Doorstop interview - Perth

TANIA LAWRENCE, MEMBER FOR HASLUCK: Welcome everyone. It's a great pleasure to not only have the Premier Roger Cook visit the Midland Urgent Care Clinic, but to have the Prime Minister come and see the success of what has become a fabulous and critical part of the medical ecosystem in Midland and the electorate of Hasluck and well beyond, into the electorate of Bullwinkel as well. Since opening just over 14 months ago, this centre has now had over 12,000 patients come through, reducing the pressure on St John of God Hospital, which is just a short distance from here, by over 35 per cent. These Urgent Care Clinics are vital to ensuring that people have access to the care that they need, when they need it, without needing their credit card. And it's a credit to the Prime Minister to understand the need within the community and respond accordingly. And to that end, I'll just throw to Trish. Thank you.

TRISH COOK, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR BULLWINKEL: Thank you, Tanya. Hello everyone. My name is Trish Cook. I'm the Labor Candidate for the new federal seat of Bullwinkel. And as you probably all know, Bullwinkel is named after World War Two nursing hero, Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, who was a giant in nursing field, and as a nurse myself, I'm thrilled with these Urgent Care Clinics that provide such well needed services for urgent care and leaving the emergency departments open for emergency care and leaving the GPs time to get on with their day to day bookings. I as a nurse, I can highly recommend this facility, as I used to work here as a nurse, but also the new facility that's to come in Armadale, which will both service all the people of the seat of Bullwinkel. I'll now hand to the Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much, Trish and Tanya. It's great to be with a great local Member and someone who will be a great future Member, as the Member for Bullwinkle as well, someone who certainly understands healthcare. And it's great also to be here with my friend, the Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, on what is my 27th visit to WA as Prime Minister of Australia. We're on target to hit the 30 visits that I committed to. We're also exceeding a target in one area, which is that at the last election campaign we promised 50 Urgent Care Clinics. We now have 87 which are open today. More than a million Australians have got the care that they need when they needed it through Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. Importantly as well, this work has taken pressure off emergency departments. One in four of those people who've gone through clinics have been young people, people under the age of 15. So, that if you have a health issue that is not life threatening, this is the place to come. Which is why so many families have benefited from Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. Here in WA, more than 124,000 visits in WA. And you know what it's cost? Zero. Zero, to every single patient who's come through because all they have needed is their Medicare card, not their credit card. This is a part of a visit to WA of three days. I arrived yesterday afternoon in Kununurra and I want to thank all of those who hosted us there yesterday evening at a community function. And then today we had the significant announcement of $200 million in housing and community infrastructure for regional WA. Making sure that homes can be built by having the infrastructure that's required. Whether that might be connecting up with sewage, connecting up with water, some work, making sure that housing can be facilitated, whether that be social housing or private investment as well. But in addition to that, community infrastructure, importantly, in regional WA, lifting up the quality of life for people throughout our regions. In addition to that, we designated three ports with the status to be able to directly export and import. Now, in just one of those ports close to where we were this morning, Wyndham Port, that is going to be a game changer. We know that the Ord has been really important and we've continued to see an expansion of investment there. But what this represents is a game changer. It means that for the cotton exports that are required, need the empty containers to come in to that port. By having customs facilities directly there, it changes the way that the Kimberley will be able to operate in the future. It is productivity improving, it's job creating and it's economic growth enhancing. That is what this reform that we've done - I've had strong representations from the Premier about this and when I rang Rog about this a couple of days ago, he was more than pleased with this announcement. It's a part of our commitment to make sure that we deliver for Australians no matter where they live. And it's another example of the commitment that we've done working in partnership here in WA, not just with the State Government, led by Roger Cook, but also with the private sector and the community sector as well, to make sure that this great state becomes even greater in the future. Thanks very much and I'll hand to the Premier.

