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Scott Morrison talks tough on security in National Press Club address – politics live Morrison tells National Press Club: election will be after the budget – politics live
(35 minutes later)
While you all percolate on that last hour and a bit, Linda Burney, the first Aboriginal woman elected to the House of Representatives, will have her portrait unveiled on Wednesday.
It’s to hang in parliament house. From the release:
Created by award-winning artist Jude Rae, the portrait was commissioned by the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) for Parliament’s Historic Memorials Collection.
The Historic Memorials Collection, Australia’s longest-running art commissioning program, was founded by prime minister Andrew Fisher in 1911, on the recommendation of artist Tom Roberts. Since then, it has commissioned portraits of the head of state, governors-general, prime ministers, speakers and presidents. On occasion, as is the case with Ms Burney, the committee will commission a one-off portrait of senators and members whose election represents a significant milestone in the history of the Australian parliament.
That was the last question.
Question:Question:
You’ve recently been to Townsville and Tasmania to comfort and support Australians suffering from wildfires and unprecedented inundation and flooding.
Now, insurance actuaries are constantly revising risk assessment and are now factoring in climate change as an exacerbating factor in the higher frequencies of extreme weather events.
Do you acknowledge that climate change is now the major factor in more frequent extreme weather events, and if you do, doesn’t that mean that Australia’s national disaster response needs a greater national coordination than what you’ve been able to announce under the national security umbrella that you’ve canvassed today?
Morrison:
I don’t know if I agree with your reasoning. We have a clear commitment to reduce emissions to 26% by 2030. So that is our response. We are taking action on climate change. We do have a response in place to address the very real threats of climate change that you’ve articulated.
That’s part of our government’s plan to do exactly that and right now, in the middle of the fires in Tasmania and the floods in Queensland, they’re not just fires in Tasmania.
As we know, in Victoria and Western Australia and other parts of the country – this is happening at a time when we’ve met the commitments that we have already set forward this time.
So the actions that we’ve taken to address climate change have been taken and we are meeting the commitments we’ve made up until right now when these very even vents that you speak of are occurring.
So my answer to that is – we will continue to take action, just as we I acknowledge it’s a factor – just as we have. I acknowledge it’s a factor. Of course it is. Australians do. The vast majority of Australians. But the issue is how you achieve it. We believe you need sensible, achievable targets to address climate change, and we have them and we’re achieving them.
What we disagree with is having reckless target that is shut down your economy and take people’s jobs, which is what Labor propose.
Their target requires an emissions reduction roughly three times what we still have to achieve by 2030. Now, if you think that the aluminium smelter is still going to be open under Labor’s plan, you’re kidding yourself. It won’t be.
So you have real targets that is you meet with a plan to meet them. That’s our policy on climate change.
Or you have reckless targets that shut down the economy and cost Australians their jobs and their livelihoods. That’s Labor’s plan.
And it brings me back to the same point I’ve been making all day – under my government, Australia will be stronger. Under Bill Shorten’s Labor government, Australia will be weaker.
Question:
A lot of Australians are asking when it comes to border security why can’t they [our policy] be both safe and humane why does it have to be a choice between one or the other?
Morrison:
We are being safe and we are being humane, I don’t agree with that assessment. The Australian government will run the borders, and our government, that is how we will always be under our government.
Over 7,000 women, and children, have come under our official women at risk program, because we have secured the borders. That wasn’t happening before we came to government in 2013, not in those numbers.
One of the first things I did as immigration minister and has been followed on by Peter and from David – making sure people who really need the help can get it.
That’s what we have been delivering. The reason we have put in our transparency and assurance process is to demonstrate to Australians the medical care is provided.
It is provided. I know there will be some who will come in not know what the circumstances are, there will be advocates making claims and they will do all those sorts of things but there is a reason ministers make these decisions and governments make them, because we understand our border responsibilities, I don’t respect those with more narrow responsibilities in the area I respect them absolutely and the motivations, our responsibilities are broader than that, and under my government, we will run the borders.
Question:
There’s been a fair bit of speculation about exactly what date the election will be. Do you rule out 25 May?
Morrison:
Have you got your pen ready? Are you ready? I was almost tempted to tell you the other day when Michael and I were going out to swear in the assistant minister. I was going to text you and say – I’m on my way to Yarralumla.
I thought it was funnier than that, actually!
Gosh, cheer up!
The election will be after the budget.
Question:
Hakeem al Araibi is in a Thai prison. We can blame Bahrain or Thailand for not taking them. How much responsibility can we take and what responsibilities have you taken to ensure that no other Australians end up in that situation?
Morrison:
I’m not at liberty to go to the last part of the question because of what it relates to. But what I can tell you – the only thing I’m concerned about right now is getting him home.
