Well, I do want to thank all of the volunteers and workers who've been showing us around this control centre here this morning who are doing extraordinary work. At the worst of times Australians show the best of their character, and we've seen that on full display here this morning. Whether they be local volunteers, whether they be professional firefighting services, or whether they be people who've come from interstate - Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Tasmania, South Australia - in order to lend a helping hand. What we see consistently is that Australians help each other out when times get difficult. This time last year I was here in Victoria looking at floods, this year it is the fire in the Grampians that has had such an impact, and continues to have an impact, and will continue to do so over coming weeks. It's been great to be in regular contact with the Victorian Premier and with our officials from the Commonwealth, working with Victoria to make sure that the Commonwealth provides whatever is required to provide support here. We had the large air tanker on the ground here and in the air operating very early on during this fire. And today we're announcing that from tomorrow at 2pm the Disaster Recovery Payment will be available. That's a payment available to workers and sole traders who have directly been impacted by this fire event, and that will be available, people can get information at mygov.au or through the Australian Government emergency information line on 180 22 66. That's 180 22 66. This will provide up to 13 weeks of income support for workers and sole traders. It is something that has kicked in on top of the other support that we've made available. The hardship payments between the Commonwealth and the Victorian Government, as well as disaster assistance via councils. It's good that we're being joined here today by the Mayor, so we have the three levels of government all working cooperatively, making sure we work in the interests of this fantastic local community that has been so affected by these fires. I'll hand to the Premier, and then we're happy to take questions.
JACINTA ALLAN, PREMIER OF VICTORIA: Thank you, Prime Minister. Can I on our collective behalf, thank Mark Gunning and the team here at the Horsham Incident Control Centre who have been working around the clock over the past couple of weeks keeping this local community safe in one of our most difficult times of the year. And can I also acknowledge the Mayor of the rural city of Ararat, Jo Armstrong, who is here today as the Prime Minister said. This is, in times of emergencies all three levels of government and all of our agencies come together to work in a strong, coordinated way. And today is an opportunity for us to say thank you. Thank you to those emergency services workers and volunteers, the firefighters, the community volunteers, the local government crews who have been working. Dry lightning started the fire here in the Grampians on the 16th of December. So this is a fire that has been already running for some time, and it's going to continue to run for days and weeks ahead. And that's why I'd also like on behalf too, on behalf of Victorians, is to thank those interstate crews who've travelled here from Queensland, from Tassie, from New South Wales, the ACT and, of course, across the border in South Australia. And it's also a big thank you at what is a time of year when people usually have the opportunity to spend time with their family and loved ones. Christmas is a special time of the year, and so it's a particularly big and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has come here to fight these dangerous fires, to serve the local community, and in turn give up their Christmas time away from their family and loved ones. And in terms of the briefing that the Prime Minister and our ministers and I have just had, we've seen how incredibly, incredibly strong the response has been. The planning and preparation that goes in outside of high risk periods is paying off in terms of the coordinated response we have seen here around the Grampians fire. That I should also note, there were fires too in other parts of the state, around Bullengarook and also the Gurdies fire as well. So we had multiple fronts, and Boxing Day was predicted to be a really difficult, extreme fire weather day, and it was. And it's on that point that I want to also thank Victorians for heeding the advice, listening to the warnings, and taking their own measures to keep safe. It is remarkable given that we have a fire here in the Grampians, something like 76,000 hectares, that we have not seen, thankfully, any loss of life. There has been three properties lost at current estimates and our thoughts also go to those property owners, farmers, primary producers, who've lost livestock as well. This is a tough time of year, and we should also think of the many tourism operators as well who are, what should be welcoming visitors. Many families like my own travel here for a great holiday experience. What we are seeing here though is the Grampians fire is going to continue to run for some time, which is why in addition to thanking all the volunteers, all the workers, I'd also like to remind Victorians that we are still at the start of a dangerous summer period. And so to remind Victorians to continue to take the, be alert to your conditions, please download the Vic Emergency app. We saw something like 26,000 messages sent out over that Boxing Day. Those messages were listened to, responded to, which is why many communities have been kept safe as a response of following the advice. But we have many, many more days and weeks to come. There's something like a 384 km perimeter around this Grampians fire and on any given day, with the wind going the wrong way, that can be an ignition point out of that perimeter. So please do continue to be aware of conditions, take the advice of our hard working emergency services, because that's the way we can say thank you for the work that they're doing every single day is by taking the advice - keeping each other safe. And finally too can I thank and acknowledge the support of the federal government. We've activated support to councils, the Personal Hardship Grants, and with the announcement today of the of the Newstart support, it is going to be greatly appreciated by communities who we know are doing it tough right now. So thank you, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I'm sure you've seen photos and videos that have come from Boxing Day and weeks before of the fires here. I mean, it's hard to see isn't it, to see how much devastation that has happened?
