Speeches
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
12 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning everyone. I’m joined by Minister Greg Hunt and Christine Morgan who is the head of our mental health agency and we thank her for joining us here today. Can I start by offering our sincere condolences to the family of Bill Slade, who was killed overnight and that was confirmed, while fighting fires near Omeo with Parks Victoria. I had the opportunity to pass that on to the Victorian Premier this morning. This is a terrible tragedy, as all of those fatalities have been during the course of these terrible fires. 28 people now have lost their lives in the course of these fires. And for all of those other family members for whom this latest confirmation will be just a further reminder of their own loss, our thoughts are very much with you also this morning.
Can I also just confirm a couple of other things before we make some announcements this morning. And that is that I can confirm that since the stand-up of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency just a week ago today, $42 million dollars has already been paid to the states to support those local council areas. I can confirm that we're adding one additional council, that's the Alpine Council in Victoria, to that list of 42. We will also be moving, today, we've been working with the Victorian Government, to declare 3 of those councils as Category C assistance areas and there is a range of supports that flow from that and they'll be confirmed later in the day. Further than that, of course there was the tax and welfare compliance arrangements which have been waived. The mobile pop-ups have been established. We've seen them now in operations in many localities that have been bushfire-affected around the country.
The National Security Committee of Cabinet has now considered quite a series of proposals. We'll be detailing one of those here today as we have already on other occasions with other measures. I can confirm that 2,700 reservists have now been deployed. That has occurred in six days since that call-out occurred. Sorry, in the past week I should say, since that reserve call-out started last Saturday week. I want to commend the ADF and all of those reservists for their very prompt response to that call-out. Around $40 million has now been paid out in various forms of disaster assistance by the Commonwealth to over 30,000 people. Those payments will continue to flow and I would note that where there are issues or, as there is on occasions in the minority of cases, some confusion about eligibility and these things, Minister Robert has set up a very, very swift process for reviews to be undertaken or where there are policy changes that are needed to ensure that payments can flow, that is being done very swiftly. There are a large number of people that are involved in assessing and making sure these payments get out. In the odd case there may be circumstances that need to be rectified. I want to give you that assurance that that is being acted on with the Minister overseeing that, very carefully and very clearly.
Over the course of the next week, the ministers are convening round tables, the Minister for Health in fact convened one on Friday, I'll be participating in one in particular on small business on Tuesday. There'll be those on tourism, agriculture, the scientific community, environmental groups and there'll be a gathering of a series of national peak groups here in Canberra next Friday to consult and further consider proposals around the bushfire recovery response. Today though, the Government is announcing a further policy announcement that goes to the critical issue of dealing with trauma and mental health occasioning from these bushfire disasters around the country. There has been a deep scar in the landscape that has been left right across our country. But I am also very mindful, as is the Government, of the very real scars that will be there for quite a period of time to come for those who've been exposed to the trauma of these bushfires. These bushfires have been across so many different areas. People who have been exposed to them, many have returned to where they may - where they reside, having been away during those fires, and it's important that the response today reaches out across all those who have likely to have been impacted. The response that we're providing today is considerable. There's $76 million dollars being dedicated through the National Bushfire Recovery Fund. That is going to counselling support on-the-ground, in communities, Medicare rebates, to ensure psychological support sessions, bolstering support for Headspace to ensure that, particularly, younger people who've been exposed to these terrible events are getting the support that they need. In particular, the reach out to emergency responders working with the state governments and the services that are delivered through their agencies. As I've met with so many who've been those first responders, you can see it, and it is a very difficult burden that they have been carrying and we need to assist them with that first responder trauma and mental health support, and that's coming through this package. More broadly, and we've learnt this from previous disasters, there is a need to be proactive in the outreach of these mental health services. That outreach is going to be there to extend people who may not come forward, who may not think that they need that support, but there is additional support going into outreach services to achieve that. Now, all of this is coming out of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency fund. I remind everybody that fund, that $2 billion dollars is over and above all of the Category A to C assistance which the Commonwealth provides, as well as the disaster payments and disaster allowance. So these funds are in addition to all of those amounts which are provided under various arrangements that we have directly with the states and territories or directly as a Commonwealth government.
I want to thank Greg Hunt for bringing all of this together and working with Christine and the sector more broadly. The Government is working through in a very orderly and a very carefully considered way, to address all the key recovery issues that need to be attended to. The policy work is being done. National Security Committee of Cabinet in an expanded membership, is looking at each and every one of these proposals as they are coming through, they are going through the filter of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency led by Andrew Colvin and the process he chairs with every single Secretary of every single department in the Commonwealth, to ensure that we get the design right and so it can reach the area of need. We are focused on other priorities particularly at the moment as they relate to small businesses that are affected in these areas, we are focused on the habitat and environmental recovery that is so critical, and will be part of the renewal effort that will come over the next decade. There'll be many other issues that we'll be touching on as the National Security Committee meets on several occasions again over the course of next week. Thank you, Greg.
THE HON. GREG HUNT MP, MINISTER FOR HEALTH: Thanks very much Prime Minister and Christine. This morning, Christine and I met on behalf of the Government with a group of people - GPs, psychologists, Luke McCormack, who is the senior psychologist at the National Trauma Centre, where, for the first time, we have mobilised on Australian soil the medical assistance teams, and, in particular, though, with two firefighters from the Balmoral RFS. The captain, Brendan, and Vicki, one of the members of that RFS, and that Balmoral Village faced one of the great conflagrations that we had seen during the course of these terrible fires, and they talked about the challenges that individuals in the community but also the emergency responders, the volunteers had faced. It affects each of them in different ways. Vicki lost her house and yet she was here today to talk about the needs of her community and it reminded us of the incredible courage and resilience of individual Australians and of the volunteers, but also the fact that each individual can be touched in a different way. And their stories have helped inform, along with the advice of medical and mental health professionals around the country, of Christine and the people we've consulted, the states and the territories, the package that we're bringing forward today.
The $76 million dollars that we'll be providing is about ensuring that there is support for every person who has been touched by the fires in terms of their mental health and recovery needs. It’s immediate support, with regards to 10 counselling sessions for people who have been in the fire-affected zones, whether that's farmers, whether that's young people, old people, whether that is small business people, people who are living in residence in the area and faced the fires, or visitors or emergency service personnel and volunteers. In addition to that, there is an investment in both telehealth services immediately available and also the 10 Medicare psychological services. Sometimes the harm and the trauma will only manifest itself later. It might be 3 months or 6 months. It can be different for everybody. But we want to make sure there's immediate support through the counselling and longer term support over the course of the next two years. If more is needed, more will be provided for people with whatever conditions and whatever circumstances they might individually have. Then, as the Prime Minister said, a particular focus on youth through the support of almost $7.5 million for Headspace and that will reach across the states that have been affected by the bushfires. In addition to that, $16 million for emergency service personnel, such as those we saw today, they're going well, both Brendan and Vicki are going well but they know the stories and they recognise the risks that they and many others face. Our volunteers are extraordinary. Our professional workers are extraordinary. But all of them, as Luke has said to me, have the risk, the fear, the chance that they may suffer some mental health effects at some stage and that's why we want to specifically support them. And then the community outreach, which is something that Christine has emphasised. That by giving communities the support through $6.9 million dollars to hold their events, to bring people together, to chart the recovery, sometimes it's not a medical professional that a farmer or somebody will reach out to. It's if they're sitting, they're talking, then they'll feel that for the first time they can unburden themselves. That can lead to the help that they need. So that process of immediate support, individual support, and community recovery are all built together in this package. Christine?
CHRISTINE MORGAN, CEO NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION, NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Prime Minister, thank you, Minister. I would just like to stress and to say, firstly, thank you to all of those who've contributed to collaborating with us to form what we wanted to be two things. One, we wanted a comprehensive package and, secondly, we wanted it to be compassionate because the one thing we know at the moment is that it's OK to not be OK. This is a really significant event that has touched not just one community but a whole range of different communities, different demographics, and we know that our mental health is an integral part of our humanity. It's almost impossible, I think, to go through this without some sort of impact. So we consulted broadly. We learned through our Beyond Bushfires which looked at what has happened after the Black Saturday fires, we looked at the WHO guidelines and we consulted.
There were three key things that we knew were important. One, that we provide what we call psychological first aid. That is the ability to be there and to actually help people deal with their immediate need for security and safety, to have strategies to cope, and to enable them to start to regain a sense of ability to control something. So through, as the Minister has said, the distress and counselling sessions which we're making available to people, that is there in the community straightaway, through PHN’s, through the Services Australia, or through the recovery centres. The second thing is the provide access to mental health services. That is something we needed to do above and beyond what is there for any Australian anyway. So the additional psychological therapy support services that are available on a Medicare-rebated basis and the 10 sessions that are available through the tele-health Medicare rebate, will mean where ever you are in Australia, even rural and remote areas, you can gain those extra services and the most important thing about those is you don't need a mental health plan. Whilst we encourage anybody who is affected to go to their GP, the GP is a fantastic first door, you can actually access those services by going to a psychologist yourself. So we call on any Australian who needs that, who has come from a bushfire-affected area to do it. The third and most important thing as the Minister has said, and we've heard this loud and clear, and we heard it again from Brendan and Vicki this morning, is enable and support communities to actually be able to respond and find solutions for their own members. We know that communities have an incredible ability to identify what they need. So rather than coming in over the top and superimposing services, make it an enabling thing.
Part of the recovery, as Vicki said to us this morning, is that anything that anyone wants to do is a positive, so let them contribute. It was critical to us that the package actually focus in on what can communities do to try and find the answers themselves. So, in that compassionate approach and comprehensive approach, we've tried to ensure that we've opened every door. We've tried to ensure that any psychologist or other therapist in Australia can be accessed, whether it's through the public health services through the PHN’s etc, or whether it's through the rebated system that we have in our private health. We've opened the doors. We want people to come forward. We're enabling communities so that as the Minister and the Prime Minister has said, average Australians, every Australian, can reach out to their neighbours because they know best what it is that's needed. We just want to encourage everybody to say don't think that you just have to be strong and get through this. In fact, that would be unusual. This is about starting to find the conversations you can have with people because if we can work on our mental wellbeing, then we can best underpin every other aspect of recovery in Australia.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Christine. So this is an initial and additional investment in these programs. As we've said throughout all of these recovery agency fund programs, if more is required, more will be provided. We are monitoring closely the take-up of these services and working closely with the states and territories to ensure they can continue to meet the mark that we’ve set. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is there a particularly incident that stands out for you that puts a bit of colour around the trauma that people are going through, through these bushfires?
PRIME MINISTER: There are so many. There are so many. Whether it was embracing Owen up in Taree, meeting those, you know, in the south coast town, inland town there of Cobargo, being over on Kangaroo Island, being up in Rappville some months ago, walked into a community there that had been hit by a ferocious fire storm and they took shelter in the local school together. And on each occasion, you can see the shock, the fear, the bewilderment on occasions, you see how resilient people can amazingly be in those circumstances, yet, at the same time, you can sense their frailty. You particularly see that amongst the firefighters. Tired, they've seen things they'd prefer not to have seen, they've experienced things they'd prefer not to have seen. There is a lot of raw emotions out there. That's why I say there are scars on our landscape and there are scars on our people, and scars you won't see. The rebuilding effort is not just rebuilding the infrastructure, it is just not rebuilding the towns and the homes. It is rebuilding communities. To do that you have to help people restore as well. No-one is immune from that. None of us are. Any of us who have been out there and experienced it, those who've experienced it in the worst possible form by being directly impacted either through loss of homes or in the worse cases, loss of loved ones. So this is going to be quite a healing process for our nation. And it's really time we focus on the healing. It's time we focus on healing our communities, our people, healing the divisions and bringing people together to focus on the task we have. That's my focus. That's my team's focus.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, can you just clarify, are you open to a more ambitious 2030 target or are you ruling that out? Are you sticking to 26 to 28 per cent? And what did you mean by being open to "evolving policies"? What new policies do you wants to consider?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure. David and I had a long conversation about this morning and, again, I thank you, David, for conducting that interview this morning. What I've said, I think very clearly, the Government has set its targets and we're going to look to meet and beat those targets. That's what we've done in Kyoto. That's what I intend for us to do when it comes to Paris. In meeting and beating those targets, we will always be taking up the opportunities of measures that enable us to achieve lower emissions, but lower emissions at the same time as we stay true to the policy I took to the last election, and that was to ensure we get the balance right, to get our emissions down without putting a tax on people, without increasing their electricity prices, without removing the industries upon which they and their communities and their towns and their regions rely on for their very livelihoods. So it's a balanced policy. There will be new technologies, as there has been since the Kyoto targets were first set, and we will look to embrace those and we will look to take the opportunities that are in front of us to ensure that we don't just meet these targets but we beat the targets that we have set. And at the end of the day, that means ensuring we get more effective emissions reduction while continuing to strengthen our economy and protecting people's jobs and their livelihoods. Our policy is one of balance. Australians, I think, believe they want that balance in how we approach these issues. They are challenging tasks. But they are ones where it can't be either/or. You have to be able to balance these interests - that's what the national interest demands.
JOURNALIST: The carryover credits, could they be dropped?
PRIME MINISTER: In the same way that as we move forward with our Kyoto, and Greg can speak to this because he was Minister at the time, there has always been the option to have those carryover credits and they've been used in the past and if they're needed, it is the Government's policy to use them in the future. But what our commitment is to do is to reduce emissions and reduce it in the way that I've said. That is to ensure that we protect Australians from reckless targets, from reckless policies that can destroy their livelihoods and their incomes, and the future of their towns and of their regions that force up their electricity prices and then force up their costs of living. That is not a policy that our Government embraces. Our Government embraces a balanced policy that reduces emissions and strengthens our economy. But, Greg, you might want to comment on that?
MINISTER HUNT: Sure. I know this well because I lived it for a decade. I remember when we came into Government in 2013 there were many people who said, "Well, you'll never achieve your Kyoto 2020 targets without a carbon tax and an electricity price." Then when it looked like we were going to, they said, "You'll never achieve it without the carryover credit." I would say for historical purposes, carryover was included in the Australian commitment by the Labor Party not just as an option but as a condition precedent for Australia participating in Kyoto 2. I think that point has been lost to history. That it was written in as a condition precedent for Australia participating in Kyoto 2 by the Labor Party. Nevertheless, we haven't just done that, we've achieved our goals and we've then gone on to beat them. What does it mean in practice? It means that whilst Australia under the previous Government, and I acknowledge and appreciate this, committed to -5% for 2020, we've actually achieved an effective -10% but without an electricity tax. We will do it without having to rely on the carryover. The important thing is, going forward, all this means is we're achieving and recognising what we've achieved early. It's a bit like paying off the mortgage early. You wouldn't want to take away the incentive. This is the perverse thing. You wouldn't want to take away the incentive for people to over-achieve early because that actually matters. That's important to the planet. That's important to the global achievements. I have a suspicion that over time we'll do better and better and better because we'd said we'd do better, and we did that for 2020, we're already ahead of our 2030 targets, 10 years in advance.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister just on the bushfires, there are reports that there’s ABC and NBN infrastructure has been damaged. Do you have any details on that? Do you have any figure on the economic infrastructure costs of the fire?
PRIME MINISTER: On economic and infrastructure costs at this stage it would not be possible to give you any sort of reliable estimate on that and there’s a further reason for that, is the fires have not yet finished. We still have many, many fires burning around the country. The conditions, while they've significantly improved after the peak day a few days ago, that gives some welcome respite to go and address many of the issues we’re talking about. Today, the ADF has actually I understand been involved in helping support air lift people in the energy sector to get to particular areas so they can start making assessments and doing reconnaissance on how to stand up some energy infrastructure as well. The same sorts of supports are being provided to the other sectors - well, the ABC I can't speak to. I'd have to check that with the Minister for Communications. I've been a bit more focused on telecommunications and I do know that the NBN has been moving very quickly to restore their services, and particularly in those first few days, we saw a dramatic reduction in those customers that were without access to NBN. It dropped by thousands. That was great work done by NBN to get in and restore a lot of that. But there are still many customers both from an energy and telecommunications point of view which are cut off. One of the great pieces of work which has been done by the ADF, by our defence force, has been retaining contact with isolated communities. That's been particularly the case down in Victoria around East Gippsland where there are many of these communities, and as, I think, at a press conference at the other day, I was talking about in advance of the peak day, we were getting in early again in the case that they may have been cut off again. And so that's with satellite right phones and various other tools that may have been available to us. And so yes, telecommunications, infrastructure are very important. As is energy infrastructure. There is actually a medical team that has gone up into the Snowy infrastructure to support those who are working up there as well. All of these tasks are part of the coordinated recovery effort that the Commonwealth is involved in through Andrew Colvin's agency. It is working hand-in-glove whether it’s with telecommunications companies, energy companies, state agencies and various others.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, are you flagging potential expansion of constitutional Commonwealth powers in these kinds of national emergencies?
PRIME MINISTER: It is a good question. And because - the most common question, I think, that's been put to the Federal Government, particularly in recent weeks, has been about what actions the Federal Government should have taken or have taken. Now, we know what actions we have taken, and I've outlined them again this morning. Two significant actions that were taken last Saturday, and I want to be very clear about this, the first one was the call-out - Saturday week. Was the call-out, compulsory call-out, of the Reserve. Not the standing defence force, to go and provide support in response to requests from the State Government. That's been done in fire disasters whether within states or specifically or across borders, for many many years that's been the default setting of how the Federal Government responds to these disasters. They do it at the request of the state government and that's what's happened in times past. So on this occasion what we did was, A, we sought approval from the Governor-General and received that for a compulsory call-out of up to 3,000 reservists and those numbers currently stand at 2,700. In addition to that, the instruction was given to the Chief of the Defence Force to act regardless of a response - sorry, act regardless of a request where they thought they needed to do so. When they did so, they would seek to do so in a way that engaged. And so the instruction was, "Move forward and integrate." As opposed to, "Respond to request." Now they are the two big changes that have occurred from previous events. Now as I stressed with David this morning, that has taken us into some extreme constitutional territory and that has been able to be achieved because of the cooperative spirit that is existing between the states and the Federal Government in how we're responding to this crisis. Now, in the future, one of the other things that has often been put to me is, "Why has a federal national state of disaster or emergency not been declared?" Well, the simple answer to that is, There is no such thing. There is no such statutory state of emergency which is declared at a federal level under federal laws. See, states of disaster, as was declared, or emergency in New South Wales, and both of those have now completed in both of those states as of today, they then give particular powers in New South Wales, say, to the Chief Fire Commissioner, RFS Commissioner. There are powers in Victoria which enables people to move people on and those powers followed the Black Saturday fires. There are specific authorities and payments, and other things that are triggered by those declarations. And so, consideration of what a federal "state of disaster" declaration by law would mean is a very serious matter that the Commonwealth will now consider in concert with the states and territories. That's what I was meaning this morning when David was interviewing me, to point out where we need to go into the future. And the role of the Federal Government, there is an expectation that I think has been quite clearly communicated that in the future, and indeed now, as has been done, there is a more prominent and directive role as opposed to just a response role. And that would require consideration of all of those issues and, likely, referral powers, potentially, based on the conversations I've had with the Attorney-General.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you, just to be clear, are you open to lifting the emissions reduction target and do you accept that this unprecedented crisis has perhaps changed the public sentiment that demand, I guess, stronger action on climate change?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll say what I said before. We have set our targets and we intend to meet and beat them and to evolve our policy to ensure that we reduce emissions as much as we can within the policy framework of not having a carbon tax, not having people's electricity prices go up, not wiping out the important industries that Australians rely on for their livelihoods across the country. What I'm saying is we want to meet and beat our emissions reduction targets consistent with the policy I took to the last election.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the US has increased its travel advice to Australia making it, putting more warnings. Have you taken any action, or what action are taking to address that?
PRIME MINISTER: I've been in direct contact at senior levels of the US administration.
JOURNALIST: On a proposed royal commission, can you outline more what the terms of reference might look like, and in your interview this morning you mentioned that this would need to be done in acknowledgment of the impact climate change is having on our conditions. Would a proposed royal commission look specifically at climate change policy?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, first of all, I will seek to take through a proposal in the next little while through Cabinet - that's the first step that needs to be done. That proposal would then need to be consulted upon with the states and territories, in the same way that we were able to arrive at the terms of reference for the disabilities royal commission. The Disabilities Royal Commission also addresses many areas that are outside the Commonwealth's constitutional responsibilities. So letters patent that complemented the federal royal commission would likely be necessary, I think, for it to be effective and look at the fall gambit of issues that I believe Australians will want considered in looking at this crisis, which I stress again is still occurring and there is still many months of fire season ahead of us. What I said this morning is I thought there were three areas in particular that we would need to look at. The first of those is the operations both in terms of the preparations for this season and the response that occurred, and the recovery mechanisms that have been put in place, and how that has worked together between the Federal Government and the state governments. And in particular there, the issues that I was referring to just before about a more direct and proactive role of the Federal Government and, particularly, the defence force and how they could be deployed in the future. I should stress that that could also extend to how various categories of payments of assistance and disaster support are also declared in particular areas. There is a currently a process for that. I don't have any particular complaints about that process but if we are going to look at those issues then they're relevant things to consider as we move through. The second area is to understand that the climate we are living in now and will live in for the next 10 years, the advice is hotter, dryer, longer seasons. And with that understanding, what the implications of that are, for assisting us at a federal and state level, to build our resilience to deal with that new environment and that will continue to change, going forward. That needs to be understood. And so, what is the resilience actions that need to be taken. The third part of that is really what is the adaption policies and mechanisms that need to be used to ensure that we can adapt to that new environment more broadly. Now, that isn't just about bushfires I should stress. That applies equally to floods. It applies to cyclones and other forms of natural disasters and the national disaster risk framework which we initiated in the last Budget and was considered and agreed at a top level by ministers in June of this year and more details of that are now being worked out through the local governments, which is another thing we referred to this morning. That is an important issue as well to be considered going forward. So what we're saying is the issue of the fact that we're dealing with hotter, dryer, longer fire seasons, that is an established point. That is not something that we have to spend a lot of time ruminating over. That's the case. And that's going to be the case going forward. And so it's important that we have an environment policy that addresses that into the future, practically, and issues of our emissions policies are very, very open for all to see. I've already addressed those in my earlier remarks.
JOURNALIST: PM on the ADF and calling out the ADF, are you suggesting there could be federal legislation to have some sort of federally-declared state of emergency? What would be the role for the CDF? I think you said this morning that the CDF would have to believe that public safety is at risk. Isn't the CDF's role to look beyond Australia at defence threats? Would this be a big change in his role?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it would be I think, as recent events have shown, with the involvement they've had in this last 10 days or so in particular - but let's not forget they have been involved since September when the base of support for the operations on that fire was in Canungra and I was there in September. What this would mean is there would be, after all assessments are undertaken, yes, a proactive role for the defence forces of this nation to be engaging in response and recovery in relation to disasters of this nature. That would, if that were the path we went down, that would require some rethink of how defence positioned itself, training that was undertaken, what its arrangements were to deploy. They've proved to be outstanding under General Ellwood in recent times and prior to that, under their other commanders. There is no criticism of that. But if we’re moving into a new proactive position for the role of defence forces, there are obviously implications for that. We are not rushing to that decision. I think there’s a lot to asses before we got to a point like that. But the key question that has kept coming back and is being asked I think quite reasonably by the public, is what is a federal state of national disaster? What does that then mean, what resources are then brought to bear in those circumstances, what powers and authorities are then assigned to particular individuals that sit within the federal structure? Clearly, the Chief of the Defence Force would be a very important person in making independent, objective assessments about how such powers could be used. I think that's a very important issue. So there are a lot of sensitivities here, there are a lot of legal issues to address...
JOURNALIST: Legislated powers?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, it would have to be. I mean, I’m saying the power to do that now is very unclear. And I say, it is happening now under a very cooperative environment and necessarily so, and that's understood by the states and territories. But to continue to do it on that basis as we move to a new normal then I think it would need a much more resilient legal framework to be able to be clear about who does what, when, what triggers it. And what happens in those circumstances.
JOURNALIST: Would you need a referendum on that? Or could the states confer the powers?
PRIME MINISTER: No, the states could confer those powers.
JOURNALIST: Christine can I ask you a question? I just wanted to know what some of what the mental health impacts that these volunteers and residents are at risk of getting in the short-term and the long-term?
CHRISTINE MORGAN, CEO NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION, NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Very good question. Because there are a range of different issues. I think the Minister and the Prime Minister heard me many times say that we use two words "mental health" to describe a very broad range of things. So I think though that what we do know is there are increased rates of anxiety. Obviously across the range of anxiety disorders. There are increased rates of potential depression. We must look at the potential for PTSD amongst people who are on front-line services. But can I stress that there is the initial response that anybody who has gone through something like this will have where they will be feeling concerned, but there is the heightened risk then, of actually coming within one of those mental illnesses. It is predominantly around the anxiety, the depressive, and the impact of stress.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you all very much.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
10 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning every one, just two brief issues I want to provide brief updates on today. Of course, a very quick update on what's happening with bushfires today. But I will direct people specifically to the statements being made at the state level in New South Wales and Victoria. We have severe and extreme conditions in both of those states today and we should be taking the advice and instructions from those state authorities and local authorities in relation to those matters. I know the New South Wales Commissioner and Premier have already stood up today, and in other briefings provided in Victoria. And so I won't go over those matters at length today. Firstly, though, I want to address the issues in relation to the terrible events in Tehran. As has been noted and spoken to by our colleagues, both in Canada and the United States today, I can confirm as I have on the radio this morning, that Australia has received similar intelligence to that which has been spoken to by both the Prime Minister of Canada and from out of the United States, this underscores the terrible nature of these events, all of that intelligence as presented to us today does not suggest an intentional act and that is the basis of the information that has supported the comments I've made today. We are obviously working closely with the Canadian Government, particularly with so many of their citizens affected, as we have an embassy in Tehran, they have been supported also by other partners to support those families that are affected but there are many other nationalities that have similarly lost loved ones and citizens in this terrible event, that includes from the United Kingdom, from Germany, from the Ukraine in particular and I'm hoping to speak to my counterpart in the Ukraine later today. But that is an awful event, our thoughts and sympathies and condolences are with the families who have lost so many loved ones. Whether they were Iranian citizens, Canadian citizens, British citizens, German citizens, or Ukrainian citizens. It is a terrible, terrible event and we'll provide whatever support we can. It is absolutely critical that a full and transparent investigation is undertaken into this terrible event and that would include undertaking all efforts to ensure we get recovery of the black box recorder that can obviously inform that investigation. But- as apart from what I've just said, there is nothing further for me to add really those events. We have had and shared the same intelligence that has been available to those other jurisdictions and have already commented today.
If I can turn to the bushfire events of today, I've noted the severe and extreme conditions that are across two states, what I've said in my briefings this morning with the ADF is I've given them very clear instructions that they are to stand ready to move and support immediately in the event that they are needed in the wake of what we hope we will not see today but we must prepare for today. The conditions we have already seen in South Australia as they are affecting communities there as we speak. Those conditions, same conditions, are now moving through southern New South Wales and Victoria, and my orders to the Defence Force, as communicated to the chief of Defence Force today, is to ensure that they are standing ready to move and provide support to those communities as and when required and to work obviously in close liaison with the state agencies and emergency service and RFS and the CFA authorities that are operating in those States. I can also say that Defence has been taking proactive actions in recent days in particular to ensure that communities that have been isolated and some contact has been able to be restored, similarly could be affected in the course of the next 24 hours and become isolated again so proactively through the Chinooks they have been dropping supplies into those communities so they are pre-prepared in the event that they are cut off again. Equally the Defence Force have been very active working with the state agencies on stock disposal which becomes a serious health issue. There was a lot of work going on with that yesterday. That has been already taking place on Kangaroo Island but that's obviously hampered at present because of the fire front that they are confronting there and that is something that the Defence Force can add considerable effort to and that will be of great relief I think to those farmers and graziers for whom the disposal of their stock and the stock losses is a very difficult issue for them. So, the other part of the work and effort that is being undertaken by the ADF is in the engineering side of works, clearing roads, working with local authorities to re-establish contact with isolated communities but again that will all come under threat again today. So, having put the Defence Force in a position to move quickly in the event of fire activity today, they will move and ensure that they can provide that support as swiftly as they can, but again working in concert with local, state and territory authorities. In addition, I'll ask the Minister to run through the deployment of the announcement we made yesterday. Pleased to say that all those payments were provided to the state governments yesterday. It had been our intention that they would go through at the very latest today but I thank Treasury for getting moving on that as quickly as possible. Those funds have been transferred and the Minister together with the Coordinator of our recovery agency has been in contact with those council areas, so I might ask David to provide some details on that.
THE HON. DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES, DROUGHT, RURAL FINANCE, NATURAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Thanks, PM. Can I just reinforce your comments particularly around today. It's the responsibility of every Australian in the path of these fires, to take the adequate precautions required of them, to enact their plan when they are asked to do it, and if those brave men and women, those emergency management personnel ask you to do something, do it, it's imperative. This is a very serious situation and we have prepared meticulously for this. Our fire commissioners have done an exceptional job, before the season and during the season, but they need your support now. Obviously, this is also hampered some of our pop-up centres, unfortunately because of the weather today some of those pop-up centres have been pulled out because of the dangerous conditions, but they will continue and I have to congratulate Services Australia for the way that they have engaged with those communities in getting that first response of relief to those people out there, the thousand dollars per adult and $400 per child to give them some dignity and respect just to get the essentials of life. In fact in Batlow yesterday, there was an estimate of probably 50, would be wanting the services of Services Australia all up, we had over 25 come to the pop-up tent there yesterday, so these are effective conduits of the Australian government to its people, right at the coal face. As we’ve said, this is going to be a locally-led recovery, not a Canberra-led recovery so we'll continue to made sure we deploy those services when it's safe and we'll continue to make sure, where it's needed. With respect to our announcement yesterday, I was fortunate to be with Andrew Colvin to go to Wingecarribee?
PRIME MINISTER: Wingecarribee.
MINISTER LITTLEPROUD: And I met with the Mayor there, and to see the joy and his face that the Australian Government was going to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, to relieve the financial pressure that they were feeling, with respect to the recovery, not just in an infrastructure sense, but in a human sense. The human toll that's been taken on a lot of those communities was significant. And we met with a number of those, Andrew and I, and some who'd lost everything. To know now that their council was empowered to help in the clean-up, we are expecting obviously insurance agencies to do their bit but to help in that rebuilding of not just the community but the lives of those people that lived there was an important aspect and the first step. That is the first step of this comprehensive plan that we will have in the recovery of these communities. We'll be making further announcements and every Minister has been tasked. Can I say particularly, as we met with David who owned the small business, the shop in the community there yesterday, he obviously is feeling the brunt of no tourists, no people using his shop, those small business owners across the country, we are working closely with Peter Strong from COSBOA and we are making sure that our response is effective and is being led locally. We are hoping that will be announced very soon. But those small businesses that are hurting, particularly in those tourism areas, they can take great comfort in the knowledge that their industry leaders are working with us to make sure that our response is effective. And it’s also in tourism, it’s in agriculture and it’ll also be particularly in the environment. And I know that we are working quickly on that. It's important that we are methodical about this and we are going to make sure that we give the time that is needed to make sure that our plan is comprehensive but this will be a matter of days for the balance of this money to be expended to make sure that we get the balance right. But again there is a responsibility from both us and the State Government to ensure we take this opportunity. It is actually our responsibility to make sure we build back better, we use betterment to build the infrastructure and build the resilience of our communities for future disasters.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks David, and the Defence Force I should also stress have been very active in supporting with fodder drops into a lot of those isolated rural properties for those stock that have still survived, that is a very important element of what they need at the moment. So look we have got time for a few questions today.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just on the Iran tragedy, could you clarify what you mean by it was unintentional, ie. was it a case of mistaken identity, they were aiming for something but didn't realise it was a passenger plane or in fact it was a total accident they shot anything out of the sky?
PRIME MINISTER: All I'm saying is that the intelligence that we have is similar to what our partners have, and that there is nothing to suggest there at this point, an intentional act. Now I'm not going to go any further than that at this point. There'll be further reports I'm sure made by others who are more closely associated with this terrible tragedy. What I'm simply saying, is that, as the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Canada have also said and I'm basically saying exactly the same thing as them, what this intelligence suggests is that it is difficult to come to the conclusion at this point that there was some sort of intentional act here.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister what are the implications for civilian air travel ongoing around that region and what is the advice that you have for airlines, Australian airlines?
PRIME MINISTER: Let me deal with travel advice. That is all set out on the DFAT website and I encourage people to look at that very closely and do not travel to Iraq- as it related to Iraq, and in terms of Iran as well, it's a very restricted advice on that locality as well. I should also say that our Consulate there- I should say our embassy there, working together with DFAT has been just looking to ensure we have a good handle on who is there and where they are and so we can be aware of that is important in these types of environments. The normal arrangements for dealing with what I would call very dangerous areas, presently, would be in place, that's all overseen through the national aviation protocols of which Australia is a participant and all of the airlines would be operating in accordance with those advice and instructions. There are international arrangements in place to deal with this and that is how we are responding.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister do you expect fire emergencies of this magnitude to become more common in the future with climate change?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we have covered that on a number of occasions now. There'll be the reviews that take place as you would expect and I've already indicated in response to questions that we'll be working closely with state and territory authorities on how they are undertaken. The links and the implications here have been acknowledged.
JOURNALIST: Do you accept that community sentiment has changed and shifted somewhat on climate change, that some that perhaps didn't want more action maybe do because of the bushfire season and will you consider perhaps bringing back the National Energy Guarantee, something that you were a big supporter of, or something similar?
PRIME MINISTER: I accept that community sentiment today when we have got severe and extreme fire conditions in New South Wales and Victoria, would have me absolutely 100 per cent focused on ensuring the response effort that may have to role in within the next 24 hours is ready to go and that I've given the order of the Defence Force to be ready to go and get in there. That's what I believe the community wants me focused on right now.
JOURNALIST: And the National Energy Guarantee?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve already addressed-
JOURNALIST: Back on Iran, you talk about providing the support to Canada, can you clarify what assistance we are actually providing right now, and with the investigation, will Australia be offering any assistance? For example we’ve got AFP officers that helped with MH17? Could we see them help in this case?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure. Well I've simply offered to the Prime Minister any assistance that they need. That's also been provided through our DFAT channels through to their counterparts in Canada and so we will just respond to their requests. On those matters, the direct consular support has been provided by another partner but of course we have been there for some time and we are able to provide whatever additional assistance is necessary so the Prime Minister has an open invitation on that front and which he understands and in relation to any investigation, well, it's up to those authorities that are directly engaged here to set up such an investigation but of course, whether it's through the many international partners who've lost citizens in the course of this terrible tragedy and when I speak to the Ukrainian, my counterpart there, hopefully later today, then I'll obviously be offering the same assistance and support as they want to take up.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you have been asked a lot this week about your response times for the bushfire crisis. You are human like the rest of us. Why is it so hard to admit that you could have acted more quickly?
PRIME MINISTER: I've already given I think quite detailed responses to those questions. What we have got here is the single largest federal response to a bushfire disaster nationally that the country has ever seen. Both in the scale of the Defence response, the Call-Out of reserves, the establishment of the recovery agency and deployment of $2 billion on top and beyond category A-to-C to assistance on top of the Defence effort, on top of the standing services and support that comes out of our Social Services agencies. The government's responding to an unprecedented crisis with an unprecedented level of support. Thank you very much.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
9 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon everyone. I’m going to start by addressing the series of issues in Iraq and then move on to some announcements in relation to the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and response initiative. First of all, let me say that early today, the National Security Committee met, yesterday afternoon when I returned to Canberra I also met with the Chief of the Defence Force and other senior defence and intelligence officials to be briefed on the situation and the events in Iraq.
That was then presented with further advice this morning by the Chief of Defence Force and those officials. Our goal remains a united and stable Iraq and the focus of our efforts is in countering Daesh and its support network. This is the mission that we have been part of, as part of a broad coalition, and that remains our mission and we remain tasked to that mission as our people there in the Middle East are pursuing. So we remain committed to carrying on this important work. As I said yesterday, our priority right now is the safety and security of Australians and, along with all other coalition personnel, there were no casualties or losses that were suffered there yesterday. The Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advised that every precaution is being taken to ensure that Australian military and diplomatic personnel are safe. As I have said before, Australia wants to see and has encouraged restraint and de-escalation and I welcome President Trump's statement overnight. We remain in close contact with the United States and our other partners, indeed this morning I was in discussions with the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Trudeau, where we discussed this matter. I have been in contact also today with the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and we will speak again later today about these issues. There has been much contact between us and our coalition partners in the United States. It is very clear that our intent remains that the safety and security of our people has been maintained throughout these events and we will continue to monitor these situations very, very closely and remain as committed to the task that we have in front of us there as so many, particularly of our defence force personnel and our diplomatic personnel, they have been so tasked and so passionate in their deployment over many years now and they have achieved a great deal, particularly in raising up and training efforts that have been particularly implemented out there in Taji and they have done great work and they will continue to do great work.
Let me move to an operational update on the issues of the bushfire disaster around the country and the work of the recovery agency and the deployment of the recovery fund which I announced earlier this week. Firstly, operationally, there are 27 confirmed fatalities and there have been, on this morning's reports to us, 2,131 homes lost but I am sure over the course of the day, as further damage assessments have been undertaken, particularly in Victoria, the numbers will continue to sadly change and they will continue to escalate. Fire weather is increasing in the south and east today and it will spike along the east coast tomorrow. Over 1,600 defence reservists are currently assigned to bushfire operations around the country. In New South Wales and ACT, the focus is on re-establishing power to blacked out communities and there have been thousands of homes and customers who have been reconnected just in recent days but there are still many without power. It is also about getting emergency support to impacted areas and tackling the damage and risk to key infrastructure, such as transmission lines, generators and there has been a particular effort through the defence force of supporting what is occurring at the Eden woodchip mill. Naval assets remain off the south coast of New South Wales, supporting reconnaissance and prepared to assist with evacuations and ADF medical personnel have been provided to Tumut Hospital and Batemans Bay. I should stress with the positioning of these assets, particularly the HMAS Adelaide and the Choules, that we are a long way from the end of this crisis and this disaster. Their prepositioning along the coast is very important. These are significant assets with significant capabilities and provide a staging post to render any amount of assistance as required. As we go into some difficult days, as we are already seeing in South Australia today and we expect to see on the east coast tomorrow, those assets being in place, those ships being in place and what is on those ships with everything from helicopters and engineering equipment and fully-staffed medical facilities will prove vital in the event they need to be called on at a moment's notice.
The Department of Human Services have put additional resources into all service centres and established pop-up service centres in key locations to ensure quick access to relief payments. There are eight mobile teams out currently. There are two buses and over the course of the next week, this will be rolling out to more communities. That is going to be done in concert with the ADF and the support that they can provide in these communities but also working closely with organisations in New South Wales, such as Services New South Wales, so there can be a whole of government, at Commonwealth and State level, response to community members in these affected areas. In Victoria, the Government has extended their state of disaster declaration for the six LGAs impacted by fires in the east of the State. The focus remains there on establishing access to isolated communities and getting emergency supplies and assistance to them. This is also including the important work, as we have seen also in South Australia, of the disposal and burial of livestock carcasses to avoid health and water quality impacts. That work is actually undergoing support from the ADF on Kangaroo Island now. I have been in discussions with both the New South Wales and Queensland governments about the support that is needed in those areas. Particularly in Victoria, one of the challenges is there are many isolated communities and there are still many roads that are cut off. Getting access into these areas to undertake those important functions can be very difficult but that is what our teams are very focused on.
The ADF has transported doctors and other medical professionals by helicopter to Mallacoota, while another evacuation by sea was completed by HMAS Choules. All those who have been registered for evacuation of Mallacoota have now been evacuated out of Mallacoota. Our defence personnel are also assisting in reopening the Great Alpine Road and are working with state road crews to reopen other major roads. In South Australia and Tasmania, where Brigadier Cantwell is leading the joint task force in both those areas. He is in Tasmania today. The focus there, particularly on KI as I saw yesterday, was on securing water supplies and helping state authorities to strengthen fire breaks and containment lines. As we have seen with the difficult fire weather today on Kangaroo Island, one of those containment lines has been broken. Army personnel are also assisting in the construction of that SES camp and rescuing injured wildlife and distributing bottled and bulk water to Kingscote Airport. In Western Australia - let's not forget this is not on the east coast - the Coolgardie Esperance Highway has been reopened and the Eyre Highway at the WA and SA border is still closed to all incoming and west-bound traffic. Emergency services are optimistic that the Eyre Highway on the WA and SA border will be open within 48 hours, provided conditions remain favourable. So that is the status update on where things are at as the Commonwealth has been advised as we speak.
The National Security Committee met today to consider a series of proposals which have been brought together by ministers in their respective portfolio areas. We are prioritising our focus on a number of matters and I will make an announcement on one of those in particular today. But providing that immediate and urgent cash assistance and injection into local communities to meet those most urgent and critical needs as we speak, we must also have a keen focus in the areas of tourism, small business, agriculture, forestry and fishing. The environmental rehabilitation and habitat restoration, not just in the immediate effect in terms of providing first aid assistance to wildlife but the longer-term plan so they have a habitat to return to. And of course the health needs and I will make further announcements on the health front in the course of the next few days.
But turning in particular to the urgent and initial cash injection that we will be providing into local government areas, we have agreed we will be paying $60 million into local government areas that are most affected. That will involve a million dollars as a base initial payment going into 42 local government areas and they are the ones that are either at category C assistance level now or we have been in discussions with the state governments about going into a category C assistance, even if that hasn't been fully formalised yet. We expect that to occur with two local government areas in Victoria, the largest of those being East Gippsland, which is a very large council area. Two in South Australia, which includes Kangaroo Island, which is another large area. There are five in Queensland, with one to be added to that - sorry, that includes one to be added to that with Livingston and there are 33 in New South Wales. Now, those of you who have done the maths, that comes to 42. There is $18 million in addition to that which, at the discretion of the coordinator, Mr Colvin, who is with me here today, and the Minister, they will be adding supplementary payments into those most affected group of councils over and above that initial $1 million payment. That will be done on the basis of assessed need, talking with those on the ground in those areas and particularly the state emergency services and other agencies that are working in those areas, as well as liaising with our ADF teams in place. It is also to recognise that not all councils have the same population, not all councils have the same area. When you look at East Gippsland and you compare that to some of the smaller north coast councils in New South Wales, for example, there is a big difference. So the coordinator will be ensuring that there is additional support and that can be many times what is provided in that base payment, to ensure councils have what they need. What I want to happen is if you're a Mayor in one of those areas today, if you are out in your community, seeing needs that you know need to be met right now and people are asking you to meet them, I want to give them the confidence and support by providing this cash assistance right now so they can say, "Yes, we can do that, yes the council can move in and do that. The Commonwealth is supporting us to go and make these immediate decisions which can provide immediate relief. This can go to supplementing the work that has been done to support the rehabilitation of local infrastructure, it can be on local roads, it can be on restoration of facilities, it can be providing staff and services support in their local areas to assist with whatever the need may be. Our local governments are the governments on the ground when it comes to trying to respond to these types of crises. They need that immediate cash injection to ensure that they can move confidently and start to respond to what is happening. This is coming out of the recovery fund which I announced earlier and this is a small but very significant initial payment. I said the money would be flowing immediately and those million dollar payments will be sitting in the state government's bank accounts tomorrow so they can immediately start distributing those out to those council areas so they can get on with the sorts of things they need to do. But as they go into the next few days and particularly as they face what they will see tomorrow, they can have great confidence that they will be in a position to respond and the resources will be there to back them up.
I also want to stress this is initial and urgent. There will be more and that will be assessed but we are going to be disciplined and careful and consultative in the way we make sure that additional support is rendered into these communities. We want to ensure we do that in a proper and coordinated way that enables the support to get to the places that need it most. This will be commenced this afternoon with the Government being in contact with all of those 42 councils to be communicating this decision directly to them and obviously to deal with any questions or issues that they would like to raise. That will be another important opportunity to be getting information directly from the ground to further inform our response. There already has been contact with the Premier’s department and the Australian Local Government association and this will mean work can get underway. I want to stress, particularly using local businesses and local contractors to undertake this work where that is what is needed.
There will be further announcements that I will be making in the days ahead before the National Security Committee meets again to consider further proposals next Tuesday and between now and then, we will be unfolding some of those further announcements while we work with the stakeholders that are particularly engaged in the decisions that we have made today. I want to thank Minister Littleproud for the work he has been doing with all of the other ministers and all my ministers who have been feeding in their response, whether it is in health, education, the environment, agriculture, tourism, in Treasury, understanding the economic impacts, all of this is undergoing right now and the proposals continue to come forward. The establishment of the Bushfire Disaster Recovery Fund means we are able to move incredibly quickly to get the resources out and on the ground. Minister?
THE HON. DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES, DROUGHT, RURAL FINANCE, NATURAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Thank you Prime Minister. And what we said from the start was we said this was going to be a locally-led recovery, not a Canberra-led recovery and empowering our local councils to go and lead that at a community level is so important. They are the ones that know how to rebuild their community and help rebuild the lives of those Australians impacted by this devastating fire. We have got to understand this is the first tranche but what those councils can understand today is the cheque is cut. It is ready to roll. Get on with the job in the comfort of knowing that the Australian Government is standing shoulder to shoulder with you to make sure what you need is there. And we will continue to make sure that AJ and I are out there around the tables of those shire halls talking to the mayors and understanding and listening to your concerns. This is the first part of a comprehensive plan, a whole of government plan in making sure that we not just support the individuals and the communities but we support the industries that underpin them. That is why we can't rush in with huge announcements straight away, particularly while we are still in operational management. We have a very serious situation unfolding again tomorrow and we need to engage those experts in the comfort, in a time when there is clear air for them to be able to put their energy and their ideas into making sure that the Federal Government's response is as comprehensive as we want it to be. But that doesn't mean we are kicking it down the road. This is going to happen in weeks, not months and we will make sure...
PRIME MINISTER: In days.
