Speeches
Statement on Indulgence - Domestic Violence
24 February 2020
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and on indulgence and as consulted with the Leader of the Opposition through our offices today. As the Member for Barton just spoke in this place of these terrible, murderous events, the sad truth is that they are not isolated incidents. They have happened on just so many occasions. And before Question Time undertaking this indulgence today as we reflect, in particular, on the terrible crime that was committed against Hannah Clarke and her children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey. We also speak of the terrible murders of so many others - mothers and children. Murder - that's what it is. Murder that again last Thursday shocked our country. When Jenny and I spoke about it, we just couldn't get our heads around it, as I'm sure is the case for every single parent, and it doesn't matter if you are a parent or not - you can't imagine it. It is just too horrible to contemplate. The act itself and that somebody could perpetrate that act, particularly as a father. It is incomprehensible. An act of such depravity that only makes you ask - how does such evil happen in our land?
To the Clarke family, all of us extend our sympathies and our love. But I must wonder if that could ever be enough to cover the profound grief. They have shown incredible resilience and character in the worst of all possible circumstances. As best we can, we also send the country's love to you. In your grief, you have every right to be angry, furious, because everything we have done across this country to protect women and children didn't protect Hannah and her children from this evil. I believe state, territory and national governments, all of us, our agencies and importantly the judiciary must all reflect again on these terrible murders. We must reflect on how and where the system failed Hannah and her children, as it has failed so many others. It is so frustrating. It is so devastating. While this was the action of a depraved and evil man, we know enough of the circumstances leading up to the murders to know this should not have happened, and there will rightly be an inquest in Queensland, and I commend the Queensland Government for taking that action as they should. It will speak the truth, I have no doubt, as so many others have spoken the truth, and we already know this - Hannah deserved to feel safe and be safe, and to watch her joyous and wonderful children grow up. Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey deserved to have a childhood that was innocent and to have lives that were long and joyous.
For most of us in this chamber, for all of us, the words family violence just jar. Saying those words together - they should never be together. They have nothing to do with each other. Quite the opposite. Because our families should be the safest place in all of the world, particularly for our kids. But sadly, all too often, they are not, we know that, as hard as it is to believe, one woman is killed every nine days by a partner or a former partner. One in six Australian women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner since the age of 15. We know these figures. We have spoken of these figures I don't know how many times in this place. Regardless of who has sat on this side of the chamber or that side of the chamber, we know these figures, or on what side of the chamber or the other side of the chamber at every state parliament in this country. Every 2 minutes somewhere in this country, police are called out to a domestic violence incident, and as Members we know that commonwealth and the states and territories, we do work closely on tackling violence against women and children, and we must continue to do this together.
This has been, I think, one of the shining lights of bipartisanship in this chamber and in so many chambers around our country. I acknowledge the work, as I have done, and others have done, on the establishment of the first action plan, under the national plan to reduce violence against women and their children from 2010 to 2022 that was commenced under the Rudd and Gillard governments. That was a great initiative. Now, as part of the fourth action plan, that spirit continues, that partnership continues - a partnership that exists not just across this aisle, which is closed by our commitment to addressing this, but between the state and territory governments and the Commonwealth as well.
A record $340 million has been provided under this plan for frontline services to protect and support women and children. In total since 2013 some $840 million has been committed to addressing domestic and family violence, carrying on the work that was initiated by the previous Labor government.
In August last year COAG agreed to the fourth action plan, and in November we released the national implementation plan it includes funding for prevention strategies and frontline services including for groups which needed additional support, funding for safe spaces as well as funding for 1800 RESPECT, and that 1800 RESPECT line is open 24 hours to support people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. When COAG comes together in a few weeks time, this will once again be on our agenda.
But it is a time for us all to reflect. But to reflect together. There are never any excuses, there are none, or justifications for the evil that Hannah and her children experienced, never, not under any circumstances. With the states and territories, and together as a parliament we will continue to work together to translate these words that I'm sure the Leader of the Opposition will also state with the same passion, into actions and changes that make a real difference for women and children.
Mr Speaker, the violent crime, the murder that sought to deny a woman her voice and future, let me read one of Hannah's last Instagram posts which expressed a hope. She wrote, "I am a strong woman" - no doubt she was. “I don't sit around feeling sorry for myself, nor will I ever let anyone mistreat me again. I am a survivor, not a victim. I am in control of my life, and there is nothing I can't achieve. My girls will grow up being strong women, who understand their worth." This hope was crushed when Hannah and her children were murdered.
We must work together, as we have been, and as, for as long as it takes to restore that hope, to those we know right now, today in this country, who are living in exactly the same danger as Hannah and her children.
Bushfire Memorial Service
23 February 2020
Can I begin also acknowledging the clans of the Eora nation as we gather here today for this, our sorry business. We pay tribute to their elders past, present and the future. To distinguished guests, colleagues who are today but most importantly, the families of the 25 wonderful souls we have lost, our deepest condolences and sympathies to you again on this day. To those here who have served, to those who are watching on from other places today who have served, our fire services and emergency services and our defence forces and in so many other roles. We gather here today and simply say thank you for your service.
But to also reflect on a black summer that started in spring. A summer where the dark sky turned black and sunsets only signalled another night of terror. Where the fire crashed on our beaches from the bush that surrounded them and the scorched high country that turned white and on this occasion black. A season of air you couldn't breathe and of orange skies that wouldn’t rain and unforgettable trauma absorbed into our very beings, and of unrelenting grief for our land and our wildlife and our families.
Children kissing the coffins of their fathers, proudly wearing their helmets, mothers and fathers who should never have had to bury their children. Friends who came to our aid, who travelled across the water to support us but to return home under their nation's flags. Families sifting through the ashes of lost homes and livelihoods, towns and places that came to embody both our loss and our strength.
And towns that came to embody both our loss and our strength: Batemans Bay, Nerriga, Cabramurra, Tinpot, Cobargo, Nerrigundah, Malua Bay, Lake Conjola, Batlow, Balmoral, Kangaroo Valley, South Arm, Bilpin, and a thousand more. Markers on our maps.
And it was a time when neighbours opened their homes to neighbours and anyone needing shelter. And Australians: be they city or country; Christian, Sikh, Muslim; Indigenous or immigrant; old or young; rallied to each other. In this room there are thousands of stories - of loss, chance, grief, courage, generosity, and above all, love. And many more beyond, known and unknown. We see those in those stories a reflection of our humanity.
Across this land, and here in NSW, we witnessed the most extraordinary actions by Fire and Rescue, the RFS, our paramedics, our ADF, our defence forces, and almost every community group our country could muster to this effort. Standing by each other and willing each other on. Not individual efforts, but efforts of crews, of teams, of communities - discovering and demonstrating once again that we are always stronger together.
On Australia Day I told the story of the Wingello Brigade, who I was able to meet just the other week and say thank you in person. Near night’s end on their night of terror, Brigade Captain Mark Wilson said it felt like “we were losing”. But in the morning the town had been saved. A similar story was told in Batlow - of courage, loss and achievement and in so many other places. Amazingly, Mark had arranged for his daughter to be looked after by her mum, he told me, while Mark was called on to lead his Brigade. Mark told me he thought she would be out of harm's way. She went to Cobargo, only to see her mum’s business destroyed as the fire hit that town, even before that terrible night in Wingello.
These fires offered little if any respite or places to seek refuge, as they burned and burned and they burned across our state and our country. And I’m sure Commissioner Fitzsimmons, who has led this effort so incredibly well, could tell us many more stories - and I’m sure he will - and these stories will be told amongst brigades for decades to come.
In every case, our firefighters confronted the fear by relying on the love that was behind them. On New Year’s Eve, two firetrucks from Fire and Rescue’s Strike Force Golf were immobilised fighting a fire near Nowra. Eight firefighters trapped. It was dire. All eight firefighters sent texts to their families. Trish Doyle recounts receiving a text from her 20 year-old son. Just 20. He texted, “I don’t think we are going to make it. I love you, Mum”. In the midst of fear, chaos and confusion, and a thousand thoughts, this son’s heart and those of his comrades turned home towards the people they loved. For two and a half hours these families waited. Despite their trucks being destroyed, these firefighters survived and we are thankful.
We lost firefighters, aviators, farmers, and civilians alike this summer, all carried within them even until the end, the DNA of our universal language: I love you. We know all who were lost, who fought, who served, who volunteered, drew strength from who they loved and who loved them. What lay before them was not as strong as what was behind them, which continues to sustain us all now, as the fires go out.
And from this we witnessed thousands of extraordinary actions. We have heard of the Horsley Park Brigade who lost Deputy Captain Geoff Keaton and firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer in December. Just like Sam McPaul, they were young family men. The morning after Geoffrey and Andrew’s loss, the Brigade met. Under Darren’s leadership they wept, they remembered but they made a decision to return to the fireground. As one firefighter said: “It was the only place where we felt we could honour the bravery of our friends”. And so they did. They went back out and faced another day - but still relying on each other, sustained by the love of those they left behind.
That’s a lesson for all of us who have lost this black summer - to rely on each other as we stand to face another day, often without those we love. It’s Sunday, so let me finish, indulge me, with a reading from Isaiah 58:11-12, which I’ve turned to on quite a few occasions lately.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
This is my prayer this day. As a nation let us stand together - repair the broken walls, restore the streets with dwellings, let us heal, let us rebuild. And most importantly, let us never forget, especially those we have lost, who can never be replaced. God bless you all.
Remarks, Official Opening of the New Air Combat Capability Facility - Katherine, NT
21 February 2020
Thank you very much. It's a great pleasure to be here at Tindal and to be joined, of course, by Melissa Price, my ministerial colleague as the Minister for Defence Industry, and Senator Sam McMahon, Senator for the Northern Territory. Can I also join in welcoming Air Commodore Phil Champion, Colonel Len Rouwhorst and Wing Commander Tim Ferrell. Can I also thank all the team here from Lendlease and all the contractors and those who built this wonderful facility. It is tremendous to be here sharing this day with you. Can I also acknowledge the traditional owners, our Indigenous peoples and elders past, present, future, particularly any who are here today is, as I know they are because they've played such a huge role in the development of this facility. A peak engagement of Indigenous Australians in the work that's been going on here at 11 per cent and that is a tremendous achievement. And to see the skills that have been built up in our Indigenous communities here in the Territory and how that is being drawn into this project, not by accident, but on purpose with a determination to see where you are involving indigenous Australians in this tremendous project. I thank all of those who were very involved in this, the consulting firms and those who came in and were on the tools, those who were training others who are going to have a bright future in the industries that they have chosen that this project has enabled them to. And as I always do, I want to acknowledge - there are lots of them here today - serving men and women in our Australian defence forces and also any veterans who are with us because we so often know that it's the veterans after they've served will find themselves in many of the roles that are involved in defence industries, as Melissa knows. You will not find a better employee working in your business than one that’s served their nation in the defence forces. So we want to thank them all very much for their service.
Keeping Australians safe, keeping our economy strong. These two things go together. And if you're serious about both of those tasks, which our government is, then you invest in both of them. And what we've done here, what we've been doing here, and more importantly what we're going to keep doing speaks to both of those objectives. The Joint Strike Fighter program isn't just about getting the planes, the fighter planes. It's about facilities, it's about the expertise, it's about the industry, it's about the training, it's about the people, that all needs to come together to make that capability a reality. And that's what we're seeing coming together here at Tindal. Our government made a commitment that we would return this country to 2 per cent of our economy being invested in our nation's defence and its capability. Australians deserve that and Australians who serve in our defence forces who keep Australians safe, who stand up for our values, stand under our flag and wear our uniform, they deserve that too. They deserve to have the capability and the support and the facilities that enables them to do the job, a very difficult job, that we ask of them. And that's as true as the most recent deployment through Operation Bushfire Assist and this morning, I had the great privilege to speak to many who've been involved in that Operation, all the way from up here in Tindal.
And it's just as true when we're standing here in Tindal and the very important job this place does in Australia's broader Indo-Pacific strategy and the work we do with our partners in this part of the world and particularly in the northern part of Australia and the partnerships we especially have with the United States. This rebuild is based on the white paper strategy we set out a number of years ago, which is seeing some $200 billion invested in our defence capability over the next decade. And we're ensuring that Australian industry content is maximised in all acquisition and sustainment projects to ensure a sovereign industrial base that supports high-skilled Australian jobs and local investment. And I'm so thrilled with the high proportion of jobs that have gone into this project today out of the Territory, not just Australian jobs. Because I’m sure Sam would agree, Territorian jobs and seeing that Territorian experience being really put to the test. It's not easy to build these facilities up in parts of the country that deal with the climatic challenges that we have in this part of the country. But I'm always amazed at the ingenuity of Australians and great companies like Lendlease who have led this project and all the contractors, some of whom I've had the opportunity to meet today, bringing their special Territorian know-how to meeting the challenges of building this facility here on this site. And for those who need those sort of projects done, maybe a bit further north in Indonesia or across Malaysia and throughout our Indo-Pacific partners, well, there are great Australian companies that have proved themselves here working with our defence forces and I have no doubt, whatever the project is across the Indo-Pacific region, Australians are able to stand up and show what they’re capable of doing.
This investment we're putting here is important. When I was in the United States last year and was with the President and was meeting with the Secretary of Defence Mark Esper and the Secretary of State and many others, I was so proud that we can say unreservedly that Australia holds up its end when it comes to our defence commitments and the role we play in our part of the world. And we don't just look to the United States. We don't leave it to the United States. We look to ourselves and our own capability and we do the things that we need to do as a country to measure up when it comes to our defence force capability and what you have to invest in to make that a reality. Plenty of people want to talk about targets, well, I can tell you, when we set a target as a government, we meet it and the 2021 reaching the target of 2 per cent of GDP being spent on our defence forces and standing in the middle of all the facilities that our expression of that commitment. That's real stuff. That's real commitment. That's real jobs. That's real defence force capability, which is keeping Australians safe.
We’re investing a total of $1.6 billion at RAAF Base Tindal. Tindal is strategically significant as a forward operating base to provide support to Australia's air combat capabilities and with our allies. Our investment will enhance air combat capability and our engagement with allies through the conduct that joint exercises, particularly with the United States Air Force. The Australian Government has improved $1.1 billion to undertake a seven-year program here at Tindal, which I’m here to announce today. These works will upgrade the airfield, increase aviation fuel storage, reinvest in ageing base engineering services and provide additional living accommodation for the posted Air Force personnel. The 80s accommodation, which you are very used to, there'll be some new millennial style accommodation, which I'm sure those living on the base will be very appreciative of as we move forward, in particular the families that are coming and living here. People who come and get deployed to Tindal often come back because of the wonderful community that exists here amongst the defence forces themselves, but also their contractors and suppliers to the base and the family that exists here at Tindal.
And we're investing in Australians, as these works will provide strong economic benefits for the region over an extended delivery phase, with significant opportunities for the local construction industry to bid for those subcontract packages. Over the last few years, our government has invested $495 million in new Air Force combat capability facilities, which we’re opening here today to support the arrival of our Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, which will be operated by the amazing 75 Squadron. This project is enhancing defence air combat capability with the introduction of the service of the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and the facilities work at Tindal here are due to be fully completed in just a few months time.
So I want to say to you all, thank you for what you're doing for our country, whether you wear a uniform, whether you fly a jet, whether you serve the meals, whether you install the air condition, whether you lay concrete in the middle of the night to deal with the climatic factors that are evident here, if you’re putting the ceilings in, whatever you are doing, you are doing a great job for your country. And I want to assure you that my government is committed to you and there's $1.1 billion worth of investment to back that commitment up here alone in Tindal, on top of what has already been invested out of the defence white paper. And I can do that because I have confidence and my government has confidence in you as Australians to get this job done. I have confidence in Australians who are serving and working as part of these projects that I can stand before other leaders around the world and say Australia will always be able to step up because we have got the people to do the job and we've put our investment in the facilities and the supports that enables them to do the job.
We are a reliable nation when it comes to our own defence and our own security, and that makes us a reliable partner, able to work with others to keep our region safe. Because, you know, when you have a stable region which this place is critical to achieving, then people can enjoy prosperous lives. They can live out their time in peace in our region and this is a very important time where we are underpinning that as a nation. We've got such an important job to do. You are so much a part of that job and I want to thank you for your service in assisting in all that we're doing as a government, as a nation, in this very important time.
So I'm going to look to those who are running the show here today and ask is it time for us to unveil the plaque? Thank you very much, Len, a great pleasure. I declare the new facilities here at Tindal officially opened.
Press Conference - Sydney, NSW
20 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon, everyone. There is no more important job for an Australian Prime Minister, and indeed Premiers and Chief Ministers of states and territories, than to keep Australians safe. After the devastating Black Summer bushfires, we are still in that summer as we speak. I said some weeks ago now that it would be necessary for us to move forward with a national Royal Commission. At the same time, states and territories are proceeding as we anticipated and as they said they would, as is appropriate, with a series of inquiries that they're running at the state and territory level, as is appropriate. Today, the Governor-General issued letters patent to establish a national Royal Commission into the Black Summer fires. That Royal Commission is about three things: improving natural disaster management coordination across all levels of government; improving Australia's resilience and adaptation to a changing climate, living in hotter, longer, drier summers in this country; and, importantly, a legal framework as is necessary for the Commonwealth's involvement in responding to national emergencies. One of the great challenges of the Black Summer fires has been how they impacted on so many different states and territories, often at the same time. We all remember the day that a state of natural disaster was declared in Victoria. It was on the Thursday, I recall. We'd had the terrible fires that have been raging also through New South Wales to such devastating effect. By that Saturday, two days after we had the first compulsory call-out of the reservists, which saw our numbers increase from 890 to 6,500 in a matter of weeks. As the Commonwealth, we decided to take leadership and to put more boots on the ground. And I am sure everyone all over the country that is affected by those fires was so grateful to see those boots on the ground. And I want to thank General Ellwood and everyone who has been involved in that operation, which continues to this day, Operation Bushfire Assist, for the way they've been conducting that operation, providing tremendous support to communities and great relief across the country.
The Royal Commission will be led by the former Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, and he will be supported by two other commissioners, a former Federal Court judge, the Honourable Dr Annabelle Bennett , and by Professor Andrew Macintosh, who is a specialist researcher in climate change mitigation and adaptation. This Royal Commission accepts, it acknowledges, it understands the impact of climate change more broadly on the climatic conditions that Australia is living in. What this Royal Commission is looking at are the practical things that must be done to keep Australians safer and safe in longer, hotter, dry summers in the conditions in which Australians will live into the future. So that's dealing with the practical things that need to happen, on everything from preparation to response and importantly recovery. In framing these terms of reference, we circulated and sought comment from the states and territories and I thank all the Premiers and Chief Ministers for their feedback and input into that process and we listened carefully to those responses and we've made adaptations as necessary to ensure that the Royal Commission will enable the commissioners to look at this issue very much from the position of the national perspective. And that national perspective, as I said, will look at what is the arrangements when you could have a national state of emergency or disaster declared? There is no such power. There is no such declaration that currently exists and therefore no consequent powers, authorities or actions that would flow from such a declaration. And so it's important to discuss through, particularly when you have natural disasters that are occurring across multiple states, how that would be put in place, what would be the conditions? What would it then do and how would that integrate and work with the state and territory effort?
It’s also important, I think, as Australians have said very clearly that they want a greater national perspective on these issues. And so it is important to ensure that when we're talking about issues like hazard management, hazard reduction, when we're talking about vegetation, native vegetation management, when we're talking about building standards and controls and planning land-use laws, that we have a greater national consistency in our understanding of what the best practice is and what the standards are and what the plans are and what the accountabilities are using common methodologies so Australians can get a national picture of how we're tracking. These are clearly and absolutely and should forever be the responsibility of states and territories. This isn't about changing who does what. This is about how we work together even more effectively and we build on the disaster recovery arrangements that have been put in place by previous governments that have been tested on this occasion because of the multiple-jurisdiction nature of this disaster. We've also seen, across these latest fires some inconsistency in how the application of the various category A, B and C assistance has been declared in different states and territories. When you're only operating in one state or there's only one jurisdiction that's been affected, well, those inconsistencies don't present because they’re declared by the states. But when you have it happening at Kangaroo Island and you have it happening up in Canungra, you have it happening in Batemans Bay or East Gippsland at the same time, then obviously it's important that Australians should have the same expectations of the level of support that they might receive in those circumstances.
Now, we've worked together to do our best to ensure that they’ve been as consistent as possible, and I make no criticisms at all of the state and territory governments and, in particular, those who led the first line of defence, the first response in combating the fires themselves. The volunteer fire brigades, the emergency services departments and all these organisations. This is an opportunity to have a national Royal Commission which looks at the ways that the national coordination, the national consistency, the national standards of the national measure and the national powers and authorities that need to be put in place and that those questions can be considered and they can be assessed. Now, it is important that this be done in a very rapid fashion, as the states are also doing. So six months have been set aside for this inquiry, that needs to report back by the 31st of August of this year. That will also give them, based on the reporting timetables for the state and territory arrangements, a month to consider the recommendations and the inquiries that have been undertaken at that level.
This isn't an inquiry as to whether the truck should have gone down that road, or gone down some other road. The states are looking at those operational issues and that's why it's important that there be close collaboration between this national Royal Commission with the State-based inquiries, particularly that are occurring in New South Wales, South Australia and in Victoria. And I would hope that that would be the case, because the more they work together, the quicker they can get the job done, the quicker the Premiers, Chief Ministers and I and the relevant Emergency Services and Management Ministers around the country can get on with the recommendations that they would bring forward.
Now, I want to go to one other item on corona before we go to general questions, if it's not inconvenient. I can confirm that 170 people did depart Japan and they've arrived back in Australia at Darwin and they have been transferred to Howard Springs. I can confirm the Australian Embassy in Tokyo continues to provide consular support to 47 passengers in Japan who have tested positive to the coronavirus, the Covid-19 virus, as well as those who chose to remain behind in Japan and those who have opted to finish their quarantine on the Diamond Princess. So those arrangements have been put in place. I can confirm that there are still only 15 cases in Australia. But I can also say that 10 of those cases have now recovered. So we have five who are in an active part of the virus and the containment arrangements that we put in place as a government continue to be very effective.
Now, as you know, we are reviewing the travel ban on a weekly basis. We'll be doing that again today and over the course of the next 24 hours, when we have concluded that consideration a statement will be issued about the next steps. I can say that not a lot has changed between this time when we considered this issue last week and today. But one of the other things that we're also looking very carefully at is the mitigations and the things we can do to try and minimise the impact on particular sectors, particularly in the education sector. There's been a lot of discussions going on between the university and school sector and Minister Tehan and Minister Hunt, and we'll be considering some of those arrangements over the course of the next 24 hours as well.
So it continues to present a significant challenge. The good news is, if you can call it that, is that we're getting better data now because of the number of cases that exist outside mainland China and that is another set of data that can be used by the researchers and by the medical experts who are advising the government. That's giving us a clearer insight on the severity of the virus and issues like mortality rates and how that compares into intensified zones like Wuhan where the mortality rate outside of Wuhan, particularly outside of China, are far less than what we're seeing in those places. And particularly when you remove the impact of the Diamond Princess, which was a particularly significant cohort group, which was skewing the broader international numbers, we can get a better sense of what the threat and impact of this virus is going forward, because we have- first priority, whether it's bushfires or coronavirus or anything else, health and welfare of Australians is the first priority. We're also very mindful though of the significant economic impacts of this virus, but that's not restricted to Australian that is happening globally. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, isn't this Royal Commission about justifying your argument in the dispute with New South Wales in early January, about sending in the reservists and also about showing the states haven't done enough on hazard reduction, isn't it about saying the states aren’t up to it and in particular, New South Wales? Justifying your position?
PRIME MINISTER: No, it's not Andrew. It’s got nothing to do with that. That's a pretty cynical view. What it is about is ensuring that the Commonwealth and the States have clear, clear understandings of the legal arrangements that enable the Commonwealth to act, for the states and territories to act, for us to work together. I'm not making any criticisms of the states and territories. I was pretty clear about that in my opening statement. We're working together with the states and territories. When you have a devastating impact of the Black Summer fires that we've had. You've got to learn the lessons and you've got to look at the ways you can do things better. And when we moved to put 6,500 Defence Force personnel in boots on the ground, we did that in a constitutional grey zone but with the great permission also of the states and territories so those issues didn't arise. So I'd expect Mark Binskin as a former CDF to know what the sensitivities and the legal issues are here and what the practical issues are, this is about assisting us all, Andrew, to ensure that we can make Australians more safe in longer, hotter, drier summers in the future. It's not about conflict. It's about action and it's about making people safe.
JOURNALIST: But you believe that New South Wales were recalcitrant, they did the wrong thing, don’t you, that's your personal view?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: So it was okay for them not to request that? Those reservists at that time?
PRIME MINISTER: Andrew, I'm not going to have you put words in my mouth. What I'm saying is we need to know the answers to these questions. Australians, their safety, needs the answers to these questions so we can better protect them. It’s not about politics. I know the media likes to focus on politics, obsessed by it, but Australians are interested in their safety. And this national Royal Commission is about their safety.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, how would state of national emergency laws have changed the Defence Force's involvement in New South Wales during the recent bushfires?
PRIME MINISTER: What we are seeking to understand is how our defence forces can be in a more proactive position to provide support, not to fight the fires. There is no suggestion here that defence forces would be trained in fighting fires. The people who fight fires in this country are overwhelmingly our volunteer fire brigades, supported by state governments, resourced by them, trained by them, run by them, under their command and control, and they do an amazing job. I think one of the clear lessons from the recent disaster has been that where we've been able to get those Defence Force personnel in more quickly and more promptly, then that has provided great relief and comfort to those communities. And I don't think the states and territories have any issues with that at all. And so this just enables, I think, a more effective partnership.
JOURNALIST: Would these laws have seen then come into New South Wales, though, into fighting that or being involved in that effort sooner?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, I think that's a retrospective analysis that the commission will certainly look at, as they should. But what's more important-
JOURNALIST: What's your view?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is why I've commissioned a national Royal Commission. I'm interested in them doing the work and providing that advice. I'm doing this because I want them to inform the answers to those questions, appropriately. And I've asked a former judge, a former Chief of the Defence Forces and a scientist, a professor who has experience in dealing with climate change adaptation. So these are experts who can give us all, shed a lot of light on this. Working with what the states and territories are doing, I think it’ll help us, give us a lot of answers to help make people safer in the future.
JOURNALIST: But you were frustrated with New South Wales weren’t you?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I’m going to let you be frustrated for one second Andrew and let PVO get a question in.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, would you like to see the Royal Commission hear evidence from the former Fire Chiefs who tried to warn you about the impending catastrophe before it happened but couldn't get access?
PRIME MINISTER: It's up to them who they call, and how they call and when they run their meetings and how they run their hearings, they have the powers to conduct those open hearings. And that'll be a matter for the royal commission.
JOURNALIST: But do you think they should hear from them?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't give the Royal Commission a running guidance on how to, they run their commission. That's for them to do. It's an independent Royal Commission. The idea that the Prime Minister would somehow be seeking to direct them in any way like that I think would be highly inappropriate. It's up to them.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister is 6 months enough for this inquiry, given the devastation of this summer's bushfires?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it’s the same length of time that has been done for the state inquiries. And they'll be looking at a lot of operational matters in particular. It's important that we get this done quick, because we need to ensure that we have advice coming back to us, particularly as we go into next season. There's already been an enormous amount of work that has been done here by previous Royal Commissions. And one of the things they've been tasked to do under this terms of reference is to effectively audit the implementation of those recommendations. And I am aware that there's been a lot of good work already done in the research community and scientific community on those issues. So I think they'll be able to draw on that quite readily and to be able to move forward into the other areas of the inquiry.
JOURNALIST: Would you give evidence yourself if you've called upon? Do you anticipate that occurring?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, actually, it's, it's not that usual, but the royal commissioner has those powers.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I know you're damned if you do and damned if you don't in some respects but-
PRIME MINISTER: No surely not.
JOURNALIST: But did you think, did you, did you think really hard about whether to go down the royal commission path or not? You know, this idea of having so many royal commissions, a lot of people wanted it. Some people didn't.