ROGER COOK, PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Thank you, Prime Minister. Delighted to have you in Western Australia once again. And it's a particularly important opportunity today. I want to acknowledge Tania Lawrence and Trish Cook as great Members and candidates for their areas. And of course, thank Brecken Health for the opportunity to have a look at one of the Urgent Care Clinics. As a former Minister for Health, I know just how important it is to have a strong primary health care system. And I'm delighted to see the way that the Albanese Government is tackling the issues of health care in Australia. The Urgent Care Clinics are so important to support our hospital system, which of course, as you know, is funded and run by the state governments. And my WA Labor Government is working hand in hand for the Albanese Labor Government to continue to make sure we put in place the resources, the policies, the laws and the supports that we need to continue to make Western Australia the engine room of the nation's economy. I want to reflect just for a moment on the importance of the announcement that the Prime Minister made earlier today. The opportunity to really activate the Kimberley and Northwest economies by creating first port of entries at Ashburton, Dampier and Wyndham Ports is so important to continue to grow the economy of our Northwest. This is, as the Prime Minister said, a game changer. It will significantly boost the economic activity, particularly in the East Kimberley. It means jobs, it means opportunities, and it means, particularly, in the East Kimberley, means opportunities for Aboriginal people who are working in some of some great organisations up there to really unlock the huge economic potential of the East Kimberley. In culinary, you've seen a significant boost in the cotton industry by the development of a cotton gin in Kununurra. That means that we'll be able to export directly from Kununurra and really just continue to boost the number of jobs and economic activity that takes place there. But it doesn't matter wherever you go in Western Australia, we know housing is always a challenge. It's a challenge in the metropolitan area, it's a challenge in regional WA. So, again, the comments this morning and the announcement by the Prime Minister is so important in ensuring that we unlock housing, particularly in places like Karratha, which are at a huge pace at the moment. We want to take the pressure off housing. We want to boost the amount of community education, health and other social services in these cities because we want to see them as places that can grow and be terrific areas of population growth and economic activity in our Northwest. So, when you see the $200 million announcement this morning, you see a whole range of activities to unlock the great potential of regional WA. And I want to take the opportunity just to thank the Federal Government for their work in this area.

PRIME MINISTER: Happy to take some questions. Both of us, I think, have done long press conferences this morning, but happy to take a few questions.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Angus Taylor says that Australians are $8,000 worse off than when they were in power, that they've never had it so bad.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, Angus Taylor should reflect on the fact of how people would be had they not had energy price relief that they opposed. He needs to tell every taxpayer that he opposed every taxpayer getting a tax cut. He wanted it to just come to people like me and Roger, but wanted people working at a health clinic like this, an Urgent Care Clinic, to miss out. That's what Angus Taylor wanted. For those kids who come here and are brought here by their parents needing health care, if they're in childcare, he needs to tell them that those 1.2 million families, he thinks they shouldn't have benefited from Cheaper Child Care. For all those who've gone through Free TAFE here in WA, getting an apprenticeship and training for a job, he needs to tell them - as Sussan Ley did very bluntly - that they don't value anything which is free, which is why they have never, in their heart, ever supported Medicare. That's their view. Sussan Ley said it very clearly in the Parliament. So, whether it is tax cuts for every Australian, Free TAFE, Cheaper Child Care, Cheaper Medicines, all of those were opposed by Angus Taylor. People would have been worse off, and they'll be worse off again if they get their plan for sometime in the 2040s up, which will not only cost $1,200 more by going for the most expensive form of new energy, which is nuclear. But also, according to their own figures that they put out, will result in 40 per cent less energy use than is predicted by the Australian Energy Market Operator by 2040, by 2050. That means 40 per cent less economic activity, less making of things, less manufacturing, less economic activity, less jobs being created. A smaller vision for Australia. Angus Taylor is a part of an operation that just know what they're against, don't know what they're for, and they need more time to get their act together, because they certainly don't at this point in time.

JOURNALIST: Do you acknowledge, though, that Australians are suffering the worst living standards that they've ever suffered?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's a very big claim. What I certainly acknowledge is that global inflation is having an impact here, as it has right around the world, has created pressures. The question is, what do you do about it? The question is, what do you do about it? My answer is that you provide cost of living relief and you do it in a way that puts that downward pressure on inflation. So, that when Angus Taylor was part of the show, the inflation rate was 2.1 per cent in one quarter in the March 2022 quarter. In one quarter, the last quarter they were fully in office. They presided over a deficit that was $78 billion that we turned into a $22 billion surplus and followed up with a $15 billion surplus. The question is, what do you do about it? Angus Taylor's answer is people should be worse off. People should be punished. People should not get cost of living relief. Which is why he's opposed every one of Labor's measures. And I make this point as well. We are now into 2025, an election year. They are yet to come up with - and Angus Taylor is the Shadow Treasurer - a single cost of living measure proposal. Not one. Not one. They speak about $315 billion of waste and cuts that they want to make. And we know the last time government changed to a Coalition Government in 2013, the first thing that Peter Dutton as Health Minister tried to do was to introduce a tax every time people went to see a doctor. You compare that with what we've done here. Free, more than a million Australians getting assistance when they need it, where they need it, quickly, efficiently, productively, taking pressure off public hospitals and emergency departments, delivering for families.

