: Welcome to Newsday. We start today with the latest on the crisis around Cyclone Alfred and the concerns in South East Queensland and northern New South Wales. Joining me to discuss is the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who's live in the studio. Prime Minister, thanks for your time.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Kieran.
GILBERT: There is a lot of fear, uncertainty, concern right now in South East Queensland and northern NSW. This is the worst storm in, or they're saying the worst in 70 years. How do you feel as Prime Minister in terms of what is about to hit that part of the nation?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, people are of course right to be concerned. This is a very serious situation and every preparedness is being put in place, whether it be from the Federal Government - I was at the national headquarters just this morning of NEMA. State governments - Queensland and New South Wales - and local government - there are no political parties, there are no borders here. Tropical Cyclone Alfred won't recognise the Tweed-Coolangatta border and nor should governments and nor should peoples. At the worst of times we are once again seeing though the best of the Australian character. We're seeing the Australian Defence Force we have mobilised. We're seeing state police and emergency services and fire services being mobilised. Importantly as well, we're seeing the extraordinary volunteers preparing.
GILBERT: So, you're undertaking those preparations, defence and the state government as well through emergency services. Are you worried that given an element of calm before the storm on the ground, speaking to loved ones in the area and friends, they say there was bright sunshine earlier. Are you worried that some residents of that area are not taking the gravity of this situation?
PRIME MINISTER: I think because of experience, unfortunately people will be really conscious of the threat that this represents. We've had flooding of course in south-east Queensland in recent times as well as of course the people of Lismore. I spoke to Steve Kreig, the Mayor of Lismore this morning. I also spoke with Janelle Saffin, the quite extraordinary State local Member who of course was the Member for Page here in our national Parliament for a while. When the flooding occurred last time in Lismore, Janelle Saffin, you might recall the story, I mean she's small in stature but big in heart - she had to swim literally to safety from her home. People there are really conscious.
GILBERT: There's a lot that are. But we've had a lot of population growth in South East Queensland. It's the fastest growing part of the nation. So, I guess there are a lot of people there who are feeling this for the first time, this sort of massive weather event.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, people are rightly concerned. The information is there though being provided in a timely manner by all of the agencies. I was at the Queensland meeting yesterday morning and then was briefed this morning. The day before I was in New South Wales with Premier Minns and then I met with Premier Crisafulli late on Tuesday night. There is an enormous effort being put in place. For example, today I've signed off on the support for local government areas that were requested in South East Queensland and northern New South Wales. I'm not sure if that has ever happened before. Signing off on support for that local infrastructure, immediate repairs.
GILBERT. So, the dollars are flying.
PRIME MINISTER: The dollars are ready to go. They can undertake that work immediately in the confidence that the Commonwealth support is there. So, that preparedness -
GILBERT: We could be talking weeks and months. Heaven forbid. You know how bad this is.
PRIME MINISTER: Look, this is a very serious situation. The cyclone movement towards the coast slowed overnight but that doesn't mean there's less of a threat. It could be that that leads to an intensifying. It is unclear. What is clear is that all of the scenarios undertaken by the Bureau of Meteorology have the cyclone crossing the coast. And so whilst it has slowed up in movement, that is not a cause for celebration or for complacency. It's a cause for there being more time to prepare. The schools are closed there in South East Queensland and northern New South Wales. The Defence Force have been mobilised. State and territory agencies are all working in Queensland and New South Wales and certainly local government as well - having spoken to a range of the mayors including in Queensland and New South Wales.
GILBERT: And I know that obviously you're sick of the election speculation but this sort of comes at a time and you said this morning when an issue like that comes at you, that has to be your focus. That to me said everything that we need to hear in the sense that - you couldn't call an election in the face of a natural disaster like this. That's just not going to - I mean that would be a tin ear which you don't have. That couldn't happen surely.
PRIME MINISTER: Kieran, I'm focused not on votes, I'm focused on lives. I'm focused on Australians and Australians showing our character at this difficult time. That's my focus. You know I've been saying -
GILBERT: But if you have people cleaning up houses and whatever else, it's hardly. You're not going to get into C1 and go to the Governor-General's. I mean to me that looks obvious.
PRIME MINISTER: I've been focused for three years on governing. I've said the same thing every time I've been asked. Peter Dutton was calling for an election this time last year in order to stop our tax cuts going to every single Australian taxpayer. What I'm focused on is good governance.
GILBERT: Given, and I know that you as Prime Minister you get to call the election. So, I'm not sort of taking that roll off you. I'm just sort of saying that you've got Easter, Anzac Day and I just, you know, to say to the Australian people and to those in Queensland, you're not going to call a political campaign in the face of a natural disaster. And I know you don't want to give the Opposition Leader a heads up, but that's also a fair question, isn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: Kieran, these are questions that have been asked this week, this month, last month, the month before. They've been asked for a long period of time.
GILBERT: This is a natural disaster. This is different.
