Media Releases
Australia's response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine
23 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Morrison Government is taking immediate action to sanction Russian individuals, organisations and banks as part of the international effort to impose a sharp cost on Russia for its unprovoked and unacceptable aggression against Ukraine.
Under a first phase, we will impose travel bans and targeted financial sanctions on eight members of Russia’s Security Council. The Council bears responsibility for the current phase of the invasion by providing policy advice and justification to President Putin’s unilateral declaration recognising the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic.
Targeted financial sanctions will mean Australian individuals and entities cannot do business with the following banks: Rossiya Bank, Promsvyazbank, IS Bank, Genbank and the Black Sea Bank for Development and Reconstruction. This is in addition to restrictions on Australians investing in the state development bank VEB.
We will amend the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 to extend existing sanctions that apply to Crimea and Sevastopol to Donetsk and Luhansk. This will impose strong economic sanctions in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk prohibiting trade in the transport, energy, telecommunications, and oil, gas and minerals sectors.
We will also amend the Regulations to significantly broaden the scope of people and entities that Australia can list for sanctions to include those of “strategic and economic significance to Russia”. We are working with our partners to identify additional individuals who will be subject to these sanctions.
In taking these actions, we are in alignment with our key partners, the United States and the United Kingdom.
This is the beginning of our sanctions process, as we remain deeply concerned that Russia is escalating its aggression. We are determined to work with responsible nations worldwide to ensure any further invasion by Russia against its smaller, democratic neighbour incurs the high cost it deserves.
All Ukrainian nationals in Australia with a visa that is due to expire up to 30 June, will be given an automatic extension for six months.
Outstanding visa applications from Ukrainian citizens, which number approximately 430, will be prioritised and fast tracked for a decision by immigration officials, as soon as possible.
Regarding sanctions, we will not hesitate to further amend the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 to expand sanctions as necessary, and already have a wider package of sanctions on persons and entities in reserve should Russia escalate its unlawful conduct in Eastern Ukraine.
We welcome the actions taken by other likeminded countries who want to see a stable international order, notably Germany which has suspended the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
$800 million to strengthen our leadership in Antarctica
22 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women, Minister for the Environment
The Morrison Government will send a clear international signal of Australia’s world-leading Antarctic leadership with an $804.4 million investment over the next ten years to strengthen our strategic and scientific capabilities in the region.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package would both strengthen Australia’s national interests in Antarcticaand be a jobs boost for Australians through local procurement.
“The money we are investing in drone fleets, helicopters and other vehicles will enable us to explore areas of East Antarctica’s inland that no country has ever been able to reach before,” the Prime Minister said.
“My Government will continue to back our world-class scientists and expeditioners with the necessary funding and resources, because their research on the frozen continent and in the southern ocean is critically important to Australia’s future.
“Our ongoing investment in Antarctica will directly support jobs at home, with Australian businesses, contractors, medical suppliers and providores reaping the benefits of local procurement.
“Our $800 million commitment supports the next decade of Australia’s operations in Antarctica and provides more opportunities for local businesses across Australia that support this work, especially in Tasmania.”
The new measures include:
$136.6 million to support Australia’s inland traverse capability, critical charting activities, mobile stations, environmental protection and other core activities
$109 million to increase aerial and inland capability:
$60.6 million for drone fleets and other autonomous vehicles able to map inaccessible and fragile areas of East Antarctic, establishing an ‘Antarctic eye’ with integrated censors and cameras feeding real-time information
$35 million for four new medium lift helicopters with a range of 550 kilometres that when launched from the Nuyina can access parts of the continent we could never reach previously
$13.6 million for capability development to further enhance Australia’s reach inland including investigations into modern intracontinental aeroplanes
$44.2 million in additional shipping support to enable the RSV Nuyina to focus on extended science voyages
$17.4 million for marine science in the Southern Ocean and a new state-of-the-art krill aquarium in Hobart
$14.3 million for environmental management including a ‘Cleaner Antarctica Strategy’ to remove legacy waste and to establish new ‘geographic information system’ technology to support environmental management
$7.4 million for research focused on Antarctic ice sheet science to build global understanding of climate change impacts – improving our ability to support Pacific partners to monitor information about climate and oceans, including sea level rise
$3.4 million to enhance Australia’s international engagement to support the rules and norms of the Antarctic Treaty system and promote Australia’s leadership in Antarctic affairs
The new funding package also includes $92.2 million a year from 2026-27 to further support Antarctic activities.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said the package would reinforce Australia’s commitment to the Antarctic Treaty system, and to promoting Tasmania as the gateway to East Antarctica.
“Our investments are a clear marker of our enduring commitment to the Antarctic Treaty system, its scientific foundations, and Australia’s leadership within it,” Minister Payne said.
“The investment will also strengthen Tasmania’s status as an international science hub and pave the way for more opportunities in the years ahead as we continue to work on further projects such as the Antarctic Science and Research Precinct under the Hobart City Deal.”
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the package will significantly enhance our scientific capability which is at the heart of our leadership within the Treaty system.
“When I sit down with world leaders to discuss the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean in the face of increasing pressures, the strategic importance of our scientific leadership is clear,” Minister Ley said.
“We need to ensure that the Antarctic remains a place of science and conservation, one that is free from conflict and which is protected from exploitation.
“Science is the key to that future. This investment, together with the window of discovery that is already being opened through RSV Nuyina, will reflect Australia’s commitment to our sovereignty in the Australian Antarctic Territory and its leading voice in the region.”
$1 Billion Defence Contract Delivers Tasmania Jobs Boost
21 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for Science and Technology
Tasmania will share in the benefits of a $1 billion defence industry contract signed by the Morrison Government last year, with around 55 new jobs to be created at Wynyard-based manufacturing company Elphinstone.
Elphinstone will manufacture 45 turrets and hulls for the Australian Army’s new Huntsman howitzers, delivering a major boost to Tasmania’s defence industry.
This is part of a $1 billion defence contract for new self-propelled howitzers for the Australian Army which was last year awarded to Hanwha Defense Australia, based in Greater Geelong.
Elphinstone will complete the steel fabrication, machining and painting of the turrets and hulls at their Wynyard factory, before shipping them to Hanwha in Geelong where the Huntsman vehicles will be assembled.
The Prime Minister said this was a major vote of confidence in Elphinstone and Tasmania.
“My Government will always back Tasmanians and ensure they benefit from our significant investment in defence industry,” the Prime Minister said.
“After decades specialising in mining manufacturing capabilities, Elphinstone has secured its first defence contract – this is a big win for our highly skilled workers in Wynyard.
“As manufacturing ramps up, around 55 new jobs will be created for locals in north-west Tasmania, in so many roles, including boilermaker welders, painters, fitters, machinists and other trades.
“Tasmanians should be proud that they will be significant contributors to increasing the firepower and security of Australian artillery capability.
“My Government can always be trusted to keep our nation and our region safe and to protect our interests in a rapidly changing global environment.”
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said Australian industry will play a vital role delivering and sustaining the Huntsman howitzers.
“Right across the country we are backing our small and medium businesses and creating local jobs, and Elphinstone is a prime example of this commitment to grow our defence industry,” Minister Price said.
“Tasmania has a formidable reputation for exporting niche, high-quality products and services to the world.
“I have no doubt it will continue to make an outstanding contribution to our Government’s Defence programs, boosting statewide employment and economic opportunities.
“Our Defence investments are giving Elphinstone an important opportunity to diversify its manufacturing operations.
“Our decision to back Australian industry is a demonstration of our determination to ensure that we have the ability to maintain a lethal, relevant and effective sovereign defence capability in Australia.”
In addition to the manufacture of turrets and hulls, Elphinstone will also undertake structural repairs over the life of the howitzers, including design changes and modifications in the future.
$86 million on offer to grow Australia's plantation estate
21 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, Deputy Leader of The Nationals, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Assistant Minister for Industry Development
The Morrison Government will invest more than $86 million over five years to support the establishment of new plantations for our future wood supply.
The Government will partner with states and territories to deliver this through a grants program, backing in a key component of the National Forest Industries Plan.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that timber was a critical national resource and the Government was committed to securing its future supply.
“This program is about getting more trees in the ground and securing an Australian supply of timber for future generations,” said the Prime Minister.
“Australia has 1.77 million hectares of plantations and we want that to grow further, that’s why we’re making the largest investment of any Australian Government in this space for more than 30 years.
“Getting more trees in the right places will help to meet future demand for wood products, which at a global scale is expected to quadruple by 2050.
“The farming, fishing and forestry sectors are projected to be worth $84 billion in production value this year and my Government will keep doing everything we can to see that grow even further.”
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said this program would have long-lasting benefits for rural and regional communities.
“This program will create jobs in regional Australia, not just in the planting phase, but in 25 or 30 years’ time when that wood is harvested and processed into a truss, a timber frame or an engineered wood product,” Minister Littleproud said.
“We want to partner with states and territories who own and manage forestry resources to plan for the future and turbo-charge this industry.
“Forestry is a renewable, sustainable industry that continues to create jobs in the regions and delivers quality, Australian-made products for this country.”
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said that this commitment was a clear indication that only a Morrison Government could be trusted to back-in the future of the forestry sector.
“In contrast to the Labor party who are intent on shutting our sustainable, world-class forest industries down, we are focused on growing them,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.
“We have worked hand-in-hand with industry to address the immediate and long-term challenges facing this sector, and will continue to back them in every step of the way.
“Whether it is opening access to carbon credits, providing support following the Black Summer bushfires, or this important $86 million investment in growing our plantation estate, our Government will always support this sector and the rural communities that rely upon it.”
For more information on the program visit: www.awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry
Interview with Mike O'Loughlin, Tasmania Talks
21 February 2022
MIKE O’LOUGHLIN: Prime Minister, good morning. Thanks for your time this morning. Welcome to Tassie.
PRIME MINISTER: Great to be here.
O’LOUGHLIN: You’re in today, in Tassie today, and what announcing the $86 million for forestry, and I had a look at that regional forestry hubs map and there's a fair bit on the mainland, but it includes all of Tasmania.
PRIME MINISTER: That, that's right, and what this is about 150 million trees all around the country. But this is just goes further to demonstrate our commitment, particularly to the Tasmanian forestry industry, to ensure that it has a sustainable future. We know how many jobs depend on that, and we're not a equivocal about it. We support the forestry industry here in Tasmania and always have and and will always will.
O’LOUGHLIN: It's all dependent, though, on whether the Morrison Government’s voted back in the federal election.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course, that's what, it's in the Budget, though. That’s my point. It’s it’s not a promise. It's in the Budget. It's actually in the books. And if Labor, God forbid, were able to form a government, they would have to cut that funding. So we’ve put that in the Budget and and that's why I'm pleased to announce it here today. As you know, some years ago, we we outlined further funding and that was, that has been well supported, and this would be done together with state governments and industry. So, for example, we put a $4 million subsidy in to support new plantings, combined with the support that would come from the state government and then matched by industry 50-50. That leverages up $20 million investment in new plantations. And that's a lot of jobs.
O’LOUGHLIN: It's also a massive shortage of timber. I mean, well, let's have what immediate benefit so can you really say to builders struggling to get timber product in Tasmania now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've already put in significant resources, particularly after the bushfires, to try and ensure that we're dealing with some of these shortages, and we're seeing that sort of affect the house price construction right across the country. And so we've been sort of getting the logs from everywhere we possibly can. There’s been transport subsidies, a range of other programs that have been dealing with the immediate challenges. What we’re talking about here with new plantations, obviously, is the medium to long term future of the industry. So you’ve got to work across all three fronts if you’re serious about supporting the Tasmanian forestry industry, and we are.
O’LOUGHLIN: What about manufacturing in Australia, is there a big push? Of course, Anthony Albanese’s been pushing more manufacturing for Australia. How do you feel? I mean, we should be pushing and making it a stronger, stronger push for your Government?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've already been doing it. That's the thing. I mean, he talks about it. We've been doing it. The Modern Manufacturing Initiative was in two Budgets ago. We've highlighted a series of of critical parts of our manufacturing sector. But I tell you what a huge part of it is, it's about ensuring you've got reliable, affordable energy to support your manufacturing industries. It's about supporting our data and digital economy, which is so important to manufacturing businesses. It's about having lower taxes for these manufacturing businesses - all the things that we are doing. Sovereign manufacturing capability is essential to not only Australia's economic interests, but frankly, our security interests as well. And we've been pouring billions into that over the last, particularly since the last election. We made it a priority for my Government and we've been following through on that and we've got the investment through the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, which takes us well out into the future.
O’LOUGHLIN: Marinus Link - starter sooner than later, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we're very keen to see this happen. It's important not only just for Tasmania, it will be a real boom for Tasmania, not just in the works to establish it, but the opportunities for Tasmania's green energy industry and its hydro industry as part of that, and connecting it to, you know, the mainland and the customers that are there. It's also important for the mainland to keep electricity prices down. We've been successful in seeing electricity prices around the country fall by eight per cent in the last two years, five in the last year. I mean, under Labor they went up by over 100 per cent. And, so, reliable, affordable electricity is essential for families, but it's also essential for businesses. And Marinus Link and Battery to the Nation has a major role to play in our national economy, and we're still working through the details of that with Premier Gutwein. And and, you know, but we're making good progress on that. We both want to see this work. We both want to see it happen. We're both very, very committed to it.
O’LOUGHLIN: Can I ask and can you offer any insight on when you're going to call an election, Prime Minister. We know it has to happen in the first half of the year. So can you please just put us out of our misery?