JOURNALIST: Does your Government still think it's too dangerous to repatriate citizens from Syrian camps, as suggested by Trump's incoming counter-terrorism chief? And could this stance alienate the new US Administration?

PRIME MINISTER: We'll make our own decisions based upon our own national security assessments.

JOURNALIST: 27 visits to WA. It must be one of your favourites at the moment?

PRIME MINISTER: I love the place and always have and always have. I was in Kununurra today. It's my first visit as Prime Minister. It was my fourth visit to Kununurra. I was there in 2009 when we developed the East Kimberley Economic Development Strategy, which led to - there at Wyndham, where the Port is going to be bigger and better than ever - we developed the boat ramp and the facilities there which were opened in 2012. I have - when we developed the next stage of Ord was under the Rudd Government at that time and as Regional Development Minister I have travelled throughout WA. It's not just Perth. As Prime Minister I've been to Kununurra, Port Hedland, Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Albany, Bunbury, right around this great state. There's something about this state's dynamism that is very attractive and we need to harness that in the national interest. That's what we do. It helps that Roger's followed Mark McGowan, another very good friend of mine. But I find WA people really welcoming whenever I'm here and there's a lot to be done. This is a growing, exciting state and under Roger's leadership I'm sure that will continue.

JOURNALIST: What did you make of Roger's comments about his Government being an independent one, that he has differences of approach to your Government and that he'll be devoting his entire bandwidth to his own re-election as opposed to yours? Any concerns?

PRIME MINISTER: He's here backing us up, with two candidates! As I'll be backing up Roger between now and March 8th. We have known each other a long period of time. All governments are independent. We make our own decisions but we work cooperatively. The fact that WA, for example, was the first big state to sign up to our Schools Agreement is just one example where that's there around the National Cabinet table. We cooperate. That doesn't mean that there's a unison. We have a three tiered system of government in Australia and that's something that we deal with. But I certainly wish Roger very well. I think that his Government is very deserving of re-election in March.

JOURNALIST: The Premier has said in his submission to the Senate Committee considering the critical minerals legislation that the final investment decision deadline for hydrogen projects should be pushed back. And also that the community benefits principle, that there has not yet been consultation. Which is at odds with what you said yesterday, isn't it?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well, we have consulted with industry but we'll go through. That's why you have Senate Committee. So, that's not inconsistent. We think that Production Tax Credits are a good idea. You know why? Because they incentivise investment and they reward success. Now we're backing the WA resources sector. The Coalition are opposing it.

JOURNALIST: Have you failed to consult with the Premier on the community benefits principle?

PRIME MINISTER: Not at all. We have the legislation out there. If you think that we sit down with the pieces of legislation and go through line by line. That's not the process that we do, as you're fully aware, but this is good legislation. We'll go through. It is before the Parliament and it will make an enormously positive difference. Certainly, one of the things that we did was consult through the Minister, Madeleine King. She knows a bit about WA, Madeleine King, and she certainly has had extensive consultation with industry.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, there's a wheat belt sheep processing facility that says it's closing. The industry's blaming the export ban, the live export ban. Do you have a plan to assist with these workers with that side of the industry?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a processing facility, not a live export facility, so - and that's a commercial decision. I make this point as well, that sheep meat exports in the last financial year were $4.8 billion. It's up from $4.5 billion. So, it's risen since the announcement and certainty was given. We've given industry certainty. And we have also provided an extensive package which will be worked through, as well, in terms of its implementation. The WA Government will assist with that process, in excess of $100 million. The truth is that the sheep meat exports are rising at the same time, as over a period of time, live exports have been in decline. We understand that this is an issue that has attracted some controversy, but we've been very clear. We've been to multiple elections, and we've provided certainty by providing that timeframe going forward.

JOURNALIST: On the California wildfires, is the Government providing any financial aid at all?

PRIME MINISTER: We haven't been requested at this point in time, but we've reached out to our friends in the United States. One of the things that has often happened is that during our seasons, because of the northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere, you have had cooperation, including personnel, have assisted. The American personnel helping here in Australia during our summers and vice versa. This is very unusual, or perhaps it's becoming more usual, that the seasons of these events are becoming longer. This is coming into their period where you wouldn't be expecting the sort of wildfires that we've seen in California.

