Media Releases
Quad Leaders' Virtual Meeting
4 March 2022
Prime Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, President Joe Biden of the United States
Today the Quad Leaders – Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, and President Joe Biden of the United States – convened to reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, in which the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states is respected and countries are free from military, economic, and political coercion. They reaffirmed their dedication to the Quad as a mechanism to promote regional stability and prosperity.
The Quad Leaders discussed the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and assessed its broader implications. They agreed to stand up a new humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanism which will enable the Quad to meet future humanitarian challenges in the Indo-Pacific and provide a channel for communication as they each address and respond to the crisis in Ukraine.
In their continuing pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Quad Leaders agreed to meet in person in Tokyo in the coming months.
Quad Leaders' Virtual Meeting
4 March 2022
Overnight I had the important opportunity to engage with my fellow Quad Leaders. We discussed the conflict in Ukraine and assessed its implications for regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. This is what the Quad is all about: four Leaders of liberal democratic nations who uphold the values and principles of our rules based international order.
We come together to support a free and open Indo-Pacific and to take action to deliver for our region. Together we are committed to supporting a region where the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states is respected, the status quo cannot be changed by force, and coercion is not tolerated.
The Australian Government’s view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is clear: Russia’s actions are a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter. There is no justification for Russia’s aggression, which is illegal, unjustified and unprovoked. Australia has implemented strong sanctions against Russia in close coordination with our Indo-Pacific and global partners. We are supporting Ukraine, including through US$50m of military assistance to support Ukraine’s defence and US$25m of immediate humanitarian assistance at a time of great suffering for Ukraine’s people.
My meeting with Quad Leaders comes at a critical time for our region and the world. We cannot allow what is happening in Ukraine now to ever happen in the Indo-Pacific. We are resolute in our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region where smaller states do not need to live in fear of more powerful ones.
The events in Ukraine only reaffirm the importance of the positive work being done by the Quad to ensure a free and independent Indo-Pacific - our health and humanitarian initiatives, improving the resilience of critical supply chains, supporting economic development, strengthening regional energy and food security, and enhancing regional stability.
I look forward to seeing Quad Leaders at our next Summit in Tokyo in the coming months.
Funding to help flood-hit communities, farmers, small businesses and councils
3 March 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Deputy Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Regional NSW, New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience
A new support package for flood-affected communities across New South Wales will be released today to support farmers, businesses and local councils to recover and rebuild.
This initial $434.7 million of funding from the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments will be provided to support communities clean up and remove damage and debris, as well as further support local government areas (LGAs) that have been flood-affected.
Grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers and up to $50,000 for small businesses and not for profit organisations devastated by flooding will soon be available through NSW Government agencies, with registration now open through Service NSW. This program will be demand driven.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this package is just the first phase of the financial support that will support communities in need.
“We will be there to help farmers, small businesses and every community in New South Wales to get back on their feet as soon as possible when flood waters recede,” the Prime Minister said.
“Farmers will need to restock and rebuild and small businesses will need help replacing damaged goods and shop fronts, and when more support is needed, more support will be given.
“I have already asked the New South Wales Premier to provide my Government with a proposal for a second support package to ensure all communities get the support they need.
“We are working with Queensland on what support will be made available under Category D funding, ensuring communities receive the funding they require to rebuild, and my Government has requested a proposal of projects from the Queensland Government.
“This initial package is in addition to the federally funded $1,000 disaster relief payment and the 13-week income replacement for employees and small business, which to date has already paid out almost $63 million in a matter of days.”
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government stood ready to support communities hit hard by the floods across the State.
“We activated these measures during the 2021 floods, and we have done so again – they are large grants that will get much-needed funds to people quickly to provide some relief and assistance,” Premier Perrottet said.
“We know these supports will have an immediate positive effect and I would encourage anyone in NSW impacted by these awful floods to please contact Service NSW and find out what you are eligible for.”
Seventeen LGAs have been declared as disaster areas and are eligible for support through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Bridget McKenzie said the activation of extraordinary Category D grant assistance under the DRFA was vital to help kick start the recovery of affected primary producers and small businesses.
“The Commonwealth and NSW Governments are focused on giving small businesses and not-for-profits the tools they need to clean-up, rebuild and keep operating,” Minister McKenzie said.
“We will continue to work with the NSW Government to roll out ongoing targeted support for communities impacted by these devastating storms and floods.”
New South Wales Deputy Premier Paul Toole said a phased approach to support was being adopted to ensure communities had the resources and support they needed at every stage from response to recovery.
“We know it’s going to be a long road to recovery for many of our regional communities and this targeted funding will ensure they get immediate assistance as well as in the weeks and months ahead,” Deputy Premier Toole said.
“In addition to the funding now available, Service NSW offers a one-stop shop for all information and support on disaster assistance by phoning 13 77 88 or online via service.nsw.gov.au.”
New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the mass clean-up is already underway and recovery grants have been designed to kick-start recovery.
“Many areas are still in the emergency phase and many more are unfortunately at risk of flooding. We are focused on delivering as much support as possible to impacted communities right across the State,” Ms Cooke said.
“While the acute response continues, we are working tirelessly in the background preparing for the significant clean-up and recovery ahead of us.”
People in NSW requiring assistance are urged to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online at: www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods.
People and businesses can register their interest for these grant programs through Service NSW, with funding soon available through NSW Government agencies at: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/storm-and-flood-assistance-businesses
The phase one package includes:
Demand driven - $75,000 grants to assist primary producers that have suffered direct damage from the recent severe weather and flooding. NSW Government estimate this to initially be $111.5 million.
Demand driven - $50,000 grants to assist small business and not-for-profit organisations that have suffered direct damage from the event. NSW Government estimate this to initially be $89.7 million.
$210 million to assist affected communities with the clean-up and removal of flood and storm related damage, debris and green waste. This will enable LGAs to work with Resilience NSW and NSW Government agencies to coordinate clean-up activities in their communities.
$1 million grants to impacted councils to assist with their immediate social, built, economic and environmental needs. This list may continue to grow.
$6.5 million to provide Community Recovery Officers to support communities impacted by this event.
The 17 LGAs are Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Hornsby, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Port Macquarie/Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield, The Hills and Tweed.
This is one tranche of assistance that will be offered to NSW residents, and is in addition to the disaster payments already available to flood victims.
The Commonwealth stands ready to provide similar financial help to victims of the flood disaster in Queensland once a request is received from the Queensland Premier.
Media Statement
1 March 2022
Tonight I tested positive to COVID-19.
I am experiencing flu-like symptoms and will be recovering over the next week.
I had tested myself daily since Sunday, including this morning, with all tests returning a negative result.
I took a further test this evening after developing a fever late today. The test was inconclusive so I took a PCR test tonight which returned a positive result late this evening.
I am continuing to follow health guidelines and am isolating at home in Sydney.
Jenny and the girls have thankfully tested negative but will isolate for seven days at home as close contacts.
While in isolation I will continue to discharge all my responsibilities as Prime Minister, including virtually chairing meetings of the National Security and Expenditure Review Committees of Cabinet, focusing on our emergency response to the devastating floods in Queensland and New South Wales, and ensuring we stand with each and every one of the affected communities both now and as the waters eventually recede.
I will also be focused on our urgent response to the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine and Russia’s senseless aggression, staying in regular contact with our security and intelligence officials and our international partners, as well as working with the Treasurer to finalise the Budget.
Australian support to Ukraine
1 March 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence
Australia will provide significant additional military assistance and emergency humanitarian support to help the people of Ukraine following the brutal invasion by Russia.
Australia stands in solidarity with our friends and partners in supporting Ukraine and condemning Russia utterly for its unprovoked and unjustified attack on its neighbour.
Australia will provide around $70 million in lethal military assistance to support the defence of Ukraine, including missiles and weapons. We will also provide a range of non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies in response to a specific request from the Ukrainian Government.
Our contributions will complement actions taken by partners such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the European Union and other European nations – each of which we welcome. We will work with and through our closest partners and allies to supplement the already substantial support from the international community.
Australia will also commit immediate humanitarian assistance of an initial $35 million to help meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian people. This assistance will deliver lifesaving services and supplies, including the provision of shelter, food, medical care and water.
Our lethal and non-lethal military assistance, along with our humanitarian funding, are in addition to the significant sanctions we have already imposed on Russia.
With the situation now seriously deteriorating after Russia’s invasion, current indications are that at least 160,000 people have been displaced inside Ukraine and around half a million people have fled to neighbouring countries. Numbers of displaced people will rise sharply as the security situation deteriorates further.
The cost of Russia’s aggression is being borne by innocent Ukrainians. This is a challenge the international community will meet, and Australia stands ready to provide further humanitarian assistance to support the people of Ukraine, including those fleeing to neighbouring countries.
Russia’s actions are a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter. There is no justification for these actions in Ukraine which are illegal, unjustified and unprovoked.
Australia To Host Landmark Global Clean Energy Supply Chain Forum
1 March 2022
Australia will welcome global leaders in business, technology, finance and clean energy to Sydney on 12-13 July for a major summit on clean energy development and supply chains across the Indo-Pacific region.
The Indo-Pacific Clean Energy Supply Chain Forum will be co-hosted by the Australian Government and the International Energy Agency (IEA), in partnership with the Business Council of Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this ground-breaking Forum was the first of its kind, and showed Australia’s commitment to clean energy development across the region.
“We know that the adoption of low emissions technology across the globe will be critical to a collective effort to meet our climate goals.
“Australian industry and our communities are leaders in the adoption of renewables and the Forum is a chance to share our expertise with neighbours across the region,” the Prime Minister said.
“But we must ensure that the transition does not deny our citizens, especially in developing economies, their livelihoods or the opportunity for a better quality of life.
“The solutions we need for the challenges we face need to be as affordable and practical in Australia as they are for our regional partners.
“Technology will be the cornerstone of this transition. This Forum is about making sure that technologies, resources, workforces and supply chains are well understood and that all nations can participate in the economic opportunities.’’
Regional and global experts will be invited to work together to realise the opportunities and tackle the challenges to enable diverse, competitive and resilient clean energy supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region.
Dr Alan Finkel AC will chair a high level panel of eminent global experts in low emissions technology, finance, industry and research, to shape and lead discussions at the Forum.
“These discussions will have a technical and practical focus and will identify concrete actions to secure the opportunities of the Indo-Pacific’s clean energy transition,” Dr Finkel said.
Prime Minister Morrison said that partnering with the world’s leading energy agency, the International Energy Agency and the business sector would be crucial to the success of the Forum.