PRIME MINISTER: Election has to be held by about the middle of May. That's what the constitutional requirements are and and, you know, the election will be held this year. I've never been terribly shy about this issue. I always said it was going to be in 2022. Everybody else was carrying on about an earlier date. I mean, look, my record is I, you know, I run the Government to term.
O’LOUGHLIN: There’s some recent Newspoll figures, and you’d love the Newspolls, they’ve shown Labor has a 55-45 two party preferred lead, but you remain the preferred Prime Minister over Anthony Albanese by around five per cent. How confident are you heading into the election?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm I'm very confident about the wisdom of Australians who know that there is a choice to be made at this election and that those choices have consequences. Here in Tasmania, last time when Labor was in the Federal Government, the number of people unemployed was twice what it is now. So 20,000 people unemployed, there's 10,000 around that now. So our Government has been actually getting people into jobs. Our Government has been supporting our manufacturing industries and our rural and and agricultural industries. Our Government has been ensuring that we're keeping Australians safe, particularly when we look at what's happening in the world today. I mean, we've got Russians on, Russian troops on the border of Ukraine. We've got Chinese naval ships going through the Arafura Sea, pointing laser pointers at Australian surveillance aircraft. And we've got a very volatile Indo-Pacific. But our Government has been taking action to increase our Defence Force funding, increase our intelligence agencies funding, increase the funding for the Australian Federal Police. That’s what you do if you're serious about national security. When Labor was in Government, they cut all of those things - defence, intelligence, AFP, border protection. And so there is a choice to be made, and Australians when they get close to election weigh up these choices and understand the consequences of what electing one of the the most left wing leader of the Labor Party we've seen since Gough Whitlam, and what the implications of that are for our economy and national security.
O’LOUGHLIN: Well, you've launched some pretty extraordinary attacks on Labor in the last week or so with regard to China. The rhetoric’s been criticised by ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess and former top spy Dennis Richardson. Now, given there’s so much bipartisan support on China, low blow?
PRIME MINISTER: No, not at all. I mean, this is a serious issue, and it's it’s not an area where Australians should be unaware of the differences. I mean, we set a high bar for bipartisanship and Labor don't measure up to it, because what I just said, you can't say you've got a strong position on national security when last time you were in Government you cut funding to defence, intelligence, border protection and the Australian Federal Police. I mean, they can say all they like, but what I know is is what Labor's longer term record is and that that record has has implications and it has consequences. We've demonstrated in Government our strength on national security and our credentials are there to see, and so I think it's entirely reasonable for Australians to be fully informed of the differences between us and Labor and the Greens. Let's not forget, Tasmanians know better than anyone that Labor forms government with Greens, and the Greens’ policies on national security are even worse than Labor’s. And guess who’ll be pulling their chain if if Labor’s elected to government.
O’LOUGHLIN: It's interesting, though, it's such a difficult situation we are in internationally. You've got Russia and Ukraine. I mean, that's incredibly concerning. Ore-imminent Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we know that, but they signed that, I mean, Russia signed that incredible, strong agreement with China, which doesn't help our exports to China.
PRIME MINISTER: What is concerning us is the increasing cooperation between authoritarian regimes around the world, and that's why countries like Australia have been standing up and standing up to them. This is why we've taken such a strong stand. You remember, you know, I was the one who shut the borders to China at the start of the. Of the pandemic. I was the one who called for there to being a fair dinkum investigation as to how this pandemic started. Everybody attacked me for doing it. But, you know, Australia, under my leadership, is standing up for itself. And that's important. It takes strength to do that. You can't have weakness in this job. It's a, it's an increasingly dangerous world and Australians have to stand up for what they believe in and not go down the appeasement path.
O’LOUGHLIN: Well, you've mentioned that. I mean, it was incredibly well, as your quote, bullying, coercion with the ADF detected that Chinese navy ship using that laser on the Australian Defence aircraft. I mean, you've demanded answers from Xi Jinping in Beijing. What do you hope to achieve here?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, first step is they should be conducting an investigation there to see how they did this. I mean, this was dangerous, it was unprofessional and it was reckless for a professional Navy, and we want some answers as to why they did this. Could you imagine if that had been an Australian frigate going through the Taiwan Strait that pointed a laser at a Chinese surveillance aircraft, or indeed a British ship or a Japanese ship or or an American, US ship, could you imagine what the reaction would be? So we’re we're expecting answers. This was reckless. It was dangerous, and at worst, it was intimidating and bullying. And so they're the ones who need to explain, not just to Australia, but to think of all the countries in our region. I mean, this is not good that this would occur. It could occur to anyone else who is just simply doing the normal surveillance of their own Exclusive Economic Zone. And and to be confronted with that, I think, is just absolutely unacceptable. There's no excuse for it.
O’LOUGHLIN: Now, your Government’s been criticised for refusing to accept blame over supply shortages throughout the pandemic. What's your response there?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we agreed back in November, when it comes to rapid antigen tests, the rapid antigen tests for the public in in the states was to be provided by the states, and we were doing it for aged care. But, you know, we've been able to overcome those challenges. We've been able to get those tests in. Omicron changed everything. Let's not forget that these tests weren’t even approved in Australia until November, and then Omicron came and changed everything about the virus. But we’ve pushed through the summer, we’ve got back those supplies, they're out there available now, they've been provided to school kids in Victoria and New South Wales and and and here also in Tasmania. So, you know, we've had our challenges. We always overcome them. We work together. We get the job done. But Omicron was a completely different virus. It was like we had to start all over again. But we moved quickly, got on top of it, and we were able to press ahead, and look at us now. It's one of the strongest economies in the world. Highest vaccination, one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, and one of the lowest death rates in the world, including for those who are elderly Australians, of anywhere in the world. That's what Australia is achieving. When you look at we're doing, internationally then this is the place you you want to be.
O’LOUGHLIN: And look, I know that Budget's coming next month and [inaudible] to be all carrot, no stick, I was reading. What major benefits will be, we be seeing here in Tasmania?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, it’s going to continue to invest obviously in the health system and in infrastructure, important projects. We're going to continue to invest in in projects that we’ve announced like hydrogen hubs and these sorts of things, which have great opportunities for Tasmania, continuing invest in the energy infrastructure. As I said, we're working through those details with the, with Premier Gutwein now in terms of Lyons Link, as we’ve, as it’s known, Marinus Link. And so there are many projects we're obviously very focused on. But all of that and and further details will be there when the Budget is handed down at the end of this month. The Treasurer is in Tasmania with me also today, we're here with Bridget Archer this morning, then over with Gav in Braddon later today, and then down in Lyons. So we're getting around today and I'm pleased, thrilled to be back. Jenny's with me today. And and we're looking forward to also welcoming back all the international tourists, which starts today, which is tremendous, and that's going to be a big boom for Tasmania to getting those international tourists back and and seeing those that money flow into the tourism economy, which I know the Tasmanian tourism industry has, you know, really pushed through, done it tough. And and so what they've waited for has finally arrived. So we're going to get those tourists back and and start getting the cash into the Tasmanian economy. So it's looking up.
O’LOUGHLIN: And the states want to, so on to health, Prime Minister, I mean, the premiers are demanding, what is it, $20 billion to tackle the extreme pressure that's been placed on the health system by the pandemic. And then again, you know, Tasmania needs to be a a benefit to that. We seem to get left out a fair bit, but the states want a costs split 50-50 with the Commonwealth. Is this something we'll see happen?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've increased funding here to Tasmanian hospital system by 75 per cent since we came to Government. Across the country, you know, we've doubled, more than doubled across all the states and territories their increased investment in hospitals. When you look at all the health expenditure in the country, you know, when you take into account Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, all of these sorts of things, the Commonwealth picks up more than 60 per cent of health expenditure in the country. And we also are increasingly picking up, we’re over 60 per cent of covering the costs of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. And that's only going north. So we do our fair share of the heavy lifting when it comes to social services expenditure, health expenditure, supporting hospitals. All of that, and particularly here in Tassie, we're still got $71 million that was provided to the Tasmanian Health Plan. So that included hospital and health services infrastructure of $35 million, new cancer infrastructure of $4.4 million, more MRI units, medical research of $12.4 million, more mental health support of $24.4 million, and improved alcohol and drug support at $7.4 million. So my Government is investing heavily in health services here of Tasmania, and we'll continue to do so. But I think it's important, remember Medicare doesn't pay for itself, and the states don't pay one cent of it. I'm not saying they should. I'm simply saying that we do our share of the heavy lifting. In fact, more than 60 per cent of health costs right across the country are paid for by the Federal Government.
O’LOUGHLIN: And Prime Minister, I've been given the word that you have to go. You’re keeping all the reporters. I'm I'm sorry about that, but I had a tonne more questions.
PRIME MINISTER: Not at all.
O’LOUGHLIN: But I do appreciate your time this morning. I thank you for that.
PRIME MINISTER: It’s great to be in Tassie and it's going to be a great year for Tassie.
O’LOUGHLIN: Please keep in touch.
PRIME MINISTER: I will. Thank you. Bye.
O’LOUGHLIN: Ok, thanks. Good to talk to you. Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB
21 February 2022
Ben Fordham: Prime Minister, good morning.
Prime Minister: Good morning, Ben.
Fordham: I know you're not in charge of negotiations about the trains in Sydney, but I'm interested in that last comment from the Union boss Mark Morey, who says these strikes are just the beginning. They'll happen next week, next month and the month after that. Would this have anything to do with the federal election coming in May?
Prime Minister: Well, they have to explain that, but all I know is is there are people who this morning who are going to have an overpriced Uber or they're going to be not able to get to work. This thing was sprung up at 2am in the morning. This is, this is just not how you behave and this is not how you treat your fellow citizens. We've had, you know, nurses, we've had teachers, we've had police officers and and, you know, everyone working hard over through the pandemic. We've got international arrivals opening up today and the unions welcome to them will be a train strike. I mean, this is not how this should be done. And I feel for all of those Sydneysiders today who are affected by this strike. It was, I mean last, just over a week ago, Ben, we had the AMWU actually protesting against the AUKUS agreement. So they're, you know, the unions are ramping up, there's no doubt about that, and it's a poor taste of what they could expect, I suspect, with with licence from Labor.
Fordham: Well, we've got nurses who can't get to work, police officers who can't get to police stations, aged care workers who can't get to nursing homes. And therefore you've got normal people whose lives are disrupted and put in danger.
Prime Minister: And done at 2am in the morning. I mean, all of this, whenever it was called, but honestly, the the disrespect being shown to their their fellow Sydneysiders who are going about their day, you know, kids trying to get to school, parents trying to, you know, get get their week underway. But as you rightly say, Ben, aged care workers, nurses, police officers, firies, ambulance officers, all having to deal with the unions carrying on like this in the middle of the night to cause such terrible disruption.
Fordham: Is there a sense that there's going to be more of this because we've got an election on the horizon?
Prime Minister: Well, we've already had to stare down as a Government work, actions by the Maritime Union and and they backed off. But that's our, that's what our Government will do when it's falling into areas of our responsibility. And I have no doubt that the New South Wales Government will take a strong stand as well. But, you know, when they think they've they've they've got the power, well, you know what they do. We've seen it before, from our waterfront to our now our trains. And, as I said, we even had the Manufacturers Union protesting against the AUKUS agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom, which is there to keep Australians safe.
Fordham: And this is a day that we should be celebrating, the first international tourists arriving in two years. So they'll be flying in this morning and then discovering there are no trains. This is a good sign that we're somewhat back to normal, but how embarrassing that this is what they're met with.
Prime Minister: Well, I agree. I mean, this is an important day that Australians have looked forward to. And whether you're up in Far North Queensland or or here in in Sydney. I mean, Sydney is one of the, is our biggest international gateway, and that's where most of the planes will be coming in today with the reopening of international tourism. And that's going to be welcome news for so many tourism operators in Sydney. You know, you don't have to be a long way away from the cities to to be reliant on international tourism, and Sydney is a tourist city like that. So it's great news from that point of view that we're pushing through the pandemic. We're coming out the other side. But the union movement has decided to, you know, really pull the rug out from under that on our first day back.
Fordham: We're joined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is demanding answers this morning from Beijing after a Chinese naval vessel pointed a military grade laser at a RAAF aircraft. Have we received any explanation from Beijing, because this is a pretty serious incident?
Prime Minister: We haven't received an explanation as yet, but what we've called for, working through the diplomatic and defence channels, is a full investigation into this event and for them to provide answers to how this dangerous act could be undertaken. One, I mean, it's for a, what is supposed to be a professional Defence Force, this is a dangerous and reckless act. And worse, it can be seen, as I said yesterday, as an act of intimidation and bullying. They were in our exclusive economic zone and they were pointing a later, a laser at an Australian surveillance aircraft. Now, could you imagine if that had been an Australian frigate up in the Taiwan Strait or or a US vessel or a Japanese or French or German or UK vessel, and they were pointing lasers at at Chinese surveillance aircraft, which would have had every right to be up there, just as our surveillance aircraft were. I mean, could you imagine their reaction to that in Beijing.
Fordham: Did this put Aussie lives in danger?
Prime Minister: Yes, it did. There's no, I mean, you go, I mean, we know that if you go and point lasers in the eyes of pilots eyes, I mean, that can, that can, it is a direct threat to them and their safety. It is a dangerous and reckless act.
Fordham: Let me ask you about a few other things, because I know you're due to jump on a plane. Coronavirus - it's been revealed this morning Her Majesty the Queen has tested positive for COVID. We know that Prince Charles and Camilla had it in the last week or so, but this is particularly concerning considering she's 95 years of age.
