ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I just want to thank all of the businesses, tourism operators, local government, people who met with us here today to talk firsthand and inform us about the challenges ahead for this community. Which though I have great confidence that the people and businesses of tropical North Queensland will not only survive, they'll thrive into the future. The resilience that we've seen from communities in places like Holloways Beach this morning was quite extraordinary. Queenslanders getting things done, Queenslanders repairing from the damage and really looking after each other. And just a shout-out to all those emergency service workers and volunteers through the SES. People, not just locals, but people who've travelled from Murramba, Rocky, Ipswich, Brisbane, right throughout Queensland, we met today who've been helping their fellow Queenslanders. Just a big thank you, as well, to the Australian Defence Force personnel for once again, providing that support and that confidence that people seeing uniform on the ground, particularly the evacuation of Wujal Wujal to Cooktown that was completed yesterday. They have once again done amazing work in the service of their nation. It is a difficult period going forward, and we'll continue to work across the three levels of government to make a difference. And here today, we're announcing a significant additional support package on top of the Disaster Recovery Payments, the support for individuals and small businesses that together we are providing. We'll provide $25 million for primary producers who've suffered as a result of the flood events. $25 million for a separate package for small business and not-for-profits to provide them with that support. $1 million for each of the nine local government areas, just as a top-up payment because of the additional costs that they'll be dealing with. And an additional $5 million that came out of a request that was given to the Premier when he met with tourism operators here just a couple of days ago to provide support for tourism promotion in this area. I once again reiterate what I said this morning, Cairns and tropical North Queensland is open for business. We want to make sure that those of us who live in the southern part of Australia continue to come here. And we spoke to operators as well about how we get that message out globally to international visitors who are so important for the economy here. We need to make sure that as the floodwaters recede, the visits to this beautiful part of Australia don't recede with them. We want people to come here in increasing numbers, not reduced numbers, in order to provide support as this community recovers. This is an amazing community in such an extraordinary part of Australia. And it's always a delight to meet with people here, because they are always positive and optimistic, overcoming the hardship that they've gone through over the past days and the weeks leading up to the cyclone hitting and then the aftermath of the floodwaters. But here, we'll continue to work with Premier Miles and his team. Murray Watt, another great Queenslander, has been on the ground here all week with Senator Nita Green, making sure that the Commonwealth, through our National Emergency Management Agency and other authorities are providing that support. Bill Shorten, as the Government Services Minister, will be up here next week. There are four offices open delivering those services in a face-to-face way in the region. We know there are challenges ahead, but I'm very confident that we can overcome them working together, each level of government, along with businesses, along with the local community here. And the support that people have been given here is inspirational. All those people who've really gone that extra yard to support. We met one fellow in Holloways Beach there who's got three different families staying at his place, along with I think there are more animals and pets than there are people in the property. Dogs and cockatoos and bluetongue lizards and every other sort of pet that you can imagine is all there, and people just helping each other out. As we approach Christmas Day, that's really the spirit of Christmas, that spirit of giving and looking after each other that we're seeing on the ground here in Cairns and in Tropical North Queensland.
STEVEN MILES, PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND: Thanks so much, Prime Minister, and thank you for coming here so quickly to help us with the recovery in Cairns and Far North Queensland. It's only two days ago that all three levels of government met with leaders of the Far North Queensland business community to talk about what was needed here on the ground. They emphasised how important it was to get infrastructure back up and running again, but also that we needed to focus on the economic recovery. Focus on what we could do to help businesses to keep their employees through the inevitable tourism downturn that we're experiencing in the wake of the cyclone. Since then, just two days, we have worked together to deliver the $64 million package. Support for small businesses, grant support for small businesses, for primary producers, and funding for a tourism support campaign. I think it's evidence of what can be achieved when all three levels of government work together with local industry leaders. We will continue to look to what the region needs throughout this recovery and make sure that we're delivering it. But I really think that this signals, should signal, to the Far North Queensland community that we will continue to listen and we will continue to act quickly. I know the Prime Minister was personally involved in making sure this approval happened as quickly as we could, and it was great to be able to finalise it in time to announce on the ground, as I say just two days after we started discussing it. I want to lend my support to those calls for Australians to think about a holiday in Far North Queensland. I brought my family here last Easter, and we had just such an incredible time. It is a beautiful part of the world with so many established attractions, natural as well as other activities, and we really had a ball. We'll plan another holiday here sometime soon, and we'd just encourage families around the country who are thinking about it to get online and start researching now. Also, if you run a business or you plan conferences, this is a fantastic new convention centre that our government is very proud to have built and delivered. So if you're thinking about where you want to hold a conference, Cairns is a fantastic place. Your conference patrons will love to come here.
MICHAEL HEALY, QUEENSLAND MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND SPORT: Thank you, Prime Minister. Just very quickly, to be honest I can't believe I was sworn in as the Minister for Tourism yesterday, and here I am assisting in announcing funding for our region. In addition to the federal money, I want to say it's enormously appreciated. But we met with operators some days ago and, as we said we've immediately put $3 million out there to make sure that we're marketing our destination. That will assist in ensuring that we are getting subsidised, hopefully some airfares, we're getting our products in our region down into those southern markets which is vitally important. We also have an additional $2 million which will be able to assist some of those businesses that have been impacted immediately. We know that the industry needs an immediate response, and that's what we're doing, and we will continue to. This is only the first tranche, but I also want to acknowledge as others have, the outstanding work the regional council, the state government, the federal government. We are working hand in hand to make sure we get the best outcomes. As has been said, some tourism businesses have been impacted, some haven't. We are still a world-class destination, please come. The best way to help some people who are going to have very difficult Christmas, the best way to help us is to come up and have a holiday.
