Morning everybody, thank you so much for coming out to our wonderful part of the world in South West Sydney. And this is a really, really important announcement for our part of the world. I'd like to acknowledge all the special guests, and as you can see by the number of people who are interested in this project, this is how important it is for our community and our residents. So can I acknowledge the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, Premier Chris Minns, the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King, Minister for Education and Western Sydney in the New South Wales Government, Prue Car, Minister for Roads, John Graham, Nathan Hagarty, the Member for Leppington and Tu Le, our Labor candidate for Fowler. Can I also acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we're gathering today, and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that they have been the custodians of this land we stand on for more than 65,000 years. I've been advocating for the upgrade of 15th Avenue for the last more than 15 years, when I was a Councillor on Liverpool Council, and our council with the New South Wales government at the time, approved the housing developments in Austral just up the road. We knew then that this road needed to be upgraded, and the inaction of the last 10 years of federal and state liberal governments mean that my community, it takes them forever to get where they need to go - traffic jams of 45 minutes. The announcement today will make so much difference in their lives, means that they can get home earlier from work. And it is really important that we all acknowledge that without a Federal Labor government and a New South Wales Labor government, this wouldn't be happening. This builds on the $19.3 billion Western Sydney Roads Package that was in our last budget. And it is an indication of just how much our government understands that the people of Western Sydney are important. Can I hand it over to the Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: To Nathan first.
NATHAN HAGARTY, MEMBER FOR LEPPINGTON: Thank you everyone. It's really, really difficult to overstate how important this commitment today is to our community. So not only will it improve the daily commute for families trying to get to and from work, to and from school, this is a transformational investment in our region. So it will mean that people from places like Leumeah, Liverpool, Cartwright, right through here to Austral can get to the airport, can share in the opportunity that is coming at the airport in the aerotropolis, whether it's jobs, whether it's education, whether it's amenity. This is a huge investment in our region, and I do want to thank personally, the Prime Minister and the Premier for realising that vision and for getting on board what will be a massive opportunity for our community. So I'll hand over to the PM, but once again, massive news for our region. And very, very excited. Christmas has come early in Leppington.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much to Nathan and Anne. Now, I was an advocate for a long period of time for a second Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek. And what I consistently said over my entire political engagement has been it's not about a runway, it's about how you get economic development for Western Sydney. How you create jobs and opportunity here in the fastest growing region of the world, of New South Wales, but one of the fastest growing regions right around Australia as well. Now this is a cracker of a project - $1 billion shared 50/50 between the Commonwealth and New South Wales to get this project done. It has been sitting on the books for a long period of time. But what my government is determined to do isn't just talk, it's to act. And this project will transform this area. I want Western Sydney to be a gateway to the rest of the world. A vehicle for opportunity to be created here in Western Sydney through jobs and economic development. And the Aerotropolis, together with Moorebank Intermodal Project, together with the roads and connecting rail lines, are what will drive that opportunity, making sure that people can get to work, they can get to educational opportunity, they can get to amenity as well. This is such an exciting project, it will create jobs, of course, during construction. But most importantly, will ensure that those jobs that can be created in the long term are created right here in Western Sydney. Tens of thousands of jobs right here in Western Sydney. Now whilst my government is concentrating on fighting for the interests of Australians, the Liberal Party in Sydney have been fighting with each other and it appears with the declaration of war that's been made by unknown people there as a result of the Bradfield preselection, that that ongoing internal war within the Liberal Party will just continue. Well, my focus is on addressing cost of living, making sure that we build the infrastructure and build Australia's future. Peter Dutton's plans are just to cost more, to oppose all of our cost of living measures and to take Australia backwards. I want to build Australia's future, and this project, and all of the work going on around the Aerotropolis, including the $19 billion we're putting in the Western Sydney roads, are a part of that. And it's great to be able to do it in partnership with my friend, the Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns.