Prime Minister: Well, that is true, and we wish Her Majesty all the best for for a speedy recovery. There are few people more resilient than Her Majesty, and we wish her all the best as she works her way through this. I had a constituent of my own, not really, not that long ago she turned 101, and she'd just gone through COVID as well. So, I mean, we do know that people of that age can, it depending on the nature of how the illness has impacted them, can pull through, and I have no doubt, and I would certainly hope and pray that that would be the case for Her Majesty, and we wish her all the best.
Fordham: Now, we've seen some footage of you over the weekend having a crack at welding, Prime Minister. We've seen you, we've seen you playing the ukulele, we've seen you washing hair in women's hair salons. And now you've had a go at welding in the Northern Territory. Apparently you're supposed to have the face shield down when you're welding. Did you know that?
Prime Minister: Well, of course I did. This was a pretty tricky little device I was trying to use. I hadn't used that one before. But Ben, what I like to do, and it doesn't matter whether I'm at a welding shop or whether I'm in a hairdressers, I like to learn and understand what our trainees and apprentices are doing. Now, people want to have a crack at me about that. They can. But, you know, we've got more trade apprentices in training today - 220,000 - than any other time in our recorded economic history since 1963. So if people want to have a chip at me because I'm not a good welder, well, that's not my day job. Or, you know, or I'm not a good hairdresser. And, you know, I think it's sort of a bit passing strange, you know, that they'll have a, they never used to say anything about me doing things on welding or, you know, those things that people think are more blokey jobs. But I go and do what what young female apprentices are learning to do at a hairdressing salon, and they have a crack at me. I think they're fantastic. I think all of our apprentices are fantastic. They're hard jobs and you've got a lot to learn, as I showed everybody. I've got a lot to learn if I wanted to do those jobs. I just think our apprentices and the small businesses that are giving them a go are fantastic, and if all the narks, you know, in the bubble want to have a crack at me, well, they can. But what I'm doing is showcasing the great work of our apprentices and small businesses.
Fordham: Where are you off to today?
Prime Minister: Heading down to Tassie today, Jenny and I are heading down to Tassie, and looking forward to getting down there. We're looking forward to, you know, being well out of Canberra now and being able to connect directly with Australians, talking about how we're making our economy stronger, how we're keeping Australians safe. We've got many issues we're still dealing with. The situation in Ukraine is very serious. You know, I I certainly hope that the latest efforts that European leaders are engaged in to prevent what is increasingly seeing imminent and inevitable. But what can't happen is we can't have a situation where threats of intimidation and violence by Russia can be used to somehow gain concessions and leverage. They, this is an unprovoked threat to from Ukraine. Ukraine should have every right to decide their own future and not be bullied and intimidated by its neighbour. And we will always stand up to authoritarian autocrats who think they can bully others.
Fordham: Have a safe flight to Tasmania. We'll talk to you soon.
Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, Ben.
Fordham: Prime Minister Scott Morrison live on the line.
$678 million to further seal and upgrade Outback Way
21 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, Senator for Queensland and Special Envoy for Northern Australia, Federal Member for O’Connor
The Morrison-Joyce Government will invest an additional $678 million to seal another 1,000 kilometres of road and deliver further upgrades along Australia’s longest shortcut, Outback Way, creating thousands of jobs and better connecting regional industries and communities.
As part of the works, the remaining unsealed and substandard sections of Outback Way in Queensland and Western Australia will be sealed. Additional priority sections on the Plenty Highway and Tjukaruru Road in the Northern Territory will also be upgraded.
The Government is committed to sealing the entire 2,720 kilometres of Outback Way and today’s funding commitment will help get the job done, cutting travel times for freight and tourists while giving residents along the route improved access to the supplies they need to live.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the upgrades would support 2,197 jobs, and deliver an important economic boost across Australia’s centre.
“Our additional investment of $678 million in Outback Way is part of our plan for a strong economy across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia,” the Prime Minister said.
“Investing in infrastructure right across Australia will keep our economy strong and growing while ensuring Australians, regardless of where they live, have jobs.
“Our investment locks in a pipeline of works that will drive investment in regional Australia and boost economies from Winton in Queensland to Laverton in Western Australia, helping regional and remote communities and those who call them home to grow and prosper.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Government was delivering on its commitment to seal the entire length of Outback Way.
“The Nationals and Liberals had the vision to start these upgrades and we are driving ahead with the sealing of the third road that runs east to west across our nation, from Winton to Laverton,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Outback Way is a vital piece of national transport infrastructure that supports regional economies the length of the 2,720 kilometre route and connects them to the rest of Australia.
“This additional funding builds on the $330 million we’ve invested since 2013 to seal over 600 kilometres of Outback Way, giving freight, tourists and locals a smoother, safer drive.
“$124 million will be spent on upgrades in the Northern Territory alone, creating 442 jobs for locals and delivering a much-needed economic injection in the Territory.
“These upgrades will spark new opportunities for industries along the route, including the critical earth precincts north of Alice Springs, the gold precincts around Laverton and the massive beef industry, while ensuring communities and people on the corridor have better access to supplies.”
Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said $154 million would be invested in the Queensland section of Outback Way, creating 671 jobs across the state and driving economic growth.
“Sealing and upgrading Outback Way will reduce the long and unreliable travel times that freight and motorists experience along sections of the route,” Minister Littleproud said.
“The upgrades will also drive economic growth in remote communities, bring more tourists, improve connections between people, jobs and services, and goods with markets.”
Senator for Queensland and Special Envoy for Northern Australia Susan McDonald said mining and agriculture businesses would benefit from the Government’s investment in in western Queensland.
“$41.5 million of this funding will go towards progressively sealing the remaining unsealed sections of the Donohue Highway in Queensland, to improve safety and efficiency,” Senator McDonald said.
“Solely-funded by the Australian Government, the Donohue Highway sealing works will support around 124 jobs during construction, providing a major boost to the local economy.”
Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson said the Federal Government had put $400 million on the table to seal the full length of Outback Way in Western Australia.
“This funding commitment will create 1,084 jobs in Western Australia, delivering a significant boost to our regional and remote towns,” Mr Wilson said.
“A sealed route will also deliver social benefits for communities by improving access to goods and services and increased employment opportunities, particularly for Indigenous communities.”
The Government’s additional funding for Outback Way means upgrades can continue to be rolled out as previously funded works are completed.
The Australian Government’s funding commitment represents 80 per cent of the total funding package, with state and territory governments providing the remaining 20 per cent.
50th anniversary of Australia-Poland diplomatic relations
20 February 2022
Joint Statement by Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Mateusz Morawiecki
Today marks 50 years since the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Australia and Poland on 20 February 1972. On that day, we affirmed the warm friendship between our nations.
Our enduring relationship dates back to the arrival of the first Polish migrants to Australia in the 19th century. Since then, generations of men and women of Polish heritage have made significant contributions to the progress of modern Australia.
The 1939 invasion of Poland spurred Australia’s entry into the Second World War. We honour our service personnel who bravely fought side by side, most famously in 1941 during the Siege of Tobruk, and the Australian and Polish aircrew who flew in support of the Warsaw Uprising.
In the aftermath of war, Australia welcomed thousands of Poles who journeyed here to establish new lives in a new land. Australians stood fast in support of the brave struggle of the Polish people against communist rule and martial law, and celebrated Poland’s return to democracy in 1989.
In recent years our countries have worked closely together as democracies — supporting the rules-based international order and open and fair trade. We have enjoyed strong economic growth and the increasing success of our business links. We cooperate closely in the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other fora.
Our relationship is one of mutual respect, underpinned by ties of family, friendship, history, heritage, and strong community links. After the catastrophic bushfires in 2019, Polish volunteer firefighters were involved in coordinating donations to the Kosciuszko National Park. In the latest expression of our bond, in 2021 Poland shared with Australia its surplus doses of COVID-19 vaccine, helping to protect Australians and our communities and thereby saving many Australian lives.
For 50 years, Australia and Poland have cooperated to build and enhance our strong bilateral relations. Today, we are proud of our friendship, confident in our shared interests and optimistic in the opportunities that lie ahead.
Bombing of Darwin - 80 years since Australia came under attack
19 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel
On the morning of 19 February 1942, the fighting of the Second World War reached the shores of mainland Australia for the first time, when over 240 Japanese aircraft bombed Darwin.
On that day, tragically 252 lives were lost in two separate raids, including members of all three Australian armed services, Allied personnel, merchant seamen and Australian civilians.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison remembered all those who lived through the Bombing of Darwin and honoured the memory of those who lost their lives in the devastating attack.
“The Bombing of Darwin began a testing chapter in the history of our nation – a series of air raids across north-western Australia which continued for 21 long months until November 1943,” the Prime Minister said.
“It was the greatest threat our people ever faced. But in our darkest hour, we rose to the challenge. Australia’s response to the Second World War was the greatest national effort in our history, and like Gallipoli almost 30 years before, the Bombing of Darwin proved to be an early tragedy, followed by ultimate triumph.
“In New Guinea, Borneo, Solomon Islands, and across the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, Australia helped to halt and then push back militaristic Japanese forces. With our allies, we turned the tide against militarism, and won a heroic victory.
“Today, it is more timely and necessary than ever to acknowledge what they went through, and to assure their place in the story of our nation.
“We also acknowledge the deep and lasting friendship between the people of Australia and Japan – out of the suffering of war we have turned to each other in a spirit of reconciliation and respect. Our nations’ commitment to freedom, security and democracy now provides a solid foundation for the future peace and stability of the region.
“On this day in the city of Darwin – and in every part of Australia – we will remember. Lest we forget.”
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the 80th anniversary the Bombing of Darwin was an important time for all Australians to reflect on that dark day in Australian history.
“Few survivors of the terrible surprise attack on Darwin are still with us today to share their experiences, so the duty now rests with us to ensure their stories are told, and their courage and sacrifice is remembered,” Minister Gee said.
“It is hard to imagine the fear and confusion that must have been felt by the people of Darwin and Australia that day, when hundreds of enemy aircraft filled the skies above the city.
“The danger of invasion was real, yet the determination to defend was resolute and there were great acts of bravery from both the military and civilians.
“The first two Military Medals for bravery in battle on Australian soil were awarded to Gunner Wilburt Hudson and Lance Bombardier Fred Wombey, for their actions on that day.
“Our men and women in uniform, as well as civilians, rescued crewmen from burning ships, while local doctors and nurses treated the badly wounded survivors.”
It had taken Japanese troops just two months to overrun all of Thailand and Malaya, and invade modern day Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
By the middle of February 1942 the Allied ‘fortress’ of Singapore had surrendered, Timor had fallen and Darwin came under attack.
When the first wave of 188 Japanese aircraft struck Darwin, the bombing and strafing continued for about 40 minutes, targeting the port and ships, and overwhelming Darwin’s defences.
Eight of the 47 ships in the harbour – three naval and five merchant class – were sunk. The cargo of one ship, which included 200 anti-submarine warfare weapons, exploded as it lay alongside the Darwin wharf, causing further destruction.
A short time later a second wave of 54 Japanese planes targeted the Royal Australian Air Force Station a few kilometres north east of Darwin.
Sixteen Australian servicemen and one servicewoman were killed in the raids. The bombing killed at least 21 civilian wharf labourers and a bomb which hit the main Darwin post office killed the Post-master and his family, and six young women telegraphists.
The Destroyer USS Peary was also sunk in the raids, killing 88 American sailors and wounding 13 on board.
“Australia may have escaped invasion, but it did not escape further attack, with a total of 97 Japanese air raids inflicted on northern Australia over the next two years,” Minister Gee said.
“As the living memory of that day and the terrifying period that followed fades away, it is all the more important that we pause and reflect on a dark chapter forever etched in our nation’s history.
“On 19 February, I encourage all Australians to take time out to remember and honour all those who died in these attacks and in the defence of Australia during the Second World War.”
More information about the attacks on Australia in 1942 and the courage shown by service personnel and civilians is available on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Anzac Portal.
Doorstop - Darwin City, NT
19 February 2022
PRIME MINISTER: The events in Ukraine continue to be profoundly disturbing. I concur with the statements of so many leaders of free countries around the world that what we are seeing in Ukraine is looking regrettably inevitable. We hope that this is not the case. We hope that Russia will step back from its violent threats of intimidation on its neighbour, Ukraine. But it does appear, particularly in the reports that we've seen, that the likelihood of an invasion of Ukraine by Russia is imminent.
Such threats of violence and intimidation are totally unacceptable. Threats against Ukraine are uninvited, unwelcome, unprovoked and unacceptable, and all free nations of the world will hold that view. I agree with Prime Minister Kishida, who has remarked, importantly, that we don't effectively get to go and change the rules by using threats of violence in order to achieve that, and by seeking to intimidate sovereign nations.
All nations, all nations that favour a world order that that is in favour of freedom support the sovereignty of all nations. And the fact that a nation would seek to threaten another's sovereignty on the pretence that it's being done in their own security interests is completely unacceptable. So there can't be compromises when it comes to the status quo, which actually protects world order and protects freedom and protects the liberty of nations and their sovereignty. These things cannot and should never be allowed to be changed through threats of intimidation and coercion.
Australia has always taken a strong stand against these issues, and we always will. And we'll always be proud to stand with others like the United States and Japan and so many others around the world, our friends in Europe and the United Kingdom, who have been prepared to call this out. Australia's calling it out and we'll provide the support that is necessary to assist, with our like-minded partners, to support those in Ukraine.