“I am pleased to co-host this event with the world’s leading international energy body. I am confident that together we can deliver practical outcomes at the Forum,” the Prime Minister said.
“It is also critical that Australia’s world-leading businesses are at the table and shaping this important initiative from day one – and we are happy the Business Council of Australia will be working closely with us to deliver this event.”
Dr Fatih Birol said, “It is a privilege for the IEA to co-host the forum with Australia. It is clear that more diverse and competitive supply chains will be essential to support the energy transition and security of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”
Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott welcomed the opportunity for the BCA to partner in delivering the Forum and commended the Government for its leadership.
“Many Australian companies are leading the world in driving a clean energy future. They are at the forefront of making the most of our natural advantages, investing, innovating, transforming processes and creating new industries and jobs,’’ Ms Westacott said.
“This Forum is an enormous opportunity to position the region to take advantage of the massive changes underway and fully embrace a cleaner and more prosperous future.’’
The Forum will build on and provide input to the international work of the IEA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, ASEAN, Indonesia’s 2022 G20 Presidency, the Quad, and the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Egypt.
Further information about the Forum is available at www.pmc.gov.au.
Additional Commonwealth financial assistance for flood victims in Queensland and New South Wales
28 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Government Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Residents in 26 flood affected local government areas across Queensland and New South Wales can start applying for Commonwealth financial support through Services Australia from 9am tomorrow.
This includes affected Queensland residents in Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba local government areas.
Financial support has also been activated for Northern New South Wales local government areas of Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
These communities are in addition to the local government areas of Gympie and North Burnett, who become eligible to apply on February 28.
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is now available for people impacted by a flooding event.
The AGDRP is a one-off, non-means tested payment and is available to eligible people in those affected local government areas who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) will also be provided into the 26 affected local government areas.
The DRA assists employees, small business persons and farmers who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster. This allowance provides for a maximum of 13 weeks payment from the date you have or will have a loss of income as a direct result of a disaster. The DRA payment is set at the maximum equivalent rate of Jobseeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on your personal circumstances, and is taxable.
The Morrison Government funds these payments entirely and have been made immediately to support those flood hit communities in Queensland and New South Wales.
Eligible residents in the 26 Queensland and New South Wales local government can claim support via myGov or by calling Services Australia on 180 22 66.
Affected Queensland local government areas from tomorrow (1 March) can claim AGDRP from 9am (AEST) and can claim DRA from 1pm (AEST).
Claims for AGDRP and DRA for NSW local government areas will be open from 2pm (AEDT) tomorrow (1 March).
The Morrison Government also jointly delivers Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) with the Queensland Government for flood-affected residents, with payments for Personal Hardship Assistance and grants for local councils.
The DRFA assistance provides grants of up to $180 per person, to a maximum of $900 for a family of five or more.
These payments are available in Gympie and North Burnett local government areas and the Queensland Government is responsible for activating these payments.
Australian Defence Force personnel continue to support the emergency response efforts and will do more once the water recedes and the recovery effort starts. This includes the arrival of ADF in Lismore today to assist NSW.
Since 2019-20 the Federal Government has provided $17 billion in disaster relief.
For more information on support available, visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster
Doorstop - Brisbane, QLD
28 February 2022
MR ADRIAN SCHRINNER, LORD MAYOR OF BRISBANE: Good morning, everyone. It's been good to have the Prime Minister here today. We've just been through our local Disaster Coordination Centre here in Brisbane Square, to update him on the situation. It's very timely that he's with us because we've just been through the flood. We have had a BOM prediction late last night that there would be a flood peak of four metres. What we've seen is slightly below that, which is a great thing, but we had a rapidly changing situation last night. BOM advice started off at 3.4 metres and then shortly after with 3.7 metres and then finally to 4 metres. And that's just because of the sheer amount of rain coming down last night. So we've seen the rain stopped in most parts of Brisbane. That is a positive thing. But my key message to the people of Brisbane is that we are not out of the woods yet. Floodwaters will rise again tonight after the peak this morning. We will see another peak tonight that will be around 8pm. Current projections is for that peak to be 3.5 metres. So still a significant flood. 3.5 is classed as a major flood, so you will see another major flood coming through tonight. So please to the people of Brisbane, stay at home wherever possible. Now is not the time to be out and about across the city. There are a lot of areas across Brisbane that have been impacted and are emergency service personnel and essential workers need to be getting out there and moving around the city freely. If there's too much traffic on the road from people, you know, by just looking around seeing what's going on that impedes the work of our essential workers in emergency service personnel, so please stay at home, stay safe.
For those who are in a situation where their properties were inundated this morning or for those who are fearful about tonight, definitely continue to use your instincts. If your instincts are telling you that you're unsafe and you need to evacuate, listen to those instincts. Look for opportunities to stay with friends and family. Also, our evacuation centres are available. We have two evacuation centres up and running. They are in different parts of the city and there's capacity in those evacuation centres. We have approaching 300 people in those centres right now. There is room for more. If you are in any danger, call 000. If you need SES support, there's a number there to call for the SES. We've continued to do rescues, both police, fire and emergency services. And also, SES, there have been many people rescued in and saved this morning during the peak, and we're expect that will happen again tonight as well.
Overall, I want to thank the people of Brisbane for their resilience at this particularly challenging time. We have been through worse than this before. We know that there are also many parts of Brisbane that weren't affected in previous floods that have been affected this time, and we're going to be activating right across the city, the Mud Army 2.0. The new Mud Army will be activated in the coming days. At the moment, our priority is to make sure that we get through this dangerous flooding point. But once it's safe to go out, once it's safe for people to go out and help, we'll be coordinating the new Mud Army. That is a key priority for us going forward. We know there's a massive amount of goodwill in the community and people that want to help out with those who are in need and those that have suffered, and we will make sure we can coordinate a city wide effort to support this cleanup. The key priority will be getting those flood damaged items out onto the kerb and then taken away, so there'll be great opportunities for people to help out across the city. And we thank you to the people of Brisbane for your interest in helping out. Right now, though, key priority is stay at home wherever possible. Stay safe if you are in a flooding area, use your instincts to evacuate. Come to one of our emergency evacuation centres or stay with friends and family.
Final thing I want to say as well is that this situation a lot of people have asked how it compares to previous floods and events, how it compares to 2011. It is a very different thing. First of all, in 2011, as we saw the flood was rising, it was very dry in many parts of Brisbane. The rain had stopped and the floodwaters didn't rise until many, many days after the rain has stopped. We saw a different situation now. We've also seen lots of creek flooding and overland flow flooding as well. So you've had every type of flooding happening at once. In 2011, it was only river flooding that happened. So we've had almost the perfect storm with this rain bomb that has come down, flooding increase, overland flow and also river flooding all at the same time. So this is a very unprecedented situation in terms of the management of different authorities in the dams. We've been watching very carefully and I can say I believe they have done it exactly by the manual. They've done it exactly by the book from what I've seen. They've released the water only to coincide with the low tides, and we haven't seen any dam releases adding to the high tides, which has been a really positive thing. There will continue to need to be dam releases over the coming days. They need to get those dam levels down. We don't know whether there will be any more rain. They need to make preparations in case there is. So that's the next phase as well. Obviously, we're all happy that the rain has subsided, but we don't know whether there'll be any more rain, so we're preparing for that eventuality as well. I'm going to hand over now to the Prime Minister. Once again. I'm grateful that he's managed to come here to visit us and to show his support. And I know he's got some important announcements as well.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you Adrian. I'm very glad I've been able to be here, of course yesterday and today. The sheer impact of what is an extraordinary weather event. It has to be seem. And to have seen that over the last almost 24 hours, I think has been very helpful for our response. The response of the Australian Defence Forces, the response of the Emergency Management Authority, I was here with, Bridget McKenzie yesterday. This weather event of course, is impacted severely on the city of Brisbane, but it has for all the way up to the Bundaberg, all the way down toward Toowoomba, Ipswich, Logan we're seeing serious flood events occurring down in the Gold Coast as part of south east Queensland. And we are seeing a terrible flood of events in Lismore in Northern New South Wales. I've spoken to Premier Perrottet on several occasions this morning. We have activated our defence support there. Our discussions, as I mentioned very early this morning, our Defence Force were activated. Over 200 ADF deployed to assist with helicopter support is on its way. It should be arriving soon in Lismore to assist with what are very serious evacuations. So this weather event has had imposed a heavy blow on south east Queensland and it is now moving south and will ultimately be impacting on the south coast of New South Wales later this week. So I want to join with the Lord Mayor in thanking everyone in south east Queensland and particularly the people of Brisbane. I want to thank you too Adrian for the great leadership you've shown here working closely with the state government and I thank them for all their efforts as well, I've just come from an operations room where everyone's working together, taking calls, solving problems, dealing with the immediate response. They're highly professional in what they do, and they have one focus to keep you safe and to ensure that the city of Brisbane can recover quickly.
To assist that today, we are announcing that we will be extending the Australian Government's discovery disaster recovery payment to the following local government areas. Brisbane City, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland City, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and local government areas in and around the Lismore in the city of Lismore. Now this is a disaster recovery payments for eligible people who have been directly impacted by the floods. $1000 per eligible adult. And $400 per eligible child. That is provided 100 per cent by the federal government. And you can access that support through the Services Australia Disaster Assistance Phone Line on 180 22 66. And you can also do it online, and you can do that through by visiting the ServicesAustralia.gov.au/disaster. These payments are there to provide for some of the most basic things that people have been impacted by flooding, such as this. They are the same payments that we provide in other natural disasters with cyclones and bushfires and things of that nature. And Services Australia is set up to support those applications.
All of the areas I mentioned, other Gympie and North Burnett, they will be available from tomorrow and you'll be able to call tomorrow to make your applications for that support if that's what you require. Right now we've been focusing on Gympie and North Burnett, which was the two local government areas that were activated earlier, in addition to that, this also extends the disaster recovery allowance. Which is a payment for up to 13 weeks for those that have a loss of income as a result of this disaster. That's, I believe will be particularly useful for small businesses who will be unable to earn and income because of the need to engage in the recovery and the clean up, which would prevent them from trading and that will impact their business. This has always proved to be a very helpful payment to help people through what is a very difficult time and I share a great concern for the small business community right across south-east Queensland, particularly for Brisbane. They've had to deal with a lot, pandemics and floods, and we really want to work with them to help them get through this. I welcome the Lord Mayor's announcement as general of the Mud Army 2.0 here in Brisbane. That was one of the most inspiring things to see after the last terrible flood of the sort here in Brisbane. There have been many lessons from those last floods and we were talking today about the sort of backwash mechanisms that were put in place that have proven to be very effective in managing what is not just one flood event, but three combined together which makes this a very challenging situation.