CHRIS MINNS, PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES: Thanks, Albo. It's great to be here with the Prime Minister in Leppington and the Deputy Premier, the Minister for Roads, federal colleagues, and of course, Anne and Nathan. This is exactly what Western Sydney needs, a massive billion dollar shot in the arm for much needed infrastructure in one of the fastest growing economies in the country. If you look at the amount of investment, both government and private investment, in this part of New South Wales, you can really see the future, whether it's a brand new airport, brand new Metro, the intermodal driving international commerce - Western Sydney is the place to be. and we are seeing people moving to Western Sydney and starting families and joining communities and, most crucially, beginning their own businesses. But they need to connect to the rest of Sydney, and for that to work we need road infrastructure. This billion dollar investment, $500 million from the feds, $500 million from the state, will make a massive difference to the families and businesses that live in this part of the state. the road behind me has 22,000 vehicle movements a day. You're looking at over 900 cars and trucks every single hour. And if you look at it, it's basically a goat track. It needs to be a world class piece of transport infrastructure, and that's exactly what this investment will mean. I know the families in Western Sydney have been waiting a long time for it. They can't wait for the shovels to commence. We can't wait either, and this is exactly what we've been asking for from the federal government. We welcome this kind of investment, and I think it's an indication of the federal government and the Prime Minister's interest in seeing the families and businesses of Western Sydney grow and explode in the future and really meet their full potential. That's going to happen with the kind of investment that we're seeing from the state and the federal government. Congratulations to Anne, obviously, as the federal MP, but I particularly want to acknowledge my colleague Nathan Hagarty. For the last two years every conversation that you've had with Nathan's been a noun, a verb, and 15th Avenue. He's been a complete pain in the ass when it comes to investment in this road, but it's important, and this is what you get from great members of parliament that live in their local communities that want this kind of investment, because they never give up. They're relentless in their advocacy for the people that they live and grow up with and send their kids to school with, and that's what you've seen with this kind of investment. So congratulations to Anne and to Nathan, and I'll hand it back to the PM, and we'll take questions.
PRIME MINISTER: Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: PM, when will the money start flowing and won't the airport be up and running well before this is finished?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the money's in the budget. And it is a pity that the former federal and state governments, once the airport was approved, what should have happened was to get the infrastructure that's necessary to get people to and from Bradfield, the new city centre and around the airport, going. The planning work has been done by New South Wales, and that has therefore been able to go through our process. They've done the hard work. And we've said, yeah you're right. And together with Anne Stanley, Mike Freelander, who's here with us, as well as Tu Le, our candidate for Fowler, we are ready to go.
JOURNALIST: When will this be up and running? When will this road be (INAUDIBLE).
JOHN GRAHAM, NSW MINISTER FOR ROADS: This is a big project, so it'll be a couple of years till construction starts. And this is a billion dollars, so it's expected to take four to five years to do that. So this billion dollars will be put to work very, very quickly. That planning works being done, we'll work on the final design ahead of that start.
JOURNALIST: There's going to be a number of years of pain, Minister, until this road is done. Why couldn't this have been started earlier?
