Doorstop – Wollongong | Prime Minister of Australia
ALISON BYRNES, MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM: Welcome to Wollongong. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the Dharawal country the land on which we meet today and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. I would like to acknowledge my federal colleague Stephen Jones and also Ryan Park and Paul Scully from New South Wales. I would also like to say a very big thank you to our host here today, the University of Wollongong. With Professor Alex Frino the acting Vice Chancellor, Senior Professor Gursel Alici, the Executive Dean of the faculty of Engineering and Information Services, Ty Christopher the dynamic Director of the Energy Futures Network, and Canio Fierravanti, the Government Relations Director. I am so delighted to host the Prime Minister here today at a facility that he opened in 2011 after an investment of $35 million by the then Labor government. I am also really excited to show him the vital role that the Energy Futures Skills Centre will play in training our renewable energy workforce of the future, and how it will help put our region and Australia on the map in the renewables sector. I stood for Parliament because I care about people, I care about our planet, and I care about jobs. I advocated strongly for the facility we are talking about here today because it encapsulates these values. The people of the Illawarra care about reducing emissions and they care doing their part in tackling climate change. We also understand the realities involved in building and maintaining the grid change, and forging the high quality steel required for the infrastructure that is going to tackle this challenge. Australia’s renewable sector will require diverse skill sets from steelmaking, engineering, manufacturing, port and land logistics, and many others and these are skills that the Illawarra has. It now my very great pleasure to introduce the Prime Minister who is no stranger to the Illawarra, no stranger to the University of Wollongong, and no stranger to wanting to help this region and achieve its ambitions. Thank you.
STEPHEN JONES, ASSISTANT TREASURER: Thanks so much Prime Minister, great to have you back in the Illawarra and as Alison said, you opened the building. A lot of interest today in how Wollongong can play its part in a renewable energy future, and particularly the jobs involved in that, but there’s also a lot of interest in the region about us getting the National Reconstruction Fund legislation through the Parliament. That means getting the opposition, the Greens, and all the other parties on side, because we want to ensure that the Illawarra, which has been a manufacturing stronghold for decades and decades and decades, continues to be a region that makes stuff and I know that’s something that you’re committed to Prime Minister, welcome.
RYAN PARK, STATE MEMBER FOR KIERA: Thank you, I’m delighted to be here. Thank you Alison, and Stephen, of course, to the Prime Minister. I’m absolutely delighted to have him here today. A big, big friend of the Illawarra, worked so hard under Anthony’s leadership, particularly in infrastructure, to make sure that our region was at the forefront of infrastructure development. In a little more a month’s time it gives me so much excitement that there’s an opportunity for a state Labor government to work closely with a federal Labor government to make sure the Illawarra is at the forefront. Whether it’s energy development, infrastructure development, or making sure we get those renewable jobs for the future. I’m delighted to have him here today, delighted to be able to help and support a great federal Labor government in a range of issues with the Illawarra and Wollongong at the forefront.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, and I also begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we’re meeting and pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging. And I thank Stephen and Alison for the invitation down to the Illawarra and it’s great to be here with Paul and Ryan, the local state MPs as well. And I do look forward to working with them as part of a Chris Minns Labor Government in New South Wales. I do want to begin though by making some comments about today and the significance of today. It is one year since the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This was an unprovoked attack. It was an attack not only on Ukraine’s sovereignty it was an attack on the international rules based order, it was an attack on the United Nations, it was an attack on the respect that we thought was something that was going to be permanent – respect for people’s sovereignty and for nation states to be able to determine their own destiny. The truth is that Russia thought that this war would be over in a few days. And I want to pay tribute to the courage and resilience and determination of the people of Ukraine led by President Zelenskyy so ably and with such courage who withstood an invasion by a much larger and more powerful country. They have made enormous sacrifice. A sacrifice in lives, a sacrifice in infrastructure, a sacrifice in their standard of living. They live under constant pressure – air raids, atrocities committed by the Russian forces in Ukraine – and yet they have stood tall. They’ve stood tall not just in their interests, but in the interests of all who hold democratic values so clearly around the world. And that’s why Australia continues to stand with the people and government of Ukraine. Today we’re announcing additional support for uncrewed aerial systems, some call them drones, to provide support for the people of Ukraine. Today also, 200 Ukrainian soldiers will graduate from the Australian based training that’s occurring in the United Kingdom under Operation Kudu. I want to pay tribute to the Australian Defence Force personnel who are undertaking this training, making sure that people who are enlisting to defend their country, their family, and their