PRIME MINISTER: This has been a devastating fire event here in the Grampians, and it is, I think, particularly acutely felt because of the time of year it is. Christmas is a time where people spend with their family and their friends - it's a joyous time. And unfortunately for many families in this area, as well as those people who are volunteers, who've come into this area to provide assistance, they have spent their time either leaving home or helping with the recovery and the work that is occurring here. So I think it has been a very difficult time. We live in a country which has harsh conditions. It's always had fires, it's always had these extreme weather events, but the truth is they're becoming more frequent and more intense. And that has been something that, I've been Prime Minister for two and a half years, and I have been to natural disasters and extreme weather events in every single state and territory of the country, and that says something about this frequency. As I said, this time last year I was here in Victoria looking at floods. We flew over Rochester at that time, having a look at the devastation that occurred there - that town completely cut off. Today after this we'll fly over the Grampians, looking at the damage and the consequences and what is occurring there. But the planning has shown the benefit during this briefing that we've had. The fact that we have increased coordination between the National Emergency Management Agency that's been established with the Victorian authorities. One of the things that really shone through from the briefings as well is people, Mark and others, telling us that so many of their colleagues who visited here from Queensland, who are helping out or from other states and territories, are people who they've had contact with before. Unfortunately a lot of these people have experiences with fighting fires, not just here, but also in Canada and other parts of the globe as well. We have those arrangements, particularly with the West Coast of the United States and Canada. So we'll continue to do the planning, to do the work. But can I just say I'm inspired by the courage, the commitment, the passion for helping out their fellow Australians that we've seen here this morning.
JOURNALIST: What's your reaction to hearing that some people, not many people, but some people have ignored the total fire ban?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, people need to listen to the authorities. And I saw a tweet, it must be said, from another prominent figure just to my right here, who said, I think, used an appropriate term of 'don't be a dickhead'. Help your fellow Victorians and your fellow Australians. Common sense has got to apply here, and you just your head shakes that people aren't taking the warnings. I'll make this added point as well. It's very disrespectful of the people who are here giving up their time as volunteers and giving their professional expertise to not listen to the warnings. They're not warnings made for fun. They're warnings made to help their fellow Victorians and fellow Australians.
JOURNALIST: We have lost three houses, as far as we know there's been no loss of life. What does that say about the planning and preparation, and enacting that planning and preparation?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll ask Jacinta as a comment as well on this, but it does say the advantage of proper planning. Getting the information out there to people as well. Of the three homes that have been lost, only one of them was owner occupied. That is quite extraordinary given the extent and the intensity of this fire.
PREMIER ALLAN: Thanks, Prime Minister. There's two sides to this relationship - there's the huge expertise and experience and planning and preparation that comes from the skilled workers and volunteers who have been working around the clock to be ready and then respond to the emergency, and then there's the rest of us who we all have that role to play, which is taking their advice. So if you get the alert to watch and act, if you get the alert to leave immediately, if you get the message to be prepared, to be aware of your conditions, it's on us. It's our responsibility and obligation, as the Prime Minister said, to say thank you to the work that they do, but it's also part of keeping everyone in our community safe. And that's why again, I'd like to thank Victorians, because we have seen Victorians taking the advice, listening to the warnings. Boxing Day was predicted to be an extreme weather day, and it was, and it was. And we could have been here talking about much more greater loss, like we have experienced loss here, but it could have been so much worse. But it's because Victorians have taken the advice, and for that we say a big thank you in addition to the work that goes on year round in preparing across our emergency services for events like this.
