirements of vulnerable and high risk populations.
National Cabinet agreed to support the updated Communicable Disease Network of Australia (CDNA) guidelines on health care worker restrictions. This will ensure workforce furlough policies reflect the latest advice for a highly vaccinated workforce.
Reopening of International Borders and Travel
National Cabinet noted the steps taken by the Commonwealth to adjust Australia’s international border settings in a manner consistent with a suppression strategy, and proportionate to the current health information on Omicron.
As more evidence relating to disease severity, transmissibility and vaccine effectiveness becomes available, the Commonwealth will continue to consider Australia’s international border settings in a manner consistent with a suppression strategy.
The Commonwealth continues to welcome Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families, New Zealand citizens, Singaporean citizens and other cohorts of travellers already approved for travel, including seasonal workers and international student pilots.
National Cabinet welcomed Queensland’s announcement that it would reopen to fully vaccinated Australian citizens or permanent residents who have a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 72 hours prior to departure from 13 December 2021. These travellers will be required to undertake a period of home quarantine subject to conditions set by Queensland Health.
Caps on International Passengers
From 13 March 2021 to 7 December 2021, approximately 767,456 Australian citizens and permanent residents returned home, 11,335 of whom returned since 1 November.
The total returned since March 2020 includes 32,853 Australians on 216 facilitated commercial flights (FCFs), as at 7 December 2021.
In order to manage and maintain quarantine arrangements across the jurisdictions of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, the following international air passenger arrival caps are currently in place:
New South Wales – 210 per week
Victoria – 250 per week
Queensland – 1,000 per week (plus 300 per week surge capacity)
Western Australia – 530 per week
South Australia – 320 per week.
Fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate families can travel above caps into New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, subject to home quarantine and testing requirements.
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Today National Cabinet provided in-principle endorsement of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (National Agreement), which will be finalised in early 2022.
The National Agreement considers key mental health reports and inquiries including the key recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Mental Health and the National Suicide Prevention Adviser’s Final Advice. It outlines actions to build a comprehensive, coordinated, consumer-focused and compassionate mental health and suicide prevention system to support all Australians.
The National Agreement will: clarify roles and responsibilities; progress improvements in the mental health services available to adults, children and youth; improve data collection, sharing and evaluation; reduce gaps in the system of care; expand and enhance the workforce, including the peer workforce; and work to improve mental health and suicide prevention for all Australians, across a range of settings.
Women’s Economic Security
As part of National Cabinet’s work on a Nationally Consistent Reporting Framework for Measuring Progress of Women’s Economic Security, there was in principle agreement from the National Cabinet to provide public sector workforce data to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). This means that state and territory governments will join the Commonwealth Government’s commitment from earlier this year to provide data on six Gender Equality Indicators. This will expand the Australian workforce covered by consistent reporting on workforce gender equality approaches and outcomes, which can be used to continue to target efforts to reduce the gender pay gap.
Respect@Work
National Cabinet received a letter from the Chair of the Respect@Work Council and Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, providing an update on improving the consistency of workplace sexual harassment data collection and sharing. The Council includes representatives from Commonwealth and state and territory regulatory bodies, including industrial relations, workers compensation and work, health and safety organisations, and human rights and anti-discrimination bodies. The National Cabinet noted that the Council will continue to work to improve data collection, reporting and sharing, to support preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment.
National Cabinet Reform Priorities
National Cabinet noted the Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR) and the National Cabinet Reform Committees (NCRCs) have progressed a series of important reforms during 2021 under ambitious timeframes, with highlights including: implementation of automatic mutual recognition of occupational registrations in most jurisdictions, a ‘post-2025’ market design for the National Electricity Market, a package of reforms to unlock new gas supply and improve the functioning of gas pipeline markets, reforms to industry engagement arrangements underpinning the Vocational and Education Training system, reforms to expedite infrastructure projects, and establishment of a Regional Delivery Unit to support state and territory governments to navigate Commonwealth services, programs and approvals.
National Cabinet noted that in 2022, NCRCs will continue to focus on delivering important reforms, including finalisation of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement and the National Skills Agreement.