I want to get Hakeem al Araibi home. I know that Marise Payne has been working with her consulate and others from Dfat. And our Australians of the year, the number of people, the international sports community, others, have been making this case. But they’ve been making it respectfully, been making it carefully and I will continue to do that as well.
It’s not my job to get upset – it’s my job to get him home and that’s what we’re working towards and we will keep doing that. But I would ask Australians, who I know desperately want to see him come home, that we have to manage this carefully. We have to be patient. It’s not a straight up and down issue. I know it looks like one. Most issues do.
But you know, to solve them requires a lot more patience and a lot more diligence, and that’s what we’re applying to this. He’s getting a lot of great consular support from friends and I thank all of those who have been providing that support. But we will continue to work this issue with our partners. We will continue to engage with the Thai government, as we’ve been doing constantly, as well as we have with the governor of Bahrain. And it is within the executive authority of the Thai prime minister to enable him to be returned and we will continue to work towards that end.
Question:
Thank you for making that to the mortgage brokers of Australia. When you and Senator Reynolds visited Townsville, they rang the insurance brokers there, but then rang the mortgage brokers. Can you tell the mortgage brokers of Australia the sense that you give them about their future and they’re deeply concerned about the capacity to serve their clients, which they’ll do?
Can you clarify today and I know that Treasurer Frydenberg will look at the $2.7bn received in that, so if you could talk to the mortgage brokers of Australia.
Morrison:
The mortgage brokers understand, with at cautious way we’ve responded to the report, that we understand the important role that they play in the community. And I’ve already said that.
Yes, the royal commission has recommended some changes that will need to be absorbed over time and they can be absorbed if they’re done in consultation.
But I want to see as many mortgage brokers in this country, five years from now, in fact, more than there are today. I don’t want to see this sector wither on the vine and be strangled by regulation that would throw them out of business, but more importantly, would deny choice and competition in the banking system.
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from this process is that we need more competition. We need more options. We need more choices. Not fewer. And that’s what I am concerned about and treasurer and I are concerned about in terms of how we would go forward on that one recommendation.
So they have my pledge that I get how important they are to Australia and Australian families and Australians who want to buy a home and we will work closely with them to ensure that we deal with the things that we need to deal with and many of those mortgage brokers have told us that there are things that they need to deal with, and that’s fine.
But we’ll do it in a partnership way which makes the sector stronger, not weaker.
Question:
Prime minister, can I come back to the theme of today’s speech - security? You did cover a lot of different threats facing Australia. Some of these threats have changed over the years. The threat of Isis, the threat of cyber security and the threat of big power rivalry as well. Can I go to big priorities here? What is the biggest threat facing Australia today?
Morrison:
It’s not as simple as that, David. That’s why I’ve outlined all of them. I mean, governments can’t just pick one. We can’t just focus on terrorism and allow our women to be abused. We can’t just focus on that and allow our region to become unstable.
You know, governments have to deal with multiple challenges all the time and you need to understand what they are and you need to plan to deal with all of them, and that’s what my plan does today.
I think they’re all critical and right now, what am I spending most of my time on today? Outside of this room? The north Queensland floods and working with our team up there.
Next week, it may be something completely different. A couple of weeks back, I was up there in the Pacific making sure that we were working through our step-up program.
So prime ministers have to work across all of these things all the time and that’s what my commitment is, because as I said, that’s what I understand is my responsibility to the Australian people, to keep them safe and secure.
Question:
You’ve mentioned in your speech today, a number of serious threats to nation states and you also dealt on the subject of trust, where there’s one dimension of trust that I want to put to you directly. To be direct, a lot of Australian voters think that politicians tell lies.
They stand at podiums like the one you’re standing at and they tell lies.
Do you accept any responsibility, as prime minister, for the state of the discourse? Do you accept that you need to be factual in how you respond to issues and what you say about things? And if the answer to that question is yes - then why are so many of your frontbenchers misrepresenting the basic facts that are in the medical transfers bill?
How does that behaviour within five minutes of an election, we can all see it – how does that rebuild public trust in institutions?
Morrison:
I don’t agree, with great respect, with your assessment, in terms of the conduct of my colleagues.
What I and my colleagues have been doing – in fact, that’s why I declassified the Home Affairs advice so people could read it for themselves.
It’s out there. You can read it for yourself. The warning is very clear.
I think that’s very consistent with the type of behaviour that you’re asking from me, to ensure that there’s a very clear ... I mean, how many times – you have have been around the town a long time, Katharine, how many times have you seen a prime minister declassify that type of advice and show it to the country.
It’s a shame that it took Bill five days to respond to that. And as Mathias Cormann reminded me this morning, when Labor voted for this bill in the Senate last year, they didn’t even get a security brief onning this.
You see, my great ... disappointment, and it’s not a strong enough word. What I and other ministers have gone through to restore Australia’s borders ... I lived through those horrible years when the bodies were piling up and I vowed to myself when I came to government when Tony was prime minister that we were never, ever going to allow this to happen again.