sovereignty and their future, get appropriate training before they’re sent into this brutal war with the powerful Russian forces that seem determined to inflict damage in such an unprovoked, and in some circumstances, just a random way. There is no question that war crimes are being committed in Ukraine. I’ve seen firsthand when I visited Kyiv and President Zelenskyy – housing blocks just blown apart, residential areas bombed with missile attacks as well as with tanks that got to the outskirts of Ukraine, of Kyiv, just to its north. So today I pay tribute to the people and leadership of Ukraine and I pledge, in a bipartisan way, that the Australian people stand with the people of Ukraine. We’ve announced additional sanctions against those people and companies who are involved in the Russian war machine. It’s appropriate the sanctions now have hit more than 1000 and we will continue to act in coalition with other democratic forces around the world to impose these sanctions. The UN resolution that we supported as well, calling upon a just solution has been supported by some 140 countries. But today, on this time where it is one year since this illegal invasion, we again say to President Putin, stop this war now. Withdraw your forces now. This is an unprovoked attack. No one is threatening Russia, no one is threatening Russia’s sovereignty. There is no need for you to continue this war which is causing damage not just to the people of Ukraine, but to those Russian soldiers who are being sent to the front line who’ve caused so much death and devastation on both sides. President Putin can stop this, and he can stop this today, and he should stop this today.
Today here, it’s a pleasure to be back at the University of Wollongong and I want to thank the University of Wollongong staff and leadership for welcoming us back here. When we were having a chat before, and when we established the Smart Infrastructure Facility way back in 2011, when we opened it we provided fund funding as one of my first acts as the Infrastructure Minister. Back then no one was talking about hydrogen, no one was talking about the importance of lithium. When we announced prior to the 2007 election, when I was the Shadow Minister responsible for climate change issues, we announced a renewable energy target of 20% by 2020 that was dismissed. It was said you can’t possibly do that. At the time, the target was just 2%. What we’ve seen is an enormous growth in solar, in wind, in efficiencies, in electric vehicles. We still had during the last election campaign some in the Coalition say that ‘with electric vehicles you can’t have a Ute’. We know that electric vehicles can do everything that an internal combustion engine powered vehicle can do, and we know that there’s enormous take up as well. But this announcement of an Energy Future Skills Centre, with $10 million of funding, and $2.5 million dollars for a renewable energy training facility here in Wollongong is a major way in which our plans are fitting together. When you look at our plans of 43% reduction by 2030, net zero by 2050, making sure we have the best innovation and science used here at the University of Wollongong to drive those changes through, to drive energy efficiency, to lower costs while lowering emissions and making sure as well that we skill up Australians for the jobs of the future we can have cleaner, cheaper energy. We want to see drive in advanced manufacturing and we want Australians to be skilled up for the jobs of the future. Identified by Jobs and Skills Australia, working with fee free TAFE, working with our 10,000 New Energy apprenticeships, with $10,000 given to those young people or people retraining to take up those jobs. If you put that picture together then what you see is a plan for a transition of the economy that boosts economic growth, that boosts jobs, and particularly focuses on the regions – and that’s why this is the obvious place to locate this Energy Future Skills Centre. Together with the Smart Infrastructure Facility, the University of Wollongong has a history of innovation. It was talking and innovating on wave energy as one of the foremost centres in the world. The work that has been done here over the last decade on smart infrastructure is making an enormous difference. One of the things I want to do as Prime Minister of Australia, to back up what I did as Infrastructure Minister over six years, is to look towards those changes that we can make, that make a permanent difference. That last well beyond the 24 hour media cycle that is the focus of our opponents. Over the last ten years under the former government there was just a sense of drift and delay and denial. What we’re doing is seizing the opportunities of this moment. This decade will be absolutely critical in determining what Australia’s future is like. Determining the living standards of people in Australia. We have a plan to seize the opportunities of new industries with new jobs for them to be high paid, not to try and compete in our region by driving down wages which was a key feature of the economic policy of our predecessors. But to skill up, to compete on the basis of how smart we are, of our innovation, but also to make more things here. And that’s why the National Reconstruction Fund that’s before the Parliament now is so important as well for areas like Wollongong that have such a history of manufacturing. The National Reconstruction Fund will make an enormous difference to not just transitioning existing industries, but for the creation of new industries. The combination that you have here in the Illawarra of a world class university, the University of Wollongong, together with the manufacturing history and the capacity that you have – working with TAFE, working to provide that opportunity going forward means that this region has an incredibly bright future if only we have the vision to seize it. My government has that. We’re determined to do just that. And that’s why it’s a great honour for me to be here today.