Today, National Cabinet also agreed the Energy NCRC will focus in 2022 on enabling the adoption and integration of new technologies. This includes improving the integration and recognition of clean hydrogen and bioenergy into energy markets; ensuring the electricity network is ready for the rapid adoption of electric vehicles by incentivising the use of smart charging; and improving the regulatory framework for transmission.
More Opportunities For First Home Buyers
09 December 2021
Prime Minister, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Social and Community Housing
The Morrison Government is backing in first home owners to enter the property market sooner with up to an extra 4,651 buyers set to benefit under the Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme this year.
The Scheme helps first home buyers and single parent families get into their own home sooner with a deposit of as little as five per cent or two per cent respectively.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme would reissue up to 4,651 unused guarantees for first home buyers from the 2020-21 financial year who haven’t had an opportunity to purchase their first home, including because of COVID disruptions.
“We want more first home buyers to get into the place of their dreams,” the Prime Minister said.
“The pandemic and lockdowns have interrupted the plans of many home buyers this year, so this is about ensuring we give thousands more families the opportunity they need.
“We want to help Australians into their first home or a home that they've had built for them and their family, and with our support first home buyers are at their highest level in nearly 15 years.”
Minister for Housing Michael Sukkar said coupled with HomeBuilder and the First Home Super Saver Scheme, more than 300,000 Australians have been helped into home ownership, including almost 60,000 Australians through the Home Guarantee Scheme.
“The Morrison Government will continue to provide Australians who have that aspiration to go and buy a home, the opportunity to go and achieve that,” Minister Sukkar said.
“The recent release of the annual Trends & Insiders Report for 2020-2021 on the Home Guarantee Scheme is further evidence that our Government is on the side of essential workers, women and young Australians as they make the leap into home ownership.”
Some of the Report’s key insights are:
One in five First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS) guarantees issued went to essential workers, representing almost 6,000 key workers who purchased their first home under the scheme, 34.8 per cent of which were nurses.
Fifty two per cent of FHLDS guarantees went to women, with the market average only 41 per cent women.
Fifty eight per cent of all buyers under the Scheme were Australians aged under 30.
Homebuyers were able to bring their home purchases forward by an average of four years for the FHLDS, and 4.5 years for the New Home Guarantee.
The Report can be found here.
Liberal Candidate for Corangamite Stephanie Asher said the Morrison Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme had supported many families in the area into their first home, including 577 homes in Greater Geelong.
“With so many young people and families moving to Geelong, the Surf Coast and the Bellarine, this is about making it easier to make home ownership a reality,” Ms Asher said.
“It’s programs like this that will help even more people see the great lifestyle and opportunities our region has to offer.”
First home buyers will be able to apply for these guarantees from the Scheme’s panel lenders in the coming weeks. For more information, visit
Papua New Guinea-Australia Annual Leaders Dialogue
09 December 2021
Prime Minister, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister James Marape held the third Papua New Guinea-Australia Annual Leaders’ Dialogue virtually on 8 December 2021.
The two Prime Ministers recognised the critical importance of the Australia-Papua New Guinea bilateral relationship, the continued close cooperation between our two countries, and our shared interests in a secure, stable, peaceful, prosperous and democratic region. They underlined their ongoing commitment to the Papua New Guinea-Australia Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (CSEP).
Papua New Guinea and Australia are working hand in hand to counter the health and economic damage from COVID-19. Prime Minister Morrison advised that in addition to more than $340 million in COVID-19 related assistance that Australia has delivered to support Papua New Guinea’s response to the pandemic, Australia will provide a further $35 million in sector budget support towards the Papua New Guinea Government’s tuition fee subsidy for primary schools, ensuring around 1.1 million primary school students can continue their education. Prime Minister Marape thanked Australia for its steadfast commitment to comprehensive COVID-19 vaccine supply for PNG, and delivery support.
The Prime Ministers also discussed Australia’s financial assistance to support Papua New Guinea’s economic reforms and budget repair, and the suspension of Papua New Guinea’s principal and interest repayments on a 2020 loan from Australia, consistent with the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative. Prime Minister Marape welcomed the confidence shown by Australian companies including Santos, Fortescue Future Industries and Telstra, to invest in Papua New Guinea despite global economic challenges.
The Prime Ministers recognised the close partnership Australia and Papua New Guinea have built to meet infrastructure needs in Papua New Guinea, including through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP). They discussed the pipeline of high quality, sustainable infrastructure projects, including transport‑related infrastructure and energy projects being developed under the AIFFP.