JOURNALIST: Premier, based on what you know, do you expect that we might see the number of properties lost climb, or have we got a pretty good assessment of the damage?
PREMIER ALLAN: Part of the challenge with this Grampians fire is it's still burning. It's still burning, and it's going to burn for a number of days and weeks. So where the crews can, they're in there now, undertaking the rapid impact assessments to get a sense of property loss, so that number may go up. Property loss, also there's been significant primary production loss as well. Stock losses that has been considered by Agriculture Victoria. And then there's also too the work to get where possible roads reopened. So there is a lot of assessment work that's going on right now, whilst the fire is still going. And the priority has got to be on the safety of those firefighters, but also too understanding that there is the need to continue to do that assessment, so that number may go up. But again, I just re-emphasise we're not even at the first of January, and this is going to be a fire that's going to run for weeks, and so we've got plenty more hot days ahead of us, which is why the crews are in there, while the weather's a little bit more benign, doing everything they can to suppress the most dangerous parts of the fire, which the Prime Minister and I and our ministers have just been briefed on.
JOURNALIST: You mentioned tourism, and obviously one of the big reasons people come here is because of the natural beauty of the place. What's going to be done to help a, tourism operators and b, wildlife to recover from this?
PREMIER ALLAN: It's devastating to see the Grampians burn at any time, but particularly in peak summer season which we know is the key period for people to come and visit this beautiful part of the state. I've visited here, I've holidayed here on many, many occasions with my family, and so know the joy and the beauty of visiting this region. So as part of that Rapid Impact Assessment work, the full impact will be understood, have a clearer picture of that full impact once that impact assessments of the infrastructure is undertaken because a lot of the park assets are in those areas where the fire is continuing to burn. But this is why the work that our ministers have been doing in the last few days is so important. Getting the support out there to councils, the hardship grants, and I really, the announcement today by the Prime Minister of the Australian Government Disaster Assistance Payment, that's going to be particularly important for the agricultural and the tourism industries here, which are really the economic foundations of this community.
JOURNALIST: Premier, I'll ask you the same question that I asked the Prime Minister a little bit about. Obviously, you've been sharing videos and photos on your socials. Can we get your reaction to what you've seen?
PREMIER ALLAN: Oh, look, it's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking. I didn't mean not to mention that wildlife impact as well. It's just absolutely heartbreaking. This is, all of Victoria is beautiful, you'd expect me as Premier of Victoria to say that, but this is a particularly beautiful natural asset in our state. And it is really heartbreaking to see the loss, the damage to the natural environment and also too the ongoing impacts on the community. And let's remember it was only in February, only in February of this year where pretty much half of the houses in Pomonal, not far from here, were lost to the fires on another very difficult day. So that's why we are here today to say thank you. It's why we are here every single day to support our emergency services, but also work with those communities on what will be an ongoing recovery. We know that recovery is a long one, but we know what's critical to supporting communities on that recovery is continuing to listen to them and walk with them on that journey. Today, we still have a very active fire in the Grampians, that is really having the priority of the briefings today and the work that's underway right now.
JOURNALIST: Premier, is there an estimate for the loss of livestock at this stage?