And so, you know, a lot of the lessons from those plans are being implemented here in Brisbane, and we will be supporting those efforts through the Defence Forces. I'll be meeting with some of the local defence forces here this morning. Be talking about their planning and preparations for how they could assist with that recovery and cleanup effort. But right now, the crisis has not yet passed. There may be glimpses of sunshine through those clouds out there in Brisbane, which is welcome. It was a very anxious night last night for all of south east Queensland, but also, as I've said, in Northern New South Wales. But remember, those floodwaters will remain at their peaks for some days yet, and it may look quite tranquil on the surface, but underneath it can be very, very different. So if it's flooded, forget it. You're not only putting your own life at risk or your own safety at risk, when you enter into those floodwaters. But those who have to come and assist you if you become impacted or in a position where you can't help yourself. So I urge people, as the Lord Mayor has said, stay in a safe place over these next few days and we don't need to be adding the terrible further loss of life that we saw and have seen overnight and further people missing is highly distressing, and we extend our deepest sympathies to those who have been directly impacted by the loss of loved ones and for those who are missing, and we hope for the best for those who are missing.
But right now, everything is being done that can be done to support people right across south east Queensland and indeed in the even more crisis situations that we're now seeing in norther New South Wales. The flood event there, they're used to floods just like in Queensland, northern New South Wales but the floods we have seen in Lismore, they have not seen. They have not seen them before, and people who were in areas that have never been touched by floods have been overnight. And that is a crisis situation and we are working closely with the New South Wales Government to give every support. After some meetings this morning, I'll be returning to Canberra to meet with the Emergency Management Authority at the Situation Room there in Canberra to look at the broader impact of these floods right across the east coast of Australia. The National Security Committee of Cabinet will be meeting in the morning, obviously not just to address these very serious issues, but also to address the ongoing situation in Ukraine. And with that, happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what defence preparations are underway today for the recovery effort?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is literally what I'm going to speak to the team out at Enoggera today about. I mean, they have standard operations for recovery events such as this. They are working closely with the city council here and many other local government areas, one of the great advantages of the City of Brisbane is it has a highly skilled council administration and they have a lot of heavy equipment that can be used to support these works. And so where there is additional assistance required in the City of Brisbane, of course, that will come and the state government doing the same. But I anticipate that the Defence Forces will be there to support some of the other councils in south east Queensland, which won't have the same level of capability as the City of Brisbane, and can be with heavy equipment, troops themselves engaged directly in the same cleanup effort that so many people from the City of Brisbane engage with as part of the Mud Army.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, [inaudible] people who are trapped on roofs, when can they expect their support to arrive?
PRIME MINISTER: It should be there now. It was deployed earlier today and we've been in discussions since earlier this morning. Those flood waters have been moving very, very rapidly, as I said I had several discussions with the Premier earlier this morning. And there was already engagement between our defences forces and NSW agencies even earlier than that today, but we are somewhat encumbered by the weather system, which does frustrate aerial operations for the evacuation. I've heard the reports of many people and those from emergency services who are getting people on roofs, then themselves had to be air evacuated. So it is a very, very distressing situation in northern New South Wales and every resource and asset we have available to help people in that situation and to support the New South Wales government's plans for evacuation. They have the lead on this. That's how these things work, we are there to support their rescue plan and their efforts. The New South Wales Government has significant assets when it comes to flood boats and others that can support evacuations. But the floods that we're seeing are extremely serious, and that also can put real impediments to the evacuation efforts.
JOURNALIST: Just briefly on another topic, Prime Minister, what lethal aid are providing to Ukraine and how are we getting it there. Can you put a dollar figure on on that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, let me just go over a few things. Right now, we imposed sanctions on 370 individuals, 339 members of the Russian parliament who voted for their illegal war. All 12 members of the Russian Security Council, including the foreign minister and the defence minister, directed sanctions against President Putin himself. 8 oligarchs who are close to President Putin, the Russian army commander, deputy defence ministers and mercenaries, entities involved in the development sale of military technology, weapons and financial institutions subject to targeted financial sanctions. And there's 6 of those. And 13 Belarusian individuals and entities supporting the Russians war effort. Yesterday I announced that we were extending our aid to lethal aid. That has been done directly through NATO, that planning has been going on over the last 24-36 hours. And that's what the national security committee is meeting about tomorrow to receive those reports and that advice, to enable us to action a number of those initiatives. The extent of what we announce will also be subject to national security considerations, so I don't want to flag that this will soon be a list that we may provide, we will consider that as we work through those issues. But the lethal aid support sees us step up again together with the rest of the world. I was pleased to receive a message from the President last night and the President was very grateful for Australia's strong stand, in particular, extending our support to lethal aid. We actually endeavoured to speak last night, he was keen to speak, but as you can imagine, communications are not very straightforward. And we may indeed speak later today in which I look forward to give him encouragement. But I think the Ukrainian people have shown tremendous strength, tremendous resolve. But the situation remains terribly concerning, but I am pleased that we are seeing an accelerating and increasing the strength of response from Western democracies in standing up against what is thuggish brutality for which there's no justification. There was no provocation. It is unwarranted. And it is absolutely essential that Russia abandons abandons these illegal acts of brutality and violence and thuggish behaviour against its neighbour, and I call on all countries to denounce in the strongest possible terms. And to join the sanctions, Russia must a price for this behaviour and Australia is doing everything in our power, including encouraging other countries, particularly the move we made on SWIFT and supporting that and working with our US counterparts. The treasurer, our Treasurer has been working with the US Treasury Secretary overnight as well to encourage those actions, and I'm very pleased to see the actions of the US and others have been taking on SWIFT. The actions of the German Government and more broadly across the EU.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, [inaudible] Australia who want to travel and join Ukraine fight, to do so?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is a complicated situation, and at present it is still somewhat unclear what the President of Ukraine has proposed. Our law sets out arrangements where people can be involved in official activity by a sovereign state, which Ukraine qualifies, but the nature of these arrangements are very uncertain, and I would stress this, our travel advice to all Australians is do not travel. So let me be very clear about that. That is the Australian Government's advice for all Australians not to travel to Ukraine for obvious reasons. And I would counsel against making assumptions about the legality of such activity at this point, given the uncertainties that are associated with the arrangements and the force that the President of Ukraine is putting in place, so we'll obviously discuss these matters further tomorrow at NSC. But I would counsel against that. It's purely for the safety of all Australians, that they would not travel to Ukraine. I can understand absolutely the strong feelings and the motivations for people to go and do that. But I would say at this time, the legality of such actions are uncertain under Australian law. Thanks very much everyone.
Nominations Open For 2022 Prime Minister’s Veterans' Employment Awards
28 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel
The search is on for Australia’s top veteran employers and employees, with nominations now open for the 2022 Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the awards recognise veterans for their contribution to the nation after their military service, as well as the businesses that support them.
“Our Defence men and women receive world-class training, are disciplined, loyal and resilient – they are adept at problem-solving, working in teams and leading,” the Prime Minister said.
“Smart Australian businesses know that veterans bring valuable knowledge, skills and experience into the workplace and make great employees.
“This is a great opportunity to acknowledge those veterans making an ongoing, outstanding contribution to our nation and the businesses and organisations that are backing them.
“If you know a veteran making a great contribution in the workplace or an employer going above and beyond to support their veteran employees, get online and nominate them.”
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said this year’s awards were being expanded to further recognise partners of current and former Australian Defence Force personnel.
“It’s not easy being the partner of a Defence member or veteran, and they often face their own unique employment challenges,” Minister Gee said.
“It is also significant that this year we will further recognise those businesses and organisations that not only embrace veterans, but also show commitment and flexibility to supporting the partners of veterans and serving members.
“Employing veterans is a win-win; it’s great for business and it’s great for those men and women who have served our nation and want to continue to contribute in civilian life.
“I saw these mutual benefits firsthand when I recently visited 2021 Award winner HENSOLDT Australia, a technical solutions provider founded by two veterans that actively hires veteran employees.
“Veterans make up 70 per cent of their workforce, including long-term unemployed veterans who have now re-engaged with the civilian workforce, bringing their years of ADF experience with them.”
The annual awards are part of the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program which brings together a range of resources and initiatives to support veteran and veteran partner job-seekers and employers.
This includes the Veterans’ Employment Commitment, which currently boasts over 700 signatories, demonstrating the high number of organisations committed to supporting greater employment opportunities for veterans.
Nominations for the 2022 Awards open today and close on 31 March 2022, with the winners to be announced in November 2022.
For more information on the Awards and to nominate an employer or employee, visit the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program website (www.veteransemployment.gov.au).
Interview with Neil Breen, 4BC
28 February 2022
Neil Breen: Scott Morrison, he arrived yesterday, he was at the Kedron Emergency Centre with the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. He joins me on the line. Prime Minister, thanks for your time.
Prime Minister: Good morning Neil.
Breen: Just extraordinary that you happened to be here to witness this yourself. Tell us what you're feeling and seeing about what the people of south east Queensland are going through.
Prime Minister: Well, it's a very serious and very anxious time. I've been scheduled to come up this week, but I've decided to come early on the basis of what we're seeing with the floods. I spoke to the Premier on Saturday and we were getting regular updates and we've activated assistance in a whole range of areas, particularly the ADF. But the news of a further life having been lost and these are floods that aren't just affecting obviously Brisbane, but also Logan and Ipswich and up to Maryborough and the whole impact zone goes from Bundaberg all the way down. And of course, now we're seeing very desperate situation a bit further south down in Lismore, where I've been speaking to New South Wales Premier this morning. So there's a lot to be done. The ADF are activated and are providing every assistance. The financial assistance is flowing, we'll be advising further council areas that will be able to access the disaster recovery payment and the allowance, that will include Brisbane City, Moreton Bay and many others, and we'll be making further announcements about that this morning. But the most important thing right now is as the floodwaters continue to rise, is that people, wherever they can be in a safe place and people moving around is very dangerous, as we've seen, and it's important to know if it is flooded forget it, and to ensure that people where if they are in a place of safety to remain there.
Breen: Yeah. Well, Prime Minister, people think, look, I just got to get across that road there. It should be fairly easy to do. I saw it myself at three o'clock this morning, I saw these small cars. Look, people have four wheel drives will have a crack. They shouldn't either. The people with small cars, they just lost their vehicles. It's amazing to think people do it.