My heart goes out on behalf of the Australian people to our friends in the United States. Those who've lost their lives, those who've lost their homes and properties and businesses. This is an extreme event. And people who see the footage will be shocked by it.

I'll make one further point, which is that for many Australians who've experienced the horror of extreme bushfires, this will be a triggering event. If it is, please put your hand up. It is strong to ask for assistance. Ask for assistance. Get some counselling and support if you need it because this will be a difficult period.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, and perhaps the Premier as well, just on this LA fire issue, Sarah Hanson-Young has linked it to climate change. Says this is why you, Prime Minister, and I think the state of WA as well, because you're such a big fossil fuel exporter, should stop exporting fossil fuels. Is that an appropriate link to make? Will you be addressing it in that framework?

PRIME MINISTER: What you can't say is that any individual event is because of climate change, because I don't think that assists the debate either. What you can do is say, over a period of time, over a long period of time, the trends are very clear. Which is the science told us that there would be more extreme weather events, and they would be more intense. And that is what we are seeing played out in just about every continent on Earth. My Government is committed to taking action on climate change, to reducing our emissions. We've got a plan to do it. The Greens Party have rhetoric. They don't have a plan. And when people walk into a room like this and flick a switch, they expect the light to go on. So, what we need is a sensible transition. That is what is occurring. The last coal-fired power station here in WA, Roger will speak for himself, but it will be closing this decade. What we need is to make sure that we have renewables. But renewables also need to be firmed to provide certainty. And that's why gas will continue to play an important role. And that's a big distinction that we have with the Greens political party, and why you need storage as well. Now, those technologies are getting better. But that is what you need in order to provide, particularly for the manufacturing sector, the certainty to be able to invest in the transition that will occur.

JOURNALIST: Can I just ask one last question, Prime Minister, if the RBA cut rates in February, will you lock in an early April election?

PRIME MINISTER: Good try. We had a long interview, one on one on the way down from Kununurra, and I didn't get that one. Just keep your eye on the on the car with the flag on it when it goes to Yarralumla. That's when I'll be calling the election. I've said this before, for a long period of time, three years is too short, in my view, for elections. I have no plan to change that, because I can't change that by myself. Peter Dutton said that he supported it and then it took him about two seconds to be negative in his usual negative way of saying, somehow, this was something that, in spite of the fact he called for it, was wrong, four-year fixed terms. That's what state governments have. You have certainty here. You know the election is on March 8. And that provides certainty four years ago. And that, to me, seems to make sense. Labor Policy has been since the 1970s to have four-year terms. That is something that a referendum I worked on in the 1980s that the Coalition said they supported it before they decided, funnily enough, to be negative and against it as well. We're the builders in Australia, the Labor Party. That's why our slogan at the election campaign is Building Australia's Future. They're the wreckers, which is why the first word of their slogan is 'back'. They just want to go backwards and take Australia backwards. We're going to take Australia forwards. But I won't be, I can confirm that, I'm not announcing the election date here today.

JOURNALIST: On the port package, just quickly, the Premier had said he wanted to also see Federal support for the port plans at Kwinana and Geraldton and Oakajee. Is that something that you're open to exploring?

PRIME MINISTER: We're open to working on a range of things. But I know that as well, that this comes on the top of what we've done at Broome already. The previous mob, what did they do? They were there for a decade. Crickets, essentially was the answer. We're getting on with things by doing it in an orderly way. And I think in terms of priority, these three ports have gone through a process of work. This isn't just a political decision. You've got to make sure that it can be done. You've got to do the work. We've done the work. And today, we're able to do the announcement.

JOURNALIST: Can WA expect three more visits from you between now and May?

PRIME MINISTER: Only three? Why only three?

JOURNALIST: To reach your commitment?

PRIME MINISTER: I'll reach the commitment. I'll do it in a canter. And I'll give you the big tip, which is that I worked out that was an easy commitment to give, because if you go back over the last 20 years, I, on average, have been here 10 times a year for 20 years. That's why I know where Gateway WA is. That's why I know that the Swan Valley Bypass, they changed the name of it, but it didn't change the funding and who actually started the project. That's why I know not every bit of this vast state, but I know a fair bit of it. And that's why I'm familiar with it. And that's important. If you want to represent the country, then you've got to actually be engaged with the country and be available. And I see that as something as positive. If you go back, importantly, I've been here more times than the three previous Prime Ministers have, by a fair margin. And it's something that shouldn't be, 'The Prime Minister's coming to WA, that's an annual event'. It should be something that is a regular just part of what the Australian Prime Minister should do, as I do, it must be said as well in other states and territories. And that's why this week, I was very pleased to, I think it was my 12th visit to the Northern Territory, and I spent Christmas Day there, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy.