PRIME MINISTER: I did. I thought very deeply about this as we were actually working through the recovery arrangements. And let's not forget, as I said, a state of disaster declared on the Thursday in Victoria, reservists called out compulsorily for the first time ever on the Saturday. On Monday, the National Bushfire Recovery Agency had been stood up, it had a head and it had a budget of $2 billion dollars. More than half of that had already been committed in a matter of weeks soon after that. At the same time, I was also considering how we needed to move to the next stage of learning from what had been a devastating bushfire crisis that had resulted in the loss of many, many lives. And those lives lost, whether there were those who were fighting the fires or those who were the victims of them, deserve these answers and their families, they deserve these answers and they deserve it at that level. And so I believed it was important to establish something at that level, at the right time. I didn't want it to begin while particularly the agencies were very involved in the direct bushfire fighting response. And I think both the states, particularly New South Wales and Victoria, and ourselves, we didn't rush to putting this together, but we knew it would be necessary. And so coming to the view it was then about, well, what should it be focussed on? It doesn't need to overlap. I don't believe does, with this terms of reference with what is being done at the state level. What it's doing is trying to understand from the national perspective - what are the things that nationally the federal government should be focussed on, in how it responds? And they fall into three areas, as I said one is whether there should be a national state of emergency at a statutory level that engages particular powers for responses, and certain responsibilities, and there need to be clear safeguards about how they can be used. That will have implications for our defence forces and how they prepare and their command structure on these issues as well. And I flagged that when I spoke at the Press Club.
The second one is, how can we ensure as a federal government that nationally Australians can have a greater sense of confidence that things like hazard reduction targets are being met and are being measured on the same basis, as well as the many other practices that are managed at a state level that they are meeting standards and they are reporting against them and Australians can have that confidence, that sunlight is a very good way of doing that.
And the third area, is to acknowledge that we are living in hotter, drier, longer summers. And that means building our climate resilience both in responsiveness and preparedness, as well as the longer term arrangements we need to do with adaptation. So that's what we have to focus on, and this Royal Commission will assist me greatly and the rest of the Cabinet, in responding to those issues, as I believe it will support COAG and the leaders of the states and territories.
JOURNALIST: What's the cost, what's the cost of the royal commission?
PRIME MINISTER: That's still being finalized. But to give you a guide, the 12 month cost of the Banking Royal Commission was just over $50 million, this is going for about half that time.
JOURNALIST: Just on the issue of coronavirus,
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
JOURNALIST: The Australians remaining in Wuhan are desperate to get out, why isn't it possible to arrange another evacuation flight just as you have for the Aussies in Japan?
PRIME MINISTER: Well as I said at the time on the first flight, I said we wouldn't be in a position to guarantee a second one. We were able to achieve that. We've just finished a third flight this time from Japan, and that has been quite an undertaking, and to the AUSMAT team and anyone else who's been involved with that, again Qantas, the amazing job they've done, to Australian Border Force in standing up Howard Springs and how that's being managed, I mean, this has been an extraordinary Australian effort here. But as as seamlessly as that has has been able to be undertaken make no mistake about its complexity, make no mistake about the complexity of getting into these areas and the various arrangements you need to put in place with those authorities. So at this point, we don't have a plan to do a third flight. We don't have that plan currently. But as I say, the National Security Committee is meeting every couple of days. We'll meet again today, on this matter in particular and consider particularly the issue of the ongoing travel ban. But that may not result in a firm conclusion today. There may be further that is needed before a statement is issued on that matter.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you believe security agencies such as the AFP need the help of the Australian Signals Directorate to hunt down paedophile and serious criminals online?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll tell you, I've always said that what happens in the real world, should happen in the digital world. Now, if I thought someone was abusing a child somewhere, I’d kick the door down, I'd go and try and rescue that child. And so those who want to abuse children shouldn't get to be able to hide in the internet. And if they're doing it, I'm going to use every tool at my disposal to try and protect that child.
JOURNALIST: So do you, what tools do security agencies currently lack when it comes to finding those criminals?
PRIME MINISTER: They'll get what they need to protect the kids. Thank you very much.
Address, Australian Space Forum
19 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much, Steven. Can you congratulate and thank Steven Marshall, Premier of South Australia, for his extraordinary leadership when it comes to what we're doing here today and what's going to excitedly happen in this country in our space, our civil space industry over the next decade and beyond. It has been so much Steven's drive when we were pulling together the National Space Agency and the pitch that he was able to make and to now have Dr Clark here and to have the space agency open this morning, on time, on budget and getting on with it is tremendously exciting. So thank you very much for your leadership and partnership on this, Steven, it has demonstrated just how well we can work together and get things done, not just here in South Australia, in Adelaide, but right across the country. Can I also acknowledge Karen Andrews, the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, and popularly known as the Minister for Space in a place like this today. To Dr Giorgio, the President of the Italian Space Agency, it's wonderful to have you here today.
I think, Steven, when you combine South Australian wine and South Australian restaurants, particular Italian restaurants, I mean, when we put the space industry together with that, it was a compelling proposition. They had to come. There was no way they could have resisted with that magic combination, I'm sure. To Dr Megan Clark and all of your wonderful team here at the space agency, it's wonderful had you here. And to all of the honoured guests who are here with us today, particularly those from the diplomatic corps. Your Excellency, the Ambassador from Italy, it's wonderful to have you here as well. Can I also acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Kaurna people and their elders that are past, present and that are emerging for our future. Can I also acknowledge any servicemen and women who are with us here today and can I thank you and the veterans who are here today for your tremendous service to our nation. And of course, as I mentioned this morning, those who have served in our military in our defence forces and those who've served overseas in other foreign services, the space industry is tailor-made for the skills that they have developed and they have learned in their service of their country. And we're very excited about the crossover between the defence industry and space agency. And as always, it's great to see Andy Thomas here, a great Australian.
We have just come, as Steven has said, from the official opening of the space agency headquarters at Lot Fourteen and I’m sure this will be a topic of conversation here at the space forum. One thing that must be very strange for you, in one way, I mean, this is the only conference where the words ‘it's not rocket science’ will never be mentioned amongst you. It is rocket science. It's not easy what you do. It's very complicated. The other thing you won't hear at a conference like this is ‘it can't be done’. That's, I think, one of the most exciting things about the space industry and the space perspective on the world. The sky's not the limit. It's nowhere near the limit as Andy reminds us. Space has no limits and it has no limits economically, either, for us as a nation and the opportunities that we can pursue.
What we have announced this morning is another example of the close partnership and deep collaboration that exists between the South Australian government under Premier Marshall and our government federally, working together on a plan for jobs. As I said this morning, this is a plan for jobs. It's a plan to radically open up and see our space industry realise its potential objectives. But ultimately, this is a plan for jobs. Yesterday morning I was in Melbourne and I was at the Doherty Institute and there they were the first team to grow and share the coronavirus and share that with the world. And so you can imagine how exciting it is for me as a Prime Minister - as difficult as that issue is, the coronavirus impacts on the globe and its particular impacts here in Australia - that Australian scientists are the ones who are the first to grow and share that virus and understand its componentry and actually invest in the ways that we can better understand that and develop the antivirals and ultimately we put $2 million down yesterday to work on a vaccine and that work will be done globally.
But here I am today launching the Australian Space Agency and it says a lot about where Australia is today and where we're going as a country and at the end of the day, it means this, it’s a plan for jobs. And to show us how serious we are about this as we open this morning, I'm not going to do any Star Trek puns today or any Captain Kirk jokes or anything like that, you'll be pleased to know. I'll leave those to Steven, he's much better at that than me. And Karen's already given the big salute this morning on morning television. But the new headquarters alongside a SmartSat CRC and CSIRO will anchor our coordination with the states and territories and act as the front door for our international engagement. It gives the agency a base in a thriving, innovative city that can lay claim to a growing number of space businesses, added to, it would seem, almost every day. And this is great news for Adelaide and for Australians.
Last September, when I was signing an agreement and observing the signing of the agreement with NASA at their headquarters in Washington, the headline actually was ‘Beam Me Up Scotty’ at the time. But the tendency for some to think that the space industry is some sort of novelty act, that it isn't about the serious economy, well they have another thing coming. It isn't just about showing retro footage about what happened in the 1960s and the incredibly proud role Australia played back in that time. It's not about that. It's not about the past, as rich as our past is and our involvement in the space industry globally has been. And we've got a great heritage. But I tell you, we've got a much bigger future, a much more exciting future. It's a vital piece of the economic architecture of our country.
The space industry is worth $350 billion US globally and it's projected to increase to over $1 trillion dollars by 2040. Our goal is to triple the size of our space economy to $12 billion dollars and to create 20,000 new jobs by 2030. Jobs for space, jobs in space. Our work is to transform Australia into a major space player. We're not mucking around with this. We're not playing around with this. We are fair dinkum about this. You don't put $600 million down on a dud bet. You know what you are investing in, you know what its potential is, and that potential is exhibited in the growth of this room alone over the nine occasions in which you've come together about how serious this is. And in just 18 months, the agency has runs on the board. Already, the agency has signed agreements with nine overseas space agencies; NASA, European Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency, as we've already celebrated, and it has signed up to 16 industry partners: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Myriota and Nova Systems. Its work is about helping our businesses gain a bigger share of the growing global space market because in this sector, like so many others, scale is vital. Mass is vital. Critical mass is vital, which is what we're achieving here with the space agency in Adelaide. It's like someone going past a strip of shops. There's one restaurant and it's always empty. Go past one where there is five, seven and ten when things are moving and you understand what critical mass really means to draw the eyeballs and to gather the attention of the world space industry.
Our target for jobs and investment aren’t an end in themselves. They're about growing our space industry and seeing the economic benefits that flow from the creation of these clusters and we're building on an existing foundation. Work undertaken in 2018 showed that South Australia is home to 70 space-related organisations, companies and educational institutes with a workforce of over 800 and already active in the industry and working on remarkable challenges. To give an example, the government is investing to establish a world-class satellite positioning capability in Australia. So currently, your GPS accuracy is within five to 10 metres. The new system will deliver accuracy of within three centimetres. That’s extraordinary. It’s mind-boggling. In areas with mobile coverage in at least 10 centimetres elsewhere. It means everything from precision agriculture for farmers and in a climate, which is the climate we know we're going to be living in, climate action now is about investing in space. That's what it is. Investing in the technologies that help Australians deal with the changing climate. And this is why I welcome the broader debate that hopefully we are now having about the climate in which we are living, because it's not just about one issue, it's about many, many issues, and investing in the capability of our technology and our space industry is a key part of that.
It means delivering better yields, more efficient use of chemicals and new systems to avoid accidents on construction sites, workplace health and safety is helped by space. And think about what it could mean for visually impaired people who could be given confidence in every step they take. You combine that with the investment we're making in the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which actually invests in technologies for Australians living with a disability. Combine that with the technology and lives are changed. You’re in the life-changing business, not so the economy changing business. And what happens in this industry is it spills over into just about every other part of modern life. It's a driver of technological improvement and productivity across our economy. Our businesses have so much to offer in new communications technology, earth observation, robotics, automation and so many other fields. As we were learning last night, Moon to Mars. Why are the Americans interested in Australia? Because we know how to dig holes. We're good at it and the technology you need to do it well and to do it precisely, particularly when lives are at stake, in terms of being able to create that capacity for people to be able to live on another planet. This is the stuff we do and we do it extremely well and that's why people are looking to Australia to be partners in these incredibly exciting missions.
That's why we committed, already, $600 million to grow the sector. Now, that includes $150 million that I announced last year to support Australian businesses to access supply chains for NASA's mission to the Moon and Mars, and had the great privilege of discussing that both with President Trump and Vice President Pence when I was in the United States last year - an incredibly ambitious project. But that ambition is driving enormous innovation. $55 million also for the SmartSat CRC and based out of Adelaide and $200 million for Geoscience Australia to build world-leading satellite positioning infrastructure.
Now, these are economic investments that will benefit Australia over the medium to long term. You know, many years ago, the late great Neil Armstrong watched a movie that most of us have seen. It was called The Dish, which I'm sure you're all familiar with. Subsequently, Neil confessed he had mixed feelings about it. He was, in his own words, a technical person and many of the details weren't quite correct. Who would have thought? Who would have thought that they were taking issue with the dramatic representation of a movie. For science and engineers and astronauts, precision matters. But for Neil Armstrong, he went on to say that for most of the viewers of the film around the world, those were not the details that they would remember. What they would remember is that down in Australia, there were some very dedicated people that did remarkable things that were instrumental in the success of man’s first flight to the moon.
Now, these words about Australia's space capability couldn't be truer today, and they're going to be incredibly true in the future. It requires a similar disciplined focus in engineering, a willingness to step up as a country and as a sector and that's what we're bringing to this task. We’re determined to lean in and with a national effort and to be a serious international player and I know Australia's space industry will grow enormously in coming years. Now, I look forward to working with you all as we continue to go out there, on this incredibly exciting mission together, which at the end of the day will improve the livelihoods and the wellbeing of our fellow Australians and people all around the world.
This is an exciting plan, Megan. This is a very exciting plan. It's a plan for jobs, it’s a plan for the future of our country, a plan that I passionately believe in my government does too. We’re going to invest in it together here with Steven Marshall and the wonderful work that Karen Andrews does right across science and technology and industry and with our international partners, whether in Italy, the United States or elsewhere. Let's go.
Remarks, UN International Women's Day Breakfast - Australian Parliament House, ACT
13 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much, Janelle. It's great to see everybody here this morning and it's great to be here at the UN Women Australia Parliamentary Breakfast in honour of International Women's Day on March 8. Can I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal people and their elders past and present and, of course, emerging. The day before Australia Day, as I mentioned yesterday, we went down to the water's edge here in Canberra and were met there by the elders and Ngunnawal women who spent time with me and my family. I want to thank them again for the lessons we learned on that day and their great grace and kindness to me and my family.
I also want to acknowledge many veterans who are here today, serving men and women in our defence forces, and I want to say thank you for your service. And I want to say thank you to the tremendous service that women are playing in our defence forces. I'm sure the Chief of Defence Force who is here with me today would agree. Just seeing them out in the field, in operations all across the world and the tremendous work that women in our defence forces have done, particularly in recent months as part of Operation Bushfire Assist, they've done a tremendous job. And Angus, please pass on our great thanks to all of them.
To my many parliamentary colleagues who are here with us today, and, of course, including the Minister for Women, Marise Payne. She also happens to be the Minister for Foreign Affairs and she does a great job with both of those. And Marise, it's great to be here with you this morning and together with the leader of the opposition, Anthony Albanese and the shadow minister Julie Collins is here with us as well. Wonderful to have you here. There are so many of my female parliamentary colleagues from across the aisle and within the government and it's great to see so many of my female cabinet ministers who are here today along to be here to support this important event.
The story of Australia is, as much as anything, it's a story of strong women in our country. Courageous, trailblazing women. Women committed to their rightful equal place in society and prepared to stand up for that. Women who lead, as I said on the Australia Day weekend, I spoke about the all-Indigenous, all-women Lake Tyers Fire Brigade, led by a team of Gunaikurnai women in East Gippsland. Their brigade vehicle bonnet featured a colourful artwork entitled ‘Working Together’. And it strikes me that working together speaks directly to the generation equality theme of this year's International Women's Day. It sums up the efforts that you're all making and the government is making, along with the change-makers of all ages, all genders, all generations, to build a strong and powered future for Australian women and girls. This is what I believe. When women and girls have freedom of choice and opportunity, when they receive the same merits for their hard work and ingenuity as men and boys.
Recently at a memorial service I was at, my brother was talking about the day when my mum came home and she said she just got a job. And she said to my dad, ‘I'm going to get men's wages’. Now, this was a long time ago. This was several decades ago. And for my brother at that time, the idea that men and women, as a young boy, got paid differently - he didn't understand it. And he talked to my mum about it and she recounted the story to me just the other week at my dad’s memorial service. A lot has happened since then. A lot's changed since then. And this is an issue that's been around a long time. When both men and women are on an equal footing as decision makers, when that happens, not just the individuals, but whole communities benefit. Societies are more cohesive, respectful, cooperative and peaceful. Economies are more productive, diverse and enlightened. Prosperity is lifted.
Here in Australia, there's much progress to celebrate in this year of generational equality. Under our government, we’ve created more than 1.5 million jobs through the hard work of Australians each and every day, the majority of which have actually been taken up by women. It's what a strong economy delivers, the jobs that create the choice and the opportunities for women to utilise their talents and skills and achieve their goals and for them to prosper. Women's workforce participation is at a record high of just over 61 per cent, and that gender pay gap is now at a record low of 14 per cent. And we've got a lot more work to do, though. We’ve achieved equal numbers in the number of women and men in the Australian Senate for the first time in history. And I'm very pleased to say we’ve moved within a hair's breadth of equal representation of Australian Government boards. As of June 30 last year, women held 47.9 per cent of these positions. That's an all-time high. This is now the highest percentage of women in government boards since public reporting began in 2009. Our women's economic security statement, which we introduced in 2018, will continue to concentrate us on the issues we need to keep working on. Backing women to start their own businesses, increasing flexibility through paid parental leave, supporting entrepreneurship opportunities for women and STEM programs for girls. My daughter told me this morning she gets her bunsen burner licence today and so perhaps a great career in science is about to start on this historic day.
We've also turned our attention to the changes and challenges of returning to the workforce after timeout for caring for family and children. We've committed $75 million over four years to our mid-career checkpoint, helping up to 40,000 people who've taken time out of their career to care for their family with tailored career advice, coaching and training. Many women, in particular, take a career break to start a family or care for older family members and are looking for that bit of extra help as they re-enter the workforce. The skills and experience gained in those unpaid family roles is regularly and often not properly acknowledged. This pilot will start with a thousand participants across the states, New South Wales and Queensland, from the 3rd of April of this year before the full rollout begins in July. It's two-tiered, designed to help those who are stepping back into the workforce, as well as supporting the career advancement of those who have already returned. In other words, stepping up their careers. So whether you’re stepping in back in or you're stepping up after time out of the workforce, as a carer we want to give you every persistence to make that transition. Because it's a good thing for yourself, your families, for our nation.
And yet there remains no greater imperative than the safety of women and children. We've made the largest ever Commonwealth investment of $340 million to support the Fourth Action Plan of the national plan to reduce violence against women and their children. Now, this was an initiative started by the previous government. This is an initiative that has shared commitment across this Parliament. The action plan process on the national plan to reduce violence against women and their children is one of the most important initiatives that we as a Parliament together have been journeying on now for many years together. And that must continue to be the case, because when it comes to violence against women, there can only one acceptable outcome, and that is for it to stop.
I want to thank the UN Women Australia for hosting this breakfast today and for your dedication to eradicating gender inequality in all of its forms. I've been so pleased to see the work that UN Women has been doing particularly within our Pacific family and with the support of DFAT. And I want to thank you, Frances, too for the great job you doing there with all our people at DFAT supporting this great work. Projects like Markets for Change in Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are helping make markets safer for the members, the vast majority of whom are women based in rural areas. They often travel long distances to sell their produce and crafts, which means they need secure accommodation. They need toilets, they need clean drinking water at these markets. These are very practical things. Making a living and participating in your local economy shouldn't come at the price of your health and your safety. So thank you to UN Women for working with the Australian Government to support that project, as well as the many others, including Safe Cities in Port Moresby and the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
Back home, I want to assure you all today that as a government we will continue to create, prioritise and back pathways towards a safe, secure and fair and equal status for women in our economy and our society. It’s our stance. It's my commitment. I want to thank you very much for your attention today, and I wish you a great International Women's Day next month. Thank you.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
13 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. I’m joined of course, by the Minister for Health and the Chief Medical Officer Dr Brendan Murphy, I thank you again, Brendan and all the senior medical officers, chief medical officers, of our states and territories, who have also met today and are providing very important advice to the government in relation to the coronavirus.
The advice that we received this afternoon at the National Security Committee from that panel of the chief medical officers is that Australia's arrangements to protect Australians from coronavirus here in Australia are working, they're effective, they're doing the job. And it's important that we ensure that that continues to be the case. And that's why this afternoon we've agreed to accept the recommendations that have been provided to us to maintain the ban and the entry restriction on foreign nationals who have recently been in mainland China for a further week to protect Australians from the risk of coronavirus. So this is something we will continue to review on a weekly basis and consider all the medical evidence that has come forth. There's an enormous amount of work that is taking place between Australia and many other nations who are working together to ensure we have the best information available to us to make the best possible decisions.
This decision was made following the receipt of the expert medical advice and we did not take this decision lightly. We are very mindful also of the disruption and economic impacts of these arrangements. But I note Australia is one of 58 countries that has introduced some form of travel restrictions. And I just want to assure all Australians that we are doing everything we can to keep Australians safe at this time and to ensure that we are mitigating everything that is possible to address any of the threats. I'm going to ask the Chief Medical Officer and the Minister for Health to go through some other matters, but I want to make a couple of other points.
I'm very grateful for the constructive approach that the Chinese authorities have been participating with Australia. I'm very appreciative of the role of their embassy here also in Canberra and I’d like to thank also the Chinese Australian community for the way they've been engaging, and respecting the quarantine arrangements and the self isolation. The Chinese Australian community has been absolutely fantastic. And I think it's very important that all Australians reach out and support them at this time in particular, as we go into the weekend, I’d encourage you to go and support businesses. Particularly those Chinese Australian businesses, and to provide that support because they really have been doing a tremendous job under what have been very stressful and trying circumstances for that community. They are such an integral part of Australian life and it's important at this difficult time, particularly for the Chinese Australian community, that all Australians are putting their arms around them and supporting them in every way they can. I also want to ensure that we keep our thoughts also on the people in China as well. This is a very devastating impact in China and particularly in Hubei province and in Wuhan where the impacts are very significant. Australia and China, we are bound by ties of family and commerce, and education and so many things. And this disruption happened at a very important time of the year in China around Lunar New Year. But we know the Chinese people are incredibly resilient, and we know they'll bounce back and we will bounce back together in our relationship with China as we get through this very difficult time and we make decisions consultatively and together and listening to each other and doing what we can to help each other as we manage our way through what has been a difficult period. But the key thing is, is that the decisions the government has taken, the way we’ve gone about that, how we’ve gathered the advice, made decisions, is keeping Australian safe when it comes to coronavirus.
And I particularly thank the Minister for Health, as well as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Home Affairs, the arrangements both up in Howard Springs in the Northern Territory as well as on Christmas Island, have been working very effectively. I thank particularly the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, who I just spoke to a few moments ago, to advise him of this decision as I’ve also sought to make contact with all the other Premiers and Chief Ministers, those arrangements are working very well and I leave it to the Minister for Health and the Chief Medical Officer to take you through a few more of those details.
THE HON. GREG HUNT MP, MINISTER FOR HEALTH: Thanks very much Prime Minister and to Dr Murphy, as the Prime Minister says our approach to the coronavirus is keeping Australians safe. Two sets of figures underline this, firstly and sadly, overnight, we have seen some very significant growth in the figures, particularly out of Hubei Province. Now over 60,000 people are confirmed as having coronavirus. The vast majority are in Hubei and very sadly, the number of those who have passed away has increased to 1,357. Against that background, in Australia, we remain at a figure of only 15 people who have been confirmed with coronavirus. Now we have 5 that have formally cleared the virus and I understand there’s a number of others are increasingly [inaudible]. So that means that the measures that we have taken are protecting Australians. But the advice from the Chief Medical Officer and the chief health and medical officers around the country was to continue those measures for the time being. So we accept that advice. I will also note that the latest advice that I have out of Christmas Island and Howard Springs is that there are no confirmed cases in either of those facilities. In Howard Springs, where there is ongoing testing, a further four cases have been tested and cleared. And this remains good news and it says that the advice of the medical officers is keeping Australians safe and the decisions that we’re taking are assisting in that. Brendan?
DR. BRENDAN MURPHY, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: Thanks Prime Minister and Minister. So as the Prime Minister and Minister have said, we've recommended the continuation of the travel ban for an additional week at this time. As Minister Hunt said, there's been significant growth in Hubei, in other provinces of China there has been slower growth and perhaps not at the same rate that we saw earlier, but still growth. That is of concern because there are still evidence of community transmission in other provinces and that's the reason we would like to maintain the travel ban at the moment. Other countries in Asia have had some growth in cases, particularly Thailand, Japan, noting the particular case of the cruise ship in Japan, which is of course, [inaudible] there. But we believe that those larger numbers in some countries are also well controlled at this time. Our major focus is on what is happening in China. As we've said on many occasions, Hubei Province is well locked down despite the very significant growth in cases there. But our concern is to make sure that in those other provinces of China, the Chinese are getting on top of the outbreaks, which are much smaller, and hopefully they will be able to contain them and at that time hopefully we'll be able to review the travel bans. As the Minister and Prime Minister have also said, perhaps the best news is that we’ve had no further cases in Australia, all of the 15 cases that are here, have had some association with the Hubei Province or from someone who's come from that province. We haven't had anyone who's come from China, since the travel ban was introduced, develop the disease. And so we still have, obviously, our citizens and permanent residents coming here and they have behaved impeccably with self-isolation and I congratulate them on that. So I think we’ll leave it there thank you.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, given there’s sort of uncertainty about how long these bans may continue, have you discussed at a sort of leadership or Cabinet level or NSC level, the possibility of some sort of financial assistance that directly affected sectors like the universities, is that something that you can give [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: We’re working very closely together with the university sector and also the secondary school sector. Because there was a small number of those who were affected by this. And the Education Minister has been in pretty much constant contact. On the universities issue it is still some four to six weeks before we’ll reach a period of time where that can really start to impact on the year and they’ve put in place a number of measures, online learning and these types of things that can address that now. But as I’m sure, as Dr. Murphy will tell you, that the challenge in managing this is you don't know what you don't know, and at the moment there is a lot that is still unknown about this virus, we have seen its transmission outside of Hubei, as Dr Murphy said, not accelerate as greatly as it was. And that's welcome. And that the level of severity outside of Hubei is certainly different to what you've seen inside of Hubei. And we have not had any cases in Australia that have come from mainland China. Now since the start of the travel ban there’d be in excess of 25,000 people who would have arrived over that period of time, Australian nationals and so on who are returning. And that is welcome news. So we we are taking a cautious approach, but a very mindful approach, mindful that these bans do have an impact on a number of sectors. And in some sectors like tourism it's a double blow because of the impact because of the bushfires. And as we know, that bushfires didn’t only impact the directly affected areas by those bushfires and the tourism sector. They did affect the country more broadly. So we're very mindful of that. This is why we are on a weekly rotation on the review of this. And we are looking at all options that are available to us to mitigate the impact where possible.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister how long can the Australian economy really sustain this travel ban. Given that Chinese tourists alone, you've just referenced the tourism industry, bring in, there’s about 120,000 that come every month and spend, they’re the highest spending tourists that come to Australia. So how long is it realistic that this lasts and will you get on the phone to President Xi Jinping to express you know, Australia’s regret for this crisis occurring in China right now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, two points. The first one is, our first responsibility, my first responsibility is the health and wellbeing of the Australian people, particularly here and where Australians have found themselves isolated, vulnerable and impacted we have undertaken measures that would assist them. Now, I don't just mean the assisted departures of what were effectively 3 flights with Australians also on the Air New Zealand flight, but also support for those currently on cruise ships and the additional assistance we're putting in, we’re looking to get a medical officer up to there. But also we have a mental health hotline, and providing what support we can through consular support to those Australians who find themselves in this situation. But let’s make no mistake, my job is to protect the health of Australians right now. That is the government's top priority. And we are very mindful of the economic impacts of this. But the threat that could otherwise present to the health of Australians is of a level that has led us to take these decisions on the best expert medical advice. So we will constantly continue to monitor this very, very closely. And as I said to Phil, mitigate the impact on the economy where we can with sensible measures that don't put the health of Australians at risk. We've just been in contact with the Chinese embassy just now to convey this latest decision, and as I said in my opening comments, we're seeking to support China in any and every way we can as they deal with this crisis. This is a terrible crisis for them to manage. And I know that with so many Australians who have Chinese heritage, they will be concerned about family members back in China. And so our message, the only message I have for China is one of empathy, and one of support.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you said you’re considering sensible measures to mitigate the impact. Could that include financial assistance to the university, tourism, or hospitality sectors?
PRIME MINISTER: No, they’re not measures currently before us and nor are they measures that are currently being sought. But we are approaching this the same way we have the entire time. And you deal with the information that's in front of you. You deal with it in a very measured way. And you take the steps that you believe are necessary based on the best advice and you keep consulting, you keep listening, you keep understanding what the impacts are on the ground and you take your best measures to be able to address those.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister are you considering expanding this travel ban beyond China, the Philippines we understand has now banned people coming from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Would Australia look at a similar measure? Given that’s [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: We haven’t made that decision.
JOURNALIST: Professor Murphy, can I ask you, the Diamond Princess, each morning we wake and it seems to be more people being carted off that ship with coronavirus, from a microbiological point of view, is there a possibility that thing is acting now as an incubator that people may be better off that ship than on it?
DR. MURPHY: So it's a good question, I think at the moment it, ships are known as incredible places where infectious diseases can be transmitted. At the moment the period of time the quarantine has been in place is still consistent with everyone having been infected before the quarantine was put in place. But if further cases continue to come you'd have to wonder about the quarantining. So we're sending a public health expert hopefully in the next few days to go there to look at the issues and to provide advice to us in terms of the Australians there.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister on another matter?