For Australians who are in Ukraine, we have been warning now for many, many weeks, going back to well into late last year, but our consular teams and diplomats standing ready in a number of countries that are bordering the affected areas of Ukraine. And we're working with other countries in Europe, and I particularly want to acknowledge the support we've had from France in in these particular efforts. And we will continue to work, whether it's standing by our partners in making these very strong points. I note the Dutch Government have made very strong statements and offers of support. So we'll work with all of them because this cannot stand.
We cannot have a situation where a nation such as Russia can threaten and bully those countries that border its its borders. We cannot have it that they can intimidate and threaten in this way. That is not how we can have a sustainable peace. And no country should be taking any comfort from this whatsoever. They can't. This is not something that we can allow to stand. And Australia will stand with all those who will stand against this violence and this aggression.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, if war does happen, you mentioned support there. What are you talking about there? Would that be a contribution of troops? What sort of support is that? And have you seen the intelligence that Mr Biden has been referring to?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we we participate in an intelligence community together with our allies, our allies, and we're very well-informed of the events that have been taking place in Ukraine and on their border. There hasn't been any withdrawal of of Russian troops from the borders. The pretence is being sought for an invasion. There is no pretence for an invasion into Ukraine. There is no justification for it. There is no provocation of it. Russia has only one decision that it can make, and that is to withdraw, to not proceed with this invasion. To not pretend that there is some justification for it, because there is none. And they cannot use the threat of war and invasion as a way of trying to leverage and negotiate other changes that they may be seeking. That is not how free nations, democratic nations, nations that are in favour of peace should behave. We've seen this before, and we cannot allow it to stand.
Now, Australia has not been asked or nor would we be providing support through troops or anything of that nature. We work with our allies and partners in many other ways, and we will seek to do that in with the practical things that we can do to assist those efforts. Had such discussions with the UK Prime Minister and others about how we proceed along that basis. We stand together in supporting the statements of the President of the United States that we've heard overnight, and I think he sums up the position extremely well.
Boosting the economy and jobs in the Northern Territory
18 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for Science and Technology
The Morrison Government is boosting the Northern Territory’s economy with a $282 million injection across two Defence projects that will create local jobs and opportunities for businesses across the Territory.
The Morrison Government will establish a Regional Maintenance Centre in Darwin to support our national naval shipbuilding enterprise, with a tender for a new Industry Partner to head up the centre to be advertised in coming weeks. The establishment of a centre in Darwin reflects its status as a critical strategic location.
In addition, our Government will invest up to $122 million in 34 Department of Defence projects to bolster Australia’s defence capabilities across the Northern Territory as part of the 2022-23 Estate Works Program.
The Prime Minister said the total $282 million economic injection in Defence projects would create hundreds of jobs, and support thousands more.
“The Regional Maintenance Centre alone will initially inject around $160 million into the local economy, create around 70 jobs over the next five years, and support the work of more than 1,500 tradies from the Darwin region,” the Prime Minister said.
“It will play a key role in sustaining complex naval capabilities, initially including the new evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats and Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels.
“This will provide valuable long-term contract opportunities to large and small defence industry businesses from Darwin to Alice Springs, strengthening the local defence industry and growing jobs.
“Our up to $122 million investment in 2022-23 for Defence estate works across the Territory will see more than 200 tradies from local businesses employed during the design, planning and delivery stages across the 34 projects.
“We will upgrade airfields, working accommodation, and critical communication stations, as well as improving bases including the RAAF Base Tindal, RAAF Base Darwin, Robertson Barracks, and Defence Training areas such as the Bradshaw Training area.
“The Northern Territory is a key strategic area for Defence and it is the guardian of Australia’s northern approaches. These investments are recognition of the key role the Northern Territory provides for Defence and Australia.”
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the investments in the Northern Territory were further evidence of the Government’s commitment to growing Australia’s defence industry.
“We have built an incredibly strong record on local job creation, particularly in the Northern Territory,” Minister Price said.
“More than $8 billion will be invested over the coming decade into the refresh and redevelopment of Defence facilities in the NT.
“The local carpenters, electricians, boilermakers, mechanics and many other tradespeople are getting unprecedented opportunities to support our Defence bases.
“This level of support is being mirrored across the country, where we will invest $270 billion in defence capability over the coming decade, supporting more than 100,000 jobs across the economy.
“It is in stark contrast to Labor, which when last in government cut Defence spending by $18 billion – its lowest level since World War II – and would no doubt look to repeat those cuts if it were to slide into government.
“Given its appalling record of failing to take Defence investment seriously, the Labor Party simply cannot be trusted when it comes to the defence of our nation.”
Interview with Eliza Goetze, ABC Alice Springs
18 February 2022
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Eliza,
ELIZA GOETZE: Will you be meeting with the Mayor today?
PRIME MINISTER: We won't have the opportunity today, Ken Wyatt met with him five days after we met, after we received that letter up here in Alice Springs. So I really want to thank Matt for writing to us. And when Ken has come and he's already announced it's over $3 million of funding, which is supporting programs to address the very issues that the Mayor has raised. And I want to thank Matt that for the really constructive partnership he’s forming to address this issue. I'm going from here to see Ben Schaber this morning, who was one of the finalists in the Indigenous Business Awards to make the other announcement of the program we're doing for Indigenous business leadership. And then I have another very big announcement to make up further up the road up in Darwin today about defence project funding, which will have a massive impact here, also in central Australia, some $282 million in defence projects and works. But I'm looking forward to catching up with Matt. I think it's an incredibly important issue.
GOETZE: So do you have five minutes, you mean you don't have any time to squeeze him in at all?
PRIME MINISTER: I would love to if I could. I'll be leaving very early this morning after being at a couple of things this morning, but I'd love to talk to him. As I said, within five days of that letter being received, Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt was here talking to Matt and a program already in place, over $3 million on creating networks in the community, culture camps, bush cooking, giving youth inclusion in community decisions, mentorships. I mean, these are the things that need to be done. And so with these five days action from my Government and my Minister.
GOETZE: The reality is and the contents of that letter from Matt Patterson, residents in this town often don't feel safe to walk the streets at night. Just the other day, in broad daylight, a woman was assaulted while she was out running. People are having their homes and businesses broken into. They don't feel safe to go to sleep at night. Business owners are forking out often for security gear. The Gunner Government doesn't appear to be acting on law and order in the town of Alice Springs. You've announced culture camps, but is that enough? What more are you going to do to make Alice Springs a safer place?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I want to work with the Territory Government, as you say. I mean, we've poured significant resources into the Territory Government, and when I was Treasurer, we put in an extra $260 million to top up funding on GST to do exactly these sort of things to fund law and order in the territory. And so we're providing those resources that we want to support them to keep doing it. We've got $36 million invested over four years from 2019 to 2023 in youth sector programs through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy. So we're stepping up. And of course, Damien Ryan, a Mayor of Alice Springs for a very long time, understands these issues better than anyone, other than obviously the current Mayor who's dealing with them right now. And so with Damien Ryan, who's the CLP candidate for Lingiari, I think he has a pretty good handle on this, and I'll work really closely with him to address these law and order issues here in Alice Springs. I mean, I think coming up to Alice Springs for 30 years and I've seen how the town has changed over that period of time, back to my time when I was in tourism, I understand how important getting law and order under control in the Alice is not just important, obviously, for the safety of so many people living here in the Alice, it's important for the town and its economy and its future. So I get it.
GOETZE: So you'll be back here by the sounds to meet with Matt Patterson on crime, some stage?
PRIME MINISTER: I'd love to, but we'll arrange to talk further about this. No doubt about it. And I'm sure Damien's working closely with him as well. And that's why, you know, he's such a great pick for the CLP to be the right candidate for Lingiari, as the CLP candidate.
GOETZE: You're here today, Barnaby Joyce is expected here next week. It sounds like Lingiari is an important seat. What makes Damien Ryan a better candidate than Labor's Marion Scrymgour for the job?
PRIME MINISTER: He gets it. I mean, he's been here serving this Alice Springs community in particular for a long time, and he's got that reputation and he's got the track record. He understands the issues and he's got the performance to back it up. I mean, he's someone who knows how to get things done and he can get things done in a government. And you know, the Government has been delivering across so many programmes.
GOETZE: Marion’s also got decades of experience in government, and she's an Aboriginal woman. What makes Damien any better?
PRIME MINISTER: Service in government as a leader in this community and taking responsibility for the decisions you have to take.
GOETZE: She's also been in government.
PRIME MINISTER: Working in a town like this. I'm talking about a person has been the Mayor, someone who …
GOETZE: She's been in Territory Government.
PRIME MINISTER: I’m talking about somebody who the buck stops with someone in the town of Alice Springs.
GOETZE: She's been in local government, she's been at a high level. What makes him ready for that job more than her?
PRIME MINISTER: His experience and his commitment to this town in particular and his track record of performance and people understand that he gets it.
GOETZE: How much pressure are you feeling for Damien to win the seat of Lingiari? How important is this seat to you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course every seat is important all across the country, but let me make this point. It isn't just Damien Ryan, it's actually our Government. I mean, if you, if you vote for Damien Ryan, you're not just getting a great candidate, you're getting an Australian Government who's been able to ensure that we come through this pandemic with one of the lowest fatality rates in the world, the strongest economies and highest vaccination rates. You've got a Government that's delivered 1.1 million jobs since the pandemic hit. We've got the highest number of trade apprentices trained ...
GOETZE: Sorry to interrupt.
PRIME MINISTER: If you just wouldn't mind me answering the question - 220,000 trade apprenticeships in trade training right now, that's the highest level since 1963. So people sitting here in Alice Springs and around Lingiari, they know they're going to have a better chance of a job, a more successful business, at the backing in on important issues of national security, law and order, because that's our form, that's what we do. And then you've got Damien on the ground, experienced local Mayor who can actually deal with the local problems that are on the ground here, and he has a track record of supporting it.
GOETZE: I just wanted to touch on there. The vaccination rates across our remote communities have actually been very low compared to the national average, and Lingiari, it's a massive seat covering pretty much the whole Territory outside Darwin. It's typically won out bush. How do you plan to win this seat? How do you win over those communities?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, first of all, I'd say, I mean, we've been working closely with the Gunner Government on Indigenous vaccinations. It's a challenging task. But Australia's vaccination rates, particularly for Indigenous populations, is also one of the highest in the world. When I was in the United States, I met with Vice-President Harris and we were talking about Indigenous vaccination rates in the United States and in Australia. You know what they were talking about, how good theirs was, and ours were the same and better. So it's challenging. It's hard. We've seen the same thing in western New South Wales and other parts of the country. We've got big challenges over in Western Australia as well, and you just got to go community by community. That's what we’ve been doing with the Gunner Government. And on top of that, we've been getting great support from Indigenous leaders. And Ken Wyatt has just been phenomenal, engaging directly with Indigenous leaders to work with the community to get this done. I mean, we are the Government who actually did the Closing the Gap agreement with Indigenous people. Not a top down approach. We actually got together with Pat Turner, the Coalition of Peaks. We completely rewrote the Closing the Gap agreement to put Indigenous people in a real partnership with my Government and to close that gap - not some pronouncement from Canberra. And we also got a territory and state governments enlisted in the Closing the Gap program because, as you would know and listeners would know, state and territory governments have an enormous role to play in closing the gap and they've been left on the sidelines by Labor under their Closing the Gap approach.
GOETZE: I wanted to ask you about Closing the Gap and what you will do to better the lives of people who are living out bush. How will the Defence investment in the Territory announced today by your Government, what would that mean to people who live out on the Utopia homelands or out of Papunya?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, let me point out two these figures for you. First of all, 23,000 Commonwealth contracts, that includes Defence contracts, have been given to Indigenous businesses just since I became Prime Minister - 23,000. Now companies like Ben’s or other companies here up in the Territory - meeting with another one today up and in Darwin - they're involved in these types of works and these programs, and they're deploying Indigenous young people. And the program I'm announcing today about Indigenous business leadership is about improving their capabilities from their staff to the businesses themselves, to the leaders and owners of those businesses, so they can take advantage of those opportunities. I was blown away. Jenny and I met him last Friday at the [Ethnic] Business Awards, where he was a finalist. And he's passionate. I mean, he's a guy, he changed his life when he got out of jail, got a job, got a trade, started a business, and now he's employing about a dozen people here in the Territory, including young Indigenous people. That's how you benefit. You create jobs and you support businesses and Indigenous business leaders. Now that's why we're putting over $20 million into supporting that imitative around the country. I need more Bens and Indigenous people need more Bens because that means more jobs for Indigenous Australians.
GOETZE: People from, say, Yuendumu, they just want a job that's meaningful and something that's not on the CDP. We're still experiencing fallout from the intervention, where control has been creeping back into the lives of Aboriginal people and especially people who live remote. What are you going to do to undo the damage by the intervention, noting that the legislation that underpinned a lot of that policy, the Stronger Futures legislation, some of that expires this year. So what are you going to do to wind that back? Some of it includes alcohol laws.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Eliza, I don't know, you mustn't have heard my last answer to my last question. I mean, a real job is the job at Ben's business. I mean, that's what's happening. I said 23,000 Commonwealth contracts have gone to Indigenous businesses. I mean, that's where the real jobs are. That's not CDP jobs. That's real jobs in real businesses run by Indigenous Australians. That's what changes. That's what closes the gap. What closes the gap is the empowerment of Indigenous Australians to get jobs, to get training, to get skills, to run businesses, to employ people in remote communities, which is what is happening exactly in Indigenous businesses. The winner of the Indigenous Business Awards is putting power into remote stations all across the Northern Territory, Western Australia and in Queensland. I mean, that's the answer - Indigenous Australians like Ben stepping up, creating businesses, changing their lives, getting support from programs like the one I'm announcing today.