They warmly welcomed cooperation under the AIFFP to provide quality, climate-resilient ports infrastructure that will provide significant economic and social benefits to the people of Papua New Guinea.
The Prime Ministers recognised the enormous value of preserving Papua New Guinea’s forests, including to contribute to the global response to climate change, which poses especially serious challenges for the Pacific. They agreed that Australia would provide additional support to Papua New Guinea’s forestry sector, including project support for nature-based climate solutions. The Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Building Capacity for Participation in Global Carbon Markets by Ministers at COP26 in Glasgow, establishing a partnership under the Indo-Pacific Carbon Offsets Scheme.
The Prime Ministers discussed Australia’s long-standing support for PNG’s national elections processes, noting continuing cooperation through their respective national election bodies and logistical and other support for PNG’s 2022 national election.
The Prime Ministers discussed Australia and Papua New Guinea’s swift deployments alongside Fiji and New Zealand at the request of the Solomon Islands Government to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force response to civil unrest. They emphasised the importance of resolving any differences peacefully, lawfully and through dialogue.
The Prime Ministers undertook to continue working together to respond to the shared challenges of the Pacific family. They discussed the importance of the Pacific Islands Forum and its critical role in responding to shared challenges, and expressed their hopes for the continued unity of the Forum.
President of the Republic of Korea Visit to Australia
07 December 2021
I am pleased to announce His Excellency Mr Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, and Her Excellency Mrs Kim Jung-sook, First Lady of the Republic of Korea, will visit Australia from 12 to 15 December.
The Republic of Korea is one of our closest partners in the region, and 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries.
Our bilateral relationship continues to grow, underpinned by trade, shared values, common regional strategic interests and a commitment to an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
During President Moon’s visit we will formally elevate the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reflecting the depth and breadth of our cooperation and people-to-people links, and common aspirations to work even more closely together in our region.
The visit has been approved by the ACT and NSW health authorities. A number of risk mitigations will be enforced to ensure the visit is COVID safe, including regular COVID-19 testing and mask wearing. All members of the delegation are fully vaccinated and must submit a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to arrival in Australia.
I look forward to welcoming President Moon and the First Lady to Australia.
'ReMade in Australia'
06 December 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for the Environment, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Member for Wentworth
The Australian Government has launched ReMade in Australia – a national campaign urging Australians to recycle more, and show how they can help create jobs and protect our environment.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced ReMade in Australia at Sydney’s Woollahra Public School today, saying it was a critical step in giving Australians the confidence to recycle more and to buy products manufactured with recycled content.
“We are taking responsibility for our waste, we put a stop to it being shipped overseas as someone else’s problem and we have made recycling one of six national manufacturing priorities,” the Prime Minister said.
“Australians are doing the right thing and they want to be assured that the efforts they make in recycling at their homes and workplaces are delivering real outcomes, from the roads they drive on to the sunglasses they choose to wear.
“We need to recycle even more and this campaign will help consumers and business understand the benefits that recycling can deliver for our environment and for jobs.
“ReMade in Australia builds on the pride we all have in Australian made and the pride we take in doing the right thing for our environment.”
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said that recycling can reduce pressure on our environment and we want to create Australian manufacturing jobs.
“The ReMade in Australia campaign asks Australians to look for those products using recycled materials, it raises awareness about the ways recycled materials contribute to our everyday lives,” Minister Ley said.
“The Morrison Government is driving a billion dollar transformation of Australia’s waste and recycling industry, through the Recycling Modernisation Fund. We are seeing governments and industry investing in the commissioning of new plant and equipment, and our waste export bans are driving fundamental change.
“ReMade in Australia will help Australians understand the ways they are contributing through both recycling and the choices they make at the checkout.”
Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans said that now was the right time for Australian businesses and consumers to think ReMade Australia.
“This campaign taps into the pride Australians have in doing the right thing for the environment,” Assistant Minister Evans said.
“At a time of year when people are buying gifts and unwrapping tonnes of packaging it is all the more important to have recycling front of mind.”
Member for Wentworth Dave Sharma said that practical environmental action such as recycling was important to his community.