And what is happening in our Australian parliament right now, it may be entirely well motivated. I’m not making any judgements about people’s motivations here. In fact, quite the opposite.
But what I am doing is – they do not know what they’re playing with. They have no idea of the consequences of what they are playing with. And they will unleash a world of woe again. How do I know? I’ve seen it before. And I never, ever want to see it again.
So, I’m not going to step back from calling it as tough and as straight as I can. If Bill Shorten allows that bill to pass in any way, shape or form, that’s the test. That’s the only test going on the parliament this week. It’s not who wins or loses a vote. The only test is – will Bill Shorten cave in and undermine our border protection by passing this bill in my form?
And if he does, Australians have only been able to confirm what they already know about him.
Question:
Now that all of the evidence is in, could you want to see anybody from the banking and financial services sector go to jail?
Morrison:
Well, in this country, it’s courts that are going to determine that, Mark. That’s how it works. And everyone should face responsibility for their actions and be accountable for what they’ve done and matters have been referred off for those, cases to ASIC and the others to take forward, and they’ll be pursued and they’ll end up in court, I have no doubt, and then courts will decide. But what I do believe is that all of them have to be accountable for their actions.
So, what can I do about that? You know, I don’t run the courts. But I can introduce a piece of legislation called the Banking Executive Accountability Regime, which, for the first time in this country, made senior bank executives accountable, directly and personally, for the decision that is they make, whether they’re criminal or not, whether they have a negative impact in a serious way againstAustralians and small and family businesses all around the country, and that legislation enables APRA to run them out of town so they can’t go and work in another bank and do the same thing again.
I can set up the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, which Kelly did when she was in the portfolio previous to this one, and I can make sure that they can take cases going back ten years now, over the same course that the Royal Commission was looking at so they can get access to their justice too.
And that’s happening now as we speak. So there are a lot of actions I can take to ensure people face accountability and face justice and we’re taking those actions. I’ve got to say, one of the things I was most pleased to be involved with, with Kelly when she was Minister for Financial Services was getting Dan Cronin on board. We’d already acted on that before that. We did think that ASIC needed to pony up a lot more on this, and you know, go to the line - take these things to court, and Dan Cronin is a very good litigator and I’m sure will be doing an excellent job.
So yes, I want to see people face consequences for their actions.
Question:
You generously listed all of the measures that you’ve been acting on. You called it your plan. You missed one important thing - a few days ago, presumably a foreign actor was snooping in the parliamentary computers, perhaps looking at your emails or Bill Shorten’s emails. Can you tell us what specific measures you have asked for ahead of the Federal Election to ensure that whatever it is that he this found in the day or so that they were snooping in your computer, in Bill Shorten’s computer, that it is not used for foreign interference in our democracy, which is also an important subject for security?
Morrison:
Sure. Thank you, Andrew. What I can tell you is that the Government is taking all necessary actions to ensure the security of all of these assets. I wouldn’t be disclosing what those actions are here, because frankly, that’s disclosure and a discussion that only takes place at the National Security Committee. So that would not be appropriate for me to set that out here. This is the focus of an ongoing assessment and we will be responding directly to those assessments with the security agencies and taking them up on their recommendations.
Question:
Could I ask you about a factual matter? You and your ministers repeatedly say and you said again today, that Labor did nothing on financial reform, and yet, Labor did pass FOFO legislation, which the Coalition sought to unravel. Can you say what it is there, but it doesn’t seem to square with what happened.
Morrison:
I must have found their performance underwhelming, and I still find their performance very underwhelming and I still find it underwhelming, but what I want to do now is look at what they’re going to do to mortgage brokers.
I was puzzled by Labor’s response to the Royal Commission when they said, “We’ll agree to all of the recommendations before we’ve seen them.”
Reminds me of Bill Shorten’s famous interview with David Speers agreeing with everything that Julia Gillard said before she said it or heard it. I think that that was unwise for the Labor Party to do.
I think, I commend the Royal Commission for the outstanding work that they do. But they wouldn’t expect a Government to just sight unseen all of the recommendations.
I never understood them doing that. And now they find themselves boxed in. We have the Productivity Commission report on mortgage brokers which basically says - if you start turning that industry on its head, you just hand the power back to the banks.
Now, I don’t see how that achieve our objective, and that’s why we’ve been extremely cautious on that point, and that’s why I’m not surprised that mortgage brokers are very angry with the Labor Party.
I mean, these are tens of thousands of small and family businesses that help mums and dads get a good deal on their mortgage and so they don’t have to just face the banks themselves. It’s pretty important service. We want to make sure that Australians can still have access to that service. Now, what Bill Shorten is going to do, who knows. He still hasn’t responded to the Royal Commission report.
