Q&A, AFR Business Summit

8 March 2022

Phil Coorey, Political Editor, AFR: Prime Minister, just, I feel like these are bookends here. A couple of years ago we were at this speech and you were essentially talking about having to throw your conservative economic philosophy out the window to manage with COVID. And now today you're talking about it's now time to return to a normalisation of the Budget and budget settings. And you were quite emphatic about the Build Back Better, which others have called The Great Reset. But having said that, can we seriously go back to everything as it was? And I was interested, you know, in what you're talking about supply chains and taking a greater role in ensuring the supply of critical goods. Andrew Liveris at the start of this crisis a couple of years ago, told the AFR that we, Australia, we drunk the free trade juice and decided that offshoring was the way to go. He said that era is now gone. Do we have to be a little bit more circumspect about our total embrace of, you know, the free market internationally? And do we have to be prepared perhaps to pay a bit more for some products in return for knowing they’re there when we need them? 

Prime Minister: Well, Phil, I think there is a recalibration that’s occurring and that's that’s sensible. Frankly the whole nature of conservatism is that, you know, you learn from the things that occur and you, and you make the transitions that are necessary. But the principles that underpin how you manage a Budget, how you grow our economy, I think remain. And those principles are that you need to be obviously mindful of the impact on your Budget of long-term impacts on structural spending. You need to exercise that fiscal responsibility, and where we have had to lean forward in an unprecedented way in recent years that was necessary. The alternative was to allow our economy to completely collapse and decay and not be able to respond on the other side.

And I think one of the key reasons we were able to retain our AAA credit rating, despite the incredible level of spending that had to be undertaken to pull the economy through, is that the ratings agencies could see that these were sensible investments - that they were time-limited investments, they were based on clear principles. Principles that I articulated in this very forum two years ago, and they could see the plan - they could see the plan to get in and they could see the plan to get out. And that's what we've done.

And then every step along the way, I must say, that every time, you know, it's one thing to say you will commit to this level of spending, which we did. That’s actually the easy part. The hard part is actually turning that off. And every time we wanted to turn it off, of course, the Labor Party and the Greens would say, oh no, you can't do that. And we know that they would have spent an extra $80 billion more than the Government would of in not being, having the discipline to turn things off when they needed to be turned off. But we stuck to our course. And I think that's been an important reason why we've been able to maintain the credibility of our fiscal responsibilities, which has been recognised, I think, in maintaining the ratings that we have.

But you're right to say, well, now we need to look at a world that is very different, and we need to look at a world where, you know, as I said, the economy is [inaudible] from global security. And we need to understand that supply chains are as much about trust as they are about efficiency. And this is a point Narendra Modi makes constantly and I often refer to it. And that's why the Quad, I think, has become a very important engine for understanding these critical supply chain issues. It doesn't mean we need to make everything in Australia. I’ve set out in our Modern Manufacturing Strategy - that Andrew had a very, Andrew Liveris had a very keen hand in - that there are some areas where we really need to lean into to achieve scale, and the Modern Manufacturing Strategy is about that. It's about ensuring that in some areas we can really get to scale and that can provide a real income generating opportunity for our country, and support the broader architecture of our economy. But there are other areas where we need to be having supply chains with trusted partners, and we need to build up the strength and durability of those links with those countries.

So I would say it is a more targeted form when it comes to open markets and and trade. I mean, we still have more than 75 per cent of our our trade covered by export agreements. And that's a good thing. And we're deep in discussions with the Indian Government right now about those, and that's all positive and that's all good. But like any business will manage its risk and diversify, Australia needs to be equally careful about that, both in how we manage our supply chains.

And when it comes to the Budget, you know, you've got to get it back to more normal settings. That doesn't mean you need to go through periods of massive cuts and things of that nature. That's not, that's not on our agenda. And that's just not the plan. This is done in a managed transition, in the same way we got the Budget back to balance, which took us, you know, six years to do that. We did that by growing the economy, reducing the rate of growth in expenditure down to less than two per cent over the forwards, which was the lowest level that we've seen expenditure growth at in this country fiscally in 50 years. And then, of course, it had to be increased because of the pandemic.

So, you know, you normalise this over time. You don't do it in one foul swoop. You don't need to go down that austerity path that others sometimes talk about. That is not our Government's fiscal plan. We do not think that would be the best way to manage the Budget. We still have very strong priorities in areas like aged care, mental health and, of course, supporting the National Disability Insurance Scheme. But you can't do that without a strong economy. That's what pays for it.

Phil Coorey, Political Editor, AFR: Ok, PM. On the other element of your speech. You’re keen for a business-led recovery, which gets us back to the pre-pandemic economic settings. There's no shortage of recruits in this room, I would suspect, who are willing. And I point out the BCA’s pre-Budget submission had a few ideas. One of your, one of the criticisms of the Government has been a lack of reform, and I understand you, obviously you've been busy with, you know, managing the pandemic and stuff. But if you do win the election, do you, do you have any aims, do you have any aims or goals to sort of undertake any form of reform, be it tax, or to at least have a look at it through a review? You know, other than just managing the economy, will there be scope beyond the pandemic for a reform agenda from your Government? 

Prime Minister: Well, Phil, I don't accept the premise of the question, and I never have. I know there are some who attend the Summit and may even sponsor it who think that economic reform in this country is about putting up the GST and putting up and putting on a carbon tax. Let me be very clear again - I have no interest in putting up the GST or putting on a carbon tax. I don't think that's certainty. I just think it's higher taxes. We've cut taxes. Small business taxes are at 25 per cent. We are abolishing, and have legislated to do so, an entire tier of the personal income tax system. Ninety-four per cent of Australians will pay no more in their marginal rate of tax than 30 cents in the dollar. That hasn't happened in generations, in generations.

The reforms, in particular, that we put in place to spur us through the pandemic on the instant asset write-off, which has been a policy of this Government for many years, and we've supercharged it during the course of the pandemic to bring in investment. And one of the most exciting things I've seen through the pandemic is I’ve walked into businesses and the first thing they want to show me after the apprentices they’ve kept on is the the new kit that they've been able to install in their manufacturing plants because of the instant asset write-off. I mean, look what Visy’s doing out there in Western Sydney, their recycling plants.

I mean, we have been on the tools when it comes to reducing taxes in this country for many, many years, and our reforms are in place. And so not only on that front, but whether it's been the lower tax agenda, the regulatory reform agenda. I've set out the five points. I mean, the investment in infrastructure. I mean, we are building, we are more than almost, more than a quarter of the way through building the Western Sydney Airport. I mean, people talked about that for, since the 60s. Our Government’s actually doing it. I mean, you go out there, it's, I encourage you to go out to the viewing platform. What is happening with the building of Western Sydney Airport is transformational. Now, plenty of others talked about it. I mean, my, the Leader of the Opposition actually went into Parliament on the basis of building it. But was Infrastructure Minister for six years and didn't lay a brick on it. We are actually doing it. And so on infrastructure, on skills - we have the highest level of skills trade training in the country in economic recorded history. Our work on net zero by 2050, with the $20 billion of support to go into the plan to actually achieve that, and transform our energy economy over that generation and make sure Australia is, continues to be an energy powerhouse exporter into the region for decades and generations to come. The data and digital economy reforms, which I went into some considerable detail at the Forum last year. I mean, that is transforming our economy and will put us in that top 10, and we're well on the way to do that. And we've just spent quite a bit of time talking about how we're completely turned on its head how we support manufacturing in this country. Now that might not be increasing the GST or putting on a carbon tax, but I can tell you, for this economy, for the threats faced, for the threats that we face, and the merger between economic security policy and national security policy, that's the reform agenda for this generation. We don't need to get all retro.

Phil Coorey, Political Editor, AFR: Given we’re squeezed for time PM, but I do need to ask you this. I’d just like your thoughts, and again, it's of interest to people in the room, on immigration. We had a cap of overseas, of 160,000 net overseas migration I think went negative during the pandemic. Some people in this room are calling for a catch up. And then to settle to a, to a level higher than the 160. What are your thoughts on that? Do we need to play catch up on immigration, or do we just let it restore, or do we need a higher cap? And what are the political considerations you take into account when you, when you're asked these sorts of questions? 

