ANNE URQUHART, SENATOR FOR TASMANIA: Well, thanks very much everyone for being here. I'm Anne Urquhart, Labor Senator for Tasmania, based right here in Devonport. It's really exciting today to have the Prime Minister in town and also Katy Gallagher. And I'm here with the Mayor, and I'm here with representatives from Rural Health too, who will be part of this wonderful announcement that we've got. This city has really been revitalised and I don't want to take any thunder off the Mayor because I'm sure she'll tell you about how wonderful this city has grown over the number of years since the Living City was started some years ago. And it's very exciting for me to be part of the North West coast of Tasmania to see how this has grown and how it actually brings people together. The events that can be held here, the atmosphere that has been developed because of the Living City, is absolutely phenomenal and it is an amazing place and it's just such a pleasure to live here and be here. I'm excited about this announcement today. I'm also excited for the Circular Head region who will be getting some funding through Rural Health to assist with their provisions of health care right across Circular Head, which again is a very vast area right up on the North West tip of Tasmania. So, very exciting, these announcements today and I'm really excited that everyone's come over to be here to announce these. Thank you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much, Anne. It's wonderful to be back in Devonport. I've been coming to Devonport, I was thinking on the way down here, since 1986 was the first time that I jumped in a car around Tassie and visited every nook and corner here in this great state of Tasmania. And what I've seen with this great city of Devonport is it grow, its livability, its sustainability and its productivity, all improve over the years. And that's because of the hard work done by local government, the hard work done by advocates for this great city and of course you do need funding from federal and state governments and local governments as well. One of the things that I've always championed as someone who has concentrated for a lot of my political career in urban policy and in cities policy and in infrastructure, is working directly with local government. That's how you get better outcomes. That's how you make decisions that are based upon local input rather than bureaucrats in Canberra. And there's nowhere better than that than here in Devonport, where the transformation of the riverfront here has been quite extraordinary and make this such an attractive place to live in, but importantly as well for its economy, an attractive place to visit.
Today's announcement builds on that and I want to congratulate firstly this champion of Tasmania next to me, Anne Urquhart, who has been such a strong advocate for everything that is North West Tasmania, as well as the coast there around Strahan and that community as well, for such a long period of time. And I visited here many times and every time we have something positive to say about this community. So, to you Anne, I'm absolutely delighted that you are the Labor candidate for Braddon. I think the people of Braddon know that in Anne Urquhart they will have an advocate who is as strong as any advocate for any local community that I have ever seen anywhere in the country. And Anne knows the local community here. She's engaged and she will be outstanding. And that's why I think her call to make the decision to run for the House of Representatives rather than just stay in the Senate, that of course she was entitled to do, not up for election this time around, shows her commitment to this local community. In Katy Gallagher, we have an amazing Finance Minister and a strong advocate, particularly for women's representation. And of course the election of Anne Urquhart will add to women's representation in the Federal Parliament. My Government's very proud to be majority female in the Caucus and to have such strong women right throughout the Cabinet, the Ministry, in leadership positions. And Katy Gallagher as the Minister for Status of Women plays an important role there. And to the Mayor, Alison, we were here at a citizenship ceremony I think last year and here in this very hall, Alison is such a strong local advocate for this community.
Today, we have important announcements. We have, as well as Minister Gallagher and myself, we have Tony Burke in Launnie today announcing increased funding for the theatre. Catherine King is on Flinders Island announcing the upgrade of the airport at Flinders Island. And here today we're announcing funding for the next stage of city development here in Devonport as well as important community funding for health in Circular Head. Can I say that this grant here of $6 million for the revitalisation of Devonport's CBD by delivering stage three of the Living City project is a great example of the Commonwealth backing local communities. This has been developed from the ground up. Not something that's been developed in Canberra, something that Canberra is supporting and that's the appropriate way that local community-based infrastructure should be funded. This will take this city to the next level and it's important that we're able to give this support. In addition to that, we have over $600,000 to construct the Circular Head Community Health and Wellbeing Hub in Smithton. That will be important funding to provide that community infrastructure to provide that health services for not for profit community based health there in that community and will make an enormous difference.