“The people of Wentworth care deeply about our environment and want sustainable ways to reduce their waste, in order to protect our global environment,” Mr Sharma said.
“Keeping waste out of our oceans and landscapes and turning it into resources that can be reused is something we can all be a part of, and this campaign will help spread that message.”
Launched this week online and in print, the campaign will include television advertising later this month as Australians buy new products and recycle everything from packaging to electronic food across Christmas and New Year.
Further information on ReMade in Australia is available.
Snowy 2.0 Project Reaches New Milestone
03 December 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction
The Snowy 2.0 project has reached a new milestone with the commissioning of a second tunnel boring machine which will further accelerate progress on the nation-building renewable energy project.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor attended the commissioning at a special ceremony at in the Snowy Mountains on Friday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the commissioning of the second tunnel boring machine, the ‘Kirsten’, marks another major achievement for Snowy 2.0, which is already creating thousands of jobs in the region.
“Snowy 2.0 is building on the proud legacy of the first Snowy scheme, using local ingenuity to deliver landmark new infrastructure that will benefit Australia and the National Electricity Market for decades to come.
“Our $1.38 billion investment in this project is already creating a local jobs boom, with a current workforce of more than 1,300 people and an expected 4,000 direct jobs over the life of the project, and many opportunities for local Australian businesses and suppliers,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“Over $65 million has been spent with local suppliers and more than 150 local businesses have been engaged on the project to date and these numbers are expected to increase.”
“This is what a Liberal National Government is about – creating opportunities for Australians, delivering nation-building infrastructure and creating jobs.
Minister Taylor said the new tunnel boring machine would start work on a second tunnel and would dig through 30 metres of rock a day.
“The commissioning of the second tunnel boring machine shows the Snowy 2.0 project, Australia’s largest storage project, is well on its way to delivering affordable, reliable power for Australians” Minister Taylor said.
“Snowy 2.0 is critical to the National Electricity Market, and will deliver 2,000 megawatts of reliable electricity, to support record levels of renewables and help power half a million homes for over a week during peak demand.
“The new machine is expected to excavate a 2.9km-long tunnel to the power station complex and continue to tunnel uphill at a 25-degree grade. A tunnel at such a steep incline is a world first.
“The first tunnel boring machine, the ‘Lady Eileen Hudson’, has already surpassed 1,000 metres underground, making great progress of excavation at the main access tunnel.”
The new tunnel boring machine will be named in honour of astrophysicist, science communicator and proud Wiradjuri woman Kirsten Banks.
Information on the new tunnel boring machine:
The new tunnel boring machine is 205 metres long, the equivalent of two rugby league fields.
It has a diameter of around 11 metres, or the same as a three-storey building.
It will excavate a 2.9km-long tunnel to the power station complex and then continue to tunnel uphill at a 25-degree grade to create an inclined pressure shaft.
Parliamentary Committee to Put Big Tech Under the Microscope
01 December 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts of Australia, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
The Australian Parliament will put big tech under the microscope as it examines toxic material on social media platforms and the dangers this poses to the well-being of Australians.
The inquiry, which will be chaired by Robertson MP Lucy Wicks, was announced today by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP.
Prime Minister Morrison said the inquiry builds on the world-leading legislation the Government announced earlier this week to unmask anonymous online trolls.
“Mums and dads are rightly concerned about whether big tech is doing enough to keep their kids safe online,” The Prime Minister said. “Big tech created these platforms, they have a responsibility to ensure their users are safe.
“Big tech has big questions to answer. But we also want to hear from Australians; parents, teachers, athletes, small businesses and more, about their experience, and what needs to change.”
Minister Fletcher said the troubling revelations from a Facebook whistleblower have amplified existing concerns in the community.
“This inquiry will give organisations and individuals an opportunity to air their concerns, and for big tech to account for its own conduct,” Minister Fletcher said.
“Australia has led the world in regulating social media, establishing the world’s first dedicated online safety watchdog in 2015. In June this year we passed the tough new Online Safety Act which will give our eSafety Commissioner even stronger powers to direct the removal of online abuse.
“So this inquiry will be a very important opportunity to examine the practices of these companies—and whether more needs to be done.”
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said for too long social media platforms had been putting company profits ahead of the wellbeing and safety of children.