Prime Minister: Well, this is why, I've been here, as you know, overnight in the Brisbane City Council and I’m meeting with the Lord Mayor this morning and be going through the same, very similar issues I went through with the Premier yesterday. But this message of if it's flooded, forget it, is is very, very serious and these are very serious floods. We've got a weather bomb across the top of south east Queensland and it's going to be moving down the coast. It's a rather extraordinary weather event and it is causing, you know, incredible impacts. So people need to be obviously taking this as seriously as they possibly can. I'm sure they are, but I think it is, oh if, I could just get across there or I need this, a moment's convenience that you think might come from that, could could turn into something very fatal. So I'd urge people to to remain in safety in place.
Breen: Yesterday, the disaster payment that you announced so far for people in Gympie and other places North Burnett Regional Council, you said it will extend and that announcement will be made. So it's a $180 a person or $900 for a family of five or more. So how can they access it? How do they actually go about it and how long will it take to get it to them?
Prime Minister: Well, there are two types of payments that's that's one of them that's done with the Queensland Government. Our payments are $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child, and that is available through Services Australia Disaster Assistance Phone Line, which is 180 22 66. Or you can go to the ServiceAustralia.gov.au/disaster website. These are the same places where COVID disaster payments and other disaster payments have been made. And so those who have accessed those before will know that process is a very efficient one. These are the payments made by the Federal Government, and there are also under the allowance that will also be announced, and that is helping people who are affected with income loss, unable to physically get to work because of floods and things of that nature. These are the same payments that were being affected during bushfires and in so many other natural disasters. So, they will be they will be progressively activated. I've been speaking to Bridget McKenzie, who's the Minister for Emergency Management this morning, in about extending those further. We discussed it yesterday. She was with me here in Brisbane for that briefing with the Premier and all the emergency service authorities yesterday.
Breen: OK, $1000 eligible adult, $400 eligible children, 180 22 66, Service.Australia.gov.au, we'll put all these details out through through the through the morning as we go. How long are you staying?
Prime Minister: Sorry, Neil I should say, now we should say when we activate those for the Brisbane Council area, those I expect will be making those decisions late today. And so I anticipate that then those payments would flow probably from from tomorrow.
Breen: OK, from tomorrow. How long are you in Brisbane for, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: Well, I'm here today and there are significant limits on where we can move. I mean, we certainly don't want to get in the way of any of the disaster recovery efforts that will be taking place, but right now we're in the middle of disaster response. We don't need the Prime Minister's cars or anything moving around, getting in the way of emergency assistance. I'll be here in Brisbane dealing with some of the other issues about where we can provide further support, also connecting a lot with the New South Wales Government about the serious situation they've got there. We're rolling out ADF support. I've just spoken to the Premier this morning about that for Lismore as well. We've got the team up here at Enoggera as well who are on standby and have been for the entire time. The real issue is not just, of course, dealing with the direct response in the middle of this flood event, but also then the recovery operation that will follow. And that's where I anticipate, having spoken to the Premier, tomorrow ADF and others will be playing a more significant role.
Breen: Well, you've got a fair bit on your plate. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, because obviously Ukraine, and I can update people when I let you go so I don't take too much more your time, there's a lot of developments overnight. Russia is making threats, nuclear type threats. But you've put out a statement this morning along with the Treasurer, Marise Payne, Peter Dutton as well, and Australia's going to work with NATO to provide lethal as well as non-lethal military equipment, medical medical supplies and financial assistance to support the people of Ukraine. So tell us about that move.
Prime Minister: Well, all of the above as you've just said and I actually got a message from the President of Ukraine last night, very appreciative of what Australia was doing and the stance we've taken, but also extending our support to lethal lethal aid support. We're working that through with our NATO partners now. The most effective way to do that is through them and their supply chains and their ways of getting that into Ukraine. So that's on that front. On the humanitarian support, I made some announcements yesterday about how we're supporting through visas. We've got an initial commitment into NATO this morning, which is providing nonlethal support, so that medical packages those sorts of things to assist in the conflict zone. But we'll be making further announcements about a broader humanitarian assistance support. Many other countries have been doing that. The Treasurer and I and the Foreign Minister have been discussing that this morning. And so we'll make an announcement later after further assessment about what will be, I think, an important but significant humanitarian package of support financially and that will occur, that will assist in places like Poland and other neighbouring countries, where we are seeing large numbers of displaced people arrive.
Breen: I did a lot of reading on the weekend. It looks like the financial squeeze the world has put on Russia is having an effect. But Prime Minister, I have to ask you. Vladimir Putin has ordered the defence chiefs to put the country's nuclear deterrence forces on high alert. Does that concern you?
Prime Minister: Well, of course it does. It is a reckless thing to say in these circumstances, and I think the response from so many countries, particularly in NATO countries, but also, you know, Australia, Canada and others, we've been doing our bit as well to to support this initiative. I think the advance in Ukraine has not gone to quite the timetable or plan that I think Russia expected. And I think the world's response has been swift and has been significant. It's literally SWIFT, the payment system, I was calling for that early this week. I'm so pleased that the advocacy we're undertaking, particularly with Europe and the United States has been effective and that is now moving. I think the announcements by the German Government overnight have been very, very strong and I welcome and commend the Chancellor for his his announcements. This has really, I think, focused the minds of the world and there is a real difference occurring here. There are those autocratic bullying states and there are liberal democracies who aren't going to stand for it. And so I think the bravery and courage we've seen from the Ukrainian people has been extraordinary. I was with the Ukrainian Sydney community yesterday at their at their church and offering prayers as well as support. The strength and courage they're showing is extraordinary. I understand I'll be talking to the President later today.
Breen: Oh, okay, yeah, you'll be talking later today, he's been amazing. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thanks so much for your time this morning. Thanks for being in Brisbane.
Prime Minister: Thanks Neil. Everybody, stay safe, wherever you are. Please stay safe. And that's the best way you can help all the emergency authorities is by ensuring that you don't need to call on them, and you can do that by staying exactly where you are.
Breen: Yeah. And Prime Minister, when you're out and about today, to your press conference and your meetings, if it's flooded, forget it.
Prime Minister: Absolutely. That's, we'll be following our own advice.
Breen: Exactly. 20 after 7. Thanks Prime Minister.
Economic Measures Against Russia And Lethal Military Equipment For Ukraine
28 February 2022
Prime Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women, Minister for Defence
The Australian Government is deeply concerned at Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, which is a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners – including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, NATO and the EU - to impose a high cost on Russia.
We are holding Russian President Vladimir Putin to account for his egregious unjustified war against Ukraine. From midnight last night, Australian targeted financial sanctions and travel bans came into effect on the Russian President and remaining permanent members of Russia’s Security Council: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Internal Affairs Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev.
President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov and Defence Minister Shoigu are directly responsible for Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine. It is exceedingly rare to designate a head of state, and reflects the depth of our concerns. President Putin joins a very small group that includes Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
Australia will work with NATO and our other partners to provide lethal as well as non-lethal military equipment, medical supplies, and financial assistance to support the people of Ukraine. As an immediate measure, Australia will contribute US$3 million to NATO’s Trust Fund for Ukraine to support non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies. Details of Australia’s contribution of lethal military equipment are being worked through with our partners and will be announced soon.
Australia will continue to work with allies and like-minded countries to impose further economic sanctions on Russia, building on the raft of travel bans and asset freezes implemented in recent days against Russia’s most influential political and military actors. So far Australia has sanctioned more than 350 Russian individuals, including corrupt oligarchs, MPs, and military commanders who are facilitating Putin’s illegal and violent ambitions. Moreover, we have sanctioned 13 Belarusian individuals and entities, including Belarusian Minister of Defence Viktor Khrenin, who has aided and abetted Putin’s aggression by allowing Russia to launch attacks from Belarus.
The Australian Government strongly supports the announcements by the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States on further restrictive economic measures against key Russian banks, institutions and individuals.
These measures include:
removal of selected Russian banks from the SWIFT global payments messaging system
restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from using its international reserves in a way that undermines sanctions
limiting so-called golden passports for wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government
a trans-Atlantic task force to identify and freeze the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies that exist within their jurisdictions.
Together, these measures will impose severe costs on the Russian economy by disconnecting its key banks from the international financial system and disrupting Russian trade and investment flows. They will also paralyse Russia’s foreign reserves and prevent Russian officials and elites from accessing key financial systems.
While we expect that the SWIFT measures as announced will be implemented at a global level, we will take complementary steps as required.
The Australian Government reiterates our staunch support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the people of Ukraine.
Nicolle Flint MP
27 February 2022
Nicolle Flint has been an invaluable member of the Liberal team and my government.
Nicolle has been a strong champion for Boothby and South Australia in the Liberal Party Room and the Federal Parliament.
I want to thank Nicolle for her service to the Federal Parliament, particularly in her role as a Deputy Whip and her committee work, and for her service to her community.
Nicolle has delivered not just on local projects like the Oaklands Crossing and the Flinders Link Rail, but also in her advocacy for people battling endometriosis and managing the loss felt from stillbirth.
The public attention from being a Parliamentarian does sometimes attract unacceptable behaviour, and I have admired Nicolle’s efforts to stand against the bullying and nastiness of particular groups and individuals.
Throughout those experiences however, Nicolle has kept a laser focus on her community and delivering for the people of Boothby and South Australia.
Nicolle is an impressive and passionate Parliamentarian who was the first woman elected to represent Boothby, and she has brought strong experience from her previous career to the role.
I look forward to continuing to work with Nicolle through the remainder of this term of Parliament, and to ensure we put forward a Liberal candidate who brings the same high-calibre qualities to the people of Boothby as she has.
I wish her all the best for what comes next.
Doorstop - Kedron, QLD
27 February 2022
PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon, everyone. I'm joined by Minister McKenzie and I want to thank Premier Palaszczuk and [inaudible] and the Queensland Police Force and emergency response agencies for providing us with a very helpful briefing this afternoon on the very concerning situation here in Queensland. And but not just in Queensland, the weather event that we're seeing here in Queensland is likely to move south, and we're already seeing that in northern New South Wales. And elements of this weather event are expected to return to parts of southern New South Wales as the week progresses. So this is a serious natural weather event and this is a serious natural flooding event that we're seeing impact right throughout, everywhere from Bundaberg to the border and all the way out to Toowoomba. But particularly in places like Gympie, this is a very serious situation.
And the key message that we have is it's important for people to keep safe and to remain in place where they haven't been ordered to evacuate. This is incredibly important and people should not be driving around and looking at this event and sightseeing on those things. What we need people to do is remain at home in a place of shelter, unless they've been ordered to evacuate to one of the many shelter centres that have been established by the Queensland Government. If it's flooded, forget it. This is a constant message that is given by governments all around the country during these flood events - not just for your own safety, but for the safety of those who will have to go in and assist if you get yourself into trouble. So for the sake of those incredible volunteers and the many other professional response agencies that are out there keeping people safe as best as they possibly can, those resources are needed to get to those who are going to need them in significant circumstances. And so we ask everyone to remain at home, to remain safe.