While I have you, I will speak about as well the announcement that we've made this week to finish the National Broadband Network. Labor started the NBN and we're finishing the NBN. Good quality access to broadband is one way that we overcome the tyranny of distance in this great, great nation of Australia that has a relatively small population spread across a vast country on both the north island and here on the south island, here in Tasmania. The NBN was never just about downloading videos or movies like the former PM Tony Abbott thought. It's about health services and telehealth provision. It's about education services for students and for all who want to engage in learning. It's about small business and large business being able to access markets regardless of where they are. And about markets in Smithton or Ulverstone or Burnie or Devonport. Local businesses having the same access to markets as Collins Street, Melbourne or George Street, Sydney. That is why the NBN is so important and that's why every Australian should have access to the NBN. Now, when I was the Communications Minister back more than a decade ago, we were rolling out fibre to every home that was possible, was our objective. The incoming Government made that cut, said it would cost $29 billion to roll out copper. We know that that funding actually cost $58 billion. So, it was a $29 billion blowout in order to deliver a second rate copper service. We want to make sure, as at the time we said, we should do it right, do it once and do it with fibre. That is what we're going to ensure. As a result of our changes, across Braddon, 10,000 more homes and businesses will be connected to high speed broadband. That includes in Wynyard, an additional almost 3,000 premises. East Devonport, more than 2,000 premises. Queenstown, an additional 1,400 premises. That's what real government and real action looks like, making sure we deliver for Australians wherever they live. We're absolutely committed to delivering for this local community. And with Anne Urquhart as the Member for Braddon, I'm confident that we'll be able to do that. I'll hand to Katy and then we'll hear from the Mayor and then we'll take questions.
KATHY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR FINANCE: Thanks very much, PM. And it's wonderful to be here with the PM and with a local champion, Anne Urquhart. It's a real privilege to work with Anne. She's such a fierce voice for this region in Canberra, sometimes terrifying, but always strong and lovely to be here with the Mayor as well. I think you've seen this week from the Albanese Government just what governments do in investing in local communities. So, on the NBN, an important announcement, not just here but around the country. Up to $3 billion to make sure we finish the job of the NBN. And so important, I've had people in this area talk to me about unreliable broadband dropouts not able to work their small business from here. And this should all be changed under this important investment. And the investment the PM spoke about in community facilities, in the Living City project here and in the community wellbeing hub, so important. This is what governments do. They invest in their communities with local solutions, improving services, improving outcomes. And part of that is making sure that we've got services and people ready to deliver those programs. And we've invested in the public service to make sure that they are able to deliver important services. Whether it be checking on your pension, getting your veterans claim in, adding your child to Medicare. We've opened new services here in Tasmania. I was at Sorell yesterday at a service centre. It was packed out with people using Services Tasmania, but also Services Australia, co-located delivering services to the local community. And these are important jobs for the local community, but also important services. And we know Peter Dutton has said he wants to cut those jobs. He wants a 20 per cent cut to the public service in Tasmania. That would be a cut of 900 jobs. And you can't cut 900 jobs and continue to deliver those important services that people rely on here in Tasmania. So, part of the work that Anne is doing and I did with Bec White yesterday in Hobart is talking to people about the value of those jobs and the important services they provide and making sure that people realise what's at risk and how worse off you'd be under a Dutton Government.
ALISON JARMAN, MAYOR, DEVONPORT CITY COUNCIL: Thank you, Prime Minister. So, grateful to have you here and just lovely to have you in our patch in Devonport. May I just say that yesterday I got the most amazing phone call from Minister Catherine King in letting me know that we were successful in achieving this funding, the $6 million that will sort out our North Fenton Street section where we're having the Indie School and Giant Bikes now developing their businesses and increasing what we need in the CBD, which we are very grateful for. But can I just say a huge thanks to this Senator, Anne Urquhart, right next to me, being relentless and reminding what's going on in Devonport, in Canberra, on our behalf. We do appreciate everything you do. You are amazing and I do know that you've got our back. And that is something that's so important for a community of our size. You know, there's 26,000 people in Devonport. We're the size of a suburb but we are batting above our average. We are an incredible space now. Living City. Everyone is so proud and wanting to know what next we're going to be doing here. We are the place that people are watching and that's what I'm very, very proud of. And it's been a lot of hard work from a lot of people. I get to be the person that says it all. But I know and want to thank everybody that has done all the work behind the scenes. We have incredible staff here at our council and I'm extremely pleased to be able to work with them because they are amazing at what they do and I am grateful every time I get to stand in this wonderful building of ours here at the Paranaple Centre. If I can also say congratulations to the Circular Head community as well for achieving their funding as well. It's a community that's close to my heart. I'll be in Stanley next, tomorrow actually. And it's all about the fact that we don't have borders here. There is a North West Coast community and it is very important for the community of Braddon to go forward. And I think we're very lucky to have Anne putting her hand up in Braddon too. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Fantastic. Thank you. Happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: DFAT is investigating reports an Australian prisoner of war was killed by Russians. What is your response?
PRIME MINISTER: DFAT are seeking urgent clarification as to what these circumstances are. I spoke with the Ukrainian Ambassador on Monday in my office. We call upon Russia to immediately confirm Oscar Jenkins’ status. We remain gravely concerned. We will await the facts to come out. But if there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, that is absolutely reprehensible. And the Australian Government will take the strongest action possible.