Prime Minister: Well, I think there’s some practical considerations first, Phil. And as a former Immigration Minister, I know this area very well. You just don’t turn the tap on and all of a sudden, 160,000 people turn up next week. This takes time. It will take time, just like it will in the tourism market, just like it will in the student market for these in-flows of people to build up again. And that will take some time. So I don't see us threatening the caps that have been in place, certainly not in the year that comes, and we'll monitor that very closely. 

I mean, take the international travel industry, for example. I mean, the travel industry has been decimated over the last two years. And while those who are free, independent travellers, you know, just book online and do all that, and that's a much bigger part of the travel market than it used to be, there is still a huge part, I mean, with the cruise industry, the organised tours, all of this - all goes through quite organised travel industry machines, and they have been completely decimated. And so we will see this come back over time, but I don't think we should think it's going to be immediate. And the same is true in building up those channels of people coming as migrants to Australia. Now, we want to encourage that and we want to support that, and we believe that is essential for Australia's economic recovery. But I think the more pressing need is actually just getting those wheels turning again and getting people coming again. And I think once that is fully operational and we can see that working, then the issues that you’re raising will come into focus. But right now, they're not presenting any impediment. 

Phil Coorey, Political Editor, AFR: Ok, Prime Minister. We’re out of time. So thank you very much for your speech and good luck on getting out of the, getting out of Kirribilli and back into the world. Thanks.

Prime Minister: Thanks Phil. Good to talk to you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43842

Australia to build additional submarine base

7 March 2022

Prime Minister, Minister for Defence

A new submarine base will be built on the east coast of Australia to support the nation’s new nuclear-powered submarines, providing deployment opportunities in both the Indian and Pacific oceans. 

The new Future Navy Base will add capacity and capability to Fleet Base West in Western Australia, home of the Navy’s Collins-class submarines, which will also receive significant funding to support Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines and enable regular visits from the United States and United Kingdom’s nuclear-powered submarines.

The Department of Defence estimates that more than $10 billion will be needed for facility and infrastructure requirements to transition from Collins to the future nuclear-powered submarines, including the new east coast submarine base.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision to establish an east coast submarine base has been underway for many years and would enhance Australia’s strategic deterrent capability in the Pacific Ocean.

“Australia faces a difficult and dangerous security environment and we must continue to invest in growing the capability of our ADF to ensure we keep Australians safe,” the Prime Minister said.

“Under our AUKUS partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom we will have access to the best technology in the world to support our efforts to deter threats against our national interest in the Indo-Pacific.

“This new 20-year investment is vital for our strategic capabilities, but it will also provide long-term economic opportunities at both our submarine bases on the east coast and on the west coast.

“Our investments will also flow into our operations in Western Australia, with significant funding flowing to upgrade facilities there for our future submarines and to support our allies in the United States and United Kingdom.

“Fleet Base West will remain home to our current and future submarines, given its strategic importance on the Indian Ocean.”

Following significant work by the Department of Defence, which reviewed 19 potential sites, three preferred locations on the east coast have been identified, being Brisbane, Newcastle, and Port Kembla.

The locations were selected on submarine basing criteria, which included access to exercise operating areas, proximity to industrial infrastructure, and significant population centres to support personnel and recruitment. 

Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said the Australian Defence Force had not constructed a major new base since Robertson Barracks in the 1990s, and an extensive process would now begin.

“We took the important decision in 2021 to pursue nuclear-powered submarines with the support of our American and British partners, in response to the changing strategic environment,” Minister Dutton said.

“Nuclear-powered submarines have superior characteristics of stealth, speed, manoeuvrability, survivability and endurance when compared to conventional submarines. 

“With the ability to operate from both coasts, this will make our nuclear-powered submarines more responsive and resilient to meet the strategic environment.

“Today’s announcement will ensure Australia has the infrastructure and facilities ready to support those submarines when they enter service.

“A new Navy base on the east coast will also have significant advantages for training, personnel and for Australia’s defence industry.”

Navy’s current fleet of Collins-class submarines and other maritime capabilities will be able to be operated out of the new east coast base, which will provide critical support to the ADF’s undersea capability.

Defence will engage with state and local governments to determine the optimal site, which will be informed by the ongoing work of the Nuclear Powered Submarine Taskforce. This initial work is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43840

Q&A, Lowy Institute

7 March 2022

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: Let me start with Ukraine. I'm sure Mr Putin thought that this war would strengthen his position at home. But instead, as you said, Russia has been subjected to unprecedented sanctions - the freezing of its currency reserves, the devaluation of the ruble. We've seen protests in Moscow along with security crackdowns. In light of all this, do you think a regime change is more likely in Kyiv or in Moscow?

Prime Minister: Well, I  probably wouldn't speculate on either of those, at this point. But what I would say is this, there is no doubt that Mr Putin is not getting what he was seeking, and each and every day the resistance by Ukraine, I think, has been extraordinary, and the cost is piling up day on day on day. I think he's overestimated the capacity of how he might be able to prosecute this illegal war and the sheer callous disregard, not only for innocent civilians in Ukraine, but frankly, for the way that he has just sent young conscripts into the flames. I don't see how that would be resonating well back in Russia. There is a clear, I think, gap emerging between his ambition and what would be the reasonable nationalistic sentiment of Russians more broadly. And I really do applaud those in Russia who have been standing up. I applaud those Australians of Russian descent here who have been standing with with their Ukrainian fellow Australians. That, I think, is one of the, one of the most positive messages that can be sent out of a multicultural country like Australia. So I don't think it's playing out for Mr Putin as he thought. And it's certainly playing out far better than anyone would have anticipated for President Zelenskyy. And he has showed a forthrightness and a determination which has been inspiring, and that's why we lit up the Opera House. I mean, that's why so many countries have done similar things. Yes, we have to continue to encourage them to go forward with their efforts and continue to provide them with everything we can to support them. 

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: You mentioned that you had a call with President Zelenskyy at the weekend. Tell me, tell us a bit about his demeanour on that call and talk a bit more about your impressions of his leadership in the last couple of weeks. 

Prime Minister: Well, he's very focused. He's very determined. He has a clear plan. It obviously depends heavily on continuing to rally international support, both in a practical way when it comes to lethal defence support, as well as maintaining the pressure. And I think all Western countries, all those participating in these sanctions, need to hold fast and endure over the long-term. You know, some break in the, in the fighting that may occur should not enable the pressure or the vice to be, to be eased when it comes to Russia. And that's what they need. They need that continued international momentum. I talked about Russia having to pay an economic price, but they have to also pay a reputational price for this, a diplomatic price for this, and they are indeed paying that price. So he is just very focused on that element of his plan. He's very appreciative of the support, particularly from Australia, a long way away from Ukraine. I think when he first heard of our support, this was over over a week ago, we've been trying to get in touch with each other. But when he, I get a message saying, can't do the call tonight because we're I, you can fill in the rest of what he was up to. Probably the most reasonable excuse I've heard for not being able to complete a call on a particular night, and we’ve given him full support. But I'm pleased we could speak on Saturday night and I could just encourage him in what he's doing, and he needs that encouragement. We obviously talked about things like the no-fly zone and things of that nature, and additional support, air support. These are complex issues. I sense that he understands that, and he understands the delicate balance that has to be maintained by those who are supporting him. But, equally, the resistance and the fight in President Zelenskyy is something to behold.

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: PM, you said Ukraine has been a major wake up call, and I would say that the West has woken up. How confident are you that we’ll remain awake and that this solidarity will continue? 

