Doorstop: Infrastructure; Australia Day; Royal Commission

PRIME MINISTER: Our $75 billion infrastructure program is busting congestion in our cities, it’s connecting our rural sector to our ports and to our markets, it’s a plan that is building Australia, it’s making Australia even stronger. It’s making our economy even stronger, particularly as we connect up to those markets that we’re expanding through the trade agreements that have been put in place over the past five years as a Government. And every time we talk about what the infrastructure investment means, the dividend of it, you can see right here at Downer. It’s apprentices, it’s people in work, it’s people in jobs. And the long-term contracts that you see here on what is a State Government contract on the maintenance of the new trains and existing ones. That has been made possible by the increasing investment being made here by the NSW State Government following on from their asset recycling program of many years ago.

But that’s just one part of it. I mean Downer has around $2 billion worth of work which is going on, which is a result of their contracts with the Commonwealth Government. Everything from defence through to the Gold Coast Light Rail, all of these projects. So our investment in infrastructure is driving jobs, it’s driving economic opportunities, it’s leading to the investment in new facilities. And that’s what makes our economy strong, and when your economy is strong, you can do important things. You can invest in more MRI licences, as I announced on the weekend. You can invest $52 million in free vaccines for 14 to 19 years olds which we’ve also announced today, which will affect the lives of one million Australians over the next four years. You can invest in health, you can invest in schools, you can invest in affordable medicines. That is what a strong economy delivers. Later today, the Treasurer and the Finance Minister will be updating you on the final Budget outcome for the last financial year, which will show that we have continued the strong work of managing our finances to bring the Budget back towards a balance, on schedule for 2019-20, a year ahead of time. And so it is that strong economic management, it is that strong financial management, it is that focusing on investment, working together with states and territories to get this nation-building infrastructure on the ground that is making the difference.

Yesterday we were out turning the sod on Western Sydney Airport, and today here we’re looking at what’s happening in rail infrastructure and what’s happening in maintenance works and the investment being made in rail networks across the country. So planes yesterday, trains today, and Tudgey’s got a long list of road infrastructure projects for automobiles as well. And that’s the sort of thing that we need to continue to drive as a country, as an economy, and working very closely together with states and territories. I particularly want to commend the New South Wales Government, the Berejiklian Government, because they’ve been such a great partner with the Commonwealth on investing together in major infrastructure. So when we do things together, it frees them up to do even more things like you’re seeing here with the rail and stock programs that they’re rolling out in New South Wales. So I’ll ask Tudgey to make a few comments and then we’ll take some questions.

THE HON ALAN TUDGE MP, MINISTER FOR CITIES, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POPULATION: Thanks PM. Our Government has $75 billion worth of infrastructure being rolled out across the country. Now that includes huge projects such as the Western Sydney Airport, Tulla Rail down in Melbourne. But it also includes a lot of smaller congestion-busting projects around Australia as well. But it’s projects in every single major capital city across the country, every single one designed to bust congestion, make it easier for residents to get around our major cities, but it also as the Prime Minister says, creates valuable jobs for people to be able to come to places like this to work and then to be able to go home easily on those roads.

The Prime Minster mentioned the major roads which we’re doing. Just right next door from here WestConnex is one of those very big ones which we are jointly funding with the New South Wales Government. Stage 1A is already open, stage 1B is going to be open early next year, and then following stages there after that. The New South Wales Government has been a particularly strong partner for us at the federal level to be able to work on these big infrastructure projects. The Government here has worked hand in glove with us in designing the projects, co-funding the projects and getting those projects done on time and on budget, so I’d like to commend them. But of course we try to work and we do work cooperatively with all State Governments around the country as well.