PREMIER ALLAN: I was just told a figure of a loss of around 1000 sheep, And that is significant in terms of, because if you think about as I said, the economic base of this region, it's tourism and it's agriculture. It's sheep, it's grain, and also too, it's apicultural as well. So there is part of that work, Agriculture Victoria are out there now working with primary producers on undertaking their stock assessment losses. And again, that's why this announcement today is just so timely and just so important because it does help those suffering economic loss to have a sense of where they can go to seek support.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Sydney to Hobart is an iconic race. We've seen a tragic race this year. What should be done when it comes to looking at the race and the safety regulations that are in place?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there will always be assessments after the tragic loss of life that we saw in the Sydney to Hobart race. We know that it's not the first time that there's been a loss of life - 1998 was particularly devastating. But for the families and the loved ones of the two sailors who lost their life, our heart goes out to them. There will be an assessment, that's appropriate that that occur and that any safety improvements that can be put in place are done so.
JOURNALIST: It's really rare that we see the race called off. I think the [inaudible] has said that conditions were particularly difficult this year. Given a particular set of circumstances, would you maybe urge the CYCA organisers to look at potentially cancelling races if these sort of weather conditions prevail in future?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think it's important there be an appropriate assessment done and any action that is required in terms of changes to be made. But it's important that be done in a considered way. I think at the moment it is a time, though, to just express condolences to the family and friends of the sailors who've lost their lives. These were experienced sailors as well, and it will be particularly difficult to lose a loved one at this time of the year.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, new polling shows your own personal popularity has fallen while Peter Dutton's has risen. Is that worrying as we head towards the next election?
PRIME MINISTER: What I'm worried about is helping fellow Australia. I've been underestimated my whole political life, and I'm focused on making a difference for cost of living, on making a difference for plans that we have going forward. We've already announced a number of changes including to address intergenerational equity issues by cancelling 20 per cent of HECS debts for people if we are re-elected. We've announced our changes to give a three day guarantee of child care provision in an affordable way. And we've announced a billion dollar funding for child care infrastructure, particularly in areas where it's required. What I'm focused on is on making a difference for Australians. We have made a difference already, inflation we inherited with a six in front of it, and it was rising, and now it's got a two in front of it, and it's falling - that is making a difference to people. And I note as well, real wages have increased for the past four quarters in a row. We're focused on cost of living measures. I'll leave the commentating to the commentators.
JOURNALIST: Bikies are trafficking cocaine and ice through the Pacific Islands to Australia. Is that a concern? And what's the Government doing to stop it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have as part of our relationship with the Pacific that we've had to rebuild in the time that we're in office. One of the key initiatives which we've announced is the Pacific Policing Initiative - the centre for training for police throughout the Pacific has been opened now in Pinkenba in Brisbane. There will be three centres of excellence open throughout the Pacific. And what we're doing is increasing the capacity for policing in the Pacific to be improved. We've done that through bilateral relations as well that we've announced recently with the Solomon Islands, as well as with Nauru - the landmark security agreements that we've put in place.
JOURNALIST: Your home state of New South Wales has hit, for the first time, the average age of the population is 40 years old. Is the state under prepared for an ageing population and young people moving elsewhere?
PRIME MINISTER: Well we have our aged care reforms passed the Senate as part of the 45 pieces of legislation that we carried in the last sitting week. And that is the biggest reform in aged care this century, as a direct result of my government's commitment to address what was summed up in one word by the interim Royal Commission into Aged Care under the former government - 'neglect' is how they summarised it. So we're addressing those issues and the ageing of the population. In addition to that, we're making sure that help at home is improved as well. But from time to time, populations do change. We know that the Intergenerational Report indicates that Australia, in general, has an ageing population. That is something that we seek to address. One of the initiatives that I just spoke about before of child care. If you want to have an impact on economic growth, then child care addresses the three P's - productivity, participation and population. That's how you get economic growth. We want our economy to grow. And unlike the Coalition, who have a plan that they have put out, their nuclear plan says that there'll be 40 per cent less energy by 2050 than what the Australian Energy Market Operator and others expect to occur. That's a recipe for less economic activity, for less manufacturing, for less things made here in Australia. It's a recipe for a smaller, myopic vision of Australia. My government has a positive, optimistic view of Australia. And here in Australia's manufacturing heartland of Victoria, there's nowhere that will benefit more from making things here in Australia than right here in Victoria, but it's a part of our vision for the entire nation. Thanks very much.
