: Well, I'm delighted to be here at Gough Whitlam Park, here in Earlwood, to announce Ash Ambihaipahar as our candidate for the Federal election for Barton. Of course, Ash will replace Linda Burney. And I do want to pay tribute to Linda Burney for her many years of service in the Federal Parliament as a Minister, in the State Parliament as a Minister and as someone who is cherished very much as a great Australian. And I wish Linda all the best in her retirement when it comes in 2025 but I'm sure she'll continue to make a contribution to public life because of her commitment to her fellow Australians, and in particular her commitment to Reconciliation.
In Ash, we have a cracker of a candidate. Ash is someone who's a councillor on the Georges River Council, representing people about issues that affect their daily lives. And in that time, as well, Ash was the candidate for Oatley in the last state election, and went very close. Came to within one per cent of winning that seat off the Coalition during the election campaign that saw the Minns Labor Government elected. It was during that period that I came to know Ash and to campaign with her when Chris Minns told me about this young person that they had running in the seat who could jag it from the Coalition because of the qualities that she has shown. Ash now works for the St Vincent de Paul Society of New South Wales as a regional director. She's someone who has an enormous commitment to this local community, and someone who I think will really add something to our team as we seek a second term in Government to build on the foundations that we've built during this term. The foundations of dealing with the global inflationary pressures that we inherited. We've laid the foundations for a greater success in our second term. We've turned inflation from something that had a six in front of it and was rising to having a two in front of it, and it's falling. We've created, on our watch, more than 1 million jobs, and we've looked after people by making sure that the policy that I put forward, of no one held back and no one left behind, was translated into practical measures. Whether it be ensuring a tax cut for every taxpayer, Energy Bill Relief for every household, cheaper medicines, where more than $1 billion has been saved by people on those essential medicines, Fee Free TAFE with over 500,000 places, making sure that people can be prepared as well for taking up those opportunities in life. We've now had 1 million visits to Urgent Care Clinics right around the country as well. All of these measures aimed at alleviating cost of living pressures, whilst at the same time delivering two budget surpluses for the first time in two decades. The Coalition promised a surplus every year, including their first year, and they delivered not one over almost a decade in office. At the same time, we've made sure that we're setting Australia up for the future with our Future Made in Australia agenda and making sure that we have a more inclusive society. And part of that is ensuring that the Parliament reflects what the community looks like as well. And I'm proud that mine is the first Government that has over 50 per cent representation from women and also has increased diversity in our ranks as well, in order to make sure we go forward.
Before I introduce Ash and ask her to speak, I do want to say that later today, I will be travelling to Darwin. Christmas Day will be a difficult day for many who, it will recall, difficult times in their lives. There's been no more collectively difficult day in Australia around Christmas than 50 years ago, when during the evening of Christmas Eve and then on Christmas Day 1974 Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin. 66 Australians lost their lives during that cyclone, and an entire city was devastated and turned to rubble. The remarkable efforts of the Australian Defence Force and emergency services personnel - nurses, doctors, all those who pitched in - showed again that at the worst of times, we see the best of the Australian character. And tomorrow night, I'll be attending an event there in Darwin, and then a dawn service, which is taking place on Christmas Day in Darwin, where people who are the survivors of Cyclone Tracy, but also for many of them, their families, will be attending. So, it will be a solemn occasion, but one that as well, is positive in that it speaks about survival and speaks about the resilience of the Australian people, and it will be my honour as Prime Minister to attend that event.
Lastly, can I say that it is bushfire season, of course, here in Australia. And in Victoria, our thoughts are with those who potentially are dealing with bush fires there. I say again, we need to be careful for people to look after their neighbours. We've deployed our large national tanker to assist the Victorians with their efforts there. But I say again, at this Christmas time, it is a fact that in Australia, we have weather conditions that can cause real issues, be they bushfires or floods.
And in addition, as well, I say to people during this Christmas season - please drive safely. Make sure that you get to your destination rather than get there sooner. Take your time. Make sure that you drive safely, because every catastrophe on our roads during this season will be relived every season thereafter by the families and loved ones left behind every Christmas there is a rise in fatalities, so please drive safely on the roads. Can I very much welcome Ash. Ash will be not just a great candidate, but a fantastic Member for this great part of Sydney in this great country of Australia. I'm sure that she will do all those people who've supported her, including those who got up early today, including a shout out to Ash's grandma, who's here today as well, and family members and others. Ash, I know, will have a wealth of support because she's so real, so committed to making a difference for this community. So Ash, welcome.