(Labor has said it agrees, in-principle, with all the banking royal commission recommendations)
Question:
If I could just take you back to national security and border protection. You said in your speech that you had no plans to change something that worked. I think you said, “not one jot”.If I could just take you back to national security and border protection. You said in your speech that you had no plans to change something that worked. I think you said, “not one jot”.
At the moment, it seems that Labor is recalibrating its position on the refugee Medivac Bill.At the moment, it seems that Labor is recalibrating its position on the refugee Medivac Bill.
Are you actually prepared to consider amendments to refugee transfers, giving the minister the discretion and the power, complete discretion and control over this process?Are you actually prepared to consider amendments to refugee transfers, giving the minister the discretion and the power, complete discretion and control over this process?
Will you hold the line in your opposition to any amendments, I guess particularly given the advice is that the passage of this bill also risks recommencing the people smuggling trade?Will you hold the line in your opposition to any amendments, I guess particularly given the advice is that the passage of this bill also risks recommencing the people smuggling trade?
Morrison:Morrison:
Let me start by saying this - the minister today has those powers and responsibilities. It already exists. I don’t need to give them those powers. They already have them. This bill is unnecessary. It’s surpuflous. It adds nothing to border protection and therefore, its passage in any form takes us backwards.Let me start by saying this - the minister today has those powers and responsibilities. It already exists. I don’t need to give them those powers. They already have them. This bill is unnecessary. It’s surpuflous. It adds nothing to border protection and therefore, its passage in any form takes us backwards.
You don’t need this bill to ensure that Australia has control of its borders. We already do. See, this is the problem with Bill Shorten on national security or borders or anything else. He thinks it’s something you trade on. He says - oh, let’s find the middle ground.You don’t need this bill to ensure that Australia has control of its borders. We already do. See, this is the problem with Bill Shorten on national security or borders or anything else. He thinks it’s something you trade on. He says - oh, let’s find the middle ground.
No, no, I’m going to stand on the right ground.No, no, I’m going to stand on the right ground.
You want to join me on the right ground, you’re welcome. But I’m not going to find a middle ground.You want to join me on the right ground, you’re welcome. But I’m not going to find a middle ground.
You can split the difference on 1,200 deaths. You can’t split the difference on 50,000. What, we’ll settle on 25,000? No. On national security, on border protection, these things are absolutes - and Labor never gets this.You can split the difference on 1,200 deaths. You can’t split the difference on 50,000. What, we’ll settle on 25,000? No. On national security, on border protection, these things are absolutes - and Labor never gets this.
They think that there’s some sort of a slide rule that applies to this, that there’s a continuum and you just pick your point to balance left and right. And we saw Anthony Albanese out there this morning.They think that there’s some sort of a slide rule that applies to this, that there’s a continuum and you just pick your point to balance left and right. And we saw Anthony Albanese out there this morning.
He seems to have a different position to Bill Shorten this morning. A very different position.He seems to have a different position to Bill Shorten this morning. A very different position.
So I don’t know where that’s going. But what I do know is this - I don’t trade on national security but Bill Shorten clearly is indicating that that’s what he’d do, and I don’t think that makes Australia stronger, I think it makes Australia weaker under Bill Shorten.So I don’t know where that’s going. But what I do know is this - I don’t trade on national security but Bill Shorten clearly is indicating that that’s what he’d do, and I don’t think that makes Australia stronger, I think it makes Australia weaker under Bill Shorten.
Question:Question:
Just to follow up on your answer just then. I guess one thing that voters could say is that what we’ve seen in the recent months is a lot of contradictions within the Liberal Party on climate change and on energy policy.Just to follow up on your answer just then. I guess one thing that voters could say is that what we’ve seen in the recent months is a lot of contradictions within the Liberal Party on climate change and on energy policy.
So to follow up on Sheradyn’s question - how can you give voters an assurance that you’ll have a settled policy on energy in the next term of Parliament, given the divisions within the Liberal Party?So to follow up on Sheradyn’s question - how can you give voters an assurance that you’ll have a settled policy on energy in the next term of Parliament, given the divisions within the Liberal Party?
Morrison:Morrison:
Well, we’ve already announced quite a bit of policy in that area and there will be more policy announced between now and the next election.Well, we’ve already announced quite a bit of policy in that area and there will be more policy announced between now and the next election.
But what is the test of whether a policy is working? The goal you set for it.But what is the test of whether a policy is working? The goal you set for it.
The goal we set with our emissions reduction policy was that. We would meet Kyoto 1. We’ll meet Kyoto 2. We smashed Kyoto 1.The goal we set with our emissions reduction policy was that. We would meet Kyoto 1. We’ll meet Kyoto 2. We smashed Kyoto 1.
Kyoto 2 we will smash as well and as I said to you, 2030, our target of 26%, we will meet in a canter and I’ll be announcing further upgrades and details of our policy between here and the next election which will determine that result as well.Kyoto 2 we will smash as well and as I said to you, 2030, our target of 26%, we will meet in a canter and I’ll be announcing further upgrades and details of our policy between here and the next election which will determine that result as well.