PRIME MINISTER: I just, I just want to make sure that while we have the Chief Medical Officer here you address any questions you’d like to him.
JOURNALIST: Just to follow up on my question sorry Prime Minister, you said haven't made a decision about extending the travel ban to other countries. Are you considering that though, is that actively under consideration?
PRIME MINISTER: Well there's no recommendation, of course, to that.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what was the reaction of the Chinese embassy with regards to the news that the ban was being extended, they expressed some unhappiness last week with regards to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I wasn't on that call personally, that that has been done through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade so, but my understanding is that they would understand these decisions. And again, that's why I stress my appreciation for the way that China and Australia are working together on this. China is dealing with countries all around the world. I can only imagine that task, that while they’re dealing with what is a very real and serious domestic crisis of their own. So we simply want to support as as best we can, but I'm sure they understand that the Australian Government, like all others, will be taking decisions in their best interests and their top priority is the health and well-being of their own citizens.
JOURNALIST: Indonesia still hasn't confirmed any cases, and there was a man who passed through Bali and was diagnosed with the virus back in China. Indonesia insists that he didn't contract it while in the country. Are you satisfied with the way that that's being handled?
DR. MURPHY: So the Indonesians are conducting tests, and they're expanding the testing at the moment. My reading of that person who went through Bali was it's consistent with that infection being being picked up in China. So that, obviously we're watching the situation in Indonesia, but they are doing a lot of a lot of testing and they're expanding it at the moment.
PRIME MINISTER: We’ve got a lot of cooperation between Indonesia and Australia on these issues. It was it was one of the many issues that I discussed with the President earlier this week. OK. I’m going to let, give Brendan a leave pass, I’m sure the other matter you wish to ask me about are not ones he can assist you with.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on the issue, are you concerned about the development recently that Anthony Albanese was being called to be a witness in the criminal prosecution case against, several former New South Wales Labor powerbrokers?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, all I can really given the nature of this matter, and that is before the courts, is that it's obviously a very serious matter that Mr Albanese has been called before, to appear as a witness on this case. And witnesses will go before this court process and they'll have to answer questions about what, what information they have about these very serious cases that have been considered, involving these matters.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister can I just go back to Lanai’s question about the impact on the tourism sector, the Australian Tourism Council wrote to you earlier this week seeking some financial support, are you open to considering that request?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it's early on in terms of understanding of the longer term impact. Our first response is really to put the energy in behind the campaigns that we're running, particularly domestically. And that is the first line of defence in terms of addressing the demand deficit that will come from the fall in the number of visitors that will be coming from China. So that's the first line of response. And given we'd already moved in that area in relation to the bushfires, we can add additional effort to that. And so the Tourism Minister is pursuing that with Tourism Australia and working closely with the states and the territories. There have been a number of issues that have been raised also by colleagues, this week as over the course of the parliamentary sitting weeks, particularly those members like Warren Entsch up there in northern Queensland and others who are seeing the impact in their own communities. And it's not just the tourism industry up there, is the seafood industry as well. There’ll be those impacts in other parts of the country. So when I say that we're looking at ways to mitigate the impacts of these on the ground, well, we're open to all the options that are there to do that effectively and to do that responsibly and that there is nothing more I can do that at this point.
JOURNALIST: But no direct financial support to the states?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I just said there's nothing further for me to add to that at this point.
JOURNALIST: Does the Government have modelling on the economic impacts, including on those specific industries like tourism and education if this crisis continues in the weeks and months ahead?
PRIME MINISTER: The Treasury has been doing a lot of work. Obviously, with the Treasurer and the Treasurer has written to all the state and territory Treasurers about that work, I think to the Premier’s directly about that work that’s being done. I think we have to understand that it's still very early in this virus and a lot of the impacts are still unknown and so while you would have any number of scenarios that could potentially play out, it's important at this stage, I think, not to get ahead of ourselves, to be taking the steps that we need to take, firstly to deal with the health and wellbeing of Australians, and then look at what the broader economic impacts are and the things we can do to mitigate some of those things, sensibly, and consistent with the health advice. But beyond that, looking to, on the other side, how you can rebuild.
Now, as I think I told you in this room on, one of the previous press conferences, I think we had an 11 per cent fall in the national visitor arrivals during the previous SARS and MERS cases, and that was followed up in one quarter with a 16 per cent increase afterwards. And so it is different in that there is the ability for this to ramp up on the other side. And over the course of a year, then you can have potentially some spreading out of those impacts. But I don't for a second discount or underestimate what the real pain and impact of that is right now, and in Australia, this is why I say particularly to our Chinese Australian community, this weekend, get out and about there. And there's a domestic economic response that all Australians can make in where they go and what they do, and I want to encourage them in doing that. And I think that’ll be a good thing.
JOURNALIST: As you did allude to Prime Minister, the Treasurer has asked his department to put together modelling on the economic impact of coronavirus, have you seen that yet? Has that been put before you in NSC or Cabinet? Has that been presented, has it been finalised?
PRIME MINISTER: Not in the final stage.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Audit office has just given evidence to the audit committee suggesting that because the grant, the sports grant process took so long, that 43 per cent of the projects that received funding were ineligible. You've defended the administration of the program by saying that all projects that received funding were eligible.
PRIME MINISTER: I was quoting the Auditor-General.
JOURNALIST: So the Audit Office has just said that that is, that 43 per cent of projects were in fact ineligible.
PRIME MINISTER: I haven't seen evidence, I haven't seen that statement. So I will review that. Thank you very much.
Remarks, UN International Women's Day Breakfast - Australian Parliament House, ACT
13 February 2020
Well, thank you very much, Janelle. It's great to see everybody here this morning and it's great to be here at the UN Women Australia Parliamentary Breakfast in honour of International Women's Day on March 8. Can I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal people and their elders past and present and, of course, emerging. The day before Australia Day, as I mentioned yesterday, we went down to the water's edge here in Canberra and were met there by the elders and Ngunnawal women who spent time with me and my family. I want to thank them again for the lessons we learned on that day and their great grace and kindness to me and my family.
I also want to acknowledge many veterans who are here today, serving men and women in our defence forces, and I want to say thank you for your service. And I want to say thank you to the tremendous service that women are playing in our defence forces. I'm sure the Chief of Defence Force who is here with me today would agree. Just seeing them out in the field, in operations all across the world and the tremendous work that women in our defence forces have done, particularly in recent months as part of Operation Bushfire Assist, they've done a tremendous job. And Angus, please pass on our great thanks to all of them.
To my many parliamentary colleagues who are here with us today, and, of course, including the Minister for Women, Marise Payne. She also happens to be the Minister for Foreign Affairs and she does a great job with both of those. And Marise, it's great to be here with you this morning and together with the leader of the opposition, Anthony Albanese and the shadow minister Julie Collins is here with us as well. Wonderful to have you here. There are so many of my female parliamentary colleagues from across the aisle and within the government and it's great to see so many of my female cabinet ministers who are here today along to be here to support this important event.
The story of Australia is, as much as anything, it's a story of strong women in our country. Courageous, trailblazing women. Women committed to their rightful equal place in society and prepared to stand up for that. Women who lead, as I said on the Australia Day weekend, I spoke about the all-Indigenous, all-women Lake Tyers Fire Brigade, led by a team of Gunaikurnai women in East Gippsland. Their brigade vehicle bonnet featured a colourful artwork entitled ‘Working Together’. And it strikes me that working together speaks directly to the generation equality theme of this year's International Women's Day. It sums up the efforts that you're all making and the government is making, along with the change-makers of all ages, all genders, all generations, to build a strong and powered future for Australian women and girls. This is what I believe. When women and girls have freedom of choice and opportunity, when they receive the same merits for their hard work and ingenuity as men and boys.
Recently at a memorial service I was at, my brother was talking about the day when my mum came home and she said she just got a job. And she said to my dad, ‘I'm going to get men's wages’. Now, this was a long time ago. This was several decades ago. And for my brother at that time, the idea that men and women, as a young boy, got paid differently - he didn't understand it. And he talked to my mum about it and she recounted the story to me just the other week at my dad’s memorial service. A lot has happened since then. A lot's changed since then. And this is an issue that's been around a long time. When both men and women are on an equal footing as decision makers, when that happens, not just the individuals, but whole communities benefit. Societies are more cohesive, respectful, cooperative and peaceful. Economies are more productive, diverse and enlightened. Prosperity is lifted.
Here in Australia, there's much progress to celebrate in this year of generational equality. Under our government, we’ve created more than 1.5 million jobs through the hard work of Australians each and every day, the majority of which have actually been taken up by women. It's what a strong economy delivers, the jobs that create the choice and the opportunities for women to utilise their talents and skills and achieve their goals and for them to prosper. Women's workforce participation is at a record high of just over 61 per cent, and that gender pay gap is now at a record low of 14 per cent. And we've got a lot more work to do, though. We’ve achieved equal numbers in the number of women and men in the Australian Senate for the first time in history. And I'm very pleased to say we’ve moved within a hair's breadth of equal representation of Australian Government boards. As of June 30 last year, women held 47.9 per cent of these positions. That's an all-time high. This is now the highest percentage of women in government boards since public reporting began in 2009. Our women's economic security statement, which we introduced in 2018, will continue to concentrate us on the issues we need to keep working on. Backing women to start their own businesses, increasing flexibility through paid parental leave, supporting entrepreneurship opportunities for women and STEM programs for girls. My daughter told me this morning she gets her bunsen burner licence today and so perhaps a great career in science is about to start on this historic day.
We've also turned our attention to the changes and challenges of returning to the workforce after timeout for caring for family and children. We've committed $75 million over four years to our mid-career checkpoint, helping up to 40,000 people who've taken time out of their career to care for their family with tailored career advice, coaching and training. Many women, in particular, take a career break to start a family or care for older family members and are looking for that bit of extra help as they re-enter the workforce. The skills and experience gained in those unpaid family roles is regularly and often not properly acknowledged. This pilot will start with a thousand participants across the states, New South Wales and Queensland, from the 3rd of April of this year before the full rollout begins in July. It's two-tiered, designed to help those who are stepping back into the workforce, as well as supporting the career advancement of those who have already returned. In other words, stepping up their careers. So whether you’re stepping in back in or you're stepping up after time out of the workforce, as a carer we want to give you every persistence to make that transition. Because it's a good thing for yourself, your families, for our nation.
And yet there remains no greater imperative than the safety of women and children. We've made the largest ever Commonwealth investment of $340 million to support the Fourth Action Plan of the national plan to reduce violence against women and their children. Now, this was an initiative started by the previous government. This is an initiative that has shared commitment across this Parliament. The action plan process on the national plan to reduce violence against women and their children is one of the most important initiatives that we as a Parliament together have been journeying on now for many years together. And that must continue to be the case, because when it comes to violence against women, there can only one acceptable outcome, and that is for it to stop.
I want to thank the UN Women Australia for hosting this breakfast today and for your dedication to eradicating gender inequality in all of its forms. I've been so pleased to see the work that UN Women has been doing particularly within our Pacific family and with the support of DFAT. And I want to thank you, Frances, too for the great job you doing there with all our people at DFAT supporting this great work. Projects like Markets for Change in Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are helping make markets safer for the members, the vast majority of whom are women based in rural areas. They often travel long distances to sell their produce and crafts, which means they need secure accommodation. They need toilets, they need clean drinking water at these markets. These are very practical things. Making a living and participating in your local economy shouldn't come at the price of your health and your safety. So thank you to UN Women for working with the Australian Government to support that project, as well as the many others, including Safe Cities in Port Moresby and the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
Back home, I want to assure you all today that as a government we will continue to create, prioritise and back pathways towards a safe, secure and fair and equal status for women in our economy and our society. It’s our stance. It's my commitment. I want to thank you very much for your attention today, and I wish you a great International Women's Day next month. Thank you.
Address, Closing the Gap Statement to Parliament
12 February 2020
Mr Speaker, when we meet in this place, we are on Ngunnawal country.
I give my thanks and pay my respects to our Ngunnawal elders, past, present and importantly emerging for our future.
I honour all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here in this House, and right across our great continent.
I also acknowledge our service men and women, our veterans, and particularly acknowledge our Indigenous servicemen and women, and our Indigenous veterans - as we did just last week at the Australian War Memorial.
Service that for so long was not acknowledged, but who served not for recognition, but because of their faith in who we could become as a country and as a people. We are still on that journey and I thank them on behalf of a grateful nation for their service.
I also acknowledge and honour our Indigenous leaders who are also the democratically elected representatives of the people:
The Member for Hasluck, the Honourable Ken Wyatt — our very first Aboriginal Minister for Indigenous Australians.
The Member for Barton, the Honourable Linda Burney.
Senator Patrick Dodson, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, and Senator Jacqui Lambie.
I also welcome Convenor Pat Turner, and all members of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations. I thank you for your partnership, your strength, and your leadership.
Mr Speaker, for 12 years, I have sat in this chamber and listened to Closing the Gap speeches.
It’s a tale of hope, frustration and disappointment.
A tale of good intentions. Indeed good faith.
But the results are not good enough.
This is sadly still true.
Last year, I opened this address with what I believe is a national truth and a national shame: that our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia today do not have the same opportunities as all other children growing up in Australia.
They never have in Australia. Never.
This is the ultimate test of our efforts. That every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boy or girl, can grow up in this country, with the same opportunities and expectations as any other Australian boy and girl.
Over decades, our top down, government knows best approach has not delivered the improvements we all yearn for.
When it comes to the welfare and advancement of our Indigenous peoples, I don’t doubt the good hearts and the goodwill of those in this chamber and those who have served here, including former Prime Minister Rudd who began this process with the National Apology, indeed the day before I gave my first speech in this place 12 years ago.
The National Apology was an important milestone, but it did not pretend to be the solution.
It was important for many reasons Mr Speaker, but for me, it was most important to me, was that it was most important to our First Australians. It mattered to them, and so it mattered to me.
Despite our best intentions, Closing the Gap, as an initiative fell victim to the same type of thinking that has hampered our efforts in the past.
We seemed to think that somehow if our aspirations were high enough, the rest would just take care of itself.
This is not a challenge of aspiration. It is not a contest of earnestness. It is not about who cares more. It is not about symbolism.
There has been no shortage of money or will. The Productivity Commission estimates that in 2015-16, total indigenous specific expenditure of all levels of government was $6 billion. And the share of mainstream programs that all Australians share was a further $27.4 billion.
Over the forward estimates, we are providing $5.2 billion for our Indigenous Advancement Strategy, $4.1 billion for targeted efforts to improve Indigenous Health as well as significant payments to the states and territories for Indigenous specific programs.
Closing the gap is a very practical challenge, and a very difficult one. Getting people into jobs so they can lift up their eyes from seeing hopelessness and see a future that they can direct.
Ensuring young children are healthy, in school and well educated to realise their potential. That is how generational change occurs.
Ensuring that indigenous Australians are safe in their homes and in their communities. Where they can have the same expectations of the rule of law, to go about their own lives unviolated, as any other Australian in any other part of the country.
Having watched and listened, we are now making the change to how we go about this task. It’s not a judgement of our past efforts, but an honest and humble learning.
Despite the best of intentions; investments in new programs; and bi-partisan goodwill, Closing the Gap has never really been a partnership with Indigenous people.
We perpetuated an ingrained way of thinking, passed down over two centuries and more, and it was the belief that we knew better than our Indigenous peoples.
We don’t.
We also thought we understood their problems better than they did. We don’t. They live them.
We must see the gap we wish to close, not from our viewpoint, but from the viewpoint of indigenous Australians before we can hope to close it, and make a real difference.
And that is the change we are now making, together with indigenous Australians through this process.
We all have, in our own way, sought to grapple with the consequences of two and a quarter centuries of Indigenous disempowerment.
What I know is that to rob a person of their right to take responsibility for themselves; to strip them of responsibility and capability to direct their own futures; to make them dependent - this is to deny them of their liberty - and slowly that person will wither before your eyes.
That’s what we did to our First Nations people - and mostly, we didn't even know we were doing it.
We thought we were helping when we replaced independence with welfare.
This must change.
We must restore the right to take responsibility.
The right to make decisions.
The right to step up.
The opportunity to own and create Australian’s own futures.
It must be accompanied by a willingness to push decisions down to the people who are closest to them. Where the problems are, and where the consequences of decisions are experienced.
That is what we must do.
On the afternoon before Australia Day, my family and I once again visited a group of Ngunnawal elders, this time down by the lake for a water blessing.
It was hot, there was smoke from the bushfires in the air. I was grateful for the generosity and grace displayed by the Ngunnawal people to host a Prime Minister and his family at a poignant time when they reflect on their own long history since time immemorial.
Yet on that afternoon, my Ngunnawal friends were more concerned about what they called my Sorry Business Time and the recent passing of my father. They were concerned for my girls and their loss.
They had words and space for grief - and we sat together. I want to thank Aunty Agnes Shea for her hospitality and kind words.
Be it grief; the protection of our lands against bushfire; an understanding of our native ecosystems; or the inter-generational responsibilities to the land and to each other; there is so much we learn from Indigenous communities and peoples.
So I ask: what have we been too proud to learn? What must we learn so that we can grow together?
Our new approach to Closing the Gap provides some of the answers to this question.
An approach that is built on partnership. On giving back responsibility.
An approach of listening.
Of empowering.
Of government providing the capabilities, so that Indigenous Australians can make their best choices.
Of all governments accepting their own accountabilities.
And of owning up to a path, that despite the very best of intentions of all Governments, hasn't worked.
Mr Speaker, today I make the final report on an old approach, as well as the first report of a new era.
Here, then, are the results against the targets set since 2008.
Two of the seven targets are on track to be met this year, and in 2025.
We are on track to halve the gap in Year 12 attainment and that is a tremendous achievement.
What that means now, and in the future, is more Indigenous doctors, nurses, teachers, tradies, police officers, engineers, scientists, mathematicians, farmers, IT specialists, musicians, artists and CEOs and business leaders.
Excelling in every field of endeavour.
Lifting our communities.
Indeed, this is the biggest improvement over the past decade.
The proportion of Indigenous Australians reaching this milestone has jumped more than 20 per cent in 12 years.
The biggest leap forward has been in our major cities, where 85 per cent of Indigenous 20-24 year olds have attained year 12 or equivalent.
We’re already doing more to close that gap.
In last year’s statement, I announced $200 million in extra support for Indigenous students through the Indigenous Youth Education Package.
Already, funding agreements for 30 projects valued at $190 million are in place.
This year, the package will assist over 20,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students stay engaged in secondary school through mentoring, cultural or other supports.
We are also working in partnership with local communities in remote and very remote communities to identify community projects that encourage school attendance. These projects are being developed
This year also, we are on track to have 95 per cent of Indigenous four-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education by 2025.
The preschool years are so important in preparing kids for their school journey and beyond. And we are seeing more Indigenous kids getting that advantage.
In 2018, the figure was 86 per cent — an almost 10 percentage point rise on 2016, and well ahead of where we needed to be to hit that target in five years’ time.
So at both ends of the school spectrum, we have made great strides in getting more kids into school and through school.
Nothing should diminish how significant these gains are.
However, the four expiring targets that were supposed to be met by 2018 were not met.
Halving the gap in child mortality.
Closing the gap in school attendance.
Halving the gap in child literacy and numeracy.
Halving the gap in employment.
The final target — closing the gap in life expectancy within a generation — is not on track to be met by 2031.
This is a stark and sobering report that I have tabled.
I welcome the gains, I honour the hard work across every front.
We must be careful not to speak of our First Australians as a broken people. Because they are not.
So many of our first Australians, are out there making their way, despite the disadvantages they have faced and overcome. Setting goals, making choices, living their lives, and showing bravely the way to others.
But I don’t shy away from the failures.
I see the shortcomings.
The targets that were set for Indigenous Australians, not by Indigenous Australians, do not celebrate the strengths, achievements and aspirations of Indigenous people.
They don’t tell you what’s happening on the ground, or stirring under it.
They don’t tell you how realistic or achievable these targets were in the first place.
They reinforce the language of failing and falling short.
And they also mask the real progress that has been made.
We must be careful not to adopt a negative mindset.
Because on most measures, we have made progress.
I am saddened that we have not met the target for child mortality. But I draw hope and resolve from the fact that we are making progress in tackling the risk factors.
More Indigenous mothers are attending antenatal care in the first trimester and more are going to at least five antenatal sessions.
Fewer Indigenous mothers are smoking during pregnancy.
We know that if we can shift these risk factors, we can keep more Indigenous babies and children alive.
We may not be on track to fully close the life expectancy gap in a generation – always an ambitious target – but mortality rates have improved by almost 10 per cent.
This is mostly because we’ve made progress in tackling the leading cause of death: the big circulatory diseases like heart disease and stroke.
This is progress.
But, as I said, we have not made as much progress as we should have by now.
There remains much to do.
And we will do it differently.
By working together.
By moving from a fixation with what is going wrong to a focus on strength.
By going from good intentions and sky-high aspirations, to local, practical action that’s driven by local leaders and local needs.
With clear accountability and responsibility.
With a clear line of sight to the community.
And we’re acting on a commitment — by all levels of government — to work together.
For federal, state, territory and local governments to work together.
Not just the Indigenous portfolios but whole governments, at every point of contact.
Mr Speaker, every Minister in my Government is a Minister for Indigenous Australians. And the Minister for Indigenous Australians is the first amongst equals in this cause.
More importantly, for governments to work with local communities.
In partnership with the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peaks – known as the Coalition of Peaks, and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We’re making that commitment real.
This is what our Closing the Gap refresh is all about.
It’s what all governments agreed to at COAG a little over a year ago.
It’s what we agreed to in March last year, in our unprecedented Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap between the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, the Coalition of Peaks, and the Australian Local Government Association.
It’s what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been saying for a long time.
They want a partnership where we listen, work together and decide together how future policies are developed — especially at a regional and local level.
A partnership that respects their expertise, and acknowledges their place as the First Nations people of this continent.
So we’re bringing more people into the process.
We are finalising a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap, a formal agreement between COAG and the Coalition of Peaks. We expect this to be considered in April during Joint Council in Western Australia.
Just last month, the Peaks and I sat around the Cabinet Table and talked about how we’re making this commitment real.
Even meeting together like that, I’m advised – the Ministers and me, along with the heads of 14 community-controlled organisations, representing almost 50 different community-controlled organisations – was unprecedented.
It was historic - but it shouldn't have been.
This partnership is generations overdue.
At that meeting, I listened.
The Indigenous leaders were telling us where the gaps are, where the needs are, where the strengths are.
The success stories.
The empowering stories.
The stories of hope.
And our shared priorities are clear:
· expanding the opportunities for shared decision-making
· building the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled services sector
· making sure all mainstream agencies provide high quality services to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Mr Speaker, in days that some in this chamber will remember, the Government had absolute control over Aboriginal people’s lives: where they could live, where they could travel, who they could marry.
Government files held details — often brutal in their brevity — that the people themselves were not allowed to know.
Mr Speaker, I have one such file with me.
A file of the Native Welfare Department. File 1690/68.
The file is for a boy. A teenager.
In this file are notes about funding for school uniforms.
And there is a memo to the Commissioner of Native Welfare about whether the boy should be provided pocket money of 75 cents a week.
75 cents a week.
Bureaucrats making decisions for what they paternally called ‘a good type of lad’.
Think about a life where even the most basic decision making is stripped away from you - by governments thinking they know better.
Fortunately, that boy was bigger than the times, and I’m honoured that he now sits behind me as the Minister for Indigenous Australians.
He knows that responsibility and empowerment is freedom.
He is one of almost 800,000 Indigenous Australians — in the West, in the East, from Tasmania to the top end.
As I have stated, it is time we defined the gap we want to close from the viewpoint of our Indigenous Australians. They are the Australians who should be setting these goals.
Mr Speaker, a vital part of empowering Indigenous communities, is giving them the data and information to inform their decision making.
That’s why we’ve just committed $1.5 million to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led data project.
It’s about supporting local decision-making, and it’s supporting the Coalition of Peaks in partnership with the Indigenous Data Network at the University of Melbourne, to develop regional profiles for Closing the Gap targets.
It will mean having richer and more localised data to inform programs designed by and for local communities.
And a commitment of states and territories, all governments, to report publicly on Closing the Gap into the future.
These new arrangements underpin the future of Closing the Gap.
One of the things we’ve learned from the last 12 years is that the way we deliver services matters as much as what’s delivered.
That’s why we changed the funding model for the Indigenous Australians Health Program.
The new design is focused on delivering primary health care that’s appropriate to the unique languages and cultures and circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
I’m very hopeful that a new approach that’s more locally-led and more collaborative will take us much further than the top-down, one-size-fits-all, government-led approach ever could.
We know that when Indigenous people have a say in the design of programs, policies and services, the outcomes are better - and lives are changed.
For a young mother, it’s the difference between antenatal care that’s too far away or not culturally competent, and getting the care she needs from a local Indigenous service.
For a young child, it’s the difference between getting a patchy education and getting the right support to stay in school.
For a jobseeker, it’s the difference between giving up on getting a job, and finding a service provider that won’t give up on them.
For an older person with a chronic health problem, it’s the difference between missing treatment, and turning up to a friendly face and a familiar touch, getting the care they need in the way they need it.
That is our goal. Services that make a meaningful difference.
Last year, I said that we must make an impact on one really important area: and that’s in education.
You get the education right - skills, jobs, security, health, prosperity, and longevity all follow.
And it’s the area where, as I already noted, we’ve been seeing the most encouraging signs.
Think about those four-year-olds just starting early childhood education this year. On the very threshold of a whole life of learning.
In 2020, the Government has committed almost half a billion dollars to preschool education, so that every Australian child can have access to a quality early childhood programs in the year before school.
That includes every Indigenous child.
One program in particular is having an impact on helping those kids get that good start.
The Connected Beginnings program is in 15 Indigenous communities across Australia.
In Alice Springs, it’s seen more kids actually enrolling in preschool – shifting from around half to three quarters.
In the Jordan River community, more Indigenous kids are participating in childcare and playgroups, and more are getting referrals to the health and specialist services they need.
In Doomadgee, teachers are seeing Year 1 students who are now much better prepared for school.
Together, we need to accelerate our efforts in these early years to make sure every Indigenous child across our country grows up safe, resilient and ready to thrive throughout life.
That is why I’ve asked the Minister for Indigenous Australians to lead the development of a national Indigenous early childhood strategy this year. To design a new way of working together to achieve our shared goal.
To prioritise these actions that matter most to parents and carers – the ones who live the experience.
To partner with experts, families, frontline services and communities.
And to have a more coordinated effort across the Commonwealth and with our state and territory colleagues.
Mr Speaker, we are also seeing great connectedness between our universities and young Indigenous students.
For school-leavers in regional areas, it’s sometimes harder to see where the path leads next.
It’s harder to go on to further study if that means uprooting everything you know and trust.
That’s why Regional University Centres are so important.
They help Indigenous students in regional places take on certificates and degrees through any Australian tertiary institution they choose.
In the Northern Territory, the Wuyagiba Bush Hub saw nine students successfully complete their university preparation course last year.
Five of them have been offered places at Macquarie Uni, and four at the Territory’s Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.
In 2020, the Bush Hub is expanding its offerings so more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students can study on-country.
It’s run by the Wuyagiba Bush Hub Aboriginal Corporation, and I apologise if my pronunciation is inaccurate, together with a local elder and an academic from Macquarie. It’s a real success story.
Then there’s the Indigenous Student Success Program, giving nearly 20,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students access to scholarships, tutoring, mentoring and other cultural support to help them succeed at university.
With the support of this program, Griffith University in Queensland has helped more than 300 students get degrees in the last couple of years, and also supports about 160 regional and remote students to succeed.
We know that whatever we can do to get more kids in school, finishing school, and going on to further study – it all helps to set them on the path to a better life.
That path must lead to a job.
One of the success stories of recent years has been the Government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy. This policy is about encouraging Indigenous entrepreneurship, and job producing businesses.
In 2018-19, Commonwealth portfolios and their major suppliers awarded contracts to 775 Indigenous businesses with a total value of $754 million dollars.
Since July 2015, the Indigenous Procurement Policy has seen $2.69 billion in contracts awarded to 1,842 Indigenous businesses.
This means more jobs, rising incomes and greater economic security for Indigenous communities.
From 1 July this year, we will introduce a target of three per cent of the value of Commonwealth contracts to be awarded to Indigenous businesses. This will add to the existing target of three per cent of the number of Commonwealth contracts that go to Indigenous businesses.
This is consistent with our belief that strong local economies always underpin local healthy communities.
It is economic opportunity and a culture of responsibility and empowerment that provide the foundation for the transformation of local communities.
Mr Speaker, sadly, in recent years, Indigenous youth suicide has taken so many young lives.
Indigenous young people are almost four times more likely than their non-Indigenous peers to take their own lives.
Tackling suicide - all suicides - is a national priority.
In tackling this national priority, we are using targeted strategies.