JOHN GRAHAM, NSW MINISTER FOR ROADS: Look, it would have been good if this work had been done formally. We've been in government a short time, this planning work is important, does take time. But this has been a key priority. And in part because the local members have been such strong advocates for it. It's great to get to this point, but big road infrastructure like this takes time to plan and deliver properly. That's what we're doing here with this cooperation between the federal and the state government.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minster, $500 million today, $700 million the other day for the Bruce Highway. Should the other state premiers be preparing for a bucket of cash in the run up to the election as well?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we're a country that needs investment, and we're a government that's prepared to provide it based upon real investment, based upon proper planning, proper costings through. We when we came to government, the minister had to sort out what was a mess, frankly. Projects that were under funded, like Rocky Ring Road by some $700 million. This project, there's been talk from the Federal Coalition, they didn't do anything about it for the 10 years they we're in government. Since then, they've spoken about, 'oh, maybe we might be able to provide $70 or $80 million for it'. Truth is, you need all the funding, you need all the planning in order to issue the contracts and to get that work done. We're determined to get it done.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, sorry to bring it up on 15th Avenue. On Friday, Alex Ryvchin's old house was seemingly targeted. Cars were torched in the Eastern Suburbs. Jewish leaders a warning of antisemitism in Australia as well. They fear someone could get murdered. How concerned are you of that possibility? and will you convene a National Cabinet to address the crisis?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm devastated by what happened to Mr Ryvchin. His home. I spoke to Alex on Friday morning, and the Premier and I have been consistently talking about these issues. I think people, what people want to see is action, that's what we're providing. The first arrest was made by Operation Avalite on Thursday. The AFP are doing their work. I convened a meeting with the Acting New South Wales Premier and the Victorian Premier on Wednesday. We're determined to stamp this out. There is no place in Australia for a antisemitism. There is no place for the sort of outrageous acts that we have seen.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the ceasefire comes into effect later this afternoon. Benjamin Netanyahu said that the first stage is temporary, and Israel will return to fighting if need be. How confident are you that the ceasefire will hold?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we're certainly hopeful, as I think the world is, that that this ceasefire holds. It's what the world has wanted to see, and it is good that it has occurred and that it will come into place. We want to see hostages released. We want to see proper aid be able to get to the people of Gaza. And we want Israelis and Palestinians to be able to live in peace and security.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, this announcement, a dummy election campaign underway it seems. Will you be calling an election this week?
PRIME MINISTER: I note, I had a call from one of your colleagues this morning who was asking was I driving to Government House in Canberra? And I informed them I was driving proudly to Western Sydney, here to West Hoxton. And elections, you'll recall the last time that a prime minister foreshadowed in advance an election date, every single commentator in the national Press Gallery, correct me if I'm wrong, if you find a piece that said that was a good decision, then maybe I'll reconsider. But the election, I've said very clearly, we're getting on with governing. This is a government announcement, not an election commitment. This is something that's been worked out with the New South Wales Government. We'll have more to say, what I do is lead a government that governs in the interests of Australians each and every day. That's what I'm continuing to do.
JOURNALIST: You had a crack at Mr Dutton, what do you make of his assistance for entertainment and meals for business today?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is a guy who opposed energy bill relief, who has opposed all the measures that were put in place for small business. We, of course, allowed for the $20,000 change. We extended that so small business can invest in themselves, in capital, in growth, in employment. We made sure that that was extended. Peter Dutton is yet to come out with serious policy announcements. And when he does come out with, finally, a costing, he came out with a nuclear costing that said there'd be 40 per cent less energy use compared with what the Australian Energy Market Operator says will be needed in 2050. That's less manufacturing, that's less jobs, that will cost more and will mean a lack of investment. And this week, you'll see again, further announcements that we are making of investments, making sure we take the opportunity that is there for net-zero. His nuclear plan is friendless. David Crisafulli has rejected it. The NT Chief Minister has rejected it. He can't even get the New South Wales or the Victorian opposition leader to come on board with it. So I think that when we do get into an election campaign, there'll be a serious offering from Labor about building Australia's future - further cost of living measures, And an opposition just continuing to be negative and say no to everything.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you and the Premier both spoke extensively about how much you've done to try and quell these spate of antisemitic attacks. They have only intensified since you've started. When will you ramp up your action to meet your rhetoric which is necessary to quell these attacks?
PRIME MINISTER: We have. We have set up Operation Avalite, a joint Federal-State task force, which has significant resources, which is investigating every one of these attacks, the first arrest occurred on Thursday. I'll ask the Premier, might want to add as well. But the Premier has been consistent, as have other state leaders, including Premier Allan, about making sure that people are held to account for what are crimes. It is a crime the sort of action that we've seen. My government has legislated against Nazi symbols and against that sort of activity. The first government to do so. We legislated on doxxing, opposed by the Coalition in the parliament. We were asked to do it by the community. We did it, and they opposed the legislation in December. And as well of course, we appointed the first Envoy on antisemitism that has existed. We will continue to take whatever action is within our power in order to stamp this out.