GOETZE: But if I've grown up remotely, I don't speak or read English. It's not my first language. How will this $21.9 million you're announcing here benefit me in leadership?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I then referred to the fact that we've got 93 per cent of Indigenous children today enrolled in early childhood education. That's up from 77 per cent in 2016 because of the investments we've been putting into early childhood education. And that includes specific funding into early childhood education in remote places all across the country and particularly here in central Australia. Now the reason we do that is early childhood education is one of the biggest game changers for young Indigenous children. And the research that shows that absolutely it is generational changing stuff. So we've got a generation of very young Indigenous Australians at the moment growing up, getting early childhood education. Their parents didn't get it. The grandparents certainly didn't get it. And that's what's turning around. We've got to get kids in school. We've got to make sure they're safe in their communities and we've got to make sure they've got a job to go to and even better, a job in a business owned and run by an Indigenous Australian. That's what my Government's doing.
GOETZE: In Alice Springs you don't have to go far to see people living in third world conditions. Housing is inadequate. There's overcrowding, which has exacerbated the spread of COVID. Shouldn't you be spending money on the basics like housing and food and health before programs like this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have. We absolutely have. I mean, health funding in the Northern Territory itself has increased $212.9 million.
GOETZE: And where's that money being spent?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you better talk to Minister Gunner about it because he's the one we sent it to.
GOETZE: Do you think the Gunner Government's doing a good job?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, I'll let the Northern Territory people make those judgements. I'm working with the Gunner Government to address the pandemic, the challenges in remote Indigenous communities. I think Lia is an absolute superstar and I think people are really understanding the great contribution she can make as a leader in the Northern Territory, but that I'm not here to get involved in Northern Territory politics. I'm here to actually talk about the things we're doing to improve the lives of Territorians, keeping them safe and investing in the Defence projects which are driving their businesses and giving the massive opportunities into the future. I mean, the investments we're putting right across the country. Tindal Air Base was the last time I was up this way and we had major projects there, which is drawing jobs and opportunities and training and apprentices right across the territory. This is the positive stuff that's going on and it's really exciting to see it. That doesn't mean we haven't got problems. Of course we do. The Territory is a hard place. Of course it's a hard place, but people love it and I understand why they do, and that's why we're ensuring that we're getting the support. Another good example is the Reinsurance Pool - $10 billion Reinsurance Pool to make it easier for people to get insurances in the north of Australia. I mean, that is a cost of living that people living in the north actually have to face. That's our Government that's doing something about it. Plenty of other people have talked about it, but we're actually doing it.
GOETZE: You're on ABC Alice Springs. And you’re hearing from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison. I want to talk about roads, the Stuart Highway. It's a federal road. Just a couple of weeks ago, the supermarket shelves were bare for weeks in the Centre and across remote communities because that road was flooded. What are you going to do to mitigate that and stop that happening in the future?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, again, I mean, in every single Budget we announce significant funding for all roads. We've got $110 billion infrastructure program.
GOETZE: Is there anything specific for the Stuart?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll leave it for the Deputy Prime Minister when he's here next week to go into that more. I mean, he'll be here next week and he can take you through all of that.
GOETZE: We'll certainly ask him that.
PRIME MINISTER: I have no doubt you will Eliza. I've got no doubt about that at all. And look, I think these are great questions, and I think these are the real issues that people want to focus on. They want to focus on: can they get a job? What's the future of their business? What's the future of their health care? And how are we dealing with the pandemic? I mean, I do commend the partnership I've had with the Chief Minister Gunner on COVID. It's been a very tough situation. Northern Territory has had very different challenges to the rest of the country. That's why the Biosecurity Act changes extensions were made by the Health Minister. We've worked hand in glove and with the ACCHOs right across the Northern Territory as well, delivering those health services, giving them specific funding and support to help them with the vaccination programs.
GOETZE: Prime Minister, we're just a minute away from news. I'm sorry to interrupt you. I just want to get one more question in about the regeneration deal. It's $150 million for Alice Springs. It's got the backing of the Chief Minister. Do you support it? Will you sign that dotted line?
PRIME MINISTER: I will keep talking to them about and I'll be talking to Damien about what further announcements we’ll be making. But just before I go, we announced $147 million for the Northern Territory, including bring forward ...
GOETZE: Ok that was a yes or no question. We don't have much time before the news. I'm sorry, Prime Minister. The last question is from a listener, just how concerned are you for your job?
PRIME MINISTER: Eliza, let me answer your earlier question because you asked - $73.4 million for the ROSI Alice Springs to Darwin Corridor upgrade, $43.5 million for the ROSI Adelaide River to Wadeye Corridor upgrade. And $30 million in the Northern Territory's position on the Outback Way commitment. So that's what we're doing on roads. But the Deputy Prime Minister can outline more of that to you when you, when he's here next week.
GOETZE: Prime Minister, thank you.
Strengthening Indigenous Leadership and Governance
18 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Morrison Government is today launching a $21.9 million Indigenous Leadership and Governance package to support the next generation of Indigenous leaders.
The Indigenous Leadership and Governance package includes:
$13.5 million for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) to continue its operations and implement a strategic plan for expansion to support young Indigenous Australians to undertake leadership roles, further education and employment;
$6.7 million for Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) to develop governance training materials for Indigenous organisations; and
$1.7 million to the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to provide scholarships for Indigenous Australians to undertake company directors’ courses, and to monitor and evaluate the entire package.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $21.9 million investment would support thousands of Indigenous individuals and many organisations to realise their potential.
“Our $13.5 million investment in the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience program will extend this successful program by three years to 2025 and expand its support to 10,000 students a year, up from the current 6,000 students a year,” the Prime Minister said.
“This will ensure even more young Indigenous Australians can realise their leadership potential and career dreams through this proven mentoring and skills development program, and become the next generation of leaders in business, community and the public sector.
“In addition, Indigenous businesses will be strengthened with a $6.7 million investment in governance, and we are providing $1.7 million to deliver scholarships for Indigenous Australians to undertake company director courses to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the skills to take their business to the next level or sit on the boards of our top companies.
“This is about maximising the burgeoning opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses, as well as the economic advancement of all Indigenous Australians. With the right supports and opportunities, even more Indigenous Australians will be able to launch from entry-level roles into higher-skilled and higher-paying technical, managerial and leadership careers.”
Minister for Indigenous Australians the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP said the package would help to realise the recently released National Roadmap on Indigenous Skills, Jobs and Wealth Creation.
“When I launched the Roadmap at the end of last year it was clear that we need to strengthen Indigenous leadership and governance capability across the nation,” Minister Wyatt said.
“This is about supporting the aspirations of Indigenous youth to dream big and thrive at no matter what they turn their minds to as well as providing the tools for all Indigenous businesses and business people to take the next step towards expansion or leadership roles.
“Since 2005, AIME, an Indigenous organisation, has supported more than 25,000 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to further their education and kick-start their careers, with an average of 96.1 per cent of their participants attaining Year 12 and moving on to further education or employment.”
The recent Indigenous Australian Workforce Report delivered by Skills Australia confirmed that, on average, Indigenous people tend to work in high growth but lower skill level jobs.
“This funding will help turn that around, providing the launching pad Indigenous Australians need to develop leadership skills and network to support them on their journey,” Minister Wyatt said.
This package directly supports Priority Reforms Two and Three of Closing the Gap and contributes to the overarching aims of the Government’s Roadmap for Indigenous Skills, Jobs, and Wealth Creation.
Petroleum Exploration Permit (PEP-11)
17 February 2022
The Morrison Government has taken the next step to formally reject the application for the Offshore Petroleum Exploration Permit PEP-11.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said following the Government’s proposed decision to not suspend, extend and vary the title conditions of PEP-11 on 16 December 2021, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) issued the applicant a Notice of Intention to Refuse and granted the applicant 30 days to respond to the notice.
“After considering the applicant’s response, I have made the decision under section 59(3) of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to propose to refuse the application,” the Prime Minister said.
“As a result, I have written to New South Wales Deputy Premier Paul Toole, as the joint authority partner, advising of the Government’s proposed decision.“
Deputy Premier Toole has 30 days to respond, following which a decision will be finalised.
Timor-Leste – Australia Leaders’ Meeting
17 February 2022
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak met virtually on Thursday 17 February 2022.
The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the Australia-Timor-Leste bilateral relationship, and noted 2022 marks twenty years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Timor-Leste. They welcomed the substantial expansion in cooperation between the two countries since Prime Minister Morrison’s visit to Timor-Leste in August 2019.
The Prime Ministers discussed their appreciation for the strong and enduring friendship between the peoples of Timor-Leste and Australia, and reinforced the commitment both countries share to upholding democratic values.
Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak expressed appreciation for Australia’s comprehensive support for Timor-Leste’s COVID-19 response, including deployment of Australian Medical Assistance Teams in April and September 2021, end-to-end support for Timor-Leste’s national vaccine roll-out, and Australia’s provision of vaccines for primary course doses and boosters. Australia has been the largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Timor-Leste.
The two Prime Ministers announced the commencement of a new five-year, AUD30 million phase of Australia’s health sector support for Timor-Leste, to strengthen the delivery of primary health care services including to improve nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, and sexual and reproductive health.
The Prime Ministers agreed to work together to support economic recovery from the pandemic. Australia has provided AUD30 million in budget support and other assistance to Timor-Leste to maintain jobs and economic activity during the crisis, including funding for Timor-Leste’s National Village Development Program enabling construction of community infrastructure such as irrigation systems, small bridges and roads in more than two thirds of all villages in Timor-Leste.
The Prime Ministers recognised the importance of strengthening critical infrastructure to promote Timor-Leste’s longer-term economic prosperity. Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak reiterated Timor-Leste’s commitment to the implementation of the Timor-Leste South Submarine Cable link to Australia to enable faster, more reliable, and more affordable internet services for Timor-Leste consumers and businesses, and welcomed Australia’s offer of additional support for the delivery of the cable.
Prime Minister Morrison confirmed that Australia would also provide support for the redevelopment of Dili International Airport.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the announcement by Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce, that Qantas will establish a permanent commercial route between Darwin and Dili, with an increased number of flights, under the new Australia-Timor-Leste Air Services Agreement. These new flights will increase opportunities for trade, tourism and labour mobility between our countries.
The Prime Ministers discussed the importance of labour mobility in promoting economic recovery in both countries. Timor-Leste has a pool of more than 6,500 fully vaccinated workers ready to mobilise to Australia. The strong demand for workers in Australia is expected to lead to a substantial expansion in 2022 in the number of Timorese workers employed under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
The Prime Ministers discussed the important contribution the exploitation of gas resources in the Timor Sea makes to both countries’ economic prosperity, and the close cooperation between Australia and Timor-Leste under the Maritime Boundaries Treaty, which entered into force in 2019. Prime Minister Morrison committed to establish an LNG Partnership Fund to deepen links between Australia and Timor-Leste in gas development and trade, including in the use of carbon capture and storage.
The Prime Ministers discussed Australia and Timor-Leste’s shared interests in an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific region where the rights of all states are respected, and where the sovereignty and independence of each country is upheld. They highlighted the resolution of the long-running dispute over maritime boundaries through the compulsory conciliation process under UNCLOS as a powerful example of the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.
The Prime Ministers resolved to work together to prevent the Timor Sea from being used by illegal fishers, people smugglers and other transnational criminal actors. They committed to continuing to deepen cooperation on maritime security, and Prime Minister Morrison confirmed Australia’s commitment to provide two Guardian class patrol boats, the Aitana and Laline, to Timor-Leste in 2023. They welcomed the work underway to prepare for the delivery of the two vessels, including infrastructure upgrades at Port Hera Naval Base on Timor-Leste’s north coast.
The Prime Ministers discussed Timor-Leste’s enhanced engagement with multilateral organisations, including its bids for membership of ASEAN and the World Trade Organization, and Australia’s strong and longstanding support.
Joint Statement On UK-Australia Virtual Summit
17 February 2022
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP, and the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, met virtually on 16 February (GMT) / 17 February (AEDT). They reaffirmed the unique relationship between Australia and the United Kingdom, built on shared values and common interests, and sustained by the deep bonds between our peoples. The Leaders reiterated their commitment to support a rules-based international order free from coercion, where the sovereign rights of all nations are respected and disputes are settled peacefully and in accordance with international law.
The Prime Ministers discussed the concerning situation on Ukraine’s border. They emphasised their unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. They agreed the need for de-escalation and underscored that any further Russian incursion in Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake and have a stark humanitarian cost.
The Prime Ministers also discussed their countries’ shared commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. They agreed that, together with partners, they would ensure a free, open, inclusive and prosperous region. In that context, the UK committed £25 million to strengthen regional resilience in areas including cyberspace, state threats and maritime security. This complements Australia’s deep and longstanding involvement in regional security. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working with ASEAN and other partners in the region to ensure their countries’ support meets the region’s needs.
Leaders pledged to deepen and intensify cooperation across several key pillars.
Trade and Investment
The Prime Ministers applauded the conclusion of an ambitious, comprehensive and modern Free Trade Agreement – the UK’s first entirely new FTA negotiated since leaving the European Union. They welcomed the opportunities this would bring, and pledged to support strengthened ties between industries to realise these prospects. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the FTA entering into force as soon as possible so our exporters, producers, workers, businesses and consumers can enjoy the benefits of this gold standard deal. The Prime Ministers acknowledged and applauded the major bilateral investments between the two countries. Australian superfunds and asset managers have invested tens of billions of pounds in UK infrastructure and renewable energy, supporting the UK’s Net Zero ambition and generating substantial returns for Australian savers and pensioners. They strongly encouraged investors to continue to seek out opportunities.
