REVEREND BILL CREWS: Welcome everybody. The biggest press conference I ever did was when John Singleton headbutted somebody in a pub and there was the media everywhere. But it's a bit like that today. But I'd like to welcome you all here and say, the message here for Christmas is in the place where you least expect it, when you least expect it, and who you least expect it from, new hope comes. And that's what happens here. And by the Prime Minister and the Premier and senior politicians coming here, it tells people no matter how low they are in the pecking order of life, they matter. They matter. So, somebody's life here will have been changed and more hope will come from them because of what these guys do. So, I want to thank you guys very much for coming. I want to introduce the Prime Minister because he's got some words to say and then we'll go from there. Thank you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks so much, Bill, and thanks for what you do and your team here each and every day. Making a difference, particularly for vulnerable people and those people who are in need. And the Australian Government together with the New South Wales Government are both providing. Over this year, we've both made commitments to substantial funding increases so that you can get the support you need for the work that you do, not just in my local electorate here, but in Blacktown, Liverpool, right around Australia. And indeed, one of the things that mightn't be as well known is the work that you do in proselytising around the world. This model is seen as world's best practise as well, where people can get their need, what they need.
Now, this Christmas is a different one because of the terrorist attack motivated by ISIS and antisemitism that we saw just 11 days ago. But at the same time, as we've seen the worst of evil and the worst of humanity, we have seen the best of humanity. The bravery and kindness and compassion and commitment to fellow Australians that we saw from those who rushed to danger. The people who provided support in our health services and in other areas as well for those going through the difficult time as well. And yesterday I announced that we wrote to the Governor-General about a special national awards system to recognise the bravery and the commitment that we've seen at this time, where we've seen at the worst of times, once again, the best of the Australian character.
The other thing that we're celebrating today, of course, is Christmas. And for Christians, it's an important time to reaffirm faith. But for all Australians, it's an opportunity to show the spirit of Christmas that we see here in Ashfield this morning. A spirit where people are showing kindness, generosity, compassion, and togetherness for their fellow Australians. So, the people, whether they're in need, or for some, they're just in need of some companionship. And what happens today is really uplifting. It's uplifted me and the other volunteers who are here, and I think it helps to uplift our nation. So, Merry Christmas to everyone out there, to every single Australian today. It's important to remember what brings us together as a nation, and it is that spirit of Australians who always look after each other. I'll go to the Premier and then Tanya's got some more comments, including some announcements to make.
CHRIS MINNS, PREMIER OF NSW: Thanks, Anthony. It's great to be here with Bill, the Prime Minister, Minister Plibersek, as well as Jo Haylen on a special day for our state, and that is, of course, Christmas Day. Congratulations to the work that Bill does here. It's an incredible organisation that supplies so many meals, but not just food, real companionship, and an antidote to loneliness that many people in our community feel. It's a day for family and friends, but for many Australians, they may be by themselves and that can be particularly acute. So, that's what's so great about this organisation and others like it. And if you're feeling lonely, if you're looking out for friendship and companionship, either come to a wonderful place like this or contact Lifeline. I know it can be a difficult time for many people the holiday period.
I want to give a big shout out to our emergency service workers and everybody who has to work on Christmas day, our police officers, our firefighters, our paramedics, those that work in big public hospitals, nurses, doctors. They don't get a day off. We need them 365 days a year. And if you're pulling a shift on Christmas Day, hats off to you. That's an amazing example of public spiritedness and we deeply appreciate it.
Lastly, I'd just like to give a big shout out to our Jewish community. It's been a horror fortnight for that community and everybody in Australia needs to wrap their arms around them to lift them up during a difficult period. I can only imagine the heartbreak, the pain that they've gone through, but I want them to know that Australians have got their back. We're in their corner and we're going to help them get through this incredibly difficult period.
TANYA PLIBERSEK, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Thanks so much, Bill. And thank you to the Prime Minister and the Premier for being here today on such a beautiful day. As the Prime Minister said, in the last couple of weeks, we've had the best of times and the worst of times. Certainly the horrific attack at Bondi is the worst time that any of us can remember, but we've also seen acts of enormous courage and enormous compassion. And here today with the Reverend Bill Crews, we're seeing compassion on steroids. Every single time a community needs someone to stand by them, the Reverend Bill Crews is there. He's there with love, with kindness, with gentle support every single time. And so I'm very pleased to be able to say today that the government committed at the last election to deliver $10 million for the Bill Crews Foundation, and we've delivered on that $10 million commitment.
But today, on Christmas Day, we're announcing an additional $2 million to food relief organisations like OzHarvest, SecondBite, and Foodbank, and Good360, because we know that this Christmas has been a very tough Christmas for some people. And we want those organisations that help millions of Australians every year to get a little bit of support themselves. Just as Bill is there for us, whenever we need him, the Government wants to be there for Bill Crews when he needs a bit of help. And we want to be there for those organisations that work every day to provide food and emergency relief for Australians who are doing that tough.
JOURNALIST: As you were giving out food first, you mentioned that it reminded you of your time working at McDonald's. Can you tell us a little bit about that and what it means to, as you said, work on Christmas Day as well?