PREMIER COOK: Just going to the question you raised in relation to that. Western Australia is the only state in the country that will retire all its coal-fired power stations by 2030. So, when Sarah Hanson-Young flicks the switch on tonight, it's because someone, somewhere is burning coal. We are the only state that is committed to retiring all our coal-fired power stations by 2030. Now, the fact of the matter is that gas will play an important role in this as a smoothing fuel, but it will also play an important role as our close Southeast Asian trading partners retire their coal-fired power stations as well. So, as a transition fuel out of coal, it will play an important role in those countries which don't have the benefits of an abundance of wind and solar and other generating capacity. So, we understand the important role that fossil fuels play as part of emissions. In fact, coal is double the emissions of a gas-fired power station. So, let's get out of coal. And we're the only ones that are doing it.

JOURNALIST: Just a question on the children's hospital. Are you planning or hoping places like this will take the pressure off a little bit?

PREMIER COOK: A strong primary healthcare system is fundamental to a healthy hospital system. We want people to get regular and ongoing care from their GP, or in places like this, when they can get spontaneous, unplanned care, when that someone's had an accident, a disease, an onset of an illness, or a breaking bone. So, these are important places to take the pressure off our EDs. I was the Shadow Health Minister for eight and a half years. I was the Health Minister for five years. And I've never come across a government in my time that has tackled the problems associated with a healthy primary care system than this Government. And so, it's incredibly welcome. The Urgent Care Clinics are doing such an important job, not just on behalf of people accessing general practice, but on behalf of people who don't want to sit in a crowded ED.

JOURNALIST: Premier, after the Bruce Highway announcement earlier this week, you suggested an 80-20 funding split should become the default arrangement. The Prime Minister has ruled that out. Is that disappointing?

PREMIER COOK: No, just never stand between a Premier and a pot of Federal funds. Obviously, we'll always welcome more funding and that's one of my KPIs. And can I just say, look, I'll always do what's right for WA. And WA Labor governments have always worked strongly with Federal governments, whether it's in the great work that Prime Minister Albanese did when he was the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, whether it is getting our fair share of the GST, or the funding for our large METRONET projects. We work hard with our relationships with the Federal Government. In contrast, can I just say that the Liberals in WA have never done that. They've never been successful in growing strong relationships with the Federal Government. And that's why we see a march of funds away from WA when the Liberals are in power, and we see funds come to Western Australia when Labor is in power.

JOURNALIST: Speaking of the pot of Federal funds, given $107 million doesn't really seem like enough, will you be asking the Federal Government to kick money into the METRONET on the Swan River?

PREMIER COOK: Well, we're having conversations with them about METRONET on the Swan. We know that the Albanese Labor Government are strong supporters of public transport. They understand the importance in terms of vibrant cities, around people being able to move around those cities with an option of public transport means. And so, we continue to talk to them about all these arrangements.

JOURNALIST: $107 million is not enough, is it?

PREMIER COOK: $170 million is enough to construct the first two terminals, the five electric ferries and operating costs to about 2029. And we'll continue to look at all those costs and all the opportunities to attract extra resources to that project. But it's a game changer. It's great. We've talked about activating the Swan River in terms of public transport with ways of getting around the city for years, decades. And now, we're actually getting on with that job.

JOURNALIST: You don't yet know the cost of a potential tender to build those ferries. So, how can you cost it at $107 million?

PREMIER COOK: We are confident of the costings because they're based upon a request for quotes as part of an EOI process. The Minister made this clear when we announced the ferry service last weekend. So, we know that these are the sort of costs that suppliers or manufacturers are anticipating in relation to constructing these ferries. Can I just say too, these ferries will be built in WA, and they'll be electric ferries. And this is again, part of our effort to continue to boost manufacturing in Western Australia.

JOURNALIST: Premier, will you be having any direct contact, a visit, with the survivors of the seaplane incident, in particular, the international tourists?

PREMIER COOK: Well, look, if the opportunity presents itself and they want to have a conversation with the Government about their experience, obviously we'd be open to that. They've been through a harrowing ordeal. They are tourists to Western Australia. They are a part of our family. And our hearts go out to them, particularly those who have lost loved ones. And we are working tirelessly through our WA Police to help the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to undertake its work so that we can understand what's happened in this instance. Thanks very much.

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