So what we do in the Liberal Party is we say what we’re going to do and what we’re going to achieve.So what we do in the Liberal Party is we say what we’re going to do and what we’re going to achieve.
We said we’re going to create one million jobs. We’ll have an economic plan to do that through lower taxes and supporting family businesses and infrastructure and doing all that.We said we’re going to create one million jobs. We’ll have an economic plan to do that through lower taxes and supporting family businesses and infrastructure and doing all that.
And we did it. We said we were going to turn back boats, establish regional processing and make it work properly and restore temporary protection visas and stop the boats and end the deaths, and we did all that.And we did it. We said we were going to turn back boats, establish regional processing and make it work properly and restore temporary protection visas and stop the boats and end the deaths, and we did all that.
So, we do what we say we’re going to do and we get the results we say we’re going to get. Now, the same is true on climate.So, we do what we say we’re going to do and we get the results we say we’re going to get. Now, the same is true on climate.
We said we would beat Kyoto 1 and 2. We said through the Emissions Reduction Fund, we would achieve that. And I’m telling you, our policies will hit the targets going forward. And we’ll do it because we know it is the right thing to do and we have a plan to get there.We said we would beat Kyoto 1 and 2. We said through the Emissions Reduction Fund, we would achieve that. And I’m telling you, our policies will hit the targets going forward. And we’ll do it because we know it is the right thing to do and we have a plan to get there.
The reason I announced our economic plan two weeks ago and the security plan today is to make it clear that I’m not just asking Australians to vote for us on our record - as strong as it is - I’m asking Australians to vote for us because we’ve got the plan to take us forward and to keep us going.The reason I announced our economic plan two weeks ago and the security plan today is to make it clear that I’m not just asking Australians to vote for us on our record - as strong as it is - I’m asking Australians to vote for us because we’ve got the plan to take us forward and to keep us going.
We have a future plan and it’s a passionate plan. I can tell you, I’m pumped-as on this plan because I know it’s going to make Australia stronger, not weaker.We have a future plan and it’s a passionate plan. I can tell you, I’m pumped-as on this plan because I know it’s going to make Australia stronger, not weaker.
Question:Question:
You gave some statistics there, but one of the things that they gave was the number of prime ministers that there has been since the Coalition came to Government. Picking up on Chris’s question before - how can you promise voters, hand on heart, here today, that the announcements that you are making and in the upcoming budget, are things that will actually be implemented should your Government be re-elected? You gave some statistics there, but one of the things that they gave was the number of prime ministers that there has been since the Coalition came to government. Picking up on Chris’s question before – how can you promise voters, hand on heart, here today, that the announcements that you are making and in the upcoming budget, are things that will actually be implemented should your government be re-elected?
Morrison:Morrison:
Well, we dealt with that last year. The party room made a historical decision regarding the support of prime ministers who are re-elected. So that’s for the history books. That’s already on the record. But let me tell you a story.Well, we dealt with that last year. The party room made a historical decision regarding the support of prime ministers who are re-elected. So that’s for the history books. That’s already on the record. But let me tell you a story.
I think there’s a great myth that is going around about what happened in 2013. The Labor Party had quite a few prime ministers, that’s true - and they weren’t very good! We’ve had three good ones, I would argue! I think there’s a great myth that is going around about what happened in 2013. The Labor party had quite a few prime ministers, that’s true – and they weren’t very good! We’ve had three good ones, I would argue!
What happened in 2013 was that the Labor Party were thrown out because they were a very bad government. What happened in 2013 was that the Labor party were thrown out because they were a very bad government.
They had manifestly stuffed it on so many points, it was embarrassing. Now, people can rightly say that we’ve had three prime ministers - that is true. What they cannot say is that we’ve mismanaged the finances. They cannot say that we’ve mismanaged the Budget or the economy. They had manifestly stuffed it on so many points, it was embarrassing. Now, people can rightly say that we’ve had three prime ministers – that is true. What they cannot say is that we’ve mismanaged the finances. They cannot say that we’ve mismanaged the budget or the economy.
They cannot say that we’ve mishandled the borders or failed to invest in the Defence Forces or secure our position in the Pacific and the broader Indo-Pacific region. They cannot say that we’ve mishandled the borders or failed to invest in the defence forces or secure our position in the Pacific and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
They can’t say we haven’t worked with state and territories to bring about record funding for schools and hospitals and they cannot say, as Greg Hunt will remind you on every occasion, that we have got record listings of pharmaceuticals under the pharmaceuticals benefits scheme.They can’t say we haven’t worked with state and territories to bring about record funding for schools and hospitals and they cannot say, as Greg Hunt will remind you on every occasion, that we have got record listings of pharmaceuticals under the pharmaceuticals benefits scheme.
