STEPHANIE ASHER, LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR CORANGAMITE: Hello. Welcome everybody on what is a very exciting day for this region. This project is going to have very broad benefits for both small businesses and large businesses in this region, so it's a really, really exciting day for everybody. I'm delighted to welcome with us today, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, of course, and also acknowledge my colleague, the Corio candidate, Manish Patel. I introduce now, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Welcome.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. Thank you very much. It's great to be here with you, Steph, and to you, Manish, and it's great to have you both on our team and joined by Sarah Henderson as well, who's with us here and David Van is also in attendance at this event today. What we're announcing today, I think, is very significant. And I think it highlights our plan and the contrasting plan of the Labor Party. What we've done today is turn the sod on a billion dollar project to develop these Howitzers right here in Australia, in Victoria. Now this was a project that was first delayed by Labor and then cancelled by Labor as they were cutting spending on our defence forces to the lowest level that we had seen since 1938. And what we have done as a government has turned that around. And that over these years that we've been in government, we've restored that support for our defence forces up to now, 2 per cent of the size of our economy. And the reason we've been able to do that is because we've been running a strong economy.
When Labor was in power, they weren't able to do that and they had to cut the defence forces. They lost control of our borders. Their costs skyrocketed. Unemployment went from 4.2 per cent to 5.7 per cent. Important medicines were cut from the program because they couldn't manage the finances. They couldn't run a strong economy. Now our government has now faced an economic crisis globally, 30 times worse than the Global Financial Crisis that was faced when Labor was last in power. But our employment outcomes have been 50 per cent better, and because we can manage a strong economy, it means that we can keep defence, investing in our defence forces, which we are doing here. A billion dollar project making these Howitzers right here in Australia, and also in, in Victoria, but also drawing supplies out of northern Tasmania. Developing skills, building workforce, establishing capability in our defence industries, but most importantly, ensuring that our defence forces have the capability that they need to do the job. 100 jobs here in the specific task of constructing this facility, but then 300 ongoing jobs here with Hanwha to deliver this important project.
The fact that we have got a strong defence force means that we can also come to the support of those around the world. Our Pacific family know that only too well. Whenever there is trouble, whenever there is a problem, we're able to turn out and support our Pacific family. We're also able to do that with our family in, in ASEAN and in south-east Asia, as we've turned out with humanitarian crises, other natural disasters. We're there to help keep the peace and help countries get back on their feet.
Now in the Ukraine, facing the dreadful and unlawful invasion by Russia, and with the war crimes being committed there, particularly what we've seen in Bucha, Australia is resolute in standing with the people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine and ensuring we give them every possible support to resist and to defend their country and their territorial integrity. We might be half a world away, but we are very close with the Ukrainian people, as we've supported them each and every step of the way. This morning, you would have seen the C-17 taking the first shipment of Australian Bushmasters, built right here, and going to Ukraine to help them defend their country. Already with that commitment, we have taken our commitment to supporting the Ukrainian defence effort to $160 million. Today, though, I'm announcing further investments that will see us spend $26.5 million in a package focussing on anti-armour weapons and ammunition and capabilities that have proven critical on the battlefield so far. While I can't disclose specific details of the package or delivery arrangements, and that's at the direct request of Ukrainian officials and partners. What it demonstrates is that our support continues and will continue. I said they have our prayers, but they've also got our guns and our ammunition. We've been able to redirect some of our supplies to ensure they can go to the front lines in Ukraine to ensure they can continue the fight. So it will be our Bushmasters over there. They'll be our weapons, our armour, our ammunition, there supporting the people of Ukraine. And then on top of that, there's the humanitarian assistance that we've been able to deliver. And overnight, I want to commend particularly Foreign Minister Payne and our ambassador to the United Nations, Mitch Fifield, on the great work they've done in joining with other countries in sanctioning and kicking Russia out of the United Nation Human Rights Council. This was an important thing to do.