THE HON. DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES, DROUGHT, RURAL FINANCE, NATURAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: In days, exactly, we are going to be there to make sure that every step of this is done comprehensively. It is encouraging to see that the New South Wales Government's also announced a package today. It is important to understand that we will work hand in hand with the state governments, as we have done during this whole disaster. There has not been one request that any state government has asked, in the operational management of these fires, that I have not approved. Some I have approved within a matter of minutes. We have understood the gravity of this situation from the start and we are continuing to understand the gravity of the recovery in all these communities and lives. Particularly when we talk about the infrastructure, it is important that the underlying ethos that both State and Federal and local Governments should be is that we build back better. This is a unique opportunity to actually better the infrastructure we put in, to build the resilience of our communities, as we face further natural disasters into the future. This should be an underpinning principle and I will be writing to the States that they work with us on that. Because out of this, we should be able to take with us a stronger nation that's better prepared for future disasters.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Coordinator Colvin is here to respond to any questions as well. Happy to take your questions. If you would like to deal with the Middle East issues first? We could perhaps do that and then move to the bushfires.
JOURNALIST: The HMAS Toowoomba is due to leave on Monday, what can you tell us about that mission, the significance now has that changed at all and has there been any change in the rules of engagement?
PRIME MINISTER: No. No, it is tasked and it is shipping out, as you have said, it’s first port will be in Mumbai, as I have outlined and it will be there undertaking a number of tasks there for a period of time and we will continue to assess the situation but it’s tasking remains as I have previously outlined.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, should Australian troops be withdrawn from Iraq?
PRIME MINISTER: That is not the decision we have taken.
JOURNALIST: Why not?
PRIME MINISTER: Because the situation overnight has stabilised, that is a very relative term in the Middle East, and the cessation of those immediate hostilities that we saw yesterday and the nature of the statement also issued by the President today, as well as the intelligence that we have, means that we are in a position to continue to undertake the mission that we have set for ourselves in the Middle East and we remain committed to that, as do our other partners. As I said, I’ve been discussing those very same matters with the Canadian Prime Minister this morning, there is a strong uniformity of view about the partners and we remain together and working together to ensure not only the safety of our own people, but to also ensure that we are in a position to continue to build a stronger Iraq.
JOURNALIST: On the situation facing Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who is locked up in Iran? And have recent developments in the area affected what the Australian Government is doing to try to get her released?
PRIME MINISTER: The Australian Government continues to exercise all opportunities and all avenues available to us to secure her release and to provide her and her family every possible support we can. And her cause is not assisted by me or anyone else, for that matter, engaging in broader commentary on it.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister are you confident that Australians in Iran, like diplomatic staff, are safe?
PRIME MINISTER: That is our advice. And the appropriate precautions are undertaken and the necessary contingencies are in place, as they are for all of our missions in this place. And they are well-briefed and they are well aware of the environment in which they're operating. I must say, that right now, as I spoke to Prime Minister Trudeau this morning, through our mission in Tehran, then we are providing whatever support we can to the families of the Canadian citizens, or whatever other assistance Canada needs, because we are there with our mission. Canada doesn't have a mission there. And I expressed to Prime Minister Trudeau our deep sadness and condolences to the terrible loss - some 63 Canadians were lost when that plane went down. And that is a terrible blow to him and his country. And in the same way that he was ringing to extend his great sympathies to us with what we're going through, it was the same opportunity for me to extend that same sympathy and condolence in return. We have been blessed with the amount of support and assistance that is being provided to us from countries all around the world. And, one, obviously we have the existing standing arrangements with New Zealand, Canada and the United States - and I've gotta say it's been of great comfort as I've walked into incident response centres, whether it's in Mudgee or Albury, or where ever I have been around the country, and you can hear that Canadian accent, the US accent, the Kiwi accent that is there alongside the Aussie accents, just focusing on the tasks. But I tell you the one that's also been overwhelming has been the loving response from our Pacific family. The Vanuatu Government provided $250,000 Australian dollars, and it might not sound like a lot in terms of the tremendous assistance provided by many other countries, but from them, that was a gift from the heart. And the same has been true from Prime Minister Marape and Prime Minister Bainimarama and Prime Minister Sogavare. They have all been reaching out to Australia. They know how Australia has been faithful to them in all of their hours of need, and they just, in their own way, are trying to extend that in the best way they possibly can. We're very grateful for it.
JOURNALIST: President Trump has called upon the other signatures of the JCPOA and China as well to step up in dealing with Iran, take the threat seriously. Is there a role perhaps Australia could play in easing some of these tensions? Obviously we have our mission there, diplomatic relations going back 50 years, probably one of the better relationships for a Western country, comparative. We've had a high level of engagement with the Iranians over the years. Any role at all we could take on board with that?
PRIME MINISTER: I think President Trump has summarised well the status of the JCPOA. Australia is very committed to nuclear nonproliferation, and particularly when it can get to the position of being weaponised to the extent that it appears that they have been seeking to achieve. And so it's important that we counter that threat and we'll play whatever constructive role we can do to achieve that. And there are mechanisms within that arrangement for those parties that remain in it, that I know that they are seeking to pursue, particularly United Kingdom and France. But from where we're sitting, my own view is I think the President has summed up where it sits for now quite well.
JOURNALIST: On the bushfires Prime Minister, the million-dollar payment, will councils have to submit and tell you what they want to spend it on, like they do with the million-dollar drought payment? Or will you just be giving them the money and they can spend it as they see fit after they receive it?
PRIME MINISTER: We're getting them the cash in their bank accounts and they need to get on with it. That's what this disaster requires.
JOURNALIST: What do you expect local councils will be spending that money on? They're not exactly in charge of some of the responses that you would expect the state government to have?
PRIME MINISTER: I was discussing with Premier Berejiklian this morning, it's in order for them to respond to the immediate needs in their local communities. That can be everything from fixing a local government road, because many of the government roads in these areas are local government roads. It can be local facilities that need to be stood up. It can be from public amenity blocks, it can be any number of things which are presenting as challenges in their communities. They may keep some of it aside to redevelop local sporting facilities, if that's what they wish to do. But, see, this is the point, and Minister Littleproud I think has put this very well. This is a ground-up response that we're supporting. They're setting their priorities, they understand their needs. What they need from us is the financial backing to get on and meet those needs. I'm trusting those local governments, and I have a great reason to have trust in them, to know their local communities. I was with the local Mayor on Kangaroo Island yesterday. He knows what needs to happen, he just wants the backing to ensure he can get on with it and this will enable him to do just that.
JOURNALIST: Back to Iran just momentarily has previously responded to attacks on its proxies around the world...
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry, I couldn't quite hear you.
JOURNALIST: Iran has previously responded to attacks through its proxies around the world. Has this incident increased the risk for a terror attack?
PRIME MINISTER: Australia obviously, and our agencies, constantly monitor these issues and where there is any need to change any of our alert levels, then that is done. But this is something that is under regular assessment. The National Security Committee, while having been very focused, of course, on the national response to the bushfire disaster, we have at the same time, and now for some period of time, been considering these issues very carefully, for some time now.
JOURNALIST: Labor’s made some suggestions for mental health support for fire victims, including lifting the 10-visit cap for Medicare-funded services. Will the Government look at these options and look at adopting them as well?
PRIME MINISTER: The Government has already been looking at all of those matters. We'll be making our decisions and making our investments in accordance with the processes we've set down. I mean, the Government is setting that as a high priority. Mental health was something I flagged when I stood in this courtyard and announced the $2 billion dollars the other day. And these are things that we are addressing and we'll make further announcements on that, once those packages are finalised.
JOURNALIST: So, those Medicare-funded visits could be made freely available?
PRIME MINISTER: When the Government is in the position to make the announcement that we intend to make, and we've made some decisions on that this morning, and we'll be making those decisions. The Government is well aware, fully aware of the needs particularly in mental health. As I've gone into these communities, particularly those where the fire has just ripped through, and I've seen the desolation and the impact not only on the residents but on those who have been directly involved in fighting these fires, and the first responders, we are very aware of the needs that they have, and the medical update I have here on initial work that has been done - there's been 1.9 million P2 masks allocated to states and territories. Public health updates are provided on air quality by the Acting Chief Medical Officer. Five national critical care and trauma critical medical teams have been deployed to New South Wales and Victoria, working with the states and the ADF. Mobile examples of that include Wangaratta Hospital, Mallacoota, and Batemans Bay. The Acting Chief Medical Officer is in daily consultation and coordination with state health authorities. Initial counsellors are already in place when it comes to mental health with the DSS and ADF teams. And we've also tasked the Health Minister, as I said, he has brought forth a package which we have considered this morning. People can expect that sort of support to be rolling out in the very, very, very near future.
JOURNALIST: In regard to the million dollar payments to the councils, with the money going directly into their accounts, is there a risk that the money could be misspent or inappropriately spent? And is there any sort of oversight or mechanism to claw it back if they do the wrong thing?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, there is a relationship between the departments, both at state and federal level, when it comes to these issues. But to be honest, that's not what is concerning me right now. What concerns me right now is that they need the cash, not paperwork. They need the cash so they can get on and respond to the need on the ground, and that's what the NSC, and I as Prime Minister, have prioritised in getting this support out there.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, there was a $70 million donation today. Obviously, Mr Colvin is in charge of the relief effort. With all this money coming in, who's taking charge on the ground?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a very good question. And can I start by acknowledging the tremendous generosity of so many Australians, whether it is James Packer or Anthony Pratt, or Andrew Forrest, or whoever it happens to be. I think there's been tremendous generosity expressed from those at that level of means down to boys and girls raising money in their local schools and passing that on to the Red Cross and to animal welfare groups, to support them and aid their recovery. So, the generosity of that response, I think, has been simply extraordinary. But you're right - it's important that we work hard to best channel and coordinate that support that is coming through into the areas of greatest need. Now, that is being done both at the Commonwealth level, and Commissioner Colvin - sorry, a force of habit, mate - Coordinator Colvin is addressing that in the same way that it was being addressed through the drought response, and in the North Queensland response. I'll let Andrew speak to that. And state governments are also working, I think, to best channel that. And if you are in a position where you have been raising money for the bushfires, and I thank you for that, first and foremost, and all of those who have supported you, then it is, I think, important to take advice from both the state and federal agencies about where you can best direct that support. Now, in the case of Mr Forrest's initiative, he's highlighted two areas where he's putting $20 million into. That is firstly related to immediate recovery in areas using the great experience and expertise of Western Australians to come to the aid of the eastern states that have been affected. And I'm sure he's pulling that out of mining communities or others, where he's had a great deal of experience. There's also the work that he's foreshadowed in supporting habitat reconstruction. And the Government is equally and working on its own plan in that area. And that requires a lot of consultation. I've gotta say, in the environment area, that is one of the particular areas where we need to get, I think, a great deal of alignment. There are a lot of organisation that do a lot of fantastic work, and we need to try and best align how they're all working together. So, my simple request to those who are expressing this amazing generosity is to, as far as possible, call it all in and let's get it aligned, let's all work together on this. That's the key. Whether it's working together with local government, working together with local environmental charities, working together with state governments, the ADF, our Defence Force is working with emergency services, it's about working together. But, Andrew, did you want to comment on that?
ANDREW COLVIN: PM, just to say that obviously the last thing we want is for Government and my agency to be a block to funds, support getting to the people in need. But clearly we're working with these organisations, we're working with these very generous people, who are giving time, money and effort, logistics, products, and we're trying to direct that to where we think it is best going to be utilised. On the ground, there's great coordination. Sure, there's lots of people doing really good work, but there's good coordination, that's a very local thing. As the Prime Minister has said, the message we have is let's make sure that what we give is tailored to the community who needs it. As I said before, across the fire-affected parts of Australia, there are vastly different community needs. So, we're gonna tailor this to the local areas. But we're talking to all of our[ [inaudible] We've spoken to Twiggy Forrest- very generous what he's put together. He's done this before. Last thing I'm gonna do is step in the way of that. [inaudible] I will make sure it's best utilised.
PRIME MINISTER: It's a busy time. We've got a lot of work to do. Tomorrow is gonna be a very difficult day on the eastern states. And so once again, I express my sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of all of those who have lost loved ones during the course of this terrible disaster. We will continue to remember them, but also their families in particular in what they need, in supporting them. But I would encourage all Australians to continue to follow the advice of authorities, to keep being kind to each other as the way you are. Thank you for your generosity and your support. All levels of government will keep working to ensure that we come through this together, by staying together. Thank you very much.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
6 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon everyone. I want to provide a general overview of the situation as we understand it today and the status of operations of particularly our ADF forces, as well as outlining some of the key decisions that were made today at Cabinet and the National Security Committee.
But before I do that, 24 fatalities have been reported across the country. 18 of those in New South Wales, three in Victoria, three in South Australia. Two people are missing in New South Wales. And none, we believe, are now missing in Victoria. For all of those who have lost loved ones, for all of those who have lost everything, their homes, their livelihoods, once again as a Government and as a nation we extend our deepest sympathies to you, and we make this commitment to all Australians - that that we will be there for you during this immediate response, and we will be there for the rebuilding and the recovery. Today in Cabinet we have made a number of decisions to support that recovery effort, to do whatever it takes, to do whatever it costs to meet those needs, to build our resilience for the future and to enable Australians, wherever they are, all across the country, to be able to go forward in confidence for their futures.
In New South Wales there are no total fire bans declared for today. Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA have commenced resupply of stores in the far south coast. 3,872 head of livestock have been euthanised or confirmed deceased. 400 tonnes of fodder is in transit with distribution points finalised for Cooma, Bega, Moruya and Milton which will be set up once fireground activity eases. And the ADF will assist with distributing of isolated and cut-off properties. In Victoria, there are no total fire bans declared for today. Smoke is, though, interfering with further aerial evacuations in Mallacoota. Victoria has established a permanent standing Bushfire Recovery Agency and with funding I understand of some $50 million. In the ACT, there are no total fire bans declared for today. In Western Australia, total fire bans are declared for today for the Kalgoorlie, Boulder, Coolgardie and Dundas districts and partial closures of the Coolgardie Esperance, Eyre and Goldfields Highways. In South Australia, a fire ban is declared for Kangaroo Island for the today. In Queensland, there are no total fire bans declared for today. There are no further updates to the situation in Tasmania from what I have a previously reported, and there are also no total fire bans declared for the Northern Territory.
Disaster relief payments, as it stands, $111 million or thereabouts, over $100 million, which includes $25 million already out the door in disaster assistance payments and just over $100 million in total combined with that that have already been committed. Jointly, these payments are available in 46 local government areas in New South Wales. Those two in the East Gippsland area in Victoria, six in South Australia, one in Tasmania and 17 in Queensland and the Australian Government disaster recovery payments are available in 26 LGAs in New South Wales, two in Victoria, six in South Australia and eight in Queensland.
Turning to the ADF rollout, in New South Wales reconnaissance and liaison teams have gone in Wombeyan, Eden, Bega, Moruya, Narooma, Batemans Bay and Merimbula on the South Coast. Logistics support which includes providing water, food and critical fuel by road and air to Tarcutta, Tumbarumba, Adelong, Batlow and Gilmore in the Snowy Valley area. Engineering teams which are clearing fire breaks and opening roads in Maitland, Mudgee, Nowra and the Southern Highlands. Resupply of evacuation centres are occurring at Narooma, Batemans Bay, Bega and Moruya on the South Coast. Health support with medics, doctors, nurses and psychologists are ready to deploy into priority areas, which do include on the South Coast Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma and Bega Valley. In Victoria, 350 people were air evacuated out of Mallacoota yesterday. That also was supported with a generator move into Mallacoota to restore power to the Mallacoota Airport. Choules is unloading diesel and a fuel management team for generators is powering Mallacoota. We’ve supplied some 18,000 litres of fuel to the town of Omeo for generators for powering the town and contacting the 18 cut-off communities in Victoria currently. The majority of those have already been reached but I am advised they will all be reached by the end of the day, flying in emergency supplies as required. We are working with Vic Forestry and assistance to open access to major roads. In South Australia, we’re working with South Australia water to deploy a water purification system to supplement damaged infrastructure. That’s water for both human consumption and for stock we’re preparing to bring in bottled water as an interim measure. The teams are on Kangaroo Island and a veterinary officer to assist euthanising stock and wildlife. A critical issue going forward will be the disposal of carcasses which obviously presents very serious health issues as we’ve seen in other disasters.
Internationally, three helicopters and an engineer company from New Zealand will arrive at RAAF Richmond and deploy to the South Coast region. We thank very much the New Zealand government and Prime Minister Ardern who has been in regular contact with me. I also want to thank Prime Minister Lee. Two Singapore Chinooks are preparing to deploy from Northern Australia to East Sale which is our forward staging point in Victoria for those operations. Last night, I spoke at length to President Macron who extended his deep condolences and sympathies and full support for Australia as a great friend and we are working with his government, as we are with many around the world at the moment, who have made very generous and kind offers of assistance. In the case, as President Macron has already noted, that has included firefighter assistance as well as other engineering and environmental support as well. Integrating all ADF teams visiting towns with a person from the relevant state agency when they are there, which is either the RFS, the SES or police. This move forward in integration has been under command locally of what’s happening there and the New South Wales Assistant Commissioner Willing from the New South Wales police is assigned to a joint task force to ensure that integration. The running total of Reservists as called out now is 497.
Today, in Cabinet, we approved the arrangements that flow from the establishment of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency which is being led by the former AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin. As I said yesterday, Andrew is already at work. He is already working now and chairing an inter-departmental committee across every single government department in the Commonwealth, which is bringing forward proposals to assist the recovery effort and to feed in to the response effort also. Today we agreed that we would support the National Bushfire Recovery Agency by establishing a National Bushfire Recovery Fund which will be administered by that agency led by Mr Colvin. The Commonwealth is committing an additional and initial $2 billion over the next two calendar years, starting right now, to support all of the efforts of recovery right across the country. This is not just in those areas that are experiencing fires now. They are in those areas that have already experienced fires, particularly up in Queensland and Northern New South Wales and, sadly, as there are many months still to go into this fire season, those parts of the country which still may yet face great risk of fire impact in the future. The Recovery Agency and this funding is in addition to the NDRA category A, B and C assistance which is provided under those national arrangements. To give you a bit of an idea of the scale of that, when it came to Cyclone Yasi and the Brisbane floods over a period of some six years, I’m advised by EMA that there was $5.6 billion paid out in disaster recovery arrangements, the overwhelming majority of that was actually for A, B and C payments. There was some $365 million, I think it was, that was in category D assistance and things like the River Walk that was reconstructed and the commitment made to that infrastructure.
So the $2 billion commitment is an additional commitment, it is in additional cost, an initial commitment and if further funds are required, further funds will be provided. What we are focusing on here is the human cost and the rebuilding cost for people's lives. We are not focused on the financial cost, we are focused on the human cost and ensuring we can do everything we can, as quickly as we can, to support that recovery effort. The indicative priorities at this point, as they are being worked through and we have discussed in Cabinet this morning, primary producer grants for restocking, replanting and fencing, additional support for small businesses and grants to help them initially, as we saw so successfully in parts of northern Queensland with the funds that were provided particularly under category D assistance. Direct grants to local governments to support them in their immediate rebuilding works, to support local infrastructure and local services, supporting mental health programs that will be going in, working closely with state and territories and I stress that will include mental health support for those who have been first responders in relation to these bushfires.
I have been in so many of these communities over many months now and it isn’t just the disastrous impact of the fire on the physical buildings and the physical communities and people's physical well-being, but the mental impact, the mental health impact of what has occurred is going to take a significant toll and we are prioritising the provision of mental health support as part of the recovery project. There will also be funds for infrastructure projects to support economic and community recovery and resilience, particularly essential infrastructure. This will not be done on the basis of matched funding from the states and territories, as I said yesterday. The states and territories will be, I have no doubt, making significant financial commitments in their areas of responsibility on infrastructure and roads and bridges and schools and hospitals and all of these things. And as part of this Fund, through the normal course of arrangements, we'll be looking to support those where appropriate. State governments, local governments, the Commonwealth government, will all be making significant and massive financial commitments. These are investments in the hope of our country and to provide and support that hope that on the other side of this disaster, there is a rebuilt future and a strong positive reason to move forward into that future.
In addition, also today, we agreed there would be rollout of 20 Service Australia pop ups. They’ll be actually working in with the ADF as they go into communities. That will be there to ensure that people know what Commonwealth's resources and payments and services are available. We will be streamlining wherever possible, wherever we’re getting the feedback, access to these payments and any of the administrative issues that raise with this. We've already taken a number of decisions in this area to streamline those payments. It's important that cash gets in people's hands as soon as possible. We are suspending debt recovery and mutual obligation requirements for those in bushfire affected areas or those affected by bushfires for an initial two months and that will be reviewed again in the future as we continue to assess the impact of this fire season. And similar arrangements have been put in place by the Australian Taxation Office.
Today's Cabinet was one of great resolve. It was one where we stood together and said whatever it takes, whatever it costs, we will ensure the resilience and future of this country and we will do it by investing in the work that needs to be done and we will do it by investing in the greatest asset this country has ever had and it is its people, Australians. We will be investing in them and their future to give them the support they need as we all work together to rebuild after these terrible disasters. Michael?
THE HON. MICHAEL MCCORMACK MP, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Prime Minister, and for those hundreds and hundreds of Australians, indeed thousands, who have lost everything, we stand with you today, we will stand with you tomorrow, next week, the months and the years ahead. We will help you rebuild your communities. We will help you rebuild your homes. We will help you rebuild those towns, which in many cases have lost almost half their buildings. Cabramurra, I know Batlow and Adelong and Tumbarumba have been severely impacted in the Snowy Mountains and they’re just a few of the communities just near my electorate in the east of the Riverina, let alone the communities in Queensland, which we have not forgotten about. The mid-north coast and north coast of New South Wales, which we certainly have not forgotten about, but also in Victoria, those places in South Australia, of course, Kangaroo Island, Western Australia and also Tasmania. There's not too many parts of the country which have not been impacted and there's many, many Australians, indeed, all of Australians, who have felt the full effects of this dreadful crisis.
The National Bushfire Recovery Fund will help restore, rebuild, reconstruct. It will help restock and replant. And for regional Australians, as the Prime Minister has just said, they are a very resilient bunch. They are full of hope and we will give them that hope. We will give them those funds, whatever it takes. We will be there to help those regional Australians and others besides. And when I talk about Tumut, the pine plantations in and around that town, 70 per cent of the economy of Tumut and Tumbarumba are underpinned by forestry. And of course, in many cases, they've lost almost all of their pine plantations. We look at Batlow, where surrounding Batlow are apple orchards. Of course, Batlow is a town famous for its apples, and many, if not most of their orchards have been incinerated, and so it takes five years to rebuild, to replant, to regrow an orchard. In the case of the pine plantations and the forestry resource that we've lost, up to 20 years. So for those people who've not only have the risk and assessments are being done today, not only have many people have lost their homes, but they've also lost their jobs. And when there's no pine plantation, when there's no orchard to go back to, that does provide them with little hope. They've not got a house, they've not got a livelihood. But we will be there for them. We will help them through this fund, through the agency that Andrew Colvin is now heeding. Sugar Pine Walk, one of the Riverina’s most iconic, most photographed tourism spots, planted in 1928, has been almost totally destroyed. That is heartbreaking and I've just got off the phone from James Hayes, the Mayor of Snowy Valleys Council, and he's hopeful for the future. He said to me, you know what, we'll get through this because we're resilient. We thank you for the support that you've given. We thank the state authorities and particularly those brave men and women who wear yellow and orange uniforms, indeed, whatever uniform colour they are. They've been out there. They've been fighting the fires. They've protected thousands upon thousands of homes. Yes, we've lost more than 1,600 homes, but we've also saved, those brave people have saved thousands of homes, thousands of livelihoods. So we thank them again. We can't thank them enough.
And we want to ensure, of course, today that for those areas that have been burnt out just since New Year's Eve, not to forget those areas burnt previously in Queensland, right up to Michelle Landry's electorate of Capricornia through David Littleproud’s electorate of Maranoa. And I really want to pay special tribute to David Littleproud for the job that he's done, not just not just on the drought front. And, of course, many of these communities so affected now by fires have also been dealing with drought. So it's a double whammy for them. But they will, as James Hayes, the Mayor of Snowy Valleys Council said, they will get through this because they're such a resilient bunch. And with the regional development funding that we are making available today, we will rebuild. We will put put back in place those roads that have been badly affected. I've spoken to each and every one of the state ministers. I've just got off the phone from the Victorian minister, Jacinta Allan. We will work together, as we've done very successfully, Prime Minister and Treasurer, to help in that reconstruction phase. Of course, with agriculture, there's a big, big impact on livestock. Priority access for farmers is, of course, getting back to their properties so they can assess the damage. Many of them can't even get back to their own properties, but to the provision of emergency livestock, fodder and water. We thank those people who've done hay runs. We thank those people who've made donations. The coordination of donations and offers of assistance are very, very greatly appreciated. The provision of generators and diesel for generators and large farm equipment also that effort is being coordinated and we thank those people for that.
But what I also do say is for people driving on our roads, roads that have been shut by this fire disaster, please take care, drive with your lights on. But also many, many fences have been burnt out and that leads to wandering stock. So please be mindful of that as you traverse up and down those regional areas. Of course, animal welfare, we've put a hundred veterinarians into the field and we want to make sure that the disposal of carcases is done in a very efficient and very quick fashion. And that is that is happening with state authorities. But we also want to make sure that we've got for those animals that can be saved, that we're there for them. And we've put a hundred Commonwealth vets and others into the field. And we want to make sure we get to those farms and help those farmers out, because, of course, not only is livestock very, very important, but so are our farmers. They've lost so much with the drought. And those hardy few who've managed to get their stock through the drought are now faced with this crisis as well. And, of course, the mental health of farmers is so, so important. And I know the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, has made some important announcements today. And of course, we're going to keep monitoring that process as well.
We will rebuild farm infrastructure, whether it's fences, yards, water tanks, whatever the case might be. We will do that in conjunction with our state authorities. We will be monitoring animal health. We will be making sure that we get the fodder and the assistance there. Agriculture is such a key component of our economy and we want to make sure that we are there to help and support our farmers through this crisis. I know Bridget McKenzie is doing a fantastic job, she’s been all over as a Senator from Victoria, all over that state, as well as NSW. And her and I and others of course will be making important visits over the coming days, weeks and months to make sure that everybody understands and knows that the Federal Government is there for them. This national bushfire recovery fund and agency are going to play such a pivotal part in the rebuilding effort. Thank you to all of those who have helped out. The firies, just Mr and Mrs Average, just the kids who have done so much to raise funds to help put out fires, to rebuild regional Australia and indeed our nation, thank you so much, we will as a Federal Government be there supporting you all the way, shoulder to shoulder and putting our arm around our wonderful people who have been through so much. We are not out of the situation yet but we will be there now and into the future.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you.
THE HON. JOSH FRYDENBERG MP, TREASURER: Thank you Prime Minister, thank you Deputy Prime Minister. My first thoughts today are with those communities who are still battling these horrific fires. A big thank you to the brave men and women who are volunteer firefighters who are working as emergency service personnel, and in the Australian Defence Force who are putting their lives on the line to save others. A very big thank you. As the Prime Minister has announced we will be making an initial, additional contribution of $2 billion to the national bushfire recovery fund. This is on top of money that is already flowing under existing payments and allowances. This money will go towards supporting small businesses, to supporting local councils, to providing mental health support, investment in social and economic infrastructure, as well as providing environmental protection and important protection for native wildlife which has been so badly hit by these tragic fires. It is important to understand that this money will help rebuild lives and restore livelihoods. This money will help communities get back on their feet after these devastating fires. In addition to this announcement today, the Australian Tax Office has also taken steps to ensure that people have a 2-month deferral with the lodgement of payments and other obligations for those who are in the fire affected areas. People should not be concerned about their tax affairs at this time. The ATO has set up a hotline where people can get individual support. That is 1800 806 218. When it comes to insurance companies they will be absolutely critical as part of the recovery, rebuild, and resilience task ahead. There has been some 6,000 claims that have already been made totalling nearly $400 million. And the insurance companies have put assesses and recovery specialists out into the field already where it is safe to do so and tomorrow I will be meeting with the insurance Council, the regulators and CEOs to see what can be done to get that money back into people's pockets as quickly as possible. When it comes to the banks they have also taken steps to assist those who are in the fire affected areas, loan and interest payment deferrals, additional finance to help cover cash flow shortages, waiving fees and charges so the banks will continue to take action to support those communities. When it comes to charity, we know the Australian community is enormously generous and we have seen this generosity already, many people want to know how they can help, and where to send the money to. The new agency will be putting a list of leading charities like Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Rural Fire Services’, and others, their details are going up on the website for people to see, and to access. The ACNC, the charities commission together with the ATO will be providing advice and assistance to those who are seeking to establish charities to respond to the bushfire emergency. And the ACCC will be establishing a hotline where people can report any scams or unscrupulous activity from those who may seek to profit out of other people's misery. So there are a number of steps that have been taken to support the Australian community at this very difficult time.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, we’ll take questions.
JOURNALIST: How quickly do you think this money can hit the ground, would you consider, is it something like a stimulus for some of these hard-hit areas, and do you think there are some small employers in these areas which are losing money right now, in the holiday season, is there anything else that can be done for them?
PRIME MINISTER: That is exactly what this money is for. Amongst many other reasons. What we saw particularly when we were responding into the North Queensland Flood crisis was the support that needed to go in quickly for small businesses and particularly the primary producers in those areas. And that is what this is designed to do. We will be doing that in concert with those locally who are on the ground, those in local administrations, those who have so much of the information that we need to best direct and target these payments. We obviously want it to move as quickly as possible, and I'll be looking forward to making announcements about local governments in the not-too-distant future. We're working through some of those details now and we will consult closely with the state governments. There are coordinators as you know in recovery agencies as I said before that have been set up in Victoria today, as well as already in NSW and northern NSW for some time. In Rapville and places like that which were devastated, and now in Southern NSW and in Queensland they have had a similar arrangement. We will be working in with them to ensure that that support gets where it needs to go.
JOURNALIST: In weeks? Is weeks too optimistic or is that?
PRIME MINISTER: No it is not too optimistic in terms of when we can get that to those council administrations and things like that. Already, the disaster recovery payments that are under category A B and C where those areas have been declared, those payments are already flowing right now for example, if you’re in an affected area that’s under those relevant classifications, then you’ve got a position of lost income because you might be in an area where there is literally nobody where there should have been a lot of people this time of year. You can claim up to 13 weeks and ongoing support under what is effectively the welfare payments that would otherwise be in place. That happens very, very quickly. That is available in many areas now, and they are triggered by the state governments and we turn that around immediately, and those payments flow. So the national scheme, the NDRA scheme that has been set up has been designed to get a lot of those initial payments out. What we're particularly also talking about here is not just the initial payment but the long-term investment. I said yesterday that the new agency will run for we envisage at this moment, for two years. It may well run longer than that. But we will ensure that they have got $2 billion initially to work with over that two calendar year period. That obviously spans across three financial years over the forwards. That is there to be either brought forward if more needs to be done earlier, and then we can consider what other additional support is needed and the budget is not too many months away, and we will have a better picture of the damage assessments and what the need is on the ground. So it is all of those things and more.
JOURNALIST: On a related issue, is the funding for this new agency separate from the funding that is going out through the category A B and C grants.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
JOURNALIST: Is the funding separate actual kind of, projects or will there be some overlap in the kinds of projects that are funded by each fund?
PRIME MINISTER: A B and C assistance works with category D assistance. Category D assistance is a discretionary level of assistance and it is quite targeted to the conditions you may find at any particular time. That will draw from this new fund, but category A B and C assistance will run as it has now for many years. And as it is rolled out.
JOURNALIST: But is there an overlap there between the two?
PRIME MINISTER: No I wouldn't see why they would be. It would be a supplement to, I wouldn't describe it in those terms.
JOURNALIST: A very distinct programme?
PRIME MINISTER: If for example if you are a small business and you haven't been able to access under category C assistance a $15,000 immediate grant to get you through the next two weeks with your employees or trying to get your business open again or something like that you may well be eligible for new payments that we would do under category D or even beyond that. Of up to as we saw in North Queensland of up to $75,000. Those payments to those primary producers there were lifesavers. And they moved very, very quickly. Now I should stress yesterday, that Andrew Colvin met with Shane Stone, as you know Shane led the North Queensland agency and also now leads the drought recovery agency and so we have already been through this in terms of standing up these arrangements. And so those lessons are being very quickly transferred across to the agency which is being led by Andrew. Another important role that the agency plays is helping people in these circumstances know what support is available. Communications about that support, so you know what is there is not only great for morale but it is very practical, and we need to get it through as quickly as possible.
JOURNALIST: Just so I understand- so the new agency then is like a category D grants?
PRIME MINISTER: Category D plus! It get everything else and beyond. For example where there may be mental health packages that are needed, support in some areas around education, there may be need to support tourism promotion for particular areas down the track. All of these funds are designed for these purposes and as Josh just said a few minutes ago, support for wildlife preservation and restoration in these areas, and I will have a bit more to say about that in not too many days time.
JOURNALIST: I know it is early days but do have an estimate of what the damage bill may be, and are you worried that these fires are going to have a major impact on economic growth and are you still confident you will reach the surplus?
PRIME MINISTER: The surplus is of no focus for me, what matters to me is the human cost and meeting whatever cost we need to meet. But I can tell you this: being in the position of strength that we are now, enables us to give what is one of the most significant, if not the most significant response to a crisis of this kind the country has seen. I mean if I go back over most recent times, we saw at Mallacoota one of the biggest evacuations using military resources that this country has seen. The only one that would have been bigger would have been Cyclone Tracy all those years ago. And I should stress that these funds that we are putting as part of this effort are separate to the ongoing support of those defence operations and many other government activities that are funded through the Budget. And I suspect we will also face higher costs and they will be reflected in the estimates variations that flow through the Budget in May. And it will be all be totalled up and will be reconciled then.
JOURNALIST: But you must have some sort of indication of the financial cost so far, maybe Treasury does some analysis, rules of thumb on how this does affect,
PRIME MINISTER: The fires are still burning and they will be burning for months to come. And so that is why I outlined today that this is an initial and additional investment of $2 billion. If more is needed and the cost is higher then more will be provided but I give you that reference point, that over six years, over six years, and that was the category A B and C payments predominantly, it was a cost of some of $5.6 billion over six years to respond to Cyclone Yasi and the Brisbane floods. So what we're seeing , the comparative figure I suppose to the $2 billion here is during that emergency, there was around about $365 million which was in the order of category D assistance that was provided in response to that. I mean we’ve set aside $2 billion here for those types of payments and many other levels of support.
JOURNALIST: But you’re saying the surplus is not top of mind right now? I mean that’s a shift in rhetoric. You have just had an election where you said the surplus would be back in black in this financial year. Can you guarantee that you will be back in black, you will have to involve cuts, you’ve rules out a bushfire levy yesterday, are you going to have to cut in other areas?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I don’t envisage any of those things, what I envisage is guaranteeing to the Australian people at this time of crisis that we will meet every cost that needs to be met, make every investment that needs to be made, both to assist the response to this crisis and the recovery needs that follow. That is clearly the priority now and, the point I would make, and I am sure the Treasurer would, is the reason we are in a position to do this is we have been so careful with our financial management. I’ve always said, the reason you strengthen your financial management is to build the resilience of the country to deal with these types of crises which can often be unforeseen at this level, so that strength enables us to make the commitments we are now making.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister we are hearing cries from the ground for basic human [inaudible], one woman in Batemans Bay who, she won’t be paid for a week. She will not have electricity for a week. She says she’s getting frantic, because she has reached out to government agencies including Centrelink and they can’t help her because her house has not burnt down. So in this announcement today, this funding, exactly what out of that will help people immediately in those sorts of situations and, is that being communicated?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we’ll work closely with the states and their levels of support I mean, many states and NSW would have this would be be emergency cash assistance through the Department of Social Services also there are emergency cash assistance arrangements that are in place right across the country and those are administered through the Department of Social Services and the various contracted suppliers which provide those grants for immediate cash assistance. And by getting in contact as she has I know, that is one of the reasons why we are putting in these pop-up squads of the Services Australia teams that are going and with the ADF into these towns and you will see more of that as the days progress which will enable people in a lot of these communities to be able to go there and sit down with someone and start working through these issues. I mean disasters of this measure throw up any number of extraordinary challenges and some of them are very difficult to deal with, others are more straightforward. The disaster recovery payments are arrangements that have been in place for many years, are designed to address many of these needs. And so that is why the recovery agency and the other work that is being done by state and the Commonwealth governments and local governments for that matter are there to help people in immediate point of need.
JOURNALIST: Treasurer, as the PM alluded to, said the $2 billion will be spread out effectively over 3 financial years, the 2 calendar years. What is the initial part of the initial $2 billion, in the 6 months left of this financial year? And have you had to offset that elsewhere in the Budget or is this come straight off the bottom of the surplus?
TREASURER: No, we haven’t sought to offset that. The indicative numbers and that is the key word here, they’re indicative, because obviously we’re going to try and get the money out as soon as possible. And to work through the new agency would be $500 million in 19-20, $1 billion in 20-21 and $500 million in 21-22 but $2 billion over the two calendar years. This is an initial and an additional commitment. Our bottom line is getting support to the Australian people. That’s our bottom line, and this is unprecedented. What we're seeing across the country. And what we're doing now is, as you heard from the Prime Minister, we have galvanised the resources of the ADF, we have all the other agencies, Emergency Management Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology, we had all the ministers today contributing in their portfolios and they have been given one task by the Prime Minister, to get out there and get support to those communities in need, we are now coordinating it through this recovery agency under the leadership of Andrew Colvin.
JOURNALIST: Julie Bishop said today that Australia needs to show global leadership on climate change. You yourself have said it’s a global problem, we need a global effort, will Australia have another look, under your leadership, at its climate change policies? Is there any room for a rethink perhaps on the Kyoto carryover credits or adjusting the targets or any other measures do you think to show greater leadership on climate change?
PRIME MINISTER: Well right now, I got to say, my absolute focus is on deploying this $2 billion to support communities around the country and to address their most immediate needs and get the infrastructure and support in place to provide the platform recovery for these communities. Personally, physically, their livelihoods, their communities and getting them back on track and that will take considerable effort to get to that point and that will be the absolute focus across every single minister, every single department, brought together through a whole of government response. Which we are leading right now.
JOURNALIST: So there won’t be any [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I’m, no what I’m saying is that is what the government’s focus is. I have said on numerous occasions that the government will continue to work to meet and beat the commitments we have made for emissions reduction as we will this year and as I believe with the policies we will continue to put in place by 2030 to meet that commitment that I was pleased to be part of a Cabinet with Julie, together with the rest of us set and put in place the mechanisms to achieve it.
JOURNALIST: Who signed off on allowing the staff at the Department of Home Affairs to leave their air conditioned offices and work from their smoky homes in Canberra for the next two days?
PRIME MINISTER: I’d have to refer that matter to the Secretary.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister do you have numbers please for the number of people who will be eligible for the debt recovery and the mutual obligation suspension?
PRIME MINISTER: Not to hand. But we can work to provide that for you.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister can I just clarify, in relation to the Defence Minister, yesterday she said that she had taken what she described as a few days to spend time with her family and she said that she was not on leave. Now later your office and her office confirmed that she was actually on leave for 8 days with plans to be I think 9 days and Christian Porter was the acting Defence Minister. Given your criticism of other people in these situations in the past, what in relation to the Victorian former Christine Nixon what is not- business as usual about having the Defence Minister in her Bali holiday home, organising the evacuation of Mallacoota? Shouldn’t she have been back here, why did you sign off on that leave?
PRIME MINISTER: Well Sam I gave you the details of our response to that last night. It was a very full response and I think that addresses the situation. What I know has taken place in the last two weeks, over the time you been talking about, is we have called out up to 3,000 Defence Force reservists, we have put in place the biggest defence force to a national disaster since events such as the, of Cyclone Tracy. Not one decision has been hindered by any those arrangements, not one piece of information, not one authorisation, not one deployment, it has all continued to proceed and at the end of the day that is what matters to people Sam. Are things getting done on the ground? And when you get 1,100 people evacuated out of Mallacoota by the deployment of a Naval asset in the Choules, that was done during this period of time, I think what has happened on the ground speaks for itself and Australians are interested in the results that we're getting and the actions that we are taking.
JOURNALIST: Aside from the $2 billion you’ve set aside today, the additional cost for Defence forces that you’ve also flagged, other funding, do you anticipate there will be other economic impact costs on the budget as well and can you still pledge that the Budget is going to be in surplus as you did a month ago when the MYEFO came out?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I will let Josh speak to that specifically but as I said the final Budget outcome for this financial year is not what is driving the decisions that we have made today. What is driving the decisions that we have made today is to do what it takes, to pay what costs, to ensure that we can get Australians back up on their feet and the response in place. But I can tell you is that, because of the strong financial management of this government, it has put us in a position to do that without having to strike a levy, without having to make offsets in other places that we can as the Treasurer just said put the bottom line to work that we have sought to build up to build the financial resilience of this country. To ensure that it has been there this year. The first year we have returned to the position of strength that we have outlined now for some time, in 12 years. And that can be put straight to work to meet Australian's need in their hour of some of their greatest need. Josh?
THE HON. JOSH FRYDENBERG MP, TREASURER: Well thank you, PM. We have been consistently saying, a surplus is never an end in itself. It is all about getting money to the people who need it most and that is what we're doing today, as we were doing in light of the drought. The mid-year economic and fiscal outlook that was released at the end of last year did acknowledge and refer to the fires as well as the drought. It is too early to tell what the full economic impact will be but the key message today is there is $2 billion now put to work to help those communities to rebuild, to recover and to become more resilient in the future.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you all very much.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
5 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: … While the weather conditions have improved as you would have heard, as reported from New South Wales and Victoria, there are still many fires that are raging and there's a very significant firefighting effort which is continuing. The better conditions today will obviously assist, but it's important to stress, as I've been advised, that the nature of those fires is still very strong and it will take some time and that will require a considerable amount of effort and we absolutely understand that is where the primary focus is, particularly of the fire commissioners as they are addressing that very urgent task.
Today I wanted to provide you with an update on the work of the ADF, both yesterday and what their focus is today and I'm joined by the Minister for Defence and I’m also joined by Minister Littleproud and later today, the Minister for Defence will be joined by members of the Australian Defence Force to commence what will be a regular operational briefing conducted at Russell by those who are operationally responsible for those matters, of course, which you will be invited to attend and they can provide a lot more of the detail than I'll be providing here today, because it's appropriate for that to be done on that basis and you can direct any quite specific questions to them, later today I will be joining the Premier of New South Wales and the RFS Commissioner Fitzsimmons, in New South Wales to look at that particular effort that is being undertaken by the Australian Defence Force. What I can tell you is that the focus of the ADF today is to be making assessments of the need, and to work with the various state agencies as to how best they can now move forward and meet those needs in the critical areas. In the last 24 hours, in Victoria, Navy support that has of course included Navy ships evacuating some 1,100 isolated persons from Mallacoota and the MV Sycamore arrived in Western Port this morning on the Mornington Peninsula with 61 evacuees and pets. The HMAS Choules arrived in Western Port, that was on Saturday, I should say, some 1100 evacuees. As we said yesterday, that is in addition to what can normally be taken on board that vessel. Those 2 vessels are returning to Mallacoota and I understand that the Sycamore is already there, the Choules has been re- provisioned and will be making its way there also. Blackhawk helicopter support has been provided and based out of RAAF base East Sale and has been involved in transporting firefighters from Bairnsdale to Mallacoota and transporting the injured and vulnerable from Mallacoota to East Sale to receive medical treatment by emergency services. Three Chinook helicopters are operating also from the RAAF base at East Sale to provide support to those firefighting operations. These were already involved in evacuating people from remote townships in eastern Victoria and ADF helicopters evacuated 42 people from Omeo last night, and you would have seen some of the footage of that. Another three Chinooks are preparing to deploy south from Townsville and the first of those will depart today. Mobility operations, the JTF, the joint task force, is providing engineering personnel and equipment to support state capabilities, to clear and reopen roads. Now that includes moving forward some heavy engineering equipment up to East Sale so they can be operating in those parts of East Gippsland. I should stress that when they are seeking to clear those roads, it isn't just a matter of moving the debris, as I'm sure you are probably aware, off the road themselves, and I see Phil here and he has probably experienced that first hand over the last couple of days, it is also being aware of the assessment of falling trees that are adjacent to the roads and there needs to be a technical assessment made of those things as well. So I just make that point, just because you can see the road clear, and it may still be closed, there are very serious reasons why people will be taking great care to ensure those roads are safe before people can move through them. ADF will also be engaged with damage assessments, as they've been doing for some time now. As you heard from both Victoria and New South Wales this morning, we won't know the full impact of the devastating fires last night until there's been an opportunity for those teams and we always prepare ourselves for difficult information once those assessment teams start to move through the areas as they get access to them. As you were reporting yourselves last night, it was difficult to get eyes on many parts of the fire because of the heavy smoke, which we can physically see outside of this building today, and in those parts was even more extreme, and so that was very difficult last night to see where they were going but they did an extraordinary job and their predictive technology proved to be very accurate. What we need to note is that now those assessment teams go through, they will be able to inspect what damage has been incurred in those places and then that will assist in terms of the support that will now be needed in those communities.
Air traffic controllers are also providing services at Bairnsdale Airport and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft is conducting reconnaissance from Sale to Mallacoota to assess the engineering requirement. The HMAS Adelaide has on board heavy engineering equipment which can be used to support road clearing from the other side, where you can get equipment in from the land side, there is the potential for that to be done on the sea side through landing that engineering equipment and those, of course, assessments will be made about the most appropriate way to do that, and that will be done under the direction of the State agencies.
In New South Wales, the engineering support, there are crews from our engineering operations as well as our logistics operations going into a number of areas, working closely with the New South Wales government to assess what capabilities and needs will be needed in those areas. That will also include the deployment where needed of medical teams, and these can be quite small medical teams which can deal with a first sort of level of assistance to people in these areas. The HMAS Adelaide, which is down around about where Eden is, presently means there is a potential to supply from that point, not just medical support but also other essentials that may be necessary in those areas, but again this will be done in close coordination with the state authorities as we assess that need. There are 400 personnel on the Adelaide, and there is 300 tons of relief supplies on the Adelaide, and it is in position, just as the Choules will be soon, back on the south-eastern coast, and the other vessels are already there. In terms of helicopter support, Army and Navy are providing maximum capacity operations through the combination of the Taipan, Seahawks and the EC-135 helicopters for fire mapping, surveillance and search-and-rescue support operations supporting New South Wales fire service throughout the Hunter, greater Sydney, Illawarra and southern regions.