And why? Because we know how to run a budget and have a great economy. The great myth of the 2013 election was that Labor was thrown out only because they had too many prime ministers.And why? Because we know how to run a budget and have a great economy. The great myth of the 2013 election was that Labor was thrown out only because they had too many prime ministers.
They were thrown out because they were a joke in government and they will be again. And let me tell you why - they have learned nothing. Absolutely nothing. They were thrown out because they were a joke in government and they will be again. And let me tell you why – they have learned nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Question:Question:
This week, Labor intends to move a motion seeking a majority of 76 votes to force a recall of the Parliament in March. Just dealing with some of Hayne’s recommendations. Pivotal to that is the vote of Bob Katter, who is open to it - not ruling it out. If he were to support that motion, would that cancel that deal you did with him last year to give him $234 million in water infrastructure for his electorate so long as he voted with the minority Government? This week, Labor intends to move a motion seeking a majority of 76 votes to force a recall of the parliament in March. Just dealing with some of [commissioner Kenneth] Hayne’s recommendations [into the banking industry]. Pivotal to that is the vote of Bob Katter, who is open to it – not ruling it out. If he were to support that motion, would that cancel that deal you did with him last year to give him $234m in water infrastructure for his electorate so long as he voted with the minority government?
Morrison:Morrison:
Well, there’s a lot in that question, Phil! But let me tell you about some things which are facts. What is a fact is that there are 40recommendations that require legislation. Well, there’s a lot in that question, Phil! But let me tell you about some things which are facts. What is a fact is that there are 40 recommendations that require legislation.
What is a fact is that we currently have bills already sitting in the Senate and in the House which can be actioned, right now, this week.What is a fact is that we currently have bills already sitting in the Senate and in the House which can be actioned, right now, this week.
In fact, I remember when I introduced the banking Executive Accountability Regime into the Parliament and when I brought the bank levy into the Parliament - you know who tried to slow it down? The Labor Party. In fact, I remember when I introduced the banking executive accountability regime into the parliament and when I brought the bank levy into the parliament – you know who tried to slow it down? The Labor party.
The Labor Party tried to slow it down. So this is what it is. You cannot go and put together what is at least 40 pieces of legislation, or thereabouts, scramble it together in a couple of weeks, throw it into a feverish sitting of the Australian Parliament just before the election and then be surprised at the result that you think that you might get on the other side. I would call that type of financial legislation - reckless. The fact that Bill Shorten, as a former Financial Services Minister and an assistant treasurer, doesn’t understand the complexity of these measures, the consultation that has to be undertaken - the exposure drafts that need to be made available. The Labor party tried to slow it down. So this is what it is. You cannot go and put together what is at least 40 pieces of legislation, or thereabouts, scramble it together in a couple of weeks, throw it into a feverish sitting of the Australian parliament just before the election and then be surprised at the result that you think that you might get on the other side. I would call that type of financial legislation – reckless. The fact that Bill Shorten, as a former financial services minister and an assistant treasurer, doesn’t understand the complexity of these measures, the consultation that has to be undertaken – the exposure drafts that need to be made available.
The unintended consequences to be identified through that process, says that this guy doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand how to legislate financial services reform.The unintended consequences to be identified through that process, says that this guy doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand how to legislate financial services reform.
Now, there’s a good reason - he’s never done it! They didn’t do it when they were in government last time. They had Storm Financial, they had all of those. Nothing. Zip, zero! Now, there’s a good reason – he’s never done it! They didn’t do it when they were in government last time. They had Storm Financial, they had all of those. Nothing. Zip, zero!
Our Government has been reforming the financial services sector since the day we were elected. The Financial Systems Inquiry - started the process rolling under the Murray Our government has been reforming the financial services sector since the day we were elected. The financial systems inquiry started the process rolling under the Murray Review and that’s continued to this day, and the treasurer has led, I think, a very comprehensive response to the royal commission in just days. We’re still waiting, aren’t we, Josh? I mean, they have had more time to consider their response than the government has, and we’re still waiting. Still waiting. Labor doesn’t know how to reform the financial sector because they never have and they don’t know what’s involved.
Review and that’s continued to this day, and the Treasurer has led, I think, a very comprehensive response to the Royal Commission in just days. We’re still waiting, aren’t we, Josh? I mean, they have had more time to consider their response than the Government has, and we’re still waiting. Still waiting. Labor doesn’t know how to reform the financial sector because they never have and they don’t know what’s involved. The Law Council has made the same point today. We will deal with this in the prudent, measured and responsible way we always do. That’s why Australians can trust us when it comes to managing our economy because we don’t go and beat it with a baseball bat senselessly, without thinking through the consequences – which is what Labor wants to do.