PREMIER MINNS: Well, I mean, we're just doing a brief stint here. Hats off to all the volunteers who give their time for the local community. It's a beautiful thing to do on Christmas day. So, as I said, if you're working on Christmas Day, really appreciate it. We need you. And on our big public hospitals, I know it can be a stressful time. So, it's a reminder of everybody that is away from their family and friends and doing something for the community. We owe them a big debt of gratitude.
JOURNALIST: The Police Commissioner issued [INDISTINCT] protests following the laws being passed [INDISTINCT]. Are you happy [INDISTINCT]?
PREMIER MINNS: Yeah, I think it's important to say that the Police Commissioner's made a designation around 14 days for no Form 1 protests during that – I'll start that again, actually, because it's important I get it right. The Police Commissioner has made a designation in relation to those three areas in metropolitan Sydney where there will be no Form 1 applications for protests. That's important. That's legislation that passed the New South Wales Parliament. I know that they're extraordinary powers. We believe they are absolutely essential in keeping order and peace during this Christmas period and through the summer, through the opening days of summer. Now, the Police Commissioner was open to make that designation once the legislation had passed the parliament. I'm grateful that he's done it, but it was his decision, and I'll back it 100 per cent. We just can't have a situation at the moment where mass protests rip apart our social cohesion. We've got an obligation to pull people together right now, and this is the right call.
JOURNALIST: [INDISTINCT] and then what time did you make the declaration? How important was it to act fast?
PREMIER MINNS: My view is it was incredibly important to act fast. I mean, one of the things that we need to remember is that there was a promise from some of these protestors that last night or the night before would be a peaceful protest, a peaceful vigil for the victims of that terrorism event. Instead, we were treated to chants of 'Globalise the Intifada' and a hate speech, in my view, on the streets of Sydney. The opposite of what was promised. So, Police Commissioner has made the right call here. He made it late last night. He set up a designation team to assess that Form 1 public protest order, and they recommended to him that he make the order and he's done just that.
JOURNALIST: For how long do you think this order will be in place?
PREMIER MINNS: Look, I don't want to speculate on it, but it's 14 days. It can be then reissued for another 14 days for a maximum period of three months.
JOURNALIST: Can you guarantee that if it is extended [INDISTINCT]?
PREMIER MINNS: I'm not going to get into the ins and outs of it. I mean, that's two designations away. What I can guarantee is the Police Commissioner and the government will act in the interest of the people of New South Wales to keep us safe. Our number one obligation right now and forever is to keep the public safe, and we're going to take whatever steps and whatever actions we believe are necessary to do that.
JOURNALIST: The family of Katrina Dawson say you used the Lindt Cafe siege to deflect on an antisemitism Royal Commission. Will you be apologising to that family and will you listen to them and call a Royal Commission?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, I would be concerned about any offence that was caused. I certainly don't reflect on – that was a tragic circumstance. I simply made the point, factually, that after both the Port Arthur massacre and also the Lindt siege, there wasn't a Royal Commission called by the governments of that day. What we'll do is we'll continue to cooperate and work with New South Wales. We'll also – I’ve commissioned the inquiry and that will report by the end of April. That will be important to identify any gaps which are there. The Richardson Review, there is no one in Australia who has a stronger record as the former head of intelligence agency, the former Secretary of the Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs, someone who's represented Australia at the highest levels in Washington DC, than Dennis Richardson, and he will do an important job.
JOURNALIST: This morning, a rabbi's car in Melbourne was set alight, I believe, and it displayed Happy Chanukah on it. I guess you've spoken a lot about wrapping our arms around the Jewish community. Do you think enough is being done now now and what kind of messages would you want [INDISTINCT]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is a time where the Jewish community need and should receive the absolute support of every Australian. This is a very difficult period just 11 days after what is Australia's most serious terrorist attack, that was motivated by antisemitism and the evil ISIS ideology. This is a time of support for the Jewish community and I know that overwhelmingly that is what Australians are doing. We need to root out any evil that is antisemitism across the board. My Government's committed to do that. I know that the Minns Government is committed to do that. And I think across the board, that's what Australians want to see.
JOURNALIST: Are you disturbed to hear about an antisemitic attack at a time like this?
PRIME MINISTER: It's just beyond comprehension. What sort of evil ideology and thoughts at a time like this would motivate someone? We know that there is evil presence. We saw that with this father and son terrorist atrocity at Bondi Beach. We've seen it in other occurrences as well, but it is a timely reminder that overwhelmingly Australians show and are motivated by the sort of compassion, decency, kindness, generosity, and togetherness that we see right here in Ashfield this morning.
JOURNALIST: [INDISTINCT] volunteers here today [INDISTINCT]?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, Christmas is a time of hope. Hope over fear is what we need. Bravery over cowardice, kindness over violence and togetherness over antisemitism and hate. This is what the spirit of Christmas is about, and that can be celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. And today, we particularly wrap our arms around the Jewish community, but overwhelmingly, I am an optimist about this great country. And what I see here, and Bill can tell you, they have to turn volunteers away because they have too many Australians who want to give up their time in the service of others, and that overwhelmingly is what this great country is about. Thanks very much. Thanks, everybody.