Russia must pay a terrible and awful price for what they have done to Ukraine, violating the rules of law, violating the territorial sovereignty and integrity of their neighbour, and to send a very strong message that any others that would want to contemplate that sort of action, any others that would want to act in this autocratic, authoritarian way on their neighbours, including right here in this region, that Australia will always stand up and countries that love peace and freedom will always stand up. So this brings our military support to almost $200 million now with this additional support that we're providing today and we will continue, we will continue to look for opportunities to ensure we can deliver that support. Happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: This is a big announcement in a very marginal seat. Is it enough to get Steph over the line?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you'll need to talk to the deputy leader of the Labor Party because we're actually in Corio …
JOURNALIST: Sorry …
PRIME MINISTER: … but I welcome the encouragement. And so does Manish, I'm sure, welcomes that encouragement. But this is an important part of the Victorian economy. That's where we are. These projects benefit the Victorian and the national economy. I said in my remarks that just over there it was our government supported the development of the international terminal and facilitated that capacity right here in regional Victoria. That was our promise. And you can see it delivered over there. This is our promise. And you can see it being delivered right here. This is great for jobs in Victoria. It's great for jobs in Australia because it builds capability. It's also supporting jobs, as I said down in northern Tasmania and through Elphinstone. So this is an exciting project that builds our defence capability and actually makes our economy stronger.
JOURNALIST: We've had a $150 million put into Corangamite by Labor. What can you and will you promise the people of Corangamite? And can you win the election if you don't win Corangamite?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I might ask Steph Asher, she might make a few comments about that, and she can talk very specifically about her local plan here in Corangamite. But what I can say, this election is a choice between Liberal and Nationals, and what we've been able to do to keep our economy strong through this pandemic and emerge stronger than almost any other advanced country in the world with a strong plan for the future. You know our economic plans. You've seen them work. You know who my economic team is. You know what the Treasurer's achieved and the Finance Minister. You know what my defence team is. You know what Peter Dutton has been able to do in the defence portfolio. You know what Josh Frydenberg has been able to do as Treasurer. You know what Marise Payne has been able to do as Foreign Minister. You know me, you know my team, you know our policies, you know our results and you know our plans for the future.
You don't know anything about the Labor Party. They haven't told you anything. They can't even confirm who their defence minister will be and who their Home Affairs minister will be if they were selected by the Australian people at the next election. So this election will be an opportunity. They're currently a complete blank page that had three years to tell you what their economic plan would be after they were rejected at the last election. And they still haven't told you. And they're not going to skate to an election without the proper scrutiny that should come, and this election campaign is very important. It'll give Australians the opportunity to have a good look. They know who we are. They know what we've achieved. They know what our plans are. They don't know anything about Labor because Labor haven't told them the truth.
STEPHANIE ASHER, LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR CORANGAMITE: There will be more information on the local plan in the coming weeks, but it's a very strong local plan focused on jobs and the economy. Managing growth, that's a big issue in our region, making sure that the community has the facilities that they require and also a big investment in health - in physical and mental health. So we will have more details coming in the next couple of weeks. I look forward to sharing those with you.
JOURNALIST: Katy Higgins [sic] this morning said basically, the PM wasn't exactly helping in her voting effort in inner Melbourne. Is the PM being here today going to help in your effort in Corangamite?
STEPHANIE ASHER, LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR CORANGAMITE: I think these sorts of announcements are actually really positive and I'm very, very, very grateful to have the Prime Minister here showing his support and making these sorts of announcement, and showing that we are delivering on this.
JOURNALIST: Stephanie, you've got a lot of runs on the board, obviously, with your political work as a local councillor here in Geelong. How do you see that translating into this seat though? Do you do you really? Are you going to be campaigning on that or will you be hitting full stop on that and starting afresh in a federal sphere for a very important area?