JOURNALIST: What do you make of Hamas praising Australia for not sending a warship to the Red Sea?
PRIME MINISTER: I have contempt for Hamas and I won't be giving them any publicity, which is what they're after. Hamas, a terrorist organisation designated as such. I have contempt for what they did. An unequivocal condemnation of their actions on October 7, where they slaughtered innocent people. And I won't lend anything positive to say about Hamas and nor should anyone in the Australian media.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, we're seeing early reports now that St. Vincent Health, one of the nation's largest health providers has fallen victim to a cyber attack. Potentially patient information at risk. Have you been briefed on this yet?
PRIME MINISTER: No. I've been here with you for the entire time, so I will get an appropriate briefing, as is appropriate. Cyber security is a major issue. The Government has responded with having a Cyber Security Minister, having a cyber security strategy that we announced recently. But we have had, and do all of the predictions are for increased threats when it comes to cyber security, which is why my Government takes these issues so seriously.
JOURNALIST: So, on Cairns water security. This region came within 2 hours, running out of water. The hospital was nearly evacuated. Last night we learned that Cairns Regional Council will require an additional $250 million to fund its water security project. And will be seeking as much of that funding as it can from the State and Federal Governments. Will your Government commit to upping it’s funding for this project?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have already supported funding for water security. Should there be any further submissions, what we do is we give proper consideration. My Government isn't one that makes fiscal commitments on the run of a question. What we do is we have submissions, give it proper consideration and we certainly do that.
JOURNALIST: The US has indicated it will now support a reworded resolution at the UN Security Council regarding humanitarian aid and steps towards a ceasefire in Gaza. Do you welcome the development?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Australia, of course is not a member of the UN Security Council. We participate in UN forums and we have engagement with our friends in the United States. We put out a very clear position jointly with the Prime Ministers of Canada and New Zealand just a little over a week ago. And that confirms what our position is on the region, which is to, we want to see move towards a sustainable ceasefire, but it can't be one sided. It has to involve security for Israel, Gaza not being used ongoing as a launch pad for terrorist attacks. And we say very clearly that we mourn every innocent life that has been lost in this conflict, whether it be Israeli or Palestinian.
JOURNALIST: Back to regional recovery.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. Thank you.
JOURNALIST: Cairns Western Arterial Road has proved itself to be the only major road in this region impervious to a 100 year flood event. Now, funding is available for this project. The design work, I've been told, is done. Will the Government now progress that project take it out of the delay pile which it was put into by the Infrastructure Review.
PRIME MINISTER: No. Well, that's not right. When it comes to infrastructure, we have a $120 billion program that is available. There have been no cuts from the Commonwealth when it comes to infrastructure funding. When it comes to that project, we'll work with the Queensland Government on a timetable to make sure that the construction can occur, but the funding is available.
JOURNALIST: Usman Khawaja the cricket has been charged by the ICC over that black arm band. What do you make of that?
PRIME MINISTER: I think that Usman Khawaja is a great Australian cricketer and that the position that he put forward is one that I think is pretty uncontroversial, one that all lives are equal is a sentiment that I think is uncontroversial. And I think that he's someone who plays a really important role for Australian cricket. Usman Khawaja made his position clear, which is he didn't see it as a political statement.
JOURNALIST: What are the benefits of the Government’s new petrol standards from 2025 and will they send petrol prices higher?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, no. Catherine King will be responding to that. But there are issues with regard to, our petrol standards have been way below everywhere else in the western world. And when you have petrol standards that are lower, you have issues, created health issues as a result of that. We are below, and not just Europe, but below the United States. And that means that Australia has needed to respond.
JOURNALIST: Do you think the Government has provided enough support to individuals who have been affected by this disaster so far. We have seen a number of supports for small businesses. Is there more coming for residents?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've provided support through the disaster recovery payments to individuals who've been impacted, as well as small business.
JOURNALIST: Just on the supports that have been put forward. We are coming into Christmas are you confident that there is going to continue to be pace on making sure that these are being processed?
PRIME MINISTER: We have processed supports already and there are now four offices open to deliver those government services. And Bill Shorten will be coming here next week to see firsthand what is happening on the ground.
JOURNALIST: Has this event shown the faults in the reinsurance scheme?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the reinsurance scheme, of course, was one that was put in place by the former Government. We, of course, whenever an event occurs, will examine what has occurred and whether there are any lessons to be learned. I make this point as well. The reinsurance scheme is a relationship between insurance companies and government. It's not a relationship between insurance companies and individuals who've had their insurance. And when you look at some of the coverage would indicate that somehow insurance companies are not obliged to fulfil their obligations. I make this point, they are. People who are insured should be putting in their claims. And I say to insurance companies, they should be honouring those claims which are legitimate, being put forward and we will keep vigilant on those issues. Thanks very much.