In terms of going forward, fire trail clearance is already- will be undertaken from the 6 January to the 10 January out in Mudgee. In terms of transport and logistics and expansion of the ground transport and logistics tasks is already supported in five new locations, from Tamworth, Mudgee, Nowra, Maitland, and Queanbeyan. In recovery operations, the ADF is providing personnel and equipment to undertake initial recovery tasks as identified and these tasks will be in Tamworth, Wollondilly, Nowra, Mudgee, Maitland, and Wingecarribee and they will commence from the 6th [January]. There’s special logistics, as I mentioned, moving into areas to make those assessments about what is needed, and the transport of firefighters will continue, as has been happening for some time and the ADF is currently engaging with the New Zealand Defence Force and the Singapore Armed Forces to identify options for the kind offers of military support and they have generously put forward, and the Papua New Guinea government has also made similar offers through the Prime Minister to me directly, which has been passed on to the ADF for them to progress.
Before I pass on to the Minister for Defence, I referred yesterday that the- to the fact that the government will be standing up a recovery agency to support the recovery effort. The National Bushfire Recovery Agency was considered yesterday at the National Security Committee and it will be stood up and it will be led by the former AFP Commissioner, Andrew Colvin, who has accepted that role, and he will be there today and it will be established within PM&C and it will be modelling its operations very closely on the successful response that was provided to the North Queensland floods, where we stood up the agency in that situation, which was led by Shane Stone. That organisation worked extremely closely and extremely well with the Queensland government. That agency will be drawing on a series of support measures, they will be particularly in the area of income supports, and I will have more to say about that tomorrow after Cabinet considers further issues on this, but in those floods and also in the drought response that has been going now for some time, there have been a range of payments that have been made to support small businesses. There have been payments made to support councils with the re-establishing of critical infrastructure and in some cases, particularly after those floods, and it's the same case in many rural areas, there’s fences to be rebuilt and there is carcasses to be removed of animals who have been caught in these fires, and that is a fairly grizzly operation but that’s an operation that needs to be done and it needs to be done as soon as you possibly can. So that agency, which will report to Minister Littleproud, established within PM&C will work right across government, this will include dealing with things like coordinating mental-health support into particular areas. Those of you who have been in some of these areas will know that this fire and the haze and the fear and the quite extreme conditions would have had a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of people in communities, not just in those areas where people are resident but people who would have been there during the course of these fires. So it's important we are addressing the mental health needs as well as the many other health needs that will need to be addressed. This organisation will be stood up for at least two years and we will be able to talk more about its funding arrangements in the not-too-distant future after Cabinet considers the formal proposals, which are coming forward and have already been considered by the National Security Committee. But it's important that agency work closely, as it will, as similar agencies have in the past, with what the states and territories are doing. I will not be seeking matching funding from states and territories for what the Commonwealth will be providing. I have no doubt they will have a long list of recovery tasks that they will be performing, as we saw in Queensland. Rebuilding of bridges, rebuilding of roads and other critical infrastructure and we will just work hand in glove, as we have in response to previous crises, to ensure the recovery commences and is undertaken in a timely way and getting that support, particularly to small businesses, the number of small business people- I met a fellow down in Bega who just said, Mate, my business is gone. My business is gone. So it's important that they can start to think and have options about how they are going to be able to get through, particularly the next few months and beyond, and then to work closely with the recovery support that's available to then make decisions and plan for their future. That agency will be tasked with ensuring that those forms of income support are in place for those arrangements.
So with those two, the update on our defence operations as well as the announcement of the national bushfire recovery agency, I will hand over to the Minister for Defence and then David to make a few comments.
SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Prime Minister, thank you very much. As the bushfire escalates both in scale and time, so too is the ADF’s response. For the past two months, we have had 2,000 defence personnel from Army, Airforce and Navy on the ground supporting civilian emergency services. As the Prime Minister has said, that has escalated significantly and as we announced yesterday, we have raised that again so my job over the next few days and weeks is to ensure that Defence provides all possible support to initially the humanitarian assistance and also disaster relief activities across all bushfire affected areas.
So the main activities for the next, in moving forward for the next week is as the Prime Minister has said, we are moving more helicopter assets, both from Australia and now looking to source additional helicopter support from allies overseas. We're also making some significant movements into the affected states of army assets, particularly vehicles and engineering support. We are working with the state and federal Health Department to look at what more we can do together in providing medical assistance. Not only on our, the HMS Adelaide and Choules but also deploying medical teams out to remote communities who need that support. We now have three naval vessels on-call as the Prime Minister has said, HMAS Adelaide steamed from Sydney yesterday with 400 personnel, 300 tonnes of relief supplies, a hospital on-board, and so that is now rendezvousing with the Choules and also the Sycamore which have dropped their 1,100 evacuees off at Western Port in Victoria. So in relation to what those naval vessels do next, we are liaising with the Victorian and New South Wales government to ensure we make best use of those naval assets over coming days.
We are also now standing up our three new taskforces. For the first one based out of Victoria, based in 4 brigade in Melbourne, that is going progressing very well, we’ve also stood up a joint task force based out of the 5th Brigade headquarters in Sydney and also now out of 9th brigade in Adelaide and Tasmania. We have activated these brigades through the callout to ensure that we have the maximum possible trained personnel available to support the efforts in their States. We have also activated army reserve elements from 17 brigade, which again is headquartered in New South Wales for their specialist logistics support so as we said yesterday, we are making sure that we have the maximum possible specialist people, aircraft, naval vessels and other equipment out forward, so that we can respond very quickly to emerging requirements at the community level. The implementation of the callout which we initiated yesterday, we requested from the Governor General yesterday, is now under way. If anybody who is watching or listening would like further information about the callout, they can contact 1800-DEFENCE to provide further information. And from tomorrow the major newspapers will also contain information on the callout and its implication for the personnel involved, for their families and also their employers.
In addition to this additional support we continue to provide as the Prime Minister had just gone through in some detail, all of the support that we have been doing for the past two months. Doing surveillance, reconnaissance, flying firefighters, overseas firefighters and Australian firefighters to where they’re needed across the country, we have been doing emergency engineering work, we have been feeding hundreds of firefighters and accommodating them across the country and we are now also making bases available for evacuees who need accommodation and healthcare. So please be assured that the defence forces are doing everything that they possibly can to assist Australians across the country who are in need.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you again Linda, David?
THE HON. DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management: Thanks PM. And I think it is important for Australians to understand while conditions have abated, we are still in a severe fire season and conditions can turn in the coming days and weeks that mean people will still be in harm’s way. So I say to every Australian, you must have your plan, you must enact on that plan, you must listen to those brave men and women, those emergency service personnel when they give you direction. Do it. You owe it to them, you owe it to those brave three Australians who serve the community and their nation and lost their lives serving us. It is not a she'll be right situation yet, and we've got to make sure that we work as a nation and we have those plans enacted and ready to move on them. Obviously announcing Andrew Colvin in this agency is an important step in the recovery and we’ve already committed over $100 million already in direct payments to those that have been impacted but also to the NSW government in the recovery of these fires. This is about making sure that we don't just have a Canberra solution to this. This has to be a localised solution whether it be in Kangaroo Island, whether it be Mallacoota or whether it be in Stanfield. We need to make sure that the recovery is tailored to those the local communities to get them up back up on their feet. This is not just about the building infrastructure, rebuilding the infrastructure, is also the huge numbers of native species that we've lost through these fires. But also this is about rebuilding the lives of those Australians that have been hurt by these devastating fires. We are not just going to build the infrastructure, we are going to rebuild the lives. It's important that as they go through this grief of this disastrous event, they understand that their nation is with them. They share that grief and together we will rebuild their lives and get them back up to where they were before. We are a proud nation, we are a rich nation and we don't intend to leave any stone unturned. We owe it to our fellow Australians who have been impacted by these severe fires.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks you David so to conclude the opening statements, can I again thank all of the State premiers, can I think again all the fire commissioners for the extraordinary work they have been doing in integrating and coordinating with each other and with the Commonwealth, can I thank all those who have been out there in incredibly difficult conditions overnight. Like many of you, I was observing last night those individuals who are gathering together down on the Eden wharf, I can understand the great sense of anxiety as some of them now as they left their homes, at some point they will be able to go back and check on what has happened to their properties but the calmness and the order and the stability in which people responded last night and followed the messages I thought was extraordinary and I think greatly assisted the authorities as they went about the task they had to go through last night. But to all of those, thank you so much for the way you have been responding and the Commonwealth, states, local government will continue to provide the support and response coordination needed. Chris?
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, how do you respond to the NSW rural fire service chief’s statement that he was disappointed and surprised by being blindsided by your announcement yesterday and that when the call did go to Gladys Berejiklian it came 5 minutes before your announcement which some in the New South Wales government are saying shows a fundamental lack of professional courtesy.
PRIME MINISTER: Well in terms of last point, I don't agree with that point, but what I would say is that this matter was dealt with at National Security Committee yesterday, I left that National Security Committee meeting and then went out and I contacted Premiers. And advised them of the decisions that we were taking and I want to stress the decisions that we took yesterday and enacted yesterday were a statement all about the scale of this crisis. It is in no way a statement on the performance of the state and territory agencies. I have been consistently complementary and remain absolutely complementary of their extraordinary work. And without their work, without their planning, without their preparations, then I fear what has really been a terrible tragedy would have been far worse. And so we have enjoyed as the Commissioner himself has said, a very strong working relationship. There was a breakdown in communications at the defence liaison level with the headquarters yesterday, that matter was addressed by the Minister for Defence yesterday and she made comment about that this morning, in the media. And so there has been a subsequent conversation between myself and the Premier, and the Minister in New South Wales and we have addressed any of those issues that arose from that. We communicated the decision as soon as it had been made. To all states and territories, particularly those who are affected today, last night, I mean South Australia, Kangaroo Island, I know the Premier is there today, attending to those issues. All of those Premiers who are directly affected were contacted and understand, I believe, that the nature of this support is to supplement, to support, to cut down any response times to ensure that
what we are all focused on, whether it is myself, the Premier, in New South Wales or any other state, or the Commissioner in New South Wales or anywhere else, is just trying to get as much support and coordinated effort in as quickly as possible.
JOURNALIST: You've announced more air tankers yesterday. You announced $11 million in
December, but there have been calls for a long time now for more capacity with aerial firefighting and more contributions from the Federal Government. Why wasn't more done by the Federal Government sooner to put in funding ahead of the bushfire season? Have you been putting in too little, too late?
PRIME MINISTER: Well David I addressed this yesterday at the press conference we had yesterday. The response that we made was to provide the additional funding last year of $11 million and this year of $11 million. Which brought it up to the level that was being sought in those years. And in this year's Budget, that will be provided again on an ongoing basis. And so after becoming Prime Minister they were matters we put in train with that additional funding and resource and as was noted yesterday, at 8.00pm the previous evening we received the request for an additional water bombing asset and we moved to provide four with an additional $20 million so when you look at that over the scheme over the last couple of years and the additional resource that has been provided on top of our standing commitment of $15 million, it means that the resources were delivered and now we will ensure they are there on an ongoing basis.
JOURNALIST: PM on the recovery and reconstruction arrangements you've announced today, the Black Saturday royal commission put the cost of those fires at $4.4 billion, its obviously early days but do you have an estimate of the cost of these fires and in terms of the financing arrangements, things like that, there will be a hit to agriculture and tourism from this. Are you looking at- can you fund the reconstruction from within the Budget or would you be looking at things like a levy or something like that to protect the surplus?
PRIME MINISTER: Well let me deal with those in turn. The cost- the fires are not over. The crisis is not over. There are months to go. And particularly in the southern states and speaking to Premier Hodgman, I mean in Tasmania and in Victoria, their more difficulties seasons usually come later in January and in February. So there is still a long way to go. And sadly there will still be more cost that will be incurred as a result of the devastating impacts. The recovery need is going to be great. Very great and that recovery, the rebuilding will be done. It'll be done, supported by the Commonwealth government, by the state governments by the local government. The Commonwealth will be acting across all those tiers, providing financial support, both directly whether its primary producers, to small businesses, to local councils and others to engage in that rebuilding effort. There will be no levy because have been assuring that we have been in a position to deal with matters such as this. And so, we will be committing everything that is needed and more as it is required. Cabinet will be considering the details of that but there is already a firm proposal that was considered by National Security committee yesterday about what the initial investment will be and I will make further announcements about that with the Treasurer, with the Treasurer tomorrow, and so we will be focusing on what the need is and ensuring that that is met.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry? I will give further details about that tomorrow after it has been considered by Cabinet.
JOURNALIST: You’ve been heavily criticised for your handling of the fire situation, can Australians still have faith in your leadership and that you are able to lead them through this disaster?
PRIME MINISTER: I will continue to demonstrate what we are doing through our actions. Sure, there has been a lot of commentary, there has been plenty of criticism, and I’ve had the benefit of a lot of analysis on a lot of issues. But I can't be distracted by that. And the public, I know are not distracted by that. What they need us to focus on, all of us actually. All of us, focusing on the needs there in the communities in getting the support where it needs to go. That is very much where my focus is and that's where it will continue to be, working closely with the states and territories, working closely with my ministers and the agencies, the defence force, the new recovery agency, to be led by Mr Colvin and ensuring they have the support, resources and communications that they need.
JOURNALIST: What you say though to the criticism that the ADF announcement yesterday came too slow? Do you believe you could or should have announced it earlier, a week ago or before Christmas? And could that deployment, the use of the ADF and the assets have actually have helped in the fire crisis over the last couple of weeks?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the question assumes the ADF wasn't present or doing anything and that's not the case as you know. The ADF has been present and involved significantly and heavily at the request of state agencies now for many months, going back to Canungra in September. And they have been deploying consistently since that time. The announcement we made yesterday was the first ever as we understand it, compulsory callout of reservists to provide support in relation to a domestic natural disaster. That is an unprecedented step. That step was taken as a consequence of the sheer scale that had moved beyond what is the reasonable expectation of any agency or state or territory authority. It is a statement of the scale of the need, not a statement of the response of any agencies up until that point in time. And it needed to be stepped up and as I said yesterday, this was something that we were building up to week, by week, by week. That commenced with deploying ADF liaison officers directly into local incident response centres. To ensure they were more quickly aware of needs on the ground that could be channelled up through their chain of command. And that could be raised at headquarters level to ensure that the needs were there and people were aware of what responses could be provided and that now will continue in a more proactive way. And so this was what was needed yesterday. This will be needed now for some period of time. I should stress whether it is the additional payments that are being made for income loss, for volunteer firefighters, or what was announced yesterday, this is the most significant. This is the most comprehensive, and the most dramatic in terms of escalation of response by a Commonwealth government that we’ve seen to disaster such as this. And I believe that is where we need to focus our attention and we are seeking obviously to communicate that directly to Australians to ensure they can have comfort, that the response is matching the need. Phil, Phil?
JOURNALIST: On the topic of climate change, you have stated several times in recent months that Australia's contribution to global emissions cannot be blamed for the climate changes driving this crisis. Given that, can you give a commitment to people in this country that Australia will use whatever diplomatic influence it can to pressure bigger allies like the United States and countries like China, the big polluters, given that we are now at the forefront of this, to do more? I mean, can you use your relationship with Donald Trump, for example, as fruitless as it may be, to pressure him to re-join Paris, given your own country is now at the forefront of the effects of climate change?
PRIME MINISTER: I should stress that there is no dispute in this country about the issue of climate change globally, and its effect on global weather patterns, and that includes how that impacts in Australia. Because I have to correct the record here. I have seen a number of people suggest that somehow the Government does not make this connection. The Government I lead has always made that connection and that has never been in dispute. What we are focused on is what our response is and we set that out very clearly and that response, as it always has, will continue to be upgraded to ensure we meet and beat the commitments that we have made. Now, I participate in these discussions globally all the time and if you look actually at what is occurring in the United States and you look what their emissions trajectory is currently, you will note that it is not increasing, as I am advised, and whether that is done and it is achieved in isolation as an individual country or how they choose to engage in an international agreement is ultimately a matter for sovereign governments to determine. Other governments are engaged in their commitments, but I am pleased to say Australia is one of the countries that can say that this year, as we face this crisis, as climate change has impacted on the world's weather patterns that has led to where we are here today to some extent, combined with many other factors, the drought being the most significant, that right now, Australia is beating the commitments that have been made in 2020, and there are very few countries that can make that claim. So in terms of our response, particularly what we have been able to do, which means our emissions per year are 50 million tonnes less on average each year then when we first came to government. This is something that has been achieved through many efforts but they included the efforts of the government as well to ensure we can be in that position and meet the targets we have. So we will continue to engage in those forums as we recently have, but most importantly, we will continue to carry our share of that burden and demonstrate that through the way that we are going to meet and beat our emissions reduction targets to ensure we can have the proper effect on global temperatures.
JOURNALIST: The Prime Minister has obviously copped a bit of belting for going to Hawaii during the bushfire crisis. Minister Reynolds, have you taken any leave during this period? Have you been out of the country at all?
SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS CSC, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Like many of my colleagues, I have certainly spent time with my family over Christmas. But throughout that time I can assure you that I have been regularly on the phone with the CDF, with the Prime Minister, with Minister Littleproud constantly. So...
JOURNALIST: So you haven't been out of the country?
SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS CSC, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: I have had a holiday with my family for a few days over Christmas, but again, I wasn’t on leave.
JOURNALIST: Was that in Bali?
SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS CSC, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Yes I was.
JOURNALIST: Were you on holidays in Bali?
SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS CSC, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: I spent a few days with my family, yes. But again, I was in total contact with the Prime Minister and the Secretary and the CDF.
PRIME MINISTER: All the announcements that we have made, we have continued to work closely, as all Cabinet Ministers have worked together and directly with their state and territory counterparts.
JOURNALIST: Are you still confident you can bring down a budget surplus this financial year given the financial cost you face?
PRIME MINISTER: Based on my mid-year statement and my discussions with the Treasurer - the Treasurer is a member of the National Security Committee, as is the Minister for Finance, and we considered those matters yesterday and the commitments that we can make, particularly what are needed right now, we can meet within our budget requirements as they are currently assessed. Obviously, as you go into the Budget, there are other economic parameters which will impact on that ultimate outcome and I can't foreshadow those at this present point in time but based on the financial position that was outlined not that long ago in the mid-year statement, then that enables us particularly this year, to be in a position and next year to be able to provide significant support.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Australia is a federation and states are primarily responsible for fighting fires, but what seems to be extraordinary about the circumstance this summer is they’re burning in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia.
PRIME MINISTER: All around the country.
JOURNALIST: Is it time for a national Royal Commission into this specific circumstance so that we can know what could have been done that might not have been done and how we proceed from here? Would you consider that?
PRIME MINISTER: Certainly. And it is something I would consider in concert with states and territories and these are matters that we are assessing right now. But right now, the message I have from state premiers and from fire commissioners, is we are fighting the fires now. We are dealing with the emergency response now. We are dealing with the coordination and delivery of resources right now, and there is a broad agreement about the need, as there always is after any natural disaster, for there to be a thorough and proper review of both the contributing factors and the response and improvements that can be made. And it has been that very process in the past that has led to so many improvements that have been on display as we have dealt with this current catastrophic season. So of course, Chris, what form that ultimately takes is something that I will work closely with the premiers on.
JOURNALIST: And strategically, as we all know, anyone who has travelled to any coastal town in Australia is there is one road in and one road out of every town in Australia. Again, do we have to look at the way our infrastructure is set up in terms of trying to remove people from harm’s way?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there is not only that, there is matters I have referred to also around planning and building regulations and where people are allowed to build residences and in what circumstances and the land clearing arrangements, and of course hazard reduction has been a constant refrain as I have been on the ground. But I also acknowledge the drought conditions can make that very difficult on occasion but we also know there have been many occasions where the hazard reduction has been actively resisted and that is something that we will have to learn from as well. So I think they are all very valid points that you are making and they are certainly things that will be considered and brought together initially, in terms of initial lessons and immediate take outs for action when premiers rightly meet when there is the opportunity to do that as has been scheduled in March. I think that gives us the appropriate time to bring forward some immediate steps and for those to be considered by premiers before moving to broader scale reviews. There hasn't been a question at the back, I'm happy to move it around…
JOURNALIST: You’ve mentioned hazard reduction, there is a bit talk about out there on the ground as well about the Greens being blamed and environmentalists being blamed for the state of these bushfires. Do you buy into that at all?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, there has been a lot of blame being thrown around. And now is a time to focus on the response that is being made. Plenty of people have blamed me, people have blamed the Greens, people have blamed... who knows? Honestly, blame doesn't help anybody at this time, and over-analysis of those things I think is not a productive exercise. The appropriate exercise at the moment is coming together, as David was just saying. That is the other piece of feedback that I get in response to a lot of the noise and blame and commentary and analysis on particular issues that are a long way away from the main issue which we need to focus on, and there is a frustration in elements of the community that too much attention has been placed on that at the moment and there is a need for the community to want to come together, despite the great frustration, despite the heavy sense of loss and the heavy sense of grief and the fear. I mean, one part of this fire crisis and catastrophe across the country, which is not unprecedented in one way, but its extent I think is more extreme than we have seen, and that is the smoke and the haze that sits over this city now, that sits over my home city in Sydney, that sits in many places along the coast and the fire-affected areas, and that haze, that smoke, apart from its direct health effects, which are also of concern, really does, I think, impact on people's sense of well-being and that can have broader impacts about how people are feeling through these events. And despite all that, I have been so impressed by the calmness and the support that people have provided. And so I understand that, I really do. Jenny and I understand it, our kids are here, they breathe the smoke like anybody else and we have the same concerns that others do who would be in an area that is not impacted directly by fire but these things, it makes it very ever-present in people's minds. I can understand that, how that contributes to how people are feeling about this issue around the country, and so that is acknowledged. But what most importantly is needed is that we just keep working together, and we are. Premiers, commissioners, Prime Ministers, local mayors, local volunteer workers, police, emergency services, paramedics, rural fire service volunteers, emergency services, St John's Ambulance, the list is long. It is incredibly long. And then there are those other stories of incredible kindness, as people have gone to the checkout with a bag full of groceries or things that they have needed, and they have looked like they are in terrible distress, and the person before them paid for the groceries before they even showed up. I have heard that story many times and it is a touching story about what is the real spirit and Australia's real response to these disasters.
JOURNALIST: Just following up on Sam’s question about holidays, whether it's the decision to take a holiday or whether it's questions over the timing of the ADF deployment, the big question here is, has the government done enough soon enough? Australian elect leaders not just to respond to crisis but to anticipate and prepare for them. What do you say to that big question about whether you were sufficiently prepared, sufficiently took this seriously enough to deploy as much help ahead of time as possible? What is your response to that?
PRIME MINISTER: The big question is the response that people need right now and will continue to need right now. But in terms of the broader question that you have raised, the government at Commonwealth level, at state level, has responded based on the advice that was provided by commissioners and others from Emergency Management Australia to prepare us for the current fire season and has taken the precautions in accordance with that advice. And I must say, that advice accords with a lot of the sort of more public commentary about other advice that has been reported on, and that is why the extra $11 million went in this year, why it went in last year. That's why a lot of the arrangements that have been undertaken have been put in place. As I have said on a number of occasions, we had similar fears going into last year's fire season and thankfully for that time, they were not realised. This year they have been realised and some. Well beyond, I think, even what the most severe predictions were and that is why the response that we have now escalated to has been lifted to that level. There are many views in hindsight, David, and that is why you have reviews to have the benefit of that hindsight to support you respond to future events, which no doubt will occur again in Australia but the response that you undertake, the things that you prepare for, like the callout, which was prepared for in November. The issues of income loss support. Options prepared well in advance of that decision as well and activated upon the request of the New South Wales State Government. The options constantly being prepared, even the stand-up of the Agency as we are talking through now, has already been through some significant earlier runs in our response to previous arrangements, which means we can put them in place very, very quickly. The scale of the disaster is enormous and it is a reminder of the terrible threat that nature provides in this country, and we will continue to seek to match that as best as human beings are able to do, working with everything that we have available to us. And my answer to Australians is yes, you can be confident that the government, the state governments, the local governments, all agencies, are putting everything they have into this and will continue to do to support their safety, to protect their homes, to protect their property and then to rebuild both their lives and their communities and their homes and their businesses and their services as quickly as possible on the other side. I had one question there who has been very patient and then I'm happy to take… I haven't got much to what I said on Iraq yesterday but...
JOURNALIST: Just on your ad detailing the ADF assistance. The Australian Defence Association has been labelled it a clear breach of the non-partisanship convention applying to both the ADF and ministers. I just wanted your response on that?
PRIME MINISTER: I think this issue received a lot of attention. Let me just stress firstly that the postings that we've made in messages has been to inform the community about what the Commonwealth Government is doing. And that is what we must do. Wherever I've been, people have said, "What are you doing? What are you doing? What are you providing? What is the ADF doing? What payments are being made? Where are the aerial bombers?" All of these things, the questions that have been to me as Prime Minister and it’s important that I communicate what we are doing with the Australian people. As much as we'd all like to only rely on the reporting of the media to get those information out, I will also seek to carry that message directly to the Australian people to ensure they are aware of what we are doing. Now, this is the same format that has been used to communicate these messages now for months, including the sorts of images that you have referred to and no objection has previously been made when that has been done. There's been some talk of the authorisation that sits on the end of that video message. That is a requirement of Australian law. It is not something that I can post on my social media page without carrying that authorisation. That does not mean it is a political message in any way, shape or form. It is just complying with Australian law. As you know, the Opposition, the Labor Party and other parties have similar authorisations on the back of very similar types of messages that they have been conveying on their commentary about these events. So where that can be improved, I'm happy to take the helpful suggestions that have been made, that we've been acting in accordance with the same procedure we've had in place now for many, many months. But let me assure Australians, the purpose is to communicate as simply and helpfully as we possibly can about what the Government is doing to get resources, to get support, to those places that need it and it's important, I think, that over-analysis of these things can create unnecessary anxiety and we're simply seeking to help people know what we're doing.
JOURNALIST: Isn’t there an Australian Government sponsored ad and a Liberal Party sponsored ad, the ad is in tomorrow’s papers…
PRIME MINISTER: It wasn't a Liberal Party sponsored ad. It was authorised me, I am the leader of the Liberal Party, and that’s the only authorisation I can post on something that is posted on my page. As you’d know, that is the same thing that applies to other politicians in Australia. It is simply complying with the requirements of Australian law and to infer from that, and to infer from that there was some other purpose in these communications, I reject absolutely, absolutely and the commentary on that along those lines, I think, is false.
JOURNALIST: With these ads in tomorrow's papers explaining the rollout, is the taxpayers going to fund them or the Liberal Party?
PRIME MINISTER: Those are being placed by the Australian Defence Forces directly under their own authority and under their own budgets for undertaking those and they’ve been done at their decision.
JOURNALIST: Did the Liberal Party pay for this ad?
PRIME MINISTER: It was on Facebook. It's put together by my own office. There are no real honest expenses that are of any significance that are attached to making a Facebook post.
JOURNALIST: Can I just ask where the CDF’s assessment of the safety of Australian troops in Iraq is up to? Has there been a decision at this point to withdraw any troops from Iraq?
PRIME MINISTER: No, but as I said yesterday, these matters are under close observation and under continued review but there are no decisions or I'm not flagging any decisions that would be a decision that the Government will be taking but we will continue to take advice and assess the situation on the ground.
JOURNALIST: Just back on David's question. We're likely to see this disaster continue every year. Do you think there is a need to handle it differently, say, next summer or the summer after?
PRIME MINISTER: Every summer we handle it differently and very summer we handle it better. Every summer, the response that is provided and the improved response that is provided undoubtedly ensures that we save more lives and we save more homes and we save more properties and we save more livelihoods. There's no doubt about that. After every event like this, we will all work together to do it even better next time. But I must say, as I said many months ago, our response to these calamitous bushfires is world-leading. Australia's firefighters, Australia’s emergency services, Australia's defence forces, are world leaders in responding to these events and that is on display out there now. And as much as there will always be frustrations when you cannot in all cases completely counteract the forces of nature, there will undoubtedly be shortfalls and frustrations, undoubtedly. But what you do is you identify them and you seek to improve on the way that you address those challenges again in the future. But one thing we can always rely on is that is the good nature and amazing spirit of the Australian people. That assists greatly in how we respond to these crises and keeping the focus amongst our authorities on the things that we need to focus on. There are a lot of distractions out there at the moment. There's a lot of commentary out there on issues that are a long way away from the things that matter most and that is getting help to the people who need it now. Phil.
JOURNALIST: Just on that, if I can ask a logistical question on behalf of those out there in those fire areas. One of the biggest - apart from water - one of the scarcest commodities is fuel, especially diesel.
PRIME MINISTER: Yep.
JOURNALIST: And it's difficult, obviously. There's been runs on petrol stations and the fire trucks are using all the diesel down there, etc. Would it be logistically possible if necessary for these ADF members not to commandeer petrol stations but to start supervising the distribution and supply of fuel and the supply of fuel? There's instances where service stations were stocked but no-one turned up to open them because they were out fighting fires and queues down the streets. That hampered the evacuation the other day. Is that something and I know that's on the minds of people down there - is that something the army can do?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Phil, I know that was an experience you had most recently. I appreciate you relaying that to us at the time because that actually did factor into a lot of our thinking in recent days. Despite the amazing efforts of the New South Wales Government on what was a very, very difficult day in supporting the evacuations that were taking place, there are obviously places that were under considerable stress and experienced the exact things you talked about. That is why through the call-out, one of the things that is on offer and is available as is required is to support the, if you like, the civil order, of being able to facilitate those evacuations. That is a decision that obviously has to be taken with the support of the state government, but this highlighted to me personally when you raised that, of the need for a resource above and beyond what was reasonably expected to be able to be provided in every single corner of every single state affected by the fire. I want to stress this again - the scale of the deployment which is unprecedented in Australia and the federal response, whether it's in the payments we have made or the defence call-out and defence response, is an expression of the scale of the fires. That's what it is. Whether it's Commissioner Fitzsimmons or any of his colleagues, the state premiers, I have nothing but the highest praise for their efforts and every single one of those who serve under their command. It has been extraordinary. But, you know, there are no supernatural powers here. That means that everybody needs support and assistance and where the Commonwealth can step in and provide that in a proactive way, that's exactly what you're seeing, that's exactly what you will continue to see over many months still to come now, proactively, as we said. The Adelaide, sitting out there right now, out of Eden, able to move and will move with what it has available to it, whether it's the engineering equipment that is on board or the medical supplies or the other stores that are there, to be called in and employed in close consultation with the states, so that effort can be well delivered on the ground for the people who are there. So I thank you very much for your attention and there will be futher... sorry?
JOURNALIST: On hazard reduction, you expressed some concern about hazard reduction being a factor here, or lack thereof, and that's borne out in some stats about perhaps not enough of it being done. Do you think that's an area where the Federal Government needs to take a stronger role or even have some kind of takeover of the responsibilities in parkland areas?
PRIME MINISTER: Let me be clear first about the comments I have made on hazard reduction. They've been in response to questions like yours just now and they have also reflected what I have been told on the ground, whether it's in East Gippsland or other parts of the country. So it would be no surprise to anyone who was closely associated with this, that that is a matter that I would say has been most commonly raised when I've been out and about. You're correct to say those issues are run and overseen entirely by state governments, as are many of the other issues that will come into play - whether it's planning and zoning laws and building codes and things of that nature. They are state responsibilities and what is important, I think, in the first instance, is to have a proper consideration of what the contribution of those factors are and what state and territory governments migh do in response to those. But what I have noticed in these disaster, which has been… and I was talking to Prime Minister Howard this morning, former Prime Minister Howard this morning, in comparison with things that we’ve dealt with in the past, there has always been I think a good understanding of the first-responder nature of state governments. But on this occasion, I think the scale of things has been calling for a more… the role of national agencies, which have been there as I have stressed, but how that flows onto these other questions of state responsibilities of hazard reduction and planning and development laws and things of that nature. I mean, that is fundamentally a discussion for the Federation. I think people like things to be as local as possible and that they want things to be delivered as locally as possible. That’s always been my inclination. But you can have no doubt that we will provide the national perspective on this and integration and coordination, using the authorities that we have. People want to see that, just as I think they wanted to see what we announced yesterday and that we’ve built up to now for several weeks. And so we will work together to do all those things, but that’s the key, David. We’ve got to work together and we are working together and we are working together incredibly well and that’s important, especially for the many months that we’ve still got to go on this issue. Anyway, I note again there will be an operational briefing by Defence which the Minister will be there for and that will provide more detail on the granularity of what the Defence response will be. That will be a daily briefing and that will be provided by those who will be operationally responsible. Thank you very much.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you have brought your family, you’re now basing yourself in Canberra with your family.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
JOURNALIST: When did you decide to make that decision and why?
PRIME MINISTER: When we moved, obviously, to the announcement we made yesterday and that we have the fires now moving in a much higher level in multiple states, previously the primary state that was feeling the heaviest of the burden was in New South Wales. That was before the Victorian fires that escalated earlier this week. And we’re standing up, particularly, the response agency which I have announced today and the recovery agency, the Defence Force heightened operations on the new posture, it is better for me to be based here in Canberra than previously where I could get more quickly to the New South Wales headquarters and move around some of the challenges in New South Wales where I previously was. Thank you.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
4 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon everyone, I’m joined by the Minister for Defence and the Chief of Defence Force, and the Head of Emergency Management Australia.
This is a very difficult day for Australia and I want to start by extending my sincere condolences and sympathies once again to all of those Australians and families who've lost loved ones during the course of these devastating bushfires. 23 confirmed deaths to date and we are facing another extremely difficult next 24 hours. This is taking a very heavy toll with more than 1,500 homes already lost throughout the course of this fire season, which has been running since September of this year. From those first fires that I visited up in Canungra all those months ago, through to most recently now. So our condolences to those who continue to suffer and many of those who are left in absolutely disastrous situations as we speak.
I also want to acknowledge the outstanding work that is being done by all of those who've been turning out and responding to these natural disasters, not just in the states currently impacted most dreadfully, in New South Wales and Victoria today, but also up in Queensland, across in Western Australia, down in Tasmania, even today South Australia. This has been touching the entire country.
The responses that have been led by our states has been extraordinary and I want to commend all of the state Premiers for their very close engagement with the Commonwealth and particularly the Premiers I want to thank for the close liaison they've had with me personally as we've been addressing the many issues that they are attending to as they lead those responses in each of their respective states. I also want to thank the various fire commissioners who have been working closely together, and particularly working closely with Rob Cameron from the EMA, coordinating the responses across all the states and all the territories. They have been providing a constant stream of advice, not just now during the course of these fires but, as they do each and every day, 365 days a year, which is their job, to continually provide that advice, both on preparations and planning and, of course, now when we're in the very heat of the fire season itself.
A State of Disaster was declared and commenced yesterday in Victoria and as well there being a state of emergency declared in New South Wales with very serious fires in South Australia with confirmed loss of life there just this morning and as well as in Tasmania, there being serious fires there, fires have also been in WA and, of course, in Queensland where they continue to burn. In recent times, and particularly over the course of the balance of this week, we have seen this disaster escalate to an entirely new level. This length of season is, of course, in many senses, unprecedented, but the ferocity and the absence of dousing rains that would normally bring a season like this under greater control is nowhere in sight and so that means a much longer season is planned for. When I was in Victoria yesterday, one of the key points that was made to me, that the most difficult part of their season is typically usually ahead of them at this point going through February and so there is still a very long way to go. As a result of the lengthy nature of this season and the longer way to go, and the comprehensive application of these disasters in so many states, we have traditionally always acted on the posture of respond to request, in relation to the Commonwealth's action. That is what we've been doing throughout the course of many months now, whether it's been the work that the Australian Defence Force were doing in Canungra all those months ago through to most recently, the reactions we've had to income support, income loss payments that were made at the request of the New South Wales government and the many other requests for assistance with road clearing or, indeed, the response that was made with the evacuation yesterday afternoon. We have been responding in relation to the requests that have been made by those state and territory governments.
We now must move our posture as a Commonwealth as we’ve agreed at the National Security Committee this morning from a posture of respond to request, to move forward and to integrate with the local response. This has been the very clear message that I have received on the many fire grounds in the many affected communities that I've visited now over some months but I particularly must say over the last couple of weeks. The scale of the fires is stretching resources on the ground and there are clearly communities that need additional help and in response to that, we must move forward first as a Commonwealth, particularly with the work of our Defence Force, and then integrate with the local operations that are in place in those local communities. So today we are making a number of announcements in terms of what we will be doing to move into that move forward posturing.
First of all, just around half an hour ago, the Governor-General signed off on the call-out of the Australian Defence Force Reserve to surge and bring every possible capability to bear by deploying Army Reserve brigades to fire affected communities across Australia. I want to stress that the Australian Defence Force have already been out there as you saw in great measure yesterday in particular through the evacuation work that you have seen through the work of the Choules, but I would say as I've seen in many places, whether it's been on search and rescue, whether it’s been surveying the fire front, providing the planning and coordination information, whether it’s been providing catering and accommodation support, clearing roads, our defence force have been out there for many, many months. And what this means is we will deploying those more on a move forward basis and taking on these additional reserves which are being called out as a result of the decision we've taken and authorised by the Governor-General today.
A two-star emergency ADF national support co-ordinator, Major General Justin Ellwood, will have national authority over the ADF joint taskforces in each of the affected states working in co-operation to support state emergency authorities. We already have two such taskforces established in New South Wales and in Victoria, a third will be stood up for South Australia, but particularly focusing on Kangaroo Island at present, as well as to support what is occurring in Tasmania, and if further are needed then further will be established based on what we believe to be the requirement on a move forward basis in other states.
The priority of this deployment is to assist ensuring the safety of life, to support the evacuation of affected people, particularly in isolated communities and to provide assistance to isolated communities and support state-managed evacuation centres. It is to move in and to move forward, particularly in areas that have been devastated by fire to support the immediate response needs there and the recovery that will also follow. The ADF surge includes the deployment of up to 3,000 designated ADF Reserve forces, and I will ask both MINDEF and the CDF to go into details of where they will be placed.
Secondly, the HMAS Adelaide, the navy's largest amphibious ship has been readied to join the HMAS Choules and the MV Sycamore, in supporting the evacuation of citizens from fire affected areas along our coastline. The HMAS Adelaide will sail from Sydney this afternoon. I initiated that process earlier this week at the same time that we initiated the process with the Choules to do what they did so successfully yesterday. They will sail this afternoon, they will be located offshore from the fire affected areas from tomorrow afternoon and the Adelaide is fully equipped and I should say, down in the border area between New South Wales and Victoria. The Adelaide is fully equipped for disaster relief and humanitarian aid, is able to operate all ADF helicopters, 400 crew including medical staff, as well as 300 tonnes which have been loaded up in recent days of emergency relief supplies. The Government has also ordered relevant ADF airlift and reconnaissance capacity to preposition at the RAAF East Sale base which will remain the central hub for Defence Response in the Southern areas.
From tomorrow an additional three Chinook helicopters from Townsville will be deployed over the coming week to support a range of resupply, evacuation, and transport tasks, across the breadth of the affected areas, an additional C-17 Globemaster, 2 C-130 Hercules and 3 C-27 Spartans will also be prepositioned to East Sale. And for people in short-term evacuation distress, defence force bases from Brisbane to Adelaide will provide temporary transit accommodation and support arrangements.
The third area that was considered by the ADF today and by the NSC this morning was that following a request from the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council which was made at 8:00pm last evening, for 1 additional water bombing aircraft, today we have committed up to $20 million to lease 4 extra planes to fulfil that request and to meet any anticipated future requests. That will include two long range fixed wings DC-10s with 36,000 litres capacity and two medium range fixed wings large air tankers with an 11,000 litre capacity. The Commonwealth will fully fund the leasing costs with operational costs to be shared with state and territories as usual as they seek to use those assets. They asked for 1, we’ve given them 4. The Government has already processed, I would note, some 20,600 claims for assistance this bushfire season, and delivered nearly $25 million in Australian government disaster recovery payment and Disaster Recovery Allowances as well as deployed mobile service centres and extended Centrelink phone hours including opening this weekend. As with the floods and the drought we can and will ensure that communities and businesses have the help they need.
I’ll be making further announcements, the Government will standing up a national recovery agency along the lines of what we already established for drought and for the response to the North Queensland floods and I’ll have more to say about that in the next few days about those arrangements.
Today it is about ensuring that we deal with the urgent crisis that is existing across fire grounds in four states in particular, to ensure that we are giving everything that is needed on the ground without being asked, we will be turning up and we will be integrating particularly through the amazing work of our Defence Force coming under an integrated command which will be based here out at JOC as it has been now for some time for their other operations.
I want to end again by thanking the state Premiers for their close co-operation and their support. I know where their focus is. My focus is in the same place. We are communicating regularly and constantly and the fire chiefs and the other emergency services leaders are doing an outstanding job, but today it's about keeping safe, putting yourself in a position of safety, wherever you can, following the instructions that are being provided to you, being patient and being understanding of the difficult situation that the country finds itself in in responding at this time, given the absolutely comprehensive nature of this fire disaster, and to know that each and every hour of each and every day governments of both state and federal levels as well as the local level are working hand in hand to ensure we can deliver the support and the resource that that is needed to alleviate your very difficult situation. I will ask MINDEF to make some comments, and also the CDF.
SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Prime Minister, thank you very much.
I would like to begin also by extending my condolences to all of those that have been impacted by these catastrophic fires. For those who have lost loved ones, for those who lost their livelihood, their homes and their pets, I extend my condolences. I also want to add my thanks and my admiration to the amazing men and women of the bushfire services and also all other emergency services who are providing enormous service and sacrifice to our nation.
I also want to thank in particular our brilliant ADF for the work that they've been doing for the past two months. Over 2,000 regular and reserve members have been out across Australia supporting a wide variety of activities. We've had men and women from the army, air force and navy. They've been doing everything from damage assessment to fire surveillance and mapping, helicopter support, providing base support, catering, logistics, transport, accommodation, and a wide variety of support. So for that, I'm very grateful and I thank them for their efforts.
Three joint taskforces are now operating in New South Wales, Victoria, as well as now in South Australia and Tasmania as of today to provide command and control of ADF assets in those areas in this difficult time. As the Prime Minister said, they will be led by Two Star Major General, Major General Jake Ellwood who will be located at JOC in Bungendore with all the appropriate authorities.
So what does this mean for the ADF? It means that as we ramp up further in support, our personnel and our military assets can be deployed in a timely manner, and also as the Prime Minister has said in a very forward-leaning arrangement with state and territories. But it also allows the ADF to remain agile and as events unfold, particularly as we see how events today and into the next few days occur, we can respond as quickly and agilely as possible. Also to support evacuees leaving fire zones, Defence is providing temporary accommodation at bases as the Prime Minister said, between Brisbane and Adelaide. That will continue.
The most significant announcement today is the call-out of the army reserves. At the Prime Minister's request early this morning, I signed an instrument requesting the Governor-General call out designated army reserve forces. This includes the 4th Brigade from Victoria, the 5th Brigade from New South Wales and now the 9th Brigade from both South Australia and Tasmania. As well as reserve logistic elements from 17 Brigade which is headquartered in New South Wales. Can I say the Government has not taken this decision lightly. In fact, it is the first time that reserves have been called out in this way in living memory and, in fact, I believe for the first time in our nation's history. In November last year, I requested that the Governor-General authorise a much smaller call-out of 20 reserve personnel for service in Queensland and this was undertaken as a validation exercise in the event that we would need a much larger call-out in this bushfire season, which sadly now has come to pass. So with the Governor-General's concurrence in the last hour, the compulsory call-out will give the CDF the authority to direct reservists to perform continual full-time service, to provide civil aid, humanitarian, medical, civil emergency and also disaster assistance. This will be enhanced with specialist ADF personnel with wide ranging skills, including engineering, medical, logistics and also transport support.
So, building up over time, from the next few days and weeks, as required, up to 3,000 reservists will increase Defence's foot-print and they will reach out to all fire affected areas in coming days. The CDF's four key priorities for reservists under this call-out, are firstly, to provide isolated communities with life-saving supplies for immediate relief. Secondly, to provide evacuation to vulnerable people in isolated communities. Thirdly, assisting with assessment and reopening of vital roads and fourthly, to assist fire services with preparation of fire breaks away from the fire fronts themselves. As I have previously said, at this stage we do have sufficient personnel between full-time and reservists who have been called for that are currently deployed. I've got to say as a reservist myself, our nation's proud history of service, reservists have always performed a critical part in these call-outs for national disasters here in Australia and overseas but it has always been on a voluntary or called-for basis.
From today, reservists who are called out be will be placed on compulsory continuous full-time service for the duration of the call-out order. Which will remain in place until it is no longer needed. This means they will be supported in the same way as their permanent force colleagues and their civilian employment or their day jobs will be protected under legislation. Many of our ADF reserves are already engaged in responding to these fires in many different ways. I also need to make it very clear, particularly to the reservists out there today, who are looking at this action – is that for those reservists who are already engaged in the current emergency response, will be exempt from this call-out. So that includes reservists who are already providing service in voluntary fire services state fire and rescue, state and Federal Police, ambulance, and emergency repair of power and communication company support. Also, ancillary support to the Red Cross. Also any reservists who find themselves, their family or property under threat from fires, of course, will also be exempt from this call-out.
Finally, on the call-out, any business that employs reservists, subject to the call-out orders are eligible for financial remuneration under the employer support payment scheme if specific conditions are met. For those who have any questions on this today, there is a number that you can call. It is 1800 DEFENCE.
So in conclusion - to the families of our defence force personnel as well as all of those emergency services men and women fighting these fires, I thank you all very much for your service and also for those of you in the communities who are supporting our ADF men and women out in the community. Particularly for families, your support for your loved ones in uniform makes their service possible. But I’d also like to thank the Prime Minister for his incredible leadership during this difficult time for our country and also to Minister Littleproud. This has been a whole-of-government effort from the very start. The co-operation at all levels of government, both federally and with state, has been outstanding. We are not out of this yet. But I want to assure all of you that this is what the ADF does best - they get on with the job and they do it really well. All Australians can be assured that the ADF is doing all it can to support our communities in this time of need and I’d end on this point, to say I'm incredibly proud to be the Minister of our ADF and see and know what they're doing. There's probably no prouder Minister for Defence anywhere in the world today. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Linda. Angus? Would you like to add further comments?