We have unveiled Australia’s largest ever Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention package.
Two of the 12 trials being funded are for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people specifically.
In the last Budget, we committed $4.5 million for Indigenous leaders to work on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Plan.
A plan that recognises the value of community and provides services that are culturally safe and accessible, and are well connected to each other and the broader community.
Out of that came a body called Gayaa Dhuwi – “Proud of Spirit” – that will support Indigenous leadership in suicide prevention.
We are also working alongside community members in front-line services, who serve their communities selflessly, with strong and open hearts.
Rangers and Community Night Patrols.
Indigenous liaison officers.
Indigenous doctors and nurses.
In the last three years, nearly 5,000 people in more than 180 regional and remote communities have completed Mental Health First Aid training, a program we expanded in the last Budget.
As well, 89 local people were supported to become accredited instructors so they can deliver that training.
We are making progress with solutions that empower, that are local and developed in partnership with Indigenous communities.
Finally, Mr Speaker, I want to be clear, as Prime Minister I respect their honest yearn for Constitutional Recognition.
In 2018, the Joint Select Committee into Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples delivered a bipartisan report.
Our Government adopted the four bi-partisan recommendations in this report.
In particular, JSCCR Recommendation 1.
In order to design a voice that best meets the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Committee recommends a process of co-design between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and government be initiated in communities across Australia to design a voice that can help deliver practical outcomes for that community.
This is our Government’s policy.
It is clear from the Committee’s report that more work needs to be done on a voice proposal.
The Government has always supported giving Indigenous people more of a say at the local level.
We support the process of co-design of the voice because if we are going to change the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples on the ground, we need their buy-in to the matters and policies that affect them.
The Committee did not make recommendations as to the legal form of the Voice, constitutional or legislation.
It recommended considering this matter after the process of co-design is complete and that’s what we are doing. We support finalising co-design first.
We also support recommendations about truth telling.
Australians are interested in having a fuller understanding of their history. Both the history, traditions and also the culture of course of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and also contact between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Mr Speaker, well over half a century ago, Bill Wentworth, a man called by some an ‘incorrigible backbencher’ began to build the case for a national institute to capture Indigenous languages, art and culture, which he feared would be lost for all time. Ultimately that vision would become AIATSIS.
His belief was that a loss of Indigenous culture was a loss to us all, because Indigenous culture embodied our shared humanity.
In time, Bill Wentworth would become our first Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
He had a belief that as Australians began to understand and embrace Indigenous culture and our Indigenous people, then we transform the way Indigenous people see themselves - and not only that, it transforms the way we see ourselves as a people who share this continent.
This goes to the heart of who we are.
In partnership with Indigenous Australians; with respect for their wisdom and capabilities; and appreciation for their grace towards their fellow Australians, we are beginning this next chapter in Closing the Gap.
To see the gap, to see the challenges, to see the opportunities, to understand the hope, to see the way, through Indigenous eyes.
A chapter which allows us to believe in a day when the Indigenous children of this land have the same opportunities as every other Australian child.
Speech before the Address by the President of Indonesia
10 February 2020
Mr Speaker, today we welcome the President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Joko Widodo. President Widodo, it is an honour and a privilege to have you here amongst us as a true friend. Selamat datang! And, President Widodo, we are welcoming not only you and your delegation at this time in this country, because at present we welcome 40 members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, including military engineers and medical staff, who are currently assisting with bushfire relief and recovery in New South Wales, and today they're working on floods. We thank you, Mr President, we thank the people of Indonesia and we thank the Republic of Indonesia. Like a true friend, as you are, you have lent a great hand, and we are a grateful nation.
President Widodo, you join us here in the home of our democracy as the leader of our most important neighbour and as a dear, dear friend. Shortly after becoming Prime Minister—on my first overseas visit, in fact—I found myself at a school in Bogul, surrounded by young Indonesian students, brimming with promise—singing, in fact. So, I decided to tell them a story, as we often do we when visit our schools. I told them the story of a man I was on my way to meet that day; a man who had come from modest and humble beginnings; a man who had worked hard to put himself through university, who'd studied forestry and then set up a business and did what others thought he couldn't or perhaps shouldn't; a man who, as we say here in Australia, had a go. And then I asked the students, 'Do you know who I'm talking about?' and they didn't know, so I pointed across the room to a photo that hung on the wall, and it was your portrait. It was your story I told, which they knew as Bapak Jokowi. It was a story that showed we can make our own futures, and that is as true in Indonesia as it is here in this country. 'He's like you,' I told the students.
President Widodo, you have many admirers here in this chamber and that fill the galleries here today. We have watched and seen your great leadership in your country and throughout the region, and we know it and we trust it. Thanks to your leadership, Indonesia today is an even more dynamic and more successful country, to the great benefit of your people. Your commitment to deepening our two nations' partnership and strengthening our shared region in the Indo-Pacific is honoured here today. And I like to think we are countries that can cheer each other on. We can cheer on our successes together and, as Australia has appreciated in recent months, stand together in the so-many difficult times, as Australia will always with Indonesia, as you face other difficult times.
Many years ago, it was another generation of Australian leaders who championed and supported Indonesian independence—so much so that President Sukarno asked Australia to represent Indonesia in the UN discussions—a generation that dreamed and hoped for what we could achieve together. Our countries are living out that hope today. Of course, as our modern relationship has matured, there have been many times when we haven't agreed. That's only normal in the relationships between friends, where you have to deal with a multitude of challenges. But respect underpins the trust that we have formed.
Our countries work hard to understand where there are differences, rather than focus on them. We listen to each other, we learn from each other and, importantly, we are honest with each other. In doing so, we have discovered, as Prime Minister Menzies said during his first visit to Indonesia in 1959, that we have 10 times as much in common as we have in difference. And that is ever so today. Today, Australia and Indonesia have built the trust that underpins only the truest of friendships. Trust allows us to work through the differences that neighbours sometimes face. For Australia, we see Indonesia's success as something to be celebrated. We count Indonesia amongst our most important partners and it has now become, indeed, a convention that the first visit of any Prime Minister is to Jakarta.
There are many challenges in the Indo-Pacific region: the strategic competition, maintaining international rules and norms and a resurgence of terrorism and violent extremism, all of which we must face together because these are not challenges any of us can face alone. We need partners. We need our friends. As the Indonesian saying goes: berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing—heavy when shouldered alone, light if carried together.
Australia and Indonesia understand this well and we have worked together closely over many years on defence and counterterrorism issues; on maritime security, combatting smugglers and illegal fishing along our maritime border. Together, Australia and Indonesia are motivated by our shared concerns for our region and our shared vision for an open, prosperous Indo-Pacific underpinned by strong institutions, rules and norms. By continuing to work together, we can build the region's resilience and make our people safer and our economy stronger. Our ambitious comprehensive strategic partnership, which was finalised 18 months ago, gives us a framework for even closer ties. We now have a plan of action to take the next steps in our relationship. From trade and investment to defence, counterterrorism, maritime security, ocean sustainability and education, to name only some, and even today we add energy and the future of fuel sources for our nations to this long list. But that is only where our ambition begins. We know there is more to be done, especially on the economic front.
Indonesia is one of Australia's nearest northern neighbours, a growing trillion-dollar economy and the fourth most populous nation, but only our 13th-largest trading partner. Australia is Indonesia's 13th-largest too. There is enormous untapped potential for both nations, which we have recognised, and we are determined to unlock this through the IA-CEPA. And I want to acknowledge today the presence of former Prime Minister Mr Malcolm Turnbull, who did so much work to bring this to reality. Once in force, this modern, transformative agreement will do more than make trade easier; it will open the door to new economic opportunities and forge more partnerships between our businesses, farmers, investors, tech entrepreneurs, researchers and scientists.
One area where IA-CEPA can facilitate closer economic engagement is, of course, in education. Our educational connections already run deep, with 16,000 young Indonesian leaders studying in Australia every year, and I am delighted that the first university in the world to establish a branch campus in Indonesia will be Australia's Monash University. Monash Indonesia—what a combination, those two names!—will contribute powerfully to Indonesia's economic, social and technological development. It will deliver master's, PhD and professional training programs, and partner with Indonesia's leading national, private and Islamic universities to establish deep research links with Indonesian businesses. Our countries, economies and people are being drawn closer. That is something we have encouraged, with the New Colombo Plan, the BRIDGE program and interfaith exchanges also, something I know that President Widodo and I are both keen to promote.
Mr President, this 'black summer' the Australian and Indonesia people have suffered traumatic climatic events, with bushfires here in Australia and floods in Indonesia. Fire and flood—nature can be so indiscriminate. Sixty-one people died in new-year floods that hit Jakarta and the West Java and Banten provinces, with the most ferocious rain resulting in flash flooding and landslides. Despite their own struggles and amidst their own suffering, Indonesians remembered Australia and reached out to us also, kindness upon kindness. In Bali—a place that has become, for Australians, a home away from home—there were dozens of fundraisers to assist our fire efforts. For two days, 1,250 local taxi drivers from the Blue Bird Group made donations from every taxi trip booked in Bali. In Makassar, a group of Indonesians who had attended Australian universities raised funds for the Red Cross. In their words, 'We felt we had to do something to help.' And last week, in Surabaya, a six-year-old girl organised a school fundraiser; she wanted to help our koalas.
We're seeing the same generosity from the Indonesian community here in Australia too. In Darwin, a food bazaar event was organised by the local community group and supported by the Indonesian consulate. There was bakso, tahu isi and bakwan—and I apologise for my pronunciation—all on offer. One of the men behind the event, Dominic Witono, said that what he and his community had raised wasn't the biggest sum. But to that I would say: it was the bigness of his heart that mattered. These actions, and so many more, speak of the wonderful Indonesian character. These acts of kindness make me confident about Australia and Indonesia's future, President Widodo, as does your presence here today and your friendship. On behalf of this parliament and the Australian people, I welcome you again, and we look forward to your address. Terima kasih. Thank you, my friend.
Remarks, Bilateral Meeting with the President of the Republic of Indonesia
10 February 2020
Can I thank you again for visiting Australia, this your first visit to Canberra, but not your first visit to Australia, but it is the second time you’ve come and brought rain. We do appreciate that very much, and Mr President, Your Excellency, can I thank you once again for the incredibly generous good wishes and practical support that the people of Indonesia and the government of Indonesia has provided to Australia during this very difficult Black Summer of our fires, and your own personal messages of support and those of your Ministers but also the practical support in the operations here is very gratefully received and we accept as an expression of the closeness and the fondness of the relationship that we have and as I have privately I also thanked you for your very kind words and condolence that you offered my father.
It has been, I think, a very good opportunity for us to meet together at this time. Australia and Indonesia as we conclude the ratification of the IA-CEPA, which was the first, the very first item of business after I became Prime Minister following on from my predecessor, and I visited Indonesia, almost two years ago now, and it has been processed since then through our parliaments and I want to thank you for your leadership following your re-election - I congratulate you again on that - it has been able to be so successfully taken through your parliament prior to your arrival here and we appreciate that and we now have a road map, we now have a plan, to see the economic relationship really escalate. That will create great opportunities for both Australia and Indonesia in the next decade and beyond. We look forward to the movement and flow of capital, people, investment and trade. And that only further deepening the bonds between our two nations.
I also thank you greatly for the tremendous security partnership that we have, that only goes from strength to strength, the cooperation between governments on these issues, and our defence forces and what has now become quite a long standing relationship on these issues. We both understand very clearly the great opportunities that exist within the Indo-Pacific region. And I want to commend you on your leadership within the Indo-Pacific region and particularly within ASEAN by championing the Indo-Pacific concept. This is a construct that Indonesia has led, has defined, and has attracted great support, not only from the nations of ASEAN, but more broadly including Australia, and we look forward to continuing to work with you very closely as we pursue this vision of the Indo-Pacific both in its economic opportunities, in its strategic opportunities to support peace and stability in our region, but also, as we discussed last night, the significant environmental challenges that we wish to pursue and to show leadership on together, from everything from technology to how we manage the oceans, of which Australia and Indonesia have a keen interest in. A nation of one very big island, and another nation of many, many islands. And so this is an issue that is close to both of our hearts.
And so I might conclude on, on those matters. But simply by saying that you join us today in Canberra - a purpose built capital for Australia - and your vision of the same, in Kalimantan [inaudible] is truly inspiring. It has special meaning to me because as I mentioned to you yesterday, my grandfather, that was the last place he was serving, in the Second [inaudible] regiment during the Second World War. And that's where he saw out the last days of the Second World War. So it's a well-chosen place. And I'll look forward to visiting there for several reasons, but I wish you all the best with that project and I hope while you are here in Canberra that there may be a few ideas, but maybe not as many roundabouts. As I'm sure the Foreign Minister, when she spent time here many years ago understands. But thank you again, Mr. President. It’s a great privilege to have you here with us as a great friend of Australia.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
6 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning everyone. The Liberals and Nationals have always enjoyed a wonderful relationship. Indeed it’s been the Coalition of Liberals and Nationals that has formed the governments that have been able to deliver for Australians to provide that stability, to keep our economy strong, to keep the focus on national security, to keep our borders secure. But most importantly, the heart of the relationship between the Liberals and the Nationals is our deep passion and conviction for supporting the needs of rural and regional Australians and our belief in the future of rural and regional Australia. And at its heart, that's what the Coalition is about. That's why we have come together so willingly over such a long period of time. Nationals celebrating their centenary and of course, the Liberal Party well advanced in our 75th year. And that partnership between the two parties will continue to provide the stability. It will continue to provide the leadership. It will continue to provide the focus on the issues of such great concern to rural and regional Australians. And we know that now people in rural and regional Australia for some time, with the drought extending over many years, with the calamity of the devastating floods in north Queensland this time last year, the bushfires. The impacts indeed even of this virus as it impacts on rural and regional communities and the response we need on the ground to that and the measures that we are taking, all of these issues highlight, again, the importance of the wonderful relationship and coalition that we have between the Liberals and Nationals in government, in government.
Now, I've accepted the recommendations of the leader of the Nationals following their meeting earlier this week, and I want to run through and announce those arrangements to you. In doing that, I want to stress two points. What I'm about to announce to you underlines two points. The first one I've already made, and that is ensuring a continuity of our focus on the recovery operations and the rebuilding operations that are necessary in response to the terrible disasters that rural and regional Australians face in terms of bushfire, in terms of drought, in terms of flood and maintaining that solid focus and especially the commitments we've made in the agricultural sector to our 2030 plan and keeping the strength, the focus there. The second one is maintaining and I'd say elevating our commitment to veterans in Australia. I won't go over again what I announced yesterday but there has been such great progress, but so much more to do when it comes to the care and well-being of our veterans. And we're going to keep the focus on that and we're going to keep the continuity on that. And the Minister there has been doing an outstanding job.
So let me run through, obviously, the leader of the Nationals will continue on in his current portfolios, and that will also include a very big focus on the water grid and ensuring that Australia has the water infrastructure it needs for a resilient future. David Littleproud will continue to serve in cabinet, he will take on the portfolios of Minister for Agriculture, and that will combine with his other portfolios of drought and emergency management. The issue of natural disasters is one that encompasses all portfolios of government and obviously as Minister for Emergency Management that will have particular responsibilities for him. But when it comes to dealing with natural disasters and our broader resilience to the environment and the climate we're living in, as I outlined at the Press Club last week, I believe this goes across every single portfolio of government. Darren Chester will be entering Cabinet, but he will continue to do the wonderful and outstanding job he's been doing as Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel. I'm advised that this is the first time Veteran Affairs has been back in Cabinet since the late Ben Humphreys in 1993. And I think that sends a strong message about our commitment to veterans in this government. Keith Pitt will take on the role and enter Cabinet as Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, highlighting again the importance of all of those portfolio matters and their presence around the Cabinet table. Mark Coulton will continue to serve as a Minister, as Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government. Andrew Gee will come into the Ministry as Minister for Regional Education, Decentralisation and Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment. Michelle Landry will continue to serve as an Assistant Minister for Children and Families and will also serve as Assistant Minister for Northern Australia. And you won't find a stronger champion than Michelle Landry other than Keith Pitt, for northern Australia, when it comes to ensuring the needs of northern Australia are addressed. And Kevin Hogan will come into the assistant ministry where he will be the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Can I congratulate all of those Ministers and particularly those who are entering Cabinet. I look forward to working with them all. Can I also think and put on record my thanks to Bridget McKenzie, as I did here on the weekend, for the great work that she did for rural and regional Australians in particular when it comes to the drought. And can I also thank Matt Canavan for his service to our Cabinet, as you know, Matt elected to leave the cabinet, and I want to thank him for the great work he has done in the resources portfolio and the northern Australian portfolio and I appreciate the way he engaged on those issues so passionately for that time of service.
I'll hand you over to the leader of the Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister.
THE HON. MICHAEL MCCORMACK MP, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Prime Minister. And and I too acknowledge the work and the role, particularly for regional Australians, that both Bridget and Matthew have done, thank them for their service to the nation, thank them for their service, particularly to regional Australians. But these new portfolio positions represent experience. They represent new talent. And I know that for those who've been elevated, Keith Pitt will do an outstanding job. Keith Pitt's focus since he entered Parliament has been on making sure that there are skills and jobs, particularly for young Australians. And I know how passionate he is about Queensland. I know how passionate he is about regional Australia. And as a former, former technical engineer, he has the depth of knowledge, he has the experience to do the job required in resources, in water, and certainly for northern Australia. And I'm delighted that Michelle Landry is going to assist him in those efforts for northern Australia. We are the first government has had a Minister for northern Australia. And we've promoted, we've pushed, we know the exciting potential that northern Australia has for our country. And I'm very, very delighted too that Kevin Hogan has been elevated into the Ministry. Sure and stable government. And certainly after the summer that we've had and we still endure, these positions are going to be so crucial to help with the bushfire recovery and relief efforts, to help with addressing all the issues that are involving regional Australia, which has had such an impact against it this summer. Delighted that David Littleproud is going to be the Agriculture Minister. He's had experience of this before. He knows, he knows full well about our 2030 plan. He knows the impacts that the summer has had on our regional areas and particularly our farmers, our small businesses. He has a good relationship, of course, with the National Farmers Federation and Fiona Simpson, I'm sure, is delighted at this appointment. And and, of course, continuing with the drought measures that he has taken, with the emergency management. He has been largely with Andrew Colvin, one of the one of the faces out there, putting his arm around supporting our regional communities, which have been so badly affected by the fires. Darren Chester, I know he's done so much important work for Mallacoota for the East Gippsland area through the fires this summer. But whilst he was doing that, whilst he was encouraging and supporting and making sure that there was the necessary assistance given for his fire affected Gippsland community, he was also making sure that our veterans were never, ever forgotten. And and certainly yesterday, with the measures that we announced with a virtually a standing ongoing royal commission into, into our veterans with, with the appointments made yesterday and the decisions announced yesterday. This is going to be so important for Veterans Affairs as a former Veterans Affairs Minister myself. I know how important these people are to our community and I know how important it is for him to be serving and continuing to provide that continuity, but now in Cabinet, now in Cabinet, around the cabinet table, ensuring that the important decisions are taken and made there. And I congratulate too Mark and Andrew G. For their ongoing advocacy for regional Australia, of course. Michelle Landry, doing a grand and outstanding job with families and children couldn't be an import- more important thing to do. But she's adding, of course the northern Australia position with that. I know she'll serve our needs and wants and expectations there, as I say again. It's a, it's a blend of experience, of course, with new talent and I'm looking forward to getting those members sworn in this afternoon. Very, very exciting. Onwards and upwards from here.
PRIME MINISTER: So just on that, there'll be a swearing in this afternoon, this evening, about 5.30 out at Government House and those arrangements you’ll be made aware of. Mark.
JOURNALIST: You’ve invested a lot of faith in Keith Pitt, that's a pretty big portfolio for an entry into Cabinet but he’s also a well known supporter of nuclear energy, as resources minister, won't that increase pressure on the government to change its policy on nukes?
PRIME MINISTER: Keith has been involved in an important inquiry that was undertaken by the House Committee on Energy. The findings of that report were released over the break. What we're always looking for, Mark, into the future is what those alternative fuel sources will be. The arrangements around nuclear are well known and the government's policy has been clear there about the need for there to be bipartisanship, to be able to move forward. But nothing will ever stop us from looking over the horizon. I mean, the work we're doing on hydrogen, for example, I met a very senior business level delegation from Japan yesterday, who I met with their Chamber of Commerce and the investment we're making in partnership both commercially and the government levels in the development of hydrogen as an energy source, incredibly important. So into the future, we're going to have to be looking at all, all opportunities to ensure our energy future. But the policy on nuclear is very clearly set.
JOURNALIST: Keith Pitt will now be running water resources and mining, where there's often huge tensions, isn’t he going to face a lot of conflicts of interest in having to deal with two completely opposed issues at the same time, is the mining industry potentially just going to win out here?
PRIME MINISTER: No because the authorities the Minister has when it comes to water resources, that will be advised by a separate department. Now that remains where it sits and that will continue and the Minister will acquit himself across those responsibilities. I mean, we all have difficult matters that we must arbitrate on. And I have no doubt that Keith will be able to ensure that he can manage those interests.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Keith is very capable. Keith is very, very capable and has the ability to, yes, advocate for a position very, very strongly. But Keith, as I say, has a wide range of experience. He's been in business, a technical engineer, qualified. I know I've got every confidence that he'll do a great job in this.
JOURNALIST: Mr McCormack, some of your colleagues are upset at this idea of a two third majority rule in the Nats party room for a spill, why do you think the rule is necessary? Isn't that just about shoring up your leadership for the rest of this parliament?
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a matter for the party and the party's management as to whether this goes forward. The, both of the other major parties have a similar sort of rule in place. The fact is, we want to make sure that the member who brought this up and raised it wants to end the speculation about the leadership. And I think that's probably an important thing.
JOURNALIST: PM on the coronavirus, we know it’s affecting the live fish exports, now it's affecting tourism, higher education,
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
JOURNALIST: What's your view of the affect it's going to have on the economy?
PRIME MINISTER: You will be aware that the Treasurer has written out to the state and territory Premiers and Chief Ministers and that the Treasury Secretary is undertaking some rather extensive work on economic scenarios around this. The challenge here, I mean, undoubtedly it'll have a significant impact. And the Governor of the Reserve Bank, as you know, has made some comments on that, has referred to previous events and, for example, I mean, what we saw previously was SARs emerge, I think was an 11 per cent fall in international tourism visitation in one quarter, backed up by 16 per cent increase in the next quarter. But to suggest that Australia's economic engagement with China today is what it was then would not be right. So that's why we took none of these decisions lightly and because we knew it would obviously have these impacts. We also need to be clear that the full extent of the virus and how much further it will spread, the success of containment measures in other jurisdictions, that is not known. And that's why I think a scenario analysis is really important and that's being done.
That's being done now. But clearly, the global effect of all of this, let alone the domestic, will combine, I think, to put a real weight on the economy. I've always been upfront with Australians. I've always said that we are facing global uncertainty and challenges and this event proves the uncertainty because it was not known. But that's why we've always focused as a government on resilience of our finances. And the fact, as I said in the House yesterday, that we've been able to face this, the bushfires, the drought and all of this, and to go in it with a level of financial confidence and an ability to make decisions that can deploy this support so extensively, I think is a matter of assurance for Australia. So, yes, there will be an economic hit because of the Coronavirus, just as there will be as a result of the bushfires. But there will also be a recovery and there will be a recovery to the bushfires with the extensive works that will be undertaken with rebuilding and equally you can expect down the track. When? Hard to know because there are so many unknowns about the duration of this virus and you would have heard from Dr. Murphy that they've been preparing a lot of work for the government on what the various scenarios are at a global level and how that might impact domestically. So a lot of work to be done, but we're being very transparent about that with state and territories and we intend to be also with the Australian people. But we expect a hit particularly in this quarter on the Coronavirus and how much more it extends beyond that really does depend on how this virus continues to play out at a global level. Phil?
JOURNALIST: Last week at the Press Club you outlined a transition towards cleaner, reliable energy and said we couldn’t (inaudible) our coal assets any longer and be there for too much longer.
PRIME MINISTER: We couldn't just rely on it.
JOURNALIST: We need to transition from using gas as the transition fuel. How do you reconcile that with calls from Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce and others that we need to build coal fired power around the country? Do you think they missed your message last week?
PRIME MINISTER: The Government's policy is what we took to the last election and that's what saw our members returned right across the country. Whether it was from north Queensland to northern Tasmania. And that position is a common sense position. It's a common sense position that recognises that the reliability of our energy system, our electricity system, depends on those stations. And that's why those assets will be (inaudible) for as long as possible. And you'll know that in the arrangement that we came to with the New South Wales Government just the other week, it just didn't deliver another 70 petajoules a year of gas, it also required the removal of obstacles that would see the resource get to the Mount Piper coal fired power plant as well. Why? Because that's necessary to meet the dual objectives of reliability in the system, which keeps power prices down, but also enables you to move over time to what the market is clearly already recognising and acting upon. So our policy is a commonsense one. It gets the balance right. It understands the need for the maintenance and sweating of those assets which are providing reliability to the system and where those types of assets in the future can be developed in the way that would be required under the environmental standards, then that's not ruled out either. So it's common sense. It's a common sense, well balanced policy. And I think that embraces everybody, not just in the Liberal Party room, but right across the Coalition.
JOURNALIST: Just on coal fired power stations, are you talking about retrofitting existing coal fired power stations to reduce emissions when you say adapt to environmental standards?
PRIME MINISTER: We work with all the energy companies because we know that we don't want to force people's power prices up and we don't want to see a loss of capacity out of the system that is unnecessary. And so we take all of these decisions in the national interest.
JOURNALIST: So government funds could be used to do that?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, that's your speculation. That's not what I've said. That's not what I've said.
JOURNALIST: I'm asking you.
PRIME MINISTER: That's not what I've said.
JOURNALIST: Just very briefly on coronavirus, could the Inpex Workers Village in the Northern Territory, it could house thousands, it’s currently being unused. Could that be a place where evacuees could eventually be taken if necessary?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the plan is to take those from the second flight and I can advise that the New Zealand flight, those who came under that arrangement with New Zealand, those Australians have now been transferred to Christmas Island and they're going through those processes now.
The decision to go to a second flight based on the advice that that would be accommodated at Christmas Island, and that's the plan we are working to. But it is also true to say right from our initial decision on the first flight that Defence and other options would be considered for overflow facilities if they were required. And that sort of contingency planning you would expect the Government to do. See, right from the start, what the Government has sought to do when it comes to Coronavirus has to be ahead of the decisions that need to be made and that was demonstrated. Our border ban was actually, other than Singapore, the first to be actually enacted. The one in the United States didn't come in place for about another 24 hours or even more. So we have been acting well in advance of the World Health Organization. In fact, our Chief Medical Officer was calling for the decision of the WHO more than a week before, and we were acting on his advice. And so that advice tells you that this virus is moving quickly and to give Australians the assurance I believe they deserve then we have to be always moving to prepare contingency plans for what could happen next and those would only be enacted if those scenarios presented. But we are doing rather extensive scenario assessments and coming up with plans to deal with those assessments.
JOURNALIST: Have you heard from the states about expanding the terms of reference for the bushfire royal commission and what exactly will it look into and is six months an adequate time period for reporting?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I gave a commitment when I first flagged that we'd be holding a royal commission and I'd be taking a proposal through Cabinet that an important step in that process was to consult with the states and territories about the terms of that Royal Commission. And so I have provided that detailed terms of reference to them to provide comment back within about a fortnight period. There are no surprises in that terms of reference. I went into some detail at the Press Club last week about the issues that I believe it should address and the terms of reference follows the outline of what I provided last week and indeed what I provided in earlier interviews, including with David Speers some weeks ago.
I've made it very clear that what I'm looking to understand is at what point can the Commonwealth seek to take the initiative and to be able to directly involve and engage its resources, its decisions, its authorities and its capabilities, whether that be the defence forces or otherwise, in circumstances of what would constitute a national emergency. That's important. I've also said that that Royal Commission needs to look at the preparedness and resilience in relation to these bushfire events and that means an understanding that needs to be done in a hotter, longer and drier summer and the impacts of climate change on that are acknowledged and understood. And so that means that we need to have a discussion not just about emissions reduction, which happens in the broad, but if you're talking about climate resilience, then hazard reduction is as important, if not more, for the direct safety of people affected by these fires than emissions reduction. The longer-term adaptation measures are also important.