STEPHANIE ASHER, LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR CORANGAMITE: I think wherever you're working as a candidate, and wherever you're working as a representative it's about the community, and I understand my community very well. I'm a very active member of my local community in Corangamite, and I know what their concerns are. I know what they celebrate and when you see my local plan, I think you'll understand that we actually match ...
JOURNALIST: What's in the local plan?
STEPHANIE ASHER, LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR CORANGAMITE: As I've just said, it's a very strong focus on the economy, very strong focus on local jobs, investment in health and community structure, community facilities ...
JOURNALIST: Any specific local announcements?
STEPHANIE ASHER, LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR CORANGAMITE: The specifics will be announced in the next couple of weeks, you'll have to wait and see.
JOURNALIST: Well, you have the Prime Minister here to announce them with you, you're hoping that he'll be back, throughout the campaign?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll be back many times. You'll see me many, many times here and right across the country because I'm looking forward to this election campaign, because election campaigns are an opportunity for Australians to make a choice. You know, the days of, you know, people expressing sentiments and opinions... Look at an election, you go into a booth and you make a choice about who you're going to vote for. And that choice has a consequence. It determines the economy you will live in for the next decade. It determines how strong Australia can be in one of our most uncertain times. And Australians know our record and they know our plans, but they don't know what the alternative is. At a time of great uncertainty, I'd say vote for what you know and what you know from us is a government that can deliver on the economy and has a strong economic plan for the future, that delivers on national security and has a strong plan to keep delivering on national security. Labor is an unknown in uncertain times. They've left it too late, they've had three years to tell you what they're going to do, and they are a blank page, and that means uncertainty in uncertain times.
JOURNALIST: This morning, actually, Albanese was talking about support for aged care workers. What would you think is a fair increase to the wages of aged care workers?
PRIME MINISTER: What the Fair Work Commission determines.
JOURNALIST: The four big banks have all indicated that there will be several interest rate rises over the next couple of months, with the first to be from June 7. You've obviously announced cost of living measures, but what do you propose to help with families who are going to be facing increased mortgage rates?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you're right to highlight the pressures that are on globally and in the global economy, and of course, that impacts in Australia. And that's why the cost of living measures were put in this budget are dealing with some very significant things that are happening right now, and that is fuel prices. Fuel prices are going up because of the war in Ukraine, and the Treasury estimates that over the next six months, that we'll see those oil price per barrel returned to normal levels. And that's why we put this measure in place a very responsible measure over the next six months, in New Zealand I believe they did it for three months, we've done it for six months. That's the estimate we've made based on where we see oil prices going in the future. And so it's targeted, it's responsible. Just like JobKeeper was, JobKeeper wasn't going to go forever, but it did save 700,000 jobs. It did keep businesses as businesses. And they're here now being able to tool up and go again with the economy that's rebounding. The reason we've been able to provide that support right now in this Budget is because we've had the biggest economic turnaround we've seen in this country in 70 years, with the Budget improving by over 100 billion dollars, as the Treasurer announced last week. And so that puts us in a strong position to support for pensioners and others receiving those types of payments will be coming out in the next few weeks. On top of that, when you put your tax return in on the 1st of July, if you're earning up to $126,000, you'll be getting an extra $420 tax back. That's your money - we think we should be able to keep it to get through these difficult times. But the reduction in taxes we put in place over a long time continue to benefit. You know, if you were on $90,000 today, if we still had the same tax rates that we inherited from the Labor Party and we've changed by cutting taxes, you would be paying $50 a week and more every single week on Labor's old tax rates. So we're already ensuring through lower taxes that you're keeping more of what you earn. But the other point I'd make is here in Australia, inflation is running at under half of what it is in the United States, well below what it is in the UK and most of Europe. And we're in a position to have a strong economy because while we've had to lean heavily into the pandemic and our economic response to get the Australian economy through, we've been targeted about it. We've been sensible about it, we've been balanced. And that has enabled us to keep our AAA credit rating, one of only