General Angus J. Campbell, AO, DSC, Chief of the Defence Force: Prime Minister and Minister, I thank you very much for both of your comments. Could I echo the acknowledgement, the respect and admiration that I and the ADF and colleagues in the Commonwealth feel for the efforts of emergency services, fire services and the leadership of states and territories throughout this bushfire crisis.
The announcements today see a lift in our naval on-water presence with HMAS Adelaide joining Choules and Sycamore, an increase in the number of aircraft and helicopters operating in affected areas involving Chinook helicopters, multirole helicopters, light liaison helicopters, as well as P-8 surveillance aircraft, C-17, C-130 and C-27-J transport and lift aircraft. Importantly, the approach of welcoming and opening for temporary transit and support, our bases from Brisbane through to Adelaide is to assist those who have evacuating affected areas to return to home and loved ones where they can.
The Minister and the Prime Minister have offered in some detail the call-out orders that have been issued. Major General Ellwood will command three joint taskforces and others if they are required centred on New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia-Tasmania. His role through those joint taskforces will be to coordinate, engage and work in complement to the direction and intent of states and territory authorities and to utilise the enhanced capabilities of our call-out reserve elements and those specialist elements of the permanent force that will be put together and working in integrated self-contained and self-sustaining teams able to move into areas in coordination with state authorities to assist those isolated communities, to assist persons seeking to evacuate, to support state established evacuation centres and to work with fire agencies, with regard to the cutting of fire breaks or the clearing of roads and any other activity that might assist those isolated communities in terms of resilience, support, care to our people and I emphasise - it's our people. It's your Defence Force and we are here to serve you. And it's an incredible privilege to find myself leading that Defence Force at this time and we are moving out and moving forward to work with state and territory colleagues to do everything we possibly can to assist Australia. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks you Angus. And today's decision puts more boots on the ground, puts more planes in the sky, puts more ships at sea, and puts more trucks to roll in to support affected communities. Today I will also note that the national security committee also considered the events that have taken place very recently in Iraq and I can deal with those matters also by question if you’d like. Let's move to questions.
JOURNALIST: Just in relation to those water bombers, the RFS Chief in New South Wales Shane Fitzsimmons has said today that the Federal Government rejected the business case a couple of years ago for more of those water bombers. Was that a mistake and how quickly will they be able to actually be tackling the fires in Australia if you are leasing them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, two points - first of all, in response to that business case, the Government responded with two separate decisions of $11 million which brought it up to the same level of capacity as was sought by that business case. There was a first decision which I announced just over a year ago and Linda was the Emergency Management Minister at the time and more recently just before this Christmas, there was a second supplementary investment of $11 million which supported the same business case proposition. That ongoing support will be there at that level in the Budget and going forward. So that business case was addressed through a different method,
JOURNALIST: Was is a mistake not to actually just get the planes though?
PRIME MINISTER: Well what happened was we put the resources in to provide the support for those assets and we have over 147 in fact, and we've just added an additional set of four very large assets to that mix. So we have provided those resources, we will continue to provide those resources. I note that last night at 8:00pm we were asked for 1 by those same agencies and we have provided 4. And so whenever asked, we are responding. But as I said now, we are moving past responding, we're not waiting to be asked, we're moving forward and integrating with what is happening on the round.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister where are the water bombers actually coming from and which world leaders have you called to ask for water bombing assistance?
PRIME MINISTER: These arrangements are done through the arrangement of NAFC. I can ask Rob to comment further on this, but what we need are water bombers that meet the technical and specific requirements of the deployment in Australia. It's not a matter of just trying to hustle up some planes from somewhere around the world. What you need is the precise asset to deal with the situation in Australia. And NAFC is an organisation we work through to source and locate the specific aircraft that we need and meet those payments. Now, two of those will be available within seven days and the other will be available within 14 days is my advice. We received the request at 8:00pm last night and we have actioned it today.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, as of 1.00pm today, there are three emergency warnings, 16 watch and acts in NSW alone, resources are stretched, as you acknowledged - how concerned are you about what we're likely to see at the end of the day?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, over the last many months and particularly in recent weeks, I have had the opportunity to engage directly with people and understand their fear, their concern, their frustration, their anxiety and their anger. When I listen to that carefully, and I understand it, and feel it with them, the response that is required is what I have announced today. The response that is required is to get the boots on the ground, to get the planes in the air, to get the ships out to sea, to ensure the trucks are ready to roll in with the supplies, not just in advance or to support or to try to make contact with these isolated communities which has involved everything from dropping in supplies, I mean out at Mallacoota we've been delivering 12,000 litres of fuel every day. Over 1,000 people were evacuated yesterday, getting contact into those very remote areas. It's also been about what happens after. What I saw particularly last week is what happens after the fire has gone through and how isolated and alone people feel. I experienced that first hand. That has been a key factor in what has led to today's decision.
JOURNALIST: …I want to confirm that you will stay in Australia for the rest of the month?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I should have mentioned also, it's already been reported, but I was able to speak to the Prime Minister of India last night. I made it I think pretty clear yesterday that my intention about the upcoming visit to India and Japan but of course the first people to hear about that should be those who had invited us to those meetings. That's why I took the time to be able to make contact directly with the Japanese ambassador last night and I spoke directly to Prime Minister Modi. Both, and Prime Minister Abe was able to relay it to me through his ambassador, their sincerest wishes and deep sympathies to Australia, as did Prime Minister Modi directly. These events they're very aware of and they completely understand. I should stress that both of those scheduled meetings are postponed and we will be moving quickly to identify another opportunity, preferably earlier this year, where our arrangements can align and we look forward to that. There was a lot of work we were looking forward to doing at those meetings, both of those meetings. We were at an advanced stage when it came to our Defence, intelligence and security arrangements with both India and Japan and we were looking to progress those as well as well as broader trade discussions but they both understand that right now the ongoing nature of these crises and also the fact that we will move as the fires roll on, there is a recovery then to be initiated. And the Commonwealth agencies will also play a very significant and often lead role when it comes to things like income support, and disaster relief, and rebuilding businesses and rebuilding infrastructure, which we will do also in concert with the states. I will have more to say about that in the next few days. That will be a very significant focus of my efforts, particularly over the course of this month but also continuing to go out and listen to those who are on the ground and provide what other comfort we can through making those visits.
JOURNALIST: Can we clarify the numbers involved in this extraordinary call-out of reserves. Minister Reynolds I think you said up to 3,000, then you outlined exemptions, does that mean it's 3,000 less those who are exempt or is there a bigger catchment group of 4,000, 5,000, from which you can and will draw?
MINISTER REYNOLDS: Ultimately it will be as many as is required. We are starting the logistics of the call-out today. The processes to contact and identify people and get them enlisted. So that they come under the continuous full-time service requirements. It won't be, we won't be calling out entire brigades. What we will be doing is that the brigades are now already standing up and the taskforces, but we will go through and identify those people that we need, people that have got the trades and skills we need for tasks to undertake. So we've said we've estimated up to about 3,000, but again, it might be less, it depends on what's actually required as we go forward. Because at the moment this is open-ended. So we haven't got an end date for this. So the numbers will ebb and flow. But ultimately we will be there as long as we are needed, until communities are able to sustain a lot of the local logistics themselves through local businesses in particular.
PRIME MINISTER: If we need to call out more, we will. I think that is important. Going across all the announcements we have made today, as you heard, the Minister for Defence had already effectively drilled this exercise earlier to ensure that we were in a position to make this very decision. The decisions that were made in relation to the deployment of the Choules and Sycamore and indeed the Adelaide had been made earlier this week. The loading up of stores and the dealing with getting the Adelaide ready for deployment had been happening now for some days and equally the work we've been able to do to move on the aerial, the water bombers, as I indicated yesterday at the press conference, this is something that Emergency Management Australia working together with the states and territories have been prepositioning for, which means, enables us to move as quickly as we are.
JOURNALIST: Have you spoke on the states about this and have any expressed reservation about this, about you potentially tripping over each other, which is what you said at your press conference?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah I spoke this morning particularly to those states directly affected, and I spoke to Premier Andrews and Premier Berejiklian and Premier Marshall and Premier Hodgman, all of whom welcomed the initiative. As I made clear and as both Linda and the CDF has said, move forward and integrate. That is the order, that is the direction. Which means to work under the control and command and direction of those local authorities. Now, it was about two weeks ago or thereabouts, after I was out in Ilford and out in Mudgee, what became clear to me at that point and what was a very helpful outcome of that visit and the Defence Minister and I spoke afterwards is that we needed to get Defence liaison officers not just into the headquarters, in Brisbane and in Sydney and in Melbourne, we needed them actually in the incident response centre, whether it was in Bairnsdale, or whether it was in Mudgee or whether it was in Wilberforce or any of these other places, to ensure that we had eyes on the need at a local level and this will be one of the key mechanisms through which Defence can task the brigades that have been called out. We will know what is coming through by our direct liaison in those incident response centres. I was in Bega the other day and speaking to our Defence people there. They know what is happening on the ground. They can relay that up in parallel to the joint taskforce commanders and indeed the two-star and that will mean we will know to move forward and how best to integrate.
JOURNALIST: The RFS Commissioner's business plan that you mentioned before, you have pointed to the one-off funding payments, he said it is hard to plan for the long-term without a dedicated ongoing funding boost, are you going to commit to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I just did.
JOURNALIST: So as ongoing [inaudible] money every year or what does that mean?
PRIME MINISTER: As Prime Minister, when I became Prime Minister, this is one of the early decisions I made, was to put that $11 million in, in that year, in response to this need. That has been repeated this year. And as I indicated earlier that will be going into this year's Budget on an ongoing basis.
JOURNALIST: Just in relation to any Commonwealth public health warnings in relation to the smoke. The first instance is fires and people that are injured but there are babies being born in smoke-filled birthing suites, there are parents that are worried about long-term warnings for cancer, pregnant women giving birth to premature babies. What is your advice to families and parents in relation to the long-term health effects of this smoke? Has the National Security Committee received any briefing on this? Are you going to commission any research or do you have any advice to families in relation to that smoke?
PRIME MINISTER: There is an existing process between the States and Territories, and the Health Minister has been directly involved in this as well, which is examining that if the response capability and these health effects. And the advice we have received is that the response that is available to support those health needs at present is working well and there is no requirement for additional support whether it be through hospitals or things of that nature. My advice to those parents – and I completely agree with you about their sense of anxiety about that, and that would also go to elderly people, one of the key actions that is being taken in a lot of the areas, in leave zones, and I saw it yesterday, I saw it down in the South Coast earlier in the week, is moving people out of the affected areas so they can get to places where it is a little less smokey, the haze will come and it will go, as Canberra residents know, as well as Sydney residents know, and everyone else knows depending on which way the wind is blowing but the local health response, your local health providers, your local GP, your local medical services are the ones best placed to advise you. The advice we have received is that capability is very strong and is holding up well.
JOURNALIST: Just in relation to that anger on the ground, I know you have dealt with this issue to some extent but Zoey Salucci-McDermott in Cobargo says you turned your back on her. We've all seen the video. I've watched it, you pat her on the arm and turn around within three seconds. You said twice, both at a press conference yesterday and on A Current Affair, that you talked to this woman. She said you didn't.
PRIME MINISTER: What she spoke to me about was the need for more local fire brigade support. That's what she raised with me when I was talking to her and I went on to meet a number of other people,
JOURNALIST: Why did you walk away from her, do you regret that?
PRIME MINISTER: There were a number of other people there and other people wanting to talk with me as well which is what I went and did. She raised her point with me. I understand her anger. As I said before, Sam, my response to that - I mean I was the first senior leader to go into Cobargo and I understand the first person who is going to walk into that town was going to feel the anger and the fury and the frustration and the loss and the fear that was evident in that community. Now in that community, as others who I met with on that day have said, there was a mixed response. Some were incredibly pleased. Some I embraced, some others didn't wish to, some wanted to shake hands, some didn’t.
JOURNALIST: So are getting your office to follow up with her?
PRIME MINISTER: We will be responding to the need in Cobargo. Her need as she outlined to me on that day was to ensure there was greater RFS support and I have already relayed that on to the RFS. That was the key issue she raised with me. Others I offered to talk to, they didn't want to talk to me and they had some other advice they gave to me - colourfully. I understand that too. I was the first leader to walk into that town. As a result, I anticipated some would feel that way. But I was prepared to go and Jenny and I were prepared to listen and were prepared to offer what comfort we could but the key,
JOURNALIST: And your wife did hug that fireman in Cobargo as well, who was very grateful for that. But as a leader, after that experience and the experience of the firie in the Quaama shed that didn't want to talk to you because he lost his house, what have you learnt as a leader from these last couple of days?
PRIME MINISTER: In all of these incidents, Sam, as you would know because you've been covering these things for a long time, people in these situations have a mix of emotions. These arms have given a lot of hugs in the last three months, in fact they’ve given a lot of hugs over almost the last year and a half in which I have been Prime Minister. Whether it has been comforting the victims of the drought in north Queensland or elderly residents up in Taree. On some occasions people are looking for that. On other occasions they frankly just want to keep their distance. With the brigade captain at Cobargo, he was exhausted. I could see he was exhausted and he just wanted to get back to the shed and have a rest. I was keen for him to have that. There is a lot of criticism and commentary that comes on these things by a capture of a small moment and what you simply seek to do in these circumstances, and you know for Jenny, it's amazing to have her with me when I do this, you try and respect people's space but you know it is a very emotional situation and you have just got to try to manage it as best you can. What I must do is what I'm doing today. The best response I can provide to people who are feeling angry and people who are feeling isolated, for people who are fearful and afraid is to do what I'm doing today.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister do you concede that people aren't just angry about your leadership over these bushfires, they're also angry at what they perceive is a lack of action on climate change by your government? Yesterday you did say you would pursue policies leading up to 2030 that would equate to taking real action on climate change. What does that mean and are you going to be announcing new policies this year?
PRIME MINISTER: We will continue to announce policies in this area as I said at the last election and we will continue to take action on climate change. There is no disagreement at a political level in this country about the need to take action on climate change between the government and Opposition. There is no disagreement about that at all. That was very made very clear at the last election. There is a need, in my view, in my government's view, to pursue a responsible and balanced policy in this area and that is exactly what we are doing. But I've got to tell you, as I’ve toured fire grounds and as I've sat with the victims of these fires, the most constant issue that has been raised with me has been the issue of managing fuel loads in national parks. That has been, particularly where I was in Gippsland, the most common issue raised with me. You raise an important point and a right point about our changing environment and our changing climate. What that means is events such as we've been seeing - and it is the culmination of both the savage drought together with many other impacts, not least being the impacts of arson, and the number of arsonists we have seen through this fire season - is understanding all of those and ensuring that we've got regulations and policies in place that enable us to deal with these longer seasons that don't often come, sometimes with dousing rains. That means you’ve got to deal with hazard management in national parks. As is often the case, those who on one hand say they are seeking those actions on climate change, which we're delivering, can on the same hand, also be those who don't share the same urgency of dealing with hazard reduction. These are difficult issues to balance and resolve and this, of course, will be one of the things that we will consider when Premiers come together after they've been dealing with the fires and that's where they want to be at the moment. I have spoken to Premiers about this. They don't want to be coming to meetings, they want to be dealing with the fires, which is exactly where they are and they'll continue to do that. It is one of many issues but I’ve got to tell you that the issue that is needed today is boots on the ground, planes in the air, ships at sea and trucks rolling into communities that have been impacted. Thank you all very much.
JOURNALIST: Just one on Iraq and Iran,
PRIME MINISTER: Iraq? Ok,
JOURNALIST: Just one on Iraq, the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, you said the National Security Committee discussed it. What did they discuss? Did the US give advance notice and where does it leave the force protection for Australia's maritime security construct element?
PRIME MINISTER: Let me deal with a couple of things on this. I obviously won't go into the sensitive details of things that are discussed in the National Security Committee, and you wouldn't expect me to. But I will say that what we are urging and are in constant contact with our partners is exercising restraint and pursuing de-escalation when it comes to these issues. Our goal remains a united and stable Iraq, which is what also the Canadian government have said and we echo the sentiments that they have expressed. We are very mindful and have spent a lot of effort focusing on those Australians who find themselves in the Middle East at this point and particularly in Iraq and also in diplomatic posts in the region and assuring ourselves of the protections that are in place and support that is there for those individuals and we are monitoring that situation incredibly closely. I would also say that we have been aware of the concerns that the United States have had in relation to some practices by the Iranians for some time and I will leave it to them to talk to what their actions are. But we've been aware of their strong views about those things for many years and I think that speaks for itself. But what we are pursuing is a restraint and a de-escalation of the situation and staying in constant contact with our partners over this issue as well as ensuring the protection of those Australians who find themselves in that region. You mentioned the construct, the Toowoomba hasn't yet left but it will be making its way firstly to Mumbai, I understand, and it will be steaming towards there in a few days' time. We will continue to monitor that situation very closely.
JOURNALIST: There are reports in the UK though that thousands of British troops are there and they weren't told, they weren't given any warning of this action. Was Australia given any warning?
PRIME MINISTER: The United States took this action based on their own information and they took that action without discussing it with partners.
MINISTER REYNOLDS: Can I also just add in relation to force protection, for all of our 2,000 deployed personnel, force protection is always under constant reassessment and that is particularly so in the Middle East. We have personnel in Iraq in three separate locations and the CDF and his team are now doing a reassessment but we are making sure that they are as safe as we can make them.
PRIME MINISTER: And there is contact that is occurring, as I said before. The Defence Minister will speak to her counterpart this afternoon. The Foreign Minister has already spoken to the counterpart in the United States. So there is a constant engagement there and I will be undertaking whatever engagements I need to do at that level as well.
JOURNALIST: Are there any concerns for Australians in the Middle East that you have?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it's a dangerous area, it always has been. I was there with the CDF just over a year ago. The Governor-General was only just recently there, just before Christmas. It is a very dangerous area. We have people at Taji, we have people there at Baghdad airport, we have people in the headquarters there, in fact 280 Defence Force personnel who are there as we speak and let's not forget also the diplomatic personnel that are in these places. Our Embassy there in Baghdad has moved to a very heightened sense of security and is effectively in lockdown and that is the appropriate response I think given the security situation.
JOURNALIST: Has there also been any advice as to whether fuel here could sky rocket as a consequence of what happened?
PRIME MINISTER: Look no, there has been no advice on those things at present. I should also stress, given you’ve raised that issue, we will also be in contact today with AEMO given the risks to the Snowy Hydro assets and generation and capability and transmission lines there which have a fairly significant supply to especially Victoria. That's something that have been managed through AEMO. Our advice currently on that, is that obviously could have a big impact on electricity supplies but, in isolation of themselves, that can be managed but, obviously, given the extreme weather conditions we have at the moment, the loss of that transmission capability, combined with other high demands, could obviously put a very serious strain on the system. So the Energy Minister will be liaising closely with AEMO on those issues as well.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister there are already reports off the back of this press conference that one of the reasons you have decided to take control of this situation is you were frustrated that New South Wales was not accepting offers of assistance. Sharri Markson has been reporting that, has there been any issues or problems with you offering assistance and New South Wales offering a rosier position on the ground than actually was the case?
PRIME MINISTER: What we've been doing is we’ve been working closely with New South Wales. As I said up until now, we've been working to a respond to request posture and we believe, because of the escalation of the scale of what is occurring across now specifically - most significantly four states, that is really going to stretch resources now. I saw that on the ground when I visited communities, that it really does now require us to cut down the response time, for us to move first and move in and integrate under that local command to ensure that these gaps are closed. This is in no way any criticism of any state agency. As I started this press conference I complimented the states, I compliment Premier Berejiklian, I complement Shane Fitzsimmons who has been as always an outstanding leader. He is a fire chief that I think, together with other chiefs, who have done an amazing job both in preparing for this incredibly serious event and leading that response throughout this event.
MINISTER REYNOLDS: That's also one of the reasons why we have pushed out the liaison officers so that we have made it very clear through Rob Cameron’s organisation the EMA, that the states actually know what they can ask, because this is an unprecedented level of support. So part of it has been also for us to communicate early what we can do and for the states then to be in a position to feel comfortable to ask us.
PRIME MINISTER: So for all Australians today, stay safe, listen to the instructions, stay patient, be kind and support each other as I know Australians will. In crises and disasters like this, I always see the best of Australians and the best of Australians will be on display, particularly those very much in the face of that ferocious fire front. I want to thank all of those for everything they're doing today, every child they comfort, every service they render, in ensuring that we get through today and that we get into the rebuilding phase. I want to assure Australians about this: we will rebuild. At a Commonwealth level, we will be playing a significant role, as we have in response to previous disasters, to ensure we meet and beat this challenge as Australians always have. Thank you very much.
Press Conference - Bairnsdale, VIC
3 January 2020
THE HON. DARREN CHESTER MP, MINISTER FOR VETERANS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL: Thanks, everyone, for coming out today. We really do appreciate your interest in our region. It's a really difficult time for the whole East Gippsland community. I'm obviously here with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and it's terrific to have you, Prime Minister in East Gippsland. We'd rather have you under other circumstances, but it is good to have you boss, and showing your support to our community. I've got Tim Bull here, the Member for Gippsland East and the Mayor, Councillor John White a state member of parliament as well. And members of the Australian Defence Force who have been so instrumental in our recovery and relief operations. I’ve got to say, having been OUT on the fire ground today and meeting with people who've lost everything, their spirit and their determination is simply magnificent. The support they're receiving from family and friends is critical. The way our community's rallying together is quite amazing. But to have the professional people here in the incident control centre, to have the volunteers out on the ground, to see them all working so well to make sure that we absolutely minimise the risk to people during these bushfires, but support them as they get through into the recovery stage of the operation - we're in for some pretty tough times again over the next 36 hours. We’ve just received briefings again about the risk, and the number one consideration of us all is the safety of our community. So again, thanks for being here today and to get the message out to our constituents, our people, our families right across the region. It's great to let them know that help is available to them. The Prime Minister will talk, I'm sure, about the extraordinary effort of the Australian Defence Force here in East Gippsland. And I certainly welcome your ongoing support for our community in a very desperate time. Thank you so much. Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Darren. To you and state colleagues as well, and to Brigadier Laidlaw, and to Rob Cameron from Emergency Management Australia, it has been a gruelling period of time here, obviously, in recent days, and there are some gruelling days ahead, as you all know. What I have been pleased to see here has been the absolute integration of the local efforts together with the state efforts and the efforts of the Australian Defence Force. On arriving in Victoria earlier today and being briefed at Sale, there are three very clear focuses of tasking that has been provided to the ADF, and that they are following through in exemplary fashion.
The first of those is to assist with the evacuations that are taking place as we speak now, down in Mallacoota. I report that 57 have already left on the MV Sycamore - they're already on their way - and we expect that, that by 5:00pm this afternoon, the Choules will also be leaving as you know they can take around 900 on that vessel. So around about 1,000 people should have been evacuated out of that area this afternoon. Also I should stress that, in addition to the evacuation effort – and in this evacuation effort, as the Premier said yesterday - it being done in a very coordinated way and a very calm way, reduces the risk of injury and threatening people's safety. And I was pleased to see today, even as we were coming in today, the orderly way in which people are leaving the area - being patient in the queues, whether it's at the service stations or elsewhere. I think that's extraordinarily helpful. But people getting to places of safety right now is incredibly important because, in about 24 hours from now, or even less, the situation will be far more dangerous and, when people are trying to move in those circumstances, then they're obviously putting themselves at great risk and potentially others as well. So that evacuation effort today is extremely important and it's had a very big focus from the Commonwealth.
A second part of the ADF's tasking has been providing the support to isolated communities. Of course, Mallacoota indeed is receiving 12,000 litres of fuel each and every day to ensure that the centre of that town remain operational. That is being done principally through aerial support. And that will continue. Providing this contact into a lot of the isolated communities that you see throughout the East Gippsland area is one of the great challenges, and many of those who are still unaccounted for in this part of the fire grounds are because they are in a lot of those remote communities, and it's very difficult to get to them. But the air support to provide communications in these areas and to provide continuing supplies is a very important part of what the ADF is being tasked to do here, and they are working hand in glove here with the local incident control centre as well as plugging into the broader state-wide effort.
The third area where the ADF is very focused at present is in ensuring that we can keep and we can open up road access to the various parts of the district that have been closed off. And that has been done through the engineers and they are working in with the State Emergency Service, who are doing a tremendous job as well, to ensure that we can get some of these key roads open. But that is a big challenge, and that will particularly be a big challenge in the days ahead when we're confronted with such significant weather conditions and fire threats.
The ADF is also working now with the state government on setting up evacuation centres and providing accommodation - not a tent city, but at a number of those locations that are available - Cerberus is likely to be selected for that task, as is Bandiana. The Sale base has a different role and that is a staging point for operations in assisting with all the things I’ve been referring to before. But all of this will continue to be considered carefully as the planning is put in place. What you can see here is the Australian Defence Force stepping up, along with the many other Commonwealth agencies - whether it's providing support through the payments - earlier today, when I had the opportunity to be with the Churchmans out in Sarsfield, as well as John Kinniburgh, and to see the devastation on their properties - the Churchmans' property, in particular, it is a reminder of the terrible economic impact in the destruction of these primary producers and these businesses. There will be a big rebuilding effort here in East Gippsland, as there has been, and there will need to be in many other parts of the country, as disasters have befallen them. The Commonwealth will play a key role in working together with state and in particular local authorities in building those businesses back up, in building the infrastructure again and ensuring that we can see a recovery of the area. Not just physically, but also economically, to provide those ongoing services that are necessary.
Our concerns are obviously now looking out over the next sort of 24 hour – 48 hour period, this is a ferocious fire that is still out there and the climactic conditions are going to be very difficult to contain that in the next 24 to 48 hours. That's why the evacuation messages are so incredibly important. These fires are at a scale that has been said, on many occasions now, unprecedented - particularly for this time of year, and the length of the fire season, and the absence of the dousing rain that can tend to see some of these larger fires getting under control under different circumstances. But that's not what’s present here.
But what is present here, as I saw out at Lucknow this morning, is the tremendous community spirit. The greatness of Australians in these times of great difficulty. And as a reminder today, this is a time to focus on the task in front of us and coming together and working closely together. I can assure you that is happening absolutely between the Commonwealth and the state government. The Premier here in Victoria and I are in constant contact, and those in New South Wales should know that that is also the case there in New South Wales. We're also standing up today – the volunteer firefighting payments, arrangements in South Australia and in Tasmania, I’ve been in contact with the Premiers there and we're continuing to talk about those arrangements here. That's a matter for the Victorian government. From here, I'll be returning to Melbourne, where I'll have the opportunity to be briefed at headquarters there on the broader state-wide efforts. But in particular here what I've been pleased to see is the community spirit, the community response, despite the terrible and devastating impacts of these fires - the resilience of those who've lost everything and taking great comfort of those who live around and about them as neighbours, as friends, as community members, and the way they've been able to support them at this great time of need. That, combined with the tremendous experience and professionalism of the people who are working out of this very building and the support they're being provided by the Australian Defence Force, providing every plane, every ship, every truck that is necessary to ensure we continue to supply these communities and support them in every possible way we can.
Happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: Your reception here was a lot warmer than in Cobargo. How would you respond to what happened there?
PRIME MINISTER: People are frustrated. People have suffered great loss. They're feeling very raw, particularly where I was yesterday. And that's the case in many parts of the country. And so I understand how people are feeling. And however they wish to respond is a matter for them. All I seek to do is to provide the support of the Commonwealth government and to assure them of everything we are doing to support them in this time of need, whether it's through direct assistance payments or whether it's the work of the Australian Defence Force or getting in behind the emergency services effort here, flying in fuel, flying in supplies, transporting firefighters - I understand there are more firefighters heading south from Queensland at the moment, and we welcome that. Prime Minister Ardern was in contact with me earlier today, and there are more firefighters coming from New Zealand. Prime Minister Marape from Papua New Guinea has also been sending very warm messages of support for his friends here in Australia. And so we're just there to support people in every way we can, however we find them, however they feel.
JOURNALIST: With all due respect, it didn't seem like you were supporting them - when a woman expressed her concerns, there was a bit of an awkward moment - you walked away. Is that really offering support?
PRIME MINISTER: I stood there with the same lady that you're referring to. We talked about what she was asking for, which was greater support for the firefighting effort in that part of New South Wales. So we talked about that.
JOURNALIST: Are you surprised that the attacks are personal, personally directed to you?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't take it personally. I just see it as a sense of frustration and hurt and loss and anger that is out there about what is the ferocity of these natural disasters. And I understand that, and we will seek to provide that comfort and support in whatever way we can.
JOURNALIST: About Andrew Constance on Sunrise this morning saying you got the welcome you deserved?
PRIME MINISTER: I've known Andrew for a long time, and I've reached out to him today. Andrew, like so many in that part of New South Wales – I mean, his neighbour lost his own property there, and he's been defending his own property there. He's deeply part of that community. So I can understand how Andrew would be feeling at the moment. So I've reached out to him today, and offered that apology to him. I was under the understanding that we had made contact with him. That wasn't the case and that's regretted. But I assumed that he was otherwise occupied on that day, which would be completely understandable. But Andrew's been through a terrible, terrible experience and ordeal, and so I totally understand how he'd be feeling.
JOURNALIST: Do you understand that this isn't just anger about what people have lost, but also just anger directed at your leadership, which is what people are saying?
PRIME MINISTER: People are angry. I understand it. People have suffered great loss. People are hurting. People are raw. That's what happens in natural disasters. And we will continue to stay focused on exerting all of our effort to deliver all of the resource and all of the support to ensure that all of these communities can come through.
JOURNALIST: But you don't believe that that actually means people are angry at your leadership?
PRIME MINISTER: People are angry, and they will, if people want to direct that at me, that is up to them. It's not something that will distract me. It is something that I will empathise with. It is something that I understand. It's not something for me to take personally. My job is to stay focused on ensuring that we have the maximum coordination of effort across many states.
JOURNALIST: These criticisms have come from your own party.
PRIME MINISTER: It's the same answer.
JOURNALIST: [Inaudible] evacuation efforts in other areas apart from Mallacoota? I’m thinking particularly of the Corryong fire, where there’s I think the ADF is quite involved, I was wondering if you or anybody else can provide some information about that today?
PRIME MINISTER: Brigadier, did you want to say anything on that one?
BRIGADIER DOUG LAIDLAW, ADF commander of the East Gippsland fires joint taskforce: Thank you. At this stage, the task that we have before us to support an evacuation effort is really to look at where short-term crisis accommodation might be made available for those folk leaving those areas. We have a number of plans which are being worked up at the moment, and that will involve preparation of Defence establishments that the Prime Minister has talked about. We may also remain agile as to whether we have to look at other centres to be constructed to support whatever might unfold over the weekend. We are making preparations to see that we've got those necessary people and equipment available to do that. But we've got to remain agile to see how things unfold over this high-risk period over the next couple of days.
JOURNALIST: There was talk of, correct me if I’m wrong, of a road convoy to get people out of the Corryong area at some stage today. Can you elaborate?
BRIGADIER LAIDLAW: I can't give any further detail on that, no, sorry.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, have you received any more requests for assistance or resources from New South Wales or Victoria over the last couple of days?
PRIME MINISTER: These requests are in real-time and they are flowing through by our embedding in the headquarters both in Homebush in New South Wales and here in Melbourne. As the Premier has already outlined to you here in Victoria, every single request, every single proposal that's been put forward, we have been meeting. And we will continue to do that. The same is true in New South Wales. But I've got to tell you, we're going beyond that. What we are doing now, as these fires continue to rage across a larger and larger area, is I tasked earlier this week the Defence Force to be forward-leaning in both to identify additional supports that they can be providing at a local level and at a state level, and that included, obviously, positioning of naval assets, and we're still working on those things at the moment. But our Defence Forces and all of our other agencies are not just waiting for requests - they are seeking to pre-position before receiving them and, in other cases, just to move forward and provide that support. One of those areas where I'm particularly focused at the moment is the support that will be required on the other side - what we should see, or what we may see, over the next couple of days, where you have communities which may again be isolated and the support that will be needed there for supplies. In particular, whether they be the most basic of supplies in terms of food and water in some of these isolated communities and other potential evacuations that might need to be undertaken. And so these are the things that we're doing. These are the things that we're doing. These are the things that need to be done. And the government is just getting on with that job, working closely with our state counterparts and ensuring that this is done in a very coordinated way.
JOURNALIST: You said on radio this morning that at this stage you’re still open to going to India in nine days. Is that still the case? If it is, is it really appropriate to leave the country when it's in so much desperation?
PRIME MINISTER: The National Security Committee is going to hook up actually in the morning on this. I'm inclined not to proceed with that visit. There are some issues that I need to resolve formally, through what you’d expect when you make a decision of that nature. To work though those issues with the other Ministers. But that is my inclination at this point, I’ll make a further announcement on that and we’ll make the arrangements accordingly.
JOURNALIST: Have you reached out to world leaders to see if you can use their aircraft? In France and Canada, they’re sitting dormant, it’s winter. Can we borrow that?
PRIME MINISTER: These are things that our emergency management authorities and our chiefs and other work through all the time to locate where potential other assets are. As you know just over a couple of weeks ago, before Christmas, we increased the amount of funding for the firefighting fleet - our aircraft - by $11 million. That was on top of the $15 million we already had in. We're also now looking at what additional requests - it has been now quite a few days now where we have been looking at the options available to us to source other aircraft.
JOURNALIST: Is that looking likely?
PRIME MINISTER: We’ll be able to respond to the requests that we have from the states.
JOURNALIST: There have been further requests made since that $11 million?
PRIME MINISTER: There is a request that has only just very, very recently came through, but we are I think well pre-positioned to be able to respond to that.
JOURNALIST: Is that in terms of funding for the aircraft or aircraft themselves?
PRIME MINISTER: It follows the normal arrangements we have between the states, and the territories and the Commonwealth. We all have a cost-funding sharing arrangement, and we'll be meeting our obligations and more, if needed.
JOURNALIST: The Premier confirmed yesterday that the state would be rebuilding the Clifton Creek Primary School. Are there any such specific promises that the federal government can make?
PRIME MINISTER: To work shoulder to shoulder with the state government. I mean the Commonwealth government also as I’ve said to a number of those whose businesses were affected today, provides cash grant support to small businesses, particularly in the short-term. There are other forms of cash-grant assistance that we'll be looking very carefully at for the rebuilding effort. We want to ensure that that rebuilding effort uses as much of the local resources as is possible and to support the local economy. Our minds have already turned to that recovery, reconstruction effort and ensuring that we have the right grants and paperwork to make sure it's as seamless as possible. This proved very essential when we responded to the North Queensland flood crisis earlier in the year getting those payments out quickly. We'll be looking to follow a very similar path.
JOURNALIST: The New South Wales fire chief Greg Mullins, he has compared the way you’re handling these bushfires to the way Trump has handled the mass shootings. How did you feel about those comments?
PRIME MINISTER: I really just remain focused on the job that I have to do, this isn’t about any one individual – certainly not me or anyone else. We all have to do the job that we have to do. I'm going to keep focused on doing that job, I’m going to keep turning up in places that need our support, and our assistance and our encouragement, and I'll continue to do that each and every day while working - what we need to work back in Canberra with the support of the agencies and the coordination of the Australian Defence Forces. The role of the Australian Defence Force will become greater and greater in the days ahead, particularly when the things that they do - the airlifting, the evacuations, the engineering support, the accommodation, the evacuation centres - all of this become more and more required as these fires get larger and larger. And so we'll be running that on a daily basis, on a very close watch. And I think Australians can be confident of that being the case.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister do you regret not listening to Greg Mullins advice earlier this year and the other former emergency leaders that you needed to have more preparations in place for this summer fire season?
PRIME MINISTER: As I said at the time, we took the advice of the fire commissioners. And the fire commissioners' advice were the same as that which is being provided. So we've acted on that advice. We have acted on the advice of the fire commissioners who are there right now and who were preparing us for this season. And that preparation included - in particular - ensuring we had a larger aerial/aviation firefighting fleet in place, and they were one of the many things that we did to get us to where we were going into these fires. I want to be really clear that the response that has been made by our firefighting agencies, our emergency services, our Australian Defence Forces has prevented the loss of many lives and many properties and so no-one went into this fire season thinking that we weren't facing a very big challenge. We indeed thought we would be facing a very similar challenge last year. Over the course of the last 12 months what has made it even more difficult has obviously been the dryness, the last time I was here in East Gippsland, was with Darren, we were looking at the issues of the drought here. So to be here today talking about fires and the response to fires brings those two great disasters that have been impacting our country together. And so these are things that our State agencies, our Federal agencies, our Defence Force have been preparing for. Had they not been able to do that, then I think, although what we have seen has been terribly tragic, particularly with so many still unaccounted for, compared to previous events, they have done an outstanding job and I commend them for their great efforts and in particular for their preparations. Thank you very much.
Press Conference - Sydney, NSW
2 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Earlier today at the invitation of the family, Jenny and I attended the funeral and memorial service for Geoff Keaton. To be there with his partner and his parents and his broader family, it was important to be able to honour his great sacrifice and his tremendous service. Sadly, we will be attending two more of these services in the not too distant future. It was also tremendous to be there with the men and women of the Horsley Park Rural Fire Service Brigade as they provided their guard of honour for their mate. So from all of the nation to Jess and the family, we extend our deepest sympathies and to those who will be gathering together for similar services in the near future, we extend that to them also.
The priority today is fighting fires and evacuating, getting people to safety. What is incredibly important is that we continue to maintain the focus on these very important tasks. Those tasks are being well led and run by our State authorities, both in Victoria and in New South Wales and I am in constant contact with Premiers of both of those States. I am also mindful, though, of the emerging situation in South Australia and even in Tasmania and we will continue to work closely with those States, where the need arises.
At a Commonwealth level, our task has been to fully support and provide whatever assistance is necessary through all the various agencies of the Commonwealth. Now, that in order has gone from the provision of disaster payments that have now exceeded some more than $21 million in New South Wales alone and we expect more of that to continue in Victoria as the full devastation of the fires there becomes more evident and the damage assessments and people are able to make claims on those funds. But that has been an important task for the Commonwealth, working with the States, where the assistance has been triggered to get those payments to people as quickly as possible and I want to thank all of those and Services Australia who have been working to be able to deliver those payments and support but also I should say the State Government agencies who have directly are involved in the administering of those payments.
There is also the work that is being done through Emergency Management Australia. It is so important, particularly as we are going through what can be the very dangerous exercise of evacuations and getting people to safety, as the Premier of Victoria Dan Andrews was just saying a few moments ago, that this be done in a very coordinated and safe way and so it is important, as we work through those evacuations, that people continue to remain patient and remain calm and to follow instructions. For those places where there is still stores and other assistance to be provided, it is on its way. I have just now come off the phone speaking to the CDF, General Houston - Campbell I should say, to ensure that all of that effort is being deployed right around the country, as it is needed. The other important assistance that is being provided by the Commonwealth is of course the support provided by the defence forces themselves as I have just noted. As you know, we have deployed naval efforts which we moved earlier this week and there are other assets that have been identified and are awaiting tasking. All of these assets, I should stress, whether it is the Black Hawks or any of the other things that are being made available, that is being done to, A) get it in readiness to deploy and then, secondly, it is then activated at the request of the State agencies. What you cannot have in these situations is Governments stepping over the top of each other in responding to a natural disaster like this. It must follow a clear chain of command. It must follow the headquarters model which is in place and which Commonwealth authorities are embedded in, both in New South Wales and in Victoria. In both New South Wales and Victoria, there are joint task forces which have been stood up by Defence which are coordinating the Defence engagement in each of those responses and they are fully plugged in to the headquarters in both New South Wales and in Victoria.
With the roads now open out up the Cooma Road but also up to Sydney, we know that people are making their way back to Sydney or other places where they have come from, where they were holidaying down the south coast. I would continue to just ask people to be patient. I know you can have kids in the car and that there is anxiety and there is stress and the traffic is not moving quickly but the best thing to do - the best thing that helps those out there volunteering, out there trying to restore some order to these situations is for everyone just to be patient. That help will arrive. There are parts of both obviously Victoria and New South Wales which have been completely devastated, with a loss of power and the loss of communications. Every absolute effort is in train to ensure that those things can be stood up as soon as possible. In some cases, we have been able to get tankers in to restore fuel supplies, that is now greatly assisting. There are other places which are still too difficult to get these supplies into now but we will be able to do that as soon as we possibly can.
Defence has been assisting in providing advice to the communications companies to assist in getting communications restored as soon as possible and the same things are being done when it comes to standing up energy supplies. In particular, down in Cobargo and places like that, where we know, where dairies have been milking and they simply have to pour the milk down the hill because of the lack of power to those areas at this time. That is the tragedy of what is occurring as a result of these disasters. But I really do want to commend the State agencies and their leaders, both within the fire services and other emergency management agencies that are coordinating this response and leading it both in Victoria and in New South Wales.
From this point on, what the Commonwealth will continue to do is to support those operational efforts. We will also be there to support the recovery efforts and they will start coming into being in the weeks ahead and months ahead indeed and I have already had a number of discussions about the various payments and forms of assistance that go to small businesses that have been impacted and the category C assistance which is already available in so many local government areas around the country, in these affected areas. That support will be very important and there are other levels of assistance that we can move to as we saw was so effective up in response to the North Queensland floods. Making sure that support flows quickly and effectively is so important to get the recovery effort up and running after these fires. But unlike a flood, where the water will recede, in a fire like this, it goes on and it will continue to go on as those in the agencies have advised us, until we can get some decent rain that can deal with some of these fires that have been burning now for many, many months.
So my simple request is to be patient. To have confidence in the State agencies that are leading the operational response on the ground. If you are in a position where you can get yourself to safety, then please do that and follow the instructions that are available to you. If you are in a position where you have to hold and wait, then know that there is support that will get to you. It is already on its way and in those places where it has already been able to be delivered, we thank those who were able to get that support through to where it is needed. The stores will then be built up again, particularly using the assets and support of the ADF. There is a major evacuation, I have already alluded to it and what is happening in Victoria at the moment with the [HMAS] Choules assisting with that. There has been no request from New South Wales of a similar ADF support for an evacuation of that nature on the south coast given that the roads are open. So if you are able to get yourself in your vehicle and drive back to Sydney or Canberra or where ever you have come from, then that is the advice you are receiving to follow that local instruction. I might leave it there for now. We will take some other questions. And I will ask David to make any further comments as minister responsible.
THE HON. DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES, DROUGHT, RURAL FINANCE, NATURAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Thanks PM, can I firstly acknowledge and congratulate the exemplary efforts of our States in the way that they have led their agencies through these fire legacy that started back in September in Queensland. Every jurisdiction has stood up and they do that not only for their own States but we work together in a coordinated way. Their peak body AFAC is working constantly in making sure that we share resources around the country to make sure that everything that can be done is being done and also work through the Commonwealth in making sure we bring in those international firefighters that are here from the United States and Canada and New Zealand as we have reciprocated for them in their hour of need. Obviously, we will continue to work with AFAC and the States as they put further requests in. The States are doing everything they humanly possibly can and so too is the Commonwealth. Let me just say to those people that are frustrated waiting for whether it be supplies or electricity or even fuel, can we just say to them, please be patient. Everything that humanly possibly can be done is being done. We understand the situation you are in. We cannot put more Australians in harm's way in trying to deliver these services as quickly as some would like it. So we are getting there as quickly as we can. Obviously some of the decisions in restoring some of those services just take time and that is why the Australian Defence Force, with the assets they have, have been called upon to bring those in where it is possible and where it is safe. But that will continue to happen but we just say to every Australian in those fire zones, it is also important now that you listen to the direction of those emergency management personnel on the ground. Those men and women are putting their lives on the line. We have already had too many fatalities in these fires and, sadly, we have had three brave Australians who were serving their community and their country who have made the ultimate sacrifice. So out of respect to them, it is your responsibility to listen to those emergency service personnel, to do what they tell you but to be prepared and to act now. This is not "She will be right" sort of moment. This is a serious situation as we get into the weekend. It is imperative, it is imperative that you look after yourselves. There is a responsibility to look after yourselves and your families and you owe it to the men and women who are fighting the fires to keep you safe, to do exactly what they say.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister you keep saying don't panic, I am not panicking, be patient, have confidence, but when you look at all the deaths and all the people unaccounted for, all the homes lost, at what point should we start to worry or panic or be concerned that firefighters can't or authorities can't do anything to stop the sort of weather we are having and the sort of bushfire seasons we are having and that we’ve got a real long term crisis starting to begin here?
PRIME MINISTER: There is no doubt natural disasters are termed that way, Andrew because that is what they are. They are natural disasters. They wreak this sort of havoc when they affect our country as they have for a very long time and the scale and length of this bushfire season is something I have referred to now on many occasions. The first fire incident that I attended with Jenny was back in Canungra back in September and these fires have ranged through Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and there were concerns in Western Australia. That is all true. The best way to respond is the way that Australians have always responded to these events and that is to put our confidence in those who are fighting these fires and who are experienced and know what they are doing, the agencies that prepare 24/7, seven days a week, that is what their job is. Emergency Management Australia at a Commonwealth level, its task is to ensure that in times like this, there is a fully coordinated response between the Commonwealth and the States and even at the local level and the payments are appropriate and they are triggered and they are actioned and that is what is occurring. What we are saying is we cannot control the natural disaster but what we can do is control our response, what we can do is support those who are out there putting themselves at risk by showing the patience and the calm that is necessary, that enables them to do their job and we need to do that for as long as it takes and it will cost whatever it costs to ensure that we can continue to deploy this very well coordinated response. In the midst of the disaster, I understand the anxiety and I understand the fear that is there for many and I understand the frustration but this is a natural disaster. Natural disasters are best dealt with through the methodical, well-coordinated response that we are seeing today. If it were not for that response over these many months - and you're right Andrew, we have seen far too many lost and as the Premier in Victoria has just indicated, still many unaccounted for in a lot of these small communities in East Gippsland and it will be some time before we are able to know where they are and if they are well or indeed they have been lost. The way to ensure we do that job, whether it is an evacuation or the med-evacs that are occurring as we speak, is to continue to do it in the responsible and well-coordinated way that we are doing. Had we not done that, many more would have been lost and many more properties will be lost.