It’s great to be here at Downer, thanks so much for having us here today in your 120th year of operation and it’s great to meet so many of the workers here who do terrific work servicing the fleet. They service 60 per cent of the fleet here in Sydney and they do absolutely mighty fine work.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks. Just to point it out, Downer used to have about 40 per cent of their work which was out of the public sector. That’s gone up to 60 per cent and the investment in public infrastructure at both a Commonwealth and a State level has been a key driver of what’s been happening in our economy over the last few years in particular. And that’s enabled us to maintain the Triple A credit rating, it’s enabled us to ensure that the jobs growth has been at record levels, and so we have been pulling those levers. Whether it’s lower taxes, or increased infrastructure investment – that is what has been ensuring our economy remains strong. So congratulations, particularly those apprentices. I met Luke earlier today from out at Campbelltown, he’s been here for a few months, he’s just one of almost 1,000 apprentices, 60,000 employees for Downer across the country. That’s a great company doing a great job and they’re building Australia.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, why not move the date of Australia Day? Many people have a problem with that date, not necessarily creating another date.

PRIME MINISTER: Australia Day is the 26th of January. That was the day that Australia's course changed forever. It was 60,000 years of Indigenous history before that and modern Australia effectively started on that day. You can't change that. That's just what happened. That's just a fact, and I want Australia Day to be even more so a day where all Australians can come together. You look at your own life's experience, you look at the whole thing. You don't pretend your birthday was on a different day. What you do is you look at your whole life's experience. Your achievements and a few scars from some mistakes and things that you could have done better. And as Australians we need to reflect on all of that on Australia Day, but you know what, we have a lot more to be proud about than we have to be not so proud about. I mean Australia is the envy of the world and what I have announced today is two things. One is that any councils who want to misuse citizenship ceremonies, I mean that is a trust we give those councils, they are authorised to do that on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. Their job is to book the hall, conduct the ceremony with dignity and respect in accordance with the rules. Now, if they want to abuse that privilege and if they want to use it as a political football, it’s simple, we'll get someone else to do it. And that’s what we’ll be doing up in Byron Shire. But the vast majority of councils do respect that and I think it is a great day to celebrate Australia. It is a great day for new citizens in particular to become Australians and we want to preserve the integrity and respect of that. The other thing I've said is, you don't have to bring one day down to acknowledge other things happening in the country

And so I am open to a chat with the Australian people about how we could better acknowledge Indigenous Australians and our Indigenous peoples. There’s a lot to celebrate there too and I think we can do it with an optimistic spirit as a country. I think we can celebrate the fact that this is the world's oldest living culture and it is living here in Australia today right across the country. There are a range of opportunities to do that and I welcome the feedback. So look, we'll start that discussion. In the ACT, they already do celebrate a day in the ACT on the anniversary of the ‘67 Referendum. I'm sure there will be many other suggestions.

But you know, you don't have to bring some things down, to raise other things up. That's not how you build a stronger Australia. That's not how you keep Australians together.

JOURNALIST: [Inaudible] having a new day and taking on Ken Wyatt’s suggestion about having it within NAIDOC Week?

PRIME MINISTER:  We can do, can absolutely have a recognition day during NAIDOC Week. I think NAIDOC Week, as time has gone on, has been a real positive experience in the schools, in communities and lots of people get more involved. I think it’s turning into quite a positive experience for Australians.

So I'm open to those suggestions. But Australia Day is Australia Day and that's the day all Australians come together and we recognise everyone from our First Australians to our most recent Australians becoming citizens on that day.

You can't pretend your history isn't your history. That's the day the flag went up in Farm Cove. That's the day the course of the nation changed. And from that point on, that's when the modern Australia began and we respect the 60,000 years of history before that and what Australia has become today, bringing us all together as one country.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister have you consulted Tony Abbott on this proposal?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm consulting everybody. I mean I'm just starting a discussion today. I haven't suggested a day or how it should work or anything like that. I'm just simply saying that I know there are some people who have expressed views about our current national day, based out of a deep empathy for Indigenous peoples and I think that's fair enough. There are others who are just doing it to showboat and I'm not going to have a truck with that. And if they want to use citizenship ceremonies to sort of promote that, well we're just going to say “no”.

But I think we can have both conversations. We can uphold Australia Day with great pride and at the same time, work together as a country to recognise the wonderful contribution of Indigenous peoples across the country.

