Australian Prime Minister Press Conference - Cairns 29 January
My name is Matt Smith and I'm the Federal Member for Leichhardt, and I'm here, quite obviously, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Senator Nita Green. It's great for the Prime Minister to be joining us here today, and thank you for stopping in, obviously on the back of a hugely successful trip to Timor-Lese, and with the Pukpuk Treaty as well, he's showing that the world is really starting to pay attention to our region. The Far North is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this, educationally, culturally, in terms of economics, it is a really fantastic time. Never been a more exciting time. We are here at the Cairns Urgent Care Clinic. This is my - many times here professionally, but I was here personally on the weekend. I got bitten by a spider, swelled up, didn't look great. Big week, got to go to Port Douglas, Canberra next week. Didn't want anything bad to happen. Couldn't get into my GP because it was Saturday. Came here. Didn't want to call up the hospital. Got in, got out within an hour, antibiotics, advice. I spent more time driving than I did waiting to see a doctor. And that's the magic of these places, and it is why that second Urgent Care Clinic is so important, something I was so happy to be able to commit to during the election. We're looking forward to making an announcement on that very, very soon. Health is a part of the Labor story, and under this Anthony Albanese Labor Government, we've seen a greater commitment to Medicare than ever before. This includes more bulk billing, 1800MEDICARE, Medicare Mental Health, more Urgent Care Clinics, all of it coming together to guarantee the health of Australians. If you don't have your health, you don't have anything. By guaranteeing Australia's health, we're guaranteeing the health of the nation. With that, I thank the Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much, Matt. And it's great to be back here again in your local electorate, but also in the area that for longer now, has been represented in the Senate as well. The two reps here do an amazing job. And Nita also has a job, of course, also being Assistant Minister for Northern Australia. I have just come back from Timor-Leste, and it was a very successful visit. Once again, we signed an agreement upgrading our relationship to a higher level than has ever been before. And as Matt has said, those countries just to our north, as well as in the Pacific are so important for us. We have PNG, the upgrade of the Alliance. We have in Timor-Leste, the upgrade of our relationship across security, economy and social policy as well. And in addition to that, I'll be visiting Indonesia next week to advance that relationship, following on from the agreement that we will have a treaty which is comprehensive between Australia and Indonesia. In a turbulent world, it's important that Australia continue to play a role as a middle power. But here domestically as well, we are focused on the primary issue, which is cost of living and people's wellbeing. And these Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have been such an enormous success. We've opened 22 already in Queensland alone as part of our commitment to 137 Urgent Care Clinics right around the country. We promised 50, we delivered 87. We promised another 50 at the election campaign, and more than half of those have been opened already. One of those is coming for North Cairns to join this one here in South Cairns. On average, there's more than 60 people visit the Urgent Care Clinic here each and every day. And at its peak, it has had more than 80 people visit. And particularly over the Christmas period and New Year period when a lot of doctors surgeries are closed, the fact that this facility is over 365 days a year makes such an enormous difference. It's also taking pressure off our emergency departments at hospitals, which is critical as well. And this evening, I'll host all of the Premiers and Chief Ministers, and then tomorrow we'll have a National Cabinet Meeting to deal with the future health care agreements, health and hospitals agreements over the next five years. But also to deal with the reform of the NDIS, which is so important. And one of the things that I'll be saying to Premiers and Chief Ministers, and that they're conscious of, is that the work we have done in tripling the bulk billing incentive at a cost of $8.5 billion over the forward estimates, as well as the opening of Urgent Care Clinics, are really assisting the health system across the board, taking pressure off hospitals, which is making an enormous difference as we go forward. So, I look forward to a constructive relationship. And here, of course, the benefit that everyone has had, who has come in here, is all they've needed is this little piece of green and gold plastic - their Medicare card. This card says a lot about our nation. It says that no matter who you are, whether you're a billionaire or someone who's doing it really tough, you deserve to get the appropriate health care, not on the basis of your bank balance, but just on the basis of you being an Australian. It is something we are so proud of. It sets us apart from the rest of the world. I think it's the best system in the world, and we've made it even better and even stronger with the changes that we have made, and with the strengthening of Medicare that we have made as a priority for my government. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: It looks like there's a certain rate rise next week. What more can you do to ease cost of living pressures? Not so much what's already in place, but what more can be done?