Leaders highlighted significant progress to support critical minerals supply chains, including through the establishment of a Joint Working Group on critical minerals in 2021. Australia and the UK are continuing to identify investment opportunities that would bolster Australia’s critical minerals sector and the UK’s manufacturing and energy ambitions, while supporting sustainable governance practices and international standards, research and development, and more resilient supply chains. They announced plans for a joint Australia-UK supply chain resilience capability building initiative which will engage interested countries to develop and improve public sector approaches to managing critical supply chain risks.
The Prime Ministers confirmed their commitment to a free, fair, inclusive and rules-based trade and investment environment and opposed the use of economic coercion. They reaffirmed their resolve to uphold and strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.
Prime Minister Morrison welcomed progress made by the UK toward accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Both leaders look forward to continuing to work to complete UK accession as soon as possible.
AUKUS
Prime Minister Johnson and Prime Minister Morrison reaffirmed the commitment of Australia and the United Kingdom to AUKUS, working alongside the United States, as a cornerstone of their shared efforts to promote an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific. Since AUKUS was announced in September 2021, all three partners have made significant progress in their collective endeavour to provide the Royal Australian Navy with a conventional-armed nuclear-powered submarine capability at the earliest possible date.
The Leaders welcomed the entry into force of the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information Agreement (ENNPIA) on 8 February 2022, making it possible for the United Kingdom and the United States to share naval nuclear propulsion information with Australia. The agreement demonstrates the commitment of the three AUKUS partners to operating according to the highest standards of nuclear stewardship, in line with their long-standing global leadership on non-proliferation.
Leaders further welcomed the presence in Australia of UK and US officials to provide expert advice on the many facets of nuclear stewardship needed to operate a nuclear powered submarine capability. Significant progress is also being made by AUKUS partners on Advanced Capability collaboration, with officials from the three countries meeting this week in London to discuss cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and additional undersea capabilities. The Prime Ministers expressed their determination to continue to work closely together, in lockstep with President Biden, to make AUKUS a success, and looked forward to the next set of trilateral discussions at the end of the month in Australia.
Security and Defence
The Prime Ministers recalled the excellent collaboration between the Australian and UK navies, in particular during the UK’s Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific. They committed to increased joint naval activity in the Indo Pacific: the UK has deployed two Offshore Patrol Vessels to the Indo-Pacific on an enduring basis.
The Prime Ministers committed to build societal awareness and resilience to foreign interference and strengthen our collective toolkits to detect, disrupt and deter current and future hostile activity by state actors, including the use of misinformation and disinformation. They noted that the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) were an important pillar for regional security, and committed to maintain strong cooperation with FPDA partners.
The Leaders committed to deepening cooperation on online safety and security, including: tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse, preventing terrorist use of the internet, and through a future bilateral agreement. The Leaders recognised the economic and social benefits that stem from a safe and secure online environment, as well as the need to proactively mitigate the risks of harm in a rapidly developing technological landscape. They emphasised their continued commitment to maintaining capabilities vital to the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes, through tightly controlled lawful access to communications content and appropriate safeguards, and collaboration to address emerging threats. Leaders welcomed the Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership to deter and respond to malicious cyber threats.
Climate and Environment
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the two countries’ shared commitment to drive ambitious action to address climate change and its impacts, including through implementation of the Glasgow Climate Pact and the Paris Agreement, to keep 1.5 degrees of warming within reach, strengthen adaptation and resilience, and mobilise finance. The UK and Australia have committed to taking action this decade, with Nationally Determined Contributions reflecting their highest possible ambition. The UK has committed to reducing its emissions at least 68% by 2030 on 1990 levels and Australia has committed to reducing its emissions 26-28% by 2030 on 2005 levels, and is on track to achieve a reduction of up to 35% on 2005 levels by 2030.
Prime Ministers agreed to continue to work together to reach net zero by 2050 and agreed to accelerate the development of technologies essential for reaching this goal through our Clean Technology Partnership, and with other countries through the Glasgow Breakthroughs, Mission Innovation and the Clean Energy Ministerial. They emphasised our strong support for efforts to facilitate inclusive, clean energy transitions in the Indo-Pacific and beyond and agreed to work together through country platforms. Prime Minister Johnson welcomed Australia hosting an Indo-Pacific Clean Energy Supply Chain Forum in mid-2022, to help develop and preserve diverse, resilient and competitive clean energy supply chains.
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to nature based solutions and emphasised support for the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
Health
The Prime Ministers also set out their determination to overcome the current pandemic and to be better prepared for the future. Leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, — advancing toward vaccinating 70 per cent of the population in all countries by mid-2022 — including through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) and potential contributions for the upcoming CEPI replenishment. They recommitted to helping build a more responsive and resilient global health system, with a sustainably funded World Health Organization (WHO) at its core. They committed to work to ensure the new international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response that empowers a stronger, more independent WHO. They reaffirmed support for efforts to identify the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Science and Technology
Leaders recognised the breadth of science and technology cooperation between the two countries, and its importance to their mutual strategic advantage. They acknowledged the first anniversary of the UK-Australia Space Bridge agreement, and successful partnerships across climate, agriculture, cyber-security and communications. They agreed to enhance the agreement with a UK commitment to £1m for Earth Observation in Agroclimate to support global climate resilience. The Prime Ministers championed wider science and technology collaborations, through a Science Partnerships Series. This Series will bring our research communities closer together to co-create world class innovation and ground breaking science. Leaders agreed to pursue closer cooperation on quantum science and technology, as we develop our own national strategies.
Indo-Pacific Cooperation
Building on recent discussions at AUKMIN, Leaders renewed their commitment to an open, inclusive, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific and committed to strengthening collaboration in the region. Leaders agreed on the importance of advancing gender equality and the rights of women and girls.
Prime Minister Morrison welcomed the UK’s ‘Indo-Pacific Tilt’ and leaders made clear their long-term commitment to the region. Leaders welcomed the recent publication of Indo-Pacific Strategies by the United States and European Union and reaffirmed their commitment to work with these partners.
Leaders highlighted cooperation between Australia and the United Kingdom in support of Tonga following the recent eruption and tsunami.
Leaders welcomed deep cooperation with ASEAN, including the establishment of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, ASEAN’s first, and the UK’s status as an official ASEAN Dialogue Partner. Leaders reiterated both countries’ strong support for ASEAN centrality, ASEAN-led regional architecture and ASEAN’s outlook on the Indo-Pacific. They expressed grave concerns about the situation in Myanmar and called for the immediate cessation of violence against civilian populations, the release of all those arbitrarily detained, including Australian Professor Sean Turnell, and unhindered humanitarian access. They urged the Myanmar military regime to implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus.
Leaders expressed grave concerns about credible reports of human rights violations in Xinjiang, and called on China to protect the rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.
Leaders further underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations, as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite and as an observer or guest where it is.
Leaders recognised the importance of countries being able to exercise their maritime rights and freedoms in the South China Sea consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Leaders reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions and undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order, including militarisation, coercion, and intimidation.
80th anniversary of the sinking of SS Vyner Brooke and the Bangka Island massacre
16 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel
Today we honour the service and sacrifice of the women of the Australian Army Nursing Service who served in Singapore, 80 years on from the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke and the tragedy of the Bangka Island massacre.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the massacre represented one of the darkest chapters of World War II, but the tenacity and compassion of the victims and survivors lived on today.
“The memory and legacy of the victims and the survivors will never be forgotten,” the Prime Minister said.
“On this day, we remember the one who survived, the 21 who fell, the 5,000 nurses who served in the Pacific, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and other theatres of the Second World War, as well as the many thousands of Australian nurses who have served in wartime over a century and more.
“We remember their devotion to their patients, to their country and to their duty.”
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the attack on those evacuating Singapore and the brutal killings at Bangka Island stood out as one of the worst war-time atrocities against Australians.
“It is difficult to imagine the horrors faced by those who were attacked while trying to escape the conflict, including those Army nurses killed in the massacre on Bangka Island,” Minister Gee said.
“Of the 65 nurses who embarked upon the SS Vyner Brooke, only 24 survived the war, all of whom spent years as prisoners of war, living through deprivation and disease.”
In the days before the Fall of Singapore, the women of the Australian Army Nursing Service were evacuated on several ships, including the SS Vyner Brooke.
There were 65 Australian nurses among the 181, mostly women and children, who boarded the ship, unaware of the fate that lay ahead.
Two days out of Singapore, the Vyner Brooke was bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft, and 12 of the Australian nurses on board were killed.
After spending between eight and 65 hours in the water, about 150 survivors made it ashore to Bangka Island, including one group that met up with survivors from other sunken ships at Radji Beach.
On 16 February 1942, Japanese troops arrived at the beach and separated the male survivors who were then shot and bayoneted.
The 22 Australian nurses and one British female civilian who remained were forced to wade into the ocean, where they were machine-gunned from behind.
Only one nurse, Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, and one British soldier, Private Cecil Kinsley, survived the Bangka Island massacre. Sister Bullwinkel was wounded and pretended to be dead until the Japanese left.
“Despite their wounds, Sister Bullwinkel and Private Kinsley bravely survived in the harsh jungle for 12 days, before finally giving themselves up,” Minister Gee said.
“Private Kingsley died days later, but Sister Bullwinkel survived the war and, despite spending three and a half years in captivity, was able to return home to Australia.
“After leaving the Army in 1947, Sister Bullwinkel continued in a number of senior nursing roles and was awarded many honours, including the Florence Nightingale Medal. She was also made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
“On this 80th anniversary of the Bangka Island massacre, we remember the tragic story of the Vyner Brooke and pay our respects to all those who lost their lives.
“We remember all the courageous women of the Australian Army Nursing Service who served in Singapore, and all those who served in the Second World War.”
To learn more about the sinking of the Vyner Brooke, the Bangka Island massacre and Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, visit the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Anzac Portal.
Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB
15 February 2022
BEN FORDHAM: PM, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Ben.
FORDHAM: This has been a long time coming. Why now?
PRIME MINISTER: Because the law needs to be fixed. It needs to be changed. We've already expelled, just since the last election, 4,000 people on visas for the crimes that they committed. And the character test provisions - 10,000 since we first came to Government. When I was Immigration Minister, I signed off on quite a number of those. But the judges are handing down sentences which enables people to get around this, and we need an objective test. And the objective test is, if you've committed a crime - stalking, domestic violence, assaulting police officers, breaching AVOs, possessing weapons, concealing child abuse offences, date rape offences - we want to make sure that we can punt them. And the current law, when judges hand down lower sentences, and I know the frustration so many of your listeners would feel about that occurring more generally in the community. But in this area, we can make it an objective test, and there's only one person standing in the way of that, and that's Anthony Albanese. And you cannot have an each way bet on law and order. You can't have an each way bet on justice. If people have committed crimes who've come here as a visa holder, well, they have breached every single obligation they have to the country that gave them a visa and they should go. And I can back that up because we’ve punted 10,000 of them and we want to make sure we can keep doing that and get around the loopholes that others have used.
FORDHAM: Well, it's needed, because at the moment it looks like it's easier to punt a unvaccinated tennis star like Novak Djokovic than getting rid of someone who's involved in domestic abuse or sex offences or even murders.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, well, of course we did, we did reject that visa and he did have to leave, and that received a lot of attention. But, frankly, there are so many more cases where we are doing exactly the same thing, but we are being frustrated by soft decisions in the courts. And that we have, there are judgements that have been handed down, Ben, where we know, because I've even referred to it, that they haven't given a higher sentence because they’ve, they fear that they'll lose their visa. Now, that's not their decision. We have a law in this country which says if you commit a serious offence, then you go. Do not pass go. You're gone, you're out. And that's what I did as an Immigration Minister. It's what Peter Dutton did as an Immigration Minister. It's what, it's certainly what Alex Hawke has been doing as an Immigration Minister. But I tell you what, the Labor Party, you remember what they were like when they were last in government on our borders. This is the same thing. They couldn't bring themselves to do turn backs. And now they can't bring themselves to vote for laws which will enable us to turn back those who commit serious crimes in this country.
FORDHAM: Are you going to get support on this? Because I recall last time, I think it was around October, Labor and the Greens blocked a similar bill, didn't they?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, they've been standing against this for 1,200 days. They have been fighting us on this for 1,200 days. You want a clear indication about the risk of Labor at the next election? There's 1,200 reasons right there. They, on these issues - keeping Australians safe, border security, an each way bet on national security. We already know that, you know, those who are, you know, are looking to threaten and coerce Australia, they've got a one way bet on each way Albo. And, you know, it's very important, people need to understand, this election there are very serious issues at stake, and Labor just cannot be trusted on these things. They're soft and weak.
FORDHAM: Still on national security, ASIO has revealed it foiled a plot by a wealthy puppeteer with links to a foreign country to interfere in our election. Now, I don't expect that you're going to be naming any suspects here, but can you tell us whether the interference came from China?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, I'm going to be discreet about this, and there are, there are very important reasons to I have to do that as Prime Minister, Ben. I'm sure you'll understand that. But I've seen these reports and I've seen these comments, and I'm very aware of the level of foreign interference that occurs in this country, and that's why our Government has taken a strong stand on it. We are very aware of the way that foreign governments seek to influence Australian politics, even down to the point of seeking to have preselections affected here in this country. And people have seen those reports, I’m not going to comment further on them. But I can tell you what it does, I know who, putting those issues to one side, the countries that are coercing us, I know they don't want to see the Liberal National Government re-elected. I know that much. I know they're not having a one way bet on us. They’re having a one way bet on others.