PRIME MINISTER: This is a reason why we need four year fixed terms to provide certainty. You know what I've been focused on, Kieran, is governing. We have a Budget that we're prepared for and we put out the time -
GILBERT: It sounds like you're delivering the Budget.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we put out the timetable of that last year, Kieran. This isn't an announcement. We put out the timetable last year. We have been focused on good governance and I must say that yesterday's National Accounts figures were very positive with that 0.6 per cent growth in the December quarter. We do have, now, inflation with a 2 in front and going down.
GILBERT: Do you want to see government spending come down though? Some commentators are saying that, well, you know, they've made the point that your Government is the largest first-term government since Whitlam in terms of growth in government spending at a Commonwealth level. 130 billion, 34 billion this year.
PRIME MINISTER: Kieran, my Government is the first Government in 20 years to deliver back-to-back budget surpluses. That's what my Government has achieved. My Government, unlike the Government that we replaced have had savings of around about $90 billion. My Government has put in place measures that have saved, in terms of interest payments and debt, some $200 billion. My Government has been economically responsible.
GILBERT: You've had the windfall. You've had some windfalls though. And I ask you -
PRIME MINISTER: And we have put, importantly, what we have done is put revenue upgrades towards the bottom line, not spent them. Unlike the former Government, we inherited -
GILBERT: 34 billion this year alone. Kevin Rudd, as you remember, he was elected saying the reckless spending must stop. Is this the sort of spending that he promised to stamp out?
PRIME MINISTER: What we have done, Kieran, is design cost of living relief that have assisted people during global inflationary circumstances, whether it be energy bill relief, cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, the tax cuts for every single Australian taxpayer, free TAFE.
GILBERT: Is it sustainable? All of that sort of level?
PRIME MINISTER: It's been designed in a way that has put downward pressure on inflation and the results are there, Kieran. Wages increasing, inflation decreasing, responsible economic management with two Budget surpluses and government spending, as well -
GILBERT: Government spending as a percentage of the economy is growing -
PRIME MINISTER: Cost of living support. Kieran, the highest percentage of taxation as a revenue was of course under the former government when Peter Dutton had a role in that area. This is cost of living support for people who need it, Kieran.
GILBERT: Do you think you'll rein it in?
PRIME MINISTER: If you go out there, we will continue responsible economic management, which is what we have done. Responsible economic management that are producing results with inflation going down, wages going up. And yesterday what we saw was a very good economic growth figure. Employment, importantly, employment growing with 1.15 million jobs created on our watch - the lowest average unemployment figure of any government in 50 years. Now, what economic orthodoxy would have you say is that in order to get inflation down, you need to get unemployment up. What that means is hardship. That means paying for people. I was elected on a platform of not leaving people behind and not holding people back. We haven't left people behind, we've looked after them. Every one of those cost of living measures has been opposed by Peter Dutton and the Coalition. Australians would have been $7,200 worse off if those measures weren't put in place. And if Peter Dutton has his way, they'll be worse off going ahead because he has a $600 billion plan for nuclear reactors. He has three policies only. $600 billion nuclear reactors, free lunch paid for by every one of your listeners, but only enjoyed by a few. And of course, cuts that he won't tell you what they are until after the election.
GILBERT: Prime Minister, one quick one before you go. It's difficult to make it quick because there's so much happening internationally. But you seem to suggest that you might be open to having peacekeepers on the ground in Ukraine. Troops on the ground. You're not, you wouldn't seriously consider sending Aussie troops into such an uncertain part of Europe, would you,
PRIME MINISTER: Kieran, we support Ukraine unequivocally.
GILBERT: Boots on the ground though?
PRIME MINISTER: Unequivocally we support Ukraine. We've had no request, but this is a very fast-moving issue. But the people of Ukraine have shown courage for three years. For three years. Now they're into their fourth year of a land war in Europe. And this is a struggle not just for the people of Ukraine and their national sovereignty. This is a struggle for the international rule of law.
GILBERT: So, you'd be willing to -
PRIME MINISTER: We are already providing a range of support, Kieran. We've had no requests, but we are already providing substantial support, including, of course, training Ukrainian fighters. They're being trained in the United Kingdom with Australians imparting their skills and knowledge and experience to them.
GILBERT: I know you've got a busy day ahead, in fact, a busy 48, 72 hours.
PRIME MINISTER: Every day's busy, Kieran.
GILBERT: It is indeed. But tomorrow might be busier than normal.
PRIME MINISTER: But, but my thoughts are really with the people who are preparing there in South East Queensland, northern New South Wales. Just a final shout out to the amazing people who are providing assistance, whether they be on the ground there or whether they be the people I met with this morning, Kieran, who are working around the clock to make sure that people get that up-to-date details. And can I encourage people just to log on, listen to ABC local radio broadcasts, visit bom.gov.au. Queenslanders can stay up to date on disaster.qld.gov.au and getready.qld.gov.au - that's about preparedness. In New South Wales, visit ses.nsw.gov.au and stay up-to-date on the Hazards Near Me app that's run by the SES. Stay safe is the main message here. We can repair infrastructure, but I'm very concerned about the human impact here. And so I just say to everyone, do not take risks. Make sure that you follow the advice of the authorities who are doing their best to keep you safe.
GILBERT: Yes, indeed. Let's hope that that is the case, that people remain safe. And we thank you for your time, as always. Thank you, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Kieran.