JOURNALIST: On that response Prime Minister, Lake Conjola, Ron Coote and his wife lost their home and they haven't had a drink of water, there is families there who haven’t got nappies for their children. This is 48 hours since the fire ripped through. They are saying the response has been completely inadequate and they are just desperate for some help.
PRIME MINISTER: I can understand their frustration and that’s why we say in these circumstances some of these parts of the country are very difficult for State authorities and agencies to be able to get the support into. This is a fire front that was running pretty much all the way up the New South Wales border, all the way up to the upper reaches of the South Coast and Lake Conjola sits in the middle of that. I know the area very well. So there are many areas that are in that situation right now. That is why it is important to allow the response to just roll out and do it as effectively and quickly and safely as possible.
JOURNALIST: With respect though Prime Minister, do you understand the frustration of people when you keep saying this is a State issue, this is the State agencies in control of this? Because we have fires raging all around the country and you're the Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: That is why the Defence Forces are out there, that’s why our agencies are providing for the payments. That’s why our agencies are coordinating responses between Commonwealth resources and State resources. That is what the Commonwealth does in these situations and that is what the Commonwealth will continue to do and what we won't allow to happen is for Governments to be tripping over each other in order to somehow outbid each other in the response. What is needed is the coordinated response that these agencies planned for in circumstances like this. I understand the frustration, I understand the anxiety. I understand the fear but what I also understand is the need to allow the professionals and the experts who plan and then operationalise these responses to do their job and to give them every support and every resource, from the Prime Minister to the Premier, to the Mayor.
JOURNALIST: You’ve talked a lot about anxiety and fear and terror in the community and you talked about operational issues today. What about the long-term threat? All the experts say this event is turbo-charged by climate change and a lot of people would say your Government is not doing enough about climate change. What about the long-term threat and what is your Government doing to allay those fears and anxieties?
PRIME MINISTER: I've always acknowledged the link, as has the Minister, between the broader issues of global climate change and what that means for the world's weather and the dryness of conditions in many places. But I am sure you would also agree that no response by any one government anywhere in the world can be linked to any one fire event and I don't think you're suggesting that here in New South Wales, Victoria or anywhere else. The Government’s plans on climate change are very clear and the achievements we are making we have set out well. This year, 2020, is the year we beat the Kyoto 2020 commitment. We don't just beat it by a bit, we beat it by a lot. We are one of the few countries that can actually say that. We have the policies and plans to ensure that we will meet and I believe beat our 2030 commitments and we will continue to manage those issues responsibly. Right now though, as I said, my focus right now to deal with the anxiety in the community is the anxiety about getting the support and supplies and getting people to safety and ensuring that our firefighters have every support they need and, as I said, I am in constant contact with the Premiers in terms of what, if any, other additional assistance they need to get the job done on the ground. When I speak to the firefighters, when I speak to those who are involved in the operational effort, that is what they want from us. They want support for what they need to do and that is what we are giving them.
JOURNALIST: So you said in your opening statement that other assets are identified and awaiting tasking and also that other levels of assistance that we can move to are there. Can you explain what both of those are?
PRIME MINISTER: At this stage, is still in a planning phase. We have a number of naval assets here in New South Wales that have been assessed for how they can be tasked and to put them in a state of readiness. They haven't been called upon by the states. The naval assets that, in particular, Victoria has requested they are in place. We are also tasking Spartans and C-130s to assist with any evacuation effort in Victoria but the weather conditions there are making that very difficult. Some of the other aviation efforts we have there are being used for medivac purposes in getting those who are particularly in need of support. And there has also been work done particularly over the last week to look at all the medical response capabilities, particularly in New South Wales and in Victoria, and the assessment there is very positive. Those services are not being overstretched at this point in time, in terms of the response that they need to provide and so that is a welcome piece of news. But this is what happens when you work through managing and coordinating the response to these disasters. You are dealing with everything from payments to medical supplies, to aviation assets and what may further be needed there. Whether other assets need to be leased or brought to bear but we have over 140 aerial firefighting assets in Australia as part of the coordinated group that we put together and only put an additional $11 million to just more recently as this fire season escalated.
JOURNALIST: Are you looking at leasing more?
PRIME MINISTER: We are considering every option because we know the fire season still has a long time to run and particularly now as we are calling in more ADF assets to deal with this, then what we are constantly doing, as we have been doing for months, is looking at what the contingencies are going forward. Those contingencies are also now being worked and the National Security Committee of Cabinet will be meeting on Monday to consider a number of those issues, as well as the longer-term response in relation to some of the issues we have already been identifying to consider amongst Premiers after the fires. And I have got to stress this, I’ll let David make the point, what the States are saying to us is "Let us deal with the fires now, let us focus on that, give us every support that you can to help us with that." And as you have heard the Victorian Premier Dan Andrews saying today he has complimented the role between the Commonwealth and the Victorian Government in what is happening with the evacuation even as we speak. That is the spirit in which we need to continue to engage this right now, right here. The longer-term issues are always being addressed. They are addressed after every single fire. One of the reasons I mean, more homes would have been lost, more lives would have been lost and it is a tragedy how many have already been lost in this season, had it not been for the coordination and planning that our agencies have learned and put in place because of their response to previous natural disasters. David?
THE HON. DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES, DROUGHT, RURAL FINANCE, NATURAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: With respect to aerial firefighting equipment, we take our advice from AFAC, which is the peak body of Fire Commissions. They give us advice around the number of aircraft and it is not just one type, it is obviously a suite of planes that are required to fight fires. We take that advice from them. Obviously, we are in constant contact with them as they coordinate all the fire commissioners from around the country and give that advice. If further assets are required then obviously we will take that advice and work with those individual agencies to make sure they are available. But the states have again led in an exemplary way, not only now, but they plan for this. You just don't turn up on a Monday and lease an aircraft to fight fires. This is something that has to be strategically planned for many, many months and that is what our current Fire Commissioners have done and we should take great comfort and pride in the professionalism of our Fire Commissioners who have planned meticulously for this. They stand ready and the strategy, the strategic thinking around where we need to go if this campaign continues is being done constantly through AFAC.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, if you concede climate change is a factor - and, you know, I acknowledge what you're saying about global emissions and obviously China and India are much more of a problem than Australia - then can we just expect this, or worse, what has happened here in years to come? Is that what you're anticipating to deal with as a Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, one of the review issues we will obviously have to deal with is the many contributing factors to this particular fire season and we can't go beyond the drought. As David also has responsibilities in that area, I mean, one of the most striking things during this fire season was when I flew over the range and saw the two calamities our nation has faced come together just on the other side of the Great Dividing Range with the drought and bushfires. And obviously the drought has created a tinderbox around much of the country and that has, through various forms of ignition, has seen these fires run for long periods of time, particularly when there is no dousing rain that has normally followed now the longer-term impacts of what this means for fire seasons was what was looked at going into this season. There were many concerns that this type of fire season would have occurred last year. I remember those briefings very, very vividly and thankfully we were spared that last year but it has certainly hit us this year and that is the planning that was being put in place for last year, obviously, was going in place for this year. So an event of this scale, well, you may never know specifically where it may run over the course of the country. You know the various factors that are combining together and part of the review process will need to look at those issues about the length. That is why the payments which I initiated not that many days ago was recognising the longer time of service that we are seeing volunteer firefighters have to engage in and States in New South Wales and Queensland have now triggered those payments. They haven't been triggered in the other States at this point. But that is another factor which I think is assisting the Commissioner in New South Wales in terms of how he is deploying and being able to call up his resources. There is also the issues of fuel loads. That is very clear. That has been a constant source of feedback by those on the ground. Issues in national parks, issues of hazard reduction and how that has worked over a period of time, that needs to be looked at undoubtedly. But the suggestion that there is a single policy, whether it be climate or otherwise, can provide a complete insurance policy on fires in Australia, well, I don't think any Australian has ever understood that was the case in this country.
JOURNALIST: But that’s the question, really - will this be the norm, these sorts of fire seasons? Do you fear that as Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: The season has been quite extraordinary in terms of the very lengthy drought that has preceded it. Now, let’s hope in the future and let’s certainly hope as we go through this year that we will see that drought end. That will, hopefully, ensure that we’ve got a different situation as we confront next year's fire season. But other issues of how you manage hazard reduction and things of that nature are important, because as you say, the impact more broadly of climate change and drought and these issues can have a pronounced effect, does have a pronounced effect on the length of the fire season. So that, equally, then has a need to address issues around hazard reduction in national parks, dealing with land-clearing laws, zoning laws and planning laws around people's properties and where they can be built in countries like Australia, up and down our coast. That being the case with the climatic effects of what we are seeing, then there have been many restrictions put around those issues that now, I think, would have to be reviewed on the basis of the impact of the broader climatic effect we are seeing in this country.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, a lot of those things you have mentioned are actually state issues, issues that the Federal Government would not normally intervene in. What about… what can you tell Australians about what your Government is doing to mitigate or to plan for the long-term economic and environmental impacts of climate change over the generation as our children grow up?
PRIME MINISTER: Meet and beat our international commitments to reduce our emissions because that is what a responsible country does...
JOURNALIST: Is that the only planning that the Federal Government is doing? Just the climate policy settings as they are?
PRIME MINISTER: Our climate policy settings are to meet and beat our emissions reduction targets. Emissions reduction under our Government is 50 million tonnes on average a year less than it was under the previous government and we want to see the emissions reductions continue in this country and we want to continue to better the achievements we have already made, with measures that achieve that. That is why our policies are constantly being improved and the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction has already outlined that. He has already flagged that additional measures, where they can be put in place will be put in place. Let me be clear to the Australian people - our emissions reductions policies will both protect our environment and seek to reduce the risks and hazards that we are seeing today and at the same time, it will seek to ensure sure the viability of people's jobs and their livelihoods all around the country. What we will do is ensure that our policies remain sensible, that they don't move towards either extreme and stay focused on what Australians need for a vibrant and viable economy, as well as a vibrant and sustainable environment. Getting the balance right is what Australia, I think, has always been able to achieve. But right now the focus, as I said at the outset, is to fight these fires and to get people to safety. That is what we are focused on, that is what state agencies are focused on, that is what the Commonwealth is doing through Defence Forces and many of our other agencies to lend everything that can be done to get that operational response in place, to get help to where it is needed, to get people to places of safety and sustain the firefighting effort. Thank you very much.
Remarks, New Year’s Day Cricket Australia- The Mcgrath Foundation Reception
2 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Today we’re also joined by Dame Annette King who’s here from the High Commission and we welcome you. We also have Glenn and Sarah McGrath from The McGrath Foundation which is the reason principally why we are all gathered here today and this Test has become an icon on the Sydney calendar and it has always been a Test that has talked about, I think, the great empathy and generosity of Australians and the tremendous service that Glenn has led through this foundation for many years now and the fact that there is the wonderful blend between that spirit and Australia’s National sport I think those two come together in a very special way. So Glenn it’s wonderful to have you here back at Kirribilli House again.
To all of our teams who are here today, Kia Ora to the kiwis, and gday to the Australians it's wonderful to have you here at this annual event and I've been watching closely over the last series and the ones that proceeded it and I have to say as a very proud Aussie, I could not be more proud of Tim and the whole team and so I’ve texted him on too many occasions, Tim, telling him how enthusiastic I've been about it all but I want to thank you again Tim for your great leadership.
I remember we stood here last year and it was a tough time for cricket this time last year and your leadership through that I think has risen you to be a great leader in sport and I want to thank you again for the way you continue to lead our national team so congratulations to you and all your team.
Can I also welcome those from Cricket Australia, Cricket New South Wales and the SCG trust and Tommy Iceton the unofficial selector of the PM’s XI, that's a Shire joke.
This Test and this whole season has been played out against terrible events both here in Australia, and also in New Zealand with the White Island tragedy. And those terrible events continue to this very day and they'll be ongoing during the course of this test match. And in all of these terrible events, be it the fires or the White Island tragedy, as in so many other times before, Australia and New Zealand have always stood together and that has been very true on this occasion as well.
But today I want to particularly recognise the contribution of New Zealand's firefighters and what they have done to support their Australian mates here at his testing time. Since November more than a hundred fire fighters, an incident management team, aviation specialists have supported our team's battling the blazes in New South Wales, the RFS headquarters, Northern Rivers, Casino, and Singleton, Hunter Valley and in Queensland in the headquarters there and the South Eastern region at Charlton, we've been so well supported by those from so many other nations during these terrible fires and none more so than our Kiwi cousins and as you go out there on Friday, I know you'll be going out there and particularly the Australian team, thinking of the terrible fires that are underway at the moment and I want to thank you Tim and the team and both Captains for the commemoration that you will make, in wearing the black armbands for those who we’ve lost over the course of these fires in particular, Having lost Sam McPaul just the other day and in just a dreadful terrible incident just outside of Albury, but also Geoff Keaton and Andrew O'Dwyer who we lost earlier in the fire season and your recognition of them during the course of this test match. I think will mean a lot to their families and a lot to their mates who served alongside them in these terrible fires.
But the fires do rage on, it is a time of great challenge for Australia. Whether they're started by lightning storms or whatever the cause may be, our firefighters and all of those have come behind them to support them, whether they’re volunteering on the front line or behind the scenes in a great volunteer effort, it is something that will happen against the backdrop of this test match. But at the same time Australians will be gathered whether it's at the SCG or around television sets all around the country and they’ll be inspired by the great feats of our cricketers from both sides of the Tasman and I think they'll be encouraged by the spirit shown by Australians and the way that people have gone about remembering the terrible things that other Australians are dealing with at the moment.
The other reason this test is so important is The McGrath Foundation as I said before and it's a great pleasure to be involved with the McGrath Foundation. This is an organisation that I think has a particular link to where so much of the devastation is being felt at the moment in Australia - out in our rural and regional communities. That's always been at the heart I know of Glenn’s passion for The McGrath Foundation that those parts of our country that don’t often get the same levels of support or services or find it harder to access, this has been Glenn’s passion to turn that around and what he's been able to achieve and all the foundation’s been able to achieve has been simply remarkable and so it's no surprise that as we go into this Test match and again seek to raise funds and raise awareness about breast cancer and the many treatments and support that need to be provided and the resources that are needed to keep those treatments and support up to the standard that we would want for all of our loved ones, We know that The McGrath foundation will equally be very mindful of the times that we're in and the disasters that are befalling so much of the country and they know that the same volunteer spirit they draw on in their foundation is the volunteering spirit that is at work in those communities even now and we thank them for everything they do.
So it's going to be a great Test, but the real test Australia is facing right now is out there on the fire front, and as those brave Australians go about what they do on that fire front and around the country. I know that this Test match will be again a great display of the brotherhood and sisterhood between Australia and New Zealand and we thank you all very much for being here with Jenny and I today.
Thank you very much.
Press Conference - NSW RFS Headquarters
29 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: ...Commissioner Fitzsimmons. Can I thank both of you for the extraordinary job that you've been doing in what has been a very difficult fire season here in New South Wales, starting early and very prolonged. Can I also thank all of those who continue to be out there today, who have been out there over the Christmas period, in particular. Can I also say that that is occuring, of course, here in New South Wales but in more recent times we've also seen this threat extend into South Australia, where I was earlier this week and we're seeing a real difficult situation emerging in Victoria. We know of the weather conditions are particularly challenging over the next few days, which will see not only those very severe conditions here in New South Wales, but also in South Australia and Victoria and in Tasmania. Being a New South Welshman, I’m obviously very focused on the terrible events that have been occurring here. But I want to assure those Australians outside of New South Wales that the challenges that they're facing and their states, as was the case up in Queensland earlier in the season, that our attention is equally there and ensuring that the coordinated effort across states and territories is being put in place.
So I want to thank all of those and as the messages and I’m sure the Commissioner and the Premier, when they speak, will go into what we can expect over the next few days. Stay safe, check the information. The information provision that is being provided at a state level through the incredible communications efforts they're making. But also, I've got to say, when I visited the incident response centres, the local messaging that is taking place in each of the communities, whether it's out in Mudgee or down in south western Sydney or the south coast or earlier in the year up in Taree and Wauchope and places has just been extraordinary, the efforts that have been undertaken to ensure people are informed of what's going on. The Premier advised me that, last night was it Gladys, that meeting down south coast and I want to thank all those community members for just the very good natured, patient way that they're engaging in receiving that information and making decisions.
Today, having received a request from the New South Wales government and working closely with the Commissioner here and the Premier and, of course, the Minister for Emergency Services here in New South Wales. Earlier in the week, the Minister raised the Commissioner's request that we consider looking at the issue of income loss here in New South Wales, and we have been working on this for some time. The Commonwealth has been working up various options and, importantly, taking our lead from those who are directly responsible for fighting these fires and that is Shane. That's the Commissioner. And taking advice on the priorities from our states as to where this effort should go and how it should be targeted has been very important as this is a very prolonged fire season. This is putting additional demands on our firefighters, in particular, and it means that the turn outs and call outs have been far more extensive than in previous years, going well and beyond and above what is normally expected of those who are engaged in volunteer service. I've got to say, particularly when I've been out outside the cities and seen the impact, particularly in rural communities, on farmers who are dealing with drought during the day and dealing with fires at night and through the afternoon. This is obviously having a very big impact. So we have carefully worked through how best to deal with the issue of income loss that has been suffered as a result of people stepping up to defend their communities and work shoulder to shoulder with those who are seeking to put an end to these fires as quickly as they possibly can.
We have drawn on previous experience that have been put in place by the Commonwealth on early one-off occasions. And we have developed, I would argue, a more targeted and even more extensive response. What the Commonwealth will be doing together with the states who will administer the payments, is to be providing payments for income lost by firefighters, rural fire service volunteers here in New South Wales, that will be paid with a maximum of up to $6,000 per individual. It will be paid at a maximum rate of $300 per day, depending on what the income loss is for those individuals. It will be a non-taxable payment. So obviously, the the the gross level, if you are looking at your earnings, is much higher than $300. It’s about $420 or thereabouts of what they would otherwise have been earning on a gross basis during that time. It is retrospective for this financial year. So for all of those who are already called out, particularly up in those mid coast and north coast fires that we saw earlier in the season, they will be also able to make a claim through the New South Wales state government to access that payment.
What this basically equates to is around 20 days of emergency services paid leave for self-employed people and for people working for small and medium size employers. That represents about 60 per cent nationally of people who work in this country and have employers and this will be supported through those direct payments on application. I should stress this isn't about paying volunteers for turning out the fires. That's not what this is about. The volunteer arrangements that exist, not just here in New South Wales but all across the country, are incredibly important. What this is doing is recognising that in extreme cases like we've seen here in New South Wales and on advice from the Commissioner, it is necessary to ensure that we can provide this safety net for income loss to ensure that he is in a position to continue to call out this volunteer force and for them to be able to be there on an ongoing basis without suffering ongoing financial loss. This is about helping fight the fires. We will still always have volunteers who will go out and selflessly volunteer, and that is crucial to our firefighting effort, whether it be here in New South Wales or in any other state or territory where these calls are being made. This is about addressing the issue of income lost to enable those, and I would say particularly in rural and regional areas, to farmers, to tradies, to contractors and to others who have been called out day after day after day because the fire has been literally lapping at their back door on many occasions and they've gone out to serve their community.
So I particularly want to thank the Premier. I want to thank Minister Elliott as well for having raised that on behalf of the Commissioner earlier. And I want to thank the state government for working really closely with us to make sure we get this right. I don't do things in any knee-jerk way. I carefully consider what the issue is, what needs to be addressed, how you can best target the measure to get the best response and to work consultatively with those who are working on the ground to make sure that it works. Now, I should also stress that this same payment will be available to other states and territories of premiers and ministers who wish to initiate that with the Commonwealth. Obviously, the situation in New South Wales is more extreme than it has been in the other states and territories. But I've spoken to the other premiers and spoke to the Queensland Premier in particular last night, and I expect that we'll have a conversation soon about these matters. I'm pleased that the situation in Queensland has significantly improved. But that doesn't mean that those who suffered income loss also earlier in the year in Queensland shouldn't be entitled to the same level of support and recognition of that service. And I’m sure we’ll work through quickly on that. But in this case, we are working specifically with New South Wales at the direct request of the Commissioner. I want to thank him again for raising these issues and as issues continue to be raised, we'll continue to make decisions. We'll continue to make responses. Earlier this week, as you know, I announced the four weeks emergency service leave for all Commonwealth Public Service employees. We also now have new arrangements with our Defence Force to lean in more directly, particularly at the local level, to ensure that Defence Force support has been provided at the local level. And now we’ve taken this decision. They’ve been taken calmly. They've been getting the policy details right and working consultatively. I’ll hand over to the Premier.
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NSW: Thank you, Prime Minister. Can I start by thanking you and your government for the support you provided you New South Wales during what has been a very difficult and exceptional fire season. And I want to stress as well, echoing the Prime Minister's comments, this is not paying volunteers. It is covering their financial loss, it's making sure that people don't go backwards, it’s making sure there's food on the table. And it's also making sure, given what is likely to be an ongoing, prolonged fire season, that people volunteer with a confidence insurance that will be covered if they have to take more time off work or if I have to stop their business running. So this is to give all of our amazing volunteers the confidence, the surety, to keep doing what they do on behalf of all of us and we can't thank them enough. And it's not to pay them, but it's to compensate them. It’s to make sure they don’t go backwards, they’re not suffering a financial loss on themselves or their families enduring additional hardship on top of what is a very stressful. So I want to again thank the Prime Minister and the Commonwealth for supporting New South Wales in this measure. We want to ensure that nobody goes backwards and suffers unnecessary hardship because they’re putting their life and property on hold to support others and to keep people alive and to keep properties. And we are assuming that this season will be prolonged this year. The weather conditions aren’t easing and we appreciate that for many firefighters who have been there since July, we're asking them to keep going. We're asking them to keep going further on to what will be, as I said, a prolonged fire season. But it's also a timely opportunity for us to thank every single person who has put themselves in harms way to protect others. Again, today, New South Wales, as the Commissioner will update, there are over 80 fires still burning. 40 of them uncontained. A couple thousand volunteers out there in the field today as we speak. And to each and every one of those, we say to you please do not worry about what’s happening at home and in your business. We are here to support you and cover you and I thank Commonwealth Government for their efforts in supporting New South Wales. New South Wales will continue to put an unprecedented amount of resources into this fire season and include our emergency services personnel, both paid and volunteers, to make sure they have the best equipment available, the best resources available, to keep all of us safe. And for that we are grateful.
SHANE FITZSIMMONS, RFS COMMISSIONER: Can I just start by thanking the Premier and the Prime Minister for today's announcement. There is no doubt that this will this will provide comfort. This will provide a security net to ensure that volunteers are not disadvantaged or going through loss of income as a result of their extraordinary and ongoing commitment. I would also acknowledge that speaking with the President of the Rural Fire Service Association, the representative body for volunteers across New South Wales. He too and his organisation welcomes today's announcement. It's a sensible, it's a considered and most importantly, particularly for the extraordinary commitment that's been going on now for many months up in northern New South Wales and extending much further afield, it's retrospective. So it ensures that we capture the interests and the conditions of volunteers that have been committed now for a long period of time throughout this entire season. So thank you very much for your support and for making today's announcement. It will go a long way to ensuring the ethos of volunteers, volunteering for the want of nothing more in return than to making a difference. They don't want to be paid. That's the message I'm getting loud and clear. But to ensure that there is no hardship or adversity as a result of that volunteering commitment, today's announcement will certainly provide that surety and that confidence and that safety net for volunteers, particularly those that are self-employed or in small or medium business.
As the Premier indicated, things continue to be extremely busy across New South Wales. But we've still got 80 fires and and just under 40 of those are still not contained. We've got some deteriorating weather conditions over the coming days, particularly Monday and worsening through to Tuesday. Tomorrow, we can start expecting to see some fairly widespread severe conditions, particularly down through the southern half of New South Wales, the south eastern quadrant of the state. And those conditions will then intensify as we head into Tuesday with not just widespread severe that will extend from the south east corner of the state, right up through our central west and through the Hunter and places like that. We can also expect a broad geographic area of extreme fire danger ratings, which will extend through places like the Southern Ranges, the Illawarra South Coast and probably down through to the Monaro area, down through through the high country.
We continue to have fires of considerable focus across those 80 fire grounds, the large complex of fire north west of Sydney, the Gospers Mountain fire, the Grose River fire, and those fire complexes spreading from effectively Blue Mountains all the way up through the through the Hunter Valley there towards Singleton and Muswellbrook and right out to the west to places like Rylstone, Capertee, Ilford and communities along the the Castlereagh Highway. We've also got the fire south west of Sydney in the Green Wattle Creek fire, which effectively extends now from Mittagong down the Picton area all the way through out towards Jenolan Caves along the Wombeyan Caves Road and then back up back into the back end of the Blue Mountains around the Megalong Valley and Katoomba area. And of course, we've got the large fire on the south coast, which effectively now stretches from the Batemans Bay region right up to the Nowra area and out west to places like Nerriga. And over the last couple of days, instability in the afternoon, dry lightning storms, thunderstorm activity, has resulted in a number of new ignitions, some of which were escalated in their warning alert levels yesterday, including a fire that got to the emergency warning alert level yesterday afternoon just to the west of Tumut and Adelong down there south of the Hume Highway. So unfortunately, we are expecting more thunderstorm activity this afternoon, more dry lightning activity. So there is every prospect of new fires as we head into the deteriorating weather conditions over the coming days. The work of the crews in the field, the incident management teams, the personnel on the ground, whether it be firefighters, machinery operators or aircraft in the air, their work on establishing and consolidating containment lines ahead of the deteriorating weather conditions over the next two days have been quite remarkable in this last week, and particularly through the Christmas period. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, there were still thousands of firefighters and personnel out each day pathing up those lines and shoring up as much protection as they can to the communities along the Bells Line of Road to the end around Kurrajong Heights and Bowen Mountain. And of course, the townships of the Blue Mountains, stretching from Mount Victoria, Blackheath, Katoomba and villages further to the east.
So an extraordinary amount of work and that's being replicated right across all those fire grounds and we know we need everybody to ensure that they've got their plans. And a plan isn't just about being at home. A plan is about when you're travelling, whether you're out visiting loved ones or whether you're out taking a break somewhere, spending time with family. Have their bushfire survival plan relevant to where you are and what you're doing. Know the risk in your area, monitor the risk in your area and most importantly, be ready to act in accordance with that plan. It could make all the difference to the survivability of you, your loved ones, and, of course, your home and property.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, why has it taken so long? Many of these volunteers have spent Christmas believing that they wouldn't be compensated.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that hasn't been the case based on today's announcement. The firefighters have the community's backing and what this announcement today demonstrator is we have their back when it comes to protecting them against income loss. It's also important to note that you don't rush in to these sorts of decisions. You carefully consider all of the implications, which is what the Government has been doing. The Commonwealth Government has been doing it around these options for some weeks now and we have been engaging closely with the state government. Now, this has been an evolving situation. When the matter was raised with the Commonwealth by the Commissioner and by the Minister, then the Commonwealth was in a position, given the work already done, to be able to proceed to put these arrangements in place. But it is very important in any disaster situation that you don’t run the Government by Twitter, you don't set up programmes by Facebook. What you do is carefully consider what you need to achieve and that's what we've done on this occasion. This is a very targeted payment. This is basically a payment that puts it at about 1.3 times average weekly ordinary time earnings in terms of how we've calculated the arrangement. And that will cover substantively and especially in rural and regional areas around the country. We've taken the time to get the balance right, to get the measure right, work closely with the state government who'll be administering the payments. We will be making the cost of the payments and I think we have arrived at the right solution.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you said yourself that there are fires across the country. You've had conversations here in New South Wales and Queensland. Why not a national approach, given that Victoria's facing this, Western Australia, South Australia. Why not a national approach?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is a nationally applicable approach, but I respect the premiers. I respect the fire commissioners in each and every state and territory and I respect their judgment. And should they wish to enter in this arrangement, if they believe it's appropriate for their state and territory, then we will do so. But I'm not... I don't presume on those states and territories. They run their own shows. They know what their challenges are and their own circumstances. And I've been having these conversations with premiers now for some time and so I respect their judgment. We're there to help the states and territories as they address these crises. The states are the ones, as Premier knows all too well, who are directly responsible for the funding of their fire services and all the other things that are done. We're there to help the states and territories and where they seek our help on these types of issues where we can provide that assistance, then once again, we've demonstrated that we are very happy to do so.
JOURNALIST: With New South Wales, how many applications are you expecting? How much have you budgeted?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've ended into this on the expectation that other states will also enter into arrangements. And it's very difficult to cost these matters because, A, you won't know how many will apply. And at this stage, I mean, the Commissioner has rightly been focused on on each and every day in the activities rather than running spreadsheets about how many people have been out there for more than 10 days. But we've entered in this with an expectation it could cost up to $50 million in this year. It could end up costing less than that. It could end up costing more than that. But we've entered into it with that type of an understanding and I had those discussions with the Treasurer and Finance Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and the Government is very committed to following this through. It's uncapped. So there's no budget ceiling on this. It's uncapped, it kicks in after 10 days of volunteer service. I should also stress that if people still have outstanding recreational leave, that will not be taken into account in terms of the assessment. They should have their recreational. If they have emergency services leave, well, obviously, that is leave that they can they can access and as a result wouldn't be suffering any income loss where people are taking leave without pay. And this is particularly more prominent in rural and regional areas and particularly, I’ve got to say, the self-employed. And I've spoken to quite a few who weren’t asking, but they just relayed what they've been getting about, particularly in those rural communities. And I've got to say, particularly a lot of those working on farm properties that have just selflessly been keep going. And I hope this will give them some some encouragement today and allow them to go back up and do what they've been doing now for so long.
JOURNALIST: When people apply, how long will it take for the cash to come through?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’ll be making a $10 million payment immediately…next month, I should say, next month, which is not too far away from here, to the New South Wales government and the state government will then be the processing those payments. But the Premier might want to add.
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NSW: We hope to have this up and running in a matter of weeks and days. So now that the Federal Government and the Prime Minister has made this announcement we’ll ensure that from our end administrative is processed as soon as possible, and of course, we’ll also rely on the verification advice from the RFS in relation to who is eligible.
JOURNALIST: Some volunteers have now been volunteering for 100 days. I know it's not a per day payment, but it's a fifth of what some of them have already been working for. If the fire season continues into, say, February or March, will we get perhaps extending this, freezing the cap…?
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NSW: It's important to remember, and the RFS Commissioner is i the best position to answer this, but we ensure that people are on shifts, that they’re rotated, that there's, you know, an organisation of tens of thousands of volunteers. They're backing each other up. What we particularly worry about is people who are local command chiefs or district commanders who understand their properties, understand their community and really haven't taken a backward step because they’ve wanted to be there to make sure that that local expertise is there. So I want to give everybody an assurance that the depth for the volunteers, that the size of the organisation means that there are constant shifts, people are rotated, they're given that opportunity to rest. We encourage that. But of course, this is especially for those people in the local communities who don't want to give up their post because, you know, it's a very personal thing when you're there saving your neighbor's property or people you know in your community. And we want to make sure nobody is suffering unnecessary hardship because they’re there to save their property and saving the lives of their community.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I think the question there was if we see firefighters continuing on with these fire grounds and we're seeing some of them clear over 100, 150 days out there, could we see a further payment above this?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll ask the Commissioner to talk about how long he believes people have been out there. They’re some pretty extreme examples that you're referring to. It's not my advice that that is the common situation, that most of our RFS volunteers find themselves in. Let's remember there are some 70,000, isn't it, Commissioner, registered Rural Fire Service volunteers here in New South Wales. There's 210,000 across the country, remembering that states have been... other states have been sending their volunteers to New South Wales. I should stress that in other states where those states take up this arrangement, that their time serving in New South Wales or in any other state will be counted in terms of that those 10 days. And so they, some of them, may well find themselves in other states immediately eligible under those arrangements. But as has been the case with all of these issues relating to these fires, we will continue to assess the situation based on what's happening on the ground. The reason we're making this decision now is because it was beginning to impact on the RFS’s efforts to fight fires. This isn't, as the Premier said, about paying volunteers. That's a different issue. What this is about is resourcing a firefighting effort to ensure that the Commissioner is in the best place possible to be able to do those call outs. And when I was here last Sunday, I was advised by the Commissioner, as I think I said it might have been during the course of the week, 1,000 extra firefighters turned up on top of the 2,000 that has been out the previous day in response to a call. So there are many registered volunteer firefighters across the state, in many other states and territories. And one of the reasons that we announced that we would give four weeks emergency service leave to all Commonwealth employees was to ensure that that might free up more volunteers coming out of the cities that might be able to then be deployed out into rural and regional areas to provide some relief to those crews. So this is all about fighting fires and people who fight the fires and backing those in who were fighting those fires. Commissioner?
SHANE FITZSIMMONS, RFS COMMISSIONER: So I'm not aware - and I'd be really disappointed - if there was a volunteer that's been constantly at this for 150 days. Yes, the firefighting effort has been going on for hundreds, 150 days, whatever the figure actually is, but it’s a considerable time. But as the Prime Minister indicated, crews rotate and they spend time and they take shifts and it is not an unusual conversation when I'm out in the field and even spending time with the Premier with volunteers on Christmas Day for breakfast. Many of them were were juggling this “I want to commit this time, I've got to get back and look after some family things, I've got to get back and earn a quid”. They've got good arrangements in place with their employers, many of them. This is a safety net to ensure that if volunteers, particularly the self-employed or small, self-employed or the small business owners, know that there's a surety to cover costs associated with that going above and beyond that deployment that they can effectively manage. That's what this is about. We in New South Wales have put into place now for many months volunteer protection orders to ensure that volunteers can't lose their jobs as a result of volunteering. But each individual, each volunteer, has their own individual circumstances, their own employment arrangements, their own status of life. Some people aren't employed. Some people are students. Some people are unemployed. Some people are retired. You've got a cohort of people that are self-employed, sole trader, those sorts of things. So this is actually just about ensuring that what would be the case for, say, public servants and large businesses or even medium-sized businesses where they are granted two weeks or four weeks or more leave per annum to be able to manage their ongoing support for major fire operations. This is about a safety net to provide surety and security to allowing them to better manage and reflect what their engaged might be going on. We've seen an enormous commitment so far, but there's still a lot to be required going forward.
JOURNALIST: Out of interest, when did you ask the state government to ask the Prime Minister?
SHANE FITZSIMMONS, RFS COMMISSIONER: Well, we've been working on these sorts of arrangements for quite a couple of weeks now in New South Wales. I sat down to have a good conversation with the Prime Minister only last Sunday when he came in for a briefing. One of the first questions I got from the Prime Minister was how are the volunteers going, how are they managing to sustain this effort, is there anything we can do for them to provide surety or support? And we talked about a number of the things that we were contemplating, precedents that had been set previously and how they might work and we were trying to get access to the details, to be truthful. And then in the ensuing days and weeks, working with the Commonwealth and working with the states, we worked up a viable option, formalised that request to have it implemented.
JOURNALIST: So it’s been in the past week?
SHANE FITZSIMMONS, RFS COMMISSIONER: Sorry, what was the question?
JOURNALIST: If you're saying you were talking the other Sunday with the Prime Minister, it’s really been…
SHANE FITZSIMMONS, RFS COMMISSIONER: I formally met with the Prime Minister last Sunday but we've been talking with the New South Wales government and Commonwealth authorities for a few weeks around what were some of the precedents and the arrangements that would provide the sorts of safeguards we're talking about. And we firmed up those details and formalised the request this week.
PRIME MINISTER: So on Tuesday afternoon, after I left South Australia, I was speaking to the Minister for Emergency Services, and that's when that was put to me quite specifically and that was followed up with a letter from the Commissioner, I think they day after Christmas it was or thereabouts, and that then followed through. The arrangements we put in place leading up to today. The Commonwealth been doing contingency planning around these things, which meant that when the request came through, we could actually move quite quickly. I mean, lots of other ideas that have been sort of tossed about in the public, about tax credits and things like this. But if you’re familiar with how these things work, you know that they're ineffective and they’re not a really good place to deal with these issues at all. This is a much more targeted, tailored way. It has to be done in partnership with the state because the state obviously knows who's out there and where they're fighting the fires. And there was also all of the existing disaster recovery payments that are administered through the states, as has been provided throughout these disasters as indeed they are in other types of disasters like floods. So it's been worked up over the course of this week.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, obviously there are nuances to a broad brush plan, one of which would be the fact that it’s Christmas time and many sole traders would be on holidays intentionally. Does there have to be proof of loss of income or just by virtue of their status as a sole trader they can take a cash grab?
PRIME MINISTER: There will substantiation of income as you’d expect in any of these measures. It’s one of the difficult things about designing a measure like this. I mean, you need to make sure that it has integrity and there will be substantiation. But people know what they earn, and you have remember a lot of these places…. I mean, you think about the south coast at the moment. This is the busiest time of the year. This is when they make most of their money. So it actually works both ways. There will be parts of New South Wales whose earnings during this time of the year as a sole trader will be much higher than they were during the ordinary course of the year. So, look, we'll be erring on the side of ensuring that we're providing what is genuine income loss compensation.
JOURNALIST: How do you do that?
PRIME MINISTER: People know what their assessments are on an annual basis.
JOURNALIST: Well, they don’t and the Government doesn’t.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Government does actually because it's done for a whole range of different payments, whether it's child care rebates or any other forms of related payments then the Commonwealth will be able to assist state verification. But, I mean, people who run small businesses know what they earn and they know what their busy times of the year and they know what they’re able to out forward and accountants and others and themselves, they know what that is. Now, for those who are employees, it's a much more straightforward matter. But we’re not looking to tie this up in red tape, and I’m sure the Premier won’t be doing that either. But it’s a fair dinkum process for compensating people for income loss. And that's the rule.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the firefighters unions were surprised by this move. They said that their members are more than happy to do the work without any recognition. Have you spoken to volunteer firefighters that have called for this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Commissioner, as he said before, has spoken to the Association. Over some weeks now, whether it was, you know, back up in September when the Premier and I were up in Taree and Wauchope or where I've been more recently over the course of this last week, no they don’t ask for it. But I do know, particularly in those rural and regional areas, that particularly for self-employed people, this is really starting to bite and really starting to have an impact. I haven't had volunteer firefighters saying they want to get paid. That's not what this is. What they're acknowledging is that there are those, particularly in their communities, for whom this has meant a bigger sacrifice than for others. I mean, if you work for the Commonwealth Public Service, then you have access to the leave. If you work for the state government public service, you have access to the leave. But for small and medium-sized businesses, and I said, we're taking this up to $50 million in turnover. So that that encompasses around 60 per cent of employees in this country who would be captured under this definition. That is far more extensive and, on average, around 20 days… many people will have access to more than 20 days under this arrangement based on what they earn. This is far more extensive than any other response we've seen for income loss to any previous natural disaster relief. That's how extensive and comprehensive this response is. But equally, it's extremely targeted. And how do you do that? You just don't knee-jerk react. You think about it. You talk to people who know what they're doing and you get the processes right and you put it in place.
JOURNALIST: Premier, may I ask you in relation to New South Wales fireworks, given that we have extreme and severe conditions coming across the state, particularly the southern areas, and there is a southerly that I understand they’re very concerned about on New Year's Eve. Should we be cancelling those?
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NSW: Look, as in every year and especially this year, we get advice from the RFS experts. But I want to send a clear message to the community - and the Prime Minister will have something to say as well - is that New South Wales has to stay strong. We are a hopeful, optimistic state. We're a resilient state and we appreciate that there's a lot of suffering in the community at the moment. But notwithstanding that, when New South Wales stands strong, we’re able to keep supporting our communities that need our support. If the RFS, if the experts say it's safe to have the fireworks continue, well, we should do that. It sends a strong message to our communities. Of course, we need to assess case by case. There may be regional communities who are close to the fire fronts who might have different circumstances. But my feeling, and I appreciate that there may be others in the community that don't share this view, but New South Wales has always been a state that's hopeful about the future, that’s resilient. that's optimistic. And we need to stay strong so we can keep supporting our communities that are doing it tough. Sydney is one of the first cities in the world that welcomes in the new year, and if it's safe to do so, we should continue to do it as we've done every other year.
JOURNALIST: Is there a financial consideration as well, given the fact that the BBC, CNN broadcast to the world on New Years Eve, as you say, among the first cities to celebrate. Is there a financial consideration in terms of the tourism dollar that brings, that attracts people to Sydney as to whether the fireworks will go ahead?
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NSW: This is all about keeping keeping our state strong. And ultimately it's a decision for the Sydney City Council, but I would support their efforts in keeping the fireworks going and I appreciate there's a lot of anxiety in the community. There's a lot of fear depending on where you live about what's happening in the community at the moment. But the best thing we can do is to stay strong and resilient, to keep supporting the communities that need our support and also to appreciate that we're doing well as a state overall, and I don't want to take away from individuals, families and communities who are left with not much. But for us to keep supporting those communities into the future. We need to stay strong. We need to be hopeful and optimistic about the future, which I genuinely amd. We'll get through these times, as difficult as they are, and I think it's important to send a message to the world, so long as it's safe to do so, we will take the advice of RFSas we do every year. So long as it's safe to do so, we should keep doing what we're doing normally.
JOURNALIST: Well, Commissioner, will it be safe?
PRIME MINISTER: I just want to echo the words of the Premier on this matter. Wherever I go in the world and I talk to others and leaders and what they know about Australians is that we're incredibly optimistic people. That whatever gets thrown at us, we overcome. We are positive and we look to the future. And, you know, on New Year's Eve, the world looks at Sydney every single year, and they look at our vibrancy, they look at our passion, they look at our success. And they all think to themselves - what an amazing place. And they're right. And so in the midst of the challenges that we face, subject to the safety considerations, I can think of no better time to express to the world just how optimistic and positive we are a country. Sure, we're going through tough times. You know, it's not the first time Australia and, in particular this city, has gone through difficult times before. But we always rise above them. We don't allow them to get us down. I acknowledge the anxiety around this question, but I'll tell you what I really want to acknowledge, and that's how wonderful a country Australia is. And on New Year's Eve, that's what we tell the world with an amazing display of optimism and vibrancy. Commissioner?
JOURNALIST: With your understanding of what the conditions will be like, especially around the Sydney CBD area at the moment, do you believe it will be safe for the fireworks to go ahead?
SHANE FITZSIMMONS, RFS COMMISSIONER: Obviously, we'll be working with the Bureau of Meteorology closer to Tuesday and ahead of New Year’s Eve. But at this stage, we are expecting the southerly change to start moving through the coast. It will start impacting into the Sydney basin somewhere around 7 o'clock in the evening and moving through over a couple of hours, which means the conditions will certainly ameliorate in terms of hot temperatures and dry, windy conditions. But we're obviously very mindful of the volatility of the southerly. So I don't remember a time when we've had total fire bans in place in the Greater Sydney region where we haven't been able to accommodate the risk elements. But conducting the New Year's Eve fireworks in the Sydney Harbour area, particularly, obviously, we work very closely with the local fire brigades, our fire and rescue and RFS brigades where relevant. And if there are areas subject to the prevailing winds and those sorts of things, the materials might drop. We just heightened our level of coverage to ensure a safe and effective New Year's Eve function. Having said that, as the Premier indicated, we do need to give due consideration to the variety of other festivities that are undertaken across the broader geographic area of New South Wales, where the risk could be greater. What we're not generally into is giving exemptions for the backyard permits where there's fireworks and those sorts of things operating in people's homes or the local park. We work very closely with a range of local councils and other authorities around New South Wales and each area, each condition is assessed on its merits based on the local conditions, based on the level of risk and based on the level of protection that might be able to afford it. So we do that every year when when it coincides with New Year's Eve, and we'll do that again this year. But at this stage, I can't foresee the Sydney New Year's Eve efforts being compromised by a total fire ban.
JOURNALIST: Commissioner, surely that would be a very costly process to be called off at the very last minute. Is there a cut-off when that decision will have to be made?
SHANE FITZSIMMONS, RFS COMMISSIONER: If I determine it to be too risky, that doesn't concern me. If we determine a risk, I'll work with the government and say this is too risky. But we will firm up our weather forecast as we head into tomorrow night, Monday night, and that will strengthen up the again throughout the day on Tuesday. Look, these pyrotechnics organisations and the local authorities, they're very used to dealing with us and working with us around exemptions throughout the summer period. All of our activities, whether it's Christmas movie or some other event, they know the arrangements, they know the procedures and we'll work through to make sure that risk is appropriately addressed. And when necessary, we won't allow them to go ahead.
JOURNALIST: Premier, is there a dollar tag on that? Is there a projected tourism figure on what the fireworks provide?
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NSW: That’s not of issue or concern to me al all. It’s about the message we’re sending, and it's about ensuring that as we've said already, this is about our resilience, it's about our optimism, and it's also about putting safety first. And of course, we take the advice of the experts. But we also need to make sure, as much as possible, we keep doing what we do best. We keep looking forward. We keep being optimistic about the future. And hopefully we'll get through these difficult times. We always do. And I say these and make these comments without taking away a second. And in my job and the PM’s job and the Commissioner’s job, you see people every day doing it tough. You speak to them personally and appreciate that hardship they’re going through. And the best thing I feel that I can do and I'm sure that the PM and the Commissioner feel the same, is to maintain our strength as a state, to keep doing what we're doing, to be able to continue to support those who need our help. But also send a strong message to the world about our resilience and effort and our support And I want to stress this point. I appreciate there's been some sentiment expressed about some of those dollars elsewhere, which is spent on the fireworks. But in New South Wales, when you talk about drought or water infrastructure, we’re investing in excess of $3 billion into the future. When you talk about our rural fire services and emergency services personnel, we're putting billions every year to support our communities. So let's put everything into perspective. I appreciate sentiments are high. I appreciate people are experiencing anxiety and in some circumstances fear. I think, more than anything, those of us who aren't on the fire front are asking each other what can we do to help? And people are looking to do that. And I say the best thing we can do to support our volunteers and our fire services personnel is to take their advice, to ensure that we have resources to support their efforts. But also to stay strong and resilient and hopeful about the future, because that's what makes New South Wales what it is. That makes us the state we are and our people are our best asset and that continues.
JOURNALIST: Premier, I know you fear it's a trap that I going to say that you're putting financial dollars ahead of safety. I’m not. It's just a factual question. What is the projection?