“In Australia, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a consistent increase in signs of distress and mental ill-health among young people. While the reasons for this are varied and complex, we know that social media is part of the problem,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.
“Young people have told us this themselves. In a 2018 headspace survey of over 4000 young people aged 12 to 25, social media was nominated as the main reason youth mental health is getting worse. And the recent leak of Facebook’s own internal research demonstrates the impact social media platforms can have on body image and the mental health of young people.
“We know that we can't trust social media companies to act in the best interests of children, so we're going to force them to."
National Cabinet Statement
30 November 2021
National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response and the new Omicron strain.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on the current COVID-19 situation and health response across Australia.
The World Health Organization has declared the B.1.1.529 strain, now known as the Omicron strain and first detected in Southern Africa on 24 November 2021, to be a variant of concern, one of five existing variants of concern including Delta. Six cases of the Omicron strain have been detected in Australia. All cases have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, and are in quarantine.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 210,239 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 2,006 people have died. More than 47.8 million tests have been undertaken, with over 1 million tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 262 million cases and sadly over 5.2 million deaths, with 650,462 new cases and 7,391 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 over 39.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 95,247 in the previous 24 hours. In the previous 7 days, more than 604,000 vaccines have been administered in Australia.
More than 92.4 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 97.4 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 99.9 per cent of over 70 year olds.
More than 87 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated including more than 93.7 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 97.3 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.
National Cabinet noted Australia has sufficient supplies of booster shots available, with contracts in place for 85 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 15 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine.
National Cabinet further noted that the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation are in late stage consideration regarding when Pfizer can be rolled out to 5 to 11 year olds.
National Cabinet and the National Federation Reform Council will next meet as scheduled on Friday 10 December.
Omicron Variant
National Cabinet received an update from Professor Paul Kelly on the Omicron variant and governments responses.
The Chief Medical Officer provided advice that Australia is in the early stages of understanding the Omicron variant.
At this stage it is known that the Omicron strain has a high number of mutations particularly within its spike protein. Early data indicates Omicron may be more transmissible when compared with previous variants of the virus which causes COVID-19. At this stage there is insufficient evidence that vaccines and treatments are less effective against Omicron than other variants, and no evidence at this stage that Omicron is a more severe disease.
The Commonwealth and states and territories have already acted on medical advice to implement travel restrictions and revised quarantine and home isolation requirements.
The Commonwealth has implemented restrictions for travellers into Australia who have been in countries of concern in the past 14 days to slow the entry of the Omicron variant into Australia. The Commonwealth has implemented a temporary ban on non-citizens from Southern Africa entering Australia. Australians who have returned from Southern Africa countries are required to undertake 14 days quarantine under state and territory public health requirements.
The Commonwealth has updated the Australian Traveller Declaration (ATD) to specifically require travellers to comply with PCR testing requirements mandated by states and territories. These changes are in addition to the steps the Commonwealth has taken since 1 November to provide states and territories with detailed advice on incoming passengers, including by sharing data sets which link travellers’ ATD data to the flight on which they are arriving, and the enhancements to the ATD.
The Commonwealth National Security Committee has further taken the decision to push back the reopening to international skilled and student visa cohorts, as well as humanitarian visa holders, from 1 December until 15 December. Reopening to Japan and the Republic of Korea will also be paused to 15 December.
These are temporary precautions pending more information on the Omicron strain becoming available worldwide.
Existing arrangements will continue for Australians, permanent residents, immediate family (including parents), and other exempt visa holders including travellers through the New Zealand and Singapore safe travel zones and Pacific Labour Scheme participants.
States and territories have initiated new quarantine and home isolation requirements under public health measures. The Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria will continue to require 72 hours home isolation for all international arrivals, with 14 days quarantine in place for travellers returning from Southern African countries.
National Cabinet noted that on the basis of advice provided by the Chief Medical Officer, there was no immediate need to change current settings.
National Cabinet agreed that the Commonwealth and state and territory governments will continue to pursue a suppression strategy, noting the objective is to limit the rate of Omicron incursions into Australia, rather than eliminate it at the border.
Release of Jenkins Report
30 November 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Special Minister of State, Minister for the Public Service, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Cabinet
The Government welcomes the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces, and thanks Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins for her leadership of this important review.