JOURNALIST: Just in relation to aged care if I might, obviously more revelations last night. Two questions on that. Firstly the submissions close in relation to the Royal Commission, I think very shortly. Is that enough time that’s been given to those, to allow submissions to that royal commission? Secondly, what’s your thoughts on people filming? Filming their own loved ones and making sure that they’re alright, do you think that’s okay?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, two things. On the Royal Commission terms of reference, we're still working through that and I haven't given a hard and fast timeline as to when the terms of reference will be finalised. I'm working through that with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care and of course the Attorney-General. And we're making quite a lot of progress on that and there is a lot of consultation that is occurring right now. And once we believe we're in a position to make an announcement on the terms of reference, we will. But I'm keen to ensure we get it absolutely right.

When it comes to the issues you've raised, look, I mean all Australians need to exercise their own judgement, their own judgement about how they engage in these sorts of things and it’s not for me to go around passing judgement on them.

JOURNALIST: Just on the departure of Ms Guthrie from the ABC, are you satisfied with the explanations the Board have given for Ms Guthrie’s departure?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's for the ABC board. They’re accountable for that, they’re an independent board. They employ the Chief Executive and I expect them to follow all their normal processes and protocols for that to occur. No one has advised me that that hasn’t occurred. Through the Minister, as I said yesterday, I was advised of the board's decision on Sunday night and they have taken that decision. And I look forward to them getting on with the job of recruiting and recommending a new managing director for the ABC.

And the ABC does important work around the country and particularly when I’ve been out in drought-affected areas, I mean the work the ABC does in rural and regional areas I think is incredibly important. In fact in the first few days in the job, I commended Macka for the incredible job he does on Australia, all over. Every week, he’s been doing it forever. He has been a voice of comfort and counsel and encouragement to rural people all across the country, but particularly as they’ve gone through this tough time. So these are important services that are delivered to the Australian people and I think Macka personifies all that's best about the ABC.

JOURNALIST: Just back on aged care, if I might, there’s a [inaudible]?

PRIME MINISTER: Sorry I just didn’t quite hear.

JOURNALIST: There’s a union proposal to see staffing ratios legislated? Obviously, very expensive, what’s your take? Would you support something like that?

PRIME MINISTER: Well the Royal Commission is going to look at all of these sorts of things. There have been two enquiries which haven’t supported that recommendation, so look, I’ll wait and see what the Royal Commission says. I’m not going to prejudge it. There have already been some enquiries which haven’t gone down that path. But you know, it’s not for me to prejudge what the Royal Commission thinks is a good way to go forward. And remember, the Royal Commission into Aged Care, yes it’s going to look at what has happened and it should. As I said, the country has to prepare itself for some bruising information about what has happened in residential aged care. But equally the Royal Commission is not just about that. Its about looking forward and understanding the big shifts that are happening in our community where you’ve now got Australians who are now going into residential aged care at a much more acute level of need. We need to get our heads around that and what is going to be required to ensure that Australians in the future can expect high standards of aged care in those facilities for the next 20 or 30 years. So there’s a very strong future focus to what we’re doing with this Royal Commission. But equally it’ll be addressing and shining a light on the things that will be, I imagine, pretty hard to watch.

JOURNALIST: Labor have got a future fund for universities, about $300 million is accounted for that. Do you, is there an idea that some of those universities [inaudible]?

PRIME MINISTER: Well we invested I think it was $1.9 billion in research infrastructure in our universities in the last Budget. If Labor want to spend, is it $300 million on sandstone in universities? Well, that’s for them to make those judgements. We’re investing in research infrastructure. We’re investing in supercomputers and quantum computing. We’re investing in the Bureau of Meteorology’s ICT platform, so they could better collect and disseminate the data to farmers, to universities, to research institutions, so they can be researching climate into the future.

We’re investing in not just the roads and the rail and the airports of Australia, we’re investing in the university research infrastructure which produces the technology and the discoveries that are going to drive our economy into the future. So you know, we announced that in the Budget, we’re getting on with investing in the infrastructure of our universities and the stuff that actually generates the knowledge. Buildings are fine but the research infrastructure that generates that knowledge is what is necessary and we outlined that in this year’s Budget. So anyway, it’s great to be here isn’t it Tudgey at ADI?

MINISTER FOR CITIES, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POPULATION: It sure is.

PRIME MINISTER: I wish you well for your 120th and it’s great to be seeing a lot of the guys here today. We’ll get out of their way so they can get back to work and keep the trains running. Good on you guys, cheers.