ASH AMBIHAIPAHAR, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR BARTON: Thank you, Prime Minister. Thanks for the intro. It's absolutely an honour to be the Labor candidate for Barton. I grew up in the area. I know how diverse the community is. A little bit about myself - I grew up in St George with my uncle, who's here today, and his journey was moving from Sri Lanka to Papua New Guinea, and then coming to Sydney for studies. And he made a choice to raise me in St George, and very proud of that, and also with the support of so many people. I was raised by a Maltese family from Nawee. I was raised also by an Italian family from Earlwood. And the reality is, it is a true testament around that phrase of being raised by a village. And it literally felt like that. And I think that's a testament of just not only the Australian spirit, but also what Barton is really about - that diverse community. A little bit about my career. I worked as a technical assistant in science at the anatomy department at Sydney University, and it was such a wonderful experience. Was there for about six, seven years. I decided to become a lawyer and dedicated about 10 years or so representing workers, representing employers as well, specifically around employment and industrial relations. And that journey sort of shifted into becoming a regional director at St Vincent de Paul Society. And I actually understand what's going on in our community. A lot of my staff, amazing staff, have been doing some great work to support the community around cost of living. A lot of people are coming in, and obviously Christmas time is a really difficult time, and we're seeing that growth, and that's what I want to do. I want to make sure that from as an advocate for Barton, but also representative nationally, I think it's important to address cost of living issues. And you heard from the Prime Minister today that the Labor Government has made steps towards addressing these issues, and there's a lot of work still to be done. Soon after that, you know, my journey as a Councillor as well has been really amazing. I've been able to do a lot of reform locally, addressing issues around cost of living issues, but also reform around ticketless parking issues, issues around homelessness in our area, and addressing affordable housing which is really important, not only for my generation, but the new, upcoming, younger generation in Australia.
I'm really proud to be the candidate. I'm so excited. I want to bring that energy, the fresh energy, positivity and empathy into Parliament as a representative. And I think it's really important to understand that whoever meets me, they know that I always will deliver it with compassion, respect and love, and that's what I was raised as that. From the Italian family to the Maltese family and my wonderful uncle as well. My family has made sure that I do the best I can as an advocate, no matter whether I'm working at Vinnie's or being a Member of Parliament in the future.
So the final thing I wanted to also mention is also acknowledge Linda Burney's legacy and her work, and I think she's leaving some pretty big shoes for me to fill, and conveniently, I'm a size nine Prime Minister, so that should be fine, but I really want to build on her legacy, and, you know, really commit to making sure that Barton's - the people of Barton's voice is heard - and my skill set as an advocate, I definitely will be able to do that, and I look forward to serving as a Labor representative at the next election. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Ash. We're happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you've had a recent run of candidate announcements. Have you set a date for the next election and have you promised the Treasurer that the March 25 Budget is going ahead?
PRIME MINISTER: We're certainly underway with the work for a March Budget. And I've said before, when I get asked this question, what's the white car with the flag when it goes to Government House? That's when the election will be called. But I've said that three years, in my view, is too short. But I was hoping that at some stage, Peter Dutton would actually announce a costed policy - and we had, more than a week ago now - we had a policy announced that had no costings of what difference it would make for consumers, these nuclear plans. We know that all the experts tell us it would lead to an increase in power bills of $1,200. It will also delay investment in the energy security that we need. It's too costly, it takes too long, and it will have an upward impact on power bills. And we know also from the flimsy bit of detail that was put out that they're planning an economy that is 40 per cent smaller. Their whole costings is based on there being less energy, less manufacturing, less jobs, less economic activity. It is extraordinary that the Coalition are saying that that is their vision for 2050. It's a vision where they got out the microscope and turned it around the wrong way. So it's myopic what they are looking towards. And that's why, as well, it's not surprising that not only is Peter Dutton's nuclear fantasy unfriendly and friendless for investors when it comes to any private sector investor putting their hand up and saying, "Yeah, we want a slice of that action," which is why it's going to be totally taxpayer funded as well. We have a situation where the LNP in Queensland have rejected the plan. The Coalition in the Northern Territory Government have rejected the plan as well. So there's not a state or territory government in the country who is saying, "this is the way forward." The only thing that we're seeing here is Peter Dutton trying to hold his ramshackle show together by coming up with a policy that essentially stifles investment and says something will happen in the 2040s so we can have the argument down the track. And that's why, on the weekend, he hasn't announced his reshuffle that they foreshadowed all of last week - they said we'd have new people in place. Everything Peter Dutton does is just about making himself into a smaller and smaller ball while the world just moves past him. So Peter Dutton needs extra time to somehow announce a policy other than just saying no to everything. Because, we know, that all of our cost of living measures he opposed. It would have been worse under Peter Dutton, it would have been much more difficult for people, had he been in government, because they wouldn't have got a tax cut. They wouldn't have had Energy Bill Relief, no Cheaper Child Care, no cheaper medicines, no Free TAFE.