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NSW: I'll have to get those figures on what we project in terms of tourism. But we can't pretend that the City puts on a wonderful experience for people not just present, people travel long distances to be here. And it's a strong message of the world and all of us, whenever you bring in the New Year, no matter what the circumstances, all of us feel a sense of hope about the future, especially as we enter into a new decade. We experience a hope about what the future might bring us that's building positivity and optimism. I don't see why we shouldn't continue to do that. In fact, under these circumstances, I think it sends a strong message to our citizens and the world that we're resilient, we’re strong. Yes, we’ve going through difficult times, but we’re always positive about our future.
PRIME MINISTER: Well said.
JOURNALIST: Premier, what would Sydney look like on the world stage if we weren’t to have those fireworks?
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NSW: Well, look, I don’t apologise for safety first. And we'll take the advice from the RFS, from the Commissioner. It's safety first is always the case. And we're elected on behalf of the community to protect our citizens, to protect public safety. But if there's no safety reason why those fireworks shouldn’t go ahead, they’ll be there.
Press Conference - Wollondilly Emergency Fire Control Centre, NSW
22 December 2019
THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES: Good morning everybody, it’s good to be here with the PM, with Commissioner Fitzsimmons, with the Minister for Emergency Services in New South Wales and of course the local members to offer our support to the community down here in the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee shires that have experienced the most horrific and horrendous circumstances in the last 24 hours, in fact in the last couple of weeks or so. And we had the privilege and the honour of meeting with families who’ve lost everything but not lost their lives, and they’re eternally grateful even though they’re going through a lot of shock and a lot of hardship they couldn’t speak highly enough of our amazing firefighters on the ground who tried to save their properties but again at least saved their lives and again other examples of people who are so grateful to discover their properties are ok and it was wonderful to see that in a very short amount of time, even though literally hundreds of people have walked through the evacuation centres at Picton and Mittagong and also Narella, that many families have been billeted and alternative accommodation has been provided until they find out whether their properties are safe or until they get the devastating news that they’ve lost everything. We’re making sure that whether it is through our chaplaincy services, family and community services or, in fact, through all of our state and government agencies that everybody is supported during this very difficult time. I, in particular, want to thank community members who have opened up their facilities, whether they are clubs, other facilities, to allow community members to come in and use those facilities. The generosity of the community down here has just been outstanding. It really exemplifies what we've seen if other parts of the state and for some communities, experiencing this devastation since July. But now obviously this community has been hit as well. We have got the devastating news that there's not much left in the town of Balmoral. Very sad to hear that. And many residents, of course, have had that news in the last little while. Of course, communities like Buxton and others have been very hardly hit. Commissioner Fitzsimmons might want to comment about this himself, but obviously the milder conditions in the next few days will allow us to be proactive when next weekend we expect weather conditions and Monday week, in fact, for weather conditions to worsen again. I also want to say thank you to the federal government - the PM and his team - because jointly we have ensured that Wingecarribee and Wollondilly council areas will have access to that emergency funding that other council areas had received. So, as you know, we announced joint funding and now that joint funding is in excess of $63 million across the state and extends to about a dozen councils and now Wingecarribee and Wollondilly are now part of that. That means people can access emergency funding but also farmers, small businesses and others can access grants of up to $15,000, just to start preparing their properties and start fixing things around their properties like fencing that otherwise they wouldn't have access to. I also want to stress - I have mentioned this to the mayor who is here today - that $63 million is on top of the $25 million the New South Wales Government's already set aside to get rid of hazardous materials and just to start the clean up. For some families, some families will be given notification they can go back to their properties, perhaps today, tomorrow. Other families have to wait. We want to make sure - no matter what people's circumstances - just the hope of being able to move forward is so important. If we pick up the tab - sometimes it costs thousands of dollars - to get the hazardous materials off the property, to start the clean-up process, whether you're insured or not insured, the state government is picking up that cost to make sure you can get on with rebuilding as soon as you're physically and emotionally ready to start the rebuilding process. As I've said, to communities all along, we're not just here today and tomorrow but we will be with you for the weeks and months and for some communities years during the rebuilding process. The devastation is shocking. I have also been just literally bowled by the way the community's come together, the resilience and people's generosity. People with not much are giving away everything they have to support others. And it's times like these when you really appreciate what New South Wales and what Australia's about. PM?
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you Premier, Gladys. It is great to be here with you of course, your colleagues, and Angus Taylor, the local member here federally, and Commissioner Fitzsimmons. Thank you, again, for the tremendous job you're doing with all of your team - all around New South Wales. As the Premier said, it is quite humbling as you come and speak to families and you speak to individuals, you speak to volunteers, and you see the best of Australia on every single occasion. That's what we're seeing here again today. Friendships, neighbours looking after each other, simple kindnesses that are being extended. I met one wonderful, wonderful lady today from Malta. She was there with another lady, a single lady, who was finding it a bit tough. She was looking after her. She was making sure that she gets back to her property today. She's holding her hand. That's what she's doing. And this is the grace, this is the kindness, that events like this need and that's what's being displayed here on the ground. That will continue. Not just through the ordinary every day things that are done by members of the community off their own bat, but also by the many volunteers. We rightfully praise those in the RFS, but equally today we met with members of St John's Ambulance, the State Emergency Service, those who are looking after the care and welfare of animals and others, there are so many people who stick up their hands in these times. We thank them very, very much for everything they are doing. As the Premier has just said, the category C assistance is being extended to the Wollondilly and the Wingecarribee Shires. That, as the Premier said, includes payments for small businesses and producers and businesses of up to $15,000 and also includes things like mental health support and small grants to communities in both shires to help them rebuild particularly with community resilience programs and things of that nature coming out of that fund. That support is going to around 40 local government areas around New South Wales at the moment. It's the same sort of support that's been provided in many other parts, say, of Queensland where they have had the fires as well in recent times. These programmes are designed to help people with their immediate needs. The Premier and I have agreed also this morning that those $1,000 disaster assistance recovery payments that are paid to each individual and the $400 that are paid for each child, in a family, that will be extended to the Wingecarribee shire as well. It is already in place for Wollondilly. Those arrangements will be put in place today. These things are done as a partnership. This is the best coordinated, the best resourced, the biggest-hearted response that I think we've seen once again here from our response to these terrible disasters. It is something, I think, Australians, as I said earlier today, can be enormously proud of, seeing their country at their best. That is what we have to keep focused on, allowing Australians to continue to be at their best, supporting them as they get tired and ensure that we can continue to roll out what has been an extraordinary performance from all of those who have been involved.
PREMIER BEREJIKLIAN: Commissioner, did you want to say anything?
SHANE FITZSIMMONS, COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES RURAL FIRE SERVICE: No, I'm happy to be questioned.
PREMIER BEREJIKLIAN: Ok, any questions?
JOURNALIST: There's been concern in Balmoral specifically about when people will be able to get back in to that village and see whether or not their home is still standing?
PREMIER BEREJIKLIAN: Look it’s devastating not knowing whether your property is standing or not. Unfortunately, we have received bad news. There's not much left in Balmoral. I might ask the commissioner to add to my comments, but I understand expert teams are going in on the ground in those communities today to make full assessments and to let people know when it's safe to go back. And even if people have lost their properties, they still want to go back to see what's left and if there is anything I can salvage we know that's part of the recovery. And we want people to have access to their land to their property as soon as they can but it has to be safe as well and the expert teams will make sure that happens as soon as possible.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you said that you were going to discuss the bushfire response at COAG in March. What do you say to people who might have reservations about that, maybe being too long to wait to have those discussions?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the immediate needs as I said this morning, simply require the request to come forward as they do through the regular meetings that are held of the fire chiefs and commissioners. The ministers responsible, David, they only met a few weeks ago. And what we need to do in March is to ensure that we deal with the recommendations that come out from many of the lessons that have come through these fires, not just here in New South Wales, but in other states and territories as well that have been affected. And we look forward to receiving those proposals then. Right now they're fighting fires and we don't want them sitting around writing submissions. We want them obviously to be focussed on the operational tasks they had in front of them. COAG has been very busy over back end of this year, particularly dealing with a lot of the environmental management issues that we've been working on, waste management, which I thank the premier for her support on. And we'll be considering those proposals. A lot of the ministers have been meeting through their various councils in recent weeks and months. And that means there will be a really good body of work that comes forward to COAG in March, which will be in New South Wales, and it'll be in Rooty Hill. And I'm looking forward to being out there at that wonderful new facility out there in Rooty Hill.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you've discussed fatigue a lot today it’s obviously something you're particularly concerned about. Given you know we are still early, still in the traditional bushfire season. Can we expect further announcements around these? How are we going to deal with that exhaustion that is clearly going to be a problem?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I might defer to the Commissioner on this. He and I had a chat about this this morning. It's obviously one of the many significant issues that the commissioner manages with this incredible volunteer fighting force that is out there. But I've got to tell you, one of the things the Commissioner told me this morning, which just impressed me so much, is when a call went out yesterday, wasn’t it Commissioner, for extra hands, an extra thousand firefighters showed up in response to that call, a thousand. That is just that is just incredible. People know what's at stake and they're all making their contribution personally.
COMMISSIONER FITZSIMMONS: Thank you, Prime Minister. Look. Fatigue management and the drain, and the relentless nature of this season is certainly taking a toll. And so, too, is the geographic spread of the activity, you might recall, for several months between July and into September, most of our effort was really concentrated in north east New South Wales we’ve now got the fire spreading from north east New South Wales, Queensland border down to the south coast of New South Wales. Those logistical challenges, those transport and accommodation challenges, fretting and moving people right across such a broad geographic area all add to the challenges of fatigue and crew rotation. Underpinning all of this is a combination of members that are in a very strong position, a very ready position to sustain ongoing efforts and support for three days, five days at a time, coming back for a rest and doing another three to five days, coming back for a rest. Not everybody can do that. There are also teams that need to maintain a local presence at a local level of fire covering in case we get new fires. And then on days like yesterday where we saw such a broad area affected by a catastrophic forecast and unfolding in the day. Devastating fires. We saw a whole a whole bunch of people in the order of a thousand people stand up and make themselves available to bolster that effort. We've got another 30 people that the Prime Minister met this morning in at the state headquarters that have just arrived from Canada and the United States. We've got commitments to see beyond that from our interstate colleagues and overseas colleagues to help us with the fatigue management and the crew rotations and where appropriate, the bolstering of numbers on those difficult days. It is a tough challenge. It is a difficult challenge and something that we work very closely on and we will continue to work very closely on as we see through the through the balance of this season. We've got to keep in mind that we're not expecting any rainfall to make any meaningful difference to these fires until January, January-February. That's still a way to go. We're still talking four to six weeks at best before we start to see a meaningful reprieve in the weather. Based on the forecasts that are available and then as the Prime Minister indicated, we will want to do some very critical post incident reviews, postseason reviews, gather the information, gather the support from firefighters and communities right across New South Wales. That will take some time. The last thing we want is, is ad hoc-ery, or unnecessary reactiveness so close to the end of this season, and particularly when other states and territories are still going to have challenges heading well and truly into March. So there will need to be a very concerted effort to consolidate the learnings to ensure that we're hearing far and wide and formulate that into lessons and proposals in due course. But it is certainly something we'll be very much focussed on.
JOURNALIST: Commissioner do you have any specific numbers concerning the number of homes that were lost in Balmoral?
COMMISSIONER FITZSIMMONS: Unfortunately, I don't have the specific numbers. There are teams in the field today, but as the Premier indicated, the team inside there said it was devastating and I think they coined a phrase. There's not a lot left or there's not much left. And that's just really confronting to contemplate. And whether it's Balmoral or Buxton that are the two hardest hit areas in this in this locality. We aren't we are talking dozens of properties, dozens of buildings. As a matter of fact, right across all the fire grounds of the last 24 hours, we could be talking about another hundred buildings being added to the state tally so far this season. That doesn't mean there's 100 homes and we need to make sure we differentiate between buildings, property and homes. The detailed analysis that is going on in the field now, will seek to differentiate between what is what is a home, what is a house, what is a shed. And you know, and that takes some time. We need to be able to access these areas. But the toll is significant. And as we know earlier this morning, we are still working with police to try and locate an unaccounted for person up near Lithgow with the community for Dargan. And so there's a long way to go before we really have an understanding of the magnitude and scale of the loss and damage here as the result of these fires.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, with the RFS volunteers, it's amazing what they're doing. But say if you work for yourself, you've been doing it for a couple of weeks now, we’re three days from Christmas. You've done yourself out of a fair bit of dough, it's a hard pill to swallow.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is. It is tough and it always has been. The volunteer effort is, it is a standing volunteer force of over 200,000 people around the country. In fact, as I said this morning, there are more members registered here in New South Wales than we have in our ADF, both on reserve and in the standing ADF. So it is an enormous number of people who turn up. And it's not just also because as we know, when they're fighting fires, but the training that goes into the work that is done out of season. Let's not forget that as well. This is a year round job for anyone who's involved and turns up and over here on any other given day and the support that goes in behind it and say, look, we're certainly open to talking about those issues, about how we can best sustain that volunteer effort. But I think we always must be mindful that at its heart, it always has been, and for it to exist on that scale, it will always exist as a volunteer effort. As I said this morning there, they're all professionals. Some are paid, some are unpaid, but they're very professional about how they do their job and how they apply themselves to that task.
COMMISSIONER FITZSIMMONS: Do you mind if I add something to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure, please.
COMMISSIONER FITZSIMMONS: Just picking up on that point, and I've spent quite a bit of time with volunteers at various different locations over the last few weeks and months. And there's a whole range of different statuses of volunteers, whether they're self-employed or employees of somebody else. Retired, uni students, there is a whole bunch of different categories. And particularly with the self-employed, the amount of people that I speak to, they are running a real challenge, juggling what they're doing, what their priorities are. There is no doubt their absolute priority is to secure income, pay the bills and look after their family and talking to them, they always say to me, we're up here, we're doing our bit, but every now and then I've got to get home and earn a dollar because I want to be up there with my mates. I want to be up there with my colleagues and trying to make a difference. We're very conscious of that. We're really conscious of how difficult that is when you're trying to run a business. And in some of these drought stricken areas of New South Wales, even small business owners, whether where the where the business revenue has slowed down so much because of the drought, they might be the only person running their business now. So they can't even duck away for a few days because they're they've had to lay off employees or something. So we know acutely very much how tough our people are doing it. But the overriding message that they've got when these things are happening, when their colleagues are out there and they're trying to defend their communities, they want to be there with them and they want to be there partnering to try and make that difference. But it's a real challenge to juggle that up all the time. And so, too, for the employers. The generosity of employers, small, medium, large scale business, the private public sector, there's a there's a lot of people that have been away from work for a long time. And we've got arrangements in New South Wales where there's subsidies for payroll taxes and all those sorts of things. And we'll continue to work with the government on what other things can be done to support and incentivise employers and small business and volunteers. And let's not forget let's not forget it's the generosity and support of the employing community, but without the love and support at home that the partners, the families, the kids, the wives, the husbands, the mums and dads without that love and support at home, and extraordinary sacrifice, particularly over recent months and most notably as we head into what is regarded as some of our most precious family time of the year as we head into the Christmas and New Year break. There are going to be thousands of people are not home for Christmas this year because they're going to be out there either concerned because they're directly impacted by these fires as community members or they're going to be leaving a leaving a Christmas lunch or a Christmas dinner or a Christmas function because they want to do their part. They want to join with their colleagues and try and make a difference in that local community and continue to save and protect as much as they can. And we're very mindful of all of that. And it's tough.
JOURNALIST: Given all that Commissioner, from everything you’ve seen, how proud are you of your people?
COMMISSIONER FITZSIMMONS: I couldn't be any more proud. And we've seen, we've seen only tragically this week, the risk is real and the consequences can be fatal. And as a result of the events, only this week, there are families, there are loved ones, there are wives and there are children. And there are mates who will never be the same again because of the horrendous events that unfolded this week. I could not be any more proud. Not just of the extraordinary volunteers that but I have the privilege of being the Commissioner for, but the entire coordinated fire response effort here in New South Wales partnering with the Commonwealth. We've got men and women from firefighting agencies, forestry, national parks, Fire and Rescue, RFS, all the emergency services, support agencies, the police and so many functional areas of government right through to community volunteers. It's a massive, huge logistical operation, maintaining and sustaining more than 2000 people per shift day and night. The people behind the scenes, the people on the frontline, I could not be any more proud of the extraordinary efforts and commitment and dedication that we see rolling out, day in, day out. And we know that they're going to be doing it as long as their community and their people of New South Wales are going to be threatened. And all we pray for is rain. And unfortunately, we need a lot of rain to start giving us some reprieve.
PRIME MINISTER: I think all Australians, I think are very proud, I know that the Commissioner is very proud and the Premier is very proud of the services that they leave. All Australians are extremely proud of what's being done here and in so many other parts around the country whether it's down on Kangaroo Island in South Australia today, or other parts of Victoria or terribly right across New South Wales and up in Queensland, all Australians are proud and they have a great, great reason to be proud. This is this is Australia at its best. Australia at its best. And I thank them all. Thank you.
Press Conference - New South Wales Rural Fire Service Headquarters, NSW
22 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning everyone. I want to thank first of all the 3,000 men and women who are out there today here in New South Wales who were out there yesterday, the thousands of men and women around Australia, not just here in New South Wales, up in Queensland, down in South Australia where it's also been a difficult week, down in Victoria, all those that have come from other states - Tassie, the West, the ACT, up in the Territory. I want to thank those who have come from overseas - the Americans, the Canadians, our Kiwi cousins, those who have come to support us in this hour of need. I particularly want to thank Commissioner Fitzsimmons and the amazing team he leads here in New South Wales and for the opportunity to be briefed this morning. I want to commend the Premier, who I have been speaking to over the course of the last week, and for the tremendous job she's been doing with her team here in New South Wales to respond to this disaster, this threat, that is ongoing and has been going for many, many months now. A few months ago I was up in Canungra when the first of these dreadful fires started to appear. It continued down through Rappville as the Premier and I stood together in that devastated community. When we got out to Wilberforce just a few weeks ago, up in Queensland and here we are again today following the terrible tragedy that occurred earlier this week. Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoff Keaton. Their families, Melissa and their little daughter Charlotte, 19 months. Jessica and their 19-month-old son, Harvey. When our volunteers go out there, they do it for so many reasons, but I can't help but thinking that one of the most important things that inspires them is their love of family - family is community and they were out there defending their community on that fateful night. And Jenny and I, our heart broke when he heard of their terrible loss and their great sacrifice and I just want to extend to them our great sympathies, our love and support. They're getting tremendous support from their Rural Fire Service family out there at Horsley Park and from the broader families of the firefighting communities around the country. What we, the rest of us, can offer them is our honour, our acknowledgment, and our respect for what they have done for all of us. There are over 100 fires active in New South Wales today and many of those are quite serious, but I do remind people that there are also severe fires in South Australia and in Victoria. I spoke to the South Australian Premier last night when I arrived back in Australia to get an update and there's been loss of life there and there are fears for others. We have heard further news this morning of people missing, an individual missing out in Lithgow where the fires also have raged overnight. No-one wants to be out there fighting these fires, no-one wants these fires to be happening at this time. But when those fires do occur, as they have for a very long time in this country, then those who have - there's over 200,000 of them in Australia - who have signed up and said, put their hand up to be there to defend their communities, then they go out and they do this work and they do it on behalf of all of us and they're getting tired and they're getting fatigued because this has been going for a very long time and this is one of the key issues I have been in discussion with the Commissioner about this morning and also with the Premier and I know that Minister Littleproud, who joins me here and I thank him for that, David, and the work you have been doing, and the Deputy Prime Minister during my absence, we will continue to look at all of these issues as we go forward. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service and all the fire services across Australia will continue to get everything they need from the Commonwealth. As you know, the operational response to these disasters is delivered and is run at a state level, but with great Commonwealth support. In talking to the Commissioner, I want to acknowledge what he has acknowledged - and that is as we face these fires at the moment, I want to assure Australians of this because I know people are anxious and I know people in some places are rightly fearful of what is literally at their door, and the haze and the smoke and all of these things heighten that anxiety as you think about your kids and your family and you can see the red tinge at night if you're close enough, but our fire services in Australia are the best in the world. The response to these disasters, these fires, is the best in the world. This is a time when Australia should be very, very proud that we have the best-resourced, most-coordinated, best-equipped fire services of any nation on earth to deal with this. And that's because as a country, we're used to dealing with fires - admittedly and very rightly this season is much more lengthened and started a lot earlier and there isn't the respite rains that we can that we can expect any time soon and that is making this season harder than many we have seen in a long time. But it is also true that after every fire, we sit down, we learn the lessons and we make sure we're better prepared next time and that's what's happened on this occasion. The coordination is seamless between not only the states and the Commonwealth, but between the states and overseas jurisdictions as well. Our defence forces are deploying wherever they're called upon and particularly now as you look at the burnt-out vast territories across particularly here in New South Wales, but in other states as well, there is wreckage to clear, there are trees to remove, there is access that needs to be provided to people's properties and businesses and homes, and that's the work that our defences force can, are and will continue to play and they have been doing it since September - airlifting, ensuring they're providing night flights for recognisance, and providing that heavy support that is needed, that is backing in and complementing the amazing work of our firefighters. There's some 70,000 registered firefighters here in New South Wales alone. That's bigger than the entire size of our defence forces and reserves. So we're talking about an enormous force that has drawn together here in New South Wales and that's about a third of the national force. So they will continue to get everything that they need and I have run through some matters this morning with the Commissioner and I have been speaking to the Premier as well - there will be a COAG meeting in March and at that meeting, as always, I have already put on the agenda the response capabilities for future disasters and lessons, of course, will be learned by these responses but I do know that the response you're seeing right now is informed by how this work has gone on each and everyday since the last fire. I mean, Emergency Management Australia which is the Commonwealth agency responsible for our engagement, both in drawing in the ADF and the other systems of support, including the important income support, later today I'll be announcing with the Premier further disaster assistance payments into new areas of affected areas as these payments have been rolling out. So you have members of government services Australia who are out there making sure people get their payments and their support. That will continue to rollout and we - Emergency Management Australia does this job 365 days of the year. I appreciate that when things get as anxious as they have become, then people will think, you know, what's been prepared? Is anything happening? Or have they thought of this? I understand that those anxieties are positively meant and are natural. But I want to reassure you that these - our officials, our commissioners, our firefighters, both those professionals who are paid and those who are unpaid, they are doing this year-round to prepare for events just like this. And that is why this response is something where we're seeing the best of Australia, not the contrary. Following on from that public anxiety, there is also been other issues that have been raised, not just about the response and the resources which I think I have addressed, but also around issues of climate policy. It has always been the case - our Government has always and I have always acknowledged the connection between these weather events and these broader fire events and the impacts globally of climate change. It's one of many factors as I have said. The drought conditions have certainly been a big contributor in terms of the dryness of the fuel load. There are also many other issues as you would be well aware and they'll all come under scrutiny as we prepare for what needs to happen next time - issues of management in national parks of fuel loads, issues of back-burning and managing native vegetation and building codes and all of these sorts of things, ensuring that our communications programs are important. I mean, there are some fires that have been started by just carelessness. Others sadly have been the result of direct arson. Many have been created by dry lightning strikes. And understanding all of that it will be important as we move through to the next phase. There is no argument, in my view and the government’s view, and any government in the country, about the links between broader issues of global climate change and weather events around the world but I'm sure people would equally acknowledge the direct connection to any single fire event is not a credible suggestion to make that link. We must take action on climate change and we are taking action on climate change. At the last election I said we would, I said we would meet and beat our Kyoto targets, I said we would meet our Paris commitments in a canter and we will. We welcome the record investment in renewable energy technologies and at the same time we welcome the fact we are pursuing our climate policies while getting electricity prices down as the ACCC noted today with a $65 reduction as a direct result of the policies we put in place to get power bills under control in this country. And we will do it without destroying the economy or job destroying reckless targets. We will do it with sensible target to get the balance right. That is what I promised Australians when we went to the last election and that is what I am committed to doing. Two other points. I have obviously returned from leave and I know that has caused some great anxiety in Australia and Jenny and I acknowledge that. If you had your time over again and the benefit of hindsight we would have made different decisions. I am sure Australians are fair-minded and understand that when you make a promise to your kids you try and keep it but as Prime Minister you have other responsibilities and I accept that and I accept the criticism and that is why Jenny and I agreed it was important that I returned, particularly after the terrible tragedies we saw late this week. I get it that people would have been upset to know that I was holidaying with my family while their families were under great stress. They know that I’m not going stand there and hold a hose. I am not a trained firefighter nor am I an expert like those in the next room doing such an amazing job. But I am comforted by the fact that Australians would like me to be here simply so I can be here alongside them as they’re going through this terrible time. And I say to those Australians who I caused upset to, and I apologise for that. It is important I think when you confronted with these things you front up and are honest with people and that is what I am seeking to do now. The time for that discussion is over. We need to focus on what is going out there today. Let me finish by saying this, and I apologise for the lengthy nature of my remarks this morning, it is time to be kind to each other. This is not a time for division, it is not a time for argument, it is not a time for partisanship, it is not a time for point scoring. It is a time to support people who have an important job to do, to give them the space and time, to give them the support they need. If people have something they want to contribute, that is fantastic and I want to thank all those who turned up to fire stations and made donations and you may want to think of dropping off some toys for the kids of the firefighters who may not have had time to go out and buy some this Christmas because they have been too busy. These are things that people can do constructively. Australians, we need to rally together. The time for argument is not now. That is not to say there is no time to talk about important issues like climate change, of course there is and we are talking about it. But let's do it in a way that does not distract from the very immediate need of protecting people's lives, protecting their property, honouring those who are out there doing everything they can. And so I simply ask people, particularly this Christmas time, to reflect on that, to come together to support each other and to focus on the things we need to do now and on the other side of these fires, Australia will prevail. We always have. Australia is the most amazing country on earth. How do I know that? Because I see what is happening out there right now on those fire fronts and in the communities that have suffered terrible loss. That is why Australia is the best country in the world and that is the country I am proud to lead. That’s the country I know we all support and that’s the cause to which we all rally now and focus on supporting efforts of Australians.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister where have you been and why was it a secret?
PRIME MINISTER: I was in Hawaii, with my family, a trip I planned some six weeks ago - seven weeks ago in fact and when I take family leave, it is a private family time.
JOURNALIST: But you’re sorry for taking leave- though you knew about these catastrophic fire conditions that were coming, we’ve known about them for a couple of weeks now. Are you sorry to the residents in those areas?
PRIME MINISTER: I already said that.
JOURNALIST: You are sorry?
PRIME MINISTER: I already said it.
JOURNALIST: Do you accept that the release of the information about this was handled poorly and the public deserved to know who was leading the country?
PRIME MINISTER: The Deputy Prime Minister was the Acting Prime Minister and on each time I have taken private family leave as Prime Minister I followed exactly the same process. There was no change. On my earlier leaves no statement was issued when I took private family leave and no objections were raised by the press on those occasions but it is certainly something we will rectify for next time.
JOURNALIST: Why were the Deputy Prime Minister’s office referring questions to your office about who was in charge, why couldn't they simply say I’m acting?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I’ll leave those matters for others to deal with, these are not the matters I am focused on now, I don’t think they’re things that Australians are worried about, they’re worried about what’s happening in the fires and the support necessary to support those out there today. I understand there is media interest in the engagement of briefings between my office and the gallery and those sorts of things, I get that. There have been lessons learned this week and they will be employed for next time.
JOURNALIST: You were critical of the Victorian Police Commissioner when she went to dinner during the Black Friday disaster, should you not be held to the same standard?
PRIME MINISTER: I have already made a number of comments today, as you know, where I think I have held myself to that same standard. Equally I would note that I am not the operational leader of an emergency service or police force. I am the Prime Minister. And as Prime Minister I was kept regularly - and sought to be kept regularly updated on the events. The Acting Prime Minister was in full control of what was occurring ably supported I must say by Minister Littleproud. The Premier was leading, obviously the governance of the operational response here in New South Wales, and I have been in contact with the Premier and so all of these arrangements were in place to ensure that I could continue to do and fulfil my responsibilities, but I understand and the reason I have returned is out of a deep respect and sympathy for those Australians who were tragically killed a few nights ago. That demanded my attendance here, I believe, out of simply a respect and sympathy for them and what they were going through and that is why I have been very pleased to return. That is a decision that Jenny and I took together and we told the kids about it, but I think Australians are fair-minded about this. They know at the end of a difficult year people go on leave and they know that when dad makes a promise to their kids they like to keep it. And I think where events were late last week was not where they were today so I think it would be unfair to say the events in very recent days where the same is as a week or so ago. Nevertheless, I understand the anxiety and why people have been upset by this and that is why I am pleased to be back and front up.
JOURNALIST: Just on the issue of climate change, the Government has been criticised for using carryover credit. You personally have been accused of making light of the issue by bringing the lump of coal into parliament. Going forward after these fires can we see a change of tack from your Government, a more genuine commitment I guess to making Australia a responsible global actor in its commitment to reducing carbon emissions?
PRIME MINISTER: Well people can expect my Government to do what it promised to do, what we took to the last election. I know there are some who tried to make political points and score points over these issues in the midst of these disasters and that is disappointing. I will do what I said I would do because that is how I am with the Australian people. I said we will meet our 26 per cent emission reduction target. Emissions per year today under our Government are on average 50 million tons a year less than they were under the previous government. Emissions have fallen the last two years. Emissions are lower than at any time they were under the previous Government. We have had record investment in renewables in Australia and now, thankfully, as a result of policies the Government has put in place we are also getting electricity prices down, some $65 a year. And on top of that we’ve been doing it without embracing the reckless job destroying and economy crunching targets that others are seeking to force upon us. I don't think that is a balanced approach. We will continue to take a responsible approach to taking action on climate change. We are taking action and we will continue to take action. We are part of a global action and the commitments we have made, we are meeting. We are meeting and we are beating. So I don’t accept the suggestion that Australia is not carrying its weight. We are carrying our weight. We are meeting and beating our targets and there are very few countries who can say that.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you said you have learned some lessons from this past week. What are those lessons?
PRIME MINISTER: I think I have already outlined them in my earlier remarks.
JOURNALIST: Michael McCormack said yesterday he believes the Government needs to do more on climate change, do you think he’s referring to what you’re referring to or do you think he is actually saying that separate target should be made?
PRIME MINISTER: He is not making that point at all, he’s making exactly the same point I make. The Kyoto targets that were set by the previous Labor government, when we came to government there was the projections were that we would miss those by some 700 million tons. Now we're going to beat them by 411 million tons. And I would hope that not only will we meet and I'm sure we will, our Paris commitments but we will beat them too. And there is a long time between now and 2030 and we will continue to refine our policies because we're serious about taking action. But what we will not do is act in a knee-jerk or crisis or panicked mode. A panic approach and response to anything does not help. It puts people at risk. Not just their livelihoods but if you walk out there into that control room you will not see people panicking, you will see people being very professional, very focused on the job they have, talking to each other in a very professional way and getting the job done. Government is the same thing. Whether it is taking action on climate change or it’s ensuring that, as the midyear economic statement shows, that the Government is on track to achieve a surplus or the further job creation that you saw in the past week. Over 100,000 jobs created since last election. You get these results by being calm and by being stable. And having clear goals and having the policies in place to achieve them. Whether that is on taking action on climate change or job creation or ensuring that we get our welfare system targeted to support those who need it most, or dealing with the environmental challenges of waste management and plastics and any of these issues. Mental health challenges, the Government is addressing. On all these issues the government has clear plans and a clear approach to deal with them and is doing it in a very patient and in a very applied and professional way.
JOURNALIST: Labor wants compensation for the volunteer firefighters. Is that something you will look in to?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m not aware what the specific proposal is that Labor are proposing or what costings they’ve prepared on that basis. I will take that where it is. But these are things that the Government has been considering, in the first instance of course these are matters for state governments, the Rural Fires Services and the fire services around Australia are run by state governments so it is not for the Commonwealth Government to step in and make decisions about that. But these are things that I think can be contemplated. But I very much want to do that in consultation with the state and territory governments. As I said to the Commissioner Fitzsimmons today, whatever they need, whatever they think they need to bolster support, sustain the operations that they are running, they simply need to ask. And they will get that support. I think there are immediate issues that need to be addressed there with the rural firefighters, particularly as they’re getting into areas of terrible fatigue now. Particularly when you go up to the mid north coast where I was in Taree, they have been fighting fires for a while now and they are still going. Thankfully, as I was briefed this morning, those parts of the state are more under control today than they were when I was there not that long ago. But these are the many issues that I think we need to understand. Let's not forget, there are 210,000 rural firefighters around the country and there are thousands of surf-lifesavers who will be patrolling our beaches, those who are volunteering on meals on wheels and carers and others. Australia is a magnificent country because it does have that volunteer spirit. And Australia relies on that volunteer spirit and we celebrate it and we rightly do so. And where there are ways that we can further support that volunteer effort then we are very open to considering this. Let me say one thing, all our firefighters are professionals. They are all professional at what they do. They are well-trained and they are very good at what they’re doing. One of the things we focused on this morning was ensuring how we can better supplement the clearing work and the other things that need to be done in those areas that have been ravaged by fires and ensuring that we can get even more prompt defence support into those arrangements. There has been defence liaisons here in these headquarters now for a long time as there has been in Queensland other places and ensuring that we can get that support to supplement what is done at a local level as well through the state government. The defence forces are deployed, are being deployed, those defence force members who are firefighters are out there fighting fires, just like any other employee would be. They are not in their platoons, they are in their brigades.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, with so many crises affecting different states in Australia at the moment, do you think you have shown the leadership the Australian public expect of you during this bushfire crisis?
PRIME MINISTER: This has been going on for a long time, this has been going on since September and on each occasion I have been here, whether it is up in Rappville, or whether it’s been in Wauchope, or it’s been in Taree or Canungra or out at Wilberforce just a couple of weeks ago. Not on all occasions have I gone and been there with a travelling media team. I have been there on occasions just in a low-key way talking to those who are in incident control rooms and it would seem that whether it’s myself or others there will always been criticism made but what I have confidence in, and I will always have confidence in is in the fair-mindedness of the Australian people and as I said before, I take responsibility for my own decisions and I take responsibility for those I’ve made in relation to my family and more broadly in terms of my leadership responsibilities for the nation and that’s why I’m here. Thank you all very much.
Press Conference - Melbourne, VIC
12 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you everyone for joining us today. I’d like to deal firstly with the matters regarding the New Zealand volcano tragedy, as well as the national disaster, the fires that are occurring across the country.
If I could first start with the issue of the terrible events that have been unfolding in New Zealand this week. I've been in contact with Prime Minister Ardern over the last few days, including again this morning. I want to start by just extending our deepest sympathies and concern and love to all of the families and all of those who have been affected by this. And it's obviously added to by the uncertainty and the frustration in being able to gain access, obviously, to the volcano and the Prime Minister has confirmed to me again that it is still a very dangerous place and that is obviously hampering the recovery effort but, of course, we have to be mindful of the safety of those who would be undertaking that recovery effort. But we know, with quite a number of persons still on the island understood to be deceased, that we will just have to be patient, while circumstances are continually reviewed, that will enable getting access to the island.
But just to confirm for you a number of processes that are in place at the moment and where people are. I can confirm, and as you know it is our practice only confirmed the names of those who are deceased once we have gone through two processes. One is an identification process, and also one involves engagement of the families and I can confirm that Jason Griffiths passed away yesterday in New Zealand. He had been evacuated and he passed away with family members present yesterday. And we send our deep sympathies to all the family and friends of Jason.
We will have within the next 24 hours, only 1 Australian who will remain hospitalised in New Zealand. We have already completed 5 medical evacuations to hospitals in Australia, there will be another 7 evacuations of Australians back to Australian hospitals over the course of the next 24 hours. Sadly there are 10 further Australians who are missing and presumed deceased. That is the total of the 24 Australians that I noted recently, the other day, who were caught up in visiting the island on that day. There are also 4 permanent residents who we have been able to identify have been caught up in this, these events. There is one who continues to be hospitalised, there are two who have passed away in hospital, and a further one permanent resident who is missing and presumed deceased.
In the days ahead, there will be worse news. Based on what I’ve just relayed to you. I want to thank all of those who have been involved in supporting the families and the friends of those who are missing and presumed deceased, I want to thank all of those who have been working in the New Zealand hospitals and those burns units providing the amazing care and support and I want to thank our Defence Forces for the role that they have been playing in evacuating those Australians in hospital back to Australia where they can be closer to family and where they can get the ongoing attention and care they will need. They will have difficult rehabilitations as a result of their injuries in many cases. I want to thank again Prime Minister Ardern and New Zealand Police for the cooperation there has been between New Zealand authorities and Australian authorities, and commend Minister Payne for the work that she’s done together with High Commissioner Forsythe and our Consul-General in Auckland for the great work they’ve been doing in assisting with the effort which is quite a considerable one in ensuring people are kept informed. We know there are frustrations with information, in these circumstances you can never have enough information when you are concerned about the safety and the wellbeing of one of your loved ones. DFAT and our officers there are doing everything within their power to provide as much information as they can.
In the days ahead there may be the opportunity for that recovery operation to be in place, and when that occurs there will be the very grim task of identification and the further news that will follow from that.
So I thank people for their patience, I would continue to urge caution and sensitivity in the way that these matters are reported and, of course, we will continue to confirm information when we're in a position to do so. But our thoughts and our love go to all of those family members and friends who are dealing with this terrible news and the anxiety for those who are not yet to be able to get a formal confirmation of what has occurred to their loved ones.
More broadly, as this is a difficult week, as fires burn around the country. We have severe fire danger ratings today in New South Wales, in the Northern Territory, in Queensland, and in Western Australia. Of course, the worst situation is in New South Wales, where there are 130 fires that continue to burn across the state. Total fire bans have been issued for three fire areas today and more than 2.7 million hectares have been burnt since the start of this year, and during the 2019-2020 bushfire season, with a fire perimeter totalling some 19,235 kilometres. Five evacuation centres are currently activated. There are 36 local government areas in Queensland today, where there have been local fire bans issued. There are emergency warnings in Western Australia and there is one fire that is on a watch and act basis. The Government has been working closely, as part of the national coordinated effort, to address the national disaster of these fires.
Now, I'm often asked about the issue of declaring a national disaster. As many Australians would know - and the disaster categorisation is actioned by state governments. That's what occurs under state legislation. Of course, this is a national disaster. We all understand that. And in the states, there have been various declarations that have been made which activate particular actions and powers and authorities to respond to those and that includes the actions and coordination of federal authorities.
We all know this is a national disaster and we knew this was going to be a very tough fire season when we went into this season. We also know that there are many contributing factors that relate to these fires. The drought is obviously - and the dryness of the bush is the biggest factor and we all know, as I acknowledged earlier this year in February, that climate change, along with many other factors, contribute to what is occurring today. But let me be clear about this - climate change is a global challenge. Australia is playing our role as part of this global challenge. In fact, today, I can tell you that emissions from Australia are lower today than at any other time than before we came to government. In fact, they're around almost on average 50 million tonnes lower per year now than they were under the term of the previous government. And we'll continue to meet our commitments when it comes to Kyoto. We will over exceed on Kyoto by 411 million tonnes. We have our Paris targets, which we are absolutely committed too as well. And Minister Taylor has been in Madrid in recent days working through those commitments as part of those global undertakings that we're involved in. We're also working closely with our Pacific family, both to join in the actions that we're undertaking, as well as significant investments we're making in terms of climate change resilience within our region.
So we are taking action. But what I've noticed on the ground in terms of these fires is that the way that it has brought Australians as a community together. Certainly these broader global issues are relevant. But at times like this, Australians must come together. I know as a Sydneysider - I'm here in Melbourne today - I've lived all my life, pretty much, in Sydney, and the haze that has come from those fires, I know has been deeply troubling to Sydneysiders. It's been deeply troubling to families and kids, who've never seen this before. And I can understand that is deeply unsettling to a lot of Australians, particularly those who are living in Sydney. But I want to reassure, I want to reassure Australians, that the country is working together, the country is coming together to deal with the firefighting challenge that we have.
Today, we have announced a further $11 million that we're putting into the aerial firefighting fleet. That is on top of the $15 million that we already put in on annual basis. This has been done as a result of the engagement we've had with the states and territories through that nationally coordinated process. Recently, we had a meeting of the state and territory ministers with Minister Littleproud, to deal with what the additional needs were. There are increasing cost pressures on some of these aviation assets and there is also the need to have the ability to concurrently deal with multiple fire threats around the country. So we have responded to that advice that has come up from the fire chiefs. The decision was not taken recently. It was taken over the course of preparing for the midyear update and in response to the requests that had been made.
The Commonwealth, the Federal Government, is responding to all of the needs that have been presented to us by our state and territory authorities. We have over 200,000 registered firefighters in this country. That is an enormous, an enormous national resource, which we value greatly. They are supported for their equipment and needs by our state and territory governments. And that is where that support is provided. And they deal with the Commonwealth for broader nationally coordinated efforts.
I also want to stress that our Defence Forces have been actively engaged in supporting that firefighting effort for months, for months. I was in Canungra a few months ago, where there were fires up in Queensland, and we were there in the operation centre, in the Canungra base. That's where the Blackhawks - I think it was Blackhawks at the time - were operating. I'm happy to stand corrected on the precise nature of where those helicopters were operating from, conducting night flights at other times during other fires, providing assistance and developing fire breaks, providing the catering and logistics and airlift support, working in closely as part of the operation centres that are fighting these fires. So I want to assure Australians I know that it is troubling and it is concerning, but what we must do is focus on the coordination of the effort, getting the resources where it needs to get to, while the loss of homes and certainly the loss of life has been very distressing, I can assure you that if it were not for these nationally coordinated efforts, particularly since the Black Saturday fires down here in Victoria, and what has been learned from that, thousands of more homes would have been lost in these fires and I fear many more lives would have been lost as well.
So I know it's concerning, but I would encourage Australians to come together, to provide that support that we're all providing, governments at all levels, local governments, state government, Federal Government, communities, all working together to support that firefighting effort, and we all have a role to play and I'll finish on this. I want to thank again the employers who are enabling those firefighting efforts to be put in place by our volunteers. And they are making their commitment through enabling those firefighters to be out there in their community and I thank them very much for their sacrifice in this great national effort. Happy to take questions on those matters and then we'll move to the other matter which I'll ask the Treasurer and the Minister for Communications and the Arts to join me.
JOURNALIST: We’ve seen firefighters have to crowd fund to get breath masks to fight fires. Do you think Australians really care whether the Federal Government or state government really fund that? Shouldn’t a government step up and fund those, that equipment?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've been seeking to get some validation of those reports and they're matters that I've raised directly through my office with the New South Wales Government. Of course, that type of equipment is provided by the state government and I would expect that these sorts of needs would be met out of those resources and they should be. I have noticed that over the course of these fires, and on social media, there have been lots of things - I'm not necessarily talking specifically about this - but there are lots of things that are said and one of the issues that I've engaged with when I've gone into these incident response and control centres is what they often have to do is counter a lot of the misinformation and a lot of the commentary that has been provided on social media which can cause unnecessary anxiety in communities. They actually have crack teams which are actually just dealing with countering misinformation on social media on fires. That's why I encourage people, when you're dealing with issues of fires, best to go to the confirmed sources, which are through the various state government agencies and that brilliant Fires Near Me app which has been operating in New South Wales and keeping many people safe. So every single resource that has been sought from the states for fighting these fires, we have been meeting and we will continue to do that through the nationally coordinated approach.
JOURNALIST: Jason Falinski is backing Matt Kean's call for practical and ambitious action on climate change. Isn't this is a sign members of your Government are dissatisfied with the current response?
PRIME MINISTER: No. I know that all of my Government is focused on taking action on climate change. Because we should be. And we are. What is a pleasing thing is that, as Minister Taylor has been there at the recent meetings in Madrid, that we have being able to talk about exceeding our Kyoto targets by 411 million tonnes of carbon emissions abatement. And we have targets and we're meeting them. We have new targets for 2030 in Paris, which we've kept to and we're committed to and that we will meet and we are committed to taking action on climate change. What I would say, though, is that, as I think scientists have observed, and we should recognise, is that climate change is a global issue. Australia is 1.3% of global emissions and in New South Wales I think it's less than 0.5% of emissions, and so any suggestion that the actions of any state or any nation with a contribution to global emissions of that order is directly linked to any weather event, whether here in Australia or anywhere else in the world, is just simply not true. We take action as part of a broader global effort, which Australia is doing. As I said, our emissions reductions, our emissions that are generated in Australia, are around 50 million tonnes lower on average under our government than what we inherited. So we are taking action and we should take action and we will continue to take action and that's what our government is committed to.
JOURNALIST: Which hospitals are taking burns victims from New Zealand, and how many victims per hospital?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are hospitals across, they're in New South Wales. They're also in South Australia. I don't want to go into the details of those hospitals, because I want to protect the privacy of those persons who are receiving that treatment and the families that are providing support and visiting them. There have been cases where, frankly, there has been media interest in hospitals, seeking to gain access to hospitals. That's already occurred in New Zealand and I wouldn't want to see a repeat of that here in Australia.
JOURNALIST: Just back to climate change, the New South Wales Government will reportedly increase its greenhouse reduction targets. Are you open to doing that at a federal level?
PRIME MINISTER: We have our commitments. We've always been very clear about our commitments. We have a positive program on reducing emissions and we have a positive program on growing our economy and we are achieving both of those.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the American Ambassador says that Chinese agents are operating on Australian soil. How prolific are the activities of Chinese spies and agents in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, as I was only announcing with the Minister for Home Affairs, Australia is leading the world in terms of ensuring that we have the right safeguards for countering foreign interference from wherever it might come. And indeed, jurisdictions, including the United States, have been incredibly impressed and this was the subject to some of the discussions I had when I was in the United States at the regime we've been able to put in place, both in terms of our laws, our agencies, our intelligence, our resources. No country is better equipped or better resourced or better and able to deal with any of these types of threats that Australia has. And we're staying with... we're ensuring we're staying ahead of the curve on these issues. We understand the threats and they come from any number of sources and it's important that we have the regime in place in order to deal with that and we do.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on the question of bushfires and climate change, going back to Matt Kean’s comments. He has said this is not normal and doing nothing is not a solution. Why do people…
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry, I couldn’t hear the rest of the question.