I'm not going to allow a confined, narrow debate when it comes to understanding what it means to live in the climate we're going to live in. It's not just about emissions reduction. That's important, but it's also about resilience and it's also about adaptation and our government is going to address all of these as we are. And the other matter which I have discussed in the terms of reference and also as with the recommended Commissioner, is the need to look quickly at all the recommendations of previous Royal Commissions and inquiries and to look at how they have been enacted. I think that's something that the public really does want to know the answer to. There's already been a lot of work done on that front, and I'm sure that that can be done quite readily. I also want it to be done promptly to ensure that we can have this in place as we go into the next bushfire season. As you know, these seasons are getting longer. So I don't think the Australian people want us to be flicking about this because we're not and they want a Royal Commission that's just going to get on with the job and focus on the things it needs to focus on and get it done as quickly as possible. And that's why Mark Binskin, I think, is an excellent recommendation to lead this job because as a Chief of our Defence Forces formally, he knows how to get things done. And I have no doubt he'll get things done. Thank you all very much. Thank you very much. Sorry?
JOURNALIST: Are you pleased to see President Trump acquitted in his impeachment trial?
PRIME MINISTER: We have a wonderful relationship with the United States and we have a stable relationship with the United States and that relationship is both at, obviously, the rapport that I've been able to enjoy with the President. But it is both the President's job and my job to make sure that our relationship is always on track and it is. And I have to go to a division. Thank you.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
5 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning everyone. I’m sorry we were delayed by the Labor Party pulling stunts in the Parliament. What we’re about is the issues that absolutely matter to the daily lives of Australians.
Too many Australians take their own lives. And one Australian who takes their own life is too many. This is one of our government's most important focuses. A towards zero policy on suicide, preventing suicide, it's why we appointed Christine Morgan, it's why we're taking actions on suicide prevention right across government, it’s a whole of government approach. And we've been able to enlist the support of just so many organizations to achieve that.
Too many veterans take their own lives. And one veteran taking their own life is one too many. 42 veterans took their life in the last set of figures, annually that we have received, but we know many more have since then. Too many Indigenous Australians have taken their own lives. Too many young Australians have taken their own lives. And we need concerted action in all of these areas to ensure that we're doing everything we possibly can to prevent this.
Over the summer, I made a commitment that I would be considering carefully our next steps when it came to suicide prevention for veterans and in our defence forces. There were proposals to have royal commissions and they were being put forward, had already been adopted, adopted by some, but working particularly with Minister Chester and Minister Reynolds and the veterans in particular who make up those who serve in this Parliament, of which Phil Thompson has been such a wonderful advocate. There were many issues to consider. I didn't think a one off review into the past was enough. Because the challenge we have is ongoing each and every single day. A royal commission that looked into those past cases was not enough because sadly, we know there will be more. We needed a solution, we needed a response that was ongoing. If you go to any RSL around the country, you will see the plaque - the price of peace is eternal vigilance. We must be eternally vigilant about the welfare and care of those who've served in uniform. Even more so when they leave their service and they leave the protection and supports that often exist within our defence forces and they go on to the next phase of their life. And let me stress this, those men and women go off to lead successful, vibrant, positive, major contributing lives. Let's not for a second conflate the issue and the tragedy of the terrible outcomes of veteran suicide with the suggestion that veterans are broken. They're not. They're champions. They're heroes. But some struggle, some are in a daily battle and they’re the veterans that we have in mind here in the announcements that we're making today. So I thought we need to do more and Darren thought we needed to do more, so did Linda and so did Phil and all of our team. So we worked steadily over the summer. We listened. I listened to families. I listened to veterans. I listened to the RSLs locally in my own electorate wherever I could bump into someone who would have some insight into this, I listened. And I want to commend Darren Chester for the excellent proposal that he brought forward and was considered by Cabinet on Monday of this week. And in response to that, we can announce, as you would have seen already referred to today, that we are establishing a National Commissioner for Defence and Veterans Suicide Prevention and they'll be empowered with the authorities of royal commissioner-like authorities to compel evidence to be provided. To sit independently, they'll ultimately sit within the Attorney-General's Department. They'll have the ability to call witnesses, compel evidence and have the remedies available to those who won't cooperate. It'll extend out into the private sphere, whether that be associations, whether it's the Defence Department itself, whoever needs to be asked of a matter in relation to one of our veterans who have taken their own lives, they'll be asked those questions by that independent National Commissioner. And that role will go forward into the future. I think that's a wonderful tribute to those who've campaigned on this issue. I spoke to Julie-Ann Finney last night and she told me after I relayed the news to her that she was going to tell her son what had happened. It was a, it was quite a touching moment. And she will, I'm sure, hold us to account on this, like all of those other parents will and all those other veterans will. They certainly will and they should, and we’ll continue to listen carefully as to how we implement this.
The other announcement we have today is that we're establishing a Families Advocate within the Department of Veteran Affairs. This was also the other important lesson I learned listening carefully, these families, our veterans policies focus rightly on our veterans. But we've got to remember the families, too, and we've got to hold their hands to when they're dealing with these issues. And I've heard much about their frustrations and I think this advocate position will be very important in supporting them as they deal in so many ways with the impacts of these issues and how it falls to them. They support their family members in service and we need to support those families who are providing that support.
So I'm pleased to be able to make this decision. I'm pleased that our Government was able to come to this view, and I thank very much Minister Chester and Minister Reynolds for the great work they've done together to ensure that we can show the same commitment and duty to those who have served us, that they have shown to this country. Linda.
SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS CSC, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Prime Minister, thank you very much. The mental health and wellbeing of all of our serving ADF members and also our veterans is an issue of enduring national importance and as the Prime Minister has said, one of eternal vigilance. These are very comprehensive and carefully calibrated measures that have been developed with a singular focus to find the most effective and enduring way of responding to suicide and the risks of suicide. But I'd also like to sincerely thank the officials of the Department of Defence and DVA for their expertise and their dedication and their passion for developing this policy package over the summer months, because it means now that the Government can quickly put in place all the necessary arrangements for the National Commissioner to get straight down to work. This is the government's priority and it is important for our nation. As the Minister for Defence I warmly welcome these measures. They are important. And I know the CDF and all of the service chiefs embrace and welcome these measures for the welfare of their personnel and for our veterans as they transition, and once they have transitioned into a civilian career.
It is a sad fact that our veterans are amongst more than 3000 Australians who take their own lives every year. This is a tragedy for their families, for their loved ones, and also it's a tragedy for our nation, and knowing that our veterans are at a much higher risk of suicide, we want to ensure that their families are engaged early and also engaged positively in this process. So as the Prime Minister has announced, the Veterans Family Advocate will be a crucial bridge for families and it will put their perspectives at the heart of policy and also at the heart of decision making. This will result in better health outcomes for veterans and also reduce the risk of suicide. Our serving ADF members and our veterans are truly remarkable Australians. As a government, we are committed to their mental health, their wellbeing and their care. It is our duty to do so. We owe them this and we owe them so much more. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you Linda. Darren.
THE HON. DARREN CHESTER MP, MINISTER FOR VETERANS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL: Well, thank you, Prime Minister. Can I begin by firstly acknowledging the men and women of the Australian Defence Force and all those who served in uniform and say to them simply, thank you for your service, and to the families who've supported you, thank you for that service as well.
Over these past couple of months, I've had the opportunity to see our Australian Defence Force in action in my own community, as they supported us with the tragic bushfires and right throughout Australia at the moment there are so many serving men and women who are supporting our civilian communities in extraordinary ways and it's a real privilege to see them in action and the work they're doing to help keep people safe. I also want to, Prime Minister, thank the grieving families that you and I have had the opportunity to talk to over the last few months. I want to thank them for their courage, their courage to come forward, to tell their stories on behalf of their sons and daughters whose lives have suddenly been taken. And this in many ways Prime Minister, I think is a victory for them, for their dedication to their sons and daughters. It won’t bring their sons and daughters back, but it will help save lives in the future. This is a complex policy area. We have made major changes as a government in the last few years. We've introduced free mental health care for all veterans and their families. We've introduced a veterans payment for veterans experiencing mental health issues, for the first time we’ve supported the purchase of psychiatric assistance dogs to support our veterans as they make the transition back to their communities, and the Defence Force itself has been heavily involved. And I want to thank the Minister for Defence for this who has been heavily involved in improving the transition arrangements for our serving men and women as they make that sometimes difficult move from military life to civilian life. And I acknowledge and and thank you, Prime Minister, for reflecting on the fact that the vast majority of our serving men and women will transition well, they'll transition well and make an enormous contribution to the Australian community. But for those who have physical or mental health issues, we need to be there to support them. And for me and for you, Prime Minister and the Minister and for Phil beside me, the only acceptable number of deaths from suicide is zero. The only acceptable number for our veterans community is zero.
So I want to thank you, Prime Minister. I want to thank you, Linda. I want to thank our colleagues, Phillip and your mates who we we sat around and talked about this issue many times in Townsville over the last few months. I want to thank the veteran community, I want to thank the departmental staff in particular from many departments who worked together in a very collaborative way to come up with a policy position, which I firmly believe is better than a royal commission. The hard work starts now. We've set the broad framework in place. The hard work starts now. We'll fine-tune with the cooperation, I believe, of the states. And I expect in a bipartisan way with the Labor Party here at the federal level. The hard work begins now on implementation of this policy, which I believe is going to help save lives in our veteran community, and in our defence community.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Darren. Phil.
MR PHILLIP THOMPSON OAM MP, MEMBER FOR HERBERT: Thank you, Prime Minister. It's been an emotional kind of roller coaster for myself and my friends and the family members who have had loved ones who they've lost to suicide. And I know coming in this place with my background, I feel every single suicide on my shoulders and working closely with the Prime Minister and both the Minister for Veterans Affairs and the Minister for Defence and now to just talk openly, freely and frankly about how we feel, how I feel, how the loved ones and spouses and mothers and fathers feel, I think is extremely important. And I know that it's only a small cog in the wheel, but I'd like to to really feel like the voice from Townsville, the voice from Sydney, the voice from Western Australia, Tasmania, and Darwin have all been heard throughout this development and this process. And I know that this is not a political point scoring opportunity. This is every side of politics. It doesn't matter what colour shirt you wear, where you live, coming together to do one thing, and that's lower the high rate of veteran suicide.
Now, suicide and suicide prevention and mental illness is not just a defence issue, veteran issue, it's a societal problem. The veteran community has a very high rate of suicide, and I know that mothers have buried too many of their loved ones. We have buried too many of our brothers and sisters, and this is a step forward in being a part of the solution and the prevention. Now, suicides, we need to be realistic, it is a hard thing to combat and it's a hard thing to fully get rid of. There is no acceptable number. But that's why every day that I will stand here, along with the Prime Minister and other Ministers and the colleagues and the other side of politics to work together to ensure we are always putting people before politics. And I stand here with tears in my eyes, and a heavy heart knowing that this is the right thing to do. This is not a one off thing that will give a report in 18 months or two years. This is something that will be rolling, concurrent and ongoing. And I'll look forward to working with the Commissioner. I look forward to working with the Family Advocate. The family members from around the country, my friends who are constantly calling and texting now, who are very, very pleased. And I’d just like to thank the Prime Minister from the bottom of my heart.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. Darren, join me here. Questions on this matter first, please.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, will this new Commissioner have the remit to look at broader problems such as veterans’ homelessness, and what do you say to some advocates of- that we've spoken to already who fear that this may not have the punch of a royal commission because standing- processes just don't appear to have the same punch?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, on the second point, I'd say they are absolutely wrong. This has those powers and it has the powers to look into each and every single case and all the factors that may have been contributing in those cases. And it indeed could include the very other issues that you raised in the first part of your question, whether that went to issues of homelessness, for example, it could go to any number of factors. Because, as Phil said. Someone taking their own life is not a simple matter. It's a complicated matter. Every single life and every single case needs to be understood, to understand the broader implications. And the remit is not just to do that, but to then make recommendations and to report annually on these issues. This will be true 30 years from now as a result of the decision we're taking today, 30 days from now, and it will continue to be there to provide that constant lesson as to how we can do better and better.
JOURNALIST: There’s a suggestion that there are those who’ve served overseas in a different [inaudible], DFAT or [inaudible] agencies, would there be a opportunity to look at similarly if and how they are affected as well if they were going to kind of transition [inaudible] civilian life?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, again, the whole point is here to look at every single case and if people have served in particular areas overseas and that has been factors that the Commissioner has been able determine that was material in these horrible events, then of course, that would get that attention. See-
JOURNALIST: The Commissioner might look at these sorts of...?
PRIME MINISTER: They have remit to look at what has ever contributed. They are able to go and look and see and listen and investigate and compel the answers to ensure they come forward so they can tell us, clearly. And then they can make recommendations about what would be needed. There will never be a forgotten case.
JOURNALIST: You say compel and to listen and investigate, why is that need to compel, what is standing in the way before that there’s that need for these [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is just ensuring that they have the same like-powers of a royal commission.
JOURNALIST: Who will be the new Commissioner?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll be making an announcement of that in due course.
JOURNALIST: PM, would you consider a similar inquiry for Indigenous suicide, we know the rates of that are some of the highest in the world and it’s something you've mentioned previously?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, when it comes to my towards-zero goal on suicide, I am open to every option and I'm listening. And I know that the Minister for Indigenous Australians, he's been up in the Kimberleys and he's been sitting there and he's been talking to communities. When I sat together with the Indigenous peak groups here just the other week, it was one of the many issues we discussed, when it comes to tackling suicide, whether it's of Indigenous Australians, particularly young indigenous Australians, when it comes to middle aged men, which actually is the highest incidence of suicide in Australia. Whether it comes to those who are quite elderly, where we know it occurs, or young people, tragically. We just can't limit ourselves on the policy options available. So my answer to that question is always, I will look at whatever is necessary to see where we can make a difference. But I'm not looking to tick a box. I'm not looking to fill a list. I'm not looking to prove anything. I'm just looking to do whatever we can to prevent the absolute tragedy of suicide in this country wherever we can.
JOURNALIST: This may be a question for Minister Chester, but we've already got the Productivity Commission report into DVA, which described the system as broken, where is the Government's response up to with that and how will that work with the process that was announced today?
MINISTER CHESTER: Yeah thanks, Andrew. The Government is in the process of finalising its response to the Productivity Commission and its recommendations, and that will be part of the Budget considerations this year. But you'd be well aware that there's a lot of reform work already underway within the Department of Veterans Affairs. We've listened to the concerns that have been raised not just by the Productivity Commission, but also through the ex-service community. And there's been a major transformation in DVA over the past three or four years. We've seen an incredible increase in the number of veterans coming forward through things like the new Veterans Lapel Pin and Covenant, which has encouraged more veterans to come forward and register with DVA. So we're seeing more of our veterans who we didn't know before, coming forward and seeking help, which is good. We need to know who these people are. Some of them had left the Defence Force many years ago and had no more contact with Defence or Veterans Affairs until more recent times. So our Department of Veterans Affairs and the digitisation of its records in the transformation of that department has really made contact with many thousands of more veterans in recent times, which I think is delivering good outcomes for our veterans. And the Productivity Commission report will be fully responded to in the matter of next few months.
PRIME MINISTER: It’s the investment in the systems, I mean, I don’t know if people know this, but previously, some years ago, if you left the defence forces, you didn't automatically appear on a file over at the Department of Veterans Affairs. And so there are many veterans in our community with which the Government had no established point of contact. And things like the Veterans Pin and Covenant and so on have been very important in actually bringing veterans in. And so it gives us an opportunity to connect them with services. And I think that's important. And DVA has been doing a great job both in putting forward submissions now for many years, and for them getting very significant investment, whether it's in the systems that they use, which frankly have proved a great frustration in the past to families who've had to deal with those systems. And we've invested in those. But it's not just about the Department of Veterans Affairs. It's the changes that are being made in the Defence Forces as well. And you will not find a stronger advocate, whether it's on the mental health of our defence forces or this towards zero goal on suicide prevention, obviously, than the Minister, but also the Chief of the Defence Forces, who I know has a burning passion on this issue. They want to be preparing those who serve in our defence forces for their post Defence Force life from the day they turn up, on their first day of recruitment. And that's the process you've got to work through. I mean, you would normally serve in the Defence Forces, Phil it’s about eight years I think, on average these days, but many people who join the defence forces, think they'll be in the defence forces for their whole of their life’s career. And that's not the case. And so supporting our defence forces for their post service life right from the outset is very, very important. And this is a big part of what's been happening in recent times.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, given Darren Chester’s obvious passion for the subject and the fact that he has been a strong advocate on this front, don't veterans deserve having a consistency of Minister, especially in the months ahead given this process is just starting? And is this a complication to the reshuffle that you have to consider, and why perhaps the reshuffle is going to be announced later than today?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't believe any of those issues are presenting a challenge for the Government.
JOURNALIST: So veterans would be- would be better off with someone else?
PRIME MINISTER: That's not what I said.
JOURNALIST: You didn’t answer the question though Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: I said, I don't think the political issues you've just raised on this matter are going to present a challenge for the Government or for veterans.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister will it cover Border Force, or [inaudible] borders deaths?
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry?
JOURNALIST: Will it cover Border Force, or sovereign borders deaths?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are two issues. There are those who are involved in the defence forces and the Defence Force veterans have been involved in those operations and that deals with those individuals as part of the veteran's remit.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister would you consider including a question on the next census to do with veterans and service?
MINISTER CHESTER: Yeah, thanks, Andrew. We have put forward a proposition for the next census to include a veteran's identifier. In the normal course of business, that's being considered by Treasury. So it's one that the Department and me as Minister has put forward for consideration. There's, as the Prime Minister correctly indicated, one of our challenges is knowing exactly how many veterans there are in Australia. We have contact with more than 280,000 veterans and their families receiving support and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. But we anticipate there'll be more out there that we could support if they were aware necessarily of the services that were available to them. And we recognise, as I'm sure you recognise, that getting people to seek help and early intervention is the best path forward to achieving their best possible health outcome.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister could I ask on another matter?
PRIME MINISTER: Are journalists, do they have any more questions on the veterans’ suicide issue? You don’t? Ok, yep we’ll go to other matters.
JOURNALIST: Thank you, overnight Boris Johnson has urged other countries to join him in achieving his ambition of carbon neutrality by 2050. You've indicated you're not interested in that if it affects industry adversely. Can you clarify whether you are ruling that out or whether that's something you are in the process of considering?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll give you the same response I gave you at the Press Club just a week ago, and that, I said that that is a matter, the 2050 request that we undertook to look at in our commitment through the PIF process and that's what I intend to do. What I said was, is that I would never make a commitment like that if I couldn't tell the Australian people what it would cost them. And I wouldn't make a commitment like that if I couldn't tell it what it would cost them. And I don't believe the action you need to take in this area is about putting taxes on people, putting their electricity prices up or driving industries out of regional areas. Our government doesn't believe that either. That's what I took to the last election and that's what Australians endorsed, and that's what I'll deliver.
JOURNALIST: On the coronavirus, what’s your message to the Chinese Australian community? There's been some things circulating online that have sort of urged people to stay away from particular suburbs. Can you perhaps tell us whether you've been pleased with how the communities responded to those requests and also your advice to citizens that are in mainland China at the moment that might be concerned about getting out?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure, well thanks Brett. And I made a comment on this earlier today, I think it was on the Today Show. Can I say thank you to the Australian Chinese community. You are magnificent. The way you have supported each other, the way you've acted in such a responsible fashion, on occasions with great provocation, which I've found reprehensible. You are observing and taking so seriously your responsibilities, together with all Australians, to ensure that we've been, so far quite successfully been able to contain the impact of the Coronavirus within Australia. We have 13 confirmed cases, 3 of which have now left hospital, and have gone about their lives. So we've actually seen a net reduction in recent times, of those cases. So I say to the Chinese community in Australia, thank you, thank you, for the way that you've engaged. The whole point of the quite proactive decisions that the government has taken in relation to containing the coronavirus, and we moved so much more before many other countries, was to ensure that Australians could go about their daily lives. And going about your daily lives means going where you'd normally go because Australians are taking the necessary precautions and that includes our Chinese community. So my answer Brett is I want to say thank you to the Australian Chinese community. I want to say particularly thank you to Gladys Liu, who has been a real community leader in getting information to people on this issue and providing them great encouragement and support in her community down there in Box Hill. And I know that's been done by other members. So that's the first point.
In relation to mainland China. First of all, our response to Coronavirus has been to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians here in Australia. We have had one successful uplift for assisted departure out of Wuhan as you know, overnight we've had another I think 35 Australians who have been part of the New Zealand flight. They'll go to Auckland and then be transferred back to Christmas Island. The arrangements at Christmas Island are working well and we are working now on a further flight into Wuhan. And that's, that is the that is the process we're now in.
I would say to those more broadly in mainland China, you're aware that if you're an Australian citizen, if you're an Australian resident, if you're an immediate family member of those which would include a legal guardian or indeed you're a triple 4 visa holder as a New Zealander living in Australia, then you will be able to return to Australia, subject to imposing the 14 days self isolation. Australians in these categories who are in mainland China should not assume that Australia will be in a position to put flights as we have into Wuhan if there are further closures that we see happen in different parts of China. As to the best of my knowledge, before I came out here, I wasn't aware of any other provinces where China has shut its borders in those provinces, that can't be ruled out of course. But that's not a matter for the Australian Government. That's a matter for the Chinese Government. And we're working closely with them. And I would simply say to you that Qantas is, I understand, are running flights until the 9th of February, and they should avail themselves of those opportunities because they should not assume there will be similar operations run as we have into Wuhan.
JOURNALISTS: [inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry, Chris?
JOURNALIST: What did you learn about leadership over the course of this summer?
PRIME MINISTER: Always to listen, always to show up, and always put Australians first.
JOURNALIST: What’s your response to the Chinese ambassador who has criticized what he seemed to think was a lack of consultation or advance notice to the Chinese on the travel ban. He even talked about the need to compensate travellers who couldn't get in. Is there any need to compensate? Is there any mistake made with the Chinese authorities on that front?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I just respectfully disagree. We took this decision swiftly on Saturday. The National Security Committee was convened to consider this matter. It was preceded at midday by a meeting of of all the chief medical officers of the states and territories and the Commonwealth who made a recommendation to us. We convened from memory, I think was about 2 pm on that day. And when we concluded our meeting it was around about 4pm, from memory, I remember standing up then at a media conference about an hour or so after that. During that period of time, the instructions from the National Security Committee was to make contact with the Chinese government and officials, which we sought to do. I understand that occurred about a half an hour before we stood up. That contact wasn't able to be made, although the call was made. And I understand contact was ultimately made when that call was returned about five minutes into my stand-up on the issue. So every best effort was made by the Australian government to contact in good faith. We were moving swiftly in that same time. We were contacting key organisations around the country as well, to inform them, in the tourism industry and the travel industry, transport and of course, the state premiers and chief ministers who I personally contacted, as well as the New Zealand Prime Minister, because we'd been working on a sort of a single border type alignment between the two jurisdictions. So, you know, David, there was a lot of phone calls to make. There was a lot of things to do. And the Chinese government was very high on our list in making those connections and in good faith, we sought to do that. And so I'd have to respectfully disagree.
JOURNALIST: What about the-
PRIME MINISTER: Pardon, I couldn’t hear you?
JOURNALIST: What about the concerns about some of the students who might have been in transit as that ban was announced, that the embassy was concerned that they were put in detention upon arrival, had to be sent back. A lot of this uncertainty and lack of clarity, and that's what they were upset about, especially that treatment and so on. What's your response to those concerns?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there's a global virus and we're seeking to contain the virus. And unfortunately, there will be instances where there will be inconveniences for those who would have been in transit and who have been travelling, that's regrettable, but you have to put Australia's national interest first. One of the things that the Education Minister has been doing and he had a major roundtable with the universities the day before yesterday, and they're working again on it today was what what measures could be put in place to support students who'd be coming this year, both with online courses and that's already being actioned. But what other arrangements could be in place by universities, that's still being worked on. We will be reviewing the extension of that travel ban, obviously, before the end of the next week. And if there are any changes that we would want to make to that, then we would do that at that time. But we're just proceeding carefully. We're listening to the advice. We're taking decisions, communicating them clearly so people can get on about their daily lives in Australia. And for those who find themselves isolated or vulnerable elsewhere, particularly in Wuhan, well, we're coming to their aid and we're bringing them home where we can. But this is a significant challenge. It's a global one. It's just not Australia. And we're seeking to plug into what everyone else is doing elsewhere in the world. But my first priority is the safety and health and wellbeing of Australians here, and where we're able to support those Australians overseas then we will do that. Thank you all very much.
Bushfire Condolence Motion
4 February 2020
Mr Speaker, I move that the House:
(1.) acknowledges the devastation across our nation occasioned by the bushfire season including the loss of 33 lives, the destruction of over 3,000 homes, the unimaginable loss of so much wildlife and the devastating impact on regional economies across Australia;
(2.) extends its deepest sympathies to families who have lost loved ones and to those who have suffered injuries or loss;
(3.) places on record its gratitude for the service of David Moresi, Geoffrey Keaton, Andrew O’Dwyer, Samuel McPaul, Bill Slade, Mat Kavanagh, Ian McBeth, Paul Hudson and Rick DeMorgan Jr, firefighters who lost their lives during the fires and extends its deepest condolences to their families;
(4.) recognises the contribution of thousands of volunteer and career fire-fighters and the dedication of emergency services personnel across Australia;
(5.) honours the contribution of more than 6,500 Australian Defence Force personnel, including 3,000 ADF reservists, and the work of Emergency Management Australia throughout the summer;
(6.) recognises the generosity of individuals, families, schools, churches and religious groups, service clubs and businesses from across Australia and elsewhere in the world during the evacuations and following the fires;
(7.) expresses its gratitude to Australia’s friends, allies and neighbours who have provided or offered support;
(8.) recognises the unceasing efforts and close cooperation between state and local governments, demonstrating the strength of our Federation;
(9.) commits itself to learning any lessons from this fire season; and
(10.) pledges the full support of the Australian Parliament to assist affected areas to recover and rebuild.
Mr Speaker, we welcome the families of those who have lost and who are here with us today. In past times, when Australia has been tested by fire, we have given the fires a name based on the name of a day or a locality:
Black Thursday in 1851;
Black Friday in 1939;
Ash Wednesday in 1983;
The Canberra bushfires in 2003;
And Black Saturday in 2009.
Just saying these words brings back such chilling memories.
This year we have faced - and we are still facing - a terrible season of fire.
National in scale.
Fires that reached our highest mountain range, and our longest beaches.
Fires that consumed forests, grasslands and farms, suburbs and villages.
Fires that jumped rivers and highways.
Fires where days became night; and the night sky turned red.
And fires that raged into the heavens as clouds of fire.
With it all, a merciless smoke that lingered across our cities.
Fires that still burn.
And the smoke from burned bushland that left an oppressive tightening in our chests that told us all that all was not right.
This is the black summer of 2019/20 that has proven our national character and our resolve.
A national trauma, best described by Indigenous leaders who love our land so much as a grief for the victims; a heartache for our wildlife; and broken heart for the scarring of our land.
These fires are yet to end and danger is still before us in many, many places. But today we gather to mourn, honour, reflect and begin to learn from the black summer that continues and to give thanks for the selflessness, courage and sacrifice and generosity that met these fires time and again and continue to.
Many of the stories of our black summer we will never know. Some will become known and others have already been taken to our hearts as Australians.
Across Australia we witnessed unparalleled fire-fighting and relief efforts.
Thousands upon thousands have stood together to fight fires and protect communities.
While our hearts are heavy for the loss of 33 people, and the destruction of over 3,000 homes, we know our emergency services and our ADF personnel, our fire-fighters have undertaken a mighty effort to save so many more homes, so many more communities.
Along with the loss and at times, seeming failure, there has been perseverance, courage and a willingness to give all to prevail.
None has given more than the nine firefighters we lost.
I extend again my welcome to the many family members of our lost firefighters who are with us today
I also welcome the Ambassador of the United States, Ambassador Culvahouse who stands here in the stead of the three American families who also gave and lost so much.
Every one of these firefighters was loved - all were brave and had lives that meant so much to those around them.
At the funeral of Geoffrey Keaton there was a coffee mug.
A mug no different than most of the Dads here I am sure have seen at some time. It was a mug that was placed on Geoff’s coffin and it had the words “Daddy, I love you to the moon and back”.
Geoff’s son Harvey was 19 months old when he lost his father.
Geoff’s fiance Jess held their son as they mourned his loss together with his family.
Geoff died alongside his fellow volunteer Andrew O’Dwyer from the Horsley Park Brigade, an amazing group of people, fighting the Green Wattle Creek Fire.
Geoff and Andrew were mates, together with their Captain Darren who has honoured them so many times now.
Some even referred to them as brothers, with their children born days apart.
Andrew’s daughter Charlotte, almost two, was also at his funeral. Jenny and I joined them. Innocently unaware of her horrible and terrible loss. Charlotte was wearing a little white dress. She had pigtails that only her mother Melissa could have lovingly made and on top of those pigtails she put on her father’s white firefighting helmet.