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll always continue to examine ways in which we can assist people with cost of living pressures. And already this year, I mean, we're still in January, and in January, we've had more Urgent Care Clinics open, more GPs decide to bulk bill. On the first of January, we had the price of medicines on the PBS decreased to just $25 today. The Health Minister has made an important announcement about a prostate cancer drug that is being listed on the PBS. So, we're adding to that list. In addition to that, on the sixth of January, we had the Three Day Guarantee for child care kicking in. In addition to that, we've got our five per cent home deposits. That's making a difference and continues to be taken up as well. But in the lead up to the Budget, we'll look at other measures that we can do to ease cost of living pressures. We understand that that is the number one priority that we have had since I came to office in 2022, and we've continued to, each and every day, focus on that. That is part of the bonus, if you like, of strengthening Medicare, is that we've strengthened it at the same time as we're making a difference when it comes to cost of living pressures on families.
JOURNALIST: Just on that - is high spending by your government to blame for high inflation numbers and the expected rate rise?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the truth is that we have, unlike the former government, made savings. We made an additional $20 billion of savings in the MYEFO in December. That brings our savings to $114 billion when it comes to what we have done across the board. We have constantly looked for savings. We've done that. We turned what were predicted to be budget deficits, we turned two of them into budget surpluses, and we used the third year to considerably decrease the budget deficit from what it was anticipated to be when we came to office in 2022. We'll continue to look at responsible measures. But one of the things that's good spending is Urgent Care Clinics, so we won't cut off our nose to spite our face. We'll be sensible about how we do it. Sensible economic management is one of the things that defines my government.
JOURNALIST: Will Cairns get more Urgent Care Clinics in the future?
PRIME MINISTER: They will and one will open in northern Cairns very soon. We'll announce the tender process that goes through in coming weeks, and that will be a realisation of the commitment that Matt Smith made here in the southern region, if you have those two, it will mean that Cairns is fully serviced, further taking pressure off the local hospital network.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, so, your next big item for the week, actually for today, is National Cabinet. That will seek to finalise health and disability agreements, like you've said before. When will we know more about the Thriving Kids program and how confident are you that it will lead to 8 per cent annual NDIS growth by the middle of the year?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll know more tomorrow after the meeting. And I'm calling upon - state premiers all know that we need to get NDIS spending under control. The NDIS is such an important project. It's something that we should be really proud of as Australians, but it was designed to ensure that people with disabilities get the care that they need. But we know that there has been some misuse of the system, and that's why we want to make sure that it's sustainable, so that in the future, people with disabilities can continue to rely upon the scheme. So the Thriving Kids program is important. That was an announcement made by Mark Butler as the minister some months ago now. We've been working through these issues with the states and territories. We've already got spending on the NDIS down, but we think it certainly can get to where it is, the 8 per cent, and can be got further down as well so that it is sustainable. That's important for a social policy program that's so central to our way of life and making sure that people with disabilities can fully participate in Australian life.
JOURNALIST: What will you offer the state's premiers and health ministers in relation to hospital funding and the bed blocking issue that they're facing at the moment with aged care long-stay patients?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, one of the things that state and territory governments need to do as well is to get on top of some of the planning approvals as well. There's great examples of an approval of extra aged care beds in particular communities that then can't get approval from councils, don't get forwarded through, and they need to work and fix that as well. The aged care reforms that were passed, credit where credit's due, with bipartisan support from the then-Opposition leader Peter Dutton last year, is really critical. It's the most significant reform in aged care that we've had this century, literally. And Anika Wells, great Queenslander, was responsible for putting those reforms through. So that, though, takes time. It takes time between the restructure and actually building an aged care facility, making sure that older Australians can have access to that. So, we'll continue to work these issues through. We have put an offer to the states and territories. I did that yesterday, again in writing. We'll continue to discuss it respectfully, but we have options as a Commonwealth as well if there's no agreement and it is certainly in the interest of states and territories for there to be that agreement going forward.