FORDHAM: You seem to be very keen to paint Anthony Albanese as soft on China. What evidence do you have to back that up?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it was just the other day when the new Chinese Ambassador was in Australia, he actually said that they should, you know, look at getting rid of ‘some’ of the sanctions they've put on Australian exporters. What does that mean? Some of them he's happy to trade away. Which ones? Wine producers in South Australia? Coal miners up in central Queensland or the Hunter? Lobster producers down in Tasmania? This is the problem with Labor - they always look to appease. Whereas we're in a very uncertain and challenging world and there's no time for weakness. We've stood up, we have totally stood up, and we know that that has drawn flak from from those who would seek to coerce us. But Australians know where I stand on these issues. I've demonstrated that day in, day out, through a pandemic, and we’ll continue to. We are the certainty when it comes to these issues in a very uncertain world, and they've demonstrated weakness.
FORDHAM: You sound very energetic this morning. You're in campaign mode, aren't you?
PRIME MINISTER: Mate, I'm in Prime Minister mode, and that's the mode I'm always in when it comes to standing up for Australians and ensuring our economy’s strong. Our unemployment rate is going below four per cent. 700,000 jobs were saved by JobKeeper as we went through that pandemic.
FORDHAM: Let me, let me ask you about Zali Steggall …
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
FORDHAM: … who's the Independent MP in Warringah. She, of course, took the seat away from Tony Abbott. She's in trouble at the moment, accused of hiding a political donation, and it was a $100,000 cheque that was handed over from a coal baron John Kinghorn. But the $100,000 donation was hidden and split up eight ways to avoid having to declare it. So should she be paying that money back?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we've done, Ben, is a lot of the Independents and a lot of those, you know, ‘Voices of’ movements and all this sort of thing, we've introduced new laws into the Parliament to go impose on them the same transparency and disclosure arrangements on their supporters that political parties have to face up to. And I think what this highlights is there are a lot of people who are happy to throw stones, but they're often in glass houses. And …
FORDHAM: Was it deceitful for Zali Steggall to pretend, or her team, to pretend that these were eight separate donations, when it was one $100,000 cheque?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think it's very hard for her to explain this, but it's the same with all of these ‘Voices of’. You know, they say they, “Oh they used to be a Liberal.” No they didn’t, they actually were members of the Labor Party. The ‘Voices of’ movement is the voices of Labor and Anthony Albanese. That's what it is. And if people want to vote for Anthony Albanese and they want to support Anthony Albanese being the Prime Minister of this country, well, they can, they should vote for for the ‘Voices of’ movement because that's who they'll support, and they try to hide these things and they try to conceal them and they're not transparent about it. And I think that's what this is highlighting.
FORDHAM: You appeared on 60 Minutes on Sunday night and Jenny Morrison, your wife, was alongside you. And some people have been critical because they think it was Jenny who was having to step up and answer a lot of the hard questions, including about the Hawaiian holiday. Was this a case of you being asked the same questions and also taking responsibility, but, as we know in TV, they tend to put the answer to air that's most interesting? Or or was this all directed at Jenny?
PRIME MINISTER: No, it wasn't directed at Jenny, and Jenny’s amazing, and she can certainly speak for herself, as everybody knows and I've known for more than 30 or 40 years. But, no, I did an hour long interview as part of that and and then we sat down for a 45 minute interview together, and I've addressed those questions, particularly in relation to when we went away together as a family back in 2018 and offered my apologies on that. They were the same. So, yeah, no, Karl raised all those same issues with me in our own interview. So, you know, you know how television works. I mean, I don't think they were going to run the program for an hour and 45 minutes. If they did, then they would have heard everything I said as well.
FORDHAM: Now, lastly, there was a moment at the end of the story where you showed your talents on the ukulele. Let's just go back there for a moment.
[EXCERPT PLAYS]
FORDHAM: Now, Prime Minister, is this something that we can expect on the election campaign trail?
PRIME MINISTER: It's not the first time I've done that. But, you know, the thing about these things Ben, is it was, they wanted to talk about how we live and what we do. And yeah, that's what I do.
FORDHAM: Whose idea, whose idea was the ukulele?
PRIME MINISTER: Ah, well, we were talking about it and, you know, I decided to show Karl my ukulele talents, which are very limited.
FORDHAM: I’ve got a feeling, I’ve got a feeling, I know Karl Stefanovic has got all sorts of ideas and he's got some duds. And this was the Karl Stefanovic idea, for sure.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, to be honest, though, Ben, though, I mean, whether it's that or other things. I mean, people were having a crack at me the other day because I went to a hairdressing salon down-.
FORDHAM: Oh no, we saw that too.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I know. Let me, let me tell, let me be serious for a moment.
FORDHAM: I know, but I’ve got 20 seconds till the news.
PRIME MINISTER: Ok, well let me finish. What occurred there, I go into workplaces all the time. People show me how to weld. People show me how to do other things in factories and manufacturing plants. These were trainees and apprentices who wanted to show me what they're learning on the job. So if people want to sneer at me for that, if they want to sneer at me for other things like playing the ukulele, fine, they’re steering at millions of Australians who just get on with their lives and do a great job.
FORDHAM: I think you should take it along to the election debate with Anthony Albanese. That'll be entertaining. We've got to run, but thank you for jumping on the line.
Interview with John Laws, 2SM
15 February 2022
JOHN LAWS: And to tell us more about the situation, generally, we've got the Prime Minister himself on the line. Prime Minister, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: G'day John, how are you?
LAWS: Top of the world. What a lovely wife you've got.
PRIME MINISTER: Mate, I've been punching about my weight for a very long time. There's no doubt about that. I'm, I am blessed.
LAWS: Yes, you really. I just think she's an absolute delight.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. Well, you know, she, she tells it pretty straight. She's always done that with me. She's strong and she's determined, but she's loving, caring and kind as well.
LAWS: And lovely and lovely. Anyway, on to more boring things than your beautiful wife. What about, she's received a bit of a bullying since Sunday night's 60 Minute interview. How is she accepting that? I suppose she just accepts it?
PRIME MINISTER: Taylor Swift, the haters are gonna hate, shake it off. That's Jenny's approach, and Jenny is very grateful, I was speaking to her earlier today, and you know, we speak all the time. She's so grateful for the the overwhelming messages of support that she's received, from people right across the country, the very people she was talking about, John, and I know who listen to your program, those who just quietly get on about having, trying to have the best possible life. And that's what Jenny was talking about, and that's that's where her focus has always been, and mine. So she's just incredibly grateful for that. For the strong and overwhelming encouragement and kind messages that she received, there's always going to be those John who have a crack at you.
LAWS: Oh yeah, tell me about it.
PRIME MINISTER: I do. And you just you just park that over there in the bin and you get on with the job that you have and do the best you possibly can for the people who elected you to do it.
LAWS: You're onto a good thing here when you say that you want to make it easier to deport foreign nationals who have committed serious criminal offences. I think that is a fantastic idea.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've been doing it. We need to go further. I mean, I started this when I was the Immigration Minister. I wasn't just stopping the boats back then, I was throwing out visa holders have committed terrible crimes, and one of the first things I did actually was there was a bloke called Alex Vella, who was the head of the Rebel motorcycle gang.
LAWS: Oh yes, I remember him.
PRIME MINISTER: And he went overseas and I cancelled his visa and he's still over there and they tried to challenge in the courts. You know, the previous government had let him stay and actually renewed his visa, but they've never been serious about this. We've cancelled 10,000 visas since we first came to government, 4,000 just since the last election. But there is a loophole that they are using, these criminals are using, to help them stay in the country when we try to cancel their visa. And that loophole is, is that if a judge gives them a sentence of less than two years for stalking, domestic violence, assaulting police officers, breaching AVOs, possessing weapons, concealing child abuse offences, date rape offences, all of this. If a judge goes and gives them a sentence of less than two years, even though that crime carries a sentence of two years, then they can appeal against the decision to toss them out. And all they have to get is is a judge who is prepared to do that and they and they get to stay. Now we want to change that. And the Labor Party are opposing this. They've opposed us for 1,200 days on trying to do this, 1,200. I mean, Anthony Albanese likes to talk about, well, whose side is he on, well he is clearly on the side of criminals. And if that's what side he wants to choose, well, he can explain that to the Australian people, but what it says to me is, you know, he just doesn't have the strength to do this stuff. He said he couldn't bring himself to turn boats back. I know how hard that is. I had to do it.
LAWS: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: And now we don't have people coming on boats and we stop that through strength. And you cannot be Prime Minister, if you do not have that strength.
LAWS: You want to make it easier to get rid of these people who have committed serious offences. And it's going to be called the Migration Amendment Character Test Bill. Kristina Keneally says the new laws will make it easier to deport people who commit trivial offences. But why would you want to do that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, she's wrong, and it's just another Labor excuse to try and hide the fact that they want to protect people who have committed acts of domestic violence. What this does is, is we're talking about serious offences and a serious offence that carries a potential penalty of two years or more. And what we're doing here is if the judge doesn't give that penalty, we're not letting that be there out. And that's why the law has to change and we want to change it. We've been improving this law for many years, and every time we improve it, the criminals find, try and find a loophole, which is what they've done, and we want to shut this down now, too. So Kristina Keneally wants people who have been convicted of domestic violence to stay in the country because the judge gave them a soft sentence. Well she has to explain that. We don't want that to happen.
LAWS: We don't want it to happen either. We being the people. I can't you, I can't imagine anybody wanting that to happen. What's the matter with Kristina Keneally?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's both. It's the entire Labor Party when it comes to these issues, John, they just, they just don't have the strength and it's not easy, but you have to do it. That's what keeping Australians safe means. And I've been doing that all throughout, from when I was an Immigration Minister through to a Prime Minister. You know, I don't flinch on these things. But Labor, they balk. They balked on turning boats back. They balked on the Pacific Solution. They balked on all of these things. They balked on defence spending. They balk on all of these issues. They, they want to appease when it comes to China, the Chinese Government, I should say, not the, we love the Chinese people and particularly Chinese Australians, are the most patriotic.
LAWS: They are fantastic. That's right.
PRIME MINISTER: … awesome, and, and we celebrate them. But we're not going to be coerced by the Chinese Government. We stood up to them, too. But, you know, Labor, when it just comes to these issues and keeping Australians safe, they're just soft.
LAWS: How do you get on with your opposition leader?
PRIME MINISTER: Professionally, but I couldn't say we have a close relationship. I don't think that's any surprise that we seek to work professionally as, as requires us both of our roles.
LAWS: I found him to be a very nice bloke, very interesting fellow to talk to. You wouldn't agree with that, I suppose?
PRIME MINISTER: I've been really not offering a comment. I'll let people work, work it out for themselves. But but when it comes to things that really matter, John, this is the stuff we're talking about. I mean, John, we're in a situation, as I have no doubt you appreciate, I mean, look at what's happening over in Europe at the moment. We've got Russian troops amassed on on the Ukraine border.
LAWS: I know, that's frightening.
PRIME MINISTER: And we have, you know, tensions in our own region. We have, you know, global economic challenges that are ahead of us. These are very uncertain times and it's not a time for weakness. It's not a time for double mindedness and having an each way bet on these things. People, I have my critics, John. I don't doubt that. As a Prime Minister, you always do. You've spoken to all the Prime Ministers over the years and you know, we've all got our, we've all got our weaknesses. But I tell you one thing I don't have, and I suspect your listeners would agree, when it comes to national security, there's no weakness there.
LAWS: No, nor should there be, not a not in this time, there shouldn't be. It's been a couple of weeks since you were ambushed at the National Press Club by Peter van Onselen. What do you make of the timing considering the messages are two years old?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't make anything of it at all, John. I mean, the thing about the Canberra bubble is there's always people looking to make a headline for themselves, and there's always people looking to create controversy and throw mud around and get into all that sort of nonsense. And, you know, in a context, as a Prime Minister, when each day I'm dealing with national security, our economy, the challenges of COVID and getting our live, normal lives back. And you know, that sort of, sort of rubbish, I just put it in the bin. I don't think I'm, one of the things Jenny was saying about me the other night. I mean, it was I did an hour long interview with Karl and the one Jenny and I did together with Karl was about 45 minutes. So, you know, how those work, they’ll clip it up. I'm not criticising that, I'm just saying that's what they do. But, you know, I was asked about these same things. And what Jenny says about me is that I'm very focused and that I go immediately in the problem-solving mode when there are problems. And and so that's just what I get on and do. And so I I can block out all that white noise of of the of the harassment and the, you know, the character sledges and and all these others in the bubble trying to make a name for themselves to boost their own ratings and their own Twitter following. That's their business. I've got a serious job to do, and that's what I keep on doing.
LAWS: Ok, those text messages were pretty harsh though. I mean, you've got to admit that, they were harsh.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, John, you've been around politics a long time. I mean, if if, could you imagine what the text messages would have said back in the Hawke-Keating years or or in other times, could you imagine what those text messages would have said. Politicians, you know, they get passionate, they get, they get angry from time to time, they say all sorts of things and that still happens, whether they put it in a text message or not. But the point is, you know, what do you do about it? And you know, the Deputy Prime Minister and I are working very closely together on really serious things. And you know, I got I got some advice not long after I came into parliament from someone I respected a great deal, who’d been around the place a long time and they said never get bitter. If you get bitter in this job, you can't do your job.
LAWS: Well, that's pretty right. If you get bitter in any job, you're in trouble.