It's going to be a very anxious night here in Brisbane, as we see the rain continue to fall and the impact of this flooding event continue to have its way right across the city and right across the metropolitan area and reaching into all the creeks and the inundation of homes that we will see. But what I want to assure everyone of is what we also worked on today is the planning for the recovery has already begun, and the resources and the support that will be necessary to ensure the clean up can get underway. I commend the Queensland Government for the work they're doing with the councils in a, in a proactive way to put them on the right footing, to be able to get in there as soon as the weather event moves on, and people are able to get out there and start cleaning up again - that they'll work hand in glove together with the State Government and the local government, and the Federal Government will be supporting also wherever we are requested to do so.
So far, the Federal Government has responded to every request that has been made of us, and, in particular, I want to commend the work of the Australian Defence Force, and particularly those involved with the two Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, which have been very essential for many rescue operations. In fact, three lives were saved yesterday as a direct result of their actions. But, as we think of that, we think of the six lives that have already been lost, and we extend our sympathies to the families of those who have lost loved ones in this terrible flood. And we also have one additional person who is missing and we fear for their safety, and and we we don't want to see additional people added to this terrible loss of life that we've seen already. And the way to avoid that is for people to remain safe, to remain at home, and to get to a place of safety where they've been instructed to do so.
Emergency Management Australia, together with the Defence Forces, have been in the very room I have just left right from the outset of these floods, and working closely together to ensure the best of the the work that is comes from the Bureau of Meteorology and others is fed into the command centre here, and the best possible responses can be put in place.
But I do appreciate the Premier opening up that briefing to me today. It is important for us to understand how we can further help. We'll be looking to see how we can help, not just in the immediate effects of these floods. I'll ask Minister McKenzie to go through the payments that we have already authorised. We will be moving into providing the Disaster Recovery Allowance into the affected local government areas, and when the additional local government areas are identified by the Queensland Government, moving into those as well. There is already the $1,000 payment, which we have activated for two of the local government areas. I anticipate that will also be going to those affected in in other local government areas, including the City of Brisbane, shortly. But then there is the Recovery Allowance, which relates to income support payments for those. There are so many businesses who have gone through so much through the pandemic, and now to face the losses through these floods, and we'll be standing with them, just as we have through the many other things they've had to go through over these last couple of years, and those Disaster Recovery Allowance payments that are made by the Federal Government will be able to support them in those areas, and further support payments will be assessed once we get through the immediate impact of the flood events themselves. So with that, I'll hand over to Minister McKenzie.
SENATOR THE HON. BRIDGET MCKENZIE, MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE: Thanks, PM. Well, it's great to be here in Brisbane and I commend local and state governments and emergency service providers here in Queensland for their amazing response on the ground in the face of natural disasters. As the Prime Minister has said, our Federal Government stands with these communities and affected individuals, not just now in the immediate response period, but well into what will be a long recovery, as you know all too well.
What we've been able to activate today is the a Disaster Recovery Payment, which is for those residents in Gympie and North Burnett Regional Councils. We are responding to requests from the Queensland Government specifically, so we expect that to be obviously expanded as the extent of this flooding event becomes more well known. But these are direct payments to individuals of $1,000 per person and $400 per child. When you go through an event like this, you may need emergency accommodation, you may need fresh food, you may need petrol and you may not be able to access a bank. You may not be able to access your personal items to assist you to get that cash and to support your family. Those payments will be able to be applied for from one o'clock tomorrow through Services Australia.
We also have a joint announcement with Minister Mark Ryan, and that is for North Burnett and Gympie Councils, and Minister Ryan and Premier Palaszczuk may have made this announcement earlier today, but there's an additional $180 per person or $900 for a family of up to five or more people. Again, individual payments to assist those people at this very early response time.
And as the Prime Minister has already highlighted, the Disaster Recovery Allowance will be something we'll absolutely be rolling out, particularly to Gympie and North Burnett in the first instance. That is a 13-week payment, recognising that when you do have a flood event like this, often you are cut off from being able to even get to work to earn your wage. And so we recognise that particularly for these type of events, you can be cut off for days and weeks. And so this payment is to actually support those people, individuals, as the workers or indeed small business owners who may need this particular payment. Gympie is a classic case in point. This town is split into three as a result of the rise of the Mary River, and there will be many, many people who'd love to get to their work or open their business who will be unable to as a result of that inundation.
I also look after Emergency Management Australia, and they have activated COMDISPLAN, which means we've been able to get two Taipan helicopters to this state, and they've been doing some great work on the ground over the recent period, and I know that'll continue. And we've just recently released some ADF aerial capacity to do mapping to make sure that the data we're getting from local council flood maps matches the reality on the ground. And that's going to help us not just now in how we deal with the flow and where it's heading, and and it's impact in further downstream, but also the next event. I think that's one of the great changes we're making in our response to disaster recovery at a federal, at state and local level is, yes, we're focused on the response, but we live in Australia. These events are going to occur again, as you in Queensland know all too well, and we need to be better prepared for the next time. So we're already looking at how that can happen. But we stand with you all. We're all around Australia amazed with the resilience of Queenslanders and how you just get up, pitch in and get on with it, no matter what nature throws at you. And I know that I speak for all Australians in we stand with you at, not just this week in the heavy rains, but in the long recovery to come.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Bridget.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, apart from the ADF helicopters, is there any plans to utilise further ADF personnel or send any other assistance up to help on the ground?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, if required and and as requested. The planning that is done by, you know, the excellent professional team that's here in Queensland understands the resources that are available to them and and where they're called upon, they'll be activated.
JOURNALIST: So you've offered those?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, from the very first drop of rain, pretty much. I spoke to the Premier yesterday when I was in Sydney and to get an update on where things were, and sadly things have deteriorated since then more than expected. And so we're hopeful that tonight the the forecast with this with this weather system moving and deteriorating will eventuate, and that will take some of the pressure off. But we anticipate from what I've just been briefed on it, those flood levels remaining are high for three or four days or thereabouts. Now hopefully it's not as long as that. But there's the issue of assisting with direct assistance right now, as we've seen with the Taipans and other events. We saw that some years ago up in Townsville, when the the military, the ADF there did an amazing job in supporting people in their local town. And there's there is plenty of ADF resource here in Queensland that can lend itself to those tasks so ...
JOURNALIST: So to be clear that they will be used only if the Premier asks for them?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well, yes, that, I mean, because they're running the show.
SENATOR THE HON. BRIDGET MCKENZIE, MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: That's how this works. They have a very professional team. They know what's needed. They're available to be, to be deployed. And I was speaking to the Defence Minister earlier today and on my way in here. He would have been joining us for this press conference, but unfortunately the floodwaters prevented him from actually being able to get here. So so they're at the ready. Defence is at the ready to provide whatever assistance is required and to, and that includes their equipment and not just for the immediate response, but also as we get to the recovery and the cleanup phase.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, have they been called in to help with any evacuations, the ADF? Are they helping with evacuations? What's the full extent of …
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, they have. Yes, they have. Well, they saved three lives yesterday specifically, and the Taipans are also involved in in delivering much needed supplies into places like Gympie, which, you know, has been cut off. And that's very essential. I mean, we're restocking supermarkets, things of that nature, because that is a concern. We're going to have issues with power in the short term, and hopefully that will be able to be remedied in the, in the next few days. But I think we can expect, whether there or up in Maryborough, where they're they're looking at a flood worse than the one we had in January and going back to the 1890s, I think they said on ...
SENATOR THE HON. BRIDGET MCKENZIE, MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE: '93.
PRIME MINISTER: 1893. So that's a very serious flooding event up there as well. And so that the Defence Force are there to help with all of those things - whether it's recovery and support evacuation if necessary, particularly in quite extreme situations, because they have the training to undertake those tasks.
JOURNALIST: Are there boots on the ground though currently and where?
PRIME MINISTER: Not as yet, not as yet. They haven't been requested as yet. And if they are requested, then you can expect them to be rolling out very, very quickly, as we've seen in in many other events. But there's no, there's no reticence on the part of the Federal Government. They are available and ready to be deployed as needed.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, speaking of the Minister for Defence, in his capacity as the Member for Dickson he set up a GoFundMe for the recovery in the Pine Waters Community. Isn't disaster recovery a job for the Government to pay for? Why is he setting up a GoFundMe and is this appropriate?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, communities and the Government respond to events such as this. In the last three years, the Federal Government has put $17 billion into such responses, so the Commonwealth Government has always done that. But communities themselves also respond. I think one of the questions I asked, what were some of the big lessons of the big floods over a decade ago here in Brisbane that are being applied now, and will be applied in in the days and weeks ahead? And the first response was the way the Brisbane community, in particular, responded and rolled up their sleeves. The Mud Army that got out there and helped clean up Brisbane after the, after the floods. And so there will be community responses and good local members will be supporting that. I have no doubt about that, and marshalling resources to achieve things above and beyond what is done significantly by the Commonwealth and state governments. So that sounds to me like someone doing their job.
JOURNALIST: Surely there's no purpose for an, for an MP to crowdfund disaster recovery when the Government has so many different disaster response funds ready to go?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm, I am a local Member of Parliament, and as a local Member of Parliament you always look to try and harness community support for responding to major disasters. That's what our, that's what our job is - to work with our communities when they're in times of stress, in times of need. So I commend Peter for what he's doing. I mean, it might, I mean, I don't understand the criticism of it, frankly. I really don't. I mean, he is working with his community to add to the significant contributions that are being made by the Commonwealth and the state and the local government. He's looking after his community. That's what a good member for Dickson does.
JOURNALIST: This disaster is geographically so much larger than what Townsville experienced in 2019.
PRIME MINISTER: True.