We thank the over 1,750 individuals and organisations who contributed to the Jenkins Review. These experiences, observations and insights will be crucial to driving the positive change that is required.
It is an important review with a series of findings and recommendations that the Government, Opposition, minor parties and crossbench must all carefully consider and respond to. These are problems we all own. And we all have a responsibility to fix this.
The Review was established with cross-party support because everyone believes the Parliament of Australia should set the standard for the nation and reflect best practice in the prevention of and response to any instances of bullying, sexual harassment or sexual assault.
Every single Australian has a right to feel and to be safe at work. However, the report highlights that people, particularly women, in Parliamentary workplaces have experienced bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault.
It is clear that practical and cultural changes are necessary to make our Parliamentary workplaces safer.
As a first step, to drive this change, the Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham and the Special Minister of State Ben Morton will consult with the Opposition, minor parties and the independents on a way forward to respond to Commissioner Jenkins’ review.
Second, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has been instructed to provide every necessary resource and support required by the multi-party approach.
This multi-party approach, with the coordinating support of the Department, has already served the Parliament well this year, in implementing significant reforms recommended by the Foster Review.
The success of this approach through the Foster Review has delivered positive outcomes for all Parliamentarians and staff. We all have cause for confidence that this approach will again ensure the outcomes recommended by Commissioner Jenkins can be achieved.
Third, the Government will continue the existing supports that we already have in place - the dedicated unit of support staff within the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service and the independent complaints mechanism, 24-hour support line, and the continued workplace safety training. These important supports will keep running and adapt as necessary as Parliament responds to these recommendations.
This will build on the work already underway to implement the recommendations of the Foster Report of Serious Incidents in the Parliamentary Workplace and the significant measures we have already put in place to make our workplace safer.
We recognise that in hearing the experiences of current and former staff and Parliamentarians, there will be some difficult reflections. This should not take away from the fact that the overwhelming majority of people who work in Australia’s Parliament, and the agencies that assist with its operation, do so with the upmost integrity and are dedicated to making a difference to our nation.
To support current staff within the building there will be counsellors available onsite for appointments until 7pm tonight, 9-7pm tomorrow and 9-8pm on Thursday.
The Government looks forward to continuing to work constructively with all Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to make the changes we need to ensure our workplace is safe, supportive and respectful.
Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee Winners Meet in Canberra
29 November 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Education and Youth
This year’s best young spellers met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison today after winning the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee in June.
The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee is a national spelling competition for school children from Years 3 to 8 that aims to promote and encourage students’ oral and written literacy and spelling skills.
The 2021 national winners are:
Arielle Wong from Donvale Christian College, VIC (Year 3/4 category)
Theekshitha Karthik from Haileybury College, VIC (Year 5/6 category)
Evan Luc-Tran from The McDonald College, NSW (Year 7/8 category)
All participants had 15 minutes to spell 30 words, with the winners determined by the accuracy and speed of submitting their answers online.
The finalists had to tackle words like connoisseur, and meteorological.
“I want to thank all students who had a go this year and challenged their spelling skills, and special congratulations to Arielle, Theekshitha and Evan on their achievements,” the Prime Minister said.
“No matter what you want to be when you grow up, spelling and reading are foundation skills that will stay with you for life, and are important to your wellbeing, future learning and success.”
Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said almost 21,000 students from 490 schools across the country participated in this year’s Spelling Bee.
“Congratulations to every student who took part this year, and I encourage families, teachers and young people to talk to their local school about taking part again in 2022,” Minister Tudge said.
The Prime Minister’s National Spelling Bee will be hosted by News Corp’s Kids News on the kidsnews.com.au website.
The free competition will be held digitally, with no physical competition elements and will run in Term 3, 2022, and registrations are planned to open on Monday, 25 July 2022.
More information can be found at www.spelling-bee.com.au.
Interview with Sylvia Jeffreys, Today Show
29 November 2021
SYLVIA JEFFREYS: And we're joined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Canberra. Prime Minister, thank you for your time this morning. How worried are you about this variant?