JOURNALIST: If you can confirm that harm, will you boot the Russian Ambassador out of Australia and recall our Ambassador?
PRIME MINISTER: I've just said we will take the strongest possible action, if that can be confirmed. We will act as we do as a government, responsibly and react to the facts. We are seeking to determine that. And then we will determine our response.
JOURNALIST: With expelling the Ambassador and recalling our own be the strongest possible response?
PRIME MINISTER: I said we'll determine our response when we know what the facts are. That's the responsible thing for us to do.
JOURNALIST: If this is confirmed, this will be the first Australian –
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm not getting ahead of the facts. I'm not someone who's competing to be Shadow Foreign Minister. I'm someone who's Prime Minister of Australia and we respond to the facts. I've said that we have called in the Russian Ambassador already. We are seeking clarification as to whether Oscar Jenkins, any harm has occurred to Mr. Jenkins, and we will take the strongest possible action if it is the case that any harm has been caused to him.
JOURNALIST: There's been quite the Federal Labor presence in the North West Coast over the past week, even though an election has yet to be called. Does that show the importance of the Braddon seat in the upcoming election?
PRIME MINISTER: It shows that everyone loves this person next to me for a start. She is someone who is so respected across our Caucus, Members, Ministers and it also shows her effectiveness in being a strong advocate for this community. We want to represent all Australians and I've been in a range of seats, held seats, non-held seats, right across the country. That's my job. My job is to unite Australia, to represent all of Australia. We have this regional funding going out right across the country. Hasn't been done with a colour coded spreadsheet. It's been done with proper assessments being made and we will later today as well. I'll be, in a little while, I'll be in the electorate of Lyons with Rebecca, who of course is an amazing candidate as well.
JOURNALIST: Are you hopeful a ceasefire in Gaza is imminent?
PRIME MINISTER: We have been calling for some time for hostages to be released. We want Hamas to have no role in the future of that region and we want a ceasefire in the interests of both Israelis and those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. So, we are hopeful of a ceasefire. That would be a good thing. I think that is what overwhelmingly Australians want to see and indeed the international community wants to see as well.
JOURNALIST: Special Envoy Jillian Segal would like to see a full National Cabinet meeting on antisemitism. Will you commit to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I actually spoke with Jillian Segal yesterday a couple of times. We convened a meeting yesterday with myself, the Premier of Victoria, the acting Premier of NSW and the AFP Commissioner to coordinate activity. We have Operation Avalite that is in place. What I want is to ensure that any act of antisemitism, that it stops. That it stops. And I want people who are responsible for these acts to be prosecuted fully because they are crime and people should be held to account with the full force of the law.
JOURNALIST: To my question though, will you see a full National Cabinet meeting on this issue?
PRIME MINISTER: I just responded.
JOURNALIST: That wasn't a full National Cabinet, I’m asking (Inaudible).
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we responded with the states that were involved. And let me say that Jillian Segal was very pleased. I spoke with her after the discussion that took place and she was very pleased that that had occurred.
JOURNALIST: New data shows rents for some Australians are unaffordable. Are you considering new help for renters? And will that be announced in the March federal budget?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've had a 45 per cent increase in rental assistance under my government. Two significant increases in our last two budgets - just one of the cost of living measures that we’ve put in place. And I'll make this point, on Sunday Peter Dutton gave a speech after a build up over a few days where people could have anticipated some new policy. Anything would have done. But instead we saw nothing except attacks and relentless negativity as we see from the Opposition Leader. But what we did see was him speak about the Australian economy needing economic surgery. Now by that he means cutting wages growth off at the knees. He means transplanting new taxes on Medicare. He is prescribing a lethal dose of cuts to cost of living support. His idea of economic surgery isn't a scalpel, it's a sledgehammer or a chainsaw. He wants to take those cuts to Medicare, to cost of living support, to housing, to all of these measures. And that's why his finance spokesperson has spoken about wasted expenditure in excess of $300 billion. That is the indexation of pensions and payments. That is rental assistance. That's the support for child care, support for cheaper medicines, support for energy bill relief, support for the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics that are providing free Medicare support here in Tasmania. Peter Dutton has a plan for massive cuts, and even Campbell Newman today, of all people, in what should be a chilling reminder for Queenslanders, is saying maybe there'll be some issues if you try to cut all the public servants that Peter Dutton has committed to cutting.
JOURNALIST: Back to Labor and the question that I asked you about rent. Are you considering new help for renters and will that be announced in a March federal budget?