The Law Council has made the same point today. We will deal with this in the prudent, measured and responsibility way we always do. That’s why Australians can trust us when it comes to managing our economy because we don’t go and beat it with a baseball bat, senselessly, without thinking through the consequences - which is what Labor wants to do.
Question:Question:
On the substantive point and Phil’s question, if Bob Katter votes against the Government on this, does it extinguish the water funding meal?On the substantive point and Phil’s question, if Bob Katter votes against the Government on this, does it extinguish the water funding meal?
Morrison:Morrison:
Too many “ifs” in the question so I don’t intend to entertain it.Too many “ifs” in the question so I don’t intend to entertain it.
Question:
The Liberal party has voted no confidence in its own leadership twice now. Why should the Australian people show confidence in this government in May?
Morrison:
Over one million jobs with 1.25m jobs to come. Restoring the nation’s finances, which has taken 5.5 years to do.
Restoring our borders, rebuilding our defence forces. Keeping Australians safe. A track record of performance, but more importantly, a plan to make sure that we continue to create the strong Australia that Australians want to live in for the next decade. Make no mistake – the election is about the Australia you want to live in for the next decade. Do you want to live in a stronger Australia under my government? Or do you want to live in a weaker Australia under Bill Shorten and Labor?”
Question:
Can you explain why the medical transfer from offshore detention of 419 people, under your government, has not rebooted the people-smuggling trade since May last year, whereas the proposed Phelps amendments would?
Morrison:
Gladly. We haven’t changed the policy. These transfers have occurred quietly, under the existing policy. And they’ve been done by the government, not by anyone else. They’ve been done by our decisions. The government remains in control of our borders and the people smugglers know it, so long as this government is running the show. The problem with the bill is, it takes control from the government, the elected government, which has to take into account all the considerations that impact on the nation’s interests and doesn’t subcontract it out to others who don’t have those same interests or responsibilities.”
The government has fought transfers in the court, where they are currently arguing the federal court may not have the authority to overrule its decisions. The bill does not take control of the borders out of the government’s hands. For the people out the back DOCTORS WILL NOT BE DECIDING BORDER SECURITY
Scott Morrison finishes his speech:
So in conclusion – national security is all about making the right decisions. Because, as a government and as a prime minister, you make them every single day. You make these decisions – this is how I make them ...
Based on your values.
What you believe.
Your instincts, your experience and when required – courage.
Our government has demonstrated that we have the mettle to make the right calls on our nation’s security.
Repairing our borders, investing in our defence forces. Deporting violent criminals, taking on domestic violence to protect the women and children of this country. Disrupting terrorist attacks.
We have led, we haven’t followed.
We have taken decisions rather than put them off to another day. And we have embraced tough calls rather than seeking to buy weak compromises for the purpose of politics. This is our form. Not just of our government, but as Michael McCormack knows, the deputy prime minister, the form of Liberal-National coalition governments going back 70 years.
It’s why we’re trusted. The plan I have announced today is built on a strong record that sets out plainly what a re-elected Morrison Liberal-National government will continue to do to keep Australians safe and secure.
You may notice there he had to give Michael McCormack’s title. That wouldn’t have anything to do with National party polling showing McCormack has zero name recognition would it?
Good news for northern Queensland shires:
There is a national disaster unfolding in northern Queensland.
We announced that assistance on Friday and today I’m announcing that my act will provide an immediate non-gratia payment of $1m to each of the affected shires.
That is just something to get on and do the enormous amount of work that they need to support their communities.
They raised it with me this morning. It’s announced by this afternoon. This payment will be for them to use on priorities they deem most urgent – whether that be rate relief for impacted properties, infrastructure, or the disposal of cattle which have perished, which has been coordinated and also assisted by the ADF.
Our disaster assistance funding to north Queensland in response to this flood is already over $100m in addition to the massive support provided by the ADF.
So I want those farmers to know, up there in north Queensland – we will stand with you all the way through this disaster, but we will be standing with you on the other side as you rebuild the great prosperity that we know is there for you in the future. We will be there to rebuild with you.
Scott Morrison:
Across my time as immigration minister, and on Peter’s watch and now on David’s watch, we have cancelled the visas of the equivalent of the jail population of South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory combined.
We have cancelled the visas of 4,150 dangerous criminals – sent them packing. In six years, Labor cancelled 643 visitors’ visas.
Labor were soft.
We cancelled over 800 last year alone. That included 13 murderers, 34 rapists and sex offenders, 53 for domestic violence and 100 child sex offenders, punted by our government.
Specifically, we’ve cancelled the visas of more than 300 child sex offenders and stopped hundreds more at the border.
And we have introduced an approach to strip criminals of the illegally obtained wealth, no matter which jurisdiction they operate in, which strikes at the heart of organised crime.
And I particularly acknowledge Michael Keenan for his work when he was minister for those issues. We’re giving the law enforcement agencies the tools to read encrypted messages that violent criminals and child sex offenders are using to evade detection, and we had to fight for it in the parliament to make sure that we got it.