Prime Minister: Well, I’m maybe not as confident as you, Michael, about how big the wake up is. I certainly hope that's true. And that's why I made the remarks about, this was not the product of President Putin seeking leverage to try and gain some marginal advantage in some negotiations and the usual European dance of diplomacy that goes around here. That’s not what this was. He planned this a long time ago, and he was absolutely determined to follow it through, and he went and told China he was going to do it, by the reports that we see, very clearly. And this is quite chilling. And so now we hear the theory’s, oh, it's just he’s all gone mad. No, he hasn’t. He's an autocrat and he's following through on his plans. And for all of us in the West and more broadly, I think we need to understand that autocrats don't play by the same rules as the rest of us. Their mindset is very different. And I found it quite chilling when I spoke to other leaders about conversations that they've had with President Putin about these issues, and they're subjected to a rather lengthy lecture on on nationalistic aspirations of Russia and what is rightly theirs. That has a chilling reverberation with similar lectures that I have been on the receiving end of about situations in the Indo-Pacific and what people claim to be theirs. So I think we have to be eternally vigilant on this, and this is very important for Australia. You know, we can't step back from this. I know it comes at a cost. I know it means that we have been targeted. But we must look clear eyed about the threats in our own region and what's occurring in Europe. And it was a very good discussion at the Quad the other night. Of course, all Quad members are concerned about what's happening in Europe. But the Quad wasn't set up to focus on Europe. The Quad was set up to focus on strategic issues, on humanitarian issues, economic development issues in the Indo-Pacific. And so President Biden and Narendra, Prime Minister Modi, and Prime Minister Kishida and I had a very lengthy conversation about why it's so important that a price is paid for this aggression. And that we understand fully the nature of the work and planning and determination of autocrats. 

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: Alright, let me go to Russia and China. Today you referred to an arc of autocracy, which I presume includes both Beijing and Moscow. Yesterday, the Defence Minister Peter Dutton called this relationship an unholy alliance. Tell us a bit about this relationship. How tight is the relationship? Could the invasion of Ukraine create a problem for the relationship? What can countries such as Australia do to weaken that relationship? 

Prime Minister: Well, I think the second last point you've made about the events - I assume what you’re saying about the events in the Ukraine and what that means for that relationship - I I would describe it more of an instinctive relationship, an opportunistic relationship, rather than a strategic one. China and Russia have got a fairly interesting history in terms of their engagement. I don’t think anything’s changed about that. But there does seem to be some alignment in the sort of world order that they would prefer, to the one that has been in place since the end of the Second World War. And we've seen that play out over a long time. So there has been a convenient fellow travelling, I think, and that's how I would describe it. I wouldn't for a moment seek to draw any parallels between the situation in the Taiwan Strait and Ukraine. I think these situations are entirely different, and the responses that would be expected in in the Taiwan Strait would be completely different to what has occurred in Ukraine. So I wouldn't want to alert or concern Australians simply because of what's occurring in the Ukraine then then a will, b will follow a, on on these things. I don't believe that. I think those circumstances and that situation is as it was before - tense, deserving of concern and attention, but not necessarily at all impacted by the events in Ukraine. What can Australia do? Keep calling this out. While most of the world was focused on what the actions of Russia was, I was quite adamant in speaking up on the fact was I was listening for the voice of the Chinese Government when it came to condemning the actions of Russia. And there was a chilling silence. And when I learned the other day that they were easing wheat trade restrictions for Russia, and throwing Russia an economic lifeline while the rest of the world was seeking to impose a heavy price, this, for me, just jars completely with what the broader international interest is here. Now, China has long claimed to a role as a, as one of the major powers in the world, and to be a contributor to global peace and stability. This is why I reinforce this point - that no country will have a bigger impact on concluding this terrible war in Ukraine than China. But so long as they have a bet each way on this, then I fear the bloodshed will continue. 

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: PM, let me ask you about institutions. You said today in your remarks, the well-motivated, altruistic ambitions of our international institutions has opened the door to this threat. And it reminded me of your 2019 Lowy lecture or, as it became known, the negative globalism speech, in which you voiced concerns about international institutions becoming overly powerful and demanding conformity. But let me ask you, wouldn't you say that international institutions have been very useful in the past two weeks? For example, hasn't the European Union stepped up? Ukraine has applied to join the UN, the EU, I should say. The UN and other institutions have condemned Mr Putin's aggression. Don't we want to see international institutions behaving just like this in relation to threats from countries like Russia and China?

Prime Minister: Of course, and I would call that positive globalism. I mean, my remarks several years ago, was it, was simply to draw attention to what I think are the less helpful elements of how international institutions operate. We are a great supporter of international institutions. And what I also said in that speech, as you may recall, is we then set out and have had some success. Think, of course, to the elevation, the election of Mathias Cormann, the Secretary-General of the OECD. We set out on a very clear path of seeking to have greater influence in these institutions to ensure they were focused on what we believe were the most pressing issues. And we have been working hand in glove with many other like-minded countries to ensure that international institutions are not being hollowed out and hollowed out in plain sight by some who would seek to take them in different directions. So we've worked on many candidacies of many countries to support them in a lot of these institutions, to ensure that they focus on a positive agenda. The point I was also making today, though, Michael, was that it is, it is right and good - so it's not so much a criticism as an observation - it is right and good that we would want international institutions to work with member states to try and deal with the big economic and environmental challenges that we face. This is a good thing. But by the very open nature of that process, we have become exposed to interference, to subversion, to a range of other things which can take that agenda off track. And, you know, there are a lot of concessions that have been given, whether it's been in trade or so many other things. In our own democracies, I mean, we are open democracies that are open to foreign investment and all of these things. This is a good thing. But at the same time, it comes with a double-edge risk, double-edged sword risk, of a vulnerability, and that has been taken advantage of. And I think that is clear. So what has been our response domestically? Foreign interference legislation, a raft of other measures, which have sought to improve the resilience of liberal democracies to these sorts of threats. And I think international institutions need to be just as wary of of these things, just as countries like Australia have. And Australia has led the way in this area. I mean, when I tabled those 14 points at the G7+, they were surprising. They were surprising to many around that table. And it's important that we continue to do that, because I said, if it's not us, then who is it? 

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: Let me come to AUKUS and Australian defence capabilities. How does the invasion of Ukraine affect the argument for nuclear-propelled submarines for Australia?

Prime Minister: Well, I don't think it changes it at all. I mean, it was already compelling and overwhelming. So I think, yeah, sure, I think it highlights the the work of autocracies, as I've outlined, and I think it highlights the the higher threat environment in which we need to operate and why we need greater capabilities. But I think all of those points were the driving forces of AUKUS before these events took place, and it continues to carry it. 

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: Yesterday, the Defence Minister Peter Dutton said that the discussions with the Americans and the Brits since the AUKUS announcement had been incredibly productive and the Government would make an announcement in the next couple of months about which boat we're going with and what we can do in the interim. Let me put a question to you from Ben Packham at The Australian. Will this announcement be made before the election? And if it is, will there be consultation with Labor, given the long timeframe of the program? 

Prime Minister: No, we don't anticipate that that decision will be made before the election. We don't, and and no one should expect it to. It won't be done in that timeframe. And as Ben rightly points out, that would involve a whole another process, particularly during a caretaker period leading up to the election. But I can confirm what Peter has said, that we have made a lot of progress. I mean, we haven't let the grass grow under our feet. Admiral Mead’s has been out here most recently. He’s been down in South Australia. We've been, there's been an enormous amount of work that has been going on in that 18-month process that we set out. But the 18-month process isn't just about deciding the technology option and the boat option we go forward with. It's, you've got to make that decision, and then there's a whole series of things that have to take place after that. But I stress this, as the Minister for Defence did - this is a trilateral partnership. This is not a procurement contest. This is a partnership where the decisions are being made together, which separates it from any other procurement arrangement that the Government has been involved with. The United States has proprietorship over the technology, not just over any technology that we would seek to use, but also over the UK use of such technology. So that is the nature of this partnership, and the partners are working incredibly well together. The speed at which what was effectively the treaty level arrangements that needed to be put in place and the how that was able to be secured was very encouraging. And when I was in the United States last year and we took the effort, as we should have, to go up onto the Hill and be briefing every Committee we could, the bipartisan leadership of both the House, there was massive support throughout the US system in the Executive and the Legislature and, of course, within the defence institutions themselves. Same is true in the UK. 

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: PM, I have a question from Andrew Kaldor, and Andrew asks as follows - the invasion of Ukraine has triggered a massive wave of people fleeing to Australia, fleeing to safety, I should say. Will Australia increase its quota of refugees to allow a larger number of these desperate people to resettle here? 