JOURNALIST: It sounds like you want to see the region as a primary renewable hub, so would you rather that or a US military submarine nuclear base?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it’s not either or. The US system that will work its way through, we’ve received the Defence Strategic Review. We’ve received that and we’ll report and we’ll have a process of consultation on that. On renewables, this area has an enormous capacity. I have seen some things about assembling products near the port. I’ve got an idea, how about we make them here? It’s not that hard. We have everything that goes into a solar panel, we have everything that goes into a wind turbine, we’ve got BlueScope, we’ve got enormous opportunities here. I want to see things made here. I want to see advanced manufacturing made here. That’s what a National Reconstruction Fund is about. And then I want to see us exporting products because one of the things about the dynamic change in our economy is with changes in production. Labour as a percentage of the cost of production is far less than it used to be because of mechanisation and because of changes in methods. So whereas we saw a flight of capital and jobs going offshore, some of them encouraged like the car industry was told to leave by the former Coalition government. What we need to do is to have a vision of making things here, of creating jobs here, of value adding here to our resources. That’s what I want to see, that’s my vision.
JOURNALIST: On superannuation, according to the Australian newspaper, you can claim in the ballpark of $400,000 a year when you retire as part of the taxpayer funded annual pension. Is it hypocritical for you to tighten super tax concessions for others?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Australian report is wrong. it’s not right, its wrong. Don’t believe everything you read in a paper that doesn’t check.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on the Voice, Sussan Ley has accused you of using the referendum on the Voice to Parliament as re-election vanity project and says you’re wanting the Coalition to oppose it. Do you find that offensive?
PRIME MINISTER: People will make their own judgement as to whether the Coalition are being constructive, as to whether they are trying to sit down, I’ve sat down and talked with Peter Dutton on no less than six occasions. And what I’ve done repeatedly is not be prescriptive about what we’re putting forward. I’ve put forward a draft in good faith at the at the Garma Festival in July last year. Since then I haven’t seen any suggested wording from Sussan Ley or anyone else in the Coalition to either the draft questions or the draft referendum changes. I sit in Question Time every day, they have an opportunity to ask questions about detail, that doesn’t happen. What you have is a series of comments aimed at creating confusion and making more complex something that is actually very, very clear. Do we recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in our constitution, and do we consult them on matters that affect them? That’s what the referendum is about, nothing more. It’s not a right of veto, it won’t be a funding body, it won’t run programs. They know that that’s the case. Why do they know it? Because, actually, a lot of these processes occurred on their watch. In 2017, they were the government, they then set up a Parliamentary Committee chaired by Julian Leeser, the Shadow Minister, and Pat Dodson. It came to a unanimous Parliamentary Committee Report. They then had, under Ken Wyatt, a process where Tom Calma and Marcia Langton produced a 270 page document suggesting options re detail, that went to their Cabinet twice, they chose not to progress that at all. I’m progressing it, I am being constructive. People will look at those comments and draw their own conclusions.
JOURNALIST: How much funding is the University going to receive and how many jobs are you anticipating in the future for the Illawarra?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they will receive $10 million dollars under the Energy Future Skills Centre and $2.5 million dollars for the training facility, that’s important. It comes on top of the $35 million that we contributed to the Smart Infrastructure Facility here. One of the things that governments can do is provide leadership. That $35 million doesn’t mean that it’s just been drawn down. The private sector contribute, it generates income, what it’s done is facilitate, literally, if you look at the products and difference that it’s made. There is no doubt that thousands upon thousands of jobs have been generated as a result. Both here at the University of Wollongong, but in manufacturers, in Australian businesses and indeed globally as well. This will make an enormous difference to the University but also to Wollongong and its leadership role.
JOURNALIST: Can the Illawarra expect to be declared the next offshore wind farm zones, when will we find out?
PRIME MINISTER: That is a matter for Chris Bowen. I’ve certainly not, in terms of my position there’s been no discussion with myself on that matter. So Chris Bowen, I’ll refer you to the Minister.