PRIME MINISTER: It's true. So, John, you know, it's you got to have a thick skin to be in politics, and I do and I can weather all that. And if you want to be the Prime Minister, you can't have a glass jaw. You can't sort of get all sooky about it. You've got to, you got to harden up if you're Prime Minister. And and and that's that's the tough nature of politics. And I know, I know many Australians feel, gee, I wish it wasn't like that.
LAWS: Well, it is.
PRIME MINISTER: It is what it's like. And to be able to stand up for Australia, as I have been doing, whether it's calling out where the virus came from or or standing up to coercion or, you know, throwing out Alex Vella all those years ago, that takes some mettle. And while people might have their criticisms of me, you know, in the mettle department, you know, there's there's there's plenty there.
LAWS: You need it. More than 30,000 aged care residents and staff were infected with COVID in January, and more than half of the facilities have been locked down. Yet the Aged Care Minister decided to go to the Ashes in January instead of a Senate select committee of COVID. Do you really think it's appropriate for him to hold the portfolio? Because I don't.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, John, I hear that and I can understand why people were really disappointed about that. I mean, remember, this is an enquiry that we set up as a Government. We supported that because we thought it was important that there be accountability and scrutiny throughout COVID. There aren't too many countries in the world that have done that. So we've made ourselves available. Our officials have. And, indeed, Richard had on other occasions to make ourselves available for that. What's happening in aged care is very, very difficult, John. There's no doubt about that. A pandemic does have an impact. But the Chief Medical Officer and the former Chief Medical Officer Professor Murphy, which many of your listeners, you know, they will know Brendan and Paul, in aged care, let me, can I just give you a few stats, because this is important. Australia has done by comparison to the rest of the world, I think, incredibly well. That doesn't mean every life lost is not a tragedy. Of course it is. We feel every single one. At the rate of of of those who have passed away in in Australia in aged care is about 398 to one million people of the population over 65. Now, that's a lot. I agree. But listen to what it is in Canada - it's 2,649. In the UK, it's 3,651. In the United States, it's 2,767. In Ireland, it's 1,385. In in France, it's 2,272, and in Spain, it's 2,919. My point about that, John, is it's like when we were dealing with the earlier waves in the pandemic. I mean, the rate of infections in UK aged care facilities was eight times what it was in Australia. A virus like this, when it's out in the community, is going to have an impact. And while all of those lives lost I I grieve for, I’m also thankful for the thousands of lives that we've actually saved through the tremendous work of our aged care workers and all those who have been involved, working with the industry to get those outcomes.
The other point I'd make is this, John. In aged care, as we all know, there are people who pass away every week. And, in fact, outside of COVID, normally about a thousand people pass away in aged care every week. That's what happens normally. And they have many, many different ailments and conditions and things. And, you know, my own father, that's what happened two years ago, and we all understand that. And with COVID, while there are people who are passing away with COVID, and this is what the Chief Medical Officer has said, that doesn't mean they've passed away because of COVID. They have many other other what is called co-morbidities and and many other conditions. And so, you know, we're at pains to stress this. The life lost is terrible and tragic. About half of those who have been affected have, were already in end of life care. And we all understand that, as well.
So we are going to keep doing everything we possibly can to ensure we minimise the impact, and compared to other countries around the world, we have been doing that and I think that's a credit to the great care and work that's been done in the sector. And we've got to keep applying ourselves as best as we possibly can.
LAWS: Prime Minister, way, way back there somewhere, I asked you about a fellow called Richard Colbeck. You, you’ve cleverly skipped around, and you're very good at that, skipped around and didn't give me an answer. Is it still appropriate for Richard Colbeck to hold the portfolio that he does?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes. And I'll tell you why. Because in the middle of this pandemic, John, we have to keep our focus on what we need to do ahead. And Richard has been working closely with the aged care sector constantly. And yep, you know, my preference is that he would have been at that hearing, and he understands that. But, that said, I need people who have got the corporate history and memory of everything we've been working through in this pandemic. And he has that, and he works closely with the aged care sector and that helps me minimise the impact of this pandemic in aged care facilities, which is what it's all about. It’s not about politics, it’s not about personalities. I have to make decisions about what I think is best to keep people alive and to have the best possible management of the pandemic.
LAWS: Did you, did you reprimand him?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, we've spoken about it. We've spoken about it.
LAWS: That's a very political answer. “We've spoken about it.” You speak about a lot of things. Did you reprimand him, though?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, look, John, these are conversations I have with my Ministers. I can assure you he's in no doubt about the fact that, where I would have preferred him to have been. You know, the politics of personalities and the gotcha and the scalps and all this sort of stuff, John, this place is obsessed with that. They're obsessed with the politics of this issue. I'm interested in the reality of this issue, which is caring for people in aged care. So I'm not going to get distracted about the politics and and those who are seeking - I'm not suggesting you're doing that John, at all - what I'm saying is this place in Canberra, you know what it's like, people focus on on those issues. I've got to stay focused on what's best for aged care.
LAWS: The aged care sector, speaking of, is facing a staffing crisis with thousands of workers in isolation or just giving up, quitting. You promised workers an $800 cash to staff, but what’s your, that's lovely. But what’s your long-term plan and what guarantees that that's going to be enough for the workers at these facilities, and that there will be enough workers anyway?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are two issues there. The first one is is ensuring that we can get as many of them back to work as quickly as we can. And that's why we changed the rules, and I convinced states to change the rules, which enabled them not to be taken out of the workforce because of being a close contact. So we did that, and we put the personal protective equipment and the, and the rapid antigen tests in place, which we're doing from last August, into aged care facilities, to do all that which can keep those those staff at work. But now the ones who can't turn up have COVID. So that's, you know, something you can't avoid.
And we've, as you said, we put the additional booster payments in there for aged care workers, which is the second time we’ve done that, not the first time, the second time we've done that. And that has been well-received by by the aged care sector. But we've changed the rules around student nurses, for example, increasing the number of hours they could work so they can supplement that workforce. And in the most acute situations, we are using the limited resources of the Defence Forces in this area to send in tactical teams to support in the most dire of situations, and that's proving to be very effective as well.
The longer term approach to the aged care workforce actually also goes to training people to go into that workforce, making sure that our accreditation and qualification systems means that we can make better use of the people who want to go and work in this area. And that's an important part of it. There's a, there's a case before the Fair Work Commission, which they will determine. That's not determined by the Government. And and we will have to work with the outcome of that, of that hearing.
But aged care, but it’s the same in disability care, it's the same in many areas. We need more people in the workforce and we have, we're at record levels, pretty much, of workforce participation in this country. Unemployment is going below four per cent - haven't seen that in 50 years. We've got more trade apprentices in trade training today than we've ever had in this country since 1963. And we've got, you know, 1.1 million people we've been able to get back into jobs, as we've come through this pandemic. There’s about 250,000 more people in jobs today than there were before the pandemic. We've got a million extra women into work as well. So we've got some big workforce challenges in this country, and it's not restricted to aged care.
LAWS: No, it's not. You've ordered Australian embassy staff to evacuate Ukraine. I know we're going to run out of time in a minute. Reports that there could be a Russian attack within 72 hours, that's being talked about. Are they accurate reports?
PRIME MINISTER: We hope that doesn't happen, John. But that is, that is the very real risk at this time. You know, the potential risk, those troops are amassed on that border and it is, it is potentially imminent. But I wouldn't want to be saying anything that would suggest that this is, you know, a known, a known entity, a known fact. But we're very well aware of the assessments and that risk of that occurring at any moment is is there and it's real.
We've been, I mean, last night I convened a meeting of the National Security Committee of Cabinet. It was quite a lengthy meeting and we were into this issue in significant detail and looking at the and the responses and the the coordination we've had with our other partners and like-mindeds - United States, United Kingdom, Canada and so on - and working together with how we can act together. I've got to say one thing that does disappoint me, though, John, is that like-minded countries, - Australia, you know, France, everyone - have been very clear in their denunciation of what is, what Russia is doing.
LAWS: Yes, which is great.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, which is great. But there's one country that's not doing it, John, and actually work with Russia in the National Security Council of the United Nations. And that was the Chinese Government. So this is, this is what makes this all very real. What's happening over in Ukraine is happening there, I understand that. But in our own region, we have a very large country and a Government that is not denouncing what Russia is threatening. And, John, they're threatening terrible violence on on Ukraine.
LAWS: Oh, I know it's dreadful. It's frightening.
PRIME MINISTER: It, they are threatening terrible violence, and that will also have a real impact on the global economy. We anticipate that it will have impact on oil prices and, you know, we’ll all feel that. And that will be, that will be the result of what's occurring over there. And when you have, you know, a large country in our own region that suggests that they want, you know, peace and harmony, but yet are not prepared to call out the actions of an autocratic state that wants to violate the territorial sovereignty of their neighbour, then that is very concerning.
LAWS: Very concerning.
PRIME MINISTER: Chilling. I’m calling that out and I'm prepared to always call that out, John. And I know that there'll be blowback against me for saying that internationally. Of course they will. There was blowback against me when I shut the border to China. There was blowback against me when I called out where the virus came from in China. There's always blowback against me when I stand up for Australia's interests, and I tell you, John, you you’ve got to be prepared to do it. And whether it's, whether it's throwing out people from Australia who have committed terrible crimes or standing up to those who want to coerce us, I mean, I don't agree with Anthony Albanese when he said, Oh, we've got to, you know, get things right with China. So there's some things that we can, you know, there's some things of these, of these trade sanctions they've put on us that they can, they can do, well that's good. Well, which ones does he want to keep?
LAWS: Well, that's the good question. Prime Prime Minister, I've got to go, and I know you've got to.
PRIME MINISTER: My bells are ringing too here John, so.
LAWS: Yeah, ok, it’s good to talk to you, as usual, and I hope we get to talk to each other again soon.
PRIME MINISTER: I look forward to it, John, and thank you all so kindly for for what you had to say about Jenny. I really appreciate that, both of us. You’re very blessed in your life to have a wonderful woman. And so, so have I been. So thank you very much.
LAWS: Ok, that's a pleasure. Thank you very much for your time, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you.
$2.26 billion to complete Adelaide's North-South Corridor
13 February 2022
Prime Minister, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Minister for Finance, Premier of South Australia
As part of the Morrison Government’s plan for a strong economy, an additional $2.26 billion will be invested to complete the final stage of Adelaide’s North-South Corridor, creating thousands of jobs while ensuring residents get home sooner and safer.
The Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project is the final stage of the North-South Corridor, and once complete, will deliver 78 kilometres of non-stop motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga, slashing 20 minutes of commuting time and bypassing 21 sets of traffic lights.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this funding would ensure the entire North-South Corridor is delivered.
“Our plan for a strong economy in South Australia is all about investing in life-changing infrastructure on our roads and in our important our defence industry projects, creating thousands of jobs in Adelaide,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our Government, together with the Marshall Government, is getting on with delivering what is the most significant infrastructure project ever undertaken in South Australia that will ensure a jobs boom for the next 10 years.
“Today we’re announcing $2.26 billion to help ensure the delivery of the final piece of this complex project, bringing our total investment in the North-South Corridor to over $6.8 billion.
“The investment in this project alone is expected to support around 4,900 jobs and slash travel times by up to 20 minutes between the River Torrens and Darlington and help ensure South Australians get home to family and friends safely.”
The 10.5km T2D project will be delivered over two stages, with stage one (Southern Tunnel) connecting Darlington to the Anzac Hwy and stage two (Airport Link and Northern Tunnel) connecting the River Torrens and Anzac Highway.
The Morrison and Marshall Governments have already committed $5.422 billion to Stage 1 on a 50:50 basis.
Premier for South Australia, Steven Marshall, said having the funding locked in place for the whole T2D project means job security for South Australia’s construction sector for the next decade.
“This once-in-a-generation project is going to create a record number of jobs for South Australians and underpin the construction industry for the next ten years,” Premier Marshall said.
“Our strong partnership with the Morrison government means we are able to invest in projects that make a real difference to the everyday lives of South Australians and get people home faster and safer to spend more time doing what they love.”
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the funding for this project builds on the Commonwealth’s existing $10.7 billion commitment for infrastructure in South Australia.
“Set to unlock Adelaide’s traffic network, the T2D will stimulate economic activity, helping ensure people, produce and products arrive where they need to be safer and sooner,” Minister Fletcher said.
“The Morrison Government remains committed to funding the delivery of significant infrastructure projects across South Australia and the nation, getting Australians home sooner and safer and helping freight move more quickly between our cities.”
Federal Minister for Finance and Senator for South Australia Simon Birmingham said the T2D would complete South Australia’s largest infrastructure project to deliver commuters a 78 km non-stop transit link from Noarlunga to Gawler.
“The vision of linking southern and northern Adelaide with a non stop motorway will finally be fully funded, fully delivered and is set to be a drivers paradise,” Minister Birmingham said.
“The Darlington interchange and northern stretch of the motorway have been transformational for road users, with this tunnelling of around 60 per cent of the final stretch allowing motorists to bypass approximately 21 sets of traffic lights and have one of the best transport experiences in the nation.
“With close cooperation and coordination, the federal and South Australian governments are backing critical infrastructure projects that are necessary to improving supply chains and helping South Australian commuters get home sooner and safer.”
The design for T2D consists of two tunnel sections joined by a lowered motorway, with the Southern Tunnel to connect Darlington to Anzac Highway, while the Northern Tunnel will be located north of Anzac Highway and connect to Torrensville.
The $9.9 billion project is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments on a 50:50 basis, with construction expected to start in late 2023 and be finished by late 2030.
For more information, visit the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport website.