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Well, it's obviously a variant of concern, but it's not the first one we've had. We've had 13 variants of concern over the course of the pandemic, 13 variants, I should say. And I think what's important is that we stay calm. Australia has 86.7 per cent vaccinated. Congratulations to all those down in South Australia. They went over the 80 per cent mark over the weekend. We have got our public hospital system and our health systems have been standing up very well. I mean, down in Victoria, there's over 1,000 cases a day, but our hospital system is coping. Now, that's the key thing here. It's no longer about cases and how we're managing COVID. It's about the severity of the illness that people have and how the public hospital system in the health system is managing and it's managing very strongly. So I commend the work that's been done there. And so with this variant, we know it could be more transmissible, but we also know that it's proving to be less severe. And so we just take this one step at a time, get the best information. Make calm, sensible decisions and the fact that 86.7 per cent of Australians are double vaccinated and we have one of the few whole of population booster programmes already underway. So if it's been six months since your second jab, please go out and get your booster shot. And these booster shots also obviously get updated all the time as as the drug companies work on improving those.
JEFFREYS: So there are two confirmed Omicron cases in Australia at this stage. Are you aware of any more cases being confirmed in Australia overnight?
PRIME MINISTER: No, but what I would stress, though, is our borders are shut with the exception of New Zealand and Singapore. There are many, you might, your viewers might have been seeing, other countries are shutting the borders, they're bringing their systems up to where ours already is. Only Australians, citizens and residents and their close family, as well as exempt travellers coming into Australia. And there aren't a large number of those. That's the only people who can come into Australia, and our border arrangements have been one of the key things that have protected Australia throughout the course of the pandemic, which means we've got one of the lowest fatality rates in the world, one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and the one of the strongest economies. Now we've achieved that just by doing calm, sensible, practical, balanced and getting the best information and then making good decisions.
JEFFREYS: Your Minister Dan Tehan hasn't ruled out further restrictions on international arrivals though, is a suspension on all international arrivals on the table. Is that an option at this point?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, we never rule anything out, but no one should read anything into that. We just, we will take decisions based on the best information. The National Security Committee is meeting again this afternoon. This morning, I advised premiers and chief ministers that I'd like to get them to get together over the next 48 hours so we can all be looking at the same information and make the decisions that are necessary based on the same expert medical advice. And there's a lot of information starting to come in, but it's still very early days with this variant. In all states except New South Wales and Victoria, there is 14 day hotel quarantine and there are capped arrivals into those states and territories. In New South Wales and Victoria, there is a 72 hour home isolation for those who are arriving, and if they've come from those any of those affected countries in the last 14 days, well, they're going into 14 day health quarantine there. The measures we put in place on the weekend and that started early Saturday morning when I received that information from our health advisers, the Health Minister made those announcements. The states in New South Wales and Victoria followed that up. I've literally just got off the phone from the Premier of New South Wales again this morning now, and we're just aligning our decisions and ensuring we're all working off the best information to keep people safe as we always have.
JEFFREYS: So you're calling an emergency National Cabinet meeting within the next 48 hours. What will be your message to the premiers regarding domestic borders?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I wouldn't describe it that way, I wouldn't describe it as an emergency meeting, I would call it just a normal meeting that we would convene in these circumstances just to bring everybody up to speed with the same information. That's my primary concern at the moment. I want to make sure that we're all working off the best information that we all have, that we're drawing as a federal government from our partners overseas and making sure that their chief health officers are feeding into that conversation. So we'll be looking at that and making an assessment of it all. And if there are decisions that further decisions that need to be taken, then of course we will. But what I'd say to everybody is it's just important we remain calm about this. There's no evidence to suggest that this leads to any more severe disease. If anything, it's suggesting a lesser form of disease, particularly for those who are vaccinated. So the one thing everybody can do is to get vaccinated. And if you're not, if you've been vaccinated and it's been more than six months, then to go and get your booster shot.
JEFFREYS: Is the government looking at bringing booster shots forward to, say, four or five five months after your second dose?
PRIME MINISTER: No, that's not the medical advice. The medical advice is it's effective after the six months, and for many people, that will be you should be going and getting your booster shot now. I had mine the other week and I'd be encouraging those who are ready for those booster shots to go and get it. Australia is only one of a handful of countries where we have a whole of population booster shot programme. There are plenty of vaccines for people to do that and we'd encourage people to do that. And that, I think, continues to provide the defences that we need to deal with, not just this variant. As I said, we've had many variants and we've dealt with those and our hospital systems are coping extremely well, particularly in places like Victoria, where I said we've got many cases and those cases are there, but the hospital system is doing well. They plan for it. We modelled it. And so it's about living with the virus, living together with the virus and remaining safely open. We want Australia to remain open, open safely within Australia. And where we need to have controls on the borders than we already have them, and we'll keep those under close review to keep people safe.