JOURNALIST: The point is, this is not normal.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I heard that.
JOURNALIST: The rest of the question is why do people in your own party think the Coalition is doing nothing?
PRIME MINISTER: They don’t think that. I don't think that's what the Minister in New South Wales has said. And I think it would be wrong to mischaracterise his comments in that way. The New South Wales Government is pursuing their policies. The Commonwealth government is pursuing ours. We took those policies to the last election. I remind you, that is a 26 per cent reduction. And that's the global commitment we've made for Paris. We made. In fact, it was the Labor government that made the commitments for Kyoto. And when we took over back in 2013, we were seven hundred million tonnes behind in our projections when it came to meeting those Kyoto 20 targets. And now we will exceed them by four hundred and eleven million tonnes. Now, I would say that is actually getting a lot done. And we will continue to get a lot done through our climate solutions fund. We will continue to work to reduce our emissions, as we should. But what we cannot say, what no one can say is those programs of themselves are in any way directly linked to any fire event. I know because I'm a Sydneysider and I know how unusual it is to see that haze across my city. And I know how distressing that has been, particularly for young people who wouldn't have seen that before. And so that is why I think it is important to have a sense of calm about these matters and calm on the basis of information which says Australia is reducing our emissions, Australia is taking action. Australia is getting results. And it's important that at a time like this of natural disasters that Australians focus on coming together and not seeking to drive issues of conflict and issues that can separate Australians at a time when we all need each other.
JOURNALIST: On the emissions targets, there's a chance that Australia use of carryover credits will be ruled out at the next COP meeting. What's your back-up plan to bring emissions down if we don't get to use those carryover credits?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, again, I think the way you've presented the issue is incorrect. Because the issue of carryover credits that’s been discussed in Madrid has actually been about trading credits with other nations, old credits. And that is the issue that concern has been expressed about in Madrid and that does not apply to what Australia's practice is. Australia is in the enviable position, unlike most countries, where we actually have exceeded on our targets. It's a bit like saying that if you get ahead of your mortgage, it doesn't count. Australia has got ahead of its mortgage on emissions reduction and our commitments that we made for Kyoto 2020 and we're ahead of that and I think that's a good thing and what we inherited was, we were well behind on the mortgage when we came to government when it came to Australia's carbon emissions. We've got ahead of it now and I think that's great and it's my ambition to ensure we continue that trend.
JOURNALIST: In light of all the bushfires you're talking about, how can you say it's great that we've achieved this, when it's clearly not great.
PRIME MINISTER: You'd have to be clearer. I don't understand your point.
JOURNALIST: OK. Do you acknowledge that the bushfires are linked in some way to climate change?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course I have, I have all year.
JOURNALIST: OK, well how can you declare as great our achievements so far in view of what's happening around the country?
PRIME MINISTER: What I'm saying is that Australia is meeting and beating our emissions reduction targets and our emissions are around 50 million tonnes lower on average over the term of our government than what we inherited. We need to reduce emissions and that's what is being achieved. What I've also said, John, is even that achievement, even that achievement, cannot be directly linked to a reduction or an increase in the risk of bushfire in Australia, because climate change is a global phenomenon. And to actually link those two things - which I don't think its right to do - as the question sort of implies - I think is to misconstrue it. Of course we should be taking action on climate change as part of a global effort, and we are. But that global effort has, and those global results more broadly, are contributing to greater risks of events like this. That’s why we'll continue to take action and particularly do it in concert with our Pacific family, and build their resilience as well, as we are doing in this country. The fires are of great concern. We have seen many fires in Australia before and there have been plenty of reports about the history of these things in the past and I don't need to remind Victorians about that, because what's been more than a decade, but the wounds are still very real here in Victoria for those catastrophic events. But as always, Australians must band together and we must focus on the effort that needs to be put in on the ground now and that has my absolute focus and the focus of all the Premiers, leading states, that lead the response. I'll be seeing the New South Wales Premier tomorrow. I'm seeing the Victorian Premier this afternoon about a number of issues and my reason, amongst many, for being in Victoria today. And we'll work closely together. That's the assurance I'm seeking to provide Australians. I know it is upsetting. I know it is concerning and particularly when you're living in a city which has a haze that some may never have seen before. But I want them to be assured the country is working together. Australia's amazing volunteer resource is being drawn on and heavily, but it is always overcome. Australians are overcomers and we're unifiers.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what are you hoping to get out of your meeting with Daniel Andrews this afternoon? His Government’s just presented their mid-year economic update and they’re calling on more stimulus from the Commonwealth, to do more to boost economic growth here in Victoria?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I look forward to discussing further projects that we can carry forward. I mean I announced just recently over half a billion of projects that we're bringing forward. We'll have further discussions about everything from Melbourne Port Rail and a range of those projects. Indeed, there are some that we would still like them to bring forward. And the Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Alan Tudge, my Melbourne eyes on this Melbourne problem, has only this week- in recent days I should say, met with Jacinta [Allan] and they're progressing issues of projects there. We're enjoying, I think, a very productive partnership on infrastructure with the Victorian Government and I look forward to continuing that in my discussions with the Premier this afternoon. We've brought forward $3.8 billion worth of infrastructure projects into the forward estimates. $1.8 billion this year and next year. So that's effectively over the next 18 months and we've got $9 billion of additional investment going into the National Disability Insurance Scheme this year and next year. We've got $6 billion extra going into hospitals and schools, this year, next year. $2 billion extra going into aged care, this year, next year. The Commonwealth is putting a significant investment - and that's not to mention the big investments we're making in defence procurement all around the country which has been incredibly important in regional areas as well where those projects are being managed. We'll continue to do that and I look forward to his suggestions because each time we've sought to bring projects forward, he's been very cooperative and I hope he will continue to be and as I’m sure he will be when we meet later today!
JOURNALIST: Will you bring up the East West link? And the money you’ve still got –
PRIME MINISTER: Our commitment to the East West link remains but the Victorian Government don't wish to pursue that project. So I think we're at a bit of a stale mate on that, but our commitment remains.
JOURNALIST: If they won't pursue it, will you unlock that money for other projects?
PRIME MINISTER: People know the accounting treatment of those funds. It would be new funds if that project was to commence.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister just on climate change, you said there's a global effort, but Australia ranks last in the world on climate policy in a new global index. Isn't that an indictment of your Government's response?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I completely reject that report. We don’t accept that.
JOURNALIST: You don't accept the report?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: Why not?
PRIME MINISTER: Because I don't think it's credible.
JOURNALIST: It's not credible?
PRIME MINISTER: No. OK, I might move because I’ve had my Minister’s –
JOURNALIST: I want to ask one more question.
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
JOURNALIST: You sort of said that young people in Sydney hadn't seen a haze like that over the city before. Do you remember that in your history?
PRIME MINISTER: I do remember hazes from the past. I do remember Sydney being ringed by fire in my lifetime. I remember as a young fellow being down at the beach and seeing smoke all around as I looked back out from the surf across the sand and I've seen it before. Maybe not quite the haze that I saw on Sydney Harbour. But, you know, we've seen terrible fires. I remember, when I was a kid I remember the Blue Mountains, the big fire back in the late seventies. And I remember the convent just out of Lawson, which was lost I remember on that occasion. And those fires were horrific. Absolutely horrific. We've seen what is, I think, concerning about these fires and we've seen fires come early in the season, too. When I was out at Wilberforce on the weekend getting an update on the mega fire just north-west of Sydney and speaking to the Commissioner when I was out there and speaking to other locals and I asked them about that and they said, yeah, we've seen early fires before. The challenge is that these fires have been now going for some time and that is causing a lot of fatigue. And I know that has the keen attention of the commissioners on how the firefighters are getting their rest periods. And that's why we appreciate the supplementary resources of people coming out of New Zealand and Canada and the United States and in those states that aren’t facing the extreme conditions that the New South Wales, in particular, and Queensland. We're getting that wonderful support. I mean, this time last year, it was New South Wales firefighters going to Tasmania and that's the wonderful nature of this coordinated effort and that's what I'd stress. There is an extraordinarily coordinated effort between all of our fire chiefs, between all of our state and territory resources. There are established protocols for making requests, acting on those requests, whether they're fiscal or whether they're resources or people or airlifts or defence force engagement. All of this is happening. All of the things that you would expect indeed to be happening is happening. And and we thank all of those for their amazing effort in addressing the great risk, which is a natural disaster. Of course it is. And we will continue to respond to it on the basis of it being exactly that.
So I'm going to ask now if I could be joined by the Treasurer and the Minister for Communications and the Arts. We would like to make a statement on our response to the ACCC report in relation to digital platforms and I want to thank the Treasurer and the Minister for their significant work. And I also want to thank the ACCC and Rod Sims for the great work the ACCC has done.
The global economy, the world is changing because of the revolution that is taking place with the digital economy and digital technology. At a recent speech I gave to the Business Council, I talked about the digital economy and how I want Australia to be in the leadership pack, if not even at the front of that pack, when it comes to our success in the digital economy. And that means we need to modernise our regulatory environment. That means we need to understand the digital economy and the operation of digital platforms in our economy and in our society in a way better than any other jurisdiction. I want us to be the model jurisdiction in the world for how we are dealing with digital platforms, social media platforms, and I have a simple rule and that the rules that exist in the real world need to exist in the digital world. If it's a wrong thing to do in the real world, then it's a wrong thing to do in the digital world. And you would have seen that over the course of the last year, the Government and I have been taking a lot of action in this space, whether it's to deal with e-safety in the protection of children when it comes to what occurs on the Internet, whether it's the response that we led following the terrorist attack in Christchurch, which we took to the G20 and got the world's biggest economies to agree on the need to send the digital platforms a clear message that we cannot allow the Internet and the digital world to be weaponised by terrorists.
What occurs in consumer law, what occurs in competition law, what occurs in taxation law should occur in the digital world as much as occurs in the real world. And so that's what guides us and for Australia to be successful as an economy in the next decade we need to be leaders in this space. And that means our regulatory environment needs to be agile. It needs to be targeted. It needs to be effective in a way that at once it protects the very important things that we must protect from privacy to the safety of our children at the same time as realising the benefits to our economy that comes from these digital technologies. So we want our cake and we want to eat it when it comes to digital in Australia. We want the benefits and the public and our economy and our companies have every right to expect the protections that they would otherwise have in the real world.
So it was as Treasurer, I commissioned the ACCC to to undertake this work. This work done by the ACCC is world's best. The number of people from around the world who have raised with me the excellence of this report and the insights that it contains into digital platforms done by the ACCC I think is a testament to Rod Sims and his team and I'm very proud of the work they've done. So it's now for us to then take their work and bring it forward. And key to that is building further the capability of the ACCC to be a world leader in this space in terms of how regulations should be structured to get the twin outcomes of protections and economic supercharging from this technology, as well as the commercial arrangements that need to be fostered between our traditional and new media that exists to enable the benefits to be realised. The regulatory environment and the deregulation that potentially needs to occur to get a level playing field and the protections that need to be in place for people's privacy in this new world. We have regulation and systems that were written for an analog economy, and I want Australia to be one of the most, if not the most, successful digital economy in the world.
So our response is all about that. That means jobs. That means incomes. That means an income for Australia, which supports the essential services Australians rely on. We must be successful in this digital world. We can't be afraid of it. We can't pull the doona over our head and pretend it's not there. We have to deal with the challenges it presents and the opportunities that are there for us to take. So I'll hand over the Treasurer and the Minister for Communications and the Arts to run through our response. Thank you, Josh. Thank you very much.
THE HON. JOSH FRYDENBERG MP, TREASURER: Thank you, Prime Minister. It’s a pleasure to join you and the Minister here today. The digital world is the new frontier and what happens in the digital world affects everything we do from our personal interactions to our commercial relationships and the companies that have come to dominate the digital world are among the most powerful and valuable in the world. More than 17 million Australians use Facebook every month. More than 90 per cent of the searches online are using Google. And we know that in the Australian online advertising market, excluding classifieds, for every $100 that is spent, $47 is spent with Google, $24 with Facebook and $29 with the other parties. And it was in this context that the then Treasurer and now Prime Minister commissioned the ACCC to conduct this groundbreaking review, a review that made a series of recommendations, 23 in total, across better consumer outcomes, competition law, privacy and media regulation.
Now, that report, as the Prime Minister said, is world-leading and we want to stay ahead of the game and ahead of the pack. So I just want to touch on two particular recommendations that we are accepting that are within my portfolio. The first is that we will be setting up a dedicated unit to focus on the digital platforms, within the ACCC. Now, we are allocating $27 million to this task and this unit will monitor the sector. It will enforce the rules and it will conduct further inquiries as directed by the Treasurer. And the first inquiry is into the adtech market, the advertising online market, which is the technology that determines the advertisements you see online and this was a particular recommendation of the ACCC. The second recommendation that we will be accepting in my portfolio is that we will be requiring the digital platforms to enter into a voluntary code with the media companies. Now, this code will cover such things as how revenue is shared, how content is accessed and presented, as well as getting forewarning about changes to algorithms that go to how the content is ranked online. The Government will be seeking an update from the ACCC on the development of these voluntary codes by May and we are expecting that a voluntary code will be entered into by November. If no voluntary code is satisfactorily entered into, the Government will move forward with a mandated regulatory outcome.
So the companies are on notice. The Government is not messing around. We will not hesitate to act. And what we are seeking to do here with the acceptance of a number of the recommendations in Rod Sims excellent report is not only to minimize the harm but to maximize the opportunities for all Australians and for the economy as a whole.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Paul Fletcher. Thank you, Paul.
THE HON. PAUL FLETCHER MP, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS, CYBER SAFETY AND THE ARTS: Thank you, Prime Minister. Thank you, Treasurer. Of the ACCC’s 23 recommendations, one that's of great importance within my portfolio is that we move to harmonise media regulation. Now, as the ACCC noted, this is a big job that needs to be done in stages. But fundamentally, the point they're making is that we've got a set of businesses that are using technology that's been around for a long time. And we've got a new set of businesses that are using much newer technology, competing for the same audiences, but facing very different regulatory environment. So we've committed that we’re going to commence a staged process towards an end state of platform mutual regulatory frameworks covering both online and offline delivery of media content to Australian consumers.
Now, the ACCC, as I mentioned, noted that this is a big job and it needs to be done in stages. So we've committed that our first stage is going to focus on two issues and work on these two issues will commence in 2020. The first is developing a uniform classification framework that would operate across all media platforms. The second comes to the question of Australian content. We're going to examine the extent of Australian content obligations on free to air TV broadcasters, and that includes drama and children's content, and whether there should be Australian content obligations on the new subscription video on demand or [inaudible] services. And we're also going to look at other aspects of the policy framework to support Australian film and TV content. We'll be asking the Australian Communications and Media Authority and Screen Australia to prepare an options paper for issue early next year and we'll use that then as a basis for consulting with the industry. I've mentioned these first two key issues that we’ll kick off with. In the next stage we seek to look at other issues, such as the regulation of advertising but we’ll say more about the timing of that next year. But I'd envisage that that work would be getting underway as well before the end of next year.
So very significant recommendations by the ACCC in terms of our media regulation and we're announcing a staged programme in response to that with two areas that we're focussing on initially on classification, Australian content.
PRIME MINISTER: Questions on this matter?
JOURNALIST: The ACCC is right now suing Google… taking them to court. Google and Facebook have repeatedly shown that they're not prepared to follow laws in our country or other countries. Is a voluntary code really going to cut it?
PRIME MINISTER: Let me make two responses to that. First of all, as a country, we have already acted and demanded their attention when it comes to terrorist content and we have led the world in that and I can assure you that that has got their attention. When it comes to getting them to pay tax, and in particular abolishing the low-value threshold for large platforms, for Amazon, and you'll recall Amazon said they were going to leave the country, never to return. They are back within months. And we held firm when it came to standing up to those companies, as we have on keeping our children safe, dealing with the threats of terrorism on the Internet and indeed, as it will be in this case, ensuring that our companies get a fair go in the digital economy. And as the Treasurer said, our preference is for them to sit down and work out these new commercial rules between them, which would be binding upon them once the code has been established. But I want to report back in May and I want to see how it's going and I want this thing done by November. But I can assure you the backstop is there. If I don't think this thing is tracking and the Treasurer doesn't think it's tracking and the Communications Minister, a mandatory code will happen.
JOURNALIST: It's over two years since you first commissioned the ACCC report. Your Government has been looking at it for six months. A lot of the decisions are to take for more reviews over the next 12 months. When is his country going to see action on this issue?
THE HON. JOSH FRYDENBERG MP, TREASURER: Thanks, John. As you would know from your own company, they had an opportunity to put in a submission. So we actually held a public consultation process. So I don't know if you’re speaking for your own company's experience, but I know that they said... they wanted to have the opportunity to comment on this final report. It was an 18 month report and as you know, we are leading the world and by now moving to this voluntary code and, indeed, as the Prime Minister has indicated, possibly a mandatory code. We do need to go through that process because we are driving evidence-based policy. This is properly considered. These aren’t knee jerk reactions, these are getting the best and the brightest minds that the ACCC has brought together to produce a world-leading report. And when you are talking about putting in place state of the art regulatory frameworks, you need to get it right.
JOURNALIST: Who will lead the ACCC unit?
THE HON. JOSH FRYDENBERG MP, TREASURER: Ultimately, it is accountable to Rod Sims as the head of the ACCC. Now, he already has put together a pretty strong team who worked on this report and he'll continue to work to build it. But it ultimately is under his leadership.
JOURNALIST: Treasurer, can I just confirm, are you accepting all 23 recommendations and does this mean the digital platforms can be subject to the same laws of defamation contempt that the mainstream media is?
THE HON. JOSH FRYDENBERG MP, TREASURER: We're not accepting all the recommendations and we've set out in our response which ones we're acting on immediately, which ones we're engaging in further consultation on, which ones we know want. There's a couple in Paul's area where we're not moving forward, so I'll let him explain it as well as this issue in relation to defamation.
THE HON. PAUL FLETCHER MP, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS, CYBER SAFETY AND THE ARTS: Let me pick up the question about defamation. Work in that space is being led by the Attorney-General and he's working with his state and territory counterparts, recognising where primary responsibility for defamation law sits. So that's the work stream that our Government has underway on that front, working with state and territory governments and attorneys general. And in relation to one of the areas that we've chosen not to take up the agency's recommendation, well, that was a recommendation for effectively a code governing takedowns in relation to infringement of copyright. I think we consulted widely with industry on views about that particular recommendation, I think it is fair to say there was certainly strong agreement as to the nature of the issue and our Government is certainly concerned about whether the digital platforms are facilitating content being displayed which infringes the copyright of owners, be they Australian media business and Australian creators or others. But the view we got quite strongly from many across the sector was that they didn't feel that particular regulatory tool that was recommended, was fit for purpose.
PRIME MINISTER: But that was for traditional media operators.
THE HON. PAUL FLETCHER MP, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS, CYBER SAFETY AND THE ARTS: Indeed. And so we certainly recognise that remains an issue.
PRIME MINISTER: The principle is what I outlined at the start and this is what all of this is working to. It's not about trying to regulate a sector, because, as you know, my Government is about deregulating the economy where we can and getting rid of unnecessary regulation. As I said, as part of our economic plan at the BCA speech I gave earlier this year. This is about ensuring and a whole new area of our economy operates on the same rules as the physical economy. So whether it's defamation, whether it's copyright, whether it's these sorts of issues, we have to work to establish the same norms and the same expectations and the same requirements in the digital space that applies in real space.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, President Trump responded angrily when France introduced higher taxes on Facebook and Google. Do you expect any blowback from the White House to your response to the ACCC inquiry?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you’ve said that this information had caused you some issues in getting the right information out on bushfires. Obviously, that was part of this inquiry. Has this gone far enough to tackle fake news?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the problem with fake news is that when it's put out there in the first place and that's the problem of digital platforms and things like this, that people can gravitate on that. And it's important that that is extinguished by getting the right information out there. So in the case of the fires, that's required a very proactive effort from our agencies. And this is why it's important that you have, you know, the rules that govern the real world also governing the digital world. It's not an easy thing to do because it's an evolving technology. In my engagements around the G20 table, but more importantly, with the digital platforms that have sought to engage with that process that we commenced, and it commenced many years ago when we started championing the role of ensuring multinationals pay their tax and digital platforms, digital companies have been offenders in this area, quite significantly. And so I've been dealing with this issue back as a Treasurer through to now and what's important is that you've got to work with these companies because they're basically inventing this economy every single day. And they can't operate like they're out in the Wild West and the rules don't apply to them. They can't operate on a business model which is the absence of any sort of regulatory world that applies to them. That is not a reasonable expectation on their part and my invitation to them has been to work with us because one way or another, we're going to put this in place. I'd rather do it with you so we can make sure we get the advantages of the digital economy while also getting the protections in place. And look, I've met with a lot of them recently when some of their most senior executives have been out in Australia, I've also met with them when I've been in the United States and I think that's changing. But to go to an early questioner’s point, it changes because governments say we're not going to put up with this and you're going to have to come to the table and increasingly, I'm finding that they are doing that, but they've got a bit more distance to travel.
JOURNALIST: One of the recommendations in the ACCC report was around sort of changes to the acquisition laws. But one thing, in particular, they pointed out was advance notice on any acquisitions from the big tech companies of local players. What is your take on that? Is that one of the ones that you're not proceeding or will that fall under the new sort of ACCC unit?
THE HON. JOSH FRYDENBERG MP, TREASURER: No, that is actually one that we focused on implementing and and getting more information to the ACCC. There is also some more broader merger law changes that we're going to consult further. But as the Prime Minister has indicated we want to work with the industry, both some of the traditional media companies, as well as these new digital platform companies with the ACCC as being the cop on the beat has been the effective regulator to ensure that our regulatory framework is fit for purpose. This is all about staying ahead of the game. This report has put us in the position, Prime Minister, to be world-leading in this regard. And as the Prime Minister has indicated in a number of speeches and indeed our policies are also capitalising on the digital economy. We want Australians to get the best out of the digital economy.
JOURNALIST: You talk about innovation in this sector. Could you list the amount of innovation we've had from Google in the last two years?
PRIME MINISTER: What do you mean?
JOURNALIST: Well, innovation. I'm not sure that we've seen any innovation from Google apart from working out better ways of getting our information and how to make money from it.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'd say that the advance in digital technology, the ability to access information and the ability to turn that information to things of real value is the defining element of the digital economy. And obviously, they've played a huge role in that globally.
JOURNALIST: But I said in the last two years, what?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that has continued, John, as you’d know, and if it wasn't continuing, then the share price would look very different to what it is today if they weren't able to continue to build their models and their products and their services. That obviously has an impact on the global economy. But what I want to ensure, and this is my whole point about technology and you were there at that speech, so you'll know what I said. Australia's advantage in this area is we're good adopters of this technology. We don't have to invent it, although we're capable of it and I'd like to see that. But where Australia will be successful in the digital economy is that we will adopt it and apply it and immerse it into our business models better than any other country in the world. This is why we're close now to completing the first e-commerce agreement with Singapore. This is why that's what we're pursuing in our engagements with other countries around the world. It's the sort of thing that I'll have the opportunity to talk with Prime Minister Modi about and Prime Minister Abe. I'm with them in January. The changing of the world's rules and Australia's rules to position our companies to be immersed in the digital economy is huge. And for small businesses in particular and for regional parts of the country and even for small countries in our region. It's a massive change and so we've got to understand it. We've got to put in place the right protections for consumers and for companies to be able to access it and to deal with imbalances in market power. And, you know, we've seen this through other major iterations of technological revolution in the past, whether it's been from electricity or steam trains, for goodness sake. And this is another iteration of that in the global economy. And on each occasion, countries have had to do their own work, but also work with others to modernise their regulatory regimes. As I said, we've got to regulate and enable a digital economy and at the moment, too much of our settings are on analog and we'll make that switch and we're leading that switch.
Just on one other issue before I go, to a matter that you raised earlier in relation to equipment for firefighters. Commissioner Fitzsimmons has responded to that issue, I understand, and said he's not sure why they are doing that. “We supply breathing masks,” he says, “to firefighters like they do with all other basic equipment”. That the RFS, I'm advised, provides disposal masks that are certified and fit for purpose. And the P3 masks by design in most cases interfere with the correct fitment of goggles, helmet and flash hood, as it's known, as well as the retaining the metabolic heat by the volume of the firefighters face being covered and this contributes to heat exhaustion. So there's a lot of technical specifications about the equipment that's provided to firefighters. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the ones that actually define what that equipment should be, and they're the ones that provide it. And so if you need any further details from the Rural Fire Service in New South Wales, I'm sure Commissioner Fitzsimmons will only be too happy to facilitate an answer on anything further you need.
And the other thing I should have mentioned, too, in response to an earlier question, I talked about what we're doing with emissions reduction and the discussion that Minister Taylor was able to have in Madrid. The other thing he's been able to stress, I think, very importantly, is Australia is in the leading pack when it comes to renewables investment in the world today. So whether it's on renewables or reducing emissions, Australia is meeting our goals and beating our goals and I think that is something that can be of real encouragement for Australians today as they do look out on that haze, as they do look out on the terrible fires they’re seeing and know that Australia has a plan. We're meeting that plan and in a lot of cases, we're beating that plan. Thank you all very much.
Press Conference - Sydney, NSW
10 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning everyone. Before we go to the subject of today’s media conference for which I am joined by the Attorney-General I just want to say that there is no further information that I have to add to the media conference I held earlier this morning with the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Kirribilli, regarding the terrible tragedy that has occurred in New Zealand. But our love continues to go to all those families who have been affected by this and also our thanks to the many Australians, but of course, the many New Zealanders who are there caring for Australians and their families as they go through what is a very anxious and what is a very difficult time. I particularly want to thank those media outlets who have taken on my request from earlier today and as we continue to work through these details, the Government will only be releasing information that we are able to confirm and I would continue to caution against any speculation on any of the details unless it has been confirmed.
Moving from that rather sombre and very upsetting and sad note, the purpose of asking you here today is to provide you with an update on what we are doing in relation to the Religious Discrimination Act. You will have noted just over a week ago I indicated that we would be issuing a further and final exposure draft to the earlier draft that had been released and had been the subject of consultation. We will be releasing that second and final draft today and to provide the opportunity for further consultation over the course of the summer and the Attorney-General will be able to go into those details in just a moment.
What people believe in this country or don't believe when it comes to the big questions of life, which is really what religion and faith is all about, is such a personal matter. It is hard to imagine something more personal and in our country, these beliefs and non-beliefs for that matter, are an expression of the liberty to which we all hold dear in countries such as Australia, but especially Australia. I gave a commitment that we would ensure that people would not be discriminated against in this country, as a basis of their religious beliefs or non-beliefs. And we have been going through a process, a patient process, a process that I want to be unifying and to be inclusive, to ensure that we enshrine these protections for Australians going forward into the future and that we do that on a platform of tolerance and inclusion that brings people together around these big issues. So I want to thank the thousands of Australians who have engaged in this process to date. I want to particularly thank the Attorney and his team and those who have been working on this to produce both the first exposure draft and now this second exposure draft. This is an intricate process. We are taking it step by step. I want to thank those faith leaders and those more broadly across the community who have been urging us not to rush this but to ensure we take the time to get it right.
There has been a lot of very good faith engagement in this process and I really appreciate it. There were lots of suggestions that this would be a divisive debate and I don't believe it has been and I don't believe it needs to be. I think there are some important principles here that the Attorney has been able to identify in partnership with all of those who have participated in this consultative process and I'm very much looking forward to this next round of consultation so that when we do get to a position where we are able to bring a bill into the Parliament and then seek to pursue that through both chambers that we will do so in a way which I would hope would be in a very unifying expression of our country's firm belief in religious freedom and that, of course, applies to those of no faith or positions or positions of faith. It is a multicultural society, the diverse nature of the beliefs that we hold as Australia is a key part of who we are as a country and this is another initiative, I think, to provide a bulwark to ensure that these important elements of our society are protected into the future. So I thank the Attorney for the work he has done and the processes he leads. I would be encouraging all those who have engaged with us, they will see that we have listened very carefully to that first round of consultation, listened very carefully, and you will see that reflected in the draft released today. But I would be engaging everyone again to look at that and provide further comment and I would be extending the same invitation to those involved in the political process. All parties across the Parliament, across the chambers, engage in this process now. Don't leave it to the Parliament. How about we work together to try to get a bill that we can get into the Parliament and proceed with to ensure that that can be done in a very inclusive way. I advised the Leader of the Opposition as I was briefing him on other matters today, as you would understand in relation to the incidents in New Zealand, that I would be releasing that draft today and that would be a matter for them obviously to consider in their caucus us and their processes.
But with that, Attorney, thank you very much for the work you have done and why don't you take us through the changes and where we go to from here?
THE HON. CHRISTIAN PORTER MP, ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: Thank you, PM. I am going to describe 11 changes to the draft bill and these changes are the result of a lot of stakeholder engagement. We had over 90 two hour sessions with 90 different individual stakeholders. We have read and considered an enormous number of written submissions and distilled those down to these 11 essential changes of the bill.
The first of the changes relates to clause 11 of the bill, which is a very important clause of the bill. That is the clause of the bill that provides that what we define as ‘religious bodies’ do not discriminate by decisions made on the basis of faith to establish an exclusivity to those religious organisations. So because this is a bill which changes the starting position to make discrimination on the basis of faith unlawful, there has to be an exception to that starting position to allow churches and religious organisations to discriminate on the basis of faith because that's what makes them churches and religious organisations. So the changes with respect to section 11 are that previously we had not allowed preference based on faith for religious charities, whose dominant purpose was commercial. It was pointed out to us that that was probably unfair on a range of organisations who arguably have a large commercial purpose but are clearly religious, like St Vincent de Paul and others. So we've included a definition of a public benevolent institution, which is an entity that's known in the charitable space, so that will ensure that organisations like St Vincent de Paul can make decisions in areas such as staff based on the faith of that organisation. We've also made it very clear for the purposes of section 11 that where we say that it is not discriminatory for religious organisations to make decisions based on faith, we want to make it clear that that means a religious organisation as we've defined it can preference a person of their own faith in a number of circumstances, but most notably for employment. So something that is a religious organisation, a church or a religious educational institution or St Vincent de Paul, they can make a decision based on faith, which might mean preferring someone of their own faith in an employment position. We've also included in section 11 an additional definition of the types of things that religious organisations can do, which would not give rise to a discrimination claim, and we've extended that out to things that they might be able to do, actions that they might need to take to avoid injury to the religious susceptibilities of adherence of their faith. That is a phrase that is used elsewhere, particularly in the Fair Work Act and has operated very well for a number of years. So they're changes to section 11, which is a very important operative clause of the bill.
The second change is that religious hospitals, aged care facilities and accommodation providers will be able to take faith into account in their staffing decisions and again it will be quite clear that when we say they can take faith into account with respect to their staffing decisions, that will mean that they can, in many given circumstances, prefer to employ someone of their own faith, if that's what they consider is in the best interests of their organisation.
The third change is that religious camps and conference centres will be able to take faith into account when deciding whether to provide accommodation. They'll also need, though, in making those sort of determinations to ensure that they have a publicly available policy which sets out the circumstances in which they'll hire their facilities out or in which they will decline to hire them out, but we're making it clear that religious camps and conference centres will be able to take faith into account in determining whether or not to hire out their facilities. The employer conduct rules you'll recall, these are the rules that apply to the situation where someone may say something which we’ve defined as a statement of religious belief, effectively outside work hours, and if they do that and there's an employer conduct rule that seeks to prevent them or punish them for doing that, then the organisation, if it's a large business, will have to show that they've endured financial hardship to show that that is a reasonable thing for them to do.
There's a technical change to that provision, which just defines when it is that this is an active clause and the definition is that when the thing said, the statement of religious belief is said other than in the course of the employee's employment. So it's meant to capture the fact that this is something said in the person's spare time but it's also a definition that we've tweaked to ensure that we're not causing any problems for organisations, large organisations or indeed small organisations in terms of their occupational health and safety requirements at things like office Christmas parties, which some people may take the view are either in or outside work hours. So we've adopted the definition used elsewhere in industrial law which is ‘other than in the course of the employee's employment’. So that's the fourth change.
The fifth change is to extend the operation of our employee conduct rule, so again this is the rule that places a burden of proof on a large organisation to show that if they want to stop someone from saying something, which is a statement of belief in their spare time, that they have to show there's undue financial hardship. We've extended that clause and an operation of a very similar clause to qualifying bodies. So these are the types of bodies that allow for a doctor to qualify to practise as a doctor or a lawyer to qualify to practise as a lawyer and those bodies will not be able to impose a rule, like a social media code of conduct, that restricts people from making statements of belief in their personal capacity unless that rule is an absolutely essential requirement of practising for that qualification or profession. So it will not be the case that a Legal Practice Board would be able to threaten the removal of a legal practice certificate or discipline a legal practitioner because in their spare time on social media or elsewhere, they say things which are statements of religious belief.
The sixth change is with respect to the provisions in the bill that are meant to support and protect what are already existing conscientious objection processes. Now, we've listened to a range of people who've put the view that those could be more tightly drafted and having listened to those views, we are making sure that it is quite clear in the bill that someone has a right to conscientiously object and an employer rule which seeks to diminish that right to conscientious objection is not going to be reasonable in most circumstances, but we're also making it absolutely clear that the conscientious objection of a medical professional has to be to a procedure, not to an individual person. So that makes it absolutely clear that this is not meant to, in any way, enshrine any form of discrimination. What it is meant to do is protect people who establish and communicate a conscientious objection based on religious grounds to undertaking a certain procedure.
The seventh change is that there is a provision now in the Bill which, again, was based on a range of submissions that considered it necessary to protect associates of people of religion. Now, this is actually quite important, and it borrows from language in other discrimination bills, but it extends the protection to not be discriminated against to a person, say, for instance, who is married to a person of faith. So we want to make sure that the starting position in Australia is that a person of faith won't be denied entry to a club or prejudiced against in employment or in any other setting set out in the legislation, but equally, we don't want the partner, wife or husband or spouse of a person of faith to also ever receive that sort of discrimination. So that's the associate's clause.
We have - based on some legal and technical advice - fine-tuned the definition of vilify. That is relevant to section 8 and 42 of the bill, which protects statements of religious belief, but doesn't protect statements that vilify and we have clarified that vilification in that context means a statement that would incite hatred or violence.
We've also placed in as the ninth change an objects clause which just expressly makes clear that all human rights have equal status under international law.
The tenth change is a change of technical drafting, but an important one. In section 11, which I've described previously, there is a measure, an action by a religious organisation is not going to be discrimination that might otherwise exist under the terms of this act, but the measure is, is the action of the religious organisation and we have definitions of that, is the action done in good faith and is it reasonably in accordance with the doctrines and tenets and beliefs of the religion? For clarification in this version of the bill, we have made it clear that the test of reasonableness here is a test from the perspective of the average person of the same religion. So, if you like, the denomination, the sect or stream or tradition of the religion in question - that is the basis upon which the conduct will be assessed as reasonable or unreasonable in terms of its linkage back to the doctrines of that particular sect or stream or tradition of a religion.
And the final change, number 11, is that the protections in this to religious activity and belief are only protections to lawful religious activity and belief which means that if a Commonwealth law or a state law has the effect of discriminating in some way against a particular religion, that is nevertheless a good law. In the first draft of the bill, that principle extended down to the level of council bylaws and a view was taken based on the many submissions we had that that was just unnecessary in all the circumstances.
So there are 11 changes. They represent listening from all sides of this debate. So there are changes that have been suggested by human rights and LGBTI groups. There are changes that have been suggested by faith groups. They are represented in the final draft that is now available. And there is an extra period of consultation, which will be conducted much in the same way as the first period of consultation. But these changes don't change the operation, the objectives or the overarching structure of the Bill. They improve a range of very important clauses and they are certainly, at least, substantive enough to warrant this extra period of consultation. So the people who have suggested changes can see whether, to their best assessment, the drafting that we have now adopted meets their needs and represents their concerns.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. Questions?
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you said the delay was about getting it right. What were you getting wrong?
PRIME MINISTER: It's about getting it right and I'm so pleased that we've had so much engagement, some 6,000 individual submissions coming through for us to consider. I think that process showed we were getting it right and we could get it even more right by continuing that process and improving the Bill and the way that the Attorney has just outlined I think demonstrates that. I'm very pleased with the way that this process is unfolding. I'm pleased with it because people are engaged with it. I'm pleased with it because it's actually, I believe, trying to bring us together to a point that we'll be able to progress this bill in the Parliament and that's why I would want to provide further opportunity for that engagement before it goes into the parliamentary phase of what we're doing. This Bill reaches out across all Australians and we're providing more opportunity for them to continue to engage to get it into a more refined position. It's the case with any change you're making, the first 80 per cent is fairly straightforward in many cases and just working through the last 20 per cent means you've got to continue to work that bit harder to make sure you get it absolutely right and in the best possible position.
JOURNALIST: Mr Porter, can you just clarify - a statement made at a Christmas party, how would this Bill affect a controversial statement made at a Christmas party?
THE HON. CHRISTIAN PORTER MP, ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: Well, it would depend on whether or not a Christmas party is in the context of work and that would depend on how it's organised and when it was held and who organised it. But that particular change you're talking about is simply meant to ensure that we're not cutting across any of the occupational health and safety requirements of an employee. So the terms we've used are that the statement of religious belief, which activates this protection, is something that is said other than in the course of the employee's employment. In most instances, something said at an office Christmas party would likely be in the context of someone's employment. But, of course, something said at home or posted on Facebook on Saturday afternoon is going to be clearly outside the course of an employee's employment. But not every Christmas party, depending on the circumstances, is going to be in the course of employment.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, it appears that faith-based groups have got their way with a lot of these changes. Have you done anything to ease the concerns of minority groups such as the LGBTQI groups?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll allow the Attorney to talk about that but the point here has just been to listen and we've been listening to everybody. And the practical issues that have been brought up through the consultation process, I think, have been very productive in making sure that this is a very practical bill that deals with the everyday experience of how religious organisations and people of faith in this country go about expressing and conducting their faith. And we've sought to do that in a way which doesn't cut across the broader rights and liberties that exist for all Australians. Because this is a Bill for all Australians. This is a law for all Australians. I mean what I have noticed, and been really encouraged by - whether people are of a religious faith or not of a religious faith, there is a very strong view that religious faiths should be respected in this country, regardless of whether you hold one yourself. And so I would say that this process that we're engaged in is very much respecting that broader view and the sort of changes and the sorts of things we're seeking to achieve will gain that support because it is based on this principle that Australia is a country of respect and of tolerance and the liberties that we have also come with responsibilities and I think when you look specifically at how there have been definitions provided for things like vilification and things of that nature, then we're providing the context and the clear instruction around what those responsibilities are. Christian?
THE HON. CHRISTIAN PORTER MP, ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: I mean, the consultation process and the results of it haven't been all one-way traffic, if you like. Maybe the best example is the conscientious objection clause. Many medical professionals across Australia conscientiously object with regularity, sometimes they do that pursuant to a state law, sometimes they do that pursuant to an obligation of their own, sometimes they do it because their ability to do it is set out in AMA documents and medical practitioner documents. So the conscientious objection procedures are meant to say that where people conscientiously object, an employer shouldn't be able to prevent that conscientious objection unless it's absolutely necessary. And what LGBTI groups and a range of other groups said was that perhaps the list of medical professionals to whom that extra protection was applied was too broad. We’d drawn that list from a standard definition of Commonwealth law. We put that suggestion from LGBTI groups to faith groups and would you believe there was a degree of coalescence and agreement between those groups that probably that clause was applied too broadly. Equally, LGBTI groups said it wasn't, they considered, clear enough from the drafting that that conscientious objection had to relate to a procedure rather than an individual person.
PRIME MINISTER: And appropriately.
THE HON. CHRISTIAN PORTER MP, ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: We took that back to faith groups and they said well we never want the ability to conscientiously object with respect to individuals, but only with respect to medical procedures. They're two examples. And as the Prime Minister said, these represent largely improvements of principles in clauses and drafting in the Bill. Some things we deliberately said we would have to wait until consultation to finalise. For instance, we didn't have a perfect understanding of the operation of religious aged care facilities and you'll see in this Bill we've protected the ability of religious aged care facilities to hire in accordance with faith. The reason we went to that extent, but not provide an exception to have patients brought in according to faith is because religious aged facilities said they don't do that. And of course, when they gave us their best evidence of what they actually do, we took that to other LGBTI groups, so this has been a truly balanced and iterative process.
JOURNALIST: What would you say is the most significant of the 11 changes that you’ve made?
THE HON. CHRISTIAN PORTER MP, ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: I think section 11 is a very, very important part of the bill and there are four changes to section 11. But when you, for the first time, at Commonwealth law, establish a new starting position - which is that a person shouldn't be discriminated against based on their faith in a range of circumstances in their employment, in joining a club, in qualifying for a profession - like all other pieces of discrimination legislation, you need one big exemption to that to allow religious groups to function. So it's not dissimilar to the fact that in the sex discrimination act if you were to have men's and women's only clubs you need an exemption, but that problem is a much broader problem to solve for religious organisations. So I think extending the definition of religious organisations out to public benevolent institutions, extending the definition of the actions that can be undertaken, which are not discriminatory to those which might be necessary to prevent offending against the susceptibilities of religion - I think these were important additions to the drafting. They support a general principle that was in the drafting, but they have been the result of faith-based organisations communicating to us in a real-world day-to-day basis what their organisations do and how they operate. And I think that they're the most important changes.
PRIME MINISTER: The changes, I think, have brought to light, I think, the broader positive contribution that religious organisations play in our society. The faith and activities of these religious organisations is not just going to church on a Sunday and singing a few hymns. There is an involvement in the community, in the provision of very important services, whether they are aged care services, whether they're health services, whether they're childcare services. And these organisations are very much intertwined with the life of their communities and a big part of why they do that - in fact, the overwhelming reason for why they do that is an expression of their religious faith. And they wish to maintain the ethos of what they would understand to be the success of their commitment in that area, by being able to pursue those activities consistent with their faith and their religion.
JOURNALIST: Is it just a reality that you won't please everyone on this? There is going to be people who object to whatever you put up?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh look that is the case with almost every issue you deal with in public life. This is why I'm so positive about this because the way people have engaged with this - and this is not a binary proposition - this is, I think, a unifying proposition and it's unifying around the principle point, which is that people's belief - be they to have or not have a religion - is not something upon which any Australian should be discriminated against or be prejudiced against. This is an important part of our society. I think that is broadly accepted in Australia. I undertook that we would bring this in and that's exactly what we're doing and we're going to do it in a way which I think brings people together, not the opposite.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister on the bushfire crisis today, will you be coordinating a national response as was suggested by Malcolm Turnbull last night?
PRIME MINISTER: We already do. I think one of the great encouragements that I've seen through this process is we've had a nationally coordinated operation through all of our state and territory fire chiefs and services now for some time. We have a national capability that has developed, particularly in the aerial firefighting assets. I said this morning there's 111 of them and the Commonwealth puts $15 million a year into that and we put an additional $11 million this year in, in response to what we knew was going to be a very difficult fire season. There is already a nationally coordinated effort. That was one of the things that came out of the Black Saturday fires many years ago. And that nationally coordinated effort, which is from the Commonwealth's point of view, pursued through emergency management Australia, and the control centre there is also bringing in the involvement of the Australian Defence Force and the many other agencies of government. It brings in the Department of Social Services and Services Australia to ensure that payments are made on the ground and those things are connected up. And this is as important in bushfires and in floods or in other areas of national disaster response. The highly coordinated nature of how our state and territory jurisdictions work together during these bushfires has been an inspiration. The Chiefs work closely together. They have a direct line to me. They have a direct line to the Premiers. And the Premiers and I discuss these things regularly. It was only just a couple of weeks ago that our Minister, David Littleproud, was convening the meeting of all of his colleagues in the states and territories to pursue this nationally coordinated arrangement and this is one of the reasons we've been able, I think, to respond to what has been one of the most serious fire seasons we have seen so far.
JOURNALIST: On calls for that national coordination that is occurring now to be led at a higher level within the Federal Government...
PRIME MINISTER: It's led by a Cabinet Minister who reports directly to me and I deal with it directly with the premiers of the states and chief ministers of the territories. I don't think it can go any higher than that.
JOURNALIST: But these calls were still being made as late as yesterday. Do you think that national coordination is happening adequately? There are a lot of concerns about how long volunteer firefighters are supposed to continue volunteering without pay. They're crowd-sourcing funds for water and food and resources on the ground. Do you think there is more that the Federal Government can do?
PRIME MINISTER: The State Government gets everything they request from the Commonwealth and there is a national coordinated process for requests to be made up to the Commonwealth for that assistance, whether that is of a logistics and support arrangement, whether that is of the ADF's assistance. I mean the ADF have been directly providing and assisting, whether in providing accommodation, logistics support and other, you know, personal needs that have been needed across the firefighting operation. So no, I don't share that view because I know what the practice is and I know what the experience is and I know what's happening on the ground and I know that whether it's the ADF or any other agency of the Commonwealth, all of those agencies, our efforts have been channelled and coordinated into the direct planning and response of the state and territory agencies that are fighting those fires on the ground. That is what is set up. That is what was set up. That’s what was intended to be set up and that is what is operating and I'm pleased with the way those arrangements are being worked out and if there is any other matter that would need to be addressed, it would be raised with the Commonwealth, because there is a direct line to make sure that happens.