PREMIER MINNS: I can't promise an end to these despicable antisemitic attacks. I can't do it. No Premier can, and it would be irresponsible to do it. The reason is because there's terrible people, unfortunately, that live in our community that perpetuate these acts and attack other members of the Australian community on the basis of their race or their religion. It's despicable, but that's the truth. What I can promise is, when those actions take place, they'll be met with the full police response. That we will change the law if we believe we need to to strengthen the community, to keep people safe. And in a in a united way, make sure that the political leadership of the state and the country is united against this kind of racist attack in the Australian community. I also want to make it clear, I've become increasingly of the view that the initial spark isn't someone going to a synagogue or a house and lighting a match. The initial spark is hate speech in our community. And our government's going to make a decision soon, a difficult decision, but the right one I believe, to strengthen hate speech laws in New South Wales so that if someone's preaching hatred in the community, it doesn't manifest itself two months or three months later in a firebombing or an attack or something worse. So look, we are concerned about it, but no stone will be left unturned. And we will, of course, meet all kinds of violent activity in New South Wales with a massive, massive police response.
JOURNALIST: When can we expect to see that legislation?
PREMIER MINNS: Hopefully, as soon as soon as Parliament returns.
JOURNALIST: Just on that point, and I know that Inaudible. Do you regret not legislating those changes perhaps a year ago, rather than sending it through the law inaudible, given the amount of attacks Inaudible. Do you regret not potentially legislating or strengthening hate speech laws Inaudible?
PREMIER MINNS: Well, the truth is we did change the law upon assuming office. It had been in place for a decade or decades, and we made a decision that it needed to be strengthened. I mean in all candor, yeah, I wish it was stronger looking back on it. Self-evidently, if we're proposing to change the law, it means that there's a problem there. What I'd also say is that the government's shown a willingness to look at the situation as it is, not how we want it to be, but as it is, and take action if we believe that community harmony and community cohesion is at stake, or even the safety of individuals in the community. I also just want to say that we don't have the same freedom of speech laws in Australia that they do in the United States and there's a very good reason for that - and that is that if we're going to live in a country where people can come from different parts of the world and start a new life in Australia, then we need to make sure we protect the basic tenets of life. And you just don't have a basic right to vilify or harass someone else in the community, someone you've never met before, on the basis of their race or religion.
JOURNALIST: Premier, can I just ask, tomorrow psychiatrists are resigning. How concerned are you that patients are going to get the care they need and what are you doing about that?
PREMIER MINNS: Look, we are concerned about it, there's no doubt about it. The number of resignations from public psychiatry is a concern for New South Wales. However the ask, the wage increase that psychiatrists are asking for, a 25 per cent wage increase is not something that we can afford. And we would be in a situation where we were saying no to nurses, no to police officers, no to teachers, but yes to psychiatrists specifically because they threatened to cripple the public health system if we didn't. I mean, I think that would be an open invitation to other groups who've got asks of the New South Wales Government to do the same thing. And ultimately, we've got a responsibility to the public not to think about just tomorrow or next week, but how our public health system operates for years into the future. That doesn't mean we're not doing anything. I mean massive contingencies have been put in place overnight and in the last few weeks to prepare the New South Wales Government - whether we're using private health facilities, whether we're using other parts of the health system to deal with those that are in a desperate situation so that they can get the help they need. But 25 per cent pay increase, I mean, I just want to put it in perspective so everybody understands, the 25 per cent pay increase for psychiatrists is between $90,000 and $100,000 more a year. Now that's how much a first-year nurse gets paid. If we were to do that, I mean, I think that our, I think nurses and other public health officials in New South Wales would be furious.