JOURNALIST: Similar in that the weather event's kind of just sitting on top of us. How, do you think that this could be one of the most expensive disaster recovery efforts ever?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm not making that speculation at the moment. We're just making sure that we respond to what the need is. I mean, when I remember back to the Townsville event, remember the Townsville event happened at the same time as the north western Queensland flooding event, which wiped out, almost wiped out our entire cattle industry in the north of Queensland. And that is, that's what led to the establishment of what is now the National Disaster Recovery and Resilience Agency. That Agency was born in the floods of Townsville and North Queensland, and now is the engine room for the Federal Government's broader response to all disasters, all floods, all fires, all cyclones, all things of that nature. So we've learnt an enormous amount. I mean, the last three years, when it comes to natural disasters, have been record setting - from fires. I mean, last time I sat in that room was about fires. Today I'm sitting in there about floods. We've been dealing with pandemics, we've been dealing with droughts, we've been dealing with mice plagues in New South Wales. We've been dealing with cyclones like Seroja over in Western Australia, and we see many cyclones in North Queensland. The Australian Government, working together with our state governments and local governments, have have made a very good team in responding to these. We we are world's best and that's why we sort of always seek the cooperation of the community. You can help them do their best job by keeping yourself safe and remaining where you are. I do appreciate that it's going to be an anxious night. I mean, I can, we can hear the rain falling as we've been standing here during this press conference, and we want people to stay safe tonight and ensure that, you know, people aren't going outside and putting themselves at risk because we want those who are there to help people who get in genuine need to be able to go to their aid. Ok, thanks very much, everyone.
Commonwealth financial assistance for Queensland flood victims
27 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Government Services, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Queenslanders in communities impacted by the unfolding flooding disaster across the state’s South East can apply for Commonwealth financial support from Monday 28 February.
The Morrison Government has activated the Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child to support people impacted by the South East Queensland flooding event that began on 22 February.
The Disaster Recovery Payment is a one-off, non-means tested payment and is available to eligible people in those affected local government areas who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury.
Eligible Queenslanders in the local government areas of Gympie and North Burnett can claim support via myGov or by calling Services Australia on 180 22 66 from 1pm Queensland time tomorrow (28 February).
We are closely monitoring the flood emergency and we expect further Commonwealth assistance to be extended to other impacted regions and local government areas as the flood impact is known.
Australian Defence Force personnel continue to support the emergency response efforts and will do more once the water recedes and the recovery effort starts.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) will also be provided into the affected local government areas in Gympie and north Burnett, with further flood affected local government areas expected to be added in coming days, as the damage becomes clear.
The DRA assists employees, small business persons and farmers who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster. You might be eligible for a maximum of 13 weeks payment from the date you have or will have a loss of income as a direct result of a disaster. The DRA is taxable.
Since 2019-20 the Federal Government has provided $17 billion in disaster relief.
Services Australia’s Disaster Assistance phone line (180 22 66) is available for those who are unable to claim online from 1pm Queensland time tomorrow, Monday 28 February. For more information on support available, visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster
Doorstop, St Andrews Ukrainian Church - Lidcombe, NSW
27 February 2022
PRIME MINISTER: It was very moving today for Jenny and I and my colleagues to be part of the wonderful service to offer our prayers for the people of Ukraine, to pray for a peace, a peace that is not just the absence of war, but a peace that enables people of Ukraine to live according to their own rules, according to their own sovereignty, and to have their own freedom and not be threatened or subject to violence and persecution and intimidation from across their border from Russia.
So today was an opportunity to pray for that peace and to offer encouragement to Australians of Ukrainian ancestry and to meet so many of them here. I think they are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that they've received, not just from within the Christian faith community, but right across the entire country. Australians have really wrapped their arms around, and the Australian government will continue to stand up for what is right when it comes to Ukraine.
We are already providing significant support in terms of non-lethal aid, but I've just spoken with the Defence Minister and we'll be seeking to provide whatever support we can for lethal aid through our NATO partners, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom. And we'll be working through those channels because that's the most effective way to do it. They are already providing support in these areas and we will be assisting them with what they are doing.
The other issue that is very pressing is the issue of humanitarian support, and we are seeing the terrible tragedy unfold and Australia, once again, will be doing heavy lifting in all of those areas. Already, the Immigration Minister can confirm that the rapid processing of Ukrainian visas to Australia has been completed as of today. We are processing all visas that are coming in from Ukraine as a priority and they are getting the top priority in terms of them being processed. We will also be providing no doubt in the months to come and the years to come support through our humanitarian programme, but not just the humanitarian programme. The support through visas will come through all aspects of the visa programme to Australia. So that is in the family programme, that's in the skills programme, it's in the student programme. The humanitarian programme will not be the only programme through which we are providing support. And after two years where our immigration intake has been low, there is quite a lot of room within those programmes to take in more places and Ukrainians will have a priority in terms of processing for those visas. We've been in these situations before. We provided safe haven to the Kosovars for several years. But those who are from Ukraine, I have no doubt would want to go home to the Ukraine. And so whether it's in temporary support at their request or whether it's support longer-term or indeed providing humanitarian support and giving assistance to the Polish Government, especially in those bordering Ukraine, we will be engaged in those activities as well with the rest of the global community.
But for Jenny and I to be here with my colleagues today just simply to offer our prayers and our encouragement and support on behalf of the Australian people has been very important, and I'm very grateful for the warm reception that we've had.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, how many refugees will you be welcoming here?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a bit too early to be making those decisions. At present, our focus is what's occurring in Ukraine right now and providing the immediate relief to those who would be coming across borders as hundreds of thousands of people are becoming displaced and the world community will work together on all of those issues. But Australia will be very prepared to take more and more and more as we have with Afghanistan. We haven't taken the foot off the pedal there either. And so the ultimate numbers will be determined down the track and that will involve, I have no doubt taking numbers in addition to our normal programme. But the details of that will have to be worked through. Right now, the priority is providing that support through NATO. Australia, obviously not a member of NATO, and particularly our partners in the UK and the United States.
JOURNALIST: Will your Government cut off all trade with Russia? Labor says it supports such a move. Are you considering it?
PRIME MINISTER: We're considering every option and we've been stepping up every single day. I confirm that we are taking the actions against President Putin and his Foreign Minister, and we will continue to add names to these lists. But we are considering the situation of the embassy here in Australia along with our partners, and we're working in lockstep with all of them. It does disappoint me that while the world is increasing its sanctions on Russia, there are countries that are easing their trade sanctions on Russia.
JOURNALIST: Will you - are you going to expel the Russian ambassador?
PRIME MINISTER: We are working in lockstep to be undertaking these decisions with our partners.
JOURNALIST: While Australia is not part of NATO, there are calls for NATO to include Ukraine, is that something you support?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's a matter for Ukraine. Firstly, if they wish to do that, and that's a matter for NATO and NATO, is there to provide, I think, stability and balance and peace across Europe and has been an important contributor to that ever since the Second World War. So this is - we are a keen supporter of NATO. We work closely with NATO. The more countries that are involved with NATO that only makes it stronger.
JOURNALIST: Obviously Prime Minister, we've seen some war games from China already. How concerned are you that they'll move on Taiwan?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't draw a parallel between those issues, and I think it would be I think it would be unhelpful to engage in that speculation. The situations are very, very different. The situation in Taiwan and the situation in Ukraine. So I want to put Australians at ease in not conflating those two issues. I am concerned, though, that at a time when we're seeing aggression from Russia unlawfully invading Ukraine, China thinks this is an appropriate time to be conducting those sorts of operations in the South China Sea. And at the same time, easing trade restrictions on Russia for wheat. I don't consider those types of actions consistent with the broader statement about seeking a peaceful resolution.
JOURNALIST: Are we doing enough? What about the Russian diplomats, are you considering expelling them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course we are, and we're doing that in concert with other partners around the world, and we have been taking steps each and every day, and we will continue to take steps. You'll know that it was ourselves and the United Kingdom who were the first to say that Russia should be disconnected from SWIFT. And that was a key call that came from the Ukrainian community here in Australia, and we've acted on that and we can't do that in isolation and the discussions we've had with the United States in particular and our European partners, I think we're making some real progress on that front. And I welcome the reception we've had to those encouragements to the United States and and they’re now, as we can see, starting to disconnect Russian financial intermediaries from that payment system.
See, Russia must pay a heavy price. They must pay a heavy price, and we will continue to add to that price as we consider every single option that is in front of us. I've taken nothing off the table.
JOURNALIST: What about President Zelenskyy. Have you been impressed with him?
PRIME MINISTER: I've spoken with the Ukrainian Prime Minister and I spoke to him last week and offered him our great encouragement and support on a whole range of fronts. But look, I think the courage being shown by the Ukrainian people is absolutely extraordinary. The spirit that has been seen from their leadership all the way through to those who are showing such bravery and then those who are reaching out the arm of compassion to their fellow Ukrainians has been extraordinary. I'm going to leave it there. The Australian Government will continue to stand strong with Ukraine and we will continue to do everything we can to support them in the most practical and efficient way that we possibly can. Thanks everyone.
Fast-Tracking Jobs And Technologies For Space
25 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for Science and Technology, Premier of South Australia
The Morrison Government is injecting more than $65 million to get Australian technologies into space sooner and to make our nation a leading destination for launch.
And in another major boost for the Australian space sector that will drive jobs and technology investment, the Government has also instructed the Australian Space Agency to embark on a mission to put an Australian astronaut back into space.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new $65 million funding was part of the Government’s ongoing mission to expand the sector, invest in cutting edge technologies and create new jobs.
“Australia is ready to launch and we are backing Australian companies and workers to look up and aim high,” the Prime Minister said.
“The journey to sending an Australian into space means serious investment in local jobs, local technologies and local businesses.
“Any astronaut and any spacecraft has a team of thousands behind them, not to mention invaluable technology and research and carefully manufactured parts.
“All of that means new technologies that make things simpler and safer, the job opportunities that come from a booming industry or the technology advancements that can be applied in our everyday lives.
“That’s why, since 2018, we have invested more than $800 million as part of our mission to triple the size of the sector to $12 billion and create up to 20,000 new jobs by 2030.”
The Government will co-invest more than $32 million into the development of up to three new or existing spaceports or launch sites across Australia.
The Australian Space Agency will also receive more than $32 million to procure and provide spaceflights and services for the Australian space sector.
This will help the sector gain an important ‘flight qualification’ – a common barrier to transitioning space technology from the laboratory to space.
The more than $32 million includes a $3.5 million national student space challenge that would see student payloads sent into orbit.
The Agency has also been tasked with international partners to put an Australian astronaut back into space.
South Australia Premier Steven Marshall said the investment was a major boost for South Australia’s space sector.
“This election is all about building a stronger future and opening new opportunities for South Australians – the space sector does both,” Premier Marshall said.
“South Australia is unequivocally the Space State – we have already created nearly 1600 space jobs in the State and today’s announcement is going to see that number take off.
“We are the home of the Space Discovery Centre, Mission Control, the Australian Space Agency, the Australian Space Park and more than 90 space-related companies are already based right here in SA.
“This sector is going gangbusters and it’s going to mean our young South Australians can have a rewarding career in the space sector right here without having to move interstate or overseas.”
Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said this latest investment would provide Australian industry with further opportunities to grow their capability and access global supply chains – and support more launches taking off on home soil.
“This is about so much more than just the excitement or inspiration of launch,” Minister Price said.
“By investing in the growth of the Australian space sector we’re investing in the future of all Australians.
“We’re doing that through investments via the Australian Space Agency and prioritising the space sector through our Modern Manufacturing Strategy and Australia’s Economic Accelerator.”
Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, said the Fast-Tracking Access to Space package would help address gaps in the local sector.
“By supporting Australian businesses and researchers to get their products into space more quickly, we are helping them to demonstrate their capabilities to the world, which in turn will create new opportunities that see them grow,” Mr Palermo said.
“This co-investment in the development of spaceports makes Australia’s intentions clear – we want to become a launch nation of choice to attract further private sector investment.
“We are already a desirable launch location thanks to a range of factors, including our unique geographic perspective and political stability – this investment will cement that reputation.”
Interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM
24 February 2022
Sabra Lane: Prime Minister, welcome back to AM.
Prime Minister: G'day, Sabra.
Lane: Russia's embassy says Australia's sanctions are xenophobic and it's written on Facebook the country's decision on Ukraine will not be reverted. What's your response?
Prime Minister: Well, I'm used to bullies saying those sorts of things when people stand up to them. They'll spread all sorts of misinformation. We've seen all this before. I completely reject that. I mean, these points were made by the Russian ambassador when they were called in yesterday. And the position Australia is taking, I think is very firm, very clear. And in speaking to Ukraine's Prime Minister last night, it's greatly appreciated by a country that is being threatened by an autocratic bully on its own borders.
Lane: The Russian ambassador, as you say, was called in to see the head of DFAT yesterday. Was he told to pack his bags?
Prime Minister: No, and we are taking this one step at a time. We've announced the sanctions that we are putting in now and this morning I'll be meeting with the Governor-General to confirm those arrangements on the regulatory changes under the Autonomous Sanctions Act. And that will enable us to be targeting specific individuals in relation to the sanctions we've announced. And this will be just the start. And as yet, we haven't seen the full scale invasion take place in Ukraine, and let's hope that that still is averted. But Russia is at peak readiness for such a full scale invasion, that's our advice, and so that means that things are imminent. But they need to be under no doubt that any suggestion there's some pretext for what they're doing, any suggestion that they have some legitimate claim here, that has to be completely denounced. This is unprovoked, unwarranted, uncalled for. This is a sheer act of bullying, threats, intimidation and aggression against a neighbour, and should be called out as such.
Lane: Ukraine's Foreign Minister has told the UN General Assembly the sanctions announced so far by all countries don't go far enough. Putin doesn't appear to be deterred. How much further and faster are allies prepared to go to to stop him.
Prime Minister: Well, I know that ourselves, the United States and the United Kingdom are certainly prepared to go further, and we are. We're still holding other measures to be able to proceed with those. But we are working in lockstep with the US and the UK on sharing the information that we have, particularly about those individuals. I mean, Russia seems quite intent on following through on their threats of violence. I think that's very clear. And what has to be clear from the international community is that there must be costs for that. And the costs for that are, of course, the economic sanctions. But also those who are supporting an authoritarian regime that is doing this, the oligarchs and others who were involved in this, they can't profit through that. And it's important that we act in concert with all other countries to ensure that we can prevent them from being able to sort of move around and conduct their business in a way where they can be completely separate from these events. They are sponsoring these events.
Lane: What would it take for Australia and the US and the UK and other Western allies to actually take military action in Ukraine? What is the red line that has to be crossed?
Prime Minister: Well, look, that's principally a matter for Europe. I mean, it's a long way from Australia, and these issues are principally dealt with in NATO and I think that's where those decisions are ultimately taken. For Australia, it's a matter of supporting our allies and partners in the actions they're taking, not with lethal responses but in the things that we're already doing. And look, I think President Biden has made it very clear about the line that exists along NATO's borders, NATO countries, and I think that's been very clear. But what further action is taken outside of those is really a matter for the Europeans. I mean, our focus is very much on our part of the world and the situation that we face in our part of the world. That's why I've been calling all countries in our part of the world to be denouncing what are these unprovoked threats of violence against Ukraine by Russia. The idea... sorry, go ahead.
Lane: Sorry, I was just going to say, are we seeing here the limits of American power? Will anything, do you think, stop President Putin?
Prime Minister: Look, he clearly looks very intent on taking his opportunity here, and I think it's very clear he's been warming this up for some period of time. I'm pleased to see the actions of the German Government on Nord Stream, that's welcome. And it's very important that Western democracies are very clear, that they don't get caught up in economic relationships that can leave them exposed to coercion, whether it's in Russia or anywhere else. And I think these events, I think, are waking people up to these threats. You know, we're in a very different world to the one we were in a decade ago. And the world is starting to separate between those sort of authoritarian autocratic regimes who want to go and do whatever they want, wherever they want, and western liberal democracies and others who want to support the rule of law. And so Australia's position on all that I think is very, very clear. And those who favour a world order that favours freedom need to stand up for it, as we do.
Lane: How many Australians have asked for assistance to leave Ukraine?
Prime Minister: We have 185 who have registered. We think there's around 1,400 people, Australians in Ukraine, but they are predominantly dual citizens and they have elected to stay. And so we are supporting our consular operations out of Poland and a number of other bordering countries, and we're still providing that support directly within Ukraine as well. One of the issues that I discussed with Ukraine's Prime Minister last night is our preparedness to assist on a humanitarian front. We've already announced that any Ukrainians in Australia who are on visas that expire by the 30th of June, their visas will be extended by a further six months. We've got around 430 visa applications that are on foot. I've asked, I've directed the Minister for Immigration to see that they are resolved promptly, which will provide the opportunity for those on those visas to come to Australia. And we will continue to work with particularly Poland, who are likely to see, in the event of a full scale invasion, displaced persons coming across their border, and providing support to them and the rest of the international community for humanitarian assistance there.
Lane: In the case that that might happen, how many extra refugees is Australia prepared to take if there is a war and mass displacement?
Prime Minister: Well, we're considering that at the moment. But I'd stress, particularly for Ukraine, it isn't just about the humanitarian program. That's why I stress all the other visa classes that are available. There could be many who would apply under our normal visa program. So it's not just about the humanitarian program. But we have acted in these areas in the past, you'll recall the Kosovar arrangements, which was a temporary arrangement and around 4,000 Kosovars came to Australia, and they were here for a period of time, largely down around Albury-Wodonga, and then they returned. And it's ultimately the goal of displaced people that they could return home, and we would have to see what the security situation is and the events are yet to unfold. So I think a lot of that is uncertain. But what is very clear is Australia will play its part.
Lane: One Australian Ukrainian yesterday told us that he was prepared to help fight for Ukraine. Do you endorse that?
Prime Minister: Well, I would have no doubt that should a full scale invasion take place, which is likely, that you will see an ongoing insurgency within Ukraine. We've seen that in the past, and I would expect to see that.
Lane: And you would endorse Australian dual citizens going there to fight?
Prime Minister: Well, look, I'm not going to make a comment speculatively about those issues. I don't think that's helpful. And I'm not aware of the person you’re referring to or the circumstances in which the comments were made. But what I have no doubt about is that there would be an insurgency where a country is invaded by its neighbour in this way.
Lane: Oil prices could rise further for Australians as a result. How might you mitigate that? Are you considering freezing fuel excise?
Prime Minister: Well, I've seen those suggestions from others, but I mean, this is a global issue with fuel prices. And Australia's fuel prices are very high, about $1.80 at the moment. The advice we're getting, particularly out of the International Energy Agency, is that this impact is likely to be short term, it's likely to be temporary. You don't go and completely recalibrate your budget based on fluctuations in oil prices. They've gone up, they've gone down. And so we’d need to assess what the long term impact would be. But certainly the advice at the moment is that this would have a short term impact. And when these suggestions are made, I mean, the movement in oil prices quickly overwhelms any sort of movements of the nature that you've suggested. So people make these points politically, but governments, I think, have to look at these things in a bigger context.
Lane: Prime Minister, thanks for joining AM.
Prime Minister: Thanks very much, Sabra.
Interview with David Koch, Sunrise
24 February 2022
David Koch: The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, joins me now. Prime Minister, you phoned your Ukrainian counterpart overnight. What did he have to tell you? Does he believe the invasion has started?
Prime Minister: He was very appreciative of the incredible support he's getting all around the world, and the reason he wanted to speak to us was to thank Australia for its very strong stand, and we are going to work very closely with him and other neighbouring countries, particularly Poland, where we have people right now, both providing consular support into the Ukraine. We've got some 38,000 Australians here in Australia who will be very concerned about the situation in Ukraine. They've got Ukrainian heritage, about 1,400, we think Australians in Ukraine itself. And so the situation remains on very, at the most extreme level. And I mean, the invasion has effectively already begun. We completely reject the claims that Russia have made in relation to Ukraine and the territories that they've come and effectively already occupied. And the world has to continue to stand strong on this. And the Ukrainian Prime Minister was very appreciative of the strong stand, particularly Australia, has taken across a whole range of sanctions.
Koch: Prime Minister explain to Australians why we should care. Most Australians, probably we can't find Ukraine on a map. It's not in our backyard. Why do we need to take as hard, a tough stance?
Prime Minister: This is about the sovereignty of countries. We've got a very large country in Russia, which is bullying and threatening its neighbour and telling them the decisions that they have to make. And this is not how the world should work. This is not how the rule of law and international law can work. Now, Ukraine itself is not a member of the NATO alliance, but even still, when you have a country that is bullying and seeking to use force and threats of violence to get its own way against another country, that is not something that Australia could ever support.
Koch: Again, Ukraine is not in our backyard. China is. It's always had eyes on Taiwan. Do you think they're watching this closely and the world's reaction to Russia as they have Taiwan in the back of their mind?
Prime Minister: Well, I believe China, of course, is watching this very carefully, and that's why I've been at pains to say that China needs to take as strong a position as other countries in the world and in denouncing what Russia is doing. See, what we have to be very clear about is there's no pretext for this. There's no provocation of this for Russia. There's no just cause that Russia is seeking to pursue. I've seen the statements made by the Russian Ambassador here in Australia. I completely reject that. Cyber attacks are occurring again in Ukraine, and we know the Russian troops are there and already moving. And so we cannot have it stand that there's somehow justification for this. And that's why I welcome the fact that China so far has said that yes, tension should be de-escalated. But they need to go further and denounce the threats of violence. And any suggestion there is some sort of justification or pretext for this because, bullying wherever it's occurring and particularly in our own region, is things that we and my government has always stood up very strongly to.