Prime Minister: Well, just like with Afghanistan, if we need to, we will. And, as I said, the first thing we did is we immediately put to the top of the pile all Ukrainian visa applications. Now, at that time, there was, this was two weeks ago, there was about 430 outstanding. They were quickly resolved, and over that two-week period we’ve now processed and granted some 1,700 visas already. Now they’re 1,700 visas in the normal migration program. And this is, I think, one of the points of difference with a Ukrainian migration. And that is, we are more likely to see them use many more points of our migration program - the family program, the skilled program, the student program, and so on. And there'll be a mixture of both temporary and permanent visas, because particularly in my discussion with the Polish Prime Minister the other night and other members of the European Union, their expectation is that one and a half people, million people have left Ukraine. But the overwhelming almost entirety of those will want to return to Ukraine if they can. And so that's why I I highlighted the potential role of an arrangement like the Kosovars arrangement, which was highly successful. We provided a temporary safe haven, and they were then able to return to their homeland, which is what they wanted to do. Now I expect we’ll see the same thing here with Ukraine. But, you know, we are preparing those options, but we are also not stepping back on on the commitments to our Afghan humanitarian program, which continues [inaudible].

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: PM just finally, PM just for the final question, let me go back to where we started with Ukraine. How do you think this dreadful event will end, and how confident are you that at the end of it, Ukraine will be sovereign, independent and whole?

Prime Minister: Well I’m not confident of that outcome at this point. But nor can Mr Putin be confident of the outcome he thought would come so easily. And I think this is a very important point. I think there has been an overestimation of Russia's capability. And that has been made more broadly. And I think that has been made in Russia. And I think that forces a recalibration of what some people think they can do. It might look all good on paper, it might look like what can be achieved from what the Generals and others tell you, but few strategies survive contact with the enemy, as our Defence Force Generals will tell you. And I think that has been lived out in a, in a very candid way in Ukraine. And what we will certainly see in Ukraine is a prolonged resurgence. I think what we'll see is a resistance in the Ukraine, which will only grow over time. I think any gains that will, that are potentially made will be very hard to hold. And this all goes to our view about what our response should be. And that is impose the heaviest possible price for as long as possible to deter any other autocrat from thinking they can go down a similar path, and it can be done easily or quickly.

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: Well, that's all we have time for this afternoon. Prime Minister, thank you again for joining us today. We know you have many commitments. These are very important issues and we're grateful to hear your thoughts on them. 

Prime Minister: Well, thank you, Michael, for the opportunity again, and thank everybody for their patience. There was a lot to get through today and I appreciate your attention. 

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director, Lowy Institute: Thanks again.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43839

Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB

7 March 2022

BEN FORDHAM: PM, good morning to you. 

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Ben.

FORDHAM: It's 2022. We're not a Third World country. How do we still have entire communities cut off and stranded?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, Ben, these are terrible, terrible floods, as you've said. These are floods that we have not seen in living memory in anyone's lifetime, and even before that. And so I can understand the great frustration you're seeing expressed. At the same time, there is an enormous effort that is being put in to get to everywhere that people can get to - the SES, I know the Premier has spoken about that, the tasking of the Defence Forces. You know, there's 2,000, not just there in the Northern Rivers, but also responding to flood crisis in south east Queensland and what we've seen here closer in here to Sydney.

But the real focus of the effort is up there in and around Lismore, which has had an experience that no one there has ever even heard of before in old stories, let alone in their own lived experience. But the rescues continue, the food drops continue, the road clearing continues. All of these, I mean, over the next 24 hours, further work in Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah, Crabbes Creek, Ocean Shores, Wardell, Kyogle, Nimbin, Bonalbo. I mean, there's a lot of places they're getting to in the next 24 hours and have already been in those places, particularly over the last 24 hours. There's food drops and helicopter assistance going into Evans Head over the next 24 hours. That should be happening very, very soon. So there's an enormous effort that's going in, Ben. The task is almost unimaginable for a flood we've ever seen in that part of Australia.

FORDHAM: I'm just going to keep repeating what's happening on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as we talk to the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, because I'm now seeing images coming in - this awful crash in the middle of the Harbour Bridge and this car is still on fire at the moment. Emergency services are doing their best to help people, but please stay right away from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and we will get some more details from emergency services as they come through.

And while that emergency is unfolding, PM, we're still dealing with the emergency in the north with the floods.

PRIME MINISTER: Correct.

FORDHAM: Can you just confirm for me because Bridget McKenzie, the Emergency Services Minister, said there are 5,000 army personnel on standby. I'm told only 455 are on the ground in northern New South Wales. So where are the rest?

PRIME MINISTER: Ah well no, the figures are higher than that, Ben. In terms of those on the ground, they increase every day. There are 2,000 that have been on standby, on the ground, both there and in south east Queensland.

FORDHAM: But when we say on standby, are they, are they actively working to help people at the moment, because I'm told ...

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, they're available for tasking. What we've done with these floods has been different to previous occasions. What we've done is we've put Brigadier Galloway is a head of the task group that is deploying all ADF support in flood assistance, what's called Flood Assist. As of last Thursday, state governments were given the authority to directly task ADF units to be able to go in and providing support, and there were 2,000 who were available to be deployed. And those ADF are continuing to roll in where they've been tasked, and ...
FORDHAM: And we appreciate what they're doing. But the concern, and I'm just relaying to you what I'm hearing from locals, because I've spent all weekend talking to them and they say, it's great to have them on standby, but we need more boots on the ground. Can I just read a few comments to you, because I've agreed to do this from people in the north. Jackie in Mullumbimby says, there are elderly, pregnant mothers and tiny babies stranded. People are lost and missing. Cars destroyed by floods are leaking fuel all over the streets. Lily says, my son and I were choppered out after living on top of a local pub for days. I lost my breast milk supply from the dehydration. We didn't have enough water to make formula. Jed, who's part of the Mud Army up north in New South Wales, says the Government was too slow to act. The clean-up and recovery has been organised and coordinated by untrained civilians. It's filthy work. There's dirty water and sewage everywhere.

I appreciate that these responsibilities are shared between the Commonwealth and the state and also local government. But I'll tell you what, PM, they're still crying out for help.

PRIME MINISTER: I know, Ben, and that's why the effort continues. I mean, specifically, food drops were were done in Mullumbimby by the ADF within the past 24 hours, as they were in many other of those centres. There are difficulties getting into a lot of these places currently. I mean, the ADF just can't miracly get through things that you can't get through to get to a particular location. That's why they're using the helicopters and other supports. That's why they're doing road clearing. I mean, we are in the worst of this disaster up around Lismore at present, the worst of it. And that means there's always difficulties, whether you're a fully advanced developed economy or not. The horror of what this flood has delivered upon those Northern Rivers community is without precedent. And so we're going to just keep working as quickly as we can with the state governments and local governments to be able to get in there and provide that support. But over 100 lives were directly, have already been directly saved by the efforts of the ADF literally winching people to safety, as have the brave efforts of so many in the SES. The command centres are there in both New South Wales and in Queensland, which are being coordinated by their very experienced teams and as I said, there's 2,000 who have been there, available and and have been tasked over the last three or four days, and that number ramps up to 5,000 over the next couple of days. And so it is well beyond anyone's expectation of what that flood was going to do.

FORDHAM: PM, I was planning on talking to you about a whole range of things, but we do have a major emergency unfolding on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I'm sure you'll understand why I've got to leave it here. Thanks so much for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: Hope everything's safe there as well, Ben [inaudible].

FORDHAM: Good on you. Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43837

Interview with Chris Smith, 2GB

5 March 2022

CHRIS SMITH: Scott Morrison on the line right now. Good morning to you, PM. This is all surreal, isn't it? Two fabulous legends in just 24 hours. 

PRIME MINISTER: Oh, it's just numb, Chris, I mean, I woke up to the news this morning like other Australians, just shocked and stunned at this terrible loss of Shane Warne. And, as you say, coming on the back of Rod Marsh, who was one of my childhood cricket heroes. And we spoke about him in Western Australia yesterday on local radio there. It is just that it is just absolutely numbing. And then you just saying there is, you know, how it was announced on a plane. It's a bit like that as people looked at their phones this morning and then saw the news. I can only think of these kids and the terrible shock they must be feeling at only 52. I only saw him a few months ago at the Sydney Test and we had a good chat and he was in great form. He looked great and he was in his usual cheeky self and best, which was fun. And you know, his commentary over the summer, which was a great summer of cricket, was just outstanding. And to think we just won't be seeing him is just quite hard to get your head around and thinking of the Test players over in Pakistan at the moment. I sent a message to Pat this morning just sending my best and only sent him one the day before about Rod. And of course, they've had that terrible blast over there in Pakistan, so they're all safe. But it's a terrible time. 