JOURNALIST: Are you concerned, the storms that we've had in the last few days, how are we going with the clean up? There are also a couple of people missing in the Northern Rivers. Inaudible.
PREMIER MINNS: Yeah look, one life was lost in Cowra. There's also been someone that the police and emergency services are very concerned about in the Northern Rivers, in Murwillumbah. There's an empty car that was washed away as part of a three car convoy. Police and emergency services have got grave fears, but a search is currently underway. We're obviously thinking about that person's family. In terms of electricity and outages, we've gone from about 250,000 houses, the latest number reported to me this morning was about 20,000. Many of them are in Port Stephens. We're hopeful that to have an additional 10,000 reconnected by this afternoon, but if there's a change in that plan we'll report it immediately. Obviously it's a massive inconvenience, we're very sorry for that. I know that Ausgrid have already started handing out vouchers to individual customers. But I can assure you that everyone's working very hard to get those connections up and running as soon as possible.
JOURNALIST: Inaudible question.
PREMIER MINNS: No, I think I think a silly and inflammatory thing to say while everybody's trying to get New South Wales back on its feet. I mean, there's no evidence that my government has ever pulled a stunt like that. And I remember when I was leader of the opposition, I would never have accused the government during the crisis of doing that on such scarce information. So if they've got a township, a community, a street, a household that needs help, my phone is always on, and our government will act immediately.
JOURNALIST: Premier, (INAUDIBLE) Star that the moment. I know you ruled out further assistance, but are you being categorical and you're not going to hand over any more lifelines?
PREMIER MINNS: I've said all I'm going to say about it. We don't have any, we did sit down with Star over a year ago and work out a rescue package. As I said, we've got funding requests right across New South Wales, from roads to psychiatrists to nurses to the railways. I mean, I don't have money for casinos, I'm sorry.
JOURNALIST: This project here has always sort of been linked to the idea we shouldn't be spending money on the Penrith stadium. Does this project have any implications for that?
PREMIER MINNS: No.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, obviously, Penny Wong is in Washington representing Australia at the inauguration -
PRIME MINISTER: She is.
JOURNALIST: Do you have any plans for a face to face with Donald Trump?
PRIME MINISTER: I've been asked about that. We will get together at the Quad Meeting, if not beforehand.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, young Australians are looking at the US right now, and the TikTok ban wondering, is that going to happen here?
PRIME MINISTER: No, we don't have any plans for that. And I note that there's one bloke who called for it to be banned, and he's now on it - the leader of the opposition. I'll lead others to judge the consistency there.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minster, do you have any update on Oscar Jenkins and what's (INAUDIBLE).
PRIME MINISTER: No, we're continuing, though, to engage with everything at our disposal.
JOURNALIST: Do you have a sense on when you will get an update on this?
PRIME MINISTER: We will inform the public as soon as we do. But I say again, I repeat that we are prepared to take the strongest possible action if any harm has come to Mr. Jenkins.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, sort of, on the TikTok topic. What's been your reaction to Elon Musk attacking your British counterpart, Keir Starmer, these last couple of weeks? Inaudible.
PRIME MINISTER: I've got big responsibilities. The idea I comment on what happened from one country to another country isn't within my -
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on gambling. Will you commit to finalising your plans for gambling ad reform before the election? And if not, does that mean it's not a priority for the government?
PRIME MINISTER: It means that my government has a big agenda, and we roll out our agenda as it's finalised after proper consultation. We've already done more to deal with problem gambling than any government in Australia's history since Federation, thanks. Premier, last one.
JOURNALIST: On running elections, we gather you might be running in the Sydney Marathon?
PREMIER MINNS: Definitely not. I'm happy to rule that out. John might be? John's daughter. There you go. Yeah, looking forward to seeing...
PRIME MINISTER: Can I confirm that John has both of our proxies when he's running in the Sydney marathon.