PRIME MINISTER: We make announcements when we make announcements, when we have policies. We have had two consecutive increases in rental support and they have been opposed, like all of our cost of living measures, by Peter Dutton.
JOURNALIST: What are you doing to get Australian wages moving?
PRIME MINISTER: They are moving, that's what we're doing. Four quarters in a row we've had real wages increasing. When we came to government, inflation had a 6 in front of it and was rising. Now it has a 2 in front of it and it's falling. When we came to office, you had low wage growth - that's a key feature of the Liberal's economic architecture. Not what we were saying. What Katy Gallagher's predecessor as Finance Minister was saying was their strategy. Our strategy is very different. Our strategy wants to see living standards improve by lowering inflation and increasing wages. That's why we've put in submissions, three in a row, to increase the minimum wage so that people didn't go backwards. Remember during the last election campaign I walked around with a $1 coin in my pocket because the Coalition, then Scott Morrison, said that the sky would fall if there was a $1 increase in the minimum wage? There was a greater increase than that and guess what? The sky didn't fall in, but it meant that people had more dollars in their pockets. The other thing we've done, of course, the other side of wages, is taxes. We turned around a system that was going to give big tax cuts to the politicians standing here and no tax cuts to a whole lot of people who live in the Braddon electorate. Not a dollar. We made sure that every single taxpayer got a tax cut so that people earn more and get to keep more of what they earn. What was the Coalition response? First they said they were opposed to it before it was even announced. Then they said they'd roll it back and then they said that we should have an election based upon that issue. That's how hostile they were to working people getting a tax cut.
JOURNALIST: How important is it that wages grow faster than inflation?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we want to see living standards increase and in particular you had, the gender pay gap has been reduced to a record low. So not only have we seen increases in the minimum wage, we've seen our industrial relations system working effectively. There is less industrial disputes now. The opposition to our industrial relations changes has been based upon, and remember they said the whole economy would grind to a halt. None of that occurred. And in particular as well, we've singled out sectors that were in danger of collapse. Remember, the former government had an Aged Care Royal Commission. It was entitled, its interim report, with one word, 'neglect'. 'Neglect'. It was a system that was going to collapse. We ensured that aged care workers got a decent wage increase, as we have early childhood learning as well, with a 15 per cent increase. 10 per cent additional, dollars in their pockets, more than $100 in December in their first pay packet. And there'll be an additional more than $50 this December, 2025 as well.
JOURNALIST: Rents are slowing, which will push downward pressure on inflation -
PRIME MINISTER: You were saying before rents were increasing.
JOURNALIST: Rents are - I think I've got the wrong word in here. Sorry.
PRIME MINISTER: That's okay.
JOURNALIST: Have you spoken with Tanya Plibersek around her delayed decisions on the salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, the Robbins Island Wind Farm and the MMG Rosebery Mine's Tailings Dam in the Tarkine?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, under the Act that the Howard Government created, they are decisions of the Environment Minister that are done not as part of a cabinet process, but certainly I can say from the government's perspective, I can confirm we are strong supporters of the salmon industry. That's why we've contributed through, as well the Environment Minister, more than $30 million to improve water quality in Macquarie Harbour. That's why as well, we've got a trial off Burnie of not just salmon, but kingfish as well. We think this is an important industry. A Labor Government will always defend jobs. I was very pleased to visit Strahan with Anne Urquhart recently and to actually go out on the harbour with the workforce. And I thank, as well, the fantastic families, particularly the kids, for the welcome that we got at the fair that was held there in Strahan. Just about the entire town, I think, was there that evening and it was a great event.
JOURNALIST: The entire town, though, is nervous about the -
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry?
JOURNALIST: The entire town of Strahan is nervous about their future. What guarantees are you giving them to be sure of the jobs in that community?
PRIME MINISTER: Strahan will have a great future, I'm very confident about that. And I have a history of delivering for that community. I remember when the rail there was endangered. We intervened last time we were in government to make sure that that occurred. We support -
JOURNALIST: The rail there is currently in danger as well. It's needing millions of dollars of funding. What guarantees are you giving to Strahan to ensure that they will have, they don't have the confidence that you've got. What are you giving them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you've had, our record is what we've given them, and the record of delay and denial that occurred under the Coalition Government. We provided that funding last time we were in government for the rail project. The Coalition are saying themselves that they'll make massive cuts - that's what they're saying. Economic surgery. Think about what economic surgery means. Economic surgery means taking not a scalpel, taking a sledgehammer or a chainsaw to cost of living measures, to wages –
JOURNALIST: Inaudible question.
PRIME MINISTER: To all of those measures. We will continue to provide support for communities. That's what Labor governments do. Thanks a lot.