SMITH: Yeah. They've got some distractions to cope with. The blast, the loss of Rod Marsh, who a lot of the players had a lot of time for and spent a lot of time with. And so the same applies to Shane Warne. So many distractions at a very difficult time for them. I don't know what he voted, but how many times and I don't know how many times you met him, but I imagine he was respectful. Excuse me, to the members of Parliament too. 

PRIME MINISTER: Oh, he was. He was. He had his cheeky side, too, but it was always respectful. That's the thing about Shane and that when he heard I was in at the Test and I heard he was there, we arranged it to catch up and he just gave me some encouragement. It was a tough time over the summer and he just encouraged me to keep going. I appreciated that very much. I'm not talking in a political context. I'm talking about a lot of things the country were dealing with with COVID and and everything, and he just encouraged me to keep pushing ahead, and that was very kind of him doing that. He also gave me some tips on my bowling action, which he's done live on Fox a little while ago, we had a bit of a joke about that and he was actually pretty kind I gotta say on that front. But there was a lot more work to be done. 

SMITH: And the great thing about Shane Warne, he developed a new crowd that followed the cricket like families and women and children came back to the cricket after fast bowling had dominated the game for so long with, you know, the West Indies, etc. But all of a sudden we were able to work out exactly what spin bowling was and could see it with the help of technology. 

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, that's true. But I mean, you hung on every ball, every ball. Anything could happen. As Mike Gatting found out back in 1993. I'll never forget seeing that ball up late that night watching and and he just had no idea what happened. And after that, I mean, he's first one in an Ashes test and you take him all the way through to his 700th wicket in 2006 on Boxing Day. Everything in between was just, you hung on everything that he was doing. But I mean, his Test record is outstanding, but he's on one day internationals. I mean, he only captained not that many, actually, but he won most of them, and he was a good tactician and great, you know, in directing the team. So he was not just a great bowler to have on your side, he was a great cricketer to have on your side, and he was so enthused about the game. I mean, that series that Fox ran, I thought, was really honest and showed how honest Shane was. He knew he wasn't perfect, but he carried, as I said in my statement today, he carried his regrets in his achievements with equal weight. You know, he wasn't full of himself in that sense. He just understood the success and failure were both imposters, as others have said. And I think that helped him sort of try and keep a good balance on it. 

SMITH: Yeah and there was nothing nasty about what happened to him off the field, like he got carried away with his own self-importance, maybe through a short period of time, which he's admitted. And yet there was nothing nasty, didn't hurt people along the way, and he was very, very hurt by the loss of his marriage as we know. 

PRIME MINISTER: Of course. He was very human. I mean Shane was very human, and he wore his humanity on his sleeve and and and I think that was what we loved about him, actually. I mean, that's he was so charismatic and you know, you'd seen with the kids and and how many how many kids have been inspired by Shane Warne? I mean, and how many are playing now, literally now inspired by Shane Warne and and will be in generations to come, and we're very careful about comparing people to Don Bradman in this country, and rightly so. But, you know, if you were going to make a comparison, that's where you'd start. I mean, he was listed by Wisden as alongside the names of Bradman, Hobbs, Sobers and Vivian Richards as the 20th century cricketers of the century. I mean, these are people who completely changed the game, and that's why I mean, we've offered as has the state government of Victoria, a state funeral for Shane and I've been in touch with Cricket Australia this morning and with Lachlan to discuss that and a few other issues, but we'll work something up together with the Victorian Government. But of course, we want to respect the wishes of the Warne family as well. 

SMITH: So it could happen maybe at the MCG?

PRIME MINISTER: I'll let those sort that sort those arrangements out. I just wanted to be clear that, you know, Shane was a national figure. Not just Victorian. And Victorians should love and celebrate him great. Of course they should. But I think we want to do that as a nation as well. And so we'd look forward to playing our role there as part of that and I have been in touch with the Premier this morning to that end, and I'm sure that will all work through very well and the nation will have the opportunity to warmly remember him.

SMITH: Our thoughts and wishes to also for those people whose houses are basically under water in so many places and we've got some ominous weather forecast for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Sydney. Maybe the worst has not passed us.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, no. And the recovery effort continues. I mean, we've already committed $1 billion in financial aid and support, and that's together with the state and territory state governments in Queensland and New South Wales (sic). Just this morning, we've just confirmed that $558.5 million will be jointly funded by ourselves and the Queensland Government, and I know you're broadcasting in the Queensland and that includes a primary producer grants of up to $75,000, $50,000 for affected small businesses and not for profit organisations. There's $20,000 for sporting and community clubs who have been hit hard, including those cricket clubs across south east Queensland. Now that is similar and there's a million dollars for each of the councils affected. We announced the same thing for New South Wales a few days earlier. I've been in pretty regular contact with Dom Perottet, who's up there in the northern rivers at the moment, and we've got 5,000 ADF pre-positioned and to be tasked by the state government agencies to recovery efforts and support. They've already been involved in any number of rescues and and moving heavy equipment and being on the ground. There's hundreds and hundreds, about 650, I think in total that have already been deployed. And I know that there are many other places like up in Evans Head and areas like that which are still waiting for that support. We're coming, we're coming. I've been speaking to the Premier about that and in the tasking of those Defence Force people who are there and ready, we've had them ready. And so we've got rid of all the barriers in between which those in the New South Wales agencies can just directly task those Defence Force assets and people and forces to go in and guide their efforts. But it will be done in a planned way, and that's what they're doing. 

SMITH: And how are you coping with COVID?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh mate, I have turned the corner. It's compared to what everyone else is going through, but it's of no consequence. It's just frustrating to be not being able to be up there. I would have liked to have been up there with the Premier and Bridget McKenzie, my Minister, who's up there as well as at the moment and to ensure things are going as they need to. And so that's really the pain. It's just the frustration that I'm here. But at another level, it enables me to deal with a lot of the things going on centrally because we've also got the very significant issues with Ukraine. And I was on a lot of calls on that over, particularly the last few nights. We had an important meeting with the President of the United States and Prime Ministers of Japan and India the other night. That was about 1 to 2:30am our time and that was very much about focusing on, well, yes, we're all doing particularly Australia, getting that both lethal and humanitarian support to Ukraine. But there are serious implications for all of this in the Indo-Pacific in our own region, and we need to send a strong message to autocrats that authoritarian regimes, that that sort of stuff is just not on and there will be heavy prices paid for that type of behaviour. 

SMITH: One final one. The fact that we know that Russian troops are using nuclear reactors to test target practise and now have commandeered them. Takes the threat to the next level, doesn't it? 

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's very distressing. I mean, we know that Putin is a thug, and this adds a whole new level of recklessness. And but I've got to say, Australia has always been of the view that this is not someone who's persuaded, even by the threats and the sanctions that we've imposed, the reason we're doing this is not because I think it's going to change Putin's mind. But the reason we're doing this is that any, any nation that violates another nation like this in such an aggressive and unprovoked way needs to pay a heavy price and they need to pay it financially. They need to pay it politically and diplomatically. And that is occurring. I mean, the ruble has crashed. The interest rates have gone through the roof. They now can't raise sovereign debt because we shut off their central bank. We've kicked them out of the SWIFT system. And that was one of the things that Australia led the charge on, together with the United Kingdom convincing the United States and the Europeans to follow through. I spoke to the German Chancellor the other night and really thanked him for what he's done on Nordstream and they've, you know, massively ramped up their future commitments to defence spending. And that's important because the world needs to wake up to these thugs and authoritarian regimes. They don't play by the same rules as us, and we can't pretend that they will respond in the same way that like-minded countries would that have, you know, decent democracies and strong liberal values.

SMITH: All right, I'll let you I'll let you get back to juggling all of those balls. Thank you so much for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. Anyway, Rest In Peace, Shane Warne. We loved you and and we look forward to honouring you in the appropriate way. 

SMITH: Well said, Thank you for your time. Alright, Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43836

Interview with Darren James, 3AW

5 March 2022

HOST: The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Scott Morrison, has called through and joins us now. Prime Minister, good morning to you. 