We’re seeking to legislate that police have the appropriate powers to disrupt potential security and criminal threats at airports.
Our government is taking an uncompromising approach to fighting the menace of drugs.
Last financial year, the AFP and Australian Border Force seized more than 17 tonnes of drugs and precursors at the border. The AFP assisted its international counterparts to seize more than 28 tonnes of drugs and precursors offshore.
All of these efforts are protecting lives being destroyed by drugs in our communities.
The scourge of ice is one that I know affects communities right across Australia. Not least the families and children of ice addicts.
The government has invested $450m to help these communities fight the impacts of ice, including funding for more than 220 local drug action teams. Our joined-up strategy includes international cooperation to stop drugs at the source, with enhanced intelligence sharing, as well as better controls on precursive chemicals and law enforcement.
In total, more than $720m over four years to help communities reduce the impact of drug and alcohol misuse. Forgive me for listing such a long list of actions, but there’s a long list there in terms of what we’ve been doing.
Michaelia Cash’s former adviser David De Garis has been in the stand for most of the morning, but he has also been asked to leave the courtroom twice while arguments are put about which evidence should be considered by the court.
Lawyers for the Registered Organisations Commission objected to the court considering evidence about De Garis’ decision to tip off the media about the police raids on the AWU’s Melbourne and Sydney offices in October 2017.
Frank Parry QC told the court “apparent leak” of the raids to the media in was irrelevant to the ROC’s decision to investigate the donations, because the decision to launch the probe was made in August.
It would lead to a “fixation” on the events of 23-24 October – when Cash denied her staff had told the media and then dramatically changed her answer during Senate estimates – despite the fact the leak was “of marginal relevance (to the case)”.
Herman Borenstein QC, representing the AWU, said the evidence – initially an email from De Garis – could “cast light” on the ROC’s decision by showing there was considerable interest within Cash’s office about the investigation. “It shows that the senator’s office is keen to take political advantage of the existence of the investigation and what happens afterwards and that this is known to the (Roc),” he said.Justice Mordecai Bromberg said he would admit the evidence before later deciding whether to consider it as part of his ruling.
On that pair news, this story from Jane Norman at the ABC from earlier today is worth a read
Ann Sudmalis was supposed to be at the UN in New York. But in the final few sitting days last year, she flew back to Canberra and locked herself in her office, where she waited in case the Government needed to use her as a secret weapon #auspolhttps://t.co/7Gi0nxfgoP
Things are getting real – the opposition has just put the government on notice that any vote which requires an absolute majority, of 76, Labor will cancel pairs.
Pairs are cancelled pic.twitter.com/GxGemVN3rB
The Prime Minister ⁦@ScottMorrisonMP⁩ talking safety and security ⁦@PressClubAust⁩ #npc #auspol pic.twitter.com/p9qappuLDF
Continued:
For the past five and a half years, our government has taken these responsibilities extremely seriously. Dealing with the world as it is – uncertain, often dangerous, uncompromising, and at its worst – simply evil.
Every day, we have been taking action to build a stronger and even more resilient Australia to deal with whatever comes our way.
That’s why, today, I’m releasing our forward plan to keep Australians safe and secure in the future. Our plan to keep Australians safe and secure.
The plan builds on our achievements and addresses the plans that we face. Plans must always be updated to show that. Regional tensions between the world’s powers. Heightened global instability. Headwinds that we face, as Josh Frydenberg knows as treasurer.
The economy as Mathias Cormann knows. Foreign interference. Radical terrorism. People smuggling. Natural disasters. Organised crime. Money laundering. Biosecurity hazards. Cyber security. The evil ice trade. Violence against women, as I’ve mentioned.
Online predators and scammers who seek to rip off older Australians – cyber bullying, elder abuse.
Our plan to keep Australians safe and secure, to address these threats, is straightforward.
Keep our economy strong to provide the surest foundation for our security.
Defend Australia with $200bn over the next decade. Continue to protect our borders with proven policies that work and not changing them.
Keeping Australians safe from terrorism by disrupting and denying those terrorists the [chance] to undertake attacks in Australia. To combat violence against women and counter the culture of disrespect towards women that can lead to that violence. Protect our children online and in the real world.
Going after sexual predators and countering bullying behaviour. Secure our region and our sovereignty by prioritising cooperation with our Indo-Pacific neighbours and family, as Marise Payne does on a daily basis.
To protect Australians from organised criminals by ensuring that we give police and security services the resources and technology and the powers they need.
To fight that menace of drugs, and especially ice, with coordinated law enforcement and anti-gangs initiatives. And to protect our communities in times of natural disaster by continuing to invest more in preparedness and capability, so we can respond quickly in helping Australians get back on our feet as we are doing, even as we speak right now with the disasters that face us.