Like Geoff, Andrew loved what he did, with the Brigade Captain Darren Nation saying his love of the fire brigade “was as thick as the blood that ran through his veins”.
Like Geoff and Jess, Andrew and Melissa shared a life together of such promise that is so sadly now a memory.
We lost David Moresi fighting a fire in East Gippsland. He was a husband, a father and a grandfather. He had been supervising the creation of vital firebreaks and died in a vehicle roll-over.
He was a bushman who loved to shoot, fish and hunt. He had planned on Boxing Day to travel to the Philippines to help build a school there. He’d already supported the building of schools in Thailand.
And we lost Sam McPaul. He was just 28.
The world at his feet.
Married to Megan for just a year and a half.
Expecting their first child.
The son of a loving single mum, Chris, for whom Sam was her entire world.
There will come a day when that young boy or girl will imagine what their father was like and will ask questions. When that day comes, we want that precious child to know that their Dad was even better than they could have ever imagined. He was the best of us.
Mat Kavanagh was also a young father. Two children - six year old Ruben and four year old Kate. A devoted husband.
Loved his fly fishing and had been a member of Forest Fire Management Victoria for ten years. On the day of the accident, he’d been extinguishing unattended campfires.
His older brother Mike said his family had lost “the most special person in the world”.
Bill Slade was just as loved. His wife Carol, daughter Stephanie and son Ethan know how much he was loved.
Bill had worked in land and fire management for 40 years, and was about to retire.
It was said there was no one more experienced and no one as fit as well.
Bill even fought the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983.
He was described as “a true gentleman with the kindest and gentlest of souls”.
I spoke with Ethan and Stephanie and they could not have been more proud, but also as devastated by their loss.
When we thought we couldn’t hurt anymore we lost three men who had travelled half a world to protect us.
We honour our American friends. We have no greater friend than the United States. Captain Ian McBeth, First Officer Paul Hudson, and Flight Engineer, Rick A DeMorgan Jr who were lost to us when their C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed near Peak View.
Captain McBeth, who was an experienced firefighting pilot, is survived by his wife and three children. He had served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was a member of the Montana Air National Guard. His daughter, training to be a pilot herself, said she wanted everyone to know “he was just a wonderful person”.
First Officer Hudson had served in the Marine Corps for 20 years including as a C-130 pilot. He is from Buckeye Arizona and survived by his wife Noreen. Across Arizona they lowered flags in his honour.
And Flight Engineer DeMorgan had served in the US Air Force with 18 years as a flight engineer on the C-130. It was said his passion was “flying and his children”.
Mr Speaker, on Australia Day I announced that the National Emergency Medal would be declared for the black summer of 2019-20 for these fires.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service and Forest Fire Management Victoria have advised that, once the bushfire response is complete and eligibility criteria for the Medal has been set, all nine of these firefighters who have lost their lives will be nominated to be posthumously awarded the National Emergency Medal.
In addition, the government has reconsidered the criteria of eligibility for the National Medal.
This is Australia’s most awarded civilian medal with more than 237,000 medals awarded since its inception. It recognises the long and diligent service by members of eligible Australian government and community organisations that risk their lives or safety to protect and assist the community. It is awarded after 15 years’ of service.
It has not been awarded posthumously to long-term members of eligible organisations who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
I am also pleased to announce that Her Majesty has agreed to amend the regulations for the National Medal to be awarded posthumously.
The change will allow the National Medal to be awarded to those who died in the service of their duty - and who would have reached 15 years service if not for their death.
This amendment will be retrospective to the creation of the medal in 1975 meaning that others who have died in the service of others will now be eligible.
Mr Speaker, we have witnessed the most remarkable actions through these fires, by our volunteers and our defence forces in recent months.
Tens and thousands of volunteers - all of them doing things that were extraordinary. Although they would consider themselves ordinary.
Joined by 6,500 Defence Force personnel including 3,000 reservists who were compulsorily called out.
So much of it is difficult and dangerous work.
Ordinary people, extraordinary actions.
One NSW firey, Alex Newcombe, from up near Blackheath, returned to the fireground just 12 weeks after a kidney transplant.
His doctors weren’t pleased. But as Alex said, “that’s just what we do. We get stuck in”.
His kidney donor was none other than his wife Kate - a fellow firefighter in the same brigade.
Alex has been a volunteer for 20 years.
On 21 December his truck was overrun by flames.
The truck had run out of water meaning it couldn’t activate the sprinkler system.
After all he’d been through, it was touch and go.
He drove his crew to safety.
That’s the story of the summer: remarkable Australians standing by each other. Struggling, persevering, taking the wins where they could find them.
And it wasn’t just firefighters.
Behind our fire crews have been caterers, logistics officers, radio operators, fire control centres and a support apparatus that did not sleep.
And our communities were backed up by volunteers at evacuation centres, service groups such as the CWA, Rotary and Lions and wildlife groups such as Wires.
And the charities, the Salvos and St. Vinnies and so many more.
Some of it was organised, some of it not.
Together, these efforts resulted in the most tremendous outpouring of generosity our country has seen.
Big businesses, small businesses, superstars, mums, dads, all giving what they could.
That was the wonder of this summer, tens of thousands of volunteers fighting fires then joined by 25 million of their countrymen and women supporting them.
Trusting each other.
Backing each other.
Twenty five million acts of kindness - all of them reminding us about the country we love.
More than money, it spoke of our resolve.
A reminder that what unites us as Australians is always more enduring and lasting than what divides us.
And with every action, a reminder of who we are.
Like the owners of the Indian Restaurant in Gippsland I referred to on Australia Day, who cooked thousands of free meals of curry and rice.
The chemist at Malua Bay who despite their own home burning down and not having an electronic payments system, kept the pharmacy open to get the medicines through.
The businesses, including up in Yeppoon, who saw a survivor and took no payment for clothes or meals.
The wildlife volunteers - one who even gave the shirt off her own back - looking for koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats to tend and protect.
The men from the Islamic community in Auburn who drove six hours to Willawarrin with 30 kilograms of sausages to cook a BBQ for a devastated community. That’s faith.
The convoys of trucks that took supplies through to communities that needed them - an ‘army of angels’ that loaded 150 trucks of supplies and got them to Buchan and Omeo.
The tradies who knocked on doors and at no charge climbed on roofs and cleared the gutters of local homes.
The families who opened up their own homes to strangers.
And the children: Cake stalls, lemonade stalls, giving away their pocket money and their Christmas money. The kids of this country give us every reason to hope.
The generosity of the rest of the world was also so humbling.
70 nations offered us assistance.
Over 300 firefighters sent from the United States, Canada, and to New Zealand to whom we are so grateful.
We also had offers of assistance from the UAE, which is greatly appreciated.
Military assistance from New Zealand, the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Japan, our wonderful family in PNG and Fiji.
When the 54 engineers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces arrived in Melbourne, they placed their hands over their heart and they sung a hymn “angels watching over me”, and they have been, to us.
Our Pacific family has been so incredibly generous.
Our neighbours, such as Vanuatu, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands have given generously, from not much, reminding me of the widow’s might, to our bushfire relief.
In PNG’s second largest city, of Lae, the young people began a wheelbarrow push - collecting donations and giving them to our consulate.
Having stepped up for our Pacific family, we are now being so blessed by seeing our closest neighbours step up for us. We are so grateful to our Pacific family.
The actions of every level of government have been exemplary and I pay tribute to our Premiers, to their agencies and local governments who have all been doing exceptional work and I acknowledge Commissioner Fitzsimmons who is here today, amazing job Shane.
In our own ranks, I want to acknowledge those wonderful workers the electorate staff, the members here - not just the members that sit on this side, all members in this and the other place, and their teams who have worked under extraordinary pressure.
As members of this place we are all so proud of our colleagues and what they’ve done during this time, and those who serve with them.
Across government there have been tremendous efforts.
And I want to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Emergency Management Australia and its Director General, Rob Cameron, who is here with us today.
I also pay tribute to the contribution of our Australian Defence Forces.
6,500 personnel have been providing that support in the field, at sea, in the air, and from Defence bases in the fire-affected communities going back to September of last year and continue out there today.
That includes these reservists. The first compulsory call-out of reserves in our history for these purposes.
The compulsory call-out will end this Friday.
The ADF taskforces, led by Major General Jake Ellwood, as he’s known, have been undertaking vital on-the-ground tasks - like delivering emergency food and water, evacuating stranded people, re-opening roads, restoring services, clearing debris, building fences, and burying dead animals.
This reflects the transition of ADF support from assisting to save lives and properties to relief and recovery operations.
Their sheer presence just presented such encouragement and boosted morale, when Australians so devastated could look up and see them there and they knew they were supported.
They will continue to provide that support wherever it’s needed, for as long as it’s needed, with the full-time forces and those now volunteer reservists.
The recovery operations require a whole-of-government response.
And that is why have established the National Bushfire Recovery Agency under the leadership of former AFP Commissioner, Andrew Colvin.
It is overseeing a National Bushfire Recovery Fund which will support all recovery efforts across Australia over the next two years, and for as long as it takes.
We have allocated an initial and additional $2 billion to fund this agency to ensure families, farmers, business owners and communities hit by these fires get the support they need as they recover, working closely with our colleagues in state and territory Governments.
Already, the Government has made major commitments providing funding for clean-up operations, tourism support, wildlife recovery, local government assistance, small business reconstruction, primary producers, farmers, graziers, and families as well as vital mental health support.
In addition to that, over $100 million already provided in emergency payments.
However, today is not the day to speak in detail of these initiatives, today is the day for memorial and commemoration.
We know that recovery takes time - and we are all here for the long haul.
Mr Speaker, following a natural disaster of this magnitude, we must also heed the lessons.
These fires have been fueled by one of the worst droughts on record, changing in our climate and a build up in fuel amongst other factors.
Our summers are getting longer, drier and hotter, that’s what climate change does, and that requires a new responsiveness, resilience and a re-invigorated focus on adaptation.
Today, I have written to the Premiers and Chief Minister to seek their feedback on the draft terms of reference for a Royal Commission, that I have flagged now for several weeks. Along the terms that I’ve outlined in public.
The Royal Commission will be led by former Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC, and it will shine a light on what needs to be done to make our country safer and our communities more resilient.
We owe it to those we have lost, we owe it to those who have fought these fires, we owe it to our children and to the land itself to learn from the lessons that are necessary.
Mr Speaker, over a century ago, Henry Lawson wrote a poem about a bushfire in a place called Dingo Scrub.
“It is daylight again, and the fire is past,
and the black scrub silent and grim,
Except for the blaze of an old dead tree,
or the crash of a falling limb”.
In his reminiscence, Lawson writes about three men who “wipe away tears of smoke” and put themselves in harm’s way to save a family.
When the fire has passed he writes of the men: “When they’re wanted again in Dingo Scrubs, they’ll be there to do the work”.
That’s what we’ll all do - here in this House and across Australia: to do the work.
To do the work of recovery to build back better. To do the work of learning. To do the work of repairing shattered hearts, broken communities.
That is what we owe our country. That is what we owe each other.
Australians are overcomers.
Despite the scale of this disaster and the tragedies - Australia is not and will never be overwhelmed.
As we face the challenges that remain active.
As we confront and face the devastating drought compounded in so many places by these fires.
As we confront and contain the challenge of the virus indeed that threatens the world.
Australians will not be overwhelmed. We will overcome as our anthem encourages us - with courage all, let us proclaim Advance Australia Fair.
So I conclude in memorial, I conclude in thanks, I conclude in honour to those we have lost and the deepest of our sympathies and condolences to you and we just simply hope and pray, that as we’ve gathered here today to acknowledge your great loss, and the heroes you have lost, that this will make your journey just that little bit easier.
Address, Last Post Ceremony - Australian War Memorial, ACT
3 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: To the Acting Director of the Australian War Memorial, Major General Brian Dawson, to Vice Admiral David Johnston, representing the Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Richard Burr.
All members of the Australian Defence Force and all the veterans who are represented here today.
To the Leader of the Opposition, Anthony Albanese. Can I particularly acknowledge the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, and the Shadow Minister Linda Burney.
Colleagues, Australians all.
Let me begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people and paying my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Can I also acknowledge the servicemen and servicewomen, the veterans, their families and descendants who are here this afternoon.
Can I join also in the acknowledgement on those, even as we speak and we see the smoke on the hills beyond Parliament House, all those who are serving out there today as volunteers in every capacity.
From fighting fires to supporting those who are fighting them.
We’re gathered here in our nation’s most sacred place.
Here we can feel the soul of our country like no other and hear the voices from our past that provided for today and our future.
This place is a memorial to the fallen; a landmark of courage, perseverance and sacrifice.
A physical pledge to never forget.
Generations of Australians have come here to remember, to learn, and to remind ourselves of the sacrifices made by those who have served and who serve to this day.
And it is fitting to start our Parliamentary year that members from the House of Representatives and the Senate come here to remember, to come together, and to draw strength.
To heed the lessons so as not to repeat them in the future, of past issues.
And to remind ourselves of our duty to our country and those we serve.
Here, at this Last Post, we hear every day one story that symbolises that duty.
One story at the going down of the sun.
One story that stands for the more than 102,000 stories written on these walls about us.
This evening, we will hear the story of Corporal Harry Thorpe.
An Indigenous man who gave everything for our country. For his country.
A bullet in the leg at Pozières.
A bullet in the shoulder at Bullecourt.
A final and fatal bullet in the stomach at Lihons Wood.
Later, you will hear of his courage.
So let me speak, not of his courage - but of his faith and his faith in us.
Corporal Thorpe was one of around 1,100 Indigenous Australians who volunteered to serve in the First World War.
It’s easy to love a country that loves you; much harder if you haven’t been loved in return.
The Australia of that time all but denied the existence of our Indigenous peoples.
The Indigenous men who enlisted weren’t counted even as Australians.
They didn’t have the right to vote.
They weren’t counted in the census.
Their very presence in the Army was the result of recruiters turning a blind eye to the letter of the law that required ‘European origin or descent’.
This was more than just equality denied.
It was a denial of respect and human decency also.
Worse, if an Indigenous soldier returned from War, they were denied access to soldier settlement schemes and often, war pensions as well.
All too often, the RSL was shut to them on every day but ANZAC Day.
In serving, our Indigenous soldiers chose to believe in a better Australia than the one they lived in and fought for.
This story of belief and faith in us, and what we could be as a nation and a people echoed into the Second World War, where some 4,000 Indigenous Australians served in Europe and North Africa
They fought in New Guinea.
They suffered in Changi.
And they defended the Top End from Japan.
And then we witnessed their service in Malaya, Korea, Borneo and Vietnam.
In East Timor and the Solomons. In Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.
For too long, these stories were glossed over and they were forgotten.
Now, we honour as we always should have, our Indigenous Service Personnel more richly.
It’s been said that in the First World War, our Indigenous Soldiers were anonymous because their courage, bravery and valentry was overlooked.
Fortunately, the bravery of Corporal Thorpe was not overlooked.
He was recognised with the Military Medal.
The citation said, “his splendid example… inspired those under him”.
And it inspires us to this day.
Corporal Thorpe didn’t just inspire his men.
He inspires today a Prime Minister, a Leader of the Opposition, the parliamentarians who gather here and those who stand around this wonderful memorial.
He showed us what he believed we would become.
He showed us what we could be.
And he reminds us that while faith in this land may, at times, be difficult. It can disappoint.
But we owe it to him and to his Indigenous brothers and sisters past and to this day and into the future.
To all who have worn the uniform and to all who will.
To keep striving for the accepting, kind and decent Australia that they saw, that he fought for, and he ultimately died for.
That is why we gather today.
It is a great honour to respect him today.
And it is why we draw strength from the words as we go into the other place on the other side of the lake: Lest We Forget.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
2 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon everybody. The good news is that the Qantas flight is on its way to Wuhan and I want to thank everybody for their cooperation, particularly the Chinese Government as we continue to move forward with that important programme. And just while we’re on those issues, I also advise, the New Zealand Government and our border officials, that as a result of the decisions that have been made in New Zealand, we will also be extending the same exemptions for triple 4 visa holders who are resident in Australia and they'll be treated as Australian residents. As you know, there are many New Zealanders who live in Australia under triple 4 visas. And so the same exemptions that apply to other Australians, residents will apply to triple 4 visa holders. It's a matter that the Prime Minister Ardern and I have been discussing over the course of the past day, as a result of our decision I'm pleased that following their decision, we have an alignment of the various border arrangements that are in place.
But the reason for calling this press conference is that late last night I received the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's report in relation to the Auditor-General's report and other matters that have been referred to him as just over two- just two and a bit weeks ago. Earlier today, I convened the Governance Committee of Cabinet to review the findings of his report and he reported to us. I then asked the leader of the Nationals and the Deputy Prime Minister to raise the matters contained in that report with Senator McKenzie. And she was also briefed by the Secretary on the report as well. In that report there are two key issues, I'll be following the same practice in relation to- on these matters regarding reports of this nature from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, as has been done by previous Prime Ministers, ie. they’re documents of Cabinet. But I note the following, the guidelines in relation to the matter of the Auditor-General's report clearly and publicly identified the Minister as having final approval authority and the right to consider other factors. This discretion was not constrained in any by way by the guidelines. While there may be differing views about the fairness of the process, the Minister used the discretion she was afforded, accordingly, the Secretary concludes, I do not believe there is a basis for you to find that the Minister had breached standards in that respect. He goes on to note, that he did not find evidence that this process was unduly influenced by reference to marginal or targeted electorates. And he notes the data indicates that applications from marginal or targeted seats were approved by the Minister at a statistically similar ratio of 32 per cent compared to the number of applications from other electorates at 36 per cent. And he said, I find no basis for the suggestion that political considerations were prime- were the primary determining factor.
On the other matter, which was raised in relation to a conflict of interest the Secretary concluded that the timing is such that the potential conflict should have been clear, this is in relation to the gun club membership, to the Minister by failing to put appropriate arrangements in place to avoid the potential for conflict, such as asking another Minister to make any decisions relating to organisations of which she was a member. The Minister had failed to do that, and the Secretary found that this was in breach of the ministerial standards. There are also a number of other matters relating to another organisation, but that one in particular dealt with a conflict of interest for an actual recip- applicant who had received the grant.
On the basis of that and that is the conflict of interest and the failure to disclose, the Minister has tendered her resignation to me this afternoon, and I want to say a couple of things about that. Minister McKenzie has shown a great respect for the statement of standards. She has honoured those, that statement of standards in the decision that she has taken today by offering her resignation to me this afternoon. I want to thank Bridget McKenzie for the outstanding job she has done in serving, both in my Cabinet and my predecessor's Cabinet. I particularly want to thank Bridget for the amazing work she has done for regional Australia and the incredible application she has shown and dedication to Australians in rural and regional areas who have been doing- who've been doing it tough through drought. She has been a drought champion for these farming and rural communities around the country. And this is federal Cabinet there are standards that must be upheld and she understands that and so do I. But I don't think that that in any way takes away from the outstanding work that she has done as a Minister, both in my government and in my predecessor's government. And I want to thank her very much for her hard work, for her discipline, for her dedication, but particularly Bridget, to all of those out there who I know, you extended that helping hand and that warm embrace and that practical effort through the discharging of your responsibilities to ensure that those rural and regional Australians were being heard and they were being supported through some of the toughest times of their lives. You have been an absolute champion in their cause. So I say thank you. I also thank her for her role, not just as a Minister but I thank her for her role in Cabinet and the many contributions she's made over quite a period of time. And I also want to thank her for the important role that she has played as part of our leadership group.
But standards, as I say, are about accountability and they are about, even in tough circumstances like this, where the Minister obviously did not stand to realise any pecuniary or any direct personal benefit, the standards require a disclosure of interests and in particular, one where there invites a conflict of interest for a program they might be overseeing. On the other matters that relate to this issue, the Secretary also has made some observations and they support the decisions the Government has made, and that is to adopt the recommendations of the Auditor-General's report. But in particular, in relation to recommendation 4 and that is the recommendation that the Australian Government amend the Commonwealth grants rules and guidelines to require that the advising decision making reporting requirements, applying to situations where a Minister approves grant funding be extended to apply to corporate Commonwealth entities such as Sport Australia, which wasn't the case. And as a result, afforded the discretion in the process that was followed by the Minister. It was in the design of this process that those those arrangements were set up. And to close that gap, and to ensure that there is appropriate documentation and appropriate transparency about the reasons for decisions where they may differ from recommendations that are made by agencies that are assessing these applications and that process would be in place in any future such programs.
There was also a matter that was raised in relation to the legality of the the action and decisions taken in the authority for the Minister. And I referred that matter to the Attorney-General. And I note that his advice is obviously confined to the general legal issue raised by the Auditor-General concerning the Minister's involvement in the program, which he notes, which has been left somewhat unresolved in the Auditor-General's report. You'll note that a question mark was raised about directions that the Auditor-General suggested was the what needed to be in place. Specifically, he refers to the finding in the report that in the absence of a Section 11 declaration, there was no legal authority evident to the ANAO under which the Minister was able to approve the CSIG program grants to be paid from the money of Sports Australia. Having consulted with the AGS and in the preparation of this advice, he considers that the Auditor-General's assumption arising out of his apparent interpretation of Section 11 of the Australian Sports Commission Act is, as he notes with respect, not correct. So these are the outstanding matters from this process and these are the decisions that I've taken as Prime Minister and have taken together with my colleagues. I want to thank the Deputy Prime Minister for working closely with me through this process. We have worked through this process each step of the way from the initiation of the referral of the matter to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary through to the reception of that report today. And I want to thank him for working through these issues in the professional way that he has.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister notwithstanding the fact that she’s fallen on her sword because of the conflict of interest, do you concede that the very nature of the program, or the fact that it was so politically charged even in its election, albeit with your your caveat that these sorts of programs do need to have a whole lot more scrutiny applied to them before millions of dollars is spent in such a way?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what I've just relayed to you is the adoption of recommendation 4, which is exactly what that recommends, and the Government is-
JOURNALIST: In plain language what does it mean Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: What that means is that where Ministers have discretion to make decisions and where they move away for whatever reason, from what those recommendations might be, that there is a process of accountability and transparency and documentation about the reasons for that.
JOURNALIST: Where is Mr McCormack?
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry?
JOURNALIST: Where is Mr McCormack?
PRIME MINISTER: On his way to Canberra.
JOURNALIST: Sorry?
PRIME MINISTER: He's on his way to Canberra.
JOURNALIST: Who will now be serving as agriculture Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: The Deputy Prime Minister will be appointed as acting agriculture Minister until I receive further advice from the Deputy Prime Minister.
JOURNALIST: You said there was 2 conflicts of interest? One was I think the golf, the the the target club-
PRIME MINISTER: Yep. The Wangaratta- Wangaratta Clay Target Club, that was the one that involved a membership that the Minister had and hadn't disclosed, and the funding decision had been made in favour of that organisation. And the other one related to the Field & Game Australia and they related to a disclosure that came later, to membership of Field & Game Australia and there had been grants awarded to the Northern Territory part of that association and the Warrnambool part of that association, neither of which the Minister had any membership of those specific clubs but the Minister was a member of the broader association of which those branches would have formed a composite part.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, if the primary determining factor wasn't electorates and it wasn't merit, which is what the Auditor-General found, what was the primary determining factor for where this money was spent?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't accept the characterisation either of the Auditor-General's report, what I've said- what what the Secretary has been asked to do here is assess the Auditor-General's report and consider the fairness elements of that. And he's made a very clear finding which said that the Minister actually did not take as a primary consideration those factors, those political factors, so he’s actually rejected that as a position.
JOURNALIST: No but I accept that, so on that on premise Prime Minister, if marginality of seats wasn't a factor and the Auditor-General says that merit wasn't a factor, then what was the Minister's factor in awarding this funding?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the primary purposes of the program, which were also more generally set out by the guidelines, but she was also seeking to ensure that there was a broad application of this program right across the country, right across as many places as possible. And that has also been noted by the Secretary.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the very last seats that were picked under this program were all either Coalition seats or Coalition target seats. Capricornia, Indi, Lyons among them. How on earth can you say that this is not a politically compromised program from, given that's the way it ended?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's that's your commentary, Andrew. What I'm doing is-
JOURNALIST: That is the Auditor-General’s commentary.
PRIME MINISTER: What I’m- what I've cited back to you is the Secretary's response to that. And when he went to the actual statistics, what he found was there was no material difference between those that were marginal electorates and those that were not. And that that's just a simple statement of fact.
JOURNALIST: Will you do anything differently before the next election with programs of this kind? Do you take any lessons out of the controversy over this?
PRIME MINISTER: That’s what- that's why I said we're adopting recommendation 4, because the primary issue here, if you read carefully the Auditor-General's report as I have and if you- I have read obviously, through the Cabinet process, the report of the Secretary, the issue here is ensuring that the broader guidelines that would apply if this were being done in concert with a department as opposed to an organization like Sports Australia, would have had a different process. And so what we are agreeing to do, this is the constructive part of what has been a very difficult exercise in recent weeks, is to ensure that those rules will apply. That's what they're there to do. There was, under this program as it was designed initially there was a broad array of discretion that was provided and that is what the Minister exercised. And there were no rules broken in that context and as the Auditor-General found, unlike as had occurred in previous previous Labor administrations, there were no ineligible projects that were funded under this scheme. None.
JOURNALIST: But is the Minister’s discretion part of the problem here, that when you get decisions made by Ministers rather than by independent officials who are not swayed by political factors, that you'll always get a distorted outcomes in some kind of, is it better to remove a Minister from that process?
PRIME MINISTER: The issue here, because I've actually experienced this the other way where I've say had this process applied, where I- where so many important local, charitable groups that were supporting people through emergency cash assistance and things had their funding cut by actually quite, quite difficult decisions that were made by departments that were unaware of many of the issues and the impacts this would have on the ground. As I said at the Press Club last week, there is a- and it was in response to your question, Michelle, there is a partnership here that works between the public service and Ministers, Ministers, parliamentarians are elected. What has been identified here through this process has been a lack of transparency and a lack of detail on the processes used by the Minister in exercising discretion. That's what's been identified. And what the Secretary has made very clear is that she's exercised that discretion. And in his view, that has not been done with the political considerations that others have suggested. Now, what you need to do to remedy that is you need direct- implement recommendation 4 of the Auditor-General's report. You've got to make sure that those rules about the transparency of that process, which applies in many, many other grants programs, many, and that should be applied to programs like this. That's the lesson. That's the lesson that I think we need to learn. That's the lesson I intend to put in place. We need to fix up that part of the system. The legal issue, the Auditor- the Attorney-General has addressed and the Minister in relation to the conflict of interests that had today has honoured that lesson process higher than anyone by honouring the Ministerial Standards, which are the ultimate safeguards on those things.
JOURNALIST: Will you use this as a broader opportunity for a reshuffle, or will it just be replacing Senator McKenzie in Cabinet and that would be down to Michael McCormack’s decision?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm very, very, very pleased about the performance of the Ministers who serve around the Cabinet table. And I think they're doing an outstanding job. And what the country needs right now is for us to get and keep focussed on the issues that are most important to them. As you know, as I've addressed you in this room on I don’t know how many occasions over the last month, we're dealing with bushfires. We're dealing with drought. We're dealing with coronavirus. We're dealing with very serious economic challenges. And I intend to keep my focus stable and focussed on the jobs they're doing right now.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Prime Minister, despite Mr. Gaetjens finding there's no political considerations, it’s a firmly entrenched view out in society that there was. And you've just- Senator McKenzie has been dismissed on one hand- sorry resigned on one grant, do you think the public’s going to buy this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is a matter for others to commentate on. What I'm telling the public is the Minister has tendered her resignation. While I'm telling the public is the process where deficiencies have been identified in transparency and documentation, then that is going to be remedied. That's been acknowledged. It's acknowledged by me as Prime Minister. And the processes will be improved to ensure that as the rules apply in other areas, they'll apply in these areas, too. And as the Treasurer indicated this morning and I indicated at the Press Club last week, we will consider how this program might be able to provide further assistance, out in the community, in the sporting community as we prepare for the next Budget.
JOURNALIST: Putting aside the Ministerial resignations that occurred during your ascension to the leadership of the Liberal Party, this is now 3 Nationals Ministers on a trot- on the trot that have had to resign, Andrew Broad, Barnaby Joyce, and now Bridget McKenzie. Is it time for the Nationals to get their house in order?
PRIME MINISTER: I have a very solid Coalition as leader of the Liberal Party with the National Party. What has happened today brings to at least, the close of a chapter for Minister McKenzie in terms of her service in her current role. And we appreciate the great service that she's provided. But yet matters you're talking about are matters for the National Party, and the Coalition- our Coalition with the National Party remains very strong. And I think it's evidenced by the way the Deputy Prime Minister and I worked professionally and I think with a sense of fairness to all of those involved, to not to, not to respond to the latest tweet or out- or call or other thing like this. We just did the work, got people to look at the facts, present us with the facts, provide the opportunity for people to respond to those facts and then make a decision. And that's where we are today. That is the stable, calm, careful way to deal with issues like this, not to run around trying to react to everybody and every report and every news release. It's just simply to get to the facts, make a call and then get on with the job.