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. But it's not a very good morning today. It's numbingly shocking to hear about Shane Warne's passing today and plenty of other things going on in the country, of course, with the floods which are brewing in other parts of the country. But I think the whole country would have woken up in shock today. I know I certainly did. It was just terrible. 

HOST: It was terrible. It happened overnight and as I've told the story earlier, I thought there were tributes at that hour at 4:30 this morning being played with highlights of Shane. I thought it must be his birthday. They seem to be playing a lot of highlights. Then to hear the news of that he's passed away in Thailand was a huge shock and we've been looking back at his career, which you would have no doubt like all of us admired, Mr Prime Minister. 

PRIME MINISTER: Of course, I mean, he was one of those players that changed the game globally, not just here in Australia. We've had many great cricketers. I mean, we'd only just been mourning the loss of Rod Marsh the day before. So this comes as a double blow to the Australian cricket family and community. But with Shane Warne, that is just at such a young age, younger than me. That is a terrible shock to all those who knew and loved him. And I was only speaking to him at the Sydney Test earlier this year, and he was in fine form his usual wit and cheekiness, and he was giving me a few tips about my own bowling action on that occasion. I remember he wasn't too harsh either, I got to say he was very kind and he was such a character that was, I think, what Australians loved about him as well. I mean, he knew he wasn't perfect. His life was full of great achievements, but also regrets, and he carried them the same way with an honesty and a humility about it. I think, and I think people could see a lot of themselves in Shane in that way. And but his dedication and professionalism and talent and, you know, as a cricketer that was just unrivalled, he was extraordinary. 

HOST: Prime Minister, is it possible to find the right words for how the nation is feeling today? 

PRIME MINISTER: I think the first word is just shock. There's a numbness, I think, to this, and that will give way to an obvious sadness at losing someone like Shane from our community, not just the cricketing community, but the Australian community. And then there is just moments I think you move on to just reflection and you'll smile and you laugh and you remember the ball of the century. I mean, the look on Gatting's face, no one will ever forget. It was just, it was just one of the most amazing things. I remember I was watching it myself at the time, and I said what was that? And that was the whole thing about Shane's career. So I think just numb and shocked today, guys, I think is the real word. I've been in contact with Pat and to extend our, you know, condolences to the whole team over there. They've obviously had a shock as well over there with that blast that was 100 or so kilometres away from where they are. I've been speaking to the chair of Cricket Australia this morning about that, but also, of course, the Commonwealth Government will be offering a state funeral, of course for Shane, and we'll do that in concert with the State Government has done the same thing, which is totally appropriate, so we'll make the appropriate arrangements and of course, out of respect for what the Warne family wants and Cricket Australia. But, you know, at a national level, I think it's very important to honour him for the character he was. But most importantly, I think the way that, on how many occasions did Shane Warne lift the nation's spirits? On how many occasions.

HOST: Yeah and we've had we've had our Premier offer the family a state funeral. We've just heard. That's appropriate too. 

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I've been in touch with Dan and we'll work something out obviously that, of course, in Victoria. But and to do that, I think to the way that is appropriate and I mean he is a person of national and state significance, there's no doubt about that. But to pass away in such a shock, I mean, I can only imagine what it must be like for his kids that must be must be just terrible for them to find out this way and our love and support are to them. We all throw our arms around them as well. 

HOST: Absolutely. Jackson, Brooke and Summar are all in our thoughts. Without giving secrets away. When you caught up with Warnie, would you talk cricket with him or did he want to talk to you about all the other affairs of the country? 

PRIME MINISTER: Well, to be honest, we didn't meet too on too many occasions. And but it was only, you know, we were, I was at the Sydney Test that day and I heard he was there, and he heard I was there. So we caught up for a bit and he gave me a bit of encouragement, I got to tell you, not just on my cricket action, which needs more than encouragement, but you know, he was interested in the things that happened across Australia. He was interested in the future of the country. And so, you know, we had a good private conversation about those things, and he was very encouraging and I really appreciated him because, you know, it was a tough time over that summer and particularly we were going through. And he just, you know, encouraged me to keep going, pressing ahead and doing what we needed to do. And that was very kind of him to do that. And I'll always remember that about him. He had a generous heart and he was an optimistic guy, and I loved his cheekiness. It was just, it was so Australian. 

HOST: You've got the COVID at the minute, you're up and about, you're sounding a bit full of it still, you travelling alright?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I'm on the mend. This thing, you know, it's a serious virus, but I've been doing okay and I appreciate the ask and I do appreciate all the kind words and encouragement I've had from people around the country. But I'm doing okay. There's a lot to push through. You know, the floods issue is very serious and I've been in contact again with the New South Wales Premier this morning and dealing with the issues in the northern rivers and overnight. So it's very hard for people there, but we're getting the support to where we need to get them, up there in Evans Head or anywhere else. I know it's really tough for you and everyone's working through the night, at all hours to get as much support as we can. I know Victorians would be sending their best to everyone in New South Wales and Queenslander who suffered under these terrible floods. 

HOST: Yeah, well, you keep your fluids up and also the great work of you sending that gear over to Ukraine, too. Was good to see the planes leaving just to support their country. You know, they are going through tough times, obviously. 

PRIME MINISTER: They are. And I said that those that lethal defence support would be on its way and it's on it is on its way. It will be there very shortly. And our thoughts are with all the people of Ukraine, particularly Ukrainian Australians here.

HOST: And Prime Minister we've got Rob Sinclair. This is his hour. He runs a business called E&S right and it's kitchen, bathroom, laundry. He was interested when you were cooking pizzas with Josh when he stayed at your joint. And he says if you need new appliances in the Lodge, anything kitchen, bathroom, laundry, he'll spin you a good deal. I mean, Prime Minister, I'd love to know what you've got on the Lodge, prime minister. You know what oven you're cooking on? 

HOST: Is it a gas or an [inaudible]? 

PRIME MINISTER: It's a big steel thing.

HOST: You got no idea. Blokes don't know their appliances Prime Minister, that's the problem. 

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah that's true, but we're well looked after there, but I tend to cook a bit more up at Kirribilli, but Josh, you know, he was he was he was a helpful hand in the kitchen. 

HOST: Sure. And you mentioned your bowling action before with you talking to Shane about your action. I hope it's better than former Prime Minister John Howard. 

PRIME MINISTER: Well, what had happened at the time, it hadn't been that long before I'd been up in Brisbane, and I was having a, throwing the arm over with some kids up there and Shane actually did a thing on Fox, where he did a full analysis of my action, which was quite kind. And I just mentioned this to him, he had a bit of a giggle about it. And he said you've obviously done it before. And I said, yeah, but no where near, you know, what others can. But anyway, it's a lot of fun. I enjoy getting out there and doing that with the kids in particular. And I know Shane did, too. You know how many kids did Shane Warne inspire? 

HOST: Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER: You know, that are out there today, our champions of today and not just today, but for generations to come. He'll have an impact on this game, you know, we dare not say like Bradman, but gosh, if there was anyone who you could put in the same league, it'd be Shane. 

HOST: Yeah. On that note, watch this space to some help from the government and the state to celebrate the life of Shane Warne, and hey really appreciate you calling through. Feel free to feel free to call through any time. 

PRIME MINISTER: Not at all. Thanks for the opportunity. All the best to everybody out there today. We remember Shane. 

HOST: Good on you. That's the Prime Minister, if you don't mind of Australia. ScoMo. Beautifully spoken.

HOST: He was very sincere and interested about all that, wasn't he? 

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43835

Financial help for flood-hit small businesses, primary producers and communities in SEQ

5 March 2022

Prime Minister, Premier of Queensland, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience

Financial support for flood-affected Queensland small businesses, farmers, not-for-profit organisations, and sporting and community clubs will now be available following a new agreement between the Prime Minister and Premier.

An initial $558.5 million, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments will be provided to support communities in need.

Demand driven grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers, up to $50,000 for affected small businesses and not-for-profit organisations, and $20,000 for sporting and community clubs and associations will be available through Queensland Government agencies to help flood-affected communities get back on their feet.

These grants will be available through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority, call 1800 623 946 or visit http://www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

Nineteen affected councils will also be helped through a $1 million injection each to assist with urgent clean-up works.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this package was the first phase of financial support to ensure flood-affected communities in Queensland get the support they need.