JOURNALIST: How confident are you of -?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we do is we put it respectfully to them rather than negotiating at a press conference. That's why we have a meeting tonight, and we'll do that and I'll do that respectfully, and then we will have a meeting tomorrow to finalise the agreement.
JOURNALIST: How confident are you of striking a deal in the next 24 hours?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it certainly is in the interest of all Australians that that happens. And budgets are under pressure, all budgets. And I refer you to some of the previous questions that have been asked at this press conference. So, we're not an ATM. We have to make sure that we're responsible going forward. We understand a number of state budgets are under pressure as well. But I've been having constructive discussions with state and territory leaders. I had dinner with the Premier of Queensland a couple of weeks ago. I've had discussions with almost all of the state premiers and chief ministers in recent days, and I look forward to a constructive outcome.
JOURNALIST: Chinese fishing vessels have been seen in the Torres Strait over the last few weeks. Community members are feeling neglected and like there needs to be clearer communication with government. What do you say to communities?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, our message to illegal foreign fishers is really simple. We'll intercept you. You'll lose your catch, your equipment and possibly your vessel as well. We have set up two operations, Operations Leedstrum and Lunar were established by my Government. That never happened ever before in history. A joint operation we've set up to address illegal foreign fishing, didn't happen under the former government. We've put record funding into border protection as well. And so, we will continue to work with the industry. This is something that's a scourge, it must be said, right around the world as well, particularly in our region. I know that this has been raised with me by other leaders, that has been discussed in forums like ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum. So, we'll continue to strengthen action as well. But our waters should be for our industry and that's important.
JOURNALIST: But what would you say to the community members who are feeling neglected and maybe even scared?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I say that we stand with you, and we stand with you in opposition to this crime, which is what it is. And we will continue to take action. As I said, we're the first government to ever set up a taskforce like - we have operations to target, particularly, the protection of our waters, our industry, and our jobs.
JOURNALIST: Will those operations be getting any additional resources though or increasing their surveillance in response to this recent uptick?
PRIME MINISTER: We have increased funding and increased resources and increased surveillance as well.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Anne Aly earlier today when she was asked whether she would welcome Israel President Isaac Herzog, she didn't say so and said it was protocol and something that is done. Is that how you would characterise Mr Herzog's visit? Do you welcome it? And on top of that, do you see it as an opportunity for Israel and Australia to rebuild relations?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Anne Aly has certainly made a statement which is welcoming the role that this will play in unity, which is what we're calling for. This country needs to come together. The atrocity that occurred on December 14 was an appalling event that has traumatised Jewish Australians, and President Herzog has been invited here by the Governor-General as head of state to head of state. But I certainly welcome him coming and I look forward to visiting, and I note that Anne Aly has made appropriate comments as well, welcoming the fact that this will be, welcoming anything that leads to a greater sense of unity. We need to build social cohesion in this country.
JOURNALIST: You've seen plenty of leadership spills in the past. Any advice for the Libs?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, they're a mess. That's the truth. And anyone can see that. I find it extraordinary, frankly, that you've had a mess on the National Day of Mourning and a focus on their internal issues. And today with the funeral of Katie Allen, that's a very sad occasion. Katie was a very decent human being who made a contribution to public life and was a candidate in the most recent federal election again. And my heart goes out to Katie's family, to her many friends and colleagues as well, as I've said publicly. I find it astonishing that there are meetings taking place about the leadership of the Liberal Party on a day such as today.
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-cairns-3
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