Koch: So what you're really saying, China, don't you even think about Taiwan?
Prime Minister: Well, of course, and that's always been our position. But equal to that, it's important that they seek to play to a much larger global role. Well, the responsibilities that go with that is to denounce bullying and threats of violence against other countries for the purpose of seeking to control them. That's what coercion is.
Koch: We can't, we can't do much in terms of sanctions because we are going to have really big trade ties with Russia, unlike Europe. Do you fear any Russian retaliation towards us in terms of trade or political sanctions?
Prime Minister: Well, I think that the most pressing threat has to do with cyber attacks, and we know that Russia has been involved in those things before. They're involved in it right now against Ukraine, and we call that out. But what we can do is the legislation our Government brought in, which enables us to target individuals in Russia and to work with our partners, particularly the United States and UK, to ensure that we can freeze their assets. They can't move their money around. And because those who benefit from the aggression of Russia and support the regime in doing that, we can't have them be able to go around and moving their money and going shopping at Harrods and, and other places around the world and travelling in and out of countries and operating their businesses. I mean, we have no quarrel with the people of Russia, and I know so many Russian Australians would be appalled about what is occurring. So this isn't about the people of Russia. This is about an autocratic, authoritarian government that is seeking to bully others and those who support that regime cannot be enabled to go about their lives and move around the world, doing their business and profiting from that violence.
Koch: And just before we let you go, know you've got to go, but poor old Queensland. Borders open, tourism returns, hit by this wild weather and flooding. Anything the government is going to do in terms of support?
Prime Minister: Well we always work closely with the Queensland Government and respond to every request that is made as we have with other floods and fires and everything. And so we'll be working closely with the Queensland Government. You're absolutely right. It is just another, another terrible time for Queensland, but Queensland is, I would argue, one of the best, if not the best in the country at responding to these disasters. And we have a very close working relationship with them to do our bit when we're called upon, and we certainly will. If it's flooded, forget it. That is my plea. If it's flooded, forget it. We've already seen a loss of life there and we don't want to see more. So that is my appeal to follow the instructions of the authorities there in Queensland. And we're thinking of you and watching that situation very closely and we will be there the moment the Queensland Government seeks our support.
Koch: Prime Minister, we know you've got to to dash. Thanks for joining us.
Prime Minister: Thank you very much, David.
Interview with Karl Stefanovic, Today Show
24 February 2022
Karl Stefanovic: PM, good morning to you. He might be a thug and a bully, but who exactly is going to stand up and bully him back?
Prime Minister: Well, from Australia's point of view, we'll stand with the United States, the United Kingdom and many other countries in doing what we can do, which is to ensure those who profit from this regime, those who support this sort of aggressive, violent, threatening behaviour, that we'll take direct sanctions on them. In a few moments, I'll be meeting with the Governor-General to ensure we get regulations enacted that gives us that authority to go and target those individuals. And so together with the United States and the UK, our AUKUS partners, we are taking the actions that we can take. And it's important that that is done, that there are consequences for this threatening and bullying and aggressive behaviour.
Stefanovic: Let's be brutally honest, though. I mean, Europe has hit Russia with the equivalent of a wet lettuce leaf, and the US under Joe Biden has completely lost its swagger.
Prime Minister: Well, look, I'm not going to lecture Europe, they're the ones that are closest to this, I mean, any more than I'd welcome Europe's lecturing Australia about what are in our strategic security interests in this part of the world and the decisions that we make about our security interests. But I mean, they're the ones whose own people, if they were to have troops deployed in Ukraine, that would have been their people, their soldiers. And, you know, they're obviously decisions that they have to take about what's in their best interests. And the United States is a NATO partner joined in that. But from our point of view, we have to send a very clear message that people who treat international borders and international law like this need to be singled out, isolated and called out. And that's what I've been seeking to do. It's not enough just to say, well, we'd like them to step back and we'd like them to not pursue this. We have to denounce specifically that they have no just cause here, Russia. There's no provocation from Ukraine. There's no legitimate interest that Russia is pursuing here. This is straight out threatening of violence to get what they want.
Stefanovic: He doesn't care...
Prime Minister: And whether that's there or anywhere else, that's not something Australia or our allies and partners will put up with.
Stefanovic: PM, he honestly, and you know, honestly, Vladimir Putin does not care. He will not stop in the face of sanctions. He spotted a weakness and he's driving his military trucks through it. That's what bullies do.
Prime Minister: Well, that is what bullies do. And this has obviously been premeditated and they've been building to this for some time. But again, that's why it's important for the entire international community to be at one, regardless of whether they’re liberal democracies or other regimes. It's not enough to just say, oh, they should sit down and talk. Any suggestion that Russia has some legitimate claim here or some legitimate interest has to be denounced by all the members of the Security Council in the United Nations, all of them. And anyone who's giving Russia aid and support and some cover on this, that's just not okay. That's not a country that's seeking to play a positive role in global politics.
Stefanovic: I'll get back to that in a second, but you're 100 per cent right. You've been around the block a few times on this. Look, no one is actually, and you're right to mention the EU, the UN and the United States, but no one is standing shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainians. No one's sitting on the front line with weapons at the ready. Everyone's too scared.
Prime Minister: Well, look, I don't know if I'll sort of draw an analysis on that other than to say this. I spoke to Ukraine's Prime Minister last night. He was extraordinarily grateful for the position that Australia has taken and reached out to say thank you. He was very appreciative of the work that we're doing to support the Ukrainian community here in Australia. And just to remind everyone, if you're in Australia, a Ukrainian citizen and your visa runs out by the 30th of June, we will extend it by a further six months. We've taken all the visa applications of Ukrainian citizens and put them at the top of the pile, and I've asked for them to be resolved as quickly as possible so that those Ukrainian citizens might come to Australia. So we're working to deal with many of the humanitarian issues that may evolve from this, and we're working with Poland and other countries who will end up probably taking large numbers of displaced persons. We've dealt with this before with Kosovars, who had some temporary safe haven in Australia. So we're working on all those issues. So we're focussing on the things, Karl, that we can focus on, but also taking a very strong stand to send a message to any bully, any thug, anywhere that you can't use threats of violence to coerce other countries into bending to your will.
Stefanovic: He's just not going to listen to that, though. He's going to run his own race.
Prime Minister: Well, I agree with that, Karl. But that doesn't mean you don't do it. I mean, it's very important that, I suspect when he takes that action, I'd like to say if, but when he takes that action, there must be these follow on consequences. And particularly for those who are directly involved with this regime. And that's what's different now. The Autonomous Sanctions Bill that our government put in place now enables us not to target a country, but individuals. And we are swapping notes with the Americans and the British to make sure we're targeting the people who should be held to account most and freezing their assets and stopping them from moving their money around. They shouldn't be allowed to go and shop at Harrods or come down here to Australia or go and have a holiday up in North Queensland, do that sort of thing. We are shutting them out. And if the rest of the world does that, then there are genuine consequences for bullies.
Stefanovic: The issue is, for the UK and I suspect here as well, that we don't mind the colour of their money. That's been going on for decades in the UK alone. Let's talk about cyber attacks and protections from Russia. You've said all along that we're ready for it, that we've spent enough money on it. But are we still exposed?
Prime Minister: Well cyber attacks are a real threat and they're a present threat. And that is the most likely response from Russia in terms of what we've done. That's why already, for some time now, we've been working privately with many of our big companies, looking at our critical infrastructure to ensure that we can have them as best stepped up in their defences as you can. But in addition to that, now, we're making those warnings very public. And so I'd be encouraging people go to the ASD website and making sure that everything from the smallest business to the largest business, you're doing a good check on your cyber security. Because it's not just what they would seek possibly to do directly, but it's what can be collateral cyber impacts here in Australia from other computer viruses and other things that can be released that just take on a course of their own.
Stefanovic: You've said this morning that you'll be cracking down on individuals who support or don't take action against Russia. China has refused to sanction Russia. What action will we be taking on China this morning in terms of sanctions?
Prime Minister: Oh, there's no actions in relation to China. I mean, what we're talking about is those in Russia, those who are part of that regime, those who support that and benefit from that regime in Russia. That's what the law enables us to do.
Stefanovic: Isn't not taking any action in terms of deploring Russian behaviour or activity, by China not doing anything isn't that an act of will?
Prime Minister: Well, what I've been seeking to do and I've encouraged others who share my view to articulate it, and that is it's very important for China, and they have moved since I started making these comments, I'm not claiming credit for that, I'm just pleased that they at least have gone further than they had originally done in starting to say, well, no, Russia needs to step back. But what would have to go further, there can be no suggestion that Russia has some legitimate claim here or that both sides have issues and they have to work them out. No. This is unprovoked, unwarranted and as a result, there is no course that Russia could follow other than just to step back. Now, I think the likelihood of that occurring is very, very small. But China as well as all other large countries, all of those on the Security Council and more broadly, I think should be echoing what I've been saying for some time now. They should fully denounce it.
Stefanovic: If you're sitting in Taiwan, you're sitting very nervously this morning, right?
Prime Minister: Well, look, I'd caution about drawing too many strong parallels between those situations. They are quite different. But the point I would make is that countries that seek to bully and threaten, and those who don't call out countries that bully and threaten, that is concerning. And silence on those issues is very concerning in our part of the world, not just for Australia, but all countries in our region want to know that those who are a lot bigger than us are going to act in a responsible way and denounce bullying and intimidation.
Stefanovic: Let's see if they do that. PM, good to talk to you.
Prime Minister: True, fair point. Thanks, Karl.
Statement on Russia's invasion of Ukraine
24 February 2022
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Australia joins our partners in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
There is no justification for this aggression, whose cost will be borne by innocent Ukrainians.
Vladimir Putin has fabricated a feeble pretext on which to invade. Russia’s disinformation and propaganda has convinced no one.
We call on Russia to cease its illegal and unprovoked actions, and to stop violating Ukraine’s independence. Russia must reverse its breach of international law and of the UN Charter, and withdraw its military from Ukraine.
We reiterate our staunch support for Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity – the bedrock principles of a rules-based world order.
Russia’s actions are of deep concern to Australians – especially those who have family and loved ones there.
Australia will continue playing our part to ensure Russia pays the high price this invasion warrants.
We will place financial sanctions on an additional 25 persons and four entities who have been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression.
We will put restrictions on Australians investing in a further four financial institutions.
We will be working with like-minded countries on further consequences for Russia.
The Australian Government will continue working with our partners to keep Australians safe and defend our values and principles.