JOURNALIST: Just on the Melbourne man who's been captured by Russia while fighting in Ukraine, has the Government received any advice on this to provide to his family back at home?
PRIME MINISTER: We're seeking out, through our embassy in Moscow - this is concerning news, and we're working through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide support, including, for this gentleman, trying to ascertain the details and the facts which are there. We know that the Russians often put out information that isn't right. So our embassy in Moscow is working. But in addition to that, Foreign Affairs and Trade are working here as well.
JOURNALIST: Are you making representations to the Russian authorities to have him released?
PRIME MINISTER: We will make appropriate representations. We always look after Australians. That's the job of an Australian Government, is to make representations for Australian citizens.
JOURNALIST: Do you think it's reasonable the rail union is holding Sydney to ransom over the holiday period?
PRIME MINISTER: I think this is a dispute that which should be settled, and common sense should prevail, and we support the Minns Government in their actions to try to settle this dispute. The Minns Government are being reasonable, and we support their actions. I know it's before the Fair Work Commission tomorrow, and I hope that provides a resolution.
JOURNALIST: On housing, how is the Government going to (inaudible)? There is new data out today that (inaudible) and secondly, if I may, how are you helping people with the housing crisis when we also have new data out that rents are up $3,600 per head last year?
PRIME MINISTER: Firstly, on Rent Assistance, we have provided back to back increases in Rental Assistance, 45 per cent if you add those two things together. The first time there's ever been back to back increases in Rental Assistance, just one of the many measures opposed by the Coalition. When it comes to new homes being built, we've got our 1.2 million target, but we've got our $32 billion Homes for Australia Plan. That's a practical plan that goes to providing more support for public and social housing, more support for private rentals, more support for home ownership, as well as that support for renters. I do note that some of that has been held up by the No-alition of the Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens in the Senate, who delayed for month after month after month our Help to Buy scheme that will assist 40,000 Australians to get into home ownership. Just like they delayed our Build to Rent scheme that will help 80,000 Australians into affordable housing, but many more than that, private rentals being built. Just like they delayed our Housing Australia Future Fund. And I note that the second round of Housing Australia Future Fund is being rolled out. At the moment, we have a plan that's comprehensive. Every single one of those measures has been opposed by the Coalition. And this is a Coalition, of course, that didn't even bother to have a Housing Minister for most of the time when they were in office. So we are working with state and territory governments. We're also working with the private sector to make sure we deal with housing supply, because we know that housing supply is the key.
JOURNALIST: Sorry Prime Minister, just back to the rail dispute, are you genuinely worried that the fireworks may be cancelled? And have you spoken to any union bosses?
PRIME MINISTER: I've spoken with Premier Minns, and what I've said very clearly is that we support the actions which the Minns Government are taking. And I would say that the RTBU need to be responsible and common sense needs to apply here. And they need to understand that they will lose public support if they engage in activity that disrupts the public during a time like this, over Christmas and over New Year's. The New Year's Eve fireworks is a global event that showcases Sydney, this beautiful city, to the whole world. And it's important, just as it's important that people be able to get into and out of the suburbs, the retail centres of our city, here in Sydney, in order to be able to do their Christmas shopping and prepare for Christmas. This is a festive season. It's one where people come together, family and friends. It's one where for people of faith, they will travel to commit or recommit to their faith, particularly of the Christian faith. So it's an important time for Australians, and I'm sure that all those involved will understand that.
JOURNALIST: What's your response that dangerous drugs are being smuggled into Australia's detention centres, and the Coalition's criticism that the Government has failed on immigration?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Coalition, you could just substitute anything after Opposition, because they're opposed to everything. I note that when it comes to immigration, the Coalition have held up and voted against our caps that we tried to put in place. On one hand, they say they want lower immigration. On the other hand, they vote against caps on students that are common sense. They can't have it both ways. They can't continue to oppose every solution to try and fix up the mess that we inherited. And we inherited a mess. There have been three reviews. Peter Dutton presided over a system where people were coming here with visas, including for some vocational education and training courses that were shonky. We're going to crack down on the shonks. We're going to make sure that people who come here to study get a good experience and as well, that good education providers get support. The Coalition has opposed that as well, and one of the pieces of legislation that we carried last month was to increase the power of the authorities for searching in, in facilities, and that's precisely why we did that.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just back on the fireworks - how likely is it that they
will be cancelled given preparations are already underway?
PRIME MINISTER: That's not a decision for me. The Commonwealth Government doesn't run the fireworks. I'll say this, though, that the Fair Work Commission has a discussion of this tomorrow as a result of the New South Wales Government coming forward. I support the New South Wales Government's position, and I note that that position is also supported by the hospitality sector and retail sector. It's very important that these activities go ahead. Thanks very much.