“I saw the devastation of this flood with my own eyes this week in Brisbane and I knew how important it was to get money in the hands of farmers, small businesses and local community groups across Queensland to help them rebuild and recover,” the Prime Minister said.

“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 businesses, which to date has already paid out over $100 million, including $77 million to those affected in Queensland.

“We are continuing to work with the Queensland and New South Wales governments to develop further support packages to help them rebuild and respond as flood waters recede.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland Government was committed to backing small businesses and primary producers across the region to recover as quickly as possible.

“I’ve seen first-hand the devastation this event has caused Queensland communities, many of which had already done it tough through the COVID pandemic and when Ex Tropical Cyclone Seth hit our state just two months ago,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

“It’s essential that we get our small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profits back up and running again to support our local jobs, economy and communities.

“Many small businesses and not-for-profits are experiencing loss of infrastructure, equipment, stock and trading, and primary producers are again facing losses to crops, equipment and infrastructure, but through these grants we’re here to help them in their recovery.

“Every council affected by these floods has different recovery priorities and a $1 million injection will help them to get on with the immediate clean-up activities that their communities need most. 

“This will be followed by reimbursements to councils and agencies across those 19 areas for costs incurred in counter disaster operations, such as sandbagging, and the restoration of essential public assets including roads and bridges.

“From the start of these floods we have said we are in this together and this extraordinary assistance package is an example of just that. We will continue to work with all impacted communities, and local governments, to identify what additional support may be required as Queensland’s recovery commences.”

Federal Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Bridget McKenzie said the swift introduction of a comprehensive grants program will provide much needed support to key impacted areas of the community, including those sectors hit hardest.

“This has been an extraordinary event and it requires an extraordinary response.  The Commonwealth and Queensland governments have worked closely on this jointly funded package to help flood affected communities get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Minister McKenzie said.

“We want small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations to be supported to progress their massive clean-up and repair efforts right now and these grants will help.

“While impact assessments are ongoing, it’s already clear these sectors have been hit very hard, which is why we’re not waiting another day to make these grants available.

“Sadly, many sporting and community clubs and associations have been devastated by these floods. We know how important these organisations are to each and every community, which is why this package also includes assistance to repair damaged infrastructure and replace lost equipment.

“This latest funding package builds upon emergency personal hardship assistance that has already been made available by both the Australian and Queensland governments.”

The payments are being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for eligible applicants in the 19 local government areas of Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.

This DRFA assistance is in addition to assistance already available for cases of personal hardship, as well as for councils and agencies for counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential infrastructure.

Summary of extraordinary packages across affected 19 council areas:

• $1 million each for 19 affected councils for immediate clean-up activities

• $75,000 grants for affected primary producers (note – these grants are available in 17 local government areas activated for DRFA Category B primary producer assistance)

• $50,000 grants for affected small businesses and not-for-profit organisations

• $20,000 for sport and community clubs and associations.

For more information on grants for primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations, phone the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority on 1800 623 946 or visit http://www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43834

Shane Warne

5 March 2022

Australians have woken in shock and sadness to the awful news of the death of Shane Warne.

Shane was one of our greatest cricketers of all time, one of only a few that could approach the extraordinary achievements of the great Don Bradman.  His achievements were the product of his talent, his discipline and passion for the game he loved.

But Shane was more than this to Australians. Shane was one of our nation’s greatest characters.  His humour, his passion, his irreverence, his approachability ensured he was loved by all. Australians loved him. We all did.

There was something magical that he brought to our summers. The bleached blonde hair, the almost casual way he moved to send down a delivery, and his engagement with the crowd. He was one of a kind.

He inspired so many girls and boys to try their hand at cricket. He made it all look so easy. At some point, in most Australian backyards, we all tried to deliver a flipper.

As we heard as a commentator, behind the playfulness that we associated with Shane, there was a player who understood the strategies and intricacies of cricket as few others. A brilliance that will always be remembered alongside that of Bradman and Benaud.

There was also a generosity to so many people away from the cameras. With a smile and a g’day he’d bridge every gap.

Shane was his own man, following his own path. In those times when he could have been knocked down by the headlines, he got back up. He always did.

Shane was the “King of Spin” because there was none like him. The “ball of the century” will be talked about forever.

Our love and condolences go to Shane’s family and particularly his children Brooke, Jackson, and Summer.

We have lost one of Australia’s greatest cricketers and today we are bewildered by this sad and sudden loss.

In recognition of Shane Warne’s national achievements his family will be offered a state funeral by the Commonwealth Government. This will be done in consultation with the Warne family, Cricket Australia and the Victorian Government to ensure we honour Shane’s passing and memory.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44171

Interview with Gareth Parker, 6PR

4 March 2022

GARETH PARKER: Who I'm pleased to say we've been able to make this work with, obviously some pretty busy scheduling issues, but he is the Prime Minister of Australia. Scott Morrison, good morning.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Gareth and caught Marsh, bowled Lillee. That's, I gotta say one of the most enduring memories of Australian cricket. It's a sad day. He was a childhood hero of mine that led me to actually try and be a wicketkeeper in primary school. Wasn't very good at it, but everyone wanted to be Rod Marsh. Everyone, you know, you put on the fake mo, all that sort of thing. He was part of the one of the most exciting periods in Australian cricket, world cricket, and he was at the centre of it. He was, he was just larger than life, and he committed his life to the whole game after that, you know, raising up great West Australian greats like Justin Langer, you know, and you know, how good a job has Justin Langer done for Australian cricket? Yeah, it's sad. It's really sad.

PARKER: And everyone's thoughts this morning with Ros and his three boys as well. Just, you know, a really sad day. And we feared the worst after that heart attack in Queensland last week. And now here we are. But there will be

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah and sorry to bang on about it, but I'm sure, I mean, I think one of the most enduring memories most Australians would have apart from all of those amazing catches and his, you know, his antics and his charisma and his great cricket was 1981 and where he stood up when it came to the, one of the most infamous incidents in Australian cricket. You know, he said, don't do it, mate. Don't do it, mate. Of course, I'm talking about the underarm. And you know, that said a lot about him as a sportsman and what cricket was about and without going into the ins and outs of all of that, because plenty of people have done that. But you know, he's a guy who always stood up for what he believed in and about the game. And I hope we've got so many more like him. I reckon we do.

PARKER: I think you're absolutely right about that. Prime Minister, an important call last night, which we'll come to in a moment.

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.

PARKER: But, how are you feeling? We can hear that your voice is not it's normal, well, it's not the normal Scott Morrison voice we used to hear, you do sound a little bit under the weather.

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, a bit, but certainly better than the last couple of days. So, so I appreciate all the very kind wishes I've had from everybody from right across the country, including from Mark McGowan. It was really nice to get a lovely message from Mark and about the family, so I appreciate that. But we are. We're getting through it. There's, there's so much on obviously the situation in Ukraine, but over here on the east coast, I heard the weather report just when I was waiting to come on, very different weather reports we're getting over here on this side and it's been a very, very dangerous and distressing situation here. I appreciate all the kind messages we've had from the West about what's happening over here. Of course, Western Australia is no stranger to natural disasters. In April last year, I was up there in Kalbarri when Seroja went through and you know, Australians had such a hard time with these disasters over recent years. And then of course, there's the pandemic.

PARKER: Just on the natural disasters story. Are you agreeing with the IPCC report that says that we should come to expect more of these because of climate change?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is what the Bureau of Meteorology is telling us. This is what all of these things tell us. And so, you know, there's obviously a lot of change that's occurring, and that's why we've got the policies that we have. But we've also got to deal with the practical issues of the here and now, and these impacts will continue. And so the resilience that we need to build up right across the country and that's why we established the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, which we set up. It was built on what we did with the North Queensland flood response. You might remember that back in 2018, wiped out about half of the cattle herd up there. And so we built up a lot of experience now in how we can better prepare for these events. I mean, Kalbarri was interesting because it was devastating to the community, but it was a place where cyclones normally didn't go that far south and hit. And as a result, the place was not built to withstand a cyclone of that force. So, you know, these are the lessons that we have to adapt to and climate resilience is, is, you know, something that has to become part of our everyday planning and preparations and certainly is from the federal government's point of view.