JOURNALISTS: [inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER: Michelle, you haven’t had a chance,
JOURNALIST: On those facts. There's a huge gap between the Auditor-General's report and the Gaetjens report on the central substance of this matter. Can you either release the Gaetjens report or give us more detail of Mr Gaetjens’ reasoning on this argument that he's presenting that there weren't political decisions because this is flying in the face of the independent Auditor-General?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what- I'll treat this report the same way that every, Prime Ministers have treated these reports in the past and there are many, many instances of that, which I'm sure you'll be very familiar with, but I referred to the statistics myself earlier that he was citing, and that was a statistic, a statistically similar ratio of grant approvals by the Minister for marginal and targeted seats of 32 per cent compared with the number of applications for other electorates, which is 36 per cent. So look, the data has been looked at from various perspectives. The Auditor-General has has looked at it from that perspective. These results are based on all 3 rounds put together and there is a suggestion that certainly the Minister was aware that she may be successful for getting further rounds of funding to support the program, which would have played into her consideration. So what the Secretary has done has looked at the grants awarded in their entirety, and in their entirety he has concluded, not I, he has concluded that that particular point that is made in the Auditor-General's point, he couldn't find the evidence for. So that's-
JOURNALIST: That’s all what he said?
PRIME MINISTER: But the point is here and for the public and for people listening at home and watching at home, what matters is where there are problems, they get fixed. And that's what I've pledged to do today, where there accountabilities to standards that need to be upheld, that's also been done today by Minister McKenzie, and where there are things we need to get on with now. Well, that's what we need to do and that's certainly what I intend to do. Thank you all very much.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible] you will release the Gaetjens report?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
Press Conference - Sydney, NSW
1 February 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon, thank you for coming together. Of course I’m joined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Our Government is taking every step necessary to keep Australians safe. And we're taking further action in relation to coronavirus today which I’m going to run through with you and the Foreign Minister will make further comments on the actions that we're taking.
I want to assure Australians that we're doing everything that we can and through these actions to protect Australia, for what is an escalating threat and a constantly changing situation. Earlier today, the Australian Health Protection Principals Committee, which is the chief medical officers of all the states and territories and the Commonwealth, met. They met on the advice of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia, and they considered the changes in the epidemiology of coronavirus in China. They noted the increasing, but still relatively small number of cases in provinces outside Hubei Province and the now resulting risk posed from travellers from all of mainland China. They agreed to the following: to expand the case definition for the novel coronavirus infection from today, the 1st of February 2020 to apply to people from all of mainland China. It's essentially addressing the issue of human to human transmission of the coronavirus outside Hubei Province across the rest of mainland China. They recommended that DFAT now increase travel advice to level four, which is do not travel to all of mainland China. And the Australian government is putting that in place now. As of today, all travellers arriving out of mainland China, not just Hubei province, as has been the case up until now, being asked and required to self isolate for a period of 14 days from the time they leave mainland China, and that finally to substantially reduce the volume of travellers coming from mainland China they recommend additional border measures be implemented to deny entry to Australia for people who have left or transited through mainland China from the 1st of February today, with the exception of Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family, and aircrews who have been using appropriate personal protective equipment. And this applies to also to passengers transiting in Australia unless they are Australian citizens, permanent residents or their immediate families. I convened a meeting of the National Security Committee this afternoon to receive that advice and that recommendation. And the National Security Committee has adopted all of those recommendations. What that means is the travel advice is changing. What that means is that if you come from mainland China at any time after the 1st of February. Then you will be required to isolate for a period of 14 days. And for anyone other than Australians- citizens, Australian residents, dependents, legal guardians or spouses, then you will not be permitted entry into Australia. And the arrangements have been put in place through our border authorities to ensure that that can be actioned. In addition to that, there will be advanced screening and reception arrangements put into place at the major airports to facilitate, identifying and providing this information and ensuring the appropriate precautions are being put in place. There’s a half a million masks that will be provided to those airports to support those who are coming off these flights, as well as those who are interacting with those coming from those flights, there will also be thermometers which are being provided to those airports and we’re working with those airport authorities now to ensure that we can put those arrangements in place. That means there will be flights who will be arriving in the morning, the National Security Committee, with the support of the chief medical officer, has given discretion to the Border Force commissioner to deal with those flights in the morning. As they- it was his advice that they consider that that immediate threat is low. But we need to get these arrangements in place as soon as possible. So from the 1st of February, that's the effective date that we’ll be seeking to determine whether someone has been in mainland China as opposed to more broadly in the Hubei province.
So these are further steps that we are taking, up until today it has not been the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, and our medical experts that this has been necessary. This is a matter that was even considered yesterday at the National Security Committee. And the advice yesterday was that these measures did not need to be put in place. Their advice today is that it should. And our action today is to put them in place. And we moved quickly today to ensure that they are able to meet, the recommendations could be made, and the National Security Committee convened this afternoon to make these important decisions and then task the various agencies to implement those decisions. I had the opportunity to speak to all the Premiers and Chief Ministers on this matter. I've also been in quite regular contact with the Prime Minister of New Zealand as we operate- often operate quite common border arrangements and and we're seeking to ensure that they’re aligned and I’ll leave it to the New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern to make any further announcements about what they will be doing. I'm going to hand over to the Foreign Minister who's been working closely on this issue and particularly in relation to the operation for assisted departures out of Wuhan.
SENATOR THE HON. MARISE PAYNE, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Thank you very much, Prime Minister. On advice, as the Prime Minister has said, from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, we are raising our travel advice to Australians for the whole of mainland China to level four, which is do not travel. Other countries, including like-minded partners of Australia, are taking similar steps, as those which have been outlined by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. We are, of course, advising the nature of these decisions to our neighbours in the Pacific and to China themselves.
Australians in China should continue to follow the advice of local authorities. For those who wish to make inquiries concerning these matters, our consular and crisis centre is operating fully. The DFAT consular emergency line is 1300 555 135, for Australians who are concerned about family overseas, that is a number to call from Australia. For people calling from abroad, the number is +61 2 6261 3305.
We are continuing the planning and the arrangements for the assisted departure of Australians from Wuhan. We expect that process to be finalized and finally agreed soon and we are proceeding on that basis. We've approached this assisted departure operation very carefully with an absolute priority on the health and the safety of all Australians, here at home and overseas. And again, I would like to register my thanks to the Chinese authorities for their cooperation on this operation in exceedingly difficult circumstances. Also, our diplomatic and our consular teams have been working around the clock in response to this health crisis, and I acknowledge and thank them for their work. Prime Minister, thank you very much.
PRIME MINISTER: Before I go to questions. Again, I want to ensure Australians we are taking the necessary precautions, we are in fact, operating with an abundance of caution in these circumstances. So Australians can go about their daily lives with confidence. We are acting here in advance of many countries in terms of when similar type of arrangements are being put in place. We are doing this so you can get about your daily lives in a normal way. The facilities, the support that is available in Australia to contain what we are seeing is the best in the world, and that will continue to be in place for the protection of Australians. So these actions have been taken with an abundance of caution. So Australians can remain calm and be able to get on with their daily lives and their daily business and we will encourage them to do just that. Happy to take your questions.
JOURNALIST: Would you consider suspending all incoming flights, like, not just for nationals- but in general, will you be able to stop- Will you consider stopping all flights from mainland China arriving?
PRIME MINISTER: That that is not the advice to us at the moment from medical professionals. This enables Australians to be able to return and go through that process of self isolation. Many Australians would be in mainland China at any one point in time and this provides them with the opportunity to return to Australia. So no it has not been the advice for us to move to that level of action. But what I should stress is that the National Security Committee, we have met four times this week, to consider this very matter and we are reviewing this regularly and taking the advice that is coming through, whether it’s from the World Health Organization, like minded countries. What we're learning out of China and our engagements for the Chinese authorities and and from our own medical professionals here in Australia. And we'll continue to do that. We will monitor it extremely closely and take all the actions that are necessary.
JOURNALIST: Sorry so Prime Minister did you say that only Australian citizens are allowed to fly back from China?
PRIME MINISTER: That's right. Australian citizens, Australian residents, dependents, legal guardians and spouses.
JOURNALIST: Is this a new announcement? Is this new from now?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes. Yes.
JOURNALIST: What impact do you- expecting on tourism? Obviously, we've been hit by the fires. What economic impact are you seeing from this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, our first priority is the health and well-being and welfare of Australians. And so when it comes to their health and welfare then that comes first, obviously, as we are going to see and as other countries will see, as we saw with viruses of this nature in the past, we could expect that to have an impact, obviously, on tourist arrivals for obvious reasons. And the broader economic impacts of that, that is not our first concern at the moment, but we are very mindful of it. We have also tasked the Education Minister particularly to work with the tertiary sector to identify additional measures and precautions that will see the least disruption possible to this year for international students. And that can mean the delaying the commencement of courses, the providing of courses online in the initial phases, the delaying of orientation weeks, many universities already putting those arrangements in place now and the Education Minister Dan Tehan is going to be working with them. I should stress this arrangement we're putting in place, we’re putting in place for the next two weeks that will be constantly reviewed. And obviously if a- the decision and an announcement will be made about what happens post that period.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, can you tell us what will happen to those people who were already in the air prior to this announcement being made? Non-citizens of Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: Well in a few hours they will- many will board a plane. And that’s why with the support of the Chief Medical Officer, we have provided the discretion to the Border Force commissioner to be able to deal with those cases as they present, there will be enhanced screening facilities for those flights tomorrow. The risk at this point, starting from the 1st of February, is low as they've described it, but their expectation is that it will rise in the days and weeks ahead. And so for that reason, tomorrow, the Chief Medical Officer in his discussion with us was comfortable with those arrangements being at the discretion of the Border Force commissioner in the morning and their officers. And and but within 24 hours, our advice is that they'll be able to step up those processes throughout the international channels far more effectively.
PRIME MINISTER: Has China agreed to allow Qantas to carry out the evacuation of Australian citizens from Wuhan yet?
PRIME MINISTER: Well in relation to the assisted departure I’ll refer that to Marise.
MINISTER PAYNE: As I said, we expect the process, the agreement and the process to be finalized very soon and we are proceeding on that basis.
JOURNALIST: It's been a controversial decision to put Australian citizens on Christmas Island, how confident are both of you that this is the right decision?
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely confident. And I don't agree it's a controversial decision. I agree it's the right decision. We have those facilities in place to support people over that two week period, which can, I think, give Australians the greatest level of confidence about the quarantine that we've been able to establish, we're taking, and there's been a high level of interest and registration of interest in the assisted departure. And I think Australians would support that. But they also want to be assured that the quarantine arrangements where we’re taking people from the most affected part of China, which where this virus began and where the human to human contact has been the most prolific, that we are taking the most serious precautions, in putting the quarantine arrangements in place. And we are able to stand up those facilities to do that. We are able to separate and provide the assurances that I believe are necessary for the community on Christmas Island and that will in turn enable for their safe return to Australia after the appropriate quarantine period.
JOURNALIST: And there are other measures that Professor Murphy suggested, new measures to contain the spread of the virus?
PRIME MINISTER: We have implemented everything they’ve recommended.
JOURNALIST: Can you tell us roughly how many- this might be a question for the for the Foreign Minister? How many Australians are in Wuhan and will they be brought to Darwin first and then Christmas Island, or is there any rough plans you can share with us?
PRIME MINISTER: There is a significant number of Australians in Wuhan and their families and dependents, particularly with regard to the Lunar New Year travels and also those who live there over longer periods of time. We are working closely with all those who have registered through the emergency consular line to identify those in particular who wish to seek to be part of the assisted departure. That is an ongoing process because it involves contacting people individually and then determining their status effectively around being Australian citizens and so on. That is something that my consular team have literally been working on day and night, and that continues. The arrangements for the flight continue to be made I'm not going to go into any further details in relation to those, they are matters that we are working through with Qantas.
JOURNALIST: If foreign nationals arrives, say on the flights in the next couple of hours, or say tomorrow morning, will they be kept in quarantine and then sent back, because Qantas has announced that they won't- they’ll be suspending their direct flights to mainland China-
PRIME MINISTER: On the 9th.
JOURNALIST: Yeah, so what will the arrangements be, say, after that if this is in place for two weeks? How will it practically work in terms of returning?
PRIME MINISTER: Well for those who have come to Australia as a foreign national, they would have already been asked prior to departure, let's say they're coming through a third port- through a third country. They would be asked on check in whether they had been in mainland China, since the 1st of February. If they do not honestly answer that question, but subsequently it is revealed on the on the journey to Australia or when they present at the airport, then they would be placed in an alternative place of detention for a quarantine period.
JOURNALIST: Have there been any discussions about-
PRIME MINISTER: But as I said, in the morning, given the low level of risk as advised by the Chief Medical Officer, the Border Force commissioner will have discretion as to handle the arrangements in the morning.
JOURNALIST: Have there been any discussions about how this news will go down in China? Is there any sort of diplomatic issues that the Government has to consider here, or is it just simply a case of controlling [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, our first responsibility is Australians and in Australia's national interest. And that means the health of the Australians and their well-being. That's what's driving our decisions. But I'll ask the Foreign Minister to add to this answer. Obviously, we appreciate the challenges that the Chinese government are facing at the moment. It has been a serious issue. And we thank them for the engagement that we've had.
MINISTER PAYNE: Indeed, Prime Minister, we've been working very constructively with China right throughout this entire crisis in terms of the decisions that they have had to make in managing their own internal arrangements. And we've seen, as you know, significant travel restrictions are placed in China internally. They have also made announcements in the last few days around international travel advice for their own citizens in their own country. So that work goes on both here in Australia, between between my department and between the embassy here and also in China, led by our ambassador, Graham Fletcher, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other authorities there, particularly the health authorities. We also have a significant priority to to look after, as well as our Australian citizens, our Australian citizen staff who are on the ground in a number of posts throughout China. Beijing, just for starters. So that is, of course, also something of which we are very conscious. But I am very grateful for the constructive approach that the Chinese authorities and the embassy here in Canberra has taken to our engagement on these issues. It is a very difficult time. There is absolutely no question of that. A very difficult time for China, for its citizens, for Australians who are currently in China or have family in China, and indeed, for the international community, a significant period of disruption. We are very conscious of that and endeavouring to work as constructively as we can.
JOURNALIST: Many Australians will probably be asking because flights have been coming in from China over the past few days. Hundreds of people have been arriving. Where are those people now? Are you monitoring them? Is there any message that has gone out to those people?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m glad you asked that question because the advice of all the chief medical officers, that people who have been in mainland China prior to today, are not presenting that risk. That's their advice. That the risk is beginning to escalate from now. And so the issue of someone being- you’ve got to remember the size of the Chinese population and the number of cases outside of Hubei as a proportion of that population is very, very low. And for many places the concentration, even often the places they may have been in mainland China- and the clear advice from all of the medical officers has been that prior to now, in January, because we have asked every day about that risk and the spread from outside of Hubei into mainland China. They have said that has not presented a risk. And that's why they have not recommended the action that they have recommended today.
JOURNALIST: The World Health Organization has said that people shouldn’t be closing borders to China, why has- why has Australia done so?
PRIME MINISTER: Because our medical advice is it’s in the interest of Australians to do so.
JOURNALIST: There's also reports over the last few days about racism towards members of the Asian community because of this outbreak. What's your response to that? And do you think that these communities need to be better supported?
PRIME MINISTER: I think all communities should be supported and I think- that's why I sought to say to Australians that it is important to remain calm about this. We have the best medical facilities and the best preparations and best way of managing and containing this of arguably anywhere in the world. And that's what we’re seeing. We have a handful of cases in Australia and in fact, we have two cases that we confirmed where people have now been discharged. We have had no fatalities in relation to this virus in Australia. And we're a big country. And we have many ways of being able to contain the effect of this so I think it's important that people just exercise common sense, that people go about their business in the normal way, and that they listen to the appropriate health advice. And that, as always, we respect each other. We support each other. And we do the right thing by each other. That's certainly what the government is doing to ensure that we keep Australians safe and to keep Australians safe we've also got to keep each other calm. Thanks very much.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister have you heard from- about Bridget McKenzie- report?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
Press Conference - Canberra, ACT
29 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning everyone. I’m of course joined by Dr Brendan Murphy the Chief Medical Officer, the Minister for Health, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Before I begin on the serious matters we are addressing today regarding the coronavirus and further actions the Government has taken today after the National Security Committee met again earlier today, of course, we met on Monday, we'll be meeting again on Friday as this is a serious and evolving situation, the fires overnight here in Canberra are a reminder again that we're a long way from the end of this bushfire season and while we are presented with many challenges at the moment as a country, whether it's the fires which were on the outskirts of this city last night, whether it was the drought where I was yesterday out in western New South Wales and addressing the very pressing issues there, or even still as we're dealing with the issues up in North Queensland and the recovery from the floods, and of course dealing with these serious matters of the coronavirus, there are many issues that we're very focused on at the moment and the National Security Committee has had a long agenda of matters to address. Also I might just say that there'll be an opportunity to take questions obviously on these matters about the announcements today. If you have questions on other matters I'd ask that you leave them to the National Press Club address, we can obviously deal with those other matters then.
The steps we're announcing today are a number- let me just run through them. As I said this is a serious and evolving situation. I want to start by thanking Dr Murphy and all of our medical advice team working through the Minister for Health and all of our team at DFAT for the constant and consistent advice they're providing to us on this very serious situation. I want to thank all the state health authorities and state health Ministers as well who have been working closely with Greg Hunt and of course the CMO to ensure that all of our response to this and particularly our clinical response on the ground continues to be proving highly effective in containing the impacts of this coronavirus. The steps we're taking today are being taken on the basis of the medical advice that we are receiving. That is, firstly, and Dr Murphy will go into more detail on this, we're releasing 1 million masks from the stockpile through the PHN network and also that would include going to pharmacists, bushfire responses have depleted some of those stocks in various places around the country and that process is being undertaken today.
The travel advice has been upgraded to reconsider all travel to China, the entire nation. There is a package of information following the decision we took on Monday which is going out to all tourist accommodation and tourist industry-related operators to ensure that there is advice in language for those where they're staying in commercial accommodation, but also where else they might be as they're moving around the country so they can have access to the information they need. A key part of our armoury in dealing with this coronavirus issue is information and having the right information and ensuring people are going to the right source of information and making decisions based on that accurate information. And I would encourage all Australians to focus on getting that information from the trusted sources which are directly from public health authorities.
On Monday evening, there was a information session held in Beijing for diplomatic missions where a range of issues were discussed. I want to thank the Chinese Government for the very transparent way they have been dealing with not just the Australian Government, but with all of those missions and we greatly appreciate it, the opportunity to attend that session on Monday evening. Following that session, we have taken a decision this morning to prepare a plan for an operation to provide some assisted departures for isolated and vulnerable Australians in Wuhan and the Hubei province. This will be done subject obviously to working closely and with the authority and approval of the Chinese Government and we thank them again for the way they have been working with other nations and we're working in the same arrangements that is being - also been extended to those countries but I stress there is rather a limited window here and we are moving very, very swiftly to ensure we can put this plan together and put the operation together. I stress that this will be done on a last in, first out basis. What that means is we're working with the community that has been identified there and the Foreign Minister can go into more detail about this. For those who have been there who do not have an established support infrastructure in where they're living, they would have been shorter term travellers to that area, they would not have been living there for many years and we're particularly focused on the more vulnerable components of that population. That's young people, particularly infants, and those who are elderly and that would be our priority in any operation we're able to put in place.
Those assisted with their departure, and those arrangements will be done on the normal commercial terms that are done for assisted departures in these circumstances, we will be standing up Christmas Island as a quarantine area. They will be transported to Christmas Island where they'll - where we will also be putting in place the AUSMAT team who will be travelling there to support the medical support and that will be supplemented as is necessary by other defence support which can assist and other support that is provided through the medical system to ensure proper treatment facilities are there. I also want to stress that for Christmas Island, we will be ensuring there will be support provided directly to the Christmas Island community completely separate and quarantined from the support that is being provided in the quarantine zone. The quarantine declaration will be made by the Government to give effect to those arrangements. The Defence Force have been tasked to identify overflow facilities where that may be necessary and also to provide whatever logistical and other support is necessary to support the operations on Christmas Island. Anyone who under this plan are transported to Christmas Island would be there, we envisage, for up to 14 days which is the advised period of quarantine for the patient of this virus. But that will be subject to the medical advice we receive, and that will obviously be a condition of those who are - who would seek to take part in this arrangement.
I want to stress that there is - we cannot give a guarantee that this operation is able to succeed and I also want to stress very clearly that we may not be in a position if we're able to do this on one occasion, to do it on another occasion. We have already, as I announced yesterday, moved our consular officials out of Shanghai. They are en route now and on their way to Wuhan to provide us with a presence on the ground to coordinate what we're doing here. There are many complications and many issues that we're going to have to overcome. I note that the United States has been able to provide assisted departures already, but I stress that has only been for their consular staff and families. A broader assisted departure for the United States citizens in that area at this stage has not been undertaken. So what we're proposing here is something different, as you know we do not have a consulate presence in Wuhan. We do not have large numbers of Australian staff who are present in Wuhan. So that is not an issue we're dealing with. But we are dealing with a number of Australians who have been there and we have to go through the process of identifying those who are most vulnerable and who are most isolated and where it is possible, I want to thank Qantas because they have offered their assistance in being the commercial operator that we can use to undertake this operation and I want to thank everyone at Qantas as always for stepping up when Australia needs you and we thank them very much for that process.
I'm going to hand over now to the Chief Medical Officer. He's going to give a more general overview of what's occurring today. I'll then ask Greg Hunt to speak on what he's been doing domestically to work with the state and territory Ministers- governments and the practises they have in place and then, of course, Marise Payne, as Foreign Minister, can update you on our plans and our operations. I should also stress - this operation we’ll be doing in partnership with the New Zealand Government. I spoke again to Prime Minister Ardern today. I spoke to her last night so this is very much an ANZ operation and we'll be working closely with them and also we will seek to work with other - of the Pacific family in our region where possible, to provide what support we can, but my first priority right now is the safety of Australians, the safety of Australians here in Australia to ensure that we are doing everything consistent with the advice and acting with an abundance of caution to protect their wellbeing, but also for those Australians who have found themselves isolated and vulnerable as a result of this crisis that we're also extending some support to them. Brendan.
DR. BRENDAN MURPHY, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: Thank you, Prime Minister. So just recently we received data from China suggesting there are now over 6,000 confirmed cases and 132 deaths. Nearly all of those deaths remain in that Hubei province which is the epicentre of this outbreak, but as we have said before, there are increasing but still small numbers of cases in other provinces of China and on that basis, we recommended to the Department of Foreign Affairs last night that they upgrade their travel advisory for the whole of China to reconsider your need to travel.
There have been 84 exported cases to other countries. In Australia, the official numbers of cases remains at 5, but we do expect a very small number of additional cases to be reported in the near future. But I stress that we have tested a large number of Australians with a relevant travel history and relevant symptoms and the great majority of those have been negative. All of the 5 cases in Australia are in a stable condition. The World Health Organization has now estimated that only about 20% of people with this condition have a severe disease. So we do want to emphasise that the majority of people have a mild disease and still most of the deaths are in people who are older and have - and the Chinese are reporting them to have comorbidity. So there's a significant group of people with mild disease and we still believe that there are people in China with mild disease who remain underreported.
So we think the Australian community needs to be reassured that we are well prepared. Our efforts are based around trying to identify any people who are in this country, they're [inaudible] to be already here because the Chinese authorities have stopped transport or any exit from the Hubei province which remains by far the major centre of this condition. The Prime Minister mentioned masks. The masks are for patients who with the relevant travel history and symptoms and their doctors who are assessing them, we're not recommending that the general Australian public wear masks or take protection. We have only 5 confirmed cases in Australia. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission in Australia. The Australian public should go about their business, reassured that the risk to them is extremely low. We are well prepared, if more cases come, we're well prepared in our state and territory health services to isolate people as necessary and manage them.
I do want to- just finally before I hand over to Minister Hunt mention media reports overnight of two cases in Japan, in Germany, where there is a suggestion that contrary to all of the previous expert advice that some people may have transmitted the virus just before they became symptomatic, whereas normally the advice has been with these viruses that you need to be symptomatic to be infectious. We're convening an urgent meeting of all of our expert groups this afternoon to reconsider whether our medical advice should be changed and look at the veracity of those cases. So that's an active issue that we're exploring. So I'll hand over to Minister Hunt.
THE HON. GREG HUNT MP, MINISTER FOR HEALTH: Thanks very much to Dr Murphy. The Government has been following the medical advice and in particular once Dr Murphy triggered the human coronavirus with pandemic potential decision under the Biosecurity Act, those actions which had been in preparation were extended and expanded and expedited. In particular action has been taken within our airport system and our port system to ensure that there are warnings, protections, advice and that if any symptoms are identified, that action is taken to assess the individuals. We are assessing on a daily basis the expert advice. Dr Murphy has been leading those discussions with states and territories and equally he will be convening today the communicable disease network of Australia which is the expert advisory panel in addition to the state chief health officers who work closely with them and their advice has been consistent and has been acted upon. For example, yesterday they advised that the travel advisory should be updated and that was done by the Government immediately.
In terms of additional actions going forward, as the Prime Minister said, we'll be supporting the public and GPs through the allocation of up to 1 million masks for general practices, for those patients and health workers where there is a case that somebody is coming forward and identifying that they may have been in contact or they may have symptoms. And following again the advice of Dr Murphy and the experts, they'll be distributed through the primary health networks to general practices that seek or need them and if more are required, more will be provided. We have now a supply of 21.5 million masks, 12.5 million P2 masks and 9 million surgical masks which are on the advice, the appropriate masks for this particular type of action and that's in response to the medical advice and our work with the medical providers themselves - the RACGP and the AMA and the ACRRM.
Further to that we're also ensuring that there will be an AUSMAT, Australian medical assistance team, that will support the bringing of people to Christmas Island subject to all of the work that the Foreign Minister is doing in relation to that process of assisted departure and that is a second domestic mobilisation of this extraordinary resource that Australia has previously that has been deployed overseas and was deployed during the bushfire emergencies and has already been mobilised. We prepared them on a contingency basis and we notified them this morning following the decisions of the national security committee.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much Greg, and I’ll ask Marise to [inaudible].
SENATOR THE HON. MARISE PAYNE, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Thank you very much, PM, Dr Murphy and Minister Hunt. Can I start by reminding Australians that we have upgraded our travel advice, our travel advice in relation to China is to reconsider your need to travel to China and in relation to Hubei province, it is do not travel to Hubei province.
As the Prime Minister has said, our embassy in Beijing will now be seeking formal approval from the Chinese Government to assist the departure of Australians in accordance with the requirements that were provided to diplomatic missions in the briefing in Beijing on Monday. We are positioning a consular team from Shanghai to be able to support any action that we take, that will include setting up a temporary consular office in Wuhan to work with local authorities to help give effect to our plans to bring about an assisted departure.
We understand from calls to the DFAT consular emergency line that we have now just over 600 Australians currently registered in Hubei province for either advice or assistance. We will be talking further with each of them as the Prime Minister has said, our focus in this proposed assisted departure is on supporting isolated and vulnerable Australian citizens. We are endeavouring to make further contact with people who have given us their details. We do note that it is sometimes difficult given the phone circumstances in China to make that follow-up contact and so if those Australians or their families have not spoken with our consular officials in the past 24 hours, then I would encourage them to make contact again on the DFAT emergency number which is, in Australia 1300 555 135, and internationally +61 2 6261 3305.
I do want to indicate that we absolutely understand what a stressful time this is for those families that are impacted by the circumstances in Wuhan and Hubei province. We are encouraging people to make contact with family and friends to stay in touch with travel providers and, of course, to contact their insurers where appropriate. And also to continue to follow the health precautions which are available on our Smart Traveller website. In China, as I indicated on Monday, Australians should avoid major gatherings. They should stay away from crowded areas and they should follow strict hygiene precautions. As the Prime Minister and the Health Minister have indicated, there is still significant work to do to bring about this process, most particularly our consultations with Chinese authorities but we are doing all that we can and having extensive discussions to ensure that we can help Australians in Wuhan as soon as possible.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you Marise, and I’ll ask Brendan to join me again. We have time for a few questions?