JOURNALIST: Given that you said that that report in the Australian is wrong, can you give us an idea of how much you would be entitled to when you do retire, even the vicinity of what was reported? And to that question, is it hypocritical for you to tighten super tax concessions for other Australians?
PRIME MINISTER: Answering something where the premise is wrong is the basis upon what you’re asking. These things are available, but the IPA that put out these Figures, The IPA have an agenda. The IPA have an agenda that isn’t about progressing Australia, the IPA have an agenda which is holding Australia back. And we have an agenda about progressing Australia. What we have said is that on superannuation we want to see the objectives of superannuation enshrined. And the objectives of superannuation are about people’s retirement incomes, that is the purpose of superannuation. Now, there are exceptions in which people have been able to use their superannuation, but that’s the objective. That is what we have said, that is what we are doing.
JOURNALIST: What is the purpose of your visit to Kiama today, are you meddling in a state election in a place where a seat is up for grabs?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m not meddling, I’m campaigning explicitly. I’m campaigning for Chris Minns to be the Premier of New South Wales. And that is what I was doing last night when I was with Chris Minns. That’s what I’ll be doing on a number of occasions in the lead up to the election. And I encourage Dominic Perrottet to have Peter Dutton come to New South Wales and campaign next to him.
JOURNALIST: In terms of subs at Port Kembla, can you give a timeline for the people of the Illawarra on when a decision would be made one way or the other?
PRIME MINISTER: We make decisions on defence when they’ve been properly examined and gone through proper process through our National Security Committee.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, to the Safeguard Mechanism. BlueScope, our local manufacturer has warned the conditions of that could send them as a business offshore for their manufacturing. I know they’re going to put in submissions to that effect but would you be looking to give them any special considerations?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve spoken with the CEO of Blue Scope. I visited BlueScope, and I’ve spoken to CEO about this very issue. And I know I’m very conscious of the fact that I know that the Minister, Chris Bowen, is also having discussions with Blue Scope. I know that the business community are crying out for investment certainty going forward and that is what we will provide. We’re working through those issues with all of the companies. But I’m very confident that BlueScope has a great future right here in the Illawarra.
JOURNALIST: You ruled out super changes, your Assistant Treasurer says you’re looking at it, which one is it?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ve ruled out major changes to superannuation. That is what we are doing.
JOURNALIST: Were you aware that a hive of Russian spies were operating in Australia, and are you concerned that our assistance to Ukraine has potentially put us in line from Moscow?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don’t comment on national security briefings, but I’d just say that ASIO do a very good job in defending Australia’s national interest and they have my absolute confidence and support in doing that job and we provide them with every resource and every support that they ask for.
JOURNALIST: What is the government doing on cost of living? Supermarkets, record profits, mining companies, petrol, especially in regional areas like the Illawarra?
PRIME MINISTER: We have a plan for cost of living that is around relief, restraint and also repair. On relief, medicines went down from $42.50 to $30 on the 1st of January. In July childcare becomes cheaper, improving women’s workforce participation boosting productivity. Our Energy Price Relief Plan will provide $1.5 billion dollars of relief for households. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had an impact on global energy prices. That $1.5 billion dollars was voted against by the Coalition. And I say this, that when we had that plan before the national Parliament, a contrast with what happened before the New South Wales Parliament where Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns together acted in the interests of the people of New South Wales. In Canberra, Peter Dutton voted against $1.5 billion of energy price relief for households and he voted against support for manufacturers and voted against support for business. On the recovery we have a plan for dealing with supply chain pressures. The Reserve Bank have said that half and up to three a quarters of inflation is because of supply chain issues. That’s what our National Reconstruction Fund is about, that’s what fee free TAFE is about, dealing with all of these issues. And when it comes to restraint, that’s why we need to be very cautious about our budget position, and our budget position of making sure that 99% of the revenue gains at the last budget went straight into the budget bottom line. And that’s why we’re going through an ERC process at the moment in the lead up to the budget to make sure that not just we do it, but also the signal that it sends to the economy that we will continue to be a responsible government with a plan for the future. Those opposite just have a plan of saying no to everything, whether it’s energy price relief, the National Reconstruction Fund, the creation of the Housing Australia Future Fund, the Safeguards Mechanism that business is crying out for. All they do is say no, Peter Dutton has turned the Coalition into the no-alition and Australians deserve better.