PARKER: We're seven days of fighting into this outrageous Russian invasion into Ukraine. Last night, you held a conversation with the leaders of Japan, India and the United States. What did you tell them?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, what I said was obviously we're outraged by what's occurred in Ukraine and the invasion of Ukraine and outlined the clear steps that Australia had taken because Russia must pay a heavy and lasting price for what it's doing, now, I'm not one of those who thinks that President Putin is one who is dissuaded from his murderous acts here. He will continue to press and do what he's going to do, but that should not stop the rest of the world from further pressing in and tightening the vise, that's incredibly important because Russia has, through President Putin has self-nominated as a pariah state. You know, we can line them up with, with North Korea and others. And they should be treated accordingly. And they are they are being they are paying a high price. I mean, their ruble has fallen, their interest rates have risen. Their central bank has been cut off. They've been, their institutions taken off the SWIFT payment system. This is having a very damaging impact on their economy and I think the targeted sanctions against individuals which ourselves, the United States, United Kingdom, so many others have been doing is having an impact on the oligarchs and the whole support system to President Putin. Now this all sends a very clear message to anyone else, any other autocratic regime, and we know about a few of those in our own region. And it should be a clear message to not take the wrong lesson out of this. If you seek to violate the international order, rules based order and the principles that underpin it, there will be a heavy transactional cost in reputation and in economic terms and and potentially even militarily, as you know, the world has also been providing support to Ukraine, including Australia, in providing missiles and other lethal support for Ukraine's defensive efforts.

PARKER: So are you talking about, Prime Minister, China and Taiwan there? Are you warning China that they should just hit pause if they've got any plans at all to do anything territorial about Taiwan?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I wouldn't conflate the issues of Taiwan and Ukraine. I think they're very different issues. I mean, Ukraine is not a member of NATO, and there's a clear red line when it comes to if Russia was to cross over into a NATO country, I think they'd know exactly what happens. So I wouldn't equateUkraine with Taiwan. There's also, I think, a very clear understanding of what the implications would be if China were to seek to realise its ambitions for Taiwan. But it's important for us to understand that autocratic regimes don't play by the same rules as liberal democracies and those who support an international order based on the rule of law. And I think there should be a lesson out of this, but I wasn't one of those who thought President Putin was, was just playing for time or seeking to gain some leverage. He'd been planning this for a long time. It's been revealed that he discussed that with President Xi, and that is of deep concern when you get an alignment,an instinctive alignment between countries like that. And as I said, we've got to call that out and I have called it out. I mean, China has eased trade restrictions on Russia for wheat. So has Pakistan, by the way, so at a time when they're invading another country, China has, has sought to ease trade restrictions and fire them an economic lifeline. And this is a key point I was making last night. I mean, the Quad is about the Indo-Pacific. It's not about Europe, and we're very focused on regional security, economic development, humanitarian support, COVID, et cetera, in our region. But we need to take the right lessons out of what is occurring Ukraine. And one is that autocrats will pursue their agendas and won't always play by the same rules as the rest of us, and we need to be prepared.

PARKER: So just on that and you know, Peter Dutton was right about this earlier in the week when he said that President Xi seems to be one of the only people Vladimir Putin listens to. Did you tell the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that you'd like to see more from him because India have been almost sitting on the sidelines of this, they've abstained from key votes at the UN security Council or at the UN.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I certainly wouldn't put them in the same category as China, not not even remotely. I mean, India has been in direct armed conflict with China.

PARKER: Of course, but just in terms of their reluctance to condemn Vladimir Putin.

PRIME MINISTER: And look and look, I think we've got to work patiently with our, with our partners who work for the same objectives as we do in the Indo-Pacific, and that's what we'll do. So I don't draw an equivalence between India and China whatsoever. And I do know from the discussions that we had last night that India is seeking to ensure that this violence ends. They have, they have some very real concerns right now. And some of the listeners who may, you know, family back in India will know that there's quite a, I think, 16,000 Indian students that are in the Ukraine who we’re trying to get out of there and get to safety. So they have a lot of issues that they're managing, so we'll work closely with them. But of course, we want to see the world not throw Russia a lifeline, and India certainly are not doing that. I mean, they're not easing their trade restrictions on, on Russia, but China is. And you know, I'm not saying that to be provocative or anything like that. I just think we have to call these things out. I've got, I've got form on doing that. I've been criticised for doing it before. I did it on COVID. I've done it on a range of issues and you know, we can't pretend that these things aren't going on, and Australia has a very clear, clear eyed view about what's going on in our region. And I think what's happened in Ukraine, hopefully will lead to a greater realisation about what autocrats are capable of.

PARKER: Just very quickly, Prime Minister, are you happy to see Australia one again with the WA border coming down?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh, I'm thrilled. I'm absolutely thrilled. And the moving scenes of families reunitedand people reunited over such a long way. My first response is to say thank you, Western Australia for your patience, your endurance. You had a very different experience of COVID to the rest of the country and you've had a great deal of success. You know, we've been pleased as a federal government to be there to support you. $14 billion in direct economic support, to JobKeeper cash flow boost payments, veterans care and other income support and $455 million directly to support WA's health response. And we still will continue to provide 50 per cent of the COVID health response. And that includes everything from testing centres, obviously paying for all the vaccines. But even the administration of the vaccines, there's mental health support, so that's all continuing. Western Australia has been, you know, has been very much foremost in our mind along with all the other rest of the country. So thanks for pushing through. Looking forward to the hospital system holding up in Western Australia, there's been plenty of time to make sure that's the case. Plenty of resource to support it and supporting Premier McGowan as he manages and gets that balance right. But also, I know he'll be taking the lessons from the east coast, which he had a, you know, a courtside seat for to see what was occurring there. Omicron is different to Delta and so the, this, what you use to manage Omicron is very different. I can say that from personal experience having now having Omicron and so managing that is, I think is getting the balance right is, is the key and he's best placed to make that judgement.

PARKER: Prime Minister, get well soon, and I'm sure we'll see you here in the West very soon.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I look forward to that. And and again, our sincere condolences to all of Rod Marsh's family and to all Western Australians, he was a great Western Australian, he was a great Aussie. Thank you very much.

PARKER: Good on you, PM. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 6PR Breakfast.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43833

Thom Report

4 March 2022

Earlier today the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet provided me with advice following the process undertaken in relation to Dr Vivienne Thom’s report into serious allegations made by Ms Rachelle Miller regarding the then Minister for Human Services, Alan Tudge. These allegations related to events in 2017.

This process started in December last year, at my instruction, after serious allegations were raised by Ms Miller that required a fair, independent and vigorous investigation by a qualified and independent person.

Dr Vivienne Thom AM was appointed by my Department, following their recommendation. Dr Thom is an eminent and respected former public servant with more than thirty years of experience as Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, ombudsman and a statutory officer.

Ms Miller and Minister Tudge were invited to take part in this process by Dr Thom and the investigation was aimed at properly assessing views by a number of parties in relation to these issues. Ultimately, Ms Miller chose not to participate in the inquiry but the inquiry was able to draw on her public statements.

Dr Thom and the Department have sought to engage Ms Miller throughout this process through her nominated representative.

Dr Thom found that ‘the evidence considered in this Inquiry does not provide a basis for a finding that Mr Tudge’s conduct breached the Ministerial Standards’. I have accepted her advice.

Ms Miller and Minister Tudge have been provided with a full copy of this report.

In December, Minister Tudge agreed to my request to stand aside from the Ministry, while these allegations were examined. Today he has informed me that in the interests of his family and his own well-being and in order to focus on his re-election as the Member for Aston he is not seeking to return to the frontbench, and I support his decision.

Minister Stuart Robert will continue in his role as Acting Minister for Education and Youth and Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business.

The report by Dr Thom will be released in full today on my Department’s website, with minor redactions made to de-identify individuals.

These matters are deeply distressing both for Ms Miller and Mr Tudge, and the families who are affected by these events, and I know today will be a difficult day for them.

Support will continue to be available to Ms Miller, Mr Tudge and any current or former staff impacted by this report, should they seek it, through our Parliamentary Workplace Support Service or the Parliamentary Support Line.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44170

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.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44169

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.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44168

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.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43832

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.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44167

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.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44166

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.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44165

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

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43830

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.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43829

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).

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43828

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.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43827