JOURNALIST: Do you think volunteer firefighters - should we be looking at starting to pay them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have a volunteer firefighting force across the country which numbers in the, you know, the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands. And that also includes those who come in from other jurisdictions. It is a standing volunteer force. And these are matters that are considered from time to time but this is why I am so appreciative of the commitment made by employers to support that volunteer effort. The volunteer effort is a big part of our natural disaster response and it is a big part of how Australia has always dealt with these issues. We are constantly looking at ways to better facilitate the volunteer effort, but to professionalise that at that scale is not a matter that has previously been accepted and it's not a matter that is currently under consideration by the Government. But as is the case with all fire events, or as is the case with all flood events and other natural disasters, this actual nationally coordinated effort is designed to constantly look at those issues, post these events. And the recommendations come forward from the chiefs, those directly responsible for fighting these fires and coordinating resources. And you're right, these fires have been going on for some months now and when I was speaking with the commissioner on the weekend out at Wilberforce where we have the mega fire in the north-west at the moment, we were talking through the crew rotations. And the fact is these crews, yes, they're tired, but they also want to be out there defending their communities. And so we do all we can to rotate their shifts to give them those breaks but equally they, and in many cases, you've got to hold them back to make sure they get that rest. And I thank them all for what they're doing, particularly all those who support them.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, at the climate conference in Madrid overnight, climate advocate James Bhagwan a clergyman as well, he referenced the photo of you holding up the lump of coal in Parliament and said that every lump of coal is a nail in this country’s coffin. He’s also referenced the Good Samaritan bible story saying some nations were claiming to be part of the Pacific family but were leaving their neighbours out in the road dying, do you have any response to that?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't share that view. But I respect all the views that come through from our Pacific family and I discuss these issues with our Pacific leaders on a regular basis. No government has done more to engage the Pacific than our Government. No government has done more. And we have the hard conversations with our friends and we also have the hard conversations about how we can support them in what they're doing. Australia's economy and its success has ensured that we've been able to provide unparalleled support to the Pacific of any country in the world and we are their partners. Why are we their partners? Because we are family. And one of the things that happened more recently is that I had the opportunity to take Pacific leaders through what Australia is actually achieving and I was able to address the many misconceptions that some had had about Australia's achievements in reducing emissions. Now, more recent information since that only confirms Australia's position. Emissions have fallen for the last two years. Emissions today are lower than at any other time during the time of the previous Labor government. Emissions reductions for the Kyoto targets mean Australia will now beat our target, not by 367 million tonnes, but by 411 million tonnes. Now, there aren't too many countries in the world that can claim that. See, there's a lot talked about this issue, and there's a lot of agendas around that issue, but the practical achievement of Australia in this area is very clear. We meet and we beat our targets when it comes to emissions reduction. We consider them carefully. We don't make them lightly and when we make them, we are committed to meeting them and whether it's Paris or whether it's Kyoto, Australia will meet its commitments and that is what I've been able to assure Pacific leaders of and I've been able to demonstrate that through the evidence of what our programs are delivering on the ground. John?
JOURNALIST: Just a question just on this subject. Malcolm Turnbull also said last night that the Coalition is incapable of dealing with climate change because its right-wing treats it as an issue of religion or belief and that is nuts. What's your response to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Our policy is sensible when it comes to addressing and taking action on climate change. Our actions on climate change are getting the results they're intended to get. That is reducing emissions and meeting our targets. And the policies that we're pursuing, I believe, capture, I think, that sensible centre and that sensible centre that understands that we need to balance both meeting the needs of sustainability in our environment and ensuring that we meet the economic needs of our nation. This is why we rejected Labor's 45 per cent emissions reduction target, because it was an economy-wrecking set of targets. We believe - and are proving - that you can be responsible on emissions reduction, and you can be responsible on managing your economy and the livelihoods that depends on that economy. Now, this is not a new view for me. This is a longstanding view of ensuring that we get the right balance on these issues. People know where I stand on these issues, they know clearly where I stand. I don't go changing my mind on these things because I know how important both of them are and the policies that are pursued by our Government achieve both of those and I think Australians take some comfort in the certainty and consistency of our views particularly now where I note that I don't know what the Labor Party believes anymore because they change their view and they have so much different views on these issues. They were apparently all terribly committed on this issue and now they are prepared to change that view. I don't know what the Labor Party thinks anymore, whether it's on climate change or anything else. They seem to be just saying things that people want to hear. They look up their location services enabler and if it says they are in North Queensland, they say one thing and if they are in Melbourne they say something else. Australians know they always get the same message from me on this wherever I am in the country, and I think that gives them some certainty. Thank you very much.
Press Conference - Kirribilli, NSW
10 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, everyone. I'm joined by Foreign Minister Senator Payne. Today is a very difficult day for Australians and was indeed yesterday for our cousins across the Tasman in New Zealand. I have been speaking with Prime Minister Ardern over last night and again this morning, and the news we feared would be very difficult, and it is proving to be so. Yesterday, there were 24 Australians enjoying a wonderful cruise in New Zealand, taking in those sights together, enjoying life, a peaceful time. They were aged between 17 and 72. And they took the option of a tour to White Island which many Australians have done in the past, and indeed I have on an occasion many years ago.
The eruption that took place on that day, we know, based on the reports that we have received from the Prime Minister, we can confirm has taken at least five lives. Of the 24 Australians, we have been able to ascertain overnight and this morning that 13 of those Australians are hospitalised across multiple hospitals in New Zealand. There are 11 Australians that are still unaccounted for, and that we fear of the five deceased persons, that three of those, up to three are Australians, but that is not yet confirmed. I would ask that the media refrain from speculation about the identities of any persons that are still unaccounted for in New Zealand. Our authorities are working closely with the New Zealand authorities to be able to identify all of those people who are currently in hospital, some of them have very serious injuries, and our consular officials and the Foreign Minister will speak to this in a moment, are either there at those places or on their way there, and we would like to be able to deal directly with the families without there being the further anxiety caused by the identification of individuals who are still unaccounted for, or indeed who are hospitalised, so we can deal directly with those families.
But with 11 Australians unaccounted for, three of those are feared to be amongst the five that have already been identified as deceased. This is a very, very hard day for a lot of Australian families whose loved ones have been caught up in this terrible, terrible tragedy. Can I also confirm that after speaking with the New Zealand Prime Minister that the operation has moved into recovery phase. There were four helicopters that were there as part of the recuse operation and assessing the scene, as the Prime Minister confirmed earlier, that were able to take a reconnaissance of the Island at that time and as New Zealand police said last night, there is not considered to be anyone on that island that remains alive. The officials and authorities in New Zealand today are taking advice of the various experts as to when they might be able to go back to the Island to undertake a recovery operation, and they are still working through those details this morning. Can I also note that an AFP forensic DVI assessment team, which will include police from the New South Wales Police force, will be on its way to New Zealand today and are working closely with New Zealand officials.
I want to thank the New Zealand Government and Prime Minister Ardern. I want to thank all of those who risked their lives yesterday, put themselves in harm's way to protect others. These horrible incidents are always accompanied by incredibly selfless acts. And equally I want to thank all of those in the medical teams who are there caring for Australians right now in New Zealand hospitals. Some of those Australians will be a long way away from loved ones and they will be there on their own, and unaware of what has taken place because of the nature of their injuries. So I want to thank Patricia Forsythe our High Commissioner in New Zealand and all of her team that are either there and working through the night and are getting to those Australians to give them every support that they can provide and provide the linkages back to family to keep them informed of what is going on. I also want to thank the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line for their cooperation and their assistance overnight. They have been highly cooperative in seeking to locate all Australians and so we had the details we needed, including passport information and so on, which meant we could ensure that we could track down people as quickly as we can.
But I fear there is worse news to come over the course of perhaps today or over the next few days. This is a terrible tragedy. A time of great innocence and joy interrupted by the horror of that eruption and I would ask again that we refrain from any speculation about individuals at this time so we can ensure that we can contact and deal directly with families to ease what will be a highly anxious and highly upsetting time for them. Marise?
SENATOR THE HON. MARISE PAYNE, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Prime Minister, thank you very much. I want to first of all express our deepest sympathies and thoughts to all of those who are affected and who have family and friends who may be affected by this awful tragedy. As the Prime Minister has said, we have at least 13 Australians in hospital and 11 Australians unaccounted for and we do expect the news on that to be very, very sobering in the coming days. I have been in contact with my counterpart, Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and thank New Zealand very much for the rescue efforts that have been made in extraordinarily difficult circumstances in the last day. The Australians who are hospitalised are located in multiple hospitals around New Zealand, in Waikato, in Christchurch, in Middlemore in Auckland, in Tauranga and in Hutt Valley. All of those hospitals will be visited or have been visited by Australian consular staff from both the High Commission and the Consul-General in Auckland and we will be sending additional consular support for those Australians affected and their families to New Zealand from today. The DFAT officials are working very closely with Royal Caribbean who are, of course, also in direct contact with the families.
I really want to reinforce the Prime Minister's statement around the necessity to protect the privacy of families while these difficult processes of exactly understanding who is where and endeavouring to make identifications goes on. It does not help to speculate at these times, and it is very, very difficult for the families. For those Australians who do have concerns for the welfare of friends and family who they believe may have been in the region, of course, the first thing to do is to endeavour to contact them directly, but in the event that you are unable to do that, and if you do believe that they were on the Royal Caribbean cruise at this time, then it is appropriate to contact Royal Caribbean on their 1800 number which is 1800 754 500, and further if you are unable to make contact in that way and you are sure that your friends or family were on the cruise, you are able to of course contact our Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135. 1300 555 135.
The challenge for the next few days is supporting those Australians who are so badly injured in hospitals across New Zealand, supporting their families and supporting the families of those who remain unaccounted for. We will be working closely with New Zealand authorities and with Royal Caribbean to provide any support that we can, and we will ensure that all assistance is provided to them and to their families. Thank you, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: So we are aggrieved and we send our love to all those families and to all those individuals in hospitals today and again to our New Zealand friends and cousins and Prime Minister Ardern, we thank you for the great spirit of support that you have been providing to us here and the constant updates that we have been able to receive over this period.
Also today, as we can see here, standing on the lawn in Sydney, there are fires across Australia today, particularly here in New South Wales with a mega fire to our north-west which I had the opportunity to be briefed on on the weekend when I visited Wilberforce and the control centre there. But up in Queensland, in Victoria, in South Australia, there are heatwave conditions here on the east coast today. I would just ask, as always, these fires have been going on for months now, not just weeks, and to continue to follow the instructions of fire authorities in your respective states, to be aware of the information that has been provided. I can reassure everyone that the nationally coordinated effort and the specific state efforts which are leading the response in each of their jurisdictions has been incredibly professionally deployed. The ADF continue to support the efforts of our response by the states and territories. Where I was at Wilberforce on the weekend, there were ADF people involved there, they’re involved in everything from the airlifts, surveillance, they’re involved in clearing areas . They are doing their job, the firefighters are doing their job. We have over 110 - in fact, 111 aircraft that are part of an aerial firefighting fleet which is supported by the Commonwealth and states and territories as part of the nationally coordinated effort. Emergency assistance payments have been running now for some time and I must say I have been incredibly impressed by the coordination, the coordination that has occurred between our states and territories, with great support from those from overseas. We've had firefighters here from New Zealand, from Canada, from the United States, and they will be out there assisting in so many different roles again today.
So I would ask people to take great care and to follow the advice and the warnings that have been provided and to stay safe and to exercise appropriate judgement, particularly with fire conditions being the way they are today. Our thoughts are with all of those who are out there doing their job today. I also want to thank all of the businesses that are supporting our firefighters and other volunteers to be out there today. Your contribution to this effort is as great because you are enabling those firefighters to be out there and volunteers to defend their communities, which is where they want to be, and your support for them is greatly appreciated. Happy to take a couple of questions.
JOURNALIST: Just with the injuries that people have in hospitals, what sort of injuries are we seeing?
PRIME MINISTER: At this stage, it is still too early to tell. There are a number, we know, that are in critical conditions. Obviously there are burns issues, quite severe burns issues, and that's why they are in so many different hospitals because they have been taken to the various burns units across New Zealand. But the full details of all of their conditions is not yet known and that's what consular staff are tasked with today and it's why additional staff are going over to New Zealand. I should note also there are two consular staff that have been in the Incident Control Centre in Whakatane from last night and have been directly involved in being able to receive information and again I thank Prime Minister Ardern for the swiftness she ensured that Australian officials were engaged in that process.
JOURNALIST: Just with the other nationalities, how many were residents in Australia?
MINISTER PAYNE: Well, there are a number of other nationalities involved, but these are matters for the identification processes and the location processes of people and I don't think it's possible to speculate at this point.
PRIME MINISTER: The New Zealand Government will speak to any other nationals, but as I said, there were 24 Australians who were there as part of that tour group on that day, which is the majority of the people who were on that island as best as we can determine on that day, particularly there as visitors and their visit turned to horror. Ok. Thank you very much.
Press Conference - Canberra Airport, ACT
6 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: I’m pleased to be here with the Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, and the Commissioner of the AFP. But before I speak about what we're here to announce today, there are almost 100 fires burning across New South Wales today. And I would again thank all of those authorities in New South Wales that are out there ensuring that people are being kept safe. I particularly want to thank all of those who are fighting fires today and all of those who are supporting people to be fighting those fires today, whether it's those who are battling [inaudible] and supporting in the operation centres or indeed all those employers who enable those who are volunteering today to be out there helping to keep their community safe. Whether it's up in the Central Coast, where we’ve seen, or just out of south west Sydney or other places. I mean, the haze in Sydney is obviously something that has been very distressing to people. This bushfire season is proving to be very, very difficult. And we've seen the bravery on display on every single day. So I want to thank all of those. So I just ask those people in New South Wales to check on that ’Fires Near Me’ app, an incredibly invaluable tool. I think it's been such a great support to people to know where the fires are and how they can react to those and what they should be doing. The information provision is part of it I think, and it’s been outstanding. So I commend the Rural Fire Service in New South Wales in particular for the great work they’re doing. We're all with you today.
But here today, we're here to announce a further step in our most important job, of any government, and that is to keep Australians safe. And here we are doing that through rolling out 135 new officers right across nine airports across Australia with new equipment, new training, new support to be able to respond to, to deter and take charge of incidents at our airports in response to threats that present. The new equipment you've just seen on display and this is being supported by the new powers that we've been able to take through the Parliament to ensure that our police, those who are charged with protecting the safety of all of those going through our airports, which is not just, of course, Australians, but the many visitors we have to our country, that they are in the best possible position. This trial has already been running for a period of time, both here in Canberra and up in Brisbane. We'll be rolling out in the new year into Sydney and Melbourne and ultimately across these nine different locations. We are world leaders in this area and I want to commend the commissioner on the great work the AFP has been doing and his predecessor as well who have been working on this program. We are world leaders in this area. And we look at the best experience around the world to ensure we're deploying what we need here on the ground to keep people safe. And so as people move around, they will see these officers appearing more and more around our airports. And I would hope that that gives people a great sense of reassurance. They are there to protect the public, the travelling public. And I also want to thank Minister Dutton, on the great work the Home Affairs Department does to support, ensuring not just that they've got stronger powers, more resources, and there's never been any doubt about the commitment and dedication to the job of the tremendous team at the AFP. So with that I’ll ask the Minister, to take you through more of the operational detail, and I’ll ask the Commissioner to do the same.
THE HON. PETER DUTTON MP, MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS: PM, Thank you very much. Thanks very much to Commissioner Kershaw for being here today as well. Thank you to Canberra Airport for hosting us, obviously there has been a trial both in Brisbane and in Canberra, and [inaudible] for the short barrelled rifle and an enhanced presence of police who have capacity to detect incidents, particularly those where firearms are involved. Where there might be the use for canine- dogs for example, so there's a lot of opportunity, right on cue as Mark says. A lot of opportunity for us to really enhance the security settings at our airports, because we know that for whatever reason terrorists will always look at airports as a target point. And I want to say, as the Prime Minister pointed out, to all those that are travelling this Christmas through our airports to be reassured by the presence of these officers, I want to say thank you very much to the Australian Federal Police officers here with us today, the PSOs, the specialists, particularly the canine handlers, those that are involved in bomb detection et cetera. They are world leaders. And the level of professionalism and the skill that they have and that they bring to their job should make Australians feel safe. And it's only two years ago as we know where we had an incident where terrorists attempted to take an explosive device onto an aircraft destined for the Middle East. And if that A380 had of blown up, of course, it would be an absolute disaster. And that's what we seek to avoid every day at our airports, we’ve got an investment now of $107 million dollars to provide support and training for those officers and again I repeat, thanks again to the Commissioner for his leadership for the organisation and ask him to say a few words now.
REECE KERSHAW APM, COMMISSIONER OF THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE: Thank you Minister. First, I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the Minister for this significant investment in ensuring that our nine designated major airports across this country are safeguarded and also secure from public order. This specialist capability will include up to 17 teams across Australia, the specialists in training in particular in our protection operation response team will be trained in rapid assessment, in hostile reconnaissance and including the deployment of the short barrel rifle, which I want to reassure our community out there travelling through these airports this is a positive step toward ensuring we have the capability to respond to any major incident. In addition, these teams will include a canine capability, which will include identifying explosive devices and firearms and other technology that we’ll be deploying at the airports. It will ensure that our mission remains the same as it is now, that we are, to make sure that we have a safe environment in these airports and ensure the safety of Australians and the public as they move through this airport environment.
JOURNALIST: PM, this is a 2018-19 budget allocation, why has it taken 18 months to roll out 135 police officers if the threat is so present?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I'll ask the Commissioner to talk about the roll out of the program, and the initial funding as it was provided. There was also the additional powers that we've created in the legislation which followed that. And the trial has been in place and ensuring that we get this absolutely right. And the training is in place and the officers are being recruited and it is rolled out around the country. And I’ll ask the Commissioner to add further.
COMMISSIONER KERSHAW: Thanks Prime Minister, yes, the training- given it is specialist training, it takes a while to actually gear up to be able to deliver that. It takes up to two weeks just for the short barrel rifle, we also we also have our rapid appraisal. So there's a number of blocks of training that have to occur. In addition, we're trialling the model in Canberra and Brisbane to make sure that when we roll out, it's fit for purpose.
JOURNALIST: Were there any concerns raised during the trial from members of the public about the presence of these weapons?
COMMISSIONER KERSHAW: That hasn't come to my attention. And again, it's a good thing for our front line. We need to make sure that we are able to respond to a critical incident. And just our friends over the ocean there- that officer that was able to take down Tarrant, had an M4 on him. And arguably was able to resolve that peacefully. These are a preventative tool as well as one that we can protect our officers and the members of public.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, to a lot of Australians this might look like they're going to face an increased risk at the airports and that you're responding to it. What's your advice? Is security risk levels at airports increasing? Is it stable, what’s your latest advice?
PRIME MINISTER: Well today’s announcement doesn't reflect a change to the alert and risk level that’s in place. But what it does recognise is an understanding of the new world, which we all live in today. And I think all Australians understand there needs to be a heightened sense of security, particularly at places like airports, as we've seen in many other places at public gatherings. This is common sense. This is understanding the world in which we live, and trying to make sure that the Australians and the travelling public from overseas and visitors are kept safe. And so the message here is that we are very much looking to continue to stay ahead of these issues. There are many things that have been done, but to be able to thwart the number of terrorist incidents in Australia that's been achieved by our AFP and ASIO and our other agencies I think is a tremendous endorsement of the fine work that they do. This is just a further extension of that. We've got to give our enforcement agencies, the powers, the resources, the tools, the training and the leadership to keep Australians safe. That's what we're doing here. And it's something we do carefully. And we do that in a way which I think brings the public along with us as we've done.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, for 15 months work, Scott Cam’s being paid about $350,000 dollars…
PRIME MINISTER: Why don’t we just stay on the issue of the day, I’m happy to deal with other issues as always but at that time I might excuse the Commissioner when we talk about other matters. Are there any other questions that are relating to today's announcement?
JOURNALIST: I just had a question in for Cairns, how the roll-out is going to work in 2021 at Cairns airport?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah sure, I’ll let the Commissioner answer your question.
COMMISSIONER KERSHAW: It will work.
MINISTER DUTTON: I might just add, he’s not normally as brief as that- so what people will see in Cairns and at the other 8 major airports is a specialist unit of police keeping people safe at airports. So there will be the short barrel rifle. But there will also be a greater presence of the canines, as well as the specialist officers that can deal with the threat of a bomb or an explosive device threat. So people in regional areas, including Cairns, will see that roll out progressively and as the Commissioner rightly says, it will work.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister just on other issues?
PRIME MINISTER: Ok, thank you very much, Commissioner. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it.
JOURNALIST: So according to AM this morning, the peak body for Indigenous prevention of family violence, the National Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services Forum, is going to be defunded in June 2020. Do you think that that is the right decision?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are always issues of ongoing funding going right across the budget from 2020-2021 [inaudible] with those matters in the normal way.
JOURNALIST: Scott Cam paid $350,000 for 15 months work, does that pass the pub test?
PRIME MINISTER: Look I make no apology for trying to get young people in particular into trades. This is a massive issue which is going to affect Australia's productivity. We need to get young people understanding the opportunity there is of taking on trades and skills education and so they can see the wonderful economic opportunities that would be there for them by going into those areas. Now, this is a challenge. And so we're going to enlist every single opportunity, every single resource we can to get that message across. And Scotty Cam is a successful tradie and he can make that message very clear. Now, we make no secret about the fact that he wasn't doing it as a volunteer and he has done this work for previous Labor governments as well. So, look, this is about getting young people into trades. And he’s a high profile person involved in the media industry. And you have to meet the market.
JOURNALIST: One of the biggest sticking points PM with the New Zealand offer to resettle refugees is that refugees who resettle there could come straight back across the ditch under the Trans-Tasman arrangements. Behrouz Boochani is in New Zealand at the moment and he’s applied for asylum previously, Minister Dutton said that if he was granted asylum in New Zealand he wouldn't be allowed back or wouldn't be allowed into Australia. Why can you block Behrouz Boochani but you can't block any of the other asylum seekers or refugees?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the government's position on the issues of people being able to come across from New Zealand under those circumstances are set out in the legislation that we’ve put into the Parliament. And we’ve sought to put into the parliament and have passed. But right now that that is not a matter that we're currently progressing.
JOURNALIST: A report to the UN climate conference is saying that there’s pretty dire predictions for reef tourism due to climate change, you comfortable with the cooperation with the Queensland Government and the level of funding currently available to protecting the reef against climate change?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've made record investments in the Reef, and in particular record investments in the science that supports the management of the reef. The other thing that is fantastic is we've seen a 411 tonne [inaudible] we will now beat out Kyoto 2020 target, not by 367 million tonnes. We will beat it by 411 million tonnes. In the last two years we've seen emissions fall and emissions are now at a level lower than at any time under the previous government since we were elected, and so our policies to take action on climate change are getting results. We meet and beat our Kyoto 2020 targets even by more than we had said before. And we will continue to progress those initiatives because taking action on these issues is incredibly important and we're following through on the policies we took to the last election. And we're getting the results we said we would get at the last election.
2019 Valedictory
5 December 2019
Mr Morrison: (Cook—Prime Minister and Minister for the Public Service) (16:50): Between this time last year and this time this year, a lot's happened. Of course, we had the general election, and the people of Australia had their opportunity to make the most important decision they make every three years, in terms of who comes into this place and represents them and forms government. Once again, this year, they exercised their judgement. All of us who were returned to this place came back with a great sense of humility and gratefulness for the opportunity we have to serve in this place—first and foremost, as the member for our electorates. Whether in my own in Southern Sydney, the electorate of Cook—taking in the southern parts of St George and Sutherland shire—or elsewhere around this country, our first opportunity, our first privilege, our first duty is to all of those in our electorates, and we say a very grateful thanks to all of them for returning us to this place to represent them and do our very, very best. Since that general election, the government has been hard at work, as I've mentioned in various responses and statements in this place and others, and I don't intend to go over those matters, because this afternoon is about something very different.
I did, however, want to acknowledge the great challenges that Australians have faced, particularly natural disasters. The year began with the devastating bushfires in Tasmania and Victoria, and it went through to the unprecedented flooding in North Queensland. None of us can—and I certainly can't—get out of our heads the image that was displayed of that railway line up in North Queensland, where we saw the water, over a 48-hour period, deluge that part of our continent. But in what must have felt like a heartbeat, in the space of just 24 hours, those wonderful Australians went from the relief and joy of seeing rain fall to tears and devastation as they saw generations of their efforts literally washed away. Of all the things that have happened this year, and there have been so many—we've walked onto firegrounds and sat with those who have been affected by these terrible fires across the year—it is very hard for me to get out of my mind being up there in North Queensland with those families. We have them still in our thoughts and in our actions today, and we continue to stand with them as they rebuild. In the great natural disasters that we see in this country we always see the greatness of Australians—their resilience, their tenacity, their care and their love for each other. At the worst of times, we see the best of Australians, and we saw that in North Queensland.
We have seen one of the worst droughts on record, impacting some 40,000 farming families in rural districts across the country. This fire season alone, six Australians have already, tragically, lost their lives to fires that have torn through millions of hectares across four states and claimed hundreds of homes. These events remind us that, while 'the lucky country' remains the lucky country, it's no passive moniker. It is one that is built and earned by the strength, character and resilience of our fellow Australians. Our first defence in everything is the strength and character of our people, our brave and selfless firefighters, our emergency services personnel. Indeed, today is International Volunteer Day. We reflect on those and we thank them very much for their wonderful service to our country.
We think of our service men and women, who also turned up in support of their fellow Australians through all of these disasters, and our communities: the businesses who let their staff go and volunteer. For a business owner in a regional area of the country, in a rural area of the country, it's tough enough, but they're the ones also who have to carry the burden, carry the weight and enable their staff to go and be there for their community, and they are equal in their service for providing for that. We have seen neighbours coming together—strangers coming together and acting as neighbours—and now they count each other as friends, as they've come through fire and flood and drought. Everyone has played their part.
As well, with Christmas almost upon us, we remember those who, for whatever reason, are doing it tough. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at the Kmart Salvos event just outside my office recently, and the Leader of the Opposition, rightly, referred to those who are going through terribly difficult times for economic reasons, or those who are affected by homelessness, or those who are affected by domestic violence. Any number of reasons will mean that, as we go into this Christmas season, once again, there are many Australians for whom this will be a very difficult time. Again, it'll be those fellow Australians who reach out to them and seek to provide them with support as they work through their terrible difficulties.
There'll be those who'll be alone or will be bereaved. There'll be those for whom there will be a missing place at the table, and that will be tough. They will reflect on wonderful memories, hopefully, of those times that they were able to share together. That's what families and friends do: they help each other deal with the challenges of life. There will be those who will be confined to hospital, those struggling on farms, those who battle difficulties that are insurmountable, it would seem. I ask every one of us—and it's an appeal I make to all of us—to look out for those who are less fortunate and to look out for one another, particularly over this summer season, and to keep safe on the roads, to exercise patience and care. You don't need to get there as quickly as you often think you do. We can get very busy at these times, and we know what can occur on our roads and the terrible tragedies that can unfold.
So, I would ask everyone, as we go about what hopefully is a very happy time and one of reunion with many family and friends, that we all make sure that we turn up safely and enjoy that experience. To Lifeline and all our other great services and volunteers who know they'll be reaching out on Christmas Day, because they do it every year: thank you for serving up that Christmas cheer. Thank you also, from all Australians, to the surf lifesavers who'll be on our beaches—looking after not just Australians but also the many visitors who'll be here and are often put at so much risk, unaware and unfamiliar with the dangers that can be in our waters—and to doctors, nurses, the ambos and the emergency and essential services workers who will give up their family time on Christmas Day and beyond to ensure that the rest of us can have a happy and safe holiday period.
In particular, as we come together with family, let us also reflect with gratitude on the serving men and women of our defence forces—some 1,500—who are around the world serving in so many different capacities, separated from their loved ones by the call of duty and because of their passion and love for their nation, whether at sea, in the air or on land, in Afghanistan, the Middle East or the many missions in other parts of the world, or keeping our borders safe closer to home, and those serving in our diplomatic service. We thank them, and we wish them a very merry Christmas.
We stand by our veterans community, also, remembering the depth of their sacrifice and responding to it with respect and strong and ongoing support. It is also fitting at this time of year to extend to the Leader of the Opposition and his family my very best wishes for Christmas and the holiday season, whether he'll be watching re-runs of old footy games and things like that—who knows, but I do hope he has a wonderful Christmas and holiday period with his family and a bit of time of rest. We'll all be back here again next year and ready to serve our constituents and play and perform the important roles that we do in this place. So, I hope he has a great break. I also want to acknowledge his predecessor, the previous Leader of the Opposition, the member for Maribyrnong, who served in that role. I wish him, Chloe and all of their family a very happy Christmas and a safe and pleasant new year. Menzies would often say of Curtin and Chifley, 'opponents but not enemies', and I believe this is true. That is the spirit in which these messages are sent. To all the members of the opposition: I wish you all the best for a happy and successful break.
To my own team: when you leave this place and go home to your families, you can be immensely proud of everything that you've achieved this year. You have my grateful thanks. When I took on the role of leadership of the parliamentary Liberal Party and then, together with the Deputy Prime Minister, stood before you, I said, 'You've asked me to lead and I've asked you to follow,' and you've paid me the greatest honour in your decision to follow. Together we have been able to achieve something quite extraordinary, but, as I said on election night, the victory was not ours; the victory was of those Australians who put their great faith in us. My proudest moment, though, was the day after, because it meant we got to get on with the job, and that's what we'll continue to do.
I also particularly want to extend my best wishes and appreciation to my Deputy Prime Minister and my coalition partner, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, and his wife, Catherine. They are great friends, and he's not a bad cricketer either—based on his own report! It has been a true joy to be able to lead a government together with a man as decent as Michael, and I wish him and Catherine well. They have been together for such a long time and they're such an example to us all. Indeed, as I look forward to my 30th wedding anniversary in January, I think you and Catherine have been such a wonderful blessing. You are on 33 years, so I don't know if we'll ever catch you, but we'll get close every year!
To my tremendous deputy, Josh Frydenberg, deputy leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party and Treasurer: thank you very much, Josh. Bringing down a budget—your first budget—is a very significant thing to do. For all of those who have had the great privilege of standing at this dispatch box to set out the expenditures of the government, its fiscal settings and the things you're able to achieve through strong financial management, it is a great honour. For Josh—the member for Kooyong, I should say, but with some indulgence from you, Mr Speaker. For the Treasurer to be able to come and to do that this year and do it in such fine style, I know he is looking forward to the next one more, having achieved a first surplus and able to announce another one. I know you'll do a tremendous job.
To the deputy leader of the National Party, Senator Bridget McKenzie—
Mr Frydenberg interjecting—
Mr Morrison: There he is. His ears were burning!
To the deputy leader of the National Party, Senator McKenzie: I thank you also, Bridget, for the tremendous guidance and support you have given to our leadership team, your passionate support for regional Australia and for ensuring we are always very familiar with the challenges that are being faced in rural and regional Australia.
To our newly minted Leader of the House: thank you for saying yes when I asked you to take this job. There he is. We honoured the previous Leader of the House—largely at his own direction!—when we put his picture up on the wall. I haven't checked to see if he is still standing there in front of it admiring it, but he certainly did for some time the other night! And so he should, because he was an adornment to this House. For the new Leader of the House, I also want to thank Christian for the enormous workload he takes on as our Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations. That of itself is an extraordinarily large task and, for backing that up with the incredible work that is required to move the government's business through this place and to ensure we can continue to deliver for Australians, I thank him very much for his great service both to our government and to our parties.
I also thank, of course, our leadership team in the Senate, Senator Cormann and Senator Birmingham. Senator Cormann has got quite a high strike rate when it comes to ensuring the passage of the government's legislation, and I thank him for the way that he's engaged with crossbench members and wish all of them also the very best, as I do the crossbench members here, for the Christmas season. I thank them for their dedication.
To my own team: I thank my chief of staff, John Kunkel. Thank you for your support, John, and the great work that is done by you. Thank you for your leadership of all of my team, which is so important to the running of the government. I want to thank all the hardworking and committed staff of coalition members, and we had the opportunity to thank them all last night. But can I also say to the opposition members and all of their staff that I wish them, also, all the best for Christmas and the holiday period.
Can I thank the Chief Government Whip and the deputy whips for ensuring we stay on track, but not just for that. I'm sure the Leader of the Opposition would know, from the role of their own whip, that they play such an important part and work closely together between opposition and government to ensure not just the smooth running of this place but the pastoral care that is provided to members of this parliament on both sides of this House. I want to thank the whips and their deputies, both from the government side and from the opposition side, for the great work they do.
To the Clerk of the House: congratulations on your appointment. It's wonderful to see our first female clerk here—not just that, but someone of immense capability. We loved those earrings yesterday, and these ones are just as good; they're right in the Christmas spirit! We wish you, your family, the Deputy Clerk and all the clerks' assistants who support them well. To the Serjeant-at-Arms, James Catchpole, our thanks also go to you. From my own department, thank you to David Belgrove, Anne O'Connor and Sue Klammer who work in the legislative team and who have been a great help to me and my staff.
To the House Parliamentary Liaison Officer, Charlie Higgins, and the rest of the team in the Table Office and the First Parliamentary Counsel, Peter Quiggin PSM and his team, our deep thanks. I'd like to make special mention of Debbie Arnold, who is leaving us as the Senate Parliamentary Liaison Officer and has been instrumental in helping my staff and me to program the government's agenda in the other place.
Other long-serving staff who retired this year, as we noted, are: David Elder, the former Clerk here for 38 years; Trish Bicket from the Table Office, 34 years; Laura Gillies, 34 years; James Rees, 28 years; Onu Palm, 23 years; and Anthony Overs, 17 years. It is clearly a vocation, and one taken very seriously by those who serve this parliament, and we thank you.
Thanks also to all the attendants in this place. To Luch and the whole mob: thank you very, very much. You're always a great encouragement and have been over many years. Whichever side of the House you sit on, there's always the great warm smile and friendly attendance that we get from you. We also thank, of course, all the Federal Police, security, those in catering, Library, Hansard and support staff who make the institution run so smoothly. Mr Speaker, we thank them, through you, for their great work.
In last year's valedictory, I mentioned Luzia, Ana and Maria, who are the three cleaners from my own office who have been working in this building for a very long time. They really do have a way of just lighting us all up. Ana and Maria are sisters. At this time last year, it was very tough. They had just lost their mum. But recently we were able to share together a much brighter moment—a wonderful morning tea celebration for Luzia's 30th anniversary of service in this building to many Prime Ministers over a long period of time. I know she would have been held in as much affection by my predecessors as by me and my own team. It was lovely to meet Luzia's husband, Marcelo, their children, Marian, Lucia and Isobel, and their grandchildren as well. It was a wonderful day. Next year we will be celebrating Ana's 30th anniversary milestone as well. She's a wonderful personality. She's the only person in the world who I understand called Mr Howard 'Pumpkin'. I want to, again, congratulate all of them and thank them.
On a sadder note, this year was a year we lost two of our nation's finest leaders and statesmen. It was a privilege to join with the Monash Foundation in honouring the scholarships that were awarded in their honour. To the late Bob Hawke and to the late Tim Fischer, and to all of their families: we want to acknowledge your great service to our country. Our country is so much better for the extraordinary contribution that they were able to deliver in their service, and they have set a standard for us all to seek to attain. Their passing reminds us of what politics is truly all about—serving honourably and courageously the Australian people.
Finally to you, Mr Speaker, Pam and all the family: have a wonderful Christmas. You continue to serve us and keep this show on the road in this parliament with great dignity, and you do it with a wit and a candour and an affection for which I think people around the country have got to know you well over many years now in this role. There have been many great Speakers, Mr Speaker, and I have no doubt you are one of them. I think, over the course of your time as Speaker, you will certainly stand out amongst them, if not above them all. It's a great privilege every time I see you in that chair, because I was so pleased to support you going into that chair and you have not let this House down on one occasion—not on one occasion. We thank you very much for all the work you do to maintain the spirit of this House and its important work.
Along with all of those good wishes, Mr Speaker, of course, it has been an adventurous year, it has been a dramatic year, it has been a year of a general election, it has been a year of achievements, it has been a year of disappointments for some, but it has been a year in which the great Australian spirit has showcased itself again: to itself and to the world. This really is the greatest country in the world in which to live, and whatever difficulties are before us or whatever challenges are in front of us, the one thing we can always say with a full heart is: it's great to be an Australian. Merry Christmas, everyone.
Remarks, launch of the Kmart wishing tree appeal
4 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: The Salvo's together with Kmart is the longest running Christmas appeal, and it's a great opportunity at this time of year, for everyone to put aside the many things that can distract us. But also, it's a time of the year when, so many Australians have faced so much hardship this year and I particularly want to thank the Salvos for the work that I've seen them doing out there supporting our fire fighters, responding to floods, this is the territory of the Salvos, it's been your mission and it's been your absolute devotion for so many years over your entire history. And I want to thank all the members of the Salvos of all the churches all around the country and for the way they reach out to our community, and I want to thank Kmart too for the partnership you've had together. I'm hoping Kmart's going to have a very busy Christmas, and I'm sure they will. And I want to thank everyone for bringing your gifts here today and for me, it is a Go Country for Christmas which has been a wonderful initiative which has been supported by politicians here and that's something to keep in mind as we go into this break and people can take the opportunity wherever they can, maybe where they're getting their Christmas presents from, you can go to Go Country for Christmas. You can find out all about that, which I know Michael and I have. So I'm going to put mine under the tree. It's going to take Anthony a little longer I suspect, because he's brought the whole caucus' with him. I'm not referring that to caucus in the trolley's, it's their gifts on behalf of the generosity of the Caucus that is in the trolleys. And I want to thank all those, there have been quite a number of events and functions that we've been hosting at the Lodge and here over the last week or so, and so the tree here and the tree at the Lodge is getting very, very full. And I think that's tremendous. Some 8 million gifts, 8 million gifts have been put under the trees around the country as part of this wonderful partnership between Kmart and Salvos. So God bless you, and thank you, and wish everyone a very merry Christmas.
Remarks, Launch of the Surf Life Saving Summer Season - Parliament House, ACT
2 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much Graham, and it's a great pleasure to be here with Jason Falinski and Matt Thistlethwaite, who are the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Surf Lifesaving and also to you Shane, thank you for the opportunity to be with you here today.
Also, I'm particularly grateful to the surf lifesaving movement today. It is true I’m Vice-Patron of the Surf Lifesaving Australia, but also the Sydney branch and my local clubs down in the Shire. But yesterday I completed my first one kilometre ocean swim and I was closely shadowed by the surf lifesaving movement on every single floating craft you could imagine.
Last time- when Prime Ministers venture into the surf, it hasn't always ended well. And so on this occasion, I can report the Deputy Prime Minister was able to stand down after me emerging from the water successfully.
And I want to thank all of the crew down there in North Cronulla on the weekend for what was a tremendous weekend for the Cook Community Classic.
But I tell that story because as we come into summer, as Graham said, Australians gravitate to the coast. It's part of our lifestyle. It's who we are. It's what we love. And it is ingrained in our psyche as much as the birthplace of the western interior are also, in terms of our outback.
So is also the beach and the coast and our coastal life and it is our surf lifesaving movement that through their dedicated service, not unlike the service we see from our rural firefighters who are out there as we speak today, particularly down there on the south coast of New South Wales. All those other volunteers with emergency services. And you move around our community and work so selflessly.
The surf lifesaving movement is no different to that and their courage and their bravery is significant.
30 people who still get to walk in the front door at home that night after being down in the surf because lifesavers rescue 30 people every single day.
30 people who still get to tie their kid's shoelaces or laugh with their friends or hold hands with their partners, if you saved 30 lives a year that would be remarkable. But 30 lives a month, or a week would be incredible. But 30 lives a day, saved by our surf lifesaving movement is absolutely extraordinary.
And we thank them very much for their service. As I said, there are four great clubs in my community but my colleagues who are represented here today know of all the great clubs in their community, it's not just a place where they save lives, but they draw the community together with a great spirit.
Every year around 180,000 people from around Australia give up 1.3 million hours to keep watch over our beaches.
When I attend the local AGM’s at my local surf clubs each year, the report we long to hear every single year is that on our beaches, no lives lost. Now, that is not the case on every beach around Australia, sadly.
But when we can turn up at our AGM’s each year for our local surf clubs and they can proudly state that, it is extraordinary. And, you know, it doesn't happen by accident. It really doesn't. And I want to draw attention to one particular local little hero who I think speaks volumes about our local surf lifesaving movement.
And his name's Max Taylor. Max saved a man's life on Wamberal Beach on the New South Wales Central Coast back in March. It was late afternoon and a newly arrived tourist was taking his very first swim, since landing in Australia.
He got caught in a deadly rip current and was heading out to sea. And if anyone's ever been caught in a rip, you'll know how terrifying that can be. Max heard the man's cry for help when there was no one around. So Max paddled out on his surfboard to reach him. The conditions were difficult and the swimmer was 150 metres from the shore. When Max finally reached him, the swimmer was panicked and exhausted. So Max offered him his board. They then began the long and tiring journey back to the shore. Max was huffing and puffing a bit, but he pushed the heavy board back to the shore with the person he was rescuing. Now, Max was 11 years old, 11 years old, a nipper from the local Wamberal surf life saving club.
And all of you who are members of the surf lifesaving movement will know heaps of Max’s. I certainly know them from my local clubs and the bravery those young kids show. And as they grow older, they're still doing it well into their senior years.
And Max's local member, Lucy Wicks said we're enormously proud of Max and indeed we're proud of everyone who gets out there and volunteers their time and energy to keep us safe.
Unfortunately, not every rescue ends that way. And I want to acknowledge two other heroes, Ross and Andrew Powell, father and son. One report described them as two peas in a pod. They were members of the Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club in Victoria. They lost their lives in rough surf, trying to save someone not far from the Twelve Apostles. And we remember them as well today and their incredible bravery and their sacrifice. And we remember what they lived for. That higher purpose. That higher purpose is beautifully summed up by a man who witnessed one of the most stunning large scale rescues in surf life saving history in our country.
It was that famous day in the late 1930s when there were three huge waves rolled into Bondi, sweeping hundreds of people off a sandbank and into a river.
More than 200 people were rescued that day and five lives were lost.
And one of the witnesses later said it is the most incredible work of love in the world. Going into the water without a moment's hesitation, risking their lives and all for love.
So I want to say thank you very much, for everyone across the surf lifesaving movement, whether those who have, into their tenth year of patrols, and having never missed one. Those who have been around for 50 years. And I presented those medals to those members of surf clubs, for those who are just joining, those going through nippers, those who are supporting in an administrative capacity on the local club boards and committees. Those, the gear stewards, those checking everything's in order. Those who are involved in the training of our young people and those doing their bronzes all the way through the movement.
You keep Australians safe and you do it as one of the most wonderful traditions of our country through the surf lifesaving movement.
Thank you so much for your service.
And to those heading towards our beaches this summer, maybe not today. But those heading towards the beach this summer, as I certainly will, swim between the flags, familiarize yourself with the conditions, and make sure you take instructions from those wearing those red and yellow caps. They're there for you to keep you safe. And so you do your job by keeping them safe, by following their instructions.
Thank you very much.
Remarks, Launch of Friends of our Pacific Family - Parliament House, ACT
2 December 2019
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you, David, can I first of all acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, elders past, present and future and acknowledge any veterans who are us today and thank them for their service.
Can I also of course acknowledge you and Anthony Albanese, who is here I just saw him just a second ago. It’s great for us both to be here together with the many parliamentary colleagues who are also here today, and are an important part of this initiative. And members of the diplomatic community, the Fiji delegation led by the honourable Alexander O'Connor. Can I particularly give a fond greeting to all the Pacific church leaders who are here today. I think that's just absolutely tremendous. And of course, to Tim, who is here today thank you very much for your involvement in these initiatives.
Can I say that people understand that I have a deep passion for our Pacific family. And it goes back a very long time. And I'm so thrilled about the way that we've been able to work together with our Pacific family to address so many of the challenges that they face in each of their own countries. And this is not a new thing, Australia has been a great friend and a close friend to the Pacific over a very long time.
And I know that in my own extensive travels in the Pacific, not just as Prime Minister but well before then, that this is well understood and deeply valued. And this initiative that we're launching today, I’m pleased to launch is part of that step-up, that we're engaged in in the Pacific.
We have already taken many steps in the Pacific. But this most recent one over these recent years and in stepping up again goes beyond just what the government does. And I think one of the most exciting things about this new initiative is it is engaging I think all Australians in this process. And the fact that it is now engaging the parliament in this process on a bipartisan basis, a multi-partisan basis indeed, and the relationships that can be formed directly between our parliamentarians and parliamentarians who operate under very similar systems throughout the Pacific. And the exchange that can take place there, I think is a very important part of that relationship building that takes place. We have a unique history with the Pacific. Not just in times during the Second World War, but over a long, long period of time. But it's very difficult, I think, for us as Australians to go beyond and I'm sure, I notice Ambassador Culvahouse here as well here today.
It's very difficult for us to go beyond the great debt we owe to our friends in the Pacific for the way they stood with us, and by us and cared for us and particularly our serving men and women during those darkest of times. That is a debt that will never be repaid and that will be a debt that we carry with us, but we carry it with us gladly.
Out of respect for our Pacific brothers and sisters, the other important part of the relationship, which is reflected here by the attendance of church leaders, is there's a great community of faith, which I know a lot about across the Pacific. It's one that I enjoyed from a very young age.
And nothing stirs my heart more to hear a Pacific choir, whether it's in Samoa or whether it's in PNG or in Fiji or the Solomons. And I got to say, Prime Minister Mr Sogavare, has got a pretty good voice.
And it's even better, as was an occasion I had many years ago, younger when Jenny and I were in Fiji and were attending a conference of Pacific Church leaders in a particular mission, and we had them all in the one place all singing at the one time.
And I'll never forget that. But what it reminds me of, seeing you here today. Is that is another great point of connection in the Pacific community, of Faith, there exists a great point of connection. And then, of course, there’s sport and there’s rugby league and all of those things.
I note that Fiji coming into the Metropolitan Cup I think is next year will actually be sitting under the Shark’s banner this year so there you go. I'm sure I'll get up to a few games and see them play. When they come into that competition.
But these are the friendly links. There are a lot of strategic links where we're working together on security issues. There is the humanitarian links that we work on when we're dealing with health challenges, when we're working, one of my proudest is the Prime Minister's XIII when I go to PNG or Fiji or any of these places. The message they carried, both the men's and women's team carry a message about opposing domestic violence and raising these issues throughout the Pacific community.
And so whether it's on disaster relief and preparedness for disaster relief, the work that we're doing in Fiji and establishing a base for disaster response, which I visited just recently, there is an engaged day to day relationship. And of course, on the defence side of things where we support those who engage in peacekeeping operations around the world.
So it's a deep, it's a rich, it's a very faithful, it's a very loving relationship that exists amongst our vuvale, our family across the Pacific. And we are very, very pleased that you've both taken this step to form this group, which will ensure that those connections now speak to the relationships between our parliamentarians and you create a new community amongst our parliamentarians. So I'm very pleased to launch this initiative.
And thank you very much for it being another important component of the Pacific Step up. Thank you.
Photo source - Associated Press