JOURNALIST: Can you give us a sense of the numbers involved here? How many people do you think you might be able to evacuate, how many of our New Zealand and Pacific neighbours might we be able to help and what are the circumstances for dual citizens?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I would take a number of those points. The Foreign Minister indicated we have 600 people who are registered in that area but there are many other issues that have to be worked through, and you have highlighted quite a few of those. At this stage we are in the planning phase. When we have further information on what the capability of that operation is, then we will obviously advise people. At this stage, we are simply saying that we are putting plans in place, we’re working with the Chinese government to put this in place, we’re working with the New Zealand government, and as you know I have spoken to the Prime Minister Ardern just today about how they would be participating in this obviously with consular support and working with our consular teams as part of that process. They obviously have a much smaller number of people that are impacted than Australia, so I welcome the fact that they want to combine their resources with ours to address this, and similarly we understand the work that we can do to help our Pacific family as well. But my primary focus is on the welfare of Australians and those Australians here in Australia and ensuring we are protecting them and their health and safety and well-being, but also those Australians who are in Hubei province in Wuhan, who are isolated and vulnerable. It is a process of identifying those who are isolated and vulnerable. There are some people who will be in Hubei province, who have been there for some time and effectively have been living there for some period of time. We are talking about people who are there not in those circumstances, those who don't have support structures in that place, those who are particularly vulnerable because they might have young children or they may be elderly. There are also issues around passports that people have travelled on, which is a matter that is noted by the Chinese government as well and we will have to work in with the rules and arrangements that have been put in place not just for Australia but other countries as well.
JOURNALIST: How long ‘til you expect Beijing to grant permission for these assisted departures? When could we see that first Qantas jet arrived in Hubei?
MINISTER PAYNE: I think we must be prepared to be patient as this process is undertaken. Australia is not the only country seeking diplomatic support and clearances for these activities-
JOURNALIST: So we haven’t got permission yet?
MINISTER PAYNE: We are seeking permission from the Chinese authorities as I indicated-
JOURNALIST: But they haven’t given us permission yet?
MINISTER PAYNE: -in my opening remarks. We will do that through our post in Beijing and also working with the local authorities in Wuhan through the consular team that will arrive there imminently from Shanghai.
PRIME MINISTER: Just to address Greg's point, we made a decision this morning to put this plan in place and to seek those authorities. We are respectfully now going through that process. It has been my intention to come here today with Ministers to let the Australian people know the decisions we have taken and what we are doing. There is quite a process to work through, and the relationship and working support we have had with the Chinese government to date on this matter has been very strong, and so-
JOURNALIST: But given other countries have received permission haven’t we been slow off the mark?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: How long would people be quarantined on Christmas Island for? 14 days? Or how long?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, our expectation is 14 days.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible] quarantine measures like attending schools is completely at odds with what some states are saying. Who are parents supposed to trust and listen to when it comes to those measures?
PRIME MINISTER: Well let me say a couple of things. My kids went back to school this week as many other kids have and I understand the issues and concerns that parents would have being one of them myself. And that is why it is important to take the advice, and I think the Chief Medical Officer today has set out the situation very soundly and that is why it is important to seek out the information directly from the source-
JOURNALIST: Whose advice? The states or the government?
PRIME MINISTER: What I don't agree with in the question as it was presented is- what the New South Wales has done has been consistent with the advice, it has gone beyond that advice and as a parent in New South Wales, I don't have any issue with that and an abundance of caution. We have also been undertaking our actions with an abundance of caution. And we will continue to do that. And what other measures are necessary, then we will take them. That is why we are reviewing this on a daily basis and states within their own province and own school systems will make their decisions. And I support them doing that. They are seeking the advice from the Chief Medical Officer, working with the medical professionals and they are making decisions and I support them in those decisions and the decisions that were taken in New South Wales were not inconsistent with the advice that is out there. It went beyond the advice, and for that, that is a judgement they are entitled to make.
JOURNALIST: The White House is considering suspending flights to and from China, will Australia look at doing the same?
PRIME MINISTER: At this stage we are acting on the medical advice to us that is not suggesting that as an action for Australia. We should stress that all countries will find themselves in different situations in terms of how this virus and how this outbreak may impact on them, as the Chief Medical Officer has said. We have five confirmed cases. Obviously we expect that there can be more as there is more testing, but the response from our state health authorities and the treatment capability that is there is strong, and so we will continue to make decisions. I mean, the Chinese government themselves have now put restrictions in saying to reconsider the need for travel outside of China. We have upgraded our travel advice for people to reconsider their need to travel to China, and that would equally apply to people in China who are Australian, and the reasons for them being there. And so I think that advice is all very clear. But what I want to stress to all Australians is this is an issue we are dealing with constantly on the basis of the best advice that we have available, that we are making decisions every single day, and we will continue to take decisions to protect Australians, their safety, their well-being, whether here or where they may be in a position of vulnerability overseas. We’ve got time for one more?
JOURNALIST: What is your latest advice from your economic advisers on the potential economic impact on Australia such as tourism, exports to China as well?
PRIME MINISTER: Well John, of course we share a concern, particularly in the wake of the bushfire crisis, an emergency that will have an impact on our tourism industry and related things, and that is obviously of concern to us. But to be honest, right now, my focus is on people's health and their well-being. And these issues will be addressed in time when a clearer picture emerges. These are not things that are confined obviously to Australia, and their broader impact, and they will be assessed as we particularly lead in to the next budget and that is the appropriate time I think for that reconciliation to take place. But right now, our focus, my focus, is on Australian’s health and well-being, and protecting their safety. Thank you very much.
Address, National Press Club
29 January 2020
Thank you very much Sabra, and thank you for all attending here today. I am particularly conscious, particularly in this city, where we have had this most recent, again, reminder of the terrible bushfire season we have had with the bushfires coming so close as they did last evening. And I extend all of my sincere empathies to those particularly around the capital today on what has been a difficult night.
Can I also acknowledge the many colleagues I have here today, too many to mention. It’s wonderful to see you all but particularly it’s wonderful to have my wife Jenny here and it’s great to see you here, love.
Can I begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people, their elders past, present, and particularly the future, those who are emerging.
To any veterans here today, and to our servicemen and women around the country, let me again say to you on behalf of a very grateful nation: ‘Thank you for your service’.
For the families who have lost loved ones through this terrible bushfire season, your sorrow hangs heavy on our nation’s heart.
And that heart is extended also to all those who now face the daunting task of rebuilding homes, livelihoods, businesses and local communities. We’ll be with you for the long haul.
Many Australians – as well as our loyal friends from overseas who are standing here with us – remain on those front-lines today, some 75 or so fires burning around the country today.
Our brave firefighters. Our emergency services workers. Our volunteers.
Our soldiers and reservists, our carers and mental health specialists, local community leaders and public servants, as well as the networks of civil society engaged in all manner of very practical, helpful, loving tasks – from delivering food to rescuing and supporting recovering wildlife.
Amidst this devastation, it has been humbling to see Australia at its best.
In recounting the stories of their selflessness, as I did on Australia Day, my message was very simple.
This is the greatness of Australia. This is the strength of Australia.
This is why as a people we always overcome and prevail.
Australia is strong but we must become even stronger.
We live in a world of increasing global uncertainty, which the current Coronavirus outbreak only serves to reinforce, which I have already addressed earlier today so I won’t be speaking on that topic in great detail today, but if you wish we can deal with those matters on further questions afterwards.
Strategic competition, technological change, a recasting of the global economy, pressures on global financial systems and escalating environmental challenges.
And at home, a growing and ageing population, a stubborn and devastating drought in a vast continent of increasing environmental extremes, an economy that is making the leap to the next phase of our prosperity, and any leap carries risks and challenges and a society where too many Australians take their own lives, symptomatic in so many ways of the pressures and corrosive forces present in so much of modern day life.
This year, our Government, we will continue to build an even stronger Australia.
By keeping our economy strong to guarantee the essentials, those services that Australians rely on, like the delivery of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and lifting our investment in aged care.
By keeping Australians safe, whether from strategic threats, keeping our borders secure, safeguarding their health and well-being, or protecting us from terrorist attacks and the impact of natural disasters.
And by keeping Australians together. Our most precious asset - as families, as individuals, as communities and as a nation. Respectful and tolerant of each other, our differences, committed to each other as stewards and custodians of our collective future.
These were the priorities I set out when I became Prime Minister. They remain lock-firm my priorities today and going forward.
Sound economic management puts you in a position to deal with long-term challenges and as well as dealing with crises when they hit.
While we don’t yet know the impact on economic activity of the bushfires let alone Coronavirus, nonetheless, the Government was quick to commit an additional $2 billion to support communities and individuals who have felt the impact. Initial and additional to the recovery assistance that goes on as normal course of events.
This includes not only emergency relief and grants for farmers and small businesses in affected areas, but importantly $76 million in practical assistance to support our tourism industry.
Our ability to do this is not straightforward and didn’t happen by accident. Our ability to do this without putting up taxes or levies as has occurred in the past and while retaining our AAA credit rating and our path to surplus, is the dividend of our Government’s enduring commitment to fiscal discipline. That’s what it’s about. That’s why we’ve been so obsessed. Because when the bad times hit and the crisis come, you must be prepared. And we have gone into this crisis in that way.
So while the response to the bushfire crisis is significant in scale, we have done it in a way that remains consistent with our medium term fiscal outlook, as the Treasurer has been reassuring people.
And while placing the priority, though, on the human cost rather than the fiscal cost. That’s been our focus.
The Budget position for 2019-20 will be updated in May and it will take into account, as usual, under the keen eye and stewardship of the Finance Minister and the Treasurer, it will take into account the additional expenditure that we’ve outlined since the mid-year statement, as well as the broader economic impacts of these disasters as best as they are known at that time.
Importantly, we’re not just focused on the immediate response, something I was quick to reassure people in the areas that I have toured and visited.
We are working with state and local governments, with businesses, the not-for-profit sector to develop and deliver locally-driven Economic Recovery Plans. Like rebuilding the livelihoods of orchardists in Batlow, where I was with the Deputy Prime Minister just the other day.
I want to particularly commend Minister Littleproud on the great work he has done leading our effort in response to the bushfire crisis and I particularly also recognise Andrew Colvin, called back into service, who is doing a tremendous job and we thank you, Andrew, for your commitment to our nation.
Now, aiding this effort are positive signs, though, in our economy going into 2020 that the fundamentals of our economy are strong and in good shape.
Key global risks have eased following the ‘phase one deal’ between the US and China and the reduced uncertainty over Brexit, although the effect of the recent Coronavirus outbreak does remain uncertain.
Domestically, we have seen encouraging recent data that shows that the underlying resilience and strength of the economy is there. Retail sales figures for November were the strongest in two years and the housing market continues to stabilise, which underpins confidence.
The labour market is also performing well, continues to, with over 260,000 jobs added in 2019. More than half of these were full-time, while our unemployment rate remains at a low of 5.1 per cent.
More than 1.5 million jobs have now been created since our Government was first elected.
And the number of unemployed persons, importantly, is lower today in Australia than it was at the last election, the election before that in 2016 and the election before that in 2013.
This year we will continue to roll out the economic plan that has delivered those dividends:
maintaining our disciplined approach to financial management
keeping taxes low, with tax cuts for small and medium-sized businesses and continued tax relief for around 10 million Australians
delivering on our record investment in transport infrastructure, including the over $2 billion that we announced we brought forward over the next 18 months
expanding access to new export markets for Australia, with a special focus on the UK post-Brexit and the European Union, where the Finance Minister has just returned from overseas where he has been pressing that case
busting regulatory congestion that is holding up business investment
reducing unnecessary bureaucracy in our industrial relations system, while working to pass the Ensuring Integrity and Proper use of Worker Benefits laws, and
building on our $585 million Skills Package through Minister Cash that we announced last year and the creation of new bodies such as the National Skills Commission. It is a priority for us this year.
Skills reform will be a priority for COAG discussions in March and beyond and I want to thank the states and territories, premiers and chief ministers, for their commitment to that agenda.
Our $50 million commitment to TAFE Revitalisation will deliver infrastructure projects, refurbish facilities, and purchase specialist training equipment. That has now being authorised.
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is being reformed to improve its governance, accountability and engagement with the sector.
And we’re making it easier for many VET students to access courses by increasing the size of loans available for around one-quarter of all eligible courses. That was signed off last week and I will expand further on all of these issues and the economic plan on other occasions.
A strong and resilient nation, though, can only take action with a strong economy. And in particular to protect the safety and security of its citizens.
As we look into this year, our Government will remain steadfast in defending our independence and our sovereignty as a nation.
We will not stand for foreign interference or allow our borders to be compromised. We will do everything possible to protect Australians from terrorists as we have done so vigilantly under Peter’s leadership at Home Affairs. Australians can be kept safer by an economy that is strong.
And we will counter the evil ideologies that underpin those terrorist attacks from whichever evil ideology it stems from.
And we will stand with our allies and partners in support of an open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific, with ASEAN at its core.
We will work to preserve a balance in our region that keeps the skies and sea lanes open, upholds international law, and reinforces the independence and sovereignty and indeed our success of our neighbours.
This is essential to our own prosperity and security.
As part of our Step-up, we will continue to strengthen our commitment to our Pacific family, who themselves have opened their hearts to us in a very touching was during this most recent bushfire crisis.
These bonds have never been stronger between Australia and our Pacific family.
We will continue to invest in our intelligence, security, diplomatic and other border protection agencies that keep us all safe each and every day.
This year our Government will also achieve that through realising our goal to restore the defence budget back to 2 per cent of GDP – a commitment we made back in 2013 and will be realised this year when the Treasurer hands down this year’s Budget.
However, this summer has reminded us that our national security is also about our preparedness, responsiveness and resilience to natural disasters and the environment we will live in today, over the next decade and well beyond.
Given the significance of these events and the issues that they have raised in recent times, this is where I would like to spend the majority of my focus today.
It has long been the case that state and territory governments have primary responsibility for protecting life, property and the environment within their borders. They perform most of the functions essential for emergency management and community safety and they do a great job.
This includes maintaining the agencies that provide emergency services – police, fire, ambulance and medical services.
This should remain the case. The incredible skill and bravery of our state fire services has saved so many lives over this summer, so many homes and I am full of admiration for all of their efforts and their leadership.
To date, the role of the Commonwealth has been limited in responding to natural disasters has been limited to responding to requests for assistance from state governments. They judge the time and form of support needed in making that request.
But I must say, the scale of the bushfires this season – not least their simultaneous reach across many borders – has demonstrated to me the limits of these arrangements.
As you know, I took the initiative for the first time ever as a Prime Minister to change the Defence Force posture from ‘respond to request’ to one of ‘move forward and integrate’ and to issue a compulsory call out of our Defence reservists in response to a domestic natural disaster.
I thank the states for their cooperation with this decision and stress again that it was not made because of any questioning of state efforts or preparedness.
In practical terms, this meant our defence forces were no longer waiting for specific requests for assistance, but they mobilised and moved forward into disaster affected areas at their own initiative, integrating wherever possible with local authorities to render the assistance where they could.
And the demonstration of the practical difference between ‘respond to request’ and ‘move forward and integrate’ is this - in just a few short weeks our defence deployment escalated from under 900 to more than 6,500. That made a big difference.
This constituted one of the largest domestic ADF operations in our history, with more than 13 fixed wing aircraft, 20 rotary wing platforms and three naval vessels all supporting that effort.
The ADF effort, the defence effort, multiplied and it amplified the effectiveness of state disaster response agencies, not supplant them, and it has played a critical role in getting fast and effective disaster relief where it is needed most.
These decisions though, I stress, were not taken lightly and they were not rushed into.
As I’ve said before, I have been very conscious of testing the limits of constitutionally defined roles and responsibilities during this bushfire season.
But I believe there is now a clear community expectation that the Commonwealth should have the ability to respond in times of national emergency and disasters, particularly through deployment of our defence forces in circumstances where the life and property of Australians has been assessed to be under threat at that scale.
I note that this was not something contemplated or recommended to the Commonwealth Government before this bushfire season, nor was it requested by any state or territory government.
After this fire season and before the next one, this is an area where we will need to get some clarity and we need to make some decisions, make some calls on this, including changing the law where and if it is necessary.
I therefore flag the following as issues to be considered in the wake of these events:
The legal framework that would allow the Commonwealth to declare a national state of emergency, currently doesn’t exist, - with clear authorities and appropriate safeguards for Commonwealth action on its own initiative, including the deployment of our defence forces;
The legal interface with the states and territories on responsibilities when it comes to preparation for, and response to, natural disasters and emergencies of national scale;
And an enhancement of a national accountability framework for natural disaster risk management, resilience and preparedness. This should include the setting of targets and transparent reporting on key actions, with enhanced national standards where necessary. We’ve got to be comparing apples with apples, we’ve got to be using the same methodologies.
An enhanced, and more proactive role for our defence force in response to domestic natural disasters will have implications for our force structure, for it’s capability, development, its command, its deployment and the training of our defence forces. So I don’t put this forward lightly.
There is no doubt we have learnt lessons from past fires and other natural disasters.
One of those has been the evacuation procedures that we’ve learnt from previous fires which I know has saved countless lives. But too often, the findings from these enquiries get forgotten. They get de-prioritised over time. One of the key tasks of a Royal Commission will be to audit the implementation of previous recommendations, drawing on the work that has already been done in this area. So they can get about that fairly quickly, it won’t have to take them too long.
And as the years pass, though we note that the bush grows back and fuel loads increase, people move in, in still larger numbers to live in fire-prone areas and dangerous fires occur again in a cycle which we must break.
We must continue to learn from this fire season so we are better prepared for the next one because there of course will be one. Whether that be the deployment of the defence forces, local hazard reduction, access to resources such as aerial firefighting equipment, consistency of disaster recovery arrangements or resilience in the face of a changing climate. And we must learn, as I discussed only last week, from the Indigenous Australians and their ancient practices and how to improve our resilience to these threats. They know more about this than we ever could and they stand ready to work closely with us.
But we must also look further ahead and prepare for and adapt to the environment and the climate we are going to be living in, and acknowledging what that is.
This summer is the latest chapter in the often harsh realities of living in this amazing continent.
Building our national resilience means building our ability to resist, absorb, accommodate, recover and transform in the face of such events – and this includes the effects of longer, hotter, drier summers.
Practical action on mitigation through reduced emissions needs to go hand-in-hand with practical action on climate resilience and adaptation.
Locally, when it comes to practical safety of people living in bushfire zones, hazard reduction is even more important than emissions reduction.
We need to seriously engage with issues like how we manage native vegetation, how we allow land-owners to clear asset protection zones on their property, where they’re stymied. Where we allow structures to be built and how, the materials and standards they are built to, and where and when hazard reduction burns, or other hazard reduction practices are carried out. All these considerations have a direct impact on the safety of Australians living in this climate, and in this bush environment.
That is why I have said it is important that we have greater transparency and accountability nationally about action being taken to reduce these risks and manage these going forward in a changing climate.
All of this is the climate action we need now.
Building dams, developing new crop varieties, improving planning for natural disasters is climate action now.
The science tells us the effects of emissions already in the atmosphere will continue to be felt in coming decades, even under the most ambitious global emissions reduction scenarios.
Mitigation and adaptation both contribute to resilience – mitigation reduces the risk; adaptation is how we prepare for the climate risk we cannot reduce.
We know our farmers are on the front line of resilience, I saw it first hand when I was with them only yesterday, continuing to battle this devastating drought in the face of more frequent and severe droughts they have led the world in the development of drought resistant crops.
That’s climate action now.
The $5 billion Future Drought Fund will support practical, resilience building measures, including small-scale water infrastructure and improved information on local climate variability, sustainable stock management, soil and water regeneration and the like.
Climate action now.
Our Drought Resilience Funding Plan, the framework to guide funding decisions for projects and activities, is expected to be tabled in Parliament by March of this year.
The National Water Grid will guide investment in new dams and distribution networks, and ensure a comprehensive, integrated plan to help drought-proof our water supply for farmers and regional communities.
The new Emergency Response Fund will provide up to $200 million each year to support not only immediate response activities, but also recovery and preparedness for future disasters.
The Reef 2050 Plan, backed-up by $1.9 billion in Commonwealth funding, is also among initiatives we are taking to build future climate resilience.
Climate action now.
We also have a track record of investing in the technology of resilience, science of resilience through agencies such as the Bureau of Meteorology, the CSIRO and the Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC.
And moving forward, I am asking the CSIRO, supported by an expert advisory panel chaired by our Chief Scientist who is here today and doing an amazing job, Dr Alan Finkel, to bring forward recommendations to Australian Governments, all of us, on the further practical resilience measures, including buildings, public infrastructure, industries such as agriculture, and protecting our natural assets.
I will be discussing resilience measures with the states and territories at COAG in March, and I know they’re looking forward to that discussion including to ensure the Commonwealth Government’s investment through the National Bushfire Recovery Agency will be in assets that are built to last, built to resist, built to survive longer, hotter, drier summers. Building back better for the future.
Now we also acknowledge the need to take action to reduce global emissions, to mitigate the risk of climate change. It’s not in dispute.
Of course we know that Australia, on its own, cannot control the world’s climate, as Australia accounts for just 1.3 per cent of global emissions. We also know that no fire event can be attributed to the actions of any one country on emissions reduction.
But Australia must play its part and we are playing our part. Taking action is agreed.
Our action though, is a balanced and responsible emissions reduction plan to reduce emissions by 26 per cent through to 2030 that we took to the Australian people at the last election.
Our target is comparable to countries like Japan, New Zealand and Canada – especially when account is taken of such factors as our geography, our population density, growth and economic and comparative advantage.
It’s a target higher than every other major economy in Asia.
A target that will see our emissions per capita fall by half. Half.
Our 2030 target is set, and we intend to meet it and we intend to beat it.
Just as we previously beat our Kyoto 1, and Kyoto 2 targets, when all the critics said we wouldn’t. And are saying so again about 2030.
And if legitimate carry over credits are not necessary, then even better. However, let’s not forget on this point, it was the Labor Government that made carry over credits a condition of their signing up to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. So I’m not copping lectures from that lot.
And we will do this consistent with the commitment we gave to the Australian people:
without a carbon tax that will slow our economy,
without driving up electricity prices, which I note by the way are down 3 and a half per cent today on the latest inflation figures, particularly, and without shifting jobs and without sending emissions offshore, and
without leaving behind Australians, so often ignored, so often left out, particularly in regional areas, who are working in sectors such as agriculture and mining and some appear to accept as casualties of this process. I don’t, and neither does my government.
One of the major vehicles for driving this agenda forward will be bilateral agreements on energy and emissions reductions with each state and territory, and that will begin with New South Wales, and I’ll have more to say about that soon.
But these agreements will focus on keeping energy prices affordable, improving the reliability of the electricity grid and driving down emissions while we do so, and I commend Angus Taylor for the great work he’s been doing in this area.
Central to this agenda is getting access to our domestic gas supplies. We need to get the gas from under our feet. There is no credible energy transition plan for an economy like Australia in particular, that does not involve the greater use of gas as an important transition fuel.
There are plenty of other medium to longer term alternative fuel arrangements and prospects, but they will not be commercially scalable and available for at least a decade, is our advice.
Gas has a critical role to play as a backstop to our record investment in renewable energy generation. It helps ensure we can keep the lights on when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining.
Sweating our existing coal fired power generation assets will only take us so far.
Gas can help us bridge the gap while our investments in batteries, hydrogen and pumped hydro energy storage bring these technologies to economic parity with traditional energy sources.
So right now, we’ve got to get the gas.
Our focus is also squarely on harnessing the power of new technology and allowing natural markets to operate, together with the desire and ingenuity of Australians to reduce emissions while keeping the economy strong.
Technology is key to driving down costs and identifying new economic opportunities for Australia, particularly for technologies providing storage and back-up to the electricity, industry and transport sectors.
This includes our $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation driving down the cost of our renewables, our $1 billion Grid Reliability Fund to catalyse investment in battery and pumped hydro energy storage, our $500 million hydrogen strategy to position us as a key player in the emerging hydrogen economy, which is a key issue of bilateral discussion with our friends in Japan, and our soon-to-be-released electric vehicle strategy to support the modernisation of our transport fleet.
This is all climate change action now.
In the waste sector, Australia’s emissions have already fallen by 25 per cent since 2000.
We are world leaders in renewable energy. More than 2.2 million Australian’s have rooftop solar panels - the highest uptake in the world.
And 2019 saw a record amount of renewable capacity installed, 24 per cent above the previous record set in 2018 - and electricity generated from renewables is forecast to grow again by a further 26 per cent this year. This year.
Based on Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance data, in 2019 Australia’s per capita investment in renewables- sorry Mathias- was more than triple the per capita investment of countries like Germany, France, and Denmark.
SENATOR THE HON. MATHIAS CORMANN, MINISTER FOR FINANCE: I’ve been making that point all week!
PRIME MINISTER: He’s been making that point in Europe all week, Mathias says, and he’s right to do so. He’s right to do so. We’ve got a great record here. We’re achieving great things in this country when it comes to renewable technologies and renewable energy. And I won’t stand by and see others talk this down for some other purpose or agenda. We’re doing the right thing here, and we’re going to keep doing it.
To guide Australia’s future technology investments, the Government will next month release for consultation a new technology roadmap charting the way forward in areas such as:
Hydrogen,
Solar and batteries,
Transmission and networks,
Large-scale energy storage, and
Carbon capture and storage.
So our climate action agenda is a practical one, it goes beyond targets and summits and it’s driven by technology, not taxation.
This is important as there are real weaknesses in the current global action frameworks on emissions reduction.
Current frameworks and agreements globally, actually endorse massive increases in emissions from some of the world’s largest and growing economies.
So understandably this tests the patience of people in countries like Australia, particularly in regional areas, who ask the question why do their jobs have to be exported and their incomes exported to other countries, while global emissions under those arrangements are allowed to rise for so many.
These contradictions and limitations need to be acknowledged.
The atmosphere doesn’t care where emissions come from. Emissions do not have accents.
The only thing that matters is the cumulative impact of all countries’ emissions.
You will also not reduce the number of coal-fired power stations in the world today by forcing the shut down of Australian coal mines and the Australian jobs that go with them.
Other countries will just buy the coal from somewhere else - often poorer quality with greater environmental and climate impacts.
And you won’t get emissions down in large developing countries through arbitrary target setting. Quite rightly, they’re getting people out of poverty.
The pathway to making meaningful impacts on global emissions reductions with these countries is through partnering with them on technological development. Making it scalable, making it commercial, making it achievable.
You know, it is worth noting that the United States has achieved higher rates of emissions reduction than many of the nations that are signatories to the Paris agreement.
Between 2005 and 2017 US emissions fell by about 13 per cent, that’s just a click over what we have achieved which is 12.8 per cent by the way. This compares to about 2.4 per cent for Canada, 4.3 per cent for Japan. US firms are already building in climate risk and managing for it, just as they are here in Australia. The US has also substantially reduced their emissions in a large part because they have opened up their gas resources. That’s why they’re using less coal.
Our economies will adjust. The market signals are already there. We have to give them the room to adjust and not cut off response options, like in gas exploration and development, that help them move forward.
The answer is not more taxes and increased global bureaucracy, but practical change, driven by science and technology, that allows companies and economies to develop and commercialise new technologies that are accessible, affordable and scalable the world over.
That’s how you will get emissions down. By solving problems like affordable and scalable energy storage, as Angus reminds me constantly. By developing cost-effective carbon sequestration. By developing and switching to viable alternative fuels. You don’t do it on a bit of paper, you do it by changing what you do and how you do it.
This is where we are focusing our practical efforts.
If we get this right as I believe we will, we will be well on our way to lower cost, more reliable and lower emissions energy.
Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about?
There are many other issues we will address this year, and no doubt more will emerge and challenge us as the year proceeds.
But as the year unfolds, I want to say this to my fellow Australians, it is important to understand not just what we are doing as a government, but why we are doing it. And why we take the action we believe is necessary to secure Australia’s future as we promised. And the answer is because we believe that it will make Australia more resilient to the challenges we know we will face.
We know it will make Australia even stronger.
Thank you for your attention. Thank you.
Remarks, Drought Advisory Board Meeting
28 January 2020
I’m looking forward to getting the report Shane but I want to thank everybody for coming together on this first meeting.
The great success that we've had through the recovery agency up in North Queensland, I think speaks for itself in the way that the agency has been able to move so quickly to give people, not only the support that they need but the hope that they need to move forward and we’ve seen that up in North Queensland. And this initiative is really about taking the lessons from that process and ensuring that we’re applying them more broadly with all the issues we’re moving on in the drought. It's also important to acknowledge today that while our hearts remain heavy around the bushfires, we have never forgotten what's happening out in rural and regional Australia when it comes to the drought. Nor have we forgotten what happened a year ago up in North Queensland with the floods and these disasters have hit so many places and remain front and centre on our focus as a Government. And what you’re seeing here with this agency headed up by Shane and his wonderful team of people who know what they're doing and know what they’re talking about, that will ensure that will continue to roll out the support and see the recovery of our great country in the way we expect to see it happen and our response to these disasters.
So thank you very much.