JEFFREYS: I'm sure you can sense some frustration in the community, given we thought that the worst was behind us and that we had some final, some finally some clarity around borders and and reuniting at Christmas as well with loved ones in various states and areas overseas as well. On the Queensland border, do you think it's safe for that to still open at 80 per cent?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's what all of the work that we've done and the scientific modelling done by the Doherty Institute says, and particularly if this variant, which is it seems to be the case, is, has a less severe impact on people than they are the key issues to consider. Case numbers of themselves are not the issue. It's about whether people are getting a worse illness or it's going to put stress on your hospital system. And what we've seen in the states that have had these high case numbers is that the hospital impacts have been less than we anticipated on that modelling. And I think that augurs well for sensible decisions. I mean, we have to live with this virus. I mean, the fact that we've had a new variant, that is not a surprise. We've been saying all through the pandemic that new variants will come and we'll deal with them as they turn up. We'll get the best information. We'll work together. We'll make sensible, practical, balanced decisions. And my key message to people is to remain calm. Do what you're doing. Follow all the same usual procedures. Get your booster shot. Get your second vaccine. Let's get that vaccination rate up over 90 per cent. We're on track for that. That makes us one of the most highly vaccinated countries in the world. We're not in the situation we were back in March of 2020. We're in a very different situation to deal with these things now. And Australia has done very well through this pandemic.
JEFFREYS: So keep calm and carry on to Queensland, is what I'm hearing. In other news, you've also announced new anti-trolling laws aimed at stopping online abuse. Are you worried that Facebook might pull the plug on Australia over this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, if they were to do that, I would think that would be an admission that they have no interest in making the online world safe. They have made this online world and the rules that exist in the real world should exist in the world that they've created. I mean, it's not free speech to hide in your basement as masked troll and abuse and harass and stalk people. That's not freedom. That's harassment and stalking. And there should be no place for that. All we're simply saying is, is that if you want to say something, then you should say who you are. And if the social media company lets you do that with a mask on, then we'll hold them to account. And we'll also lean into court cases where we think it's in the public interest to ensure that we hold these companies to account. Bad behaviour on social media is destroying lives. As a parent, I can tell you, it's one of the things that greatly concern me as my girls grow up. And I'm sure all parents feel that way about the impact and particularly on girls. Women are some of the biggest targets for this type of abuse on social media, and we need the online world to be safe. It offers so many opportunities, but it has to be safe for it to be successful. And what we're doing is taking on those big digital media and social media companies to ensure they make it safe for our kids, for our families and our community.
JEFFREYS: I think there's a lot of support out there, particularly amongst our viewers, for cracking down on trolls. So we do wish you luck on that front.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks.
JEFFREYS: Before I let you go, though, PM, I couldn't, I couldn't let you go without mentioning last week in Parliament you were in some sort of disarray. The government was in some sort of disarray in the second last sitting week of the year. Are you going to be able to rally the troops for this final sitting week and before the March election?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the election is next year, I don't know where you got that date from, but the election is due in the third week of May …
JEFFREYS: Oh come on, it's in March, isn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: But the election is due by the third week in May.
JEFFREYS: Ok.
PRIME MINISTER: But the point about this look, there's all sorts of political games and theatre that goes on down here, but can I tell you I'm not distracted by it. Last Friday, last Thursday, I should say, we had to send troops into the Solomon Islands and AFP officers, and they're there right now dealing with a very concerning situation there. We're dealing with the Omicron variant here. We're dealing with other very serious issues in our region. We're getting people back into jobs. These are the things that I'm focused on. People will play the political games down here in Canberra and they'll carry on. I'm not distracted, but our team is focused on ensuring that we secure this economic recovery, we keep Australians safe, whether it's from the virus or the other threats we face.
JEFFREYS: Ok, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, we appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very much.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much, good to talk to you.