nine countries in the world to do so as we've come through this pandemic. Now, Labor's plan during the pandemic would have seen us spend an extra $81 billion on top of what was spent, on things like paying out $6 billion for people to have the vaccine that they already had. Now, we thought that was a reckless plan and a foolish plan. And by not engaging in that sort of foolish and reckless spending, we've been able to maintain our AAA credit rating, which puts downward pressure on the pressures to rise interest rates, which are all around the world and puts downward pressure on inflationary pressures which are rising all around the world. So you're right, in times when cost of living is coming under a lot of pressure, how you manage the nation's finances, how do you manage a strong economy - that is the best way to keep mortgage rates as low as we possibly can. And it's the best way to keep downward pressure on prices that families face, such as electricity. We've got electricity prices down by eight per cent in the last two years. You remember at the last election, that was a major issue - the cost, rising cost of electricity. Well, we've delivered.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you said you're not too concerned about slings and arrows. There's a tweet that's came out of your member for, or, your candidate for Corangamite, who was scoffing at your thoughts on women, saying that 51 or 50 per cent is not a minority. What are your thoughts on that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I haven't seen that, but what I do know is more than 50 per cent, more than 50 per cent of the board appointments we've made to Government boards are women now. What I do know is that we've delivered the single largest package of support for women facing domestic violence and family violence in this country. That's been done over two Budgets in delivering important services, whether it's on housing, accommodation support, support through the justice system to get protection. These are very important measures for women. We've got more than a million women in work today than we had when we first came to government. More than two million Australians are now in work today. More than a million of those have been women. What I do know is the female unemployment rate has fallen to the lowest level since 1974. And what I do know is our Paid Parental Leave scheme that we announced in the Budget is actually giving families real choices. We're not telling them how to manage their family arrangements. We're saying there's 20 weeks and you can work that out for what best suits you and your family. See the Liberal Party and the Nationals, we're all about giving families more choices. We're all about giving women more choices, choices about their economic security, protecting them from the violence that they often confront. No government has ever invested more in the national plans that we have to protect women from violence than our Government. We have stepped up well beyond, I think, many of our critics ever expected, and we're going to keep doing it because we believe passionately that the only way you can keep doing it, is if you have a strong economy. And a strong economy is what enables our Government to guarantee the essential services Australians rely on.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is your hope that by not calling the election at this time right now to draw greater attention to what you say is a lack of policy from Anthony Albanese? And if so, how long do you really need before driving up to see the Governor-General?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, electoral terms go for three years. The last election was on the 18th of May and the next election will be held at about the same time.
JOURNALIST: On which date?
PRIME MINISTER: So that's, that's three years and that's what the electoral term is.
JOURNALIST: Which date?
PRIME MINISTER: We will know very soon.
JOURNALIST: How soon?
PRIME MINISTER: Very soon.
JOURNALIST: Sunday?
JOURNALIST: By the end of the weekend?
PRIME MINISTER: You'll know when I'm announcing it.
JOURNALIST: Will we know by the end of the weekend?
JOURNALIST: Will you announce it on Sunday, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: I do know this, and that is the date of the next election and the campaign that runs up to it is extremely important. Anthony Albanese has ducked and weaved, he's pretended to be everybody under the sun except himself. And that's a real risk because what I know, having gone through what has been one of the most challenging times that any government has faced since the Second World War, that what matters is what you believe. What matters is the strength and resilience you can bring to the job. Now, I know not all decisions that I've taken, everyone's agreed with. I know that not every government is perfect, particularly in times like this. But what I also know, is people, I know who I am. And I know what I'm about. I know what our policies are. I know who my teams are, my team is. I'm not pretending to be anyone else. I'm standing by my record and the plans that I have for the future. And this election campaign is a choice. It's a choice between the strong economy that delivers a stronger future, and a weaker economy under the weaker economic management of the Labor Party. And so Australians have a very real choice. And on that note, I thank you all for being here today.
